tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82254291117465103362024-03-13T22:13:09.456-07:00pojopojo brings you my personal reflections about life and the world around, as well as news about activities and programmes that I am involved in.
I invite you to make your own comments on my posts.
Blessings!
Jose Parappullysumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-59267581658796246052021-08-08T03:05:00.000-07:002021-08-08T03:05:07.494-07:00Psyche & Soul 58: SIGNING OFF<p><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Psyche & Soul 58</span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SIGNING OFF<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Podcast Link:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-58-Psyche--Soul--123-e15hk6o" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-58-Psyche--Soul--123-e15hk6o</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical
psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote,
Uttarakhand (sumedhacentre@gmail.com) signing off with the final edition of
Psyche & Soul.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTl-lGUHBxY/YQ-h4jwEaSI/AAAAAAAAHgo/JvQ5vTqA-MwUdtoxOLdvLfvXAAioAl1gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Psyche%2B%2526%2BSoul%2Bcover-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTl-lGUHBxY/YQ-h4jwEaSI/AAAAAAAAHgo/JvQ5vTqA-MwUdtoxOLdvLfvXAAioAl1gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Psyche%2B%2526%2BSoul%2Bcover-new.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">……..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Listeners,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the final podcast in the series Psyche and Soul. For
the 57 weeks, I have been able to present regularly some psychospiritual
reflections on these podcasts. In these reflections I used insights from
psychology, sacred scripture as well as the socio-political realities of our
everyday life to help us enhance our emotional wellbeing and our spiritual life
– our psyche and our soul. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you very much for your encouragement and appreciation
which kept me going, week after week for more than a year. A special word of
thanks to PT Joseph, the <a href="http://www.donboscoindia.com/">www.donboscoindia.com</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>web master, and CM Paul of Radio
Salesian for facilitating the uploading of the podcast, and to Yesudas
Karakkattu for composing and performing the Psyche & Soul theme song and
background music.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cflF1UQEE4Q/YQ-irNV-5ZI/AAAAAAAAHg0/diAywnHyccUnaKIM-kFBAUYtEMxXhjFUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Thank%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cflF1UQEE4Q/YQ-irNV-5ZI/AAAAAAAAHg0/diAywnHyccUnaKIM-kFBAUYtEMxXhjFUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Thank%2Byou.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">All the 57 podcasts will be available on <a href="http://www.donboscoindia.com/">www.donboscoindia.com</a> webpage, and <a href="http://www.anchor.fm/boscom" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #5000b9; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www.anchor.fm/boscom</span></a> for you to access whenever you want. May
these podcasts enhance your psychospiritual journey, take you deeper and deeper
into your psyche and soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this final podcast, No 58, I list the weekly podcasts under
8 themes. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aakJ8uc0jGs/YQ-j8i7UpJI/AAAAAAAAHhA/NfjOhOUDfys29ULNKLia7o6HqKhZ1kBUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s332/psychospiritual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="332" height="147" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aakJ8uc0jGs/YQ-j8i7UpJI/AAAAAAAAHhA/NfjOhOUDfys29ULNKLia7o6HqKhZ1kBUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/psychospiritual.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Theme 1:
Psychospiritual Wellbeing (5 podcasts)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 1.</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Foundations
of Health and Happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 2. </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Childhood
Foundation of Healthy Relationships:
Trust<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 3. </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Childhood
Foundations of Healthy Relationships 2: Secure Attachments<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 4. </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Threats
To Healthy Adult Relationships: Insecure Attachments In Childhood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 5. </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Need
Empathic And Admirable People Around Us<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjJJWjoYBrI/YQ-kNpko3aI/AAAAAAAAHhI/QnPqUBaEmT0hkobxRLChLF7syNXA-c1SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/covide%2B19-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjJJWjoYBrI/YQ-kNpko3aI/AAAAAAAAHhI/QnPqUBaEmT0hkobxRLChLF7syNXA-c1SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/covide%2B19-1.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theme 2. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There
were four podcasts Related to the<b> Corona
Pandemic (4 podcasts)</b></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">Covid:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">A Time of Massive Disruption (19)</span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 6. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Self-Care
During Covid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 7. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coping
with Stress and Anxiety During Covid – Physical, Mental and Spiritual Strategies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transformation through Community &
Compassion (20)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W60zQic6RoY/YQ-kcziWWrI/AAAAAAAAHhM/-nyb1SJ8nb8Ie9kwvwC8f9zhWvX3XooRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s334/Wellbeing%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="334" height="145" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W60zQic6RoY/YQ-kcziWWrI/AAAAAAAAHhM/-nyb1SJ8nb8Ie9kwvwC8f9zhWvX3XooRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Wellbeing%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Theme 3: Emotional Wellbeing (11 podcasts)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 8. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Need
Fulfilment and Emotional Maturation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 9. </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Living with Meaning and Purpose</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1010 .<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Self-Knowledge</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1111. .<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Self-acceptance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1212..<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Balancing
Autonomy and Dependence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1313.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Emotions,
Health and Happiness</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">1414.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Living Gratefully</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1515.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Generosity
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1616.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hope
And Optimism</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1717. Resilience: Thriving Despite Adversity</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1818.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stress:
Prevention and Relief</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ1Ca_pUn9s/YQ-o9GDysLI/AAAAAAAAHhY/VOcpW6gigDMI1nRJIfPaXzL2xWgAKa3wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s343/spirituality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="343" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ1Ca_pUn9s/YQ-o9GDysLI/AAAAAAAAHhY/VOcpW6gigDMI1nRJIfPaXzL2xWgAKa3wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/spirituality.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theme 4: Spirituality (6 podcasts)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2121.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Psychology,
Spirituality and Religion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2222.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
Splintered, Distorted Spirituality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2323.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Holistic
Spirituality: Wholeness, Not Flawlessness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2424.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Spirituality
of Simplicity – “Downward Mobility”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2525.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Spirituality
of Embodiment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2626.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moving
into the New Year with Hope!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nC9c9gQDCY8/YQ-pOzXyoaI/AAAAAAAAHhg/YEg1mYJCVaUCV4IuyMOgGQEHhCpsyQh-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s301/mental%2Bhealth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nC9c9gQDCY8/YQ-pOzXyoaI/AAAAAAAAHhg/YEg1mYJCVaUCV4IuyMOgGQEHhCpsyQh-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mental%2Bhealth.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theme
6: Mental Health (12 podcasts)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2727.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mental Health and Wellbeing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2828.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enhancing Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Grateful Living<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2929.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enhancing
Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Meaningful Living<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3030.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enhancing
Mental Health and Wellbeing: Some Simple Practices<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3131.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enhancing
Mental Health: 7 More Simple Practices<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3232.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Burden of Mental Illness</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3333.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Major
Depression</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3434.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; line-height: 107%;">Schizophrenia - 1</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3535.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Schizophrenia – 2: Symptoms and Dynamics</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">36.36<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Schizophrenia – 3: Roots And Remedies. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3737.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Anxiety Disorder </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3838.</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nH_Xm7VduqY/YQ-pcLqyJeI/AAAAAAAAHhk/fprwho25xgII3LCMccp6pZf9_lsJ8QbXACLcBGAsYHQ/s236/Personality%2Bdisorders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="236" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nH_Xm7VduqY/YQ-pcLqyJeI/AAAAAAAAHhk/fprwho25xgII3LCMccp6pZf9_lsJ8QbXACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2Bdisorders.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><b><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Theme 7:
Personality Disorders (5 podcasts)</span></b><p></p></div><div>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3939.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Personality
Disorders: What They Are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4040.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Narcissistic
Personality Disorder. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4141. Obsessive</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Compulsive
Personality Disorder. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4142. Bo</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">rderline
Personality Disorder., </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4343.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Paranoid
Personality Disorder</span></p><p align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Orcdd8GgvM4/YQ-pv2wAgZI/AAAAAAAAHhw/3_g9Yb_VRkwfLG1iQvLVhhKbEve-0FxyACLcBGAsYHQ/s330/Midlife11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="330" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Orcdd8GgvM4/YQ-pv2wAgZI/AAAAAAAAHhw/3_g9Yb_VRkwfLG1iQvLVhhKbEve-0FxyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Midlife11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><b>Theme 8: Midlife Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey
(14 podcasts)</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4444.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Awakening
to Midlife<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4545.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Midlife Journeying <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4646.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Emotional Awareness of Mortality</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4747.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Time for Reassessment <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4848.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reassessment
of “Dreams. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4949. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">De-Illusioning </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">5050.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Redeeming the “Shadow”</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5151.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(Re-) Emergence of Sexuality and Intimacy Needs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5252.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sexuality
and Intimacy Needs: </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Women’s Experience</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5353.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Balancing the Masculine
and the Feminine</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5454.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Moving Toward Integrity </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">5555.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Atonement (At-One-Men)t. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">5656.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Aging
Gracefully </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">5757.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Spirituality for the Post-Midlife Years</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 23.75pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 23.75pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xprV8zDQBnY/YQ-qdtvMHSI/AAAAAAAAHiA/Irph9sOSQyEGvUQvnosEQTDSJjeKJ4CkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s247/Acceptance%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="247" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xprV8zDQBnY/YQ-qdtvMHSI/AAAAAAAAHiA/Irph9sOSQyEGvUQvnosEQTDSJjeKJ4CkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Acceptance%2B2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
conclude with some significant quotes from the podcasts, something I would like
to leave as a legacy from these podcasts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Acceptance of oneself is …the acid test of one’s whole outlook on life.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Carl Jung </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">“If you have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WHY</i> to live for, you can live any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HOW.</i>” Nietzsche<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If the only prayer you ever say in your life
is ‘Thank you’, that is enough” Meister Eckhart<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“There are only two ways to live
your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a
miracle.” Albert Einstein</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Split the wood, and I </i><o:p></o:p><i>am there.</i><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><i>Turn
over the stone, and there you will find me</i><span style="font-style: italic;">.” Jesus, in the Gospel of
Thomas, #77)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AD_wqrnkVWk/YQ-qtM7CxSI/AAAAAAAAHiE/SkvPccaKzjghsIBtSBrHkdZ8LyHmZHvqACLcBGAsYHQ/s255/Wonder%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bbeing%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="255" height="198" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AD_wqrnkVWk/YQ-qtM7CxSI/AAAAAAAAHiE/SkvPccaKzjghsIBtSBrHkdZ8LyHmZHvqACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Wonder%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bbeing%2B1.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you once again, for listening, for your support and
appreciation. May your life be healthy and happy!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Theme Song </b>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Listen to the Spirit.” </i>Lyric by Jose
Parappully SDB.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sung by Yesudas Karakkatttu SDB <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Spirit is in us,
around us!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Speaking to us…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Through all that
happens to us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And around us.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inviting and exhorting
us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To health and
wholeness.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Come let us listen to
the Sprit<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let’s grow in our
psyche and soul.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Background music:</b>
Composed and performed by Yesudas Karakkattu, SDB<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxg939s0MsM/YQ-sGqpRq8I/AAAAAAAAHiQ/Nb4gGIGX43UUC8-lwH99-ucjwpn1qnPQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Psyche%2B%2526%2BSoul%2Bcover-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxg939s0MsM/YQ-sGqpRq8I/AAAAAAAAHiQ/Nb4gGIGX43UUC8-lwH99-ucjwpn1qnPQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Psyche%2B%2526%2BSoul%2Bcover-new.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><p></p></div>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-42020286079196015102021-08-07T23:01:00.000-07:002021-08-07T23:01:14.248-07:00Psyche & Soul 20: TRANSFORMATION THROUGH COMMUNITY & COMPASSION<p> <b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Psyche
& Soul 20</span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TRANSFORMATION THROUGH COMMUNITY & COMPASSION</span></b><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Podcast
link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-20-PSYCHE--SOUL-47-emfkd8"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-20-PSYCHE--SOUL-47-emfkd8</span></a><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
podcast last week (No. 19) referred to the massive disruption of life that
covid-19 has ushered in. However, in the depth of this disruption that is quite
overwhelming, lies the opportunity to create a more beautiful and humane world.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtTkax7znhc/YQ9q_kncNYI/AAAAAAAAHfM/2OjEbujoznQNncCb8fjGQH-DmiVUaQgnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Transformation%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="259" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtTkax7znhc/YQ9q_kncNYI/AAAAAAAAHfM/2OjEbujoznQNncCb8fjGQH-DmiVUaQgnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Transformation%2B5.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEEDS
OF TRANSFORMATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
we are used to hearing, in every crisis there is an opportunity. The world as
we knew is dead and a new world is struggling to be born. We are witnesses and
participants in these birth pangs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
pandemic has forced us to ask some fundamental existential questions,
disquieting questions about the deeper realities of life which, earlier, would
have been smothered under the relentless pace of our driven way of life. This
questioning is paving the way toward transformation of life and priorities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">As Otto Scharmer,
Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) writes in his blog:
“As systems collapse, people rise. People rise to the occasion in an absolutely
remarkable manner. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of volunteers have
shown up in their own countries and communities to help their neighbors …. The
resilience of the human spirit, the activation of immense profound love and
altruistic action, and the deep connections humans feel to each other in such a
moment of crisis are moving and awe-inspiring.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3oApQuJ1o4/YQ9rbHu6r7I/AAAAAAAAHfU/8pZxY1hC2J0BOoIXEUpg8exmrNy9hQpKACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Community.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3oApQuJ1o4/YQ9rbHu6r7I/AAAAAAAAHfU/8pZxY1hC2J0BOoIXEUpg8exmrNy9hQpKACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Community.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
TIME FOR COMMUNITY AND COMPASSION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Social
scientists such as Otto Scharmer, Bob Hanson, Peter Block, Margaret Wheatley and
others are reaching a consensus that the way forward from the Covid -19
disruption is through community and compassion. Today, we do not know what the
future is going to be, even in the next few months. The challenge is to stay
together as a strong community to face what is coming. We are challenged to create
the kind of space in which we can feel together and shape together the world
that is struggling to emerge.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ3CtJuJ7Ro/YQ9sLZD5gUI/AAAAAAAAHfc/XQdxqiDBn6gEC8aZ8NVZ-1LMKYuoxI2-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s272/Compassion%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" height="185" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ3CtJuJ7Ro/YQ9sLZD5gUI/AAAAAAAAHfc/XQdxqiDBn6gEC8aZ8NVZ-1LMKYuoxI2-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Compassion%2B1.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
a time when life is disrupted and social connections fragmented the greatest
need is to build community. At a time when distress is commonplace and so many
are wrestling with pain and fear, the need is to reach out in compassion. At a
time when loneliness is at a peak, the need is to connect with one another. It
is time to reach out in empathy, to be motivated by collective wellbeing, to
move from “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ego systems to eco systems</i>”
to use Otto Scharmer’s favourite phrase. Covid-19 has reminded us of our
interconnectedness and interdependence. We survive or sink together. As Pope
Francis says in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fratelli Tutti</i>, what
we need is the realization that every member of our human race is brother or
sister to every other member, no matter how distant or unfamiliar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bricks
in the Building of Community</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4m23-2Ju-d8/YQ9s2X9zveI/AAAAAAAAHfk/oNwu2mkp9AoB3lavWXBb8ydC3tRbGHj7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s362/vulnerability%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="362" height="123" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4m23-2Ju-d8/YQ9s2X9zveI/AAAAAAAAHfk/oNwu2mkp9AoB3lavWXBb8ydC3tRbGHj7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/vulnerability%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Sharing Our Vulnerability </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We build communities when we share our
vulnerabilities. The deeper we share from the inside of us honestly, revealing
our pain, fears and anxieties, our uncertainties and insecurities, the deeper the
others feel the need to share theirs. When we share our hardships and are
sensitive to the hardships others face, experience one another’s pain, we
create a bond. We learn to listen deeply to each other. Mary Oliver expresses this
dynamic poetically in Wild Geese: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tell
me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.” </i>This sharing and
listening result in a mutual opening and expansion of the intelligence of the
heart leading to widening of the circle of compassion. Community happens.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSbUIEYDQ4k/YQ9t5pRwXKI/AAAAAAAAHfs/XyHw-Cw-7hobxE7TO9mb8QbbWYzvUfl-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Inclusiveness%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSbUIEYDQ4k/YQ9t5pRwXKI/AAAAAAAAHfs/XyHw-Cw-7hobxE7TO9mb8QbbWYzvUfl-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Inclusiveness%2B1.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Transcending
Categorization and Exclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Community building calls for trans-categorization
thinking. Especially at times of crisis the temptation is to see people through
categories – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">us and them </i>(of all
sorts). Categorization leads to judgment, contempt and exclusion. Instead of
categorization what is needed is curiosity about others. We need to suspend old
habits of judgment, have an eagerness to learn about others, see them with
fresh eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to listen deeply and
non-judgmentally. Curiosity and non-judgmental, deep listening will lead us to
discover others are no different from ourselves and hence to inclusion and
empathy. It helps us break down and cross barriers that divide the world into
“us and them” and create an inclusive society.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHPe1J7qzx4/YQ9u9RyQoaI/AAAAAAAAHf0/ozE4FRJzJmAlUa29jr1_0nhS2cpq9KX9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/self-other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHPe1J7qzx4/YQ9u9RyQoaI/AAAAAAAAHf0/ozE4FRJzJmAlUa29jr1_0nhS2cpq9KX9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/self-other.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Transformation
of Attention<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Building community calls for a transformation of
attention – from self to the other. We need to shift our gaze very consciously
away from self to the other, to the world out there. We need to remove the
blindfold of self-focus that prevent us from truly seeing the other as the
other is and the situations in which the other is caught up, as they really are.
It is this kind of conscious attention toward the other that awakens empathy.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuhzU8RxHUg/YQ9vkUldUZI/AAAAAAAAHf8/1RzrnlB-JZYTId9Q0iT9k1bxAuW45raxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s250/Collaboration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="250" height="202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuhzU8RxHUg/YQ9vkUldUZI/AAAAAAAAHf8/1RzrnlB-JZYTId9Q0iT9k1bxAuW45raxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Collaboration.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Competition to Collaboration<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Community building calls for moving from competition
to collaboration. The questions to ask are: What will make all of us flourish,
not just me? What is the shared future we want to create together?
Transformation happens when we come together and pursue a common purpose– the
wellbeing of all. When we do that, we turn crisis into opportunity. This calls
for courage to let go of self-interest and parochial thinking, to be empathic
and generous, to build bridges and alliances across differences.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmwowsJaRTk/YQ9wBe6sa0I/AAAAAAAAHgE/NTcQHWXFB4Me8kgT-qorx_DRW2fxCKjnACLcBGAsYHQ/s310/earth%2Bcare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmwowsJaRTk/YQ9wBe6sa0I/AAAAAAAAHgE/NTcQHWXFB4Me8kgT-qorx_DRW2fxCKjnACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/earth%2Bcare.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Caring
for the Earth<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Creating community calls for caring for our common
home - the earth. As Pope Francis exhorts us in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laudato Si</i>, we need to develop greater ecological sensitivity that
heals the divide between us humans and the cosmos that we inhabit. Compassion
needs to be extended to the earth that is bleeding through the uncaring and
insensitive over-exploitation of resources. Currently we are consuming 1.5
times the earth’s capacity to renew itself, hastening its exhaustion.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LfuvnEw_aI/YQ9wvq3uE7I/AAAAAAAAHgM/InLHPkPvABEdVFjwW52y5G8-3oCG5ugQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s227/peace%2Bwarrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="222" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LfuvnEw_aI/YQ9wvq3uE7I/AAAAAAAAHgM/InLHPkPvABEdVFjwW52y5G8-3oCG5ugQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/peace%2Bwarrior.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being
a Peace Warrior</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, to build community we are called to be a
peaceful, conciliatory presence in the midst of violent situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accordingly to Margaret Wheatley this calls
for cultivating virtuous dispositions and practices: compassion, courage, curiosity,
kindness, understanding, empathy, vulnerability – and forgiveness. We are
invited to access the deeper levels of our humanity where these abide and give
them expression. For this we need to create moments of stillness, moments to
connect to their source. We need to slow down and put a break on our driven
life. We need to become more contemplative. Contemplation enables us to become
more calm, peaceful and gentle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so, we are invited to journey on, chastened by the pandemic, courageously
facing adversity and unpredictability, with changed perspectives and purposes,
motivated to build communities of love through compassion, curiosity and courage.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFePdFucqVc/YQ9xa21iIkI/AAAAAAAAHgY/TTCOQHNpiooVLkAvOuy726Cdz5WIu0XgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/transformation%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFePdFucqVc/YQ9xa21iIkI/AAAAAAAAHgY/TTCOQHNpiooVLkAvOuy726Cdz5WIu0XgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/transformation%2B2.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introspection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the call to transformation that
we are individually and collectively sensing? How are we being challenged by
this call?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Which of the suggested means of building
community appeals to you or you feel you have to practise more? Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To which one practice will you commit
yourself in order to create compassionate communities?<span style="background: white; color: #262626;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Prayer</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the Letter to the Colossians (Ch. 3, 12-14)St. Paul speaks
of some the qualities that help us build communion in community, such as compassion,
kindness, lowliness, meekness, patience and forgivness. We could read this
passage and stay with whatever is evoked in us and spend some time in prayer,
asking God help to build communities of compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have a pleasant weekend. Be well. Be safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-37439360228652227802021-08-01T04:39:00.002-07:002021-08-01T04:39:32.944-07:00Psyche & Soul 57: SPIRITUALITY FOR THE POST-MIDLIFE YEARS<p> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Psyche
& Soul 57</span></b></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SPIRITUALITY FOR THE POST-MIDLIFE
YEARS</span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Podcast link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: red;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-57-Psyche--Soul--121-e1570kc" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-57-Psyche--Soul--121-e1570kc</span></a> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand (sumedhacentre@gmail.com) with another
edition of Psyche & Soul.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In this edition I present some salient
features of a spirituality for the post-midlife years.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">**********************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiXss97_JN8/YQZ4lGU4-CI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/h7TWyxOqDYo5yE0rDBDoMCJHoUGxLxGsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/spirituality%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiXss97_JN8/YQZ4lGU4-CI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/h7TWyxOqDYo5yE0rDBDoMCJHoUGxLxGsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/spirituality%2B2.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Let me begin with a true story. Thomas grew up in a devout catholic
family. He was quite fond of his religion. He liked to go to Mass and serve as
an altar boy. One of his brothers became a priest and a sister a religious nun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, after his college studies he became a staunch Marxist, distanced
himself from his religious roots and began to disparage all forms of religious
practices as foolish superstition. He even participated in anti-church rallies,
denouncing the clergy. Years passed that way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now in his sixties he has gone through a re-conversion. He is again a
devout catholic, joining in family prayers, a daily church goer and an active
participant in parish activities. He loves especially the Benediction, with the
ritualistic ambience of incense and candles. His erstwhile Marxist friends are
flabbergasted and even make fun of him. But he does not care.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zjFnMFP8Fw/YQZ41sMy91I/AAAAAAAAHdY/N4HujqDrvhUpgWzRnnAOr_C4WMUdXarNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s343/spirituality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="343" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zjFnMFP8Fw/YQZ41sMy91I/AAAAAAAAHdY/N4HujqDrvhUpgWzRnnAOr_C4WMUdXarNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/spirituality.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">RE-EXPERIENCING THE SACRED</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Re-conversion experience, like that of Thomas, is quite common in the
post midlife years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Often during the journey through adolescence and young adulthood the
sense of the sacred recedes and sometimes disappears from conscious awareness
and expression. However, as life slows down and one moves toward the sunset
years, the sense of the sacred remerges.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Post-midlifers begin to ask some ultimate questions: What is the meaning
of life? What happens after death?... A longing for the earlier connectedness
with the Divine surfaces along with desire to enhance and deepen it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The sense of the sacred is manifest in the sense of gratitude for the
ways their life has evolved through ups and downs, the many ways their life has
been blessed, in the sense of awe and wonder they experience in the nostalgic
reminiscence of a long life and in the new openness to and enjoyment of sacred
rituals and ceremonies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Further, post-midlifers become more patient and forgiving, more accepting
of vulnerabilities, theirs and those of others, more acknowledging of mistakes
and failures.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They begin to see life’s hurdles as spiritual lessons, opportunities for
growth and understanding. They discover in the mystical/spiritual realm a new
kind of help and solutions for life’s problems and challenges.</span></p></div>
<div class="WordSection3">
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IsAY877Xef8/YQZ5L_phj9I/AAAAAAAAHdg/tKOKHTsGf4E6suobViqJeQPzNgbFgMEHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Quiet%2Btime%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IsAY877Xef8/YQZ5L_phj9I/AAAAAAAAHdg/tKOKHTsGf4E6suobViqJeQPzNgbFgMEHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Quiet%2Btime%2B6.jpg" width="300" /></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div></o:p></span></b></h3>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOME CHARACTERISTICS</span></b></h3></div>
<div class="WordSection4">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our spirituality is the
way we live the existential realities of everyday life, with an attention to and
reverence for the transcendental—that which is beyond us and the phenomenal
world. It is not just one aspect of our life. It involves and embraces the
whole of our life in the context of everyday living.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our way of life and
consequently our spirituality is conditioned by our life situation and
environment in which we live. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The post
midlife years call for a spirituality</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">keeping with the personal realities of those years:</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">retirement</span>, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">diminishing physical and mental capacities</span>, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">emotional awareness of mortality. Below are
some characteristics of a spirituality relevant for the post midlife years.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ou_04lrr4Y/YQZ8lXOY4XI/AAAAAAAAHd4/L6c-5ils9bM69y8uAdaFiUXng0cqqPacwCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Aging%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ou_04lrr4Y/YQZ8lXOY4XI/AAAAAAAAHd4/L6c-5ils9bM69y8uAdaFiUXng0cqqPacwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Aging%2B6.jpg" width="275" /></a></div></div>
<div class="WordSection5">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spirituality of Diminishment</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">As we grow older many things are taken away from us
-- energy, vision, hearing, mobility, memory, mental sharpness. As we diminish
in body, mind and spirit, our influence and involvement in the world around us are
also lessened. We experience loss of power, status, influence that we once
enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We are called to find God in these painful losses
and limitations. We are called to trust. We are called to engage in the prayer
of “acceptance and letting go.”</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We pray,
“The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”</span></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are challenged to learn to receive. In our more
active days we were proud of our capacity to give, to contribute. Now we are
called to receive than give. We are called to humbly recognise our limitations
and dependency on others. We acknowledge and gracefully accept our dependency
needs.</span></span> </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ga0uHHsE77s/YQZ93I9PVHI/AAAAAAAAHeA/qyJe4q0m7cI8phg3auBKvCBWAgHyWC2zgCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/slowing%2Bdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ga0uHHsE77s/YQZ93I9PVHI/AAAAAAAAHeA/qyJe4q0m7cI8phg3auBKvCBWAgHyWC2zgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/slowing%2Bdown.jpg" width="275" /></a></div></div><div class="WordSection6">
<h3 style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Spirituality of Slowing Down</span></b></h3></div>
<div class="WordSection7">
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Spirituality of Diminishment is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Spirituality of Slowing Down”</i> – adapting
our way of being in the world in keeping with our diminishment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<h3><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are invited to free
ourselves from all that is unessential and unimportant at this time of our
life;<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">to focus less on achievements and accomplishments
and to enjoy the process of living; to assess our self-worth less in terms of
what we do, what we are able to accomplish, and more in terms of who we are,
the persons we have become.</span></span></h3>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We were used to measuring our worth in terms of our
capacity to accomplish things. Activity filled our lives. But now we can’t do
much. Our limited energy is now spent in trying to get from one day to another.
Our lives slow down and in that slowing down we are more able to be present to
the here-and-now, to all that is happening in and around us. In that slowing
down we have the opportunity to become more of a contemplative -- to take time
to reminisce, to marvel at the daily miracles around us, to stand in awe and
wonder.</span></span></span></h3><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKCavyi2smU/YQZ-LTYOh4I/AAAAAAAAHeI/U_kLsYqw23coYPtBrNeRTpaSMmUcTypWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s279/Contemplation%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="279" height="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKCavyi2smU/YQZ-LTYOh4I/AAAAAAAAHeI/U_kLsYqw23coYPtBrNeRTpaSMmUcTypWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Contemplation%2B1.jpg" width="279" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spirituality of Contemplation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">A spirituality of slowing down leads to a
contemplative spirituality. To be a contemplative is to take a “long, loving,
lingering look” at everything around us. We become contemplatives when we begin
to experience the extraordinary in the ordinary, a deeper meaning in the
mundane, when we focus totally on the here-and-now experience.</span></span></h3>
<h3><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are invited to make our prayer more and more
contemplative. Contemplative prayer is simply being present to God, living in
the awareness of God’s presence, saying nothing, doing nothing.</span></span></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Contemplation is closely linked to a sense of awe
and wonder — the ability to be moved by the daily miracles happening around us.
Albert Einstein observed that a person “who can no longer wonder and stand rapt
in awe is as good as dead.” In our post-midlife years we have ample time to stand
in awe and wonder, especially as we engage in nostalgic reminiscence.</span></span></span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_-CmYO-qes/YQZ_XDISV0I/AAAAAAAAHeY/fPHZybMYVWQ6sqrwiyPmJ5dT3Mr7RZrbACLcBGAsYHQ/s258/Appreciation%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="258" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_-CmYO-qes/YQZ_XDISV0I/AAAAAAAAHeY/fPHZybMYVWQ6sqrwiyPmJ5dT3Mr7RZrbACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Appreciation%2B2.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Spirituality of Gratitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">A contemplative spirituality in which we
are able stand in awe and wonder leads to a spirituality of grateful,
appreciative living. As we reminisce over our long journey of life, we find so
much to be grateful for. So many wonderful things have happened to us and
continue to happen to us, even amidst the fragilities and vulnerabilities of
advancing age. We express gratitude for the daily miracles that are part of our
lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">However, gratitude is not just saying
“thank you” for the gifts received or for the good things that happen to us.
