(excerpted from a proposal about developing a strengths based community in a non-profit organization I was participating in)
I am very interested furthering the development of strengths-based communities for example in organizations, or other types of communities. Potentially, this could mean identifying strengths of individuals in the community, and helping individuals learn ways to integrate favorite strengths and utilize them often in their daily lives, e.g., recovery, personal life, work life, and so on. Perhaps even more importantly, this also can mean learning how to help individuals in the community work interactively in nurturing ways to grow personalized strengths and qualities more effectively - to build community based on strengths. Many organizations and communities of various types (education, non-profit, business) exist that are finding ways to do this. These communities are showing that like-minded people can work collaboratively and supportively in creative ways to empower one another through the development of individualized strengths. I have seen many that are currently doing this, but one that is really cool is the Noel Strengths Academy at Azusa Pacific University, the direct website is http://www.apu.edu/strengthsacademy/
I have been discussing strengths for some time in Positive Psychology groups I faciliate, and recently we have identified some important underlying components of strengths. I think one of the most important things when considering strengths is to acknowledge that in our culture people often equate the notion of strength with physicality or perhaps equate strength with "force" or "rigidity." For the most part, the people in the group seemed to agree that these are, if not skewed, then essentially limited views of strength. So, therefore it is important to clarify what we mean when we speak of strengths. The strengths we are referring to when developing strengths are internal strengths or skills or qualities such as strengths of character, talents, aptitudes, life-skills, and so on. I personally feel that authentic internal strength is more closely aligned with concepts like balance, fluidity, firmness, allowance/allowing, humility, tolerance, flexibility, equanimity, clarity, kindness, and other virtues, rather than necessarily associated with rigidity, force, physical strength, oppressiveness, territoriality, toughness, hostility, fear-based perspective, and so on. To some people, the previous statement may seem obvious or even foolish, but unfortunately very often these still tend to be mistaken for strengths. I also think that one of the most important key points about strengths is that strengths always energize us rather than deplete us, and it is a highly individualized process, the theory behind the Realise2 assessment by Linley explains this perspective quite well.
I am aware that many assessments exist that can be useful in helping to identify human strengths, and that can help people integrate personal strengths into their lives. However, no single assessment or even collection of assessments can cover the whole range of possibilities of how the integration of strengths may be able to influence a person's life and recovery. The possibilities are myriad and quite exciting, and frankly the fields of mental health and psychology are merely touching the surface of how this process can be transformational for someone in recovery, or someone seeking to enhance their life.
Simultaneously, because of such myriad possibilities, this means that doing so (integrating strengths) also has the potential to be overwhelming. So, it also seems to make sense that it is critical to simplify and learn about strengths in a methodical and clear-cut way. I have found that the assessments are most importantly vehicles for learning more about oneself, about one's strengths, about the strengths and skills of others, and about strengths in general e.g., they are merely suggestive and not prescriptive, and cannot replace the essential learning curve of self-awareness, reflection, and self-examination.
Although Howard Gardner was certainly not the first to do research or work with human strengths, one might be able to say the basis of the strengths philosophy emanates from, or at least in many ways parallels Gardner's work on Multiple Intelligences (MI) because Gardner helped people to break out of the box to see that intelligence is not one-dimensional; that human intelligence and strength are multi-dimensional and actually differentiated in various modalities and not necessarily only dominated by one single ability as previously thought. Historically in modern science, intelligence has probably most often been described in terms of cognitive capacity.
The primary assessments I am interested in are:
1.The Values in Action (VIA) developed by Martin Seligman former President of the American Psychological Association (APA).
2.The Strengthsfinder 2.0 developed by Donald O. Clifton, who has been referred to as the "father of strengths-based psychology."
3.Multiple Intelligences, developed by Howard Gardner at Harvard University
4.Realise2, this is a UK based assessment with 60 themes which was developed by Alex Linley who studied "strengthspotters" these are people who are skilled in the identification of strengths and skills in others.
5.MBTI, based upon the work of Carl Jung
I think all of the above (as well as perhaps others not mentioned) have merit and can be useful, however, as we discussed, I think it is probably best to rely upon a couple of assessments rather than numerous in order to not be overwhelming.
