Page 260 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

Hu ma n ExPE ri En cEs: HE a l t H , HE a l in g , a n d C ar i t a s N ur s iN g
Forgiveness; Offering Gratitude; Surrendering and Overcoming Fear and
Pride.
There are at least four or five other more abstract human endeav-
ors we all share in our collective humanity. These transcend our com-
mon work, regardless of professional/personal background. We learn
these practices through love and authentic engagement, acknowledge-
ment of self and other, of offering gratitude, forgiveness, validation
and recognition to self and others. As we cultivate these shared human
tasks, we establish a foundation for a Caritas consciousness, helping to
overcome fear, anger, competition, jealousy, defensiveness and so on,
opening to beneficial emotions and higher/deeper consciousness for
love and joy, healing emotions and trust in life.
As we engage in these practices, we become more honest with
our self, more able to surrender to what is/to love what is, rather than
fighting it.
We can request and offer forgiveness and blessings from self and
those we may have hurt. In this way we learn to bless and forgive per-
sons, situations and circumstances that otherwise would immobilize
and freeze us in our emotions. These simple yet profound human acts
help us overcome fear and pride that separate us from our true nature
and our connection with all that is, human and universal.
We may not even be aware that these are the tasks toward devel-
oping a mature wise heart, until they are brought to our conscious
attention and awareness. These endeavors include at least the follow-
ing challenges for locating our work, our science, and our human evo-
lution within Caring Science (Watson 2003):

• Healing our relationship with Self and Others/Planet
Earth/Universe
• Understanding and transforming our own and other’s suffering

• Deepening and expanding our understanding of living and
dying; acknowledging the shadow-light cycle of the great sacred
circle of life
• Preparing for our own death.

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