One Cannot Lead Another....

The saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that if you have not experienced something in life then you cannot understand and help another person go through it. An example I can think of from my own experience is that I know what it is like to be in active drug addiction. I understand the feelings of hopelessness, despair, shame, and extreme loneliness that an addict feels while in active addiction. I know the consequences and the losses. I also know recovery  from this seemingly hopeless state. That is why I chose to be a substance abuse counselor as I will understand first hand what my clients are going through as I have been there. 

In terms of integral health we cannot teach and guide others towards integral health if we ourselves as health care professionals do now know what it is and practice the work daily to achieve it.

Meeting Aesclepius

I was fortunate enough to have a previous counselor in my last treatment center who I used in this visualization meditation as my mentor. He is an older man and just retired. He is sick and not doing well but he taught me a great deal and I always think of him of like a "Merlin" to me (my personal wise wizard in my quest for sobriety).

This was a peaceful and positive experience at 12:15 am when all is dark and quiet. I find mindfulness exercises ground me, keep me focused on the positive and present moment, and relax me.

Cindy

Part-time Job in Treatment Center

I was offered a job Friday at the drug and alcohol treatment center that I went to in 2009 for 6 months! It is a part-time per diem position for now but can work into full time. I took the job as it is a foot in the door and a paycheck! I went for my urine test and fingerprinting...once those results reach Human Resources they will call me with a start date! $12 per hour!
 

My Integral Assessment

The aspect of my life that is my most significant source of distress is the job that I work out. I am taking on looking at work in the light that Dacher explains in chapter 10 and so much as a means for survival. 

I have been on 3 job interviews in the past month to work at drug and alcohol treatment centers in my area. I am trusting my gut as to which job to take and have enlisted the opinions of trusted friends and family. One interview I could not wait to get out of and the other looked like it is going to pay really well but is far from home. The third place is where I went to treatment at and it has no benefits right now and is more of a per diem position at the moment but can work into full-time with plenty of room for advancement. They are willing to mentor me as I work on my Master's Degree. Money is not so big either but I feel comfortable there. This is new for me to trust my gut, trust the process, listen to others, and not go for big money/benefits. I feel I can best help others at this place and that is what Dacher is talking about when he suggested looking at work as a means of adding to the betterment of the world and then I will find meaning and joy in my life.

I continue to work on finding stillness and quiet times during the stay to just be. I love the witnessing and calm abiding mind exercises and will continue those, going to church with my family, reading my meditation books, and keeping life simple.

Cindy

Universal Loving Kindness Exercise

I did not really get much out of this exercise just reading it and repeating the phrases over and over. To be honest I did not do this for 10 minutes as it just wasn't comfortable. I like listening to the other exercises as a voice guided me with the music in the background....that was beneficial to me but this one was not.

Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

Strange as it may seem, when my physical and mental health is not well I seem to look toward my spirituality to help me get through what ever it is I am dealing with. However, I found out over the past few months that I have not been able to look to my Higher Power (or the Divine) with as much faith. I have, in fact, even doubted the existence of a Higher Power. This was not so a few years ago as my spirituality was strong. I did not nurture my spirit, stopped taking care of my physical health, and allowed the mental chatter and negative emotions rule my life.

I have lost 3 jobs in 2011/2012 due to being out sick too much. I have various flu bugs, severe low back pain, gastrointestinal problems, and upper respiratory infections. I always felt fatigued and began to isolate making my only priorities in my life to get an A in every course and make as much money as I could. I even went to the midnight shift as they paid more money.

Just losing a very good job and all the fear/anxiety surrounding that plus taking this course has helped me to see the connection of the body-mind-spirit. As I look for work I am practicing stress reduction techniques like using music, the meditations from this class, sitting still in the quiet and relaxing, practicing gratitude and loving-kindness. I began to read my daily meditation books again and today I spent time at the beach. I am trusting the process, doing the footwork, and leaving results in the hands of my Higher Power…..

Cindy

Loving-Kindness vs. Subtle Mind Practice

I really enjoyed both meditations but found the Subtle Mind more interesting. I think this is because I have learned about the chatter (committee) always talking in my mind and I love this meditation as it gets me away from listening to it! I really did concentrate on my breath. I like to think of myself as sitting up on a cloud watching the committee chatter on and on but I can not hear them! This is a great way to stop worrying about the future and thinking back on the past with regret. The Subtle Mind meditation kept me in the present, in the now and that gave me relief from the anxiety I seem to always have. What a great tool. I have this downloaded in i-Tunes on my lap top so it is mine and I will put it on my phone and a CD!

Cindy

Contemplative Practice

Dr. Elliott Dacher tells us in his book “Integral Health: A Path to Human Flourishing” that to invest in our inner life we must first become psychologically literate and healthy. During a mental workout, we focus on identifying destructive emotions and dysfunctional patterns in our life. We replace these with healthy attitudes and behaviors. During a mental workout we develop, a level of conscious termed witnessing consciousness were we make intentional choices and stop reacting to life but become proactive.

Just as a piano student must practice daily to develop the skills to play the piano so must we practice daily the skill of witness consciousness. This is done during a mental workout. Another term for mental workout is contemplative practice. It is a tool to explore our inner world but first we must quiet the endless mental chatter that goes on in our minds. We learn to still the mind. Dasher tells us that this is done my daily practice and he recommends several short 15 minute sessions. Preparation for a mental workout requires that a quiet, safe, and comfortable place be designated as well as a calm part of the day (he suggests early morning). Dasher tells us to sit in an upright noble posture with our gaze fixed a few feet in front of you. The eyes can be open or closed and the main goal is to be comfortable and relaxed. Listening to the guided imagery called “Loving Kindness” to an excellent mental workout.

Research studies tell us that a mental workout can transform the mind by reducing negative emotions the give birth to jealousy, fear, anger, and worry. Instead, positive emotions such as acceptance, patience, happiness, and loving kindness are instilled. This enhances resistance to mental and physical disease, enables the healing process, and promotes well-being.

Cindy

Loving Kindess

What a peaceful experience this way! First I read the practice in our text by Dacher and then I listened at 3am using my best headphones. It was so quiet and calm. I had a few tears as I thought of my sister with loving kindness. She passed away at the age of 50. Embracing all individuals and picturing them in front of me with the sound of the flute playing in the back ground was amazing. We were all on the beach watching the sunrise! I felt warm, relaxed, calm, and then kept seeing my mom's face (she died in 2008).

I did find it beneficial as I could relax without the use of anything except my mind. I would recommend this anyone seeking relaxation and a connection with their soul. This would also be good for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one....

Results of Job Interview

The interview itself went really well. I know the clinical director and operations manager as I attended that treatment center myself and now I am applying to work there...however, it is a non-profit organization with a lengthly application process and full background check. Due to my past history of active drug addiction I do have 2 drug possession felon charges from 1999 and 2002 and this could serve to be a barrier. Now to wait and see....I am still applying for jobs but hard with my past haunting me...

Cindy

Relaxation Exercise Unit 3

I loved this relaxation exercise and I was able to use my daughter's MAC lap top with her really good ear buds lying down in the dark at 3am! I really got into it and loved the idea of the spectrum of lights. I just melted into the sofa. I could get use to doing one of these daily! Losing my job has my mental status shaky and I am working hard on keeping an even keel. My thoughts keep wandering to "what if"...my car will be repossessed, homeless, etc....So something like this relaxation exercise was welcomed.

Cindy