It Doesn’t Pay to Help People
May 8th, 2010
Often times, no one will pay you to be nice. The best jobs, or the most high paying, aren’t about helping the world. They’re about getting rich. Capitalism basically demands that we manipulate each other to make money. To put something in my pocket, you’ve got to buy something from me.
Mostly, we buy things. But, the most valuable assets we have are actually our shared humanity. For example, walking an old lady across the street is a very nice thing to do. No one’s gonna pay you for it. Staying up late to comfort a friend who’s just had her heart broken is nice. No one’s gonna pay you for it.
People will definitely pay you to sell things. And, the more those things cost, the more you’ll make. Do you think of car salesmen and feel warm and fuzzy inside? Probably not. They don’t get paid to be nice. They get paid to sell.
So, how do you piece together your life if you need to pay the bills and you’d like to be nice along the way? Read the rest of this entry »
Eating Natural Foods: If you can pronounce it, you can probably eat it!
May 6th, 2010
I keep running into people who are talking about the importance of eating natural foods. Not foods that are low in fat or even low in calories, but foods that are made of ingredients you can pronounce.
I’ve been particularly interested in learning about eating healthy, natural foods because I’m a junk food addict and I know firsthand how bad for you processed foods can be. They make you bloated, uncomfortable, lethargic, and usually guilty about eating them in the first place. Regardless, many of us are so addicted to the way we feel while eating these foods that we ignore the impact they are having on our bodies.
The top offenders for me are Taco Bell, Burger King and Jack in the Box. I love these places. I can drive through and get my food without even standing up. It’s cheap and to me, it’s delicious. Cheesy, greasy goodness. But, my waste-line pays the price.
I’m not an advocate of paying close attention to how much you weigh. Life is short, food is yummy and there are more important things to obsess over than the way you look. However, if you keep having the go to the store to buy bigger and bigger pants, there might be a problem. Read the rest of this entry »
I Can
May 3rd, 2010
“The fact that you can change your life by changing the landscape of your mind may not have appeared in history books alongside the discovery of new continents or electricity or steam, but all the great minds have known it.”
-Tom Butler-Bowdon, 50 Self-Help Classics
There is so much material out there to read and absorb. And, Please, by all means, go out and read it. Take it in and let it help you in your day to day life.
My point is that, given the huge amount of material out there, I always find it interesting that a few general truths surface from all of it. The power of thinking differently is one of those truths. So many great thinkers, teachers, writers, artists and laymen have come to a similar conclusion, so much so that it’s hard to debate the point. I’ve given up questioning it at this point. I just accept it and try to have more faith in it everyday.
I can change the way I think, therefor, I can change my life. It has a nice ring to it.
Bradshaw’s Spirituality
May 2nd, 2010
“The spiritual life is an inner life. It cannot be attained on the outside. The spiritual life is its own reward and seeks nothing beyond itself. Once we achieve inner peace and conscious contact, we want to overflow.”
-John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You
Love is Relief
April 30th, 2010
“Love is relief from the mundane, sanitized nature of modern life, a door into mystery, which is why we seize it with such force.”
-Tom Butler-Bowdon, 50 Self-Help Classics
Thoughts Create…
April 30th, 2010
Allen describes exactly what kinds of thoughts produce what kind of results, which he calls “circumstances.” Check out his very detailed breakdown:
“…beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances; constructive thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace; thought of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into strong and productive habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom; energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness and pleasure; gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into safe and healthy circumstances; loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.”
-James Allen, As You Think
So, take your pick. What do you want to create today?
Feel
April 29th, 2010
Bradshaw on the importance of feelings and what happens when we limit our feeling capacities:
“One must be able to express feelings openly and freely. Shame is the master emotion because it binds all the other emotions. Freely expressing our feeling is like thawing out. As shame binds all our feelings, we become psychologically numb. Getting in touch with our feelings is difficult at first. You may feel overwhelmed at times. You may also feel confused. Sometimes we feel worse before we feel better. The important thing is to feel. Our feelings are who we are at any given moment. When we are numb to our emotions, we lose contact with who we are.”
-John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You
Are You Feeling Empty?
April 29th, 2010
“Fill your emptiness by living soulfully. Let your individuality out by accepting your idiosyncrasies and dark side.”
-Tom Butler-Bowdon, 50 Self-Help Classics
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should embrace the characteristics that are causing you or those around you harm. I just support accepting yourself the way you are.
People are complicated, and denying that doesn’t do any of us any good. So, go ahead and be complicated. Look at your dark side for what it is. What is it telling you about your current feelings, what you want, and what you are capable of? And if you think you don’t have a dark side, look harder. It’s there. We’ve all got one.
Every aspect of who we are is just information we can work with as we develop as individuals. Don’t fight the feeling of emptiness, fear, frustration or sadness. Breath into it and let it support who you are and who you want to become!
