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FAMILY SYSTEMS EXPLORED: BOWEN'S THEORY MEETS VARNASHRAMA DHARMA - (CHAPTER 02)

  ***Continued from Chapter 01 (Covered previously: Diwali & Family Ties, Bowen Family Systems, Three out of the eight concepts of the Bowen Theory Views) Link to Chapter 01 04: Family Projection Process Children inherit many types of problems (as well as strengths) through the relationships with their parents, but the problems they inherit that most affect their lives are relationship sensitivities such as heightened needs for attention and approval, difficulty in dealing with expectations, the tendency to blame oneself or others, feeling responsible for the happiness of others or that others are responsible for one’s own happiness, and acting impulsively to relieve the anxiety of the moment rather than tolerating anxiety and acting thoughtfully. The projection process follows three steps: These steps of scanning, diagnosing, and treating begin early in the child’s life and continue. The child grows to embody the fears and perceptions of the parent.   Example:- . . .

FAMILY SYSTEMS EXPLORED: BOWEN'S THEORY MEETS VARNASHRAMA DHARMA - (CHAPTER 01)

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".   Celebrations are wonderful ways in which our deep physical, social and psychological needs are met. The family is an important institution that plays a crucial role in the lives of most Indians. In this era of nuclear families, where we experience clashes and misunderstanding on multiple occasions, the survival and dignified growth of family relationships becomes a concern.   Diwali & The Four Life Stages – Varnashrama Dharma Diwali is not only a festival of lights but also the festival of family relations and celebration. In Ancient India, for the optimum fulfilment, satisfaction and peace in one’s life, the stages of life were discussed as the ‘ashramas’ or ‘Varnashrama Dharma’. The Varnashrama Dharma system consists of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. The chi

SOCIAL PROXIMITY: OUR LINKS TO PROXIMITY AND BEHAVIOURS ASSOCIATED

  Do we like someone more if they stand closer to us? Imagine we are the only person in an elevator when the door opens and someone walks in and stands right next to us.  Uncomfortable is likely an understatement to describe how we would feel.  But are there other circumstances in which a stranger can get that close to us and elicit not alarm bells of warning, but feelings of warmth?  According to research, the answer is yes. In today’s world, we are mindful of social distance expectations , whether cultural, social, or preventive post-pandemic.  We are also aware of personal boundaries , and the reality that different people have different comfort zones, and do not appreciate “space invaders.”  Yet in some situations, it appears that proximity can have a positive effect on first impressions, quality of interaction, and even generosity .  Research demonstrates that closer physical distance increases compliance with a request from a stranger on the street.  Many of us are familiar

COMPASSION TRAINING: BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED IN CULTIVATING COMPASSION - (CHAPTER 02)

  ***Continued from Chapter 01 (Covered previously: What is compassion, differentiation from pity, sympathy, empathy, love, etc., Orientations of compassion) Link to Chapter -01 How Can We Best Cultivate Compassion? A growing body of evidence suggests that, at our core, most humans have a natural capacity for compassion . Infants too young to have learned the rules of politeness spontaneously engaged in helpful behaviour without a promise of reward, and would even overcome obstacles to do so. Despite this, everyday stress, social pressures and life experiences, in general, can make it difficult to experience and fully express compassion to ourselves and to others. Fortunately, we also have the capacity to nurture and cultivate a more compassionate outlook.   Cultivating compassion is more than experiencing empathy or concern for others. It develops the strength to cope with suffering, to take compassionate action, and the resilience to prevent compassion fatigue – an extreme state of