Posted on in mindset

Hard Truths. Pt 2

I’ve been through the growth process of encountering truth a few times in my life. First, there is an encounter with a new idea. Second, there is an awareness of the authenticity that is truth. Third, there is the turmoil of cognitive dissonance. Fourth, there comes an acceptance of the truth which sparks great motivation. (For some, the process ends at step four with rejecting the truth.) Fifth, there is a decluttering and organizing process that takes place as old ideas and new ideas are questioned in light of the new truth. This is where there is some letting go of what no longer suites my reality and some embracing of new concepts that seem to fit just right and feel like they’ve been known all along. Finally, there is a time of peace and joy that comes with encountering truth.

I have found that each time something new and true is encountered, the process becomes easier as it grows more familiar. At first the process feels very much like a process and each step can unfold in a very calculated and thoughtful way. At some point, that spiritual sense is stronger and the process is more like a quick flow of simply acknowledging the truth and welcoming it home. Intuition is a muscle that grows stronger with regular exercise.

I invested a lot of years into “higher education” learning skills and gaining understanding of the human mind. My path was a winding road rather than a straight line. Along the way I learned a lot about life, about education, and about what it means to be successful. I learned much more from people and experiences than anything I learned from books. And you should know I am an avid reader who loves books.

When I completed graduate school and stepped into the clinical world, I learned some hard truths. Simply put, I learned that the clinical world was not for me. So much that I encountered created moral conflict for me. I will go deeper on that in the next article. I also learned that, like most industries, the mental health arena is highly guarded, highly regulated, and it is an exclusive club. The price of membership is high; it will cost your moral and ethical dedication to boards of so-called experts who are governed by the same system that uses witchcraft, mind-control, and the love of money to guide all decisions.

I titled this Hard Truths for a reason. Accepting that last revelation was the beginning of my freedom. With an open mind, it can be yours too.

Part 2

This is part 2 of a 4-part series that will be released in November & December 2021. Part 1 introduces the topic of cognitive dissonance and the foundational truth that not everything is as it seems. Part 2 develops the process of accepting truth and the personal revelations that became apparent to me once I sought truth.

Posted on in mindset

Hard Truths. Pt 1

 “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -Jesus

The most painful of wounds comes from the severing of that which you truly believe from that which you’ve been taught. We cannot believe anything that doesn’t agree with our true nature. We can be deceived but it won’t hold as a truth does. That is why when someone believes something it is unshakeable.

There is a lot of time, energy, planning, and programming that goes into what we are taught. For the majority of people, what we are taught isn’t anything we choose. It is chosen for us. Often, what has been chosen for us has been passively chosen by those before us who just accept what was handed down to them. It’s a cycle that repeats for generations and it’s why a small handful of men are so powerful.

Much of what we are taught starts at the age of our earliest understanding. Things are layered and compiled in such a way that there is a broad and interconnected foundation. That foundation becomes so functional that a challenge to any part feels like a shaking of the whole. When you are learning Algebra, for example, and you spend extensive time working out a problem only to get the wrong answer. It’s defeating! You can be certain you followed all the steps rightly and still your answer is wrong. How? If you make a minor misstep early in the math it throws off the whole equation. So even with every right step along the way you are working with the wrong numbers.

Now imagine the equation is your life and everything you think you know. If one detail is off at the foundation, it could undermine the entire understanding. That is why often when people encounter truth, they reject it. It’s easier to be wrong and feel right than to risk undoing reality as you know it. The thing is, we have some things really wrong. Society as a whole is functioning around misunderstandings and missing some very relevant truths. Some of you reading this will know how to apply that logic to things you already are aware of. If you don’t quite understand what I’m saying, just know this; you may accept and believe some things that just aren’t true. The collective reality of this age is steeped in deception and most people are missing some life changing truths.

Don’t fear the rabbit holes…

Part 1

This is part 1 of a 4 part series that will be released in November & December 2021. Part 1 introduces the topic of cognitive dissonance and the foundational truth that not everything is as it seems.

Posted on in Emotions, Spirituality

Therapeutic Art Workshops

Photo by Dan Cristian

Have you heard about Inspired Brush Strokes the new therapeutic art workshop I am offering? This is an amazing opportunity for community connection, emotional release, and Spirit filled worship through the gift of artistic expression. Don’t think you have artistic talent? Let me show you what you can do!

