Unprocessed emotions often find expression in the body. Skin issues, inflammation, chronic tension – these symptoms may be signs of unresolved feelings stored deep within. The link between mental and physical health runs deeper than most of us were taught. And healing begins by listening.
George I. Gurdjieff was what you’d call a modern day mystic – an unconventional spiritual teacher who was committed to “waking up” as many people as possible. His mission was to guide people living in the U.S. and Europe to higher consciousness, believing that humans exist in a state of “waking sleep” – essentially held captive by the unruly emotions that run them.
Psychedelic breakthroughs can feel like hitting reset – but without a clear path forward, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns. I explore the challenge of integration, emotional healing, and how to build new mental scaffolding that supports lasting change in a world that wants the old you back.
Whether you’re hiring for your business or welcoming someone into your personal life (like a housekeeper or caregiver) the stakes go far beyond what’s on a candidate’s résumé. Even if their experience looks like a perfect match on paper, you still can’t gauge someone’s character or integrity. After years of trial and error, I’ve learned how to recognize the people who genuinely belong.
Wearing something that says: “Don’t bother me” is like an invisible impenetrable force field that ensures lack of interaction… but without people in your life there cannot be feedback to help you grow and evolve. As human beings, we need each other. So when I see someone wearing essentially a sandwich board that screams “Don’t Bother Me,” I experience a wave of sadness…
How do you present yourself to the outside world? Personally, I used to hide my emotional pain and look normal enough. Professional, successful, measured. But behind that facade lived my wounded self.
This experiment is still in its early days – now in my 9th week, I’m fully immersed in what’s surfacing for me! My assignment is a full year – 52 weeks of paying attention, week by week, to the constant stream of self-judgment about my body and my face. And let me tell you, it’s eye-opening.
Panic and paralysis won’t save us as we flail around, trying to get out of the nightmare.
Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a stage, moments away from delivering a speech… Your palms are sweaty, your heart’s pounding, and your stomach is hosting a gymnastics competition. Are you anxious – or excited?
This body shaming thing is so insidious. Now, with my awareness in full gear, I see just how deep the self-shaming goes. The latest example was just last week when my executive assistant, Carsey, sent me a picture of myself and said, “Wow! I love this picture! Can we use it?” My response was immediate and visceral: “Old lady hand!” …shouting over our back-and-forth text messaging.