tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90115152167392299712024-02-01T18:53:50.372-08:00Direct Your Own Life ConsultingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-7346298060712938222012-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:002012-01-20T08:05:12.326-08:00Anxiety: 3 Ways to Identify the Root Cause<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/anxiety.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/anxiety.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-275" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/anxiety.png" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/anxiety.png" title="anxiety" /></a>There
are so many ways that anxiety seems to rear its ugly head in a society
that treasures achievement, sometimes to the detriment of living itself.<br />
<br />
Strong
words, maybe, but i am not here to tread lightly as i have no desire to
coddle anyone when it comes to living victoriously in the love of life.<br />
<br />
It seems as if we are expected to “be” so much, are we not?<br />
<br />
But
sometimes in the very act of becoming, we simply forget to just “Be.”
We allow so many influences, from family and friends, to
society-at-large, to set the tone for our living. We become, then,
filled with an angst that stems from so many voices crying out to us,
seeming in our own heads. It is the call of expectations of all in our
lives who demand that we are “more”, whatever that is.<br />
<br />
More than what? More than who? And more importantly, WHY?<br />
<br />
The
past beacons us, our “so-called” failures beseech us, our ego compares
us and we sink deeper into the abyss, often falling on the weight of
fears of a future that we can not support or even imagine.<br />
<br />
Why are
you anxious? What are the signs and symptoms we should be dealing with
here? And, the real question; Who are you in the process?<br />
<br />
As a
Life Coach, this is the area that seems to be the most pressing for most
i encounter. Anxiety, worry, angst, depression...they are all tied into
a precarious knot that can doom many and even lead few to consider even
taking their own lives.<br />
<br />
But there is always a core that the
anxiety covers and that is the journey we take to discover the beauty of
living in the Present Moment, for here is where all truth lives. This
is the Now Moment that we find a way up and out and into a new way of
living.<br />
<br />
But the ultimate truth is always our own journey that must
be discovered. To truly rid yourself of the anxiety in any situation,
or just in your daily living, you must do some basic self-reflection
steps to have the insight to move forward. Be it with a Life Coach, or
through meditation, or just taking yourself fishing...whatever it takes
to gain some clarity, it needs to be done.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/smell-the-roses.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/smell-the-roses.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-278" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/smell-the-roses.png?w=300" height="238" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/smell-the-roses.png?w=300" title="smell the roses" width="300" /></a>My
father had a peculiar saying that he would spout when Alzheimer's had
taken its grip on him and that was, “Hey, did you stop and smell the
roses?”<br />
<br />
Seemingly out of nowhere, he would interject the saying
into conversations. Now my father would occasionally say that growing
up, usually as a glib saying, but the simple fact is that there is an
ultimate truth here for life. It is a quote that is thrown about so much
that we do sometimes forget its significance.<br />
<br />
A famous golfer,
Ben Hogan, said it beautifully when he said, “As you walk down the
fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one
round.”<br />
<br />
<strong>3 Ways to Begin the Transition Away from Anxiety</strong><br />
<br />
Anxiety
is a far reaching subject, to be sure, but as it was in the theatre, to
get ready for the production of any theatrical production, there are
things that have to happen before we even get to rehearsals. We have to
consider a lot of factors before even choosing the show and consider all
of the elements that go into the production.<br />
<br />
The three ways we begin the process is similar then to getting ready for a show; separation, reflection and connection.<br />
<br />
When
preparing for a show, the separation usually comes from a director
getting with the board of directors to choose a vision for a production
asking such questions such as, do we do a comedy or is a musical good
now?<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/self-reflection.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/self-reflection.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-276 alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/self-reflection.png?w=300" height="226" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/self-reflection.png?w=300" title="self reflection" width="300" /></a>So when it comes to setting the stage for getting to the heart of your anxiety, you must be willing to prepare.<br />
<br />
<strong>Step 1: Separation</strong><br />
<br />
The
goal is to separate ourselves in an atmosphere free from distractions;
yes that means your precious smart phone, tablet or laptop.<br />
<br />
Silence is
golden here.<br />
<br />
Take time for yourself to free yourself from the rush and
crush of life for a bit.<br />
<br />
<strong>The Second Step: Self Reflection</strong><br />
<br />
This
is the step that may be the most heartfelt, or should be. This is you
identifying the root core and being completely honest with who and where
you are in this current moment. Putting all angst aside, you are indeed
present in this moment.<br />
<br />
So in this Now Moment, the worry that brought
you to this point has nothing to do with this moment, so drop it. You
are here, be here completely Now. Do not allow the future that your ego
is painting for you to exist. Make your own rules, which leads us to the
third step.<br />
<br />
<strong>Step 3: Connection or Connectivity</strong><br />
<br />
Such
as is preparation to start the theatrical production, these are the
components that you have identified in your reflection stage that will
move you away from angst; the concepts, people, places and things that
you need to begin the process of looking towards the light that is your
life. This is the process of the understanding that there is always a
way forward.<br />
<br />
In the end, it is a solitary journey that opens
itself up to the resources the Universe provides for those who are
willing to allow for a brighter future. Anxiety is not a way to live in
this Present Moment and has no place here. Let’s begin the process
together for while it is indeed a solitary journey, you are never alone.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Life Coach, teaching the spirit of living in
Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as
an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid
life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in
all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment
with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-81704994687028605172012-01-19T07:11:00.000-08:002012-01-19T07:11:02.025-08:00The Journey of Enlightenment, Part III; The Flow of it All<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/go-with-the-flow.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/go-with-the-flow.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-268" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/go-with-the-flow.png?w=300" height="223" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/go-with-the-flow.png?w=300" title="go with the flow" width="300" /></a>One
would think that flow is all anyone ever really does, as if we have a
choice. But that is the very nature of Flow, we do have a choice and yet
so few seem to exist there within it.<br />
<br />
First, a practical look at the definition and how we apply it to living in the Present Moment.<br />
<br />
The
dictionary definition simply states that Flow is simply the “moving
along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream: "from
here the river flows north" and “The action or fact of moving along in a
steady, continuous stream.”<br />
<br />
There is another definition to flow that many words are not given and that is from a perspective of psychology.<br />
<br />
Flow,
in this instance, is defined as the mental state of operation in which a
person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized
focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.<br />
<br />
Proposed by<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi"> Mihály Csíkszentmihályi</a>, the<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology"> positive psychology</a> concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.<br />
<br />
According to Csíkszentmihályi, flow is completely focused<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation"> motivation</a>. It is a<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-minded" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-minded"> single-minded</a><a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention"> immersion</a> and represents perhaps the ultimate in harnessing the<a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotions" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotions"> emotions</a>
in the service of performing and learning. In flow, the emotions are
not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned
with the task at hand.<br />
<br />
<strong>To be caught in the ennui of depression or the agitation of anxiety is to be barred from flow.</strong><br />
<br />
The hallmark of flow is <em>a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task</em>, although flow is also described as a deep focus on nothing but the activity – not even oneself or one's emotions.<br />
<br />
Colloquial terms for this or similar mental states include: to be on the ball,<em><strong> in the moment, present, in the zone, wired in, in the groove, or owning.</strong></em><br />
<br />
What
is important to note from the standard definition of moving along or
out steadily and continuously in a current or stream and the flow of
complete focused motivation, the single-mindedness of it all, is the the
principle of advancement in a natural and creative expression of
nature. The river flows as it does and when we embark on a Flow within
ourselves, we become a joyful creature, a true force of nature that
moves at a constant and ever-evolving persona of love.<br />
<br />
Flow
becomes who we are and embodies our journey. There is nothing that
determines how we flow or the way we should flow; We Just do in a way
that is natural to us.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dam-flow.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dam-flow.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-269" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dam-flow.png?w=282" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dam-flow.png?w=282" title="dam flow" width="282" /></a>Here
is where flow is interrupted, and it is at the core of the three step
process of Release, Let Go and Flow. At the very heart of the process,
there is a Dam that has blocked flow. Something that you have allowed in
your life. For what ever reason that it has served you at the time,
your Dam has stopped you from your true nature; the very art of Flowing
into each new Now Moment.<br />
<br />
As a kid, i witnessed the awesome power
of the Mississippi River as storms caused it to leave its banks most
every Spring. You see, the government, in its infinite wisdom, devised a
series of dams along the river to "contain" the flow of the mighty
Mississippi River.<br />
<br />
Not so much.<br />
<br />
When nature would intercede
and the river would leave its banks, i was often amused as to the news
reports of the damage that was caused because of the river doing what it
was supposed to do, the very act of flowing. All of a sudden the river
is a destructive force, but it was the very act of the government trying
to control nature that was at the core of the destruction.<br />
<br />
When
nature decides to do what it does, we are simply in the way. Such is the
nature of flow and the self-imposed Dams of life are at the heart of
anxiety, worry and fear.<br />
<br />
You see, we are creatures of flow that
are supposed to have a natural rhythm, an ease to the way of living. If
you have Dammed up your flow, then you must undo the unnatural aspects
of your nature and return your life back over to you.<br />
<br />
You must Release by forgiving.<br />
<br />
You
must Let Go by truly forgetting and deciding that you are the only one
responsible for you; that no one else has input unless it is from a
mentoring point-of-view that guides, but never insists on its own way.<br />
<br />
You
must then let nature, the very nature of who you are as an individual,
allow Flow into each Present Moment alone, for therein lies your
eternity.<br />
<br />
Life truly begins when you have learned that the nature
of Flow allows the very truth of who we are as eternal beings to enter
and create our reality. For we are Love and from Love, all extends
outward. Love is the creative force for all that we are and for all that
we are to become.<br />
<br />
Flow is Love and it is our nature to live free within the Flow.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-68359595394325875502012-01-18T10:26:00.000-08:002012-01-18T10:26:36.507-08:00Enlightenment, The 3 Steps, Part II: The Letting Go<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgive-and-forget.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgive-and-forget.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-262" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgive-and-forget.png?w=300" height="246" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgive-and-forget.png?w=300" title="forgive and forget" width="300" /></a>Have you ever heard anyone say, I forgive such and such but i will never forget it?<br />
<br />
It
is like going to a family function that most dread during any holiday
season. You have grown and matured and maybe even have a larger view of
the Universal Way than most in your family, and this is not an egoic
statement, but a journey that you just understand that you have taken.<br />
<br />
But
you get home and all you hear from your family is how you failed at
this as a kid or did this stupid thing or that stupid thing. You know,
the natural process of growing up and learning what works and what
doesn’t for yourself that we all go through, but somehow has not been
branded on you as an anchor against moving forward.<br />
<br />
It is as if
your family, no matter how much you have grown and developed, can’t “let
it go.” Family members and old friends, (but it seems that they are
sometime a bit more progressive) are hell-bent on keeping you forever
that little snot-nosed little kid that couldn’t do anything right.<br />
<br />
Even
Jesus said as much when it was discussed about when he went home when
he was on his earthly mission. The townsfolk said, “Isn’t this the
carpenter’s son? Come on, nothing good has ever come from our town.”
