The other evening I went to the movie, The Intouchables, which I enjoyed very much. The movie is based on a true story of a wealthy Frenchman, Philippe, who is paralyzed from the neck down, and who hires a black ex-con, Driss, as his caretaker. There is a particular scene I want to share that involves a conversation between Philippe and a man who is acting as spokesperson for Philippe’s family and friends. The man arranged the meeting to share their concern over Philippe’s decision to hire a black ex-con as his caretaker. He says to Philippe something like, “I did a background check on your new caretaker and he just came back from six months in jail for robbery. I don’t know this man, but generally these people have no pity.” Philippe replies emphatically, “That’s what I want. No pity. Driss will hand me the phone because he forgets I have no use of my arms. He is strong, healthy, and full of life, so he can be my arms and legs.”
This short interchange is my favorite scene in the movie. As the movie unfolds, we watch as Driss helps bring Philippe back to life, simply by being himself and being real. Their relationship helps transform Driss as well. To me, this is a beautiful illustration of the power of a healing relationship, and demonstration for how both people are transformed by working together. It doesn’t matter who is patient and who is healer.
At some point, each of us, even those on the healer’s path, will seek out healing support. How do we choose? I am aware this is a very individual matter. Even so, people often have asked me for guidance in choosing a healing practitioner. I usually provide them the top three qualities I look for when seeking a health professional, traditional or alternative. This guidance is meant to be in addition to doing your research, gathering friends’ referrals, and checking the practitioner’s credentials, experience, specialties, types of health care practiced, and modalities offered. And sometimes, as depicted in the opening scene of the movie, you just have to go with your gut.
The first quality I look for when seeking out a healing practitioner is actually more a quality of relationship. I want to feel I am being treated as an equal. Typically, a practitioner sees a patient as someone broken, and looks for what it is about him/he that needs to be fixed. What if instead, the practitioner holds the vision of the patient as already whole, complete, and healed, regardless of what the patient believed to be true? What if she/he could see the person you are behind your story, your challenges, and your limitations, the person you are at your essence? What if the healer forgets you don’t have use of your arms, as in the movie, and treats you instead as that person?
The purpose for healing, therefore, would be to assist the patient in discovering his/her wholeness, in remembering who s/he really is. This is also the first key to healing. It is commonly known that a wise teacher is one that draws forth from the student the knowledge within. Similarly, a wise healer draws forth your innate health and healing abilities. She/he helps you see you are your own best healer. If we are equal, and in my opinion we are, “Who, then, is the therapist, and who is the patient?” According to A Course in Miracles, “In the end, everyone is both.”
Please share your thoughts or comments on remembering who you are, the first key to healing in the area below or on our Facebook page.
Remembering Who You Are: the First Key to Healing
A Guided Meditation
Find a comfortable seated position, close your eyes, and completely relax your body. Take
three slow three-part breaths. First fill up your stomach, bring the
air up to the chest, and then bring it up into the upper chest or
shoulders. Visualize yourself in your favorite place in
nature, either real or imagined. Open up all of your inner senses. See
the beauty of the nature surrounding you. Hear the sounds of nature: the
insects, birds, breezes, etc. Smell the scents of nature. Taste the
tastes of nature. Maybe you can even taste the scents. Feel the earth
under your feet; feel the sun on your skin, feel the breezes in your
hair. Become aware you are standing in sacred space. Become aware
you are part of this sacred place. Sense yourself as one with the sky,
with the trees, with the earth…Now ask to be shown who you truly are. Ask to be given an experience or vision of your true Self.
Pause for a few moments in the silence after you’ve asked. You may or may not have a vision; instead you may get a sense or a feeling. You may see a symbol or hear a message or words. Relax and open to the experience. Be patient. Allow whatever comes or doesn’t come to be perfect. Pause for a moments after you’ve been given the vision, the sense, the feeling or the experience. Take it in deeply.
Notice, that although you have a body, you are not the body. Notice, that although you have emotions and desires, you are not your emotional body. Notice, that although you have thoughts and beliefs, you are not your mental body. Here, in your essence, you are whole, complete, and eternal. Here in your essence, you have all the resources, knowledge, and love that you have ever wanted or needed. You are holy, magnificent and powerful. You are connected, one with all beings and loved.
Pause for a few moments and be with all that you are. When you sense you are done, open your eyes. As you go about your days, remember who you truly are. Repeat this meditation as often as needed.
