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It’s spring. Here in Colorado we’re grateful for every drop of rain, and we’ve gotten many wet days recently. Once the trees are all in leaf it will be the greenest time of year. So it’s also time for my annual tradition of teaching our readers about the wood element from the perspective of Chinese five element philosophy.
The qualities of wood (I’m italicizing it to distinguish it from wood, the substance and building material) are seen in the characteristics of plant growth, especially in spring, the wood season. They’re within all humans as well, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the individual.
One of the first things we notice as plants come back to life is a certain toughness, a determination to rise, to grow, and to break out of the dormancy of winter. A few weeks ago there were lots of little flowers and tree buds everywhere and I was feeling enchanted by it all. Then we got several heavy snows and hard freezes and I said dramatically to my wife, “It’s not fair! Those tiny baby leaves and flowers! They barely got a chance!” But a week later they were back at it, all the tougher for it.
Within every plant is the gift of vision and a plan. Plants have the “vision” of phototropism, meaning they sense and grow always toward the light. This forms their plan (along with producing new plants that will do the same) and they adhere to it unwaveringly.
Bamboo is considered the quintessential embodiment of these virtues. Not only does it grow rapidly toward its destination without any distraction (no branches), but it remains flexible. That is, despite its determination to get where it wants to go, it doesn’t become rigid or brittle in this pursuit. It’s strong, but it bends in the wind. In addition, its hollowness is considered symbolic of its ability to remain open and unattached to its goal.
A person with healthy wood has a clear vision of where they’re headed in the short term and the long term. They know the plan that’s going to enable them to make their vision a reality.
One of my favorite tools for clarifying your vision, crafting your plan, and staying on track with it is our Dreambook + Planner. It’s on sale now for 50% off.
When needed, someone with healthy wood energy employs the spring qualities of vigor, determination, decisiveness, and tenacity. Yet, there’s nothing ruthless about the pursuit of their plan. Another of wood’s virtues is kindness, specifically the kindness of mutual support which emerges when we recognize that all plans can peacefully coexist.
When we encounter obstacles, healthy wood helps us to not lose sight of where we’re headed. In fact, when I said, “It’s not fair!” previously, that was completely untrue. Fair and unfair are meaningless in nature. Obstacles happen. Little obstacles, like traffic that interferes with one’s plan to be at work on time. And big obstacles, like a fatal illness that interferes one’s plan to live a long life and change the world.
The typical wood response to an obstacle is anger. Ideally, we feel the anger willingly, let it move through us, and even allow the surge of emotional energy to reignite our vision, attain perspective, perhaps modify the plan, and keep growing.
Other (less pleasant) options are to resist, deny, and/or amplify the anger, leading to rage or numbness/depression. We might insist (often subconsciously) that the obstacle shouldn’t have happened. A plan that started out as “to get to the finish line and have fun along the way” might become “to fight this obstacle for as long as it takes” or “to have no plans because what’s the use?” This is what happens when we lose our vision.
In such cases, it’s important to remember that humans, too, have phototropism. Like plants, we also have a natural inclination toward the Light (however we define it). It’s how we orient our vision. When shined inward it may reveal that the personal plan which seems to be lost, stolen, or thwarted is but the spark of a greater soul plan, such as “to fully experience human life, to transmit the light, and be of service to the world.” I believe our soul plan can’t be thwarted because it doesn’t depend on the specifics of our circumstances but on who we choose to be.
I encourage you to spend some time in nature and bring your curiosity. What can you learn about life from the dynamics of the natural world? For extra support, consider a healing session with me and use our acclaimed Dreambook + Planner.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
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Creative people are among our most celebrated historical figures, yet most of us treat creativity as an entirely optional pastime, especially if we see ourselves as “not a creative person.” We all know that gifted individuals such as Einstein, Kahlo, Mozart, Rowling, Socrates, and Edison, who gave life to their creativity, greatly impacted our culture and development. But oddly, unless we’re oozing talent (and even then) we often we view creative endeavors as too frivolous to warrant the expenditure of energy.
Creativity is one of our most unrecognized and undervalued abilities. Without it, our species would be unremarkable among the animal kingdom. We’d have no tools or clothes, no stories or music, no cooking or language. But because we have creative power we have innovated, and our lives are longer and richer because of it.
By definition, to create is “to bring into existence.” Consciousness flows through us, we shape it, and something Is brought into existence. Whether we’re aware of it or not, this is special. And it’s happening all the time.
