Tisha Morris's Blog

I was listening to a recent episode of Glennon Doyle’s podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, with guest, Tracee Ellis Ross, who shared this advice, “Give yourself a thousand breaks and, after that, give yourself a thousand more.” She was speaking in regard to the tendency to beat yourself up after a big event. I should have said [fill in the blank] in the meeting. I shouldn’t have said [fill in the blank] on that podcast interview. I should of, I should of, I should of….

Oh how hard we are on ourselves. For most of us (narcissists aside) we are our biggest adversaries in life. The greatest punisher of our perceived wrongdoings. What if giving yourself a thousand breaks became your spiritual practice this year.

We are heading into the Year of the Water Rabbit on on January 21st - the start of the Chinese New Year. 2023 is also a 7-year in numerology. These clues indicate it will be a year to look inward for our best success.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be an action-packed year for the collective. The Rabbit is wily, quick, and fertile. The rabbit, perhaps the most docile of all the barnyard animals, has to rely on its quick wits and intuition to survive in the animal kingdom. When we lived in Joshua Tree, I was amazed by how the jackrabbits somehow endured among the coyotes and bobcats running wild and hungry.

When once offered a bite of rabbit at a five-star restaurant in New Orleans, I respectfully declined. Cuteness does rank high in my hierarchy of animals I’ll eat, but not so sure that’s the case in the high desert or in our dog-eaten world. Better to rely on your inner resources this year rather than external appearances. Out with flashy IG, in with everyday basics.

If you’ve been looking to re-commit to a spiritual practice, to make wellness a priority, to go back into therapy, or take an adventure that reignites your inner light, this year gives you the green light. In fact, it might be the secret to your survival success. Make this the year to give yourself a break, to soften, to live out a dream. Become your biggest fan rather than your hidden enemy. It’s from there your external light best shines.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2023.

~Tisha

In the post-pandemic era, statistics show that almost half of the workforce work remotely, either full time or part time. While a hybrid remote-office model is the preferential trend, according to several surveys, working from home has introduced new challenges when it comes to the home office. The good news is that we generally have more control over our workspace at home. The bad news is that we’re also faced with spatial limitations or interruptions from roommates or family members.

Because we spend most of our time during the week in our workspace, it’s important to be conscious of how this space affects us. Afterall, it’s your personal energy that plays the most important role in your overall satisfaction and therefore success with your work. The one change that can make the biggest difference in your workday is arranging your desk in the optimal position, called the power position or command position in feng shui.

Locating the Power Position

The power position is where you can see the door or entrance coming into the room when sitting at your desk. This means you’re not facing a wall or having your back to the door coming into the space. When we can see the door coming into the room, we are in our primal sense of power. This is the same reason we prefer to not sit with our back to the door in a restaurant. Regardless of whether anyone comes into your office, the fight-or-flight brain wants to feel in control.

It's also ideal to have a solid wall behind you. This provides support. If there’s a window in the room, then you want to be able to see out the window, not have your back to it. In some rooms it is not architecturally feasible to meet all the criteria of the power position, but the most important point is to see the doorway.

Facing Walls

If you face a wall while working, you will be dissatisfied with your work and face limitations. If you work from home, then you’ll likely find somewhere else from which to work that is in the power position even if you weren’t aware of it until now. If you’re working from the kitchen table, for example, you’ve most likely found the power spot of the room without realizing it. The same happens naturally in coffeeshops and cafes where customers seat themselves.

You may find that placing your desk in the power position takes up more space in the room. I assure you the change will nevertheless be worth it. Take up more space in the room and in your work to find more power in your workday. It’s the one stock that will be sure to pay dividends.

For more tips on how to optimize your workspace with your own personal energy, check out Missing Element, Hidden Strength: Apply the Natural Strength of All Five Elements to Unlock Your Full Creative Potential.

Most spiritual teachers agree that we incarnate for the purpose to experience individuation, and yet our ultimate lesson is to learn that we’re all drops of the same ocean. There are times to go it alone for purposes of putting our unique stamp on something, but there’s also a time to create with others.

