Artists like Alex Grey render different images to challenge us to think about the body differently. Are we only mass? Is our body only mass?
Is there more?
We know babies, even if fed physically, will die if they are not loved and touched. How can this be possible? Aren’t we just our bodies? Are we hurting patients by just looking at the body and not actively engaging with their mind and spirit?
The HeartMath Institute is studying some of the mysteries of the human heart and have shown that the heart has an immense electromagnetic field far more powerful than the brain, shedding light on the fact that the heart is much more than a beating muscle pumping blood through our vessels. It has its own immense energy field. There are high-thinking people who are looking at this dynamic and putting modern language to it.
There is an emerging field of science with some of the most reputable people of our time involved – biofield science. A recent acquaintance of mine, Dr. Shamini Jain, is the founder and director of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative based in San Diego. Her team writes here . . . “A key ingredient in the recipe for advancing the evolution of human health is self-empowerment, which can only emerge with clear recognition of one’s own capacity for healing. Examples from clinical and research areas such as mind-body medicine, placebo, psychoneuroimmunology, and neuroscience remind us that our capacity to activate our own internal healing response is within our human capabilities.”
Your body and its care are critical to your mind and spirit. I had a patient who had an endometrial cancer scare. After her surgery, she and I spoke about next steps in her health. I found out she is a religious Christian woman with a prominent role in her church. I learned more about her faith-life and that she actually saw attention to her physical health as contrary to her faith and spiritual path. I asked her what her purpose is. She said to do God’s work. I asked her if she could do God’s work in helping others if she were sick all the time due to her lack of attention to the instrument of work given to her. The lights turned on.
She proceeded to make immense changes in her lifestyle and health in the coming year. We had shifted her paradigm. In which part of us do these paradigms live and function? In our mind. Paradigms rule the mind.
Understanding paradigms is critical to guiding change in a patient, client, family or organization. Knowing how to be the master of your own mind is critical to being an effective healer or leader. Faculties of the mind include Memory (knowledge), Will (Focusing and magnifying power), Perception (Lenses), Reason (Paradigms), Intuition (Connection to infinite wisdom), and Imagination (Connection to infinite possibility).
The mind is the functional aspect of you dealing with thoughts and emotions. Understanding the mind will help you be the healthiest leader, businessperson, family member you can be, and also be of highest positive impact to those around you.
There are many forms of meditation, but those codified in the 8-limb yoga path are in an effective sequence to help you achieve results – the first phase of mind conditioning is withdrawing from input from the sense organs – Pratyahara. Next, bringing in awareness to your inner self and your emotions is necessary. This is Dhyana or more of a mindfulness meditation. The next step is Dharana, or more of a transcendental meditation, shown in scientific studies to be the more powerful of the two in creating real biological, spiritual and mental changes in people.
Because you are not just your physical body, you are constantly impacting others through the non-physical parts of you. Albert Einstein told us that everything is energy (through his famous equation), bringing an ancient truth into a language modern people all over the world could relate to.
Why should you pay attention to this? Because knowledge of E = mc2 has been used to create massive death and destruction on the planet, but it has also been used to create massive opportunities for growth and good work. Just as physicists can manipulate the energy of atom-splitting, as healers, businesspeople and family members, we must understand how to alter our own energies to create the best outcome while we are rendering our services and going about our duties. We use meditation to maximize our intellectual and emotional self-control and ignite the mental faculties of imagination and intuition.
Many say these are the aspects of the mind closest to spirit because they require that we connect ourselves to the fields of consciousness and infinite intelligence of the Universe – the place where “anything is possible.”
Physicists talk about this beautiful concept called the Zero Point field. Everything must follow the laws of the Universe. Everything is transformation and transmutation of energy. One form of energy turning into another form of energy. Zero point field, atoms, gravitational fields, consciousness, thoughts, sound-transmutation of energy is the common thread. I love the biblical saying, “And first there was the harmonic resonance,” incorrectly translated into English as “the word” from Jesus’s Aramaic. This also demonstrates an understanding of a fundamental truth of the Universe. We can use this knowledge in everyday life – from relationships to achieving wealth.
I use yoga because it is an ancient practice from India that has unquestionably been established as valuable to the Western healing experience. Some magic starts to happen when you progress past the meditation phase to connect to the divine, zero point field or the supreme intelligence, whatever word is consistent with your beliefs. Additionally, transcending thinking beyond death requires one to connect to the larger reality of the Universe while remaining connected and grounded to your purpose on the planet. Yogic science recognized this along the many paths - Leadership (Raja yoga), Service (Karma Yoga), Faith (Bhakthi Yoga) or Discipline (Hatha Yoga). There is a path of exploration for everyone.