Which led to the saying that a prophet is neglected even in his own home
town.<br />
<br />
The point is, as was discussed <a data-mce-href="../2012/01/17/enlightenment-3-steps-to-see-the-beginning-of-the-journey-part-1/" href="http://directyourownlife.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/enlightenment-3-steps-to-see-the-beginning-of-the-journey-part-1/">in the last post</a> about releasing, the forgiving of those parts of your past that have kept you tied in the past, might have been the easy part.<br />
<br />
Even
though the emotions of forgiveness are not always easy and must be
dealt with, how can you truly know if you have been successful in
completely forgiving?<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/letting-go.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/letting-go.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-261" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/letting-go.png?w=251" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/letting-go.png?w=251" title="letting go" width="251" /></a><strong>That is the essence of step 2; Letting Go.</strong><br />
<br />
We
began with the picture of a family reunion and most understand as they
have been there. Families have a pecking order and no matter how much
you achieve, you always will be that kid who did the thing that everyone
talks about to keep you forever reminded where you came from.<br />
<br />
To
really move forward, to find that enlightenment that must become your
Now Moment reality, you must Let Go. You must Forgive AND Forget; You
must Let Go.<br />
<br />
At the core, Releasing and Letting Go seem to be very
similar in nature but they are a continuation upon one another. You
can’t Let Go if you have not forgiven yourself, first, and then the
person or situation second.<br />
<br />
There is a great quote from Tina
Turner where she says, <i>“Sometimes you've got to let everything go -
purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is
bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're
free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.”</i><br />
<br />
The process
of Letting Go is really just that; purging of all that has held you
back and at the core of that is, indeed, forgiveness of yourself and
others.<br />
<br />
This is the truth of allowing joy to come into your soul.<br />
<br />
Accept
responsibility for yourself and don’t be a victim to anyone's idea of
you and who you should be based on a now-gone past that has no barring
on this Now Moment. Yes, it existed but it was as is the wake of a boat,
it merely shows you where you have been, it should never be an anchor
to keep you there.<br />
In the end, it as as the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu says, “He who knows himself is enlightened.”<br />
<br />
You
must Forgive and you must Let Go, for here is the beginning of all
understanding. Then, as we will discuss in Part 3, Flow, will become
your natural state of being<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong><br />
.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-26654892730359912572012-01-17T08:55:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:55:30.100-08:00<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/laura-dern.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/laura-dern.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-253" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/laura-dern.png?w=223" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/laura-dern.png?w=223" title="laura dern" width="223" /></a>There
is an interesting show on HBO, by the very name, Enlightened. In this
show, a once high-powered executive, played brilliantly by Laura Dern,
has a breakdown and is committed to a rehab clinic where she has an
Enlightened moment of Supreme Consciousness.<br />
<br />
Supreme Consciousness
is as if, for a brief moment, (and that is what these moments are many
times) a peace and serenity comes over your being. Your every waking
moment from that point onward then becomes a re-creation of that moment
in your expression of living.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, as Laura Dern’s
character comes to find out, everyone is not on the same path as you,
and it is unfathomable how anyone could not understand the journey as
you are living it. I mean, it is very clear that enlightenment must be
something that everyone desires, right? How is it that your new found
place in the Universal Stream is not something desired by all?<br />
<br />
This,
then, becomes the disconnect. This, then, becomes the reason your ego
steers you clear from “those” types, for it is not normal, this
“enlightened” nonsense, and you certainly don’t ever want to be seen as
“not normal”.<br />
<br />
Right?<br />
<br />
It has always fascinated me how the
media paints "normalcy." But here is the thing...it is a moving target
that changes by the shifting sands of time and societal nuances. The
normal of today becomes the old-fashioned thinking of yesterday, and
sometimes virtually overnight. If you want to see that really played
out, look at computer magazines from merely five years ago. Heck, go
back two years, that should do it. The computing world has changed so
dramatically that simply having a cell phone two years old makes you
outdated.<br />
<br />
The same goes for normalcy as we define it. What does this have to do with enlightenment and the steps to begin the journey?<br />
<br />
Everything,
for you see this is a journey that leaves the boundaries of normalcy
behind, for you are desiring a state of joy. Joy has no boundaries and
is never out of fashion. Enlightenment is that journey that always
begins within and creates change in a way that becomes your normal,
without.<br />
<br />
But many fear this journey because of the ego. In your
attempts to reconcile even a fraction of enlightenment with your world,
you must deal with the egoic world around you and that is the arena that
the ego so delights in taking charge for it has had so much experience
with it.<br />
<br />
So there is this constant battle between the ego,
future-based, whats-in it for-me thinking, and enlightenment, the
serve-humanity-become-a-creature-of-love-in-all-circumstances thinking.
This is definitely two words that cannot coexist in any way and to
delude yourself into thinking that you can make them “play nice”
together is a thinking that shall not bode well for you.<br />
<br />
There is a
fork in the road and no part of one can go with the other.
Enlightenment and the ego are not partners, friends or symbiotic
entities that could serve one another.<br />
<br />
So the three steps, as alluded in the <a data-mce-href="../2012/01/16/enlightenment-how-do-you-begin-the-journey/" href="http://directyourownlife.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/enlightenment-how-do-you-begin-the-journey/">previous post</a>, are a simple easy-to-remember trio of Release, Let Go and Flow, but living them is not so easy to do.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgiveness-freedom.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgiveness-freedom.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-251" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgiveness-freedom.png?w=300" height="116" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/forgiveness-freedom.png?w=300" title="forgiveness freedom" width="300" /></a>Step
1: Providing you have dealt with the ego, if nothing else but to
acknowledge the fact that you have let it be the CEO for far too long,
this is the easiest and yet, at the same time, the most difficult step.
Again, the ego will really rear its ugly head here, but push onward.
Release is really an act of forgiveness; of yourself, of the events,
people, places and things that may have deposited you in this Now
Moment.<br />
<br />
There is no judgement here. It is as it is supposed to be
and there is no desiring anything else to have happened. There are no
“should of’s”, “if only’s” or “what if’s”. There is only Now and it is
the moment that all is well.<br />
<br />
Release and forgive all.<br />
<br />
In the
spiritual realm, forgiveness is the key for really moving forward. All
spiritual doctrines have at their core the very concept of forgiveness.
It is only when they attach some sort of gain or punishment that it
becomes deluded and watered down as an ineffective vehicle for
enlightenment.<br />
<br />
But this is the step that begins the journey in
earnest. This is the basis of the allowing the truth about yourself as a
true child of the Universal Way. Once you have taken this step of
forgiveness, true release can be the only truth that you know. It is as
if you take from your eyes the “rose colored glasses” that people say
when they (their ego) determines that you are living in some “la-la
land” that is the journey of enlightenment. You now see in full color
and the beauty of every Now Moment comes cascading to you.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/highlander.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/highlander.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-252" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/highlander.png" height="141" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/highlander.png" title="highlander" width="110" /></a>For the clients i serve, i use the analogy of the hit program and movies, ‘The Highlander.”<br />
<br />
In
the series, there are those who are immortal, except for one small
exception, other immortals can make them not-so-much by taking their
head and gaining the one who lost their head their soul’s power. The
liner from the show was, “There can be only one” meaning that only one
Highlander was to remain at the end.<br />
<br />
This is the process you must undergo in your path of forgiveness.<br />
<br />
Metaphorically,
you take take the “head” of all the situations in your life that have
held you tied to the past or that has kept the present from advancing
you into the glorious Now Moments that make up your future Now Moments.
You take back the power you have allowed them to have.<br />
<br />
Yes, part
of the forgiving is that understanding that you cannot be a victim here.
Yes, things may have happened that you did not desire, but you are not a
victim, but one who overcomes; one who forgives and moves into the next
step of Letting Go.<br />
<br />
In the next post, we will see how the
blending of these steps set you up to set your foot on the path of
enlightenment, the Flow of it all.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-45784735840125279432012-01-16T06:41:00.000-08:002012-01-16T06:41:19.958-08:00Enlightenment - How Do You Begin The Journey<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/enlightenment2.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/enlightenment2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-243" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/enlightenment2.png?w=300" height="214" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/enlightenment2.png?w=300" title="enlightenment2" width="300" /></a>Enlightened
souls are sometimes so out of step with the seeming existence of
everyone else. One often wonders how they get along in this world. It is
as if, then, enlightenment is reserved for a privileged few and, at
best, the enlightened are a bit quirky.<br />
<br />
However, it is this very
quirkiness that draws us to enlightened souls, is it not? But upon
closer observation, it is the world in which everyone desires to “fit
in” by being as normal as possible is the one out of step. The
enlightened actually live in a realm where their normal is that eternal
state of joy that comes with the connection to Source, the very ebb and
flow of the Universal Consciousness that we are all connected to.<br />
<br />
Now,
before you decide that enlightenment is just some head-in-the-clouds
escapism, let me assure you it is anything but. You see, to truly exist
in joy, you must be ready to rid yourself of certain assumptions that
will forever bind you to the normalcy that exist in the commonality of a
daily existence.<br />
<br />
You must be willing to go deep within yourself
in a way that completely rids yourself of the egoic-nature than binds
you to a world that has kept you in a fog, of sorts.<br />
<br />
One might say
that enlightenment is a journey, first, and an awareness of the
greatness of love from which all life derives. This is not a romantic
love, of course, but a love for the humanity of the souls you travel
with. Love is the vehicle and the place of joy that you see all who you
come into contact with is your journey.<br />
<br />
There is a release when
you lose yourself but here is the journey most don’t seem to desire to
allow themselves. There are so many, the ego with tell you, that will
think this or that of you and you certainly don’t want to disappoint
anyone. There are responsibilities that must take precedent to
pie-in-the-sky thinking. There is life that must be dealt with and you
certainly cant do that in this eternal state of bliss.<br />
<br />
You see the disconnect here?<br />
<br />
It
is as if becoming an enlightened thinker, then, is solely the pleasure
of academia, the artistic elite or one who would escape the masses by
becoming a hermit on a mountaintop. Enlightenment is just not something
“responsible” people do.<br />
<br />
There is turmoil here between the egoic
nature within and the eternal stream of consciousness. However, there
can be only one. There must be a losing of ones self so as to live in
another realm, the ones we were designed to be within from the
beginning.<br />
<br />
So, how do you begin your journey?<br />
<br />
As stated
before, the first step is to really look at the ego that drives you. How
are you serving it, feeding it? (yes, you are serving it, not the other
way around.) This is a real state of self-awareness here as you become
honest with yourself.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, many have become so intertwined
with their ego that to even think of losing it is almost sacrilegious.
It has been heralded as that driving force for success, but really has
nothing to do with passion at all.<br />
<br />
So, number one is the release of the ego.<br />
<br />
You
must think of the ego as an employee of the company known as “You,
Inc.” This company seeks to serve the common good, does it not? However,
the ego has made itself CEO, President, Top Dog, or whatever title you
relate to. Essentially, it has deemed itself in charge of you and you do
whatever it says to make sure the company stays afloat, no matter what
the cost to “You, Inc.”<br />
<br />
Here is the thing...the ego is not in it
for the long-haul and has no interest in the common good or eternity.
The ego cares not about this Now Moment as it uses your past against you
as a way to worry about your future. Good thing it is around, isn’t it?<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-borg.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-borg.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-244" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-borg.png?w=259" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-borg.png?w=259" title="the borg" width="259" /></a><br />
Probably not.<br />
<br />
So,
you must take back your company. Relegate the ego to the mailroom of
“You, Inc.” if you are unable to fire it completely. Maybe you just have
to do it in stages.<br />
<br />
This is the beginning and, beware here, your
ego will tell you that it is needed as CEO, of course, and that you have
too many counting on you to not for it not to be in charge.<br />
<br />
Essentially, the ego is the Borg...<br />
<br />
<strong>”Resistance is Futile!”</strong><br />
<br />
Release,
Let Go and Flow, which we will cover in the next post, will get you to
that place where you can truly begin the process of enlightenment.<br />
<br />
This is the only place where joy lives.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-39141204315216366242012-01-15T06:13:00.000-08:002012-01-15T06:13:51.611-08:00Enlightened Souls And The Enlightened Journey<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/buddha.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/buddha.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-235" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/buddha.png?w=300" height="202" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/buddha.png?w=300" title="buddha" width="300" /></a>Enlightenment
is one of those concepts that seems to be a place that many seem to
venture carefully. I mean, what is it anyway? Always the image of Buddha
comes to mind, meditation and other things “those” people do, but not
“average” people, right?<br />
<br />
I’ve used humor in my life as a way of
shelter me from the storms of life and to get close to people so as to
reach into their souls wherein lies enlightenment.<br />
<br />
What do i mean?<br />
<br />
Well, as an actor, i loved comical roles, for one, i seemed pretty good
at them because of the very reason that depth of soul is more
compelling in making comedy work that drama. When i started directing,
It never failed that I would have a lot of people try our for comedic
plays because people thought they were more attuned to doing comedic
roles. I mean who doesn’t want to laugh, right, and who doesn’t want to
make people laugh. It is a way to connect.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/comedy-script.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/comedy-script.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-237" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/comedy-script.png?w=300" height="245" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/comedy-script.png?w=300" title="comedy script" width="300" /></a>But
you see, comedy, the best comedy, has a soul about it that really
reaches to enlightenment. Think about your favorite comedians. The ones
that really make you laugh are the ones that make you think as well.
They are, in a sense, enlightened and yet, they understand that they
must use comedy to portray that aspect of themselves that thinks on a
deeper level, that part of them that really speaks to the human
condition.<br />
<br />
What, then, is enlightenment?<br />
<br />
It is the state of
being enlightened, essentially, the attainment of spiritual knowledge or
insight. Here is where many fall down. The mere word “Spiritual” in our
society elicits such strong emotions, but at the core of spiritual
pursuits are seldom a religious dogma. Instead, it is the very act of
seeing and desiring to become a vision larger than your ego desires you
to be.<br />
<br />
Enlightenment, then, is that perennial state of growth and
expansion. You should be desiring this state as you journey from this
Present Moment into the next.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pride-enlightenment.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pride-enlightenment.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-234 alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pride-enlightenment.png?w=300" height="219" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pride-enlightenment.png?w=300" title="pride enlightenment" width="300" /></a>There
is an old sales expression that goes, “When you are green you are
growing, when you are ripe you are rotten.” The way it was explained to
me by a sales mentor i once had was that many sales people get to a
point where they think they have seen every sales situation there is
They seem to know everything about sales and people in general.
