by Mary-Louise Myers, Esoteric Practitioner, Goonallabah NSW
From 2003 through 2009 I worked in a program designed to ‘Care for Carers’. This was an innovative program whereby elderly full-time carers who looked after partners with dementia were brought together in a holiday setting to have a rest, obtain support in the way of legal and financial advice, be updated on what assistance was available through different government agencies, and receive support for their wellbeing. I ran groups that offered them support for their general wellbeing and I also offered them individual ‘hands on’ Esoteric Healing sessions. I would present a two hour group when they first arrived, and another at the end of their stay. The second group gave them an opportunity to share the changes that they had already put in place and get any further support if needed before they went back home.
Many of you may know how difficult it is to watch your loved one go down the path of dementia. It can be very painful and stressful to see the person you love not only get sick, but also lose all memory of their relationship and their life with you. I would be confronted with a group of very elderly men and women (who mostly needed to be cared for themselves!!), who were more often than not very stressed, exhausted, depressed and confused as to why this was happening to them and their partners.
A few years into running these groups I shared a simple 10 minute meditation technique that I learned at a Universal Medicine course.
This short meditation, called the ‘gentle breath meditation’, supported them enormously. The technique calls on you to close your eyes, be present with yourself, and then begin to gently breathe in and out through your nose. I suggested that they do this in the morning and evening for 5 – 10 minutes, and at any time through the day when they felt to, explaining that this would enable them to begin to re-connect with themselves; and with this newfound connection they would not react so much to their partners, nor take on their emotional state.
Now a lot of these elderly people had been through the war, or were farmers that had worked on the land all their lives – very down to earth people; so you can imagine when I first presented them with this technique that they were somewhat sceptical. I would ask them to give it a go before they passed judgment on it, and given it was only a short time it was realistic for them to try. Every time, and I mean every time, after they gave it a go they were amazed at how different they felt. They also found that in the ensuing week they did not take on their partner’s emotional state as easily as they had been, and they were responding to difficult situations rather than getting all stressed and reactive. For example, one elderly man would get upset, frustrated and angry every time his wife, who used to dress beautifully before she got dementia, would come out of her room with three pairs of underpants over her trousers and her tops on back to front etc. He learned through this breathing technique to stay present with himself, not react or get angry with her, but simply let her be and encourage her to take the underpants off. He began to feel that the way he used to react was there to avoid his own pain of seeing and feeling how much his wife was not the same woman he had once married. Once he recognised this he was able, little bit by little bit, to feel his own pain, let it go, and accept the illness his wife had. This is a major issue with a lot of the partners: they find it very difficult to accept that their partner has dementia and so they react to most of their behaviours… but once they start to accept the fact it is much easier for them to deal with what comes up day to day. Another example is one woman who would always feel sad when her husband was sad; after achieving connection with herself she did not take on his sadness but remained with how she felt. All this stemming from a simple 5-10 minute meditation!
Another thing I had learned from Universal Medicine and that I then shared with these carers was about the importance of caring for and nurturing yourself – in order to be able to truly care for and nurture another. This again was a new thing to them, because most had been brought up being told “they were selfish” if they were to do something for themselves; or that “you need to look after your sisters or brothers“, etc. Once I explained this principle it made sense to them, but of course a lifelong habit of putting everyone else first was hard to break so I gave them some practical examples of how they could start to care for themselves. For example, having some time in the morning to go for a walk; or some other activity just for themselves before they started the day caring for their partner. You may think this is common sense and it is, but again, most of these elderly people had never learned to put themselves first (nor had I until I came to UniMed). They learnt that by doing this the quality of their care for their partners greatly improved.
Over the six years that I was part of this holiday program, these simple tools transformed many of their lives enormously. Not only did many carers share with me in the follow-up group before they left the program what a difference the breathing technique and other tools I had introduced had already made in their lives, but I would see many of them in the ensuing years, and the changes that they had put into place were truly inspiring.
During this time I observed that the support staff and management of the carers’ program were also very stressed, and again were putting the needs of those they cared for before their own. Their own health and wellbeing was suffering because of this, and so I started running groups for the staff of the program who also greatly benefitted, and in turn started to change the way they worked. They were able to experience that if they nurtured and cared for themselves first, they had more energy and a greater quality of care for their clients.
What I shared was common sense; no different to the teachings of Universal Medicine, which presents very practical, down to earth tools that, if applied, really do work. And not only do they work, but they actually transform people’s lives. In this instance, the carers, their partners and their families benefitted greatly from these teachings, and so did the support staff, their clients and their own families as they were no longer going home stressed and in reaction to their day.
