Serenity's Hope Inspirational Archives

9/22/01

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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
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                              ( /<>\ )   Serenity's
                               ( / \/ \ )            Hope :)
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                                 ~~~
                  Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
There is a kind of truth I call noetic truth, which is a feeling of
absolute inner certainty that something is true in the absence of
concrete proof.

-- William James
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Seeing Through The Eyes of Christ

When you practice seeing through the eyes of
Christ, these are the first things that happen:

Judge not, lest you be judged. That's the first
one. Don't judge. Whatever you see, you see it
clearly, purely, as an experience, an expression
for that Soul to evolve and grow -- and that's
exactly what it is. The Soul will evolve and
grow, even in the most adverse situations.

I've evolved more in adversity than I ever did out
of blissful love.

The second thing is to forgive.

No judgments -- forgiveness.

And the third thing is to forget it.

That's living right now in this moment of God's
consciousness, in Christ that is in everybody.

-- John-Roger
From: Forgiveness, The Key to the Kingdom
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Thinking is when your mouth stays shuts and your
head keeps talking to itself.   -- unknown

We need quiet times in order to develop peace and serenity
in our lives. We spend most of our days speaking or being
spoken to. It's important to set aside time to speak to ourselves.
We need to speak to ourselves gently and honestly each day.
We need to spend quality time with ourselves to keep in
touch with who we are and where we're headed.

A diver takes the time for a deep breath and a quiet moment
before he goes into the water, and so it is for us before we
jump from one activity to the next. In this way, we can honor
ourselves and our actions by offering respect for what we've
just done and for what we're about to do.

From the book "Our Best Days"
by Sally Coleman , Nancy Hull-Mast
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
It has to start someplace, it has to start some time,
what better place than here, what better time than now.

-- Mellow Yellow
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
There is a choice you have to make,
In everything you do.
And you must always keep in mind,
The choice you make, makes you.

-- Author Unknown
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
-Mark 11:24

The answer to the prayer is in the prayer when it is uttered or thought.
-The Science of Mind, page 436

Answered Prayer
Often our prayers are answered, but we are too busy thinking and trying to
make logical sense of things to notice. Have you ever been short of money,
and then found a ten-dollar bill in the pocket of a pair of pants? Did you
say, "Thank you, God, for placing that money in my pocket in answer to my
prayer," or did you start trying to figure out when you last wore the pants
and how you left money there? We have a tendency to try to come up with
every explanation except answered prayer. The miracle, the commonplace
miracle, is that God is constantly answering our prayers in ways small and
large; these answers defy logic.

What if a relative were diagnosed with a serious illness and asked you to
pray? Suppose that later there was no trace of symptoms. The logical mind
wants to agree with the doctors that they made a mistake in the first place.
But no! Prayer works. The prayer revealed the perfection. Prayer heals. What
about that car that almost hit your car and you cried, "Oh,God!" Then the
car missed you, but you don't see how. Don't try to figure it out. It isn't
logical. It's answered prayer. Give thanks.
Start paying attention to your daily life. When a problem is resolved, don't
try to figure out what you or some other person did to resolve it. Notice
the answered prayer. Thank God. As you do this, your faith will grow. As you
pray in faith, believing, the answers will become more and more apparent,
allowing you to develop greater and greater trust.

I give thanks for the infinite grace of God. I pray in faith, believing, and
I rest in trust.

-- Christy Engels, RScP
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"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition
from mediocre minds."

-- Albert Einstein
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The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of
arms, but in mutual trust alone.

-- Pope John XXIII
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Calling All Angels
by Marie T. Russell

I just saw the movie "Pay It Forward" which I had missed when it first came
out in the movie theatres. Paying it forward... What a powerful concept! If
you haven't seen this movie, please do! (Or read the book.)

Everyone should see this film or at least be exposed to the concept. In case
you don't get a chance to see the movie, let me share the premise with you.

Paying it forward is a method of passing on a favor that has been done for
you -- but rather than "paying back" the person that did you the favor, you
"pay it forward" -- you do a big favor for three other people. It is a Ponzi
or pyramid "scheme" you might say, but with the goal of changing our world,
three people at a time.

