Happy Earth Day! + Spiritual Breakthrough

(Image)

Hi, healers! Happy Earth Day! GO VEGAN (even if it is just for today)!

 Not only is veganism better for YOU and the animals, but it is better for Mother Earth, too.

Two days ago, I had a really amazing spiritual breaththrough that I want to write about at some point. I was feeling "stuck" the past few months (as you all know from my previous posts), and I was brought straight into a situation that allowed me to realize what was keeping me stuck. How cool is that?! It's so important to trust the process and always view your obstacles as opportunities and lessons to be learned. That is where  possessing inner peace despite outer chaos begins from.

I'm off to do some yoga and meditate before I head off to the hospice for the day.

Happy Healing (and Earth Day)!

Very Important - Self-Actualization

Hi, healers! I want to share this self-actualization "test" with you. As a budding mental health therapist and natural truth seeker, I am always striving toward self-actualization and attempting to move others toward it, as well. Take inventory of where you are on the road to self-awareness and self-realization.

"Characteristics of a Self-Actualizing Person By Dr. Richard Boyum Listed below are a series of 16 characteristics of a self-actualizing individual as described by Abraham Maslow. Self-actualizing here is defined as a person who is in the process of fulfilling their potential. After slowly and thoroughly reading each characteristic, rate yourself on the scale listed below that characteristic from 1 to 10. Your results will give you both a linear and intuitive representation of your strength and weaknesses in moving towards being a self-actualizing person. Spend some time focusing on why you are stronger in some characteristics than others. What is it that has given you a higher score? What might you do to make your score higher on any given characteristic. The highest total you can receive is 160 points. How close are you?

1.The self-actualized person has more efficient perception of reality and more comfortable relations with it. He can accept the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and he can tell the difference.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

2.Acceptance of self, others, and nature. The self-actualizing person sees reality as it is and accepts responsibility for it. He is as objective as a subjective being can be in his perceptions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

3.The self-actualizing person has spontaneity, simplicity and naturalness. In other words, this kind of person is not hung up on being as others think he should be. He is a person who is capable of doing what feels good and natural for himself simply because that’s how he feels. He does not try to hurt others, but he has respect for what is good himself.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

4.Problem Centering. The self-actualizing person is someone who is generally strongly focused on problems outside of himself. He is concerned with the problems of others and the problems of society, and is willing to work to try to alleviate those difficulties.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

5.The quality for detachment, the need for privacy. For all his social mindedness, the self-actualizing person has a need to be by himself or a need for solitude. He enjoys times for quiet reflection and doesn’t always need people around him. He can be with the few people that he would be close to and not need to communicate with them. Their presence is sufficient in and of itself.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

6.Autonomy, independence of culture and environment. The self-actualizing person is capable of doing things for himself and making decisions on his own. He believes in who and what he is.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

7.Continued freshness or appreciation. The self-actualizing person experiences a joy in the simple and the natural. Sunsets are always beautiful and he seeks them out. He can still enjoy playing the games he played as a child and having fun in some of the same ways he did many years before.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

8.The mystic experience, the peak experience. Self-actualizing people usually have experiences in which they literally feel they are floating. They feel very much in tune or at one with the world around them, and almost feel as if they are, for a momentary period in time, part of a different reality.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

9.A feeling of togetherness. Self-actualizing people have a feeling for all of mankind. They are aware and sensitive to the people that are about them.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

10.Interpersonal relations. Self-actualizing people have deeper and more profound interpersonal relations than other adults. They are capable of fusion, greater love and more perfect identification that other people could consider possible. They generally tend to have relatively few friends, but those relationships are deep and very meaningful.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

11.The democratic character structures. Self-actualizing people tend to believe in the equal nature of human beings, that every individual has a right to say, and that each person has his strengths and each person has his weaknesses.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

12.Discriminating between means and ends, between good and evil. Self-actualizing people know the difference between means and ends and good and evil and do not twist them in a way that hurt themselves or others.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

13.Philosophical and unhostile sense of humor. Self-actualizing people tend to enjoy humor. They like to laugh and like to joke, but not at the expense of others. They are generally seen as good natured, even though they are capable of being very serious.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

14.Creativeness. Self-actualizing people are capable of being highly creative. Creativeness can be expressed in many dimensions by writing, speaking, playing, fantasies, or whatever, but self-actualizing do have moods of being creative. Maslow has said that a first-rate cook is better than a second-rate painter. Hence, creativeness can be expresses in many dimensions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

