Adjustments

This blogpost is coming to you from my new laptop. The old one was… well, old. And cranky. And starting to forget things. Confession time: I am not good with new technology. I am a creature of habit, so adjusting to new devices or learning new ways to do things I already know how to do can be difficult for me. As the saying goes– if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Sometimes that’s how I feel about upgrading my computer or having to buy a new smartphone or GPS system. My old stuff usually works just fine.  But for whatever reason, eventually I am forced to trade in for the latest model.

Adjustments can be hard!

But that’s how life goes, too. Take my GPS system for example. It was a gift to me from my father when I moved across the country. (Another confession: Spin me around 3 times, and I have no idea which direction I’m facing. My sense of direction is atrocious!) It worked beautifully and served me well for a few years. I know exactly how to program it, how to find recent addresses, how to add an additional destination once I’m already on the road. But… the GPS is now 7 years old, and I’ve never updated the maps. That’s not a big deal unless you happen to be heading for a destination that’s been built in the last 7 years. (True story: A couple of years ago I took a new exit off the interstate somewhere in North Carolina, and the GPS voice actually said “impossible” to me!)

So what does that have to do with mental health?

Obviously, I can still manage to find my destinations using my outdated GPS. But I could probably find my way a lot faster and with less stress if I simply downloaded current maps or used a newer system. Just like life. We can manage to get by using the same methods we’ve always used that have gotten us decent results in the past. But sometimes there are new methods, new ways of accomplishing tasks, an improved technology or technique that allows us to accomplish the same tasks easier, faster, or with better results. Here’s the catch, though– we have to decide to make that change. And then we have to endure the adjustments to the “new way” of life. It takes time and patience but is usually worth it in the end.

So what do you need to upgrade? Are there adjustments that need to happen?  What needs changing and updating in your life? Is it a relationship, or thought patterns, or a way of approaching things in general?

If you’re curious about how music therapy fits into the picture, contact me for more information.  I’m always happy to answer questions!