"THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT"

                       

   This story reveals the secret of
   How you can a life of permanent
   Purpose; And permanent everything.

   Do I make a difference?  How
   Significant is my life?  Progress
   Begins when you know that everything
   Matters.

   Permanent purpose, Team chemistry
   Thrives and life decisions become
   Wiser and more cautious.

   As a leader, manager or co-worker;
   As a Parent, Spouse or Friend.
  When we understand that every action
  Matters; Every result of our actions
  Immeadiately  improves; And deciding
  To do something will make all the
  Difference.

  How far forward would you have to go
  In your life to show the difference you
  Make?

  There are generations yet unborn whose
  Very lives will be shifted and shaped by
  The moves you make and the actions
  You take today and tomorrow and the
  Next day.

  Your spirit, thoughts and feelings, your
  Ability to reason and act, all exist in no
  One else.  You have been created as a
  One of a kind. There has never been
  Anyway one like you...and there will be again.

  You have been created in order that you
  Might make a difference. Your actions
  Have power far greater than silver or gold.
  Your life and what you do with it matters
  Forever.

  Think about it.....

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Change is Permanant...

Have you noticed how upset we get because things change?  As human
beings we act like life should always be predictable.  And yet we
know it isn't.  One of the reasons we get jarred by change is
because we are creatures of habit. Another is that we are emotional
human beings. As logical as we can be at times, it's the feelings
associated with change that we tend to overlook. And it is these
feelings that create the upsets and/or disorientation we sometimes
feel during change.

In addition, there are three other major factors that enter into
the way we deal with change. The first is Personality Filter, the
second is where we are on the Levels of Awareness and the third is
whether or not we have consciously chosen the change we are
experiencing.

How do you generally react to change? On the spectrum of actively
seeking change to actively avoiding it, where do you fall? How do
you manage your feelings about change, especially if the change is
not one you chose?

Today notice how much of life is in the process of change and be
grateful for the ever-unfolding life that it represents.

Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation
that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT!  No matter how
large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will
only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow.

Tree Planting Record Broken In Philippines

Tree Planting Record Broken In Philippines

Sync (Synchronicity)

Sir Robert Anthony asks How often do you experience synchronicity?
 Webster's says themeaning of synchronicity is "to cause to operate with exact
coincidence in time or rate or to operate in unison." At the higher
Levels of Awareness, you are more likely to experience people,
opportunities and all measure of material things flowing to you
almost as you think of them. These are synchronistic events.

Part of synchronicity is being in the right place at the right
time. Does that mean that you simply believe that you are in the
right place at the right time and then you are?  To some degree,
yes, that's true.  But the opposite is also true.  If you believe
that you are at the wrong place and time, you probably will
experience that as well! Since what you focus on expands, you can
create either experience as your reality.  Which way do you want it to be for you?
The more you believe in and affirm the unison of your highest and
best thoughts, feelings and desires the more you are likely to
experience life as a synchronistic adventure.

Be aware of skepticism as you read that last paragraph. There are
some people who look for everything as synchronicity and a sign of
positive meaning. "You like pizza and jazz, so do I! We must be
soul mates!" That is not the synchronicity I am talking about.
Although experiences of synchronicity can be small, like finding
just what you needed in the most unlikely place, they can also be
profound and sometimes overwhelming.

A man I know was concerned about his inability to contact his
father who was in Africa during a turbulent civil war. To distract
himself from his worry, the son went to a Grateful Dead concert
near Washington DC.  In the middle of a huge crowd of vendors, the
son "accidentally" ran into someone who knew his father in Africa
and was able to reassure the son that his father was alive and well
in Africa!  Now that is being in the right place at the right time!

Today, open your eyes, ears and heart to all the synchronistic
experiences that are happening around you that you may have never
noticed before or have taken for granted!

Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation
that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT!  No matter how
large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will
only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow

Creating Healthy Emotional Bonds in Families

Brother Harper discussed the development of emotional connections
and control. He explained that there are three "spurts" of brain
growth that regulate emotional systems and determine social skills.
These "spurts" are times where the brain in malleable in learning
emotional regulation. The ages are: newborn to 18 months old, about
four years old, and early adolescence.






Brother Harper examined the behaviors and tactics for secure
bonding in infants. He seemed to imply that the same productive
things we do to bond with infants are the same techniques we must
employ in order to produce healthy emotional children, teens, adult
interactions, and marriages. But, using the techniques are
especially important during these three "spurt" times. I paid
careful attention since I have several adolescents that I want to
develop into emotionally healthy individuals.

Again, using infants as the easy to understand model--

1) Eye Gazing

Focusing on the child intently, meeting her/his attention, spending
time just gazing into eyes and chattering/talking, play.

2) Attention vs Inattention

Brother Harper said that babies have times when they are engaged
and times when they are disengaged. That is normal and important.
He said that a parent need to synchronize her/his times of
attention and inattention to that of the child's. When the baby is
disengaged he is learning to assimilate, develop his brain and
self-sooth. That time alone is vital to healthy emotional development.

3) Using soothing behaviors when crying or fussy.

Brother Harper said to never miss an opportunity to sooth a
distressed baby (or teen). Knowing that someone is there to meet
those emotional needs builds trust and strength. He said that
"touch is a message system for quieting and for alerting." It works
great for babies to be held, rocked, and cuddled, and, it works
great for all of us. He said that we should be looking at moments
of distressed behaviors as times for closeness and nurturing, like
we do when a baby is sad. We pick her/him up and comfort.

I found this talk so helpful because I hadn't known that such
important emotional development was happening in early adolescence.
I also didn't know that infant tactics are effective ways to
respond to teens, too.

I appreciated the reminder to allow teens the opportunity to
assimilate information independently and self-sooth by allowing
them to disengage. It's good to know that it is ok to walk-away
when the child has turned off. I think that I talk at my kids too
long. Also, I can do better at using soothing and nurturing during
times of stress. I would be a more effective parent by gathering
the child in instead of doing so much lecturing and counseling in
these situations. I guess this philosophy gives new meaning to
"babying" your teenagers.

