Inner Peace and Happiness Comes From Hearts Desire

Today is a day worth remembering

When doubts, self-destructive tendencies, self-blocks cloud the truth that lays within our heart, we become less communicative with the voice and begin a long arduous path of detachment and emotional upheaval.

While we use our brain to live out each day, which is often influenced by our surroundings, our heart cannot be manipulated by anyone else. Our brain is a wonderful faculty given to us to recognize that we can learn from our experiences, as lessons to live out in this lifetime.

In the same way, we use our eyes to see and our hands to touch, both need remembering. Equally our heart needs remembering to improve the connection to our truth. Our brain can choose what we want to believe, but when we properly use the facility of our heart to connect everything that is needed is given.

Hearts Desire

Living with your hearts desire will never hide from you as it knows the truth of who you are. For ages it has been said we should follow our heart.

Your heart knows your true self, the spark of your truth and is always present and patiently waiting for you to recognize what is being freely given to you.

You are blessed with this creation that is the key to your true self. The spirit the spark that provides us with the connection to our truth. Each day, each experience, each spoken word, each emotion we feel center us within our "truth" of who we are. It gently nudges us or sometimes giving us no option but to pursue our rediscovery of our true self.

To start awakening the heart is by starting to understand heart consciousness. It does not take work; it takes remembering, we must only remember to turn our intention and consciousness toward our heart where so many beautiful things will be brought to you, as lightness, calmness, peace, happiness and joy beyond all things you most likely forgot

When you open your heart, in its depth, there is a knowing and familiarity, despite perhaps never having studied or followed this path before.

Sakyamuni Buddha taught "Calmness is within you, do not look outside of you" Yet you don't have to be a Buddha to see how those who chase down world success in an effort to be happy and peaceful.

Some may find awakening the heart difficult, often impossible if you are seeking wealth. You may attain success and material goods, but serenity and happiness will always still be in front of you, just out of reach.

All the courses, books and tapes listened to act as great facilitators and tools; but, never will they take the place of what you know within yourself. Your heart has always been there for you. It has never left you and will always remain with you.

Exercise Time: Awakening the Heart Consciousness

• Place your right hand on your heart centered area.

• Shift your attention to this area on your body and consciously connect with your heart.

• Allow the energy to flow in and out.

• Relax

• Smile to Your Heart

• Surrender

What is different about this connection? You do not have to think about it. The connection is so natural that it resonates without conflict. The heart simply just "IS". There is no conflict from mind to heart.

The KNOWING takes over. Peacefulness is at hand. Your hearts desire brings to your consciousness guiding you. Listen, trust, allow and let go.

Heart centered consciousness is our pathway to a much larger human shift into a new way of existence. As you practice and continue to have experiences of heart centered consciousness, you will be far removed from stress where burdens turn into joy.

This is the true connection that keeps you centered. Staying in your heart consciousness outwardly affects every decision, each thought, each activity... you will no longer be making decisions separate from your heart. Instead everything begins with and ends within your heart center.

The heart is a bridge between the earthly and spiritual levels of human consciousness.

Awakening the Heart is where spiritual awakening occurs, changing one's viewpoint of reality permanently.

Once we see and experience this expanded realm of the heart consciousness, it enhances our views and abilities for life where we shed negative attitudes and perceptions.

The energy of the heart is the energy of love.

The Heart knows no other. All that we have to be is love.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Inner-Peace-and-Happiness-Comes-From-Hearts-Desire&id=10468714

The Dry Erase Board - A Hidden Message

If you have been following along with any of my post/blogs/articles, you know that I often express my "Aha" moments or Knowings through analogies. My mind and inner knowing will play with an idea for a while, collecting information, ideas and Knowings until it spills out on a page. Sometimes it is instantaneous and other times it is a slow burn. My latest process has been a slow burn.

For the last several weeks my mind has been playing with the idea of a dry erase board and then early this morning during a quiet moment the thoughts all came together. You will have to use your imagination to follow along. I promise not to stretch it too far, but I will need your willingness to play.

First let us imagine that we cover a large wall with that fancy white paint that simulates the surface of a dry erase board. It's great stuff. You can turn any wall in an office space into a "mastermind arena". Now, using blue painter's tape, make a huge rectangle, framing a portion of the freshly painted white surface. What you should be seeing in your mind's eye is a large pristine white wall, and an area on that wall blocked out by a frame of blue tape. Leave at least 1 foot above and to the sides of your frame and 3 -4 feet below. Get the picture? Great, let's move on. Grab a chunky black dry erase marker and write down the following words inside your imaginary framed area:

ROOT CAUSE, SQUARE ROOT, PLANT, TRAUMA, SHIFT, ZERO POINT, TECHNIQUES, TERMINOLOGY, FEAR, SEEDLING, SEEDED, INJURY, ILLNESS, HEALING, ORIGINAL SIN, STARTING POINT, HEALER, ENERGY, QUANTUM, FEAR, PRACTITIONER, PATIENT, CLIENT, TRAINING, WORDS, CRYSTALS, DOWNLOAD, FORMULA, BOOKS, STORIES, TESTIMONIES, EFFORT, FEAR, SEED, PROTECTION, BRAIN WAVES, ENCODING, MODALITY, TIME, BELIEF SYSTEM... add your own.

Perfect... look carefully at your creation, really study it. Somewhere hiding on the wall that you just created is the answer to your personal healing, the healing of others and the healing of our world. Now I have your attention! What if your ability to return to balance on every level; be it emotional, mental, physical or spiritual was somewhere among all of those words? What if IT has always been right there, right in front our face! Well, it just might be.

Now take a dry eraser, try to erase your words. Go ahead and use the imaginary bottle of spray stuff that is supposed to help take away the ink. I don't know about you, but my imagination knows what happens on those dry erase boards. The words never seem to completely go away, there is a smeary messy grey haze left on the board. Imagine that this grey smeary mess has even gone beyond the boundaries of your blue tape. Ugh, it is soooo frustrating, the spray just dilutes the ink and the eraser just seems to smear that mess all over. Even when I rub hard it just smears and smears, leaving that murky grey haze hiding the pristine white of my original palette.

Recently my friend had this same dilemma at her work, she belabored over how to return the wall to its original state. Fearful that if she used the wrong "stuff" she might ruin the paint finish. Ultimately, she found the right tool. "Magic Eraser Sponge"

Did you catch it? Did you sense, know or imagine the hidden truth?

When I try to find my wholeness within the constraints of this plane of time and space, I end up muddying the waters. My perfection, my magnificence, my perfect balance, my wholeness can only be found when I remember, return and reconnect to who I truly am. The words are only written on the surface, they did not penetrate the foundation of the white paint. My illness, imbalance, trauma and illusion of separation has not penetrated my being, it is all riding on the surface, being smeared around and around.

I Am the original, pristine and brilliant white palette of my creator.

So how do we clean up this mess?