If you know me, you know I am an artist at heart! Some of my favorite expressive tools are music, paint, photography, and the written word. I use all of these and more in my work and personal environment. So often what I do with people is verbal; we talk. Language is a powerful tool for processing deep things. Sometimes, there is something deeper than words can express. Some pain that is buried may be too hard to speak of. Some joy that is under the surface needs a way to flow out! I have found that the fluid, malleable nature of paint is a perfect medium for wordless expressions.

God can touch the heart, in the depths of places where people can’t reach. Healing can happen in an environment of true worship and reverence to the Creator of the creative! That is the inspiration for Inspired Brush Strokes. It’s a partnership with the Holy Spirit in which we dive deep into worship and allow the fullness of free expression to flow through the brush. I have seen amazing things happen! People find peace and renewal. Chains of guilt, shame, condemnation and fear are broken. Healing happens and relationships are mended. Purpose is found. Grace is received.

This is a local workshop available to churches, businesses, and groups. If you would like to host a workshop and invite me to lead this experience, please contact me at sanders.connected@gmail.com

Posted on in mindset

Betrayal

The thing about betrayal is there must be some level of trust and moral expectation in order for it to be betrayed. That kind of hurt comes with shock or surprise. It is sobering, a let down from how you previously viewed someone. It is the misuse of trust that comes from giving something of yourself with the expectation that the part of you will be honored.

Recently, I was betrayed when someone stole my intellectual property. I had trusted this person to collaborate with me and had intended to work together in a business relationship. That did not happen and instead this person abused my trust, copied my writing, and used my business ideas for personal gain. Have you ever heard “Copying is flattery”? The sentiment insinuates that you have inspired someone so that they want to model after what you do. I suppose that to inspire someone to do something similar would be a nice gesture. However, when they take your literal words it does not feel flattering at all. It’s dirty.

I want to approach this with sage wisdom. It’s something I am learning to do in this season of life. In fact, I am being taught how to “retrain my brain” in a new way. I often teach others how to retrain the brain, a phrase I’ve used for years, and it’s exciting to learn new skills that I hope to share with others soon. So despite how it FEELS to be used for content, I choose to accept that my work is good enough to be admired. Despite the direct plagiarism and it’s moral indications, I choose to accept that my written words are only an outpouring of my ideas and personality, therefore my value is more than words. I choose curiosity about how I can move forward with the knowledge that I have a good foundation and I am ready for the adventure of the next chapter.

I can remember a time when obstacles made me stop. I would often get stuck trying to rationalize things that happened and therefore were in the past now. In this season of life, I am empowered to find the gift in any obstacle I encounter. I have some powerful mentors to thank for such a perspective. Are you getting stuck at obstacles in the road? Or do you have the creativity to climb or move them? You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out if you want to connect for support. I’m happy to help.

Photo by Lidia Riehman on Pexels.com
Posted on in Identity

Creatives

The moment inspiration hits it can shift everything forward. It’s like a pulse of energy that is carried on the wind of motivation. Sometimes the wait for such inspiration is long and the search is dry. If you can relate to this, you might be one of us.

I choose to believe that everything holds purpose and value. So the intrinsic searching and sometimes unpleasant personal growth I have encountered over the last couple of years must be full of potential. A recent moment brought some of that potential to fulfillment for me. In a deeply emotional conversation about purpose there was a word that formed in my mind suddenly; creatives. That word illuminated as though someone had flipped a switch and lit it up.

To give context, I have spent significant time in recent years studying new and deeper concepts around business and marketing. I find value in being both educated and current in what people are seeking. After all, it is people which I serve. I hit a wall in defining exactly who I serve. For many years I have worked in roles in which I serve many different people with many different issues. That has been productive and rewarding. Still, there are certain relationships and contexts in which my strengths produce great results. In other words, there are many things I can do but there are certain things which when I do it fuels my passion. That’s where I want to be. That’s where I want everyone to be. So as I was pondering how to define the type of person who I am most enabled to help, I found the inspiration of Creatives.