15.Resistance to inculturation, the transcendence of any particular culture. Maslow feels that the individual is above his culture in some way, that he maintains a strong individuality and is not so absorbed that he cannot evaluate the culture objectively in such a way that he can make decisions about what is best for him and those he cares about .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

16.The imperfections of self-actualizing people. Self-actualizing people are individuals who are aware of the fact that they are not perfect, that they are as human as the next person, and that there are constantly new things to learn and new ways to grow. The self-actualizing person, although comfortable with himself, never stops striving.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

TOTAL SCORE ______ "

As for me, I finished one final and have one more final paper to go before I have a Master's Degree!!!! I'm off to visit one of my patients this morning and then heading off to class. Almost done!

Happy Healing!

"Am I Being Kind?"

(Image)

Hi, healers! Check out this piece from healyourlife.com by Michael J. Chase. We could all use a little more self-awareness:

"Asking “am I being kind?” is the ultimate tool for creating awareness. The next time you’re about to argue, complain, consume unhealthy food, yell at a loved one, or even litter, take a deep breath and inquire within: “am I being kind?” By pausing and internally posing this question, you will not only become more aware, you’ll begin to make kindness toward yourself and all of life a daily practice.

If you’re unsure when to apply this powerful phrase, a simple rule of thumb is to look at it from another perspective and consider, “Would I want my children to act this way?” Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Perhaps this could be slightly revised: we must be the change we wish to see in our children. If you don’t have kids, you can simply reflect on how you’d like others to treat you in a similar situation. How often have we heard mothers and fathers tell their children, “It’s not nice to gossip and talk about other people,” while they’re habitually performing this act of unkindness around their family and friends? Many times, adults preach good manners and politeness while behaving in ways that are incongruent with their own rules.

My good friend Tom always says, “Whenever I make a decision with kindness, I always seem to make the right choice.” My brother-in-law Mike often follows “am I being kind” with, “What’s the kindest possible thing I can do in this moment?” Personally, I find both of those outlooks valuable.

“am I being kind” is the perfect inner mantra whenever you feel anxious, angry, or conflicted; or if you simply need to make the right choice. When you take a deep breath and reflect on this question before reacting in any situation, you’ll find that it’s the key to both inner and outer peace. And opportunities to use this inquiry of the heart will pop up everywhere..."

Happy Healing (and kindness)!

Pure Joy

Hi, healers! I am still in shock over the fact that I am a little over 2 weeks away from graduating with my Master's Degree!

Today was a lovely day starting out with yoga and meditation (Shorter was included), acupuncture, the Boston Marathon, time spent with Patrick and the baby, and ending with more yoga and meditation (and a little finals preparation, too, of course).

I wanted to share these pictures with you. We should all feel so much joy.

Happy Healing!

New Treatment + Cute Pictures + Graduation

Hi, healers! It's been about a week since I started a new treatment. I see an improvement. It's small, but it's something :-) I'll write more on this later when the improvements increase and become stable. I'm still keeping it close to me and God/Source/Spirit - continuing to pray and meditate on it every day.

The amazing, beautiful staff at the hospice had a breakfast to say farewell to the interns. Here we are with our cake:

The little tree hugger:

I made a great green smoothie to take to school with me after my morning green juice. It had blueberries, a little soy milk and water, half a banana, spinach, and sunwarrior raw, vegan protein powder:

Here is the finished product:

My lazy pup blends in with my parents' bed:



Right now, I am working on two finals that are left before my graduation from graduate school! I still can't believe I have managed this (and managed it well - can we say 4.0 GPA?!) with RSD/CRPS. Anything is possible! I've also been keeping up with my self-care, and the meditation and gentle yoga have been everything. It's so important, even if it is painful, to stretch and do some deep breathing. In the end, it will be worth it.

Happy Healing!

There is HOPE!

Hi, healers! I am 4 weeks away from finishing up my Master's Degree, and I thank you all so much for the support on my last post. Through the grace of God (who answers prayers - just ask!), I am about to start a new treatment that does not involve a hospitalization or ketamine. I will provide more details ASAP. I just spent all afternoon finishing my process recordings early for the semester. I have one process recording, a final presentation, and a final paper left! YIPEE!!!! My hands and mind are tired, so I will write a better post in the next few days. Stay tuned!

My blog posting will pick up again as my graduate education winds down. I have learned so many amazing lessons this year (especially working in a hospice). I will share them with you soon.

Happy Healing!