Reprogram Yourself

I never knew I was a techie.  I didn’t think of myself as an overly geeky guy, I just knew how to do a few things that involved modems, and internet connectivity from when I was a cable installer years ago.  Turns out I’m quite gifted at a lot of technical stuff, not as much as some, but I know enough to at least understand what mega-nerds are talking about.  I can even program my VCR (what’s a VCR?) and more interestingly, I can program ….myself.

It’s interesting when you start actively engaging your mind.  I get into a habit of challenging my mind to change the way I feel about certain things I experience.  If you re-associate different emotions during the performance of actions they can take on that different sensory experience.  This will create all new worlds for you as you experience them. 

This can have positive ramifications as well as negative.  For example, a restaurant patron eats his favorite meal, and then ends up with food poisoning.  For a long time he may never eat that meal again because the emotional imprint left in his memory will have his stomach turn every time the food is mentioned.

This can sometimes work against you but it can also be used as a tool to aid you.  This tactic is related to a previous blog I wrote about Playing Games to become more productive.  It’s all about perception, and you can take it even further.

We have so much mental programming in our heads that most of life is lived subconsciously.  Statistics have shown that in a given day we only perform our daily tasks with about 5% of our conscious mind.  Think of it as a good thing.  For instance, we don’t have to take conscious effort to make our hearts beat, stomachs digest, to blink our eyes or to even breathe.

Can you imagine how exhausted you would feel if for every function of life you had to consciously make a decision to take a step, say each and every word?  What if you got distracted and forgot to make your heart beat or expand your lungs to breathe?  I’ve got ADD, I’ve have been dead long ago. 

We are highly sophisticated computers, ultimately. We have thousands of preset filters, behaviors, beliefs and constructs that reside below our conscious level that dictate a lot of our daily lives.  The power of controlling the direction of your life rests in your ability to program your subconscious thoughts to work in the way that’s most beneficial to your goals.

When you apply yourself there’s nothing too far out of reach for.  You are only limited by your own mind and what you belief you can do.  I’ve learned this truth over the past few months.

In just a short time, I started reprogramming myself.  I became more effective at making moves both consciously and subconsciously to become more who I want to be.   

These are just some of the ways I’ve made my programming work for me.

• Waking at 5 a.m. giving me more time to complete tasks
• Exercising 5 hours a week
• Lost 25lbs. (so far)
• Started this blog
• Began public speaking and lecturing
• Gotten more disciplined and organized.

Look at the ways you can improve yourself through your own reprogramming, then start making one change at a time.  Just one is all that it takes to make a world of difference.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" -Aristotle

Why You Want to Fail

Don’t tell anyone, but, years ago I was a -gulp- telemarketer.  I was in telesales.  I called you during dinner and interrupted prime time television to sell you something you didn’t know that you didn’t need. 

What’s worse?  I was good at it.  I was a huge success, and was pulling down big commissions.  I was getting paid more than all the other telemarketers around me.  (We kept our sales stats on a whiteboard as we worked.)  How did I do so well?  I had to fail… a lot. 

Columbus failed to find a western route to the Indies.  Thomas Edison had over 10,000 attempts that failed before he invented the light bulb.  Walt Disney went bankrupt in making his first cartoon production.  Each of these men were met with astounding failure, (Edison repeatedly) before reaching the height of their success.    

In life you’re going to fail.  If you ever attempt to do something worthwhile, you’re going to fail a lot.  Every road to success is paved in failures, but every one is a chance to learn from the mistakes and refine your methods making you a better version of yourself.   

Making mistakes is the means of great innovation.  With every “No” you’re a single set closer to making a “Yes”.  Sales people look at statistics.  If one in every hundred people says “Yes” to a sale, then how quickly do they want to fail 99 times?  I’d say as quickly as possible. 

Back in the phone-farm (as I called it) it was a simple principle.  The more calls I make the better my sales will be.  I would fly as quickly as I could through my screens to get to the point where I’d get a bite or hung up on.  Then press on.  It kept the time moving and the paycheck heavy. 

I’m not suggesting you go out and be reckless in pursuit of your goals.  If you aren’t going to bring your “A” game then don’t show up until you’re ready.  However, know that you aren’t always going to succeed at everything you do. 

You can build failure into your plan.  If it’s expected there’s no reason to fear it.  It’s going to happen, get over it and anticipate it.  Then learn the lesson and move on. 

This is how to fail your way to success. 

If you’re wondering, I eventually walked out of the telemarketing position.  The self loathing I felt for myself crushed my heart and soul I couldn’t do a job that I hated.  No amount of money is worth the feeling that I eventually developed in doing that.  But that’s for another blog.

Simple Fitness: How to Start Exercising

When you are first getting started with exercise it’s important to start off with the basics.  You’re likely out of shape and if you try and start to aggressively with your exercise program you will run the risk of injury.

I suggest doing what I have done this past week.  Just start walking.  Months ago before it got cold I was walking nearly everyday and I had gotten up to 5 miles or more a day, but the cold set in and I stopped then I lost track of exercise and am just now getting back into it. 

So, this past week I started walking again.  I started off pretty light.  I walked 2 miles in the morning before work 3 days last week.  Start by taking a 30-45 minutes out of you schedule and take a walk, it’s good exercise and a great chance to unwind and clear your head.  Walk as far as you can in half the time you set aside and then turn around and walk back.  As you get used to the routine walk a little further to continue to push yourself and you will progress your fitness greatly.

This week, I’ll push a little more and walk a little further.  The point is to keep pushing your limits and continuing to advance your exercise regimen to advance your health.  I have looked into the caloric expense of walking for an hour at MyFitnessPal and at my size/age/health level walking for an hour at 3 mph burns over 400 calories which is about the same calorie count as I consume in a meal. 

In addition to walking, I’ve been sticking to a simple diet and limiting myself to 2080 calories per day.  I consistently keep my carb intake low as well and all this has allowed me to knock off 5lbs (Down to 280 lbs!) so far.  All and all it’s been pretty easy so far.  

If You Find Me...

"To whom it may Concern;

I am chronically human.  If the following signs are observed, I am not emotionally disturbed or dying:

• If you find me stumbling and falling, I may just be trying something new – I am learning.

• If you find me sad it may be that I’ve just realized that I have been fooling myself and making the same stupid mistakes over and over again -- I am exploring.

