The Healer's Mantra

[danaeris]

(or, something questioner made up)

I will keep myself physically and mentally fit so that I can render aid to others.
I will lend aid, comfort, and healing when I can.
I will NOT let the pain and frustration of other's problems damage me,
and thereby risk damaging my ability to lend them aid.
I will be kind and gentle and caring, but I will not identify my happiness with my
patient's happiness. Ultimately, this is counter productive.

------------------

And how do I avoid this entanglement of joys when I'm sleeping, in love, etc. with my
patient?
The obvious answer does not work; sex and love are part of the treatment.

I must learn to connect and give and receive without entangling and mingling. I must be
strong for my patients, lovers, etc.

And I will. I am strong. I have been through so much, and I refuse to believe that if I
focus my will I cannot conquer these challenges.

Comments

Different Approaches

[truthspeaker.livejournal.com]

That's a very different approach than mine. I jump in headfirst, letting the fields entangle. I need the entanglement -- to feel what they feel -- to experience things as they experience them. My healing carries a bit of me with it. In return I get a bit of them.

Note however that different approaches work for different people. Differences are to be celebrated. Universal homogeneity is not. Besides, how could I ever criticize the differences when I've experienced goodness that was different from me?

Re: Different Approaches

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. If there's anything I've learned, it's that different people who have similar skills (categorically speaking) may accomplish them in very different ways, and thus be useful for different tasks in that category.

I don't know.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I keep reading your entries recently in wonder and amazement, not knowing what to say. But I wanted you to know I read them. :)

A.
with hugs

Re: I don't know.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Thank you for telling me. Sometimes when I'm depressive I get all angsty about people not reading/replying to my entries. So knowing that a lack of replies means little is a good reminder. And I'm glad that you're enjoying them...

[caillean.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting how you've laid out an approach similar to what I've developed for my own. It seems I'm always having to remind myself to keep my heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit healthy so that I may be of maximum use/help. (not always, easy) For me, I need to learn to step back, offer help when ever it feels right, or when evey I can, and then to not help if they do not want it, or if I do not have their permision to help. And your last two points, I agree with as well. It is very dificult to keep some level of detachment, or at least perspective, when you are wrapped up in the healing, and also the relating of everyday life. But then I also find it's easy to go too far in the other direction, to become so detached that feeling starts to fade... such a knife-edge to keep to, but for me, at least, that's what I'm finding I need to do.

I am so pleased to see how much you've grown and taken to this since I've met you. Just in case you haven't been told lately, you are making immense progress.

~Elizabeth