The Power of Metaphor

Metaphors serve as an image, object or idea out of which a whole series of corresponding images and ideas can emerge that are of a similar nature or behavior. Metaphors are energetic patterns that lend themselves to storytelling. To interpret a situation or circumstances symbolically is to identify and become aware of its underlying nature through the qualities that it is comprised of.

Metaphors serve as principles that have energetic living patterns inherent within them that create order or structure in the form of behavior or function. If you take an object, say a yellow flower, cultivate a feeling of reverence, then observe the flower through that feeling state, become fully present within, giving it your full attention, the qualities and essential nature of the flower rise up in the imagination and a whole series of associated (like) thoughts spontaneously emerge out of it that are of the same nature, that have the same qualities being expressed in their “essential” make-up.

When we tell stories about our life, our circumstances, or the way things are, we are not acting to capture any real aspect of the situation in a neutral or factual manner, but rather indicating the spiritual forces being activated within us by the external stimulus that fashions stories of a similar nature. The stories we tell, about ourselves, our life, and the way things are, once awakened in us are expressed by calling them forth with the spoken word. We give them a meaningful foundation as a living concept that can be readily seen as a possible within a given situation.

All perception arises as a personal interpretation that has meaning through its symbolic correspondences. Our stories, how we make sense of things that give us a consistent type of experience, are like archetypal patterns that embody human characteristics as pathways of expression.

An archetype is a living pattern as an expression of a particular quality that has a “role” inherent within it and lends itself to a particular type of character that tells a universal story. Archetypes are metaphorical principles that excite, embody and express energy of a certain quality. Qualities can be perceived as feeling sensations that give rise to corresponding thoughts. Thoughts create conceptual patterns that have action inherent within them. In this way, qualities that exist within us as potential - once awakened - become living forces that fashion experiences of a similar nature as a form of expression that simultaneously defines our character, creates our identity and establishes fundamental patterns as habitual templates that can be acted out naturally from that point forward.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c) CCHt., RMT
Professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor and Consultant for Personal Transformation, Conscious Creation, Business Psychology and Creative Mind Development
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com
info@creativetransformations.com

State-of-Mind "The Ecology of Perception"

The primary basis for what we commonly call "Self-Empowerment” is first creating what will become the primary filter through which we form all fundamental perceptions. Our State-of-Mind or "mood" determine how we look at the world, and what we see as a result. So the primary skill you want to learn is the importance of choosing your state-of-mind and cultivating it intentionally.

Our state-of- mind is based on how the Mind/body are used in regards to Focus, Physiology and Meaning.. What we chose to focus on, what we are doing with our body, and the language we use to talk to ourselves that brings meaning to our perceptions. Moods, like attitudes are habitual states that we find ourselves in most often without being aware of the fact that we can change our state any time we want by simply changing what we are doing physically, what we are focused on and thinking about, and what words or metaphors we are using to give our focus a certain "type" of meaning.

By deciding what it is that we want, what our desired results or outcome is, and what state would naturally produce that, we can consciously chose how to look at it, what to tell ourselves about it, and how we can use our body in a productive manner to facilitate the mood we desire.

To alter your state:

Notice what you are focused on and how you're thinking about it.

What your physiology is like: sitting, slumped, pacing, standing.

And how you are using your internal dialogue to talk to yourself about it. What kind of language, metaphors and feeling interpretation are you using to give it meaning or tell a story about it.

Change any one of these, it automatically influences the others. If you intentionally change all three, your mood will change instantly.
Consciously choose the state that would be most effective for producing your desired outcome. Change your state, and tune into your internal experience, and stay focused on your desired outcome, and any time you notice a shift, readjust your state, and continue to apply yourself.


Linda Gadbois Ph.D.(c), CCHt., RMT
Doctor of Spiritual Sciences and Self-Actualization.
Professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor and Consultant for Creative Mind Development (using the power of your Mind), Personal Development, Soul Evolution, Conscious Creation (Mind over Matter) and Spiritual Development & Transformation.
www.creativetransformations.com
info@creativetransformations.com

Perceiving Higher Truth

Before we can receive knowledge of the spirit, we must develop certain inner qualities to a high degree. As with all fundamental perceptions we must begin by cultivating our fundamental state-of-mind through what we spiritually refer to as the “path of reverence”, of devotion to truth and knowledge. It is only when we have acquired this fundamental mood or attitude that the true essence of the underlying nature of everyday reality can reveal itself to us. Our mood or dominant attitude sets the pathway through which a series of correspondences naturally emerge. Our state-of-mind forms the fundamental lens through which we view all of life as corresponding perceptions.

The qualities that we “see” in others and our environment are based on the qualities that we have cultivated within ourselves that we use to activate and form resonance with in our environment. We only see our “self” in the external world. The only way we can see the true nature of any life form is by cultivating a loving state of mind that – then seeing only in them what warrants that feeling. What we see in our environment is what is in us. The same qualities that make up our true nature are the same ones that we “see” in everything else. They become the primary lens through which we look.

When we look through the “eyes of love” from the deepest recesses of our heart, thoughts of criticism or opposition are forbidden and fail to even arise. When we are filled with feelings of reverence, we create experiences of “awe” and wonder, as well as a deep curiosity that comes through a form of fascination. To be gifted with the potential for such feelings as a natural state, is a blessing.

We have been taught that we should feel reverence only when it is appropriate or warranted. Yet, it is appropriate in any situation when it flows from the depths of our heart. To truly be “at cause”, is to first cultivate and sustain the state that warrants and calls forth qualities of a like nature. We have the ability, through managing our own mind, to bring out certain qualities in everything we interact with or place our attention on.

We only find the inner strength to evolve to higher levels of consciousness when we first inwardly develop this profound feeling that there is something higher than ourselves, an ideal to aspire towards. We can lift ourselves to the heights of great knowledge when we allow ourselves to be guided by our hearts into the depths of veneration and devotion. When we fill ourselves with a higher feeling of love, then form a devotion only to what warrants those feelings, we begin living in a state of euphoria and true power. It is only when we have passed through the gates of humility that we can ascend to greater heights. In order to obtain higher knowledge, we must first respect it.

In Spiritual Science it is considered a fundamental law that every feeling of true devotion unfolded in the soul produces an inner strength or living force that leads to higher knowledge. In our culture at this particular time, it is important to give this point our complete attention – in this day and age we are more inclined to criticize, judge, and condemn than to feel love, acceptance, devotion and selfless reverence. We criticize far more than we respect or revere. Though criticism has somewhat served our physical and material progress, it has come through the loss of higher knowledge and the practice of spiritual life. We must never forget that higher knowledge has to do with revering truth and insight and not other people.

For those that are completely immersed in the superficial culture of our day may find it particularly difficult to work their way to the cognition of higher worlds. This is because in order to do so, you have to work energetically on upon yourself. In times of material obsession, spiritual progress is more illusive. In the age of criticism, ideals are degraded and raped of their significance. Reverence, awe, adoration and wonder are being replaced by other feelings and pushed into the background where they seldom go unnoticed. As a result, everyday life offers little opportunity for spiritual growth.

Anyone seeking higher knowledge must create these feelings inwardly by instilling them in the soul, programming them into the subconscious mind so that they become natural and automatic. This cannot be achieved through mere study; it must be done through living it. If we wish to become the students of higher power, we must train ourselves with great discipline in the mood of devotion. We must learn to seek in all things around us only the qualities that arouse feelings of admiration and respect.

When we first meet people and we criticize them for their weaknesses, we rob ourselves of higher cognitive powers. If we seek to criticize, we see only what warrants criticism, by stepping into that, we acquire weaknesses and in turn open ourselves to criticism. We gain strength as qualities only by looking for the good in everything while withholding criticism. By seeking only what’s admirable, we elicit those qualities in others, then step into them and apprehend qualities of an admirable nature. We strengthen our own constitution, while simultaneously strengthening others. To be empowered, is to simultaneously empower others.

