I've recently experienced a disappointment related to my business. Disappointment is another emotion (the first being anger, as I've talked about before) that can result from something not meeting your expectations. Even if your goals and expectations are reasonable, life is still bound not to go your way at some point or another and disappointment is a perfectly natural result.
Like most emotions, there is nothing wrong with disappointment itself. I think that a problem occurs when a person does not move past a disappointment. The larger the disappointment not dealt with, the larger the problem it can create in your life. When you live your present life within the shadow of a past disappointment, the disappointment is not dealt with and can contribute to disease physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
So when you experience that near inevitable disappointment, how do you deal with it? Being disappointed about something should serve as an indication that whatever is concerned is something that was important to you. Acknowledging that fact will help you understand your feelings. Also, don't be afraid of expressing your disappointment in whatever way you feel is appropriate - writing in a journal, talking to a friend, or maybe having a little cry.
For me, the greatest help in dealing with my disappointments, large or small, is my faith. My faith means that I know that what I am experiencing contains a lesson for me. That might mean that there is something I need to do differently in the future or that there is a better opportunity coming. It might mean something else altogether, but there is a meaning somewhere. When I'm ready to let go of a disappointment, I turn my thoughts to what I'm grateful for in my life. The things I am grateful for are the things I have been led to, and all the disappointments of my life have probably contributed in some way or another to what I am grateful for. Each disappointment is another contribution to something I will be grateful for in the future.
It's never too late to deal with your past disappointments. It may mean reliving some pain but with the help of your faith it may also mean healing in any number of ways. Work on strengthening your faith and gratitude to help you deal with your disappointment. Are there any disappointments you are ready to release?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Detecting Hand Energy
In energy healing, healers believe they can sense other people's energy with their hands as they work. I've already discussed that I believe that people have energy fields (see here), but is it possible for people to be aware of other people's energy fields?
Scientists at the University of Arizona have conducted multiple experiments to test this question.[1] Subjects, mostly college students, were blindfolded and asked to sit in a chair with hands out and palms facing up. Another person holds his or her dominant hand over one of the subjects' hands for about half a minute and the subject must guess where the other person's hand is. Subjects were also asked to say whether they had guessed correctly or not.[1] How do you think the subjects did?
Statistically, if the subjects were not able to detect the other person, they should still be able to guess the correct answer 50% of the time. In one experiment, subjects were 59% accurate, and in a larger second experiment, subjects were 70% accurate.[1] These results are statistically significant, meaning that the results are due to something other than chance. In both experiments, the subjects thought they had done worse than they actually had.[1]
Another interesting thing to come out of the experiments was that it appeared that some individual subjects seemed consistently more able to detect the other person's hand than other subjects. The subjects could be divided into 4 groups based on ability: poor (42% average detection), low (58% average detection), medium (70% average detection), and high detection (85% average).[1]
The experiments I've described here don't "prove" that people can sense the energy of others, but it is one of the most plausible explanations of the results. Basically, there is the possibility that people can detect the energy fields of others, even if they think they can't, and there does seem to be a certain level of talent involved in the energy detection.
So if people can detect other people's energy fields, maybe there is the possibility that people can "read" those energy fields. It may even be possible that people can change another person's energy fields. Energy healers and others, such as myself, believe these possibilities are true and that working with energy can be beneficial for people.
[1] Gary E. Schwartz with William L. Simon, The Energy Healing Experiments: Science Reveals Our Natural Power To Heal (New York: Atria Books, 2007).
Scientists at the University of Arizona have conducted multiple experiments to test this question.[1] Subjects, mostly college students, were blindfolded and asked to sit in a chair with hands out and palms facing up. Another person holds his or her dominant hand over one of the subjects' hands for about half a minute and the subject must guess where the other person's hand is. Subjects were also asked to say whether they had guessed correctly or not.[1] How do you think the subjects did?
