Ignorance Is Not Bliss

 Are you ready to have this primary season over with?  I think the only ones who are not are die hard Hillary fans because she is still plugging along pulling out all the stops including use the fear factor to try and get people to vote for her.  The other day Hillary said she would be willing to use nuclear weapons on Iran if they become a threat in the Middle East.  Wow that really shows ignorance as far as I am concerned.  Is She as cold hearted as the Bushites?  That to me is just a plain unconscious thing to say, as if the lives of people don’t matter.    This thinking is the good old big stick of centuries of male dominance and the ego determination for power.  

When are we as human going to evolve past killing as our major weapon for resolving issues?  Do we have to kill people who we disagree with?  Or could we talk and find common ground?  There most be something each side needs from the other and that could be worked out.   The thinking that threat is a good way to control others has been around for centuries.  Isn’t it time to sit down and figure what is best for everyone?  Nuclear weapons are for people who don’t have the intelligence to figure problems out.  I guess they think bombing the life out of them is a solution.  It is a solution only if you do not truly value human life.

When are we going to think from our heart, from a higher knowing than the ego and greed level?  Are you with me on this that we need to evolve to raise our consciousness?  We are all on this tiny speck in the giant universe and we can’t even get along.  What a sad example of humanity war is and it just seems to be always brought up as if it is a viable option.  It is as if we can’t see any further or act any wiser than the ego driven, power hungry war mongers from the past.  

I trust we have greater wisdom than that.   What do you think?  Are we doomed to kill us all or is their light enough in the world to save humanity?  I think there is more than enough light.  

I say we tune out everyone who talks of hate, enemy and war.  If they have to we could give them a small island where they could all go beat the crap out of each other and maybe they would eventually wise up after getting hit in the head enough?

Sorry that isn’t really a good idea but frankly there is a serious need to wake people up and a 2X4 on the side of the head lacks the humanity and consciousness needed.  What will help wake people up?  

I think having a heart and compassion for others is important.  Also asking questions, become more aware and conscious of our higher knowing and the innate goodness of your fellow humankind.  There are many more common needs, desires and concerns across cultures and belief systems than there are differences.  We are all much more connected than different.

Your thoughts and ideas are valued.  Positive change is needed and we are the architects.  What designs do you have in mind to make the world a better place for everyone?


The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
John F. Kennedy

We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders.
Maya Angelou

The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer

Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.
Mohandas Gandhi

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.
Dalai Lama

Ignorance is not bliss - it is oblivion.
Philip Wylie

Questioning Beliefs In Search Of Your Truth

I have been working with beliefs lately in my work with my clients in recovery and in my own life.  I can’t help but think that this belief work is very important.  We learn many ideas as we grow up and too many of them become etched in stone in our minds.  I thought I would share with you some beliefs that most of us bump up against when we meet the hardheaded ways of limiting and faulty beliefs.  

Somewhere along the way of family, church, school and society we may acquire beliefs without thoroughly examining if they are true.  These beliefs once acquired become loaded with emotions because we believe they are true even though our inner knowing may question them.  This questioning causes a dissonance, which needs to be examined.  Seeking our truth is one of the main tasks of growing as a human being.  Inner peace comes from living our own truth.

The following faulty beliefs may have come into you life and it may be time for you to place these beliefs on the table and closely examine them.

•    That you are in some way not enough
•    That you don’t deserve the life you want
•    That desires are not ok
•    That you were born with something called original sin
•    That for some reason you think of yourself as less than others
•    That having money is not ok
•    That ministers know what the truth is better than you
•    That politics should be avoided
•    That religion is something more than men seeking control
•    That the bible is something more than the words of men
•    That you are not ok because you question authority
•    That your emotions in some way are not ok
•    That you are powerless to make a difference in the world
•    That it doesn’t matter what you think
•    That to blame others makes you feel better
•    That your thoughts are real
•    That you deserved any mistreatment you got growing up
•    That others know what is best for you
•    That the approval of others is important
•    That what others think of you matters

I hope some of these provoked questions in your mind.  Like you I too am growing in my pursuit of living my truth and being an authentic human being.  I put out these beliefs for you to explore and find your own way.  If you take the time to listen inward, to hear the wisdom of you heart and your higher knowing, you will find your own truth.  Living according to your own truth will make life flow like a river free and full of joy.

The Common Sense Guy on Earth Day

Today is an important day for the Common Sense Guy and for the Earth.   Those two would seem to be related so let’s take a few minutes to explore their relationship.

