This is the second part of my introductory article on the inside-out perspective.

In my last article I noted the spiritual epiphany of Sydney Banks. He saw that three “principles” conspire together to continually create our experience of life in every moment. So what are these three principles?

First it is important to note a couple of important things. To understand what we mean by “principle” it is important to look up the root of the word. Here we find that “principle” really means “a fundamental law or truth.” In other words, we are not talking here about something akin to “principles of effective parenting” or effective anything because that kind of principle is theory. Syd Banks did not stumble upon or create some new theory. This is not a new human-created philosophy being brought into the world. Nor is it the means to live a healthy life (although, ironically, by truly understanding these three principles, one’s life will improve.) If it is not those things, then what is it? What does “fundamental law” or “truth” really mean? It means the three principles are facts. They are spiritual-psychological facts about the way we function psychologically as human beings.

People get nervous when I say “facts.” “How do you know they’re facts?” they say. But people admit there are facts behind, for example, how our circulatory system functions. I am not a scientist so my explanation of our circulatory facts is probably not entirely accurate, but it is something like: The heart pumps fresh blood into arteries. Arteries carry the fresh blood throughout the body to capillaries, where it nourishes the body’s cells. The “used” blood gets picked up by other capillaries, travels through veins back to the heart. Those are pretty much the facts of how that system operates. Take any system of the body, including the brain and its nervous system, and it is possible to see the facts of how that system operates. Sometimes those systems become impaired or do not function well, but the facts of those systems remain in tact always. Are people suggesting that the psychological system is the one exception; that there cannot be facts behind our psychological system as well? Yet, these are the facts that Sydney Banks uncovered. But we shouldn’t take Banks’s word for it; we should be able to see these facts ourselves if we look closely enough. If they’re facts they should be irrefutable.

Here are the three principles or facts behind our psychological system:

1. We are alive. Some life force or power within makes us be alive. What exactly this force is remains a mystery, but it is the same force that makes the heart beat and “fires up” the brain. A clue about what this force is is offered by the world of physics. Physicists insist that formless energy exists behind all life. All forms (e.g., matter) are this energy in another form; therefore, we are this energy in another form. Therefore, formless energy must be our essence. There is no separating the life force from our essence. If this essence is behind All things then we must be part of the All; we must be One with the All. Syd Banks refers to this “principle” or fact as MIND, because it is the intelligence behind all life.

2. All people have consciousness; we are conscious beings. There must be some power within people that gives them the ability to have consciousness. Consciousness is our ability to be aware of life or to have an experience of life. Without it we would not be aware of our experience. Thus, the second principle is CONSCIOUSNESS.

3. All people think. There must be some power within people that gives them the ability to have/generate/create thoughts. This is the principle of THOUGHT.

What we are talking about here is way bigger than what we normally think of as our thoughts. It includes all thoughts that are hidden from us. Everything we take in through any of our senses gets amalgamated with thought, But we are not talking about the thoughts that are produced or created, We are talking about the power that creates those thoughts in the first place. We can come up with anything in our minds. Such is the power of Thought.

The obvious question is, “So what?” So what if these principles or facts exist—or not?

The answer is that how we use these facts is the sole determinant of every experience we can have in this life: from peace, love, joy, wisdom to worry, anxiety, depression, anger, violence. In other words, our use of these facts brings us to one place or another and it is the only way we can ever experience any of those feelings or emotions or any other. [Note: We are always using these three principles or facts to create our experience one way or another, whether we are aware of it or not. In fact, the more we are aware of this within our consciousness—the deeper we see this—the more our lives improve]. And we get to use these facts in any way we want for ourselves in any moment.

Here’s how it works: Let’s say we get blamed for something bad that happened at work. Mind gives us use of our power of thought and it allows us to opportunity to come up with all possibilities. So using this incredible power of thought to come up with anything we create a thought, let’s say of worry. (Not on purpose but it jumps into our head.) That thought gets picked up by our consciousness and one of the “jobs” of consciousness is to give us an experience of that thought that looks and feels absolutely real. So we get a “real” feeling of worry. But it is only “real” from the level we’re seeing it at. It is possible to have thoughts about the same situation from nearly infinite levels of consciousness, and whatever the level that’s the feeling we’ll get. For example, in the same situation we might come up with a thought of anger—that’s a different “real” experience than worry. Or we might come up with “oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it” or we might come up with “It’s a blessing. I wanted to get out of here anyway,” or hundreds of other possibilities, all of which will look and feel equally “real” to us within our consciousness.

