|  | | | | In Chinese, the word that represents threat also stands for opportunity. Anything that challenges you is an opportunity to create change. Think about it! What problems have you encountered recently? Perhaps you experienced a difficult client at work; or found a fault on your new washing machine; or struggled with a project; and so on. What did you learn from these experiences? What did you do to resolve them? By resolving them, how are things different? More than likely, the problem has presented you with a new direction. Albert Einstein believed so. He said: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." You just have to look a little closer! Perhaps you have gained a new skill or experience; perhaps you have a better understanding about a situation; maybe you have gained intellectually, financially or spiritually from the experience; or maybe the problem has opened doors to better life choices. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." Problems really are an opportunity for positive change. So, next time you have a problem, immediately think - OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! Welcome the problem. Open the door and let opportunity step right in. Work efficiently towards a resolution, without complaining, and learn from the outcome. You have everything to gain! Labels: inspiration, self-development  A quick update to let you know that the interview with Rebecca Marina went wonderfully - and is now available for download! Thanks to the hundreds of people that joined us on the teleseminar, or who listened live via the Web. I'm really, truly, extremely honoured and humbled :) We discussed everything from spirituality to productivity to single-dom! We also chatted about my own thoughts on self-development, including the "secret" to true happiness. (Hint: Every thought is limiting you right now!) I had a riot, and loved every moment. You can download an MP3 version of the interview by clicking here: It won't cost you a penny. Click on the link to grab your copy. Thank you again! See you all very soon  Much love - Karlos (PS. If you're visiting this site for the first time, make sure you subscribe by entering your e-mail address in the box - top-right hand corner of the screen.) Labels: inspiration, interviews, radio work, self-development Just a quick reminder that you can tune in to a live interview with myself - in just under *seven hours time*. Rebecca Marina will be interviewing myself on topics ranging from spirituality to productivity to single-dom! It all happens tonight at 8pm Eastern, 7pm CST, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific. In the UK, you can tune in at 1am in the morning. (Yes, I got the time wrong in my last message. D'OH!) Rebecca has already received hundreds of signups, and you can listen live by telephone, or via the Web. You can also submit questions during the interview via the website. Get the countdown, telephone number, and everything else you need - by clicking here. So, thanks for your support - and I'll chat to you all this evening! Labels: fun, inspiration, self-development Just a quick post today. On Wednesday evening, the wonderous Rebecca Marina of Celebration Healing will be interviewing myself on spirituality, productivity, single-dom - and will be giving away a whole bundle of free gifts along the way. If you'd like to hear me live - nervously stuttering and stumbling over my words - then signup here: http://rebeccamarina.com/2008/06/free-calls/ The call will be on Wednesday at 8pm Eastern, 7pm CST, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific, or midnight Wednesday GMT. (Yes, as I'm in the UK - it'll be midnight for me!) Hope to see you all there :) Labels: blog stuff, inspiration, radio work, self-development Let's admit it...
We've all wanted approval at some time in our lives.
We want to be liked. We want to be loved. Even in writing this post, there's a part of me that wants you to think I'm a nice guy, and that I'm a good writer.
I'm seeking your approval.
And although wanting any form of approval is restricting, it's still a relatively normal feeling...
... In moderation.
But how many times have you seen people (not you, of course!) that have really wanted a little too much approval? Those individuals for whom approval controls them?
... The overly-eager bar-hawk that drools over the girl - and never impresses.
... The people pleaser that burns out, working for everyone - and eventually explodes.
... The weak-partner who refuses to have a personality - but exists merely to please the spouse.
Now here's the real paradox...
Wanting approval doesn't get you approval. Instead, wanting approval just makes you appear desperate, and loses you respect.
By letting go of wanting approval however, you ironically end up receiving MORE of it - and therefore become much more comfortable living in your own personality.
It's a push for some people. But if you try it, you might discover it's magic.
However, that's not the end.
Here's the true secret to freedom...
Can you let go of wanting your OWN approval?
Completely!
Sounds interesting, eh?
Can you do something without wanting your own approval for it?
This could be the last step toward freedom you need.
Remember, letting go of wanting approval doesn't mean being disrespectful, or not caring for the feelings of others. Rather, it just means that you let go of the "clingy" behaviour that "desperately wanting something" can bring. It means standing up for what you believe, and saying what you think - without worrying how others will judge you.
