Work

Good Morning,

We all have work to get done in life and sometimes just deciding what
we call work and taking a good look at it can be enough to shift our
perceptions and get the job done. Many times however the effort
required to get something going or finish up a tough job simply seems
like to much to get behind. This is our opportunity for understanding.

Avoiding effort is more difficult than just going ahead and getting
it done. Because not only do we spend time and energy avoiding the
effort, we also must suffer the consequences of failing to do the
work. We must simply take the time to do what must be done. We don't
need to get caught up in making judgments about whether it is easy or
difficult, pleasant or unpleasant, for that will just hold us back.

If we're interested in finding the easiest way out, consider this.
The easiest way is to just go ahead and get it done.

Ask yourself Is there something you've been avoiding because it will
require too much effort? Is there really anything at all that you've
gained by putting it off? Imagine the sense of satisfaction and
release that you'll enjoy when the task is completed. Think of how
great it will be when you're no longer constantly dreading it. Then
get busy and get it done. Make the effort, finish the work, and
you'll find that you've truly taken the easy way out.

Have a wonderful weekend and consider this - Three Rules of Work: Out
of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle
of difficulty lies opportunity.

Peace and Love, Jim

Ego

Good Morning,

There is much more to life than merely serving our ego. Those things
that seem like failures to the ego, are pure opportunities for
raising our awareness to higher, more fulfilling levels. Experiences
our ego would never allow will connect us to what we sincerely
desire. Feelings, thoughts and actions that go beyond ourself show us
who we truly are. Anxiety, fear, worry and doubt are all devices that
our ego uses to hold us back. Stop being a slave to ego, and we are
free to live without limits.

By appealing to our ego and cooperating with it, others are able to
control our life. Yet when we let go of our ego's concerns, we can
freely live to fulfill our own true purposes. Why would anyone wish
to be a slave when they can choose to be a master? Why would anyone
let ego hold them back when there are so many great things one can
accomplish?

The best thing we can do for ourself is to live our life beyond
ourself. Let go of our ego's incessant pleading, and discover a whole
new wonderful world.

Peace and Love, Jim

Old Thoughts

Good Morning,

We are beginning to wind down on our house renovation, which means a
little free time to get caught up on some reading. I came across a
series of texts that go way back. It is amazing that even in the year
805 the bright luminous qualities of the human mind were known,
utilized and appreciated. I thought I would share a few of my
favorites. Wisdom it seems is timeless!
You should each individually Clarify your own mind, Getting to the
root Without pursuing the branches. Just get to the root, And the
branches come of themselves. If you want to get to the root, Just get
to know your mind. This mind is basically the root of all mundane and
supramundane phenomena; as long as the mind does not become obsessed
with good and bad, you will realize that all things are basically
just so. - Ta-mei (ca.805)

Cease practice based on intellectual understanding, pursuing words
and following after speech. Learn the backward step that turns your
light inward to illuminate within. Body and mind of themselves will
drop away and your original face will be manifest. - Dogen (1200-1253)

How long it has been since teaching was re-thought? Stubbornly
obsessed with doctrine and habit, It's a shame that for a thousand
years no one has spoken seriously of this essence. Better to follow
the children and bounce a ball on these spring days. - Ryokan
(1758-1831)

When I write down my thoughts, they do not escape me. This action
makes me remember my strength which I forget at all times. I educate
myself proportionately to my captured thought. I aim only to
distinguish the contradiction between my mind and nothingness. -
Jymy (1964 - ????)

Have a wonderful day and contemplate this - Never mistake knowledge
for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a
life.

Peace and Love, Jim

Within

Good Morning,

In my youthful days as a singer for a punk band I often felt the
brunt of the world in a personal manner. I could clearly see (so I
thought) what I considered injustice and the error in our ways. . .
clearly a sign of my agitated youth. My approach back then was aimed
at others - verbal attacks on our political leaders, outward
aggression towards the things I felt were wrong, and a dislike for
situations I felt were wrong. I truly felt the power and beauty of my
youth. . . my energy was simply being spent without due thought.

Now many years later I have grown enough and become wise enough to
know you will never solve your problems by getting other people to
change. The way to move beyond whatever is holding you back is to
make positive changes within yourself.

