"For me, 'Discomfort has Something to Teach Us' feels like the heart of where my real growth began. As someone who had perfected overlooking the emotions I had labeled as "bad", it took a lot of time before I was willing to face my discomfort. I started learning to tune into my body and deciphering countless internal signals one by one. Now, leaning into my discomfort allows me to l understand what is truly making me feel fear, dread, excitement, anger, resentment, or longing."

Caroline W

“Oh I Love this Spark! As someone in the Military, I know how toxic relationships and spaces can get when people say ‘that’s just who I am or they are’.  I can’t wait to have conversations with people who ask me about this when I wear it. “

Anonymous

“This Spark will keep me in the present moment. At first I wanted to get the beanie with the spark “Keep Going” so others could read it and be inspired. Then I remembered I am done with people pleasing this is for me and I want what I want on my Fucking Hat. “ 

Sami K

This speaks to me… It’s at that moment where you’re like yeah no! I’m not doubting myself. I know exactly what happened. I’ll take responsibility for my feelings but I’m not going to listen to a lie. I’m not going to let you question my sanity.”

Andrea I

“Our society has taught women to abandon themselves to be a good partner, wife, Mom etc.  It’s a fucking lie and it really creates a lot of resentment.  Don’t expect people to be excited or happy when you start to choose you. Everyone who benefited from you not having boundaries is gonna be pissed. You can notice who those people are and it may be a grieving process. “

Anonymous

Being overly compromising and putting others first  works until you are so filled with resentment that you lose your shit or don’t even know who you are, what you think or what you feel because you’ve let everybody else tell you.  

Jorie M.

Recently I have been working on identifying my feelings when I feel left out. This Spark is encouraging me to lean in and figure out where the discomfort is coming from.

Annette G

It’s easy to react instinctively off of someone’s actions or words but a gentle reminder to notice the feeling behind the reaction helps to lower the temperature of my response. We live in a fast paced world but we always have the option to take a minute and notice what’s coming up before we respond. Our bodies have so much information and are constantly trying to communicate with us but we have to listen to receive the message.

Kennedy H

Rerouting is a Spark of Wisdom for me! Noticing how hard it is to reroute when I am derailed by the "unexpected" or "undesired" sparks me to dig into deeper wisdom. The faster I release what I imagined it would be and reroute to what it is, the sooner I will be unstuck. 

Amanda D

Awareness has been critical to making positive changes in my life. Taking a more mindful approach to the choices I make has allowed me to shift my life into a much more healthy zone. Noticing my habits, good and bad, and what's really motivating them puts me in the driver's seat of my life. It helps make sense of things and makes change possible.

Dayton H

“As a chronic over functioning badass this hit hard! I realized if I look at all things, including time, with an abundant attitude it creates a calmness… what needs to get done will get done! There is enough time.”

Melanie V

"Feeling Loved is an Inside Job" is a strong, kick-in-the-butt reminder that no amount of externally-sourced love will be worth diddly-squat unless I've done the work to accept it. It's not up to my partner, parents, co-works, or friends to give me love; it's on me to be brave enough to receive it.

Kisha L

I hate drama. Especially other people's trivial, distracting drama. Unfiltered Therapist's spark of wisdom "Not Here for Delusion" is a statement in solidarity that being compassionate or empathetic doesn't mean you have to sign up to take on delusions. But more importantly, it is a firm reminder to check my own delusions. Reality can't be changed until it's accepted, and delusioning only prevents that.

Raymond w

One of my NCAA DI track coach's favorite statements was "Get comfortable being uncomfortable", which has taken me far in life. Unfiltered Therapists puts a new spin on this with their spark of wisdom "Discomfort has something to teach Us", highlighting the fact that discomfort is the result of an external stimulus disrupting an internal state, and you'll only ever understand areas for growth by being brave enough to learn what discomfort has to teach.

Mara O

Unfiltered Therapists' spark of wisdom "It works till it Doesn’t" is a strong reminder to drop the sh** that no longer serves me. I'm not someone who does "all things in moderation" very well, and this spark captures the fact that it is okay to pursue something intensely, only to the boundary of it becoming deleterious.

Anonymous  

Adaptability and flexibility is something I personally have to pursue with intent. Unfiltered therapists introduced me to a new, more playful term that allows me to more seamlessly challenge my desire for control in the moment: "Rerouting". Instead of tensing up when something unexpected gets thrown my way, I can relax directly into "rerouting mode" (Ex: The cat peed on our bed right before a big virtual meeting?! No problem, rerouting to grab the cleaner).

Anonymous 

"Keep Going" is a bit of a cliché, but Unfiltered Therapists breathe new life into it by emphasizing the benefits of following the positive in order to rewire our brains. Yes, endurance is great. Keep going, sure. But lingering in the moments that feel good comes less naturally, and having this spark of wisdom to "keep going", to keep savoring the positive, is life changing.

Mara O

"Feeling Loved is an Inside Job is a strong, kick-in-the-butt reminder that no amount of externally-sourced love will be worth diddly-squat unless I've done the work to accept it. It's not up to my partner, parents, coworkers, or friends to give me love; it's on me to be brave enough to receive it.

Mara O

Connection Over Protection makes me feel seen. This is what I have done in relationships. At the first sign that someone is MAYBE backing away, I immediately put my walls up and choose protection over connection. This is making me see what I do in relationships and how there might be a different way to do things moving forward. 

Anonymous 

“Rerouting resonates with me! My mind immediately goes to the episode of The Office when Michael Scott drives directly into the lake because he is following his GPS It can be really hard to course correct when I'm on autopilot or following directions. Reroutinghelps me reframe and enjoy the ride, unexpected detours and all!”

Dave S

This is what I think about the current political climate, I'm Not Here for the Delusion.   I have to walk away from the news and headlines to keep my sanity.  

Michelle K

I like the flow from It Works until it Doesn't and You Can Unlearn That. If it no longer works, there is hope, You Can Unlearn That!

Anonymous

Keep Going reminds me to do the things that make me content and feel good - volunteering, exercising and hanging with the friends I draw positive energy from.  It also gets me through cleaning out a closet - I just have to keep going. 

Anonymous

“I love the Spark of Wisdom about Rerouting. I often find myself overplanning in my head things that are out of my control and trying to predict the outcome. I love the idea of rerouting because it opens up the opportunity for new paths and experiencing joy no matter what the path ends up being.”

Lauren V

Connection over protection really spoke to me! As a high achiever, all my life I have struggled with perfectionism. Or more accurately, fear of failure. This has led to a lot of successes and "safety" in my life, but has also prevented me from looking within. It is easy for me to fall into putting all my energy into fulfilling society's expectations about where I "should be" right now. But this not only leaves me physically drained, but emotionally detached from my inner desires and what is really important to me. Which is why I love Connection over Protection, because it reminds me to slow down and listen to my inner wants and needs

Laura E

“I spent the first 50 years of my life ‘staying safe’ and not risking getting hurt whether in relationships or with friends. I then married someone to whom connection is an important part of her life and who has encouraged  me to try something new. I can’t say that I have completely changed but dipping my toes into connection has produced wonderful experiences and I am open to more.  Perhaps in time, I will discover with protection that It Works till it Doesn’t!

Lawrence G