And I'm sure that's something YOU could do easily.
Give it a go - and have yourself a great day :) Labels: inspiration, self-development I stumbled into a fantastic quote just yesterday evening, by Greek philosopher Socrates. It read: "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." What a fantastic thought. How many of us really try to appear a particular way? How often does Karl Moore try to appear all self-developed, and smart, and spiritual? And how often is it all just a bit fake? Again, the quote: "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." What do YOU want to be? And why don't you try to really BE it? Labels: inspiration, self-development How many of us beat ourselves up on a daily basis?
Blimey. I certainly do!
"Ohh, why did you say that! Now she thinks you're a total Muppet. Idiot!"
"My nose is definitely out of line. I look terrible!"
"I just can't quit. I constantly fall into the same patterns. I'm a real ass!"
It's crazy, and it's continuous!
Well, today I'd like to suggest something that most people will have never considered.
Just for the moment, can you try giving yourself praise and thanks for beating yourself up so well?
After all, you're incredibly good at it... Right?
Of course you are!
So, congratulate yourself on doing it so well. It really is quite the accomplishment to do it to the extent you do, right?
Of course!
Now, why not try congratulating yourself on being as flawed as you are?
We've all got issues that we let hold us back. So, just for the moment, give yourself praise for being as wonderfully flawed as you are.
You hate all of those flaws, right? Well, just give yourself praise and approval for holding onto that feeling of hatred and resistance for so long.
You've been doing wonderfully so far in your life. Only a really strong person would hold on to a strong feeling like that for so long!
And now, just for the moment, could you give yourself some approval for just being as perfect and as flawed as you are?
Maybe just because it's a very smart thing to do.
Take this exercise seriously.
Most people have never taken the time out to honestly give themselves approval for being both the perfect and flawed being they are.
By praising your negative emotions, rather than attempting to suppress them - we feel so much better, and become more in harmony with the beautiful duality that life provides.
Enjoy your day - and give yourself approval even if you don't!  Labels: inspiration, self-development (Today's post is also available as an audio post. To listen to Karl read this post live, click here.) Today, I'd like to share with you the most basic teaching in Buddhism.
That teaching is... "Everything is change."
Every single thing is in a state of flux. A state of never-ending change.
Everything is created - and everything will ultimately wear out and be reduced to earth.
Your business suit is made and worn, and will ultimately fall apart and decay. All animals are born, and will eventually die. Buildings, machines, roads, clocks, books, everything...
Everything has a beginning. And everything has an end.
It's always changing.
And so what does this teach us?
Well, for a start, it helps us to realize we can never really be in control of anything. Everything changes. Once we accept that, we let go of really wanting to control it... And simply allow ourselves to control it to the degree that we do in that moment.
But perhaps more importantly, it puts us at peace with the world.
By contemplating this teaching, we realize that everything will ultimately reduce to dust. The glass you are drinking from will ultimately break. So when that break occurs, you don't need to curse at your misfortune... But simply realise that you're witnessing it's ultimate change in progress.
The cycle of everything is not if... But when.
The teaching is designed to put you at peace. To stop you trying to grasp onto things... To stop you trying to control things... But instead to realize, without apathy or helplessness, that everything changes. Everything moves. Everything is in a continuous state of flux.
It's a teaching which puts you in a state of acceptance.
And it's incredibly empowering... If only you really get it.
Giuseppe Tomas di Lampedusa said: "If you want things to stay as they are, things will have to change."
Nothing will ever remain the same. Everything changes.
Want to learn more about this teaching? Click here, or here. 
Labels: inspiration, self-development At just 15 years old, John Goddard sat down and made a list.
He called it his Life List.
On it, he wrote all the things he wanted to achieve in his life. All in all, he totalled a fantastic 127 things he wanted to achieve or experience.
Among his goals were: Climb Mount Everest... Run a mile in under five minutes... Circumnavigate the globe... Land on and take off from an aircraft carrier... and many others along the same line.
In fact, you can view John's entire Life List here.
The interesting thing?
John has achieved an awesome 109 of his life goals -- and is still working on the rest.
His daring challenges have meant he's faced death once or twice. Yet he continues to strive for, and achieve his dreams.
And so my question to you today is...
