Perception, Part I

Last week, after hearing so many sad stories in the clinical setting, one of my students made the comment, "We really can't help them, can we." Sometimes it appears that way to me, too. Life has been too overwhelming for many individuals, and they want to get out. I have heard thousands of horror stories over the years and wonder how these human beings have survived long enough to sit before me and be able to speak about their lives. These are the times when I lift a silent prayer or feel that I want to cry with them. But there are others who admittedly are irritating. These unfortunate people have learned behaviors and attitudes such as blaming others for whatever goes "wrong" in their lives or thinking the world owes them a living. Beliefs such as those will interfere with relationships as well prevent them from progressing naturally through the stages of life. And they will wonder why and be unwilling to accept their misdeeds and impaired judgments. We cannot go back and change the lives of anyone. We cannot alter a persons DNA. What is done is done. But there is one thing we can do. Romans includes a few words that read,"...be transformed by the renewal of your mind." (And of course there are other ways that idea can be stated.) We can help them change the perspectives that have worn them down and lead them to develop perspectives that may give them hope.