IN A WORD or several paragraphs.. by (me!) sandra, ttgp
i'm grateful i've been re-invited as a guest on in a word to discuss the book, a new earth, awakening to your life's purpose by eckhart tolle, with hosts kathy cordova, jim ott, and fellow guest violet.
and i feel compelled to report my personal progress: if i were to graph out my anxiety level prior to my first guest appearance on in a word, to discuss blogging -some two years ago i believe.. and we were to use a scale 0-10. 0=no anxiety 10=near paralysis/phobic
then prior to that first appearance i would rank myself around 25.
the second time, which was to group discuss the book, eat, pray, love; perhaps a 20.
the third time, which i volunteered for -which was to read a 90 second commentary i had written myself regarding the joys of blogging, and included my first experience with a teleprompter: not so bad.
and this time, which will be filmed tomorrow morning, i think i might actually be around a 10!
that is big progress for someone like me. i realize the reduction in my level of anxiety will not necessarily equate with an experience of success during the participation, but i'll take what i can get
i'll repeat what has helped and worked in the past: i've read and am re-reading the book; taking notes along the way..
i'm ignoring the bundle of thoughts that ALWAYS intrude when i'm trying to break out of my comfort zone. i do always panic some.. i do always quite seriously consider canceling..
i let those thoughts come and go, just the same way i let dark/negative thoughts come and go which i know are tied to my female hormone cycle and not necessarily tied to reality.
i always pray for the courage, strength to follow-through. i pray for the lightness of heart, grace humor and perspective required to forgive myself immediately for any bloopers, short-comings, mistakes, stutters, errors, total blanks, etc.
and i can report progress in those areas, but confidence still eludes me.
eludes but does not stop me.
the one consistent thing to help me in this situation -and to help me with just about any and every life situation is to write. -hence this post-
my concern once again, is not in having not enough to say; but too much. we will discuss this book, four people, in approx a 15 minute conversation (friendly conversation.. friendly conversation... friendly conversation...)
the same book which is being discussed over 13 weeks and 8 workbook chapters on oprah.com
this requires very definite honing/thought-organzing skills. i have my own notes, and for purposes of easing my anxiety through preparedness -a short list of potential questions i requested from kathy
my experience is that i talk better/clearer about a topic if i've written about it first. -here we go:
what does the title mean? for me the title is one of great hope; a new earth. a clear vision that each enlightened human being contributes to the awakening of love and peace for the entire earth -global enlightenment- which is the only path toward world peace. we cannot achieve world peace with only a portion of the population awake, while other portions are stuck. the unstuck need to reach out and help the others.. everyone matters; no geographic boundaries
it is not "a new america" we are after. not a new "hollywood" -not a new africa-
not a new political system or new religion. the goal is write in the title: a new earth
i like the subtitle also: awakening to your life's purpose. to life's purpose. life's. when you slow down enough to quiet the mind and evaluate.. meditate.. you realize life -life itself- has a purpose for you. often life's purpose is in conflict with your ego's purpose.. your families assigned purpose for you; life's purpose may in fact be in conflict with your religion's purpose, your employers purpose.. culturally assigned purposes... on and on.
in my observations, i am grateful to see how often life's purpose wins -against all odds-
this gives me hope.
why did i decide to read this book? i believe inspiration is as important to the soul as water is to the body -we each need several servings a day. as a result i am always on the lookout for material related to personal growth.. enlightenment... world peace. as an admirer of oprah.. (who also introduced me to martha beck, and who shares my love and respect for Dr Maya Angelou) her endorsement of this work factored in and greatly influenced my purchase of this particular book -plus i was very excited to see the internet used for a such a noble and positive and exciting purpose -her global -FREE- her free, global online workshop with herself and the author and everyone from around the world invited to participate; very exciting!
