In this saying, the theory is that if he "has not gone himself”, then how can he know if he has ever arrived? Or in other words related to health and well being, how can an individual teach peace and happiness if he has never felt what it is to be at peace and happy? It is absolutely always necessary to know the end result or destination, as well as how to get there. However, is it always required that the teacher walk the same path of the student to know how to guide the student to the destination. Not always. Granted, a healer will be more readily equipped to guide at each turn in the road and especially understand the feelings of the one who seeks help if they have endured the same trials. But, merely knowing the end result is sufficient enough. Isn't it?
Wouldn't he and the student, or individual seeking guidance still make it to the correct destination if they had a map?
I think so.
So, do we as health professionals have an obligation to our clients to be developing our health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Well, I don't know about you, but I don't feel particularly "obligated" to anyone to do anything. I do, however, believe that I would be a better health professional if I did develop my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. I would be open to inspiration and enlightenment. I would have stamina. I would be in the right mind to serve. I believe that choosing to develop my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually is a opportunity that will make me a better health professional.
I can develop myself psychologically, physically, and spiritually through exercise, meditation, and faith promoting activities.
Tera,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you set up your blog, and insert pictures within the text. The pictures enhance the text, and make your blog enjoyable to read!
As I read your comments and the analogies you presented on whether or not someone needs to develop their own health and wellness before they can lead another, I decided even more strongly that it IS important for someone to have walked the path themselves before they can EFFECTIVELY lead another. I think it ultimately comes down to the quality of care that the practitioner can provide.
Let me give some examples &/or analogies. When I read your example of the male doctor who can deliver a baby even though he has never done so himself, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I have had a personal experience with this concept. I had three drug-free, natural deliveries. The first two were in a hospital with a male physician. The second delivery did have one intervention. They broke my water, which made the contractions much stronger. As I was struggling with that labor the thought suddenly occurred to me that NOONE in the room had ever gone through labor themselves. That thought sent me over the edge, and I basically lost it. I started yelling that none of them had any idea what I was going through, they didn’t know what they were talking about, and told them to stop telling me I was doing a good job …. and on … who knows all I said, but I can tell you in that moment, I felt extremely upset and very alone. My third delivery was in a birthing center attended by a midwife who was also a mother and same goes for the nurse. The difference in the two deliveries was amazing. The midwife did such a far better job… far better. Does that prove my point? Maybe not, it could be the different training the midwife had that helped make such a difference, but trusting her made a big difference for me as a patient.
I agree with your point that two people can figure out how to get someplace reading a map and figuring it out together, but it makes SUCH a difference when somebody comes along and says, “Follow me, I know the way….” It goes so much smoother. There are no U-turns, and they know which potholes to avoid. I remember reading you like to take yoga, and spin classes. Think about what the quality of either class would be if the instructor was overweight, out of shape, and sat in a big comfy chair and read the instructions for the exercise to the class. I guess it could work, the class could follow the yoga poses if the instructions for the pose are read to them, but the quality and the effectiveness would be significantly effected. So I realized reading your post, that maybe it isn’t completely necessary that the practitioner has walked the path themselves, but what it comes down to is the quality of the care or advice the client can receive.
Kathy
Hi Tera,
ReplyDeleteWell, I love reading your blog because you generally have a different viewpoint from me and you give me food for thought. I always gain a new idea or opinion. You made some very valid points about not having to walk the path and using a map. I do think in some ways this may work. We've all heard about the unskilled person who delivered a baby or the every-day guy who performed CPR on someone. These are success stories. There are some places that I would not accept it. For example, if my naturopathic doctor went to a conventional doctor or if my neighbor professed to be a Christian but never, ever read the Bible...ever. This would concern me and I wouldn't trust the individual. Would I ride with a 50-year-old Taxi driver on her first night of work? Absolutely. Would I ride with an 18-year-old Greyhound driver on a overnight 1,000 mile trip? I don't think so. I don't think I would sleep. Again it's a matter of trust because the 50-year-old could be a bad driver and the 18-year-old a cautious one. It's how we perceive the individual and credentials are important in our society. In the case of having a business in the Health & Wellness field, I personally won't go to someone who hasn't had some of the same struggles as I. My doctor has not experienced every thing that I have, but I trust her methods and her knowledge, therefore, it's okay that she hasn't walked my path...she has the one next to mine and she can hold my hand and get me to the end goal. There are always the exception to the rule and I thank you sharing a way to think outside the box! Always a pleasure visiting your blog!