• So the bigger question is, “What do we need to know about these facts that will help us in our lives?” In a flash of insight I came up with four main things we need to know [Note: These four things are not facts; they are simply as close as I can come to describing how the facts work within us.] Each of these points is very deep; words cannot adequately describe what I am trying to point to (not to mention Syd). The reader who wants to gain benefit from these points will contemplate each one slowly—just take it in, not try to analyze or ruminate about it because it can’t be analyzed—and see if it’s true. They are not easily graspable, which is why I write books and run trainings, so people can gain a personal experience with the three principles. I’m saying this is how your life works, and how everyone else’s life works, too:
• 1. We can have no experience (within our consciousness) of anything in the outside world that is not of our own thinking, and our thinking changes

1. We can only have the illusion (through our thinking) that we are separate from the life force/formless energy/essence/Oneness/

Source of All things

1. When our minds clear or calm down from our personal thinking what remains as an experience feels more peaceful, more loving and/or more wise
2. Our feelings always tell us whether our thinking is serving us well in any moment, and therefore whether it will serve us to believe, trust and follow that thinking

From my and others’ (who teach the three principles) experience It appears these four huge things are all people really need to know to have a psychologically healthier life. The more deeply they know/understand these the more they will be using the principles to create a better experience of life for themselves.

I don’t expect many readers to simply read the descriptions of the three principles and the four ways they work and have their live change. However, this is the purpose of the rest of my articles on this site. Everything I write from here on will be about these in action.

And I very much encourage people to write and ask questions or raise concerns and issues. I welcome this, for it keeps me fresh and simulated.

For further information, contact Jack Pransky, Center for Inside-Out Understanding, P.O. Box 1392, Montpelier, VT 05601 ~ (802) 229-5871; e-mail: jack@healthrealize.com; www.healthrealize.com.

A number of years ago, I ended a relationship because it lacked an essential component for success and happiness. I saw for the first time very clearly what is needed to create a long-term rewarding relationship. This theme keeps coming in the last few months in my work with clients here in Sedona and on the phone.

Here it is: You need love to create a relationship but it will not make it work. You need compatibility to create a relationship but it won’t make it work. But if you are both on the same page with your commitment to personal growth individually and as couple then you have a formula for success. But if you are not on the same page, then you have formula for unhappiness. And that is what I finally saw clearly in that past relationship. She was just unwilling to grow personally and as a couple.

The sadder outcome as I have seem so many times is when one partner or both refuse to get support but stay in a relationship that is not working. The destroyers of people’s lives are these two statements: “But, Greg, I’m in love with him (or her).” And, “But, Greg, he (or she) is my soul mate.” These components will not make a relationship successful. I know this is painful to accept but inside we all know this is true and most have been there. And people will waste 5, 10, 20, even 30 years in a relationship that is not working based on these statements. And when I say not working this would be understatement.

I have five couples who come see me once a month. Every time I get a call from one of them to schedule an appointment it makes me so happy. These guys are up for the “game”. They all have happy relationships but they want to learn to communicate better or connect more deeply. I call it continuing education or preventive maintence. I think it’s the smartest thing in the world and I am honored to support them in the process.

Bottom line: If you are in an unhappy relationship and you go to your partner and suggest that you both seek support and they refuse, then I suggest you let go and move on. I know this is easier said than done. But sadly, it’s the only solution to honor your spirit. And it makes no difference how in love you are with them.

Some partners will respond, “I’m fine, it’s you that has the problem.” That might be true but if you are partners, then don’t you want to do everything you can to support them? So there should be no resistance to exploring some support together. It’s a win-win; there is always something to learn.

In addition, if you are in a relationship and not willing to be open to getting some continuing education, at some point it will have a negative effect. I use the metaphor of a glass under a dripping facet–one negative drop at a time. You don’t notice these single drops but at some point the glass spills over and this is called divorce. We are all every aware of the divorce rate. So get smart and get more education about how to get your needs met and how to connect and communicate at a deeper level. You have the first two components: love and compatibility. Embrace the third component: openness to learn. That is strategy for victory.

