tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436560070810218802024-03-05T02:32:44.148-08:00Heart & Soul:Falling in Love with the World Again ~A regular column about the Heart and Soul of Self-Discovery, and what it takes to bring Wonderment back to life!Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-8726921519723122242019-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:002019-02-08T15:22:02.289-08:00How to See People WHOLE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFGSNn8n6_AQvgtdIsJjZk1st1XQ7Q4o-Sko7pmhkBEHdSQPUTmoSSC8xRA9OAVdvvY1XIWe8TrCOI4gxYQf6qsd1LSUweffTAdeGzZhaLGeVggSyfSx0JTdG7S_B0D4Pk5jDhpK8FoNS/s1600/Waterfall.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFGSNn8n6_AQvgtdIsJjZk1st1XQ7Q4o-Sko7pmhkBEHdSQPUTmoSSC8xRA9OAVdvvY1XIWe8TrCOI4gxYQf6qsd1LSUweffTAdeGzZhaLGeVggSyfSx0JTdG7S_B0D4Pk5jDhpK8FoNS/s320/Waterfall.JPG" width="251" height="320" data-original-width="1254" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
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My husband says that he thinks I’m pretty darn perfect most of the time (and to be fair, he usually acts like he actually thinks this). Until…He doesn’t. <br />
<br />
Every couple of months Tom suddenly expresses a list of gripes about me – most of which I’ve heard before. And so – upset but curious - I ask him, ‘Why don’t you tell me these things as they’re happening, rather than letting them bottle up and then randomly explode?’ He never really has an answer for me.<br />
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I, on the other hand, tend to express my frustrations as we go; something many men like to call “nagging”. And yes, it’s usually a repeat gripe (so whose fault it this – mine or his? We may never settle this one, I know…).<br />
<br />
So, the reality is, we both have issues with one another at times. Who doesn’t? No matter how much I like and/or love someone, I don’t think any relationship can ever be 100% harmonious. Even my own mother – who says her children “can do no wrong” – is occasionally upset with my brother or me. And that’s just plain real. <br />
<br />
Each of us has enlightened/ideal qualities… As well as practical/flawed qualities. If we choose to see just one aspect in someone, it’s eventually going to backfire on the both of us. <br />
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I know I’m not the exact same person 24/7, and much of the time I can admit this. Human interactions and communications can be complex and confusing. I don’t even always know why I do what I do or say what I say; although I can at least admit that and keep trying to learn more about myself to help me, myself and I – and friends/family – grow.<br />
<br />
Anyway, show me someone you think is ‘perfect’, and chances are you’re idealizing them, are infatuated with them, or actually love their unique blend of hard and soft, dark and light, expected and mysterious behavior. Until for a bit or a long while, it rubs you the wrong way and you think you just can’t take it any longer. Well, welcome to the Real Relationships Club.<br />
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Being realistic about our own quirky traits and those of the ones we care about helps us find the compassion it takes to understand, forgive, move on, and hopefully learn something about ourselves along the way. We are then (ideally at least) given the same understanding and respect in return. <br />
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[Original Painting by Melanie Noel Light]<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-915234438015031682018-09-10T10:35:00.000-07:002018-09-10T10:35:03.511-07:00Wear Kindness: Self Expression Through Fashion (pt. 1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhCgVj6OIJRfMmjtUIcnBNEu-dS4A4vDay39-mpufBL2EwMOLaBLZX39isxkaSPOe72d01nDRJb05d17BmeDaVz5OXy0OvTFrkaJC3sCaKA1drlefgPmF4z7xnlia6mJMRDM0-1fj4N1B/s1600/Wear+Kindness+logoweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhCgVj6OIJRfMmjtUIcnBNEu-dS4A4vDay39-mpufBL2EwMOLaBLZX39isxkaSPOe72d01nDRJb05d17BmeDaVz5OXy0OvTFrkaJC3sCaKA1drlefgPmF4z7xnlia6mJMRDM0-1fj4N1B/s320/Wear+Kindness+logoweb.jpg" width="320" height="187" data-original-width="640" data-original-height="374" /></a><br />
We’ve had this dream… <br />
<br />
It started out as a vision, and then morphed into conversation… <br />
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Now we’re putting our ideas onto paper…<br />
<br />
And soon there will be actual plans afoot. But to make that a reality, we need to fully flesh out the vision – our individual visions and collective vision. This is the start of a dream becoming reality.<br />
<br />
We’re talking about fashion here and how substantial it can actually be for a quality life.<br />
<br />
So why do we dress the way we do; why are we drawn to certain fabrics, colors, jewels, shoes, bags, hairstyles, and other details? Are we even conscious of the “why”? Do we realize how what we wear and how we aesthetically present ourselves affects not only ourselves but those around us, perhaps even the ‘space’ around us? <br />
<br />
Often, many of us dress for practicality, although even that can be done with our ‘highest interests’ at heart. (We’ll get into that later). Some of us dress according to our mood – either to match/express it, or shift it into a different gear. Sometimes we don’t have a choice in what we wear – as in a required uniform, etc. – and yet that can inspire us to express another side of ourselves through our wardrobe whenever possible. <br />
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Some of us prefer casual comfort while others like more flash, color or bling. And many of us know that ‘dressing for the occasion’ can be a wonderful opportunity to express a certain aspect of ourselves, rather than feeling like a societal-imposed obligation. And that brings us to the realization that fashion is freedom… to those willing enough to walk out on the stage wearing a brave heart on our sleeve.<br />
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Click here for more about <a href="https://wearkindness.com/">Wear Kindness</a>~<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-21430985559274241172017-08-25T13:24:00.001-07:002017-08-25T13:24:18.929-07:00Burnout – A Life Force Exhausted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLWV-ln2tEm-uZ7-m1zMdGFLDFcBLB-dYUzb784t5qmbCdej2KxWllF2BmxtY418Pfg6VA6CoDsMZ7695bwfWA8Ior7N_hL1egx0EZ6NGd1XIkuD2SyOY2qLjKqzqUtdpWxXw2cBUOxjz/s1600/McPs+wBear.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLWV-ln2tEm-uZ7-m1zMdGFLDFcBLB-dYUzb784t5qmbCdej2KxWllF2BmxtY418Pfg6VA6CoDsMZ7695bwfWA8Ior7N_hL1egx0EZ6NGd1XIkuD2SyOY2qLjKqzqUtdpWxXw2cBUOxjz/s320/McPs+wBear.jpg" width="320" height="288" data-original-width="693" data-original-height="623" /></a><br />
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Why do we push ourselves to the point of detrimental consequences such as fatigue or exhaustion, anxiety or stress, depression or isolation…? Is it the expectation we feel to act a certain way coming from society, family and friends, work associates, or ourselves? <br />
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We aren’t born this way, but it becomes engrained in our psyche. And how many of us stop to question it? Often, it’s an illness or traumatic life event that wakes us up to wondering why we’re accepting a life of stress or exhaustion rather than serenity or fulfillment. In a sense, we’re sometimes forced to free ourselves from the traps of these societal expectations of productivity and busyness.<br />
<br />
In my 20s I accepted the “fact” that adult life was going to be fairly cold and hard. My main goal was supposed to be making a living for myself. I was ‘financially scared’ into thinking that should be first and foremost. But a little voice inside of me asked, ‘Where had the wonder gone?’<br />
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As I befriended that voice and she helped me hone a vision plus gain courage over the years, the tides began turning. There came a point when I knew I would have to do something radical – and somewhat socially unacceptable at my age – which was quit my job, move to Maine and work in a national park for a summer. What was going to happen afterward? I didn’t know the details; I just knew it was going to be a fresh start based on MY terms and conditions. <br />
<br />
“Burnout” is also known as Compassion Fatigue for those who make a living helping others. Stephen Walker’s advice is not to give more than 49%. “Know when and how much to let go,” he says (Perhaps we could all benefit from hearing more from him on this).<br />
<br />
“Self Care is important as a remedy,” he also says, “but often there’s a control issue (believing you’re supposed to give 100%, be in control at all times, and are responsible for it all). There’s ego behind it too, tying you to these expectations, but it’s also the work culture in America.”<br />
<br />
Then there’s the Retirement Mentality, when you work until you hit the wall, then have to collapse instead of relaxing. Stephen’s advice: “Don’t take it to the limit because it’s just not sustainable.”<br />
<br />
Not all burnout is the same. We each have our own “brand” of burnout depending on our lifestyle. Some of us feel overworked or overly stressed, while others feel underwhelmed or uninspired. Like depression and anxiety, they are two sides of the same coin. In fact, it is actually difficult for me to talk about burnout right now because what I am feeling is more like the former: Intermittent bouts of depression and anxiety. It feels more like a societal-lifestyle burnout in that I feel disconnected from the most basic joys of making a life rather than making a living. <br />
<br />
For instance, my awareness is extremely heightened about the “carbon footprint” I am leaving behind. What matters most to me – aside from kindred family and friends – is recycling more and “consuming” less, growing my own food and making my own herbs, saving the bees and other endangered species, investing locally and conscientiously, stopping to smell the rosemary each and every day… Basically, living closer to the land while caring deeply for it, not just taking from it. This way of life takes me back to the basics of life. And while it may seem “survivalist”, it feels more along the lines of thriving to me. Even perhaps, thriving from the surviving. Because what do all those societal expectations mean or lead to, anyway? A distraction from our own empowerment? A distraction from the wonders of caring for our own needs? A false belief that a busy life is a truly fulfilling one? <br />
<br />
Again, my current burnout may look and feel quite different from yours. But the more you get to know it, the more you get to know yourself and what matters most. Thus, the more you can alter the details/circumstances of your life based on your heart/soul/spirit’s truest longings. A significant door may close behind you, but the views from that newly opened window may be unforgettably majestic.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-58575436338074186932017-08-03T09:46:00.001-07:002017-08-03T09:46:07.889-07:00The Garden Diaries (Introduction)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu6fCsPI4WOrB_3Wa33aLGT1LYNSPdFDEww5xA0y21R4MhNxZCHPNuukZtnABZnuJc63X0Mf96gqkBUCPVMFthrdiYQg7z8Vk3gtFLRz0pT8y1Gh-qOS6GzjuqC0zrrkTL4sqlcR43siy/s1600/Camellia+Tree+thru+Window.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu6fCsPI4WOrB_3Wa33aLGT1LYNSPdFDEww5xA0y21R4MhNxZCHPNuukZtnABZnuJc63X0Mf96gqkBUCPVMFthrdiYQg7z8Vk3gtFLRz0pT8y1Gh-qOS6GzjuqC0zrrkTL4sqlcR43siy/s320/Camellia+Tree+thru+Window.JPG" width="320" height="263" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1314" /></a><br />
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While I’ve always loved nature, I wasn’t all that interested in gardening until my 40s when the concept of helping things grow suddenly seemed a miraculous endeavor. In addition, having daily access at my fingertips to fresh organic food is a component of living a feel-good life for me personally. Sometimes I even feel a hint of fairytale energy with the delicate little white butterflies flitting about, bees buzzing overhead, and squirrels bouncing from tree to tree. Nowadays, if I’m not literally in the garden, I peek out my window to bask in the visual glory of the greenery getting bigger by the day. <br />
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For many of us, nature is a spiritual entity, if not a spiritual practice. We might walk and ponder, sit and meditate, or lie back and stargaze. Some of us even tend to the land with hands of magical intent. My friend Farmer Ric, for instance - once a Sacramentan - now runs an organic farm in New Mexico providing clean, nutritious food to locals. This, I consider a high calling nowadays.<br />
<br />
Yet not all of us have to take it so far. We are allowed to simply enjoy any semblance of nature we can find, even if we don’t have an intentional practice built around it. But recognizing the symbolism of nature – serenity, abundance, power, cycles – we can also all benefit from the lessons inherent within. And when it comes to Sacred Outdoor Space, a garden is a prime example.<br />
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Gardens are symbolic of our own peacefulness and creativity; serenity and peace are themselves Dharma concepts. Can you vividly imagine an inviting outdoor community space in which we can come together?! Can you feel the gentle breeze, hear the crickets, sense the healing powers of nature filling you up? <br />
~<br />
