Introduction to the Four Quadrant Process

We create our lives, drawing to us both people and events, By our words, thoughts and actions. -Ione Jenson

In 1951, Maslow reported that the healthiest adults in his study were independent, detached, and self-governing. They governed their lives by looking deep inside themselves for what was right, and this was not always or necessarily in alignment with what was culturally popular or socially acceptable. Maslow defined them as autonomous (empowered/ self-actualizing) and found that they had discovered the seeming opposites such as work/play, duty/pleasure, self-interest/altruism, individualism/selflessness to all be the same. Maslow felt that truly healthy people made choices that were good for everyone, not just solely beneficial to themselves. They were able to find win/win solutions to the problems and challenges in life and were able to apply the principles of synergy effectively. They had attained maturity.

Webster's Dictionary defines maturity in the following way. Mature: 1) based on slow, careful considerations; 2) having completed natural growth and development; 3) ripe

We need to ask ourselves: "Am I a mature person? Am I willing to take responsibility for my life, for the choices I make, and am I willing to be responsible for the outcome of those decisions? Am I willing to stop blaming others or life itself for all the things that I don't like or that don't work in my life? Am I willing to look at the people in my life and see how they mirror for me both my own strengths and weaknesses? When I see a weakness reflected, am I willing to honestly stop projecting my self-hatred out onto others and begin learning how to embrace the unlovable within myself? Am I willing to look at not only my self-interest in any given situation, but also look at what is good for the whole, the family, the office staff, my community, my country or humanity at large? Am I willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and listen carefully in order to try to understand their reasons before pressing my arguments on them? Am I willing to remain non-judgmental when another's lifestyle or opinion differs from mine? Am I willing to honor diversity both in other people and in myself? Am I willing to be as honest as possible with myself and in my dealings with other people? Am I willing never to "use" another as a means to personal gain, in any manner, however large or small? Am I willing to confront my fears and insecurities in order to surrender the need for power and control over the lives of others? Am I willing to embrace my truth and base my actions on what I deeply hold to be honest and true regardless of popular opinion?"

Over the past few decades I've discovered the people I've observed, interviewed, or counseled and who live the healthiest, happiest and most productive lives, tend to have four basic things in common. They all know what they value and have strong personal boundaries around those values. They are willing to look at what does and doesn't work in their lives and face the reality of what they need to modify in order to live in integrity and in accordance with their personal value system. They respect their inner processes and understand that many outside factors and cultural influences have molded and shaped them, and they are willing to work toward integration when aspects of themselves are in conflict. They all have a firm belief in something greater than the limits of their own conscious finite minds. They call it by many names: God, Divine Mind, Cosmic Intelligence, Super Conscious, Organic Process, Energy, Wisdom, Synchronicity, or a myriad of other labels, but they all subscribe to the concept that a higher power source turns the universe in some mysterious way and with some semblance of order.

As I have worked through my own processes and have aided countless others in working through theirs, it has become apparent that to use these four processes in tandem is to find a healthy and workable way of life. The order in which these steps are applied will vary from situation to situation, but sooner or later, moving through each step creates a more productive and complete course of action. Two of the processes are essentially left brained and two are right brained although some overlapping may be involved. Finding that delicate but powerful balance between the logic/ reasoning and intuitive/feeling components of our brains, the yin and the yang energies, is to find the centered peaceful existence we all crave, and yet, at the same time it allows us to live involved, powerful and effective lives. This is not to say challenges, personal growth, and learning opportunities will not occur, but it is to say that with a predetermined way of confronting issues, we can use them to enhance our personal awareness and for the advancement of our soul growth. In doing so, each experience can lead us deeper into self-knowledge and direct us to ways of enhancing the state of our health and increasing our productivity.

I have made a diagram of the four-quadrant process in this manner:

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In the upper left quadrant of the circle we need to sort out our basic VALUES and goals. It is essential to be clear with ourselves as to what values we embrace as our own and which ones, perhaps, have been handed to us by our childhood religion, our culture and/or our families. Some of these early values or goals may or may not serve our best interests at this point in our lives, and if we can be clear about what is really important to us, we can live a more integrated life and one of utmost integrity. Unless we know what we value and practice making choices that support those values, it's difficult to respond to life and to crisis in a healthy way.

In the bottom left corner of the circle, we see the process of ACTION. Many of our challenges need confronted with realistic evaluation. They often call us to modify our behavior or to take assertive steps in order to create solutions to the dilemmas they pose. While doing nothing about a situation is occasionally the action that needs to be taken, more often, we can release the numerous mind games that roll over and over in our heads if we will just take some constructive steps toward finding a reasonable solution. Often these steps may be very small, but even a small step can make a world of difference in regaining our personal power in adverse circumstances.

The bottom right hand corner is the quadrant of SYNTHESIS and INNER HEALING. This quadrant offers many different techniques and possibilities for synthesizing the earlier events in our lives that still color and influence our adult years. There are many ways to gain skill in implementing these techniques for integration. Of course, good therapists are always available, but beyond that, there are...