I know there is a tone of tough love in this column but it is sad to see so many people stay in unhappy relationships and not get support. There are amazing therapists and healers out there that can empower you to find each other again. Seek them out. You can do it!

I am honored to welcome my friend, Dr. Jack Pransky as a contributor to the blog.  Jack Pransky, Ph.D. is founder/director of the Northeast Health Realization Institute. He authored the books, Somebody Should Have Told Us! (2006); Prevention from the Inside-Out (2003); Prevention: The Critical Need (2001/1991); Parenting from the Heart (2000/1997); Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner City and Beyond (1998), and co-authored Healthy Thinking/ Feeling/Doing from the Inside-Out prevention curriculum for middle school students (2000).

Dr. Jack Pransky

This is the first in a series of articles that will examine many different topics of concern and relevance from an inside-out perspective.

As a backdrop, it is necessary to explore what I mean by “inside-out.” It is a term just beginning to come into accepted use while at the same time becoming over-used and, I believe, misused. Let’s take a look at its true meaning. First we consider some questions:

What if there were facts about how everyone’s psychological system functions in the same way there are facts about how everyone’s circulatory, digestive and respiratory (etc.) systems function, but this has only recently been realized?

What if these facts, working together, determined all our feelings, all our behaviors and everything we (and everyone else) experience in life, moment to moment?

And what if truly understanding how these facts work within us automatically creates more well-being, peace of mind, less stress, better relationships, fewer problem behaviors and greater effectiveness with “clients” and others?

Exploring this direction is the inside-out world. It is a spiritual world; the world of spirit. It exists within us, through us and around us—it is the formless energy that lies behind everything—but we can only realize it from within. Once truly realized it comes “out” and changes conditions in the world; hence, moving from the inside-out.

The spiritual/psychological facts alluded to above were realized and uncovered in the mid-1970s by an ordinary man named Sydney Banks on Salt Spring Island, British, Columbia, in an extraordinary moment of spiritual enlightenment. Banks suddenly saw clearly how everyone’s experience of life gets created, out of which people then think, feel and act. What do I mean by “experience of life?” All of the feelings we have, every perception we have, everything we call “reality.” In other words, everything that people care about.

If Syd Banks discovered these huge, important facts way back in the mid-1970s, why have they been humanity’s best-kept secret? It hasn’t been on purpose. William James, the father of American Psychology, stated back in the 1800s that he believed there were psychological “principles” that, once discovered, would turn psychology into a science. James never found them, though he came fairly close. Banks did. He tried to tell the world of psychology what he had found, but extremely few heard. It went against what they were being taught (James’s vision had been largely forgotten.) It was rejected or ignored. Meanwhile Banks, himself, tried to explain to others what he had found, and much to his amazement their lives improved greatly. Others (a few of them psychologists), whose own lives had been turned around—they were less stressed, had more peace of mind and well-being and improved relationships—then began to teach to others what they saw for themselves, and they began to get better results with others than they had in all their years of traditional practice. I am one of those people.

Furthermore, when this understanding was applied in the some of the most difficult circumstances, such as low income, inner-city housing projects replete with problems, results were achieved that almost no one believed possible. When a core group of residents gained this understanding it created a ripple effect throughout the entire projects resulting in reduced violence, alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, teenage pregnancy, school truancy and dropout and more. It has been applied in prisons, with gangs, in schools, in social work, as a therapy, in business—all with excellent results.

I highly recommend Sydney Banks’s book, The Missing Link—available through www.lonepinepublishing.com—which in a very simple but profound way explains the basis of what he uncovered.

In my next article I will attempt to explain what the three principles or facts are and how understanding their true meaning will greatly benefit our lives.

For further information, contact Jack Pransky, Center for Inside-Out Understanding, P.O. Box 1392, Montpelier, VT 05601 ~ (802) 229-5871; e-mail: jack@healthrealize.com; www.healthrealize.com.

