The Transformation Gene: Desire

I spent the last couple of days including this morning helping a company and it’s employees work through a reduction in force. They are a company here in Colorado whose main office is in Switzerland. There are lots of mental and emotional components of a layoff like this and I was providing training, consultation and support for management and employees. I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to companies, organizations and individuals in transition because I understand the issues and challenges.

Today I want to write about the flow of life and how we can impact it for our benefit.  So these people whose jobs are going away have to feel some fear because it is natural to be concerned about an unknown further. The interesting thing is that as long as people think their company is the source of their supply then fear is going to come up when companies goes through changes.

I would like to share another perspective with the hopes that you think about this in another way.

The place you work is not the source of your supply. The true source of supply is you and the universe. This sounds pretty abstract but let me explain. There is this incredible universe in which you live. All that you see around you is part of the creation of the universe. If you are surrounded with an abundance of stuff and love and all else important then you have a receptive attitude to all the universe has to offer. If you find yourself without often then you have resistance to what the universe has to offer. Resistance is not bad or good, it is simply not allowing.

You have desires right? Well take those desires and bring your thoughts and feeling into focus about having what you want. Align your inner focus with the flow of the universe by having an energized expectation for a positive result. Then be fully receptive to receiving what you desire. The law of the universe says all clear desires becomes attractive forces that must manifest. What you ask for with clarity and focus must come into being. Try it, play with the idea and see what results you get?

Life is just a big huge playground that is full of props and experiences to whet our desires, encourage us to create and then to evolve. Each desire becomes a focus, which then can manifest and you become more conscious in the process. With more consciousness you then have new desires, new focus and new manifestations. With the realization of each desire your grow into more of who you are here to be. This is desire based transformation and it is powerful and what makes the most sense to me. I have had to ignore the teachings of Sister Mary Limited Belief and the Monks who preach the sins of desire and determine my own way of figuring out the universe. Fortunately there are lots of people out there who think and feel from a more expanded point of view.

I hope you find your own way soon and leave the limits of the past behind.

Who Speaks For The Earth?

I remember Carl Sagan the famous Astronomer in one of his books posed a very important question. He asked, “Who speaks for the Earth?” Today is a Blog Action Day and bloggers all round the planet are writing about the environment. Together we are speaking for the Earth. I am happy to be part of this day for I feel this planet we live on is worth taking care of and we all have a part play.

I also want to acknowledge the huge contribution Al Gore has made speaking for the Earth and to also acknowledge the many other organizations focused on care for the Earth. He is doing such a great job that he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. Taking care of the planet is all about peace. This tiny little stop in the Galaxy would be in peace is if we all took care of the planet and each other. Those darn big egos have made power and control more important then compassion and caring. Now it is time to rise up as human beings and be our greater gifts of wisdom and love.

The wise and loving thing to do about our planet is to take care of it. Planetary care is doing what you can to keep the air and water clean and to not create more trash. Planetary care means becoming educated and taking action about your carbon footprint, recycling, about buying local, about mass transit, and about speaking up for alternative energy sources. The dominance of oil needs to be replaced by smart alternatives, which we have the power and innovation to make happen.

I would like you to think of the Earth as your home, it is by the way. If you take care of your home, it will provide you the shelter and comfort you and your family need. If you and I take care of the planet then it will provide what we need also.

Care for the environment is not a political issue; it is a life issue. All life is concerned about the Earth and its well-being. There is much information out there that the Earth is having to make adjustments to the impact we are having on it. Those that deny that seem to have another agenda then planetary health.

Today and every day is a day to speak up for the Earth. If each of us does our part then our planet will be a good home for all the generations that follow. I invite you to be the change you want to see on the planet.

The Stream Of Well Being

This title comes from the book and CD set Ask and It Is Given from Abraham/Hicks. I have been re-exploring the book after listening to the CDs. There is so much here to study and benefit from; I recommend picking up the book and/or CD set. I love the image of a stream of well-being. I am writing about it today to deepen the image of this stream into my own consciousness.  This stream is energy from the source and it is always flowing and available. You can step into the flow anytime you want to enjoy the benefits.

Stepping in the flow is as easy as aligning your thoughts and feelings with what you want in your life. If you want prosperity then you think about having all the financial resources you want and need and how that would feel. If you step into the stream of well-being and want more love in your life, then have loving thoughts and feel your heart open to more love.

I have this image of this beautiful stream of well-being flowing with all these multi-colored sparkling lights of energy. The energy of this stream is nurturing and healing. When I step into the stream I am surrounded by its soothing nature and feel at peace. I also feel full of life and all of me comes into balance and harmony. In the stream of well-being I move toward self-realization and unlimited possibilities. I can manifest the life I want because I am aligned with the highest and most powerful forces in the universe.

If having all you want and desire sounds too good to be true, then those thoughts will prove you right. If it sounds like something you are willing to try, then begin by dipping your toes into the stream and have a little dream of what you want. Keep your thoughts toward what you desire and feel the aliveness of this positive focus. If you are willing to jump fully into the stream of well-being, then your life will expand in all the ways you can dream big. How about lots of money, health, love and success?

Let me know what you discover about the stream of well-being; how it looks and feels, and how it works for you.

Stop “Shoulding” On Yourself

I have been sorting some things out in my own thinking and at the same time paying attention to my feelings as I explore ways to fully express myself, my potential, and my purpose in this life. I have observed that there is a part of me that compares myself to others that I admire for their accomplishments. I have a judgment at times that I should be and do more. I think that is called “Shoulding on yourself”. Albert Ellis a famous psychotherapist originated the concept of “shoulding” as a way to explain how we can be harshly judging of ourselves for the expectations we have.