Gratitude, as psychologist Robert Emmons defines it, is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the capacity to feel the emotion of thankfulness on a regular and
consistent basis, across situations and over time</i>.” We live gratefully even
in the midst of pain and inconveniences. Gratitude is an appreciative
disposition that we cultivate, an attitude that enables us to see the silver
lining even around dark clouds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gratitude is a virtue
that has been found to have enormous consequences for physical, emotional and
spiritual well-being. As such it has also a utilitarian effect in the
post-midlife years. Research has shown that grateful people fall less often
sick, and even when they fall sick, they recover faster. More importantly,
grateful people live significantly longer and happier lives than ungrateful
people.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEcAEJySaGk/YQaADwj6cpI/AAAAAAAAHeo/K7KkPidrSFQkXlFgHcY0yt2w2ZKnZPa4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s269/Reconciliation%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="269" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEcAEJySaGk/YQaADwj6cpI/AAAAAAAAHeo/K7KkPidrSFQkXlFgHcY0yt2w2ZKnZPa4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Reconciliation%2B3.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spirituality of Atonement<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Post midlife years is
a time to let go of past hurts and resentments which have such detrimental
effect on our physical and mental health. Dr. Herbert Benson, Head of the
Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University, refers to the great harm
that lack of forgiveness does to us. .</span><span lang="EN-GB">“There’s a
physiology of forgiveness,” he observes. “When you do not forgive, it will chew
you up.” That is, it will destroy us from within. We let go of hurts
resentments, and we reach out in forgiveness to others, so that we can look
forward to death without fear and in peace.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2CDUANM0Q0/YQaBaePTowI/AAAAAAAAHew/i2NmVO_p3GgT-9IG5JVQnTHpwM-Vfug6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s310/surrender%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2CDUANM0Q0/YQaBaePTowI/AAAAAAAAHew/i2NmVO_p3GgT-9IG5JVQnTHpwM-Vfug6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/surrender%2B2.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Spirituality of Surrender</span></b></p></div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As we recognize our limitations and
lack of control over many aspects of our lives, we learn to surrender in faith
and trust to a God who is in control of our lives. We pay heed to what Jesus
told the Centurion: “Fear is useless, only trust is needed.” We trust that the Lord
will take care of us. We do not need to worry. We practice a spirituality of
surrender. We make our own the the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethesmane</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">:</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">
“Let your will be done, not mine.” Or like Mary of Nazareth, we say in faith
and trust “Feat!” “Let it be as you wish.)</span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJIJnTJ7up4/YQaCTI5lXRI/AAAAAAAAHe4/TboX2lWAO7o7hroqqxUDyKqQcAN5p48xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s224/surrender%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJIJnTJ7up4/YQaCTI5lXRI/AAAAAAAAHe4/TboX2lWAO7o7hroqqxUDyKqQcAN5p48xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/surrender%2B7.jpg" width="224" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Introspection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Is there anything in this podcast that touches me specially? If
yes, what is it and why?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How am I experiencing the re-emergence of the sacred in my life?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which of the post-midlife spiritualties are part of my life today
and which do I need to practice a little more at this period of my life?</span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus’s
assuring last words to us before he returned to his Father are: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am with you always</i>!” In the Old
Testament God through his prophets repeatedly tells his people, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”</i> We
could stay a while in the presence of this God who accompanies us with love and
care, who understands our inmost thoughts and feelings, desires and longings
and talk to God about all that is going on in our lives at this period or what
we experience when we look to the years ahead.. Or, we could Isaiah 43, 1-5,
where God says: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Fear not… when you pass
through the water I will be with you; in the rivers you will not drown; when
you walk though fire , you will not be burned; the flames shall not consume
you… Because you are precious in my yes… and because I love you.” </i>And
remain gratefully in the presence of this loving and protective God with
whatever this passage evokes in us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVyb12RW8Tw/YQaGwggjunI/AAAAAAAAHfA/zQexzgKdxcw_kLJl-riYOv3OyK1IOOQlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s255/god%2Bwith%2Bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="197" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVyb12RW8Tw/YQaGwggjunI/AAAAAAAAHfA/zQexzgKdxcw_kLJl-riYOv3OyK1IOOQlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/god%2Bwith%2Bus.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Have a
blessed weekend. Stay safe. Stay Happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thank you
for listening/reading.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-52429951996432418002021-07-24T08:26:00.002-07:002021-07-24T08:26:59.922-07:00Psyche & Soul 56: Post Midlife -XIII AGING GRACEFULLY<p> P<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">odcast Link:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-56-Psyche--Soul--119-e14sa5v" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-56-Psyche--Soul--119-e14sa5v</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand (sumedhacentre@gmail.com) with another edition of Psyche & Soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">In this edition I present practices that help us age gracefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BdCxQhP8Kc/YPu9kEfD3ZI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/9qiE50kAmboP4UhkVG3fnztPZrkk6n4_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s327/Aging.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BdCxQhP8Kc/YPu9kEfD3ZI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/9qiE50kAmboP4UhkVG3fnztPZrkk6n4_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Aging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">While I was in a neighbouring country for a Workshop I visited a nearby convent where there were a few nuns I knew. While taking tea the Superior of the community told me, “You must visit the youngest member of our community.” I was taken to an upstairs room where I met Sister Gladys (name changed). She had a beaming smile and her entire face had a glow of joy which lit up the room. She engaged me in pleasant conversation. She was 97 years young! She had been lying in her bed for a few months now. She had to be helped on to a wheelchair, for her to move anywhere. Despite her condition she appeared so happy and fulfilled and had the capacity to make others happy. I said to myself, “That’s what means to age gracefully!” My encounter with Sr. Gladys happened more than 20 years ago. But the image of the beaming, joyful sister who had aged so gracefully remains an inedible and delightful memory. There are countless others like Sister Gladys who have been able live happy, graceful lives and enjoy wellbeing even in old age despite many setbacks and limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4N5JGGy0v0/YPv8uxorzbI/AAAAAAAAHcA/4NLovXIWcfUs3xicD3mxI95W1lyqEv9qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s277/Midlife%2B7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4N5JGGy0v0/YPv8uxorzbI/AAAAAAAAHcA/4NLovXIWcfUs3xicD3mxI95W1lyqEv9qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife%2B7.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Post midlife-years can be difficult for a variety of reasons. The slowing down of metabolism and weakening immune system can lead to disabilities and illness. Loss of hearing, impaired vision, and limited motor agility can be particularly frustrating. There can be lack of feelings of self-efficacy for a variety of reasons. The negative attitudes expressed by family/community members, colleagues, and younger people toward the incompetence, dependence, or old-fashioned ways of older people can lead many of them feel quite discouraged about their self-worth. Despite these challenges it is possible to age gracefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>RESEARCH FINDINGS</b></div></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Research on aging provides many insights as to what is required to age gracefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqMbyhs0pvU/YPv615toOOI/AAAAAAAAHbo/bVLCeiHA3WE-CJm_yyM33CsfvmiBtGP_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Aging%2B4.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqMbyhs0pvU/YPv615toOOI/AAAAAAAAHbo/bVLCeiHA3WE-CJm_yyM33CsfvmiBtGP_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Aging%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: red;"><b><i>The MacArthur Foundation Study on Aging</i></b></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">was undertaken by group of 16 scientists drawn from biology, neuroscience, neuropsychology, epidemiology, sociology, genetics, psychology, neurology, physiology, and geriatric medicine. Their conclusion on what leads to successful aging: the ability to maintain three key behaviours or characteristics: a) low risk of disease and disease-related disability; b) high mental and physical function; and c) active engagement with life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FikWvO6deD4/YPv7s6IBwBI/AAAAAAAAHbw/RCai3QlYZqwX6I_ozryQcvh5d2wPS9zaACLcBGAsYHQ/s582/Mills%2BStudy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="582" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FikWvO6deD4/YPv7s6IBwBI/AAAAAAAAHbw/RCai3QlYZqwX6I_ozryQcvh5d2wPS9zaACLcBGAsYHQ/w282-h112/Mills%2BStudy.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Mills Longitudinal Study</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> compared cohorts of sick and healthy women at ages 41, 51, 61. This study too identified three characteristics of those who age successfully: a) i</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">ncrease in life satisfaction; b)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">reduced negative affect;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> c) </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">increase in generative activities. Negative affect refers to emotions as such as anger, guilt, shame and so on. Generative activities refer to actions that express care for and attention to others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQpkmeHudcA/YPv8aNoxMEI/AAAAAAAAHb4/wOAzLIImtHYNsNnu1yEO8nthFwDUAcZ6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s272/Harvard%2BStudy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQpkmeHudcA/YPv8aNoxMEI/AAAAAAAAHb4/wOAzLIImtHYNsNnu1yEO8nthFwDUAcZ6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Harvard%2BStudy.jpg" /></a></div><p></p></span><p></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The Harvard Study of Adult Development</span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> - </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">“<i>arguably the longest study of aging in the world</i>” - consisted of three separate cohorts of 824 individuals—all selected as teenagers for different facets of mental and physical health nearly a century ago and studied for their entire lives. The first is a sample of 268 socially advantaged Harvard graduates born about 1920—”<i>the</i> <i>longest prospective study of physical and mental health in the world.” </i>The Second, is a sample of 456 socially disadvantaged Inner City men born about 1930—”<i>the</i> <i>longest prospective study of ‘blue collar’ adult development in the world.” </i>Third is a sample of 90 middle-class, intellectually gifted women born about 1910<i>—”the longest prospective study of women’s development in the world.” </i> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbhsBow4gBA/YPv9d_LbXpI/AAAAAAAAHcI/OZ2cgxTRMc0sIEOZ_0aL3ZEYMnMgGHY_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s279/Aging%2BWell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbhsBow4gBA/YPv9d_LbXpI/AAAAAAAAHcI/OZ2cgxTRMc0sIEOZ_0aL3ZEYMnMgGHY_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Aging%2BWell.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">George Vaillant, a former director of study, writes in<i> Aging Well</i>: “It is not the bad things that happen to us that doom us: it is the good people who happen to us at any age that facilitate enjoyable old age.” Successful aging is also facilitated by a capacity for gratitude, for forgiveness, and loving and being loved by a particular person. Alcohol abuse consistently predicted unsuccessful aging, in part because alcoholism damaged future social supports. Learning to play and create after retirement and learning to gain younger friends as one loses older ones were also significant contributors. Objective good physical health was less important to successful aging than subjective good health. What is meant by this is that “it is all right to be ill as long as one does not feel sick.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The Harvard Study also identified some significant characteristics of those who age gracefully: They care about others, are open to new ideas, and within the limits of physical health maintain usefulness to society and help others. They show cheerful tolerance of the difficulties of old age. They insist on sensible autonomy (doing for themselves and by themselves what they are able to) while willing to acknowledge their dependency needs and gracefully accept the help offered them. When ill, they are patients for whom a doctor enjoys caring. They are optimistic and look at the bright side of life. They maintain hope in life. They retain a sense of humour and a capacity for play. They are able to spend time in the nostalgic reminiscence of the past, yet they remain curious and continue to learn from the next generation. They try to maintain contact with old friends while making new ones.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKQtiaEEQxA/YPv-MYv-A8I/AAAAAAAAHcQ/WtQGOYdePd0CM9hL4-Pq5bgQNLYXHA8HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s267/Nun%2BStudy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKQtiaEEQxA/YPv-MYv-A8I/AAAAAAAAHcQ/WtQGOYdePd0CM9hL4-Pq5bgQNLYXHA8HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Nun%2BStudy.jpg" /></a></div><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>The Nun Study</b></span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">,</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> directed by David Snowdon and colleagues (originally begun as a study of Alzheimer’s disease)</span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">asked </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">“Why do some of the sisters age gracefully, continuing to teach and serve, retaining their mental faculties into their eighties and nineties, even past one hundred? Why do others—who have lived such similar lives—appear to lose themselves, forgetting their closest friends and relatives and, in the end, becoming almost wholly disconnected from the world around them?” (<i>Aging Gracefully,</i> p.2)</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The risk of death at any given year after age sixty-five is about 25 percent lower for the School Sisters of Notre Dame the subjects of the Nun Study than it is for the general population of women in the United States. What is it that helped these sisters to live dramatically longer (average age: 89; the youngest was 84; the oldest 106 years), and healthier, lives than their lay counterparts? The study provided the following answers:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Exercise</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b> </b>All the walking the sisters had done-- at a time when motorized transport was rarely available at the beginning of the last century—had helped them to live long and healthy. Exercise is one of the most reliable ways to preserve cardiovascular health. Exercise improves blood flow, bringing the brain the oxygen and the nutrients it needs to function well. Exercise reduces the stress hormones and increases the chemicals that nourish the brain cells. These changes help ward off depression and some kinds of damage to the brain tissue.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Education:</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> About 85% of the sisters in the Nun study had bachelor’s degrees and about 45 % had master's degrees—“astounding statistics for any age group, let alone for women born in the early part of the [20<sup>th</sup>] century.” Not only did the less-educated sisters have higher mortality rates, but their mental and physical abilities were much more limited if they did reach old age. These data are in keeping with earlier findings. As early as the 19<sup>th</sup> century, British scientists had discovered a strong link between education and health.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Language</b></span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> Language skills also had a significant impact on health and wellbeing in old age. The data from the Nun Study tended to confirm that healthy subjects were more proficient in sophisticated word use. They were apt at using multisyllabic words, such as <i>particularly</i>, <i>privileged</i>, and <i>quarantined</i>. In contrast, the sisters who later developed Alzheimer's more frequently used monosyllabic words, such as <i>girls</i>, <i>boys</i>, and <i>sick</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Nutrition</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> What mattered was not just the quality of the food, the social environment of the meal also mattered. Snowdon wrote: “What I now know for sure is that nutrition for healthy aging is not just about eating certain foods or downing a certain milligrams of prescribed number of vitamins each day. It also depends on where we eat, whom we eat with, and whether the meal nourishes our heart, mind, and soul as well as our body,”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Positive Emotions</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>:</b> A positive outlook, especially early in life, contributed to longevity and wellbeing. In the autobiographies the sisters had written when they were an average age of twenty-two years old, positive emotional content strongly predicted who would live the longest lives. The sisters who scored the lowest number of positive-emotion sentences had twice the risk of death at any age when compared to those who were in the highest group. “This is a most extraordinary finding: A writing sample from early adult life offered a powerful clue as to who would be alive more than six decades later,” Snowdon observed.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Interestingly Snowdon refers to two factors that contributed to longevity and wellbeing which was not tested by the Nun Study design, “and yet after fifteen years of working with the sisters, I believe strongly in their importance” he observed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chgdSv9G8ys/YPv-yfwa-_I/AAAAAAAAHcY/-g1VqkxMQRc9ruOsA2MdmyG0UV9bbTLPACLcBGAsYHQ/s343/spirituality.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="343" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chgdSv9G8ys/YPv-yfwa-_I/AAAAAAAAHcY/-g1VqkxMQRc9ruOsA2MdmyG0UV9bbTLPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/spirituality.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Deep Spirituality</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>.</b> The first is the deep spirituality that these women shared. Profound faith buffers the sorrows and tragedies that all of us experience, Snowdon wrote. Moreover, evidence is now starting to accumulate from other studies that prayer and contemplation have a positive influence on long-term health and wellbeing. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">A <i>Stanford Research Institution</i> study, for example, has concluded “that the inner life, rather than externals, is central” to health and happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Community</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b> </b>Convincing evidence is accumulating from other research, including those cited earlier in this article, that strong relationships as in marriage, membership in churches, clubs, or other social groups, and regular contact with family and friends all reduce the risk of death from the major killers such as coronary heart disease and stroke and enhance longevity. Community was a significant support system that the sisters shared.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UlsImLZSVo4/YPv_5CT3hyI/AAAAAAAAHcg/sknEzPpj798lBuEVwPIYoeyKnJDsIuYnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Community.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UlsImLZSVo4/YPv_5CT3hyI/AAAAAAAAHcg/sknEzPpj798lBuEVwPIYoeyKnJDsIuYnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Community.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">A Summary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Summarising the data from research cited, here is a list of attitudes and behaviours that enable us to age gracefully: Exercise of body and also of mind (through intellectual pursuits, maintaining curiosity and eagerness to learn), nutrition including a positive eating ambience, maintaining positive emotions, balancing independence and dependence, optimism and hope, sense of humour, thankful living, nostalgic reminiscence, helping others through generative activities, caring for and learning from future generation, healing from negative emotions, forgiveness, deep spirituality, and close relationships and community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Introspection<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do the research findings on aging gracefully evoke in you?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Which of the factors that promote graceful aging are you practising? To which do you need to give greater attention?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What are the implications for you personally, for your family or community?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">You may be aware persons like Sr. Gladys who have been able to age gracefully. Want van you learn from such persons?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbkeEA79WQo/YPwuUN7imaI/AAAAAAAAHco/ftxhQTFfhYUl0x0Zk3Do5mr34RvIWNhDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Peter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbkeEA79WQo/YPwuUN7imaI/AAAAAAAAHco/ftxhQTFfhYUl0x0Zk3Do5mr34RvIWNhDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Peter.jpg" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Prayer</span></i></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The Bible mentions a number of persons who have aged gracefully, remaining active and generative into ripe old age, such as the patriarchs Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Moses and David, Zechariah and Elizabeth… The Gospel of John (21, 18-19) has a scene in which Jesus describes what will happen to Peter in old age. We could read and stay with this passage or the stories concerning the other figures mentioned above and spend some time talking to God about what is evoked in us through this podcast and our reading and reflections.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Have a blessed and safe weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Thank you for listening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">\</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> Jose Parappully SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 22.8267px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span> </p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-40761396416259807312021-07-18T21:26:00.000-07:002021-07-18T21:26:00.651-07:00Psyche & Soul 55: Midlife XII ATONEMENT (AT-ONE-MENT)<p>Podcast link:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-decoration-line: underline;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-decoration-line: underline;">episodes/2-55-Psyche--Soul--</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-decoration-line: underline;">117-e14h1df</span></p><p>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">In this edition, I present another midlife
challenge: atonement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4cPID7it0E/YPRZgpa_EeI/AAAAAAAAHaE/cTfg2VH62rwBes46EXLk715jlwWnsptrACLcBGAsYHQ/s284/atonement%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4cPID7it0E/YPRZgpa_EeI/AAAAAAAAHaE/cTfg2VH62rwBes46EXLk715jlwWnsptrACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/atonement%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Integrity that we explored and reflected upon in the previous podcast
calls for atonement, understood as </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">at-one-ment</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,
becoming one, becoming whole.</span></p></div><div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">An essential challenge here is to work through and heal from the painful
feelings and experiences we have carried with us into midlife.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">At-one-ment involves reconciliation - making peace with self, with
others and may be also God, something that most of us find a real challenge.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6WIeBqjS2I/YPRb3j8TXiI/AAAAAAAAHaM/oU6Vv4iJnnkAkGsvkI44a1G5FOEtuC0eACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Reconciliation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6WIeBqjS2I/YPRb3j8TXiI/AAAAAAAAHaM/oU6Vv4iJnnkAkGsvkI44a1G5FOEtuC0eACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Reconciliation.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Reconciliation</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To experience atonement, we must come to terms first of all with guilt
over our own wrong doings. We need to forgive ourselves for our foolish choices
and decisions, for messing up our lives, and turning a deaf ear to the deepest
longings of our soul. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We need to let go our grievances against others for the real or imagined
damage they have done to us. We need to forgive and reconcile with people who
we feel put us on the wrong track or stood in the way of fulfilment of our
dreams.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the pursuit of our ambitions and misplaced priorities we might have
been unfaithful to our promises to others, to husbands and wives or to God as
religious men and women. We are challenged to right these wrongs, forgive
ourselves and others, as well as ask forgiveness. We are called to reconcile,
to reach out to others and end our alienation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Reconciliation is a challenge for most of us. Some of us are able to
achieve it, some of us do not. Some of us do not want to reconcile, preferring
to carry our hurt, anger and resentment, seeing our stubbornness and pride as
badges of strength.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEBzNw6R6mg/YPRcSyy3CiI/AAAAAAAAHaU/TtMRCdLfVIwHZR1LaBLnlMcPC9HR_KH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s269/Reconciliation%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEBzNw6R6mg/YPRcSyy3CiI/AAAAAAAAHaU/TtMRCdLfVIwHZR1LaBLnlMcPC9HR_KH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Reconciliation%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Antony and Rajan were very close friends who set up a business together.
The business thrived for a few years. Then profits declined, the ledger was
showing big losses. After a careful internal auditing it was discovered that
Rajan had been siphoning off money on various spurious accounts. Antony was
very angry and upset. He angrily confronted Rajan and resigned from the company
and decided not to have anything to do with Rajan or his family. This situation
went on for a quite a few years. During a spiritual retreat Antony had a
conversion experience. The words of the preacher on forgiveness touched him
deeply. Though painful, Antony decided to forgive Rajan and reconcile with him.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sr. Prabha had been the principal of a higher secondary school for
several years. She had worked hard to bring the school to a standard of
excellence and everyone was very happy with her. Ten years after she had taken
over, her Provincial wanted to give her a transfer. Her considerable talents
were needed elsewhere. Prabha talked the Provincial out of it.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Another three years passed. There was now a
new Provincial who also decided to transfer Prabha, who tried to talk her too out
of it. She shared with the new Provincial all the plans she had to take the
school to still</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">greater heights, and
that there were a number of works she had initiated that needed her attention.
However, the Provincial stuck to her decision. Prabha obeyed and took up her
new assignment, angry and resentful. She also stopped talking to her Provincial,
and continues to avoid her even now when that Provincial has finished her term
of office.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Antony realized
the futility of holding on to his anger and was able to let go and make peace.
Prabha was unable. She is still holding on to her hurt and resentment which
keeps her fragmented, splintered within herself, alienated from others. No
reconciliation, no atonement, no integrity.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04jI05F2QII/YPT5yKYVF7I/AAAAAAAAHac/q4qWRLAqrUICKP93vQxwk4Ilz66QZou4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s311/Acceptance%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04jI05F2QII/YPT5yKYVF7I/AAAAAAAAHac/q4qWRLAqrUICKP93vQxwk4Ilz66QZou4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Acceptance%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Acceptance</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Atonement is manifest also in the greater acceptance of the paradoxes of
life, between good and evil, failure and success; in the giving up of our rigid
and unbending opinions, and greater openness to contrary views; in becoming more
sober and less impulsive in our judgments and our behaviour; in the willingness
to acknowledge and accept more easily that we have been wrong on many matters
and in many situations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Atonement is
manifest in the capacity to accept and tolerate ambivalence, conflict and failure.
We no longer have the compulsion to be always perfect. We become more accepting
of our limitations as well as appreciating our strengths and our
accomplishments.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7D5xjdoysAk/YPT6NOjMmiI/AAAAAAAAHak/tMiDktRf-8MaClB3Epw2E5SrH5JmFamfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Inclusivness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7D5xjdoysAk/YPT6NOjMmiI/AAAAAAAAHak/tMiDktRf-8MaClB3Epw2E5SrH5JmFamfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Inclusivness.jpg" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Inclusiveness</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Atonement
also calls for becoming more ‘catholic’- more universal, more inclusive, making
space for everything and everyone in our heart, learning to cross narrow
boundaries.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> We exclude nothing and no one, rather we embrace and include all, breaking
down walls, broadening our perspectives and expanding our horizons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
acceptance and inclusion apply also to parts of our own selves and our personal
history that we have despised or rejected.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4NXhSFgBK8/YPT7CYnmgII/AAAAAAAAHas/gzdbZlOBXP8zfa82sEwRH-O1yHlpOj49gCLcBGAsYHQ/s262/mourning%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4NXhSFgBK8/YPT7CYnmgII/AAAAAAAAHas/gzdbZlOBXP8zfa82sEwRH-O1yHlpOj49gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mourning%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Mourning</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Atonement calls
for mourning. Mourning is grief over unrealized dreams and lost opportunities,
foolish decisions and roads not taken. It is coming to terms with our mistakes,
failures and disappointments, letting go and moving on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In authentic
mourning, we process the past and discover who we are as a result of our
experiences. We realise we cannot undo past events or the foolish choices and
decisions we made, or the wrongs that others have done to us. We accept them
and their consequences for us, who we have become as a result, and move on with
life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We have to mourn those aspects of our personality we were unable to
develop because of past choices or circumstances. We have to deal with the
disparity between who we are and who we had dreamed of becoming— that is, mourn
the person we have not, and now may never become.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shanti was brilliant in school. She had dreamed of becoming a doctor.
But when she completed her school finals, she felt a call to become a
religious. She felt she could fulfil both her dreams – be a religious nun, as
well as a doctor. She became a nun; but her dream of becoming a doctor was
never realized. After taking her religious vows, her superiors wanted her to be
in education. She was deeply disappointed. But she obeyed, though with some
initial resentment. She qualified in the educational field, obtaining a PhD,
the only one in her congregation to do so. She has accomplished much as a
well-recognized and appreciated educator. She still feels a tinge of sadness
when she recalls her unfulfilled dream, but she is also grateful when she
recalls how many lives she has touched as an educator.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76zjOo_kmdQ/YPT7QO8qdGI/AAAAAAAAHaw/hEOkQZLDERof8Afdy-nD7ExNIBKJszavwCLcBGAsYHQ/s296/mourning%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76zjOo_kmdQ/YPT7QO8qdGI/AAAAAAAAHaw/hEOkQZLDERof8Afdy-nD7ExNIBKJszavwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mourning%2B1.jpg" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mourning is not
regret. In regret we remain tied to a non-existent past, revelling in the “If
only…” wishing things were different. Historical events cannot be wished away. All
our wishing to the contrary will not make an iota of difference to the fact
that something happened, however unfortunate it was. But we can change our attitudes toward what
happened. We can accept what has happened as part of our history, as something
about which we today can do nothing and move on with our lives focusing on the
present and the future. This is mourning. This is what Shanti did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Challenge of
Atonement</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As psychologist Daniel Levinson observes, failure to undertake this challenge
of atonement can move us into late adulthood, bitter and resentful about perceived
or real injuries, as “angry Martyrs,” our energy sapped by rage and
self-righteous indignation. On the other, when we experience atonement we move
toward the sunset of our lives enjoying peace and serenity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">I conclude with William Kraft’s description of the challenge of
atonement: “…</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">middle agers are challenged
to reflect on life and to bring integrity into their relationships with
themselves, others, and the world. Out of guilt, they come to forgive
themselves and others. Out of depression, they come to a deeper fulfilment. Out
of limits, they come to experience the unlimited. Out of resentment, they
affirm their dignity and learn to be compassionate and forgiving. Out of anger,
they become gentle and touching. This is the age of atonement, the time to become
one with self and others. (<i>Spiritual
Growth in Adolescence and Adulthood</i>, 1983, p. 21).</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwyqhSUwz0Q/YPT7g0KcrXI/AAAAAAAAHa8/cwSQs8UBBq0Dbr5ZChOMvXDiSp_1G5ElwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Atonement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwyqhSUwz0Q/YPT7g0KcrXI/AAAAAAAAHa8/cwSQs8UBBq0Dbr5ZChOMvXDiSp_1G5ElwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Atonement.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><p></p>
<h3><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Reflection Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">What aspects of Atonement described here
have you engaged in? Which do you still need to engage in? Which of them do you
find difficult to engage in? Why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">The story of
Joseph and his brothers in the Old Testament (Genesis Chapter 42-45) is classic
case of atonement – forgiveness and reconciliation and moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The young Joseph
is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Later Joseph becomes the premier
of Egypt and when a famine ravages their land his brothers are forced to go to Egypt
and beg for grains from Joseph who recognised them. He is able to let go of the
cruel injustice they had inflicted on him and treat them with love and
affection and given them the grain needed. Not only, he invited them and their
father to stay with him in Egypt.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPRrsYYE06Y/YPT7xHJRnhI/AAAAAAAAHbE/E3dpsZkAEDoBaETwl93rRdaVr0TeLyAHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s276/Joseph%2Bof%2BEgypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPRrsYYE06Y/YPT7xHJRnhI/AAAAAAAAHbE/E3dpsZkAEDoBaETwl93rRdaVr0TeLyAHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Joseph%2Bof%2BEgypt.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">What does this
story evoke in us? We could spend a few
moments with our God, talking to God about our challenges related to atonement
and seek his help to do the needful, so that we can move into the second half
of life less burdened by resentments
and anger, and in serenity and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Have a blessed, safe and healthy weekend.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Thank you for listening/reading.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><b style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD</span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: auto; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<div class="WordSection3"></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-91793273791735495472021-07-11T04:18:00.001-07:002021-07-11T04:18:39.926-07:00Psyche & Soul 54 MIDLIFE –XI: MOVING TOWARD INTEGRITY<p> Podcast link:</p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 0in;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-54-Psyche--Soul--115-e145dc1</span></u></p></div><div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with another edition of Psyche & Soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span>In this edition, I present another midlife
challenge: achieving integrity--<i>that is
ability look back over one’s life without regrets and look forward to death without
fear.</i></p>
</div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbVUbTPjMAc/YOqbr4cZIFI/AAAAAAAAHYY/vh9cauqgk7MxOCAfrPs_Xjo_RV41_OasACLcBGAsYHQ/s267/Integrity%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbVUbTPjMAc/YOqbr4cZIFI/AAAAAAAAHYY/vh9cauqgk7MxOCAfrPs_Xjo_RV41_OasACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Integrity%2B1.jpg" /></a></div></i>
<div class="WordSection3">
<p class="MsoHeader" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sr. Felicia is in her late 80’s. She is physically frail and bedridden
because of a debilitating illness. But her mind is sharp as it was in her
twenties when she first came to India as a young missionary. She radiates joy
and enjoys telling stories to her visitors – stories of her experiences. “When
I first came to India…” she would begin and go on a narrative of her missionary
adventures. She would often repeat the same story. Those who have heard her
many times, would tell her. “Sister, we have heard that one before. Tell us
another.” She would then say, “This I think I have not told you.” And then start
something different, but invariably after a while her narrative would go back
to the oft repeated stories.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What Sr. Felicia is doing is reminiscing and integrating. In retelling
her experiences she brings the bits and pieces of her long life into
perspective and endows them with meaning.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj_HfRCtJ74/YOqb795fX_I/AAAAAAAAHYg/3HBePN-zwc4LZ2r22vjsQnpRuNN-gjOyACLcBGAsYHQ/s354/Erikson%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="354" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj_HfRCtJ74/YOqb795fX_I/AAAAAAAAHYg/3HBePN-zwc4LZ2r22vjsQnpRuNN-gjOyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Erikson%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In Erikson’s eight-stage developmental scheme, the crucial task of the
eighth and last stage is achievement of integrity. The word, as Erikson uses
it, does not refer to honesty or authenticity, but to wholeness, in the way The
Oxford English Dictionary defines it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wholeness, entireness, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">completeness... the condition of having no part or element taken away or
wanting.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Integrity consists
in seeing one’s life in its entirety as meaningful and worthwhile. It is the
result of synthesising a life time of experiences, both good and bad, in a way
that enables one “to look back over life without regrets and to look forward to
death without fear.” Such a stance calls for much soul-searching for the
meaning of our life and working through and coming to terms with life’s
inevitable disappointments and tragedies, as well as being thankful for its
blessings.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_G6dUwvPHI/YOqcPRwJp-I/AAAAAAAAHYo/NMZv_QaA8RM5kh-Gc-CPCrrENAsZnHG0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s260/Integrity%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_G6dUwvPHI/YOqcPRwJp-I/AAAAAAAAHYo/NMZv_QaA8RM5kh-Gc-CPCrrENAsZnHG0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Integrity%2B4.jpg" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Reminiscence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The central
process that leads to integrity is reminiscence, the repeated nostalgic contemplation
and retelling of our life stories. As our life experiences are remembered and
retold again and again, a synthesis and integration occurs. The scattered
pieces of the puzzle that is our life begins to fall into shape. We begin to
see our life in its entirety and accept everything, finding meaning and purpose
even in what was considered senseless or tragic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Often during
reminiscence memories of unresolved issues come into awareness with an
invitation to reconcile with them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Another important
aspect of this reminiscence is the evaluation of our contributions to improve
the quality of life for others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOzxa2Hc_sQ/YOrJ0Rx7KpI/AAAAAAAAHYw/4aFhp6O1xzgLMaprHMt19A39K8nLsIDHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s387/reminiscence%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="387" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOzxa2Hc_sQ/YOrJ0Rx7KpI/AAAAAAAAHYw/4aFhp6O1xzgLMaprHMt19A39K8nLsIDHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/reminiscence%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Psychologist
Robert Butler describes what happens in the reminiscence:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As the past marches in review, it is surveyed, observed, and reflected
upon by the ego. Reconsideration of previous experiences and their meanings
occurs, often with concomitant revised or expanded understanding. Such
reorganization of past experience may provide a more valid picture, giving new
and significant meaning to one’s life; it may also prepare one for death,
mitigating one’s fears. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(The Life Review,
</i>pp. 489-490)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-5U-KxQH2A/YOrKx71SR1I/AAAAAAAAHY4/uRGt8fI3O4wGO6A49A5d3VaGh2p-f6q3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Altruism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-5U-KxQH2A/YOrKx71SR1I/AAAAAAAAHY4/uRGt8fI3O4wGO6A49A5d3VaGh2p-f6q3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Altruism.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Altruism and
Generativity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Those who have been generative, through contributions to culture and
society, rather than focused on personal aggrandisement and ego gratification
in their earlier years, are the ones who find it easier to move toward
integrity. Through these generative and altruistic activities they are able, in
psychologist Robert Peck’s words, to “achieve enduring significance” and so be in
a better frame of mind to accept the impending end. The efforts made to make
life more secure, more meaningful, or happier for the people who will go on
after one dies is one of the most important dynamics that enables one to look
back without regrets and forward without fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMTjxx9vicI/YOrLJJM9yxI/AAAAAAAAHZA/uK65spFS1V0vnD09BaRIUX_T4FKld0oBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Relationships%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMTjxx9vicI/YOrLJJM9yxI/AAAAAAAAHZA/uK65spFS1V0vnD09BaRIUX_T4FKld0oBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Relationships%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Relationships</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The close relationships one has enjoyed also provide for a sense of
subjective-wellbeing and satisfaction, and thereby enhances the path toward
integrity. This is all the more true if the close relationships are still
maintained. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Maintenance of close, satisfying relationships serves as buffer against
the depression and low morale that can ensue from the social deprivations and
the physical challenges (</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">deterioration of
certain physical capacities, particularly the loss of hearing, impaired vision,
and limited motor agility,)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> that are part and parcel of old age</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despair</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The opposite of integrity is despair – the feeling that one’s life was
worthless or meaningless, that one had failed to make any contribution to the
future of society and wellbeing of others and that it is now too late to make a
difference. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">This happens especially to those who have lived a very self-centred and
selfish life with little regard for the welfare of others. They would now want
to make some changes, but there is no time; it is too late. As Erikson observed
“Despair expresses the feeling that the time is now short, too short for the
attempt to start another life</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">and to try out
alternate roads to integrity” (<i>Childhood
and Society, </i>p. 269<i>)</i></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLdkvhloWVs/YOrMB8GduFI/AAAAAAAAHZI/m0lOnSzRijYGwmp1Ep2MD97Q6TbuXGq4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Selfishness%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLdkvhloWVs/YOrMB8GduFI/AAAAAAAAHZI/m0lOnSzRijYGwmp1Ep2MD97Q6TbuXGq4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Selfishness%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">According to Robert Butler among those for whom the life review is
likely to lead to feeling of despair are those who tended to focus on the
future rather than on the present. These had invested heavily in the future,
hoping for a rich harvest. But that future never arrived, leading to
disillusionment with self and life itself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Another group that is bound to despair consists of those who
deliberately went about injuring others. They are plagued by guilt, but cannot
imagine forgiveness and redemption.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Still another group consists of those who have been “characterologically
arrogant and prideful,” prone to indulge in “narcissistic self-promotion and
derisive dismissal of others” (</span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">The Life
Review,</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> p. 491).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v47GAQNVkuo/YOrNXsVHm8I/AAAAAAAAHZQ/uwCpclKKHsEJB0PMsS70HSqzHhbsKvkIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s269/Regret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v47GAQNVkuo/YOrNXsVHm8I/AAAAAAAAHZQ/uwCpclKKHsEJB0PMsS70HSqzHhbsKvkIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Regret.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unable to accept as ultimate the life cycle drawing to a close, the
despairing individual approaches death with fear and disappointment. Evaluating
his or her life and accomplishments, the despairing individual feels that life,
instead of being a meaningful adventure, has been wasted. The result is
bitterness and resentment. The individual wants to achieve something meaningful,
but recognise the futility of trying, because there is no time left and death
is inevitable and near. Despair arises from this sense of waste and futility:
‘If only I could have…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This haunting sense of despair is poignantly illustrated in the life of
Warren Schmidt, the lead character in the film </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">About Schmidt. </i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Schmidt (played by Jack Nicholson) had devoted himself totally to advancing his
career, neglected his family and had little social connections. After
retirement his life goes into downward spiral. His wife dies; his attempt to
re-connect with his alienated only daughter is rebuffed. He finds himself totally
alone, wanting to connect but not knowing how. He sets off on a long journey in
his RV (motor home) alone, revisiting his past, and as he makes an evaluation
of his life on that solitary journey, he reaches a sad conclusion: “My life has
been a failure. What difference have I made to anyone’s life?” Fortunately, salvation
came in the little connectedness he experienced with Ndugu, a six-year old orphan
boy in faraway Tanzania whom he had sponsored after retirement. The picture the
boy sends him connecting himself with Schmidt with a string moved Schmidt to
tears – tears of joy as well as regret, expressing a gamut of emotions. The
movie ends with that poignant picture of Schmidt’s face in close-up.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LuRJePlOsc/YOrPHBjOdwI/AAAAAAAAHZg/GOXbni1bGecV3BO8pWSgUpVKFiClLfalgCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Schmidt%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LuRJePlOsc/YOrPHBjOdwI/AAAAAAAAHZg/GOXbni1bGecV3BO8pWSgUpVKFiClLfalgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schmidt%2B1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNmt_dbFgDg/YOrOwb2nB_I/AAAAAAAAHZY/ABJ69stqoXsaL5ihLJOLFjNSHmMxJb7VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s242/Schmidt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNmt_dbFgDg/YOrOwb2nB_I/AAAAAAAAHZY/ABJ69stqoXsaL5ihLJOLFjNSHmMxJb7VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schmidt.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What all this tells us is that how we live the first half of our life
matters in terms of a happy ending. Among the things that contributes most to a
happy conclusion are close relationships one has cultivated, and the
contributions one has made to the wellbeing of others. As psychologist George
Vaillant summed up the conclusions of the longest running study of human
development, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Happiness is love. Full
stop.</i>” Vaillant’s conclusions were corroborated by Robert Waldinger, the
current Director of the study: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The good
Life – Health and Happiness – is built on good relationships. Period.</i>”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhsgrRTe3-k/YOrQ7zJG2bI/AAAAAAAAHZo/TdCPqGgQx5ofFChmX6gycQ6UyGzdo4PwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s274/Happiness%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhsgrRTe3-k/YOrQ7zJG2bI/AAAAAAAAHZo/TdCPqGgQx5ofFChmX6gycQ6UyGzdo4PwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Happiness%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A midlife review in terms of how the above dynamics feature in our lives
gives us still time, before it is too late, to make some changes in our
lifestyle and priorities so that our end of life reminiscences lead to a sense
of satisfaction– to feeling “this has been a good life” rather than to a sense
of despair, “what a waste!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For introspection:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As you look back
over your life, how do you feel about it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is the
invitation you hear as to the changes you may need to make to achieve integrity
- </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">seeing
your life as meaningful and worthwhile, “to look back over life without regrets
and to look forward to death without fear.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Prayer</span></b></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection4"><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The mystic<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Hildegard of Bingen writes: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The greatest problem lies in trying to
integrate everything, to invest all with meaning, see it all as part of a
larger, more meaningful life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5M0-j-78XU/YOrRw7g6aCI/AAAAAAAAHZw/8uL_HYp1z38V0x11w0QQIiICNPzxrIUDACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Hildegaard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5M0-j-78XU/YOrRw7g6aCI/AAAAAAAAHZw/8uL_HYp1z38V0x11w0QQIiICNPzxrIUDACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Hildegaard.jpg" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We can ask God’s help and guidance to
achieve this integrity, this meaningfulness. Our God who is very much
interested in our wellbeing, our health and happiness is with us in the here
and now, as God has been present in all hat has been happening in our life.
