Month: December 2020

[vc_row padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”padding-one”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]By Anne Peters, LMFT

It’s time we welcome 2021 with open arms and open hearts! It’s no secret 2020 has brought new worries and stress to us. The gift of a new year is a wonderful time for us to reflect on our own goals, passion, and motivation. I wanted to share with you a family tradition we started a few years ago. My mom came up with the idea for each of us to set an intention going into the new year. With that, a word to represent our intention. This can be done individually and/or as a family.

New Year’s resolutions are a wonderful concept – a way for us to set goals. Did you know more than 80% of New Year’s resolutions are not achieved? Here’s my challenge for you: Set an intention instead. If your goal is to get into better physical shape, set your intention for “perseverance.” If your goal is to make strong gains professionally, set your intention for “determination.” If your goal is to connect with your loved ones more frequently, set your intention for “family.” The options are nearly endless!

Once you’ve chosen your intention word, put it somewhere easily visible – on your bedside table, on your refrigerator, or on your mirror. In my family, we each get our word on a piece of jewelry to wear as a reminder of our intention. I noticed over the last couple of years, on days when I had an important work meeting or event I was anxious about, that would be the piece of jewelry I would reach for. It’s a piece that brings comfort.

I chose “self-care” as my intention word for 2020. Boy, I didn’t know just how fitting that would be! You’ve heard it here first: my intention word for 2021 is “soar.” I’m hoping to use my experiences and lessons from 2020 as a jumping off point into 2021 to soar – to build myself professionally, personally, and spiritually. It seems so fitting. I would love to know: What is your intention for 2021?

See a list below of different ideas for intentions from the MyIntent website to spark some ideas for you!

Happy New Year from all of us at LSI!

• Adventure
• Balance
• Be Kind
• Be Present
• Be Still
• Beautiful
• Believe
• Blessed
• Brave
• Breathe
• Compassion
• Confidence
• Courage
• Create
• Determined
• Enough/You are Enough
• Faith
• Family
• Fearless
• Focus
• God has a Plan
• Grace
• Grateful
• Grit
• Hakuna Matata
• Happiness
• Hope
• Inspire
• Integrity
• Joy
• Just Breathe
• Kindness
• Let Go
• Love
• Passion
• Patience
• Peace
• Persevere
• Purpose
• Resilient
• Serenity
• Strength
• Surrender
• Survivor
• Today
• Trust
• Unbreakable
• Unconditional
• Warrior
• Worthy
• You Got This

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[vc_row padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”padding-one”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]By Anne Peters, LMFT

The holidays are officially upon us! This is a time of year that brings joy and merriment, but also tends to bring its fair share of stress. The holidays during 2020? Likely bringing more stress upon us as we figure out how to celebrate in a safe way during the pandemic. Here are a few tips and tricks, from us to you, to help manage that holiday stress.

– Challenge the idea of perfection – We often strive to have holiday traditions and gatherings be just right. Things will look different this year, and that is OK. Let’s lower the bar for ourselves and accept the holidays as they come.

– Focus on what is important – What is the reason you celebrate the holidays? Is it based in religion? Is it all about togetherness? It is about peace? Remind yourself what the reason for the holiday is, and make that your focus. The rest will fall into place.

– Do less – COVID-19 and its necessary safety precautions have given us all a great lesson in this one: to simply do less. Do what makes you happy! If it makes you grumpy to put tinsel on the tree, skip it this year. If you want to buy a pre-cooked meal, go for it. This year, we can grant ourselves the opportunity to simply do less.

– Use technology – For many, holiday get-togethers will look very different for safety reasons. We are blessed with technology to be able to put us in the same room (virtually) with our loved ones. Plan some fun virtual events with your family – a cookie-baking day, a movie-watching virtual party, or some fun holiday karaoke.

– Take a walk – Let’s face it, it’s cold in Iowa in December. Walking does wonders for our mind and body though, so bundle up and get out for a walk. Try to be mindful on this walk, notice the holiday decorations and the crisp air.

Ultimately, it comes down to offering ourselves grace. Do what makes you feel good and celebrate the holidays in whatever way feels best to you. We are all in this together. Happy Holidays from all of us at LSI to you and yours![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”padding-one”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]By Anne Peters, LMFT

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but our gratitude lasts all year long. How do we foster gratitude in our children? How can we teach them empathy? Here are some great ideas:

1. Empathize with your children – Model for them what it’s like to show empathy. As an example, if a child in your care is feeling scared of a storm, we can empathize by saying, “I see that you are feeling scared, and I understand your scared feelings. Storms can be loud and startle us. We are safe.”

2. Talk about others’ feelings – Acknowledge and label when those around your child are experiencing feelings – both positive and negative. For example, if you notice a child at the park is crying, talk with your child about how that person is feeling. This expands a child’s understanding of feelings for both themselves and others.

3. Show empathy as a team – If a child at the park trips and falls, team up with your child to go check on the friend and offer empathy.

4. Read stories about feelings – The more all feelings are normalized, the more comfortable a child will feel to be aware of their own (and others’) feelings. Some of my favorite feelings books? “Grumpy Monkey” and “Today I Feel Silly.”

5. Be a role model – If this has not been made clear yet, the easiest and most effective way for a child to learn empathy and gratitude is by YOUR example! They are always observing us and learning along the way.

6. Be patient – Growing the skill of empathy takes time and does not happen overnight. Be patient, and the skills will develop. Especially true for children who have experienced trauma, this skill may take time but we can all agree it is worth it in the end.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, despite the differences 2020 has brought us. We are thankful for you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]