M E A N I N G F U LTHE LIFE PRACTICE OF MINDFUL

COMPASSION WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALS

B. BARTJA WACHTEL, LICSW, MHPLICENSED INDEPENDENT CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERVIRGINIA MASON NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTESEATTLE WA

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS THING WE CALL ALS?

“I call it ‘Always Laughing Syndrome’ or ‘Always Loving Syndrome’.”

- A LIVING PERSON LIVING WITH ALSENGAGED IN SERVICES NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE

ALS CLINIC

“I am really curious about the person I’m going to become because of this disease.”

- A LIVING PERSON LIVING WITH ALSENGAGED IN SERVICES NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE

ALS CLINIC

JOINING-LANGUAGE8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

ABILITY

ABSENCE OF SUFFERING ABSENCE OF DISEASE

DISABILITY

CONSIDERING COMPASSION SELF-COMPASSION?

“Compassion is the engagement of the heart-mind in recognizing pain and the greater universal pain of humanity and responding with kindness, empathy, equanimity and patience.”

- Dr. Willem Kuyken, Professor of Clinical Psychology - University

of Exeter, UK

WHAT ARE OUR (THE PERSON LIVING WITH ALS) PRIORITIES?

THE WAY TO MEANINGFUL WELL-BEINGP

Positive Emotions

E

Engagement (Mindfulness

)

R

Relationships (Nurturing)

M

Meaning (Values &

Spirituality)

A

Accomplishment

(Setting Goals)

THIS IS NOT “HAPPYOLOGY”

EUDAIMONIC WELL-BEING

“MEANINGFUL HAPPINESS”• HIGHER PURPOSE

• SERVICES TO OTHERS

• COMMUNITY

VS.

HEDONIA - “IN-THE-MOMENT HAPPINESS”

BARBARA FREDRICKSON, PH.D. – DIRECTOR OF THE POSITIVE EMOTIONS & PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY @ UNIVERSITY OF NC

“Whether or not we have hope depends on two dimensions of our explanatory style; pervasiveness and permanence.”

Martin Seligman, PhD, DirectorSchool of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP)Penn Positive Psychology Center &and Zellerbach Family Professor of PsychologyPenn Department of Psychology

“If you begin to act powerfully, you will begin to think powerfully.” “Fake it ‘till you become it.”

Amy J.C. Cuddy, PhDAssociate Professor of Business AdministrationHarvard University Business Schoolwww.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are

MEANINGFUL HAPPINESS

HIGH POWER POSING

“WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HOLD MEANING FOR YOU?”

Life Values Inventory

Almost Never Guides my Behavior Sometimes Almost Always Guides My Behavior

1 2 3 4 5

Achievement Financial Prosperity Loyalty to Family or Group

Belonging Health & Activity Privacy

Concern for the Environment Humility Responsibility

Concern for Others Independence Scientific Understanding

Creativity Spirituality

STUMBLING HORRIBLY UPON OPTIMISM:

LEARNED HELPLESSNESS

CONTROL HELPLESS MASTERY

F50%

“WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE HOPE DEPENDS ON TWO DIMENSIONS OF OUR EXPLANATORY STYLE; PERVASIVENESS AND PERMANENCE.”

- MARTIN SELIGMAN

OPTIMISM AND SUFFERINGOPTIMISTS BELIEVE “MY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TEMPORARY, I HAVE A WAY TO COPE, THERE ARE THINGS I CAN DO ABOUT THIS, I EXPECT THE BEST OUTCOME, SET-BACKS ARE MANAGEABLE.”

PHYSICAL SUFFERING

EMOTIONAL OPTIMISM

SKILL BUILDING

RELATIONAL OPTIMISM

OPTIMISM&MINDFULNESS

GENETIC COMPONENTS (DON’T FORGET WE CAN REWIRE)

• OPTIMISTS TAKE ACTION

• OPTIMISTS ATTRACT AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL SUPPORT

• OPTIMISTS HAVE STRONGER BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

• BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEM – PROTECTION FROM FLU, COLD, LOWER CANCER RISK, ETC.

• CHRONIC STRESS/CRISIS RESPONSE

• FIBROGEN RESPONSE (BLOOD CLOTTING)

• HEART RATE VARIABILITY – PROTECTION FROM CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

Authentic Happiness Inventory

Noticing Mind-Wandering

Present Moment Mindfulness or

Optimism

*Three Blessings Exercise

WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.COM

Life-Satisfaction Questionnaire

* Green Time* Forest Bathing

* Movement* Mindful

Breathing

WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.COM

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS

MOMENT TO MOMENT NOTICING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT…NOW IS ALL WE HAVE.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhDFounder & Executive Director Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society University of Massachusetts Medical School

SELF-COMPASSION BREAK

Close Relationships Questionnaire

* Gratitude Visit

* Losada Ratio* Vunerability

WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.COM

VIA Survey of Character

Strengths (240 questions)

* Ten-Minute Values Practice

* Giving Back to Your Community

* Meaning Mindfulness

(PTG)

WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.COM

GRIT Survey* Celebrate

Accomplishments

* Be Mindful of Opportunities

* Write it Down as if it Already

Happened

WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.COM

NURTURE SELF-COMPASSION

Assess motivation (0-10)

Change your mind

– find your

optimism

Find your “flow”

Find your nurturing

social supports

(diversify)

Use your values

every day or develop a spiritual practice

Persistently look

forward to the next

great thing

CULTIVATING SELF-COMPASSION

• Common Humanity…Suffering

• Mindful of what is showing up…

• Self-Kindness…being your own best encouragement and giver of care.

Kristin Neff Associate Professor of Human Development & CultureEducational Psychology Department, University of

Texas, Austinwww.selfcompassion.org

Christopher K. Germer, PhDInstructor of Clinical PsychologyHarvard University Medical School www.mindfulselfcompassion.org

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE

- Bartja