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Unplugging from Spirit: The Cost of Being Ordinary!

Unplugging from Spirit: The Cost of Being Ordinary!

Last updated on: August 2, 2023 at 3:07 pm by Mark J. Platten

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Unplugging from Spirit: The Cost of Being Ordinary! 2023-08-02T15:07:13-06:00 Mark J. Platten

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To show that we become like Zombies when we go through life on autopilot and disconnect from Spirit.

How We Move Through Life as if Zombies/credit Canva

Hey there, fellow adventurers! Today, we’re about to embark on an eye-opening journey filled with science, facts, and jaw-dropping revelations about why being ordinary turns us into lifeless zombies. So grab a seat and get ready for some mind-expanding insights!

The Spiritual Disconnect: A Scientific Reality

Did you know that settling for mediocrity can physically disconnect us from the flow of the Divine? It’s not just some abstract concept; there’s science behind it! Studies have shown that when we ignore our innate drive for growth and purpose, our brains undergo changes that affect our sense of fulfillment and overall well-being.

Kids vs. Grown-Ups: The Source Connection

Ever wondered why kids dream big while adults often settle for less? It’s all about our connection to Source! Neuroscience has revealed that children’s brains are more flexible and open to new possibilities. As we grow older, we tend to lose touch with this openness, and our brains become wired to follow familiar patterns through neuropathways. We get locked into our habits and as researcher Lisa Feldman Barrett states in her seminal book How Emotions are Made, our subconscious dictates upwards of 95% of our cognitive function and it’s biologically designed to predict our decisions based on past experiences. We’re literally operating on autopilot instead of taking control of our destiny…Zombieland.

Creating: Our Ultimate Purpose, Backed by Research

The idea that creation is our purpose as humans isn’t just some spiritual belief; it’s supported by scientific research! Studies on the psychology of fulfillment show that engaging in creative activities releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, associated with happiness and a sense of purpose. So, when we stifle our creative urges, we deny ourselves a natural source of joy and fulfillment. Neale Donald Walsch in his Conversation With God series shares that God states that our sole (and soul) purpose is to create. When we move into complacency in our relationships, jobs, and life in general, we’ve disconnecting from our creative juices and we become lethargic, disengaged, and life becomes gray, and often meaningless.

Seduced by Security: The Brain’s Dilemma

Our subconscious brains are wired to seek safety and predictability; it’s a survival mechanism ingrained through evolution. But here’s the shocker: The same mechanism that kept our ancestors safe in the wild can now trap us in a mundane existence! Research on risk aversion shows that our brains often favor avoiding losses over pursuing gains, leading us to choose the safety of the familiar over the thrill of the unknown. This is what happens as we find jobs with benefits such as paid time off, pensions or 401Ks, health coverage, and even the security of knowing all there is about your job. It may give us security, but often we feel like there is something missing, something we’ve sacrificed for that security because our soul is asking us to expand into ever greater versions of ourselves.

My Personal Wake-Up Call: A Story of Transformation

Let me share a personal story of transformation that taught me the value of breaking free from the ordinary. Fresh out of college I became a US Air Force Officer. I had made it! The prestige, pay, benefits, and respect filled all the boxes of the American dream. But I noticed something starting to cloud my energy field several years in. I realized that clinging to the illusion of security was slowly draining me of my soul’s purpose. Even after stepping away, the subconscious “pull” to the known and secure, eventually led me to losing almost 400K in the stock market, destroying my relationships, business partners, and costing me my home and retirement. It was a Dark Night of the Soul. Once I embraced the loss and surrendered to what Spirit was sharing with me, I found my way to a deep connection with the Divine. I wouldn’t wish the agony, loss, and feeling of failure on anyone. Yet, it was the catalyst that allowed me to get in alignment with source, and a whole new world of possibilities opened before me.

Break Free from the Ordinary: Rewiring Your Brain

Unlocking your true potential isn’t some pipe dream; it’s a scientific process of rewiring your brain! Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, allows us to break free from old habits and thought patterns. By embracing change and exposing ourselves to new experiences, we can transform ourselves into the extraordinary beings we were meant to be. Simple techniques such as brushing your teeth with your opposite hand, taking a new route home, and changing routines all keep you engaged with the conscious mind where you’re in the present moment, fully aware, and can make choices rather than operate by habitual patterns.

Unlock Your Unique Flavor: Embrace Your Individuality

It’s time to ditch the vanilla and embrace your unique flavor! According to genetic research, each of us has a distinct genetic blueprint that influences everything from our appearance to our preferences and talents. Embracing our individuality not only enriches our lives but also contributes to the diversity and richness of our world. But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We often spend so much time wanting to be like someone else, and be liked by others, that we abdicate our uniqueness for conformity…another key to living a Zombified life. A better thing to do is question why you want to be like them. What is it that you’re craving and what do you have to sacrifice to get that?

My Hopi teacher would talk about a “willing sacrifice” when preparing for deep, spiritual work. What I understood that to mean is you must always give something before you can receive what you desire. It might be time, money, attention, education, discipline, doing without drinks/sex/drugs/etc., or any other sacrifice. Often, we give these with reluctance, or we’re so focused on the getting that we’re out of alignment with the giving, so our receiving is tainted. “Willing sacrifice” means that we give without attachment, and it’s the giving where the focus is placed. The root of sacrifice is sacred. Being in willing sacrifice is a sacred act in partnership with the Divine.

A New Journey: The Science of Loving Your Food and Body

To show you I’m willing to play full-out myself, I’ll share what Spirit has been whispering to me over the past two years. I was woken on November 5, 2021, at 4 a.m. For two hours I was given information about loving our food and bodies and why diets focus on symptoms rather than the root causes. This was way outside where I typically did my spirit work. In fact, my wife was really upset with me for even considering this because I’ve never been on a diet. I agreed with her, but as I wrote down what was shared with me, it became clear that this has nothing to do with dieting. It’s about connecting with our food, falling in love with our vehicles (bodies), exploring tools and the science behind the conscious and subconscious minds to change our habits, and remembering we’re not our bodies, but infinite, spiritual beings. And those were things I’ve worked with for over 30 years.

Freebie Alert! A Gift for Your Transformation

If this is something that calls to you, perhaps you’re ready to take that first step towards embracing your extraordinary self. Grab a free PDF that will guide you on letting go of diets, scales, and negative body image. It’s time to liberate yourself from the shackles of ordinary living and start living life to the fullest!

There you have it, folks! Unplugging from the Divine and settling for ordinary isn’t just a spiritual concept; it’s backed by scientific evidence. So why wait? Let’s harness the power of our brains, embrace our uniqueness, stay in the present, creative flow, and set forth on a thrilling journey of transformation and self-discovery!

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Food and Religion

About Mark J. Platten

Mark J. Platten is the founder of Integral Human Initiative where he helps people find their passion, purpose, and path by integrates brain science, indigenous wisdom, rites/rituals/ceremonies, connection with nature, and current research to help others become the best version of themselves so they can give their gifts to the world. Mark's Amazon bestseller, "The Art of Connecting With Nature," is an anthology exploring how the contributors connect to nature through various rites, rituals, ceremonies, and practices. He is also a contributing author on four other Amazon #1 bestselling books, has presented three times at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions, is ordained in two traditions, and a high priest in a pagan tradition. On the academic/professional side, Mark has an MBA in Organizational Management, served seven years as an Air Force officer, worked internationally for 15 years, and since 2008 has been faculty at Colorado State University where he's received over 30 state and 20 national awards for his programs. You can read more about the author here.

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