In order for this practice to remain ours, it must take hold at the inner depths of our soul. The ability to develop and perfect and gradually transform ourselves lies in our own hands and must take place at our inner most depths. Just showing respect outwardly towards others is not enough, we must bring respect and devotion into our “thought life”. We must guard against any disrespectful, disparaging and criticizing thoughts. We must respect the power of our thoughts to shape the world around us. We must discipline ourselves to practice reverence and devotion to a higher ideal in all our thinking and feeling which will ultimately determine our behavior . . . at all times as a consistent way of being in the world.


Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c), CCHt., RMT
Professional Educator and Trainer in Spiritual Sciences and Creative Mind Development
www.creativetransformations.com
info@creativetransformations.com

Futility of Effort “The Magic of Allowing”

All spiritual laws exists as a form of dichotomy – as dual, opposing and complimentary – they provide a range of expression that has what I call a “fine line”. The fine line exists in our ability to conceive of them, especially in terms of practical application as a means of creating experiences by using them intentionally. We hold up an idea that seems contradictory to our life experiences, yet a part of us knows they are meaningful and that they hold within their seemingly illusive nature a kind of secret that if penetrated, would offer us tools to help demonstrate them with greater precision and accuracy. As we begin “thinking” about it, we realize that we can’t fully comprehend it conceptually, but instead must perceive it intuitively. The actual “workings” of it seem almost magical in the sense that we can watch it and witness its results, but we can’t really seem to actually explain it, or understand what it’s doing or how it’s doing it.

This is very true when it comes to ideas like the futility of effort, or how, by trying to figure out what we need, and what we need to do to make it happen, we literally push the real solutions further away from us, or find that they elude us completely. Part of this is due to the fact that whenever we try to “figure something out”, all we really have reference to is our past memories and experiences and when we bring them forward in an attempt to piece them together differently in trying to form a new idea and then develop a strategy for getting it because of imagining what we need but don’t have already, we look outside our self and take an attitude of going out and getting it. We try to find it first, and then apprehend it. We focus on and create a reality out of what’s missing, and then create experiences of it.
Even if we do find what matches our idea of what we need, regardless of what we expose ourselves to, it usually ends up mocking the past experiences that we referenced in an attempt to remodel that which originated the feelings of lack and emptiness that we now seek to fill. They simply recreate the same type of experiences that cause us to feel the same way. Because our idea emerged as an expression of absence and past ideas that would “fill” that absence, we simply create more of what leaves us feeling empty and wanting.
When we simply accept our situation just as it is, settle into it and focus our attention on what we have and love and then engage in “doing” that, we naturally create an experience of fulfillment. We open and allow things that will give us that type of “feeling experience” to come into our life. It does this in a seemingly magical way because it takes no effort what-so-ever on our part. Yet part of the significance lies in the fact that whatever “state-of-mind” we inhabit, determines not only what we attract, but more importantly what we are able to see as a result. All we have to do is notice what is already there, turn and begin interacting with it and allow it to emerge as a natural experience that takes on a life of its own. When we do this we realize that it is not a repeated pattern of the past that will create more emptiness . . . . but rather a brand new idea that attracted to us because we created a state of giving our full attention to what we love and what was present with us in the moment. Because of this, it creates immediately in such a way that causes more of the same feelings . . . love and fulfillment.
To accept is to quit resisting. To quit resisting is to divert your attention away from what is missing and onto what is present. When we fail to accept things in our life as they are, we imagine the need to change them. By perceiving this lack and then thinking about filling it with something out there, it causes us to not be present with what is. Our only true creative ability lies in what is present with us in every moment. The feeling that we allow to inhabit us becomes the motivating force that hooked up with the concept of “lack” and creates experiences that express lack. This is a fundamental understanding of the Law: Like begets like. Feelings have whole patterns inherent within them that structure our experiences to create more of the same feeling . . . they are living forces that are “self” generating.
When we feel empty or lonely and we experience a kind of emotional overwhelm that causes desperation to rise up within us. This feeling of desperation becomes the ‘controlling idea”, which is the true creative power that motivates the intention that becomes expressed. Whatever we express, we first create and then experience our own creation. Desperation sets us on a quest than when fulfilled causes more feelings of desperation. When we engage in activities that we love doing and in turn cause us to feel content and stay present (don’t go out looking), we create experiences that cause us to feel love and contentment.
In my own experience, after going through periods of intense loneliness, while knowing better than to go out and try to find or intentionally engage in relationships to satisfy the loneliness, nothing ever seemed to come into my life. I began wondering and imagining all sorts of things, and began contemplating the reality of spending the rest of my life alone. When I did consider a couple of possibilities, I realized that they would have been more of what I experienced in the past that had caused me to feel painfully alone. So I passed on them, instead of engaging. I then fully accepted being alone, and decided to get on with my life and quit thinking about it.
Then, on an ordinary day, in an unexpected moment, I inadvertently ended up in a casual conversation with a man, that slowly began consuming me with a deep interest and feelings of fulfillment. I realized at first, that I loved talking to him, so I not only continued, but began looking forward to it. Within a very short period of time, I felt completely swept off my feet with how I felt inside as we came to know each other. How it happened and with whom it happened would have never even dawned on me had I tried to figure it out and then engaged in the activity of trying to make it happen. At no point in the whole process was ‘trying” involved. Everything about it was spontaneous and natural.
It’s the feeling that we have that motivates our desire that creates the action, which ultimately shapes the lesson by creating an experience that gives us more of that same feeling. We have to pay great attention to what is motivating our desires. We have a tendency to quest after things that are right next to us, waiting to be known. To understand attraction in its fundamental form is to realize that all desire has a multiple range for possible expression all of which exist in our immediate experience. The state that we are in at any given time, determines what we see and how we interpret it. All we really have to do, for the most part, is relax, focus on what we have, what we love doing, engage in doing it, and be willing to not only notice what shows up in our immediate experience, but be willing to turn around and start talking to it. Experiences are only possible through a two way interaction. The spark ignites the fire that warms our heart as it dances softly before us. With adoration and admiration in our heart and mind, we simply behold it and in the next moment we realize . . . we are it.
To truly attract is when we recognize in the feeling state of our environment that not only does like beget like but that we only perceive that which is like us. If we create out of our feelings of love, fulfillment and inner peace, we only notice what warrants those same qualities in others, and by being present with them, they become a shared experience and lead to the engagement of co-creating more of the same feelings. In the ultimate sense . . . all of life emerges as an expression of a feeling state.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c), CCHt., RMT
Editor: Ralph Score, "Media Wizard"
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com

Emotions “The Chemistry of Experience”

We have to always keep in mind that the body is one of the most sophisticated chemistry labs known. This is largely due to the fact that as humans, we experience complex emotions that are not only due to instinctual responses to our environment, but are also largely self-induced through our thinking and how we perceive things to give them meaning.

Because chemicals alter the state of the organism, which greatly influences our thinking, we form habitual thinking patterns that are naturally associated with our emotions. Because of this, we not only become addicted to certain emotions, but then attached the same type of thoughts as a way of interpreting and forming fundamental perceptions that become habitual also. Our dominant emotional state forms our basic attitude. Our attitude shapes our approach. Our approach determines the perspective we take and from what position we look at things. Our predisposition shapes the type of experiences we have into a consistent theme that forms a predominant meaning . . . that says ‘this is the way life is”.

What shapes the experiences we have is not the emotion itself, but the type of thoughts we attach to it that creates a concept of a possible reality that gives it meaning. The meaning becomes the moral of the story that spontaneously emerges as a natural expression. The meaning shapes and produces the experience that expresses it through a story that we first tell ourselves, then we literally call forth by telling others. We first run it through our imagination, composing it as a potential reality which serves to program the subconscious with a live experience, which it then automatically produces as a form of correspondence (like begets like). The experience may not be exactly as we had imagined it, but it will ultimately result in the same idea that will induce the same emotional state.

The reason that we can say that everything that has ever been “created or invented” began in the imagination, is because the imagination is where common elements of an inspired idea are brought together and composed in such a way that they form a believable experience. It is how we first structure then preview potential realities. Once we form a belief around an emotional concept, we have a blueprint, or kind of template for producing it. We create experiences of it, that serves to express it. We move it from the inside as our personal creation, to the outside as a perceivable experience of our self.