So we start with each one of us individually. You start (and I start) by
doing three people a really big favor, a life-changing favor, something that
the person can't do for themselves. Then that person is "required" to "pay
it forward". In other words, rather than "pay you back" for the favor, they
"pay it forward" to three other people. If every person pays it forward to
three other people, and each of those people also do a favor for three
others, it grows exponentially. Your part is not complete until three of the
people that you have helped have agreed (after they're "received" your
favor) to "pay it forward".

When his classmates express that this idea is "crazy" or in the words of his
teacher "utopian", Trevor responds "So?" In other words, yes it is a vision
of a perfect world... "So?" Every project has to start someplace... You've
heard the expression I'm sure: "Rome wasn't built in a day." Well, changing
the world also doesn't happen in a day, but it must start with one step, and
then another, and another. But we must start somewhere... And where do we
start?

In the movie, "Pay It Forward", a school teacher (played by Kevin Spacey)
gives his 7th grade students an assignment... they are to find a way to
change the world... And "paying it forward" is the concept of a 12 year old
child (played by Haley Joel Osment) who later believes his project has
failed because his three "favors" did not "succeed", at least in his eyes.

He sees paying it forward as a way to not only help people, but to "fix a
person"... and he feels the people he helped were not "fixed"... but, we
cannot judge the effect of our one action. Each action has repercussions out
into the Universe that we may have no idea are taking place (as we see in
the movie).

When you help someone, or give love (a smile or gratitude) to a tired store
clerk, that energy makes a difference, and that difference then affects
whoever else the person will touch... One person at a time... We don't know
where our one action, or our one smile, or our one good deed will lead. We
may not see the change, but like ripples in a pond after a small pebble is
thrown in, the change continues and expands and spreads out and out.

Just think of it... If each one of you reading this did one "big" thing to
help someone, to help transform their life... something they couldn't do on
their own (we don't want to enable co-dependency, but rather give someone a
chance for a new start...) If each of our 20,000 subscribers helped three
people that would be 60,000 people. Then when those 60,000 people "paid it
forward" to three each, that would be 180,000... then again to 540,000...
then again to 1,620,000... then again to 4,860,000... then again to
14,580,000... And that's just 6 "generations" reaching over 14 million
people... That's awesome! And think of this same concept applied to your
workplace, your family, everyone you encounter...

The film ends (no I won't tell you the ending) with a song "Calling All
Angels"... calling all of us, all of us who are angels in human form to come
forward and participate in this world-changing experience. We are all here
with a purpose... and whatever that individual purpose, it is part of a
greater purpose of healing ourselves and the world... Changing the world one
person at a time... starting of course with ourselves.

So, I'm calling all angels! Yes, that's you. Let's start paying attention as
12 year old Trevor tells us... start paying attention to what people need...
And then, let's be there... Let us take action and make a difference...
anytime we can, even when there is "nothing in it for us"... Even when it is
not expected of us... Even when we don't even know the person that we will
be helping... Even when we will have no chance of personal reward or
recognition...

Pay it forward... Help the people you come across... Life-changing events or
not... Hold a door open for someone... Give someone a hand... Smile at a
store clerk and mean it! Whatever you can do to help spread the force of
Love, do it! If you want to, make it a plan to do three "small" favors a
day... Giving a helping hand to someone, letting someone who looks stressed
get ahead of you in line at the checkout counter, letting someone cut ahead
of you in traffic instead of stepping on the gas, sending love to someone
instead of impatience... Let your heart guide you... Do things for people...
Give love a chance...

We can also put 12-year-old Trevor's idea in action... Do something "big"
for someone and pass it on... Let us all pass it on... Let's express the
love that we know is needed by us, and by others... Let's empower ourselves
and others... Let's be angels for the others we meet... Let us be the Spirit
in action that we are... Let's "pay it forward"... Let's pass on the Love...
Let's be the change that we want to see in the world. Is it time to stop
complaining about how terrible the world is, and time to start doing
something about it? ...one person at a time...

