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* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter *
Issue # 620, Week of July 26-27, 2010
Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com
In this issue:
-- Quotes of the Week
-- Recommended Resource of the Week
-- Article: Escaping the Matrix - By Edwin Harkness Spina
-- Article: Obstacles to Manifestation: Procrastination - By Laura B. Young
-- Book Review: The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems - By Ronald D. Siegel
-- Brief News of the World
-- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter
Current Subscribers - 284,175 subscribers
Removal instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter.
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*** Quotes of the Week ***
------------------------------------------------------------ I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. - Oprah Winfrey, 1954-present Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. - Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862 There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way. - Christopher Morley, 1890-1957
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*** Recommended Resource of the Week ***
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| * Amazing "NEW" Resource
For Working Moms . . . * Finally! A leading woman exec (MaryEllen Tribby, Former CEO of Early to Rise & President of Weiss Research) shows you how to work without guilt! And be a better wife and mother because of it! Who says that a working mom has to short change her hubby and kids? Or feel guilty about her job? No way, not anymore! Make more money and spend more time with your family!
Get her free report right here. |
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*** Article: Escaping the Matrix - By Edwin Harkness Spina ***
------------------------------------------------------------ The Matrix was one of the most popular and thought-provoking movies of all time. Viewers all over the world were captivated by the film's primary message: People get into deep trouble when they mistake what they perceive for reality. What most viewers do not realize is that prior to the release of this groundbreaking film, western intelligence agencies were already using the term "the Matrix" to describe today's world. This was in contrast to their work with remote viewers, who would "escape the matrix" to gather intelligence. Art truly does imitate life. In the movie, the Matrix is an elaborate Artificial Intelligence computer simulation that's so captivating that people mistake it for reality. People perceive they are walking about and interacting with others, but their physical bodies are actually submerged in fluid-filled pods, "plugged into" the Matrix, while their vital life force is harnessed to power the Matrix. After Neo (Keanu Reaves) learns the truth, with the help of Morpheus's (Lawrence Fishburne) training, he is able to overcome his misconception that the Matrix is reality. Neo rebels against the machines that create his false reality and, eventually, he escapes the limitations of the Matrix. To others, he has developed superhuman abilities, but, "in reality," he has merely recognized the truth. Escaping the Matrix is a metaphor for the mystic path to enlightenment.
The Matrix can be defined as the world that we perceive, which includes the physical world, as well as higher planes of emotions and thoughts, which also affect us. Within the Matrix, are countless fear-based thoughts and emotions that condition us to accept limitations. We are taught that we have little power, and what little power we do have, we are advised to delegate to authority figures and experts. Swimming in a sea of negative thoughts, we are prompted to use our creative ability to imagine even more negative thoughts. Without introspection, the Matrix gets darker and more dense. Anyone who blindly accepts these prevalent, negative thoughts will have his or her life path dictated by the Matrix. But those who recognize that it is our collective thoughts and beliefs that power the Matrix will recognize the way out. When we incarnate on earth, we temporarily forget the higher truth of who we are. Our life mission is to remember, to connect with our innermost self, so that we may transcend the Matrix. The reality we perceive with our senses is not the true reality, but merely a small portion of reality, masquerading as the whole. But, unlike the "alternate reality" that Neo must extricate himself from, in our "reality," there is no need to rebel. Rather, our goal should be to transcend. We want to "be in this world, but not of it." The outer world is a reflection of our inner thoughts and beliefs, whether individual or collective, which have been conditioned by our experience in the Matrix. Consequently, the Matrix is a learning environment, where we get feedback on how our thoughts manifest. Thankfully, our negative thoughts do not (typically) manifest instantaneously. Otherwise, we would risk the spontaneous destruction of our world by thinking negative thoughts. Clearing yourself of negative energies through daily meditation can provide a direct link to the "ultimate reality," i.e., the pure consciousness residing within each of us. As your negative beliefs are purified through regular contact with the "light" of your divine nature, unhealthy emotions, such as fear and anger, will naturally begin to diminish, and you'll be free to transcend to higher states of consciousness. You will "download" more of your own true self, while simultaneously and automatically attracting others of similar vibration. Your world will become more synchronistic. You will repel angry, fearful people, and those who stick around will become calmer and more centered. You will radiate love. By simply being in higher consciousness, you will have a greater effect on the world than the most gifted orators and political leaders.
