Methods of Getting in Touch with Your Inner Child and Your Inner Self

In order to live a happy and healthy life one must be able to become in touch with their inner child. This may seems strange, but it is important to touch on that basic childlike instinct that many adults have lost with age. Here are some methods that can help you reach out to and embrace your inner child.

One method that I found very interesting involved only using crayons and paper. This method will help you meet your inner child. The first step to this process is to " sit quietly and picture in your mind's eye a beautiful place where the two of you can visit"; it will be beneficial if the place chosen is "safe and comfortable for your inner child" (Capacchione, 1991, p.54). Let your imagination really go into this place, and close your eyes to help the process. Now use your "non-dominant hand to draw a picture of your inner child," and do not "plan it or try to picture the outcome in advance" (Capacchione, 1991, p.55). When you are done observe the drawing and your feelings toward it.

Opposite parts of the brain control opposite parts of the body. The left hemisphere of the brain "contains language centers that control verbal and analytical processing," and the right side is "nonverbal and governs visual/spatial perception, as well as emotional expression and intuition" (Capacchione, 1991, p.37). This is important to understand because using the non-dominant hand means you are using the non dominant part of your brain a well. This will help unlock your inner child, and many repressed ideas.

Another interesting exercise that will help you become more in tune with your inner child and yourself is a portrait of protection. This exercises requires the use of paper and felt pens. Once again it is suggested that you use your non-dominant hand to "let your inner child draw a symbolic portrait of protection," and to use any image that feels right to you" (Capacchione, 1991, p.161). Then you must reflect on this picture and why it makes you feel safe, and what is required from it for comfort. This exercise helps you find the protective parent inside your self. It is important to understand what you need to feel safe, and sometimes you have to let yourself loose control in order to gain it I think it is particularly important in this exercise to use the non-dominant hand because of this fact.

These methods can help you look past your everyday outlook and beliefs; these exercises can help you reach inside and touch on something you have hidden away. If you can meet the needs that you are not aware of your life will become a much more peaceful and happy place.

References:

Capacchione, L. (1991). Recovery of your inner child: the highly acclaimed method of liberating your inner self. New York, NY: Fireside Publishing.

The Methods of Naturally Building and Why They Are Efficient

 

When most people hear of natural building they disregard it, and they assume that the way we have been building for years is obviously the best because we have been doing it for so long, but they are wrong. Natural Building is not only efficient but also good for the world. The building structures of most homes are foolish, and "buildings account for one quarter of the world's wood harvest" (Kennedy et al., 2002). The idea of working with nature on a basic level when building houses instead of working against it is something more people should understand and employ.

Cord wood is a method of building that was always slightly mysterious to me, I learned from this book that in order for the wood to rot it must stay wet for a long period of time, but since cordwood "breathes along end grains" the wall dries very quickly and the fungi that it needs to make the wood rot does not have a healthy living environment (Kennedy, Wanek, Smith, 2002). Cordwood is a method of building that I will use because it is attractive and efficient.

Certain methods when building will help a house in multiple ways; an example of this is when you want "to keep a house warm in the winter locate it halfway up a south facing slope so that frost and cold air are blocked, and free energy can fill the dwelling" (Kennedy et al., 2002). This idea ties in with the earthship design I am creating, and it uses the position in more ways than I had anticipated. I think that it is very beneficial and wise to make sure "every function is met by multiple elements" (Kennedy et al., 2002).

Another idea that I have adopted is organizing floor plans around activities; and I think this will be a great help when creating my floor plan later on. The basic idea is simple, but it makes a lot of sense when designing and building a house. For instance I have put the art room in my house on the far end because it will be quieter and peaceful; I chose this because the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen will be on the other end of the house, and this will keep my art room separate and secluded.

These techniques are beneficial to anyone who is planning on constructing a house or any other building because they help the home owner have a more efficient home, and they are useful of energy instead of wasteful. It is important to look at many different techniques when building your own house, but I encourage you to look into natural building for the sake of your own comfort, but also for the sake of the earth.

Reference:

Kennedy, J., Wanek, C., & Smith, M. (2002). The art of natural building. Gabriola Island: BC, Canada: New Society Publishers.

Methods for Improving Communication

Methods for Improving Communication


Best practices in communications: ten tips for improving communications and setting the stage for your success; With competing priorities and busy schedules, ... An article from: The Public Manager