• If you find me terribly frightened, I may just be in a new situation – I am reaching out.

• If you find me crying, it may be because I failed – I am trying.

• If you find me very quiet, it may be that I am planning –I will try again.

• If you find me angry, I may have just discovered that I was not really trying – I am erring.

• If you find me with a strange self-satisfied smile, I may have just discovered that I have everything I need for growing – I am knowing.

• If you find me ecstatically happy, I may have finally succeeded – I am growing. 

These are life signs of beings of my nature.  If prolonged absence of the above indicators is observed, do not perform an autopsy without first providing a fertile opportunity for life to emerge. "

This is from Personal Achievement Skills Training, at the Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center at the University of Arkansas.  I thought it captured a certain openness of the emotional human condition.  I had to share.  

How Playing Can Make you More Productive.

My daughter is six years old.  She’s got tons of energy she’s always playing, running and jumping.  As soon as she’s asked to do something she doesn’t want to do she’s too tired.  She sounds pretty childish, right?  But adults do this all the time. 

On a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, you’ve worked hard all week and you know that there’s a lawn that needs mowing. But you’re just too tired because you worked hard all week and just need to relax. You’ll mow tomorrow, right?  But when you buddy calls telling you he wants to put together a pick up game of basketball you’re up and out the door.  Why? 

Because playing breathes new life into us.   We draw greater energy for playing than we do for labor.   The keys are amusement, lightheartedness, and challenge.

There’s so much resistance to do work because we’re tired. But it’s because we’re thinking about things the wrong way.  Have you ever wondered why sales departments hold contests for highest sales, and other businesses hold competitions for performance.  

A long time ago, someone figured out if you make it a game you get better results.  People get psyched about playing games and competing.  They bring more from inside themselves if they are excited about what they are doing.

It’s all in how you view what you’re doing.  If you change how you view required tasks it will alter your performance. 

If you are a filing clerk, see if you can file all the files in that bin in the next 15 minutes.  If you a part of a sales team, see which team member can sell more in a day.  If you are an executive challenge yourself to complete as much of your “To Do List” before lunch as possible. 

Anything that you can do to make your day more playful will transform the grudgingly difficult work into a game.  Take it less seriously.  Become more childish. 

Goal achieving can become a game too.  The goals of our lives are set on the back of smaller achievements and each is accomplished one at a time.  If you challenge yourself in a playful way to achieve the tasks that get you to your goals, getting there will be faster and also more fun. 

When my daughter resists cleaning her room or doing other chores, I’m always quick to make it a game.  I challenge her to timed trials, or a race to see if she can beat me to complete it.  She gets to have fun and the gets the job done.  

Apply this mentality to your workday and see what fun you can have accomplishing more.  Life's a big game anyway.  

Have fun!

The Simple Guide to Dieting

I’ve always wanted to get down to the basics in my life.  I know it doesn’t have to be complicated.  I’m a simple kind of man.  So, as things go, in conjunction with resolutions to be a better kind of man, comes being a healthier and thinner man.  (Less of me is simpler, right?) 

I didn’t become a large man by using my resolve to deny food in the past.  I need structure to do it.  I will strive to be more active, but will power alone, I have to accept, will not always achieve the desired results. 

Fad plans and structure programs are fine but they can be to complex.  Eat this, not that lists, Atkins, South Beach… it’s all too complicated to try and keep up with. 

The problem with them is that they don’t account for reality.  For instance, tell a 5 year old little girl, who is holding out a piece of birthday cake, you can’t eat it because it has too many Weight Watcher points and you’ll have to skip dinner tonight if you eat it. 

I’ve had great amounts of weight loss in my past, and I owe it all to a strategy that’s not too complex.  Watching what I put in my mouth and journaling it.

I’ve had a lot of success at counting calories because no matter which philosophy you follow be it carbs, sugars, or points counting.  My doctor gave it to me straight.  It’s about calories in calories out. 

Weight loss is about expending more calories than you take in.   It is that simple.

So I have help using MyFitnessPal because I can log on and journal my food which keeps track of my calories consumed and burned.  They offer an app for my iPhone so that I can be anywhere and just add it to my diary. They give me an option to check in on my weight so I can chart my progress.  It’s very helpful.

Weight loss doesn’t have to be some new fad plan.  If you start to count calories and be conscientious about what you eat you’ll be surprised at your own behavior, but you’ll also be surprised about how much weight you’ll lose. 

It’s as easy as watching what you eat and being consistent.  Truly the least complex way to diet and exercise is to just journal it. 

As a part of my dieting I will let you know how this continues to go for me.  This week I weighed in at 285 pounds.  I’ll make regular posts concerning weight loss and my progress so stay tuned.   

Job Loss Survival Plan

At some point or another we’ve all experienced a job loss.  With the economy being in the state that it is and unemployment at an all time high, it’s likely that you or someone you know is in threat of losing a job.

This can be a traumatic experience, because we closely identify who we are in large part by what we do for a living.  It’s the first thing we ask other who we’re just meeting, and tends be how we define and rank ourselves in society.  

We put so much pressure on ourselves about our work that anxiety and depression related to job loss is common.  To keep anything like that from happening I have outlined some steps below to aid in surviving the transition from newly unemployed to successfully hired.

Don’t Panic - Apply for Benefits 

It’s important to keep your head straight as this separation is occurring.  The shock of learning that you’ve been terminated from your job may cause you to overreact.  Keep a level mind and immediately apply for benefits.  Remember, every state has benefits for the newly unemployed.  Check the laws in your state about how to apply for benefits that will cushion your fall as you transition between jobs.

Go Through the Grieving Process

You’ve put a large portion of your time, energy, and emotions into your work, and now it’s gone.  You have spent time with co-workers, bonding and building relationships that going to break apart.  No one expects you to take this lightly.  It’s alright to morn the loss of the routine and familiar.  It’s completely natural.  Express the emotions to friends or family and let them be a shoulder for you during this tough time.

Empathize with Your Former Employer

It’s very important not to harbor resentment toward your former employer.  Begin letting negative emotions go because bitterness, and anger kept inside of you can damage your future employment opportunities.  No potential boss wants to hear about how awful your former employer was because you might eventually say the same thing about them. 

Put yourself in the position of your former boss.  It was likely a “numbers game” and had nothing to do with you personally.  Times change and they had little choice in the matter. 

