The Importance of Being Outside-Shared Heart with the Vissells

September 3, 20222 years ago atmnets 624 Views 0 Comments

Being Outside-Shared Heart with the Vissells

Dear Shared Heart Friends,

Next Retreats for Couples …

Autumn Couples Retreat November 10-13

Would you like your relationship to reach a new level of love, healing, intimacy, and commitment? Shared Heart Home-Center in Aptos, CA

The Couple’s Journey February 14-19

A 5-day retreat just for couples that will transform your relationship. During this retreat, you will not only be open to more love and connection than you thought possible, but you will have enough time to integrate these positive changes into your lives back home.

We are excited to offer our FREE album of sacred songs and chants, “I Stand for Love,” our first musical recording. You can download the whole album for free, or listen to it on YouTube. Wait till you hear the exquisite harmonies added by our son, John-Nuri.

Free Album Download
Listen on YouTube

Excerpt from this month’s article: “Our connection with nature, with the out of doors, is absolutely important to our physical and mental health.”

Our latest book: Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love, is available only on Amazon.com as a Kindle e-book for only $5.99 (or paperback for $15.95). Read what one reviewer says:
“I love love love this book!! For me it’s like a thought for the day … I read — then carry that nugget of love, joy, or peace to ponder and bathe in throughout the day, –or even take into my meditations!! such a treasure !! priceless!” –Trish Turpel
Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Heartfullness-Ways-Open-More-Love-ebook/dp/B081K926GY

Unbelievable Book Sale: To Really Love a Woman and To Really Love a Man (each regular price $15.95) now $15 for both with free shipping; and if you buy both, as a bonus, just $3 each (and free shipping) for as many as you want of the following books: The Shared Heart, Models of Love, Risk To Be Healed, Rami’s Book, Light in the Mirror, and A Mother’s Final Gift. Please call Paris at 831-684-2130 to order.

Shared Heart Column
Heartfulness September 2022
with Joyce and Barry Vissell

“The Importance of Being Outside”

Recently we attended our son, John-Nuri’s, performance in Portland. While we were waiting in the long line at the intermission for some juice, we got talking to one of his new friends. He wanted to know more about our son. He asked incredulously, “Does he really walk in the woods for at least one to two hours every day?” We told this young man that he was raised with the importance of being outside as much as possible, and yes, rain, shine, or snow cannot keep our son from his daily walks. This young man then went on to explain to us that he rarely gets outside as he works from home in tech. Then he said, “When I finally am done with my long days of working in front of the computer, I cannot even imagine going outside and walking. Instead, I just relax in front of the TV. But I’m feeling that I’m missing something in life.”

I thought about this conversation with this young man for a long time. Yes, he IS missing something vitally important in his life. Our connection with nature, with the out of doors, is absolutely important to our physical and mental health. Being outside helps bring peace and quiet to our minds.

And as that young man experienced, sometimes we feel so tired from our work that all we want to do is lie down and watch something on one of the various-sized screens at our disposal. But I feel it is important to force ourselves outside because the benefits are so great. I had Covid in November 2020 before there were vaccines and when many people were dying. I felt worse than I have ever felt except when I almost died in NYC at the age of twenty from sepsis. With Covid, all I could manage was to lie in bed and feel miserable. But I knew I had to get outside in order to start to heal and feel better. It took all of my energy to put on warm clothes and step outside. But as soon as I did, I started to feel somewhat better. I forced myself to walk in the woods by our home for five minutes every day. That is not much as I am used to walking much more, but five minutes helped to lift my spirits and brought a sense of hope that I would fully recover.

In this past year, I have worked in my counseling practice with three different women of varying ages, each from a very different part of our country. I knew each of these women before and knew their life stories. They had all worked through much of the life pain of their past. But perhaps because of Covid and the isolation, they found themselves very depressed. Even though the threat of Covid was currently not so strong, all three women were spending their time on their screens and staying inside. I worked with all three on their resistance to going outside. We would set goals that they would go outside for at least five minutes each day. It took weeks for each of them to complete that commitment, but when they did, they started to feel better. The screens were turned off and in their place was the sound of birds, the wind, the sunshine or rain upon their faces. The great healing power of nature began to work its magic even just for the committed five minutes. Then I worked with them to actually move in nature, through walking, jogging, yoga, or dancing. These three ladies independently chose to walk. Week by week, their spirits improved greatly, and so did their desire to eat healthy food.

