"You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you're for the right thing, then you do it without thinking."
~ Maya Angelou

February 21, 2013

A Little Perspective...




“Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing! You see things, not as they are, but as you are.” 
 ~ Eric Butterworth




 

As I hit the keys for another opportunity to give while I receive, I am well and in a good place to share.  I was able to disconnect for a few days over this past holiday weekend, and it was exactly what I needed in order to get some needed perspective, while breathing easier along the wayLike many of you, I know when I am not where I want to be or need to be, thus the opportunity to step away couldn't of come at a better timeI found myself feeling discouraged and consumed the week prior with the kind of thoughts that were not supporting my best interests.  I couldn't shake the conversation that centers around "what I'm not doing and what I should be doing."  I was putting unnecessary pressure and judgment on my shoulders while pulling away from what I knew to be true, control what you can and what you can not put it in its right place.  It's OK to have these kind of moments as they are are part of the overall learning process.  As long as you are aware of what is happening and you take purposeful action to prevent these obstacles from really getting the best of you, it is another opportunity towards your work in progress.  The time away allowed me to step away from the consumption that I was creating, and by disconnecting and detaching myself from this influence I was able to get back to that space and place that has me well...




“If our thoughts and hopes are elsewhere, it is impossible to set our faces steadily toward the work required of us.”  
 ~ Anonymous 




 


The visual memories that I have included in this post serve as a great reminder that "time away" is often necessary in order to get back to where we need to be.  It is very easy to get caught up in our daily demands and challenges, ones that are created for us, and ones that we create for ourselves.  Being away is not so much about where you are, but what you are doing to meet your self-care needsIt will always take determination and effort on our part to make this happen.  Furthermore, it takes availability and awareness in order to recognize when it is time to hit the pause button, acknowledging that it is time to separate ourselves from the source of our own distress.  If you're thinking you need time and money in order to make this happen, please understand that you don't need ample time or financial backing to achieve this opportunity, I sure did not.  You will though need commitment and action, and whatever obstacles may be in place that are preventing you from not achieving time away will be entirely decided by choice, YOURS.  What do I mean by that?  Think in terms of the convincing game that we can easily bring to the table, "I can't afford to take time off because I have too much to do."

We must recognize that the blueprint is not too difficult to embrace, but you have to want it and when you are mindful of just this your ability to take action is much more realistic, moving you closer to the support that will help you help yourselfI knew I was at that place where I needed a break, time away for a little perspective and another reminder that Wellness means overall well-being. It incorporates the mental, emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of a person’s life. Each aspect of wellness can affect overall quality of life, so it is important to consider all aspects of health. *Dunn, H.L. (1961) High-Level Wellness, Beatty Press: Arlington, VA.   

As you move into the end of your week may the lesson given find you well.  May it allow you to take time for you and your needs.  What ever you did not get to will be there when you return, and often in a better place if you come back in one as well.  Until we connect again as always keep your head up and heart open while standing tall for what you know will serve you well.  Can You Hear Me?



About Author
 








Daniel Jacob, MSW  Email
Founder of Can You Hear Me?  External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USC.  Daniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work).  He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.    
More about the man behind the mission ⇢

February 14, 2013

Ready to Receive...


As I sat down to write my piece for the week I learned another valuable lesson, one that reinforces the theme for the day.  Let me share, do not get caught up in the social media forums prior to writing!  Some may need just that for inspiration, focus, and an opportunity to spark their creativity, for me not so much.  Another lesson learned, I must remember this!  With that being said, today I wanted to discuss our dear old friend Awareness, and by the example I just shared I am hoping that you can see that I had to use my own Awareness and step away from what was not supporting my best interests, while putting myself in that space and place to share, support, empower, and instruct.  I hope by now you have taken note to my friend Mr. Owl (above)I thought the message was appropriate while allowing for a teachable moment.  In the field (of helping others change for the better) where we strive to provide we need certain skill sets in order to reach and teach in an effective manner.  The ability to be aware of not only yourself, but your surroundings is crucial.  Therefore, what you see (and how you interpret it) while how you present yourself is the Awareness that I'm speaking to...


