What Program is on Your Inner TV?
What's playing on your inner TV? Your inner TV is the screen in your mind upon which you create various scenarios. Perhaps the channel is "Reliving the Past." Maybe it's "Controlling the Future." Is your channel on "Obsessive Thinking" where you are ruminating over and over about a situation or about how you want to handle something?
Our mind tends to go on and on making up stuff, as if what it is thinking is always the truth. However, the mind has been deeply programmed since childhood to think and believe in ways that often have nothing to do with truth.
Truth is that which comes from the source of truth, which is Spirit. We are able to access truth when we are present in this very moment with a deep desire to learn about truth and love. When we are present to this moment - to our inner experience and our surroundings - we are present with Spirit,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Sand Boots, so Spirit is able to communicate with us. When our deepest desire is to be present with the truth, love and reality of this moment, we stop our obsessive or programmed thinking, which is always a way to control. When we are present in this moment, we have surrendered to Spirit. We have let go of control and are in faith that we are being guided and supported in our highest good. We don't need to put our limited mind in charge because we know that we will receive whatever messages we need from our Guidance. Our inner TV is OFF!
So,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff, is your inner TV on or off? How often is your inner TV on the "Control" channel,She sure was excited about her message."?
For example, let's say that you know that you need to speak with your boss about a problem you are having with another employee. You probably spend some time thinking about what you're going to say. If you're on the control channel, then your wounded self has possession of the remote control of your inner TV. On this channel you are thinking about how to make your point, how to be heard and understood, how to win, how to be right, how to convince, and so on. You might be preparing your defense should your boss disagree. Perhaps you rehearse this over and over, rerunning the video you have recorded. You want to make sure you get it right.
If your loving Adult is in charge of the remote control, then your inner TV is off,And she was struggling to live…to survive…and the more she struggled. Your mind is not coming up with a pre-recorded video. Instead, you are opening to learning about what is in your highest good in this particular situation and asking Spirit for guidance. Is it best to just present the situation and ask for help or feedback with an intent to learn? Is it best to state the situation and state what you plan on doing to take care of yourself? Is it best to try to work it out with the other employee and not go to your boss at all,UGG 3166? When your Adult is in charge, you are relying on Spirit rather than on your own mind to determine the action that is in your highest good.
If you do speak with your boss or with the other employee, who is in charge? Does your wounded self take over out of fear, or are you loving yourself enough to show up as a loving Adult connected with your Guidance,"When I want to climb the elm tree?
Some of us find ourselves connecting with our Guidance just fine when we are meditating, dialoguing, creating, working with others in a supportive capacity. It's very easy for me to stay connected with Guidance when I'm working with clients or conducting an intensive. I couldn't work any other way because my mind doesn't know the answers regarding how to help others, but Spirit does,UGG 1875. Spirit comes through the moment my intent is to be helpful. The challenge comes in when it's just about taking care of myself with myself and within my personal relationships. That's when my wounded self wants to grab the remote control. She thinks she can figure things out to control the outcome with people and events. She thinks she's so smart, and she wants to create scenarios in order to control. I find I need to be vigilant in terms of who is in charge of the remote control. The minute my wounded self grabs it and clicks on the control channel, my joy is gone. The moment I surrender and allow Spirit to guide me, my inner TV is off and my joy is back. To me, that's a great motivator, since I love being in joy!
So, is your inner TV on? If so, what program is on? Who has the remote - your wounded self or your loving Adult? You might want to start to notice this. The rewards of switching off your inner TV are really great!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
you will begin to eliminate the stress and negativity that goes along with that kind of thinking.
GIGO
Six years after being "let go" from a very lucrative job I finally ran into "my friend" that stabbed me in the back at work and who arranged my demise. He came up behind me and said, "Hi Susie,run and grow a home based business at, I know you must hate me."
I was blown away that those words came out of his mouth. What a telling statement! He just convicted himself with 5 little words. Essentially he was confessing his guilt. The truth was staring us both in the face. He was basically admitting that he screwed me.
I said, "Gee John what would make you think that?" That night I was lying in bed and the phone rang, it was him again. I proceeded to tell him off, I let him know how much he had not only hurt me because we were friends but he took away a career that I spent 8 years building and I asked him how he can wake up every day and look in the mirror and think it's okay to be him!
My heart was pounding, I was tense with anger and it was all imagined in my mind. The first part of the story was true but the phone call was something I was imagining I would say if he had called and even though it wasn't real, my emotions and the level of my anxiety were real as I rehearsed the scenario in my mind.
The truth is that whatever thoughts we choose to dwell on will activate emotions within us that respond to our thinking,UGG 1875; regardless if it is real or not. Just like when you watch an action packed movie, your heart may race, you're sitting on the edge of your chair totally engrossed and it's only a movie.
If you are thinking any kind of limiting thoughts of either anger, revenge, jealousy, hurt, fear or worry your emotions will follow your thoughts. That is why it is so important that you feed your mind the kinds of thoughts that will allow you to live with more peace and harmony.
Having imaginary confrontations with someone or going over and over what you could have said or should have said put you in a place of unease,and even if you did know. We all do it or have done it but if you learn how to turn off that negative switch in your mind, let go of what is in the past and redirect your thoughts to those that heal you,and love for a return like an investment was never love but an empty need. You have the choice to make your heart and mind whatever you want. Let love lead you through the pain and finding joy will be your reward. Love unconditionally and learn to let go and move on.,UGG 3166, not hurt you,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Sand Boots; you will begin to eliminate the stress and negativity that goes along with that kind of thinking,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff.
The computer term GIGO is true for us humans as well. What you put into your mind, the kinds of thoughts you choose to think will directly impact how you experience your life. Garbage in; garbage out.
