January 16th, 2012
"Peace is not merely a distant
goal that we seek but a means
by which we arrive at that goal."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Filed under Inner Peace Quotes | Comment (0)
January 12th, 2012
Every thought we think creates a biochemical response in our bodies. These reactions vary from negligible to intense. Science has known this for some time. If we think about food, our saliva glands may be stimulated. When we think of the person that irritates us most, our bodies constrict and tense up. When we reflect upon our most fulfilling moments, endorphins are released in our bodies and we feel more relaxed and at peace. Every memory, whether positive or negative, elicits an internal physical response. When a sexual thought crosses our mind, well...you know what can happen biologically. But, I'll keep this article G-rated...you get the idea. With every thought, there is a bio-chemical response in our body.
The impact of the thought on our nervous systems ranges in intensity, according to the level of
"emotion" associated with the thought. For example, reflecting on the death of a love one, is likely to create a deeper emotional response than remembering to buy toothpaste or noticing you stepped on an ant. The more intense the emotion, the greater the impact the thought has on the physical body and the more likely we may become addicted to it.
Thoughts don't require an external stimulus to be elicited, which means we can indulge in any thought repeatedly - at any time we choose.
As human beings we experience and enjoy a
VARIETY of emotions on a daily basis, yet we also innately seek
FAMILIARITY...even if it's NOT positive. The emotions we experience consistently become a part of our comfort zones and our identities...as they are habitually conditioned into our lives.
Until we get conscious about them we remain victims to these patterns.
How CONSCIOUS are you in "choosing" your thoughts? How conscious are you of the emotional patterns that are running our lives? What thoughts and emotions are you addicted to? The quickest way to evaluate this for yourself is to take inventory by noticing the emotions you experience repeatedly throughout the week. These are the emotions your body has grown accustomed to experiencing...and unconsciously works to elicit.
Anger, stress, anxiety, fear, depression, sadness, overwhelm, frustration, guilt, and worry may be a few of the thought/emotional patterns to investigate more closely.
Behind every emotion is a thought or set of thoughts. This is how they continue to be conditioned. If stress is a common pattern in your life, you may have thoughts such as, "_______needs to be accomplished before I can relax." Or, "I have too much to do." Or, "I can't get it all done." If depression is something you experience, something as basic as, "I feel depressed" may be the thought feeding the emotion. We may have one or multiple thoughts feeding an addictive pattern.
You may also experience a variety of positive or empowering emotions also. Love, joy, happiness, peace, excitement, pleasure, playfulness and a sense of purpose are a few. Investigating the thoughts associated with empowering emotions is useful because
we can learn to strengthen and intensify these, which gives us more fulfillment, power, results and connection.
As we understand the nature of thought, and these unconscious addictions, we can begin to more CONSCIOUSLY strengthen thoughts that serve and empower us -- and reduce the impact of the thoughts and emotional patterns that are debilitating.
THE PAYOFF
One of the ways we can break addictions to thoughts and emotional patterns that don't serve us is to look at the "payoff".
We continue to overwork an emotional muscle because at some level we subconsciously believe that it serves us in some way. A "payoff" is a perceived benefit we receive when we engage the emotional pattern.
We may use ANGER because we notice that people pay attention to us more closely with this intense emotion, thus connecting with us and our ideas more. We may connect to DEPRESSION because it may prevent us from failing if we try...or maybe it allows us to connect to others who share a similar story. We may enjoy STRESS or ANXIETY because we believe it's what drives our motivation and we fear we'd be less productive if we eliminated it. We may be addicted to GUILT because that means we care. We may wallow in thoughts of ROMANCE because it gives us hope.
Unfortunately, the benefit we subconsciously believe we're receiving, is generally NOT really giving us the FULL BENEFIT we desire. For example, with ANGER...are people REALLY paying more attention? Are they connecting with us and our ideas in the manner we truly desire? When we're STRESSED and ANXIOUS are we really MORE productive or less productive? Is GUILT, the most effective way to demonstrate that we care? Does DEPRESSION keep us safe from failing, or do we experience a greater sense of failure in the state of depression. With virtually EVERY dis-empowering emotion there is a false payoff we subconsciously connect to, and that keeps us locked unconsciously in this addictive pattern.
However, if we slow down and question this logically, we'll quickly see that the payoff isn't really giving us what we're seeking. When we do this, the mind has a way of releasing its grip on that thought. Thus, creating room for a new emotional and thought pattern that can serve us better.
