Layin’ Down Some Universal Law: Interviews and Inner Views

July 29, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

If you were with us last Thursday you know we had some dropout during the live stream of the Tony Burroughs interview. Friday was not much kinder as BlogTalkRadio gave us a distorted episode of the show. Today’s (Monday) BlogTalkRadio airing of the Tony Burroughs interview came off without any implosions. You can listen to it here. Click on the BTR logo..

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Picture of Tony Burroughs

Tony Burroughs

 

Tony Burroughs is an author, storyteller, and co-founder of The Intenders of the Highest Good,  which helps you to set your intention to have what you want come to you as easily and effortlessly as possible. We like to talk manifesting on this show, and that’s the topic of Tony’s book Get What You Want: The Art of Making and Manifesting Your Intentions..

 

 

Picture of Cynthia Gill

Cynthia Gill

 

…now it’s on to Thursday (8-1) and a talk with Cynthia Gill. We’ll look at some reasons that smart, perceptive boys suddenly start struggling in school. Cynthia and co-writer Pam Withers have written a book called Jump Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life. The book offers some positive solutions to get sons back on track- and just in time for the start of the new school year! We’re scheduled to get underway at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific time. As usual there will be a screen on the chiforyourself.com ‘Start’ (home) page at that time.

..no, I haven’t forgotten about the Brad Warner interview. Brad was our guest last Thursday and we talked about his book There Is No God and He is Always With You. Brad gave us his look at some highly charged topics through the eyes of a Zen monk. I’ll let you know when the recording is ready for airing.

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Meditation practitionerI don’t know about you but I’m seeing more and more news about meditation’s effect on the brain. My latest find comes from the South China Morning Post. You can read about it here.

 

 

 

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I’ve been keeping some late hours recently, getting lots of work done but getting less sleep in the process. If you get those circles under the eyes like I do you might want to take a look at some natural ways to get rid of them. Read about it here..

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Would you like to have a stronger connection to spirit, more positive thoughts, better emotional states and improved physical health? If so, then Cassandra Sturdy reminds you that you need to raise your vibration..read about it here..

 

Overheard

Overheard

 

“Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart, and that depends upon how much he has polished it. Whoever has polished it more sees more – more unseen forms become manifest to him.”

–  Jalal ad-Din Rumi quotes (Persian Poet and Mystic, 1207-1273)

 

JohnK 7/28/2013

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Notes to Start the Week: July 22, 2013

July 22, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

We start an important week on Chi For Yourself with a reminder that this Thursday (July 27th) we have TWO episodes of Chi For Yourself on the schedule. I was able to re-schedule with Brad Warner for 10am Pacific Time Thursday.

Picture of Brad Warner

Brad Warner

 

 

 

 

 

 

..Brad is the author of a number of books, including There is No God, and He is Always With You. (Interesting title, no?) He’ll talk about things like Buddhism (he’s an ordained Zen teacher) and the ‘is there a God?’ question.

 

Then at 1pm Pacific Time our guest will be Tony Burroughs.

Picture of Tony Burroughs

Tony Burroughs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony is the co-founder of The Intenders of the Highest Good and he’s the author of Get What You Want: The Art of Making and Manifesting Your Intentions. We’ll talk manifesting and how to bring what you want into your life as easily and effortlessly as possible.

Both calls will be recorded and posted on BlogTalkRadio as well as a number of other hosting sites, but you’re invited to hear the interviews live on Google+ Hangouts On Air. The Chi For Yourself ‘Start’ page will have a screen installed at 10am (Brad Warner) and again at 1pm (Tony Burroughs)..

 

While we’re on the subject of manifesting I thought you might like to get some ideas on doing it in the reverse. This is from Kathy Wilson:

The Power of De-Manifesting

By

Expert Author Kathy Wilson

Sometimes rather than bringing something into your life, you just want something to go away. Maybe it’s a problem. Maybe it’s a person. Maybe it’s a belief.

This is when using your power of de-manifesting might be useful.

Actually, de-manifesting is often a necessary, albeit commonly ignored, part of manifesting. In order to bring something new into your life, often you have to release something to make space for the new thing.

So what is de-manifesting? It’s simply the art and science of making disagreeable, unhelpful, or dysfunctional things disappear. It’s not so different from manifesting with The Law of Attraction. However, instead of using that powerful law to magnetize something to you, you use it to make something you don’t want go away.

