How Should We Live: A New Approach

To answer the question "How should we live", we have first to answer another question: "What for do we live? Is there any purpose in our life?" That last question has obsessed the Man, as people who deal with such matters know, since he started to think. Even a kind of science has created for that purpose, Teleology, which started in ancient Greece around the era of Plato and Aristotle and reappeared in Europe in 18th century.

Despite the Man's efforts up to now, however, he has not succeeded to give any serious answer to the question whether there is any purpose in our life or not, and what for do we live. On the contrary, the conclusion that derives from what scientists and scholars say up to now is unfortunately one and disappointing: We do not know whether there is any purpose in our life. Maybe there is, maybe there is not.

We face after that a great question: How should we live since we do not know whether there is any purpose in our life? In this article we will see the most suitable answer according to my opinion. First, however, we have to take things from the beginning.

Is there any purpose in our life or not?

We start with teleology. (The word derives from Greek telos = end and logos = reason). According to the followers of teleology, to the question whether there is any purpose in our life, the answer is yes: The Man has some purpose in his life - he does not live aimlessly. That view supported not only by Aristotle (he is commonly considered the inventor of teleology, although the precise term originated in the eighteenth century), but also later by other philosophers, like Kant, Leibniz, Spinoza, and others. However, that view by the followers of teleology is not based on scientifically confirmed facts - it is simply a view. Maybe therefore, it is correct - maybe it is not.

The same view as the teleology is also supported by most religions of the world. They argue that God has given a certain purpose to Man - the Man does not live aimlessly here. But those religions base their position to the fact that there is God who has fixed everything and so also the Man's purpose. Is there God, however? Of course, we cannot give any scientifically confirmed answer to that question.

There is a strong view that supports that there is not God. Socrates was one of the most known atheists in ancient Greece, while even Aristotle can be considered as an atheist. The same era, the idea of atheism appeared also in the East with the arise of Buddism and Induism in India and China. Later, atheism appeared also in Europe, around the 19th century. Most known atheists in Europe that era were Karl Marx, Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche. In the 20th century most known atheist was English philosopher Bertrand Russell.

The idea of atheism is also supported today by many educated scientists, like those who explore the Universe or send missiles to space. Those people say that all is random - there is not any Creator who has made things. The Universe, the stars, the Man, all have been made accidentally, they all are self-created. Most known is Stephen Hawking, one of the world's great theoretical physicists. He raised the prospect of a self-creating universe. Also, Nobel laureate physicist Steven Weinberg, one of the great scientists of our time, says: "Science's greatest cultural achievement is to eradicate religion."

But also the view of atheism cannot be absolutely correct, of course. If there is God, maybe some day the Man - with the unbelievable evolution he shows - will be able to see him and he will be convinced. If there is not God, however, the Man - even he continues his unbelievable evolution - will never see of course, the God, because God will not exist. The Man will continue so wondering forever: is there God or not?

The conclusion is therefore, that the religions cannot convince that there is in any case some purpose in our life. Also however, atheism cannot convince that there is not some such purpose. The final conclusion is therefore, that we cannot reject entirely the possibility of the existence of some purpose. Maybe there is a purpose.

If there is any purpose we have to wonder: which that purpose can be?

Thousands of answers have been given up to now to that question. Others are from naïve to very simplistic and others are from serious to deeply thoughtful. All however, have the same disadvantage - the purpose they say our life has does not seem to be the final purpose, but seems to be a means to another end (which?).

For example, Aristotle says that the Man's purpose in life is eudaimonia. The word can be translated as "happiness" but it really means "a process of living virtuously." Of course, however, eudaimonia as a goal of life cannot be considered an end in itself but rather a means to another end - which? The same happens with all other answers given. Spinoza, for example, holds the view of teleology closest to that of Aristotle. Kant on the other hand, argues that reason demands that we be moral - it is our duty to act according to morality rather than our self-interested inclinations and passions.

Also however, what the religions say for our purpose in life is not the final purpose. For example, Christian religion says that the Man has as his purpose, among other things, the duty to multiply himself, to grow in number - but for which final purpose? Also, other religions transfer the Man's purpose somewhere after death. But is there life after death? Is there soul? Is there immortality of soul? We do not know anything.

What therefore, religions say about our purpose in life cannot be considered as certain. But as we have seen, also what the teleology's followers say cannot be considered as certain, too.

