Journalhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/en-US2008-07-05T15:48:23ZSquarespace Site Server v4.1.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Yeah For Independence Dayhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/7/4/yeah-for-independence-day.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-07-04T13:42:14ZHappy 4th of July to you! I so much appreciate the idea of an Independence Day celebration. This particular holiday is in honor of our country breaking from the oppression of British rule. That breaking from the rule of others set our nation on a powerful course to greatness. Today I want to request that you to declare yourself free from the oppression of you thoughts, your limiting beliefs, your past conditioning, your emotional memories, your fears and anything else that may be holding you back from being free.

We were a nation built on freedom. This freedom is in trouble today because we have gone far too long without setting ourselves free, without declaring our own independence from our past and our fears.   I invite you to take some time today and over the next few days to assess what in your past is holding you back and what fears are keeping you from your fullest expression. This self-assessment is important because you are your own greatest oppressor. Isn’t it time you freed yourself once and for all?

The following are some ways we hold ourselves back in a world that seems so fear driven:

•   Watching nightly news feeds your fears and it totally misrepresents the reality of your community and the world
•   Believing what you were told growing up without questioning it as an adult
•   Giving authority to those in power when you and I should be taking back the power of the people
•   Allow your past to limit you today by not reprogramming your mind
•   Letting your self-talk be judgmental and self-critical and not supportive and loving
•   Blocking your heart off so you are not hurt instead of being open to love
•   Closing your mind to the ideas of others being sure you know better
•   Losing touch with your compassionate heart as you judge others as not ok
•   Finding and focusing on the faults of yourself and others keeps you down
•   Blaming and complaining zaps your energy and attracts more crap to blame and complain about
•   Forgetting that you are one with the creative source of the universe and connected to every living thing
•   Not paying attention to your intuition and inner knowing that is there to set you free
•   Forgetting there is a stream of well-being available through your higher self if you are open to receive

None of the above are bad, they are just the way you and I have limited ourselves by way of the influences in our lives. What else holds you back?

As you explore and find your own limits, hold them in the light of your heart and then let them go. Start freeing yourself today by releasing the past and saying goodbye to fear.

The most powerful limits are within your mind and the only real terrorists are your thoughts and a closed heart.

Peace and Happy Independence Day to you!!!

]]>Desire, Design, Deserve, Destinyhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/7/3/desire-design-deserve-destiny.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-07-03T14:03:37ZI was contemplating personal freedom and these four words came to me. Let me tell you about each idea because they are powerful.

Desire is to want something more in your life. Desire is a very powerful urge in you to further express yourself. This urge calls you to be more and express more. Sure there are desires that are less important but everything that you want has a purpose. Some would even say a higher purpose. If inside this call is heard then you know it is important. Desire and purpose are closely related. They are guiding forces inviting the best in you. What is the most powerful desire you feel right now?

Design means to plan and create what you can envision. To design your life means to take charge of your thoughts and feelings so that they align with the energy needed to create what you want. A design that matters to you is filled with your life force and you are inspired to make it happen. The urge to be creative is a powerful one. You are here to design your life to make a difference for you and those you touch. What are you feeling the call to design, to create, to manifest in the world?

Deserve means that you have come to the place of realization that you are somebody worth knowing, that you have something to offer, to you are ok just as you are. This sense of deserving can feel like a real lifetime project. Make it brief instead because then you will get out of your own way. Nothing holds us back more than our selves. You know that because you have felt yourself limiting what is possible. Real freedom comes when you love yourself and get out of the way of the flow of the universe.   How to you doubt yourself today and are you willing to let that go?

Destiny is what you have come here in this life to express. Your unique and amazing mission is unlike anyone else’s.   There never was nor will there ever be anyone here on this planet just like you. Only you can do what you are here to do. Is that clear? You and only you have what it takes to accomplish your mission. Your destiny if you choose to accept it, is to free yourself to be the greatness inside waiting to be expressed. Are you willing to go for it starting today?

The world is in waiting for you to express yourself as fully and completely as you can. Are you ready to start now?. Ok Begin!

]]>An Open Mind Equals Personal Freedomhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/7/2/an-open-mind-equals-personal-freedom.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-07-02T13:30:25ZYesterday I wrote about mindfulness as a powerful step toward your true independence. I will share more about mindfulness as we go forward. Today however I wanted to write about the freedom that comes from an open mind. What is an open mind and how do you and I open ours and keep it open?

