Brandon Gilbert's blog

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2009-01-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

I have moved to a new location..

http://www.brandongilbert.info

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What Are YOU Missing??

2009-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

What isThe Function of The Third Eye??

2009-01-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

THE BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF THE THIRD EYE
by Richard Alan Miller, c1975,1992.

From the time of Dionysius to the time of Plato, the cultures of the Mediterranean consented to the doctrine that claimed the existence of an order of ultimate reality which lies beyond apparent reality. This "paranormal" reality was accessible to the consciousness only when the "normal" routines of mental data processing were dislocated. It was Plato's pupil Aristotle who changed his teacher's game, separating physics from metaphysics. The philosophical temper of our present civilization, being scientifically and technically oriented, is basically Aristotelian.

No such rational figure as Aristotle arose in the Orient to a position of equal eminence. Because of this and other reasons, Indian anatomists and zoologists, who where no doubt just as curious as the Greeks about the origins of life, and as skilled in dissection, did not feel compelled to set their disciplines up in opposition to metaphysics. Physical and metaphysical philosophy remained joined like Siamese twins. As a result, the discipline which became medicine in the West evolved into a system known as Kundalini Yoga in the Hindu culture.

In Western terms, Kundalini Yoga can be best understood as a biological statement contained within the language of the poetic metaphor. The system makes the attempt of joining the seeming disparate entities of body and mind. It is a very complicated doctrine; in oversimplified terms, the system encourages the practitioner to progress through the control of a number of stages, called Chakras or mind-body coordination. A sixth, associated with clairvoyance and telepathy, is called the Ajna.

The physiological site of this sixth Chakra, the Ajna, is located in the center of the forehead. It is symbolized by an eye - the so-called third eye, the inner eye, or the eye of the mind. When this eye is opened, a new and completely different dimension of reality is revealed to the practitioner of yoga. Western scholars when they first encountered this literature, took the third eye to be an appropriately poetic metaphor and nothing else.

It was not until the middle of the nineteenth century, as the subcontinent of Australia and its surrounding territory came to be explored, that a flurry of interest centered upon a lizard native to the area, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatum). This animal possessed, in addition to two perfectly ordinary eyes located on either side of its head, a third eye buried in the skull which was revealed through an aperture in the bone, covered by a transparent membrane, and surrounded by a rosette of scales. It was unmistakably a third eye but upon dissection it proved to be non-functional.

Though this eye still possessed the structure of a lens and a retina, these were found to be no longer in good working order: also lacking were the appropriate neural connections to the brain. The presence of this eye in the tuatara still posses a puzzle to present-day evolutionists, for almost all vertebrates possess a homologous structure in the center of their skull. It is present in many fish, all reptiles, birds, and mammals (including man). This structure is known in literature today as the pineal gland.

The gland is shaped like a tine pine cone situated deep in the middle of the brain between the two hemispheres. Studies then began to determine whether this organ was a true functioning gland or merely a vestigial sight organ, a relic from our reptilian past. In 1959 Dr. Aaron Lerner and his associates at Yale University found that meletonin (1), a hormone manufactured by the pineal gland, was created through the action of certain enzymes on a precursor chemical which must pre-exist in the pineal in order for it to be transformed into melatonin. This precursor chemical turned out to be serotonin (2).

It was E.J. Gaddum, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, who was the first to note a connection between serotonin and mental states of being. In a paper published in 1953, he pointed out the fact that LSD-25 was a potent antagonist to serotonin. Serotonin is not an unusual chemical in nature; it is found in many places - some of them odd, like the salivary glands of octopuses, others ordinary; it abounds in plants such as bananas, figs, and plums. What then is its function in the human brain?

The task of exploring the role played by melatonin, and its precursor serotonin, was undertaken by a biochemist, Julius Axelrod. He found that melatonin suppressed physiological sexuality in mammals. If test animals were stimulated to manufacture excessive amounts of melatonin, their gonads and ovaries tended to become reduced in size, to shrink, to atrophy. The estrous or fertility cycle in females could likewise be altered experimentally by doses of melatonin.

Now two most curious functions had been attributed to the pineal gland, the third eye of the mind:

(1) It has now been established that this organ produced a chemical which had, indirectly at least, been associated with psychedelic states, and

(2) It also produced a chemical which suppressed functional sexuality.

The literature of religious mysticism in all ages and all societies has viewed the mystical passion of ecstasy as being somehow antagonistic to, or in competition with, carnal passion.

Axelrod and his co-workers also discovered another incredible fact: the pineal gland produces its chemical according to a regular oscillating beat, the basis of this beat being the so-called circadian rhythm. They found that the pineal responded somehow to light conditions, that by altering light conditions they could extend, contract, or even stabilize the chemical production rhythms of the pineal.

The fact that the pineal responds to light, even if this response is indirect via the central nervous system, has some fascinating and far-reaching conceptual applications. There are many behavioral changes which overtake animals as the seasons change, and which can be produced out of season in the laboratory by simulating the appropriate span of artificial daylight. Do such seasonal changes in mood and behavior persist in humans?

The great religious holy days of all faiths tend to cluster around the times of the solstices and equinoxes. Is it possible that the human pineal gland responds to these alterations in length of daylight? Changing the balance of neurohumors in the brain may perhaps effect a greater incidence of psychedelic states in certain susceptible individuals just at these crucial times. This possibility provides an entirely new potential dimension to our secular understanding of the religious experience.

The pineal gland has thus been referred to as a kind of biological clock, one which acts as a kind of coupling system; perhaps maintaining phase relations within a multi-oscillator system; a phase coordinator for multiple bio-rhythms. The pineal is a "cosmic eye;" it is aware of celestial rhythm. It "tunes" our biochemistry to those subtle rhythms not observed by the normal eye, like seasonal and lunar changes rather than daily ones. Serotonin can be seen as the "intensity knob" of the brain. As the level of serotonin increases, so does the level of activation of the cortex.

Strong suspicion has fallen now on serotonin as being one of the principle agents of the psychedelic experience. Studies now reveal that LSD-25 strikes like a chemical guerrilla, entering into receptor granules in the brain cells swiftly, and then leaving after a very short time, perhaps ten to twenty minutes (in animals). When the bulk of LSD-25 has left the receptor granules, it is replaced by what seems to be excessive, or super-normal amounts of serotonin. The LSD-25 creates what is called a "bouncing effect," like a spring pushed too tight. When the LSD-25 leaves the system, the serotonin springs back and overcompensates.

For most of us, most of the time, our world is a Darwinian environment. We must manipulate ourselves within it, or attempt to manipulate it in order to survive. These survival needs tend to color our appreciation of this world, and we are continually making judgments about it. Some of these judgments are based on prior personal experience, others are provide by the culture. This "recognition system" is one of the elements disrupted by the psychedelic state.

The principle question concerning psychedelic states remains: How much disruption can the system tolerate? The problem of how to maintain a certain madness while at the same time functioning at peak efficiency has now captured the attention of many psychiatrists. There seems to be a point at which Edgar Allen Poe's "creative madness" becomes degenerative, impeding function rather than stimulating it.

In light of this analysis, a shaman can be seen to be uncoupling his internal bio-sensor from the universal inputs. He gets "drift" where he is rushed toward new signal-to-noise ratios. The particular rituals are set up to disconnect the shaman from his social and cosmic environment. This is done through the ritual use of hallucinogens; they de-synchronize his internal rhythms. This de-synchronization produces more noise in his awareness. It also expands that awareness. The rituals are so designed as to contain elements which focus or tune that "noise" and direct the expanded awareness.

Man is unique by virtue of being possessed by intuitions concerning the scope of the mysterious universe he inhabits. He has devised for himself all manner of instruments to prove the nature of this universe. The beginnings of scientific understanding of shamanistic ritual and the function of the third eye provide man with powerful new techniques for exploration. This will allow him to penetrate the vast interior spaces where the history of millions of years of memories lies entangled among the roots of the primordial self.

(1) The chemical substance melanin is the pigment which darkens skin color. It is located in specialized cells scattered through the topmost layer of skin. Melatonin was found to be the substance responsible for causing the contraction of melanin-producing cells.

(2) Serotonin is of the same chemical series of indole alkaloids which include psychedelic drugs such as LSD-25, psilocybin, D.M.T. and bufotenine. The hormone serotonin is also known as 5-hydroxtryptamine.

ADDENDUM:

06-01-92: This paper was originally written in 1975 for several scientific publications, and was reprinted IN THE CONTINUUM (Vol.II, No.3) in 1978. At that time, I made a very important discovery which was added to THE HOLISTIC QABALAH series. I thought to share that discovery at this time, to complete my thoughts on this subject:

In 1979 I was in a very serious accident, where I was crushed between a brick wall and an out-of-control automobile. My left knee was crushed, the parenteal nerve was severed at the knee. I was going to lose my leg! I postponed surgery, did some specific rituals with Kundalini and my "third eye," and now have complete regeneration of nerve tissue - something now believed by mainstream medicine as physically impossible.

Here is how I did it:

There is a "chill" which runs up (Gopi Krishna) or down (Sri Aurobino) the spine at certain times of the week. You can, in some situations, actually induce this event. Sometimes, you can make our whole body shake. This is the physical aspect of Kundalini. On a physical plane, there are a series of small nerve fillia that stick out from the spine - almost like a "ladder."

The "chill" is an EM-wave that is traveling up (or down) the spine, as each nerve fillia begins to oscillate. The most interesting fact about this is that the EM-field frequency in the visible light region! This is what most religions refer to as "The Light." And what is at the very top end of this wave-train of light? The pineal gland!

Now, if you stimulate the pineal gland on a regular basis - let's do it 3 times each day, what happens next is wonderful. The pineal gland is "light sensitive," its primary function now understood to regulate the body for seasonal changes (health). This so stimulates the pineal gland that it sends out a signal down the neural cavity. The neural cavity, of course, connects the pineal gland at one end with the thalamus at the other....

What happens is that a resonant cavity oscillator is set up in the neural cavity, causing it to modify the gleal cell it normally manufactures. If there are enough trace minerals in your diet, this stimulated neural cavity will actually create true nerve cells, rather than those associated with sheath (gleal). If you take a trace mineral supplement and do this exercise, you can regenerate nerve tissue!

The actual process took some 5 months of daily meditation, as the actual consistency of nerve tissue is somewhat like that of Vitamin E - very viscous and slow to travel down my central nervous system to my knee. I no longer have nerve loss of any kind. This was documented by Clinic 7 (Pain Clinic) at the University of Washington in 1980. I now walk normally, although I still have some structural problems.

This is but one application of the principles outlined in this paper. Serotonin can also be considered a "Gate" for accessing other dimensions not accessible to "normal" consciousness.

What You Should Do When In Doubt....

2009-01-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

When in doubt, show up early.

Think less. Feel more.

Ask once. Give thanks often.

Expect the best. Appreciate everything.

Never give up. Make it fun.

Lead. Invent. Regroup. Wink. Chill. Smile.

And live as if your success was inevitable, and so it shall be.

How to Hack Your Subconscious Mind

2009-01-24T16:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced anything like what is being discussed in this video?

Do you find yourself doing these things?

I want to hear your thoughts, post them below in the comments.

What Is Enlightenment?

2009-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Enlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. However, the English word covers two concepts which can be quite distinct: religious or spiritual enlightenment and secular or intellectual enlightenment. This can cause confusion, since those who claim intellectual enlightenment often reject spiritual concepts altogether.

In religious use, enlightenment is most closely associated with South and East Asian religious experience, being used to translate words such as (in Buddhism) bodhi or satori, or (in Hinduism) moksha. The concept does also have parallels in the Abrahamic religions (in the Kabbalah tradition in Judaism, in Christian mysticism, and in the Sufi tradition of Islam).

For a further explanation watch this short video explanation:

Now that you have seen two perspectives, I want to know what you think enlightenment is?

What traits would a person have if they were enlightened?

I want to know your thoughts, so post them below in the comments.

What is Consensus Reality?

2009-01-23T16:00:00.000-08:00

Is your reality something you agreed upon or is it something that you have created & chosen for yourself?

Post your answers below.

Do You Have a Third Eye?

2009-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness.

In New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply-personal spiritual or psychological significance. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.

Physical basis: the pineal gland?

Some researchers, including Rick Strassman, have suggested that the third eye is in fact the partially dormant pineal gland, which resides between the two hemispheres of the brain. This concept is supported by the pinealocytes, one type of cells within the pineal gland, having a strong resemblance to the photoreceptors of the eye.

Additionally, the pineal gland is said to excrete dimethyltryptamine (DMT) [3], which induces dreams, near-death experiences, meditation, or hallucinations. Various types of lower vertebrates, such as reptiles and amphibians, can actually sense light via a third parietal eye—a structure associated with the pineal gland—which serves to regulate their circadian rhythms. - wikipedia

The video below goes into more depth about what the connection between the pineal gland and the more esoteric claims of the third eye.

Does the word secret actually come from the word secretion?

Does the understanding of secrets depend on the secretion of the pineal gland?

Watch this video to learn the answers.

Now that you have watched the video, what do you think?

Is the pineal gland the third eye which so many esoteric schools speak of?

Does the third eye even exist?

What do YOU think?

Do You Really Create Your Reality?

2009-01-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

This video goes into if and how consciousness creates matter.

How does this information affect your world view?

Are we trapped in duality or can we see beyond it?

Post your answers below in the comments.

The Quantum Apocalypse

2009-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

How did we get here?

Where are we?

Who are you?

Post your thoughts & comments on this video below.

The Power of Human Emotion

2009-01-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

Author Gregg Braden discusses The Power of Human Emotion.

His information here is very important because I think we often overlook this power. We tend to overlook the connections that are all around us and right in front of us at this very moment.

I hope that by watching this video you become more aware of your own power.

I hope that you make the choice to own it right now.

I hope you that you begin to see how you are connected with our environment and how your thoughts and feelings influence that is around you.

Have you ever walked into a room right after an argument or a fight? Did you feel that something was not right? Could you feel the negativity present?

Do you have a place that just feels really good to you? Maybe it is your bed, a room in your house, a friends house, or maybe even another place you like to visit?

These are a few examples of how feelings can influence the environment.

What are your thoughts on this? Is this a new idea to you? Maybe this is something that you have noticed before, but never had the words to describe it?

I want to know what you think, so post a comment below.

The Key To Acupuncture

2009-01-21T10:32:00.001-08:00

Acupuncture prevents headaches and migraines but faked treatments when needles are incorrectly inserted appear to work nearly as well, German researchers said on Wednesday.

Their findings suggest the benefits of acupuncture may stem more from people's belief in the technique, said Klaus Linde, a complementary medicine researcher at the Technical University in Munich, who led the analysis published in the Cochrane Review journal.

"Much of the clinical benefit of acupuncture might be due to non-specific needling effects and powerful placebo effects, meaning selection of specific needle points may be less important than many practitioners have traditionally argued," he said in a statement.

Acupressure and acupuncture both are based on the theory of lines of energy running through the body. With acupressure, a fingertip or a bead is used to press a specific pressure point, while needles are used in acupuncture.

Several studies have shown both treatments may stimulate the release of hormones known as endorphins, which can relieve stress, pain and nausea.

Linde and colleagues conducted two separate reviews that included 33 studies of nearly 7,000 men and women to see whether the technique was effective at preventing headaches and migraines.

Overall, they found that over eight weeks people treated with acupuncture suffered fewer headaches compared to men and women given only pain killers.

When it came to migraines, the needles beat drugs but faked treatments worked too, the researchers said. For less severe headaches, acupuncture worked just slightly better than sticking the needles randomly, the researchers said.

"Doctors need to know how long improvements associated with acupuncture will last and whether better trained acupuncturists really achieve better results than those with basic training only," Linde said.

Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090121/sc_nm/us_acupuncture_headaches_2

How To Get People To Listen to YOU

2009-01-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

What is the secret of ensuring people listen to you?

This article contains one simple message. Here it is:

People pay attention to a good listener.

‘Meta-language’ is when a person says one thing, and means something totally different. When someone is not listening, or doesn’t intend to do what you are suggesting, they involuntarily send out signals. Once you have learned how to spot these clues, you can regain their attention, or address their lack of conviction. In this article John will show you how to identify this behaviour and tell you what you can do about it.

Many of the clues lie in your own behaviour as a listener. Learn to scrutinise how you listen; in improving yourself you will become more responsive and persuasive to those who must listen to you.

This article will show you how to be a better listener.

But - if you’re still not sure whether you need to read further, ask yourself a couple of important questions:

Do you sometimes feel that you are not very good at persuading people – or that you may not even be heard?

Would you be prepared to invest an hour of your time, if you knew it would help to make you more influential and effective?

Tip One:

Become a better listener

Work on your own listening skills and you will gain far more from your communication with other people. Learn to spot the meta-language people use when they don’t mean what they are saying. Listen actively.

Borrow the tricks of the professional listeners’ trade

If appropriate say, ‘I agree with you’. Raise your eyebrows now and then. Give little nods. Echo what the other person says.

Ask short probing questions using what, why, when, how and where

Short questions should lead to long revealing answers.

Look for clues to meta-language

When people don’t really believe what they are saying – in other words, when they are being less than honest – their hands move to cover their mouths. More clues will be revealed in Tip Seven.

Retrieve the situation

When you spot meta-language going on, gently challenge what’s being said to you. Check that the person understands what you are saying to them.

Tip Two:

Find out what you are doing that loses people’s attention

When a person appears not to listen to you, it may be that you are ‘talking at’ him or her in some way.

Ensure you cannot be accused of any of these:

Being boring

Practise putting rise-and-fall into your voice. Use short sentences and pauses to break up your message. Introduce humour if you can.

Using jargon

We all use long or obscure words, with people who specialise in a similar field to ours. It’s important to remember what the jargon means, and to use plainer words with people outside that group.

Not noticing when your listener’s attention wanders

Are you maintaining eye contact with everyone to whom you are speaking? Are they nodding and echoing back what you are saying? If you don’t notice when you’ve lost someone, you cannot bring them back.

