Wisdom from the Heart ~ Page 2

Similarly, innovation is misread by many people because it is so often incremental. Gradually, if we keep making improvements, the new is a whole leap ahead from how it began.

Accompanying article: Gut-Check & Self-Direction ~ by Philip Humbert
In this ‘American Crisis,’ let the politicians squabble and the economy meander. But as for you, set your own course and live a life based on the power of self-direction. I think you’ll prefer the results.

All progress is the result of change, but not all change is progress. On the other hand, the philosopher Lichtenberg wrote, “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.” So we must keep our eyes open and not resist making changes when necessary to move forward.

Accompanying article: Change is Essential for More Happiness and Success ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
The vast majority of people don’t achieve anywhere near the “happiness” or “success” they would like ... because they don’t know how to go through the CHANGES that will get them there.

As Randy Armstrong said, “Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles, it takes away today’s peace.” There’s no need to worry if you can do what’s required... or if there’s nothing you can do, then worrying makes no difference either. Accept what is.

Accompanying article: The Secrets of Happiness ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Scientifically, happiness is a choice. It is a choice about where your mind will devote its finite resources as you process the world. Here are 57 things you can do to reap the advantage of happiness...

We’re social creatures, for sure. Smiles are contagious, and helping someone gives a real buzz.

Accompanying article: Step Into My Phase ~ by Marlene Buffa
We move through our spiritual and work lives through several phases. With perseverance and attention, and to a great extent reflection and action, life moves with us as years progress. Along the way, we ponder our purpose, our impact, our affect on loved ones, our community and the world...

The sun always rises, until one day it doesn’t. And it never snows in August, unless you go to New Zealand. So rules are made to be broken, but more significantly, often there is insufficient reason to make the rule in the first place. It’s an unwise habit to exaggerate or generalize. Black and white thinking is an invitation for getting it wrong.

Accompanying article: Are You Hard on Yourself? ~ by Rick Hanson, Ph.D
Everyone messes up. Me, you, the neighbors, everybody. It’s important to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them so they don’t happen again, and feel appropriate remorse. But most people keep beating themselves up way past the point of usefulness: they’re unfairly self-critical.

This is saying that God (or universal consciousness if you prefer) is essentially loving, that’s what God IS, that’s what we ARE. A curious, creative, compassionate life force. Where the light does not shine is darkness, but for certain, that light is loving.

Accompanying article: A Goldmine of Golden Rules ~ by Brian Johnson
Ah, The Golden Rule. Shall we mine the virtually identical ethical gems from various wisdom traditions?

This is saying that God (or universal consciousness if you prefer) is essentially loving, that’s what God IS, that’s what we ARE. A curious, creative, compassionate life force. Where the light does not shine is darkness, but for certain, that light is loving.

Accompanying article: Can We Be Both Divine And Human? ~ by Beth Green
There is no chasm between us and God, and I am willing to say so. I claim my place at the intersection of what we call human and what we call divine, and I call upon us all to explode the myth of their separateness.

If we wish to be loved, we must give love. If we wish to be respected, we must respect all persons - even those we dislike. If we wish to be forgiven, we must also forgive. If we wish others to speak kindly of us, we must speak kindly of them and avoid gossip. If we want a strong partnership, we must be loyal and faithful to our spouses. If we wish to be fulfilled in our lives, we must share generously with others. If we do not wish to be judged harshly, then we must not judge others harshly. In short, love yourself and love others equally. We are all one family.

Accompanying article: Relationships as the Foundation of All Success and Happiness ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
There are very few people in the world who have become wildly successful or exceedingly happy without the help of other people. At some point in life, every accomplishment can be traced back to a relationship with somebody - or at the very least, the influence of somebody else.

Jesus wishes to unmask the hypocrisy of those who set themselves up as judges of a person, without recognizing that they too have made mistakes or done things that harmed another. It’s important to remember that people are always doing the best they can, however misguided that path may have become, and that includes yourself.

Accompanying article: The Greatest Healing Habit ~ by Jafree Ozwald
It is inevitable that at some period in our lives, we will attract a situation that is void of pleasure and filled with trauma. This trauma however, is not an empty hole filled with darkness, there is a very large gold mine underneath it.

As we relax and our mental activity settles down, like waves settling on an ocean, we become still. Consciousness reaches its most silent state, serene and unbounded. We realize that this is our true Self, beyond time and space... a presence in the ocean of loving consciousness.

