There’s a technique I like to use whenever I feel stuck or stalled. I interview myself and get the energy moving again by creating an internal board of directors meeting.
Who sits on the board?
Well, it depends on who I wish to assemble at the time.
I draw from my internal “cast of thousands.”
Sometimes, it is a gathering of various iterations of child, adolescent, parent voices along with the inner critic.
One of my favorite, though, is a four way conversation between Body, Mind, Spirit and Heart. Generally, these conversations show me where these aspects are out of alignment and how to bring their energies back into balance.
The other day, I was feeling out of sorts, antsy and I caught myself in a procrastination loop. I knew I had the entire day free to go at those boxes of files again. I sat with this board in contemplation of the issue, attempting to get some clarity as to which aspect(s) was in resistance and why. It was quite informative. I’ll share it with you:
The first thing I noticed is that mind was at the “head” of the table. (no pun intended)
After checking in on the energies, I felt into Heart first. Heart appeared with some sort of metal ties wrapped around it. It seemed kind of mopey and said it was tired of Mind running the show.
Mind said something about Heart needing to heal and Heart said it is healed enough and it is Mind that needs to “heal” by dropping all those old patterns of thinking.
Body appeared as a giant banana slug…tired…too tired…Mind tires it out. It wants to follow Heart. Body asks when we are going swimming again.
Spirit came from some distant place to which it had retreated, zipped into the room as dragonfly (a totem for me these days) and landed on the table as Shrek and said “It’s all about fun and adventure.”
Then, I got this image of the three of them (Heart, Body and Spirit) sitting around playing cards all day waiting for Mind to get over itself and get on board with them.
It never fails. When I interview Mind, Mind says it is tired of running the show and would like a little support from the other three. Actually, it likes to show its prowess, but then it gets too high on itself and takes over. So I tried something. I let Mind be held by the other three, as if in a hammock.
I asked: What is it to release to the wisdom of heart, body and spirit?
This question landed on the backdrop of attempting to seriously downsize my possessions and files. When this internal board discusses letting go of all my stuff, Mind goes right back to all the sorting, organizing, what to sell, donate, etc. Why wouldn’t it do that? Mind is a brilliant strategist and calculator.
The other three just sigh and say, “Stop bogging us down!” They tell Mind that it doesn’t have to be done that way. Just get rid of it. It’s stale. C’est passé!
This is where my heart quickened – that familiar cocktail of excitement and fear.
I know I’m at an edge here.
I put heart at the head of the table, not as the boss, but as a way of realigning the weight of the voices. My energetic motor was restarted and I accomplished a good deal of work that day which I’d previously been avoiding.
Here’s what I know. There is a new way for me to be in the world that I am evolving toward. Since it is new, I don’t know what it is. I call it moving into the Great Mystery. I say I am looking to follow The Beauty Way (as the Navajo call it).
I know that it requires a strong internal alliance and alignment of Body, Mind, Spirit and Heart. Each aspect is called forth to its highest strength and my highest purpose is best served by the strength of the team not one or two individual aspects. Each holds a powerful truth. Together, in their alignment, they provide the point of contact between the human me and my soul.
Together, in alignment, Body, Mind, Spirit and Heart resonate with the one-ness from which I feel so separate and help me re-member that unity.
(Tomorrow, a note on what happened the day after I was whirlwind productive at downsizing boxes and files, because this moving into the Great Mystery thing is way bigger than just clearing clutter. I’m only setting the stage with that stuff.)
Meanwhile, try this stuff at home, kids! Many of my clients get great results with this. I’d love to hear what happens for you.
copyright(c) August 2009, Kathy J Loh, All Rights Reserved
Great post Kathy – I LOVE the dialogue between body, mind, spirit and heart – I am going to try this myself -I really need to get all these parts of me talking to each other and myself! And yes, Beauty Way – very delicious. I was looking into doing the Art of Dreaming in Denmark but it will have to wait till next year but I plan on doing some reading and reflecting – Ursula has gotton a book about it which sounds good.
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Glad you like it Beth. I am thinking of posting a bit of a “how to” for people who are less adept at creating an internal dialogue. I’d love to hear from you how it goes and if you get any insights. I haven’t heard of the Art of Dreaming. Will look into it – Thanks for commenting! – k
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I am so incredibly grateful for your thoughtfulness in sharing such kindness with me… You are an extremely gifted coach and writer whose gifts and skills I admire deeply… Your fullmoonpath blog is fabulous!
Catherine
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Wow! Another wave of gratitude for a macro observation that validates our interconnectedness as spiritual beings AND body, mind, heart and Spirit… Every time you blog, I recognize that it is happening over here too…my version is somewhat different, but the macro pattern of balancing one’s aspects while the mind constantly seeks dominion is the flavor of the day (or week) which you write about… It validates the awareness that our experiences are part of a larger stream of unfolding… I’m so grateful that you’re tuned in so beautifully!
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Seriously Kathy – I think you should do an e-book and sell it!!!
AND, I would love it if you did some workshops around this stuff – you probably do already – but if you don’t, it would be so great!!!!!!! Do some in California and then I will help you bring it over here to London!! You have an international following with the blog, twitter and facebook so I’m sure you would get lots of participants.
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It’s still early morning here as I read your comments Catherine and Beth and I have to admit I am at once stunned, blushing, pleased and excited (as in motivated). Your appreciation and pushes are a wakeup call for me in a powerful way. All I have is gratitude. You have no idea how you’ve shown up as angelic voices for me today (well, you do now!) – blessings, Kathy
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What can I say? For sure I need to get in touch with all these parts within me. Maybe we can learn to work together. I’ll keep you posted. PS re previous response, if you go to London, Can I carry your luggage? Me
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No you can’t carry my luggage, but you can come with 😉 for sure!
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You inspire me – as always. We have talked before about the internal committee and I know there’s a lot for me to learn here. Thank you.
And – if you are thinking of coming to London be sure to let me know. I will support you in any way I can.
Evelyn.
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Thanks Evelyn – looks like the dreaming has begun for me by others – perhaps I shall stoke the fire of that dream!
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Lately I’ve been learning a lot about the Socratic method as a form of inquiry and debate between individuals (or in this case the individual personalities carried in one’s mind) with opposing viewpoints. Based on asking and answering questions the process stimulates rational thinking and illuminates idea.
I love that Socrates thought of himself as a mid-wife. That’s what I see happening here in your reflection Kathy. You assist the re-birthing of spiritual remembrance by using the tools found in your imagination. Crossing over from the rational mind to the creative mind enable me to drop into a new world, a world full of wonder and awe.
Beautiful Kathy, as usual you are a font of inspiration. Thanks for getting my motor running.
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Though I met Socrates in High School and College, I’d not made the connection here. Thanks Ingrid! I love how you reflect back to me what I am doing, so I can understand it better 😉 – inspiration is a two way street and full of love – k
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