Tip Three:

Reasons for not listening Number 1 - Embarrassment

It is surprisingly easy to embarrass a person. People who are embarrassed are not listening any more. They are more concerned with their own panicky thoughts and hope you won’t notice their red face.

Look for the clues

We all know the signs: a flushed face, perhaps a red rash on the throat and ears. Look out for sudden loss of eye contact or evidence of sweaty hands and a dry mouth.

Quickly review what you’ve just said

Perhaps you are expecting too much from the other person and he or she is ashamed not to be able to understand you. Go over the ground again more slowly, or use different language. Becoming cross will only make things worse, so keep calm.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes

Be careful not to draw attention to the embarrassment itself: it is only a clue to internal turmoil. Work gently around it until the meta-language dies down and the person is listening properly to you once more.

Tip Four:

Reasons for not listening Number 2 - Shock

Whether you have good or bad news to share, be careful of triggering a shocked reaction.

When people look shocked, they are not listening

You may not realise you’re at risk of causing a shocked reaction. It depends what the person was expecting you to say. Watch his or her face for that wide-eyed, frozen, open-mouthed expression.

Let the shock subside

Like an embarrassed person, a shocked person is listening more to the frantic voice inside his or her own head than to what you are saying. Talk about less threatening aspects while you wait for him or her to calm down. Then go on with the more detailed information, taking it more gently this time.

Tip Five:

Reasons for not listening Number 3 – Being Unconvinced

Someone who is unconvinced by what you are saying will find that his or her attention wanders.

Look for the clues

The classic meta-language clue to this is ‘cotton-picking’, when a person picks at imaginary fluff on their clothing or dabs at apparently perfect makeup.

Quickly review what you’ve just said

Can you identify the point at which your audience slipped away from you? Go back and re-state that same point in a different way. Listen actively while you are talking. Get that person back on your side before moving on.

Tip Six:

Reasons for not listening Number 4 - Confusion

There are people who earn a living by confusing people on purpose. They are called politicians. However, it can be easy to confuse people by mistake. A confused person will not admit to his lack of comprehension, and will not dare to ask you for clarification afterwards.

Check for understanding

Instead of asking whether a person understands what you have just said, make a comment that requires an informed reply. If he doesn’t or can’t give the answer you expected, he may have become confused. Go over the facts again in a different way.

Use empathy to reduce the tension

Saying, ’I don’t know about you, but even I found this idea confusing when I was new to it,’ should bring the person’s focus back to you. Then you can rephrase your message in a clearer way.

Tip Seven:

Spot the liar

People who are not listening, or who don’t understanding you clearly, display similar meta-language clues to people who are lying. This does not mean they are liars. It merely suggests you are not getting through. Here are the clues:

Covering the mouth

A person trying to give the false impression of understanding or agreeing with you will nervously touch or cover their mouth.

Averting the eyes

Often a man will look down, and if he wears glasses will remove them.

Cotton-picking and other fussing

Sometimes a woman will fuss with her nails or skirt, or pick fluff from her collar.

Nose and eye touching

The more a person tends to touch their nose, the more likely it is that he or she is telling lies. Women are especially prone to eye-touching when lying.

Tip Eight:

Be alert to selective hearing

A person may not show any outward signs of not listening attentively and yet he is still editing out important parts of what you are saying. Believe it or not, we all tend to hear half of what is being said. We listen to only half of that, and we remember half of that. This is normal behaviour, especially when you remember how busy we all are.

Slow down

Research shows that people can listen three times more quickly than they can talk. But it’s tiring. When you are making someone work that hard, listening to you, it is natural for them to take some ‘down time’. They will think about something else for a moment. During that moment they do not hear what you’re saying.

Beware of bombshells

Sometimes an emotive word will be the only thing a person hears out of what you are saying. This is catastrophic if what he or she remembers afterwards is the opposite of what you meant. For example, you might be reassuring, ‘. . there will be no redundancies.’ or, ‘. . I’m not leaving you.’ or, ‘. . you don’t look fat at all in that’ - and all your listener remembers is redundancies, leaving me, I look fat.

Tip Nine:

Use language positively

Your choice of language can make all the difference to the meaning you convey. When the magician says, ‘Don’t imagine a blue daisy,’ you can’t help imagining that unusual flower. When a friend says, ‘Don’t worry,’ that’s exactly what you do. Saying, ‘Picture a red rose,’ or ‘Think how happy you’ll be when it’s over,’ has the opposite effect. Positive language is powerful talk.

Don’t say don’t

When you tell a child not to step in a puddle, you give it the idea of stepping in the puddle. It might not even have noticed that puddle before you mentioned it. When you want people to hear an important point you are making, make that element the focus of what you are saying. Not the opposite.

Be honest and look out for honesty in others

There are verbal clues that denote a lack of honesty. ‘By the way . .’ signals the real reason for your conversation. ‘With all due respect .’ means someone is about to insult you. ‘I’m not racist but . .’ heralds a racist comment. Look out for words that contradict what has just been said or is said next.

Tip Ten:

Think like JFK

American President John F Kennedy had the ability to walk into a room, start chatting to any person there, and within 30 seconds he had that individual on his side. JFK’s secret was to spot clues to which of these three senses a person most uses to take in information, and then to use the language to which he was most attuned.

‘Feeling’ people

Sometimes called ‘kinaesthetic’, these people learn by experiencing. They say things like: ‘You touched on an important point there’ or ‘I hope I haven’t hurt your feelings’.

Say to them: ‘I feel you are picking this up quickly’ or, ‘I sense this is going well’

‘Listening’ people

Also called ‘auditory’, they learn best through words. Give them a map and they’ll rewrite your directions as bullet points. They say things like: ‘I hear your anger’ or ‘Sounds as if you’re getting the idea’.

Say to them: ‘I hear what you’re saying’

‘Seeing’ people

Often described as ‘visual’, they understand the world through pictures. Their directions will come in the form of a map. They scribble diagrams to explain a point. They say things like: ‘The idea came to me in a flash’ or ‘I’m trying to picture it’.

Say to them: ‘I see where you’re coming from’

Confidence in a nut-shell.

2009-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

It may be difficult for you to keep focusing on the positive and the accomplishments in your life, especially when you are going through a particularly challenging obstacle. Here are 8 of my personal favorite quotes on self confidence, and the importance of it to our lives. Keep this quotes close on hand, or look for others that may inspire you further, for those moments when you need something to keep you motivated!

1. What you think of me is none of my business. What is most important is what I think of myself. -- Robert Kiyosaki

2. Luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who do not depend on it. -- George Clason

3. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. -- Tomas Edison

4. Just as we can learn from our mistakes, we can gain character from our disappointments. -- Robert Kiyosaki

5. Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first. -- Mark Twain

6. The self-confidence of a person multiplies their powers a hundredfold. -- Robert Collier

7. Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great. -- Mark Twain

8. Keep your thoughts positive, because thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive, because words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive, because behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive, because habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because values become your destiny. -- Mahatma Gandhi

5 Ways to Meditate Now

2009-01-19T19:28:00.001-08:00

There are many different ways to meditate. Each one is a different method with broadly the same end result. Check out these different meditation methods to see which suits you best.

Walking meditation

This is one of the easiest ways to meditate, although obviously it isn't as separate from the rest of the world as you need to be aware of your surroundings. With a walking meditation you pay attention to your feelings and your surroundings. Allow yourself 20 minutes or so and if possible choose a place where you're away from traffic. A local park is good. Then go for a gentle walk and take in the area. Notice the smells and sounds and pay attention to what you see.

Breathing meditation

At its simplest, you find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed and start to take deeper breaths than you'd normally take. Breathe in a long, slow, deep breath. If possible hold it for a second or two before releasing it, again slowly. Repeat this over again, at least 5 times and ideally more. You'll find that this is a quick way to bring about a more relaxed state in your body.

Binaural beats meditation

This is the "modern" way to meditate and is the method I personally use regularly. You can purchase this kind of meditation and then play it on your CD or MP3 player. You need to find a place where you won't be disturbed for the length of the track, which is typically 30 to 60 minutes. The track will play a background noise - usually rainfall or music - as well as binaural beats. These beats play two slightly different tones, one into each ear. Your brain then tries to resolve the small difference between the tones and it is this which brings out a meditative state with next to no effort on your part. This kind of meditation is very powerful - don't get taken in by its simplicity!

Cosmic meditation

Quite similar to the binaural beats meditation, this is usually linked to Cosmic Ordering which is a structured form of Napoleon Hill's ideas from Think and Grow Rich. A cosmic meditation usually takes the form of a guided meditation which will get you relaxed and then allow you to send your current wish or goals liston to the cosmos.

Guided meditation

There are many of these available on the internet. They usually last between 20 and 60 minutes. Typically a guided meditation will start with a relaxation procedure so that you're relaxed and receptive for the main part of the meditation. It will then move on to the actual aim of the meditation, whether this is deep relaxation, healing your body, contacting your higher self or any other goal you have chosen. You can choose a single guided meditation or they are often sold in bundles of several guided meditations.

Whichever way of meditation you decide to use, you'll find that it helps to relax you and relieve the stresses and strains that seem to accompany our modern lifestyle.

The Truth is A Lie

2009-01-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Brandon Gilbert - The Truth is A Lie

Everyone has a Heart

2009-01-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

Nothing can be taught

2009-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Conspiracies, Education, & Distractions

2009-01-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

The Recession, The Message, & Our Empowerment

2009-01-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

This one starts off a bit slow, you can FF the first 60-90 seconds.

A participatory culture in which most of the population see themselves as creators as well as consumers of culture is far more likely to generate freedom and wealth for more people than one in which a small portion of the population produces culture that the majority passively consume. - http://mediatedcultures.net/ksudigg/

Part 2 - Web 2.0 | Adapt or Die

Part 3 - The Medium Is The Message - We have the Power

New Agers are Full of SH*T??

2009-01-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Part 1

Part 2

Can You Get High?

2009-01-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Can you get high??

Is heaven possible?

2009-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon Gilbert asks: Is heaven possible?

The Secret is a lie

2009-01-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

Brandon Gilbert - The Secret is a lie

Take Action NOW!

2009-01-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

Brandon Gilbert on the power of taking action NOW!

You Can Do Whatever You Want

2009-01-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

Brandon Gilbert - You Can Do Whatever You Want

Human brain works like Google?

2009-01-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Comprehensive review of fundamental neuroscience research shows that a human brain selects Brands like Google selects websites. Therefore our brain might just be retrieving information useing some sort of Pagerank. These findings will be published in the December issue of Journal of Brand Management.

"Brand choice turns out to be a largely unconscious process," says Tjaco Walvis, who led the one-and-a-half-year study. "But in that process, the brain behaves much like Google. It seems to use a set of rules called an algorithm to pick the brand from our memory that best and most reliably fits our functional and emotional needs at that particular moment. It behaves rationally, but in an unconscious way."

The study applied fundamental Neuroscience to branding, instead of the more common fMRI. The study examines processes at the cell level in the customer's brain as it decides which brands it prefers. The study also adds to existing research that contends that conventional views on brand choice are outdated and can be misleading.

Walvis states that the brain's "algorithm" for brand choice has three elements:

The brain selects the brand it has learned is best able to satisfy our biological and cultural goals

The brain selects the brand that has shown most frequently in the past that it is able to fulfill these needs.

The brain selects the brand it has interacted with most intensely in the past.

The result off the studies can mean that search engine marketing can be taken to the next level. It could mean that marketers can more efficiently target specific consumers but it can also mean consumers can more easily figure out the way marketers are trying to pursuede them to buy the offered products.

Last year the University of California came to a similar conclusion, as was reported in the NewScientist. This research seems to confirm the Universities findings, using a different kind of research method.

source:http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626335.500-do-our-brains-work-like-google.html

Who is Creating? Subjectivity, Language and Reality

2009-01-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

Robert Anton Wilson on Yoga, Zen, and Consciouness.

Do Your Thoughts Become Things?

2008-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Your thoughts become things. Don't fight it. Don't think there's anything else. Don't entertain the false premises of fate, luck, or a God who judges, withholds, or decides. You decide. You manifest. You rule. This is why you are here. This is what you came to discover. You were born to experience your absolute dominion over every flimsy, malleable illusion of time and space; to have, do, and be anything.

Truthfully, it couldn't be any easier. All you have to do is think of what you want and refuse to deviate from that thought. This will, invariably, set you into motion, stir up the magic, and unleash the full force, power, and majesty of a Universe conspiring on your behalf.
It's worth everything you've got, brandon. Be strong, be vigilant, take action, and the Kingdom of Heaven shall appear at your very feet.

I've got your back,
The Universe

from Totally Unique Thoughts Daily Messages

Are you an arrogant asshole (Find Out)? Pt. 1

2008-12-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

What is arrogance?

The arrogant assumes his views and opinions are The Truth. In arrogance, natural confidence becomes perverted. Rather than the self-assurance born of knowing his own strengths and limitations, arrogance admits no limits.

The arrogant admits no weakness and may even secretly rejoice to find flaws in others. But imperfections are inherent in being human. Thus fearing exposure, the arrogance forms a hard shell masking the inner emptiness.

The arrogant sees himself first. Rather than offering respect to all, arrogance demands respect from all. Dismissive, arrogance poisons all relationships by worshipping the grand but empty edifice of the ego, the self-important sees others as less human, as cardboard cutouts.

Like so many self-centered traits, arrogance in others activates the arrogance in us, or its opposite of timidity and self-doubt. Confronted with arrogance, we might erupt indignantly or we might lapse into dwelling piteously on our own limitations. We then infect others and the vicious cycle continues.

What is Spiritual Arrogance

This form of arrogance takes at least two forms. In the first, the victim concludes that he has made progress, perhaps due to having a few deep experiences. Or he prides himself for being part of the in-crowd, or for being friendly with the teacher, or for being the teacher.

Whatever the reason, the spiritually arrogant mistakenly determines that he or she is special and then vaunts that assumed eminence over other people. This may be explicit in his outward behavior or implicit in his inward self-image.

In another form of spiritual arrogance, the true believer aggressively preaches, pushing his own path as the one and only way, downing others by claiming that they will not be saved without the chosen path.

In reality, there are many valid and effective paths. The appropriate path for any particular person is a highly individual discovery, and cannot be decided by anyone else. It sometimes happens that when people first enter a path, an obsessive infatuation sets in. They may see their path as the one true way and attempt to convert others, even over protests of disinterest.

Freedom from arrogance begins with a deeper and more accurate understanding that we are on the same level of importance as others: not higher, despite our gifts, and not lower, despite our defects.

In part 2 of this article I will explore in greater depth some of the causes of arrogance. I will also explore some solutions to help liberate one from arrogance.

Are you smart enough to get smarter? Pt. 1

2008-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

What is intelligence?

Intelligence is the dynamic capacity for learning and adapting to one's evironment.

Intelligence is the constantly evolving community (collection / aggregate) of recursive processes for:

INPUT - perceiving information (messages) in one's environment,

PROCESS - transforming and integrating information (through memory, imagination, reason and interpretation of meaning, relevance and value) into knowledge, and

OUTPUT - applying knowledge to change one's environment (technology) or the transformative processes (thinking).

Ultimately, all intelligence is systemic since the OUTPUT of each PROCESS becomes the INPUT into other processes.

Learning is the transformation of information (input) into knowledge useful for predicting future events (output)

Knowledge = information + transformation (imagination, reasoning and idiosyncratic construction of meaning, relevance and value).

Technology is the application of knowledge to the environment

Innovation is the process of introducing new technology into an environment for use by others.

Creativity is the application of imagination to produce something new.

Reasoning is the systematic process of comparing facts (differences in information) to reach conclusions (motives, decisions, convictions).

Given these definitions, learning, knowledge, reasoning, imagination, creativity, innovation, fun, evolution and technology are sub processes of intelligence.

Other definitions of intelligence

Alfred Binet (1857-1911): The most important and fundamental faculty of intelligence is "judgment, otherwise called good sense, practical sense, initiative, the faculty of adapting one's self to circumstances. A person may be a moron or an imbecile if he is lacking in judgment; but with good judgment he can never be either. Indeed the rest of the intellectual faculties seem of little importance in comparison with judgment" (Binet & Simon, 1916, 1973, pp.42-43).

Hans Eysenck (1916-1997): Recognized three types of intelligence: Intelligence A: the biological substrate of mental ability, the brains' neuroanatomy and physiology; Intelligence B: the manifestation of intelligence A, and everything that influences its expression in real life behavior; Intelligence C: the level of performance on psychometric tests of cognitive ability

Ray Kurzweil (19??- ): Intelligence is "the ability to use optimally limited resources, including time, to achieve a set of goals (which may include survival, communication, solving problems, recognizing patterns, performing skills). The products of intelligence may be clever, ingenious, insightful, or elegant."

Renato Sabbatini (19??- ): Intelligence is the "ability to adapt effectively to the environment, either by making a change in oneself or by changing the environment or finding a new one" and "intelligence is not a single mental process, but rather a combination of many mental processes directed toward effective adaptation to the environment."

Six ways to increase intelligence

Increase the diversity of input (varieties of sensory perceptions)

Increase the diversity of transformations (multiple meanings / interpretations / metaphors)

Increase the diversity of output (expression / application)

Improve the conditions of the physical support systems (body, environment)

Remove or reduce the environmental factors which inhibit intelligence (labels, bureaucracies, etc.)

Increase the environmental factors which support intelligence (trust, communities, unpredictability, communication technologies, etc.)

On a side note

Bureaucracies are designed to reduce intelligence by limiting information (input) and conditioning pre-defined interpretations of value, authority and procedures (transformations) while increasing obedience and efficiency (output). Fixed hierarchies remain fixed through force (or threat of force = terrorism).

Natural hierarchies reflect the intelligence of a system by constantly changing, emerging and dissipating relative to the needs of specific situations.

