Quick Note from the Heart: I had a day this week of feeling absolutely pulverized, but in a good way. “Pulverized” is the word I use for one of the flavors of spiritual surrender I sometimes get put into. It’s where I can’t do anything from my self, I can’t push, I can’t “make” anything happen.
In the surrender, there’s a gentleness, a tenderness. A feeling of connection and a calm certainty that all is right in the world. I also have a tendency to want to cry at the beauty in almost anything. And things just seem to happen from that space.
It’s really an amazing feeling. How did I get there? Mostly it’s just a gift from the Divine. But I can put my finger on four things that helped prepare me to be pulverized.
- I was up on my spiritual practices. In particular I just found myself praying under breath a lot over the last day or two.
- Physical exercise. It helped to leave me physically exhausted and uncongested with food or emotion.
- There’s an intense Sufi book, centuries old and somewhat recently translated, entitled Illuminating Guidance on the Dropping of Self-Direction. I had read a particularly powerful section of that to one of my Masters of Divinity co-students.
- My mastermind group supported me in claiming what was true in my heart. They helped me identify a voice I was listening to in my thoughts that just wasn’t truth. They told me, I sat for a few moments and then I said, “I’m in.” In that moment I let go of my attachments and… pulverized.
Today’s video, among other things, came out of that spontaneously. I hope it helps you.
The Spectrum in Marketing
There’s a spectrum in marketing. Hype and craziness at one end, which feels gross. At the other is a collapse and invisibility, where no one notices you.
How do you end up in the happy medium. Compelling, but non-hypey? I decided to turn on the video camera for this one.
As you can see from the screen shot, it’s pretty darn short. Share your comments below.
p.s. How to Say What You Do (In One Compelling Sentence.)
The course is open, the no-cost first lesson is available right now, and the second lesson, for those who jump into this extremely affordable course ($79 at it’s least expensive) comes June 11.
I’ve had a lot of fun putting it together. And I can’t think of any business that doesn’t need it, unless they’ve already done the work.
14 Responses
oh thank you dearly for sharing your experience here.
i’ve been being very attentive to some inner stuff lately. writing alot, doing the Remembrance and generally staying very much with my process. i noticed this morning, as I was feeling massive amounts of fear come up, that i have some belief that painting (the thing that i bring into the world and the way that I process) would be something i wouldn’t need as much if i were “healthier”… oh it hurts to even say it out loud. as if there would be less of a need for it as i grow and evolve.
but perhaps, because of my recent attentiveness, i’ve actually created more of a need for it because the beautiful processing that i’m doing wants a place to speak, and sing, and release.
what you’re sharing about being more ‘on’ with your practices, leading to a state of being pulverized comforts me and resonates.
so thanks! for being such a badass! : ) and talking about surrender….
much love,
jessica
Jessica- you are so welcome! Exactly! So inspiring what you wrote here: “but perhaps, because of my recent attentiveness, i
sigh… yes…. the body just won’t have it any other way these days!
Jessica I am really stuck by your words – about the connection between the artistic/creative drive and health. I realise and probably knew it at the time, that when my creative output was close on obsessional, I wrote plays to work through my deep inner suffering – all these dysfunctional characters that I wrote about so well were parts of me finding expression – and now I am “healthier” I don’t have that kind of drive, I can’t write plays any more – the drive has left me. I’m writing but in a different way. And now what gives me greatest pleasure is to give other people the opportunity to work through their dysfunctional bits creating magical and deeply moving performances. I don’t want to be up there doing it or directing, I am the stage manager that simply sets the scene so that their creativity can be expressed in a healing way. And looking at your website which is the most fantastic idea – you are doing the same thing. All power to you Claire
hi Claire — thanks so much for your words… I’m curious – what are you writing now… what has it transformed into? Perhaps the key word here for me is “transformed.”
I know that there’s also some fear of not needing to paint anymore because I will have worked everything out, but also, I’m really interested in re-defining the word health, especially when it comes to creativity, and the idea that we are bringing things in, and through us…
Perhaps, like you’re suggested, the nature of what comes through us changes… now, you create space for others, whereas before it sounds like you were creating space for other parts of yourself…
you thoughts are adding beautifully to my own right now! thank you dearly,
jessica
As ever Mark, you reach right into my heart. I am now seeing and reaping the rewards of working with the heart of business method – and people write to me telling me what they experience on visiting my website which is quite beyond anything that this little human could have created. I am simply bowled over by what they say and how they have been touched by what is expressed there. It is really about being deeply connected to the heart and to the divine force that is being expressed through my work. It has not been easy getting there, it has taken time and deep soul searching but I am now serving the clients that I can really help and they are coming….
Claire! So glad what touches my heart reaches yours, too. And so glad to hear of the success you’re having with our approach- so sweet and profound, it sounds.
Dear Mark,
Thank You for Your words that were able to sink into my heart and remind me that it is in the deep listening to ourselves and others that we are able to connect and love. All else will follow.
With Love,
Mary Lucille
Mary Lucille- Thank you! I’m so glad this landed with you.
Thank you Mark for this post – I really connect with what you shared about how little people feel witnessed and how important it is to bring that into our marketing and sales conversations. This is, for me, what really brings the heart into business because we aren’t treating people as objects or taking advantage but really seeing who they are, getting to know their needs, and being honest if we have something to help or not.
With gratitude,
Nicole
Nicole- You are so welcome! yes- this is so important, really seeing people for who they are, and being sincerely in service.
Thanks for sharing the compiling video..I really connect with what you shared about how little people feel witnessed and how important it is to bring that into our marketing and sales conversations.
You’re welcome, Katherine.
I think of marketing as the technique used to gain attention above and beyond the rest, whether it is posters (for example political candidates), commercials (selling products), or jingles. There are numerous means of marketing with the intended result being exposure.