ABSTRACT
The human being is a complex integration of four elements, namely the physical being, the psychological being, the social being, and the spiritual being. The interconnectedness of these four beings creates the unique and dynamic personhood that each of us possesses. Becoming and remaining aware of the self enables us to question our feelings and attitudes and to understand the rules and forces that shape us, control us, and define us. It requires significant practice, and the more we practice it the better we become at it. Only with self-knowledge can we work to change negative attitudes and behaviors, strengthen our weaknesses, and move forward. As we attend to the dying person it is not enough that we are acutely aware of the other, noting their reactions and responses; in the same moment we need to observe and monitor our own reactions and responses.
