The Present is ALWAYS Perfect & We Are Enough

Have you ever struggled against a seemingly impossible challenge? Have you tried time after time to rectify a situation or experience in your life, but to no avail? I have.

For many years, I spent countless hours reading, meditating, praying, visualizing, following this practice or watching that movie, all in an effort to overcome the financial situation I have found myself in for most of my life. No matter what I've done, my experience around money has not changed... much.

I say not much, because there have been moments when I could see the 'purpose' in my situation - moments of clarity when I understood something about myself or my experience that actually made sense. What I was never able to accept was why my situation never changed drastically... the way it did for many people I read about. It caused deep feelings of inadequecy and failure, because I did what everyone said I should do, but still the money didn't come rolling in.

Questions about my deservedness came up regularly. Why were other people successful when they created dream boards or repeated affirmation or wrote about their gratitude? What was 'wrong' with me?

In August 2008, an answer came that helped considerably. I was given a message:

Accept what 'is' – totally, without question – as the perfection of this NOW. Accept it as God’s answer to your prayers... no matter what they may be. Whatever you are experiencing IS the answer you’ve been asking for whether it’s in the form you want and expect, or NOT. It is ALWAYS the perfect answer. ALL WAYS!

I say 'helped' because there was no sudden influx of wealth, but I certainly felt a little better about my experience. Recently, however, I received another piece of the puzzle. It came in the form of a conversation with my daughter.

We discussed the possibility that, not only do we pre-determine who our family will be before we incarnate as well as the circumstances of our birth, etc., but we program ourself to have a particular mental/emotional attitude or a specific life circumstance. This could be in the form of relationship challenges, physical/health challenges, or mental/emotional challenges. Have you ever noticed that everyone seems to be challenged in one area or another?

This, in itself, is not a new concept, but we went on to talk about the reason we can't seem to overcome our challenge. What if we have built-in filters that actually prevent us from conquering our particular challenge? Think about the morbidly obese person for a moment. Why can't that person simply eat less and exercise more? Wouldn't that solve the problem? Why couldn't I simply visualize myself as a wealthy person to change my experience?

There often appear to be simply remedies for complicated issues. But that doesn't make them easy. You may say that these challenges are caused by 'inner' problems and the 'inner' must be healed before the 'outer' can reflect that healing: As within, so without. And I would agree with you. However, I've had many insights about the reason for my failure to manifest monetary abundance, yet I'm still scraping by at the end of the month with a pitiful income well below the poverty line. Why is that?

My daughter and I continued to discuss these reasons. What we came up with was quite an eye-opener... for us both!

Maybe you've heard about "enjoying the journey." Well, what if the journey is our reason for living? What if achieving our goal of overcoming our challenge isn't why we came to this earth? What if we placed filters into our psyche (or whatever you want to call it), so that we never overcame our challenge? From a higher perspective, wouldn't the journey then become far more important than the destination?

It's what we learn in the process of trying to overcome our challenge that we came to experience. Every insight, every aha, every tiny victory on our journey then becomes a huge triumph!

We are always exactly where we need to be.

We are always exactly the person we need to be.

We always experience whatever we need to experience in order to be all that we are capable of being.

We are enough!

Dust

Recently, my daughter said, "Dust is the great equalizer." I couldn't stop laughing as it's so true. Who can tell whether something's a cheap little ornament or an expensive antique when it's covered in dust?

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - An Incredibly Amazing Healing Tool

One of the most effective tools I have ever used on my healing journey is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Some people call it tapping, or meridian tapping, as it's based on acupuncture pressure points.

It’s certainly one of the simplest tools to use once you’ve memorized the tapping points, but there are videos and articles available to help you to remember them.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this technique, I highly recommend The Free Tapping Ebook available by clicking here. You'll discover ways that just about anyone can heal just about anything by simply tapping!

In addition to the free ebook, my friends at The Tapping Solution also have 50% off sale on their DVD until December 4th - just in time for Christmas! What greater gift can you give someone than the ability to heal their life? And what about yourself? It can help you too!

Finished Reading the Twilight Series!

Whoopee! I finished reading book 4 - "Breaking Dawn"! What an amazing series it's been. I can't wait to see the movies now.

A Reading Addiction

One of the reasons I've not posted here recently is that I've been very involved with reading the Twilight book series. I've read the first three books and am about half way through the fourth.