An open mind is one that is able to take in a variety of ideas and be comfortable with a wide range of possibilities. To be open a mind has to put aside the judging of everybody and everything as either good or bad. An open mind is impartial and able to see things from a variety of points of view. An open mind can see the bigger picture beyond the biases and beliefs.

An open mind is a wonderful asset for all of humanity.   Here are a few ways to checkout if your mind is open or not:

•   Can you appreciate points of view opposite of yours?
•   Can you rise above the moral judging and see the greater truth?
•   Can you explore other perspectives and be open to expanding yours?
•   Can you see the connection we all share and feel the unity of all things?
•   Can you let go of past beliefs and now search for truth?
•   Can you listen with compassion and be receptive to how others view the world?
•   Can you see beyond black and white, either or, this or that?
•   Can you keep your mind open to those who don’t live up to your expectations?
•   Can you bring yourself to think bigger and experience more of what life has to offer?
•   Can you imagine that you are just a speck on a tiny planet situated in a huge galaxy, surrounded by an infinite number of other galaxies?
•   Can you let go of the past and bring your mind and thoughts fully into the present?
•   Can you feel the greatness in you and see it those you interact with?
•   Can you fully and completely accept yourself and others?
•   Can you allow the love and joy that is your nature be fully expressed?

Be the open mind and let you light shine across the universe.

]]>July - Your Month For Real Freedomhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/7/1/july-your-month-for-real-freedom.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-07-01T14:01:19ZMake July Independence Month and set yourself free. Throughout this month I am going to write at least several articles a week on ways to deepen your awareness, to expand your consciousness, and how to unblock what is holding you back from being the success you want to be. I am excited about July because my wife and I are going to daily do things to open us up to a rich flow of success and prosperity.

I want to begin with the idea of Mindfulness and the importance of expanding your consciousness. To be mindful is to be present to what is going on inside of you at a number of levels. Mindfulness means you are aware of what you are thinking and your self-talk. Mindfulness means you are aware of your feelings and the way of your heart. Mindfulness means you are in touch with your senses, you gut, your intuition, you higher self, your spirit/soul. Mindfulness means you are awake to all that is around you.

I invite you to begin paying attention to yourself and all that goes on inside and around you. Mindfulness takes practice but the rewards are substantial. The more mindful you are, the better you know how to shape your life.

Here are some brief mindfulness exercises for you to explore:

•   Become aware of your breath throughout the day. This brings you into the present moment.
•   Notice what your senses are aware of during whatever you are doing. This is mindfulness that smells, touches, tastes, sees, and listens.
•   Be aware of your body as you move. Walking in awareness is a great form of mindfulness practice.
•   Sit quietly and listen inward, become present to your interior landscape. This will take you deep into your inner knowing.
•   Practice meditation. There are many forms. Find a teacher and learn the basic techniques of a particular practice.
•   Sing songs that inspire you and be aware of yourself as you do so. Singing is also a powerful way to be fully present.
•   Eat with awareness. Slow down and appreciate each bite. Eating in a relaxed manner will expand your sense of enjoyment and help you be mindful.
•   Expressing yourself creatively is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness. When doing art or crafts most are fully in the moment and all you have to do is tune in as you create.
•   Waiting in line, cleaning up, washing dishes, driving to work and much more all can be done mindfully. Create your own ways of being present and aware.

Welcome to July and may it be very fruitful and liberating to you in wonderful ways.

]]>Healing Your Past Perceptionshttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/30/healing-your-past-perceptions.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-30T13:13:24ZI had a massage from Heidi our very intuitive, healer, massage therapist friend Saturday. She worked with me in a way that helped me gained some insights and understanding about parts of the past I was holding onto. I was recently in Oregon for my dad’s 80th birthday and I had some more of the puzzle fall into place. This puzzle was about how I was getting in my own way in life. Heidi’s bodywork and questions assisted me in linking my past with my present.

It seems my Dad had more of a limiting affect on me than I realized. That is not meant to blame my father but to look at how I interpreted his life from my child eyes and experiences. I was the oldest of 6 children and as each brother or sister came along Dad seemed to go away more. He became a very busy citizen, community leader, Rotarian and worked lots of hours. I am sure he was doing what he felt necessary to provide for us. He was also clearly overwhelmed at home and seemed to try to put a damper on all the energy that flowed with all of us kids. My guess was he was trying to figure out how to survive the chaos he had created.