So, if you are sitting around thinking about anything that makes you feel bad; instead try filling your mind with thoughts that will serve you and help free you from scenarios that will only drag you down.
The past is the past and there isn't one single imagined confrontation you can have that is going to change what is. Let it go, stop conjuring up negative scenes and begin to fill your mind with thoughts that release you from the past so you can enjoy your life today.
GIGO now stands for Good in; Good Out. You are the only one who has a say in what you think so make sure you're doing yourself a favor by choosing to put your "thought life" on a better path.
Six years after being "let go" from a very lucrative job I finally ran into "my friend" that stabbed me in the back at work and who arranged my demise. He came up behind me and said, "Hi Susie,run and grow a home based business at, I know you must hate me."
I was blown away that those words came out of his mouth. What a telling statement! He just convicted himself with 5 little words. Essentially he was confessing his guilt. The truth was staring us both in the face. He was basically admitting that he screwed me.
I said, "Gee John what would make you think that?" That night I was lying in bed and the phone rang, it was him again. I proceeded to tell him off, I let him know how much he had not only hurt me because we were friends but he took away a career that I spent 8 years building and I asked him how he can wake up every day and look in the mirror and think it's okay to be him!
My heart was pounding, I was tense with anger and it was all imagined in my mind. The first part of the story was true but the phone call was something I was imagining I would say if he had called and even though it wasn't real, my emotions and the level of my anxiety were real as I rehearsed the scenario in my mind.
The truth is that whatever thoughts we choose to dwell on will activate emotions within us that respond to our thinking,UGG 1875; regardless if it is real or not. Just like when you watch an action packed movie, your heart may race, you're sitting on the edge of your chair totally engrossed and it's only a movie.
If you are thinking any kind of limiting thoughts of either anger, revenge, jealousy, hurt, fear or worry your emotions will follow your thoughts. That is why it is so important that you feed your mind the kinds of thoughts that will allow you to live with more peace and harmony.
Having imaginary confrontations with someone or going over and over what you could have said or should have said put you in a place of unease,and even if you did know. We all do it or have done it but if you learn how to turn off that negative switch in your mind, let go of what is in the past and redirect your thoughts to those that heal you,and love for a return like an investment was never love but an empty need. You have the choice to make your heart and mind whatever you want. Let love lead you through the pain and finding joy will be your reward. Love unconditionally and learn to let go and move on.,UGG 3166, not hurt you,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Sand Boots; you will begin to eliminate the stress and negativity that goes along with that kind of thinking,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff.
The computer term GIGO is true for us humans as well. What you put into your mind, the kinds of thoughts you choose to think will directly impact how you experience your life. Garbage in; garbage out.
So, if you are sitting around thinking about anything that makes you feel bad; instead try filling your mind with thoughts that will serve you and help free you from scenarios that will only drag you down.
The past is the past and there isn't one single imagined confrontation you can have that is going to change what is. Let it go, stop conjuring up negative scenes and begin to fill your mind with thoughts that release you from the past so you can enjoy your life today.
GIGO now stands for Good in; Good Out. You are the only one who has a say in what you think so make sure you're doing yourself a favor by choosing to put your "thought life" on a better path.
try deep breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through the nose
How To Get Rid Of Memory Obstacles
Let's say you have a passion for salads in different varieties.
Because of this, you developed the skill of preparing them by yourself. So every time you crave for salad, you check the ingredients you have at home.
You commit to memory the ingredients you need to buy,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Black Boots; but while doing this, your partner asks you to buy a thing or two since you're going to the supermarket anyway.
If your attention is focused on the salad ingredients, it's most likely that you'll miss out buying the thing your spouse asked you to buy.
Or if your attention switched to your wife's request, you may miss an ingredient or two for the salad. If nothing is missed on either one, then you have good memory coordination.
But let's say you overlooked a thing or two, it's likely that the thing you missed was never committed to memory in the first place. Find out the possible reasons why information is not committed to memory and how to overcome these predicaments.
Do you get distracted easily? Distraction is one of the most common reasons why information is not committed to memory. When a loud or startling sound, a foul smell, TV or video game noise, or any other external forces overwhelm incoming information, then it's likely that you will not pick up the information for memory storage.
Only one solution is at hand. Shift your concentration to the information by getting away from all the distractions, or by taking these diversions away from you.
On the other hand, if your concentration is focused on something that interests you, new information can't get through you. This may seem like a plus factor to memory retention but the problem here is that new information which may be important at the moment will not find its way through your memory,UGG 1875.
Take for example, you are concentrating deeply on a set of jewelry which you want to buy for your spouse during a special occasion. Since the price is too expensive, you're contemplating on how you can acquire the jewelry without draining your pocket.
Just outside the jewelry shop, an old friend sees you and calls your name; but somehow you can't or don't hear it. The shop attendant has to intercede so you can snap out of your concentration.
Technically,and you can start right now, there seems to be nothing wrong with keeping focus on something, except that the focus may get rooted too deep (much like a trance) that you somehow tend to forget the outside world. To correct it, practice gradually shifting to a slightly shallow state of concentration.
This may take some time. Always keep in mind an attitude to stay alert.
Get motivated and interested,a symbol of the sun. If something unimportant is called to your attention, it is likely that you don't concentrate on it, much less remember it. However, there may be some things that may not interest you but nonetheless important, so it is best to keep motivated. What may seem unimportant at the instant the information is available may become important later. Besides, it is one way to boost your memory capability. It is an exercise for the memory bank of your brain.
Stress is almost always a culprit whenever the subject is inclined to shortfalls in memory retention. With emotional or physical stress, your performance with regards to memory is reduced,UGG 3166.
You may have come across instances when you tried your best to remember something (a name, place, or date) but actually can not; it's at the tip-of-the-tongue. Some theorized this syndrome occurs more with age. Others say the brain dumps memory information anywhere within itself. It gets disorganized. When we need to retrieve something, it's like going through a file of assorted information.
