Simply Change your life

This video was shown in one of my psychology classes. You'll enjoy this funny skit. If changing was that easy, i'd be looking for second career because therapists would be making minimum wage. Here is my response to it:

SIMPLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE
“Forget and forgive”
“Live and let live”
“Get over it”
“If it’s bad just quit”
“Don’t think that way”
Each is a saying so simple to say
Yet the tongues not in turmoil often forget
This is often a task too soon to expect
Forgiving and living is not just a turn
It’s a process and time is required to learn
It’s not just a switch to turn off or on
Some of these changes are often life long
The body and mind takes time to change
Yet overnight results aren’t thought to be strange
Even if someone can change with speed
Others are slower and time’s all they need
If the change is a flash than it is probably not real
To change how you live and change how you feel
Start the step of the journey no matter how far
And work to improve who you are

Mislabeled

Imagine living in a world over run with sticky notes. But these sticky notes are only placed on other people. I can not put one on myself that says "Genius." and if someone puts a note on my forehead that said "Idiot" i could not take it off. Imagine looking in the mirror every day to see that everyone around me sees me as that label. I would begin to believe the notes.
Though our society doesn't deal with real labels, too many people think that they are qualified to be the ones with the sticky pad and pen.
For over five years I've worked with labeled kids. "I have ADHD," "I can't do this because i have aspergers," or "I have a learning disorder so this is too hard for me." People seem to define themselves and others by their perceived weaknesses not their strength. How come when i give a kid homework they never tell me "I can do this i have all the capabilities of being successful despite my perceived weaknesses."
In some therapy group sessions they even force a label on a person "Hi I'm... and I'm an addict." Personally i believe that the sessions would go much better if the addict said "Hi I'm ... and I'm a fighter."
It doesn't matter what weaknesses we are given. I've had students tell me they can't do an assignment because they have turrets, yet i look at the Unites States goalkeeper Tim Howard who is so successful even with this disorder.
Parents over labeling their kids curse them for life. I know parents who said all of their kids have ADHD, only one of which was diagnosed by a professional. Yet since the parents were now "pro" in ADHD they diagnosed themselves all the other children and they now all share medication for ADHD. Why do we always have to figure out what is wrong with people, and not just admit people are different in their own way?
Labels are dangerous, they destroy lives and sever friendships.
Few people have any right to label people. In less then a year I will be starting my Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, and I know that even when i become a certified therapist i will not be authorized to diagnose a disorder. It doesn't matter if i have had the same education as a psychiatrist (it's nearly identical). It doesn't matter that I'm more directly involved in the treatment of disorders. A psychologist is the ONLY one who is certified to diagnose. If i do not learn my proper role i could lose my dream job. It doesn't matter if someone has had thousands of patients and decades of experience with a certain disorder, anyone else beside a psychologist does not have the right or authority to diagnose the disorder.
I have a friend who had a teacher tell him that he had ADD when he was in elementary school. The teacher had no right or training in diagnosis, but since she was a "professional" he believed it, and his grades kept dropping. His excuse for his poor grades: "I have ADD."
Just because a kid has a lot of energy it doesn't mean he is ADHD. Just because a child has an imaginary friend doesn't mean they have Multiple Personality Disorder or schizophrenia.
Receiving some of the education of a physical therapist, I've learned that not even they or personal trainers can label an injury, even if it appears as obvious as broken bone. Doctor are the only ones given authority to label an injury. Psychologists are the only ones authorized to label a thought, mood, or personality disorder. Teacher, parents, relatives, friends, or neighbors have no right to label people in such a way. They are not qualified and it doesn't matter what possible symptoms are observed- THEY ARE WRONG!
Our Savior was severely labeled during His earthly ministry. Labeling was a method to dissuade people from listening to His glorious message; after all he was just the "carpenter's son." Even more labels fell on those who he taught. He walked among people labeled "sinners."
We can all be labeled as sinners and addicts. There isn't a person on earth who doesn't show signs of a disorder. So how do we have any right to point a finger at someone else? Even these truthful labels can change, because we are not titles engraved in stone. We are changing and can be different from one day to the next. Though we are all given weaknesses its through those that we find our strengths. Sinners can become prophets, weaknesses can become strengths, labels can disappear...