Self Help Articles

Thoughtfulness

2006-03-13T04:46:00.000-08:00

Of paramount importance and relevancy to true and lasting human accomplishment is the way we deliberate between short term gain and long term accomplishment. The overriding consideration must be our degree of thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness means an honest examination of the desired objectives over time. It means adherence to the primary value of truth while addressing perceived short term needs, without distorting the long term goals. Those trusted with overseeing the mission must be ever vigilant in not allowing principle to yield to exigency, especially when the wiles and demands of the surreptitious or loud and aggressive are insinuating themselves into the mix for personal gain.

If the self interested are allowed to dominate or eclipse principle through corrosive influence, the consequent decline in overall diligence becomes the acceptable norm. Capitalism today, the most pervasive and influential system in industrialized society, has become a predominate fixture in perpetuating this decline. International conglomerates wield unchallenged power over people and nations only to satisfy their own narrow ends, with no regard for external ramifications, yet they survive and flourish essentially unfettered and unchallenged.

Corporations today are predominately fixated on stock price and maximizing profit. In a small town where scale is manageable and knowable, a business realizes is place, role and efficacy in the economy of the area. It needs a profit to survive, a condition understood and accepted, but kept in balance by the ethics, wherewithal and means of the community. In a healthy environment, it is a contributing member of the whole in both usefulness and service adding to the overall welfare and ambiance of the community. Corporations on the other hand lavish outrageously excessive rewards on the higher-ups while they in turn establish destructive precedents that compensate managers for short term results; treat employees as easily expendable pawns, and sacrifice substance to image enhancement. Products and services possessing intrinsic significance become irrelevant. Hyped value with no regard to consequence, but profitable, is the primary consideration.

Corporations dominate the landscape. The majority of us toil in increasingly meaningless, stressful and time demanding occupations, with credit and consumption heralded by the mass media our reward. A relentless barrage of commercial miasma invades our psychic at every venue, branding their version of morality into the fabric of our daily lives. Image makers, indiscriminately selling manufactured desire, have elevated the irresponsible personality to social prominence, even hero worship. Without intervention, and none appears likely, the declining circumstance of all our lives will continue to deteriorate as greed and intolerance perpetuates itself. Fateful decisions should not be made in a vacuum by people with vested interests, which unfortunately is exactly the situation we now find ourselves in. We have abdicated our intuitive duty to build a more sustainable existence by giving power over our lives to the purveyors of fear and greed.

In a perverted antithesis to the quest to find relevancy and meaning in the world, mass media advertising is providing manufactured identity, through product worship, to target audiences, most egregiously to the young and searching. Mass marketers cater to moral insecurity and foster irresponsibility through aggrandizement of inane idols. They endorse and promote immediate gratification and intimidation through peer pressure. They supplant the quest for substance and meaning with drivel and triviality. In attempts to appear righteous they unabashedly employ insidious public relations tactics to play on emotion or loyalties. The absurd and demeaning circumstance of popular culture shows how much we hunger for access to meaning within ourselves, and how far short we have fallen in attempting to find it.
Most of us go about life as though meaning where something outside of us, the purview of philosophers or poets. We focus on results with little regard for process. Our present mind set and world view of exploitation and quick fixes, without regard for resource husbandry or spiritual interconnectedness, has gained us temporal abundance but depressing materialism and its attendant waste. Individual freedom is now overshadowed by individualistic irresponsibility; decency corrupted by self-righteousness and moral superiority. We confuse justice with revenge, accept the decline of authenticity, and support the misconception that fear can be overcome by preemptive violence.

We have evolved to the point in time where we should be utilizing every means and opportunity available to us to intensify the search for meanings within the interconnected whole. But there is no venue or leader or guiding principle that can be trusted to launch such a campaign. Because of our pragmatic approach to life, we no longer have authentic heroes, heroes with any transcending relevance, to show us the way either in parable or deed. We have been reduced to contrived and orchestrated mass adulation for anti intellectual success icons, race car drivers and ball players. We seek to mark time with trivial diversions with no inkling or thought to embarking on a hero's journey to forge a sustainable new paradigm world view, or to explore the spirit within.