Brother Harper promised that "Big changes in you (the parent) lead
to even larger changes in children."

Beyond Body Language 101

By Alina Mikos

Know Your Non-Verbal Cues

Most of us have heard of the more common body language tells, such as keeping your arms uncrossed, keeping your shoulders unslouched, and maintaining eye contact. These forms of non-verbal communication show openness, a sense of confidence, and a genuine interest in the other person. However, there are some lesser-known non-verbal signals that you’re giving others every day, which play a major part in how you communicate your intentions. Learning some of these body language clues can help you recognize them in others, and at the same time, exercise control over displaying them yourself.
The Congenial Mirror
This is a method of non-verbal communication that everyone falls into at some point in conversations, consciously or otherwise. Mirroring how a person is sitting, where they place their hands, etc. communicates that you are attracted to other person, or trying to make them comfortable with you. You are displaying your desire to establish a connection and put them at ease.
The Shrug-Off
This is rarely a positive form of non-verbal communication, even if you think you are exhibiting yourself as a “roll-with-the-punches” type of person. It actually shows a sign of passivity—portraying yourself as submissive, non-interested, or defeated. The shrugging shoulders movement is apt to be interpreted as a sign of an indifference or indecision, and invites others to take advantage of you; it can also suggest that you are being disrespectful or just don’t care.
Sizing Up or Sizing Down?
You’ve probably caught yourself doing this at some point when approaching another person. You either look at them from top to bottom—sizing them “down,” or from the feet up to the face, sizing them “up.” This can happen so fast that you complete the task before you even realize that you’ve just done it. The top-to-bottom size-down has a tendency to look like you have bedroom eyes or you are “checking them out.” When sexuality isn’t an issue, it is actually considered a show of dominance. If you size them up, or start at their feet and work up to their face, it can have a more submissive tone and is good to use when first meeting someone you do not wish to intimidate.
Texting With Tact
In the new technological rage of smartphones with texting and e-mailing capabilities, it has become almost commonplace for a person to be anywhere, and with just about anyone, when a text message arrives. Responding while in mid-conversation is essentially telling the other person that the conversation you are holding with the texter is of more importance than the one you are currently having with them. If something is so important that you must take and respond to the message right away, then the best move is to apologize for the interruption and quickly finish the secondary conversation.
Self-Comfort Fidgeting
When you are nervous or restless, facial ticks or other observable behaviors can easily give you away, and will serve only to make the other person just as uncomfortable as you are. Chewing your fingernails may look neurotic or make you appear distant, while picking lint off your shirt or pants can suggest boredom, even if these were both gestures derived from a sense of nervousness.
Using Objects as Barriers
This may seem like an obvious behavior to avoid, but it can easily be an unconscious maneuver. When you run into a familiar face on the street or in the office, you are likely to be carrying something in your hands at the time. Making sure that you hold objects to your side instead of in front of you—and between you and the other person—may require more conscious action than anticipated. Holding objects between you and them exposes you as resistant and closed off, or distrustful.
Proving the adage “actions speak louder than words,” nonverbal communication makes the largest impact upon those with whom we interact. It is disadvantageous to spend all of your time putting together exactly the right words to express yourself, only to sabotage your presentation by discounting your body’s distinct and expressive communication. In order to be clearly understood by those around you, you must make a conscious effort to master the unspoken language of your very busy body

Career Personality Takeover: Is Your Job Turning You Into Someone Else?

Performance pressure as said by Alina Mikos on the job considerably affects our behavior in the workplace and among co-workers. While a certain amount of dedication and professionalism is expected, it is possible to lose yourself to your job’s demands – morphing your behavior, your tone of voice, even your personality – into someone whom you may not recognize at times. While a job is necessary to pay the bills, it should not compromise the very essence of what makes you you. Here are a few signs that you may be sacrificing more than time and effort at the job – and losing a part of yourself in the process.

False Pretenses

This is possibly the most common behavior of employees trying too hard to fit in to their workplace. A few white lies about what movies or music you like because you feel the conversation may help you bond with a co-worker or boss is relatively harmless, and almost everyone has done this at some point in their career. However, actively pursuing the interests of others in your office when you know they do not suit you, and behaving under false pretenses by compromising specific interests which make up your personality to impress your boss, only degrades and diminishes your real self.

Compromising Self-Esteem

Self-esteem can be fragile and difficult to repair, so protect what you have and don’t allow others, even bosses or coworkers, to compromise it. Respecting yourself, your beliefs, values, and dreams is the key to maintaining healthy self-esteem. If you ignore personal values for the sake of your job title, or allow others to insult, taunt or berate your ideals, you have given them the power to tinker with your self-worth. No job or person is ever worth such high a price.

Hitting the Bottle

Experts say a glass of red wine a day can be good for your health, which may or may not account for the other potential risks of regular alcohol consumption. Whatever your normal alcohol usage may be, keeping aware of any changes might alert you to just how stressful your job has become for you. If you find yourself drinking more than before you started the job, or received the promotion, take a hard look at yourself. Many people use alcohol as a way to relax at the end of a long day, but it is easy to slip from casual alcohol use to alcohol abuse. When happy hour becomes a daily venture, and nightcaps, a ritual, you may need to re-evaluate how your job is affecting the rest of your life, and liver!

When Your Job Invades the Homefront

Certain jobs come with specific behavioral expectations, often of an aggressive nature, which help you ‘take charge’ of critical situations and deal with them efficiently and quickly. Whereas this type of behavior may help you through the day at your work, if you allow these traits to bleed into your personal life, you are permitting the job to get the better of you. It can be hard to separate your “work” personality from your relaxed-and-at-play persona, so stay tuned in to your own behavior! Driving aggressively on the road, attempting to bully the slow guy in line in front of you at the store, or verbally attacking your beau because he didn’t call you when he said he would, are all ways you’ve let that aggression take over your personality in negative ways.