What's on your Life List?
Not everything John aimed for was big and daring. One goal was to visit a movie studio. Another was to live to see the 21st century. Another was to marry and have kids.
He built his own telescope. Wrote a book. Learned to play the violin. Discovered how to type at 50 words per minute.
I'm willing to bet that goals like this could REALLY spice up your life right now. They could add a little extra zest. Inject a little needed enthusiasm. It's one of those kinda things I just love to do.
So think about it...
Could you take five minutes out today... And write your own Life List?
You don't need to be 15 years old to get started. Right now is just perfect.
Enjoy -- And once you've finished, make some exciting plans to begin achieving those goals over the next few years! :) 
John Goddard
(from www.johngoddard.com) Labels: inspiration Now, I must make a confession.
I am something of a TODO list nut.
I make at least one TODO list each day, to help organize and prioritize the work I do.
As I prepared mine this morning, I was reminded of one important life lesson I uncovered some five years ago.
I was putting off my happiness each year, promising it to myself the next.
"Oh, I'll just work a little harder for the next twelve months. Because then I will have finished project A, B and C. And THEN I can be happy!"
Until one year, I realized... I was repeating myself. It was always going to be great... NEXT YEAR.
It's like the sign in the pub that says "Free drinks tomorrow."
And, of course, tomorrow never comes.
This taught me an important lesson in life.
Happiness should NEVER wait for a completed TODO list.
Happiness should always be NOW!
Consider this...
When you DIE, you will leave a TODO list behind.
You'll still have jobs and projects you've yet to complete. Accept it. It's life. Everything changes, everything moves... nothing stays the same.
And within that fact, we find the beauty of our world.
Louis L'Amour said: "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."
You will NEVER finish your TODO list.
So why not begin living... starting TODAY? ;) Labels: inspiration, self-development One friend of mine, Joe Vitale, is in the habit of saying "Aude aliquid dignum!"
Or... "Dare Something Worthy."
Today's post is just a reminder of that. And I'm going to do it by giving a little perspective.
A few weeks ago, I watched the movie Contact, starring Jodie Foster. It's based on the novel by late Carl Sagan. Although I don't necessarily share all of Carl's views, he was a great man... and no matter what he may think, he's somewhere out there :)
The introduction to the movie however included an amazing three minutes of tracking back. From a picture of earth and its various radio signals... out into deep, deep space.
It's staggering -- and it should make you realize that we aren't that big after all.
Our actions really aren't of any real significance.
This blog post is hardly likely to ever go down in history. And as far as the "BIG EVERYTHING" is concerned, Karl Moore is hardly likely to ever really mean anything.
All we're ever likely to be, or do, or anything... is what we be, or do, RIGHT NOW.
So what could YOU dare that is worthy today?
And why not JUST DO IT...
After all, it's really not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Lloyd Jones said: "If you have tried to do something and failed you are vastly better than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded."
So go on. Dare something worthy.
Now I'll leave you with my second favourite scene in the movie. The timewarps! (If you're reading this via e-mail, visit the official site at www.karlblog.com to view the videos.) Labels: inspiration, quotes, videos "I'm claustrophobic. I panic in small spaces!!"
"She's gay. She won't be interested in him."
"My name is Jon, and I'm an alcoholic."
Have you ever thought how many times we use labels in our daily lives?
They're a neat way of classifying the world, making it easier for us to understand.
We all do it. And once we've chosen a label for ourselves, or once somebody gives one to us, we stick by it rigidly!
We don't chat with the pretty girl because we're not confident. We won't eat another bun, because we're on a diet. We couldn't possibly climb that hill, because we're fearful of heights.
Well, here's a shocker...
Labels don't liberate. Labels RESTRICT.
They stop us fully enjoying the experience of every moment.
They tell us what we SHOULD do, and what we SHOULDN'T do.
You know that you're SHY, because you've always been labelled as SHY. You might even use the label yourself.
But what if that's all it really is... just a LABEL?
It's just a word or phrase we use to classify. It's not negative, and it's not positive.
It's just a "sticker" that you attach to your memory of experience.
What if labels are just man-made creations, and NOTHING is restricting you right now?
Think about it.
Labels are everywhere. They make light-work for the brain. But they'll hold you back.
Make the decision to ditch your labels.
