I have had been thinking recently about the power of “set and setting” in the context of counselling and healing work. When I first heard these two terms used together I didn’t really understand the nuances that go into creating the connection between the pair. “Set” (what your mind is bringing into a counselling or healing session) and “Setting” (the actual space in which the work is being done) both influence the effectiveness of the healing session and should be considered by both therapist and client.
“Set” is about mind”Set”…where our head is at. Many will also use the word “intention” instead. I think of it this way…. Mind”Set” is about creating a thought and then linking it to a feeling, this bonds the head and heart. An example of this would be; I go into a healing space with the mindset of bringing more abundance into my life… thats the thought. The feeling may be one of gratitude or even excitement that also has a little bit of certainty attached. There is a wholeness to it. Wayne Dyer said it so well; “Intention creates our reality”. Sometimes when creating my own “Set” or mindset, what I am working on feels “empty” or lacks clarity. In such an instance, I would pull back a little in my thoughts and go from a different angle or perspective until I have a solid creation or intention. Not having a clear intention is akin to having an illusion and a hope that is hollow and unattainable.
“Setting” applies to the physical space that we are in. If you have ever thought: “I want to start working out… let’s get a machine at home,” and then there it sits after being used only a few times. However if you commit to going to the gym, surrounded by others who are focused on exercise, the time seems to fly by and it feels easier to work out. That is because of the setting. At home it is too easy (I speak from experience) to find other things to do, there is always laundry, cleaning, a book that sits unfinished… so many things to do that can fill the time because the setting at home can be to distract. Work is easier in an office, yoga and meditation are easier in the group at a studio. However, knowing the importance of having a unique and sacred setting, we can create that space in our home or be very aware of setting when we go into a place of healing. With the counselling work that I do, I look with fresh eyes as I create the room for counselling and healing so that I may see it as someone walking in for the first time. I ask myself some of these questions; Is it inviting? Do I feel as though I can “unburden” myself here? Do I feel safe? The same applies in my home; Can I relax here? Where do I feel the most comfortable and how can I bring that same feeling throughout the entire space? When walking into other offices and spaces offering healing a lot of these questions come back with a resounding “NO.” If I am unable to feel comfortable and safe, how can I expect to build on what I am wanting to move into for the next stage of healing and growth? And if I can’t do that, how can I expect clients to be able to?
So, “Set” and “Setting” influences how much we commit to the things we choose to do, whether working out or working on our “stuff”. Take time today if you can to consider your own mind”Set” and the “Setting” you are in… at work… at home. Are you feeling more or less within this space? Do you have the ability to alter something? If you are seeing a professional for aid in some way, check what your body is saying to you, listen to that inner wisdom keeper that sits inside each one of us and if you find yourself out of alignment with You then look for a way to adjust.
There was another word I used when describing the Setting and that was Sacred… feels like a topic for next time.
