Sum of Its Parts - Ice Cream for the Soul by Joy Koenig, MD - Personal Growth, Wellness, Healthy Lifestyle, Meditation, Inspiration

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
CATEGORY

        Meditation Game

DESCRIPTION

        Find something to take apart without worrying about putting it back together.

INSTRUCTIONS

        Look through your basement, attic or local junk yard and find something that is broken, mechanically complex, and of little value to you. Radios, record players, clocks, watches, outdated computers and small appliances like toasters make good choices. Now, simply take it apart and learn how your gadget works, what materials it's made from, and how it was assembled. Open each cavity and take off each part. Was the part made by hand or machine? How was it joined to the rest of the gadget -- is it a snap fit, threaded fastener, glue, spot weld? What material was used -- metal, plastic, fiberglass? What type of metal or plastic? How was it formed? (forged, cast, machined, injected or blow molded). Stay centered and focused on your task, and you'll put yourself back together while you take something interesting apart. You'll calm your own inner workings as you focus on the man-made world.

JOY'S JOURNEY

        Adolescence often includes the process of taking apart your values and beliefs, looking at them with new eyes, then sorting the ones that still fit who you are from the ones that don't. I spent my teen and college years hanging on to the edge of my life with my fingertips, so my "adolescence" came ten years late.

        Remember the outdoor treadmill that George Jetson exercised his dog on in "The Jetsons" cartoon? Astro pulled him along faster and faster until poor George was hanging on for dear life, hollering to Jane for help. My "Astro" was my unconscious need to feel loved, accepted and valued by my family. These values and beliefs relentlessly pulled me faster and faster on the "treadmill" of becoming a doctor -- college, medical school, internship, residency, fellowship -- an exhausting pace, and once you get on, its tough to get off. Just like George Jetson, I eventually realized things had gotten out of hand, and I hollered for help. When I took apart my values and beliefs, I wasn't surprised that many of them belonged to my family and professional peers, but not to me. No wonder I felt like "the dog" was running me instead of vice versa. I started following my own values and beliefs, and that's when I chose to step off the treadmill of conventional medicine and public health onto my own path.

        Periodically taking apart your life is important, even if it means you won't ever put it back together exactly the same way. On days I'm tired or discouraged, I re-examine my values and beliefs and make sure I'm the one setting the pace and direction of my life's treadmill.

QUOTES

The life that is unexamined is not worth living.
Plato

If you destroy a bridge, be sure you can swim.
Swahili Proverb

To destroy is always the first step in any creation.
e. e. cummings

Dr. Joy is available to present playful workshops (playshops) at your corporate training retreat, non profit organization gathering, or club membership meetings. She is located in Denver, Colorado, and travels throughout the US to deliver Serious Fun ™ Programs for personal growth, wellness, and inspiration. Please see the program pages for details and contact information.

This playful meditation activity is COPYRIGHTED. If you are a professional trainer, coach, human resources person, counselor, or therapist it is not ethical nor legal for you to use it or share it with your clients or those you supervise/train as part of your job. See the copyright notice on the front page of this e-book. Remember, character is what you do when no one is looking. Please take the high road, and pay me appropriately to use these materials professionally, even if you work for a church, school, non-profit or the government.