A Message from the Author, Caitlin Margaret

Dear CSSW Community:

As social workers, you’re taking on such important work in the world. But let’s be honest: sometimes, it can feel overwhelming. You spend your days trying to help others, sometimes to the extent of neglecting your own needs. You’re up close and personal with complex social issues, holding people in their pain, and navigating bureaucracies and budget shortages. Your work is noble and fulfilling, but it’s not always easy. And if you’re not careful, you can burn out pretty quickly. I know I did. In fact, after my first year at CSSW, I couldn’t imagine working in clinical practice ever again: my heart was too heavy, and my hope for a better future was fading day by day.

And yet here I am today, running a clinical coaching practice, seeing at least 20 clients a week, and feeling energized, upbeat, and motivated every day. This transformation is a result of positive psychology, which I studied intensively after graduating from CSSW. I learned how to stop feeding my negative stories and emotions through self-compassion and positive self-talk, how to focus on what was going right instead of what was going wrong, and how to develop a courageous optimism and personal mission that puts fuel in my tank every day. Most importantly, I made a commitment to my own joy, authenticity, and self-care because I know that I am best at serving others when I feel whole.

As you read this book, my hope is that you’ll use the tools and insights to build and broaden your own inner happiness and contentment You’ll learn how to leverage your strengths, live your values, and develop ways of thinking that make you feel more confident and cared for. And in turn, you will be an even more powerful force of positive change in the world.

Thank you for reading. Be you, be true, and shine on through.

Love,
Caitlin

 

Download Chapter 1 (PDF: 29 pages) here:

PathToPositivityCh1

The Path to Positivity: Proven Positive Thinking Techniques for Getting Motivated and Living Your Best Life, by Caitlin Margaret, published by Rockridge Press. Copyright © 2020 by Callisto Media. All rights reserved.

To purchase the complete book, order here.