Dianne Bischoff James: The Real Brass Ring
OMTimes: You describe how you changed your life on all levels, emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. Can you tell us a little be about each one, where you were before you began your transformation and where you are now?
Dianne Bischoff James: I represent life’s dichotomies: depressed to happy, size 18 – 4, physical weakling to practicing yogi, corporate slave to actor and author. The greatest initial challenge in the transformation was putting my intellect on the backburner. As children we were trained to keep our logical mind in the driver’s seat and suppress all feelings. I turned to Hoffman Institute in California to get the help needed to excavate decades of hurt and pain and change old mental tapes so I could start to pursue my lifelong passion in the area of acting. It was also important to take full responsibility for the terrible state of my physical health which included plantar fasciitis, sciatica, and a rotator cuff tear and committed to physical therapy, practicing yoga and speed walking to gain back strength and mobility. After a lot of practice, I also learned how to spend some time each week in stillness and quiet. Eventually, I opened up my spiritual core and started listening to the divinely guided messages from my higher guides. This allowed me to take risks and trust that every area of my macro reboot would eventually have a positive outcome. In combination, the alignment of the emotional, physical, spiritual and mental quadrants assisted me in manifesting a healthy, passionate lifestyle.
OMTimes: What is the hardest part of your transformation, where did you meet the most resistance?
Dianne Bischoff James: The romance with Jeff, the manipulative alcoholic was probably the hardest part this transformation. After my divorce, I fell deeply in love with a man who claimed to be my perfect soul mate. Although he hid the truth about his addiction for several months, he eventually revealed himself as a deeply troubled alcoholic and I risked almost everything, including my personal safety to rescue him. According to Codependents Anonymous, anyone who seeks the approval of another person for what we think, feel or behave is codependent. As a result of the tumultuous experience, I learned to avoid unhealthy personal attachments and establish clear boundaries in all areas of life. Most importantly, I don’t stay in relationships anymore simply to avoid being alone.
