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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXII Issue V May 1, 2014 By Forrest Brown I attended the annual National Prayer Breakfast at Hill Air Force Base on February 26 of this year and was pleased with the words that were spoken by Dr. Robert Wicks, who expressed his thoughts and feelings about one’s perspective. All who attended the service received a copy of his book Perspective: the Calm Within the Storm. Dr. Wicks, who is on the faculty of Loyola University, has published more than fifty books for professionals and the general public. His focus is on working with psychotherapist, physicians, nurses, educators, relief workers, lawyers, corporate executives, and full-time ministers of the military. What he captures in this volume of work is the importance of how we see ourselves (perspective) and how we see our world, which he says is far more important than what we do or what possessions we obtain in life. In essence, Dr. Wicks purports that a healthy perspective is far more essential than other skills that we obtain. Join me as we delve into this most fascinating book. In the prologue to his book Perspectives, Dr. Wicks gives us some great insight into maintaining a healthy perspective, which he says: • Does not remove pain, but limits unnecessary suffering • Doesn’t prevent us from blaming others, but helps us reclaim our power more quickly • It doesn’t see only what we wish to see, but allows us to better encounter everything in life • It will not help us run away from truth, but enables us to put things in their proper place • It doesn’t eliminate sadness, but allows us to deepen and learn from it • It does not aid us in obtaining more possession, but it teaches us about real happiness • It doesn’t deny the terror of life’s traumas, but helps us avoid being crushed by them • Perspective doesn’t ask us to surrender our intelligence, but encourages us to value it • Doesn’t answer all our needs, but, instead, calls us to re-evaluate what’s truly important In Chapter One, the author reviews the importance of “a time to see” or, in other words, creating space for a more mindful life. One might wonder what “creating space for a more mindful life” really means. Dr. Wicks says, “A sense of mindfulness (being in the present with our eyes wide open) is essentially quite simple. It is the basis of any meditation or informal reflective, centering practice that increases our sense of awareness. Yet, so often as adults we must repeatedly relearn it, no matter how committed we say we are to awareness and appreciation of what is before us.” This idea centers on being able to focus on the tasks ahead of us and Perspective: A Book Review seeing “the importance of paying attention to where we are and what we are doing.” It is similar to what some athletes and others have experienced when they have been highly focused on obtaining a goal such as the Olympian who shatters a world record. The author gives us a list of what mindfulness is not, which is helpful in understanding what mindfulness is: • Mindfulness is not trying to relax • Mindfulness is not a religion • Mindfulness is not about transcending ordinary life • Mindfulness is not emptying the mind of thoughts • Mindfulness is not difficult • Mindfulness is not escape from pain Next, Dr. Wicks gives us a useful list of the fruits of mindfulness and a healthy perspective, which includes, 1) lifting us out of stagnant, obsessive thought patters, 2) alerting us to when we are not living the experiences of life, 3) moving us out of the thicket of preoccupation, fears, anxieties, and worries, 4) give us space to step back and get unglued from our desires, demands, and attachments, 5) help us imitate Buddha, Jesus, and others we admire by reaching out to others who are in need, 6) set aside the way we have created meaning so all things can be made new, 7) increase our appreciation of how little things can produce emotional peaks and valleys in our lives, 8) teach us that being spiritually aware is more natural, 9) encourage humility and help us see our foibles 9) protect our inner fire by helping us see when we need to withdraw for a time, and 10) make us more in tune with the inner voice of a healthy perspective. Wow, what a list! If we could incorporate a few of these we would indeed be a better people and society. Wicks also discusses how we can “see ourselves more completely,” which, for many of us, is a difficult thing to do. Seeing ourselves in a correct way is necessary because, as Dr. Wicks explains, “It is important for us to have an accurate self-image so we don’t miss the positive feedback we receive or miss the signature strengths we have. If we view ourselves in a balanced way, we can be freer and more integrated. Moreover, given the presence of our talents, in turn, we are in a stronger position to be compassionate to many different types of people, no matter how they react to us. This will save psychic energy instead of wasting it on trying to develop several personalities or feeling we must don different defensive masks depending on our company . . . it will help us to better monitor the meaning or messages we give ourselves all day. This is referred to as self-talk.” This is an important point that the author makes about having an “accurate” view of ourselves. Most of us dream or fanaticize about what we want to be such as a great