Our central task in life is to unmask the hidden possibilities within our challenges and limitations. -Brooke Sprowl
As Wayne Dyer said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Consequently, when the things you look at change, it also changes the way you look at things. This is a self-reinforcing feedback loop that can diverge into both virtuous and vicious cycles.
When our lives are spiraling in a negative direction and our character is properly honed, we use our pain and struggles as feedback, offering the precise lessons we need to re-enter more empowered and transcendent ways of being.
I call this, “the Reflection Principle.”
The Reflection Principle states that everything we face in the outer world reflects something within us. When viewing the world through this lens, our greatest difficulties in life can become our greatest teachers, beckoning us into new ways of being.
When we are meaningfully engaged in the ongoing process of character refinement, we begin to benefit from our difficulties rather than suffer. Not only do we become more robust and resilient in this process, we become what Nassim Taleb calls “antifragile.”
As Taleb says in the introduction to his book, Antifragile:
“Some things benefit from shocks; they thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder, and stressors…Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.”
Becoming antifragile relies on a willingness to meaningfully engage in the iterative and ongoing process of character refinement by viewing our lives through the lens of the Reflection Principle: seeing how each problem we face holds a lesson that serves our expansion.
This is a lifelong process in which we remain steadfastly committed to continuously realigning our lives so that they are increasingly reflective of our deepest values, highest possibilities, and unique expression: our integrity.
As we deepen integrity in every domain of our lives, that’s when the magic happens.
Antifragility is one of the emergent properties of integrity. But there are many more.
According to my psychospiritual model, Emergence Theory, integrity across different domains of life stacks in such a way that gradually draws us into awakened consciousness.
In my experience, when we bring each of the major areas of our lives––self, relational, missional, and behavioral––into deep integrity, we begin to experience the world in radically new ways.
We experience a more empowered and transcendent way of relating to and viewing our circumstances. We begin to have a sense of orchestration, seeing how every seeming difficulty in our lives is ultimately in service of our transformation.
We become antifragile. And our consciousness wakes up.
The premise of Emergence Theory is that this transcendent way of being in the world is the natural and inevitable outcome of bringing every domain of our lives into deep integrity, balance, and wholeness.
That’s why integrity and awakening are inextricably linked.
The principles of Emergence Theory help us usher in a new kind of awareness, unlocking creative, spiritual, and transformative energy that reinvigorates us to carry out our unique mission in the world. Emergence Theory offers a roadmap of these principles.
In a couple months, my incredible colleague Jamaica Stevens and I are leading a luxury retreat in Costa Rica designed specifically to teach the principles that help unlock the magic of personal and collective emergence.
Using Emergence Theory as a roadmap, we’ll chart a course to help you bring yourself, your relationships, your life’s mission, and your behavior into a state of deep integrity and alignment with your highest values, unique expression, and personal vision.
Our goal is not only to give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the magic of emergence at one of the most beautiful resorts in Costa Rica, but also to teach you how to carry this awakened consciousness into your everyday life.
There are only a few spots available and the retreat is by application only, so if you’re interested you should apply as soon as possible.
We’re also offering an early bird discount of $500 big ones for those who apply within one week of receiving this email and another $500 bonus if you refer a friend who signs up – and you’re eligible for it even if you yourself can’t attend.
We’re really excited to curate a group of aligned and soulful people who are committed to personal and collective transformation as we immerse ourselves in the living world at the edge of where the lush mountains and jungle meet the Costa Rican coastline.
It’s going to be pure magic.
Writer Bio
Brooke Sprowl is the Founder of My LA Therapy, a concierge therapy practice, and My Truest North, a cross-disciplinary coaching and consultancy firm specializing in mission-driven entrepreneurs seeking greater integrity, spiritual awakening, and deeper ways to actualizing their higher purpose through collective service. With 15 years of clinical experience as an individual, couples, and family therapist, she is trained in a wide-range of approaches, from evidence-based therapy practices to peak performance and flow neuroscience techniques. Brooke is also the host of the podcast, Waking Up with Brooke Sprowl. She is passionate about writing, cognitive science, philosophy, integrity, spirituality, effective altruism, personal and collective healing, and curating luxury, transformational retreat experiences for people who are committed to self-discovery and using their unique gifts in service of the world.