“Usually,” he would tell me, “these people get to a point that they
stagnate and become disillusioned with the joy of sales. They blame
everyone who they come into contact with, but seldom look at the real
reason in the mirror.”<br />
<br />
What he was telling me was that they
thought they had become enlightened when it came to their profession,
but, in reality, they had stopped growing, learning, and appreciating
the journey.<br />
They had become “ripe.”<br />
<br />
This is a journey you
must take, however. Don’t become “ripe” in your situation. Don’t allow
the ego to tell you that it has everything under control; that you
should just continue on the way you have been, in the rut that seems
well traveled, but safe.<br />
<br />
Let us journey together as we go deeper
into enlightenment and joy, for they are indeed synonymous. In this
series of posts, we shall look at ways to become enlightened and live at
an exceptional level for, therein, is where life begins and thrives.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-57497842450611886052012-01-14T07:49:00.000-08:002012-01-14T07:51:36.910-08:00The Affliction of Worry From Others<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/journey-of-love.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/journey-of-love.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-225 alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/journey-of-love.png?w=300" height="89" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/journey-of-love.png?w=300" title="journey of love" width="300" /></a>Worry kills the spirit of the one it inhabits and infects those around them.<br />
<br />
Why
does this happen that a soul on a beautiful journey of love allows such
an egoic, unhealthy and, very often, irrational look a a future that
does not exist into their very existence.<br />
<br />
Why has worry been given such a place of respect in our world.<br />
<br />
It
is even joked about as a redeeming trait in movies. But there lies the
insidiousness of it, does it not? The idea that it is indeed fodder for
ridicule and yet we allow it to still infect our lives. It as if we are
saying it is funny for everyone else, but, its OK for me. As if somehow
that makes it a great way to carry on in our Now Moments.<br />
<br />
Of
course, that is the point. In the wake of worry there are no Now
Moments, only moments that are somehow "out there" that must be going to
happen, must be dealt with now.<br />
<br />
I could go on for many Now
Moments here, but the most troubling aspect of worry is the way we allow
others to impact our journey with their worrisome attitude. Really,
when someone else worries about you in some situation and projects that
worry on you, it is nothing but their ego rising to control you.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-other-people-think-of-you.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-other-people-think-of-you.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-227" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-other-people-think-of-you.png?w=300" height="235" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-other-people-think-of-you.png?w=300" title="what other people think of you" width="300" /></a>Let me give you an example of a client who recently took a tumble off of a ladder and broke his back.<br />
<br />
Now
this man has an excellent attitude and takes a very youthful approach
to age in general. Well, after he recuperated, he came and saw me and
was having some issues with the thoughts of others that he was allowing
to impact him. Essentially, others were telling him that he should not
go up on the ladder again. I asked him if he desired to, if he enjoyed
getting up on the ladder doing things. He said that he did, that it was
not a chore.<br />
<br />
So we established that it was not something he
dreaded but that he loved to do, he loved being active. I then asked if
others were responsible for his happiness; could they determine his
course.<br />
<br />
He again said no.<br />
<br />
I then told him that others were
simply projecting fear onto him because that is how they would have
handled their fear, more than likely. It even spoke to their wanting to
control him by telling him he was not able to overcome a mere accident.<br />
<br />
After
we finished, he looked back at me as he left and said, “Thank you. I am
so tired of others deciding for me my joy in any moment.” I told him
that it was none of his business what others thought of his actions and,
quite frankly, if he wanted to skydive, it was his business.<br />
<br />
He did go up the ladder again!<br />
<br />
You
see, we have a way of inserting ourselves into the lives of others,
often time in the very name of love and we couch it as “concern" (worry)
for them. But really what is going on, is our ego is impacted by them
and we are always, if ego-driven, looking to protect ourselves by
maintaining that relationship on our terms.<br />
In a way, it is like
when we lose a loved one. We mourn, but it is always about the way we
are affected. If it is someone close, we are affected as to the time
that we no longer will spend with that person in our lives.<br />
<br />
Not that it
is good or bad, here. It just it is what it is.<br />
<br />
But if we grieve
past the normal stages of grief that have been studied from author,
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, when she discusses the <a data-mce-href="http://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/" href="http://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/">Five Stages of Grief</a>, then we must look at the hold the ego has on the very act of living.<br />
<br />
It
is the same when it comes to the influence others have on you if you
base your life on what others think of your actions. To be quite honest,
however, you might be shocked just how little others are thinking about
you. I am always amazed at the amount of ego that is present when
someone is so invested in others thoughts of their actions. Often it is
someone who is very self-conscious and seems very non-egoic, but it is
usually just the opposite. Usually the ego has such a hold on them that
they base every action on the ideas, words and presumed thoughts of
others.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dr-suess-quote.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dr-suess-quote.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-228" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dr-suess-quote.png?w=300" height="201" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dr-suess-quote.png?w=300" title="dr suess quote" width="300" /></a>One of my favorite quotes i use for my clients is one from Dr. Seuss where he says,<br />
<br />
<i><b></b></i><br />
<i><b>“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”</b></i><br />
<br />
It
is your journey. Things are only Bad or Good in the context of the
moment, but it is always your journey.<br />
<br />
No one can worry you better,
angry, happy or any other emotion that others desire to afflict you
with.<br />
<br />
Feel this Present Moment, for it is the only one you have.<br />
<br />
Be your own creation and do not allow others in inflict their egoic natures on you, for they are on their own journey.<br />
<br />
In the end, it really does come down to the fact that what others think of you is, indeed, none of your business...ever!<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <b>Social with this Post</b>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><i>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-47651785025989738752012-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:002012-01-13T07:59:54.670-08:00Life Begins When Worry No Longer Impacts Your Journey<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/worry-free.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/worry-free.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-220 alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/worry-free.png?w=300" height="79" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/worry-free.png?w=300" title="worry free" width="300" /></a>In
such a climate of fear that we have seemed to allow ourselves to arrive
within in this Present Moment of living, one must wonder how it is that
we have come to such a place. How is it that souls of love that we are
all truly destined to become, allow this fear of living, fear of life to
pervade our very existence.<br />
<br />
The common thread, it is my belief, is worry.<br />
<br />
Let
me come at it in a different way than most would. Worry is that common
emotion of the soul that has no place, ever, within us, yet we seem to
excuse it in ourselves and find it repugnant in everyone else.<br />
My, oh my, the ego is a powerful little beast, is it not?<br />
<br />
How
often do we tell someone else not to worry, when that is our
inclination. It is almost as if we are expected to worry about life in
so many ways and if we don’t we, of course, are “flighty” or
“cold-hearted” or we are irresponsible in some way. Imagine that, the
very act of NOT worrying and staying true to who you are makes you
irresponsible.<br />
<br />
Can you imagine if you decided to travel the world
and, because you set out on a journey of self discovery, you are labeled
as irresponsible. Isn’t that the height of responsibility; being
labeled as such when truth is what you desire? Isn’t the very act of
discovering yourself indicates that you are in search of becoming a
better person of love to enrich the human condition?<br />
<br />
If you find
yourself living is such fear as to not make that journey, then merely
look at the program, The Amazing Race, where teams travel around the
world in a short amount of time. What most take from the race who
participate is the journey within that transforms them and their
relationships with not only one another, but with humanity.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/travel.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/travel.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-219 alignright" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/travel.png?w=300" height="252" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/travel.png?w=300" title="travel" width="300" /></a>By
seeing other cultures and participating in tasks that many times test
their assumptions about themselves, the individuals find that their fear
of truly living was baseless. That their worry about life, in general,
was nothing more than the ego’s attempt to “protect” them.<br />
Protect them from what? Not sure, but the ego tells you countless things to worry about in life.<br />
<br />
Really,
however, the journey is from the allowing of love to enter them. Love
of themselves, love of humanity, love of life and love of the journey
within that makes the journey without all worthwhile.<br />
<br />
Worry is so
baseless that it cripples us from truly living life. The sad fact is
that society breeds that fear from childhood on. Oh, I'm not saying that
we aren’t aware of our surroundings but we don’t live in a constant
state of “what if” this or that happens that we have to do this or that
to cover the "what if" to begin with.<br />
<br /> As i said <a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/worry-and-living-with-a-mindful-mission/" href="http://directyourownlife.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/worry-and-living-with-a-mindful-mission/" target="_blank" title="Worry and Living With a Mindful Mission">in the last post</a>,
the ego can play out a scenario to its end based on a “what if” so
compelling that you actually believe it to be. Sometimes even so much as
to manifest the very worry the ego has so cleverly ‘what if’ed” so the
ego can say to you, “See, i told you so.” Then once the ego has you
there, you actually feel guilt about not worrying.<br />
<br />
Do you see the insidiousness of worry?<br />
<br />
There
is another component of worry that really is at the core. The ego masks
it as “making sure you are good with yourself.” It is the “What others
think of me and my decisions” thought pattern as a guide for living
truth in your life that is your journey alone. Yes, we impact others
with our lives, that is the very nature of living. However, if you come
from a place of truth, from a place of love, then you will not be a
concerned how you impact others. There will be no worry about your
actions or the actions of others.<br />
<br />
The very thought that your
belief that others thoughts the ones that you assign to them, about you,
are somehow a determinant for living your life is bizarre.<br />
<br />
However, It happens all the time.<br />
<br />
Someone
gives you a look and you assign that look a series of thoughts, usually
based on experiences from the past of a similar look. So then you get
angry, do something completely different or think a new series of
thoughts all based on a look. The ego goes into full-protection mode to
align you to the world as it sees it, which is not reality at all.<br />
<br />
In
the next post, we will delve into the very nature of the living in such
a Now Moment state of love that there is nothing any one can say to
take you away from your journey. It is a conscious decision, but a
freeing one.<br />
<br />
By the way, the thought you must take from the whole “What others think of me” situation is this:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong></strong></em></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>It is none of your business what others think of you!</strong></em></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just be true to yourself and come from a place of love in all you do and say.</div>
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and be <strong>Social with this Post</strong>,
for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and
discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around
us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="68" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="68" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-68261490074899589072012-01-12T07:21:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:21:34.470-08:003 Steps to Abate Worry and Live Now<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-me-worry.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-me-worry.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-212" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-me-worry.png?w=251" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/what-me-worry.png?w=251" title="what me worry" width="251" /></a>There
is nothing that can invade the mindfulness of a true Present Moment
thinker such as worry. It is that egoic nature that can take the
tranquility of the present Now Moment and give the ego complete and
total charge of all that surrounds your Mission. Worry is that
ever-present reality, it seems, for most as they travel from Now Moment
to Now Moment.<br />
<br />
But why is that?<br />
<br />
In a study i read recently,
it was stated that a mere 8% of things people worried about actually
manifested as reality. I would add that of that 8%, probably most things
were so desired, so worried about, that they were going to happen no
matter what. it is the Law of Attraction in action in a not-so-good use.<br />
<br />
So what does that tell us?<br />
<br />
It
tells us that we are so desperate to desire some unforeseen future that
we will manifest it even to the detriment of our very existence. It
tells us that the ego will go to extreme lengths to keep a hold on you,
because worry is such as life itself. You forget about the actuality of
that which might happen for the understanding that it might happen.