The Owl's message points out an observation that I have often been witness to in the field, perhaps you have as well.  The example of when one is more concerned with being right, being heard for all of the wrong reasons, and is not always objective in their assessment.  This is what we see, how they look.  When you are aware of a scenario like this, you learn not only about yourself, but how you can choose to practice and model (towards your colleagues and clients).  Therefore, it is a necessary reminder (and an important one) to utilize your Awareness (self and environmental) in a manner that benefits YOU and those you are trying to reach.  This is not a difficult request to ask of yourself, if you are available to hear it. The difficulty resides when we create obstacles, suppress, or just haven't fully dealt with what is preventing our awareness from being present...
 
Often, when I am working with students I challenge them with this process, helping them explore their intention by having them see what they do not always recognize, understand, or choose to explore.  "Where are you at when this happening? or "What are you seeing when you observe your client act out? These type of questions are suitable for any and all in the field to use as a way to check-in with themselves or use as a teachable moment.  They may seem elementary to some, but what I say to that is keep working on your craft, a lesson learned prior is not always a lesson practiced in the present!


As always thank you for allowing me another opportunity to give, while I receive. As you transition into the end of your week, keep adding to your bucket while you work towards progress. When you do just that you will move yourself closer towards being empowered, and more than likely you will model this intention to those in need you are trying to reach upon your return.  Head up and heart open!



About Author
 








Daniel Jacob, MSW  Email
Founder oCan You Hear Me?  External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USCDaniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work)He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.   
More about the man behind the mission ⇢

February 7, 2013

Action or Result?


Glad to be back with all those than Can 
Hear Me!  I hope the week has treated you well, and if not may you recognize another opportunity to learn and move forward.  When I sit down to write, my audience is always in my thoughts.  My inspiration comes from that place of knowing that what I am sharing is helping someone in need. It is truly an opportunity to be empowered and inspired in a manner that lifts me up as I strive to help you help yourself.  It's definitely a parallel process, one that I receive from greatly, while reinforcing my model of support.  Lately I have been thinking about the idea of intention (purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions).  It is something that I feel is such a primary influence in how we walk through life, take care of ourselves (physically and emotionally) and ultimately how we are able to reach others in a positive and effective manner with our practice.


 If someone were to come up to you at work and ask you "what is your intention with this case/client?"  You would most likely give a response that was clearly in line with the best interests of the client, effective support, appropriate resources and interventions to help where needed, etc.  Now, put yourself in the field, under the pressure of the day, interacting with the obstacles and barriers that present themselves, and the affect that has been internalized over time and now may be triggered... What is your intention now?  You can say it is the same as when you were initially engaged, but is that coming from a place of intellectual reasoning?  Are you really present with that intention?  My point is that our intention in practice, although for the right thing, may often be affected/effected by the exposure of and long term effects of stress, fatigue, lack of hope, frustration (which often is impatience hiding within), and many other factors that can negatively impact our self.  So what do you do?


I recently finished the book Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky (with Connie Burk) "An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others." The book is a great reference (and tool) that provides several opportunities to help you help yourself.  The authors do a great job of incorporating personal stories (interviews from various helping professionals), in addition to sound research, books, and online resources for you to further investigate and learn from.  Part four of this book (Following the Five Directions) is a very helpful tool to any and all who strive to do the self-work and self-exploration needed in order to effectively help themselves, while ultimately reaching those in need.  Here you will be exposed to available support by creating space for inquiry, choosing our focus, building compassion and community, finding balance, and utilizing a daily practice of centering ourselves.  Because I have read this book and have been able to grasp this resource, I'm always available to listen, support, guide, and help you help yourself.  So, if and when please feel free to reach out!

As you move closer to the weekend, my hope for you is that your intention finds you in a place that has your best interests in mind, leading you towards action that creates positive results.  Until we meet again keep walking with your head up and heart open, tomorrow is a brand new day, one that you get to create!


 About Author
 








Daniel Jacob, MSW  Email
Founder oCan You Hear Me?  External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USCDaniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work)He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.  
More about the man behind the mission ⇢

February 1, 2013

Vulnerability

Validation                        
Understanding 
Living 
Needs 
Exposed 
Risk 
Attachment 
Blame 
Intense 
Love 
Imperfection 
Threat 
Yourself


 About Author
 








Daniel Jacob, MSW  Email
Founder oCan You Hear Me? External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USC. Daniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work). He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.  
More about the man behind the mission ⇢