When “Autopilot” Isn’t Working For You

When we aren't sure if it's our head or our heart running the show, it can feel as though our lives are on "autopilot." I'd written a description of autopilot and then found one even better to share with you from an article in Success magazine: 1. You dread the day ahead.  2. Your daily routine is predictable. 3. You do things without thinking. 4. You can’t seem to put your phone down. 5. You stay deep in thought. 6. You have a difficult time remembering. 7. You can’t seem to let go. 8. You’re not making meaningful progress. 9. You say “yes” more than you say “no.” 10. You know there’s a better life to be lived. Guilty of more than one? Me, too. Here are a couple of nuggets…
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When “Coping” With Uncertainty is the Best We Can Do

When “Coping” With Uncertainty is the Best We Can Do

A series of events led me back to one of the many books I have on my shelf and I knew I simply had to share a portion of what I found with you. I have come to accept that although I'm generally easy-going, I have "control issues" and I happen to know I am not alone. Author Elizabeth Lesser writes: "After all of these years of being broken open by loss and love and life itself, I still resist the river of change. Whether it is something going on in my personal life, or at work, or in the world, I still instinctually tighten my grip when things feel out of my control." from Broken Open What follows is an elegant, brief essay where she quotes another of my favorite…
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How Your Inner Critic Feeds Your Fears

How Your Inner Critic Feeds Your Fears

I love this quote because it calls me to think critically, to be aware of stories that our inner critic whispers in our ears. (I always think of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, with an Angel on one shoulder and a Devil on the other when Bugs was trying to make a decision.) In my last post, I wrote about Ursula, the villain in The Little Mermaid. You understand, of course, that one of the villains' superpowers is to manipulate us through FEAR. Reminding us of all the bad things that can happen. Today, I'm sharing this from a favorite handout I often give to clients when we are talking about anxiety and fears. Understanding these concepts is so empowering and freeing. Personally, I re-visit them often. (Especially when Ursula…
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Self-Talk and the Inner Critic

I started to write this for you based on all that I know and have read and have said to clients over the years and the craziest thing happened. I went down the "rabbit hole." All because of Google, heaven help me. And my Inner Critic started in. I started to look at all that had been written on the topic, and there's so much and (most of it) is quite good and then She was right there beside me. Today I'm naming her Ursula (the Sea Witch of Little Mermaid fame) because she's seductive in that manipulative sort of evil smiling way and wears a lot of black. She masquerades as me and said, "Just a thought here...I can't do this. Other people have already written so well about…
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Taming Your Inner Critic Workshop February 2019

Most of us have a "little voice" that says mean things sometimes. "That was stupid!" or "What WERE you thinking?" Always second guessing or comparing - especially when trying something new. The Inner Critic can prevent you from taking healthy risks, developing more intimacy in relationships and keep you stuck in the humdrum boring routine. Join Keri Riggs, M.A., LPC-S for a workshop to learn practical ways to tame that critical inner voice and develop some self-compassion. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://keririggs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Taming-the-Inner-Critic-2019.mp4" autoplay="true" poster="https://keririggs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/overwhelmed.jpg"][/video] Join me in Richardson, Texas on February 19th for this fun workshop to learn how to better manage that negative inner voice that stops you from living a life you love. Register today - email Keri@KeriRiggs.com 
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