So, what exactly is a “creative”? That is what I wondered. Like all good millennials, I asked Google. I was very impressed with the explanation given by Jeff Goins (direct link: https://goinswriter.com/what-is-a-creative ) it follows:

“So, what is a creative?
A creative is an artist. Not just a painter or musician or writer. She is someone who sees the world a little differently than others.
A creative is an individual. He is unique, someone who doesn’t quite fit into any box. Some think of creatives as iconoclasts; others see them as rebels. Both are quite apt.
A creative is a thought leader. He influences people not necessarily through personality but through his innate gifts and talents.”

I love the way that explanation flows. Thank you Mr. Goins, I couldn’t have said it better myself! This touches the heart of what I have been searching for. I know that I am best equipped to help others who are similar to myself because I can walk with you and lead you through places I have been. However, in my analyzing I kept coming up with things I had experienced or knowledge I have obtained that just didn’t define me or anyone else quite deep enough. Now I have a better picture. I know that the people who I work with are the stuck creatives. The artist in heart and soul who possesses something beautiful to leave a mark on the world, whether it’s the world of one or many. It’s the person who has a mix of nature and nurture; natural skills and talents and the touch of trauma that is holding something back. The person with a drive of passion but is looking for direction or guidance on how to tap into it.

Education is a great help. Skills and knowledge are tools. Still, it’s authenticity and knowing who I am that empowers me to see and know who you really are, and help you to see it too.

Posted on in Emotions

A Hellish Train Ride to a Desolate Place

Imagine you are on a train. The train is moving along smoothly, at a comfortable speed. The the motion is relaxing. Outside the windows there are beautifully unfolding landscapes; mountains, woods and rivers, an immaculate sky in the background. It is a peaceful, pleasant ride.

You are on the edge of your seat. Sweat is beading down your forehead and your whole body aches with tension. Your stomach is tight and you feel as though you might get sick. You are missing the beautiful landscape and the relaxing atmosphere of the ride. Instead, your neck is cranked so that you can see out the window and straight ahead. Every hill or shadow in front of the train makes you clench your fists tight to the seat cushion. Your anxiety is in full throttle.

Your greatest fear is experiencing a train crash. So instead of being present in the moment to enjoy a blissful ride, you are thinking about the “what ifs” and potential tragedy. It doesn’t matter that you are in a safe place with a near non-existent chance of actual danger. As soon as your brain recognized that just being on a train that is moving left a minute chance and opportunity for disaster, you locked onto that thought. You are actively watching for danger, of which you have no control to do anything about anyway.

Anxiety is a thief. Fear robs us of pleasure and enjoyment. You could be taking in the moment and noticing all the pleasant things about your experience. Instead, you are trapped way up high in your head, in a place that doesn’t actually exist – the land of hasn’t-happened.

What if you could be present on the train? What if you could see the sunset over the hills and notice how wonderful it really is? What if the dangers and disasters in your mind don’t have to take up space there anymore? You can choose presence and peace. I can help.

Posted on in Identity, personal development

A New Angle

To think; I’ve been placed here on a little 2 acre lot, teaming with life and love, to truly see just how deep, connected, and vast life really is.

Know these things: I believe that perpetual personal development is essential to happiness and fulfillment in life. Also, I believe that pain is the divinely appointed catalyst to change, and change demands growth. Simply, life involves pain and we will meet it at set appointments throughout the journey of living.

Often pain comes through a gradual building of pressure. The ups and downs of life can sometimes tip towards overwhelm with things that need to be experienced. This has been true for me a few times in my journey. Recently, a combination of big shifts and smaller tensions had set me off balance and searching for clarity. Although I did not lack peace, I was not in a comfortable space in my emotions. For me, this indicates work to be done, and so I did.

Very recently I had an epiphany. My overwhelm resolved quite quickly into a peaceful understanding. I used a visual analogy to describe the very abstract resolution in my mind, it follows. Eggs fit nicely into egg cartons. Pears do not. Both an egg and a pear have similar purpose, similar characteristics, and are certainly useful. I have been a pear trying to squeeze into an egg carton. Now that I can see the pear from the egg, it makes sense. My pear represents emotions and beliefs which seemed to set me apart from the eggs I was among. That part of me, representative of the greater whole, doesn’t look like a carton full of eggs all alike. It looks a lot like a bowl of fruit with more color, shapes, flavors, and excitement. I better understand my peace now.

