SPIRIT Journey: Transformation
“Transformation” means “to change form; trans = cross over, to go across”.
What we learn should transform us. It should empower us to cross over any boundaries or obstacles in order to get to the other side.
It should give us the “lentes nuevos” (“new lenses”, which is a reference to past blog posts) that we need in order to transform and see more clearly…that which we need to change, that which we do not need to change and to acquire the wisdom in our hearts to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer, basically.
Like all things in life, we have gone full circle in our SPIRIT journey. We have gone through the SPIRIT process, step-by-step. And through that process, we have crossed over many barriers and overcome many obstacles.
But, transformation is not the end of our journey.
We are still not perfect. The world is not perfect. There are just new obstacles or problems.
And most of us, honestly, are really good at re-cycling or hunkering down in past obstacles and problems. We have not crossed over into any new form of being and doing in the world.
So, we will find ourselves back where we started our SPIRIT Journey with serenity because we are overwhelmed and overcome in our minds by the problems and obstacles. And we just circle back to journey through the process again…and again…and again because we are human, and we are not perfect and change is a part of life. Everything is dynamic.
The human learning journey both in and out of the classroom is a spiral…we learn a little, grow a little wiser and get a little better at living our life each time.
Learning is not a “one-’n-done” deal. We never really master anything. The concept of seeking mastery or worse yet, perfection, is one of life’s biggest deceptions and cruelest ironies.
We should always be seeking to figure things out in order to learn and grow into an even better version of ourselves today than we were yesterday. Thank goodness we have multiple opportunities to learn something, to grow and to get better.
Sometimes it seems we are living in a ridiculous world of Monty Python where, each day, we meet a “troll” under the bridge (of death) and have to answer three questions in order to cross over the bridge. If we don’t get the “right” answer or we are unsure of our answer or we can’t justify our answer to others with evidence, then, like the knights of Camelot, we are invalidated, dismissed and ejected away into thin air.
Yet, if we can answer a question about “the air-speed velocity of an unladen sparrow”, we are now “king” of our realm of knowledge and are allowed to cross over the bridge???
You can watch the video clip here and read the script here.
So, let’s look at this more closely. The first two questions are personal and unique to each individual. What we like, don’t like and hold near and dear to our hearts are what give meaning to our lives, direct our purpose and path, and fulfill our heartfelt journey through life.
It’s not about the destination, but rather about the journey!
The knights are seeking the Holy Grail and wanting to cross over the “bridge of death”. What a metaphor! I see it as a light-hearted look at how seriously we take life sometimes and that we just need to take a more light-hearted approach and laugh some things off.
To transform ourselves and our lives is really quite a simple process. Life’s questions don’t have to be so hard. We face them one at a time, and make sure we answer them from our place of truth and knowing. It is our journey, and our journey alone.
Memorized information and what others deem “right” or “correct” or even get to decide what the questions and answers are to be able to pass the test in order to cross over the bridge…that is not what life is about.
Every day, we should ask ourselves, “what will I pass on today?”; “how may I serve the Greater Good of humanity?”; “what difference have I made?”; “what piece of my heart have I shared to create greater peace in the world?”; “what is my impact on the world, and how am I making a difference?” “how can I be of service to something greater than my Ego?”
It is a cyclical, circular, spiraling journey that is
a step-by-step process.
Learn a little - grow a little - know a little - REPEAT
Maybe the real “transformation” or “crossing over” that we do is indeed…in the end…our “final” destination…our death. So, what we have during our mortal time here on Earth is really just multiple opportunities to “learn a little – grow a little – know a little”.
We spend a lifetime as humans striving for that highest level on Maslow’s Hierarchy = self-actualization. We are confused and deluded to think that if we just work harder or faster or if we were stronger or more rich/pretty/successful/ “put any adjective here” or if “so-and-so” would just do this or if I could just do that or that everyone should just do “x”…we will reach our destination…true happiness and fulfillment in life.
In the classroom, there are the same thoughts…if only “x” student/colleague/parent/admin would… if only I could do/be/have more “x”… nothing is the way it should be, and therefore, I am not/cannot/will not ever be happy or fulfilled.
Woulda-coulda-shoulda keeps us from being happy. We have explored this so much in our SPIRIT Journey from the beginning at serenity. It steals our peace and our peace of mind. It drives doubt, fear, anxiety, anger and hatred into our hearts.
Remember we talked about IF and would/could/should language, which lies in the realm of the subjunctive, which is a mood of doubt and not based in reality whatsoever.
In Spanish, the word “actual” means “real” and what is “current”, “true” and “existing”.
To self-actualize means to become real…to become whole…to find all those pieces of yourself so you can return “home” to the core of your True Self and divine being.
The pinnacle of Maslow’s pyramid is not happiness, wealth, health, success, power, possessions or any of the other mis-guided ideas we typically associate with reaching a pinnacle or high point so that we can look down on the rest of the world and feel safe and sound at our final destination of accomplishment.
I don’t think it should be a pyramid at all, but rather, a circle.
……….Round like a tire that can keep moving forward.
……….360 degrees to keep returning back to have another chance to go through the process again and again and again.
……….Circular and enclosed like the concept of wholeness, a community circle or like arms holding us, comforting us and loving us in an unconditional warm embrace.
So, until we are ready to truly cross over the real “bridge of death”, we need to keep the circle of life going…learn a little, grow a little, know a little, REPEAT. It really is as simple as that and the key to real human transformation.
Essential Question of the Day for TRANSFORMATION:
What do I REALly want to change in my life, and why?
CAN DO Statements:
I am curious about the biggest obstacles that keep me from “crossing over” from the place I am to the place I want to be.
I sharpen my lenses and gain a new perspective to inform my choices.
I remind myself that learning is a journey and not a one-’n-done deal.
Best practices for today:
I will transform my relationship with myself and with others with kind thoughts, kind words and kind deeds.
I will transform the lives of children through my choices and my teaching today.
My experiences today will be transformed when I accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can and call upon my inner wisdom to know the difference.
Inspirational songs:
The Circle of Life from The Lion King
Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds
Cover photo credit:
“Pack horse bridge” by Jaxpix50 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
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