Five Life Lessons: #2 - Remembering Why We Got Started
Michael C. Roubicek, PhD, LCSW - aka ‘Dr. Mike’ - has been a psychotherapist since 1983. In this series, he shares five lessons he’s learned about life in over 20 years of working with Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery patients.
Read previous: Lesson #1 - The 'Unexpecteds'
Lesson #2 - Remembering Why We Got Started
When I meet with a new patient and we talk about their journey I always ask how they got started on this process of change. There is always some spark, some trigger that started the ball rolling. And that spark is like a snowball that starts rolling and their motivation, their drive and desire, their hope for better, all grew stronger.
It took them from the point of just thinking about it to taking some ACTION. We spend time together talking about their reasons for pursuing surgery. In other words, what got them started on the path? They are challenged to write down their list of those reasons and the hopes, the goals, the dreams they have for what they want to accomplish. They are urged to tape that list to their bathroom mirror…a place we all go every day. Seeing that list daily helps them to stay focused and never lose sight of what’s really important to them.
Keeping our focus on the reasons we started any process and the endgame we desire is a key to achieving what is important to us. In a sense, we all become the architects and the builders of our lives; when we establish a solid plan and then work diligently to follow the design, we create a uniquely amazing experience.
Coming Up: Lesson #3 - Change is Hard, But Necessary
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