The root of the word crisis comes from crise, the “decisive point in the progress of a disease, which indicates recovery or death,” also a “vitally important or decisive state of things, a point at which change must come, for better or worse,” and from the Latinized form of the Greek krisis or “turning point.” The root words also indicate the ability to “discriminate or distinguish.” … In this interview with Dr. Mark Howard, a psychologist with a long history of work with people in crisis (Dr. Howard was formerly head of Kaiser Permanente San Mateo’s drug and alcohol department), Ami Chen Mills hosts a dialogue exploring the nature of a spiritual psychology (Three Principles psychology), and what this means about how we look at the world, how we see the world though our thought systems and how we might respond from love and compassion. (Full disclosure: Ami and Howard were colleagues for many years within Santa Clara County’s Alcohol and Drug Services Department, Three Principles Services Division).
Covered in this interview:
- How to keep your bearings and find wisdom and creativity in challenging times
- The use of Thought in seeing the world and what is happening in the world
- Being the best you can be for your community
- When to take breaks and news fasts
- The Whoos of Whooville
- Questioning the value of holding stress and worry
- Responding to harm and abuse
- Examples of love in action today
- What to make of the Stonewall riots (which launched the gay and queer rights movement), from a spiritual perspective
- The energy of “Stop It.”
- Joanna Macy and “holding actions”
- Seeing the humanity in everyone
- Outside in vs. inside out
- Fear in very wealthy people at this time
- What kind of response is appropriate at this time for mental health professionals and societies?
Mark Howard, Ph.D. is founder of the Three Principles Institute in Brentwood, California, USA. He is recognized as one of the pioneers who first brought the Three Principles into the field of psychology. Since 1982, Dr Howard has been teaching private clients, families, business professionals. He is now devoting his time to mentoring and supporting anyone who wishes to share the principles with love, clarity, and impact. Dr. Howard has published a paper demonstrating the efficacy of the Three Principles in treatment. In 2008 he was awarded the “Outstanding Career Service” award by the Santa Clara Psychological Association for bringing this Principles education to Santa Clara County in the United States.
Resources:
Three Principles Institute, founded by Dr. Howard
For more information, also see: www.AmiChen.com
Spiritual resilience resources at the Moment of Truth Dispatch Substack, under “Spiritual Resilience”
