Krist Thomson - Psychologist

How brave you are for slowing down. For not finishing that to-do list.
How courageous you are for not crossing that finish line, because your body said “enough.”
How fearless you are for choosing the quiet of your soul over those voices driving you always towards more.
How bold, how rebellious -
you, out there,
honoring your own natural rhythm,
going against the culture’s breakneck speed.
We tend to make heroes of those hungry with ambition, relentlessly doing, producing always more.
We applaud those who refuse to stop or rest, sacrificing sometimes their heart and soul in the process.
Those who push themselves so hard in the name of achievement
that they ignore their own body crying out.
We celebrate those who are ill or aging but never show it, never slow down, never reveal a moment of vulnerability.
This drivenness can be heroic, at times. It can, at times, be necessary for our survival or the greater good.
But,
I want to make heroes of those who slow down.
I want to make heroes of those who listen to their bodies, and do not strive for more than what the soul truly needs.
I want to make heroes of those who do not force or push, but surrender to each moment as it opens.
I want to applaud those who may not be driven towards success as we know it, but instead are nurturing something deep and subtle and needed.
I want to celebrate those brave enough to cease all doing, even for a second, and sit with the ache in their hearts. A task many find harder than summiting the highest peak.
I want to make heroes of those who honor their limitations. Who are unable to keep up with the busy-ness of our times, yet show up to each profound, necessary moment.
Truly, it is an act of courage and rebellion to do any such thing,
in a world demanding you resist your own self, your own rhythm, your own soul.
The paradox is that often when we cease our incessant doing, even for a minute, and listen to that quiet voice within, we discover what it is we absolutely must do, and what instead can fall away.
We finally hear the call towards what serves our soul,
and what then will serve the world. Nothing more, nothing less.
A hero is simply someone brave.
So come, be softly brave.
Be a new, quieter kind of hero.
Few may applaud, it’s true, but your soul certainly will.~

~Leyla Aylin

Reflection, nurturing and connection to self requires solitude.
Actively seeking this regularly is not an escape, it's a homecoming.

https://www.kristthomson.com/
(Photo: Kilmt)

Most days are ordinary.
Some happy
Some extraordinary!
Some sad
Some devastating!
Some simply fuc×d up!
But mostly ORDINARY...

If tomorrow we're your last day,
what ordinary days/ memories/ things / people/ pets/ moments would be important to you?

Since COVID (and prior) "good" Psychologists have had long waiting lists. I have heard the of people waiting months for an appointment when in need and it's agony!
When I opened my practice I have made it a priority that my clients are able to easily book future sessions. This means, when I advertise available appointments I am confident in my capacity to offer new clients ongoing sessions.
Check out my website to see if I'm a good fit.

2nd season of a great podcast for anyone interested in mental health, particularly small business owners.

Small business support (Leanne)
https://www.fortitudeatwork.com.au/

Individual or couples counselling (John)
https://johndimond.com.au/

https://youtu.be/4v2RwxV_1EM

S2 Ep1 We're back! We’re excited to be back for a new season of Fortitude at Work. It’s good to be back with our usual banter about all things related to building personal fort...

Books now open to new clients!

Welcome Emma!

Emma rescued me from underneath a pile of admin tasks and has been instrumental in transitioning my business to operate completely independently!

Emma will be working for my business (virtually) several hours per week and I'm extremely grateful to be welcoming her on-board. Outsourcing to an efficient, reliable and friendly admin support has allowed me to focus more time on my clients, open more appointment times, complete further training and actually have weekends off!

If you're a business big or small I highly recommend you check out Emma's page and consider what you could do with the extra time you'd have by delegating some admin tasks.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090244774589&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Emma Goodwin - Virtual Admin Assistant Assistance with all your administration needs

Wishing all my clients and those who stumble across my page a happy & safe festive season.

While my books are currently full & I'll be reviewing my capacity for new clients end Feb.
In the meantime, please check out
John Dimond Counselling.
As one of my first counselling trainers he and I share many of the same philosophies on mental health, therapies and barriers to self-compassion.

John is gentle, kind, authentic and insightful.
Check out his page & website.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087044877963&mibextid=ZbWKwL

John Dimond Counselling Central Coast Crisis & Relationship Counsellor

Being sad is ok!

Tuning into negative stuff from the past or worrying about possible future problems is NORMAL.

Yup, we are wired to pay attention to negative experiences, we file them away with a red flag to avoid or prepare for them happening again.

That's survival!
Thank goodness we have this, otherwise that time as a kid I put my hand on the iron to check if it was hot would have been repeated, a lot!

The trouble comes when the list of sad/worrying things becomes our only focus. Like everything in life, it's about balance.

It's not surprising then, the powerful impact that tuning into things that are going well (gratitude/appreciation) has on resilience to depression and anxiety.

Let's be clear, I'm not talking about being a Pollyanna (squeaky clean, perpetually glad no matter what happens!) It's not achievable or authentic. Unfortunately, this is a misconception many people have about practising gratitude.

It's ok to be sad & worried about some things...and at the same time be thankful & hopeful about others.

So, if Like most of us, you have a list like the one in the photo, that's ok!
Have a go at having a second list too "things to be thankful/hopeful about today"
It doesn't need to be a long list, it just needs to be authentic (NO ONE can tell you what to be grateful for).
Make it meaningful!

Krist Thomson - Psychologist updated their business hours.

Boundaries & self-compassion!
Key elements to our mental health, recovery journey and general well-being.

Implementing loving boundaries, defining what's "my stuff" and "other's stuff" is not only important for you, it's important for others in terms of behaviours you are modelling as acceptable ways to be treated or acceptable expectations to have of ourselves and others.

It can be really difficult to feel worthy enough and that we have the right to put in boundaries, like the ones in this photo. Try re-framing this by placing the name of someone you love or care about at the top of these statements... for example "it's not my friend's job to ...."
Bit easier?
Don't you have these same rights? 🤔

Food for thought this weekend... which things on the "not my job" list have you most hooked? And what's one small action you could take to loosen the grip of that sense of responsibility?

This is me when I was about 8yrs old. If someone had said this to me then I'd have not thought twice... like, yep, I'm special, I got gifts, I don't need to be anything but me.
Today, after saying goodbye to a very important group of clients I received a lot of lovely feedback but this comment stuck with me.

For all of my adult life I have not felt good enough... In fact, I've worked very hard at showing others anything but "the real me" because Me is not special, Me needs to be so much more...More smart, more thin, more financially secure, more educated more more more etc...

But actually, in my work as a Psychologist, what I have found is being just Me has made others feel safe and more ok with them just being Them.
Being me, just as I am, is not only enough, it IS A GIFT, because no one can be Me, except ME!

Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. (Dr. Seuss)

Being You is easy, effortless, because you are You already... nothing more you need to do. (Dr Krist)

Be who you are say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind (Dr. Seuss)

Launch Day!
Out for a slow, mindful walk to re-set my mind and my intentions for the day.
The last 5 weeks have been hectic! As I slow down a bit I'm reminded of how important hitting the PAUSE button is (even just for a few minutes).

It's happening!

Living by my values of delivering client centred care and launching my own business from a grass roots GP practice in my local area.

Appointments open to new clients from this Thursday 5th May.

Face to face & telehealth sessions available.

Ourimbah Surgery
61 Pacific Highway
Ourimbah, NSW 2258
PH 4362 3162