athlete, a famous actor, or a gifted scholar. However, it is critical that at some point in our life that we know who we really are and what are our strengths and weaknesses are. We keep tabs on this as the author suggests by using “self-talk” in order to overcome periods of doubt, depression, and anxiety. Some of the self-talk questions that Dr. Wicks suggest are: • Why am I making myself so anxious or angry in this situation? • What is it about this situation that making me so uncomfortable? • What do I fear losing in this situation? • What am I demanding of the people around me, and why is it upsetting that I am not getting it? • What is the worst thing that could happen if I said or did (blank)? • What is the reason I am giving people the power to upset me? • Why am I taking an annoying event and making it into something worse? For the rest of the book, Dr. Wicks looks at preventing “spiritual Alzheimer,” understanding the concept of gratitude and happiness, seeing and understanding the darkness, and uncovering and facing inner roadblocks and how this can help up overcome resistance to openness and LETTER to EDITOR cont. from page 2 change. As we gain this knowledge and understanding about ourselves, we become more of a whole and complete person, which Dr. Wicks indicates makes us more like the Master: the Master seemed quite impervious to what people thought of him. When the disciples asked how he had attained this stage of inner freedom, he laughed aloud and said, “till i was twenty i did not care what people thought of me. after twenty i worried endlessly about what my neighbors thought. then one day after fifty i suddenly saw that they had hardly ever thought of me at all!” In summary, Robert J. Wicks has given us a powerful guide for discovering and regaining a balanced and healthy perspective of life. Perspective offers concrete steps for overcoming doubt and resistance to openness so that beneficial life changes become possible. This book teaches us to see ourselves more completely and can inspire us to become the calm within the storm, and better able to enjoy our experiences and maintain a balance in our professional and personal lives. Read the book and let me know what you think about it at <brownfamily09@msn.com> ers. Does that mean all teachers are false? I have attended various Mormon Wards in the Valley and also the Catholic Church. We both have Priests, and I have never seen one “presume superiority over him who rose from the grave,” as Greg suggested. He also injected his own philosophy that Jesus will save those who have “accepted him as their Lord and Savior.” The beauty of Easter and the Resurrection is that Christ’s Grace is sufficient for all. As one of our Apostles once said, he is the “Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.” As I went back and read what I have written, I can see how some, even Greg could be offended. That is not my intention. I’ve met Greg and he seems to be a good man. I would be fortunate to have him as my friend. I imagine it would be hard to write any article without offending at least one person in this valley. We are a very diverse group of people, and that’s what makes it interesting. I don’t care what religion or lack of it you are, if you’re a nice person, we are glad to have you here as a neighbor. Whatever belief you may have that causes you to do good to your fellow man, I respect that. It’s great that we can all be so different and still get along. there will be prophets. Does God love us less than he did his ancient church? The entire Bible was modernday revelation given at that time to man. God spoke through prophets in the Old Testament. Later, Christ lived on the earth and taught the people. He was crucified and came back and taught the people. Then he was resurrected, and still came back and taught the gospel. Modernday revelation continued through the apostles. But now, we are to believe that this unchangeable God has all of a sudden changed? The heavens are sealed? The canon is closed? Isn’t it interesting how so many people can read the Bible and come up with different interpretations of it. While some believe that the Bible is the only word of God, inerrant and infallible, and that God will no longer give us new scripture, others can read the same Bible and believe the exact opposite. Unfortunately, it seems as if we have traded in prophets, apostles, and modern-day revelation for councils, creeds, and committees. Man-made philosophies, traditions, and some private interpretations can really confuse the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And while the Bible teaches us to beware of false prophets, it never says there won’t be true prophets. The David robinson, Bible also teaches us to beware of false teach- Huntsville Join us June 14 forShoPPeRS! our 10th Annual RemembeR Guest Appreciation Breakfast Mention Valley eleMentary at 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN From the Service Deli www.valleymarketeden.com STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Marie Callender’s Pies OFF $1.00Expires with coupon 5/15/14 Any Cake from the Bakery $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 5/15/14 Any Beef or Chicken Family Pack $1.00 Expires OFF5/15/14 with coupon From the Meat Dept. 12” Hanging Plant $1.00 Expires OFF5/15/14 with coupon From the Produce Dept. Any Salad from the Deli 50c OFF with coupon Expires 5/15/14 |