SOULFUL Challenge: Increase your AWARENESS around the most dominant thoughts that you experience throughout your week. Pay close attention to the emotional patterns that aren't empowering you. Identify the thoughts or set of thoughts that are driving the emotion. See if you can find the subconscious "payoff" or benefit that allows you to indulge in this pattern, and see if it's REALLY giving you what you desire. You may experience the pattern diminishing or vanishing completely.
Filed under Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Culprits, Inner Peace Practices, Inner Peace Strategies | Comment (1)
January 11th, 2012
When you were younger didn't you think you could accomplish anything, do anything and become anything you wanted? Shouldn't you still think that?
Copyright © Seminars On Demand
Watch Clay Buddha Story
If you like this video clip, I encourage you to
Share it with the world and join me on my mission to empower and inspire millions of people around the globe.
At the end of this video you'll see simple instructions on how you can help.
Together we can spread words of
Encouragement, Inspiration & Empowerment one video at a time... and wouldn't you agree our world could use a little more "Positivity" these days!
Together we can make a difference...
To Your Inner Peace,
Mary
Filed under Inner Peace Videos, inspirational movies | Comment (0)
January 10th, 2012
Nobody grows old by living a number of years.
People grow old when they desert their ideals.
Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up
enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
- Samuel Ullman
Image from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2026
Filed under Inner Peace Quotes | Comment (0)
January 5th, 2012
What? A 365 day goal? Yes. A 365 day goal is a year long commitment you make to yourself as a resolution with an ongoing commitment.
Every year we set a variety of goals. Some can be achieved in a week, month, or quarter. Some goals take several years to realize. There is another category of goals that can only be achieved through consistent daily (or nearly daily) action. Working out, flossing teeth, meditating or reading books are examples of worthy
"daily habits" or "daily rituals" or "365 day goals." The 365 day goal may also be something you decide to give up, much like many Catholics do during lent. Examples could be giving up swearing, alcohol, candy or a favorite unhealthy food. The result of your 365 day goal should deliver a positive effect in your life by its exclusion or inclusion -- and by your year-long commitment.
These 365 day type of goals are important for TWO reasons. First, we get the positive
"compounding effect" of a simple discipline repeated over the course of a year. Secondly, we get to experience
"discipline" for the sake of discipline. Cultivating will-power brings a sense of control and power, while it also tames the ego. Many spiritual practices encourage a simple discipline practice for this reason. It forces you to make deliberate and conscious choices throughout the year about that single discipline. And, the compounding effect delivers more value than otherwise random follow through. So, it's a double win.
This year, my 365 day goal is "no French fries." Yep. So far, so good, no fries for Mary. Now, I don't really eat fries THAT often (maybe 2-3x a month), but I do love them -- especially when they're good ones!! And, I know they aren't good for me. And, I'll be stepping into a wedding dress in a few months. And, I love making a 365 day goal. This one seemed like the perfect one for me this year.
Another year, I committed to giving up Diet Coke, because I was drinking about three to four a day. After the first two weeks, it was easy. Since then (1992), I've probably only less than a dozen sodas. Some goals become permanent, and others are just a one year commitment. Anything that I start to notice as a pattern in my life, that doesn't serve me, I like to nip because I don't like being controlled by something outside of me.
One year, Tony Robbins committed to working out EVERY day...and found himself on the exercise bike at 2am on some days. While he got in great shape that year...he also got the power of discipline. And, a great story to share.
You may also quantify your goal differently, to be more achievable, such as committing to working out four or five days a week (on average) for an entire year. The goal ought to stretch you, but still be doable. Here's a list of ideas to get your juices flowing. I'm sure you can add to this list. Don't feel that you must do ALL or ANY of these...the point is to commit to ONE for a whole year -- one that is perfect for YOU. Focusing on too many 365 day goals is counterproductive. Find something that resonates for you...and commit, really commit!! What would be the impact 365 days from now if you...?
- Meditate Daily (a true 365 day goal -- no exceptions)
- No Chocolate or Candy
- No TV (or 2 hours per week max...and really hold yourself to it)
- Average 5 workouts per week
- Floss Daily
- Say "I love you" to spouse or loved one
- No swearing
- Read 30 Books (I did that one year...and found myself reading 10 books in December!)
