Traits for Self Healing Part 9: Responsibility

Part  9 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). This week's post is on Responsibility.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Responsibility
Accepting responsibility for our interpretations, perceptions, and intentions of given situations is a vital dynamic to spiritual growth.  The act of owning responsibility  for our interpretations, perceptions, and intentions has a vibration and frequency of energy that colors our inner experience and the environment around us.  To be clear, we are not being asked to accept responsibility for others' interpretations and actions.  To know the difference is an important skill to develop.  As we embrace that which we are responsible for, we are more likely to become aware of opportunities to influence the respective state of affairs.  At the heart of how we perceive and interpret situations, as well as the intentions behind our actions, are the beliefs that we carry defining ourselves.  Accepting responsibility involves the willingness for self-awareness and the readiness to take action that adds value to the given experience.  How is your mastery of accepting responsibility?--John Kroneck

 I often perceive a situation to be in my favor when I really have no bearing on the outcome.  My perception and interpretation may be selfish or self-centered.  I feel that taking responsibility for my actions is much easier than taking responsibility for my emotions behind the actions.  When I take responsibility for my feelings I am better able to control my actions. Our interpretations can only come from what we have experienced and therefore our intentions tend to also be the same.

We are responsible for our actions, but NOT for how others react to them.

Everybody Deserves a Massage

Just wanted to share this video with my readers.

Enjoy the rest of your week and don't forget to schedule your next massage.

Traits for Self Healing Part 8: Inspiration

Part  8 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). Today's topic is Inspiration.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

INSPIRATION
Intention drives our creative processes.  Bringing into our awareness an inspired vision of who we are and who we are to become fuels the creation of an intentional reality.  When problems appear in our lives, there is a tendency to focus so intently on the problem that an individual may define himself by the problem.  This type of focus also drives our creative processes. Keeping our consciously chosen intention clearly in focus will help us move forward in a chosen future.  How we inspire ourselves is unique to each individual.  The key is to identify and engage in practices that help us focus on our highest and best selves.  How is your mastery of inspired vision?--John Kroneck

I believe that inspiration may have a small or large scope. It can be be anything from a recent continuing education class to new music causing you to  change your 'normal' routine.  When I was a child, my mother worked standing on her feet a lot and asked for someone to rub her feet. Today one of my main modalities is reflexology.  I have a set of black out curtains that I really love the pattern and color.  They do not match the color my massage room is painted. While searching for a rug to place in the room, I looked for something to go with the paint scheme. Instead I found a rug that goes perfectly with the blackout curtains. Soon I will be repainting the room. Michael J Fox inspires me to focus on the things that I can do, not my limitations. What or who inspires you?

Traits for Self Healing Part 7: Acceptance

Part  7 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). This week we are focusing on Acceptance.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:

• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Acceptance
Releasing is only part of the healing process.  The other part is to accept who we really are.  Can we accept who we are? Likewise, can we receive the goodness life has to offer?  Accepting ourselves without judgment can be cathartic; accepting our true nature, and therefore real potency, is empowering.  How is your mastery of self-acceptance?--John Kroneck

Do you focus on the negative or the positive? Do you worry that you can't do enough or do you accept your abilities?  For some people it is more difficult to accept their talents than their weakness.  Body image may also be a large part of acceptance. Society portrays that we should all be thin and athletic, but the majority of society are not.  Do you accept yourself as you are, or do try to change who you are?

Traits for Self Healing Part 6: Beginners Mind

Traits for Self Healing Part 6: Beginners Mind

We are on week 6 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). This week's topic is Beginner's Mind.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Beginner's Mind
This trait has to do with a belief that anything is possible that even preconceived ides, rules, or standards can change.  Once we think we know "the way things are" and that this cannot change, we block ourselves from recognizing other opportunities that may evolve with an issue. A beginner's mind is open to untold possibilities and is willing to give the creative process and opportunity to play itself through without rushing to a final resolution.  In the emptiness of the beginner's mind is found fertile ground for the unfolding of creative ideas, adventures, and even new life.  How is your mastery of the beginner's mind?--John Kroneck

 Have you ever heard someone say, "We've always done it that way."?  I believe that is the furthest you can get from a beginner's mind. I hope to always be a student; willing to learn new ideas.  What ways do you use to keep things from becoming stagnate?

Traits for Self Healing Part 5: Nonjudgment

We are on week 5 of a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). Today we are focusing on nonjudgment, a part of non attachment.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• nonjudgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Nonjudgment
The ability to accept what we see in ourselves, without casting judgment, is also an important trait. Once judgment is cast on a feeling, thought, or intention that emerges from within during a healing process, there is a tendency to easily slip into self-shaming. Human beings are capable of a wide range of feelings, thoughts, and intentions, but some of these are not always considered "holy" in their nature. Having the ability to own these and to accept these as indicators of an issue on our journey, without casting judgment, allows for us to move beyond these dynamics, releasing the misqualified energies and reintegrating in a healthier manner.  Although we are always responsible for our actions toward others, the inner healing process must have room for us to be honest with how we interpret the world we live in.  This room expands when we understand the benefits of nonjudgment, then practice it well.  How is your mastery of nonjudgmental thinking?--John Kroneck

Traits for Self-Healing Part 4: Nonresistance

This is the fourth in a 10 Part series based on the article "The Traits of an Energy Practitioner" by John Kroneck (July/august 2013 'massage & bodywork'). Today we are focusing on nonresistance, a part of non attachment.

1. Stillness
2. Presence:
• present moment
• awareness
3. Non attachment
• nonresistance
• non-judgment
4. Beginner's Mind
5. Acceptance
6. Inspiration
7. Responsibility
8. Kindness Quotient

Nonresistance
There are times when the tendency to protect ourselves from the perceived danger of revealing a truth about ourselves can take precedence over the desire for seeing the truth.  This resistance to what is occurring can frustrate a client's progress.  Nonresistance is the willingness to experience whatever dynamic may show itself.  It includes having the courage to directly face fear, pain, and shame without shrinking from the experience.  It is also a critical tool in moving through what we fear in the quickest, most efficient manner possible.  How is your mastery of nonresistance? -- John Kroneck

I interpret this as denial. A client may not want to tell their massage therapist  all of their recent activities or even admit to themselves that they spent 5 hours playing video games the day before their massage. This information could help quickly pinpoint the source of a client's pain, anything from poor posture to repetitive motion injury. This can also come in the form of an injury that may not be something massage can effectively treat, but the client not wishing to visit their doctor and have diagnostics done schedules a massage instead.
I would also consider guarding in this category. I find this most often in shoulder range of motion. As I move the arm upward the client will tighten up to avoid previously felt pain. This action prevents the therapist from observing where the limitations are and to what degree. Communication is crucial at this point as well as trust.

How do you interpret this trait?  How would you try to improve your own nonresistance and encourage it in others?