Communities are designed to increase intelligence by presenting new information (input), discussing new perspectives (transformations) and offering new actions and tools for sharing, participating and fellowship (output).

Deepak Chopra on Collective Creativity

2008-12-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Memory Training Shown to Increase IQ

2008-12-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

A new study has found that it may be possible to train people to be more intelligent, increasing the brainpower they had at birth.

Until now, it had been widely assumed that the kind of mental ability that allows us to solve new problems without having any relevant previous experience — what psychologists call fluid intelligence — is innate and cannot be taught (though people can raise their grades on tests of it by practicing).

But in the new study, researchers describe a method for improving this skill, along with experiments to prove it works.

The key, researchers found, was carefully structured training in working memory — the kind that allows memorization of a telephone number just long enough to dial it. This type of memory is closely related to fluid intelligence, according to background information in the article, and appears to rely on the same brain circuitry. So the researchers reasoned that improving it might lead to improvements in fluid intelligence.

First they measured the fluid intelligence of four groups of volunteers using standard tests. Then they trained each in a complicated memory task, an elaborate variation on Concentration, the child’s card game, in which they memorized simultaneously presented auditory and visual stimuli that they had to recall later.

The game was set up so that as the participants succeeded, the tasks became harder, and as they failed, the tasks became easier. This assured a high level of difficulty, adjusted individually for each participant, but not so high as to destroy motivation to keep working. The four groups underwent a half-hour of training daily for 8, 12, 17 and 19 days, respectively. At the end of each training, researchers tested the participants’ fluid intelligence again. To make sure they were not just improving their test-taking skills, the researchers compared them with control groups that took the tests without the training.

The results, published Monday in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were striking. Although the control groups also made gains, presumably because they had practice with the fluid intelligence tests, improvement in the trained groups was substantially greater. Moreover, the longer they trained, the higher their scores were. All performers, from the weakest to the strongest, showed significant improvement.

“Intelligence has always been considered principally an immutable inherited trait,” said Susanne M. Jaeggi, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Michigan and a co-author of the paper. “Our results show you can increase your intelligence with appropriate training.”
Why did the training work? The authors suggest several aspects of the exercise relevant to solving new problems: ignoring irrelevant items, monitoring ongoing performance, managing two tasks simultaneously and connecting related items to one another in space and time.

No one knows how long the gains will last after training stops, Dr. Jaeggi said, and the experiment’s design did not allow the researchers to determine whether more training would continue to produce further gains.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/health/research/29brai.html?_r=1&no_interstitial

How to Live Courageously By Osho

2008-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

"The word courage is very interesting. It comes from a Latin root cor, which means ‘heart’. So to be courageous means to live with the heart. And weaklings, only weaklings, live with the head; afraid, they create a security of logic around themselves. Fearful, they close every window and door - with theology, concepts, words, theories - and inside those closed doors and windows, they hide.

The way of the heart is the way of courage. It is to live in insecurity; it is to live in love, and trust; it is to move in the unknown. It is leaving the past and allowing the future to be. Courage is to move on dangerous paths. Life is dangerous, and only cowards can avoid the danger - but then, they are already dead.

A person who is alive, really alive, vitally alive, will always move into the unknown. There is danger there, but he will take the risk. The heart is always ready to take the risk, the heart is a gambler. The head is a businessman. The head always calculates - it is cunning. The heart is non-calculating."

The 3 most important aspects of courage I think to take away from this quote are…
1. Courage is Not Fearlessness: That’s right. Since you are going to be dealing with the unknown and with uncertainly, there is bound to be apprehension. That’s ok. Courage is to move forward despite this fear. So don’t feel like you lack courage simply because you have fear. Look at the fear as an opportunity to exercise your courage muscle. As Osho would put it, embrace uncertainty.

2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons. The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions.

3. Courage Allows you to Live in the Present: This is the essence of courage. To allow the unknown future to take shape and be willing to move out of the mind and into the moment. So instead of trying to manipulate life to avoid uncertainty, simply take an innocent attitude instead. There are no guarantees here that things will go right, there is only danger and mystery, courage means to be willing to go forward nonetheless.

Meditations for Bliss by Osho

2008-12-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Feel Your Body as Empty

Suppose your passive form to be an empty room with walls of skin…but inside, everything empty. This is one of the most beautiful techniques. Just sit in a meditative posture, relaxed, alone, your backbone straight and the whole body relaxed ? as if the whole body is hanging on the backbone. Then close your eyes. For a few moments go on feeling relaxed, more relaxed, becoming calmer and calmer and calmer.

Do this for a few moments, just to be in tune. And then suddenly start feeling your body is just walls of skin and there is nothing inside, there is no one inside, the house is vacant. Sometimes you will feel thoughts passing, clouds of thoughts moving, but don't think that they belong to you. You are not. Just think that they are roaming in a vacant sky ? they don't belong to anyone, they don't have any roots.

Really this is the case: thoughts are just like clouds moving in the sky. They don't have any roots and they don't belong to the sky, they simply roam in the sky. They come and they go and the sky remains untouched, uninfluenced.

Feel that your body is just walls of skin and there is no one inside. Thoughts will still continue ? because of old habit, old momentum, old cooperation, thoughts will go on coming. But just think that they are rootless clouds moving in space ? they don't belong to you, they don't belong to anybody else. There is no one to whom they can belong ? you are empty. It will be difficult, but because of the old habits, nothing else. Your mind would like to catch some thought, be identified with it, move with it, enjoy it, indulge in it.

Resist!

Just say there is no one to indulge, there is no one to fight, there is no one to do anything with this thought.Within a few days, a few weeks, thoughts will slow down, they will become less and less. The clouds will start disappearing, or, even if they come, there will be great gaps of cloudless sky when there will be no thought.

One thought will pass. Then another will not come for a period. Then another will come and then there will again be an interval. In those intervals you will know for the first time what emptiness is. And the very glimpse of it will fill you with such deep bliss you cannot imagine.

Think of Nothing

Thinking, you are separated from existence. Thinking is not a relation, it is not a bridge, it is not a communication ? it is a barrier. Non-thinking you are related, bridged; you are in communion. When you are talking to someone, you are not related. The very talk becomes a barrier. The more you talk, the further away you move. If you are with someone in silence, you are related. If the silence is really deep and there are no thoughts in your mind and both the minds are totally silent, you are one.

Whenever you are silent with someone, you are one.

When you are silent with existence, you are one with it.

This technique says be silent with existence and then you will know what God is. There is only one dialogue with existence and that is in silence. If you talk with existence, you miss. Then you are enveloped in your own thoughts.

Try this as an experiment. Try it with anything ? even with a rock. Be silent with it ? take it in your hand and be silent ? and there will be a communion. You will move deep into the rock and the rock will move deep into you.

Your secrets will be revealed to the rock and the rock will reveal its secrets to you. But you cannot use language with it. The rock doesn't know any language.Confined in thoughts you will be in misery. Unconfined, beyond thoughts ? alert, conscious, aware, but unclouded by thoughts ? you will be joy, you will be bliss.

Top Technology Breakthroughs of 2008

2008-12-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

From Wired Magazine, a few highlights:

10. Flexible Displays

A sliver of the future can soon be tucked into your back pocket. For years, researchers have worked on thin, paperlike displays that can be folded, rolled or sewn into the sleeve of your hoodie. Flexible displays could change the way we interact with the info-universe, creating new kinds of cellphones, portable computers, e-newspapers and electronic books.

This year, the research moved from the realm of science fiction to plausible reality. With help from the U.S. Army, Arizona State University's Flexible Display Center has created a prototype for soldiers, and hopes to have the devices in field trials in the next three years. Startups like Plastic Logic and E-Ink have been developing similar technologies.

Meanwhile, Hewlett Packard announced a manufacturing breakthrough that allows the thin-film transistor arrays to be fabricated on flexible plastic materials, enabling manufacturers to "print" displays on big, newsprintlike rolls. Samsung showed off a mobile phone prototype with a flexible display that folds like a book.

Outlook: A Minority Report-style digital newspaper that you can roll up in your pocket isn't happening before 2010 at the earliest. But to quote science fiction novelist William Gibson: "The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet."

7. Flash Memory

When Apple blessed the iPod with flash memory, it gave new life to a technology that had long played second fiddle to hard disk drives. Now flash memory is a mainstay of most consumer electronics products, from ultralight notebooks to digital cameras and media players.

Next, the who's who of the tech industry — EMC, Sun Microsystems, Intel and Hitachi — are championing flash drives for larger business users.

The advantage? Solid-state flash drives offer faster response times than hard disk drives and they require much less power. The hitch is that they are almost eight times more expensive than hard disk drives. But with the star power behind flash storage, the prices have nowhere to go but down.

Outlook: More data centers are likely to move to flash storage in 2009, which is likely to drive prices down further. If this trend takes off, say goodbye to the hard disk drives in your house. It will be time to flash your drive.

1. Apple's App Store

Until this year, mobile app developers lacked an easy way to get their software into the hands of consumers, forcing them to make deals with finicky and power-hungry carriers if they wanted to get any distribution at all. Apple's App Store changed all that. It made creating and distributing mobile applications for cellphone users easy — jumpstarting the mobile-app development market and creating clones such as the Android Market. It even forced Research in Motion to offer a BlackBerry Application Storefront. For thousands of programmers, the cellphone is the new PC.

Outlook: App stores have changed forever the way we use our phones, turning them into personalized devices filled with utilities, handy tools and copies of Tap Tap Revenge.

Resource: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/12/YE8_techbreaks?currentPage=3

Meditation on Gratitude - with Deepak Chopra

2008-12-25T20:37:00.000-08:00

The word meditation comes from the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, then later evolved into the more specific meaning "contemplation."
Eastern spiritual teachings, including meditation, have been adapted and increasingly practiced in Western culture.

How To Change Your Life In 21 Days

2008-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Imagine that you can become a millionaire, you have all the money that you want, you can buy everything that you want and own everything that you ever dream of. Of course, becoming a millionaire is just an example. Maybe you’ve other dream and goal. Maybe you want to live a happy life and live healthily.

What if I tell you that you can achieve this kind of lifestyle all in 21 days?

What will you do then?

Pavlov, the man who discovered that you could make a dog salivate by ringing a dinner bell, said that it takes 21 days for anyone to develop a new habit. You’ll notice that if you move wastepaper basket to the other side of your desk, you’ll throw paper on the floor for about 21 days until you break your old habit and start a new one. If you move to a new home, it takes about 21 days before it starts feeling like home. If you start a new job, it takes roughly 21 days for it to feel as if it’s what you do for a living rather than a new job.

So here’s what you’re going to do in the following 21 days. You’re going to transform your life into someone that you always dream of, forever.

Before you make this decision, ask yourself, “Am I serious about changing my life? Do I really want to live a successful life?”

Once you’ve answered the above questions, it is time for you to be committed and ready to change your life. I bet that you knew what I’m going to ask you to do. Well, if you want to change your bad habit, you’ll have to do it consistently for the next 21 days.

If you want your goals to fully sink into your subconscious mind, you’ll have to write down your goals for the following 21 days. If you want to stop smoking, don’t smoke for 21 days and you’ll change the habit. If you’re going to lose weight by exercising every morning, wake up early and exercise for the next 21 days.

So if you get into the habit of looking at your objectives everyday for the next 21 days, you will have created a new habit, and what a difference it will make in your life.

Are you ready to change your life? In fact, you already know how you can change your life. Just do what you suppose to do in the next 21 days and you’ll form the new habit in your life. Here are some of the guidelines that will be able to help you in changing your life within 21 days…

1. Take 100% Responsibility

Within these 21 days, don’t make any excuses, don’t blame and don’t complain. Take 100% responsibility. This is the first thing that you must do to change your life. For things to change, you must first change yourself. Always remember this, nothing will change if you’re not changing.

You may say that you’re not responsible for the economic downturn. True, but once you take 100% responsibility, you’ll have the control over the situation. Instead of blaming the economy, you’ll learn how to cope with the obstacles you’re currently facing.

What I mean here is that you must change the response that you make in your life. For example, if you earned an extra $100, what you do with this extra $100 will be your response. You can choose to spend all of this extra money or you can choose to invest this $100 and increase your net worth. It is the response that you make that will change your life.

As you can see now, if you learn to take 100% responsibility, you’ll have the ability to control the situation and you are in charge of your own life. Therefore, in the following 21 days, don’t blame, don’t complain and don’t make any excuses in your life. Once you found out that you’re making any of these mistakes, stop immediately and focus on positive thoughts.

2. Focus In Where You Are Heading

You must live a directed life in these 21 days. So know what you really want to achieve in your life, write down your goals once every morning after you woke up and once every night before you sleep. You need to sink the idea of your goals into your subconscious mind and this is what you’ll have to do.

If you have your goals, you can then stay focused in your life and live your life in a direction. Goal setting is not a magic wand, it is something that allows you to be focused and know what you really want to achieve in your life. Can you imagine a life without goal?

Most people live a mediocre life because they don’t have a goal. They wake up every morning, get ready and go to work. They come back only after work, have dinner with their family, watch TV for the night and prepare to sleep. This is their day. Do you want to live this kind of life? It is a life without a clear direction of getting what you want.

Thus, make sure you follow through and write down your goals every morning and every night. By doing this for consecutive 21 days, you’ll experience huge change in your life after that.

3. Motivate, Learn and Improve

One of the reasons for causing inaction is because of the lack of motivation. If you don’t have the motivation, you’ll never take action. You need motivation to keep you going in your life, to achieve what you want, to earn more, to be a millionaire and to be successful.
Therefore, take a self-improvement book and read it for at least 15 minutes everyday. If you don’t have any, buy one.

You need to learn to grow.
If you’re not learning, you’ll stop to grow. Learning and keep on improving is crucial in bringing you to your ultimate success. Almost every successful person encourages you to learn because they know that learning will shape your mind, change your thinking and thus, change your life.
However, learning itself will not bring you what you want. You need to take action to get to where you want to be…

4. Take Action Everyday

Once you’ve your goals written down and your action plan created. It is time for you to follow through your action plan and achieve your goals. So take at least 3 action steps everyday for the following 21 days. You MUST do this. No matter how busy you are, take 3 actions even if you need to sleep late.

This is the most important habit you must develop during these 21 days. You must develop the habit of taking consistent action everyday. You know it very well that if you are just sitting right there doing nothing, you’ll achieve your goals.

Success is about getting things done. The more things you get them done, the more results you’ll receive. This is what separates a successful person from an ordinary one. Every successful person is a go-getter. So learn to be a go-getter in the following 21 days.

Resource: http://www.themillionairesecrets.net/how-to-change-your-life-in-21-days/

People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't.

2008-12-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input.

In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced in older than in younger people. That's intriguing because those sections of the human cortex, or thinking cap, normally get thinner as we age.

"Our data suggest that meditation practice can promote cortical plasticity in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and well-being," says Sara Lazar, leader of the study and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School. "These findings are consistent with other studies that demonstrated increased thickness of music areas in the brains of musicians, and visual and motor areas in the brains of jugglers. In other words, the structure of an adult brain can change in response to repeated practice."

The researchers compared brain scans of 20 experienced meditators with those of 15 nonmeditators. Four of the former taught meditation or yoga, but they were not monks living in seclusion. The rest worked in careers such as law, health care, and journalism. All the participants were white. During scanning, the meditators meditated; the others just relaxed and thought about whatever they wanted.

Meditators did Buddhist "insight meditation," which focuses on whatever is there, like noise or body sensations. It doesn't involve "om," other mantras, or chanting.

"The goal is to pay attention to sensory experience, rather than to your thoughts about the sensory experience," Lazar explains. "For example, if you suddenly hear a noise, you just listen to it rather than thinking about it. If your leg falls asleep, you just notice the physical sensations. If nothing is there, you pay attention to your breathing." Successful meditators get used to not thinking or elaborating things in their mind.

Study participants meditated an average of about 40 minutes a day. Some had been doing it for only a year, others for decades. Depth of the meditation was measured by the slowing of breathing rates. Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure. "This strongly suggests," Lazar concludes, "that the differences in brain structure were caused by the meditation, rather than that differences in brain thickness got them into meditation in the first place."

Lazar took up meditation about 10 years ago and now practices insight meditation about three times a week. At first she was not sure it would work. But "I have definitely experienced beneficial changes," she says. "It reduces stress [and] increases my clarity of thought and my tolerance for staying focused in difficult situations."

Controlling random thoughts

Insight meditation can be practiced anytime, anywhere. "People who do it quickly realize that much of what goes on in their heads involves random thoughts that often have little substance," Lazar comments. "The goal is not so much to 'empty' your head, but to not get caught up in random thoughts that pop into consciousness."

She uses this example: Facing an important deadline, people tend to worry about what will happen if they miss it, or if the end product will be good enough to suit the boss. You can drive yourself crazy with unproductive "what if" worry. "If, instead, you focus on the present moment, on what needs to be done and what is happening right now, then much of the feeling of stress goes away," Lazar says. "Feelings become less obstructive and more motivational."

The increased thickness of gray matter is not very much, 4 to 8 thousandths of an inch. "These increases are proportional to the time a person has been meditating during their lives," Lazar notes. "This suggests that the thickness differences are acquired through extensive practice and not simply due to differences between meditators and nonmeditators."

As small as they are, you can bet those differences are going to lead to lots more studies to find out just what is going on and how meditation might better be used to improve health and well-being, and even slow aging.

More basic questions need to be answered. What causes the increased thickness? Does meditation produce more connections between brain cells, or more blood vessels? How does increased brain thickness influence daily behavior? Does it promote increased communication between intellectual and emotional areas of the brain?

To get answers, larger studies are planned at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard-affiliated facility where Lazar is a research scientist and where these first studies were done. That work included only 20 meditators and their brains were scanned only once.

"The results were very encouraging," Lazar remarks. "But further research needs to be done using a larger number of people and testing them multiple times. We also need to examine their brains both before and after learning to meditate. Our group is currently planning to do this. Eventually, such research should reveal more about the function of the thickening; that is, how it affects emotions and knowing in terms of both awareness and judgment."