Each morning when I drive to work I get to the end of my block and I have a choice, I can go left or right, each way takes the same amount of time. I always take this moment to allow my wisdom to tell me which way to go. I feel it in my body. And no matter what, I go the way I am feeling. It occurred to me this is a way to reset or align my wisdom for the day. Its a simple action but it seems to make a difference because minutes later I am in my office facing some wonderful clients and I can feel my responses or guidance coming straight from my wisdom. How do I know it is? Good question! I can only say that my responses feel original and without effort. They simply “feel” right and “good” and the client feels it too. I will joke with them and say,”I really like the way that sounded. Lets both write that down. I want to remember it too!”

I want to encourage you find some way to check or align your wisdom in the morning. Maybe it could be as simple as, “this shirt feels right to wear today” or a question, “what special little thing would I like to do today?” You are engaging your spiritual intelligence and thats is whats really important–to engage!

It’s all a feeling, brothers and sisters–focus on your feelings. The more you do, the stronger and easier you will sense that wisdom-feeling. And in time you will get confident with it and walk your life with a certain knowing, a certain faith.

A Ho,
Your Fellow Wisdom Traveler!

Gregory Drambour

Last week, I had the honor to guide a wonderful couple that were excepting a child to a Sedona Vortex. On the way a special little plant asked me to lead the expecting mother close to her. I directed the mother to put her hands deeply into the center of the plant and try and feel her energy, to breathe in the same rhythm with the plant. After a few moments, the mother confirmed that she could feel the plant breathing! Then I heard my guides tell me to instruct the mother to hug the plant and make sure her stomach, thus the baby, was in contact with the plant. As I was watching them, I suddenly said something that made me catch my breath-”Babies and plants speak the same language.” This will sometimes happen when I am in the vortexes with clients–suddenly I will “channel” a message, a sentence, and a simple phrase that is incredibly profound and blows me away.

We have all heard the research about playing music or speaking to babies in the womb and how it will nurture the baby. Why do I say babies speak the same language as plants? Because babies are innocent, they are untainted by the world’s belief systems. They don’t fall into the idea that it’s silly to talk to plants and thus they can hear them clearly. How many stories have you heard from people who garden about how talking to the plants helped them grow? Wouldn’t the reverse be true! It’s my simple assertion that a baby growing in the womb can benefit from the plant’s energy, a life force directly connected to Mother Earth. Plants have great power. Most of our healing drugs come from plants. They have the wisdom to heal. Wouldn’t this be a good energy to let our growing babies connect with!

The ramifications of this connecting are awesome. The “hado” or the subtle energy of plants is off the scale. Like my new work with water, this feels like another big insight. It just never occurred to me to encourage expectant mothers to connect with plants. Babies in the womb can hear and feel the plant’s energy so much easier than we can. They can hear their wisdom and secrets.

When I got home that night, I shook my head in awe at this special place I live in and this special work I get to do. I am so very grateful.

I thank the Plant People and my Native Guides and the Babies. You have honored me–A Ho.

My clients on Sedona Retreat know this question all to well! Any healing, whether emotional or physical requires two components for success: One, do you have a desire to heal? Two, what are you willing to do about it? And what you are willing to do about it when you are here with me on retreat is one thing. But what you are willing to do when you get home each and every day is another thing entirely! That’s why I encourage clients to enroll in my 4-week follow-up program after they return home.

People come to Sedona and have powerful experiences. Then they get back to their life and within a few days or weeks their world overwhelms them and that wonderful feeling is lost. My follow-up program helps to keep the momentum going and to anchor those insights you received here in on your Sedona Retreat.

As I am nearing my 25th sobriety anniversary, I have taken some time to look back over the last 25 years. I have noticed two important things: One, when I was in a “doing” place, I was moving forward very fast in my personal growth. And two, when I was working with a coach, mentor, therapist or one of the Holy Men, I was also moving forward at an accelerated rate.

I’m with Tony Robbins–we all needs coaches! If not me, then I encourage you to seek someone out. Work with someone for 4 weeks and see if it makes a difference. See if you move forward, even a few inches.

Sometimes, we have to take small steps into what we are willing to do. As long as it’s not too many small steps that go on forever as way to put off the big step! I talked about this in the last column.

Doing equals victory! I have complete confidence in the power of the human spirit and our ability to accomplish the impossible. I have seen it happen too many times, not to believe it.

So, get into a “doing” place-even it’s 5 minutes a day but each and every day–see what happens. I think you will be surprised. This column is my “doing”!

A Ho,
Greg