Re: Healing: Why We Don’t and How We Can

[Guest guest]

Dearest ,

Your gift in this post means so much to me! I myself have been

struggling lately with past experiences and this post if so helpful

for gaining my power and to re-member I am not a Victim of my

circumstances, I can change my way of thinking permanently for the

good, raising my awareness and love higher which in turn aids me in

loving others with much more love and understanding. I do believe

all people are special, loving and unique but this gives me such

incentive to strive even more for that total inner peace from those

past " ickees " that at times I allow to get me down. Thank you kind

and sweet , I def shall keep this post, as I have a whole folder

full of the amazing things that you and all my awesme family has

posted. And what you said at the end, oh, you are such a positive

beam of light in my life, dear! It is true all things are possible

and Shine on, dear ! Much love and gratitude, LUNA

--- In , " karmarqu69 " <karmarqu69@...>

wrote:

>

> Thanks and Blessings

> betty

>

<http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcHJvZmlsZS5teXNwYWNlLmNvbS9pbmRle

C5\

>

jZm0/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj11c2VyLnZpZXdwcm9maWxlJmZyaWVuZGlkPTE3NTc0NTYwMCZNe

VR\

> va2VuPTFkNDQ4MzNlLTgyNDgtNDMwNy04MDBiLTYzZTFjOWMzMjQ3Nw==>

>

>

>

> Thanks and Blessing

>

> >Odyssey Spirit ~~tina~~

>

>

> Healing: Why We Don't and How We Can

>

> Caroline Myss

>

>

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

>

> So many people in the process of healing are, at the same time,

feeling

> stuck. They are striving to confront their painful experiences,

> valiantly working to bring meaning to past traumas, and exercising

> compassionate understanding of others who share their wounds. But

they

> are still not healing. Rather, they have redefined their lives

around

> their wounds and the process of accepting them.

>

> When we define ourselves in this way—what I call

> " woundology " —we lose our physical and spiritual energy, and

> open ourselves to the risk of illness. We are not

>

> meant to stay wounded. We are supposed to move through our

tragedies and

> challenges and to help others move through theirs. By remaining

stuck in

> the power of our wounds, we block our own transformation. We

overlook

> the greater gifts inherent in our wounds—the strength to overcome

> them and the lessons we are meant to receive through them. Wounds

teach

> us to become passionate and wise.

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> THE MYTHS

>

> There are five central myths that make healing nearly impossible.

Each

> supports the consciousness of woundology. These beliefs are so

powerful

> that they sometimes seem to be stronger than our beliefs about the

> possibility of healing.

>

> The way to break the controlling force of a myth is to recognize

that

> you personally believe it and that while you may share this belief

with

> others, it is not necessarily a fact. Then, you need to work

consciously

> to detach yourself from its influence. No myth releases itself from

the

> psyche without a fight, yet if you are intent on genuine healing,

you

> must carry on that fight and develop thought forms to supplant these

> myths and support your health.

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> MYTH 1: My life is defined by my wound.

>

> It is virtually impossible not to be influenced by a personal

history of

> emotional or psychological wounds. Both literally and symbolically,

what

> we experience permeates our bodies. Your biography is your biology.

>

> Many people come to believe, however, that their lives are only a

> compilation of psychological wounds that they feel they can do

little to

> heal. They project their past experience onto everything that has

since

> come into their lives. Although this state of mind is sad, self-

limiting

> and defeatist, some people derive great power from maintaining it

> because it gives them permission to lead a life of limited

> responsibility. It allows them to lean on others for assistance,

playing

> on their guilt to keep that assistance coming.

>

> As the years go by, and you become accustomed to this kind of power

and

> self-protection, it is more and more difficult to change. The only

way

> to release the grip of this myth is to take more responsibility for

the

> quality of your life. Instead of wishing that you weighed 50 pounds

> less, start walking and change your diet, even if you walk just a

mile

> and day and eliminate only a few high-fat foods.

>

> When you find yourself saying or thinking, " I could have been a

> ____________, but my wounded past prevented me from achieving it, "

> then take steps to fulfill that impossible goal.

>

> Questions for Self-Examination:

>

> 1. Do you make excuses for why you're not doing more positive things

> with your life?

>

> 2. Do you compare your history of wounds with others? If so, why?

>

> 3. If you feel more wounded than someone else, does that make you

feel

> empowered?

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> MYTH 2: Being healthy means being alone.

>

> For many people, the fear of independence —and by extension, of

> being alone —lies at the core of their inability to heal. Moreover,

> they believe that once they are healed they will always be healed

and

> that emotional and psychological support will evaporate.

>

> The truth is that whether we are healed or are in the process of

> healing, we will always need loving friends and family; a community

> based not just on wounds or neediness but also on shared interests

and

> emotional nurturing.

>

> The requirements for healing are tough; they may demand that you

let go

> of old friends. If so, keep in mind the cyclical nature of life.

> Loneliness and friendship can each play a role in your healing at

> different times.

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> Questions for Self-Examination

>

> 1. Are you afraid that if you heal, your support group will abandon

you

> or be less sympathetic to you?