The price of maintaining your integrity and preserving your self-esteem, is constant vigilance both in the workplace and outside of it. When you find yourself feeling dishonest in your work relationships, be forewarned that you are in danger of tainting your personal relationships with this unhealthy behavior. Your awareness of these pitfalls will help you stay in conscious control of your personality instead of allowing your career to define you

How to Diffuse a Whiner

By Carmen Honacker

Who doesn’t know at least one whiner? They can be found at work, at home and in pretty much every part of the world. When I talk about a “whiner,” I’m talking aboutsomeone who consistently complains, hardly ever takes action, rarely or never takes responsibility for their complaints, has no solutions and stands out by emphasizing victimhood, i.e. total helplessness. One of their favorite words is “but,” usually accompanied by long diatribes about nothing being their fault and the world being a completely unfair place that is out to get them.
First of all, let me explain that arguing won’t do any good. Nor does reasoning, or even evidence. What one has to remember is that this truly is their reality! They believe their own stories, no matter how crazy it sounds to another. You can present such a person with black and white evidence, and they will look you straight in the eye, still claiming that they are not to blame/weren’t at fault. So here are a few ways to diffuse complainers:
1. At Work
The number one rule is to never ever feed the stories of a whiner. It isn’t compassion they’re looking for, but an opinion poll. The more people agree and feel sorry for them, the more the story becomes validated as truth, hence perpetuating the cycle. Here’s what one of my managers once taught me. If you come to me with a complaint, you must have a solution for the problem. You get to vent, but only a few times. When the “complaining” becomes a pattern, you are no longer allowed to keep complaining, unless you have thought of a way to solve the issue!
2. Social Networking or Other Public Forums
OK, are you ready for this? Because this is a really long piece of advice. Here it goes: IGNORE! Whiners thrive on attention, and are so deeply stuck in denial that they do need others to validate their stories, which, deep down inside, some of them suspect are BS. Don’t feed the craziness, or it will not only keep going, but might actually get worse.
3. In Your Personal Life

It depends on how attached you are to the person. My advice would be to distance yourself from whiners, because they tend to make the lives of others miserable. My overall advice is generally to distance oneself from self-destructive people, because they have a way to keep taking you down with them. And even if they don’t, they usually don’t contribute to your life, because it’s always about them, and because they’re always in a miserable place that varies from total depression to anger to complete indifference.
What makes whiners annoying for most people – well, at least those who care about others a lot – is the fact that there is no solution! You can give advice, counsel, listen, empathize, feel sorry or attempt to help, and it will all go into the same black hole of nothingness. At work, one can hold people accountable based on stats and metrics, and no matter how much they fight it or whine, at the end of the day they will have to comply. But in any other setting, this is impossible to do. Thus, these people are a huge time and emotional suck that leaves you feeling frustrated and drained.
I know that sometimes it may sound as if I’m quick to “discard” people, but actually this is not the case. This is why I know so much about the various topics I choose to write about. I have spent literally years of attempting to rescue and reason with people in various stages of denial, and have never succeeded!
We only live once! Your time is valuable, and so are you as a person. Why would you waste precious time on individuals who cannot accept your gift for what it is, but greedily keep taking without giving back? Why would you think that your attempts to change the person or to “help” them are even remotely successful, when time after time they repeat the same behaviors, complain about the same stuff and never “get it?” And why would you expect that they will actually be able to give anything back, if they’re not taking responsibility for anything else in their life, and keep complaining to you? You have to remember that a person who doesn’t respect themselves, and is incapable of doing the right thing for their own sake, is even less likely to do the same for another! In the business world, they’re called “cutters,” because they undermine and sabotage the work environment.
Sometimes we tend to think “they would never do x, y, z to me!” I’m here to tell you, oh yes, they will! (Unless you see them coming and respond accordingly.) Invest time, space, emotions and your advice in those who really need it and deserve it. As for the whiners, just say NO

Better Quality of Life: The Rewards of Gratitude

By Taryn GalewindYou have the daily gift of 86,400 seconds to spend as you will—and you can almost certainly afford one second for gratitude. Meister Eckhart von Hochheim, a German philosopher and mystic born in the Thirteenth Century, calculated the seconds in a day to remind his students that gratitude has rewards. Here are ten for you to consider.

1. You’ll smile as you give gratitude for a favor done, and the doer will smile back. Laughter and smiles extend life and promote good health.
2. Gratitude strengthens relationships by making the thanker and the giver each more aware of their responsibility for the other’s well-being.
3. Expression of gratitude makes the recipient happy, rewarding them for having provided for you and encouraging them to do so at another time.
4. Your attitude turns more positive—think about it. If you focus on something good someone did, how can you think negatively?
5. You grow spiritually by recognizing another person’s gifts and talents.
6. A popular inspirational series, 48 Ways to Wisdom, says that acknowledging spiritual gifts by saying “I am now aware of something very important that I wasn’t paying attention to” helps you to recognize what you’re learning on your path to wisdom and enlightenment.
7. Expressing gratitude leads you to switch your focus from what is missing in life to the abundance that brings real joy. Remember that abundance is not just about what you have, it can be about what you were spared.
8. Saying, “Thank you, I’m grateful,” sets an example that can be easily paid forward by those around you. You’ll plant the seeds of a garden of happy interactions and reap the rewards of finding more love surrounding you.
9. “Thank you’s” and gratitude enhance your vision. You’ll see other people and yourself in a new frame of refernece when you take that short one second to acknowledge that it’s a beautiful world.
10. If your heart is filled with appreciation for all that you have and for those who care for you, you’ll be prepared to face adversity, when it comes, with courage and dignity.
Find a way to keep track of how consistently you feel grateful and how often you express it. You might keep a journal, log your grateful moments on your computer, or just pause and reflect when you’ve remembered to say thanks. A French proverb calls gratitude the memory of the heart. What a beautiful thought as we go about our days. Doesn’t it seem worth it to tithe one second out of nearly 100,000 on any given day and create a memory in your heart?