As I look back he did not seem happy about his work or his life at home. I at some mostly unconscious level decided I didn’t want anything to do with the life he created. I have no children (although as a therapist, I have worked at re-parenting many people over the years). I have not joined any of the civic organization my dad joined. I am more introverted and dad was more extraverted. He is conservative in his politics and thoughts. I am liberal and progressive.   His emotions are mostly contained and I feel more being intuitive and sensitive person.   He worked hard and lots for money. I can’t seem to work for money, it has to be to help others.

Dad is just fine the way he is and I am just fine the way I am. There is however inside of me some limiting thoughts about my deserving, my being ok with not struggling like my dad. I am the anti of my dad’s unhappy times. However something I learned or interpreted along the way has blocked the flow of abundance that I feel I deserve.   Excuse my complicated explanation but putting it clearly into words is something I am still sorting out myself.

I am writing all of this as a way to share with you that even after all these years of deep inner work with myself and the many I have helped, I still have further growth to accomplish. I am confident that you do also.   Here is what I am going to do to encourage the growth and opening I want and need:

•   I am going to focus on my own inner peace through meditation
•   I am going to use EFT/Tapping (If interested, do a search at Tap Into Heaven.com to find out more) for some inner reprogramming
•   I am going to journal about my new insights
•   I am going to look for positive results and celebrate the further opening.
•   I will continue to seek the feedback of others.
•   I am going to open more fully to the power and energy of my potential to fully express myself
•   I am going to open to the flow and the effortless possibilities as if I fully deserve.

What are you going to do to move yourself forward to the next level of your fullest and highest expression. Life is an experiment, what life testing would your benefit from? Let me know if I can be of assistance.

(In July I am going to write a series of articles about how you and I can make this month a real time of personal independence from our past, our limiting ideas and beliefs, our emotional blocks and anything else inside that might be keeping us from being free, from fully expression the greatness inside. The world needs all of us at our best so we can protect our planet and guide humanity down a enlightened path for the well-being of all of us.)

]]>Busy Sunday and Healing Thoughtshttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/29/busy-sunday-and-healing-thoughts.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-29T22:55:44ZThis Sunday has been too full of activity. My nap I just finished was so refreshing and renewing. So also was the walk through the woods this morning with my wife Bobbi and our your dog Pax. Nature is such a wonderful healer.

Since the walk we did our weeks grocery shopping and Sunflower Market. I checked in with one of my recovery clients who works there. She is doing ok but could use some support. We also took Pax to Petco for a self-serve bath. An the day or rest has flown by way to fast.

I am doing some inner work/healing and I will write more about that tomorrow because I think you will find my process helpful. Tapping into the unconscious, into our childhood programming, understanding our interpretations of life, and listening inward to what we can know all allow healing to take place. This healing may come in the form of rewriting our beliefs or redoing our understandings about life.

Awareness and insight are very helpful for helping you and I as we try to move on from whatever holds us back.

]]>Peace and Religionhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/28/peace-and-religion.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-28T15:37:09ZI hope you have some fun planned for this last weekend of June. Where did this month go? I got some very good news this week from a professional editor who reviewed my novel/tale about a blog authored by a God that might be considered not quite traditional. The editor gave me some very good ideas for making the book better and they shouldn’t take too much time. I will work on it this weekend so my blog entries will be brief. Today I want to share with you two quotes, one about peace and the other about peace and religion. As you know from reading here at my blog these two topics are favorites of mine. I hope you find some inspiration in these words that could be inspired by the God in my novel.

“Peace
It does not mean to be in a place
Where there is no noise, trouble,
Or hard work. It means to be in
The midst of those things and still
Be calm in your heart.” Unknown

“Properly understood, religion can be
a source of peace. But when it’s interpreted
by egotism, greed and selfishness – the very
things religion is struggling to free us from –
it can become lethal,” Karen Armstrong

Have a good day and let peace be part of each moment.

]]>Are You Ready To Leap Into Your Greatness?http://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/27/are-you-ready-to-leap-into-your-greatness.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-27T13:35:22ZI have to admit to being a basketball junky and last night was the NBA draft and my favorite team the Portland Trailblazers had a good night. I enjoy reading about all these players but it is watching them play that is the most fun. I grew watching lots of sports and over the years have become less interested. But when it comes to the Trailblazers, especially now that they are in a positive direction again, I just can’t get enough inside information.

Blogs are great for inside information. If you read my blog and others you get what interests us and even though I love basketball, I hardly ever write about it because I think peace, consciousness, purpose and progressive ideas/politics are more important to write about. I write about what stirs me, what inspires my imagination, about what lifts me up from the ordinary and challenges me to be extraordinary. Speaking of raising yourself up, maybe that is what I like about sports, to see athletes raise their game to new heights in the pursuit of being the best player and team they can be.

