Happy Tuesday.
What a world wind it's been over the last short while. I'm a full-time musician (for those of you that didn't know that) and I've been touring in my home province of Newfoundland for the last couple of weeks. I'm twelve weeks into this blog now and this close to Christmas is a great time for a check up.
While I was out on the road, I realized how easy it is to slip into the old ways. The pressure of getting where you're going and of the people around you who may be having a bad day. At this time of year everyone seems to be wondering where everyone is coming from. Don't you find that, no matter how many people you thought lived in your town or city, there seems to be twice as many of them at this time of year? :)
The concept of a check up was really strong in me as I sat down to write this post this morning. For those of you that have been here for the whole 12 weeks, thank you very much. I'd love to hear from you marxstuff@gmail.com I'd like to know of the struggles and triumphs you have had as a result of the concepts here. It would be very beneficial to me. I won't share them unless you want me to and even then I might not! :)
There can be great conflict within us when we are trying to do something more for ourselves. Peace is one of the most miraculous things. Achieving it sometimes is like moving as fast as you possibly can in an attempt to arrive at stillness. It simply sits there, content in itself, waiting for you to join. All the while, it sits there in a world that didn't get the memo. Because peace is so self contained, it almost seems to taunt you. Peace doesn't need you, it's perfectly peaceful after all. You, on the other hand, crave peace. Whether you know it or not, it's why there is tension when things are going some way other than the way you want them. It is why you want to get 'back' to how it was before. Ever notice how peace always seems to be the way things were just before you got yourself in this non peaceful place? If you really check in with yourself, you will realize that peace is a little more peaceful after
you have been in a place of struggle...for another blog perhaps...
For now, make sure you check in with yourself. Not just every 12 weeks of course...every single day. Not just every day of course, but every now and then throughout the day. Feel the tension in your body inform your thoughts...feel your thoughts inform the body. Breathe and let go. Smile and say "I knew that'... start again because the more often you start, the less often you have to... one foot after the other into the life you've been so profoundly blessed to live.
11 days until Christmas. Perhaps you could use peace now more than ever...perhaps the world could use some more peaceful people now more than ever... either way, it can only be achieved one place...within you.
Have a great week....
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Worth: Part II
There was a time when I would have struggled with the number of questions I get about 'worth' and about what it actually means to create your own world from the inside out. But I have come to recognize the questions as the first step. If you still have questions about worth, congratulations: no questions - no answers.
For those of you who follow this blog regularly, you will realize that I always follow a suggestion with some sort of simple implementation plan. Hopefully you know why, and for some of you I know first hand that you do some of the things I 'prescribe' and are getting some results...
You will never 'understand' worth until you feel it. It must be felt. We are energy beings and we confuse thinking with feeling all the time. Take any muscle in your body... a bicep for the sake of illustration. You can think about making that bigger all you want...in fact, unless your job requires sufficient physical labor, you must always first think about making it bigger before you create your action plan. But until you actually start to make repetitive movements with sufficient weight in your hand, you muscle will not improve.
Such is the life of a human being. Plain and simple, it's why we're here. We grapple, we struggle, we give up or we accept that we cannot have what we want without doing something. Faith is not knowing that you will be taken care of. Faith is knowing that you live in a world where you must take steps to acquaint yourself with that which takes care. Once you have seen what that is, you will know beyond any doubt that you can have whatever you desire if you see the end result as though it already exists and then walk toward it one step at a time. But make no mistake... no step, no journey, no struggle, no faith.
No one can tell you that your worth is 'within' and have you feel it. Very few (if any) ever say, "Oh I get it, I'm great" and then proceed to live life to the fullest, especially if they are struggling day to day like so many of us are. You must wake up right where you are within the very world you have created with the thinking you have right now... and little by little day by day you come to see how incredibly beautiful a process this is.
Every day, when you wake up, realize that, while the news is broadcasting a 'stand off' between police and an armed man, tell yourself there are 350 million North Americans doing something that is NOT that today. Become acquainted with the fact that the world is so much more than the world you see. That amazing people exist and they are just like you. The only difference is the choices they made to live life no matter what. Give it a shot. There's no better time then the Christmas season. Pretty soon you will begin to see the rust coming off your sense of worth. Then, as you begin to see the consistent day to day creation of success and happiness you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you create your own existence. But you have to start somewhere and you have to do something. Why not start right where you are today. You'll have 18 days practice by the time Christmas comes!
For those of you who follow this blog regularly, you will realize that I always follow a suggestion with some sort of simple implementation plan. Hopefully you know why, and for some of you I know first hand that you do some of the things I 'prescribe' and are getting some results...
