An excerpt from a client summary

 

Your writing also has a larger than life appearance and yet seems confined within its boundaries revealing some of the restrictions you feel.

 

On the plus side, there is a lot of imagination, strong depth of feeling, compassion, creativity, appreciation of things that stimulate the senses, broad mindedness, pride, dignity, will power, and determination.

 

Some of these qualities can present a challenge. For example, your broad interests and kind-heartedness lead you to take on too much; it is hard to say no. It’s worth exploring this resistance; it may be driven by old patterns of responsibility or a need for acceptance. So you get involved, try to help, worry about what to do and what will happen, as if it’s all up to you. This can make you feel resentful especially if you feel manipulated or imposed upon. There is some effort to try to understand this pattern but your conclusions may go against the grain, against those thoughts or beliefs you feel cannot be challenged. If the resentment cannot be resolved, then there is no outlet for resolution...

 

And from the initial recommendations

 

Make some time to be present. Disconnect from what you think others expect of you and spend some time doing those things that you enjoy. The key word is enjoy, but with a focus on getting to know who you are beyond the abuse, beyond what others expect. You don’t have to figure it all out at once but simply create time, every day, to rediscover you. Don’t think for a minute that this is about being selfish. It’s not at all. It’s about self-care. It’s learning what makes you healthy in mind, body, and spirit. That’s the gift you bring to the world but first you have to know who that is. You are not simply an instrument for the happiness of others...