>

> 2. When you picture yourself as healed, are you the only one in the

> room?

>

> 3. Do you see emotional wounds as a means of bonding with another,

and

> does healing mean having to separate from that person?

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> MYTH 3: Feeling pain means being destroyed by pain.

>

> Often pain signals the presence of illness, either emotional or

> physical. But pain is also a teacher, pointing to an area that is

> begging for repair. Drugging pain can mislead us into thinking we

are

> healing when we are not. Instead of immediately medicating

ourselves, we

> should examine why we have a pain or a pattern of physical aches and

> pains.

>

> One way is to being by studying yourself. Pay attention to how many

> thoughts and attitudes you hold each day that are painful. Write

them

> down so that you can see them clearly and can recognize the physical

> damage they can do to your body. You may come to realize that you

dwell

> on painful images of yourself or on pain-filled beliefs about life.

You

> may even realize that you are, at your core, a pessimist. Or you may

> come to recognize that it is not your pain that you are carrying

but the

> grief of others whom you want to protect. It may even become

possible

> for you to understand pain as a spiritual challenge that has come

into

> your life as a means of making your state of mind stronger than you

ever

> could have imagined.

>

> Questions for Self-Examination:

>

> 1. Do you think of pain as always being an enemy?

>

> 2. Have you ever learned anything from physical pain? If so, what?

>

> 3. To cope with pain, are you more likely to take medication or use

> meditation or

>

> another inner discipline?

>

> 4. Have you ever been addicted to pain medication or sleeping pills?

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> MYTH 4: Illness is the result of negativity.

>

> Our thoughts powerfully influence the health of our minds and

bodies,

> and delving into our inner selves is essential to the healing

process.

> Yet negative patterns are not always at the root of illness, and a

> failure to heal should not always be blamed on negative past

experiences

> or on negative beliefs buried deep in the unconscious mind.

>

> Sometimes illness is the result of a complex of causes, and it can

be

> futile to try to reduce it to a single factor. Healing would be

better

> served by investigating our past for positive patterns as well as

> negative ones.

>

> Questions for Self-Examination:

>

> 1. Are you always searching for what you did to deserve your

illness?

>

> 2. Do you believe that you won't be able to heal until you uncover

> what you did wrong?

>

> 3. Do you find yourself dwelling on past negative experiences,

believing

> that this actually enhances your healing?

>

>

>

>

>

> MYTH 5: True change is impossible.

>

> No one likes to change. Yet the truth is, healing and change are the

> same thing. They are composed of the same energy, and we cannot heal

> without first investigating what behavioral patterns and attitudes

we

> need to alter. Once those characteristics are identified, we have

to do

> something about them.

>

> And action brings about change. To work change into the depths of

our

> nature, we need to come to grips with those characteristics within

us

> that we have avoided. We are often completely unaware of parts of

our

> personalities, either because we do not want to recognize them or

> because we have never paid attention to our shadow side.

>

> Questions for Self-Examination:

>

> 1. Do you think about change more than you act to bring it about?

>

> 2. Do you always imagine that change will be troublesome and

depressing

> rather than exciting?

>

> 3. Do you think of change as something that will make your life feel

> chaotic?

>

> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

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> IGNITING THE HEALING FIRE

>

> It's one thing to understand intellectually the steps you need to

> take to heal. It's quite another to understand what you need to do

> on an emotional level.

>

> To ignite the healing fire, you need to believe something with your

> heart. The heart holds the catalyst that causes the rest of the

> body-mind to heal.

>

> Here are 12 ways to maximize your healing potential:

>

> 1. Learn to say no.

>

> The most important thing you can do for yourself in a crisis

situation

> is to learn to manage your time. You have to put yourself first.

Whether

> you're healthy or trying to heal, ask yourself: Is this what I want

> to put my time into right now? Whenever you find yourself in a life

> crisis, ask the following questions:

>

> A) Who are the most important people in my life?

>

> B.) Am I investing my time in the people and things that matter

most to

> me, both for healing and for living a meaningful life?

>

> C.) If not, what am I willing to do about that?

>

> You may need to cut down on the time you spend with people whose

> orientation and behavior no longer fi t in with your need to heal.

Using

> time wisely also means leaving empty space for yourself, time to do

> nothing so that you allow new ideas and feelings to come to the

surface.

> An illness, a trauma, or a life crisis can become an opportunity to

> explore life at a slower pace.

>

> 2. Change course immediately.

>

> People often tell me that until they can figure out what treatment

is

> best for them, they feel safer not doing anything. I take that to

mean

> that they are not ready to make the necessary changes in their

lives.

> Healing is a " present time " challenge. Postponing the decision

> to shift gears is dangerous. It is much wiser—and safer—to start

> anywhere than to do nothing.

>

> Every positive choice activates a new current of energy in your

life. A

> change does not have to be big to be effective: Introducing a shift

in

> your nutrition or adding an exercise regime is a good beginning.

>

> 3. Practice cyclic thinking.