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[Image: Camellia Tree Through Window at Lion's Roar Dharma Center by Melanie Noel Light]<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-59279491792212817092017-05-11T15:46:00.000-07:002017-05-11T15:46:04.583-07:00Tai Chi: Philosophical AND Practical<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDwUhJ5PwQuwrFBrIELaKGQ6BGDLE-LLd84V1klxhrmqawk4pcZe_EcQM7jlnQPe-g0rJeipi81RQNR9o20Qm7Wkloyca7xA8-R-DotMcpK8wm0lbrqGjSAhl7_OXWnausNw7c_pIex-x/s1600/DSCN4400.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDwUhJ5PwQuwrFBrIELaKGQ6BGDLE-LLd84V1klxhrmqawk4pcZe_EcQM7jlnQPe-g0rJeipi81RQNR9o20Qm7Wkloyca7xA8-R-DotMcpK8wm0lbrqGjSAhl7_OXWnausNw7c_pIex-x/s320/DSCN4400.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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“Internal martial arts gives you a method of learning to focus awareness and refine sensitivity. The techniques in themselves are not so important--functioning as concepts or points of departure for a deeper discussion of what's really going on in a given interaction. In that sense, the lessons apply to all things.” ~Robert Nakashima, Inner Circle Tai Chi <br />
<br />
There is a handful of friendly folks in the room chatting among themselves while they wait for the instructor Robert Nakashima. The ages on this day probably range from bout 30s to 70s, with backgrounds as varied as can be. A tall, older gentleman turns to me and says, “I’m not giving up.” I smile and ask if he’s talking about the class or life, to which he replies, “Both.”<br />
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I myself am experiencing some physical discomfort with a pinched sciatic nerve, and wonder how this session will go for me. I know there are others in the room with physical limitations and concerns, and yet we’ve all shown up. <br />
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Robert appears as his usual welcoming and upbeat self, and the class begins without much ado. I notice that the energy in the space is calming and on the quiet side, and I am surprised at how quickly I feel relaxation. Robert’s teaching style is casual and often humorous as he weaves philosophy and practical instruction like golden thread through the silence. It is anything but deafening, however, as there is occasional banter between participants and instructor, and some questions here and there as well. <br />
Today, it’s all about spiraling energy, opposites balancing, and connecting the body in fluid movements. It’s about recognizing that moment when all is one… while continuing to move through it. Again and again. <br />
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“A tiny bit of motion gets a lot of tissue moving,” Robert says. “There’s tremendous power in gentleness because you’re directing your energy… (but) you don’t have to over-think it. This way it’s more meditative and relaxing.” And beneficial, not to mention. “Tai Chi can strengthen organs, making tissues more flexible and increasing oxygen in the body, thus energizing it.”<br />
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Toward the end of the hour I am so relaxed I could easily fall into a deep sleep, and yet I’m somehow also eager to tackle the rest of my day. I want to ask Robert about doing Tai Chi with an injury but he reads my mind, talking about modifying the intensity of the movements to fit your current level of flexibility or ability. And I realize that’s exactly what I have done.<br />
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“The Chi knows what to do,” Robert says. “We just have to be open to letting it.”<br />
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After we perform the ritual closing moves, Robert turns to the tall, older gentleman. “How was that? Was that too much standing?” <br />
“No. I could hardly stand when I came in,” he responds. “Now I feel great.” <br />
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Robert’s Tai Chi/Qigong classes are suitable for those of all ages and experience levels, as well as people with disabilities. Classes are taught Tuesdays at noon at Lion’s Roar Dharma Center. Call 916.492.9007 for more information or visit our website: http://lionsroardharmacenter.org/ <br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-33923533508760064452017-01-17T09:25:00.000-08:002017-01-17T09:25:11.549-08:00The Man, the Myth, the Legend... The Role Model<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV10zWPLZBAjYcCfxhyQHl6gxbg4RcjF4KS-vAGDJiUZ3rRc0nid_NnnaNU8-SEBZSALPGYrBxZSjdGPebKIF0n8v-n651ix_QMYNYiSuY05ck8Sy4CmPrUXkxRqhfDNGBrgnfUEhmIT9/s1600/bob2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV10zWPLZBAjYcCfxhyQHl6gxbg4RcjF4KS-vAGDJiUZ3rRc0nid_NnnaNU8-SEBZSALPGYrBxZSjdGPebKIF0n8v-n651ix_QMYNYiSuY05ck8Sy4CmPrUXkxRqhfDNGBrgnfUEhmIT9/s320/bob2.jpg" width="320" height="288" /></a></div><br />
His name was Bob. He was a devoted husband, supportive father, successful businessman, and steadfast friend. But in the end, no matter the role he played in each of our lives, he was one thing to all of us: An inspiration.<br />
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I hadn’t seen Bob in about 6 years, but he always felt like family. So when I took a trip to Palm Desert this past December for his memorial service, I wasn’t prepared for the impact it would have on me. <br />
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When I heard of my friend’s father’s passing, I immediately tried to get in contact with her. Because it was her dad, and I knew how it felt to lose one at a relatively young age. Because I knew how close the family was. And because it was Bob – this warm, jovial, fun-loving father-figure who had always made me feel welcomed and loved. And because I suddenly realized how fortunate my longtime friend was to have had this man at the center of her life. <br />
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Now sitting amongst the crowd in the funeral home, I really began to feel the weight of the loss. There was a wife, three grown children and a gaggle of grandkids; a mother, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends – who like me - were always made to feel like family. I just hadn’t realized until that moment what a gift that truly was. <br />
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As we waited for the service to begin and streams of family and friends drifted in, I turned to my mom and asked her if Bob had had any faults. It seemed a silly question, and yet it was an honest one. I mean, of course Bob was human just like the rest of us. But maybe he was even more human than the rest of us, in a way that somehow elevated him to a higher spiritual plane… Mom replied that she didn’t know any of Bob’s faults offhand, and was in agreement that he had surely done something right in this lifetime. <br />
<br />
Bob did have a strong faith, as did the entire family, but it was a quiet thread that gave them strength when they needed it and held them firmly together all those years – something I’d never quite mastered. I really can’t pretend to know the formula Bob used to design his life, except that it seemed a simple, poignant one: Work hard, play well, love even better. <br />
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The bonds between the family members (that were also always extended to family friends) were forged upon something invisible but powerful, something not all of us hold so dear or are perhaps just not gifted with in such a significant, obvious way. And I couldn’t help but feel I have been missing something profound all my life, something Bob utilized like a master. <br />
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Did he know the most important lesson of all? Was he just purer of heart? Unfettered by mental clutter? Unwavering in a certain faith in life? Did he know something that most of us do not? <br />
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It wasn’t just me who was somewhat baffled by Bob’s being-ness. Even some of Bob’s older friends recognized the elevation of Bob’s existence as someone who, even after death, is an inspiration to… well, be a little more like Bob. <br />
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Loving. Fun. Embracing. Laughing. And somehow knowing that what matters most is how we make others feel. <br />
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Somewhere within the beauty of eternity there is a new guardian rooting for all mankind. I call him Saint Bob.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-64769091669067358602016-11-22T09:16:00.000-08:002016-11-22T09:19:03.266-08:00MASSAGE: From Physical Presence to Magical Realm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOhhNVTBByHU3WP26xBmKV7t6aH2S1KRSWXsW_9GjEaQceipMScScR_ty5ygAU6pmnZPYh8zbKFo-MpawQQENrtM-ucYoYR_9_tRdwTO3OEbPjNYip54scOZAds41r8TlUBmu5qfxxAgu/s1600/Mapurunga_Photography-sm-6796.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOhhNVTBByHU3WP26xBmKV7t6aH2S1KRSWXsW_9GjEaQceipMScScR_ty5ygAU6pmnZPYh8zbKFo-MpawQQENrtM-ucYoYR_9_tRdwTO3OEbPjNYip54scOZAds41r8TlUBmu5qfxxAgu/s320/Mapurunga_Photography-sm-6796.jpg" width="320" height="262" /></a><br />
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<i>"If I am able to lie down in comfort, feeling the physical sensations of relief and healing, my consciousness is also able to float up into a more spiritual-feeling space of timelessness and pure potential."<br />
</i><br />
When I had my first massage, I felt gentle tingling sensations throughout my body that at the time I would have described as “magical”. ‘I could easily get addicted to this feeling,’ I thought, but wondered if there was any real physical benefit to massage. I was doubtful, and yet still hopeful. Decades later, I now know that massage is not only beneficial to both the inner and outer workings of the body, it can help with emotional healing as well. But there’s one more rather secretive benefit of massage: A deeper connection to something greater than myself.<br />
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Now, no two massages are going to be exactly alike and each massage therapist is going to have a different technique and bring different energy to the table. Even your mental and physical states are going to vary, causing your needs – and thus each experiences - to vary. Still, there are certain constants I find occurring with massage therapy. Such as, if each time I commit to trusting the therapist and to allowing myself to relax as fully as possible into the situation, I will experience profound holistic benefits. I will also usually thoroughly enjoy the experience itself.<br />
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Why do I say “usually”? Well, there are certain factors that can prevent me from getting as much out of massage as I’d like. For instance, talking; too much deep tissue work; or other situational distractions/discomforts. Let me explain further.<br />
<br />
Talking. While I love chatting with people and getting to know them, this distracts me from truly deep relaxation. It keeps me out of the magical realm that massage can so easily open. If I am able to lie down in comfort, feeling the physical sensations of relief and healing, my consciousness is also able to float up into a more spiritual-feeling space of timelessness and pure potential.<br />
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Too much deep tissue work. If the massage is painful in any way, my body tenses up, preventing me from transcending it. This is not to say that deep tissue work can’t be quite beneficial, but people disagree about how much discomfort should be inherent in the process. I’ve had deep tissue work done that didn’t hurt; so knowing this exists, why would I choose pain?<br />
<br />
Other situational distractions/discomforts. If I am too hot or too cold, this is going to detract from the pleasantness of the experience, thus making me less comfortable and less able to relax into the process. If there is a yelping dog in the other room (and this has happened before), my heartstrings are going to be pulled toward it and away from my own transformational feelings. If I am self-conscious about not having shaved my legs, I am going to be mentally bogged down by that trivial concern. And yet since this is really so much more than a “situational distraction/discomfort”, let’s consider it a little further.<br />
<br />
Self-conscious feelings of shame/embarrassment. If I haven’t shaved my legs that day, I am assuming that the therapist is going to be disgusted by this. But wait a minute. “Disgusted”? That’s a strong word for something so insignificant. How about an acne breakout, body odor, excess weight? And we haven’t even touched upon the more damaging internal reasons for feeling we need to feel this shame or embarrassment in the first place. Never mind what excuse we’re using for feeling this way, we are essentially feeling unworthy.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it’s the little things that help us become aware of the big ones. Why would I feel so bad about not shaving my legs? Do I honestly think the therapist cares or even notices? It’s much more likely that there is a part of me feeling unworthy because (I feel) I am imperfect. So perhaps I have some perfection issues to tend to...<br />
<br />
See how beneficial massage therapy can be?! It can help reveal hidden insecurities, whether physical or emotional (or both). And shining a light on these subconscious processes can help us transcend to the magical realm where healing is quite simple, and still profound.<br />
<br />
Or, you could just lay back and enjoy the experience of your body being pampered. If you can do that, I'd say you’re already in a pretty good place.<br />
<br />
[We now offer massage services at Middle Way Health. For more, read about Jill Kerrigan <a href="http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e33ac314a03eb1c6a6d14611c&id=6f51b4721b&e=0a920c5197">HERE</a>.]<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-90970046469149698522016-11-22T09:12:00.000-08:002016-11-22T09:22:08.525-08:00ART SAVES LIVES: Open House & Opening Reception<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j9x12qZzDJM35OoJ3eA4Q3XGslh1NrZo09IWCjJR667kAyGJQSPChb7bTh_jtK5fs0T_hXCdsgp5szv2haFHcdmmolJtQmCznLBs39qq_g5m3awJfqr-dREEmXx0C3cYqGWx8VhbLQKT/s1600/Window+to+My+Soul+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j9x12qZzDJM35OoJ3eA4Q3XGslh1NrZo09IWCjJR667kAyGJQSPChb7bTh_jtK5fs0T_hXCdsgp5szv2haFHcdmmolJtQmCznLBs39qq_g5m3awJfqr-dREEmXx0C3cYqGWx8VhbLQKT/s320/Window+to+My+Soul+crop.jpg" width="313" height="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>"We are a gallery and a center for healing and creativity - as we know it is all connected - creating the kind of intimacy that facilitates profound healing."</i><br />