Statistically, if the subjects were not able to detect the other person, they should still be able to guess the correct answer 50% of the time. In one experiment, subjects were 59% accurate, and in a larger second experiment, subjects were 70% accurate.[1] These results are statistically significant, meaning that the results are due to something other than chance. In both experiments, the subjects thought they had done worse than they actually had.[1]
Another interesting thing to come out of the experiments was that it appeared that some individual subjects seemed consistently more able to detect the other person's hand than other subjects. The subjects could be divided into 4 groups based on ability: poor (42% average detection), low (58% average detection), medium (70% average detection), and high detection (85% average).[1]
The experiments I've described here don't "prove" that people can sense the energy of others, but it is one of the most plausible explanations of the results. Basically, there is the possibility that people can detect the energy fields of others, even if they think they can't, and there does seem to be a certain level of talent involved in the energy detection.
So if people can detect other people's energy fields, maybe there is the possibility that people can "read" those energy fields. It may even be possible that people can change another person's energy fields. Energy healers and others, such as myself, believe these possibilities are true and that working with energy can be beneficial for people.
[1] Gary E. Schwartz with William L. Simon, The Energy Healing Experiments: Science Reveals Our Natural Power To Heal (New York: Atria Books, 2007).
Friday, November 19, 2010
Chiropractic - Fear of the Crunch
Chiropractic is the single most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment in Canada.[1] And yet for many of those who haven't tried it, the idea can be frightening, even horrifying! I understand because before I tried it, I didn't like the idea at all.
"Chiropractors diagnose, treat and help prevent conditions related to the spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system."[2] Studies have shown that chiropractic care may be helpful with back pain, migraine and neck-related headaches, neck pain, joint conditions, and whiplash-associated disorders.[3]
Chiropractors use a number of different therapies to help their clients, but primarily use manual adjustment which "is a non-invasive procedure that consists of a precise directed movement to help relieve pain and discomfort, and restore range of motion."[4] The way the adjustment feels depends on the chiropractor. I have experienced adjustments that have felt sudden, and I have experienced adjustments that were downright gentle. If you aren't happy with the feel of your chiropractor, shop around a little! At least in the Edmonton area, there are quite a few chiropractors to choose from.
Some people are concerned about the possible side effects of working on the spine. The worst side effect that some claim to be related to chiropractic care is stroke but those reports are extremely rare and studies have been unable to find the relation between stroke and chiropractic.[3] "Side effects from spinal manipulation can include temporary headaches, tiredness, or discomfort in the parts of the body that were treated."[3]
After a little experience with an excellent chiropractor, I quite enjoy my chiropractic visits. Before the adjustments, I always get a short massage and I come out of the session feeling relaxed. If you suffer from chronic back pain, headaches or joint issues and you haven't tried chiropractic before, you might want to consider it. The risks are low and the potential benefits might be just what you're looking for.
[1] Bentson McFarland, Douglas Bigelow, Brigid Zani, Jason Newsom, and Mark Kaplan. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Canada and the United States." American Journal of Public Health, 92, no 10 (2002): 1616–1618. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447296/
[2] "Public Home," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/public_home
[3] "Chiropractic: An Introduction [NCCAM Backgrounder]," National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/
[4] "About Chiropractic," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/about_chiropractic
"Chiropractors diagnose, treat and help prevent conditions related to the spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system."[2] Studies have shown that chiropractic care may be helpful with back pain, migraine and neck-related headaches, neck pain, joint conditions, and whiplash-associated disorders.[3]
Chiropractors use a number of different therapies to help their clients, but primarily use manual adjustment which "is a non-invasive procedure that consists of a precise directed movement to help relieve pain and discomfort, and restore range of motion."[4] The way the adjustment feels depends on the chiropractor. I have experienced adjustments that have felt sudden, and I have experienced adjustments that were downright gentle. If you aren't happy with the feel of your chiropractor, shop around a little! At least in the Edmonton area, there are quite a few chiropractors to choose from.