Here’s a simple four-step method for de-manifesting:

1. Focus your awareness on what you want to leave your life. If it’s a person or a thing, visualize it. If it’s an issue or problem, visualize an occurrence of it. Remember, visualizations don’t have to be still or static images. They can be like videos or movies. If it’s something completely intangible, such as an emotion or a belief, focus on it as best you can. Then silently ask for a symbol of it and almost instantly with your inner vision you’ll see an appropriate symbol. Notice the shape, texture, color, and anything else about it.

2. Silently command that this thing you’re focusing on grow smaller or less intense by 50%. Watch as it diminishes in size until it’s half as large. If it’s an emotion, feel it lessen in intensity to about half of what it was.

3. Silently command that it continue to diminish until it disappears entirely. Watch, feel, or sense it become less and less, until it no longer exists.

4. Immediately after you’ve de-manifested whatever you don’t want, replace it with something you do want. Watch the new thing, person, or symbol appear. First it may be very small. Command that it grow larger and larger until it completely fills the space just vacated by the thing you de-manifested. This step is most important. When you release or remove something during energy work such as this, you create an empty space which must be filled with something of your choice. This vacancy will be filled with something and if that something is not of your choosing, it may be as bad or worse than what you just de-manifested.

Now, when the opportunity arises in your physical world to actually release the thing you just energetically de-manifested, LET IT GO. Else all your pre-manifesting, manifesting, and de-manifesting will be a waste of your time and energy. Be willing to allow that which is no longer serving you to leave your life.

Kathy Wilson helps people create a better life using a multi-faceted approach. She and her clients utilize life coaching, spiritual consulting, NLP, vibrational healing, PSYCH-K, Tarot, mentoring, and teaching… whatever is in her client’s highest and best interests. She’s a Certified Professional Coach, spiritual teacher, Reiki master, vibrational healer, author of An Inner Journey: Living Your Life Purpose, and many ebooks and articles. For information about her products, services, and classes, visit her website: http://www.warrior-priestess.com.

Image for overheard

Overheard

 

“A man’s homeland is wherever he prospers.”
–  Aristophanes

 

 

 

JohnK 7/22/2013

chiforyourself.com home page

 

Notes to Begin The Week: July 15, 2013

July 15, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Well, if you were watching on Thursday you saw NO interview with Zen author Brad Warner. I wasn’t able to reach him, but I’ve asked his publicist to re-schedule us for another time.

Meanwhile, the Karuna Cayton interview on Buddhist Psychology is subbing for Brad Warner this week. I think of Karuna as my Buddhist ‘pinch-hitter’. Listen to that show here:


                                                                (click on this logo)

 

Picture of Tony Burroughs

Tony Burroughs

 

We’re scheduled to hear from Tony Burroughs on July 25th. Tony is the author of Get What You Want:The Art of Making and Manifesting Your Intentions.

 

 

 

…and I’m expecting a definite August date for our interview with Cynthia Gill.

Picture of Cynthia Gill

Cynthia Gill

 

She and Pam Withers are the co-authors of Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life. She talk about findings that boys are quickly falling behind girls in school, starting as early as the second grade.

 

 

 

Article

Today a look at finding peace..big job but somebody’s got to do it. That somebody can be you says guest blogger Connie Sears:

Some Tips About How To Find Peace

 

by Connie Sears

When one is not at peace with oneself, one will not be able to live life to the fullest. Consider what happens when you cannot concentrate on what you are doing or if you are always unhappy. This can have a profound effect on the quality of your life. It will be helpful to learn tips about how to find peace.

One of the simplest things you can do to promote such a feeling is to get rid of clutter. This can be pretty hard to do given the many tasks that have to be accomplished in a day. You must remember however that your home is your refuge from the outside world. Going to a clean and clutter free house will be a relief after a long day at work.

The surest way to achieve happiness and tranquility would be to figure out what you love and do it. Do not be afraid to go out there and explore. Be open to new experiences as this can give you valuable insights about yourself, other people, and the world. Hopefully, you can discover what you can do for the rest of your life.

One should be true to oneself. If you live to please all the people around you, then you will just be making yourself unhappy. Choose your own path but at the same time show some concern for social norms. Find that balance between making your own decisions and maintaining a healthy relationship with your friends and family.

The right attitude toward life in general is also a factor. When you think about it, you will have good and bad experiences. A lot of people take it very hard when something bad happens to them. It is important to remember that these things can happen. Accepting the duality of life will help you move forward.