How should we live?

The conclusion that derives, therefore, is that we cannot know today whether there is any purpose in our life and which that purpose is. Maybe there is a purpose, maybe there is not. But then a question appears: how should we live since we do not know whether is there any purpose in our life?

If there is not any purpose because all is random and self-created as many believe today, those people would say that we have to live with cynicism and apathy, or even with malice and hate, as many do today. But it is not so. The Man is an unimaginably admirable and complicated entity. His whole organism, his mind, his heart, all his body organs are unimaginably complicated, and all cooperate with each other with incredible accuracy and harmony.

The same is true for all beings on earth, animate and inanimate: animals, trees, and plants. All are admirable creatures with complicated organisms, and all work with incredible accuracy and harmony. Also the same is true for the whole universe, the planets, the stars, and the galaxies. All these are terribly complicated structures, which cooperate with each other with ultimate accuracy.

How should we live, therefore, in view of that reality? The answer is simple: Has not any meaning whether the Man and all other beings and the universe are self-created and random, as many people believe today, or they created by a Supreme Being (God). That which has meaning is that all are incredibly admirable creatures.

The conclusion is, therefore, that we have to live with great respect and awe toward that admirable being the Man - as well as toward all other beings, our earth, and the whole universe. We have to take care of the Man's welfare and of his continuation on our earth, so that the valuable creature the Man will not is destroyed but he will continue being miraculous and evolve even more.

Maybe for example, the Man will evolve so much so that he will conquer some day the whole universe and will govern it. We have, therefore, to help the Man to evolve - not only on his technological progress but also on his intellectual evolution. Wars, of course, crimes, and hostilities it is obvious, do not pair with such a position.

Whether we believe, therefore, that there is God who has given a certain purpose in our life (as each one of us thinks this purpose is), or we believe that there is not God but all are random and so there is not any purpose in our life, the answer to the question "how should we live" is in any case the same - the above.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-Should-We-Live:-A-New-Approach&id=10050386

Ain't Nothing Time Doesn't Touch

Timeless literally means eternal, ageless, endless, and even undying; it is a vast description of existence. Is anything really timeless? We like to believe it is yet entire civilizations have disappeared leaving only the remnants of traditions once thought to be all enduring. Their existence, who they used to be, is uncovered and analyzed in archaeological discoveries. Someone's timeless suddenly reappears and a new world gazes and wonders what it all meant. Time touches everything leaving history to write the final analysis of what used to. Life is like that.

Every religion has a base belief system, hoping it will endure the test of time. It is human to imagine that all the things we know are enough, that time will never uncover anything that will alter what we imagine to be absolute truth. Almost every religion embraces the idea of a Creator in some form, even if by different names. Perhaps this belief will always be timeless. This is the story of what happens when time passes; we see differently because of what and how far we can see. When we discover archives of what most religions understood to be the know all and end of what they would become we are startled by what they believed. Have they changed or has the passage of time provided a wider lens through which we view the world?

If you imagine none of this touches your life take a quick trip back to old familiar places you knew when you were a child. Remember how big all of this looked through the eyes of a child? See how narrow the streets now appear, how small the homes seem to be? Yet they are the same. The essentials may be the same but time passed, trees and bushes grew up and out. New streets are wider, homes are larger and you are older and wiser. You have seen more; the ability to see beyond this familiar street has expanded to the Internet where you can see the world with a few clicks. Time has passed.

Look at pictures of the people you grew up with. Do they seem much older than you now? Do you notice things you never did before? When we look through the prism of time we rarely see the changes time has wrought in ourselves. We may notice slight differences but mostly we see ourselves as we remember and not so much as others may see us. Just like the streets that did not change, things changed around us and within us. Skin is less elastic, eye lids droop and we develop chins below the one we remember. Some take drastic action to 'correct' the changes while others may wish time had been kinder. Regardless, time passed and took its toll. Most people might wish they could recover some of what used to be but retain the wisdom they have gained, the lessons they have learned. These are the remnants of time passing.

How many times have you changed your mind, altered a position or accepted what you once thought was unacceptable? Once people who were perceived as 'witches' were burned alive in Salem, Massachusetts; the world accepted this. Time passed, we learned more and accepted things we did not understand before. Through the passage of time we gained greater knowledge and acquired the ability to research and develop new ideas. This is the gift of time passing. Like the tide that sweeps out and returns, time passes sweeping away what was and returning with something new leaving us free to change our mind or see something differently.