Recognize them all around you. At least just for today. Then ditch 'em.
See where it takes you! :)  Labels: inspiration, self-development How many times have you gone to a party, thinking it was going to be terrible... ... And it was? How many times have you gotten out of bed, with the sun shining, and decided it's going to be a great day... ... And it was? It's no coincidence. The simple fact is that... Intention sets direction. If you decide something will be a particular way, all of the "programming" in your mind changes to make it so. If you have an intention of enjoying yourself, your mind will use that "program" to help see the world. So, here's a challenge. For the next couple of days, do EVERYTHING with INTENTION. Let me repeat that one more time. Over the next couple of days, do EVERYTHING with INTENTION. When you wake up, have the intention of having a great day. When you arrive home, have an intention of making your partner feel loved. When you go to that party, have an intention of having a great time. See what happens. I'm betting that your intention will set your direction. It's not rocket science. As Lester Levenson used to say... "Don't believe a word I say. Take it for checking!" Try it out for yourself. Take it for checking. See if it works for you. I know you'll be surprised. Labels: inspiration, quotes, self-development Have you ever had a spiritually-enlightening moment, when you sat back and observed... "It's all only words." I've spoken many times on this blog about how "labels" can really limit our experience. Labels such as "good" and "bad" .... "pain" ... "happiness" ... "marriage" ... even "self-development" ... Yes, labels have purpose. They're designed to help make life easier, by arranging experiences into pigeon-holes that we can easily identify. But more often than not, by using a particular term, we end up trying to force ourselves into that pigeon-hole... regardless of what we're actually experiencing! Here's an example... Have you ever had an ache in your body, and suddenly realized that you were in pain? Then you focused on it more, and it was definitely painful... you're stressed, concerned, unable to concentrate. It's definitely pain. Hey -- you're in PAIN! I know that I've done that many, many times -- and I'm sure I'll continue to do it, too! But maybe "pain" is just a label. Maybe all you're really encountering is an experience... an experience that you have labelled as pain, therefore your mind "works it up" to ensure you get all of the mental and bodily stress associated with pain. After all, your mind would hate to be wrong! So... Labels are limiting. And here's a thought... Maybe every single word you use, or have ever used, is just a label. Maybe ever single word means you're going into memory, and thereby temporarily stepping outside of the freedom you inherently are. I'm not saying that in order to be spiritually free, you have to be a mute! But rather, by being aware that WORDS are merely LABELS... you can learn not to attach as much importance to them as you do. And maybe you could begin noticing more the actual experience BEHIND the words. After all... and this is the really important point... They're just words. Labels: inspiration, self-development Here's one of the fundamental truths of the universe... Everything in life arises in duality. In order to have day, there must be night. In order to have cold, we must have hot. In order to have good, we must have bad. This is one of the deepest lessons a human being can ever learn, and yet how many people truly understand it? How many people continue to supress, deny, and resist the negative... And continually strive for positive-positive-positive? How many individuals believe PURELY in one side of life... And REFUSE to let in the other? Let me explain the meaning behind a symbol I bet you know only too well... Most people know it as the "Yin-Yang" symbol, but it's actual name is the taijitu. 
Apart from looking a "bit Eastern," have you ever wondered what this symbol really means? It represents the concept of "Yin and Yang", which is ultimately the idea that everything arises in duality... and that you shouldn't resist the opposite, because it will always be there. Look at the symbol. The Yin (predominantly black segment) and the Yang (mainly white) are co-dependant. They cannot exist without each other. They do not exclude each other. In fact, they support each other. And look at the coloured dots within each. This represents the idea that part of yin is in yang, and part of yang is in yin. It represents a seed, a reminder that there is always trace of one within the other. In bad, there is a trace of good. In masculine, there exists some feminine. In black, there exists some white. In the dark sky, there exist bright stars. It reminds us that the potential for change is always present. Have you ever put your hand in a freezing cold bath, only to pull it out sharply, thinking the water is boiling hot? Even in cold, there is a potential for hot! The two dualities are often closer than you think. So the next time you find yourself trying to resist anything in life, step back and ask yourself whether you're really embracing the entire duality. And if you're not... Consider it. Labels: inspiration, self-development A question today: Are you loving yourself enough? You know, one of my favourite films is "Playing By Hearts". It received poor reviews, sure. As do most of my top movies. But there's one description inside the movie that really struck me the first time I heard it. When Paul (Sean Connery) is explaining away a former love affair to Hannah (Gena Rowlands), he whispers... "I remember hearing you once describe to the children exactly what love was. You explained it beautifully... "You said that falling in love with someone... was really the process of falling in love with yourself.
