043: A State of Disconnection ...
There’s a quote by Albert Einstein that I love which reads:
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
Disconnection is all around us, it's arguably become the default state of existence for people living in modern society. It pervades our relationship to our bodies, our communities, the earth, and nature as a whole. We are increasingly disconnected from our hearts, the people we come into contact with, and our own divinity.
In Costa Rica, there's a natural coexistence of all nature supporting life. Hundreds of year old Ceiba trees, toucans, butterflies, and monkeys coexist, each essential to supporting the ecosystem’s health.
This balance, a natural exchange, fuels life itself. Historically, our ancestors were also deeply connected to their environment, understanding their role within nature’s complex webs. We knew our place in relationship to our communities, and to the land that supported daily life.
Today, as a society, we’ve lost touch with this rhythm. Our drive for independence and personal freedom, coupled with a false belief of separation have isolated us from so many of the systems that are meant to nurture us, leading to widespread feelings of loneliness, and encouraging destructive behaviors. We've exiled ourselves from almost all systems that once supported our connection in our continued pursuit of autonomy and our mistaken views of separateness. This has led to a fragmented approach to life.
And here’s some startling facts:
According to a 2021 survey from Harvard's Making Caring Common Project, 36% of all Americans - including 61% of young adults - reported feeling serious loneliness.
The American Heart Association says social isolation and loneliness are associated with about a 30% increased risk of heart attack or stroke, or death from either.
Furthermore, the way we’ve adopted technology and our phones has further exacerbated this sense of disconnection, making it harder to maintain our focus, and truly be present to life unfolding around us. The modern world is inundated with artificial lighting, screens, and a pervasive desire to seek validation through social media.
Arianna Huffington was quoted as saying:
“We live in an age of constant connectivity, yet we find ourselves feeling more disconnected than ever before.”
And well-known meditation teacher Jack Kornfield has declared that:
“The greatest tragedy of our time is the disconnection from ourselves, others, and the world around us.”
Disconnection contributes to serious mental health issues, with statistics from the CDC indicating that suicide rates in the U.S. increased by 37% from 1999 to 2022.
We have forgotten how interconnected life truly is, affecting not just the natural world but our own mental and spiritual health, as well as how we foster our relationships and communities. The mind, the body, and the soul, and all the dimensions of our lives are interconnected.
The division fueled by our sense of separation manifests in various ways: from increasing urban sprawl that distances us from nature, to the competitive, individualistic mindset prevalent in our work cultures, which often leads to burnout and disengagement.
Many people experience disconnect from their bodies due to at least three key factors:
Viewing the body as a "machine" made of physical matter and devoid of spirit.
Fear of receiving messages from the body that might necessitate change.
Experiencing physical, mental, and emotional trauma.
Thankfully, I believe the world is beginning to recognize that humans weren't meant to live this way. Many smart, conscious individuals are addressing these issues, advocating for the importance of reconnecting with our world beyond mere matter.
When we begin to tune in and connect to our inner experience, we tap into our divinity and the sacred invisible that connects us all.
Our relationship with our work and business are not immune to these challenges as well.
Some people are starting to wake up to a different way of thinking, but hustle culture is prevalent still in most entrepreneurial circles. There’s a lot of people talking about things like planning your ideal day, achieving inbox zero, and the fantasy of having a 4-hour work week, but all these concepts anchor upon an external viewpoint, rather than looking at one’s inner experience instead.
And it’s entirely possible to be achieving better productivity, performance, growing your business, and generating more wealth, all while operating from a disconnected state. This can work for a while, but ultimately it’s a road that leads towards overwhelm, burnout, as well as potential sickness and anxiety.
This was certainly my experience growing my first consulting business that was generating over six figures a month. Everything on paper was amazing, but I was still feeling uneasy, unhappy, and unfulfilled. I had this constant feeling of needing to have “more”, and that I would be missing out on something until I was able to hit the “next level” in my business, which of course is an unwinnable game.
And when I would try to look for inspiration as to how to solve this problem, and feel better about myself, most of what I would find was continuing to push this idea that we somehow need to manipulate “the outside world” to get more “stuff”, or produce a desired “result” that can be measured materially.
And I felt increasingly isolated as I pushed myself to unhealthy limits with my work at the sacrifice of every other aspect of my life, from my health to my relationships.
