PSYCHOLOGY CORNER
COUNSELING FOR PEACE: PREPARING FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM
(Based
from the book, COUNSELING AND VALUES EDUCATION:
STEPS
TO PEACE IN THE ASEAN SETTING
by
Rose Marie Salazar-Clemena)
AMY L. CHAVES
Nov.
20,
1999
CONTEXT:
Counseling psychologists are essentially peacemakers whether the goal is change, choice, confusion reduction, and problem solution or problem prevention. As the third Millennium approaches, the task of attaining peace is even greater and urgent due to rapid knowledge explosion, industrialization, environmental degradation, economic development and population growth, to name just a few forces affecting the world today and in the coming 21st century.
Alongside the major changes in the world are three possible scenarios, vis-à-vis the key development areas: economics, politics, socio-cultural issues, environment, technology, values, and religion. The worst case scenario, called the Downbeat, Pessimist or Insurance Scenario is characterized by low economic growth, persistent and increasing poverty, depleted natural resources, population explosion and political chaos. In addition, this scenario also includes the problems related to urbanization and migration, weakened family structures due to separation, divorce or single-parent families, child labor, discrimination, chronic illiteracy, extreme materialism, deterioration of values and growth of crime and delinquency.
The second scenario is called the Reference, Standard, or Business-as-Usual Scenario which depicts better economic conditions, economic stability, greater nationalism, longer life span, and a growing concern for rights of minority groups. Environmental degradation is offset by innovations in technology, which leads to many discoveries in the fields of medicine and education. There is also a widespread revivalism in religion as well as growth in Christianity and Islamic fundamentalism, which place emphasis on “faith which does justice.”
The third scenario is dubbed as the Upbeat, Optimistic, or Value-based Scenario, distinguished with its rapid economic development and increases in average earnings. Developing countries like the Philippines gradually emerges as dominant economies, a marked manageable population growth, increased democratization, effective political leadership, and people empowerment. Traditional values are emphasized, along with the preservation of history and culture. Women and cultural minorities participate more in all areas of development. Rehabilitation of environment, a shift towards indigenous energy sources, ecumenical bonding becomes evident, and Asia and the rest of the world advance rapidly toward peace and prosperity.
A FILIPINO FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE
Peace includes the following components:
q Katahimikan (Quiet or Tranquillity): an undisturbed state of mind or thought.
q Pagkakaisa (Unity, Oneness, Harmony): love for humanity; respect for life and life systems.
q Kalayaan (Freedom) and Katarungan (Justice): respect for and upholding of human rights; absence of double standard; opportunity to develop fully one’s capabilities without undue restraints.
q Pagkakaunawan (Understanding): acceptance and appreciation of differences; non-violent means of settling disputes.
q Pagtutulungan (Interdependence) and Pananagutan sa kapwa (Responsibility for others): helping one another achieve progress/happiness; shared capacities and responsibilities.
q Kaginhawaan (Well-being): prosperity, comfort, ease.
q Kaayusan (Order): absence of trouble, conflict; based on equality and justice.
These components of peace are experienced in five areas: peace with God, peace with oneself, peace with others, peace with the nation and peace with the world. The fruit of peace with the world is the continued experience of peace with the nation, which in turn facilitates peace with others. Peace with others will result in return with peace with oneself and ultimately brings one with root of all peace—peace with God. This framework implies that whenever there is a lack of peace in the core areas there will also be a lack of peace in the periphery and vice-versa.
Spheres of Peace
¨
Kapayapaang
Mapagsarili: (Egocentric Peace): peace attained through satisfaction of
personal needs.
¨
Kapayapaang
Mapagsangayon (Acquiescent
Peace): peace that comes from the ability to conform to the standards set by
others.
¨
Kapayapaang
Mapagpalaya (Liberating Peace): peace that is derived from a resolution
of conflict between what one is and what one could and ought to do.
¨
Kapayapaang
Mapagtugon (Responsive Peace): peace achieved from authentic, helpful
relationships.
¨
Kapayapaang
Mapagbuo (Integrative Peace): peace that results from a communion with
all living things and transcendence over self-concerns; all components of peace
are experienced to the fullest.
HOLISTIC COUNSELING FOR PEACE
The aim of holistic counseling for peace is to enable the counselee to attain peace in all areas—in one’s relationship with God, with one’s self, with others, with one’s nation and with the world. There are four types of skills that people need to learn particularly the counselors. They are:
· Instrumental Skills: those that can help people perform their tasks in the area of physical and intellectual skills needed to survive in the home, school, and work. The psychomotor and sensual O/E’s (“overexcitabilities”—heightened reactions to stimuli and are the building blocks of development) are connected to instrumental skills. The former includes high degrees of energy, activity, and movement. The latter involves the ability to derive pleasure from the senses.