Posted on in personal development

Growing and Going

I love plants and life. We can learn so much from all levels of life, including our life-giving green friends. Let me be honest; I wish I were more of a gardener. I’ve had moments in life where I’ve had my hand in growing things and making beautiful life bloom. More often though, I fail at keeping little chlorophyll darlings alive. It’s really hit-or-miss for me. In the wild, where only God gets the credit for what grows and thrives, I love being a mindful observer.

In some ways we are a lot like plants. God gives as a start, roots, and nurtures us to grow. We need Sonlight and the flowing water of the Holy Spirit. We must be pruned in order to produce good fruit. And if God chooses to uproot us and transfer us somewhere else, it is in our best interest to not resist but to trust him, take root, and grow through the changes.

Sometimes we need to just be where we are planted and grow. In fact, much of life is a matter of growing as we go through both times of downpour and drought. In my life, I have many moments of feeling stuck in a certain place where growth was hard and painful. I also have many moments where growth was a freeing as wildflowers, and maybe just as beautiful. The parts of my story where there was uprooting, transplanting, and going somewhere different; in every case it made me stronger and more able to see the Father’s love for me.

Does this resonate with you?

Posted on in Personal Thoughts

Logo Reveal

I am so excited to get to share this with you! I am an artist at heart and visuals are so important to me. When I decided to develop a logo, a symbol of my core values that would represent my work, I knew exactly where to go. I contacted the most amazing graphic artist I know; Dalton Mault. Seriously, check him out here > His Calling Photo and Design and here > His Calling Design
Follow him because he’s awesome and you might just need the best graphic artist around in your near future.

Dalton was able to listen to all of my thoughts and many words and turn them into an amazing picture. The first thing you see is a tree. I have long used trees in my analogies. If you have read my writing or worked with me you likely know that. Trees symbolize so much to me; strength, growth, renewal, nature, environment, shelter, spirituality – the Tree of Life. I could write pages on the symbolism and what I see. The roots being revealed in the graphic is significant because of the kind of work I do. Roots are literal and metaphorical – all things are connected. There you see where the tag line came about in this process!

Next you will notice this isn’t a portrait of realism. My tree has a special twist! That twist in the trunk is a symbol of the likeness of DNA. This is such a powerful image because DNA is the foundation of identity. Maybe you know where I’m going with this? My niche, the one thing that consistently comes into view in my work, is identity. The “DNA” comes from the roots but nothing is hopeless because roots, like branches, can be cut, pruned, grafted, and changed!

This is my passion and my logo graphic captures it so well. I’m truly pleased with his work and this is a perfect image to represent Sanders Connected. I put my heart into what I do and everything has meaning! You will be seeing this banner and logo across the many platforms I engage with. When you need custom graphic work or your own logo, get in contact with my friend Dalton, I highly recommend him!

Posted on in Personal Thoughts

Big Dreams and Big Plans

Thank you to my followers for keeping up and giving your support. I truly hope you are blessed here! If you are in the inner circle, you already know the plans that have been in progress for the last 6 months. If you don’t already know, there is a lot going on!
I’ve taken a pause from some writing in order to organize some outlets. Website development, contract revising, program development, social media growth, continuing education, and networking are among the things that have been priority for the first half of 2021.

Maybe you have noticed some of the new integrations here? Now you can connect via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It’s all a work in progress but I am so thankful for those of you who are growing with me!

The biggest feature of this year has been and will be the program I am developing. Very soon you will have access to a course for personal development. It’s kind of a big deal! It is the first of a series of tools I want to make available. I am taking the common threads of things that pop up with frequency among my clients and getting “the basics” down in a way that a person can begin their journey and make significant changes in life with an at-your-own-pace indirect coaching system.
If you have worked with me, follow me, support me, and have benefited from what I share; this tool will be something you will want to share with the people you know! More details to come.

If you’ve made it this far, will you do something for me? Comment below with how you were lead to this post. Did you get a subscription email? Did you follow a link on social media? Did someone send it to you? I would love to hear HOW my content is reaching you so I can dial in the best ways to keep it up. You’re wonderful! Stay tuned for more to come.