We can make a product or service as a solo entrepreneur, or we can choose to scale it bigger with more people through a corporation, or somewhere in between with a partnership. We are here for individual expression, but we’re also here to merge with others for a variety of purposes depending on our unique path.

When a collaboration is harmonious, it exceeds what any one person can do on his own. When not harmonious, however, it can end disastrously. Far more business partnerships fail rather than enjoy the succeed.

In fact, statistics show that approximately 70 percent of partnerships fail. An Inc. magazine article provided three tips for creating a successful partnership, with the first being to “look for partners who fill in gaps.”

Trust between partners was second on the list, and the third recommendation was to partner with someone who is “collaborative and growth-oriented,” with growth referring to someone who is “in a constant process of improving.”

This sums up our goal of using the Five Elements based in ancient Taoism as our guide: partner with those who can help fill in your missing element, but also continue to expand and grow yourself.

In Taoist principles, we are all made up of the same basic elements with the only variable being our constitution of the Five Elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. We all have at least one of the Five Elements that is our primary element and one element that is our weak, or missing, element. You may notice that you find yourself attracted, personally or platonically, to a certain type of person. For example, I work best with Fire elements. I love their enthusiasm and the energy they put toward whatever their passionate about in the moment. You may notice a pattern in people you’ve dated, married, or work best with, and the energy qualities they have in common. This will give you a clue as to what your missing element is and, thus, your hidden strength.

It’s no wonder the phrase “You are the yin to my yang” is so common—this is exactly what’s happening upon meeting someone who fills in your missing element.

There is a magnetic pull as our internal elements strive toward balance. We are attracted to those people who have the element(s) that we don’t have or, better yet, who have the element we have but haven’t fully accessed within ourselves. We are only attracted to what and who we know ourselves to be.

Now consider a relationship based not upon filling in each other’s weaknesses but exploiting each other’s strengths. It’s a slight variation in perspective but significant. The more whole we are within ourselves, the less we seek and need from others. When we put our happiness, our fulfillment, our reliance, in the hands of others, it sets us up for disappointment, unrealized expectations, and even failure. Instead, the goal should be interdependence.

When we rely on others to complete us in personal or professional relationships, we’re relying on a dependence that can be taken away at any time. On the other hand, interdependence is expansive with infinite potential for everyone involved.

While there’s no formula on chemistry between people, we can predict to a certain degree how each of the Five Elements will react to one another by looking at how the elements respond to one another in nature. We are no different, except that we add consciousness to the equation.

To discover your elemental constitution and what elements you work best with, check out MISSING ELEMENT, HIDDEN STRENGTH: Apply the Natural Strength of All Five Elements to Unlock Your Full Creative Potential, now available on Amazon and everywhere you buy books.

Most of our human challenges can be solved by looking to nature. This is the philosophy behind the ancient philosophy of Taoism that looks to the inter-connectedness of all living things. One of the most revered texts based in Taoism is the Tao Te Ching, which is still used a reference tool for the qualities that make a good leader.

The predominant theme is that one should lead not from the ego, but for what’s best for the group. For example, the Tao states, “When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists.” This approach to leading is much aligned with the idea of decentralization, which is becoming a buzzword in areas of banking, finance, and commerce, along with push back from those in power.

Decentralization is the process by which an organization distributes decision-making away from a central, authoritarian person or group. An Entrepreneur magazine article states that the pandemic has quickened the trend toward decentralization as consumers and employees demand more control. Additionally, remote work environments have prompted the need for more decentralization in workplace management. The days of a micromanaging boss breathing down our neck may be over as we move toward more Taoistic approaches.

Today’s management could learn from the wisdom provided in the Tao Te Ching, including the following:

“The master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn’t try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn’t need others’ approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.”

As decentralization expands into the workplace, it also moves the burden of sovereignty over oneself onto the employees. In this case, it’s more important than ever to embrace all Five Elements within oneself. To learn more about turning your missing element into your hidden strength, check out Missing Element, Hidden Strength now available for (pre)order.

