I lead with my heart, letting deeds bleed me cold.
The cruelty of form and substance was told,
teach this boy to be a man, to claw and cling for every scrap,
this life is our trap and rapture, and all the bleeding a must to trust.
Launch yourself into oblivion, again and again unknowingly lost,
seeking to find the innocence that slowly disappears in the dust.
A phoenix you will be, one day near or far, and from the ashes,
what was dust-to-dust will thrust ever skyward with life’s lust.
Retrospect vainly will know that the truth was ever thus.

creative commons license attribution *Lee Down, 2010

Do things really happen for a reason or purpose? There have been many instances throughout life when I’d doubt this explanation for unfolding events and circumstances. Yet, this weekend past, I had a direct and undeniable incident that screamed, “We misplaced your phone for that specific purpose!”

So what happened, you might wonder. Before I left the house I remember having picked up my cell phone and putting it in the back pocket of my jeans. Before sitting on it, I moved it to my coat pocket where I had a few other items. Some time later, when I reached for my phone, it was nowhere to be found, yet those other items were still in my pocket. This sent me on a wild goose chase searching for the phone.

I went back to the starting point when I first put my phone in my back pocket. I was beginning to wonder if I’d imagined the whole thing, picking up the phone and bringing it with me. Maybe I had set it on the counter at home while I sorted out other details before leaving. It wasn’t in any of the places I looked and I set about returning to the apartment where I noticed I was missing my phone. When I got there, just inside the back door, on the floor, was a huge rope of keys; one would almost have guessed they were some building or maintenance manager’s keys.

Wondering how I’d figure out who they belonged to, I started rummaging through the key rings and tags to see if I could find a clue worth following. There was one key tag with information and phone number for the TTY service, which I remember provides a telephone teletype service for the hearing impaired so they can have telephone conversations. I immediately thought of the fellow at the end of the hall on my floor.

Getting off the elevator on my floor, there he was at his door desperately searching through his bags and backpack for the missing keys. Looking up and seeing me coming toward him, he broke into a beaming smile when I lifted the hanging rope of keys out in front of me. Mission accomplished, I returned to the search for my phone, and found it within five minutes down the crevice at the backside of the seat I was occupying earlier.

Can you see a bit of divine intervention at play here?

Thomas Edison was a very successful inventor, scientist, and businessman whose inventions significantly impacted the world. Inventions such as the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting everyday electric light bulb were all the result of Edison’s work.

Called “The Wizard of Menlo Park” by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to mass produce his inventions and is therefore often given credit for creating the first industrial research laboratory.

Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Today I want to talk about seven amazing lessons we can learn from “The Wizard of Menlo Park.”

7 Amazing Success Lessons from Thomas Edison:

1. Impossibility
   

   “Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged.”

   Roadblocks are sign-posts letting you know that success is just around the corner. Roadblocks are there to keep the uncommitted out. Roadblocks qualify you for success. Don’t get discouraged when things seem impossible, it’s darkest just before dawn.

   
   

2. Perspiration
   

   “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

   Thomas Edison said, “The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it goes around wearing overalls and it looks like hard work.” There is no success without hard work; success is something that is only earned after much labor. Success can only come to those who labor for it, it is through labor that you become a valuable person, and your value attracts success.

   
   

3. Capability
   

   “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

   Most people are living considerably beneath their capabilities. They’ve never focused all of their efforts on a singular task, so they are completely unaware of the power they possess. Everyone is good at something, and if singular focus is given to that talent over the course of years, amazing things will be done. You are capable of astonishing yourself!

4. Solitude
   

   “The best thinking has been done in solitude.”

   I have had my best thoughts locked away in a quiet room. Take time everyday to escape to a quiet room, if only for five minutes, to have your best thoughts. It’s hard to think about achieving the impossible, when you’re surrounded with people wanting to discuss only the possible. Escape to a quiet room today, and begin to see all your possibilities.

5. Restlessness
   

   “Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress.”