Whatever the reason may be, the real cause of the syndrome is stress. The harder you try (even if you snap your fingers incessantly), the less likely you'll remember it. This makes it more frustrating,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots.
The way to handle it is to find relief from your stress through relaxation. Once you're relaxed, the missing words will just pop out of your mind without any effort.
To relax,middle ground, try deep breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through the nose, hold it for a while and exhale fast (as if blowing balloon) through the mouth. This is probably the reason why our mouth is bigger than our nostrils.
Let's say you have a passion for salads in different varieties.
Because of this, you developed the skill of preparing them by yourself. So every time you crave for salad, you check the ingredients you have at home.
You commit to memory the ingredients you need to buy,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Black Boots; but while doing this, your partner asks you to buy a thing or two since you're going to the supermarket anyway.
If your attention is focused on the salad ingredients, it's most likely that you'll miss out buying the thing your spouse asked you to buy.
Or if your attention switched to your wife's request, you may miss an ingredient or two for the salad. If nothing is missed on either one, then you have good memory coordination.
But let's say you overlooked a thing or two, it's likely that the thing you missed was never committed to memory in the first place. Find out the possible reasons why information is not committed to memory and how to overcome these predicaments.
Do you get distracted easily? Distraction is one of the most common reasons why information is not committed to memory. When a loud or startling sound, a foul smell, TV or video game noise, or any other external forces overwhelm incoming information, then it's likely that you will not pick up the information for memory storage.
Only one solution is at hand. Shift your concentration to the information by getting away from all the distractions, or by taking these diversions away from you.
On the other hand, if your concentration is focused on something that interests you, new information can't get through you. This may seem like a plus factor to memory retention but the problem here is that new information which may be important at the moment will not find its way through your memory,UGG 1875.
Take for example, you are concentrating deeply on a set of jewelry which you want to buy for your spouse during a special occasion. Since the price is too expensive, you're contemplating on how you can acquire the jewelry without draining your pocket.
Just outside the jewelry shop, an old friend sees you and calls your name; but somehow you can't or don't hear it. The shop attendant has to intercede so you can snap out of your concentration.
Technically,and you can start right now, there seems to be nothing wrong with keeping focus on something, except that the focus may get rooted too deep (much like a trance) that you somehow tend to forget the outside world. To correct it, practice gradually shifting to a slightly shallow state of concentration.
This may take some time. Always keep in mind an attitude to stay alert.
Get motivated and interested,a symbol of the sun. If something unimportant is called to your attention, it is likely that you don't concentrate on it, much less remember it. However, there may be some things that may not interest you but nonetheless important, so it is best to keep motivated. What may seem unimportant at the instant the information is available may become important later. Besides, it is one way to boost your memory capability. It is an exercise for the memory bank of your brain.
Stress is almost always a culprit whenever the subject is inclined to shortfalls in memory retention. With emotional or physical stress, your performance with regards to memory is reduced,UGG 3166.
You may have come across instances when you tried your best to remember something (a name, place, or date) but actually can not; it's at the tip-of-the-tongue. Some theorized this syndrome occurs more with age. Others say the brain dumps memory information anywhere within itself. It gets disorganized. When we need to retrieve something, it's like going through a file of assorted information.
Whatever the reason may be, the real cause of the syndrome is stress. The harder you try (even if you snap your fingers incessantly), the less likely you'll remember it. This makes it more frustrating,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots.
The way to handle it is to find relief from your stress through relaxation. Once you're relaxed, the missing words will just pop out of your mind without any effort.
To relax,middle ground, try deep breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through the nose, hold it for a while and exhale fast (as if blowing balloon) through the mouth. This is probably the reason why our mouth is bigger than our nostrils.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Washing dishes
Mindfulness is in the Details
The other morning, my son, Jonathan, and I overslept. We awoke shortly before he was due at school,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots. While I sleepily got dressed, Jonathan began rushing through the house, trying to put on his clothes,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots, eat his breakfast and gather up his schoolbooks, all at the same time.
Suddenly, he stopped and began talking to himself, "Ok,the world changed. As you identify the walls you have erected and subsequently knock them down, Jon, slow down. When you're in a rush, you need to slow down." He took a few deep breaths and slowed his walking and decided to focus on eating his breakfast.
The next few moments seemed to slow down too, as Jonathan and I worked in perfect tandem to get him ready for school. We slowed our breathing, our movements and our thoughts,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff. Time seemed stretch out into infinity, giving us all the time we needed. We talked quietly, joked lovingly and arrived at school in time.
I used to think mindfulness was about totally focusing on whatever task I was doing, blocking out all distractions,your actions are going to be most detrimental to the results you want. And. Now, I know that mindfulness is actually a skill: the ability to maintain an awareness of how you are reacting to external stimuli—physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
When I do shut down or block out what's going on around me, my job, housework or exercise actually triggers my body's stress response and blocks my ability to stay in the present moment. Blocking out external stimulus is a pattern we've learned throughout our lives. Here's how my son and I work to develop our mindfulness skills. Take a few moments during the day to try the following:
1. Choose 1 of the following activities.
Washing dishes
Reading
Paying bills
Getting dressed
Folding laundry
Ironing
Yard work
Cooking
Minor home repair
Straightening your desk
Answering email
Other _____________
2. During the first few minutes, do the activity more quickly than normal.
3. Then do the activity more slowly than normal for a few minutes.
4,immediately question the thought. Is it really true. Finish the activity at a pace that is comfortable for you.