Mankind needs and seeks to find meaning, but settles for beads and trinkets. It can only be through widespread thoughtfulness on an individual level, focusing on things that have intrinsic value, that we can hope to regain some semblance of authenticity in our lives.

About The Author

Henry Ramsey is a writer and renewable energy systems specialist who rides an electric bicycle and is now developing New Paradigm Internet Marketing websites like: www.MyEbikes.com & www.HappyThoughtLifestyles.com.

Aging and Mid Life Crisis

2006-03-13T04:36:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it time to put into action all the things you dream about? Have you not spent the first 20 years of your life being trained and conditioned as someone’s child or student? Following all the instructions and rules set forth before you. Remember those that ended up rebellious always paying the task masters for that small taste of self expression?

Along comes the next 20 years where we believe that we are putting into reality our own ideas and life desires. We become someone’s mate, parent, employee and still keep our place that society has molded for us. We seem to be performing that wonderful balancing act of keeping everyone in our lives happy with our choices. Time is passing and something inside tells us that we aren’t fulfilled where we are in life. That all these choices have been for everyone else in our lives and not for us. There must be something more out there! Will someone think you’re selfish? It sits in the back of our mind and starts showing up in our dreams. We try to ignore it and yet we become dissatisfied with the choices we made. Yet, we have no idea what we would do instead!

Along comes our forties and with it a new found confidence. The ability to assert ourselves comes to the surface. It’s not always a pretty site and can be somewhat frightening at first but hang in there because maturity blossoms. They call it a “Mid Life Crisis” but I like to think of it as a time frame to create and express who you really are. The truth and nothing but the truth will free up your mind, heart and soul. You’re no longer looking for approval. You want real friends, loving partners and people in your life to know that you’re living life and not just existing. Don’t just become Aging Baby Boomers.

How do you do this? How do you explore yet meet all the realistic goals of this aging process? Many of us have no one to ask or to even bounce ideas off of. The generation gaps are to large and the concepts of what is necessary for a solid future definitely do not match. We have to learn to share and outsource our ideas and information. Taking stock of where we are and the directions we want to take can get that excitement back in our lives. Set those goals for yourself and share goals with those you love and share lives with. Skip over the depression stage and take those thoughts and dreams and find someone to help you turn them into reality. There are life coaches, financial advisors, therapists, friends and loved ones who will be able to help guide you and encourage you on your journey.

Have the desire to enjoy everyday of your life.
About The Author

Marge Pickering-Picone is a Nutrition Consultant for Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. and the Founder of http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com.
Vitamarge@yahoo.com

What is Your Mission on Earth and What is it Not? Ten Misconceptions

2006-03-13T04:33:00.000-08:00

You were sent to earth with a mission to fulfill. This mission has to do with your passion. If you want to be happy and fulfilled with enthusiasm, you have to discover what your mission is and organize your life and activities in function of your mission. Most people have the wrong idea about their mission. Here are some common misconceptions and the truth about what a mission on earth really is :

1. There is no such thing as a life mission and everything is just a coincidence. There is no such thing as Coincidence. We were sent down to Earth with a mission: to increase our ability to love. Everybody’s mission is unique because of the different ways we go about this. You too have your individual way to spread more love around you. Increasing the love energy on our planet is the ultimate goal of every life form on Earth.

2. Our mission or goal exists outside of us and is waiting to be discovered. Your mission is inside you, manifested by your natural talents, desires and passions. Look at what excites you. What kind of activities bring joy and satisfaction? What is it that you spend countless hours on as a kid? Your mission already exists and you knew it already before you came to Earth. The only thing for you to do now is to remember.

3. Our life goal is a particular occupation or profession. Our life goal is not a well-defined activity. It is much broader than a specific career and contains more than how you’re making a living. It’s a mistake to confuse how you provide for yourself with what your life mission is. It is possible to implement your mission from within your working environment, but it is much larger than that. When you meet new or old friends, always are you able to implement your mission, simply because it is an attitude, a sharing of your core talents.