"You begin to see yourself through their eyes, and you fall in love with yourself again." Think about it. When you're truly in love, most people feel exceptionally happy. And they're happy, because for once, they're in complete acceptance and appreciation of themselves. They're seeing themselves through the loving eyes of someone else. So, let me ask. Think of the one person that loves you most -- right now. And ask yourself: How do they see you? How perfect are you through their eyes? How does that make you feel? .... Have a great day! Labels: inspiration, self-development Many years ago, when I used to work as a freelance development consultant, I entered the corporate offices of a large UK manufacturer. I was only 18 at the time -- but I'd somehow landed this great job, outscoring the older applicants during the interview tests. That's when I was informed of the secret plans of this group. They intended to close down 80% of their factories... They wanted me to build a system to help manage the whole downsizing and automation effort. Suddenly I remembered that my cousin worked for one of the factories they intended to shutdown. "But why??" I asked. "They seem to be making you money!" "Pareto principle!" they shouted back. I just nodded at that point. I had no idea what they were talking about. About three hours later, I knew what the Pareto principle was -- and I've been using it ever since. It's a way of thinking that can help you gain more pleasure out of ANYTHING... The term comes from an Italian economist called Vilfredo Pareto. In the early 1900's, he made the mathematical observation that everywhere in life, 80% of consequences stem from 20% of causes. It's commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule, and it means that... ... 80% of revenue comes from just 20% of the factories.
... 80% of orders come from 20% of customers.
... 80% of the world's money is owned by 20% of the people.
... 80% of your happiness is derived from 20% of your activities. It's a rule-of-thumb measurement that genuinely works. I researched it. I applied it to my own life. I realized that the Pareto principle... is real. So, how can you apply the rule to yourself? Well, ask yourself these questions... .... Which 20% of your daily activites generate 80% of your income? .... What 20% of your time brings you 80% of your enjoyment? .... Which 20% of your spiritual development is bringing you 80% of your results? And, like the factory owners, when you realize which 20% of causes are causing 80% of the results, you can decide whether to increase those causes, or let go of the 80% of wasted effort. Enjoy :) Labels: inspiration, self-development Over the past couple of years, I've taken to regularly going to bed with one DVD playing on loop in the background. It's of Joseph Campbell, being interviewed in "The Power of Myth" by Bill Moyers. For those that don't know, Campbell was a mythologist, and creator of the famed "Hero's Journey" model -- a formula for all myths, used to help create mega-blockbuster movies today. He's a sweet, gentle, grandfather-like figure that speaks pure wisdom. His Hero's Journey (or the monomyth) model applies to practically every myth on the planet. In brief, Campbell describes the process in his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces, as: "A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man." The Hero's Journey has seven distinct stages... and some time ago, I had a powerful thought. These myths are there to tell us how to live our lives. Of course. But, by seeing where you are on the Hero's Journey scale yourself, you can also tell what's coming up -- and how to reach the next level. Listening deeper to the interviews with Campbell, I now realize he thought the exact same thing. And so this teacher of deep mythology ultimately made some profound discoveries about life itself. Core to his teaching was the idea of "following your bliss" -- or, as Lester Levenson would say it, "finding your freedom." In one of the interviews, Campbell profoundly comments: "When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." He also says that the hero - You - will always get the adventure they're ready for. Wow. What does that mean to you? Are you getting the adventure you're ready for? Or, to put it another way, are YOU ready for your adventure? If not, prepare yourself for it -- and it shall happen. Here are a few other quotes from his work that truly inspired me... "We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us." "The way to find out about happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you are really happy -- not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what is called following your bliss." "Your life is the fruit of your own doing. You have no one to blame but yourself." "Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is Whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." "Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble." "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." "When we talk about settling the world's problems, we're barking up the wrong tree. The world is perfect. It's a mess. It has always been a mess. We are not going to