Because emotions cause motion, are motivating, they tend to run the system randomly until we learn how to not only create them, but direct them with our thoughts and how we use our body. When we learn how to begin cultivating them intentionally and calling them forth at will, we can begin using them as the powerful expressive tool that they really are. The emotion that we use to communicate not only to our self (internal dialogue), but also in communicating with others, is what determines the reaction we produce which is of a similar nature. Our emotional expression triggers the same emotions in other. Once we understand this, we can learn to use them as powerful creative tools with a sense of intention and purpose.

To learn how to first cultivate then direct our emotions using them intentionally is one of the most valuable skills we can learn. Nothing else will produce as drastic a shift in your own life, as well as your skill in communicating with others, than this alone.


Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c) CCHt., RMT
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com

Attracting Love "The Nature of Dynamic Interactions"

There are many formulas out there for "how to" attract what you want whether it be in love, life, business or money. But the fact of the matter is we attract based on who and what we are. To attract something different we have to become different ourselves.

Who we are is comprised of a "self-concept" that forms our model of the world, the way things are and how we exist in relationship & contrast to it. This model of our self is equivalent to an energetic matrix of archetypal energies that vibrate at certain frequencies that produce qualities as human characteristics. This vibratory pattern is our attractive ability. We attract to us, that which is "like" us, of the same quality vibration. In this, we enter into relationship with those who have "scripts" in our movie. We attract our leading man / lady, who become our co-star and we create a story that serves both people.

The confusion can be around what we mean when we say "like". Like begets like in the sense of opposite polarity in a single force. We attract our opposite of the same dynamic. It's the interaction that stimulates and brings out certain qualities in both people that then form the primary theme of the relationship. Therefore, those who have abandonment issues, attract the perfect partner whose behavior can readily be interpreted to create the illusion of abandonment. Someone who is used to being ignored will attract a mate who behaves in such a way that they feel ignored. We mimic all aspects of dynamic interactive patterns that we were conditioned with as children.

In order for this to change, we have to become aware of our own tendencies, how we interpret certain behavior to tell the same type story "about" ourselves, and consciously chose to tell a different story. We have to engage in actively shifting our identity so that we alter the feeling qualities that we co-create with, and use as a beacon to attract ideal people to us. Our identity is the core out of which all our stories emerge as a form of self-expression. We create reality based on what we believe to be true about our self, others and the world at large.

Just as we have to "become" the change we desire, we have to become the person we desire to attract. In order to have a healthier relationship, we have to be willing to give up our "old stories" and embrace the courage it takes to write a new song! Then we attract to us the ideal mate to co-create a new reality!

Create an "ideal" of yourself (higher version) aspire towards it and consistently embody the qualities to actualize as your highest possibility, and you will attract those who are ideal to facilitate your unfolding. Relationships are the most significant growth tools we have. It is only in relationship that we can come to understand who we are, what our tendencies are, and begin to make conscious choices to become the kind of person we aspire towards.

Remember:

Relationships are always reflecting back to us what we can't see on our own. Like "always" begets like.

We attract to us those of the same quality.

What we see in others are our own qualities that we first project, then recognize, point out and interact with.

Qualities that are NOT of the same nature . . . . we don't even notice, nothing becomes activated inside of us. We fail to even recognize them. We only recognize aspects of ourselves in others as well as in our environment.

All perception is ultimately "self" perception.
To attract it . . . . you have to "BE" it.

Linda Gadbois Ph.D.(c), CCHt., RMT
Professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor and Consultant for Creative Mind Development, Personal Transformations, Conscious Creation and Spiritual Technology.
www.creativetransformations.com
info@creativetransformations.com

Creating Reality: “Creating Desired Outcomes or Manifesting Goals"

In order to create in present, we do not need to go back and rehash the past by trying to figure out how it has caused the present. Nor do we need to endlessly revisit mistakes in an attempt to correct them. All we have to do is form a well-defined idea around what we desire, hold it in our imagination creating it as an actual experience, and then stay focused on it in each moment as we go about our ordinary day. All creative ability exists only in the present moment. Stay in the moment and quit reliving the past or endlessly trying to predict the future. The future is created based on how we are living in the moment. When the conscious mind is “checked out” and endlessly dwelling in time, not present, the subconscious mind runs the whole system. The only function of the subconscious is to maintain existing behavior which it does by repeating past patterns over and over.

It is a waste of time to keep going back into your past in order to find answers as to why you are getting what you’re getting currently. All experience when processed and fully integrated into the system becomes experienced as feelings. All you have to do in any moment is hold what you desire in your mind, then pay full attention to your feelings. If you are feeling good, move in that direction or continue with what you are doing. If it feels bad, stop and reevaluate. Feelings intended to guide us, can also be understood in terms of notions, hunches or impressions.

The question also becomes, how do we accurately identify our feeling states? In order to create a desired outcome or situation, we have to create a “model” of it to use as a pattern that is of a believable nature. This pattern serves to align the conscious thinking mind with the subconscious experiential mind. The way to align both minds is through the creative imagination. When we take a desired idea, hold it in our mind and imagine it as an actual experience, as if we are living it, it not only creates a kind of “map” for living it, but also programs the subconscious mind with an experience of it which makes it believable. All things have to be believable in order to be created. As we create a believable reality around an inspired idea, we create it as a feeling. We feel the experience of it in our bodies as we’re having (imagining) it. This feeling is what allows us to truly identify the associated components of our desired reality as being of a similar nature when we encounter them in our everyday life or simply find ourselves “living them” in the real world. By tuning into how we are feeling at all times, helps us to identify the true nature of things, regardless of outer appearances.

This is what it means when we say that the mind doesn’t know the difference between an actual experience and an imagined one. The creative imagination serves to take a desired experience and through embellishing it with sensory information develops it into a believable and livable reality. This also simultaneously helps you to identify any “conflicting” beliefs that may act as a form of self-sabotage that contradict and cancels out the desired effect. We can only truly imagine what we believe to be possible. All visions, in order to be made real, must be of a believable nature. This is why most processes are best approached in “baby steps” or progressive increments as “small chunks” that evolve us steadily towards a higher and larger idea.

If we further look at the subconscious mind as being connected to the greater mind, or see it as the instinctual mind that is connected to, and apart of all of nature in general, we can gain an understanding of how, by programming the subconscious mind, we are also sending out a request to the instinctual mind which acts to organize things in our environment that ideally serve to fulfill our desired request as a particular “type” of experience. This is the fundamental idea behind the Law of Attraction, or aligning our personal will with the greater will. In doing this, we only attract those of a like nature and create experience as a cooperative effort that serve all involved in accordance with their desires in the most beneficial way possible. By beneficial, I mean most closely aligned to their desires as made possible by the desires of those they are co-creating with. In this way, fulfillment usually comes more as an analogy, living metaphor or in a symbolic way.

