Direct Life Coaching

Don't be fooled...this is not advice for people with maxed out credit cards...I am not advocating dodging creditors ;)

I was just sending a friend an e-mail about the last month or so...and a theme surfaced that I wanted to share with you.

When I was in St. Louis for that course last month...I was playing around on a trampoline...tried to do a back flip...came down on my head...and heard a series of crunches and awful noises in my neck. Scary stuff...especially the first 10 minutes. I jumped up...felt funny...tingly all over...and had to fight to not blackout. I was praying...panicking...trying to pray more than panic. I called for spiritual support from a friend...and most of all...I just kept moving!

I had to keep moving. Why? I don't know. I felt like the more I sat...the more time the accident had time to become a reality. The more idle I was...the more pain and stiffness crept in. I needed to move...keep moving. Don't give the false idea time to root itself...don't let it become real...keep moving...stay awake...stay alert...stay on top of the lie.

I made it through that 10 minutes...stayed conscious...calmed the fear...connected myself firmly with God...Love...Spirit...and just basked in the presence of that Life...and kept moving. Even when I let my body rest...my thought kept moving.

That was the hard part. The recovery wasn't immediate...but from that day on...I was able to do everything physically that I needed to do. Now, just over a month later...I am exercising fully again...running, etc. No matter how painful it was at times...and impressive...I just kept moving.

In telling my friend this key theme...it hit me...we always have to keep moving. Just keep moving! Even when times are good...there are no worries...keep moving! Don't get content, don't get soft or lazy...keep moving. Stay on your game...push yourself higher with Spirit...express more gratitude...but not for a second...don't stop moving!

It reminds me of "Who Moved My Cheese?" The key is not to "get somewhere" and then quit, but to always be pushing to the next challenge. To me, this means always pushing to grow, learn more, and understand better. It is not about being selfish, self-centered, a workaholic, etc. This is about recognizing that Spirit provides us with everything we need from moment to moment...so we need to keep moving, praying, and listening so we can see how that next need is going to be met.

Catch 22?

Sort of. It's a discipline, a focus, a commitment. There is no retirement from growth...from pushing your spiritual maturity. We find our happiness in the new things we learn...not from resting on the lessons we already know. That is when laziness and ego slip in...and we rest on the past...instead of pushing forward and living in the "now."

Does this make sense...or am I babbling?

As a professional...are you still resting on what you proved in the past...or are making efforts to be even better for the next project? It's a tough question...and if answered honestly...not always a pleasant one.

If you're unclear...take it to Spirit...get your thought moving...and then your next step will fall into place. Trust me...just keep moving!

--Travis

Have you ever considered taking that statement as a compliment?

I know, if someone has ever said that to you, it probably wasn't in a positive light. You probably got caught lying (who...you?) or someone saw through your ulterior motive. Maybe it's never happened to you ;)

Do you remember back in school...okay...we are talking probably 10 years and back...before real computers in the classroom. I am talking about when teachers and professors used overhead projectors to diagram problems, etc. and they did so with transparencies. Yes, the transparency.

Remember those?

Clear plastic. Sometimes they would overlay numerous sheets on top of on another...but when you looked and it and aligned it just right...it looked like one sheet. Kind of a cool visual.

As I was doing some spiritual study last week...I came across this quote in one of my favorite spiritual guidebooks, Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. She writes, "The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality — much error — in order to become a better transparency for Truth. Then, like a cloud melting into thin vapor, it no longer hides the sun."

It hit me. This is what I aspire to do. I pray each day...work each day...to be the cleanest transparency I can be. So to me, "the error and materiality" that I try to clean away on a daily basis is doubt, fear, personality, ego, as well as my own physical limitations. As an actor, there are plenty of factors that try to muck up my transparency. Being an independent contractor, there are different errors that try to fog up my perfectly clear sheet.

But in reality, I know that my transparency is just that. Transparent. There are no smudges, obstructions, or blemishes. I have all of the talent and ability as provided by Spirit. My transparency was created perfectly...and can never be anything but perfect. So, throughout the day I try to be conscious of ink marks, lies, and the false overlays that try to cover my beautifully clear transparency...and not allow them to attach themselves to me.

What is the result?

If my life is the transparency...and Spirit is the light...what happens when my transparency is clear? Perfection. Seamless. Complete. Beautiful. My only work is to be clear and allow perfection to shine right through me. I don't need to create the Light...I only need to make sure that I am allowing the Light to shine through me. How do I do this? Thought by thought...action by action...prayer by prayer.

Here is an exercise...take a fully covered transparency. Now, all of the darkness represents negative ideas you have about yourself. How does the Light shine through? Not very well. Now, take all of those negative ideas that really aren't true about you...and now reverse them with the way that Spirit, Love sees you. With a cloth...for every lie you reverse...wipe away some of the dirt from the transparency. Now, how does the Light shine through?

Keep doing this?

How long will it take for you to have a perfectly clear transparency? To know this, you need to watch yourself thought by thought.

Here is the good news...your transparency is always perfectly clear in Spirit...we just need to get all of the false overlays out of the way. Remember, just because it looks like they are apart of us, they never really have been. There is no connection, just illusion!

Now, you have cleaned up yourself...how are you still viewing your co-workers?

Let me know!
Travis

I have been dealing with a lot of resistance in my life these past few weeks. What I mean by resistance is anything that tries to distract me from living my life to its full potential. Resistance comes in a lot of forms, and thanks to the incredible book I have been reading lately, I am doing a much better job of recognizing resistance, correcting it, and staying on purpose (or staying on Spirit....spiritually focused...you understand).

