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“Look, look!”, my son called out enthusiastically one morning. 

We were in the backyard and he saw a beautiful butterfly fluttering around our orange tree.

He was so excited, like a toddler normally is when they see something interesting or new.

I turned to look and exclaimed, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

But he wasn’t satisfied with that response, and he continued, “Look, look!”.

Thinking he wanted more enthusiasm, I repeated “Wow, it’s beautiful!”.

But he continued, repeating: “Look, look!!”.

Then I realised what he needed me to say: “It’s a butterfly!

What my son needed, was for me to name this beautiful creature.

This need for us to name things…to understand things, allows us to understand ourselves and others.

It helps us create meaning in our lives.

Are you feeling fine one minute and then overwhelmed and crying the next?

Are you able to name what you may be feeling right...

I’m curious – how are you feeling in this moment? Are you happy, sad, frustrated, excited, angry, resentful, optimistic?

Honestly, in this moment, I’m feeling down and as crappy as it feels, I know it’s not permanent.

I know I can choose a different thought, which will give me a different feeling. I don’t have to stay feeling down.

The following quote by Glennon Doyle, the author of Love Warrior (if you haven’t read it – I recommend it!) helps me to have some acceptance around how I’m feeling right now:

“You are not supposed to be happy all the time. Life hurts and it’s hard. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because it hurts for everybody. Don’t avoid the pain. You need it. It’s meant for you. Be still with it, let it come, let it go, let it leave you with the fuel you’ll burn to get your work done on this earth.”

I know it’s not always easy to get yourself out of a...