Accompanying article: The Secrets to Walking a Spiritual Path ~ by Jafree Ozwald
You are an infinite being, who will live forever. You are connected to the greatest source of divine love you can imagine! You don’t need any method, teaching or person outside of you to access this. All that is needed is a deep relaxation into the source of what you already are.

To achieve our dreams we need to break out of our comfort zone and start to accept and work with the unfamiliar and the unknown.

Accompanying article: Doing Too Much: How to Overcome Pressures of Life ~ by Pete Bissonette
“Do what you are doing when you are doing it, and don’t do what you are not doing when you are not doing it,” Dwoskin says. “Most of us do the opposite. We are trying not to do what we are doing or we are feeling like we need to do something else.”

If we insist on being right, the problem is that we may feel the need to achieve this by making others wrong, or by controlling and manipulating them, which isolates us and breaks relationships.

It does not help to suppress feelings; it’s not emotionally intelligent. For example, you may try to push back feelings of frustration or annoyance in order to appear more loving and accepting. A good intention for sure, but not genuine and therefore stressful for you. Instead, first you need to experience these emotions, to realize that you are creating them and be willing to let them go. Simply release them. THEN you can be genuinely and effortlessly loving.

It’s mindfulness: spot the negative feeling, realize you are creating it, let it go and just be yourself.

Non-attachment - even or especially to one’s own self-image - is the necessity for personal change. If we are open to change and to new possibilities and perspectives, without buying into them blindly, we can grow.

Accompanying article: Happiness Is Free and It’s Easier Than You Think! ~ by Hale Dwoskin
Whatever we hold in mind we are sending energy to and are supporting its creation. Here are some practical examples: Instead of being against pollution, be pro-environment. Instead of being against discrimination, be pro-equality. Instead of being against war, be pro-peace.

This is a state of trust and surrender, a kind of inner confidence to let go. It has a prerequisite of living according to your values, and your values truly being your own. With acceptance and gratitude. Then go with the flow, because being your true loving self will naturally create the right circumstances.

How to obtain that acceptance? That’s what Releasing is all about...

Accompanying article: Interview about Releasing Emotions - by Peter Shepherd
Most often in personal development it’s many small gains that add up to the breakthroughs, and they are easily taken for granted and ‘absorbed’. And so one can also fail to recognize even the big changes - though another person may more easily see these changes for the better going on.

Without hope we do nothing; with it we are motivated again, our vision is illuminated and becomes achievable. Hope is being alive.

Accompanying article: The Question I Can’t Ask ~ by Karen Wright
Deflecting questions never improves our lot in life. It’s a shill game whose only purpose is to deceive us into believing that others need to solve our problems and answer our questions.

It’s easy to assume too much and rush into quick judgments but they’re usually better kept to oneself. Concentrate instead on really understanding the other person’s point of view so when one does speak it’s constructive.

Accompanying article: How to Overcome the Trust Deficit ~ by Dr. Alan R. Zimmerman
Be open. Tell it the way you see it. Share the way you feel. Refrain from being secretive or coy. Let people know you ... because it’s very difficult to trust an unknown commodity.

Community and mutual support bring benefits to all whereas power games just bring conflict and enmity.

Accompanying article: The Power of Kindness ~ by Dr. Linda Sapadin
It’s not unusual for an act of kindness to shift a miserable day into an uplifting one. Wow, what power! And yet, we’re often too busy, too distracted, too focused on something else to take a moment out to be kind to a fellow human being.

Or as Robin Williamson put it, “Light that is one though the lamps be many.” The light of Love: creative, curious and compassionate. Nonetheless, each of us a unique viewpoint and expression. Nonetheless, each of us a unique viewpoint and expression.

Accompanying article: The Path to Oneness ~ by Owen K Waters
Every time you send out love and light in dedication to world peace and freedom for all, you help hundreds of people to see life and its possibilities from a higher perspective.

Freedom represents a celebration of the individual as a divine aspect of the One consciousness, an animating principle based on love and cooperation and joy. Freedom is a quintessential aspect of any service-to-others consciousness. Without freedom we will turn into slaves, it’s as simple as that. [From the article below by Ken MacLean]

Accompanying article: The Duality ~ by
We are in a window of opportunity right now to influence the next 10,000 years of human evolution. We are in the zone of chaos where the variables and the energy are coalescing. The choices we make RIGHT NOW are the ones that the entire system will evolve around.