Some people are concerned about the possible side effects of working on the spine. The worst side effect that some claim to be related to chiropractic care is stroke but those reports are extremely rare and studies have been unable to find the relation between stroke and chiropractic.[3] "Side effects from spinal manipulation can include temporary headaches, tiredness, or discomfort in the parts of the body that were treated."[3]
After a little experience with an excellent chiropractor, I quite enjoy my chiropractic visits. Before the adjustments, I always get a short massage and I come out of the session feeling relaxed. If you suffer from chronic back pain, headaches or joint issues and you haven't tried chiropractic before, you might want to consider it. The risks are low and the potential benefits might be just what you're looking for.
[1] Bentson McFarland, Douglas Bigelow, Brigid Zani, Jason Newsom, and Mark Kaplan. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Canada and the United States." American Journal of Public Health, 92, no 10 (2002): 1616–1618. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447296/
[2] "Public Home," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/public_home
[3] "Chiropractic: An Introduction [NCCAM Backgrounder]," National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/
[4] "About Chiropractic," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/about_chiropractic
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bed-sharing and Independence
Bed-sharing is a sleeping arrangement where an infant or child sleeps next to one or both parents in the same bed. The idea of bed-sharing is very controversial in North-American society. There are so many things to be said about bed-sharing from reason to do it, reasons not to do it, safety concerns, cultural considerations... The topic I'm going to focus on is bed-sharing and it's relationship with the independence of the child.
When I admit to people that we practice bed-sharing with my daughter, I often see a flash of disbelief in the people's eyes, followed frequently by the advice that it has to stop. "If you don't get her in her own bed now, she'll be there forever!" I have often heard people say that children need to learn independence.
I freely admit that bed-sharing has its downside. Bed-sharing children tend to me more dependent on their parents when it comes to going to sleep. These children also tend to have more night-wakings than "solitary sleepers."[1] But should bedtime independence define independence as a whole? Some theory behind bed-sharing, at least as a part of a larger parenting system, is that allowing a child to stay with his or her parents at night, until the child is more prepared to sleep on his or her own, will foster a sense of confidence in the child. But does this theory hold true?
I've definitely heard anecdotal evidence that bed-sharing children tend to be confident and independent older children. One study investigated sleeping style and independence, comparing self-reliance and social independent behaviours in early bed-sharers (children who had bed-shared from infancy), reactive bed-sharers (children who had bed-shared starting on or after 1 year of age), and solitary sleepers. The researchers had theorized that the early bed-sharers would show the least amount of self-reliance and social independence compared to the two other groups but found the exact opposite to be significant.[1]
Basically it seems like allowing a child to be dependent at night helps them to be more independent during the day. There are stories of some bed-sharing children staying with their parents until they are almost teenagers. While this can happen, it often points to either a family that is acceptable of this type of arrangement, or possibly to other psychological issues with the child or family. In the same study described above, the mean age that early bed-sharing children were able to sleep through the night on their own was 25.5 months (just over two years old). I think that estimate may be slightly low but the point is that it doesn't have to last forever.
Once again, I don't think that bed-sharing is for everyone. But for those families where the bed-sharing arrangement is working for and acceptable to all those involved, have no fear for the eventual independence of the child. Bed-sharing children have as much a chance at being well-adjusted and independent as solitary sleeping children... if not more!
[1] Meret A. Keller and Wendy A. Goldberg. "Co-sleeping: Help or hindrance for young children's independence?" Infant & Child Development 13, no. 4 (2004): 369-388. Accessed November 15, 2010. doi: 10.1002/icd.365
When I admit to people that we practice bed-sharing with my daughter, I often see a flash of disbelief in the people's eyes, followed frequently by the advice that it has to stop. "If you don't get her in her own bed now, she'll be there forever!" I have often heard people say that children need to learn independence.
I freely admit that bed-sharing has its downside. Bed-sharing children tend to me more dependent on their parents when it comes to going to sleep. These children also tend to have more night-wakings than "solitary sleepers."[1] But should bedtime independence define independence as a whole? Some theory behind bed-sharing, at least as a part of a larger parenting system, is that allowing a child to stay with his or her parents at night, until the child is more prepared to sleep on his or her own, will foster a sense of confidence in the child. But does this theory hold true?