Take a few minutes to tell God how we feel about our life at the moment, and
ask for inspiration to make it more meaningful and satisfying.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span>Have a
pleasant weekend. Be safe. Be blessed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thank you
for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jose Parappully SDB,
PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-27379500928588780182021-07-02T05:33:00.002-07:002021-07-02T05:33:54.948-07:00Psyche & Soul 53 MIDLIFE – IX: BALANCING THE MASCULINE AND THE FEMININE<div class="WordSection1">
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b></p></div>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Podcast Link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-53-Psyche--Soul--113-e13pnch" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11.0pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-53-Psyche--Soul--113-e13pnch</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this edition, I present another midlife
challenge: integration of the masculine and the feminine, or the anima and the
animus.</p></div>
<div class="WordSection3"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggbvpdrO_jU/YN8BQo2zPfI/AAAAAAAAHW8/6EU6wTZLk5cEBHsw3l6yA-2L37mEZwgKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s267/yin%2Byang%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggbvpdrO_jU/YN8BQo2zPfI/AAAAAAAAHW8/6EU6wTZLk5cEBHsw3l6yA-2L37mEZwgKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/yin%2Byang%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="WordSection4"><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“<i>You were not
like this. What happened to you?” Anita’s husband asked her with some annoyance
in his voice. Anita had been a very self-sacrificing wife and mother, a
compliant and pleasing type of person, always saying “yes” to whatever her
husband and others asked of her. Now she had learned to say “no” and take care
of her own needs. While Anita felt good about the changes in her, others were less
pleased. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">Rahul, a midlevel manager at a firm, had been a difficult person to deal
with. He was very demanding on others, used to get easily angry and irritable.
He always wanted things to be the way he thought they should be, and gave
little consideration to other people’s needs and situations.. Now those around
him noticed that he was changing. He was more calm and more considerate and
understanding. He was now less driven by the need to achieve and they found it
easier to relate to him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">What Anita and Rahul
were experiencing and others noticing in them were the kind of changes midlife
can bring about in our personalities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">These changes are
part of the journey toward wholeness that Carl Jung described with the term <i>“individuation</i>.” For us to become more
whole, for individuation to occur, it is necessary to bring about greater
balance between our masculine and feminine qualities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jwvyh3wCxV8/YN8BbpKuCVI/AAAAAAAAHXA/P95SfL7hpNUwYIuk5_sbFuSm9r75JIA0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s228/Animus%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jwvyh3wCxV8/YN8BbpKuCVI/AAAAAAAAHXA/P95SfL7hpNUwYIuk5_sbFuSm9r75JIA0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Animus%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Animus
& Anima</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">All of us, men and
women, have both masculine and feminine qualities. In the first half of life
men develop their masculine characteristics. Their feminine characteristics
remain underdeveloped within them and are personified as the <i>anima.</i> In the first half of life women
give priority to development of their feminine characteristics. Their underdeveloped
internal masculine characteristics become personified as their <i>animus</i>. The animus is also known as the “<i>internal masculine</i>” and the anima the <i>“internal feminine.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">The animus represents the human potential for
active modification; assertiveness and abstract (impersonal and objective)
rationality. The anima represents the human potential for receptive
accommodation, contextual (empathic) thinking, and focus on feelings and
relationships. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="indent" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">The terms <em>masculine</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>feminine</em> derive their meanings from a social
process of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>gender splitting</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by
which culture distributes aspects of human personality differently between the
sexes. Within a particular culture, an individual tends to develop qualities
attributed to his or her own sex by that culture and to suppress qualities attributed
to the other sex. Generally in most
cultures, men are encouraged and expected to focus on getting things done (<i>accomplishment</i>). Women, on the contrary,
are to focus on relationships and nurturing others (<i>affiliation</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="indent" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></p>
<p class="indent" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">However, it is to be noted that it is not just
cultural expectations that shape the animus and the anima. Biology also plays a
significant role.</span></p><p class="indent" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--26yOwgx2Lc/YN8CN-XxW_I/AAAAAAAAHXM/WERNcxXS9skz4ujK2an_Wuxppg1FcXwHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s364/Hormones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="364" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--26yOwgx2Lc/YN8CN-XxW_I/AAAAAAAAHXM/WERNcxXS9skz4ujK2an_Wuxppg1FcXwHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hormones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Masculinity and femininity in men and women
are significantly influenced by hormones. Oestrogen, progesterone and oxytocin
(hormones responsible for nurturing, bonding, care giving) predominate in women
in the first half of life. Testosterone (the hormone responsible for
aggression/assertiveness, sex drive) is dominant in men during the early years.
In midlife there is a noticeable decline in these hormones in both men women,
leading to a lessening of their impact and increasing the influence of the
opposite hormones and helping to bring about greater balance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These biological dynamics are able to
lessen the impact of cultural expectations and allow men and women develop
greater <i>androgyny</i> – an energizing
blend of the masculine and the feminine. At midlife both men and women
naturally begin to manifest their contra-sexual qualities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span>As a result men at midlife tend to
appropriate the qualities of nurturance and tenderness, traditionally
associated with women. Likewise, midlife and post-midlife women adopt the
assertive and competitive qualities which the men at this stage are beginning
to relinquish. This was the experience of Rahul and Anita.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Greater balance of the masculine and
feminine can be further facilitated by a conscious effort as well.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwQK1r78VcQ/YN8DgVjElJI/AAAAAAAAHXU/PB6NF8qa9ZQtpidDAQSYZcDFgjcrplGvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/personality%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwQK1r78VcQ/YN8DgVjElJI/AAAAAAAAHXU/PB6NF8qa9ZQtpidDAQSYZcDFgjcrplGvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/personality%2B3.jpg" /></a><b><i><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></i></b></i></b></div><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Men’s Midlife Challenge: Moving from Accomplishment to
Affiliation<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The challenge for men at midlife </span>is changing their attitude toward work and
emotions. They are invited to move from ambition and aggressiveness on the work
front to warmth and caring in relationships.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As psychologist
Daniel Levinson observes in his study of men titled <i>Seasons in a Man’s Life</i>, the masculine pattern is characterised by
a concern with <i>doing. </i>Men are expected to <i>“perform, accomplish, produce.”</i> It is work (performance) that gives
meaning to their lives. The desire to move ahead in their careers makes them
work harder than needed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Men pay a price
to this dedication to work: starving emotional needs and neglecting relationships.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Psychologist Roger Gould describes some of the more
hazardous price men pay for this focus on achievement: depression after a big
failure; stroke, bleeding ulcers, or sudden crushing pains in the chest; heavy
drinking and/or heavy womanising; disappointment with what they have achieved;
deep sense of personal failure and worthlessness leading to bitterness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">These negatives sometimes lead to some positive
transformation as well: They “lead men to open themselves to deeper recesses of
their being, search their souls for unexpressed areas which they had been
afraid to touch before” (<i>Transformations
in Adult Life, </i>pp. 232).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">It is in giving more
importance to emotions and relationships that men cultivate the feminine. In
midlife, men are invited to reclaim the qualities they formerly denied in
themselves and projected onto women, such as tenderness, sensitivity and
vulnerability. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Another way to
develop the feminine is cultivating aesthetic interests. Commitment to art, music, drama and
exploration of nature will release men’s blocked feminine energies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GACr75Z3vIo/YN8EEgrVCQI/AAAAAAAAHXc/8xKDjWQEkhgXkI6xKBKlIeeJDrCiplYFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s316/personality%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GACr75Z3vIo/YN8EEgrVCQI/AAAAAAAAHXc/8xKDjWQEkhgXkI6xKBKlIeeJDrCiplYFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/personality%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Women’s Midlife Challenge: Caring for and Developing One’s Own
Self<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Women’s challenge at midlife is changing their attitude towards caring
and self-interest They are invited to
move from undue focus on other-care to increased self-care; to meet their own
needs than others’ needs; to be
assertive on behalf of their own interests than being obliging and
compliant toward others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Most of the
first half of their life, women have neglected their own needs and dreams in
order to care for and help others, especially the men in their lives, by being
loving, giving and self-sacrificing. They gave priority to relationships, to nurturing
others, at the cost of self-nurturing and self-development. Many women, for
example, have given up their own dreams and careers to serve the needs of
others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnfG56Xeyqs/YN8FobgW6BI/AAAAAAAAHXk/XwpvlhcQgboZz6BY6Q2teMQoWIPiU2o5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s262/Assertive%2Bwoman%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnfG56Xeyqs/YN8FobgW6BI/AAAAAAAAHXk/XwpvlhcQgboZz6BY6Q2teMQoWIPiU2o5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Assertive%2Bwoman%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">At midlife women
feel an inner urge to act on their own behalf and seek their own growth and the
realisation of their own dreams, rather than stick to the stereotypical
wife-mother role. To do this, and gain control over their own destiny women
have to confront whatever inner fears or external controls have interfered with
their achieving a full life for themselves. Once they take back their power and
stop being subservient, they are able expand their personalities and grow in
self-confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">In her
bestselling book on the crises of adult life <i>Passages</i>, Gail Sheehy described this challenge as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">It is
not through more caregiving that a woman looks for replenishment of purpose in
the second half of her life. It is through cultivating talents, left half
finished, permitting ambitions once piggy-backed, becoming aggressive in the
service of her own convictions rather than a passive-aggressive party to
someone else’s.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (p. 426)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">For many professional,
as well as religious women, the animus/anima integration challenge is very similar
to that of men: i.e., developing their feminine personality. Many religious
women were thrust into positions of responsibility and of power early in life. Professional
women had to compete hard with men to attain positions of power and influence. In
order to be effective and remain competitive in a male-oriented power structure
both religious and professional women had to suppress their anima qualities
–warmth, compassion, tenderness, vulnerability--and strive to become “<i>more manly than men</i>.” Their midlife and post-midlife challenge then
becomes reclaiming these suppressed and underdeveloped feminine qualities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryhOPsSN6z4/YN8F5Pwlt5I/AAAAAAAAHXs/a55u6NZaEqwRnhkxjr5L6VfM4J50Y0GzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s262/self-interest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryhOPsSN6z4/YN8F5Pwlt5I/AAAAAAAAHXs/a55u6NZaEqwRnhkxjr5L6VfM4J50Y0GzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/self-interest.jpg" /></a></div>Greater balance
of the masculine and the feminine, the anima and animus, enables men and women
to be more integrated, more whole and enriches their personality. Life once
again becomes a meaningful and energising adventure. This is a major challenge
at midlife.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Reflection Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></i>
<div class="WordSection5">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">Are you noticing changes in your
personality? If yes, what kind?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">Are other people commenting on
changes they notice in you? If they do, what are they saying? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">What is your challenge in terms of
greater integration of your masculine/animus and feminine/anima qualities?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">What is it you need to do to
respond to this challenge?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZvdGQc36eU/YN8G7xvnU1I/AAAAAAAAHX8/eAkmiwoBolQ6dHnCeUmYXXd5tHL2PaiBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Gospel%2Bof%2BThomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZvdGQc36eU/YN8G7xvnU1I/AAAAAAAAHX8/eAkmiwoBolQ6dHnCeUmYXXd5tHL2PaiBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Gospel%2Bof%2BThomas.jpg" /></a></div><br />In the Gnostic <i>Gospel of Thomas</i> Jesus speaks of the
need for integration as follows: <i>“When you make the two one, and when you make
the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like
the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same…then you
will enter the Kingdom.”</i> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Thus, in the Gnostic Christian tradition,
this journey toward wholeness through the redemption of the shadow and the
integration of the animus and the anima are necessary to enter the Kingdom of
God and as such can be considered necessary spiritual exercises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We could
stay a while with whatever is evoked in us through the ideas expressed in this podcast
and the quote from the Gospel of Thomas and spend some time talking and
listening to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbv_HmKkzto/YN8HLZnkkUI/AAAAAAAAHYE/5M3318I_z748frpcpbJB2H-z8DwbE8MIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s230/Yin%2Byang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbv_HmKkzto/YN8HLZnkkUI/AAAAAAAAHYE/5M3318I_z748frpcpbJB2H-z8DwbE8MIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Yin%2Byang.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Have a
pleasant weekend. Be safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Thank you
for listening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jose Parappully SDB,
PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></b>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-26643461160323841502021-06-26T04:03:00.001-07:002021-06-26T04:03:36.148-07:00Psyche & Soul 52: Midlife VIII - (Re) Awakening of Sexuality and Intimacy Needs: Women’s Experience<p> </p><h3><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Psyche & Soul 52<o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Midlife VIII<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">(Re) Awakening of Sexuality and
Intimacy Needs</span></b></p>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Women’s
Experience<o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD</span></b></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Podcast Link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-52-Psyche--Soul--52-e13d207</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In this edition, I present Women’s’
experience of Sexuality and intimacy s at midlife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbtlyKYpu9E/YNbJ0LBogJI/AAAAAAAAHVk/8yotkwalZe8QEb8-oxHHlP-OA9ODkwRRACLcBGAsYHQ/s288/Sexuality%2Bwomen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbtlyKYpu9E/YNbJ0LBogJI/AAAAAAAAHVk/8yotkwalZe8QEb8-oxHHlP-OA9ODkwRRACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Sexuality%2Bwomen.png" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">For a woman, midlife is the period when her
sexual drive (arousals, urges) and the demands for sexual pleasure is at their peak.
Her sexual drive is awakened in the late twenties or even later and reaches its
peak in the late 30’s or early 40’s. Midlife can be for a woman a time of
sexual self-discovery, greater sexual enjoyment and adventurism, and sexually
speaking, one of the richest and most fulfilling periods in her life. It is
quite common for women at this stage to seek outlets for this increased sexual
drive and longing for pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Experience of Married Women</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">For married women, age thirty-five begins the
dangerous age of potential infidelity. Many midlife married women tend to be dissatisfied
with their sexual relationships and may long for sexual intimacies outside
marriage. There is ample opportunity for them today at work and elsewhere to mingle
with men and the closeness and support they experience can lead to intimate
relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9g2crEZJPl4/YNbKDwTcrWI/AAAAAAAAHVs/uRkhJMr0HgM4ZSr5VaGe2l2snuLtgd68gCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/midlife%2Binfidelity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9g2crEZJPl4/YNbKDwTcrWI/AAAAAAAAHVs/uRkhJMr0HgM4ZSr5VaGe2l2snuLtgd68gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/midlife%2Binfidelity.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">A wife is most likely to be unfaithful, if
ever, in her late thirties and early forties. The desire for extramarital
affair coincides with her sexual peak, which for most women as mentioned above,
is reached in the late 30’s. Her desire for genital pleasure peaks at a time
when her man is experiencing a noticeable decline in his sexual drive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At midlife a man’s emotional intimacy needs
come to the fore, while physical expression and satisfaction become more
important to women. This can cause a mismatch in the sexual and intimacy needs
of married midlife men and women, leading to discontent and desire for more
fulfilling sexual experiences outside marriage. This sexual mismatch is often
what leads to divorce, though other reasons may be put forward.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRyjMqn5lTE/YNbK61t1VBI/AAAAAAAAHV0/7zDyiU-MqEACUd31eLCQyX9hx41505WuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s254/marriage%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRyjMqn5lTE/YNbK61t1VBI/AAAAAAAAHV0/7zDyiU-MqEACUd31eLCQyX9hx41505WuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/marriage%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">William Masters and Virginia Johnson,
pioneering sex researchers, point to the increased sexual freedom that a woman
enjoys at midlife. When she was younger, her sexual encounters were restricted
by sexual inexperience, cultural prohibitions against female sexual indulgence
and the pressure to please her male partner. But at midlife, she is more free to
seek her own interests, fulfil her own desires unrestricted by cultural
expectations. She can now relate sex to her own wishes and needs, seek sexual
pleasure the way she wants, experiment and enjoy herself with less inhibition
or restraint.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Experience of Celibate Religious Women<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">“Any
man will do!”</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> Anne Marie, a midlife celibate
religious woman, said during discussions at a workshop on Psychosexual and
Celibate Integration at Midlife. What she meant was that her sexual urges were at
times so intense that she would have been happy to have had a sexual experience
with any man to satisfy those urges. However, she knew she couldn’t if she was
to be faithful to her vows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everyone
might experience such intense urges, or dare to admit it in public if they do,
but almost everyone experiences some form of sexual awakening or reawakening at
midlife..</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M12DcG4EcY/YNbLlyIzCwI/AAAAAAAAHWI/hFC07-Y28qs_xHMw3qeLhxoFUm10sM_aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s273/Celibate%2Breligous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M12DcG4EcY/YNbLlyIzCwI/AAAAAAAAHWI/hFC07-Y28qs_xHMw3qeLhxoFUm10sM_aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Celibate%2Breligous.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Many celibate religious women, who had no
problems with sexual issues when they joined religious life, usually in late
adolescence or early twenties, experience in middle adulthood a new sexual
awakening. They can be confused and frightened by these sexual stirrings and
longings. They may experience desire for genital intimacy with hitherto unknown
intensity as was the case with Anne Marie. In midlife, may be for the first
time, they recognise themselves as sexual beings. They may begin to experiment
with or express themselves through genital sexual behaviour in response to
these stirrings and longings. Some doubt their religious vocation, telling
themselves, “If God really wanted me to be a celibate religious, I would not be
having these urges and desires.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFULXW4h5O4/YNbL3UhsBVI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/4VZZCfK-iDoR_kRRpV2472HfUzRpcF4hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Celibate%2Breligious%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFULXW4h5O4/YNbL3UhsBVI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/4VZZCfK-iDoR_kRRpV2472HfUzRpcF4hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Celibate%2Breligious%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The lure of an affair can be true of the
religious woman too. Working together with priests and laymen in various
capacities is common experience for a woman religious today. Close
collaboration and support can lead to an emotional bonding which becomes very
satisfying at a time when she is struggling to negotiate the challenges that
midlife throws at her. The physical sexual urges she experiences at midlife, can
push her to seek genital intimacy as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is said here about the religious woman
may also be true of the single woman at midlife. However she may have freedom
and avenues for sexual expressions that would not be open to the religious
woman committed to celibacy. In this sense the experience of the two may
differ.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CH7C2wB2TA/YNbM1wLxSeI/AAAAAAAAHWY/eYkzOWz_puAx5V3MyFXDHm-VTHR_h4BnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s318/Formation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CH7C2wB2TA/YNbM1wLxSeI/AAAAAAAAHWY/eYkzOWz_puAx5V3MyFXDHm-VTHR_h4BnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Formation.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Implications for Religious Formation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The foregoing has implications for the
formation of women religious. Most female candidates enter religious formation
in late adolescence or the early twenties. At this time their sexuality has not
been awakened yet. When formators question them about their ability to live
chaste celibacy, they are likely to answer that it is not a problem for them.
They do not as yet know the nature of human sexuality or the cost of celibate
chastity. As explained above, it is in their late thirties and early forties
that women’s sexual and intimacy needs come to the fore. The young candidates
and religious have to be educated about the late emergence of sexual needs and
not to be frightened or think they might have made a mistake in regard to their
vocation when they begin to experience the stirrings of sexuality at midlife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is also important that religious women
going through their midlife transition have the opportunity to share their
struggles around sexuality and intimacy with trusted and well-informed
spiritual guides. This will help them better negotiate the sexual and intimacy challenges
of midlife.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4OXyfa60a_0/YNcHqnDgreI/AAAAAAAAHWg/jJMbtP-RWh4VCKzBmqhNLME05Q98Wg57gCLcBGAsYHQ/s257/Menopause%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="257" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4OXyfa60a_0/YNcHqnDgreI/AAAAAAAAHWg/jJMbtP-RWh4VCKzBmqhNLME05Q98Wg57gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Menopause%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<h3><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Midlife and
Menopause<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></h3>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Often women tend to
consider menopause as a midlife phenomenon. In reality it is not. Midlife can
set in long before menopause. While the average age for menopause today is
about 51, for most women the midlife transition occurs in the late 30s to early
40s. Research has shown that there is no relationship between the changes of
midlife and menopause.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Most women take
menopause in their stride without experiencing too much discomfort or distress.
Many of them see menopause as a positive, adaptive life event. For many women
menopause appear to bring greater sexual freedom and satisfaction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Reflection Questions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What are the midlife sexual and intimacy
dynamics you are currently experiencing or have experienced in the past? How do
you feel about these experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How can you meet the sexuality and intimacy
challenges at midlife in fulfilling ways keeping with your life-status–
marital, religious, or single?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvpP_QeH_2A/YNcINyXSKeI/AAAAAAAAHWo/JRO_sh1sPZM1hfAU79NaypXmEl4gx-dwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Midlife%2Bintimacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvpP_QeH_2A/YNcINyXSKeI/AAAAAAAAHWo/JRO_sh1sPZM1hfAU79NaypXmEl4gx-dwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife%2Bintimacy.jpg" /></a></b></div><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">A scene of expression of great intimacy on the part of a woman is found
in three Gospels – (John, 12, 1-8; Mark 14, 3-9; Mathew 26, 6-13). Jesus is so
appreciative of the woman’s gestures that he tells those present (in Mark and
Mathew), that “<i>wherever the Gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what
she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.”</i> You could read any of
these passages slowly and stay with whatever response/reaction you have to the
scene. You could spend then some time speaking to Jesus about these as well as
the sexuality, celibacy or intimacy challenges you are facing at this time in
your life and listen to what he might have to say to you in response..</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span>Have safe and happy weekend. Be blessed.</p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD</span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com</span></b></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-15543039377106070352021-06-18T21:46:00.002-07:002021-06-18T21:46:41.979-07:00Psyche & Soul 51: Midlife VII -- (RE-) EMERGENCE OF SEXUALITY AND INTIMACY NEEDS<p> Podcast link:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-51-Psyche--Soul--109-e12vsdh" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-51-Psyche--Soul--109-e12vsdh</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this edition, I present another
important Midlife dynamic, namely, Emergence or Re-Emergence of Sexuality and
Intimacy needs.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cL-JtSs3x8/YM1vCTnAp3I/AAAAAAAAHUY/4NiUbLQBq5YkjcuBvW2Ef9c7Y7v4e70uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s336/Sexuality%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cL-JtSs3x8/YM1vCTnAp3I/AAAAAAAAHUY/4NiUbLQBq5YkjcuBvW2Ef9c7Y7v4e70uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sexuality%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Midlife is a time of sexual awakening or re-awakening.
Sexuality can be experienced at this period in rather intense and surprising
ways. This can lead to confusion, conflicts,
pressure to gratify impulses and compromise of commitments. It is important to
understand the nature of this awakening or re-awakening.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For some sexuality is awakened at midlife.