You will never 'understand' worth until you feel it. It must be felt. We are energy beings and we confuse thinking with feeling all the time. Take any muscle in your body... a bicep for the sake of illustration. You can think about making that bigger all you want...in fact, unless your job requires sufficient physical labor, you must always first think about making it bigger before you create your action plan. But until you actually start to make repetitive movements with sufficient weight in your hand, you muscle will not improve.
Such is the life of a human being. Plain and simple, it's why we're here. We grapple, we struggle, we give up or we accept that we cannot have what we want without doing something. Faith is not knowing that you will be taken care of. Faith is knowing that you live in a world where you must take steps to acquaint yourself with that which takes care. Once you have seen what that is, you will know beyond any doubt that you can have whatever you desire if you see the end result as though it already exists and then walk toward it one step at a time. But make no mistake... no step, no journey, no struggle, no faith.
No one can tell you that your worth is 'within' and have you feel it. Very few (if any) ever say, "Oh I get it, I'm great" and then proceed to live life to the fullest, especially if they are struggling day to day like so many of us are. You must wake up right where you are within the very world you have created with the thinking you have right now... and little by little day by day you come to see how incredibly beautiful a process this is.
Every day, when you wake up, realize that, while the news is broadcasting a 'stand off' between police and an armed man, tell yourself there are 350 million North Americans doing something that is NOT that today. Become acquainted with the fact that the world is so much more than the world you see. That amazing people exist and they are just like you. The only difference is the choices they made to live life no matter what. Give it a shot. There's no better time then the Christmas season. Pretty soon you will begin to see the rust coming off your sense of worth. Then, as you begin to see the consistent day to day creation of success and happiness you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you create your own existence. But you have to start somewhere and you have to do something. Why not start right where you are today. You'll have 18 days practice by the time Christmas comes!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Worth
As we enter the Christmas season it becomes amazingly obvious how governed we are by the material world. Queues form outside shops as people learn that a certain 'must have' item is available inside in either limited supply or at an 'unbeatable price'. People treat each other with complete disregard as they try to buy the perfect gift for someone they 'care' about and mob mentality often ensues.
What is something worth? Beyond the physical components, the labor, the shipping and the sales fees, what is something really worth? Do you remember something that was 'necessary' from a few Christmases ago? Where is it now? As the novelty wears off either because the kids grew up or you grew up or the parts fell off or it is no longer in 'style', what is actually happening?
This world is created from the inside out. Look around the room you are in. Not a single thing in it existed before it first existed in the mind of a human being. Nothing existed before it was thought.
'Necessity' becomes idea, idea is considered until it becomes a concept which requires agreement in principle (either with yourself because you have to make it or with someone else because you have to get materials etc) which turns into creation. This is the same for a chair as it is for a PS3. The only difference is that I don't need to spend 50 million dollars convincing you that you NEED a chair.
Since the world is created from the inside out, what kind of world are you going to help create this Christmas? Memories will be made this year. They will be of families and friends; they will be of quiet conversations and parties bordering on total madness. Few will remember what they wore or even what they got, but everyone will remember who they were with. I'll attempt a quote here that I'll paraphrase because I can't even remember now where I heard it but it has always stuck with me.
"They may not remember what you said, they might not even remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel"
...so before you go madly tearing into this holiday season with your credit card in you hand working yourself into a situation that you don't pay off until June, remember something...
I'm not certain who K is but I am certain that every kiss begins with love...
See ya next week.
What is something worth? Beyond the physical components, the labor, the shipping and the sales fees, what is something really worth? Do you remember something that was 'necessary' from a few Christmases ago? Where is it now? As the novelty wears off either because the kids grew up or you grew up or the parts fell off or it is no longer in 'style', what is actually happening?
This world is created from the inside out. Look around the room you are in. Not a single thing in it existed before it first existed in the mind of a human being. Nothing existed before it was thought.
'Necessity' becomes idea, idea is considered until it becomes a concept which requires agreement in principle (either with yourself because you have to make it or with someone else because you have to get materials etc) which turns into creation. This is the same for a chair as it is for a PS3. The only difference is that I don't need to spend 50 million dollars convincing you that you NEED a chair.
Since the world is created from the inside out, what kind of world are you going to help create this Christmas? Memories will be made this year. They will be of families and friends; they will be of quiet conversations and parties bordering on total madness. Few will remember what they wore or even what they got, but everyone will remember who they were with. I'll attempt a quote here that I'll paraphrase because I can't even remember now where I heard it but it has always stuck with me.
"They may not remember what you said, they might not even remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel"
...so before you go madly tearing into this holiday season with your credit card in you hand working yourself into a situation that you don't pay off until June, remember something...
I'm not certain who K is but I am certain that every kiss begins with love...