I've definitely heard anecdotal evidence that bed-sharing children tend to be confident and independent older children. One study investigated sleeping style and independence, comparing self-reliance and social independent behaviours in early bed-sharers (children who had bed-shared from infancy), reactive bed-sharers (children who had bed-shared starting on or after 1 year of age), and solitary sleepers. The researchers had theorized that the early bed-sharers would show the least amount of self-reliance and social independence compared to the two other groups but found the exact opposite to be significant.[1]
Basically it seems like allowing a child to be dependent at night helps them to be more independent during the day. There are stories of some bed-sharing children staying with their parents until they are almost teenagers. While this can happen, it often points to either a family that is acceptable of this type of arrangement, or possibly to other psychological issues with the child or family. In the same study described above, the mean age that early bed-sharing children were able to sleep through the night on their own was 25.5 months (just over two years old). I think that estimate may be slightly low but the point is that it doesn't have to last forever.
Once again, I don't think that bed-sharing is for everyone. But for those families where the bed-sharing arrangement is working for and acceptable to all those involved, have no fear for the eventual independence of the child. Bed-sharing children have as much a chance at being well-adjusted and independent as solitary sleeping children... if not more!
[1] Meret A. Keller and Wendy A. Goldberg. "Co-sleeping: Help or hindrance for young children's independence?" Infant & Child Development 13, no. 4 (2004): 369-388. Accessed November 15, 2010. doi: 10.1002/icd.365
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Anger - Good or Bad? (Part 1 - Sources of Anger)
A lot of people generally think of anger as a bad thing. There are always lots of stories of how anger has gone wrong and "caused" people to do bad things. Then I started to see news stories about how anger could be good for you. I wondered how people might react to that sort of headline.
As for me, I simultaneously understood that anger could be bad for you and anger could be good for you, but I wasn't really sure what the difference between good anger and bad anger was. I mean, I knew that it's all in how you deal with the anger but it took me a little research to really understand it.
First of all, there's the question of what is anger? "Anger is a natural emotion that alerts us when something has violated the natural order of how we think things should go... The bodily effects of anger are meant to motivate us to take charge and restore the balance of right and wrong."[1] Those bodily effects include increased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.[2] These effects, those of the "flight or fight" response, can be useful in the short-term but can be a strain on your body (particularly your heart) in the long-term.
So the first thing that separates "good" anger from "bad" anger is what a person is getting angry at. This is related to my blog entry on unmet expectations. If anger is your response to a goal being interfered with or an expectation not being met, the first step is to examine what your expectations are. Are your expectations realistic? Is the subject of your expectation something you can control?
Take for example a man who is stuck in traffic. He expects to be able to drive to his destination in a certain amount of time, and the traffic jam has just broken that expectation. This man is now angry. His body prepares him for action, but is there really anything he can reasonably do to restore his expectation? Perhaps he can find a way to exit the situation and find another route to work but this is best accomplished with patience and reason rather than immediate action. This situation might be an example of "bad" anger. I want to note that "bad" anger or not, it is a normal reaction and we all get angry when it isn't useful now and then - that's where anger management comes in (more on that later).
Another man is also late getting to his destination one morning. This man was not caught in traffic, but he did oversleep his alarm. He had stayed up late the night before watching TV. His tardiness caused his reputation to be tarnished with his client. As he gets out of bed and sees the time, this man becomes angry. His body prepares him for action and he is able to get himself out the door in record time. As he gets on his way, he decides that he does not want to repeat this experience and makes a commitment to himself to go to sleep at a reasonable time from now on. This anger may be considered "good" anger because it leads the man to change his behaviour to better help him toward his goals.
Take some time to consider what sort of things tend to make you angry. Think about your goals and expectations. Are your expectations reasonable? Are your goals achievable? Is your anger serving you?
Alas, there is more to anger than what causes you to be angry. Stay tuned - another day I will explore the expression of anger.
[1] "How Anger Works," Molly Edmonds, accessed November 10, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/other-emotions/anger.htm.
