Cultivate Life! Magazine #34

"Confidence is contagious. So is the lack of confidence."
—Vince Lombardi

"Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional."
—Alan Cohen

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
—Eleanor Roosevelt

"Have the courage to be sincere, clear and honest. This opens the door to deeper communication all around. It creates self-empowerment and the kind of connections with others we all want in life. Speaking from the heart frees us from the secrets that burden us. These secrets are what make us sick or fearful. Speaking truth helps you get clarity on your real heart directives."
—Sara Paddison

Eldon Taylor, Bad-luck fortune-cookie collectors

There are those who cling to their "right" to blame. I have a friend in South Africa who is a lie detection examiner. He has a model I like. He calls it something else, but we'll call it the "bad-luck fortune cookies" game. So, this is the story of these special cookie collectors. Read more...

Jenny Smedley, Soul Angels

We are here to take part in the evolution of angels by allowing our souls, which are a part of them, to experience that which can only be experienced in a physical body. We are here to take steps in the journey towards divinity, and each lifetime is one step. Read more...

Guy Finley, The Great Balancing Act: Living In and Between Two Worlds
I receive many questions concerning how to achieve a proper balance between physical and spiritual longings; how much time should be spent working on one's higher, interior life, versus running around and doing what life demands as a result of being in this world. Read more...

Chuck Gallozzi, It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves
A 34-year-old Indian man, married and the father of two sons has a couple of questions. Rather than use his real name, I will call him Bali, which is an Indian name meaning Powerful or Brave. He asks about destiny. Read more...

Beca Lewis, Unsolvable Illusions
Once in a while it hits me. Life is simple, we make it complicated, and then I forget, and make it complicated again. But in those brief shining moments it is brilliantly evident that what we know and experience is all perception and that the answer to everything lies in this premise. Read more...

Steve Wickham, Succeeding and Surviving in a Stupid World
Don't expect to succeed in this life by the conventional way. Don't even expect to succeed in this life by the unconventional way. Success in this life is often more about chance, luck and circumstance than anything else - this is because our worlds are so very often ruled by 'wise' men and women. Read more...

Vreni Gurd, Exercise and Learning
CBC news (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) put out a very interesting story about City Park High School in Saskatoon, that put treadmills and exercise bikes into a math classroom, and before doing any math, the kids strapped on their heart-rate monitors and did 20 minutes of moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise. This is an alternative school for those with learning difficulties, and over half the students have ADHD. Read more...

Willem Lammers & Andrea Fredi, Energy and Essence
We are a body, a physical body with the needs of the physical world... eating, drinking, belonging, avoiding danger, and desiring to reproduce. Through our senses, we collect information from the environment and react to it. Our body is dedicated to biological survival. Read more...

Alan Zimmerman, Motivation is an Inside Job
No one is 100% motivated 100% of the time. We all need to be re-inspired and re-motivated once in a while. And there are two ways to get that extra dose of motivation: One, depend on other peopleOther people can certainly help you get the motivation you need. Read more...

Philip Humbert, How to Stay Motivated, All the Time!
The most common problem people talk about when they request coaching is staying motivated. Sometimes they talk about losing focus, being discouraged, having too much to do, or procrastination, but what it boils down to is that they aren't achieving as much as they would like. Read more...

Kevin Ngo, The Importance of Motivation
What is the importance of motivation when it comes to your personal life as well as the workplace? Well, unless if you don't have goals go work on and tasks to complete, motivation is quite worthless. Read more...

Stefanie Miller, True Confessions of a Reformed White Knuckler
These are the true confessions of a reformed white knuckler. I've had to pry my clammy little fingers off of the control I'm trying to maintain over issues that I just basically can do nothing about in the present moment. I have to come clean and take responsibility for it. Read more...

Joyce Shafer, Do You Focus on the Opposite of What You Desire?
Focusing on the opposite of what you desire is like aiming at a tree rather than at the target then feeling frustrated that you did not hit the bulls-eye. You know, we all do this at times. Read more...

Margie Worrell, Are Your Habits Helping or Hindering?
Every morning I start my day with a big cup of Earl Grey tea, milk and two sugars. It's become a well-worn ritual that dates back to my days in high school. And while it may not be the most ideal kick-start to my day, it works for me. Read more...

100 Words, David Roth / From the Shelf
Singer, songwriter, recording artist, and community builder, David Roth strikes many chords, hearts, and minds with his unique songs, moving stories, offbeat observations, and powerful singing and subject matter. Read more...

Pam Garcy, Part 9 — Using Inner Guidance to Set and Reach Your Goals!
It is time to set some goals using your inner guidance! How can you set effective goals? First, identify what you want using your inner guidance. Take some slow deep breaths and approach this playfully. Read more...

A Course In Miracles, Lesson 25 plus Commentary by Allen Watson
I do not know what anything is for. Purpose is meaningToday's idea explains why nothing you see means anything. You do not know what it is for. Therefore, it is meaningless to you. Everything is for your own best interests. Read more...