Denial: I have to wonder what this is really all about.

Over the decades, as psychology has gone more mainstream, it has infiltrated every aspect of our lives culturally and socially. It’s in our health coverage plans, employee benefits, in the movies, sitcoms, and even more in the advertisements. I’d say they’re having an influence upon our self and group consciousness.

Earlier, I caught myself asking a question to seek the opinion of someone else about my skill, rather than just toot my horn which was what I was inspired to do in the first place. I had just finished work on a project that made me feel pretty good, and true to joy, a little cocky swaggering was called for. Instead, I censored myself and tried soliciting accolades rather than be boastful. I puzzled over this turn-about and what influenced this censoring.

As I have studied and observed the human condition over the years, it has been noted that a steady surge has broken down communion among people by placing more emphasis upon personal satisfaction and fulfillment. With so much individuality pushed in the marketplace, advertising relationships, etc., the subliminal influences shift our value-base unconsciously. With there being so much negative media created to ’sell’ to consumers, the personal identity and place of the individual in context to family and community becomes obscured, questionable, and finally, burdensome, to many.

On yet another side, the self-help industry is so full of individual band-aid stories, that the people seeking solutions typically find themselves discovering more personal problems than they bargained for. It’s like reading the horoscope. There are enough generalities and commonalities among people that we can buy into a prognosis which we then make more real through our own belief. In addition, rational and healthy human behavior ends up falling under close scrutiny while answers are sought amongs all the expert opinions, programs, and books.

As I found myself concluding these thoughts, only one question remained. When will simply being a joyful and sharing human being be okay again?

Hudson Valley Art Incubator

Project by Kelly Demers

Arts Development and Mentor Centres are in rare supply. Kelly Demers fundraiser project for the Hudson Valley Art Incubator is to see the creation of a downtown Artists Community Hub where the artists receive access to an environment that is both supportive and inspirational.

The centre would provide the level of services that coach and mentor artists to become equipped with the skills and knowledge to conduct business successfully. In addition, tools and services that give access to creative outlets still left untapped will find new talent emerge in the community. This activity will offer positive results within the larger community’s socio-economic status.

As Kelly Demers writes in her Kickstarter campaign page:

We’ll provide the tools, business resources and equipment – AFFORDable shared studio facilities such as a print shop and photo lab as well as editing equipment for low/no budget filmmakers and computer workstations for writing, scanning, graphic design & desktop publishing. In addition we’ll give artists regular gallery exposure and opportunities for networking within the community and beyond. The goal of this project is to not only help artists support themselves, but also to directly support the creative economy by creating jobs and opportunities for artists and people within the creative cluster, and to actively engage and enrich several community networks through outreach efforts and regular exposure to the arts.

This modest, yet impactful project holds tremendous promise with the right level of support to ensure its successful launch. You are invited to visit and lend your support at any level you can. The trick with the Kickstarter fundraising is that it is an all-or-nothing gamble. Not reaching the goal, all monies donated are returned, and the challenge is to surpass that goal, which only you can make possible.

Participating can be both financial to reach the goal, or in sharing so the project fundraiser is seen by more people across the web, increasing its opportunity for reaching the right audience able to see this vision through to success. Make a difference, one man is inviting you to join Hudson Valley Art Incubator and support this vision’s goal.

It’s a psychological disorder.

At first, I thought it was a form of extreme cynicism. I was really annoyed nowing that being cynical is, in a way, being highly aware that the world we have evolved in is quite senseless at times. Being cynical means using dark humour to put in our face that this world is a total mess!

Right from the get-go, I started to elaborate on my own theory about this brand new disease that I just discovered. I understood that we finally came across a subtle strategy to neutralize the informers. From now-on, the rebellious would be labeled as sick. I couldn’t be more uncomfortable with the idea.

That lead me to reflect upon the fact that I knew that a child presenting bad behaviours, acting-out, or even violent outbursts, was often a child refusing to endorse the dysfunctional dynamic of the family. Contrary to what we generally believe, the child who is acting-out in such a manner is the one who is healthy! He is simply resisting his toxic environment.

That reflection echoed my own theory. Moreso, labeling cynicism as a disease was, in fact, a confirmation that this world we live in is truely incomprehensible, revolting, and toxic in so many ways. Consequently, people with a general sense of lucidity would therefore be diagnosed and medicated. Wrong target, but easy and disruptive target, worth getting “out of the way.”

All these reflections upon the subject were getting me nowhere but straight to craziness! This is when I picked up a book about mental disorder and here’s what I found:

“Sinistrose: A mental disorder displayed by a victim of a car accident or workplace injury. The victim is totally convinced that he/she is incapable of any kind of work, and therefore refuses to recognize that he/she is cured. The person presenting this pathology is amplifying the harm done to him/her (often in good faith) and in doing so, is inhibiting his/her good-will.”