But it wasn’t stopped... the vested interests and those in their pay didn’t want to know.

Accompanying article: A Recipe for Trouble-Free Tomorrows ~ by Guy Finley
If we work each moment to practice kindness, patience, and persistence -- doing so in grateful remembrance that each breath we take is a gift -- here’s what we’ll find: the power of being present in this way ensures that each of our “tomorrows” dawns with more Light than was seen this day.

We all make mistakes, that’s normal, and we know we were only doing our best. But to forgive another’s mistake requires understanding, acceptance and compassion - spiritual qualities that enable us to connect with the other person’s soul. More on forgiveness....

How do we forgive when we’re angry and hurt?

As a first step, we can be willing to truly feel our anger and hurt. Honouring our feelings by being fully present with them helps to release the feelings themselves.

And it helps to remember that people only hurt others when they themselves are in pain. When we can recognize the other person’s suffering, our heart can open in compassion. We can also remember that at some time or another, we too have hurt someone through our own unskilful action.

Only love can heal the rifts caused by a hurtful deed. Forgiveness holds immense power because it mends separation. It moves us towards the unity and love that lie at the core of our being. It is a fundamental part of the healing process.

[Additional commentary by John & Patrice Robson of HigherAwareness.com]

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” ~ Paul Boese

Accompanying article: Accept Your Mistakes ~ by Noreen Sumpter
What would it be like to live as best you can, accept your mistakes, learn from and do a little better each time? What if you completely accepted yourself and others for all they are and all they are not?

Our inner knowing is expressed through intuition, and that’s with feelings and images, which the mind then puts into words if we give it the opportunity to do so. In the silence of your inner space you hear the truth and know the solutions.

You cannot find your joy without also being open to your sorrow. Tears are liquid love. Tears of sorrow, tears of joy - either way, tears of love.

Accompanying article: When Horrible Things Happen ~ by Dr. Linda Sapadin
Yes, there are those who are cruel and cold and brutal and mean. But we do not let ourselves be corrupted by those elements. We deal with them when we must. But we do not allow them to corrupt our hearts.

For truly, a simple act of kindness has greatness about it.

Accompanying article: How to Develop Your Character ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Your character is more important than your talent. You see it all the time... People with talent often make it into the limelight, but without a strong character, they rarely stay there very long. Their absence of a strong character eventually topples them.

Look toward the source of your thinking, your inner knowing, your loving, creative, curious urge... rather than the symptoms that your intellectual mind creates, your mental experience of life.

Accompanying article: The Fourth Wave ~ by Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby
There is an “Age Of Experience,” no question. Whether you call it the Fourth Wave is another matter. But the signals of this transition have been arriving faster and faster over the last 40 years.

OK, the Spice Girls... But when you really, really think about it, is there a more important question you could ask yourself in life?.

Accompanying article: The Secret To A Long And Healthy Life ~ by Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby
It’s not vitamins, growth hormone, emotional cleansing, tender loving care (TLC) or even exercise. They all help, of course they do! But it’s pretty clear to doctors who know their stuff what the number one factor is: you need to keep inflammation to an absolute minimum.

We see the world through the filter of our beliefs. But beliefs and reality may conflict, and we walk into walls. By suspending belief and observing directly - both the world around us and our inner world - we can then differentiate the truth of what is from a perspective ruled by conditioning.

Accompanying article: Does It Ever Pay To Be Angry? ~ by Ed and Deb Shapiro
There are occasional times when anger can be used consciously, without the accompanying emotional turmoil. As Sri Swami Satchidananda says: “Keep your emotions in your pocket and use them when appropriate.” But such times are rare. More often it is a reaction of the ego-mind demanding immediate release.

If your intent is pure, if you’re simply being your true loving self, you won’t go far wrong. Go with your flow.

Accompanying article: Remember Your Magnificence ~ by Anita Moorjani
The flow that we have created within our society is the kind that goes against who we really are and that’s the problem. So in our society, we find ourselves amidst a lot of contradictions, with a lot of things to work against, in order to be authentic to who we truly are.

You know the things that money can’t buy... true love, companionship, wisdom, respect, integrity, and so on. They’re values. As Ayn Rand said, “Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values.” Gratefulness is a key one: if we don’t feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happier with more?

Accompanying article: 12 Things My Grandmother Told Me Before She Died ~ by Marc Chernoff
When my grandmother, Zelda, passed away a few years ago at the age of 90, she left me with a box of miscellaneous items from her house that she knew I had grown to appreciate over the years. Among these items is an old leather-bound journal that she aptly named her ‘Inspiration Journal.’ I’ve done my best to sort the content into twelve inspiring bullet points. Enjoy...

