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Surrender is the Key to Your Expanded Self

Trish — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:51:00 GMT

I received a message the other night. It was as if I was dreaming, yet I was wide awake. I would think a thought - any thought - and then it would consume my entire body as if I was going to explode. My mind was so full it felt like it was going to break open, and my body was so full of the energy of the 'thought' it was as if it was going to break open my skin - I felt trapped, and yet on my periphery, I could sense there was a message there for me about this, that this was a very literal way to show me something that I needed to know. It got so bad, I woke my husband up from a dead sleep - I couldn't breathe for the weight in my chest.

I sat with this the following morning. I went and lied down on the grass, allowing myself to ground, to release my requirement to think to the earth - to simply feel and allow any messages to come. The message I got was, "You need to become your Expanded Self." This wasn't outside of the realm of what I know - I've been to workshops before where I've learned that simply changing your thoughts about something can allow you to expand and become bigger than you were before - and that once you've done that, you can't go back to being small again, you simply are now bigger, and that this evolution continues - with A-HA moments, growth, etc. But somehow, this was different. The sense I got was that my Expanded Self is my direct connection to everything - that, in essence, it is everything. I already believe that I AM all that is - I've held this belief for some time now, so this was a bit disturbing for me - the thought that even though I already believed I AM everything, now there was something more. Well, DUH! Of course the moment we believe we know it all (a-hem) we learn that we know nothing.

So here I am, lying on the grass in my front yard and I'm not fighting this knowledge, simply acknowledging that this is the next evolution in my journey. Intuitively I also knew there was a key - some mechanism that would allow ease of flow into my Expanded Self on demand, and ultimately, that I could simply choose to live there - in the space of my Expanded Self.

Later that day I spoke to an artist friend of mine about this as I felt she would create a piece of art to reflect this at some point. She totally got it. Interestingly, we were at a Guitar Hero competition that afternoon. I was absolutely in awe of the amazing talent, and as the winner (a 17 year-old who has only been playing for 2 years) was 'in the zone' and doing his thing I realized, he is, in that moment, channeling his Expanded Self. It is part of the entirety of what he is, and yet, he is not fully in his Expanded Self, merely catching a thread of it, for the entirety of the Expanded Self is so much more and we must be ready. Until we are ready, we have access to it, as we might receive a regular allowance from a Trust Fund, and yet, we are not yet ready for the responsibility of the Trust Fund itself.

I went to bed, knowing there was a key, and knowing also that it would be made clear to me when the time was right. For those of you who know me, that sentence says everything - as I'm not generally known for my patience in waiting for things to appear!

And so it was the very next morning that I got the key. And I have to say that I was not even remotely surprised, and was even a little disappointed in myself that I didn't see it earlier. The key is Surrender. To surrender to your Expanded Self. To have no expectation, to have no requirements, no plans, no desires of what it will be, to simply allow it to be. And there it was. There I was - my Expanded Self. The thought or emotion that was an '8' in my physical body, was barely a blip in my Expanded Self.

I've been playing with this for a few days now. When we went to the beach, I ran my hands through the sand and gloried in the sense that my Expanded Self is all of that - the sun, the sand, the waves, the trees, the power of everything. When I jog in the park with my dog, I surrender to my Expanded Self to draw more breath, to draw more strength, to know my power at a fundamental level and thereby release the thought that I'm not enough - in any way. I am all of that and more. I can now choose to step fully into my Expanded Self and watch, as an observer, my life as if from a distance. Or, I can simply draw on the essence of a single aspect of my Expanded Self to support me in a particular endeavor.

This morning I began to wonder about separation. How we have separated ourselves from others through beliefs and conditioning. However, I now understand that we have also separated from our Expanded Selves. Theoretically, I believe that we can either choose to become one with all, and through that process become one with our Expanded Selves, or become one with our Expanded Selves and through that process become one with all. I do believe that they are distinct and different processes, and yet, I also believe that one will logically flow into the other. A simple analogy: when our clients start educating themselves on the importance of eating organic and natural foods for the health of their bodies, at some point in their transition, they become more aware and naturally start to have more respect for their environment by not using toxic products, etc. One process logically flowed into the next and it also would works in reverse - people who respect the environment, at some point also start to respect their bodies and learn to take care of them properly as well (yes, I know - lots of generalizations, however, I've seen it enough with our clients to prove it true for me, and hey, it's my blog!)

When I think that we are all ONE (and I do), it is as if I have somehow become inconsequential in the process. As if it is the whole that is more important - and in many ways I also believe that is the case. However, as I have been playing with my Expanded Self, I am realizing that me, being fully who I am in my expansion (beyond the limited capacity of my human body/thoughts/ideas/beliefs), is integral to the whole - an entirely different perspective.

I also realize that I am still limited to my human body, thoughts, ideas and beliefs, but each time I choose to surrender into my Expanded Self, I am more, I am capable of more, I am 'expanded' for lack of a better term.

