The idea of creating a blog to accompany the Two Hearts Counseling website has been on my heart for quite some time now. Long before I was introduced to psychology in high school, writing was my first love. Now, years down the road, I believe that perhaps it’s possible for my two passions of faith-based psychology, along with creative writing to find their perfect fusion here. For those of you who are first-time visitors to this website, Two Hearts Counseling exists for this purpose: To unite with Christ’s mission to care for the afflicted by moving hearts towards healing and freedom through His merciful love. |
Having been drawn to serve in both domestic and foreign missions from an early age, I desire this mission to extend beyond my office doors. I’ve recognized that we can make ‘disciples of all nations’ from exactly where we are, should we harness technology’s ability to reach the masses for good use as so many have done. While Two Hearts Counseling will continue to provide various faith-based psychological services accessible to locals, I am convicted that it could do more. One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is this:
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
Better and happier.
It’s truly my hope that everyone who visits this website would leave it feeling better and happier – regardless of whether or not they access the psychological services offered. I desire that all would find resources here that could benefit and improve their sense of well-being – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Yet, I wondered what this first post should be about. I’ve paced the hallways of my mind for something that would be:
Exciting enough
Innovative enough
and, well, just…good enough to be published, period.
While I've stumbled upon many ideas amidst the pacing, none have seemed ‘enough’ to merit the honor of being the elite ‘first post’. So they’ve been placed in a box on a shelf (or in all actuality, a note tab on my phone), labeled ‘Ideas for Subsequent Posts”. Meanwhile, the template of this webpage kindly reminds me in grayscale letters on a blank background: "You don't have any blog posts."
Today, though, I finally had that 'lightbulb' moment.
I was reflecting on my clients – who have each had the courage to make the initial phone call, or send that email inquiry. They reach out not from their abundance, but out of their poverty. In them, I see the poor widow of Scripture who was deemed blessed because while it didn’t seem like much, in giving her last two coins, she gave her all. And suddenly what wasn't enough in the eyes of the world was more than enough - simply because she surrendered her 'littleness', her 'not enough-ness' and offered it anyways.
My clients don’t come to Two Hearts Counseling when they feel like they are ‘enough’, but rather when they feel quite the opposite. Yet, within the humble offering of brokenness comes the awareness that they have had enough - ‘enough’ of being the same….of letting excuses, laziness or fear paralyze their ability to move forward - to be better and happier. Something in them awakens. A still, small voice whispers in their hearts, "It's time. It's time to act. It's time to change." Maybe they've heard it before, but this time is different. Because this time, they choose to respond...they choose to begin.
Suddenly, the elusive 'first-post-topic' stands still and I quickly grasp hold before it can scurry off again. Inspired by the witness of my clients, the answer is simple. After all of this needless fretting, a blinding truth emerges:
I’ve realized that
It’s enough
to be inspired enough
to be courageous enough
to begin.
It's enough to begin!
…even if that beginning is a timid, precarious or seemingly insignficant step. Even though that beginning does not come with a guarantee of being 100% successful (because really, we’d never find a ‘beginning’ with those odds). How many people in the Bible or saints do we know of who have had ‘less than ideal’ beginnings? Who have felt like they weren’t ‘enough’? Yet they began anyways.
Because it’s better to have an imperfect beginning than to never begin at all.
So what have you been ‘waiting’ to begin? Waiting until you could bottle up enough time, enough energy and enough courage to create a magic potion of a perfect beginning? While the list could be endless, have you been waiting to...
· Volunteer to serve the less fortunate?
· Sign up for a sports league for simple 'love of the game'?
· Purge your home of the excess of collected junk, old toys, clothes and ‘stuff’?
· Read a whole book from start to finish?
· Start your own business?
· Get involved at your church?
· Apply to a grad school program that you’ve wanted to pursue?
· Block out at least 10 minutes a day to engage in meaningful conversation with your spouse?
· Try a healthy new recipe?
· Play with the kids before the chores are done and the house is perfect?
· Get back in touch with an old friend?
· Set boundaries around how much time you spend at work?
· Endeavor a DIY project that you’ve had your eye on?
· Establish a prayer time for yourself, or perhaps with your entire family?
· Create a workout routine?
· Ask out that girl who caught your attention?
· Send out your resume for a new job that you'd be more passionate about?
