High School REACT

In my humble opinion...neither is it the job of the counselor to "plant seeds." Just as the healing does not come from us counselors, the seeds of growth don't come from us. As counselors, we are not the sower of seeds. We are not the bringer of photosynthesis that accounts for growth and healing. Then what is it that we do for clients? What we do is we provide a safe environment, rich soil free from elements that would otherwise prevent a seed from sprouting and producing any fruit. As counselors, we have control over whether the space we provide our clients is a safe and nurturing one no matter who it is seeking help at our door and no matter the nature of their suffering. "Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldy anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit." (Mark 4:18-9) "Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked i...

To the things we know now that we wished we had known years ago, the feelings that come up could be challenging and we could end up stuck in bewildered thoughts of self-pity. "How could I have been so blind." As though self-optimization were possible and that every minute of every day is within our control.. Yes, I have been led to believe this and to look at the past with such ingratitude. In response to my bewilderment over being so "late" to realize what work I "should have" done years ago, a good friend sent me this very helpful meme:  "You're not too late. You're just aligned with a future that takes time to build."

"There is a difference between knowing and recognizing. In essence, this difference makes us understand that we can know various things about a person, form an idea, rely on what others say about that person, we might perhaps meet that person every now and then in the neighbourhood; but all that is not enough. This is a knowledge, I would say ordinary, superficial, that does not recognise the uniqueness of the person. We all run this risk: we think we know so much about a person, even worse, we use labels and close the person within our own prejudices. (…) And here, we enter into the true crux of the problem: when we allow the convenience of habit and the dictatorship of prejudice to have the upper hand, it is difficult to open ourselves to what is new and allow ourselves to be amazed. We control: through attitudes, through prejudices… It often happens in life that we seek from our experiences and even from people only what conforms to our own ideas and ways of thinking so as neve...

We are not meant to ignore our talents and we should seek to live out our full potential. However, living out your full potential also is about living out your full potential for positive mental health. We must broaden our view of success to include positive mental health as a component of how we define success in the world. Otherwise our desire for worldly success can run roughshod and ruin our mental health outcomes.    The desire for worldly recognition, in itself, can lead to a mental health crisis. It causes confusion. We want to know who we are and where we stand when it comes to ranking and worldly standards. But worldly standards are not necessarily comprehensive ones. Nor are they accurate reflections of our inherent worth and dignity. They mislead us. Focusing on self-inflation as the singular object of life causes continual unrest and ruin.

God has placed gifts in each and every one of us, waiting to be given to others. When we give, the masks come off and what becomes very apparent is the very image of God in us. In allowing our gifts to be received by others, we come to see ourselves. When we are received well by others, we see our human dignity. We come to appreciate and respect ourselves in unexpected ways. And as we know from REACT.. (Respect, Empathy, Acceptance, Courage, and Trust), self-respect is an essential component for positive mental health.  Serving others is what will help you see yourself, see your self-worth. In giving to others, we come to know ourselves and what gifts we have to offer. Seeking to serve others will renew our outlook on life, shine a path forward, and get us through challenging times.