The book that I have been reading is "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield (not to be confused with "The Art of War"). Steven (or Mr. Pressfield) believes "resistance" is anything and everything in our life or in the world that tries to stop us from our true calling. It may be your desire to be an artist, writer, or your passion of working with kids or establishing a non-profit. It might even be the desire to seek our and dig deeper into your own spirituality. Basically, anything that you want to do that betters yourself or the world...you are going to face a load of resistance.

Come on...we all face it and lose daily. Not going on that run because it's too cold, not reading the Bible because that report is due, or not volunteering because you just don't have time. Besides, it's not like you're going to make a difference.

Resistance is internal...it is external...it is everywhere.

But it is nowhere.

Huh?

Yup...resistance...no matter how daunting...is nothing. It's nothing unless we make it something.

Ever since I took that course...and even during...I am seeing resistance. I had an accident during the course that tried to stop me from finishing the course. It didn't.

My physical limitations as a result tried to prevent me from performing, shooting video projects, going on a vacation weekend, and taking care of my kids. But it didn't!

This past week resistance has tried to get me angry, frustrated, doubtful, fearful, etc. because including myself, my whole family has been under the weather. But I am still here...working, writing, playing, loving!!!!

Resistance has come in many ways...and it always will. I am prepared because I truly know that Spirit is my only power....only Source...only reality. When I look at resistance...and view it from my Spirit-perspective...it is powerless! I don't think resistance will ever go away...but I am getting better at seeing it for what it is...NOTHING!!! (unless I make it something)

So...what about you?

--Travis

Has that ever happened to you? As soon as you are interested in getting something like a new car...and you begin to shop around for the car you want...it seems that everyone on the road is driving that car.

What's my point?

Well, obviously not everyone is driving your car...but since you are thinking about it so much...you are conscious every time you see that car. Am I alone on this?

Didn't think so.

My point is...when you think about something so much...you begin to see it more and more in your life. So, instead of thinking about cars...what if you dedicated your thought to something a little higher up on the Spirit scale?

I have already blogged a few times about that leadership course I took a few weeks ago...and I am still putting a lot of the ideas to use. When I left the course...I committed to doing a few things everyday (no matter what) for at least 100 days. I am almost 30 days into it...and I am still going strong. One of the things I committed to do was to pray specifically about a few things in my life. A couple of them are family...and the other one is career. So, everyday, I set aside (or find) 40 minutes to pray about each of these things.

It hasn't always been easy to find the time. I even had to work it in everyday while being on a bachelor weekend with 5 guys celebrating a friend's future wedding. But, I guess that's why they call it a commitment.

Anyway...one of my favorite times to pray is when I am driving. For me, prayer is about taking my thought and consciousness to Spirit, to the Divine, to Love. So, it doesn't need to be an "eyes closed and head in my hands" experience...but it is still very focused and intentional. (If you like meditating....I wouldn't recommend the Lotus position while driving.)

The results have been awesome. I love listening to the radio...or the iPod...but it has made a huge difference using that time to pray about the important things in my life. I am sure it makes total sense...but it is amazing how alert I am to my own thought...not letting myself get sucked into negativity, fear, frustration, or doubt.

When my consciousness is tuned in to Spirit...I begin to see Spirit everywhere. I see it in my family, my work, and more importantly...I see it in the people I come into contact with. It's not as if it hasn't been there the whole time...I am just putting myself in a position where I can see it more easily and clearly.

So...that guy in the H2 that just caught me off while on his cell phone...hey...it's a lot easier to NOT react when coming from a place of prayer...instead of iPod.

I'll keep you posted!

Travis

May is shaping up to be one crazy month for the freelance worker...me! On my docket this month I have 8 video projects, 4 improv shows, a big project for WorldBlu, my regular teaching schedule, my regular church work twice a week, and my daughter's preschool graduation. Yes...preschool graduation...do they get caps and gowns?

I love it! All of it! This is why I have made the decision that I made to work for myself.

Flexibility!

Flexibility to do all of the things that interest me instead of being restricted to just one or two. As soon as I start to get fearful or frustrated with all of the work coming my way...I think..."this is what you love! What more could you want? Just express gratitude and do it!"

I have been trying to express gratitude more and more. I am so grateful for the freedom to be in the position to dedicate my energy and time to fulfilling projects. The last few weeks I have been overcoming a neck injury...so I have been thinking a lot about flexibility. It hasn't been the most comfortable situation...but I am grateful that I have been able to do everything physically needed of me during this time...including performing in a show.

Gratitude.

Yes, the importance of gratitude. When things get rough...what do you express? Do you dwell on the bad...or demand to see the good?

To me...this is the true test of our mettle. It is easy to be grateful when the water is flowing and the getting is good. But, how do you respond when you land on your head in the trampoline of life? It's easy (even excusable) to shake your fist and blame your luck..."Damn you trampoline!" But, in the end...it is during the tough times that we grow the most. Trust me...I have grown so much these past few weeks...my clothes don't fit anymore (this could also be that I haven't been able to exercise).

So...as I attack this month in gratitude with a smile on my face...I look forward to the work ahead. In gratitude...I know that Spirit is guiding every video shot...supplying each idea on stage...and providing all the time needed to get the job done and still tucking the kids in at night.

--Travis