First step is to KNOW what your foundation Is: Impermeable Brilliant Pristine White Slate Full of Possibilities and Potential. You were created in the luminous image of your creator.

Second is to be aware: Perceive that what you are trying, believing, fearing is just muddying your waters, and glazing your foundation with a murky haze. Return your attention to your foundation.

Last by not least have the right tools: You have the ability to see, feel and experience who you truly are. You can choose the magic of knowing that your foundation was and has never been truly affected by the illusion of the murky mess. Focus your attention and reconnect to the "GLORY" of who you are, then soak up the veracity of your perfection.

NEVER STOP DREAMING

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dry-Erase-Board---A-Hidden-Message&id=9962525

Wisdom And Human Volatility

It is necessary, besides being interesting and intriguing to understand facts and factuality of creation. The process of creation has unequivocally witnessed wisdom as a prime entity in human beings. The important point is to understand the role of wisdom within the parameters of principles and knowledge in our existence. It is established beyond reasonable doubt that wisdom is the tool which extracts values. These ethics utilize knowledge and balance human beings' activities as deem fit. Again, it is explicitly conceived that principles are unaltered but values change within the varying scenario of existence.

A question arises in our mind about what is wisdom? Philosophers, Plato and Cicero were of the same opinion that wisdom has four cardinal virtues, viz, prudence, justice, temperance and courage. Thus, virtue is defined as a habit in harmony with reason and the order of nature. The principle of cardinal virtues translates values both subjectively and objectively in selective conditions. These variances are the manifestation of awareness and ignorance and also humility and arrogance. Here, the negative volatility plays a dominant role in every subjective perception and its applications. Whereas, positive variance reflects constructive attitude thus adopt a balance life.

We must understand human life and evaluate our acts and deeds here in this world and hereafter. We can achieve our aims, and objectives provided we comprehend the context of the knowledge we acquire. The comprehension of subjectivity compels in a myopic way, and we end up in a fiasco. Because, the negativity is surrounding our thoughts, hence it is influencing in a pronounced way. Why such an influence is so pronounced and affects us profoundly? It is the materialistic attachment and greed which translate into arrogance, consequently.

Another fact we must understand distinctly and comprehensively is the absence of values in rituals. If we failed to understand the message and its context, then its values diminished. It means; the rituals become superficial and without substance leading to faith being practiced in a vacuum. Therefore, our observation in daily life will reflect that our efforts are not producing any result as expected.

When practices and rituals become part and parcel of daily life without understanding the purpose behind it, then it will translate into ignorance. If such ethics continue over a longer time, subsequently it is accepted as gospel truth leaving behind the principles. Thus, this ignorance translates into arrogance, and the combination will result in degeneration and dissimulation of a society. However, wisdom and knowledge synchronizes in harmony and follow a rhythmic pattern of humility which in turn transforms into a pious society.

As we know that human beings' originality of creations reflects an absolute perfection. However, somewhere down the line it is being diluted and become corrupt in its dealings and performance. The factors which affected all human beings are their drift in wrong diction under various influences. This typically signifies human nature and its volatility of varying magnitudes and dimensions.

The severities of acts and deeds are either appropriate or dangerous depending upon people and their objectives. Here, wisdom plays a dominant role in guiding the righteous people towards the bliss path. The less fortunate ones are those who ignore such telltale signs and become arrogant. These people and their destiny will move towards the dark pit, and suffering becomes the daily routine. This profoundly signifies wisdom and volatility in every aspect of life and a lesson for all humanity.

Self-improvement and Mind Development Therapist

https://ezinearticles.com/?Wisdom-And-Human-Volatility&id=9596403

Abraham Hicks - Vibrationally LOCKED IN!! Dial Into The Best Frequency For You RIGHT NOW!

Create Your Life Now Through The Power Of Manifestation

If you take this action of manifesting true desires even more, then exactly what do we indicate by pessimistic and wrong-minded versus right-minded and optimistic, anyhow?

From a spiritual perspective, all experiences are simply discovering occasions.

For, if you think that favorable things can be developed by believed energy-- which is born of thought, I presume, exactly what you do think-- then why should unfavorable things not be developed in the exact same manner as how my snapdragon flowers had a willingness to flourish and grow?

The secret to manifesting and creation is a really basic sentence: perceptions and thoughts turned into ideas end up being things.

I presume you are trying to figure out in the Power of Manifestation, likewise called the 'Law of Attraction,' otherwise, you would not have landed on this article.

Well, this is the law of the universe that makes things appear in your life, or, we may say, to manifest.

If you question this, then get a notepad, and head it with the title, "My Thoughts and Perceptions which Manifest my World."

For me, if you manifest desires like wealth, there's always a life of purpose and passion behind it.

One that serves you (by supplying total satisfaction and completion) and serves the world (it makes a distinction).

Well, you most likely do think in the area of manifesting desires, but perhaps you most likely do not know how it works.

It may even appear like a wonder of the universe. You'll see how easy manifesting desires actually can be when you comprehend the laws of the universe.

Live the Life you Want

And those things which you can not discuss-- the unfavorable things, the difficulty, the misery-- think it or not, even that is the items of options and choices you've made at some level, at a long time.

Yes, of course we are accountable in some method for producing the truth around us.

In some cases it appears difficult to think such a thing, especially when things are not going well for us.

Well, the fact is that you can do all these things, and you are undoubtedly able to manifest whatever you desire.

You Desire Evidence ?

Previously I discussed the free information kits and e-books available online today for learning to go within and create your life now.

If you look within you, deeply, you will note that how much of exactly what you think your life will bring you does indeed bring you that.

Now, do you see how you have the power to begin manifesting desires in this instant right now?

And understanding that you have that power, maybe the time has actually come for you to begin manifesting love and other objectives and goals for the future.

A Definition of Manifestation

That is what creativity is all about, and you can specify it as your capability to create your life the way you want it to be.

Now list those things that you currently have actually brought into being like, your relationships, your kids, your marital relationship, your successes, and so forth.

And, if you care to, the failures you have actually developed in your life through the choices and options you've made.

Manifesting desires whatever it might be is the natural law of the miracle.

The Course in Miracles states, "There is no order of difficulty in miracles. All expressions of love are maximal."

Well, the fact is that you can do all these things, and you are undoubtedly able to manifest whatever you desire.

In some cases manifesting desires might appear difficult to think such a thing, especially when things are not going well for us.

For me, and for others who I have learned from, manifesting and manifesting desires love, or wealth, or health, or whatever it might perhaps be, there must be action taking and purpose and passion as the foundation.

( Please note, I also suggest searching the net for further helpful material and free tools and ideas for how to create the life you want for a better life.)

To your happiness and success!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Create-Your-Life-Now-Through-The-Power-Of-Manifestation&id=9969736

Abraham Hicks - It Takes 2 MINUTES! The POWER To Recreate Your Past AND FUTURE!!

Live Your Ultimate Life! 5 Behaviours to Guarantee Your Best Outcomes Daily!

