I’ve just struggled through a pretty intense book, and pulled out some interesting gems which I’ll quote here.

At the end I’ll ask:

What are your thoughts? Do you resonate with any of this in your life? How have you learned to overcome it?

“(Most people spend) the bulk of their journey suffering the loss of relationship with their own best selves.”

“Who among us (can be) capable of agape or “disinterested love” i.e. love wholly invested in the well being of the other, without the shadow of self-interest cruising beneath the surface like a surly shark?”

“Consider the courage of those truly willing to look within and own what they find.”

“It is the nature of our condition that we long for the Other. As life began with the primal separation from the Other, so we seek, for ever, to return. In our age we may even be said to have a culture of longing. We long for the Gods who went underground. We long for connections, the fixes. We are all addicted, seeking connection through chemical substances, money and power, and most of all through the Magical Other. We long for nurturance, for safe harbor, for completion.”

“…has left us stranded on an isle of narcissism, alone, afraid, self-absorbed, and longing for some Other to save us.”

“More people look for salvation through relationship than in houses of worship.”

“…At least one partner must be extremely and overtly needy, with the other needing to be needed – thus
co-dependence, a state in which both are emotionally constricted and developmentally stuck, fused in the
psychologically naïve fantasy that the Other can truly take care of them. Welcome to ‘happy neurosis island.’”

“…and yet he refused commitment, for therein lay the profound abyss of his childhood fear of being abandonded.”

“Rarely is this progression (in the later stages of relationship, when projections dissolve) welcomed as a
chance for personal growth, or as an opportunity to know who the Other really is, if not the one we thought we’d hooked up with.”

“…where he can move into uncharted territories to seek and find the anguish and terror of total realization and discover that he can survive.”

“But when we can comfort our frightened child, stand watch on the ramparts of our own soul, then we may experience transformation.”

“We may even come to bless those who have most hurt us, for they have most contributed to our transformation. We may even love them, allowing them to be who they are, even as we struggle to be ourselves on the journey toward our own destined end.”

* * *

I’d like to hear your thinking on this:

What are your thoughts? Do you resonate with any of this in your life? How have you learned to overcome it?

Taken from “The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other” by James Hollis

I’ll be in Calgary July 10-15 inclusive, and would like to connect with you, and others in the SolutionBox, coaching, or motivational and spiritual communities.

I have an impulse around creating an evening where anyone can come and ask questions about sharing your gift with the world and gettingpaid for it, building a professional practice,or internet marketing.

I could speak to an existing gathering/meeting, or we could create our own – which would requirea space, someone to set it up etc. I don’t think we’d charge for it, unless it was a nominal $20 which went to charity, or to cover the cost ofthe space.

An alternative (or as well as) to a talk/speech could be drinks at a fun, quiet, bar. I’d really enjoy that too.

1) Does a speech/teaching type event call to you?
2) Does a social event call to you?
3) What if anything, do you propose?

Please post your comments using the comments link below.

David

FUN INVITATION
I just watched the movie ‘August Rush’, and loved it.

Further, I had a very deep insight afterwards that affects and supports my coaching, my marketing, and my purpose. I encourage and challenge you to watch the movie in the next 7 days, and post any insights you have about your purpose – what you’re up to in the world – at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/3k4xto (or click ‘add comment’ below)

(If you’ve seen it recently – then feel free to post now!)

ONLY ONCE YOU’VE WATCHED IT…
Once you’ve watched (or re-watched the movie), then listen to MY insight here:

August Rush – 3 minute audio

And I hope you’ll post your own insights. I found the movie very moving, and hope you do to.

David

I just quit my job.

Which might sound strange since I work for myself.

I’m burned out – been working too hard, to the point where every waking and sleeping moment was about work. Everything blurred to the point that I forget what a day off looks like.

The results got too important – I got attached to the outcome, and started to feel a lot of pressure to make things happen. (Which is ridiculous!)

So I quit. At least for the next four days I’m only going to do what I want to do. As my good friend Nicole Daedone said: “It just has to feel good”.

If I don’t want to speak to groups – I won’t speak. If it feels like too much pressure to put the pitch and sales stuff together, I won’t worry whether I sell anything at the end of the speech. I’m done going for book endorsements unless they feel natural and fun. And I’ve chilled out about selling it to a publisher. (In my mind it’s already sold and published, and it will do how it’s going to do).

I don’t have to earn any money in the next 12 months. I don’t have to sell one product. I don’t have to travel anywhere I don’t want to, or for longer than I want. I don’t have to hang out with anyone I don’t want to – regardless of the business opportunity they might bring. I don’t ~need~ to write a book, and if I do, I don’t need anyone to buy it.

Being hyperfocused can be a gift. I get enormous things done in a short period of time. And…there’s balance.

Will this last past Dec 27? I don’t know. But it’s feeling good right now, and I’m enjoying LOST and reading up on the environment.

So I quit.

I quit my own job.

David

An agent I approached over 2 months ago about a SEPARATE book, on relationships, just got back to me with a YES. They would like to represent it.

This puts me in a bit of an awkward position as I’ve already approached another agent about both books, and won’t know for a while if she’s on board or not. Hmmmm….

Meanwhile a third agent has heard about the book and is interested, but I just can’t see there’s a lot of point in shopping around for agents, can you?

Meanwhile I’ve heard of a great publisher – an entrepreneurial publisher – which would be straight forward and not even require an agent. I’ll keep you posted as things develop…..

David

I’m looking for good articles on ‘life coaching’ or ‘business coaching’to add to our network of sites.

In fact, I’m going for 100! Have some? Want to write some?

REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 300 words (no maximum).
- must be on the topic of coaching. (see below for a list of suggested key words or titles)
- you must own the copyright
- include your full name and contact information (note once your contact information is provided, it cannot be updated later on, so please double check)

IF YOU HAVE ARTICLES THAT QUALIFY:
Please post them here (they can all be in the one post if you like).

TO WRITE AN ARTICLE(S):
Just pick one line below in the ‘List of Keywords/Topics’, and make sure the words on that line appear frequently in the article. Then post them here.

Go on – you can dash one off in 10 minutes using what you already know. (I just stopped to write a short one in 5).

WHAT WE’LL DO:
If we choose your articles (and many, many will be chosen), we’ll post it on our site(s), with brief, summarized contact information. We will list your web site.

Note that ACTIVE links back to your site will be limited to one active link per five articles submitted.

By submitting your articles, you’re agreeing we may tweak or edit the content to suit our purposes, and may publish it forever, so long as we maintain attribution to you. You may still publish your article anywhere else you like.

SUGGESTED LIST OF KEYWORDS/TOPICS
life coaching, life coach, life coaches
business coaching, business coach
david wood
executive coaching, executive coach
corporate coaching, corporate coach
coaching, coach
life coach training, life coaching training, coach training
dr. phil, dr phil, doctor phil
tony robbins, anthony robbins
Certified life coach, Certified life coach training
Life coach certification, Life coaching certification
Life coach accreditation
Life coaching schools
Wayne dyer [Art: mention him as a coach, how he coaches/trains people]
Steven covey [Art: mention him as a coach, how he coaches/trains people]
sales coach
coach training institute, coaches training institute
coach university, coachu, coach u
counseling career [Art: whether to choose a career in counseling or coaching]
therapy career [Art: whether to choose a career in therapy or coaching]

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES!
Post one. Write one. Post several. Write several.
The earlier they come in, the more chance they have of being chosen.

Click here to post your articles, or any comments or suggestions.

Happy writing!

David