Decades ago when I was reading Carlos Castaneda’s books, I recall how Don Juan (Carlos’ teacher and mentor) assigned him a task to review his entire life and “recapitulate” his life story, including every significant encounter he could remember. This would help Carlos to identify any unfinished business with anyone, even those he had forgotten about as a way to let go of the past. This would help him to feel more empowered in the present moment.
Recently, I was reading an article by journalist Jonathan Shorman (USA Today) on ‘Dignity Therapy’. Similar to Carlos’ task described above, this approach helps patients who are terminally ill to pass on their final thoughts to friends and more frequently to family members. A very high percentage of the 441 patients in the University of Manitoba study reported feeling a higher quality of life after participating. Among the questions asked by a trained interviewer included “What are the most important roles you had in your life?” and “What have you learned about life that you would like to pass on to others?” In one of the early trials, “68% of patients reported an increased sense of purpose and 67% an increased sense of meaning after participating in the therapy.” Many of the family members benefited as well as it provided them with a means by which they could hold on to something authentic and meaningful from their beloved family member.
As our culture becomes more willing to confront and address death and the dying process more honestly, ‘Dignity Therapy’ will no doubt become well known and my hope is that it becomes embraced by more families.
Posted September 8, 2012
Howard Brockman, LCSW
Howard Brockman
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