Above there’s a link to a movie called “Who I am makes a Difference”.  It’s a wonderful and moving story with a positive message.  I used it at a seminar for a couple hundred people and had ribbons for all to pass on. Once you see the movie you’ll know what I mean by the ribbons.  For your information, it didn’t cost much to have a few hundred made.

Looking at the crowd as we all took in the movie; I saw many with tears in their eyes.  Let me know what you think.

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

If you wish to experience life in all its fullness, you have to leave the past behind together with all the failures, shortcomings and feelings of despondency you may have had.

Learn how to relieve yourself from the pain, regrets and bitterness from yesterday’s conflict. Holding on to them will only dampen your mood and affect your whole life, from your attitude to interpersonal relationships and your job even. Negativity results into loss of self-esteem and unhappiness.

All hope is not lost, however. The past is over; look forward to the future. You are not meant to live in pain no matter what happened and how hurt you’ve been. Cast off your burdens so you can be free. You deserve to be free.

The following five steps can take you forward and gain the freedom that will allow you to enjoy life as it should be lived - in peace and happiness.

1. Bring it to the open. Talk to a friend or relative that you fully trust about your fears, pain, disappointment or anguish. Acknowledge how you feel. If you must, then cry or scream to get it out of you system. You need to release all those pent-up emotions but in a harmless manner.

• You can only get over your past by opening about your feelings. And when you’ve uttered them, let go and never entertain the thought of them again. It won’t be easy but there is no other way you can break away from the past.

2. Write in a journal. Journaling is a great way to express your self freely, honestly and openly. Even if you misspell the words, defy grammar rules, or be illogical, who cares? You are writing only for yourself and for no one else. So write anything and everything that comes to your mind, straight from your heart.

• Putting your thoughts and feelings down into writing is a way to release and be free of your emotions.

3. Forgive. Forgiveness is something that not many people understand and appreciate. Forgiveness does not imply consent. Neither does it render the incident inconsequential.  The truth is forgiveness does not have anything to do with the other person.

Rather, forgiveness is about your decision to forsake vengeance or punishment. Forgiveness enables you to find closure and prepare your heart and your soul for the next chapter in your life.

• Forgiving is releasing the burden of pain, which you no longer have to carry. As you forgive, you exorcise the ghosts of the past and regain control of your life; you take charge of your future.

4. Seek professional help. You may want to seek guidance from a therapist or a life coach. Most of the time, we find it difficult to reveal ourselves to people with whom we are close. Sometimes, they can be too involved and fail to be objective in helping us process the pain.

• The non-personal relationship with a professional counselor makes disclosure of the problems much easier in the same way that people sometimes confide their deepest secret to a total stranger. Also, the therapist can introduce a whole new perspective which can be most helpful in moving forward.

5. Use alternative therapies. There are a number of techniques you can employ to modify your outlook and attitude. This change is necessary to let go of the past and forge ahead.

One such method is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It follows the principles of acupuncture but instead of needles, finger tips are used to tap on the meridian points in the upper body. EFT tapping helps you to get hold of your emotions.

• The tapping sequence is coordinated with the verbal expression of how you feel.  The process releases the energy that is blocked by the negative emotions.

Do remember that whatever happened in your past, you can always learn to let go so you can move on and live a life of joy and fulfillment.

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

American workers put in some of the longest work-hours in the world.  We also have a comparatively small amount of vacation time.  In other words, we are overworked, not getting enough rest, and stress levels are high.  Many of us are experiencing chaotic lives.Technology was supposed to make our lives easier and allow us to get things done quicker.  Instead, we are busier than ever.  While some tasks are completed in a fraction of the time it used to take, we are filling the extra time with even more work.  Review of labor statistics show that productivity per worker is up significantly.  And with the current economic conditions there is no end in sight to this pandemonium.  People are feeling overwhelmed and scared. 

Fortunately, there is hope.  Below are some tips on how we can bring some calmness and peace back into our lives.

Take breaks.   Allow a few minutes for yourself.  It can be as simple as taking a long hot bath or going for a walk.  Take the time to reflect on the day and find some peace and quiet.Slow Down.  Don’t try to do everything at once.   We multi-task, but that doesn’t mean we do things better.  Also, being pulled in many directions adds to the daily chaos of life.  At times it can be beneficial to ease up and tackle one thing at a time.   

Meditate.   Often, when people think of mediation, they picture monks sitting with their legs crossed and chanting “ummmm” or something or another.  Although this is how mediation is often portrayed in movies and media, there are many other forms available.  Many forms are very comfortable and allow you to ease your mind, bring calmness, and find serenity.

·         A beginner technique for meditation is to simply sit in a comfortable chair, turn off the light or close the curtains, and close your eyes.  Start with five to ten minutes and add time as you are able to.

