Psyche & Soul 22: A SPLINTERED, DISTORTED SPIRITUALITY

sumedhacentre@gmail.com

podcast link:

https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-22-PSYCHE--SOUL-51-en1kka

 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.

Last week end we reflected on Everyday spirituality. This weekend we shall continue our reflections on spirituality, especially the impact of dualism on spirituality.

….

Thomas Kuhn, a social scientist at the University of Chicago, wrote a book in 1962 entitled The Structure of Scientific Revolutions that soon became a classic in social sciences. That book introduced the concept of Paradigms, paradigm shifts and resistance to paradigm shifts.

Twenty years later the physicist Fritjof Capra wrote a book called The Turning Point in which he tried to explain Kuhn’s concepts in a lay person’s language. Capra focused on two paradigms. One, the Dualistic which influenced thought and behaviour for thousands of years, to which was added the mechanistic understanding in the Modern Era to form the Dualistic-Mechanistic paradigm. The paradigm that has emerged recently is the holistic to which is added the ecological to form the Holistic-Ecological paradigm. 

Paradigms and paradigm changes come handy when discussing everyday spirituality.

THE DUALISTIC-MECHANISTIC PARADIGM

The Dualistic (from Latin Duo) paradigm splits reality into two and places one over the other and often against the other. The split between matter and energy, body and spirit, reason and passion are examples.  Dualism influenced culture and society, as well as religion and spirituality, for thousands of years and laid the foundations for patriarchal domination. 

 

The mechanistic understanding split reality not only to two, but many bits and pieces. Like the clock, the classic model of a machine, which works perfectly when every part in it works in orderly conjunction with every other part, the whole universe, consisting of bits and pieces of matter, works perfectly when everything in it is moving according to a pre-designed harmonious order. Order and harmony were considered essential to proper order in society.

 

CHANGE SEEN AS EVIL, PERMANENCE AS GOOD

We know that much chaos and confusion accompany change, as happens, for example, when governments change. Permanence, the opposite of change, maintains order, stability and harmony. Societies for whom order and harmony were cardinal virtues, as also those in power, saw change which undermines these as evil.   Change because it is evil had to be resisted. Permanence and its constituents –stability and order—were to be promoted to maintain peace and harmony. Change against stability can be seen as the primordial split that gave rise to hierarchy and patriarchy, as well as the honour given to tradition.

Denigration of the Body

Change can be seen as the basis for the hugely influential split between body and soul/spirit.  The body – the material element – decays and disappears and so is evil.  The soul or spirit which maintains one’s identity even after the body decays and disappears is good. The body was pitted against the spirit as inferior and dangerous. This view of body and spirit had a profound impact on the understanding and practice of spirituality.

Spiritual doctrines and disciplines developed a negative and even antagonistic attitude toward the body. The body came to be considered an enemy of spirit and needed to be subjugated and punished so that the soul could be strengthened. Since sexuality is an important dimension of our embodiment, it was considered as something dangerous to the spirit and even evil. Since marriage involved sexuality, those who embraced virginity or celibacy were considered to be living and practising a superior, holier way of life. Bodily asceticism was seen as essential for triumph of the spirit.

Reason over Emotion

The Greek philosopher Plato and his student Aristotle helped to further entrench dualistic notions and their consequences. They proposed that thinking concerned with pure reasoning is superior or more advanced than thinking permeated by sensory input and emotions.  Sensations and emotions bring about turbulence and instability and so are bad and inferior. Reason contributes to order and stability and so is good and superior.

Subjugation and Oppression of Women

The dualistic split between body and spirit, reason and emotions and placing them hierarchically one over the other had a profound impact on the way women and men were viewed.

Emotion and bodily changes (which were considered evil) were considered to be mainly female experiences while reason, associated with the spirit (and considered good), was attributed to the male. Good, thus, became identified with the male and evil with the female. The good had to triumph over evil. Reason had to triumph over passion. Hence man had to dominate woman. (Please note: This is not my thought. I am only presenting the notions and beliefs which were present.)

An extreme consequence of this ideology was identification of women as embodiment of evil, Satan. The witch-burnings of the Middle Ages, and even later, was a direct result of this identification.