I love to watch excellence in action whether it is flying through the air or uplifting the world with thoughts. What in you wants to be set free enough to fly into a higher stratosphere of personal expression? If you could leap into any kind of greatness where would you leap? If you could be your best fantasy of a life, what would it look like? If you could go for and achieve whatever you desire, what would that be?

Take a leap like these young players are going to do. They have an opportunity to be great if they are willing to put in the effort. There are gifted people and then there are the rest of us who just open up, commit to doing what it takes, and go for what we want.

Have a good weekend and listen inward to the silent call inviting you to be even more. There are vast inner resources in you waiting to be tapped. Have fun exploring and expressing.

]]>The Moral High Ground Is An Illusionhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/26/the-moral-high-ground-is-an-illusion.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-26T13:52:32ZMy wife had knee surgery yesterday morning and they cleaned up some stuff that has been keeping her from doing what she wants to do. The surgery was not very invasive and the recovery should be quick. She does not have the same knee problems nor the golf swing of Tiger Woods but she loves to keep fit and play golf. Hopeful we will be out hacking away again before long.

Speaking of Tiger, I have been reading people making comments lately about him getting mad out on the golf course when things don’t go well. They were critical and someone made a comment about his behavior was a bad moral example. I have seen the word moral use more often lately and it got me thinking. I looked up moral in the dictionary and found it having to do with judging people and their actions as either good or bad.

I find it interesting that so many people who come from a traditional/conservative Christian point of view are so full of judgment of others. Is that really the point of their highest teachings of love and compassion? How come those that have so many opinions of right and wrong feel it is their job to judge others?

Moral, from the point of view of right and wrong, is used more like a blunt instrument on those who are judged as less than those who feel righteous. Yet it seems, to so often turn up, that those who claim to by on the higher moral ground end up getting caught in less than morally outstanding situations and behaviors. Numerous priests, ministers, politicians and other authority figures come to mind. Those that protest so loudly too often have a shadow side lurking in the muck of what they protest about.

So if you hear someone throwing around their moral attitude, I suggest you keep clear of them and their beliefs because you will be misguided.

The higher way, it seems, is to be with people who: value love, compassion and understanding; who know their own human limitation; who accept people for who they are; and who don’t claim to have all the answers but instead see life as a journey full of exploration and growth. Let your mind be open to the path of your own heart.

]]>Find That Which Is Limitless In Youhttp://www.explorelifeblog.com/journal/2008/6/25/find-that-which-is-limitless-in-you.htmlJoseph Bernard2008-06-25T12:20:06ZI hope you took the time to do the healing story for yourself from yesterday’s blog. If not I highly encourage you to do so in the next week or so. I work with people who are in treatment for their addictions and the 5 years healing story was a powerful exercise. The stories they came up with will help them in their recovery.

This exercise is not only for the seriously troubled, it is also very beneficial for those who want to move forward with life and to get clear about the kind of future they want to create. I wrote my own story and it was very specific about the life I want to have in 5 years. This life became possible because I can imagine it now and starting putting together the building blocks so things will come into the reality of my life 60 months from now. If I think I can make it happen, if I can feel it as a possibility, if I can sense it, imagine it and open to these new and improved possibilities then I have a wonderful chance of this expansive life becoming real.

I believe that if I get clear and clear out of my own way then anything is possible and probable. The clear out piece may be the trickiest. By that I mean that my old thoughts and beliefs even though I have worked on erasing them, still may linger in my unconscious road blocking that which I desire. I suspect that that is true for you too.

We all have a collection of programming/conditioning from our earlier years that provide barriers to the flow of abundance and success we want. The gamut of faulty beliefs of not deserving, not enough, no ok etc. can be hard to over-ride.

Hang in there and keep on taking deeper and deeper examinations of limiting self-talk, thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Everyone of those limits are ultimately self-imposed even though they came from other people and situations. The reason that is true is because in this moment, our only true impediment to success and the life we long for is the person you look in the mirror on most days. Yes you and I get in our way more than anyone or anything.

Today and each day you are encourage to listen inward and sneak- up on any self-imposed limits that may be rushing through your misinformed mind, past muscle memory or less than open heart.

Take back you and your life by fully allowing the open and rich flow of all that is possible. There simply is no limit in the universe, so there is not limit in you.

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