by Ligia Houben | Nov 15, 2018 | Blog US
People ask me if bereavement support groups help. It is my belief they do if you are open to share and receive. Still, we know not everyone is for support groups. However, if you are, support groups offer you a safe space to open your heart and share your journey with others who have also lost a loved one.
For nine years I had the privileged to train people who were interested in facilitating these types of groups, with Rev. Dr. Dale Young. Dale was the Director of Pastoral Care in Baptist Health South Florida, and this training was offered through their program Congregational Health. When Dale retired, our training stopped. We stayed with the hope to do it again sometime in the future.
I want to thank Morningstar Renewal Center and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church to make this possible.
These past two Saturdays, Dale and I had the blessing of training an amazing group of 23 people. They have the calling of supporting others in times of grief. The training is didactic in nature, with a lot of interaction and role play.
People have the opportunity to ask and share their own history of loss. It is important as we want to help others, to own our grief. Our intention is that people understand the concept of grief and how it can be manifested. The more we know about bereavement, the more we can help ourselves and others.
We finished our training with a beautiful ritual, honoring our loved ones.
This ritual can be done in families, churches and support groups. Rituals in times of loss give a sense of meaning to our grief.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the special people who attended this training, for having so much compassion and love in their hearts.
I also want to thank my husband Mario Houben to take these significative pictures.
Remember…as you transform your loss, you transform your life!
Ligia M. Houben
by Ligia Houben | Oct 22, 2018 | Blog US
You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.
Jim Rohn
Life changes and we change along with it. If you are like me, you may be experiencing changes in life patterns, in life expectations and outcomes. What you envisioned your life to be may not be your reality anymore. What was “known” to you changes, and you may feel baffled, without energy, and hopeless. Are you feeling that way? I understand you; to feel sad and challenged is just human. However….it’s up to you how you continue feeling.
I want to use the analogy of life and the seasons. Many people have written about this analogy, being Jim Rohn one of my favorites. Jim said we all go through Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. It is not a surprise! Spring is a time of renewal, new beginnings, new opportunities! We may not even take a pause to think! We enjoy this time in our lives, expecting to last forever. We are hopeful, motivated, and filled with joy!
Then, we reap in Summer what we have sown in Spring. Although, I know that at times what we reap is not a reflection of what we sowed, because there are other variables we may not have taken into account or were out of our control. However, we can still learn from this, change our strategy, and continue renewed with expectations. We still have hope and strength. When Fall comes, is a time to cherish the good times in our lives and prepare ourselves for those times when we will experience the extreme cold of Winter.
Are you facing a Winter now? What kind of Winter is it? What are you doing about it? Are you complaining about how cold it is? Or are you lighting a fire to keep you warm? If you are experiencing an extreme cold Winter, I understand you. Recently, I have experienced a couple of Winters. However…it is up to us, if we freeze to death, or if we choose to wear a warm coat, get close to the bonfire, and know that Spring is about to arrive.
Remember…Your life has meaning!
Ligia M. Houben
by Ligia Houben | Oct 15, 2018 | All
Whatever you want to achieve in life…follow your dream. Remember to think big, and you will be able to transform your life.
Nothing can stop, you but your own mind. Napoleon Hill, in his seminal work, Think and Grow Rich stated: “What the mind can conceive, it can achieve. ” It all starts with having the desire to make it happen.
Martin Luther King said, “I have a Dream” and he carried it on…
So, what is your contribution to this world? How can you become a better person? What is your dream?
Imagine it! Cherish it! See it in your mind and feel it in your heart!
If you face obstacles, do not dismay. Do not allow people to discourage you.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your dream and cheer you up.
People who “coach” you through tough times, and cherish your wins. Even small win counts!
Achieving a dream is a process (just like the grieving process); it may take time, but it does not matter. Start taking the first step today.
Even if you are facing a crisis, a difficult time, or a loss. You can still dream for a better life because…there is life after a loss, and it is precious.
So, what do you need to follow your dream? I have found these values to be of great help:
- Desire (to make it happen!)
- Believe in yourself
- Perseverance
- Self-discipline
- Self-confidence
- Having a high intention (something bigger than you)
- Resilience during challenging times
- Being optimistic
- Being flexible
- Being fearless
So, do not wait for better times to pursue your dream. The time is now!
Your life is finite, and you do not want to waste more time in dreaming what you wish you could be, do, or give.
Do it now with love, care, and…meaning.
Remember…Your Life has Meaning!
Ligia M. Houben
by Ligia Houben | Oct 4, 2018 | Blog US
When we are consumed by grief, we may feel we are the only persons hurting, and we may not notice the pain of others. Furthermore, we may be so blinded by our grief that we may say or do things that are hurting people we love.
If this has happened to you…do not feel ashamed, it happens to all of us. What matters the most is to be aware we are doing it and stop it at once.
Hurting others do not alleviate our own pain. It may even make it greater.
If you have hurt someone due to the pain you are experiencing, recognize it and ask for forgiveness. Yes, be humble and recognize your mistake, because it is a mistake to hurt the people we love. The moment we are able to enter the worldview of others we will be able to develop compassion and understanding. We will be able to leave our own pain aside and embrace the pain of our beloved one.
If we are proud and stay in a place of not admitting we were wrong, we will find ourselves in a cycle of hurt, pain, resentment, and more pain. At the end, you are not only hurting the other person; you are hurting yourself.
Some people choose not to say “I am sorry” out of their pride. They wait for the other person to say it first.
What about if the other person is in the same position?
Couples break-up, parents and children have dysfunctional relationships, and bosses and employees destroy relationships because of their pride.
Therefore, next time you feel you are the only person hurting, take a closer look at the person next to you. It has been said that if we leave our pain aside and understand the pain of others…our pain becomes lighter.
As you transform your loss, you transform your life!
Ligia M. Houben, MA, FT, CGC, CPC
by Ligia Houben | Sep 24, 2018 | Blog US
As I work with many people going through losses or life transitions, I have been able to see the effect our attitude has on how we handle the situation.
Some people face a small problem and find themselves hopeless, afraid, or with no motivation. Other people face huge losses and are able to withstand their pain and even become better persons.
What is the difference between these two groups of people?
I have to say it is their attitude. Although some people dwell on the negative and the pain, others use their faith, hope, and strength to keep them going. Instead of focusing on the darkness that may surround them, they choose to use their inner resources and turn on the light.
To which group of people do you belong to?
I wish you a beautiful day,
Ligia M. Houben