Patriarchy

This kind of dualistic and hierarchical notions attributing goodness, reason and superiority to men led to patriarchy – a philosophical, cultural and political system in which men controlled knowledge and resources, and determined what role women can and cannot play in society. The evolution of patriarchy had disastrous consequences for the treatment of women in society and Church as well.

 The patriarchal mindset influenced spirituality and religious practices too. The exclusion of women from sacred space and the privileged position men enjoy both in society and the Church stem from patriarchal thinking.

 

For introspection

• What do the ideas presented here about dualism, body, sexuality, patriarchy, evoke in you?
• Can you recognize how these are impacting your life- your beliefs, attitude and behavior?
• Can you recognize the influence these have influenced our understanding and practice of everyday spirituality?

 Prayer

In the Book of Genesis we read how God created men and women as equal and after creating them he proclaimed his delight in them. “Very good!” he said.

Jesus had a profoundly different attitude toward body, sexuality and women, very different from the prevailing notions and attitudes in his society. Can you recognize how he was different? Which gospel scenes come to mind in this context? You could spend some time talking to him about whatever is evoked in you by this podcast.

Jose Parappully SDB, PhD

sumedhacentre@gmail.com

 

Psyche & Soul 21: PSYCHOLOGY, SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

 podcast link:

https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2--21-PSYCHE--SOUL--50-emq4hm

Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.

The title of this podcast “Psyche & Soul” alludes to a profound truth, namely “psyche,” that stands of psychology, and “soul,” standing for spirituality, go together.

We normally assume that the two are very different. Not really. Both have to do with everyday life and behaviour and thus have much in common. Good psychology is good spirituality, and good spirituality is good psychology

For a very long time there was mutual animosity between proponents of religion and spirituality on one hand and psychologists on the other. That has changed. Today three is clear acknowledgment that both psychology and spirituality are integral part of being human and both have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

GROWING INTEREST IN THE SPIRITUAL

This changed attitude is in keeping with emerging trends in society and culture. Three is today an increased interest in spirituality on the part of people all over. Survey after survey shows that the number of people who say they are now more spiritual than they used to be is considerably larger than those who feel they had become less spiritual.

Sales of books show that there is a thirst among people today for things spiritual. Already a few years earlier Chicken Soup for the Soul had broken new grounds in publishing and become a runaway best seller, and various soups as sequel to the original recipe have been churned out year after year.

A few years ago, a distinguished group of business people representing some of the richest corporations in the world went on a long retreat for the explicit purpose of designating the single overriding need of contemporary society. The conclusion they arrived at, to their own surprise, was this: “the single overriding need of contemporary society is to rediscover, celebrate and incarnate the sacred.”

The rich and famous - business tycoons, media stars, fashion models and sports stars - are leaving lucrative and glittering careers and moving into monasteries, ashrams, Zen Centres, and the wilderness in search of the sacred.

Prayer and meditation groups are in vogue. Quasi-spiritual movements like the Art of Living attract thousands of enthusiasts. Catholic Charismatic Retreat Centres are mushrooming.

Among the new spirituality seekers the vast majority are young people. For example, more than 80 percent of those attending the Art of Living gatherings is said to be young people. The Jesus Youth is another testament to this newfound interest among the young in spirituality.

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

While there is growing interest in spirituality, there is also disillusionment with religion. Spirituality and religion are related but they are distinct concepts. Both religion and spirituality are born of the awareness of the transcendent—that which is beyond us. In religion the transcendent is often personified as a Supreme Being or Deity –and finds expression in a shared belief system (Creed), common rituals (Cult), and generally accepted norms of behaviour (Code). These are popularly known as the three C’s of classical religions.

Spirituality, unlike religion, is a personal experience of the transcendent, not necessarily mediated by social or religious institutions – through the 3 C’s. This personal experience can be had within and without religious traditions. Thus, we can have a profound experience of the transcendent when we worship together in church, temple or mosque. However, we can also have a profound experience of the transcendent through music and dance, in the beauty of nature, at the seashore or mountain top, or the intimacy of a love relationship, and in any moment of ordinary life.

Spirituality unlike religion, is a very broad concept. It involves everything that enhances the sense of the sacred. True spirituality enables us to be in touch with and feel connected with the divine that is present in our everyday life, and is not limited just to religious worship or practices. When we are spiritual, this sense of the sacred and of the divine permeates the whole of our life, and manifests in the way we live and relate.