For some others, it is re-awakened. Some religious, especially women, for
example, would have made a religious life choice early in life when their
sexuality had not been awakened. Because of the prevailing negative attitudes toward
it during formation years, and even later, their sexuality would have remained
dormant or repressed and become part of their shadow. Even for those whose
sexuality had been awakened before entering religious life, sexuality and
intimacy needs would have been later repressed and exiled into the shadow
basement for the same reasons. As we saw in the last podcast, whatever is
repressed would raise its head at midlife. Hence, there can be re-awakening of
this dormant or repressed sexuality.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is some difference in the way men and
women experience this awakening or re-awakening.</p>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">MEN’S
EXPERIENCE<o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">While late adolescence and early adulthood
is the time when the sexual drive (sexual arousals, pressure to gratify sexual
impulses) in men is most intense, at midlife men’s sexual need fulfilment
shifts to finding mutually fulfilling relationship with a partner and greater
emotional connectedness. Hence, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is in
the area of relational intimacy that midlife men experience more challenges.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQrdBxRXIhk/YM1wy5ZNnxI/AAAAAAAAHUg/j2KCr_w0xS4gzd2Ki-3TMYHoGXXlbzIZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s364/Self-image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="364" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQrdBxRXIhk/YM1wy5ZNnxI/AAAAAAAAHUg/j2KCr_w0xS4gzd2Ki-3TMYHoGXXlbzIZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Self-image.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Impact on Self-Image<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Physiological and psychological changes,
hormonal changes in particular, have a decisive effect on a man’s sexual
experience at midlife. Decreasing testosterone (the male sex hormone) levels
brings about a decline in sexual potency. Consequently sexual arousal can be
slow and weaker, relaxation occur more quickly, and intervals between arousals
become longer. Some may experience embarrassing failures while making love. Since
for men in general their success at sexual performance, ability to please their
sexual partner and give her pleasure and satisfaction, have a good deal to do
with their self-concept, lowered sexual potency can negatively affect their
self-image and self-confidence. Many midlife men develop anxieties around their
sexual competence and attractiveness to females. They will then tend to re-assure
themselves through experimentation and extramarital affairs, usually with
younger females.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTBGowKPS48/YM1xUsNCYZI/AAAAAAAAHUo/qwFGYGktg1Ui8tw03RqxP50dBLupO6aRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Marriage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="326" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTBGowKPS48/YM1xUsNCYZI/AAAAAAAAHUo/qwFGYGktg1Ui8tw03RqxP50dBLupO6aRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Marriage.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Impact on</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marriage</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weakening male sexual
prowess has profound impact on intimacy in marriage. Men become so embarrassed
or ashamed of their lowered sexual capacity they dare not speak about it with
their partner and instead pull away from any expression of intimacy. Gail Sheehy
describes the dynamic:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The longer this problems remains unspoken between a couple, the more
monstrous it grows, until there is an eight-hundred pound gorilla in the
bedroom. Nobody mentions it for six months, two years, five years; meanwhile
the pair stops hugging, stops holding hands, stops touching altogether, moves
to separate beds, to separate rooms, and ultimately separate lives. They become
estranged in all forms of intimacy because of this sexual shutdown. (</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Passages in Men’s Lives</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">,</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">p</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. 15)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Sheehy observes that </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">weakening of sexual potency might actually be
the trigger for male midlife transition. Lowered sexual potency strikes at the
core of his manly identity and sets in motion a number of the other
psychological dynamics of midlife described in the earlier issues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iPbAnfB0I68/YM1y4TG2iTI/AAAAAAAAHUw/VjsGRP3MUasTMZ8mOiDMMhx3NN3HVyxLACLcBGAsYHQ/s265/priesthood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iPbAnfB0I68/YM1y4TG2iTI/AAAAAAAAHUw/VjsGRP3MUasTMZ8mOiDMMhx3NN3HVyxLACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/priesthood.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Impact on Religious Man/Priest<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The religious male is not exempt from
midlife sexual anxieties and vulnerabilities, even though he has given up
conscious gratification of sexual desires and impulses. Since sexual capacities
profoundly affect self-concept, decreasing sexual prowess can affect the
celibate male’s self-image as well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Moreover, at midlife, his repressed needs
for intimacy also begin to assert themselves. He becomes more receptive to
attention and affection showered on him by female admirers and vulnerable to
making compromises on his celibate commitment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_88STwXC79w/YM1zkBpiuCI/AAAAAAAAHVA/FiFoUpNISWIdQHPYfQ3zLp0S83xbbheJACLcBGAsYHQ/s291/Intimacy%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_88STwXC79w/YM1zkBpiuCI/AAAAAAAAHVA/FiFoUpNISWIdQHPYfQ3zLp0S83xbbheJACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Intimacy%2B2.png" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Priest psychologist R. Vaughan explains
this midlife vulnerability. When the priest or religious brother assesses his
years in the priesthood or religious life and compares these with his dream —
who he wanted to be and what he wanted to accomplish — it is quite likely that
he would be disillusioned. In most cases, his life and ministry would not have
turned out as rosy or fruitful as he would have wanted. At this time of
self-doubt and disillusion, the company of an understanding woman whose
admiration for him bolsters up his self-esteem can become extremely
attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their relationship can become
so satisfying that he would be willing to give up what he has cherished for
years – his priestly/religious vocation. He can find very many justifications
to begin a new life with her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Often, it is not genital sex, Vaughan observes,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that is the motive here, but the need
for emotional intimacy, the longing for a close, tender relationship in which
he can express to a trusted other his overly controlled feelings without fear
or anxiety. Most men normally disclose little of their inner life to anybody in
earlier years. However, in midlife there is inner pressure to give expression
to these repressed feelings and longings. An understanding woman, who accepts
him totally, and in whose company he can be himself without fear or
embarrassment provides him the freedom to give vent to those feelings and
longings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rB6cVIEpVCI/YM1zv8eHJ8I/AAAAAAAAHVE/VHdFFubMkiwS5uxT25z62NDUnvI3NMAMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s299/intimacy%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rB6cVIEpVCI/YM1zv8eHJ8I/AAAAAAAAHVE/VHdFFubMkiwS5uxT25z62NDUnvI3NMAMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/intimacy%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It has been found that many, if not most, priests
and religious who leave their ministries and communities and marry do so in
midlife. <a name="_ftn3">The results of a survey by Franciscan psychologist
Oviedo showed that more than two-thirds of perpetually professed men religious
who abandon their religious commitment do so in middle age: 37.8% in the
age group 31-40 and 33.0% in the age group 41-50. Significantly, the survey
found that 42% of those who leave do so because of affective and intimacy
problems. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Midlife Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;">One challenge for religious men at midlife is to
fulfil their intimacy needs, by developing satisfying close relationships with
men and women, without compromising their celibate commitments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;">It is important
for religious men and priests experiencing midlife sexuality and intimacy
challenges to find a trustworthy spiritual guide, with whom they can share their
experiences and find guidance. This is equally true also for laymen struggling
with sexuality and intimacy issues at midlife. When a spiritual guide is not
available, honest sharing with a trusted friend can also help. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;">It is also
important that one does not take hasty life-choice decisions when caught up in
the emotional turbulence created by awakened or re-awakened sexuality and
intimacy dynamics at midlife, especially without proper guidance and
discernment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;">Women’s
experience of sexuality and intimacy issues at midlife will be presented in the
next weekend’s podcast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDFAWA5Asto/YM11T_qx0mI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/g9mQmGXACcAJdNjf-DaC2FVh-KIyjd86gCLcBGAsYHQ/s278/Friends%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDFAWA5Asto/YM11T_qx0mI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/g9mQmGXACcAJdNjf-DaC2FVh-KIyjd86gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Friends%2B1.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Reflection Exercise</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What does this article evoke in you?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What are the midlife sexual and intimacy
dynamics you are currently experiencing or have experienced in the past?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _ftn3;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How do you feel about these experiences and the
way you handled them?</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNKjVWuu_6I/YM12NgkewWI/AAAAAAAAHVY/ZfP72hexwiI3hcCW6i5izXaFQSyrrxkfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s260/Intimacy%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNKjVWuu_6I/YM12NgkewWI/AAAAAAAAHVY/ZfP72hexwiI3hcCW6i5izXaFQSyrrxkfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Intimacy%2B5.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Prayer</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There is a post resurrection story in the
Gospel of John (Ch. 20, 11-28) which presents expression of deep intimacy that Mary
of Magdala experiences in regard to Jesus of Nazareth. You could read this
passage slowly and stay with this scene for a while, be in touch with whatever
it evokes in you, and speak to Jesus about these as well as about your own joys
and struggles around intimacy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Have a blissful and safe weekend. Be
blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> Pictures: courtesy Google Images</o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-21422448932074533102021-06-11T23:49:00.000-07:002021-06-11T23:49:36.730-07:00Psyche & Soul 50: Midlife VI -REDEEMING THE “SHADOW”<p>Podcast link:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-50-Psyche--Soul--107-e12iaqg" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11.0pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-50-Psyche--Soul--107-e12iaqg</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian
priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand with the 50<sup>th</sup> Edition of Psyche
and Soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this edition I shall talk about the
redemption of the Shadow at Midlife.</p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoyI-Z64ofA/YMRPPPG1RqI/AAAAAAAAHSw/Os8qMWOqIjsGV96wzbJbE_OF3alYinATwCLcBGAsYHQ/s236/Shadow%2BPersona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoyI-Z64ofA/YMRPPPG1RqI/AAAAAAAAHSw/Os8qMWOqIjsGV96wzbJbE_OF3alYinATwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2BPersona.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Midlife is the time when the shadow makes its presence felt. Carl Jung
used the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“shadow”</i> to describe
that part of our personality that is repressed because it conflicts with the
way we wish to see ourselves and be seen by others. It is that part of our personality
we are now unaware of because it was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>deemed incompatible with our ideal personality
and has been conveniently forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Shadow Formation</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Our real self
consists of both light and shadow, goodness and ugliness. We have our “angels
and demons” –aspects that we admire and appreciate and feel good about and
their opposites. Goodness and evil are both residents of our psyche and soul. As
writer Henry Nouwen loved to remark, “Where God appears, the evil one is also
present.”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XDaoxhJIl-g/YMRRYdlB1jI/AAAAAAAAHS4/TyC_701I5lYJ-Fu4AjHJRwRw6w0fOkn4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s292/Shadow%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XDaoxhJIl-g/YMRRYdlB1jI/AAAAAAAAHS4/TyC_701I5lYJ-Fu4AjHJRwRw6w0fOkn4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2B8.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">However, we tend
to hide our demons and would like to appear all angel. So, we create our “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">persona.</i>” In our effort to conform to
social expectations, we try to present ourselves to the world in the way the
world wants us to be. To live up to an idealistic self-image we suppress
aspects of our personality that do not fit the self-image. This image of
ourselves that we consciously cultivate and project in order to be and seen in
a particular way is our persona. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For example, we
and others may have an idealistic image of who a good priest or religious needs
to be. We may discover that there are characteristics in us, such as our anger,
lust for power, tendency to gossip or our sexual desires that do not fit that
image. We suppress these consciously; after a while we forget we suppressed them
(Tell a lie over and over and after a while we ourselves will begin to believe
it to be the truth!) and they become part of our unconscious. They get swept
under the veneer of our proper self. The proper self that we present to the
world becomes our persona. In creating the persona, many aspects of our lives
get repressed, split off from our conscious self and awareness. These repressed
aspects become the “shadow.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRVbkercOQ/YMRRtIxw54I/AAAAAAAAHTA/MLthvoojF5I6STJgg1ADbiF6fBJaaMLBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s280/Shadow%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRVbkercOQ/YMRRtIxw54I/AAAAAAAAHTA/MLthvoojF5I6STJgg1ADbiF6fBJaaMLBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The persona, that
masks our real self (Persona originally referred to the mask worn by actors in
Greek theatre to represent a character), is not all bad; it does serve a useful
purpose. It helps us to adapt to the demands of our social and cultural
circumstances. We cannot always say what we really feel, or act on every impulse
regardless of circumstances. However, problems arise when we identify with the
persona and begin to believe that we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
the front or the mask that we present to the outer world, and we lose awareness
of our true reality, especially the unacceptable aspects of our personality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The more we identify with an overly good or righteous persona, the
darker will be our shadow. Those of us who are religious or priests are
especially vulnerable to shadow formation because our vocation involves
commitment to very high spiritual values and standards of moral conduct.
Understanding of religious life as a call to “perfection” or the priesthood as
becoming another Christ, makes us supress anything in us that prevents us from
appearing perfect or Christlike. Thus, we can easily supress our angry feelings
or our sexual feelings and longings and send these into the deepest basements
of our psyche and soul, to become part of our shadow world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIQmTLZtOf0/YMRSQIrOq6I/AAAAAAAAHTI/yYkjPWlftzYh2-568fDbjTSzTrOLFUwbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s327/Shadow%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIQmTLZtOf0/YMRSQIrOq6I/AAAAAAAAHTI/yYkjPWlftzYh2-568fDbjTSzTrOLFUwbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Shadow%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Destructiveness of
Shadow</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is destructive about unrecognised shadows is that they continue to
be operative in our lives even though we are unaware of their existence. They
drive our conscious behaviour, often in dysfunctional and even destructive
ways. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When we are surprised by some of our unexpected unbecoming behaviours,
it could be a pointer to a shadow. We might have cultivated the image of a
gentle, sensitive, patient, understanding and compassionate human being. But
during a conversation with someone whose behaviour we are disapproving, we
suddenly burst into rage and begin to castigate the person using pretty strong
language. In our sober moment, we ask, “What was that? How could I behave like
that?” Well, that was our shadow, our repressed anger and resentment breaking
through, embarrassing us and shocking others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1rNpgxB7P8/YMRS5ow3ydI/AAAAAAAAHTU/FCYMsNWOkfEUPp-FDkuKVuV-kc2puKuzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s287/Shadow%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1rNpgxB7P8/YMRS5ow3ydI/AAAAAAAAHTU/FCYMsNWOkfEUPp-FDkuKVuV-kc2puKuzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2B4.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Shadow Integration</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In midlife we experience the call to live life authentically, to be who
we really are, to break out of the tyranny of social expectations. In midlife
we hear the invitation from our “soul”— our deep, authentic self --, to recognize
our unlived life, our deepest longings that we had repressed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As the American poet Robert Bly observed, we spend the first half of our
lives dissociating the unacceptable parts of ourselves and packing them into
the invisible “shadow bag” that we carry on our back. In the second half of life
we are invited to collect them back and make them part of our conscious self, and
empty that heavy bag that slows down our journey toward wholeness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">During midlife unresolved issues of the past, and feelings buried for
years deep in the recesses of the psyche can re-emerge from the unconscious and
demand our attention.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For those of us committed
to a celibate lifestyle, our sexuality in particular, often resides in the
shadow. Hence owning up and integrating (not acting out) our sexuality and
intimacy needs into our conscious self becomes an important midlife task.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siCBhx4uzAI/YMRVBiqinoI/AAAAAAAAHTg/nRIJyKWDUfUS0t8AcdyrUKL55R0QJeEzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Shadow%2Bintegration%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siCBhx4uzAI/YMRVBiqinoI/AAAAAAAAHTg/nRIJyKWDUfUS0t8AcdyrUKL55R0QJeEzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2Bintegration%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Openness to the experience of intimacy helps us to process many aspects of
our self that reside in the shadow. In genuine intimacy we have the freedom to
be ourselves, to be “psychologically naked” before the other. We can bare our
heart and soul to the other without fear or embarrassment. In that kind of
freedom and openness, many aspects of our self that were suppressed rise to the
surface of consciousness. We can then process them with our friend and
integrate them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thomas Keating, Trappist monk and psychologist, highlights this aspect
of intimacy: “One characteristic of love,” he wrote, “is that it reduces our defences.
When our defences go down, the dark side of our personality emerges. One
important aspect of true friendship is the willingness to help each other
process that material.” (</span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Intimacy with
God</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, p. 72)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLRIdewvp3Y/YMRVel-a45I/AAAAAAAAHTo/-E6Rqv3jxzgZlpLnJYNKHmmlb6H-VBs4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s238/Shadow%2Bintegration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLRIdewvp3Y/YMRVel-a45I/AAAAAAAAHTo/-E6Rqv3jxzgZlpLnJYNKHmmlb6H-VBs4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2Bintegration.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Shadow and Spiritual
Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Acceptance and
integration of the shadow can have profound impact on our spiritual life. Jung
considered shadow-work so important to the health of the soul that he
considered it a religious undertaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
his psychology, getting to know the shadow is a way of redeeming all the
rejected and lost parts of the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">With the acceptance of the darkness within ourselves, we can become more
accepting of others’ weakness and become more compassionate. We also become
more free to be ourselves, with genuine self-acceptance based on a more
realistic sense of self. We recognise that we need not be perfect for God to
love us; we could be who we are, with our angels and demons. The result is a
quantum leap on the spiritual path. Jungian analysts Wilkie Au and Noreen
Cannon describe the process as follows in the book </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Urgings of the Heart</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (p. 41)</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For as we look at what
frightens and shames us and come to know the pain that made us reject ourselves
in the first place, we become newly receptive to God’s healing grace…. As God’s
love for those wounded parts of us sinks in, we are able, perhaps for the first
time, to love ourselves, dark side and all. We also find ourselves more able to
reach out in love and compassion to others because we are less self-righteous
and judgmental. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As another Jungian analyst, Robert Johnson, has pointed out, “To honour
and accept the shadow is a profound spiritual discipline. It is whole-making
and thus holy and the most important experience of a lifetime” (</span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Owning Your Own Shadow</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, p. x).</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Pn9Wui-iHI/YMRWYUl31ZI/AAAAAAAAHTw/OM-PawJor3MWzRp5fv8-HGRpf1SHkZ40ACLcBGAsYHQ/s323/Shadow%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="323" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Pn9Wui-iHI/YMRWYUl31ZI/AAAAAAAAHTw/OM-PawJor3MWzRp5fv8-HGRpf1SHkZ40ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Shadow%2B10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Reclaiming what
has been lost in the shadow is an essential aspect of the inner journey we need
to undertake at midlife. To do so we need to listen to the inner voices that
have been silenced, feel the feelings that have been deadened, and sense their
yearnings. This necessitates slowing down the pace of life and creating
solitude in which what is hidden away in the unconscious can slowly emerge into
consciousness and being brave enough to acknowledge their presence and
integrate them into our conscious persona.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt;">Introspection</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Honest answers to
the following questions can point to our shadow:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What unacceptable
desires and impulses rise to consciousness unexpectedly in our solitudes?<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What are the
embarrassing “slips of the tongue” we make?<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Who are the ugly or
disreputable characters that appear in our dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What is it that we
intensely dislike or hate in another person or provoke our self-righteous
indignation?<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When Jesus speaks about the log in our eyes (Mathew 7, 3-5), he was
essentially referring to our shadow- something we are not aware of. You could
read that passage and stay a while in the presence of God or Jesus himself and ask
them to help you recognize and redeem your shadows. And then sit quietly
attending to whatever emerges into awareness. End the prayer thanking God for
what you have been able to recognise.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKWzDDMB4gw/YMRXaq6m6kI/AAAAAAAAHT4/4GWDE9V_fCUBssFiSa2lorHJgolzXoHLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s256/Shadow%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKWzDDMB4gw/YMRXaq6m6kI/AAAAAAAAHT4/4GWDE9V_fCUBssFiSa2lorHJgolzXoHLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2B11.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">May your weekend be happy and
safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-9155271205828415582021-06-04T23:00:00.001-07:002021-06-05T10:06:03.456-07:00Psyche & Soul 49: Midlife V - DE-ILLUSIONING <p> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Psyche & Soul 49</span></b></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Midlife – V<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">DE-ILLUSIONING</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; text-align: right;"> </span></p></div><div class="WordSection2">
<p align="right" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Podcast link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-49-Psyche--Soul--105-e124ghn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-49-Psyche--Soul--105-e124ghn</span></a></span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">In this weekend’s edition I shall
focus on an important midlife dynamic, namely, De-Illusioning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g86FLidjSYI/YLr-5GUVztI/AAAAAAAAHQE/w01p4SpYv9AwpsiCZJTcc0EnGMoeV0dcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s239/deillsion.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g86FLidjSYI/YLr-5GUVztI/AAAAAAAAHQE/w01p4SpYv9AwpsiCZJTcc0EnGMoeV0dcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/deillsion.webp" /></a></div><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is quite likely that
assessment of life, particularly of our dreams, can lead to de-illusioning – a shattering
of our unrealistic and idealistic notion of life, our illusions. As we come to midlife
we recognise that long held assumptions about self, others and the world are
not really true. We recognise that many things that were taught to us as truth
were actually lies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">At midlife we recognize that
life does not move the way we would want it to, that there are things over
which we do not have control, that people are not who we thought they would be,
that we ourselves are not who we had thought we are.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDeDs7OoG3c/YLsR-PWoYSI/AAAAAAAAHRo/hGoFWAYRtIsQ0-mlI_GgTqCmX2pqIB_tACLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Disappointment%2B2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDeDs7OoG3c/YLsR-PWoYSI/AAAAAAAAHRo/hGoFWAYRtIsQ0-mlI_GgTqCmX2pqIB_tACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Disappointment%2B2.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We realise that we are not
able to do what we want to, change what we would like to change. We recognise
our limitations.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As psychologist C. S. Pearson observes, “We are
called to give up the illusion that we can force life to fit our scripts, that
we can shape other people to match our expectations, or that we can make
ourselves fit our own image of who we want to be” (</span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">The Hero Within</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, p. 118).</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCK0xbgwD9w/YLsBGPFM5YI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/WhuwBwN3Tq0raWk05ZZ4YaI3hQYWf3engCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/dreams%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCK0xbgwD9w/YLsBGPFM5YI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/WhuwBwN3Tq0raWk05ZZ4YaI3hQYWf3engCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/dreams%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the first half of life we
are driven to pursue idealised dreams, the impossibly high goals and standards
we set for ourselves, often as compensation for the powerlessness we
experienced in childhood. We are lured by an immature mind to believe in
fantasies of limitlessness, that we can achieve anything if only we try hard
enough. This is a lie that is told to us often, and by many people around us. By
midlife we may have tried very hard indeed, and we only experienced failure,
may be again and again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We realize that there is
ugliness in the world. Our misconceptions about goodness of creation and
goodness of people lead to rude shocks. We realize that evil can triumph over
goodness no matter whatever our belief in a benign God and God’s control over
everything.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYaR7-1DNFQ/YLsByXbA6dI/AAAAAAAAHQc/7ImcpCRIeN4s-eBKBlKNM8rgmhiqesoPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Pilgrim.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYaR7-1DNFQ/YLsByXbA6dI/AAAAAAAAHQc/7ImcpCRIeN4s-eBKBlKNM8rgmhiqesoPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Pilgrim.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As Annie Dillard, famous for
her account of the lessons life had taught her when she spent time in seclusion
in a wood by the side of a stream, wrote: “That something is everywhere and
always amiss is part of the very stuff of creation.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,</i> p. 184). Creation is indeed beautiful.
However there are many ugly things in it we wish weren’t there. Unpleasant and
tragic things happen. Often we can only be mute spectators - unable to do
anything to make a difference. The relentless march of the coronavirus throwing
our lives and our plans haywire is a telling example of this.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3gRMv2vsME/YLsCLynDupI/AAAAAAAAHQk/RsXRWzzIJDgsa_4FdEWjbwTb9rybzJt-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Ladder.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3gRMv2vsME/YLsCLynDupI/AAAAAAAAHQk/RsXRWzzIJDgsa_4FdEWjbwTb9rybzJt-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Ladder.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The keen observation of the lifelong
explorer of the mythical landscape, Joseph Campbell, that we can spend decades
climbing the ladder, only to realise later that the ladder was placed on the
wrong wall expresses another aspect of de-illusioning. That is, we can with
passion and doggedness pursue a goal which we eventually realize is unreachable
or not worth pursuing. The wrong wall can be the dreams of our parents, and
uncritically accepted social expectations, or a personal ambition or dream
which at one time appeared glorious but now appears meaningless not worth
pursuing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The inevitable
disappointments, failures and betrayals of hope, and shattered dreams eventually
chip away the larger-than-life self-image built on the ambitions of youth and fantasies
of unlimited success. By midlife we are forced to come down to earth from the
clouds, adopt a more realistic view of self with all its fragility and
limitations, and of the world with its brokenness and ugliness. We are forced
to modify beliefs in the inherent goodness of humanity through a recognition
and acceptance of the fact that goodness is often accompanied and even overcome
by hate and destructive forces. Our trusted self-definitions, and long held
assumptions about life collapse in the face of harsh realities of life. We are
forced by our experience to de-illusion.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cDsY1k-sDfs/YLsC5N5UWYI/AAAAAAAAHQs/qeQVIUK91tU58bdB5UFMDjug508GMlcvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s279/meaning%2B2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cDsY1k-sDfs/YLsC5N5UWYI/AAAAAAAAHQs/qeQVIUK91tU58bdB5UFMDjug508GMlcvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/meaning%2B2.webp" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As psychologist James Hollis
observes, </span><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“…</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the person in the second
half of life is obliged to come to a more sober wisdom based on a humble sense
of personal limitations and the inscrutability of the world<b>” </b>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life,</i>
p. 85)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">An Example</span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLg-R14OY8g/YLsDTkZWoPI/AAAAAAAAHQ0/-1mOW26N5xMuUx-NcLUPmyT8QjuTB_6dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Les%2Bmiserabs.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLg-R14OY8g/YLsDTkZWoPI/AAAAAAAAHQ0/-1mOW26N5xMuUx-NcLUPmyT8QjuTB_6dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Les%2Bmiserabs.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An instructive example of de-illusioning
is found in the Oscar award winning song “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
dreamed a dream</i>” from the musical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Les
Miserables. </i>In the story there is a young woman, Fantine, who dreamed of a glorious
life together with the young man with whom she had fallen in love. But things
turned out very differently, as she laments at her death bed, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I dreamed a dream in days gone by, when
hopes were high and life worth living. I dreamed that love would never die…. He
slept one summer by my side, he filled my days with endless wonder. … But when
autumn came he was gone</i>.” The fruit of that summer of love and togetherness
was a baby girl, Corsette, whom she had now to bring up as a single-mother.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyhhgOdHfW4/YLsDgzxu8QI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/d5QzBFYeRxE8rKF5Yl2UisfFI6379qmyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/dreamed.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyhhgOdHfW4/YLsDgzxu8QI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/d5QzBFYeRxE8rKF5Yl2UisfFI6379qmyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/dreamed.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Fantine takes up a job in a
garment factory to earn her living. However, the foreman there was more
interested in her body than in her work. When Fantine refused to oblige his
lascivious desires, she was thrown out. She was literally on the street,
working as a prostitute to feed herself and her little girl. Her miserable life
ultimately took her young life. She fell sick. On her death bed she sang, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There are dreams that cannot be, and there
are storms we cannot weather…I dreamed that my life would be so different from
this hell I am living, so different from what it seems. … Now life has killed
the dream… I dreamed.</i>” Life can turn out very different from what we
thought it would be. Recognition and acknowledgment of this reality is
de-illusioning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Disillusioning can come in
many guises. Each of us can recall our own version.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Consequences</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The consequence of de-illusioning,
on one hand, can be very negative. It can lead to resentment, anger bitterness
and a loss of passion and enthusiasm. However it can be also very liberating.
We can be liberated from the tyranny of lofty ambitions and unrealistic expectations.
Recognition that we do not control the world, that frailty and flaws are part
of the human condition, can make us more accepting and tolerant of these in ourselves
and others, and become less self-righteous and more compassionate and forgiving
toward self and others. This is one of the more positive growth experiences of
midlife.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zOgfygQYhY/YLsEPbp6kOI/AAAAAAAAHRE/7E6zKJ-gbtonyam3jDQbPT7I5bGj_N7JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/freedom%2B1.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zOgfygQYhY/YLsEPbp6kOI/AAAAAAAAHRE/7E6zKJ-gbtonyam3jDQbPT7I5bGj_N7JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/freedom%2B1.webp" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Reflection Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Has de-illusioning been part of your midlife
experience? If yes, in what way?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What are some of your illusions that have been
shattered? How did they shatter?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What has been the consequence for you of such
shattering? — Disappointment or liberation?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Are there still illusions you are holding on to? </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Which? What do you need to do about these?</span></i><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A telling example of
de-illusioning is found in Sacred Scripture. One of the saddest phrases in all
of scripture for me is found in the story of the disillusioned disciples on the
road to Emmaus. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We had hoped…</i>” the
two men tell the stranger who had joined their conversation (Luke, 24, 21).
They had hoped that the Galilean would be the one to set Israel free from the
tyranny of Rome. But their hopes were shattered on that depressing Friday
afternoon when they saw him die on the cross. The story had ended. Their hope
shattered. “We had hoped…. But….!”</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16CRekx9_uw/YLsE8pGQAWI/AAAAAAAAHRM/TdIRXZWCmNwcQBL7z-EPIDUn-dIeZcqmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s269/Emmaus.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16CRekx9_uw/YLsE8pGQAWI/AAAAAAAAHRM/TdIRXZWCmNwcQBL7z-EPIDUn-dIeZcqmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Emmaus.webp" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We could read and stay with
this passage for a while, and talk to Jesus who accompanies us on our own
lonely journeys and listens to and talks to us as he did with the disillusioned
disciples. We might gain some surprising insights when we do this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">May your weekend be happy and safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-26929865607124048862021-05-28T23:03:00.000-07:002021-05-28T23:03:47.905-07:00Psyche & Soul 48: MIDLIFE. REASSESSMENT OF “DREAMS.”<p> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Psyche & Soul 48</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">MIDLIFE: REASSESSMENT OF “DREAMS.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Podcast link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-48-Psyche--Soul--103-e11nn78" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue","serif";">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-48-Psyche--Soul--103-e11nn78</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXbh7Xx56E4/YLHT_q895_I/AAAAAAAAHOM/I6dxClRFYWU4jgj6Da-l2d-yJT4VXYwVACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXbh7Xx56E4/YLHT_q895_I/AAAAAAAAHOM/I6dxClRFYWU4jgj6Da-l2d-yJT4VXYwVACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dream.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Part of the reappraisal that happens at
midlife is looking closely at our “Dream.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dream is a vision we create for ourselves in our youth or early
adulthood in regard to our future. The dream is a compelling inner picture of
what we most deeply want our life to be and what we want to pursue or
accomplish in life. It is something that inspires and motivates us and around
which we organize our life energies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Psychologist Daniel Levinson
three things happen with the dream at midlife:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mHMr9Ihn_k/YLHUVsjvcrI/AAAAAAAAHOU/Uucsn97WD_IssziRTCoefkHbBUqpFQbRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/dream%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mHMr9Ihn_k/YLHUVsjvcrI/AAAAAAAAHOU/Uucsn97WD_IssziRTCoefkHbBUqpFQbRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/dream%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Reappraising
and modifying the idealised dream.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB">Sometimes in our youth we create a dream that is
far beyond our reach. A young man can, for example, dream, inspired by the
feats of astronauts he watched on TV from his childhood days, that he is going
to be an Astronaut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After struggling to
get admitted to training and training for a while, he may come to recognise he
was pursuing an impossible dream, that this dream is far beyond his
capabilities. He then has to assess what aspects of this dream he may be able
to realize and then modify it to make it one that is more feasible.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk39DRNS4fg/YLHU0QS7hsI/AAAAAAAAHOg/obHsHfgfuvMQgOOMHCnHguqI0Rg_t0g9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Dream%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk39DRNS4fg/YLHU0QS7hsI/AAAAAAAAHOg/obHsHfgfuvMQgOOMHCnHguqI0Rg_t0g9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dream%2B6.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Recognising
the tyranny of the dream</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">. The question here is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whose dream is it anyway</i>?” It is quite
possible that we are trying to live out our parents’ dream or that of some
other significant person in our lives. Consciously or unconsciously we may have
taken up a career or a vocation under overt or covert pressure. For example,
the famous doctor wants his son to follow in his footsteps. Subtle and overt
message may be communicated to his son that becoming a doctor would be the best
choice for him. Even though being a doctor is not what the son is passionate
about or the profession he is best suited for, he may acquiesce to please his
father. Not a few priests and religious are living out the unrealized dreams of
their parents through the vocation they have committed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If such is the case with us, then at midlife
we will realize the burden of living out other people’s dreams and choose to
live one of our own. We choose to follow our “soul’s” agenda, than conform to
parental or other expectations. Consequently, quite a few of us may choose to
break our current commitment, or abandon our career/profession and make a new
one, as we attempt to pursue our own dreams.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SmXSFzhZ40/YLHWKEZDvnI/AAAAAAAAHOo/8LyfJtK5SrQWv4CFdSEOeSndZ7rrSSh7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s310/Dream%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SmXSFzhZ40/YLHWKEZDvnI/AAAAAAAAHOo/8LyfJtK5SrQWv4CFdSEOeSndZ7rrSSh7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dream%2B10.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Creating a
new dream</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">. </span><span lang="EN-GB">It is possible that even when the dream is our own, and a feasible one
too, for a variety of reasons we may realise as we come to midlife that we have
failed to realise it and there is now little chance of realising it. We must
come to terms with the failure and arrive at a new set of choices around which
to rebuild our life – create a new possible dream and pursue it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even when we have
succeeded brilliantly in the pursuit of our cherished dream, at midlife we may
question the meaning and value of our success. We may have a sense of
contentment and the desire to live out the fruits of that success as we move to
the sunset of our lives. It is also possible we may experience our success as
quite meaningless at this period of our lives and choose to pursue new and more
meaningful dreams.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether successful or
not in the pursuit of our dreams, at midlife we need to sort things out, and
consider the next steps on the journey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cCwOvjJiYA/YLHWnkDpzbI/AAAAAAAAHOw/-ei8YImS6Q8kLEyt2zUAc0UxeHhrG6LlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s348/dream%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cCwOvjJiYA/YLHWnkDpzbI/AAAAAAAAHOw/-ei8YImS6Q8kLEyt2zUAc0UxeHhrG6LlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dream%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In regard to the reappraisal of the Dream,
Levinson recalled Elia Kazan’s novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Arrangement</i> which is about a man who at 40 begins a valiant struggle to
regain his lost Dream or to kill himself, and James Baldwin’s (a famous Black
American writer’s) review of that novel in his own early forties. Baldwin
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Though we would like to live without regrets, and
sometimes proudly insist that we have none, this is not really possible, if
only because we are mortal. When more time stretches behind than stretches
before one, some assessments, however reluctantly and incompletely, begin to be
made. Between what one wishes to become and what one has become there is a
momentous gap, which will now never be closed. And this gap seems to operate as
one’s final margin, one’s last opportunity, for creation. And between the self
as it is and the self as one sees it, there is also a distance, even harder to
gauge. Some of us are compelled, around the middle of our lives, to make a
study of this baffling geography, less in the hope of conquering these
distances than in the determination that the distance shall not become any
greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Seasons of a Man’s Life</i>, 1978, p. 250)</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ntcxsc5wY-I/YLHW1h9md4I/AAAAAAAAHO0/u0u7DFmTbsEBlA6opOF9SgnFXaGdZUcswCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Dream%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ntcxsc5wY-I/YLHW1h9md4I/AAAAAAAAHO0/u0u7DFmTbsEBlA6opOF9SgnFXaGdZUcswCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dream%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Reflection and Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i>Look back over your life.</p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What were your “dreams”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who did
you dream of becoming? And who have you become? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What did you dream of accomplishing? What have you accomplished? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Whose dream are you currently living – your own or someone else's? If
someone else’s dream, what does your “soul” (your authentic self) want for you
at this juncture in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How do you feel about your dreams at this period in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Do you need to modify your dream or create new dreams? If yes, which? In
what way and why?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Having reflected on these questions, you
could sit for a while in the presence of God who has your happiness very much
at heart, and talk to your God about how you feel about your “dreams” at this
juncture on your psychospiritual journey toward fullness of life.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n65KZWYiMTk/YLHXCdX6YHI/AAAAAAAAHO8/4eChUstaQtAYw3Mom4LVHBUhKX6j-EJHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s260/Dream%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n65KZWYiMTk/YLHXCdX6YHI/AAAAAAAAHO8/4eChUstaQtAYw3Mom4LVHBUhKX6j-EJHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dream%2B9.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">What do you think might have been the
adolescent dreams of Mary of Nazareth, and what happened to her dream when the
unexpected happened, as we read in the story of the Annunciation? How would you
have felt if you were in Mary’s situation? How do you think Mary would have felt
as she reached mid-life and looked back over her life? It could be worthwhile
to spend some time talking to her and listening to what she might have to say
to you..</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5wEH0LA0fg/YLHYkhqP-SI/AAAAAAAAHPM/K2cwIYiWqFgS_4WZaSyoMl2XUeel20vNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s318/Annunciaiton%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5wEH0LA0fg/YLHYkhqP-SI/AAAAAAAAHPM/K2cwIYiWqFgS_4WZaSyoMl2XUeel20vNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Annunciaiton%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">May your weekend journeying be happy and
safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Google Images<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-89865832406945972472021-05-22T05:08:00.003-07:002021-05-22T05:08:57.671-07:00Psyche & Soul 47: MIDLIFE - TIME FOR REASSESSMENT <p><b><span lang="EN-GB">podcast link:</span></b></p><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue","serif";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/</span><wbr style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></wbr><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">episodes/1-2-Psyche--Soul--47-</span><wbr style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></wbr><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">e1198r3</span></span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal">The emotional awareness of mortality that
seeps into our consciousness at midlife has profound impact on our psyche and
soul and on our way of being in the world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vS74gt46LQ/YKihJiOXcFI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/RU3f2sTwR64mOnyOcPdZ4p8Bi9rH-GXowCLcBGAsYHQ/s353/Time%2Bconsciousness2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="353" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vS74gt46LQ/YKihJiOXcFI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/RU3f2sTwR64mOnyOcPdZ4p8Bi9rH-GXowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Time%2Bconsciousness2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">First of all it leads to a changed sense of
time. When we were young, time was quite elastic, infinite. We could stretch
time to make place for all that we wanted to accomplish. We could dream of a
hundred things to do, and we had the confidence we had enough time to
accomplish all that. Not so now. Time is now experienced as finite, restricted.
