BENEFITS of POSITIVE SELF-EXPRESSION

Benefits of Positive Self-Expression

 

 

---There are many different ways to express yourself...positively. One way is to share some of what is inside with someone else. This is a good way to affect the system in a positive manner.

---Most resident’s at Laguna Honda have a frustration just from dealing with health issues. Unfortunately, we reinforce NOT expressing that frustration instead of teaching the resident how to deal with that frustration. He learns many things that DON’T express the frustration and, has to deal with things that create more frustration. Suddenly, he has more frustration than he started with.

 

---A side note to this: This was much the case when I originally wrote this piece. LHH is adopting new opportunities that are creative and have the potential of being very self-expressive for the resident/patient. I hope that this direction is explored more and continues. I am much, more personally encouraged. I hope that persistence in this area is embraced and it is seen how valuable this avenue is...even if met with trepidation (especially at first) by the residents themselves.

---We must learn that it’s okay to have the frustration and manage it, instead of NOT having it and running from it. Many, if not most of us, don’t feel what we’re  feeling. We try to go someplace else, and distract ourselves from feeling bad. We would get through our frustrations and grow at a faster pace if we weren’t so hell-bent on avoiding certain feelings…especially the more painful ones. Let’s at least acknowledge how we feel. Talking it over, does just that. Feeling acceptable + accepting (by NOT resisting) what is obvious and inevitable in the dilemma, works wonders.

 

 

---They say, ‘’our toughness comes from our ability to face our embarrassments and pains.’’ And, ‘’the best way around something is to go through it.’’

---We are less defensive and don’t blame others as much when we face uncomfortable things. We accept our own responsibility in situations. Remember, it is more difficult thinking about facing something, than to actually face it. Facing how we feel about things is how we grow.

---We accept our own responsibility in situations. We find ourselves thinking for ourselves and are that much closer to finding and speaking with our own voice. We do everything with greater conviction. We have changed the negative of feeling badly into our new ‘’tougher’’ self by the process of self-expression. A ''REAL'' CONFIDENCE increase. Take Care.