<br />
Did you make it out to the Middleway Health Foundation Open House & Art Reception on 2nd Saturday, October 8? It was a fundraiser for the Foundation with lots of art for sale, delicious small bites, lively music, and friendly faces.<br />
<br />
Middleway Health Foundation is Middle Way Health’s nonprofit providing free mental health services to the community. It was born from a need to help close a significant ‘gap’ in public and private mental health services. The goal is to find those people who have ‘fallen between the cracks’ or are in danger of doing so. By taking these services out into the community where access is limited and obtaining accurate information, the Foundation directly connects people in need with available services so they can make their own informed health decisions. Clients have direct access to and benefit from:<br />
<br />
Counseling<br />
Psychotherapy<br />
Meditation & Mindfulness<br />
Support Groups<br />
Health Counseling<br />
Healthcare Provider Directory<br />
<br />
The Foundation hosted a handful of local artists whose work was displayed throughout both the Foundation offices and Middle Way Health offices (virtually next door to one another). In fact, you can stop by to view the art in any and all open rooms. Just keep in mind that these are therapy offices with private healing sessions happening behind closed doors, so your peaceful presence is appreciated.<br />
<br />
Aside from raising money for the Foundation (which currently receives no grants or government funding), our intention with the art gallery space was to highlight the significance of creative expression. Because creativity and art save lives; and beauty heals and inspires.<br />
<br />
While we have two rooms dedicated to gallery art, we also have artwork for sale in our therapy offices. While every room has art, keep in mind that not all of the rooms will be accessible at all times. So if you drop in more than once, you might get a different experience each time.<br />
<br />
What does that make us, then? Ever expanding our wings! We’re not just an art gallery and not just a healing center. We are a gallery and a center for healing and creativity - as we know it is all connected - creating the kind of intimacy that facilitates profound healing. We know the artists personally, and we are the artists. We create to heal and express, and we sometimes combine work and play to facilitate emotional balance. We also highly encourage others to experiment with their own creativity and authentic self expression.<br />
<br />
Why art, expression, creativity, beauty? When we consciously stop to appreciate something outside of ourselves, this awareness creates a bridge, a connection, a relationship – thus we are no longer entirely separate from that which we are appreciating.<br />
<br />
Art initiates conversation, opens minds and moves spirits. In this regard, art isn’t just ‘art’ but something that stirs the soul and awakens the psyche. We also create art by how we live out our days, a kind of 'performance art' of how we choose to appreciate our existence.<br />
<br />
This kind of art isn’t something we make alone; it’s something we co-create with our environment. Our relationships and communities are a public work of art. When we consciously create these together, we get a better sense of who we are personally. And all of this facilitates healing.<br />
<br />
The Foundation Gallery is also open 2nd Saturdays, or by appointment. Artists currently exhibiting are: Jonathan Baran, Hope Harris, Melanie Noel Light, Phil Littman, Michael Mikolon, Fran Quinzon, Sandra Warne.<br />
<br />
For more on <a href="https://middlewayhealthfoundation.com/">Middleway Health Foundation.</a><br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-90353168585606170222015-08-20T14:51:00.000-07:002015-08-20T14:51:20.820-07:00Say What? Rumors, Hearsay and Gossip, Oh My!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0clnKSs-rU_huNDPH6GYSHAopR8T6h1_Kv7LRNjIR9A-xGfMyN5QkcKEQHigEo0PofdLRnuRU7K_l_qlVO4vcvnjbnwdtgk40k-HEV2cy0qNcsazAj53xoPVooCTW6lPYV9MHGM8mecUT/s1600/MerMaiden+Mural.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0clnKSs-rU_huNDPH6GYSHAopR8T6h1_Kv7LRNjIR9A-xGfMyN5QkcKEQHigEo0PofdLRnuRU7K_l_qlVO4vcvnjbnwdtgk40k-HEV2cy0qNcsazAj53xoPVooCTW6lPYV9MHGM8mecUT/s320/MerMaiden+Mural.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
“Is the Dalai Lama coming to Sacramento?” When people hear something like this they often just run with it, turning it into a statement rather than a question. “The Dalai Lama is coming to town!” The big things in life are especially prone to this.<br />
<br />
The truth is that Zanazabar Dharma Center is inviting the Dalai Lama to Sacramento. Lion’s Roar is involved but is not driving it because we believe it’s best the invite comes from the only Mongolian Temple in the west. Geshela and Baasan are heading up the invitation with assistance from Jhado Rinpoche. But it’s not a sure thing; an invite doesn’t mean an acceptance.<br />
<br />
So let’s talk more about rumors. Anytime something significant happens or there is a change in the status quo, rumors arise. We tend to not be comfortable with the unknown so our tendency is to fill in the blanks of our lives - often with hearsay - and spread the “inside information” around. <br />
<br />
But what exactly is a rumor? <br />
<br />
A rumor is ‘something spoken or unspoken that is going around, but not yet officially released, substantiated or verified.’ A rumor can be false, partially true, invented, or entirely true. It is ‘quickly spreading’ and ‘has no discernible source or authority for truth.’ <br />
<br />
Rumors often come from hearing just part of a conversation, and then running with it, possibly even embellishing it. What generally happens is that we take the information - even mis-heard or misunderstood information - as fact. It’s just so tempting to latch onto some part of the rumor and consider it true. <br />
<br />
For instance, there have long been assumptions (thus, rumors) about Buddhists that we’re all vegetarians and always chill, mellow or zen-like. There are also ongoing beliefs that somewhere else will provide “the perfect Dharma practice”. Some students and teachers even play on these generalizations. <br />
<br />
“There were a lot of rumors going around when I was a monk,” Lama Jinpa says, “due to perceived projections of what a monk is supposed to be like.” While people don’t always realize they are creating or spreading rumors, sometimes someone is knowingly making it personal; their goal being to take you down a notch. In these instances of false accusation, if you admit to it the accuser feels somewhat satisfied - as if they’ve been vindicated. If you won’t cop to it, however, this “validates” the rumor even more in their eyes. This is a trap out of which there seems no escape… Unless you don’t take the bait in the first place.<br />
<br />
While the most typical rumors circulate round feelings, reality, sex, money, politics, or anything potentially “scandalous”, there can actually be an upside to all this gossip. For instance, when the rumor going around is actually a positive one. Or, sometimes even a negative rumor can work in your favor, as it gives you an opportunity to tell your story or strengthen a truth. While a rumor may be painful, regardless, it can still be a catalyst to a positive outcome, tipping something forward toward something better. An example of this is how rumors actually helped us obtain the Temple, by deterring another potential buyer.<br />
<br />
When it comes to an antagonistic rumor, nonetheless, there’s no denying that it can be incredibly painful at the time. And other people can make decisions based on the hearsay and rumors, thus adding insult to injury. We are usually only able to see the absurdity of or humor to the rumor long down the road. <br />
<br />
Another curious thing about rumors is that we often get accused of things that aren’t true, while we are rarely accused of our actual faults. For example, there are old recycled rumors about Lama Jinpa accusing him of a variety of colorful things - from stealing money and having sex with students to driving people away, drinking or drugging; from always being super nice or an asshole or unpredictable to never really having been a monk, or still secretly being one… We have a tendency to believe there’s some deep dark secret this person is keeping - suspicions that there’s a grandiose reason for people to do what they do - and basing crazy assumptions on it. <br />
<br />
In a religious setting there’s so much trust, openness and receptivity that most of the time people don’t check things out. So when something goes wrong – or is even just perceived as wrong - it feels like a really bad betrayal, causing people to remain in a cynical place. Even a squeaky clean person or establishment is then going to have a difficult time regaining that trust. <br />
<br />
People’s perceptions are usually based on evaluations and stories. And since most of us aren’t insiders or outsiders - instead just in that middle ground “Well, we’ll see” space - this tends to breed more hypothesizing and rumor spreading. So why are we predisposed to believe something terrible, especially with no proof? Because it’s juicier; the practical reasons and explanations are just too boring; we’ve heard of similar instances elsewhere and assume this situation is the same; to protect ourselves or make us feel better; because it’s just more fun, etc.<br />
<br />
In religious settings a rumor is often taken as truth because we are predisposed to think that “the truth” is an organic part of that process. In mainstream life, whereas, rumored information is more likely to be put under the ‘burden of proof’ microscope. So to what extent are we supposed to track down their origins? Some rumors don’t get questioned because they’re so bold or off the wall. Investigating them takes energy and requires residing in the unknown. It’s all too easy to just remain in ignorance and denial. <br />
<br />
Rumors can be telling, though, exposing our personal insecurities, instabilities, jealousies, paranoias, power issues, etc. In fact, we’re making stuff up in our heads and telling ourselves rumors all the time. But there is a positive aspect to this kind of delusion: We get off balance and then have to wake up in order to regain balance. It’s not that rumors are necessary for this, but they can work in this way. If we never made anything up, nothing creative would happen. <br />
<br />
Rumors are so multi-faceted that they can be playful or well meaning - and yet even these can backfire on the subject or spreader - leaving a lingering doubt, a lasting impression, or question of integrity. A long-standing rumor can lead to expectation of that behavior, or a rumor can re-emerge at a later date, supposedly “confirming” a past one. Rumors can be motivating for us or they can hold us back from our potential. Some end up working out in our favor… while others can feel like the ultimate betrayal.<br />
<br />
Obviously we can’t rid of all rumors and stop all hearsay from spreading entirely. Like light passing through space and naturally getting curved by gravity, it’s difficult to obtain, contain or pass on accurate information. It gets embellished or twisted along the way. We can however be mindful of the role we play in creating, encouraging or believing things we think or hear without enough evidence backing it. This will help bring more integrity to our actions, relationships, and lives in general.<br />
<br />
Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-14497377068184160082015-03-23T08:29:00.000-07:002015-03-23T08:29:47.789-07:00Life's Little Adjustments<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFlBWk4r9p6C9syZVNIOgEAF8CSuufl4YYY8lrXkFeoCJvB-JUMd1ylfkh5bGHvkFqRT1OqqoM-Rk7WpTgCwyqEQ2sa8KRb2qoQ0iQnSDoNRx3pjtW6OcLE7tLn_jQ-s6BYzKOFjcxY7P/s1600/Rob+White.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFlBWk4r9p6C9syZVNIOgEAF8CSuufl4YYY8lrXkFeoCJvB-JUMd1ylfkh5bGHvkFqRT1OqqoM-Rk7WpTgCwyqEQ2sa8KRb2qoQ0iQnSDoNRx3pjtW6OcLE7tLn_jQ-s6BYzKOFjcxY7P/s320/Rob+White.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
There are a lot of conveniences in life I never knew existed. You know, things someone else invented and stores stock for selling that just make our days a little more pleasant. <br />
<br />
For some reason, I wasn’t “taught” to think outside the box when I was younger, and it was really only a spiritual/existential life crisis that caused me to wonder what exactly might be outside the box. But for a long time, it was just an intangible box with lofty idealistic – albeit invisible – space around it.<br />
<br />
Now as I watch Rob the Middle Way Health handyman attach an apparatus to the front door to get it to close gently (not slam shut but not hover open), I wonder what it might be called… Something I’d never think of, I assume.<br />
<br />
“It’s a door closer- a ‘Commercial Door Closer’,” Rob tells me.<br />
<br />
“Oh, of course,” I say aloud while smirking to myself at how often I tend to make things harder than they have to be.<br />
<br />
For a 30-something (wink) year old, I may seem naïve in ways. But I’m continually trying to learn about things in which I’m rather thin in the knowledge department. Sometimes it’s just about knowing which way to direct your questions. And what to ask in the first place.<br />
<br />
“We’re all missing something at any given time,” Stephen says. <br />
<br />
I guess just accepting this is the first step to keeping the cobwebs from attaching to a generally open mind.<br />
<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-51792920902814655232015-03-06T10:09:00.000-08:002015-03-06T10:09:55.687-08:00Stephen's Web<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOUNiaUwBB_ey2gnZQuYOqdTFFO_uKdr-JH6i9s_UGHL86zuJUiFVhwxjMQ08DfT3rdL-Z6DRYUkrY_thBpr89GhX5mZ5sX6LZX9Qxak5rYZDKnLymk0k4bUM8FBjZOpw8Yqzyb5iRoYn/s1600/LL+Sun+&+Tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOUNiaUwBB_ey2gnZQuYOqdTFFO_uKdr-JH6i9s_UGHL86zuJUiFVhwxjMQ08DfT3rdL-Z6DRYUkrY_thBpr89GhX5mZ5sX6LZX9Qxak5rYZDKnLymk0k4bUM8FBjZOpw8Yqzyb5iRoYn/s400/LL+Sun+&+Tree+1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