They must feel awful for eliminating your position but decisions have to be made.  Keep an amicable relationship with your former employer if possible because you never know what the future might bring.

Don’t Question Your Worth

I’ve mentioned this above but it’s worth restating.  You’re going to go through questions of your own value.   Remember that it wasn’t easy to let you go.  You provide value to a company through the work you do. 

Remember that there’s more to life than your job. You also have family, friends and a life to lead when not working.  Those are the things make you a valued person not the job you do to earn a living.

Remain Positive

A negative view is dangerous because it will permeate to every area of your life.  Keep a positive outlook and a good disposition.  No one wants to hire someone who’s harboring apparent negativity about their former jobs. 

Ask Yourself “What’s Next?”  - Catalyst for Change

Perhaps it’s time for a change of pace?  Consider the possibilities of going back to school or changing careers.  If you were employed in an industry that is going through mass layoffs, the economy may be going through a transition with limited employment options. Competition is going to be stiff.  The time might be right to continue your education or change career paths all together.  Search your soul.  This opportunity might be right to pursue new unexplored options.

Cut Down on Creature Comforts

Until you regain a job it might be necessary to cut back on the little luxuries in your budget.  Reduce the amount of spending you do until you know for sure where the mortgage payment is coming from next month.  It’s time to be cautious and frugal. 

Think of this sudden change as opportunity.  It’s a fork in the road full of options.  You will press on and thrive.  Take from the experience what lessons you can and stay optimistic.  The only thing that stays the same is that everything always changes.  

5 Thoughts to Improve Your Luck

So we’re starting out the New Year right.  We’re focusing on feeling and living better.  Cutting out the excess stress in our lives are all apart of that.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you had a little more luck this year too? 

I find myself to be a very lucky person.  Now, of course, I don’t win all the time at gambling and I’ve never stumbled over large duffel bags of unmarked cash or anything like that.  I’m referring to the natural tendency to have good things happen to me, having the life I want, and having it feel accidental at times.

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Luck is believing you're lucky. - Tennessee Williams
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Belief that you are lucky makes you alert to the opportunities.  Studies have shown that those who think they are lucky tend to have experiences that make them feel luckier. This

research shows lucky people exhibit some common traits which I’ve listed below.  Take on some of these traits and watch you’re luck skyrocket.

Risk trying new things

Lucky people are more apt to try new things, giving them new chances to create fortunate opportunities.  By continuously subjecting themselves to new situations they create more and more chances for good things to happen.

Intuition

Lucky people are more intuitive.  They feel their way through situations without over thinking them and live their lives making decisions on instinct.  Listen to the little voice inside you, and feel your way through certain decisions.  Don’t let fear cause you to shut the door on opportunities for fear of the outcome. 

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I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. - Thomas Jefferson

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Diligence

The more time one spends in preparation for a task the better they will be in its performance.  It’s easy to see actors and musicians on stage and think they had it easy getting to the top and therefore they must be luckier people.  But we don’t see the work and effort they put into getting where they are today.  Sometimes having the best luck is just being as ready as you can be when the opportunity presents itself. 

Generosity

This is a common trait of lucky people.  Lucky people are more giving of their time and money and this opens them up to the possibilities of also receiving good fortune in return.  They’re generosity puts them in front of new people who can open new doors to them. This gives them greater chances for enhancing their good fortune.

Positive Disposition

People who have better luck are likely to shrug off moments of misfortune easier and move beyond it faster than those who do not. They also tend to take steps to improve their condition on their own and don’t spend time suffering from their pasts.  Keeping a good attitude also makes lucky people attractive to others and this creates greater networking opportunities. 

A lucky person is merely a person who meets at the crossroads of circumstance and opportunity with the best possible attitude.  You too can be lucky. If you change your thoughts, you will change your luck.

The Investment of a Life Time

A dad, one evening rested into an easy chair with a new book on investing.  Hardly a few pages in, his daughter bounded into the room and stopped at his side.

“Daddy, will you read to me?” she asked in a precious tiny voice.

He looked at his book, which promised life long wealth, and then the book tucked under his daughter’s arms, The Velveteen Rabbit. 

“Hop up here sweetheart, and let’s find out what The Velveteen Rabbit is up to.” 

Giving occasionally means putting your own desires aside for the desires of others.  This father realized that the time he spent investing into his daughter would pay a higher reward than the time spent reading his book. 

Seek the simple rewards in life, they pay higher dividends.  

Top 11 New Year's Resolutions of 2011.

Happy New Year, my friends!

As self improvement goes, New Year's Resolutions are the greatest time for change. As a culture there’s a lot of talk about resolutions because they can be a clean start, allowing us to make better use of our time and energy in the coming year.  To kick off this wonderful clean slate, below I've listed the Flip Flop Philosophy Top 11 Resolutions of 2011.

11.  Lose Weight/Bulk Up- Battle the bulge or beef it up. Just feel better about being you, now.

10.  Better Job- Get that promotion or get out of Dodge, Chrysler or General Motors.  

9.   Save Money- Build up that nest egg.

8.   Reduce/Eliminate Debt- It's hard to feel at peace when the bill collectors call during  meditation. Get you debt under control.

7.    Break the habit- Cut out the addictions be it tobacco, alcohol, caffeine or PCP 

6.    Learn Something New- Knowledge is personal power. Take an opportunity to grow.

5.    Enjoy Life More- We work to live, not live to work.  Work less, have more fun.

4.    Stress Less- In the immortal words of Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy.".

3.    Get Organized- Simplicity is the best philosophy. Get rid of the excess and continue from there

2.    Volunteer- Giving your time is the most precious gift to give because it's limited.

The #1 resolution of 2011 is... (Drum roll)

 1.    Leave a Legacy- Our impacts on others will eventually be the story of our lives. Make sure that in every action you are authoring the best story possible

*** I want to thank a great friend of mine, Andy Buth, for teaching me the importance of leaving a legacy.  He lived his life pursuing his dreams.  He overcame all obstacles to be where he wanted in life, and it took him to the most remote places on Earth.  Unfortunately, Andy died a few months ago but what remains are his loved ones and the legacy he left behind.  "Live Fully".  God rest him and look over his family. ***

The Power of Doing Nothing

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“The man who sits idle by a river all day and considers it not a waste of time is wise.”  -Zen saying.