Slowing aging?

Since this type of meditation counteracts the natural thinning of the thinking surface of the brain, could it play a role in slowing - even reversing - aging? That could really be mind-boggling in the most positive sense.

Lazar is cautious in her answer. "Our data suggest that one small bit of brain appears to have a slower rate of cortical thinning, so meditation may help slow some aspects of cognitive aging," she agrees. "But it's important to remember that monks and yogis suffer from the same ailments as the rest of us. They get old and die, too. However, they do claim to enjoy an increased capacity for attention and memory."

Source: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/01/23-meditation.html

Shopping is war.

2008-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

The battle is not just among the jostling crowds at the sale bins and cash registers in these pre-Christmas days; it is also between warring factions of our own brains, some economists and neuroscientists say.

Recent studies suggest that each buying decision plays out in the brain as a fight between a pleasure center seeking the bliss of acquisition and an aversion center seeking to avoid the pain of paying.

In the hot field of neuroeconomics, MRI scans have turned up heightened activity in deep, primitive areas of the brain as subjects shop. The nucleus accumbens, a seat of pleasure, lights up when they are contemplating a purchase, and the insula, a seat of disgust and pain, lights upwhen they are thinking about how much that purchase is going to cost.

As such findings accumulate, they suggest potential strategies for spending less - or at least, more wisely - at this difficult juncture of dark economy and season of light.

"Your purchasing decisions are largely emotional, driven by very inarticulate feelings you have, this pain-versus-pleasure tug of war," said Jonah Lehrer, author of the forthcoming book, "How We Decide."

"So it's very important to impose a little bit of deliberation onto that emotional process, force yourself to think long-term, and rationally think through the consequences of what is ultimately a very emotional decision," he added.

How might that be done?

Cash is best: First and foremost, researchers

say, if you want to spend smarter, avoid using your credit card.

"One of the pernicious qualities of credit cards is that they anesthetize the pain of paying, which is ordinarily your first defense against overspending," said George Loewenstein, professor of economics and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.

Need convincing? In a 2001 study, two professors at MIT's Sloan School of Management held an auction for tickets to a sold-out Celtics game, and divided subjects into those who must pay cash within 24 hours and those who must pay with credit cards. The credit-card buyers were willing to bid on average up to twice as much as the cash buyers, they found.

Know your feelings: Be aware that emotions that do not penetrate conscious awareness, and that have little to do with an actual buying decision, may still affect it. One study found that shoppers tended to spend much more when they were feeling down. Another found that men who had just been exposed to erotic pictures were more willing to take economic risks, and the trick seemed to be that the erotica set the nucleus accumbens, the pleasure center, on a roll.

"The idea is that if you can just change activation in these areas, no matter what the stimulus is, you might be able to push around financial decision-making," said Brian Knutson, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford.

So how can you fight back against your unconscious emotions? Perhaps shop with a buddy who can supply reality checks, Knutson said. Others suggest shopping with a list and vowing not to deviate from it.

To avoid the stimulating atmosphere of stores, you might want to shop online. But that also has its dangers. "I would say one-click shopping on the Internet is a lot more dangerous than paying cash at the store," Loewenstein said. "You can do a lot of damage in a short time."

Lehrer also advises staying away from the free treats offered at Costco, Whole Foods, and elsewhere. As they activate the pleasure center, "they put you in the reward mood" for buying, said Lehrer.

Keep your distance: Avoid flirting with items you cannot afford, trying them on or carrying them around until they start to feel like yours, to avert what neuro-economists call "the endowment effect."

Knutson explains it like this: In his classes, he'll give a student a coffee mug, then ask how much he must pay to get the student to part with it. They usually reply that they'll sell it for $4 to $6. But if he asks the other students how much they'd pay for such a mug, they usually price it at $2 or $3. Though it makes no economic sense, we tend to value things more highly simply because they're ours. In a recent study, Knutson noted, brain scans bore out the phenomenon: the insula, the pain center, tended to kick in when subjects contemplated selling items they viewed as theirs.

Keep moving: Some researchers warn against buying too much in one store. "You may experience something called `decreasing sensitivity to losses,"' said Loewenstein. "Especially if you've spent a large amount, say $100, at a store, you don't want to start buying a bunch of small stuff, because it will start feeling free. If you go to another store, it won't feel free."

Tightwads, in particular, need to watch out for this, he said, because they are prone to spending binges when they finally loosen their pursestrings.

Beware of bargains: As with credit cards, studies have found that the feeling of getting a bargain blunts the pain of payment. Call it the "You can't go wrong at this price" effect. The insula lights up when people pay a price that seems high, and shuts down when they think they are getting a good deal, Loewenstein said: "That can interfere with rational decision-making just as much as the excitement about the good itself."

Know why we buy: We give presents to foster social bonds, points out Dan Ariely, professor of behavioral economics at Duke and author of the recent book Predictably Irrational - and realizing that can help us refocus how we spend. Ariely says he tries to buy gifts that people wouldn't have bought for themselves, either because they would feel too decadent or because they lacked knowledge about the item.

Get over the idea that it's about money, Ariely said, and "You might be able to spend much less and get much more meaning out of it."

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_11292187

FUCK Barbie & Ken 101

2008-12-23T15:46:00.000-08:00

This is such a beautiful and accurate commentary on media, marketing, and our society.

What do you think? Let me know your thoughts on this below.

Sugar = Heroine & Cocaine???

2008-12-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

Sugar as addictive as cocaine, heroin, studies suggest

It's one addiction that won't land you in court or an inpatient rehab. But sugar - as anyone who mainlines sweets can attest - can be just as habit-forming as cocaine.

Researchers at Princeton University studying bingeing and dependency in rats have found that when the animals ingest large amounts of sugar, their brains undergo changes similar to the changes in the brains of people who abuse illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin.

"Our evidence from an animal model suggests that bingeing on sugar can act in the brain in ways very similar to drugs of abuse," says lead researcher and Princeton psychology professor Bart Hoebel.

In the studies, he explains, animals that drank large amounts of sugar water when hungry experienced behavioral changes, too, along with signs of withdrawal and even long-lasting effects that resemble cravings.

Some people experience powerful cravings for sweets - internal messages telling them to eat sugar even though they know it's bad for them - says Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "These people get strong urges to consume sweets, and these cravings border on addiction," he says. "When they eat sugar, just like when someone ingests cocaine, some people get that feeling of well-being, a rush that makes them feel good for a period of time. When the sweets are taken away, the people just don't feel right."

In the animals studied at Princeton, bingeing released a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. "It's been known that drugs of abuse release or increase the levels of dopamine in that part of the brain," Hoebel said.

After the rats' sugar supply was withdrawn, they became anxious. Their teeth chattered and they grew unwilling to venture into the open arm of their maze. Instead, they stayed in the tunnel of the maze.

Deprived of their sugar, the rats displayed signs of withdrawal similar to the symptoms seen in people when they stop smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs.

Just as not everyone has the tendency to become an alcoholic or a drug addict, so not everyone is hard wired to be a sugar-holic, Aronne says. And there is certainly effective treatment for a sweet addiction, though it's not likely to go down easily among those who like their candy and cookies.

"If people eat starch and sugar in the morning, it's very difficult to get their behavior in control and they'll be craving sweets all day," Aronne says. "So we have people start out their day by eating protein and vegetables in the morning."

Broccoli omelet for breakfast, anyone?

Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2008/12/12/2008-12-12_sugar_as_addictive_as_cocaine_heroin_stu.html

Creating an Attitude of Gratitude

2008-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Creating an attitude of gratitude is one of the easiest steps we can take to improve our lives. The happiness that we create for ourselves by showing our appreciation has far-reaching effects, both for ourselves and for those we come into contact with. The potential for gratitude to spread beyond those people also increases significantly – it can be highly contagious. There are so many different ways that we can express an attitude of gratitude. Here are just a few:

Say “thank you”. This is the most basic and well-known way to show appreciation to others. Saying “thank you” is a great way to express your gratitude and can be done in several different forms. You can say it in person, over the phone, in a note, or in an email. Using this when it’s least expected can have significant results in lifting someone’s spirits. For example, a quick note to your child’s teacher thanking her for her hard work and patience might give her the boost of energy that she needs right when she needs it most. You may never know what effect this has had on her, but it will have an effect.

Stop complaining about your life. Even as tough as life can be sometimes, remember that there is always someone that has things worse than you do. Constant complaining about what is wrong in your life will keep you focused on that. The opposite is true as well – focusing on what is right in your life will keep you focused on that. Focusing on the negative will bring you down while focusing on the positive will lift you up.

Focus on what you have, not what you don’t have. This is very closely related to not complaining about your life. Being grateful for what you do have keeps you in a positive place, whereas focusing on what you don’t have keeps you in a negative place. Focusing on what you do have, regardless of how little or how much that may be, is a great expression of gratitude.

Model your attitude. Modeling your attitude of gratitude is a great way to spread it to others. We’ve all heard the Golden Rule to “treat others the way you want to be treated”. Showing your appreciation to others shows them that you like to be treated this way too. An attitude of gratitude can be quite infectious!

Be satisfied with simple things and be mindful of little things. Being grateful for the little things in our lives is just as important (if not, more so) than being grateful for the big things. Our lives are filled with little things every day that we can be grateful for. What about that front row parking spot you found when you were running late? Or the beautiful weather outside? How about the store clerk that went out of her way to help you? This may take a little practice, but there are many little things throughout the day that we can be grateful for if we take the time to notice them.

Give to someone else. This is the best way to spread your gratitude of attitude. There are so many different ways to give to someone else. You could volunteer your time to help those less fortunate or give you time to children by mentoring them. The possibilities are endless but could make a huge difference in someone’s life without you evening knowing it. If they in turn give to someone else, the cycle could continue without end.

Keep a gratitude journal. Let’s just be honest here: there are some days when it is hard to find anything to be grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal can help with that. There are preprinted journals so you can just fill in the blanks or you can make your own. The important thing is to find at least 5 things each day to be grateful for, no matter how big or small those things are. A gratitude journal can serve two purposes: it will help you stop and remember what you are grateful for or it can serve as inspiration on days when you find it difficult to find anything to be grateful for by reading over past days.

Practice random acts of kindness. This can be one of the most fun and rewarding ways to live a life of gratitude, especially when it’s done anonymously. Surprise someone with something unexpected. You may never know what it meant to them but it will likely make their day. Try putting a note in your child’s lunch or bringing treats to the office to share. Even a small gesture can mean so much to someone.

Living a life of gratitude is one of the easiest ways to live a happier life. It takes very little effort to show someone you appreciate them but will mean so much to them. There are so many ways to make gratitude a part of our life and to spread that attitude to others. Make today the day you start living a life of gratitude and spread your light to the rest of the world!

Recipe for Concentration

2008-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Relaxation

You don't have to shave your head, take a vow to celibacy, or change your religion to practice meditation. Entrance yourself with sound, something quiet and subtle that will pull at your attention and fill your senses with serenity (I like the sound of running water). Find a position that you can be in indefinitely without much discomfort or disruption of circulation to your limbs. Pay attention to your breathing and establish a comfortable rhythm. Empty your mind of the numerous thoughts flying about, and let your sensory experience engulf your mind. Tel your muscles to relax. Focus on your breathing; let it become the only thing you think of. This can paradoxically seem both impossible, and the easiest thing you could possibly do. Remain focused, lest you fall asleep. determination

Intention

It's easy to stray off the path. You can prepare yourself by having directions that will take you from wherever you back to where you need to be. For example, if you need to write a research paper, make a list of things you need to do (locate sources, read sources, extract excerpts, create outline, formulate thesis, etc.). Whenever you find yourself doing something that is not productive (read email, IRC, random WWW browsing, picking dirt off fingernails, etc.), go over your list of things to do and put yourself back on track. Done often enough, this process could become automatic.

Awareness

Concentration requires being in a certain state of consciousness continuously for the desired amount of time. Music has a powerful effect on consciousness. Listen to any type of music that helps you be in whatever state you need to be in. If fast thinking is required, fast music is appropiate. If repetitive processes are required, repetitive music is optimal. If possible, make a CD or tape of the required music and put it on an endless loop...

Determination

Tell yourself you will never give up, and you will take yourself more seriously. I once struggled trying to learn a piano piece for 3 hours straight. It was frustrating at first, but it got easier once my brain realized I meant serious business and was not going to leave the piano for a few hours. The temptation of scrapping it all and doing something else is severe, especially if the task at hand is challenging. Having infinite patience is difficult, yet simple if one keeps one's priorities straight. One of my favorite original quotes: "The more patience you have, the less patience you'll need."

How To Think and Act More Efficiently

2008-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mental Heuristics

A heuristic is a "rule-of-thumb", advice that helps an AI program or human think and act more efficiently by directing thinking in an useful direction.

Some of these heuristics are age-old wisdom, bordering on cliche, but most are actually helpful.

If you want something done, do it yourself

Comment: Obviously true, and doing it is usually very good for your self esteem. A surprising amount of work can be done this way, and experts are not always necessary. However, there is a risk of becoming overworked if you try to do everything yourself - we all need other people after all.

Never procrastinate anything you can do right now

Comment: Very powerful. There are many things that can be fixed or solved with a minimum of effort, but are often pushed aside as unimportant. Unfortunately they won't go away, and in time the feelings of guilt for not having done them will make you even less likely of fixing the problems.

When you have several things you could be doing and don't know which to do: Just do any one of them!

Comments: If you cannot decide between two or more possibilities, then there is a good chance that the differences don't matter. However, most people begin to hesitate in this kind of situation (Fredkin's paradox). If you are conscious of this, you can just choose one choice randomly or according to some standard method.

Always assume that you will succeed

Comments: If you don't expect to succeed in an endeavor, then you will not do your best and will not notice possible solutions, while if you feel that you will eventually succeed you will concentrate all your power at the problem. Of course, there is no point in attempting what you cannot do, a certain amount of self-knowledge is always needed.

If you can't find a solution, change the rules.

Comment: Remember that there are no no-win scenarios.

If you cannot do anything about something, there is no point in worrying about it.

Comment: Worrying is stressful, and in most situations doesn't accomplish anything - it just wastes energy. Instead of worrying about things, either do something about them or find ways around the problem. One useful idea is to write down your worries on slips of paper, and then put them away in a box. Regularly, once a week or so, you open the box and see what you can do about the worries that are still relevant.

Do not rely on conscious decisions for speed - Just Do It

Comments: The conscious mind is surprisingly slow, conscious choices and actions are delayed for a significant time (a reflex acts within some tens of milliseconds, an unconscious reaction to external stimuli circa 100 milliseconds and a conscious choice several seconds). The duty of the conscious mind is usually to inhibit rather than start action, and if you become too conscious of what you are doing in a tense situation you will hesitate or slow down.

It is a good idea to learn to rely on your non-conscious mind, since our conscious mind is slow and has very low bandwidth while the other systems in our brains have a tremendous capacity and actually do most of the real work anyway.

Don't try to explain away your actions for yourself

Comment: While we often do things we do not want to explain our real motivations for before other people (out of fear of embarrassment, anger or loss of image), it is a bad idea to try to convince oneself that the motivation was anything different from what it was. It will only reduce your self-knowledge with deliberate misinformation, and it is often valuable to understand what motivations you have (even if you dislike them or would never admit them in public).

Listen to your intuition, but do not believe it unconditionally

Comments: Intuitive or emotional thinking, analogies, "gut feelings" or "flashes of inspiration" can sometimes give fantastic new insights or show problems from a new direction. Unfortunately such thinking isn't always reliable, and quite often completely wrong! Such insights should never be accepted because you admire their beauty or they are intuitive, only because they fit with reality.

How to Reach Your Goals On AutoPilot

2008-12-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

Think about the habits you have now and how they affect virtually every aspect of your life. Your weight and health are determined by your eating habits. Your relationships with people are determined by your social habits. Your success at work is determined by your work habits. You have sleeping habits that dictate how well you sleep. You have sexual habits. You even have buying habits; just take a look around your house and you will quickly see them. Our character, health and virtually every aspect of our lives are indeed determined by our habits.

If you ask ten people on the street what the word habit means, nine out of ten will tell you that a habit is a negative action that people do over and over again, like smoking, or procrastinating, or eating too much. Bad habits get all the press. Let's look at the results of just one bad habit: smoking. Every year, over 400,000 people lose their lives to smoking-related illnesses in the United States. Imagine then, the negative power that exists in just that one bad habit. It is staggering.

Now I want you to think about an even greater power, a power that can bring you success, health and happiness; a power for positive, permanent, and automatic personal growth: the power of positive habits. Let's look a little closer at the meaning of the word habit. Random House dictionary defines habit in this way:

Habit: An acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.

The important words in this definition are acquired and almost involuntary. Let me ask you a question. When is the last time you sat down and said to yourself, "Today I am going to add a new habit to my life?" I would venture to guess that you have probably never said those words. As you read this article, you will see how easy it is to add positive habits to your life and the great power they have to change it. Think about the words almost involuntary. This means the habit is so powerful in your mind that it is almost unstoppable! With respect to bad habits like smoking, procrastination, and overeating, this is very bad. But with positive habits, this is very, very good.

What is a positive habit? A positive habit is simply a habit that produces positive benefits, actions and attitudes you want to acquire and make a part of your life. Why is there such great power in positive habits to effect change? Because habits, by their very nature, are automatic. After a period of time they can become permanent.

So how do we go about adding new positive habits to our life? It's really quite easy. You simply begin repeating an action, attitude or thought process every day for at least 21 days. Research has shown that an action that is repeated for a minimum of 21 days is likely to become a permanent habit. Remember that positive habits have positive benefits and you will reap those benefits for as long as you maintain that habit. So now that we know what positive habits are, and how to acquire them, let's look at some simple positive habits that will help you reach your goals and get more out of life.

