Category: <span>Self-improvement</span>

Depression Relationships Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

The Value of Memorializing

Not too long ago I had the chance to visit the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center in New York City. Words fail to describe the sheer power of that site.

My son was with me that morning and I found myself stumbling through an appropriate way to explain to a child where we were and what we were witnessing. We talked about how all of those names etched in stone are names of people who are no longer with us. He was curious why there were two square holes with waterfalls in the middle of lower Manhattan. I had him look up and try and picture what once towered overhead. In delicate terms, I tried to describe how on a morning many years ago there was a great tragedy and those towers were badly damaged and came crashing down. We spoke about bravery and heroism. And we spoke about hurt and loss.

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Confidence Goals Self-improvement Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wit & Wisdom – William James

“The use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” – William James

 

How to develop a legacy:

 

Spend your time and energy and resources on that which is meaningful.

Develop relationships.

Be vulnerable.

Create boldly.

Invest in others.

Always be learning.

Always be sharing.

Balance conviction and compassion.

Find ways to be kind to yourself and others.

Anxiety Confidence Depression Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Thanks For The Feedback

Jason got his essay returned to him with several corrections and suggestions written by the teacher in red ink. He got a ‘B-’ on the assignment. He was hoping for an ‘A’.Katherine was giving a presentation at work and she noticed Lilly spent most of the time distracted by her phone and not listening to what was said. Afterward, Katherine’s boss told her how much she appreciated all the hard work Katherine had put into the presentation.Doug made dinner for his family but his youngest son refused to eat it saying that it tasted “yucky” and demanded to have Mac ‘N Cheese instead.Jackson told his wife how much he liked his wife’s new hairdo.Marita told her husband that she feels alone in the relationship and that she thinks her husband is always preoccupied with his job.

Feedback is all around us. Each and every day we face a barrage of feedback, both wanted and unwanted. Some of it is flat-out wrong, while others can be spot-on. There’s no avoiding feedback. We simply have the choice of how we respond to it. Read more

Anxiety Confidence Depression Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Erasing The Past

I recently read a news article about a tattoo artist in Iowa who offers a free service to remove old tattoos that depict racist images. Those who take him up on his offer express deep remorse and regret getting the hateful tattoos many years ago. Racially divisive images once represented a belief they were passionate about, but now symbolize a gross error in thinking and a mark of shame.

This tattoo artist in Iowa is offering a valuable service. An opportunity to erase reminders of the past that prevent some from living life to the fullest presently. One customer had a racial symbol erased and replaced with the name of his granddaughter. Erasing a hateful image that remained for years as a shameful reminder of foolishness and replacing it with a loving name that is the pride of this grandfather.

Transforming shame to pride. Read more

Confidence Depression Self-improvement Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wit & Wisdom – Galway Kinnell

“Sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness.” Poet, Galway Kinnell

We are all born with a value that is priceless. That value does not change over time. Only the perception of that value does.
Life has a way of making us think that our value is tarnished. Maybe, if we are honest with ourselves, we also fall into the trap of devaluing others. Read more

Depression Goals Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Christmas Decorations in March

The first couple of weeks in January are always a bit sad for me. The festive lights and decorations that seem to be everywhere through the holidays start to come down. Well, most of them. Some houses suffer from Chronic Holiday Decoration Procrastination. The strings of lights and the lawn inflatables that light up the street and inspired so much joy in December seem to be oddly out of place as the weeks go by in the New Year. Read more

Confidence Goals Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Don’t Waste A Failure

Shortly after winning the College Football National Championship, Alabama Football Head Coach, Nick Saban, reflected on the season that had just concluded. And his reflection brought him back to the end of the previous year’s Championship game. A contest in which Nick Saban and Alabama lost to Clemson on the final play of the game. Standing there on the podium in front of reporters Saban was asked how last year’s championship loss impacted his approach to this year.

“I don’t want to waste a failure,” Saban said.

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Confidence Self-improvement Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wednesday Wit & Wisdom

“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” Muhammad Ali

Potential is a fascinating thing. By its very nature, it includes an element of disguise. A skill or a talent or a strength is hidden from us, lying dormant, waiting to be released. Oftentimes that skill is surprising. And just as often it can come from an equally surprising place of origin. Read more

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 2

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Global Leadership Summit is a two day event hosted outside of Chicago. It brings …

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 1

Am I a leader? If so, what and who am I leading? And how good of a job am I doing at leading? If I’m honest, these are …

Non-Zero Day

Zero Days. We’ve all had them. And if you’ve had enough Zero Days you know that they can lead to despair. The …