If someone asked you today what you wanted more than anything else in life, what would you say to them? In this section ISHV will not only explore the good life, but more importantly how to obtain and maintain it. Throughout history there have been all sorts of notions as to how we can achieve the two prime goals in human existence (and the answer most often given to the question above): Happiness and Inner Peace. Can we find this inner Shangri-La through Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, Scientology, Hedonism, Asceticism, Atheism, No-ism? What are the basic structures of joy? Which path shall we take? How can we guide our children? These we believe are the most important questions human kind can attempt to answer. Equally important is how we can become a better role model and teacher for our children in their quest for a better life. Two major areas will be the foundation for this section: One cerebral and one experiential. The cerebral area will largely come from the rational and scientific base of the Cognitive Behavioral approaches to mental health and well-being. The grandfather of these approaches was Dr. Albert Ellis, a pioneer who broke from the shackles of psychoanalysis and Freud to create the third major movement in Psychology. He called his reason/scientific-based approach Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (or Theory). The experiential area will largely come from studies on mindfulness and from Zen. In a brief but very incomplete sense, Zen is a finger pointing at the human mind and reality. It is the reality of every moment “as it is” -- from the micro to the macro. From the tiniest subatomic particle to Galaxies circulating the Universe. This helps us put our problems and plights in proper perspective. It also humbles us and helps us to see that the only authority that anyone or anything has (including Religion and Science) is ultimately because of the power we give them. Through combining these two wisdom-based approaches to epistemology comes a sense of Freedom -- a freedom that allows us to pause and choose our actions. When the actions that we take come from a center of good will, empathy, and compassion toward others, we create a morality that can be taught from generation to generation. When we “react” to others from a set of fixed beliefs, we lose our freedom to choose and we become mired in a world of delusion and illusion becoming like automatons. As a result, our actions often come from ill will, greed, anger, hostility and intolerance. Others who don’t hold our views or beliefs become our enemy and immoral behavior based in anger often follows. Our overall goal is Freedom. Freeing the mind of the habits that create suffering and disturbance. We welcome your interest and involvement at the ISHV. If you would like to make a comment, complaint, or suggestion, or if you would like to present an article for possible consideration to Rational Living please contact Vincent E. Parr, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, at 2502 N. Rocky Point Dr. Suite 1010, Tampa, Florida 33607-1406; email: dparr11@verizon.net.
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Freedom from Holiday Stress By Dr. Bill Knaus Thanksgiving? Thanks To...Whom? by John Rafferty Anger the greatest human tragedy an article by Vince Parr Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Wanted:Moral Education For Secular Children By Paul Kurtz Protect yourself from stressful workplace politics with confident composure. By Dr. Bill Knaus Workplaces from Hell By Dr. Bill Knaus Hitting Bottom, Procrastination, and Self-Correction By Dr. Bill Knaus
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Rational Living