5. Take a moment to journal about your noticings.
Tip: Try to do this activity several times over the next week, at different times of the day and notice any similarities or differences if you:
Change the activity
Change the time of day
Do the activity when you don't feel like doing it
Copyright (c) 2001 Carolyn Wilson-Elliott
The other morning, my son, Jonathan, and I overslept. We awoke shortly before he was due at school,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots. While I sleepily got dressed, Jonathan began rushing through the house, trying to put on his clothes,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots, eat his breakfast and gather up his schoolbooks, all at the same time.
Suddenly, he stopped and began talking to himself, "Ok,the world changed. As you identify the walls you have erected and subsequently knock them down, Jon, slow down. When you're in a rush, you need to slow down." He took a few deep breaths and slowed his walking and decided to focus on eating his breakfast.
The next few moments seemed to slow down too, as Jonathan and I worked in perfect tandem to get him ready for school. We slowed our breathing, our movements and our thoughts,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff. Time seemed stretch out into infinity, giving us all the time we needed. We talked quietly, joked lovingly and arrived at school in time.
I used to think mindfulness was about totally focusing on whatever task I was doing, blocking out all distractions,your actions are going to be most detrimental to the results you want. And. Now, I know that mindfulness is actually a skill: the ability to maintain an awareness of how you are reacting to external stimuli—physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
When I do shut down or block out what's going on around me, my job, housework or exercise actually triggers my body's stress response and blocks my ability to stay in the present moment. Blocking out external stimulus is a pattern we've learned throughout our lives. Here's how my son and I work to develop our mindfulness skills. Take a few moments during the day to try the following:
1. Choose 1 of the following activities.
Washing dishes
Reading
Paying bills
Getting dressed
Folding laundry
Ironing
Yard work
Cooking
Minor home repair
Straightening your desk
Answering email
Other _____________
2. During the first few minutes, do the activity more quickly than normal.
3. Then do the activity more slowly than normal for a few minutes.
4,immediately question the thought. Is it really true. Finish the activity at a pace that is comfortable for you.
5. Take a moment to journal about your noticings.
Tip: Try to do this activity several times over the next week, at different times of the day and notice any similarities or differences if you:
Change the activity
Change the time of day
Do the activity when you don't feel like doing it
Copyright (c) 2001 Carolyn Wilson-Elliott
Friday, November 23, 2012
hold an idea in your head
Technology, Time Management and ADHD by Harold Taylor
What concerns me is what technology may be doing to our brain. Read Gary Small's book, iBrain, and you will have to agree that our brain is indeed evolving. Two brains that start off the same at birth can be drastically different at two years of age if one has been deprived of play, talk, touch, love, proper food and so on. That's been known for a long time. What is more surprising is that the adult brain remains malleable - "neuroplasticity" is the term used - as we grow older, and it continues to rewire itself throughout life. That's good news for old folks like me because it means you can become smarter the older you get. We used to think intelligence was 80% genetic and 20% environmental,and vision, but it's actually the opposite.
The bad news is that chronic Internet users and high-tech users tend to have poorer social skills and less ability to focus, and take on traits normally found in people with ADHD.
Excessive TV, video games and other digital media has been shown to contribute to ADD and ADHD in both children and adults. About 5% of children in the U,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots.S. have ADHD,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff. But with the advent of technology,the most influential factor of alcohol addiction is being curious and peer pressure. It affects our brain that can create a strong desire to consume a lot of alcohol., and our increasing addiction to it, this is changing. Psychiatric investigators in South Korea find that 20% of Internet-addicted children and teens end up with ADHD symptoms. Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist in Sudbury, Mass., and author of several books on ADD/ADHD, sees a lot of patients wrapped up in this multitasking mania,Psy.D. All rights reserved.. Over the past decade he has seen a tenfold increase in the number of patients showing up with symptoms closely resembling ADD, but of the work-induced variety. They were irritable, their productivity was declining, they couldn't get organized, they were making quick, off the cuff decisions - all because they felt pressured to get things done quickly. He gave the condition a name - Attention Deficit Trait (ADT). Several books on brain research indicate that high-tech gadgets, video games and even TV have been shown to contribute to ADD in both adults and children. Incidentally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero TV for children under two, yet one in five American children under two has a TV in their bedroom.
An example of how our brains can be rewired is described in John Medina's book, Brain Rules. A year 2000 study of London taxi drivers revealed that they had a much larger posterior hippocampus than men with a similar profile, but who did not drive for a living. That part of the hippocampus is responsible for a person's navigational skills. As far as our brain is concerned, it seems to hold true that if we don't use it, we lose it. Another example appeared in the Toronto Star (December 12, 2009) It was an article on handwriting, which seems to have been replaced by the keyboard, at least with the younger generation. It concludes, based on research, that handwriting works the brain differently and builds distinct cognitive skills. It reinforces reading and spelling, develops motor memory as it becomes automatic, teaches students to focus, and may help them remember what they learn. So as keyboards replace handwriting, new neural pathways are created and new cognitive skills replace the old.
The brain is evolving. That may not be all bad. But I do know that managers require social and interpersonal skills,UGG 3166, intuition and creativity to be successful. And focus is one of the keys to accomplishment. We should think twice before allowing time with email and the Internet to crowd out time with family and friends.
Top achievers combine high-tech with high touch. They interact socially, participate in face-to-face meetings, and even use paper-based systems such as the day planners or simple note pads as tools to get things done.
I will never apologize for scheduling in a paper day planner or drawing mind maps on a scratch pad or scribbling an idea on an index card. And I'm becoming more convinced that it helps us remain well-rounded individuals. Much of your intelligence - and how well you do in life - seems to depend on what researchers call the "executive function" part of the brain. It is that part of the brain in the cerebral cortex that gives you the ability to control impulses, sustain attention, hold an idea in your head, plan, and prioritize and so on. And it's those executive functions that appear to be weak in individuals with ADD/ADHD. Too much technology could weaken these executive skills even more.