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From the time we wake until we drag ourselves back to bed at night we are constantly busy.  We are a productive culture and society is reinforcing the idea that we aren’t productive enough. 

We exhaust ourselves yet drink high caffeine content beverages.  Then when we are not in high gear we turn to the media.  Technology entertains our minds but invites them to turn off and tune out. 

Even out in public, we are constantly on cell phones in some kind of distracting (if not a more industrious) way.  We are never doing “nothing”, but there are some powerful benefits to the act of stillness of both mind and body.

Take an hour, or a day if possible, and don’t do a thing.   No working or cleaning, and no planning to do anything.  Let your mind wander.  Do not entertain yourself with the television or the radio, and do not play on your cell phone.  Let go of the need to be productive. 

Get out of the house if you need to and be somewhere you can just mellow.  The following list is by no means comprehensive, but just a few examples of how you can improve your life through non-activity. 

De-stress for better health

If you never slow down your body will eventually not be able to keep up.  You need adequate rest and that means more than a few hours of sleep at night.  Take time to rest and relax.  By doing nothing you allow your mind to unwind and de-stress and that puts your body at ease.   Stress can take a terrible toll on your immune system.  Giving your mind time to be at peace also saves you from colds and the flu not to mention other more serious diseases further down the road.

Glean perspective on life

You can’t see the forest for the trees.  And it’s hard to take perspective on life when you are driving through it like it’s the Indy 500.  Stop and consider where you are heading in life.  Is life progressing as you wished it would?  Are you happy?  What changes can you make to improve your status in life?  I once heard that a ship at sea is off course constantly and the captain must make adjustments in navigation the entire trip in order to arrive at the proper destination.  This too is how life is. 

Gain Gratitude

I can say with great confidence that if you stopped doing anything for a specified amount of time, the world would function without you.  Too many people have this thought that they are indispensable to their jobs or their families and that can put a lot of pressure (not to mention stress) on you.  You should be happy that when you stop doing as you would normally do, life will adapt and go on around you. 

The system works and you don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders.  View the complex system of this world by stepping back from it. Admire it at a distance and be grateful to be apart of it.  It’s a sophisticated universe we live in, and you are a sophisticated component of it.  Rejoice in that while remarking at its beauty.

Make yourself more productive

Call it “creative rejuvenation,” but to rest, letting the mind wander, is some of the best medicine I’ve ever given myself professionally.  My best ideas often come when I’m not sitting at the computer writing, but sitting on the beach with my feet in the sand.  It’s always happened this way. Why?  Probably because I’m at peace and my mind is off daydreaming. 

In order to get new ideas you have to do something different than you normally do.  Whether you’ve thinking professionally or personally, it’s all the same.  Take a small sabbatical and breathe new energy into your life.

The beneficial power of doing nothing can provide greater health, a better vision of your goals, and revive creative juices.  Try it.  It will be difficult at first as your habits have been to stay occupied, but surely you’ll master the art of non-action.  

Become More You and Less Them

We all want a voice.  We all want to be seen for who we are.  You hear the old sayings, “a face in the crowd,” “a name on a list” or “social security number of the government”.  No one wants to be this way, but oftentimes in society we have to be lumped together in order to make things work more smoothly.  We are taught that this is the way the world should be.  This is wrong.  It’s time to stand out from the crowd.  Don’t be defined by the group any longer.  Below I have listed some steps on how to be more individualized.

Be honest with yourself

You can’t be yourself if you don’t know who you are.  Take some time and sort out your stance concerning as many topics as you can think of.  Good, bad, or indifferent accept your own views and never lie to yourself about them.  Like Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be true.”

Break from the herd

Now that you know yourself, be unabashed and fearless about being you.  Admit to yourself and others that you are quirky and maybe a little eccentric.  Conformity is a sign of fear, so stand brave.  You have a personality. Like a light from within you, you should let it shine.

Set your own goals

Don’t let others plan your life for you.  It is done out of love, but it can become overbearing to have someone try and run your life.  Decide what you want and determine your own course to get it.  Blaze new trails and learn from your own mistakes.  An old saying is, “There is no one wiser than a person with experience.”  Go out and earn that experience.  You can change the world. 

Question everything

So many times in life we find it easier to do as we are told.  We shut down to the possibilities of finding new ideas or ways to improve upon the old systems.  Question everything; ask why people do the same old things without improvement.  Even if you can’t improve upon them at least you’ll understand the world around you better.  Questioning is a great tool of the innovative mind.  Imagine the possibilities.

Love yourself

You are unique.  There’s no one else in the world like you.  Celebrate that and love your individuality. Self define, not by whom others want you to be, but how you choose to be.  The world is a stage and we are all just players.  You’re in the role you were born to play.   

Chart your own course and be original.  Life is yours to mold and confidence will get you further than fitting in.  Remember who you are and keep a clear view of what you want out of life.  The rest will fall into place.  

7 Steps to Forgiveness

Many times throughout our lives people will hurt us or in some way wrong us, either intentionally or accidently.  It’s inevitable.  Whether they are close to us or not the actions of these people can leave us feeling angry, hurt, or scared.  This is a natural occurrence and happens to everyone.

Sometimes this pain will continue on for long periods of time and disrupt your life.  Constantly living through the pain over and over again can alter the way you live for fear of having it happen again. Dwelling on it can rob you of happiness and joy in the present. 

This can take serious tolls on us because if left unchecked it can affect family, friends and work.  Letting feelings of anger or hurt overwhelm you constantly is no way to live.  In fact, it can even lead to depression.

This is what happened to me a few years ago.  My mind was totally consumed with what was wrong in the world and it was based on a lot of anger and sadness with how others had wronged me as far back as my childhood.  I was so caught up in my victimhood that it sank me into depression, and this, in turn, completely affected all of those around me. 

I needed to learn to let go and forgive.  I found that holding onto my anger bound me. The pain that it had caused eventually came to define me.  I was angry, bitter, and riddled with resentment.  This couldn’t go on.  It was exhausting.  I had to let go of the heavy burdens of keeping up these feelings. 

When you release the resentment and begin to forgive, your life starts to heal.  You let go of the emotions that keep us as victims of other’s wrong doings.  It was challenging but I’ve done it and it’s amazing the burdens that are lifted when you forgive.  In doing so you will find that you are stronger than you believed yourself to be. 

