All cultures in civilization have gathered with like minded people. Whether it was a tribe of indians, a group of pioneers, or a community of people in a town. People congregate with others and either stay or continue to seek others who share things in common. This was probably the thing that was missed the most after my retirement from the public school system. After having hundreds of students and faculty around you each day, when you leave, the isolationism that results can be a bit daunting.
It was being in this isolation, that served as a wake up call. It was then that a craving for contact with others came about. My pursuit of classes, and meetings began. Meeting strangers in classes and realizing how much you think alike came about as a result of finding groups of like minded people with shared interests.
My first endeavor was a group studying books on quantum physics. For those of you interested in the law of attraction, you will find that scientists are realizing more and more about the power and potential of the human brain. Greg Braden’s books were read and discussed. Esther and Jerry Hicks books on the teachings of Abraham were devoured and offered more opportunities for gatherings of like minded people. Then out of this group, several of us looked into online programs that would provide for us a basis and foundation in the study of metaphysics. Each of these opportunities presented themselves as a result of being around people who share common beliefs and goals and intentions.
As Sarah Ban Breathnach says at the end of a year of writings on December 31,“Life as a journey, Life as safari, Life as a pilgrimage, Life as a garden,Life as the highest art.”
She ask where are we all headed, and when will we know that we have arrived? Each of us sharing this journey in life have some exploring to do. Although it is the end of a year, another has just begun, we each have some discoveries to make. You and I are as ready as we will ever be, well equipped for the adventures awaiting. Go and know that we each are headed to places that we have never been. Along the way we will find gatherings of like minded people to find solace.
“No longer will you see things as they are. You will see things as you are.Through the parting of the mist where doubt and faith meet, you will see the authentic self is the soul made visible. Godspeed.” Sarah Ban Breathnach
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People and Problems
Marian and I send articles back and forth to each other when we like them or if they are thought provoking. She liked this one and said that she agreed with it 100%. She went on to say that we are human and will slip up but if we try to remember these simple yet profound ideas stated by Dr. Vitale then we can live with less (concern over our) problems for sure.
We both have had the privilege of hearing Dr. Joe Vitale speak and each time were so moved by his sincere desire to impact people in a positive and life altering way. He is an awesome speaker and we both loved this article and hope you will too. Dr. Vitale wrote this article providing us with three insights that if we can understand them and apply them then we could live problem free.
First, he wanted us to realize that we are problem-making beings. He said,
“It appears to be the human condition to find problems, create them, and/or attract them.”
He goes on saying that, even when you resolve your problems—almost instantly you will fill the gap with another one. “Nobody knows this,” he says, “yet it’s the key to living a problem free life.” Understanding that as one problem disappears, another problem bubbles up to take its place. That, he says is how the human mind works. You have heard the term, ” Drama queen,” and probably know one. Dr. Vitale says,”some people like drama more than others, but all of us attract problems simply it is in our programming.
Secondly, Dr. Vitale addresses the idea of being able to transcend all problems with detachment. Buddha says, “life is suffering, but once you realize that life is suffering, you no longer have to suffer.” You’re free. You can look at your life as if you are just playing your part in a play in the script of life. As you become detached—you also become awakened. You begin to witness these so called “problems” as an observer or as though you are watching them as if in a soap opera on television.
Third, problems are a result of our perspective. Vitale says,”A problem to one person may be a blessing to another.” He says, this depends on one’s intention—which directs your perspective. Dr. Hew Len, coauthored the book Zero Limits with Dr. Vitale and asks, “Have you ever noticed that when you have a problem, you are there?” The problem is yours — yours in both perception and responsibility. Clear those beliefs in you that see it as a problem and suddenly the problem dissapears.
Vitale urges us to consider that these three insights work for any problem. Have money problems? “It’s only a problem because you aren’t accepting what you have and are focused on what you want with a feeling of lack and possibly desperation.” He encourages us to be grateful for what you have now and want more. Doing this with both awareness and detachment, then suddenly the issue isn’t a problem anymore. Trouble with relationships ? Look at it the same way. Problems are only that because of your perspective that it ‘s a problem. From this other vantage point, it’s the next act in the play of your life.
To recap, the larger realization here is to realize that as a human you will always have problems. Always. Understanding and accepting that fact, frees you to see these as something that happened. From this point of view, you can lead an authentic problem free life. Dr. Vitale concludes,” Now you can live problem free by looking at your problems in a whole new way.”
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Posted on 2 January '10 by Joan, under Good Life Guide. No Comments.