Focus shifts to the limited time-left-to-live, on how to live it more
meaningfully. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We experience an urgency in terms of
accomplishing something worthwhile. This is all the more true if we feel that
our life so far has been not very meaningful or productive. As psychologist
Roger Gold puts it: “Whatever we must do must be done now.” How we spend the
limited time available to us becomes significant. University of Chicago
psychology professor Bernice Neugarten observes: </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Neugarten (1968a) observes: “Both sexes, although men
more than women, talked about the new difference in the way time is perceived.
The awareness that time is finite is a particularly conspicuous feature of middle
age.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Rxe91ioIMo/YKihdAQcF-I/AAAAAAAAHLY/kGwtNb-xQ-MICR6jAm8LCumkPcBDlYqaACLcBGAsYHQ/s271/Time%2Bconsciousness%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Rxe91ioIMo/YKihdAQcF-I/AAAAAAAAHLY/kGwtNb-xQ-MICR6jAm8LCumkPcBDlYqaACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Time%2Bconsciousness%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">One consequence is the pressure to reassess
life and its priorities. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Assessment of Life and its Priorities</span></b></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection3"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">According to Neugarten, reassessment of
self – reviewing the past and looking to the future – is the “prevailing theme”
at mid-life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Midlife forces us to look at where we are and how we
came to be here. In this reassessment we take stock, noting where we are, what we
have achieved, and how we feel about life in general. We look at our goals, dreams, career, values, beliefs, commitments and so on.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7Cd2ooTyR8/YKjJfxXptzI/AAAAAAAAHLs/HGTP05SU5H84AaAc06pVrdgWVZhG00zyACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Priorities%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7Cd2ooTyR8/YKjJfxXptzI/AAAAAAAAHLs/HGTP05SU5H84AaAc06pVrdgWVZhG00zyACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Priorities%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We ask ourselves: What have I done with my
life? </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What has brought me to where
I am?</span> <span lang="EN-GB">What has happened to my dreams? What do I want
now? What is really important to me? </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How do I want to live out the rest of my life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Developmental psychologist Daniel Levinson referred particularly to
reassessment and modification that occurs in marriage during midlife. The same
can be said of religious commitment as well. In their late thirties and early
forties the married and the religious tend to address seriously commitment
problems that they had previously ignored or only dimly acknowledged.</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaFAlMDeths/YKjVupgmsmI/AAAAAAAAHL0/BZsKUAYd2643Dz9qdI5xfwWMNcnEES2zwCLcBGAsYHQ/s301/commitment2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaFAlMDeths/YKjVupgmsmI/AAAAAAAAHL0/BZsKUAYd2643Dz9qdI5xfwWMNcnEES2zwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/commitment2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Both the married and those committed to
religious life examine various forces that have been at work in their lives,
how they have lived out their dreams and how all these have contributed to the
current state of their commitment, and the level of satisfaction it provides
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">Both the married and the religious are likely to see their commitment
very differently at midlife than when they first made it. They may come to the
conclusion that marriage or religious life is not what they had expected it to
be. Or that they may have committed themselves to marriage or religious life
for all the wrong reasons. They may now conclude that there is little hope that
their current commitment will bring them reward or satisfaction. They may,
consequently, seek to relinquish their current commitment and bind themselves
to a new one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ERfUugrkiqE/YKjWDfpdDKI/AAAAAAAAHL8/xklmzUQBDJQVVwsAye-r-qm-HxOZpGJWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s299/commitment%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ERfUugrkiqE/YKjWDfpdDKI/AAAAAAAAHL8/xklmzUQBDJQVVwsAye-r-qm-HxOZpGJWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/commitment%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The reassessment of life and subsequent change of course is beautifully
illustrated in the Akira Kurosawa film “I<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kiru</i>.”
In the film a staid and aging bureaucrat who has been very hard on people, and
who has spent his entire life looking through and stamping permission papers,
and had done little to help people is diagnosed with cancer. He keeps the
diagnosis a secret, but makes an evaluation of his life. He realises to his
great dismay how he has wasted his life, and tries desperately to give it some
significance by giving permission for a children’s park that he had held up for
years and helps to construct it. He then dies with a happy song in his heart,
sitting on a swing in that same park on a cold wintry night.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wi84zmEpNDE/YKjWs8T0R8I/AAAAAAAAHME/k140OPiOa9sd7_Lq6FLT3uNqLKmbVyFjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s265/Ikiru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wi84zmEpNDE/YKjWs8T0R8I/AAAAAAAAHME/k140OPiOa9sd7_Lq6FLT3uNqLKmbVyFjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Ikiru.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<h3><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Reflection Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Sit with the following questions and see
what answers come into consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">What have I done with my
life so far?</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What
has brought me to where I am?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">How do I really feel about the way I have lived so far?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<h3 style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What
more do I want from life?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h3>
<h3 style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">How do
I want to live out the rest of my life?</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></h3>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There is an incident in the Gospel of John
(Chapter 1, 35-38) where two disciples of John the Baptist behind Jesus as he
passes by. Jesus notices someone following him looks bask, sees the two and
asks them, “What do you want?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> We could imagine Jesus asking us the same
question. What answer would be give? We could imagine the response Jesus gives
to our answer and then may be allow a fantasy conversation develop between him
and us. … End the prayer thanking Jesus for spending time wit you and talking
to you.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SMLP0vmkv4/YKjllYWoZmI/AAAAAAAAHMM/zEIPc59kbMQ0jgKhpCtS_nxHu0zkedtpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/John%2B1%252C%2B35-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SMLP0vmkv4/YKjllYWoZmI/AAAAAAAAHMM/zEIPc59kbMQ0jgKhpCtS_nxHu0zkedtpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/John%2B1%252C%2B35-38.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">May your weekend journeying be happy and
safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for listening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-199168923784613502021-05-15T10:18:00.005-07:002021-05-16T03:38:23.229-07:00Psyche & Soul 46: MIDLIFE: EMOTIONAL AWARENESS OF MORTALITY<div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Podcast link:</span></p>
<h1 style="background: white;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-46-Psyche--Soul--99-e10r7q4" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-46-Psyche--Soul--99-e10r7q4</span></b></a></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In the last weekend’s podcast of Psyche
& Soul I spoke of four kinds of journeys resulting from the quest for
meaning and purpose in life. What triggers this quest for meaning and purpose
that results in the journeying is what Elliott Jacques, the first to introduce
the concept of midlife into psychological and social discourse, termed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“emotional awareness of one’s mortality</i>.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFKi_DcD2SQ/YJ_10cZ_RHI/AAAAAAAAHJc/69g6nSbtHmIzU81m4dvwke2xphobg05egCLcBGAsYHQ/s330/Midlife11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="330" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFKi_DcD2SQ/YJ_10cZ_RHI/AAAAAAAAHJc/69g6nSbtHmIzU81m4dvwke2xphobg05egCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Midlife11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">What this phrase means is that we
recognise, as never before, that we are going to die soon, that we have lived
more years than we are going to live. When we were young, we knew we would die
one day. But that did not really bother us. Why? Because death was far away on
the horizon. It would be years before it would reach us. We had then what could
be called an “intellectual” understanding. But when we reach the decade of the
40’s, or even in the late 30’s, we have an “emotional” awareness of our
mortality. As Daniel Levinson pointed out in his study of men and women at
midlife, we can feel in our bones, in our dreams, in the marrow of our being
that we are going to die, that we do not have many more years to live. We have
reached the top of the hill and now what is left is the way down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHPdhrD6qKU/YJ_2RyzJnHI/AAAAAAAAHJk/d6czeLONNHsJTP1cUsADS52lMsJovny0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s254/Dying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHPdhrD6qKU/YJ_2RyzJnHI/AAAAAAAAHJk/d6czeLONNHsJTP1cUsADS52lMsJovny0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Dying.png" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p>In Jacques’ words,<p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Death—at the conscious level—instead of being a general conception, or
an event experienced in terms of the loss of someone else, becomes personal
matter, one’s own death, one’s own real and actual mortality….the reality of
one’s own death forces itself upon our attention and can no longer so readily
be shelved. (1993, p. 214)</span></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The awareness of the imminence of death is
underscored by a realisation of losses and changes in our body, the reality of
aging or dying parents or serious illness and death of friends. We experience a
diminishment in our bodily and mental powers after 40. Our vision and hearing
become less acute; we remember less well; we are prone to experience chronic
aches and pains and may undergo serious illness and surgery. For men, decline
of bodily powers is experienced dramatically in the loss of sexual potency.
Women may be approaching menopause and the physical and hormonal changes
leading to it can bring a profound sense of loss or ending. Though normal for
the stage, these physical changes can sometimes be experienced as catastrophic.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4q58Jnf0CZM/YKAD0iZyBUI/AAAAAAAAHKs/Rdlm7Rz5O8A6-LptiB0X6XaSjVUY158xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s334/death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4q58Jnf0CZM/YKAD0iZyBUI/AAAAAAAAHKs/Rdlm7Rz5O8A6-LptiB0X6XaSjVUY158xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span>This emotional awareness of mortality is
something that in most cases creeps upon us gradually. But sometimes it can be
triggered by dramatic events. This was the experience of Fr. Douglas (name
changed), a pastor at a parish in an area where violence was common. He had
given himself selflessly to the people working in a parish where other priests
had refused to go. He had believed that if he worked hard for the welfare of
people, nothing bad would happen to him. He was mistaken. One night a group of
people rushed into his room and shot at him point blank. He was badly wounded
and collapsed to the floor. He was taken for dead and the assailants went away.
Fr. Douglas, however, was alive and dragged himself into the bath room and hid
himself for several hours dreading the assailants might come back and finish
him off. When he felt safe to come out, he got in touch with his assistant and
received medical attention and survived.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzV2l-99boA/YJ_406oLmqI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/s_utkxguJZg5bN_sGVarmGW3Cur_E3hRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s284/Midlife12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzV2l-99boA/YJ_406oLmqI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/s_utkxguJZg5bN_sGVarmGW3Cur_E3hRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife12.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The incident affected Fr. Douglas
profoundly. His consciousness was now filled with the intense awareness of his
mortality and the fragility of life. This awareness very rapidly set in motion
the other dynamics of midlife described so far and those that will be described
later. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are today living through times where
death is all around us. Many of us would have directly come face to face with
the death of dear ones and friends. This would naturally intensify the
emotional awareness of our own mortality and create a whole gamut of feelings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjMnDJe1Uvg/YJ_5_0JmJqI/AAAAAAAAHKE/JzzAIje-yBkVkUF2EGVuzFaV06tVzXDoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s270/Nature%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjMnDJe1Uvg/YJ_5_0JmJqI/AAAAAAAAHKE/JzzAIje-yBkVkUF2EGVuzFaV06tVzXDoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Nature%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The awareness of impending death can plunge us into an
existential crisis. That crisis can lead to positive or negative outcome. The
realization that we need to change can motivate us to transform ourselves in
meaningful ways. But it can also discourage us. It may dawn on us that in the
short time available to us before death strikes we will not be able to make our
future better than the past. Thoughts such as “Can I really make my life more
worthwhile in the remaining years? Am I now too old to make a fresh start?” can
lead to pessimism and resignation or even self-destructive behaviour.</p>
<p class="MsoBodyText">Such existential crisis can also result in a desperate
attempt to push death back, or even to deny its inevitability. The compulsive
attempts in many men and women reaching middle age to remain young, the
hypochondriacal concerns over health and appearance, the emergence of sexual
promiscuity in order to prove youth and potency, Elliott Jacques observes, are
attempts at a race against time and which can result in impoverishment of
emotional life and even character deterioration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsQyXkayzyU/YJ_6mj5P5mI/AAAAAAAAHKM/r_utoTbU6dMwGKW4T3lH055HYhEwalwmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s289/Midlife10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsQyXkayzyU/YJ_6mj5P5mI/AAAAAAAAHKM/r_utoTbU6dMwGKW4T3lH055HYhEwalwmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife10.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoBodyText">According to Roger
Gould, another psychologist at the forefront of exploration of midlife, the
“most malignant form” in which the fear of our impending death manifests is “in
a sudden outburst of exaggerated symptoms: acute anxiety or self-destructive,
dangerous behaviour.” Gould cited the example of a prominent writer who wrote
about</p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a wild year in which a newfound obsession with
cemeteries was paralleled by drunkenness, over-use of drugs, gambling, high
speed drunken-driving and provocation of dangerous criminals. All of this began
at his thirty-sixth year and has since disappeared: with a kind of frantic
craziness, he was trying to overcome some existential terror. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Transformations, 1978,</i> p. 229)</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">The Psalmist presents
this emotional awareness of mortality in poetic and poignant words:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB">“O Lord, you have
shown me my end,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB">how short is the
length of my days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now I know how
fleeting my life is.” (Ps. 39, 4)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNgHo3FeEsw/YKAA0qOaVBI/AAAAAAAAHKU/hU7cqnxH0EMB__J-tMDW6fbp61QCP14ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s291/death%2Bawareness%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNgHo3FeEsw/YKAA0qOaVBI/AAAAAAAAHKU/hU7cqnxH0EMB__J-tMDW6fbp61QCP14ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/death%2Bawareness%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For Introspection, Prayer and J</span></b><span style="color: red; text-align: left;"><b>ournaling</b></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">Is “emotional awareness of
mortality” part of your experience? If yes, how are you impacted by it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the impact positive or negative? In what
way? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span lang="EN-GB">Is the awareness creating
any urge to bring about some changes in the way your journey on? If yes, what?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Jesus of Nazareth was often aware of his
impending his death, even though he was only in his thirties, and often spoke
of. We also know how that knowledge affected his life. We could follow his
journey toward his death and stay open to whatever this evokes in us and talk
to him about it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or just say in the presence of the Divinity
(God/Goddess) we believe in and talk, if we feel the need, to talk to him or
her about how we feel about whatever is evoked in us through the emotional
awareness of our mortality.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We could also stay in the presence of the
divinity we believe in with all that is evoked in us by the Covid deaths
surrounding us and with which we are coming face-to-face.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We can also journal about these feelings.
We can also do a drawing/painting to express our feelings. Both will provide us
with insights as well as to give vent to our emotions.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQeynBSOwOE/YKAB41LaxwI/AAAAAAAAHKc/UscbZSltQqc8rK51MZm8s9yzN7U8_t8uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s493/Post-midlife.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="493" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQeynBSOwOE/YKAB41LaxwI/AAAAAAAAHKc/UscbZSltQqc8rK51MZm8s9yzN7U8_t8uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Post-midlife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">May your weekend
journeying be happy and safe. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for
listening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-16213067734666251602021-05-08T09:41:00.000-07:002021-05-08T09:41:43.156-07:00Psyche & Soul 45: MIDLIFE JOURNEYING <p> <span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Podcast link:</span></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-45-Psyche--Soul--97-e10f9ip" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-45-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>97-e10f9ip</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This weekend I
shall describe four kinds of journeys we undertake during the Midlife passage:
Journey inward which includes a Journey into the past, and a journey outward
which includes a journey into the future.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCjhjpACxYA/YJa2VWgTfKI/AAAAAAAAHH8/oisNK0fzYzQK8BIS1yvLt3Ha51zo-oECwCLcBGAsYHQ/s308/Journey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCjhjpACxYA/YJa2VWgTfKI/AAAAAAAAHH8/oisNK0fzYzQK8BIS1yvLt3Ha51zo-oECwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey3.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>O</o:p></span>ne of the most central dynamics of midlife
is related to meaning and purpose. Even if our life had been very meaningful hitherto,
as we approach midlife there can be an erosion in that meaningfulness causing a
restlessness of soul.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu5wmYiC-IA/YJa2tW9K9yI/AAAAAAAAHIE/xWeueCf2zssaWrkrZySJh9bs158OTWcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s261/Questioning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu5wmYiC-IA/YJa2tW9K9yI/AAAAAAAAHIE/xWeueCf2zssaWrkrZySJh9bs158OTWcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Questioning.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">A Time of Questioning</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Midlife forces us to ask some radical
questions about ourselves, the meaningfulness and direction of the life we
lead. These questions are invitations to us to make better sense of our past
and present and create new meaning and purpose for the future, so that we can
live the second half of our lives more consciously, that is, the way our
“soul,” meaning our deep authentic self, want us to live.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There are four kinds of questions we
usually ask ourselves as midlife creeps upon us: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">1. Who am I? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">2. Whose am I? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection3"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">3. What have I accomplished? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">4. What do I feel about the way I have
lived and now live?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first question raises the issue of
identity - the way I see myself; the second that of intimacy - my experience of
love and close relationships; the third that of generativity - my fruitfulness
in terms of contribution to society; and the last the issue of integrity –
meaningfulness, contentment with my life as a whole.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLbpC91FVk/YJa3JdWcrJI/AAAAAAAAHIM/na3RtSWSEfQTdwb5zMP4r91lQYzw4415QCLcBGAsYHQ/s328/Journey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLbpC91FVk/YJa3JdWcrJI/AAAAAAAAHIM/na3RtSWSEfQTdwb5zMP4r91lQYzw4415QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Journey2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: center;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Midlife
Journeying</span></p></div><div class="WordSection4">
<p class="MsoBodyText">The quest for meaning and direction, and the kind of
questions we ask at midlife, lead to four kinds of midlife journeying.</p></div>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Journey
Inward<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is first of all a <i>journey inward</i>. This is
a journey to be in touch with and accept ourselves in the context of the new
awareness of self that midlife awakens in us.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7S7MLexPpE/YJa7kcosvuI/AAAAAAAAHIk/_soSeZrYsTQyVoFbwwjuOcrUt4FAUNPKACLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Journey%2Binward%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7S7MLexPpE/YJa7kcosvuI/AAAAAAAAHIk/_soSeZrYsTQyVoFbwwjuOcrUt4FAUNPKACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey%2Binward%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>By midlife we have experiences and insights that were
not part of our lives or awareness earlier. As the poet Robert Frost wrote, <i>“The afternoon knows what the morning never
suspected.”</i> For example, we begin to realise that we are not the kind of
person we thought we were. We begin to experience new desires and needs that
were not in our consciousness before, such as awakened or re-awakened sexuality
and intimacy needs. We begin to recognize our limitations, frailties and
vulnerabilities and that we have little control over many things in life. We
accept and embrace ourselves with these new awareness and experiences.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d3G9KGvWXAI/YJa6QXCwwSI/AAAAAAAAHIY/kX28Wpw3MwgSOJ2dFjpXHGkwMlqvrvGRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s516/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bpast%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="516" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d3G9KGvWXAI/YJa6QXCwwSI/AAAAAAAAHIY/kX28Wpw3MwgSOJ2dFjpXHGkwMlqvrvGRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bpast%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Journey into the Past<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">This inward journey also includes a <i>journey
into the past </i>in order to work through and reconcile with the unresolved
issues—the “baggage” that we carry from earlier years. During midlife, traumas
and conflicts that we had buried deep in the recesses of our psyche and soul
begin to raise their heads seeking our attention. Our “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadow</i>” – all that we had rejected or repressed to conform to
social expectations or to live up to an idealized self-image – breaks through
our repression barrier and makes their presence felt. Journey into the past
involves addressing these issues and working through these experiences and
developing new perspectives on and attitudes toward our past. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tl9Dn4VRRY/YJa7_-Iwb2I/AAAAAAAAHIs/jwIo40rt5KMHvBeVlkE69nudZCJNzIq2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bpast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tl9Dn4VRRY/YJa7_-Iwb2I/AAAAAAAAHIs/jwIo40rt5KMHvBeVlkE69nudZCJNzIq2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bpast.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>J</o:p></span>ourneying into the past also involves
paying attention to those aspects of our self that were undeveloped or underdeveloped
and/or distorted by earlier choices and life situations. For example, we may
have wanted to pursue an artistic or academic career, but our parents or our
religious formators might have discouraged us, or certain situations prevented
us from doing it. Or, we may have regrets about certain choices and decisions
that affected our development and life goals negatively. Midlife invites us to
revisit these issues and make peace with them.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQF2NsTB24/YJa8ZQ4l_JI/AAAAAAAAHI0/FVvrC-3P4i8rVzGgAWbx6NBo-7PGD-qkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s272/Journey%2Boutward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQF2NsTB24/YJa8ZQ4l_JI/AAAAAAAAHI0/FVvrC-3P4i8rVzGgAWbx6NBo-7PGD-qkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey%2Boutward.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />Journey Outward</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There is also a <i>journey outward</i> that
invites us to relate to our environment differently and to be generative in new,
more meaningful and satisfying ways. In the first half of life we might not
have been able to follow our own dreams, for example. For a variety of reasons,
we might have had to compromise on them and do what others wanted us to do. But
by midlife, we may have grown tired of following other people’s dreams or
directives and feel an inner urge to pursue our own, in the way we want.
Rebellion against the restraints of the earlier years is quite common at this
period of life. This discontent can lead some of us to make drastic changes in
our lives. Many choose new careers and break commitments which might have been
very meaningful earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjo8rWH9lMA/YJa8mGNICKI/AAAAAAAAHI4/WYFaayNZc1QmdwZ-TmvrCc-f7lWU5l9QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Journey%2Boutward%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjo8rWH9lMA/YJa8mGNICKI/AAAAAAAAHI4/WYFaayNZc1QmdwZ-TmvrCc-f7lWU5l9QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey%2Boutward%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part of this journey outward is addressing
the issue of power and care differently than in the past. These issues are
handled very differently by men and women in the first half of life. Men tend
to focus more on gaining power and exercising authority and control. Women tend
to focus on exercising care and developing and nurturing relationships. At
midlife both men and women experience a shift in these orientations and priorities.
This results in a desire to live our lives differently from the way we have
done so far. As Psychologist Daniel Levinson observed, we "cannot go on as
before, but need time to choose a new path or modify an old one."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKqzJPCl5AE/YJa85ADXKTI/AAAAAAAAHJA/6WVMUw0Ii_wzj_khn7fX2acV98aVMMdPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s325/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="325" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKqzJPCl5AE/YJa85ADXKTI/AAAAAAAAHJA/6WVMUw0Ii_wzj_khn7fX2acV98aVMMdPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Journey%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Journey Into the future</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The insights gained by the journey into the
past and the new orientations and priorities resulting from the outward journey
lead to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>a journey into the future - </i>planning
how we want to live out the rest of our life, how we want to reorient it in
terms of goals and dreams we create for ourselves at midlife. This consideration
of how we want to live out the rest of our life is one of the crucial tasks of
midlife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The result of these four kinds of
journeying – inward, into the past, outward, into the future - is a reworking
of the narrow identity by which we had defined ourselves in the first half of
life and creating a new self-identity and a new way of living and relating. These
journeys bring about new priorities and new dreams, further transforming us
into the kind of persons we are destined to be.</p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Introspection and Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Which
of the four kinds of journeying mentioned have you been experiencing in recent
years? How are you impacted by them?</i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which
of these journeys do you need to engage in a little more at this time in your
life? Why?</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOHJYmtKcRE/YJa9jyFho9I/AAAAAAAAHJI/ba-cr5sCL2M0IQze6Lj2GBxsNaVLz9oyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s269/Journey%2Bto%2BEmmaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOHJYmtKcRE/YJa9jyFho9I/AAAAAAAAHJI/ba-cr5sCL2M0IQze6Lj2GBxsNaVLz9oyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Journey%2Bto%2BEmmaus.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Journeying
is an important future of the content of Sacred Narratives. The Bible, for
example, describes many famous journeys. We have the journey of Abraham from
Haran to the Negeb (Genesis, 12, 1-9); journey<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land (Exodus 13, 17-14,
21); journey of the holy family from Bethlehem to Egypt (Mathew 2, 13-23; the
journey of the disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 42-13-35)
and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span>You
could read one of these stories (if you are not Christian, you can focus on
journey stories from your own Sacred Narratives) and stay with what is evoked
in you by them, and talk to God who accompanies you on your journeys about what
is evoked, as well as about your own journeys, especially the journey ahead you
are planning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Di-JXyugx4/YJa-Wo64NXI/AAAAAAAAHJQ/62mMA40h0lwvG13pYhJb8SUC37NqZV1mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Jounrey%2Bpeace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Di-JXyugx4/YJa-Wo64NXI/AAAAAAAAHJQ/62mMA40h0lwvG13pYhJb8SUC37NqZV1mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Jounrey%2Bpeace.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><o:p> </o:p>May your
weekend journeying be happy and safe. Be blessed.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thank you for
listening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-56980580246645988212021-05-01T10:38:00.001-07:002021-05-01T10:38:24.710-07:00Psyche & Soul 44: AWAKENING TO MIDLIFE <p><b> <span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Podcast link:</span></b></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-44-Psyche--Soul--95-evuotv" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11.0pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-44-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>95-evuotv</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">During the past
few weekend podcasts I have been presenting on mental Health and illness. This
week I begin a series of podcasts on the Midlife transition which has a
profound impact on our lives. This weekend I focus on “Awakening to Midlife.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E-N9TJjg7Wo/YI2GkfDPJBI/AAAAAAAAHGg/oYqVWJhCukg_ziAOf_crxdnqFq5lCSbNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s245/Midlife5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E-N9TJjg7Wo/YI2GkfDPJBI/AAAAAAAAHGg/oYqVWJhCukg_ziAOf_crxdnqFq5lCSbNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife5.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Midlife is a
bridge between the first and second half of life. Midlife transition usually occurs
roughly between 35 and 50, most commonly between the ages 40-45</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In a study by psychologist
Sheila Murphy of 137 women between the ages of 30 and 60 who responded to
questions on midlife transition, for example, 66 percent indicated that they
were experiencing or had experienced such a transition. Sixty seven percent of
these identified the 35-45 year bracket as the time of transition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">However, as
Bernice Neugarten, the University of Chicago professor who specialised in the
study of older people observed, for many people chronological age is often not
the marker for midlife. Rather, it is experienced more in terms of their
positions in life – family, career - and the experiences they go through.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X956O9fj-Dw/YI2KVPCSeYI/AAAAAAAAHGw/7XKoP5aBhHIn-qe68TIq20uvC60Cb90SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/professional%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X956O9fj-Dw/YI2KVPCSeYI/AAAAAAAAHGw/7XKoP5aBhHIn-qe68TIq20uvC60Cb90SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/professional%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The period from
the late 30’s to late 40’s is for most people the most fruitful and satisfying
in terms of professional work and creativity. Midlife is a time when we are likely
to feel we have reached the top of professional and personal accomplishment;
accumulated prestige and expertise and feel quite good about ourselves and life
in general. It is toward the end of this fruitful and personally and
professionally satisfying period that the rumblings of a midlife transition
makes itself felt.</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHjieA_TjYk/YI2LStUS58I/AAAAAAAAHG4/PRXmo3eKFxkK_Z3U2U5PHUkvWyUz4ViJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s276/Quesitons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHjieA_TjYk/YI2LStUS58I/AAAAAAAAHG4/PRXmo3eKFxkK_Z3U2U5PHUkvWyUz4ViJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Quesitons.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;"><b>A TIME
OF QUESTIONING AND SELF-DOUBT</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">During midlife our
sense of purpose and meaning which was strong earlier, slowly drains away. We
wonder, “What’s happening to me? Why am I doing what I am doing? What’s my life
about?” Another side of our personality suddenly asserts itself. We find
ourselves doing things out of character. For example, we might have been have
been a very kind and patient person. Now we get easily irritated and speak
harshly. We might have enjoyed and been happy with whatever work or ministry we
were doing. Now its charm and attraction disappear and we wonder, “Why do I
stick on to this ‘thankless’/ ‘useless’ job?” We long for something different
and more fulfilling. We feel an urge to try out new things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Or, we may not
have cared much for relationships in the past. Now we begin to search for one
and wish we had a very close friend. New longings for closeness and intimacy
are stirred in us. Those committed to a celibate lifestyle might begin to
wonder how it would be to have a sexual experience, or to be married, be a
father, mother—have a child.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UzUo3ROzPKw/YI2MH-eHe-I/AAAAAAAAHHA/GiHfSBETYFcTU5MQNLfgxiJoDdEhSnAoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s255/Self-doubt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UzUo3ROzPKw/YI2MH-eHe-I/AAAAAAAAHHA/GiHfSBETYFcTU5MQNLfgxiJoDdEhSnAoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Self-doubt.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Married persons
may wonder if they made a mistake in marrying the person they did. They may
begin to fantasise about what it would be like, if they had not married or had
married someone else.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">More often than not these
questions do not pop into our mind suddenly. Instead these intimations of
midlife unfold slowly, beginning with a vague sense of discontent and disillusion.