The changes in the people I worked with over the six years I was there were truly inspiring and a testament to their commitment to choosing to care for themselves, in seemingly simple ways, that nevertheless made big changes in their lives.
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
I couldn’t agree more that Universal Medicine presents “…very practical, down to earth tools that, if applied, really do work. And not only do they work, but they actually transform people’s lives.”
The Gentle Breath Meditation is so simple and definitely worth a go like your clients found out. It is amazing how steadier we become when practising this technique.
Inspiring to read about the changes taking place, not only with the carers but the relatives also. All too often I see the relatives of the patients with an illness suffering themselves and often display anger, resentment and frustration towards the person who has the illness. One gentleman told me that if he had known that his wife was going to get MS, he would not have married her. He felt trapped in a life that he felt he had not signed up for.
Fantastic sharing. Shows how the simple power of reconnecting to oneself can be life changing.
This is such a great story and it shows that life need not to be complicated and that it is the littlest things for our own love and care that bring huge changes to ours lives.
One of my favourite blogs to read because it highlights how practical and applicable to all the work of Universal Medicine is. Tools such as self care and the Gentle Breath Meditation can be taken into each persons life and offer a foundation for true change. The current model of how life is doesn’t work, yes we can survive and function in it but it’s so very limiting. I feel that Serge Benhayon gets attacked because he challenges how life is and offers another model based on a true way which actually does work. My life, and the lives of many others in the Universal Medicine student body attest to that.
All the support and advice from Universal Medicine is always practical and common sense, as this sharing demonstrates, and can bring life changing-results.
Great sharing, Mary-Louise, of the effectiveness of The Gentle Breath Meditation. For me it has been an immeasurable support in my life
I agree – Gentle Breath Meditation is so simple and easy, and it is that simple and easy that we often overlook and take for granted. Choosing to breathe our own breath is so powerful and reminds us what it is like to be connected with our true essence while doing life.
Such a great example of the fact that carers need caring for too, especially those that are in the latter years of their lives. Caring for someone can be very stressful at any age but caring for someone close to you who is losing their mental faculties is incredibly challenging indeed. This wonderfully supportive program needs to be offered in every community as it would undeniably make a difference to so many lives
Universal Medicine provides us with invaluable tools for life, to care and treat our bodies as something sacred as it is through our bodies we get to know we are so much more of what we have come to understand our true nature to be.
Carers are frequently very exhausted if not totally run down. The Gentle Breath Meditation offers a simple and very practical tool to reconnect and start caring for themselves before they care for another/others. After all, care starts with self first.
That really is inspiring. And I love how simple what you taught them was and yet it was still so profound. No bells, whistles or large sums of money need be exchanged when we keep things real. The best investment of all is the one we put in ourselves.
When we accept, we are living in the present. We no longer are holding on to a picture from the past of how things were and face what there is to face supporting one another rather than getting caught up in our emotions. There is no doubt that when we are taking responsibility for our wellbeing to live in the present it has a knock on effect on those around us.
Beautiful how effective the gentle breath meditation is, I loved how you allowed them the opportunity to reconnect with themselves and not take on the issues of their loved ones, but to simply observe what was happening.
I had a conversation with an elderly friend recently about the importance of self-care and self-love. Their response was that to care for themselves first went against everything they had been taught in their lives. Being selfish, to the detriment of others in our lives is not what self-care and self-love is about. It is about honouring our own needs to care for and love ourselves as a foundation for our relationships and encounters with others. The alternative seems rather bizarre. Do we really expect people to neglect their own fundamental needs as a sort of self-sacrifice all for the sake of others? Surely it is pure common sense to look after ourselves and yes, love ourselves. Why not? Why would we choose to have anything other than loving relationships…including the relationship with ourselves?
Richard it’s a great comment, thank you. It shows how invested we are in being good and if that means a belief to sacrifice ourselves for others then that is what we do, because it’s what we have been taught. We put our trust into what’s given to us as children, and we continue as adults to give our power away to beliefs and ideals even in the face of how ineffective and uncomfortable they are to live.
When we breath our own breath we become aware just how much we have given our breath away, so to speak, for others or for situations happening around us. Beautiful to re-claim our breath for ourselves and not for any other.
What a beautiful share Mary-Louise, a true service to the elderly. It is sad when people can get to the point where they can’t recognise their loved ones.
I am thinking of introducing this simple Gentle Breath Meditation to my work environment – it is so simple, effective and can be done anywhere, as long as you’re not driving. I feel this to be part of a work’s daily environment. What an amazing gift from Universal Medicine.