Time will continue to pass, ideas will continue to evolve and people will always change. This is why memories are so precious to us; it is how we embrace the best of time that has passed. It is one of the best traits humans share, these memories, because truly there ain't nothing time doesn't touch.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Aint-Nothing-Time-Doesnt-Touch&id=9934327

Through a Simple Twist of Faith, Part One (By Randi G Fine)

Part one of a three-part article written by Randi G. Fine

I was born into a highly observant Jewish family. My mother's father, a Lithuanian immigrant, was a pious man. He was a cantor by trade-an ordained Jewish clergy with a magnificent voice who joined the rabbi lin leading his congregation in Hebrew prayer. Whether in the synagogue or at home, my grandfather sung prayers to the God he believed in and loved, all day long. He never failed to express his gratitude for even the simplest blessings. His faith was unshakeable.

Having grown up in an environment suffused with religion, it naturally coursed through my mother's veins. Judaism was a huge part of her identity. Though Jewish, my father was not raised the same way but he happily embraced my mother's way of life. Together they shared the traditions my mother was brought up with. It was only natural that they would bring up their children that way.

I was born the youngest of three children, thirteen years after Nazi, Germany surrendered and the last of the holocaust camps were liberated. The horrific memories of senselessly losing six million of their people was still fresh in the minds of the Jewish people, many who were still mourning the tragic losses of their loved ones and friends. My family was very fortunate; we were not directly impacted by the losses, though as a community the Jewish people bonded together tighter than ever in support and for protection. They were very fearful of having outsiders infiltrate their community.

The message my siblings and I regularly received from our parents was, "Stick with your own kind. The rest of the world is out to get you." They hoped to insulate us against the hate they believed would be directed at us from non-Jews. That was understandable in a way, but unlike my parents who were raised largely in a white, Jewish "ghetto," our modern day community was integrated-multicultural and multi-racial.

As a family we went to synagogue every Sabbath and on all the holidays. We kept a kosher home, complied with all the rules and regulations dictated by modern "Conservative" Jewish law, and followed all the traditions the way we were supposed to. My siblings and I were sent to Hebrew school two evenings a week and every Sunday morning for six years. I hated every minute of sitting through those classes but was well-schooled in the rituals and prayers.

Whenever I questioned my teachers or my parents about the whys of what I was being told to do, the answer was often, "That's just the way you are supposed to do it-'why' does not matter." That answer may have well sufficed for others but it did not satisfy my inquisitive nature. I have never been one to comply just because I was supposed to. Arm me with logic and I am likely to follow along. Deprive me of logic and you will have a rebel on your hands. I came to resent the religion I felt was being forcefully integrated into my life.

As a young adult living on my own, no longer forced to perform the rituals that supposedly made me a good Jew, I became cynical about my religion. I never stopped loving the beautiful traditions of Judaism, the warmth of holidays spent with family, and the comfort of being with those who shared my roots. But I felt no need to go through motions that I had come to realize were meaningless to me. For years I had sat in the temple constantly shifting in my chair and yawning, anticipating the end of the service by counting the remaining pages of the prayer book. There was no longer any reason to sit through religious services that did not edify me-services that were conducted in a language I did not understand anyway.

I never believed, as many do, that I had to go to a house of worship to feel a spiritual connection-that all the benefits of religion could be absorbed by just being in synagogue and saying prayers I had memorized but did not understand. None of that made sense to my logical mind.

I did understand why Jewish people stuck together the way they did. Throughout history they were taught the importance of perpetuating their religion. This need was especially accentuated after having lost so many of their people to the Nazi death camps.

For many years I did not believe in the concept of faith. Still I wondered who the God my grandfather loved and revered in heart and soul was.

I never anticipated how essential faith would be ultimately be to my survival and the form in which it would take.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Through-a-Simple-Twist-of-Faith,-Part-One&id=9992226

Anger Management Through a Spiritual Experience (By Norma Holt)

Anger is an emotional response to hormones that are raised by situations and frustrations. It is most prominent in people with incapacity to think outside of the square and who respond violently to almost anything they can't handle. The trigger is usually something small that is blown up in their minds to a major problem. Name calling, for instance, can lead to murder and ridicule and bullying to a mental health problem in the victims.