Expectations can be useful and harmful depending on how you use them. Positive expectations are ones filled with possibilities, hopes, energy and focus. Athletes, companies, organizations set expectations to guide themselves to greater success. Negative expectations are those we set for self and others that are unrealistic and set ups for failure. I suggest that you only have positive and realistic expectations that take you higher. I will do the same.

I didn’t really mean to write about expectations but some how I felt compelled to put in the above paragraph. I hope it was helpful. What I really want to talk about is this idea that I need to be more, do more, accomplish greater results etc. to be ok. Where does that come from or is that just in my head? Do you have anything similar going on in your thinking?

I was reading some bio stuff about Thom Hartmann who I think is an amazing human being. He has written so many books, has a radio talk show and is on a mission to expand people’s viewpoints of themselves and the world. Then I caught myself comparing my life to his and there I was “shoulding” on myself. Do you do stuff like that? At least I caught the self-judgment and could change it. Then if I am really off course, I can then judge myself harshly of being so self-judging. Oh what a fun tapestry we can weave of disjointed condemnations, unrealistic expectations, and polluted thoughts.

Today I am over that.

I am making a commitment to myself from this point forward to guide my mind to be supportive, encouraging, loving and inspirational. Anything less will be redirected to thoughts that will take me higher. With the positively propelled mind, the emotions will follow and together with my body and spirit I am going on a single mission: to be myself as fully and richly as I am capable of being. All else will take care of itself.

Would you join me in this self-commitment to be yourself fully and richly and to bless the world by doing so?

Note: if you are exploring the experiment from yesterday’s blog then make this “being” the framework from which you do all of life. As always, I would love to know how it goes.

Desires Are Positive, They Take Your Higher

I have been listening to a 4 CD set called Part 1, The Law of Attraction from the book Ask And It Is Given : Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Abraham/Hicks. The book was excellent when I read it last year. This CD series is also first-rate for getting your thinking and feelings aligned with what you want to create in your life. This series puts into question most of the programming and social conditioning you and I received growing up about desires and having what you want. Listening to these CDs is a great way to open your thinking and expand your feelings towards manifesting the life you desire.

Hearing these CD’s has more of an impact for me then reading the book. My learning through listening for this kind of material seems more powerful or maybe it is to hear these words from another voice then the one that rattles around in my head. I found myself getting excited about the possibilities as I listened to these inspirational and expansive ideas.

Source Energy is a concept these CDs talk about and what I found myself doing was exploring what source energy is and how do I interact with it. I was standing in my bedroom and saw myself watching the play of particles in the air as the sun illuminated them. I breathed in particles and exhaled and shared particle with the air around me. I then had a clear insight that this is the same as what happens with source energy. I am and constantly interacting with this creative force. This interaction is influenced by how I think and feel about it.

If I think of wanting and feel excited the energy of attraction moves into action to make it happen. If I think of not wanting and feel lots of negative emotions the energy of attraction moves into action to make it happen. Wherever the mind focuses and there is an emotional charge, there is a response from source energy. If you are thinking and feeling you want something but most of your time is spent thinking and feeling about not having it, then which do you think manifests?

Now I want to suggest an experiment. First I want to give you the context from which this ideas in your head come from. As I have often mentioned in this blog we have all been thoroughly trained on self-limitation, on not deserving, of desire not being ok, and a bunch of other nonsense. This experiment will challenge a whole lot of old programming. It will take focus and determination. It will also take the full power of your mind and emotions. Are you ready to give it a try? I am.

The experiment: I want you to choose something that you want to come into your life. I suggest you keep it simple for this experiment. Maybe you want a new bike or puppy, or to meet a new friend, or to receive a new opportunity, or even some income from a unique source. Whatever it is, you are to take this desire and feel and think about it through the day. As you do that thinking and feeling imagine source energy as your partner. Give yourself a few days to explore this interactive partnership. Pay attention to what results you create because there will always be results. Keep your thoughts hopeful and your feelings welcoming and energized.

Let me know how this goes. I am doing the experiment also and will let you know what results I create. Please leave me a comment below or send me an email ExploreLifeBlog@inbox.com.

Positive Ideas to Offset Stinking Thinking.

I am in the writing mood for a list and I know what the topic is. I am writing this blog tonight because tomorrow I will be up at a power plant helping a crew of people deal with the death of 5 contract workers and the aftermath at their site. This onsite debriefing feels like it makes a difference for those grieving and hurting. I am grateful to be of service.

Today’s topic is about positive ideas to offset stinking thinking. So many people have doubts about themselves, feelings of not deserving, thoughts that in some way they are not enough, and even that there is something wrong with them for having wants and desire. These ideas and belief are plain nonsense and need to be replaced with thoughts that are supportive and encouraging. So today’s list is:

15 Ways to Be More Alive.

1. Breathe more deeply, simple fact is you mind and body will work better with more oxygen
2. Be present to what is going on in the moment. Let go of the past and live in the now, where everything is going on
3. Let your heart be open at all times. Tear down the walls that protect you heart. Love is so much more powerful than fear.
4. Be real and express your uniqueness. Be genuine. Live your life as if no one was watching. Stop trying to please so many people
5. Be kind and compassionate to yourself and everyone you meet. A truly nice person has many friends
6. Figure out your mission in life and don’t let anything stop you from living it fully and passionately. That would be a gift to the world
7. Be creative and explore your potential. There is in you vast untapped resources waiting for expression
8. Feel all you feel and let you emotions guide you. Your heart and your emotions are wonderful guides to being fully alive
9. Do fun things. Set as a goal to enjoy more of life everyday. Having fun and laughter are great healers to whatever ails you
10. Take time to relax and quiet your mind. This silent space is the source of your endless inner wisdom
11. Feel gratitude and appreciation for all that you have. An attitude of gratitude is a powerful magnet for creating more good in your life
12. Do practices that make your body feel more alive. Do Tai Chi, yoga, dance and other forms of exercise you enjoy
13. Give freely of your time, your resources, and your ideas. Give to those that need your help. Giving always comes back multiplied
14. Read, listen to, watch and do things that lift you up and inspire you. Keeping inspired is fun and expansive
15. Follow your bliss. Whatever makes you feel alive, energized and happy is worth doing.

