Your Challenge Today:
See the light …
By Bernadette Kathryn, LMT, IHLC
It is during our darkest moments
that we must focus to see the light.
~ Aristotle Onassis
What does it mean to you to “see the light”? Where do you look when you need to see the light?
For me, when I need to see the light ~ conceptually, I always think of looking into my heart. What’s in my heart, what’s real for me, what guidance can I glean from looking into my own heart? The other place that I look is in my books, affirmations, spiritual teachings, church, prayer, meditation and trusted friends. I know I can count on my tribal counsel, my spiritual board of directors and my BFF’s when I need to take a deeper look at something. When I have something to learn ~ I look for inspiration in prayer first and then strive to follow my intuition.
My intuition is my guiding light and a light that I use to share with my work. I remember a dear friend telling me that when he worked doing massage ~ he let his hands tell him what to do. What a brilliant concept, it reminded me of school ~ we frequently worked blindfolded so that we could only rely on our hands to feel what needed to be done. These two approaches are really one in the same and an excellent example of using one’s senses to achieve the goal. I have always strived to use this concept whenever I work ~ I use my senses to gather information and devise my plan as I go. I always keep in mind the clients basic goals while assessing their current status and adapting as needed. This loose plan allows me the freedom to stay in the moment and provide the best service I can utilizing the light that is shining in that stage.
The more we know, the easier it is for us to learn and learning to see the light that shines in us is a valuable quest. Learning new things becomes easier and is actually a seamless process that can add years to our life and life to our years! A recent study has discovered that educated people are:
- Less likely to have depression
- Attain more achievements in their lives
- Physically and mentally healthier
Lifelong learning and a continuing education program can improve your self-esteem and help you live a fuller, more well-rounded and satisfying life. By continuing to learn after your school years, you can develop deeper understanding and breadth of knowledge in the fields that interest you. Staying engaged in learning anything of interest, you can keep your mind sharp and promote a feeling of well-being. When you are engaged in learning you can improve your mental acuity, boost your self-esteem and put you in better control of your career path.
Where do you look when you need to see the light? #LivingFitLifestyle Click To Tweet
So much of what I rely on now, I realize, is rooted in my Quaker and Judaic beginnings. The quiet wisdom, as well as communal wisdom from the Quaker experience, and the value of questioning from the Judaic tradition inform my current light. When I am practicing psychotherapy, its the moments when I am not in the “expert” role, but in the place where I can hold all of my knowledge and experience with me, but loosen myself from my cognition enough to be present in a joining kind of way with my client’s experience. This way I can feel where they are and gain insight from being WITH them. This is best accomplished when I am at my best; well rested, well fed, and spiritually fulfilled.
So well said Pamela — how wonderful for your clients to be able to work with you! When I speak with you it’s interesting to me how you understand simple things that I cannot see — I see my logic and you can see the others’…. thank you for sharing, being a dear friend and trusted confidant!