Thoughts of the Unexpected Journey
Reviewed By: Nicole Cauchois, LCPC, LADC
Written By: Jodi Augustine-Evans, CPC-I
Close your eyes and imagine you are on a roller coaster
Some may like roller coasters and some not but indulge me here for a few minutes and pretend you like rollercoasters. When I was younger I loved the feeling of going fast and the wind in my hair. I still like roller coasters but need a Dramamine to enjoy the experience.
Use your senses to imagine what the experience is like:
What do you see? when climbing to the top of the initial ascent we might notice the blue sky, clouds, trees, the cars below, and the people. Do you notice it looks so different from being on the ground? What do you see when you take the initial descent and all the ups and downs of a roller coaster journey? Do you see anything, or are you so scared you can only hold to the harness snuggly embodied around your chest and close your eyes?
What do you hear? the sounds of your fellow riders laughing, crying, yelling, the sound of the ride with the wheels slowly clickety, clacking, and creeping upward towards the ascent to the tip top to only pause for a moment and then being hurled descend at speeds that create the sound of a whirlwind.
What do you smell? The sweet smells of the amusement park, cotton candy, funnel cakes, popcorn, or maybe the ride was just cleaned and it smells like bleach because the person in the ride before you lost it.
What do you taste? Maybe the aftertaste of the funnel cake or the popcorn is still stuck in your teeth.
What do you feel? The breeze, wind, sun, against your skin. Or do you notice your body is tense and anxious anticipating the roller coaster journey?
Now I want you to notice what you are thinking……….
What the heck was I thinking?
This is crazy!
I am glad I am next to this person I know experiencing the roller coaster journey with me.
Or, I wish someone would have joined along the rollercoaster journey but everyone in my party was too scared.
This is amazing I can't wait to ride it again!
Some Journeys are expected while others take us by surprise; Marriage, Starting a family, Schooling, Planning a Trip, Divorce, Death, Illness, Natural Disaster
All kinds of journeys in our journey of life.
Like the roller coaster with its ups and downs, all journeys have ups and downs and this specific journey that I am going to share is no different.
To begin the journey or not to begin the journey, this was the thought…… she pondered for many months. The separation and then divorce of her marriage were excruciating. The journey she had been on and anticipated for life had changed drastically.
It felt like her future and family were breaking down faster than she could comprehend and she was in shock and unbelief. Her outlook on the future had become uncertain, in one moment in time the life that she had loved, though not perfect, and had worked at for 18 years was in shambles and crumbling.
If, someone she trusted could tell her what the right choice would be for the success of her future. If someone she trusted could say what her future life had in store, she could make the “right” decision for her family. If someone could tell her why this all happened she could move forward and not stay stuck in this place of indecision.
Choosing a new path, a new way of life, and a new journey rather than fear takes courage. It takes stepping into the unknown, into the darkness, and embracing the confusion. The decision to begin a new journey can be the first difficult decision to move forward. And she did move forward but it took time to get to this place. There is no right or wrong amount of time to process, but what is important is that she processed and then took the leap of faith.
And the leap she took. At 41 years she went back to school with thoughts that she was not smart enough or young enough or strong enough but she was smart, youthful, and strong and proved it to herself. She graduated 6 years later after making many changes to her major, many changes in her lifestyle, and many changes in her thinking.
She swore she would never go to graduate school but she did. She finished a master's degree and a certificate after 4 years. She did it her way and finally got that career, found satisfaction, and fulfillment, and lived a life she created.
The journey she expected took a detour and though it was not what she had expected it all to work out; on the journey, she overcame many fears, made hard decisions, got out of ‘The Stuck,” did the hard work, and intentionally chose JOY.
In the unexpected journey, she learned about herself; she was strong and courageous and could do what she put her mind to. In the end, she knew she did not do it alone but her family, old friends, new friends, and her God to whom she had always looked, allowed her to choose to make the decisions. Knowing if she did make a wrong turn he would gently nudge her back to the path he knew would be the journey for her, where she would learn and grow to become the person and woman she yearned to be.
This woman was me and my journey. And I overcame those fears.
WE Find Joy When we choose to step out of the shadow of fear
~So choose to be seen
~Choose to face your fear (negative thoughts turn them upside down and focus on the goodness! Yes, the trail will persist, but intentionally choosing to see the beauty will improve your life.
~Find your people (people who inspire you and cheer for you)
~Know not everyone will be for you, and that is okay.
This is how we choose JOY with intention.
We find JOY when we choose FAITH & HOPE
Choose the uncomfortable, and the awkward, and know those feelings are okay and we all feel them.
Know you do not need to be perfect just show up, follow through, and do YOUR BEST, not your best friend’s best, not your mother’s best, or your neighbor’s best YOUR BEST.
Journeys are like roller coasters with many ups and downs.
We can not see the future and many like myself deal with anxiety. But that anxiety can be managed by intentionally working on our thoughts.
So many of us want “a for sure thing.” But this is not the reality of life. We can not see the future or the roller coasters and the ups and downs of the future. When we focus on negative thoughts we create fear, and those fears keep us from becoming our best selves.
So ENJOY THE JOURNEY of the ups and downs and learn from them.
Next time you feel yourself doubting, losing your faith, and hope close your eyes and take a moment to ground yourself using your 5 senses. Go on the roller coaster ride in your mind see all the beauty, in the unpredictability of the ride, and intentionally focus on the goodness of your journey.
It is a choice
Be intentional
Enjoy the journey.
We Are Here to Support you on Your Journey. Schedule a Counseling Session today!
My fundamental philosophy includes person-centered counseling in conjunction with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) with the idea that thoughts create feelings, and feelings create our actions or behaviors.
People can manage emotions and behaviors by choosing thoughts with intention and purpose!
All emotions are good. Life is not meant to be happy all day, every day, but feeling a range of emotions means embracing pain, levels of sadness, frustrations, guilt, anxiety, anger, heartache, and happiness. Good mental health encompasses understanding that we can learn and grow through adversity and embrace all emotions.
For further information on therapy or to schedule a consultation with Jodi, please visit The Healing Center's website at https://www.thehealingcentervegas.com/.
Contact The Healing Center via phone (702)505-1280 or email TheHealingCenterOperations@gmail.com.