Winter Mirage

What is this a photo of?  On this first day of winter, I wanted to share the gift of perspective. By shifting your vantage point, looking through another's eyes, or changing your story, your life will change dramatically...even though nothing external to you has changed. This is what it means to step into your divine self, for you are creating everything.

 

This is actually how the photo downloaded and I had to look at it for a few seconds to realize that it is rotated 90 degrees, creating this amazing archway of ice reaching into the pool of water below.  It is actually the ice on a pond that has melted slightly, revealing these inlets and a beautiful penetration of water and ice.

So, perspective is one of the most valuable gifts we have...right up there with free will.  We can paint ourselves into a box filled with all sorts of validations supporting our story; but, that's all it really is, a story.  From a different vantage point, the characters transition from ruthless villains to misunderstood heroes.  Does the object of what we're viewing change?  No.  It is us.  This true in our work, relationships, and connection to the divine and ourselves. 

Our stories literally create the reality we experience.  This is why two people experiencing the same thing can have two dramatically different experiences.  One may feel like the world has turned against them as their everything comes crashing down around them.  The other might experience it as a release which allows them to step onto the path they were always meant to live.

So, if you don't like the story you are living, stop trying to change the external events or players.  The shift needs to occur from within you.  I promise if you give it an honest go, everything about your world will shift because you have shifted; and because you are creating your universe, a change in you will alter the reality you experience.   

Mark J. Platten

Mark J. Platten has his soul rooted in nature, in the holy and sacred communion with the earth and Cosmos. His drive lies in helping people find their passion, purpose, and path by developing the integral human and connecting them with nature. He integrates brain science, indigenous wisdom, rites/rituals/ceremonies, connection with nature, and practical application in the physical realm to become the best version of ourselves.

He is the founder of Integral Human Initiative and Integral Man Institute and helps men and women align with their highest selves through Jungian archetypes, the four subtle bodies (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual), and working with the subconscious to support our highest possibilities.

Mark’s bestselling book, The Art of Connecting With Nature, is an anthology of 22 co-authors sharing how they connect with nature through various rites, rituals, ceremonies, and practices. You can find author interviews on his YouTube channel below and information about courses, rituals, and ceremonies on his website.

He is also a contributing author for three, number-one Amazon bestselling anthologies, and an international award-winning Haiku writer.

On the academic/professional side, Mark has an MBA in Organizational Management, served seven years as an Air Force officer, taught natural resources at the collegiate level, traveled internationally for 16 years as the lead environmental specialist for a company out of London, and since 2008, has been faculty at Colorado State University.

You can connect with him on the following sites:

Websites: www.markjplatten.com
Integral Human Initiative: www.integralhumaninitiative.com
Integral Man Institute www.integralmaninstitute.com
Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtofConnectingWithNature
https://www.facebook.com/whennaturespeaks
https://www.facebook.com/IntegralManInstitute
YouTube for The Art of Connecting With Nature author interviews:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVjtyoGFr25I8xrz2dGQ8A
YouTube for Integral Man Institute:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-eLsxRb8wAQ2FqfRO7t4g
You can contact Mark via email at markjplatten@gmail.com

https://markjplatten.com
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Lightning Kiss