Newsletter April 2011

The Transformer

Inspiration and News from the Center for Transformational Presence 

April 2011

Article:  Transform Your Life, Transform Our World

Soul Mission Profile:  Ann Kellheim and Britt Weide—Soul Sisters

Video of the Month:  Derek Sivers: Weird, or just different?

Transform Your Life, Transform Our World

by Alan Seale

Photo - Maureen Edwards

I have spent most of the last five weeks teaching in Sweden and The Netherlands. Between the workshops, my friend Gabriella offers me her cottage in the forest in the south of Holland. The cottage is designed so that no matter where you are in the house, you are looking out through expansive windows into the garden and the forest. This morning as I write, I am settled in on the sofa with my tea looking out on this little paradise. It’s wonderful to be here in the spring of the year. The brown of winter is turning to green; the naked skeletons of trees and bushes are sprouting leaves; the birds are returning and each morning the symphony of sounds gets even more spectacular. Each day when I walk through the forest, I pause several times to stand very still and listen for the very soft popping sound of pine cones opening in the warm sun. At night the owls hoot and screech. The earth has that pungent, rich smell. Life is renewed. Everything around me seems to be transforming in its own very natural way.

In just a few weeks my new book, Create a World That Works: Tools for Personal and Global Transformation, will arrive. Walking in the forest, I see a microcosm of a world that is working. The forest is well-managed, the land is protected, and the many species that make this forest their home seem to find their way together in a natural flow. It makes me continue to ask what might a world that works look like in the macrocosm?

When I say “a world that works,” I mean a world that, at least for the most part, works for everyone. A world where some of the first questions we ask with a project are, “Will this be sustainable on every level?” and “Will this serve a greater good?” Too often now those questions come up too late in a consideration process, if at all.

In the Introduction to the book, I write:

By speaking of a world that works, I do not mean to imply a perfect world. Our civilization is made up of billions of individuals, each of whom is on their own learning path. At times on that path, the learning gets pretty steep, both for individuals and for the collective. In a world that works, we acknowledge the challenges that come with learning, growth, and development and stand committed to working with one another instead of against one another.

To that end, in a world that works, people talk with one another, and perhaps even more importantly, they listen to one another. There is open communication between cultures, governments, and businesses. There is a willingness to hear and consider different ideas, approaches, value systems, and ways of thinking, and there is an understanding that no one has the whole truth. It takes the perspective of everyone involved in a particular issue to be able to see the entire picture.

In a world that works, there is a common understanding that everything is connected and that, therefore, everything impacts everything else. The well-being of one is ultimately dependent on the well-being of all. Therefore, there is a shared commitment to finding the path forward where everyone is served, where everyone gets something, where no choices or decisions are made at the expense of others.

In a world that works, people are willing to feel as well as think. They are willing to feel both pain and joy in themselves and others. They take personal, business, and government integrity seriously and accept responsibility for all choices and actions, both those that turned out well and those that they regret. They are willing to recognize which choices and actions served a greater good and which ones served only a select few, and respond differently going forward with choices that will serve every stakeholder.

In a world that works, there is also a common understanding that everything will not change overnight. In fact, some things may take many years, even many generations, to be accomplished. People live in service of a greater good and a longer vision than might be realized in their individual lifetimes.

One of the things that excites me the most these days is the rise of social entrepreneurism all over the world. Reading books like How to Change the World by David Bornstein, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin, Whatever it Takes by Paul Tough, or magazines like Ode and Good that tell the stories of amazing and transformational work around the world are incredibly inspiring.

In her dynamic talks, Cheryl Dorsey, President of Echoing Green, a funding organization for social entrepreneur projects all over the world, shares a message of hope and possibility for what we can create together. I am honored that she agreed to write the foreword for Create a World That Works.

Ervin Laszlo’s new book, WorldShift 2012, offers visions of what a thriving and sustainable world could look like and how we could create it if we make some important choices now.

Thriving and sustainable. Are those words that describe your life? Are they words you would use to describe the immediate world around you? Are they words you would use to describe your country? The global community?

Perhaps you can answer “yes” to at least some of those questions, perhaps not. Yet few people would probably answer yes to all of those questions today. And that was why I felt inspired to write Create a World That Works. Rather than focusing on all that doesn’t work, what might be possible if we start to pay attention to what does want to happen? What if, instead of giving energy to the problem, we gave energy to creating a world in which that problem didn’t exist—a world where the conditions that fed the problem were no where to be found?

Creating the right conditions that can allow amazing things to happen is what Create a World That Works is all about. Creating those conditions begins with transforming the ways that we think and the ways in which we show up to life every day—how we show up in relationship with ourselves, in our relationships in our families, in our work, in our service, with our friends; and what we expect and demand from our politicians and governments. It begins with each of us embodying a personal presence that, by its very nature, is transformational. When enough people embody transformational presence, then our communities, governments, and even our world can transform.

