On Transformation to the Authentic Self

 

I want to express my condolences to Ms.  Liliane Desjardins, whose husband and partner in so many ways made his transition on February 9, 2012.  It must be most difficult for her at this time. Liliane Desjardins is the author of this month’s book, The Imprint Journey; A Path of Lasting Transformation to the Authentic Self. 

It is based on their own personal experiences growing up as children of alcoholic parents during the Second World War, the migrations the military conflicts made necessary to survive and their resultant healing of their own addictions, which they used to create the Desjardins Unified Model of Alcohol and Addiction Treatment.  This treatment plan is the basis on which they founded The Pavillon, the center they created in South Carolina to help others free themselves not only of their primary addictions but to instill the tools needed to heal themselves of the secondary and tertiary addictions that often rear their ugly heads when the primary addiction seems well in hand.

Mrs. Desjardins explains in detail and from her own experiences how we are “inprinted” with our opinions of ourselves and our views of the world.  She then goes into great detail on the nine steps for transformation that are the basis of the Desjardins Unified Model of Treatment.  I will list them here without further explanation in the hopes that it will tweak your interest in reading and knowing more.

1. Awareness - awareness of one’s only inner reality and truth

2. Admittance – admit to ourselves where we currently are in relation to what we would like to be

3. Release – “Letting Go Of ‘It’” – shame, negativity, guilt, grief, etc. – we release them, we loose them and let them go

4. Willingness and Permission To Change – focusing on the changes we want to see in our lives and giving ourselves the choice, the chance to be who we imagine ourselves we can be

5. Forgiveness – Radical Forgiveness – see our May 2010 Book of the Month, Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping for more information on this step

From these first five steps we gain a shift in self-perception and revelations of who we are and of what we are truly capable.

  

6. Gratitude – our trials, tribulations, journeys, and kindnesses have made us who we are – be truly grateful for all

7. Meditation – Visualization and Affirmation

8. Building and Maintaining Consciousness – we gain mastery of those skills, attributes, attitudes, etc. that we have told ourselves we could have by little steps, one small action in the direction of the correct choices each time they arise

9. Acceptance and Love…Love is The Way

The result of these actions is that we experience Oneness.  Oneness with all living beings, all things and all actions – we begin, slowly at first, to grasp, for an instant, for a minute, that all we encounter is a part of the same whole as we.  In this way we recover to the divinity of who we truly are.

By Beth Outtrim

THREE CONSCIOUS BREATHS

By Beth Outtrim

There is always so much in Pema Chöndrön’s books that it’s difficult to choose something in particular to discuss.  From this month’s book, Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears, one thing struck me and stuck with me more than anything else, Three Conscious Breaths.   

Pema Chöndrön approaches Three Conscious Breaths with three distinct steps:

• Step one – Acknowledge that you have allowed something or someone to disturb your peace
• Step two – Pause, take three conscious breaths and lean into that feeling whatever it is; anger, disappointment, fear, etc. 
• Step three – Relax and move on

I have been “playing with” Three Conscious Breaths since I finished the book about a week ago.  I didn’t realize that I had actually been using all three steps until I sat down to write this.  Of course I took step one – I wouldn’t have even thought to do three conscious breaths if I hadn’t paused to become aware that I was upset in some way.  Step two I knew I was doing.  In retrospect, I see that step three is exactly what I did after I remembered to take three conscious breaths. 

This is truly the pause that refreshes.  It is also the pause that is necessary for us to change old and/or ingrained habits.  This is the month of new starts, new hopes as we make our New Year’s Resolutions.  Three Conscious Breaths is a gold mine.  If we can remember to pause, take three conscious breaths and relax we will find ourselves in an open frame of mind – the one within which we can make a conscious choice; we can step into our new habit or we can choose to stay in our current habits and behaviors.

A program that I was involved in years ago to quit smoking (I haven’t had a cigarette since August 31, 1981) helped me to change old habits with this bit of advice.  Remind yourself that you have the choice.  We always have the choice.  We can change our minds again in a minute, if we want to, regardless of what we choose now.  Three Conscious Breaths gives us a chance to stop and consider our choices.  It also provides our minds and bodies with much-needed oxygen, which will help our general well-being regardless of choice.