The problem is never the particular situation we are in. The problem
is the way we interpret and relate to that situation. It is not the
way we are treated by others. It is the way we allow the actions of
others to affect you.
Regardless of what has happened in our past, it becomes a problem if
we continue to let the past hold us back. When we take complete
responsibility for a problem, suddenly we are ninety percent of the
distance toward solving it. For when we truly take responsibility
without fear, we gain real and powerful insights that allow us to
move forward.

There is no driver behind the wheel except for yourself and it is up
to us to choose where to go. The great thing is that we already have
everything we need to make the trip!

Have a beautiful day and hold this thought - Sometimes you have to
let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to.

Peace and Love, Jim

Discovery

Good Morning,

Why do we cling to outdated assumptions? Discover that letting go and
freeing your mind allows it to be filled with more valuable,
effective thoughts and perceptions.

Why do we miss out on so much of life in an attempt to maintain a
sense of comfort and security? Discover that real security comes from
being willing and able to gracefully handle all of life's ups and
downs as they come our way.

Why do we let our fears stop us from living the rich and full life we
were created to experience? Discover how to step back, look at those
fears, let them teach and prepare us, and then move confidently forward.

Why do we allow the least little setback to keep us down for so long?
Discover the opportunity in everything that happens.

Why do we put so many burdensome conditions on our own happiness?
Discover that happiness is a powerful state of being that you can
choose, no matter what.

Why do we sit so long and wonder what is to be done? Discover that
your dreams are ready, right now, to be lived.

No matter what we do, we cannot change the number of hours in the
day. Yet we have an enormous impact over what goes into those hours,
and what comes from them.
Fill the hours with purpose, and the passing of time works in our
favor. Fill the days with meaning, with creativity, with goodness,
joy and love, and each day leaves behind lasting value for our world.

Let go of your concerns about the speed at which time is passing, for
time is nothing more than an arbitrary measure. What matters is what
you do with each moment now as you live it.
Discover what your highest vision of life can be, then fill the world
with your own unique beauty, and go beyond the limits of time.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes.

Peace and Love, Jim

Solutions

Good Morning,

The solutions to our most difficult problems already exist. When we
open ourself to their possibility we will most certainly discover them.

Whatever we desire is already connected to who we are and what we now
have. We bring that connection to life with our thoughts, our
feelings and our actions. Our worries, complaints, anger and
resentment cast a dark fog on the world that appears in front of us.
That prevents us from seeing all the good things already available to
us.

Accept that anger, that resentment, those worries, and then quickly
let them go. By allowing ourselves to enter fully into this moment
that is now, we gain a clear mind and a peaceful heart. Allow the
joy, allow the sadness, allow the triumphs, the disappointments, the
rich texture and fullness of life.

Allow it all to work for you, and to carry you steadily toward the
ever-increasing fulfillment of your very own special purpose.
Make loving use of this day to do what you can do, from where you
are, with what you have. Trust that it will move you quickly forward,
and it surely will.

Peace and Love, Jim

Afraid

Good Morning,

We are entering a new time in our civilization and people everywhere
seem to be wanting to figure out what is wrong. This ranges from a
personal feeling that something is wrong with us to thinking the
whole world is out of balance and wanting someone to fix it or save
them.

In reality, we don't need to be saved. There's nothing wrong with
you, or me, and nothing is really broken, it's just the way things
are (even the folks who are really irritating). So if this is how it
should be why are so many of us unhappy, or having feelings of
dissatisfaction? We all suffer from various forms of fear. Thing
about it. we are afraid of being rejected, of looking stupid, of
being called selfish or any one of another thousand labels and
ideals. We fear failure, pain even success! There is nothing wrong
with this since it is a human condition (we all share this quality).
The problem is when we keep blowing it off, or fail to recognize the
grip fear can have on our lives.

We begin to lose our sense of balance when we unknowingly let fear
run our life. We begin to see trouble in the world and ourselves, we
begin to think something is wrong with us and entire view becomes
clouded even distorted. Our fears didn't start when we were born. My
fears, just like yours, were taught to me with good intentions
(parents, loved ones etc).

A healthy sense of fear does serve a purpose. Our fears develop
because we want to be safe, protected, and comfortable. Becoming
addicted to the qualities of comfort, safety, and protection will
always lead us to unhappiness. It's just not how things are. The
harder we try to hold it all together and prolong our comfort, joy or
any other experience, the worse it gets because we realize that we
are never really in control of life. This feeling of having no
control is what leads us to think something is wrong, fear kicks in
(without even a real threat of purpose)and we begin to spiral around
the wheel of life,taking every turn with great apprehension.