This brings to mind one of my favorite texts, The Dilemma...

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk rejection
To place your dreams before a crowd is to risk ridicule
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds
is to risk failure

But risks must be taken
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrows,
but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave -
he has forfeited his freedom.

Only a person who takes risks is FREE

Accompanying article: How to Be Right Even When the World Seems Wrong ~ by Guy Finley
Sometimes one has to fight for what is right. Sometimes there is no other way to meet any injustice the moment brings than with the intention of setting it right. The task though (and the trick!) is to take whatever actions are necessary without allowing negativity to seep into oneself.

Fear is the nature of the human animal, its survival mechanism. We love our body-mind but it is not our true inner nature, which indeed has nothing to fear.

Accompanying article: Step Up and Away from Punishing Feelings ~ by Guy Finley
Both our appearance and character change according to the kind of company we keep. In other words, never a moment passes in which we are not being acted upon by those relationships that we share with people and things in that same moment.

The shock of unexpected circumstances and information can awaken us to look again at our situation, and our beliefs, to realize a different and more insightful view, exposing new choices that remove stress and make inner peace possible.

Accompanying article: Being Friends With Truth ~ by Guy Finley
This lesson may seem difficult at first, but with your persistent wish to understand it, you will one day wonder how you were ever tricked into feeling bad about anything.

If we neglect to be fully conscious of the present then life passes us by; in effect, we are asleep. This is why it is important to apply our mindfulness skills in everyday life - not only in meditation.

Accompanying article: Let Life Happen as It Must ~ by Guy Finley
Not only are events unfolding as they must, but they also serve a higher purpose. Life itself, each of its “waves,” is a kind of “window” through which we see what “is” -- including the reality of how our awareness interacts and transforms all that is becoming moment to moment.

As Nirmala stated so clearly, “There are basically two movements of consciousness: love and fear. Love is allowing what is and fear is resisting it.” Flow, then, is a loving state of being.

Accompanying article: Break Out of Any Rut ~ by Guy Finley
The real nature of what we call our “daily grind” is really just our own mind telling itself, over and over again, how much it wishes things would change.

Mistakes are how we learn, so it’s no good trying to be invisible in case you make one. Go for it and don’t care what anyone thinks. As Elbert Hubbard said, “Constant effort and frequent mistakes are the stepping stones of genius.”

Accompanying article: Assertiveness ~ by James Harvey Stout
Assertiveness and self-esteem cannot exist without one other. We act assertively only when we believe that we have a right to express ourselves, and that what we express is important. And we have self-esteem only when we confront the demands of life (and people) and recognize that we have the capability to do so.

Because looking for the good in others IS the best in yourself.

Accompanying article: Constructing a Conversation ~ by Dr. Linda Sapadin
A game of catch goes nowhere unless you have a partner who catches the ball and throws it back to you. Similarly, a conversation goes nowhere unless you have a partner who listens to what you’re saying and responds in a way that keeps the conversation going.

Naturally we want to give to a person we love. “Love is giving, not taking - mending, not breaking - trusting, believing, never deceiving - patiently bearing and faithfully sharing... each joy, every sorrow, today and tomorrow.” (anon)

Accompanying article: Ho-Hum ‘Good’ Marriages ~ by Dr. Linda Sapadin
What happens to a relationship after the honeymoon is over? After the kids arrive? After you know each other so well that you can’t think of anything to say to each other - except maybe what’s for dinner, what’s happening with the kids or what are we doing this weekend?

Listening is key, of course. Both to others (not cutting in, giving the other time and being genuinely interested to learn the other’s point of view) - and within ourselves (opening up and being conscious of our feelings, aware when our inner knowing is speaking, and spotting when the mind is on ‘replay’ so that we can be responsive rather than reactive).

Accompanying article: How Can We Improve Communication? ~ by Dr Alan Zimmerman
An awful lot of what you want out of life will come about because of the way you communicate. And if you do a great job on the first four minutes of conversation, your chances of successful communication are immeasurably better.

So great when soul mates meet like that, isn’t it?

Accompanying article: What’s Behind Jealousy? ~ By Mark Tyrrell
If he or she loves you, it will be because of an extra, indefinable quality you have that they couldn’t even explain - some deep part of your humanity they connected to which transcends looks, youth, wealth, and so forth.

