“Meaning: Individuals are inherently motivated to make sense of events, to derive meaning and ultimate purpose in their lives. Meaning can be found in the worst of situations, as made evident in Viktor Frankl’s famous book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which details the ability to find meaning in the midst of human tragedy and horror (i.e. Nazi concentration camps). Meaning and purpose can even more readily be found in the joyful and transformative experience often present in pregnancy and childbirth.” (Lyndon-Lam, 2012)
My personal perspective on Spirituality is that it is a personal journey that you and your creator take where the goal is for you to evolve into your highest self. Spirituality is a lifestyle; spirit to me is the core essence of the foundation that allows you to exist. Your spirit comes from the same energy of our creator. Having a spirit means that you are connected to an unlimited life force that was never born and never dies. I am 29 years old and it took me almost 27 years to understand my spirit and why I personally exist in this world. Spirituality has been a lifestyle for me that started when I was about 17 years old. My mother left me in the hospital and my great grandmother Edna Mae Wise took me in and raised me like I was hers. My mother didn't have any type of prenatal care and abused drugs while she was carrying me. When she had me I almost died but the doctors were able to save me. So when my grandmother took me in, she was about to get a run for money. By nine years old I had become very hyperactive, I didn't listen, I was bad in school, I was rude and my grandmother didn't know what to do with me. Because of my behavior issues growing up I had to go to a lot of therapy. Come to think about it that’s probably the reason I know how to think things out rather than panic and lose control. So back to how bad I was, so my grandmother decided when I was ten that it would be a good idea that I move in with My Aunt, and her son which was my grandfather Fred Wise. The area that my grandfather lived was not a good area but my grandfather made the best of it and raised me the best way he knew how. Because I had bad behavior they decided to place me in Special Education in the sixth grade. This means I was labeled throughout the whole school. Kids treated me different; no one really wanted to hang out with me or the people that were in my class, so we all had to stick together. In the midst of that I was diagnosed with skin Lupus. I knew my mother but we were not able to maintain a positive relationship throughout my life. I didn't know my father and he was never in my life. So as you can see my life had a lot of peaks and valleys but it was supposed to happen like that.
“Studies show that most Americans want spirituality, buy perhaps not in religious form. Researchers Wade Clark Roof, Ph. D., from the University of California at Santa Barbara, found that in the 1960s and the 1970s baby boomers dropped out organized religion in large numbers: 84% of Jews, 69% of mainline Protestants, 61% of conservative Protestants and 69% of Catholics. Many left church and synagogue not because they had lost interest in spirituality, but because organized religion was not meeting their spiritual needs. In the 1990s and as we approach the millennium, it is obvious that Americans are becoming more expressively spiritual. National polls show that 9 of 10 Americans believe in God and consider religion important in their lives. Spirituality is the fastest growing-one of the only growing-sector of the publishing industry, with literally millions buying books on the theme.” (Elkins, 1999)
Through all these different situations I had to find a way to maintain my peace or I would have loss my mind. Being that I had a family that loved me unconditionally I was able to make it through. Love played a major role in my success. Although I come from a Christian family and went to church every week with my Great grandmother I never found God in the bible, through the pastor, and the church didn’t help feel connected to my Creator either. I have found God through connecting with other people and connecting with those people through unconditional love. The only entity that I could think that I could connect to God and every person in this World is Love. Love reminds me of God, Love is God and God is Love. Through pain, being weird, being judged, were all things that led me closer to God. My spirituality started to be cultivated when I was willing to take accountability to what happens with my life and not leave it up to another entity to decide what my faith would be. My spirituality started to grow when I stopped being afraid to question the system. As I said earlier I believe that your spirituality is a journey that you and your Creator take. It starts when you acknowledge the greatness of your creator and then you realize that you were created perfect in God's image and that he sent you to earth with every tool imaginable for you to succeed. But it starts from within, you have to believe that you have the power to change your life and do whatever your heart desires. Some religion makes you feel like your spirit is a separate entity that exists inside you, I don’t believe so. I believe that we are all one with our spirit; it is the core essence of what makes us who we are. I compare the spirit to the conscious and the unconscious brain. Consciously you are aware of what you think about every day, but then you have your unconscious an array of thoughts and feelings that are happening that you're not aware of. Although you’re not aware of these thoughts they still influence your thinking and your way of life. For example consciously you watch the news every day and while watching the news every day you hear about a story about an African American doing something negative like robbing somebody, getting arrested or shooting somebody. For a person that’s not around that particular race on a regular basis they might start to formulate thoughts and perspectives about this particular demographic of people. So now if this white person that lives in an area of predominantly other white people ever comes to Brooklyn during late hours and see's somebody similar to the description of the person they saw on the news their first thought will probably be in correlation to what they saw on TV and they might get them scared or think that this person might do something to them. Now this person would tell you if you asked them if they were prejudice or racist they would say no that they have black friends at work, and they have no problem with Black people, but is that thought in correlation to how they felt when they encountered the person that made them feel scared, no it doesn’t. That’s how I describe the soul, we are expressions of our souls through the image that I creator imagined us to be. We learned in class that the Labyrinth is a single circuitous path that leads uninterrupted to a center. My spirituality has helped me create a lifestyle that will get me through anything that life throws my way.