See ya next week.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Beliefs Part III
A very common mistake that many of you have been making when turning around beliefs is to involve others in your beliefs. This leads me to conclude that I simply have not been clear enough about something. The quality of your life has nothing to do with anyone else.
Even if right now, you find yourself in what feels like an impossible situation, I can assure you it has more to do with how you are looking at the situation than it does the situation itself. Please understand that in every situation you find intolerable, there is one common denominator: You. If you don’t like the situation one of your kids are in, if you have a sibling who is doing something you can’t understand, if your spouse or boss is continuously being unreasonable… the question is not what they are doing, it’s always how do you feel about it? There is nothing you cannot change it you are willing to pay the price. The question always becomes, are you willing to pay the price?
Now there are extremes people… I know that for example, if you are in an abusive relationship, you need to leave. I’m not asking you to stay there and reevaluate the way you are seeing things and it will get better. What I am saying is that, changing your beliefs must include you. Avoid the subtle traps, which include: Why is he/she like that to me (or my friend or my brother)? Which puts the emphasis on them to be nicer to you (or your friend or your sister). Understand that you cannot control someone else’ behavior, you can only influence your reaction. You can only influence your reaction if you are aware of your own feelings surrounding the situation. Watch in the space between their action and your reaction and choose freedom from emotional reaction. You won’t win 100% of the time at first, but starting out, it’s actually fun to realize how much of your life is in your own hands… see you next week
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Beliefs Part II
Happy Tuesday,
Thanks once again. What a week. So many wonderful questions and interactions. I'm accumulating some amazing people here.
Many of my questions this week were technical. So, if someone knows how blogger works and wants to let me know how to tell people to sign up so they get notification of a post, I'd love to know. marxstuff@gmail.com
I thought I'd get specific with the mechanics of belief so that people could have something a little more concrete as a map for change. I think it was Einstein who said (and I'm paraphrasing) "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".
Changing behavior without changing the underlying belief that causes the behavior is like medicating symptoms. Wouldn't you rather find out why you have a B12 deficiency and fix the 'why' as opposed to having to get in the car and drive to your Dr.'s office every week or month for the rest of your life and get a shot?
To go a little deeper on last week's example, if I believe that smoking makes me calm and I like being calm... why in the world would my body give that up, even if I can see the statistics staring me in the face that say smoking is killing me a little at a time?
Our beliefs are embedded and therefore can be uprooted on the basis of two fundamental factors. Emotion and priority. You see, being calm is deeply emotional. It doesn't even occur to me that I might be uptight because the nicotine is leaving my system from the last cigarette I had... I 'crave' calm. My emotional investment in calm takes priority. Calm is immediate. Death by cigarettes is way down the road...in fact, there's this one guy who lived to be 100 and he smoked every day...
I reverse this trend only when I change the belief. I use my conscious mind to affect change in my subconscious mind in 3 steps:
Step 1. Identify the emotional factor (connection) that ties you to the unwanted behavior. (For the sake of our example...smoking makes you calm)
Step 2. Create a new, opposite, emotional connection. (Smoking is extremely irritating, I will never feel calm as long as I smoke)
Step 3. Use my old priority to infuse great strength in my new 'conviction'. (I must be calm at all cost).
I use the power of my conscious mind to infuse the new 'belief' into the subconscious by being aware of the constant useless nattering and putting that to use. I take every spare moment I have to repeat to myself how irritating smoking is and how I love being calm. Sooner than you can imagine, you will never understand what you got out of smoking. When your subconscious mind begins to keep you safe, heaven and earth will move to make it so.
This can be used for any behavior...
If you're having trouble identifying the emotional connection in the behavior you want to change. Drop me an email.
Have a great week.
Thanks once again. What a week. So many wonderful questions and interactions. I'm accumulating some amazing people here.
Many of my questions this week were technical. So, if someone knows how blogger works and wants to let me know how to tell people to sign up so they get notification of a post, I'd love to know. marxstuff@gmail.com
I thought I'd get specific with the mechanics of belief so that people could have something a little more concrete as a map for change. I think it was Einstein who said (and I'm paraphrasing) "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".
Changing behavior without changing the underlying belief that causes the behavior is like medicating symptoms. Wouldn't you rather find out why you have a B12 deficiency and fix the 'why' as opposed to having to get in the car and drive to your Dr.'s office every week or month for the rest of your life and get a shot?
To go a little deeper on last week's example, if I believe that smoking makes me calm and I like being calm... why in the world would my body give that up, even if I can see the statistics staring me in the face that say smoking is killing me a little at a time?
