Be The Light Workshop

I have a particular desire to help those dealing with depression, stress, anxiety or addictions. It's important to me to lift those who live in darkness by shining my own light in a way that offers them hope and peace. I know what a limiting feeling it is to be so closed off by an inability to see another way of handling whatever seems to be holding you back. Sometimes, just a little light does get through, but it requires a consistent light for those living in darkness to bring them the hope needed to step out of the darkness.

This is my purpose in creating my Be The Light workshop. I want to share my light with others who wish to help bring these troubled souls out of the darkness. I see it as using my candle to light other candles and pretty soon there will be so much light in the world, no one will live in darkness ever again!

Be The Light

This new workshop is designed for individuals who have loved ones that may be dealing with challenges such as depression, anxiety or even addiction. As I've worked with many individuals dealing with depression I've discovered a recurring theme. They feel they have no one to turn to because family and friends just don't understand them and often make them feel even worse!

Having come through depression to the other side, I know that those people closest to me do care. They care very deeply, in fact. Unfortunately, when I was in my depression, they had no clue how to help me! No one that hasn't either experienced depression for themselves or done extensive research with depressed individuals can possibly understand or appreciate what it feels like to be depressed.

Realizing what was going on here, I decided to put together a program, not for depressed individuals, but rather for their loved ones. You see, I've discovered in my own work that there are ways to help! I've also found that those who are dealing with depression truly yearn for understanding from those they love. They know you cannot fix them, but they want your understanding, and they want to be able to talk with you about what's going on with them without feeling worse for having done so.

So, in my quest to help people dealing with depression, I believe my best approach is to help those who love and care about them most. I realized that helping families and loved ones understand and appreciate depression and giving them tools and techniques that really work can make a huge difference.

As I looked around for programs of this nature, I simply couldn't find much out there. What I did find didn't seem to be very good. Our culture is so centered around relying on health professionals and they are so reliant on pharmaceuticals that we bypass a very significant part of the solution - loved ones!

My workshop is designed to empower families and friends to properly support their loved ones who are dealing with depression and to be able to participate in the healing process. What I've found is that these same tools and techniques work extremely well for sufferers of anxiety, stress and even addictions.

If you know someone who is dealing with depression or any of these other debilitating and self-destructive conditions and you want to help, but just don't know how, go here or contact me to find out more about this powerful workshop.

Understand The Situation

In order to help anyone dealing with a debilitating condition, you must first understand something about their perspective. In this module I share with you my own unique perspective of not only what it's like to be in that darkness, but what I see now as I look into the hearts of others in darkness. My ability to see from both sides is what allows me to help those individuals find their way into the light.

Accept Them As They Are

Resist the urge to judge them or label them, but rather accept them as they are. When you realize how much judgment and guilt is carried by people who are dealing with depression, anxiety, addictions and other stressful conditions, it becomes easier to let go of your own judgment about them. I promise you they are always harder on themselves than you could ever be and they don't need additional weight placed on their backs. Acceptance opens them up to being able to accept themselves and that will help them begin to move forward.

Trust Them

Whether they are trustworthy or not, it is important that you let them know you do trust them. I certainly realize how difficult this is. Trust, once broken, is nearly impossible to repair. I'll show you that trust is not only possible, but will actually be very healing for you and your loved one. It begins by understanding there is nothing you need from them!

Be Compassionately Honest With Them

Some people believe full honesty is equivalent to "brutal honesty". I don't subscribe to that approach. I prefer to use what I call "compassionate honesty". Applying care, consideration, love and compassion to your words and actions creates clear communication and better understanding. Share your perspective with them honestly, but with compassion for their inability to see from that perspective. Listen to them with compassion and empathy, but do not sympathize with them. No pity parties!

Love Them Unconditionally

Just as I do not subscribe to the idea of "brutal Honesty" I'm not a proponent of "tough love". At least not in the way I've seen it used much of the time. There's no question there are times when some people need to be given a "wake up call" that may be tough to take and cause them some pain. However, I believe it is best served with a big dose of unconditional love.

They need someone to show them they are loved simply for being who they are. No requirements. No judgments. No expectations. Just LOVE! That doesn't mean they are allowed to walk all over you without consequences. You must also show them through your own actions that unconditional love for self is the first priority. I'll show you how this can be accomplished with even the most difficult cases.