Liberation Lunes (even though it's Tuesday..lol)
December 31st, 2024
As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to look back on what’s behind us and wonder about the path ahead. If you’re feeling stuck, unsure of who you are, or questioning where you’re headed, I get it. That uncertainty can feel overwhelming at times, but here’s the good news: you don’t have to navigate it alone. Let’s take this moment together to reflect, release what no longer helps us, and step boldly into the new year equipped with tools for clarity, growth, and purpose.
This blog isn’t just about me—it’s about YOU. I’ll share some of my story, practical tools, and encouragement so you can embrace 2025 with confidence and hope. Whether you’re 25, 45, or somewhere in between, my prayer is that this blog inspires you to take ownership of your journey.
Who Are You? Tools to Discover Yourself
Understanding who you are is a critical first step in navigating life. Personality assessments are an excellent way to gain insights into your strengths, tendencies, and how you relate to the world. Here are a few tools that I was introduced to this year and have been helpful for me:
The Enneagram: This tool reveals your core motivations and challenges. I discovered I’m a Type 2w1, “The Helper,” with a strong drive to serve but a tendency toward perfectionism. It helped me understand why I sometimes give too much of myself. Find your type here.
Tall Trees Personality: I learned I’m a Box Palm—someone who balances flexibility and structure. This tool offers fresh insights into how your personality works in relationships. Check it out here.
CliftonStrengths: Also known as StrengthsFinder, this tool highlights your top strengths. Mine include:
Connectedness®: Seeing meaningful links in life events.
Developer®: Cultivating potential in others.
Woo®: Building connections with new people.
Positivity®: Spreading contagious enthusiasm.
Individualization®: Valuing the unique qualities of others. Learn more here.
Four Temperaments: This timeless tool classifies personality into four types. I’m a Sanguine, known for enthusiasm and optimism. Find yours here.
Taking these assessments isn’t just about labels; it’s about gaining self-awareness so you can navigate life more effectively. As a Christian therapist, I understand that some may view tools like these as “new age” or unnecessary because “all you need is the Bible.” Let me clarify: these assessments are not replacements for Scripture—they are tools.
Think of them as a way to better understand the strengths and weaknesses God has woven into your design. Many of these tools, like CliftonStrengths, MBTI, or the Enneagram, have been rigorously studied by psychologists and practitioners to provide valuable insights into how we think, feel, and interact with others. They’re not about excuses or getting stuck in a label, as some might with horoscopes. Instead, they help us identify areas where we thrive and where we can grow.
Here are some options to explore:
When I work with clients, the first thing I do (if they’re open to it) is incorporate their identity in Christ. This foundation reminds us that our worth comes from being a child of God. From there, these tools can help uncover practical ways to live out our unique calling, whether it’s identifying our God-given strengths or overcoming patterns of behavior that hold us back.
This focus on psychoeducation and growth is why people hire me. As a psychoeducational trainer, supervisor for therapists, and coach, I’ve spent decades working in alternative schools and equipping others with tools to thrive. The “worried well” population—individuals who are motivated, capable, and seeking guidance—is my sweet spot. After years of burnout from spreading myself too thin, I’m finally niching down to serve in this area intentionally.
Which tools resonate with you? Why not explore them today and see what insights God might reveal?
How to Turn Insight into Action
Understanding yourself is just the beginning. Here are practical steps to apply what you learn:
Identify Your Strengths: Lean into what makes you unique. Whether it’s being a natural encourager or excelling in problem-solving, use your strengths as a guide.
Address Your Weaknesses: Knowing your blind spots helps you grow. For example, I’ve worked on setting boundaries to avoid burnout—a challenge for many Type 2 personalities.
Reframe Challenges: When struggles arise, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Shifting your mindset can make a big difference.
Celebrate Progress: Whether you’ve taken an assessment, journaled a reflection, or set a boundary, recognize your wins, big or small.
Create Accountability: Share your goals with a trusted friend, mentor, coach, or therapist. Having someone walk alongside you can motivate you to stay on track. If you’re looking for guidance, I’d love to help you explore these tools and navigate your journey. You can contact me for a free 15-minute consultation to see how we can work together.
Leverage Faith in Action: Invite God into your growth process through prayer and reflection. Faith provides clarity and strength during transitions.
Navigating Life’s Transitions
This year, I’ve navigated significant changes—both personal and professional. One of the most transformative experiences was the Wise Practice Summit. I wasn’t fully honoring the calling God gave me, often hesitating to take myself or my work seriously. Instead, I found myself with a love-hate relationship with money, questioning my motivations, and feeling the weight of burnout.