When I first met Stephen, he was a therapist at the Sacramento Complementary Health Center, and was gracious enough to give me a phone interview for an article to be published in the Midtown Monthly. It was my first paying writing gig, although I had already self published my first book, Portals to the Soul, the Psyche & a More Enchanted Life. That was about 10 years ago. <br />
<br />
Now we work together in various professional and creative capacities at Middle Way Health, a wellbeing center Stephen founded in 2000 that currently has 14 practitioners under its roof. None of this was really by accident, however, and a lot has transpired between then and now (March 2015).<br />
<br />
When Stephen approached me not long after the article was published about helping him write a book of his own, he was transitioning into monkhood. By the time we had our first face-to-face encounter he was wearing red Tibetan robes and told me his Buddhist name was Lama Yeshe Jinpa (Lama Jinpa or Lama la for short). It seemed a drastic change in a short amount of time from my perspective, but I liked his vibe and went with the flow.<br />
<br />
And that’s how it began – going with the flow. <br />
<br />
We met at Stephen’s then-office in an 18th & I street Tudor in Downtown Sacramento once a week. The book was to be nonfiction, based on Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey and Buddhism’s Five Precepts of Liberation. He had a lot to teach me about both, and I felt grateful to have such a willing teacher. While at times the information was dizzying, there was also a very calm, comforting energy about the space. So calm, in fact, that while my mind was often in overdrive, there were plenty of times I could have simply slipped into slumber. It was just one of the several conundrums to come.<br />
<br />
Once we had the backbone of the book completed, Stephen’s vision enlarged. He thought a fiction component would complement the nonfiction aspect; His plan being to create a workshop series based on the book(s). So writing a novel together we set out to do, seemingly pulling it all from thin air… <br />
<br />
And of course life and work and what-have-you intervened. For instance, one day Stephen appeared at our weekly meeting in civilian clothes. He said that this was a long time coming, as his practice had been struggling from too many clients being unfamiliar and uncomfortable with his traditional Tibetan Buddhist apparel. So although he was hanging up his robes, he was still to be a Lama - a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as a LMFT – therapist to the community.<br />
<br />
Saving his career and settling back into a traditional lifestyle with new wife Sabrina, Stephen soon needed an updated website, a brochure for this and that, an article here and there… and I was capable and willing. But as life ramps up, so must we. And with new pressures and old ones growing, personality tendencies tend to emerge. <br />
<br />
I learned that Stephen’s typical laissez-faire air is sometimes countered by an assertive, almost anxious impatience, usually sprinkled with a pinch of positivity. Feeling trapped within this dichotomy at times, I practiced holding my own inner anxiety in check.<br />
<br />
Then came the decision to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Sacramento via Lama la’s Buddhist organization Lion’s Roar. We worked on the vision and wrote the invitation together, soon attending meetings with various movers and shakers interested in funding or directing the project. People came out of the woodwork to be involved – I myself was honored to have a role. And yet before we knew it (although we could sense it coming), politics engulfed the plan in flames. <br />
<br />
Still harboring hope for a future visit, we buried ourselves in another expansion project. Stephen moved to a larger office – a Victorian on 19th Street, where his assistant Judy Lynn Taylor could have more space to do her Shamanic Healing practice, his wife Sabrina Schultz could begin nutrition consulting, and I could start a Writing Coaching practice. There was enough space where people could actually come together – Stephen’s family, his dharma students, fellow professionals and clients – and it began to feel more like a community.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I got married and went freelance full time. Meanwhile still, we continued chipping away at the book together, watching this crazy adventure and blossoming characters come to life before our eyes. We poured our own experiences into the scenes, the back story, the heroism, and the vulnerability, which required a significant level of openness and trust. I felt respected by, as well as a kinship with Stephen that resembled my relationship with my own father.<br />
<br />
The workshop vision deepened as we juggled a connection between it and the novel. While it was difficult for me to imagine how Stephen was going to implement this massively unique endeavor, it wasn’t the first time I had to go on faith alone… So I practiced patience gathering, deep breathing, and clarification-attempting communications that sometimes made me feel we were coming from two different dimensions. <br />
<br />
One more move, more expansion, and even more space acquired, Middle Way Health then blossomed into actual office space across from Sacramento’s historic McKinley Park, which borders Downtown and East Sacramento. Now with more physical space as well, the vastness of Stephen’s projects became more transparent and it was clear that he had zero plans to slow down any time soon. Which meant, more plates for the rest of us to spin. But also, more opportunities to grow and connect.<br />
<br />
There was now designated space in which clients, colleagues, friends and family could mingle; adding more of a personal and communal connection to the mix. Weekly Tai Chi classes began with Inner Circle founder Robert Nakashima. A blog was started, and blog book one ultimately published. Interns were brought on, we started an online magazine (La Dolce Vita), and began holding Open Houses. The workshops began, Middle Way Health Foundation was launched, and more health practitioners (with more varied healing modalities) joined the team. An Art Gallery was established, Open Clinic was launched, and formal waiting room unveiled. <br />
<br />
Last but not least for now (still March 2015), Stephen’s, or Lama Jinpa’s Buddhist organization Lion’s Roar recently acquired a charming church around the corner on B Street. It has been the grandest maneuver yet, and may well be the most connective – being not only a place for Lion’s Roar and its students to grow… but for many of Stephen’s endeavors to occasionally come together in one place. <br />
<br />
So not unsurprisingly, his time has become stretched thin, leaving the rest of us to struggle with the consequences of all this change.<br />
<br />
All of this has left little time to finish the book – Oh, yes, the book - although we have continued to chip away at it here and there and are achingly close to completion. Only thing is, it’s time to publish another issue of La Dolce Vita, we’ve just created a healthcare provider directory that needs to be put on the website, the new Dream Life Room needs more decorating TLC, we may be extending another invite to the Dalai Lama in the near future, and, well… Oh, wait - Did I say, “only” thing is…?<br />
<br />
<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-35058667595920706932014-12-23T09:40:00.000-08:002014-12-23T09:40:50.761-08:00Advice for an Idealist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEeKjqE3YhimF2nodD7EYCB9NbGwWgQX_bjY5KUx7u-64870I_xPvQPicCNfZ77tgO7NYikubujlzRw4G6SLDsCN1V8TqxlO9QBXijSAATru9S1wuE0x_5XqGPyiZWCdAHpmWwpTuxKP9/s1600/Pastel+Bouquetcurl.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEeKjqE3YhimF2nodD7EYCB9NbGwWgQX_bjY5KUx7u-64870I_xPvQPicCNfZ77tgO7NYikubujlzRw4G6SLDsCN1V8TqxlO9QBXijSAATru9S1wuE0x_5XqGPyiZWCdAHpmWwpTuxKP9/s400/Pastel+Bouquetcurl.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>[<i>I read this and I know how ‘ideal’ it is… but suddenly I also see how ‘impossible’ it might be, how this has at times set me up for confusion, collision or let down.</i>]<br />
</b><br />
This is a hard lesson for an idealist like myself, but it’s come up enough times for me to have to acknowledge, and perhaps even (gasp) embrace: <br />
<br />
<i>No matter how often you try to do “the right thing” or act from your highest self, be prepared or “ahead of the game”, model perfect speech or behavior, sometimes it’s going to backfire in a way that makes you question life’s whole design.</i><br />
<br />
It’s almost comical to me now how many times I’ve struggled or scrambled to be prepared for something only to discover that I wasted my time because no one else was as prepared – Or they just decided to stop mid-way or change directions without communicating this to me. Hmm. A strange lesson for someone always taught to be on time. With assignment completed. Foresight into unseen things greatly appreciated (probably even expected). <br />
<br />
So this is who I have tried to be, learning to contemplate others’ needs, feelings and expectations, finding the way of greatest integrity simultaneously.<br />
<br />
Ug. I read this and I know how ‘ideal’ it is… but suddenly I also see how ‘impossible’ it might be, how this has at times set me up for confusion, collision or let down.<br />
<br />
Just a month or more ago, there were two back to back situations in which I struggled to do the “best possible thing”. And I did. I did what I thought was the highest thing I could do. But then why was there any ‘struggle’, you might ask. <br />
<br />
Because – as I later discovered – I did not actually feel good about what I perceived to be the most righteous action. It rubbed my soul or spirit or personal belief system the wrong way. I acted against myself in favor of something “out there”… Something that I have possibly given too much power…<br />
<br />
To clarify, in neither of these situations would someone have been negatively impacted if I just did what my gut was telling me. I, on the other hand, was adversely affected by ignoring it, feeling an inner discord and disconnect from my own sense of decency.<br />
<br />
Have I been leaving myself out of the equation, not seeing me, myself or I as an equal benefactor of all things fair, wild and all in between?<br />
<br />
This is a curious lesson after four plus decades of life on this planet, a potent message of personal power over perceived “right”-eousness. <br />
<br />
And it’s one I’m going to have to walk with for a while.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-26319688910723009352014-11-25T09:26:00.001-08:002014-11-25T09:26:34.618-08:00Communal Healing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV6DZEPCE3N5_QSZBPElbJ5mmNd6kW9udgc4EVawPH5Rqv2VvLolW-__3VYS3Lo6baFUsRVyNNcaQGnHtm2AIkIZKfm0WQwCT5C4k0VqmzKg2fCpRq7I8HcEEBI5Q3lzrRo6fzmO9TtRT/s1600/BlueAngelcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV6DZEPCE3N5_QSZBPElbJ5mmNd6kW9udgc4EVawPH5Rqv2VvLolW-__3VYS3Lo6baFUsRVyNNcaQGnHtm2AIkIZKfm0WQwCT5C4k0VqmzKg2fCpRq7I8HcEEBI5Q3lzrRo6fzmO9TtRT/s400/BlueAngelcrop.jpg" /></a><br />
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<i><b>[Good health comes from regularly balancing aspects of our lives such as our emotions, thoughts and habits.]</b></i><br />
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Healing should be a way of life – if we really want to do it right - to grow, evolve and flourish. Because there are always going to be new stressors, ills or hurts popping up here and there, and we need ways in which to handle them throughout our lives.<br />
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This is something we have learned at Middle Way Heath - that true health and wellness is not a one-time fix. Good health comes from regularly balancing aspects of our lives such as our emotions, thoughts and habits. It’s a process that requires our participation – at least periodically – in checking to see how we’re handling it all and if we could use some assistance or guidance.<br />
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Each of us does this throughout our lives in similar ways. We way talk with a friend, family member, church leader, colleague, or professional to help us see things more clearly, assess priorities, and perhaps strategize a game plan. If we keep our struggles and fears to ourselves, however, we become trapped within our own unresolved problems, our life becomes stagnant – or riddled with strife - and there seems no way out.<br />
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Healing in and of itself is very simple, really. All it requires is that we step in the direction of our wellbeing a little each day. Often the first step is simply talking with someone about our concerns and wishes. Opening ourselves up to outside help is what unlocks the door because we cannot thrive as closed systems, always keeping to ourselves and denying our ongoing issues. We are communal, social beings who need each other to exist optimally. We should be helping each other accept our vulnerabilities and build upon our strengths, which we can then invest back into the community in order to assist the greater good.<br />
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It’s time to come out of our shells, uncover our authenticity, and share it with those around us. We are role models for one another in the most simplistic of ways sometimes. Being true to yourself, fostering forgiveness, finding the gems in our weakness… these are gifts we should be honing and sharing with the world. <br />
