What a wonderful feeling it is, to know that one is not alone. I got that feeling when I first discovered this place, and the feeling returns each time I discover that I have more in common with my sisters here.
I have never declared myself a member of any particular creed or system, though elements of different ones hold a certain appeal for me. I've read some Campbell, and a few Zen books. Along the way, I spent some part of my life studying the martial arts, and I've drawn some strength and solace from books which concern different aspects of that way (Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Miyamoto Musashi's A Book of Five Rings, and Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure, if anyone is interested).
I've come to believe that the things I seek most in life are enlightenment and balance. Sure, the love and acceptance of others are nice to have, but they pale beside the value of one's love and acceptance of oneself.
The Hero's Journey
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CJ
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Awesome posts, all. -
Kersten Lee
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Carolynn
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Hi Christina and everybody!!!! 
C.J., some element of your initial post in this thread reminded me of something I had read, but it required a few days to have time to search it out. Not sure yet how it relates to the concept of the Hero's Journey, but here it 'tis, much abstracted and a bit paraphrased to avoid being multi paged. It is an article from the American Scientist that showed up in our library, July and August issue, 2003. The article is The Power of Positive Emotions, by Barbara L. Fredrickson (Director of Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratore, University of Michigan), and did have several interesting points that seem pertinent to the discussion.
1. Most therapists of whatever persuasion spend most of their time working with people with negative emotions, negative attitudes, and overall negative perspectives; there are a lot more words in all languages to describe negative emotions, than positive ones!
2. As a result, the effects of positive emotions have not received so much attention.
3. The author is part of a subfield of psychology studying the effects and application of positive attitudes: effects of love, joy, contentment, gratitude and altruism, i.e., "goodness"; to try to determine how to harness that understanding in helping people heal unsettled minds and live better, more productive lives.
4. Unlike negative emotions, which each has its own facial/body expression and own autonomic system response, all positive emotions share a very similar appearance in body/facial expression, and in the autonomic reactions as well. One reason may be that the negative expressions are usefull adaptations to learning to survive in a habitat, and were likely early non-verbal communication cues.
5. Positive emotions have little outward value to the individual, but her lab's findings are that the presence of positive emotions increases the individual's ability to cope by broadening it's receptivity to experiences allowing more thought-action. In other words, they are in a more insightful state, and they tend to develop more resilience and optimism in the face of everyday pressures and sudden catastrophy. Simply put, they were more able to find positive outcomes while others found more negative outcomes; their glasses were half full, not half empty far more often than those controlled more often by negative emotions.
6. She also found that "feeling good" can be taught, by simply encouraging people to search the for the positive in their daily experiences, and expressing positive emotions and attitudes. This contributes to the broadening of psychological resilience, which in turn allows development of more personal resources to deal with adversity.
7. Negative emotions have been shown to do physical damage to the individual, as their mindsets are narrowed, autonomic responses affect cardiovascular activity can promote heart disease, injure the inner walls of arteries and initiate atherosclerosis, and depression Long term negative mindsets can become spiraling chronic depressions. Because positive emotions broaden the individuals thought and action repertoire, they may loosen the hold of negative emotions, help dismantle the preparation for specific action brought on by stress, and undo the physical effects (at least to some extent).
8. Positive emotions can not only help undo to some extent the effects of negative emotions, but early research shows that gaining experience with having positive emotions make it more likely that the individual will have more positive emotions in the future, as there seems to be a change in perspective or mindset. People who carry out positive emotional acts, acts of kindness or altruism for example, produce positive emotions in themselves as well as in the recipiants of the act, and in any others who observe the action. Each positive emotion, pride in action, joy, gratitude, love, etc. can trigger what amounts to a positive upward spiral that can transform a unit or group, possibly eventually even a society, into a more cohesive, moral, and harmonious social organization. I have seen individuals able to weld groups in harmonious working relationships through what has been called "good leadership", and looking back on it, I find these people had the positive attributes she suggests.
