Navigating inner conflict
La mayorÃa de nosotros tenemos la tendencia a creer que los verdaderos conflictos que dan forma al mundo ocurren 'ahà fuera', en los gobiernos, en las zonas de guerra, en las decisiones de los lÃderes poderosos. Sin embargo, si somos honestos con nosotros mismos, existe otro tipo de conflicto al que nos enfrentamos a diario, uno 'menos bullicioso' pero igual de persistente. Se manifiesta en las conversaciones que evitamos, en las verdades que eludimos y en las decisiones que posponemos. Como psicoterapeuta, he llegado a comprender que estas tensiones internas —entre el miedo y la valentÃa, la comodidad y el cambio— no solo dan forma a las vidas individuales. De hecho reflejan, de maneras sutiles pero impactantes, las mismas dinámicas que presenciamos en el escenario global.
Menopause
Menopause is not just about what is happening to your body, but also about what is happening inside your body. It is often described as a period of transition and transformation, one that not only has a profound physical impact, but also in your emotions. Remember, we are like a machine and, as a finely tuned one, every system in us is interconnected. Every internal system is influenced by this change, initiating a transformation that touches not only the body but also the emotional well-being and the sense of self. Though overwhelming, this process can also foster growth by reshaping perspectives and redefining priorities for the next step.
The Complex Landscape of Relationships
Whatever the stage of development, parent-child relationships are inherently complex. This not only impacts but also shapes how a child relates to others throughout life. In order not to cover the entire life span, we will reflect on this topic by considering the child between the stages of adolescence and young adulthood.
The Paradox of Loneliness
Loneliness is a complex emotional state that can be both sought after and imposed. Understanding its roots and recognizing the multifaceted nature of loneliness is helpful. Embracing the idea that loneliness is not an inherent trait, but a transient state is relevant in initiating a transformative journey.
The Silent Voice of Sadness
Life is an adventure that is constantly moving and evolving, full of twists and turns, highs and lows, and as we navigate its various phases, our life circumstances often undergo significant changes. While change is a natural part of life, it can sometimes become a silent catalyst for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
Midlife Crisis
For some time now, I have been thinking about the meaning, and impact, of midlife crisis. Is this an emotional state, a physical/hormonal state, or perhaps both? How do these combine? This article is not a study of biology, but it does highlight the importance of the interaction between mind and body, and how they affect each other.
Where do I Belong?
I recently participated in an online teleconference with a group of young people who have been living an expatriate life for some time. The focus of the conversation centred on the theme of 'belonging' and its meaning. Questions such as where do I belong, what do I belong to, what does home mean and where do we anchor our belonging in this world emerged as the common denominator.
Loss, Hope and Growth
COVID-19 has added an extra element of turbulence to our already busy lives. In my mind an image emerged that projected a world that seemed to have (almost) come to a standstill due to the pandemic. Life, as we knew it, was somewhat paralysed and, if not totally, at least slowed down and diverted by unexpected changes that certainly evoke different levels of uncertainty, anguish, fear and anger, among others. I thought it would be interesting to reflect on this situation and its possible implications depending on the 'stage of life' we are in and how 'hard' this situation 'hits' each of us.
React or Respond
Why do we sometimes feel that an emotion can take control of our lives in such a way that it inhibits our ability to think, affecting our behaviour and even our bodily functions? The aim of this short article is to try to shed some light on how to control our emotions in the framework of the never-ending internal dispute regarding how we react and/or respond to internal and/or external stimuli.
The 'Lasso' Effect
Remember those cowboy movies in which the 'youngsters' would appear on their beautiful, powerful steeds and spin their lasso in the air above their heads? If successful, they would jump off their horse and quickly overpower the steer. The animal would lie on the ground with its legs securely tied, feeling momentarily helpless as it was unable to move, let alone get up.