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We all celebrate victories, fawning over the achievements of others. Yet we rarely acknowledge that failures often pave the road to success. With our focus locked on shining accomplishments, we crave success yet fear the process that will bring us there. It’s unrealistic to expect to win without ever experiencing loss.
Confident people value themselves, knowing their imperfections and others’ opinions don’t define their self-worth. Uncertainty and self-consciousness can be debilitating, holding you back from achieving, or even attempting, to achieve your potential. While some people are more inclined towards confidence, it’s not an inherent trait. This state of steadfastness is a skill that you can learn. Developing your self-confidence will help you step out of your comfort zone with less fear and anxiety, motivate you to achieve your goals, and remain resilient when facing challenges.
Have you ever felt alone, confused, and like your life was spinning out of control? Have you envied friends, family members, or strangers because your observations made you believe they had nearly perfect lives? For me, these were daily thoughts and struggles I brought to my counselor and shared only with my closest friends. No matter how hard I tried, I felt like nothing was improving in my life.
As these feelings and thoughts persisted, I started sharing less with my closest friends because I felt like my struggles were becoming worrisome for them. I felt embarrassed each time I went back to my counselor with no significant progress to share. I wondered, what more could I do to improve my circumstances and, ultimately, my life? After some gentle encouragement from my counselor, which was met by initial resistance from me, I built the courage to walk into an Al-Anon meeting.
Everyone has their own ideas about child-rearing. For parents who are no longer in a relationship, the transition to raising children together while separated is challenging. It requires skills like communication and flexibility, which can be difficult at the best of times. Toss in intense emotions, a seismic shift to routines, and new living arrangements, and you are working through layers of complexity. Learning to work together with your co-parent is a skill you can learn over time. With the right approach and plenty of patience, you and your co-parent can set your differences aside and create an environment where your child(ren) can thrive.
Did you know as much as 65% of your body consists of water? Water is an essential element of life! Every cell in your body, over 37 trillion of them, requires water to function optimally. Hydration impacts a significant number of your body’s systems, which is why dehydration can cause a slew of symptoms. Consuming adequate amounts of water is a crucial component of good health and helps enhance your brain functioning and boost your energy levels among other benefits. Discover all the ways hydration helps you, how much water you should actually drink, and 10 tips to help you sneak more fluids in throughout the day!
Every person has unique characteristics, experiences, and backgrounds that impact how they show up in the world. Gender, ethnicity, and age are typically the first attributes that come to mind, yet the largest minority group are those with disabilities; one in four Americans identify as disabled! The disabled community is the single minority group that anyone could join at any time. A car accident could cause temporarily impaired vision, or you could contract Lyme disease and experience long-term pain and fatigue. With people coming from all walks of life, ensuring doors are open to everyone, literally and figuratively, is beneficial to all.
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6th floor of the Insurance Exchange Building in downtown Des Moines
800-327-4692
Counseling Services
1001 Office Park Rd, Suite 205
West Des Moines, IA 50265
2nd floor of the building
515-471-2357
The Healing Space
1001 Office Park Rd, Suite 209
West Des Moines, IA 50265
2nd floor of the building
515-471-2357
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Student Assistance Program (SAP) & Outpatient Counseling
Maddox*, an elementary-aged student, struggled with anger outbursts, physical aggression, and difficulties with problem-solving. After spending years off-and-on in therapy seeking treatment with various providers only to remark that “none seemed to want to listen,” Maddox’s parents sought SAP services through their district.
Today, Maddox is completing his SAP sessions and moving towards outpatient counseling. He has reduced his anger outbursts and has learned skills to help him successfully navigate challenging days.