“One cannot
lead another where one has not gone himself.” What does this statement mean to
me and how can I apply it to my life through, health and wellness and for my
patients? I think this applies to doctors who try to tell you to lose weight or
go on a diet when they are overweight themselves. That’s like me telling my
patients to floss, or to quit smoking if I don’t do these things myself. I
think that psychologically, physically and spiritually you can’t expect someone
to follow your advice and instructions if you haven’t gone there or help yourself
in these aspects of you own life.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Aesclepius
This week’s
exercise was meeting Aesclepius and in this exercise I was to think about a
loved one living or dead. I thought about my friend and co-worker Lynette who was
killed in a car accident 2 years ago. When I visualized the light coming from
her throat I visualized it as her trying to reach out to me and tell me everything’s
is alright. When I visualized the light
coming from her heart to mine it made me miss her even more and it actually
brought tears to my eyes. When the light traveled down my body it made me feel
like she was still with me and it made me remember the last time we went
camping together and the last day at work before she died. It also made my heart
smile because I knew she was in a better place and that she will always be with
me in my heart. I can continue to us this practice in my life when work gets so
bad and I start to miss her.
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Do you feel that the Aesclepius practice can assist you in other areas in your life besides when you are missing your friend? I found that the Aesciepius practice to be very difficult. I was not able to picture anyone in my mind that I could focus on. When I tried to make up a person like the exercise suggested I found that I was spending too much time on trying to create someone that did not exist. I finally was able to visualize a Buddha but still could not focus on this image. I think because the ‘person’ in my mind was not real, I could not relate to it.
ReplyDeleteI am happy that you were able to get a benefit out of this week’s exercise. Would you try the exercise again and this time focus on another individual? Do you think that you would have a similar or different experience if you focused on another person for this exercise?
I would offer this exercise to my clients because they might be able to find this exercise a benefit to them. Just because a specific exercise does not work for me does not mean that my clients will have the same experience that I had. I believe that if only one client could gain a benefit from this exercise, then it was worth sharing with them.
Good luck to you on your spiritual and meditative journey.
Nicki,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you understand the neccesity of living what you expect your patients to do. I feel that that is one of the most understated parts of the health profession.
As a personal trainer, I feel that the fact that I was formerly obese plays a huge roll in my professional success. My clients know that I go through the same struggles that they do and have been able to over come them. The fact that I have walked the path are currently on gives them re-assurance and also makes me feel more confident in my abilities to guid them. Many trainers are naturaly fit with little real experiance (we call them clip board holders). They tend to come off the wrong way to people who are struggling with their weight.
Of course this can go without saying for any profession. Dont ask people to do things you are not willing to do yourself.
Nicki,
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to view this exercise. I honestly wise that I would have read your post before I did this exercise and I know I am going to do it again. I think that it is so cool that you found that connection with your friend and the light to view that see is telling you that she is ok. I think that some of life’s biggest fears come from when you lose someone that you are close to and love. I think it is during this time that people question more about life and if one would incorporate meditation and or exercises like these one might find a sense of ease to lose (not answers) to help them stay calm and still love life and others. I think that your suggestion or claim about this is so important and really helpful for me and for my patients that are dealing with lose.
I also could not agree with you more about doctors and telling you what to do and they are in the same or worse physical and or mental shape then you are. There is nothing more discouraging then someone that is trying to tell you to change but is not even close to a role model in that aspect. One has to walk the walk before he or she can talk the talk.
Great post and thank you for your inspiring words,
Melissa
Hello Nicki,
ReplyDeleteIt seems you had a great experience with the practice. It was good to experience those feelings so you can bring back relive memories that you once had of the loved one. My experience with the practice was okay. However I could not get the image to come into my mind to visualize. I think my problem was that I had two people in mind and my focus was a little weak. I think the focus of the person needed to be stronger. I experienced this with the practice with the visualizing colors. So, I am thinking my focus was disrupted by something whether it was a noise or some other distraction. I glad you experience was good.
Nicki,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your co-worker but this exercise I believe was a great way for you to connect with her. Although it is hard when we lose someone close we have to remember the great qualities about that. The ones that made you laugh and smile and just had a great time.
I lllooovvveee your comment about over weight doctors telling you to lose weight!!! I just want to look them in the face and say "really it's that easy ok...." I gain a bit much when I was pregnant with my son and my female doctor would also tell me I need to go on a diet and not eat as much and this and that but it was hard I was hungry all the time. Needless to say every visit I was told I gain too much again......and the worse part was she was not a skinny mini either. I don't know how they can tell us what to do when they can't even do it themselves.
Thank you for sharing your experience and glad you were able to focus on a close friend of your and connect with them.
Suzanne
Thank You everyone for your great input and ideas. They are very helpful. Thanks Nicki
ReplyDelete