So how do we go about dealing with fear? I for one do not believe
fear is something to be conquered or abolished, it does after all
serve a small purpose in life. I do feel that fear is something to be
balanced in life, understood and utilized. Fear has a magnificent
quality of pointing at the problems in our life, when we disregard
this because we don't like the feelings or what they may be pointing
at, then we set ourselves up for more problems. We can't allow our
fears to control us. It's okay and normal to be scared out of our
socks at times. However, it's immature to allow our feelings to
control our actions. We can control our actions regardless of our
feelings (with practice) It's not always easy but it is a choice we
all have!

I found this little fear quiz through and online friend. It is
interesting and the results can be quite telling for a few simple
questions. Take it for fun, take it for insight and just take it for
what it is. I would love to hear some of your results! Just go here:

http://www.fearlessliving.org/support_system/fearless_living_quiz

Have a beautiful day and carry this thought - You must do the thing
that you fear until the fear of that thing becomes no more.

Peace and Love, Jim

Courage

Good Morning,

I have a simple principle that I apply to most of my actions,
thoughts and misgivings - regardless of what I do (good or bad) I
take responsibility for it, I own up to it and allow others to know
my mistakes as well. To me nothing builds trust, or demonstrates
maturity more that the ability to own up to our actions. It is such a
strong principle that I even incorporated it into our employee
handbook at work - "Know when you are wrong and be willing to say I
am off track here, let me look at this again and see what I can do."

I have learned though that it takes a certain type of courage to be
honest and open in this manner. We seem to be ashamed or fearful of
being judged for our actions or when we make mistakes. However, when
we are honest and open about our actions we bring others in, they
feel as though they are a part of the course and not just a helpless
spectator. When people care they truly want to be there for those
they love. Again this takes courage for everyone involved to be open
and understanding.

Where does courage come from? What brings courage to life?

Courage is the commitment to do what we know is right. Courage arises
when we integrity will not allow any other choice. Courage comes from
following a purpose that goes beyond ones own petty concerns. Because
of that, courage gives far-reaching power and consequence to our
actions. In the short term, courage can often appear foolish. In the
long run, courage has the power to move the whole world in a positive
direction. Courage asks much of you, yet it is not complicated and is
always within your reach. Courage is truth put into action.

Have a beautiful day and ponder this thought - In every moment,
courage is there for you to choose. In every moment, courage is the
choice that will fulfill the best of who you are.

Peace and Love, Jim

Invest

Good Morning,

There are many debates on principals and morals and what is right and
what is wrong. Everyone has their own take on what is good for
themselves or what is good for others. Somewhere along the way we
adapt or abandon many . . . how shall we say, guiding principles. It
is a natural part of growth and learning. It is interesting that
despite our own innate ability to decide what is right or wrong for
us individually, there is a set of principles which are understood,
valued and cherished in all cultures, large and small, from the most
civilized city to the most remote tribe.
We may not feel as though we have an entire civilization to inspire,
but we all have people we want to encourage and lift up.

Investing in and believing in others is one of the most fundamental
acts we can do and these simple core principles possess the
incredible ability to turn ordinary people into extraordinary ones:

1. TRUST: Do what is right to build trust it is the most valuable
part of any relationship.

2. COMMITMENT: Simply, do your best. Show up and make the
effort . . . a little goes a long way.

3. CARING: Care deeply about the well-being of others. Without care
from others where would YOU be?

The key point here is that we must learn to INVEST in the GROWTH
(which is a journey) of others and ourselves, not merely the GOAL
(which is a destination). We must also strive to make the distinction
that SUCCESS is adding value to yourself, whereas SIGNIFICANCE is
adding value to others.

Have a beautiful day and consider this - What can you do today to
improve your relationship with someone you know? How about someone
you DO NOT know? Build trust, be committed and show you care, and
you'll be the significant catalyst for the people and changes that come.