“Spirituality has to do with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors experienced through a person’s search for the sacred (Pargament, 2007). Given known links between human cognition, affects and behavior and cardiovascular systems, it stands to reason that spirituality, which intersects many aspects of a person’s life, may be tied to cardiovascular health. To further develop this area of study, Holt-Lunstad et al. (this issue) identified links between spirituality and psychological markers of risk for cardiovascular disease, (blood pressure, inflammation, fasting glucose and blood lipids). Results showed that higher levels of spirituality were consistently associated with lower levels of risk factors, except cholesterol, triglycerides, and VLDL with which it shared insignificant or marginal linkage. Even when controlling for socio-demographic information, these associations, remained, suggesting that higher spirituality can exert protective influence over many health factors” (David Rosmarin, 2011)
One of the major problems I deal with now, Dr. McQueen, is missing my family, the saying of rather had and lost to never of had at all means a lot to me. Because I wouldn't change anything that has happen to me but in reflection not having that love anymore makes me feel lonely. Now all my decisions are made by me and my creator, I have a few people in my corner as mentors but in equivalent to the family I yearn for never the less I’m grateful for everything the universe brings my way. I allow all my feelings to grow and I personally believe that my thoughts, action and words create my reality. So when I get sad I listen to music, I write, I inspire, I volunteer, I talk to people, I help people and I think about all the good that my creator has brought my way. Today is my grandfather’s birthday; my great grandmother died on October 11th 2002, my mother’s birthday is today as well. My Spirit has guided me to understanding the different levels and components to this world we live. As I empower myself I become connected to everything that my creator has created. I can feel the energy around me; I connect with people on a spiritual way that allows me to see them for who they really are. I know that I was brought here to change this world for the better. I wrote a letter to my great grandmother the other day because I couldn't understand why I felt so sad on the 1st of October. So I decided to reach out and speak to my grandmother. I will include this paper as a part of my paper to help you understand my perspective and what I have been through in my life. My spirit is my higher consciousness and it has and will always put me in a position to be my best self. This is the letter that I wrote this week.
“Spirituality doesn’t arrive fully formed without effort; Religions around the world demonstrate that spiritual life requires constant attention and a subtle, often beautiful technology by which spiritual principles and understanding are kept alive. For good reason we go to church, temple, or mosque regularly and at appointed times: it’s easy for consciousness to become lodged in the material world and to forget the spiritual. Just as the mind digest ideas and produces intelligence, the soul feeds on life and digests it, creating wisdom and character out of experience. Renaissance Neoplatonism said that the outer world serves as a means of deep spirituality and that the transformation of ordinary experience into the stuff of soul is all-important. If the link between life experience and deep imagination in inadequate, then we are left which a division between life and soul, and such a division will always manifest itself in symptoms”. (Moore, 1993)
“Hello Grandma Edna,
I just wanted you to know that I miss you very much, at has been a while since we have spoken, the last time I recall was October 10th 2002. I remember you asked me if I would ever shut up, as you can see the answer is probably no. I miss you so much and I know that you look over me, and guide me every day my creator wakes me up. A lot has happen to me since you transitioned into the next phase of your life. I finished my last year of High School in a way I know you would be proud of. I attended college and graduated with an associate’s degree in Human Services. When I came home I kind of loss my way because I got myself in a lot of situations that I shouldn't have been in. But in hindsight every situation collectively made me a better person so I have to except every piece of my life as a whole because each peace whether good or bad made me the person I am today. Honestly grandma I wouldn't change anything I been through, my pain has been the reason I appreciate the joy that me and my creator currently create. I remember when you was sleep I use to walk by you in the middle of the night and check if you were still breathing, I was so scared of losing you and not having you in my corner. Now that I’m older I understand those feelings were signals from my soul preparing for the day that you wouldn't be around. My experience has taught me that everything in life happens for a reason, sometimes we may not understand those reasons but I know that every person and situation has its purpose. I remember the day before you passed away the machine that you were hooked up to would not stop beeping, I remember asking the doctor why the noise wouldn't stop and he told me that everything would be ok. I guess that noise was a sign that things were about to change, I didn't recognize that and you passed away the next day. I should have stayed with you and I should not have gone home that night. But honestly I thought that you was going to pull through and that everything was going to be ok, you see before you passed away I didn’t know what it felt like to worry, because from the day I came into this world I knew that as long as you were alive I would be ok and I would never want for anything. The love you gave me could never be repaid because the unconditional Love that you instilled in me is still a part of me to this very day. You were my everything and you still are, I will never forget what you did for me. Truthfully every time I complain about what I don’t have I will think about you. I will think about how