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In person, preferably.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-60937763541407778282014-11-04T12:29:00.000-08:002014-11-04T12:29:07.069-08:00Designing Dreamy Space<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGMWi6rwdPpRjfkFfwh5dTHGq0I5z-ep-zWOhQMZtg4SZKM-rVWWiOU7MU-S2cUx7YhNG3Jeo7rBHv4nuE320cpoTZUWRUORafEnfGTJmbSKW-jtURESIR6MMtsibTIgfU1IvsavGMhYE/s1600/Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGMWi6rwdPpRjfkFfwh5dTHGq0I5z-ep-zWOhQMZtg4SZKM-rVWWiOU7MU-S2cUx7YhNG3Jeo7rBHv4nuE320cpoTZUWRUORafEnfGTJmbSKW-jtURESIR6MMtsibTIgfU1IvsavGMhYE/s400/Home.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b><i>{By turning space into a sacred personal place, you are conspiring with the universe...}</i></b><br />
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Creating magical, sacred, serene, inspiring, functional, or just plain pleasing space requires one thing mostly: A willingness to experiment. Because any plan – no matter how well thought out or organized – doesn’t always translate seamlessly into real life. <br />
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Often, what we think will look grand or work well simply doesn’t once in place. As well, what we might assume to be a bad design choice in theory often ends up surprising us in reality, delivering a boldly adventurous flair or titillating end results. <br />
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So any creative or dynamic endeavor is bound to wreak some temporary havoc on - or between those -immersed, whether it be husband and wife, business partners or roommates. While change is sometimes necessary, whether from a practical or soulful standpoint, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Learn to go with the sometimes chaotic and sometimes harmonious process of moving your sh*t around. <br />
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To aid the design (and sanity-maintaining process), it helps to keep some things in mind:<br />
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• First decide how the room needs to function, and just as important, how you want the room to feel.<br />
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• Understand that moving or changing one thing can set off a chain reaction resulting in the whole room being re-designed.<br />
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• Know that heads will butt, but it’s important to always be open to others’ ideas.<br />
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• Also be open to Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D if Plan A doesn’t go as planned.<br />
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• Before you shop, investigate all your spaces to see if you already have something that will work. <br />
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• Don’t be afraid to strip a room bare and start completely from scratch.<br />
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• Neutral furniture can be timeless and re-invigorated whenever desired with colorful pillows, throws and other decorative items.<br />
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• However, a bold statement piece can really leave an impression and doesn’t require extra decorative knick knacks. (Just be sure it’s something you love, love, love).<br />
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• Consider paint, wallpaper, molding, decorative beams, or all of the above. (Yes, even in the same space).<br />
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• White - if you love classic, clean lines - can be a great design choice (not just a generic default). And there are more shades of it than you can probably imagine.<br />
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• While there may be ‘better’ and ‘best’ in design concepts, there are no exception-less rules... except fir the One Golden Rule: You must love it because it’s your space within which to reside, rest, create and soar.<br />
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Decorating can feel like a serious endeavor. You’re transforming an existing pocket of space into something that makes you feel good and supports your desired life. That’s pretty big stuff, indeed. But keep in mind there ought to be an element of play as well. By turning space into a sacred personal place, you are conspiring with the universe to make it more magical… So the sky should be the limit when it comes to crazy, what-if ideas and far-out possibilities. That’s how genius emerges.Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-262516680731690672014-10-21T14:40:00.001-07:002014-10-21T14:40:58.913-07:00Mixing Business with Pleasure: The Power of Moderation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzOuO4fwfQnZduoKykD0BqXsLKOh2m19yWKIoYVBBnAtnm-CcVxQpN4yoBBOlU55xIdpRvBVzqqtO-mGRzp8yyEPSlbozUaTL17I_o7w-dKzA0orQVg1bi4hSJlb90zCSuzCVaE67DX3F/s1600/DSCN2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzOuO4fwfQnZduoKykD0BqXsLKOh2m19yWKIoYVBBnAtnm-CcVxQpN4yoBBOlU55xIdpRvBVzqqtO-mGRzp8yyEPSlbozUaTL17I_o7w-dKzA0orQVg1bi4hSJlb90zCSuzCVaE67DX3F/s320/DSCN2498.JPG" /></a><br />
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{<b><i>It’s better to bring some of your personal life into work so people know what’s going on... When done properly it balances the whole rather than depletes it.</i></b>}<br />
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Team Work. We all know it’s important – being team players, complementing each other’s skill sets, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts… But there’s more to team work than just working well together professionally. It’s not just the vision/mission we create, hone and implement together, not just the professional practices we each bring to the group. There’s always another dynamic to any team – one that’s hardly ever fully acknowledged.<br />
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It’s the personal side of the professional world, the personal aspect of the team member.<br />
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Within each of us are two things going much of the time. One is our own dream world where we have utopian images of what we’re doing in our careers. Sometimes we are able to communicate this to the rest of the team; Other times it might not translate accurately or may remain locked within us.<br />
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The second thing perpetually going on within each of us – what we bring to the table each day whether we realize it or not – is our outside relationships. They affect us, which in turn affects our relationship to our job and teammates. And conversely, our relationships are affected by our jobs. The people close to us can at times be so affected by our work life that we can’t say they’re not part of the group as well. <br />
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Recognizing this as a natural part of life (work and personal time co-mingling) is what we call work-life balance. “It’s better to bring some of your personal life into work so people know what’s going on,” Stephen says. “When done properly it balances the whole rather than depletes it.”<br />
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Of course, this requires a willingness to show our vulnerability at times, to be honest and share a bit of our personal lives. Giving those we work with a glimpse into the other aspects of our life is actually a gift we bequeath to the team. Trust and understanding are strengthened in this way, helping us all learn how to be real in a reasonable way.<br />
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But what if not all team members are open to this work-life balance? It’s a good thing to have in mind before building or reinforcing any team: Be honest about what you ideally want in a team and communicate that openly to potential or existing members. At Middle Way Health Stephen likes to say, “We wouldn’t want anyone in the group that we wouldn’t want to hang out with socially.” Because we need a certain comfort level in order to not only put our best foot forward, but occasionally explain why that foot may be stuck in the mud behind us).<br />
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It seems rather old school – or perhaps just too conservative – to expect that our professional selves have nothing to do with our personal selves. They are not totally separate. In fact, the more we can base our professional persona on our personal values and desires, the better. It ends up creating a more authentic experience for all.<br />
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At Middle Way Health we are involved with the community and with each other - not just our work – because we believe this is a healthier, more highly functioning way to balance the whole of our lives. We thrive from honest, positive feedback from others, and this give-and-take loop supports us all in turn.<br />
Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-32719927591432448252014-07-14T08:16:00.000-07:002014-07-14T08:16:52.459-07:00Middle Way Health Welcomes New Therapy Intern, Jesus Sanchez<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLPj4bcsWQlXkjA5FTBgZrWDuYxrFKQGHxxI1vkuBkPBfLWyPjK_FBRSL1aL2827BLVBbCFi0rDLltsuALx5pl6RqK1eaOsJHd_n9HAYb387h-wIMOr78goR2zDTjf0BcT7M51WPnWwM_/s1600/Jesus514crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLPj4bcsWQlXkjA5FTBgZrWDuYxrFKQGHxxI1vkuBkPBfLWyPjK_FBRSL1aL2827BLVBbCFi0rDLltsuALx5pl6RqK1eaOsJHd_n9HAYb387h-wIMOr78goR2zDTjf0BcT7M51WPnWwM_/s320/Jesus514crop.jpg" /></a><br />
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Having been cooped up in the house much of the day, the cool, breezy evening air feels refreshing on my skin. It is not long, however, before I notice some dark clouds inching closer and the wind whipping harder around the curve of the building. A hope arises in me that it contains itself long enough for Jesus and I to get acquainted.<br />
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I ask him to share whatever he’d like to about himself, which he does with poise, as if he’s told his life story a hundred times. He seems comfortable in his own skin and comfortable in his environment, which at the moment happens to be a metal patio set on a concrete slab at Starbucks. Self-assured, well spoken and forthcoming are descriptions that come to mind as Jesus begins telling me about himself and his journey up to this point in his life. <br />
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Jesus Sanchez grew up in the tough barrio of East Salinas, but was immersed in methods of traditional medicine, inner-tribal revitalization movements, tribal cultures, and Aztec Dance - by both his family and community. This really enriched his life at the time and later contributed to how he lives it as an adult. And he now brings these things to his practice. Not just as a therapist but a Spiritual Practitioner, with an emphasis on the word “practice”, he says. “We have to make it part of our daily lives. What speaks to your mind/body/spirit and brings you vitality? This is your medicine. We need to commit to it and practice it.”<br />
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<i>Tell more about your background</i>, I ask.<br />
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“I graduated in May 2013 from Sac State for MFCC, although my first Master’s degree was in History. There I became disappointed that LGBT/queer youth were largely ignored, so I started conducting research regarding the disparities they were facing. My research revealed that the number one disparity was mental health. I heard over and over again, ‘There’s so much trauma; we need somebody to talk to.’ Having a shared experienced with the community, I decided to focus my efforts toward becoming part of the healing process, which led me to the field. I feel really blessed to be at Middle Way Health.” <br />
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<i>How about your work experience?</i><br />
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“My first internship was doing clinical work at The Lighthouse Family Resource and Counseling Center. I was then at Yolo Family Resource Center in Woodland as a counselor. I have worked with young children all the way up to retirees, and like to focus on coming up with strategies not just for healing, but ongoing health.”<br />
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<i>Yes, that is what Middle Way Health is all about. Self Care.</i><br />
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“We have to contribute to all essence of life - build our relationships, share our strengths… regardless of our trauma. We need to reconnect to being healthy. Health is social too! Have you abandoned culture and art? Abandoned mindfulness of what you’re taking into your body?”<br />
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“I think here’s been a return to psyche, which is connected to spirit. And I have a spiritual background blended with traditional psychotherapy training. I think there’s finesse in how these two meet. Mindfulness has a spiritual aspect, acting like a medium that helps us to cross boundaries.”<br />
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“How do you live your life in ceremony, with intent, thinking of it as ritual? For instance, altar-making: A sanctuary with elements that remind you of things that ground you, your definition of a higher power, and what it does for you. I think we’re all looking for that medicine, and people connect to these types of traditions, even if they may come from very different backgrounds. We have a connection to the sacred elements that call to us, reminding us of our intent, our faith, and hope.”<br />
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<i>You’re also a community organizer and activist?</i><br />
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“I have been an activist since I was a teenager. However, recently my efforts have concentrated on creating strategies for change with disenfranchised youth communities, from LGBT youth to those who have been recently incarcerated.”<br />
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“I’m very transparent; these are my practices and these are the tools I can give you, the ways I can help you. How can we build on it based on your needs?”<br />
~<br />
