Inner peace promoted
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — When facing a fatal disease, death of a loved one or failing relationship, some Windward people have found inner peace that carries them through tough times thanks to a free program at Castle Medical Center.
For information on Castle Medical Center programs, call 263-5400.
Attitudinal Healing has been around for about 30 years and took root in Hawai'i three years ago, but in recent months the Kailua center has increased the scope of problems being addressed at free discussion groups each week.
Health programs
Attitudinal Healing is based on the belief that it is not people or conditions outside ourselves that cause us to be upset. What causes conflict and distress is our thoughts, feelings and attitude about people and events.
For Mike Heh, who facilitates a group session, the weekly meetings have given him unexpected rewards. Heh is a volunteer, and wanted to use his mental-health background to support others, but instead he has reaped benefits by learning to control his outlook on life.
Whether he's trying to deal with his frustration over kids doing drugs on the street, facing a stressful situation at work or trying not to be judgmental, Heh said he has learned to be peaceful inside, regardless of what is happening outside.
"If we can infect the world with Attitudinal Healing we wouldn't have any more wars," he said.
The program had its beginnings when psychiatrist Gerald Jampolsky met children who were dying from cancer, but no one was helping them deal with their disease or pending death. Jampolsky formed free support groups for the children, then branched out to their siblings and parents.
Today the concept is used by people facing all kinds of problems in relationships, illnesses, death, weight loss and life challenges.
They follow 12 principles that include: The essence of our being is love. Health is inner peace. Healing is letting go of fear. We can become love finders rather than fault finders.
The support groups are broad or specific, and volunteers are trained to lead them.
Jampolsky said one group using Attitudinal Healing is a gathering of women in Guadalajara, Mexico, whose husbands were victims of murder.
"People gather not to get caught in their anger and not to get caught in their judgment but to find a sense of inner peace by learning to let go of the blocks to experiencing love and blocks to experiencing compassion," Jampolsky said.
Although spiritual in nature, Attitudinal Healing is not religious and there is no discussion of God, he said.
Attitudinal Healing is a journey to learning to forgive and, as a result, heals a person of inner turmoil that can lead to physical problems and mental anguish, said John Westerdahl, director of the Wellness & Lifestyle Medicine Center at Castle Medical Center and the Castle Center for Attitudinal Healing.
A trained facilitator, Westerdahl said he has participated in the free group discussions.
"Part of the concept is by helping others you heal yourself," he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