Together we can do it... Each one of us at a time spreading the love and the
light... Calling all Angels!
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ

9/23/01

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                             ( \ ( ) / )
                              ( /<>\ )   Serenity's
                               ( / \/ \ )            Hope :)
                                /      \
                                (      )
                                 ~~~
                  Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
There is a place to which you can turn
for rest and release from fear and care.
It is a holy place. Stillness fills it.
The peace of God is in it.
There your mind becomes like a little
child's, lovely and true and pure.
There your thought is stayed on the things
that are good and just and merciful.
When you enter, the world outside and
all your troubles drop away and you rise at
last, body stilled, mind stilled, refreshed and
restored.

-- James Dillet Freeman
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Realize that in this very moment you have everything
you could possibly need or want for right now. Settle
your spirit into the confidence and assurance
which that thought engenders.

-- Ralph Marston
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him. But once
they are in hand, he alone must decide how to play the cards in
order to win the game."

-- Voltaire
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
What can you do TODAY...this very moment?

A central teaching in most spiritual traditions is:
What you wish to experience, provide for another.

Look to see, now, what it is you wish to experience
in your own life, and in the world. Then see if there
is another for whom you may be the source of that.

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.

If you wish to know that you are safe, cause another to
know that they are safe.

If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible
things, help another to better understand.

If you wish to heal your own sadness or anger, seek to heal
the sadness or anger of another.

Those others are waiting for you now. They are looking to
you for guidance, for help, for courage, for strength, for
understanding, and for assurance at this hour. Most of all,
they are looking to you for love.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

-- Dalai Lama
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing
God's gift of Himself.

-- Mother Teresa
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
When the power of love overcomes the love of power
the world will know peace.

-- Jimmy Hendrix
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"Life Is..."

Life is happening, love it.
Life is love, feel it.
Life is spirit, nurture it.
Life is laughter, enjoy it.
Life is happiness, strive for it.
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is people, protect it.
Life is life, just love it.

-- John Ahem
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Peace is possible. Each moment that one individual
chooses peace inside, the whole of humanity moves
forward. We each have the ability and
responsibility to become peacemakers in our daily
lives.

-- John Morton
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How to Cope with 'Terrorism Sickness'

Clarissa Pinkola Est駸 makes the point that the real purpose of terrorism
is not only to cause physical destruction, it is to cause destruction in
our hearts and souls. In this sense, every American is a front-line
soldier in this war, and we have just come out of a punishing battle.

The guide she has created is filled with genuine, useful advice, and as
such is an important weapon for our side. Do not assume that you don't
need it. You do. We all do. Use it.

Healing Terrorism Sickness

-- In terrorism, the numbers of persons affected are huge; terrorism is
*meant* to affect thousands and millions of people --all at the same
time. Most think terrorists' main aim is to kill people and destroy
installations. This is only secondary. (Yes, I know that sounds
unbelievable, but it is so.)

The main goal of terrorism is "intentional trauma" to the living. The
murder and mayhem are SECONDARY goals.

-- The concept of doing ongoing psychic injury to thousands and millions
"all at the same time" is an important tactic of terrorists. Terrorists
understand, if only in their diseased unconscious's, that accomplishing
such will unleash a greater communicable and spreading "psychic
infection" than any biological or germ warfare could ever hope to
achieve.

-- This "infection" that terrorists hope to circulate is that of innocent
persons becoming afraid of life, afraid of the future; of causing people
to put off the living of life, to move in ways that are far less than
their previous free selves. The effect of living in such a crouch hurts
the human spirit and heart. The main goal of terrorism is "intentional
psychological trauma." Murder and mayhem are only secondary and sometimes
even tertiary goals.

-- Terrorism is willful psychological assault; a conscious and planned
assault against the minds and hearts and spirits of a large group of
persons. I repeat this only if it be necessary to press past the reader's
ego's resistance to this hideous truth: In terrorism, murder and mayhem
are secondary to this primary goal of ruining the hearts and hopes of
others. This is partly why terrorism is difficult to comprehend by
reasoned minds as anything but the most grotesque form of manifest evil.
We can barely conceive of thinking to psychically injure others so.