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<i>To contact Jesus, email him at Jesus@MiddleWayHealth.com or call <a href="http://middlewayhealth.com/">Middle Way Health</a> at 916.492.9007</i><br />
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{We've also recently brought on board two more interns - Colleen Wong and Junko Quest. You can read more about them in our upcoming July issue of <i><a href="http://middlewayhealth.com/newsletter-archives/">La Dolce Vita Online Magazine</a></i>}<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-15471404512668479422014-05-29T13:45:00.000-07:002014-05-29T13:50:28.570-07:00An Artful Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewlqzLQrA7EYbdApLIajzOZqVUuNzFrUDQv73rUOqeda6TLz051RftqeZbZrms4Zgkz7tKLasfkwSVTmErdAK2vo91rdVqDHxWoLN5rnhQnfLR1I-_Rip_IMydKsuIQMR7IGtQEmOKK-F/s1600/PeopleinLine.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewlqzLQrA7EYbdApLIajzOZqVUuNzFrUDQv73rUOqeda6TLz051RftqeZbZrms4Zgkz7tKLasfkwSVTmErdAK2vo91rdVqDHxWoLN5rnhQnfLR1I-_Rip_IMydKsuIQMR7IGtQEmOKK-F/s400/PeopleinLine.jpg" /></a><br />
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<i>Art isn’t always frame-able or something that can be attached to a wall. We create art by how we live out our days. The whole environment around us is artistic – presented to us and appreciated by us. It’s always speaking to us and we in turn respond.</i><br />
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The significance of ART to our spirits and contributions to our societies can hardly be fully defined or grasped. Art is both an instrument and reward, both cause and effect. But art is also a symbol of things unseen by the naked eye and a metaphor for how we perceive things. Art initiates conversation, opens minds, moves spirits, and yet leaves an air of mystery that lingers. In this regard, art isn’t just ‘art’ but something that stirs the soul and awakens the psyche.<br />
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Also exemplifies the importance of our visual world, which is perhaps the biggest mural of all – with details, expressions and stories that are constantly in flux; a performance art of how we live and appreciate our lives. The whole environment is an artistic expression in a way. <br />
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We may pay more attention to art we’re consciously creating, but how we exist from day to day is also an art form – not only in the doing, but in what is then created around us. This kind of art isn’t something we make alone; it’s not a private affair but something we co-create with our environment. We’re in a public work of art. When we consciously create it, we get a better sense of who we are.<br />
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Observing this world, our lives and our place in both, we are showing that we are cognizant of what’s blooming, morphing and withering before us. This awareness in an art form in itself that again proves art is everywhere and in everything. And we can harness this process of appreciation and creation in all aspects of life. But there is a simple elegance in the initial observation of what’s around us. <br />
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When we are aware of even the mundane-seeming things we become more centered, calm and awake. By seeing how everything exists in and of itself and then takes its place – such as animals or rocks or clouds, for instance – we are relating to things visually and getting a sense of space from them. We are ingesting the whole picture – how it is arranged and how it feels to us – rather than simply one artful or questionable detail at a time.<br />
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When it comes to art, appreciation doesn’t mean you have to love each piece you see. You just have to consider it. Appreciating life should be like this as well. You don’t have to judge everything you observe or feel; just consider it for what it is and how it might fit in the scheme of things. See how you are not bound to it, and yet how you might affect each other conversely nonetheless.<br />
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With Dream Life Designing, for instance, we are tapping into the psychological realm of dealing with the thoughts and emotions behind things. We are putting form to our thoughts and emotions so we can better observe them. “Everything has some kind of form and some kind of landscape, a sense of placement, foundation and order,” Stephen says. “And there’s always a mandala of enlightenment in every landscape.”<br />
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“Emotions,” he adds, “are embedded in the environment, not just our brains. The heart and brain are transmitting and receiving what’s around them, but they are not generators; they are co-conspirators with the environment, such as elemental energies like water, wind and fire. We do not control the process, but nor should we become passive receivers only. We are in relationship when we’re interacting with what’s around us.” We might want to occasionally ask ourselves if those relationships are harmonious.<br />
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To know who you are, what you’re thinking and feeling – while profound insights can be gleaned from psychological exercises – full awareness cannot merely be found in the head. We have to go out into the world to discover who we are in relation to other forms of existence. Because we do not thrive being contained creatures, nor are we totally separate from what’s “out there”. There is a balance to achieving harmony in our days, and this is the fine “Art” of Living.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-90337529437415867352014-04-21T17:06:00.000-07:002014-04-21T17:06:32.715-07:00Middle Way Gallery Opening Art Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pENT3D3hGI-be930oOHFeWC2eu8ZIgHt4PDMg85zaygA1e8srKLEUvr_JARdO3CRcnvJTgvJcxeGsNVTYDp-y0BxclnTzNz1L5_3WJkS3QMjEkMegWM0UGCL1jDDsE5m7JdiT8Cx22xn/s1600/Melanie+Noel+Light+Art+of+Expression.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pENT3D3hGI-be930oOHFeWC2eu8ZIgHt4PDMg85zaygA1e8srKLEUvr_JARdO3CRcnvJTgvJcxeGsNVTYDp-y0BxclnTzNz1L5_3WJkS3QMjEkMegWM0UGCL1jDDsE5m7JdiT8Cx22xn/s320/Melanie+Noel+Light+Art+of+Expression.jpg" /></a><br />
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Middle Way Health opened the Middle Way Gallery on April 12, 2014!<br />
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<a href="http://dreamlifedesigning.com/">Dream Life Designing's</a> Melanie Noel Light exhibited her photographic and mixed media art at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk. The show - <i>The Art of Expression</i> - runs through May.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qn5fXeOVix4T8mA2twzE7ihDmXaIVZNATa0iaW_bnWYp8ggEZuxHbFYUovHmGiBDZWGOrxLGdY7ljWkQwWHBbIsAU8ir2j_iq_eDflofzlJJPhEYdd-F1901oEraZlx7tGWV_tzFg-wU/s1600/Art+of+Expression+Show+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qn5fXeOVix4T8mA2twzE7ihDmXaIVZNATa0iaW_bnWYp8ggEZuxHbFYUovHmGiBDZWGOrxLGdY7ljWkQwWHBbIsAU8ir2j_iq_eDflofzlJJPhEYdd-F1901oEraZlx7tGWV_tzFg-wU/s200/Art+of+Expression+Show+2.JPG" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF7EYVDHJZ0B44yiNrpDZ0IvaWglGE8aknp4ch9uKg3-xwye46Sv7pBI5GgjleeCs98LMaSmXRRVsCP0Wk34F4auH_TwIxry7fzKQwGmOFGDobqijBir43PqSmY-GGqMcI4JXnJJ5nHn0/s1600/Art+of+Expression+Show+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF7EYVDHJZ0B44yiNrpDZ0IvaWglGE8aknp4ch9uKg3-xwye46Sv7pBI5GgjleeCs98LMaSmXRRVsCP0Wk34F4auH_TwIxry7fzKQwGmOFGDobqijBir43PqSmY-GGqMcI4JXnJJ5nHn0/s200/Art+of+Expression+Show+1.JPG" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO8lFjMn-2N-VQ3SBWhhB2xcI9TQVwfII7dGXfbDy4qCtsNB6oS2NHazs8myGL4EpxPE998TRrI28tdgkjexrdFkjPQPHCo2FTer85l_4vSeYHk538vRTfKOwzAenpWqLGsGDNXWSbV6L/s1600/Art+of+Expression+Show+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO8lFjMn-2N-VQ3SBWhhB2xcI9TQVwfII7dGXfbDy4qCtsNB6oS2NHazs8myGL4EpxPE998TRrI28tdgkjexrdFkjPQPHCo2FTer85l_4vSeYHk538vRTfKOwzAenpWqLGsGDNXWSbV6L/s200/Art+of+Expression+Show+3.JPG" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbiazTT0CY9vWmgB8NJO3WA4dtPKZWpwd-gB_PKClg0vmzVNYHFez35-ijWocing655qESaW1gNT5k9Ot3U0uAN3z99nZOd3tSDaWssEvvqTsiuniKfkqepXXwmrGKlr9koope8ruMlAI/s1600/Clemon+Charles+at+Middle+Way+Gallery+Opening.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbiazTT0CY9vWmgB8NJO3WA4dtPKZWpwd-gB_PKClg0vmzVNYHFez35-ijWocing655qESaW1gNT5k9Ot3U0uAN3z99nZOd3tSDaWssEvvqTsiuniKfkqepXXwmrGKlr9koope8ruMlAI/s200/Clemon+Charles+at+Middle+Way+Gallery+Opening.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-16190988489796178842013-12-17T08:16:00.001-08:002013-12-17T08:26:13.474-08:00Trauma, Pt. III ~ Mastering It<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjZ2NqYvOXNGwMIUt01Fg9TaFC7D2o9aYmBZIv-lv5YCH5UeHYKNWagCYzJW8GU6kQ9IBMClX95JsB-oYu9x97FHOD1I-p2-WevVEyzOOjKlEiRSl36Of_cULVGnxeiDL029X2W-5mEYW/s1600/Kira+Tired+from+Carting+These+Barbies+around.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjZ2NqYvOXNGwMIUt01Fg9TaFC7D2o9aYmBZIv-lv5YCH5UeHYKNWagCYzJW8GU6kQ9IBMClX95JsB-oYu9x97FHOD1I-p2-WevVEyzOOjKlEiRSl36Of_cULVGnxeiDL029X2W-5mEYW/s200/Kira+Tired+from+Carting+These+Barbies+around.JPG" /></a><br />
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In the last two articles on trauma we talked about how wrenching experiences affect us all, in big ways and small, and how not dealing with them impacts present and future mental health as much as past emotional wellbeing. But we’ve only covered trauma in general terms. To really understand how trauma affects you personally, it’s important to be familiar with the actual process, from event to reaction, response, and long-term effects. <br />
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Depending on your level of sensitivity, past traumas, and openness to dealing with the resulting shock and grief, what actually triggers the trauma response varies from person to person. The death of a loved one, near-death experience or severe accident for instance, are likely to be intensely trying for just about anyone. But for many of us, even more insignificant-seeming incidents can compromise us emotionally. And because those cuts and bruises can’t actually be seen, they usually aren’t properly cared for.<br />
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The stages of trauma, grieving or bereavement are: Flight, Fight, Freeze, Forget, and Fabrication. <br />
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In FLIGHT, we attempt to bypass or escape from the assaulting event. <br />
In FIGHT, we stay and wrestle with the problem or antagonist. <br />
With FREEZE, we remain still, hoping the trouble will pass us by or that we won’t be seen. <br />
With FORGET, we try to disassociate and not remember, or repress it in order to not become attached to the event.<br />
And with FABRICATION, we reframe the event or our part in it by telling a story about it.<br />
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If we are “successful” in any of these stages – fleeing from the trauma without major injury, winning the fight, avoiding trouble, gaining a healthy distance from it, or creating a higher story or self, we avoid becoming traumatized, and thus return to a healthier state of functioning. As well, we don’t have to go through all the stages for the best outcome. Often, finding some healthy resolution within one of the stages is enough for us to not get “stuck” in the trauma. Getting stuck means the pattern repeats without a positive resolution, making thriving an ever-elusive entity.<br />
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While we call them the five stages of trauma, they can happen when we’re simply overwhelmed. And this is what so many of us miss. If past traumas aren’t worked through constructively, “lesser” situations can trigger the 5-Fs response. And with today’s hectic, overwhelming lifestyles, there seem to be a lot more landmines out there. So if you continue to feel like you have to flee, fight, freeze, forget or fabricate through something in life, then you’re likely stuck in one or more stages of the trauma-response process. <br />
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For instance, it’s common for people to become stuck in the last stage, telling a false story about not just the event, but who they are. They may blame themselves for the occurrence happening in the first place and/or shape their identity around it, believing that they are inferior or unworthy. But there’s real freedom in allowing the process and getting through it constructively, thereby integrating the experience into your life as part of your growth. <br />
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There’s a common misperception, however, that we have to “let go” of hurtful experiences. But we can’t really rid of them in the sense that we have full control. There’s no magic process, spell or pill that will extract them altogether from the sum of our life experiences. And if they do go away, it’s more likely that they somehow and mysteriously let us go. <br />
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Not becoming stuck requires “digesting” the painful experience as an active process of integration. Meaning, it’s a part of you but it doesn’t define you, nor does it control your future responses and reactions. In attempting to learn from it, to gain wisdom and greater compassion for yourself and others, the trauma then doesn’t become an obstruction to your emotions or healthy engagement with life. <br />
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Letting the impressionable experience and your reaction to it move through you – while observing, learning, and exercising self-care – is a healthy, constructive way to deal with what threatens your peace of mind. And the more you learn to do this, the easier and faster it becomes, as you hone the craft of dealing with life’s turbulences.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-91903502319453285332013-12-04T14:09:00.000-08:002013-12-04T14:09:17.567-08:00Trauma II: Spring Cleaning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoSXk0-jqPKAJJRPxBoXYpue3YN2zjxxmXoCjX2KvxQpFDh_K2u0UdCnUJA-c6Gg6m42b-UK1JY1lMeMLJoJ1qDj8S8aCCAqTAj50OcgPSIgkI5AVhVsa_TburVTv-ENjRye_KqZF7tfC/s1600/BlossonBranchescloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoSXk0-jqPKAJJRPxBoXYpue3YN2zjxxmXoCjX2KvxQpFDh_K2u0UdCnUJA-c6Gg6m42b-UK1JY1lMeMLJoJ1qDj8S8aCCAqTAj50OcgPSIgkI5AVhVsa_TburVTv-ENjRye_KqZF7tfC/s320/BlossonBranchescloseup.jpg" /></a><br />