Our beliefs are embedded and therefore can be uprooted on the basis of two fundamental factors. Emotion and priority. You see, being calm is deeply emotional. It doesn't even occur to me that I might be uptight because the nicotine is leaving my system from the last cigarette I had... I 'crave' calm. My emotional investment in calm takes priority. Calm is immediate. Death by cigarettes is way down the road...in fact, there's this one guy who lived to be 100 and he smoked every day...
I reverse this trend only when I change the belief. I use my conscious mind to affect change in my subconscious mind in 3 steps:
Step 1. Identify the emotional factor (connection) that ties you to the unwanted behavior. (For the sake of our example...smoking makes you calm)
Step 2. Create a new, opposite, emotional connection. (Smoking is extremely irritating, I will never feel calm as long as I smoke)
Step 3. Use my old priority to infuse great strength in my new 'conviction'. (I must be calm at all cost).
I use the power of my conscious mind to infuse the new 'belief' into the subconscious by being aware of the constant useless nattering and putting that to use. I take every spare moment I have to repeat to myself how irritating smoking is and how I love being calm. Sooner than you can imagine, you will never understand what you got out of smoking. When your subconscious mind begins to keep you safe, heaven and earth will move to make it so.
This can be used for any behavior...
If you're having trouble identifying the emotional connection in the behavior you want to change. Drop me an email.
Have a great week.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Beliefs...
I hope you've had an excellent week. I certainly did. Let's jump right in shall we?
Beliefs and core values are what determine how you see the world. You may think it's the other way around but do you remember in an earlier blog when we talked about getting a new car and how 'all of a sudden' you saw the kind of car you wanted everywhere? Whether you realize it or not, you are doing that many times a minute, an hour, a day... The world only shapes your vision of things when you are too young to decide for yourself. Once you become 'self governing' you create the world as you want to see it, not as it could be. An example would be the whisper line we all did in school where someone whispers something to the first person in the line and by the time it gets to the end of the line (10 kids or so later) it is something completely different...according to the way each of us thinks, we leave out 'this' or put in 'that'. Those things shape our experience of the world.
When a core belief in your subconscious mind is: 'eating will cure my boredom' or 'They will laugh at me' or 'I am not special enough to do x', you act in ways that make these things true. When you act in ways that make these things true, you reinforce the 'truth' and fuel the belief. If you want to know what your core beliefs are, look at your life. Anywhere that you are not happy (not enough money, over weight, in the wrong job or relationship) you have a core belief blocking you that you need to fix.
Our freedom is in our understanding that these beliefs are not 'fixed'. They were put in your subconscious mind and they can be changed, rearranged or removed completely if you have the will. I'm sure you've heard by now that everything wonderful that happens in life, happens just outside your comfort zone. If you haven't heard that before, go back and read that sentence a couple of hundred times. The reason this is true is because you have an amazing internal system that wants to keep you safe. You stay 'safe' according to what you believe. So if you believe that a cigarette will calm you down (even though science proves the opposite and you know for a fact that every one is filled with poison) then quitting will be like climbing Mount Everest. Your body actually begins to 'keep you safe' by urging you to have a cigarette. I quit years ago and haven't given it a second thought. My beliefs on smoking are simple... I have none.
This week, find a belief you need to fix. Write it down on a piece of paper. Right next to it write down the opposite, but write it in positive language. Make sure it's a bite sized belief for now. We want to use measurable changes. Here's an example:
Core belief: People are annoying. New Belief: People are beautiful and I enjoy how different they can be.
Your only job then this week is to prove your new belief. Note that it could be food related, behavior related etc. Your body will work so hard at proving this if you 'believe it' with all your might that you will be startled. But know that you work in exact measure of strength of the belief. That's why some things really upset you (even though you don't know why) and others don't really matter...
Give it a shot...freedom is just right there... can you feel it?
Beliefs and core values are what determine how you see the world. You may think it's the other way around but do you remember in an earlier blog when we talked about getting a new car and how 'all of a sudden' you saw the kind of car you wanted everywhere? Whether you realize it or not, you are doing that many times a minute, an hour, a day... The world only shapes your vision of things when you are too young to decide for yourself. Once you become 'self governing' you create the world as you want to see it, not as it could be. An example would be the whisper line we all did in school where someone whispers something to the first person in the line and by the time it gets to the end of the line (10 kids or so later) it is something completely different...according to the way each of us thinks, we leave out 'this' or put in 'that'. Those things shape our experience of the world.
When a core belief in your subconscious mind is: 'eating will cure my boredom' or 'They will laugh at me' or 'I am not special enough to do x', you act in ways that make these things true. When you act in ways that make these things true, you reinforce the 'truth' and fuel the belief. If you want to know what your core beliefs are, look at your life. Anywhere that you are not happy (not enough money, over weight, in the wrong job or relationship) you have a core belief blocking you that you need to fix.