So by creating the vision as a living experience thereby setting an intention for it, then tuning into how we are feeling in every moment as we walk through our day, helps us to recognize what has the potential for our desired experience by how we feel when we come into direct contact with it. When it is in our environment, it activates that same feeling inside of us. This is important, because many times the answers to our prayers do not come in the form we have imagined they will, and it is easy to dismiss them or completely overlook them when they are standing right in front of us. By tuning into the feeling we can recognize the essential nature as pure possibility in any given moment. In the ultimate scheme of things . . . it’s all about feelings. It’s the basis out of which everything emerges as a natural correspondence.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c), CCHt., RMT
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com

Motivational leadership

Motivational Leadership

While in one breath we can say that you can’t do anything to motivate another person, in the very next breath we can clearly say that you can certainly act in a way that strongly influences, inspires, excites, encourages and causes people to become invested in a situation in such a way that they will extend a great amount of effort with a joyful attitude. Likewise, we know we can’t change people, but we can definitely influence them. If we have a fair amount of skill, we can influence with great precision and move people in very specific directions by literally ‘giving them’ the correct perception and attitude. Strong leadership skills that are employed simultaneously can serve to move a group of people very distinctly towards a common goal or specific outcome that is performed with a very positive attitude.
One of the best and most effective ways to lead and motivate others is by learning how to identify and work with their natural ‘thinking styles’. You must first realize that everybody doesn’t think like you do. People are typically motivated by their values (what’s important to them), which are often different from yours also. What you find intriguing and compelling may not even be interesting to them. Flexibility and the ability to induce a state of cooperation are of the utmost importance in learning to influence and direct the behaviors of others.
Ways of thinking – thinking styles – are predefined or ‘preprogrammed’ ways of viewing and responding to others and to events going on around us. This is a natural ‘efficient’ function of the mind that serves to ‘streamline’ thinking in everyday situations so it doesn’t have to engage in what can be a lengthy processes of rational thinking. Naturally, the down side to this is that it’s largely habitual and runs ‘old patterns’ over and over, some of which are useful and appropriate . . . and some of which are not.
Thinking styles are a form of filter called ‘meta-programs’ that we all use naturally to form a consistent style that forms continuity in how we look at things in order to understand them or create meaning. Like most things in life, any skill or technique works best and prove immediately effective when we deal people as they are – not what we think they should be, or by imposing our thinking style on them assuming it’s the same. To gain a sense of clarity, let’s look at the basic formula of a meta-program:

Perceptions, thoughts and emotions:
It is very useful to understand the relationship that naturally exists between perceptions, thoughts and emotions. Perceptions are primarily memory based, and are formed by filtering current situations using previous experiences, beliefs, knowledge and values to recreate a present situation in a similar fashion or by using the same type of meaning as context. We then form thoughts of a similar nature. Our perceptions as structured thoughts, then attach to corresponding emotions. If we identify which filters people are using – we can anticipate how we will respond to what they say or do. We can then use our behavior in a specific way to stimulate desired behavior in them through our interaction.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D., CCHt., RMT – Is a professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor Consultant and Counselor. She specializes in Conscious Creation, Creativity, Business Psychology, Behavioral modification, Personal Transformation, Organizational Change, Communication and Leadership skills.
Linda@creativetransformations.com
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com
(303) 816-1460
All articles are subject to copyright and may not be used without written consent by Linda Gadbois

Framing and Re-framing - "Shifting Our Perception"

Framing and Re-framing – “Shifting our Perception”

Framing is basically how we create the context of any given situation or idea that serves to organize not only “how” we look at it, but also what we see as a result, and how we feel about what we see. It usually “orientates” the experience we create with either a positive or negative format. How we look at it determines whether we see hope, possibilities and avenues that cause us to feel good, or whether or not it appears hopeless, scary and causes us to feel bad. Naturally one of the easiest ways of identifying “framing” styles or tendencies is through what we typically refer to as optimism or pessimism.
We typically have a preferred way of looking at things as a general attitude that then determines our approach, which we then simultaneously identify with. How we look at and approach things, first serve to express, then support, reinforce and validate . . . while simultaneously fashioning our identity. Our Identity is the main filter through which all of our self-expression and perceptions emerge naturally as a correspondence. When we walk into any situation, what is our tendency? Do we see the good, or the bad? Do we naturally see what is right and working well? Or do we see what is wrong and needs fixing? A more important question would be, what feeling does each ‘frame-of-mind’ cause or give us?
We don’t want to get caught up in the natural tendency to become side-tracked with endlessly explaining, or attempting to justify our right to be negative, pessimistic or “problem” oriented. All we want to notice is the feeling that we get based on our own perceptions, as well as the feelings we activate in others based on how we present or communicate ideas, recapture events, or by how we interact with and treat them as a result.
Basic human motivation is instinctual (largely unconscious) and subliminal. We do it automatically without direct awareness or a distinct thought process. We naturally move ‘towards’ what feels good, expanding, opening, relaxing and increasing – while moving ‘away’ from what feels bad, avoiding it, pulling back, stopping or becoming idle. What we focus on, give our attention to, feel and think about, we automatically begin developing into detailed scenarios in our imagination that we then run over and over in a compulsive manner. Our behavior stems unconsciously out of our feeling thoughts. We then create experiences that correspond to, or are of the same nature as what we have imagined. The imagination serves to create a concept as a believable reality that gives us a behavioral pattern to act it out and create an experience of it.
A good skill to practice, especially if you are in a position of leading, teaching, inspiring or developing others, is to take any subject and before you approach someone, ask yourself how you can present the idea or interact with them in a way that will produced the desired result. How can you approach what may be fundamentally negative in a positive way that will produce a positive feeling in the person your communicating with? How can you present something in a way that keeps the focus on the solution or what you want them to actually do, without pointing out a mistake or what they did wrong? Take any situation that has a negative feeling, and see if you can change your perspective and “reframe” it, or re-present it in a way that feels positive, or causes them to feel optimistic.

Example:
- Instead of stating, you missed 5 out of a hundred, you say you got 95 correct out of a possible hundred.
- Original statement: 10% of all people in California are unemployed. Reframe: 90% of all the people in California are currently employed!
- If you see an employee doing something wrong: Instead of pointing out and talking about the problem or mistake and then asking who trained them (smile). . . . simply offer to show them how to do it the right way, and see it as an opportunity to build a relationship with them that involves a sense of trust and comradely.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D., CCHt., RMT – Is a professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor Consultant and Counselor. She specializes in Conscious Creation, Creativity, Business Psychology, Behavioral modification, Personal Transformation, Organizational Change, Communication and Leadership skills.
Linda@creativetransformations.com
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com
(303) 816-1460
All articles are subject to copyright and may not be used without written consent by Linda Gadbois

Culture, Values and Beliefs - "Shared Reality"

Cultures, Values and Beliefs - “Shared Reality”