First the Common Sense Guy, his name is Bud Bilanich and he is releasing his newest book titled, “Straight Talk For Success.”  Bud is business expert who has spent the last 20 years teaching and coaching people and organization on the art of how to be successful.  His methods are based on common sense.  Who would of thought that common sense would be such a key to creating the results Bud has helped people realize.   His book is a real gem of ideas that you may just say “of course” and “thank you for reminding me.”  

If you want to be guided to creating more success I highly recommend this book.  As you know I often write about success at this blog and Bud is an inspiration to my wife and I.  This is Bud’s book launch day and if you purchase Straight Talk For Success today, April 22, 2008, you will receive $1,000 in bonus products that will help you on your way to career and life success.

All you have to do is go to http://straighttalkforsuccessbook.com/booklaunch/ and follow the link to purchase your copy of Straight Talk for Success at Amazon.com.  Then enter your Amazon.com transaction number in the space provided and you will be directed to a page where you can claim your bonuses.  You will be very glad you did when you receive the book and all the special offer materials.  This book and the specials are an out of this world offer.

Now back to the Earth.  As many of you know today is Earth day.  You might wonder why isn’t every day Earth Day since it’s health directly affects our health.  Today is a day to remember to take care of our Earth Mother.  These days being Green is getting a lot of exposure.  Green means taking care of us and our precious and beautiful planet.  You and I must attend to the needs of the Earth or the clean air, water and other essentials won’t be there when we need them.

There are lots of resources and organizations out there working to take care of the planet and its people.  One of my wife and I’s favorite is the Pachamama Alliance.  Check out the work they are up to, with all of us in mind.  Also I came upon an excellent Earth Day site worth going to and finding out more.

So what do Bud the Common Sense Guy, and Earth Day have in common?  What matter most to Bud and the people he makes a difference for, and to the Earth is that we all learn to use the common sense we were given to be successful and to take care of the planet that means so much to us all.    

Bud good luck and great success on this auspicious day.  

To all of us sharing this vibrant globe together, honor what we have and take care to make sure the welfare of the planet is on your mind now and for the future.  

You Can Be Inspired Greatness

All that really matters is in you and I.  We don’t need to find what we want outside of ourselves.   In our hearts and our higher nature is the wisdom and possibilities of the universe.  

I woke up early with my mind focused on something that is causing unrest in me.  The only reason it is doing so it that my thinking has taken something and given in more meaning than is there in the circumstances.   My thoughts can lift me up and sometimes terrorize me.  I want to eliminate thoughts that limit me or cause me pain.  There are no reasons to have those thoughts.  However an untended mind can be up to all kinds of unhealthy activity.  Have you noticed that in your mind too?

You and I because of our conditioning, our thoughts about the past, and our faulty interpretations of life have too often missed out on our expansive and vibrant natural state.  We have lost contact with the higher source from which we have come.  I want to remind you and myself that:

We are full consciousness waiting to be realized
We are made of the same particles of the stars
We come from the source of all creation
We have all we need to know within us
We have intuition and heart to guide us
We are as free as we allow ourselves to be
We have unlimited love within our being
We can heal ourselves in body, mind and heart
We have within us the genes of inspired greatness
We are full of joy waiting to be experienced
We have potential in us anxious to be explored
We have our creativity in search of expression
We have our own unique purpose ready to impact the world
We are filled with passion that is looking for a way to come out
We have a quiet stillness waiting to show us the way
We come equipped with emotions to keep us on course
We have the ability to change course whenever we need to
We can begin each moment anew and not be held back by the past
We have the capacity to know all that we need to know in the now
We are here to have fun and enjoy life if we allow ourselves to
We can live an abundant and rich life if we are open to receive
We can wake up today and be self-realized

What holds you back?  I suspect you are just a thought or two away from the life you want.  Try changing your viewpoint and step into the potential waiting to be expressed.  

In The Flow, Feeling The Glow

I hope you found the list on my blog helpful yesterday as far as areas in need of your passion and purpose.  This is a busy day as we head off to an Earth Day Event and promote peace.  The day should be breezy and warm.   I began the day with my morning meditation as I have renewed my focus on my inner work of being more in the abundant, energizing, freeing, healing, loving and joyous flow of the universe.  I invite you to make that your intention for this Sunday.

Repeat the following and see what you open yourself to today:  On this day I Am in the rich and abundant flow of the universe, my life is filled with love and joy, health and wealth.  I Am full of energy and inspiration.  I Am in the flow and feeling the glow.  

Have a wonderful day of aliveness.

The River Of Light 

“We Are On A Mission From God”, Jake Ellwood

I hope you have some fun things plan for the weekend.  My wife and I are going to an Earth Day Event tomorrow in Lyons, CO and my wife is at a peace event today.  During the week she is a graphic designer and my work is with people in addiction recovery in my county.  On the weekend and in our spare time we are social activists promoting inner peace and world peace through raising consciousness, spreading compassion and realizing our connection to each other on the planet.  We do what we do because we are on a mission to make a positive difference in the world.