Anger is not, therefore, a condition of the brain but an emotional response linked to other emotions, such as crying, violence, and withdrawal of an individual from society. When it subsides there is often embarrassment and sometimes regret on the part of the perpetrator while victims are left traumatised and possibly also angry.

History shows that anger on the part of governments have led to wars and the death of millions. Religious leaders have expressed their anger in the torture and execution of those not of their 'faith', while many have suffered extreme violence at the hands of their bishops or others claiming to work for God.

Behind it all is ignorance and disconnect with the spiritual guide within. This is something we are born with but it is quickly severed by claims that it is 'original sin' and must be overcome by admission to a religion. Baptism serves that purpose. The tools of persuasion are heaven and hell.

My reincarnation proves that neither place exists and that we have all reincarnated as promised for the end of the day. That time is fast approaching and all who have lived before are back as noted in prophecies in the Old Testament (Isaiah 26:19) and in the massive spike in population. That means that all who dictators, murderers, and such are back and they are once more doing their worst.

My link to the Spirit of the Universe, the real God, led to a commission to tear down the wall of blindness and confusion and bring in the harvest. That includes all who are now pouring out of religions and finding like company in spiritual groups. They have no anger but love and gratitude while those not part of this outpouring grow ever angrier. They are committing acts of terror and violence against anyone and everyone they can target and are ready to kill off the world.

No one can stop what is happening because God is angry. The evil of this world springs from lies that built up the wall so a thick fog hangs over it like black goo that is impenetrable. Now comes the retribution as stated in prophecy:

"Everyone that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined with them shall fall by the sword. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished." Isaiah 13;15,16

People who find their link and turn with all their hearts to the Spirit are led away from the danger and the anger they felt subsides. They focus on the connection and they experience healing miracles and peace beyond understanding. This is the spiritual experience that provides a better way to manage anger.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Anger-Management-Through-a-Spiritual-Experience&id=9373059

If You Want To Live Without Fear, Trust That Every Outcome In Life Is Perfect

Life Is A Process, Not An Event

I don't know a single person who doesn't have any fears, do you? Knowing this, it begs asking: What are your predominant fears? Are you aware of them? In order to live without fear, we must trust whatever outcome arises in life is perfectly orchestrated for our highest good. I'm reminded of a delightful tale by the late spiritual teacher and psychotherapist Anthony de Mello who explains that while fear protects us, it also keeps us trapped and insecure: "How shall I rid myself of fear?" "How can you rid yourself of what you cling to?" "You mean I actually cling to my fears? I disagree." "Consider what your fear protects you from and you will agree! And you will see your folly."

Most people's fears relate to: financial matters, safety and security, relationships or career. It is natural to entertain these fears, though when they impose on our way of life, we are at the mercy of succumbing to them. This is when we stop living because we are being dictated by our fears. Allow me to explain what I mean, since it may be misunderstood. Everything that happens to us has a larger purpose in our life. I am not invoking God, nor religion but suggesting a greater plan is in order which may not be apparent at the time of the event. If we look back on our life, we would notice that every event comes together to create the rich tapestry of our life's narrative. Because life is being experienced by us, it may feel as though our challenges are permanent. However, we're not seeing the entire picture unfold because we're absorbed in the drama and miss the opportunity to see how it can lead to something greater.

Are you comfortable with this so far? I hope so, because it's worth acknowledging that life is a process, not an event. Now, sometimes horrific accidents occur where people lose loved ones and we might ask how this is a perfect outcome. That is, how is the loss of someone to illness, especially a young child considered a perfect outcome? These are reasonable questions that have plagued mankind for centuries. I don't know why these events occur and why some people survive and others don't. This dilemma has perplexed philosophers for ages and it's widely debated whether there's an all-powerful and all seeing source presiding over our lives. For now, let's consider outcomes not as catastrophic, such as being passed over for a job promotion or your beloved no longer wanting to marry you. In these instances, there may be more that develops to unravel the story. Namely, something good can arise out of a seemingly undesirable situation if we are attentive and not consider the worst scenario.

