May the life force be with you!

Part 2.  Of is your life working for or against you. How full is your emotional bank account? If its empty then keep reading this article will help you.

In the last short article on this topic, I spoke about values and how our intrinsic value system pushes us in certain directions.  The life you are experiencing now is just a manifestation of those desires and priorities.  Most of what you want in life is the same as everyone else, so why is it one person seems to take flying leaps and bounds into the positive future and another person find everything a struggle?  There can be a couple of influences that compound on the outcomes. 

Firstly there is the matter of goals, for example people may have seen me struggle in my life and yet in truth the goals I have set for my life are so big that other people would never have even thought to do what I do, let alone do it. 

Secondly, and most importantly, there is the personal care factor of the life experience; generally people don’t know how to take care of themselves in the journey. 

So today we will talk about the second in these topics; how do you take care of yourself, how do you get the life force to be with you?

People who struggle, people who become ill mostly have one thing in common, they are good caring people. The problem is a simple one, many people want to be loved and accepted, they want to please and take care of their loved ones and family so they continually make withdrawals from their personal energy bank account.  

Imagine we start of with so much energy, imagine it as a ball if you like that surrounds you, then as time goes bye, we keep giving this energy away without getting anything back, or only getting a little back once in a while.  We say yes when we want to say no, we dress in a way that our partner likes, we behave in ways other people think suitable, we are not taught to be able to say the magic word which honours our inner feelings “NO!”  If you grew up in a happy healthy family, you naturally took on your parent’s values and behaviours to some extent.   If you grew up in a dysfunctional family then you would also have taken on those values and behaviours to some extent.  But actually it is the Social values which often give us the most grief, and a part of our society at one time believed in “Sacrifice,” as an essential part of being a good Christian. 

But someone got it wrong, when we sacrifice we end up sick, mentally, emotionally and physically.  When we respect other people more than our selves, we end up sick, mentally, emotionally and physically.  The essential part of life is self respect, and this does not mean that you are mean to other people, is rather implies that you  must find ways to keep depositing energy into your own bank account, or bubble of energy in order that you then have the energy to choose to help others, and be of assistance in a genuine way rather  than doing things begrudgingly.

How do we deposit into our personal bank accounts?
Its easy, do something every day which makes your heart sing, move with joy though your day, laugh at the silly things in life, play with your creative energy once in a while.   Do things every day that you like to do, even if its just a few minutes, try this today.

Pick 3 things you love,
• Could be a walk in the park or on the beach
• Could be listening to music
• Could be painting or drawing
• Could be cooking
• Could be playing with your cat or kids
• Could be simply relaxing with your feet up.
• Or buying a special cup of coffee and sitting quietly and savouring every mouthful.
It doesn’t matter what it is, (providing its legal) but set 3 X 10 minute breaks, and make them happen in your day. 

People say they don’t have time, well for all those people who say you don’t have time, I have news for you.  If you don’t have time, you wont have energy and you will keep struggling simply because your personal bank account will end up empty and you will end up crashing and burning. 

Hard line:   I am going to take the hard line here, simply because when people come to see me they are often, “crashing and burning,” they are in tears, emotionally mentally and physically exhausted and confused. They hate their jobs, hate their lives, hate their families demands, they want to run away and start again.

Have you ever felt like that?  

Often people do run away, they do start again and guess what; they create that same scenario over and over again, until they end up with cancer or some other illness which stops them from running.

So, if you can relate to this article why not email, or phone me?  I can help you define your life and your life boundaries and in doing that, help you solve the energy crisis once and for all.

Life is really not meant to be a struggle, it is meant to be that your energy supports your life journey and your life is good.

That’s all from me today, take care till next time.   Many Blessings and may your bank account always be overflowing. TRUITY Williams 

Getting more out of your working day.

It seems in today's world there is so much demand, and not enough time to get everything done.   Bosses are asking us to do more with less, and the time lines and expectations of what we are able to achieve are just getting more and more.

People often ask me how do you do all that you do, and well for me its just life, I am very organized, even chaos is organized in my world.  I have the ability to focus is generally my answer.   My days are so full and I always achieve something major, no putting off till tomorrow.

I thought I would give the members of my website a few small tips, that could just save you from stress you don't need, and help you achieve more in your daily working and home lives. 

