Posts Tagged ‘courage center’

Unbelieveable Courage

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Origin: 

cour-

cuer heart

the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

 

-age

a suffix typically forming mass or abstract nouns from various parts of speech,


I'm just back from wrapping up Phase II of our study at the Courage Center of Minneapolis, MN www.courage.org . I know it will be a memory I'll hold forever. The individual and collective wisdom of this group of pioneering professionals was awe inspiring. This group truly followed the definition of the word Courage…they brought mass (embodied) the qualities of heart/cuer to their community.

As we sat in a large circle of over 25, I was impressed by the visible and palpable changes a year had brought to them. One year ago on Halloween weekend this same group sat/lounged/slumped together for the first time as they embarked on the mind~body training. Now, almost a year to the day, there sat a group with long, light spines, ease on the floor and embodied voices of confidence. Their stories inspired, challenged and moved one another from the deepest levels. From humorous anecdotes with clients to deep personal healing, each with a new sense of purpose and a new sense of hope grounded in experience.

The data isn't finished for this phase, but all indications suggest that despite going through higher levels of stress, the group experienced statistically significant increased meaning/purpose, job satisfaction and quality of life. There were opportunities to share their personal stories of the past year as well as to articulate intentions and vision for the coming year. There was no giddiness or false hoopla. Rather a quality of focused intention grounded in an embodied experience of silence. There were no ungrounded ramblings…rather each spoke with a deep confidence of conviction of the hard, but important work ahead. 

I want to thank this amazing group of individuals and the organization as an entity for their Cour-age in stepping up and making "the future of rehabilitation now" a reality. Keep leading the way my friends and rest well tonight….you are doing such important work.