But can we elevate this conversation and structure it in such a way it is applicable in our work, whether it be healing or business? Can we engage in this conversation in a more sophisticated way than just saying, “I go to yoga class and have an acupuncturist” as a healing professional or everyday citizen? As a business person, can we systematically implement this knowledge into our organization to catapult financial and intellectual achievements? Yes, yes and yes. Studies have been done showing how incorporating a body, mind and spirit approach to support employees and staff to reduce injuries, elevate morale and improve patient outcomes by directly taking care of those who work face-to-face with customers, patients and clients.
We have had an evolution of language but we need more than medicine or some flaky approach to body, mind and spirit health. We need healing. We need a radical change in the language of business – money as a goal is a dumbed-down objective of a business. You need to think bigger, deeper and more holistically to create success with the evolving consciousness of humanity.
The main point here is that healing is a communal process. This requires a healing culture, a complete set of paradigms of thinking that place health as the first wealth.
We are social creatures and are healthier together. All organizations need to design their workflows and organizational cultures to honor this basic aspect of being human. A healthy community is a prosperous community. A healthy employee is a productive employee.
I want us all to become richer in Text Health in all its forms. Through RicherTogether.org we are working to change this dialogue. Through Positive Power Ups, subscribed to at DoctorP3.com, we are working to inspire individuals toward their higher potential through a process I call the Seventh Lotus Process. Here is a simple description of this powerful process:
Connect with your heart – what makes your heart sing?
From here, create a vision of the physical manifestation of this feeling.
What does your image look like? . . . a relationship? . . . a certain dollar number of your bottom line? . . . an academic achievement?
What does this image feel like? What emotions are you feeling? Are they positive or negative? Aim for emotions closer to love, gratitude growth and expansion.
What guidance are you getting for steps
to take to achieve it? Take the first step. As you do, the next step is revealed to you.
What guiding principles do you live your life by? Do your actions and vision represent these principles?
Write down the visions that come to you and start to take action toward them!
So we see how when we are connected to spirit, we know who we are, what our purpose is and we understand that infinite intelligence is at our beck and call to realize our goals. Spirit informs us of what action to take. By keeping a healthy body, we can take meaningful and powerful action to pursue mental and spiritual goals. By understanding our mind – emotions and mental faculty – we keep our body healthy enough and we take the proper action to achieve results. Our results in turn allow us to engage with spirit, get feedback and determine the next best action to take. This is true with individuals, families, communities, businesses and large organizations.
Seventh Lotus Transformational Healing Center can help you understand this better and guide you and your organization to your goals through achieving health of the body, mind and spirit through workshops, seminars, retreats, and coaching. We look forward to being of service to you.
About Sraddha
Dr. Prativadi is the founder of Seventh Lotus Transformational Healing Center, a center dedicated to igniting human potential and catalyzing healing and wholeness to unlock higher performance and achievement in personal, professional and business settings.
Sraddha Prativadi, MD is a board-certified physician and surgeon specializing in Integrative Holistic Medicine and Women's Health. She currently practices in Rochester, New York. She is an assistant professor at a leading American medical school. She is an author, dancer and speaker who is sought after for her dynamic, engaging and inspiring presence. Her passion is helping individuals, groups and businesses achieve their potential by teaching skills and knowledge that allow maximization of the body, mind and connection to spirit, while being grounded in daily activities and measurable results.
She is a transformational consultant, using her expertise in human potential to help others unlock the power of their positive potential. With an extensive personal and cultural history in Eastern thought and holistic healing modalities, she employs an Integrative and holistic approach to her work in human potential.
She looks forward to connecting with you at: DoctorP3.com and www.SeventhLotusTransformation.com.
CHAPTER 16
STOP SETTLING AND START THRIVING
A FIVE-STEP BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO ACHIEVE CAREER BLISS
BY LEEZA BYERS
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.
~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
ARE YOU EAGER TO LIVE THE LIFE YOU DESERVE, YET JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
Thousands of books have been written on the subject of finding one’s purpose in life. Yet, a recent Mercer survey of 30,000 workers in 17
worldwide locations showed that 28% to 56% of employees wanted to leave their jobs. In the U.S. alone, 32% said they wanted to find new work. (Forbes, New Survey: Majority of Employees Dissatisfied.) Why are so many people unhappy with their present careers? And, if they’re so unhappy, why don’t they do something about it? How many people do you know who are truly miserable in their jobs—and their jobs have just become a paycheck, and for some, not a great paycheck at that?
They’re not happy, they don’t make enough money, they’re not using their talents, and they’ve long since given up on finding their purpose or calling in life. Maybe I’m describing you!
You’ve probably felt a calling, but just haven’t known what you can do from where you are. I’ve felt the same way and stood in your shoes—
that moment was on March 20, 2008. I remember it vividly, because my husband and I were visiting with his grandmother in New York celebrating her 100th birthday. I happened to be on a train and saw this startling statistic – Only 3% of people ever find their true life’s purpose!
