Is This From Your Soul or a Shiny Distraction? #242

When we hit a crossroads in life, it's only natural to look for solutions.   In fact, our mind starts working overtime to find just the perfect solution to keep you moving forward and get you out of that uncomfy transitional space as quickly as possible.  Lo and behold, the perfect solution seems to appear and your engines start going full steam ahead.  Only, you realize later that something just doesn't feel right with your Soul?

It's always hard to realize that you've been spinning your wheels when you thought you were actually going somewhere.  Our mind loves a "this will fix everything!" idea, because it puts all of the uncertainty to bed (temporarily). 

In this episode, we are talking about the calling cards of shiny distractions vs. Soul level guidance.  You'll learn to recognize the "quick fix" energy that pulls you away from your deeper truth and what to do if you're halfway down the path of shiny distraction and feeling disheartened.  If you've ever wrestled with decisions that seemed right but felt off in practice this episode will help you with your discernment and connecting with a deeper level of self-trust.

About Christina Wooten, Sedona Medium:

Want to take more aligned action in your life?  Want to understand the energies at play each month, so you can flow with Divine Timing?  Join the Inner Circle to get access to Monthly Readings with Christina and the Energetic Calendar!

Christina Wooten helps you access the wisdom and support of the Spirit World to elevate your life.
She is a Certified Psychic Medium and Reiki Master Teacher.  Christina is the owner of Sedona Medium and co-host of Modern Life and Spirit podcast.

She offers Psychic Medium Readings, Soul Readings, Past Life Regressions, and teaches how you can start communicating and receiving messages from your Spirit Guides - through her program.
Learn more about her offerings here

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Transcript

Unknown: 1:38

Steve, welcome to the Modern Life and Spirit podcast, where we explore spiritual topics relevant to today's world. Your hosts, certified psychic medium Christina Wooten and Reiki master teacher Robert Wooten, break down how to work with spirit to create more positive growth in your life. Consider this podcast your go to spiritual resource for navigating the modern world.