change it. Our job is to straighten out our own lives." "The world is full of people that have stopped listening to themselves or have listened only their neighbors to learn what they ought to do, how they ought to behave, and what the values are they should be living for." Think about today's post deeply. Maybe even read some of Campbell's work. And if you really get it... It might just change your life. Labels: inspiration, self-development "Never underestimate the powers of the brain!" ... That's the preaching of many modern lecturers in the world of the self-help industry. The brain is called the most complex computer in the world. It's the one human organ scientists really don't understand. We only use 10% of it, they say. And I'm sure they're right. But just for a moment, I wonder if you could amuse me, as I suggest another possibility. Maybe, just maybe, your mind is the cause of all your limitation. You see, it's my belief that every thought is essentially limiting. It is the brain that stops an experience being merely an experience - and reinforces it with labels, such as "pain" or "suffering." It is the brain that remembers that you have a bad habit, and tells you that you have it -- each time you see another packet of cigarettes. It is the brain that links certain situations with feeling happy, or feeling sad. Well, here's a thought.... Maybe you're already whole and complete and free, but you don't yet realize it. Maybe -- again, just maybe -- you're absolutely everything you need to be, restricting yourself by the thoughts you're holding in your mind. Ultimately, the brain really is the world's most powerful computer -- but it's only that. A computer. It records. It plays back. It records. It plays back. That's great. Sure, don't underestimate your powerful brain. But don't overestimate it either. The brain is not you. You are not your brain. You are not your body. If you really take the time out to sit back and think about it, you'll probably sense that there's more to you than your brain and your physical body. There's a beingness -- an awareness -- that is always present. And when you start to discover that, you'll discover an eternal freedom that can never be taken away. Everything you thought was a problem. Every "bad habit" you ever had. Every way in which you identify yourself.... ... They're all just LABELS created by the brain. They're all just LIMITING THOUGHTS. The real you -- the one you know is present and aware of this text right in this moment -- is always free, and always will be. It has no other choice. And so, my challenge for today, is to simply: Be the REAL UNLIMITED YOU. No attachments. No aversions. No labels. Enjoy :) Labels: inspiration, self-development Previously, in my post "They're Just Words," I spoke of the power of labels. Often, we attach "labels" to experiences, rather than just experiencing them. And that stops us enjoying them fully. We're too stuck in the words, rather than what's behind the words. You are read more of my writing about labels here and here. Today... I'm going to PROVE that these labels are controlling your life. Below, find an image with various coloured words upon it. As quickly as you can, I want you to look at each word and say out loud the COLOR of the word. So if a word is coloured red, you should say "RED!" Doesn't sound difficult, does it? Here goes... 
Have you done it yet? If not, try it out! Notice what happens? You look at the yellow-coloured "Red" word, and rather than experiencing the "yellow" and then translating it into the word "yellow," you see "Red" and instantly say out loud "Red!" You react to the label... and NOT to the experience! It's an awesome revelation, and this particular experiment is based on something known as the Stroop Effect. So, let me ask you a question. What do you think happens when you show this to a child that hasn't learned to read yet? To someone that hasn't yet developed their self-restricting "labels"? You guessed it. Happy Thursday! Labels: inspiration, self-development Sometimes, I admit, I lose faith. I lose faith in goodness. I lose faith in humanity. I lose faith in God. Sometimes, maybe, you do too. As many of you know, I love discussing the exploration of space. To gain a perspective of where you are in the universe right now, just try watching the "zoom out" introduction to Contact. But once you get beyond our current galaxy, you tend to disappear. You're lost in a silent world. A world of planets. Of mass objects obeying the laws of the universe. No emotion. No human feeling. No love. And, quite possibly, no God. As you keep going deeper and deeper and deeper, further and further away - billions of light years from earth, where mega-clusters of sub-universes tangle together like DNA strings... where the tiniest pixel on an image would represent infinite numbers of galaxies and worlds and beings and planets... Where size, as humans imagine it, really seizes to mean anything. When you're out there... looking in... seeing the crazy things that humans do, on their tiny little planet. When you're out there... in the silence, in the non-human world, devoid of contact, devoid of true life. You might... you just might... lose