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This is an unseen battle…

It's a struggle not often talked about yet it affects many who walk a path of deeper purpose and spiritual awakening…
From planting seeds of doubt to manipulating close relationships and overwhelming us with distractions.

It basically hits you when you are climbing a mountain.

And everybody deals with them, yet nobody really understands them.

I’m talking about those little monsters in your head, I’m talking about moments you’re convinced you’re going to lose it all, I’m talking about negativity, jealousy (the ugliest emotion), weakness…

So as part of my own self exploration and also because many of you wanted me to touch more on “the dark side of the moon”…
I light a candle, and I went into some “scary places” and I was trying to reveal what’s behind these, why they visit, and how we can deal with them. And the best: how we can use them to improve ourselves.

this is going to be a mini-email series, this is email #1

Buckle up - we're about to unpack the sneaky ways the universe (or some not-so-friendly forces) might be trying to derail your journey to greatness.

The Spiritual Battle

Picture this: you're crushing it in your startup or finally tackling that anxiety that's been nipping at your heels.
Then BAM! It feels like the cosmos decided to play a cosmic prank on you.

So let me be outrageous for a sec…
what if it's not just bad luck or your brain being a jerk?
What if there's a whole unseen battle going on, and you're the prize?
And what if…those voices are not YOU?

Let's start with the Dark Whispers of doubt and discouragement.

Imagine them as stealthy ninjas of negativity, sneaking into your mind when you least expect it. It’s hard to notice them because they wear your own voice and they are in your own head.

These aren't just random thoughts - they're calculated strikes aimed at your confidence and purpose.

You know the ones: "Who do you think you are, trying to disrupt an entire industry?"

or "Everyone else has their life together. Why are you such a mess?"

or when you're feeling good about your coping strategies and suddenly a thought creeps in: "This is just temporary. You'll never truly overcome this."

:/

Spoiler alert: Those aren't “just” your insecurities talking.

They're like spiritual hackers, trying to break into your confidence firewall. They can make true harm if you don’t find a system the handle them.

This is their goal - to expand - survive - and reproduce - like every entity in this planet.

It wants more.

Sounds scary, right? It is.

Believe me, I know.

here’s the solution on how to deal with it. We’ll do it with an example.

But first, speaking of treating yourself…

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Meet Tom, a philosophy professor driven by an unwavering sense of purpose to guide his students through challenging times, grappled with persistent doubts as he crafted his lessons.

Thoughts like "your messages are too weak" and "people aren't listening to you" eroded his confidence, leading him to doubt every word he spoke.
Despite his deep faith and profound experiences, these doubts planted seeds of uncertainty about his ability to fulfill his calling.

To quiet down these Dark Whispers, fearful, Tom slows down in his mission. Just until he feels strong again. You know, genuine to himself.
He became “ a normal professor”.

Or… Did he?

Let's dive deeper into this crucial distinction between genuine self-reflection and those pesky destructive thoughts.

And then we can explore how you, and Tom could deal with these mind attacks.

Genuine self-reflection usually comes from a place of growth and improvement. It's constructive, even when it's pointing out areas where you need work.

On the flip side, those "Dark Whispers" are like that one friend who always finds something negative to say, no matter what.

So instead of suffering and getting knocked down time after time… get those “cheat codes” and secret weapons I’m about the share, and level up with the tools we are going to reveal in this extra special series.

Keep your eyes open ;)

So -

The solution is actually pretty fun. It’s a game.

It's like playing "Who's the impostor?" with your own thoughts.

Here's a handy checklist to help you spot the difference:

1. Tone: Is the thought encouraging you to improve, or is it just beating you down?

2. Frequency: Does it pop up occasionally when relevant, or is it on constant repeat?

3. Impact: Does it motivate you to action, or does it paralyze you with fear?

4. Evidence: Is it based on actual events, or is it making sweeping generalizations?

5. Future orientation: Does it point towards growth, or does it predict inevitable failure?

Now, let's break down Tom's story a bit more.

Poor Tom, right?

Here he is, trying to lead his flock through tough times, and his own mind seems to be working against him.

Those thoughts - "Your messages are too weak" or "People aren't listening to you" - they're classic examples of these intrusive thoughts.

But what if Tom flipped the script?

What if instead of letting these thoughts chip away at his confidence, he used them as a springboard for genuine self-reflection?

It might look something like this:

• 👺 Intrusive thought: "Your messages are too weak."

  🤴 Tom's reframe: "How can I make my messages more impactful? Maybe I need to incorporate more real-life examples or speak more passionately."
  

• 👺 Intrusive thought: "People aren't listening to you."

  🤴 Tom's reframe: "How can I better engage my congregation? Perhaps I need to ask for feedback or try new delivery methods."

See the difference? Instead of retreating from his divine path, Tom could use these moments as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Now, let's talk about that spiritual practice bit.
This isn't just about praying more (though if that's your jam, go for it!). It's about creating regular habits that ground you in your purpose and values. For Tom, this might mean:

1. Daily meditation or prayer to reconnect with his calling

2. Journaling to process his thoughts and identify patterns

3. Regular conversations with a trusted mentor or fellow pastor

4. Studying inspirational texts or biographies of spiritual leaders

5. Engaging in acts of service to remind himself of the impact he can have

Sounds hard? In the beginning it can be. If you don’t see results too quickly, it can be. But The 1 Minute Question is here to make it easier for you. This is my #1 goal with my 1 minute questions: make progress easy.

So when a question comes in… focus on those things that bother you.

Light always fades away the darkness. Hold your candle. 1 minute at a time.

These practices serve as a sort of spiritual armor, protecting against those intrusive thoughts and reinforcing one's sense of purpose and direction.

The key takeaway here?
Your mind is like a garden.
Genuine self-reflection and spiritual practices are the seeds you intentionally plant and nurture.

Those intrusive thoughts? They're the weeds.
You can't always prevent them from popping up, but you can get really good at identifying them and uprooting them before they take over.

So the next time you find yourself plagued by self-doubt, take a minute. Observe with curiousity…
Ask yourself:

"Is this thought helping me grow, or is it trying to hold me back?"

That simple question can be the first step in reclaiming your mental garden and staying true to your path - whether that's leading a congregation, running a business, or simply trying to be the best version of yourself.

Remember, you're the gardener of your own mind.
Choose wisely what you allow to grow there!

The next email in this series, we will talk about another “Dark Whisper” which something extremely painful…

Ever notice how sometimes your closest peeps become unintentional dream-squashers?

Keep your eyes out for the next one.

And please hit “reply” or comment if you liked this format of content!

~Lulu and the army of angels behind me