Peace and Love, Jim

Being

Good Morning,
We talk about success as though it's an event or a thing. We refer to
people wearing "the badges of success", and carrying around (or
wearing or driving) the latest status symbol. But success is not a
thing – it is a way of being in the world. You can have all the
riches in the world, and still feel like a failure if you aren't
following your life's true purpose. This is a special kind of stress.
Or you might have nothing but the clothes you stand in and feel like
the biggest success in the world... if you are following your heart.
And that is a very special kind of 'Bliss'. Day after day you may
struggle through your to-do list or Objectives Project Plan, cross
off most of the big items, and maybe even feel like you have had a
successful day. But are you barking up the wrong tree? A successfully
completed task doesn't mean a thing if it isn't taking you nearer
your true life goals by following your heart.

So what does it mean to follow the heart?

One way of looking at this is to ask yourself where do I get approval
from? Is it from inside of me, or from others? Where do I find
satisfaction? Do I find it in things and other people, or in the
silence I find inside myself? These are difficult questions. It may
be that you cannot even think of a time when you experienced silence
within. That may be because you are too busy chasing after things
that make too much noise! There is nothing "deadly serious" in the
act of looking for inner silence. In fact, it leads to more fun, not
less. More delight, not more depression or burn-out. It also leads to
more success. Because the strength you take from inner silence
restores the ability to see what is truly valuable. Friendship, love,
compassion and commitment to something bigger than oneself.

Imagine yourself on your death-bed, if that isn't too depressing!
What will you look back on as the successes in your life? When was
the point at which you redefined success and failure, and realized
that the only real yardstick is within you?

Success is not an event. Success is an attitude. We can gain this
attitude by sitting with ourselves, without distraction, without
thirst. We are all we really have and becoming comfortable with this
is to be. If we learn to be with ourselves the things we chase become
irrevalent for we realize those things are not outside of us, but
within us. When we learn tranquility, success arises in all the
moments of our days.

One of my favorite things these days is to hear the breeze blowing
the wind chimes, to feel the sun on my face and sit quietly - to be.
In those moments I realize I have never really failed, just grown.

Have a wonderful day and hold this thought - Until you make peace
with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.

Peace and Love, Jim

Why. . .

Good Morning,

I thought i would end the week on a lighthearted note. My new
business cards have my title listed as "Mythbuster" and it makes me
laugh. Over the years I have gained the reputation of of a "why guy",
someone who incessantly asks questions and ponders reasoning. In that
spirit I share some of my silly private musings and questions. In the
end I have found that we learn more and gain more by asking questions
instead acting like we have answers. Have a beautiful weekend!

What's the difference between a novel and a book?

How old are you before it can be said you died of old age?

If nobody buys a ticket to a movie do they still show it?

If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the
center of the earth?

If you have a cold hot pocket, is it just a pocket?

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Why is it said that an alarm clock is going off when really its
coming on?
Why did Sally sell seashells on the seashore when you can just pick
them up anyway?

In libraries, do they put the bible in the fiction or non-fiction
section?

Why are both of Spongebob's parents round like sea sponges while he
is square like a kitchen sponge?

Does a two-humped camel store more water than a one-humped camel?

If you pamper a cow, do you get spoiled milk?

If they have angel food cake on earth, do they have people food cake
in heaven?

Why do you put two cents in when its only a penny for your thoughts?

Can you cry underwater?

You know the signs on restaurant doors? No Shirt, No Shoes, No
Service? what if someone goes in with No Pants? Would the restaurant
still have to serve them?

If a doctor suddenly died while doing surgery, would the other
doctors work on the doctor or the patient?

Why do we sing "Rock a bye baby" to lull our little ones to sleep
when the song is about putting your baby in a tree and letting the
wind crash the cradle to the ground?

Why do we say we're head over heels when we're happy? Isn't that the
way we normally are?

If the Wicked Witch of the West melts in water... how did she ever
bathe?

If bald people work as chefs in a restaurant,do they have to wear
hair-nets?

How can Darth Vader breathe and talk at the same time?

When the French swear do they say pardon my English?

Do people who use sign language see little hands in their head when
they think about what somebody said, or do they hear the words in
their head?

How did Walt Disney figure out how to make people pay to stand in
lines all day?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that
something new to eat will have materialized?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion
stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why are the adjectives 'fast as' and 'slow as' often used in
conjunction with hell, is hell slow or fast?

Why does every Abraham Lincoln impersonator sound the same, even
though there are no known audio recordings of the man?