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Traumas happen to all of us throughout our lives, from so small that we hardly notice them to so large that they affect our every interaction with the world around us. And there’s a lot in between as well. But how many of us are actually aware of how the trauma response operates and where we are emotionally in the process?<br />
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Traumas can be physical, as in injury to the body, but there is also always an accompanying mental component. Most traumas, however, are strictly emotional, which makes them even harder to detect and heal. While none of us is immune to trauma, the question is how – and if – we deal with it. Learning to identify traumatic experiences and understanding how the internal process works is one giant step in the direction of self-healing and empowerment.<br />
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When any kind of experience occurs that triggers a traumatic response, the initial - almost instantaneous - reaction may be one of non-judgment. Like witnessing a violent or disturbing scene in slow motion, a part of you knows it’s not going to have a good outcome, but you haven’t yet formed a solid judgment around it or experienced the full flood of resulting emotions. <br />
This means the trauma reaction has not yet kicked in. And for some, it never does kick in (a form of denial). For most people, however, they never get past one of the stages of trauma.<br />
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Basically, the trauma response is being impressioned by something that happens and imprisoned by the fight or flight. Our only options are remaining stuck in one or multiple stages… or getting through the process, out of its shackles, and on with our life.<br />
A common reaction to the trauma response is armoring up. But this won’t help us get around the trauma because the trauma will always find a way in. It’s already in, in fact, attached at the core, and this is why it can have such a powerful hold on us if not dealt with.<br />
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Getting to the healthy wisdom place amidst trauma involves seeing the big picture, including how it all unfolds inside you – the traumatized part as well as the untraumatized part – and how the balance forms between them. Meaning, what is it inside you that can see both the pain and the logic at the same time? Getting to the place where you can feel the pain or grief while saying it’s ok is a healthy form of acceptance and letting go. The wisdom mind can re-create a place of nonjudgmental awareness and stabilize/embody it anytime. <br />
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Trauma is especially common in caregivers, rescuers and the like. But it’s not just the traumatic experiences that cause problems; it’s also our reactions to them. For instance, feeling overwhelmed, trapped, helpless, or like you really screwed up can cause PTSD (which truly is a trauma prison). You may be angry with yourself or someone else, and this is trapping you further, being obsessed with trying to change it or ruminating over it. Some people even let the trauma become their defining identity. <br />
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The only way back to a balanced state is getting out of the vicious cycle (which becomes the trauma story you live within). When you can talk about one of life’s battle scars while allowing the feelings to come through and express themselves - without being sucked back into the drama - this is healing. Getting back to positive emotions can break you of the negative cycle because they are constructive and you can use them to better your life rather than break it down. <br />
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The good news is that actively working through trauma and adding a spiritual element can lead to a real deep resolution! But… most people aren’t going to go there. Why? Fear and denial. Fear of the intensity of the feelings, fear that the pain will never end, and fear of loss of control. As for denial, it’s a powerful self “protective” mechanism that actually does quite the opposite: It doesn’t allow us to heal, to fully engage in our lives, or reach our potential as human beings. <br />
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Hey, we’ve all experienced overwhelming, upsetting or traumatic events. But some of them just might be prohibiting us from accessing all the wisdoms, joys and triumphs in life. The best way to rid of monsters (real or symbolic) is to face them and shed a light on the fears they bring up. The best way to free up sacred healing space is to clean out a closet once in a while, and maybe donate the old bones to science. The stories we live with then can at least be honest, and maybe even helpful for others. <br />
Trauma can be accessed and worked through via talk therapy, writing therapy, hypnotherapy, shamanic healing, or meditation and mindfulness, all of which are offered at Middle Way Health. Want to know more? Watch for part 3 where we’ll get into just what the five stages of trauma are.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-54426585714441466682013-11-26T09:36:00.000-08:002013-11-26T09:36:56.667-08:00Trauma: Bringing it to Light<br />
TRAUMA<br />
Traumas are common, possibly as common as sneezes. The problem is that we can’t see them, nor do we have a magic phrase that heals them. Perhaps it is their mysterious nature that makes us so uncomfortable with them. Obviously, their ability to cut so deep, imbed, infiltrate and immobilize adds to our cultural attempts to keep trauma underground.<br />
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There are little traumas and there are really big traumas. The big ones can seem so overwhelming that we try everything to deny them. The little ones most often go unnoticed, but can add up overtime and unconsciously affect the present quality of our lives. <br />
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I used to think I hadn’t experienced much trauma in my life because there was nothing ‘really big’ shadowing part of my past. But the more I began to learn about the nature of trauma and what makes something traumatic, the more I realized I had plenty. Some were obvious, like the deaths of grandparents and friends, but so many others had gone under the radar for so long (like pets disappearing, mean childhood pranks, the condescension of others, etc.)… And I realized that by not acknowledging them, I was denying a part of my own innocence and delaying part of my own growth.<br />
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We’ve all had traumatic experiences, and we’re all affected differently by them. What may be traumatic to one person might roll off another’s back. We can’t judge another’s emotion, pain or turmoil, but we can learn to face and manage our own. All feelings are valid and yet they should be explored so we do not become slave to them. We all have wounded parts. Those wounds should be tended to without over or under-exaggeration to let the healing begin. <br />
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Our own personal healing may be exactly what the world needs now.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-2505981160372359622013-09-13T08:51:00.000-07:002013-09-13T08:51:18.078-07:00Writing a Book, pt. III – Re-creating Our Stories & Creatively Journeying Through Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvSMHV42Sw91xtCReQi5d1iw-u3A7ouhdvWiAiA-fzOGdla-Uvctc0C5I0GaNArN8iz4hvPavFVRiFZE3IbRwiMHzzIx7piX1UVb0zWRByr4BRnDxcX2q9veQ_fgiaH3PL2dJyv93ZEbR/s1600/BlankPage.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvSMHV42Sw91xtCReQi5d1iw-u3A7ouhdvWiAiA-fzOGdla-Uvctc0C5I0GaNArN8iz4hvPavFVRiFZE3IbRwiMHzzIx7piX1UVb0zWRByr4BRnDxcX2q9veQ_fgiaH3PL2dJyv93ZEbR/s400/BlankPage.jpg" /></a><br />
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The ‘Something So Obvious’ Healing Journey Workshop<br />
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Something So Obvious is about how people heal, how they become enlightened, and what they do with that awareness. It’s a lifelong process that we can learn to accept and improve upon as we go. We’re all on a journey of self-discovery as we discover the world around us, and that includes experiencing setbacks and uncovering vulnerabilities. So we must as well heal as we go or else our growth will be limited and true satisfaction fleeting. Seeing our lives as a journey of healing, growth and joy – while overcoming occasional blockages and traumas – is different from pursuing happiness and stopping reluctantly to deal with one crisis after another. Incorporating the challenges into the journey, they become inspirations and catalysts for self and life improvement.<br />
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In putting this book together – characters, experiences and growth opportunities - we’re also creating a program for journey work at Middle Way Health. The Something So Obvious storyline mirrors anyone’s story. It represents our struggles and growth. It even exemplifies how we at Middle Way Health lead people through their own healing and growth. Because the only way to talk about and envision the whole journey is via a relatable story or biography which people can identify with. Then we go from healing (feeling safe, comfortable and empathized with) to learning healthier living (a new way of being). We’re not just solving problems but moving beyond them by visualizing and practicing new ways of experiencing life. As well, we re-write our own stories as we choose.<br />
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Why is the story so important - becoming aware of our personal stories, or what Stephen sometimes calls our ‘inner screenplay’? It’s important because we will usually stick to our previously-written script whether it’s working for us or not, whether we’re aware of doing this or not. Becoming conscious about the story we’re telling ourselves - the novel where in, the big screen we see ourselves on - allows us to question who really wrote the story, what it’s based on, if it fits us, and whether we believe we can change it. <br />
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The kind of “story” we’re talking about involves the assumptions, beliefs and unconscious patterns we developed long ago, the basic building blocks that frame our current actions, reactions and emotions. We get tricked into thinking that if we just keep doing the same thing over and over again, a new outcome will eventually occur. As well, we’ve become so accustomed to our dysfunctional patterns that we choose the broken record over the effort it will take to make a new one. <br />
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And yet, sometimes it’s not enough to just write down our story and then reframe it in a positive light. We have to dig deeper and then evaluate who, what and where we actually want to be. Stories stick with us because we haven’t checked them for accuracy or validity. It’s hard to make change at that level because we’re not trained on how to go about doing it. That’s why we need others to help us, a healing team to access the story from different angles. We need help getting out of the crash-and-burn-and-heal habit, and into an engaging, authentic pattern of deep healing and self-actualization. <br />
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But uncovering the old story and writing a new story is still not enough. If we lived only in the ethereal dreamland of our new story – not actually acting it out in real life – we’d just be swapping a fairytale for a fantasy. Trying out our new story, and editing and improving it as we go, takes us from just surviving to actually thriving. This is what we call ‘La Dolce Vita’, or the sweet life.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-35181421712654553862013-09-05T09:20:00.000-07:002013-09-05T09:20:20.872-07:00Writing a Book, pt. II – The Philosophical Side of a Creative Project’s Journey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iUJNtg6uhSSfi-skBQxs9vQth5XUCN8DJtOdzxJOJuE2UOK2WQQDe9U9xGaVttOznSkh2AOtdykJud7_p37A1VQ6L-WlghqMnzltvKLfVpgo0_Dn7mvja2NqYgU_f_wlOijDfRmHPMMX/s1600/Forest+Girls+Two.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iUJNtg6uhSSfi-skBQxs9vQth5XUCN8DJtOdzxJOJuE2UOK2WQQDe9U9xGaVttOznSkh2AOtdykJud7_p37A1VQ6L-WlghqMnzltvKLfVpgo0_Dn7mvja2NqYgU_f_wlOijDfRmHPMMX/s400/Forest+Girls+Two.JPG" /></a><br />
Recently on the Heart & Soul blog we talked about embarking on a long-term project and how it stacks up in the scheme of our lives. While there’s a thrill from the potential of the project and a motivation to keep going, there is at times also a wistful aura around it when interruptions force a temporary separation. <br />
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But interruptions aren’t actually separate from our creative life’s journey; they are part of the journey. Like being on a road trip and having to pull over to change a tire… It is simply a detour to a new and unexpected experience. And it should be savored (or at least accepted) rather than viewed as something that’s not supposed to be happening. <br />
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So then what exactly does a creative project mean as it relates to our lives? Because there’s always some connection and some grander meaning to our creative endeavors. Using our imaginations to think differently, we are connecting with a deeper part of ourselves and bringing it out into the world. Therefore, any creative or novel activity not only brings about a new facet of reality, it also reflects our private inner journeys. <br />
