Getting to Know Your Soul

"These are the times that try men's souls"

- Thomas Paine

These are uncertain times and we're all experiencing challenges that many of us have never encountered before. I speak with men who are confronting uncertainty and fear - often for the first time in their adult lives.

This fear also opens an opportunity. It is a time to really examine what is important to us. It's a time to look at our core essence. As an example, I'm looking at the fear that I have around working on my own. Sure, there are definitely days when I miss the security of a corporate job. At the same time, I'm also aware that this so-called security is an illusion that, for many years, prevented me from living the life that I really want. This so-called security took me out of my body. When I hear the fear in my head rear its ugly self, I'm reminded of the importance to return to what's really important and trust what I feel.

I was reminded of a bit over a year ago when I started the CTI Leadership program. (I wrote about this in the November 2007 newsletter.) I was walking across a wobbly wood plank bridge between two trees about 35 feet up in the air (yes, that's me walking the bridge in the photo!) I learned something important that day. My head was really telling me that there's no way I would get across. I concentrated on my breath and being in my body. An amazing thing happened; the noise in my head left. By trusting my body and breathing I got across that bridge!

There's a truth in letting go of common sense - what we can see and feel - and placing trust in something higher. That something is often an irrational place of dreams, an altered state of consciousness, a state of being that brings peace, insight, clarity. The computer person inside me wanted to analyze the problem and figure out the way across. The irony of course was the only way across was completely irrational - just focus on my breath.

As a bodyworker, I can't help but be aware of the power in listening and trusting your body. The part of me that needs tangible evidence didn't believe what was happening up in the trees. I had no idea how to get across that rope bridge, but trusting my body got me across. Spending time simply listening to my body helps me gather clarity around my doubts and fears. Going deeper into my body and accessing trance-like states can transform mundane reality into a place where life feels deep and meaningful. When focusing my attention to what's going on in my body and consciously breathing, I have experienced times, like on that bridge, when I stop doubting my abilities and stop listening to my fears. Something amazing happens and a transformation begins.

There's also a more mundane, but equally appropriate way, to look at this. I am reminded of The Last Lecture from Randy Pausch. (This book is a must read on my list.) He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and, coincidentally, the same age as me. In this lecture, as he showed a slide with a CT scan of his liver clearly detailing 10 tumors, he said, "This is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards that we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Yes, these are uncertain times and we all get to choose how to play the hand that we're dealt.

He further challenges us to decide that we can choose to be a Tigger or an Eeyore. It's an amazingly simple metaphor for the way we can choose to look at the hand we're dealt. We can choose to be a Tigger - to remain optimistic, energetic, creative and curious even though we've been dealt a shitty hand. Or we can choose to be Eeyore and spend our lives moping around, complaining, being pessimistic and whining.

The important piece of this simple metaphor is that this is a choice. And the lesson for us is every day we can choose to be a victim of the condition or we can choose to create from what is available to us.

It's our choice.

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It's not often that you get massage on sale. Right now everyone needs a great way to relax and save money at the same time, so anyone can get 2 one hour massages for $110! Also, all existing clients can get 10% off any length session and prepaid cards! These offers are good for any in-person session through March 31, 2009.

Sacred Touch School

Sacred Touch School is a place to learn more about enhancing your erotic life. Sacred Touch School offers in-person instruction, guided practice, and explicit video based learning that allows you to explore your own erotic potential. Currently there are over 2 and a half hours of video instruction and 35 pages of written instruction and practice exercises. You can view the videos and do the exercises at your own pace and review previous material at any time.

A fundamental premise of the School is that learning happens from experiences in your body. You can read about enhancing your erotic life; however, real learning occurs when you experience it for yourself. Each video has a worksheet with suggested practice exercises and information you can use off-line.

I'm teaming with Nellie Wilson, a wonderful erotic educator in forming Sacred Touch School. Nellie is leading the development of the female education and I'm really excited to be able to present quality erotic education for both men and women.

Take a look around and join us on this adventure!

Enjoy the beginnings of spring!

Ed

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