It helps to look for ways to improve oneself. One way of doing so would be to identify your bad habits and to be willing enough to do something about it. You do not have to instantly change something. Take little steps. If you want to be more fit for example, start by taking a walk in the neighborhood instead of engaging yourself in an intense full body workout immediately.

Life can be very stressful so it is important to take breaks along the way. If you are at work, set aside some time for sipping on your beverage and relaxing. Time away from the computer should help refresh your mind. You can practice meditation or take up a new sport during your leisure time.

One must also remember to have positive thoughts. It is very easy to get stuck on the criticisms you have heard but mulling over this is useless. These will only serve to prolong the agony. When you find yourself remembering such experiences, start thinking about things that have made you happy.

The question of how to find peace is a question that has plagued many individuals. It is difficult to achieve a goal or feel happiness when you do not feel good about yourself. If you want tranquility, then you have to take steps to improve yourself and address all your needs.

About the Author:

 

Read more about Pointers About How To Find Peace visiting our website.

 

JohnK  7/15/2013

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What’s Going On Here? Manifesting, Law of Attraction, and Other Fun Stuff

July 1, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Before we get into today’s heart of today’s matters I want to give you a link to last week’s re-airing of the E. Dee Conrad 2010 interview. E. Dee talked with us from her home in Dubai..say what?? Dubai? That’s right. She folded up her successful life in the U.S. and moved to the United Arab Emirates to go in a completely different direction. I love stories of folks who leave everything they’ve known and set out on a new (risky?) life adventure. Did the same myself a few years ago..Listen to the show here:

 

                                             Listen to internet radio with GioHost on BlogTalkRadio

Picture of Tony BurroughsSpeaking of the show, our scheduled Chi For Yourself guest on July 25th will be Tony Burroughs, author of Get What You Want: The Art of Making and Manifesting Your Intentions. He’ll talk about manifesting and he’ll share an interesting personal story of the kind I like to feature on CFY. I plan to put it on the CFY home page as a Google+ Hangout On air.

 

 

 

Picture of Brad WarnerAnd..this just in- as radio news folks sometimes say- I found out just minutes ago that  Brad Warner will be a guest on Chi For Yourself on July 11th.  Brad is a Zen priest, filmmaker, blogger and the author of There Is No God and He’s Always With You. No, it’s not a typo. That’s the name of the book and he explains the title in that cool head-scratching way that only the “Zens” can.

 

 

 

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Now, time to take yet another look at The Law of Attraction. For some reason today must be LOA day because I’m hearing or reading about it at every turn. I was listening to the radio today and I heard a guy make reference to LOA as part of that “New Age Stuff”…his answer to manifesting is good old fashioned hard work and sweat.

A few minutes later, again on the radio, I heard an interview host say that ‘if you don’t  change your thoughts and keep on doing what you’re doing you’ll keep getting what your getting.’ Sounds like Law of Attraction to me!

Here are a couple of more views…see what you think. This is from The Self Help Hipster:

 
The Law of Attraction: An Analysis.
 
My preaching of the Law of Attraction and manifesting has always been accompagnied by disclaimers and a message of common sense/reality. At least, I hope so. I know I run a total positivity-for-president website, but still. I hope you noticed.
In case you hadn’t, let’s take a trip down memory lane..Continue reading..

 
….and, this from examiner.com:
 
Getting what you want through the law of attraction
 
We’ve all heard about the Law of Attraction and how it can help us get the love we desire, job we want and that new car. But, how many people have you ever talked to that put it into use? Not many people seem to actually put it to use. Continue reading..
 
Hmmm. I may do a poll about the effectiveness of the Law of Attraction. More on that later.

Be well..

JohnK 7-1-2013
chiforyourself.com home page

Notes to Start The Week June 24th, 2013

June 24, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments
I’m planning to bring back an encore episode of Chi For Yourself this week, possibly the interview of several years ago with E Dee Conrad. The older shows tend to be shorter than the more recent programs. If you’ve followed CFY since the early days you know that interview lengths were sometimes as short as 7 minutes!

 

A new, Southern California-based start-up magazine on health and healing has approached Chi For Yourself about possibly doing print versions of the interviews heard on our show. I like the idea a lot and I’m going to do all I can to make this happen..

 

…been reading a new book on manifesting by Tony Burroughs. I’m going to see about getting Tony on the show. His approach to bringing abundance into our lives is worth hearing, as is his personal story.

