I know, I know, setting an intention is very “in” right now and fits right in line with all the holistic, yoga, wellness movement information that is out there. Interestingly enough, as much as “setting an intention” is a bit of a fad right now, it can actually be really beneficial and helpful in making changes. I’ll share a bit about my personal experience with this and how I choose to set an intention through choosing one word to focus on throughout the year.
 
I remember as a teen and young adult I would often set a lengthy list of New Year’s resolutions. I would really think about them, you know, the day of New Year’s Eve and promptly forget them by the end of January. I’m sure there were some great goals and ideas in there as well as some pretty lofty changes I wanted to make in the year! 
 
A few years ago, during our annual Christmas trip to whatever part of the country my family decides to meet at (we are quite scattered around!), my sister asked me what my “word” of the year would be for the next year. I loved this idea and instantly started thinking about it… what one word would encompass all my amazing ideas and goals for the next year? How can I choose just one?  I also remember thinking that this was truly something we had stumbled on because it is so much easier to remember one word than a whole list of self-improvement tasks we might come up with.  So, I came up with Balance. And the next year, Strength. And next, and most recently, Faith. Each one has very special meaning and truth for me personally. And I can honestly say that these words have guided me in ways I did not anticipate. They have been my bookends or guideposts for the year. When I would struggle, feel lost, confused, I come back to those words as ways to center myself around my goals.
 
Last year in choosing my word and reflecting on the word Strength and how it helped guide me through some very challenging experiences in my life, I realized that I wanted to share this idea with my clients and anyone I could!  Choosing one word that represents what you want to cultivate, embody, and focus on for the year is so simple. But, so powerful.
 
The only thing to know if you choose to take this on, is that it is still hard to make changes and keep to your goals. Change and growth will always be difficult and a challenge to take on. A word does not change that, just helps guide and support you if you choose to use it. “Using it” means that you remind yourself of the word and consider all the ways that word could be present in your daily actions and what it embodies to you. And you choose to then lean into the areas that it leads you towards.
 
I hope that you try this out this year! My word this year is going to be "Gratitude" and while this may sound a bit simple, with this many changes coming my way with the new practice this year, I want to focus on what I am grateful for, rather than what is challenging, overwhelming, or difficult so I do not lose sight of my reasons for doing what I do! I would love to hear about any words that all of you choose! Please feel free to share them in the comments :) 
 
And again, please make sure to sign up for our newsletter and navigate to www.thrivetherapystudio.com in the New Year to keep in the loop on all the fun things we do and write about!
 
As always, thanks for reading  and comments are always welcome regarding any issues around child, teen, adult and marriage and family counseling services in San Diego.  
 

Setting yourself up for success in the new year… why it’s important to have a “year in review” 
 
This is the first blog in my blog series that is dedicated towards growth, change, setting intentions, and renewal. As 2016 draws to a close and I prepare for 2017, I am feeling inspired to discuss ways to make changes in a more effective way. I am also setting a personal goal to get back to blogging more as I realized how much I have missed it over the past year! 
 
So, this blog is dedicated to discussing the importance of reviewing your growth and progress over the past year (or whatever time frame feels helpful to you!). I believe that it is so valuable to have markers in time that help signal us to sit back and contemplate how things are going. For some, that may be attending therapy on a routine basis to check in with yourself and for others, changes in the season, anniversaries, or the approaching New Year might signal a time of reflection for you. As a therapist, I contemplate progress and change often!
 
Here are 5 Questions that may guide you in completing your own “Year In Review” as the first step in your overall process of renewal, reflection, and further growth and change.
 

• What are the perceived successes of your year?  (What is going well?)
• What areas show you opportunities for growth?  (This is a different way of saying, where do you feel you are not doing your best or where are the failures at?  I prefer to re-frame the word failure to take the sting out of it and make our reflection productive!)
• In your life, what are your priorities and how would your rank them in importance?  Are your actions consistent with this ranking?
• When you consider how you are balancing all the different roles in your life, how do you feel you are doing?  Is there something that you may need to let go of or something to add in?
• What areas might you be avoiding and consciously or unconsciously not dealing with?  This might be a relationship, feelings about a situation or person, or opportunity.  Consider why you might be avoiding this area and if it is something to consider handling differently in the New Year.

 
Make sure to set aside some time to sit back and reflect on how your year has gone. Maybe you grab a coffee, go for a walk, sit at a favorite place of tranquility. Maybe you squeeze this into your routine at night when the kids are in bed. Either way, try to take some time to really sit with these questions to help you process your year fully as these questions and your experience of them will guide your intention for the upcoming year.
 
The next blog in this series will be all about intention setting for the New Year!  I hope you enjoy it and take the time to read it!
 
Also, I wanted to let all of my readers know that I have super exciting news… Not only am I setting an intention for the New Year but I am also announcing a huge step in my practice in our transition to Thrive Therapy Studio!  This will be a collaborative group practice where we will be able to expand our reach and ability to help people. Plus, I got to make a cool logo and develop a whole new vibe to my office. So exciting!  Anyways, please feel free to sign up for the newsletter on the website at www.thrivetherapystudio.com when it launches January 1st, 2017!
 
Thank you all for reading and for your support!  As always, your comments are welcome regarding any issues around child, teen counseling services in San Diego by Thrive Therapy Studio.  

Being a therapist brings me so much joy. I get to connect with individuals from all walks of life and see the world through their lens. There are many reasons why I love being a therapist. I will share 6 of these reasons below.
 
1. It is a challenge. Therapy is hard work, not just for the client but for the therapist too. Therapy is like an intricate dance, and it is important for the therapist to know when to move delicately, move boldly, and when to let the client do a solo while you cheer them on.  Although the work can be challenging, it is incredibly rewarding.
 
2. It is an honor and privilege to be apart of someone’s journey. Being given access into a person’s thoughts and feelings as well as seeing a person at their most vulnerable, is truly a privilege. In a fast past society where time seems to fly by, being able to be present and in the moment with another human being is a wonderful gift. It is an honor to be able to just BE with a client, with no agenda, in whatever it is they are going through.
 
3. I enjoy my role as a guide and a cheerleader. It is a pleasure working alongside my clients, supporting, guiding, and rooting them on as they brave the challenges life can sometimes bring. The reward of being able to witness my clients learn about themselves and grow is invaluable.
 
4. It is inspiring. I too learn and evolve. My clients are as much my teachers as I am theirs. My approach to therapy is a partnership, and in that partnership there is learning occurring on both sides. My clients never cease to amaze and inspire me with their strength, courage, and resilience.
 
5. Therapy is dynamic. There is never a dull moment. Each client is so different and brings their own life experiences and challenges and I get to come along on the journey, even if it is for a brief period of time. Being multiracial, I value diversity and multiculturalism, and enjoy the diverse array of clients I see.
 
6. I am there for the best and the worst. I get to witness the human experience. It’s not always pretty, but it is real. In a society where it is unclear what is real sometimes, I am grateful to be part of the REAL human experience and it is truly an honor.

Thank you for reading!  For more information about Dr. Fowlks and her services, please contact her at 858.401.6929 or check her profile out here. 
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