How's come people tell you to stay a kid for as long as you can. Yet
the moment you do anything childish or immature they tell you to grow
up.

Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs? Rabbits don't lay eggs.

When Atheists go to Court, they can't swear on the bible, can they?

If you dig a hole through the center of the earth, come out on the
other side, and then let go, would you be falling down or floating up?

Could someone be addicted to counseling? If so, how would you treat
them?

If ketchup is good on french fries, how come it isn't good on mashed
potatoes?

Where do all the daylight savings hours go?

Why when people ask you "what three things would you bring with you
on a desert island?" no one ever replies, "A BOAT."

Why are elderly people often called "old people" but children are
never called "new people"?

Why doesn't broccoli come in a can?

AND FINALLY. . . .

Why does it say do not use before work with heavy machinery on the
back of children's tylenol? I mean..really could we save that many
people by getting those darn five year-olds with head colds off those
forklifts!

Peace and Love, Jim

The Day

Good Morning,

Today is my birthday and when it rolls around I always seem to sit
down and stock of my life, where I have been, where I am, and where I
am headed. It is an irresistible urge and I give in to it every year.
This year i have noticed that the ritual is not as important and I
have no real desire to look back and the future will get here with or
without me. I have genuinely come to appreciate each day for the
power of opportunity it provides. So today I celebrate life, the good
and the bad. I celebrate the successes and the failures, the tender
moments and the painful ones.

Today I celebrate the day.

This is the most important day in my life. Because this is the day I
am now living.
When my life is headed in an undesirable direction, this is the day I
can change it. If there are goals I am longing to fulfill, this is
the day I can follow them.
This day, right now, is the day when I can put to use all the
knowledge, experience and wisdom I've accumulated. On this very day,
I can do the things I've been meaning to do and connect with the
people I've been meaning to see.
On this day, I have a world full of choices. On this day, there are
more possibilities than ever before.
Of all the days I've ever lived, and of all the days to come, this is
the one special day that now matters the most. For it is on this very
day that I can now think and speak and act and love and live.

As a gift to each of you, give yourself a quiet, peaceful moment, and
grasp the immense value that is all of ours on this very day. Then
step forward and fill it with beautiful life.

Namaste, Jim

Learn

Good Morning,
Each day I learn more than I teach;

I learn that half knowledge of another's life leads to false judgement;

I learn that there is surprising kinship in human nature;

I learn that it's a wise person who knows his own self;

I learn that what we focus on we get;

I learn there's much good in this world;

That age is a question of spirit; that youth is the best of life no
matter how numerous the years;

I learn how much there is to learn.

Peace and Love, Jim

Successs

Good Morning,

Last evening we (the design team) attended an awards gala recognizing
the best of design in the Southeast. I personally ran into many
friends and colleagues and each commented on how successful we seemed
for such a small and relatively new firm. Many wondered what our
secret was and inquired as to how they could bring a little more
success into their operations. Aside from having the best team I
could ever wish for, success is something we all must define for
ourselves both personally and professionally.

Real success is never a matter of getting what we want. After all, a
newborn infant with a loud cry can accomplish that. Success comes
from fully being who we are, from giving our own unique value to
life. Success is not about acquiring things or even recognition. It
is understanding that the less we need, the more fulfilled, powerful
and effective we are. As our effectiveness increases, so does the
energy we put into each moment and situation. This leads us to
success and opens the doors for great possibilities. . . if we can
only sustain ourselves this way in each moment.

Of course their are bumps in the road and distractions are a part of
life. We can choose not to let the issues of life distract us by
keeping in mind that all things in life are never permanent. The
issues we fret over often pass much quicker if we simply let them go
and take their natural course. If we always try to control every
moment, every issue or distraction then we lose focus on the real
objectives.

Today is a great day to stop fretting so much about whether or not
we're getting our way. Seek instead to relax your judgment, and find
the unique value that is in each moment. We cannot ever fully control
everything that happens, and the fact is we would not want to do so
(what a job!). Enjoy true success by learning how to take whatever
happens and working with it for the good of all concerned.

Have a beautiful day and hold this thought - You are the embodiment
of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your
circumstances you need only change your thinking and the actions that
follow.

