I get it...Life IS Good!

Scott Sulak

As a mental health practitioner I am always striving with my clients to arrive at a point where the can achieve the true "ah-ha!" moment. I would like to share this short story about Beth (not her real name). Beth has struggled with various forms of depression, anxiety and weight gain for a good portion of her life. She has also been to a variety of therapists and counselors who have helped her with a range of issues having to do with her mom, her dad, death, eating and relationships. She had grown frustrated and a bit angry that for some reason she just did not "get it." Not having really given up, Beth decided to try again. She came in for a series of sessions.

The first revelation was that she had actually evolved; that the work she had done in the past had actually done some good! Beth continued to peel the layers of the onion with the understanding that you don't always see the immediate benefit, but if you know where you want to go, keep focusing on it...you will get there.

Her marriage improved, the pain in her back had subsided, her preoccupation with her parents greatly diminished (nearly gone), and she lost a considerable amount of weight. During her most recent session, we mutually decided that she should take a break and enjoy the fruits of her discoveries. It was a glorious moment for Beth. Look how far she had come. You could tell she was proud of herself. She smiled and said, "Life is good."

I smiled. She was right. It is good. I then said, "You know, Beth, this is the same life you had before you started your journey. The same house, same family, same past, same car, same body. It is all the same stuff." She came to this realization, this "satori," a moment of awakening. Nothing had changed but the date and, of course, her perspective.

How simple: Change your perspective and everything changes....the past, the present, EVEN (especially) the future. She smiled as she left. Life IS good!