I hope these ideas shook out the spider webs of your limited thinking, habit driven ways, and faulty beliefs. You shape your experience of the world. If it isn’t just how you want it to be then you are limiting yourself. Have some fun instead, think big, explore lots and live the best possible life.

Blog Mystery School, Part Two

Last week I had a very positive responds to my first Blog Mystery School post. I shared a tool that I am confident has never been shared on the web.  I can say the same about the technique I will share today.  I was excited to see the numbers of people who checked out Part One and who made comments at the several additional sites where it was posted. I want to again state: these techniques are unique and only shared with the hope that you will explore them with an open mind and heart and see how they can benefit you. These tools and ideas come from a variety of wise teachers I have had over the years. Mystery School comes from the idea that there are powerful ideas and techniques that have remained a mystery because they have only been explored in small groups by dedicated explorers of the human potential and higher consciousness.  The Blog Mystery School is about giving you tools that can take you higher and help you become a positive and empowered force for a better world.  Use them wisely and for the good of all.

This Blog Mystery School’s tool number two has real power to transform your life if you fully explore its potential.
I am again sharing a tool to assist you to be more present. This tool is simple and easy to use, the challenge is to remember to do it in the speedy world we live in. The tool is called the Awareness Arc.

I want you to reach for something while you are reading this. Notice how reaching is something we do effortlessly and often unconsciously. Now I want you to again reach for something but this time instead of going straight at it you will put a slight arc in you reaching motion. That arc is for awareness, to assist you in being present. You can use it reaching for the door, your computer keys, your toothbrush, as you eat and in may other activities. The arc is subtle enough that others will never notice, but you will bring attention and a presence to whatever you are doing.

You can even explore the Awareness Arc while walking. Instead of going directly form point A to point B you can put a small arc into you walk, your run, your bike ride or other non-reaching activities. The goal is to be present to whatever you are doing. You can see how many times during a day you remember to use the arc? You can make a commitment to yourself that every door, car door, and cabinet door you reach for that day you will bring the arc of awareness to what you are doing. As a practice while eating you can turn the quick fuel and run, into a rest and enjoy experience.

This practice can be adapted to fit what would work for you. The important aspect of this is that you do things with awareness and the arc can bring awareness. The power of awareness and being present has been written about extensively in past blogs. With a committed exploration of this tool you will experience the power of it in your life.

This tool will only be useful to those that are dedicated students of a higher path. If self-realization and consciousness is your passion then this tool will become a helpful friend. Explore and let me know what you think and how it goes.

Is Our Democracy In Trouble?

I feel very fortunate to live in a place where so many interesting people come and give talks. Many of these talks happen at the Boulder Bookstore and they are free and open to the public. Maybe you have a resource for inspirational speakers in your community? Writing a blog every day means I need to keep my mind active and my heart open so I can bring to you ideas and inspiration that will help take your and my life higher.

Last night I heard an incredible speaker. Naomi Wolf is a bright articulate woman on a mission to make a positive difference in this country of ours. Her book, The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot is a must read for anyone concerned about the direction America is heading. Naomi believes our democracy is in trouble. She has done her homework. Her extensive research of past repressive regimes (Germany, Italy, Russia and many others) points to a clear roadmap of the steps taken to close down a democracy.

The USA under this administration is following that roadmap in ways that have to be a concern for every citizen of this country. Noami spoke of a number of these steps along the roadmap to a repressive government. Here are a few of those steps and unfortunately they look awfully familiar:

• Promote the idea of an outside terrorist treat – Since 9/11 this administration has been promoting fear of an outside threat. When people are afraid they a willing to give up their rights.
• Create a separate prison system where legal rights are compromised – Guantanamo, military tribunals, CIA run torture prisons in other countries. When people fear they can be labeled an enemy combatant and have their legal rights taken away, they stop speaking up.
• Create a private army that can be used by the government to control people and situations – Blackwater and other security companies are already in place. Blackwater was in New Orleans and was reported to be shooting at American citizens.
• Set up an internal surveillance system – that is now in place with our government spying on us. When people feel watched they tend to avoid getting involved in demonstrations against the government.

The book goes on to cite many more examples of things we should be aware of as informed members of a working democracy. This is not a book based on unwarranted conspiracy theory; it is a book based on history. Isn’t that why we study history, to learn from it?

This is not one of my political rants. I wrote this because I too am very concerned about the growing government presence in our lives. I also know that another way to manipulate people is to continually lie to them so after a while we are confused as to what the truth is. This happens every day in the present government, Congress included. We need to be informed citizens and find out the truth as best we can.

Since the Patriot Act (which would have our founding fathers in an outrage) this administration has moved more and more towards repression. Opposition is being repressed. The White House recently said they had 800,000 people on their watch list. Naomi is on the list for her questioning what is going on. Are you and I next if we speak up? I know the founder of Peace Doves and he is on the list. Fear is the ultimate controller. We cannot let fear stop us from keeping this democracy alive and vibrant. This must be a concern for every person in this country no matter your political orientation. Check out an organization that Naomi is involved with called The America Freedom Campaign.

