Self Portrait
It doesn't interest me if there is one God
or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned.
If you know despair or can see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need to
change you. If you can look back
with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling towards
the centre of your longing. I want to know
if you are willing
to live, day by day, with the consequences of love
and the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.
I have been told, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.
David Whyte, River Flow.
At times, I think we can all find ourselves seeking deeper meaning in our lives. You might find yourself pondering questions such as who or what am I? What is this life? For some people, these questions lead them to their own spiritual journey.
An integral part of what I offer at Essential Inquiry is the space to explore what this means for you without the constraints that traditional or current religious/spiritual belief systems can impose.
There is a close correlation between the depth of work we do in IFS and Self-inquiry and our own healing and awakening. As a result of doing this work, we can be present with 'what is' which leads to our capacity to be present with the totality of this human experience.
In IFS terms, as our parts heal and find their freedom, our system harmonizes and becomes self-lead rather than part-driven. In my personal experience, we do not end up with a tidy/image/idea or a set of rules to follow. What is available is so much more meaningful and profound.
IFS, Spirituality and Project Management
An Integrated Approach.
Project Management.
Being grounded in a solid and robust plan is always beneficial when it comes to implementing change in our lives. Project management has taught me the mechanics of what is needed through all phases of a project life cycle, from initiation, planning to execution and closing.
Project management provides the tools to help you take action on what you discover in your session. Everything in life is a project, from small to large. The larger ones, such as your primary relationships, career, and personal development, can last a lifetime.
Knowing the mechanism of how to complete a project can reduce the stress that you experience. Robust solutions to managing communication, conflict, and risk already exist and I can help you employ them to your benefit. Part of having a successful life is learning to thrive and flourish within our given constraints.
Spirituality
Rethinking God in a World that has seemed to have lost its mind.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
We have all had moments when we experience different parts of us, such as the part that wants us to go for the new job and another part that get anxious. Other parts you may be familiar with, like the inner critic - that harsh voice that judges and shames you, or parts that seem to come from nowhere sabotaging your best-laid plans.
IFS is an evidence-based model of psychotherapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz. IFS offers a system of understanding how to work with the many different internal conflicts we hold onto that might typically slow down progress in therapy or hinder healing. It also provides an innovative way to regulate your emotions and improve your problem-solving skills.
After spending a couple of decades working on my personal and professional development and supporting others to do the same, finding IFS has been a game-changer for me. This model provides so much room and compassion for us to meet all our parts and to do our work. It can lead to lasting transformation.
In her recent forward to Richard Schwartz’s book ‘No Bad Parts’, Alanis Morissette says ‘his work offers each of us nothing less than the cultivation of kindness, wisdom, and empowerment if we are willing to look within. Doing this work allows every single part of us a moment in the sun. In giving our attention to the parts that need it most, true healing happens’.