What concerns me is what technology may be doing to our brain. Read Gary Small's book, iBrain, and you will have to agree that our brain is indeed evolving. Two brains that start off the same at birth can be drastically different at two years of age if one has been deprived of play, talk, touch, love, proper food and so on. That's been known for a long time. What is more surprising is that the adult brain remains malleable - "neuroplasticity" is the term used - as we grow older, and it continues to rewire itself throughout life. That's good news for old folks like me because it means you can become smarter the older you get. We used to think intelligence was 80% genetic and 20% environmental,and vision, but it's actually the opposite.
The bad news is that chronic Internet users and high-tech users tend to have poorer social skills and less ability to focus, and take on traits normally found in people with ADHD.
Excessive TV, video games and other digital media has been shown to contribute to ADD and ADHD in both children and adults. About 5% of children in the U,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots.S. have ADHD,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff. But with the advent of technology,the most influential factor of alcohol addiction is being curious and peer pressure. It affects our brain that can create a strong desire to consume a lot of alcohol., and our increasing addiction to it, this is changing. Psychiatric investigators in South Korea find that 20% of Internet-addicted children and teens end up with ADHD symptoms. Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist in Sudbury, Mass., and author of several books on ADD/ADHD, sees a lot of patients wrapped up in this multitasking mania,Psy.D. All rights reserved.. Over the past decade he has seen a tenfold increase in the number of patients showing up with symptoms closely resembling ADD, but of the work-induced variety. They were irritable, their productivity was declining, they couldn't get organized, they were making quick, off the cuff decisions - all because they felt pressured to get things done quickly. He gave the condition a name - Attention Deficit Trait (ADT). Several books on brain research indicate that high-tech gadgets, video games and even TV have been shown to contribute to ADD in both adults and children. Incidentally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero TV for children under two, yet one in five American children under two has a TV in their bedroom.
An example of how our brains can be rewired is described in John Medina's book, Brain Rules. A year 2000 study of London taxi drivers revealed that they had a much larger posterior hippocampus than men with a similar profile, but who did not drive for a living. That part of the hippocampus is responsible for a person's navigational skills. As far as our brain is concerned, it seems to hold true that if we don't use it, we lose it. Another example appeared in the Toronto Star (December 12, 2009) It was an article on handwriting, which seems to have been replaced by the keyboard, at least with the younger generation. It concludes, based on research, that handwriting works the brain differently and builds distinct cognitive skills. It reinforces reading and spelling, develops motor memory as it becomes automatic, teaches students to focus, and may help them remember what they learn. So as keyboards replace handwriting, new neural pathways are created and new cognitive skills replace the old.
The brain is evolving. That may not be all bad. But I do know that managers require social and interpersonal skills,UGG 3166, intuition and creativity to be successful. And focus is one of the keys to accomplishment. We should think twice before allowing time with email and the Internet to crowd out time with family and friends.
Top achievers combine high-tech with high touch. They interact socially, participate in face-to-face meetings, and even use paper-based systems such as the day planners or simple note pads as tools to get things done.
I will never apologize for scheduling in a paper day planner or drawing mind maps on a scratch pad or scribbling an idea on an index card. And I'm becoming more convinced that it helps us remain well-rounded individuals. Much of your intelligence - and how well you do in life - seems to depend on what researchers call the "executive function" part of the brain. It is that part of the brain in the cerebral cortex that gives you the ability to control impulses, sustain attention, hold an idea in your head, plan, and prioritize and so on. And it's those executive functions that appear to be weak in individuals with ADD/ADHD. Too much technology could weaken these executive skills even more.
Learning to make effective choices on a consistent
Choice
"If there is such a thing as a secret to achievement,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots, a significant part of that secret is ... being aware of the power of your choices and learning to choose effectively."
Achievement is simply the result of doing the "right things" consistently over a sustained period of time. Doing the "right things" is a direct result of your personal choice. Your future is built on the choices you make, day by day, moment by moment.
Sounds simple,focus and concentration may be affected. Depression, doesn't it?
This relationship between choice and achievement is powerful. Without making consistently effective daily choices, you will not achieve. This is a harsh reality, but true. Conversely, making consistently effective choices that support your overall goals will inevitably lead to next level achievement. The quality of your choices determines the quality of your life. By filling your days with effective choices, you build a future of beneficial consequences.
Whether you realize it or not, you make thousands of choices everyday. You choose your thoughts, perspectives, actions, and associations. Each choice you make in life has a consequence. An extra bowl of ice cream each night might not affect you right away, but will have a negative consequence of weight gain if you continue to indulge.
So many of us let our everyday choices go overlooked because the consequences of those choices are delayed. We don't experience immediate results from most of our choices. If we did, we certainly would be more selective with our choices! Instead, we are free to make a bad or ineffective choice and feel no immediate impact, leaving us with the impression that no harm has been done.
Using the ice cream analogy again,UGG 3166, if you immediately gained 50 pounds every time you ate a single bowl of ice cream, you would never eat another bowl of ice cream again, and ice cream companies would be out of business! The lesson here is that we must be aware of what our everyday choices are creating for our future, even though we cannot see the results right away.
This is where the Next Level Achievement System comes in.
The foundation of any system of achievement is learning to make effective, daily choices. Surprisingly, we do not naturally possess the capacity of making consistent, effective choices because our natural, human instincts have one goal for us: our security.
Your instincts do not care about your goals and dreams - they just want to keep you right where you are. When you manage your daily activities from your natural, human instincts,by either doing them yourself, your response will always be in favor of keeping you where you are. Your brain interprets sameness or status-quo as security. In short, your instincts are fighting against your achievement because achievement always involves change and growth, both of which are contrary to sameness.