   Thomas Edison said, “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.” As long as you’re perfectly content you can’t make progress. Nothing happens until you become discontented. If you can live with being 30 pounds over weight, if you’re content with that idea (not happy, but content), then you don’t have the power to change it. Remember, “discontent is the first necessity of progress.”

6. Perspective
   

   “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

   Perspective is everything! Edison said, “Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won’t work.” That’s the way we should view our life, not as a compilation of failures, but as series of necessary experiments letting us know what doesn’t work. From this perspective, we can move into doing what works, from this perspective we can succeed.

7. Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common Sense
   

   “The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense.”

   Nothing can replace hard work, it’s fundamental to success. If you’re not willing to work hard, you don’t even have a chance at success. No one succeeds and says “That was really easy!”

   Additionally, you have to have a no-give-up-attitude; you must be willing to stick to a task that you’re passionate about, and never lose focus. And the final key is “common sense,” we all have it, but we all don’t use it like we should.

In closing, “you have what it takes to succeed,” you have the ability to work hard, to stay focused, and to use common sense, the question is, “Are you going to do it?” I think you are.

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!

Written on 10/13/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

Photo Credit: Gregory Moine

When there is so much advice and information on productivity floating around, it is obvious that not all of that is worth paying heed to. There are certain popular beliefs on productivity that some consider useful, which in reality do nothing but to hamper their efficiency.

This article talks about five productivity myths which the sooner you come to know about and understand, the better. I’m sure most these tips are something you could actually relate to. Check them out.

1. Multitasking Works
   Let me set the record straight before I begin – I am not against multitasking. Some people can actually juggle tasks and accomplish all of them efficiently. But the fact is there aren’t many people who can do it, especially in this age of information overload. Uni-tasking is far more effective if you want to get things done without compromising on quality.

We’ve already published how mono-tasking is better than multi-tasking, and why this might be the age of uni-tasking. If you care about focusing, and focusing well, try your hand on one thing at a time.

It’s Always About the System
Finally, I think one of the biggest myths surrounding productivity is that one can always be productive by following certain steps, or by following a productive system. It’s not always about the system. It’s about you.

I’ve read about people who suffer from disorders like ADHD and hence can’t focus. But since they don’t know about it, they cannot figure out why none of the productivity systems works for them. I’ve also read about people who don’t like what they do, but still try out everything to focus and get things done, just to fail each time.

The point is, if you just can’t get things done, and this has been going on for a long time, then it’s time to self-introspect and find out what this is all about.

Cheers,

Abhijeet

Written on 10/04/2010 by Abhijeet Mukherjee. Abhijeet is a blogger and web publisher from India. He loves all things tech as long as it aids in productivity. He edits Guiding Tech, a blog that publishes useful guides, tutorials and tools. Check it out and subscribe to its feed if you like the site. You can also find him on Twitter.

Photo Credit: owlana

Eking out a living in this paradise
Gimme Johnny Walker, neat, no ice
A few more of those I’ll be alright
Getting me through a long slow night

Twisted pain of death lines my face
Another chance tomorrow my saving grace
I’m here to fight, never say die
Always chasing truth never a lie

Eking out a living in this paradise
Gimme Johnny Walker, neat, no ice

Smile for me Baby I’m here for you
Whatever it takes you know I’ll do
You know my dirty secret I can’t hide
That’s why I get with you deep inside

A few more of those I’ll be alright
Getting me through a long slow night

Wake up everyday glad to be alive
Another day of earning one-o-five
Soul is not for sale just a man for hire
The dreams alive can’t kill this fire

Eking out a living in this paradise
Gimme Johnny Walker, neat, no ice
A few more those I’ll be alright
Getting me through another long slow night

© Lee Down 2005

from the archives July 13, 2006

On the battlefield a fallen soldier will often lay there near death, expecting death, when a comrade will stop and offer comfort and aid. Encouraging and strengthening his fallen comrade simply through comfort, the yell will follow, “Medic! Medic!” as help is sought that will bring the wounded soldier the medical attention that is needed. There are times when death will come too quickly or help will come too late. When the help comes in the right time, the medical attention will quite often save the life of the fallen comrade and life goes on.