David Benner’s The Gift of Being Yourself brought this into sharper focus. His insight that Enneagram 2s often have pride hidden as service, much like Martha in the Bible, challenged me deeply. It forced me to confront patterns in my life that I had ignored for far too long. That realization, paired with moments of stillness spent fasting, praying, and revisiting Scripture (with the help of this YouTube playlist), brought clarity to questions like: Who am I? What’s my calling? What’s next? I realized how porous my boundaries had become and how much I needed to address this to move forward in my life.
Through these reflections, I began to let go of old habits that no longer served me and started creating healthier boundaries—not just with others, but also with myself. I’ve come to understand that growth often requires us to confront discomfort, trust the process, and lean into God’s refining work in our lives.
If you’re navigating transitions too, remember this: growth often resembles being refined like gold in the fire, sifted like wheat on the threshing floor, and shaped like clay in the potter’s hands. It’s not always easy, but trust that God is using these experiences to mold you into the person He created you to be. You are not here by accident. Your life has a divine purpose—to glorify God with your story. And healing? It’s not a destination; it’s a journey, a continual process of becoming.
Practical Tips for Moving Forward
Here are some tools and techniques that have helped me and might help you too:
Use CBT Skills: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches us to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with healthier ones. For example, instead of thinking, “I’ll never figure this out,” try, “I’m making progress every day.”
Set SMART Goals: Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Break big goals into smaller, actionable steps.
Practice Gratitude: Gratitude journaling can shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant. Even on hard days, there’s always something to be thankful for.
Pray with Intention: Prayer is a powerful tool for grounding yourself. This prayer video channel has been a source of comfort for me this year.
Learn from Sermons: This sermon on navigating uncertainty offered me fresh perspective and encouragement.
Create a Prayer Board: Visualize your goals and dreams for the upcoming year. Seeing them daily can inspire and motivate you. Click here to read about making one.
Build Routines for Success: Small daily habits like morning devotionals, journaling, or exercise can create momentum for larger goals.
Faith and Freedom
Faith has been my anchor through every twist and turn. This year, I wrestled with big questions: Why does God allow certain struggles? How do I reconcile faith with the imperfections of life? Through it all, I’ve learned that God’s grace is sufficient—even when I feel weak.
One verse that resonated with me was 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I have read this verse hundreds of times but it hit differently this year, wondering what his thorn was while figuring out mine....
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to lean on this truth. Faith isn’t just about believing; it’s about living out that belief in the decisions we make, the boundaries we set, and the grace we extend to ourselves and others.
A Call to Action
As you prepare to step into 2025, I invite you to take ownership of your journey. Start with these steps:
Take one or more of the assessments linked above. Gain clarity on who you are.
Journal your reflections. What did you learn? What surprised you?
Apply the practical tips shared in this blog. Small changes lead to big results over time.
Seek support when needed. Whether through a mentor, coach, or therapist, guidance can be transformative.
This verse, quoted from 2 Corinthians 12:9, is the Apostle Paul recounting what the Lord said to him. Paul was experiencing what he described as a "thorn in the flesh," a source of weakness or difficulty, and God's response emphasizes reliance on His grace and strength in times of human weakness.
If you’re looking for a coach, mentor, or guide to help you navigate these steps, I’d love to work with you. At www.transformedmindcc.com, I offer coaching and consulting for clients outside Florida and am transitioning my services within Florida to focus on coaching, training, and consulting through Through the Valley Therapy.
Come alive in 2025 as we close the door to 2024. Let's make it a year of clarity, growth, and purpose.
Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with hope, joy, and endless possibilities!
Are you ready? Let’s do this—together.
In Service, Faith, Hope and Love,
Diana
PS. Don't forget to listen to The Holistic Counselor Podcast and while you are at it will you please leave a review? Gracias.
And now for the disclaimer to make sure you understand that YOU are responsible for YOU:
Disclaimer:
The content provided on Liberation Lunes is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. The views expressed on this blog are my personal opinions and do not represent the views of any professional organizations with which I am affiliated. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, 911, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) immediately. Liberation Lunes does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the blog. Reliance on any information provided by Liberation Lunes, others appearing on the blog at the invitation of Liberation Lunes, or other visitors to the blog is solely at your own risk.
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If you choose to engage with Liberation Lunes by commenting or posting and you are a client, please be aware that you may be revealing information that could compromise your confidentiality. Remember that disclosing your identity or personal details can be linked to your clinical material. As a therapist, I am bound by confidentiality and will not respond to any disclosures of this nature on this blog. I am committed to upholding the ethics and confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship, which extends to all forms of communication, following the laws and professional guidelines that govern mental health professionals. Your privacy is of utmost importance, and you are responsible for protecting it when interacting on this platform or any other public forum.
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