Positive Habit - Make it a habit to set goals

Since we are talking about goals, what better habit could you have than the habit of setting goals? Did you know that the most successful people all share the common positive habit of goal setting? A study was done to determine the importance of goal setting. College students who had gone on to achieve great success in business were asked to list their habits. The students who had made a habit of setting goals were in the top 3% of earnings in the population! It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of goal-setting as a positive habit. Goal setting is simple, yet 97% of the population never do it. By making goal setting a positive habit, you can start placing yourself in the top 3% of the population of successful people.

Here are some simple steps to help you start making goal setting a positive habit:

Step 1 - Define your goals, write them down, and be very specific; capture your goals on paper. It is amazing how many people never take the time to write down exactly what it is they want in life. Remember, you can't hit a target if you don't have one.

Step 2 - Determine what the time line is for reaching your goals; set specific deadlines for each goal.

Step 3 - Identify any obstacles that may stand in your way, list them, and state how you plan to overcome them.

Step 4 - Make a list of the people.

You Get What You Focus On

2008-12-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself thinking mainly about the bad things in your life? Do you look at the future and assume that things will turn out badly for you? Watch out! It is likely that you will get what you focus on. Even the Biblical character Job, who suffered the loss of everything, made the statement, "That which I have greatly feared has come to pass." Is it possible that his disasters happened partly because his focus was on the negative instead of on the positive?

You don't have anything to lose by thinking positively and focusing on the beneficial things you desire. If your focus is on defeat and despair, you will be miserable even if it never happens. On the other hand, a positive, upbeat focus will have you in a good state of mind even if a mishap occurs. Ask any positive thinker, though, and they will tell you that you get good things if you expect good things.

Your focus can be increased in a variety of ways. Positive affirmations are a traditional approach. Whatever you hope to achieve or gain in life, turn it into a single simple statement. For instance, if you want to lose weight, you can tell yourself something like, "I am enjoying lighter meals and am satisfied with smaller portions." Try telling yourself your affirmations every morning several times when you first rise, and again in the evening before going to sleep.

Many people like to post their positive focus statements on the bathroom mirror where they will see them while they brush their teeth in the morning. You might like to write them inside your daily planner as well. Another idea is to write encouraging notes to yourself on each page of your planner or calendar. Keep those positive ideas before your eyes if you wish to improve the strength of your focus.

Some people have enjoyed creating a collage or dream box to increase their positive focus. A collage can be made of magazine pictures, words, and statements that point your heart to your desired outcomes. A dream box is simply a place to keep success stories, motivating pictures and other inspiring odds and ends you collect as you go through life.

Do you write New Year's resolutions? The beginning of the year is a natural time to evaluate your life and set goals. Don't follow the popular idea that resolutions are all broken withing a few weeks. If a goal is worth pursuing, don't give up on it. Believe you can achieve it. Believe you will achieve it. Write your resolutions down and look at them from time to time as the year progresses. They might be challenging, but by keeping them in your focus, you might reach some of them. Congratulate yourself for every small victory on your road to success.

Yes, you get what you focus on. Make sure you are setting your sights on success and achievement and not on failure. Whatever you set your mind to, you can accomplish.

How to use Desire to Achieve Your Goals

2008-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

All of the great achievers throughout history have one thing in common. They have all been dreamers or desirers. If anyone is to achieve their goals in life then the first thing they need to do is establish what their desires are. That’s what makes people who are highly successful different from the rest – they know exactly what they want in life.

Simply wishing for success is insufficient. If anyone is to make any steps towards their definite objectives then they need to have a determined attitude, bordering on obsession, to fulfil that desire. It does not matter what your desire is. It may be a desire to excel in business, it could be a desire to learn a new skill, or it could involve a desire to change aspects of your personal life.

Whatever desire a person has, it will only be fulfilled if some of the following actions are taken. Firstly a person must realise what it is they need to make them content with their lives and give themselves step by step aims. Then they need to consider how much work they need to put in if they are ever to begin achieving those aims. Next they should set a deadline for reaching their final goal and then create a plan with a timeline highlighting how and when they will go about their tasks. This knowledge must be updated and read out regularly to keep a person on track to satisfying their desire.

All who achieve great things adopt a similar philosophy when setting themselves goals. The best writers, artists, sportsmen, inventors, musicians and scientists, along with many other pioneers of modern professions, all follow the process of putting their thoughts into action successfully when backed by a burning desire. Everyone, no matter what their chosen path in life may be, will start in the same situation with nothing but their thoughts and desires to spur them on.
Many people lack self confidence and are unwilling to set their aims higher through fear of failing. This sometimes develops due to people close to them discouraging them because they feel they are unrealistic with their goals and life choices. It may be that friends and family do not approve and so use ridicule to prevent their loved one from making what they feel is a mistake.
However, these people need to realise that we live in a world that continually throws us new and unique opportunities. The world only became modernised with the efforts of the creative and productive generations before us. Without the burning desire that these people had we might never have discovered the power to travel abroad by plane, communicate with the other side of the world by phone, order something from overseas by the net. With the development of technology and the industrialisation of the world, we now have more job opportunity and diversity than we have ever had.

The time for everyone to realise their dreams is now. We must continue to follow the same methods of pioneers before us by taking the courage to act upon our thoughts with conviction and fulfil our burning desires. It is important that all negative influences are avoided. There is no excuse for procrastination, and laziness. It is easy for people to say they want to achieve but in reality they will only start to realise their goals once they take those first steps in which they make a plan outlining the route to success.

Everyone has to start somewhere and not everything will go to plan. What is fundamental to success is that a person is not discouraged by initial failure. Most people who have claimed to have ‘made it’ in life will also be the first to admit that they had failures along the way. With every failure comes the chance to learn something new for another opportunity.

All achievements no matter how significant they are to others begin with a burning desire to get the result intended. In the human mind there is a power that is hard to explain. It is the ability to focus positive thoughts on achieving the thing that is wanted most. Success is sometimes a thing that at first seems impossible. When a burning desire in a person is so strong the word impossible loses significance.

How to Transmute Sexual Energy to Help You Achieve More

2008-12-20T00:02:00.001-08:00

To transmute means, in simple terms, to transfer or re-divert energy. In the context of sex being transmuted it means to transfer all energy that is wasted on thoughts and impulses that are governed by sex and not just the physical side to sex. It is the emotion of sex and its energy which when controlled can be used as strengths, and be focused on more productive activities.

When people harness the thoughts that drive them such as sexual desire they can learn to become more creative, develop their imagination and strengthen their will power. No matter what profession or service a person is involved in, all can benefit from this process. It takes a determined character for it to work because sexual desire is a natural emotion and so it should not just be suppressed or the energy may find a less desirable outlet. However, if it is expressed in a creative way it can enrich a persons mind.

It has been shown through scientific research that many successful people have very sexually driven minds. This is partially due to their ability to transmute their sexual energy and channel energy which would normally be wasted, towards more creative outlets. There are other stimuli that help the mind to be more creative and productive. Some may be seen as bad influences to people but that is really only if they overindulge in them. There is sex expression, love, desire for fame and fortune, friendships, fear and drugs, alcohol just to name a few. Sex expression can be seen as the more powerful because of its intensity and the way it forces thoughts to be put into action.

To transmute sexual energy takes will power and a different attitude to the subject of sex. Now that sex is not so much of a taboo subject, having a highly sexed personality is not seen as a bad thing and can be looked on positively. Sex emotion can only been seen in this way if it is used cleverly and not too often. Too much stimulation will have a destructive affect and take the fight out of a person.

If the sex is combined with love then the potential for a really productive period will be greater. When a person is motivated by love and the need to please their partner for extra reasons other than just sex then they will have the potential to achieve even more. Love sex and romance when combined allow people to discover things about themselves, giving them confidence and pushing the limits of their abilities.

Sex emotion can also be destructive if mixed with negative emotions such as jealousy. This has the potential to break people and take away all their motivation in life. Jealousy, along with other negative emotions, needs to be controlled especially in relation to sexual energy. This control comes through learning how to transmute sex energy.

Videos you must watch or you will be clueless about the present and the future

2008-12-18T21:42:00.000-08:00

a short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today - how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime. Created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.

Did you know???

Did you know 2.0??

The Machine is Us/ing Us

"Web 2.0" in just under 5 minutes.

Information R/evolution

This video explores the changes in the way we find, store, create, critique, and share information. This video was created as a conversation starter, and works especially well when brainstorming with people about the near future and the skills needed in order to harness, evaluate, and create information effectively.

A little Porn everyday keeps the Doctor away

2008-12-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

Porn is a very touchy subject. To some it is a fun and pleasurable indulgence. To others it is the scourge of the earth. This is why I want to briefly go over what porn is, how old it is, the arguments for it, and the arguments against it.

Everyone knows someone who is really into porn. You may even be one of these people. Anyway you look at it, everyone is affected by porn. Something that is such an influence on so many lives, while also being a multi billion dollar industry, should deserve our attention.

What is pornography?

Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually arousing imagery. Over the past few decades, an immense industry for the production and consumption of pornography has grown, due to emergence of the VCR, the DVD, and the Internet, as well as the emergence of social attitudes more tolerant of sexual portrayals. Performers in pornography are referred to as pornographic actors (or actresses), or the more commonly known title, "porn star", and are generally seen as qualitatively different from their non-pornographic counterparts.

The word derives from the Greek πορνογραφία (pornographia), which derives from the Greek words πόρνη (pornē, "prostitute"), γράφω (graphō, "to write or record"), and the suffix -ία (-ia, meaning "state of", "property of", or "place of"), thus meaning "a place to record prostitutes"

History of Pornography

The depiction of sexual acts is as old as civilization (and can be found painted on various ancient buildings), but the concept of pornography as understood today did not exist until the Victorian era. Previous to that time, though some sex acts were regulated or stipulated in laws, looking at objects or images depicting them was not.

The world's first law criminalizing pornography was enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1857 in the Obscene Publications Act. The Victorian attitude that pornography was for a select few can be seen in the wording of the Hicklin test stemming from a court case in 1868 where it asks, "whether the tendency of the matter charged as obscenity is to deprave and corrupt those whose minds are open to such immoral influences." Despite the fact of their suppression, depictions of erotic imagery were common throughout history.

Anti-pornography movement

Opponents to pornography claim:

pornography is essentially dehumanizing women and is likely to encourage violence against them

most pornography eroticizes the domination, humiliation, and coercion of women, reinforces sexual and cultural attitudes that are complicit in rape and sexual harassment, and contributes to the male-centered objectification of women.

sex is reserved for heterosexual married couples, to be used only in accordance with God's will, and assert that use of pornography involves indulgence in lust (which in Christianity is a sin) and leads to an overall increase in sexually immoral behavior.

Pro-pornography movement

Opponents to pornography claim:

It gives a panoramic view of the world's sexual possibilities. This is true even of basic sexual information such as masturbation.

It allows people to "safely" experience sexual alternatives and satisfy a healthy sexual curiosity. The world is a dangerous place. By contrast, pornography can be a source of solitary enlightenment.

It offers the emotional information that comes only from experiencing something either directly or vicariously. It provides us with a sense how it would "feel" to do something

Pornography breaks cultural and political stereotypes, so that each person can interpret sex for themselves. Authorities tell people to be ashamed of their appetites and urges. Pornography tells them to accept and enjoy them. Pornography can be good therapy. Pornography provides a sexual outlet for those who - for whatever reason - have no sexual partner.

Pornography is free speech applied to the sexual realm. Freedom of speech is the ally of those who seek change: it is the enemy of those who seek to maintain control. Pornography, along with all other forms of sexual heresy, such as homosexuality, should have the same legal protection as political heresy.

My thoughts on the matter

On the matter I take a basically Libertarian approach. I think if someone wants to watch porn, then they should be able to. If someone does not want to watch porn, then they shouldn’t have to. The individual should be free to choose. If we are to live in a free society then we are going to have to grow up and accept that people may or may not do things that we may disagree with. This just comes with the territory.

What do you think about this? How has porn influenced your life? Is porn an evil influence or a benign indulgence? What do you think?

The Future Of Blogging - As They See It

2008-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

How do you see the future of blogging? Jeff Chandler interviewed some popular bloggers and asked them how they see the future of blogging. If you are curious about the future of blogging, read The Future Of Blogging - As They See It

Robert Anton Wilson - Language, Reason & Reality

2008-12-17T22:16:00.000-08:00

Robert Anton Wilson - Language, Reason & Reality

E-Prime, short for English-Prime, refers to a modified English syntax and vocabulary lacking all forms of the verb to be: be, is, am, are, was, were, been and being, and also their contraction

Examples of literal translation vs. translation "in the spirit" of E-Prime

In the original verse (Roses are red/Violets are blue/Honey is sweet/And so are you) the speaker expresses a belief in absolutes: "just as it is true that roses are red and violets are blue, it is true that you are as sweet as honey". But E-Prime seeks to avoid this type of thinking and writing.

Examples of literal translation vs. translation "in the spirit" of E-Prime

In the original verse (Roses are red/Violets are blue/Honey is sweet/And so are you) the speaker expresses a belief in absolutes: "just as it is true that roses are red and violets are blue, it is true that you are as sweet as honey". But E-Prime seeks to avoid this type of thinking and writing.

First example of literal translation

An E-Prime translation attempting to preserve the literal meaning of the original might read:

Roses look red;
Violets look blue.
Honey seems sweet,
And so do you.

Second example of literal translation

The following example sacrifices the metaphor implied in line 4 of the original ("You are honey-sweet") to preserve one literal meaning of line 3, namely that honey tastes sweet, and therefore replaces line 4 with simile meaning something close to the original: "honey tastes sweet, and something of your nature makes you as sweet as that."

Roses look red;
Violets look blue.
Honey tastes sweet,
As sweet as you.

(This example assumes the speaker does not mean the addressee of the poem "tastes sweet," but does mean something like "I find you sweet as honey," and attempts to preserve the meter and rhyme of the original while still avoiding any form of the verb "to be.")

An example of translation "in the spirit" of E-Prime

In an attempt to subtract the assumption of absolutes ("what is") in the original, and to illustrate thought and perspective more in the spirit of E-Prime, the following translation attempts to state meaning directly from a hypothetical speaker's personal feelings toward the addressee, and express that meaning through the filter of that speaker's perceptions of the natural world. Therefore, the translation below changes the meaning of the poem.

Roses seem red;
Violets seem blue.
I like honey,
And I like you.

That version attempted to say something close to "I perceive the natural world in the way most people do. (Few people would dispute that the most common rose-variety seems red to the human eye, or that violets can appear blue.) Therefore, when I tell you I like honey, I tell you I like a thing most would agree tastes sweet and may also perceive as a pleasing thing in other ways. Therefore by claiming to like honey and to like you, I claim to make that statement with a certainty as absolute as human perception allows."

The Evolution Of The Soul And The Nervous System

2008-12-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Evolution Of The Soul And The Nervous System

The Nervous System Gives us Our Pictures Of Reality Subjective reality is the sum of impressions conveyed by our senses coded in periods of action/motion/change and rest which are oscillating electrical states of the nervous system.

Robert Anton Wilson Explains The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Physics

2008-12-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

Robert Anton WIlson Explains The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Physics

The Copenhagen interpretation is an interpretation of quantum mechanics. A key feature of quantum mechanics is that the state of every particle is described by a wavefunction, which is a mathematical representation used to calculate the probability for it to be found in a location, or state of motion. In effect, the act of measurement causes the calculated set of probabilities to "collapse" to the value defined by the measurement. This feature of the mathematical representations is known as wavefunction collapse.

Other Interpretations

# A system is completely described by a wave function ψ, which represents an observer's knowledge of the system. (Heisenberg)

# The description of nature is essentially probabilistic. The probability of an event is related to the square of the amplitude of the wave function related to it. (Max Born)

# Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states the observed fact that it is not possible to know the values of all of the properties of the system at the same time; those properties that are not known with precision must be described by probabilities.

# Complementarity principle: matter exhibits a wave-particle duality. An experiment can show the particle-like properties of matter, or wave-like properties, but not both at the same time.(Niels Bohr)
# Measuring devices are essentially classical devices, and measure classical properties such as position and momentum.

What is Maybe Logic? Who is Robert Anton Wilson?

2008-12-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

This feature-length documentary is a hilarious and mind-bending journey into the multi-dimensional life of Robert Anton Wilson, one of the foundations of 20th Century Western counterculture and author of the Illuminatus! Trilogy. It features video spanning 25 years and follows Mr.Wilson as he penetrates human illusions, exposing the mathematical probabilities and spooky synchronicities of the eight dimensions of his Universe.

Understand Quantum Physics NOW

2008-12-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

Author and Philosopher, Robert Anton Wilson, explains Quantum Physics in a way that anyone can understand.

This guy was one of the most influential people in my life. I have read and re-read his book hundreds of times. I have listened to his audio lectures over and over again.

If it weren't for this man I would not be where I am today.

He taught me how to understand the most complex and esoteric philosophies.

He taught me how to teach myself.

I encourage you to watch this video and to watch some of this other videos.

If you would like any more content from this man, please send me an email and i will hook you up!

Dalai Lama says Sex invariably spells trouble

2008-12-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

On November 28th, the Dalai Lama made news by saying celibacy is good.

What he actually said -- in English without a translator was, "Sexual pleasure, sexual desire, actually I think is short period satisfaction and often, that leads to more complication. Naturally as a human being ... some kind of desire for sex comes, but then you use human intelligence to make comprehension that those couples always full of trouble. And in some cases there is suicide, murder cases."

As for celibacy he said, "we miss something, but at the same time, compare whole life, it's better, more independence, more freedom. Too much attachment towards your children, towards your partner (is) one of the obstacle or hindrance of peace of mind."

My thoughts on the matter

I would equate sex to something like driving a car or electricity; when used properly, safely, and responsible, these are very useful and enjoyable things.

A car can be a very helpful thing to have, but if you put the wrong person behind the wheel it can become a weapon of mass destruction. Sex is no different from this.