4. Life is on hold until you have discovered your mission. No need to sit around and wait. You may still be uncertain about your goal in life, but that does not mean your life hasn’t started yet or is not significant. Everything you ran into up to this point in your life does have its importance and has brought you to where you are now: on the road of self-discovery and the fulfillment of your mission.Your life goal is continually being revealed to you, all the time. It’s not a one-off discovery, and then that’s it. It is rather an ongoing process than a single moment. The search and implementation continues throughout your life. This is exactly what your life is: the ongoing discovery and implementation of your mission.

5. You have to change in order to be worthy of discovering your mission. There’s no use in believing there is something wrong with you just because you are still searching. Everybody has a specific mission. Everybody is worthy and has the ability of finding his or her life mission. The desire of your soul to fully participate in the world will attract the right circumstances for you and allow your mission to present itself. Moreover, you are already perfectly equipped with the talents needed to fulfill your mission. All that is needed is your awareness. All that is needed is for you to un-cover them, that means, take them off the shelf and into the center of your life.

6. You can fulfill your mission by imitating somebody else. A person’s life destiny is a strictly individual matter and can thusly not be imitated or copied. You can be inspired by the courage and perseverance of another, but you cannot live a copy of that person’s life. A mission is like a suit in the big wardrobe of life. There is exactly one suit that fits you like a second skin, tailor-made for you only. If you try on the suit made for another, you are making two mistakes. First, your own suit remains in the closet, unused. Second, you have taken the suit of another and are thus taking the wrong place in the switchboard of life. If you’re not following your own mission, then you are following that of another!

7. It’s egotistical and arrogant to occupy yourself with your mission. One has heard many times to be of service to others, help your neighbor and be ready to reach out to those in need. Partly, that’s correct. But instead forgetting about the self and helping any random person who crosses your path, it is better to remember your mission and find out where, when and who it is you need to help. This kind of help will be all the more efficient and at the same time gives you much more satisfaction. Helping the forgetful way is only going to give you loads of frustration. Fatigue and exhaustion is the only result of only helping others while not taking the time to recharge your own batteries. Finding your mission in life and living accordingly is neither egotistical nor arrogant. It is your first responsibility. Remember: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” This includes loving the self. Living the implementation of your mission radiates enormous amounts of enthusiasm into your environment. This is a significant contribution to the well-being of all lives you touch.

8. You can discover your life mission by intellectual analysis. You will not discover your mission by analysis or intellectual considerations. It is rather a step-by-step process of discovery, driven by the attitude of introspection (looking within the self), by following your passions and by noticing for fundamental connections in your life. You will discover your mission by listening to your intuition and by taking your dreams and visions seriously.

9. You will become famous once you have discovered your mission. Your mission does not necessarily contain fame and popularity. Many people are implementing their mission with a low profile, in their own personal environment. Your success in fulfilling your mission cannot be measured by external signs such as riches or glamour. The real criteria for measuring success are enthusiasm, joy, energy, satsifaction, the knowing that everything has its meaning and the feeling that you are on the right place doing the right thing with the right people.

10. Pursuing your life goal is hard and difficult. Sometimes, while pursuing your life goal, you will have moments of fear, doubt and anxiety. You might often wonder if you’ve made the right choice, and if you couldn’t have just kept things the way they were. But as you come closer to fulfilling your life goal, these doubts and fears will be replaced by enthusiasm, joy, happiness, satisfaction and the feeling that life has deep meaning.

Copyright 2006 Ineke Van Lint

About The Author

Written by Ineke Van Lint. Join the enthusiastics on this planet! Go to http://www.theenthusiasm.com/ and do the absolutely-to-do-once-in-your-life program to discover who you are and to learn to say yes to yourself! Find your passion and create your very own success! Reward : an everlasting enthusiasm! Two free e-courses offered!