9. She recommends we all need to develop methods to feel more positive emotions more often, through the use of humor, laughter at least, and more effectively perhaps by finding in your day the positive meaning to your current circumstances, finding positives within adversity, infusing ordinary events with meaning by expressing appreciation, love and gratitude even for simple things, and supporting compassionate acts toward others in need.
10. I'm not sure where it was from, but I recall someone somewhere saying ".... acts of kindness and expressions of love spread from each of us like ripples on a pond, strengthening and renewing rather than interferring when the ripples meet.", or something to that effect.
C.J., some element of your initial post in this thread reminded me of something I had read, but it required a few days to have time to search it out. Not sure yet how it relates to the concept of the Hero's Journey, but here it 'tis, much abstracted and a bit paraphrased to avoid being multi paged. It is an article from the American Scientist that showed up in our library, July and August issue, 2003. The article is The Power of Positive Emotions, by Barbara L. Fredrickson (Director of Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratore, University of Michigan), and did have several interesting points that seem pertinent to the discussion.
1. Most therapists of whatever persuasion spend most of their time working with people with negative emotions, negative attitudes, and overall negative perspectives; there are a lot more words in all languages to describe negative emotions, than positive ones!
2. As a result, the effects of positive emotions have not received so much attention.
3. The author is part of a subfield of psychology studying the effects and application of positive attitudes: effects of love, joy, contentment, gratitude and altruism, i.e., "goodness"; to try to determine how to harness that understanding in helping people heal unsettled minds and live better, more productive lives.
4. Unlike negative emotions, which each has its own facial/body expression and own autonomic system response, all positive emotions share a very similar appearance in body/facial expression, and in the autonomic reactions as well. One reason may be that the negative expressions are usefull adaptations to learning to survive in a habitat, and were likely early non-verbal communication cues.
5. Positive emotions have little outward value to the individual, but her lab's findings are that the presence of positive emotions increases the individual's ability to cope by broadening it's receptivity to experiences allowing more thought-action. In other words, they are in a more insightful state, and they tend to develop more resilience and optimism in the face of everyday pressures and sudden catastrophy. Simply put, they were more able to find positive outcomes while others found more negative outcomes; their glasses were half full, not half empty far more often than those controlled more often by negative emotions.
6. She also found that "feeling good" can be taught, by simply encouraging people to search the for the positive in their daily experiences, and expressing positive emotions and attitudes. This contributes to the broadening of psychological resilience, which in turn allows development of more personal resources to deal with adversity.
7. Negative emotions have been shown to do physical damage to the individual, as their mindsets are narrowed, autonomic responses affect cardiovascular activity can promote heart disease, injure the inner walls of arteries and initiate atherosclerosis, and depression Long term negative mindsets can become spiraling chronic depressions. Because positive emotions broaden the individuals thought and action repertoire, they may loosen the hold of negative emotions, help dismantle the preparation for specific action brought on by stress, and undo the physical effects (at least to some extent).
8. Positive emotions can not only help undo to some extent the effects of negative emotions, but early research shows that gaining experience with having positive emotions make it more likely that the individual will have more positive emotions in the future, as there seems to be a change in perspective or mindset. People who carry out positive emotional acts, acts of kindness or altruism for example, produce positive emotions in themselves as well as in the recipiants of the act, and in any others who observe the action. Each positive emotion, pride in action, joy, gratitude, love, etc. can trigger what amounts to a positive upward spiral that can transform a unit or group, possibly eventually even a society, into a more cohesive, moral, and harmonious social organization. I have seen individuals able to weld groups in harmonious working relationships through what has been called "good leadership", and looking back on it, I find these people had the positive attributes she suggests.
9. She recommends we all need to develop methods to feel more positive emotions more often, through the use of humor, laughter at least, and more effectively perhaps by finding in your day the positive meaning to your current circumstances, finding positives within adversity, infusing ordinary events with meaning by expressing appreciation, love and gratitude even for simple things, and supporting compassionate acts toward others in need.
10. I'm not sure where it was from, but I recall someone somewhere saying ".... acts of kindness and expressions of love spread from each of us like ripples on a pond, strengthening and renewing rather than interferring when the ripples meet.", or something to that effect.