What is your mission, your purpose, your unique expression?  What are you here to do in this life?  I ask you that because it is time for all of us to step forward with greater intention and with more attention on what we are doing.  

Intention is what we want to accomplish, it is our commitment to making something happen and the results we want to create.  Attention is the focusing of our mind and heart.   The goal here is to get clear about what you want to make happen (intention) and then put as much focus (attention) as you can on making it happen.   I brought this up because if you have a particular mission in life that you feel pulling you then I suggest you make an intention for that mission and then focus on making in happen.  

If you feel lost about intentions, purpose, mission or attention drop me an email explorelifeblog@inbox.com and I will assist you to get focused.  

Here are missions worth taking on:

World Peace
Feeding the hungry
Keeping water safe and clean and in the public domain
Equal Justice for all
Ending prejudice and racism
Election reform
Eliminating the money influence in politics
Exploring creativity for the good of humanity
Protecting the Earth and global warming
Helping those less fortunate
Eliminating abuse of children
Spreading joy and laughter
Spreading kindness and compassion
Cleaning up the rivers and streams
Protecting the seed supply
Preserving a high quality of life in your community, state and nation
Expanding charity and giving
Spreading the wealth
Debt and banking reform
Insurance reform
Ending torture and illegal detention
Corporate accountability
Accountability of our elected officials
Supportive services to the elderly
Ending the death penalty
Crime victims rights
Freedom of speech
Rebuild the education system
Separation of church and state
Gay rights
Affirmative action
Gun Control
Universal health care
Immigration rights
Prison reform
Representing the needs of the people
Inspirational and innovative leadership
Help the homeless
Eliminate poverty
Advocate for stem cell research
End sexism
And much more

Surely there is something on this list or in your heart that will get you juices flowing and fill you with passion.  There are many organizations out there that can use your help or start your own NGO.  

You and you innate ability and potential are needed more then ever.  It is time to step up and be heard.

Wanderings In The Flow

What is most important to you?  Is it your sports team(s), relationships, career, soul, money and security, health, peace of mind, having fun, a meaningful life, loving, or what?  The reason I ask is because when you know what matters it is easier to focus your life.    Last night I was up late reading an interview of Deepak Chopra in the What Is Enlightenment magazine (latest issue).  His success story is based on following his passion, exploring his purpose and letting his heart and spirit guide him.  

The interview explores how his practice of meditation and his relationship with his spiritual teacher helped him gain incredible insights and eventually set him free to be the person he wanted to be.  He sleeps only several hours a night and meditates about 2-3 hours mostly during the night in between his sleep breaks.  He reports to have lots of energy and creativity because of this meditation and his ability to witness himself even when sleeping. He has developed a high level of impartiality and this frees him to live fully in the moment.  

I felt inspired after reading this interview and have re-dedicated myself to deepen my meditation practice.  I have gotten so busy doing that I have left very little time to be in the expansive realms of consciousness possible through meditation.   My intention is to explore some practices further and to let you know what goes.  As I have mentioned lately, I feel like I want to more freely enter the flow of the universe and stop trying to make things happen.  This new Joe In The Flow is the right way to go.  Oops!  I don’t mean to be a poet here but rather to bring my attention more fully to the inner realm.  

Stay tuned and I will let you know how it goes.     

Affected By Our Past

I was working with a client today at the treatment program and she was crying as she struggled with finding her voice in the world.  I did what I do best; I listened with compassion.  She had been conditioned by her parents especially her mother to believe she was not “ok”.   Her parents were not bad but probably didn’t feel “ok” about them selves.   Now after a bout with alcoholism this still young woman is in search of who she is and what she feels.   She is thawing out from a long numbing that happens when you hide from yourself through the use of alcohol and drugs.  This hiding is not something people plan but the substance they abuse becomes their way to escape from all the hurt they feel.   Often alcohol or drug abuse is a way of self-medication.

Others turn to different ways to hide from all their pain or suffering.  They hope to find relief in relationships but they usually attract people who are also struggling.  Some choose to work so much that they are have no time to feel all that needs healing.  There are those who deny there is anything not right inside and use religion hoping for others to tell them what to think and feel.  Still others wade through the past hurts in a foggy state of depression.  

Those that meet the past pains and wrong doings of others usually can find a way to heal the hurt.  Professional help can often make a positive difference.  Self-exploration and the insights that come from that can bring a person into more of a whole state.  

Most of us have past that still shapes the way we are living in the present.  If you think you don’t have those past dings of life than you may be right.  Most likely however there is some denial going on because the growing up process almost always crosses paths with things that hurt or don’t go well.  This flawed upbringing is often the way of human nature.

