It’s a jungle out there.
There’s a technique, course, and teacher for every conceivable angle of personal growth and spiritual development. They range from simple and free, to enormously complex, esoteric and demanding.
How do you know if you should use a particular approach?
Well, I can only tell you what works for me – and it’s become incredibly simple.
- Can you show me what to actually do?
- Does doing the process actually make me feel better or that I am getting somewhere?
- Did it last beyond a temporary high?
That’s it.
- I don’t care about the philosophy behind the technique, in the end.
- I don’t want to listen to a teacher explain how deep and interesting it is.
- I don’t want something described that seems beyond me, that I’m supposed to one day finally get, or achieve if I commit long enough.
- I don’t want to follow multiple levels of training and still have no idea what the hell the actual steps are to help me move forward and feel better.
It should feel right on a gut level, and do something for me. Maybe it’s not always feelings of bliss and happiness, but that I’m getting a deeper connection to myself, at minimum.
I’m a pretty simple guy in a lot of ways 🙂
As far as teaching goes, there is not necessarily a ‘technique’ with every teacher – but the metrics are essentially the same.
If I listen to Adyashanti speak about a subject, I can pretty much count on having a visceral feeling of better clarity, and something that will integrate in one way or another.
The first technique I ever got deeply into was the Sedona Method.
I meditated before that, but this was the first ‘technique.’
I listened to an audio that took me through the process. It took about 5 minutes. Something was really bothering me, and after the process, it didn’t. The next day, it still felt better, and it continued.
I did some workshops and retreats for that method, and I loved them, because they were essentially just a lot of time dedicated to a process that works for me.
I feel similarly about EFT. I feel better when I do it.
I really love Brad Yates’ approach to EFT. I pay him money, and in the time we spend together, we do EFT. I feel better afterwards and get some deep insights. Often new places to explore where healing is needed.
There’s no nonsense, no abstraction, no sense of some place I’m supposed to get, or that he has some special spiritual state or insight I am supposed to absorb. He just helps me, and the results last.
I have challenges I am working through, as well as so many things I love and want to continue to do and create. I don’t have time for anything else.
At this point in my journey, I would rather eat glass than debate what teachings are valid, think about what I agree or disagree with in the conceptual model or approach.
If it helps, if I can repeat it, if I feel better, or at least feel like I’m moving forward – and it’s simple, clear and right, then I’ll continue.
Emotional and inner work is very deep, and doesn’t always conveniently fit into a ‘step 1, 2, 3’ process. However, there are plenty of fundamentals that can give us grounding and a sense of how to navigate the territory.
In Inner Reconciliation – where I teach part of the homestudy course, which is in some ways an overall conceptual model, there is ‘invite, inquire, integrate’ and specific things in the toolbox to use.
This is also what I am striving for in my own development.
As a facilitator, you should be able to watch a few videos of mine or attend a call, and know rather simply and directly whether or not something I do works for you on some level.
If it doesn’t, it’s not ‘your ego in the way’ or ‘resistance’ or ‘maybe you just don’t get me yet.’ You should move on immediately to someone who helps you feel either relief, or that you are getting somewhere, digging into something of value. Someone or something definitely can do that for you.
This is my particular way of navigating all of this, perhaps it may be helpful to you in some way 🙂