·         Another way to meditate is to envision a peaceful setting.  Picture yourself standing on a bridge covered by heavy chains.  The chains represent your worries and troubles.  Now picture yourself unwrapping the chains and tossing them over the edge.  See them disappear into the depths of the river.    This may only be an image but it can allow you feel the tranquility your life can hold.   Focus on the positive.  Practice finding the positive in any situation.  Keep it simple.  For example, look for a smile, a picture that brings joy, or a song that warms your heart.  When you take the time to look for the good, you WILL find it. 

Reduce the influence of others.  Many of us have people in our lives that are negative.  Don’t necessarily ignore them, but don’t let their problems and issues become yours.  If they become too draining, minimize your interaction.  Others like a lot of drama.  They live for it.  Remember, it’s NOT yours so you don’t have to get caught up in it.  Avoid the pity parties.  Instead focus on addressing your own issues in a positive and constructive manner.

Stress and problems are always going to be present.  How we react to them is our choice.  If we choose to emphasize the bad, we will certainly feel stress and chaos.  However, if we take the positive approach that life happens but we can get through it, we can experience greater peace of mind.  Find time for yourself, take a break, love yourself, and don’

 Life will always have stress and problems, but how you react to them can dictate the level of chaos in your life.

 

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

A full recognition of yourself gives you the opportunity to become the self-fulfilled person you’re destined to be.

Are there things about your life that you wish were different? You CAN make changes. First, you have to become self-aware. This entails taking an honest look at yourself, recognizing what your mind and body is telling you, identifying strengths along with weaknesses, and accepting the totality of who you truly are. Some people call this taking a personal inventory and it is good way to look at this process.  By developing a framework for who you are and what changes you desire, you will soon see a path to follow. Change is a process, NOT an immediate event. As you continue to focus on your well being, the sub-conscious will incorporate the changes into whom you are.  Practice making changes and you will find that you get more adept at it.

Here are some ideas to assist you in moving towards self-awareness:

1. Decide who you are and who you would like to be. When you are conducting this self-evaluation it is important that don’t focus ONLY on the negative aspects of your being. Acknowledge the positive because it is big part of who you are. Most people often neglect their positive characteristics; instead punish themselves for their faults and weaknesses. Start by making a list of the good. This way you won’t forget the positive and it will ease the pain of facing your flaws.
2. Be Honest. Honesty is a requirement for looking at ourselves. If we are not honest, our egos can easily exaggerate how wonderful we are or low self-esteem can over-emphasize our faults. Either way we develop an incomplete and inaccurate picture of self. Be courageous! See yourself for who you are!
3. Incorporate personal preferences. People often try to make dramatic changes without reviewing what is truly important to their happiness. So while you are putting together your “change plan”, identify and evaluate your likes and dislikes, then decide if they are to be part of the “new you”.
4. Challenge your inner being. Most of us have inner turmoil. As we embark on our journey towards self-awareness it can be helpful to identify what motivates us, our dreams or fears, and what causes us stress. Exploring our emotions will help us face and overcome our internal struggles.
5. Seek input from others. We are not always able to truly “see” ourselves. In this case it can be helpful to ask the people in our lives to give us some feedback. Let THEM tell you how they honestly view you, what they see as your strengths and weakness, and what they like or dislike about you. This can turn out to be a somewhat unpleasant experience, but if we can lower our defenses, set aside ego, and honesty evaluate what are friends are saying, we can learn a great deal about ourselves. Isn’t that what we are trying to do? Become self-aware, rid ourselves of low self-esteem and negativity, and live up to our potential? Get to know yourself. Love yourself. Find Happiness. It’s all connected.

Until you examine the truth of who you are, you cannot move into the person you can become.

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

A couple of weeks ago Time magazine did a feature on “How Faith Can Heal”.  They examined the mind-body connection through a variety  of sources, both religious and scientific.  They concluded there is definitely a positive benefit to believe in God or a Higher Power when it comes to improving your health.   This conclusion was not reached merely on faith but supported by extensive statistical and scientific data.  I truly enjoyed the piece and found it quite eye-opening.  Here’s a link:

http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20090223,00.htm

Enjoy

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

1.       Letting go is all about finding out who you are NOT – and then having the courage to leave it at that.

2.       When you understand that no one really knows who they are, you will stop counting on them to tell you who you are.

3.       Letting go of who you think you are IS letting go of your problems.  They are one and the same.

4.       The only way to produce more inner light is by consciously sitting in inner darkness.

5.       Let go of who you think you are and discover what life would be like if you had wings.

6.       Real success is not measured by what you are driven to achieve, but by what you can quietly understand.

7.       Don’t seek answers to tormenting questions when it is possible to realize that there’s nothing to gain through torment  -  and then leave it at that

8.       Letting go is the natural release that always follows the realization that holding on hurts.

9.       The only thing you are sure of losing when you let go of something that you are afraid to live without, is fear.