_____
_______________________________________________
Here is a little bit of information about each assessment mentioned
The Values in Action (VIA) this was developed by Martin Seligman (widely considered founder of Positive Psychology) and Chris Peterson
and this can be taken free at http://www.authentichappiness.com/
Seligman and Peterson studied many of the global wisdom traditions and came up with 24 of what they felt were the most commonly used virtues falling into 6 categories
1. Wisdom and Knowledge
Creativity
Curiosity
Open-mindedness
Love of learning
Perspective
2. Courage
Bravery
Persistence
Integrity
Zest
3. Love and Humility
Love
Kindness
Social Intelligence
4. Justice
Citizenship
Fairness
Leadership
5. Temperance
Forgiveness and Mercy
Humility
Prudence
Self-control
6. Spirituality and Transcendence
Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
Gratitude
Hope
Humor
Spirituality
The VIA merely identifies the individual's top three strengths. It is free to take but for fees can be assessed professionally.
Strengthsfinder
-From the Now Discover Your Strengths website
"The Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the presence of 34 talent themes. Talents are people's naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. The more dominant a theme is in a person, the greater the theme's impact on that person's behavior and performance."
You can find the names and definitions of the 34 strengths themes identified using Strengthsfinder, at the following link
http://www.strengthstest.com/theme_summary.php
Multiple Intelligences
*Gardner identified 8 areas of intelligence
1.Verbal/Linguistic - "Word smart"
2.Musical/Rhythmic - "Music smart"
3.Logical/Mathematical - "Logic smart"
4.Naturalist - "Nature smart"
5.Bodily/Kinesthetic - "Body smart"
6.Visual/Spatial - "Picture smart"
7.Interpersonal - "People smart"
8.Intrapersonal - "Self smart"
also, here is a link to a pretty good free online MI assessment
http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html
Realise2
A UK based assessment from the field of Positive Psychology, over 50,000 people have taken this assessment. -From the Cappeu (the official) website
"Realise2 assesses 60 strengths according to the three dimensions of energy, performance and use, making it truly unique and distinct from the typical one-dimensional strengths test. These three dimensions are then used to identify where your strengths lie across the four categories of realised strengths, unrealised strengths, learned behaviours and weaknesses."
"The Strengths Book" written by the developer Linley includes a description of all 60 strengths and explains the theory behind it, which is quite simple but potent. I have this book if you would like to check it out.
The official website is
http://www.cappeu.com/Realise2.aspx
Also take a look at the Realise2 "4m Model" which will give some better explanation
http://www.cappeu.com/Realise2/TheRealise24MModel.aspx
MBTI
I will leave this one out for now, since it is perhaps a bit more involved and I think you are already knowledgable of the concepts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Friday, January 24, 2014
Avoidance of Change Blocks You From Reaching Your True Potential
The current research seems to bear it out: a Gallup Poll reveals a high percentage of Americans are unhappy and unfulfilled, only 30 % of Americans feel engaged by their work and more than 60% do not feel that their skills and talents are being used effectively in their work or by their employer. One of the driving questions I often think about is: if people are not happy with their lives and with their jobs and with what they spend their time doing each day, then why won’t more people make changes in their life? Why do so many people, as Henry David Thoreau wrote nearly 200 years ago, “lead lives of quiet desperation” remaining unhappy, tragically stuck in situations that are draining them of vitality, hope, enthusiasm, and energy?
Of course part of the blame is to be put on the work and economic system, we know that the state of the American economy in 2014 is not optimal and that there is a big rift between rich and poor and that the material gains of work are not always the driving force they could be for vocational satisfaction. For that matter, even in more comfortable times it’s never been easy to create or find the job of one’s dreams, it simply won’t fall into your lap. Nevertheless, the reality is that America is among the most abundant countries in the world with tremendous opportunity, even with a down but shifting upward economy. We also know that happiness is not ALL about work, there is a bigger picture to the "happiness puzzle," but job satisfaction does comprise a substantial piece of this puzzle. Knowing that one spends almost ½ their waking hours at their work, it then becomes clear how significant job satisfaction will be to life satisfaction.