The energy driving sex is very powerful. The power of electricity is equally as powerful. If either of these things are not grounded and wired properly then someone is going to get hurt.

The moral of the story here is that many things in life that we believe to be useful and pleasurable have the inherent potential for destruction. This is just something that we have to accept.

With power comes responsibility, so rather than completely abandoning something because it has the potential to be misused, we should instead take responsibility and learn how to use it properly.

My thoughts continued

There is truth to what the Dalai Lama has said. Sexual pleasure is very transient, in that the appetite is never satisfied for long. We spend a great deal of time and energy just to satisfy this appetite when we could be doing other things. This can be a very frustrating and consuming process.

It really comes down to a matter of prioritization and choice. We must choose which things we view as a priority in our lives. In this context the Dalia Lama is saying that it is either sexual pleasure or peace of mind.

I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this matter yet. I often go back in forth between both sides of this coin.

Sometimes I think that sexual matters are distracting and hindering to the progression towards peace of mind. Yet nothing disturbs your mind more than trying to make yourself forget about sex.

The reality of the matter is that either way we are stuck.

If we indulge too heavily in sex and become consumed by it, then our mind will be disturbed and we will become depleted. Yet if we do not satisfy our sexual desires then we will be consumed with the desire and hunger for sex, and thus spend our time and energy telling ourselves to not think about it.

If you are thinking about not thinking about something, then you are still thinking about it. Either way you are stuck with it.

In conclusion

My suggestion is to explore the varying ideas and possibilities on this subject and find which one works the best for you.

I don’t think complete celibacy is the answer.

I don’t think complete sexual indulgence is the answer either. I am still figuring this out for myself.

Each person must decide for themselves what they value and how they want to spend their time and energy.

Each person must find their own balance.

So right now, what are your thoughts and experiences on this subject?

Reference

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081128183857.lgjbvt92&show_article=1

Perry Belcher on Social Media Marketing

2008-12-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

Extraordinary people - Iceman

2008-12-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

In January this year, Wim Hof ran a half Marathon (21 km) above the polar circle in Finland. He wore only a pair of shorts and no shoes. The ground (snow) temperature was 35 below. In a few months time, he'll try something similar on Everest's north side. The expedition, led by Dutch Werner de Jong, will try to set a new world record as Wim attempts to climb parts of Everest wearing only shorts.

This is not your regular stunt. Wim already has 9 world records, and has trained hard for many years to withstand cold, much like some monks do in Tibet.

Wim can actually regulate his core heat to control the temperature of his skin. Something of a medical enigma, Wim is able to withstand cold that could kill or seriously injure other people.

On Everest, Wim will also put to use his free style climbing skills - which he once demonstrated hanging between 2 hot air balloons by his middle finger at an altitude of 1500 meters. Once back inside the basket, Wim finished by climbing to the top of the balloon.

One of Wim's world record attempts took him to the North Pole, where he held his breath for about 6 minutes and 20 seconds below the ice.

How to become a millionaire in 5 minutes or less

2008-12-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. - Muhammad Ali

The basic thing you need to figure out in order to become financial wealthy is this.

Find a way to serve many people.

If you can do this then, you will be rewarded.

Find a common problem that people have and solve it. Become a problem solver. Evolve your consciousnesses to a solution based mentality. Instead of seeing problems and giving up, commit to finding solutions.

People like people that solve their problems.

People love to pay other people to solve their problems. People love to pay other people to help them achieve their goals.

So what you must do is find solutions to problems that people have and find ways to help others achieve their goals.

Essentially you must provide a good or a service that people value.

Look at it like this, Bill Gates is one of the wealthiest men on the planet. How was he able to do this?

He provided a good and a service that a massive amount of people desired, thus he made massive amounts of money.

There is no easy way around this. The only way to achieve anything is to take massive action.

Massive action every single day is the only thing that will get you to where you want to go.

Many are deluded into believing in the claims of the law of attraction. These claims say that all you need to do is let the universe know that you is:

Desire millions of dollars

Visualize yourself with the millions

Then magically you will have it

This is basically just preying on the fact that everyone wants a quick and easy solution. It is also preying on the fact that many people want someone else to do the work for them.

This is why there are so many false law of attraction gurus popping up. Each one has their own special method guaranteed to manifest whatever you desire.

This is complete crap. This is doing a disservice to a great many people.

While I am actually a proponent and believer in the law of attraction, I know that it is not the only piece to the puzzle.

The techniques of the law of attraction are just the first step. These techniques are just preparation for the real work that most be done.

Of course you want to see yourself being successful. Of course you want to feel the feelings of having what you want. Of course you want to be clear in knowing what you want.

However these things alone will not get you to where you want to go. These things only become really powerful when you begin to take action.

The question that I want to raise is this.

If you believe that you will succeed and you can see yourself doing it, then why are you still so afraid to take action?

If you really believed and really knew that you would succeed, then taking action would be an easy thing to do. Yet, even with all of the law of attraction techniques in place, people still stagnant and stand still.

They refuse to take action because they are still afraid. To me this illustrates that the law of attraction techniques haven’t truly worked.

The point I am making is this. The law of attraction is powerful, but it will not get you all the way there.

The law of attraction combined with regular and massive action WILL get you there.

So what you need to do now is find ways that you can serve others. Find ways that you can add value to the lives of others. Begin to do this right now.

You will figure the rest out as you go along.

So do your visualizations, do your affirmations, and TAKE ACTION.

How To Change Your Life in Less Than A Minute

2008-12-14T17:05:00.000-08:00

Make the choice

Make the choice right now to change. Make the choice to commit to doing whatever it takes. Realize right now that you will never get it done and it will never be perfect.

Start right now and you will figure it out as you go along. Take one step, whatever it may be, and the next one will reveal itself. The most important thing you can do right now is make the choice to change, do this, and things will change.

Change environment

The environment around us influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you are surrounded by negative and depressed people, then obviously it will be much more difficult for you to become a happier person than if you were surrounded by happier and optimistic people.

Not only do the people around us have influence, but so the spaces in which we inhabit. Don’t believe me? Think of how much better you feel on a beach or walking in the forest. Something about the space you inhabit feels different. Whether or not we can fully understand and explain how this happens is beside the point. The point is that you know the feeling I am talking about.

Change what you eat

What you eat is not limited to the food that you consume; rather this includes all of the sensory influences you allow into your mind. This includes everything that you watch, read, or listen to.

Watching horror and doomsday films will not help improve your worldview.

Watching the news constantly will never help to pick up your mood.

Listening to angry, hateful, or otherwise negative music will not fill you with feelings of joy.

I bring up these examples because this is what many people allow their minds to be filled up with most of the time. These are the same people that wonder why they don’t feel good.

The connection between what goes in your brain and what comes out of it is obvious and logical.

If you want to feel happier and more positive, then consume media that is happy and positive.

You can’t put garbage in and expect diamonds out. This is a completely insane assumption, yet most people operate under this.

What is the definition of insanity?

Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.

This means that if you want different results, then you are going to have to do different things.

This is going to require you to change. This means that if you want things you’ve never had, then you’re going to have to do things you’ve never done.
There is no way around this.

So I encourage you to take action from this moment forward to examine who you surround yourself with and determine if they are the kind of people that you want to be.

Examine your environment and see if it is supporting or hindering your growth.

Examine the media that you consume and see if it is taking your closer or further away from where you want to go.

These are all very simple things you can do right now to change your life.

I encourage you to take action right now.

What is Reality?

2008-12-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

What is reality?

How do we know what is real?

What do you think, what are your thoughts?

What are YOUR definitions?

How to Change and Convert Your Friends and Family pt. 2

2008-12-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

Part 2

You must be attractive

In part 1 of this article I discussed how being the change you wish to see and walking your talk is the only way that people will listen to what you have to say. We also looked at how people will be attracted to you by doing these things, and thus be interested in what you are doing.

This is the only way the process will work, since people do not want to be preached to or converted. People generally fear and resist change, so if you are trying to change them, they will fear and resist you.

The question is now how to be an attractive person?

In order for people to be attracted to you and care about what you are doing, you must be an attractive person.

The way to become an attractive person is to sit down and think about what people are attracted to.

Generally people are attracted to others who make them feel good about themselves. People are attracted to positive, happy, and cheerful people. Those who inspire, add value to the lives of others, and those who help others are also attractive.

Another way to determine what is attractive is to look at the top people in your chosen field and study what they are doing. They are obviously displaying attractive characteristics. Figure out what attracts you to the top people in your field. One you have figured this out, begin to mirror these traits and make them part of your personality.

Obviously, you do not want to become a parrot. You do, however, want to take in the attractive aspects, digest them, and then create your own version of it.
Right now and from this day forward, begin look at people you find attractive and figure out why this is so. Determine which characteristics you really enjoy about each person.

Figuring this out is important because we are usually attracted to those who remind us of ourselves. We are also attracted to those who embody things that we desire to be. This is partially why people are attracted to the rich and famous as most people have a desire to be rich and famous.

By figuring out what things you find attractive in this other person, you come closer to discovering the areas within yourself that you need to focus your energy on. You are finding the areas in which you need to grow. You are, in a sense, finding your own path to the treasures that you desire.

In closing

In these articles, we have seen that people do not want to be changed or converted. We have also seen that any effort to do this will be resisted and generally met with negativity. Thus, the only way to really influence others and to get their attention is by being the example and being the change we wish to see.

We must focus our energies on this side of the equation and the rest will take care of itself. This will happen because by becoming intently focused on what we are being, we will no longer have the ability to focus on what others are doing.
If you are still hoping to change or convert people, please give that up.

Instead, focus your efforts on yourself and what you can do to further embody whatever it is you are striving for.

The only person you can change and the only person you need to change is your own self.

How to Change and Convert Your Friends and Family

2008-12-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

There really is no way to convert or change anyone. Perhaps you could superficially influence another person to act in a different way temporarily, but the choice to create deep and lasting change can only be made by the individual.

The question that should be raised here is, “why in the first place would you want to change or convert anyone?”

I think that desires like this come from a place of personal insecurity. If one is completely confident and secure with in themselves, then they would have no need or desire to convert anyone.

If you are confident and sure of yourself then you have no need to convince anyone of anything because you already know. This deep inner sense of knowing is something that speaks louder than any words. This knowing communicates on a subtle and completely non-verbal level.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying.”

This quote basically sums up what I am referring to here. Who you are speaks louder than anything you could ever say.

So then what is the point of all of this? The point is looking at who YOU are and what YOU are being.

How do we really change and convert others?

The only way that this would be possible, if at all, is to be the example of whatever it is you have in mind.

Gandhi said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

This is true because the only way for you to demonstrate that you actually know what you are talking about is to be it.

It is usually pretty easy to talk about something, but it is generally much more difficult to actually do it.

You must walk your talk.

This is the only thing that people will notice. This is the only way that people will really listen to what you have to say.

Actually, a funny thing happens when you begin “being the change” and “walking your talk.” You completely forget about trying to change other people. Instead, you are too busy being focused on what you are being and doing.

As a side effect, people usually begin asking YOU want YOU are up to. They begin to become attracted to you and wonder what you are about.

Rather than you harassing them and trying to change them, they are coming to you with interest and attention.

That being said, this will not be the case all of the time. People decide for themselves what they want and what they will do. This is just something that we have to accept. Not everyone wants to change; some people are completely happy the way that they are. This is completely perfect and okay.

But those who want what you have will surely be attracted to you. The process basically takes care of itself. All that you have to focus on is what you are being and what you are doing.

This speaks much louder than anything you could ever say.

In part 2 of this article I will go into greater detail on how to be an attractive, influential person.

What is Karma?

2008-12-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies.

The philosophical explanation of karma can differ slightly between traditions, but the general concept is basically the same. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.

My take on Karma

When most people think of karma they probably think of a universal law of cause and effect. They probably think that good actions will bring back good things to them and bad actions will bring bad things to them.

While this is partially true, it is not the whole picture. In fact I think that this level of conceptual understanding of karma is very elementary and unnecessarily metaphysical.

My explanation is much more common sense, practical, and easy to understand.
Basically karma is your own doing. You could equate your karma with the habitual thoughts that you think over and over again. You could also equate karma with your belief systems. These are both your own doing and also the creative force behind the circumstances of your life.

If you are completely unaware of your thoughts and beliefs, then you will in a sense be a slave to your own karma. This is why spiritual traditions speak of being in bondage and suffering. This is why I think awareness is the first step towards freedom.

To easily illustrate karma in action let us look at this example.

Two people, Person A and Person B, experience the same event, at the same time, at the same place, yet how they respond will be based on their karma.

Let’s say Person A is on the highway and a reckless driver speeds past and then proceeds to pull over into their lane and cut them off. Person A has to slam on the breaks to avoid a collision while the reckless driver speeds away totally oblivious as to what has just happened.

Now lets say Person A is like most people and has not done any work on their mental emotional karma. So Person A responds like most would, in total anger and negativity. For the rest of the day Person A is experiencing that anger and also telling everyone he sees about what transpired that morning. By doing this Person A is perpetuating the negativity, and thus in a sense making the karmic repercussions even worse.

Person B had the exact same experience, but instead Person B has done some work changing and dissolving old mental emotional karma. So instead of responding in anger and allowing that one moment to define the rest of his day, Person B simply recognizes that it could have been a lot worse and at least everyone is safe. Person B even wonders why that driver was so reckless and what would possibly be so important to cause them to drive in such a manner.

This is just one simple example to illustrate the power of karma in action. So then rather than karma being a lofty, airy fairy, metaphysical concept, I have shown a real, common sense illustration of how karma is one’s own doing and how it can rule over their lives.

The fact is, everyone has karma, all day every, in all areas of their life. The karma is the habitual thoughts that occur over and over, every day. If we never take the time to become aware of these things and to change them, then we will certainly be slaves to our karma.

We will in a sense be slaves to our past because we will be driven by it until we decide to change it.

Think about it like this, does the wake of a ship drive the ship?

No of course not, the wake is the side effect of that which is driving the ship.

The wake eventually fades off into the distance and completely disappears, so how could it have any power whatsoever?

It is like this the past can’t control the present. That is unless a person insists that it does, then it does.

The choice is really up to each person in every moment.

Freedom from Karma?

So then how do we become free from karma?

It is simple, change your thinking.

Get rid of the habit of thought where by you define yourself as the result of what has come before.

Instead you define yourself by what you are doing now.

That is liberation.

The MOST important Yoga Pose you are NOT doing

2008-12-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Headstand, or shirsasana, is the King of Yogic asanas. Simply put, an asana is a yogic posture or body position.

When doing headstand the body is completely inverted and held upright supported by the forearms, while the crown of the head rests lightly on the floor.

This process of inversion is what makes headstand so powerful, particularly because it reverses the flow of gravity. Usually gravity is pulling us down and compressing our bodies, yet when we do inversions this process is completely reversed. So instead of working against us, gravity is working for us by decompressing our bodies and reversing the flow of the circulatory and lymphatic system.

What are the benefits of headstand?

Regardless of the style or level of yoga your practice, inversions revitalize and rejuvenate your whole system. Turning your body upside down reverses the effects of gravity and floods your vital organs and brain with nourishment. The pineal and pituitary glands are activated, balancing the hormones. By elevating the legs, circulation, venous return, and lymph drainage are improved, and strain and fatigue are relieved. Inversions also aid in sleep, evoke calm, quiet, and soothe the nerves.

Doing inversions and spending some time upside down everyday is one of the best things you could possibly do for yourself. Inversions are basically an elixir of life.

Gravities effects

Gravity slowly but surely weighs us down and saps our strength. We stand, sit, or walk with head above the heart, legs and pelvis underneath. As the years rack up, so do the damages. Subcutaneous fat sags. Varicose veins and hemorrhoids erupt. Weary of incessantly pumping blood through its vast circulatory network, the heart falters. According to Payne, the ancient yogis called gravity "the silent enemy." The yogi performs a martial-arts sleight-of-hand: Upend oneself and enlist gravity's power to arrest the ravages of that self-same force.

The human body is sensitive to the fluctuations of gravity because it consists of more than 60 percent water. From the skin in, the body is dense with cells, floating in a bath of intercellular fluid. A complex network of vessels weaves in and around every cell, steadily moving fluids through valves, pumps, and porous membranes, dedicated to transporting, nourishing, washing, and cleansing.

According to David Coulter, Ph.D., who taught anatomy at the University of Minnesota for 18 years, when one inverts, tissue fluids of the lower extremities drain—far more effectively than when one is asleep. Areas of congestion clear. In a 1992 Yoga International article on Headstand and the circulatory system, Coulter wrote: "If you can remain in an inverted posture for just 3 to 5 minutes, the blood will not only drain quickly to the heart, but tissue fluids will flow more efficiently into the veins and lymph channels of the lower extremities and of the abdominal and pelvic organs, facilitating a healthier exchange of nutrients and wastes between cells and capillaries."

According to Sivananda “Sirshasana(headstand) is really a blessing and a nectar. Words will fail to adequately describe its beneficial results and effects. In this Asana alone, the brain can draw plenty of Prana and blood. Memory increases admirably. Lawyers, occultists and thinkers will highly appreciate this Asana. This leads to natural Pranayama and Samadhi by itself. No other effort is necessary. If you watch the breath, you will notice it becoming finer and finer. In the beginning of practice there will be a slight difficulty in breathing. As you advance in practice, this vanishes entirely. You will find real pleasure and exhilaration of spirit in this Asana.”

The Four Systems

Endocrine System

The headstand a favorable reconditioning effect on endocrine gland secretion (Copeland, 1975), to enable it to withstand greater stress and strain (Kuvalyananda & Vinekar, 1963). Inversions done accurately are always relaxing and reduce stress and strain. The blood circulation to the brain is improved in Sirsasana; the sluggish cells are rejuvenated and the brain being the seat of intelligence is stimulated. It also stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands on which the growth, health and vital strength of a person depends.