Enjoying the Journey! ~ Trish

A View of Health-Care

Trish — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Yes, it's been a while since my last posting. But for those who follow my posts, you know I don't do it for the sake of doing it, I do it when I'm inspired. And while much has been going on of late, I haven't been inspired to write anything in particular. I'm feeling more of a sense of 'sit back and take it all in'. So that's what I'm doing. However, a few weeks ago I was at a Journey Circle being hosted by my wonderful new friend Tania Moeykens, and she shared this essay with us. I knew I had to share this with you. She wrote it as part of her new course. Tania has recently stepped fully into her power - stepping out of her corporate job and into her gift as a healer. I can't wait to see how she emerges!

Here is Tania's essay on her vision of Health-Care:

I, like many other people, believe that a change is taking place in how ‘health care’ is defined and delivered in today’s society. I am excited about the new visions in this field, and welcome any tools that will enhance my ability to be part of that change.

My vision for natural health and wellness is multi-faceted yet united. I believe in the “one health, one disease" approach. There is an inherent integration of body, mind, and spirit; the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. There is also a connection between the individual and his environment; the internal and the external function better as a symbiotic relationship. Western medicine has broken down and isolated the individual into symptoms, and somehow the person as an entity has gotten lost in the process. Yet the effects of any one of these factors on the others, and thus on the whole, is difficult to ignore. Tying in with this is the concept of having the client take ownership of his/her own health. Healing the spirit and the emotions can only come from within. Tools and resources can be made available to someone, but the choice as to what to do with them belongs to that person alone. Optimal health and wellness cannot follow an external reliance on others to solve internal problems. Therefore the role of the natural health practitioner is that of educator offering guidance rather than prescriptive in nature. I also believe the best way to educate others is by example – light the way through a caring approach, adherence to one’s own principles, and a strong educational base.

I start with an innate intuition of energy and the human body. In the last few years, I have regenerated my thyroid gland, overcome hypoglycemia, balanced female problems and avoided surgery, and am currently regaining hearing in one ear after its absence since childhood. My emotional, intellectual, and spiritual faculties have blossomed in accordance with the physical. I have ecstatically discovered that my intuitive abilities extend to others. It is not lost on me that as I immerse myself in the studies of health and wellness, my own health can only improve. And this can only enhance my abilities to help others.

Tania Moeykens

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Guest Blogger Kony Dengel - The Dream Promoter

Trish — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:28:00 GMT

I met Kony Dengel a few months ago through a mutual friend (thanks Cec!). She totally 'gets it' - you know when you're talking to someone and you literally don't even have to finish your sentences because they already 'get' what you're talking about. She's one of those people who, when you're talking to her, you keep talking faster and faster because you can't believe that there's really someone out there who totally 'gets' you and your thought processes - you think, "AHHH, I'm not a freak!". Yes, Kony is one of those rare finds. We all have them in our lives, I am blessed to have quite a few, and Kony is definitely one of them!

I was talking to Kony last week and we were discussing a blog posting by Lauren Gorgo. This blog posting was magnificent. It totally captured exactly where I feel I am right now and articulated things I had not been able to even wrap my head around, and yet I felt them. I felt out of sorts, confused, unsure of the Universe and the messages I was receiving. Should I go back into corporate, should I focus on the book, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE DOING FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Well, Lauren's blog was like a revelation for me. Now, I understand we're not all in the same place, so it may not have the same punch for you, but if it does, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

So, back to my conversation with Kony...she's talking about money. Specifically about how some of us are simply not built to desire money for money's sake. And that when we're sitting there wishing we had more of it, it's still not about the money, but what we want to do with the money or what we think we need the money to help us accomplish. She also brought up the point that often we sit in 'want' of money, but at some level we already realize that when the money arrives, it simply allows us to move to the next place in whatever we're doing, it is an energy or a vehicle, but it is not the underlying driver. The money, whether we have it or whether we don't, is not the issue (although it certainly feels like it when there isn't any!)

Upon recognizing this, Kony asked herself, "What is the missing piece?"

She then shared her experience with me and I found it so powerful that I had chills as she was talking to me on the phone. She was so passionate about this, that I literally felt myself being empowered by what she was saying. I knew this was coming from a Universal intelligence and that Kony was a conduit for the message.

"Therewas a sense of sadness-depression like state that I was feeling in my life andthe circumstances that I found myself in. A friend of mine recently toldme that she had to get really pissed-off about something in her life in order forher to make the changes necessary to shift out of her circumstances. I thought about that concept and knew that iswhat I needed to do to pull myself out of this powerlessness - I had to get reallypissed and angry to move this emotion. So in asking what is it that Ireally want to change in my life, I thought at first what I really wanted tochange is the financial situation that I am in, but that wasn't it. Thiswill only pacify me for a certain time period and I am still left with mylimitations. So then I'm asking myself what is it that I really needto get pissed about, the answer was the entire limitation that I haveplaced upon myself. Not knowing and not feeling who I really amis what I want to change; that I want to fully awaken to feelingmyself fully realized, in full power and full knowing, because from thatplace there is no lack, there is no limitation and there is no scarcity, and Ican manifest with ease. Right after doing this exercise, a shift tookplace and I feel lighter, freer, and more powerful."
~ Kony Dengel, Dream Promoter & Owner of Passionate Promotions

Kony Dengel!

