Life Mastery might sound like a very big ask but as with anything if you break it down into bite sized chunks, it’s much easier to get your head round. I tend to think of it as a subdivided circle with the separate components representing different aspects of life to get to grips with. They can be tackled one at a time but realistically many of them will be overlapping and ongoing throughout life. The one thing for sure though is that as they are tackled and managed more effectively, life becomes a whole lot better. I’m not talking about achieving “enlightenment” here (although what this really means is “connecting to the light within”), I’m talking about having a general sense of well-being and contentment that is reflected in your relationship with yourself, your family, friends, work-colleagues and anyone else you might encounter as you journey through life.
Quick Fixes
So many people seem to be searching for the Holy Grail, believing that what they seek is “out there” somewhere. Or they want the quick fix – the fast track to enlightenment. In my experience it doesn’t work, at least I should say it often doesn’t sustain. Quick fix programs are available everywhere - ”feel better immediately”, “have it all right now” – but they are often like putting sticky plaster over major surgery – eventually the underlying issues that were getting in the way originally rear their heads again in one form or another.
Whilst I am a great believer, supporter and personal practitioner of positive thinking in all its forms, I also know that this is only truly powerful and effective when you have undergone your own personal journey – which includes addressing the more shadow aspects of ourselves. And by shadow, I don’t necessarily mean dark, unlikeable parts – it could just as easily be the magnificence you are that you are hiding from the world because of some mistaken belief that you’re not good enough. Actually, who are you not to shine your unique light into the world? Holding onto, and expressing smallness is actually just as egoic as someone who boasts to the world about how great they are!
Authenticity
My emphasis is on authenticity - being real as opposed to being how you think you should be or how someone else thinks you should be. I know that we all have to adapt our behaviour on occasions to suit our environment but it should still not be at the cost of who we really are. If we do that, the end result is likely to be breakdown in health, relationships, career and family because the internal pressure becomes too much. Saying “just be yourself” doesn’t usually do it either because so many people have lost sight of who they really are and it’s at this point that a lot of my clients find their way to my door so as to begin, or continue their journey. Fortunately some find me because they just know that the time is right – usually when they are successful but instead of being happy with their success and the financial comfort it brings them, they are still asking “What’s it all about?” and “There must be more to life than this, isn’t there?”
Awareness
Self-awareness is the key to personal growth. Without awareness there is nothing. How can you change a behaviour, a belief, a way of living until you become aware of what you are doing, thinking, saying and feeling? You can’t – it’s as straight as that.
My Approach
The backdrop to my work is my qualification as a psychotherapist but what I offer far exceeds that label. With more than 27 years experience, additonal training in a range of areas and extensive life experience, what I bring to the table is a very large and invisible “toolbox” which I intuitively dip into to pull out just what is needed for you at the time. All my work is underpinned and guided by my strong spiritual connection to a higher source (by whatever name). I use the term spiritual because as an ordained Interfaith Minister, I am not personally aligned to any one organised Religion but have a deep and heartfelt connection to the mystery of life. And just so you know where I’m coming from when I say Spiritual, I believe that we are all spiritual beings in a human body. Hence when people are on the Holy Grail quest to find themselves and their own spirituality – I will always guide them to go within.
The Princess and the Pea
In my work with hundreds of people over the years both individually and in workshops, this is always the place that they finally begin to find the contentment and joy they have been looking for. I always liken the journey to the story of the Princess and the Pea but in my version, the pea is actually the well-spring of joy that lies at the core of our being but which gets steadily covered up by the mattresses of life. So the journey involves gradually removing those mattresses by various means so as to re-connect with what has been there all along. My version of spirituality is down-to-earth, feet on the ground, living, breathing, loving, crying, laughing, playing, being angry and frustrated but also finding an inner anchor that keeps you steadier when the seas of life get choppy or tsunami like!
How can we Work Together?
If you are inspired or touched by anything you have read, and you want to know how we might work together then contact me so that we can schedule a mutually beneficial time for a free half hour, no-obligation conversation.
For now my gift to you are these incredible words by contemporary writer and visionary, Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves:
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We are born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of use; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we liberate from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”
© Rev. Akasha Lonsdale 2011
