JOURNEY OF SELF-PERCEPTION, PART 2

In Part 1, I shared writing prompts designed to help express difficult emotions (Journey of Self-Perception, 7/11/20).  The prompts are from a clinical trial to measure whether expressive writing can help build resilience during a time of crisis, such as this pandemic. 

Since the trial I've done a bit of research on this; studies measuring biochemical markers show that expressive writing has the potential to boost our immune systems.  So mental health and physical well-being.  This is good for us.  Those of us who took part found it valuable in all sorts of ways; the Zoom chats showed that.  So I am passing on some of the exercises.  If you like to write anyway, I bet you'll find this worthwhile too. 

The instructions again are to respond for 15-20 minutes and write non-judgmentally, with kindness for yourself.  The idea is to look toward intentionally cultivating compassion, forgiveness, and an attitude of mindfulness; all while writing about what is most important and emotionally significant to you (for some--or even many--this may be something other than this pandemic).

1.  Compassionate Letter--Imagine someone you love is experiencing the same challenges that you are: a real or imagined person. (I addressed my letter to "Friend of My Heart.")  Write a letter of encouragement. Words of comfort and hope.  What might you encourage them to forgive themselves for? Write based upon your own experiences and lessons learned so far, in a compassionate and respectful way.

     I loved that this was a chance to be gentle and hopeful.  A calming moment.  Perhaps it will be for you too.

2.  Writing to Let Go--What have you discovered you no longer need?  Objects, perspectives, outdated beliefs, toxic relationships?  What could you forgive yourself or others for?  What can you release that would allow you to move forward with a lighter heart?

3.  Mindful Writing, Acceptance--describing your acceptance of things and yourself as they are, not as you wish or think they should be.  This does not mean that you are passive or satisfied.  Rather, mindful acceptance is simply describing to yourself how things really are with you in the present moment.  Begin each sentence with "I accept that . . . ." 

When I have time (a problem, but less so these days) I'm going to respond to the mindful writing prompts again, without looking at what I wrote before.  After all, a journey of self-perception isn't static is it?  I'll follow my intuition.

INTUITION IS SEEING WITH THE SOUL.

JOURNEY OF SELF-PERCEPTION

I'm going to share with you writing prompts for cultivating resilience that are from a project to test the benefits of expressive writing for those in crisis, specifically the COVID-19 crisis.  Although our own crises may not be limited to this pandemic, since many of us live through more than one crisis or trauma in our life and often simultaneously. The writing is only for ourselves and can include the past as we wish.  The instructions are to respond for about 15-20 minutes to each prompt and to do so with patience and compassion for ourselves.   What I'm sharing is an abbreviated version. 

1.   Write about your deepest thoughts and feelings about how this crisis is affecting you personally.  Try to use the time to reflect upon the issues most important to you at this time.  For example, how the crisis is affecting your day-to-day activities, your mental and physical health, your relationships, etc.

2.  Dig deeper.  What fears, difficult emotions and losses have you experienced or do you anticipate?  All emotions are welcome.  (If this becomes too bothersome stop and take a break.  No prompt needs to be completed.  It's up to us based upon the compassion we show ourselves.) 

3.  Now write about your experience from a different perspective:  a wise friend, a future you, a divine or neutral observer or anything that comes to mind.  This could be in the form of a letter to yourself or to someone else, or not.  

4.  Try to tie together the threads of your writing so far into a wish or intention for the future.  What is important to you in continuing to navigate this crisis?  What values matter most right now?  How do you want to relate to yourself and others now and in the future?

5.  Mindful writing:  awareness without judging. impartially witnessing our own experience with compassion.  For ten minutes begin each sentence with "I am aware that. . . " or "I am aware of. . . ."

I liked the last prompt best.  I found so many things I was aware of having to do with my own coping skills and the life I lead that I had not exactly thought of before.  The writing became a positive experience.  See what you think.  

To be continued . . . .

THREE PRAYERS FOR THE PANDEMIC

Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, KY

This gate to a private part of the Abbey where Trappist Monk Thomas Merton (1915-1968) lived reminds us to rely upon God alone.  To God alone be the Glory.  But what it makes me think of is that God may be alone, but we are not.  You may have seen these prayers, but like many good things, they bear repeating.  The first one was chosen by a member of my church for the daily parishioner devotions that we began when gathering became unsafe.  See if these don't resonate with you.

May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. 

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country, let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.

AMEN

This prayer is by Cameron Bellm, a Seattle mother of two and a member of her local Catholic parish.  The next one is more traditional and is from the Anglican New Zealand Prayer Book (1988).


For People Facing Great Uncertainty
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to your people as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

AMEN

I love the direct address to God as "God of the present moment."  That is where I want God to be.  The prayer is a pastoral liturgy to be prayed in crisis situations.  Another, for people watching at a death, begins "God of the Dark Night . . . ."  

One more prayer [with some editing], by the Right Rev. Richard Bott, Moderator (most senior elected official) of the United Church of Canada.  

A Prayer during times of COVID-19
In this time of COVID-19 we pray:
When we aren't sure God, help us be calm;
when information comes from all sides, correct and not, help us discern;
when fear makes it hard to breathe and anxiety seems to be the order of the day God, slow us down;
help us reach out with our hearts when we can't touch with our hands; 
help us be socially connected when we have to be socially distant;
help us love as perfectly as we can, knowing that "perfect love casts out all fear."

For the doctors we pray.
For the nurses we pray.
For the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the caregivers, we pray.
For the researchers and theorists, the epidemiologists and investigators,
for those who are sick and those who are grieving we pray.
For all who are affected all around the world . . .
we pray for safety, for health, for wholeness.

May we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
clothe the naked and house those without homes;
may we walk with those who feel they are alone,
and may we do all we can to heal the sick--
in spite of the epidemic, in spite of the fear.

Help us O God that we might help each other.
In the love of the Creator, in the name of the Healer,
in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all, we pray.
May it be so.
AMEN

Yes, may it be so.  With care for us all, Nina Naomi

Andrea Del Sarto, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, 1512