Some of the most basic expressions of your creative power are the words you choose to speak and write, the ways you move your body, the work you engage in, how you dress and adorn yourself, the food you make, how you choose to spend your money, the affection you give, the plants you grow, the art you put on your walls, and how you choose to show up in your community.
You are living creativity. You can’t stop it. To be truly aware of this fact is to be empowered and inspired. It can become a spiritual practice. It can become a means of knowing and healing yourself. It can be energizing. It can be fun. It can lift you out of depression and despair. It can give you hope. It can change the world.
I’d love it if you’d reflect on these questions:
- What happens when I own my creative power?
- What changes when I become an active participant in the creating that I’m doing?
- What does it mean to choose my place in the universe as a creator?
- How do I feel when I let myself create?
- Can I tune in to the energy that moves through me and drives my expressions?
- What does it feel like?
- Does this power flow freely or is it impeded in some way?
- What happens when I relax and open myself to it?
Side note: the idea I’m presenting has sometimes been misconstrued by new age thinkers to mean, “You are the sole creator, and everything that happens is because YOU asked for it. So you must have unwittingly brought erectile dysfunction and cankles to the world.” This doesn’t make sense and it’s a recipe for guilt. If you’ve adopted this belief, I encourage you to let it go.
You share the planet with billions of creators, and you’re not in competition with them. However, most aren’t especially mindful of their creative power. Again, when we be become mindful of it, it’s inspiring and empowering. We’re more effective at bringing our chosen intentions into existence. And when our intentions arise from love (rather than fear), we’re more effective still.
The empowering shift I’m suggesting begins simply with mindfulness of the creative power you’re already exercising throughout your life. Gradually you’ll feel less like “life is happening to me” and more like “I’m an active creator in this life.”
Be well,
Peter
[post_title] => Creativity: It's Not Optional
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Last week we looked at ways to sweeten your life, a concept from my and Briana’s book, The Well Life, which also forms much of the foundation material for the Dragontree Coaching Program. I discussed sweetness as one of three pillars of a balanced and joyful life, along with structure and space.
Now let’s look at the value of structure and how it can work for or against us. Consistently incorporating more sweetness into our lives depends on our ability to build healthy structure. Every goal, from the smallest to the grandest, requires structure to get from point A to point B.
Sometimes we encounter clients who try to avoid structure because they don’t want to be restricted by it. While this may help them feel unfettered, it can often backfire because they’re not adequately tracking what they need to attend to in order to make their lives work – much less setting and achieving goals. The feeling that they’re not in charge can destabilize the “freedom” of evading structure.
Other clients embrace structure – they keep a calendar, set goals, practice some discipline around time, etc. – but in ways that are inefficient, rigid, boring, or ungratifying. Perhaps their structures for getting needs met haven’t evolved since adolescence. Sometimes they’re pursuing outdated goals without being aware of it. Frequently they employ structure at the expense of sweetness and space.
Most people lack good training in life architecture. Luckily, it’s a learnable skill and it’s pretty straightforward. Many of the coaches in our program have said that these nuts and bolts represent much of the work they do with clients – often holding the client’s hand through the process of dismantling structures that aren’t working, creating new ones that are healthy, intelligent, and effective, and supporting them to live healthily in alignment with what they’ve established.
Here are six important principles we emphasize for healthy structure:
-
- First get really clear on who you want to be and how want your life to feel. There is a process for attaining clarity in our Dreambook. In essence, we recommend discerning what kinds of experiences make you feel most inspired, alive, happy, connected, etc. – despite what your parents, teachers, friends, or spouse or anyone else thought/thinks you should do – and then choosing a path that supports this highest expression of You.
- Form a clear inner vision of your intention and make a plan for actualizing it. The inner vision should actually be a vivid multisensory meditation on the look, feel, taste, smell, and sound of the life you’re creating. Evoke it often. Your plan should involve meaningful action that takes you in the direction of your goal while putting you in touch with people, elements, and forces that will help you grow and build momentum.
- Consciously integrate sweetness and space into the structure you create. Like the saying goes, the journey matters more than the destination. We miss the point if we don’t make it sweet and spacious.
- Attend to the plan frequently. A plan isn’t just a robotic program that runs on autopilot once you turn it on. It’s a living thing. Remind yourself of it daily. Stay in right relationship with it. Consciously “stoke” the vision and feelings. Make adjustments to the plan as needed.
- Maintain integrity. Make sure you keep any agreements you make to support your plan – not because the universe will punish you if you don’t, but because you chose this and your word has power. Honor yourself and the seeds you’ve planted. If you need to change the plan, do it consciously.