Discovering the best Meditation Method

Mirror Meditation

Discovering the best meditation method for you is one of the highs
you can experience in modern day life.

Too often, we are too stressed even to contemplate meditation, even
though taking a few quiet minutes to meditate could be one of the
best things we could do in our lives.

For the next week, experiment with a different meditation method
each day and note down the effects. You'll then have a much clearer
idea of the best meditation method for you.

  1. Breathing meditation. This is one of the simplest meditation
techniques and focusing on your breathing is quick and easy.
  2. Walking meditation. Take a leisurely walk. Breathe in the
air. Notice the sounds and smells!
  3. High tech meditation. Put on your headphones and a binaural
beats track. Sit back and let the technology do the rest.
  4. Mantra meditation. Repeat your chosen mantra over and over,
either out loud or in your head.
  5. Candle meditation. Light a candle somewhere safe, sit down
and focus on the candle flame. Let all other thoughts drift out of
your mind. Keep focussed on the flickering flame.
  6. Guided meditation. Put on your headphones and listen to a
pre-recorded guided meditation talk you through the process of
relaxing your body and clearing your mind.
  7. Mirror gazing. No, you're not doing an impression of
Narcissus! Simply gaze into your reflected image. Focus on the wall
just behind your head. Let all other thoughts fall out of your mind.

Your feelings and daily journal will help you to quickly come to a
conclusion as to which meditation method is best for you. You may
even decide to "ring the changes" and indulge in several different
meditations according to the day of the week and the time available
in your schedule.

Rich German's FREE Daily Energize

Discovering the best meditation method:-

Rich German's FREE Daily Energize

Toddler Meditation Reverses Aging!

As per Intution Zone:

Meditation has been found to increase levels of the anti-aging hormone DHEA (which decreases in the body with age).

 

In one experiment, 45 year old male meditators who practiced basic breathing or mindfulness meditation 20 minutes a day for 3 months, had 23% more of the youth hormone DHEA than non-meditators.

 

For women, this difference was even greater, with female meditators showing 47% higher levels of DHEA than non-meditators!

 

DHEA also helps to decrease stress, heighten memory, preserve sexual function, and control weight.

 

In another Harvard study, regular practice of basic meditation techniques was shown to have a significant positive impact on genes related to the aging process.

 

This study was conducted on a group that had never meditated before, and were taught simple breathing and meditation techniques that generate a 'Relaxation Response'.

 

After only 8 weeks, meditation had impacted 1561 genes in a highly beneficial way!

 

874 genes were 'turned up' (up-regulated), which were essentially anti-aging genes (such as those involved in the production of ant-aging anti-oxidants that fight age-causing free radicals in the body).

 

687 were 'turned down' (down-regulated), which were less desirable ones such as those related to inflammation (that causes collateral damage to the body).

 

In another research study, long-term meditators (practicing meditation for five years or more) were shown to be physiologically twelve years younger than their chronological age (as measured by reduction of blood pressure, and better near-point vision and auditory discrimination!

 