For introspection

·         Do you see both psychology and spirituality having much that is common? Or do you see the two are quite separate?

·         How do you feel about the distinction made between spirituality and religion? Are you more of a spiritual person than a religious person?

 

Prayer

Spirituality is best expressed in relationships. The sacred takes on flesh and blood in communion, both with the divine, with one another. We know that God wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. Jesus, for example, invites us to abide in him. In Chapter 15, 1-15 of John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of the wine and the branches, inviting us to deep union with him, and to love one another just as he loves us. We could read this beautiful passage, stay with whatever it evokes in us and express our desire to abide deeply in him and grow in love of him and one another.

Have a pleasant weekend. Be well. Be safe. Blessed.

Thank you for listening.

Pictures: Courtesay Google Images

 Jose Parappully SDB, PhD

sumedhacentre@gmail.com

Psyche & Soul 19 COVID – 19: A TIME OF MASSIVE DISRUPTION

Podcast link:

https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-19-Psyche--Soul--45-em422p

Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.

 This weekend we shall reflect on the Covid-1- disruptions and their impact on health and happiness…

 We are currently living through perhaps the worst crisis the global community has faced in the last 100 years, since the Spanish flu of 1918. Covid-19 has disrupted life on a massive scale.

 I characterize this time with three phrases: a time of unsettling disruption, a transformative time and a time for community and compassion.

 A TIME OF UNSETTLING DISRUPTION

The world as we knew it has disappeared. Established order has been replaced by unpredictability. Securities by uncertainty. Faith by doubt. These lead to a number of debilitating emotions – anxiety, fear, hopelessness. Covid-19 has exposed our vulnerabilities and revealed the fragility of life. We have witnessed the death of dear ones and colleagues. We ourselves live in dread of falling a prey to it. The pandemic has stripped away our illusions of safety and control.  We are living in a time of unsettling disruption of life.

 Unsettling Health Crisis

The disease itself has been very unsettling, not only for infected persons, but for most people. We are only gradually discovering the extent of harm the disease causes. And the scenario is alarming.

Covid-19 has transformed itself from a respiratory illness to a multi-systemic disease. It has caused cardiovascular and neurological problems and these are predicted to remain long after the supposed recovery. About one fifth of hospitalized Covid-19 patients have damage to their hearts, even if they never had cardiac issues before.

Neurological complications range from inflammation of the central nervous system, brain disease with delirium or psychosis, strokes and peripheral nerve problems.

The virus could leave a minority of the population with subtle brain damage that only becomes apparent in years to come.

There is also evidence that patients who recover from coronavirus infections may lose their immunity to reinfection within months. In one study, ninety days after treatment no detectable antibodies were in the bloodstream of most of the recovered patients.

Self-isolation, quarantine, lockdown, and loss of livelihoods have led to an increase in mental illness. Loneliness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicidal behavior, as also domestic violence, have increased.

 Unsettling Economic Crisis

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the global economy that is predicted to continue for years. The UN Trade and Development Report 2020 has forecast that 90 to 120 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty in the developing world, with close to 300 million facing food insecurity. In India, crores of people, especially daily wagers lost their jobs and many are still unemployed. Many small businesses have closed down. The World Bank and rating agencies have have forecast a deep recession, predicted to be India's worst since independence.

 Unsettling Ethical Crisis

The lack of medical equipment to treat the infected threw up unsettling ethical and moral challenges. We heard disturbing reports about medical professionals and families having to make difficult and painful decisions as to who gets to be saved, who was dispensable and could be left to die. We have seen images of total disregard for the dignity of people in death, the callous manner in which dead bodies have been disposed of.

 While we hear of inspiring stories of courage and generosity we also hear disturbing stories of exploitation and callousness – unscrupulous and greedy people placing profit before public health, hoarding precious medical equipment and supplies or inflating prices making them unaffordable, leading to loss of lives.

 We saw the height of selfishness - panic buying in which those who could afford emptied the store shelves of essential commodities to stock their kitchen cupboards with months of supplies depriving others of daily necessities.

 Medical personnel who place their life on line daily at great sacrifice, have been ostracized and forced to stay away from their families and communities for fear they would be the carriers of the virus, and even harassed and attacked. Stigmatization, exclusion and harassment have also been experienced by people infected or suspected of having the virus.