I was recently attending a screenwriting webinar when the presenter introduced the concept of adding a moral dilemma to your character’s story in order to heighten the stakes and build tension within the story. The idea of a moral dilemma is when one is faced with a choice with no good answer; when either choice or direction is fraught with difficulty; or when your inner guide and external forces are pulling you in different directions. 

That’s when I recognized myself. I’ve been undergoing a series of moral dilemmas over the last couple years not realizing there was actually a term for it. 

I love learning story development techniques as a writer, but also as a human. Art imitates life and so is the case with The Hero’s Journey, the term coined by Joseph Campbell and used in most all screenwriting curriculums. The moral dilemma is a character technique used when the character is facing tests, if not the dark night of the soul. 

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been faced with situations with no good answer. Often times, it was other people’s desires versus my own to where the outcome would be a win-lose, if not a lose-lose.

In the past, I would have bent towards the desire of others or completely disregard the other’s desire in a radical act of betrayal or dismissal. Neither of those extremes am I able to do anymore. 

The moral dilemma is sometimes called an ethical dilemma. Morals and ethics are loaded words, not unlike the words good and bad. But what happens when something is good for someone else, but bad for you, or bad for someone else, but good for you? If I choose myself, then I feel selfish. If I choose the other person, then I will be resentful. 

While it makes good storytelling, it makes for a stomachache when you’re the protagonist. 

Instead of trying to  figure out the right answer (because there’s not a right answer and that’s the point) observe yourself as if you were a character in a movie. Realize that you are in a moral dilemma, that there is no right answer, and consider why you are being put in this situation. What is the point of you facing this moral dilemma?

The answer can be found in screenwriting: to show the character’s growth. 

We are only interested in stories where the protagonist changes in some way. The moral dilemma is a tactic to do this. This is the same reason they show up on our path. Now that you know how to recognize a moral dilemma, here’w what to do next:

The inner churning that a moral dilemma causes us leads to inner work that we can’t get in other ways. So focus not on the outcome of your decision, but on the reason why the moral dilemma is here at all. 

Be compassionate with yourself with whatever you decide. 

Know that you are in a difficult situation that anyone would struggle with. 

Know that there is no right decision. You can’t get it wrong. And therein will lie your growth. 

My hunch is that we face moral dilemmas more often when we start to rise above the concepts of good and bad and realize those are arbitrary and false concepts to begin with. There is often layers of gray in most all situations that you’re now able to see and rise above making it more difficult than a black or white decision.

Just as the hero faces a moral dilemma for its own soul’s growth, so do you. You’re playing you now.

Let’s all let out a collective exhale as we say goodbye to 2021. I know we thought the same thing at the end of 2020, but for this year I have reason to believe we can be hopeful for the year ahead.

But first a few words about 2021.

For many of you, myself included, this has been the hardest year of your life. I’ve come to realize that it’s not the moments of trauma that are the hardest (our body has built-in mechanisms for that), but the aftermath once the shock wears off and we have to pick up the pieces to move on, or… not move on. These are the inflection points in our life. 

I’m choosing to move on. And that’s the key for 2022: movement. 

One of the big astrological themes of 2022 will be the eclipse cycles occurring on the Scorpio-Taurus axis. The key will be transforming the energy from the last two years into something new and fertile. Think composting. 

To do this, we must change. That’s what Scorpio does best, from the inside out: the moth that becomes the butterfly, the crab that gets a new shell, the snake that sheds its skin, and the phoenix that rises from the ashes. 

We’ve all had plenty of time to experience what’s not working in our lives. We can’t expect the world, i.e. governments and corporations, to change to accommodate us. Instead, we must make lifestyle changes to accommodate our changing priorities. Many of you have already been doing this in your job, location, health, and relationships. These changes will continue, but the changes are likely to be more heart-centered because 2022 is a 6-year in numerology.