"It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,"
David Weber – In Fury Born
David Weber – In Fury Born
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Virginia
- Goddess of the Universe
- Posts: 5543
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:06 pm
- Location: Strange Magic Hill
Carolynn,
Wonderful! thanks! I know in reading a lot of our posts that reference be proud of who you are, stand up straight, walk proud, remember you are like an ambassador for all your sisters, smile, be confident and all this does provide a positive espression and self-confidence.
Love,
Virginia
Wonderful! thanks! I know in reading a lot of our posts that reference be proud of who you are, stand up straight, walk proud, remember you are like an ambassador for all your sisters, smile, be confident and all this does provide a positive espression and self-confidence.
Love,
Virginia
First star to the right, then straight on 'till mornin!
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Elizabeth
- Miss Ruby Goddess
- Posts: 1878
- Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 3:02 am
Virginia,
When I am out I feel very much as an ambassador. I do walk with my head high, and with purpose. I smile proudly but friendly. I feel it is my job to help take the fear out of this. Plus it just feels great. Why should I let anyone bum me out when I an feeling so good? Not to mention the fact that I am proud of who I am. I always have been. I just had to hide that fact before.
Love always,
Elizabeth
When I am out I feel very much as an ambassador. I do walk with my head high, and with purpose. I smile proudly but friendly. I feel it is my job to help take the fear out of this. Plus it just feels great. Why should I let anyone bum me out when I an feeling so good? Not to mention the fact that I am proud of who I am. I always have been. I just had to hide that fact before.
Love always,
Elizabeth
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CJ
- Miss Diamond Goddess
- Posts: 3562
- Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 11:12 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hi all,
Excellent post, Carolynn! Thanks.
In my day-to-day work with people who are often saddled with extremely negative emotions, the subject of "the chicken and the egg" often comes up; they very well understand how their negative circumstances (mental illness) will affect their emotional mindset but they often have little or no true understanding of how their emotional mindset will, in turn, affect their circumstances. I find that, in helping them "contextualize" their suffering and their pain (for example, by framing it within the "hero's journey"), they gain a much appreciated insight into the meaning of their own lives, and into anything that's remotely uplifting and liberating about who they are and what they're going through. I try to encourage them to look within themselves not with the eyes of others but with their own. Often, they'll see so much that is positive there that they'll wonder why they'd never noticed it before. Thus, growth is enabled. I do nothing but tell them, "Look! See! This is the beauty of you!" They do the rest. Ultimately, we all must walk this road on our own.
Again, thanks for posting that, Carolynn.
Love,
CJ
Excellent post, Carolynn! Thanks.
In my day-to-day work with people who are often saddled with extremely negative emotions, the subject of "the chicken and the egg" often comes up; they very well understand how their negative circumstances (mental illness) will affect their emotional mindset but they often have little or no true understanding of how their emotional mindset will, in turn, affect their circumstances. I find that, in helping them "contextualize" their suffering and their pain (for example, by framing it within the "hero's journey"), they gain a much appreciated insight into the meaning of their own lives, and into anything that's remotely uplifting and liberating about who they are and what they're going through. I try to encourage them to look within themselves not with the eyes of others but with their own. Often, they'll see so much that is positive there that they'll wonder why they'd never noticed it before. Thus, growth is enabled. I do nothing but tell them, "Look! See! This is the beauty of you!" They do the rest. Ultimately, we all must walk this road on our own.
Again, thanks for posting that, Carolynn.
Love,
CJ
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Carolynn
- Miss Diamond Goddess
- Posts: 2754
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:52 pm
- Location: Oklahoma City area
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You are quite welcome CJ!!!
I certainly can't take credit for the ideas in the post, those belong to Barbara Fredrickson and her research team. It's a good perspective to keep in mind and try to apply. I do know I always feel better about myself and others if I notice the little things that are done, express my appreciation for them, or remember something from several days earlier from a conversation that lets them know I was still thinking about them; it seems to give them a lift. I know it works with my little grandnephew, as he can be turned from a holy (well only 41/2 you know) terror into a sweet little kid with a judicious hug and compliments about even the most minor of good behavior, though sometimes it takes several of said applications!!