Chi For Yourself is a big proponent of meditation…no secret to be sure. We’ve had  the great pleasure hearing from some of today’s best voices on the practice on our show. My questioning to our guests often includes how much meditation time is enough time. This article from the White Hindu gives you one approach to a ‘compact contemplation’:

Meditation in Minutes: Does One Minute of Meditation Make a Difference?
Patheos (blog)
Last week I did my own meditation challenge. For me, I know I want to be meditating, but there’s always something else to be doing. Taking twenty to thirty minutes once or twice a day seems like such a small commitment, yet in practice it feels …

 

We’ll wrap up this post with a word about Yoga…actually about 450 words. Guest blogger Larry Cewtly has    some thoughts on Yoga’s body/mind benefits. And don’t forget to check out the Chi For Yourself Yoga page. You’ll find a video you can use for your own workout and some notes from the Yoga community..

 

Yoga Can Help Heal Your Body And Mind

 

by Larry Cewtly

Picture of yoga on beachIf you would like your body to be calm, you must consider yoga. This type of workout does not only exercise your body, but also relaxes your mind and soul. If you’d like to try this exercise, begin by looking for a local facility. Opt for a teacher with considerable experience so that you can execute the workout correctly and keep away from injuries.

You could find several types of yoga. It could take some time for you to identify which type is most suitable for you. Beginners are advised to participate in a few classes for different types of yoga. It can help you identify the type of yoga that’s ideal for you.

There are several other things that you need to look into when choosing a yoga teacher. They should not just have plenty of experience, but should also be trained properly so that they can do the same thing to you. A properly trained instructor keeps you far from injuries and prioritizes your safety before everything else. Yoga is something that will enhance your strength, flexibility and enable you to grow spiritually. Then again, it won’t happen when you’ve got injuries.

Locating the best yoga facility near you is easy, and you simply have to look at the years that it has been operating along with reviews that it has received. There’s a likelihood that you will have to take a look at a number of studios before you finally come to a decision. So make sure you spend time in checking out the studios in your area. You’ll be happy you spent the time to find the best yoga studio.

What is important about yoga is ensuring you do each and every stretch and exercise appropriately to avoid injury. You could harm your body if you do not hold poses and stretch properly. This is one of the main factors we suggest that you start with a trained yoga instructor, to allow them to explain to you the easiest method to do each and every stretch.

The most effective ways to get a yoga teacher near you is to go online and browse in Google. You’ll also see the various yoga studios in your area as well as studios that grant special discounts to new members. You don’t have to get stuck with a single studio. You can try several studios until you locate the one which is best for you.

As you check out different studios, be sure to identify which amongst these facilities make you feel comfy and provides the type of yoga that you like. As there are various types of yoga you will need to find the one is perfect for you.

About the Author:
If you want even more info on yoga in Napa Valley, then check out this video on gentle yoga in Napa Valley for your body.

 

 

 

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Overheard

 

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.”

                                                                                                      ~B.K.S. Iyengar
 

 

JohnK 6/24/2013

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The Fathering Kind- A Look at Today’s Fathers and Their Effect on Human Development

June 16, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Happy Father’s Day to all Dads!!

…the role of dad is undergoing a lot of change. With that in mind we offer this article from counselor Susan Leigh, who looks at a number of father figures. Chi For Yourself sends love and gratitude to them all.

Celebrate Fathers on Fathers Day

 

By

Expert Author Susan Leigh

Men often give themselves a hard time. They often expect themselves to be strong, masterful providers, to work long hours, be successful in their careers, whilst at the same time being loving, sensitive partners and fathers, keen and enthusiastic about sharing and spending time with their families. Let’s take some time this weekend to stop and celebrate fathers on Fathers Day.

For many of us there are different father figures in our lives apart from the father who gave us our genetic makeup; step fathers, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, as well as other key male role models can play a significant part in influencing our opinion of men and our expectations from male relationships in the future. School teachers, neighbours, the fathers of friends all have the potential to affect the way in which we develop and grow and influence our life choices.

Our biological father is for many of us, the most important man in our life, but in some cases he may be cynically regarded as a sperm donor and nothing more. There may be other, far more significant loving, caring and influential male role models in our lives.

