In a conversation with a therapist colleague yesterday about this teaching stress thing I had one of those aha moments. This one concerns the difference between therapy and spiritual direction.
When someone does something that trips your trigger:
In therapy, your therapist tells you to dig really deep. Get in touch with your anger. Do your work. Express your feelings, tell them how YOU feel.
In spiritual direction, your SD tells you to dig really deep. Get in touch with your compassion. Do God's work. Be concerned with how the OTHER feels. If you can, ask them.
Now I'm not saying one is better than the other. In truth, I'm very much a both/and kind of girl. It's just what's making me go "hmmmm" today.
7 comments:
Being both/and does require a significant stretch sometimes, doesn't it?
Aha indeed ... I'm a both/and kinda girl too ... and really like this reflection on the difference.
and either way, one needs to dig deep! :)
that's a great aha. i am a both/and also.
Both/and describes much of the spiritual life--or the growth into an authentic person/who God always sees.
Always helps to dig deep and aim to understand one's self...and then good to dig deep and aim to understand how the "other" might feel...good work all around!
Good questions, ones I'm struggling with myself.
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