He is a bit jealous yet of the new little 9 month old sis, but he is learning about a big brother's responsibility and it doesn't hurt that everytime she looks at him she smiles, her little blue eyes sparkle and she puts her hands up for a hug from him. A baby's charm can work on nearly anyone!!!!
I had never heard of this research or the sub field, though it was apparently started by Martin Seligman in about 1947 with some of his students and colleagues. Have you? I can see you apply the same ideas to help your clients.
I certainly can't take credit for the ideas in the post, those belong to Barbara Fredrickson and her research team. It's a good perspective to keep in mind and try to apply. I do know I always feel better about myself and others if I notice the little things that are done, express my appreciation for them, or remember something from several days earlier from a conversation that lets them know I was still thinking about them; it seems to give them a lift. I know it works with my little grandnephew, as he can be turned from a holy (well only 41/2 you know) terror into a sweet little kid with a judicious hug and compliments about even the most minor of good behavior, though sometimes it takes several of said applications!!
He is a bit jealous yet of the new little 9 month old sis, but he is learning about a big brother's responsibility and it doesn't hurt that everytime she looks at him she smiles, her little blue eyes sparkle and she puts her hands up for a hug from him. A baby's charm can work on nearly anyone!!!! I had never heard of this research or the sub field, though it was apparently started by Martin Seligman in about 1947 with some of his students and colleagues. Have you? I can see you apply the same ideas to help your clients.
"It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,"
David Weber – In Fury Born
David Weber – In Fury Born
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CJ
- Miss Diamond Goddess
- Posts: 3562
- Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 11:12 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hi Carolynn,
No, I can't say I've heard of either Barbara Frederickson or Martin Seligman.
Then again, psychology is a huge field--psychologists themselves can never really keep up to date. Also, aside from having a psychologist--a child psychologist, no less!--for a father, I have no formal training in the field; I lack much of the theoretical grounding for the kind of work I do (which I more than make up for in experiential wisdom, I think). My boss has suggested that, perhaps, I can go back to university next year for a one-year Certificate in Mental Health program. One of my colleagues just completed it last year but she found it only marginally useful when dealing with her own clients.
I'll be sure to try to look into the work of these two. It sounds interesting. Thanks for the pointer!
Love,
CJ
No, I can't say I've heard of either Barbara Frederickson or Martin Seligman.
Then again, psychology is a huge field--psychologists themselves can never really keep up to date. Also, aside from having a psychologist--a child psychologist, no less!--for a father, I have no formal training in the field; I lack much of the theoretical grounding for the kind of work I do (which I more than make up for in experiential wisdom, I think). My boss has suggested that, perhaps, I can go back to university next year for a one-year Certificate in Mental Health program. One of my colleagues just completed it last year but she found it only marginally useful when dealing with her own clients.I'll be sure to try to look into the work of these two. It sounds interesting. Thanks for the pointer!
Love,
CJ
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Carolynn
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Hmmmm, might I suggest that the value of doing the time for the certificate is the certificate, not what you may or may not learn while getting it? Having the paper does not make you a counselor (that can best come from within), but it does give a bean counter type of adminstrator a peg to consider you "qualified", and though your current director sounds like a keeper, things do change and you could wind up with a less sympatico individual as a director in the future. The lack of the certificate could cost a job you are obviously good at. So while you have the support, consider seriously going ahead and getting it. I think your boss likely has your best interest at heart in making the suggestion. Just my opinion, and entirely unsolicited at that!!!!!!
Love,
Love,
"It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,"
David Weber – In Fury Born
David Weber – In Fury Born
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Anita
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Hi CJ--
This post moved me very deeply the other night, but I was tired from doing a long post of my own. Thanks for putting it up there.
And that you for your additional info, Carolynn. I do try to live the way they're describing, and it does make a difference.
I think Maslow's philosophy was somewhat the same--let us study healthy subjects for more understanding of psychology.