People in power seek to gain more power, that is a given. We need to take the power back the power and reassert that this is a government by the people for the people. Get involved even if you tend to avoid politics because politics is not avoiding you but in fact impacting your life every day.

Life Review: A Self-Assessment Tool

Fall is an excellent time for a review of your life. Check in with yourself and see what areas are growing and what areas need attention. Please remember to not judge who you are unkindly. I mentioned that often because we have all had overly critical feedback at some point early on in life and that sets up own harsh self-criticism. Do this assessment I created  with kindness and honesty; it is information for you and for your future success and well-being.

The following are some simple measures that can help you do a thorough assessment of how you are doing at a number of levels. Please rate yourself on a 1-5 star rating scale. * = Needs improvement, ** Something happening, *** Making it happen, **** Good things going on, ***** Excellent and get better

1. How well do you take care of your fitness and health? Your Star rating for fitness is: _______ , for health _______
2. How well do your nurture you mind with new ideas, positive thoughts and times for quiet? Star rating for all three parts, new ideas: ______ , positive thoughts: ______ and quiet times: ______
3. How are you doing with paying attention to your emotions and taking care of them? Star rate paying attention _____, and care of emotions: ______
4. How open are you in your heart towards yourself, those you love and others? You______, Those you love ______, Open to others ______
5. How do you do socially, do you interact with a number of people or spend too much time alone? Star rate: ______
6. How well do you nurture your spirit or soul? Rate: _______
7. How well do you examine issues, do you look below the surface in search of the truth? Star rate: ______
8. How well do you live according to the values you believe in? Rate yourself for you congruency ______
9. How well do you pay attention to your intuition, your inner knowing? Star rate: ______
10. How open are you to feedback and learning from others? Star rate: ______
11. How are you with setting up plans and following through? Rate planning: ______, follow through: ______
12. How good are you at taking action about things that matter to you? Star rate: ______
13. How clear of picture or vision do you have of the life you want to create? Star rate: ______
14. How well do you know and live your life’s purpose? Rate know: ______ and live: ______
15. How would you assess your career progress? Star rate: ______
16. How well are you dealing with stress and the fast paced world you live in? Star rate: ______
17. How good are you at money management? Star rate: ______
18. How effective are you at creating the results you want? Star rate: ______
19. Your satisfaction with where you life is now? Star Rate: ______
20. How much do you love your life and have fun and enjoyment? Star rate: ______

Now you have a way to measure how things are going for you. You will see clearly that some aspects of you life is going ok to well (3 to 5 stars) and some areas are in need of attention (1-3 stars). Again the reminder about no harsh judgment allowed. This is just helpful feedback. Use it to make continual improvement and watch your life take off. I hope this is helpful information? If you have questions or comments please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at ExploreLifeBlog@inbox.com. I can help you get you on track and thriving in any of these areas.

Exploring Creative Expression Takes You Higher

Yesterday was a very fun day for Bobbi and I. It is Open Studios weekend. It is when all the local artists open their studios and let people come and see their work, explore their methods and talk with them. Friday night was the opening at the library where you get to preview an example of all the artist’s works. The place was crowed and abuzz with excitement. That is what real creativity does. It awakens us to feel alive and in touch with the possibility in all of us. Creativity is a truly wonderful exploration of the human potential.

Think of how creativity impacts our lives in so many positive ways. Look around you; much of what you see in the human made world came from creative ideas. Think of TV, movies, books, art, music, design, architecture, dance, business, food, photos and so many other creative expressions that richly color your and my life. Where does your creativity come out? How are you called to express your creativity further?

When we got home from the Open Studio, we took out our art supplies and went to work on expression our creativity. We both are in a phase where we enjoy doing collage work. I love this form of creativity because you can bring together a collection of media (paints, picture, textures, fabric, things from nature and more) and then make up your designs. I recently took one of my old favorite books Be Here Now by Ram Dass and tore it up and made a serious of collages about humans waking up to their higher nature. Sometimes I do themes and other times I put together collages for their colors and designs. This is so much fun and creativity is so uplifting.

One of the artists we talked with yesterday has these plays on words that are so full of inspiration. Isle of View (say the title out loud) is the name of his deck of inspiring ideas. You can check him out at www.isleofview.biz. Russell McDougal is a character worth meeting if you want to see a creative person on fire about his creations.

Another artists we very much appreciated was Christopher Brown whose photos will cause you to look with wonder at what he captures with the camera. Check him out for inspiration at http://www.chrisbrownphotography.com.

The painters we saw did beautiful and amazing work. It was so uplifting. Art is such a gift to the artist and to the world.

Check to see if there is some kind of open studios program in your community and get to know people who express themselves creatively. They are fun people to know and they will inspire you.

I hope you find some inspiration today and let yourself blossom into an amazing creation of the potential within you.

4 Factors That Will Shape This Day

Today is a day just like any other, or is it. Well let’s put it this way: you have a heck of a lot to say about how this day will turn out. You can shape it with your thoughts, reactions, heart and higher knowing. Let me show you what I mean.

If your thoughts are open and optimistic then you will most like have an outcome that is positive and enjoyable. This is true even if it is different then you thought it would be because of your openness to flow with what is. If your thoughts are closed and negative, you can guess what kind of day you will have. How well do you direct your thoughts?

Sure there are circumstances that will be part of the outcome. Your level of reaction to these situations that present themselves will determine your experience. If the day begins to unravel and you reset your course and start creating what you want in a new way, then there are good possibilities that things will work out well for you. If things seem to not be working out and you get upset or angry then the scenario looks more bleak. Which way in your past have you been inclined to go?