Even reading this again as I am writing this blog posting, I get chills. It is often not about what we think it is about - if we simply find within ourselves who we are fully realized, who we are in our full power, who we ARE - we are complete.

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Interview with Brian Sullivan - The Entrepreneurial Moment Radio Show

Trish — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:22:00 GMT

I had a great time this morning with Brian and Pat on The Entrepreneurial Moments Radio Show . If you can't see the 'Play' button, click on the title of this blog posting and you'll see it there!

Enjoy!

"The Mask I Wear" - From Trish's Archives

Trish — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:55:00 GMT

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
For I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks
Masks that I'm afraid to take off
And none of them are me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me
But don't be fooled,
For God's sake, don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure
That all is sunny and unruffled with me
   within as well as without,
    that confidence is my name
     and coolness my game,
    that the water's calm
   and I'm in command,
and that I need no one.
But don't believe me. Please!

My surface may be smooth but my surface is my mask,
My ever-varying and ever-concealing mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness.
But I hide this.
I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weaknesses and fear exposing them.
That's why I frantically create my masks to hide behind.
They're nonchalant, sophisticated facades to help me pretend,
To shield me from the glance that knows.
But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only salvation,
And I know it.

That is, if it's followed by acceptance,
And if it's followed by love.
It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself
From my own self-built prison walls
I dislike hiding, honestly
I dislike the superficial game I'm playing,the superficial phony game.
I'd really like to be genuine and me.
But I need your help, your hand to hold
Even though my masks would tell you otherwise
That glance from you is the only thing
   that assures me of what I can't assure myself,
That I'm really worth something.

But I don't tell you this.
I don't dare.
I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh
   and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing,
   that I'm just no good
And you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate, pretending game
With a facade of assurance without,
And a trembling child within.
So begins the parade of masks.

The glittering but empty parade of masks,
   and my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you in suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that's nothing
and nothing of what's everything,
      of what's crying within me.
So when I'm going through my routine
   do not be fooled by what I'm saying
Please listen carefully and try to hear
   what I'm not saying
Hear what I'd like to say
   but what I can not say.

It will not be easy for you,
   long felt inadequacies make my defenses strong.
The nearer you approach me
   the blinder I may strike back.
Despite what books say of men, I am irrational;
I fight against the very thing that I cry out for.
I dislike hiding, honestly, I do.
I'd really like to be genuine, spontaneous and real,
But I am afraid.

Please help me to beat down these walls.
A long conviction of worthlessness to break through these walls,
But LOVE is stronger than walls.
Please try to break through these walls, with firm, but gentle hands.
For a child is very sensitive, and I am a child.

Who am I , you may wonder.
I am someone you know very well - for I am every man, woman, child,
Every human being you meet.

Don't be fooled by me.
At least not by the face I wear.

~Author Unknown

"The Box" - From Trish's Archives

Trish — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:11:00 GMT

I'm moving! Always an interesting process. Our first major move was from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island. Needless to say, when you're paying $1/lb to ship your belongings, it certainly makes you reconsider how much 'stuff' you really want to keep. We didn't keep much I actually love the cathartic process of moving - of sorting through my stuff and being absolutely ruthless about what is and is not important. On the other side of the coin, when you go through all of your belongings you invariably find things you've held onto over the years for sentimental reasons. I'm always amazed that no matter how much time passes, these things still have meaning for me - although, often the meaning it has changes over time.

As I was sifting through my papers over the weekend I came across one file folder marked 'Trish - Personal' that I hadn't seen since I packed it in Nova Scotia more than 5 years ago. As I went through it I was amazed at the beautiful wisdom I've held onto over the years. I'll be sharing these with you over the coming weeks and will entitle them "From Trish's Archives" so you'll know that's where they're from.

"The Box" was an email I received from John White in Newfoundland in 2002. Interestingly, I don't even remember a John White, but I distinctly remember this story. I remember it because it brought me to my knees as I realized that it was describing me, and not in a good way! I was horrified when I read it. At the time I had serious OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) tendencies and I, too, would have freaked if my daughter had done this - only to have been crushed when I found out why. What I find really interesting, however, is that when I read it this time all I could see was how beautiful it was. I still sobbed when I read it, but this time the tears were from a place of joy and truly understanding the nature of this gift, versus being horrified at seeing myself in the story. Who says people can't change?

THE BOX

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her 5-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child pasted the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas Tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and said, "This is for you Momma."

The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over-reaction, but her anger flared again when she found the box was empty. She spoke to the little girl in a harsh manner, "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"

The little girl looked up at her with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was full." The mother was so crushed, she fell to her knees and put her arms around her little girl and begged her to forgive her for her unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems, she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who put it there.