A
This post moved me very deeply the other night, but I was tired from doing a long post of my own. Thanks for putting it up there.
And that you for your additional info, Carolynn. I do try to live the way they're describing, and it does make a difference.
I think Maslow's philosophy was somewhat the same--let us study healthy subjects for more understanding of psychology.
A
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Loretta Ann
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Beauty
- Retired Site Administrator
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- Contact:
This is a really deep thread. I started getting a headache because it was so deep. Everyone's responses were supportive and caring. Lots of people said, "This is why I love this forum!" I agree.
CJ it's more than admirable about you posting your life here for us to read. Your travels have truly been that of a journey(person)
. You have experienced life via feeling, searching, loving, accepting, and much more. It's a great tribute to you as a human being.
I found my love of life through the good old Bible. Every book I've ever read that talks about anything seems to refer back to it. In the Bible it never talks about religion, it talks about the love of God and the appreciation and love/acceptance of self. It's weird how so many have changed it in to words of war, bigotry, isolation, and self righteousness. More than weird it's a total bummer.
I have been talking to God in my head since I was in kindergarten. I remember asking him why didn't we have strings on our arms like puppets if he controlled us. I was in the school yard away from other kids. I thought maybe they were invisible and I even remember looking up in the sky to see if maybe I could catch a glance at the strings coming from heaven. I didn't realize about the choices we get to make and free will then.
The wisdom of Solomon is all I've ever prayed for and though it was a tough road when I started in my teens, it is now a more understandable road.
Each struggle I've had in life I haven't ever been alone. I've asked "why?", "How are you going to get me out of this one?", "Why?", "Is this blessing really for me?", "WHY?", "Did I thank you today?"
For me God is real. I actually felt the presence of "The Force" in my bedroom when I was 25. It was one of my lowest points and I'd never felt that feeling before nor have I ever felt it again. Despite what looked like the world imploding on me. I actually laughed at evil (youth)and said, "I'm sorry you can't beat God." I was right. As promised God gave me everything I needed to get out of that situation and grow stronger with him and my faith in the word. Which told me he would deliver me.
I haven't ever gone without, but I have skinned my knee or bumped my head in life. Most of those were because I went outside of his wisdom, but even that I think is a natural progression.
I've stopped reading books about how to live because they all seem to reference the bible (even if credit isn't given directly). I love my faith, because my faith helps me love. God saved my life and I've often told people if I save one person (not by only sharing my thoughts about the word) then I haven't done enough. I still believe that, but I also believe that not everyone has to find God in the biblical sense to find peace on this earth.
This post wasn't meant to stir up ANY debate and if you'd like I can even start another thread.
The reason I posted my thoughts here were because the things that I related to in all of these posts was the central theme of love and acceptance which the Bible (both New and Old Testaments) ooze with sharing and love. Those who wish you get a tax free dollar from you focus on words in the Bible that tend to get our attention like a murder story at the top of the news.
I love to love. I love to get to know all of you more and understand you more. I thank Jesus and through this love and acceptance of me I am closer to the creator.
I totally didn't think I was going to say all of this. I'll be ripping this from your great thread CJ if it turns into a biblical discussion instead of saying what you feel about life. My references to the Bible are not really up for debate. I was only sharing how I made it through life and to me, that's what this thread promoted.
I love you all. You are all the best of the best. I'm humbled to be around such incredibly strong, loving, open, accepting, forgiving and beautiful souls.
Beauty
I started getting a headache because it was so deep. Everyone's responses were supportive and caring. Lots of people said, "This is why I love this forum!" I agree.CJ it's more than admirable about you posting your life here for us to read. Your travels have truly been that of a journey(person)
. You have experienced life via feeling, searching, loving, accepting, and much more. It's a great tribute to you as a human being. I found my love of life through the good old Bible. Every book I've ever read that talks about anything seems to refer back to it. In the Bible it never talks about religion, it talks about the love of God and the appreciation and love/acceptance of self. It's weird how so many have changed it in to words of war, bigotry, isolation, and self righteousness. More than weird it's a total bummer.