>

> The perception that time and life are linear handicaps the healing

> process. Example: " If this treatment does not help within a month,

> then it's not working, and I'm not healing. " Healing is,

> above all, a learning experience, and one of its biggest lessons is

that

> life is characterized by impermanence and flux. If you can learn to

> accept change with equanimity, you will have mastered a lot more

than

> just an illness.

>

> Cyclic thinking is also one of the most effective means of learning

to

> forgive. Forgiveness frees up the energy for necessary healing.

Part of

> the problem with the victim mentality is that it overlooks the ways

in

> which we ourselves perpetuate what was done to us.

>

> The next time you are caught up in angry thoughts about a past

injury,

> try this exercise: Look closely at your actions over the past week

and

> see if you are committing the same kind of injustice or abuse that

you

> have suffered. You may feel, for instance, that during your

childhood,

> you were wrongly judged and that this judgment has influenced how

people

> think of you today. When you start to feel the weight of that

memory,

> look at whether you have judged someone else in a similar fashion.

>

> You need to both forgive yourself for making the judgment and

forgive

> the person who judged you unfairly all those years ago.

>

> 4. Have realistic goals for yourself.

>

> Just as no one can train to run a marathon in one day, living a

healthy

> life or healing an illness requires that you practice regularly

whatever

> disciplines you adopt, whether they are medical treatments,

nutritional

> changes, an exercise regimen, visualizations, or meditation.

>

> Many new fears may emerge following the diagnosis of an illness, or

when

> you experience a setback or tragedy in your life. You need to be

patient

> with yourself. If you feel depressed or anxious, step back and see

when

> and in what context those feelings appear.

>

> Or you can try this Sufi exercise, called " A Mile from Baghdad. "

>

> Close your eyes and see yourself walking down a lonely stretch of

desert

> road that seems to go on forever. Feel the sun beating down, the hot

> sand beneath your feet, an overpowering thirst and fatigue. Let

yourself

> experience both the aridity of the place and your own loneliness and

> desperation. Then find an outcropping of rock beside the road and

settle

> down for the night. Watch the sun set, and feel the cool night air.

>

> Now leave the rock formation and look around. In the distance you

see

> twinkling lights, and you begin to hear the soft strains of music.

You

> realize there is a city filled with people quite close by. You

believed

> you were in the middle of a barren desert, but you were really only

a

> mile from Baghdad.

>

> Let the realization sink in that relief is near at hand and you have

> only a short way to walk. As you relax in that knowledge, say a

brief

> prayer of thanksgiving.

>

> If you do not notice any change in your body in the first month of

your

> effort to heal, it does not mean that changes are not happening.

They

> may be occurring at an energetic level and will eventually cause

> positive mental, spiritual, and even physical changes. You may be a

lot

> closer to your goal than you realize.

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> 5. Develop your will power.

>

> Desiring to heal is not the same as having the will to heal. You

need to

> train your mind and emotions to respond to the positive commands you

> create. And these positive thoughts must become the dominant

perceptions

> with which your mind and emotions connect. Doing a thirty-minute

> visualization once or twice a day and then returning to fear-fi lled

> thoughts the rest of the day negates the influence of your positive

> work.

>

> Keeping your focus in a positive direction takes practice. You do

not

> need to develop your focus as completely as a meditation master,

but you

> do need to achieve a working relationship with your inner resources

so

> you can quickly eclipse a negative thought with a positive one.

>

> The use of a mantra—a word or phrase you repeat silently to

> yourself—is very effective in learning to focus.

>

> Another way of learning to control your mind and emotions is to work

> with the distractions in your everyday life. Suppose you become

> irritated while waiting in traffic. This is a perfect situation in

which

> to practice commanding your energy to remain within your body

instead of

> leaking out.

>

> 6. Healing is not a quest to solve your mysteries but to learn how

to

> live within them.

>

> Illness remains one of the great mysteries of life. You may wonder

if

> your disease is tied to your traumatic marriage, or your childhood,

or

> toxins in the environment. Get past the questions.

>

> The purpose of the mysteries in our lives may well be to lead us

out of

> our dependence on human reasoning into acceptance that Divine

> intelligence is in control.

>

> Practice placing your questions in the hands of the Divine.

Visualize

> God or Buddha

>

> or or the Tao pulling your questions away from you and your

energy.

> Feel yourself freed from concern and doubt and filled with a gentle

> healing glow that suffuses every part of your body and mind.

>

>

>

> 7. Cultivate grace.

>

> The spirit needs nourishment to heal, just as the mind and body do.

> Build up the courage to act by inspiring yourself with the stories

and

> wisdom of those who have changed their lives forever by taking

action,

> through entering the dark night of the soul fearlessly.

>

> Sample the wisdom of unfamiliar traditions: Explore the Kabbalah;

> entertain yourself with Sufi parables; study the sermons of the

Buddha

> or the simple teachings of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat

Hanh;

> examine the mystical writings of the Christian Desert Fathers or the

> text of the Upanishads.

