SANIB-SINAG  2  March 14, 1998
 2.5    
Moving On With Self-Healing
From: "Some Steps Towards Rehabilitation: Developing New Routines," a Moving Article on the Needed ‘Rehabilitation’ of Servants of the People
By Dahlia Castillejos
(Reprinted as a Guest Article)
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IN MY EARLIER writings, I mentioned that anyone who laughs at the idea of rehabilitation or self-healing is usually the one who needs this most. While maintaining this view, I add -- no one can claim that he or she is fully healed at any point of one’s lifetime because old routines come and go despite best efforts. This point is proven in my efforts towards my own self-healing and in my day-to-day interactions with co-workers and other people.

        Obviously, there still much anger, mistrust, dishonesty and non-acceptance of one’s mistakes everywhere. Some even quarrel with one another at the slightest difference of opinions not to mention the glaring drive of others to impose their political agenda at all costs, not perhaps realizing that in doing so, they are only creating more enemies instead of achieving their goals. Haven’t many of us grown gray hairs and wrinkles in this long-drawn struggle? Is everybody not entitled to one’s views and convictions? Are we not answerable to history only for that which we do and say so? What really is the wisdom in imposing our views and political stand on others?

        In whatever circumstances, the common denominator would always be the kapwa, the fellow human being within the core of each one’s being. It is with this core where unity maybe forged when everything else has failed. Impositions, be it direct or indirect, will never work. Impositions will not work even to a small child because each child is a fellow human being, too, no matter how young he or she is. Contrary to traditional beliefs of some adults, it is not true that children know nothing. If our children know a lot depending on the stage of each one’s development, how much more with adults. Since children look at adults as their role models, it is up to us, adults, to facilitate the children’s continuous learning and growth.

        We may have meant well in earlier years but this cannot be taken as a justification now. While not pointing an accusing finger on others or on ourselves, we need to develop new and healthy routines right here and now. As presented earlier, an important key is the facilitation approach which makes use of structured learning experiences or the SLE which simply means learning by doing. Each one of us knows best where our weaknesses are so that we are in the best of positions to confront them and develop new growth-promoting routines or systems in their place. The whole process might take a longer period because the routines we develop in ourselves will need to be firmed up through practice day by day. We can be more certain though that the development of these routines when centered or rooted in our humanness will lead us towards the highest peak of our productivity and self-fulfillment.

        Developing new routines within the context of self-healing or rehabilitation cannot be detached from one’s individuality or unique self-expression. In speaking of self-expression, we refer not to the lower instincts of our humanness or what we sometimes call ‘human nature’ to justify weaknesses but to - the inner self, the beautiful and positive self, the self who can appreciate other’s goodness and can identify with others instead of looking at them as rivals, the self which is capable of developing deep and mutually-enriching relationships, the self who can enjoy listening to music, who can admire the beauty of flowers and plants, who sometimes find time to listen to the singing of the birds and could thank the dog for barking and aborting a possible danger, the self who can promote cleanliness, orderliness, fairness, forgiveness, justice and unity based on principled peace, in brief, the self who is the kapwa or fellow within each one of us.

        Then, with a renewed self, with a self that is more tender, flexible and human, we can go on with a more meaningful and productive life in whatever efforts we are engaged in. Storms and typhoons may yet come and we will stand firm side by side and together with our people. Nowhere in any part of this writing nor in any of my earlier writings had I mentioned that the people’s revolution was wrong. I firmly hold on to the fact that it is everyone’s right to rebel under oppressive and exploitative situations. However, it is equally everyone’s right to be uniquely themselves at all circumstances, in each point of one’s lifetime for each one has only one life to live. No matter what happened and will still happen, the past sacrifices and efforts will never be in vain. We will keep on but this time, we will also strive for self-development, for each one’s wholistic development. This paper goes on to say that it may yet be impossible to aim for social development without each one’s consciousness on one’s individuality and without each of us developing the totality of one’s being. Giving further stress, what are we going to do with the green grasses when the horse is already dead or, is it possible for many broken people to grow green grasses?

        As we keep on with our individual choices, decisions and convictions, it is only in being deeply anchored in the inner and beautiful self that we can achieve self-fulfillment in this lifetime. Furthermore, I believe that it is only with self-fulfilled people that true democratic processes, justice, peace and equal opportunities for a better quality of life will be there for everyone in this side of the planet!

[Dahlia Castillejos is the penname of an active NGO worker. Reactions to this article received by the Sanib-Sinag editorial board shall be considered for publication as excerpt(s) or in toto, subject to the underlying standard of consistency to the spirit of synergism and empowerment.]

  
 
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