I have found myself using the word “bittersweet” many times over the past month. It describes the huge decision my husband and I have made to leave San Diego after 20+ years to move back “home” to Massachusetts. The past couple years have made me crave family and a place we can plant roots. Home, family, and roots are all sweet. Leaving close friends, the house we raised our kids, and a perfect climate are bitter.
This is how it so often goes when we pursue choices in the service of values. If you are going to boldly go after a new job, share your creative work with others, or move across the country, you will undoubtedly feel more vulnerable. You will care that it goes well so you will likely experience anxiety or worry. But that emotional pain is often a signal that you are exactly where you are meant to be. Because if it wasn’t important, you wouldn’t be anxious! In fact, you can look to your discomfort to better understand what matters to you most, and you can use what matters to you most to guide your way forward even when you feel anxious or worried.
Learning to flexibly be present with the bitter allows the sweet—it opens us to live more freely, pursuing paths of opportunity, meaning, purpose, vitality, and fulfillment.
What is something bitter you might have to allow in exchange for experiencing something sweet?
Join Me
Did you know that bariatric surgery is the most effective and enduring treatment for the disease of obesity, and there are 250,000 of these surgeries performed in the U.S. every year? I am offering a brand new virtual 2-day intensive retreat to teach evidence-based psychological flexibility skills for maintaining long-term success following bariatric surgery. We will meet on Fri Oct 7th and Mon Oct 10th from 9a-4p EST. Click here for more information or to register.
Clinician’s Corner
ON SALE NOW 50% OFF! If you are a clinician who wants to learn ACT, I have an on-demand course (6 CEs) called “Breakthrough ACT Techniques & Experiential Exercises: A Clinical Roadmap to Help Clients Overcome Psychological Distress.” Click here for more information or to access the course.
My feel-goodie of the month
A bittersweet photo from one of many San Diego goodbyes with friends I love dearly. |