faith. Where is the God in this? Are we really as "special" as we think? Or could we... just could we... be a mere accident of the universe? Of no real significant meaning to anyone? American science popularist Carl Sagan, author of Contact, was a renowned atheist. He shared those exact views. The views of an atheist. This kind of thought leaves many deflated. Their whole structure of life... shattered. But does it really need to be that way? Let's consider, just for a moment, that God does not exist. That we, as humans, are just a rather splendid coincidence. And that, when we die, we just end up as a small pile of dust. Soon to be forgotten, soon to be blown away. Does that make a difference to your life? For many people, the answer is yes. But here's the crazy thing. The more you consider that as an option, the more you realize the importance of living NOW. Even if - "Heaven" forbid! - there's absolutely no God, and we're literally alone as coincidental beings in this universe... Doesn't that make it even more important to truly live your life to the full? To truly let go of your inhibitions, and begin living this life with a PASSION? To stop PROCASTINATING, as you have been - and to instead start ENJOYING your time here on earth? To begin living your life as your own God - through your own rules and standards? You see, after all that thinking... Maybe the only real meaning to life... is the meaning you bring to it. And perhaps that is the true teaching of an atheist. Labels: inspiration, self-development Our lives are absolutely crammed with limitation. Every single day, our thoughts limit how we move forward in the world. We don't apply for that job, because we think we're not good enough. We continue that drug addiction, because we don't think we're strong enough to break it off. We keep doing the "same old, same old" because that's just you... Right? Today, I'd like to address the underlying root behind all limiting thoughts. Behind all of the suffering and the stories we tell ourselves, is the idea that... There is such a thing as "Me." Now, of course, that sounds crazy on first reading. But in many Eastern philosophies, it's the core underlying message behind their whole teaching. Let's think about it for a moment. Look at yourself right now. Is there really a "me" in this current moment? You might think that you're the body. Or a spirit inside that body. Or maybe something that extends beyond the universe. Perhaps your belief is that you're part of a big mass of consciousness. Whatever you think, that's great. But also consider that it may also be just another limiting belief. So, just for the moment, drop all of your labels. Forget about the idea of a "Karl." Or a "me." Or anything you're related to. And just for now, witness what is happening. If you really look hard enough, WITHOUT going into memory (even for a moment!), you'll realize that all that is with you right now is awareness. You're seeing. You're hearing. You're experiencing. But in this particular moment, you're NOT Karl. You're NOT limited. You're NOT addicted. When we stop identify with the "Me" that we're all so desperately attached to, we lose the ego -- and suddenly all of the things we think define us drop away. All that we are is what is here in this present moment. Think about it. There isn't a "me" to have an addiction. There isn't a "me" to have sadness. And that also means there isn't even a "me" to have happiness, too! It also means there isn't a "me" to have any of the long-standing problems and issues you believe you have. They're just limiting thoughts. In the awareness that you are, without going into memory, those issues don't exist. In other words... If you really drop the labels and notice what is really here, you'll discover... All there is is the inherent freedom that you already are. Every single thought is a limitation. Let go of the limitation -- and discover the freedom you can only ever be. Give this some really deep thought today. Re-read this post a few times. And smile... because you are. Lester Levenson once said... "We are all unlimited being, limited only by the concepts of limitation we hold in mind. So stop being what you are not, a limited mind and a limited body, and just be what you are -- an infinite, totally free, grand and flowing being, whole and complete." Enjoy :) Labels: inspiration, self-development What if THREE simple words could change your entire life? No kidding. What if you were sitting on a bus in the East End of London, wishing you were somewhere else... when an apparent stranger whispered three powerful words into your ear. ... And those words changed your life. Forever! Well, that's what happened. To Danny Wallace, in his comedy cum self-help book "Yes Man." Now I must admit that "Yes Man" hasn't exactly been at the top of my reading pile... I received it from a close friend last Christmas, alongside a Chris Rea CD and a box of mints. During the drive home, the mints were devoured and the Chris Rea CD exhausted. The book however... Well. Let's just say that it's good friends with the inners of my bedside cabinet. In the book, Danny is given three immortal words while sitting on a bus.... SAY YES MORE.