So what can you do?  Here are some quick tips but the process may take some time so patience is advised:

•    Pay attention to what you feel
•    Get to know your thoughts
•    Replace any inner dialogue that is unkind with kindness
•    Open your heart to who you are with flaws and all
•    Forgive the past and move on
•    Imagine yourself being who you want to be
•    Be grateful for all you have and all you are becoming
•    Find something to be joyous about every day

Enjoy the moments of today they are a gift for you and your healing.  I will be back tomorrow.  

Our Democracy Is Ill; Citizens Needed

What is on your mind lately?  What has your thoughts occupied?  The reason I ask is because I suspect there are many people out there concerned about many things.  What concerns you about the way the world is going?  

I have some real concerns and here are 15 that have been on my mind lately.

1.    How does one afford to by a house when the wages do not match the inflated prices of housing?
2.    How can we ever get ahead as a country if we are waging wars costing us billions of dollars?
3.    How does a family get ahead financially when all costs keep going up and we want more and more stuff?
4.    How can we as a nation get ahead if we keep giving tax cuts especially to the wealthiest and have an ever-growing deficit?
5.    How come no one in Washington DC seems to care about the rising costs of health care, food, housing, prescription drugs, fuel, and so much more?
6.    Who really looks out for the people?  Is it the White House Congress, corporations or the participating citizens of this nation?
7.    How come corporations can rationalize all the wrong things they do to employees, environment, shareholders etc and they are rarely if ever held accountable?
8.    How come the Administration which clearly lied us into war has never been held accountable?
9.    How come we allow the torture, domestic spying, illegal imprisonment of people, the bailout of finance companies but not homebuyers, this endless murder called war and so much more?
10.    How come we continue to abuse the Earth and refuse to take responsibility for it and in the US do almost nothing to repair the problems?
11.    How come we allow religions to tell us what to think and believe when those that lead them are often less spiritual than we are?
12.    How come insurance companies and oil companies are having record profits on the back of the American consumers?
13.    How come money influence is allowed to continue its control over the workings of government?
14.    How come people just don’t seem to care enough to pay attention to what is going on in their capitals and in D.C.?
15.    How come people believe that nightly news represents reality when it is more about opinion and corporate agendas?

What concerns do you have about America and the world in general?  What needs to be fixed?  When can we get together to find solutions to all that is wrong?

Questions about today and our future are essential to democracy.  Our democracy is ill and we need to get involved for our good and for the good of future generations.

Enrich Your Sense Of Self

I hope you got a chance you to read my blog about self-esteem yesterday.  If not move on down the page and check it out.  These ideas represent the wisdom acquired working with many people as they traveled on the path of life in search of being ok with themselves.  You know the journey because, like most everyone else, you are on it too.  The way of finding your self-worth in a hurry worry world can be a real challenge.  

Here are more ideas to enrich your sense of self:

•    Forgive yourself and others for whatever happened in the past.  Move on and you will feel much better about yourself.
•    Make a commitment to look in the mirror everyday and say something you appreciate about yourself.
•    Find your connection; explore the unity of all beings.  You are never alone and there is much to enjoy about your oneness with all on this planet and beyond.
•    Feel acceptance in yourself and with all people, not matter their beliefs, points of view, background etc.  Appreciate diversity.
•    Express your creativity; this is a wonderful way to find out who you are and what amazing things want to be expressed through you.
•    Live each day as fully as you can. Don’t leave anything unexplored that calls to you.
•    See yourself in the protective flow of the universe and enjoy life with the real freedom of full self-expression.
•    Explore your relationship with Source, your soul, and the spirit in you.  This holy connection can inspire you in so many ways.
•    Practice giving as a way to keep your heart open.  Giving makes you appreciate you.
•    Have empathy for yourself and those things in life that cause you to struggle.  These moments all pass on and you will survive and even thrive.
•    Do things you can be proud of, leave you mark in extraordinary ways.  
•    There is a place in you that can guide you to a life of well being.  Learn to listen and follow the way you are shown.
•    The most powerful affirmation is I AM.  This simple phrase when repeated will assist you to be self-accepting, and remind you of your Divine nature.
•    Have being loving and joyous your top priorities and your life will seem full of great riches.

Look no further than into your own eyes.  There is genius, heart, spirit, and boundless aliveness waiting to be expressed.

Do You Believe In Yourself?

Most people have problems with low self-esteem.  I have counseled people for over 30 years and I have consistently found that people have serious doubts about themselves.   I have not seen any studies of percentage of those with low self-esteem.   My educated guess would be at least 90-95 % of people in this country would benefit from having a more positive self-esteem.  You might wonder where does this poor sense of self come from?