 Unsettling Social Crisis

Social distancing, a misnomer, has changed the way we relate to one another. Our social ties are fragmented. Social connections and gatherings that used to provide comfort, e and stress release and rejuvenation, have been severely restricted. Number of people permitted at common worship, which provides us solace, comfort and support, is also severely limited.

 Marriages are under severe strain.  The lack of private time, time outside the home, and inability to see friends have caused tension in many marriages, driving people to seek extramarital affairs.  It is predicted that as the pandemic abates, rate of divorce as well as extramarital affairs is going to rise further.

 Children are deprived of in-person schooling. This will have a very negative impact not only on their intellectual development, but also on their social and emotional growth.

 Covid-19 also laid bare the depth of structural iniquity that characterises our society. The lockdown enabled one class of people to luxuriate in the comfort of their home, passing time in superficial ways of entertaining themselves, their shelves overflowing with comfort foods, while another was trudging along the highways, feet bleeding, bundles on their heads, babies at their hips, facing police harassment to boot, seeking food and shelter – struggling to survive. Haunting pictures of deprivation and death on the road have seared into our collective memory.

 Unsettling Spiritual Crisis

The pandemic has thrown many of us in to a spiritual crisis. Our faith is shaken.  We are forced to ask some very fundamental existential questions. Is there a God? What kind of a God would permit this catastrophe? Does God really care? Do our prayers have any value? The dogmas and doctrines of institutional religion are failing and our own prayers and devotion don’t seem to offer comfort or consolation.

 A Bleak Future?

What is further disconcerting and disorienting is the news that the researchers have predicted that every three years we are going to face a new pandemic, worse than the present one – all related to climate change -- which is going to create a permanent state of disruption and uncertainty. Worst of times is going to be prolonged, may be permanent.

For Introspection

·         As you look back over the period of Covid-19, what are the disruptions you have personally experienced and are continuing to experience?

·         What has been the impact of these on you? How are you coping with these?

·         Do any of the disruptions described in this column particularly unsettle you, disturb you? Which? Why and How?

 Prayer

There is story in the biblical Book of Genesis where the patriarch Jacob wrestles with God all through the night. May be you are also wrestling with God about the Covid-disruptions. You could read the passage (Genesis Chapter 32, 24-32) and stay with whatever the story evokes in you in the context of Covid 19 disruptions and spend some time in prayer, talking to God and listening to God..

FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB

sumedhaccentre@gmail.com

 

Psyche & Soul 18: PREVENTING/RELIEVING STRESS THE S-AMRT WAY.

 

Podcast Link

https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-18-Psyche--Soul---PREVENTING-AND-RELIEVING-STRESS-THE-S-AMRT-WAY-43-elphve

Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.

This weekend we shall explore how we can reduce as well as prevent stress.

Stress is common place during these Covid -19 times. Learning to handle this stress is important for our health and happiness.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of our thoughts, our emotions, our schedules, our environment, and the way we deal with situations and perceived threats.

Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when we can, changing our reaction when we can’t, taking care of ourselves, and making time for rest and relaxation.

                                                                      The S-AMRT Approach

I am suggesting a 4-S approach to managing stress: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Self-Renewal and Self-Transformation or the (S-AMRT) Approach

 Self-Awareness

We need to be aware of what is happening to us and in us.

·        Become aware of our daily routine, especially in regard to work and the effect that routine is having on our life and relationships.

·         Become aware of the kind of situations and reactions that trigger negative emotions and distress.

·    Become aware of changes in our physical wellbeing: of incipient fatigue, headaches, insomnia, gastro-intestine problems, and other physical stresses. Such awareness lets us know that something is wrong and signals the need for us to do something to correct things.

·      When we attempt a change of course, we need to become aware of our successful and   unsuccessful modes of coping with stress.

Self-Management

The second is self-management. We need to learn to manage our lives better. This we do by bringing about some helpful changes in our attitudinal and behavioural patterns.

 ·         Developing more flexible attitudes towards self and work is a good place to start.

