Here’s me, doing my bit to participate weekly in Kelly’s Seven Quick Takes over at This Ain’t the Lyceum.

So here’s…

This Week’s Resources for Catholic Trauma Survivors

Takes. Best described as quick. Seven of them.

-1-

Thank you to all the Trauma Gospel Journal Prompt participants. You should have received your thank you gift, The “Thanks, But I Have Plans” Advent Calendar.

What is the “Thanks, But I Have Plans” Advent Calendar?

A little over a year ago, it wasn’t enough for my therapist to tell me that I didn’t have to go anywhere if I didn’t want to or have people in my home who behave in unloving ways. I mean, he’s right, but I didn’t believe him, didn’t think I could say no… until someone in my one support group said, “I invite you to join me spiritually any day that you have a toxic invitation you’re not up for just flat-out refusing.” 

Since then, I’ve gotten much better at releasing the negative voices from my circle. Now I believe my therapist. I can and do say no. But I needed that little — not a push, but a beckoning, an invitation, from that support group member, to help me see my value and the power that God shares with me in choosing who gets space inside my head and heart. I can choose peace and joy for me. I can decline giving others more opportunities to sin against me. Jesus only got crucified the once. 

Now it’s my turn to be that support group person. I’m paying it forward. I’m inviting all and sundry to join me (spiritually and emotionally) whenever you need to tell someone, “Thanks, but I have plans.”  For every day of Advent and the Christmas season, I am inviting you to join me in whatever way will help you grow into seeing that you do have choices. You do have value. You deserve to be cherished in all your relationships. You are desired.
  
If you want the printable calendar, as well as the Twelve Days of Christmas bonus plans, sign up at the old Gospel Journal Prompt page, and said calendar will be delivered right to your inbox within a day or so (do so and you can also get your free copy of the “Get Moving With St. Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer” ebook). If printables aren’t your thing, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and you’ll get to say “Thanks, but I have plans,” whenever you need to do so.

And now for six more links that you might find helpful as you integrate your trauma healing work with Catholic spirituality:

2. In “When You’re on the Verge of a Meltdown,” Catholic Mom’s Maria V. Gallagher shares four spiritual tips for dealing with our own emotional overwhelm and outbursts.

3. ‘I couldn’t fix myself’: Bishop Conley opens up about mental health recovery: major mad props to an actual bishop publicly owning his mental health journey.

4. Eleven year-old artist runs therapy class for veterans: this young lady is an inspiration.

5. More from Dr. Ramani, this one on How therapists feel about their narcissistic clients

6. Charlene Bader over at Catholic Mom asks the question, “Are ‘Good Kids’ the Goal of Catholic Parenting?” Great take on that study from a few years ago that put forth that kids raised without religious culture are, in fact, “nicer.”

7. “Peace is not the absence of conflict. We can’t pretend problems don’t exist and call that peace,” Monica Portogallo writes for her Catholic Mom article, “Blessed Are the Peacemakers.” She makes a lot of the points I make in the forthcoming All Things New… speaking of which, I’d better wrap up my final edits on that project soon!

Let me know how I may pray for you? Meanwhile, make sure you give Kelly & the SQT crew a look see.

BTW, I have a little playlist of self-care songs, and here’s one of them (warning: a little sweary, but here’s my official memento mori farwell to the Month of the Holy Souls). Can you recommend any good songs for the self-care playlist?