A business model or paradigm serves as the “core Identity” for creating the culture of the business. A basic business model is typically comprised of the vision, mission and values which serve as a form of “map” or blueprint for creating and operating out of. This serves as the core out of which all other operational aspects of the business arise as congruent and natural correspondences. A model provides us with the necessary means to operate with consistency which is what ultimately produces success, not only in the start-up phase, but also in the ongoing operations that ensure success over a period of time. Every aspect of the company design, structure and operational procedures have got to be congruent with the company’s identity. Just as our individual “life story” as day-to-day experiences are a direct expression of our personal identity – a business’s formation and behavior is an expression of a fundamental model that represents a shared reality in which everyone has a clear role and specified function that serves as an inherent aspect of the whole.
A business map only has value if it embodies a shared reality. The encoded language used within the culture of the business either reflects a sense of family and community, or it produces internal conflict and contradiction. Any area where we create contradiction acts to ‘cancel out” and impede progress. This is the “one step forward, two steps backward” scenario that businesses often get caught up in and often don’t know why. Often business managers, leaders and trainers not only fail to represent the company as a shared reality, but often fail to use the word “we” to imply shared objectives. This is very common in private practices that are set-up and operated by the professional practitioner who is also providing the service or product of the business. They fail to separate themselves from the business, and act as if the business and they are the same entity. They operate out of an “I” model which is non-inclusive and serves to create a form of “mutiny”. I can’t tell you how many practices I have been in where the whole staff was “against” the doctor that also own the practice, or the manager who performed out of a personal agenda of their own making.
Practices and businesses which ignore the fact that they are not operating out of a business model that represents a “shared reality” in which all participants play an equally important role in creating and delivering a common goal as a team function often, will never be able to truly achieve the desired outcome, and may never know why. When we act to impose maps on others rather than inform and teach them by using them, we create a culture that is often punitive, autocratic and leaves little room for individuality or new ideas for growing the business. When this happens not only is it difficult to recognize and cultivate individual talent and latent potential, motivation also plummets, and we fail to bond not only clients and customers, but also staff members of our own team. There is no loyalty or sense of pride involved. Employees can seem random, alien, and readily come and go through revolving doors. This is often the greatest expenses a company incurs, and they often fail to even identify it.
While companies without an effective business model may flourish for a while, they will eventually crumble, fall apart or exhaust their primary creator. This reality may not become “terminal” if the management style can be changed in time – by educating existing managers or through major reorganization. These changes, however, must be desired and genuine, or the reorganization will serve to speed the collapse rather than prevent it.
No matter what style or type of culture the company has, it is usually set-up and produced by senior managers or professional partners, and the culture seldom ever changes in a perceivable manner unless there is major upheaval or pronounced change at this level. This is why, if you are a professional practitioner or specialist – it is imperative to create the fundamental model for your business or private practice in a way that remains fully congruent with your personal values and beliefs. If your working life seems unduly stressful or chaotic, the first step in trouble-shooting should be to review your own life “maps” or paradigm in relation to your business or practice’s culture.
Another situation that commonly happens is that there is a gradual shift into a new culture over a period of time where you no longer share the pervading value-set, and conflict begins to set in that disrupts the daily organizational flow. This easily occurs when a practitioner either hires a manager who is not aligned with their vision, mission and values of the practice (because they lack managerial skill in selecting staff that are most appropriate), or they hire key staff members who lack leadership ability and set-up unconscious and incongruent cultures of their own that begin dominating the daily operations.
Alternately, the actual day-to-day operations may be in conflict with, or at odds with the declared mission and vision and either no one recognizes it until it is too late, or if they do, they don’t have the skill or knowledge to effectively change it. Often, however, just recognizing the mismatch can be enough to ease the stress, but if an effective resolution can not be determined and implemented, it can cause great frustration. Once problems are recognized solutions must be sought after in an expedient manner that will provide the training and reorganizing strategy necessary to actually produce the desired result or outcome. This requires not only a fundamental understanding of the creative process, but a high degree of skill in execution. Behavioral modification in a business, much like in an individual has to take place at the identity level. Once a business is established and has formed its basic habitual behavior, this can be very challenging and requires the utmost skill to perform effectively. If you do not have the resources and skill necessary, a professional whose expertise lies in this area will be necessary.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D., CCHt., RMT – Is a professional Educator, Trainer, Mentor Consultant and Counselor. She specializes in Conscious Creation, Creativity, Business Psychology, Behavioral modification, Personal Transformation, Organizational Change, Communication and Leadership skills.
Linda@creativetransformations.com
www.creativetransformations.com
www.lindagadbois.com
(303) 816-1460
All articles are subject to copyright and may not be used without written consent by Linda Gadbois

The Essence of Expression

The Essence of Expression

"All great discoveries are made by those whose feelings run ahead of their thinking." CH Parkhurst

Expression, like various forms of creativity can be used positively- to uplift, instruct, inspire, bring beauty into the world- or negatively - to belittle, demoralize, tear down and even destroy. Expression takes many forms whether it's the spoken language, body language, a sermon, acting out in a state of emotional drama, any time an individual is active, or doing something, they are "expressing" themselves.
Humans express themselves every moment, through every feeling, thought, word, or the attitude they walk through life with, with the metaphors they use, what they reference as examples, the story they tell about things, about themselves . . every form of "action" is creative. Bringing an internal state into an external reality of some sort. All we are capable of doing is projecting our "self" onto our environment. Every thought, meaning, and perception is experience "through us" as us. Our models serve as filters used to perceive the world as something specific.
This day and age, the "age of communication" we have lost the art of "performing ideas" - transmitting information by developing skill at expressing it. Yet, it is the emotional quality of the information that provokes action, that motivates us to do something, to act based on the "feeling quality" of the information we have been given. This is the true art of "inspiring" people. To inspire is to take a standard goal or desired outcome, and perform it in a way that engages people emotionally in personally identifying with the goal in a way that compels them towards it, creating a desire in them to "do" something to make it come true. To act in a fashion that supports and creates a physical reality motivated by the "feeling quality" of the idea as it was communicated. We all seek to be apart of something that is greater than ourselves. The greater the emotional quality of the expression, the more clearly we relate to being apart of what's being expressed. If, by relating to it, I feel . . . "courageous, powerful, able to serve, compassionate, caring, sexy, valuable" etc. - whatever the feeling, if it feels good, it will attract people who have that "desire" inside of them that is being provoked into reality by the emotional quality of my communication- which creates a path for expression. All great artist, communicators and leaders understand this.
To be a great artist, a great leader, you must stir people's desire, touch them inside with emotions that compel them into action. Not because they should or it's the right thing to do . . . but because they must! Creating and transferring emotion, creates a powerful desire to do something as a result of your performance. By activating the right "state of mind" you can not only influence people towards a common goal, but bring out peoples magnificence in the process. When people feel moved by something, usually the best part of them, the part that is passionate comes forth and becomes more apparent. This passionate "presence" is what performs the action. When people act out of passion, they own and harness their personal power to self actualize. When you have the ability to trigger this response in people intentionally you literally bring out the genius in common people, at will. What you see in them, they see in themselves. What we reflect we are projecting. When we become invested in the fun of exercising our power to bring out the best in other people, we simultaneously experience the best in ourselves. To empower others, is to experience yourself as powerful. In order to express it, you have to have it.
To bring beauty into the world by expressing it, is to become a conduit for attracting it, a channel through which beauty can flow. Focusing your mind on drawing beauty to you, filling yourself up with it to the point of exploding into existence - you become the living, breathing expression of beauty. Your cup runneth over. It becomes your experience, your common every day reality! You are, by virtue of your nature . . . beautiful.
Commit to expressing it (purpose) and you will attract it (identity) when you receive it, you will have it to give (path) . . . . thus you will "become" the living embodiment of that which you are! :) :0
Feel it . . . . Think it . . . say it . . . . make it real!

Do it NOW!!
Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c) CHT, RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
linda@creativetransformations.com

Creative Energy

Creative Energy as Divine Power – “The Drama of Opposites”

“God created man in Its image, and with Its likeness”

The Creative Imagination has the natural ability to take an inspired idea, which usually comes as a feeling or notion, and serves as a channel for that energy to come into the world as a personal expression. The imagination creates a conceptual model out of a vague impression that can be expressed, lived or acted out to produce something real and valuable outside of us. Subtle energy as living forces forms a series of correspondences that expresses as a physical reality of a similar nature. Creative Life force orders, organizes and structures matter as a living composition that we “experience” as reality. The finished product, like a painting, is a congruent expression of the identity and mood that births it.
All of our personal experiences are created in our own image (through our imagination) and are of the same nature. What we perceive outside of us in our environment, is a reflection of our self. We see our self in everything we perceive. Our only method of perception is through our “model” or habituated style for interpreting neutral events to form a common theme that supports and simultaneously creates our “sense of our self” as a specific type of person by causing us to feel a certain way. All of our stories emerge as an expression or spontaneous correspondence of our identity.
Many people feel powerful so infrequently that when they do they try to hold on to it, possess it. But energy in all forms intensifies and gains power through flowing and gaining a form of momentum. By holding on, we stop the flow which closes the pathway. It doesn’t go out, but nothing comes in either. It stagnates and withers. We can only hold to power by becoming a channel that consistently discharges it . . . . by expressing it. We become the means through which spiritual power works in the world. God as Life Force, living power can only work through us. We are the conscious, thinking connecting element. Just like electricity must be harnessed, channeled and connected or attached to a fixed object in order to be useful and of value, Divine Power which is present all around us, needs to have a channel through which to flow, by becoming focused into a limited idea. Until then, it only exists in its potential state (unformed) and has no intrinsic value.
When power is only stirred or increased within us due to being a spectator of some external event, we find that when the event ends that triggered the excitement, the energy diminishes with it, resuming its latent state. But artists, teachers and scientist find that the power increases and intensifies over the course of a lifetime the more they discharge it into physical reality. In this sense, all knowledge and power that is obtained only for personal use and not given or put at the service of others and channeled into the world, diminishes, subsides and becomes lifeless.
Occult sciences are revolutionary because they teach the ability for direct salvation, in this life time, currently, through your own efforts. But this ability requires not only secret knowledge, but the commitment and discipline to practice. We were led to believe that Magicians, Wizards and Shamans had to make strange deals that involved selling their “souls” to the devil in order to gain extraordinary personal power. No one seemed to notice that the devil is a Christian God, and does not exist in a meaningful manner in other spiritual traditions. This image was partially conjured up from the Magicians who went underground and practiced in private which only served to pique the imagination of curious onlookers who whispered of secret societies, but also from the Church who saw the Magicians as competitors who dealt directly with the spirit without going through the priesthood. In order to eliminate the competition they created stories that justified their right to murder them. Occult practices, like Wicca, do not have a concept of the devil. They simply view the polarity of all electro-magnetic forces which exist in opposition while interacting in a complimentary fashion. In most spiritual traditions, God is viewed as “all of nature” and pure consciousness that is living intelligent (expresses through dynamic patterns).
In order to perceive God as having qualities and characteristic, we had to first form an image (concept) of God, then one of Its opposite. Because Spiritual forces shape and create what we call human characteristics, we created an image of God in our image and with our likeness. These humanistic characteristic are represented by what we have come to call Archetypes. Archetypes can be viewed as qualities that produce natural tendencies that lend themselves to specific “roles” that have inherent stories or themes in them that express through a specific genre. Because of this, we tend to form an idea of God, as being human that is the embodiment of love, kindness and compassion. Her opposite, the devil is viewed as being mostly animal like, aggressive and primal. Because God originated as dominantly Feminine, we tend to see God as passive, while the Satan is active. Because of this tendency, unfortunately, we often view the Devil as having more power in the physical world than God does. We even create mythologies that we are born basically bad, and have a lifetime to struggle in an attempt to become good. Drama . . . after all, is necessary for an interesting storyline that engages us through intense emotions that keeps us guessing as to the ultimate outcome.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c) CCHt., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
Linda@creativetransformations.com