The reason that people remain stuck is that too often, people tend to avoid change. We tend to avoid making decisions and changes necessary to create happiness and fulfillment based upon feelings of comfort or short-term gain, rather than long-term fulfillment. If there is a steady paycheck coming each week, even if it is not truly what we know we need in terms of happiness, still we don’t want to rock the boat and jeopardize it.
Ask yourself extremely an important question: “What is holding me back to living my passion?” “What are the roadblocks – in terms of psychological, financial, life resources, or anything else – I am allowing to impede my pursuit of happiness and fulfillment?” Remember that the founding fathers declared in the Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago that, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are unalienable rights given by our Creator. What they wrote was true; however, what the founders did not also mention was that we sometimes must pursue or create these things in order for them to work for us in our lives, they probably aren’t going to drop in our laps. Unfortunately, at times we are each our own worst enemy and allow the fear of change, avoidance, or denial to get in the way of finding our own truth. You can therefore ask, what are some ways to make life transformation easier to handle so I won't fear change so much?
Of course part of the blame is to be put on the work and economic system, we know that the state of the American economy in 2014 is not optimal and that there is a big rift between rich and poor and that the material gains of work are not always the driving force they could be for vocational satisfaction. For that matter, even in more comfortable times it’s never been easy to create or find the job of one’s dreams, it simply won’t fall into your lap. Nevertheless, the reality is that America is among the most abundant countries in the world with tremendous opportunity, even with a down but shifting upward economy. We also know that happiness is not ALL about work, there is a bigger picture to the "happiness puzzle," but job satisfaction does comprise a substantial piece of this puzzle. Knowing that one spends almost ½ their waking hours at their work, it then becomes clear how significant job satisfaction will be to life satisfaction.
The reason that people remain stuck is that too often, people tend to avoid change. We tend to avoid making decisions and changes necessary to create happiness and fulfillment based upon feelings of comfort or short-term gain, rather than long-term fulfillment. If there is a steady paycheck coming each week, even if it is not truly what we know we need in terms of happiness, still we don’t want to rock the boat and jeopardize it.
Ask yourself extremely an important question: “What is holding me back to living my passion?” “What are the roadblocks – in terms of psychological, financial, life resources, or anything else – I am allowing to impede my pursuit of happiness and fulfillment?” Remember that the founding fathers declared in the Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago that, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are unalienable rights given by our Creator. What they wrote was true; however, what the founders did not also mention was that we sometimes must pursue or create these things in order for them to work for us in our lives, they probably aren’t going to drop in our laps. Unfortunately, at times we are each our own worst enemy and allow the fear of change, avoidance, or denial to get in the way of finding our own truth. You can therefore ask, what are some ways to make life transformation easier to handle so I won't fear change so much?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Psychology of The Power of Love
Mystics and poets have contemplated that love may be the unifying force of existence itself; and, Romanticism is an intellectual and arts/cultural movement that is built on the foundation of love and transcendent thought; it has been said in these realms that love is beyond verbal communication, beyond words themselves. For example, there is an old story that one day the great spiritual teacher the Buddha (for whom Buddhism is named) was set to give a talk before thousands of people; however when he appeared, instead of proffering a sermon the Buddha held a flower and stood in silence with a beautiful smile on his face. Time passed for a span, and then one of his top disciples, Mahākāśyapa, began to laugh. Buddha handed Mahākāśyapa the flower. It is speculated that this student was the only one who actually grasped or understood the true nature of the Buddha’s teaching – the simple teaching that love is the great lesson transmitted from teacher to student, which cannot be conveyed through words.
We tend to think of love in human terms, but love takes many forms: there is love for animals; love for material objects such as rings,trinkets, or fishing poles; love for a concept, virtue, or activity such as love for “hard work” or for music; and there is spiritual or Divine love meaning love for God. In the path of Vedanta, the philosophy that underlies yogic thought and practice, there is the path called Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, which explains that all of the different types of love that exist are merely individual “rays” of the greater prism or spectrum of love called Divine love or love of God. This love is referred to as bhava, and it is also sub-categorized to explain the different rays of human love such as vatsalya bhava, love of a mother toward child; madhur bhava, romantic love; or, sankhya bhava, love between friends; and so on.
