In our modern age, creating harmonious, caring, emotionally mature, and loving relationships seems to be a chronic problem for many. Especially for those already in a committed relationship! Whether these relationships are of the intimate variety, familial or even collegial or societal, establishing rewarding and meaningful relationships seem to be an endless challenge that demands never ending ‘work’. For many persons following a spiritual path, their relationships are often viewed as an obstacle or diversion from "real spiritual work."
This all day workshop will present an opposing view. Rather than an obstacle to spiritual growth, relationships will be shown to be a remarkably coherent path to developing all the positive emotions and mind states that spiritual and meditative practice promise. Relationship will be shown to be perhaps one of the most direct and experiential means to developing a truly awakened and selfless life.
The objectives for this workshop are for participants to have the opportunity to:
- Explore a conceptual and practical pathway for developing relationships that are nurturing and meaningful, and have the capacity to heal, transform and awaken us.
- Recognize how everyday conflicts that arise within relationships are opportunities for spiritual growth and practice.
- Identify values and aspirations for how we want to be in life and in relationships.
- Learn mindfulness awareness practices that cultivate our natural capacity for love and promote the healing of emotional wounds triggered within relationships.
- Develop and practice communication skills that support awareness and healing within relationships.
Workshop leaders, Peter and Betsy Arizu will use their training in mindfulness, meditation and counseling, plus their personal journey as a married couple for over 30 years, to create a challenging and opening environment for workshop participants to learn practical and easily applicable means to facilitate the workshop’s goals. Presentations, mindfulness practice, and guided experiential meditations will all be utilized during the workshop.
Betsy is an instructor for the Mindfulness Institute. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling and 20 years of experience teaching and counseling in the public schools. She is currently studying Buddhist psychology and meditative traditions and is on the Board of Directors of the Florida Community of Mindfulness.
Peter has been a clinical hypnotherapist for over 35 years working with individuals and couples. He teaches self-hypnosis classes through the USF Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and mind fitness workshops at senior residences in the community. Peter has a Masters Degree in Education and worked for 33 years in Oakland Public Schools.
***Please bring a brown bag vegetarian lunch to enjoy during the break.
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider Number 50-14766. This course is approved for CE Credit which will only be awarded with verification of attendance. Grievance Procedure: Mail letter of complaint to Director of Continuing Education; 6501 N. Nebraska Avenue; Tampa, FL 33604.
