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Guided Imagery,
Medical Hypnosis, Meditation Music Technology
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Ellen will be volunteering with the American Red Cross to offer supportive counseling and guided imagery CD's for children and adults having trouble sleeping and in need of emotional support coping with the trauma. |
Listen to "Comfort For Difficult Times" this week.
The quest for Meaning in the midst of Suffering…
Welcome to Imadulation’s e-messages. In light of our country’s devastating disaster from Hurricane Katrina, I would like to invite a discussion on suffering and the need to find meaning in it.
Let’s begin with definitions:
The noun suffering:
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a state of acute pain
Synonyms: agony, excruciation -
misery resulting from affliction
Synonym: woe -
psychological suffering
Synonyms: distress, hurt -
feelings of mental or physical pain
Synonym: hurt
The adjective suffering:
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troubled by pain or loss
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very unhappy; full of misery
Synonyms: miserable, wretched
The noun meaning:
- Something that is conveyed or signified; sense or significance.
- Something that one wishes to convey, especially by language.
- An interpreted goal, intent, or end.
- Inner significance
The adjective meaning:
- Full of meaning; expressive.
- Disposed or intended in a specified manner. Often used in combination: a well-meaning fellow; ill-meaning intentions.
And now I wish to quote one of my heroes, a man who influenced my life and way of thinking, to whom I will always be grateful for his gift to humanity: VICTOR FRANKEL
From (Man's Search for Meaning, 1946): "Everything can be taken away from man but one thing, [the ability] to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Frankel viewed suffering as a means to happiness rather than an obstacle. He saw suffering as the path that leads to deeper understanding and choice- if you chose to see it that way.
Frankel celebrated free will and the one thing that we can control… our attitude and thoughts in a given set of circumstances.
In the midst of the greatest horror known to humankind, Frankel chose love.
At a time when many of us feel helpless and want to help, the task seems overwhelming when we look at the whole situation. But, if you look at one person at a time, and do one act of kindness, the whole world shifts because of YOU. We are all connected to each other.
Some tips to help those in the midst of acute suffering:
- Be present- if possible in person- you don’t have to say anything.
- Invite the person to talk if they want, just listen.
- Let them know it’s ok to cry-encourage expression of feelings without judgments or advice.
- Know that we can never know how another is feeling, each person is unique and precious, and has an experience born of their past and present.
- Encourage activity that feels normal and routine.
- Find ways to bring comfort- warm or cool drinks, etc.
- Remind them of their strengths.
- Acknowledge the fear encourage staying in the present- one moment at a time.
Symptoms of post traumatic stress:
- Difficulty communicating thoughts
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression, sadness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Mood-swings
- Crying easily
- Overwhelming guilt and self-doubt
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Easily frustrated
- Increased use of drugs/alcohol
- Limited attention span
- Poor work performance
- Headaches/stomach problems
- Tunnel vision/muffled hearing
- Colds or flu-like symptoms.
- Disorientation or confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Reluctance to leave home
- Fear of crowds, strangers, or being alone
I encourage us all to reach out our hand today to just one person. It will make a great difference. Smile instead of frown. Let someone go ahead of you in traffic. Forgive your neighbor or friend who “wronged” you.
Most of all, keep your thoughts loving and kind. The vibration of your caring will make a difference to those around you whether you or they realize it or not.
It is difficult to give of ourselves in the midst of suffering, yet that is what sets us apart from some (not all) other creatures.
We have CHOICE.
I wish you the best of everything… Peace, freedom, prosperity and mostly love.
Imagining your freedom,
ellen@imadulation.com