With Christmas in just a few short weeks, it's time to get into the festive spirit!
And a fantastic way to start is with my Christmas screensaver!
I've spent the past few days creating a visual treat for your monitor.
The Karl Blog.com Christmas screensaver displays 100 of the most beautiful festive scenes from across the globe, and then smoothly transitions from one to the next.
It's a great way to begin your celebrations -- and it's not only spyware-free, virus-free and adware-free, it's also completely... free!
Are you battling with a problem that you cannot do anything about?
If so, let it go!
It may not be the answer you want to hear, but once you let go, life lightens up for you.
You see, there are some things you can change and there are some things you can't change.
Learning to accept what is will help your life flow without stress or turmoil.
Knowing what you can or can't change is the key.
For example, you book a camping holiday but accept that you can't do anything to book nice weather. So, if it blows a gale and throws down enough rain to fill a lake, you just have to accept that's the way it is.
You then have choices ...accept the way it is and moan or accept the way it is and have fun.
Accepting what is allows you to bring out your better qualities.
When you stop dwelling on the things you can't change, you avoid anxiety and all those pesky emotions that make you feel frustrated and depressed.
You start to flow with life.
So, if you're in a situation that is causing you some stress, first ask yourself ... Can I change this?
If you can, then do so!
If it's something that you really can't change, then ask yourself ...
Can I accept this?
Acceptance can be challenging because the ego fights it.
It's in our nature to try and control and shape a situation to suit us. When we can't, our ego cries, shouts and makes as much noise as possible.
Realize that it's just your ego that holds you back, and gently accept.
Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter.
Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
'Oh, how clumsy of me,' she said. 'But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.'
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
The moral of the story?
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think. Start your day with this thought provoking story and have a fruitful day.
Have a week filled with positive thoughts and sound decisions!
If the world is a stage and we are acting out the great story that is life then consider this...
There are no rehearsals!
The live performance is right NOW!
But don't panic! Everything is going just as it should.
Ok, so what about preparation? ... What if I do something stupid or forget my lines?
You know, it doesn't really matter.
What do you need to prepare for? You are fully equipped with all that you need to live a full and happy life.
As to acting stupid, life allows for a little silliness.
There's a fantastic lyrical line in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which goes something like ...
"A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men".
How completely true!
As to forgetting your lines, it's okay to make mistakes because these are what shape us.
Anyway, if you forget your lines or do something silly, you'll make people laugh. And there's nothing wrong with that. It takes talent and a beautiful persona to make someone smile - so that's a bonus!
Besides, there aren't really any mistakes ... just lessons that can help us improve.
And, when you are open to life's gifts, you create abundance.
Life is also a great adventure ... a journey of discovery ... and you receive the journey that is meant for you at this time.
This journey will offer many gifts but you may not always see it until you open your eyes.
In some situations, you may think your particular journey is devoid of gifts or takes you to a dead-end. But just go with the flow and see what materializes.
Be open-minded.
The most difficult journey or challenging adventure always offers the best gifts, so bear this in mind while you're travelling.
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
So, don't forget that sacred gift ... your intuition, your inner wisdom, your sense of exploration, your wild, curious spirit ...
Life is an adventure waiting to happen.
It is a glorious, multi-color, techno-adventure - right here in YOUR town.
Or are you fighting a raging current? Or perhaps even stuck in a stagnant pool?
Sometimes, we fight too hard to achieve our goals or we slip into inertia purely out of laziness or believing that everything is too difficult.
Often, we place too much pressure on ourselves, trying to conform and keep up with our friends and neighbours.
Frequently, we may punish ourselves for not being good enough, quick enough, brilliant enough or beautiful enough.
The waters of our life become polluted when we don't trust in the natural flow.
Poet William Henry Davies once said with great wisdom: "A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare."
Take your time. Breathe!
Reflect on what's important to you right now.
When we relax into an easy pace, and treat ourselves with tender loving care, life starts to flow.
When we let go of the thoughts of pressure, problems, challenges, stress, desperation, and so on - and reinvigorate those thoughts with positive enthusiasm - we step into our equilibrium.
Everything has its time.
And remember, you don't need to be perfect. You don't need to be anything. All you do is simply be.
So let go of impatience and yearning and limiting thoughts.
A huge Canadian guy was given a job as a woodcutter.
He was so grateful for the opportunity to work, and support his wife and family, that he vowed to work as hard as he could, and fell as many trees as he could.
On the first day, he worked very hard, and managed to cut down 13 trees. He was delighted with himself, and also his boss was delighted. He vowed to do even better on the second day.
On the second day, he worked even harder than the previous day, and took a shorter lunch break.
By the end of the working day, he had only managed to cut down 11 trees.
