Blog
Deep Process
Deep Process By Paul Chubbuck What is a “deep process”? In childhood, when abuse, loss, or other trauma is experienced, there is often not adequate safety or support to process those feelings after the trauma. Therefore the need to survive and function demands the...
Why is this Joke Funny?
The old joke goes: A police officer sees a drunken man intently searching the ground near a lamppost and asks him the goal of his quest. The drunk replies that he is looking for his keys and the officer helps for a few minutes without success. Then he asks whether the...
Codependency What about Feelings?
A question from my client: “I was excited about signing up for a class. But after the first session I’m anxious and doubtful that it’s really what I want. But if I drop it, I’m afraid I will feel even worse about myself.” What would you answer? Reply with your...
The Two Tall Guards: A Poem
The Two Tall Guards A Christmas Poem that points towards Joy by Paul Chubbuck There’s a temple you long to enter, for through the warmly lit windows as you approach you see men and women dancing, a tree aglow with color, a fireplace’s flickering light, children...
Codependency: Why the Elephant Doesn’t Break Its Chain
Codependency: Why the Elephant Doesn't Break Its Chain by Paul Chubbuck The circus visitor observed the elephant curiously and asked the caretaker, "Can't that huge elephant easily break that little chain or pull that small stake out of the ground?" "Yes, he could",...
Codependency Kills
Yes, Codependency Can Kill! by Paul Chubbuck Codependency: A relationship in which a person is overly reliant upon another for approval and a sense of identity, compelling them to control or appease the other. The relationship may have many unhealthy qualities...
Eclipse
Eclipse by Paul Chubbuck I have a date with the Sun and the Moon at a place where mountains climb. The Sun and the Moon will not be late as they speed their journey cross time. They speed in their journey cross time. Earth, Sun, and Moon have so long danced, for...
The Sound Love Makes
The Sound Love Makes by Paul Chubbuck Lately I've been contemplating and noticing how many, if not most, inspired and happy people are ones who have endured a lot of suffering and managed, somehow, to learn from it and create a new life around what they've learned....
Needing a “Tuneup”
Needing a "Tuneup" Client: I've been quite lethargic of late so haven't followed up on your last suggestion as I should, but it's on my internal to-do list. I'm writing because I'm struggling again - my whole mindset has shifted and not in a good way. For the first...
Alchemy
Alchemy by Paul Chubbuck In the dream I have two tank cars full of raw petroleum. How this came to be is secret and suspicious, but no one challenges, the gunk is mine. The question is, what now? The sticky, black sludge is an appalling mess on land or sea, terrible...
Your Grief is not Fashionable
Your Grief is not Fashionable A Poem by Paul Chubbuck Have you noticed how talk fades if we dare to share our deepest grief? Those who don’t turn away say, “she’s in a better place now,” “it’s for the best,” “there’s other fish in the sea,” “this too shall pass,”...
Poetry reading
Switching Gods Poems read aloud by Paul Chubbuck Last Sunday, I read 11 poems on topics of healing from trauma from my new book, "Switching Gods: Poems and Tales for Waking Up" at the Fort Collins Unity Sunday service, interspersed with Minister Peggy's message on...
Switching Gods
Switching Gods A Poem by Paul Chubbuck Who is our God? I mean, not the one we address on the Sabbath, or try to believe in, according to the scriptures. I speak of where our minds go in the dark hours when the bank account is low, our lover is gone, our child is ill,...
Depression Summit Interview
The Body Speaks Louder than Words Depression Summit Interview with Paul Chubbuck I was invited to participate in "The Depression Summit", an online webinar and exploration of the topic with experts in relevant fields. Here is the interview. Click to find more about...
Standing Rock – A poem
Standing Rock A Poem by Paul Chubbuck Sand Creek Wounded Knee The Trail of Tears The betrayal and the murder of innocents echo loudly across wood and plain, for those with ears to hear. Even today, blood spills in many ways and places. Can healing happen between our...
Surviving your Dysfunctional Family Christmas
Surviving your Dysfunctional Family Christmas Do you have a family visit planned? Is your stomach tightening at the thought? Here's some survival tips that can help. Keep your expectations minimal - Have you been doing healing work, making great discoveries and...
To Die for the Cause
To Die for the Cause Oh, what a mess our governmental and political world is, and many's the normal citizen who is angry about it. Whichever side of the aisle you identify with, there's plenty to feel irritated, impatient, or even irate about! Why? Because we feel...
Maybe It’s Not Your Pain
Maybe It's Not Your Pain In 12 Step recovery communities, they say, "We compare our insides to other people's outsides." Our insides are messy and often well-populated with fear, resentment, guilt, and doubt, while our own and other people's outsides are more...
How do I tell the difference between fear and intuition?
I received this compelling request yesterday from a woman who found me online. I am nearly 11 months sober and doing the work around healing old wounds. I got married this past summer and am pretty happy except that one thing is keeping me really stuck. Trust issues....
Stop Running from Your Demon
Stop Running from Your Demon We are exploring the benefits and the "how-to's" of getting more in touch with our bodies and sensations. Previous installments available here. I’ve been promising a blog post on exactly how to get more fully in touch with your feelings...