[kessa19]

I've been reading Jane Fonda's autobiography, My Life So Far. In the book she shares her journey through struggles with body image, bulimia, dependence on men, her mother's suicide and father's emotional distance, self esteem issues etc. It's a great book. It is really hopeful and inspiring.
Here's an analogy from the book that I think is a great way to look at the therapeutic relationship (or life in general):
"When you confront problems and work them through, what might have been a rupture becomes stronger at the broken place. It is analogous to body building: When you lift weights to build muscle, you cause microscopic tears to occur in the muscle tissue, and when the tears heal the torn places become stronger."

Another quote I think is really inspiring and hopeful.:
"My arms and heart are flung wide--welcoming more transformation, wherever it leads, I am filled, rich with an inheritance of memories and lessons that changed my life; the lessons of pain: the healing anger that shatters silence; the courage to scrape oneself up off the floor and try AGAIN--and then AGAIN. The moments I've glimpsed of searing epiphany and simple grace.
Every earned line on my skin and scar on my heart--I can own them now. I can affirm every imperfection as my share of our mutual, flawed, fragile humanity."

I just had to share with you guys!

I love that weight lifting analogy! T compares therapy to CHEMO - you have to feel worse before you feel better - which always kind of depresses me. I'm going to share the muscle analogy with T....it's much more positive and hopeful