-- There are other secondary goals to terrorism. Any and all of them are
the sickest imaginable. But the above is how terrorists seek to cast
their net of "sickness" over all survivors and victims, over the
living--- by trying to deprive you of esperanza, fullest and freely felt
Hope. By trying to limit your libre, your Freedom, your living life as a
completely free person, shoulders proud, head up, mind on goodness and
love for all and pleasures that bring peace and happiness.

There are many ways to cut through this net....

The "post-trauma recovery list" contains the central ways to proceed.
Here are some additional which are very specific: It is peculiar to find
how strongly that poisonous net holds when one is unaware of what it is
made of, and how easily it falls apart when one consciously begins to
contradict its malicious urgings:

-- refuse to dwell on what psychically depletes you of hope, contentment
and ease. During post-trauma times, sometimes an extremely difficult or
disheartening set of thoughts attach themselves to us; almost like a gang
cruising around looking to harass someone. Terrorists are counting on
this to happen to many. Refuse this set of thoughts. Use the discipline
of your mind. Say to them, "f-off! and I mean it!" If you are an old
believer like me, it is as effective to assert, "Get thee behind me!" My
grandmother used to say, "Just because someone presents you with a dog
poop on a pretty plate doesn't mean you have to eat it."

--Dwell in what strengthens you. For some it is reading, others physical
activity, others, crafts. There are so many things and combinations of
things. Remember, what brings you peace tends to be the same as what
strengthens you.

-- Clean up your kitchen around food especially, (time to give your body
what it needs for its equilibrium and best strength now) . Do not assault
your own body by making it work extra hard to throw off toxins now.

--rest (real rest, even if only a few hours at night, even if, like many
are, awakening many times in the night, do not entertain "bad thoughts,"
do not allow yourself to fall into a pit of them. Think instead of the
greatest beauty and love you know, discipline your mind to stay with
those images; they are medicine for what has hurt you. The key words are
'practice discipline.' If you do not know how to discipline your mind,
think of how you train a beloved dog to stay and heel.) Proceed.

--insofar as you are able, pick your endeavors carefully. Now is an
opportunity to drop various endeavors that deplete you or to join up with
people/matters/groups that invigorate.

-- refuse to think you are less able than you were last week. You are not
less. regardless of flaws, quirks or wobbles--you are in soul, actually
more shining than you were a week ago.

-- with regard to goodness and things that are good for you and others,
do what you always do. Do not cease goodness or pleasures that bring
good.

--continue to implement life dreams. If you don't have one, you're
overdue. Get out your thinking cap.

--use your intuition to guide you through these days. It will not fail
you. Some call this great gift that every person possesses--insight, some
call it 'sense," some like us old believers, call it guardian
Angel--which for me incidentally is no small little feathery thing
flapping around, but more--sort of like a fierce-gentle Guido with wings.
(grin.)

NORMAL REACTIONS TO LOSS, INJURY, AND CATASTROPHE. Over a period of time
you may find yourself having one or all of the following reactions. These
are normal reactions to the kind of experience you have had:

Physical Reactions: - Fatigue. - Inability to sleep. - Sleeping too much.
- Exhaustion. - Changes in appetite, digestive disturbances. - Feeling
numb. - Crying. - Need for Comfort.

Behavioral Reactions: - Hyperactivity. - Poor concentration. - Inability
to attach importance to anything but this event. - Flashbacks. -
Nightmares. - Recurrent dreams. - Inability to remember. - Refusing to
talk. - Feeling one should not cry. - Startle reactions while awake or
asleep. - Isolating, wanting to be alone. - Wanting to just sit, or just
stare.

Psychological Reactions: - Feelings of fear. - Feelings of guilt. -
Feelings of helplessness. - Feeling one cannot stop crying. - Anger,
which may cause the blaming of others, outbursts. - Frustration with
rescue workers, the bureaucracy, anyone who tries to help. - Ongoing
violent fantasies. - Anxiety. - Depression. - Amnesia. - Thinking no one
can ever understand, no one can ever help. - Blaming oneself.

