Artist: Patricia Maria Fair
Title: Mask of Silence
Medium: Mixed Media
Contact: patriciamariafair@hotmail.com
FEATURE ARTICLE
Perception creates Experience
What is it that makes it so hard for us to accept ourselves for who we are? How we look at something (our perspective) creates how we see it (our perception), and that in turn will create our experiences (our reality). For example, if a child looks into a dark room with fear, that is how they will see it, and when they enter the room that will be their experience. If we view ourselves as ugly/a failure/unworthy, that is how we will see ourselves and experience ourselves.
Conversely, if we see ourselves as vibrant/loving/compassionate, then that is how we will see ourselves and experience ourselves. Visually, we can express this model as in the model that follows:
Importantly, this model is not a linear flow, but circular, showing that our experiences (reality) will confirm our perception and therefore lead to further experiences of the same reality.
If we perceive a person as being mean, nasty and difficult to deal with, then that is how we will see them. When we communicate or negotiate with that person, we will experience them as mean, nasty and difficult, and this will compound and confirm our original perspective the next time we interact with them.
It is only when we challenge and alter the way we see ourselves (and others) that we become more self-aware. Indeed, if we are not self-aware, it means:
• We limit our life choices
• We create unintentional consequences through our actions
• We express dysfunctional behaviour through limited and destructive thought patterns
• The expression of our emotions becomes counterproductive to our personal growth
We can continually develop our self-awareness by:
Staying open to feedback
Examples of questions to help you stay open to feedback include:
• Please tell me how you feel about …
• How do you see it from your perspective?
• How could I do this better?
Enhancing our capacity for self-honesty
Examples of questions relating to self-honesty include:
• Yes, I really do have a limited perspective on this situation. How can I consider this from another viewpoint?
• What if I considered …? What difference would it make?
• You are correct, I did do/say/think … How do you feel this can be improved?
• I accept my actions have caused others distress. How can I best learn from this situation?
Self-Observation
By viewing the way you think and feel from an objective or observational point of view, you become aware of what is driving you at any particular moment. It is similar to watching a sporting game from the viewpoint of the seating area and not the playing arena. It is even better if you view this game from an impartial point of view, without any attachment to the results of the game.
For example:
That’s very interesting; I’m feeling anxious/upset about this issue.
This situation is making me feel angry; that’s interesting.
Stop being ‘busy’
Do you wear ‘busyness’ like a badge of honour? Being busy all the time means continually filling the magical moments of time at your disposal with a diverse plethora of ‘stuff’. It’s the dreaded ‘to do’ list! The busier you are, the more you delegate to your subconscious, and so the less aware you are. (And you limit the many choices you have.)
Slow down, relax and breathe. Take all things in your stride with grace and calmness. Stop being busy just for the sake of doing something, or worse to satisfy yourself or others that you are worthy or worthwhile … you already are.
Be mindful of the power of each moment
• Live in the present, but be free from arrogance, hubris or excessive pride.
• When you eat your meals, enjoy each bite.
• When you take a shower, glory in the feeling of being clean.
• When you go for a walk, enjoy the scenery.
• When you make love with your partner, really be there and not in your performance.
• Practise the affirmation, ‘Here I am, now’.
• Treasure each moment you have breath.
• Identify dysfunctional thinking (if your thoughts are negative and destructive, acknowledge them and let them go).
Focus on the desired state, not on the fight
For example, if you have poor health or illness, do not put all your energies into fighting the disease or illness. Focus on being perfectly healthy and imagine a perfect state of health as your ideal outcome.
If you are feeling stressed or anxious, focus on being calm and serene. If you are encountering financial challenges, focus on feelings of abundance and envisage your desired state of being – e.g. debt free. If you are experiencing excessive weight, focus on feeling slim, trim and healthy, with an abundance of energy.
But let’s let a story tell the real story shall we?
As the diminutive disciple sat at the feet of his samurai sword master, he lamented, “Master, I will never be a great sword master like you! I am too small and all of your other disciples are much bigger and stronger than I.”
To which the grand sword master replied, “This is precisely why you will be the grandest of masters, for it is not the size of your muscles or the breadth of your shoulders that matters. Rather, it is the size of your heart, and the ability to accept all of the gifts you have been given that will make you such a grand master.”
When we truly embrace ourselves with loving acceptance, we can but marvel at the miracle of what it does to make our world unfold.
Stephen Paul Chong M.Ed. Mobile: 0414 438 909 Author of The Music of the Soul and Letters Across Time
REGULAR FEATURE
Essential Oil Discovery
Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)
Lavender is a favourite for many and is one of the most common essential oils known. It is a versatile oil with the fragrance being very relaxing to the body and mind. The plant properties of Lavandula augustifolia are antifungal, analgesic, antiseptic, anti-tumoural, anticonvulsant, vaso-dilating, relaxant, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. It may reduce blood fat/cholesterol, and may combat excess sebum on skin. Which means it’s great for balancing and normalising body functions*, promoting tissue regeneration*, speeding up wound healing* and cleansing cuts, bruises and skin irritations*. It soothes and relaxes the mind and body and eases body aches and pains, to name a few of its many benefits.
Unfortunately, lavender is one of the most highly adulterated essential oils on the market. Often lavender essential oil is a hybrid lavender called Lavandine, which is a cross between fine lavender and spike lavender. Lavandine is a tall plant that is sterile, so is reproduced by cuttings. Each stem produces three flowers and has a stronger smell than Lavandula augustifolia. It also has different properties (e.g. high camphor compound, a skin irritant that makes it unsuitable for things such as mild burns and skin inflammation). It takes 40kg of flowers to produce one litre of Lavandine essential oil. In comparison, Lavandula augustifolia is a small, bushy shrub that reproduces by seedling, with a single flower growing on each stem. 130kg of flowers are needed to obtain one litre of essential oil. As you can see, it is more economical for companies to use Lavandine than Lavandula augustifolia as it has a higher yield, making it cheaper to produce. With little regard to the medicinal properties of a particular oil, many companies will evaporate unwanted compounds and synthetically alter others to create the same ‘signature’ of a species, but the action in the body will be completely different.
Even essential oils labelled ‘Organic’ and ‘100% Pure’ are not a guarantee that you are getting the real deal. In fact, Organic and 100% Pure have no relation to the therapeutic benefits of an essential oil. The action that an essential oil has in or on your body is directly linked to the properties of that particular plant, and whether you are getting all of the delicate compounds (chemical constituents) that are found in that plant, in your essential oil when it has been harvested, distilled and bottled.
For more information on getting authentic essential oils please contact Elizabeth.
*These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Elizabeth Moldenhauer is an Energy Healer and Massage Therapist who has discovered the amazing qualities of Essential Oils and has become an advocate for healthy living and an abundant life. She now teaches throughout FNQ on the health benefits of therapeutic grade essential oils. For more information or to attend an information gathering in your area, contact Elizabeth on 0438 795 963. www.facebook.com/essentialoildiscovery