Some of the MBS faculty after a successful weekend.
I had a big weekend last week. Now a week later, I can barely remember what happened. Time does not discriminate between important and unimportant experiences. Both get buried with equal pace.
The faculty at Mind Body Solutions was training 30 healthcare professionals in how to integrate mind-body principles into the healing relationship between caregivers and patients. Over 75% of the participants came from two leading healthcare organizations, including senior leadership from one of them.
We explored how intrapersonal mind-body interactions affect interpersonal mind-body interactions and vice-versa. In other words, we explored how mind-body awareness can improve the quality of the healing relationship and thus improve outcomes for both patients and caregivers. This led to the exploration of such things as how to sit in the presence of suffering without trying to fix it; how to give and receive simultaneously; and how mind-body awareness helps one create compassionate boundaries.
I know this all sounds complicated. But it wasn’t. Learning to utilize the body as a means to deepen one’s presence is a profoundly simple insight. The body teaches the mind about presence, not vice-versa.
I watched 30 deeply committed healthcare professionals come home to their bodies. They realized how what they feel matters within the healing relationship. They learned how to connect in both mind and body with their patients in mutually beneficial ways. Most importantly, they deepened their commitment to their own humanity.
The frontier of improving healthcare lies not in the promise of new and expensive technology. It lies within us. It lies in our ability to connect with both ourselves and each other. It lies within our humanity.
I know something wonderful happened last weekend, even though I cannot remember exactly how. I know because we have more company in our work. Two other, much larger organizations are now committed to improving mind-body interactions within the healing relationship. I feel hopeful.