The heart is a powerful guiding force in you. Your heart can guide you to: self-care, the right relationships, healthy friendships, and positive interactions with the world around you. If the wisdom of the heart is ignored it can lead to self-neglect, dysfunctional relationships, friendships that don’t give back, and a world that is not supportive to who you are. There is a simple feedback the heart provides you with: it is called expansion or contraction. In any given situations the heart will either expand and open or contract and close. Which will take you to the life you want, the opening or the closing? Which is the most tread on path for you? Special Note: This excludes sexual urges, which can through off the accuracy of the heart messages as you well know.

There is in you a higher knowing. I have talked about that in past blogs. This knowing may come to you as an intuition, an inner still voice or in other forms. This is not the ego. If there is fear involved in guiding you, it is the ego. The higher knowing is the part of you that is connected to the Ultimate Source of the Universe. I personally am unsure what or who that is, but I am confident there is a higher knowing because myself nor anyone I know, created the universe. Caution: Anyone that tells you they know who or what that Higher Source is, I would doubt no matter what evidence they have. This higher knowing is a deeply personal thing for you to explore and understand. If you are willing to listen inward to the higher wisdom, you will always be guided. Do you take the time to listen inward? Are you self guided or other guided in your relationship with the higher source?

Now go have has as wonderful a day as you want.

Belief Barrier Bashing

Early this morning I was in the midst of what felt like light sleep but lots of dreaming. I kept on running into these opaque barriers that were blocking me. These barriers kept me from seeing things, they blocked flow, they closed things in. I felt myself getting frustrated in my dreams and at some point I woke from the struggle. I laid there kind of searching for some insight or awareness about what was going on.

Then as clear as a bell, I saw that these barriers where my thoughts/beliefs that were limiting me. I have acquired these belief barriers through my social conditioning and my false interpretation of incomplete information. They are primarily the creation of my false thinking and often manifestations of fear. I have been struggling lately with feeling that something was getting in my way, blocking me from being fully open to the rich flow of abundance of the universe. I know that there is a richness of love and inspiration I have tapped into. But I felt the flow of money was blocked and that there was more I needed to open to.

Now I see that belief barriers have plugged up the flow in some areas of my life. I then closed my eyes and visualized removing all the barriers from whatever channels of abundance were blocked. I imagined a river that was blocked by a dam but then the floodgates were fully opened and the river flowed freely again. Can you hear the rush of the freed river and the freed abundance flowing?

I took those barriers and piled them up and took a sledgehammer to them until they were smashed into little pieces. They seem like some kind of plastic so I imagined taking then to the recycling center so they could be remade into something useful.

I have now freed myself from my faulty thinking, any blocks to my heart, any blocks to an abundance of money, any blocks to awareness and anything else that might get in my way from creating the life I know is right for me. These barriers are all self-created, almost all unconsciously. WARNING: Please be careful not to judge yourself harshly because of how you have limited yourself. That would miss the boat. The most positive and powerful thing to do is to open your heart and love you as you are. Self-love is a great smasher of belief barriers.

I will write more about the mind, the heart and their interplay soon. There is much for us all to be more conscious of in our lives. Enjoy the weekend and let the river flow.

People With Purpose and The Power of Speaking Up

People With Purpose

I hope you found my last few posts helpful and encouraging. I have felt very inspired lately and I trust you have picked up some inspiration too. I wanted to remind you that I am available for coaching and consulting for you and someone you think my benefit from my services. My purpose is to encourage the best in you and to assist you so you might realize a life of joy, love, peace and success. I have a new program that I am creating called People With Purpose. I am focusing on helping: people in transition; people who want more meaning in life; and on those who feel frustrated with their jobs or situations and want to head in a more positive and successful direction. I will offer an assessment of what is in your way, a plan to get you heading in the right direction, and a program of tools and practices that will make success a given.

I am very excited about this new focus probably because it is so aligned with my own inner work over the past 30 years. I have been on a journey of purpose and meaning. The evolution of this exploration has taken me into a great depth of understanding and compassion for what the realization of self takes. There are many challenges along the way to freeing yourself to be the person we want to be. A guiding light can be a great help especially to those caught out in the storm of life and are seeking a safe port for reassessment, renewal, and for relocating yourself and your purpose. I can be that source of light for balance, focus, health and full expression.

I can be reached at explorelifeblog@inbox.com for questions and to explore new or refocused directions. The first 30 minute phone consult is free. If you want: more meaning in your life, to feel on purpose, to be filled with passion, or to be at peace inside, I can help.

The Power of Speaking Up

Today I want to write about the importance of speaking up for what concerns you, what matters to you and what you see as important. Speaking up could come in the form of a confidential conversation with a friend you are concerned about. It could come at work where you feel things have gone off track. Speaking up in your community could make where you live a more interactive and supportive environment. You can speak up to companies whose products or services may be missing the mark. Feedback, where it is valued, can make a real difference.

Then there is feedback to those who represent us in local, state and national government positions. These people count on our feedback so they can represent us. Now I know I am a little jaded on this topic especially on a national level. There is so much influence playing in Congress that it is easy to feel the individual doesn’t make a difference. That is not so. Our Representatives and Senators when then get a letter or email know someone has taken the time to write them and that they better pay attention. There are many of us out here who have many questions about what is going on. How many of you actually sit down and call or write to share your concerns, to back a proposed bill, to act as a witness to what is going on, to speak up for what you see as important, right, fair, and just?

Not many I suspect. I will tell you why. The reason you don’t is because you doubt that your opinion matters or will be heard. That is faulty thinking and just not true. Sure there is much money flowing to convince Congress of their agenda but that money does not have you in mind. You are much more powerful then you realize. Here are some questions that I suggest Congress needs some feedback about:

Do you support the huge deficit this president is creating and this Congress is supporting? This debt will go on the backs of the next administration and future ones and your children.

