Butterfly Valley, 2020. Part - The Vulnerability Schema Recently, while reading about the schema therapy approach, I began to think that the vulnerability schema (the deep-seated belief that we are weak and fragile) is one of the most common schemas in our society. This schema shows itself through a feeling that something bad is going to happen, a strong belief that the world is a dangerous place, a fear of losing money, power or health, and a desire to feel safe that overrides every pleasure...

Akhisar, 2020. In yesterday's post, we talked about why we should take up a hobby. When we think of hobbies, what usually comes to mind are things we do on our own: crafts, making things, or tinkering and repair projects. If you have a hobby like this and the time you spend on your own keeps growing, it can create conflict at home. It's quite normal for your spouse to expect more attention, and not spending quality time together can weaken the dynamics of the relationship. That's why in...

Akhisar, 2020. Our daily lives usually follow a routine. Meeting our basic needs in order to survive naturally becomes our priority, which is why we spend most of our lives working. People choose their careers at an age when they don't yet fully know themselves, so very few truly enjoy their work for a lifetime. On the contrary, after a certain point our jobs can become stressful and wear us out both physically and mentally. On the other hand, our social relationships aren't always very...

Kadıköy, İstanbul, 2020. COVID has changed many things in our lives. Before COVID, Friday plans meant going out with friends in the evening, talking over ideas for weekend activities, or hosting big gatherings; since COVID, Friday's plan is to stay home, just like any other day. With our routines disrupted, we may feel lonelier and more isolated than usual because we're staying home on Fridays and Saturdays, the days we used to set aside for fun and for shaking off a long week. Whether the...

From time to time, when we look back on our childhood and think about what our mother or father did or didn't do for us, we may feel disappointment, anger and hurt. ‘Like mice endlessly running through the same maze, many people spend years going over the same old stories about how their parents disappointed them and ruined their lives.’ ❗️As a child, you may have seen your parent as unreachable, selfish, or someone who didn't value you. ❗️ As a child, you may have blamed them, feeling that...