Resolution for the New Year
With each new year comes the anticipation of new possibilities for each of our lives. What is it about resolutions that has everyone declare their intentions for the upcoming year? What if instead of claiming you are going to do all these things that you may not do. Why not just look at the words you are using in conversations? Pay attention to your words as they reveal a lot about you.
Realize that our words have creative power. With our words, we can either bless or curse our future. If you want to know what you’re going to be like five years from now, listen to what you’re saying about yourself; even the small things that you say over and over your life from “I’ll never get that promotion” to “I’m just so tired all the time.” The moment we verbalize a thought, whether positive or negative, we give that thought the right to come true.
To see the best in your life, you have to stay conscious and use positive language to speak victory over your life. It’s not enough just to “not speak anything negative.” You have to take it a step further and speak FAVOR over your life. You can’t speak defeat and expect to have victory.
There is a correlation between what we say and what SOURCE does, but nothing happens until we speak our faith out. When we speak our beliefs into WORDS ( like love letters to ourselves), the moment these emotion- filled ideas come out of our mouth, something happens in the unseen invisible realm. We may not see it for a week, a year or even ten years, but the laws of the Universe are working behind the scenes.
” It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” Somerset Maugham
If you will keep saying the right thing, the positive thing, the joyous thing, speaking FAVOR into your life, speaking health and wholeness, speaking abundance and prosperity, speaking love in relationship, speaking gratitude and appreciation in your perfect livelihood—these are the seeds you’re sowing, and you can be certain you will reap what you speak. Remember these are the laws of the Universe and Source is going to make all your crooked places straight. Have your resolution for the new year be about watching your words, speaking more favor into your life, therefore creating a more fulfilling future.
”The words you speak and think are your personal vehicle on your journey to happiness.They program both your destination and the speed with which you get there” Yvonne Oswald
Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2010 the year to move in the directions of your dreams…
Recommended Readings:
The Power of Words,Liz McGrath, This is a journey of the power of words and the impact they have on our lives,
Every Word has Power:Switch on your Language and Turn on your Life,Yvonne Oswald, This book showed me that how my internal and external language patterns were actually creating my life.
Your Word is your Wand, Florence Shovell Schinn, a favorite book and author with a clear message regarding the magic that can be created in our lives with the right words.
Posted in Conscious Languaging, Good for YOU!, Living the Life of our Dreams, Spiritual Processes | No Comments »
New Year New Me!
Here we are at the end of another year—with a new one— 2010 about to begin. Isn’t it the usual time to arrive at some new resolutions? Changes in oneself can be invigorating. It can also be daunting to attempt too many changes at the same time. What if instead of attempting to change any thing about yourself— you change instead the way you see yourself and your life. Instead, begin to more fully appreciate who you are and how you have spent this life becoming the amazing person that you are. Ask yourself what do you love about yourself. Mentally, list those things that people tend to love about you. Reflect on how your life works. Sit and ponder the things you absolutely adore about your life. Make a list of things you still love to do and will do more of in the new year. This will give you a surge of energy that will have you feeling really good about your life and the choices you have made.
It is possible that many of you may be facing challenges in relationships, careers, finances, or health. The difficult times come about as part of the package of life. Too many people to mention have overcome odds that were unbelievable and they came through the ordeal with new found strength. I know that personally, the violent loss of both of my parents at an early age was the most difficult ordeal of my life. The people surrounding me and holding me up helped me to see the blessings even in such a horrid event. So look beyond the challenges to the blessings that abound in your life. We all have them if we look with fresh eyes.
” It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.” Simone De Beauvoir
Dr. Joe Vitale talks briefly about this concept in his book The Attractor Factor, when he says that if there is any one thing you can do in your life that will make the biggest difference, it is to be happy now. BE HAPPY NOW! Look around you at the comfortable home you have created, take a deep breath and feel vibrant health surging through your body. Hug your significant other and express appreciation to them. Give thanks that you live in an amazing world with so many opportunities and possibilities for creating a good life.
Wishing you the best that life can offer, 2010—the year to begin…
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Positive Reactions to Life’s Challenges
Want to react better when life throws you a curve ball?
Each day we are faced with choices and if you stay aware when your life gives you a challenge or an opportunity to react, you can choose the experience that you really want. Watch your responses to events and people who scare you or make you angry.
- Remember that all of our experiences happen first in the mind. Everything we see and imagine, all we hear, feel, touch and taste are perceptions of our mind.