How inspiring yet what you have illustrated shows how bizarre it is that we are not taught the importance of self care before we care for another. It is the complete opposite of what is considered good, worthy and self-less. I would say that when we offer support to another when we are unable to adequately support ourselves, what we are offering comes with a level of resentment that is felt and not the love that we so desperately want to offer.
It’s such a deeply ingrained behaviour to put others needs before our own needs, yet as you say when we nurture ourselves the quality of our care is even greater. For me this is an equality issue, that we ourselves deserve the same level of care and quality of life as everyone else.
What Universal Medicine presents around self-care and self-love does truly work as you have shared here Mary-Louise, making more loving choices benefits us greatly but also provides a powerful reflection for others to feel inspired and supported by.
Once we start to truly care for ourselves, much changes for us and everybody else around us; it is a true ripple effect that brings with it honesty and much needed answers instead of quick fix and solutions.
The Gentle Breath Meditation and a presentation on self nurturing are great tools to offer anyone . . .”The changes in the people I worked with over the six years I was there were truly inspiring and a testament to their commitment to choosing to care for themselves, in seemingly simple ways, that nevertheless made big changes in their lives.” . . . Beautiful Mary-Louise!
Some simple tools to support people to live everyday, sounds great. We often look for huge change in an instant and are disappointed when that expectation isn’t met. Are these things like say saving for something? You don’t just wake up with a huge amount in your bank account but you get there by doing a little bit often. What I am saying here is that don’t have an expectation on how things should be but get support or at least start supporting yourself in the smaller things often. This consistency will bring or build over time and it becomes a natural part of your life. This article mentions some great support tips and the Gentle Breath Meditation is one of them. If you were to do this for a little time everyday it would make a huge difference. We often look as I said for something big to change how we are feeling but what if all we needed to do was support ourselves truly so we could deal with what was happening another way?
True, lasting change happens slowly, through living and building a consistency everyday, Taking a few moments in each day to just stop and notice how I’m breathing has had a big effect, over time; less anxious, less overwhelmed, less reactive, more myself.
Great and I agree and like anything we don’t stop there. Once you have it nailed and appreciate the “few moments” then build this into more moments and then before you know it this way of being will be just you naturally and the “few moments” will be all the other.
What you offer us here is an amazing support for people in a very challenging situation. It is such a blessing to be given a tool that is so practical and gives you the space to feel who you are. I can’t imagine being in that situation and watching someone I love deteriorate in front of my eyes. We are not really made aware of how many people are affected by this condition.
Beautiful Mary-Louise. Universal Medicine shares with us a way to live that offers joy and well-being in our everyday lives and it is then for us to share this with the world. It is a powerful ripple.
Caring for another without caring for oneself is just impossible, but we’ve all tried it anyway. Considering how sicker and older the entire population all over the world seems to be getting, I reckon there are many programs around to support the carers, and what you have shared here is so inspiring and it’s just amazing how a very simple technique such as Gentle Breath Meditation can make a big difference. And I have a feeling that getting a taste of re-connecting with our true quality prepares us for the inevitable passing over of our loved ones, as well as our own.
I hadn’t considered this Fumiyo. Re-connecting through the Gentle Breath Meditation supports us to feel more of the essence of who we all are, it stops the neediness and allows space for each of us to simply be. It has also supported me to know, from my body and not my head, that we are all connected way beyond the physical connection of our bodies, which has made that passing over process so much less traumatic.
Mary-Louise, thank you for sharing this, ‘What I shared was common sense; no different to the teachings of Universal Medicine, which presents very practical, down to earth tools that, if applied, really do work. And not only do they work, but they actually transform people’s lives’, I agree, thanks to the presentations of Universal Medicine I have learnt some very practical tools that have been life changing for me. I love the simplicity of what is presented at these courses and workshops. The most life-changing things for me have been having rhythm in my life; going to bed early which feels amazing; not reacting to everything and everyone and taking things personally; feeling a love and acceptance for myself and seeing and feeling my own beauty – pretty amazing changes.
I just love reading this blog and hearing of the changes that people made in their lives as a result of being supported to re-connect more and care more deeply for themselves. And what a ripple effect this has – radiating out to support all those around them too.
This is fantastic, I know you have written a blog about it but wondered was there a survey or something done as well that measured these changes and although you are not running these groups anymore is someone else? With the GP’s, hospitals, clinics etc getting bogged down, stressed and financially bankrupt we desperately need things in place like this about true well-being, self-care, self-love and nurturing and …. this doesn’t cost a thing (or hardly anything) compared with the benefits that are seen. The templates Universal Medicine have with regards to self-care, palliative care, supporting cancer patients etc are truly amazing and are templates/models we can all use and put into place within our own communities.