[2] "The Physiological Effects of Anger on Your Heart and What to Do About It," Laura Quintile, accessed November 10, 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2616287/the_physiological_effects_of_anger.html?cat=5.
As for me, I simultaneously understood that anger could be bad for you and anger could be good for you, but I wasn't really sure what the difference between good anger and bad anger was. I mean, I knew that it's all in how you deal with the anger but it took me a little research to really understand it.
First of all, there's the question of what is anger? "Anger is a natural emotion that alerts us when something has violated the natural order of how we think things should go... The bodily effects of anger are meant to motivate us to take charge and restore the balance of right and wrong."[1] Those bodily effects include increased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.[2] These effects, those of the "flight or fight" response, can be useful in the short-term but can be a strain on your body (particularly your heart) in the long-term.
So the first thing that separates "good" anger from "bad" anger is what a person is getting angry at. This is related to my blog entry on unmet expectations. If anger is your response to a goal being interfered with or an expectation not being met, the first step is to examine what your expectations are. Are your expectations realistic? Is the subject of your expectation something you can control?
Take for example a man who is stuck in traffic. He expects to be able to drive to his destination in a certain amount of time, and the traffic jam has just broken that expectation. This man is now angry. His body prepares him for action, but is there really anything he can reasonably do to restore his expectation? Perhaps he can find a way to exit the situation and find another route to work but this is best accomplished with patience and reason rather than immediate action. This situation might be an example of "bad" anger. I want to note that "bad" anger or not, it is a normal reaction and we all get angry when it isn't useful now and then - that's where anger management comes in (more on that later).
Another man is also late getting to his destination one morning. This man was not caught in traffic, but he did oversleep his alarm. He had stayed up late the night before watching TV. His tardiness caused his reputation to be tarnished with his client. As he gets out of bed and sees the time, this man becomes angry. His body prepares him for action and he is able to get himself out the door in record time. As he gets on his way, he decides that he does not want to repeat this experience and makes a commitment to himself to go to sleep at a reasonable time from now on. This anger may be considered "good" anger because it leads the man to change his behaviour to better help him toward his goals.
Take some time to consider what sort of things tend to make you angry. Think about your goals and expectations. Are your expectations reasonable? Are your goals achievable? Is your anger serving you?
Alas, there is more to anger than what causes you to be angry. Stay tuned - another day I will explore the expression of anger.
[1] "How Anger Works," Molly Edmonds, accessed November 10, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/other-emotions/anger.htm.
[2] "The Physiological Effects of Anger on Your Heart and What to Do About It," Laura Quintile, accessed November 10, 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2616287/the_physiological_effects_of_anger.html?cat=5.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friendship After Children
I've been thinking about friendship recently. Now I'm not the kind of person who has ever been able to make friends easily. But as hard as it was in the past, friendship has gotten even harder since I've had a child.
Now it didn't surprise me that it would be harder to stay close to my friends who aren't married or don't have children of their own. I've heard all the stories and it just makes sense that the lifestyle of a parent is usually drastically different than that of a child-less person. That can strain friendships if there isn't some amount of understanding and work to keep the friendship evolving. And some parents change their lives more than others. I'm on the major change side of the spectrum.
But it never occurred to me how hard it might be to stay friends with other parents or make new parent friends. There have been so many obstacles to me, I almost don't know where to start! I guess one of the biggest things that has made it harder for me to make mom-friends is my choice of parenting style. Other mothers have told me that they have found good friendships in their first mom's group. I found that my parenting style was so different than the styles of the other mothers that I found it difficult to join in on the conversations.
Even if you find a mother (or group of mothers) with similar parenting style, there are other obstacles to friendship when you have a young child. If your children are on different schedules (or maybe still on no schedule at all) it can be near impossible to find a good time to get together. And any mothers out there know that a plan with a baby involved is almost no plan at all. Inconsistent sleep, illness, teething, crabbiness and any number of other issues can cause you to have to re-schedule.