(((sigh)))

Translated by : The author

Edited by : Lee Down

Napoleon Hill audio shares the story of his first meeting with Andrew Carnegie and stories about his commission to write the Carnegie Success philosophy. During this time he interviewed a number of notable successful businessmen including Henry Ford. This video presentation shares some of the wisdom gained through his relationship with Andrew Carnegie and the writing of the Carnegie Success philosophy.

A fog rolled in, quietly slithering in low to the ground, imperceptible at first until it was too late to escape the chill soup.

It’s not You, it’s the It!

What the…? Do you even know what you’re talking about?

It! It’s the It, man! You’ve got it, and typically, we’ve all got it in some way, shape, or form. The beautiful thing about it though, is that It isn’t You. It just is what it is.

You, on the other hand, are the pure seed of creation seeking out its fullest potential through growth. Trouble is, you spend so much time in an imperfect world taking the hits that life throws at you, that you don’t even realize that you’re experiencing wounds and stunted areas you perceive as your imperfections. People own it as a life sentence instead of seeing their opportunities!

——-

Tell a story, or just write? Stalled by what I thought might be a clever devil, rather than an authentic self, I questioned. This is a big deal, a big moment, a potential turning-point. Dare I be so bold as to flow with it?

When a bunch of heavy puzzle pieces fall into place, a wave of emotion rushes to every pore as tears of release threaten to flood. The realization of a source that is a cause to so much of life’s difficulties, as I experience it, is profound. Reeling, my brain suddenly feels emptied, and yet, a fog is preventing focus and memory to serve normally through my day. This is some big stuff I uncovered.

It’s interesting: To sit in this experience at this moment, it is simultaneously a pleasing and unpleasant experience. It is full of rich emotions, with below-the-surface remnants of sadness, anger, frustration, and confusion swimming around freely, while a stronger emotion of wonder accompanied by curiosity, has more conscious power, even though it sometimes sees fear. Ready for a big change?

Awareness, now sees the truth as it happens, recognizes the reactions, and the choice to change the old-patterns of reaction to a healthy response living authentically. The exercise of mind, to choose differently, to commit to the process, and to engage actively with that process, will prevail over old-patterns. It’s an interesting fight.

I can see the resistance too. There is a devil in the experience of change that wishes to stay within the security of even the most foul life experiences. It is more afraid of the unknown, than it is of the painful reality it has managed to find some solace within. Even though you and I can sit here and recognize this, we also feel that other sense screaming, “No, this is not the experience of life I signed up for! There is more! Much more!” Pay attention.

Knowing it is one thing. Acting upon it is quite another. Need it be so difficult? We’ll discover more on this as the story and research unfolds.

Most people overwhelmed by and completely identifying with a condition applied to their particular health issue might actually be able to overcome their challenge through exercising their mind. With a focused effort upon creating change within the mind and the thoughts that arise, the effects of the mind upon one’s emotions can evolve. As emotions affect chemical production of the mind, becoming aware and engaged in changing thoughts can also affect the feelings generated by the emotions as the battle for the mind is engaged. None of this means someone has been diagnosed incorrectly, it simply means that there is more available to someone in these situations that can affect change.

Life is difficult and challenging life circumstances disrupt people’s lives and health continuously. At times, these events can be much more traumatic than others, or someone could be in an already weakened state. Either way, the impact of events can leave a discernible mark upon the character of an individual that stems from their mental and emotional well-being. As with any diagnosis for an illness, the patient is typically wanting to get to the root of the cause and heal completely, and not just bandage things up through the treatment of symptoms.

Anyone exploring options can integrate this exercise of thought management, regardless of the treatment program. Having someone to discuss things through for perspective can be a great help. One element of thought management is the increasing recognition of the experience of Self. First, seeing the mind and it’s thoughts constantly bombarding, what kind of thoughts they are and their impact, and if those thoughts become identifying thoughts of the Self. Quite often, through our formative years of schooling and working, people are accustomed to the presence and use of the mind, often listening to input from outside, and shaping our experience and identity from that perspective. This can act up when a negative spark triggers a direction that is unhealthy, with negativity creeping in with more thoughts going unnoticed until it is too late to regain control. This effort toward change will require more intentional effort over a period of time to undo what has been done.

Secondly, an individual has to start noticing emotions and the affect they are having upon the present-moment experience, and the accompanying thoughts as we’ve discussed already. People do feel. The irony is that most people rarely understand that emotions can also be feeding unreliable data to our experience, framing its meaning from a past trauma, rather than a new possibility. This is how emotions can be created by the mind if left unchecked. With emotions triggered by the mind, more chemical activity occurs carrying physical feelings that reinforce the emotions and thought. A vicious cycle.