The benefits of the Gentle Breath Meditation in this story prove that true meditation is about connecting back to ourselves and not about going on a journey to anywhere via our mind, escaping in other words. And it also proves that there is absolutely no need to sit for hours on end and be uncomfortable which are all distracting from true connection.
It is great to read how life changing something as simple as the Gentle Breath Meditation can be, it gives us an awareness of being able to observe and not react in life.
The principles of Universal Medicine are so simple and easy to apply and can transform lives as you share here Mary-Louise. They really need to be shared much more widely as they truly work and thus benefit all.
Beautiful Mary Louise, both in what you share and what you have taken to the community. I love the phrase “I would ask them to give it a go before they passed judgment on it”. What a simple suggestion.
It is such a simple premise, care for yourself and the quality of care for another is better, and I agree Mary-Louise, it is one of many common sense practical tools that Universal Medicine has given me to go away and work on should I wish, and I found it has transformed how I live my life, certainly less reactive and more consistent in my day to day.
Great sharing Mary-Louise – it shows how something so simple like the Gentle Breath Meditation, as presented by Universal Medicine, can be life changing. We are led to think we need to care of others 1st but as you say if we 1st do not take care of ourselves what state are we in and what quality of care do we then offer others?
The tools Universal Medicine presents to support us with developing a connection to and relationship with ourselves are so simple, practical and down to earth, that it can be hard to believe they will make any difference. But if applied consistently, gently and consciously to the way we live our lives, the changes that occur, as documented here, are profound.
A simple technique like the Gentle Breath Meditation and doing something for oneself at the beginning of the day have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves and how we then approach relationships and situations. I love the example of the husband who couldn’t bear to see his wife not look after herself and present herself in the smart way he was used to seeing her. It is very difficult to witness those we love ‘losing it’ but how beautiful when we can see our way to understanding and support that person with love.
“These simple tools transformed many of their lives enormously”. Big changes are not needed to change the world. It starts with the most basic of things and the effect can be mind blowing. A beautiful story Mary-Louise.
This is inspiring, much needed and actually easy to learn and do. From starting to become a carer of my father I can relate to how much one is challenged by the state of being and behaviour but even more so by one´s own emotional processes, attachments, investments, ideals, memories, needs and also helplessness. So, it takes some support, inspiration and learning how to have a relationship with oneself, the one we care for and the tasks one may not be prepared for in caring for another.
Among the many important points shared here in this blog, the affect of living in reaction is one of them. To me, when we react we give our energy to the very issue or problem we are trying to deal with. It can be very hard not to react sometimes – and I certainly still react at times. But, I know that when I can stay with myself and respond rather than react, I can bring a different energy to the situation and oftentimes this will transform a situation. Learning not to react has been one of the key messages I have taken from my time with Universal Medicine and in my experience it is a very empowering way to be.
Learning that it is not selfish but actually self-loving to take care of and nurture ourselves as we go through life is a big lesson in my experience. Like so many people I grew up with the impression that we are here to put others first and that it was very wrong to think of myself. There may be truth in the fact that we are here to be a part of the greater whole that is society/humanity but the fact is ‘we are part of’ humanity and hence need to take just as much care of ourselves as we do of others. Self-love is, when experienced, the missing link – for the source of love is within us all – not out there in the sea of those seeking love in others.
Great blog and testimony to the Gentle Breath Meditation Mary-Louise and a very needed and worthy program. The damage of thinking that caring for yourself is ‘selfish’ is enormous. It is a harming belief that has given rise to illnesses such as breast cancer, thyroid problems, exhaustion and many other diseases.
That is so worth sharing. The importance of programs to support carers and to offer them lifelong tools for self care should be measure as, not only will they see enormous benefits in their own health, there will be fiscal benefits to themselves and the community as well. Investment in prevention.
Thank you Mary-Louise for a truly inspiring blog, to have the opportunity to share and see the results of the Gentle Breath Meditation in the lives of people who are very vulnerable, is really beautiful and a testament to the power of the teachings by Serge Benhayon to change lives through Universal Medicine.
Learning not to go into reaction is huge. This is something we can all take into our lives. It diffuses every situation and brings a level of calm to everyone. Being in reaction takes us away from ourselves.
What a blessing you brought to these people Mary-Louise. With these simple tools you gave these carers a way that they could bring themselves back to themselves. It is very empowering.
