Painful Stuff
FACING THE PAINFUL STUFF
By Pamela Brewer, MSW, Ph.D., LCSW-C
It’s often hard to see that which feels too painful to see. For many of us…the ability to turn “a blind eye” feels like a welcome skill. But is it? Ask yourself these questions and then you decide…
- What am I afraid of?
- Are my fears based in reality?
- Have I ever experienced this before?
- How have I dealt with difficulties in the past?
- What will happen if what I most fear is true?
- What do I need in order to be able to survive?
- How do I benefit from not paying attention to the fear?
- Am I harming myself/other by turning away?
- Do I deserve to turn away?
These may be difficult questions to answer – take your time. When you have answered them – you may find yourself in a better position to have an honest dialogue… with you!