Do you support a better medical and health insurance plan for all Americans especially the children of our nation?

Should the wealthiest be given the most tax breaks?

Should banks be allowed to charge customers whatever they want especially for credit cards?

Should the war in Iraq just be allowed to go on until this President can pass it on the next administration to end this totally unnecessary war?

Should we bomb Iran because we don’t like their democratically elected leader?

Who is paying for this war, those that are getting all the tax breaks?

Is education in this country taking a back seat to bombs, weapons, power and greed?

Who is looking out for the health of the planet so we can have air to breathe and water to drink? Is it the corporations that are trying to buy up all the water resources?

Who is making alternative fuel a priority when oil profits are astronomical?

Ok I will stop. You can see my biases in my questions. You too have biases. Are you speaking up or just getting resentful. Please let’s us all write and write and call and call until we get this country heading in the right direction. We are the leaders, the spokespersons we have been hoping for. Be courageous and speak up and be the power to make a difference.

The Blog Mystery School, Part One

Today I am starting a new series of articles that I am calling The Blog Mystery School. Over my 35 years of exploring the mysteries of life and the human potential, I have been very fortunate to learn a number of inner practices taught by advanced souls. On Wednesdays, I will share one of these practices or viewpoints so that you can make use of them. These tools are passed on verbally and most are unavailable in written form. I will attempt to briefly describe these practices in the hopes that you will take them and explore the potential and power of each tool. You will become your own master of the techniques that have meaning for you. Each one I share has the capacity to take you to a much higher state of self-realization. Please know that only the ones who are ready will fully understand the depth of potential in each technique.

The first technique is used to take you out of your head and the endless roar of thoughts that occur there. Thoughts obviously have many benefits but also can tie you up in confusion and overload. Foot Focusing will quiet the mind by changing your focus. This technique has the potential to take you as high as you want to go in this lifetime even to unity with the Infinite Source.

Whatever you are doing right now take a few minutes to breathe and allow yourself to slow down. . . . . . . . . . . . . Now bring your attention to your feet and just be aware of them in your shoes or touching the floor or wherever they are. If you were to select a foot that could lead your towards higher self-realization what foot would your choose?  I know this is kind of an odd question. Let you intuition be your guide. Left or right doesn’t really matter.

The chosen foot is nothing special but just a focal point. Here is what you do. Become sensitive to that foot now. Place it solidly on the ground and feel it making contact. Also feel that foot connected to your ankle, your leg, and your body. You could even imagine a slight vibration coming from that foot’s contact with the Earth. Focusing on the foot slows the mind down. You can focus on your foot: while eating, attending meetings, in conversation with others, waiting in line or traffic, as a form of walking meditation or just about anywhere and anytime. The foot focusing will help you be more present to whatever you are doing and it will help in quieting the busy mind down to a level of optimal functioning. The more you practice the sensing of your foot the more powerful its results. This practice may seem out of the ordinary, it is, and it is powerful and worth your time to explore.

I have found this technique most powerful on walks. As soon as I focus on my left foot, I naturally slow down and start being more fully present to the world around me. I am a big fan of walking meditation and this method works very well.

A word of caution is necessary here. This technique can alter your state significantly enough that it may cause you to want to seek a quiet place to explore the depth of experiences that are coming up. This is generally not a concern but be aware that there is more going on in your inner landscape than you may realize. It is highly unlikely that the technique will cause this kind of strong response. However, if it does there are great benefits from just sitting down and being with what is going on emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. This kind of depth exploration can be transformative.

Let me know how this goes for you. Please leave a comment or question below.  If you find this beneficial and know of others who would also value these ideas, send them a link to my blog and have them check it out. Next week I will do part two of The Blog Mystery School

Guided By The Light Within

I continue to read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma and it is so packed with great ideas about how to optimize your life.  Please check it out.  The book is full of important life reminders in a story form.  It is inspiring me to write my own inspirational/metaphysical/personal growth type novel.  I will let you know how that goes.  I got an outline of ideas and about 15 pages written.  The challenge is to keep it interesting, have a good story, and share your ideas and lessons.  I like writing late at night sometimes because I am tired and my brain is wanting to slow down but my intuition is just humming along, so I let the wiser part of me go to work.

What works for you to be guided by a higher knowing within you?  Or are you even acquainted with your higher self/intuitive/spirit?  Of course you are.  There is higher knowing in you and it is available to guide you at all times.  You get intuitive senses about things don’t you?  Yes you do but you may not pay attention so those messages tend to fade into the background noise of your blabbing mind.  Well it is time to call that inner knowing forward if you are the least interested in making your life work well. 

Wake up and smell the sweet scent of success, the joys of life and the happiness of a loving heart.  Here’s how:

•    Start listening to your intuition and follow the guidance
•    Make contact with your higher self by getting quiet and listening
•    Pay attention to you heart and how much it knows
•    What does your gut instinct tell you
•    Where is their light shining in your life
•    Are you expanding or contracting in a situation, opening is a good sign, closing not so positive
•    Is the Universe trying to tell you something, do you keep seeing/hearing/noticing the same messages
•    What urges in you are calling you to go for more of life
•    What do you dream about having in your life
•    Are there are driving desires in you trying to take you higher
•    Have you heard the call of nature, or listened to a stream lately
•    Are you on purpose, if so the energy is there in abundance
•    Do you have a mission in this life, are you living it
•    As you read this, what is going on in your body
•    What kind of play do you like to do
•    How is creativity calling you
•    If you could do anything, what would it be
•    If your time was short in this life, what would you do
•    Your body doesn’t lie, what is it trying to tell you
•    Are you holding resentments and building walls anywhere in your life, stop, let go and open your heart again
•    Is food for nourishment or to hide what is going on inside
•    Do you pay attention to how you feel
•    Do you get energized around something, then go that way
•    What places can you go to be uplifted
•    What books set you free and take you higher
•    What Higher Source do you make contact with
•    Do you ever feel there is a guiding force with you
•    Where is there passion, follow that path
•    Slow down, take a long slow breath and ask yourself how else you can be guided

I hope that is enough to let you know how much wisdom is available to guide you at any moment in your life?  Tune in and explore and you will be guided.   Let me know how it goes.  Leave comments below or if you have questions send me a note explorelifeblog@inbox.com

Your Love Is Needed Now

Today is a special day for my wife Bobbi and I. It is our first anniversary and this past year has been full of love and support for each other. I am deeply grateful that the love we share is ever expanding and that we share a journey of peaceful purpose.

