Spirituality
Part 1- Key to Physical and Mental Well-Being & Part 2- The Modern Perceptual Shift (Preference for Emotional Responses as Reality)
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An example that many may relate to of "taking it somewhere" involves a young woman in conversation with a potential male suitor. While the male suitor is talking to object of his interest, she is "taking it somewhere" else in her mind, such as- "does he think I am pretty, des he like me, is he smart, will he make a good father, will he love me, can I trust him, will he be a good provider, will he respect me, I stupid, ugly, or fat, etc.". Meanwhile, he is also "taking it somewhere" as he is trying to figure out what he can say that will "win the day" and gain the object of his affections. (Or, both parties "feeling" depressed or anxious during, or after, their exchange as a result of "taking it somewhere" in their minds). Neither party is in direct, unaltered connection to what is being expressed by the other. This is how our society has "evolved" and our emotions serve as the basis for our interpretations of our interactions, often-times personalizing the interaction rather than processing the communications.
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About the Book
The undeniable truth for many is that their spirit is in pain. It is manifested in many ways, such as anger, grief, anxiety, depression, or a lack of hope in their future. The most immediate need is to realize there is a means to overcome the pain, and it involves having a spiritual life. This is the basis for this work's initial printing in 2012. Since the initial printing of the book's first edition, entitled Spirituality: Key to Physical and Mental Well-Being, it has become apparent to the writer that this pained spirit operates deceptively by lack of reason and purpose. This absence of rational-based thinking and preference for emotional feelings over reasoned behaviors represents our present place. This is how our world has adapted to the luxuries and illusions of security in the present social order. The result is a lack of critical concern for the individual's (and civilized societies’) survival to be assured into the future. The theoretical address to this perceptual shift is the reason for the reprint of this book with two parts. The second part addresses this issue. It is entitled “The Modern Perceptual Shift: Preference for Emotional Responses as Reality.” It is important to understand that, although this book appears to be a scholarly and difficult read, it is essential to the well-being of the individual as a parent and productive member of society. In order to understand our world and our individual functioning, a read and consideration of this book is vital. To the mental health professional, this treatment provides a balanced approach to utilizing therapy to assist clients in gaining control over their world.
About the Author
p>Dr. Michael A. Gray is a family descendent of English Tudor-era monarchy and of Sir John Locke, physician and philosopher. Locke is considered by some to be the “father of English psychology” with his work provided the initial concepts that led to the formation of psychology-both as a science and a disciple. His concept of “self” has been expanded on throughout the centuries and is a hyphenated conceptual expression of psychology, in action, in our modern world.
Dr. Gray has endeavored, for his part, to utilize over 17+ years of college-based education in various fields of all stages of collegiate-degreed programs (in political science/legal studies, leisure and recreational therapy concentration, and counseling psychology @ multiple degree levels (MSCE and Doctor of Education). This utility of this, and other trainings, is based on a self-felt need to continue the “family business” of psychology as an on-going interest. He uses his college education, occupational trainings, and self-study; as well as long-term mental health service provision to various populations, to consider the human condition.
His work serves to share his concerns regarding psychology of “self” and for the sustainability of humanity. This concern leads to his writings regarding the need for, yet current departure from, a Judeo-Christian spiritual lifestyle. This is his contention as it relates to the secular, humanistic majority of western civilization in the present era. These interests have been served by a primary, additional application of an adult-life personal study of scriptural prose.