We want more than what life is currently offering us. Our earlier interests
weaken or disappear and others arise to take their place. There can be a slow
withering of our earlier ambition or passion for life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">However, the dynamics of
midlife can also be ushered in suddenly and rather dramatically, especially in
contexts where we experience a deep disappointment, loss or trauma. For
example, an unexpected transfer, or discovery that we have cancer, or the sudden
death of someone we love dearly can trigger the sudden onset of midlife transition.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggUsGedDcww/YI2NDZAs25I/AAAAAAAAHHI/ERzNsQCAXV8XZlLeHxRXoDAc8wppAgjxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/doubts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggUsGedDcww/YI2NDZAs25I/AAAAAAAAHHI/ERzNsQCAXV8XZlLeHxRXoDAc8wppAgjxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/doubts.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A classic story of
midlife discontent is that of Faust, the famous character created by the German
writer Goethe. Coming to midlife, Faust finds that although he has mastered
philosophy, medicine, and law thoroughly, he is fundamentally no wiser than a
fool. He feels that in his pursuit of knowledge he has neglected to live life
with passion, that he has wasted his youthful years. He yearns to regain his
youth and passion, drink life to the full. At this juncture the devil in the
disguise of a travelling salesman named Mephistopheles appears to him and
promises to restore to him the passion of his youth, provided Faust sells his
soul to him. Desperate, Faust agrees and makes a pact with the devil to salvage
his wasted life.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZWVM4_Ad2A/YI2RwHR2odI/AAAAAAAAHHw/tj_SbCkrZ8o0rn2A4S75P7YHxg3H5WhOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Faust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZWVM4_Ad2A/YI2RwHR2odI/AAAAAAAAHHw/tj_SbCkrZ8o0rn2A4S75P7YHxg3H5WhOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Faust.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For John Henry
Newman, later Cardinal, and now a Blessed, midlife rumbling came at the height
of his fame as an Oxford Scholar, as meaning and purpose disappeared and he
floundered trying to make sense of his life and find new directions.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">That experience led him to pen the words of
his now famous poem, giving expression to his inner anguish as well as trust
that there will be light at the end of the tunnel:</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8NvUBPJzR4/YI2N6nSEGOI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/IhbJNB_HbbQDR-xTBCli9HIU0jJtDDutwCLcBGAsYHQ/s283/Newmman%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8NvUBPJzR4/YI2N6nSEGOI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/IhbJNB_HbbQDR-xTBCli9HIU0jJtDDutwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Newmman%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lead, Kindly
Light, amid the encircling gloom</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lead thou me
on;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The night is
dark, and I far from home,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lead thou me on….<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lead Kindly
Light </span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">is not just a poem, it is autobiography. In it Newman gives expression
to his own anguish at the disappearance of meaning and direction in his own
life, and the need for light to see clearly the new pathways he has to tread.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iq4sGQOp-8Q/YI2Onq_1xOI/AAAAAAAAHHY/ieuICvBE6-453Pf6tIk6Z08ebKh9lJ11ACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Aldrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iq4sGQOp-8Q/YI2Onq_1xOI/AAAAAAAAHHY/ieuICvBE6-453Pf6tIk6Z08ebKh9lJ11ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Aldrin.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This experience of
midlife as a profound crisis is dramatically captured in the autobiography of
Buzz Aldrin, the second man, after Neil Armstrong, to walk on the moon. After
achieving what he called “the most important goal of all,” Aldrin sank into
depression. Going to the moon was the ultimate adventure and he had lived through
its excitement. What more could he achieve now?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nothing really.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">He fell into what
poets have described as “the melancholy of all things done!” His depression led
to the break-up of his marriage and he got addicted to alcohol. He took
anti-depressant medications, and sought help from psychotherapy. “My depression
forced me, at the age of forty-one,” he wrote, “to stop and for the first time
examine my life” This is what midlife does to us, whether it creeps upon us slowly
or bursts upon us suddenly. It makes us stop in our tracks and examine our
lives.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Midlife is the
call of the “soul” for the more of life, for finding new directions and new
passion. There are a number of typical dynamics that accompany this crucial
developmental passage. We shall explore these in the coming weekends.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPY2TGIo7E/YI2PFCK3OHI/AAAAAAAAHHg/7C8E16wxrXY642NNCQ2602w53IPyqxQKACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Midlife1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPY2TGIo7E/YI2PFCK3OHI/AAAAAAAAHHg/7C8E16wxrXY642NNCQ2602w53IPyqxQKACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Midlife1.jpg" /></a></div><b style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Introspection
& Prayer</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does the phrase midlife transition evoke in you?
What do you understand by it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Has any of the midlife experiences and dynamics
presented in this podcast been part of your life? If yes, how did these impact
you?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9bQSVCEeYw/YI2QJO9BBDI/AAAAAAAAHHo/gV94UAnfyZo9-82VmGaOkBXyhdUqUdX2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s237/Baptism%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9bQSVCEeYw/YI2QJO9BBDI/AAAAAAAAHHo/gV94UAnfyZo9-82VmGaOkBXyhdUqUdX2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Baptism%2B2.jpg" /></a></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jesus was 33 when
he began his public ministry. We can say he was just entering midlife. It was a
time of a transition for him, from being a simple carpenter at Nazareth to
being the Messiah. What might have been his feelings and concerns during this
transition? My be you could spend a few minutes sharing with him your own life
transition experiences and ask him to share with you the wisdom he gained through
his own experiences.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Have a pleasant
week end. Be safe. Be healthy. Be blessed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-76658889106832731762021-04-24T23:16:00.000-07:002021-04-24T23:16:46.573-07:00Psyche & Soul 43: PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER<p> </p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Podcast link:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-43-Psyche--Soul--93-evibtj" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-43-Psyche--Soul--93-evibtj</span></b></a><b><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this
weekends’ podcast I shall focus on four salient features of the Paranoid
Personality Disorder, namely inordinate suspicion, intrapsychic dynamics, interpersonal
relationships, self-defeating work patterns, and present some of the root
causes that lead to the disorder, as well as treatment approaches.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9f2wslEx6M/YIUAj0xJCJI/AAAAAAAAHE4/N1CxZJF1IK0I66ktesc2IA5OQpxBpf5nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/paranoid%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9f2wslEx6M/YIUAj0xJCJI/AAAAAAAAHE4/N1CxZJF1IK0I66ktesc2IA5OQpxBpf5nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/paranoid%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ronald is a
midlevel manager at a firm. Though very competent at his job, his colleagues
and subordinates find him very guarded reserved. He communicates very little
with them and shares little information about himself. He often accuses them of
trying to scuttle his promotion possibilities. He feels they are jealous of
him. When anyone at office points out any failure on his part, he holds them
responsible for those failures and makes counteraccusations. Moreover, His
tactlessness and attitudes of superiority, arrogance , and grandiosity
antagonize people around him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He is
suspicious of his neighbours and frequently keeps a watch on them and keeps a
distance from them. He suspects his wife of infidelity and accuses her of not
loving him but other men. He does not like her socializing with any one. When
he returns home from any trip outside, he sniffs the air to pick up any trace
of men’s perfumes and scrutinizes the room for telltale signs of presence of
men in the house….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ronald’s
brief profile shows him as suffering from paranoid personality disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4HviJDl9rY/YIUA1ks6Q7I/AAAAAAAAHFA/UYphTshSBagRCjOuwf4henFIYrWwuvs9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s265/paranoid%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4HviJDl9rY/YIUA1ks6Q7I/AAAAAAAAHFA/UYphTshSBagRCjOuwf4henFIYrWwuvs9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/paranoid%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>DYNAMICS AND CHARACTERISICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Suspicion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Inordinate suspicion
is the most distinctive feature of the paranoid personality disorder. Those who
suffer from it are unwarrantedly skeptical, cynical, and mistrusting of the
motives of others. They look for hidden meanings and motives in others’
behaviour. They tend to interpret even innocuous incidents as signifying hidden
or conspiratorial intent. This they do especially with those who do not
appreciate them or criticise them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They search for
hidden meaning in completely benign matters, and magnify minor difficulties
into proofs of duplicity or treachery, especially regarding the fidelity of a
spouse or intimate friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When events fail to
confirm their suspicions they are convinced that this is because the others are
really clever at being deceitful. It is hard for anyone to change their
beliefs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ7UX_Vh6To/YIUBAxh5yKI/AAAAAAAAHFE/CP8tGlNaKfojr5xcVeHIt100ms6TwZE-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s260/paranoid%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ7UX_Vh6To/YIUBAxh5yKI/AAAAAAAAHFE/CP8tGlNaKfojr5xcVeHIt100ms6TwZE-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/paranoid%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One positive feature
in the paranoid person is that society can benefit from their keen sense
justice and fair play. Psychiatrist John Oldham observes that their suspicious
nature leads them to “take on the role of social critic, watchdog, ombudsman
and crusader in their private or our public domain.” “They can be champions of
the underdog, protectors of the downtrodden, fighters for freedom from
oppression…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmgWTdlfm1I/YIUDAQ2UKqI/AAAAAAAAHFQ/otYwe8d9RC43RNNlCpJ8ymg7GlY7wVcNACLcBGAsYHQ/s327/projection%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmgWTdlfm1I/YIUDAQ2UKqI/AAAAAAAAHFQ/otYwe8d9RC43RNNlCpJ8ymg7GlY7wVcNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/projection%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Intra-Psychic Dynamics</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lack of self-worth
which they camouflage through a bold front makes it very difficult for them to
accept their faults and weaknesses. They strive to maintain their self-esteem
by attributing their shortcomings to others. Unable to face their feelings of
inadequacy and insignificance, they may begin to fabricate an image of superior
self-worth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is very difficult
for them to accept failure or acknowledge a mistake. When they are found to be
in error, they blame others for their ineptness. When they become aggressive it
is only because others has provoked them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKUUhQzT9Mc/YIUDMc3LCtI/AAAAAAAAHFU/1YqSUY-XTKU1nmRHMn2lfGpLoGmPI-ogQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/projection%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKUUhQzT9Mc/YIUDMc3LCtI/AAAAAAAAHFU/1YqSUY-XTKU1nmRHMn2lfGpLoGmPI-ogQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/projection%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Projection
plays a big part in paranoid personality disorder. Those who suffer from it
project their own unwelcome impulses on to other people. Thus the man who
suspects his wife of infidelity could very well be projecting on to her his own
desire for an affair with another woman.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They use
denial to avoid painful aspects of reality. They are also consumed by anger,
envy and hostility. Unable to face these, they project them on to others. Since
they deny these impulses in themselves they are often unaware of the impact of
their behaviour on others. Paranoid persons first attempt to cope with painful
feelings and unacceptable impulses through repression. When repression fails, they
use denial, reaction formation, and projection as ways to cope. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz7WNaCeFW8/YIUDV2kND9I/AAAAAAAAHFc/3sLFXsN4_-Ut2e5XCYEXK-JwCzbJmUECACLcBGAsYHQ/s255/projection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz7WNaCeFW8/YIUDV2kND9I/AAAAAAAAHFc/3sLFXsN4_-Ut2e5XCYEXK-JwCzbJmUECACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/projection.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Interpersonal Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interpersonally they
tend to be provocative in their transactions with others, precipitating
exasperation and anger in others by testing their loyalty and by intrusive and
searching preoccupations with possible hidden motives. If they are caught up in
any kind of power play, they will try every method to vanquish the other. They
are tenaciously and firmly resistant to external influence and control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They are quick to
take personal offense interpreting every slight as a personal rejection and
exhibit an abrasive irritability. They react angrily at the slightest offense,
imagine or real. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8avqaj-0Od0/YIUFHzpwD_I/AAAAAAAAHFo/B7aYzx8gRVEJMJAOj868gTGHZtS7x32NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/emotional%2Bdistance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8avqaj-0Od0/YIUFHzpwD_I/AAAAAAAAHFo/B7aYzx8gRVEJMJAOj868gTGHZtS7x32NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/emotional%2Bdistance.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They tend to be very
careful in their dealings with others, preferring to keep safe distance
emotionally. They seldom reveal their feelings to anyone, including their
spouse. Their belief is everyone is out to take advantage of them, and so they
remain very wary of people who want to get close to them. This leads them to
repress their tender and affectionate feelings which makes intimacy a real
challenge.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">They fear
they will be treated unfairly and taken advantage of. They view as unreliable
and untrustworthy, and therefore are reserved, guarded and even secretive in
their dealings with them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, when
relationships are non-threatening, devoid of control issues and fear of
domination, they thrive on them, counting on each other’s loyalty. When these
relationships begins to sour, they take it as a personal betrayal and feel very
hurt, but know how to take care of themselves.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfjiEQYf70k/YIUGbYVLsNI/AAAAAAAAHF4/oICfS83-1PoYdUQlji63hxrZ_PKDybFmACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/bossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfjiEQYf70k/YIUGbYVLsNI/AAAAAAAAHF4/oICfS83-1PoYdUQlji63hxrZ_PKDybFmACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/bossing.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">Workplace Dynamics</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They are
very independent and seldom take counsel from others in their decision-making. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a result of their suspicion and lack of
trust in others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Their sensory
antennae are constantly scanning the persons and situations around to what is
out of place or dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
especially sensitive to subtlest evasions truth and have an uncanny sense of
detecting hidden motivations<span style="color: #00b0f0;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICP2sF2XKCI/YIUGHRpq-jI/AAAAAAAAHFw/IcMWbujUOJknm4zyLFa08MY86YDvc0-ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/autonomy%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICP2sF2XKCI/YIUGHRpq-jI/AAAAAAAAHFw/IcMWbujUOJknm4zyLFa08MY86YDvc0-ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/autonomy%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They protect their autonomy and independence
with zeal, never allowing anyone to dominate them. They are very sensitive to
the power structures in the organization, distrustful of authority, and wary of
losing their control. They don’t allow themselves to be hoodwinked by anyone.
They make sure they are not dominated by anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They are
observant and careful, focused on what they do and on what they want to achieve
and work hard at success. This coupled with their uncanny ability to read
situations can maneuver them through the organizational maze and can turn them into
charismatic leaders. However, their abrasiveness and mistrust can undermine
their leadership potential.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmJDnfRfALM/YIUHm2ryPQI/AAAAAAAAHGA/Sm0UtrNKvug9XbqRBeaaXWzC8K3SuJhHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/mother-daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmJDnfRfALM/YIUHm2ryPQI/AAAAAAAAHGA/Sm0UtrNKvug9XbqRBeaaXWzC8K3SuJhHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mother-daughter.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Origins of the Disorder<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From a psychodynamic perspective, the paranoid person has
had difficulty in establishing a warm and trusting relationship with his
mother, who often was over-controlling and seductive. The feeling of rejection
leads to difficulties in developing healthy sense of self, feelings of
unworthiness alternating with feelings of grandiose omnipotence. It also leads
to fear of intimacy and avoidance of close relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">MacKinnon
and Michels report it</span> is common for the paranoid persons to believe that
they were treated sadistically in early childhood, with repeated experiences of
shame and humiliation. Their guardedness and reserve in relationships are due
not only due to fear of being taken advantage of, but also to avoid any
humiliation. They have an intense longing to be loved and an equally intense
ear of betrayal. “The paranoid person believes that he is not loved, has not
been loved, and never will be loved.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Treatment<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Psychotherapy can help those who suffer from paranoid
personality disorder to feel better about themselves, and reduce their
guardedness in interpersonal relationships by enhancing their sense of self and
feelings of security.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vL2CDM18lOA/YIUH41fIN7I/AAAAAAAAHGI/6A7ZItZJsTECFDNxydC35DkuHcyrUT7fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/therapy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vL2CDM18lOA/YIUH41fIN7I/AAAAAAAAHGI/6A7ZItZJsTECFDNxydC35DkuHcyrUT7fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/therapy2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Since their guardedness
arise also from fear of being taken advantage of, those around them can be
extra sensitive in treating them with respect an empathy. It is also important
not get into power struggles with them or take intimidating stance toward them.
This can help them develop trust in those around which helps them reduce their
guardedness and cultivate satisfying relationships.</span><p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Introspection and Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Can you recognize the
traits of the paranoid personality in yourself or in around you? How do the
presence of these traits in you or in those around you affect your relationships
and dealings with one another?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Sacred Scripture have
examples of paranoid personalities. The most famous of these is King Herod the
Great. He was insecure that he felt threatened by news of the birth of infant who
he feared might usurp his throne. His insecurity led him to kill all the boys
below two years in Palestine. Do you recognize any contemporary figures similar
to Herod?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z25HiPGSqoA/YIUInTrxD4I/AAAAAAAAHGQ/PR8ah4Q4rZIFV-F-ilokKnj6w63GC8nmACLcBGAsYHQ/s306/Herod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z25HiPGSqoA/YIUInTrxD4I/AAAAAAAAHGQ/PR8ah4Q4rZIFV-F-ilokKnj6w63GC8nmACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Herod.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">You could stay a while in
the presence of God with all that this story and the characteristics of the
paranoid personality presented here. God knows your insecurities and fears and
the ways you try to cope with them. What would you like to tell this god today?
</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Have a healthy, safe and blessed weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Thank you for
listening/reading<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jose Parappully
SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-411192449604154012021-04-17T10:54:00.002-07:002021-04-17T11:20:46.561-07:00Psyche & Soul 42: BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER<p><u><span style="color: #222222;">Podcast
link</span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><u><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-42-Psyche--Soul--91-ev0ao0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">
https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-42-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>91-ev0ao0</span></a></span></u><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
this weekend’s edition I shall describe Borderline Personality Disorder.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTPK169ofLM/YHsmgpAHVWI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/36TTOpVhjik86DGZ4NQCZVD7gdoDkiDCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Borderline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTPK169ofLM/YHsmgpAHVWI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/36TTOpVhjik86DGZ4NQCZVD7gdoDkiDCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Borderline.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Susan phoned her
boyfriend John. She wanted to talk to him badly. But he said he was out
shopping and will call her back in an hour. Susan was not happy. But she waited
for the hour to be over. An hour and half passed and he had not called her
back. She called him back and gave him a mouthful, telling him how callous he
was, not caring for her, burst into tears, and threatened to break off their
relationship. John said sorry and explained what had happened. On the way back
from shopping he witnessed a bike accident and had stopped to help and had
forgotten to call her. Susan continued to be angry, insisting he could still
have called her. John apologized. Now Susan began to feel guilty for the way
she behaved. To sooth her feelings she began to cut herself- something she
would do whenever she felt hurt…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Borderline
Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by the following:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></strong><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1;">Intense emotionality characterized by frequent and fast mood changes;<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></strong><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1;">Uncontrolled, intense anger and rage; sadness and irritability</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Intense craving for intimacy accompanied by </span><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;">fear of abandonment triggered by
the slightest suspicion of lack of interest on the part of the other and
frantic efforts to prevent it.</span></em><em><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;">Intense idealization
</span></em><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">(admiration
or love) <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">followed
by equally intense devaluation (</span></em>dislike and depreciation) <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">in quick succession.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;">Relationships
characterized by passionate attachments but also frequent and intense
conflicts.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-harm" title="Self-harm"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Self-harming</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (cutting, bruising, burning) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white;"> and
suicidal behaviour <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Impaired or distorted cognitive processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Underlying fragile sense of self and resulting insecurity and
feelings of emptiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kdyx6zSTFE/YHsmuQxn_RI/AAAAAAAAHEU/eNwoa4Led-Aoqjy6u36p4-4X3FezQseYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s246/mood%2Bchanges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kdyx6zSTFE/YHsmuQxn_RI/AAAAAAAAHEU/eNwoa4Led-Aoqjy6u36p4-4X3FezQseYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/mood%2Bchanges.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Persons with BPD are often enthusiastic, idealistic, joyful, and loving,
but soon may feel overwhelmedby negative emotions (anxiety, depression, guilt,
shame, worry, anger, etc.).</span></div>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;">They are in exuberant mood
when feeling loved, cared for, appreciated and made to feel important. However,
with the slightest disappointment they sink into despondency and react with intense
anger and rage. They feel every emotion at a very intense level: </span></em><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">rage instead of
annoyance, intense </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief" title="Grief"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">grief</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> instead of
sadness, shame and humiliation instead of mild embarrassment, panic instead of anxiety.
Their emotions often tend to spiral out of control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">They are very sensitive to the way others treat them, feeling intense
joy and gratitude at perceived expressions of kindness, and intense sadness or
anger at perceived criticism or hurtfulness. They are especially sensitive to
feelings of rejection and can become very vindictive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxoTOyeam5E/YHsXWYsaMeI/AAAAAAAAHCo/f4YCkb2d4w8ioxEV78nzGzP0eisvEjfPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s234/CONFLICT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxoTOyeam5E/YHsXWYsaMeI/AAAAAAAAHCo/f4YCkb2d4w8ioxEV78nzGzP0eisvEjfPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/CONFLICT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;">Naturally, their relationships
are characterized by lots of conflict and frustration. They tend to see persons
as “all-good” or “all-bad” in a sequential fashion. Their frequent mood
fluctuations and swinging from idealization to devaluation make life very
difficult and frustrating for those with whom they are in relationship, or with
whom want to establish relationships. </span></em><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Their fear of abandonment, combined with feelings of
emptiness and self-loathing, and frequent accusations of disloyalty and lack of
caring makes those around them feel like they're constantly walking on
eggshells, needing to be very careful lest they trigger a cascading
dysfunctional behaviours that can include threats of suicide and even suicidal
attempts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVinSRdd3sE/YHsY0QTGElI/AAAAAAAAHCw/okAmiQd4444ciJJGsz-k3dPkx-P7OlpVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s283/self%2Binjury1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVinSRdd3sE/YHsY0QTGElI/AAAAAAAAHCw/okAmiQd4444ciJJGsz-k3dPkx-P7OlpVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/self%2Binjury1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em><em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-style: normal;">Since they feel their
emotional pain with great intensity, they try to sooth their feelings and calm
themselves through self-injury, which takes attention away for their emotional
pain. </span></em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Self-soothing approaches often also
include </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_use_disorder" title="Substance use disorder"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">substance use
disorders</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (e.g., </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_use_disorder" title="Alcohol use disorder"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">alcohol use disorder</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binge_eating" title="Binge eating"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">eating in excess</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unprotected_sex" title="Unprotected sex"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">unprotected sex</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> or </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promiscuity" title="Promiscuity"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">indiscriminate sex with multiple partners</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spendthrift" title="Spendthrift"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">reckless spending</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reckless_driving" title="Reckless driving"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">reckless driving</span></a>.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> They do all this
because it gives them the feeling of immediate relief from their </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_pain" title="Emotional pain"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">emotional pain</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, but later lead to feelings of
shame and guilt over consequences of these behaviours.<sup> </sup>Thus a
vicious cycle is often set in motion:
beginning with emotional pain, followed by impulsive and unhealthy behaviour
to relieve that pain, then feeling shame and guilt over their actions resulting
in renewed emotional pain, and then experiencing stronger urges to engage in
impulsive and unhealthy behaviour to relieve the new pain.<sup> </sup>As time
goes on, these impulsive and unhealthy behaviours may become an automatic
response to emotional pain.</span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYc5m1D6obY/YHsajdAHDKI/AAAAAAAAHC4/0RsiPaVvxQMaGebaBOz8v-NWvP-bv7FsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/love%2Bme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYc5m1D6obY/YHsajdAHDKI/AAAAAAAAHC4/0RsiPaVvxQMaGebaBOz8v-NWvP-bv7FsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/love%2Bme.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0in 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">There are some basic assumptions that persons
with BPD hold and which lead to the behaviours described above. These include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
must be loved by people important to me or else I am worthless. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Persons
who love me are good and everything about them is perfect. Others cannot
be trusted.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Persons
must understand my needs and respond to them in the way I want. Otherwise
they don’t really care for me.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Persons
who love me must tell me they love me. If they don’t, it means they do not
love me and will abandoned me.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nobody
cares about me as much as I care about them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they can easily abandon me.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
I am not in a relationship, I become nobody and nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-themecolor: text1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
will be really happy only when someone makes me the most important person
in his or her life and make me feel that way. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43IMrCrjX9w/YHsbmiS-3HI/AAAAAAAAHDA/1DyaJ-1kGuU32_NxDgcsbSUX8sPvVWIBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/insecurity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43IMrCrjX9w/YHsbmiS-3HI/AAAAAAAAHDA/1DyaJ-1kGuU32_NxDgcsbSUX8sPvVWIBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/insecurity.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">ORIGINS</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It is generally recognised
that there are two basic dynamics in the formation of the borderline
personality disorder: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">First, inherited biochemical factors, not
easily observable on the surface, but responsible for impulsive aggression and
affect instability that characterize a patient suffering from the disorder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Second, early insecure attachments with
parents and parent figures, which besides contributing to the above, seriously
derail the crucial developmental milestone of basic trust. These also lead to
unstable interpersonal relationships characterized by excessive intensity,
overvalued expectations, unfounded anxieties. They also lead to distorted cognitive
processes.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Jer4lEEnkI/YHsgJcpkCnI/AAAAAAAAHD4/verlZPl4Cz846fQ8hcL-kpjmyDZR44zagCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Brain.jpg" /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Borderline
personality disorder is partly caused by brain abnormalities that can be
identified by brain imaging techniques. Patients with borderline personality
disorder may be bio-chemically primed to over anticipate and overreact to real or
imagined criticism, rejection or abandonment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is impairment in their capacity to
regulate or inhibit limbic-driven emotionality or impulsivity. These heritable
risk factors, in turn, interfere with the normal attachment process during
development, and this disruption can be magnified when there is inadequate
parental support. All these cause and maintain profound sense of inner
emptiness, emotional instability, interpersonal difficulties and disruptive
behaviours.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pS6rDpz2WZs/YHsb9quplEI/AAAAAAAAHDI/-5rmpWz5QqwnclZ-MCLpYQvMtAtzX15CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s279/therapy%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="279" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pS6rDpz2WZs/YHsb9quplEI/AAAAAAAAHDI/-5rmpWz5QqwnclZ-MCLpYQvMtAtzX15CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/therapy%2B1.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />TREATMENT<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It is a combination
of biological and psychotherapeutic interventions that really help those
suffering from borderline disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">For a long time it
was thought that borderline personality was not amenable to change in therapy. However,
that idea has changed. Today borderline personality disorder is considered a
treatable condition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Data from research show
that borderline patients treated by skilled therapists who focused their
interventions on the transference and countertransference (relationship between
client and therapist) showed a significantly better outcome than those treated
with a more supportive approach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">According to
experienced therapists, effective psychotherapy for patients with borderline
disorder takes time, commitment and persistent. The biggest hurdle is to
establish a collaborative partnership that can be sufficiently sustained to do
some effective work, without the client unilaterally terminating the treatment.
Maintaining proper boundaries of time, place and behaviour is also a big
challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFZvCP1tco4/YHsdFJyrvRI/AAAAAAAAHDQ/f6D6E6RVVS0lL8wv0qPKzTG6BGvx7cRmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s325/self%2Bworth%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="325" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFZvCP1tco4/YHsdFJyrvRI/AAAAAAAAHDQ/f6D6E6RVVS0lL8wv0qPKzTG6BGvx7cRmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/self%2Bworth%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Psychotherapeutic
interventions are more helpful to manage self-injury and abandonment concerns,
while the inherited bio-chemical contributors to the disorder are better
treated with medication.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Borderline
behaviour is mostly driven by feelings of low self-worth, fear of abandonment
arising from insecurity, and excessive craving for intimacy, approval and
appreciation. Hence, responding with empathy and sensitivity to their erratic
behaviours, though difficult and frustrating, and providing approval and
appreciation and frequent expressions of caring on the part of persons who
matter to them, can help those who suffer from the disorder feel cared for and
supported and can help reduce and prevent escalation of conflicts.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZTL-JrMjMo/YHsezUGmHgI/AAAAAAAAHDk/lRZvJ6fmBGcxVKkq7dijIzfEQfk0JGYbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Isaiah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZTL-JrMjMo/YHsezUGmHgI/AAAAAAAAHDk/lRZvJ6fmBGcxVKkq7dijIzfEQfk0JGYbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Isaiah.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Introspection and Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Do you
recognize the features of the Borderline Personality Disorder in yourself? If
so, how do you feel about them and handle them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Have
you encountered these features in those with whom you relate or those around
you? If so, what are the challenges you have faced in dealing with them? What
has helped you cope? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could hold these people in prayer before
God and ask God to provide them the love, appreciation and security they
crave…..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Borderline personalities
lack self-worth, feel others don’t love them and feel insecure. They tend to
drive away those they love by their demands and dysfunctional behaviours. Our
God is never put off by our dysfunctional behaviours, but always stands by us
and provides us the love and security we crave. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">We could read
Isaiah 43, 1-5where God speaks of his love and care for us and his promise to
never abandon us: “I have called you by name. You are mine. …. When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you… You are precious in my sight, …and I
love you…. Fear not, I am with you” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">We could then stay a
while with the feelings evoked in us by the reading and spend some time talking
with and listening to God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krd4QlnNY4M/YHsfBo2eD-I/AAAAAAAAHDs/hVV_tX06080GD7S2MEe0TYbL9KqsmobIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Isaiah%2B1.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Have a healthy,
safe and blessed weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Thank you for listening<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-76857780540003604892021-04-11T04:48:00.003-07:002021-04-11T04:48:57.131-07:00Psyche & Soul 41: OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER<p>Podcast Link:</p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-41-Psyche--Soul--89-eugti0" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-41-Psyche--Soul--89-eugti0</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">In this weekend’s edition
I shall explore Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder.</p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYXdWGAg-bI/YHLZsn7mrUI/AAAAAAAAHBI/Dl9ekVl1osIe0SNIJHZfszl7G--0I_oTACLcBGAsYHQ/s236/OCD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYXdWGAg-bI/YHLZsn7mrUI/AAAAAAAAHBI/Dl9ekVl1osIe0SNIJHZfszl7G--0I_oTACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/OCD1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Have you heard of the secretary to a Provincial who when she
was first told to prepare a report and make fifty copies of it, individually proofread
all fifty copies! (This is a case of Perfectionism arising from excessive fear
of making a mistake or being found to be inefficient -- and a bit of ignorance
as well) Or, the young man who kept on trimming his beard to get it just right
until there was nothing left to trim!! (A case of compulsive need to get things
just right/ and anxiety at any possible imperfection).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or, we may be aware of someone who has to wash his or her hands
several times, even when washing once is more than enough. Or, one who checks
several times the lock on the door is locked, sometimes returning to check
after having gone a distance? Or one who feels the need to rearrange books and
other articles on their desk several times a day to make sure they are always
in the right place and in the right order.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IK0o39XH4KU/YHLbEDuFakI/AAAAAAAAHBk/eSCv1YAG9XgGeYSUSRGgXdnYJDYOU8SiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/OCD5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IK0o39XH4KU/YHLbEDuFakI/AAAAAAAAHBk/eSCv1YAG9XgGeYSUSRGgXdnYJDYOU8SiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/OCD5.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">All these persons could be labelled obsessive- compulsive.
