Musings from Ivon Waters, PCLC on connection and language
Finding the right language
Most households have an unwritten rule not to talk about politics or religion. Lucky for me, Mom spoke in a religious way and Dad spoke in a political way. That way, I would have all sorts of awkwardness when I would eat at a friend’s house for dinner. I didn’t have much to say!
When my parents divorced, I lived with my Mom and her parents and learned that love has it own language, but I didn’t know how to speak it. I learned much about love and religion from my grandparents in the 3 years I lived with them (I never did learn how to speak the language of politics).
A Positive Spin to Matters Spiritual
As a therapist, I have learned to love-and listen to-people for who they are, not what I need them to be. This points to the infinite that Rumi writes about and the lens with which that the Dalai Lama views others. It also is square with my Christian roots. Brilliant Sanity is the concept that we can take control of our own healing and find what we need, even if we don’t understand the journey.
More than words can Say…
Quoting an 80’s ballad may give you an idea about the image of love and what symbols attempt to describe, but it can’t teach you how to really listen to somebody’s story. I personally needed graduate school for that.
Religion and values can be spoken in a therapeutic session, but judging others for what they believe has no business in the therapy room. To live close to what you value can be a boon for the healing process. As a therapist, I try to establish a safe space to explore what ever comes up. I hope that if we meet, we can speak to each other in a language of love and respect allowing us to both to grow spiritually, in and out of the therapy room.
Thanks for your attention, Ivon
