Have Someone to Talk To As is the case in counselor training , Rogers engaged in role reversal and met with a psychiatrist to talk about his thoughts and feelings in a safe place . I encourage my students who are studying to be therapists to take time to sit in the other chair , where they ’ ll learn to cultivate empathy and have a safe place to communicate feelings . Sitting in the client ’ s seat also gives counselors an opportunity to voice their concerns and struggles and set them aside during sessions to focus on those of their clients .
You may choose to confide in a trusted friend or relative . It is important to select a safe person , meaning they are a keeper of secrets and willing to process your thoughts and feelings without offering unsolicited advice ( or at least are not offended if you make your own choices and forsake their unsolicited advice ). Therapists are recommended , of course , but safe friends can also have a way of being therapeutic .
Spend Time in Nature Rogers spent time in nature , specifically at the edge of the ocean . Fred and Joanne Rogers had a home at the end of a sand road on Nantucket Island — it was a wedding gift . The house was right on the beach , where Rogers could walk , swim , read , write , and even have chats with friends . Researchers have found that spending time near the ocean is associated with lower levels of stress and increased well-being . However , other “ blue spaces ”— like a lake pond or pool — can have a therapeutic effect too . Nature can be therapeutic , so if you cannot bathe in the sea , consider a nature walk or some time sitting outside soaking up vitamin D and experiencing the nurturing impact of our natural world .
Seek Regular Solitude Rogers understood the importance of having his own quiet place where he could be alone to write and reflect . Nantucket was one of his destinations to carve out white space to think and process his experiences . 17 Even if it is too hard to get away , we can try to find pockets of solitude in our day to be present , to write in a journal , or reflect on an inspirational reading .
Read Regularly for Inspiration Rogers was a man of faith , and each day he would spend time reading his Bible and praying . He was able to process both his burdens and his joys — and those of his neighbors too — through prayer . It was not just his entry into his neighborhood home that was characterized by ritual . His everyday routine was consistent . We , too , can implement our own routines into our daily lives . Perhaps a place to start is with adding a consistent time to read inspirational texts and engage in spiritual practices that are meaningful to us .
Express Yourself Artistically Rogers used music and other artistic forms of expression to process his feelings . When young Fred was sick and had to spend time alone during the summers , he found ways to express himself with puppets and by playing piano . He retained some of these practices in adulthood . He often shared how he could
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