every time I left your house for the weekend you would walk me to the door and kiss me on my cheek, and then watch me until you couldn’t see me anymore. You cooked for me, you watched over me, you cleaned for me, you kept a roof over my head and you made sure I grew up in a great environment. Although my soul was created perfect already you help me see that through love and dedication. Growing up around you, having your insight is the reason why I believe in a higher being. Watching you were like watching an Angel, I saw your light every day, even when all the lights were off in the house. I remember you slept on the couch so that I could sleep on the bed because you told me that I was a growing child and needed to sleep on a bed. You did so much for me and honestly I don’t have the right to complain anymore. You will be the reason why I make it in life, you will be the reason why I change this world for the better, and you will be the reason why I will exude Love every day of my life. I’m currently working on my bachelors, and then my Masters and I will finish school off with my PHD. I don’t know anybody in our family with a PHD, so I will be the first. I promise you that I will strengthen this family name and the Wise name will be known around the world. You are the reason why I’m different, and why people always find some type of good quality about me. I miss you grandma and I can’t wait to hug and kiss you. Until then hug me anyways and I will feel it, I won’t ever let you down. I remember one day when we were laying down on the bed watching TV you said to me that you just wanted me to live a good life and do something positive and worthwhile with my life. Well as of today I’m 29 years old, I don’t have any children, I don’t have any felonies on my record, I do my best to evolve and be better every single day of my life. I have a big heart and I will always be there for my family because that’s what you taught me, I will also never charge my family for any service. I give my time to volunteer with the youth; I do my best to share the wisdom that my creator has allowed me to have because I know that without sharing it with other people it can never become wisdom. I did my best to take care of Popo and I hope I made you proud, I wish that he could have stayed with me a little longer because sometimes I feel like I’m by myself. But I know that all our journeys are different and I did my best. I never left his side and fought with him to the end. Sometimes I get sad grandma, I hate having to do this by myself but I will because I know that I can’t give up. As I write this I cry but it makes me feel better because I know this sadness that I carry has to come out of me because one day it will make me sick, so I try to cry as much as possible and I’m grateful that you are in still in my corner. As I write this I feel your presence and I know you are with me and that I'm not doing this by myself because you have never left my side. I was blessed to be surrounded by people that Love me and look out for me and I'm grateful for that. The universe will provide you with everything that you need as long as you are willing to give off that same energy. Until next time I love you and thanks for listening to me, Tell Popo I said hello, I miss him and I’m glad he’s ok now. Let him know that I will look over Nikki just like I looked over you and him. I will pay if forward always because without you and Popo I would have been better off dead. See you soon, not too soon but you know what I mean.”
Kirrick Wise
My spirituality has been cultivated by first the foundation my family created before I was aware of creating success for myself Then by me being aware, and then me taking accountability of what happens to me in my life, finally my spirit had cultivated itself, my spirit is all knowing because it is connected to my creator. Being that I am one with my spirit my intuition which is one of my God like characteristics gives me direction and signals on the decisions that I should make that will ultimately lead me into evolving into my highest self. The problem is we are all God like beings but with a little g. I say little g because we lack the intelligence and insight that our creator has. We all have the potential to access that knowledge but it’s a process of transcending your mind. If you want to evolve then you have to put yourself in a position to do so. In my opinion if you are waiting for God or anybody else to save you then you lack the insight to evolve into your highest self. God is not going to save you because you have to save yourself. This is my problem with Religion, regardless of what its ending outcomes are it takes away your accountability of self, and that within itself takes away your control. I assure you that’s not God’s plan for his children. I look at it like this, I don't know whether Jesus existed or not, but if he did I know that he didn't come here to get crucified for mankind's sins. This is a man made construct created to make you feel that you were inferior and needed to be saved. I will never agree to the notion that I have fallen from grace. My new religion is Love; I know that I am going to heaven because I plan on living a life that exemplifies the greatness and the light in my heart. Honestly I don't think about things like Heaven or hell. I don’t have to think about those types of things. Your true power comes from living in the moment and being your best self consistently through all the days in your life
Our fundamental human needs are the reason why we have been our greatest self, and also the reason why we can potentially be our own destruction. Humans tend to blame their actions on two things, God, and the devil. But that’s where I find our greatest problem, mankind has took it upon themselves to kill other people, start war, withhold resources from other people, enslave people, abuse the earth. The fundamental human need has leaded us to act like animals. As talked about in class, “we are not human beings living out a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings living out a Human experience”. Your spiritual lifestyle leads to cultivation of your spirit, and that leads to you understanding your purpose and connecting to your creator.