It really is very simple to take the pressure off:

• Do one thing at a time, and concentrate on that task,
• Ensure your work space is not somewhere that you will be interrupted by other people's noise, actions or antics.
• Place your computer in a position where you don't have peripheral interference, my computer is facing a wall, because that's what works best for me. If I am facing out into a room when I am working, it's far too easy for my attention to be distracted.
• Turn off the sound on your computer.
• Turn off or sound off with instant messaging and email arrival.
• If you listen to music when working listen to instrumentals not music with words, words are distracting.
• Turn off your mobile phone and resist answering idle text messages, make a deal with yourself to only check your text messages when its lunch time or on the bus on the way home, I can assure you the world will wait.
• Organize your email time, so you answer emails at the beginning of your day and the end of your day, don't become addicted to jumping to attention each time an email arrives.
• Set routines, for example with writing, I set a period every day just for that, and make sure the timing does not clash with kids coming home or office duties, I make sure I wont be distracted.
• Learn to focus upon your goals, learn to set goals, break down big projects into bite sized chunks; you will be surprised how quickly things get done when it's identified into small tasks. It's so easy to become overwhelmed by big tasks, and then fall into the habit of procrastinating.
• Even with your finances, to take off the pressure, work out your monthly budget, then break that down to weekly, then daily, then hourly, then by the minute. Did you know you probably only require 67cents a minute to be financially secure?
• Prioritize tasks; this is nothing new, don't run all day dealing with emergencies; it takes up too much energy. Get organized, know what you must do, and plan your time management.

Final Note:

Did you know that companies hundreds of thousands of $ a day in lost time through employees being distracted from their work though email and instant chat. 

Each time you get interrupted it takes approximately 15 minutes for you to get back focus on the job you were working on, and that in turn costs you big in $, especially if you are your own boss, it's even more vital that you organize modern technology to support you not distract you.

Hi TRUITY

 I tried to post the following on the spiritual forum but it was too big so I decided to email and ask you instead for your opinion so here goes:

As a child growing up I always felt weird, different and unable to fit in and because of this I always felt lonely and separated from everyone else even within my family. After running and ramming my head into many brick walls over the years I finally came to be at peace within myself by accepting the past, appreciating everything that happened to me because I felt that everything that I endured moulded me into being a better and happier person. After reading the book of choices I have learnt to speak more positively to myself all the time even when times are bad. As a person with great interest in all things spiritual and metaphysical I am beginning to believe and trust that the voices in my head are my spirit guides speaking to me and this belief was sparked about 6mths after reading the book of choices and starting to talk positively to myself. I feel my guides speak to me because what is being said gives me feelings of love, kindness, non judgement and encouragement. This is why I believe it is my guides. For the past 2 years I had been moaning about how much I hated my job then after giving up on moaning there would always be a constant nagging going on in the back of my head but still I kept forcing myself to keep at the schedule. One day I thought about how high I had worked my way up the ladder the last time with regards to work and my social status only to sabotage and fall down extremely hard the way I did back in 2001. I realised that I was heading in that same place again so I realised I had to hurry up and do something cause I felt like I was going to rise and fall again.

There was something inside of me that was crying out so I went on a journey which I am still voyaging to seek what this was. I feel that what was troubling me was the denial of my spiritual side which I had left out for awhile only to focus on my materialistic side which in the end only left me high and dry. After letting go a bit with regards to work and study I felt alot lighter and continued to fully focus on researching and learning everything spiritual and metaphysical and I feel right at home and deeply happy when engaged in this area of learning or even speaking or communicating with like minded people. I know deep down within myself that I am destined for something in this area but am unsure of what it is. I know that I do want to help people particularly people who lack self confidence, self esteem, self respect and motivation because I have been a victim wounded because of a great lack of these with in myself in the past.  

At present I am still working on a few things like trusting my instincts, listening to my heart and finding a balance in everything in life so that I am not falling down to one end of the scale. All through my life I have understood things on a different level to my peers and even my family and feel very ripped off when engaged in conversations with people who prefer small talk. I really can't stand it but only do it to be polite. I have experienced a bit of phenomena also from a very young age such as seeing, hearing and feeling spirits, feeling and hearing peoples thoughts and feelings, dreaming about future events or even day dreaming them up. These I have all experienced but in very small ways I think the most strongest of my abilities is to sense people out alot of the times I have been able to see right through people giving me the advantage of avoiding alot of negative people I feel I have been drawn to all the right people in my life even the most bad ones because after looking back and reflecting on the experiences I had with certain individuals I can see the things that I had encountered and learned from which have helped me to grow. If there is one thing in life I find difficult it is opening right up with my emotions I feel too ashamed and scared that my feelings will heavily burden most people which is why I think they snap at me, look dull or put me down when I try to express my feelings.