Christina Wooten: 2:06

Hey there, kinderd spirits. Welcome to Modern Life and Spirit podcast. This is Christina Wooten, certified psychic medium at SedonaMedium.com Welcome to our show today. Today has been an interesting day. It's been a fun day, in some ways, a playful day, a kind of silly day. I was meeting with some friends who I meet with regularly over the past five years on Zoom earlier today, and for those of you who have kids who are home with you in the summer, maybe you can relate to this experience. I had told the kids, okay, from this time to this time, I will be hanging out and meeting with my friends, so if you can grab whatever you need from the communal area before this time, that would be fantastic. Well, don't you know, I'm kind of in the middle of things, and I start hearing this little like, just random, like little subtle sounds in the background. And I know that this is we did not do the things that we needed to do beforehand or in the background. As it turns out, my son had decided that he wanted to get something from the refrigerator. He came out, opens the refrigerator, grabs some things, and then army crawls out of the room, because he does not realize that I have my virtual background on. And yeah, so that is that is summer with with the kids, which has been a lot of fun in so many ways, we've had amazing quality time together. I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to really spend time with them right now. I hope that your summer is going great and that things are going well for you, and that you are having some silly moments that are kind of breaking you out of the seriousness and kind of intensity of life right now, I know we're getting some fresher energy coming in to lift our frequencies in this month of June, and I know that it's all very welcome for us. So as we start talking about our topic today, I want you to just reflect on Have you ever made a decision that you felt really, really excited about it first, like you're just so stimulated by it, you can't stop thinking about it. You're just like, fantasizing about what it's gonna be. Like you're thrilled. And then two weeks later, you realize, I don't know, I don't think this has staying power. You know, all of that energy came at the front end, and as you got a little further down the line, it kind of fizzled out. The enthusiasm fizzled out. Maybe you bought a course, maybe you hired a new business coach, maybe you launched a new thing. Maybe you're just shifting up your life plan, I don't know, but when you got into that decision, it made sense. In the moment, it looked like it was the answer. On the outside, you felt enthusiastic about it, and so you followed through. But deep down, if you had really been sitting with it. If you had really been allowing your intuition to truly speak to you, you would have heard something completely different. And it wasn't this like surface level enthusiasm and excitement and hyper focus. It was something else was trying to emerge that get kind of blocked along that process. There is a really big difference between our true soul directions and shiny distractions. And the tricky part is that the distractions can be really convincing. It sounds very logical. It seems like the right idea. It seems like the perfect solution to whatever is happening. It looks like momentum, but really, in the end, it doesn't seem to nourish you. It feels hollow. It feels empty. It doesn't hit that right itch. So today we're going to be talking about how to tell the difference, especially when things look really good on the outside, when we have these biases and it looks really nice and pretty on the outside, how do we know what is really shiny distraction syndrome or what is a soul directive? So let's. Start first with talking about shiny distractions. What are shiny distractions? They often really seem like a good idea. They seem like this perfect solution. It comes usually with a strong sense of urgency or a lot of emotion is attached to it. Maybe you're having these thoughts like this is gonna fix everything. This makes perfect sense. I don't know how I missed this before. Maybe you're thinking, I don't wanna miss out. This is my one chance. This is my opportunity. It seems to be working for everyone else. I need to try this too. It's very emotionally charged, very urgent. Sometimes it comes with that energy of like, Oh, I'm so excited. I'm enthusiastic. Like, let me write all of these ideas. And, you know, write everything out. I'm gonna stay up at night researching and figuring it out, and feeling really like pulled in to this narrative and this story that is being created around this idea of the solution. It often appeals to our ego. Maybe it helps us feel more powerful instead of uncertain in times of fear, or it appeals to that desire for fast solutions for getting through the discomfort of things that feels suddenly really good. Like, ah, I've got direction. I can just make this happen. I can will this into form. And so you may actually feel that will begin to activate. Like, how do I make this happen? You might start having some of those thoughts as well. And some people feel your solar plexus start to real, really rev up, and you start to feel that energy of pushing, okay, like, I've got to push something to make it happen. I need to make up for lost time. Okay, so you'll start to get those sensations in your body of like, Ah, I gotta push and make it happen. You might even notice tension in your muscles as well, because this is coming from our will and our ego specifically. And it can look like in real life, you know, signing up for a business coach that you don't actually need, but you're feeling like, Oh, I'm behind. Really need to catch up, or I need to learn this new strategy, or I need to, you know, figure this out, or maybe you start a creative project that just isn't really aligned, but it looks good, or you think it's gonna, know, have good results on your resume, like, Oh, I just need this for some logical piece of the puzzle. It can be saying yes to an opportunity because it checks the boxes, but not because you felt a deep calling to that opportunity or to that work shiny distractions. They are loud, they are shiny and sparkly, and a lot of times they're logical, and they make promises to us. They lure us in with these, you know, narratives and promises that this is going to fix it, this is going to solve my problem, this is going to help me get out of this, like, funky place that I'm not very comfortable with, that doesn't have the answers yet, but it rarely holds your energy for long. It doesn't have that staying power. It doesn't have the, you know, true life force of the soul. It's not nourished. It only has this kind of temporary