Here are a few of our favorite Big Ideas + Other Cool Stuff from Week 2 of Dr. Keith Witt's 5-week course A Five Star Practice For Creating Beautiful Relationships.
The Context
Dr. Keith Witt is a licensed clinical psychologist, lecturer and author dedicated to studying, teaching, and creating transformative healing systems. He’s been practicing psychotherapy in Santa Barbara, California for over 38 years.
You will have a much deeper understanding of how we’re programmed genetically and socially to love. You will better understand your personal strengths and weaknesses in relationships. You will have practical tools for loving better and helping your intimate partners, children, and family love better.
You will have a much deeper understanding of how we’re programmed genetically and socially to love. You will better understand your personal strengths and weaknesses in relationships. You will have practical tools for loving better and helping your intimate partners, children, and family love better.
Here are a few of our favorite Big Ideas from Week 2:
Big Idea #1: What is Healthy?
A common myth of well-being is that you need to be perfect to be healthy.
False.
In order to be healthy physically and psychologically Dr. Witt says awareness is the most important skill. Awareness is the ability to notice when we are in our out of harmony.
If you're physically out of harmony maybe you can: exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables, or rest.
If you're psychologically out of harmony maybe you can: meditate or talk to someone you trust.
Big Idea #2: Moods Are Contagious
Research has emerged in recent years that the mood of neighbors and significant others influences your happiness.
Having a happy friend or relative in close proximity -- less than a mile away -- increased the likelihood of happiness by 25%
-Nicholas A. Christakis, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Are you a negative or positive influence in your relationships?
Are your five closest relationships negative or positive?
Who can you add into your network that can increase your happiness quotient(Remember: God, inspiring teachers and authors, and pets count!)?
Big Idea #3:Co-Dependent
Dr. Witt says an unhealthy expression in relationships is addiction. When someone is addicted; the other person in the relationship becomes co-dependent on the problem. This means that on some level, the partner ends up supporting the addiction either by ignoring it or making excuses for the other person. Dr. Witt provides 3 suggestions for when someone is in a relationship with a person dealing with addiction:
1. Acknowledge: Let the person know that you believe they have an addiction problem and that you think it is an issue. Oftentimes, individuals in a relationship will know that addictive behaviors are present, but their afraid of saying anything. Acknowledging the problem is the first step in the recovery process.
2.Support: Find individuals, groups, and organizations that can understand what you're going through and provide positive and supportive advice. For example, if your partner has an alcohol problem check out Al-Anon.
3. Let Go: There comes a time when you need to move on for the benefit of the person and our own well-being. This is a personal decision that you must decide on yourself.
We hope you enjoyed and see you in Week 3!
-The en*theos team