Peace and Love, Jim

Thirst

Good Morning,

I once had someone describe life to me as a thirst. . .that we are
always in a state of wanting and that this was quite natural.
Although it may be natural, I challenged the thought back with this
simple notion - which drink tastes better, the drink you gulp down
after prolonged periods of thirst, or the one sipped slowly and
enjoyed over time with friends? Of course never having a thirst at
all would be the greatest, but for may of us that is not yet attainable.

The good things in life are infinitely more enjoyable when we avoid
becoming dependent on them. If we see ourselves as desperately
needing something, the fear of losing it prevents us from getting
full benefit from it. Many of life's frustrations come from being
unable to fully enjoy the good things that are already right in front
of us.

The desire to hold on tightly to the things you have can make those
things virtually worthless. Security is not attained by hiding away
from life. Our most enduring form of security is found in knowing
that we can deal successfully and with whatever may happen. Life's
treasures become useless when they remain locked inside a vault of
our own making. What good is it to have anything of value if we must
live in fear of losing it?

Today realize you are not so thirsty, that you have what you seek.
Take the treasure that is your life out into the world and enjoy it.
Focus on the possibilities and not on the fears. The more we think we
need, the more those needs will hold us back. The more we choose to
give and to live, the more good things we'll find coming our way.

Have a beautiful day and hold this thought - Thoughts of distant
waters never quenched anyones immediate thirst.

Peace and Love, Jim

Problems

Good Morning,

Many times on my job the team is faced with what appears to be many
problems (I think they may even see me as one at times!). We do not
have all the answers, the client is not understanding the work, or we
internally have preconceived notions that need to be cleared away. I
have also noticed how each of us handles them differently, Some of
get upset, some of us expect it to be the way it is, and others
simply set in silence. Life will always have it's circumstances, how
we perceive them is what makes all the difference. When something
does not turn out as we expect, or someone challenges us to look
deeper, work harder or start again do we automatically label it a
problem?

If you don't want to be burdened with problems, then don't create
them. Instead, use the exact same circumstances to create
possibilities. Whether or not something is a problem depends on the
way you respond to it. As such, you can choose a life filled with
problems or a life that's free of them. Certainly there are difficult
and challenging situations that come your way on a regular basis. But
is there anything to be gained by turning them into problems?

Choose instead to transform those difficulties and challenges into
opportunities. Know that there is always a realistic and workable
way, and commit yourself to finding it.
Rather than being weighed down by problems, you can be energized by
possibilities. Instead of fighting against what you don't want, you
can be working toward what you most sincerely desire.
Free yourself from problems by never creating them in the first
place. Focus your energy on the positive possibilities and bring the
best of them to life.

Have a beautiful weekend and carry this thought - It is not because
things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not
dare that things are difficult.

Peace and Love, Jim

Point Of View

Good Morning,

If you took your hands off the steering wheel of your life and
allowed yourself to relax and become a passenger, what would happen?
What would your life be like if you set aside the need to control
reality and embraced all that arises in your life in any given
moment? Are you ready to discover what's really driving your life?

If we look closely with conscious and compassionate investigation we
discover that our lives are typically defined by a series of points
of view. If we look deeper at these points of view, we realize that
they are nothing more, there is nothing solid or truly definite about
our points of view. We can genuinely embrace this then we
naturally relax and release ourselves from their hold. The result is
an effortless joy, a serenity and insight into our own awakened state.

There is a tremendous evolution happening all over the planet. People
everywhere are learning to question their minds and assumptions to
discover the possibility of who they really are. Our points of view
can be compared to filters through which all of life gets siphoned
through and colored according to our view. If we take up the job of
looking closely at the mental, physical, emotional and energetic
levels where these points of view manifest themselves, we can learn
how to liberate even our most deeply held convictions that obscure
our true nature.

When we stop dreaming, and filtering and ask ourselves who/what is
really behind the wheel, we embark on a journey towards incurable
sanity. This kind of honesty is our ticket to a liberated mind that
can soar and comprehend all that life gives us. We become available
and awake not only for ourselves, but others as well. This key
honesty gives us the ability to understand and share what's alive in
us without using points of view or criticism. We become better
equipped to share what makes life wonderful for us and in the end we
create a better life for everyone.

Have a thoughtful day and remember this - Representation of the
world, like the world itself, is the work of people; they describe it
from their own point of view, which is often confused with the
absolute truth

Peace and Love, Jim

Listening

Good Morning,

Have you ever heard someone speak in an impassioned way and found yourself inexplicably moved, not just by what they were saying but from how it was said? Many research studies have shown that the words we use with each other contain only a portion of the information we transmit. much of our communication - especially at the emotional level - comes through the direct sound of our voices.