If their compulsion causes them excessive distress then they would be
considered as suffering from a personality disorder.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The famous psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich described compulsive
characters as “living machines” The essential feature of the disorder is a
preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal
control. From a psychodynamic perspective, contemporary psychologist David
Shapiro emphasises the role of distorted volition or will directed toward
controlling what cannot be controlled—namely, drives, spontaneous interests,
and affects.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="color: red;">Prevalence</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Obsessive-compulsive is the most frequently diagnosed personality
disorder and is more often found among men.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXciLqt8Bc/YHLaBcdJOVI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/U7N0EQCGD8Uze-_NFBwN5tYPftmOlbUMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s284/OCD4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXciLqt8Bc/YHLaBcdJOVI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/U7N0EQCGD8Uze-_NFBwN5tYPftmOlbUMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/OCD4.png" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Behavioural<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Those who suffer from it are driven by
perfectionism and preoccupied with rules, lists, order, schedules, cleanliness,
and correctness in every detail. They repeatedly check for possible mistakes. They
tend to miss what is most important in a situation by focusing on minor
details.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are likely to be workaholics and care
little for leisure activities and friendships.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are very dependable, but can be stubborn
and possessive. They are very indecisive and tend to frequently procrastinate
needed action.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They tend to be miserly in spending both in
regard to self and others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7UIUWWLQVc/YHLaQqw8WxI/AAAAAAAAHBU/0k6tS5qRzUgkVoSESUDD4UjDnNV6jOrFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/OCD2.jpg" width="320" /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Interpersonal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->These persons tend to be exquisitely conscious
of social rank and status, and modify their behaviour accordingly (deferential
and obsequious to superiors and haughty and arrogant to subordinates and peers).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->One of the most common characterises is that
they are unable to delegate tasks to others because they believe others will do
them badly or not in the way they would like them to do them. This leads to being
overburdened by many things and getting stressed out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are very loyal to the organizations and
ideals they espouse<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Socially, they are experienced as formal, cold,
standoffish, aloof distant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8uFprfopUE/YHLab3K99rI/AAAAAAAAHBc/Z7ku_DWegawNb-HZELZfKPK6yFAq4mWtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s284/OCD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8uFprfopUE/YHLab3K99rI/AAAAAAAAHBc/Z7ku_DWegawNb-HZELZfKPK6yFAq4mWtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/OCD.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;">Cognitive</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Their cognitive processes (thinking) is very
rigid and rule-based<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They have difficulty in establishing priorities
and perspectives (Everything is of equal and usually grave importance)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They find decision making difficult and tend
procrastinate decisions often leading to interpersonal conflict and organizational
dysfunction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are prone to ruminative thinking (tormented
by worries and fears of failure and unable to stop brooding about them)<o:p></o:p></p>
<h1><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Affective</span></h1>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>There is an absence or deficiency in the feeling
dimension of life; for them the ideal and priority is rationality,
reasonableness, and correctness)<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4;">They appear grim and
cheerless<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4;">They have difficulty in
expressing intimate feelings such as warmth and tenderness. They are often
embarrassed by too much affection, verbal or physical. They are more
comfortable express caring at a distance.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4;">Their emotion that is most
apparent to those around them is anger. They can become upset and angry in
situations where they are not able to maintain control, although the anger
is typically not expressed directly.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4;">The primary affect underlying
the disorder is that of fear—fear of doing something wrong.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vV4xJAuhmiY/YHLeRrPdxUI/AAAAAAAAHBs/sDOKoLW-eA0aKC55zUeD9a5PHGYmjsW_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Fear%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vV4xJAuhmiY/YHLeRrPdxUI/AAAAAAAAHBs/sDOKoLW-eA0aKC55zUeD9a5PHGYmjsW_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Fear%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;">Spirituality</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->These persons’ spirituality is characterized by
rigid observance of rules.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are over-conscientious, scrupulous, and
inflexible about matters of morality. Psychoanalyst Karen Horney observes that
they are driven by the “Tyranny of the should.” They are virtual prisoners of their
own stern, unrelenting conscience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They feel they need to be perfect to win God’s
approval and love. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->They are excessively self-critical, and because
they believe the same rules apply to all they can be exceedingly judgmental of
others. They do not make allowances for mitigating circumstances.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtDnlOow26w/YHLgAVzrE7I/AAAAAAAAHB0/k6Y1-GWVd0Ei0jFDe_sOpHgUPhiR-V1bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s329/Stress%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="329" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtDnlOow26w/YHLgAVzrE7I/AAAAAAAAHB0/k6Y1-GWVd0Ei0jFDe_sOpHgUPhiR-V1bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Stress%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Vulnerability
to Stress</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
produces high stress resulting from constant pressure to live up to some ideal
standard, concern with time and punctuality, vigilance to avoid error or
failure, impatience, competitiveness and tendency to suppress feelings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">All this can lead to relational and occupational distress
for self and others.</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b><b><span style="color: red;">Introspection and Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you recognize any of these characteristics
in yourself? Or in those around you?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How do the presence of these characteristics
affect your relationships and daily life?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>……..</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv0EKb69ki4/YHLhTuVdgVI/AAAAAAAAHB8/7304Xa0PsvMozPVZPUcv14ylvb7CxMRxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s289/perfectionism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv0EKb69ki4/YHLhTuVdgVI/AAAAAAAAHB8/7304Xa0PsvMozPVZPUcv14ylvb7CxMRxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/perfectionism.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Mathew’s Gospel (5, 28) Jesus invites us to be perfect as
his heavenly father. However, many of us interpret that perfection as
flawlessness and try to be flawless, living a very careful and cautious life
devoid of mistakes and errors. Our perfectionism arises from fear of
punishment, seeing God as strict judge and ever ready to publish even the
slightest mistake.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, our God is far from being like that, as we read in sacred
scripture. God is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger abounding in love, who
understands our weakness and vulnerabilities and empathizes with us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We could spend a few moments with this compassionate and
caring God, bringing before God all the stress and hassles we experience
because of our own obsessive-compulsive personality traits or of those around
us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCot__QzX_E/YHLhgpw6ofI/AAAAAAAAHCA/XqNFUeil1OsOYHNqjo60wdjcyxd2brQXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s310/perfectionism%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCot__QzX_E/YHLhgpw6ofI/AAAAAAAAHCA/XqNFUeil1OsOYHNqjo60wdjcyxd2brQXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/perfectionism%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Have a carefree and relaxing weekend. Be safe. Be healthy.
Be blessed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for listening/ reading.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jose Parappully SDB,
PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-90053601255706253402021-03-31T10:10:00.003-07:002021-03-31T10:10:54.320-07:00Psyche & Soul 40 : NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER (NPD)<p> <span style="color: #0070c0;">Podcast
Link</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0070c0;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-40-Psyche--Soul--87-etv6dq" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-40-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>87-etv6dq</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--M5Iu2JfxSk/YGSo4R26xwI/AAAAAAAAG_s/aHWIHmQfZ6IKxanvO6-hxfs6-rPtHt7hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/NPD7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--M5Iu2JfxSk/YGSo4R26xwI/AAAAAAAAG_s/aHWIHmQfZ6IKxanvO6-hxfs6-rPtHt7hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In this weekend’s edition
I shall explore Narcissistic Personality Disorder which takes a toll especially
on our interpersonal relationships.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fr. Das Prakash was attending a renewal programme. He told
the other participants that he had left his previous congregation because
religious life there was not up to his expectations. He also disclosed that had
been a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>theology professor and he had
studied under Karl Rahner and done his doctoral thesis under Hans Kung, the two
foremost theologians in the catholic Church during those years . His current
congregation was very happy to have him and had put him to teach theology. He
said his students considered him the best professor. He was now on a Sabbatical
and his students were quite upset when he left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vm0dQKJPOiA/YGSpG3ODdtI/AAAAAAAAG_w/WruV6uTT47YInQ0j7JBIQ6Ydrxu4FRogQCLcBGAsYHQ/s255/NPD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vm0dQKJPOiA/YGSpG3ODdtI/AAAAAAAAG_w/WruV6uTT47YInQ0j7JBIQ6Ydrxu4FRogQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It turned out that Fr. Das Prakash was forced to leave his
previous congregation because those around him couldn’t stand his haughty
behaviour and the way he alienated both his professional colleagues and his
students. There were also complaints about financial and relationship
improprieties. He was given an early sabbatical by his current congregation
because of numerous student complaints.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Fr. Das Prakash could fit the profile of one suffering from
narcissistic personality disorder.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Narcissism can be thought of as spanning a continuum from
healthy to the pathological, with the narcissistic personality style at the
healthy end and the personality disorder at the pathological end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bi-EKYFAuY/YGSqGp3qV6I/AAAAAAAAG_8/XONsNVtdwn8KCtVtG4zkgzNPI1RMlwELACLcBGAsYHQ/s284/NPD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bi-EKYFAuY/YGSqGp3qV6I/AAAAAAAAG_8/XONsNVtdwn8KCtVtG4zkgzNPI1RMlwELACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD1.jpg" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:39">individuals
</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:20">with</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:39"> this </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:20">disorder</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:39">
have a grandiose sense of self-importance. </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28">They </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:30">routinely</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28">
overestimate their abilities </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:20">a</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28">nd
inflate </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:20">their</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28"> accomplishments</ins></span>,<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28">
often appearing boastful and </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:20">pretentious</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:30">. </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:37">They
believe th</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">a</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:37">t they are superior,
</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">special</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:37">, or unique and </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">expect</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:37">
others to recognize them as such</ins></span> and appreciate and admire them
for the same. <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:49">They may constantly
fish for compliments, often with great charm</ins></span>. When others do not
respond in the manner they expect, they
can be very upset and may also react aggressively and will find justification
for their aggression<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">.</ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:43">They may feel th</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">a</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:43">t </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">they
</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:43">can only be understood by, and should only
associate with, other people who are special or of high status and may
attribute ‘unique,’ ‘perfect,’ or gifted</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:44">’ </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:22">qualities</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:44">
to those with whom they associate</ins></span>. <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">Often </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:21">implicit</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">
in the inflated </ins></span>judgments<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31"> of their own </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:21">accomplishments</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">
is an underestimation </ins></span>or <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">devaluation of the
contributions </ins></span>and capabilities <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:31">of others</ins></span>.
<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:45">They may devalue the credentials</ins></span>,
especially of<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:45"> those who disappoint them</ins></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:34">They</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:33"> are often
preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or
ideal </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:34">lov</ins></span>e and often tend to<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:34">
compare </ins></span>themselves <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:34">favorably with
famous or privileged people</ins></span>.</p><p class="MsoBodyText"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText">They are very
sensitive to any kind of criticism. It’s hard for them to accept defeat. <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48">They
may react with rage, </ins></span>disdain, <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48">or </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:42">defiant</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48">
counterattack.</ins></span> Others will see these reactions as exaggerated and
overblown.</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIA8HXBe7iw/YGSqcFsYT8I/AAAAAAAAHAE/AEh0dvShf5Qe9dWB2O69qwvOlvmdbvFEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/NPD5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIA8HXBe7iw/YGSqcFsYT8I/AAAAAAAAHAE/AEh0dvShf5Qe9dWB2O69qwvOlvmdbvFEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:40">They </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:13">establish
unrealistic goals</ins></span>, based on their inflated convictions about their
own<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:13"> power and ability. They tend to distort facts, and
even engage in self-deception to preserve their illusions of grandiosity about
themselves and the projects in which they are involved</ins></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In reality their </span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:47">heir self-esteem is almost invariably very fragile.
</ins></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The excessive self-importance and need for</span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:47"> </ins></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">appreciation
and </span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:47">admiration </ins></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">is a compensation for this
low self-esteem and emptiness they feel within. One reason they are very
sensitive to criticism and defend against any kind of failure is that these
intensify their feeling of inferiority. Even when they</span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48"> </ins></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">do not
react</span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48"> outwardly, criticism may haunt these individuals
and leave them feeling </ins></span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:42">humiliated</ins></span><span class="msoIns" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T13:48">,
degraded, hollow and empty.</ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfhZK-oOIr0/YGSqpwzK3VI/AAAAAAAAHAI/xx0RjWIVXxInOy4e3wcbydfn_oSDNR_8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/NPD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfhZK-oOIr0/YGSqpwzK3VI/AAAAAAAAHAI/xx0RjWIVXxInOy4e3wcbydfn_oSDNR_8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They entertain a <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T10:34">sense of entitlement</ins></span>
which <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:17">denotes the expectation of special favours</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:18">,</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:17">
without assuming reciprocal responsibilities.</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:20"> They live under the
illusion that they are </ins></span>privileged over others and <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:20">that
they deserve special consideration in life. </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:54">They </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:31">expect</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:54">
to be given whatever they want or feel they need, not matter what it </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:31">might</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:54">
mean to others</ins></span>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29">They may make positive first impressions,
presenting themselves as socially </ins></span>competent<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29">, pleasant, and
endearing. However, interpersonally they are exploitative and use others to
indulge themselves and their desires.</ins></span> They have no empathy and
lack <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:54">sensitivity to the wants and</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29"> </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:54">needs
of others</ins></span>. They exhibit <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29">an utter disregard
for the thoughts, feelings, and wishes of others while exhibiting a </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:31">profound</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29">
dependency on their admiration.</ins></span> They can<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:58"> be </ins></span>quite
<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:58">oblivious to the hurt </ins></span>and pain they <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:35">inflict</ins></span>
on others.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WYBQuSYBdDw/YGSq4SQPDoI/AAAAAAAAHAQ/rgUfnyvzEM8lmNrXtaAu41yzGG4CEmT-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/NPD4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WYBQuSYBdDw/YGSq4SQPDoI/AAAAAAAAHAQ/rgUfnyvzEM8lmNrXtaAu41yzGG4CEmT-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD4.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32">may indulge in pathological lying </ins></span>in
order to maintain<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32"> </ins></span>their<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32"> grandiose </ins></span>self-image
or to impress others. They <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32">ascribe</ins></span> some non-existing<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32">
great achievement to </ins></span>them<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:32">sel</ins></span>ves
or to someone with whom they are closely associated. The latter case is form of
grandiosity, where they are glowing in reflected glory, seeing the other as an
extension of their idealized self. T<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:43">he</ins></span>y<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:43"> </ins></span>have
an <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:43">intense craving for acceptance and approval </ins></span>from<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:43">
admired </ins></span>others. When they do not get them, they are deeply
disappointed and then may deprecate them in revenge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T11:15">Their affective
relationships are superficial, with minimal emotional ties or commitments. They
are unable to come really close to anybody. They see others only as potential
sources of gratification of their grandiosity</ins></span>, <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T10:20">not as </ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-06T09:36">persons</ins></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T10:20">
with need</ins></span>s<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T10:20"> and feelings of their own</ins></span>, and so
cannot relate to them with real intimacy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>This profile certainly is a list of negative qualities. But
that is the reality- the pathology that characterises the narcissistic
personality. One can imagine how these characteristics will vitiate their
interpersonal relationships.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cDN0PXKCEI/YGSrLafl2DI/AAAAAAAAHAc/aZXkUxG7ISMG-NL5zml64uvJJ4Wlqv7qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s297/NPD6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cDN0PXKCEI/YGSrLafl2DI/AAAAAAAAHAc/aZXkUxG7ISMG-NL5zml64uvJJ4Wlqv7qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/NPD6.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: red;">Introspection and Prayer</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What does this profile of the narcissistic person evoke in
you? Can you recognise yourself in it? Or, those you associate with closely? If
yes, how are these characteristics affecting your relationships and your daily
life?\<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>….</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>In the Gospel Jesus came across a number of people who were
quite sure of their self-importance and loved to parade it. Jesus wanted to
have little to do with these people and spoke quite disparagingly about them.
Can you recognize some of them? What do they evoke in you?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtNVDcdjZZc/YGSsXPaXnqI/AAAAAAAAHAk/vahVHZ-stRoDEzMxi5L_QVVYQ5wW0O8fACLcBGAsYHQ/s280/Jesus%2Bwashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtNVDcdjZZc/YGSsXPaXnqI/AAAAAAAAHAk/vahVHZ-stRoDEzMxi5L_QVVYQ5wW0O8fACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Jesus%2Bwashes.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus presented himself as “meek and mild” and demonstrated
his humility by washing the feet of the disciples that we reenact on Holy
Thursday. Quite a contrasting profile from a narcissistic personality. May be
you could stay for a while with the image of Jesus washing the disciples feet
and what it evokes in you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have a safe, healthy, blessed weekend.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pictures: Courtesy Google Images</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jose Parappully SDB,
PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 14;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-04T13:56"><o:p></o:p></ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T14:29"><o:p> </o:p></ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T16:20"><o:p> </o:p></ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:50"><o:p> </o:p></ins></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Jose%20Parappuly" datetime="2000-01-05T11:28"><o:p> </o:p></ins></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-79076815301475691372021-03-27T10:33:00.000-07:002021-03-27T10:33:10.238-07:00BIS Psyche & Soul 39: PERSONALITY DISORDERS<p><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-39-Psyche--Soul--86-etl1tr" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-39-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>86-etl1tr</span></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In this edition I shall explore another group of
mental illness, namely, Personality Disorders which take a toll especially on
our interpersonal relationships.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtUjzFD-8Xo/YF9f-yP3VyI/AAAAAAAAG98/-nKuMgUEs5IWokuf18RJv-OhVH80ZLR1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s299/Personality%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtUjzFD-8Xo/YF9f-yP3VyI/AAAAAAAAG98/-nKuMgUEs5IWokuf18RJv-OhVH80ZLR1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What are Personality Disorders?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Personality
is a complex mixture of biologically based temperament, the internalized record
of the events and experiences that have shaped our character, the way we see ourselves
and others, the conflicts involving wishes and defenses against those wishes
that direct and motivate us, and our vulnerabilities and aspirations. These
varied dimensions and characteristics define who we are as persons and form our
personality styles. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmjb5xh2zr8/YF9gZZAen8I/AAAAAAAAG-E/Kski8bii23kJ2c2mIF71ZYH6PxEv8KnhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s316/personality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmjb5xh2zr8/YF9gZZAen8I/AAAAAAAAG-E/Kski8bii23kJ2c2mIF71ZYH6PxEv8KnhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/personality.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Our
personality is built on various personality traits each of develop, mostly
unconsciously through our genetic (inborn endowments and our relational an
environment experiences.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">These “traits
are enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the
environment and ourselves that are exhibited in a wide range of social and
personal contexts.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sometimes
these personality features become maladaptive and inflexible, detrimental to
our health and wellbeing and significantly impair our ability to function
effectively in daily life, affect our relationships and cause us much
subjective distress. When this happens, these impaired and maladaptive personality
features move from a style to a disorder – a personality disorder. This
impairment is often unconscious, the person affected bot being aware of it. The
resulting distress is often suffered not merely by the person himself or
herself but by those around too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3weZzf_hI44/YF9gmosj4iI/AAAAAAAAG-I/0bbV_LWZdSwoaYJZiIBOdDSIcwtQ2QdVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s236/Personality%2Bdisorders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3weZzf_hI44/YF9gmosj4iI/AAAAAAAAG-I/0bbV_LWZdSwoaYJZiIBOdDSIcwtQ2QdVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2Bdisorders.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">A
Personality Disorder, as defined by the DSM “is an enduring pattern of inner
experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the individual’s culture,
is pervasive and inflexible, has on onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is
stable over time, and leads to significant subjective distress or functional
impairment.”</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Enduring
here means that the characteristics are not transient, manifesting only now and
then, but is always present and manifests across a broad range of personal
situations.. These characteristics are not in keeping with what a culture
expects of healthy individuals. These characteristics are quite well embedded
in the personality and are not easily amenable to change. They have become part
and parcel of the personality and follows the person wherever he or she goes.
The most important criteria that establishes a personality disorder, and
distinguishes it from merely personality style, is that it causes significant
distress to the person and impairs his or her ability to function effectively
in daily life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov1nHty-Qac/YF9g_YP4GUI/AAAAAAAAG-U/I2N66JdsQFklxbZKezGAuJJ2qyBbQghFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s309/Personality%2Bdisorders4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov1nHty-Qac/YF9g_YP4GUI/AAAAAAAAG-U/I2N66JdsQFklxbZKezGAuJJ2qyBbQghFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2Bdisorders4.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><p class="MsoNormal">These
maladaptive features usually become recognizable adolescence or early
adulthood. However, individuals may not recognize need for help until
relatively late in life. A personality disorder may be exacerbated following
the loss of significant supportive persons and other resources.</p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There is
a high degree of psychological impairment associated with personality
disorders. These include tendency toward suicide, violent aggression,
self-destructive behaviour, cognitive and interpersonal impoverishment and
painful isolation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In order
to be diagnosed as resulting from a personality disorder this impairment and
distress has to manifest in at least two of the four dimensions of daily life:</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 92.4pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 92.4pt; text-indent: -20.4pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">cognition
(i.e., perceiving, and interpreting self,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>other people, and events)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 92.4pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 92.4pt; text-indent: -20.4pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">affectivity
(i.e., range, intensity, appropriateness of emotional response) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 92.4pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 92.4pt; text-indent: -20.4pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">interpersonal
functioning (how one deals with persons)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 92.4pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 92.4pt; text-indent: -20.4pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">impulse
control (the ability to manage one’s impulse to do something)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S85lB_DmZaY/YF9h-HpMJKI/AAAAAAAAG-k/iYFVbVssoasuzD5kv879P-3CQoMtWpd1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Personality%2Bdisorders%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S85lB_DmZaY/YF9h-HpMJKI/AAAAAAAAG-k/iYFVbVssoasuzD5kv879P-3CQoMtWpd1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2Bdisorders%2B1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Which are
the Personality Disorders?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
DSM-IV listed 10 different personality disorders, grouped into three clusters.
These are: Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal forming Cluster A; antisocial,
borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic forming cluster B and the
avoidant,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dependent and
obsessive-compulsive forming cluster C.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cluster
A brings together the odd and the eccentric personalities; Cluster B brings
together the dramatic and emotional types and Cluster C includes the anxious
and fearful types.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Here is
a brief description of the 10 Personality Disorders as given in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders - IV </i>or the DSM –IV.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Paranoid Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> is a pattern of distrust and
suspiciousness such that others’ motives are interpreted as malevolent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Schizoid Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of detachment from
social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Schizotypal Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of social and
interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity
for, close relationships, as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions,
and eccentricities of behaviour.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Antisocial Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of disregard for,
and violation of, the rights of others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Borderline Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of instability in
interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impassivity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Histrionic Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of excessive
emotionality and attention seeking.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Narcissistic Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of grandiosity,
need for admiration, and lack of empathy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Avoidant Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of social
inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative
evaluation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dependent Personality Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a pattern of submissive and
clinging behaviour related to an excessive need to be taken care of.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Disorder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a
pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and
interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">While
continuing with the DSM –IV model of Personality disorders, the latest version
of the DSM (the 5</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> edition) gives an alternate model of Personality
Disorders and reduces them from 10 to 6. Many leading personality psychologists
do not accept this new model. They find it seriously flawed, based not on
clinical models but research models which are not helpful in
clinical/therapeutic work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In the
next few podcasts I shall present some the more frequent and troublesome
personality Disorders as presented in DSM IV.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ss2Py-1XCU/YF9jdwDahrI/AAAAAAAAG-s/tmUDWhtF8tw2zZQQYy99_TKoD5hdKhVOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s309/Personality%2Bdisorders%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ss2Py-1XCU/YF9jdwDahrI/AAAAAAAAG-s/tmUDWhtF8tw2zZQQYy99_TKoD5hdKhVOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Personality%2Bdisorders%2B3.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Introspection
and Prayer</b></p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sit
quietly for a while with what you heard in this podcast, especially with the
descriptions of the 10 Personality Disorders. Can you recognise these characters
in you or in anyone around you? If in yourself, how do you feel about it? If in
others, how does it affect your relationships with them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Then sit
for a while in the presence of our God who knows you through and through and is
interested in your wellbeing. Talk to God about all that bothers you about
yourself and others you relate to, and listen to what God has to tell you in
response.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Have a
safe, healthy and happy weekend. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thank
you for listening/Reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Pictures: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">curtsey</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> G</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PhD <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-36974691760170017992021-03-21T04:05:00.001-07:002021-03-21T04:05:29.055-07:00Psyche & Soul 38 : POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISRODER (PTSD)<p> Podcast
link:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-38-Psyche--Soul--84-et443k" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-38-Psyche--Soul--84-et443k</span></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hello, this is Jose Parappully,
Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual
Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this edition I shall explore Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD: causes, symptoms and treatment..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b85ZbxRHJqg/YFckZ7FzqFI/AAAAAAAAG9A/deMoGbmJsbAcKMW6a7GYGKFnhvQMzZYPACLcBGAsYHQ/s284/ptsd6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b85ZbxRHJqg/YFckZ7FzqFI/AAAAAAAAG9A/deMoGbmJsbAcKMW6a7GYGKFnhvQMzZYPACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/ptsd6.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
Is PTSD?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental condition that can develop
after a person has experienced or witnessed an intensely traumatic or terrifying
event in which there was serious physical or emotional harm or threat, accompanied
by intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Such events include sexual or
physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, an accident, or natural
disaster. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Most
people who experience a traumatic event will have reactions that may include
shock, anger, nervousness, fear, and even guilt. These reactions keep the
person suffering from it from going about their life in a normal expected way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">When a person goes
through something traumatic, his or her brain triggers a “flight-or-fight” which
raises the stress levels in the body. Most people recover on their own after a
while, but some remain in hyper-aroused state and develop posttraumatic stress
disorder.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RquO-2O6ht4/YFcllSLdoEI/AAAAAAAAG9I/2cxZAA1bQGcVJGihQ0h938wWyGQlYoGGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s271/ptsd%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RquO-2O6ht4/YFcllSLdoEI/AAAAAAAAG9I/2cxZAA1bQGcVJGihQ0h938wWyGQlYoGGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/ptsd%2B1.png" /></a></div><p></p><h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">PTSD
Symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The
Symptoms of PTSD often are grouped into four main categories:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reliving:</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> This is the most common
symptom of PTSD. People with PTSD repeatedly relive the traumatic ordeal in a
very vivid and distressing way. Anything that reminds them of the event
triggers intense distress and physiological reactions. This includes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">flashbacks</i> where the person acts or
feels as if the event were recurring in the here-and-now; nightmares about the
event; and repetitive and distressing intrusive images or other sensory
impressions from the event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Avoidance:</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The person with PTSD may
avoid people, places, thoughts, or situations that may remind them of the
trauma. They often try hard, sometimes desperately, to push memories of the
event out of their mind but these memories tend to intrude into consciousness
unbidden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the other hand, many ruminate excessively about the
event, questioning about why the event happened to them, about how it could
have been prevented, or about how they could take revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hyperarousal</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">:</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> PTSD sufferers also
experience symptoms of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hyperarousal </b>including
hypervigilance for threat, exaggerated startle responses, irritability, and
outbursts of anger or crying, and difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems.
They can be "jumpy" or easily startled. The person may also suffer
physical symptoms, such as increased </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/diastolic-and-systolic-blood-pressure-know-your-numbers"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">blood
pressure</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> and heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle
tension, </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nausea</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-diarrhea"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">diarrhea</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Emotional Numbing</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
This includes lack of ability to experience feelings, feeling detached from
other people, giving up previously significant activities, and amnesia for
significant parts of the event. Since it is hard for the person only to numb
only a particular distressing signal, they tend to numb all feelings and show
themselves to be somewhat feelings. Nothing touches them emotionally. They are
characterised by hat is known as flat affect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46LxsnajFmE/YFcl3153yII/AAAAAAAAG9Q/0aXa2vYQB6ct-OjMjgQUW1A04hj7gIqBACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/PTSD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46LxsnajFmE/YFcl3153yII/AAAAAAAAG9Q/0aXa2vYQB6ct-OjMjgQUW1A04hj7gIqBACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/PTSD3.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">Variations
in Risk<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Everyone
reacts to traumatic events differently. Each person is unique in their ability
to manage fear, stress and the threat posed by a traumatic event or situation.
For that reason, not everyone who experiences a trauma will develop PTSD. Also,
the type of help and support a person receives from friends, family members,
and professionals following the trauma may impact the development of PTSD or
the severity of symptoms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">A
person is more likely to develop PTSD after a traumatic event if he or she has a
history of other mental health problems, has blood relatives with mental health
problems, or has a history of alcohol or drug abuse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Symptoms
of PTSD often develop immediately after the traumatic event but in some the
onset of symptoms may be delayed. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than
men. This may be due to the fact that women are more likely to be victims
of domestic violence, abuse, and rape, all of which are very traumatic and
quite frequent in our society.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">PTSD is a treatable disorder even when problems
present many years after the traumatic event. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz60clKVVb8/YFcmFJ-zIuI/AAAAAAAAG9U/M2pU8yceorsB4bnQQLlIzba51zhgRBEgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/ptsd5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz60clKVVb8/YFcmFJ-zIuI/AAAAAAAAG9U/M2pU8yceorsB4bnQQLlIzba51zhgRBEgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/ptsd5.jpg" /></a></div></h2><h2 align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">PTSD Treatment</span></h2>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The goal of
PTSD treatment is to reduce the emotional and physical symptoms, to improve
daily functioning, and to help the person better manage the consequences of the
event that triggered the disorder. </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-treatments-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Treatment for PTSD</span></a><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">may involve medication, psychotherapy or both.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="https://www.webmd.com/content/article/60/67150.htm"><strong><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Medication</span></strong></a><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Doctors use
certain </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/antidepressants-9/slideshow-antidepressants"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">antidepressant</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span></i><a href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">medications</span></i></a><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> <span style="color: #444444;">to treat PTSD -- to control the
feelings of </span></span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/rm-quiz-stress-anxiety"><span style="color: windowtext; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">anxiety</span></a><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> and
its associated symptoms. Certain <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blood
pressure medicines</i> are also sometimes used to control particular symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="https://www.webmd.com/content/article/60/67128.htm"><strong><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Psychotherapy</span></strong></a><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Psychotherapy
for PTSD involves helping the person learn skills to manage symptoms and
develop ways of coping. Therapy also aims to teach the person and their family
about the disorder, and help the person work through the fears associated with
the traumatic event. A variety of psychotherapy approaches are used to treat
people with PTSD, including:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLj9IPJHP-U/YFcmgYwZEwI/AAAAAAAAG9g/2uhMD5jJIRUsAZCc5PrVL9KbYSlpiWhjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/ptsd%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLj9IPJHP-U/YFcmgYwZEwI/AAAAAAAAG9g/2uhMD5jJIRUsAZCc5PrVL9KbYSlpiWhjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/ptsd%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Cognitive behavioral
therapy</span></i></strong><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">,</span></strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> which
involves learning to recognize and change thought patterns that lead to
troublesome emotions, feelings, and behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Exposure therapy</span></i></strong><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">,</span></strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> a type of behavioral therapy that involves having
the person relive the traumatic event, or exposing the person to objects or
situations that cause anxiety. This is done in a well-controlled and safe environment.