· Plan that road-trip, hiking, or camping excursion?
What has God been stirring up in your heart, what does He desire to fan into flame so that you can be happier and better?
Whether it’s something big or something small…what will you begin today?
Remember…
More often than not,
It’s enough to begin.
God will take and bless that.
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
Better and happier.
It’s truly my hope that everyone who visits this website would leave it feeling better and happier – regardless of whether or not they access the psychological services offered. I desire that all would find resources here that could benefit and improve their sense of well-being – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Yet, I wondered what this first post should be about. I’ve paced the hallways of my mind for something that would be:
Exciting enough
Innovative enough
and, well, just…good enough to be published, period.
While I've stumbled upon many ideas amidst the pacing, none have seemed ‘enough’ to merit the honor of being the elite ‘first post’. So they’ve been placed in a box on a shelf (or in all actuality, a note tab on my phone), labeled ‘Ideas for Subsequent Posts”. Meanwhile, the template of this webpage kindly reminds me in grayscale letters on a blank background: "You don't have any blog posts."
Today, though, I finally had that 'lightbulb' moment.
I was reflecting on my clients – who have each had the courage to make the initial phone call, or send that email inquiry. They reach out not from their abundance, but out of their poverty. In them, I see the poor widow of Scripture who was deemed blessed because while it didn’t seem like much, in giving her last two coins, she gave her all. And suddenly what wasn't enough in the eyes of the world was more than enough - simply because she surrendered her 'littleness', her 'not enough-ness' and offered it anyways.
My clients don’t come to Two Hearts Counseling when they feel like they are ‘enough’, but rather when they feel quite the opposite. Yet, within the humble offering of brokenness comes the awareness that they have had enough - ‘enough’ of being the same….of letting excuses, laziness or fear paralyze their ability to move forward - to be better and happier. Something in them awakens. A still, small voice whispers in their hearts, "It's time. It's time to act. It's time to change." Maybe they've heard it before, but this time is different. Because this time, they choose to respond...they choose to begin.
Suddenly, the elusive 'first-post-topic' stands still and I quickly grasp hold before it can scurry off again. Inspired by the witness of my clients, the answer is simple. After all of this needless fretting, a blinding truth emerges:
I’ve realized that
It’s enough
to be inspired enough
to be courageous enough
to begin.
It's enough to begin!
…even if that beginning is a timid, precarious or seemingly insignficant step. Even though that beginning does not come with a guarantee of being 100% successful (because really, we’d never find a ‘beginning’ with those odds). How many people in the Bible or saints do we know of who have had ‘less than ideal’ beginnings? Who have felt like they weren’t ‘enough’? Yet they began anyways.
Because it’s better to have an imperfect beginning than to never begin at all.
So what have you been ‘waiting’ to begin? Waiting until you could bottle up enough time, enough energy and enough courage to create a magic potion of a perfect beginning? While the list could be endless, have you been waiting to...
· Volunteer to serve the less fortunate?
· Sign up for a sports league for simple 'love of the game'?
· Purge your home of the excess of collected junk, old toys, clothes and ‘stuff’?
· Read a whole book from start to finish?
· Start your own business?
· Get involved at your church?
· Apply to a grad school program that you’ve wanted to pursue?
· Block out at least 10 minutes a day to engage in meaningful conversation with your spouse?
· Try a healthy new recipe?
· Play with the kids before the chores are done and the house is perfect?
· Get back in touch with an old friend?
· Set boundaries around how much time you spend at work?
· Endeavor a DIY project that you’ve had your eye on?
· Establish a prayer time for yourself, or perhaps with your entire family?
· Create a workout routine?
· Ask out that girl who caught your attention?
· Send out your resume for a new job that you'd be more passionate about?
· Plan that road-trip, hiking, or camping excursion?
What has God been stirring up in your heart, what does He desire to fan into flame so that you can be happier and better?
Whether it’s something big or something small…what will you begin today?
Remember…
More often than not,
It’s enough to begin.
God will take and bless that.
Paz,
As a side note: the 'today' of which the 'lightbulb moment' speaks was actually three weeks ago. While I did write the entire article that day, it took a LOT longer than expected to get the webpage completely formatted for a blog platform...and to finally click 'Post'. But...it was enough to begin!