Low self-esteem comes from:
•    If you were around people with low sense of self-worth, then you learned to also be that way.
•    If you part of a religious belief system that emphasized that you were a bad person then you learned you were not ok.
•    If you were part of a school system that had failure as a possibility then many learned to think they were not smart or not ok because they didn’t get A’s or B’s.
•    If you were abused physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually in any way then you felt like something was wrong with you and you deserved the abuse.
•    If you had parents with drugs or alcohol problems or with mental health issues then you got very confusing messages and interpreted them to mean there was something not right about you.
•    If your models in your childhood were negative and fearful then you became like them.
•    If you were raised in a time of war or major disturbances like hurricanes then you may have had such trauma that you don’t ever feel ok about yourself or the world.
•    If you were raised in a tight societal structure with too much control place on you then you are filled with self-doubt.  

There are other influences in our upbringing but the above gives you some ideas about the negative influences that may have shaped your sense of self.   

You might wonder is there anything you can do to raise self-esteem?  The answer is “yes there is.”  Here are some ideas:

•    One of the best ways to raise your self-esteem is to start paying attention to your thoughts and self-talk.  If your thoughts are negative and your self-talk is critical than you need to change your thoughts and how you talk to yourself.   I have written about self-talk in my April 9th blog.
•    Another way to have a more positive self-esteem is to accept yourself just as you are.  You and I are full of judgment about who we are and what we do.  Begin today to accept and appreciate yourself; anything less is just old programming in the way.
•    Find a counselor or coach to help you work on self-esteem.  Almost everyone I know including myself would benefit from the help of a professional to validate who I am and assist me to raise my sense of self.
•    Explore your emotions; get to know what you feel.   The more you understand you emotional landscape and are ok with what you feel, the better your self-esteem will be.
•    Stop being so critical of yourself and others.  A very critical point of view is hardest on you.  Lighten up, don’t take yourself so seriously.
•    Quit believing in sin, original sin, feeling guilty, hell and heaven and all these beliefs that have no basis in reality.  These ideas are human ideas and they don’t represent the positive possibilities that you are.
•    Take good care of your body and you will feel better about yourself.  A healthy, well cared for body will make you feel good about yourself.  
•    Seek to be an aware and conscious human being.  The more you pay attention to who you are and the world around you, the more you are awake and alert to the higher wisdom in you and in the universe.  
•    Mediation is a powerful practice that will make you more aware of your expanded nature.  Sitting quietly allows you to tune into you inner wisdom and helps you believe in yourself.  Walk your own spiritual path.
•    Spend time listening in and discover your purpose and what makes you feel passionate about life.  Living passionately and with a clear mission in life will make you feel postive about you.

There is more I can add here but this is a good start.  If you have questions and need a boost in self-esteem, drop me a line and I will gladly send you some ideas that meet your specific needs.  I can be reached at explorelifeblog@inbox.com.

Whatever happened in the past is over.  Now, in this moment, it is up to you to raise your sense of self.  If you do you will be able have the life you want to create.

What Call Towards Greatness Is In You?

I am taking some time for contemplation today.  It is a sunny morning and I feel like tuning inward and listening to my Higher Self and the Source of all creation.  One of my readers from yesterday’s post on hunger told me of this great website.  Here is a quote I came upon at the HungerSite.com:

“If you desire peace, cultivate justice, but at the same time cultivate the fields to provide more bread; otherwise there will be no peace.”   Norman Borlaug

Peace is a very important passion in my life.  My little peace organization with a huge mission is slowly expanding in the contacts we are making and the giving we can do.  

What is your passion?  How do you want to make a difference in the world?  What call toward greatness is in you? Take time to listen inward and follow the guidance of you heart and your soul because within you is the most wonderful possibilities.  

Enjoy you day, be well, and hear the calling you were created to realize.  

Feed The Hungry; Make A Difference

Yesterday I wrote about the insanity of war and the policies of our government.  Today I want to write about something you can do to make a difference in your community.  Bill Moyer’s show last night was about hunger in America and farm subsidies. The farm subsides issues is a scandal but the idea the 25 million people in this country don’t have enough food to eat is an outrage.  Can you imagine that a country as rich as ours lets people go hungry?  If you are not political but feel the urge to make a difference, here is what you can do where you live: FEED THE HUNGRY.

In each community there are food banks or other food pantries where the less fortunate can get food.  There are large shortages happening and your help is needed TODAY.  

