*This week we will be joined by special guest Vicky Vallee, who will be leading us in experiential exercises drawn from the Authentic Relating work. Vicky’s enthusiasm for this work is infectious!
Larger series: This is part of a larger series of explorations delving into the world of psychology and its applications to everyday life. Each meeting acts as a stand-alone—it is not necessary to have attended any of the other meetings in the series.
Topic for this meeting: The topic for this meeting is “freeing the mind.” We all know our bodies need rest, but what about our minds? Our busy minds that don’t seem to have an “off-switch” can often leave us ragged and exhausted, feeling that somehow we’ve never truly got the rest that we needed. But equally if not more consequential is that our minds, experientially speaking, constitute our world. A chaotic mind is a chaotic world. A mind that repeatedly slides into worry-thoughts creates a reality that feels stressful and worrisome. A mind always busy with planning or solving problems is never quiet, still, and free. This is to say nothing about the infamous “conditioned personality,” the invisible prison bars of our cultural programming and individual history that we often still carry. We explore this mind, what humanity’s wisdom traditions and psychology might have to say, and more importantly what insights they may have to offer as to how we may break free of its taxing chains.
Agenda for meeting: We begin our meetings with a warm-up exploration in small groups of 2-3, and then move into a brief talk. After the talk, we again gather in small groups of 2-3 for an applied exercise or group exploration, then come back together to share, and have time at end for free form connecting.
Who is it for: This event is free and open to all interested in the topic. Part of the vision of this series of events is the building of a community centered around deeper and more meaningful ways of connecting.
Key Takeaways:
Learning: Explore perspectives on what it might mean to live with a relaxed and open mind and its significance for a human life.
Practice: Learning various methods and processes that may help illumine possible pathways for this relaxed and open mind, or as a support of one’s already ongoing process.
Process: Learning about the various elements of process, such as various inner blocks, self-limiting beliefs, etc., and how these might be approached or worked through.