(although i opted out of the online class after initial technical problems w/podcast -still reading and completing the workbook i printed from online)
was i already on the path to spiritual awakening? -big yes!- i've been on the path for several years now.. mostly in a steady walk.. occasional leap.. few slips and falls..
but i remember well times in my life i was very stuck. very stuck. paralyzed by fears, manipulated by the judgements of others.. full of self loathing..
the ongoing diet of spiritual books, teachings, classes, etc. has paid off dramatically. i am 80% (on average) healed.. 80% of the time at complete peace -enjoying happiness, health, well being, wonderful friendships, family relationships, creativity, new experiences.. very optimistic, with a fragile open heart
i am no longer paralyzed by fears, and rarely allow other people's harsh/negative judgements to alter my behavior or decisions
i recognize and bounce back from set-backs more quickly. i feel almost ready for what i view as my personal next step: embracing confidence and handling success. -this is much more challenging than some might imagine
most powerful passages? three stand-outs for me: pg 41: life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. how do you know this is experience you need? because this is the experience you are having at this moment.
pg 62: non-reaction to the ego in others is one of the most effective ways not only for going beyond ego in yourself but also of dissolving the collective human ego.
pg 268: we could say that the totality -life - wants the sapling to become a tree, but the sapling doesn't see itself as separate from life and so wants nothing for itself. it is one with what life wants. that's why it isn't worried or stressed.
( i think discovering your authentic nature, and living accordingly.. even when that nature is in conflict with family/religious/cultural/corporate/etc dictates or expectations -is to be at one with what life wants.. and in so doing a great peace is known; love. God. God as life and love; all the same. - that feeling that the planets have aligned...)
pg 295: the modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm.
what didn't resonate?: pg 201: ego as defined simply this way: a dysfunctional relationship with the present moment. (?). -my experience/observation is that there is healthy and unhealthy aspects of the ego. it is on purpose, a part of each human being.. i see ego as both functional and dysfunctional -not exclusively dysfunctional- but as sometimes immature.. unevolved.. sometimes highjacked by alcohol or drugs, prolonged abuse by others..
false beliefs attached between accomplishment and self-worth..
(without page/passage reference...but) also, see a healthy life, enlightened conscious, as inclusive and respectful of past, present and hope for the future.. living in the "now" for me, means simply to be fully present in whatever i am doing at a given time -without preoccupations of worry, guilt, anger, fear or any negative thing robbing me from my current experience -which is potentially creating a valuable memory, and/or teaching a lesson and/or providng access to hope and inspiration for the future
other books i would recommend: anything by martha beck, maya angelou, wayne dyer, kahlil gibran, elizabeth gilbert's eat, pray, love.. martin luther king, blink.. let go, let miracles happen (wink here to kathy cordova -her book, and the variety of inspirational stories inside, a big help...) the list is too long really.. christiane northrup -huge help!-
-break-
returning tonight to answer more potential questions.. will be present with my children and their homework for now ")
posted by SHE @ 12:59 PM
3 Comments:
I have found I love public speaking, the bigger the crowd the better, hostile crowds do not bother me either, but I always feel panic before, I have to sequester myself before it starts or even better if I can walk around aimlessly without people stopping me to talk. But I am not so sure I could open myself and be as honest as what you are doing, for me public speaking, I am just an actor, the real me is locked in a cage deep inside. I am in awe of your willingness, ability to be open, to be yourself. Do not let anyone take that away from you. Props to the Sandra.
BTW I read your last post, had not read anything of hers before but now I plan on buying the book .
8": -that is a wonderful gift!
-to speak in front of the masses; friend or foe
not succumbing to the pre-panic.. letting it pass
it does seem like it requires theatre experience.. acting a gift also
and thank you for your kind and encouraging words..
-gave me a much needed boost for today's adventure-
and wonderful to learn you'll be reading more hirshfield -i suspect you too will fall willingly under her spells
"to words!" love, ~s.
Dr Taylor teaches us how to attain deep inner peace - easily, simply, without drugs, anytime we want it. Forgive me for doing everything I can to be sure everyone reads this book and sees this video, but I think all of us benefit and in the larger sense, if everyone reads this, our world will benefit in a very large way.
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