Ice Cream for the Soul
Over 100 Playful Activities for Joy and Wisdom
by Joy Koenig, M.D.
This book contains a brief overview of mind-body medicine approaches such as optimism, prayer and meditation, creative visualization, Myers-Briggs personality type, body work and aromatherapy. For logistical purposes, I have placed this information on a separate part of the web site.
Our culture is increasingly moving towards the belief and practice that physical health is also mental and spiritual. Many ancient practices focus on prevention, encourage self-responsibility for health, and are often at least partly effective for conditions for which conventional medicine has failed to find effective treatments. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed scientific literature to support some of these approaches. Above all, if you do not recognize your own worth, you will not take care of your physical, emotional, mental or spiritual health needs.
The term "meditation" has secular and religious meanings. If the term "meditation" evokes images of sitting on a pillow with legs crossed, ethereal music playing in the background, burning incense, and the chanting of strange sounding words, I invite you to read the section on meditation, and expand your definition and perception of meditation. Many, if not all, of the activities in this book can be done as a form of meditation. None require the burning of incense, though you can always choose to do so. Like brushing your teeth, it's not just healthier for you -- those around you will find you more pleasant to be around if you find some type of meditation that works for you. Almost any activity can be redesigned to foster a meditative state.
Creative visualization is a specific form of meditation. It is the active and intentional use of visualization (imagery) to influence or create a specific outcome or goal. Creative visualization can be used to change our physiological or emotional state, enhance our creativity, and improve our athletic and social skills. Spiritually, creative visualization is often used to assist with the materialization of wishes and ideas, such as future business opportunities. It is characterized by the use of a script, whether the script is spoken or read by a trained facilitator, pre-recorded, memorized, or created impromptu as part of the imaging process. There is growing body of medical research that documents the mental and physical health benefits of practicing creative visualization. Regular use of this technique will bring more joy into your life, whether you want to relax and unwind, improve your golf game, or overcome a serious medical illness.
when you can look into your own heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung
In an attempt to fit in better and gain the acceptance of those around us, many of us repress our inborn natures and make choices that inadvertently drain our natural energy. The Myers-Briggs personality type system was developed by the mother-daughter team of Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, and incorporates the theories of noted Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Jung. It is an easy-to-use system that assists people with the task of identifying and understanding their natural way of moving through and interacting with the world. Through understanding how different types of activities and people affect your personal energy level, you can bring more joy into your everyday life. This section also includes directions on how to determine which type of stress management and meditation tools work best for your specific Myers-Briggs personality type.
There are many misunderstandings about the purpose and accuracy of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) and the meanings of the eight terms used to distinguish one Myers-Briggs type from another. If you are familiar with the concepts of Myers-Briggs personality type, and haven't found this system to be particularly accurate or useful to you, I encourage you to thoroughly read the sections in this book titled "MISTYPING" and "I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT TYPE!", before you make a final decision on whether or not personality type is a valuable and useful personal growth tool for you.
I also invite you to enrich your life by exploring the world of ancient spiritual and health practices. Explore aromatherapy, body work therapies, creative visualization, energy work, meditation and journaling. While I encourage you to use the modalities in this book as a soul treatment for health complaints, I do not endorse their use as the sole treatment for any medical condition.
I have attended various spiritual support groups over the years, some of them based on the "Twelve Steps". The formal openings and closings of the "twelve step" meetings included the statement, "Take what you like and leave the rest." I encourage you to take that approach in viewing this book. Focus on what fits with your beliefs, and politely dismiss the parts that don't fit or perhaps make you feel a little uncomfortable. Be your own expert. Choose your own way. There are many spiritual and religious paths. Each is valid. This book was written with the hope that everyone can find value here, regardless of their personal spiritual affiliation or belief.
Part of using this book is learning how to color outside of the lines again. Learning how to play is a new skill for some of us. Honor where you are in this learning process. Draw all the curtains shut if you need to do that. Use a child as an excuse -- pretend you are doing it for them, not for you! Some of you have already learned this secret. Gradually, you'll be able to do it for just yourself, and simply for the joy of it, not because you "should." In the meantime, consider it "Doctor's orders" to add a little more fun to your day!
Graphic source - Windy's Web (see front page).
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