As observance is given to happenings in society today, I am left with the sense that too often we pass by the wounded soldiers lying on the battlefield of life. Life can be a struggle for many people for a variety of reasons. It’s easy to wipe our hands of responsibility, laying blame through our judgment, thinking ‘you made your bed, now lie in it!’ This scapegoat thinking dismisses the fact that people make the best choices possible with the information that is available to them. It dismisses the fact that not everyone has had the best opportunities available to them or the fullest access to their own personal power in making choices.

A young man, wet behind the ears, full of vim and vigor, races into the world to discover, to live, and to enjoy. The taste of freedom from the family structure – particularly from more controlling family environments – may lead to disastrous experiences as the ‘I’ll try anything once’ is lived out and embraced. This attitude and expression of freedom is not wrong on its own, however, the less freedom of expression experienced while growing up through the formative years often leads the young to explore and taste many new experiences as they now assert and discover themselves in the wild world context.

Another individual’s experience may be quite different. With limited life experience and much social conditioning through family and upbringing there may be rigid values and beliefs that have been adopted that also leads to unhealthy life choices. Family dynamics have a powerful affect on the decision-making of impressionable young people. The loss of personal power in this context may see others in life taking advantage of them, and of them making decisions that they feel obliged to make. In every life scenario circumstances and past influences shape who we have become, as will our future experiences.

As life progresses one poor choice after another can easily accumulate through the learning process. Some learn more quickly than others and some become entangled in messy life situations that leave the victim bewildered and confused feeling powerless. Healthy people know that much more is possible and that healthier choices can lead someone out of the pit of despair. Healthy people may also forget to recognize just how important their social network is in supportive friends supporting their own life journey, positive life experiences, affirmations of who they are, etc. For someone whose life choices have isolated them from such positive influences, the battle for freedom becomes a serious battle against the dark forces in life. Anyone who has had a taste of emotional fallout in a family environment, work environment, health situation, or relationship failure, can recognize a small taste of what that experience might be like.

In our society today, we would all do well to show more compassion and understanding of the battle that individuals face in their lives. Even the people who seem to have it all together and the silver spoon in hand may have some enormous demons that they’re fighting with secretly. The cry in my heart is brought on by the lack of compassion offered and the heap of judgement that leaves so many wounded on the battlefield waiting for death to overtake them. I encounter these people often and recognize the child within that is eager to please and wants to find a way out. I also see and hear the self-loathing and criticism that they have adopted after repeated mistakes are made and repeated abuse is heaped upon them by society.

Admitting my own discomfort, I am challenged to stay connected to such people. I do though, to the best of my ability. Can I impart a positive influence, affirming their worthiness, simply by offering compassion and understanding for the journey that led them to where they are? Am I offering myself as the comrade who is encouraging and supporting them to heal, calling out for the Medic myself as I hope the right help for them will come along? Or am I the Medic, applying first-aid and supporting them on the journey to healing and healthier choices. As a coach, I do see myself in a Medic role. As a man, I see myself as the comrade in the battle of life. I don’t have all the answers. I do know that my presence does make a difference.

A comrade never leaves the fallen soldier until the medic arrives and the medic won’t leave the wounded soldier there to die. In saying this, I draw our attention to the fact that our busy lives, our fears, or our own vulnerability often has us walking on by or rushing off far too soon. We prop up the wounded soul with our comfort and presence, lending a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on or cry on, and soon after run off to attend to our own lives, too afraid and uncomfortable to stay with this fallen individual. It is scary after all. Look how vulnerable the human being is, the emotional being, and the mental being. God forbid it could happen to me or you. The truth is, in my case, it already has happened.

I’ve made plenty of unhealthy life choices and managed to do well in spite of them. In turn, I’ve made other choices that seemed right, only to discover how badly they damaged me emotionally and mentally. I was married at the age of 19 to a woman 10 years my senior. Silly? Maybe, and I can also say that for a good many years that positive experiences and life circumstances made it a good lifesaver and life-saving relationships experience. I can also say that it ended in divorce 10 years later leading to the conclusion that it may have been an unhealthy choice. I certainly experienced a great deal of emotional pain through the ordeal.

