Spiritual Matters Archives - The Paradigm Shifts

Spirituality Takes a Back Seat to Success

People come to me for coaching when they are ready for an upleveling in their lives. They may not know what that means. They just know that what they are doing isn’t working. It doesn’t mean they are in crisis. It may mean that they want a different way to look at themselves, their lives and their relationships, so that they experience themselves—more of an authentic and divine expression of themselves. Rhonda has been on a path of self-exploration for over 30 years. She’s been dedicated to being a success as an actor and writer but has continually found herself

Dilemmas of Being a Vulnerable Human: Safe or Sublime?

My intention for this blog is: 1. To clarify that vulnerability isn’t something to be afraid of. It is a state of being that is, essentially the threshold to growing and expanding ourselves into our fullest potential, or retreating and retracting into, what can feel like stagnating strategies. 2. To help you realize that in the midst of experiencing vulnerability, we are in a pickle, a dilemma—We want to have what we want, and at the same time we want to remain secure and safe from harm and danger—even when it’s only in our imagination. 3. To show you that

Stop Trying To Like Yourself

Peace on Earth begins by listening to those parts within ourselves that we ignore, avoid and judge as unworthy of respect. Peace on Earth begins with noticing when we are lying to ourselves. No one likes to be lied to. And, yet, the truth is, we lie to ourselves more than anyone else lies to us. Isn’t that fascinating? My client, Matt, is 46, almost 400 lbs, and unhappy at work, home and in his heart. He’s a fascinating guy, in that, he is brilliant, intellectually, and in his heart, he has the wisdom of a sage. He just

I Want It to Be Easy

For me, self-exploration is like Gaming. Whether it’s PacMan, Mario, or the highly technical games that so many people play these days, there is an intention to get from one level to the next—up-leveling themselves over and over again. Each level of the Game of Self-Exploration requires a level of proficiency, exploration beyond what was required in the previous level. The degree to which one is inspired, committed and disciplined, to move from one level to the next, is the degree to which one is willing to, quite often, die to make progress. It’s fascinating! I’m in the

There’s So Much More to Being Than Meets the Eye

My friend Daisy, who worked in hospice for many years, shared with me that most people make the greatest spiritual advancement in the last few weeks of their lives. I find that fascinating! Why wait? The last time I was sick, I had not been sick for years prior, so the discomfort of it all was pretty annoying. I wasn’t sleeping and my nose was running constantly. I was realizing that that was a good time to practice something akin to meditation, but it’s not. When I think of meditation, I think of a practice that takes me

Do You Pray, Meditate or Quiet Your Mind? Me Either

I have a deep knowing—without a shadow of a doubt, that every single individual on the planet is working towards reclaiming and residing in, what is innate and naturally present—inner peace. Within this inherent peace resides compassion for ourselves and others. It is where one’s capacity to fully embrace joy and love is ignited. At the same time, each of us struggles to remain in the reality we are immersed in, where our feet are planted, and our fears of safety, security and stability are well entrenched. Rarely do we find ourselves knowing inner peace. In this is an

Before Enlightenment—Cook Meals, Do Laundry. After Enlightenment—Cook Meals, Do Laundry. (A Modern Take on an Old Zen Proverb)

My client, Badrah, a Pakistani woman living with her husband and two teenage sons in Texas, has traveled through the depths of depression to exhilarating moments of enlightenment. She is not committed to enlightenment, only to relieving the suffering of depression and anxiety. Badrah began working with me almost two years ago, not only to find answers to her suffering but also to train with me to be a transformational coach. Weaving training with personal work allows her to experience self-empowerment where only self-deprecation lived for so long. Much like for Badrah, most people who suffer from depression

Inward Bound: Bootcamp for Self-Transformation

Inward bound: Bootcamp for Self-Transformation takes place through 20 videos over 4 weeks, though you can work the program at your own pace. Each video provides skills, tools and practices, which support and empower you through the basics of any and every transformational experience possible. WOW! How Amazing! What Actually is a Bootcamp? A bootcamp is a disciplinary program within which one commits to participating in a rigorous and structured routine. It is an undertaking that requires one to endure intensive initiation and training. Yikes! Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Choosing to engage in a bootcamp, like this one, is

Emotional Intelligence and Spirituality: Are They the Same?

I’m honored to have been writing blogs for Maximize Your Talents for many years now. MYT is an organization dedicated to enhancing emotional intelligence and leadership development. However, most of my books, blogs, and videos focus on the integration of spirituality into everyday life, which seems not so aligned necessarily with emotional intelligence per se. I became curious as to why MYT would continue to invite me to write for them when I feel as if I’m out of the emotional intelligence box. So, I decided to ask myself the question: Is there a difference, or is it the same

My Big Little Secret

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I’ve been using a pendulum as part of my daily spiritual practice for over 20 years. What????? My intention in sharing my secret with you in this moment is two fold: 1) My experience is that dowsing, as a practice of clearing energies, is essential to attending to the well-being of my whole being, and it’s time for you to know that, too! 2) Until today, I didn’t have anyone to refer you to, if you were interested in learning proper dowsing for yourself. Today, that all changed. My dear

Category: Spiritual Matters