I am now in a place of reflection about how I came to let go and forgive.  I want to share some tips on how you can free yourself from resentment and pain.  Here’s what I was able to learn.

Weigh the value of holding on versus forgiving. 

What is it that you’re holding on to?  How is it keeping you from personal growth?  How is it affecting your relationships to others?  Is it helping you achieve your goals and aspirations?  In many cases, you will find that not forgiving and not letting go of these pains are actually heavy burdens that consume you and hinders your personal growth.  It’s time to free yourself from those restrictive binding weights of your past.

Vow to let go and forgive.  

It’s not going to happen in an instant.  It may not be easy or quick but forgiveness isn’t a switch you flip; it’s a process.  I named this article steps to forgiveness because I recognize that forgiveness is a journey.  It takes time to get over something and the bigger the pain you feel, the longer it might take.  Commit to the change in your life.  Once you let it go you will no longer be bound by the pain it’s causing you.

Recognize your choice.  

You are only in control of your own actions, not the actions of others.  The only thing that is completely in your control is your thoughts.  You can choose to stop rehashing this pain in your mind over and over again.  You can choose to move on.  This is an amazing power and the choice to use it is solely in your hands.  It just takes time to begin to exercise that power. 

Empathize.  

It can be difficult and oftentimes the pain of what’s transpired can blind you from seeing it, but it’s an interesting exercise to empathize with your offender.  Put yourself in the place of the other person and try and figure out what caused them to act as they did.  It’s best to always start with the viewpoint that the person didn’t do it because they are a bad character, rather they just did something wrong.  How is this person feeling now?  How did they feel while wronging you?  Do they feel regret? Remember, you aren’t empathizing to justify their actions but to simply understand them better.

Acknowledge your responsibility.  

In all incidences there is no conflict without both parties owning some responsibility.  Try and figure out how what happened might have been caused, at least in part, by your actions.  What could you have done to have kept it from happening?  Is there a way to prevent it from reoccurring?  The objective isn’t to take all the blame for what’s happened but to acknowledge we are not victims of our lives but willing participants. 

Focus on the present not the past.  

The past is behind you it isn’t real anymore, its history.  It has no bearing on the present moment or your future.  The incident that has left you pained isn’t happening anymore except in your mind and you are making it real.  All current unhappiness and pain is your fault because you won’t let it go.  Bring your focus back to the present moment letting the pains from the past slip off you.  What are you doing at this very moment?  Can you find joy right now?  You will sooner or later go back to thinking on this past incident but just bring yourself back from it and into happiness.

Allow peace and compassion to fill you.  

Make peace with the past, as it is gone.   To dwell on the past any longer is a waste of the present.  Breathe deep and exhaust the pain. With every new breath feel yourself letting go of resentment, anger, and fear.  Feel love enter your heart and your mind.  Forgive the person.  In forgiving them you are freeing yourself from the burden of carrying those emotions with you.  You will feel the weight lifted.  Let love for the person and for all of life begin to live in your heart and expand from there.  This is a difficult last step. 

You may find yourself repeating the above steps, occasionally, to move fully beyond the pain and resentment into forgiveness.   Ultimately, your choices are what define you and choosing to move forward and letting go of this burden will redefine all that you are and how you perceive the world.  It’s for you to decide.

How to Keep Christmas in Your Heart Everyday

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a story about living.  A wonderful theme for the Christmas season but Dickens tells us also a lesson about life that should be practiced year round.  It’s a ghostly tale but few things exist of this world that would cause Scrooge to become inspired enough to make necessary changes in his life.  The miracle awakening that Ebenezer is forced through on the night of Christmas Eve is a journey that we all should want to take.  While hauntings of this nature are quite rare we can walk ourselves through the steps and become awakened along the path. 

It isn’t difficult for us to really do what the ghosts of Christmas did for Scrooge.  We only have to take a look at our past, present, and future and assess for ourselves the current status of our lives.  This can be done in quiet meditation or time spent alone in reflection.  Just like the fateful night from Dickens’ novel take each of the following reflections or meditations one at a time, allowing the impact of each to reach you at your core.  Awaken to your inner truth and let it sink in before progressing forward, grow with it and let the miracle envelope you.

Reach back.

It’s important to remember our childhood and think about what living was like back then.  It was a simpler age, no doubt.  As children, our minds were only concerned with adventures, pretend, Saturday morning cartoons, candy, toys and our best friends.  You never woke up anxious about Mondays or meetings or overdue bills, or unfulfilled dreams.   Living was immediate.  The future held promise of a golden tomorrow, and the past wasn’t important.  What is important is remembering what being a child was like. Blanketed by the innocence of just living life simply without the complications we’ve added throughout the years since.  Regain the gleam of childlike fascination with the world around you.  It’s truly priceless. 

We can get that back, because it’s all a matter of how we perceive things.  At some point in our lives we grow up and lost our sense of wonder with the world.  There was fascination with our environment and a belief in the unseen when believing meant seeing.  We’ve become jaded to that magical world that’s all around us, when we were cops and robbers, princesses and knights, and hide and go seekers.  Children approach life with an energy and creativity that breathes potential into every situation.   That energy is what you need to enrich your life and help you make decisions concerning your happiness. 

Play games and make believe to regain that imaginative eye of a child.  You didn’t lose it, you just haven’t used it.  It needs to be taken out and dusted off.  Don’t grow up.  Look at your life through childhood eyes then evaluate your happiness.  It’s the simple things that bring the most joy.  Reexamine your priorities.  Forget about stressing the “what if’s” or “what might have been’s”.  Kids don’t dwell on those things, they move past them. 

Be Present. 

Awareness of the state of others around you is a gift in and of itself.  Ol’ Scroogey was miserable and projected his misery at others around him.  He thought of generosity and charity as weakness and only valued hard work and money.  The old miser was despised not only for his hard-nosed business practices but his cold nature.  Sympathetic to no one’s feelings or situations, Ebenezer pushed all relationships away. 

Egotism is an easy road to walk and one that you will find yourself alone on if you go too far.  You cannot judge your own life’s value by possessions and achievements.  The only measure is the love for those around you and the love they have for you.  The most beautiful mindset to live by is (that you can never take anything with you) you can only give.  Everything in the world is only borrowed while you are here and one day you leave it behind.  Generosities of love and attention, gratitude and friendship are the most important gifts to give at Christmastime and all year round. 