Essentially, most are in such a common place of worry that when one
thing happens that they have indeed worried about, it becomes 100%. It
happened just as you thought it would and now the ego can use it to
bolster its claim on you as the defender of your safety.<br />
<br />
In the
world of theatre, it is as i have seen. An actor has an overall great
performance and one person out of a hundred tells them that they didn’t
like their performance. One person! Guess what happens? That’s correct
my young Jedi, they obsess about the one, not taking into context at all
why that one person didn’t like it, as if it matters. But i have seen a
single bad comment take an actor and make them doubt themselves because
they worry about another comment to the point that their performance
suffers. So the very thing they worry about does indeed manifest.<br />
<br />
Worry,
really then, is all about the ego. The funny thing is that we have all
done it, have we not? Because worry brings forth doubt in ourselves and
our situation, we then define ourselves by the very worry we are in any
moment we decide to commit ourselves to it. Even more bizarre is our
capacity to see others commit themselves to worry and tell them not to.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ego.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ego.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-211" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ego.png?w=300" height="251" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ego.png?w=300" title="ego" width="300" /></a>But
since the ego is really at the heart of worry, how can we make sense of
it all? Worry is a natural part of life, is it not? I mean, our very
existence is given images of worry in every facet of living by our news
media alone. The media feeds on worry and 90% of commercials are worry
about some future event happening in your life if you don’t use their
product. I have even seen a pill you can take in case you might have
heartburn in the future. I am not kidding.<br />
<br />
What is the number one
cause of heart troubles in the USA alone? Stress. What is stress usually
caused by? Worry about some future outcome.<br />
<br />
I had a coaching
client who recently came to a session in tears. Her daughter was in the
midst of a divorce and she was “worried” about the grandchildren and the
long-term affect on them. As i probed deeper, as that must always be
done with worry, it came out that it her daughter’s divorce was somehow a
reflection on her. Her parenting, her life in general. Her ego had so
encased her in worry and how it was somehow an attack on her very core,
that some perceived outcome with her grandchildren was now
keeping her in a state of worry about some unknown future.<br />
<br />
You see
how clever worry is used by the ego? Ultimately, most worry is somehow
an attack on YOU and must be dealt with. Just the absurdity of it all
makes most laugh but it is an ever-present danger within us all if we
are not vigilant in keeping worry at bay.<br />
<br />
Living in the Present
Moment is freedom from worry but takes a conscious effort to rid
yourself of the egoic nature that inhabits the very core of worry.<br />
<br />
<strong>3 Steps to Begin the Process of Ending Worry</strong><br />
<br />
First, when worry is presented as an option, take it to its end.<br />
<br />
What do i mean by that?<br />
<br />
Be
an actor and write the script. Take the object of worry and make a play
out of it, which is what worry is, by the way. The ego makes a whole
play out that you actually believe it to be true. This time, however,
you write it in your head with whatever far-fetched conclusion that
could happen. Make a game of it. There is an old saying that you
“illustrate absurdity by being absurd” and this is what is the intent.
When you see the ridiculousness of all that must happen for the worry to
become manifest, it really is quite amusing.<br />
<br />
Second, decide that
you are going to be ever-present in this Now Moment and that worry will
not determine a future that does not exist. Just the very act of making a
solid commitment will alert you when worry rears its ugly head.<br />
<br />
Third,
acknowledge the egos effort. Now, that might seem a bit strange, but if
you treat the ego as it should be, as nothing more than someone from
the mailroom, instead of the CEO of the company known as YOU, then you
will go far in abating worry.<br />
<br />
The ego will tell you all kinds of
things to supposedly be in your best interest, but what the ego is
trying to do is to be the one who makes all the decisions for you. The
sad part is that most allow the ego to be in charge. Take back the
night, here. The ego HATES Now Moment living and by keeping you in a
constant state of worry about the future gives it full control. Be
better than that. Be ever-present in the Now.<br />
<br />
Worry is the beast
that will rear its ugly head in your life and you must be aware, but it
is a beast that can be eradicated for as Benjamin Disraeli was quoted as
saying, “Worry (the ego) - a God, invisible but omnipotent. It steals
the bloom from the cheek and lightness from the pulse; it takes away the
appetite, and turns the hair gray.”<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>,
and share with your friends, for the more people we have living
successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so,
the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>*******</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><em>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </em><strong><em>@ </em></strong><strong><em><strong><em>directyourownlife</em></strong><strong><em>@gmail.com </em></strong></em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-45253625294803596122012-01-11T12:57:00.000-08:002012-01-11T13:56:01.235-08:00Appreciation for the Mission in The Present Moment<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/gratitude.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/gratitude.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-205" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/gratitude.png?w=300" height="142" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/gratitude.png?w=300" title="gratitude" width="300" /></a>Appreciation
is the core value that manifest a Mission that truly reflects the very
nature of the love of life. Appreciation is that beautiful nature that
can’t be faked or manufactured, such as you see when Hollywood does with
some Thanksgiving feast when a troubled family seemingly comes together
and gives feigned appreciation.<br />
<br />
For as far as i can remember, i
was troubled at something at the way appreciation was portrayed along
with the following season. Don’t get me wrong, it is grand to see people
become Scrooges for if even for a brief season; the part where Scrooge
is transformed, that is.<br />
<br />
But only when i took my journey that has
set me on my Mission to give people back themselves, did i really
understand the depth of appreciation and what it actually does to the
soul. It is my belief that at the heart of the very spiritual concept of
faith is appreciation. It is appreciation that provides the prism for
all of life. It is appreciation for life that we begin to see beyond
ourselves.<br />
<br />
It goes beyond the concepts of forced “thank yous” we
all had to give when our aunt gave us the scarf we didn’t really like,
or some other manifested reason appeared that we should be thankful for.<br />
<br />
It
is in the well-meaning actions of those who loved us that we were given
such a skewed look at the very meaning of appreciation in our lives. So
many times it comes off as a forced look at a guilt reaction of what
someone has done for us. So the appreciation then becomes a bitter pill
you swallow that has no meaning outside of the words you utter. Guilt
becomes appreciation to the ego and resentment often nest deep within
it.<br />
<br />
I see it often times with the very act of gift giving where
someone gives a gift, expects appreciation, which you have been taught
to do, and then proceeds to tell you at some future time, that because
they gave you a gift, that a certain action should now be manifest, be
it love or some supposed show of love. The ego then drills down to the
act of the forced appreciation that you did and begins to feed on the
very act of appreciation as a ploy or ruse and bitterness begins to
accumulate. Love and appreciation are often time so linked that one
would believe that they must coexist together.<br />
<br />
Yes and No. For you
see, if you come from a place of love, appreciation is at the heart of
everything you do, but appreciation must never demand love. Make sense?<br />
<br />
This
is one of the hardest values to really uncover, for most will tell you
that appreciate this and that in their lives, but you can see that
appreciation is not their core. To breech this with clients, i often get
to the very act of gift giving and have found that most have had (or
do) the “weapons of gifts”, as i like to call them, inflicted on them.<br />
<br />
What
i must first get most over is that a gift, defined in the dictionary
as, “A thing given willingly to someone without payment.” is just that.<br />
<br />
In
the spiritual realm it is often why so many have a hard time with a
gift of salvation, in that our ego knows that there are always strings
attached, so there is nothing “freely given.” So getting people past
that attitude and the very act of doing that to others as well, is the
first hurdle. When you can get ego to release the assumptions of gifts,
of giving and of the very nature of appreciation, then we can begin to
give you back your life starting from that point.<br />
<br />
Appreciation is
the core value of the Mission for your life and for living from a place
of love. Here is where we begin to master looking beyond yourself and
seeing that life is indeed a Mission that you are involved in.<br />
Let’s
look at three ways to begin the process of Appreciation, but know that
we have only touched the surface of having a true Attitude of Gratitude.<br />
<br />
In
my morning journal practice, i begin with “thank you thank you thank
you” and i truly mean it. This is the act of preparation to receive from
an attitude of being thankful for all within your life.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-of-gratitude.png" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-of-gratitude.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-206 alignright" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-of-gratitude.png?w=300" height="227" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-of-gratitude.png?w=300" title="attitude of gratitude" width="300" /></a>First,
then, would be to prepare yourself by being thankful form the outset
for EVERYTHING. Nothing must exist within your realm that is not
appreciated.<br />
In the movie, “A Wonderful Life”, George Bailey,
played by Jimmy Stewart, has just discovered that he is back from being
“non-existent” and is running down his little street of Bedford Falls.
As he is doing so, appreciation for every aspect of his little town
spews from his mouth. All of those places he took for granted, now had a
new meaning and he appreciated everything for what it was to him. He
now lived in an attitude of gratitude and in that light he saw his
Mission for living and that he had been on a Mission without really
understanding it.<br />
<br />
Next, after you have truly given yourself over
to appreciation of everything, there is an aspect of release that you
must do. Forgiveness must now be your nature. First yourself, and, then,
all other people, places and things that the ego has told you have
wronged you in any way. This is a process, but one that must take place
to move forward. Living free from here means you can now move beyond
yourself to a Mission mindset.<br />
<br />
Finally, in our simple three step
appreciation appreciation manifestation, is to release worry, which is a
task in and of itself that affects your Mission, the going beyond
yourself to impact humanity.<br />
<br />
In the next post we shall proceed form that point and deal with worry as it is a challenge that must have its own discussion.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a data-mce-href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>,
and share with your friends, for the more people we have living
successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so,
the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a data-mce-href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA
Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit
of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over
35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his
clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from
achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness
of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA
Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-22594579411011582952012-01-10T02:55:00.000-08:002012-01-11T13:52:48.966-08:00The Mission of the Vision<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-mission-values.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-200" height="234" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-mission-values.png?w=300" title="vision mission values" width="300" /></a>Vision was discussed in relation to goals in the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/2012/01/09/mindfulness-and-living-with-vision/" target="_blank" title="Living with Vision">previous post</a> as something to aspire to.<br />
<br />
Briefly we discussed goals as merely a subset of the larger vision of a life with a purpose, a Mission for your eternal pursuits.<br />
<br />
However, in this ego-driven culture, Mission is often left to those ‘starving artist” and those who dedicate their selves to helping those in need in some remote part of the world or in some place of dire need in our own country.<br />
<br />
A Mission often seems to be left to politicians that supposedly have the social good in mind, which we usually discover is seldom the case. Even the very definition of Mission from the dictionary alludes to missions from a standpoint of political and humanitarian efforts.<br />
<br />
Therein lies the disconnect.<br />
<br />
When we look at Mission then in the eyes of a cynical world, and with an ego that is constantly looking out for your own interest, it seems that a Mission is not really something that everyone is involved in, or should be, for far too many have corrupted the very meaning of the word.<br />
<br />
The eternal creator of the universe did not set us adrift to be at the whim of a society that cares not but, in the eternal scheme of it all, desires nothing more than people with vision to lead them into a new age of enlightenment.<br />
<br />
Here is where the ego usually shuts the discussion down as Enlightenment, Vision and Missions are certainly not practical. The egoic mind desires only to keep you forever tied to the past and worried about the future in a way to keep you focused on self-preservation, there will certainly be no talk of a Mission outside of yourself, for that is the very act of acknowledging an eternal presence that has no place in the ego-centric mind. Mission stuff is “out there” and reality is nothing more than your failures of the past and of the future, which is always to be worried about.<br />
<br />
Often the heartaches of the past, the ego will tell you, would not even allow you to think that YOU, of all people, could have a Mission that could impact the world. This is precisely why you should think of a Mission for your life. Yes, it is tied to Vision and the two are usually so interwoven that it seems to be a daunting task to even conceive of it.<br />
<br />
The ego tells you that you are not worthy for greatness, that you cant change the world, that “out there” pursuits are best left to those who are rich, or are crafty or whatever else the ego tells you to disavow that need within divinely given to you to create. The ego is crafty as them all by telling you that until you get to a certain status, income or whatever, that this Mission stuff be best left to those who have the ability to do so.<br />
<br />
In the theatre, there is a much heralded saying that says, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” Of course, it has been misused as a quote used to those who get small parts in a production who desired bigger roles, but the concept is not without merit. I learned that early on when i, too, desired a bigger part and got a smaller role. In a sense, it was that role that turned on a switch for me as i discovered the power of a smaller role and the truth about all parts of a production.<br />
<br />
I even illustrated this point to a cast of actors during a production once. It seemed that they were being a bit disrespectful to the backstage crew, essentially being talent-snobs, as i would call them, and i set out to prove the dynamic of that saying. I told the actors that they would do the show at the rehearsal with the crew watching. As the show progressed, the actors struggled doing all of the things they took for granted that the crew did to make them look good.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/appreciation.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-198" height="183" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/appreciation.png?w=300" title="appreciation" width="300" /></a>It proved a point that those actors learned about appreciation for all who were involved in the show at every level.<br />
<br />
There is even a larger lesson that came from that lesson, and that was appreciation for the Mission in general. The ego is such a controlling core concept that appreciation is lost for living in general. Life is a struggle, the ego tells you, and there is no way to appreciate EVERYTHING.<br />
<br />
This is at the very core of your Mission. Appreciation for the journey and for the freedom to allow the Mission to become you.<br />
<br />
In the next post, come back for the ways to manifest that within yourself and maybe you will find that your Mission has been in front of your eyes without your knowledge.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-78529987239192502372012-01-09T01:13:00.000-08:002012-01-11T13:58:18.804-08:00Mindfulness and Living With Vision<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-steps.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-192" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-steps.png?w=235" title="vision steps" width="235" /></a>As humans with stories that we tell that become our existence, not only do we become those stories, but we use them as a way to define moments lived solely in the future. The future becomes a continuation of the stories and not a place lived in love, a place lacking a Vision or mission. The future is then the ever-present reality of that place we are always striving for in the past.<br />