10.   It is our belief that we must be “someone” that punishes us – not the fact that the rest of the world doesn’t share that belief.

11.   Learn to see what upsets you not as an exterior circumstance to be fixed, but rather as an interior circumstance to be understood.

12.   Defeat comes from clinging to solutions that don’t work.

I just finished reading “Absolute Knowledge that Liberates Consciousness” by Roy Eugene Davis.  It’s a book designed to help those of us that are seeking spirituality by giving us insights to personal growth and providing tools to help us along the way.

The book explains some of the whys of why people struggle with any kind of change.  But it also tells us we can be inspired and highly self-motivated to live with a clear sense of meaningful purpose.  As a novice in the spiritual realm, I must say the book answered several questions I had regarding balancing material wants versus spiritual growth.  The techniques shared in the book have also been very helpful in moving me along on my spiritual journey.  The book is only about 100 pages, but don’t be fooled, it is jam packed with information and is an intense read for lack of a better term.

 Mr. Davis has taught these philosophical principles and spiritual practices all over the world for more than 50 years.  He studied under Guru Paramahansa Yogananda and was ordained in 1951.

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

A friend of mine alerted me to a fantastic service.  The Center for Spiritual Awareness that is run by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, offers a variety of spiritual tools in exchange for a donation of any size.  Here is what you will receive:
• A Studies in Truth Lesson every month.
• Truth Journal magazine four times a year.
• CSA Newsletter eight times a year.
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are personally involved in a ministry dedicated to individual and planetary enlightenment.

To learn more about the CSA go to http://www.csa-davis.org/.  If you want to take advantage of the lessons click on the membership tab and follow the instructions.

Enjoy!

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

Changing who I am is not easy.  I’m a recovering addict and in order for me to survive and have a chance at a “normal” life I must choose change.

 I just finished reading a wonderful book called “Absolute Knowledge that Liberates Consciousness” by Roy Eugene Davis.  One statement that he made in the book really hit home: “The real problem is their (individuals that want to change part of their lives) is their inclination to want results without having to change their thinking, feeling, or behaviors.  What an insightful statement.

The reality is until I changed my beliefs, thinking, and behaviors, I was merely relying on willpower to arrest my addiction.  As you have probably surmised, I was destined for failure and failure came with a price.  It cost me everything I thought I ever wanted.  Finally, I ended up in an intensive nine-month long inpatient rehabilitation program.  There I learned be objective, accept I could be wrong (up until now a completely foreign concept to me), and empathy.  My beliefs changed at the core of my being.  There were times, and still are, when I was forced to look at myself and recognize that my thinking was off.

Once this transformation took place, my view of my addiction and how I related to it changed, and that allowed me to stop.  I no longer saw solutions to life issues in continuing the addiction.  Urges still present themselves at times, and may for the rest of my life, but they are infrequent and not strong.

Change is not easy and doesn’t take place in a vacuum.  We all need people in our lives to guide us, listen to our stories, share in our successes, and be our friends.   We need to be honest, open-mended, and show willingness to accept help.   I also believe we need spirituality along this journey of transformation.  For me, it’s a journey worth travelling.

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM

I was unfamiliar with flowdreaming until a friend of mine suggested I listen to a meditation CD. The teacher of “Flowdreaming for Spiritual Progress” is Summer McStravick. She is the daughter of Venus Andrecht, author of “God is Always Happy”, who you may heard of. There are two sections on the CD, one to help you meet your Greater You, Your Spiritual Guide, or Your Angels, another to find your life purpose.
Flowdreaming is a concept that many of you may be familiar with through Law of Attraction, Greg Braden’s teachings, along with many more. However, most of us are unaware of the Source and how we can benefit from it. When I say “Source” I am referring to all energy sources, god, supreme beings, or whichever term you may want to use. Since we are all connected and part of the energy source, we can utilize it to find answers, get guidance, and change our life, find balance, sense the greatness beyond, obtain whatever we want, and gain in spirituality. The meditation or flowdreaming exercises are designed to assist us in exploring the source, uncovering our connection to it and each other, and manifesting change in our lives.
I tried both exercises twice. As a novice to meditation, I was not able to completely connect during all the sessions. However, I did have a wonderful experience during one attempt. I felt a rush of white light and a warm, incredible energy that literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. I can’t describe it more than that. When the meditation ended, I felt at peace and rejuvenated. I also received a personal message that gave me a lot to think about.
Flowdreaming is a useful tool that anyone can try. Each session lasts just over 20 minutes, which is shorter than a lot of the other tools I have sampled. The result will vary and perhaps you will not experience what you want, but keep trying. Meditation takes practice and if nothing else it is a great way to relax and settle our minds. Enjoy the CD!

This post was originally published by www.theheartandmind.com TM