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Center for Spiritual Intelligence® Inc |
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THE SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE ®SM
ADVISOR A monthly newsletter
bringing you great ideas for spiritual development and practical success! Published by Yaacov
J. Kravitz, Ed.D., © September 4, 2002, www.spiritutalintelligence.com *************************************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: Article: CONTEMPLATING CHANGE Free-Teleconference:
BRINGING SPIRITUALITY TO YOUR LIFE AND WORK **************************************************************************** Beginning this Friday night many of the Jewish faith will be
celebrating the New Year holiday of Rosh HaShannah. Traditionally this is a time
for introspection and rededication to one’s highest values. The theme of this
month’s feature article Contemplating
Change is therefore quite
appropriate as we approach the Fall Holy Day season. Last month we explored the first of the six stages of change
described by psychologist James Prochaska: precontemplation, contemplation,
preparation, action, maintenance and termination. This month we will examine the contemplation stage and
related spiritual concepts and techniques. In the precontemplation stage there is often a brief flash of
insight that things really are not the way they ought to be. The contemplation
stage is characterized by an acknowledgment that we have a problem or behavior
that we would like to change. The first two steps of 12 step addiction recovery
programs have a similar emphasis. They deal with admitting that an addiction
problem has become unmanageable and realizing that help is needed to restore
sanity to the addict. Admitting to
another person or to your Higher Power that you have a problem can create a
powerful emotional arousal that provides the needed push towards further action.
Many spiritual traditions recognize the importance of confession as an
important first step on the path to a more spiritual life. The work of the contemplation stage involves asking yourself
serious questions about your current behavior, its consequences and your
motivation. More information about
the problem behavior is sought in order to understand why you might want to
change and what you might have to give up. A spiritual way to approach the process of self-evaluation is by
identifying those things that you value in life such as health, integrity,
relationships, honesty, God or a sustainable environment.
Then determine the specific ways that you embody (or do not embody)
each value in your daily life. This self-assessment may reveal that your values
are in conflict with a particular problem behavior or other behaviors that you
have not considered to be a problem until this time.
If the discrepancy is large enough and your values are important to you,
then you will have created a strong motivation for change.
You will find some questions to guide your thinking along these lines in
the Spiritual Life Review assessment found on our website. In the contemplation stage you begin to define your goals in
behavioral terms and to imagine the specific behaviors that will help you
achieve those goals in your daily life. Once you have identified a behavior to
change, Prochaska suggests that you weigh the pros and cons of making the
change, as well as looking at how you and others will respond to you once the
change is made. The perceived
benefits of the change, the pros, must increase significantly before most people
are fully ready to move from precontemplation to the contemplation stage.
To move from contemplation to action the perceived cons associated with
the change will need to decrease significantly.
(See Prochaska's book Changing for Good, chapter 6, for a detailed
discussion of these principles.) Those wishing to apply this model of change to business settings will follow parallel steps. Once a problem is acknowledged in an organization you can begin to learn more about it, study it, collect data about it and begin to contemplate ways to correct the problem. Once you or your business have achieved adequate awareness of a problem, thoroughly examined it and firmly resolved to overcome it, you're ready for the next stage of change -- preparation. Next month we will explore the Preparation stage and a number of spiritual practices that will enhance your work of change. To
view previous issues of Spiritual Intelligence Advisor click NEWSLETTER.
=================================== From time to time I will be offering Tele-seminars and free
Teleconferences on the application of Spiritual Intelligence to life, work and
recovery from addictions and chronic illness.
Our first TELECONFERENCE will be on September 23 at 8:00 PM EASTERN USA
TIME. BRINGING SPIRITUALITY TO YOUR LIFE AND WORK Free - Teleconference Contact:
yaacov@spiritualintelligence.com =================================== WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Do you want to learn how to apply spirituality in your daily
living? Many people are feeling stressed and searching for more meaning, greater
connection and integrity at work and in their personal life.
Come and join us in an inspiring discussion on learning FOUR fundamental
keys to spiritual living that can work in your life! This one-hour tele-forum
will introduce you to spiritual concepts and how they relate to your life and
work. When you have a framework for applying spiritual principals, this provides
the means for you to begin your journey of sustaining joy and balance in life.
The goal of this forum is help you develop a framework that will support you in
beginning or continuing your own program of spiritual development. You will learn: ·
How to apply and practice four spiritual principles in your
life ·
What
it means to bring a spiritual focus to your life challenges ·
How
to bring loving kindness into your work and personal life ·
How
discipline and restraint achieves spiritual success ·
How
to create connection and healing at work and in life. ABOUT YOUR WORKSHOP LEADER: Yaacov Kravitz has spent 30 years working on the integration of
spirituality and psychology. His favorite personal spiritual practices include
meditation, mindfulness, yoga, prayer, chanting and study. He has developed a
comprehensive program for learning the skills of Spiritual Intelligence (R)
based on the ancient mystical teachings of the Kabbalah and the insights of
modern psychology. Yaacov enjoys
helping individuals and businesses achieve success in life and work through tele-coaching
and consultation. You can learn more at www.spiritualintelligence.com. TUITION: This class is FREE. Long distance charges for the call
will apply. ACCESS TO THE WORKSHOP: Registered participants will receive a
teleconference number to call. At
8:00 PM EST USA on September 23 dial the phone number and you will be instantly
connected with Yaacov and fellow spiritual seekers from around the globe. Space
is limited to 20 participants. TO REGISTER: E-mail Yaacov at yaacov@spiritualintelligence.com.
Please put the words: Register for Workshop" in the subject line. In
the body of your e-mail include: 1. Your full name; 2.
your location city, country;
3. Your e-mail address;
4. Your day and evening telephone number. In response
to your e-mail you will receive a confirmation of the workshop's date and
time, and the teleconference number. We look forward to meeting you!
Yaacov ******************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************** If you would like to bring spirituality into your personal work or
your organization we can help.
Send an e-mail to yaacov@spiritualintelligence.com briefly describing
your goals and request a complimentary half hour consultation. You can continue to LEARN MORE about Spiritual Intelligence®SM by
Reading about Spirituality on our web
site
Becoming part of our Spiritual Mentoring program or Professional
Coaching program. ******************************************************************************** Please send us your comments. Let us know if there is a specific
topic you would like addressed in this forum. ******************************************************************************** ABOUT YAACOV J. KRAVITZ, Ed.D. Yaacov Kravitz, a psychologist, certified pastoral counselor and
coach, has spent 30 years working on the integration of spirituality and
psychology. His favorite personal spiritual practices include meditation,
mindfulness, yoga, prayer, chanting and study. He has developed a comprehensive
program for learning the skills of Spiritual Intelligence®SM based on the ancient mystical
teachings of the Kabbalah and the insights of modern psychology.
You can contact Dr. Kravitz at yaacov@spiritualintelligence.com. ******************************************************************************** SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATON To subscribe send an e-mail to
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selected friends and colleagues of the author. Your name and other information
will never be shared with others. ******************************************************************************** DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS The above material is copyrighted, but you may retransmit or
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