This resonated with my spirit, as it immediately prompted me to ask myself if I was part of this small statistic. The answer, of course, was a resounding “no”. Needless to say, this fact had me all wired up until we returned to our home in Georgia. I decided to embark on a personal quest to figure out what it is I needed to do, to become part of that 3% pack. I didn’t want to be one of those people who never took the time or even made the effort to find out what my life’s purpose is. I can tell you this much though, it wasn’t an easy task. Most people who embark on this journey often become frustrated, as they struggle to figure out how to actually find their life’s purpose.
However, five years later after having coached more than 1,000
professional women (and a few men in-between) and accumulating more than 7,000 hours of virtual and in-person coaching across the globe (including the UK, Trinidad, Thailand, Columbia, and of course, right here in the U.S.), combined with studying copious research that exists on the pursuit of happiness and success, I have seen firsthand that women who succeed at manifesting the desires of their heart have a few things in common. Likewise, I have had the privilege of observing some commonalities among women who struggle to achieve and sustain authentic success and happiness. Can you relate to any of these below?
Successful Women
A strong belief in their ability to handle obstacles when they come because the source of their strength comes from Christ
A high propensity to take action and calculated risks
Authenticity in setting their goals based on their deepest needs and desires
A perspective on life that accepts failure and mistakes as a normal part of their journey in life
A habit of saying “no” to what appears as “good” opportunities in favor of purposeful ones
Unsuccessful Women
Give up at the onset of failure due to lack of a belief system.
Are eternal procrastinators who won’t get started because they fear failure and imperfection
Allow society’s standards to define their success rather than their own standards
Work towards success as if it’s a destination, a place where she will eventually “arrive”
Focus on what they don’t have rather than what they do have
Whichever side of the table above that you ended up identifying yourself with, everyone at one point or another, stops what they’re doing and wonders: “What on earth am I doing here?” Well, through the pages of this chapter, I will share as much as I can to help get you started on your own journey of answering this question. If you’d like to dive deeper than this chapter would allow, you can check for more of this good stuff on my website: www.leezabyers.com.
DEFINING SUCCESS
Let’s first get a few definitions out of the way before moving forward.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, Success is defined as: “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” If you analyze this definition with me, you may come to the realization that there may be more elements that make up the very essence of success itself. For me, I see success as a harmony of purpose, resilience, and, joy. Why? Simply put, success is living your life’s purpose and embracing resilience and joy as you do.
Now, let’s break my definition down further.
YOUR PURPOSE OR YOUR CALLING –
SHARING YOUR BLESSING
Wasn’t there a high school or college counselor who said something to you about your calling once? Was it really that long ago that you last gave any thought to your purpose or calling in life? What do I even mean by that? Maybe you’ve heard of people having a “calling,” a strong conviction toward a vocation, profession or vision, to do something in life that is meaningful to them. Everyone on this earth has an assignment or calling. You’re not here just as a consumer (of air, water, food, etc.) going through the motions, crossing off the days on a calendar. Yes, you have something unique that makes you special so you can share or bless others with. Whenever you give to others as an individual or a business, you
are blessing them with something they need, desire or want. Your purpose in life answers a simple question: “How is someone’s life better because she/he has crossed your path?” Better yet, ask yourself right now: “Who do I impact?”
Your Maker endowed you with gifts, talents, passions, and experiences that are unique to you. If I could travel back in time and observe you at 5 or 15 years old, I would see traces of your uniqueness. Your strengths have been with you all along, and now it’s time for you to unleash them.
There is a greater impact for you to make and now is the time to make it!
Purpose Exercise 1:
Take a few moments and give a concise, one-sentence answer to each of the following questions:
a) Who are you?
_________________________________________________
b) What is your purpose in life?
_________________________________________________
If you’re like most of my clients, your answers describe what you do: I’m an entrepreneur, I work in sales, I’m a teacher, I’m a doctor, a lawyer, a volunteer, a spouse, a parent, etc. Of course, this list could go on and on, depending upon your job, hobbies, interests, or current role in life.
All those answers may be perfectly valid, but remember, I asked, “Who are you?” not “What do you do?”
In today’s culture, personal identity is most often defined by what we do.
Beyond our jobs or roles in life, the majority of us don’t have any idea who we are. This is especially true in the case of career professionals. They identify themselves solely as CEO, Top Sales Rep, District Manager, or some other title gained along the way. However, that’s not the only place you see this happen. Look at the “empty nester syndrome” when children leave home. Some parents—particularly mothers—experience a lack of identity beyond this role that leaves them lost and occasionally even clinically depressed. I’ll share a few other startling statistics that I came across. Did you know that: 1 in every 5 women is on anti-depressants (not counting those who feel unhappy and unfulfilled); 6 out of 10 women can’t sleep at night and experience overwhelming financial stress (which is the #1 cause of chronic disease)?
Ready, Set, Go! (Special Edition) Page 14