 ·       We need to learn to manage our energy; know how much of it to spend and where and when and how.  Time management is a great help here. We need to set priorities, and learn to delegate tasks. We need to     discern which are the tasks that need our personal attention and time investment and which can be done by others

·       Learning to ask for help is another stress-buster. Too often we try to manage things on our own, and get frustrated. Frustration triggers a stress response. A simple way to avoid this needless stress is to ask someone for help -- for advice as well as hands-on help.

·         We need to make our job expectations our own and not somebody else's. Trying to reach standards someone sets up for us is a recipe for continued frustration and burnout.

 ·       We also need to make goals and standards we set for ourselves realistic.  Setting standards far above our capacity to achieve them will lead to frustration and to stress.

Third, Self-Renewal

There are many ways we can renew ourselves and feel energised.

·         Increasing physical fitness and overall wellbeing through vigorous exercise makes us less vulnerable to the negative effects of stress. Proper diet too assists in this.

 ·      It is important that we have time to rest and relax. Relaxation decreases blood pressure, slows down heart beat and breathing rate and facilitates healing for the mind and body. Techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep abdominal breathing, visualization of serene environments, or even simply sitting or lying restfully with eyes closed thinking of nothing in particular activate the body’s relaxation response. 

 ·       Creative and meaningful relationships serve as sources of energy mobilization and provide opportunities for healthy relaxation.

Finally, Self-Transformation

·         We can bring about self-transformation through cognitive restructuring, that is, changing our perceptions and thought patterns. Changing our perceptions and interpretations, for example, of threatening situations or obstacles we face can help us both to find relief from stress as well as prevent stress.

 ·         Changing the way we see events—as outside our control or within our control—may be the biggest factor in staying on top of stress. Believing we have control over events in our life has great leverage in management of stress. Even when we can’t control an event or situation, we can control our reaction to it, we can change our perception about it, and how we think about it.

 ·         It is also possible to change the reality, or the stressor itself. For example, our stress may be coming from an overcrowded day. We can eliminate or at least reduce the stress by creating lighter work schedules. Prioritising and delegating are two important ways to reduce work stress.

 ·         How we appraise events (stressors) is influenced by our self-concept, how we see ourselves. Building a positive sense of self, strengthening our belief in ourselves and our capacity to be in control and achieve desired results can reduce our vulnerability to stress.

 ·       Living ethically, making our private lives congruent with the values we espouse publicly, and pursuing goals consistent with those values, also reduces the stress that results from guilt and fear of exposure.

 ·    Learning to live in peace with those who inhabit our relational world is also important. Inter-personal conflicts are major causes of stress. There are many such conflicts that we can easily avoid with a little effort. 

For reflection.

 ·         What’s the level of stress you are currently experiencing? What could be some of the causes of your stress? What insights are you getting from this podcast as to how you can prevent or reduce stress in your life?

In the Gospel Jesus says: “Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened. I will give you rest.” That Jesus is with you here and now, reaching out to you with compassion as he did to so many. You could spend a few minutes with him, telling him how you really feel, sharing your burdens with him and experience the relief he has promised. You could also visualize Jesus, like a compassionate mother, soothing and comforting you with great tenderness.

Have a stress-free  weekend. Be well. Be safe. Be Blessed.

Thank you for listening/reading.

Pictures: Courtesy Google Images

Jose Parappully SDB, PhD

sumedhacentre@gmail.com

 

Psyche & soul 17: RESILIENCE

Podcast link:

https://anchor.fm/boscom/episodes/2-17-Psyche--Soul---the-contribution-of-resilience-to-health-and-happiness-41-elfm96

Hello, this is Jose Parappully, Salesian priest and clinical psychologist at Sumedha Centre for Psychospritual Wellbeing at Jeolikote, Uttarakhand, with another edition of Psyche & Soul.

This weekend we shall reflect on the contribution of resilience to health and happiness…

 Mr. Rajan’s story in the previous column was not just about hope, it was also about resilience – the capacity to thrive despite adversity, to bounce back from setbacks, from trauma and tragedy and being able to live at even greater levels of wellbeing and satisfaction than before, that is, to flourish.

Resilient people, like the proverbial phoenix, are able to rise up literally from the ashes of their destructive or painful experience and thrive again.

The remarkable way the Hiroshima and Nagasaki is restored and built up from the ashes of nuclear devastation by the survivors is a historical example of resilience.

