Over the summer, Dr. DiPaolo spoke at the Health Ministry Retreat on the topic of “Resilience.” Resilience was defined simply as our strength in adapting to the demands of life. Three of the key points made about resilience were:

• The Christian perspective of resilience adds to the definition: We accept and embrace these demands as crosses, which are gifts from God to transform us and make us more whole and holy.
• Acceptance is not the same as resignation. Resignation focuses on the past and future, where there can be no change, while acceptance focuses on the present. Accepting a struggle invites more empowering action to bring about potential change and healing.
• Three pathways to building resilience and moving toward healing are connecting with the Core Self and God, connecting with our burdened parts, and connecting with others.

On October 29, Dr. DiPaolo will extend upon these ideas in a one-day “Healing Your Soul” retreat to be held in the Spirituality Center.

The retreat will let you know your internal family of parts. You’ll be invited to slow down and cultivate the capacity to be emotionally present to even the most vulnerable of parts within you. As Paul tells us, “The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor.” (Romans 12: 22-23)

Through a series of presentations, meditations, and time for personal reflection, you will be guided through a process to explore and bring healing to burdened parts of you and connect more fully with your core self and God.

So come, slow down, and heal your soul on Saturday, October 29.