In this country and around the world there are a number of hunger projects.  The one on Moyer’s Journal last night was Bread For The World led by David Beckman.  Check out his interview.  In the last few years there has been a real demand for food by those who can’t keep up with the rising food costs.  9 million children don’t have enough to eat, which means their cognitive development can be harmed.  3 million seniors in this country, many who worked their whole lives, cannot afford to feed themselves on their pensions.    Is that OK with you?  

If you do an Internet search on hunger, you will see there are number of programs and if you look in local community you can find projects to get involved in NOW.  Take the time to give of your time or resources.  Giving always feels good.  Make it a goal this year to help feed someone in need, a family, or give to feed as many as you can.   It will take a little effort but the return will be much greater.   

Have an enjoyable weekend and let your heart shine.

We All Need To Find Our Voice

I had to write some thoughts on the state of politics in this country as the war in Iraq continues to kill more and more people, as the war in Afghanistan continues, and as this administration now renews their campaign to start a war in Iran.  The ego driven insanity of those in charge is beyond belief to me.  That Congress goes along and keeps funding this insanity puts into question whether there is any other political party than the Money Influence Party in Washington DC.  So what if the people want us out of the war in Iraq, so what if only 20% of the people support the job he is doing, so what if we break the rules of the Geneva Convention and show no respect for human dignity.  Well it is time we speak up.

What is going on, directed by the White House, is a disgrace to humankind, to anyone who has any higher values, to anyone who has a heart or any value for human life.   This is cold-blooded murder in the pursuit of power.  The major press has gone right along without any attempt to even questioning any of this; as if they are sheep who have lost their ability to think rationally.

The only place you find real questioning going on is the Web, where people. free of corporate influence, are driving the discussion and sharing a variety of points of view.  The major networks rarely vary from the talking points of this administration.  The people however know that more is going on than meets the eye of those that trust the nightly news.  

It is time to wake up the nation from its sleep of entertainment, shopping, and working more hours to have more things.  It is time to stop being sheeple and become people who have active, thoughtful minds and open, compassionate hearts.   It is time to get involved, speak up, ask question, get together with other to take action.  We can no longer afford the let the people we elected hide away from their responsibility to hold this President accountable.  He has had free reign and no one has had the courage to organize any real action to hold him in line.  How could anyone be intimidated by this President?  There is nothing scary about him except his lack of touch with reality and they have hospitals to assist those in trouble like he is.  Bush is an emperor with no clothes on and no one dares to say anything.

I ask you with all my heart to get involved in politics and let you voice be heard.  Reason and heart are in very short supply and you and I are the ones that need to provide it.  We cannot count on our elected officials at the national level for they are no shows in doing their job of providing checks and balances.  We are the ones that have to change the course or Iran will be the next target and this administration will hand the next President their huge mess to clean up.  We the people can’t let that happen.

I will write more soon about the kind of leadership we need to guide this nation back on course from the nightmare Bush and Cheney are responsible for creating.  Their leadership will go down in history as a very dark time.

That is enough ranting for today.  I am finding myself more and more concerned about the future of my country.  I hope you will join me in making something positive happen.  I am only one voice but together our voices can make a difference.   Without our voices the silence will be deadly.

Beyond Normal to A Meaningful Life

Under all the inner talk, emotions, faulty beliefs and past programming is the person you came here to realize.  Yes this has been a soul’s journey planned before you were born with enough flexibility that you still had the freedom of choice as you life unfolded.  The preconception life chart was set to assist you in learning certain life lessons and the specifics would be worked out through the circumstances you were born into.  

You might ask what lessons and why did you need to learn them.  I don’t know what lessons you are here to explore those are very personal.  I don’t even know why you need to learn them.  This is all only human speculation at the workings of a must greater source of wisdom, power and creativity than you and I have readily available to us in our human form.    I am saying in human form here because, beyond our humanness is our innate connection to the Source of the Universe.  That higher nature is fully empowered if realized.

I need to get back to this lessons thing.  Some say the lessons are to help purify us so that we might return to the light of Source once the impurities are cleaned up through insight and awareness.  If that is the case, I wonder why you and I are created with these personal impurities and why we need to do this metaphysical dance to make our way back home.  

All of this adds up to this conclusion on my part about life.  Even the wisest of gurus, ministers and others who dare tell us our purpose have not idea why we are here.  So it comes down to this: our life has the meaning we give it.  Whether we come back or not doesn’t really matter.  What does matter is the purpose and meaning we give ourselves and the bumpy road we call life.  

My suggestion is that you choose a meaning that makes you feel alive and passionate, that opens your heart and brings out the best in you.  That is the kind of life you would be proud to call your own.  Let me know how it goes.  

Just a warning, I feel a good political rant coming on so if you don’t like politics, skip my Friday blog and I will be back on the weekend.   