How to See Something Different - "Cultivating the Quality of Attention"

How to See Something Different - “Cultivating your Quality of Attention”

What we see or how we see it is based on the state-of-mind or the quality of attention that we use as a means of perceiving. Whatever quality (feeling) I use (state) activates and brings to the surface those same qualities in whatever object I observe. The Law of Resonance demonstrates that whatever living force is active within me, serves to activate that same force in whatever I come into contact with. By “contact” I mean “near proximity” to. If I walk into a room or come within several feet of some other living being, subliminally I will activate the same qualities in them, detect them and move towards them. This is the primary form of “Attraction” that can also be thought of as the "Law of Resonance".
We are always influencing and manipulating other living forces around us, it is only a question of whether or not we do it consciously, with a sense of awareness and intent, or if we do it unconsciously, haphazardly and with no sense of responsibility. Energy is always interacting with other forms of energy. Because it is Subtle, we sense it and our conscious mind is influenced by it, but we never create awareness around it.
When we embody different qualities, we see those potential qualities in everything that we look at. If I have a feeling of dislike and I look at someone, all I seem to notice is what it is about them that I don’t like. I then serve to stimulate those qualities in them by how I look at and treat them, bringing them to the surface where I then interact with them. As I interact with those qualities, I reinforce the same ones in me and I become “like” them. On the other hand, if I cultivate feelings of admiration and respect, then the qualities that warrant admiration and respect is what I see in others. This again, stimulates those qualities bringing them to the surface which arouses them in me at the same time, and I interact with them, strengthening them in both of us simultaneously.
This is how we have a natural influence on others and bring out certain aspects of their potential to be expressed and therefore strengthened. The same qualities that I first embody and use to perceive the world, I activate, interact with and act on those traits within myself. I first project aspects of myself onto others, and then by acting on them, I become them. The more we bring certain qualities into expression the more we identify with those qualities. What we identify with, defines us. It serves to shape our character. We become those qualities, become proficient at expressing ourselves through them and they become familiar, comfortable and automatic. They become a natural part of us.
The best way to see something different is to first exercise your power of choice and select the mood you want to create as a lens to view the world. Use your will to discipline your wandering mind to fulfill an intended state, and then walk through the day creating and expressing a higher version of yourself while simultaneously activating it in everyone around you. This is one of the most fundamental forms of intentional self development. We decide what traits and characteristics we want to strengthen and actualize within us, we then cultivate those intentionally, perceive and project them, arouse them in others, which arouses them in us by creating a dynamic interaction as a thematic reality, and we experience ourselves as those qualities . . . . as “Being” admirable, adorable, compassionate, loving, etc.

Linda Gadbois , Ph.D.(c) CCHT., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
linda@creativetransformations.com

The Nature of Beliefs

The Nature of Beliefs

We tend to have trouble really understanding what beliefs are and how they operate because we have a concept of beliefs as being singular or free-standing, when in fact they are dynamic and form unified themes that play out as tendencies that become expressed as full living scenario’s. Beliefs exist as a system that is not only supportive but completely interdependent.
Beliefs can be thought of as “creative forces” that form as subtle energy which exists in the natural orientation of being causal. They are dynamic patterns that are interwoven subliminally throughout the spiritual system (Soul) that forms a series of correspondences that work as a form of interpretation as an interaction of the conscious and unconscious mind in a form of dialoguing.
Karma can be thought of as beliefs (vibratory frequencies that we perceive as feelings) that exist as conscious intelligence that forms natural patterns through pre-disposition and tendencies. Tendencies act as principles that produce a common theme no matter what conditions or set of circumstances it expresses through. Feelings are to the Soul what food is to the body. Feelings have “wave-like” dynamic patterns that structure and order the “physical elements” to create subjective reality. Theses inherent patterns come into expression through a kind of “stop-down” process that shapes our interpretations that form our personal experiences that we then call “reality”. Beliefs are perceived as truth or fact and serve as the foundation for all perceptions.
Beliefs are “causal” because they initiate an entire dynamic process that determine both our conscious and unconscious intention, that shapes the quality of our attention, which shapes our interpretation which creates meaning and gives us a conceptual understanding which motivates and determines our behavior. Our behavior as an external expression, elicits responses (affects) of a corresponding nature. It stimulates qualities in others that are of the same type. Through this process, conscious intelligence (patterns) come into expression as a perceivable movie that we then identify with which simultaneously shapes our character and sense of self as the star in our own movie. We are simultaneously the writer, director/producer and main star in our own productions or thematic life experiences that form continuity through time and give us a well-defined sense of ourselves in relationship to others and the world in general. We create our self as something specific.
There is no such thing as “a” belief. There is only a point in the dynamic process where we are able to momentarily identify and recognize what stands out as a clear illusion. We gain a glimpse of a false interpretation of a common reality that serves as a reference point for perceiving other coherent illusions that spontaneously emerge out of it as a natural by-product. Because we can grasp it, we “point at it” and say “there it is, a limiting belief.” We then say we have identified a belief.
In this sense we are never able to technically speaking “change a belief”. What we can do, is use that reference point in the system to introduce a change that will serve to modify or transform the entire system. This performs a kind of “program upgrade” or participatory progression. In systems thinking, we know that there are key points within any system, that if altered will have the greatest impact on the whole system. Other points, when modified, do not serve to modify the system but are instead readily modified back into the original pattern through the system. The beliefs that we can pinpoint, that when altered have the greatest impact are what we traditionally refer to as core beliefs, or beliefs that first act to shape and then create a pathway of expression for our identity. Beliefs serve as a system of dynamic patterns that are interactive and interdependent; those then create concepts of possibilities for self-expression whose end product is consistent behavior. All behavior is an expression of the beliefs that motivate it. We behave “as if” are beliefs are real.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D (c)). CCHt., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
Linda@creativetransformations.com

Soul Mood - "Cultivating Your State of Mind"

Soul Mood – “Cultivating Your State of Mind”