Many years ago when I was young, I read constantly and often came out of my reading reverie to hear my mother calling for me. Often she had been calling for quite some time and I hadn't heard her. "Got your head in a book again?" she'd ask... frequently.

Once I had started a book, I found it very difficult to put it down until it was finished. I had such a  conpulsion to read that I had to give it up entirely when my children were young or heaven only knows what they would have happened.

It was many years before I gave myself permission to read again, but when I did, the same compulsion to read overcame any other task I "should" have been doing. It is very much like an addiction and I find it very difficult to resist picking up my current book and spending a few hours reading.

Non-fiction doesn't seem to affect me the same way fiction does, although I can remember a longish period about twenty-odd years ago when I first started learning about 'things spiritual' that the same affliction overcame me. I couldn't seem to read anough about the subject... as if I was somehow making up for lost time.

I figure, if a book is worth reading, then it's worth my undivided attention. And the dust and the dishes will still be there when I've finished!

Pursuit of Happiness

A couple of years ago I wrote an article for selfgrowth.com about the pursuit of happiness. (It's also available on my personal website.)

Yesterday, Dr. Oz was talking about happiness and showed a chart that indicates the sources of our happiness. I found it extremely interesting as it indicates that our genes are responsible for 50% of our happiness! Isn't that amazing?

The other thing that intrigued me was that only 10% of our happiness is dictated by our circumstances. That may be difficult to believe if you've just been laid off from your job, or you're going through a health crisis or some other distressing challenge, but if you have happiness in your genes and you make it your intention to create more happiness in your life, there's no reason why you can't... just be happy!

No More Secrets!

A short while ago, I listened to an audio by Steve Dailey, a business coach, about the "new" economy. It was very insightful and supports other information I've come across.

The time for "secrets" is over. It's no longer possible to keep information from the public. Somehow, some way, through access to government information, through the Internet, through "whistle blowers", through any number of ways, the truth will come out.

This is what happened with many of the world's financial institutions and large corporations, which led to the economic situation we find ourselves in today. Practices that were not in the best interests of the general public, but simply catered to the greed of individuals, shareholders and self-serving corporations, has now come to light. The result is that these companies will never be able to do business the way they did in the past. They will never, ever be able to operate the same way again. They can never go back to the way things were. The status quo has shifted.

How does that impact the average person? Well, for starters, the jobs that used to support families will not be there in the future. No matter how long an unemployed individual looks, they will never find the same work that they were accustomed to. There will never be the same number of jobs that there used to be.

The media says we have a "bad" economy. For many people that is a reality. I heard on the news yesterday that for every vacancy available in the U.S., six people apply for it. And President Obama has once again extended unemployment benefits to ease the financial plight that many find themselves in. The situation is definitely not good for millions of people worldwide.

But is it really as "bad" as we're led to believe?

Steve Dailey says we don't have a "bad" economy, it's simply a "new" economy. In fact, he believes this massive, permanent change that we're experiencing has the potential for the greatest transfer of wealth in history!

How can that be?

For those who find themselves unemployed without any possibility of ever finding a job in their field... the ones who have lost their retirement nest-eggs and need to replenish them in a hurry... one option is to create a job by starting their own business. But a traditional business start-up is both daunting and risky - not to mention time-consuming!

But the perfect low-risk business start-up is now available to anyone who chooses to take control of their financial destiny. Enter... Network Marketing!

What are the benefits of network marketing compared to traditional businesses?

• Unparalleled personal security
• Rapid access to business ownership
• Low start-up costs and monthly overhead
• Abundant support resources
• A proven business model recommended by tycoons such as Donald Trump, Warren Buffett, and Robert Kiyosaki
• Attractive products
• Limited marketing budget

It's a no-brainer for many people who are taking advantage of the opportunity this New Economy affords us. I, for one, intend to take full advantage of it! There are many choices available in the network marketing industry and I'll take a look at some of the alternatives in later posts as this is a subject that interests me very much.

Childhood Memories of Guy Fawkes Night

Remember, remember the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. (Holla*)

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And what should we do with him? Burn him!

 
Yesterday, November 5th, was Guy Fawkes Night in England. I must admit that it's been many years since I participated in the festivities so I had to check Wikepedia for all the words to this common rhyme! However, the memories of my childhood are easily recalled.