I feel that the only safe way to realise my heavy emotions would be to speak to god and this is something that I have just recently come up with a few days ago so I am yet to do it but I believe it is the right thing to do. I really want to help others but I know I've still got a fair way to go in my own healing. So I guess what I want to know is where to start? Am I heading in the right direction? Do you believe I am doing things in the right order? Can any you give me your perspective on this.  

 

 

Hi L....., sounds like your doing fine, good to hear and share your story.  I suppose emotional intensity frightens the shit out of people, you see most people are as deep as mud puddles people just don’t like to deal with things, and sometimes people like you and I are just plain confronting.  

 

Try doing the exercises I am putting online in the members area of the website, they will help, they are the foundations which will lift your energy right up and out of the doldrums.  You may have had a hard life for someone so young, and the question is to ask yourself, well are you going to live your life as a victim? Or are you going to rise above it and use that hurt to motivate you to make something of your life?  Use it, get angry and use it to jog, make you stubborn to succeed, anything that supports you to overcome limits.

 

Sometimes you cant see where the journey is going to take you, and that is good, as we grow we experience new things, and what is going to be you just have no mental experience of knowing yet, so you must trust. Its like driving down the road in the dark, remember, the headlights will keep shining that 20 feet in front of you, and as you move forward it will keep showing that 20 feet and you will progress steadily just like that, you will find your destination will just appear, as you grow in skills and wisdom.  Very few people know where they are going in life, and lets face it most aren’t going anywhere…. J

I love to do things creative when I get stuck, or feeling stuck, I sing, I paint, I do my photography, anything to lift my spirits, I suggest you do the same, just go for it, and don’t worry about people so much, you will draw the right people to you, after all you found me a couple years back didn’t you?  Hey, we may not make hundreds of friends in a life time, but those we do make are generally there for life.

And family>well you can choose your friends but not your family, and very rarely are family fully understanding, simply because if they see you grow and change, they no longer know you or have control over you. And then that leads to them feeling insecure and then they think she is changing, my God maybe I should change too and I dont want to. Just love your family anyway, and dont expect them to understand, sometimes that is hard, but its worth it, I gave up expectations of my family long ago, and found it not only made me happier, but also helped our relationships blossom.

 

Hope this helps, would you mind if I place your story online,  I think a lot of people would benefit from it.  Love TRUITY.

 

~ You are welcome to forward this to others, please credit the author. ~ 

A Teenager in the House

by Deborah Beach Giordano
© September 10, 2007

Every year Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old they went up as usual for the festival. When it was over, the family headed home, not realizing that Jesus had stayed behind in Jerusalem – for they assumed he was among the mass of returning pilgrims. They traveled for a full day and then, that evening, began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, Joseph and Mary went back to Jerusalem to search for Jesus. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his wisdom and the answers he gave.

When his parents saw him they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Young man, what do you think you’re doing? Your father and I have been frantic. We’ve been looking for you all over this town!”

Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?” But his parents couldn’t imagine what he was talking about.

~ The Gospel according to Luke 2:41-50

This gospel passage has provoked much criticism of Mary and Joseph: how could they lose Jesus? How could they leave town and travel for a whole day without realizing that he wasn’t with them? What kind of parents were these two, anyway?

The simple answer is that they were the parents of a teenaged boy.

Anybody who is surprised that twelve-year-old Jesus wasn’t walking home from Jerusalem with his parents has never been twelve years old. Most twelve year olds don’t even want to admit they have parents; and they certainly don’t want to be seen walking with them as if they are … well, children or something; like they can’t be trusted on their own. After all, they are almost grown up. They don’t need supervision; they know what they’re doing.

Or so they will tell you.

What makes us think that Jesus – whom we say was fully divine and fully human – would be any different? As a twelve year old boy he would have been pushing against the constraints of childhood: wanting to be treated like a man; certain that he knew exactly what he was doing, sure that he was unstoppable, convinced that nothing could harm him.

That’s what we all think, when we are young, isn’t it?

Before we’ve seen real life: before we’ve seen sickness, poverty, or death. Or, even if we have seen these things – we don’t believe they will ever apply to us. Especially not death. My goodness. We’re going to live forever. And so is everyone we care about.

The boy Jesus felt quite safe in Jerusalem; so at home in the temple that he called it “my Father’s house,” so confident that he stood right up and asked questions of the rabbis. Surely no harm could come to him in a place like this.