More most self-care is this unattainable ideal. A concept. Something that you need extra time in a busy day for. However self-care is such a natural way for us to be (minimum) once we have connected to our soul – our guiding light. The more we delve into self-care it begins to evolve everything, not perfectly but it really changes everything and your very beautiful example here Mary-Louise shows this beautifully.
Mary-Louise, thank you for this most inspirational account of the amazingly supportive programmes that you put in place, and ran, for carers. These types of programmes need to be offered worldwide to carers of any kind, from those looking after family members with declining health, to those working in rest homes, hospitals and so on. We all deserve to be lovingly cared for at every stage of our lives, and when we are also caring for others it is absolutely essential not to put ourselves down the list of who to care for, but firmly at the top; it is definitely not being selfish but self caring, and as you have shared, it has an amazing ripple effect.
The ripple effect is truly beautiful. These should be the well-being programs of the future… programs that clearly show that in supporting one, you support many. Stunning.
This is totally inspiring to read Mary-Louise. It’s amazing that simply breathing gently or taking some time out for ourselves has proved to help dismantle some pretty heavy ideals and beliefs around putting everyone else first and having to spend all our time looking after anyone but us and our own bodies. Thank you for sharing.
This is so powerful. Such simplicity bringing about such monumental changes. It really is that simple.
The tools you have given these people Mary-Louise are simple and life changing. It is amazing to me that things that are so simple can make such a huge difference, yet I have experienced this myself and wished I had known this so much sooner in my life. How beautiful to be able to deal with the sadness of no longer having the partner and friend you once had, and accepting and loving them all the same while supporting yourself to be healthy. It is truly a loving gift.
To be able to give the carers of patience with dementia a way to ease their often overloaded and stressed life through a few simple but powerful tools is awesome and a marvellous opportunity you provided for these people to be able to achieve Mary-Louise. The Gentle breath meditation is a great support to apply when feeling overwhelmed, ‘out of sorts’, frustrated, anxious or many other feelings that can drag us down or even simply to help re-connect back to or to maintain connection with oneself. I have found this simple gentle breath meditation which has been brought through by Universal Medicine to be a wonderful way of bringing me back to me.
Thank you Mary-Louise for the valuable insight into what it’s really like working with people with dementia and how it is for those caring for them.
It’s heart warming to feel just how supportive and profound the gentle breath meditation has been for those you’ve introduced it to Mary-Louise and the difference it’s made to the way they are with themselves in what are very difficult situations. This is very inspiring and a testament to the way of living that’s presented by Universal Medicine.
This is beautifully inspiring to read Mary-Louise your work with these elderly people was so supportive and nurturing for them. I agree what Universal Medicine presents around self-care is simple and truly works, the Gentle Breath Meditation is just one example of this and the power this breathing technique has on many peoples lives.
A beautiful blog MaryLouise. “Another thing I had learned from Universal Medicine and that I then shared with these carers was about the importance of caring for and nurturing yourself – in order to be able to truly care for and nurture another.” How can we truly care for another if we don’t first care for ourselves?
What a great programme to be a part of Mary-Louise – it’s really inspirational all that Universal Medicine presents around bringing in self-care and self-nurturing on a daily basis – it has such a positive impact on ourselves and all around us. Awesome to feel that the gentle breathe meditation is only a breathe away and as a re-connecting tool there’s nothing better.
Thank you Mary-Louise. The Gentle Breath Meditation is a wonderful way to be gently with yourself and prepared for whatever disturbance or chaos is happening around you so that you do not absorb the confusion or emotions of others. It is an essential tool for those who have taken on the responsibility to care for others to first care for themselves: to nurture themselves as they do another.
It’s the choice to care for ourselves that has to come first in the equation of sustainable care – a choice that is difficult for many who have been brought up to believe that it’s only polite, proper and respectful to look after others before yourself. So it’s a big shift in consciousness and culture but one that you’ve proved in your work in the program can have deeply beneficial effects for not only professional carers but also family carers too, who often live with guilt if they venture into anything that supports them before their patient.
Mary-Louise this is wonderful advice, because it is so simple and accessible and having 6 years to see the changes must have been so fulfilling. What a blessing this program was for you and them.
I often wondered why on an aeroplane, during the safety demonstration and spiel, they always recommend fitting ‘your own mask before helping others’. It’s for the exact same reason that Mary-Louise is talking about here. If you don’t fit your own mask first, then you may very well pass-out in trying to fit someone else’s first!
