Pathways Out of Depression Part 4: Creating New Programming

If you’ve been reading my blog post series about overcoming depression, hopefully by nowyou’re crystal clear about what your values are (See Pathways out of Depression: Parts 1- 3) and you have a good idea about how they can help you carve a path out of depression.

But beyond this, you also need to know how your past experiences might be triggering your depression. A good example of this is the character “George” in the movie “Hugo.” George is a brilliant filmmaker whose visionary movies enchant his viewers until they become distracted by WWI. When people stop coming to see his films, George gets depressed and angry, telling himself his work isn’t important and no one cares.

As George continues to buy into these beliefs over the months and then years, his depression gets worse. He blames it on the world around him, because “no one” recognizes his genius.

Depression, Hope, Art + ProjectsTamara HerlJuly 8, 2017depression, Old Programming, New Programming, Self TalkComment

Pathways Out of Depression Part 1: The Link Between Depression & Life Purpose

If you buy into what the entertainment media is selling, I’m guessing that you think depression is bad—something to be avoided at all costs.

If you will only:
* Take this pill
* Buy that car
* Wear these shoes that make your feet feel oh so good,
Then you can keep depression at bay.

But how much money do you spend each year trying to push depression away? Funny thing is, all of those fixes are only temporary. They don’t get to the core of what is making you blue.

Journey Through the Darkness

One of my clients recently told me how distraught he is by the state of affairs in the US, especially with all of the politics related to the election. I told him the way I choose to view this is to believe that all of the darkness Humanity has created is now surfacing to be healed and cleared.

There are so many things around and within us that need to be healed and cleared. If we try to fight or suppress them, it may feel like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. The more we push down, the harder the ball pushes back!

Hope, Life CoachingTamara HerlMarch 16, 2017Politics, Fear, Healing, Anxiety, Beauty, BalanceComment

The "N" Word

I don’t agree with the old adage “Tis better to give than receive.” In my 25+ years of working with human service professionals including teachers, nurses, and therapists, I have seen too many of these helpers experience burnout. Many employers are only too happy to see their workers give 100%+ of their time and energy. But if you are giving 100% of yourself in the workplace, how can you have any energy left over for the rest of your life?

Evolution, Hope, Life CoachingTamara HerlMarch 3, 2017Energy, Transforming, Transformation, Spiritual, Emerge, Enouragement, Life Lesson, Life Coach, No, Saying NoComment

Architects for Humanity

What things in your own life and in society bother you?
What if the reason these things irritate you is because YOU are part of the solution?

Perhaps you are being called to become an Architect--not for a building, but for designing the very systems and structures that will create a foundation for the New Earth!

Abundance, Hope, Life Coaching, Personal Growth, ProsperityMelodyFebruary 27, 2017Humanity, Systems, Structure, Secret, Transforming, Meditate, Play, RestComment

Maintaining Hope

Visual Journaling is an amazing tool to help you gain insight! I have had difficulty maintaining hope on a consistent basis, so I used this process to help me gain insight. I randomly colored lines and shapes on the page, added magazine images and other items that appealed to me, and then wrote about what I saw in my image. I was reminded that spending mindful time in nature and thinking about nature's cycles helps me feel hopeful. And the little round orange circles are "Bright Spots" that I'll look for every day.

Hope, Art + ProjectsTamara HerlFebruary 23, 2017Visual Journaling, Insight, HopeComment

The Role of Love

Today, I invite you to consider the role of Love in relationship to a particular challenge you are facing.

I recently asked a client who had been dealing with a challenge for several years, to imagine herself on a path. I asked her to picture what was standing between herself and what she is wanting. She told me that she saw herself standing in the way. This is often the case, and what we typically do is berate ourselves for not being who we need to be or doing what we need to do. But how well has that been working for you?

Hope, Life Coaching, Personal GrowthTamara HerlFebruary 14, 2017Love, Inner Wisdom, Hope, Self Love, Guided Imagery, VisualComment

Seeing the Gift in Pain

Witnessing domestic violence as a preschooler had a powerful impact on me. I can FEEL other people's pain, and until I understood and learned how to deal with this as an adult, I found it challenging, to say the least.

Yet, without this ability—the gift of empathy—I would not be nearly as effective in my work as a Life Coach and Art Therapist.

Hope, Personal Growth, ProsperityTamara HerlFebruary 3, 2017Pain, Witness, Empathy, Enouragement, Personal Development, Wisdom, PerspectiveComment

Disobeying Fear

A lonely IT guy named Jason Comely got fed up after his wife left him and he realized he was afraid of rejection. So, he started getting rejected ON PURPOSE! He dreamed up a bunch of different ways he could get rejected and tried them out. By confronting his fear head on, he soon got to the point where he was no longer afraid of rejection. He even created a deck of cards called the Rejection Therapy game! His game gave me the idea of creating my own cards.

Hope, Personal Growth, SpiritualityTamara HerlJanuary 26, 2017Fear, Hope, Cards, Personal Development, Spiritual, Wisdom, Inner WisdomComment

Be a Part of the Evolution

In human history there has been a continuous and growing impulse toward the regeneration and transformation of humanity. —Barbara Marx Hubbard.

Senseless acts of violence like public shootings paint a picture of the worst of human nature.

Evolution, HopeTamara HerlJanuary 9, 2017Evolution, Current Events, Guided Imagery, Mental Exercise, EnouragementComment

Planting Seeds of Hope

Sometimes the seeds we plant sprout later than we expect, or even seem to disappear, only to surprise us by sprouting someplace else entirely.

Have you ever invested time or energy towards trying to make something that is important to you happen, only to find the end results disappointing?

Hope, Personal GrowthTamara HerlJanuary 4, 2017Hope, Enouragement, Life Coach, Coaching, Personal Development, Spiritual, Time, EnergyComment

Stand at the Portal

Last night as part of our Solstice Celebration, we made time for meditation. I had set an intention to receive Guidance about the coming year.

As I sat in the richness of the deep silence, I saw myself standing at a portal looking out. A thought came to me: Changes will be happening very quickly. Stand at the portal and look out. At first, I wasn't sure what that meant. However, I've learned that my Guidance often comes in bits and pieces, so I wasn't too concerned...

Spirituality, Prosperity, Life Coaching, HopeTamara HerlDecember 22, 2016Spiritual, Celebration, Ceremony, New YearComment