The Healthy Living Model Finding Your Mental Health Within Facilitators: Helen Neal-Ali

Sydney Banks January 25, 1931 –May 25, 2009 My name is Sydney Banks. Over thirty-five years ago, I had a profound spiritual experience that revealed to me three, long lost, divine principles that are the foundation of all human experience. I was an average working man, not searching for truth or wisdom or even aware of much beyond my day-to-day life. Why me? I'll never know, but my life became a mystical journey where people suffering mental anguish of every kind came to hear me speak or read my books and quickly found mental health and true peace of mind. Now many of those same people, mental health professionals and lay people alike are helping thousands of others find the peace and happiness they have been searching for.

What is the Healthy Living Model The Healthy Living Model is a Principal Based Psychology used in the field of prevention and intervention. There are three basic principles:  Mind  Thought  Consciousness

Mind  The Creative Power Source from which innate wisdom comes.

Thought  How we experience life moment to moment  Learned thoughts  Our own cultural beliefs  Thoughts that are results of our experiences

Consciousness  Our ability to be aware of our environment

Building Blocks of Empowerment  Focusing on health  Using the thought cycle  Monitoring moods  Emphasizing true self-esteem  Overcoming the past and negative circumstances  Understanding leads to change

Focusing on Mental Health  Everyone has the potential for healthy functioning and common sense  It helps to know that we already have wisdom and understanding to be good people  It also helps a great deal to recognize the natural self-esteem and common sense already in side of each of us

Using the Thought Cycle Thought Result Feeling Behavior

Using the Thought Cycle Cont.  When we walk through the thought cycle it helps us to understand how we view the world around us by the way we are thinking at that moment.  When we understand our own thinking, we are able to realize that others may be thinking and seeing things differently than we do and it is okay.

Monitoring Moods  Understanding our moods is vital to our well being  This understanding allows us to realize that if we are in a bad mood, we need to step back and take a break. When we feel better, we regain our perspective on life.

Emphasizing True Self-Esteem  When we realize our self-worth does not depend upon living up to outside standards and norms, we stop passing this misconception on to others  The relief and freedom that comes from this understanding allows us to regain our natural self- esteem and allows us to enjoy life

Overcoming the Past and Negative Circumstance  No matter how bad things are on the outside, feelings of love and respect that we are able to carry within provide immunity from the world’s craziness.  We can understand that unproductive thoughts are merely a product of insecure thinking and we are no longer victims but victors.  If we are secure and have our natural self-esteem intact, we can better negotiate trying circumstances

Overcoming the Past and Negative Circumstance (cont’d)  Creating a stable meaningful life is not an easy job for anyone. Poverty, unsafe living conditions, and poor job opportunities can add to the pressure. It does not help to dredge up past negative experiences or complain about how bad it is right now.  We need to know that answers and solid action plans can emerge when we resist placing blame, when we feel better, and when we renew our hope. We can truly give ourselves the gift of positive feelings.

Understanding leads to change  It helps us to understand that the world becomes more chaotic when we feel insecure  We can then see that nurturing attitudes, positive outlooks, and patience with ourselves are the means to regain our perspective.  In the long run, this works better than constantly trying to control circumstances or self punishment for past mistakes.

Understanding leads to change (cont’d)  We need to learn how to develop discipline for self- betterment.  Self discipline should be aimed at helping us get things into perspective, our self talk, finances etc.  Once we use our common sense and realize that self discipline yields success we will feel better. Life even begins to look better to us.

Understanding leads to change (cont’d)  It helps us to relax and see things clearly.  Insights about how to help at that moment come to us when we have a quiet mind.

Book References  Second Chance by, Syd Banks  In Quest of the Pearl by, Syd Banks  Okay Forever A Book of Hope by, Helen Neal-Ali  Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by, Richard Carlson  Prevention from the Inside Out by, Jack Pransky  Is It Time to Make a CHANGE,by Deanna Beisser  Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner City and beyond, by Jack Pransky  Prevention: The Critical Need, by Jack Pransky  Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson, and Joseph Bailey  The Serenity Principle: Finding Inner Peace in Recovery, by Joseph Bailey

Cypress Center for Well-Being Helen Neal-Ali, Community Programs Coordinator Brooke Wheeldon-Reece, Executive Director 911 S. Parsons Ave. Suite A Tampa, FL Phone: Fax: