PLATINUM PERSON

Changing one's attitude can be
the key to personal — and even
global — happiness.

BY RONELLE GRIER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN

I

f you ask Laurie Pappas how
you can be happier, have
more fulfilling relationships
and make the world around you a
better place, she'll tell you it's all
about attitude — attitudinal healing,
- that is.
Pappas is executive director of
the Metro Detroit Center for
Attitudinal Healing (MDCAH), a
nonprofit organization that offers
personal growth groups, classes and
workshops. She also is a psychother-
apist in private practice, where she
incorporates the principles of attitu-
dinal healing.
According to Pappas, attitudinal
healing is based on the idea that
conflict or unhappiness is not
caused by other people or circum-
stances, but by one's attitude toward
them.
"Clients come to me because
they are interested in a more spiritu-
al approach to counseling," said
Pappas. "I help people with issues

6 • MARCH 2005 • JNPLATINUM

such as depression, anxiety, anger,
divorce, job loss or low self-esteem.
Once someone's attitude changes, as
they learn forgiveness and compas-
sion, their relationships become
healthier, conflicts diminish and
peace reigns."
Attitudinal healing was started in
California during the mid-1970s by
a psychiatrist named Dr. Gerald
Jampolsky, who was working with
children hospitalized with various
life-threatening illnesses. Not only
did the techniques help the chil-
dren cope with the physical and
emotional challenges of their dis-
eases, but also several recovered
despite their grim prognoses. Today,
more than 150 attitudinal healing
programs or organizations exist on
five continents.
Pappas became intrigued after
becoming familiar with the precepts
of attitudinal healing and traveled to
California for training. She decided

Continued on page 7

GETTING TOGETHER

• Growth groups are offered free of charge several times weekly at various Metro Detroit

locations. For more information, contact the Metro Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing

at (248) 336-2950 or visit the Web site at www.AHmetrodetroit.com .

• The MDCAH, together with the Michigan Institute for Nonviolence Education and the

Cities for Peace Project, is co-sponsoring the 7th Annual Global Nonviolence Conference

April 16-21 at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg, a former Detroiter and the founder and

director of educational services for the California-based Center for Nonviolent

Communication, an international training and peacemaking organization.

"Our goal is to help curb violence and establish a more peaceful community, a more

peaceful world," said Pappas. "By joining together, our ability to have an effective impact

greatly increases."

For information about the Global Nonviolence Conference, visit

www.nonviolenceeducation.org and click on "events."

12

PRINCIPLES
OF
ATTITUDINAL
HEALING

The essence of our being is love.

Health is inner peace. Healing is letting go of fear.

Giving and receiving are the same.

We can let go of the past and of the future.

Now is the only time there is and each instant is for giving.

We can learn to love ourselves and others by forgiving rather than judging.

We can become love finders rather than fault finders.

We can choose and direct ourselves to be peaceful inside
regardless of what is happening outside.

We are students and teachers to each other

We can focus on the whole of life rather than the fragments.

Since love is eternal, death need not be viewed as fearful.

We can always perceive ourselves and others as either
extending love or giving a call for help.