I also had quit a fantastic career with a large corporation that had the potential for a comfortable living, ripe with all the fringe benefits, eventually resulting in a comfortable retirement package. This has been seen as courageous and stupid, depending upon the conversation and perspective. Which is it? Only time will tell. I recall the opinion I held as I lay in the hospital, near death, with a never-before experienced illness that had the potential of altering my life forever. At that moment, leaving that position and its’ benefits seemed to have been a disastrous choice. The financial crisis it created added to that belief for a good long time. Many years later, these experiences show another perspective as an alternative that has resulted in a deeper awareness and relationship of self.

There have been many other choices made in my life that led to more pain and misery. They seemed the right choice at the time, given the perspective and unique way that I looked at the world. I know my family experiences have influenced some of these choices. I also know that my involvement with organized religion influenced my decisions during another period of my life. I’m very conscious of the fact that people rarely accept their responsibility for the influence they asserted in any of my decisions. That is mostly fair since ultimately the decision rests with me. All the same, we all have an impact on others lives through our presence, attitudes, beliefs, words, love, or hate. I’m simply saying that we can acknowledge that fact, have more compassion, and create safer relationships that support better choices and healing when bad choices are made.

We’ve all been guilty of giving out bad advice at one time or another. We can often catch ourselves telling someone, ‘you should do…’ when in reality it is only what we might do ourselves if we were in the same situation. I can admit that I’ve given out bad advice in the past, based upon my own experiences and assumptions that resulted in disaster for someone else. I’ve always been worried about that. This is where we need to stop though. It isn’t the advice that matters or that is needed. It is the company, the support, the conversation that offers questions that will lead someone to their own answers. This also leads to intimacy, something that many people crave, and yet are very afraid to embrace.

Intimacy isn’t a term reserved for sexual partners, spouses, or our best friend. Intimacy is what we all crave as a human being – to be known and to know, to love and be loved. We engage in relationships since we’ve been toddlers being curious of others and seeking this level of engagement. It’s all of the negative experiences around judgement, ridicule, impatience, prejudice, abuse, control, manipulation, and more that have isolated us over time. We do open slowly when we meet people, and as the relationship and trust develops we open up. Even so, how many of us still have a dark secret that we haven’t shared with anyone? Fear of judgement prevails and keeps us separate and yet we are not separate at all.

The next time you consider ignoring someone who is in need of a helping hand in life; the next time you recognize judgement or an assumption creeping in as you dismiss someone; the next time you are about to say ‘no’ when someone asks for help, listen to this reminder as a voice calls out, “Medic! Medic!” Don’t fix, just create an opportunity for something to happen that can change the energy that dominates this person’s life. I’d also like to add that it is wise to let go of any attachment you have over results or expectations for how quick someone should get back on track. Getting out of the mess could easily equal the time spent getting into the mess. At the very least, your loving presence will improve the quality of that person’s life.

Addendum, March 5th, 2008:

Get Up! Keep going!

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The Way – cannot be told.
The Name – cannot be named.
The nameless is the Way of Heaven and Earth.
The way, of how life happens, cannot be told. The name, of that which makes life happens, cannot be named. This nameless is The Way of Heaven and Earth; in other words, it is everything imaginable and even then beyond!
The named is Matrix of the Myriad Creatures.
The named, that which we can see and experience, is in the Matrix of the Myriad of Creatures; all life and physical matter that comprises and supports life everywhere in every dimension.
Eliminate desire to find the Way.
Eliminate desire to find The Way, to feel and experience the gentle pull of directive power offered by the nameless. Eliminating desire is the way.
Embrace desire to know the Creature.
Embrace desire to know the Creature. All life, physical matter, and the source energy force of which it is part, desires to know the physical manifestation, that which breathes, eats, sleeps, and sexes.
The two are identical,
But differ in name as they arise.
The two are identical, The Way, and The Name, the mystical and the physical, one cromprised of the other, both experiencing the same, each uniquely aware, and arise in different name or form.
Identical they are called mysterious,
Mystery on mystery,
The gate of many secrets.
Identical as they are, they are called mysterious; a mystery on mystery, The Gate of many Secrets.
To explore and connect the one above as the one below, the experiential senses of thought and emotion, to that of the physical and Creature form, the Gate of many Secrets reveals itself, and the Self.
Visit Love Letters Tonight

