Brain Work and SOUL~cial Work

"However, when we shift our awareness or "frequency" from self-consciousness -- where fear, impossibility or feelings of separation reside -- to cosmic consciousness, which is in total harmony with the universe and where none of those feelings exist, then anything is possible." ~James Redfield.



I started this post with a James Redfield quote, because some of his lessons from The Celestine Prophecy has surfaced in my life. One of the powerful ideas surfacing for me suggests that a conscious awakening is occurring in the human culture. This heightened awareness is stimulated by one's curiosity and connection to the coincidences occurring in Life (Redfield, 1993). Well, I've had a few series of coincidences occurring in the past 3 months. On August 8th, 2009, my mother sent me one of her weekly emails, which I have labeled in my email account ~ Mom's Wisdom. This email entailed a small exercise called Brain Yoga. Check out this news clip from CBS2 News.





For more information on Super Brain yoga visit: http://pranichealing.com/

You might be asking, how does any of this connect to Social Work? Well, during my second class in Community Practice, Professor Yellow Bird discussed neuroplasticity and the power of this practice in social work. Neuroplasticity has been scientifically proven to enhance the brain. Rebuilding the brain helps people in their overall functioning and well being, which gives empowerment a whole new meaning. (Yellow Bird, Lecture 9/1/2008). I became very interested in Professor Yellow Bird's work in neuroplasticity after he had the class stand up and taught us a new brain exercise. He taught us super brain yoga. Coincidence?


Let's say it was one of those small coincidences in life and it had no meaning. I can live with this and go on not thinking twice about it. However, when I have a third or fourth coincidence, I think there's some thing going on. For example, I work as group facilitator in a domestic violence batterers intervention program in Humboldt County and Del Norte County. We were having a small discussion on the impact and consequences of domestic violence on brain development in children in one of the groups. This discussion led to other conversations about personal thought patterns and how they're connected to personal fears and past trauma. Fear became the topic of discussion and I started thinking about Professor Yellow Bird's lectures that refer back to human fears and the potential discourse it creates in the human experience. I was consumed in my thoughts during a break in group. I was thinking about the creation and culture of Fear. A group member snapped me out of my thoughts and handed me a video, The Celestine Prophecy. They told me, "I thought of you, when I watched this. Thought you might like it."


So, these thoughts and experiences with fear, neuroplasticity, and human consciousness seem to come in full circle. Does this mean neuroplasticity will free humans from the culture of fear and raise the global human consciousness? Science hasn't answered this question. However, science has proven that the brain can rebuild it structure, which can free people from their past limitations. Neuroplasticity seems like another powerful tool that empowers people with finding their true human potential on a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual level. I love this idea of empowerment, because it gives social work professionals the freedom to explore new and innovative ways to tap into our gifts and some of the deeper purposes of our lives. Our Soul Purpose.

Here's some more information on neuroplasticity if you're interested in this form of practice.

http://www.memoryzine.com/neuroplasticity.htm