Even short-term meditators were physiologically five years younger than their chronological age!

~~~ 

A lot of people do not think of generating their day-to-day meditation practice a friends and family affair but youngsters can gain a whole lot from a regular meditation program. Physicians have determined that teenagers who endure from ADD, ADHD as well as other disorders get lots of relief from each day meditation and relaxation. Studying to handle their breathing also teaches them coping mechanisms that they could use when they may be stressed.

Meditating being a relatives can guide provide your relatives closer together and offer you all an opportunity to possess some top quality friends and family time that you just may possibly not otherwise get. Most families today are regularly rushing close to wanting to balance commitments like perform and school with added pursuits like sports, dance, music lessons or other exercises and normally spouse and children time gets cut that allows you to make time for other factors.

Young people in most cases might need guided meditations on the grounds that they aren’t capable yet in the self discipline or even the superior imagination desired to help keep their bodies in the proper placement and retain their minds focused for the meditation. You may use a DVD or CD which has guided meditations which might be ideal for boys and girls or for your total household or it is possible to execute a guided meditation oneself that allows you to give your toddler the structure he or she desires throughout the meditation.

Even nevertheless the notion of young children meditating is somewhat foreign to Western culture young children in Eastern cultures are taught meditation and yoga as element of their standard growing approach. Toddler growth authorities say that meditation teaches young ones self- discipline and presents them a better sense of peace and security. Young people by nature tend to be more in touch with spiritual matters so usually young people unearth it a good deal less difficult than elders.

These studies explored basic meditation practices that induce a 'relaxation response'.

 

To remain in this state for as little as 5 minutes a day can offer beneficial results. You can work to increase this period of stillness of mind over time.

 

Even simple practices like observing your breathing to quiet and focus the mind, and exercise practices that support a still and focused mind like Qigong and yoga, for example, can be of help.

Toddlers are Great Learners.

 

Goodbye to Depression...

As per Dr. Karim Hajee :- It starts with a touch of the blues... 

Then it gets worse... goes on for a few days... then a week... and before you 

know it... you're sliding into a depression. It's just not a way to live. 

And Now you don't have to battle depression or the blues everyday... all the time. 

The reason why most people end up in a depressive 

state for a prolonged period is because they begin 

to focus on the worst possible outcome, they look at how things will 

go wrong and before they know it... they alter the chemistry of their mind... 

and they re-program their subconscious mind... 

Their mind's actually change and stop producing the chemicals 

to help them enjoy a happy, rewarding life. Their subconscious mind 

begins to bring more of what they don't want. But it doesn't have to be that way. 

You don't have to feel down and out, tired, and depressed.

Now you can program your mind and subconscious mind so that 

you enjoy happiness, wake up feeling alive, look forward to 

going out and finishing what you set out to accomplish... you'll 

get more done and you'll enjoy it. 

There is another way... one that will put a bounce back in 

your step, put a smile on your face, and make you want to bask 

in the sunshine again as you achieve your goals.

Imagine being able to finish up all those projects... 

going out and meeting friends on a regular basis... never 

worrying about what might go wrong or what you might do wrong... 

knowing that you're in the right place at the right time... 

feeling confident, energetic and ready to light up a room when you walk in... 

Now you can be the person you want to be... 

Free from worry, fear and self doubt... confident in your 

ability, confident that everything is working out and 

knowing that you are succeeding... 

All you have to do is get your mind and subconscious mind 

to focus on your positive qualities, to focus on the 

positive events and to focus on how you can succeed and enjoy life again. 

Once your mind and subconscious mind are moving in a positive direction, 

life becomes easier... what seemed like mountains that had to be overcome 

are merely small mole hills that you can step over instantly... 

troubles fade away and solutions surge forward... 

Direct the power of your mind and subconscious mind today so 

that you start living the life you want now...

Psychic Workout: Hidden Mysteries in the Dollar

By Psychic Marin 

The Mysterious Origins of American Money

“There are mysteries connected with the birth of this republic.” – Charles A. L. Totten

The American dollar bill is a common object, crossing our palms so frequently in fact, that it may never get the closer attention and inspection it deserves. Stop reading for a moment, and go grab a dollar bill, so that you can follow along while we take a deeper look at some intricate images and explore the hidden symbolism you are holding in your hand.
The Great Seals
In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the design of a new American dollar bill, in which he instructed that the Great Seal of the United States be incorporated. Not surprisingly, the designers were Freemasons, which explains the Masonic symbolism that was carefully incorporated into the design process.
The great pyramid with the all-seeing eye (or the Eye of Providence) represents the left eye. According to Egyptian beliefs, the left eye is linked with the moon and intuition. This pyramid is crafted from a total of 72 complete bricks, a sacred Masonic number, as there are 72 ways of pronouncing and calling upon God. In the Masonic studies, 72 was understood to be the rate of procession of the sun, at a rate of one degree every 72 years. This mysterious pyramid, a unique and well recognized Masonic symbol, suggests that the building of the pyramid will be completed with the assistance of an all-seeing God.
This message is further conveyed in the national motto “In God We Trust,” seen above the word “ONE.” At the base of the pyramid are the Roman numerals MDCCLXXVI, translating to 1776, the year when the United States was founded by the thirteen colonies, implying that the US is akin to the building of “the pyramid.”
Mottos
In the seal on the left, containing the great pyramid, is the Latin phrase “Annuit Coeptis,” a famous writing from a Roman poet, in which a prayer is made to the God Jupiter. This phrase translates into “He favors our undertaking.” The Latin phrase “Novus Ordo Seclorum,” also seen beneath the pyramid, translates to “a new order of the ages,” a phrase which represents the prophecy of the second coming of Christ.
On the ribbon above the Eagle in the seal on the right is the Latin phrase, “E pluribus unum,” which translates to “Out of many, the one.”
The only motto in English is the national motto, “In God We Trust,” as seen above the bold “ONE” on the back center of the bill.
George Washington
Ever wonder if there is something to George Washington’s pursed lips, which almost appear as if he is frowning? When this portrait was commissioned, Washington had recently been fitted with a new set of false teeth. Posing for the portrait, under intense pain and swelling, the result was this tight-lipped expression.
The oval frame around the portrait of Washington is in fact the Greek letter Omega, the final letter of the Greek alphabet, which was later adopted by Christians as a symbol of “the end.” This portrait and framework suggest that Washington’s spirit is guiding the destiny of America.