A real father provides his family with a feeling of safety and security. He usually earns money with which to support the family, but is also increasingly involved with childcare and parenting duties. Many men are keen to care for their children, play with them and be involved in their lives. The days of the hardly present father, a somewhat stern, distant, disciplinarian figure are thankfully waning. Many men want to be hands on fathers, playing and being involved, getting to know their children and having a good relationship with them as they develop and grow.

Grandfathers play an increasingly important part in many children’s lives. With the high incidence of divorce many single parents rely heavily on the support of friends and family to help with childcare. A loving grandfather can be an important male role model in a young child’s formative years, providing love, guidance and advice as well as a constant source of stability. Having a caring, wise male family member readily available can be a source of comfort for a child. They can trust their secrets, discuss problems and share their worries with a grandfather, things they may not wish to discuss with a parent.

Often a grandfather can provide time for his grandchildren, time that perhaps he was unable to provide for his own children when they were growing up. It is not uncommon for people to say that their father was a dreadful parent but is an amazing, sensitive and caring grandparent. Often a grandfather can see the mistakes he made with his own children and feel privileged at having the opportunity to do a better job and make amends with his grandchildren.

Step fathers form an increasingly important part of many family structures, some families featuring a few father figures over time. Losing the relationship with one’s father and then having to cope with the implications of his departure is devastating particularly if he had a close connection with the children. Tact and sensitivity is required during the transition from both parents, as children need consistency, routine and to feel safe and secure. If a new step father is then to be introduced, taking time to establish the new relationship is important.

Many other role models bring invaluable inspiration and support into a child’s life. An impressive school teacher, foster parent, neighbour can teach so much simply by their attitude, behaviour, demeanour. A simple word or gesture can provide a lasting impression on a developing child. Even role models from literature, film and television can influence how we as children define men and their role in our life and society.

And sometimes we learn from the bad examples too, how we don’t want to be, the negative patterns we are determined not to replicate in our later life with our own children. All these are thoughts we can bring to mind as we celebrate fathers on Fathers Day.

Susan Leigh is a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with stressed individuals to promote confidence and self belief, with couples in crisis to improve communications and understanding and with business clients to support the health and motivation levels of individuals and teams.

For more information see http://www.lifestyletherapy.net

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

 

JohnK 6/16/2013

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Brushes, Beads, and Blessings: Making Mindfulness by Hand

June 12, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Wanted to remind you that we’ll be hearing from Maggie Oman Shannon on the next Chi For Yourself. She  joins us on Thursday June 13th at 1pm Pacific time. We plan to stream the interview on chiforyourself.com at that time. Maggie’s message goes beyond merely making things. She reminds us that we all have the ability to create, and in doing so we can bring serenity to our lives at a time when serenity is a scarce commodity.

Here’s a look at our guest:

Picture of Maggie Oman ShannonRev. Maggie Oman Shannon is at the forefront of a peaceful revolution: choosing to live a handmade life, and slow down and disconnect. In her book, Crafting Calm, Maggie offers clarity, calm, and insight to a path of peace of mind by “making mindfulness.”

It’s no secret that stopping to smell the roses is good for us; today, millions of people are finding physical and mental health benefits in handwork, framing it as a spiritual practice. Maggie Oman Shannon tells us that we can literally “craft the crazy away” through beading and crocheting, candle-making, and collaging. In Crafting Calm, Shannon explores crafts and creativity as a spiritual practice that provides enormous benefits. By knitting love and hope into every stitch, handicrafts help form new friendships and communities. From making a desktop shrine or mini-Zen garden, to stringing intention beads and painting personal prayer flags, her intention is to help us to make mindfulness.

See you here..

JohnK  6/12/2013

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A Life Transformed by Death: Luis Angel Diaz on Chi For Yourself

June 7, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Well, another BlogTalkRadio snafu!! No reason you should be denied, though. I’m making the show available in this space. Click on the player at the bottom of this post to listen!

(Originally aired in October, 2010)

Picture of Luis Angel DiazOur Chi For Yourself guest Luis Angel Diaz endured a major shift in his practice and approach after the unexpected death of his 38 year old wife, with whom he was raising their 3 children. The shock and pain he experienced became a catalyst for a profound inner process in human discovery. He discovered that layers of negative emotional charge accumulate and are stored inside our bodies, causing many body-mind chemical imbalances and health/life challenges, and preventing us from experiencing peace and well-being. After several months of personal discovery, Luis began to apply this new approach with his clients. He observed his clients experience healing in a permanent way when they were able to transform these layers of emotional charge found in what he began to call “the cellular memory”. Luis named this new set of techniques “Cellular Memory Release” (CMR) and formulated it into a simple, easy to learn synthesis for training others. Operating from his Body-Mind Center in Nevada City, California, Luis has trained and educated hundreds of people in CMR since 1997. Luis Angel Diaz is the author of Memory in the Cells.