In a very real way, each of us, as human beings, have been given a golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family and/or friends. There is no more precious a possession anyone could hold. Friends are like angels who lift you to your feet when your wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Author Unknown.

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Love This! Again with the Kids!

Trish — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:53:00 GMT

Really, there is nothing I can say about this video. This 12-year-old girl has used up all of the vocabulary in a highly articulate and subtly sarcastic speech that most adults couldn't pull off. Yep, me thinks there's something to learn from the next generation!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AND ENJOY!

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Interview with Michelle Vandepas

Trish — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:40:00 GMT

I reached out to Michelle Vandepas a few months ago to ask her if she'd be willing to interview me. I really liked her interview style - as if she's completely open to learning new things, yet bringing her own journey and insight to ask questions that keep the conversation "real" for her listeners. I thoroughly enjoyed the energy of this interview - hope you'll enjoy it too! It's approximately 10 minutes long and is done via webcast video. Enjoy!

Click Here to Watch the Interview!

Click here to learn more about Michelle!

Michelle Vandepas

A Spiraling Theory on Why The Same 'Stuff' Keeps Showing up in our Lives!

Trish — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:40:00 GMT

I attended one of the Victoria Journey Circles last night with an absolutely amazing group of women. It turned out to be more of a therapy session for me - not usually the way it goes, but that's the way it happened last night. The group, of course, was totally supportive and helped me to see my own 'stuff'. These are the kinds of interactions I live for - regardless of which side of it I'm on - although I'll be the first to admit that I don't enjoy being the one with my feet being held to the fire nearly as much as when I'm holding someone else's - however, I do love the awareness that comes as a result of being forced to look at my 'stuff'.

So, as we're working through our question of the night - one of the ladies asked me what I was afraid of. Well gee, could it be, yet again, a fear of success. YES - for crying out loud! If you've been following my blog, you'll know I've already written about this...more than once. You can imagine how annoyed I was to discover that that little gem was still sitting there, simmering below the surface. When I deal with an issue, I like for it to be dealt with, done, finished, kaput! I mean, come on, how many times should we be forced to face the same 'stuff' over and over again? I had to ask...

Gita (an absolutely lovely lady who was at this particular Journey Circle), gave me an analogy to help better describe what might be happening. Essentially, what she described was a spiral. At the bottom of the spiral sits the root of the issue, the core of it, where it is most tightly wound. When we uncover this issue at the start of the spiral is when it carries the most energy for us. Specifically, if we believe that people reflect back to us that which we need to learn about ourselves, then at this point in the spiral is when we would feel the strongest "charge" around the issue (in other words, that person - our mirror - is really, really annoying!). Then, when we recognize the issue for what it is, acknowledge it within ourselves and release it, we move on and it ceases to show up...sort of.

Because sure enough, it will show up again (as we proceed up the spiral). As we continue up the spiral, the spiral itself is looser, not as tightly wound, but still there. We will likely still see this issue show up, but it won't trigger us as much as it did before, there's not as much charge associated with it.

And then, it shows up yet again (can you believe it, I mean really!), but, again, we are further up the spiral, there's been a significant amount of time since we last saw this issue, we're more distant from it, almost disconnected, there's essentially no charge, it's as if we're simply observing it - and yet, it is still a block for us - otherwise we wouldn't be asked to look at it yet again.

I'm open to thoughts, ideas, or further clarification on this particular theory. It made perfect sense to me as Gita described it - as it seems I'm living it. But I love to hear other theories on it as well. I also understand that there is a similar model used by Psych-K practitioners (I've heard they actually have a picture of a spiral!).

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas!

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Our Desire to Connect

Trish — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:42:00 GMT

I am becoming more and more excited by the number of people who are simply not interested in general, mundane conversation. It is now almost a daily occurrence that I hear someone say, "I don't care about the weather or what's going on at your work, I want to know about YOU, I want deeper, more meaningful conversation."

This past weekend I was invited to just such a conversation by Dale in Victoria. There were three of us who met at the local library and the conversation was stimulating, interesting and allowed each of us to push the boundaries of what we were interested in, accepting, acknowledging and honouring what we weren't interested in, and finding new and creative ways to get our ideas, thoughts and feelings across to each other in a way that was respectful, yet honoured who we are in how we choose to communicate.

There is such an energy that is created around interactions like this. We become aware - of who we are, of what we believe, of what we will or will not allow into our space at this moment in time - in this iteration of who we are.

But beyond the experience itself I am seeing a simple, fundamental desire - a desire to connect. But the type of connection that many people are looking for is far beyond a shake of your hand, an exchange of a business card and a quick synopsis of "what you do". This is a desire to connect at the soul level - where you are speaking to another (or with a group) from your authentic self, without positioning, posturing or putting on a mask. I believe these conversations exist on an entirely different level - it is a different form of communication entirely - where you feel respected and honoured for who you really are - without the requirement for everyone to agree. There is a subtle "listening" that occurs that is taking place beyond the words - where the words become almost irrelevant, and the sensation or feeling that you get is what draws you and keeps you engaged.