I have been talking to God in my head since I was in kindergarten. I remember asking him why didn't we have strings on our arms like puppets if he controlled us.
I was in the school yard away from other kids. I thought maybe they were invisible and I even remember looking up in the sky to see if maybe I could catch a glance at the strings coming from heaven. I didn't realize about the choices we get to make and free will then. The wisdom of Solomon is all I've ever prayed for and though it was a tough road when I started in my teens, it is now a more understandable road.
Each struggle I've had in life I haven't ever been alone. I've asked "why?", "How are you going to get me out of this one?", "Why?", "Is this blessing really for me?", "WHY?", "Did I thank you today?"
For me God is real. I actually felt the presence of "The Force" in my bedroom when I was 25. It was one of my lowest points and I'd never felt that feeling before nor have I ever felt it again. Despite what looked like the world imploding on me. I actually laughed at evil (youth
)and said, "I'm sorry you can't beat God." I was right. As promised God gave me everything I needed to get out of that situation and grow stronger with him and my faith in the word. Which told me he would deliver me.I haven't ever gone without, but I have skinned my knee or bumped my head in life. Most of those were because I went outside of his wisdom, but even that I think is a natural progression.
I've stopped reading books about how to live because they all seem to reference the bible (even if credit isn't given directly). I love my faith, because my faith helps me love. God saved my life and I've often told people if I save one person (not by only sharing my thoughts about the word) then I haven't done enough. I still believe that, but I also believe that not everyone has to find God in the biblical sense to find peace on this earth.
This post wasn't meant to stir up ANY debate and if you'd like I can even start another thread.
The reason I posted my thoughts here were because the things that I related to in all of these posts was the central theme of love and acceptance which the Bible (both New and Old Testaments) ooze with sharing and love. Those who wish you get a tax free dollar from you focus on words in the Bible that tend to get our attention like a murder story at the top of the news.
I love to love.
I love to get to know all of you more and understand you more. I thank Jesus and through this love and acceptance of me I am closer to the creator. I totally didn't think I was going to say all of this. I'll be ripping this from your great thread CJ if it turns into a biblical discussion instead of saying what you feel about life. My references to the Bible are not really up for debate. I was only sharing how I made it through life and to me, that's what this thread promoted.
I love you all. You are all the best of the best.
I'm humbled to be around such incredibly strong, loving, open, accepting, forgiving and beautiful souls.Beauty
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CJ
- Miss Diamond Goddess
- Posts: 3562
- Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 11:12 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hi all,
Beauty,
Nope, no debate here. I'm glad you felt you can open up like that, too. What this thread is about, what this forum is about--more, even: what this life is about--is what makes us stronger, more loving people. For some, it's self-knowledge. For others, it's religious wisdom. For some, it's awe before the natural world and their place within it; for others, awe before its representations (art). For some, it's a life of service and devotion; for others, a life of quiet contemplation (the monk, Thomas Merton, spoke of the tension between a life of action and a life of contemplation). For many, it's a mixture of all of this. We all travel to different lands (with an occasional sharing of the road), but journey we must. Happy trails, y'all! 
