Blog member, Daniel Lucas (who is a real sweetheart) made this for us. He’s so talented, I thought he was a graphic designer or some other type of artist.
As far as the poll on the CE Facebook closure, it looks like 11% want it closed. I had an epiphany. When there is drama or negativity, those who are bothered by it shouldn’t leave the group; they should try to find the lesson within. Also, these are teachable moments in that we can try out the emotional honesty and boundaries Erik has taught us about and express ourselves respectfully instead of launching a counterattack which only serves to fuel the fire. So, there are plenty of lessons to go around. Maybe Erik said no on the eBoard because he wanted me to come to this conclusion. In any case, I’ll ask him again through Jamie.
As far as the EVP contest goes, we have a winner, John H. (not sure if he wanted me to use his last name, so…).Listen to the voice and give your feedback as to what he’s saying. John, email and let me know what celebrity YouTube you’d like me to send you!
And now for some excitement. For the first time in years, we’re going to have our first Ask Erik submission. Please tell us your story and what questions you’d like asked. Keep them short because sessions are kind of expensive as you all know, and I’d like to be able to keep this up. Here are the rules: You have until 12 noon CST to email your submission to me at emedhus@gmail.com. During that time, I’d like to request that everyone limit their regular emails to me because I get swamped as it is and since I’ll probably be getting a lot of these submissions, it’ll be overwhelming. Those submissions not withstanding, I’m asking everyone to refrain from emailing me unless it’s a pressing issue. My OCD compels me to answer each and every one of them, and it’s just getting to be too much. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you, though!!
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As promised, here is a conversation between blog member and gifted medium, Jesse Sulam and Erik. Thanks Jesse (and Erik, of course!)
Like so many people in life, I have lately been struggling with feelings of being stuck. Growing up in a certain place and finally deciding to leave it behind, once and for all, I thought, “What better way to approach this issue, than to ask Erik for his insight and opinion?!” Cue the music, people.
Erik shows up in some casual jeans with holes in them, a black faded T-shirt, and a backward baseball hat.
So Erik, what are your thoughts on those people out there who cannot seem to make a decision, or get stuck in the whole “paralyzation-through-analyzation-thing “?
You live in Montana, so you will appreciate this.
He shows me the image of being late for work, and a car stuck in a snow bank unable to move.
There are many ways that you can deal with the situation, but simply trying to jam down on the gas pedal does not work. You might need a bag of cat littler under the wheels, you might need someone to push you out, you might need a tow. Too often people will just stay in the car and keep trying to solve the situation from in there.
So basically, could it also be seen as stepping out of your comfort zone, and trying something different?
Exactly. Having change be peaceful and shit is all about listening to your feelings, in the moment.
He sends me the image of him in a ridiculous chefs hat, stirring a huge pot of soup.
When you are cooking a pot of soup, there is a constant feedback going on, as to what you put in. Yea, sure, you may be following a general recipe—but you are adding a touch of this, a bit of that, according to your taste. You know it needs a little paprika? (BOOM) A dash of pepper? (BAM)
(He gives me the image of Emeril Lagasse, doing his famous sound haha)
You don’t have a strict adherence to what it looks like, bro. You only know what tastes good and what doesn’t. People could learn a lot from this, about living in the moment.
Yea, my sister went to culinary school and she always says that baking is a science, and cooking is an art.
He speaks in this hilarious Forrest Gump voice, and says, “ F*** chocolates. Life is like pot of soup.”
So how do you understand whether to keep pushing, or to actually try something different?
You have to get truly quiet, man. Get to that really still place inside yourself, where you ask; Am I going forward in a healthy way, or am I simply spinning my wheels and resisting change?”
You mean like mediation?
Sure, if you want to call it that. But it’s not so complicated as all that.
Ugh, but what about the fact that change is so damn haaaard?
Everything changes man. Everything. People get so attached to what something should be that they don’t allow for what it COULD be. Going back to stuck car, this leads to my next point. Have you looked under the wheels to see if you have bald tires, have you asked for assistance for a tow? We are MEANT to be interdependent beings–NOT solely independent beings. In society you are often taught that, “If you want something done right do it yourself. People always are always being told shit like this. That they should be an island, unto themselves.
He sends this image of a sunburned guy with a straw hat, strumming his ukulele on the beach all alone.
I have said this before, but NOBODY is an island. Nobody. Noooooone. Fuck that shit. That’s a huge part of the reason why there’s such high levels of depression in some cities. Because people live in these bubbles, where they don’t get to know each other and aren’t interwoven with their community.
Here, on the other side, we understand that there is a connectedness. If we need rope, we go get fucking rope. If we need help, we go ask for help. There is no ego in the sense of, “ I can’t ask for help because I am too prideful, or I am ashamed.”
Yea, it’s not easy to ask for help though, Erik. Especially, when there are many judgments and preconceptions flying around.
I never said it was easy. But it is necessary, dude. Think about guys who do not ask for directions. There is a lot of pride that goes into that type of thinking. They are so sure that they know where they are going. And then they end up in the fucking woods somewhere.
Haha I guess that’s a good point. My dad never asked for directions, and it caused so much unnecessary stress and yelling.
The best part about reaching out for help is, that it allows people to be more emotionally honest, more grounded in reality, more compassionate. There is a lady who is a famous news anchor, who came out as an alcoholic. She is going to have a huge impact on those in corporate settings.
(I had to look her up; I think he is talking about Elizabeth Vargas.)
She admitted that she couldn’t handle the issue by herself, man. She realized that she required help from outside sources. But by helping herself, she is also benefiting others in similar positions of power, by showing them/ giving permission to be brave enough to acknowledge their own substance abuse issues.
What about when you have tried so many things, and nothing seems to be working? When you STILL are stuck?
He brings up the example of the car again. Damn, I need new wheels. He keeps showing like this pimped out Range Rover, haha.
Well sometimes when it comes down to it, is there a reason you enjoy being stuck in the driveway? For example bro, by being stuck can you avoid going into work that day? Is it kind of a “get free out of work pass card?” These are not the kind of questions most people will ask themselves dude, but that shit is there nonetheless.
Ok, good point. I have definitely been guilty of this… Any parting thoughts?
No, just that sometimes the answer is as siiiiiiiiimmmple as a fucking bag of cat litter.
Hehe, fair enough.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