These are NORMAL reactions, and although painful, are part of the healing
process. There is not a lot anyone can do to make you not experience
these feelings, but they will recede if you will take the following
actions:

ACTIONS TO TAKE FOR RECOVERY. Within the first 24-48 hours, do strenuous
exercise coupled with relaxation. This will alleviate some of the
physical reactions.

Keep busy, do not sit and do nothing. You are having a NORMAL reaction,
do not tell yourself that you have lost your mind.

Talk to people - talk is the most healing thing you can do. Talk it out.
You may have to tell your story over and over again, many, many times
before it loses much of its pain. Each time you tell your story and
receive someone's caring, you will be healing yourself.

Try not to cover up your feelings by withdrawing or by using alcohol.
Talk your feelings out. As many times as you need to. There is no shame
or selfishness in this. You have been through alot.

Reach out to others. They really do care.

Spend time with others. Do not isolate yourself. Ask other people how
they are doing. Remember they may be shy to tell a stranger of their
burden.

Remember, each person telling their story over and over is the way to
heal.

In the ensuing days, find things to do that feel rewarding or refreshing.
These need not be big things, but things to balance the tragedy you have
been through.

When you feel bad, find a person to talk to, and to cry with, to tell of
your anger and other helpless feelings. Don't keep it inside.

Your spiritual beliefs will definitely help you through.

You definitely will be able to help yourself and others better if you
will cleanse your feelings and accept caring from others.

We all wish to be brave and strong in the face of disaster. We all wish
to be looked up to for our endurance and our efforts to help others. If
you truly care for humanity, include yourself in their numbers, by giving
your own inner feelings the voice and the dignity they so deeply deserve.

ｩ1999 C.P. Est駸
http://www.unknowncountry.com/mindframe/opinion/

Thank you so much for sharing this Pirjo! :)
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ

9/24/01

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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
                             (\          /)
                            ( \   __   / )
                             ( \ ( ) / )
                              ( /<>\ )   Serenity's
                               ( / \/ \ )            Hope :)
                                /      \
                                (      )
                                 ~~~
                  Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
In the path of your happiness shall you find the learning for
which you have chosen this lifetime.

-- Richard Bach
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
"True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable."

-- Dave Tyson Gentry
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It's an
actual fact that if you've been moping in unhappiness, you
can choose to be joyous instead and, by effort, lift
yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can
overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. Even in
darkest grief you have a choice.

The whole trend and quality of anyone's life is determined
in the long run by the choices that are made.

-- Norman Vincent Peale
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
Every man in his lifetime needs to thank his faults.
- Emerson, Compensation

A normal healthy mind reflects itself in a healthy body. Thoughts are
things.
- The Science of Mind, page 144

Healthy and Happy

What a dynamic duo of words! These two words describe our natural
inheritance and condition, contrary to the evidence otherwise. All one has
to do is watch young children at play to see the demonstration of "healthy
and happy." They express enthusiasm, playfulness, spontaneity, and vitality
as a way of being. They are great examples for us. I recall in my job as a
principal going out on the playground to watch the children play and soon
being in the middle of the play. It was so healthy.

Our thoughts determine whether we express as healthy and happy, because our
thoughts are our creation tools. Each thought is creative, not just some
thoughts. We have all heard the expression that happiness is a state of
mind. What else could it be? Events do not create happiness for us. It is
our choice to be happy, regardless of the circumstances. Some of you might
be saying, "But you don't know my circumstances." No, I don't; however, the
gift is always there. None of us enjoys going through the challenging phases
of our lives, but I am convinced that these are the times in which we grow
ourselves the most.

Referencing Emerson's statement above, I do give thanks for my faults, as
they have been the impetus for much growth in my life. Now, when faced with
a challenge, I give thanks in advance for the gift contained within.

I am healthy and happy, now and always. I recognize that I am in charge of
my life. I make conscious choices that foster a healthy and happy life. I
see the good in all. I bless all adversities and faults; I know Spirit grows
me through them.