- Stay open and flexible. While feeding and tending lovingly to your life plan, try to simultaneously remain unattached to how it comes together. Be like a bamboo stalk – strong and unwavering in your growth, but flexible enough to bend in the wind, and hollow inside – meaning, you maintain an open, unclenched attitude around your goals. Obstacles and challenges along the way are inevitable; if met with flexibility and openness you’ll grow around them. Never let your plan become the only thing that’s going to make you happy.
If this sounds good to you, check out The Well Life audiobook (on Audible), which explains these concepts in greater detail. Also, have you ever thought about being a coach? Could you see yourself exploring someone’s life structures with them, helping them “clean house,” working with them to build new a structure that truly serves them and brings them closer to the life of their dreams? If so, check out our life coach training program. Enrollment for the next cohort beginning April 26th is happening now!
Be well,
Peter
[post_title] => Six Ways to Build a Healthy Life Structure That Will Direct You Towards Your Dreams
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It’s spring. Here in Colorado we’re grateful for every drop of rain, and we’ve gotten many wet days recently. Once the trees are all in leaf it will be the greenest time of year. So it’s also time for my annual tradition of teaching our readers about the wood element from the perspective of Chinese five element philosophy.
The qualities of wood (I’m italicizing it to distinguish it from wood, the substance and building material) are seen in the characteristics of plant growth, especially in spring, the wood season. They’re within all humans as well, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the individual.
One of the first things we notice as plants come back to life is a certain toughness, a determination to rise, to grow, and to break out of the dormancy of winter. A few weeks ago there were lots of little flowers and tree buds everywhere and I was feeling enchanted by it all. Then we got several heavy snows and hard freezes and I said dramatically to my wife, “It’s not fair! Those tiny baby leaves and flowers! They barely got a chance!” But a week later they were back at it, all the tougher for it.
Within every plant is the gift of vision and a plan. Plants have the “vision” of phototropism, meaning they sense and grow always toward the light. This forms their plan (along with producing new plants that will do the same) and they adhere to it unwaveringly.
Bamboo is considered the quintessential embodiment of these virtues. Not only does it grow rapidly toward its destination without any distraction (no branches), but it remains flexible. That is, despite its determination to get where it wants to go, it doesn’t become rigid or brittle in this pursuit. It’s strong, but it bends in the wind. In addition, its hollowness is considered symbolic of its ability to remain open and unattached to its goal.
A person with healthy wood has a clear vision of where they’re headed in the short term and the long term. They know the plan that’s going to enable them to make their vision a reality.
One of my favorite tools for clarifying your vision, crafting your plan, and staying on track with it is our Dreambook + Planner. It’s on sale now for 50% off.
When needed, someone with healthy wood energy employs the spring qualities of vigor, determination, decisiveness, and tenacity. Yet, there’s nothing ruthless about the pursuit of their plan. Another of wood’s virtues is kindness, specifically the kindness of mutual support which emerges when we recognize that all plans can peacefully coexist.
When we encounter obstacles, healthy wood helps us to not lose sight of where we’re headed. In fact, when I said, “It’s not fair!” previously, that was completely untrue. Fair and unfair are meaningless in nature. Obstacles happen. Little obstacles, like traffic that interferes with one’s plan to be at work on time. And big obstacles, like a fatal illness that interferes one’s plan to live a long life and change the world.
The typical wood response to an obstacle is anger. Ideally, we feel the anger willingly, let it move through us, and even allow the surge of emotional energy to reignite our vision, attain perspective, perhaps modify the plan, and keep growing.
Other (less pleasant) options are to resist, deny, and/or amplify the anger, leading to rage or numbness/depression. We might insist (often subconsciously) that the obstacle shouldn’t have happened. A plan that started out as “to get to the finish line and have fun along the way” might become “to fight this obstacle for as long as it takes” or “to have no plans because what’s the use?” This is what happens when we lose our vision.
In such cases, it’s important to remember that humans, too, have phototropism. Like plants, we also have a natural inclination toward the Light (however we define it). It’s how we orient our vision. When shined inward it may reveal that the personal plan which seems to be lost, stolen, or thwarted is but the spark of a greater soul plan, such as “to fully experience human life, to transmit the light, and be of service to the world.” I believe our soul plan can’t be thwarted because it doesn’t depend on the specifics of our circumstances but on who we choose to be.
I encourage you to spend some time in nature and bring your curiosity. What can you learn about life from the dynamics of the natural world? For extra support, consider a healing session with me and use our acclaimed Dreambook + Planner.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
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