In mentioning feelings, it is important to also be aware of the body. Emotions express feeling which the body carries. At the same time, the body may experience a feeling sensation that has little to do with emotion. Illness, aching muscles, broken bones are quite obvious, while other more subtle energies are not so obvious. Being able to notice “feelings in a room” as a presence of energy is often experienced by highly empathic people. This is important to notice how the body also receives information, as the physical body is often much more honest than the emotions being experienced. Noticing and feeling the body can give an individual many clues about what needs to change, and a host of other personally relevant information.

Being caught in a State of being, whether it is in suffering anything that is mental, physical, or emotional, it is important to see that quite often people will identify their Self with that State of Being, rather than the true sense of Self that has experienced so much more in life. An ancient expression, This too shall pass, is a valuable ally in recognizing the ebbs and flows of our lives in this sense. Rather than get caught into the vicious cycle, notice the frustration too, and the mental wrangling as the dark and the light are fighting for the direction that heals or steals. Get on side with the side that is fighting for healing, and when thoughts of the mind are busy comparing between what could be and what is, use that desire and refocus that energy upon creating change from the negative cycles that are perpetuated by the mental and emotional experiences.

Paying attention, becoming more aware, the individual would become more conscious of the fact that they are “noticing” all that is occuring within their experience. Seeing it within the experience creates a stronger relationship to the real source of Being, rather than the State of Being. As more command is developed, then what it is to be Aware can be recognized, and in that open space the real information for the true self can rise up and overcome the state over a period of time. Time is one thing that cannot be escaped as yet, and the seeds of change must mature and grow, so patience is of essence in this challenge.

Awareness recognizes all that is happening with mind, body, emotions, and thoughts. Awareness also waits for the person to connect before it can become involved in creating change. It also understands process, that in a world of natural laws of cause and effect, much occurs on the journey of a seed becoming a firmly rooted tree. As all are subject to the processes of nature, healing for the body, obstacles to overcome, blockages to eradicate etc., are necessary to get life back on track. Being more aware better equips an individual to manage life’s challenges positively.

Being vs State of Being is about becoming right in the circumstances of life. It is a mental game that can be won by exercising the Self Awareness and bringing it into authority over the mind, body, and emotions.

people with bad backgrounds can make a difference

Bad People?

There it is. A search phrase.

In case you’re wondering, it’s mainly what I do nowadays. Understanding searches, traffic, websites, internet marketing, etc. So I check my stats and look at what traffic brings people to my site. It’s interesting too, because instead of focusing heavily on keyword optimization tactics, and aside from some bookmarking that has helped people find me, it is odd phrases that bring the most amount of traffic to my site. And I LOVE IT.

This represents an interest by someone, somewhere, with a question, a wish to gain more perspective, on sensitive issues. I’ve been told my writing, whether it be argument or style I don’t know, leaves no quarter for discussion. I was rather surprised by that, but then, maybe that is because there is so much conflict, paradox, as well as the good, the bad, and the ugly within the being of the human experience. We are driven by more forces than our mind can accept.

Consciousness knows you, as I might know you, the one visible to me where I can see all of your goodness in your eyes and heart. Yet, the physical forces of our existence here is driven by the forces of nature, and whether natural function, a disorder or disease, or the hormones and the brain-stem, it is all really irrelevant. Awareness is the bridge between these two experiences of self, where the Consciousness, a part of us that is puzzled at our ineptness to break free from whatever is holding us back, meets the Knowing sensation driving the physical body with experiences we can only describe as emotional.

If you think that isn’t you, see where you are 10 years from now and decide which direction you went, and whether you could have impacted it differently had you been less resistant, or made better decisions, or. whatever… but this isn’t about judging, it is about accepting that there is a variety of forces acting upon our human experience as individuals, and that with more conscious effort at improving our awareness in our individual situations, each one of us can make great strides to counter and overcome these forces. Did I mention the power of the mind? The power of thought? That’s what it is about.

Human Brain

Just as prolonged periods of negative emotional experiences can send someone into a spiral of depression, positive thoughts and counter-intuitive thoughts can bring balance and healing back to the physical body. Spirit over Matter? Sounds like someone’s idea of it once upon a time, and yet, since consciousness cannot be defined, maybe it still is true.

If you’re having trouble accepting this, it is important to note that the thoughts and emotions create a dynamic relationship in the physical body that continually reinforces the negative until such time as the brain’s rewiring has the thalamus pumping the wrong doses of chemicals throughout our body. Then there are our entertainments and vices and their impact, as well as our personal situations, relationships, and environment and their impact on our chemical balance in our body.

So go easy on yourself, and on others, and persevere.

people with bad backgrounds can make a difference

There she be, what a beautiful statement. I’m glad it found its way to my site today. I’m glad it allowed me to share this with you and I am really glad to not only be able to say “YES!” to this statement in agreement, I can also say that I know of people who are proof positive. And then there’s the fact that none of us are angels any more or less than anyone else. The change begins within, with awareness and exercise – choice – and that choice determines difference is what difference gets.

peace out

the hard way
Originally uploaded by Karmalize

There are those of us in life who must learn things the hard way.

