What are you dressing up as this Halloween?
At Halloween some of us wear masks or disguise ourselves so others won’t recognize us. Do you ever feel like doing that at any other time of the year? Do you wish you could be the assertive one in the room and stand up against the majority? Would you like to volunteer to speak at the next neighborhood meeting but are terrified of doing so? Maybe you are attending your first AA Meeting and are shaky in your recovery. Anyone ever suggest you fake it until you make it?
In the recovery literature there is some controversy about faking it until you make it. The phrase can be used for times when you may feel uncertain, particularly when you are new in recovery. The idea is to feel as though you know what you are doing even when you are uncomfortable or not sure about yourself. You aren’t really pretending to be sober rather you are projecting your confidence in your ability to be sober. It may give one a sense of control when they don’t feel in control.
People in recovery may worry that if one is “faking” something they may not really be committed. Others disagree and believe that projecting confidence may help during rough times.
Many of us have faked our way when we were not confident. How many new first grade teachers felt 100% confident they would be able to control a group of 6 year olds the first day of school? How would parents and kids have felt if the teacher exuded anything but confidence? Can you imagine how a first year med student feels when they have to conduct their first physical examination? How would you feel if they told you how scared they were or how they had never done this exam before? The student may fake confidence, not the ability to perform the task.
Another suggestion to accompany fake it until you make it is visualization. See yourself as you want to be. How does a confident, successful person walk into a room? How does a confident person interact with others? Perhaps you have a role model who demonstrates confidence and success. Maybe you can observe and then practice the behaviors.
Faking it until you make it is temporary. It is not an act to keep from doing the work. Once you gain the skills and knowledge you don’t have to put on a brave front …you will feel brave and confident. Don’t hide behind your mask but use it to help you gain confidence and then put it away.
Smokehouse Players November 14
Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Marsha Norman’s “‘Night, Mother” begins on a humdrum Saturday evening when reclusive Jessie calmly tells her mother that she plans to kill herself before the night is through. What ensues is a gripping glimpse into this complicated, but poignantly real mother-daughter relationship, as Thelma desperately tries to stop her daughter before it’s too late.
Directed by Jules Taylor, this powerful 90-minute bare-bones production is an intense examination of everyday life and what gives it – or fails to give it – value. Featuring Amy Eversole and Terry Vaughan. Pre-show music by Jori Costello.
Tickets are FREE (donations accepted at door). All donations received at the Thursday, November 14 performance to benefit Magdalene Serenity House and an ANONYMOUS DONOR WILL MATCH ALL DONATIONS RECEIVED THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14 so please attend, be generous, and support this great cause!
Talkbacks with the audience on the topic of suicide will be led by Dr. Margaret Rutherford following the November 14 benefit performance, Lauren Little-Levine (MA, LPC Psychotherapy/ Expressive Art Therapy) following the November 15 performance, and Joy Caffrey (Healer, Motivational Speaker, Workshop Facilitator) following the November 16 performance.
NO RESERVED SEATING/SMALL VENUE. First come, first served. Doors open at 6:30, performance at 7:30. Beer, wine, lemonade, and cookies available for sale prior to the show.
Congratulations Ashley!
We are proud to announce that our Development Coordinator, Ashley Graham, was awarded the Allison A. McElroy Membership Scholarship from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. They had a record number of applications this year and we are thrilled that Ashley received this award to cover our annual membership cost!
Community Resource Spotlight
NWA Center for Sexual Assault is one of many community resources MSH utilizes. While MSH provides many weekly groups, it’s important to have outside sources of healing and treatment so our residents can have a more specialized level of care. Much like MSH, the center’s mission is “to offer a safe haven of healing and hope to survivors of sexual violence or harassment”. The Center has been a valuable resource to MSH and has provided numerous hours of one-on-one counseling to our residents as well as bringing group sessions into the home. MSH would like to thank the entire staff at NWA Center for Sexual Assault for their support to Magdalene as well as the rest of the NWA community!
Community Outreach
Did you know that we engage in community outreach all throughout Northwest Arkansas? This month you may have seen us at the Farmer’s Market, ArkanSalsa, PEO group, MARS Candy Company, the Recovery Art Fair, and the Washington County Democratic Women. A big part of our job is educating the community about our program and the needs of women who have experienced trauma, addiction, and incarceration. Interested in having us speak to your group or table at your event? Contact liz@lovehealsnwa.org.
Ways to Give
The giving season is quickly approaching and we have new residents arriving this month and next! There are several ways to give back to MSH and support our residents. We are always in need of household items such as toilet paper and laundry detergent. Interested in donating? Contact ashley@lovehealsnwa.org
Volunteer – we need volunteers to transport our residents to work and appointments.
Give – we need donors willing to contribute monthly and/or annually to support our program.
Wish List – Help us welcome our new residents home by purchasing an item off our Amazon Wish List.