Cultivating the awakened brain leads to greater creativity, innovation, and situational awareness.
Integrating achieving and awakened awareness strengthens problem-solving abilities and deepens the transformative power of life.
Practical tools such as shifting our conversation with life and storytelling foster greater integration and spiritual transformation.
Deep dives
The Power of the Awakened Brain
The awakened brain is a state of consciousness that integrates achieving and awakened awareness. This state allows for a dynamic and spontaneous connection to life and a deep sense of interconnection with others. Through MRI studies, it has been found that individuals who cultivate the awakened brain have a more highly interconnected brain, leading to greater creativity, innovation, and situational awareness. Cultivating this state involves shifting our conversation with life from a mindset of control and addiction to one of receptivity and guidance from a higher power.
The Integration of Achieving and Awakened Awareness
Integrating achieving and awakened awareness is crucial for our spiritual growth and well-being. It involves realizing that we are both the point and the wave, distinct individuals with unique purposes, while also being part of a larger interconnected consciousness. This integration is facilitated by developing a quest orientation, where we shift from a mindset of "I've got to have it" to one of openness and inquiry into what life is truly revealing to us. By embracing both our achieving and awakened awareness, we strengthen the neural pathways in our brain, leading to greater problem-solving abilities and a deeper connection to the transformative power of life.
Practical Tools for Integration
Practicing integration involves practical tools that help us cultivate the awakened brain in our daily lives. One such tool is the practice of shifting our conversation with life, recognizing when we are driven by the need to have or achieve something and instead engaging in a receptive dialogue with our higher power, asking what life is revealing to us in the present moment. Another tool is the practice of storytelling and bearing witness to our experiences. By sharing our stories with others and listening to their stories, we deepen our connection and understanding of the spiritual path. These tools, when consistently applied, pave the way for greater integration and transformation.
Energizing Practices for Work and Love
In terms of energy, Dr. Lisa Miller emphasizes the importance of starting the day with a mindful and grateful practice. This involves spending time outdoors, connecting with nature, and offering a prayer or intention to open the heart and align with a higher power. In terms of work and love, Dr. Miller stresses the significance of cultivating a quest orientation in both areas. This means shifting from a mindset of "I've got to have it" and striving for external achievements to a mindset of inquiry and alignment with one's deeper purpose and the guidance of a higher power. By integrating these practices, individuals can cultivate energy, find greater meaning in their work, and deepen their connections in relationships.
Passing on Spiritual Values to Children
Transparency and authenticity in practicing and speaking about our spirituality play a crucial role in passing on spiritual values to children. Studies show that when parents and significant others in a child's life live out their spiritual path and share their personal spiritual experiences, it creates a strong foundation for the child's own spiritual development. By integrating spirituality into everyday life, such as regarding each person as a soul on earth regardless of the profession, we can align our actions with our greater mission and deepen our spiritual connection.
The Role of Long Silences and Nature in Spiritual Connection
In a world filled with constant stimulation and distraction, it is important to create space for long silences and connection with nature to foster spiritual awareness. Long moments of quiet and reflection help to form the capacity for dialogue with the sacred consciousness, particularly in adolescence. Additionally, research shows that when experiencing peaceful moments in nature, our brains vibrate at the same wavelength as the innate rhythm of life, known as the alpha wavelength. Therefore, restoring a sense of silence and connection with nature plays a vital role in nurturing our spiritual well-being.
In today’s Heroic Chat, we are joined by Dr. Lisa Miller.
Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology, and for over a decade has held joint appointments in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University medical school.