<br />
While it is mindful to imagine a future filled with things, as it is the human condition to have goals, there is a danger here. Goals are not Vision, but are merely subsets thereof. It is in the bible that the words are penned, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” but here is the distinction.<br />
<br />
As creatures of expansion, as has been given to us by our creator and is the way of the universe, we sometimes mistake Goals for Vision. You can have a goal to make a certain amount of money, but that is just a thing, a tangible object that defines your pursuit.<br />
<br />
But Vision is completely different; the definition, besides the obvious of someone seeing, is:<br />
<br />
1. Unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight: a leader of vision.<br />
2. The manner in which one sees or conceives of something.<br />
3. A mental image produced by the imagination.<br />
4. The mystical experience of seeing as if with the eyes the supernatural or a supernatural being.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-mission.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-193" height="296" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vision-mission.png?w=300" title="vision mission" width="300" /></a>You see, Vision carries an extra dynamic and has all of the component of mindfulness built into it. Vision is that process of not just seeing some thing to be obtained, but really a larger-than-yourself experience to better the human condition.<br />
<br />
Vision carries the very presence of living completely in the Present Moment because, quite frankly, when you think in a supernatural realm, you intrinsically know that there is only this Now Moment to achieve Vision. It seems like a dichotomy, two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory concepts, that cannot possibly work together.<br />
<br />
How can having a Vision to change the world NOT be totally future based?<br />
<br />
For the simple reason that when you release the ego and go outside yourself, there is only a passion that must live in this Present Moment alone. You have only this Present Moment alone to be the person of change, the person of Vision. You must first be that vision for yourself, and then it becomes the driving force for living life.<br />
<br />
In the concept of a theatrical experience, Goals would be like opening a show, Opening Night, while the vision would be to change the way the very experience of theatre is perceived to the people you serve. You introduce art and beauty to a world that maybe had limited, if any, exposure prior to this point.<br />
<br />
That is Vision. To raise the experience of the beauty of art to another level that transcends the Opening Night experience. The Vision then becomes a mission to impact the human condition.<br />
<br />
Remember as you create goals, that it is really about having a Vision for who you are as a person of quality. Be more than merely goals. Become the Vision and lose your ego to the greater good. Then you will truly experience beauty in living, a true love for life.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-54259646030269116202012-01-08T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:12:22.963-08:00Mindfulness: 3 Ways To Allow Mindfulness To Impact the Present Moment<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/bicycle-quote-einstein.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-184" height="79" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/bicycle-quote-einstein.png?w=300" title="bicycle quote einstein" width="300" /></a>Einstein was right, although wasn’t he about most things? You must indeed keep your balance on a bike, but let me carry it one step further as it relates to being mindful. Not only must you keep your balance, you must keep moving forward and be ever mindful of your surroundings as you do so. Unlike driving a car, which many seem to believe they can do a multitude of other things as they drive around, riding a bike is a very mindful event.<br />
<br />
Unlike driving a car which can run over most small obstacles without a concern (of course, many of those small objects, like animals, may not be too excited about your lack of focus), you have to be ever mindful of your terrain, down to the very stick in the road, as you are balancing on two wheels and one slight over-steering results in you seeing what the road looks like in front of you, in a very close and intimate way.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/einstein-on-bike.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-186" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/einstein-on-bike.png?w=246" title="einstein on bike" width="246" /></a>Also, being mindful is being totally connected to the Now-ness of it all. Essentially, we may know where we are going and have plotted our course, but it is in the here and now that the ride happens. If we lose focus for one second, we fall. It is the balance of the moment; the essential mindfulness of the present moment that keeps us forever focused on the immediacy of the journey ahead, for only here can we maintain the safety and security of our ride.<br />
<br />
It is as i have said when putting together a theatre production, Opening Night happens one rehearsal at a time. Such it is in life, the journey happens one Present Moment at a time.<br />
<br />
There is a trend in the business community for laser focus, thankfully getting away from the concept of multitasking. Admittedly, i am one who has been prone to that, having a lot of things going at once. That it is the director in me, i suppose, as i have to be able to see the big picture when directing a show. When watching several performances at once you have to quickly scan for blending elements of the actors so as to blend all performances of a show. It is a gift, so the concept of multitasking seems not out of line, but as i really understand the directing pursuit, i understand that the creator endows each with gifts and that contained within those gifts are the aspect of focus; a singular, laser like focus. That is mindfulness in its purist form.<br />
<h2>
3 Tips to Allow Mindfulness Within</h2>
<br />
1. <b>As stated, like riding a bike and producing a stage play, know your destination, but don’t “Live” there</b>. It is the Opening Night, the objective or goal you desire, that matters. But do not allow the ego to be in charge. Clarity. Exacting clarity with the end in mind is the objective so that the nights of rehearsal make sense.<br />
<br />
For example, I would not tell actors that we are doing a show about a couple in love and not really know the way the show is structured. We have a script that we follow. I have found that those without a script have no peace, no mindfulness in the present moment.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Be confident in who you are, that you have a purpose and are acting at your highest level</b>. Acting is a fickle beast and the mistake many make as actors as not playing to their strengths.<br />
<br />
An example from my beginning years as an actor. It was high school. I was still trying to define myself as an actor as to what i really loved from an acting perspective. I desired the lead role in the school musical, South Pacific. Now. i was definitely not leading man looking material. I mean, I could act it, but i was a scrawny, developing kid. I mean, i took voice lessons and everything, and the kid that got cast in the role was a basketball player who looked the part. Such is acting and such are the lessons learned along the way. Play to your strengths and you will get the roles. You will define the roles that bring you mindfulness in these Now Moments.<br />
<br />
3. <b>Don’t take your cue from those around you as to what your role is. Don’t let others define you</b>. You see it in every arena of life. When others define you, you never truly know what role you are playing. Take any politician, for example. When there opponent defines them with some type of negative advertisement, and they fail to respond, they have lost. I’ve seen it as a director. An actor will listen to another actor’s advice on how to do their role and, in the process, lose the effectiveness of the role completely. It is only when you define yourself, and stay true to who you are in your role that you operate at a level of confidence. You are true to you and you are the only one you are truly responsible for.<br />
<br />
So Mindfulness equals, Clarity, Confidence and Role Definition. These three components can begin to get you on that bicycle heading in the right direction.<br />
<br />
Always remember that it is in this Present Moment alone that gets you to your goal. That is all you have. That is all you will ever have.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Strategic Personal Development Coach , teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-25863685073288231572012-01-07T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:27:50.161-08:00Mindfulness In The Present Moment<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mindfulness.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-176" height="233" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mindfulness.png?w=300" title="mindfulness" width="300" /></a>There is a way of living that really encompasses all truth of living now, living in the present moment. Really, to sum it up in a word, it is Mindfulness.<br />
<br />
So, while everyone seems to know intrinsically what the words is, lets get the official definition of mindfulness.<br />
<h3>
Definition of Mindfulness:</h3>
<br />
Mindfulness refers to being completely in touch with and aware of the present moment, as well as taking a non-evaluative and non-judgmental approach to your inner experience. For example, a mindful approach to one's inner experience is simply viewing "thoughts as thoughts" as opposed to evaluating certain thoughts as positive or negative.<br />
<br />
So there you have it. But an interesting side note says that while the word seems to have a Spiritual dimension, as the term comes from Eastern spiritual and religious traditions such as Zen Buddhism, there are mental health professionals that are beginning to recognize that<a href="http://ptsd.about.com/od/selfhelp/ht/mindfulexe2.htm"> mindfulness can have many benefits</a> for people suffering from difficulties such as anxiety and depression.<br />
<br />
I believe the most dynamic aspect of mindfulness is indeed the element of “taking a non-evaluative and non-judgmental approach to your inner experience.” This is by far the most interesting aspect as most are unable to shut the judgment factor down as if the ego is not going to allow you to, even for a moment, be as one with your environment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/thoreau-quote.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-177" height="291" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/thoreau-quote.png" title="thoreau quote" width="293" /></a>Let me tell you what judgement does. It’s pervasiveness of the soul rids you of truly being at one with the present moment. it stops you from allowing those individuals who you may not ordinarily allow within your sphere to associate with you. it robs you of inner peace and keeps you from recognizing true joy. Judgement of yourself, and of others, stops you from growing and developing a relationship with the universe that lifts, not only you, higher, but others as well.<br />
<br />
In a well documented study by Dr. David Hawkins who talked about the levels of consciousness, it was discovered that just one person developing an elevated sense of self, would lift many, many others in the very wake of that enlightened state.<br />
<br />
I am confident that you have certainly seen it in action in your own life, when noticing a room where there seems to be a general attitude of gloom and a dynamic soul enters the area. Do you notice that the room’s essence increases? It is as if one enlightened soul can bring the entire room up. That, in its essence, is the dynamic of a good leader; Someone who can inspire the masses.<br />
<br />
As a director in live theatre, I have had the occasion of having guest actors or directors involved in a production and it is as if the same local actors that had been involved in a previous productions, all of a sudden acted at a different level. It was as if the professional elevated them by their mere presence - and they did!<br />
<br />
Look at mindfulness as that exact same emotion. It lifts you to a higher level and because you have been lifted, others will experience a similar emotion, many times without realizing it.<br />
<br />
Practice mindfulness<br />
Embrace mindfulness<br />
Be mindfulness<br />
<br />
And live in the Present Moment, the Now Moments of your existence, as a traveler of love, for here is where all of the future lies waiting.<br />
<br />
In the next in the series, we will look at ways you can become mindful as it is not as easy as one may believe it to be.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-13390505309121435002012-01-06T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:28:50.025-08:00Clarity of Vision, Focus And Personal Development Are Often Masked bythe Sun<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sun-with-sunglasses.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-160" height="242" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sun-with-sunglasses.png?w=300" title="sun with sunglasses" width="273" /></a><i>Focus, Clarity and Personal Development is the Triangle of Love</i>.</h4>
<br />
Face it, we are overwhelmed with instantaneous news and content that blasts our senses with information at such a rapid pace, it is a wonder we get anything done at all. It is almost as though, in the world of smartphones, tablets and instant everything, clarity is overload. It as if we are being told that unless we have the information we need RIGHT NOW, we can't function in today's modern society. Clarity, vision and personal development, it seems, hinge on the amount of information you have, not the simplicity of it all.<br />
<br />
Now, trust me, I am not a “You kids get off of my lawn” kind of guy. I am a tech person thru-and-thru. I love gadgets and, quite frankly do all my pursuits online and with technology, so I understand the temptation to depend on your very thinking with the overload that is today’s world.<br />
<br />
But as I sit and type this, I look out my window on what appears to be a beautiful, sunny day. But what the sun is masking in all of its information overload of brightness is that when I step outside to go on my daily bike ride, the sun didn’t tell me it was cold.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/clarity.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-155 alignright" height="124" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/clarity.png?w=300" title="clarity" width="196" /></a>You see, the sun overloaded my senses with its brightness but failed to give me clarity. It was only until I garnered my own experience and perspective, did I see the usefulness of clarity. It was only when I set about on my personal development, in this case health by riding my bike, did i understand that i needed to protect myself from the cold.<br />
<br />
It is that time of year when we are hyper-focused on “getting it right”, whatever that means, and setting goals and plans and dreams and riches and success and blah, blah, blah. But what really needs to happen here is your putting on the sunglasses and deciding for yourself what is right for you.<br />
<br />
This is the only Now Moment you have and it is the time when clarity is not decided by the world telling you because of a certain season of the calendar year that you should do this or that.<br />
<br />
Remember that your goals are Opening Nights. They are out there only as a reminder that you want to entertain the masses when the curtain opens. But that that opening curtain is only going to matter in this Now Moment. This Now Moment when you are clear and focused on your part only. While the other actors in your play may surprise you in their acting from time to time, you will never be thrown off as you know <span style="text-decoration: underline;">YOU</span> so well that you can get them back on track, if needed because of your focus and clarity.<br />
<br />
Clarity, Focus and Personal Development are the three sides of the triangle that keep you grounded in this Now Moment, so, put on your sun glasses and decide for yourself that this is the moment that matters most.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/opening-nite.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-157" height="139" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/opening-nite.png?w=300" title="opening nite" width="145" /></a>Set Opening Night, but don’t live there. Forgive the rehearsal nights of the past that may you may have been “off” as we all have our off nights where it seems as if we just don’t have a rhythm. Forgive yourself and others for it makes the journey better.<br />
<br />
That’s the beauty of rehearsal, to become excellence in this Now Moment. Make clarity, focus and personal development your triangle that envelops your success and your Opening Night will be filled with accolades.<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-22999649924748260712012-01-05T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:29:52.305-08:00The Theme of Goals; There Is No Place Like Home<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/theres-no-place-like-home.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-146" height="225" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/theres-no-place-like-home.jpg?w=300" title="theres-no-place-like-home" width="300" /></a>“You were able to get there any time, dear. Just tap your heels together and say, "There is no goal I can’t reach, there is no goal I can’t reach, there is no goal I can’t reach.”<br />
<br />