The higher your consciousness and energy are vibrating, the faster your thoughts will manifest. When you align with your innermost self, you are aligned more closely with the Source of all creation. At the apex of your individual consciousness, you are connected with The One. You then have at your disposal the entire universe to help you manifest the highest good for all.
In actuality, we are single points of awareness in the Oneness that is Reality. What we interpret as the physical world is the projection of this awareness, which is taking place in the Mind of God. We are, as Shakespeare pointed out, merely "actors" in a divine play. When we wake up to this knowledge, the play does not stop. We are free to act or interact, in bliss and peace, unattached to the Matrix. We have within us the power to create "heaven on earth." To prepare for your escape, please visit Energy Center Clearing. ** To comment on this article or to read comments about this article, go here.
About the Author:
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning, visionary thriller, Mystic Warrior, a contributing author to the bestseller, 101 Ways to Improve Your Life, and the developer of Energy Center Clearing. Relieve stress, overcome fear, eliminate anger and connect with your true self with a free 5-lesson e-course at http://www.EnergyCenterClearing.com.
| * Amazing "NEW" Resource
For Working Moms . . . * Finally! A leading woman exec (MaryEllen Tribby, Former CEO of Early to Rise & President of Weiss Research) shows you how to work without guilt! And be a better wife and mother because of it! Who says that a working mom has to short change her hubby and kids? Or feel guilty about her job? No way, not anymore! Make more money and spend more time with your family!
Get her free report right here. | ------------------------------------------------------------
*** Article: Obstacles to Manifestation: Procrastination - By Laura B. Young ***
------------------------------------------------------------ When we procrastinate, we put our dreams, our hopes and our yearnings on hold. We put things off under the illusion that we will get to them someday, when there is more of time. We deny fears and postpone action while covering ourselves up with layers of excuses, like an onion. We deny the biggest obstacle holding us back. It is us! So how can we lick that "old devil" called procrastination that allows us to squander so many precious minutes, hours and even days? Delaying what we need to do feeds our fears instead of our courage and passion for life. An old proverb says, "The habit that becomes prevalent in one's life is the one we feed." Where we focus our attention grows stronger and will manifest. If procrastination is your nemesis, recognize how this undesirable trait began by reviewing your life and how the habit of it shows up. Has it littered your path with false starts, broken promises, or possibly weakened your resolve. Have there been missed opportunities as well as the feeling of guilt over lost time? Do you feel stuck? If you do not change the trajectory of your starts and stops nothing you really want will be manifested in your life. Have you lost faith in your ability to follow through? Have you ever wondered how procrastination got started? Although most parents do the best they can for their children, their upbringing greatly influences how they parent. In addition to what they already know, parents have to adjust to the changes inherent with raising a child in a new generation. Due to fear, a desire to protect their children, and do things the "right way," parents are often unaware of how their behavior impacts their children. Parents' beliefs, rules, fears and limits, are projected, which produces a "boxed up" way of life. This is often referred to as "fear based" parenting. Children are like sponges, absorbing everything without the judgment to decide what is right. In addition to what is being passed down by parents, children also are immensely influenced by churches and schools, which require that their teachings be accepted as gospel. A child's natural curiosity, creativity and freedom to question are suppressed in order to fit in, be accepted, or just get by.
