Tag: Easter

Popular Psychology

Rebirth

by Torey C. Richards, LMHCLeave a Comment on Rebirth

This Easter weekend for those who observe it as a time of renewals and new beginnings. It’s a great time to think of beginning anew.

Have you ever felt like you wanted to start over, like you wished you could be reborn? It’s a common feeling that many people experience at some point in their lives. Whether it’s because of past mistakes, difficult circumstances, or just a desire for change, the idea of being reborn can be incredibly appealing.

When I was younger, I remember every weekend thinking that next week is a new beginning. I can start over, be a better person and move on from whatever things were bothering me the week before. As I got older, sometimes I forget that every day is an opportunity to start over in some way. An opportunity to be reborn.

But what does it really mean to be reborn, and is it even possible?

From a psychological perspective, being reborn could be seen as a process of personal transformation. It involves letting go of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve us and embracing new ways of thinking and behaving.

One way to facilitate this transformation is through the process of introspection. By reflecting on our past experiences and examining our thoughts and behaviors, we can gain insight into the underlying patterns that are holding us back. This self-awareness can help us identify areas where we need to change and grow.

Another key aspect of being reborn is the willingness to take risks and try new things. Change can be scary, and it’s easy to fall back into old habits and ways of thinking. But by embracing new experiences and stepping outside of our comfort zones, we can open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities for growth.

Of course, being reborn is not a one-time event. Personal transformation is an ongoing process that requires continued effort and commitment. It’s important to be patient with ourselves and to recognize that change takes time.

Here are some ways to use Easter to look at starting over:

  1. Let go of the past: Starting over often involves letting go of the past. Easter is a time of forgiveness and renewal, which makes it a great opportunity to release any negative emotions or grudges that may be holding you back. Consider reflecting on what you need to let go of in order to move forward.
  2. Focus on new opportunities: Easter is a time of hope and new beginnings, which can help you shift your focus towards new opportunities. Think about what you want to achieve in the future and set goals for yourself. Use Easter as a time to create a plan for reaching those goals.
  3. Surround yourself with support: Starting over can be difficult, so it’s important to have support from others. Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you in your journey. This could be family members, friends, or a support group.
  4. Practice self-care: Starting over can be stressful, so it’s important to take care of yourself. Make time for activities that you enjoy and that help you relax, such as exercise, meditation, or reading. Practice self-compassion and be patient with yourself as you navigate this new beginning.

So while we may not be able to literally be reborn, we can still embrace the idea of personal transformation and growth. By letting go of the past, being open to new experiences, and committing to ongoing self-improvement, we can create a brighter, more fulfilling future for ourselves.

Taking Control of Your LIfe

Letting the Dead Die this Easter (2021)

by Torey C. Richards, LMHCLeave a Comment on Letting the Dead Die this Easter (2021)

Nine years ago, I wrote a post entitled Letting the Dead Die this Easter and since it was so long ago, I thought I’d rewrite and expand on it since a lot has happened over those nine years.

Holding on to Dead Stuff

One of the reasons we get cheated out of living our best lives is that we tend to hold on to too much dead stuff. Dead relationships, dead jobs and dead dreams for example.

This Easter, the resurrection, no matter what religion (or no religion) you believe in, can have significant meaning for all of us. Perhaps you are married to something that is dead or holding on to a dream that is dead. Too many of us are holding on to death while trying to live.

Letting Dreams Die

Many of us have dreams that need to die. It’s not the most pleasant thought, but holding on to a dream that will never come to fruition holds us back from realizing the dreams that can and have already come true. It can’t happen until you let that dream die. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have dreams or fight for those dreams, even when they seem impossible, but sometimes we have to readjust the way expect that dream to come true.

For example, I have a client in his early fifties who has always dreamed of living in foreign exotic countries. He thinks about it pretty much every day and gets depressed when he realizes he’s not currently living that dream. At this moment, for him living that dream isn’t really practical. He has family obligations that are keeping him anchored in one place. My advice to him was to stop dwelling on the fact that he wasn’t currently living his dream because he was missing out on the beautiful life he has right in front of him. I told him he could still travel to and take vacations to those places and even study the languages of the places he wants to live. This particular dream doesn’t to die, but he does have to let go of the idea that it’s going to happen today or exactly how he had imagined it.

Another example is that some people say that they want to be doctors or lawyers, but they don’t like to read and they hate school so they are currently doing other jobs that don’t require much education and are still saying that they want to be doctors and lawyers. Of course if they decided they really wanted to apply themselves, thy could be whatever they wanted to be, but the reality is, they don’t want to be doctors and lawyers bad enough to make the sacrifices. They need to let those dreams go and create more realistic dreams based on the things that they enjoy doing, value and are willing to work hard to make come true. Otherwise they’re going to continue to be stuck doing menial, unsatisfying jobs while telling everyone around them they want they plan on being a doctor or lawyers.