Our freedom is in our understanding that these beliefs are not 'fixed'. They were put in your subconscious mind and they can be changed, rearranged or removed completely if you have the will. I'm sure you've heard by now that everything wonderful that happens in life, happens just outside your comfort zone. If you haven't heard that before, go back and read that sentence a couple of hundred times. The reason this is true is because you have an amazing internal system that wants to keep you safe. You stay 'safe' according to what you believe. So if you believe that a cigarette will calm you down (even though science proves the opposite and you know for a fact that every one is filled with poison) then quitting will be like climbing Mount Everest. Your body actually begins to 'keep you safe' by urging you to have a cigarette. I quit years ago and haven't given it a second thought. My beliefs on smoking are simple... I have none.
This week, find a belief you need to fix. Write it down on a piece of paper. Right next to it write down the opposite, but write it in positive language. Make sure it's a bite sized belief for now. We want to use measurable changes. Here's an example:
Core belief: People are annoying. New Belief: People are beautiful and I enjoy how different they can be.
Your only job then this week is to prove your new belief. Note that it could be food related, behavior related etc. Your body will work so hard at proving this if you 'believe it' with all your might that you will be startled. But know that you work in exact measure of strength of the belief. That's why some things really upset you (even though you don't know why) and others don't really matter...
Give it a shot...freedom is just right there... can you feel it?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Love Part 3 (final)
Happy Tuesday,
I've had some remarkable interactions over the past week. Thank you to all of you who shared comments, sent links and thoughts. I 'love' it!
It's quite amazing how hard it is to stay on track when making change isn't it? Most of the comments I got were about forgetting to maintain the practice or having the mind wander so much during the 10 minutes that you forgot what you started trying to do. It's fantastic that you tried and for the few of you that had a breakthrough, congratulations. When you get the nerve to share the comments publicly we could all learn so much... but we're in no rush! I fully realize how personal this is.
The purpose of my sharing these practices with you was to introduce you to the way your mind does what it does. Many of you are all very aware of how the mind works but for those of you that aren't I'll offer this bit of info that might surprise you. We will do this in computer terms because everyone of you are using one at the moment so you at least know the basics.
Your conscious mind (you know, the voice that was nattering away while you tried to concentrate) processes 184 bits of information a second... a lot huh? Your subconscious mind (the place where all your 'beliefs' and such are stored) processes 2 million bits of information per second.
Conscious mind: Part of you that actively decide to 'do' something.
Subconscious mind: Part that does it.
For example, you type on your computer because you subconscious knows how to do what your fingers need to do after your conscious mind decides 'what to type'. In other words, the tons of little muscles in your fingers firing away 'seems automatic' but that's your subconscious mind dealing with every process (while healing you, beating your heart, breathing, growing your hair etc) 'after' your conscious mind decides what to do.
Just imagine what happens when your conscious mind decides it wants to do something and your subconscious mind goes...'no thanks'. 184 bits to 2,000,000 bits. Who wins?
That's why you know how to lose weight or simply eat better, you know how to stop smoking, you know that negative thoughts are useless and destructive and yet...you can't seem to do what's necessary.
Next week were going to talk about what to do fix this.... who's in?
I've had some remarkable interactions over the past week. Thank you to all of you who shared comments, sent links and thoughts. I 'love' it!
It's quite amazing how hard it is to stay on track when making change isn't it? Most of the comments I got were about forgetting to maintain the practice or having the mind wander so much during the 10 minutes that you forgot what you started trying to do. It's fantastic that you tried and for the few of you that had a breakthrough, congratulations. When you get the nerve to share the comments publicly we could all learn so much... but we're in no rush! I fully realize how personal this is.
The purpose of my sharing these practices with you was to introduce you to the way your mind does what it does. Many of you are all very aware of how the mind works but for those of you that aren't I'll offer this bit of info that might surprise you. We will do this in computer terms because everyone of you are using one at the moment so you at least know the basics.
Your conscious mind (you know, the voice that was nattering away while you tried to concentrate) processes 184 bits of information a second... a lot huh? Your subconscious mind (the place where all your 'beliefs' and such are stored) processes 2 million bits of information per second.
Conscious mind: Part of you that actively decide to 'do' something.
Subconscious mind: Part that does it.
For example, you type on your computer because you subconscious knows how to do what your fingers need to do after your conscious mind decides 'what to type'. In other words, the tons of little muscles in your fingers firing away 'seems automatic' but that's your subconscious mind dealing with every process (while healing you, beating your heart, breathing, growing your hair etc) 'after' your conscious mind decides what to do.