To escape those small boxes, rules and beliefs, children claim a little bit of freedom by delay. Small personal victories are won and momentary freedoms are claimed through those delays. They say "later", "in a minute," "in the New Year," etc. These tactics become entrenched in our unconscious as automatic habits or responses to life's requests upon us. Although it gives momentary freedom from the demands placed on us, the habit sabotages our potential for authentic freedom, forever. The early pattern of experiencing a reward in the delay (an attempt to assert control over one's environment) lays the foundation enabling other fears to attach. Once we identify and eradicate the basic pattern, the other fears or attachments organically lose their power. Some of those other fears inherent in procrastination are:
Fear of Success: At a deep level many of us are afraid of success. On the surface we declare we are going for the gold, but that which manifests may be something quite different. You may read more about this subject on my Self-Growth Expert Article: Obstacles to Manifestation - Fear of Success. Fear of Failure: When we list our desires, wants and life goals, we often omit "failure". Not only will we fail, we must fail if we are to risk having passionate lives and manifesting what we desire. This fear is more adequately addressed in my Self-Growth Expert Article: Obstacles to Manifestation - Fear of Failure. Fear of Freedom: Everybody wants it! Freedom must be an inside job. In order to have authentic freedom, responsibility for everything in life as it is at this moment must be accepted. When you arrive at this point you can be free even if the external situation finds you locked in a prison cell. My article on the Self-Growth, Obstacles to Manifestation - Fear of Freedom further discusses this fear. Fear of Change: Since change is the only constant in our lives, why is it so frightening to accept change? So in-grained is this fear, I devoted an entire chapter to it in my book The Nature of Change. You may also find articles discussing change on my website Life Resource Center - Change. Keep a lookout for my next Self-Growth article "Obstacles to Manifestation -- Fear of Change". Although Fear of Success, Fear of Failure, Fear of Freedom and Fear of Change are inherent in procrastination, additional fears such as perfectionism responsibility, criticism and judgment feed the habit of procrastination. These additional fears seem to come later and attach to habits formed earlier. In order to break the habit of procrastination, our first step is intention. We have to make a determined decision that we have had enough of dawdling, avoidance and fear of being responsible in our lives. An intention to break the habit is a beginning. This beginning may cause uneasiness, as there is a strong pull deep within that resists change. The "same" is the familiar; we may not be happy with the familiar but we know how it goes. There is an old Irish proverb that translates to say, "A good beginning is half the work." In order to recover from procrastination -- address one small area whereby you habitually procrastinate. Often we tend to set the bar too high, get overwhelmed and delay. If we want to lose thirty pounds it seems too much to tackle unless we break it down into manageable steps. Pick something that may not have an emotional pull and start with baby sized steps to overcome the habit of procrastination. When we follow through in one area we absorb confidence and positive feelings towards ourselves, which gives us the courage to move to another area. Exponentially changing one habit can be the foundation for many more changes. One shift is rarely just one shift. You will have slip ups, but be patient with yourself. Overcoming procrastination brings you closer to manifesting the life you want. Remember, "There are risks in life one cannot afford not to take." ** To comment on this article or to read comments about this article, go here.
About the Author:
Laura Young, the SelfGrowth.com Official Guide to Manifestation, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCH) devoted to helping people become more of what is possible for them. She draws on almost thirty years of clinical experience, with the last sixteen at Life Resource Center, a Private Practice, she established in 1992. Over time Laura has specialized in Relationships; Life Transitions: Grief Resolution, Stress Management, and the Healing of Adult and Childhood Trauma .She has lead groups with a special emphasis on Women's Creativity Groups. Laura has given numerous presentations, as well as written many articles for local newspapers and regional magazines. Laura's most recent venture has been her book, "The Nature Of Change". This book is the beginning of a dialogue to encourage, uplift and inform the reader. In it, she reaches out to others who may never choose to seek professional help, however they may appreciate having some tools and self-understanding to make necessary life changes.
| * Amazing "NEW" Resource
For Working Moms . . . * Finally! A leading woman exec (MaryEllen Tribby, Former CEO of Early to Rise & President of Weiss Research) shows you how to work without guilt! And be a better wife and mother because of it! Who says that a working mom has to short change her hubby and kids? Or feel guilty about her job? No way, not anymore! Make more money and spend more time with your family!