You have the potential to live an absolutely phenomenal life.

A life where you get to determine the standards of your lifestyle, the quality of your results and the abundance that you receive

A Mistaken Sense of Reality...

You are not be experiencing these phenomenal impacts because right now you may be in a situation where you are so emphatically conditioned that you are resigned to the mistaken belief that everything happens TO you, that's life... and you have to accept it.

This is an unfortunate mindset too many people have! A mindset that causes them to surrender control of their best assets and expose themselves to a false sense of fate.

I urge you to not fall into this same debilitating way of life!

Understand that this definitely does not have to be the case for you. In fact, it shouldn't! you have been endowed with phenomenal gifts at your creation, which allow you to take a significant amount of control over your direction in life and your circumstances. This issue arises when, as an individual you do not develop these gifts, or give them an opportunity to be expressed with any meaningful intent.

Set Your Expectations!

You are a fine-tuned instrument; your creation is perfection in motion... what you need to understand is how it all comes together. We won't have time to get into all of it in this article, but I want to specifically focus on your mindset, your expectations and how these attract corresponding results.

I encourage you to begin focusing on your unseen, spiritual attributes, as this is where you have the greatest control. This is the part of your creation where your results begin. Everything you have or you experience in the physical is the 'second version' of an idea, thought or expectation.

When you come up with an idea and get emotionally involved with that idea you begin to move into the corresponding frequency of that thought or idea and this vibration gets into harmony with everything on the same frequency.

You are effectively a 'radio dial' that tunes into the station that you want to listen to.

The key aspect is that, for the most part, your 'radio dial' is set to an automatic frequency and everything on that frequency moves into your life as a physical and non-physical results... even if you do not like them.

Your vibration... your vibe determines your environment.

This is why you need to begin to place a premium on your thoughts and expectations.

Don't leave Change to Chance!

As you reflect on the above, I want you to take heart in knowing that change is possible... and you have control over how to turn your life around!

You now have the beginning of a changed awareness and a new understanding. In order to make a meaningful and lasting change you need to begin doing things in a way contrary to how you have been undertaking action to this point.

Currently you are looking at your life, your job, your current results and letting these visible aspects determine what you think you can do.

• Financially you look at your income, mortgage, credit card limit and immediately impose a restriction on your financial potential or capability.
• You perceive the number of hours in a day, your commitments, your relationships then confirm to yourself your limited ability to use time
• There are also many other perceptions based on your current results or way of life that limit how you allow yourself to set goals or manage your expectations.

In order to change you need to focus on pulling yourself up and elevating yourself onto a higher, more valuable level of existence... this can only be done by determining what frequency you want to 'dial into' then working towards that! You need to begin thinking in a very specific and certain way that focuses only on the good and abundant and that your goals and desires you have set for yourself are certain to happen, they are guaranteed and that there is nothing that is going to stop them from coming into being. The complimentary mindset you need to entrench yourself in is that you shut your mind off entirely to any influence or contrary opinion that will tell you cannot get what you have set your mind on. Safeguard against these influences.

Please note that these actions are not just to readjust your thoughts and beliefs into "just accepting" your results with a blind approach to just being satisfied. What we are striving to achieve is meaningful change that meaningfully engages your creative faculties and sets up new expectations that you know will accelerate your growth!

5 Behaviours you can engage today to Guarantee you best outcome daily:

1. Gratitude: be thankful for everything... regardless of appearances. Developing a deeper sense of gratitude allow you to experience the perception that everything is contributing to your well being and all situations are there to create an environment for your success.
2. Decision: Deciding what you want and sticking to that decision set an internal tone from your mind to your Paradigm that begins to move in the direction of that decision.
3. Imagination: This wonderful creative faculty is your designer that adds layers of detail and colours your future world.
4. Believe: knowing that what is to happen will happen for your ultimate growth.
5. Expect: the ribbon that holds it all together... expecting what we want is far superior to expecting what we do not want! Either one will happen... you choose which!

All the above behaviours working in harmony and in an upward spiral of synergy takes you onto ever increasing levels of vibration... vibrations that are on the same frequency of the life you desire.

Get your "vibe adjusted" and enjoy the abundance that follows.

Our drive at invinciblemind is to make the most of ourselves to give the best of ourselves!

Learn how to Unleash Your Ultimate Potential with invinciblemind... Your future self will thank you for the immense decision!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Live-Your-Ultimate-Life!-5-Behaviours-to-Guarantee-Your-Best-Outcomes-Daily!&id=10362511

Abraham Hicks - INSTANT ENERGY SHIFT! This is BIG!

Be Still

It's early morning in my house - all are sleeping, all is quiet. It's one of my favorite times of the day. No rushing, no deadlines, no last-minute search for backpacks and jackets, keys, and purse. There is something about the sense of quiet, the stillness.

In a world of constant noise, I find that "quiet" has become a precious commodity. Did you ever notice that almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes? I think we all need to "unplug" sometimes.

The other day, in the midst of looming deadlines, orders piling in my inbox, church meetings, and school activities, I decided to stop at a little park down the street with my kids. It was a GORGEOUS day. My three-year-old & five-year-old were thrilled! I sat in the grass and stopped to take it all in. I listened to their laughter. I pushed them on the swings. We all sat in a swinging chair and counted the cars on a train that went by us - 133 cars! They thought that was something!

We looked at our little part of the city from up on a hill, then we sat down below on a bench and talked about how the view changed. We listened to a bird with a very interesting call, and soon a few sticks on the ground became staffs that would forge a new path into an unexplored patch of trees. The kids thought they had quite the adventure when a nearby dog began barking at them and they rushed back to the safety of mom's side!

Finally, we all laid in the grass and looked at the clouds. We watched the breeze move through the trees, and let the sunshine warm our faces. How wonderfully therapeutic it is when we "unplug" from the noise of the world and become aware of the unrushed world of God's creation. In the middle of my "busy" God lead me to a pocket of peace, a place of stillness where I could take a deep breath and recharge.

I want to encourage you to find that place of rest today. Take time to quiet your mind and be still. Take time to be aware of your children and your spouse. Be present in your heart and mind. Breathe deeply. Let God speak to you. What a difference it will make in your life when you choose to protect your peace, when you become intentional about being still and at rest.

You've only got one life to live. Don't let deadlines and "to-do" lists drag you through it. You can still be productive - sometimes more productive - when you "stop and smell the roses." Memories aren't made in the "busy-ness" of life, but in the moments that we choose to make special. Make some memories today. Your children will thank you for it later!!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Be-Still&id=9648054

Listen to Your Daydreams, Authorize Them to Ignite a Blaze of Creation or Innovation

Listen to your daydreams, authorize them to ignite an ember for a blaze of creation or innovation to your existence. Ignite your innate fire from within. Make your daydreams your reality! I enjoy sandwiches, on-the-go, and I am grateful to the people or person that invented a novel way of eating a complete meal with convenient and edible packaging. It is as natural as running water to make things easier for ourselves, especially if we listen to the silent voice that sends us vibes or helpful insight into what we should expect in a given situation, or, how we can be better prepared, especially, if we listen to the vibration,or the feeling in our sub-conscious mind.