>

> As you absorb truths and stories that nourish the spirit, you will

feel

> a release of energy in you. This energy can only be called

> " grace " . It is a vibrational force of such power that it can

> lift you for an instant out of your immediate circumstances and

fill you

> with the perception that there is nothing you cannot handle.

>

> In case you think that miracles don't happen to ordinary people, let

> me tell you a story that happened to me. Satya Sai Baba is a living

> saint in India who is said, among other things, to be able to

manifest

> objects, from holy ashes to precious stones, out of thin air. This

> ability is known in Sanskrit is vibhuti— " revelation " or

> " power. " A few years ago I was having trouble keeping my

> balance. No matter what I did, this condition kept getting worse,

so as

> a last resort before I went to sleep, I said a prayer to Sai Baba:

> " I need some vibhuti, and I need it now. I'm in bad

> trouble. "

>

> The next morning I received a package from an acquaintance in

Copenhagen

> whom I hadn't heard from in five years; inside was a small tube

> filled with ashes, with a label that read, " To Caroline Myss from

> Satya Sai Baba. " Since the mail from Denmark usually takes several

> days, the answer to my prayer must have been on the way to me

before I

> uttered the words.

>

> Within hours of receiving the vibhuti, my balance returned and I

have

> never had the problem again.

>

> Every situation in your life has been created with the energy of

grace.

> Pay attention to the ordinary moments as much as to the

extraordinary

> ones and recognize that behind the scenes of those events is the

energy

> of the Divine.

>

> 8. Use sacred imagery.

>

> Whether you use visualization or actual objects, sacred imagery is a

> profound way to feel a connection with the heavens. If you have a

> favorite representation of the Divine, a personal saint, or a

revered

> spiritual teacher, keep it with you. Although you can't carry around

> your altar or sacred space, you can carry a small image, reminding

you

> that you are never truly alone.

>

> 9. Learn something new every day.

>

> Learning activates passion, and passion is power—in fact it is one

> of the strongest forms of energy that we can generate within our

body.

> Passion is a connection to life itself, giving us a reason to want

to

> see tomorrow.

>

> Like meditation, developing and pursuing a passion is its own

reward,

> but it can also generate many valuable side effects. We don't know

> where our passions will take us or what subsidiary benefi ts may

accrue

> from following our hearts and our bliss.

>

> 10. Create a new vocabulary for yourself.

>

> Although there is no harm in expressing the pain and fear that

illness

> brings into your life, you want to avoid falling into the pit of

> constantly " speaking pain. " Toward that end, create a new

> vocabulary for yourself that describes your condition in optimistic,

> healing, or spiritual terms. One woman I know referred to her

illness as

> a friend " who has come to teach me great truths. "

>

> Calling her illness a friend helped her lessen the fear of her

situation

> and helped her feel she could communicate with her illness; she also

> felt it would leave her when their time together was complete. Once

> healed, she actually held a ritual saying farewell to her friend—a

> fine antidote to lingering woundology.

>

> 11. Review daily where you have plugged in your energy circuits.

>

> Pay attention to any feeling that energy is leaving your body and

assess

> why and where it is going. If your energy attaches itself to a

target

> that is draining your energy, tell yourself to detach. Learn to

sense

> the flow of energy into and out of your body.

>

> You already know the sensation of energy leaving your body when you

are

> angry or frightened—you feel instantly weakened, or develop a

> headache or backache. Any physical symptom is a signal that you are

> losing energy. As a preemptive action, direct your energy circuits

each

> day into positive sources that can help you feel filled with power

and

> light.

>

> One person I know visualizes his circuits connecting to the statues

of

> Jesus and that stand in the church he attends. Other people I

know

> visualize their energy circuits connected to the sun or other

aspects of

> nature.

>

> 12. Practice gratitude whenever you feel overwhelmed.

>

> Feeling appreciative makes live thrive in our systems. Make

gratitude a

> practice. Do not look for only the large and obvious reasons to be

> grateful. Learn to see you life through a wide-angle lens that

includes

> every detail.

>

> In your effort to appreciate all that is in your life, include

yourself.

> Spoil yourself with gifts of time—time to know yourself better and

> to appreciate those who are part of your life. Indulge yourself in

ways

> you have always wanted to. Wander off your beaten path.

>

> Few obstacles that we encounter are life-threatening, but disease

is.

> And psychologically and spiritually devastating experiences such as

the

> loss of a child or a painful divorce can also be dangerous; the

anguish

> they generate can lead to a large-scale physical breakdown or the

risk

> of suicide.

>

> Be committed to your effort to return to mental and physical health.

> Don't let the limitations that you experience today influence what

> you may experience tomorrow.

>

> All things are possible, and heaven is always listening.

>

> LOVE~ALL~WAYS

> KAREN~KARMA

>

[Guest guest]

I send blessings of love in abundance to you Betty..