So easy to be hung up about past failures, fears the same thing may happen again, or with regrets and acquired prejudices, and the list goes on. But really, it all starts from now, the past doesn’t matter one jot and you’re looking at someone who is completely unique. Give them - and yourself - a chance.

Accompanying article: Are You or Anyone You Know Too Easily Offended? ~ by Joyce Shafer
Being too easily offended is a form of self-victimization. Ouch! What are the symptoms of this mindset, and what can be done about this?

Desire is fundamental to our being, and is only problematic if the identification becomes fixed; otherwise it is at the root of our motivation, our goals in life.

Accompanying article: Illuminating Unconditional Love ~ by Harold W. Becker
Most of us believe we understand or at least acknowledge what we think love is. Yet when we add the unconditional aspect to love, it takes on a new connotation and dimension. This combination of words forces us to dig deeper and search out the true meaning for ourselves in each moment.

Who wants things predictable? We learn nothing that way.

Accompanying article: Happiness At Your Job Through A Higher Purpose ~ by Julian Kalmar
If we can find genuine purpose we can gain tremendous job satisfaction. But any type of purpose won’t do. You have to know how to create the right kind of purpose. Let’s see how...

Some people acquire possessions to try and be something, such as a contented person, or impressive, but they have it the wrong way round. Best to get to know and accept your true self - contentment will naturally follow.

Accompanying article: Enjoying the Little Things in Life ~ by Dr. Linda Sapadin
What’s wrong with “thinking big?” Nothing is inherently wrong with it. But when you believe that “big” is better than “small,” that “stretching to the limit” is better than “taking it easy,” that “be the best you can be” trumps “appreciating who you are,” you are simply not being fair to yourself.

And when that inspiration and vision is the person’s own, true to their inner self, it will serve and benefit Mankind.

Accompanying article: Happiness Through Honorable Actions ~ by Julian Kalmar
Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness, and self-respect? Honorable actions help you create this life of good feelings ... a quiet personal experience of rightness that leads to a lasting sense of well-being.

Julian’s work is an example of what can happen when one person strongly desired to help two other people who happened to be in a war zone. It is a good example of love in everyday life, and an illustration that we are far more capable than we think we are of loving on a larger and more magnificent scale.

Accompanying article: Happiness: The Highest Gift ~ by Julian Kalmar
Many of life’s difficulties result from poor viewpoints. We make things harder than they need to be--and prolong our suffering--because we don’t think of changing viewpoints.

Be willing to experience, accept and let go of attachments to all your memories and emotions - and similarly your environment - so you can be mindful in the present moment, informed by the past and creating the future ... but not overly distracted by painful experiences and fearful expectations. Accept and allow, and in this way, be guided by love. That way, you can’t go wrong.

Accompanying article: What is Emotional Intelligence? Part 4 - Relationship Management ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
The driving purpose behind emotional intelligence and life in general is to build strong, healthy, effective relationships. So how do you acquire true competence in relationship management? For starters...

Constructive criticism can be helpful feedback, so it’s best to listen without preconceptions. Accept and allow, which doesn’t mean necessarily to like or agree.

Accompanying article: What is Emotional Intelligence? Part 3 - Social Awareness ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
If Emotional Intelligence is one of the best predictors of success, can it be taught? Can people actually learn to be emotionally intelligent? Yes! Absolutely... because most people were never taught how to handle emotions such as stress, failure, anger, low self-esteem, and a host of other emotional issues and communication challenges.

Human emotions are our best learning tool, and therefore a large part of the reason we are here in the first place.

Accompanying article: What is Emotional Intelligence? Part 2 - Self-Management ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Research shows that your IQ contributes a mere 20% to your overall success in life. The rest depends on your Emotional Intelligence (EQ). It’s something you cannot afford to ignore. Or put another way, your IQ might get you hired, but it is your EQ that will almost certainly get you promoted.

We need to experience and accept our emotions and understand how they derive from past experiences, beliefs and conditioning, and how they influence our reasoning moving forward. But certainly not deny them as they are our guide to intuition and they drive our motivation.

Accompanying article: What is Emotional Intelligence? Part 1 - Self-Awareness ~ by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
If you want to get ahead, if you want to be outrageously successful, having a high IQ or just plain being smart won’t do it for you. Academic intellect isn’t enough. Technical proficiency won’t win the prize. You’ve got to have emotional intelligence. No question about it.