The Journey Circles I host are like this - they are explorations into truths - my truth - which is simply "A" truth - resonates with someone else at some level - or their truth resonates with me - there is a connection that is borne of the recognition of what it is to be human, with all of our messy imperfections, desires, fears, etc. A place where we can feel safe in exploring these inner truths - and feel supported by the mere fact that others recognize those feelings or, in many cases, feel the same way. A connection of the heart and soul.

Where are you in your desire to connect? Do you feel like your tired of hearing about the latest sale at the mall, or your neighbours renovations? Are you looking for more meaningful conversation or connection? What are you doing about it?

The first step, in my experience, towards finding this deeper level of connection is being willing to open yourself up to others. To tell them what you're looking for and to allow yourself to be vulnerable as you allow yourself to be "seen" by others. Again, from my experience, this is a level of connection that creates a sense of community that is tangible, where you move away from handshakes and into hugs (yes, hugs), because the connection you have with that person (or persons) demands to be honoured in the physical as well as the mental, emotional and spiritual.

I See You!

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Trish Bishop interviewed by ArLena Richardson for "Deeper Than the Game" Radio Show!

Trish — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:50:00 GMT

Click the "Play" button to listen to this interview (Note: if you can't see the Play button, click on the blog post title to get to the posting page, you'll find it there!)

I was interviewed by ArLena Richardson for her Deeper than the Game Radio Show on SpiritQuestRadio February 19! What a fantastic lady with a great energy. If you're looking for a little more insight into "me" and where I'm coming from, this is the interview you'll want to listen to - because ArLena keeps going deeper and deeper!

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

When Truth Resonates

Trish — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:36:00 GMT

I absolutely love the community that is developing around The Question Journey. What I love about it is that I've decided to share my truth with you. Who I am, without positioning my life or experiences for optimum "effect". I tell it like it is. Because one of the most powerful things I've learned in my journey is that when someone shares their truth it resonates with me- I feel that truth within me. Today's blog is proof positive that that goes both ways. That when I share my truth with others, it resonates with them as well.

The following was sent to me by Marvin Double, who has been following my blog, Newsletters and Tweets. Marvin often sends me intriguing feedback, but this one touched something inside of me as I am sure it will for many. In order for this to really make sense, I'm including the original newsletter article I wrote:

February 18 Newsletter: Are You Open to Receiving?

When someone gives you a gift for no apparent reason - what is your initial reaction? Disbelief? Wonder? Amazement? Joy? Guilt?

Too often we do not even notice our initial reaction and within a nanosecond we use our habitual reaction - whatever that might be..."Oh no, I can't accept that", "What did I do to deserve this?", "What for?", "Why are you giving me this?" and of course, for those who actually do know how to receive, "Thank You".

The more perceived value the gift has, the more difficulty we have in our ability to receive it unconditionally. And therein lies the crux - that word, "unconditional".

How often have we been bribed, tied to another or otherwise emotionally blackmailed through the use of gifts? Or perhaps you never received them and have no point of reference on which to base your reaction other than it feels "uncomfortable".

Regardless of how gifts are being offered to you, whether they carry an expectation on the part of the giver or not, if you receive them unconditionally, then that it is what it is - a gift, to you, for no other reason than that you are a child of the Universe and deserving of such. Enjoy it, allow yourself to experince the joy of feeling spoiled, treasure it and yeah, maybe even throw in a Universal Happy Dance! Tell the Universe you want more of it - because YOU deserve it! ~Trish

Marvin Double's Response:

I just finished reading your newsletter for February 18, Are You Open To Receiving? This struck a cord with me so I felt compelled to make a comment.

I'm a baby boomer, born in 1950. My parents, while not overtly religious were Baptists and clearly subscribed to the basic tenets of
Christianity. In our home the principals embodied in the so called Golden Rule were very much in evidence. Honesty and integrity were sacrosanct as was the more general concept of strength of character.

One of the more pervasive ideas, which is interwoven into this moral tapestry is the idea of self sacrifice. The idea of thinking of others first or putting others before oneself was so much a part of my family culture that it became imprinted into ones subconscious. This idea of giving to others was very much reinforced by a larger societal paradigm.

The concept of self sacrifice or putting others first was evident in such simple acts as, never taking the largest piece of cake, allowing
others to go through a door first and demonstrating ones moral certainty by being modest, retiring and self effacing.

All this comes to focus in the basic Christian theology that we are in fact imperfect having inherited so called "original sin". The subconscious message within that idea is, we are undeserving and ungrateful beings as a part of our basic nature. We can only fully
benefit from God's love if we admit this and accept salvation. In the Baptist tradition this acknowledgment is made publicly through the ritual of baptism.

