Let’s get curious, curious.

by Alison Fuerst

Getting from where you are right now to where you want to be is almost never a straight line. The same is true in the journey toward wellness. Frustrating, right? It would be so easy if you knew the right steps to take, in the right order, at the right time to get to feeling better…well, yesterday would have been nice! 

May I offer an alternative path? Perhaps a slight detour to pause, reflect, examine, and dream seems unnecessary, but sometimes it leads to the wonderfully unexpected. Here are a few road signs for your consideration:

Where have you been?

 Looking at your past relationships, contexts, and experiences gives tremendous insight into who you are now and your present experiences. This isn’t about blaming. It’s about beginning to understand how you got here to this current crossroad. What did you bring with you? How you have been traveling, so to speak, is closely tied to actions you and others have taken, beliefs you have developed, and emotions that tell the story of what you have been carrying. 

Where are you right now? 

Imagine a map at a rest station along the interstate. Often there is a little “You are here” designation to help you get your bearings as you assess your current situation. Considering who is with you, what your inner and outer resources are, and what needs attention is part of any road trip as well as the therapeutic journey. What is happening right now, and considering what is working or not working, gives valuable information for what comes next. 

Where are you going, but also, where do you want to be? 

Sometimes these are not the same place or state of being. In order to course-correct, you may need to adjust your load or take a different route than expected. Or perhaps the other road signs may have helped you see another destination that you weren’t aware of before. 

I invite you to curiosity. It is a path of exploration, courage, discovery, and hope. What an adventure!