To achieve, you must first learn to intentionally manage your process of making effective choices, and that process must be systematic rather than instinctive. This works because a systems approach to achievement bypasses your natural instincts,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots.
I have worked with clients who have spent their entire lives managing achievement instinctively with sporadic results,Copyright. On the other hand, I have watched overwhelming results from leaders who manage by a proven system of achievement.
Don't let another day slip by filled with ineffective choices. Become aware of how your choices are affecting your bottom line, because they will affect you regardless of whether or not you are aware of them! Learning to make effective choices on a consistent, daily basis leads to effective actions, which in turn leads to beneficial results.
Most importantly, you must choose to achieve!
"If there is such a thing as a secret to achievement,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Sand Boots, a significant part of that secret is ... being aware of the power of your choices and learning to choose effectively."
Achievement is simply the result of doing the "right things" consistently over a sustained period of time. Doing the "right things" is a direct result of your personal choice. Your future is built on the choices you make, day by day, moment by moment.
Sounds simple,focus and concentration may be affected. Depression, doesn't it?
This relationship between choice and achievement is powerful. Without making consistently effective daily choices, you will not achieve. This is a harsh reality, but true. Conversely, making consistently effective choices that support your overall goals will inevitably lead to next level achievement. The quality of your choices determines the quality of your life. By filling your days with effective choices, you build a future of beneficial consequences.
Whether you realize it or not, you make thousands of choices everyday. You choose your thoughts, perspectives, actions, and associations. Each choice you make in life has a consequence. An extra bowl of ice cream each night might not affect you right away, but will have a negative consequence of weight gain if you continue to indulge.
So many of us let our everyday choices go overlooked because the consequences of those choices are delayed. We don't experience immediate results from most of our choices. If we did, we certainly would be more selective with our choices! Instead, we are free to make a bad or ineffective choice and feel no immediate impact, leaving us with the impression that no harm has been done.
Using the ice cream analogy again,UGG 3166, if you immediately gained 50 pounds every time you ate a single bowl of ice cream, you would never eat another bowl of ice cream again, and ice cream companies would be out of business! The lesson here is that we must be aware of what our everyday choices are creating for our future, even though we cannot see the results right away.
This is where the Next Level Achievement System comes in.
The foundation of any system of achievement is learning to make effective, daily choices. Surprisingly, we do not naturally possess the capacity of making consistent, effective choices because our natural, human instincts have one goal for us: our security.
Your instincts do not care about your goals and dreams - they just want to keep you right where you are. When you manage your daily activities from your natural, human instincts,by either doing them yourself, your response will always be in favor of keeping you where you are. Your brain interprets sameness or status-quo as security. In short, your instincts are fighting against your achievement because achievement always involves change and growth, both of which are contrary to sameness.
To achieve, you must first learn to intentionally manage your process of making effective choices, and that process must be systematic rather than instinctive. This works because a systems approach to achievement bypasses your natural instincts,1875 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Short Black Boots.
I have worked with clients who have spent their entire lives managing achievement instinctively with sporadic results,Copyright. On the other hand, I have watched overwhelming results from leaders who manage by a proven system of achievement.
Don't let another day slip by filled with ineffective choices. Become aware of how your choices are affecting your bottom line, because they will affect you regardless of whether or not you are aware of them! Learning to make effective choices on a consistent, daily basis leads to effective actions, which in turn leads to beneficial results.
Most importantly, you must choose to achieve!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Secret of the Void by Shifra Hendrie
The Secret of the Void by Shifra Hendrie
Several years ago I had a quiet but intense experience at the wedding of a close friend. I was early, and as I sat at my table I watched the other guests entering the room. One came in elated, dancing like a performer on stage. Another was withdrawn, inward, as if mulling over some sadness or pain. Some were eating,you can begin to influence, some talking, some laughing and some sitting quietly.
But what I saw with an almost painful intensity was that each one of us, no matter what we were doing or with whom we were doing it, was essentially in our own world. Not necessarily lonely, but alone, our thoughts, longings, our selves on some core level separate from everyone around us.
Once, many years ago, my four-year-old cousin was standing in the living room with her mother and grandmother when she suddenly burst out, "I'm all alone in here!" When her mother hastened to reassure her that they were right there with her in the room, she responded, "No, in here. I'm all alone in here."
Every human being experiences this essential aloneness. Sometimes we're not aware of it at all, and sometimes the awareness, like it was for my little cousin, is profound. But whatever the case, it's always there.
What Conceals Reveals
Kabbalah explains that in truth there is nothing but G-d. Everything that exists, whether physical or spiritual, is simply a highly limited expression of its Creator, somewhat like each of your thoughts and actions is a little expression of you.
The infinite light of G-d, as its name implies, is overwhelming, filling every space. Left unmuted, this all-encompassing light would make it impossible for anything else to exist,UGG 1875, just like a ray of light cannot exist as a separate entity within the body of the sun. So, in order to allow for Creation in all of its limitless details and forms, G-d had to conceal His own infinite light. This concealment, known as tzimtzum, is what enables us to be. And more, it allows us to experience ourselves as real, solid, and the center of our universe.
This Big Lie" this core illusion of aloneness and solidity is what allows us to exist as separate and unique human beings. In its raw, unrectified state, it cuts us off from the truth. But ultimately we are destined to see through the walls, transcend the illusion, and fulfill our potential as uniquely magnificent expressions of the Divine.
The Sound of the Void
The illusion is powerful, but not total. If we were completely cut off from an awareness of what lies beyond, chances are we would be perfectly content. There would be no reason to question ourselves or our existence, no drive to continuously experience more.
But we are not cut off completely. A glimmer of the Infinite light from before Creation surrounds and permeates each person who walks this earth. This light is what gives us the profound sense that there is something else out there. Only the something doesn't always feel like an actual something,yet is supposed to test for intelligence. It often feels like something missing - a void.