Ever felt the vibe, or vibration, in a room, filled with students taking an exam or playing musical instruments in a jam session? The studying students are concentrating and raising the conscious level of focus, in the room, and you can't help but walk around with an inclination to focus and become more alert and serious. Listening and feeling the vibe in a music class is so inviting. Sometimes, out-of-the-blue, a really nice song gets written,or the harmonies and melodies are ripe and ready for the lyrics to complete the newly infused creation There's so much to say about the vibrations in a room. Vibrations are the frequency feeding your imagination and reality, to vibe, is being sync with something that brings you a serene, pleasant feeling with the flood gates of serotonin, in your brain, making you relaxed, calm and happy.

Sometimes the creative process of music and song-writing can compare to the feeling of running your own company or kingdom. Imagine yourself as the king of your own kingdom, or perhaps the president; of which planet, or of which nation, or of which reality? Allow your own imagination to flourish; happily infused by your daydreams or creative thought process. Glide and flow, with the timing, and in synchronicity. Watch things unfold organically without preparation or planning.

Embrace your part in all that is essential for your happiness; surround yourself with good people from every class of life; family; friends; supportive friends; co-workers; good books and put on a nice demeanor for yourself and for everyone else to enjoy.

The Frequency that you set forth, by your intention by action, is the frequency that will return to you; like pulling a massive rubber band. It will always come back to you with the same urgency and frequency that you sent out into the universe. Be aware of the gravitational pull that you release; remember, gravity also desires a fair and balanced existence.

Live and lead others, by example, you by own actions and lived adventures on earth; allow yourself to enhance every aspect of YOUR OWN LIFE. Be an active participant in all the vibrations that you wish to receive. Do your own cultivation,discovery and wording, spend the time to write your own song, article or rhyme.

Like gravity,be the exclusive and personal representation of the manifestation that you alone chose to receive from the universe, without copy, or imitation. Karmic law is in full-effect, whether you choose to believe or not, it will take place anyway, the decision to live a life of truth and honesty, in your own words and work, remains strictly upon your own shoulders. It's an easy choice to make, don't vacillate in your choices, or tempt your fate.

You can help others do things in their own ability; by your own lifestyle; Live well; set the example of how you engage the game of life. Other people will see you and your life-style choices and they too will choose: JOY; LOVE; EXCITEMENT, AND MORE Happiness, by watching you display, your vibration, in the process of witnessing you living your life in goodness and honesty. Live an honest life and engage in your own purpose by living productively, you can easily thrive, throughout the process, by your acceptance to learning from your mistakes, and by learning new lessons that you receive throughout your life journey.

When listening to your daydreams, you will authorize new discoveries about yourself, about others and about your own hopes, joys and getting closer to realizing your dreams.

I enjoy learning from you and from others offering me knowledge continuously!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Listen-to-Your-Daydreams,-Authorize-Them-to-Ignite-a-Blaze-of-Creation-or-Innovation&id=9451560

Relaxation As Part of the Creative Process

The creative process is a series of flows going and coming from different directions. Some flows come from sources of inspiration, go into the artists mind and flow out from the artist and into the audience. Other flows encircle two fellow artists, while others come from fans to the artist in the form of support, admiration, or income.

But as far as the act of creation is concerned the flows that go through the artist sometimes become problematic and cause difficulties. The artist takes elements they perceive in the environment and fuses those elements together in unique ways with emotional aspects of their psychology derived from their philosophy of life. They combine these factors with the work of their hands using earthly materials to create aesthetic products.

The flows and the process of creation form a system and like other systems they can get damaged or break down. The reasons vary greatly from one artist to another as to why damage or corruption causes the system to slow or fail altogether. Failing altogether isn't as common as slowing or burning out, which is typically caused by the system running or flowing in one direction for too long.

The body and mind are an interface that works well in harmony to control the flows from the environment and the mind as they move through the body. Interestingly, the environment and the mind are constantly emitting impulses or providing stimuli to the body via the nervous system, which consists of the electrical circuits that run throughout the body. The mind is constantly providing orders to various body parts to get them to do its bidding while the environment is a gigantic theater of sensory input without end.

This makes the body a conduit for the flows going in to the mind from the environment and back out to the environment and from the environment coming in to the mind and back out from the mind to the environment. The mind can also provide its own stimuli in the form of inspiration, memories, dreams, and ideas-realms of creativity-which also flow through the body, out to the environment, and back in again.

All of this flowing and non-stop sensory input keeps the body in a state of enervation, which causes damage, slowing, overloading, and burn out. Enervation is simply when the body feels drained of energy or experiences exhaustion from too much stimulation (overloaded circuits).

Physical Relaxation

For artists, relaxation is the only method of reversing the effects of enervation and is therefore a vital practice to achieve creative longevity. The use of drugs (illegal or prescription) or hypnotism is no substitute for relaxation. In fact, they are in themselves additional forms of stimulation and sensory input that would further agitate the body in a state of enervation. Avoid them if possible when relaxation is required.

Exchanging one form of stimulation for another doesn't constitute relaxation. Like the alcoholic who exchanges one drug with another by replacing alcohol with nicotine or caffeine, they are merely switching one addiction for another. Such compromises bring about new problems and the individual remains an addict for the whole of their lives without really living drug free.

True relaxation means refraining from artificial forms of stimulation and sensory input to experience one's self and one's environment in a natural state. When the alcoholic switches to nicotine or caffeine, they are actually mitigating the effects of withdrawal by forming new addictions.

For the drug addict, going through withdrawals is actually the gateway to living drug free. Withdrawals are actually the body's method of removing drug toxins from its systems so that they can be expelled as waste products. This along with other therapeutic techniques is what finally allows a person to eventually arrive at a drug free existence.

Similarly, the artist can recuperate from the artificial forms of stimulation and sensory input derived from the creative process by going through a kind of withdrawal. Because each form of artistic labor will have its own particular challenges to achieve a state of relaxation, each type of creative work will have its own form of withdrawal and will require the invention of strategies to remove the unique stresses that are specific to that art form.

For the chef, try a period of eating only pure flavors to help you relax your palate. This would comprise eating only raw fruits, slightly cooked vegetables, and meats or starches with little or no seasonings at all. Periodic short or prolonged fasts might have the most benefit in the long term to keep the palate sharp and the digestive system strong.

For musicians, go with a period of quiet. Because we exclusively use our ears to find, test, and combine new sounds, it's our ears that suffer the most stress during the creative process. The height of tall buildings and the remoteness of the mountains will help you rise above the sounds of cities and human life, while the distance and expanse of wide open spaces in the desert, grasslands, and bodies of water will bring you peace through extremes of noise reduction.

In contrast, relaxation for the athlete and dancer might consist of either active or passive processes such as resting or stretching depending on the movements they are normally performing.