-- Rev. Vern Martin
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
"The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings.
It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike.
It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering,
it is also full of the overcoming of it."

-- Helen Keller
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
"There is no better opportunity to receive more than to
be thankful for what you already have. Thanksgiving
opens the windows of opportunity for ideas to flow your
way."

-- Zig Ziglar
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
     We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building
     We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes
We become one people.

We are
     One color
     One class
     One generation
     One gender
     One faith
     One language
     One body
     One family
     One soul
     One people

We are     The Power of One.
We are     United.
We are     The World.

-- Cheryl Sawyer
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
"Whatever is expressed, is impressed. Whatever you say
to yourself, with emotion, generates thoughts, ideas
and behaviors consistent with those words."

-- Brian Tracy
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ
TRANSFORMING TRAUMA LIKE THE PHOENIX

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

In Egyptian mythology, the phoenix is a lone, beautiful bird that
lived in the Arabian Desert for over 500 years. The bird finally
consumed itself in fire, only to rise renewed from the ashes to begin
another long life. The phoenix is used as a symbol of immortality
because of its transformational triumph over the ashes of death and
moving on to a renewed life.

As I write today, Thursday, September 13, 2001, there are thousands
of people who have been traumatized by the attack on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. Not only innocent people have been killed,
but also those who have devoted their lives to helping others live! I
write this column in honor of those who have died. I write it in
support of their loved ones who have survived. I write it for all of us
whose lives will never be the same.

     There are millions of people alive today, who have not only
survived tragedies, and traumatic losses, they have transformed these
experiences into triumphant victories. In so doing, they themselves
became transformed. They, like the phoenix, rose up from the ashes of
their shattered lives. They began again, transformed by their own
personal crisis.

Today, most all of us are dealing with this devastating trauma.
Not all of us will manage to create victory out of defeat. Most of us
have experienced serious disease, unexpected death, chronic pain, the
loss of a loved one, or the shattering of hopes, dreams and
expectations. Perhaps all of us have confronted crises which seemed
unbearable. There are some who are facing such an unthinkable crisis
today. How can we know what the normal process of handling trauma is
like? The usual or "normal" process of moving through personal crisis
involves at least some or all of the following phases. These phases
may last a minute or they may last a very long time. They do NOT have
to last a lifetime.

Shock, denial and disbelief characterize the earliest phase of
responding to a trauma. Physical shock results from physical trauma.
Psychological shock from mental or emotional trauma such as this
"attack on America." We usually need to deny the painful event, at
least temporarily, in order to "gear ourselves up" for facing the
traumatic or painful event.

What follows the initial shock and denial is a necessary
preoccupation with oneself. The traumatized victim may be totally
absorbed with sadness, vivid memories, and sweet, sorrowful or angry
remembrances. Sometimes this mental preoccupation seems to make us
forgetful, unable to concentrate, and may even result in the
occurrence of awkward accidents. One "just can't think" of anything
else but the trauma or loss. All routine activities seem "trite." We
want to focus our attention exclusively on the traumatic event. We do
this order to begin to "take in" the scope of the traumatic events.

The next psychological phase is one of anxiety and/or anger. We
may feel unsafe ourselves. We may become angry (outraged) at the pain
and loss associated with the trauma. Thoughts and feelings of guilt,
regret, sometimes self-blame occur. This phase is characterized by
thoughts like, "I should have done more (less, differently)." We may
engage so intensely in "wishful thinking" that we make the pain worse.
In this phase, the desire to protest the traumatizing event is a
common, if unfruitful need. During this phase thoughts of vengeance
and retaliation emerge.

One may experience rapid fluctuations in emotions ranging from
almost euphoria and excitement, to the depths of lethargy, sadness and
depression. Such an "emotional roller coaster" may occur you at
unexpected moments.