OK...so I took some liberties with that infamous quote from the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy finds that she always had the power to get home. (Uhh, thanks Good Witch Glenda for that little piece of info, by the way. Would have been extremely helpful before the flying monkeys came around!)<br />
<br />
But now that I think of it, I guess that is the point of it all. We all have to take our own journey down the Yellow Brick Road or we don’t appreciate the joy of the journey. But when it comes to those dastardly things called “Goals”, we are not unlike Dorothy at all, are we not? But the difference is that we are probably more like the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow; We lack courage, a heart and a brain and become nothing more than fodder for the flying monkeys.<br />
<br />
Now, as a Now Moment thinker, this may seem a bit odd me talking all goals and such, but I assure you I am still imminently in the Now Moment. Goals are our “Opening Night” as we relate theatrical endeavors. We set them up and then we rehearse each and every Now Moment towards being ready for them when it is time. Where most fall down in the process is not so much in the setting of Opening Night, but in the rehearsal schedule.<br />
<br />
What do I mean?<br />
<br />
You see, before we ever even audition for the people to fill the roles, we have to have a rehearsal schedule in place. The roles, of course, are the people and events that have to happen to fulfill our goals. Even if it is a somewhat focused goal, as the old saying goes, “No man is an island”. No matter what the goal is, there are most likely people and circumstances that involve others to get you to Opening Night; that which is your goal.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tinman-lion-dorothy-and-scarecrow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-145" height="130" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tinman-lion-dorothy-and-scarecrow.jpg" title="tinman lion dorothy and scarecrow" width="176" /></a>Where we become heartless, brainless and lacking in courage is that we set an ambitious goal and then just say it over and over like that is supposed to give it some type of meaning and never bother to set a rehearsal schedule. In fact, like most New Years resolutions, we set it, and go full force into it and then burnout as we realize it is seemingly unattainable. It would be like giving an actor chosen for a show the script, telling him or her that we will rehearse the play tonight, learn it all, and open tomorrow night.<br />
<br />
Can you imagine the horror?<br />
<br />
Anyone who has ever acted can tell you of having dreams of that very fright. Curtain opens and you know none of your lines.<br />
<br />
The point is that the rehearsal schedule for your goals is really no different. By breaking the goal into tiny little rehearsal-night pieces, you ready yourself for Opening Night one Now Moment at a time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dreams-as-goals.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-147" height="140" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dreams-as-goals.jpg" title="dreams as goals" width="140" /></a>Opening Night is out there but here is the difference between the egoic nature and Now Moment thinking. The egoic nature has you obsessing about all that might, could or should go wrong on Opening Night, forgetting about rehearsing. Now Moment thinking says, we are as excellent as we can be in this Now Moment and are confident that Opening Night will reflect our excellence in each Now Moment.<br />
<br />
Set your rehearsal schedule before you audition for the show and the theme of your goals will always be peace in your Now Moments. You then will indeed be able to tap your feet and say, “There is no place like home.”<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-64557122669163758932012-01-04T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-12T08:04:58.934-08:00Values, Goals and Worthiness, Oh, My!<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/groucho-marx.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-132" height="300" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/groucho-marx.png?w=235" title="groucho marx" width="235" /></a><i><b>"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."</b></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Groucho" Marx, 1890-1977, Comedian and Film Star</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
One might think of those who are Now Moment thinkers, that they tend to not care about that which drives and motivates our actions. And, of course, as a flighty Now Moment thinker, there is no such thing as Goals and Future Planning.</div>
<br />
As preposterous as the concept of that thinking is, let me tell you how goals and values do indeed fit into Now Moments.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Realistic Thinking?</b></div>
<br />
First, there is a little mythology we must dispel before we go any further. Trust me, I've heard it all when it comes to living in the Now Moments of Life.<br />
<br />
<i><b>“Get your head out of the clouds”</b></i><br />
<i><b>“Be realistic”</b></i><br />
<i><b>“You have to have a plan for the future”</b></i><br />
<br />
And on and on it goes. But you see, the future, like the past, doesn’t exist. Now as much as you would like to dispute that and as much as your ego will tell you differently, I ask you to let go of your egoic mind for a bit and come with me on the journey that are Now Moments.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Think of it this way when it comes to the past. Is it not but a collection of Now Moments shared? If there were no pictures, writings, monuments of people who create for themselves a slice of what they hope to be immortality, how would you define the past? Only to you does it really have meaning to yourself and the ones you share it with.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/castaway.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-133" height="185" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/castaway.png?w=300" title="castaway" width="300" /></a>To this end, I think of the movie with Tom Hanks from several years past, “Castaway”, that had a meaningful impact on me from a Now Moment perspective. His character was a man who lived in time as an expediter of sorts for Federal Express so he was all about future planning to the microsecond. When the plane he was flying crashed into the ocean, he became a castaway on an island alone; no future, no past, just as he was.<br />
<br />
The future had no meaning because he saw none except the Now Moments of existing and the only way he marked any semblance of the past was by marks on a cave wall as the sun arose in each new trip around the sun. It was only when he decided to build a raft, did the future matter. But it was not the future that mattered because the date and time were irrelevant. It was simply that he decided a different outcome but continued to live in Now Moments to make it a reality.<br />
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That is the essence of Now Moment thinking.<br />
<br />
To frame this in the context of a theatrical production, as I am apt to do, it is not unlike having Opening Night set for the theatrical production. I never would pass out my scripts to the actors and those involved in the show and tell them to return a day or two all prepared and we would put it all together...hopefully. No, the play happens only in the Now Moments that we rehearse and we build on the actions of the past, and allow the Now Moments of rehearsal to prepare us for opening night.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Quite honestly, when you truly live in Now Moments, you honor the past and the future best by being ever-present in this Now Moment to build a future you desire.</div>
<br />
Of course, your ego tells you something completely different, that the only way to live is to be always looking to the future for some great happiness of some grandiose achievement. Such are New Year’s resolutions and the failure built into them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/goal-path.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-131" height="225" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/goal-path.jpg?w=300" title="goal path" width="300" /></a>Here is the difference in Now Moment thinking when it comes to goals, values and worthiness, as they are intertwined. You see, your ego has defined your worthiness that is solely based on achievement and decides your values for you as well, based on some future gain.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Think about it.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The very idea of the American Dream as spelled out in movies and books; the fancy house, the car, the high-paying career, the perfect family...</div>
<br />
Really? As the kids say, “OMG!” (and they say Now Moment thinkers have their heads in the clouds!)<br />
<br />
Now Moment thinking does not wrap itself in such delusions. By being ever-present we can set goals that adhere to our values that we thoughtfully set for ourselves and not allow to be defined for us by the ego, society or friends or family. Our worth is not tied up in the achievement of some future event but lived in every Now Moment.<br />
<br />
The difference for Now Moment thinkers is that our goals are Themes really, in that we have a set of values that define who we are and we create within the context of those themes of living. We do not allow our goals to define us and we are mindful of them but not living in their completion as a way we gain worth. We are worthy now and all actions we do now are simply part of the rehearsal process that gets us to Opening Night.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, you see, to live any other way than in these Now Moments is truly unrealistic. Live Now for here is where all future moments live.</div>
<br />
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list <a href="http://eepurl.com/ifA6s" target="_blank" title="Direct Your Own Life Consulting Newsletter List">HERE</a>, and share with your friends, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-20461085174222405312012-01-03T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-12T08:02:45.108-08:00Move Forward With A Great Attitude<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-attracts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-116" height="183" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/attitude-attracts.png?w=300" title="attitude attracts" width="300" /></a>As a Now Moment coach, and the obligatory beginning of the New Year, (which I am not so apt to observe as stated in the last post) I thought we would just build a scenario as we posts here within the framework of putting together a theatre production. In so doing, we will have a continuous dialog on the issues that people are dealing with and the way to move forward and how to adapt your life to become more in this Now Moment<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Theme Today is Your "Attitude"</b></h2>
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It is a place of beginnings of everything you do, for if your attitude is lacking, the task at hand will be lacking along with your attitude.<br />
<br />
Let me give you an example.<br />
<br />
When a Director sits down with his production staff and they set out to begin the process of producing the next show to be done (usually the plays are chosen in advance, a season at a time, but the process is the same), the very first thing they look at is the attitude of the theatre-going public, and therefore what it is that they will desire; essentially, what will the theatre going public come to see?<br />
<br />
From there, they look to the general “attitude” of the show itself. Is it a musical, a drama, a comedy? What are the characters like and what kinds of attitude are they looking to from those who audition?<br />
<br />
As a Director, you always have a concept of the part, not of who should be playing the part so much, as every actor brings a different attitude to the role, but the general overall attitude of the role. I have cast people who were not as good of singers in a musical, for example, but brought a tremendous chemistry, an overall attitude, to the role. This could make all the difference in the way a play is perceived.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/auditions.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-117" height="151" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/auditions.png?w=300" title="auditions" width="300" /></a>It is is same as you begin to look at an opportunity or challenge that you face. As stated previously, it is the questions you ask at the beginning that help you frame the task ahead. The key here is the attitude you bring to the questions, as well as the answers, and it is crucial that you approach opportunities and challenges with a superb attitude.<br />
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There is an old maxim that goes, “Your Attitude determines your Altitude” and it goes without saying that if you don’t bring a great attitude into the challenge/opportunity, then there is not much chance that you will succeed at the task.<br />
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Why? Because if you are not fully invested with an incredible passion for the answers your questions pose, then why bother in the first place?<br />
<br />
Hey, I am speaking from experience here, trust me. I’ve learned the hard way that by not being honest with yourself and by not living in this Now Moment by asking great questions and having an attitude that accompanies the answers you know the universe will give you, then there is an expectation that will never be fulfilled. Inevitably, there will be failure, which leads to a myriad of domino-like attitudes about yourself that doom Now Moment living.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Here are three ways to adopt a New Attitude.</h2>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/passion-question.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-118" height="236" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/passion-question.png?w=300" title="passion question" width="300" /></a><b>First, find the parts of the challenge/opportunity that create a passion in you.</b><br />
<br />
(Yes, even with challenges there are elements that inspire you. It may be nothing more than the person that is involved with you. Whatever, find that part and seize it.)<br />
<br />
<b>Second, after aligning your passion point, now frame it as a pursuit</b>.<br />
<br />
Let me explain. I have developed within myself a disdain for the word....work. I no longer look towards work but, instead, look to the word, Pursuit. Reason being is that within the word pursuit is the definition, “the act of striving” and one dictionary has attached to it, zeal. So no longer are you working at something. Instead, have a “zeal” for it. Find that part hat drives you and pursue it<br />
<br />
<b>Third, after zoning in on your zeal, “audition” the people and other aspects needed to get you to opening night with style</b>.<br />
<br />
Remember, it is all about the attitude and not always is the most obvious choice the right one for you. Look at the attitude of whoever you bring on and will they bring that same attitude to the part you give them. Consequently, will you be able to derive a sense of attitude from other elements of the challenge/opportunity. Is that attitude suitable to you? Again, the most obvious choice is not always the one that brings you a great attitude. It is all about creating an attitude of gratitude for the zeal of the challenge/opportunity at hand.<br />
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Create a great attitude and the results will be manifest from the universal realm. It is a universal law.<br />
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Let me know your thoughts and share with your friends. The greater the conversation, the better we move forward in this Now Moment.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*******</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-15662775508212093952012-01-02T01:07:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:59:21.551-08:00It's Not the Resolutions But the Questions We Ask to Become Better<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-2012.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-101" height="232" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-2012.jpg?w=300" title="Happy New Year 2012" width="300" /></a> What is it About New Beginnings That the New Year Brings?<br />
<br />
As a Now Moment Coach, I am often amazed at the hoopla given to a calendar date as is New Years Day. At the core of it all, I understand the significance of the celebration, but it is all fairly predictable, is it not?<br />
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Let me give you the cycle of discussion, such as it is, that we are exposed to during this time and the various stories that are written about that are inspired to feed your egoic nature..<br />
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<b>The various "Best" and "Worse" lists in whatever you are interested in.</b> (Either you are cool by being connected with the “Best” or you are made to feel better about yourself because something is worse that you in some way.)<br />
<br />
<b>Resolutions - the making and then, breaking, of them.</b> (Again, we are losers for wanting to do something because we are lacking in some way to make them to begin with and then again for failing at our lack mentality when we break the resolutions.)<br />
<br />
<b>Weight loss/Health</b> - We are evidently "guilty" of eating too much over the holiday period and are all a bunch of fatties and now we must "get in shape" or, at least, be shamed to think as much. (Here is simply a lack mentality of how you see yourself. Do you need to shape up? Maybe, but on your own terms, not someones dictates on how you should feel about yourself.)<br />
<br />
Damn Ego needing to be fed!<br />
<br />
But, I make no judgements. As a coach, it is my mission to bridge the gap between the feelings of anxiousness that does indeed accompany this time of the year according to the calendar and the truth of Now Moments that we all must exist in.<br />
<br />
First, let me say that there are some things that I do appreciate about this time of the calendar year.<br />
<br />