“All are returning to Oneness. You make the choice about this each and every day. You choose how your thoughts will interact with your body and your spirit. You choose whether you will allow those little automatic voices to pipe in and determine the course of your future behaviors, or whether you will allow the meditative state of mind to retain its control, to keep your attitude light and your mood happy, to keep your personal vibrations at a high enough level that you do not slip and slide, but rather stay in tune with the goals ahead, and focused on the necessary opportunities of learning that will present themselves.” ~ from the book by Wynn Free with David Wilcock: The Reincarnation of Edgar Case?

Accompanying article: Reconnecting with God ~ by Wynn Free & David Wilcock
Our ultimate goal is to help you to so totally find that God within yourself that you merge with it, and all illusions are penetrated in the light of truth. When this is done, you can step aside from feelings of lack of worth and self-deprecation and truly re-embrace the original Self that hides behind the veil after veil of forgetfulness.

“When we are happy and joyful we expand. When fearful we contract - in love, in relationships, in meditation, in every way.” ~ Pragito Dove, from her book, Laughter, Tears, Silence

Accompanying article: Fierce Compassion ~ by Pragito Dove
Compassion is not about having a bleeding heart full of sympathy for others. Compassion is about having such a depth of love that you are willing to do whatever it takes to bring awareness to a situation.

“Knowing our soul becomes a marriage of fidelity to one’s Self. The fascinating aspect about self-discovery is that when you hear that inner voice you instantly recognize it.” ~ Michael Newton, from his book, Destiny of Souls

Accompanying article: Change Toward Fulfilment ~ by Michael Newton
We ask for courage and humility before our journey into another life. As we grow into awareness so will the quality of our existence improve. This is how we are tested. Passing this test is our destiny.

“Spread your light into the world with no strings attached. When you become too concerned with changing others, you can never truly change yourself. Transformation always begins within and then affects the world automatically. Shift yourself and the world around you responds.” ~ Lyssa Royal, from her book, Millennium - Tools for the Coming Changes

Accompanying article: Awakening the Self ~ by Lyssa Royal
The new reality must now embrace conscious living. It contains joy and tears and togetherness. However, you can never truly be together until you become whole as individuals.

“Once birth has taken place, the union of spirit and flesh has been fully solidified into a partnership. The immortal soul then becomes the seat of perception for the developing human ego. The soul brings a spiritual force that is the heritage of infinite consciousness.” ~ Michael Newton, from his book, Journey of Souls

Accompanying article: Coming Back to Earth ~ by Michael Newton
We are divine beings who exist in two worlds, material and spiritual. It is our destiny to shuttle back and forth between these universes through space and time while we learn to master ourselves and acquire knowledge. We trust in this process with patience and determination. Our essence is not fully knowable in most physical hosts, but Self is never lost because we always remain connected to both worlds.

Eliminating judgment does not mean you lose your ability to choose what is desirable to you, what you prefer. It’s to recognize that you and others are expressions of divine Love. Love is unconditional acceptance. So we allow others and ourself to be as we are, joined in our essence.

Accompanying article: Feelings Are Not the Same as Emotions ~ by Chris Johnson
The majority of us prefer to process “inner” information through the solar plexus route to the mind. This route invariably attaches emotional energy, along with its message, to the feeling – the emotional-signal. We subconsciously place the tone of the signal, and thus the emotion, on a positive/negative scale in accordance with our most pervasive system of beliefs. [From It’s About You! Know Your Self]

Body, emotion, mind, soul, higher self, Source … subjective, objective … yours, mine, ours. These are not the same though they make up a whole. The level of truth we perceive depends on our awareness, responsibility and confront, hence the possibility we have for personal growth and advancement.

Accompanying article: How To Gain Freedom From Your Feelings ~ by Craig Hamilton
An evolutionary relationship to life isn’t a fixed set of tenets, rules or commandments we follow. It’s an orientation that naturally gives rise to deeper motivations and wiser choices -- in almost any context.

Personal development really is a high calling.

Accompanying article: Everything Has a Reason and a Season by Joyce Shafer
Trees don’t try to keep their leaves when autumn arrives, nor do they resist new growth in the spring. But, that’s how we sometimes approach our lives.Life asks, insists really, that we engage a continuous shedding and new growth aspect. Maybe you’re trying to hang onto something it’s time to let go of or trying to change something not ready to shift just yet.