Normal: The Way of Supportive Self-Talk

I want to continue to explore with you ways of finding order in the midst of a chaotic world.  I have argued this type of order does not come from being normal because normal is no longer the way we can look at our lives.  Today I want share with you the idea that humans are products of their own self-talk.  If you program your self-talk for encouragement and support, you shape your life in very positive ways.

First, where does self-talk come from?  Self-talk is a product of your upbringing.  The messages you received as children get recorded in your little mind as if on some kind of never ending feedback loop.  If you really paid attention now to those recordings, you might even hear the voice of the original message deliverer.  If you Dad said you were not ok in some way, that message could have been recorded inside and it continues to play even now.  They play over and over again the same limiting messages unless we reprogram what we learned.  So if you got a message you were a bad person and you didn’t deserve love for something you did as a child then that message now shapes your sense of self.  That message may have been played repeatedly in your mind since you first heard it.  Now 20, 30, 40 years later that messages has been played over let’s say a minimum of 75,000 to 300,000 times.  So that repeated message could have only one result: you would feel like a bad person that did not deserve love for your entire adult life.  That old false message has run your life.  

This example of old messages has happened to every one of us in some way, shape or form.  The messages of our self-talk, whether positive or negative, have been played over and over again.  The unfortunate part of this is that most of us where raise in less then ideal conditions.  This is not to blame anyone in our past but instead to look at how we have carried forward our old messages because we have not paid attention to our self-talk.  All self-talk is best explored and questioned.

Second, what the heck do we do about this mess our thoughts have created?  The best action is to begin today to pay attention to how you talk to yourself.  If your self-talk is critical and judgmental that is something you learned.  Again no blame is intended.  The goal is to now be aware of how you speak to yourself and to put new data into your computer (mind) that is supportive and positive.  There is never any benefit to talking harshly to yourself.  That negativity is learned and not who you are.  Instead your self-talk is to be guided by your heart.  As I have said in past writings the best way to be, is loving and fully accepting of who you are.  All inner dialogue is best when it encourages and inspires the extraordinary in you.

Ok, do you now understand the importance of taking charge of how you talk to yourself?  Excellent, so now take action and program yourself for to be the person you have always wanted to be.  You are in charge and you can make it happen.  

The Having Fun Solution To Being Normal

The best way to define normal may be all those folks who don’t look very happy.  Look inward and around you, are you and others enjoying life?  It seems many have given up having fun for making money, owning more stuff, being passively entertained, or just plain checking out.  If you want to make your life work better in the midst of so much that seems out of control; set your sights on having fun.

Better ways to enjoy life:

1.    Don’t take yourself too seriously
2.    Ease up on trying so hard
3.    Let go and move on to something better
4.    Make it your goal to have fun
5.    If your work sucks, go find something else
6.    Make it a priority to enjoy your partner and your children
7.    Nothing matters more than keeping you heart open and loving
8.    Try listening to those you care about so they can show you how to live
9.    Make your life about spreading real joy
10.    Decide to live fully each day in ways that feel great
11.    Don’t continue to do what you know in your heart is not right
12.    Relax more and take the time to slow down and smell the roses
13.    If you don’t make your life fun today, when will you
14.    Make a commitment to be positive and to enjoy the little things
15.    Be grateful for the good things that come your way
16.    Find time to make others laugh
17.    Give up on the idea of doing everything right
18.    Take a deep breath and smile from your belly
19.    Life is too short to waste it doing something you hate doing
20.    Stop believing the nonsense you were taught about it being better to suffer
21.    Ignore the fun killing ways of your mind’s silly rules
22.    If you can’t have fun, don’t waste your time
23.    Have an open mind to the good times that come your way
24.    If your heart is receptive, joy can come your way
25.    Say goodbye to guilt and hello to bliss.

More ways tomorrow on finding a calm oasis in midst of a bumpy road called Life.  As the great Mad philosopher Alfred E Newman said, “Why be normal?”

Normal: The Path of Inspiration

I trust you are ready for a good week.  I have been writing lately about ways to bring order to today’s world, which is so often spinning at a high rate of change.  I want to share with you one of my favorite strategies for chaos management: inspiration.  When I feel overwhelmed, I find it very helpful to be uplifted, to explore expansive ideas, to be inspired by new ways of looking at life on our planet.   This weekend was full of those experiences and I am not even sure how I ended up with so many interesting things going on.  

I invite you to explore some of these sources of inspiration and to make a list of others for yourself so when you feel the need to expand your thinking, you will have them.   Here is inspiration sure to take you higher:

Laughter Yoga is so much fun.  I was attending a conference about peace and there was a workshop on Laughter Yoga.  If by chance you like to laugh or have fun this is an activity that is just what you need.  We laughed, breathed, stretched and interacted with each other in ways that were so enjoyable.  Check out LaughterYoga.com and find a find a Laughter Club in your community.