If you decide ahead of time you’re not going to react the way you have been noticing you’ve been doing in the past, but instead you react with a smile and an attitude of its ok, you will notice a HUGE difference. Ask yourself-How will I feel about this in 6 months, a year or 10 years from today?
Every moment of every day we make choices about what we want to experience. We really can select our response but it takes time and effort to reprogram your reaction if you’ve practiced a negative response for a long time. It’s worth it, so give it a try.
One of our greatest challenges is to become aware and awake as to what is happening in our thoughts. You need to get your conscious mind and your unconscious mind in the same vibration. Stay aware and choose better reactions and see how your life changes…for the better!
Try writing the experiences down in a journal and see for yourself how much better your life can be and the people around you too!
Enjoy your day!
Marian
Posted in Conscious Languaging, Good Life Guide, Journaling, Relationships, Spiritual Journey, Spiritual Processes, Stress relief | No Comments »
Handbook of Higher Consciousness
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a reference book to use daily to do what it takes to be at peace with whatever occurs in our day to day lives? If only we could reach for a book when upsets happen, or sadness envelopes us, or some situation seems virtually out of control.I believe that we can not only reach for books, we can study them and then remember the lessons and applications taught so that our lives can be joy filled and peaceful the majority of the time.However we all know that it is easier said than done.
My personal goal is to re-read books that I read over thirty years ago when I first began my path of spiritual growth and understanding. It is my belief that after three decades the books are likely to make more sense. It shocks me in a good way when I find a book that says something similar to what I have just read in a book that is now a best seller. It simply reinforces the idea that “truths” resonate from many voices and live on through our life times. These truths remain ever present, it is us that slip away and loose sight of them in the scurry to live our lives.
One of the first books discovered while traveling in California was Handbook To Higher Consciousness by Ken Keyes Jr. which my copy was written in 1975, that is some time ago—over thirty four years. As I open the tattered pages of the book and see the highlighted passages. Some that seem timely include the following;
“The biocomputer with which you are equipped is the most remarkable instrument in the universe.” This biocomputer reference is our minds.
“Your journey into higher consciousness is a matter of your learning how to properly program your remarkable biocomputer.”
” Every experience can aid you in your growth toward higher consciousness if you know how to use it.“Yes, if we only know how to use each experience to teach us life lessons. I will re-read this book and discover many more morsels of information that I look forward to unveiling in the light of a new understanding. Let me hear from you regarding some of your favorite books.
Handbook to Higher Consciousness is dedicated to human beings on earth who by Living Love can make the planet a here and now paradise. I like the sound of that, how about you?
Posted in Good Life Guide, Like minded People, Spiritual Studies | No Comments »
Focus on your Goals
Whatever you focus on, expands. Focus on your business, it will expand. Focus on good health and your good health will expand. If you are focused on how poor you are or how scared you are, those thoughts expand and you will see more of those thoughts and people who support those thoughts around you.
Set an intention on what you’re going to focus on tomorrow morning. Write out a plan of action and even if your plans change or get postponed keep the end result in your focus. Write yourself notes, type up a to-do list, ask your friends to remind you, write it in your calendar or whatever you can do to remind yourself to keep the focus on what you want.
- I love this quote! “I believe in looking at reality straight in the eye and denying it”- Garrison Keillor
Distractions will come in looking like they are REALLY important or SUPER TIME SENSITIVE but if you look at them closely they can usually be priortized for a later date. My friend says to me often and I say it to back to just as often “we need to stay on target, keep our focus on our original goal” because if you get talked into starting other projects or things crop up that you think are more important you WILL get off track and the next thing you know it’s 4 months later and your onto another project and none of the projects you started are finished.
- Stay on target, keep your focus on the original plan.
Little things can distract you like e-mails or phone calls. It may not seem like it at the time but those interruptions can get you off course faster than you ever imagined. How do you keep on focus?
Keep your goal in front of you. Write it on a post it note and stick it on your computer, set up a reminder in your outlook calendar or set a timer on your clock to keep you going on your project for a specific time. Put a DO NOT DISTURB sign on your office door and let your co-workers or family know you mean business!
You will feel so good about your project or goal when you have completed it that it will be worth the added effort to resist tempting offers or well meaning friends phone calls/e-mails.
Sending this with ~LOADS of LOVE~
Marian
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Posted on 28 December '09 by Joan, under Friends, Good for YOU!, Tips. No Comments.