For the illustrator and painter relaxation might actually pertain to several practices to resolve several issues. Stretching might work to help relax the effects of restricted and repetitive movement, while meditation (sitting with eyes closed or in a pitch black room) will work to de-stimulate the eyes.

Notice how relaxation actually constitutes sensory deprivation of one or more of the senses. The reason is because what we're trying to resolve is enervation (chronic nervous stimulation), which can only be alleviated with its opposite: sensory de-stimulation or deprivation. Other approaches for achieving sensory de-stimulation will include noise cancelling headphones, a sound-proof chamber, meditation, dim lighting, a walk in the forest, travel to a secluded out-of-the-way location, and extended time in an empty house or hotel room.

The purpose of all these approaches is to greatly reduce the amount of stimulation our brains and bodies undergo during the creative process because the focused effort of the act of creation almost always comes at the expense of our body and its need for relaxation. But much more important than the purpose is the effect we are trying to achieve which is resetting or refreshing our senses, so as to return to our work with "new eyes."

Mental Relaxation

Resolving enervation and the physical toll it takes on our bodies is just one component to achieving complete relaxation, while altering mental function will be the other. Sensory deprivation will help alleviate the accumulated stress collected in the nerves of the body, but what about the accumulated stresses in the mind. Just as the creative energy of the body can slow or burn out by flowing in one direction for too long, so can the function of the mind in the creative process.

The focused intensity of the act of creation usually comes at the expense of our minds, especially when our attention acts in a single capacity or mode for too long. Ironically, sensory deprivation will not assist the mind in its ability to refresh itself, because the senses are not its only channels of stimulation. Dreams, creativity, and imagination are unique aspects to the function of the mind and require a different approach when trying to achieve mental relaxation. However, the same principle still applies when dealing with the issue of relaxation.

Just as we resolved burn out caused by excessive or prolonged sensory input, the mind can also be helped. The focused intensity of creative thought can be relaxed by "free thought" because focused intensity and unregulated thought energy are opposite forms of mental activity, which means they can be used to counteract one another. In other words, structured or guided forms of thinking can be relaxed into more fluid or "free" forms of thought.

Within each artistic discipline these forms of mental activity express themselves as extremes such as the difference between the novelist and the poet in writing, the realistic painter and the abstract painter in painting, the ballet dancer and the modern dance performer in dance, as well as tonal and atonal or microtonal music in composing.

Sometimes stretching oneself as an artist can be a form of relaxation, but only if you explore an opposite artistic extreme than what you're normally used to. So if you tend to write in more structured forms, relax by attempting to author a bit of poetry and vice versa. This stretching technique can also be a great benefit because it allows you to find new material to bring into your normal creative mental function.

Improvisation and accidental art approaches are also interesting areas to explore because they combine what we know or have learned with expression without the need to necessarily create something with structure and conscious intention. In other words, approaching our craft with the skills we've acquired but without the goal of creating structure is a form of relaxation for the creative process by getting us to act more spontaneously. The openness of mind required in these approaches slackens the desire for creative outcomes to turn contrary artistic efforts into relaxation techniques. The contrasts and deviations of approach between each pair of opposite as shown above actually holds the keys to therapy within each art form and medium.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Relaxation-As-Part-of-the-Creative-Process&id=9427165

Message From the Universe: Always Remember to Visualize!

"Nothing is left to chance. The choreography of players and circumstances in your world are plotted with mind-numbing precision. Gigantic forces of attraction are activated and engaged. The odds for your inevitable success begin skyrocketing. And every second of every day is calibrated and recalibrated... whenever you remember to visualize.

Who loves you, baby? 

The Universe"

Everything that is happening, day after day is because the Universe has something to do with it. Now, the ONLY reason why the Universe is involved is because of how your structured your thoughts to make things happen the way they did. Just like the beginning of the Universe, after the Big Bang, all of the elements that were needed to create dark matter and energy was based on precision of temperature and angle of explosion. If anything was off from 1/10 of a degree would have change everything we see today. Probably nothing you see today would have ever existed. Everything was plotted with mind-blowing precision. The famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, admitted that without divine intervention, nothing you see today would have ever existed, which is pretty impressive when it came from someone who originally said that God had nothing to do with creation. As he slowly realized that what we see around us, especially in outer space, can be difficult to explain the origins of the Universe and how everything exist the way it does. This is why we have quantum theory, or String Theory (Multiverse) where no one can prove what was before the Big Bang and if other Universe actually exists, besides ours.

Can we say that God had the thoughts and intent to create all of what we see today? Now, I am not saying that we have that same power of thoughts over that supreme being, but our thoughts have power in itself, without us even realizing it. If you start visualizing how things are meant to happen and leave the Universe to take care of the rest, you will look at things differently and changes will occur, to your benefit. Do not let any doubts enter your mind at any time as it confuses the Universe from doing what it does best... making things happen. So as you are working towards your goals, start thinking right and focusing more on the positive and the belief that you are capable of accomplishing big things in life. Do not focus on the "How" it will happen, but primarily on what you want to happen. Do not worry about the "If" it (your dream) will ever happen, but always wonder as to the "When" it should happen. Always learn to predict the good and act like it already happened.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Always-Remember-to-Visualize!&id=9405116

Three Fast and Easy Ways to Increase Self-Love (By Esther R. Kane)

One of the most common questions I hear from clients is this:

EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME TO "LOVE MYSELF" BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO I DO IT?

I'll begin with my favourite quote on self-love, which comes from Lucille Ball:

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.

I couldn't agree more with her on this one. However, her quote doesn't offer any clues about how to love oneself in the first place. I'm not going to pretend that there is some quick and easy answer to this daunting question, but I have put a lot of time, thought, and study into this particular quandry so I'll offer up some of what I've learned here...

Esther's 3 Practical Ways to Increase Self-Love

#1: Realise the Incredible Benefits of Self-Love

There are a multitude of excellent reasons to extend compassion and love towards ourselves as well as others. In a nutshell, I've learned that everything we are trying to achieve becomes a whole lot easier and less stressful when we are kind towards ourselves, rather than harsh and critical.

Here are some benefits of self-love outlined in a lovely article on one of my favourite websites, Mind Body Green:

We let go of blame, shame, and anger. We invite ownership, creation, and power into our lives.

The more we look at ourselves with love, the more we practice love and acceptance toward others.

We allow ourselves to be human. We accept mistakes and failures, and we invite vulnerability into our lives.

We let go of competition and comparing ourselves to others.

We find courage to accept failure because we know that it is one step closer to growth, and our significance isn't dependent on what we produce.

#2: Extend Compassion Towards Yourself

I've written before about practising self-compassion and how to go about it. There's also an amazing book written on the topic I highly recommend you read. I will share a story with you about how I helped a client learn to extend compassion towards herself which you may find useful.