He arrived for work even earlier on day three, and worked right through his lunch break. He worked as hard as he possibly could, and only managed to cut down 9 trees.
At the end of the day, he walked dejectedly into the boss's office, and offered to resign. He said that he could not explain his poor performance, given what he had achieved on day one.
The boss would not accept his resignation, and asked just one question of him.
"When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."
No matter what else is going on in your life right now, you can still have happiness at your heart's core.
You can use the positive energy of your inner joy to resolve other feelings.
So, embrace happiness.
Live your life with happiness.
Be the happy, beautiful being you were born to be.
You may remember that yesterday I discussed the "Brain Evolution System."
Now, "BrainEv" is a 6-CD brainwave program that puts your brain into a state of peak performance.
Bringing you awesome life benefits - such as sharper thinking, greater creativity, unlimited energy, an immunity to stress, and much more.
I've followed the program myself - and enjoyed the amazing results.
That's why in December 2007, I took over as the director of the company - and worked with the team to get this program out to the world.
And it was all unleashed YESTERDAY - November 3rd, 2008.
Today, I'd like to share a video with you to explain precisely what the Brain Evolution System is all about.
This is a feature aired on US television yesterday - and features the BrainEv Labs chief developer, Michael Kelley.
Just listen in to learn more about "BrainEv" - I'm sure you'll be interested in what he has to say.
Click on the play button to begin this video:
(Can't see the above video? You might be viewing this by e-mail, or through a feed reader. Just visit http://www.karlblog.com/ to view the full video - or click here.)
And that means it's a very special launch day. A day that has taken almost a year to arrive - and has personally cost me over $400,000 to bring to fruition.
Let me start from the beginning.
Many of my regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of "brainwave technology."
That is, the science of listening to certain specialised "sounds" - and having them influence your brainwave patterns.
Bringing about key states of mind - such as deep relaxation, sharper thinking, creative bursts, greater energy.
Early 2006, I discovered the *ultimate* brainwave system.
At that time, it was only available via direct recommendation. I even shared it with readers of this blog.
And the program was developed by self-development leader Lee Benson, and brainwave pioneer Michael Kelley.
I loved the system so much, that in December 2007, I made moves to take over development and publicity of the program - and purchased a majority stake in the company for upward of $400,000.
Why?
Because this 6-CD program has the ability to change lives.
Just listen to each CD for 30 minutes a day - and you'll set your brainwaves into a state of peak performance that will make you unbeatable.
It's being RAVED about by industry leaders such as Mark Joyner (of Simpleology.com) and David Riklan (owner of the #1 self-development website, SelfGrowth.com).
And today - after eleven months of behind-the-scenes development - the full program has FINALLY launched to the public.
You can learn more about this announcement by reading the official press release by clicking here.
Now, most people reading this will know that I rarely make direct recommendations.
I only ever back the very REAL self-development tools that I believe make a difference.
The Brain Evolution System is one of the few tools that has the ability to truly change how you live your life, forever.
It never fails to surprise me how many people seem anti-smile.
They get nervous around even the smallest hint of a grin.
Yesterday evening, I enjoyed a beautiful stroll in the countryside - and walked past three different individuals, passing each other along narrow, shrubby lanes.
I made a purposeful attempt to smile at each of these individuals. Social norm, and all that.
Only one smiled backed.
Another kept his head down, despite our very obvious proximity. The other looked at me, shocked - as though my neck were wearing two heads that eve.
Heading out down toward the Frankfurt Book Fair, on the very last of it's five days.
Welcome to Frankfurt Book Fair - held in the city for over 500 years. Nearby you'll find the home of Gutenberg, inventor of the world's first printing press.
Enter the abyss. Five days, 7,000 exhibitors, 100 countries, and 300,000 visitors. Massive building: it took me 30 minutes to walk to the hall I wanted!
I arrive at The Meta Secret stand - only to find my face published on every DVD around. I am listed as one of the 12 core teachers from the film...
Then recording begins. Live - at the exhibition - in front of everyone! People are taking photos - and afterwards, I'm interviewed by a German journalist for a British newspaper.
Finally - after a couple of hours filming, and a further couple of hours chatting to publishers and journalists, I manage to find myself a salad bar - and a glass of wine.
We may have a little further filming to do over the coming month or so - however watch out for The Meta Secret.
This film is going to make it big. Put it this way - when I was there, Borders were scrambling to stock it in their European stores.
The screensaver randomly displays my favourite inspirational quotes, from Albert Einstein to Winston Churchill -- all on the most beautiful background scenes imaginable.
It's INCREDIBLY inspirational.
Just install it once and be inspired every time your screensaver kicks in. You can customize it too. There's absolutely NO advertising and NO spyware.