My mother’s 96 and a wise old bird. She has no regrets about about the past and is grateful for each extra day. That is a happy ending.

Accompanying article: Two Paths to Greater Happiness and Success by Dr. Alan Zimmerman
I’ve asked hundreds of thousands of people what they want out of life, and the strange thing is ... I get one of two answers from almost everyone. People say, “I just want to be happy” or “I want to be successful.” That’s fine, but HOW do you make sure you get those things?

Many of us believe that we need to keep a tight lid on our emotions. They got us into trouble in the past, or we were ridiculed for expressing our feelings. But they usually have a lesson to teach, and they’re our link to inner knowing.

Accompanying article: Expressing Your Emotions, Your Way ~ by Mark Tyrrell
It’s strange that, in a highly publicly emotional age, so many people find it difficult to express emotion. We are surrounded by images of people being emotional. Every news item includes an excited journalist asking someone who’s just come through some trauma or triumph, “How does it feel?” So why do so many people struggle with emotional expression? How can you learn to express emotion freely and appropriately?

We each have a different perspective on things, an alternative view of what is, so we do well to connect to others with an open mind, and develop holistically as a result.

Accompanying article: Open Up That Closed Mind and Get More Out of Life! - by Mark Tyrrell
When you effectively fence yourself off from anything that has not already had your seal of approval, you may gain a certain sense of security and comfort, but you pay a high price. Two, in fact. Firstly, you start to become rigid as a person and stop changing and developing. And secondly, you bar yourself from a huge range of potentially pleasurable and stimulating experiences that you have a right to enjoy.

We each have a different perspective on things, an alternative view of what is, so we do well to connect to others with an open mind, and develop holistically as a result.

Accompanying article: Open Up That Closed Mind and Get More Out of Life! - by Mark Tyrrell
When you effectively fence yourself off from anything that has not already had your seal of approval, you may gain a certain sense of security and comfort, but you pay a high price. Two, in fact. Firstly, you start to become rigid as a person and stop changing and developing. And secondly, you bar yourself from a huge range of potentially pleasurable and stimulating experiences that you have a right to enjoy.

Nothing like mindfulness training for improving quality of life.

Accompanying article: Everything Just as It Should Be ~ by Charlie Badenhop
“At the age of 40, I realized if I sold my shop and bought the property you’re sitting in now, I’d greatly reduce my expenses. By needing less, I could afford to want less. By simplifying my life, I could provide for my family while also leaving myself with the time to pursue my dream.”

We have a lot to learn from the martial arts, such as Aikido.>.

Accompanying article: Release Your Excess Tension ~ by Charlie Badenhop
Stress, pain and disease are all due to excess energy being trapped in the body. Simply stated - stress is created by your habitual patterns of tensing up when faced with challenging situations and relationships.

Fear and anxiety touch all of us at times, but when uncomfortable they’re most often a result of unnecessarily negative or exaggerated interpretations, and that’s something we can change. Self-defeating habits can be reworked into empowering ones.

Accompanying article: Fear and Anxiety ~ by Charlie Badenhop
Obviously fear and anxiety are important topics in the study of Aikido, but these conditions now also touch every level of society in most every country in the world. High levels of nearly constant fear and anxiety are leading to greater disease and increased societal problems as well.

Buried feelings of frustration and anxiety don’t go away until they’re recognised, accepted and released.

Accompanying article: Deal With Stress Before Stress Deals With You! ~ by Charlie Badenhop
“Upon opening my eyes, for the first time in my life there was a deafening quiet inside my head, and a great calmness in my body that touched my soul. For the first time in my life I had no internal dialogue, and this was a very amazing and wonderful experience...”

Stressful situations are inevitable in a busy, challenging life, but it’s how we handle them that is crucial. If we amplify the stress by the way we think and feel, it can lead to serious emotional and health problems and block our path forward. But if we know how to handle stressful circumstances so that we don’t actually feel stressed at all, so that the energy instead empowers us, we have discovered perhaps the most practical and valuable lesson in personal growth.

Accompanying article: It’s Your Thinking That Leads to Your Suffering ~ by Charlie Badenhop
When you’re calm and confident you relax your body and take in copious amounts of oxygen. At such times your mind knows no boundaries, no fixed location. This is “big mind.” Everything is inside your mind and your mind is inside everything. There’s nothing to be separated from and everything is possible. There’s no opponent and thus no winning or losing. This is the state of mind to attain for peak performance. This is also the state of mind to cultivate every day if you’d like to live an emotionally balanced life.

