You and I are quietly sitting on the shore, feeling the sun on our bodies, hearing the rhythmic lapping of the waves and resting within the sacredness of the moment.  Looking out over the expanse of the water, we notice a number of islands off in the distance.   A closer view shows various types of boats; sailing, power and self-propelled boats.  They are each moving through the water heading in various directions.  Some seem purposeful in their movement and others seem to be moving on a whim, being blown by the wind or moved by the tidal currents.

With a burst of evident enthusiasm you inform me that you would like to head out to one of the islands; to venture to a place where you will feel nourished by what you do, and who you are in your life.  You say you don=t know exactly which island to choose, but that you feel it, and know it as a calling, deep within you.  As you express these desires to me, I begin to ask you questions.  >What do you want?  Who do you want to be on the island once you get there?  What are you passionate about?= 

As you begin to answer my questions, a vision begins to form in your mind; a vision of what=s possible, a vision that makes your heart sing, a vision felt as an awakening.  You begin to articulate your passions, what you truly value most in your life, what your purpose is, what difference you want to make in the world.  As you continue, I notice that you occasionally knock yourself off your story by limiting beliefs, beliefs that don=t serve you, beliefs that hold you back, beliefs that make you play small.  I challenge you to take a look at those beliefs and we tease them apart until you can fully stand in a new empowering belief; a belief that will move you forward rather than hold you back.  You try it on, embrace it, begin to own it.  Through this process you begin to have the faith and commitment that what you want to do, and who you want to be, is possible.  You become clear about which island you want to have as your destination by learning more about the people that live there.  It is a population of people who are  your niche.  Knowing your niche, and the island upon which they live, propels you to create your map which will guide you to the island.  You also become more and more committed about  what your contribution to the people will be.  Your purpose and destination are clear.  You decide to embark on a journey toward your special island, the island that you name SPPI Island, an acronym for Sustainable Private Practice Island.

Before you begin your journey, I make this commitment to you.  You can count on me for the duration of your journey.  I will paddle and walk in spirit beside you.  I will show up 100%, be in the present moment,  tell the truth, be patient and yet persistent, be results-oriented on your behalf, hold you accountable, and coach you through the practical steps necessary to reach SPPI Island.  I will be inspirational and offer my creativity towards the goal of you achieving greatness and having what you want.

You begin to make plans to leave and you have many decisions to make.  You choose to go by kayak, a self-propelled mode of traveling.  You come to understand that it is your own inner drive and commitment to the process that will get you to your goal of SPPI Island.  I help you complete your vision time line, showing  the practice route you are going to take, being unattached in the moment to the exact route.  You see it as a starting place.  You=ve considered what your strengths and weaknesses are and you=ve considered the threats and opportunities as well.  You learn to budget for supplies.  You make plans to invite others on the trip.  You include your family and friends;  the special loved ones in your life who are there to cherish, love, encourage and support you.  P.S. Don=t leave home without them!  You choose partners who will be there to help make your vision possible.  You also include some empty kayaks, not knowing at this point who will magically show up to fill them; each one representing a potential partner.

 As you push off from shore, the ocean is calm, the sun is shining.  You are propelled as much by the energy and support of your vision as by the strength of your arm movements.  Life is good!  You head towards SPPI Island.  An abundance of frivolity and excitement fills the ocean air and very little course correction is necessary.  You breathe the fullness of your vision and feel at peace. 

As time passes however, you notice some turbulence ahead on the ocean surface.  Not only is the wind creating swells, the current beneath also has an impact.  The wind is changeable in both direction and intensity.  You are increasingly tossed around and it becomes necessary to put on your spray skirt as unwanted sea water begins to splash into your kayak.  This becomes a good time to engage in some risk and reality thinking.  

You run down a check list of all your resources. You have your life jacket to ensure that your head will be above water no matter what.  You have a paddle to facilitate the power of forward movement and a rudder to hold or change direction.  Your compass and your map are  your constant informers of where you are.  Unless you know where you are, you can=t determine where you=re going.  You have your seat cushion so that the journey doesn't seem so much a pain in the butt.  Your matches help to fire you up  and you always have duct tape to patch up emergency situations.  You have other life experiences to help you navigate both rough and calm waters.  You have a community of paddlers who help you see the humor in many situations.  You have everything you need and you=re exactly where you need to be!   So, given all these resources, you are now in a position to gage risk and reality and to make the necessary course corrections.  As you do this, you keep paddling, being conscious that inaction is going backwards.  With kayak paddling, as in life, it is more effective to push forward rather than pull back. And, in rough seas it=s essential to keep paddling. You are also aware to budget your energy and resources, not expending all you have in sudden bursts.   

During the turbulence, you experience many different emotions.  One is fear.  That=s when I use the Heart of the Beast process to help you welcome the fear, embrace it with love, and come to a place of acceptance.  Sometimes the feeling is exhilaration.  HOB can enhance that emotion and take you to a place of heightened appreciation.  You name the self-doubt and the gremlin questions like AWhat was I thinking? Who do I think I am?@  You brush those aside and remember that it all comes back to choice; the choice of how you are going to respond in the moment; the choice to move away from reactivity and towards a more mindful response.