Say Yes More. Say Yes More. Think about it... Imagine. Just imagine. What if you said YES more? What if you literally COULDN'T say "No?" What if you surrendered completely to the flow of life? What if you let "Yes" take you to exactly where it wanted to take you? What adventures would you experience if you were ONLY TOTALLY OPEN to life? Think about it. How would YOUR day change... if you ONLY said YES to every opportunity that came your way... JUST for today? And how about you try it... ? Let me know how you get on. (Oh, and if you're interested, click HERE to buy "Yes Man" from Amazon UK, or click here to buy "Yes Man" from Amazon USA. Highly recommended ... a very funny [and thought-provoking!] book.) 
Labels: inspiration, self-development How old do you feel today? No matter how old you are chronologically, how old do you actually feel right now? Hopefully, you are feeling younger than your years and truly alive. Ideally, it would be good to be young in body, ancient in mind and timeless in spirit. With each passing year, there is the danger that we take on board the West's general view of ageing ... that we start to degenerate, that we become slower, weaker, tired and ineffective. There is a danger that we start thinking, saying and believing things such as ... 'it must be my age'; 'I'm not as quick, supple, strong or energetic as I used to be' and so on. We become old before our time simply because we think it! Yet, throughout the world and particularly in the Far East, there are many examples of people in their 80s and beyond leading very full, meaningful and active lives. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: ' It is not length of life, but depth of life.' So true! You see, age is just a number. When we choose to live a life that is active in mind, body and spirit, we remain youthful right up until the time we are ready to pass on. So, let go of those limiting thoughts about age. It's never too late. What really matters is the life in your years! Enjoy your day! Labels: inspiration, quotes Are you the person you imagined yourself to be? Or are you in conflict with your self? If you are easily influenced by other people or experiences ... if you shy away from your own voice ... if you're afraid to live your talk because of what people think ... Then it's likely that you're not the person you wish to be. When you take on board other people's perceptions and judgements without any reservation or consideration for your own thoughts and feelings, you end up becoming a caricature rather than your true self. Worse still ... if you jump and react to everyone else's tune at the expense of your own, you then become a puppet, with your strings securely under someone else's control. Don't be afraid to be yourself. You're absolutely perfect as you are but you have what it takes to create the amazing individual you have always wanted to be ... your true and beautiful self. Each of us is an artist, creating our unique stamp upon the great canvas that is life. Gandhi once said: "Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you." There's nothing you can ever do wrong, ever. There are no wrong brush-strokes. You are -already - simply a work of art ... but a work of art in progress. You can add a little more colour or tone to your life ... You can choose how you wish to appear in any given scene ... But you know that the true-you presents the most beautiful picture of all. So simply be YOU moment-by-moment. Labels: inspiration, quotes I hope everything is beautiful in your world today. After all, your thoughts have created your reality. You can choose to see that beautiful, exciting, fun world that's out there. Or, you can choose to harbour thoughts that are limiting and which hold you back. When we go to school, we are given a wide introduction to the subjects that make up the world around us ... science, art, geography, maths, languages and so forth, yet we are not taught just how our thoughts are responsible for our actions. If Personal Growth was on the school curriculum, just imagine what the potential would be for well-rounded, loving, peaceful individuals. We would learn the value of setting good intentions and right action from an earlier age. Still, it's never too late to realize that our thoughts do create our reality. What's more, we have a choice about what thoughts to keep and which ones to eliminate. Set good intentions from the moment you wake up and greet the day. Believe that your life just gets better and better. Look for the beauty in everything around you and start creating that beautiful world that you so deserve. Become a poet ... view life through a poet's eyes. Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said: "The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions -- the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitesimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling." There is beauty in every moment, every single day. Choose to live with beauty in your life ...with Coleridge's infinitesimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling, and your life will be so much more! Enjoy! :) Labels: inspiration, quotes, self-development What is it that makes you want to jump out of bed in a morning? What is it that makes you feel so alive and enthusiastic? If you don't know, then it's time to find out! Doing what you really love can enhance your life experience. It makes you feel as though you fit into life's equation - completely! Quite simply, living the life of your dreams provides you with great joy and contentment. Master of the Adventure Hero myth, Joseph Campbell calls this "Following your bliss". Once you start doing what drives you towards fulfilment, you'll find your happiness. You may have to make a giant leap in order to do what you love. You may have to fight a few battles This could mean changing your current way of life or breaking through the odd comfort zone or overcoming fear, but it's worth it if it means starting each day with vitality and enthusiasm, knowing that you're doing exactly what you love. Joseph Campbell said that when you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the whil
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