Nourishes and stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands. In particular, Headstand provides refreshed blood and bathes and nourishes the hypothalamus, pineal gland and the pituitary gland. These glands play an important role in the endocrine system. The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate the metabolism of the cells. Our growth, health and vitality depend on the proper functioning of these two glands that control the chemical balance of the body. The secretions of the pituitary regulate sexual characteristics and growth of the reproductive organs. It also regulates the function of adrenal, thyroid and the ovaries. It is the hormone which stimulates the production of milk in nursing mothers. Thus, pituitary is the master gland which plays a very important role in regulating menstruation and pregnancy. The inverted postures in turn regulate the functioning of this master gland.

Circulatory System

Inversion exercises the heart and encourages venous return. Inversions do much the same for the body that aerobic exercise does. According to author Elaine N. Marieb, "The important factor stretching cardiac muscle is the amount of blood returning to the heart (venous return) and distending its ventricles"(Human Anatomy & Physiology 4th edition, Benjamin/Cummings Science Publishing, 1998 p 679.) Inversions use gravity to bring more blood to the heart - turning yourself upside down encourages venous return (Iyengar, 1991; Werner, 2004; Raman, 2004). .

Reduces heart strain. Normally, your heart works against gravity; inverting your entire body in the headstand lessens the strain on your heart. The heart works persistently to ensure that freshly oxygenated blood makes its way up to the brain and its sensory organs. When inverting, the pressure differential across the body is reversed, and blood floods to the brain with little work from the heart (Iyengar, 1991; Werner, 2004; Raman, 2004).

Minimise fatigue and brain tissue degeneration. Headstand allows a plentiful supply of oxygen-rich blood to reach your head and brain (Sivananda, 2004) - Increasing the blood flow through the brain cells increases your thinking power, clarity, memory, concentration, and the sensory faculties (Iyengar, 1991, pg 190) and moreover minimises brain tissues do not degeneration (Raman, 2004). Fatigue of the brain cells which occurs as part of everyday life will not occur with regular daily practice of Head stand. This is due to the rejuvenation of the brain cells with fresh blood and O2 (Raman, 2004).

Lymphatic System

The headstand also importantly increases circulation and drainage of lymphatic fluid.

Fluid build up reduced. Lymph, like the blood returning to your heart via the veins, is dependent upon muscular movement and gravity to facilitate its return. Thus, in the headstand, lymph fluid is relieved from the legs and ankles and with regular practice prevents the buildup of fluid in the legs and feet.

Because the lymphatic system is a closed pressure system and has one-way valves that keep lymph moving towards the heart, when one turns upside down, the entire lymphatic system is stimulated, thus strengthening your immune system.

Nervous System

Headstand stimulates the nervous system.

Headstand increases mental alertness and clarity. The immediate change felt after performing this pose is an enhanced alertness which lasts through the day.

Soak brain fresh blood. The most important aspect of inverted poses is to soak the brain with blood for a fixed period of time which never happens in other systems of exercises. According to Dr Raman (Raman, 2004):

“This rejuvenates the brain cells and prevents age related cerebral atrophy. Senile changes in brain are prevented. And as mentioned before ischemic strokes can be completely prevented as the blood supply is enhanced without pressure.”

Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. It is a centering, calming and soothing pose. A cooling effect is felt on the face in the pose.

Respiratory System

Inversions also ensure healthier and more effective lung tissue. When standing or sitting upright, gravity pulls our fluids earthward, and blood "perfuses" or saturates the lower lungs more thoroughly. The lower lung tissue is thus more compressed than the upper lungs. As a result, the air we inhale moves naturally into the open alveoli of the upper lungs. Unless we take a good, deep breath, we do not raise the ration of air to blood in the lower lungs. When we invert, blood perfuses the well-ventilated upper lobes of the lungs, thus ensuring more efficient oxygen-to-blood exchange and healthier lung tissue, oxygen consumption and blood flow (Jevning et al, 1983).

When done properly, headstand helps the spine become properly aligned, improving posture, facilitating good breathing and reducing muscular stress. The inversion rests the lungs which feel refreshed. The vital capacity increases as the lungs learn to breathe against the strain of the body organs resting on it in the posture (Raman, 2004).

Digestive System

Increase heat and improves digestion. Headstand increases gastric fire and produces heat in the body.

Tones and cleans digestive organs. The weight of the abdominal organs on the diaphragm encourages deep breathing, which gently massages the internal organs. By reversing the pull of gravity on the organs, especially the intestines, it helps to cleanse them by releasing congested blood in the jejunum and colon. Fresh warm blood invigorates the cells and overcome problems of the liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines and reproductive system (Raman, 2004).

Constipation eliminated. The change in posture enhances peristaltic contractions and aids good elimination. Constipation is eliminated provided the water and fiber content of the diet are normal (Raman, 2004).

A note of caution

When trying headstand it t is important to be properly prepared. By preparing properly and being extremely mindful of proper body alignment, you can significantly reduce your risk of injury. Other things to keep in mind when trying inversions are the strength of the neck, pre-existing injuries or conditions such as high blood pressure, glaucoma or detached retina. Women who are pregnant or menstruating should not practice these poses. If you're new to inversions, I'd recommend practicing them under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher.

In closing

If you find headstand too daunting then follow this link to learn about some simpler yoga inversions.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3417110/Yoga-Inversions

References:

http://www.nshouseofyoga.com/Article-Inversions.htm

http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Yoga-Inversions/591088

http://www.yoga.net.au/benefits2/

Get in The Flow

2008-12-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever just been in a flow before?

Like a time when everything was just happening so smoothly, with out effort. a time where everything in your life was just clicking and going right for you, like the universe was simply responding to all of your thoughts and desires, with no effort on your part. Maybe that time is a time like today, maybe a time like right now.

Have you ever been in a space where you knew something amazing was about to happen? Like massive excitement and abundance was right on the horizon. Maybe you felt like all of your desires were manifest. Maybe you felt like you were full of love and one with all of existence.

Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever just known, with out knowing how or why, that today was the day. That today was the best day of your life, perhaps like the day when all your synchronicities lined up, and your life was filled with magic, wonderment, amazement, love, and abundance. Have you ever felt this excitement?

Maybe on a day like today you did.

Maybe a moment similar to this, you just knew sometime amazing was happening, that all of your dreams, thoughts, and wishes, were waiting for you.

Maybe you felt like a child again, full of joy, wonder, excitement, and love.

Have you ever felt like this before?

Maybe on a day like today?

Maybe in a moment like right now?

We have all had experiences where we were just on it. Everything was happening just as we wanted it to, seemingly with out any effort at all. This phenomenon is called “being in the flow.”

We can look at the great athletes and the great musicians of history to illustrate what I am talking about.

Use Michael Jordan for example. When he was in his prime, he would routinely achieve impossible feats. To observers, it seemed as though he did effortlessly. He was able to achieve such things because he was in the flow.

What is “the flow?”

Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Proposed by positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields (Wikipedia).

Other terms for this or similar mental states include: to be on the ball, in the zone, or in the groove.

The following usually accompany an experience of flow:

• Concentrating and focusing: a high degree of concentration on a limited field of attention (a person engaged in the activity will have the opportunity to focus and to delve deeply into it).

• A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness: the merging of action and awareness.

• Distorted sense of time: one's subjective experience of time is altered.

• Direct and immediate feedback: successes and failures in the course of the
activity are apparent, so that behavior can be adjusted as needed.

• Balance between ability level and challenge: the activity is neither too easy nor too difficult.

• A sense of personal control over the situation or activity.

• The activity is intrinsically rewarding, so there is an effortlessness of action.

• Action awareness merging: People become absorbed in their activity, and focus of awareness is narrowed down to the activity itself.

Why is this state of being important?

Simply put, it is important because being in this state makes life easier and more enjoyable.

I mean, just imagine a life with out struggle, effort, or strife?
Imagine always being in the right place at the right time.

I think that young children are often naturally in this state, which is part of the reason why most people have fond memories of their younger years. As time progresses, something changes and we lose that sense of being. I think this is caused by two very interrelated things.

The first one being when we are very young, we do not have a defined sense of ego. We have not yet formed the clear distinctions of self and other, of inner and outer, and of mine and yours.

The second cause relates to the balance of our brain hemispheres. I think that children spend more time in their right brains being creative, playing, day-dreaming, and using their imagination.

In school they begin to use their left brain much more for things of a more linear and less imaginative nature. Children are taught to memorize, regurgitate, and conform, more so than they are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination.

These two things lay the foundation for a life which is more left brain dominated, much more egocentric, and much more linear. These things combined with the usual stresses and rigors of modern living generally decrease the sense of flow that we are talking about.

Another reason being in the flow is important is because this is, essentially, what all spiritual practices aim for. These practices are tools are used to help the individual get their consciousness back to way it was when they were a child.

This is why Taoism is full of so many sayings that talk about becoming like a child again.

This is why so many spiritual practices focus on dissolving the dualistic definitions and distinctions that we have learned.

For millennia, practitioners of Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism have honed the discipline of overcoming the duality of self and object as a central feature of spiritual development.

Eastern spiritual practitioners have developed a very thorough and holistic set of theories around overcoming duality of self and object, tested and refined through spiritual practice instead of the systematic rigor and controls of modern science.

The phrase "being at one with things" is a metaphor for the flow concept. Practitioners of the varied schools of Zen Buddhism apply concepts similar to the flow to aid their mastery of art forms.

The objective here is diminishing the ego and getting back into the right brain, in other words, getting back into the flow.

Diet or dogma?

2008-12-09T22:55:00.000-08:00

Many people look to a change in diet or lifestyle as a means to achieve a better, healthier life. Yet some use their diet and lifestyle for unhealthy ends and use it to put down others just to feel better about themselves.

In this article I will explore this issue because I think it something that needs to be addressed. I think it is important because many are more interested in a label, in something to worship, in something to identify with, than they are in actually achieving health, or whatever their goals may be.

Worshiping the raft

In Buddhism the analogy of a raft is used referring to the fact that a raft is something you use to get across a river, and then once you are across the river, you discard the raft because it would be senseless to keep carrying it with you on the land.

So then the only purpose of the raft is to get you across the river, right?

We can see that it would then be silly of us to worship the raft itself and stay on it forever, rather than using it for its true purpose, which is to deliver us onto the other side of the river.

This is where many people get stuck. They forget that the whole point was to get across the river and instead spend their whole time on the raft, talking about how amazing it is, and then look down on those not on the raft.

This is the downfall of every organized religion, ideology, and philosophy. I think that all of these belief systems likely began with a purpose and usage in mind.

Yet somewhere along the way it was forgotten because too many of the people using it began to worship it instead of using it for its true purpose.

One should examine their actions and intentions in regards to their diet and/or lifestyle to determine whether or not they just sitting in the raft going no where or are actually making progress toward the other side.

Many people are at this point. They have reached the other side of the river, they have achieved the desired means, yet they are too afraid to get out of the raft. Instead they stay in the raft, they worship it, and very often they look down on everyone else who is not in that raft.

So it basically boils down to this. If you are on a diet or a lifestyle program you must determine whether you are doing it for health or just so you can call yourself a vegan, vegetarian, or raw foodist.

Are you coming from a place of strength and confidence, or are you simply looking for a label to give yourself? Are you looking for something to fill your identify with? Are you simply looking for a place to belong?

I would say that many people fall into one of the categories that I just listed.

I should say that I am not condemning or putting down anyone for any reason by what I have just said. Rather, I simply want people to be aware of their true intentions and motivations.

I think that all of them are okay and acceptable. You are free to do whatever you choose and I am not going to tell you any different. However, I think that everyone should be aware of his or her own motivations.

Doing so makes one more conscious and gives one a greater sense of personal freedom and empowerment. It is my belief that the first step towards empowerment is awareness.

I would like to talk a little bit about the idea of health and, more specifically, how some use their diet or lifestyle as a way to give them a sense of superiority.

I want to bring this up because I believe this is a very unhealthy behavior and for people who are supposedly interested in health, it seems only logical that this issue should be addressed.

The point I want to make here is that you can eat the healthiest foods and you can have the healthiest lifestyle, but if you are behaving in a way that is judgmental, dogmatic, elitist, condescending, preachy, or think you have to convert the world to your point of view, then you are still MASSIVELY UNHEALTHY.

I say this because there are many other levels to health than just the physical. Mental, emotional, spiritual, and interpersonal are other examples. Many people think, however, that since they are a vegetarian or a raw foodist that they are automatically the healthiest person ever.

I should say again that if you are a raw foodist and at the same time judgmental and elitist, then you are obviously still not very healthy.

If you are using your diet or lifestyle to put you above other people so that you can feel bigger, then you are again, most certainly, not healthy.

Again I want to point out that I am not saying this to put anyone down. I am simply bringing this up because it is an important issue that should be addressed.

Another point that I want to make is that diet and lifestyle are not the end, be all. They are not the golden calf that many make them out to be. No ONE single thing is.

Many people make this mistake and think that because they grow and expand in one area of their life that it is all that they need to do.

Very often, they think that their work is done and that the only thing left to do is to go around preaching and trying to convert everyone to their point of view.

Well, I can tell you that this is a very dangerous and imbalanced point of view to have. I can tell you that this is a life script that is destined for failure, stress, strife, and struggle. This is a set of game rules in which no one wins and everyone loses.

In conclusion

In closing, my advice is to really think about some of the questions which I have raised in this article.

I am saying look in the mirror at your own self to figure these things out.

Also one thing we all could do is to simply LIGHTEN UP.

Does it really matter so much what someone is or isn’t?

Do these labels really matter that much? Do we really need to pigeonhole everyone we meet into a little symbolic box so that we can feel more secure?

Because in the end what matters more, a diet and lifestyle or actually being a kind, generous, happy, and positive person?

Which do you prefer and why?

In later articles I will highlight my own diet and lifestyle choices and also delve into my motivations.

I think this will be an important tangent to this article because I think it will show that one can eat and live a certain way, with out being so caught up in it that it becomes all consuming.

I will show that you can live a certain way, which may be potentially very beneficial, with out insisting that everyone else does the same.

Sex isn’t all about f@cking

2008-12-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Most people think they know what sex is and what it’s all about. However in this article I will dive a little bit deeper into what I think sex ACTUALLY is, what its true purpose is, and then how the energy that fuels sex can utilized and channeled into other areas of life.
Thus I say sex is not limited to the bedroom, sex isn’t just about f@cking.

What is sex really?

Usually the word sex conjures images of the physical act of intercourse. But I think that this act is only part of the whole image; only one variable in the equation. Basically sex in the fundamental sense is the manifestation of pure creative energy. Sex itself is a creative act.
Sexual energy is the energy behind all of creation. It is the fuel of creation.

What is its purpose?

Like sunlight and rain, the sexual-emotional energies flowing within and around us provide critical nourishment to our manifesting world. Energy, as it moves through humans, becomes matter.

Energy-in-motion serves as the raw material with which we participate in the co-creation of reality. Each of us succeeds or fails in life to the degree that we give form and direction to this creative force.

What else can we use this energy for?

This energy can be used as fuel for creative passions, meaning instead of the energy coming out of the genitals, it is being channeled through the mind instead. Thus ideas are magnified and charged with a powerful, creative energy.

The thoughts become clearer and more focused and the mind itself becomes shaper and more efficient due to the surplus of energy at its disposal.

This energy can also be used for raising consciousness, because there are certain techniques used to pull the energy up from the sexual organs into the brain, thus energizing the brain and raising the consciousness to higher levels.

This totally changes the meaning of the saying “ Don’t get high on your own supply”

When one builds up a certain level of this energy they seem to emit almost a magnetic charge. This charge is often felt by the opposite sex and also the charge helps to speed up the process of manifestation by pulling the desired objects of manifestation closer to the individual.

Think of a very charismatic individual that you know personally or know of.

Think of the attraction or the charge that people feel towards this person and you will begin to get an idea of what I am referring to here.

Basically it boils down to the fact that people are attracted to energetic, charismatic, and magnetic personalities, whether they consciously realize it or not. So then by cultivating an abundant supply of sexual energy, using it properly, practically anyone can become charismatic and attractive.

What are the implications of tapping into this energy?

The implications of tapping into this source of energy are profound. Since sexual energy is very abundant and practically infinite, it is very hard to exhaust. Also, if we use the right techniques and strategies we can keep this energy running at a peak level at all times. We can then use this abundant energy as fuel for all of the things we seek to create in our lives.

Most humans use this energy purely for reproducing an offspring and/or they squander it carelessly. Yet the wise of past and present can and have seen the true potential for this energy. Techniques have been developed to harness and channel this energy.

Even though a seemingly infinite source of energy, creative drive, and vitality is right between their legs, many choose to ignore the possibilities that lie with in, and instead seek things from the external world.

The potential I am talking about here is basically infinite energy to create whatever the mind can conceive. And it is my assertion that having this much energy and creative potential moves us one step further from ape and one step closer to god-hood.

In closing my suggestion here is to go with in. We have all heard this saying right?
Everything you need is with in? But no one really ever took time to explain what that actually means.

Well I am laying the groundwork with this article to begin to explain what these words are actually pointing at.

Think about it like this, basically everything boils down to energy. You need energy to live. You need energy to create. And this energy has to come from somewhere right?

Life in and of itself is basically a creative act. If we live in a truly timeless universe like many mystics suggest and even modern science suggest, then in every single moment life is being born again, created again. And this takes energy right?

As I said previously sexual energy, is creative energy. It is in abundant supply and practically infinite if we learn how to use it properly.

So then if all of life is a creative act that runs on creative energy, then obviously we are going to need creative energy if we are going to live.

So the saying suggest for us to go with in, right? Well for what?

We must go with in to find the creative energy that we need to live, the energy that we need to thrive and flourish as creative beings in this physical reality. This energy is our sexual energy, our urge to create.

In closing the fact of the matter is that we are faced with a choice.

We can squander our sexual energy carelessly, we can reproduce an offspring, and/or we can utilize this energy for our own creative desires and our own personal evolution.

How to become a more attractive person

2008-12-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

Interesting people are interested people. What does that mean? It means that interesting people are interested in something, they are passionate and enthusiastic.