Create a World That Works is a guidebook for new ways of being and thinking. It introduces practical concepts and tools to help you create a life that works for you as an individual as well for your family and community, and then shows you how to use those same simple concepts and tools to create a world that works for all. In a very natural way, it shows you how to further develop your intuitive mind and cultivate intuitive critical thinking. By weaving together teachings from ancient wisdom traditions with principles of quantum physics, it explains in clear, understandable, non-technical ways how life works as energy in motion. It shows you how to truly move ahead in your life rather than going round and round in the same circumstances year after year, and then shows you how to support your world to do the same thing.

As I sit in the garden of my little paradise in the Dutch forest, I am grateful for the renewal of life. I am grateful that we have the opportunity to learn, grow, transform, and evolve in our lives, just as nature is constantly doing.

Thank you for the gifts you share with your world. Thank you for what you are already doing to create a world that works. No one of us can do this by ourselves, but together we can do incredible things.

Many blessings,
Alan

Copyright © 2011 Alan Seale

Soul Mission Profile: Ann Kellheim and Britt Weide—Soul Sisters

by Johnathon Pape

Ann Kellheim (on left) and Britt Weide (on right) share a deep bond on many levels.  First, and perhaps most important, they are twins, and even though their biological connection is fraternal rather than identical, it literally goes all the way back to the womb.  They were raised in Southern Sweden, close to Malmö and Copenhagen, Denmark, and they still live in the area, each with their respective families.  They also share a similar career path.  Both trained as therapists specializing in psychosynthesis.   Ann applied this training with work in human resources for various companies, while Britt worked in sports psychology and had a career in professional horse riding.  Eventually they both shifted their work to coaching.  As Britt explains, “therapy seemed like such a slow and heavy process, not forward moving, and I realized it wasn’t for me; I need to move.”  They are now part owners of CoachWalk Academy (www.coachwalk.se), a highly successful coaching company in Malmö, and together with their coaching and business partners they are bringing Alan’s Transformational Presence Coach Training to their clientele.

This speaks to the other part of Ann and Britt’s bond—the spiritual.  During their psychosynthesis training they had each done some work with life purpose.  Ann recalls, “I had a strong vision during one of the meditations, and I carried that with me for years.  It was probably the first awareness of my soul mission, although I didn’t realize it then.”  Britt had a similar experience, “although too little time was spent on finding your purpose in that training.  I like Alan’s method much better, devoting four days to the process.”  Britt and Ann participated in the Soul Mission * Life Vision 4-day workshop that Alan led in June 2010 in Resö, a beautiful island in the archipelago of the southwestern coast of Sweden, almost at the Norwegian border. It was there that they really connected to their Soul Missions—for Ann, “I inspire” and for Britt “I light stars in hearts.”

The experience proved to be deeply powerful.  “I lived my Soul Mission even before I had the words for it,” says Ann. “It has been guiding me for about 10 years, but at Resö I discovered the depth of it and integrated it strongly in me. I never doubt my Soul Mission anymore. In my work it now feels natural for me to live my Soul Mission and to speak it out loud – that makes me more powerful!”  Britt agrees, “I have used my Soul Mission almost every day in my life. It gives me a security, support, and awareness, as well as a platform to live and work from. It also gives meaning and soul to my life and manifestations, and it gives me a feeling of belonging to the Greater Good and Consciousness.”

Johnathon Pape:  Thank you for being our Soul Mission Profiles for April.  This is the first time we’ve profiled sisters!  I was with you at the workshop in Resö last June and I remember how powerful it was for both of you, as well as the other participants.  What do you carry with you from that Soul Mission * Life Vision process?

Ann Kellheim: I carry a trust in myself. I feel when my Soul Mission is alive and I return to it over and over again. I feel that there is something missing when the contact is broken. My body reacts strongly when I’m not aligned with my soul.

Britt Weide: It’s a holy feeling and a feeling of making a difference in creating a world that works.

JP: Alan speaks about soul and ego so differently than many teachers.  His understanding of ego as the “hands and feet” of soul, of ego employed in service of soul, is a critical part of this work.  Has it been important for you?

BW: Yes!  In fact, during Transformational Presence Coach Training in February I actually added on to my Soul Mission: “...and I’m healing by aligning the partnership between ego and soul.”

AK: Sometimes getting ego and soul to cooperate can be a challenge. I notice that I shift from ego to soul fairly quickly, but I tend to get stuck in one or the other.  So I’m working on expanding the area where they meet.

JP: The intersection of the vertical and the horizontal?

AK: Yes.  Every day I step into the vertical and horizontal model.

BW: Me too...everyday.

JP:  For our readers who might not be familiar with this, the capsulized version is that the horizontal is how we relate to the physical world—our ego, and the vertical is how we relate to our higher self and Universal consciousness—our soul.  Alan has a short e-book on this topic available in the store on his website.  It really delves into the concept and how to apply it to your daily life.  He also has e-books on the soul and ego partnership and several other topics.

AK: I often use the Three Intelligences tool, too.

BW: I’m constantly using these tools from Alan’s work, both personally and professionally.

JP:  How does your Soul Mission come into play in your daily life?

