The Lighthouse
Near a grouping of majestic seaside cliffs, a lighthouse stands tall and steadfast. Its light alerts ships of the rocky terrain ahead. It informs those who see its light of their current position in the darkness and guides them to safety.
One day a wise seagull perched atop the lighthouse. She noticed a sense of fear and sadness and asked the lighthouse about his distress.
“I’m afraid of the storms and the rain, the wind and the fog,” the lighthouse said. “At night I’m engulfed in darkness, and during the day I’m surrounded by perilous cliffs and treacherous rocks.
“I see the ships in the ocean tossing and turning in the churning waters of the stormy sea,” the lighthouse lamented. “I see the cliffs and rocks veiled in the storms and fog, masked in the darkness of night. I fear for the safety of the ships. They face real hazards, true perilous danger, and I just sit here, beaming this light.
“I want to stop the storms. I want to clear the fog, to move the rocks and cliffs. I want to illuminate the darkness, but I can’t even do that. I can’t offer enough light to provide clear visibility. I can only beam. I feel I’m not doing enough and I’m angry at myself because I can’t do more to help.”
The wise seagull answered, “You are a lighthouse. You cannot clear the weather or completely illuminate the darkness, and you cannot move rocks or cliffs. Lighthouses do not have these powers. You drastically underestimate the power of your light. You are a lighthouse! You stand in treacherous surroundings, in the midst of storms and darkness, beaming a guiding light; a signal of hope and safety.
As the lighthouse contemplated the seagull’s words, he realized his new friend spoke words of wisdom. Lighthouses are not built in safe places. They stand amidst chaos and danger, yet they are not consumed by these forces. They stand strong in darkness, fog, and storms, and while they do not fight against these forces, lighthouses provide a beam of light that allows others to navigate safely through chaos and storms.
***
You are that lighthouse for those in your world. As you stand firm - sometimes on sandy or rocky ground - you allow others to navigate safely through the storms of their lives into the calmer waters ahead.
As your e-coach, I invite you to contemplate the story of the lighthouse.
Is it easy for you to stay put and feel confident in the light of your wisdom?
Do you ever run into a crisis of faith as the lighthouse did?
Do you sometimes find yourself questioning your value or purpose - as the lighthouse did?
Do you have a good friend or trusted confident that gives you wise counsel as the seagull did?
Just some interesting things to contemplate… If you’d like to share your thoughts, you can do so below in the comments section.
Also, as you e-coach, and on behalf of those in your world, I thank you. I thank you for being the lighthouse … a beacon of hope and healing that soothes our souls. I wish you great blessings.
In your service,
Casey
I would call it "Multiple Streams of Income for Therapists" 
My vote would be "Multiple Streams of Therapy Income." But of the two choices, I prefer "revenue." 
Hi Kate!
You can use Typepad or Wordpress for blogging. We use Wordpress but Typepad is great too. For more info ...
Hi Casey,
I guess the "... 9 miles" is a goal happily achieved. Hooray! Congratulations!
Since I heard you speak in Phoenix ...
Interesting article. I found some more information here
Comment by Victoria Van Zandt on 22 October 2008:
Yes, I have and continue to be a lighthouse to others. I have lived 34 years in the midst of an unpredictable storm called chronic illness. I have weathered rough seas, calm surf, and I have been swept under by strong undertow, but I have always managed to get out and keep swimming. There have been times, where I wasn’t sure I could keep swimming, but I reached for my raft and made it to shore. Now at 51, I help others navigate the weather of their personal storms. I teach them how to maneuver through the rough seas and how to swim parallel to the rip tides of life and most importantly, how to celebrate the successes!
Comment by Christina Bercovici on 22 October 2008:
Casey,
I’ve been in this amazing profession of ours for almost 24 years, and the only metaphor that has ever come to mind for me is being in stormy seas in a small boat with hurting and lost people, and I’m holding up a lit lantern so that together we may navigate to safety, security, understanding and strength. There is nowhere I’d rather be.
I’ve always been curious about my affinity for lighthouses, my favorite one being the lighthouse in the small town of Trinidad, California.
Thank you, Casey, for your continued belief in my work, especially during these dark times.
Sincerely,
Christina
Comment by Susana Rodríguez on 22 October 2008:
This e mail arrived in my life in a very important moment. My best friend and partner, She just recibed the bad news of breast cancer, so I want to be a good light house for her in this time of bad weather. I have your beautifull exaple of power. You go for stroke I go for cancer.
Even if I understand you have so meny people working for you and You will not have the time to reed this; I feel good doing it.
recive big hugs
Susana Rodriguez
Mérida Yucatán México.
Comment by Andrea Battaglia on 22 October 2008:
Thank-you! This was perfect reading for me right about now….I have been feeling somewhat burned out, yet I love what I do most of the time. I recognize that I am in a transition period both personally(my only son just got married!) and professionally as I decide how I want to structure my practice in the future.
This week I have dealt with more severe depression in my clients. I noticed that I wished I could do more than just be there and guide, and I felt somewhat powerless. This reading resonated with me. It reminded me of the importance of my work with my clients, and jst how powerful our work is.
Comment by Malka on 23 October 2008:
Dear Casey, Lots of luck on your marathon training. Secondly, I am always a click away and willing to share my light and wisdom. Blessings Malka
Comment by natassa damaskou on 24 October 2008:
Casey, this story about the lighthouse touched me so much because I totally feel this way, I underestimate my self and I always feel I have to do more things and that I am not good enough. I am going through a phase that I am questioning my self if I am doing my best with my clients. I love what I do and this story of yours helped see what I am missing some times, my heart which guided me in this profession. Thanks a lot, Natassa.
Comment by Ann Ingham on 24 October 2008:
Thanks so much for the story.
In the middle of a load of bits of work with my mind on mundane matters, and I was suddenly startled by the power of this story.
Reading “I feel I’m not doing enough and I’m angry at myself because I can’t do more to help” I burst into tears as this resonated with me. Reading “You stand in treacherous surroundings, in the midst of storms and darkness, beaming a guiding light; a signal of hope and safety. …Lighthouses are not built in safe places”. I have realised anew, that what I have chosen to do, puts me in the way of stresses and tough stuff, and its normal to feel buffeted by these things.
In the back ground I have been renewing my sense of vocation, and focus, as a therapist, and this really helps.
And I still haven’t specifically defined my target client market!!
Comment by Jeanne Stallings on 25 October 2008:
Dear Casey,
I just finished reading your news about you training for a marathon. Talk about “girl power.” And best wishes to your dad. I will be cheering you on.
I also read the article about the lighthouse. As I write this my eyes are filling with tears. I too feel just like that lighthouse i.e. wishing to do more, filled with fear that my private practice will not survive in this down economy, and fearing I am not doing enough for my clients.
The article came to me just at a time when I needed it the most. There is so much negativity and fear these days. I just opened my private marriage and family therapy practice in July. I had a good number of clients but, now my numbers are down. Anyway I have been feeling blue the last week or so and needed the words of wisdom from your article. You have renewed my faith and my drive to “never give up.”
Thank you Casey with all my heart.
Jeanne Stallings. M.S.
Comment by Ray Kadkhodaian, MA ,CAC, LCPC on 19 December 2008:
Casey:
In searching for articles as I regularly do, I came across the posting of The Lighthouse. As it personally pertains to my company and what we do, I found it to be inspiring and had to send you a quick note. Hope you don’t mind if I borrow the story for guidance from time to time.
Ray Kadkhodaian, MA, CAC, LCPC
The Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center