Dare to Be Different

by

Stephen C Thomas

Do you want a life change, but you also want to be like everybody else? I am here to tell you that I don't think it will work very well. If you want true life change, you have to dare to be different.

People will think I'm weird!

They might. One of the things that stops most people from changing their lives is that they are afraid someone will make fun of them, criticize them. It is a possibility, but probably not as big as you think. Many people will admire you for having the courage to be different.

When I was in high school, I remember a new kid coming to school in our senior year, a time when it was most important to fit in. John was a strange kid. He didn't really fit into any of the cliques and he was friendly to everyone. He made no attempt to change who he was in order to fit in.

Just about everyone admired and liked John. Several people started acting like him. He became one of the most popular kids in school.

Some people might think you are weird, but many will admire you and wish they had the nerve to be different.

I will lose all my friends

You might. Your friends might think that you have gone over to the dark side or something. They might think that you have started taking drugs or that you have become mentally unstable. Most likely, they will be intimidated by your change and your courage to be different. They may make noises like they think you are strange, but in reality, they will be jealous.

The question I have for you is this. Do you want to disappear into who your friends think you should be, or do you want to be the person you long to be, dream of being? If these are really your friends they will understand.

I won't know how to act!

Who cares? You are doing this so that you can change your life, change who you are. You are not doing it so that you can remain the same. It will take some getting used to, but you will find your way.

Learning to be the new you, the one who dares to be different, may take some time, but you will find that if you accept it, it will soon become fun. You will find new ways of being, new ways of behaving that are more fun than the old ways.

Why not start now?

Why wait? Why not start being different now, right now. Be the person you always wanted to be. Change your life to what you know you should be; what you are created to be. Dare to be different! Dare to change your life. Dare to live the life you want!

About the author:

Stephen C Thomas is a minister, spiritual guide, speaker, motivator, yoga and meditation instructor, Reiki practitioner, and writer. His purpose in life is to help people create the life they were meant to have. Life change is possible!

Life Change for You is a web site designed to help you change your life. If life change is something you want, if learning about positive thinking and creating your life interest you, you can visit Stephen at http://lifechangeforu.com/

Scarcity versus Abundance

by

Meredith Hines

The phone rings. It's a friend of yours who just booked a recurring role on a big television series. She is ecstatic; her voice sings and screams in a high pitched excitement. She is so grateful to share her moment with you. Despite your genuine desire to be happy for your friend's good news, a pang of anxiety erupts in the pit of your stomach. Your heart begins to race, your breath becomes shallow, your face burns red, you even feel like crying. Worst of all you feel shame at your inability to enjoy your friend's success.

When you have a visceral, full bodied response to hearing of another's achievement, it can be indicative of a deep psycho-spiritual conditioning known as the scarcity mentality. The scarcity mentality is a worldview rooted in the belief that there is not enough. There is not enough success, not enough wealth, not enough love for everyone. The dictum of the scarcity mentality is that someone must lose in order for you to win.

This mentality is often encoded early in life. If we experienced childhoods where there was in fact "not enough", where our physical, emotional, or spiritual needs went unmet, scarcity can easily become the lens through which we see the world. This worldview often motivates tremendous drive, but also leaves us hyper vigilant, incessantly comparing and competing with those around us, and rendering us fundamentally distrustful of life.

The opposite of a scarcity mentality is an abundance mentality. An abundance paradigm views the world in terms of boundless potential, where there is the possibility of enough for everyone. If you identify with a scarcity mentality you may view the previous sentence with skepticism and dismissal, or equate an abundance perspective with a deluded utopian vision. Yet rather than a Pollyannaish denial of injustice, an abundance mentality views the inequities of the world as stemming from scarcity consciousness on an individual and collective level. World hunger is not a result from a dearth of food, it's a product of national and global policies rooted in greed and scarcity. While there may be a finite amount of oil on earth, there is an abundance of alternative energy available.

An abundance mentality rests on the spiritual principle of interconnectedness. Abundance allows us to experience ourselves as more than separate animals at war with one another for the last scrap of food, but as part of a collective where everyone has a vital role to fill, and we are in this together. While competition still plays a natural role in daily life, when an expectation is disappointed--- when someone else gets the job, the sting is not so immense that your core is shaken. It does not become a herculean task to wish someone well because you have an innate trust that you too will be taken care of.

