What is Wrong Sweetheart?

"There is no greater agony than the untold story inside of you." -Maya Angelou

A day at temple for the Jewish New Year… beautiful service and prayers. Hugging temple members and friends. Feeling God in the prayers, the rabbi’s words, the cantor’s melodic voice, the songs, the holy connection to all the world there in my temple.

Later that night, dinner with family. Beautiful babies. Joy. Love. Great conversation. Amazing food. Wonderful people.

All this bounty. All this to be thankful for.

Then why this sadness in the pit of my stomach?

Why these tears that hide behind my eyes?

Sitting in silence, I decide to let my tears have a voice.

I sit down and with pen in hand, I ask myself the simple question: “What is wrong, sweetheart?”

As my pen moves, my tears flow.

And I confess:

I miss my kids terribly and this makes me so sad. I want desperately to hug my little granddaughter and rock her to sleep. I want to make the serious illnesses of my brother-in-law and one of my closest friends go away. I want to bring my Aunt back to life in her most healthy and glorious state so my uncle will be happy again. I want my clients to have happier relationships and better lives. I want all diseases to be obliterated from the earth.

I want things that are not possible to have.

The tears keep flowing as I allow all the sadness to have a voice.

And with each tear that flows my sadness feels accepted. It feels heard.

I remind myself that it is okay to feel sad. How could I forget that denying sadness squelches your vitality, your life force? Numbing yourself just doesn’t work… it always catches up to you. And I guess it caught up with me.

So I will muck around in it for awhile. I will allow it to breathe and to circulate so it can unstick a bit. I will give my sadness a voice until it is done talking.
And then I will be more myself again. Freer. Less constricted.

I may call a friend to share my sadness or I may find that I don’t need to. Maybe the writing and the tears are enough.

Of this I am sure of. I cannot find my kids jobs here but I can be the best out of town mom and grandma in the world. I can relish in the fact that they are happy and doing well. I can take tremendous joy out of our phone calls, our Skype sessions and all the times we are together. I cannot make my brother-in-law or friend well or bring my Aunt back to life, but I can be there for them physically and emotionally. And I can send them light and prayers and cheerful e-mails and cards and phone calls.

And then I will do what makes me come alive. I will listen to uplifting songs. I will sing. I will dance. I will meditate and pray and read awesome books. I will walk and do yoga. I will spend time in nature. I will cook great, healthy meals. I will scrapbook. I will post on inspiring posts on facebook. I will write articles. I will play games with friends. I will go to the movies.

I will allow myself to feel because that’s what being alive is all about. And I will feel my sadness for as long as I need to. And I will pick myself up, dust myself off and begin again to see the goodness in the world.

Call to action:

When you feel those feeling of sadness, get a journal and let them have a voice. If nothing comes to you, start to draw…sometimes the right brain knows what the left brain doesn’t.

Give yourself lots of kindness and compassion.

Remember to breathe.

Sometimes you may need a break from your feelings. Imagine yourself in a safe space that you love. It may be somewhere you know or something you create. .It could be a room or a place in nature. Put anything or anyone in it who gives you comfort. Imagine the colors and objects or things from nature you most love. Spend some time feeling that healing energy.

Sometimes these feelings may be triggering an old memory. You can ask yourself what this reminds you of. Often we get great relief from knowing this.

EFT or tapping therapy can help to move stuck energy out of your energy system. Check out my website or e-mail me for more information.
Brenda Strausz is a holistic psychotherapist with a practice in the Metro Detroit Area who specializes in women’s issues. She can be reached at www.BrendaStrausz.com.

My Love Letter to the World

My Love Letter to the World

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.

~ Mother Teresa

I remember talking to a friend in high school where I berated myself for not being able to play an instrument or sing or dance well. "Oh Brenda, don't you see?" she so sweetly answered me. "You are a sunshine spreader! You are always inspiring people with your joy and positivity. That is the best gift you can give!" My friend's comment was very astute. I have an important job in the world.

My blog and articles I write are a love letter to the world. I like to think of people smiling quietly when they read them. I am hoping that if they read something that touches their soul, their heart may expand a bit; they may stand a little taller and see the world through different eyes. Maybe they read a sentence or two to their mom over the phone or make a copy to keep on their bulletin board. Maybe they think about one of the lines during the day that inspires them or brings them comfort.

My workshops, teleclasses, EFT Healing Circles and individual sessions are my love letters to the world also. They give me an opportunity to teach and inspire many people at the same time.

How I live in the world is my love letter too. I want everyone who comes in contact with me to feel better because they had an encounter with me.

My children are my love letter to the world. I told them when they began to take trips out of the country that they were ambassadors for our family, for Michigan and for the United States. Grown up now, I am proud that they show love and caring in their daily interactions with people in their lives. Like the line from the movie, Mr. Holland's Opus, "They are my symphony!"


Of course there are artists like my sister Cheryl and my sister-in-law Jo who bring joy into the world with a luscious interplay of color and light. There are gardeners like my father who create living oases of beauty and wonder. How about the decorators (or homemakers) who create spaces of beauty that make you feel all warm and cozy inside? Or the teachers like my husband Richard and my favorite high school social studies teacher, Mr. O'Hara who inspire you to reach higher and higher? There are musicians like Yitazk Perlman and singers like Barbara Streisand whose music and lyrics reach the depths of your soul.

Of this, I am certain that every kind and wonderful things we do is a love letter to the world. So, my friend, what is your love letter and how do you deliver it?


Call to Action

§ Spend some time figuring out what your special talents and abilities are.


§ Realize that these are your love letter to the world.


§ Take notice of how your gifts affect the people in your life.


§ Notice how happy this makes you.


§ Be proud of all you are!

Affirmations

I touch others when I give the gift of my time and attention.

I am so grateful for the gifts I have to share.

I get joy out of sharing my gifts with the world.

Everyday is a new opportunity to share myself with the world.

Please join me for aTeleclass on Improving Your Self Esteem with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Join me as I guide you on how to use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to help you move beyond the limiting beliefs that keep you from living in your full magnificence!

After this class you will feel refreshed, recharged and ready to take on the world. Plus you will have a tool for life.

Special Launch Price: $20
Date: Tuesday, September 14th, 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm EST


Go to the post 8/25/10 to register with secure paypal!

Seeyou there!

Teleclass: Improving Your Self-Esteem with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Join Brenda Strausz as she guides us on how to use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to help you move beyond the limiting beliefs that keep you from living in your full magnificence!

After this class you will feel refreshed, recharged and ready to take on the world. Plus you will have a tool for life.

Launch Price: $20
Date: Tuesday, September 14th, 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm EST

Click the "Buy Now" button for secure payment with PayPal

Handout and worksheet included in this class!

What is EFT?

EFT is a simple technique that consists of tapping gently on meridian points on your body to relase stuck energy. You will feel the relief in your body mind and soul immediately. EFT is used world-wide by psychologists, doctors, hypnotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, with great success. The best news is once learned, you will have a tool for life.

How will EFT help me to improve my self-esteem?

We will explore the fears and limiting beliefs that you have been living by. These beliefs and thoughts become like an internalized parent that lives in your head and weakens your confidence and depletes your energy and keeps you from living in your true magnificence.

With EFT, we learn how to disengage from this critical voice and open up to the beauty that is in each one of us.

I am a holistic Psychotherapist, Life Coach, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping) Practitioner and Hypnotherapist. My passion is helping women (and men) love and accept themselves and overcome any obstacles that stops them from living in their full magnificence. I believes strongly in the healing power of love and forgiveness and feel that your joy is the greatest gift you can give the world!