Exposure therapy helps the person confront the fear of dealing with the event
or approaching the situation and gradually become more comfortable with events
and situations that are frightening and causing anxiety. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/psychodynamic-therapy-for-depression"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Psychodynamic
therapy</span></i></strong><span style="color: #187aab; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> focuses
on helping the person examine personal values and the emotional conflicts
caused by the traumatic event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Family therapy</span></i></strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">is useful because
the behaviour of the person with PTSD can have an effect on other family
members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Group therapy</span></i></strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">helps by providing
the person a trusting environment to share thoughts, fears, and feelings with
other people who have experienced traumatic events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Eye </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Desensitization</span></i></b><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></i></strong><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">and Reprocessing</span></i></strong><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> (EMDR)</span></strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> is an effective form of psychotherapy that is designed
to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories and other </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">symptoms of PTSD.<span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCQG_pWHAxk/YFcmwhdMvRI/AAAAAAAAG9o/1KKyrXhVWuYmRlxcGtDs1tFVsWPAWLnHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s274/PTSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCQG_pWHAxk/YFcmwhdMvRI/AAAAAAAAG9o/1KKyrXhVWuYmRlxcGtDs1tFVsWPAWLnHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/PTSD.jpg" /></a></h2><h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">PTSD
Complications</span><span style="color: #333132; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">PTSD
can cause problems in every aspect of one’s life, including one’s job,
relationships, health, and everyday activities. It may also make a person more
likely to develop other mental health problems, such as: Depression and anxiety;
drug or alcohol abuse; eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts and actions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt;">PTSD
Recovery Outlook<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Recovery
from PTSD is a gradual and ongoing process. Symptoms of PTSD seldom disappear
completely, but they can be controlled. Treatment can lead to fewer and less
intense symptoms, as well as a greater ability to manage feelings related to
the trauma. Treatment can help people learn to manage it more effectively.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDWZ0msFvk0/YFcnHz1FYAI/AAAAAAAAG9w/RbGtDcgtlr8jEDbDxbkD0bEUf_ieSfWfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s266/Prayer%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDWZ0msFvk0/YFcnHz1FYAI/AAAAAAAAG9w/RbGtDcgtlr8jEDbDxbkD0bEUf_ieSfWfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Prayer%2B2.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Introspection and Prayer</span></b></p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">PTSD
can cause, as we saw above, much distress to those afflicted with the illness
and their dear ones, friends and colleagues. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
could stay for a while with whatever the information provided in this podcast
and our own experiences related to the disorder evoke in us, and turn to our
compassionate God who has our health and wellbeing at heart, and pray for
healing for ourselves and others, as well as for wisdom and guidance to deal
with situations that the illness creates. We could alternately just sit
silently before God in the awareness of the traumas we carry and allow God to
heal and transform us.</span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have pleasant
weekend. Be safe. Be healthy. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you for
listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PHD <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-12815135458900772242021-03-13T21:38:00.000-08:002021-03-13T21:38:07.778-08:00Psyche & Soul 37: ANXIETY DISORDERS<p> Podcast
link:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: red;"> </span></b><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-37-Psyche--Soul--81-esduqh&source=gmail&ust=1615739985902000&usg=AFQjCNHSFofjo1Gzq1Ghllh-VFrj1mv0cg" href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-37-Psyche--Soul--81-esduqh" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: red; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-37-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>81-esduqh</span></b></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;"><br />
</span></b>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical
psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote,
Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DM_g7SwGXIo/YE2Ycw-rCMI/AAAAAAAAG7I/s7CeYm3DUTUFhsM2xpOSdodDHwAoc1qOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Anxiety%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DM_g7SwGXIo/YE2Ycw-rCMI/AAAAAAAAG7I/s7CeYm3DUTUFhsM2xpOSdodDHwAoc1qOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anxiety%2B3.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In this weekend’s edition, I shall present anxiety
disorders from which very many people suffer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anxiety is the body’s
response to worry and fear. Anxiety operates on many different levels and to
different degrees. There is a wide range in how deeply anxiety affects us and
to what extent it interferes with our quality of life. Accordingly there are
different anxiety disorders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYminAooJV8/YE2Y4_t7ccI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/9ikzSU0-6uweOW6Pwe0xSqGWYuo8RTRDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Anxiety%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYminAooJV8/YE2Y4_t7ccI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/9ikzSU0-6uweOW6Pwe0xSqGWYuo8RTRDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anxiety%2B2.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Causes
of Anxiety Disorders</span></b></b><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Genetic (inherited) factors contribute in some degree to
anxiety, just as they do in other mental illness. Brain chemicals called
neurotransmitters, as well as a pair of structures inside the brain called the
amygdalae, seem to play a big role. Personality, experiences and environmental
situations also contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #494949;">There are a number of medical disorders and the
medications used to treat them that can cause anxiety. Some of these include:
hyperthyroidism, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disorders, emphysema, and
asthma<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">At the root of anxiety is fear that works
mostly at an unconscious level. According to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">MacKinnon &
Michels, authors of the classic text <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Psychiatric
Interview in Clinical Practice</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>anxiety “is the psychological response to danger, and is often seen when
the individual feels that there is an ongoing threat to his [or her] welfare”
The source of this threat may often lie at the unconscious level.</span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlg0TiQIw6c/YE2ZGWfQJFI/AAAAAAAAG7U/vKBGUV14JY4slun4POQJm5hUlSPP7d7_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s313/anxiety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlg0TiQIw6c/YE2ZGWfQJFI/AAAAAAAAG7U/vKBGUV14JY4slun4POQJm5hUlSPP7d7_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/anxiety.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Generalized Anxiety Disorder<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #494949;">It is </span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">quite
natural for us to worry during stressful times. But some of us feel tense and
anxious day after day, even with little to worry about, and without any
perceived trigger to provoke it. When this lasts for 6 months or longer, it
would be diagnosed as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Generalized Anxiety
Disorder</i> (GAD),</span><span style="color: #494949;"> which is the most common
of anxiety disorders</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">.
What sets generalized anxiety disorder apart from ordinary worrying is the
feeling that we can't stop worrying. Worry becomes chronic, almost second
nature to us. </span><span style="color: #494949;">This will begin to affect our
social, work, and family life.</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Persons of any
age, even children, can develop generalized anxiety disorder. It tends to
appear gradually, with the first symptoms most likely to happen between
childhood and middle age. </span><span style="color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An
estimated 31% of all adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point
in their life. Anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women (23%) than in men
(14%) worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCuhWBoDK-Q/YE2ZTrVkFwI/AAAAAAAAG7c/aQA6xQGsaRsHi9O7N9Zmr984_uuc6SzoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s310/Anxiety%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCuhWBoDK-Q/YE2ZTrVkFwI/AAAAAAAAG7c/aQA6xQGsaRsHi9O7N9Zmr984_uuc6SzoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anxiety%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">The main symptom GAD is a
constant and exaggerated sense of tension and anxiety. We may not be able to
pinpoint a reason why we feel tense. Or we may worry excessively and frequently
about ordinary things, such as bills to be paid, our relationships, the safety
of our children, or our health. This can lead to sleep problems and distortions
in thinking. Poor sleep, in turn, can lead to irritability and strain
relationships. It can also lead to restlessness, fatigue, feeling on edge, and
difficulty in concentrating. Severe cases can hamper work and daily activities.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">When we suffer from GAD, we are vulnerable
to developing depression, alcoholism, or drug addiction. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anxiety disorders can also
cause physical problems. These include: muscle tension or pain, headaches,
nausea, stomach upsets and trembling. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">we
can also develop other disorders that involve anxiety such as panic disorder, phobias,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMTHyKLbSuU/YE2Zu6sFZCI/AAAAAAAAG7s/scyUG_k9WSEoJvXTE07BBMAwFKGL8nvbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Panic%2Battack%2B1.jpg" /></div></b></h2><h2><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">Panic Disorder<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Panic disorder involves sudden attacks of terror
triggered</span><span style="background: white; color: #494949;"> by an object or
situation that can reach their peak within minutes. </span><span style="color: #494949;">Persons who experience panic attacks may try to avoid
situations or constantly worry about when the next panic attack might happen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Symptoms can include a
pounding heart, sweating, dizziness, nausea, trembling, shortness of breath, chest
pain and a feeling of being out of control. We may think we are having a heart
attack, or facing imminent danger or destruction, or even dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nRTHeQeMUlM/YE2ZgbN1gUI/AAAAAAAAG7k/LlmRdeZ5PEce6cZvCaPlMJ3XqVW6pdgoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Phobia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nRTHeQeMUlM/YE2ZgbN1gUI/AAAAAAAAG7k/LlmRdeZ5PEce6cZvCaPlMJ3XqVW6pdgoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Phobia.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">Phobias<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">A phobia is an intense fear or apprehensiveness about
specific objects or situations that in reality are not likely to cause any
harm. Even </span><span style="color: #494949;">when some of these objects or
situations may have reason to cause fear, the fear felt by the individual is
disproportionate to the actual danger posed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Common phobias include fear
of heights, closed-in spaces like elevators, flying, water or creatures like
ants and spiders. One woman I know is so afraid of flying that she never takes
a plane, and so does not do any international travel, though she would love to
visit many places. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">During the height of
the Covid pandemic, many people would not leave the home even for essential
work, for intense fear of catching the contagion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYZfePxXhhs/YE2a5P7EdwI/AAAAAAAAG74/WMwZwg3y_dgNNWoWX8dgD_tTEiGjSAu4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Social%2Banxiety%2B2.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">Social</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anxiety Disorder</b><o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Social Anxiety Disorder is a common specific form of
phobia. Those afflicted with this disorder feel panicky and self-conscious even
in ordinary social situations. </span><span style="color: #494949;">They are
intensely anxious about being judged or rejected in social situations. Even
when they realize their worry is unreasonable, they cannot avoid being anxious.
</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Symptoms include a
sense of dread before social events, with sweating, blushing, nausea, or
trouble speaking during the events.</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #494949;">There are two other common disorders that have anxiety as
one of the key symptoms but are no longer classified as anxiety disorders in
the DSM-5 (The Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, volume 5). These re
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD, and Post Traumatic Disorder or PTSD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSbDBqUvyA8/YE2b4eUXXFI/AAAAAAAAG8A/mzXWuAJGGWY4URYB4Lva-kWaUke61ZSTACLcBGAsYHQ/s284/OCD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSbDBqUvyA8/YE2b4eUXXFI/AAAAAAAAG8A/mzXWuAJGGWY4URYB4Lva-kWaUke61ZSTACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/OCD.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<h3 style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 16.8pt; margin: 16.8pt 0in 6pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder</span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="https://www.singlecare.com/conditions/ocd-treatment-and-medications/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="color: #494949;">is
a disorder where individuals have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or
sensations (obsessions); or the urge to do something repetitively
(compulsions). Some people have both obsessions and compulsions. </span><span style="color: #333132; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">When we suffer from obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), we will have troubling thoughts that we feel we cannot control.
</span><span style="color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We may repeat a name, phrase, or behavior because we fear
something bad will happen if don’t do that. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">We
feel the need to repeat actions again and again, such as washing hands or
checking that the door is locked. We may be obsessed about dressing in a
certain order or count objects for no good reason. They may for example lay out
items clothing in a particular order, pick them up in the exact order in which
they were laid out, believing if the order is changed some mishap will happen
to them. They may also feel they have to touch a particular object before they
open the door, in order to ward of any danger. </span><span style="color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8YxMrAkDvI4/YE2c211VJOI/AAAAAAAAG8I/zQB6MbgEalwBlQhkihNt7Dn3p3bHSoQ6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/PTSD3.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<h2><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">Posttraumatic Stress Disorder</span></b></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arises in the
aftermath of some terrifying event, such as physical attacks in which we fear we
may killed, severe sexual abuse, involvement in terrifying accident, or
terrorist attack such as the one on the World Trade Centre.. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Symptoms may happen months or longer
after the event. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">These may include recurrent vivid
flashbacks and nightmares about the event, </span><span style="color: #494949; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Avoidance of things
related to the event: people, places, or situations </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">and a loss of interest in activities that were once
enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYQYxXgCI34/YE2fDner61I/AAAAAAAAG8Y/wof__EGctDkOagiwdQFGQbGRWSVQSos7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Anxiety%2Btreatment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYQYxXgCI34/YE2fDner61I/AAAAAAAAG8Y/wof__EGctDkOagiwdQFGQbGRWSVQSos7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anxiety%2Btreatment.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Treatment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333132; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 107%;">The
treatment for anxiety disorders follow the same model as described in dealing
with depression and schizophrenia.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Antidepressant drugs,
especially the newer variety, work well to lower anxiety. However, some of
these drugs carry a risk of dependence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Psychotherapy, especially
cognitive behavioral therapy is very effective in treating anxiety. The focus
here is on identifying negative thoughts and changing them. Since feelings and
behaviour are primarily triggered by our thoughts, when we change our negative
thoughts to more positive ones, our mood changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clients are also taught calming techniques,
such as meditation, that help them to calm themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">A few simple changes in our
daily living can help. Caffeine, sugar, and even some medicines, can boost
anxiety symptoms. Getting enough rest and eating healthy foods have a positive effect
on anxiety. Use of relaxation techniques, such as meditation also help. Exercise
can refresh the body and calm the mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yxx5y25vEgQ/YE2fQs_YUtI/AAAAAAAAG8c/PWgFrEDawBQi7POrnoJ3h5MiBXHDBOQHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Depression%2B8.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<h3 align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 16.8pt; margin: 16.8pt 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anxiety vs. Depression</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #494949;">It is
important to note that there is a difference between anxiety and depression. In
a very basic sense, anxiety is an excessive feeling of worry and apprehension,
while depression is excessive feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. It is
possible for a person to have both anxiety and depression at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBNuf8AuO0c/YE2gmjPWwII/AAAAAAAAG8o/LogfkwbnpPoXNFghEHxboRjzf4F8zWL-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anxiety%2B4.jpg" /></b></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Introspection and Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Have we experienced any type of anxiety disorders
described here? If so, what was the experience like?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We often find Jesus in the Gospels exhorting his
disciples not to be anxious. A classic case is that of the disciples caught in
the storm at sea (Mark 4, 35-49). Jesus asks them “Why are you anxious?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere he asks them not to worry about
their life, for their heavenly father provides them with everything (Mathew 6,
25-34). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We could read or contemplate any of these passages,
stay with whatever these evoke in us, and spend time in the company of Jesus who
is with us here and now, assuring us there is no need to be anxious and bring
to him all our worries and anxieties and ask him to calm our fears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have pleasant
weekend. Be safe. Be healthy. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Picture: Courtesy
Google Images<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PHD <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-71777338930316871342021-03-05T21:37:00.001-08:002021-03-05T21:37:58.103-08:00Psyche & Soul 36: SCHIZOPHRENIA – 3: ROOTS AND REMEDIES<p> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">SCHIZOPHRENIA – 3: ROOTS AND REMEDIES</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Podcast
link:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Helvetica Neue","serif";"><a href="https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-36-Psyche--Soul--79-ernra1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/<wbr></wbr>episodes/2-36-Psyche--Soul--<wbr></wbr>79-ernra1</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></b>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical
psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote,
Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last week I presented some of the major symptoms of
schizophrenia. In this edition I shall explore the roots of schizophrenia and
the treatment options.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPZ5dvRb6mk/YEMOUIeNQjI/AAAAAAAAG5c/VTn-qp2hWmcieCqgM9py-8FiAUBX2LOBACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schizophrenia%2Bcauses.jpg" /></b></div><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Roots of Schizophrenia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">As with other mental disorders, biology, genetic (inborn)
factors and environment, but more especially biology, appear to be involved. Biological
theories include how active and how well certain areas of the brain work, as
well as problems with brain chemicals such as dopamine and glutamate. There may
be structural differences too, like loss of nerve cells that result in larger
fluid-filled cavities or "ventricles” in the brain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Although genetic factors
appear to contribute significantly to the onset of the disorder, most
individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have no family history of psychosis.
There is also research evidence that genetic factors alone are not responsible.
For example, identical twins may have the same vulnerability to schizophrenia.
However, when they are brought up in different environments, one of the twins
may develop schizophrenia, and the other may not. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDziZr4UPI0/YEMOt2dMkkI/AAAAAAAAG5k/NyZ7MP5AU0IpHMIh-tgzRu-5URVzvxHPACLcBGAsYHQ/s299/Schizophrenia%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDziZr4UPI0/YEMOt2dMkkI/AAAAAAAAG5k/NyZ7MP5AU0IpHMIh-tgzRu-5URVzvxHPACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schizophrenia%2B11.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><p><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">The vulnerability potential
seem to get actualised when the environment is very stressful. Studies of
families of those who suffer from schizophrenia reveal a high incidence of
parental psychopathology and disorders of communication which lead to high
levels of stress and confusion. In fact, from a psychodynamic perspective this
family dynamic is considered the trigger that actualises the vulnerability.</span></p></span><p></p>
<p><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The</span>
bio-psycho-social model is the best accepted theory for causation of all mental
illness, including schizophrenia. That is, biology (mostly functioning of the
brain), psychological dispositions (genetic factors) and socio-cultural
realities (the environment), all contribute to mental illness. Even though an
individual may be born with a biological vulnerability toward a mental
disorder, whether he or she develops it depends very much on their experiences,
and the environment in which they find themselves.<span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-align: center;"> </span></p><h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYTxzeU3x98/YEMRM2ZROLI/AAAAAAAAG6M/xdXseM3DinAJcBQxyxxkzMxf6cIDWWD3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s296/Treatment%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYTxzeU3x98/YEMRM2ZROLI/AAAAAAAAG6M/xdXseM3DinAJcBQxyxxkzMxf6cIDWWD3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Treatment%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br /></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Treatment<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #293340; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About
20 percent of those who suffer from schizophrenia appears to have a favourable
course of recovery and a small number recover completely. However, most
individuals with schizophrenia require assistance in daily living and many
remain chronically ill, while some experience progressive deterioration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Most often, once developed, schizophrenia becomes a
lifelong condition, but it can be controlled, and in some cases as mentioned
earlier, full recovery is possible. Even when the illness persists, many
individuals who have the disorder are able to live normal lives, provided they are
regular with their medication and therapy. John Nash, famous M.I. T., and
later, Princeton University Mathematician (on whom the Oscar winning film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Beautiful Mind</i> is based), suffered
from paranoid schizophrenia for several years and then was able to continue to
produce brilliant works and was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize for Economics,
the Abel Prize and other prizes and awards, and honorary doctorates from
several universities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="background: white; color: #494949;">Early intervention has a
significant impact on people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia symptoms are
often worse in the early stages of the illness, which is when the risk of
suicide is highest. The majority of people with schizophrenia get better over
time, not worse. In fact, </span><a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-disorders/schizophrenia-treatment-and-self-help.htm" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">20%</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #494949;"> of people will get better within five years of
developing symptoms, provided treatment is sought early and maintained.</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XD8HIN94Jw/YEMRciXz-cI/AAAAAAAAG6U/3vPoUlPhbCQOQat3Yl_vKlqRoiDhJNZ1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/medications%2B1.jpg" /></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Medication<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The primary mode of treatment is through
medication. Prescription drugs, usually known as antipsychotics, can reduce
symptoms such as abnormal thinking, hallucinations, and delusions. However,
these medications often have troubling and sometimes dangerous side effects.
These include:</span><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> dizziness, headache,
fatigue, nausea, insomnia, dry mouth, weight gain, constipation, tardive
dyskinesia (repetitive involuntary movements), low blood pressure, abnormal
heart rhythm. In some cases because of possible complications, blood levels
have to be frequently monitored. Fortunately the newer antipsychotics have
fewer and less serious side effects. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Still,
because of the side effects many who suffer from it stop taking medications
after a while and they relapse into serious symptoms again. But in most cases,
medication is a must to treat schizophrenia. The challenge is to convince those
who suffer from it to be regular with their medications. When the person
refuses to take medicines, caregivers often mix them with their food or drink.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jl6nMOPMOm0/YEMP46HwX8I/AAAAAAAAG58/9DziDpHcKY0T4kUuijdNU7b5-cN-XnYdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/therapy2.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Psychotherapy<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Psychotherapy can help those who suffer from
schizophrenia develop better ways to recognise and handle their problem
behaviours, manage their thoughts, and improve how they relate to others. The
earlier treatment is sought, the better the outcome. One of the of the most
often used approach is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cognitive
behavioral therapy</i> (CBT), in which people learn to test the reality of
their thoughts and better manage symptoms, </span><span style="color: #444444;">clarify
confusion and overcome self-defeating thoughts<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">.</span>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Family therapy</i> helps to improve
family members’ relationship with the person having the disorder as well
relationships among members, especially to help families avoid both angry
confrontations and equally harmful emotional distancing. <span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Other forms of therapy take a psycho-educational
approach that aim to improve self-care, communication, and behaviour and
relationship skills in general.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wv9RSsYZYhs/YEMQ24FmITI/AAAAAAAAG6E/-zRUb58ZpBoiAcWm2ZQBzPw57vS1-cl3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/milieu%2Btherapy.jpg" /></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Milieu Therapy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Among the treatment approaches one that shows most impact
is what is known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">milieu therapy</i>,
usually carried out in hospitals and community mental care centres. The idea
here is to create an environment in which those who suffer from the disorder
can practise number of social skills, engage in various activities including
games, learn some handicrafts, and make themselves gainfully employed. They
will be taught how to do everyday things, like use of public transportation,
manage money, shop for groceries and other goods, or find and keep a job. They
will also be taking medication and engaging in psychotherapy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAgtW78AImc/YEMSNJXPsNI/AAAAAAAAG6c/i9XV3uVY68gHVPw6Mk3z1gDB-BTmw1dtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/diet.jpg" /></div></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food and Vitamins<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";">Foods that contain
important vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats are good for schizophrenia.
These types of foods help support the brain and immune system, which can lower
the intensity of the symptoms and enhance the body’s capacity to respond to
medications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">There </span><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";">is some </span><a href="https://draxe.com/health/symptoms-of-schizophrenia/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "felix-regular","serif"; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">research</span></a><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";"> that suggest
certain vitamins can be helpful, especially Vitamin D, various B vitamins,
Vitamin C and Vitamin E.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #565a5c; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Schizophrenia
can hit anyone, and the results are distressing. But great improvement or even
complete recovery is possible in some cases, through a combination of
medication, healthy diet, psychological support, and creating a caring
environment.</span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfgV4fjaMcc/YEMUjL-TpRI/AAAAAAAAG68/jPkSRfP80DoI-jNB1sUnNQurExpoYYcHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfgV4fjaMcc/YEMUjL-TpRI/AAAAAAAAG68/jPkSRfP80DoI-jNB1sUnNQurExpoYYcHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/stress.jpg" /></a></div><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #565a5c; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Introspection
and Prayer</span></b></div>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #565a5c; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Mental
illness, particularly schizophrenia, can cause much distress to those afflicted
with the illness and their dear ones, friends and colleagues. But as this
podcast has shown it is possible for those who suffer from it to recover and
lead normal lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
could stay for a while with whatever the information provided in this podcast
and our own experiences related to the illness evoke in us, and turn to our
compassionate God who has our health and wellbeing at heart, and pray for
healing for ourselves and others, as well as for wisdom and guidance to deal
with situations that the illness creates.</span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have pleasant
weekend. Be safe. Be healthy. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212;">Pictures: Courtesy google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PHD <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225429111746510336.post-2687533606205562472021-02-27T00:03:00.000-08:002021-02-27T00:03:06.287-08:00Psyche & Soul 35: SCHIZOPHRENIA - 2 - HALLUCINATIONS<p> Podcast
link:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">https://anchor.fm/boscom/</span><wbr style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></wbr><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">episodes/2-35-Psyche--Soul--</span><wbr style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></wbr><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">77-er52ns</span></span></u></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></b>Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical
psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospiritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote,
Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last week I presented one major symptom of
schizophrenia, namely, delusions. In this edition I shall explore hallucination
and other symptoms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrq6tyK1Ps/YDn005dnSFI/AAAAAAAAG4E/EOr8Kda_U2MJQbsCsAiwV652MB6COZhDACLcBGAsYHQ/s251/Schizophrenia%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrq6tyK1Ps/YDn005dnSFI/AAAAAAAAG4E/EOr8Kda_U2MJQbsCsAiwV652MB6COZhDACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schizophrenia%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hallucinations</span></b><p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">In
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hallucination</i> the person experiences
an auditory (hearing voices), visual (seeing imaginary sights), tactile
(feeling sensations on the body), or olfactory (related to smells) sensation
that has no basis in reality, that is, happening without an external stimulus.
Auditory hallucinations are the most common. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The
nature and content of both delusions and hallucinations are influenced by a
person’s values and personal experiences. Thus, religious people often have
delusions and hallucinations with a religious content. An illustrative example
is that of Sr. Florence.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-np5zp5o5it8/YDn3PdxldYI/AAAAAAAAG4M/kQKj_Tw5i6kFgq6yhX_P3qKtpAh-9w9pgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Hallucinations%2B2.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sr. Florence’s
community members noticed that she had been behaving oddly for some days. She
spent most of the time in her room, not coming for community prayers and even
meals. When she did spend time with community, she would talk about Jesus
appearing to her and giving her messages for the Pope. She insisted that she
had to go to Rome and give the message personally to the Pope. She was spending
more time in her room because it is there that Jesus was appearing to her. The
superior, who had some psychology background, suspected some mental derangement
and wanted to take her to a doctor. But Florence insisted there was nothing
wrong with her, but that she was a chosen person. Fortunately the superior
remembered that Florence had complained of severe headaches sometime earlier.
On pretext of taking her to see a doctor for her headaches, she tried again to
get Florence to see a psychiatrist. One morning the superior went to Florence’s
room to convince her to go to a doctor. She was surprised to see Florence
kneeling in front of an empty chair in the corner, her face animated. “Sister,
please kneel down. Jesus is sitting in that chair. Don’t you see him?” she said.
… Florence was suffering from full-blown schizophrenia with visual and auditory
hallucinations and having the grandiose delusion of being a specially chosen
person by Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-496aL20WXEo/YDn3eCQHdvI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/hSIRLbax4V0QpBilG4XMmCrMGDvrnwgNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s270/Catanonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-496aL20WXEo/YDn3eCQHdvI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/hSIRLbax4V0QpBilG4XMmCrMGDvrnwgNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Catanonia.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Catatonia</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those suffering from
schizophrenia may also engage in bizarre posturing and inappropriate behaviour.
In what is known as <i>catatonic</i> schizophrenia, a person, for example, may
remain in a freeze position, with no movement at all, with a fixed stare, arms
raised in an awkward position, and so on, for a very long time, resisting any
attempt by others to stop them. There can be a complete lack of verbal or
movement responses. On the other hand, the person may keep repeating the same
gesture or movement for a long time meaninglessly. Classic portrayals of these
are found in the movies “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Flew Over
the Cuckoos’ Nest</i>” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Patch Adams</i>.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmAnLHClGGU/YDn5FEwZAVI/AAAAAAAAG4c/nBlY12L52jo2mLL3QVWyuzRyYVumDCe5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Schizophrenia%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmAnLHClGGU/YDn5FEwZAVI/AAAAAAAAG4c/nBlY12L52jo2mLL3QVWyuzRyYVumDCe5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schizophrenia%2B7.jpg" /></a></div><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red;">Disorganized
Schizophrenia</span></b><p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">In
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">disorganized<i> </i></span>schizophrenia,
a person may burst into laughter, grimaces, or giggles without an appropriate
stimulus. Another example is of a person on the street talking to himself or
herself, gesticulating to no one in particular, or directing the traffic even
when a police person is doing it, sometimes imitating the police. Or, we may
find the person looking up to the sky, gesticulating and castigating God.
Persons affected by this form of schizophrenia may look markedly disheveled,
dress in unusual manner, or display clearly inappropriate sexual behaviour in
public. Their behaviours can also be unpredictable, suddenly becoming agitated,
for example, swearing and screaming loudly.</p><p align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sHwx7pyn7_0/YDn5oU7ok5I/AAAAAAAAG4k/m8hLkN4RPCwe-s5NXfvP9YLkV97OC-ICwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Schizophrenia%2B6.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Primary Dynamic:
Distorted Cognition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The cognitive processes (perception, interpretation,
judgment and so on) of persons suffering from schizophrenia are seriously
impaired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may have trouble
organizing their thoughts or making logical connections. Their mind tends to
jump from one unrelated thought to another in a confusing and bewildering
sequence. They may assign special meaning to seemingly everyday words, which
only they understand. Those listening to them will have great difficulty in
making sense of what they are trying to say. Delusions, hallucinations and
behavioral difficulties, as also affective and emotional turbulence, have their
roots in impaired cognitive processes. This cognitive impairment is the primary
dynamic in schizophrenia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLyKg_QQE7M/YDn6k0LEEOI/AAAAAAAAG4s/az8Cti4q2Rsfik7qc4yQGoUkVqj5w_4sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/negative%2Bsymptoms.jpg" /></div><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Negative Symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">There are also
what are known as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">negative symptoms</i>.”
<span style="background: white; color: #444444;">These are so called because they
are an absence as much as a presence. These include inexpressive faces, blank
looks, monotone and monosyllabic speech, seeming lack of interest in the world
and other people, inability to feel pleasure or act spontaneously.
Schizophrenia can exist only with these “negative” symptoms without the more
florid “positive” symptoms described above. In this case, the term “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">simple schizophrenia</i>” is sometimes used.
These symptoms, though not as incapacitating as the positive symptoms, can
affect occupational life and relationships. These negative symptoms are the
main reason those who suffer from them find difficult to live independently, and
manage everyday life.</span><span style="color: #293340;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L6L_ZAvm0/YDn7efxYJQI/AAAAAAAAG40/TspcsNvnUdUvaCr11AiXOCpDZ-zXuLhtACLcBGAsYHQ/s262/Gerasene%2Bdemoniac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L6L_ZAvm0/YDn7efxYJQI/AAAAAAAAG40/TspcsNvnUdUvaCr11AiXOCpDZ-zXuLhtACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Gerasene%2Bdemoniac.jpg" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Introspection
and Prayer</span></b></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
description of hallucinations and other symptoms of schizophrenia above will
show us how these can be cause of much suffering and relational difficulties.
May be we have come across people afflicted by the disorder. We may be living
with family members or others who suffer from it, or taking care of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
number of persons presented ion the gospels as being possessed by demons and
whom jeus healed, were probably suffering from schizophrenia or other mental
illnesses. The Gerasene demoniac (Luke 8, 26-39) as possible example. We could
recall one of these stories and focus on Jesus’ compassion for those suffering
from these illnesses and his eagerness to heal them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
could then stay for a while with whatever the information provided in this
podcast and Jesus’ healing stories evoke in us and share these with that same
Jesus who is with us in the here and now extending to each of us the same
compassion, or in the presence of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our
compassionate God – seeking healing for ourselves and others. </span><span style="color: #565a5c;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have pleasant
weekend. Be safe. Be healthy. Be blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212;">Thank you for listening/reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #121212;">Pcitures: Courtesy Google Images</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jose Parappully SDB, PHD <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">sumedhacentre@gmail.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: "felix-regular","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>sumedha/pojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264283030239265248noreply@blogger.com0