This blog is written so down to earth, thank you Marie-Louise. It is truly inspiring, this simple gentle breath meditation can make a huge difference for people in every age
It was very confirming to read your blog Mary-Louise and the amazing difference you made to so many peoples lives. It showed me how simple it is to share with others, the amazing things we have learnt through Universal Medicine, practical, down to earth ways.
We are so blessed to know all these beautiful tools how to connect to our bodies, thanks to Serge Benhayon!
Mary-Louise you are testament to the changes that can be made when true connection and understanding is brought to someone. I love the simplicity of what you brought to the elderly people, it just shows what can happen when you don’t hold back and present love.
Mary-Louise, the way you ran your part of this Program sounds like an absolute life-changer for the carers who attended this Program and the staff involved. But what you present here also has implications for us all in terms of the message of self care and balancing the demands of our lives with honouring ourselves. Thank you.
This is such a wonderful reminder Mary Louise; firstly to appreciate the simple, yet so powerful tools many, including me, have been able to learn from Universal Medicine presentations. The second reminder is to share these tools whenever there is a need. It doesn’t matter where the people come from or what their beliefs are, all of humanity can benefit from the Gentle Breath Meditation and from learning to care for oneself first.
I love this Mary-Louise, such an inspiration. It just shows that with small changes a lot can change, also for those who might have a judgement or are too old, or whatever the reason we sometimes come up with. When you bring true connection and love, like you do, then everybody eventually responds.
This blog is inspiring in the way that it presents so simply and tenderly the way that we can choose to change what at times can become overwhelmingly difficult situations. I love the very practical way that you supported both the carers and the staff providing the program. You are an amazingly practical and insightful woman Mary-Louise and an inspiration to us all – I love you dearly.
Yes you said it, thanks to Mary- Louise we are very inspired with her presentations and activities. We have so much to share.
The simplicity of these amazing techniques is the thing that stand out most for me. They really are available for everyone. The Gentle Breath Meditation is so simple and easy to do, I know I use it at work when I am feeling out and I love the physical action of doing it and feeling my own breath becoming more gentle as I breath. The quality that I breath is then something that I take with me throughout my day. You offered a beautiful service to the people in your group, Mary-Louise. Tools to support them in developing their own self-care. These are everyday miracles.
This is a very supportive blog Mary-Louise, so needed. I have a family member with dementia and I have witnessed how challenging it can be to deal with. These are simple but powerful tools you have offered and a great service for carers. I have included a link here for those who would like to experience it for themselves, Gentle breath info and meditation link,
http://bit.ly/1ChP4ms
Thank you Victoria for sharing this link; that is so helpful, a simple and easy way – anybody can do it – to stop and re-connect, with the Gentle Breath Meditation.
Awesome and inspiring blog Mary-Louise. You have reminded me to take time out to care for myself more. What you have shared is so beautiful. It shows how powerful the gentle breath mediation is, and taking time to care, nurture and connect to ourselves is highly supportive and loving.
What a truly gorgeous and supportive program. It is a beautiful testament to the power of what Universal Medicine presents and the healing that can come through such simple and practical tools.
As you say Samantha, these healing techniques presented by Universal Medicine are simple but profound and indeed very practical in their use.They are indeed that simple and can be easily shared with people to give it a try. I feel this this is an invitation to me to start to share these practical tools delivered by Universal Medicine with people around me because thats where they are given for, to be shared among everybody.
This is gorgeous Mary-Louise. This is what I love about the teachings presented by Universal Medicine, they make simple sense and are very practical to apply in your day to day life. They have supported me greatly and after reading your blog I feel how important it is to share what I know and not be afraid to challenge peoples old ways to introduce more self-caring ways to live.
This is what I feel as well, the importance to share all what helped me so much to become the person who I am today, full of vitality, best health and with joy every day.
I have also found as a nurse that carers are often the last ones to take care of themselves. They are so busy holding it all together for everyone else that they stop caring for themselves. The Gentle Breath Meditation is so simple and yet life changing. It is invaluable for carers who tend to focus all their attention on the patient (and feel guilty if they don’t). The meditation brings the focus back to their body, which brings simplicity and steadiness and restores vitality.
It also gives them some time to stop. In our busy world we often complain that we just don’t have time. Committing to stopping for just a few minutes a day with the Gentle Breath Meditation is an act of self-love, where we give ourselves the space to just BE and feel how that feels without any pressure or expectations from the outside.
It is always so affirming for me to read this blog Mary-Louise as it reminds me about what I can truly bring to my patients on a daily basis. Awesome.