For some this social and religious foundation, illustrated by parents, teachers and civil leaders, can and often does create a high degree of uncertainty as to ones personal worth. After all, the very idea that even God won't love us if we don't first admit we are flawed is a pretty powerful message.

When we are also told that self-sacrifice and putting others first is a way of gaining favor with others and God, the die is cast for many of us to go through life feeling undeserving. One need not look beyond the example that, as we are told, Jesus died for our sins, to see how the idea of self-sacrifice is used to influence our thinking and behavior.

How many of us go to the grave thinking that we haven't done enough for others to curry the favor of a righteous demanding and judgmental God? How many of us live in the long shadow cast by a deep need for parental approval?

Little wonder then, that so many of us have trouble accepting the idea that happiness and abundance are in fact the natural order of things. That accepting love as it manifests in different ways is not only OK but also part of the divine intention.

Many of us were raised in a culture of scarcity and fear. We are taught that we have no value aside from that which others bestow upon us; that we must know our place, mind our manners and never expect too much from life. It is ours then to strive and suffer and die in hope that we we be acknowledged for our humility and sacrifice.

Shifting from such thoughts into a mindset of universal love, a love which requires no such sacrifice, which need not be earned is not always easy. You're message is one which needs to be heard and taken directly to heart. Thanks very much for putting it out there for all to see.

Namaste
Marvin Double

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Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Lent 2010 with Guest Blogger Melanie Love!

Trish — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:58:00 GMT

Last week marked the beginning of the season of Lent in the Christian world. It is 40 days long, which represents Jesus’ 40 days in the desert where he contemplated and endured temptation before beginning his public ministry. [note: Lent is observed differently by different Christian traditions. Not having been raised “in church” per se, I myself had to go to Old Faithful – Wikipedia – to get the details]

According to this story, Jesus went on a Question Journey of his own before stepping into his power and sharing his message for the world.

Our minister (who is fond of asking questions of us and questioning the text to imagine what the period of time in question was experiencing both politically and culturally) referred to the Gospel of Thomas as being a very different version of Jesus’ message, one that is still considered heretical by many as it isn’t in keeping with the orthodoxy of the church (i.e. the only way to heaven is through Jesus, etc.). The Gospel of Thomas essential quotes Jesus as saying that God isn’t out there, it is inside us and all around us if we would only look to see.

I was asked by my minister to give a prayer in keeping with this theme. What follows is my brief prayer for all those engaging in inner searching, contemplation and Question Journeys of their own. May you experience the peace and light that deep personal awareness brings.

Heavenly Father/Universe (whatever works for you),
We are encouraged and admonished by Ghandi to be the change we wish to see. In other words, the only way to change the world is to first change ourselves.

We pray for moments of reflection and insight so that we may look at ourselves with open yet compassionate eyes.

We ask for the courage to be deeply honest with ourselves for we cannot change what we do not see.

In seeing what we might call flaws, let us avoid judging these as imperfections and help us to simply accept the lessons that served our growth as human beings; and having learned and grown, simply let them fade into memory as we choose to step into the Light and towards the possibilities that the path of Love provides.

And as we look deep insight ourselves, help us to also see the good, the giving and the beautiful things that bring us ever closer to the Divine.

Amen.

From Guest Blogger Melanie Love! Check out Melanie's Blog here

Melanie and Trish at Melanie's wedding February 14, 2009!

The "Lost" Generation Has it Sorted!

Trish — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:40:00 GMT

I did a workshop in September 2009. It was called, "Authentic Leadership - It IS All About YOU! My theory is simple:

The "Lost" Generation (currently between 10-25) are not lost, it is us who have lost our way.
They are not "lazy" they have all the energy in the world...to do the things that bring them joy.
They are not "disloyal", they are absolutely loyal...to people, not things, places or organizations.
They are not "un-motivated", they are totally motivated...to do what they want to do, not what someone else tells them they have to do.
They are not "disrespectful", they respect truth, honesty and authenticity...something we show them too little of - can you wonder why they don't respect us? What does a 3-piece suit really mean anyway?
They are "entitled"...and why shouldn't they be - would we have as many issues around money if we felt a little more entitled?

I think this generation has it sorted, they've got it figured out. They know who they are and they are not willing to bend. They stand in their power - whatever it is for them. They are the example from which we can choose to learn...or not.

I give you one of the most powerful videos I've seen (1minute and 47 seconds long), from a 20-year old who submitted this to a competition called, "U @ 50".

Listen very carefully.

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are you Consciously Choosing to Live?

Trish — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:48:00 GMT

You cannot assume that because you are breathing you are living. Choosing to live is not a passive process. Existing is passive, you can do that with barely a thought; breathe, eat, drink - you're good.

There are very few people I know who don't ask themselves, "Isn't there something more?" If this is a question for you, then it may be time for you to decide if you're existing or truly living.

What does it mean to live?