The eye of Washington is placed in the exact center of the bill, mimicking the image of the all seeing eye on the back of the bill. Was this placement meant to suggest that Washington should be honored as a God?
Stars
On the front on the bill, within the green seal on the right, identified as The “Department of the Treasury,” are thirteen stars, which were referred to as “constellations” by the Masonic designers. The idea of thirteen may have also derived from an older version of the U.S. flag, which contained thirteen stars, and thirteen stripes. These thirteen stars, which separate the images of a scale and key, are to be interpreted as “balance is key.”
On the back of the bill are thirteen more stars, found above the head of the eagle within the Great Seal. Upon closer inspection, you will see that these thirteen stars form one large six pointed star, also known as the Seal of Solomon or the Star of David.
The Number 13
- 13 letters in the motto “E pluribus unum”
- 13 stars, or constellations
- 13 leaves on the olive branch in the Great Seal in the claw of the Eagle
- 13 arrows in the Great Seal in the claw of the Eagle
- 13 vertical, and 13 horizontal divisions on the shield on the Eagle
Are you amazed? Keep in mind that this is just some of the symbolism on the surface, visible to the eye. There is even more information and mystery if you choose to deepen your knowledge on this subject. The Internet will be a great resource for you. Once you have had a chance to inspect some of these mysterious, symbolic, and down-right fascinating images yourself, you’ll realize that the common American dollar bill is worth a lot more that its monetary value

Daily Spiritual Practice

One of the keys to living an authentic evolutionary spiritual life is having a spiritual practice that you're actively engaged in.

Let's face it though. We are living and doing our meditation in a world that would be totally unrecognizable to the great, enlightened luminaries of ancient times.

Before Buddha awakened under the Bodhi Tree, he wasn't dealing with spam, computer viruses, voicemail, insurance claims, credit ratings, childcare, coordinating busy schedules, or any of the other complexities we face on a daily basis.

Human life has improved tremendously in so many important ways, and yet in other respects we face challenges to our serenity and happiness that could scarcely have been dreamed of three thousand years ago. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Just picture this. How amazing would our lives and world become, if we all had a deeply fulfilling,daily spiritual practice  that we could actually do?

For the last three decades, Terry, who is the co-author with Ken Wilber of the best-selling book, Integral Life Practice has been on a quest to find these answers and will be sharing his core insights and learning about cultivating an authentic, integral, spiritual practice on the call.  

It is a question worthy of contemplation because the right answers can change our lives for the better and heal our planet.

Helping Others Helps Yourself

By Nicole Hoelle

Looking to get rid of a backache? Carry home someone’s groceries!

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness,” states the Dalai Lama. In 12-step programs which originated with Alcoholics Anonymous, “the constant thought of others” is prescribed as the solution to one’s problems. In the Christian Bible are a wealth of quotes espousing a life of loving service. Many volunteer opportunities and service jobs such as teaching are deemed “rewarding.” Now science actually supports these religious, spiritual and secular views, proving that helping others not only helps us to feel better, but may even save our lives!
It was 1934 and the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, had once again been released from a mental hospital due to his compulsive drinking and the destructive behavior that it caused. Having tried repeatedly to not drink and undergone numerous hospitalizations Bill Wilson couldn’t stop and was hopelessly baffled. Then, something miraculous happened; he was introduced to Dr. Robert Smith, a man who was also unable to quit drinking for any significant period and, like Bill, had suffered dire consequences. The two men talked in Dr. Smith’s living room over coffee and cigarettes, discussing the ramifications of their drinking with complete honesty. At the end of the afternoon both realized something amazing and unexpected; during that entire time neither had craved or even thought about a drink. Hence, was born one of the primary tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous: helping others as a way to help oneself.
Most of us are not strangers to this notion of doing for others to receive inherent rewards. Helping others makes us feel good about ourselves as we see our own actions directly and positively influencing another living being. Helping others also helps us to forget our own problems and to recognize the difficulties others face, making us feel less alone. However, science has found that acts of loving kindness do not just reap psychological benefits, but may actually help to heal and prevent mental illness such as depression and even physical ailments as severe as heart disease and autoimmune disorders!
According to medical research, humane acts can help “regulate high blood pressure, keep the headaches away, improve circulation and ease back pain. It even deals with somewhat more serious diseases such as lupus, arthritis and coronary heart disease, to name a few,” writes Dr. Peter Wang.
How, one may wonder, could carrying home someone’s groceries, tutoring a child or serving a meal to a homeless person possibly result in curing something as serious as coronary artery disease?
The answer lies in the feel-good chemicals which are released during sex, exercise and when listening to or seeing something aesthetically pleasing. Those chemicals are the neurotransmitters called endorphins.
“When we open our hearts and reach out to others in kindness, our brain releases endorphins—the morphine-like chemicals that produce the feelings of exhilaration known as the “runner’s high,” writes Clinical Psychologist Dr. Janae Weinhold.
Well, then, why not just make a lot of trips to the gym and to the bedroom, you might ask?
First of all, helping others has actually been found to go one stop beyond those activities in its physiological benefits. In addition to producing endorphins, acts of kindness, according to researcher Paul Persall, also induce the release of “Substance P,” a neurotransmitter chemical that blocks pain.
There are also the other psychological benefits of forgetting one’s troubles, interacting with others and recognizing that one is not alone in one’s difficulties. However, the rewards of doing for others don’t end there. Experiments at the Institute of Heart Math actually showed that the positive feelings generated by humane acts can cause our DNA to change its shape. In other words, we can actually change our genes!
And as if all of that wasn’t enough, there has actually been research undertaken in the field of New Age spirituality. Gregg Braden, a practitioner of scientific spirituality, states that we can essentially change the composition of the universe with our thoughts and actions. Therefore, positive and kind thoughts and actions lead to more positive energy and actions in our world.
So, next time you experience a bout of depression, a splitting headache or a flare-up of arthritis, go find a place to volunteer. After all, everyone benefits, even your genes!

The Moral of the Story: In every crisis, there is opportunity.

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised
as impossible situations."

Charles R. Swindoll

Time to Turn Lemons Into Lemonade!
By Clayton Makepeace

So let me tell you a true story...
The year was 1976, and life was NOT good in America. And it wasn't just because disco was king and we suddenly found ourselves sporting silly-looking leisure suits.
America's name was being dragged through the dirt worldwide. In the preceding 24 months, Richard Nixon had resigned in disgrace and Saigon had fallen to the Vietcong.
