Mental Well-being; The Key to Everything
We have all been tested over the past months; some physically, others mentally and spiritually, as we attempt to make sense of a pandemic. I notice my thoughts jumping from wondering how we will get through this to hoping for a healthier planet to compassion for those who are experiencing sickness and lost loved ones; back and forth, in no particular order.
Through it all I witness an intangible sweetness behind the human spirit as people reach out to one another to lend a hand and assist in any way they can. A friend of mine has sewn face masks, made of silk, for a group of us. Another friend, living in a retirement community, has asked for a list of people who could use her assistance with grocery shopping.
Standing in line at my local Trader Joe's, I am reminded of the many unsung and often unseen heroes that walk among us everyday. An employee had painted a line on the sidewalk marking six feet between shoppers. Each line had different colorful sayings painted above it (i.e, celebrate our healthcare workers, celebrate our warehouse workers, celebrate our taxi drivers, spread love not germs!) So many reminders of the strength and love of the human spirit!
I know I am not the only person to experience such a wide range of emotions. I also know that I have an advantage over many because of my exposure to an understanding about the human mind. I am not special however - this understanding is available to everyone, whether they realize it or not. Nature has gifted all of us with an innate sense of health and the ability to understand how to access our innate mental well-being regardless of situations or circumstances. This understanding about the human psyche is known as the Three Principles of innate health. I feel extraordinarily lucky for this, and grateful to have something so valuable to share with others. I have come to see that mental well-being is key to everything!
I have noticed this fact in my own life as well as in my clients’ lives. Dr. Bill Petit, or Dr. Bill as he has come to be known, is a psychiatrist in Phoenix, Arizona. He offers an eight week online course called, The Mind, Brain, Body, Behavior Connection. You can access the course here. It’s a fascinating course:
He makes the connection between the spiritual understanding shared by the late Sydney Banks, and medical science; and how the 3 Principles of Mind, Thought and Consciousness are at the foundation of both. These principles have been rippling throughout the world ever since, in such diverse fields as psychiatry, education, business, community development, and medicine. You will see evidence of this in the resources below.
He compares this discovery to recent discoveries in physics as well.
He reminds us that a relaxed mind is a healthy mind. This promotes physical health, endurance and resilience.
He points out that chronic stress is the norm for so many they don’t even realize they are acting under the influence of the thinking that stress generates.
Because of what I learned from Sydney Banks and mentors sharing what they learned from him, I am forever grateful to know that:
I don’t need to be afraid of my experiences, regardless of the thoughts that are flowing through me.
I don’t have to judge them, resist them, or take them seriously. Yes, some thoughts are more pleasant to experience than others, but knowing that all thoughts are transitory and will naturally pass on their own accord helps me ride out any thought-storm.
I live in the “feeling of my thinking” - every thought we have has a feeling tagging along with it, whether we know that or not. Even though I can’t control the thoughts that pop into my head, I do have the free-will to pay attention to the thoughts that will benefit myself and others and let the rest go.
I am innately resilient; I will survive and thrive, regardless of circumstances or situations.
All of this “knowing” is on a deeper level beyond the intellect. It's not something I need to practice; there are no strategies or techniques to perform, only an understanding of the workings of the mind.
Since the mind is not a physical thing; it is the formless spiritual energy that powers the brain which is physical. Because it is formless energy, understanding the mind can only come from insight; from taking time to look within oneself. It is helpful to take this inner journey with a guide or mentor who has done the same. Here is a list of mentors around the world: https://3pgc.org/practitioner-directory/ I would be happy to be your mentor on this journey whether you live near my office or not. We can easily work together on a HIPAA compliant video or phone platform.
The rewards of this understanding are truly beyond imagination. It's like being given a lifetime key to mental well-being, regardless of external circumstances. Knowing how to access unlimited mental well-being keeps people free of chronic anxiety, depression, and stress. We’ve known for a long time the toll that chronic stress takes on our physical health and our immune system.
I have found the best way to share this understanding is by immersion in a retreat setting over a period of 3 - 7 days. This can be accomplished in a number of ways by:
An “in-home retreat” from the comfort of your own home on a computer screen. It's best to unplug from your typical routine so you have time and space to quiet your mind.
A “hotel retreat”. If your home life isn't conducive to an educational retreat (i.e. young children or other demands at home) then consider staying at a nearby hotel and be seen at my local office in West Hartford.
Attend one of our retreats in the Caribbean. The next one is scheduled for Nov 14 - Nov 20.
Everyone has the ability to access their innate mental well-being more often, from which we are all more understanding, compassionate, resourceful, creative, productive, motivated and more loving. Please avail yourself of the following resources - you can create a retreat of your own!
Resources:
3 Principles for Human Development