For one, people, by and large, are in better spirits, or, if nothing else, at least open to renewal. Also, great questions are asked to help you focus. It’s just too bad that we don’t engage this way at all times. Well, I mean to change that for you.<br />
<br />
<b>What do I mean?</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/fail.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-103" height="198" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/fail.png" title="fail" width="260" /></a> Well, people get reflective and tend to dwell on successes and failures of the year past (Usually, more on the failures as that is the proclivity of the human experience) and will ask thought-provoking and reflective questions that tend to refocus their efforts into the New Year.<br />
<br />
This is good at its core, as it is great to be always evolving into a better you, but the drawbacks are that the thinking is most always future-based on an experience that is based firmly in the past, completely negating the present Now Moment, which is exactly what the ego desires. Keeping you tied up in the past (failures) and hopeful of a better future, keeps joy from being completely present in this Now Moment.<br />
<br />
Yes, we are to learn from past experiences, but not to the point that they glorify some future that doesn't exist as of yet. This the very nature of Now Moments. The past is simply a guide and the future is but an experience of Now Moment Actions. So this is the Moment that matters. Your past does not dictate your future. You dictate your future right NOW.<br />
<br />
To Direct Your Own Life means you ask the right questions in each Now Moment. This is the important part of the questioning process; It is not someone else who may have a desire for the path you think you must take, for the goal will always be moving and the future will never be anything more than murky. It must be your journey alone that incorporates those around you. Therein lies the happiness factor; the individual journey taken with joy that lifts those around them in that same wake of joy. It is a universal law.<br />
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<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/question-mark-with-figure.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-102" height="133" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/question-mark-with-figure.jpg" title="question mark with figure" width="93" /></a> Remember, again, it is not so much the state we are in, but the questions we must ask to free us so as to move forward, and, yes, some of that may mean we have to ask tough questions about the reason we are here in this present Now Moment state not to dwell in the past but to see the framework of this moment and adapt and change as needed.<br />
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By looking at the process as if you were in a theatrical production, it is essentially the rehearsal process here. We have rehearsed certain scenes to this point and we understand that we are now ready to rehearse another part of the play. We look back at the last scene to understand the context for this next stage of rehearsal. The past, the last scene, was merely a set up for the current piece we are rehearsing. It has no baring to the future but to set it up and work together to make the play all make sense at the end.<br />
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That is the framework of the questioning process; to set up the framework for the next scene of your life. Just allow it to flow and appreciate the journey to this point and allow the questions to guide you into the next Now Moment.<br />
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In the end, it is a matter of perspective and allowing yourself to flow in that place of peace that you must find to allow yourself the freedom to move forward.<br />
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<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/find-your-beach.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-104" height="160" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/find-your-beach.jpg?w=300" title="find your beach" width="261" /></a> For some reason, beer commercials always seem to have great slogans, but it is not the drinking that propelled me to like this, but the message of finding yourself in that happy place where you are free to create.<br />
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The slogan is "Find Your Beach" and it is great for the disgrace that are resolutions in general as well is the comparing of the past "failures" to some future happiness.<br />
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Indeed, if you do find your beach and allow an organic way of living to become your new reality, you will have no choice but to embrace this Now Moment alone.<br />
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This will be your guiding emotion for the Now Moments that make up your future.<br />
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<b>*******</b></div>
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<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="directyourownlife@gmail.com" class="alignleft wp-image-78" height="75" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg?w=150" title="DA Southern" width="75" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com </i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-8357280556767011892011-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:57:22.293-08:00Directing Your Own Life In The Beauty of Now Moments<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/all-the-worlds-a-stage.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-11 alignleft" height="264" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/all-the-worlds-a-stage.png" title="all the worlds a stage" width="298" /></a>From Shakespeare’s Play, <a href="http://www.enotes.com/ayli-text/act-ii-scene-7#stage" target="_blank">As You Like It, Act 2, scene 7</a></div>
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Jaques:</div>
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<i><b>All the world's a stage,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>And all the men and women merely players;</b></i></div>
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<i><b>They have their exits and their entrances,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>And one man in his time plays many parts,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>His acts being seven ages.</b></i></div>
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In his famous soliquy, the character from Shakespeare’s play, Jaques, laments on the state of man with the “Ages” being the different stages of life, or the Seven Ages of Man.<br />
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This is where I begin to tell tell the story of “Theatre as Life.”<br />
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I write for a living; novels, plays, love letters, blogs, etc, and I coach clients in the ways of living successfully in the Now Moment with an ever-present eye towards the concepts learned by being involved in theatre for over 35 years.<br />
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I have acted, mostly in community and regional theatre and I have directed productions as a Managing Director for a regional theatre company doing everything from children's shows to dinner theatre productions to plays and musicals.<br />
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Additionally, I have been hacking away at this thing called the Internet for a while to combine my love for writing, usually blogs on different subjects, and my love for being an entrepreneur to use my creative mind as a way to earn a living and along the way began coaching clients in the way to live a life based on the principles I derive as an active participant in all aspects of theatre.<br />
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While this as been good to me in several arenas, there is little thing called passion that keeps nipping at my heels and that is my overriding love for all lessons that theatre has taught me in my life.<br />
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You see, I love the theatre and the passion it has instilled in my soul for living and, several years ago, I developed this whole strategy of "Theatre As Life", but was told by who I believed at that time to be “people in the know”, that the niche was too small and “How could I monetize it?”<br />
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But who cares?<br />
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Passion is passion and Confucius said, "if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life." So, as a Now Moment coach, I have drawn upon the lessons of acting, directing and living a life as a theatre person to inspire others to look at life as what Shakespeare said when he penned that all the world is a stage and we are merely players.<br />
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There is this little thing called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs that every human needs to live. (If you have never seen it, look <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs">at the explanation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs here.</a>) Essentially, it is a diagram of a pyramid that shows the needs of humanity in a rather simplistic manner. The bottom two layers are the basics that humans need and, supposedly, until we satisfy those needs, we can’t move on.<br />
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You know, the essentials of life we desire to live at a bare level; the way to obtain the basics of life, (I guess in this day and age, it is essentially a cell phone and someplace to eat and sleep) and security in knowing that we have at least enough to get us to the next day.<br />
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So what does this have to do here with Theatre As Life?<br />
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Well, everything!<br />
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Theatre As Life is my way of giving you the world in all ways through the eyes of the lessons learned in theatre and as a writer, a creator, which we all are, and a coach of living Now Moments in a dynamic way that propel you dynamically into the next Now Moment, essentially the upper dynamics of the pyramid.<br />
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Where does this blog fit in? Every part of your life as we will discuss everything for relationships to living in excellence to developing your passion to creating a winning life and everything else that is relevant to making your way in this world in which we live in.<br />
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Yes, it will be from the eyes of the theatre and all that goes into putting a production together, but as Shakespeare said, “All the world is a stage.” So, I intend to use my passion for theatre to help you find your passion for living or, if nothing else, to live better in your own skin.<br />
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In life, like a great stage play, the desire is to end with such a flair that people stand and say, “Bravo!” for this is the greatest compliment we can receive as actors.<br />
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I stand right here, right now and say to you, “Bravo!” for you are on your journey right here, right now. Allow me to go with you and you with me and together let us make a difference in your world.<br />
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<a href="http://eepurl.com/d47IT" target="_blank" title="Theatre as Life News You Can Use">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-81672438842952845182011-12-20T01:56:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:56:27.488-08:00Guilt: The Other White Meat - Part 2<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlE8nknUZrU_qUX181QGg7-PCNivLZ9EbVZUgg3nlja291JRox1k7eohlRcRltTqChb0XYxBCG2UPGtT5iZol2O6lUKp23oAtP_aGxijta4DmJ32LPNp0-LAWzyLFt5RnV5dfMOIU8BoG/s1600/guilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlE8nknUZrU_qUX181QGg7-PCNivLZ9EbVZUgg3nlja291JRox1k7eohlRcRltTqChb0XYxBCG2UPGtT5iZol2O6lUKp23oAtP_aGxijta4DmJ32LPNp0-LAWzyLFt5RnV5dfMOIU8BoG/s1600/guilt.jpg" /></a></div>
<i style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </i><i style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">What is guilt? Guilt is the pledge drive constantly hammering in our heads that keeps us from fully enjoying the show. Guilt is the reason they put the articles in Playboy.</i><br />
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<b>Dennis Miller</b></div>
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<i>Oh, great! Now I have guilt!</i></div>
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<b>T. Rex, from Toy Story</b></div>
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What is it about humanity that we have decided that <i>guilt</i> is the way we relate on such interpersonal levels to one another knowing that it is based in fear, as discussed in the previous post (part I)? </div>
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What is it about the ego within us all that we have decided that to keep our little superiority acts in check, we have to be the ones to guilt others into complying with our wishes? Are we so non-trusting within ourselves that we feel that we have to control others, not to mention ourselves, with guilt?</div>
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<h2>
Ego and Guilt Work Hand-in-Hand</h2>
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In living in Now Moments, guilt can really have no hold on us as it only seeks to keep the past ever present and living and the future looming within us, usually as nothing more than some type of dishonor of our past. The Now Moment is then completely obliterated as non-important, which is exactly as the ego has decided needs to happen.<br />
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By the way, the ego completely hates <b>Now Moments</b>.<br />
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You see, Now Moments are designed for us to have clarity in this moment so we can plant seeds of greatness in the next Now Moments to come. Guilt robs us of that clarity and keeps our disgusting past that guilt tends to persuade us exists, forever present so that the beauty of this Now Moment is completely abandoned. The ego desires you not to have peace in each and every Now Moment as then what would be the reason for ego to exist in the first place?<br />
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Trust me, I have heard more than my share of why “healthy guilt” is a good thing speech, so no need bother. Is the very term not an oxymoron to begin with, and, quite frankly, when people use it they usually have to justify the existence of the term at the very outset.<br />
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Guilt is associated with fear and there is no justification for giving fear to another person or living in fear as the spirit of fear is a debilitating spirit that robs you of all joy.<br />
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3 Step Process To Plow Through Guilt</h2>
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Let me give you a quick three-step process that will help you with guilt.<br />
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1. <b>Release</b>. This is the first step of taking back your Now Moments. Release yourself, first and foremost. If you want to say it another way, forgive yourself. The past is the past and whatever is done is done. Keeping some past mistake alive forever in the throws of guilt does nothing for your ability to make this Now Moment precious. So you must first release yourself.<br />
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2. <b>Let Go</b>. This may seem to be like release but it is all together different in that you must truly let go of guilt by putting space between you and it. Release is the willingness to do so, Letting go is the action.<br />
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3. <b>Flow</b>. This is now the most important aspect of the process as it is based in peace. The peace of this Now Moment is a simple allowing of life to unfold all around you so you can become that ever-moving force of strength to yourself and to others around you. In peace there is tranquility within and that always presents itself as a quiet strength without.<br />
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<i>Guilt</i> is not healthy, EVER.<br />
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Release, Let go and Flow into each and every Now Moment for there the seeds of greatness live.</div>
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<b>*******</b></div>
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<i><a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="99" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" title="Snapshot+of+me+2" width="99" /></a>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com</i></b></i></b><br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-52267383240219176612011-12-10T06:41:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:43:06.923-08:00Guilt: The Other White Meat - Part 1<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fear-guilt-worry.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="268" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fear-guilt-worry-300x268.png" title="fear guilt worry" width="300" /></a>Several years ago, the pork industry came up with “pork, the other white meat” to get people to eat more pork. The little slogan was quickly identifiable and indeed increased the pork industries efforts to get the folks to eat more pork.<br />
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I our discussion of Now Moments and how fear from and of the past can hold you back from progressing into brilliant Now Moments, I really look at guilt the true other white meat to fear, as they often go hand-in-hand. And unlike pork, it is the other side of the fear coin that can bring a grown man to his knees. I am not a huge fan of guilt, as you can tell.<br />
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Suffice it to say, we could not even begin to scratch the surface on guilt and how it hampers your development but we will begin to speak of the harmful effects it does have on you and how you can take steps to rid this arch-nemesis from your very midst.<br />
