www.theconnectionsnj.com
Health and Wellness
PAGE 34
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Reduce Pain & Stress
•
Pains/Aches/
Numbness
•
Allergies /Asthma
•
Stress /Sleeping
Problems
•
PMS/Menopause
•
Digestive/
Circulatory
Problems
•
Stroke Rehab
•
Depression/Anxiety
•
Chronic Fatigue
•
Nausea, Pain &
Fatigue from Chemo
•
Bell’s Palsy
•
Infertility
•
Arthritis Pain
Restore Harmony & Balance
United Acupuncture
Health Center
MOST MAJOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED
NJ Office:
Crosspointe, 27 Mountain Blvd. • Suite 8 • Warren
908-756-1538
Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 10am-7pm; Sat.: 9am-1pm
Peter Ng, LAc, NY, CA, NJ
NCCAOM Board Certified; On Faculty of Eastern School of Acupuncture
Xin Zheng, LAc, NY, CA, NJ
NCCAOM Board Certified; On Faculty of Eastern School of Acupuncture;
On Faculty of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS
AND YOU CAN
CHANGE YOUR WORLD!
By: Susan J. Friedman
,
LCSW, BCD, DVS
908-526-6376
“
The simplest things in life are the
most difficult things. Just getting
through a day well is not easy. The
most difficult thing in life, I think, is
living. I mean really living. A lot of
the time I’m in the present, and I am
thinking about the past or scheming
about the future and missing every
present moment, instead of actually
partaking of the sacrament of every
present moment.”
–
R.D. Lang
When clients come to my office in
the midst of a difficult life transition,
they often do not see the choices
they can use to make positive
changes in their lives. They do know
that “they are unhappy with the way
things are going” and “feel like they
are stuck in a very deep, dark hole.”
We all get stuck sometimes,
thoughts circle around and around in
our heads and we are unable to per-
ceive effective solutions. We feel
stuck, frustrated, angry and disillu-
sioned. As a result, we might dig an
even deeper hole in the panic of
doing something, anything to stop
the pain. I often tell my clients the
first thing you can do for yourself
when you are stuck is to accept that
you are stuck and put the shovel
down; in other words stop digging!
Change is difficult and it is easy to
get discouraged when you try and do
not achieve the outcome you were
hoping for. The truth is that just mak-
ing the effort is progress. Change is
not an event with an exact start and
stop point; it’s a process. Each step
you make, even if it’s a relatively
small step such as making the resolu-
tion to change, is still a step in the
right direction, bringing you closer to
your ultimate goal.
It’s also important to recognize that
even if you regress it’s not the end of
the world. Research has found that
change rarely occurs in a straightfor-
ward, linear sequence, and when
people relapse, they usually do not
fall all the way back to where they
first began their journey. If viewed
and used appropriately the faux pas
can serve as learning opportunities,
helping you to become more pre-
pared for the next phase of your
unique trip.
The following are some of the factors
linked with successful change:
•
When the change is self-motivated
•
When the change is rooted in pos-
itive thinking as opposed to guilt,
fear, or regret
•
When the goals are specific (i.e., I
will walk one mile at least four
days each week )
•
When you limit your goals to a
manageable number
•
When you develop a practical,
realistic plan for accomplishing
your goals (If you work 100 hours
a week, it’s unlikely that you will
have the time to walk one mile at
least four days a week.)
•
When you incorporate avoidance
of triggers in your action plan
•
When you spend time with others
who are positive role models for
the change you’re trying to make
I have worked with courageous
clients who have undertaken the
change process. It can happen. You
need patience, persistence, and a
strong commitment to improve your
life by making changes for the better.
I know that the journey is difficult
and it takes time to habituate to the
positive changes. I know you will be
proud of your success and so much
happier. I look forward to hearing
from you and helping you identify
your strategies for successful change!