Circles of Awareness

I am pleased to tell you that we have added a new tab on the BECOMING website, Therapy and Counselling. I would like to thank Kathy Barnhart, marriage and family therapist (and talented photographer!), Toni Pieroni, registered counselor and Imago therapist, and Larry Butler, hypnotherapist and webmaster, all dear friends of mine -- Kathy for suggesting that BECOMING would be of great use as a therapeutic tool, Toni for writing a draft text of the 'how and why' of this new approach, and Larry for his generous, intensive, and extensive work on the website.

Here are some of the therapeutic benefits Toni mentions, that may come of reading and using BECOMING:

• To help individuals see their own life story as a story of 'becoming'
• To increase self-awareness and compassion for self and others
• To develop and strengthen their “observer” self (Brain science is showing that benefits to health and well-being come from developing that capacity.)
• To help people see that 'how' they tell their story impacts their perspective and feelings about their life – and that there may be more than one way to perceive one’s life.
• To help clients, or individuals, journal in a productive and meaningful way and help them break out of the circular looping the mind can often get stuck in.
• To have a way of seeing life’s journey as a process
• To assist clients in engaging more deeply with their own lives – taking on the task of 'authenticity'

If you know therapists, perhaps you could make them aware of this post or the website where there is further discussion of the topic. If you are a therapist yourself, well, voila! :-)

It becomes increasingly clear that readers are finding BECOMING valuable and rewarding on their personal journeys, and this additional use may be another way to expand the circles of awareness, reflection, and growth.

In gratitude for our interconnections, mutual enrichment, and with joy and pleasure in the shared journey,

Jill

WHO AM I...

and why am I here? How long do I have? What’s it all about?

Most of us grapple with big questions like these at some time in our lives. Even more so during transitions or times of crisis: moves, challenges in our work situation, our or our children’s lives, the death of loved a one, illness....

The beginning of a new year is also a time when many of us reflect on our lives, and it’s good so. There’s much to be gained by viewing and reviewing our journeys. Important too that this be without blame or judgement, of ourselves or others. No inner critic needed here!

There’s a bumper sticker that says, “Maybe the Hokey Pokey is what it’s all about!” I do chuckle whenever I see it on a car’s tail end. Lightness is also a quality that serves us well as we travel. It can invite us to go deeper. When I see that bumper sticker I take a deep breath, come into myself and return to the present moment – not always where I was!

A useful tool in reflecting on our journeys is to consider our parents’ lives. Carl Jung has said, “Nothing has a stronger influence on children that the unlived lives of their parents.” Two essays in BECOMING, ‘Being Alone’ and Finding My Niche’ explore this context and conclude with some probing questions: What do you see as your mother’s ‘unfinished business? What might this mean to and for you? How have your father’s choices affected your life? How might it be useful for you to address these issue in your life now?

BECOMING on line has a Search Inside feature now :-) If you’re inclined, go to Amazon and have a look. Better yet, consider a copy of your own as an invitation and accompaniment for your own reflections for 2010. There’s ordering information on the website.

Here’s another rich resource: Eckhart Tolle’s bestseller, A New Earth: Awakening to your Life’s Purpose, Chapter 7 starts with these words: "Know Thyself. What those words imply is this: Before you ask any other question, first ask the most fundamental question of your life: Who am I?" Tolle suggests to “Sit in silence and internally repeat, ‘Who am I?’ ‘Who am I?’ ‘Who am I?’ Be still and listen. Repeat the question and listen again in the silence. What did you experience? How was the question ‘Who am I?’ answered?”

Maybe you’ll come across the Hokey Pokey! Probably not :-)

I welcome your comments on this blog, and would be pleased if you tell someone about the blog and website if you find them useful.