When you finally get together with a friend, any conversation is constantly interrupted with a child needing feeding, changing, cuddling or some other sort of attention. When I would meet a friend at the park, I was so busy chasing my daughter and making sure she wasn't falling off the equipment that I could barely find 10 minutes to talk to my friend. The short time you do get to talk to your friends end up being talk about children since that is what your attention has been on almost exclusively for so long. It can be hard to have a real, meaningful conversation about anything else.
Then after a while, some mothers go back to work, meaning that you can only see them outside of work hours. That's usually the same time that your husband finally comes home from work. Now as a strong introvert, I often use the little "off" time I get to be alone (maybe write a blog entry or something). Then I also have to consider spending time with my husband and daughter together as a family. I also have to take this time to work on my business or hobbies. Then there's the extra housework that isn't easily done with a child running around. After all that, I might have the slightest bit of time to spend with my working friends (whether they are parents or not).
So what's my point? Obviously, it can be hard for some parents to keep or make strong friendships after having children. Non-parents, please be understanding of your parent friends - parenthood can really be all-consuming. Parents, please be gentle with yourselves and your other parent friends. Remember that friendship is an important part of your social health (and by extension, your overall health). You may have to be creative and do a little work in keeping your friendships active or find new friendships. Be honest with your friends and keep communication lines open.
Moms, how do you make new friends or keep old ones? What problems have you found in friendship after children?
Now it didn't surprise me that it would be harder to stay close to my friends who aren't married or don't have children of their own. I've heard all the stories and it just makes sense that the lifestyle of a parent is usually drastically different than that of a child-less person. That can strain friendships if there isn't some amount of understanding and work to keep the friendship evolving. And some parents change their lives more than others. I'm on the major change side of the spectrum.
But it never occurred to me how hard it might be to stay friends with other parents or make new parent friends. There have been so many obstacles to me, I almost don't know where to start! I guess one of the biggest things that has made it harder for me to make mom-friends is my choice of parenting style. Other mothers have told me that they have found good friendships in their first mom's group. I found that my parenting style was so different than the styles of the other mothers that I found it difficult to join in on the conversations.
Even if you find a mother (or group of mothers) with similar parenting style, there are other obstacles to friendship when you have a young child. If your children are on different schedules (or maybe still on no schedule at all) it can be near impossible to find a good time to get together. And any mothers out there know that a plan with a baby involved is almost no plan at all. Inconsistent sleep, illness, teething, crabbiness and any number of other issues can cause you to have to re-schedule.
When you finally get together with a friend, any conversation is constantly interrupted with a child needing feeding, changing, cuddling or some other sort of attention. When I would meet a friend at the park, I was so busy chasing my daughter and making sure she wasn't falling off the equipment that I could barely find 10 minutes to talk to my friend. The short time you do get to talk to your friends end up being talk about children since that is what your attention has been on almost exclusively for so long. It can be hard to have a real, meaningful conversation about anything else.
Then after a while, some mothers go back to work, meaning that you can only see them outside of work hours. That's usually the same time that your husband finally comes home from work. Now as a strong introvert, I often use the little "off" time I get to be alone (maybe write a blog entry or something). Then I also have to consider spending time with my husband and daughter together as a family. I also have to take this time to work on my business or hobbies. Then there's the extra housework that isn't easily done with a child running around. After all that, I might have the slightest bit of time to spend with my working friends (whether they are parents or not).
So what's my point? Obviously, it can be hard for some parents to keep or make strong friendships after having children. Non-parents, please be understanding of your parent friends - parenthood can really be all-consuming. Parents, please be gentle with yourselves and your other parent friends. Remember that friendship is an important part of your social health (and by extension, your overall health). You may have to be creative and do a little work in keeping your friendships active or find new friendships. Be honest with your friends and keep communication lines open.
Moms, how do you make new friends or keep old ones? What problems have you found in friendship after children?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Discover Your Archetypal Patterns
An archetype is "an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual."[1] Just a few examples of archetypes are the Child, the Princess, the Knight, and the Hermit. We often use archetypal language to describe people. "She is such a princess!" "He's my knight in shining armour!" Most everyone knows what you are talking about when you use archetypal language.