The first big change coming up for me is location. We are moving to Ojai, CA, a small creative community about one hour north of Los Angeles. This will be a huge change for both of us since we’ve enjoyed the benefits of city living for a number of years. But now we are prioritizing community, more creative time, and living simpler. 

This year we’ll start to see glimpses of the new world we’re creating from the compost of the last two years. The United States will be going through its Pluto Return this year so the political drama will be loud and potentially distracting for the next couple years. Try to stay focused on your path and your priorities. 

As the world and our daily lives have become more and more complex to navigate, consider setting your top 3-5 priorities for this year rather than intentions or goals. Notice what doesn’t make your list - that’s as important to know as what makes your list. With any change (especially when made from the heart), we must let go of something(s).

If your New Year isn’t full of celebration or feel like a fresh start, things will improve in February. The Chinese New Year on February 1st will feel more accurate as the official start to 2022. 

Happy Composting 🥂

p.s. I look forward to rising up with you in 2022.

This week we have a New Moon in Aquarius that sets the stage for the Lunar New Year that’s celebrated around the globe. If you’re looking for a week to set intentions for the year, this is it! 

The Aquarian new moon is the perfect theme for the year as the story shifts from government-ruling Capricorn to people-ruling Aquarius. New networks of people in business and social, such as Clubhouse (@tishamorris) will be forming, along with decentralizing systems once ruled by a few (DeFi, cryptocurrencies). This is not only the beginning of a new year, but a new decade. 

Your inner and outer circles will likely change this year, if not already. COVID has pre-forced these changes upon us to shift almost everything in our life. We’ll be adjusting to all these changes this year. 2021 is a 5-year where we are now more adaptable to change. Who are your people, your tribe, your friends, and those in your business network? Referrals, collaborations, teams, memberships, community, and groups are all concepts to focus on for solo entrepreneurs. 

In Chinese astrology, we’re entering the Year of the Golden Ox. It’s a relatively stabilizing energy compared to that Rat (buh bye 👋🏼). We’re still under the influence of the Metal element this year, however, which rules the lungs. We all know what that means - keep taking your minerals to maintain your immune system. What else is ruled by Metal? Decluttering. Yes, keep decluttering to help support you in the ongoing shifts into this new world. Out with the old you, in with the new decade you!

I know we’re all feeling on edge with the state of the world, from natural disasters to politics to staying healthy. Our days of enjoying a casual spiritual practice are over. We’re in the game now. All of the preventative medicine, meditation practices, decluttering, positive thinking, and other spiritual tools you’ve learned are for now.

My wife and I have been practicing daily for when our little girl decides to enter the world. Between birth classes and practicing on our own, we’ve clocked more hours than the actual event will entail.

Isn’t that true for any big moment - a marathon, a recital, a performance? The time we put into practicing is much longer than the actual event. What we forget is that the practice is part of the event. Similarly, the energy that goes into building a house is the energy of the house. The energy of tennis player’s practice sessions is the energy she has going into a match.

Most of life is practice for those few big days.

It’s no coincidence that I’m writing this right as the New Moon is in Virgo. Virgo rules our practices. Our everyday routines, habits, and day-to-day schedule. Most of us have had to adjust our everyday practices since COVID threw a wrench into just about everything we do on a day-to-day basis.

Now is a good time to reassess and make any adjustments you need to your practices.

Do you need to implement a breath work practice to ease anxiety? Do you need to add in more greens to your diet? Do you need five minutes each morning for prayer or contemplation? Do you need to invest in yoga props for your now-home-studio?

For our birth practices, we’ve come up with clever ways to make it fun and yet take the work serious. In doing so, it’s increased our team work and communication skills that will only make our relationship stronger for the long run, not just for the big day.

We’ve all been affected in different ways this year and have had to lean on different practices, from grief training to health protocols to budgeting.

What if 2020 has been all about the practice. What we’ve done leading up to now and what we now need to shift to uplevel our daily life, individually and collectively.