· Interpersonal Skills: refer to self-regard and regard for others, which can help in relationships, understanding and cooperation (i.e., self-awareness, acceptance of criticism, and empathy). The emotional O/E’s, which consist of strong connectedness with others, intense feelings, emotional responsiveness, and self-evaluation and judgment.
· Imaginal Skills: include the creation of new methods, the search for alternatives, the modification of habits, and the correction of weaknesses. Related to these skills are imaginational O/E’s that include vivid imagery, capacity to dream and fantasize creativity and inventiveness.
· System Skills: refer to one’s ability to understand and cooperate with other parts of the system and the system as a whole. This implies being able to act as a part of the whole and to sacrifice self-interests for the greater good. The intellectual overexcitability is associated with these skills, which involves theoretical analysis, questioning, problem-solving, moral thinking, reflectiveness, and cognitive and intuitive integration.
EXPERIENCE:
I agree with the author that peace is essential and should be part of the goal of the counselor. My experience with peace is the external peace that affects my inner self positively. It should be noted that external peace can stimulate internal peace and internal peace can also stimulate external peace.
When I went to Canada ten years ago to study Philosophy and teach at the same time, I experienced a different peace propagated by economic stability and absence of discriminatory attitudes. Canada is such a peaceful country that their mountain police do not need to bring guns—just a simple rod is slung on their hips. Canada is the No. 1 country in the world in terms of economic and political stability, health care, as well as industrial and technological development. In my one year of stay there, I experienced a kind of peace that I did not encounter in the Philippines—no high-level corruption, no inner turmoil, no big gap between the rich and the poor, and no beggars even. There is also the absence of military might, absence of guns, and except for Quebec wanting a separate state, no internal conflict. People are caring, respectful and concerned of others. They are kind, polite and non-discriminatory. It is also silent there—no loud noise, voices and other noise-pollutants in the environment. Perhaps the way their houses are built contributes to this silence but I love it. From these varied areas of peace, I experienced inner peace. I became more sensitive to the crisp air, the snow, the trees, the clean roads, the smiles of people, their kindness, their concern and their decent, comfortable lifestyle. Even when one drives through their streets, there is less pressure and anxiety because traffic rules are respected and obeyed. I should say that the future of Canada, based from these considerations is very good. I can imagine the third scenario for Canada and its people as mentioned by the author—that of the Upbeat, Optimistic, or Value-based Scenario. That is why I want to go back there, maybe not for good, but for as long as possible.
REFLECTION:
When I reflect on my experience of peace in Canada, I cannot help but long to go back there. Although I feel so much at ease here in the Philippines, I would like to work there for the remaining active years of my life because of its peace.
The peace I found in Canada is a combination of external and internal aspects. First, I found physical serenity. Wherever I went, there were few people, less crowding, more respect for the human, more space. There was also the respect for the environment, less noise, less dirt, more beauty—more trees, more flowers, more animals, more shrubs. So I felt more respected, more at ease, more comfortable, more attuned to the environment, my senses more focused and sharper. I began to love the chipmunks in the yard, the squirrels, and the birds. The snow was such a beautiful sight and I love its crunching sound during my morning walk or jog. The trees were such a pretty sight, tall proud and erect, the green pine trees beamed under the weight of the snow and the light of the sun. The crisp, chill wind and the clean smell of the earth—all these were found even in the midst of metropolitan Toronto.
Inside, I found peace in how the people treated me—with concern, respect and kindness, sometimes, even with love. I felt safe in Canada than here in the Philippines. I was not looked down because of my color and economic status—I was treated as an equal. Money is not so much a problem by many people in Canada. There is peace in not being tied to the daily grind of “survival.” Self-esteem is not a problem because the dirtier the work, the higher the pay. I am one of those people who are not materialistic and that is why I do not want to be kept a slave to basic and comfort needs. That is why I should be able to provide myself and my family its basic and comfort needs so I can focus my mind and heart on some higher aspirations.
Canada's social system is considered the best in the world. There are “buffers”—when one gets sick, hospital and treatment are free. When one wants to own a house, the government subsidizes the payments. When one is a single parent, the government supports the child through a monthly pension, until the child reaches the age of 18. When one is laid off from work, the government subsidizes in the meantime until employment is found. When one wants to get to college, there are college bursaries. When one reaches retirement, one can finish a course or enroll in any educational or vocational course—free. There is less stress, if I may say, and more freedom. This is peace for me.
Thus, this is what I meant by the peace outside affects the inner self and the inner peace affects the outside world.
ACTION:
I am going back to Canada. Perhaps in a matter of 1 or 2 years from now. Maybe I am escaping from a loveless marriage. So be it. I deserve a better life, another chance, a new beginning. Or maybe my heart really belongs there—to its people, to its mountains and trees and to its snow and wind. So be it. If I die, I want to die in a peaceful, tranquil environment, where I am respected and accepted.
Canada, the second largest country in the world, with its population of 25 million, beckons me. I will not resist.
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http://amychaves.bizland.com/articles/peace.htm