Hugs

~Karma

> >

> > Thanks and Blessings

> > betty

> >

> <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcHJvZmlsZS5teXNwYWNlLmNvbS9pbmRle

> C5\

> >

> jZm0/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj11c2VyLnZpZXdwcm9maWxlJmZyaWVuZGlkPTE3NTc0NTYwMCZNe

> VR\

> > va2VuPTFkNDQ4MzNlLTgyNDgtNDMwNy04MDBiLTYzZTFjOWMzMjQ3Nw==>

> >

> >

> >

> > Thanks and Blessing

> >

> > >Odyssey Spirit ~~tina~~

> >

> >

> > Healing: Why We Don't and How We Can

> >

> > Caroline Myss

> >

> >

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> >

> > So many people in the process of healing are, at the same time,

> feeling

> > stuck. They are striving to confront their painful experiences,

> > valiantly working to bring meaning to past traumas, and exercising

> > compassionate understanding of others who share their wounds. But

> they

> > are still not healing. Rather, they have redefined their lives

> around

> > their wounds and the process of accepting them.

> >

> > When we define ourselves in this way—what I call

> > " woundology " —we lose our physical and spiritual energy, and

> > open ourselves to the risk of illness. We are not

> >

> > meant to stay wounded. We are supposed to move through our

> tragedies and

> > challenges and to help others move through theirs. By remaining

> stuck in

> > the power of our wounds, we block our own transformation. We

> overlook

> > the greater gifts inherent in our wounds—the strength to overcome

> > them and the lessons we are meant to receive through them. Wounds

> teach

> > us to become passionate and wise.

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > THE MYTHS

> >

> > There are five central myths that make healing nearly impossible.

> Each

> > supports the consciousness of woundology. These beliefs are so

> powerful

> > that they sometimes seem to be stronger than our beliefs about the

> > possibility of healing.

> >

> > The way to break the controlling force of a myth is to recognize

> that

> > you personally believe it and that while you may share this belief

> with

> > others, it is not necessarily a fact. Then, you need to work

> consciously

> > to detach yourself from its influence. No myth releases itself from

> the

> > psyche without a fight, yet if you are intent on genuine healing,

> you

> > must carry on that fight and develop thought forms to supplant these

> > myths and support your health.

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > MYTH 1: My life is defined by my wound.

> >

> > It is virtually impossible not to be influenced by a personal

> history of

> > emotional or psychological wounds. Both literally and symbolically,

> what

> > we experience permeates our bodies. Your biography is your biology.

> >

> > Many people come to believe, however, that their lives are only a

> > compilation of psychological wounds that they feel they can do

> little to

> > heal. They project their past experience onto everything that has

> since

> > come into their lives. Although this state of mind is sad, self-

> limiting

> > and defeatist, some people derive great power from maintaining it

> > because it gives them permission to lead a life of limited

> > responsibility. It allows them to lean on others for assistance,

> playing

> > on their guilt to keep that assistance coming.

> >

> > As the years go by, and you become accustomed to this kind of power

> and

> > self-protection, it is more and more difficult to change. The only

> way

> > to release the grip of this myth is to take more responsibility for

> the

> > quality of your life. Instead of wishing that you weighed 50 pounds

> > less, start walking and change your diet, even if you walk just a

> mile

> > and day and eliminate only a few high-fat foods.

> >

> > When you find yourself saying or thinking, " I could have been a

> > ____________, but my wounded past prevented me from achieving it, "

> > then take steps to fulfill that impossible goal.

> >

> > Questions for Self-Examination:

> >

> > 1. Do you make excuses for why you're not doing more positive things

> > with your life?

> >

> > 2. Do you compare your history of wounds with others? If so, why?

> >

> > 3. If you feel more wounded than someone else, does that make you

> feel

> > empowered?

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > MYTH 2: Being healthy means being alone.

> >

> > For many people, the fear of independence —and by extension, of

> > being alone —lies at the core of their inability to heal. Moreover,

> > they believe that once they are healed they will always be healed

> and

> > that emotional and psychological support will evaporate.

> >

> > The truth is that whether we are healed or are in the process of

> > healing, we will always need loving friends and family; a community

> > based not just on wounds or neediness but also on shared interests

> and

> > emotional nurturing.

> >

> > The requirements for healing are tough; they may demand that you

> let go

> > of old friends. If so, keep in mind the cyclical nature of life.

> > Loneliness and friendship can each play a role in your healing at

> > different times.

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > Questions for Self-Examination

> >

> > 1. Are you afraid that if you heal, your support group will abandon

> you

> > or be less sympathetic to you?

> >

> > 2. When you picture yourself as healed, are you the only one in the

> > room?

> >

> > 3. Do you see emotional wounds as a means of bonding with another,

> and

> > does healing mean having to separate from that person?

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > MYTH 3: Feeling pain means being destroyed by pain.

> >

> > Often pain signals the presence of illness, either emotional or

> > physical. But pain is also a teacher, pointing to an area that is

> > begging for repair. Drugging pain can mislead us into thinking we

> are

> > healing when we are not. Instead of immediately medicating

> ourselves, we

> > should examine why we have a pain or a pattern of physical aches and

> > pains.

> >

> > One way is to being by studying yourself. Pay attention to how many

> > thoughts and attitudes you hold each day that are painful. Write

> them

> > down so that you can see them clearly and can recognize the physical

> > damage they can do to your body. You may come to realize that you

> dwell

> > on painful images of yourself or on pain-filled beliefs about life.