Take an assessment of all those you have contact with daily.  Let your thoughts settle on the relationships you have.  How could you improve them?  Can you provide more value?  It can prove to be overwhelming trying to change the world. It’s more effective to improve the lives of others you know.  What would make them better and stronger?  How could you do something everyday that could benefit a complete stranger?  The value you are looking for is to leave something better than you found it.

Altruism is a habit best developed when practiced daily.  Give generously, love deeply, smile often and do more than the minimum.

Die While You’re Alive

By far, the most terrifying portion of Dickens’ tale is Scrooge’s stint with the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a mysterious black robed phantom that looks like the Grim Reaper.  This ghost shows Scrooge images of his pending future should he not learn to change his ways.  The most striking of these visions are the details and reactions of others surrounding his death.  He’s afforded a wondrous opportunity to die while he’s still alive.  You can experience this too.  

It’s inevitable that eventually we’re all going to die. So why not envision it in advance?  Experience it, dream it, play it out in your mind.  Write your own eulogy, script your funeral, even plan for it.  The goal is to see that every moment is precious because it’s one less that remains in this lifetime.  You should be spending those precious moments making your life magical.  Don’t stress for, don’t get anxious or envious for anything because it’s all temporary.  What matter’s most is the love and friendships you have in your life.  Give and support others and let happiness flow within and through you always. 

It’s important to take a look at your present circumstances through the eyes of what will happen as your life plays out to the end.  Do you like what you see?  If not then you can change it.  That’s the gift.  Your ability to be a living Christmas miracle is in recognizing the importance of living fully, because life doesn’t last forever and the impacts you make will mark your legacy when you are gone.

Dickens’ put a life lesson in this tale of Christmas and the impact of such has gone on to create one of the most well recognized Christmas stories throughout history.  It’s spiritual and resonates with us. Reminding us no matter how long it’s been and how far we’ve strayed, we can turn it all around any time we still have a breath in our lungs and love in our hearts.  I want to leave you with these words from A Christmas Carol, as Scrooge awakens to the reality of his mistakes.

 "I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope!...I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach”

How You Treat Others Defines You

How the world treats us is often a reflection of how we treat the world.  I tend to receive general kindness from people.  This kindness, I believe, goes back to the concept that we get back what we give out.  This is the demonstration of the law of attraction, which states that all your thoughts and all the emotions connected to your thoughts will become your reality. In other words, everything you currently have in your life has been attracted to you through your mind.  This is the way that the universe works.  If you stay mindful to project kindness, love and gratitude you will surely receive these things in return. 

Life is a cycle of energy.  Just like the flow of the ocean, it ebbs and flows but you can only get in energy once you have given it out. To know that you should be thoughtful, kind and thankful is one thing, but practicing it can be more difficult. I’ve put together some starter tips that you can use to begin to see the relationship between what energy you put out and the energy you receive.

Know those who serve you and support you.

Take conscious effort to get to know people who are responsible for making sure that things in your life are running smoothly.  Whether it’s a janitor at your work, the bank teller, the lawn care guy, the cashier you see daily at the convenience store, your neighbors or anyone else that has a reoccurring role in your life, take an interest in the lives of these people who make an impact on your daily life.  You don’t need to know their whole life history; just showing a genuine interest in the person lets them know you find their roles valuable.  .

I make it a point to look at the cashier’s name tag when I go shopping.  I use some casual banter in our exchange and at the end always thank them using their name.  I can’t tell you that this gives them a lasting impression of me, but I took the time to recognize them as a person not just “the checkout girl at the grocery store.”  Any opportunity you have  to make someone’s day better, go for it.  It makes a world of difference in your day too.

Be the change you wish to see in others

I believe that common courtesies have become fading habits.  One reason for this is that our lives have accelerated through technology and continual strives for productivity.  It’s amazing to me how few people take the time to be polite anymore.  We’re no longer holding doors open, shaking hands, or saying hello to people as we pass by.  It’s easy to forget (with your face down texting on your cell phone) while walking into the gas station that someone is behind you and let the door slam in their face.  Often, someone will hold the door for me and it means all the difference that someone took the time to think of me.  I have always found small courtesies such as these to be gentlemanly or ladylike and have always tried to do the same (except car doors, I always fail at remembering those)

Never pass up an opportunity to serve others.  If you cross someone who needs help dead battery in the parking lot, or flat tire on the side of the road and you’re in a position to help, at least make the offer.  You’d want them to offer assistance if the position was flipped.  It’s easy to complain about what the world is turning into and not be the change you wish to see in others.  Don’t let that happen.

Show gratitude for the service you get.

While you are on your daily routine, handling the business of living, be sure to take no one for granted.  People make the world go round.  My world spins because of the service I receive from many different places, and I am deeply grateful.  Saying thank you for everything you receive is not only easy, it’s free, and it goes a long way.  Offering a “thank you” or “you’re welcome” is also, sadly, very easily overlooked.  Remember to show your appreciation for all that you get, be it product or service. 

I had a great lunch a few weeks ago. The food was great, and the service was top notch for a casual dining restaurant during a lunch rush.  The server, a middle aged man, was not only attentive but also personable and made the experience wonderful.  Forty-five minutes after I left, I realized I had forgotten to tip him.  I very quickly got in the car, went back to the restaurant, approached the waiter and asked for forgiveness.  He made no mention that I didn’t tip.  He even seemed confused as to what I meant as he politely accepted it and continued to go about his job. 

It made me feel instantly better, and it was augmented by the cashier at the front of the restaurant making mention that it was really great of me to come all the way back just to tip the server. 

I smiled and said, “How could I not? He did a great job.” 

 

Regardless of what happens remember to show how thankful you are for even the smallest kindnesses.  People are not required to treat you well, but when they do it makes your experience better.

  

Problems are unrealized opportunities

I have spent the better part of the last ten years studying entrepreneurship which is founded on one critical fact.  Every problem is an opportunity.  If you can solve someone’s problem then you have a means of creating value for someone else.  This is how business works.  It has taken me a little longer to realize that this is how all relationships work.  People unite together in relationships, families, friendships, and networks in order to serve and help one another.  In essence to solve each other’s problems.  Realizing this is a huge factor in every interaction because it helps you grasp how to give more value to the relationships that you have. 

