by Charles McAlpine | Aug 28, 2016 | Blog
I am teetering between absolute hope and uncomfortable doubt. The vacillating between these two emotional perspectives sometimes leaves me perched somewhere in the middle. A place of almost no movement. A neutral zone where both possibilities exist and hold sway when given attention or weight. I read a short message from someone who has been a promoter of the awakening spiritual journey for some time now. Suddenly they are questioning everything. They feel betrayed by their beliefs in the ongoing journey of mankind to something more harmonious than what we have been able to muster in the last few thousand years. They doubt whether it is possible for us to save ourselves before the complete destruction of sustainable life (for humans!) on this planet. They are questioning their faith in their spirituality and their guiding principles. It is all up for grabs for them. Their message puts my own doubts on the loudspeaker. Their message resonates with the part of me that does not trust our ability to shift from war, greed, anger and despair to co-creation, co-existence, compassion and care. The journey between these two polarities seems so far apart. When I allow this aspect of myself to hold my attention, there is plenty of fodder in our news cycles to confirm our spiral downwards and commitment to violence and destruction. Still.., there is another part of me that believes we are at a crucial turning point. A tipping point that represents the final stage of our need for separation. Where we realize that our true differences has little to do with the color of our skin, gender,...
by Charles McAlpine | Oct 25, 2015 | Blog
Decisions, decisions, decisions! I guess no matter where we find ourselves on this journey through life; we are constantly presented with options. A variety of directions. Multiple choices! This is where a crystal ball that predicts the future would really come in handy! You see, there is change coming my way. I feel it and sense it. I know that something is stirring and wants to be revealed. Probably in many areas of my life, but right now, I am think about my business. I know we are moving into or towards something new. There are choices to be made. Options to choose between. Possible new futures. As I ponder these and try to decide what feels right. I realize I want some guarantee! I want to know that of the things I am considering; I will know which of them is “right”! Yet I also know.., this is not how it works! In some ways – there is no wrong choice. The end results may not look as I expect or assume it will. But even that is an opportunity to learn and grow. So it becomes (for me!) a guessing game! If I do ‘this’.., will X happen? If I choose ‘that’.., will Y be next? And, what if there is another option I am not even considering? You can see how these mind games get started! I get all caught up in weighing the possibilities and start to panic! I want to know the impact or results of any of these decisions before they are even made. I want to know I will be successful. I...
by Charles McAlpine | Apr 5, 2015 | Blog
Have you ever felt like you were a fish hooked and fighting for your life? It sounds dramatic, but when you are caught up in the struggle and drama of someone else’s narrative and you are fighting for your own perspective; that is how it feels! This is not my normal way of operating or even the kind of situation I have a lot of experience with… Yet, right now, I have several of them going on all at the same time! So I know it is cosmic or an important opportunity for something new to emerge. Right now, ALL of the situations I am thinking of have to do with money. Investments going south. Situations changing without any input from me or some of the other people involved. Someone else working hard to have things their way, at my expense. It kinda sucks! When we first encounter these disruptions in our world, they feel isolated. Each one is approached, evaluated and addressed as if it is unique. At least that is how it is for me. I become aware that something is happening, I feel threatened, I start to resist and look at how to keep things the way they were before I got hooked. But the more I resist, the deeper the hook goes! Now I am in a fight for my life. Or at least, that is how it feels while I am trying to tug my way to freedom. Then another (similar) situation is added to the mix and it feels overwhelming. My logical mind attempts to figure it out. I spend a lot of...
by Paul (Site Admin) | Sep 21, 2014 | Blog
I have been contemplating personal authority this week. It seems to me that a major part of becoming more self-aware, includes taking back authority for our own lives. It is not uncommon to discuss the need to feel a sense of responsibility for what we create in our lives. Yet, there is little direct conversation about our authority. Or maybe there is, and I am just not exposed to it. Here are my thoughts on this. When we are young, we are dependent upon our parents. We are not equipped to make choices for ourselves. We lack the experience to navigate the world around us, and so they instruct, guide, discipline and teach us what we need to know to be safe. Siblings, babysitters, other parents also play a role. Teachers, religious and spiritual leaders, schools and churches.., even social groups and sport teams begin to shape and inform us. As we get older and more independent, we seek counsel from doctors, lawyers, accountants, technologists, therapists, and many others in specialized fields. We start to engaged in politics, current and social events. Media plays a huge role in our lives, from advertisements, programs, reality televisions, pop-up promotions, social media and the news. We rely on ALL of these to help us navigate this thing called life. Some of it feels right. Some makes us uncomfortable. Some, is simply part of the noise. AND, on top of that we are all unique. So no two people have the exact same experiences, influences and circumstances. Even twin siblings who appear to be exposed to exactly the same thing. We may be...
