The Power of Words

Words are powerful. It could bring life or it could destroy a person. It can make someone happy but it can also break one's heart. It can build up faith but it can also devastate one's confidence.

This week I had an opportunity to witness how words uttered carelessly had destroyed the winning atmosphere in a certain team. Audibly, I heard the cry of someone who felt judged, condemned and mistreated. I've seen the wall of defense building up higher and higher. The trust was broken and no one owns the blame. The seed of denial and apathy had started to sprout. The former happy and loving relationship had turned sour and unbecoming. The former crown had become a thorn. A source of anxiety, worries and stress. What has become of the relationship? What had brought it there?

For this person I met, It's simply the negative words uttered in the guise of care and concern. She expected to be understood, protected and lifted up on that desperate moment but instead she felt being stabbed leaving wounds of words like sword. What could be done to patch up things? How could a wounded heart experience healing?

If negative words had broken down the relationships, positive words would be the best tool to rebuild it. Positive words like "I'm sorry", "forgive me" and "I admit I have hurt you" have such powerful healing capacity. It can break down the walls and defenses. It can soften the heart, it can bring forgiveness and reconciliation. 

This is what I've witness with the people I have journeyed with this week. Some were moved to shed tears while others exchanged warm embrace as a sign of a new beginning.

Words are indeed powerful. It can bring blessing or in can bring curse. That's why we need to choose to listen to the voice of God affirming us and assuring us of His unconditional love and best plan for us. It is only then that we are able to utter positive words for others when we are positive about our standing with God.

Be careful then what comes out from your mouth from now on.

Experience Stress Debriefing

"I'm stressed out", I don't know how many times I heard this statement from different people I had conversations, with regards to their field of work. The percentage is even higher among students. I have to be honest that I have uttered this statement too. 

Last semester, I was invited to conduct a workshop on stress management. In the process of preparing, I have learned valuable truths on how I have personally managed my own stressors and what else can I do to make it even better.

This semester, I was invited again to conduct the same workshop to around 1000 nursing students in one the colleges here in davao. It's a challenging opportunity to help our future nurses to apply self-care so that can give best care to their patients.

I'm excited on how the Lord is starting to open up more opportunities for personal and professional growth to extend my services not only to students but to my fellow help providers as well. This coming thursday and friday, I will be conducting stress debriefing and team building among the staff of RBI (Resources for the blind). Stress debriefing is more extensive than just conducting workshop on stress management. In stress debriefing, the participants would be able to process themselves with regards to the stressors that might have impede their complete functioning. It is necessary for those who are in the helping profession to experience supervision. 

I found it highly important among missionaries too, especially those who are in a cross-cultural missions. They need to experience stress debriefing of their varied mission experiences when they go back to their home country. This is the thing that I am discovering. I am starting to  conduct stress debriefing in one of our missionaries and hoping to let this opportunity be spread out.

You may contact me in the following numbers if you are interested to avail of this service. You may also refer this service to your company or to your friend. Thank you and God bless us all.

Adrian A. Bontuyan

09274853695

(082) 2271731

Wazzup?

"Wazzup" is a coined filipino word. It's actually a spontaneous utterance of the phrase "what's up". It is commonly used by our youth today. It could be categorized as one of the slangs in the Filipino language.

I usually used this word whenever I start a conversation with someone may it be in a chat or in a face to face conversation. I also have a friend who usually asked me that question but he even shorten it into one syllable "zup". At least that shortens the effort of typing and utterance.

Well may be some of you might want to ask wazzup with my blog adventure? I confess that I have not updated my blog as often as before. I was caught with many things to do and I don't have enough time to write anymore. However I won't miss this time to answer the question wazzup with my counseling passion.

In my previous entry, I shared about the counseling room that I had begun to use and made-over. This week I had my first private client. It was so affirming when she commented how beautiful the atmosphere of the room was. She was so grateful of our meeting as well.

 I'm so grateful how the Lord is causing my counseling career to start flourishing. I am receiving more invitations to speak on stress management. An NGO had requested me to conduct stress debriefing among their staff and workers.

I attribute all these opportunities to God as He is opening more doors for His love, peace and rest to be shared and expereinced by people through this counseling ministry He has entrusted to me. May we all experience God's peace and rest everyday as we fulfill His calling.

A Sense of Accomplishment

This week was filled with excitement. I finally had met with some of my clients at the seminary. I had been reviewing the results of the psychological exams they've taken.  I had been preparing how I could present to them the results so they would be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. It wasn't an easy task. Until now, I still am learning how to be a good communicator.

One of the things that gave me a sense of accomplishment this week was the progress of my project to make the counseling center more conducive for counseling. It made me excited as I exercise my creativity in utilizing the space and the facilities available. Below are the pictures we've taken today before I left the center. Hope you would give a visit sometimes. You need not go there as a client, you may go there as a friend.

I took that sofa from the library. Thanks to the generosity of Alne-our librarian. 

The plants were taken from the garden outside. Thanks for the kindness of jun2x-our caretaker.