Hi anyone out there who can maybe offer me some advice/suggestions please. I have had very many unhappy and unhealthy experiences in life and this is one of the reasons I gained qualifications in holistic therapies some years ago to help others. Unfortunately slowly but surely I feel I am losing faith in human nature and I really don't want this to happen. I am of the nature that I would be the first to offer help if needed but then there are times when I feel I need support. I am thinking about trying to get a few people together who may just be feeling as lost as myself and I would like to arrange some get togethers in my home, possibly just offer friendship, watch a meditation DVD, a supportive/relax session.
My concerns are that I don't want this to become like counselling sessions, I am not a counsellor and I don't really want to discuss my life long problems or have people manipulate get togethers with their problems but by the same token people may well want to sometimes get things off their chest and just sharing with people who are empathetic can surely help.
I belong to an organisation for people 50 plus, normally retired and would like to maybe put 'feelers' out to those interested, Suggestions would be greatly appreciated, how can I reach out offering this without sounding a loser myself!! Also any ideas of how to run a small group like this in my home, as mentioned I do have lovely meditation DVDs I could sort of bring in crystal/chakra chats but if this gets off the ground there may be men as well as women interested. Any suggestions would be welcomed, or in fact has anyone ever been to others homes for sort of 'wellbeing' sessions. Views? Advice??
Thanks so much
Well, if you already know some people from your 50plus group, why not just invite some round for a drink and a chat, and see if you can drop the topics in to the conversation. You'll probably be surprised to find there are others who also do meditation, or who want to chat about their issues or who are willing to listen and support you.
Jeannie have you heard of nextdoor.com? Google it and it will give you the link (I can't provide the link here since it goes straight to my local branch of it).
It's a free private social network for your neighbourhood community (by the way you don't say what area you are in!)
I have been invited and joined my local one and have found it a boon, i.e. have been to several social get togethers (coffee and chat, a quiz night and a pub meetup). It will certainly dispel your sense of isolation.
Its sounds like a wonderful idea and all the suggestions are valid. I have one caveat. You say ' just sharing with people who are empathic can surely help' It is not guaranteed ! There are people who just like to share how awful life is but are not ready to move on. They are attracted to empaths.......That sort of person would not be conducive to the atmosphere you are trying to create and they are very difficult to screen out. I think you would need to be strict about the time allocated to sharing .... It is perfectly possible to do one-to-one hypnotherapy and mindfulness meditation content free. I don't HAVE to know what the issue is to help the person talk to their subconscious. So neither you (nor anyone else in the group) needs to know ANYONE else's specific problems for what you offer to provide help.
Giles, thank you... there are over 170 people belonging to the organisation I started. Before any small interest groups can get off the ground, a plan needs to be in place, then a sheet is put out at meetings for names of those interested but before I can do this, I have to know how I am going to fill/organise an hour or two, I am thinking an hour would be enough, also as mentioned I only have room for half a dozen people.
Amy, thanks for mentioning the Next-door.com, always worth checking new things out but being involved with the organisation I am is one of the reasons I have lost faith in human nature, I have been hurt and shocked at how some can be so awful. I have to tell myself out of 170 people, I can't be alone in my thoughts and there are like minded people surely.
Hi Sally thanks also, I am thinking about your comment.."There are people who just like to share how awful life is but are not ready to move on. They are attracted to empaths....." I am not so sure I agree with this point, no one knows just what some people go through, in my case it is accumulative and maybe I would be classed as one of these people, although I have never shared anything with anyone because it would all sound bizarre and never-ending, some people could well get the impression that I am not ready to move on, which could not be further from the truth, I sometimes think I am well and truly jinxed!! By the way I am not qualified to give hypnotherapy.
If I could ask everyone, if you were holding a one hour 'relaxation' session in your home, how would you plan it out.
xxx
P.S. so funny Amy, I have just registered with the next door site and find 5 of the people belong to the organisation I founded!!
You ask about how to plan a 1 hour relaxation session at home (for others). You say you have meditation DVDs so you have the essence of the hour.
Forming a circle (either seated or sitting on the floor) creates a good basis. Going round with an introduction first, i.e. just to say their name and a little bit about themselves that they would like to share. Perhaps some loosening exercises e.g. neck rolls, deep breaths to get into relaxing mode.
After the session, going round again and for everyone to give feedback on how it went for them.
Thanks sweetiepie