> You

> > may even realize that you are, at your core, a pessimist. Or you may

> > come to recognize that it is not your pain that you are carrying

> but the

> > grief of others whom you want to protect. It may even become

> possible

> > for you to understand pain as a spiritual challenge that has come

> into

> > your life as a means of making your state of mind stronger than you

> ever

> > could have imagined.

> >

> > Questions for Self-Examination:

> >

> > 1. Do you think of pain as always being an enemy?

> >

> > 2. Have you ever learned anything from physical pain? If so, what?

> >

> > 3. To cope with pain, are you more likely to take medication or use

> > meditation or

> >

> > another inner discipline?

> >

> > 4. Have you ever been addicted to pain medication or sleeping pills?

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > MYTH 4: Illness is the result of negativity.

> >

> > Our thoughts powerfully influence the health of our minds and

> bodies,

> > and delving into our inner selves is essential to the healing

> process.

> > Yet negative patterns are not always at the root of illness, and a

> > failure to heal should not always be blamed on negative past

> experiences

> > or on negative beliefs buried deep in the unconscious mind.

> >

> > Sometimes illness is the result of a complex of causes, and it can

> be

> > futile to try to reduce it to a single factor. Healing would be

> better

> > served by investigating our past for positive patterns as well as

> > negative ones.

> >

> > Questions for Self-Examination:

> >

> > 1. Are you always searching for what you did to deserve your

> illness?

> >

> > 2. Do you believe that you won't be able to heal until you uncover

> > what you did wrong?

> >

> > 3. Do you find yourself dwelling on past negative experiences,

> believing

> > that this actually enhances your healing?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > MYTH 5: True change is impossible.

> >

> > No one likes to change. Yet the truth is, healing and change are the

> > same thing. They are composed of the same energy, and we cannot heal

> > without first investigating what behavioral patterns and attitudes

> we

> > need to alter. Once those characteristics are identified, we have

> to do

> > something about them.

> >

> > And action brings about change. To work change into the depths of

> our

> > nature, we need to come to grips with those characteristics within

> us

> > that we have avoided. We are often completely unaware of parts of

> our

> > personalities, either because we do not want to recognize them or

> > because we have never paid attention to our shadow side.

> >

> > Questions for Self-Examination:

> >

> > 1. Do you think about change more than you act to bring it about?

> >

> > 2. Do you always imagine that change will be troublesome and

> depressing

> > rather than exciting?

> >

> > 3. Do you think of change as something that will make your life feel

> > chaotic?

> >

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > IGNITING THE HEALING FIRE

> >

> > It's one thing to understand intellectually the steps you need to

> > take to heal. It's quite another to understand what you need to do

> > on an emotional level.

> >

> > To ignite the healing fire, you need to believe something with your

> > heart. The heart holds the catalyst that causes the rest of the

> > body-mind to heal.

> >

> > Here are 12 ways to maximize your healing potential:

> >

> > 1. Learn to say no.

> >

> > The most important thing you can do for yourself in a crisis

> situation

> > is to learn to manage your time. You have to put yourself first.

> Whether

> > you're healthy or trying to heal, ask yourself: Is this what I want

> > to put my time into right now? Whenever you find yourself in a life

> > crisis, ask the following questions:

> >

> > A) Who are the most important people in my life?

> >

> > B.) Am I investing my time in the people and things that matter

> most to

> > me, both for healing and for living a meaningful life?

> >

> > C.) If not, what am I willing to do about that?

> >

> > You may need to cut down on the time you spend with people whose

> > orientation and behavior no longer fi t in with your need to heal.

> Using

> > time wisely also means leaving empty space for yourself, time to do

> > nothing so that you allow new ideas and feelings to come to the

> surface.

> > An illness, a trauma, or a life crisis can become an opportunity to

> > explore life at a slower pace.

> >

> > 2. Change course immediately.

> >

> > People often tell me that until they can figure out what treatment

> is

> > best for them, they feel safer not doing anything. I take that to

> mean

> > that they are not ready to make the necessary changes in their

> lives.

> > Healing is a " present time " challenge. Postponing the decision

> > to shift gears is dangerous. It is much wiser—and safer—to start

> > anywhere than to do nothing.

> >

> > Every positive choice activates a new current of energy in your

> life. A

> > change does not have to be big to be effective: Introducing a shift

> in

> > your nutrition or adding an exercise regime is a good beginning.

> >

> > 3. Practice cyclic thinking.

> >

> > The perception that time and life are linear handicaps the healing

> > process. Example: " If this treatment does not help within a month,

> > then it's not working, and I'm not healing. " Healing is,

> > above all, a learning experience, and one of its biggest lessons is

> that

> > life is characterized by impermanence and flux. If you can learn to

> > accept change with equanimity, you will have mastered a lot more

> than

> > just an illness.

> >

> > Cyclic thinking is also one of the most effective means of learning

> to

> > forgive. Forgiveness frees up the energy for necessary healing.