Expressing our Feelings of appreciation
This is a WONDERFUL time of year where we get to show the ones we care about just how we feel. The older I get the more I realize that it’s not all about getting or receiving a gift, for me it’s getting to spend time with and sharing my life with those friends and family I love. Something as simple as a personal comment on facebook, a handwritten note or a card in the mail is enough to send me into a (((comfort zone you cannot buy!)))
- Hand written letters are rare and can be a wonderful gift to be treasured.
I tell my friends how I feel all the time! I realize it’s easy for me to express my feelings but it’s not that easy for everyone, below are some ways I found that might help you express your feelings.
- Write a note expressing your gratitude for the friendship and love you feel. You can mail a post card, a typed or handwritten letter inside a store bought card, a handmade card, in an e-mail or if your handwriting needs help you can type a letter and sign it.
- If you’re computer savy, you can make a personal video of you expressing your feelings, upload and send it.
- You can write a big note and take a picture of yourself and e-mail it to them or post it on their wall of Facebook.
We all have those special moments when we realize how fortunate we are to have the friends/family we have. Think about the FABULOUS benefit to our friends when they receive our personal appreciation. Writing a letter can help us say what we really feel because you can take the time to reflect on what they mean to us.
Before you start, take a moment to think back on the memories of why you love being with them. What are the qualities you most value in your friendship. It might be the that they allow you the freedom and space to laugh or cry when you talk or that you feel safe enough to share your fears. It may be that you always feel better after talking with them. It might be the new ideas and experiences you have when you’re together. Whatever it is, really take the time to express to your loved ones their unique impact on your life. All you need to do is write from your heart and your friends will FEEL the love in your words.
Sending this with ~LOADS of LOVE~
Marian
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Posted on 27 December '09 by Joan, under Good Life Guide. No Comments.
Happy Relationships
My dear friend who was in a deep depression said to me one day that I should stop trying to make her happy and just be myself. My first instinct was “Well I enjoy making you happy and that IS who I am so, who am I if I can’t make you happy?” What kind of a friend lets someone they care about wallow in sadness without trying to help them feel better? I was miserable and allowed myself to get depressed right along side of my friend.
I gave this conversation a great deal of thought and finally realized that even though I truly do enjoy helping others and seeing them happy, I did have a responsibility to make sure that I get to be happy too. We had a few hard days where we just couldn’t see each other’s perspective but when I finally decided to just let her be unhappy if she wanted to, and assure her I was there for her when she wanted to FEEL better, why everything changed. Most of the time what people want is to be heard and understood. Let them know you understand but that you can’t join them in the sorrow.
- If someone chooses to be unhappy and we can’t get them to come into our happy state (vibration) then we can learn to accept it and let them know that when they are ready to feel better, we will be there for them.
Each person in your life is there for a reason, and that reason always has something to do with love.-Tut
- When we finally decide to show kindness and true empathy, that kindness inspires kindness in return.
Another dear friend of mine said to me one day after she had an argument with a co-worker “I decided I would rather be happy than to be right.” from that day on her so-called conflicts at work seemed silly and much less stressful. Her life changed for the better at work and at home. Contrast is a natural part of all relationships. Focusing on creating a balanced compromise rather than winning or losing an argument can draw you and your friends/co-workers closer together and allow deeper relationships to flourish in all areas of your life.
- Feelings of irritation and frustration grow when we remain silent so make your feelings clear but do so with empathy, a real honest look at their perspective.
The relationships you nurture with others will mirror the relationship you have with yourself. Learn to take responsibility for your own happiness and treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Sending this with LOADS of ~kindnness and Love~
Marian
Posted in Good for YOU!, Living the Life of our Dreams, Relationships, Spiritual Journey, Stress relief | No Comments »
The idea of presenting people you love with gifts is as old as the human race. With the birth of baby Jesus, when the wise men traveled to deliver gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn baby, it was then the idea of gift giving at Christmas orginated. Shepherds in the fields also came to give gifts to the newborn baby Jesus.
Things changed in 1822, when Clement Clarke Moore wrote the story/poem T’was the night before Christmas . This story became the most popular poem throughout the world. It was in it, that children learned that Santa Claus brought gifts on Christmas Eve, and they started expecting Santa to bring them gifts as well.
Today, the tradition of giving and receiving gifts is as much a part of Christmas as the Christmas tree, and Christmas songs.
We consider you our gift and we are truly THANKFUL for your love and good thoughts.
May all your Christmas wishes come true. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Love Joan and Marian
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Posted on 25 December '09 by Joan, under Good Life Guide. No Comments.