Whenever things aren’t going well in life, it can be observed long after we’ve survived the struggle that all we had to do was make a change we didn’t want to, or were struggling with, or didn’t want to change. As the year of transitions to end a decade of transitions continues, I have at times been perplexed at the trouble climbing the hill. Try as I might, I kept stumbling and falling down.

Recently, the work, work, work, push, push, push, method I’d been adhering to crushed me with tension, headache, backache, etc. Yes, we’re pushing a new project up a steep hill and there are times when we can put in the extra effort. This wasn’t just putting in the extra effort. It was the underlying fear driving that effort. It isn’t a sustainable energy – it is a destructive energy. Turning it around, takes the indirect approach.

Balance is key and self-care is key. That fear suggested at a lack of trust – at its basic root – toward myself and my abilities to meet the challenges of each day and my future. Ultimately, that is at the core, even where other circumstances may also be present. It has taken a few conversations with some good people to gain perspective, to see what I was missing, and to relax into the positive nature that the proactive steps embarked upon months ago materialized today. Taking a breath, it is easier to see the other areas of life still in deep neglect.

Time distribution values all areas of One’s Own Life:

• Physical Well-Being
  • eating regularly and healthily
  • getting enough sleep
  • following as regular a routine as possible
  • getting some exercise
• Mental Well-Being
  • time alone to process, reflect, and let go
  • time to be creative and to recreate
  • stimulation from diverse sources of interest and exposure
  • develop the ability to quiet the noise
  • clear the clutter – physical spaces affect mental spaces (subjective levels of experience)
  • like-minded people for increased clarity
  • diverse people for challenge and growth
• Emotional Well-Being
  • find ways to give to the people around you
  • participate in community life
  • share your love (for things, subjects, places, pursuits, people, etc.)
  • find your physical expression partner – get over your belief blocks
  • be honest to yourself
  • stay in your integrity (true to your values, your heart, your gut, your instinct – not by another’s value of integrity)

As with most things, I’m certain you have more to add to the list. These are some of the things I’ve recognized the most over the years.

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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?

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Dr. Anthony’s Self-Confidence Creator!

There I was hovering over a busy ant-hill when thought I heard something. I leaned in a little closer to see what it was. You won’t believe it, but I’ll share it anyway.

“Do you suppose there is any rhyme or reason to any of this?” Dweedle-Ant posed.

“He He He! Of course, Mant! Of course! Just take a look at that cute little heiny and tell me that ain’t no reason. That’s a reason!” bellowed and guffawed Sext-Ant.

“Sure, if all that matters to you is thorax and antennae, Perv!” stated Iman-Ant. “Of course there is a point to it all, Dweedle-Ant.”

“Each and every one of us is a piece of a larger whole. The whole is the colony. While a colony can continue without us, it is no longer the same colony. The whole keeps changing, and yet, it depends upon us for its own existence. It is the nature of Life. Before the flower came the bud, before the bud came the stem, before the stem-the roots, before the roots-the seed, and after all is said and done, all that was the flower is returned to multiple seeds. These seeds varying in the sum totality of the experiences in the journey of the flower’s life.”

“So, you see, we don’t know and experience the future now. We pour ourselves into the now, knowing that a future self that is the sum of everything before (self-included), and aspires to even greater, will have more of the answers than we have now,” finished Iman-Ant.

Sext-Ant yawns and exhales, “Well you mucks can do whatever you want, or believe whatever you want. Me? I’m just going for more T & A, baby, T & A!” And sauntered off with a howl that dwindled to a chuckle.

Wow! They’re not much different than us, eh?