2020 has come to a close. How do we move forward into healing during 2021?
In Volume 40 of this guest series, psychotherapist, Dr. Francis L. Battisti, and nutritionist, Dr. Helen Battisti, explain how we can move past the trauma of 2020 and into a year of healing in 2021.
For over 10 years, they have worked closely with us on aging concerns and have presented many webinars and in-person workshops. Their newsletter, The Zone, is a weekly mental health and nutrition tip sheet during times of change.
Now that the final celebrations of the year 2020 are about to close, we turn our attention to the new beginnings of 2021 that lay before us. As we prepare to embrace our new beginnings, past experiences can help us to decide our future course.
According to ancient roman mythology, Janus is known as the god of beginnings, gates, thresholds, passages and endings. Often depicted as having two faces, one looking to the past and one looking to the future, with the idea that we are constantly evolving into our future. Our past embodies everything that we have learned and experienced and what has been taught to us from the sages that have come before us.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, given all the challenges of the past, of pain, loss, joy, new discoveries, letting go, etc. this moment offers opportunities for healing and strengthening our resolve. As with the healing from an injury, there is often pain in the process of healing.
Life is replete with symbolic opportunities of transition. If we choose to take this time to briefly pause, to collect our thoughts and experiences and to plan our future actions, it can help propel us forward.
- As we were taught as children, it is important to look both ways before we cross.
- We can create our future, first in our hearts, then in our thoughts and finally by our activities.
- Pain and healing are part of the same continuum.
- Make each moment matter.
- Share your planning with people you trust to be truthful.
- Practice healthy behaviors.
- Not allowing time for healing.
- Not allowing for moments of gratitude.
- Forgetting the past.
In summary, now can be a time that offers us the opportunity to state our hope during uncertainty. As 2021 is only a few days away, our hope for each of you is good health, peace and agency.
Quote of the Week
“Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateway that leads to new beginnings.”
–Ralph Blum
Zone News:
We have developed The ZONE, because that is exactly where you want to be during this pandemic. A place of focused attention to doing exactly what needs to be done to get you to where you need to be. The purpose of The Zone is to provide a nationally distributed weekly mental-health and nutrition tip-sheet during times of change.
If you would like to get copies of The ZONE that you may have missed or if you know someone that would like to start receiving The ZONE, please visit the Battisti’s new website at www.paradocshub.com.