spark that we can will into something, and then that sort of evaporates because we sense that there's no truth in it. And ultimately, when we sense that there's no truth in it, gets harder and harder and harder to follow that. So in contrast, what does soul direction really look like? Our soul direction is happening on a deeper layer. So it's quieter, it is deeper. It may arrive for you through a deep sense of inner knowing or a pull towards something that you just can't quite explain. So in distractions, you're going to feel all of that enthusiasm and drama and excitement that's all happening on this very like surfacey level. It's very on the mental plane. So it's going to really, like, occupy a lot of thoughts. It's exciting. It's whizzing around and changing back and forth. So it's really in that air type of energy. So it's shifting and evolving very, very quickly, and suddenly you feel like, Oh, I've got it all figured out. I now have the plan that's there. So that's happening on this very attractive, engaging surface level. So when we talk about the soul, direction that we're getting that is deeper. So we have to actually quiet the mind, quiet our emotions, because emotions get really stirred up. With our distractions. Okay? So we have to get past that space and hear what is happening on the very depths of ourself, with our soul level direction. A lot of times it doesn't make sense. It isn't requiring our mind to understand the direction that we have or to fit into a plan, right? Our intuition is just bringing us along in our soul journey and our soul path, and we have preconceived ideas and understanding about what that should look like, or we want it to look like, right? So a lot of times, we try and fit in that soul direction like a little puzzle piece into the plan that is already there. Our soul direction knows that it doesn't have to make sense to us. It doesn't have to fit like a pretty little piece. Okay? It's going to ask you to slow down, to get really deeply honest with yourself, sometimes it's telling you it's time to change course. So instead of building on momentum, it's going to say it's time to shift. It's time to release attachment, and it's time to let go. You know, our true soul is not concerned with what things look like on the outside, right, or what we feel like we've invested in something. It's when it's time to change, and the energy has shifted. We are here to respond to that, and so it's directing us to sometimes change course. It also asks us a lot of times to trust something that we can't prove it doesn't make sense. We're not going to be able to justify it necessarily to other people. In fact, you may not be able to justify it to yourself. It doesn't need rationalization, really, but we have to trust in the direction that we're provided and bring our faith to this direction. And those directions might be inconvenient. It might be really emotionally uncomfortable, because it may rub against some of you know, the stories you have about yourself or your life, or the direction it might bring up unhealed things that still need to be worked through, and it's usually not what your ego wants to hear, or ego wants to protect that story and the plan, right? It wants to protect the sense of safety and security, but it's also leading us, unfortunately, away from true security, which is what is for ourselves, what is really for us, and where we can find that energy for ourselves is in our true soul path. So a lot of times it's meaning to bring us to security, but it ends up taking us in the wrong direction. So when our ego just doesn't want to hear it, sometimes that can be a direction of this is coming from a different place, for sure, and our soul messages has a type of staying power. It brings a sense of peace, even if we know it's going to be challenging, even if we know it might be hard, there is this sense of but it's okay. All is right with my soul, soul alignment doesn't always feel good, okay, there's a lot of emotions that get, you know, dug up in the process, but it will always feel right on a deeper level. I would really encourage you to think about times in your life when you've known truly the truth of your soul guidance, and maybe it felt very inconvenient, but you knew deep down that it was the way forward. Really reflect on that. What were some of the calling cards in that for you? Because that can help you personally see what your signs are when you're getting into shiny distraction mode where you're trying to put a balm over this uncomfortable in between feeling and you're not trusting in the revelation of your soul. You're not trusting in the surrender, in the beauty of allowing it to be revealed to you, or the unfolding and softening into that and really surrendering to that process now, if you're in this place right now, okay, so maybe you have been feeling the hums of change moving through your life, and maybe you're kind of hearing some of this going maybe there's some distractions happening. Maybe there's some some of this instant gratification that's trying to be satisfied. There's some questions that you can ask yourself to just help you go forward with your discernment. So the first one is when you say the option that you have out loud, how does it feel? Does it feel calm and grounded in your body? Do you feel it beyond those surface layers? Do you feel it really deep within yourself? Because our soul direction? It feels settled, it feels strong. It's like this has already happened. It's up to you to decide when you're ready to move forward with it, but like this is already here, and you're you're gonna, kind of eventually, one way or another, and you're coming along with me, right? There's that deep sense of truth that's just settled inside of ourselves. Distractions. On the other hand, it's going to feel like it's coming from a more surface side. There's all that emotion that can get jazzed up inside. It might feel really buzzy attention seeking. It can be very like an urgent sense of, I need to act on this right now. So if I don't, I'm gonna lose it. Well, you're not gonna lose your soul direction. You know, if you've heard that, if I don't act on this right now, it's not gonna happen. You know that is always gonna be a distraction. And it also can feel like being on an emotional roller coaster, like there's a lot of different stories that are happening, and one day you feel one way, and the next day you feel another day. And one day you feel super animated and charged and staying up all night, really excited about it, and then the next day you're like, I don't know. I'm not sure, right? That is going to be more of a hallmark of distraction. So another question I want you to ask yourself is, if no one ever saw me do