Today we are joined by Nancy Oelklaus, who has taken time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about her new book. Thanks for being here, Nancy!
Your book is entitled, “Journey from Head to Heart: Living and Working Authentically.” What does it mean, to live and work authentically?
When one lives authentically in every area of life, professional and personal, life is simply easier. Situations get resolved with least effort and best results. What this way of life requires is that we become aware of how we’re feeling from moment to moment—that we keep “checking in” with ourselves and ask, “How are you doing?” If the answer is “I’m feeling ill at ease,” then it’s time to stop, breathe, and ask our heart what it needs. With our finely trained analytical and problem-solving skills, we have a tendency to make everything a problem to be solved—negative energy. When we live and work authentically, we know the solution is close at hand if we will only open the eyes of our hearts and allow positive energy to come in.
You mention that there are several components that go into creating wholeness, including science and spirituality. What are the other components, and why is it important that we have all of them?
The human system derives energy from four sources: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. One of the first things that happens when we become ill at ease is that we begin to breathe very shallowly, reducing the supply of oxygen to the brain and making it even more difficult for us to function well. Also, when we feel depleted, we choose caffeine or sugar to boost our energy instead of water, which is what we really need. We’re moving so fast that we don’t interpret well the signals that our bodies are giving us that they need water, air, nutritious food, and exercise. When we make different decisions, we add to the anxiety that’s already there, in an escalating spiral.
Emotionally, we ignore how we are feeling. Over the years we’ve developed emotional calluses for protection. Something bad happens and we say, “Let’s just move on.” Eventually, we find that we’ve protected ourselves so well that we don’t feel anything at all. We have cut ourselves off from joy. We do this in a wide variety of ways, all of which have the effect of depriving us in the end from having what we want the most—a happy, fulfilling life.
You also mention that by reading your book and using the principles in it, the power of ego is diminished. What is the power of ego and why do we need it to be diminished in order to create wholeness?
When we are very young, ego starts to grow out of the emotions of fear and anger. In the beginning, ego exists to protect us. But then it outlives its usefulness.
For example, if a young girl is being treated inappropriately by the males in her home, either brothers or father, she might develop a bully tendency to keep them in check and herself safe. Thus the pattern she learned for survival becomes set. Later she no longer needs this pattern, but it’s her default setting—so she feels uneasy when men are present, and her bully comes out to defend and protect her. When we’re acting out of fear and anger, we are not being authentic. We’re not at our highest and best, and we are not inspiring the highest and best from others.
What are the emotional and physical side effects we suffer when we are out of balance?
The symptoms I see most often are sleeplessness; headache; depression; multitasking; heartburn; pain in the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
What are some of the problems we can overcome by creating this balance within ourselves?
Any problem can be lessened—financial, relationship, career, health—by practicing a simple program that includes paying attention to what’s really going on inside you and following a spiritual process that lifts your anxiety. It’s a discipline that the most successful people follow for a lifetime.
Wow — I was just sitting here with back pain and a headache, thinking I could use some sugar and caffeine and trying to multitask. I think I’m a prime candidate for this book!
Thanks for joining us, Nancy. Talking with you has been enlightening and I wish you luck in all you do.
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