I have found that listening is a valuable when it comes to insights and discoveries. The spoken word transmits the fullness of being and nuances of meaning that simply can not be communicated in any other way. Really listening  means not just hearing the words, but hearing what those words are pointing to. When one can manage this we are open to a greater understanding, we can commune freely on the river of intelligence that flows directly through us and others.

The simple act of listening is not actually so simple after all. Like any other skill worth learning it takes practice. Attention to others is a quality of relaxed alertness that we can progressively sharpen and attain. In so doing we can truly "meet" one another and understand the wisdom that comes from bringing ourselves, our hearts and our minds together.

Have a beautiful day and carry this thought -  The feeling of separation from other others and the world is an illusion, it is by truly listening that we dissolve the illusion  and connect with the understanding that flows through us all

Peace and Love, Jim

New World

Good Morning,

I have spoken with many people who seem to express that the times we
live in now are some of the most difficult and troublesome we have
have ever had. Yet I tend to to feel that we are at a real turning
point in our world. We have great opportunities for change and
progress. Every day I see people awakening to the call for a better
and different life.

Right now, a new world is being born. It is a world filled with
brilliant possibilities. In this very moment, people are breaking
free from limitations that once seemed impossible to overcome. All
over the world, difficult challenges are being transformed into
valuable new creations. As this day moves forward, valuable, life-
changing lessons are being learned. New ideas and concepts are being
formulated, tested, improved and put into practice.

People of all backgrounds are finding beautiful new ways of
experiencing and expressing what it means to be alive. Positive and
enriching values are being shared, and communities are emerging to
sustain and promote those values. So much attention is paid to the
difficulties in this world that we often forget what else is going
on. In fact, what else is going on is an immense expression of love,
life and joy that grows more firmly entrenched with each passing moment.

Truly a new world, with more opportunity for joy and fulfillment than
ever before, is coming to life right now. Open yourself to it, and
live the beautiful possibilities.

Have a wonderful day and hold this thought - Nothing limits
achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like
unleashed imagination.

Peace and Love, Jim

Now That You're Here

Good Morning,

This is the moment you've been moving toward ever since the day you
were born. The world you see in front of you now is the world you've
long been expecting. Now that you're here, perhaps there are some
things that you find to be disappointing. Look beyond the
disappointment, though, and you'll see so very much more.

You'll see within yourself a lifetime of experience that's more
extensive now than ever before. You'll see opportunities for making
use of that experience to create new unique and meaningful value.
You'll realize that no matter how much you've already done, there is
always some new gift that you can give to life. You'll understand
that no matter what may have happened before, there is always a way
to move positively forward.

Now that you're here, you can learn from the past and begin to create
the future. Now that you're here, you can think and feel and dream
and act in accordance with your most treasured purpose. You've
traveled through a lot of living to get to this moment. Now is when
you can truly fulfill the best of your possibilities.

Have beautiful day and carry this thought - What we are today comes
from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our
life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.

Peace and Love, Jim

Reality

Good Morning,

I can't say that I see or am surrounded by unhappy or miserable
people. I can say that I see people in various situations or phases
of life that bring them a certain level of unhappiness (including
myself). In almost each of these instances it is our expectations,
wants or the fact that we get neither that cause us to be displeased.
If we find ourselves unhappy with what we already have, then getting
more is not going to make things better. Instead of fighting against
what is, we need to make full and loving use of it. Instead of
striving for what we think we lack, we can simply change our
thinking. Realize that where we are is a great place to be.

At some point we all feel that something is missing in our life? Most
likely, the only thing really missing is our commitment to fully
accept and live the life that is already here. That life comes to us
in the people, places, things, events and situations that flow
through our lives each day. The way to connect with it is through
sincere and sustained attention, gratitude and understanding (do you
know what drives your desires?)

Be truly thankful for it all, for the ups and the downs, the
pleasures and the pains, the progress and the setbacks. Joyfully
accept what is, and you'll surely find the happiness of living a
genuine life.

Have a beautiful day and carry this thought - There are some people
who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and
then there are those who turn one into the other.

Peace and Love, Jim