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| Wild Flowers in the Andes Mountains, Ecuador 2012 |
Loving-kindness is where we turn our attention inwards, we think and feel our environment and learn to love ourselves in a selfless way. After learning to love ourselves, we can truly share that love with others. Taking time everyday to promote these thoughts of loving-kindness to those around us is a great start to a higher state of consciousness.
I have had experiences with this myself this week. One of my patients in the Psychiatric
Hospital I work in has been sharing her haunting past with me. Story by story, I begin to understand
the faded look in her eye as I realize that her happiness, hope and life itself
have been robbed from her since she was a young child; it has left her with the restless
and disturbed mind that she battles today.
I have been taking parts of my days to focus on her and send
her my good thoughts, positive energy, loving-kindness, confidence, health and
joy. I do not know how it is affecting
her. She knows it is happening and
I can see that she feels special just to have someone remember her. It is affecting me. I feel less disturbed and tired when I talk
to her. I am learning how to
listen but not carry the weight around with me. And, I am beginning to make a habit out of sending her my positive
thoughts.
I would recommend this to others. I do not know how it is affecting the woman mentally. She is happy that I am making time for her everyday. For myself, personally, it is very worth it because of the sense of calm and clarity that it has brought to my life.
I would recommend this to others. I do not know how it is affecting the woman mentally. She is happy that I am making time for her everyday. For myself, personally, it is very worth it because of the sense of calm and clarity that it has brought to my life.
That is a wonderful story Stephanie! I too have had experiences with people with mental clarity issues. There is always 2 sides of the story...always. The story of a psych patient is seldom heard, they are just grouped up as crazy people that need to stay on their medications to remain at a socially "acceptable" behavior. This may be the best way to treat certain individuals but not all. Many of these people did not start out with these mental challenges but instead the challenges were created by past experiences. Most of these experiences are locked away in their minds and will never be revealed, it is a very sad thing. People come from all sorts of backgrounds and situations. The sad part about it is that many caretakers of these individuals do not take the time to understand their patients; thank you Stephanie for taking to time to care, it is not an easy thing to do.
ReplyDeleteBradly Leis
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I read your blog. Reading your story almost broke my heart, but then I became uplifed because you were showing someone who is struggling with her own life moment of peace, even if just for a moment. You giving her the chance to talk without being judged is the best gift you can give her, you truely practice loving-kindness everyday.
I struggled with the thoughts of not being able to pull myself together to release my inner emotions to get through these relaxing sessions, to find loving-kindness within myself and after reading your story, I realize that I do that everyday and that makes me feel a bit better about myself.I work with disabled young adults and I give them my all everyday. I help them work through there problems whether it be home or self related. I teach them daily life skills so that they wont have to be so dependant on there parents. I am so proud of what I do and I love everyday that much more! Thank you for sharing your story.