I've witnessed this in my life and those I've coached over the years. Unfortunate or unforeseen events may turn out to be a wonderful blessing if we are patient and wait for the picture to unravel. For example, I recall working with a client whose fiancée decided to call off their wedding at the last minute after dating for years. The experience was heartbreaking since he never expected it, especially from his betrothed. After he recovered from the tragedy, he moved abroad for work where he enjoyed a wonderful time in his new surroundings. He met a beautiful woman and dated for a while before proposing to her and married soon after. He later mentioned to me that his previous breakup turned out to be the best thing to happen because it forced him to move to a foreign country and meet what he described as the love of his life. Had he been caught up in a destructive pattern of self-pity, he would have never taken the chance and met his wife.

How about you, have you had similar experiences in your own life? Whilst it may not be relationship related, think about those experiences where it seemed hopeless, yet as time passed, it turned out to be the best thing to happen. To live without fear we ought to trust that every outcome serves a greater purpose in our life. Sometimes the answer may not come immediately because it involves going on a journey to discover it. It is why I am drawn to the message by the Toltec author Don Miguel Ruiz who writes in The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You how our irrational fears have a way of shaping our reality if we succumb to them: "Fear has had a big effect on the way we learned to view the world. Physical fear is natural and essential to our survival, but it's important to remember that irrational fear is not. It is irrational to be afraid of what doesn't exist. In fact, it can cause actual harm. And yet we've learned to let irrational fear shape our reality. We've learned to react emotionally in ways that other people do and to fear what we only imagine."

Whilst it is difficult to silence our fears, we can do the next best thing as author Susan Jeffers explains in her popular book: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. Embrace our fears and take action knowing whatever outcome transpires, it is perfectly arranged for our greater good. We acknowledge whatever unfolds, we will be okay because we have survived every experience up till now. Perhaps life isn't so much about abandoning our fears but learning to embrace them in order to live boldly. It is like living with anxiety: one never completely overcomes it but learns to turn down the volume. So, if we consider what our fears are protecting us from, as Anthony de Mello's tale suggests, we realise our thoughts are the cause of our problems, not the events themselves. And this is within our power to revoke.

https://ezinearticles.com/?If-You-Want-To-Live-Without-Fear,-Trust-That-Every-Outcome-In-Life-Is-Perfect&id=10012604

Get What You Want By Altering Your Thoughts

It is an interesting twist on reality. Some believe that you create your world with the things you think and believe. That you can bring wealth by believing you are a wealthy person. That you can get your dream house by believing you already possess it. I am here to tell you that it is true. But how is that possible?

Some would say that the universe bends to your thoughts. I am a little more pragmatic than that. I believe magic exists in reality. Not that magic is real, but sometimes reality can look magical, and sometimes it can be interpreted as magic. Or perhaps as the universe giving you what you really want.

I do not see this as religion. I just believe that your thought life can have a real impact on your real life. That the things you think show up on your face. That the way you deal with problems is impacted by the negative outcomes you think about. Having a positive attitude in your thoughts shows outwardly to other people, and makes you more attractive. People help people they like more than people they do not. It could just be little things like making an introduction, or it could be bigger things like offering you your dream job.

We have established that thoughts can affect your world, or your outcomes, so how do you purposefully put this idea into action? Here are a few steps you can take:

Figure out what you really want

If you do not know what you want, how do you know when you get it? Decide what you want and put it on paper. I expect this will be several things, like your dream home (be specific), a newer car, home furniture, cash (what balance would you like?), a successful business, etc.

Keep your list positive

If your list includes "pay off debt", debt is what you will get. Perhaps "large bank balance" would be a better idea, you could choose to pay off your debt with the cash in your bank.

Make sure you are specific enough

Read your list and make sure that you have been specific enough with each. If you want a new car, what make and model? What year? What color? What options? Create as much detail as possible for each item on your list.

Create a dream board to post pictures of what you want

Put a bulletin board on your wall where you can see it every day. For each item on your list, post a picture on your dream board. Make sure to look at it daily.

Envision already having the items on your list

Meditate a little every day on the items on your list. Can you see them? Feel them? Enjoy them?

Thank God or the universe for the items on your list daily

Part of "already having" your list is being thankful for them. Be thankful for the blessing!

Expect that you will receive the items on your list

Be in positive expectation mode always. You will receive the items on your list! There is nothing you need to do to receive them.

I have a final thought for you. What if this works? If this works consistently, would money be necessary? For example, money is a means to buy things or pay the bills, so if you can skip the money step, why not? Think about it.

Have you ever used this idea?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-What-You-Want-By-Altering-Your-Thoughts&id=9662142

What Is The Law of Attraction?

