Safety First

In order to develop, we have to feel safe. Once we feel safe, we can try freely, unafraid to fail (becuase we will fail). Recovering from failure is how we learn. Without safety, we can't fail. Without safety, we can't be honest about our failures. Without safety, we can't humbly acknowledge our failures.

Therefore the precursers to health are safety and vulnerability. Interestingly, those are also precursors to intimacy.

Safety is one of the primary concerns in the counseling office. My job is to make sure you feel safe enough to be your most real self, messy as you are. It's also our primary job as parents, not just to provide physical safety, but also emotional safety.

Providing emotional safety is being consistently stable, warm and supportive when others are elevated or troubled. Kids who feel safe are able to play. Adults are the same way. Feeling safe is similar to being set free. Let's be safe for one another. Let's set each other free.