For some people it could be music, cars, sports, cooking, philosophy, religion, etc. It could be anything.

To illustrate this see the following conversation:

Person A: How are you?

Person B: Fine.

Person A: So what have you been up to?

Person B: Nothing.

Person A: Well, what’s new with you?

Person B: Same old same old.

Now I’m sure that we’ve all met people like this and have experienced the pain of trying to have a conversation with someone like this.

I used this example to show how un-interesting people behave. In this instance an interesting person would have had a lot share and a lot of enthusiasm and passion behind it.

They were be excited and happy to share all of the new and exciting things happening in their life.

This is because people usually assume that what they find interesting everyone else does too, thus they usually are eager and willing to share.

So then what you should do is find something that you are interested in and really get into it. If you are already doing this, then devote more time to it.

But this doesn’t mean just go up to someone and start unloading on them. No, that would be rude, obnoxious, and annoying. The next would be….

Be interested in other people.

Everyone likes to feel important and that people care about the things they say and do. So the best way to do this is to be interested when someone is talking to you.

Ask questions, inquire, and genuinely have a desire to learn about whatever it is they are sharing with you. If it is a topic that they are really excited or passionate about, stay on this topic, learn as much as you can about it.

Everyone loves to talk about the things that they are most excited about and by allowing another person to do this while talking to you, they will soon associate these positives feelings with you, and thus they will be more likely to genuinely like you and be interested in whatever it is that you have to say.

Remember, the only way to get what you want, is to help others get what they want. And since everyone wants to feel good, to feel important, and to be listened to, why not facilitate this by really listening when someone is talking, by being interested, by asking questions, and by talking about the things the other person wants to talk about.

Not only will they be more likely to be interested in what you have to say, but you might even learn something new in the process.

How to become good at anything

2008-12-07T17:24:00.000-08:00

The easiest way to become good at anything

Plain and simple the easiest way to be good at anything is to do it everyday.

If you want to become a concert pianist, do it everyday.

If you want to become a happier person, think happier thoughts everyday, do things that make you happy everyday.

Think about it like this, how often do you think Michael Jordan played basketball? Every once in awhile, maybe a few minutes here and there? No, he played every single day for hours and hours.

How often do you think Beethoven played music? Just tinkering randomly here and there? No, he played countless hours every single day.

That is really all there is to it, it is that simple. There is usually no difference between a pro and an amateur other than the amount of time, energy, effort, and practice put into developing a particular skill.

Even the greatest of the great was a beginner once; just you may be right now. However they made the decision, they made the commitment to put in the time and energy that got them to the level of mastery. Everyone starts somewhere; no one is born a master.

So wherever you are right now, no matter what your skill level, start today. Even if it’s only 15 minutes, that is better than nothing. Tomorrow repeat the same process, maybe even add another 10-15 minutes if you can.

Then the next day, repeat the process again. Keep doing this for a few months, staying consistent with your time and energy, and you will be amazed at the skill and dexterity that will develop with your new skill.

Just remember, every master was once a beginner, everyone starts somewhere, so I want you to start from right now, from this day forward. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and surely you will soon be a master of your particular skill.

The top Five Superfoods you should be eating

2008-12-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

The top Five Superfoods you should be eating

Goji Berries

Goji berries are a superfood because they contain polysaccharides which fortify the immune system. A polysaccharide found in this fruit has been found to be a powerful secretagogue (a substance that stimulates the secretion of rejuvenative human growth hormone by the pituitary gland).

Goji berries also fall under the title of superfood because of their nutrient density. They contain 18 Amino Acids, More Beta Carotene than carrots, More Iron than spinach, 21 Trace Minerals, 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than orange, 13 % protein, and they are also loaded with many other vitamins and minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and Vitamin E.

Cacao

Cacao is the source for all Chocolate and Cocoa products. Cacao is called Theobroma cacao, which literally means "Food of the Gods". The Cacao plant was known as Goddess of the Seeds and Mexicans named the pounded seeds "Chocolate". Due do this rich history, cacao is a superfood.

Cacao is also a superfood because it contains many rare key nutrients that enhance physical and mental well-being. Cacao contains more antioxidant flavanoids than any other food tested including Red Wine, Green Tea and Blueberries. Other essential minerals present in Cacao are Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Sulfur, and Potassium. Cacao also contains many chemicals that enhance physical and mental well-being, including alkaloids, proteins, magnesium, beta-carotene, leucine, linoleic acid, lipase, lysine, and some neurotransmitters such as dopamine and anandamine.

Maca

Maca root was domesticated about 2000 years ago by the Incan culture who regarded the root as a very valuable commodity. Native Peruvians have traditionally utilized Maca since before the time of the Incas for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. Maca Root is a superfood and an important staple in the diets of the people indigenous to the region since it has the highest nutritional value of any food crop grown there. The Root of the Maca plant is a true adaptogen with very positive and beneficial effects on the human body

Maca is also a superfood because it:

• Contains Key Nutrients Support Libido and Peak Sexual Functioning In Men and Women
• Contains Key Nutrients support Hormonal Balance For Men And Women of All Ages
• Helps to Increase Physical Energy, and Daily Stamina
• Increases Mental Clarity and Focus
• Provides Nutritional Support for healthy Fertility For Men And Women

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a small, dark, blade shaped fungus found in the highlands of China, Tibet, and Nepal where it is highly valued superfood and tonic herb. 1500 years ago the local herdsmen of Tibet noticed that when their cattle and sheep grazed where cordyceps grew, they became very strong. Even old yaks showed signs of being younger, and had increased natural vigor and vitality. This rare mushroom became a very sought after superfood in the Chinese herbal tradition for its profound effects on energy, stamina, sex drive, longevity, and overall physical health and well being.
Cordyceps is also a superfood because it Improves Utilization of oxygen, Helps Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels, Supports the Immune System, Reduces Fatigue, and increases Endurance, Stamina and Fitness.

Blue Green Algae

Blue-Green Algae is a superfood because it is one of nature's most nutrient dense foods, harvested wild from one of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet, the spring-fed waters of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. It is harvested and dried using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the enzymatic and phyto-nutrient potency of the algae. Algae are a class by themselves, exhibiting the characteristics of both plant and animal.

Blue-Green Algae is also a superfood because it contains the broadest array of phyto-nutrients of any known algae, including rare trace elements, biologically active enzymes, amino acids, essential fatty acids, B12, chlorophyll, Phenylethylamine (PEA), glycol-proteins, complex sugars, vitamins and minerals. Due to the algae's nutritious soft cell wall, these nutrients are readily available to the body.

Where to get them?

The best source for these superfoods I have found is Elements For Life. I like this company because I can be assured that the quality is the highest that it can be and that all of the products are certified organic. Another thing that I really like about this company is that they even make it possible for someone to get these superfoods at a discounted price, which certainly helps the wallet in these chaotic economics times. So if you are looking for the highest quality, the best price, and even a discount, then I would recommend using Elements For Life as your source for superfoods.

For more information visit: Elements For Life

Is Elements for Life A Scam?

2008-12-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

Elements For Life brings the most harmonious variety of powerful superfoods, technologies, and lifestyle accessories to the world to facilitate increased physical energy, strength, mental clarity, and a better mood. Most people find that they love the results and the of course want to share!

Elements For Life is dedicated to enabling the best health and most passionate life force energy for all of your endeavors. They believe that everyone deserves to feel great and thrive; so they developed a proven success system and product line to make this easier than it has ever been before.

With its unique combination of transformational products designed to powerfully elicit a persons highest potentials and a simple achievable business system, Elements for Life has already started to serve many "next generation" entrepreneurs and is destined to become a household name worldwide. This is a sustainably minded company at all levels because the nature of the business is to nurture the collective whole. Elements For Life’s goal is to provide something for everyone by producing and sourcing nutrient rich foods, vital trace mineral supplements, many "next level" nutrient supplements, live food super snacks and tonics, and empowering information.

Elements for Life provides superior products and services that are both earth friendly, and cost effective while contributing to a planet we can be proud to pass on to the children of the future! The products build a bridge for people to experience satisfying new, conscious, sustainable choices that feel good, taste good, and are fun.

Elements For Life products appeal to a wide range of people from mainstream health and fitness to the longevity, personal empowerment, peak performance and alternative health and wellness markets. Anybody that Loves Food and Loves Feeling Great can enjoy these products!

For more information visit: Elements For Life

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What are the Three Treasures of Tonic Herbalism?

2008-12-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

What are the Three Treasures?

In Chinese medicine they say our bodies are made up of three main energies, which they call the three treasures. The three treasures are jing, chi, and shen. By understanding the three treasures, we can understand the workings of our own bodies more accurately and thus open the door to greater health and abundance.

By regulating and nourishing our Three Treasures, we will have a macro-control over our health without micro-managing the complex bodily functions. There is no way we could possibly micro-manage them, so we should not. We can nurture our body, tonify our regulatory mechanisms, and develop true adaptability that will allow the body to manage itself.

In our bodies jing is our reserve of life force and it determines how long we live and the power of our life. Jing represents essence or essential energy. It is stored in the kidneys. This is our primal energy, our “Prenatal karmic energy.” We tend to dip into our Jing when we become overworked, stressed, as well as from excessive behavior.

Chi translates as energy and blood, life essence. We get this from the food we eat and the air we breathe, that is why it is so important to eat healthy and breathe deeply. This is the energy we want to live on, on a daily basis rather than dipping into our jing. Chi is manifested as our day-to-day vitality and our innate ability to defend ourselves and ward off pathogens.

Shen translates asour spirit, our state of psychological well being, our wisdom, and our spiritual experience and radiance. It refers to our spiritual, emotional and mental well being. It is essential for our Jing and Chi to be strong so the Shen can flourish.

One way to illustrate this is to use the metaphor of the candle. The jing would be the dense physical matter of the candle, the wax and the wick. The chi would be the flame of the candle. The shen would be the light and the heat that is given off by the candle.

So then if you have a think and sturdy wax and wick, then you will have a large flame. If you have a large flame, then a large amount of light and heat will be given off by the candle. Thus we could say that the candle would be superior and radiant.

Another way to look at this would be:

First Treasure (jing) – savings account (we want as much as we can)

Second Treasure (chi) – checking account (this is what we want to live off
of so we don’t have to dip into our savings).

Third Treasure (shen) – how we spend it (and that said, if our 3 treasures
are not balanced we could go broke!)

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What are tonic herbs?

The tonic herbs are the elite herbs of the herbal world, the most fully developed herbal system in the world.

The tonic herbs have always held a very special place in cultures all over the world. These very special natural substances have been associated with the highest qualities of living, and thus are associated with the ideals of long life, slow aging, glowing health, happiness, wisdom, physical vitality, adaptability, sexual vigor and response, mental acuity and clear intuition, love and compassion, and harmonious relations with nature and with one's fellow human beings.

The tonic herbs are not harsh and are not medicinal in the usual sense. Tonic herbs help to regulate our mind and body functions so that the body can re-establish and maintain balance, adaptability, vigor and vitality.

Why Consume Tonic Herbs?

Tonic herbs are not medicinal. They nurture the growth of life, they nurture the growth of the human spirit. They help to slow down the aging process. They protect us on every level - physically, immunologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

What distinguishes the tonic herbs is that face that the emphasis is on promoting health. Where as other systems usually emphasize the remedial over the preventive, meaning most systems focus on treating disease and illness, instead of focusing on promoting true health and vitality.

Tonic Herbs Are Transformative

Almost every person who uses tonic herbs for any extended period of time experiences noticeable benefits. In some cases a person will notice the benefits instantaneously and profoundly, yet in others the effects may be subtle at first, with cumulative effects developing over time.

One of the profound benefits of the tonic herbs is their ability to help change "vicious cycles" into "benevolent cycles." The tonics help reverse the process of one problem leading to more problems. The fact is that something good usually happens when you start taking these herbs. You start to feel balanced and strong inside. You start having abundant energy when you need it and yet you feel relaxed and at peace. You become more and more adaptive so that you can do a lot of things that may have seemed impossible before. You find yourself taking on challenges you couldn't have handled before, doing things that you used to avoid or that you thought you were incapable of doing.

A word of advice: protect yourself.

The world is a dangerous place, and may be becoming more dangerous. Use the tonic herbs to help regulate and boost your protective functions. You can tune your immune system so that it may be highly reliable and effective, even If everyone around you is sick.

You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones to feel good and be healthy. You deserve the highest quality and quantity of life. The tonic herbs are the easiest and most effective way to allow both of these things to happen.

What is Chaga?

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What is chaga

It is a parasitic fungus on Birch trees. The sterile conk is irregularly formed and has the appearance of burnt charcoal. It grows in birch forests of Russia, Korea, Eastern Europe, Northern areas of the United States and in the North Carolina mountains.

Chaga takes 5 to 7 years to grow, is very rare and cannot be farmed

Highest orac score

There is no argument that antioxidants are crucial for one’s health. Yet chaga has the highest ORAC score ever recorded in any natural food! Testing of Siberian chaga has shown that chaga has the highest ORAC score recorded in any natural food: 1,104 ORAC units per gram. This is more than 6 times as powerful as açaí berries, more than 10 times the antioxidant power of pomegranate and 46 times higher than blueberries. This means that Siberian chaga has far greater capacity to wipe out free radicals in your system.

Medicinal uses

Since the 16th century, there are records of chaga mushroom being used in folk medicine and the botanical medicine of the Eastern European countries as a remedy for cancer, gastritis, ulcers, and tuberculosis of the bones.

In 1958, scientific studies in Finland and Russia found Chaga provided an epochal effect in breast cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, and gastric cancer, as well as in hypertension and diabetes.

Herbalist David Winston maintains that it is the strongest anti-cancer medicinal mushroom. The antimutagenic action of the molecules found in the white part of birch bark where chaga feeds inhibits free-radical oxidation and also induces the production of interferons, which helps induce DNA repair.

The anti-cancer properties of betulin or betulinic acid, a chemical isolated from chaga, is now being studied for use as a chemotherapeutic agent. Chaga contains large amounts of betulinic acid in a form that can be ingested orally, and it also contains the full spectrum of immune-stimulating phytochemicals found in other medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, cordyceps, and maitake.

An adaptogen

Chaga is a premier adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural substances, found in certain plants, that increase the human body's natural resistance to physical and emotional stress, fatigue, depression and organic illness.

The concept of adaptogens was identified by Nikolai Lazarev in the early 1940’s, and later more closely defined by his protégé, Dr. Israel I. Brekhman and I. V. Dardymov. According to their criteria, which are still generally accepted today, adaptogens:

Show some nonspecific protective effect, increasing bodily resistance to physically, chemically, or biologically noxious agents or factors;

Have a normalizing influence on a pathologic state, independent of the nature of that state; and

Are non-toxic, have no side effects, and do not disturb normal body functions

In closing

By consuming chaga know that you are consuming the highest antioxidant food on the planet which will be detoxifying your body, boosting your immune system, decreasing inflammation, and also helping your body adapt to the myriad of stresses that if faces every moment of every day.

Jing Masters Chi Formula

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Jing Masters Chi Formula combines the top three adaptogenic chi tonic herbs from all over the world. Those who seek increased adaptability, energy, and vitality should take note.

Eleuthero

Research has found that Eleuthero is an adaptogenic herb that improves the ability to handle stress. Eleuthero has been shown to reduce the activation of the adrenal cortex in response to stress. Eleuthero helps to increase physical and mental endurance and helps to improve memory. Eleuthero benefits mental and physical endurance and has powerful anti-fatigue activity. Eleuthero aids in the recovery from hard exercise. Eleuthero has been shown to improve mental alertness and work output, and aids in the recovery from mental exertion. Eleuthero helps to build blood and improves the ability of the body to absorb and efficiently use oxygen. Eleuthero is a potent immune modulator, and has in particular been shown to promote antibody formation. Eleuthero has a detoxifying action, protecting animals against various poisons. Due to these broad benefits, Jing Masters highly recommends this herb.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola may be used as a tonic, in which case it strongly increases vitality. It is good for strengthening the body and mind, resisting fatigue, resisting a lack of oxygen and excessive radiation (including solar radiation), and for prolonging life. It is especially well known for increasing the intelligence of those who consume it regularly. Rhodiola has the action of supporting and strengthening the human body. Rhodiola has a notable restorative effect if one consumes a preparation while the tired body is recovering or is failing to recover from strong or excessive exertion.
Rhodiola also impoves Oxygen Utilization, thus consumption of Rhodiola extract can significantly improve a person’s capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen. This is a major key to the incredible benefits associated with this herb. Rhodiola is also a superior tonic for those who work from behind a desk or at a computer terminal for long periods of time. It is a powerful brain tonic and alertness enhancer. People who consume Rhodiola find that they can work for much longer without losing their ability to concentrate and create. It is a superb herb for writers, executives, Jing Masters, lawyers, etc.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a herb of the ages. It is the 'ginseng' of Indian medicine medicine, and is considered an 'adaptogen', a term used to describe herbs that improve physical energy and athletic ability, increase immunity to colds and infections and increase sexual capacity and fertility. In Indian medicine ashwaganda is considered a rasayana herb, a herb which works on a nonspecific basis to increase health and longevity. Ashwagandha is extremely nourishing for the nervous system. It helps strengthen the nerves and maintain nerve function. Ashwagandha is a also helps to enhance mental ability and performance--it helps support memory and problem-solving skills and enhances the coordinated functioning of all aspects of the brain.
One reason that Jing Masters uses ashwagandha is because of it’s reputation as a general energy-promoting, disease-preventing tonic may be its effect on the immune system. Ashwagandha may also have a mild sedative effect on the central nervous system and in animal studies it has been shown to be a muscle relaxant. It is commonly used to increase vitality, particularly when recovering from chronic illnesses and pain management for arthritic conditions. It may also help regulate blood sugar which aids in suppressing sugar cravings. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha is very effective in reducing inflammation, treating tumors, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.