In recent years a lot of people have been talking about attraction. You may have heard about it through movies, and articles in psychology magazines. The notion that you can pull things from the universe and manifest them into your life is something that millions of people are now finding to be absolutely true. However, it's not without a few skeptics. If you have never heard about the law of attraction, then you are going to want to consider a few of the finer points that comes with it. It's a concept law that has found a lot of popularity, mainly because it offers great results, through pushing the mental capacity that everyone already has.

The Basic Definition

When you look at what this is, you're going to find that many propose it in a simplified manner. The simplistic element found here is, "like attracts like". That's it. When you understand that, you will start to break down the main points and actually see that it's a matter of belief. The belief is that you can make your thoughts become energy, and what that energy is pure, it can attract the energy from other things in the world. Done right, that means that you can bring about money, success, love, and much more.

This all started in the 19th century, with focus on the past, and the future being worked on by Phineas Quimby. His writings seemed to connect the notion of prosperity with positive thinking, and optimistic world views. This has since been changed and focused on through various books, including many that have been published in the 20th century. The main idea is the same, however, that if you send out energy into the world, you can get it back within the confines of specific material and intangible upgrades.

Philosophy To Religion

People take this notion and run with it in many different arenas. One of them is in religious circles. Certain religious people have taken this on as a blessing from god or the gods that they serve. The point is that the effects from following the law of attraction, as it were, can bring about changes in health, financial wellbeing, relationship status, ambitions and much more. There are several books written within the confines of these categories, defining what the bigger issues are in everyday life.

Does It Really Work?

There are two sides to every implication of health, wellness, and financial stability. The question of whether or not this works is no doubt fascinating. Some will immediately say that it does work, and others will say that it doesn't. For those that have seen changes, you cannot convince them otherwise. But for those that haven't seen any positive effects, they'll no doubt continue to trump the notion that this is not something that works at all. Which is honestly the correct answer? Well, there is no 100% thing in life when it comes to self-improvement. The same question can be asked about eating right and exercising. While it should work for everyone, there are some that see no results. Think about that as it pertains to the law of attraction.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-Law-of-Attraction?&id=9404909

5 Things You Didn't Know About Anger

What color fuels our anger, why we get angry at God, and more

Anger is a constant companion in our lives—and it influences your behavior in ways you probably never imagined.

Here are just 5 examples, all drawn from recent research:

1. People Really Do Associate Anger with the Color Red

According to a 2013 study published in Emotion (Young et al., 2013), “seeing red” isn’t just an expression. The color red really does influence whether or not we perceive anger in a particular situation. In the study, the authors found that participants were more likely to perceive anger in faces if there was a red background behind them—and that this effect did not manifest with regard to other negative emotions, like fear.

2. Feelings of Entitlement Explain Anger at God

We’ve long known that people can get angry at God but a 2013 study in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (Grubbs, Exline, & Campbell, 2013) tells us who is most likely to do so. The authors found that anger at God was predicted by psychological entitlement—the belief that one deserves more than others. The authors argue that those feelings of deservingness lead to more intense perceptions of having been wronged when individuals don’t get what they want.

3. Anger Influences How We Consume Political Information

A 2012 study in the Journal of Politics (Ryan, 2012) found that people using Facebook were more than twice as likely to click on a political advertisement designed to evoke anger than one with a more neutral message. In other words, when it comes to politics, people actively seek out things that make them mad.

4. Angry People See Guns Where There Are None

In a 2010 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology study on mood and gun identification (Baumann & DeSteno, 2010), angry participants were more likely to misidentify a neutral object as a gun. The researchers induced various moods and asked participants to quickly identify whether or not an object was a gun. They found that participants who were angry perceived the situation incorrectly by assuming a pictured person had a weapon when he or she did not.