In positive psychology, love can be difficult to quantify. However a major finding on happiness research is that the love between husband and wife is very powerful, Seligman (2002) states, “Marriage is a more potent happiness factor than satisfaction with job, or finances, or community” (p.187). Even though the Vedanta idea of Divine love is acknowledged by adherents of the philosophy, in general Americans and humans are social animals so to speak, and tend to thrive within the interdependence and shelter of positive, nurturing relationships. We don’t often tend to find Americans meditating and praying on Godly scriptures up in mountaintop caves. Positive psychology research also shows however, that having faith, a religious practice, and love for a higher power, with everything else considered, is also a good predictor of happiness (Myers, 1992).
References
Myers, D.G. (1992). The pursuit of happiness: Discovering the pathway to fulfillment, well-being, and enduring personal joy. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Seligman, M.E.P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
We tend to think of love in human terms, but love takes many forms: there is love for animals; love for material objects such as rings,trinkets, or fishing poles; love for a concept, virtue, or activity such as love for “hard work” or for music; and there is spiritual or Divine love meaning love for God. In the path of Vedanta, the philosophy that underlies yogic thought and practice, there is the path called Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, which explains that all of the different types of love that exist are merely individual “rays” of the greater prism or spectrum of love called Divine love or love of God. This love is referred to as bhava, and it is also sub-categorized to explain the different rays of human love such as vatsalya bhava, love of a mother toward child; madhur bhava, romantic love; or, sankhya bhava, love between friends; and so on.
In positive psychology, love can be difficult to quantify. However a major finding on happiness research is that the love between husband and wife is very powerful, Seligman (2002) states, “Marriage is a more potent happiness factor than satisfaction with job, or finances, or community” (p.187). Even though the Vedanta idea of Divine love is acknowledged by adherents of the philosophy, in general Americans and humans are social animals so to speak, and tend to thrive within the interdependence and shelter of positive, nurturing relationships. We don’t often tend to find Americans meditating and praying on Godly scriptures up in mountaintop caves. Positive psychology research also shows however, that having faith, a religious practice, and love for a higher power, with everything else considered, is also a good predictor of happiness (Myers, 1992).
References
Myers, D.G. (1992). The pursuit of happiness: Discovering the pathway to fulfillment, well-being, and enduring personal joy. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Seligman, M.E.P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Friday, September 10, 2010
New Outlook For Mental Health Recovery
At one time a diagnosis of severe mental health (MH) condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder meant that an individual was sentenced to a lifetime with a stigma and an etched-in-stone diagnosis. Negative beliefs persisted in healthcare, and socio-culturally, that recovery was virtually impossible.
However, today we know the possibility exists for full recovery from mental illness with the correct approach and guidance. Sufferers have authentic hope in the form of an integrative mind-body-spirit approach to MH recovery. Stories abound on the Internet and elsewhere of people who are winning battles over mental illness.
What is interesting is research from the World Health Organization (WHO)shows that in developing nations around the world, the rate of recovery from severe mental illness (primarily schizophrenia) is twice as high as in Western developed nations! The results of this research is not happenstance - developing cultures take a less technical and less dehumanizing (e.g., lower reliance upon psychotropic drugs and invasive techniques), yet more organic and socially interconnected approach. Perhaps in the West, we are finally beginning to learn lessons from them!
According to Dan Fisher, Founder of the National Empowerment Center (NEC), a national recovery advocacy organization, significant reasons for this success is that developing nations "[are more] socially oriented, and they instinctively recognize the importance of keeping people connected to the community. We have ceremonies of segregation and isolation, which is really what our labeling and hospitalization process is. They have ceremonies of reintegration and connection." (White, 2005)
So, what are the most significant steps for recovery from mental illness? Well, in 2005 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) put forth the following elements of a healthy recovery: self-direction, individualized and person-centered approaches, empowerment, holistic views, non-linearity, strengths-based, peer support, respect, responsibility, and hope. (Kiume, n.d.) And a report from the Wellesley Institute, a health policy organization, titled Mental Health "Recovery": Users and Refusers, states the three main components of a solid recovery plan are symptom management, health and nutrition, and faith(Mental Health "Recovery:.., 2009), a mind-body-spirit oriented approach.