It means that you have no regrets. That you dream and your dream becomes your reality. That you make no excuses for who or what you are. That you KNOW with every fibre of your being that if you can think it, you can do it. It's an energy, a pulse that runs through your veins that makes every moment of every day an adventure.

So, what's the catch?

When you consciously choose to live you also have to take responsibility for yourself. You have to invest the time and energy necessary to understand how to truly care for yourself, physically, emotionally,mentally and spiritually. You can no longer play the victim...or the rescuer...or the perpetrator. You will honour your own power and you will make choices that may be difficult, but that will best serve your needs. You will put yourself first in all things, for it is not until you are complete that you are in a position to be in service to others.

In the infamous words of Stan Lee, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Enjoying the Journey! Trish

The Question Journey Radio Show Launches February 17

Trish — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:35:00 GMT

(Listen to the Promo!)

I am SOOO excited! I will be launching my new radio show with CICV 98.7FM radio on February 17 at 7pm PST. You can listen online at www.cicv.ca.

We will be exploring the questions from my book, "The Question Journey" and opening up the phone lines to have callers call in and share their thoughts.

I'll see you there! Enjoying the Journey! Trish

Do you trust the Universe?

Trish — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:34:00 GMT

If you are familiar with, and use, the Law of Attraction, you know there are three simple steps.
1. Clarify your desire
2. Believe you have already achieved your desire and feel the emotions of it as if it already exists.
3. Get out of the way and allow the Universe to deliver your desire to you. I say, "Get out of the way" because HOW the Universe delivers if often outside of our ability to understand - hence, when you start to put restrictions on HOW it needs to arrive, you put roadblocks in the Universe's way.

Ok, simple right. Well, not really. On the surface these are three very easy steps. Anyone can do them. Where we tend to fall down is in the gap between step 2 and step 3. This posting is not about getting out of the way (see previous posting on that topic: Let the Universe do it's Work!). This is about TRUST.

When you put your desire out there...when you choose to consciously create your reality, do you really trust that the Universe will deliver. Our relationship with the Universe is unique. We know it is much more powerful than any person we have a relationship with, while we can certainly have full on conversations with the Universe, our conversations are often in our heads. Do we know that the messages we're sending and receiving are truly with the Universe or is it our "little voice" that is leading us to believe that we are truly conversing. Maybe it's just our imagination...Just these questions alone require a level of trust and I haven't even gotten to the heart of the matter yet!

For arguments sake, let's pretend that we do, in fact, trust that we can converse with the Universe. So we clearly put our desires out there, we carefully and consciously craft our new reality and send it out to the Universe to have it delivered. Then what? If the request is relatively small, my experience these days is that it will manifest within hours or days. But what if the request is a bit bigger - a new career path, moving to another part of the world, new and exciting opportunities that you may not even be able to define as yet.

What happens when you put these things out there? Well, there are a lot of machinations that need to take place in order for the Universe to bring that new reality to you. While these shifts are happening, guess what most of us are doing? We're questioning everything!

Yes, you heard me, we're questioning the entire process, and as a result we're questioning the Universe. In our minds we're saying, "Why haven't I heard from anyone yet?", "How long is this supposed to take?", "How much more suffering is necessary?", "What is going on?", or my all time favourite, "What have I done wrong? This isn't what I asked for!"

Let's translate this into a person-to-person relationship. Imagine your relationship with the Universe is actually the relationship with your partner. What does it mean when you start to question him or her? "Why haven't I heard from them?", "Maybe they don't love me.", "Maybe they're with someone else.", "Why aren't they answering the phone?"

Pure and simple, if these questions even enter your headspace, whether it is your relationship to the Universe or your spouse, you are suffering from a lack of trust.

If you've taken the time to put your desires out there, if you've created the emotions around it as if it is already real - just TRUST. Let go of your attachment to how, when, why and where it will show up. The only thing that is causing you stress and angst is your lack of trust. Big changes require change. The Universe is working exceptionally fast these days - it will show up, stop questioning the process and just go with it!

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

Things Grow in the Dark

Trish — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:11:00 GMT

If you've ever suffered from a depression, whether for a few hours, days, months or even years, you know it is a very dark place. "Just think a happy thought" people tell you. The problem is, you simply can't even remember one, let alone think about it or allow yourself the pleasure of remembering the happiness you felt. Sometimes you can be in this dark place and not even realize that is what has happened to you until you start to become aware that you're not interested in anything at all. Nothing gets or keeps your attention. You can lie in bed for hours with your eyes open and not even realize the passage of time, nor do you care that you didn't do something more useful with that time - it is as if you are completely disconnected.

I went through 18 months of this once. I started to get very scared that I would never feel anything again. I went to see a psychic, desperate for any information that could drag me back to humanity. His message to me was very simple, "Things Grow in the Dark". This gave me hope, and sometimes it is hope alone that can drag you from the dark recesses of a depression. It is something to hang on to, a lifeline. For me, things were growing in the dark - namely me. As my friend Melanie loves to say, "Trish, when you put a seed in the ground for your garden, do you brush the dirt away every 3 days and see if its doing anything?" Well, NO! So, why should I do so when I have planted my own seeds. Seeds of desire, seeds of growth, seeds of change.

