So I would like to propose that there is a core principle consisting of three component parts that sort of summarizes or conceptualizes the many different psychological approaches and interventions,
Counseling techniques,
As well as the plethora of spiritual traditions and practices.
Everyone has worth and everyone has value,
But due to certain,
I guess,
Issues with the approaches that they take,
The traditions,
The methodology,
Or just our own ability to connect with and understand them,
We can be blocked off.
Science is very good at showing you individual component parts,
But it lacks the holistic approach.
Spirituality is great for a holistic approach,
But if you are against something based on morality,
Based on ethics,
Based on experience,
Based on tradition,
Based on your upbringing,
Based on your point of birth,
You may throw out a lot of good stuff with the benefits that can come from that teaching.
So I look at all of that and go,
Okay,
What are the component parts?
What are the principles of healing that they all seem to have on offer?
The ones that work,
Right?
And I've come to the idea of a three-part process.
Awareness,
Acceptance,
Action.
First,
We need to be aware,
Aware of ourself and aware of the others and aware of the world.
What is actually happening?
We do that through just looking.
Mindful introspection,
Becoming aware is the first step.
We need to know what's going on.
Then we need to accept it.
Now this is acceptance without approval,
The reality as it is for what it is right now.
If we aren't operating based on an acceptance of what is happening,
We can't act.
We will be acting in delusion and that will be pulling us away from what we want to be doing.
Then we need to act,
Value-aligned action,
Right?
Actions that take us close towards our goal.
And if we're not aware of what we want or where we where of what we want to go to,
Well,
We're back to awareness,
Back to acceptance of who and what we are in our current state and what we can achieve or what we want to achieve.
Then we go to action,
Value-aligned action.
And that action causes new stuff to happen,
Which brings us back to awareness of our new state,
The new reactions we have with the people around us,
And so on and so forth.
We go awareness,
Acceptance.
Now acceptance isn't approval,
Okay?
When we use the word acceptance,
It can get a little bit,
I guess,
Confronting.
It's like,
Oh,
I'm accepting this.
That means I like it.
It doesn't mean you have to like it.
It's acceptance without approval.
Yeah?
We still have to accept the reality,
Even if the reality is bad,
If we want to make meaningful change.
Then we take action.
So I like to combine that awareness,
Acceptance,
And action with the idea of being here now.
The statement,
I am here now,
With a slowing down of the breath and a mindful focus on the moment,
Is all of those three steps together.
I am here now.
I am here now.
Slowing down the breath and checking in to what's actually happening.
That will produce awareness.
It's an acceptance of reality,
And itself is an action.
It will help you to ground,
Help you to see what's happening,
And help you to take further actions.
If you find yourself overwhelmed,
Find yourself lost,
We become aware,
We accept reality,
We take action.
Slow down the breath,
Saying in the mind,
I am here now.
And then focusing on the input from the senses.
I am here now.
Okay.
What can I see?
What can I hear?
What can I feel?
I am here now.
So this approach,
This summary,
This principle-based responses,
You can apply this to whatever tradition,
Technique,
Or theory of psychological intervention.
Look for it.
You'll notice they'll be called different names,
There'll be different sort of methodologies behind it,
But broad strokes,
These principles are almost like a zip file.
It's like,
Oh,
This is an awareness practice.
All of this,
If we unload the zip file of awareness,
You get a bunch of internal files,
Techniques to foster awareness.
Oh,
This is the principle of acceptance.
Inside the zip file of acceptance is a bunch of techniques to give you the capacity to accept.
And over here is value aligned action.
How can we act in a way,
Right?
And you'll find that as you look to different teachers,
Different practices,
Different approaches,
You will see awareness,
Acceptance,
Action.
And my response to all of that is to check into the self.
I am here now.
Slow down the breath and focus on what you can see,
Hear,
And feel in this moment.
Give it a try.
I'll see you in the next one.
