Jump to section
“Some people awaken spiritually without ever coming into contact with any meditation technique or any spiritual teaching. They may awaken simply because they can’t stand the suffering anymore.”
– Eckhart Tolle
Have you ever set your sights on a goal (the red door) and poured your heart into achieving it, only to hit a dead end? It can be frustrating, but what if that obstacle was actually a redirection? A redirection to something greater, a spiritual growth, you didn’t see coming.
In case you’re wondering what my point is, Dr. Lisa Miller, our first guest speaker for Coacharya’s International Coaching Week 2024 (ICW) webinar series, opened doors (read perspectives) for us we couldn’t have fathomed. In conversation with Master Coach Priya Ramesh, Dr. Miller, New York Times Bestselling Author and an expert on spirituality, kicked off the ICW 2024 celebrations at Coacharya. Together, Dr. Lisa and Priya delved into what spirituality is, how it can lead to unexpected opportunities (the yellow door), and the connection between coaching and spiritual awakening.
What is Spirituality?
I have often posed this question to myself: What is spirituality? How do we define it? Make no mistake; spirituality is very different from religion. Although many people associate it with religion, spirituality is something much deeper within ourselves, as the discussion with Dr. Miller also uncovered.
During their discussion, Priya started by asking Dr. Miller to elaborate on what spirituality means. Dr. Miller said, “The capacity to know in the deepest way that each of us is a sacred being, that there is a source of life in us, through us, and around us that is sacred.”
Red Door vs. Yellow Door: Embracing Unexpected Opportunities in Life
“I guess you never know, never know
And if you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow”-Taylor Swift, the 1, Folklore
Our life’s path isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes, the greatest growth comes from unexpected detours. Exploring this concept, Dr. Miller discussed the link between suffering and spiritual awakening. Many spiritual traditions view periods of intense struggle, or “developmental depression,” as invitations for deeper reflection. This emotional distress pushes us beyond intellectualizing and compels us to open our hearts and minds to a greater reality.
The concept was further illustrated with a powerful exercise. Dr. Miller invited Priya to recall a time of intense desire, where she meticulously planned and pursued a specific goal (represented by a red door). However, despite perfect planning, she encountered a dead end. This symbolized the universe’s way of redirecting us, presenting a new, unforeseen opportunity (the yellow door). This unexpected path, though different from the one envisioned, ultimately led to a more fulfilling outcome. The exercise highlighted the importance of surrendering to the universe’s flow, where the red door refers to old information holding us back, and the yellow door is the directed, inspired guidance we receive through practices like coaching.
Key Themes Explored in Spiritual Growth Webinar
Here are the key themes that were explored in the webinar:
1. What is Spirituality?
2. Transcendent Relational Spirituality and Imminent Relational Spirituality
3. Fear and Spiritual Awakening
4. Developmental Depression
5. Conduits of Consciousness
6. Awakening the Brain
One Consciousness: We are all Connected
“We are loved and held and guided and are never alone. We’re part of one consciousness.”
In a Zoom call, one hardly ever thinks about sharing the same consciousness as the person (s) on the other side of the screen. I know I don’t. Yet, Dr. Miller highlighted how despite sharing different GPS coordinates, the people who were part of the webinar were part of one family of life, one field of creation. How deeply her words resonated with the audience could be seen from the constant comments on the chat box and the goosebumps felt when she explained why and how that is.
Dr. Miller’s words were not only an inspiration but they also felt like a warm hug after the end of a long, tiresome journey. So the next time you feel alone or that red door remains elusive, remember that someone is guiding you. And if you just take a pause and look around, a yellow door with so many more possibilities awaits you.
At Coacharya, we believe that coaching brings people together and awakens our brains, hearts, and spirits. We believe that coaching and spirituality are interconnected. If this blog post resonates with you and if you’d like to explore coaching as a path for spiritual awakening, reach out to us at contact@coacharya.com or simply check out our website for coach training programs and other resources. And remember that the red door is not the only door.
ICW 2024 Webinar: Spiritual Faith
Like to listen instead? We have a podcast!
Cover Photo by Eldar Nazarov on Unsplash