Each and every archetype has both positive and negative attributes. For example, an archetype that sounds negative like the Saboteur "serves you brilliantly as a gut instinct that directs you to take action based on hunches rather than on rational thought."[2] And an archetype that might sound more positive like the Teacher can manifest as a desire to manipulate students.[2]
So how can archetypes help you learn about yourself? According to Caroline Myss, examining all of your major archetypal influences together "produces a view of the governing forces of your psyche and soul."[2] Through studying your influencing archetypes and the roles they have played in your life, you can get an idea of why you behave the way you do and possibly even get a glimpse into your life purpose.
The book Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss (ISBN: 0-609-81011-1) contains exercises and information that will help you learn about your archetypal patterns, thus helping you learn about yourself. If you're not interested in buying the book just yet, you can get started using Caroline's website. The basic idea is to read through a list of archetypes and find the ones you associate with. Then you ask questions of each archetype in yourself and see what kind of answers come up.
Through the process of exploring your archetypes, you can gain many different insights into yourself and your life. Take it from me - I have a strong inner Teacher!
[1] Merriam-Webster, s.v. "Archetype," http://www.merriam-webster.com/ (accessed November 2, 2010).
[2] Caroline Myss, Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002).
Each and every archetype has both positive and negative attributes. For example, an archetype that sounds negative like the Saboteur "serves you brilliantly as a gut instinct that directs you to take action based on hunches rather than on rational thought."[2] And an archetype that might sound more positive like the Teacher can manifest as a desire to manipulate students.[2]
So how can archetypes help you learn about yourself? According to Caroline Myss, examining all of your major archetypal influences together "produces a view of the governing forces of your psyche and soul."[2] Through studying your influencing archetypes and the roles they have played in your life, you can get an idea of why you behave the way you do and possibly even get a glimpse into your life purpose.
The book Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss (ISBN: 0-609-81011-1) contains exercises and information that will help you learn about your archetypal patterns, thus helping you learn about yourself. If you're not interested in buying the book just yet, you can get started using Caroline's website. The basic idea is to read through a list of archetypes and find the ones you associate with. Then you ask questions of each archetype in yourself and see what kind of answers come up.
Through the process of exploring your archetypes, you can gain many different insights into yourself and your life. Take it from me - I have a strong inner Teacher!
[1] Merriam-Webster, s.v. "Archetype," http://www.merriam-webster.com/ (accessed November 2, 2010).
[2] Caroline Myss, Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002).
Monday, November 1, 2010
What to Do with a Fever
As I was lying in bed, covered up with a dozen blankets and shaking away, I started to think a little about fevers. The main purpose of a fever is to raise the body's temperature in order to kill certain bacteria and viruses which are sensitive to higher temperatures.[1] So why are people so intent on eliminating fevers as soon as they show up?
Parents can be so worried about children with fevers that the medical profession has named it "fever phobia." Fears about fevers come from our not-so-distant past where fevers were associated with diseases such as measles which were often life-threatening. Also, for a long time fevers were thought to be part of the cause of illness as opposed to a natural reaction of the body to illness.
But now we know better. Under most normal circumstances, fever is part of what will eventually restore us to health. So, is it a good idea to try to get rid of a fever? Please note that I am going to interpret what I have read from research about fever but I am not a doctor so please consult your doctor for fever management issues. Conventional medicine (well, at least the research side of it) recommends fever reduction as opposed to fever elimination. And the method may be important to mention too... Body cooling like sponge baths and cooling blankets DO NOT WORK and they stress the body. Drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are recommended to reduce fever, though please remember that these drugs can have serious side effects. While some doctors still recommend mixing acetaminophen and ibuprofen for infants and young children with fever, there is absolutely NO evidence that this mixing is beneficial. What is the point of fever reduction? Well, as far as I can tell, it's purely for you (or your child's) comfort.
