The February 17th edition of Maclean’s magazine’s cover story was all about “The new worry epidemic”. In the article, worry is used interchangeably with anxiety, both of which are different than fear. Fear is the “flight/fright/freeze” response that occurs when one is exposed to a threat of some kind…a danger. Fear is in the now. …
January 24-26 The Daring Way ™ Intensive workshop
This last weekend was a special one for the Bergen and Associates Counselling team. Most of us gathered together to work through The Daring Way ™ material together. The therapists came as human beings, not as clinicians to work through the material. It was, in a word, “wow”. Moments were tough. People were courageous. Vulnerability …
Men making friends
Guys have a lot of fun together. Guys enjoy each other’s company. Guys eat, drink, burp and so much more with each other. But are they friends? A friend is someone you share mutual affection with. A confidant. Intimacy is a part of friendship. In our culture, too often authentic, meaningful friendship has been feminized. …
Human Connection
We are hard wired for connection…we need other people in our lives like we need oxygen. Some time ago, Jian Ghomeshi, the host of Q, interviewed an author, Mazier Bahari, a journalist who was imprisoned in Iran in 2009. There was a line in his interview that has stuck in my brain since…I went online to …
Grab a ladder: Empathy vs. Sympathy
Lovin’ this new video from Brené Brown…for a little primer on the difference between empathy and sympathy take a peek! It’s good to know the difference…it’s good to know that empathy enhances connection, and sympathy creates distance. It’s good to have a couple of “good to go” empathic lines, for times when you just don’t …
Leaving footprints
Following 5 full days of learning and experiencing The Daring Way™ program, I had a free day to wander around the river walk today thinking and meandering and watching and gazing and musing and quietly thinking some more. The pathways, waterfalls and beautiful views alongside the water are relaxing and peaceful. After full days of thinking …
Hump Day Nudge: I am Enough
“The drummer boy” has been my favourite Christmas song every since I was a little girl. I grew up with the “Bony M” version, but the Pentatonix is my current fave version (and the new favourite of millions of others, I think, too, judging by the over 19 million views in three weeks or so) …
The Daring Way ™ Shame and Authenticity
To register for The Daring Way with Carolyn Bergen, Certified Daring Way Facilitator, please check out The Daring Way™ webpage for dates and registration info. You may or may not have met me, but allow me to introduce myself to you. My name is Carolyn and I am an author. The above line …
The Daring Way ™ Part 2
So…today we began the “3 day intensive”, participating as clients “doing the work” the same as I will when I’m facilitating the groups in Winnipeg. There are no exceptions to the route to becoming a certified facilitator of The Daring Way (TM)…all therapists are human, and all humans with capacity for empathy carry shame. Being …
The Daring Way ™ Day 1
Well, Day 1 is finished in San Antonio…I am taking the certification for The Daring Way (TM) cirriculum with Brene Brown. Her Ted Talk has millions and millions of views…because she talks about the feeling of being “not good enough”, vulnerability and authentiticy in a way that equips people to live richer, fuller, more …