Susan had spent the entire weekend at a spiritual training workshop. She had attended others in the past, learning and understanding her faith’s lessons at a greater depth. At this workshop, like others she attended, she was learning new ways to present these spiritual principles to others. She was growing as a spiritual teacher and she enjoyed it. On Monday she was back to her day job, which she loved also, as an interior designer and expert in fung shi. By mid-week Susan felt angry. You know, that kind of tension when you know you don’t want to speak to any one because you feel you’ll snap at them for no apparent reason. She sort of cut herself off from the world. She didn’t return telephone calls from friends or business associates. By Friday she felt calm and ready to take on the world again.

People play this scenario out every day and every week all over the world. Regrettably, most don’t stop and ask, "What happened?" And, in not asking, many automatically take on negative feeling about them self. They assume that something is wrong with them. They may never actually express these feeling outwardly; however, they are expressed energetically and in body language. And, the pattern continues to repeat itself. Our emotions and self-image, read that self worth, sway like a seesaw. We may experience extreme highs and lows and assume something is wrong with us emotionally.

So what happened?

Actually what Susan experienced was integration. Her exposure to new, higher thoughts raised her awareness of what she valued and wanted in her life and in her business. When she returned to work on Monday, although she went out to do business as usual it was far from it. From all outward appearances it may have looked like any typical business day with the normal interpersonal interactions and transactions. However, Susan was different internally. Her clients responded in the ways they had in the past and it no longer worked for Susan.

Not quite knowing why she was upset with emotions almost raw, Susan withdrew for a few days. At this moment, Susan was in the dip. She had a choice. She could think that she was having a bad day, feed herself that negative self-talk, maybe revisit her meds then give herself some room to calm down so she could face the world again. Or, she could ask herself the question, "What happened?"

You know, when you quiet yourself, get centered and ask this simple question, you will always get the answer. You may not always like the answer; however, you’ll always receive it. Your higher consciousness knows. Asking this question is essential for our personal and spiritual growth.

As the Bible says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

Sometimes we don’t trust what we’ve heard. Or we haven’t developed the ability to distinguish between our inner voice and our ego voice. At these times it’s often helpful to seek a neutral friend or guide. You’ll want someone who has the ability to listen to your inner truth and share it in such a way as to empower you.

So what was Susan’s truth? Simply, it was time to raise her standards. Internally she already had; now it was time to articulate it externally, in this case to her clients. More importantly, it was time to know and expect this new standard.

When our internal standards and external standards are in sync we feel inner peace and seem to experience more fulfillment with our external world. Like magic, things seem to fall into place. We attract clients, colleagues, friends and others who are naturally playing at the same level as our standards.

Integration is a natural process. It’s somewhat like riding a roller coaster. When we experience these new insights — whether it’s from attending a workshop, conference, or retreat; reading a book; listening to a personal growth tape — we’re moving up toward the top of the first hill. Then we return to the "real world." We seem to be going along fine for the first day or so, like we’re at the top of the first hill. Then we seem to drop into the dip. We feel we’ve slipped backwards, nothing seems to be going right, emotions come up and, if you are like me, you usually stuff them deep inside. And, after years of being a master stuffer, I can tell you that the only way to permanently rise to the next, taller hill is to acknowledge the feelings and ask what happened. And, if you ask it soon enough, you will almost instantaneously catapult yourself up the next hill. It is in the dip that we get the energy to move forward. This isn’t a landing spot; it’s a springboard. This is the time to get your bearings, awaken your consciousness and ask the right questions.

Life really is like one big, continuous roller coaster ride. If you are a seeker of truth and have chosen the path of personal or spiritual growth there will be many hills and dips along the way. Know that this is the journey; this is why you came into this life. Each dip brings you the opportunity to reach new levels of realization, growth and being. Each dip is an opportunity to bring you more in-tune with your God-self.