5. Anger Can Make Us More Productive and Creative

Finally, a 2010 study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (Van Kleef, 2010) found that someone becoming angry with you will motivate you to work harder and in more creative ways. The authors found that people would respond to another person’s anger in one of two ways: Becoming angry themselves, and using that angry information to improve their performance. The key, though, is the individual’s “epistemic motivation” (his or her motivation to reflect on the world in a deep and intense way). Those with epistemic motivation were more likely to improve their performance after experiencing someone else's anger.

www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-the-rage/201504/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-anger

A Big Dose of Action

I hope you're doing well. I truly do. This means you have taken some deliberate steps, clear or not so clear action, that has led you to doing well today. You'll know, if you've read some of my other articles, that I'm a firm believer in paying close attention to your thoughts. Thoughts can regulate emotion which can change the chemistry of your body. Thoughts are what must come before anything else. When you realize without thought we wouldn't have air-planes, cellphones, computers, priceless artwork or awe-inspiring architecture, I think you'll quickly understand what I mean. If you start considering the ability thought has for manifesting real items from the proverbial ether, it can become a little overwhelming. You start heading down a philosophical rabbit hole with questions similar to that of the chicken and the egg.

And yet, for as powerful as your thoughts are, they are nothing without action. This brings me to the title of today's article, A Big Dose of Action. You see, while you may wish upon things, it takes some kind of action to turn wishes into reality. The same is true of people that believe their destiny will lead them in the right direction or, dare I say, that it's their god's will. I have known a great many people that placed too much belief in these things only to be let down (tested is the popular phrasing used). Make no mistake - their beliefs, wishes, and prayers are still powerful. However, and quite interestingly, it's as if they have a built in mechanism for failure. 'Just believe', 'have faith', 'it's destiny', 'it's god's will', are all disillusioned mantras. Well meaning, but disillusioned.

First, sayings like these take power away from the individual. These ideas will have someone meditate on a thought, then go about their life with the thread of a hope that some divine force will read, what is essentially, a cosmic text message, and respond. People are being told to think and then do nothing more. Let the universe or supreme being handle things from here. Then, if they don't receive a response, more onus is placed upon the shoulders of said individual. They didn't pray enough, didn't believe, didn't have faith. More praying, believing, or faith is needed.

Second, sayings like these teach people to rely on something that will let them down time-after time (because they haven't figured out how to take action for themselves) and then are told to treat it as the cost of doing business. Well, if you owned a company and had an employee that let you down over and over, would you continue to employ them hoping that one day they'll come through for you? I hope your answer is a resounding no. My point, and the argument that I'm making, is that more action is required. Remember,thought is nothing without action.

The airplane didn't build itself once it was conceived.

I want to make it clear that I'm not attacking religion or anyone's beliefs. What I am attacking is the idea that once we've put the thoughts out into the universe, we should just sit back, relax and reap rewards. WAKE UP!

Help yourself!

We all need some help to get where we're going. Especially if you're trying to build something for yourself and your family. We need help to build our brand or our business. We need help to travel the world, read all the classics, or write one. In practically all aspects of our lives, we rely on others, in one fashion or another, to help us. However, what I've been seeing too often is that we're also starting to foster a dangerous idea among younger generations. The idea that you don't need to be responsible for your actions. The idea that you can rely on the government, or someone to take pity on you, or all of those disillusioned ideas because you didn't want to do something as basic as helping yourself. Take Action!

Don't continue sitting there wishing something would happen for you. Make it happen!

Focus your thoughts like a laser beam, see exactly what it is you're after, and attack it without mercy.

I'm always astounded by the amount of content floating around about the difference between 'regular' people and the wealthiest 1% of the world. I can tell you , because it's no secret, one of the biggest differences is that the wealthiest 1% didn't sit around making excuses. They didn't wish and pray upon it in hopes that a giant building full of money with their name on it would fall out of the sky. They took action!

They risked a lot and when they got knocked down (and they all did!) they didn't blame others and give up. They saw opportunities to learn and adjust and they grew even bigger.

Guess what?

It all started with a thought. A thought of what they wanted to become, what they wanted to build, how they wanted to help change the world. Then, with their laser like focus, they attacked it without mercy. And when they met with failure, they looked it in the eyes, shook its hand and thanked it for the chance to learn because in their mind, they were not going to fail. They never saw this as a possibility. Why do you think so many of them have little to no empathy for the poor and struggling? Because they know you could do what they've done if you tried. If you stop making excuses. Stop waiting. Just Act!

If you're entertaining the idea of starting your own company, do it. Don't wish upon it. Don't say the time isn't right. Stop making excuses. If you limit and eventually eliminate those negative thoughts from your pattern of thinking, you stop relying on a belief outside of yourself that only serves to make you feel weak and powerless, and you start taking action, you will have success.

That building full of money with your name on it will be built with your hands.

To your continued growth

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/a-big-dose-of-action