I am a strong believer in the power of nature to heal and help our mental health. When I lived in New York City for two years as a student, it was harder to take my daily walks alone as it was sometimes dangerous. I figured out a time that was relatively safe and made my way past very busy streets to a place where I could walk along the Hudson River. Yes, it was very crowded and I had to always be careful that I was not being followed, but I found it was worth it to just walk along the river and allow nature to bring healing. The hassle to get there and the possibility of danger were not as great as the benefits that I received.

Before Covid, Barry and I traveled quite a bit and were at airports a fair amount of time. Even with full travel days, we found ways to be outside. One time at the Boston airport, with several flights ahead of us and a long wait from a delay, we made our way up to the parking garage and for one hour we walked outside in circles on the roof of the garage. We could see nature below and feel the sun and wind and it helped to restore us for the long trip ahead.

Once, I broke my leg and ankle and was confined to a wheelchair. Barry drove me to a beach walk along a sidewalk and pushed me every day. Even though I was not walking, the power of nature was a strong healer for me.

St Francis of Assisi was a strong believer in the power of nature and he often walked many miles each day. He felt that the trees could take away negative thoughts and desires and so he often found himself among them. There are many places dedicated to St. Francis and one of many that we visited is called Fonte Columbo in the famed Rieti Valley. This place has a beautiful trail that is very nicely maintained and along the way are very lovely trees. Visitors are encouraged to walk this trail and allow the trees to bring peace to their hearts and mind. I have walked this trail many times, and each time I feel so much better than when I first started.

So I want to encourage each of us to get outside at least once a day. Nature is powerful and can bring healing and peace. And the bonus. It is totally free.

Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors near Santa Cruz, CA, who are passionate about conscious relationships and personal spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for further information on counseling sessions by phone, online, or in person, their books, recordings, or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their website at SharedHeart.org for their free monthly e-heart letter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationships and living from the heart.

Our schedule at a glance (details below — All events are now in-person):

September 16:  Spiritual Chanting and Singing
October 26-30:  The Greatest Journey (Mentorship Program)
November 10-13:  Autumn Couples Retreat
February 14-19:  The Couples Journey

Quote of the Month:

“Allow yourself to enjoy the gifts of our mother earth: laying upon her ground, walking her paths, climbing her rocks, and wading in her waters. There is a wonder, magic and healing to be found out of doors.” –Risk To Be Healed, p. 84.

Please join Joyce and me in holding a vision of a world where women, men, and children of all nations, races, and religions can see and feel the divine in themselves and one another. Here is our current 2022-2023 workshop schedule. Joyce and I would love to see you at one of these events. Please remember how important this spiritual-emotional growth work is. Together let’s take another step on this journey into the heart of love and deeper awareness, where real-world healing begins. Peace be with you all.

September 16: Spiritual Chanting and Singing

A special 90 minutes of singing, chanting (mostly in English), and opening your hearts to the divine. Join Barry and Joyce with guest musicians. If you are a musician, please bring an instrument and join us.

When: Friday, September 16, 2022, 7-8:30pm
Where: Center for Spiritual Living, 1818 Felt St, Santa Cruz, CA
Cost: FREE or Love offering to support CSL.

October 26-30: The Greatest Journey (Mentorship Program)

Find and live your dream, your passion, and your purpose! Individually and together with a small, carefully chosen group of 8-14 participants (singles or couples), these 6 months will help you recreate your life.

November 10-13: Autumn Couples Retreat

Would you like your relationship to reach a new level of love, healing, intimacy, and commitment?

February 14-19: The Couples Journey

Volunteers Needed. The Shared Heart Foundation needs volunteers. If you would like to support our vision and work, no matter where you live, email info@sharedheart.org
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Counseling with the Vissells. For individuals or couples who need help, you can choose from one hour to a two-day intensive with either one or both of us. http://sharedheart.org/counseling/

Do you ever shop on Amazon.com? Now you can support The Shared Heart Foundation just by shopping online. Just go to smile.amazon.com, sign in like you normally do, specify The Shared Heart Foundation (you only have to do this once), and 0.5% of every order supports us. Thank you for this support.

Our love and blessings to you all,

Barry and Joyce Vissell

Please click on SharedHeart.org for inspiring articles about relationships and consciousness, as well as our updated schedule.