by Charles McAlpine | Sep 21, 2014 | Blog
I have been contemplating personal authority this week. It seems to me that a major part of becoming more self-aware, includes taking back authority for our own lives. It is not uncommon to discuss the need to feel a sense of responsibility for what we create in our lives. Yet, there is little direct conversation about our authority. Or maybe there is, and I am just not exposed to it. Here are my thoughts on this. When we are young, we are dependent upon our parents. We are not equipped to make choices for ourselves. We lack the experience to navigate the world around us, and so they instruct, guide, discipline and teach us what we need to know to be safe. Siblings, babysitters, other parents also play a role. Teachers, religious and spiritual leaders, schools and churches.., even social groups and sport teams begin to shape and inform us. As we get older and more independent, we seek counsel from doctors, lawyers, accountants, technologists, therapists, and many others in specialized fields. We start to engaged in politics, current and social events. Media plays a huge role in our lives, from advertisements, programs, reality televisions, pop-up promotions, social media and the news. We rely on ALL of these to help us navigate this thing called life. Some of it feels right. Some makes us uncomfortable. Some, is simply part of the noise. AND, on top of that we are all unique. So no two people have the exact same experiences, influences and circumstances. Even twin siblings who appear to be exposed to exactly the same thing. We may be...
by Charles McAlpine | Jun 26, 2014 | Blog
Chaos always precedes change. It is natural, it is inevitable. As we move through change, we have to let go of something familiar and begin integrating or assimilating something new. It is during this transition that chaos is most intense. For many of us, we are resisting the release of what was known and comfortable or we are rushing to get to the new finish-line; in the hope of finding a new point of balance and creating a new ‘status quo’. That sense of what was normal before we were surrounded by chaos! What happens when the amount of change in our lives becomes rapid and unavoidable? Many of us end up feeling like our life is in a constant state of turmoil! It is challenging to feel settled. Oftentimes we are waiting for the next disruption, simply because we have become accustom to the constant pace of change. Chaos becomes a personal challenge. We are frequently mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted from being in the constant motion and movement of change. This is especially true for those who are becoming more self-aware. For those who are evaluating what works and doesn’t work in their life. Perhaps there is a realization that old behaviors, patterns or habits are preventing them from reaching a goal, creating a relationship, feeling healthy or generally creating discomfort for them. Sometimes it is exposure to a concept, idea or belief that has them contemplating what is true for them in their current situation. Or finally deciding to live their dreams based on what motivates and inspires them, versus always choosing something that will make...
by Charles McAlpine | Jun 26, 2014 | Blog
Chaos always precedes change. It is natural, it is inevitable. As we move through change, we have to let go of something familiar and begin integrating or assimilating something new. It is during this transition that chaos is most intense. For many of us, we are resisting the release of what was known and comfortable or we are rushing to get to the new finish-line; in the hope of finding a new point of balance and creating a new ‘status quo’. That sense of what was normal before we were surrounded by chaos! What happens when the amount of change in our lives becomes rapid and unavoidable? Many of us end up feeling like our life is in a constant state of turmoil! It is challenging to feel settled. Oftentimes we are waiting for the next disruption, simply because we have become accustom to the constant pace of change. Chaos becomes a personal challenge. We are frequently mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted from being in the constant motion and movement of change. This is especially true for those who are becoming more self-aware. For those who are evaluating what works and doesn’t work in their life. Perhaps there is a realization that old behaviors, patterns or habits are preventing them from reaching a goal, creating a relationship, feeling healthy or generally creating discomfort for them. Sometimes it is exposure to a concept, idea or belief that has them contemplating what is true for them in their current situation. Or finally deciding to live their dreams based on what motivates and inspires them, versus always choosing something that will make...
by Charles McAlpine | Jan 12, 2014 | Blog
These are amazing times that we live in. There are so many wonderful things that are happening and being revealed. And, we live in a time when many of the original systems, organizations and structures that were design to support and assist us are distorted and actually being used against us. Government, corporations, religions, medical/pharmaceutical industries… These at one time were altruistic in nature and were measured based upon their ability to support the communities and people they served. The opposite of altruistic is egotistical… And that is what the majority of these institutions have become. They cater to only a few or small percentage. Specifically those individuals who have been endorsed and selected for leadership roles. Greed, the hunger for power and an intense focus on creating a protected class of elite has distorted much of what was once an important part of the infrastructures that was designed to support all of us. Let’s face it “We have lost our balance”. Before you go imagining that this is all doom and gloom, I am here to say it is not! Instead, I believe we must go through this time to find our own authority. This is a powerful time for the individual to find their own voice and to connect with what resonates from within. This is a time for us to be more connected to one another. Time to build relationships, organizations and communities that honor the common good and individuality. AND, Technology is here to help! The ability for us to connect with one another across the globe in a matter of seconds or minutes is...