What is so pernicious about a scarcity mentality is it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you see the world as scarce and perceive the success of others as threatening, you project an air of desperation that is off-putting towards opportunity. The old adage of "don't network, make friends" comes to mind. When you enter a situation from a scarcity mentality, all you see is what others can do for you. This agenda is transparent and usually makes people run! When you can rest in a place of abundance you open yourself to be of service. You are able to authentically connect with others and you radiate an attractive, positive energy. Wisdom traditions throughout the ages reiterate that you only get what you give away. This does not mean martyrdom, nor does it mean feigning philanthropy, or repressing jealousy or shadow. It means doing the internal work of dismantling scarcity conditioning, and re- aligning yourself with an abundance mentality which can foster inspiration and generosity for yourself and others. Ultimately, it's a much easier way to live.

© Meredith Hines MA 2011

About the Author:

Meredith Hines MA is a Los Angeles based psychotherapist, yoga and meditation practitioner and instructor, and a proud puppy mama. She specializes in working with anxiety, trauma, creativity, and spirituality. http://therapistmeredith.com

How to Listen With Your Heart

by

Flo Li

"The first duty of love is to listen." -- Paul Tillich

Love is tricky. Without communication, love is not sustainable. A huge part of communication is the ability, willingness and the act of listening. How you truly listen to your partner determines the depth of your conversation and the meaningfulness of your communication. There are two major ways to listen -- one is with your head, another is with your heart.

Listening with your head requires little concentration, awareness, or compassion. It is a mechanical process that most of us have mastered quite nicely. You simply listen to the words been spoken, pay little attention to tonality or body language, but you do pay a lot of attention to your internal dialogue that formulates what you will say next. The conversation becomes a ping pong game with great technicality but lacks soul.

Listening with your heart requires more focus, sympathy, and love. It is an artistic process that only the gifted few have charismatically obtained. Throughout history, the best leaders are those who truly sympathized with their troops. The most effective executives are the ones who understood their employees at a deeper level. The most intimate love relationships are the union formed between individuals who practiced heart centered listening.

Luckily for us, listening with your heart is a trained process. It simply takes practice to become more compassionate, charismatic, and loving. There are several steps you can follow to fine tune the art of listening with your heart.

1. Be glad. Start the conversation with the willingness to connect and appreciate the opportunity to connect.
2. Set your agenda aside when it is your time to listen. Your objective is to listen and to listen only. Clear your mind of what your agenda is and what you would like to gain from the conversation.
3. Listen to the words, sense the tonality behind the words, and watch the body language without a single ounce of judgment. Remember, there is no right or wrong in what might appear in front of you yet your own interpretation can make anything seem right or wrong.
4. Listen to the underlying message underneath the words by staying open. Your unconscious mind is able to pick up inferential statements which can often get clouded by the judgment of the conscious logical mind.
5. During a pause, do not jump in but take time to open your heart. By opening your heart, you are automatically connected to the other person while sympathy, love, and compassion are also expressed naturally.
6. Ask for clarification. If you do not understand something, ask for more explanation. Do not accuse of the other person for not being clear. It takes two to communication, so please take responsibility for yourself.
7. Most importantly, listen slowly. Listening with your heart requires your mind to slow down or stop in order to truly listen to another. It requires you to be more in your body and less in your head.

Practice listening with your heart as a healthy way of being. It will improve all of your relationships in a miraculous way. Remember, "the first duty of love is to listen."

About the author:

Flo Li http://floli.com/

During a physical death experience she touched the face of the infinite divine and gained spiritual freedom...Flo Li has a masters in Bioengineering and an MBA in entrepreneurship. Born a skeptic with a keen sense of scientific mind, she found herself waking up to the undeniable truth of Divine Love and Ancient Wisdom. A passionate speaker, she shares her crossing over experience and lessons learned through public talks and profound writing.

How to Develop Your Intuition

by

Melissa Kitto

You've heard the idea about developing your intuition, but why would you want to? Your intuition is a very practical tool to have in your life. If you are not using it, you are missing out.

My son Liam is 5 1/2 months old and I have found that my intuition comes in very handy when dealing with a baby who is not old enough to communicate verbally yet. When I trust my intuition I can take a lot of the guesswork out of parenting an infant. I have an answer for all those questions: "Is he hungry? Why is he cranky? Is he ready for a nap yet?" Etc etc!

In fact, your intuition is your best asset for success in all areas of your life. Your intuition guides you to be in the right place at the right time, doing what is right for you and your family.

So, how do you improve your intuition and learn to trust it more? Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Listen to the still, small voice inside.

You know the one. It's that really quiet inner voice you have within. If you are very busy and very rushed, you won't be able to hear your inner voice. It's the part of you that knows what's best, and is always speaking to you. You just need to slow down enough to hear it. This doesn't mean you need to stop and meditate for 30 minutes. Who has the time? You just need to stop for a second in the midst of your day and take a deep breath. Re-connect to your inner truth. Listen to what your inner voice is saying to you.