Our new president, Gerald Ford - the only man in history to serve both as vice president and president of the United States without winning a single election - was proving himself to be an affable dunce.
Our nation was still reeling from the effects of a vicious two-year recession. Unemployment was actually worse than it is today: Nearly 8% of our workforce was out of work.
As if to add insult to injury, inflation rates - our cost of living - had soared more than 17% in the preceding 24 months. Our money had lost nearly one-fifth of its buying power in just two years - and our president's only solution was the idiotic proposal that we all wear lapel pins proclaiming "WIN" ("Whip Inflation Now").
Then, just when most investors thought things couldn't get worse... you guessed it: Things got worse.

California girl accidentally discovers $6 billion "Internet Goldmine"

Southern California native Valerie Johnson was simply shopping for pajamas online one day. And then... strictly by chance... she stumbled upon a rather unusual website. Most people have never heard of it. Not even most seasoned online entrepreneurs. But Valerie found it. And it changed her life forever.
Today... thanks largely to the $6 billion "Internet Goldmine" Valerie discovered... she can work from home, call her own shots, and live life completely on her own terms. What's more, her online business brought in close to $2 million in recession-slammed 2009!
Here's Valerie's story... PLUS a way for YOU to master the exact same website that helped Valerie become a seven-figure online entrepreneur.
Find out more.

Unsurprisingly, given the laundry list of woes just cited, millions of Americans were eager for "change." So in November of 1976, they elected Jimmy Carter as the 39th president of the United States. And just to make sure the new president would have no problem getting his economic programs passed into law, they also preserved his party's majority in both houses of Congress.
Now you'd expect any fiscally conservative entrepreneur to be deeply worried... even depressed... about the future at a time like that. But four men - Howard Ruff, Tom Phillips, Bob Kephart, and Jim Blanchard - were not depressed.
Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and laid the groundwork for what would soon be massive personal fortunes.
Because instead of obsessing over our country's massive economic problems or fixating on how the new administration's policies would only make matters worse, these four pioneers saw a huge opportunity.
First, they recognized that, between Nixon's corruption and Ford's economic incompetence, millions of people had lost faith in Washington's ability to do anything right.
They saw that millions of investors were even more alarmed over the new administration's economic plans.
They believed that many investors had come to the conclusion that Washington couldn't be trusted with the economy - and that the ONLY way to save their wealth would be to take matters into their own hands.
And they knew that those investors would gladly pay for leadership to help them protect and grow their wealth - to survive and prosper despite all the harm the government would surely inflict on the economy in the years ahead.
They were right on all counts. Within four years, inflation rates had tripled. The Prime Rate - the "preferred" interest rate that only the highest quality borrowers get - had hit 21%. The Dow had declined 20%. And the U.S. had sunk into yet another recession.
And in those years, Howard Ruff's Ruff Times... Jim Blanchard's Gold Newsletter... Bob Kephart'sInflation Survival Letter... and Tom Phillips's Pink Sheet on The Left... grew to become Blanchard Coin & Bullion... KCI Communications... Phillips Publishing International... and well, The Ruff Times, which, at its height, boasted 180,000 paid subscribers.
More to the point: Each of our four heroes amassed a personal fortune that ran into the tens of millions of dollars - in some cases, into the hundreds of millions.


The greater the crisis, the greater the opportunity.

The Little Voice That Could

by Lessia Bonn

I spent my childhood chained to a very large musical instrument. I sat at that stupid piano for hours and hours while my friends were outside having fun. Jeez, it just wasn’t fair. I didn’t even like classical music. Well, Beethoven was okay, maybe. At least he was dramatic.

But I wanted to sing, not play. I had a ton of songs in my head. I was never inspired by the piano; it just felt like typing to me when I played. But to everybody else it seemed I was an endearing little keyboard prodigy. They all had so much fun watching me, they assumed I was having fun too. But I wasn’t having fun. I hated my fast fingers! Big deal—fast fingers. Everyone was impressed, but I was totally depressed. I wanted to sing.

When I think back, I can still feel the ouch—I still feel sorry for the little kid who was too scared to use her voice, or at least the part of her voice that really mattered. I just wish I could have said, “I want to do something else. Can’t I please learn something I really like?” I wish I could have said, “Can’t you see I’m just doing this for you? Can’t you see who I really am?”

Truth is, I had a little voice that sounded very ordinary. My family assumed—like most people assume—that if a person has a so-called “singing” voice, everyone can tell right away. Bet even you believe that—but you’re wrong. Seriously.

Here’s the real truth. Everybody has that kind of “singing” voice. It just hasn’t been discovered yet. People sing “Happy Birthday” badly and then give up saying, “Ugh! I can’t sing. Forget it.” And their friends usually agree. “Yeah, take up cello.”

But hey, “Happy Birthday” is actually hard to sing because it’s full of funky consonants. Somebody should really explain that before a person gives up on singing. It’s helpful information. But there isn’t ever any real explaining going on now, is there?

Only Simon Cowell seems to get listened to. Whenever he harshly proclaims one person can sing while another shouldn’t even try, it just makes me crazy. I always feel like hitting him. A lot of people don’t know how to find a pretty vowel, a lot of people don’t breathe, especially when they’re nervous, and those are the things that can make a voice sound yucky. A lot of people just don’t know the tricks.

Our culture also dictates that people, especially kids, should stifle their voices and emotions. If a person’s voice carries across the room, hey, that’s just embarrassing. Ugh. Find yourself some manners. Put a lid on it. Yet we’re supposed to be able to sing. Just how exactly?

Sure, sometimes there are people who are great copycats. They listen to the radio, then mimic the singers they like and end up sounding great themselves. Most people are not great copycats though. Most people end up sounding like squeaky little church mice when they try to sing, but it’s not their fault. Truly it’s not.

I was one of those church mice. When I blurted out, “I want to sing” to my piano-oriented family, they answered back, “But you don’t have a voice.” End of discussion. That really hurt my soul. And in just one instant, those six little words shut me down. At that age a kid soaks in her parents’ truths and really wants to please them. Because I was little and impressionable, I believed what was handed to me. My voice stayed small, in every sense of the word, for a very long time. I didn’t ever feel brave with it. I kept apologizing right and left for just being me.

This is why I’m telling you my story. Maybe you don’t want to sing. Maybe you want to write a big fat novel, sell floating beds, or open yourself a dude ranch. Maybe your biggest dream is to live in Paris, but everyone keeps telling you you’re crazy—you don’t even speak French!

So tell them you’ll learn French. Ooh lah lah. There are three words already. Couldn’t be that hard. Tell them, “I can learn French,” and pack your bags for Paris.

