Background and Perspectives
I think we are 'all in this together' in this world, with more similarities than differences, and that it makes sense to approach living together from Universal Love, whether from a Divine Source or from a personal sense of wanting to be part of the positive movement of the world. Jan
background
Rev. Jan Collins, M.Ed.
With a diverse background, Jan can provide a broad perspective for many issues.
Jan is an ordained minister with an ecumenical, non-denominational church and recently completed chaplaincy training. She is also completing the written requirements for a Doctor of Spiritual Science Degree and has a Master of Education in Counselor Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Also, she facilitated classes for the Stanford University-developed Chronic Disease Self-Management Program for Philadelphia Corporation for Aging on a volunteer basis for four years.
Energy work training includes Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Neuro-Emotive Technique (N.E.T.), Cranio-sacral and Polarity. Jan also has a Certificate in Spirituality, Health and Healing.
She has given presentations of Creating Your Positive Life! at Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Mt. Airy Learning Tree, Weaver's Way, Robert Wood Johnson University Wellness Center, wellness fairs, radio talk shows, libraries, civic groups, support groups, assisted living centers, fitness centers and at Anderson House, a facility for recovery from substance addictions.
For several years, Jan worked in business and educational settings. She has served on advisory boards for Somerset County Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center, and completed the Leadership Somerset program in New Jersey
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perspectives
My approach and beliefs come from a blend of my training, experiences and personal learnings. I offer the services as resources and options, not as being the 'right' way or the only way to accomplish something. They are based on learnings and experiences that I have found very helpful throughout my own life journey. I share them with you for you to check out for yourself to see if they are helpful to you.
Judgments, criticisms, worries, fears, unforgiveness - I have found that these types of negativity can block us from experiencing our inherent loving nature and our greater potential.
When we let go of negativity, we start opening to our beauty inside, and our positive loving nature and abilities. We can connect with our personal center, our own spirit - a source of great strength and peace.
My work includes integration as a reflection that all aspects of a person's life - physical, emotional, mental, creative and spiritual - are interconnected and affect well-being.
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For the Doctorate in Spiritual Science, my focus is looking at the integration of all these aspects for our spiritual expression. For example, the physical body is a link for expressing our spirituality through breathing/meditation, chanting, etc.
My perspective is that our spirituality is who we are - our spirit, our center, our energy, our life force, our soul. It's how we connect with and express our loving nature. That expression can be experienced through many ways: nature, hobby or occupation, service, a relationship with others, the universe, a loving consciousness or divine source, etc.
The concept of integration is also in line with medical research regarding the complementary effects all our body systems have on each other.
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I view each person with respect and dignity, and see our work together as a step toward assisting each on the path to further individual growth. I recommend doing all things with an intention for the highest good of all concerned - recognizing that we may not always be aware of what may be possible for us and others involved.
The intention for my work is for the highest good of all concerned, through a loving Divine Source/God. From my perspective, any benefit experienced is from this Divine Source; I am just the vehicle for it to be conveyed.
Our Loving Nature
By focusing on our positive, loving abilities, we can connect with our personal center - a source of great strength and peace. From that center, we can also experience a connection with others, and positive universal energy - by whatever name - Higher Power, Spirit, Cosmos, Universal Love, God.
Self-criticism and all forms of negativity, toward ourself or others, can put us out of balance and block our awareness of that experience. A key is removing and releasing those blocks, and strengthening our connection to that inner strength and source. An affirmation that I have found helps to release tension is "I accept, love and appreciate myself for who I am, what I am and where I am in my life right now."
The self-love I refer to is positive and affirming, for the highest good of all concerned. It is not negating of ourself or anyone else. It does not say that I am better than others, nor that I am worse than others. This self-love affirms that, just like all others, I do have a place as a participant in this world community or as a child of God - by whatever way we recognize it.
Our center is our loving nature. Letting that loving guide us in our daily activities keeps us connected to our center. Learning to make choices from that center helps us stay balanced on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.