This void, this missing, hovers at the edge of our consciousness, threatening our comfortable sense of solidity and bringing with it an essential longing for. well, for something. Something more.
This sensation of something missing is actually the glimmer of something that is there, but too vast and amazing to be perceived by our ordinary senses. But as physical beings in a physical world, we are not naturally inclined to relate to it in this esoteric way. In fact, the non-physical all too often makes us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. So, instead of slowly allowing our eyes to adjust to this more subtle light, we avoid the experience altogether, or seek to fill the void with physical things.
The subtle awareness of the void pulls us relentlessly toward the next high, the next success, the more exciting relationship, the bigger, flashier toy. The feelings it triggers - like sadness, depression, anxiety or dissatisfaction drive us to eat too much, drink too much, work too much, spend too much, need too much; in short, whatever it takes to avoid facing the threatening insubstantiality of it all.
But, as uncomfortable and threatening as it can feel, if you are willing to face the discomfort, to stop running and listen, you can begin to explore the secret of the void, to expand your ability to see and hear things that lie outside your normal range.
Like a beautiful dream whose impression lingers, like a song that stirs memories and feelings from long ago, like a perfume that lingers faintly in the air, the music of the void can stir forgotten memories and open your heart. It can speak to you of where you came from, where you are destined to go and who you are destined to be.
A Deeper Level of Life
In Hebrew, each letter of the alphabet has a gematria, a numerical equivalent. Whenever the letters of one word are numerically equivalent to the letters of a different word, it points to a secret relationship between the two.
It is fascinating to know that the Hebrew word for void, challal, is exactly numerically equivalent to the word chaim,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Black Boots, which means life.
The message is simple. In being willing to embrace the vulnerability, to stop running away and instead stay present and expand your ability to see, you can begin to reconnect with what has been concealed from you, the part of you that is most truly and infinitely alive.
Eating in Bed Maintaining the Illusion of Being Solid
Most evenings, after I'm finished with the tasks of the day, I reward myself by getting in bed and relaxing under the covers with a book. It feels secure and cozy, reassuringly solid and safe. And to further enhance the comforting feeling I almost always take a little bedtime snack with me. In fact, I sometimes take more than one.
I've been doing this for many years, and, as is the case with most deeply ingrained habits, I've become more than a little attached to it.
Recently I decided to give it up,what can that possibly mean. I stopped eating in bed, and in doing so I discovered that my comforting habit had been covering up the sound of the void. The perceptions and sensations I began to experience were not necessarily comfortable. In fact, new, bigger things rarely are. But they were rewarding and profound.
As physical beings, we are primed to seek permanence and stability. But the bad news the paradoxical news - is that physical things are inherently unstable and impermanent. Coming face to face with this fact can be scary. It can feel, indeed, like hovering over a dark and formless void. It's important to remember that this darkness is really a much vaster and more brilliant form of light one that's simply too great for our senses to contain.
Many of us spend our lives attempting to block it out, to run from the darkness, or to create stability and solidity by clinging to things that are intrinsically unstable. This, however, does nothing to change the darkness, nor to expand our capacity to see. We remain trapped in a world of struggle and illusion. But if, instead, we train our eyes, bit by bit, to see the concealed light, to hear the subtle music, we can begin to set ourselves free and to use this freedom to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.
Do You Eat in Bed?
Whether you eat in bed or not, I am certain that there are things you do to block out the discomfort of the void. Maybe you eat or drink or work or sleep too much. Or maybe you take solace in having very strong opinions, in making yourself feel bigger and more solid by being right, criticizing,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff, blaming or complaining. Maybe you try to lose yourself in a relationship, or maybe you avoid the vulnerability that an intimate relationship brings.
Whatever it is that you do - every now and then, just don't. Instead, let yourself be open to something anything - that challenges the way you've seen things till now. Going without that extra cookie, that glass of wine, or the need to prove your point might bring up feelings or perceptions that have something important to tell you. Giving up a protective habit is one of the most powerful ways to expand your capacity to see and hear what the habit is covering up. So listen and learn or better yet, do something that reflects a new, higher way of being.
Maybe you can let yourself be vulnerable to someone else where you'd normally be defensive, to really listen rather than defend. Or maybe you can take an hour away from work to sit with your children and smile into their eyes, without having to accomplish anything at all. Learn some Torah, give some charity, or take a few minutes to open your heart to your Creator. These things bring more Divine light into the darkness and expand your ability to experience that light in your everyday life.
(*Since the Torah forbids the erasing of G-d's name, it's customary to avoid writing it out in full)
Several years ago I had a quiet but intense experience at the wedding of a close friend. I was early, and as I sat at my table I watched the other guests entering the room. One came in elated, dancing like a performer on stage. Another was withdrawn, inward, as if mulling over some sadness or pain. Some were eating,you can begin to influence, some talking, some laughing and some sitting quietly.
But what I saw with an almost painful intensity was that each one of us, no matter what we were doing or with whom we were doing it, was essentially in our own world. Not necessarily lonely, but alone, our thoughts, longings, our selves on some core level separate from everyone around us.
Once, many years ago, my four-year-old cousin was standing in the living room with her mother and grandmother when she suddenly burst out, "I'm all alone in here!" When her mother hastened to reassure her that they were right there with her in the room, she responded, "No, in here. I'm all alone in here."
Every human being experiences this essential aloneness. Sometimes we're not aware of it at all, and sometimes the awareness, like it was for my little cousin, is profound. But whatever the case, it's always there.
What Conceals Reveals
Kabbalah explains that in truth there is nothing but G-d. Everything that exists, whether physical or spiritual, is simply a highly limited expression of its Creator, somewhat like each of your thoughts and actions is a little expression of you.