Letting Relationships Die

A new great romantic relationship can’t happen until you let your old relationship die. You’re tied to something dead. Since I wrote this in 2012, I’ve had to let several relationships die. One was with someone I’d dated in high school and into my early adult years. After we broke up we remained friends, but it wasn’t a healthy friendship, it was almost parasitic on her part and it damaged and threatened any new relationship I tried to have with another woman. As much as it hurt, I had to let that relationship die if I wanted to have the chance of building something with someone more compatible.

A year later I did meet someone great, but that relationship also turned toxic and as much as I wanted it to work out eventually things go so bad that I knew I had to let that relationship go and force it to die. It was hard, just like letting any relationship or dream die because I saw so much good potential in it, but the reality was the bad outweighed the good and I would just get dragged through the mood trying to hold on to that potential.

More recently, I had to let a friendship go. I was friends with someone and we were just growing in totally different directions. I try to be healthy and workout and he likes to smoke and drink all day while partying all night. We started to have less and less in common and it got to the point were I dreaded hanging out with him. I found myself canceling plans we made or if I didn’t cancel I was glancing at my watch the whole time waiting for our evening to be over. He isn’t a bad guy, or even a bad friend, but in my opinion, he brought no added value or joy to my life. I could think of a dozen things I’d rather to doing then hanging out with him including doing nothing at all. I was forcing myself to be in a friendship I should just let die and by letting it die, I felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulder and like I had got back just a little more time to do the things I enjoy doing.

Letting Jobs Die

I know a lot of people who waste years at dead end jobs. Jobs that they hate, jobs that don’t utilize their talent, creativity or intelligence. They just show up, some for decades and they’re not happy, but they’re not miserable enough to leave. Working in a correctional setting I have met guards who hate their jobs, feel like they’re basically baby sitting adults and yet they will come show up for the next 20 years so they can retire and they will complain about it for the next 20 years. I personally can’t leave like that. i’ve definitely been in jobs I should have left long before I did and there’s many reasons behind that, but for me, the biggest reason is fear of the unknown. Your current dead end job may be comfortable, even if it’s not stimulating or making you happy. Your dream job may require taking more of a risk, learning something new, putting yourself out there where you don’t know if you’ll fail or not. So it’s safe to stay at your dead end job, even if it’s slowly killing you inside.

Your dream job might be right around the corner, but it’s hard if not impossible to get to it if you are holding on to your dead job.

What’s in Your Life that Needs to Die?

This Easter, and periodically afterwards, I want you to examine what is it in your life that needs to die. Perhaps you need to let some guilt die, fear die or something from your past you’re still holding on to… let it die.

Maybe it’s a fantasy. Maybe you’re holding out for the perfect person and you’re missing so many other terrific people because you won’t let that fantasy die. This Easter is all about resurrection. Let what is dead go so that you can make room in your life for everything that is waiting to be raised.

Easter represents the the new life we all can find by living in the truth. Let what needs to die die so that this Easter Sunday, and everyday forward, you can be free to be all you were meant and born to be.

Popular Psychology

Letting the Dead Die this Easter Sunday

by Torey C. Richards, LMHC3 Comments on Letting the Dead Die this Easter Sunday

Holding on to Dead Stuff

One of the reasons we get cheated out of the most our lives can be is because we hold on to too much dead stuff. Dead relationships, dead jobs and dead dreams.

This Easter, the resurrection, no matter what religion (or no religion) you believe in, can have significant meaning for all of us. Perhaps you are married to something that is dead or holding on to a dream that is dead. Too many of us are holding on to death.

Many of us have dreams that need to die. It’s not the most pleasant thought, but holding on to a dream that will never come to fruition holds us back from realizing the dreams that can and have already come true. It can’t happen until you let that dream die.

A new great relationship can’t happen until you let your old relationship die. You’re tied to something dead.

Your dream job might be right around the corner, but it’s hard if not impossible to get to it if you are holding on to your dead job.

What’s in Your Life that Needs to Die?

This Easter, and periodically afterwards, I want you to examine what is it in your life that needs to die. Maybe it’s a fantasy. Maybe you’re holding out for the perfect person and you’re missing so many other terrific people because you won’t let that fantasy die. This Easter is all about resurrection. Let what is dead go so that you can make room in your life for everything that is waiting to be raised.

Easter represents the the new life we all can find by living in the truth. Let what needs to die die so that this Easter Sunday, and everyday forward, you can be free to be all you were meant and born to be.