At this same conference about peace (peaceful people really know how to have fun), we did a drumming circle.  Have you ever been involved in one?  If so you know how powerful they are at altering your state.  If you haven’t had the pleasure then it may be time to seek out a drumming circle in your community.  In Santa Barbara where I use to live there was drumming circle that met down by the ocean, in other communities I have live in there are weekly gather places to meet with other who want to drum.  I use to be in a drumming group that also sang chants and other songs.  Those groups took me into wonderfully expansive experiences.  Check out drumcircles.net

On Friday evening I had the priviledge of listening to Malidoma Some’ share his wisdom about us human beings.  He is a West African who speaks of his native traditions especially around ways of spirit and about his communities unique traditions.  His mission is to share with Western cultures the richness of native primal practices and points of view.  He stories are powerful as they thoughtfully question the way you and I are in the world.  Use your favorite search engine and explore Malidoma Some' for lots of opportunity to find out more.  

The peace conference I attend was part of a move in this country to create a Department of Peace in Washington D.C.  Obviously this Department is badly needed.  The conference was small but full of well-intended people, who share a mission my wife and I have.  We want world peace and we think together we can make that happen.  If you want to find out more go to ThePeaceAlliance.Org

Last night after a very full weekend we sat down and watched a movie called August Rush.  This is a very inspirational movie and one I highly recommend.  It is about a boy driven by passion and a genius for music and how he used it to change his world and those around him.  August Rush is a wonderful story.

One last brief note: Martin Luther King has been the greatest source of inspiration for me and my life.  Take a moment and remember on the 40th Anniversary of his passing that the power of force for positive change in Dr. King is in you.  

Have a week inspired by the best ideas and highest desires to be the change you want to see in the world.  

Sunday Brief

Today is Sunday and I have had so much going on this weekend that I will write about it tomorrow.  I hope your day is going well and that you find a moment here and there where you have some love, joy, peace of mind and whatever you want in life.  You deserve the best and don’t let you misinformed thoughts or anyone else ever tell you different.

Peace to You and May the Consciousness Of Martin Luther King Flow Through Your Heart.  Be the Light.

 

Normal: Your Thoughts Are Important

Yes I know I said your thoughts are not real in my last post but that does not mean they are not important.  Let’s look at the impact of thoughts on how you experience your life and those around you.  

First place, your thoughts have a great impact on you mainly because you are mostly unaware of the stream of ideas and beliefs going on inside.  You and I have about 50,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day.  About 80-90% of those thoughts are the same as the day before.  If you have beliefs you are unaware of and you re-enforce them by repeating them every day, then those beliefs will have a huge influence on you.  For example, if you believe you are not ok because of a religious belief like sin (which doesn’t really exist), then that belief of not being ok influences how you feel about yourself.  

Secondly, your thoughts even though they need to be questioned, create reactions within you that shape the way you respond to others.  If you have thoughts that make you angry at the past, then you live in a world in which everything is colored by your anger.  Here faulting thinking creates an emotional response and the emotion shades all of your interactions with others.

Thirdly your thoughts affect your ability to be healthy and happy.  If you see the world with an open heart and are receptive to your higher nature, then you are better able to heal yourself and find the love and joy you desire.  If your thoughts are negative and closed down, your life simply will not be much fun.

The way to take back control of your thoughts comes in several ways.  The first method is meditation or quiet contemplation.  These type practices have been part of higher human understanding for thousands of years.  Explore meditation and finding the quiet place inside and you will have much more awareness and control over your thinking mind.  There are many methods.  Just simply sitting quietly and observing the mind parade can keep you entertained for a long time.  With awareness of your thoughts and a receptivity to insight, you can reshape the interior landscape of your mind.  

The second method of mind corralling is called shrinking the inner critic.  Inside of you is an inner critic that represents all the criticism, judgment, and negative re-enforcement you received as you grew up.  That critic is not voice of wisdom but a voice of harsh judgment; it is not your voice but the learned limited ideas of others.  This inner critic can be shrunk by paying more attention to your inner dialogue.  The harsh inner voice needs to be replaced by words of encouragement and support.  There is never any reason to talk in unkind ways to your self.  So stop being critical and start being compassionate and accepting of who you are.

Finding time to set aside for meditation would give you much more objectivity and shrinking the critic will free you from old programming.  Take back your mind from the past, from limiting beliefs, from unquestioned false ideas, from the judging harshness of the critic.  You can find peace of mind this way.  Your peace of mind is a gift to the planet and to all of us fellow inhabitants.