I was sitting with a lovely client who has a terrible habit of beating herself up emotionally. I'm guessing you can relate to this... I sure can! It appeared that she was trying to convince me (or herself?) that she was basically a "hopeless case" and not worthy of living a rich, juicy and fulfilling life because she had an eating disorder which has plagued her for the last ten years.

She would probably make a great lawyer, as she is incredibly adept at making a case. The only problem in my opinion is that her case is against HERSELF. And if anything is going to interfere with one's capacity to experience self-love, freedom, and living a fantastic life, I'd say, hands-down, it's when you beat yourself up emotionally, regularly and consistently. And let me tell you, this beautiful young woman is not the only one guilty of this.

Unfortunately, I sit with countless women, either face-to-face, on the phone, or via video-conferencing who tell me exactly why they don't deserve a crack at happiness. The reasons given could be one or all of the following:

-Any one or more of these conditions: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addictions, ADHD, etc.

-Past history of abuse

-A history of bad choices

-Not being where they are "supposed to be" at this point in their life

And more...

So as I sat listening to this woman berate herself mercilessly, something came to me. As she finished each reason for hating herself and not deserving a great life, I finished her sentence with, "And yet, I still love myself". At first, she looked really annoyed that I was interrupting her, but as I continued playfully ending her sentences, a smile broke out on her lips and she started to laugh. We laughed and enjoyed the fun dance we were doing together.

After a while, she stopped talking and looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "That is really helpful. I suppose if I can have all these problems and still love myself despite them, I wouldn't be so upset at myself all the time PLUS have all of these problems".

Very wise words indeed. Isn't it bad enough that we have these problems to begin with? Why do we have to add insult to injury by beating ourselves up emotionally as well? When are we going to give ourselves a break by saying to ourselves when we falter, "And yet, I still love myself"... Give it a try and see what happens.

#3: Change Your Self-Talk

For the final suggestion on how to love yourself more, I can't stress enough the importance of how you talk to yourself. In a previous article, I mentioned that research has found that we practise self-talk for FOUR HOURS every day, so be mindful of how you use those four hours! I would hazard a guess that the majority of us are incredibly cruel to ourselves during this big chunk of the day, during which time the harsh inner critic comes out and berates us constantly for not being _____ enough. This blank space is often one of a long list. Here are the most common ones I hear from clients:

Smart

Thin

Sexy

Funny

Rich

Charming

Pretty

Kind

Young

You can probably add one or two of your own variations to the list. However, I think it would be far more productive to start switching the negatives to positives when you catch yourself being mean to yourself.

For example, if you found yourself thinking this after a coffee date with a new girlfriend:

I blew it... I was so boring during coffee. She even yawned! She won't ask to get together again because I'm not exciting enough. She's so interesting and exciting and a great storyteller. Why would someone like that want to be friends with me?

In this example, this woman is being hard on herself and calling herself berating things such as "boring" and "not exciting enough". Not only that, but she causes herself further misery by comparing herself to her girlfriend, who, in her mind, is the complete opposite (implying that being "interesting, exciting and a great storyteller" is the better way to be).

At this juncture, I feel the need to point out that in these types of negative self-talk scenarios (what I refer to as "stinking thinking"), we are almost always WRONG if we summon up the courage to actually check it out with the other person at a later date. I encourage you to try this for yourself just to see how inaccurate and mean you really are to yourself. The good news is this:

MOST PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE FORGIVING AND KIND TOWARDS US THAN WE ARE TO OURSELVES.

This is especially true of our close friends and loved ones. And if it's not, I strongly urge you to reevaluate who you choose to spend time with on a regular basis. In all likelihood, the other woman in the example above was probably doing her own negative and self-critical analysis of the same coffee date. Here is what she might have thought after that meeting:

I blew it. I just talked about myself yet again and dominated the conversation and didn't give her space to talk about herself. I'm such a narcissist! Why can't I listen quietly like she does? She's so calming to be around. She must have thought I was a nutbar...

I have braved these 'check in' conversations with various friends and family members over the years to get a handle on how far off the mark I actually was in my interactions, and without getting into the embarrassing details, I will suffice it to say that I have a track record so far of being 100% wrong about my assumptions about how I came across as well as how others perceived me. In every single case, the other person was completely shocked at how I spoke to myself and the negative things I assumed they thought of me. Humbling indeed but great information which has helped me to practise being kinder to myself and more realistic in future interactions.

Here is an example of what the first woman could have said to herself when her harsh inner critic came out and blasted her for 'blowing it' with her new friend:

I really enjoyed spending time with her, even if I mostly listened. I love that she's an extrovert and I'm an introvert. We can teach each other so much. By listening closely, I learned about some exciting trips she has taken and it inspired me to take one or two myself.

The other woman could have helped herself feel better by saying this after she berated herself:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Fast-and-Easy-Ways-to-Increase-Self-Love&id=9691914

Manifestation Is What We Do Naturally

Manifestation is what we do naturally and it shows up in all facets of our lives if we realize it or not.

When you are inspired or not inspired, you created it. If you could look back at a record of all the things that you thought or felt on a subject you could probably identify what thoughts and feelings created the results that you are experiencing right now.

It is possible to start to do this more consciously and link these results to what you were thinking and feeling.

Start small and look at things that are in your life and think for a moment what thoughts and feelings you have had in that area. Interesting!

In the beginning it can seem a little vague as you start to put together the puzzle and remember thoughts and feelings that would make sense to have created that result, but you are unsure. As you practise this skill you become clearer and clearer as to the connections.

Often it is unconscious thoughts that control the creation of things but if you watch your thoughts and feelings you will normally notice their presence and content.

They may be following your positive thoughts or they may just be recurring limiting thoughts created a long time ago, either way just give them no notice for now and continue to think the thoughts and feelings of what you want.

When you think about the things that you want, do your best to feel good about those things, this lifts your vibration closer to achieving those things.

If you feel negative thoughts or feelings just realize what they are and bring your focus back to feeling good about what you want. Negative feelings have little power if you do not dwell on them or give energy to them

As your positive focus on what you want, power starts to build in that direction and energy starts to flow to create those things. This is a natural process.

So focus on what you want and feel good about it. This raises the vibration of your energy towards beautiful things.

If you start to feel bad just realize that your focus has shifted to some old pattern or thought and gently bring it back to what you would like to think about and feel.

Allow the energy to build until what you want is delivered. Be open for things that excite you as they may be the beginning steps of the delivery.

Be gentle with yourself in the beginning as it can take some time to build new habits and your thoughts may drift without noticing. Consistent self loving effort will bring great results and change your life

Enjoy your manifestations!

http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/social-issues/manifestation-is-what-we-do-naturally.html

Message From the Universe: Living Every Single Moment of Your Life!

"Maybe it's just me, but I kind of thought that to be alive in a world where every single moment of every single day birds fly, dolphins twirl, flowers bloom, snow falls, waves wave, rainbows rise, and antelopes... do whatever antelopes do, would forever silence doubters, inspire dreamers, and fill one's soul with absolute rapture.