Fisher himself is an inspiring model of recovery from mental illness. He completed full recovery from schizophrenia, now runs the NEC, and is a practicing psychiatrist. In his psychiatry work he does not, however, excessively prescribe psychiatric drugs such as clozapine and haloperidal, yet maintains a central tenet that medications are temporary solutions and not the core component of an integrative recovery. Central tools for recovery Fisher relies upon are forms of cognitive therapy for self-help, recognized as quite powerful when utilized properly, among other integrative modalities.
For local information on mental health recovery in the Greater Boston Area, please visit the Metro Suburban Recovery Learning Center website at www.metrosubrlc.org or the Transformation Center at www.transformation-center.org. Additionally, please visit the National Empowerment Center website at www.power2u.org.
References
Kiume, S. (n.d.) What's Involved With Mental Health Recovery? Retrieved 10 September 2010 from PsychCentral's World of Psychology website:
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/05/12/whats-involved-in-mental-health-
recovery/
Mental Health "Recovery" Study Working Group (2009). Mental Health "Recovery"; Users and Refusers, Toronto: Wellesley Institute. Retrieved September 10 2010 from
http://wellesleyinstitute.com/files/Mental_Health%20_Recovery.pdf
White, R. (2005). Empowerment Model of Recovery From Mental Ilness: An Expert
Interview with Daniel B. Fisher, MD, PhD. Medscape Psychiatry and Mental
Health, 10, 1.
However, today we know the possibility exists for full recovery from mental illness with the correct approach and guidance. Sufferers have authentic hope in the form of an integrative mind-body-spirit approach to MH recovery. Stories abound on the Internet and elsewhere of people who are winning battles over mental illness.
What is interesting is research from the World Health Organization (WHO)shows that in developing nations around the world, the rate of recovery from severe mental illness (primarily schizophrenia) is twice as high as in Western developed nations! The results of this research is not happenstance - developing cultures take a less technical and less dehumanizing (e.g., lower reliance upon psychotropic drugs and invasive techniques), yet more organic and socially interconnected approach. Perhaps in the West, we are finally beginning to learn lessons from them!
According to Dan Fisher, Founder of the National Empowerment Center (NEC), a national recovery advocacy organization, significant reasons for this success is that developing nations "[are more] socially oriented, and they instinctively recognize the importance of keeping people connected to the community. We have ceremonies of segregation and isolation, which is really what our labeling and hospitalization process is. They have ceremonies of reintegration and connection." (White, 2005)
So, what are the most significant steps for recovery from mental illness? Well, in 2005 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) put forth the following elements of a healthy recovery: self-direction, individualized and person-centered approaches, empowerment, holistic views, non-linearity, strengths-based, peer support, respect, responsibility, and hope. (Kiume, n.d.) And a report from the Wellesley Institute, a health policy organization, titled Mental Health "Recovery": Users and Refusers, states the three main components of a solid recovery plan are symptom management, health and nutrition, and faith(Mental Health "Recovery:.., 2009), a mind-body-spirit oriented approach.
Fisher himself is an inspiring model of recovery from mental illness. He completed full recovery from schizophrenia, now runs the NEC, and is a practicing psychiatrist. In his psychiatry work he does not, however, excessively prescribe psychiatric drugs such as clozapine and haloperidal, yet maintains a central tenet that medications are temporary solutions and not the core component of an integrative recovery. Central tools for recovery Fisher relies upon are forms of cognitive therapy for self-help, recognized as quite powerful when utilized properly, among other integrative modalities.
For local information on mental health recovery in the Greater Boston Area, please visit the Metro Suburban Recovery Learning Center website at www.metrosubrlc.org or the Transformation Center at www.transformation-center.org. Additionally, please visit the National Empowerment Center website at www.power2u.org.