Carolynn, Darlene,
Yes, I absolutely agree with you both. The official piece of paper might matter down the road. Or it might not. My own relationship with academia has, so far, always been one of pure interest in the knowledge gained for myself. My boss was suggesting this certificate as a matter of principle; a one-year program is not enough, in and of itself, to get me anywhere, professionally. One of my ex-colleagues (also a former GF from twenty years ago) left us a few years ago to go work in a more professional capacity at a CLSC (a community-based health services center) as a mental health social worker; she had the hardest time getting in... with eight years experience as a community mental health counsellor (as against my own five), a B.A. in Psychology, a Master's in Social Work, and a ton of field experience! I don't think a Certificate in Mental Health is apt to sway potential employers in the field. As it is, I'm learning to discover what mental health and illness are through the life of our clients. Typical of me, I always see them as people first, and don't pay much attention to their specific diagnosis (at some point, it's a fine line that separates a person suffering from a schizo-affective disorder from one suffering from a mood disorder with psychotic breaks). The psychiatrists usually do the opposite; they refer to their patients as cases, not people, or as illnesses, not human beings (as in, this schizophrenic or that depressive or that transsexual over there). The clients just hate that. They're more than just their illness or their condition (this is one of the reasons I rarely apply the term "transvestite" to myself--it's a medical term meant to encompass what the nature of my "problem" is. I'm okay with "crossdresser"; it's a popular term that merely describes what I do). Students who have spent too much time in academia come out of there knowing many labels and terms, but have little real and true knowledge of people, of human beings. My boss will always shy away from hiring someone who has formal training in mental health--social workers, psychologists, etc. He wants someone who is educated, to be sure, but what he mostly looks for are people with intimate knowledge of mental illness ("You have to be f***ing crazy to work here," he says); people who have survived that brush with psychiatric difficulties; people who love people, who can easily establish a warm, human contact with other people; people who, as evidenced by the volunteer work they've done and the career path they've chosen, have a strong desire to give back some of themselves to the community (volunteer work, especially, is the clincher for him); finally, people who can quickly learn to set their own limits, as counsellors, and as human beings. Much of this cannot be learned in a classroom. So he doesn't insist on the certificate, merely suggests it (now that he's got me trained the way he wants me to!
). This man is a warrior: he founded the organization (the oldest one in Montreal and the largest one in Quebec) almost 35 years ago--and has been at its head ever since; he's started up several others in the city (including its most important crisis center); he continually battles idiotic governement health policies on the government's own turf (up in the provincial capital); he treats his employees like pure gold... although our pay is nowhere near what others do in a more professional setting, we have an incredible fringe benefits package (for example, three weeks paid vacation plus a paid week off every three or four months, from the very first year, as well as an automatic yearly pay hike) and the atmosphere at work is such that people rarely quit (we have a miroscopic turnover rate). We make our own schedules and he prefers we spend time with people, not paperwork.
Well, all this to say that I'm not sure how going back to school would be of any use to me, as far as this or any other similar community-based job is concerned. And a certificate is too little to influence an employer with an outfit that has a much higher standing (such as a CLSC, for example). No, I'm fairly happy with where I am. If the boss ever does leave--unlikely; I can picture him coming into work, his back all bent forward as he trundles along, pushing half-heartedly on his wheeled walker--he'll be replaced by someone else from within the ranks.
Anyway, I've rambled. Sorry. I just love this job. It's an anchor and a buoy in a world that often looks like an ocean of madness ("looks" being the operative word, here). It's a string of mileposts on my own journey.
Love,
CJ
Beauty,
Nope, no debate here. I'm glad you felt you can open up like that, too.
What this thread is about, what this forum is about--more, even: what this life is about--is what makes us stronger, more loving people. For some, it's self-knowledge. For others, it's religious wisdom. For some, it's awe before the natural world and their place within it; for others, awe before its representations (art). For some, it's a life of service and devotion; for others, a life of quiet contemplation (the monk, Thomas Merton, spoke of the tension between a life of action and a life of contemplation). For many, it's a mixture of all of this. We all travel to different lands (with an occasional sharing of the road), but journey we must. Happy trails, y'all! Carolynn, Darlene,