My family lived in a small viallge called Larkhall which is on the outskirts of the beautiful Roman city of Bath. Every Guy Fawkes Night, we joined our neighbours at a huge bonfire built on the allotments in the village. On top of the bonfire was a replica of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliamnet in 1605.

Lighting the bonfire was the highlight, of course, but who could forget the Jacket Potatoes (baked potatoes for our North American friends) smothered with lots of salt and pepper! My father would find some suitable embers to bake our "spuds" and we would wait impatiently for them to cook.

It didn't take long in that heat, but this was before the days of aluminum foil so they were "naked" and the outside was always black. It didn't matter one bit. Those potates always tasted better than any others.

In addition to the bonfire, everyone brought a few fireworks that were enjoyed by everyone.

It's been such a long time since I was in the UK and I don't even know if people still celebrate this way. But, as a child, these are some of my best memeories and I shall always remember November 5th and will always cherish the tradition.

Dr. Oz and his Advice on H1N1

Finally, some practical tips from Dr. Oz to help all those worried and stressed about H1N1! The following is an email I received yesterday... shortly after I wrote about the stress this pandemic is creating amongst the world's population. Here's what he advices:

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2.. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

The Pandemic and Stress

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I belong to an organization called Global Coherence Initiative. Every day, I spend at least 2 minutes with my heart wide open and send love and goodwill to various areas of the world, different situations, or to our beautiful planet Earth. It's our effort be help bring more peace into this world.

There's always somebody, somewhere that can use a little extra love, whether it's the weather-worn Philippines, some war-torn area, or even an over-stressed population.

This is probably the worst time of the year, in a very stressed economic environment, to worry about the H1N1 virus. Yet that's all we hear when we turn on the radio or the TV. Is it any wonder that people are panicking?

Does the media ever wonder about the impact of the ‘news’ they bring into our homes? Does anyone ever stop to think what effect it’s having on people?

Yes, I understand that we need to be informed so that we can make educated decisions about getting the vaccination or not, but I can’t help thinking that the current ‘news’ is hindering, not helping us these days.

People are scared, worried, even panicked, about getting sick and the possibility of dying from this flu, but I can’t help wondering if the stress of all that worry won’t compromise their immune system and make them even more susceptible to the virus.

Visiting the 'Lion'

Today, I finally got to visit my youngest daughter and Foster, my grandson. He's the cute one in the basket further down the page! It's been a while since I've seen them due to sickness and other commitments. As always, I was amazed at his progress and he's growing so fast!

Doesn't he make an adorable lion? This was his Halloween costume, but unfortunately he picked up more than candies. He came out in spots a couple of days after an event at our local mall where he joined 300 other children trick or treating amongst the merchants and we suspect it's chicken pox.

He doesn't have any fever and the spots aren't bothering him too much, so it isn't bad enough to risk going to the doctor's office and getting whatever may be "lurking" there :(.

It's much better to stay home and he'll be able to go out in public again in a couple of weeks!

My Favourite Movie

Last night I watched What Dreams May Come for the umpteenth time! As always, it was a very emotional experience even though I knew what was going to happen.

It never fails to amaze me how imaginative film-makers are. And how close this particular film is to my own philosophy about life and death. There's one major change I would have made to the ending however: I would definitely have used the alternative ending that's shown on the DVD.

If you haven't seen the movie and plan to, I suggest you go read something else or I'll spoil it for you!

After Robin Williams' character saves his wife from hell.... Nah!.... I'm not going to tell you! You'll just have to watch it yourself. But if you've already seen it and know what I'm talking about, I'd love to hear your opinion about which ending you prefer!

A Year in Review!

It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since my last post :(. Guess it's just another example of life getting in the way of our best intentions.

So much has happened during the past twelve months, but I'm happy to say my business partner has made huge progress in overcoming his heart attack. It hasn't always been easy for him and there have been challenges along the way, but all in all, he's doing very well.

One thing he's extremely grateful for is his ability to connect with his spirit self in all its perfection and good health. Maybe that's his secret to being a very active, energetic 76 year-old! It's something we all have the ability to do, but not many take the time to pursue.

Joseph Murphy talks about it in his book The Power of Your Sub-Conscious Mind which I first read a few months ago. Every word resonates with me and, while I'm reading it, I feel so excited about all the wonderful possibilities... if I could find enough will-power to carry out the simple exercises on a daily basis!

Over the next few days and weeks, I'll try and cover some of the highlights from the past year. Thank goodness I keep a journal!