All of our fundamental perceptions flow spontaneously as an expression of our state-of-mind. Whatever mood we are in, becomes how we color experiences and interpret neutral information to give it meaning. The meaning we give things serves as an expression of the mood that births it. How we ‘feel” at any given moment, is a reflection of our state-of-mind out of which congruent thoughts, emotions and behavior naturally form. Our state-of-mind is our fundamental creative orientation. It determines what direction our creative process takes. Out of it – everything naturally flows as a natural and spontaneous expression of a “like” nature.
This is very easy to understand, because if I’m in a happy mood, I only notice things in my environment that support feelings of happiness, I form thoughts as internal representations of happiness, interpret everything in a way that causes it mean “happiness”, embody the emotion associate with happy, and behave “as if” I’m happy. Our Spirit, mind, emotions and body are always congruent and naturally express the same feeling idea.
Whatever quality we embody and bring into expression, stimulates that same quality in others. Energy activates like energy through resonance. We project the mood onto others, then perceive it in them as them. So a happy, enthusiastic person, not only sees in any situation what represents or exists as an “association” that produces feelings of enthusiasm, but causes others to feel and embody the same “feeling state”. This is very evident by simply noticing the effect a positive person has on the environment just by walking into the room. Everyone in the room immediately feels better and focus on thoughts and emotions that cause them to naturally have a brighter outlook. When we feel good, life is good. All we seem to notice is good things, the good in others, we tell good stories and make others feel good as a result.
So the most fundamental skill we can learn, the starting point in any process, is learning how to intentionally create the desired state-of-mind that will be most appropriate for whatever it is we are preparing to engage in. The proper state of mind forms the proper orientation out of which congruent perceptions and performance naturally emerge. Usually a poor performance, or destructive behavior stems out of walking into a situation in the wrong mood for what you are intending to do.
When we cultivate the proper state-of-mind, a natural series of correspondences as experience spontaneously emerge and flow without effort. This is the true meaning of the path of least resistance, or consciously willing reality “effortlessly” through atonement or alignment. If we do not understand how to first create the proper mental atmosphere that supports the desired eco-system that nourishes natural growth and supports life, and we start off with the wrong mood, then everything feels like hard work. We have really “try” and push hard to make things happen. When we try to grow things in the wrong environment, it takes a lot of work and extra attention.
Our state = what our mind looks for, what we see, abstract, and the quality of meaning we give things that becomes the basis for the story we tell that creates our experience “of” that same quality as a living reality. This is why we talk a lot about cultivating an attitude of gratitude. When we feel grateful, all we see is what we appreciate and feel thankful for. When we create a feeling of deep reverence within our hearts, we see love and a deep abiding respect everywhere and in everything. Our experience is of love, and being love. State is an internal experience which forms our external experience. The saying “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – is really saying that whatever you do to another, you must first do to yourself. All thoughts, feelings and behavior are created internally, before they can be projected onto others and used to perceive them as having the same qualities. The same perception that you use to perceive others is simultaneously creating your self-perception. To “hate” you first create the feelings of hatred inside, then project those feelings out onto someone else, perceive it in them as them, and experience yourself as hateful. The same criteria we use to judge or experience others, simultaneously creates an internal experience of the same nature. Our internal experience is our sense of self that we then identify with. It literally forms who we are and is within our control at all times. We are in fact always self creating and expressing. Our state-of-mind is how we see ourselves in everything we look at. All perception is ultimately and intimately “self-perception”.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D (c)). CCHt., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
Linda@creativetransformations.com

The Significance of a Model

The significance of a "Model" (system of beliefs)

Time and time again I see Coaches and Consultants who offer their services almost like an elaborate goal setting session - or ongoing session - who walk-in and give people ready made advice or a pre-designed program that offers the solution to their current problem. Yet as many of you have experienced even if you get off to a good start in an attempt to implement the program, it usually doesn't take long for you to relapse, or for the program to fizzle. This is because you are in the situation you're in, your life is the way it is, because of the models you are working out of. You have to have a paradigm that supports and represents the desired change- the type of situation, circumstances or conditions your are striving for - or you will never be able to create or maintain it.
In order to create something different than what you have currently created - you have to start with the model called your identity - then move out into your model of the world. You must redesign your beliefs your habitual emotions - repetitive attitude and behavioral patterns - how you "see" things in order to create a new vision. Referencing failure in an attempt to produce success does not work. You will simply turn that "goal" which on the surface represents success, into a perfect reflection of the model you reference and associate it with, which creates the state of mind, gives meaning (feeling quality) to your goal, out of which you will perform. An impoverished model will consistently produce poverty.
Goal-setting, as it is commonly called is more like designing dreams - it involves an elaborate, interactive system of beliefs to pull it off. The true essence of "modeling" is if you don't currently have a successful model to reference, to imitate, if you currently do not know how to do what you want to do, find someone who has, study them, create a model out of their strategy, use that model as a reference to associate with your current situation and use it for measuring, comparing and give it a similar meaning, which will create possible paths for success.
We have to realize and appreciate the power of the spoken word, realize the importance of the language you use. How you talk about yourself, your feelings, your situation, your outlook, how you talk to others, the attitude out of which you communicate, not only perfectly expresses your "true models" but it literally calls forth that model into a living, observable, breathing reality. "It became flesh, and walked amongst us."
As human Beings we are gifted with the natural ability through the use of our mind to "create reality." We create out of our beliefs "about" things. These beliefs exist in relationship to each other and form belief systems. These systems perfectly support, justify and validate each other - producing a reality that can not only exist like it's own eco-system, but also attracts to it people of a like mind, who will interact appropriately to co-create that reality. It then appears so real to us, we use it as evidence to convince ourselves and others that it is real - true and factual. We then feel as though we are subject to our own creations - we do not perceive our selves as having any real control or power over our situation.
Models are templates, blueprints for creation - we create using them perfectly, consistently and repetitively forming patterns which become our "life story". We were not born into sin, God did not make a mistake, we are masters of creation, and perfectly create realities out of our beliefs. This is the incredible power of your mind.
In order to produce change in your life, in your relationships, in your circumstances, you MUST do the work it takes to re-design the person whose model is creating it - YOU! You cannot re-design the organization without first redesigning the people creating it. Any attempts to produce change that does not involve identity, beliefs and paradigms will not result in success. If you are able to briefly encounter a form of success - perhaps because someone else, such as a consultant has enough control or frequency to create out of their model - you will not be able to maintain it.
The power of Leadership within an organization is someone who has a superior model to operate out of (one that references success as a means of representing the goals and identity of the organization) and can communicate that model in such a way that it literally "teaches" that model to the people who will be in charge of actually producing it. They do so by creating a compelling future and inspire people towards it. In order to actually do this they must have their model so intact that they consistently act out of it at all times and use it as a filter for decision making and monitoring the progress or direction of the organizational flow. This is the only way that their influence, repetitive suggestion and emotional expression consistently move people in a common direction without creating contradiction.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D.(c) CHT, RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
Linda@creativetransformations.com

Self-Sabotage - "Dancing with our Shadow"

Self-Sabotage – “Dancing with our Shadow”