2. Pay attention to your hunches and impressions

You are a soul with a body, not a body with a soul. You are energy. Because you are energy, you are like a radio transmitter constantly picking up thoughts, feelings and impressions all day long. Many of these hunches and impressions come from your team of spiritual helpers or angels. There is a lot of wisdom in these impressions that you receive. You could pick up a feeling, a thought, a knowing or a vision.

These impressions are very subtle. So subtle in fact that if you don't take the time to pay attention to them, you will probably not notice them, or dismiss them very quickly.

Become more observant and more aware of your inner communication. When you get a hunch, write it down. Consider if that's a good idea for you. Follow through and take action on your hunches and you will be amazed what can unfold in your life. You just need to pay attention.

3. Feel - Think - Act!

As a soul, when you are in balance you naturally go through the cycle of Feel - Think- Act. First you feel something, or pick up a hunch or inspiration. This impression will just come to you, you don't need to create it or make it up. It's more about observing what is present within your feelings.

Next comes Think. This is where that logical, thinking mind comes in and starts organizing you to take action on the feeling you had. If you're out-of-balance, this is where you start over-thinking! If you tend to analyze and dissect everything, or talk yourself out of things, then you never follow through on your intuitive impressions.

Use your thinking mind to get your organized and directed, not to talk you out of your ideas. Do you have a running mental dialogue of self-criticism? Thoughts such as "I'm not ready" "I'm not good enough" or "I'm worried about what others will think" do not serve you. All they do is put you in a stuck place. Start to notice when those negative thoughts run through your head and replace them with positive, encouraging thoughts about yourself.

Once you're organized, then comes the Act. It's time to follow through and take action on the ideas you have organized for yourself. This is where you experience the fun and fulfillment of accomplishing your goals.

4. Stay Relaxed

The key to being more aware of your intuition is to be relaxed. If you are tense, stressed and trying to get too much done you will not be aware of what your intuition is telling you. As a Mom, there is no doubt you are busy and you have a lot on your plate. But you don't have to be still to be relaxed. As you complete your daily activities, practice feeling relaxed and still within. Know there is always a solution to any problem you face, and if you stay relaxed enough an answer will come to you through your inner voice.

Any time you feel stressed, take a deep breath, close your eyes and feel the love and peace that is in your heart. It will bring you right back to the present moment.

About the Author:

Melissa Kitto, the Angel Guidance Coach, will show you how to tune in and communicate directly with your angels and experience the JOY of living your unique life purpose. Visit http://www.CommunicateWithAngels.com to receive your FREE Special Report, the 3 Secrets to Communicating with your Angels.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

As I write this article people all over the world are getting ready to mark Remembrance Day in a couple of days’ time.  Remembrance Day was instituted to remember the sacrifices of the many young men who gave their lives for their country during the First World War, which ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918.  Nowadays it is extended to remember all who have sacrificed their lives for their country in war, both men and women.

During the 2 minutes silence at 11 am on the 11^th of November this year I will be imagining something John Lennon and Yoko Ono imagined early in 1971.  A world without war.  Or to put it in a more correct, affirmative way, a world filled with peace.  This is something I have always done on Remembrance Day since I was a child.

I do not imagine a world without religion though.  Religion has its place.  As long as it is not divisive.  It was the divisiveness of man-corrupted religion that made Lennon and Ono want to throw it away.  As Lennon himself said, he wanted a world “without this my-God-is-bigger-than-your-God thing”.  I imagine a world at peace, where we each seek the Truth in our own way, some of us by following a particular religion and others finding that Truth in a different way.  All of us recognizing and respecting the differences between us.

Nor do I imagine a world without possessions.  I believe the Universe wants all of us to enjoy the possessions we have and to provide us with even more.  It is simply not true that there is a limit on those possessions and that if I possess something it means someone else cannot possess what they want or need.  So there is nothing immoral about wanting more and going out and getting it.  But I also believe we are intended to use those possessions for good, using them to help all those around us.  In that sense my thinking is perhaps not so far apart from John Lennon’s as it might at first seem.

Probably most of you reading this believe in the immense power of visualization.  I certainly do.  If you do believe in this power, or even if you are not sure but are prepared to agree it may exist, and if you believe a world at peace is much preferable to a world at war, I would ask you to join me in a 2 minute visualization for peace.  Visualize everyone, regardless of country, race or religion, working together, living together in peace, being happy together.  Let us all do this visualization together for 2 minutes at 11:00 am on the 11^th November, this year, next year, and every year.

Imagine the power of that visualization!  Let’s do it!

Magic Spells - The Key to Success

by

Sarah T White

What is the key to success with magic spells?  In one word: visualisation.

