I got to speak at Westmont College earlier this month! I shared my trauma story as well as two of the things that helped me be available for joy in the midst of pain. It’s been through the deeper pain that I’ve been able to experience greater joy.

The two things that I shared are:

• Noticing glimmers: Noticing glimmers helped me be available for joy because glimmers helped my body, at least momentarily, get out of flight/fight mode and experience some peace and relaxation.
• Acknowledging the both/and reality of life: Acknowledging that life is oftentimes both pain and joy helped me be available for joy because it allowed me to live authentically to my experience. It certainly was not all joy, and it also wasn’t all pain either; it was both. Furthermore, acknowledging pain helped me amazingly not get stuck in denying the pain (or dwelling on it), so that I could be open to seeing the good and miracles and hope and joy that might also be present too.

So here it is if you’d like to watch! It’s 17 minutes long. It took a lot of pain and healing to learn what I did to be able to speak this this:

Though I shared these things in light of my trauma recovery, these factors consistently help me — in the present– be able to be open for joy during pain: I still experience pain directly from my car accident, also from a variety of other things. It doesn’t take much to be reminded of how much pain is in our lives and world these days.

After I ended speaking, the Westmont worship team sang The Blessing. I hadn’t heard it before this day. It is so, so good. Here is the link to the Elevation Worship rendition. If you keep watching after I speak, you’ll see the Westmont version of it.

May God give us peace. And grant us favor. To ourselves, our children, our communities, our world. Amen.

It was an honor to share, and so, so special.

Warmly,

Robyn

Fun Fact: I’ve actually written about both of the things I spoke about … on this blog. But it wasn’t until prepping to give my talk that I made the connection that these things helped– and help– me be available for joy during pain.

---

Even though I am an LMFT, the content on this blog is not a substitute for individual therapy nor is it meant to convey specific psychological advice. Rather, it is for educational purposes only. Please reach out on the Therapy with Robyn page if you are interested in exploring more about what therapy with me might look like.