- No alcohol (one friend did this...and loved how he felt, so never started again)
- Save $_____per month (no matter what)
- Write down 25 Appreciations each day
- No French Fries or Fried Food
- No pasta
- No breads
- No Ice Cream
- Vitamins Daily
- Walk dog daily (somebody furry will love this one)
- Make bed daily
- Wash dishes daily
- No fast food
- Yoga or stretching daily
- An act of kindness daily (you can always visit Denny's a midnight to find people to be kind too)
- No complaining
- No gossiping
- Write in journal daily
- Express "appreciation" to spouse daily
- Hug at least one person daily
- No soda (I know some of you NEED to do this one)
- No coffee (replace with Green Tea)
- No cheese or no dairy
- No red meat
- Read 10 pages of a good book daily
- Writing daily (great for writers!)
- Calling a loved one daily
- Visualizing a goal daily
- Sending yourself unconditional love
- Purposefully feeling JOY daily
Have fun with this. I'm missing my French fries, but I have to admit I feel GREAT when I've "just said no." Feel free to share with me your commitment for the year, and maybe you'll inspire other readers by your 365 day goal.
Filed under Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Practices | Comment (1)
January 4th, 2012
Life works in strange ways. Joseph Epstein once said, "We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents, or the country of birth. We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death. But within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live."
Copyright © 2005 - 2012 Simple Truths, LLC
Watch The Dash
If you like this video clip, I encourage you to Share it with the world and join me on my mission to empower and inspire millions of people around the globe.
At the end of this video you’ll see simple instructions on how you can help.
Together we can spread words of Encouragement, Inspiration & Empowerment one video at a time... and wouldn't you agree our world could use a little more "Positivity" these days!
Together we can make a difference...
To Your Inner Peace,
Mary
Filed under Inner Peace Videos, inspirational movies | Comment (0)
January 2nd, 2012
No one can persuade another to change. Each
of us guards a gate of change that can only be
opened from the inside. We cannot open
the gate of another, either by argument
or by emotional appeal.
-Marilyn Ferguson
Image from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2112
Filed under Inner Peace Quotes | Comment (0)
December 30th, 2011
Sometime between now and the end of the year, set aside some interrupted time to journal your answers to the questions below. I personally like to curl up next to a warm fire, light candles and get comfy, allowing plenty of time to reflect upon the year coming to an end. Give yourself this gift this year. It's a powerful way to complete and acknowledge your year.
1. What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns? Let's acknowledge what these items are....this is an opportunity to let them go, carry them forward, or make a new promise.
2. Make a second list titled: Successes, Wins and Accomplishments. This is a chance to celebrate and own who you have become this year, and your achievements. Where did you step into your power and greatness? Please don't skimp on these. The little stuff counts. NO modesty allowed. Let's validate all your accomplishments. Look through your organizer to remind you.
3. What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained? True insights have the transformational capability of shifting us into a new, more alive place! As we are blessed with insights it is important to nurture and deepen these new understandings.
4. What are you grateful for? This list might include some of the above and anything else you truly appreciate about yourself or any other area of your life. There is a basic principle. Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.
(For this question... I like to be REALLY thorough, counting the big and little things I'm truly grateful for. That means don't limit to yourself to ONE page.)
5. How will you celebrate and honor your year 2011 accomplishments? What would be a fun, special thing to do for yourself?
Filed under Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Practices, Inner Peace Strategies | Comment (0)
December 21st, 2011
Sometimes we find inspiration in unexpected places. Author V.J. Smith dreamed of writing a book about one of our great leaders that changed the course of history and he filled his library with biographies of presidents and statesmen. He was looking to find the key to what made their lives great. He ended up finding the man that would answer his questions in a Wal-Mart store in South Dakota. Marty was a simple man who ran a cash register. He worked hard and was good to people. Can it be so simple?
Copyright © 2005 - 2011 Simple Truths, LLC
Watch The Richest Man in Town
If you like this video clip, I encourage you to
Share it with the world and join me on my mission to empower and inspire millions of people around the globe.
At the end of this video you’ll see simple instructions on how you can help.
Together we can spread words of
Encouragement, Inspiration & Empowerment one video at a time... and wouldn't you agree our world could use a little more "Positivity" these days!
Together we can make a difference...
To Your Inner Peace,
Mary
Filed under Inner Peace Videos, inspirational movies | Comment (0)