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

No matter the reason, my being senses and feels things beyond what my mind accepts. It raises questions for me. Often they are questions that raise my own eyebrow at my sanity. Yet, the question remains with me until I find a way to satisfy the need to know and understand.

Know and Understand

To know and understand is a basic human driver. We all want to know others and be known – in short, to connect. Questions, valid or not, represent a disconnect for the individual distracted by them. Asking, even without verbalizing, creates a series of situations in life that focuses in on giving the answer.

But I’d be so focused on the question, where I expected the answer to come from, that I’d often miss the clues and opportunities as they arose.

Bad Things Happen to Good People

Drown
Originally uploaded by Martin Kingsley

We’ve all expressed this at some point. If you’re asking the question, “I want to know” about certain things in life, don’t be surprised to have some Lemony Snicket series of unfortunate events. A recent major blunder in my own life clearly demonstrates this fact.

Careful What You Ask For

A burning desire to know and understand can cause one to leap before they look. Wanting so badly to know the truth, to understand the sensory information, to gain a perspective on meaning, and how to handle or cope with certain experiences often initiates conversations that might otherwise be left alone. You ask that question, you will likely get your answer, but you may not like the experience that answers the question.

A Personal Example

Personal relationships and business relationships are two very different things for many people. For others, they come at everything in life the same. This fact does not matter, it is what works for people and the choices they make. However, in retrospect, conversation and focus do matter.

Lines of Communication
Originally uploaded by Martin Kingsley

Venturing from the business conversation to personal conversations ought not be a problem, though it can, and is a problem for people who tend to fumble personal relationships in spite of their good intentions.

‘Hi, nice to meet you.’

I wanted to know and understand something so badly, that I came right out and asked directly. Sometimes this can be a good thing, and yet wisdom will often just want you to wait, watch, and learn. In this case, I was forcing the issue, wanting to gain a level of freedom from my own bonds of misunderstanding. In this case, I got my answer, quicker and more painfully than I’d have preferred.

You Don’t Always Get What You Want

You always get what you need.

At this juncture, learning the hard way came about with badly fumbled personal and business relationships. It was born upon my own burning desire and curiosity to know and understand. It didn’t get a direct answer in response, instead it received a practical lesson of immense proportions that smacked me into the middle of next year. I didn’t like the outcome, and would have missed the gift I was given, had I simply focused on the injustice of what I thought went wrong.

Get What You Need

I got what I needed all right. And it hurt.

When I realized that I now understood the answer to my question(s) – it extends beyond this instance in time – I also realized that this individual did answer my question. I laughed at the irony, and humbly wish I’d had the wisdom to know this sooner, and more importantly, become more comfortable in the wait.

Take Your Time

Grow Trees
Originally uploaded by Thiru Murugan

Answers don’t always come directly from the people you ask the question. Quite often, the universe and events that transpire will answer those questions for you. Press hard enough though, and the people you are trying to get the answers from might react in such a way that you do learn, with unsatisfactory results. Take your time, observe, watch, and learn, and what you need to know may come to you.

Nature doesn’t rush cycles of growth. Learn to observe, being a little more detached, and enjoy the show.

Overcome Challenges

Sunday now, mid-morning lazy start in front of the computer; checking the email, catching up and tidying Facebook, and pondering a website plan and wondering how to start. In the background of my mind, my thoughts and emotions roil around the thoughts of an unfulfilled love life, wondering what she is doing with her Sunday all those miles away. Who is who, what is what, and where is it all going? I wonder about this more often than I’d care to admit.

We all get caught up in the hopes and dreams inspired in the moment. Sometimes, following that inspiration takes us to beautiful and wonderful places. Other times, it leads to a void that announces loudly that there is only the moment, and that it is empty when chasing the future. Are you living in the moment? Are you remembering to keep doing what you’ve been doing that works? I think we all need these encouraging reminders.

Still, the question remains, ‘how do I get what I want?’

What about you? How do you go about getting what you want?

This word causes so much trouble in this life and world. How can there possibly exist so many truths that lead to so many contradictions?

The Truth is in one place only. It is in each and every precious moment.

• How will you act?
• How will you love?
• How will you forgive?
• How will you live?
• How will you risk?
• How will you give?
• How will you be?

The Truth is in this precious moment. Are you being grateful?

• You cannot expect anything from anyone, only of yourself.
• Forgiveness gives you freedom. Freedom gives you choice.
• Love takes care of Self first to prevent self-destruction.
• Make your right choices, not my right choices.

The Truth is in this precious moment. Its Life is in you.