The depression sucks, there's no two ways around it. If you are suffering, or have suffered, I hope the following poem will give you a different perspective. I don't believe there is anything wrong with you (or me), I believe our bodies force us to be quiet sometimes, and while this my be termed "depression" by some, perhaps it is simply the planting and stewardship of our own seeds that we are experiencing. Before you say it, I do know that there are chemical imbalances that can create horrible depressions, I am not sharing this as an "in every case generalization", as always, I am simply sharing my own experiences and the insights I have had as a result.

The following poem was shared with me by Michael McNight. I know I shared one of David Whyte's poems last week, but it seems that this particular poet is grabbing the strings of creation and experience and writing eloquently about that which is also visiting me. More and more as our capacity to manifest is increasing exponentially I am seeing the same messages come through everywhere I look.

Sweet Darkness

By David Whyte

When your eyes are tired

the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone

no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark

where the night has eyes

to recognize its own.

There you can be sure

you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb

tonight.

The night will give you a horizon

further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:

the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds

except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement

of your aloneness to learn

anything or anyone

that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish

QUESTIONS

Trish — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This beautiful poem was sent to me by one of my Facebook Friends (thanks Mike!) - I absolutely had to share it with you - it always amazes me the capacity of creativity we have. This poem captures the essence of what I try to share so quickly and eloquently it literally takes my breath away!

SOMETIMES

Sometimes
if you move carefully
through the forest

breathing
like the ones
in the old stories

who could cross
a shimmering bed of dry leaves
without a sound,

you come
to a place
whose only task

is to trouble you
with tiny
but frightening requests

conceived out of nowhere
but in this place
beginning to lead everywhere.

Requests to stop what
you are doing right now,
and

to stop what you
are becoming
while you do it,

questions
that can make
or unmake
a life,

questions
that have patiently
waited for you,

questions
that have no right
to go away.

~ David Whyte ~

(Everything is Waiting for You)

Clarify Your Intentions

Trish — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:45:00 GMT

I hope you enjoyed your New Years' celebrations. I attended a great party with wonderful friends and we all participated in a fire ceremony to cement our intentions for 2010.

My intentions were very simple. I've heard before that I should focus on being the CEO of my life rather than the Manager. While I understood at some level what that meant, I also find it infinitely difficult to let go of 'how' something needs to look, or 'how' it should show up. I don't know if I'm just a little slow on the uptake and that's why it has taken me so long to wrap my head around this concept, or if I simply wasn't ready (I'm going for the latter - I'm not partial to seeing myself as slow, I still have some ego in tact!).

So I started by scripting a contract with the Universe, agreeing to do X in exchange for Y. Now, before I share that contract with you, I need to clarify a few things so that the wording makes sense to you.

Per my previous postings regarding the Martyr Archetype that I discovered within myself (uh-huh), I found a definition in Carolyne Myss' book, "Sacred Contracts" that said, "The Martyr is...a person who has learned to utilize a combination of service and suffering for others as the primary means of controlling and manipulating her environment."

Well, isn't that cute - NOT! However, cute or not, it was true. I wasn't a Martyr with respect to how I interacted with others, but with how I interacted with money. Sure, I'll take that job for less money and the promise of bonuses that never arrive just so I can do the work I love to do. I'd love to have your stock options, going out of business? Guess those stocks won't be worth much will they, oh well, poor me! What I was doing was controlling my environment to maintain my internal financial set point. I was not to exceed $X a year and each time I'd come close, I would find a way to sabotage it. Why? Because I knew how to live within my current financial set point, by changing it, I would have to change everything, and you know how keen we are to do that!

Now I'll share the contract and hopefully it will make sense to you.

Here's the essence of the contract:
"Dear Universe, I open myself up to the unknown reality of what it will mean when I bypass my current financial set point. I know I created it as a form of control and I hereby relinquish this control and formally request a new, significantly higher, base annual salary. I no longer have a need for a financial set point, as I intend to grow my finances exponentially.

I formally request $X per year with 60% coming as residual income and 40% from earned income. Earned income will come via work I am meant to do, that I love to do and that serves my divine purpose.

I am in service to the Universe, and given my level of skill, experience and commitment, I will not settle for less than the salary requested. Nor am I willing to accept a deal, bonuses in lieu of cash designed for me to prove myself (although bonuses in addition to will be welcome with open arms and heartfelt gratitude), nor will I accept future stock options or any other form of payment outside of the indicated cashflow requirements.

I am willing to relocate or travel to fulfill my obligations. I offer these terms, and upon acceptance, this contract will be in effect for the next 5 years."

Based on this contract, which took out the 'hows', I was then easily able to identify my intentions (my 'what'):

I am...

Clear and focused
Grounded
Financially Free
In Service

Enjoying the Journey! ~Trish