by Sandy Robertson
In my experience as a nurse and as a trainer of mind/body techniques, all people want to feel good. It is the consummate goal of all of us: to be at peace, to experience harmony and joy. When we do not feel good we turn to whatever substance or technique that will help us to feel better. When people embark on a spiritual path, seek expanded consciousness, explore self-help or begin to know themselves, they want to feel good and want a more natural approach. They try relaxation techniques, biofeedback, meditation, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy.
There is a place for many healing modalities in our lives, depending on our individual belief systems. But when we want the modality alone to replace the deeper inner work, the treatment can be a short-term solution.
A doctor I interviewed a few weeks ago for a mind/body conference summed up the dilemma facing many of us in this field today. “People think all western medicine is bad, and they swing to the other end of the spectrum, embracing a variety of alternative approaches. The missing link is what is in the middle: what core issues have contributed to this illness?”
Henry Dreher, author of The Immune Power Personality, writes eloquently on this subject. He says, “When we listen to messages hidden in our headaches, ulcers or tumors, we learn what our bodymind has lacked and what it needs now...when we explore inner qualities of anger, sadness or fear, we tap a motherlode of information about our relationships, creativity and spirituality. But these connections cannot be forged until we cultivate that fine-tuned quality of attention.”
Ah yes, attention. The Avatar Course is brilliant in training us to notice where our attention is from moment to moment. The ReSurfacing workbook has a whole section on attention exercises. Where is our attention from moment to moment? On what we want to create, or on what we fear? Before we can create, we need to uncover our limiting beliefs. Many people seeking an alternative approach want a technique to take away their distress, but are not willing to first put their attention on the origin of the situation. Where the willingness exists and the appropriate techniques are used to dissolve the limiting belief, the healing path is significantly easier, and from what I have seen, a lot faster. Students are filled with awe when they realize what has been blocking them from creating their dreams.
Are we willing to put our attention on the truth of what lies hidden in our bodies, in the messages it is trying to give us about the patterns of our thoughts, feelings and emotions stored within us for so many years? Or, do we prefer to keep them buried for a few more years until an illness forces those who are finally willing to take a look?
Stephen Sinatra, M.D., in his profound book, Heartbreak and Heart Disease talks about people with certain panic disorders having to reprogram their belief systems. He says, “People are powerful. People can create their own disease situations and therefore their own destiny. Fear in itself is a tremendously negative emotion that can deleteriously affect the heart. The results of such fear can be seen on both the individual and societal levels.”
The beautiful link between Avatar and the mind-body connection is that the fears, the anxiety, the day-to-day distress can be recognized, experienced and discreated with ease. The results are immediately felt by the students, their families and friends, in their workplace, and if they choose, in their communities.
For some, examining innermost thoughts and beliefs takes tremendous courage. For others who have run the gamut of therapies, remedies and spiritual journeys that did not get to the root of their distress, Avatar appears as a delightful relief. “Ah, this is so easy!,” I have heard countless times during Avatar courses.
There is a place for Western medicine, Eastern medicine, and a blend known as integrative, complementary and alternative medicine.
There is also a place for people to explore their own dialogues—self talk—the link between their thoughts, feelings, emotions and their bodies. There is a place for them to explore their own personal mind/body/spirit connection. Avatar is a place for this gentle, yet powerful exploration to occur.
I applaud the tools of Avatar as the fastest and easiest way to do this exploration with joy.
Sandy Robertson, Florida
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