I still remember the first meeting we had as a team when we first talked about piloting a project for older adults back in 2024. It was merely a seed planted by Dr. Imran which we very eagerly nurtured for our own personal reasons that spoke deeply to us. After multiple conversations about the initiative and brainstorming sessions, I developed a curriculum based on the Indivisible Self Model which is an alternative wellness model devised by Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. in 2004. They took from Adlerian concepts especially the advent of the indivisible self that Alfred Adler came up with in the mid twentieth century.

The Indivisible Self Model is divided into 5 major key parts; the Creative Self (how you express yourself and navigate through life in general), the Coping Self ( how you deal with stress and relax), the Social Self (how you handle relationships and connect with people), the Essential Self (what gives you meaning and purpose in life), and the Physical Self (how you take care of your body). The Indivisible Self model takes into account the conventional elements of wellbeing such as financial, environmental, emotional, mental, physical, social and spiritual, by connecting it back to the self. By understanding that these aspects are all connected to each other while simultaneously to the self, we are able to make meaning from an individualistic lens and then connect with one another coming to terms with the whole self in general. The word “individual” comes from the Latin word “individum” which means “not divisible” which contradicts the idea of a single individual. For we do not exist in a state of isolation but rather as a collection of connections.

The indivisible self puts forward the idea that everything about us is connected, including our consciousness. It’s a holistic framework that views individuals as complex entities hence requiring a balance in different areas of life to maintain a sense of wellness. This idea is quite close to my personal view of life as I was introduced to the concept of “all is one and one is all” through modern media such as the Alchemist, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Heraclitus stated, “All things come out of the one and the one out of all things.” This concept ties into cultural relevance in our religious context of how every human being comes from God and God is in everything. Coming across this quotation as a child perplexed me to say the least but also instilled in me a sense of purpose and understanding. Finding this concept again as an adult some 15 years later as part of my professional practice was coming full circle. It not only resonated with me spiritually but aligned with the work I do at CFAW.

Coming back to the statement of all is one. We are individuals who are part of the world, doing our own part – living life and then becoming one with it after passing away. This heavily links to Rutaba’s grandfather’s explanation of the world that she often brings up in her practice – how we as human beings are made from mud (mitti), we come from mud (mitti) and when we die, we go back into the mud (mitti). All is one and one is all.

The beauty of Pema curriculum is that it is designed for anyone of any age who understands the concept of existence. Obviously, the interpretations and takeaways will be different for each individual, but the core of it will be the same for all. The curricula sets the journey for each individual as they drive forward at their own pace with their own personal milestones. It dives into introspection, exploration and creation – actions that are very natural to humans, which we sometimes fall out of habit in this day and age.

For me, it is a habit to get lost in fear of judgements, the shoulds and shouldn’ts that really have dictated my life for the longest time. Being in the present instead of anticipating the future or regretting the past is something we all struggle with. Allowing these feelings to dictate life is what disconnects us from our present self and that is where the therapeutic element comes in for PEMA.

As PEMA’s very first session gets closer, and more and more conversations happen regarding the philosophy of PEMA and the indivisible self with interested participants, it makes me emotional just thinking about how we can connect with people on a deeper level who regard our work important for a healthy and fulfilling life.