STILL LEARNING ABOUT MY SELF

SANDTRAY WORKSHOP EXPERIENCES- 4 MORE LEVELS TO COME
What happened?-The sandtray workshop in early September 2008 was something that I want to go into. My experience of the sandtray is it's a tool that helps me to express my thinking , feeling and action easier and faster in a way that those small figureins triggers some past or new thoughts, feelings and behaviours versus if I was just talking to the counselor.
What are you feeling?-As I layout the sandtray "stories" past experiences especially treasured moments with friends and family came in flashing inmy mind.
How did I react?-As an outer witness to the others'sandtray, wow I realise how unique the Human Being is! same thing/figurines gave different meanings. different colour have difference association of different experiences.
What did you do?-As a counselor I need to remind myself that ..it is always about the client and his/her relationship to another human being...if I remember that, and practice seeing things from the client's perspective than the session can connects....and start the issue/concerns dealings according to the client.
What did I learn about myself? I did not know any of the sandtray participants..I was suprised that that many experienced counselors in Malaysia wanting to learn about this tool of SANDTRAY. I got nothing on actual counseling experience. It sort of frightened me to be allowed to become a mock counselors for one of the tray in that workshop. As I practiced to give feedback, my brain was catching up on what is spoken, on what the client is not saying, an on the said meaning og things in the tray. It was a stressful 10 minutes of giving my feedback. My upperarms muscles tensed and by whole body hardened but I manage to listen, and give the feedback. Until you go through the experience you or rather I cannot say anything.Oh, I have changed. I learned to really listen. I learned to focus when listening do not speak whether verbally or think it in the brain... give the client the time if his life that is the way to help as in counseling. THANK YOU DR DI from UM, Malaysia. See u next level.

RAMADAN - FASTING MONTH OF 2008

1. What happened? Its September 1st 2008 and for the Muslims its that month of the year that we make adjustments to everyday routine- fasting and stop the daytime eating - the time duration from dawn to dusk. Talk about getting things done and making change, is a challenge to my self discipline and control. Fasting is a must practice for me as a Muslim. It is one of the 5 pillars of the Islamic religion. Today it is the third day of fasting and at the end of it a celebration the Aidil Fitri is waiting.
2. What were your feelings? During Ramadan I mentally review my prayer profile.Am I better at practicing the 5 times prayer daily? Am I up to it to fasting all the 29 days? Is my sunnah /Terawih prayer going to be for every day? Have I learned the juz amma? I did a lot of self reflection - Am I better this year?
3. How did you react? In my heart I know where I am. I cannot lie to my self. I know I still could do better.
4. What did you do? I practice self discipline and self control .
5. What did you learn about yourself?. Nobody can really get me to change but myself and my commitment
6. What did you learn from the situation? Keep on trying to keep promises especially those doings for my afterlife. I must get to resources, read it and do it.
   
7. What were your assumptions in entering this situation? I know what I got, I know how far I can go, I just have to stick to it long enough to change things to get what I desire, want and what I can have.
   
8. How have these assumptions been changed? Depends on situations, times and resources factors.