> Part of

> > the problem with the victim mentality is that it overlooks the ways

> in

> > which we ourselves perpetuate what was done to us.

> >

> > The next time you are caught up in angry thoughts about a past

> injury,

> > try this exercise: Look closely at your actions over the past week

> and

> > see if you are committing the same kind of injustice or abuse that

> you

> > have suffered. You may feel, for instance, that during your

> childhood,

> > you were wrongly judged and that this judgment has influenced how

> people

> > think of you today. When you start to feel the weight of that

> memory,

> > look at whether you have judged someone else in a similar fashion.

> >

> > You need to both forgive yourself for making the judgment and

> forgive

> > the person who judged you unfairly all those years ago.

> >

> > 4. Have realistic goals for yourself.

> >

> > Just as no one can train to run a marathon in one day, living a

> healthy

> > life or healing an illness requires that you practice regularly

> whatever

> > disciplines you adopt, whether they are medical treatments,

> nutritional

> > changes, an exercise regimen, visualizations, or meditation.

> >

> > Many new fears may emerge following the diagnosis of an illness, or

> when

> > you experience a setback or tragedy in your life. You need to be

> patient

> > with yourself. If you feel depressed or anxious, step back and see

> when

> > and in what context those feelings appear.

> >

> > Or you can try this Sufi exercise, called " A Mile from Baghdad. "

> >

> > Close your eyes and see yourself walking down a lonely stretch of

> desert

> > road that seems to go on forever. Feel the sun beating down, the hot

> > sand beneath your feet, an overpowering thirst and fatigue. Let

> yourself

> > experience both the aridity of the place and your own loneliness and

> > desperation. Then find an outcropping of rock beside the road and

> settle

> > down for the night. Watch the sun set, and feel the cool night air.

> >

> > Now leave the rock formation and look around. In the distance you

> see

> > twinkling lights, and you begin to hear the soft strains of music.

> You

> > realize there is a city filled with people quite close by. You

> believed

> > you were in the middle of a barren desert, but you were really only

> a

> > mile from Baghdad.

> >

> > Let the realization sink in that relief is near at hand and you have

> > only a short way to walk. As you relax in that knowledge, say a

> brief

> > prayer of thanksgiving.

> >

> > If you do not notice any change in your body in the first month of

> your

> > effort to heal, it does not mean that changes are not happening.

> They

> > may be occurring at an energetic level and will eventually cause

> > positive mental, spiritual, and even physical changes. You may be a

> lot

> > closer to your goal than you realize.

> > [Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket]

> > <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t>

> > 5. Develop your will power.

> >

> > Desiring to heal is not the same as having the will to heal. You

> need to

> > train your mind and emotions to respond to the positive commands you

> > create. And these positive thoughts must become the dominant

> perceptions

> > with which your mind and emotions connect. Doing a thirty-minute

> > visualization once or twice a day and then returning to fear-fi lled

> > thoughts the rest of the day negates the influence of your positive

> > work.

> >

> > Keeping your focus in a positive direction takes practice. You do

> not

> > need to develop your focus as completely as a meditation master,

> but you

> > do need to achieve a working relationship with your inner resources

> so

> > you can quickly eclipse a negative thought with a positive one.

> >

> > The use of a mantra—a word or phrase you repeat silently to

> > yourself—is very effective in learning to focus.

> >

> > Another way of learning to control your mind and emotions is to work

> > with the distractions in your everyday life. Suppose you become

> > irritated while waiting in traffic. This is a perfect situation in

> which

> > to practice commanding your energy to remain within your body

> instead of

> > leaking out.

> >

> > 6. Healing is not a quest to solve your mysteries but to learn how

> to

> > live within them.

> >

> > Illness remains one of the great mysteries of life. You may wonder

> if

> > your disease is tied to your traumatic marriage, or your childhood,

> or

> > toxins in the environment. Get past the questions.

> >

> > The purpose of the mysteries in our lives may well be to lead us

> out of

> > our dependence on human reasoning into acceptance that Divine

> > intelligence is in control.

> >

> > Practice placing your questions in the hands of the Divine.

> Visualize

> > God or Buddha

> >

> > or or the Tao pulling your questions away from you and your

> energy.

> > Feel yourself freed from concern and doubt and filled with a gentle

> > healing glow that suffuses every part of your body and mind.

> >

> >

> >

> > 7. Cultivate grace.

> >

> > The spirit needs nourishment to heal, just as the mind and body do.

> > Build up the courage to act by inspiring yourself with the stories

> and

> > wisdom of those who have changed their lives forever by taking

> action,

> > through entering the dark night of the soul fearlessly.

> >

> > Sample the wisdom of unfamiliar traditions: Explore the Kabbalah;

> > entertain yourself with Sufi parables; study the sermons of the

> Buddha

> > or the simple teachings of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat

> Hanh;

> > examine the mystical writings of the Christian Desert Fathers or the

> > text of the Upanishads.