We’re in the game, but keep practicing, stay limber, and breathe for the remaining stormy days ahead in 2020. Remember that the event won’t last as long as the practice and the pay off will come with new life ahead

We are over the halfway mark of what feels like a strange experiment. The theories of who holds the strings run rampant. Regardless of the answer, this movie is a projection of our collective conscious and unconscious in coordination with the cyclical nature of the five elements and the challenging alignment of planets reverberating down dissonant notes. 

A couple of months ago I wrote about who we will be when we’re finally able to unmask ourselves. Although some people have been avoidant to this safety protocol, for most, we’ve been undergoing a massive time of internal change over the last six months. 

With the pullback of energy forcing us to retreat home, literally and figuratively, we’ve had the chance to see our true selves and less of the face we put on for the world. Our inner battles have varied from grief to loss to isolation to exhaustion. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been super nostalgic, wanting to hang on to the past. And yet I know the tide is changing and if I don’t stay afloat, I’ll end up like the craggy old Bunker’s singing, “Those were the days.” Some days I take one step back, other days I take one or two steps forward, knowing better days lie ahead. 

During this time, I’ve watched my wife grow into an embodied mother as she carries our child. Her stomach is the outward manifestation of her inner metamorphosis.  I’ve watched myself step into a new career path that’s now ready to be seen too. 

It’s not easy to become someone new. 

Take Taylor Swift, for example. She just released an album she wrote and recorded during COVID from her “stream of consciousness,” but it’s not the usual upbeat pop her fans are used to. Those around us usually like us to stay the same and yet we all know we must evolve to stay alive. 

Who are you becoming with or without others on board? 

For those interested in my newest iteration, let me introduce Morris Literary & Management () - helping writers merge the craft and business of writing and publishing through traditional publishing, and self-publishing through The Publishing Portal™ (www.thepublishingportal.com). 

This time will not last forever. Who do you want to be at the end of it?

I know we’re all fatigued and just want to go on a vacation sans masks. I’m right there with you. And yet the amount of growth that’s taken place over just a few weeks is astounding.

As we approach July 4th, which is also the eclipse bookend to the trifecta, we’re re-examining what this country was founded on: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but at whose expense?

After being confined to our homes for months, we’re now thrown into the masses of people and opinions. It’s been jarring to know where to put our attention and focus. While we were hyperfocused on home and space in March and April, we are now focused on the government’s role with the collective. 

I realized this week that in working with feng shui for so many years, I’ve had the luxury, perhaps even the (white) privilege, of focusing on the microcosm of one’s space.

The truth is the definition of feng shui is: Living in harmony with the Earth’s energy. This includes my relationship with you, my family, strangers, plants, and, animals. All of earth and our relationships with others. This is where the integration lies. 

Feng shui is the intersection of how I relate to my space and the world at large with the change I want to make in the world starting at home.

 For those familar with feng shui and want to connect to a broader use of feng shui, here are some guas to consider:

Fame & Reputation

This is your light, your visibility in the world, and your ability to be seen, and your message be heard in the world.

Helpful People

This is the most spiritual section and great for an altar, photos or artwork of dieties, saints, or angel. It’s also the place to manifest harmonious relationships with people outside your inner circle to connect with for greater peace.

Family & Community

Having a strong sense of community is important right now as we rely on those near and dear to us.

Love & Relationships

While this section is usually considered in terms of romantic relationships, it relates to any one-on-one relationship. Of course, the key to any relationship is communication. If you need to work on harmonious communication, this is the section of your home to pay attention to.

The inequities that are being brought to light are not a hashtag that’s going to blow over, but will only evolve until resolved. 

There is a larger story arc at play that began years ago that’s included the LGTBQI+ community, the #metoo movement, and now BLM, and it will continue until equality catches up to our current level of consciousness, not the outdated model enacted hundreds of years ago. 

What I know is that until we are all free, none of us are free. And until we are all enlightened, none of us are enlightened and that I want to participate in the unfolding of this monumental time in history.