this, would I still want it? If no one ever saw me do this, is this something I would still pursue now? This really strips away your ego. It removes the performative aspects of our lives, right? The shoulds the need to the maybe satisfying other people's desires or their values or their wants that it's a really great question to ask ourselves, pretty regularly, our soul direction. It wants to be lived and embodied, fully embraced and integrated, and not just like a mask, like we're doing it on the surface level for the purposes of other people. So this can give you clarity if maybe some of those shoulds or other people's values might be influencing some of your decision making, and that it's, of course, coming from our ego and shiny distraction vibes. And the last question is, Does this move me towards the life that I want to build long term? And what I mean by that is not, does this fit into my plan? What I mean by this is, does this align with the values of what you truly find rewarding in life what truly matters to you and means something to you, where you know this is what life is. All about, those deep moments when you ask yourself this, it really clarifies whether you're subconsciously seeking like some short term dopamine hit, like, let's put a band aid on it. Woo and feel good about it, or you're really actively pursuing a growth process. Anytime we're at a crossroads, we're brought here for growth, and we can't get to the other side of it without growth. Okay, so it's important to be clear on, is this bringing real growth, or is this kind of that dopamine energy, shiny distractions feel like little blips or detours? Okay? And our real truth is a guiding force, kind of like a compass inside, it's just a direction that's inside. It's not going to give you the whole plan. It's not going to give you the whole layout so that you just feel super comfortable with it. It's going to say one foot in front of the other. This is your first step, or you might just get the direction of this is, this is where we're headed. You don't know how you're gonna get there, but this is where it's eventually gonna go. You might get that direction as well, and that can be just as helpful. Now, if you're still really struggling with discernment, lean on your spirit guides. Send a message to them like a prayer. Ask your spirit guides to help you to see what is underneath the surface. Is this truly aligned with your highest path, or is it just this is louder and more engaging and more interesting and more fun than the fear I'm feeling right now, and you might get that very strong yes or no in that moment, like immediate feedback from that and it may be something that comes to you three days down the line, you wake up and feel more clarity of like, you know what? I think I had shiny object syndrome happening. I know a lot of people are experiencing massive changes right now. We're just in that that time, nobody's getting out of this. Period without amazing evolution happening right now. We came here at this time for a reason, to really take advantage of this. And this is like brave soul energy for those who've incarnated in these absolutely transformative, evolving times. Anybody who comes to earth to begin with already is like elevating themselves in profound ways. But these particular times that we're living in right now with big transformations happening, are just mirroring what's happening inside of ourselves right the outside is is mirroring what's going on internally. And maybe you're realizing that, uh oh, I am halfway down the path of a shiny distraction or empty detour. I know when I've had this experience, I felt like disappointed when I figured that out, I felt really deflated and like bummed out that I had expended energy, that I felt like I really needed in some sort of, you know, wasted shiny distraction direction. And if you're having that realization right now, I completely get that wat wa type of feeling, but just remember that even those detours do teach us something so that shiny distraction can show us sometimes what we don't want. It can show us what your energy is no longer in alignment with it. Can show us what we're having trouble releasing or letting go of where we are attached so that we're struggling with making deeper changes, and it can show you what part of yourself is still like, looking for that shortcut, looking for that instant gratification and that fast fix. And I want you to remember, more than anything, that you don't have to finish something just because you started it. You are allowed to lovingly release what no longer feels aligned to you. Just take a breath. Thank the experience for what it has showed you, and just call your energy back. Call your energy back to the core of your being, and you can always choose again. Don't feel like you have to keep going to satisfy someone else, or to prove your energy expenditure was the right choice or the right decision. When you notice something is out of alignment, make the change instantly. You will always appreciate that time that you didn't lose. You'll always appreciate that. On the other end, when you have given yourself the permission to pursue what's truly for you, your soul knows the way always. You know sometimes it takes a little bit for us to find the courage or to release the blockages so that we can really see the path forward, and we have to be really patient with our human side and patient with our ego side, which is very resistant to this type of growth and shift and change, but let it reveal itself to you in your own time. Maybe you've discovered that you followed this shiny distraction energy, and as you release it, you're not getting that direction right away. Maybe you don't see the true soul path in the moment. Trust in that in between place, there is a lot of growing and exploring and loving that can happen in the transition spaces of our lives. So don't be so quick to give that time up. Don't be so quick to let go of it. Something is evolving inside of yourself. Let it have the space that it needs to unfold and reveal itself to you. I am sending you so much love and so much support as you are going through big transitions in your life, I'm going through big transitions in my life, and I'm excited for the beauty of these transitional spaces, because this is where learning happens. This is where it can be really exciting to let go and taste the unknown, to sink into that, to surrender fully to the I don't know, energy. That's when our ego really gets out of the way, and that's when things get really, really exciting. So I am sending you the gift and the blessing of the deep unknown, much love and many blessings. The modern

Robert Wooten: 26:19

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