Professor Gary Greenberg who holds a PHD in Biomedical Research from the University College in London has spent over 10 years searching the globe for grains of sand to photograph. Using tiny acupuncture needles he has sought to find and arrange the most perfect specimens. Once found, he magnifies them 250x real life. What has he found? The photos will amaze you. Each grain of sand is a tiny treasure. Each grain of sand is a true work of art. Each grain of sand is an infusion of creativity, unique and original. Gary Greenberg’s book, “The Secrets of Sand: A Journey into the Amazing Microscopic World of Sand” shares the reason he is passionate about photographing grains of sand is to show others that “ordinary things are truly extraordinary when you look from a new point of view.”
Often a client will come into my office overburdened by his/her problems, hopelessness and negativity. Others may state they feel their life is dull, colorless, and they have little motivation. They may see themselves as an insignificant, colorless grain of sand. Yes, their problems are real, however our “what’s wrong world” has tainted their vision. Why is it that there are over 40,000 research based studies on depression and less than 400 on joy? Why is it that if we want to learn the good we study the bad and then flip it…does that really give us the good or are the results the not so bad? We have adopted a disease model that has spilled over into how we see ourselves and others.
The strengths based approach of positive psychology looks at the well being of a person. After identifying the problem, the counselor assists the client to identify his/her strengths in order to grow in resiliency. Popeye discovered spinach, Superman his yellow sunlight, Iron Man his technology, Captain America his super soldier serum. Each discovered a missing piece that assisted them to be the best version of self. Just like Gary Greenberg and his grains of sand, each super hero discovered the extraordinary within the ordinary.
Why am I passionate about being a strengths based, positive psychology therapist? Because my own life’s journey, through it ups and downs, has led me to this understanding and I am eager to share it with all my clients.
So, this day, I leave you with this thought…You are a treasure…You are a true work of art…You are an infusion of creativity, unique and original…you are extraordinary within the ordinary…you are a super hero!
