Mid-March 2022 Newsletter

Hello, and a mighty magical Mid-March to you!
Welcome, or welcome back, to my newsletter. Today's issue is about being here, or not. Enjoy!

When you're talking to someone who is clearly not listening to you, it can be annoying and frustrating. There are so many distractions, from social media to the thoughts in our mind. Distracted drivers try to split their attention between their cell phones and the road ahead, then can get into an accident with something they didn't see, just because they weren't looking at the road.

The environment around us is in a constant state of change, from natural phenomena like the weather to traffic to other people. One way not to be present to what's happening is to assume you know what's going on. This can be physically dangerous, like with the driver on his cell phone, assuming nothing was in his way and driving forward anyway. It can also be emotionally risky to assume you know what another person intends, without checking in with them first.

Healing teachers and spiritual groups often talk about "holding space" for another, listening deeply without judgment, not leaping in with your solution to their troubles. Simply being there for someone else might be the most loving gift you could give. And how aggravating do you find it yourself when you just want to unload your worries to a friend, and are told what you should be doing? You just wanted to be heard!

Another common way not to be present to what's occurring is to actively resist acknowledging it. This is dangerous too, pretending a problem doesn't exist because you don't want to deal with it. It can be scary to speak up about an issue if you suspect it will upset someone else. Unfortunately, however, a problem which isn't addressed usually gets worse. Until I admitted my eyesight was not "fine" in my strong contact lenses, which were so much trouble to take care of, I didn't take any steps to help my vision improve.

Before I started honestly facing the pieces of my life experience I wasn't happy with, including my limited vision, nothing changed. I was used to living in my head, coming out every once in a while to deal with something, then escaping again to the safe refuge of a book. Interacting with other people could be so unpredictable! It slowly became obvious that I had created my own prison by keeping my life so small. This was analogous to how my strong glasses and contact lenses had been restricting my vision.

Today I am more present to the here-and-now than I've ever been, most of the time truly able to appreciate the moment and what is happening in front of me. If it's a surprise, that's often entertaining or teaches me something, rather than being upsetting. The present truly is a gift. "That's why they call it the present" as the saying goes. No screen or virtual reality can surpass the actual natural reality of flowers or clouds or sunsets or other people. Are you plugged in to what's right here? You'll find it's the best game in town.

For a dream from a few years ago about a novel way to deal with not wanting to be present, click here.

Have you wondered if my work could help you?
I'm now offering complimentary Discovery Session consultations of 20 minutes or so, for us to discuss what you're looking for in a coach, and to see whether you and I feel like a fit to work together formally. To schedule your Discovery Session, click here.

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Please send me your questions and comments
Let me know what you've wondered about concerning energy medicine or vision or dreams. I'll be glad to write a short article addressing that topic. Thank you to those who have sent me questions, or see a question you asked me in a private session written about here. You're helping many other people! Enjoy the second half of this mind-bending month of March. I'll write again in a few weeks. Take care!