Author: morningcoffeetherapy

My name is Brooke, I currently practice in the Raleigh area as a counselor for individuals, couples, and families recovering from addiction. Most of my writing comes from morning coffee reflection or a long run. As a disclaimer, my writing is one perspective. While reading, please assume it your responsibility to take what is helpful and leave the rest. Peace. Love. Gratitude. Email Contact: brooke@rnb4counseling.com

Finding your Values, 5

Accept You will have trouble investing in your values if you have not accepted them. People often have trouble accepting the less aspirational values. Expectations from the back shout, "this is what a person should value". Disregard the sense that this is a moral test. Values are not right or wrong, they are personalized and about meaning. Review the values list and look for the less-glamourous values. For example, consider the value of being "comfortable". While valuing comfort may not carry the notoriety like "family" or "trust" you might be surprised how often you respond to it. You might be surprised the meaning comfort brings to you. Journal Prompt: I have difficulty accepting...

Finding your Values, 3

Work Part of engaging in work full-heartedly, is finding work that allows the practice of some of your values. For some, meaning in work is found through structure and predictability. For others, work needs challenge and novelty. Still others, will mine for the perfect version of balance. Structure, predictability, challenge, and novelty, these are all values. Journal Prompt: How do you respond to these values at work? List of values for your reference.

Finding your Values, 1

Respond. You respond to values. You respond to the extent to which they are active in your life or inactive. If you value nature and spend your days inside, it would be easy to understand if you felt depressed. If you value authenticity and you often suppress who you are, also, it would be easy to understand if you felt depressed. If you value adventure and you spend most days behind a desk in a cubicle, it would be normal to experience anxious attempts to get somewhere else. If you value order but you are surrounded by constant chaos, it would be normal to experience pressure to order the chaos. You naturally respond to values. Journal Prompt: Which values do you respond to and how? List of values for your reference.

Regret: Journal Prompt 8

Moments. The emotional experience of regret is like a storm. A storm blows through, aggressive, loud, windshield-wiper necessary. But clouds pass, the rain eventually stops, and the threat passes. You can choose to be an observer. Instead of storm chasing, you can accept the emotional experience of regret. You can build your tolerance muscle and wait out the passing of the storm, knowing that the experience of regret is a moment in time–apart of you–but not all of you. Journal Prompt: The emotional experience of regret is like...