> >

> > As you absorb truths and stories that nourish the spirit, you will

> feel

> > a release of energy in you. This energy can only be called

> > " grace " . It is a vibrational force of such power that it can

> > lift you for an instant out of your immediate circumstances and

> fill you

> > with the perception that there is nothing you cannot handle.

> >

> > In case you think that miracles don't happen to ordinary people, let

> > me tell you a story that happened to me. Satya Sai Baba is a living

> > saint in India who is said, among other things, to be able to

> manifest

> > objects, from holy ashes to precious stones, out of thin air. This

> > ability is known in Sanskrit is vibhuti— " revelation " or

> > " power. " A few years ago I was having trouble keeping my

> > balance. No matter what I did, this condition kept getting worse,

> so as

> > a last resort before I went to sleep, I said a prayer to Sai Baba:

> > " I need some vibhuti, and I need it now. I'm in bad

> > trouble. "

> >

> > The next morning I received a package from an acquaintance in

> Copenhagen

> > whom I hadn't heard from in five years; inside was a small tube

> > filled with ashes, with a label that read, " To Caroline Myss from

> > Satya Sai Baba. " Since the mail from Denmark usually takes several

> > days, the answer to my prayer must have been on the way to me

> before I

> > uttered the words.

> >

> > Within hours of receiving the vibhuti, my balance returned and I

> have

> > never had the problem again.

> >

> > Every situation in your life has been created with the energy of

> grace.

> > Pay attention to the ordinary moments as much as to the

> extraordinary

> > ones and recognize that behind the scenes of those events is the

> energy

> > of the Divine.

> >

> > 8. Use sacred imagery.

> >

> > Whether you use visualization or actual objects, sacred imagery is a

> > profound way to feel a connection with the heavens. If you have a

> > favorite representation of the Divine, a personal saint, or a

> revered

> > spiritual teacher, keep it with you. Although you can't carry around

> > your altar or sacred space, you can carry a small image, reminding

> you

> > that you are never truly alone.

> >

> > 9. Learn something new every day.

> >

> > Learning activates passion, and passion is power—in fact it is one

> > of the strongest forms of energy that we can generate within our

> body.

> > Passion is a connection to life itself, giving us a reason to want

> to

> > see tomorrow.

> >

> > Like meditation, developing and pursuing a passion is its own

> reward,

> > but it can also generate many valuable side effects. We don't know

> > where our passions will take us or what subsidiary benefi ts may

> accrue

> > from following our hearts and our bliss.

> >

> > 10. Create a new vocabulary for yourself.

> >

> > Although there is no harm in expressing the pain and fear that

> illness

> > brings into your life, you want to avoid falling into the pit of

> > constantly " speaking pain. " Toward that end, create a new

> > vocabulary for yourself that describes your condition in optimistic,

> > healing, or spiritual terms. One woman I know referred to her

> illness as

> > a friend " who has come to teach me great truths. "

> >

> > Calling her illness a friend helped her lessen the fear of her

> situation

> > and helped her feel she could communicate with her illness; she also

> > felt it would leave her when their time together was complete. Once

> > healed, she actually held a ritual saying farewell to her friend—a

> > fine antidote to lingering woundology.

> >

> > 11. Review daily where you have plugged in your energy circuits.

> >

> > Pay attention to any feeling that energy is leaving your body and

> assess

> > why and where it is going. If your energy attaches itself to a

> target

> > that is draining your energy, tell yourself to detach. Learn to

> sense

> > the flow of energy into and out of your body.

> >

> > You already know the sensation of energy leaving your body when you

> are

> > angry or frightened—you feel instantly weakened, or develop a

> > headache or backache. Any physical symptom is a signal that you are

> > losing energy. As a preemptive action, direct your energy circuits

> each

> > day into positive sources that can help you feel filled with power

> and

> > light.

> >

> > One person I know visualizes his circuits connecting to the statues

> of

> > Jesus and that stand in the church he attends. Other people I

> know

> > visualize their energy circuits connected to the sun or other

> aspects of

> > nature.

> >

> > 12. Practice gratitude whenever you feel overwhelmed.

> >

> > Feeling appreciative makes live thrive in our systems. Make

> gratitude a

> > practice. Do not look for only the large and obvious reasons to be

> > grateful. Learn to see you life through a wide-angle lens that

> includes

> > every detail.

> >

> > In your effort to appreciate all that is in your life, include

> yourself.

> > Spoil yourself with gifts of time—time to know yourself better and

> > to appreciate those who are part of your life. Indulge yourself in

> ways

> > you have always wanted to. Wander off your beaten path.

> >

> > Few obstacles that we encounter are life-threatening, but disease

> is.

> > And psychologically and spiritually devastating experiences such as

> the

> > loss of a child or a painful divorce can also be dangerous; the

> anguish

> > they generate can lead to a large-scale physical breakdown or the

> risk

> > of suicide.

> >

> > Be committed to your effort to return to mental and physical health.

> > Don't let the limitations that you experience today influence what

> > you may experience tomorrow.

> >

> > All things are possible, and heaven is always listening.

> >

> > LOVE~ALL~WAYS

> > KAREN~KARMA

> >

>