Reduce Stress And Live A Longer And Happier Life

2006-03-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

I've spent years researching books on stress in order to find the very best methods to combat this destroyer of happiness, contentment and sometimes life itself. Sure, some stress is good since it can motivate us to take action and even enable us to save our lives and others. But today's society pounds us with a continuous barrage of stress through long working hours, downsizing, technological changes, two parents working, financial pressures and a host of other influences including war, taxes and death.
There are three excellent methods to combat stress. Make sure you have healthy eating habits, a healthy mind and a healthy body.

Reduce stress with healthy eating habits

What we eat and drink fuels our body. If our body is well fuelled we feel energetic, alert, we sleep better and live longer. If our body is given Big Macs, cake, French fries and fast food continuously we will have high cholesterol, fat, feel sluggish and probably die many years younger than we thought we would. Having healthy eating habits takes a bit of effort. Here is what you do. Read a book on health and become educated on healthy foods. You probably already know that fruits and vegetables are important, but find out what the healthiest ones are (like broccoli). Reducing all processed foods such as white bread, white paste, white rice and reducing sugar is also very healthy. Each Sunday morning take a few minutes to plan the week's meals. If you are on a budget check the grocery store flyers and buy what is on sale. Get a healthy but tasty recipe book and choose a few recipes for the week. The trick here is to plan the week so that you stay away from last minute junk food temptation. And stay in the habit. It's really not that difficult.

Reduce stress with a healthy mind.

The fascinating thing about humans is that we all see the world through different perceptions. They way we each see the world is from all the imprints we have experienced throughout our lives. Some of us call these imprints conditioning. These imprints can also cause us stress. Ancient Asian teaching tells us that our mind records about 60 images (or imprints) in the snap of a finger. These imprints enter the subconscious and are part of a vast repository of imprints in your mind, some stronger than others. You may see a winter day as cold and miserable, I may see it as beautiful. I like that person yet you hate them. You believe that the winter and a certain cashier are contributing to the misery in your life (even though that cashier is only at the grocery store). And you carry this anger and misery around like heavy luggage strapped on your back. The most important thing here is to make a conscience effort and avoid having past imprints influence you. The cashier reminds you of a bad teacher, she is just like your strict aunt, and the way she looks at you over her glasses is annoying. These are all past imprints bubbling up to you from your subconscious. And now every time you see her you are annoyed. The cashier may have had a bad day with you once, but is loved by many other people. Different perspectives. The winter is not purposely trying to make you miserable. It can't. Only you can make yourself miserable. Now try looking at everything from an empty or neutral perspective. Allow the goodness to seep in. This is an incredible peaceful way of looking at the world around us and will erase all kinds of stress. My perception of the winter day is now beautiful. I am the master of my mind, not the winter day. This technique reduces all kinds of unnecessary imprint stress.

Reduce stress with a healthy body.

Our body needs exercise. Without exercise we become lazy, fat, weak, stressed out, and will probably die sooner than expected. There are a million reasons not to exercise. Here are a few tips on getting you in motion. Whatever you do, try to make exercising fun. Go hiking or biking with a friend. Develop a routine by exercising at the same time of day. If you join a fitness club, find one close to home. Nothing worse than finishing work and having to spend unnecessary time commuting to the fitness club. Weigh yourself to keep on track and create motivation. If you have a dog, walk it. It's not that hard to exercise. Even a brisk walk around the block will help. With a healthier body stress will not affect you nearly as much.

In Summary

What we eat and drink fuels our body. Eat and drink healthy foods through simple planning.
Realize that our past imprints heavily influence our mind and the way we see the world. Try to look at the world in a neutral and empty way. This allows the mind to relax a few precious seconds and shift towards peace and goodness.
Exercising the body isn't that hard to do. Make it fun.
Please consider this article for your website, blog or ezine. Permission to reprint if by-line stays intact and links are activated on the Internet.
About The Author

Terry Vermeylen is one of those rare people that is passionately driven to help others unlock their own barriers toward fulfillment, meaning and purpose.
He is the founder of http://www.mylifechanges.com/, an Internet value identification and goal setting enterprise.
terry@mylifechanges.com