Just imagine what happens when your conscious mind decides it wants to do something and your subconscious mind goes...'no thanks'. 184 bits to 2,000,000 bits. Who wins?
That's why you know how to lose weight or simply eat better, you know how to stop smoking, you know that negative thoughts are useless and destructive and yet...you can't seem to do what's necessary.
Next week were going to talk about what to do fix this.... who's in?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Love (part 2)
Thank you so much for the questions and the response to last weeks blog. I'm a day late but yesterday was one of those days in which much growth occurs.
I was asked the question; How do you love yourself? at least 20 times as a result of last weeks blog so I thought I'd venture in. But before I do I'll remind those of you that wanted to ask a question and didn't know how, to write me at marxstuff@gmail.com.
The reasons most people are so lost when it comes to loving themselves are far too complicated to get into in a blog. Many of the reasons are personal and individual and require more than 'general' attention. The good news is, that there is a way to show you how to at least begin to realize where some of the problem resides. When you 'love' someone else, what do you do? The 2 most obvious things are, you spend time with them and you are as kind and gentle to them as you can possibly be. Most of us would rather do anything else in the world than spend time alone and we are less kind to ourselves than anyone else we will ever meet. So for this week I give you a prescription and I can't wait to hear the results.
For 10 minutes twice a day for the next 6 days, get someplace where you can not be disturbed by anyone. For one of the 10 minute periods, lie or sit comfortably, close your eyes and focus your mind on yourself as though you were someone you truly loved. Tell yourself the most beautiful things you can think about yourself and if you can't think of any, make them up! Ten minutes is no time at all but I can assure you, for some of you it will feel like an eternity. Don't worry, it will get easier... in fact my wish for you is that it will be very revealing in many ways.
For the other 10 minute period, find an equally quiet place with a large mirror. I want you to look into your own eyes and 'feel' the kind of love you would feel for someone you 'love'.
Right about now, some of you are feeling creeped out and coming up with a million reasons why this is the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard. I can assure you, those thoughts are keeping you from doing a heck of a lot more than this exercise. Most of what they are keeping you from will lead you to everything beautiful you will ever have in your life.
So, there you have it. See you next week. I'd love to hear your thoughts or questions again in the meantime. Have a great week!
I was asked the question; How do you love yourself? at least 20 times as a result of last weeks blog so I thought I'd venture in. But before I do I'll remind those of you that wanted to ask a question and didn't know how, to write me at marxstuff@gmail.com.
The reasons most people are so lost when it comes to loving themselves are far too complicated to get into in a blog. Many of the reasons are personal and individual and require more than 'general' attention. The good news is, that there is a way to show you how to at least begin to realize where some of the problem resides. When you 'love' someone else, what do you do? The 2 most obvious things are, you spend time with them and you are as kind and gentle to them as you can possibly be. Most of us would rather do anything else in the world than spend time alone and we are less kind to ourselves than anyone else we will ever meet. So for this week I give you a prescription and I can't wait to hear the results.
For 10 minutes twice a day for the next 6 days, get someplace where you can not be disturbed by anyone. For one of the 10 minute periods, lie or sit comfortably, close your eyes and focus your mind on yourself as though you were someone you truly loved. Tell yourself the most beautiful things you can think about yourself and if you can't think of any, make them up! Ten minutes is no time at all but I can assure you, for some of you it will feel like an eternity. Don't worry, it will get easier... in fact my wish for you is that it will be very revealing in many ways.
For the other 10 minute period, find an equally quiet place with a large mirror. I want you to look into your own eyes and 'feel' the kind of love you would feel for someone you 'love'.
Right about now, some of you are feeling creeped out and coming up with a million reasons why this is the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard. I can assure you, those thoughts are keeping you from doing a heck of a lot more than this exercise. Most of what they are keeping you from will lead you to everything beautiful you will ever have in your life.
So, there you have it. See you next week. I'd love to hear your thoughts or questions again in the meantime. Have a great week!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Love
Love is simple.
People are complicated.
Love is unconditional.
People add conditions to almost everything.
Love is energy. Like gravity or light, we can argue about what love is or isn't all day long and love won't care in the least.
It comes through us and from us but it can not be seen, only felt.
We can see the end result of love as inspired action but we can not see love.
That's why most of us have no idea what love really is. We live with our eyes and therefore we see only the face value in everything. That's why most of us are shaped by the world instead of helping to shape it.
We certainly think we know what love is.
How do I know we think we do? Because we so often say "I love this" or I love you". Then we proceed to live a life that proves we do not 'Love ourselves'.
Now, in what other life scenario can someone give you something they do not first have for him or herself? We take love completely for granted.