Or am I being "punked"? 

The Universe"

Just take the time to look at what is going on around you and admire the complexity of creation. Have you ever wondered why Earth is being the third rock from the Sun? There are other planets out there that are carbon copy of Earth but yet, if Earth was position a quarter of a degree to the left or right, it could end up to be like all other inhabitable planets on our solar system. Why earth is the way it is? If you pay attention to the cosmic calendar, all planets experienced impacts from meteors and asteroids throughout their million of years of existence, but yet, Earth took all these cataclysmic impacts as something beneficial for our blue planet: It created life. Since we all started from the same point of singularity, we all have that same commonality, so we are all a part of this massive creation. We are all a part of the DNA of the Big Bang. Hence, our thoughts is also a part of this magical creation. We all can look at the world we see today and change its outcome base on how we perceive life around us. Why is there so much evil out there? Did our thoughts allow it to come into our mind and flourish from it?

You create your own dreams so might as well let them be as big as you possibly can. Do not be modest, as modest results will materialize. Put your energy in creative positive returns, as you will benefit from each of them. Do not fear your thoughts and dreams, as they will render very minimal results. Work on yourself and understand that you deserve the best. If others succeeded, you can as well. Stick around the people who know the secrets of success and duplicate it. I will tell you that not everything can be applied in the same exact way as opportunities presents itself differently, so the outcome will never be exactly the same. However, by understanding how it all works, you will create your own path to guarantee your happiness, no matter which one it may be. We all have our own definition of happiness, and it may even be different between siblings. Also, never compare your weakness with someone else's strength. Always focus on what good things you can bring to the table, and I can guarantee you great changes that will happen sooner than later.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Living-Every-Single-Moment-of-Your-Life!&id=9699687

Manifestation Is A Powerful Tool For Personal Growth

Manifestation is the result of your thoughts. Sounds simple if you are already a manifestation student but do you really believe it and live by it.

What we focus on expands, so what are you manifesting?

Why not stop and think about it, what you are manifesting right now.

How do you feel about what you are manifesting and do you feel like it is your creation?

You may have some doubts about this but you are already an expert at manifesting?

Just look at everything around you and all the experiences that you have been having.

If we can move forward from that belief that we are already creating the things that are in front of us, we can also think that it is possible to change what we are manifesting.

So if manifestation is a given, then how do we change what we are manifesting.

Focus on what you want: Focus on the feelings of what you want and feel positive about it, positive about having it, feel good in your body and emotions.

The opposite of this is to focus on not having it and that we should have it. This is an important point so think about this for awhile. Think back to the experiences that you have had and how you felt about those things before they were delivered. Think about things that came easy and things that were difficult. Use your own experiences to take this point to a deeper level deeper.

Start to take inspired action towards having what you want. Inspired action means to take action with awareness of how it makes us feel as we move towards having what we want.

Taking action with awareness allows us to know when we are coming across some limiting beliefs and to recognize the negative voice that tells us to stop or change direction.

The simplest method to follow when we hit a negative belief, it to just ignore it and replace it with a positive one. This may take some repetition but it is well worth it.

There are plenty of other techniques for belief change which can be used at a later stage. Starting the ball rolling is the most important thing at first.

Continue to take action with awareness and you will know when you making the decisions that will support what you want. If you get off track just laugh and get back on again.

Choose what resources you would like to help you and stay aware for their delivery.

Personal growth is a lot about knowing who we really are and using conscious manifestation is a great tool to learn a lot about ourselves. When you master conscious manifestation you will also realize at a deeper level that it was really you who created all those experiences.

Enjoy your manifestations!

http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/social-issues/manifestation-is-a-powerful-tool-for-personal-growth.html

The Secret to Transcending Limitations

As life pours itself out in the stream of passing time, and we run into challenges seemingly greater than our ability to answer -- each of these encounters "asks" this question of us: "Are you willing to change who you have been in order to realize a higher possibility of yourself?"

And though moments like these trouble us because of their uncertainty, here's why we should be very grateful for their continuing appearance in our lives: this unwanted experience of realizing our limitations is the only way life can ask us if we wish to go beyond them. So this unknown moment of not understanding (what is to be) is actually the beautiful seed of a new order of our being, providing we're willing to see it as such.

Unfortunately, most of us automatically resist the unknown. Whenever we can't understand the nature of some unwanted situation we fall, by default, into the hands of a nature whose answer to this ache is always the same: get negative and then try to protect ourselves from anything that can't be otherwise controlled. The rest takes place in us on automatic pilot: in the wink of an eye, we begin to see the "way out" of our situation: blame him, fix that, fight or flee.

But here's what we don't see: in that moment, our guiding light is a dark reaction dedicated, in one way or another, to avoiding what that moment came to give us. This false nature takes what was a celestially planned event -- for the purpose of our further spiritual perfection -- and turns it into a dead end.

Time and time again interior trials such as these return to help us see one thing: we can't get past them as long as we remain who and what we have been -- because who and what we have been is what we are meeting in these same moments! Another way of stating this same insight is startling: resisting what life shows us -- not wanting those moments wherein we're invited to see the truth about our present level of self -- ensures they will return again! This is the interior meaning of reincarnation: the re-creation of self through resistance to the negative effects of its own manifestations. It doesn't have to be this way. We are meant to rise above creation, not repeat our life through it in ever-descending cycles.

There's only one way for us to transcend the limitations of our present nature. First, we must see this one great fact: these limitations don't belong to us any more than the clumsy body of the caterpillar belongs to the butterfly liberated from its husk. Then, we must act on this new understanding by daring to let go of any part of us that wants us to embrace its limited view of life as our own.

True freedom is not an achievement; it is our awakened relationship and participation with the genesis of real life. We cannot create a life without limits by trying to overcome what we think stands in our way. Real limitless living is the fruit of this higher understanding: what is in our way is part of the Way. To know this is to know that all of creation has been made for you, just as surely as you have been made for everything that happens to you within it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Secret-to-Transcending-Limitations&id=9747834

Reflection And Ritual

Creations, both materialistic and metaphysical are beneficial provided, they are understood within its meaning and context. Human beings, who are superior to all creations, have adept and adaptability to probe and extract values. They are also equally capable of adopting to variation in their existence. The changing scenario from ancient civilization and culture to modernity and human values needed serious evaluation. It means; the cultural acts and deeds within the parameters of humanity and existentialism hold prime importance. Therefore, the need of the hour is to reflect and contemplate on the message which comes from eminence of excellence.

We also knew from time immemorial that our live revolves around ritual and practices linked to doctrines and faith. The rituals, which are part and parcel of our existence, are directly proportional to our contemplation. These rituals are introduced into our faith to create passion among the believers. These outbursts delivered by the religious scholars, celebrities and politicians are responsible for creating euphoria. At times, it leaves its impact profoundly, and sometimes it is superficial and momentary. The important aspect of these rituals and practices is that it stimulates human beings' feeling in absolute and peripheral dimensions. If we do not reflect on rituals and failed to extract values associated with it, then it amounts to faith in the vacuum.