The infinite light of G-d, as its name implies, is overwhelming, filling every space. Left unmuted, this all-encompassing light would make it impossible for anything else to exist,UGG 1875, just like a ray of light cannot exist as a separate entity within the body of the sun. So, in order to allow for Creation in all of its limitless details and forms, G-d had to conceal His own infinite light. This concealment, known as tzimtzum, is what enables us to be. And more, it allows us to experience ourselves as real, solid, and the center of our universe.
This Big Lie" this core illusion of aloneness and solidity is what allows us to exist as separate and unique human beings. In its raw, unrectified state, it cuts us off from the truth. But ultimately we are destined to see through the walls, transcend the illusion, and fulfill our potential as uniquely magnificent expressions of the Divine.
The Sound of the Void
The illusion is powerful, but not total. If we were completely cut off from an awareness of what lies beyond, chances are we would be perfectly content. There would be no reason to question ourselves or our existence, no drive to continuously experience more.
But we are not cut off completely. A glimmer of the Infinite light from before Creation surrounds and permeates each person who walks this earth. This light is what gives us the profound sense that there is something else out there. Only the something doesn't always feel like an actual something,yet is supposed to test for intelligence. It often feels like something missing - a void.
This void, this missing, hovers at the edge of our consciousness, threatening our comfortable sense of solidity and bringing with it an essential longing for. well, for something. Something more.
This sensation of something missing is actually the glimmer of something that is there, but too vast and amazing to be perceived by our ordinary senses. But as physical beings in a physical world, we are not naturally inclined to relate to it in this esoteric way. In fact, the non-physical all too often makes us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. So, instead of slowly allowing our eyes to adjust to this more subtle light, we avoid the experience altogether, or seek to fill the void with physical things.
The subtle awareness of the void pulls us relentlessly toward the next high, the next success, the more exciting relationship, the bigger, flashier toy. The feelings it triggers - like sadness, depression, anxiety or dissatisfaction drive us to eat too much, drink too much, work too much, spend too much, need too much; in short, whatever it takes to avoid facing the threatening insubstantiality of it all.
But, as uncomfortable and threatening as it can feel, if you are willing to face the discomfort, to stop running and listen, you can begin to explore the secret of the void, to expand your ability to see and hear things that lie outside your normal range.
Like a beautiful dream whose impression lingers, like a song that stirs memories and feelings from long ago, like a perfume that lingers faintly in the air, the music of the void can stir forgotten memories and open your heart. It can speak to you of where you came from, where you are destined to go and who you are destined to be.
A Deeper Level of Life
In Hebrew, each letter of the alphabet has a gematria, a numerical equivalent. Whenever the letters of one word are numerically equivalent to the letters of a different word, it points to a secret relationship between the two.
It is fascinating to know that the Hebrew word for void, challal, is exactly numerically equivalent to the word chaim,3166 Ugg Sheepskin Cuff Tall Black Boots, which means life.
The message is simple. In being willing to embrace the vulnerability, to stop running away and instead stay present and expand your ability to see, you can begin to reconnect with what has been concealed from you, the part of you that is most truly and infinitely alive.
Eating in Bed Maintaining the Illusion of Being Solid
Most evenings, after I'm finished with the tasks of the day, I reward myself by getting in bed and relaxing under the covers with a book. It feels secure and cozy, reassuringly solid and safe. And to further enhance the comforting feeling I almost always take a little bedtime snack with me. In fact, I sometimes take more than one.
I've been doing this for many years, and, as is the case with most deeply ingrained habits, I've become more than a little attached to it.
Recently I decided to give it up,what can that possibly mean. I stopped eating in bed, and in doing so I discovered that my comforting habit had been covering up the sound of the void. The perceptions and sensations I began to experience were not necessarily comfortable. In fact, new, bigger things rarely are. But they were rewarding and profound.
As physical beings, we are primed to seek permanence and stability. But the bad news the paradoxical news - is that physical things are inherently unstable and impermanent. Coming face to face with this fact can be scary. It can feel, indeed, like hovering over a dark and formless void. It's important to remember that this darkness is really a much vaster and more brilliant form of light one that's simply too great for our senses to contain.
Many of us spend our lives attempting to block it out, to run from the darkness, or to create stability and solidity by clinging to things that are intrinsically unstable. This, however, does nothing to change the darkness, nor to expand our capacity to see. We remain trapped in a world of struggle and illusion. But if, instead, we train our eyes, bit by bit, to see the concealed light, to hear the subtle music, we can begin to set ourselves free and to use this freedom to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.
Do You Eat in Bed?
Whether you eat in bed or not, I am certain that there are things you do to block out the discomfort of the void. Maybe you eat or drink or work or sleep too much. Or maybe you take solace in having very strong opinions, in making yourself feel bigger and more solid by being right, criticizing,Ugg Sheepskin Cuff, blaming or complaining. Maybe you try to lose yourself in a relationship, or maybe you avoid the vulnerability that an intimate relationship brings.
Whatever it is that you do - every now and then, just don't. Instead, let yourself be open to something anything - that challenges the way you've seen things till now. Going without that extra cookie, that glass of wine, or the need to prove your point might bring up feelings or perceptions that have something important to tell you. Giving up a protective habit is one of the most powerful ways to expand your capacity to see and hear what the habit is covering up. So listen and learn or better yet, do something that reflects a new, higher way of being.
Maybe you can let yourself be vulnerable to someone else where you'd normally be defensive, to really listen rather than defend. Or maybe you can take an hour away from work to sit with your children and smile into their eyes, without having to accomplish anything at all. Learn some Torah, give some charity, or take a few minutes to open your heart to your Creator. These things bring more Divine light into the darkness and expand your ability to experience that light in your everyday life.
(*Since the Torah forbids the erasing of G-d's name, it's customary to avoid writing it out in full)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)