I kept asking myself, "if I'm not happy now, when???"
This led me to make some pretty radical shifts in my life and my business.
That’s when I made what you might call a crazy decision. I shut down my business, six-figure monthly income stream and all. Instead I embarked on an adventure of the soul to seek out mentors who had mastered the inner game.
To be clear - I'm not in any way suggesting that the key to happiness is to shut down your business and become a monk.
Far from it. I believe each of our paths will unfold precisely as necessary to fuel our personal evolution and take us to the places vital for our growth.
But I am here to say that if you think your business is separate from your spiritual journey, you might be in a state of disconnection, which might warrant a deeper examination.
I would propose we should be looking at our inner experience first.
And what do I mean when I say "inner experience"?
Just like humans have a soul, or spirit, an aligned and connected business will have a core essence and a deep purpose.
And if you've ever felt your business was a calling, rather than an opportunity, then you are likely channeling a higher purpose.
How does it feel in your body when you are doing your work?
Do you feel alive, empowered, and in your fullest expression of your being as you go about your days?
Or do you often feel full of fear and resistance, finding it a slog just to "show up" for your clients or engage in sales activities?
And looking back on my own journey, what I’ve found is that the patterns that keep us in our stuck-ness and isolation can only be broken through the recognition and beginning to operate from this premise that everything is connected.
According to Vedic traditions, we possess an inherent potential that manifests through nature’s laws, promoting balance and growth.
Recognizing our part in this dynamic and the creative intelligence it entails helps us feel a deep reverence for the sacredness of life and a sense of true belonging. It’s also what helps save us from unnecessary suffering.
And when you begin to operate from this new orientation, you begin to have a very different experience in your relationship to your business. It’s entirely possible to experience more time, money, and freedom while amplifying your results in a way that feels really really good - and doesn’t require you to break down, sacrifice your health or relationships, or to blow up your business because you can’t handle the stress (lesson learned from personal experience).
Once you understand that everything is connected and begin to work at the energetic root, everything just shifts for the better.
It’s not that you don’t use the gifts of your mind to create powerful outcomes, it’s just that now your mind is working as part of a greater integrated system that includes the intelligence of the body, and the heart.
And from this place of connection, you amplify and accelerate your results.
P.S. if you haven't checked out these additional resources, I encourage you to:
Happenings
It's time for Soul Wave Connection, June 2024 Edition!
"What is it?": Every month, Carolina and I both open up 3 x 20-minute slots on on our calendars for the chance to connect with you Philip
"Why are you doing this?": Simple, we like connecting with people on a 1:1 basis - just like how you would get to know someone over a tea or coffee at your local cafe. In our case, it's a virtual one
And it's also our way of saying thank you for supporting us by being here on the Be The Flow Newsletter list.
"Who is this for?": If you simply like connecting on a video chat, then we would love to have a conversation!
"So, how does it work?": We've both opened up 3 x 20-minute slots on our calendar this month, and it's for whoever wants to have a Soul Wave Connection Call with us
Here are some Zoom selfies of folks who have joined us for Soul Wave Connection:
Click to Book Your Soul Wave Connection Call with Carolina here >>>
Click to Book Your Soul Wave Connection Call with Phil here >>>
Who We Are Celebrating:
Kristoffer "KC"Carter
I had met KC Carter at a Camp Good Life Project event in upstate New York, who deeply inspired me with his This Epic Life Manifesto, and how he deeply embodied living the path of the yogi while also playing full-out in modern society. KC would eventually become a great friend and client.
This picture was taken on the last retreat we ran together down in Costa Rica right before the pandemic.
We had a chance to reconnect this week for a catch up call, and it was fun to reminisce about the magic we created.
This guy is always up to something epic (hence the name of his business). If you haven't had a chance to check out his book Permission to Glow, check it out here.
Here is What I Want to Share This Week:
Experience the joy of Writing for its Own Sake
(link)
I recently learned about Foster from DTC brands copywriter Brad Wages, and I'm so glad I did. Foster provides containers for:
Meditation and mindful writing
Somatic experiencing and writing
Noticing & naming
Peer writing coaching
Peer review & revision
The concentric circling technique of sharing your work
Professional editing
Finding the others
I'm so excited to be joining cohort 10 starting tomorrow (July 1st)! It might not be too late to join if it sounds like something you could benefit from.
Memorable Quote:
