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Friday, 16 November 2012

Why Ignorance Is Bliss (Or Can Be)

By Laura Gevanter

My college friend Ron and I used to say, "It's not easy being us". We were (still are) cerebral, analytical and very self-aware. We would spend way too much time going over "why" this happened and what it all meant. We were exhausted. We used to joke how much easier life was for people who were "simple".

They didn't know what they were missing, after all. How easy it would be to go through life not second-guessing or allowing the committee in our heads to consume hours at a time trying to make a decision. We envisioned them sitting around a boardroom where each member represented different aspects of an argument as to whether we should do something or not.

It was funny, but only to a point. Of course, that was long before I became aware of the Law of Attraction and exactly what we were doing, albeit unconsciously. We were not relying on what felt right to us, but what we could reason was the best decision. Life seemed harder then. If we just had simple minds, life would be easy. Or, if we just knew less.

Ignorance really can be bliss
"Lack of knowledge results in happiness" - Wikipedia definition under "ignorance is bliss".

I often wonder what life would be like if we had limited access to the information that comes into our daily lives. Imagine if we completely stopped watching or reading the news, as many of us have. Does it really matter to us what is happening on Wall Street if we set our own intentions for our successful business?

We would not entertain thoughts that customers or clients wouldn't show up because they were fearful about spending money. We believe that prosperity and abundance is all around us so of course they could afford us! It is not only how this information affects us consciously (we watch violence on the news and think the world is a dangerous place) but even more significant is how it affects us unconsciously.

We take in all these images that we don't desire in our experience and yet we are constantly imprinting them in our minds. Our brains cannot distinguish whether something is real (you are actually witnessing this happening) or it is created in a movie with stunts. These images cause an internal reaction, which in turn creates a vibration of fear, lack or scarcity.

We then begin to notice more and more of it as now it has been activated. This is why it's so important to consciously choose what we allow our senses to be exposed to. Daily dose of news watching the crumbling financial markets, images of polluted waters or acts of violence do not serve us in any way.

"Usually once the whole truth is revealed you realize you were happier being clueless." - Urban Dictionary.

Let's take it one step further and go out on a limb. A person goes to a doctor for a check-up and the doctor finds something he doesn't like and wants tests done. Might be cancer. The results come back and they are not good. The doctor tells you at best you have 6-9 months to live. Panic sets in and all you can focus on is this deadly time bomb growing in your body.

I've imagined what the world would be like with LOA savvy doctors. Instead of getting the I-don't-like-the-looks-of-this response upon reviewing a spot on an x-ray and then orders more tests only to give you the news that you have an expiration date in the not too distant future, it sounds more like this:

"I see something, but it's no big deal. Nothing to worry about. I want to give you some suggestions to maximize your health." I wonder to what extent the recovery rate would climb of so-called incurable illnesses would be?

I understand all about ethics, morals and the responsibility of doctors, so I am not suggesting health care professionals lie to their patients, but it's interesting to explore what might happen if we were told that we are in over-all good health and just as a precaution they would like us to do some things to maximize our health?

"My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother." - Wilma Rudolph 1940-1994, Olympic Gold Medalist.

As deliberate creators we know that what we give our focus and attention to gets bigger and we attract more of that into our experience. By focusing on a diagnosis of illness we are not giving our attention to wellness. What also comes into play here is all of the years of accumulated information and knowledge that we have received since childhood that is embedded into our subconscious.

Many times these become our default thoughts. For example: If someone was raised to believe that money is hard to get and even harder to hold onto, following the stock market or reading the woes in the Financial Times is going to give them evidence to support those beliefs.

The vibration of "money is scarce" has been activated and will be in your experience. The physical world is a wonderful (and accurate) reflection of our inner vibration. If we are experiencing or creating financial abundance in our lives, any information to the contrary will not support us. It may bring up feelings of doubt and fear and will surely kink up that easy financial flow vibe.

Information serves us if it's in alignment with what we desire. Having more knowledge does not always make a decision easier as it still comes down to what feels best. We can read up on all the latest dietary and health trends but will finding out our favorite food is "bad" for us really help us if it is something that brings us pleasure when overall we practice self-love and take care of our bodies?

We know we have control over what we experience in our lives but would our job be easier if we were more selective about the information we allowed into our consciousness? We are a nation of information junkies with the underlying thought that more is always better. But does this always serve us? There is something to be said for letting our imagination give us all the information we need to create the life we want. Ignorance can in fact, be bliss.

http://www.presenttensecoaching.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Gevanter

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe...”

By John Lee

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” If you've ever read the classic book, 'Think And Grow Rich', you'll be familiar with this quote from its author, Napolean Hill.

Over 70 years since he first penned his greatest work, it remains the personal success and achievement 'bible' for thousands of people across the world, and continues to win new fans.

Yet Hill was far from certain of his ability to meet the challenge when first asked to 'take up the baton' and spread the revolutionary teachings of his friend and mentor, Andrew Carnegie.

The late, great Napolean Hill
In this fascinating video, featuring old film footage, he tells of a meeting where Carnegie outlined his 'Great Universal Truth', and explains the practical steps needed to harness its power.

Simply click on the link below and you'll be taken to the original YouTube video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
 

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

How Strength Out of Weakness Works

By Steve Wickham

Having recently dealt with a day when numerous examples of other people's irresponsibility impacted on me, directly, I lamented how other people's concerns had become my responsibility. Yet other people's obligations can only become our responsibility if we accept them. Part of the problem was mine. I felt weary, neglected, and somewhat angry.

It's amazing what exercise does. A 30-minute sprint on the bike, up hills and into a headwind, and I was sorted. No longer did I feel weak; strength was mine in abundance, and peace.

I had no problems to solve. All I had were opportunities, as the strain-value of the past day's woes vanished in significance. Then I was reminded of the strength we gain from God as we recover from our weaknesses.

Then I discovered, afresh, that not only does peace return with strength, but the ability to see right as well. Our perspective is fixed. The prayer above protects our strength. As strength provides peace and righteousness, both peace and righteousness support strength.
With strength comes peace

When Weakness Facilitates Strength

I am mindful of the paradox that avails itself upon us within our weakness. When we are weak we feel weak, but we may never be closer to strength. Weakness facilitates strength. It takes us down to an entirely unacceptable position and from there we have little choice, if we have a strong enough self-interest, but to claw our way out in our resilience.

Nietzsche coined the quote, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger," and he highlighted a truth so compelling it works in every situation we apply it to.

The strange reality of weakness, which is something we don't see in our weakness, and we can only see by faith, is the emergent strength coming, when we can begin to see the truth again, is of a stronger proof than the previous strength. This new strength comes with a punch about it. This new strength compels us to compete. It gives us fresh reason to try. And by this strength we can see the importance of rallying for the purpose at hand.

***
There is strength available with immediacy out of weakness. Strength out of weakness is stronger than normal strength. It is a recovered strength. It is a strength that is formidable because it knows no reason for fear of failure. This strength, like our salvation, is mighty to save.

Strength out of weakness is stronger strength than normal because there is peace and right sight. This strength inspires a fresh confidence because we overcame the weakness. If weakness cannot overcome us, what can?

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min).

His blogs are at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com/ and http://inspiringbetterlife.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Can the Mind Really Heal the Body?

Truly inspiring - Betty Iams
With John Lee introducing Betty Iams

Imagine being diagnosed with an ‘incurable’ and ‘untreatable’ illness. One that is expected to leave you reliant on a wheelchair to get around in a relatively short period of time.

In such circumstances, most of us would understandably accept the devastating prognosis given to us by the medical professionals around us. 

But not Betty Iams who, at the age of just 58, was told the sad news that she – like her mother before her – had developed primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

She took responsibility for her life, her health and her condition, and made what can only be described as a miraculous recovery.

Now, 18 years on, she helps others to achieve great things in their own lives, as she explains in this marvellous video interview with Mind Movies’ Natalie Ledwell.

Check it out through the link below…

http://tiny.cc/BIams

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

If You Want To Change Your Life, Change Your Mind

By Marik Roberts

Albert Einstein once said that insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Now, I don't know for sure but I am guessing that he was referring to scientific experiments when he made that observation.

Whatever the context, there does seem to be a universal truth to the statement – haven't we all experienced that feeling of déjà vu, having the same arguments, with the same people, about the same things... over and over again?

Doesn't it make you feel like you're stuck in some surreal version of the movie, 'Groundhog Day', expecting Sonny and Cher to burst into song with 'I've got you babe', at any moment!

OK, levity aside, there are lessons to be learned from Groundhog Day. If you recall, our hero was stuck in the same day, every day, having the same experiences, the same conversations and repeating the same behaviour... every day!

Meditation - a great way to experience the joy of
'Present Moment Awareness' 
He was stuck in this nightmare for a long time – long enough to learn new skills such as playing the piano and ice carving, to name a few!

He was trying to win the heart of a lady and because events were the same every day he was able to practice new, some might say, manipulative techniques, based on his previous day's experience and lack of success.

Some would say that he had the cards stacked in his favour because he knew exactly what was going to happen and be said every day, whilst to everybody around him it was a new day. Another upside was that he was never penalised for the day's activities – he had the chance to get things right, by learning from his experiences.

The trouble was that none of his manipulative and habitual behaviour worked for him. The day always ended the same and he never ended up with the girl.

The penny finally dropped for our hero and the magic began to happen when he realised that he needed to change his thinking about his situation. The plot-line revealed that he had some sort of an epiphany when he finally understood that if he wanted things to change, he had to change.

He began to change his thinking about his life and his habitual patterns of behaviour. He finally understood that when he changed, people would change around him. In the end he won the girl and he was finally released from the prison of living in the same day.