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First, lets look at guilt from a perspective of control, from both your own being and from others who use it to control you. There is no easy way to say it except that guilt is that soul-sucking essence that keeps people from developing personally, achieving in life, and from developing healthy relationships that are free from drama and, most importantly, love.<br />
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Guilt is not something you desire in any way, and if you use it to control others in your sphere, shame on you. It is done in business, in relationships and all realms of group interactions. The real essence of the spirit of guilt is that is so opposite from joy in that where there is guilt, you usually find joy lacking in abundance. That is the shame of guilt, it robs you of joy.<br />
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Look back in your own life; every time someone “guilted” you into doing something you were not prone to do, or would joyfully do on your own, did you notice joy within? I can safely say, no you did not. You see, guilt is that tool that people use that the ego rails against and why it is time to start the process of ridding yourself of that as well. But another discussion for another time.<br />
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You can even look to our political systems. When some well meaning congressperson or senator desires to push some usually bloated piece of legislation through the congress, they often encase it in the “hot” buttons of the day, whatever the other representatives would feel guilt not supporting; children, seniors, helping this group or that one. As soon as someone is confronted with the fact that they might not support a certain bill or whatever, they are guilted into support because who wants to be again some deserving group of whatever, whether the legislation makes sense or not.<br />
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It all comes down to joy and a sense of self that is devoid of ego.<br />
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Find your center, your joy and begin to ask yourself a simple question when confronted with guilt; Am what I am being asked to think about or do bring me joy if i do it for ME. Again, the very nature of that question elicits a guilt response from many because we are told by parents and authority figures “not to be selfish,” are we not? So we don’t ask that question because of guilt to begin with?<br />
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Stop it right now and begin to be a better you and decide here and now that guilt will no longer be part of your existence in this Now Moment. It is all you have. Seek joy and find truth.<br />
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In the next post we will look at ways to do this effectively, but start now as it is the only Now Moment you have in which to do so.<br />
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<b>*******</b></div>
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<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="99" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" title="Snapshot+of+me+2" width="99" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. If you desire one-on-one coaching contact DA Southern </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com</i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-63048194991532139392011-11-19T20:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:39:31.064-08:00Worthy, Do you Feel Your Now Moments Are Filled With Worth?<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/self-worth.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="256" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/self-worth.png" title="self-worth" width="212" /></a>Worth.<br />
Being Worthy.<br />
Worthiness.<br />
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Strange concepts that many fashion in the face of any challenging situation, are they not? Yet, we have all faced these exact emotions of the soul in living our lives; being worthy of anything, deserving anything.<br />
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To Be Worthy</h1>
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Where have we come as a species if we question the ability to function on any level as a person who is supposed to exist? What has happened to us that, for some reason, we have decided that we are not worthy of some thing, some person in our life or some form of abundance?<br />
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I am questioned constantly about the very nature of being worthy and really it goes back to a previous post written about the <a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/2011/07/19/the-past-is-past-live-free-without-baggage/" target="_blank" title="The Past is Past: Live Free Without Baggage">past and fear</a>. For some reason circumstances in the past have deemed you unfit for this Now Moment, as you see it, or, in reality, someone else has seen it as a rule of life for you.<br />
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Feeling Inferior</h2>
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When I hear someone talk this way, it always draws me back to one of my favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” In this quote, you find the seeds of riding yourself of the past that seeks to bind you and fill you with self-doubt and unworthiness. Essentially, your ego, which is the bane of all existence as you will come to learn from me, is trying to hold you back from living truly in this Now Moment by making you think you are not truly deserving of it.<br />
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Face it, if you are still breathing, you are worthy as deemed by the creator of the universe. Now if that doesn’t make you feel a bit worthy, I am not sure exactly what will.<br />
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The Ego Is In Charge Way Too Much</h2>
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<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/acceptance.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="174" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/acceptance.png" title="acceptance" width="289" /></a>Now with that being said, shame and guilt also play into a feeling of worthiness as well. There will be much discussion on each topics, but suffice it to say this is the Now Moment you have to live and being worthy is always...ALWAYS...an attitude of the heart and soul. You use the past as but the place that holds experience that gives you input into this Now Moment but never shall it be anything more than a guide. Do not allow it to give you any sort of worthiness issues as you are here for a reason.<br />
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Remember, the universe makes no mistakes, everything is perfect in its own time and place. No matter what you have done up to this Now Moment that you have deemed (or someone else has deemed) “unworthy” is not a reflection of what you will plant as seeds for the next Now Moments you exist.<br />
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Attitude of Gratitude</h3>
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You are to give this Now Moment its dynamic place in your life as the one that is the place of change, hope and love that you seek to be within. Living in a state of gratitude in this Now Moment will give you a sense of worth to carry you into the next Now Moment and by simply releasing yourself to gratitude, you will find the gift of who you are and who you are to be.<br />
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It is your Now Moment to affect change for yourself and to see the positive aspect of living Now, so give this Now Moment its place as the one that matters most, because it does.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>******</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="99" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" title="Snapshot+of+me+2" width="99" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. If you desire one-on-one coaching contact DA Southern </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com</i></b></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-26482133077841620582011-11-09T20:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:34:52.983-08:00The Past is Past: Live Free Without Baggage<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/suitcase.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="baggage you carry with you " class="alignleft" height="191" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/suitcase.png" title="the past is the past" width="283" /></a>Now Moments are but a culmination of the past. But here is a concept, <i><b>the past is past</b></i>, so why let it allow itself to influence future Now Moments, which don’t exist yet, and, certainly, should not affect this Now Moment unless it is something that must be dealt with now.<br />
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First a discussion about the baggage we carry around with us that is our past.<br />
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It is my assertion that whether the baggage is “good” or “bad” and that, my friend, is always subjective, that baggage serves you as you carry it around for whatever reason. I know you are saying “I don’t desire this pain or this burden” but still you have decided to carry it with you and allow it to affect you in this Now Moment in some way, even to the extent that you make decisions that are not ideally logical or sensible based on the fear of the past.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold;">For Fear That</span><br />
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Yes, that is what the past intrinsically is based in most of the time, fear. The fear of not repeating the same mistakes. The fear of being labeled this or that. The fear of ultimately being judged and is that not the ultimate fear? Isn’t that what most peer pressure is based on? The judgment of peers or not being part of the group.<br />
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<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/groucho-marx.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="groucho marx" class="alignleft" height="257" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/groucho-marx.png" title="groucho marx" width="211" /></a>So, I guess you could say, fear and acceptance go hand-in-hand, right? Because we all want to be accepted at some level into a group, maybe we should take a note from the great comedian from the past, Groucho Marx, who said when talking about joining a club, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member. “ In that quote we find the ultimate attitude of not allowing others to dictate your actions.<br />
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<h1>
The Past is The Past</h1>
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Fear is that constant of the past that cripples us in these Now Moments. Rid yourself of fear and many items of the past would come crumbling down. As I often tell those I coach that the thing about any suitcase, what we would think of baggage, is that they are always equipped with latches or zippers in which you are free to open them and empty the contents AT ANY TIME. The challenge is that, for some reason, many believe that once they are latched or zipped, that it appears that some type of super-secret code or key is needed to undo it.<br />
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In reality, the super-secret code or key is your own mind and your decision to release it. The real secret is to determine how the baggage is serving you, I mean, getting to the core emotion as to why it benefits you to carry it with you. When you get to that point, you will find that the suitcase you are holding, that which is holding you back with its weight, is easy to unlatch and empty out.<br />
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Now Moments</h2>
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Now Moments should only hold the seeds of the past as a way to understand the journey now not hamper it going forward. There is much more to be said along these lines, but suffice it to say, we are all on the journey of self-discovery but allowing the past to dictate your Now Moments is a journey we don’t share.<br />
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Calm yourself and look at the suitcase and ask yourself why you carry it. Be honest, really honest with yourself and get to the emotion of the heart of the fear for there will be your release.<br />
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<b><i>*******</i></b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="89" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" title="Snapshot+of+me+2" width="89" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. If you desire one-on-one coaching contact DA Southern </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com</i></b></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296816620053433144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011515216739229971.post-56849503243992828272011-10-20T06:23:00.000-07:002012-01-12T07:32:58.016-08:00Live In The Now Moments Of Life<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/now-moments.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="now moments" class="alignleft" height="145" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/now-moments-300x145.png" title="now moments" width="300" /></a>Live in the NOW is a battle cry of many of the youthful persuasion and of those extreme sports-types that desire to push themselves to the limit.<br />
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We have been there, have we not? Times of our lives where we were living on the edge, youthful or both?<br />
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<h3>
How to Live In The Now</h3>
We are all about living in the Now Moments of life, but take a far more philosophical approach to living Now Moments. Let em explain.<br />
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First, Now Moments. Notice that the words themselves are capitalized and this is for a reason. I have devoted myself to no longer looking at time in hours, days, weeks and months but at the moments that make up time itself.<br />
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You see, in all aspects of living, really each Now Moment has the aspects of the past, present and future ingrained in them. Isn’t it true that today is the future we dreamed of yesterday?<br />
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The point is that we have but a single moment that contains the seeds of everything we are and have been and desire to be. It is how we decide to live this Now Moment that decides our future Now Moments.<br />
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<h2>
How to Get Happiness in Life</h2>
I desire you to know that this is not “pie in the sky” living and some type of escapism to not deal with life but a thoughtful approach to living life in the fullness of which we are all given whether we decide to grasp it or not. It is all about abundant living and it is a journey we all take. This is the truth of joy and happiness, this is true living.<br />
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Trust me, I have suffered the slings and arrows of many who I thought cared for me as I have formulated this way of living and I have grown as a result of it. I ask you to come along with me as we journey into the heart of living in dynamic Now Moments together. it will be worth the trip.<br />
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I come from a theatrical background having spent many years as a managing director of theatrical plays. I can tell you that i never once passed out scrips to my actors and said for them to learn everything about their parts and to come back a day before the show opened and we would put it all together.<br />
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<h2>
Plan Your Future?</h2>
No, you see, ever mindful of Opening Night, we would perfect the show one Now Moment at a time as it was there contained within those rehearsals of intense, dynamic focus that the show lived on Opening Night. Do you see my meaning?<br />
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<a href="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/yoda.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="don't look to the future" class="alignleft" height="222" src="http://justeatyourcinnamonbiscuits.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/yoda.png" title="yoda" width="164" /></a>Remember what Yoda said to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars when thinking about training him?<br />
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<b>"Always looking to the future this one is. Never his mind on where he is, what he is doing." <i>Yoda</i></b></h4>
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I will draw on this many times in future Now Moments, as well as my theatrical training that helped me to formulate my Now Moments to bring you into a better appreciation for living life in the fullest Now.<br />
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I encourage you to become part of the Now Moment community by<b><a href="http://eepurl.com/eNEik" target="_blank" title="Just Eat Your Cinnamon Biscuits Newsletter"> signing up for the newsletter</a></b> and have the post sent directly to your inbox in those future Now Moments.<br />
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It will be a gift of living that you glean from them as we share our journeys together.<br />
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<b>*****</b></div>
<br />
<a href="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="110" src="http://directyourownlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/snapshotofme2.jpg" title="Snapshot+of+me+2" width="110" /></a><i>DA Southern is a Now Moment coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 30 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing the beauty of this Now Moment with a renewed passion for life. If you desire one-on-one coaching contact DA Southern </i><b><i>@ </i></b><b><i><b><i>directyourownlife</i></b><b><i>@gmail.com</i></b></i></b><br />
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