Studies show that unless you have brain damage, your body is extremely careful with how high it will let your fever go. Fevers that rise above 40ºC (104ºF) can become dangerous[2], so monitoring your fever is obviously a good idea even if it is unlikely to rise that high. In children, some parents worry about the risk of febrile seizure (seizure in young children caused by a quick rise in body temperature). In that case, it is still important to know that fever-reducing drugs are NOT proven to reduce the occurrence of such seizures. If your child has a febrile seizure, seek medical attention immediately but know that there are generally few long-term effects from these seizures and there is little you could have done to prevent the seizures from happening. The biggest actual danger from fever is dehydration. This is the area that you should most definitely focus on when you have a fever - drink fluids!
Keeping all this in mind, this is what I do when I have a fever. I decide whether or not my symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor. Otherwise, I get as much rest as I possibly can, drink plenty of water, grapefruit juice and chicken broth, and cover up with as many blankets as I need. I don't take any acetaminophen or ibuprofen unless I absolutely need to be out of bed. I believe that if my body has decided that a fever is what it needs to become healthy, who am I to argue?
Everyone must make their own decisions on how to deal with any given fever. Learn the facts about fever and then follow your instincts on what to do. A healthy body, including a healthy immune system, is the best defense you have against illness.
[1] "Why does your body temperature rise when you have a virus such as the flu?" Discovery Health, accessed October 31, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/immune/question45.htm.
[2] B. J. Holtzclaw. "Use of thermoregulatory principles in patient care: fever management," Online Journal of Clinical Innovations 5, no. 5 (2002): 1-64. CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed October 31, 2010).
Parents can be so worried about children with fevers that the medical profession has named it "fever phobia." Fears about fevers come from our not-so-distant past where fevers were associated with diseases such as measles which were often life-threatening. Also, for a long time fevers were thought to be part of the cause of illness as opposed to a natural reaction of the body to illness.
But now we know better. Under most normal circumstances, fever is part of what will eventually restore us to health. So, is it a good idea to try to get rid of a fever? Please note that I am going to interpret what I have read from research about fever but I am not a doctor so please consult your doctor for fever management issues. Conventional medicine (well, at least the research side of it) recommends fever reduction as opposed to fever elimination. And the method may be important to mention too... Body cooling like sponge baths and cooling blankets DO NOT WORK and they stress the body. Drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are recommended to reduce fever, though please remember that these drugs can have serious side effects. While some doctors still recommend mixing acetaminophen and ibuprofen for infants and young children with fever, there is absolutely NO evidence that this mixing is beneficial. What is the point of fever reduction? Well, as far as I can tell, it's purely for you (or your child's) comfort.
Studies show that unless you have brain damage, your body is extremely careful with how high it will let your fever go. Fevers that rise above 40ºC (104ºF) can become dangerous[2], so monitoring your fever is obviously a good idea even if it is unlikely to rise that high. In children, some parents worry about the risk of febrile seizure (seizure in young children caused by a quick rise in body temperature). In that case, it is still important to know that fever-reducing drugs are NOT proven to reduce the occurrence of such seizures. If your child has a febrile seizure, seek medical attention immediately but know that there are generally few long-term effects from these seizures and there is little you could have done to prevent the seizures from happening. The biggest actual danger from fever is dehydration. This is the area that you should most definitely focus on when you have a fever - drink fluids!
Keeping all this in mind, this is what I do when I have a fever. I decide whether or not my symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor. Otherwise, I get as much rest as I possibly can, drink plenty of water, grapefruit juice and chicken broth, and cover up with as many blankets as I need. I don't take any acetaminophen or ibuprofen unless I absolutely need to be out of bed. I believe that if my body has decided that a fever is what it needs to become healthy, who am I to argue?
Everyone must make their own decisions on how to deal with any given fever. Learn the facts about fever and then follow your instincts on what to do. A healthy body, including a healthy immune system, is the best defense you have against illness.
[1] "Why does your body temperature rise when you have a virus such as the flu?" Discovery Health, accessed October 31, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/immune/question45.htm.
[2] B. J. Holtzclaw. "Use of thermoregulatory principles in patient care: fever management," Online Journal of Clinical Innovations 5, no. 5 (2002): 1-64. CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed October 31, 2010).
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