I know it’s such a great blog and the beautiful care and tender love in Mary-Louise is so evident in the way that she writes and in the way that she lovingly interacted with the carers and staff. Inspiration that we can all be that too anywhere that we go, if Love is our focus.
Thank you Mary-Louise, I agree, when we apply simple common sense as inspired by Serge Benhayon miracles happen to the way we live our lives.
The practical, down to earth tools that Universal Medicine present have changed my life too. Thank you Mary-Louise for this very inspiring blog! How awesome that the deeply caring and nurturing way you choose to live enabled you to support and inspire others to start taking care of themselves.
Great testimony to the value and necessity of self-care in your example Mary-Louise, and how the small steps can lead to such giant ones.
Thanks your lovely sharing Mary-Louise. It’s amazing the difference these simple techniques can have on people’s lives. Truly inspirational.
This is so inspirational Mary-Louise – I do not use it enough with the older people that I see on a daily basis. Thank you.
Amazing how what you shared Mary-Louise, was simple, yet had a truly profound and significant affect on people’s lives.
It is clear that the people you worked with were at a very stressful juncture in their lives and yet they were willing to commit to these simple healing techniques and achieve such astounding results. This is inspiring to me as I often do not commit to healing until I really have to. This is a great reminder to put myself first. Thank you for sharing Mary-Louise.
Such simple techniques and yet so powerful. Thank you Mary-Louise for reminding us of the importance of caring for ourselves in order to better care for others.
A beautiful and powerfull sharing Mary-Louise, the support you offered these carers was an absolute blessing for them. It seems so many are lacking how to truly ‘self care’ and this impacts on their own health eventually. Communities everywhere would benefit enormously by applying ‘self care’ into their lives – we can all inspire others to ‘self care’ as Mary- Louise did, by living this fully in our own lives.
Self care presented by one who truly self cares is so powerful and needed at every level of human society. I feel the equality you presented to these people. Amazing sharing.
This is really fantastic. This article should be published in many newspapers around the world. Dementia and caring for people who have dementia are a worldwide concern. What is presented in this article is so desperately needed everywhere.
This shows how supportive the techniques of Universal Medicine are in everyday life, and how it affects the way we are with people.
This is a beautiful sharing Mary-Louise, the Gentle Breath Meditation is truly a powerful tool in life.
Thank you Mary-Louise. This is a beautiful article clearly showing the powerful support that the Gentle Breath Meditation can offer us all, whether we are looking after those with dementia, the elderly or ourselves. It is natural common sense that we are better able to care for others if we care for ourselves first.
No matter the age, man or woman, we are all the same – when loved, loving ourselves – our whole being responds. An inspiring sharing of how it is never too late to start to feel into our bodies and consider the choices we are making in our lives and whether what we are living is healing.
Thankyou Mary-Louise. The ‘Care for Carers’ program is clearly an inspirational and wonderful support for those who need it. Imagine if the principles of this program was shared and applied to develop programs for others in need? For example one for burnout teachers, one for mums and dads that are struggling with the daily responsibilities and pressures of running a family, another for those that are unemployed and are feeling frustrated, dejected and worthless that they can’t find a job?? The list of who could benefit from such wonderful community initiatives would be endless. There are many many people in our society who would truly appreciate such programs and how they could potentially transform for the better how they live each and every day. Programs that empower anybody to take better care for themselves without doubt benefit us all.
Thank you, Mary-Louise. This is so timely and inspirational. So true, no matter how subtle it maybe, the change in one person will inevitably cause a ripple effect on those around them. And the kind of change Gentle Breath Meditation brings is truly life changing.
This meditation is such a great tool. It can be brought anywhere, it doesn’t need mats, pillows, music. Just a chair where you sit in is enough. Yes, we can all bring that gentle breath meditation in our work environment!
Amazing how life changing the gentle breath meditation can be. Who would believe that such a simple tool can support our lives so much. This to me is another example of the beautiful power that Universal Medicine has to offer for those who can see beyond the nonsense that has been widely reported.
To observe and to not absorb is one tool that I have learnt and found so useful from the presentations by Serge Benhayon.
Mary-Louise how incredible that sharing simple ways for this group of carers to connect and begin to care for themselves could change so much.
I have found in working with carers that they find it very difficult to give themselves a space to care for themselves as they feel they are letting the person they are caring for down.
The key is understanding that we cannot care for another if we are not caring for ourselves and the simple tools you presented makes that really doable!
Mary-Louise this beautiful sharing brought me to tears. What you have offered these couples through introducing acceptance into their lives is so powerful and healing. And so is the having the beautiful marker of connecting to themselves from what is offered through the gentle breath meditation. As the couples and staff chose to improve the quality of care for themselves you can feel the love and care expand for those that they are caring for. It is true Mary-Louise, very simple and you story reflects this, very inspiring.
