Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Wesley Waldrup, Lpc. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Wesley , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Confidence sometimes feels like a wet fish… it’s hard to grasp! Over the years and through trial and error, I have learned to listen the “knowing” part of myself, which has at times allured me to walk toward my fear of being bold and more often, it helps settle my fear of being seen. We all have access to this, if we can learn to listen to its wisdom. “Knowing” is our steadfast belief in our worthiness, the tenderness of compassion toward our insecurities and the whispers of intuition that mirror our deepest, daring authenticity. This “knowing” is an enduring source of courage that allows us to build confidence, one small step at a time.
I Imagine the “knowing” is a flame of light within me, within each of us, that represents our inner worth. I have learned to nurture this flame, honor and cherish it, and when I do, it grows brighter and more reliably present.
This “knowing” part encouraged perspective about the preciousness of life when I lost my father at 17 years old, suddenly dying from a heart attack at 41 years young. After months of grief, it gently guided me to understand that I had also been given a gift of wisdom at a young age. It told me that “life is not a dress rehearsal,” and that even in the darkness there is a possibility to thrive. This “knowing” nudged me to see beyond the loss and stretch myself to appreciate the richness of being fully alive, to play and to dare, and to embrace the freedom and empowerment of choice.
When I have the courage to take risks, to do things that take me out of my comfort zone even when I’m scared, I build my confidence. Being confident doesn’t mean being the best or having it all figured out. Rather it means knowing that I have a boundless well of possibility within my reach. Self compassion has helped nurture my flame so it can continue to guide me.. And often the “knowing” tells me to pivot and iterate. With practice, I have learned to trust and nurture this belief, to act on its sacred truth and put that “knowing” into action, with confidence. And of course, the more exposure I have to doing hard things yielding positive ( or at least tolerable) outcomes, the more I trust this process. So confidence is moving forward even when outcomes are uncertain… it’s relaxing into the process of what is happening now, and having the courage to believe in our authenticity.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a seeker, insatiably curious and reflective, an occasional adventurer, a creator, a seer, a psychotherapist, a partner, a mother, a friend, an advocate, and a small business owner. I own and operate Counseling Works, LLC, a small counseling private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. I’m passionate about growth experiences, exploring the meaning of consciousness, holistic healing, western science and celebrating busting through thresholds and paradigms…. breaking barriers in relationships ( and within myself), celebrating this work in others, cheering when this happens in science and generally always rooting for the underdog! The awe of possibility inspires me!
Counseling Works LLC is a compassion focused practice helping clients reach their highest potential. We use the science practitioner model, practicing an evidence based approach while honoring a commitment to “seeing the best in you”. We celebrate the extensive variety of healing philosophies that exist outside the bounds of western science, and are dedicated to continuous professional curiosity and personal growth. Our goal is to help folks feel more sturdy, even when their path forward feels uncertain. We help people hone their internal resources, making space for more choice and confidence as they move toward their goals.
Counseling Works sees mental health as an opportunity to choose freedom and empowerment, from wherever we stand on our journey. We take a non pathology approach to mental health and honor how self acceptance is often a lifelong process. As we unfold into more and more acceptance, we begin to have a clearer focus on what our authenticity is, which will guide us toward thriving. We teach clients to use awareness of their mind, body, emotions and behavior to harness the power of choice, intention and ease!
We are always looking for curious, committed and compassionate therapists to join our team!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Develop a commitment to self compassion practices. Start now, it will never fail you. Speak kindly to yourself and be ferocious about seeing your strengths. Taking a strengths based perspective is a way of being committed to seeing the best in yourself, in all circumstances. This doesn’t mean you have to ignore where you need to pivot, but take time to notice and amplify your strengths. This takes quite a bit of practice but even the smallest amount of strength assessment helps. It cues your brain to search for strengths, rather than defectiveness, which increases confidence and competency!
2. Develop routines, habits, and rituals for nurturing your light, your golden authenticity. Get reflective, experience stillness, listen inward, play, be creative… choose something and do it daily, for 5- 10 minutes.
3. Nurture and prioritize connection and relationships in your life… connection is a mirror of your light! Light it up! If you struggle in this area ( and we often do), seek healing opportunities to explore your barriers… Connection is our most natural state, and sometimes we have to unravel or heal to find ourselves at home in connection.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron has inspired me for over 25 years. It set the foundation for an adulthood of compassion, generosity toward myself and others and acceptance of the groundlessness of life. Pema’s pragmatic and compassionate approach to teaching Buddhism’s most elusive topics comes alive in this book with her down to earth nature and funny stories. Indeed, it was a relief to understand that I could open up to my own human suffering, that I didn’t “have to be” so hard on myself, so fearful, so gripping, so attached to life’s ups and downs. I learned that “when things fall apart”, we have an invitation to love ourselves and stretch in the most meaningful ways. Learning that meditation is called a practice because it is something we commit to do over and over to help us accept the uncertainty of life reminds me that we never arrive; we practice, allow, love, be. This book offers practical and mindful ways of approaching daily life and illustrates how the power of an awakened heart can soften even the harshest realities within our lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.counselingworkspgh.com
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