His parents – older, wiser – knew differently. They had lived through Herod’s pogrom against male infants, they had seen the innocent suffer, they had buried friends and loved ones. And so they searched anxiously through the streets of Jerusalem, seeking their son, their precious child.

Intelligent, independent, fiercely strong-willed… Jesus could not have been an easy child to raise. Did his parents worry aloud; fretting that they had given him too much independence, too soon? Did Joseph berate himself for not keeping the boy safe? Did he wonder if he ought to have been firmer with Jesus, or did he wish he’d hugged more often? Was Mary in tears, fearful that her son had been hurt or killed, fearful that the time when her heart would be pierced had already come?

We are told that they did not find Jesus for three days. And we, with our post-resurrection confidence – we who know that the story has an amazing and ultimately happy ending, do not realize how long that was. To Mary and Joseph those three days must have seemed an eternity.

At last they came to the temple. I imagine them pushing open the doors, feeling their blood pulsing in their ears, a few moments of stillness as their eyes adjust to the darkness inside – and there he sits! Calm and confident, without a care in the world. They both breathe a sigh of relief, their fear turning to anger: “What on earth are you doing here?!” “Why didn’t you stay with us?” “Do you know how worried we were?”

Jesus is surprised by their attitude. It must have seemed to him quite obvious: where else would he be but in the temple? And what could happen to him here: after all, this was Jerusalem, the holiest city in the world.

We know very well what could – what did – happen to Jesus in Jerusalem. The same priests who were impressed with his learning would condemn him. He would be betrayed and abandoned by his friends. He would be wrongfully convicted, publicly mocked, tortured, and crucified. Those who watched him die would sneer at his suffering.

With the innocence of childhood, and the holy optimism of God’s own son, Jesus did not imagine that anything could go wrong in Jerusalem.

At what point did the Lord “grow up”? When did Jesus realize that he was not safe in Jerusalem; that his healing works were suspect, that his generosity was resented, that his radical message of love and forgiveness was not welcome?

Or did he never really change? Did this precious son of God believe – even as he suffered on the cross – that people are good and decent? Was he sure that we were worth his efforts?  Did he have faith that we are teachable – that we can learn to follow his Way, even though we often stumble and fall?

When did you “grow up”? How old were you when you began to doubt the goodness of your fellow humans? When did you start to expect bad behavior, to suspect people’s motives, to assume that the world was dangerous place where you were always at risk?

We live in a culture of fear. The daily paper reports murders, assaults, rapes and robberies. “Reality TV” features endless tape recordings of the Most Shocking criminal attacks, car chases, and arrests. Films and television programs repeat the mantra of violence, danger, and hatred: pathological killers, murdered children, vulnerable women. They inspire the worst in us: a hunger for vengeance, for revenge, for bloodshed.

For a while there you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing the phrase “what would Jesus do?” It seems to have faded away … perhaps because the question was too difficult. Or maybe it was the answer that was so hard to face.

What would Jesus do – today?

He would probably do what he did as a boy in Jerusalem, as a young man in Nazareth, as a preacher in Galilee, as he did even as he died upon the cross: he would have compassion. He would have hope. He would believe in God and in us.

“Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” If Your people, my God, understood – if they had real wisdom, they would have compassion. If they could only know You, tender Father, as I know You, they would be loving, merciful and kind.

Things happen and we react – we respond with fear, anger, confusion. We make lousy decisions, do stupid, hurtful things because we don’t take the time to think. We don’t stop to pray, to look to the Beloved, to hold the teachings of Christ in our hearts.

How might our world be different if we reclaimed our own “holy innocence”: if we trust in the teachings of Christ, in the reality of God’s love? What if we respond with compassion, rather than react in rage? if we show pity, rather than hatred?

What if we have faith in others – expecting the best of them, and faith in ourselves – confident of our strength and courage? What if we truly believe in the Good News: that the Light has already, decisively, overcome the darkness?

Hope would grow, peace would bloom, justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

It could happen.

There is only one way to find out.

Virtual hugs and real-time blessings,

Deborah +

This Week’s Suggested Spiritual Exercise: As you have aged, have you grown wiser, or more cynical? What emotions do you experience most often? What can you eliminate from your life that contributes to an attitude of fear or negativity?

There is always a place for caution in our lives. Christ’s commandment to love is not a mandate to take foolish risks, but to be wise-hearted: to respond with compassion, rather than react with fear or anger.

“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
                       ~ Matthew 10:16

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