Just because you can not see love, it doesn't mean it isn't there. Where is the energy that becomes your favorite station until you turn on and tune in your radio?
Energy has a frequency. Love is energy. Just like a poorly tuned radio causes interference with the frequency, poorly tuned people interfere with the energy of love. Become a finely tuned receiver and you will become a finely tuned transmitter.
Love is simple.
People are complicated.
People are complicated.
Love is unconditional.
People add conditions to almost everything.
Love is energy. Like gravity or light, we can argue about what love is or isn't all day long and love won't care in the least.
It comes through us and from us but it can not be seen, only felt.
We can see the end result of love as inspired action but we can not see love.
That's why most of us have no idea what love really is. We live with our eyes and therefore we see only the face value in everything. That's why most of us are shaped by the world instead of helping to shape it.
We certainly think we know what love is.
How do I know we think we do? Because we so often say "I love this" or I love you". Then we proceed to live a life that proves we do not 'Love ourselves'.
Now, in what other life scenario can someone give you something they do not first have for him or herself? We take love completely for granted.
Just because you can not see love, it doesn't mean it isn't there. Where is the energy that becomes your favorite station until you turn on and tune in your radio?
Energy has a frequency. Love is energy. Just like a poorly tuned radio causes interference with the frequency, poorly tuned people interfere with the energy of love. Become a finely tuned receiver and you will become a finely tuned transmitter.
Love is simple.
People are complicated.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Do You Create Your Own Happiness?
What is actually happening when someone makes you angry?
Many of us spend a great deal of time angry or stressed out by the words or actions of others.
When someone says something rude to you or about you, are they defining you?
I offer that they are defining themselves. How could they not be? It is your reaction to them that defines you.
If someone is mean to you, that makes them mean. It doesn't make you anything, until the minute you 'defend' yourself, that makes you mean. If their actions define them, of course your actions define you also. You see, if someone walked in the room and did not see them being mean to you, all they would see is you being mean. Explaining to them what happened before they walked in doesn't make what you did or said any less mean.
You have massive personal power. We all do. It is available to you in every moment. Why do you insist on giving it away by making the weakest of those around you responsible for your feelings?
For today, observe your reaction to the things around you that you would 'normally' feel upset by.
Feel your personal power (energy) strengthen as you do not react. Feel the satisfaction in that moment as your body no longer bristles with the toxins flushed through you by anger, resentment or disappointment. Watch how the world goes on it's merry way in blissful disregard for your non action, just as it would have if you had reacted. Peace is every step. As within, so without.
Reward yourself today with your own happiness. No one can ever take that from you unless you let them.
Many of us spend a great deal of time angry or stressed out by the words or actions of others.
When someone says something rude to you or about you, are they defining you?
I offer that they are defining themselves. How could they not be? It is your reaction to them that defines you.
If someone is mean to you, that makes them mean. It doesn't make you anything, until the minute you 'defend' yourself, that makes you mean. If their actions define them, of course your actions define you also. You see, if someone walked in the room and did not see them being mean to you, all they would see is you being mean. Explaining to them what happened before they walked in doesn't make what you did or said any less mean.
You have massive personal power. We all do. It is available to you in every moment. Why do you insist on giving it away by making the weakest of those around you responsible for your feelings?
For today, observe your reaction to the things around you that you would 'normally' feel upset by.
Feel your personal power (energy) strengthen as you do not react. Feel the satisfaction in that moment as your body no longer bristles with the toxins flushed through you by anger, resentment or disappointment. Watch how the world goes on it's merry way in blissful disregard for your non action, just as it would have if you had reacted. Peace is every step. As within, so without.
Reward yourself today with your own happiness. No one can ever take that from you unless you let them.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Gratitude
Happy Friday everyone.
I hope you have a great weekend in store.
I'll settle into blogging once a week or so unless any of you have questions I might be able to help with or comments that need relating to. In the meantime, as this is a brand new blog and already I've received such wonderful feedback, I wanted to use this beautiful Friday to talk about gratitude. Why is gratitude such a useful tool? For starters, it's because we find what we look for. If you don't know what I mean by that, consider this.
It's time to buy a new car, so, you head out to the dealers and you start to narrow down your options. As you get closer to making a decision and you're tossed up between vehicle x and vehicle y you start looking around as you drive from place to place in the car you no longer want. All of a sudden, over the next couple of days, every other car on the road is some version of vehicle x or y. Obviously this doesn't mean they weren't there before, it just means that now that you're 'conscious' of them you find them everywhere. For those of you not old enough to drive or who have never bought a car, you can extrapolate this to computers or watches or jeans or... you name it. So, now that we've established that you see what you look for, why would we look for things to be grateful for and why is gratitude so useful?