The impact of empty spaces in our lives is the result of incomplete and superficial knowledge associated with our doctrine and faith. Since we do not comprehend the importance of values of doctrine and ritual practices hence we drift in wilderness. It becomes necessary to integrate all the fragmentations of factuality within and outside the domain of doctrine and faith. By all means, it is not an easy task. However, sincerity and maturity and unbiased approach will resolve the issues. The cardinal point is the rituals, and practices link between doctrine and faith, which need to be understood unequivocally.

The most imperative aspect is to understand the main issue, as to who delivered the message. At this juncture, people should evaluate the speaker's capability and knowledge. His spiritual intelligence, in combination with emotional maturity and humility speaks volumes of his intentions. What is being conspired and transpired between the mind and execution of thoughts of a speaker is of paramount importance. If the good sense prevails, then the deliverance of the message has its positive impact. Otherwise, it takes a sharp descent into the incoherent society and degenerates into their weak fabric of doctrine and faith.

At this crucial juncture, people of different repute and understanding raise many questions. Their mind, voluntarily or involuntarily oscillates between, why and why not, permissibility and prohibitory, etc. This is the decisive intersection to contemplate and extract values to achieve positive results. The realistic aspect of life revolves around attainment and failure within the doctrine and rituals. Therefore, it is necessary to apply our unbiased mind and comprehends the context so that our reflection coincides with truth and reality.

A cautionary approach is required when evaluating the essence of spoken words from pulpits. We often got carried away by the personality cult based on hearsay information. Here, ignorance and arrogance played a dominant role under the umbrella of propaganda. The hallmark of their pursuit is materialistic attachments, power, position and status. It is an established fact that deliverance of the message has its impact if power and status are clubbed in the authority of the messenger. Therefore, reflecting on rituals becomes obligatory to achieve realistic values of doctrine and faith.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Reflection-And-Ritual&id=9435643

Dreamers Solve More Problems

Some believe dreams are our imaginations at work, while others maintain that dreams are nothing more than a basic brain reflex, generated by the brainstem - whose function is to control sleep. Still others, like Deirdre Barrett - in her book, "The Committee of Sleep: How Artists, Scientists, and Athletes Use Dreams for Creative Problem-Solving - and How You Can, Too" - believe dreams can solve problems, and produce masterpieces of literature, art, music, scientific discoveries, and more.

Barrett, a Harvard psychologist, describes dreaming as your mind thinking in more of a heightened state than when you are fully conscious, and proposes the practice of "dream incubation" to use dreams to for problem solving and creation. People can dream solutions for any subject (according to the author), however they're most effective in instances where visualization is key to solving the problem, and also when thinking beyond conventional solutions is required to tackle the issue at hand. There are many in the psychological community who subscribe to Barrett's theory, with some variations on technique. Below are some steps you can take to use dreams to solve problems.

When you are relaxed in your bedroom before you slumber, consider your problem or desired outcome. Focus specifically on what the crux of your problem is. Either ask yourself a question, or make a request with your goal in mind.

Jot the question or request down. Be clear and simple so your brain can easily process it with no confusion. Then ponder this question or request for several minutes, and then set down the piece of paper in a journal on your nightstand (a dream journal), or place it under your pillow and go to sleep.

Relax, acknowledge, and trust that your subconscious mind will be able to take over while you are asleep and figure it out. This act gives your conscious mind permission to let go of the issue so it can "shut down" and get some rest.

When you wake up from a dream - no matter what time it is - write it down immediately in your dream journal. Use as many details as you can recall, as quickly as you can, to log the dream. Go back to sleep

Finally, don't get impatient. The answer may be immediate when you wake again, or it could take days, weeks or months for a solution to be revealed to your conscious mind.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dreamers-Solve-More-Problems&id=9458920

Nothing Happens in a Dream

We've all been there... stressing out over "What am I gonna do next in this impossible situation... why am I in the high school play, but completely buck naked?" Then we wake ourselves up with our tortuous tossing and turning and find out to our immense relief, "It was only a dream!" How many novels and movies have snapped us out of our drama angst by ending with the equally surprising and somewhat embarrassing end of the protagonist simply waking up and leaving the story behind? We feel a little foolish, because we fell for the story, let it take us on a somewhat insane ride through the dregs of the emotional landscape just to have to admit we were duped. "That's the last time I eat pizza at midnight" we promise ourselves, and try to forget all the energy we gave away to a fantasy.

Here's a thought experiment. What if, just like in the movie 'Inception', when we wake up from the sleeping dream we are, in fact just waking up into another 'dream layer', equally unreal, but equally convincing. How would we know we are dreaming, especially if we assume we must be awake? In the movie, the 'dream architects' were able to somewhat construct the nature of dreams within dreams, but the main 'takeaway' for me was the idea of multiple layers of dreams themselves.

A dream is a state of mind where your attention is fixed on a series of events which you seem to have little or no control over. No matter how bizarre or weird the contents of the dream appear, because our attention is glued to the experience, we rarely, if ever' stop to consider whether the experience itself is real. We run on assumptions, especially the one that tells us our senses are telling the truth.

According to my understanding of the non-dual dynamics of Creation, the Universe of separation is an ontological impossibility. We call it the 'expanding Universe' but it is in truth the 'escaping Universe' with each and every seeming separate aspect compelled to seek its own space where it can remain in the illusion that it even exists independent of everything else. Therefore, the best analogy for our experience of ourselves as a separate unique and distinct 'individual' is that of a dream. Notice how the term 'individual' tells a deeper story? Buried within this word is the reminder were 'indivisible' with reality, which is One with itself in all aspects. Yet we also see the word 'dual' which implies we have taken this indivisible self and, through the desire to experience 'something more than everything', have created an artificial state of duality. This explains the 'split mind' concept; how part of our mind does and must reside within the perfect Oneness of Creation, yet another part thinks it's somewhere else... in a Universe of seemingly separate forms. Ever wonder why the human brain is split into two sections? Psychoanalysis reminds us that everything in a dream is symbol of yourself.

So, tomorrow morning I suggest, if you are interested, upon awakening, remind yourself "I must be dreaming... and no matter how bizarre and weird my day is, I will remind myself I must be safe at home, while merely dreaming I am separate." The analogy of the experience this intention can offer is that of lucid dreaming. These are the dreams where it suddenly dawns on you that the weirdness of your dream doesn't in fact change you at all, and therefore, this experience can't be real and you MUST be dreaming. Once we understand that, the dream takes on a whole new tone while it lasts. You realize "Nothing really happens in a dream, so bring it on! I'm not really here at all, and my destiny is to wake up, laugh at the notion I could be anything other than what I truly am as part of yet one with a undefinable essence of Spirit, and get on with my life."

http://ezinearticles.com/?Nothing-Happens-in-a-Dream&id=9337512