So simple and so power-full.
Shows the responsibility we have with the choices we make.
Very inspiring Mary Louise. Reading it made me wonder why do I do not offer something like this at the local level.
Hi Mary Louise
It’s beautiful what you share here. For me it reminds me that it doesn’t matter what age I am, what I’ve gone through nor where I’m at today: If I want to I can change how I am in this world simply by caring more for myself and this then shows in an improving level of care with others, its a win win.
This is gold, thank you Mary-Louise. We often underestimate how very powerful little rituals can be. In life we are told and mostly strife for the big and the complicated but all the while the simple things in life are actually the ones that bring true change.
We often don’t realise that eventhough this is a simple technique it can have a huge impact on a persons wellbeing. Thanks for sharing this story Mary-Louise and for reminding us how fortunate we are for having Universal Medicine in our lives.
Thank you for sharing this story Mary-Louise. It is so true that the simple, little things are the things that make such a difference in our lives. People are often looking for some big life defining or changing event, yet the reality is that, it is what we repeatedly do day in day out with consistency that makes a true difference and reflects the quality of our life.
What you have shared Mary-Louise is nothing short of amazing. I have found that being presented with simple tools to bring self-care into my day gave me the permission to start focussing on myself and my needs rather than everyone else’s, and then mine. This is a huge shift as you have also shared. I now enjoy caring for others rather than resenting it or putting an enormous amount of effort into it resulting in being tired and exhausted at the end of the day. I feel deeply nurtured by my own actions towards myself and feel this quality is then extended to all others really raising the level of care and nurturing I am now able to offer. The theory of self-care is simple, the application of self-care is extraordinary.
A great blog Mary-Louise, what you did was was highly commendable. I liked the humble way you summarised it “What I shared was common sense; no different to the teachings of Universal Medicine, which presents very practical, down to earth tools that, if applied, really do work”. Thank you.
What amazes me is that these simple techniques as presented by Universal Medicine, work for people of any age: elderly people, adults, kids… I know a young boy in his puberty, who suffered from being very aggressive, and he says about the gentle-breath, it would help him not to be aggressive anymore. So it seems Universal Medicine truly works universally!
I loved rereading this Mary-Louise, what you did in that programme was truly ground breaking work and such a blessing for those elderly and for the staff. So warming to read.
It reminded me of the elderly husband of one of my patients, whom I met at the market many months after his wife had died. I had introduced the gentle breath meditation to her while she was ill and he had been in the room at the time so did it too. He amazed me by telling me that he still did the gentle breath meditation every day twice a day and how it had saved him and changed the way he dealt with his loss and with life. He did look amazing. For me there is no doubting the magic of such a simple tool. Many thanks to Universal Medicine for it.
I agree Jeanette. This is a groundbreaking way of working with the elderly. I worked in Aged Care for over 20 years and can testify to how very needed it is.
Oh wow thank you Mary-Louise for this reminder of the gentle breath meditation … I work in an office in a nursing home and can see the decline of people with dementia first hand, but as I did not know the ill person previously and did not know how they used to be, I find I can be more affected by seeing and feeling the distress of a person’s spouse and relatives. Remembering to take a few minutes to do the gentle breath meditation will restore me to me and return me to being more of an observer rather than an absorber of others emotions.
Thank you Mary-Louise. A lovely blog. Great to read and be reminded that sharing simple techniques with others allows for greater connectivity in the wider community (The Ripple Effect).
This is very inspirational for me Mary-Louise. I work with older people every day in my work and I need to be sharing more of myself and these tools with them.
Such a beautiful blog, I love the simplicity and practicality of the ideas you share Mary-Louise. What a blessing for all those in your care that you were able to share what you had learnt from Universal medicine. All these techniques are powerful, and it is their simplicity that makes them so achievable. If we take the time to stop and care for ourselves in this way, are lives can shift for the better, as we are more present in everything we do.
A great practical way to support anyone who is in a service role. The gentle breath mediation is such a simple way to support anyone but especially those working in a role prone to feeling stressed. This is a valuable example that should be available for all those during their training. Thank you Mary-Louise.
This is such a great initiative and so needed. My grandmother had dementia for the last 10 years of her life. It was bewildering and frustrating, and it was so easy to get very emotional and upset being with her. To have someone offer these very practical actions alone with the gentle breath meditation is of immeasurable assistance, especially as there is nowhere else to turn.