When we complain, it's obviously about something that makes us unhappy. The more we complain, the less happy we are and for longer periods of time. When we are grateful it's obviously for something that brings us happiness. We are creatures of momentum: creatures of habit. The more you practice gratitude for the things that are good in your life, the happier you will be and the more you will find things for which to be grateful. Complaining is a virus of the mind. Gratitude is the antidote. Before you go to bed at night and the first thing when you rise in the morning, jot down a handful of things for which you are grateful, five or so should do it. Mix them up so they aren't the same one's all the time. After a while you will find more and more as you move from noticing instances for which to be grateful into a grateful (and infinitely happier) state of mind. As you find more to be grateful for you will have less to complain about. Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose but the time you spend being unhappy.
Speaking of gratitude. Thanks for reading this blog. I very much appreciate you taking the time. Ask a question, leave a comment, tell a friend or 2.
Have a spectacular weekend.
I hope you have a great weekend in store.
I'll settle into blogging once a week or so unless any of you have questions I might be able to help with or comments that need relating to. In the meantime, as this is a brand new blog and already I've received such wonderful feedback, I wanted to use this beautiful Friday to talk about gratitude. Why is gratitude such a useful tool? For starters, it's because we find what we look for. If you don't know what I mean by that, consider this.
It's time to buy a new car, so, you head out to the dealers and you start to narrow down your options. As you get closer to making a decision and you're tossed up between vehicle x and vehicle y you start looking around as you drive from place to place in the car you no longer want. All of a sudden, over the next couple of days, every other car on the road is some version of vehicle x or y. Obviously this doesn't mean they weren't there before, it just means that now that you're 'conscious' of them you find them everywhere. For those of you not old enough to drive or who have never bought a car, you can extrapolate this to computers or watches or jeans or... you name it. So, now that we've established that you see what you look for, why would we look for things to be grateful for and why is gratitude so useful?
When we complain, it's obviously about something that makes us unhappy. The more we complain, the less happy we are and for longer periods of time. When we are grateful it's obviously for something that brings us happiness. We are creatures of momentum: creatures of habit. The more you practice gratitude for the things that are good in your life, the happier you will be and the more you will find things for which to be grateful. Complaining is a virus of the mind. Gratitude is the antidote. Before you go to bed at night and the first thing when you rise in the morning, jot down a handful of things for which you are grateful, five or so should do it. Mix them up so they aren't the same one's all the time. After a while you will find more and more as you move from noticing instances for which to be grateful into a grateful (and infinitely happier) state of mind. As you find more to be grateful for you will have less to complain about. Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose but the time you spend being unhappy.
Speaking of gratitude. Thanks for reading this blog. I very much appreciate you taking the time. Ask a question, leave a comment, tell a friend or 2.
Have a spectacular weekend.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Do Over
My first blog.
I wanted to start with the concept of the do over because, we'll, you have to start somewhere and because for some strange reason I've been in the company of a few folks lately who want some portion of their time back... a do over.
Today is your do over. The only one you'll ever get today. Every minute you spend wishing something isn't the way you want it to be is one more minute you won't get back. It's also one more minute you could have been changing yourself so that you have fewer life experiences you want to do over.
I can say this for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is: I've lost 32 lbs in the last number of months and I can assure you I didn't lose a single one of them by wanting the time back that it took to get overweight. Looking back, you feel things that aren't real. How do I know they aren't real? Because they are gone. They now only exist in your mind and no where else. When you allow this way of being to guide you, you bring your past into today, every day. How could you not? It is only in this very minute that you get to say yes or no.
Everyone wants to be themselves, everyone wants to be happy. You can't be either looking behind you. Do today like it's your do over. Do tomorrow like it's a do over too but do it tomorrow.
I wanted to start with the concept of the do over because, we'll, you have to start somewhere and because for some strange reason I've been in the company of a few folks lately who want some portion of their time back... a do over.
Today is your do over. The only one you'll ever get today. Every minute you spend wishing something isn't the way you want it to be is one more minute you won't get back. It's also one more minute you could have been changing yourself so that you have fewer life experiences you want to do over.
I can say this for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is: I've lost 32 lbs in the last number of months and I can assure you I didn't lose a single one of them by wanting the time back that it took to get overweight. Looking back, you feel things that aren't real. How do I know they aren't real? Because they are gone. They now only exist in your mind and no where else. When you allow this way of being to guide you, you bring your past into today, every day. How could you not? It is only in this very minute that you get to say yes or no.
Everyone wants to be themselves, everyone wants to be happy. You can't be either looking behind you. Do today like it's your do over. Do tomorrow like it's a do over too but do it tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)