“Disheartenment to Optimism” – Online Dialogue with Dr. Rene Samaniego (Philippines)

Philippines : Online Forum with BK Sister Denise and Dr. Rene Samaniego

An online dialogue on the psychological and spiritual impact of disheartenment and how it can be transformed into optimism was held on June 13, 2020.  Hosted by the Brahma Kumaris Philippines, the live webinar dubbed “Disheartenment to Optimism” was led by Dr. Rene Samaniego, an award-winning Filipino psychiatrist and educator, and Sister Denise Lawrence, a Rajyogini for more than 50 years who has professional media experience with the BBC and in values education.

Psychological Perspective on Disheartenment, Dr. Rene Samaniego

Dr. Rene compared the pandemic to a nightmare in that it is disturbing, frightening and disheartening.  In the middle of this nightmare,  we need to physically and emotionally wake up. There is an awakening taking place not only individually but collectively. We look at the virus as an enemy but we can perhaps look at it as an agent of transformation towards meaning-making. The situation has called us to this reality that we are all in this together and we need to cooperate with and help each other.

The world has been driven to a PAUSE. The pause is necessary so that we, like the  computer, need to reboot and rest. While the pandemic has brought us to our sense of mortality,  it also makes us aware to value and connect with life more.  We need to answer to this huge wake-up call and reflect … on who we really are and what it is we are here for.

Everything boils down to choice, Dr. Rene said.  Hopefully, this pause that we are experiencing now will be intentional rather than imposed, that we will mindfully stop to notice that life is sacred. He ended with the poem of Rumi entitled “Guesthouse” which is  a good reminder not to resist any experience because, like any guest, they will arrive and they will go.

Spiritual Dynamic of Disheartenment, Denise Lawrence

Spiritually depleted, psychologically weak and falling apart, observed Sister Denise, the human race is in a mess and we need to think. What gives a lot of optimism, says Sister Denise, is that people are thinking for themselves which is healthy, not so much from the angle of selfishness but from the need to take care of ourselves and of each other.

It is really very good to be placed in a situation where we are forced to look within. It is beyond the capacity of any one government, religion or organization. And this kind of forum is important to be able to talk about these things. We have a right to express ourselves and look at the reality around us. If we are going to bring the sacred back, what do we mean by that?

Selected Question-and-Answer Portion

On toxic positivity (Sister Denise):
The sacred includes the dark nights of the soul which is important for the soul to go through in order to transcend personal weaknesses and lack of maturity. We have to go through these struggles in order to come out the other side as opposed to pretending that nothing is wrong. To bring back the sacred in our lives is to be real about the intensity of what humanity is going through. One of the ways this is projected into society is through the arts and to see that anything that is going on, to be sensitive.   People have to be very sharp in detecting manipulation from the advertising industry. It is very difficult to get real information. To bring the sacred we have to express the anguish that is going on and this has to do with the intensity of pain of the separation of the spirit, from the divine.

How do I know if I have achieved optimism?

(Dr. Rene):  It is important to accept the realities of life like challenges, sorrow and sadness along with joy and happiness. Life is difficult, but a big part of what makes life difficult is the resistance to the fact that it is difficult. In mindfulness practice, we accept things as they are so that we can deal with them appropriately.  From a psychodynamic perspective, toxic positivity is a projection of being happy in your life when you are actually feeling miserable. In mindlfulness it is a practice of self-compassion. This is a moment of suffering so how can I take care of myself in this suffering?

(Sister Denise):  Spiritual practice is to go inside. I am very optimistic because I understand certain spiritual truths. Having gone through a lot of opposition, I notice that there is a great power inside that is getting activated from an acceptance of how difficult things are but there is an inner resilience that comes from years and years of not giving up. That this too will pass and there is a consolidation of inner force that is solid.  It makes me confident of myself and my capacity to get through this. Wisdom and compassion emerge not only for the self but real love for the world.  There is also this energy of light and a sort of renovation coming through that I join with what makes me feel optimistic.

Summary Points:

The moderator, BK Francis Mina, a professional counselor of IOTA PHI Chapter of CHI SIGMA IOTA,  presented the following key points for turning disheartenment to optimism:

  1. Try to find meaning (with patience, reflection and humility in the experiences of fear and disheartenment
  2. With the awareness of the limitations and impermanence of life, we can learn/choose to value life and connect to it more
  3. Feelings of danger, hopelessness and helplessness are real. It is good to acknowledge and talk about the realities of life
  4. We need to take care of each other with comfort, compassion and encouragement. We even need to challenge / discern each one’s beliefs and behaviors to uplift each other
  5. It helps to reflect on one’s life (awareness and acceptance)

The webinar concluded with a guided reflection led by Sister Denise where she asked participants to first breathe deeply and breathe out the anxieties and tensions, turn the mind’s eye within to be with the self and the sacred ..…

Please feel free to watch the video  through this link: https://www.facebook.com/rajayoga.makati/videos/263676284693711/

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