Yes, I absolutely agree with you both. The official piece of paper might matter down the road. Or it might not. My own relationship with academia has, so far, always been one of pure interest in the knowledge gained for myself. My boss was suggesting this certificate as a matter of principle; a one-year program is not enough, in and of itself, to get me anywhere, professionally. One of my ex-colleagues (also a former GF from twenty years ago) left us a few years ago to go work in a more professional capacity at a CLSC (a community-based health services center) as a mental health social worker; she had the hardest time getting in... with eight years experience as a community mental health counsellor (as against my own five), a B.A. in Psychology, a Master's in Social Work, and a ton of field experience! I don't think a Certificate in Mental Health is apt to sway potential employers in the field. As it is, I'm learning to discover what mental health and illness are through the life of our clients. Typical of me, I always see them as people first, and don't pay much attention to their specific diagnosis (at some point, it's a fine line that separates a person suffering from a schizo-affective disorder from one suffering from a mood disorder with psychotic breaks). The psychiatrists usually do the opposite; they refer to their patients as cases, not people, or as illnesses, not human beings (as in, this schizophrenic or that depressive or that transsexual over there). The clients just hate that. They're more than just their illness or their condition (this is one of the reasons I rarely apply the term "transvestite" to myself--it's a medical term meant to encompass what the nature of my "problem" is. I'm okay with "crossdresser"; it's a popular term that merely describes what I do). Students who have spent too much time in academia come out of there knowing many labels and terms, but have little real and true knowledge of people, of human beings. My boss will always shy away from hiring someone who has formal training in mental health--social workers, psychologists, etc. He wants someone who is educated, to be sure, but what he mostly looks for are people with intimate knowledge of mental illness ("You have to be f***ing crazy to work here," he says); people who have survived that brush with psychiatric difficulties; people who love people, who can easily establish a warm, human contact with other people; people who, as evidenced by the volunteer work they've done and the career path they've chosen, have a strong desire to give back some of themselves to the community (volunteer work, especially, is the clincher for him); finally, people who can quickly learn to set their own limits, as counsellors, and as human beings. Much of this cannot be learned in a classroom. So he doesn't insist on the certificate, merely suggests it (now that he's got me trained the way he wants me to!
). This man is a warrior: he founded the organization (the oldest one in Montreal and the largest one in Quebec) almost 35 years ago--and has been at its head ever since; he's started up several others in the city (including its most important crisis center); he continually battles idiotic governement health policies on the government's own turf (up in the provincial capital); he treats his employees like pure gold... although our pay is nowhere near what others do in a more professional setting, we have an incredible fringe benefits package (for example, three weeks paid vacation plus a paid week off every three or four months, from the very first year, as well as an automatic yearly pay hike) and the atmosphere at work is such that people rarely quit (we have a miroscopic turnover rate). We make our own schedules and he prefers we spend time with people, not paperwork. Well, all this to say that I'm not sure how going back to school would be of any use to me, as far as this or any other similar community-based job is concerned. And a certificate is too little to influence an employer with an outfit that has a much higher standing (such as a CLSC, for example). No, I'm fairly happy with where I am. If the boss ever does leave--unlikely; I can picture him coming into work, his back all bent forward as he trundles along, pushing half-heartedly on his wheeled walker--he'll be replaced by someone else from within the ranks.
Anyway, I've rambled. Sorry. I just love this job. It's an anchor and a buoy in a world that often looks like an ocean of madness ("looks" being the operative word, here). It's a string of mileposts on my own journey.
Love,
CJ
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Virginia
- Goddess of the Universe
- Posts: 5543
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:06 pm
- Location: Strange Magic Hill
CJ, Honey, you can rest assured that your love and humanity shines through in your writings!! I love reading what you post, always heartfelt and considerate - It shows girl and your influence here is wonderful.
Beauty, I don't know if you have seen the movie, "Dogma?" It got mixed reviews and Catholics kinda went bezerk over it. There are some great lines in it however. Toward the end of the movie when God (a woman) is doing a handstand in a bed of flowers, just really appeals to me in that I would hope that SHE does have that love of existence. Another line at the end where "the Profit" says to the "last Zion" who is now pregnant by "the voice of GOD," says "crisis of faith over?" She replies, "NO, but I have some good ideas." Thus your premise of "our free will!" No strings attached! Ain't it great!!!
Love,
Virginia
Beauty, I don't know if you have seen the movie, "Dogma?" It got mixed reviews and Catholics kinda went bezerk over it. There are some great lines in it however. Toward the end of the movie when God (a woman) is doing a handstand in a bed of flowers, just really appeals to me in that I would hope that SHE does have that love of existence. Another line at the end where "the Profit" says to the "last Zion" who is now pregnant by "the voice of GOD," says "crisis of faith over?" She replies, "NO, but I have some good ideas." Thus your premise of "our free will!" No strings attached! Ain't it great!!!
Love,
Virginia
First star to the right, then straight on 'till mornin!