What We learn about Healing from Older Teachers

And I mean much older...

I am getting ready to teach a class on Carl Jung next week and going through my materials I find a section that I wrote years ago on the importance of not shrinking from pain. This was, admittedly, before cancer but I think it still applies.

Jung, in talking about why we become neurotic talks about going toward pain, "go toward the thing that scares you" etc. Jung, of course split from Freud over the issues of spirituality in healing and personal growth and he believed that we had to integrate our shadows/pain/fears rather than annihilate them.

In one place he says, "God comes through the wound." I love that. But I loved it even more when I read on and learned that Jung was borrowing from Julian of Norwich who said, "Our wounds become our trophies."

I think, maybe, that is the true essence of celebrating survivor-hood. It is the integration and the god/good in us coming through the wound that is being celebrated rather than "I kicked cancer's ass."

What do you think?

Living with Uncertainty

Today at the To Life! Women’s Health Conference I heard a great speaker: Rachel Sperry, MSW from the Devereux Center for Children’s Resilience. Rachel is a cancer survivor—diagnosed at 33 when she was a newlywed and in the thick of a new career. She talked about learning that although it feels like the bottom falls out when we are diagnosed with cancer, “there really isn’t a bottom there anyway”; we are always—even when well—living with uncertainty.

Her talk was inspiring and filled with insight and humor, and practical steps to build resilience in adults—with or without cancer. These are the ingredients for a resilience recipe:

Relationships--friends and/or family

Have a hobby or hobbies

Know you are loveable—if you don’t get the help and do the work to change that.

Have a mentor or guide—in life as well as in work

Take initiative—act on the world rather than let the world act on you. Speak up, say No; say Yes.

Develop or recognize healthy self-control—know your limits; set limits for yourself; learn how to calm yourself.

That’s just a tiny bit of Rachel's wisdom. Keep an eye out for Rachel Sperry speaking or presenting. I’ll certainly keep her events posted here for all of us.

Hope 2011 An Evening for Women Cancer Survivors--and Their Friends.

For women in the New York Capital Region area—please mark your calendar for this evening/dinner event: provocative conversation, humor, gourmet healthy dinner and Miche handbags!


Join us for:   H.O.P.E. 2011: Honoring Female Cancer Survivors:
Opening Up Communication * Providing Education * Empowering Lives

Date: Thursday September 15th, 2011

Location: Hilton Garden Inn 235 Hoosick Street Troy, New York

 A Healthy Gourmet Supper with Presentations: “Difficult Conversations”

The Fear of Mammography and Colon Screening
Sabrina Mosseau BS,RN,OCN – Administrative Director Medical Oncology and Women’s Health; Samaritan Hospital Cancer Treatment Center

The Silence about Sex and Intimacy
Diane Cameron Pascone – Director of Development - Unity House Troy, Contributing writer to the Times Union

The Importance of Money Strategies for Women
Christopher Nuss MBA, ChFC, CLU,CLTC – Wealth Management Advisor – Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Time: Registration @ 5:30pm Dinner and Presentations @ 6pm

There is a $15.00 fee to attend this program. This will be collected at the door.

Registration required by September 9th to Sabrina Mosseau @ 518-271-3324 or mosseaus@nehealth.com