This wonderfully scripted film acts as a perfect metaphor for real life – how many of us are stuck in this self-created prison of perpetual repetition, always doing the same thing and hoping for different results? How often do we look outside of ourselves for solutions to our problems?

A lifetime of conditioning has created the belief that happiness and success lie in the adding of things to our lives, such as material possessions and affirmations and endorsements from others. The truth, in fact, lays a lot closer to home.

With personal awareness comes the realisation that true fulfilment comes from within and we come to understand that adding things to our life does not provide the answer we are seeking. The patina soon wears off the new 'thing' whatever it is, leaving us craving for something else to provide a new hit.

Then we begin to ask ourselves what is missing and what can fill this void. Eventually, we start to look inwards and then the real process of personal growth starts and we come to realise that no amount of external 'stuff' will fill the void.

The desire to look outside of ourselves for a solution to a 'different, happier life' is akin to the insanity that Albert Einstein spoke of.

We begin to realise that we have been doing the same thing over and over by trying to 'add' to our lives and it almost always ends in dissatisfaction, only providing a temporary and hollow form of happiness, leading us us to reside in that wistful state of 'if only'.

The solution is simple. The practice a little more challenging. There are a number of ways to start on this voyage of self-discovery and they all require some personal effort. Whatever method you choose it needs to include a process that promotes 'present moment awareness', or 'living in the moment'.

It is also important that your practice promotes the development of a non-judgmental awareness of your present moment thinking and behaviour. Once you start to develop your practice you will begin to understand that you have been making choices every second of every day of your life and you will realise that many of your choices have been made unconsciously as a result of life conditioning.

Such conditioning has promoted the development of neural pathways in your brain, which then allow you to act on autopilot in given situations. For autopilot, read 'habitual unconscious behaviour', or the 'Groundhog Day effect'.

Probably the best method to promote present moment awareness is daily meditation and there are many different types to choose from. Personally, I recommend Insight Meditation, which is a Buddhist technique.

There are many good books available on the subject to get you started and if you want more, a host of retreats where guidance will be given. If this kind of spiritual practice does not fit in with your views on life, then I would suggest that you develop a new and positive habit of identifying the choices that you are making every second of every day.

When you are acting in present moment awareness you will bring your choice-making to your conscious mind. Then, before you make your choice ask yourself these questions:
* What will be the impact of this choice to me?

* What will be the impact of this choice to others?

* Does this choice feel right in my heart?

When you ask these questions you will make the right conscious choice as opposed to a habitual unconscious choice. In time, you will become what Deepak Chopra describes as a spontaneous right choice-maker: Chopra D: The Seven Laws of Spiritual Success: 1996: Bantam.

Finally, you will understand that if you truly want to change your life, all you have to do is change your mind.

Marik is a professional life, performance and personal development coach living and working in Essex, UK. He has been involved in the field of personal development for the past 15 years and is keen to work with people who are committed to making positive change in their personal lives or careers.

Marik has considerable experience coaching in the corporate environment and is currently working with staff employed at senior levels at a large London-based public organisation.

In addition to coaching, Marik offers workplace mediation in his portfolio of skills, saving businesses thousands of pounds through early intervention, avoiding costly Employment Tribunals.

If you would like to know more about Marik and his work, then visit his website at http://www.markrobertscoaching.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marik_Roberts

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Is Negative Mental Chatter Getting You Down?

Posting by John Lee with video featuring Kerry Tepedino

It's not so long ago that the Western medical community claimed that 'mind' and 'body' were entirely separate and that the former had little bearing on the latter.

Well, that's no longer the case. It's widely accepted that what we think can have a positive or negative impact on our physical health, sometimes with startling results.

In this fascinating video interview, carried out by Mind Movies' Natalie Ledwell, Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Counselor of Nutrition, Kerry Tepedino, gives her views.


Holistic Health Practitioner, Kerry Tepedino
She talks about the belief programming we all go through as youngsters and the effect negative mind 'chatter' can have on our physical and pschological health.
She also looks at 'pattern interruption' – ways of stopping the negative spirals – and visualisation as a way of helping to restore health.

This includes the story of a friend who used visualisation to aide her own recovery from a brain tumor. It's fascinating stuff.

Click on the link to go to the original video

http://tinyurl.com/MindChat



Breaking negative patterns

With Tony Robbins

Here's a great video featuring Tony Robbins on the popular US TV show 'The Hour', in which he talks about negative patterns that prevent us from leading the life we desire and how to break them.

He also talks a little about some of the many high-profile celebrities and sportspeople he's helped during his career as one of the world's leading personal development specialists.

He covers our life expectations, people's increasing reliance on medication to cope with everyday life, our 'mental blueprint' and even some of the challenges he's had to overcome himself.

It's not a new episode of the show, but is well worth a look nonetheless. As always, Tony is enthusiastic, passionate, insightful and wise.

Click on the link below to go to the original recording.

http://tinyurl.com/PatBreak

Personal development guru, Tony Robbins, on 'The Hour'