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A book, for example, is always somewhat autobiographical, being part of the writer’s own story. And as the story and characters evolve, so do those of us involved. A certain partnership develops not only between those working together on the same project, but between project and creator. And as these relationships strengthen, so does the potential for our lives. For example, the vision for our fiction novel Something So Obvious has expanded along with that of our practice at Middle Way Health. The project itself has become part of our inner vision, part of our personal growth, and part of our professional growth. <br />
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Collaborating with others on a long-term project requires a mutual respect and admiration. This then evokes an equality that allows us to inspire one other, be open to new ideas, brainstorm out of blocks, and keep each other on track. We stay grounded by creating a healthy sense of place, which we accomplish by meeting at the office once a week, catching up on personal stuff, and then delving into the deliciousness of letting our minds wander freely. <br />
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But it is nonetheless a process, and process implies movement. It’s almost as if we’re all on a pilgrimage together, like we’re traveling in a moving train across landscapes that continually change and yet sometimes repeat without ever being exactly the same. Our lives go on just as the train traverses boundless territory. Meanwhile, we are part of the landscape - not mere observers - affecting it as well as we go. The conversations change as we get older and grow, incorporating our newness into the story and the story’s excitement into our own lives. The settings and characters constantly evolve, just like real life. <br />
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And yet, there’s also an odd ‘Alice in Wonderland’-like quality to the journey that can cause us to wonder at times whether we’re really going anywhere or if it’s the landscape that’s actually the thing moving around us. So we pause and ingest the big picture - newness and all – and realize that our project remains a tangible thing, building a framework to which we can take hold and a structure for the relationship that enables a genuine richness to flourish. <br />
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Any relationship is unique in itself, but it takes on another dimension when we have a common goal and work through it together. Like traveling companions, our conversations and habits change when embarking on this kind of a journey. There is a familiarity that allows us to share what feels necessary or right, and a focus that then pushes us to get down to the work at hand; Work that takes effort and persistence in bridging inner and outer worlds, but includes plenty of play in the rich realms of imagination.<br />
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Creating something, imagining something to life, and working with others on its manifestation can be a dizzying process. It may be moving fast when we want to slow down or it can seem at a standstill when we’d really like to be cruising at a comfortable pace. But here’s where the lesson of the journey is: We’re not in total control of the wheel, the winds, visibility, or other variable factors. They too are our silent partners, whether supporting us, guiding us, inspiring us, or providing necessary detours along the way.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-3870368566788549252013-08-21T10:02:00.000-07:002013-08-21T10:02:07.182-07:00Writing a Book, pt. I – The Practical Side of a Project’s Journey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc8Suv8_ePHG_mYVKfR1M-RMxeCamzG0FIfXTyLBeTjWTnrETpfS6nNl-dO6zDE3cBGfRdQvvMMebn8EKyDWnFMHq8Do5QGCyM4py2NCfu2vaz9iRR4JV2imIPpeD6NLE9PvhZuDlJOfn/s1600/DSCN0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc8Suv8_ePHG_mYVKfR1M-RMxeCamzG0FIfXTyLBeTjWTnrETpfS6nNl-dO6zDE3cBGfRdQvvMMebn8EKyDWnFMHq8Do5QGCyM4py2NCfu2vaz9iRR4JV2imIPpeD6NLE9PvhZuDlJOfn/s400/DSCN0324.JPG" /></a><br />
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“How’s the book coming along?,” they ask – spouses, coworkers, friends, loved ones and acquaintances. Sometimes there’s a sense of pure anticipation to the question, as if they can’t wait to see what we’ve been creating all this time. Other times there’s a hint of curiosity about whether it’s really happening or ever going to be finished. And we understand the uncertainty. It’s easy to make plans for our lives, it’s easy to talk about things; but it’s harder to actually do them, to follow through, to finish. And even if we <b>begin</b> an inspired project… well, we all know how that can go.<br />
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“Experiencing stops and starts to a project is a lot like life’s journey,” Stephen says. It’s not all one flawless effortless process even though we struggle to make it so. “A book at the end appears seamless,” he adds, contemplating our literary journey. “But of course it isn’t.”<br />
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So what’s it like writing a book? And where are we in the process of this particular one?<br />
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Writing a book while managing a career or full-time job is a lot like raising a family… <i>While managing a career or full-time job.</i> <i></i></b>You’ve got a babe on one hip and another at the table needing breakfast; a phone in one ear, a spouse in the other; one eye on the clock and one eye on what’s cooking in the kettle. The book is a passion of yours – or you wouldn’t be writing it – but it doesn’t always get top-priority status compared to what it takes to keep your life running smoothly and your work keeping you afloat. But it becomes part of that family nonetheless.<br />
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With my first book, Portals to the Soul, the Psyche & a More Enchanted Life, I was fortunate enough to be able to devote the entirety of my days to researching, writing, editing and publishing the book. And I worked hard at it. I knew I had a certain window in which to create and get this thing out into the world, and I took full advantage of it. What made it easier is that I had a very clear and strong vision for the project and so I was highly motivated and more disciplined than I’d ever been in my life. But no two creative projects unfold in precisely the same manner, and I’ve personally started (and not finished) maybe 10 books since then ~ Focus faltered, life intervened, and I let it. While I’d rather these projects have been completed, I also trust the ebb and flow of things. Sometimes what gets in the way of a specific success is simply another type of success.<br />
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When Stephen and I began visualizing and writing <b>Something So Obvious</b>, it was a nonfiction book and it had a different title. As we got farther into it, we realized we really had two different, albeit related books. So we then began writing two different but related books - one a nonfiction manual for future workshops, and the other a fiction novel to complement the manual, as well as simply stand alone for general reading audiences.<br />
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We’d usually meet once a week for just an hour at a time. It was Stephen’s reprieve from a busy psychotherapy practice and it was a great creative outlet for me. Although the process was rather slow in comparison, it was always rich with imagination, surprise and reward. Thus, the more invested in the book we each became. <br />
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But life has a way of getting in the way of your plans at times, and oftentimes, the book has taken a backseat to other projects requiring immediate and prolonged attention. These include visualizing Middle Way Health’s expansion and creating a new website, starting a newsletter and eventually an online magazine, designing brochures and writing a blog, inviting the Dalai Lama to Sacramento and dealing with the politics, moving offices and re-decorating, moving again and creating another website… And on the list goes of things we do in order to grow, evolve and invite greater success into our lives. <br />
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Looking back at what we’ve done so far, <a href="http://middlewayhealth.com/books-workshops/something-so-obvious/">Something So Obvious </a>encompasses years of hard work and persistence – although this hasn’t been painful because we’ve always enjoyed and believed in what we were doing. But the book also began to take on more life than we’d expected, not only reflecting our personal lives, but affecting our professional ones. Having to dig deep and imagine beyond boundaries opened our minds further to what we wanted from our lives and careers and thus helped shape the evolution of Middle Way Health. Creating a work of fiction – where anything is possible – also began shaping the infrastructure of the practice, which in turn now feeds back into all of our creative projects. <br />
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So meanwhile, when we get pulled away from writing the book because we’re working on other components of our success or dealing with our personal lives, she waits patiently for us to return. And yet she lingers always in our minds still with a certain unknowing and an element of ‘What will be’ intrigue. No one knows exactly when or how or what she will become, the process of creation being what it is: a mysterious journey of vision, action, patience and persistence. So instead of fighting the process, we tag along with a sense of humor, a satchel of flexibility, and a sense of gratitude for having so much we’d still like to accomplish.<br />
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http://middlewayhealth.com/books-workshops/<br />
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In the meantime, pick up a copy of our easy-to-read, practical life guide book, <b>Falling in Love with the World Again</b>, in our office or on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-World-Stephen-Bryant-Walker/dp/0985101504/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377104462&sr=1-1&keywords=falling+in+love+with+the+world+again">Amazon</a>. <br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843656007081021880.post-25358558880671719332013-05-16T11:45:00.001-07:002013-05-16T11:45:47.246-07:00Home... or Adventure?<i></i><i></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA7aeYpfxgxCwbgfuAIWvHyfg37-9Nx1V6K4TGJUTeHYFZBQ2k0Byl0QAh-IwnALEE0vndXCy-6sbq-zmgXRsamd4HKAA1Ma8ZqU70VHjXiKlvUHF_HchjT2b8u6MSBxUlWJNz2Q-MjMq/s1600/wallpaperedfoyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA7aeYpfxgxCwbgfuAIWvHyfg37-9Nx1V6K4TGJUTeHYFZBQ2k0Byl0QAh-IwnALEE0vndXCy-6sbq-zmgXRsamd4HKAA1Ma8ZqU70VHjXiKlvUHF_HchjT2b8u6MSBxUlWJNz2Q-MjMq/s320/wallpaperedfoyer.jpg" /></a><br />
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When I was a young adult waking to the adult world around me, I had a pretty pastel-colored card taped to my refrigerator. On it was a picture of a little girl standing before a fork in the road. There was a signpost pointed in two different directions - one arrow was labeled ‘Home’, and the other, ‘World’. I had a deep longing for home and comfort, and yet I also understood the pull of adventure. <br />
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All of us long for that feeling of home, a place where we are always welcomed, feel safe, loved and free to be exactly who we are. But that doesn’t mean we want to be home 24/7. Most of us as well are called out into the world by beckoning dreams and burgeoning desires, hopeful that our journeys will keep us well and our adventures will deepen our lives. But how many of us actually enhance our lives and equip our spirits with a healthy balance of both Home and World? <br />
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Our families are usually a driving force behind creating and maintaining a home stronghold. We need a place in which to rest and rejuvenate, commune and connect, and dance around the living room in our pajamas. We even have an instinctual urge to nest and create a safe haven from the chaos of the world at large. Some of us try to re-create our childhood experiences in the form of home, while others attempt to fashion an entirely new nesting habitat and familial rituals. <br />
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But too much home and not enough adventure can leave us stagnant, dull and set in our ways. And too much journeying forgoing a home-front can leave us ungrounded, scattered or anxious. We need a sense of home for psychological, physical and spiritual reasons. Yet while creating a home space might seem easy to some, to be truly satisfying it requires a significant level of awareness, an openness to other people, and a willingness to sustain that feeling of ‘home’.<br />
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Sometimes, on the other hand, we actually have to leave home in order to appreciate all that it means and gives to us. We need to occasionally journey away in order to get a grander sense of things and a fresh perspective on who we are and how we’re living. Coincidentally, setting out on a journey may seem daunting or we may find ourselves clinging to home at its very onset. Journeys do require a certain amount of courage, flexibility, determination and hope. Even those that seem effortless are deepening our character and our ability to affect our lives for the better. <br />
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Our careers might provide us with adventures in the form of travel, or our search for meaning may lead us unto journeys of self discovery. But any journey, really, should lead to some sort of self-awareness or bigger-picture understanding. Then, we can head on home, equipped with an expanded perspective, a deeper wisdom - and most likely - a fresh, sincere appreciation of home.<br />
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</div>Middle Way Healthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701900104292014804noreply@blogger.com0