“You’re crazy, you can’t do that! That’s not the way it’s done!” Don’t you just hate it when people say that kind of stuff? All those geniuses out there on the subject of you!

Well hey, I’m here to urge you to aim for whatever the hell you please. Don’t you dare go dumping all your dreams just because a few people around you have no vision, no insight, or are simply ignorant of one basic fundamental fact of life: There are tricks to most everything. Learning those tricks will let you rock at whatever it is you want to do. So educate yourself!

Take it from me—I was a little voice who couldn’t until I figured out that I surely could. I just kept on believing. And here was my chant: “I know I can, I know I can …” and then … yay! I found the voice I always knew I had.

Now I not only sing, record, and give concerts, I coach others. I’m the expert. I’m the highly-paid consultant. What a hoot! I take other singers into the recording studio and make them sound awesome because I’m a whiz at singing tricks, and also I’m pretty darn cool at producing tricks. And I’ve always been able to write a song, so hey, throw that in too. And seriously, I don’t think Beethoven misses me much.

And do you know what I’ve discovered along my path? I’ve discovered that the tricks to singing are actually a whole lot like the tricks to life. In order to sing, a person has to cut out the worrying, collect helpful data, relax, and then simply fall into her own voice. Trusting one’s deeper self is important because there’s a sweet spot inside us that already knows how to sing. When we find it—oh, wow—we’re there. Singing’s easy! Sure, it takes faith and practice, but so what? Challenges keep life entertaining. Don’t tell me you’d rather be bored.

My stepfather announced to me once, “There’s nothing special about your voice.” He was really certain. Years later, he showed up at one of my sold-out concerts. His updated review: “Oh my God, you’re great! I’m so embarrassed I ever said you couldn’t sing! Your voice is awesome! I was so wrong!”

No more Beethoven for me. Now I sing. But the funny thing is, deep down inside, I always knew I was a singer.

She knew she was a singer.… She knew she was a singer.… She knew she was a singer.… And then—voila!—(another French word). Laugh out loud. Hooray for every little voice that can!

And take it from an expert: Every little voice really can.

And kudos for the Law of Attraction:

I knew I was a singer. I knew I was a better singer than piano player. I knewdeep down—all those things—so I believed and believed and imaginedplacing my faith in what I knew until …

My voice came out in spades one day. It said, “Hello. How you doin’?” And it was a cool voice. Laugh out loud. So yay for me! Because I knew I could.… I knew I could.… And now I can!

It just took a bit of uncovering. 

flickspire - 212 - The Extra Degree Movie

At 211° water is hot. At 212°, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive. The one extra degree makes the difference. This simple analogy reflects the ultimate definition of excellence.

So, sit back, crank up your speakers and watch this as many times as you need. You may forward it to those you care about and believe would benefit from its message as well.

flickspire - 212 - The Extra Degree Movie

We all know...A man who travels alone ..travels the fastest..My daughter teaches me how to travel together....

flickspire - Finding Joy Movie

flickspire - Finding Joy Movie

"Ten Ways to Love Yourself."

  In today's blog I will talk about the first five ways.

The first way is do away with self criticism.  Negative self talk usually stems from our childhood.  Children who feel they are never good enough grow up to feel insecure about their self worth.  When we believe these lies we start to think and act in ways that actually make it come true.  When we believe that we are bad in some way, it becomes very difficult to counter self criticism.  Stop self belittling remarks in their tracks.  Become aware of what you say to yourself.

The second way to love yourself is stop what psychologist Albert Ellis calls "awfulizing."  We tend to scare ourselves by making mountains out of molehills.  For example, the thought that it would be just awful if something does not go our way, is just that--a thought.  And, we DO have the power to control our thoughts.  Before we know it, when we scare ourselves, we block out all possibility of experiencing joyful feelings, because we are too afraid that we or what we believe will be rejected in some way.

The third way is to be patient with yourself.  If we can treat others with kindness why not treat ourselves kindly also?  We are all human, and deserve to cut ourselves a break.  This life is a journey we are on, there will be hills and valleys to negotiate.  It is all okay.  The question to ask ourselves is, "how important is this I am thinking?  Will it matter 20 or 30 years from now?"

The fourth way is to be "kind to our minds."  Pushing and striving all the time stresses us out.  It is important to give ourselves some quiet relief by meditating and relaxing.  Quieting our minds gives us an opportunity to connect to our inner guru and become refreshed.  The inner wisdom we need to draw upon presents itself in this quietude.

The fifth way is to praise ourselves.  This is a good opportunity to utilize positive affirmations.  Criticism weakens us and praise builds us up.  Do not wait for others to give you the kudos you need.  Praise yourself! 


The sixth way to love yourself is to seek out and accept support from others.  We are social creatures and need to give and receive nurturance.  Often times we believe that not asking for help is a strong thing to do, but actually the exact opposite is true.  It takes a great deal of ego strength to say to ourselves, "I cannot do this alone, I need help."  When we receive support from others, we are strengthening our connectiveness to all within the universe.

The seventh way is to embrace our negatives.  We all have a dimension to us that is known as the "shadow."  This is where we keep the ideas about ourselves that we are not willing to bring into the light.  We are whole persons, and consist of both light and dark energies.  If we hate and hide parts of ourselves, what can we expect those parts to do for us?  Love  your faults.  Love your strengths.  Love your whole being.  Our shadows bring texture to our lives.  Simply because we do not understand the purpose of these negatives, does not mean that they do not have a purpose in the grand scheme of things.  Cultivate self acceptance and use humor to help you come to terms with your inner dark side.

The eighth way to love yourself is take care of this earthly vessel we inhabit, which is known as our body.  We are more than our bodies, but we use our bodies to get around in this world.  Would you choose to ride around town in a dilapidated and broken vehicle?  Take loving care of this vehicle you call your body.

The ninth way to love yourself is to practice what Louise Hay calls, "mirror work."  Say your affirmations in front of a mirror and you will learn the truth of your existence.  You need not use a physical mirror, you can talk to yourself instead.  You can hold a whole conversation with yourself, and in the process solve many conflicts.  When doing mirror work, it is very likely that you will encounter a negative response from yourself.  This is a very special gift.  That negative response will actually give you insight into what is holding you back from loving yourself.    Turn that negative  response into a positive affirmation, and break the chains of your negative self talk.

And finally, the tenth way to love yourself is to start doing it NOW!  Do not put it off, saying perhaps when I am smarter, thinner, worthier, better looking, etc. I will start to love myself.  Do it in the here and now!   Love yourself unconditionally.  Once you have learned to love yourself, you will be able to love others.  Essentially, we cannot give away something that we do not own.  Louise Hay claims that, "the quickest way to change any problem is to love who we are."