Self-sabotaging behavior is when we have a tendency to be our own worst enemy, or produce behavior that is contradictory to what we “say” we really want. Sabotaging behavior is usually the result of unconscious beliefs, imprints or “patterning” that is operating subliminally in our lives because we have failed to recognize them consciously. This usually comes as a result of the fact that they exist in contradiction to our conscious awareness and perceptual style of thinking and how we tend to make up reality. They are usually beliefs that contradict our internal motivation in some way, or what we believe is possible for us to create that counteracts a conscious desire.
Even though we have no direct awareness of subconscious beliefs, we can learn to recognize them through the stories that we tell about things. Our stories are always consistent in expressing our identity and personality. Our personality is created primarily at the subconscious level during our formative years, and our identity emerges as a conscious process that forms congruence with our personality. They are virtually different aspects or levels of expression of the same thing – the soul. We have aspects to our personality that governs our natural behavior that are predominately subconscious. We can have conscious thoughts that completely contradict subconscious beliefs through various forms of denial, projection, deflection and repression. They continue operating in our life however, outside of our conscious awareness, and often in very inappropriate and self-destructive ways.
Subconscious beliefs do not create through actual thought processes, but rather more subliminally as tendencies and preferences that form natural selection. We simply find ourselves moving into them (behavioral patterns) or doing them without realizing it. By directing or commanding our awareness we can begin identifying what we are doing by symbolically interpreting our experiences. Experiences are created by the story we tell ourselves about them. By exploring our own stories, we can enter into subconscious exploration and see the significance of subliminal themes and patterns. Once we bring them into conscious awareness we can begin identifying how we have integrated them into all areas of our life through a highly complex matrix of corresponding beliefs (system) and supporting perceptions that serve to validate them. We literally “see” the world in a way that makes our beliefs “true” and factual. We create realities out of our beliefs and find ourselves gravitating towards certain tendencies that form consistent experiences.
Many beliefs exist as a form of memory. The experience we had when we formed the belief becomes the “organizing principle” for the reenactment of that belief in various life circumstances. Because of this, I can produce the perceptions and behavior to consistently create a particular “type” of failure in the midst of rich opportunities. The “feeling” of a belief is it’s most prominent and revealing factor. Beliefs are feelings that have particular type of realities or experiences associated with them. I have a feeling, and my mind will search my memory to find a corresponding experienced where I had the same feeling, bring it to the forefront and create an experience with a similar meaning in the present circumstances. The most immediate way to identify an unconscious belief is by becoming very in-tuned to how you experience feelings in your body (subconscious).
Sabotaging behavior comes most readily when I have a conflicting belief to a desired idea or outcome. Anytime that the conscious and unconscious are in conflict, the unconscious nearly always wins. Our only true power comes through awareness. The conscious mind through it’s ability to choose and discipline itself to act out a new idea or pattern until it becomes natural, can direct and give instruction to the subconscious, but only if what is unconscious becomes conscious. We can only change what we can “see” and can recognize when we are about to do it, or in the process of doing it. Awareness has to be “present”. We can only change what we are doing in the moment we are doing it. All change is a form of choice. All choice exists in the moment when we recognize it and are able to actually decide. It then requires the “will” to act it out against natural tendencies that do no support it. When this happens we are stepping into the unknown and untried and truly become a creator in our own life.
The easiest way to tune into what is happening at any given moment in our lives at the subconscious level is by becoming very aware of how we are feeling, regardless of what we are thinking. Feelings are body oriented and intuitive by nature. They are “experienced” directly. The conceptual “thinking” mind is the one that creates illusions by telling stories about things that interpret neutral facts into personal meaning. The subconscious works via direct experience. We know without knowing how we know. Our feelings never lie because they simply warrant our awareness without a thought process or a story involved. Whenever the conscious mind checks out, or becomes distracted with thinking, the unconscious mind runs the system and determines what we do. We can be thinking about one thing, while doing something else entirely. When left unchecked, the subconscious is running our behavior while the conscious mind is busy trying to “figure stuff out” or make things up. So when we have a subconscious believe that contradicts a conscious belief, we automatically act out the subconscious one without even recognizing what we are doing, then imagine it is being done “to” us..

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D(c)) CCHt., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
Linda@creativetransformations.com

Ideals - "A Model of excellence"

Ideals – “A Model of Excellence”
“Creating the ideal you”

An ideal serves as a model of your highest potential that is used for a template and standard of measure for all planning, creative strategies and basic decision making. An ideal provides you with a strategic model for self-exploration, growth and expansion. An ideal is a pattern of excellence that is developed by giving our full attention to maximizing our virtues, strengths and talents by creating a “self-concept” through which they can be actualized. When we aspire towards an ideal it gives us the means for growth, improvement and soul expansion. It becomes the reason for everything that we do.
An ideal is a practical standard of excellence that contains within it our purpose and path for exploring our mind to discover our reason and purpose for living. Our ideal is the influence of our Higher Mind which serves as the organizing principle of our life and directs our ability to self-create through select and personal expression. It is a standard by which we evaluate things to determine what is truly important and why. We use ideals to evaluate all circumstances, behavior, decisions and goals by first comparing and contrasting, then by attempting to align them with our ideals forming continuity and integrity.
Our Ideal serves as the central motivating force of our life. It is the motivating force behind as well as in the forefront of our behavior and desire to act in any given moment. It is a principle that we use to formulate strategies or processes to then apply or use by utilizing whatever is available to us in any given set of circumstances. Like a principle, it produces a consistent theme through congruent behavior that acts to express our “ideal self” through an ongoing story.
We create ideals by maximizing our virtues and talents while minimizing our faults. It is a perception of us as perfect, or as the embodiment of our highest self at any given moment. What we focus on, hold in our mind and give our attention to, we grow. We build it by developing it with thoughts of a congruent nature that act to create a conceptual pathway or blueprint for expression. When we hold our highest ideals in mind consistently, we spontaneously bring them into constant expression by creating behavior that acts them out giving us a particular type of experience of ourselves in relationship to everything else. My ideals represent my good that I use naturally to walk towards my goals firmly and with bold precise steps. An ideal is like a rudder on a ship that functions to keep it on course for the duration of it journey between shores.
An ideal acts as a principle by creating a model or template that represents what and who we aspire to be like. It embodies our primary intent and all-pervading desire for self-actualizing in a way that optimizes our soul’s evolution towards healing. It is a tool that forms a natural series of correspondences that allow us to explore our own mind and inner depths bringing what is subtle and impressionistic to the surface to be recognized consciously. Our ideal exists within us as our soul’s capacity for expression of our highest potential. Even when it is not brought into conscious awareness it pervades our life subconsciously through subtleties, temperament, tendencies, and natural preferences. Once these become conscious and shaped into a conceptual model using the imagination, the 3-minds (trinity); Super-conscious, subconscious and conscious, can be aligned in purpose, path and destiny. When this happens creation becomes greatly accelerated. We create a form of “worm-hole” in the fabric of space-time.
When our model for creation is clear, precise and well-defined, we can literally warp the space/time continuum and greatly reduce the amount of time required for energy to express as matter. We can manifest our higher self instantaneously and without effort. The key to conscious creation in which we actively participate, is through unification, atonement, or an alignment of our mind in all three of it’s aspects. When our three minds become aligned, our four corresponding bodies; spiritual, mental, emotional and physical, creates an ideal ecology for manifesting perfection as a “flowing” motion. When ideals exist in a conflicting state, like anything else they serve to contradict and cancel each other out. One step forward . . . two steps backwards. When we have a clear idea of our higher self, or personal ideal, we can consciously create an integrated image that will form a unified idea that will embody all ideals into a singular expression.
The rules for creating an ideal vary for each person. All creativity is individual, unique and appropriate to it’s specific application. An ideal has to be something that you can actually “live”. Do. It requires effort and a certain amount of work on your part. Choice and will must be practiced through self discipline and a form of devotion to higher values and standards that will automatically induce a superior way of living. An ideal serves as a principle or model for the way we wish to be. It allows us to consciously participate in our own growth and development by imposing a direction on our life through alignment with our “God-mind” or greater Will.
An ideal should not be confused with a goal. Goals are set as a means of actualizing an ideal. An ideal is the ‘reason” for the goal. A goal breaks out into task oriented steps what action is necessary to bring the ideal into fruition. Our ideal is how we determine what is important to us, and sets further ideas for how to achieve them. A goal gives us a step-by-step method for steadily creating and bringing into full expression our highest possible version of ourselves. All conscious creation requires a well defined model, prototype or vision in order to create a physical representation of the same nature outside of us. Without a conscious recognition, we are simply prone to our subconscious habitual behavior which though slow, will still move us in a forward motion of some sort, although with impeded progress. To become conscious allows us to participate in the development of our own life. To create a well defined model, greatly speeds up and facilitates the healing of our soul whose central source of movement is through the “formation” principle which always seeks to become more complex, whole and expansive. Our natural tendency as human beings is to move steadily towards wholeness and perfection by becoming more “God-like” through expressing our Divine nature within our daily lives in a routine manner.

Linda Gadbois, Ph.D(c) CCHt., RMT
http://www.creativetransformations.com
linda@creativetransformations.com