 

 

 

JohnK 6/7/2013

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Lessons From Home: Genuine Living Begins With a Healthy Self-Image

May 30, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments
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Overheard

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” 
― Gautama Buddha



On this last full day of visiting my place of birth, there are a couple of things that stand out. One is the constant presence of fear and scarcity. No surprise, really. I can remember the “lessons” those two offered throughout my youth. This is a common feature of growing up and in fact you may have experienced it yourself. In this atmosphere you can’t help getting a sense of widespread low self-esteem.

Studies have shown that many people to some degree lack self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence. This negative self-image lives on when paired with the feeling that the future will be a copy of their disappointing past. This can leave a person tapped out of joy and vitality. On the other hand, a healthy level of self-esteem and confidence brings optimism about the future and an experience of joy and happiness in the here and now. The result is a feeling of deserving the best that life has to offer.

I have heard Dr. Wayne Dyer, among others, say “you become what you think about all day long.” Your happiness level will be a reflection of your expectations and self-image. What happens to you today and in the future has a direct connection to your expectations. Hold on to low self-esteem and confidence and your situation becomes no better or even worse. Often this is when sabotage creeps in to ensure an outcome in line with our expectations. You were “right” after all!

Expect more of the same outcome you’ve experienced in the past and you’ll get it. Rather, be observant. Monitor your conversation with yourself. Avoid phrases like, ‘with my luck I won’t _______’, or ‘I’m not very good at_________’. Believe in yourself and expect a positive future. You can bring the best life has to offer into your own life. This is not Pollyanna..it’s law..Universal Law. You can make the outcome as good as or even better than you expected. It’s up to you.

JohnK 5/30/2013
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You Can Never Go “Home”: 5 Keys For Nurturing Your Genuine Self While Visiting Your Old Life

May 27, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Picture of a houseHome for the holidays! It has a nice ring, doesn’t it? But going home can be a mine field for those on the consciousness road. I grew up during the television generation. For me, holiday thoughts bring up visions of a beer commercial!- big sleigh pulling up to a rural house on a winter evening, going inside to enjoy a roaring fireplace and a delicious meal. You may be planning a trip home for the holidays, or just making a periodic visit. If so, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.

I’m in the fifth day of a nine day trip to the northeastern United States. It’s the area where I was born and raised. It’s the type of visit you can look forward to and dread at the same time. No matter how many times you’ve gone home you tend to hope the next visit will be different, but you also have that voice in the back of your head that says things will probably be the same. Dad will be on your case for not having a “real job”.  Mom will reprimand you as though you’re an unruly teenager. Aunt Irene will be doing her awful best at getting into other people’s business. I don’t have the kinds of family drama you might encounter, but I do tend to secretly hope that things will somehow be different.

A life dedicated to awakening and living consciously brings great insight and moments of exhilaration. But trying to carry that awareness back to your birthplace can turn exhilaration to frustration in a heartbeat. The truth is that most people don’t share your vision. Like minds seem hard to find. Stating your reality brings stares of confusion.  Meditation, yoga, juicing..all seem like foreign concepts in a foreign land.

As a response I’m offering these five keys to staying centered and maintaining your serenity:

1. Do not expect people to be different than they are. Instead, send them love for being who they are and for doing the best they can.

2. Maintain your boundaries and when those boundaries are challenged respond honestly and with kindness.

3. Remember the reason you’re making the visit. You want have positive exchanges, share experiences, and radiate love. Don’t make it a time of judging, demanding, and holding on to old slights and grudges.

4. You may be asked a lot of questions about your life. Answer them from your heart and without falling back into unhealthy family patterns. You are your own person and as such you are living from your own sense of vision and values.

5. Be willing to cut the visit short! The last thing you want to do is create a scene. Take yourself out of the mix before you say or do something that doesn’t come from your genuine self.

Keep your reason for the visit clear- to have a happy time and to send love to everyone. And, when the visit is over allow yourself some time to unwind. Even if all went well you can spend a few moments savoring the satisfaction of knowing you are sending your true self out into the world.

JohnK 5/27/2013

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