Get her free report right here. | ------------------------------------------------------------
*** Book Review: The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems - By Ronald D. Siegel ***
------------------------------------------------------------ Mindfulness offers a path to well-being and tools for coping with life's inevitable hurdles. And though mindfulness may sound exotic, you can cultivate it--and reap its proven benefits--without special training or lots of spare time. Trusted therapist and mindfulness expert Dr. Ronald Siegel shows exactly how in this inviting guide. You'll get effective strategies to use while driving to work, walking the dog, or washing the dishes, plus tips on creating a formal practice routine in as little as 20 minutes a day. Flexible, step-by-step action plans will help you become more focused and efficient in daily life; cope with difficult feelings, such as anger and sadness; deepen your connection to your spouse or partner; feel more rested and less stressed; curb unhealthy habits; find relief from anxiety and depression; and resolve stress-related pain, insomnia, and other physical problems. Free audio downloads of the meditation exercises are available at the author's website: http://www.mindfulness-solution.com. Start living a more balanced life--today.
*****
The list price of this book is $14.95. To purchase it from Amazon.com at a price of $10.17, a 32% discount, go here.
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*** Brief News of the World ***
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Positive:
* Pepsi's Refresh Project to Help Oil Spill Region * Pepsi is expanding its popular Refresh Project charitable program to help communities affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The soft drink and snack maker said Thursday it will give an additional $1.3 million in grants next month to projects that will help communities in the five-state region -- Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Go here for the complete news story. * With Crayons, Brushes, an Escape from Alzheimer's * Every Friday morning, students walk into an art class in Atlanta, Georgia. Some look dazed, uncertain in their environment, as if it's vaguely familiar but they can't fully recognize where they are -- until they sit down and begin to draw. The moment their brushes hit the paper, their faces light up. Using bright colors -- yellows, oranges, greens, purples -- they begin to transfer the images from their minds. Sometimes they paint what they want and sometimes they draw the highlighted centerpiece of the day. One week it's vegetables, another week it's hats. As their artworks progress, they look happy, smiling and glancing at their teachers for approval. They're not the only ones who are pleased. Go here for the complete news story. * Young Veterans Making Agriculture Next Mission * After he returned from a deployment in Ramadi, Iraq, Garrett Dwyer, a 24-year-old rancher, hit upon the idea that there was a "goldmine" in people like him. Remembering the military's discipline and leadership skills that help him work his family's 5,200-acre ranch in Bartlett, Nebraska, Dwyer told ABCNews.com that he considered returning veterans an "untapped resource" to power these agricultural communities. Go here for the complete news story.
** For more positive news, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html
Other:
* Heat Wave Puts Spotlight on Lack of Green Space * On a rooftop high above New York City, the temperature hovers around 180 degrees.
"That's the highest temperature I've seen on roofs," Columbia University's Stuart Gaffin said.
But just a few feet away in some plants, it's a relatively cool 110. That's a result of what's called the urban heat island effect, when everything from buildings to sidewalks to rooftops and roads absorb the sun's heat and trap it. Go here for the complete news story. * Tests Predicts Whether Relationships Will Last * A new test can predict whether or not a relationship will last, researchers say. The test uses a word association task often employed to assess racism and bias to reveal what partners really think about each other, even if they don't realize it. Go here for the complete news story. * Big Roman Coin Hoard Found in Britain * One of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever found in Britain has been unearthed in a field in Somerset, southwest England, by an amateur treasure hunter with a metal detector. The stash of some 52,000 mostly bronze coins dating from the third century AD was buried in a large, well-preserved pot close to the picturesque town of Frome. It has yet to be valued. Go here for the complete news story.
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