Cultural Competence and Social Diversity
Social workers should obtain education about to seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability.
I believe that in our journey in becoming our highest self we should learn respect and understand all people. In the process of understanding people I think that you can learn to understand yourself and that will lead you closer to understanding your spirit. Like I said earlier you cultivate your spirit by embracing your spirituality lifestyle. This process requires connection with all people but in a loving and a respectful manner.
Discrimination
Social Workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, imagination status, or mental or physical disability.
Discrimination can bring out the worse and best that mankind has to offer. History has showed us what words and opinions can do in the wrong persons mind. Discrimination has created some of the most horrible acts imaginable. But history has also taught us that for a common cause all people can stand up and support one another. All the hate, evil, and oppression that came from discrimination help show you what some people do in the face of adversity. They rise like a phoenix and come together, we are at our best when we fight for one another and stand up for what we know is right. Good would not exist without evil; you need one to have the other.
“For some clients, the spiritual or religious language used in an explicit preliminary assessment does not resonate with their personal worldviews. As implied by the above conceptualization of spirituality, essential anything can be imbued with transcendent significance (Crisp, 2010). In many cases, people construct a sense of meaning, purpose, and identity outside the confines of traditional spiritual and religious settings. For example, the sacred can include art, collecting, gardening, sports, nature, and a myriad of other activities and entities.” (Hodge, 2013)
Love, intuition, intelligence, connection, imagination are the five attributes of spirituality. I pick love first because Love is an entity created for all of all God’s children. Love is what connects us to our creator. Love is what will change this world for the better and Love is what has changed this world for the better. I would not be the person I am today if I would have not received the love my family gave me. Intuition to me is a God-like characteristic that comes directly and only from your spirit. This attributes allows you to connect to people and give you a gauge on who has good intentions for you and who has bad intentions for you. Your intuition will guide you through all the days in your life. Your intuition is basically your navigational system through this world. The problem with intuition is you can only use it and understand how to use this if you are connected to your creator. Our thoughts, words, and our actions create our reality. You have to live a certain way to be your best God like self. Intelligence is a very important attribute for me because your intelligence is a major tool needed for you to fully take accountability for your life. You cannot do so without possessing the proper knowledge. The problem with intelligence is that most people do not leave room to grow, because they are content with the information they already have. To further that point a lot of the information that we have retained in our life is not valid or true. So if you study the wrong information this can and will lead you down the wrong path, this is where intelligence turns into ignorance. Connection is very important for human growth because without connecting with people you would never know what Love was, what pain is, what joy is, what loss is, what sadness is. When you grow you go through an array of different experiences before you become whole. But through that process you see the beauty in other people and that helps you see the beauty in yourself. Without my connection to the people I have come across in my life I would have been on a completely different path. I am blessed to have had such beautiful people around me and I will make sure I do the same for the people I come across. Finally my last attribute is your imagination; I believe that’s another God like characteristic that comes from your spirit. Your imagination can turn you from a kid playing in your backyard to Michael Jordan; your imagination can turn a Black man from Hawaii to the first Black man to be President of the United States of America. Our imagination can lead us to do amazing things, our imagination has no limit, and it makes you feel like you can do anything. Kids and people that are labeled crazy make the best use of their imagination. As we get older we tend to think that our imagination has a limit and some of us don't let our minds run too far off track. But for the people that still maintain the same imagination they had when they were a kid end up being Oprah Winfrey. Your imagination can help you create heaven on earth and change the world for the better as long as you believe so. My imagination still runs rampant; I still feel like one day I'm going to be able to fly like Superman and save the world. I pray that dream becomes a reality sooner than later
Namaste. Kirrick Wise.