Like the philosopher said, to “know yourself” is the greatest lesson. By learning compassion for ourselves we are then prepared to offer it to others.

Accompanying article: Tips for Feeling Happier During an Unhappy Time ~ by Dr. Neala Peake
At some points in life, it’s not possible — or at least not easy — to feel happy. However, even then, it’s sometimes possible to feel happier. By taking the following steps you can manage to give yourself whatever happiness boost is possible, you give yourself a deeper reservoir to deal with your challenge...

An experience in the past blocked us because our fear at the time distorted our perception of what happened and we created limiting beliefs and decisions. We continue to act on these, albeit unconsciously. To transform ourselves now, we must bring these old thoughts and feelings back into the light of consciousness, so we can reassess them and let them go.

Accompanying article: How Fear Makes You Sick - by Lisa Rankin
Love, faith and pleasure are preventative medicine and highly effective treatment. When the body relaxes, the sympathetic nervous system shuts off. Cortisol and adrenaline, which damage the body over time, drop. The parasympathetic nervous system takes over. The immune system flips back on. And the body can go about its natural self-repair process. Voila! Your mind can heal your body, and it’s not some New Age metaphysical thing. It’s simple physiology.

They’re states of being, native to the spiritual essence.

Accompanying article: Self Healing and Gratitude ~ Jeannie Marshall
Gratitude is a powerful healing agent for the one who is grateful, thankful, or appreciative. I sometimes hear people recommend using gratitude as a “technique,” but I don’t see it that way. To me, gratitude is an energy, a consciousness, a way of being.

It’s like wearing dirty the same old infested clothes you found on the street for years... take those off and you reveal the beautiful person beneath.

Accompanying article: How Can I Change? ~ by Alan Zimmerman
The choices you make are the most significant source of your character, because they are the one thing you can always do something about. You can’t change your biology. Your parents are your parents, whether you like it or not. You can’t go back and change the environment in which you grew up. But you can change the choices you make.

You can consciously experience your breathing to help you concentrate your mind and relax your body, and controlled deep breathing helps the body to extract universal life energy or chi from the air we breathe.

Accompanying article: 21 Ways to Improve Your Daily Health ~ by Raam Dev
All the little things we do throughout the day may seem insignificant, but they add up to big changes. Here are twenty-one ways that you can start improving your health today and create a healthier, more pain-free you for tomorrow.

Loneliness is an indicator of important needs that are going unmet. But being on your own doesn’t necessarily mean your needs aren’t being met. Indeed, it may be the best way to fulfill your needs for tranquility, independence, time to think, space and freedom.

Accompanying article: Loving Without Needing ~ by Gabriella Kortsch, Ph.D.
As long as you depend on another to fulfill your needs, or some of your needs, you are not free. I’m not talking about being free of others in the sense of not wanting to be with others but in the sense of not needing them for your inner well-being, because you are able to create that for yourself. The benefit of such a life is that you love from a position of independence rather than from one of dependence.

If you insist on being the same as everyone else, what you can achieve is limited.

Accompanying article: Re-Inventing Yourself ~ by Lisa Lockwood
People reinvent for different reasons: to get a better life, to be more respected, to make more money, to be happier, to get a stronger body, to find a better relationship, to know God, or to make life more interesting. If your ears perk up when you hear about the lawyer who gave it all up to become a fashion designer or the auditor who ditched her accounting firm to start her own pet clothing company, and you wonder how they did it – reinvention is the answer.

If you can’t confront making a decision and acting on it, after a while the situation gets forgotten, left behind... in effect a decision not to take responsibility.

Accompanying article: The 3 Questions To Ask Yourself When Things Go Wrong ~ by Deepak Chopra
Challenges are part of everyone’s life, but there are dark moments when a challenge turns into a crisis. The outcome of our lives depends on the choices we make at those moments. Will they be breakthroughs or setbacks? What we call wisdom is a crucial tool here. Without it, people usually make their most important decisions based on impulse or its opposite, habit.

The mental sense of self, or ego, is a surface mask for a deeper identity, the true self, so often hidden or asleep. Let go... and become the ‘butterfly’ that you are destined to become.

Accompanying article: Ego or Authentic Self? ~ by Doris Jeanette, Psy.D.
You must improve your ability to feel your body and feel your emotions so that you know with absolute certainty that you are not listening to your ego’s confusing mental messages.

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