The Love and Grace Project Weblog
An Exploration into Learning How to Love and Receive GraceClass 1-4 “Got Breath?”
This past Sunday provided us a wonderful opportunity to review Progressive Relaxation and to discuss measurable core values. We discussed the fact that aligning with our core values contributes to living a more loving life.
(Go all the way to the bottom to see the secret contest!)
Breathing was a key focus for us this week. Discovering that we can change our state by focusing on breathing provides us with another tool to “plug the leaks” in our lives, which drain our energy and impacts the quality of our relationship with others.
We demonstrated the impact of breathing on emotional state using components of a biofeedback software program called HeartMath(tm). Using this tool one can actually see visually the changes that are occurring within their nervous system as they focus on breathing patterns.
Next week we will be looking at our mental state and introduce meditation techniques as additional tools to utilize in adjusting our physical, emotional, and mental states. As we strive to live a more loving life and relate to others in a way that we have been ‘advised’, we recognize that awareness of our own state is crucial to this process.
The worksheet for our 4th week class is now posted on http://the-love-project.com/Class_1-4.html
Congratulations to Susan Combs our winner of last weeks blog challenge. Susan received a free 15 minute seated massage from Blue Ridge Therapeutic Massage.
This Sunday will be the last of our first 5 week sessions. We will have prepared an evaluation tool for you to complete to provide feedback as to how we can improve the structure of our sessions in preparation for our next 5 weeks together.
We would like to get together December 7 for ”Coffee and Conversation” in order to touch base and see how the skills you have learned are making a difference for you. Please plan to join us at 9:00 am, come hungry as there will be a delicious breakfast casserole awaiting you as well!
Thanks to each of you for making this experience possible. Your participation and input has been a joy to us, we hope the experience has been a blessing to you.
See you Sunday!
Heartfully,
Sharon and Karl
(Secret Contest… A winner will be chosen from the blog comments this week… one entry per blog comment … hint… you can make one new entry each day!)
Class 1-3 Relaxed and Energized!
Our third class was certainly more energizing and lively than the first two… Is this because of the material or because we are getting more familiar with each other or because Sharon is such a great facilitator? Maybe a combination of all three!
We reviewed the the idea of Primary MO’s and many of you could see how other’s MO affected you.
A question was asked concerning observations that not all people fit into the 4 MO’s we presented…
This is certainly true as some people are quite balanced and don’t ‘need to steal energy’ from others and some have an MO that is different than these four. Sharon and I have Identified other MO’s and will expand on this theme in the second 5 week small group module! So this is just one of the themes we will be expanding and addressing later on. We would encourage you all to note MO’s that don’t fit into the simple 4 designations and blog or email or tell us in person your observations.
We revisited the tapping sequence and used it on real feelings and pains in class. Everyone expressed relief, some all the way down to a ‘zero’ after only one round! Several of you told us how you used the tapping technique during the week (at home and at work) and what a difference it makes.
A short presentation on the physiological affects of stress and some proof that although we have ‘solid’ bodies we are in fact also energy beings. Scripture says “our body is our temple”. Can we take better care of “our temple”? Our reaction to life events (that we call stress) is in fact aging and inflamatory to the body. What skills do we need so that we are not as stressed and therefore more relaxed?
EFT, the tapping on acupuncture points, is one skill. Another easy to learn skill is called “Progressive Relaxation” which was presented.
How do we get good at anything? We practice that skill. How do we get good at relaxing? We practice it! The more we practice the better we will get and this skill can become automatic and over-ride the automatic tension patterns we have.
The third worksheet was passed out and it is available online at:
www.The-Love-Project.com/Class_1-3.html
The essence of the content for the third class is:
- Insight Re: Mo’s Revisited
- Tapping Acupressure Points
- Progressive Relaxation
- Our body is the dwelling place of our spirit
Thanks for all of your participation!
Heartfully, Sharon & Karl
Please post on this blog! We will be giving a prize next Sunday to one lucky blogger!
Class 1-2 Can pain and frustration ‘just melt away’?
Our Second Class held at Redland United Methodist Church began with a summary of the first class and a discussion of what we were able to see about energy management this past week. Examples were given and commented on. It is now generally recognized by the group that the two goals of increasing the amount of energy available to us and reducing the ‘leaks’ would enliven and enrich each of us in terms of our quality of life.
A short presentation on the four primary ways that others try to ‘steal’ energy from us.
- Intimidator
- Interrogator
- Woe is me
- Being Aloof
We were encouraged to look at our friends, coworkers, family members and others using this model to see if any fall into these catagories and how our energy is affected by them.
When asked ‘how do we change this behavior?’ it was suggested that we don’t try to change anyone but it is useful to note the MO’s of others (and ourselves!) and as we get more skilled at noticing we can use the power of naming to help unhook the unconscious aspect that is often connected with us giving away or leaking energy.
A presentation on a technique called EFT was begun to show a simple yet effective technique to eliminate or greatly reduce physical and/or emotional pain. A number of participants were able to experience a greatly reduced discomfort… physical pain, anger and frustration in a very short time. The website EasyBMRT.com (click on the EFT button) is a good source for refreshing the information and technique.
The weekly course work sheet was handed out (available at The-Love-Project.com/class_1-2.html ) and we are encouraged to post on the blog here to help each other in our experiences and understandings.
See you next Sunday!
Heartfully, Sharon & Karl
We Have Begun! Class 1-1
Ahh… our first class! October 19, 2008… at Redlands Methodist Church as part of their “Small Groups” project.
After a bit of an overview of our intentions, an analogy demonstration was given using a bucket, water and an ice pick to understand containing and leaking energy.
Discussions about state and one’s energy level was next with the hope that the participants could begin to understand that they can be in charge of their own energy levels as they notice and choose their state.
A simple breathing exercise was taught and practiced by all and it was noticed that everyone felt more relaxed and calm after a few minutes.
A worksheet was passed out for our use this week (available at The-Love-Project.com/class_1-1) for encouraging more insight and noticing to what our particular state is at any moment.
We would like each participant to answer three questions on this blog this week:
1) What keeps you from ‘living love’ in a continuous way?
2) What did you imagine The Love Project was about before you signed up?
3) What do you understand now what The Love Project is about?
Thanks for participating!
Heartfully, Sharon & Karl
p.s. We will e-mail each participant to make sure we have transcribed the address correctly!
In the beginning there was the Word…
The Love Project!
A teacher and a student combine their skills and training to explore the “How To” in living love. Moving from theory to practice. And we need your help!
Although it may be a bit presumptuous for us to speak about love (or God’s Love) we must begin somewhere.
Our First Question to ourselves (and of course you): What in your life interfers with “living love”?
Please Post Comments/Answers below so that we can begin with your interests and challenges.
Thank you!
Sharon & Karl
p.s. Our primary goal is to serve you. The more information you share the clearer the objectives can be.
p.p.s. Our website for the course work is:
Please click above to go there in a new window!