Visualisation is a very powerful thing, and an important part of succeeding with magic spells. The mind is where your power comes from, and visualisation is one technique for unlocking that power and using it in your magic. Your inner spirit and mind control your emotions, your motivation, your success and happiness. Proper visualisation helps to focus your mind on your goals, and helps you to achieve them without realising you're doing anything different.

But what's the difference between visualisation and just daydreaming or an active imagination? And how can we apply visualisation to witchcraft and magic spells?

The main difference is that visualisation has purpose. It has a goal. It should also be more concentrated, controlled and directed (by you) than day dreaming. When you visualise in your spell casting, the visualisation itself is a big part of the magic spell. Without that section, your spell would not be so effective. So here's some tips:

• Make sure you start your spell completely relaxed, with time to spare. You don't want to rush a magic spell, that way you won't be able to devote the proper concentration and attention to it. Maybe play some soothing background music or neutral sounds, and dim the lights.


• Start your visualisation carefully and slowly. Practice making pictures in your head and holding on to them. Don't let them run away from you - you're in control. Start with black and white blurry pictures, then progress through sharpening the picture, adding colour, making it brighter and stronger and then adding detail.


• Block out all background noise and outside distractions. You should be able to "retreat" into your imagined world during the magic spell and become completely absorbed by it. The better you can do this, the more real it will be, and the better results your spell will achieve.


• Don't try to visualise a video - stick to still freeze-frames and photo-like pictures. Once you've practiced switching between these photos you can gradually start to introduce short moving sections.


• Successful visualisation in magic spells is about more than just the picture. You have to place yourself inside the scene. Hear what people will be saying to you and around you, smell your surroundings and the perfume of the people near you, touch the ground under your feet and the wind in the air, feel the emotions that you would feel if what you can see was really happening.

Take it slow, immerse yourself and pay attention to the small details that make the scene real. Successful magic spells all use visualisation as a core component of the spell, and magic and witchcraft would not be the same without powerful mind techniques such as visualisation. This is one way of opening the door to your inner power, and using that power to bring about positive change in the world.

Magic spells are easy to learn and simple to do. If you use them properly, you can do incredible things. Click here to learn more about successful spell casting, witchcraft and real magic spells.

Discovering and Celebrating Hidden Talents

by

Kristen Clark

Projects we enjoy doing at the office or hobbies we carve out time for during the weekends are good indicators of our talents - natural or learned. These are the activities that help us feel good about ourselves. When we experience the results of using our talents in these areas, we begin to recognize and believe more deeply in our abilities. If you want to boost your self-esteem, follow these four simple steps for discovering and using your talents.

1. Identify current interests. Make a mental note of the activities you currently enjoy and why. Ask yourself what it is specifically about these activities that inspires and satisfies you. Assess your interest and your skill. The things you already like to do are probably things you are also good at doing. Keep doing those things and if needed, find a way to do them more often.

2. Ask others about their interests. Talk to friends, family members, and colleagues about how they discovered their passion and what they did to sharpen their skills. Perhaps you'll find that you have similar interests; if so, you can pursue those interests together. Or, temporarily borrow their interests; try their passions on for size and see how you feel about them. You might feel a little out of your comfort zone, but it may be a worthwhile experience in identifying new and exciting talents of your own. If you decide you don't like something once you've tried it, you will still have gained some great insight into yourself.

3. Research interests online. The Internet is a great way to explore new ideas and opportunities without investing significant time or money in the experience. Explore various online courses to see if anything peaks your curiosity. Check out interest groups, forums, and chat rooms and search for conversations that appeal to you. Identify why the conversation appeals to you and assess if you have the skills needed to participate. If not, take a class and learn how. If so, dive right in.

4. Take community classes. Community classes are an excellent way to discover talents and passions. Most classes are usually local and easily accessible. Many classes are affordable and require little additional knowledge or training. Some classes are offered frequently during the year so you can attend one at your convenience. Once you've chosen a class to attend, you'll get a good idea about the subject over the span of the course. At the end, you can decide whether or not it's right for you. If not, you can move on and try a different course until you find an interest and corresponding hidden talents that meshes well with your needs and desires.

Whatever you do, don't give up. The goal is to build self-esteem by identifying hidden talents. Make an investment in yourself by uncovering your own hidden talents and nurture those talents to your heart's content. Doing so will lead to deep fulfillment and personal satisfaction. And, you might even have some fun in the process.

Negative feelings about ourselves are often the result of low self-esteem, which can impede our efforts to be successful. I am Kristen Clark. Please join me at http://www.hissideofthelookingglass.com, where you'll find Christian resources designed to help you change your mind about yourself, discover WHO you are and WHOSE you are, and build the confidence you need to not only accomplish more but reach your highest potential.