Are you the kind of person that focuses solely on the problem?  The mind can get so bogged down with negative views that you will only see what’s wrong and never see a solution.  Some people live their whole lives this way.  Try to stay solution focused when posed with life’s hurdles and you will suddenly see endless opportunities to create value in your life and the lives of those around you.  Amazing things happen to those who can see how to solve each other’s problems. 

  

Give when it counts.

And give without counting.  People often have a scarcity mindset that holds back their generosity.  I have never given anything away that I have later missed.  It’s always been a great feeling letting it go than having kept it.  I’ve also been blessed by the generosity of others in many of the same ways.  I feel a distinct relationship between my mindset on giving away and getting back.  In the end it’s all just flowing energy. 

This goes for anything you can think of.  I make it a point to give my spare change to charity all the time.  Around the holidays I give it to the Salvation Army’s bell ringers outside the grocery store.  I mean to give blood more often than I do but even that’s easy to give, my body will make more.  You can’t take anything with you when your time comes; all you can do in this life is give.  Give often and give when it counts.

You’ll never know the impact you make on the world.  There will be times when the slightest gesture which is nothing to someone will have a meaningful impact on your life.  A good friend of mine calls them “magic moments”.  He describes them as times of vivid enlightenment that can be brought on by any conversation or action.  These moments can be remarkable for one person and yet seemingly ordinary for another. 

Magic moments can also be hugely benevolent or destructive, depending on the impact they leave on the perceiver.  Since you never know when they are going to occur it’s best to always be striving to show kindness, love and gratitude for all that is around you.  The complex system that makes up the world around you is actually very delicate.  Honor that and treat it well.

Everyday Thanksgiving.

It's Thanksgiving, what I've always seen as America's gunshot start to the holidays marathon, but before all of the seasonal shuffling gather your family and friends around the table, large or small.  Count your blessings and pray.  Don't pray for things you want for your life because today is about being grateful for what it is that you already have.

This gratitude should stretch to all the things that make your life what it is.  Be grateful for the air you breathe, the light of the sun, and the roof over your head.  Be grateful for your heart, your liver, for your kidneys.  Be thankful that you are living.

Rejoice that you are in the company of loved ones, and if you are not then call them.  If you know someone who's alone don't let them be.  No one is truly alone in this world.  Everyone has much to be thankful for and you should make everyday a thanksgiving day.

I feel so much gratitude that my cup as run over with love for my own life.  It's true, I am in love with my life.  I'm passionately dedicated to it, awake to it, and so grateful for it.  You should feel the same about your own life.  Take not a single moment for granted, because that moment is passing and you can't get it back.

As you sit down to eat, before taking that first bite, look around you in all that you are apart of, the beauty of our lives is everywhere.  Be grateful.

How to Find Your Life's Purpose.

What is the meaning of life? That has been pondered over the centuries by philosophers from every age and culture. From the earliest times men have sought to insert their interpretations of meaning into the vast experience that is life. I'd have you believe this very simple notion: the meaning of life is to make life meaningful.

No one can inject meaning into your life for you. No amount of religion, psychology, romance, alcohol, or sex is going to provide the absolute answers. Life's meaning must be sought by the person lacking it. How do you find the meaning of your life? Discovering your life’s purpose? Well it’s about finding what you’re passionate about. I believe spiritually, we’re all on the planet with a purpose, something we’re all supposed to be here doing. It could be anything. Our soul knows what this purpose is but our conscious minds do not. We’re driven subtly to pursue activities within our lives and then purpose manifests itself through our interests and the passions we develop. Tapping into this purpose can open your eyes to a whole different view of the world all around you.

Finding your life's purpose can transform your entire life from a place of dull existence to an amazing world of harmony and magic. Consider what excites you. What do you love doing that allows you to lose all track of time while doing it? Anything that you find yourself doing that rives you to distraction and provides you with emotional satisfaction is going to take you in the right direction.

For me, writing and speaking on the topics of self improvement and spiritual discovery are my passions. They call to me. This very article and this webpage are the evidence of me living in my purpose. This is what I was here to do. I know it.

When you ask yourself, “What drives me? What is my passion?” you may not come back with any apparent answers. It’s time for you to begin to consider some very basic questions.

What comes easily?
What’s something that you like to do that you find to be very easy? Often times we can’t recognize what we love to do but we can see that there’s always been something that comes naturally to us, or that was not as difficult to do as other things. This is a strength in our lives that is usually created by our own personal interest in the subject. Start a list of things you have always found to be easy to do.

What really sparks your creative mind?
I love to create media. I have long held an interest in writing and designing marketing materials, design layout for brochures and business cards, I was even on the high school newspaper staff as a teenager. A couple times in my life, I’ve been a part of making commercials. These things always get my creative juices flowing and I get “in the zone”. In the recent years I have found a growing passion in making websites, and creating media products. Anytime anyone mentions anything about product development or advertising I perk right up and offer input. It’s just a passion I know I have.

What do you love to talk about?
I’ll be in a conversation with my wife around the house and suddenly I will notice her looking at me, smiling and shaking her head. I’ll stop and ask her "What's the matter?". She’ll immediately just look at me and say, “I love you.”. This has become a way for me to realize that I have hijacked our conversation and began taking it down some road on a topic that I’m crazy passionate about. I don’t realize that I rarely stop to take a breath, or let her get an opinion in. These are some of the things that I am knowledgeable and passionate about. Things I’ve often found that I can’t help but fall back to in conversation. When you have just read or heard something about a topic and you have that "I’ve just gotta tell someone this!" thought in your head, that’s a huge indicator of your life’s purpose flowing through you. Ask those closest to you to tell you what it is that you are always enthusiastically rambling about. This could help you greatly to discover your hidden passion

What would you do for free?
Oftentimes in life, there is no immediate pay off in our topics of interest. I’ve spent countless hours and dollars investing in my knowledge of self improvement and to no financial gain at all. These are the things I would do anyway even if I didn’t aspire to eventually make money doing them. Your higher calling may not be something that has an apparent financial gain. If you know of something you love doing so much that you’d be willing to do it anyway for free or even pay to do it, then you have a huge indicator of your life’s purpose.

