Archive for July, 2009

Transformational Living for Eating Disorder Recovery

July 6th, 2009

By David Romero, Executive Director, Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Centers

David RomeroMany visitors to our 10-bed facility have asked us why we call it “Transformational Living Center” (rather than a “transitional living center”). The answer has its roots in an ongoing debate within the therapeutic community regarding the type of environment that supports positive change.

It is widely accepted that behavioral changes are never accomplished with a single step. Instead, personal growth has many different stages, and individuals move gradually through the process as they acquire new tools and skills.

A central tenet of Mirasol’s treatment philosophy is that personal growth is not a clean process, and that individuals must be allowed to practice their new skills in a safe and nurturing environment that is tolerant of failure. We honor the “humanness” of each client (and ourselves), and we accept that “perfection” is a conceptual ideal that has little to do with the reality of everyday living.

(more…)

Comments ( 0 )

, ,

An Intentional Life

July 1st, 2009

Chinese character for intentionThe Chinese symbol for “intention” is composed two distinct characters. The upper character means “present“ and the lower character means “heart“.

This morning I received a wonderful newsletter article from my friend, Donald Altman. I read it and read it again and I immediately saw the connection with my previous blog on “having a practice.”

“Intentions may be harmful, beneficial, or neutral in what they produce. Intentions are the seeds you plant to produce the eventual yield of your life. When repeated time and time again, the grooves created by intention turn into a habit. Habit then shapes your brain, your character, and life. The problem comes when intentions are unconscious or unheeded, and you are not the master of intentionality. One good easy way to create intentionality is to simply practice it. Set intentions throughout the day for breathing, walking, sitting, standing, driving, and talking.”
–Donald Altman, MA

Eating disorder recovery would be so simple if all we had to do was set our intentions throughout the day and then honor the intentions we have set. I would like all of my patients begin the day by setting their intentions with regards to food. They would set an intention to eat whole foods, in a healthy way, following their meal plans, and they would set their intentions for dealing with stress throughout the day.

(more…)

Comments ( 0 )

, , , ,

Next Entries »