BW: It comes into play in every coaching session and meeting that I have. It especially comes into play when I connect with children and people who are in some kind of crisis. And also when I connect with animals, especially horses. And when I now enter into working more with healing in my coaching and with Transformational Presence Coaching.

AK: I dare to speak my truth in public now. I get responses from people that what I say or do inspires them. I teach, coach, write and speak.  Sometimes when I think of my soul mission—I inspire—I doubt that I really do that.  But then all kinds of people come up to me and tell me how much something I’ve said or done inspires them.

JP: So let’s talk about those doubts...when you have encountered challenges, doubts, or setbacks, how has knowing who you are at the soul level gotten you back on track?

AK: I know that my soul is there and helps me to return home when I have travelled away. It is only a short meditation away. It gives me strength and security.

BW: It has helped me so much! It has held me through tough times and helped me see that I contribute.  I had a life crisis last year with extreme fatigue.  For me a crisis is a chance to develop as a human being.  The big thing I learned is to ask for help.  And sometimes that is hard to do.

AK: It’s easy to get exhausted from the intensity of our work.  We do a lot of hard, energetic work at all levels in our coaching practice.  And there are times when you realize that your batteries are running low.

JP:  I can certainly relate to that.  My Soul Mission is “I recharge human hearts,” and I know that when I don’t live that for myself first, I get severely depleted.  Do you find that “inspiring” yourself and “lighting the stars in your own heart” helps you manage the fatigue?

BW:  My Soul Mission really carries me through this. It helps me to focus on “what is mine to do and what is not mine to do.” That’s probably the tool I use most often lately, but it is still difficult for me.  I want to do so much (too much).  But I can’t travel someone else’s journey. I can’t live the life for someone else.  I have to be aware that I have a limited amount of energy.

JP: And does that human limitation feel like a failure, or is there a gift in that?

BW: Night before last, here in Sweden we had the super moon.  Do you call it that?  It’s the full moon when the moon is closest to the earth in its orbit, so it’s huge.  Anyway, I was lying in bed and I had this realization that my limited reserve of energy isn’t a failure.  The energy of the soul can really go like a rocket—whoosh! And sometimes the rest of me, the human body, can’t cope.  So sometimes this requires “less is more” living, just to manage my energy so I can be the most effective with what I do have.  I have learned that when I’m tired and I accept it, the energy comes back.  As soon as I accept the situation it comes back on its own.  So I energetically decide that this is going to be fine, I invite Consciousness to help me, and then I sort of step into that.  Besides, who am I as a coach if I’m supposed to be perfect?  I don’t want to be perfect; I want to be human.

JP: And what does it give our clients when we are human instead of perfect?

BW:  It allows them to be human too.

JP: And you, Ann?  How does inspiring yourself help you manage challenge or fatigue?

AK: For me, when I work I can be in the flow and feel like I’m living my soul mission meaningfully.  My challenge is living it with my family.  Sometimes it’s easier to feel deeply connected and see their good qualities when I’m not right in the middle of day-to-day drama.  When Transformational Presence Coach training arrived, it was exactly what I needed.  Alan has this tendency to arrive right when he is most needed!  It helped me understand how to close the gap between what I know and how I live.

JP: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself since claiming your Soul Mission?

AK: That that’s what I’m here for. It gives me a meaning. It has made it possible for me to understand and love myself.

BW: That I make a difference and that my existence is important. That sometimes being is the “only” thing I can help with. That being me and living my soul mission is very powerful and all I need to do – when I do this the right doing occurs by itself.   I see “the big picture” much clearer now and understand that my mission here is greater than I have understood before and at the same time smaller (or more elegant!).

JP: What would you say to someone who is considering doing the Soul Mission * Life Vision work?

AK: Do it! Your life will be more meaningful and rich. When your soul and ego work together you become happy and powerful.

BW: Do it! ASAP! It gives you so much grounding, meaning, connection, alignment, inspiration and tools. And you honor your self with this work. Together we create a better world—with knowing our soul missions and living them—we create a world that works. Being a part of this community—the Soul Mission and TPC world—helps me live in this world and feel that I contribute to the greater good.

AK: Thank you Alan and Johnathon!

Britt and Ann at Maria Alm in Austria
February 2011 - Cheers!

Video of the Month:  Derek Sivers: Weird, or just different?

Derek Sivers is the founder of CD Baby and a pioneer in helping musicians sell their music independently. In this 3-minute video, he brilliantly illustrates how two cultures can view ordinary aspects of life very differently.  His message is very complementary to Alan’s invitation in Create a World That Works to open our minds and hearts and let the world show itself to us rather than immediately giving our own interpretation to everything we see and experience.

Generally, we learn about these videos when someone recommends them to us. So here's what we offer to you. If you have one or more favorite video shorts (no more than 20 minutes) that you think our audience would enjoy, whether found on YouTube or someplace else on the web, please send us the links.

If you are on our mailing list and we select one of your recommendations as our Video of the Month, you will receive a $100 gift certificate to use on any teleclass program or a coaching session with Alan. When more than one person recommends the same video, gift certificates will be given to the first three that we receive.

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