References
Kiume, S. (n.d.) What's Involved With Mental Health Recovery? Retrieved 10 September 2010 from PsychCentral's World of Psychology website:
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/05/12/whats-involved-in-mental-health-
recovery/
Mental Health "Recovery" Study Working Group (2009). Mental Health "Recovery"; Users and Refusers, Toronto: Wellesley Institute. Retrieved September 10 2010 from
http://wellesleyinstitute.com/files/Mental_Health%20_Recovery.pdf
White, R. (2005). Empowerment Model of Recovery From Mental Ilness: An Expert
Interview with Daniel B. Fisher, MD, PhD. Medscape Psychiatry and Mental
Health, 10, 1.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Postmodernism and "Beginner's Mind"
I guess that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Being increasingly immersed in postmodern thought particularly since that is what has taken over the counseling field and much of progressive academia since the 1990s, during one of my regular meditations I recently stumbled upon a realization (the famous "aha" insight!) -- that all the hot new perspectives into constructivist thought and hermaneutics are really just new twists on old themes.
Ancient Taoist and Zen masters wrote about something called, "beginner's mind," or translated, the Japanese word shosin. In contemporary counseling the revolution taking place is finally catching onto their ancient message. Until around the 1990's a therapist was considered expert, authority, and guide until diverse voices challenged that position, including feminist thought, multiculturalism, person-centered thought, and an emerging preventive and wellness paradigm in healthcare. These challenges were based upon (supposedly) new ideas from social constructivism that said the traditional Western notions of "truth" were rigid, egocentric, and frankly, arrogant. It said the outdated model was erroneously based upon an "absolute truth" which was simply a false construct agreed upon by dominant social groups.
Social constructivism says, alternatively, that no social group has a monopoly on truth; that each individual has access to his or her own individual shard of truth, in essence what helps make up our unique individuality. Ahh! Didn't the ancient Zen and yogic masters already know this? They taught that the more one developed wisdom or enlightenment, that the less one actually knew in a certain sense. An old Zen saying grew from this: "If you meet a Buddha in the road, kill him!" The Zen masters taught that the teacher was facilitator, and meditation practice was a powerful tool to develop one's inner knowing and inner voice; that, mindfulness meditation was a powerful tool for constructing the self. So, the student could learn from a teacher or master, but the real master was within. Isn't postmodern thinking and social constructivism in counseling merely another name for "beginner's mind"?
The way one practices beginner's mind is to empty oneself of all thoughts (if only that were possible!). This means empty of all preconceived judgments, labels, concepts, techniques, and methods. It is a main purpose of meditation - there is still nothing better than quiet stillness to wipe the miror clean; to free the mind, and to bring space and clarity.
Being increasingly immersed in postmodern thought particularly since that is what has taken over the counseling field and much of progressive academia since the 1990s, during one of my regular meditations I recently stumbled upon a realization (the famous "aha" insight!) -- that all the hot new perspectives into constructivist thought and hermaneutics are really just new twists on old themes.
Ancient Taoist and Zen masters wrote about something called, "beginner's mind," or translated, the Japanese word shosin. In contemporary counseling the revolution taking place is finally catching onto their ancient message. Until around the 1990's a therapist was considered expert, authority, and guide until diverse voices challenged that position, including feminist thought, multiculturalism, person-centered thought, and an emerging preventive and wellness paradigm in healthcare. These challenges were based upon (supposedly) new ideas from social constructivism that said the traditional Western notions of "truth" were rigid, egocentric, and frankly, arrogant. It said the outdated model was erroneously based upon an "absolute truth" which was simply a false construct agreed upon by dominant social groups.
Social constructivism says, alternatively, that no social group has a monopoly on truth; that each individual has access to his or her own individual shard of truth, in essence what helps make up our unique individuality. Ahh! Didn't the ancient Zen and yogic masters already know this? They taught that the more one developed wisdom or enlightenment, that the less one actually knew in a certain sense. An old Zen saying grew from this: "If you meet a Buddha in the road, kill him!" The Zen masters taught that the teacher was facilitator, and meditation practice was a powerful tool to develop one's inner knowing and inner voice; that, mindfulness meditation was a powerful tool for constructing the self. So, the student could learn from a teacher or master, but the real master was within. Isn't postmodern thinking and social constructivism in counseling merely another name for "beginner's mind"?
The way one practices beginner's mind is to empty oneself of all thoughts (if only that were possible!). This means empty of all preconceived judgments, labels, concepts, techniques, and methods. It is a main purpose of meditation - there is still nothing better than quiet stillness to wipe the miror clean; to free the mind, and to bring space and clarity.
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