Gratefulness can be a hard concept. Lately, business has been a bit slower as clients have had to discontinue therapy due to financial reasons. Also, some clients have discontinued therapy because they have reached the goal, they sought therapy for. The biggest reason business has been slower has been less new clients looking for therapy. I am not the only one either.
A college of mine who started their own business really took off has had to lay off staff. Another, who had a nice office space in downtown Charlotte had to close their office entirely. Neither of these had to close their businesses but had to cut back on some major expenses.
On my end, I have my own business in addition to being contracted with two others. The great part of being a contractor is that I have existing business to fall back on. Still, my business that has done well this year, all my clients but two has had to discontinue counseling for financial reasons.
My first thought is that complications from the Coronavirus Delta Variant and what other variants out there are to blame. Whether the culprit is the coronavirus, unemployment or what not, these are things I have no control over. What I do have control over is how I respond.
The church that I go to has been going through the book of Ecclesiastes the past few weeks. Ecclesiastes is not a long book at 12 chapters. King Solomon, son of King David wrote this book in his experience of pursuing wisdom, wealth, technology and even sex. The word that comes up again and again is the word “meaningless.”
All his pursuits resulted in meaninglessness. What it comes down to is explained in Ecclesiastes 2:24, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.”
I would like to say that after hearing this and processing how this can apply to my life, five new clients called me. But that is not reality. However, it did give me a new perspective and an appreciation for being able to lean back on my other two contract jobs.
There is more. Since my days are not as packed with clients, I have more time to devote to activities less intensive such as writing more blog posts and looking through marketing strategies to see what can be improved. Plus, since my first appointments are not until 12p or 1p, I can stay up later watching television with my dad!
Getting into the practice of being grateful has tremendous mental health benefits. Being grateful shifts thinking outward, proactively combating depression and self-pity. That is not to say that being grateful means smiling and ignoring what is not working. Rather, practicing gratefulness is an exercise in assessing reality and evaluating what is working well.
Related: As I am typing this blog, I just had a client cancel at the last minute. My first thought is, “hey, more time!” which has been a process of not choosing to feel frustrated. .
Gratefulness is a choice that requires to be practiced and worked out like a muscle. That choice will pay back compound interest as that choice turns into choices made over time.
Making the choice to be grateful over feeling frustrated is not a quick fix making life easier. The very real emotions of anger or sadness will still come. Choosing to be grateful will not erase those. Deciding to process any lingering anger and/or sadness is also a choice.
For now, business is slow, and I suspect it will be until the beginning of next year. What I can do is decide how I will spend my “extra” time and how to address an issue that does need attention whether a coach for marketing or even a counselor.
Deciding gratefulness over frustration or anger can also be planned. In a few months, the 2021 Holiday Season will start. The holiday season also happens to be the hardest time for those who have lost loved ones and are more prone to depression. An exercise in gratefulness here can be zeroing in on something one is grateful for versus experiencing depression.
If you are looking for a therapist near you then a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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