Every day we travel together through life with our goal to spread peace through compassion, consciousness and connection. Would you join us in our quest to wake each other up to our highest self-expression? Would you open your hearts and expand your compassion to everyone you meet? Would you step past the ego and your personality and remember we are all connected everywhere on this planet. We are all one.

Love is the most powerful human attribute. Love can heal all wrongs of mind, body, relationships, community, nation and planet. Love is the source of all-good, of kindness, joy, peace, deep understanding, and freedom. Are you open to giving love and receiving love?

Many were raised in families or situations where you learned some false ideas about love and yourself. Some common misunderstanding we acquired include: your are not loveable, you don’t deserve love, a loving relationship isn’t possible, all love leads to hurt, love is only for good people, and so many other false ideas. I want to set the record straight on these ideas. They are just thoughts and frankly false thoughts. I want to repeat that: any limiting thought you have about love is just faulty thinking and you can change those thoughts.

You deserve love. You are loveable just as you are. Loving another leads to more love. All people have goodness inside of them and deserve love. Loving relationships are what your life is about and the more you love, the more you fulfill your life with all that you are here to be and do.

Love is the power that will change the world for the good of all. If you want to make a difference, find more ways to love, open your heart even more, be receptive to lots of love coming your way, and love even those who are difficult to love because this kind of challenging love is transformative. Yes you, your receptivity to love and willingness to love are keys to your life and to the life on the planet. With your love flowing and growing, your are unlimited in your capacity to positively affect your life, the life of those around you, your community, your country and Mother Earth.

Let me be very clear about this: Your love is needed now!

Real Conversations About What Matters Feel So Alive

Today began as beautiful sunny morning. The air was incredibly clean and fresh after last night’s vigorous wind blast. When we arrived at the event to reset up our booth we looked around at the effects of the wind. A number of booth tents were destroyed and stuff was blown all over. Nothing really serious but enough to test a persons resolve to go forward. This whole event has been underwhelming in attendees and most of us exhibitors just persevere and keep on showing up.

There has been highlights especially the conversations we’ve had with Mark at LocalEnergy.org, Mark teacher and Theresa student at Naropa Universtity and Rick and Becky people we haven’t seen for awhile, Dawn another friend who stopped by and others. All of them bright and enjoyable people who think outside the box, who question what is really going on in the world. I feel energized when I get to have conversation with people who are real, able to think critically, and have compassionate hearts.

Event good news was that more people came today and sales got rosier. People who appreciate our positive messages about peace also really like our designs at www.peace-together.com.

The event is about interacting with others and selling some products and doing our part to do something positive for the planet and its people. The theme is local is better because environmentally it makes more sense; less of a carbon footprint. If you want to know more about carbon footprint, just go to your favorite search engine and ask.

Solar power, consumer friendly business and local grown associations, natural plant growth and restoration products, eco-products, recycling and much more were available to learn about. One of the exhibitors said, “I recycle everything and do not through anything away, because I have never found ‘away’.” Yes where is away anyway? Everything we toss ends up somewhere.

What is very clear to me is that Earth care and people care are two important components in the times ahead. How do you take care of yourself and those around you and how do you care for the planet. The goal is to make sure your mind, body, heart and spirit are taken care of. Also assist those you care about in better self-care. At the same time your needs have to be met and your planet must remain livable. So you and I have things to do. Are you up to the task? Of course you are or you wouldn’t be here reading this or asking necessary questions, or feeling a strong urge to do something with as much purpose and passion as you can generate.

Have a good week and tune into the part of you that is ready to kick some _ss and start stirring the sheeple up so they stop blaming and living in a trance and get involved in making a difference.

We Are Today With Hopes For Tomorrow

Yesterday very few people showed up at the Renaissance of Local Event. It was a big disappointment. Three people we knew came by so we were able to chat but our booth saw almost no action. We are hopeful for the next two days because they are on the weekend and they have promised people will come. We are counting on them to be right.

Last night I was watching the Bill Moyer show; he is a person of integrity who keeps on asking important questions. He had two guests on who have been reporting on the refugee problem caused by 1.6 million leaving Iraq because they feel unsafe due to the war. So far 100, 000 thousand to 1,000,000 Iraqi citizens have be killed and 1.6 million have left this country because of the war. Is there something wrong with the picture here? It doesn’t look like the work of a liberator trying to free a nation? Does it to you?

That is all I am going to say here because I already used up my one rant day this week, which is a self-imposed limit I have placed on myself. I like to write about peace, purpose, the human potential, consciousness, compassion and how to create the life we want. I want to focus on that to empower the best in people. Politics is a very slippery slope. If you are not careful you can get so caught up in it that you forget about all the higher expressions of human nature.

We are political creatures true, but that is only one aspect of the who we are. We are individuals with purpose. We are loved and givers of love. We are family. We are workers and providers. We are dreamers. We are bodies seeking energy and health. We are a huge bundle of thoughts and emotions. We are a soul made up of something higher. We are today with hopes for tomorrow. We are creative and expressive and cautious and controlled. We are so much more to be discovered.

