Warm Greetings to our TSJ “Peeps,”
What makes change so hard? I learned this week about a force called Resistance. Today’s blog was inspired by the fact that I recently read 
some of my older personal journals. I was startled and discouraged at first by how many things I still say and fret over that I journaled about eight years ago!
The bad news seemed clear – old patterns seem to cling to us like plastic wrap sticks to itself.
The good news is there is always, always hope.
How about you? Are you the parent, teacher or success you always dreamed of? Do you wonder if you actually are becoming the person you have longed to become or been the success you have dreamed of being?
Do you ever notice that you grapple with the same old issues such as guilt, anxiety, or feelings of inadequacy and worry – or other debilitating beliefs that plague you year after year?
How often do you chide yourself after indulging once again in a personal or preferred addiction such as caffeine, wine or …. chocolate … ice cream… watching tv… shopping (“retail therapy?” ) or binge eating only to beat yourself up later with excessive exercising?
To top it off, such things still plague us in spite of reading good books, getting good therapy, and coaching or attending great seminars and retreats.
While I was feeling discouraged with my seeming lack of progress I was guided by several people.
Solomon sits here (as always) and wants me to – “Tell our peeps that Mr. John was the first to gently and kindly help you not to be discouraged.” He reminded me of the fact that the journals are expressive of the human journey and that is what we do at TSJ! We encourage one another on our journey and find hope together.
Indeed, John helped me instantly turn discouragement into hope. A mini miracle here. A bit of inspiration from him led me to other resources.
I also received help and inspiration from some of my favorite on line business coaches such as Marie Forleo. I followed her suggestion to look up Steven Pressfield’s work.. His passion is helping writers and artists of all kinds discover what blocks and stops them from attaining their dreams… from writing that book or making that sculpture etc. He has identified our struggle as Resistance – our interior self-sabotage. He wrote about it in his book The War of Art.
Amazingly, he said everything I needed to hear.
Pressfield writes, “Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the un-lived life within us.” Between the two stands Resistance.
“Resistance,” (an evil force) he says, comes from our ego or self [note – small “s”] which shows up when we say “I want.” “I need.” “I am.” Our ego “is the identity center that runs our lives.”
In contrast, our [big “S”] Self “is the I beyond ego. The unconscious resides there. Dreams, instinct and intuition, visions, myths and archetypes also come from the Self.” The Self is our Soul Self.
Pressfield says,, “The soul is the source of all wisdom and goodness and is constantly seeking to communicate to our consciousness on the physical plane – the ego.”
Pressfield indicates we all face the “mental ‘war’ between our ego self and our Divine Self. Our ego sabotages our hopes and dreams. We avoid facing this battle through escape and denial. Our wise inner voice of Soul longs for us to be free to be creative and fruitful.”
Reading his blogs and listening to his interviews (even one by Oprah on Super Soul Sundays) has been very helpful for me. Feel free to visit here: Steven Pressfield.
HOPE
For several weeks now I have been pondering about the spiritual gift of hope. In a world of so much despair and in our private lives of over scheduled days, sleepless nights, and endless demands for performance related success it is easy to get discouraged and feel a sense of despair.
I personally believe where there is Hope there is heart. It truly is a light for the darkness right along with Love.
I had forgotten about some very old recordings I had by another coach-leader-speaker and author has inspired often – Michael Neill. Michael has a newsletter and blog called Caffeine for the Soul. On one old recording, he talked about hope!
Michael rightly put hope up there as a necessity. When we experience hope we think differently and see what is possible.
Michael says, “Hope is making it worth showing up for the fifteen hundredth time!” (Teachers… think of your most worrisome student!)
When we give people hope they find their strength and power. Think how different you feel when suddenly you get a ray of hope. You get new energy. You are more empowered. Michael Neill said, “Without hope people are small and they don’t try stuff.”
Finally, he reminded his audience that “We must remember that people can change their hearts at any given moment and at one instant all things willl be different.”
Yes there is always, always hope. So we can “show up” a hundred million times to ourselves and to others – knowing it is always possible to have a change of heart and truly live the life the Creator of life intended in the first place.
With love from Solomon who continues to enjoy being a quiet encourager at TSJ headquarters.