So also, is the remarkable story of Steve Jobs, an icon in the IT industry, co-founder of Apple, the creative genius behind the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. But many may not know that he was dismissed from the company which he had co-founded. The experience did not break him, rather it forced him to reinvent himself. He would later say that this was the best thing that happened to him. It forced him to start again from scratch and scale new heights.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which doctors thought inoperable. He fought against the disease and survived for few years more, and went on to become one of the world’s most admired creative geniuses.

Steve Jobs did not allow setbacks to dishearten him, rather he used them as stepping stones to climb greater heights. He was truly resilient.

RESILIENCE IS NOT JUST RECOVERY

Resilience is not just about rising from the ashes. It is also about the capacity to maintain high levels of resistance to stressful events. According to psychologist George Bonanno, an expert in the field, resilience enables us to endure upheavals remarkably well, with no apparent disruption in our ability to function and to move on to new challenges with apparent ease.

In contrast to recovery which connotes a breakdown in normal functioning following trauma or loss, leading to high levels of distress or even psychopathology and then gradually returning to pre-event levels, resilience, Bonanno observes, reflects the ability to maintain a stable equilibrium in the face of adversity.

When we are resilient, even when we experience a potentially highly disruptive event, we are able to maintain relatively stable, healthy levels of psychological and physical functioning. We show resilience through our capacity to respond flexibly and adaptively to adverse situations.

As resilient persons we are not broken by suffering; rather, we experience difficulties and obstacles as opportunities to grow. We not only bounce back from setbacks, we also grow and develop through these experiences just as Steve Jobs and many great artists, were able to do.

CONTRIBUTORS TO RESILIENCE

 What leads to resilience?

 Psychologists have identified certain areas of competence that lay the foundation for resilience. Among these are: secure attachments; interpersonal competence including ability to recruit help; cognitive competence to plan and organize; emotional competencies especially capacity to regulate emotions, delay gratification, and maintain high levels of hope, optimism and self-esteem; grateful living, and having meaning and purpose in life.

According to some psychologists having meaning and purpose in life is the core competency that contributes to resilience. As Nietzsche is said to have observed, “If you have a WHY to live for, you can live any HOW.” That is, if we have a meaningful purpose in life, we can face and triumph over any adversity.

Viktor Frankl used Nietzsche’s words as inspiration to survive the horrors of the Auschwitz concentration camp. He kept constantly before him a reason to get out of the camp alive – to re-join with his wife. As a result, he alone of his batch of inmates survived.

Faith and attendance at religious services have been found to foster resilience. The world views provided by faith contribute to purposefulness and meaningfulness, offer support in difficult times, and the strength to triumph over adversity.

As Robert Emmons, a psychologist who researches the impact of religion and spirituality on wellbeing has observed, “Religion and spirituality can provide a unifying philosophy of life and serve as an integrating and stabilising force in the face of constant environmental and cultural pressures that push for fragmentation.”

MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS

Every research that has explored the variables that have contributed to resilience, especially to flourishing after a dysfunctional childhood, has found one common variable that contributed to a positive outcome. This was the presence of an empathic other, usually a loving aunt or uncle or a dedicated and sensitive teacher, who became a mentor and a role model and whose care and support made up for deficiencies and enabled the individual to find meaning and purpose in life and triumph over tragedy.

One sensitive and caring individual can make a profound difference in the life of another, no matter how dismal or dysfunctional his or her life experiences might have been. Each of us can become that empathic other and transform lives.

Here are a few questions for you to ponder over:

 How resilient are you?

·         How do you generally handle adversities?

·         Have you been able to thrive after some tragedy? If yes, what helped you?

·         Can you recall an empathic other who has touched my life profoundly?

Joseph, the son of the Biblical patriarch Jacob was remarkably resilient. He was not broken by suffering and misfortune. His jealous brothers wanted to kill him and threw him into a well. He survived. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet, he became the powerful ruler of Egypt, next in power only to the Pharaoh.  Joseph trusted in God and believed he would help him survive and thrive. That God in whom Joseph trusted is with you here and now, genuinely interested in your wellbeing, looking at you with love and compassion. What would you like to tell this God about your own trials and tribulations?

 Have a blessed weekend. Be well. Be safe.

 Thank you for listening/reading.

 

Jose Parappully SDB, PhD

sumedhacentre@gmail.com