A look at purposeful living.
Told by Michael Mahaffey - co-director & founder of Cedar Springs

At Cedar Springs renewal is the focus. Aside from the fasting and cleansing program we offer a class called Purposeful Living. This class utilizes a form of communication called dialogue to help the participant determine their specific spiritual purpose.

Dialogue comes from the Greek words dia and logos. Dia means through and logos is the mind of God. Think of dialogue as a stream of meaning flowing between two people and, as a result, new understandings emerge. Instead of viewing life through some of our old belief systems, we now have a choice to use our spiritual purpose as the lens through which our thinking takes place. Spiritual purpose changes our focus.

When helping people find their spiritual purpose we remind them that it is inscribed in their heart and has always been there. It's the source of their inspiration, the non-physical part of their life.

Spiritual Purpose impacts our lives because it influences our core attitudes towards life which in turn have an influence on the billion of cells in our body.

Dr. Candice Pert has scientifically proven that our emotions affect the body's function through the release or repression of peptides, the carriers of the body's biochemical information.

Research has shown that when emotions are expressed and biochemicals are flowing freely then all systems are united and made whole.

A system is healthy or "whole," a word that shares its origin with "holy", when these feedback loops are rapid and unimpeded.

In 1982 I was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (aml) and the oncologist told me, "Your only chance in surviving aml is to have a spontaneous remission." I went home, looked for the definition of spontaneous remission and found this: 1. Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated. 2. Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from external incitement.

I knew then and know now that there were attitudes and/or feeling states that would most likely block me from experiencing a spontaneous remission. These attitudes included the following:

• Defensiveness
• Irritability
• Arrogance
• Anger
• Apathy
• Indifference
• Resentment
• Depression

These feelings did not produce a healing state. The information that my emotions were sending to the cells of my body was charged with negativity and hopelessness. I had to change many of my core beliefs and their underlying attitudes.

At Cedar Springs we support participants in finding their own truth regarding their emotional states and attitudes. Their spiritual purpose then becomes the new lens through which their thinking takes place and, consequently, their attitudes are transformed. Our thoughts become our feelings so it is very important to choose wisely our thoughts and beliefs.

Eventually we begin to see, as Socrates did, that it is not a matter of choosing between right and wrong but rather that one cannot choose the wrong because there is no longer a choice

	Miracle of Dialogue The Miracle of Dialogue by: Reuel L. Howe Published by: The Seabury Press - New York - 1966 - Out of Print There is so much to learn about dialogue, and this book tells you everything you need to know to help you in many different ways. Influenced by the writings of Martin Buber, a professor at the Episcopal Theological Seminary, Cambridge, MA, discusses the nature of effective dialogue. By Reuel L. Howe (Paperback - Mar 1993) $6.95
	You Can Fight For Your Life : Emotional Factors in the Treatment of Cancer By Lawrence LeShan $6.9

Weight Loss & Cleansing Programs Cedar Springs offers a physical and spiritual renewing experience, combining organic, fresh raw food, ( fruits, veggies, wheat grass juice and salads), education, exercise and accommodation on 50 idyllic acres north of Seattle .

Please call Nan or Michael for more information about whole organic food, weight loss and cleansing programs availability. 360-826-3599 31459 Barben Road Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 email: mohappy@cedarsprings.org