Why would you call a blog "Empty Space?"

Welcome to my blog, empty space.  It seems like a strange title for something that will be...you know...full.  But I've been preoccupied for quite some time with this concept.  See I have this idea that nearly everything that we do in excess in our society-eating, drinking, watching t.v., shopping-is about getting way from the empty space.  

It seems like an abstract concept, but you know exactly what I mean.  When I say this to clients, they know what I mean.  Empty space is what we fear most.  It is the space where nothing is happening, nothing is there to protect us from ourselves.  The interesting thing is that is actually where the magic starts to happen.  I am convinced that every original idea I've ever had emerges in the moments when I stop fighting and quit thinking so much.

Here's what I've observed as a therapist and as a personal coach.  People are really, really, really scared about what might happen if they look deeply into themselves.  They are scared as hell that they are going to open Pandora's box.  They will do everything they can to avoid it.  A rare few seek it out deliberately, but more often we are thrust into it by circumstance:  the end of a job, the end of a relationship, a growing sense of discontent or physical pain that cannot be ignored.  We have no choice but to jump into the abyss, with nothing to guide us.

But there's good news about all of this.  This space is the beginning.  Once we stop fearing ourselves, we get to really start living.  Once we can look into ourselves and say, ok, there's a lot of stuff there, and some of it I don't like, but dammit, it's me!  (Or, in the more eloquent words of Walt Whitman, do I contradict myself?  Well then, I do, for I am vast and contain multitudes!)-we can stop using all our energy to fight ourselves.  We can stop being so neurotic and start transforming that energy into creativity, vision and joy.

I invite you to join me in this journey-I will share some observations and insights as a coach/therapist and human--as well as some helpful tools.