What would you regret not having done?
When aging people are surveyed about their lives, and are asked, “What do you regret the most not having done in life?” the number one answer is that they wished they’d taken more risks. here are only a couple of definite truths in this world. You are here now; you will not always be. What are you going to do with the time you have been given that will make this all meaningful? Life’s too short and too precious to not go out and risk a little bit. Oftentimes, fear of failure locks us down, but I’d have you realize that dying without trying is the ultimate failure. What will you regret not having done with your life before it’s over?

Living with meaning will awaken you to the world, it changes your perspective. It’s like living in high definition. When you live with purpose you begin to recognize that everything that exists has purpose. Happiness will flow from within you and your whole life changes. I’m interested in hearing about your search for your passions. Email me at FlipFlopPhilosophy@gmail.com to share your self discoveries with me. 

Let's Get It Started!

 For years now I’ve studied self help, and personal development, religions, and even alternative religions and magic.  I’ve been exposed to a lot of new ideas and some that are pretty far out.  I’ve likely ran the gamut of topics concerning personal empowerment and inner peace.  What’s my drive? 

At the risk of giving the illusion of insanity or sitting on a therapist’s couch (something else I admit that I have done before) like many things about us as adults, it all started when I was a child.  I have always, for as long as I remember, had a certain unshakable feeling.  A knowing or personal truth, undeniable, was something I couldn’t get out of my thoughts, something that no one could ever convince me wasn’t real.  It was simply this, I have a purpose to know a truth beyond anything which is being told to me right now, I don’t know what that is, but I will know it when they tell me, because there is more to life than what is right in front of me.  And this is what I understood at the age of 5 and 6 years old!

Let me explain this notion a bit.  When I was in kindergarten the concept was tucked into the back of my mind constantly present and maybe even long before that.  I did lead a very turbulent childhood life, but there was always a knowing that there was more to this reality than what was apparent.  I understood this at such a young age likened it to the counter at the bank, it’s there and you just couldn’t see it without being raised up or big enough.  I wasn’t tall enough yet and the way the world worked was related to what happened up there.  In my mind, only adults were able to know this truth but I was wise to the secret I knew it existed where none of my friends did.  Maybe, I was just a young paranoid schizophrenic?

As the years passed this feeling never went away, I was constantly interested in what adults were talking about, because I wanted to learn this life secret they were keeping from me.  By my early teens, with many very teen distractions contending for my attention, I still hadn’t learned anything deeply penetrating about the meaning of life. My exposure to the world left me with a new thought.  It isn’t that they aren’t telling me it’s that I am understanding that there’s a secret out there and most people don’t know it.  It’s a little higher than the bank counter than I imagined in my youth. 

In my later teen years I began to ask tougher questions about life, death, afterlife and existence.  My early influencers turned me to my traditional religious path, church.  I went in seeking the answers and came back as many teens do with much to rebel against.  I missed the point, and kept searching.  Places I turned  to professed a knowing of the truth but each time I asked, read, or listened; it seemed the truth eluded me.  It became evident that all the people who claimed to know this truth either missed it completely or couldn’t convey it to me.  I was left with this new understanding.  This secret is too difficult to convey to most people. I was frustrated to say the least.

Life goes on as it always does and I continued my pursuit, and believe me if this wasn't a part of my being I probably would have given up and forgotten about it.  This truth was undeniable, I mean, I couldn’t get it out f my head.  My interests in self improvement and religions had now expanded to include business. As a young man I began to suffer many of the same distractions and ambitions that adults face.   Starting a family meant improving my life through success, and making money.  This was coupled with the inclusion of business books which hinted at some spiritual truth. but also nearly tripping over millions made through entrepreneurship.  To the enlightened zen millionaire.  I had gone on farther, and started over reaching, growing very distracted in my books and in pursuit of my ambitious goals. 

In these pursuits is where I lost my way.  My knowing of happiness became perverted by my ambitions, and I was lost in the proverbial woods, and then despair.  This is the truth of the past few years of adulthood, which have been full of trials.  Faced with personal limitations, and stirred together with a lack of self confidence and any personal fulfillment, I fell into depression.  It was a difficult time for myself, and my family, and loved ones.  It was a time of tears and feeling very divided from the world.  Distractions helped solve problems in the immediate sense but the problems were always beneath the surface, a dark admission that I shared only with those closest to me. In truth it was that I hated myself. 

My mind was closed, it was crippled.  Not much mattered to me, not my truth, not my ambitions, certainly not my well-being.  I pained myself and my loved ones, lashed out irrationally at those around me and projected my personal demons on the faces of those who would have saved me if only I would let them.  It was tragic. 

One day I couldn't do it anymore. Not another day couldn't be spent crying for myself, or taking another pill, or hurting others because I wanted to hurt myself. I completely let go.  I started taking large amounts of time and spending it outside in the most healing place I could go; which for me that was the beach. It was there that I began to heal. Every morning I witnessed the sunrise, I meditated, and I reflected.  Centering myself, I found peace, and another piece of myself. In doing these things, I found the path out of the woods.  Since then I’ve learned to apply these lessons to my life and I’ll share them with you now.

Ø      Do not put off happiness for another day when you’ve accomplished something you’ve set in your mind to do.  Happiness isn’t something you will get from life, it’s something you bring to life.  It’s the journey not the destination.

Ø      Focus on the quality of the life you lead, not the size, the decoration or the appearance of it.. Stop comparing what your life contains verses what others have, the only test of your life's quality is how happy you are, if life (no matter how you live it) doesn't make you happy, you're doing it wrong.

Ø      Let go of the illusion of control over life.  Any use of the present to worry about the future is a waste. Letting go of control is not giving up the attempt at causing change, it's breaking the attachment to the outcomes we would prefer in any/every situation in which we find ourselves. 

 

Ø      All negative thoughts should be put away.  If you expel negativity this is all that you will receive.  Because all things attract what they are like, so too will misery love company.  Positive people attract more positive people, and great things happen in those environments.  Do you’re best to stay in the light and love and you will attract more light and love.

  

Ø      Be grateful and humble in all things.  To be alive is a precious gift, so stay thankful for every wonderful thing working in harmony to keep you alive.   And be humble in that knowing.  Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

 

Ø      Become better everyday but always focus on self improvement.  It’s not to become better than anyone else, just better than you were.

 

These lessons are some of what I’ve learned from life and are true keys to happiness.  I hope that over time I will take these thoughts and others and expand on them until they are fully explored.  I have so much to share with you, my reader.  So, go on in peace and be blessed.

 

Namaste.