One of my favorite movies of all time is the 1999 movie The Matrix. The special effects were incredible. The story was intriguing. This movie set the bar for special effects and still holds up today. So, I heavily anticipated the sequel in 2003 The Matrix Reloaded which was not what I expected. To say it was all hype and a disappointment is an understatement. Not to mention the train wreck that is the third Matrix movie. However, one of the lines from The Matrix Reloaded has stood out to me as a life lesson.
In this scene two of the main characters are being pursued by the agents (the enemies) where there is no choice but to take a highway. Trinity says to Morpheus, “You always told me to stay off the freeway.” Morpheus replies, “Yes, that’s true.” Trinity: “you said it was suicide.” Morpheus: “Then let us hope I was wrong.”
I love that line as the leader of the resistance is open to the possibility that his own advice and teaching could be wrong. I love that line because I can relate in so many ways thinking how so many of my decisions came from someone else’s subjective experience.
I do believe it wise to seek counsel and someone else’s experience to inform an important decision. What about the smaller decisions? Thinking back there have been many “rules” I had adopted into my own life because of something someone else said. T
This is one reason I do not put any weight on what a movie or entertainment critique writes or say about a piece of work. The experience may have been negative for them, but that does not mean I will not like it. So, I will find out for myself and come to my own conclusions.
I cannot tell you (thought I could estimate) how many clients have counseled have not tried counseling because of the stigma still surrounding mental health and not trying it for themselves.
The past six weeks or so I have met with a client who started counseling as a last-ditch resort to save his relationship with his son. This client had been given advice from several people that had not worked and the reason he had not tried counseling is because the client’s father had a very negative opinion of people who sought counseling.
If you are hurting, please seek help. It is so accessible now. Many insurances cover counseling. If your insurance does not cover counseling, payment plans can be worked out. Some offer counseling for free.
This client that I mentioned who sought counseling to heal the relationship with his son. I am still working with him. There is an incredible amount of work to be done and healing to be made but this client is much more open to the idea of counseling since he has experienced counseling himself.
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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