I dream a dream in which a world wakes up, one individual at a time, to its fullest expression and as we all unfold what is now out of balance comes back to center and harmony is returned to a planet that seems lost. Hang on, we are in for a rough ride before things settle down. Together we will make it, if each of us can expand our consciousness and compassion for the good of all humanity.

Think Peace, Be Peace.

What Are You Waiting For?

Last night I watch The Last Waltz a movie about The Band. I watched in amazement at how easy they made it look performing in front of all those people. They seemed as comfortable as they must have felt playing in the garage when they first started out. I was thinking they did what they did because it was in them to play music with true passion. What a gift it was too them to do what they to love to do. I’m sure everything wasn’t rosy all the time but they were able to be free enough to do what they wanted to do.

Are you blessed too? Is your work what you love to do? Do you turn your life into a performance of creative expression? This weekend I get to do something I love to do. We have a booth at the Renaissance of Locals event in Lyons, Colorado and we are talking about peace and selling our t-shirts, cards, tea, and decals. As you know I am passionate about promoting a peaceful world by spreading ideas, asking questions, building connections and keeping our minds and hearts open to how we can create a better world. I very much enjoy interacting with other people who are want to talk about the kind of world they would like to see.

I also love to write and this blog is so enjoyable for me to do because it is about living my purpose, spreading peace, and inviting the best in you to come out and be and make a positive difference. By the way if you are in Lyons at the event please stop by the booth with the Peace T-shirts and say hi. I know one day it will happen that a reader of my blog will stop by and introduce themselves. I will even have a surprise for them.

What do you love to do? What makes you feel fully alive? Are you doing it? If not now, when? You are invited to find the way to your most creative, genuine, joyous, passionate expression of you. Maybe it will be a quiet expression or a loud and boisterous one? Maybe it will be when you surrounded by friends or on your own in the silence of your thoughts? Maybe it will be in your hometown or someplace where no one knows you? Maybe it will be in front of your child or in the intimacy of your loved one? Somewhere, some day, some how you will step out of the shadow of your own limits and march with full awareness into the moment you have been placed on this planet to realize. That will be a day in which you will leave your mark of authenticity on humankind. All will rejoice for your note in the symphony of life will ring out across the universe.

Wow was that fun to imagine and write. Let it be.

Google Customer Service Stinks and Citizen Alert

Yesterday was an odd one in the realm of the web world for me. I wrote a positive blog about how to create the life you want with lots of helpful ideas. Then my wife got this strange email from me in Nigeria using my blog gmail address. Obviously it wasn’t me because I was sitting not far away at my computer and she at hers. I am unable to close my account because the security has been compromised on my email and neither my password nor username works. Google and Gmail are impossible to reach and I am very disappointed with their total lack of access and service. There is no one to talk to and no one even to send a message to??? All attempted messages end up back in an endless loop. Whatever happened to customer service? I guess they don’t really care?

I have come to wonder much about the world we live in. Am I too simple in my ideas? How come I don’t understanding the kind of situation ethics that run government, corporations and many individuals? Have these structures and individuals lost touch with their hearts and souls? There are on this planet many people and organizations run by higher values. I am truly grateful for that. There is however a number of companies that seem to have pushed all the true values aside in the pursuit of profit. Is that ok with you? Ok I guess this is my rant day this week. Here I go.

I too am concerned about the slide this country is taking towards suppressing dissent, toward an unchecked executive branch, towards torture and domestic spying, prisons outside the jurisdiction of our legal system, and also toward a war with Iran next. Did you know the US is building an air base near the Iran and Iraqi? It looks to me that this administration is on a mission of expansion under the guise of whatever the PR campaign they are using this week. Yet Congress sits there as if, they are intimidated by the President and VP. Doesn’t this concern you? What happened to checks and balances?

Did you know the US puts far more people in prison per capita they any other democratic nation? How come more Americans are on medications and many on multiple medications then any other country? This is the only country of all the major nations that does not offer health care to all its people. Corporate profits are soaring and CEO’s pay has risen some 400%. Oil profits are through the roof. Insurance companies are dictating medical treatment and their rates are sky-rocketing. Remember Hillary’s work for health care during her husbands presidency? Did you know that now she gets more insurance influence money than all but one other senator?

Banks and their credit card companies are allowed to raise rates and charge fees whenever they please and with little or no oversight, strapping many with incredible debt. The media has gone towards entertainment and away from real news since they are all owned by corporations benefiting from the rich getting richer of this administration. The Vice President is still making money from his ties to Halliburton ( www.halliburtonwatch.org) which has profited greatly from the war. And there is so much more to ask questions about.

Is this all ok with you? Are you willing to ask questions? Start by contacting your Congressional Representatives and asking them what are they doing to look out for the people? Keep on asking questions and sharing your thoughts until they start representing the concerns of the people not those of the special interest groups like oil, insurance, banking, Halliburton, Fox News etc.

We must take back our government or it will be lost. This is a very critical moment in our history and democracy is slipping into a aristocracy of paid influence and too much executive power. Who looks out for the good of the people if we do not? We need to step into our power as citizens and hold those we elect accountable to what they are there to do. They were elected to represent the people and their needs not to be ponds to the powerful money influences of organizations that lack heart and soul. The time is now because the paid influence is more powerful then ever and still growing at an alarming rate and the unchecked executive branch power should be of real concern to every citizen. To read more about why I am so concerned check out my Another Viewpoint section and read the Buzzflash Interview of Naomi Wolf

Have a good day, and show up as powerfully as you can.