Physical symptoms such as anxiety, sleeplessness, bodily aches and
pains, loss of appetite, depression and other stress-related symptoms
often occur. You just don't feel like doing anything! Eating becomes
unthinkable. Sleeping only seems to bring on uncomfortable dreams or
nightmares. In an attempt to "hold yourself together," muscular
tension intensifies, creating more pain. You may experience a loss of
interest in activities you once found exciting and pleasurable. You
may feel the need to socially withdraw especially from those whom you
knew before the trauma or loss.

After we have adequately protested or mourned the way things are
now following the crisis, we need to acknowledge that "things will
never be the same again." Our lives will never be as we thought them
to be prior to the trauma. And ever so gradually, we begin to set out
to make the best of the ashes. We need to leave behind what is no
more, cling to what remains and needs to be carried with us, and learn
to distinguish between those two. It is during this phase that we may
become very active. We want to "do something." We want to take
action. We usually take action in the name of "never letting
something like this ever happen again."

     Now I want to consider how to transform traumatic events in our
lives so we can indeed, like the mythical phoenix, rise from the ashes
created by trauma and return to living a victorious life.

     Surround yourself with friends, family members, and people who
genuinely care. Critical to the strength we need to transform our
battered lives, is the awareness that there are other human beings
whom we can trust during the time of our greatest vulnerability. Like
the newborn infant, we have never lived this "new life" born of the
trauma we have experienced. We are dependent on others in our new
world to help us, guide us, show us how to live again. We need to
trust those around us to be caring, supportive, honest and worthy of
our vulnerable and dependent trust. Normalize your daily routine as
soon as possible. Make regular contact with friends a part of that
routine.

     In addition to having loving people around you when you're
living after trauma, begin to develop certain healing attitudes within
yourself. You will certainly undergo the grieving process complete
with all its fear, anger, protestations, helplessness, sadness,
depression, denial and disbelief. But when you are ready, and not
before, you may begin to adopt some of the following healing
attitudes.

     Determine that you will not be defeated by the trauma. If you
are still alive, you have what it takes to become victorious. It may
take time. It most certainly will require effort. But you simply
will not allow yourself to be overcome with the aftermath of this
crisis.

     Take full advantage of any and all available opportunities. If
someone offers you a gift, a hug, help, a favor, good advice, a
helpful suggestion....TAKE IT! Don't be silently proud. Be aware of
your own vulnerability and your need to receive from others. Allow
others to do whatever they are offering to help. Allow yourself to be
cared for.

     Realize there is still time for you. Vividly examine the
future. It is terribly difficult to imagine a future for yourself
after a trauma. But there is one, and you can pretty much respond to
it in any way you choose. Picture in your mind the kind of future you
want. Keep that picture in your mind's eye and imagine it often,
especially when you are feeling helpless or hopeless.

     Avoid assuming the posture of "victim." Don't engage in
self-damaging behavior to make yourself a victim You may not be in
control of what happened to you. But you certainly can learn to be in
control of how you respond to it. You can choose how to respond to
your life now that it has changed so dramatically... never to be the
same again.

     Practice talking to yourself in self-affirming ways. Engage in
positive "self-talk." Say things like: "I can do it." "I am not
going to let this event destroy my life." "I am learning and growing
from this event." "I am in charge of how I live from this moment on."
"I will find a way to get what I want and need." "I accept my life
as it is now and all it has to offer."

     Remain willing to grow and expand your awareness. Compassion
is often born of pain and trauma. Those who have turned trauma into
triumph almost always look back on the traumatic event and appreciate
it for how it helped them to become healthier, to rearrange their
values, to become stronger and more vital, to become more loving.

     Accept that pain is an integral part of being alive. Pain is a
great motivator. It is a great teacher. It is certainly an
"attention-grabber." Use the pain-generated energy to change your life
in positive ways. Look for personal value and meaning in the
traumatic event and its aftermath.

     You probably did nothing to actually invite nor survive
Tuesday's trauma. But if you have survived, you are now confronted
with the greatest challenge of a lifetime...using the trauma to
transform your life! Like the Phoenix, you are challenged to
transform your trauma into greater awareness...into greater aliveness!
That is perhaps the greatest purpose of being alive in the first
place!

I wish you love as you begin the transformational process.
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ｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯｯ

9/25/01

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