Feeling All The Feelings

We don’t understand many things - matter, consciousness, time, or how the universe came to be or will end. Spirituality is another area in which there is a lot of room for different interpretations.

So, what does spirituality mean to someone who’s made it the very foundation of their life and business??

The Spiritual Path

As a self-proclaimed “personal development nerd,” Kristoffer Carter --KC” as he’s known to just about everyone -- spent years consuming all the personal development literature he could get his hands on. However, as his life got busy and providing for his family took precedence, he found himself further and further from any connection to himself or a higher power of spirit.

As he thought about how to renew his connection, he realized something that had been elusive up until that moment: where the personal development path seems to end, the spiritual path begins.?

“A lot of these teachers were talking about the benefits of self-reflection, silencing the mind, meditation, and that was kind of the entry point into the spiritual path for me,” says KC

What Is Spirituality?

For KC, spirituality is the practice of aligning our human consciousness with something bigger than us. In its simplest form, spirituality looks like the enthusiasm and passion we bring to our life, work and relationships.?

KC spent time learning about practices that support connecting with something deeper than ourselves. We can use these tools to help transcend our limiting body and tap into more.?

As a disciple of the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, KC is passionate about the power these practices have to change individual lives and group interactions.?

In Western culture, Yoga has become mostly about tight pants and nice abs. While the practice of strengthening the body has many benefits, in its purest form, Yoga is the science of the spirit. This deliberate practice has provable predictable results grounded in expanding our spirit and giving us access to our souls.

Spirituality In The Corporate World

KC began to explore how he could bring these spiritual ideas and practices into the corporate world.?

He believes that we are constantly bombarded by too much of everything and that the work of leaders is to expand their spiritual capacity to hold more of what life and business throw at us.?

“Our work is to live with purpose, strengthening our relationship with our own power, and unleashing the collective power of others,” says KC?

The Four Permissions

Kristoffer has discovered “four permissions” that allow individuals to create an epic life both professionally and personally and enable them to connect to their unique power.

The first is Permission to Chill. This is the practice of quieting the mind and hitting pause on the frenzied pace of life. He believes that by taking the time to chill, we remember what we are capable of.

Second is Permission to Feel. For KC, most breakthroughs come from spending time practicing this step. He believes that our feelings are a guidance system and light the path to our divinity.

The third is Permission to Glow in the Dark. KC says that living un-apologetically fully expression is where we thrive. Our particular light has come for a purpose, and our darkness is the perfect contrast.?

And fourth is Permission to Glow in the Light. Once we are brave enough to glow on our own, our light will attract like-minded individuals. KC believes that the Divine Source would want collaboration and cooperation, creating a network of people living as their highest selves.

Permission To Glow

KC feels his work is to bring this permission to glow into the lives of leaders so they can do the inner work necessary to step forward into the light and bring others along with them.?

While it can be uncomfortable to bring spirituality into the corporate world, he believes that these four permissions help connect us to ourselves and others, increasing the effectiveness of leaders, professionally or personally, and creating stronger corporations and communities.

While spirituality may mean something different to everyone, KC believes that connecting to your most authentic self and shining your unique light onto those in your circle of influence makes the world a better place.

Learn More

Kristoffer Carter is a coach for C-suite executives and start-up founders. His true focus is on the mindset that flows from spirituality.?

His new book, Permission To Glow: A Spiritual Guide To Epic Leadership, helps individuals override default behaviors and live in their full potential.?

If you want to learn more about his work or book, you can find more information on his website.

This article was based on 2 pages With MBS. If you enjoyed this conversation, you can listen to the full interview here and subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode.