Poetry of Being — Galaxy a Majestic Rose
March 3, 2010 by Nicholas
Filed under Arts, • Headline
The midnight black enveloped the entire sky. The back drop of eternity. The affinity of consciousness… bathed in the silver blue white light. I stood face to face in the presence of the full moon… embraced by a rainbow hue. Stars twinkled the morse code of light. Their winks of loving encouragement. As a shooting star blazed a ribbon of potential. This the voice of the galaxy… the playground of our dreams.
I gazed into the face of a majestic rose. Its divine sweet breath my soul it bestowed. Velvet pedals spoke of its awe-inspiring message… Life is, of this moment. A “peace” of heaven on earth, to do with what we choose… in choice in which our world now beholds. My hearts love within this vision. I extend this rose to you. May your hearts be filled with boundless joy.
VividLife.me Contributor
Nicholas Franklin Bray
With many film and stage roles to his credit Nicholas Franklin Bray has recently finished the lead role in the film “Alter”, which was accepted by the “Big Apple Film Festival in New York. Nicholas’s next project is the lead in a film “The Tale of True Blue”, and will also be in the film “Boys of Summer”. He also has film projects in New York, Los Angeles, Michigan, and Phoenix. Nicholas summed up his acting career thus far with these words:
“By living my dream and embracing my passion, I hope to inspire others to do so also.”
Nicholas Franklin Bray
www.nicholasfranklinbray.com
KEEPING LIFE SIMPLE ~ WAKE UP!
March 3, 2010 by Lorraine
Filed under Growth, Spirit, • Headline
Over the past several months I have met many people who inherently know there is a path other than the one they have been walking for most of their lives which is calling for their attention.
It’s the path of peace that is calling and that which is available to all of us when we consciously make a decision to wake up and stop living our life in a story about who we think we are or what our life should or shouldn’t look like. It’s waking up to realize life is living you – you are not living life. When you come to this realization you witness that life becomes the driver of life itself ~ the mind along with its endless thoughts about who you are, what you should or should not be doing is now taking a back seat.
I feel very blessed to have come to this realization and although life challenges continue to come in this direction they just appear to move through this body in whatever way and in whatever time frame is required. Once we are caught by the flame of consciousness and honor the calling to wake up and be mindful of what is occurring in our life in any given moment and do so without resistance, we begin to witness that there is an ease to living our life when we remain open. Open to what is showing up in our life, open to the experience, open to how long it wants to remain in the body and open to the feelings and emotions that arise. All that is required is to simply say YES – yes to what is, as it is.
Make a conscious decision over the next 30 days to wake up each day and be mindful of how life is moving through yourSELF. Notice when you are not open, notice when your heart feels closed and your body tense. Notice if you can relax into the feeling without putting a label on the experience. Become the observer of life moving through you and let it move, or let it sit ~ just let it be, and then see what is true or not. Don’t forget to share your insights with us.
Honour your spirit and walk towards the journey your heart desires.
In love, Lorraine
VividLife.me Contributor
About Lorraine:
Lorraine Wilson has been on a journey of self discovery for many years. She openly shares her experience with others and offers hope, inspiration and an invitation to “Keep Life Simple” through self inquiry. She lives on the West Coast with her children. Lorraine has been influenced and is incredibly grateful for the teachings of Gangaji, Adyashanti, Eckart Tolle, Pamela Wilson, Muni and His Holiness, The Dalai Lama.
She has worked in the field of communications and broadcasting for over 30 years and utilizes her communication skills as a program facilitator and provides one on one support to others who desire to investigate their life journey. Stayed tuned for ‘Keeping Life Simple’ on VividLife Radio. The program will be an opportunity for everyone in the community to come together to discuss and be supported in the never ending discovery of who we truly are.
See it, Smell it, and Taste it!! Your Healthy Life Awaits YOU!!
March 3, 2010 by cheryl
Filed under Body, • Headline
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”
— Earl Nightingale
The senses are something to be grateful for… image not being able to taste your food. Use all of your senses to enjoy the good food that God or Mother Nature gave us AND use common sense to choose your food. (Note that as we age our senses may dull, but with good nutrition all experience an improvement! Incredible!)
Times have changed from 100 years ago, and on a timeline of thousands of years it is only a speck.
A growing number of toxins and chemicals, nutrient depleted soils, artificial foods (such as sweeteners), genetically modified foods (GMO), processed vegetable oils, synthetic supplements, increased cancers rates, increased diseases period, and more. Changes? Yes, I believe so. Happening more and faster. All of these put a stress on our health and on our immune system.
I personally do not buy into “we can diagnose diseases now more than ever, so that is why the numbers are higher“, (for example, ADHD… labeling is not always a jolly good idea either). True, this is part of it, but only to an extent. I have a strong desire to help others so that the numbers come down because health and healing is ours to have. Take control of our health should be a theme. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin, Very Smart Man!
Senses include seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, and I will include common sense. All are used in the kitchen, and in consuming foods. For improving our healthy lifestyle, first you need to ask yourself a question. Do you wish to a live a life of good health? If YES, read on.
Food Safety
Food safety is important, because it can add to the burden of other toxins and chemicals. For the most part, we are in control of this area…bacteria can grow and cause serious problems or stress on the body (such as E coli). The stronger our immune system the better it is for us.
Let’s use the senses in food safety. In order to determine if food is bad, we first look to detect bad spots (such as brown spots on lettuce or bruises on apples), or molds (such as the green stuff on breads). Smelling foods for odours is not my favourite thing, but we all have done it. Common sense is used for throwing out foods that have been left in the refrigerator or freezer too long. A good way to keep track is to label bottles with an open date or date put into freezer. One other area around common sense is food preparation…review information on food safety annually. Check out the internet for more information. Be sure to check out holistic cleaners and ways too. Here is a Canadian government site (every country should have one.)
Food Safety Tips http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/tipcone.shtml
We have enough toxins and chemicals in our environment so incorporate good food safety for prevention.
Food Choices
Picking our foods, and cooking or preparing our foods uses our senses too. This is a broad area but what I want to point out is that we have been conditioned to look for the brightest coloured food, the perfect shape, the bigger ones, and more. What we see is not necessarily good…many foods have been grown to appeal to you but my experience tells me that the taste and quality may not be present. For example, many people will tell me they prefer the organic fruits to the non-organic fruits because they taste better…yes they may not look as pretty. I do believe that food should look appealing…I surely would not purchase an organic apple that was soft and bruised and nor should you.
Smell and Taste
These senses make any meal a delight! The aroma and oh the wonderful taste that can come from a variety of prepared foods, recipes, spices, and more. Once again, we have to me mindful of the tricks…sugar will make anything taste better because we enjoy the sweet taste (not all of us, some like salty). Also, be mindful of the sodiums and vegetable oils/fats in processed foods as they add flavour to our foods, but they also change our brain chemistry so we can become addicted to these foods. Many struggle with discipline but they truly may be addicted (ask me to send you a very good article on this). These sugars, sodiums, and oils/fats are very problematic to our health. Common sense, awareness and knowledge will guide you to use fresh organic whole foods or as I heard from a friend yesterday…use foods that have one ingredient on the food label (however these foods usually do not have labels…AH HA)!!
The one good reason we want to use our senses…inflammation. Inflammation is part of every disease and can be found in every part of our body. Using our senses will not increase the burden on our health. Every disease, ache, or pain has an inflammatory component, so if you have any of this then understand that you should consider consuming healthy essential fatty acids or omegas to bring down inflammation. Check out my website www.healthybalance4you.com on omegas as I do not recommend fish oils. Vitally important!
Be safe, be well and be smiling!!
Make it a healthy day!
VividLife.me Contributor
Cheryl Millett biography:
Cheryl Millett BSc RNCP CCIr has a degree in Holistic Nutrition and a diploma in Iridology with a specialty interest in digestion. For over 19 years, Cheryl worked for one of Canada’s largest grocery retailers in finance & risk management with experience in agricultural commodities and therefore the food processing area, so she has seen first hand the sugar refinery process, flour milling, and oil refining. For the past two years, Cheryl has practiced nutritional consulting with a belief in raw foods, omega 3s, enzymes, nutritional cleansing and minerals for optimum health. Her goals are to give her clients and others the education and tools to create a better quality of life. Recommendations are personalize based on the person’s level of motivation and current lifestyle in order to achieve optimum results. Cheryl has successfully coached hundreds to improve their health.
The Strange Reason Why Following a System is Important
March 3, 2010 by Marc-Andre
Filed under Growth, • Headline
Following a system is important when you are on your road to success. It’s what guides you to make sure you are on the right track. Now, following a system is not one of the 6 secrets I teach because the 6 secrets to success are themselves part of a system. (more information on the 6 secrets to success on this link www.cheerstothegoodlife.com) It’s a system that shows you what you need to do to find success in your life.
But as you follow the 6 secrets to success, you’ll actually need to follow another system to help you accomplish all of your goals…
Allow me to explain
The 6 secrets to success will guide you in a whole… But let’s say you decided to run a marathon. You’ll need to follow a specific routine in order to train your body to run the marathon and achieve your goals and the 6 secrets to success will make sure that you are on the right path… Now I’m not a certified trainer but I’m guessing you’ll need to run at least a few times during the week to build your cardio and you’ll also need to do some strength training to build your muscles…
But what you need to keep in mind is that following a system has to go hand in hand with your goals.
If you are training for a marathon, I’m certain you won’t go out and run sprints every day and you won’t do a bodybuilder’s workout at the gym. If you do, then you are not following the right system for your goal and ultimately you are wasting your time.
Another important aspect about following a system involves not jumping from one system to another.
Let’s say this time you want a black belt in martial arts. So you decide to get a black belt in Judo. But after a year or so you decide that you should get a black belt in Karate instead, and after spending some time in Karate, you think that jiu jitsu might be better…
By doing this you’re again wasting a lot of time and you’ll eventually quit!
Finding a system is not easy. But sticking to one is just as hard sometimes. There’s a lot of information out there. You need to educate yourself (which is one of the 6 secrets to success, www.cheerstothegoodlife.com) to find out which one is best for you!
You know what, why don’t we go over the 6 secrets to give you an idea of how a system works… (Now keep in mind that the 6 secrets to success are easily named but hard to master)
Here’s the 6 Secrets to Success System:
- Take action – decide right now that you want to find success
- Education – You need to learn what you are going to do (you can’t just jump in…)
- Road map and setting goals – You need to know were you want to go (road map) and how to get there (goals)
- Imitating success people – Monkey see monkey do, you need to do what success people have done
- Change the way you think – People that have success in life think in a different way, Napoleon Hill said: “What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve”
- Believe in yourself – Nobody else is going to do it for you! You need to believe in yourself if you want to find success in your life.
I strongly recommend applying the 6 secrets to success which will ultimately help you follow any other system you need to follow in order to find success in life.
CHEERS TO YOUR GOOD LIFE
P.S If you like what you just read then you’ll love the information I provide in my weekly e-letters. You can subscribe right now by clicking this link and you’ll receive a FREE life changing video www.cheerstothegoodlife.com
VividLife.me Contributor
Marc-Andre Terriault
Marc-Andre Terriault, who is part of the Y generation is known for asking tough questions in order to find the answers for success in life. He has a college degree in Business Administration and has also spent lots of time and money educating himself in the real world.
As a real estate investor, Marc-Andre has discovered six secrets that anyone can follow in order to find success in their lives, whatever their definition of success may be. That’s one of the biggest reasons why he wrote his e-book titled “It Starts Here: Discover How You Can Find Success in Your Life.” He wants to make sure that he reaches as many people as he can in order to help them find what he calls their “road map to success.”
He loves to learn the accomplishments of successful people and educate others about how they too can obtain the same success
Meah: My story of child loss and my journey through healing.
March 3, 2010 by Tina Klonaris-Robinson
Filed under Growth, Spirit, • Headline
On March 6th 2006, my world as I knew it would change forever! I could never go back to what was, for what used to be would feel like a distant memory… It would feel like something that was so far from reach, like another time… another place. That chapter of my life would close forever. A new one would begin.
My beautiful daughter came into this life with great purpose. Her name is Meah, (Mia) meaning ‘one’ in Greek. While pregnant with her, I spoke to her, I asked her questions and listened. We spoke with silence and we understood each other with emotion and feeling. I asked her often, ‘for what purpose are you coming?’ The answer I felt was that she was coming to teach. She was coming to show me a new way of living, of seeing and of experiencing this world.
Meah never made it into this life. I was induced with a drug called Cytotec. My uterus hyper stimulated and tore in two places and Meah was deprived of oxygen and died before ever taking a breath in this life. I felt the excruciating pain of a violent labor and of my womb ripping. I felt a painful heaviness on my chest and shortly after, I felt as though the life in me was leaving. I was told that I almost bled to death.
I cannot even describe with words what it felt like to hear that my daughter had died. There is nothing that could ever prepare you for such a feeling. The pediatrician walked over to my husband and I with tears in his eyes and said,
‘I’m so sorry, your daughter didn’t make it, I tried… but there was no heart beat!’
Those words were more painful than my imagination could have ever imagined. I held her lifeless little body in my weak arms. She was beautiful. Her little fingers, her tiny toes… all 8 pounds of her was pure perfection. I had for so long imagined the moment her eyes would look into mine. I had imagined the first time I’d hold her in my arms and feel her little heart beating against my own. But now, there was no life in her. It felt as though a knife had stabbed me in my heart and as time passed, it remained there, endlessly turning and turning. The days, weeks and months often felt like a living hell. I tried to find my way through it all… desiring comfort and peace but having no idea how I might reach it. I wanted to feel joy again, to live with inspiration but there was too much sadness, too much grief that I couldn’t even get a sense of what joy or inspiration could feel like. I could not help but experience on a daily basis, intense anger at the doctor and hatred for the fact that in my heart, I felt she had caused the death of my daughter. I was angered by her carelessness. I felt hatred that she would use a drug on me that I felt clearly should never have been used. I wondered why I had been induced? Why on that day when she would not be there for me, would she use such a dangerous drug? Where did half of my records disappear to? Everyday my mind was plagued by questions I had no answers to. There were many days that I blamed myself for not listening to my body, for not knowing more than I did. Some days I even hated myself. I thought over and over of all the different possibilities… had I done this… or not done that… she might have still been with us.
I knew that if I were going to survive this and still be the mother my living son deserved, the wife and friend my husband needed and the person I wanted to be in this life, I had to do something. I decided I needed to become active in my journey of healing.
I knew that if there were to be a significant change, I would have to become conscious of my thoughts, words and actions. I would have to begin to change the ways in which I was seeing my experience and try to look at it differently. I would have to bring gratitude, love, kindness and compassion to myself and to others. I would need to forgive! Perhaps it was this need that led me to Immaculee Ilibagiza and to Rwanda.
I had first heard Immaculee’s story of her experience of the Rwandan genocide when I was pregnant with Meah. Later, after her death, I would travel to Orlando to the ‘I Can Do It’ conference for her workshop on forgiveness. Immaculee had lost almost all of her family members during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Over one million people died in a period of 3 months. Immaculee survived by hiding in a tiny bathroom with 7 other women. When the genocide was finally over and it was safe for her to come out of hiding, she learned the traumatic and brutal reality… almost everyone that she knew and loved had been slaughtered to death. What amazed me most about Immaculee was her ability to find compassion for the very people who killed her family and find forgiveness in the midst of her pain.
Simply hearing Immaculee’s story changed me. It gave me strength and motivation to move forward… to grow from my pain and to become something new. I traveled to Rwanda with Immaculee in June of 2007 and then again with a friend in June of 2008.
What I can express about Rwanda is that it touched my heart in a very special way and I shall never be the same again. From the moment I arrived, from the voices of little children and from the eyes and the hearts of the people, nothing in my life could ever be what it was. Genocide destroyed family, destroyed lives, people and it destroyed a country. I wondered how the human spirit could live on, how could it heal and how could it forgive?
In the beginning, the effects of the genocide were through my eyes everywhere, perhaps because it was so deep in my mind that nothing I saw could exist as separate from that. Where there were smiles, I felt pain, where there was laughter, I felt the cries, where there was beauty I asked why? As strong emotions and feelings became a part of my experience there, new heart, new wisdom, new life was born in me. I found that I was being given many gifts, many blessings and I can only say that I am still in awe as to how such pain and suffering could lead to what I believe to be the most precious, most honorable and most sacred acts, the act of forgiveness and reconciliation. There is pain but there is also so much love. There is anger but also compassion. There was evil but I still saw goodness everywhere.
Perhaps the best way for me to express the greatest part of my healing while in Rwanda, would be to end with a letter I wrote while I was there, for I believe in so many ways, it is a true testament that even in pain and hurt, anger and hatred, there can be love, compassion, hope and forgiveness.
Dear Friends,
…Who would have imagined that two years ago that this is where the death of my daughter Meah would lead me. Her name means ‘One’ and indeed, she has led me to a whole new world… one that reminds me that indeed, we are so very connected and that in this world of so much difference, we are still one. If we look deeply we can find ourselves in each other …and we are all a part of the one!!!
Pastor Deo is a tall thin man and he works with the prisoners and the victims. In a room of over 50 people, killers and victims, he asked them to face each other and to look into each others eyes… ‘look deeply’ he said ‘…and tell me what you see!’
I noticed one women look into the eyes of her family’s killer…
He then asked the question, what do you see?
The answer was that she saw a reflection of herself… then he asked the man what he saw… he too replied that he saw his own reflection. Immediately my heart filled with love and compassion…. I understood in that very moment that in order to have compassion… in order to forgive… to feel love for ones self and for another is to see yourself in everyone and everyone in yourself.
He then asked… if you could see yourself in another person… could you hurt that person? To kill another is to kill your self. When you kill someone, you have killed a part of yourself!!!
I sat with tears flowing, knowing that indeed, my daughter had led me to this very moment!
My mind is constantly expanding with all that I see and experience. I never imagined that I’d be in a prison somewhere in the middle of Rwanda, walking with no protection through a passage way made by 4,000 genocide killers. I walked through and I felt no fear. I made eye contact and felt the presence of God so big here. Maybe that sounds strange to many, but there is something far greater happening than I could even begin to express.
…Yesterday, I bought a peace basket that was made by the hands of a victim as well as the one who killed her family. Together, they weaved the fibers of love, compassion and forgiveness and what became was a beautiful basket of peace.
I spent the day yesterday with street kids and women who were survivors of the Genocide, rape victims who now live with HIV and Aids. We sang, we danced and they told me that even with their pain, they must sing and dance for it raises the energy and brings life back into their soul.
I taught them how to make jewelry and I have never seen people more eager to learn. They were so proud of their works of art… my heart is still full of emotion for what I experienced.
As it got late into the evening, the kids left to find there place on the street for the night. This broke my heart. They left together making their way back into the city, back to the harsh cruel reality with which they are living…
Blessings and Love,
Tina
My daughter never made it into this life, but while death came through me, new life was born in me. She showed me that even in darkness, there is light… that even when anger and pain, hatred and hopelessness make the world seem ugly, without a doubt, there is beauty everywhere.
VividLife.me Contributor
I am a mother, entrepreneur, inspirational writer and speaker, mentor andteacher. After the tragic loss of my second child Meah, in 2006, my journey through healing was one of intense spiritual transformation. I traveled twice to Rwanda, spending time with survivors and perpetrators of the genocide. This experience would change the very course of my life forever. I began to see with new eyes, feel with new heart and experience life with new soul. I am passionate about story telling and I believe in the power of stories to transform the lives of individuals, communities and our planet.
Why Your Brain is like The Wizard of Oz
March 3, 2010 by Irene
Filed under Growth, • Headline
What’s behind the green curtain? There is good reason that this children’s story has lasted the test of time. The story of the Wizard of OZ – is an allegory of life, a journey. It is also an allegory of reality and illusion.
The four characters in this classic tale set out on their quest to find what’s important to them. For Dorothy home, for the Scarecrow brains, for the Tin Woodman a heart and for the Cowardly Lion courage. Unwittingly it seems, the author L. Frank Baum has struck upon what the core needs are for each of the four personality types.
Dorothy (Gold) wishes nothing but the sense of belonging that being home gives her. “No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.” Dorothy acts as the ‘accidental leader’ and caregiver for the group. For the Scarecrow (Green), with no brains, feared only a lighted match, yet he yearned to have knowledge. Many times, the scarecrow ‘thinks’ of ways he can help the team to get to the Emerald City. The Tin Woodman (Blue) longed for a heart and to love again. The Tin Woodman cries so hard when he steps on a beetle and crushes it, he rusts up all over again. The Cowardly Lion (Orange) wants to find courage, and longs for the freedom of the forest. He helps his friends by taking charge and getting them out of several scrapes along the journey on the Road of Yellow Brick.
Upon arrival at the Emerald City, the four are disappointed to learn that they must earn what they are asking of the Wizard, they must embark on another journey to kill the Wicked Witch of the West, their resolve is tested again. When the quartet arrives back at the Emerald City after killing the Wicked Witch of the West, they ask the Wizard to grant them the wishes he has promised. They quickly discover that the Wizard is a ‘humbug’ – an ordinary man with no powers to grant their wishes. What he does help them to discover is that all along they had inside themselves the very things they wanted the most in life. “Who the real Oz is, when he is in his own form, no living person can tell.”
The four characters are playing out what every one of us does in our own lives. We are born with a set of characteristics that drive our behaviour. Our upbringing and environment help shape us and make us the unique beings we are. Yet, beneath the surface, the core needs and desires we have – and our hard wired mental functions shape every decision and action we take.
Think of your brain as an iceberg – at the tip is our conscious mind – what constitutes our reality, under the surface, is the unconscious – what drives our behaviour. All thoughts happen in the blink of an eye – the brain takes in information- the unconscious decides what is real and gives the message to the conscious mind. The conscious mind believes it has made the decision, this becomes our reality. Our thoughts are filtered through the patterns and beliefs we hold, hard wired and learned throughout our lives. Our brain is like the Wizard of Oz – we see the illusion, we command the conscious brain to do the same things over and over again. This is why we ask ourselves the question – why does this always happen to me?
“Oz himself is the great Wizard… more powerful than all the rest of us together.” Once the green curtain is pulled aside, and we can see the machinations of the ‘Wizard’ – we discover that all that we thought we wanted, we already had, the answers are within. All we thought was real – just an illusion. The magic of the message in the Wizard of Oz is that we have the power to re-wire our brains; we have power over the unconscious. The Wizard shows the characters that they can believe whatever they want and it will become real. “Oz left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted.”
The tale of course has a happy ending with all four characters finding what they sought. They each had to embark upon a journey, a journey of learning – they had to challenge the beliefs and thoughts they carried along with them. Once the illusion was stripped away, each was able to see clearly how to achieve what they truly desired.
Will you draw back the green curtain?
Will you challenge your long held beliefs?
VividLife.me Contributor
Irene Anderson cc-cta – is a certified coach and facilitator and Director of DiscoveryWorks! Coaching and Training. Irene’s passion is encouraging people to reach inside and bring out their best strengths through Self Discovery and Coaching. Irene has extensive experience in helping people in the process of Self Development.
Irene’s coaching style is open and relaxed – Using her unique C.O.R.E Coaching® method, she listens at a deep level and respectfully guides her clients to achieve results.
Irene’s style of facilitation is highly interactive and high energy. On a team level, Irene uses a variety of methods to help her clients improve their ability to work and communicate more effectively. Using her extensive knowledge of Personality Type and Temperament, including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), Personality Dimensions®, True Colors®, Irene incorporates these methods to deliver customized, results oriented programs that meet the needs of her clients.
Irene can be reached at:
Email – Irene-discoveryworks@bell.net
Web – www.discoveryworkscoaching.com
Blog – www.mylifecompass.ca
Wealth by the Numbers
March 3, 2010 by Sondra
Filed under Spirit, • Headline
Numerology can be applied to daily life to increase the flow of abundance. For example: try placing a small piece of paper with a number “8” in your wallet along with a large number “8” on or near the place where you keep your monthly bills. Utilizing the number 8 in this way places the Universe on notice that you are ready for an income boost. It is also advised to get your own numerology chart done, or at the very least get acquainted with your life path number and the challenge numbers to your life path. Then, take a look at the numbers in your life, such as your home address number, that is all the digits added together. It could be that you are living in a home that is a challenge to you and if you work out of your home, this could be directly impacting your abundance in the negative. It is also important to note that each letter of the alphabet represents a number (in the Pythagorean system, among others) and therefore any business name has its own numerology. If you work for a place or own your own business that equals a challenge to you this could also be a constant disappointment in the money department.
If you are unsure of your calculations, it’s quite inexpensive to download a numerology calculator onto your computer or cellular phone. Not only is researching numbers in this manner a fantastic way to explain away the issues in life, but it will also assist in the preparation of successful plans in the future. It is my hope that you explore the numbers in your life and put them to good use, to your advantage!
VividLife.me Contributor
Sondra Lockhart Schmid has worked as an active tarot card reader since 1999. In the last two years she has incorporated numerology as part of her readings. Her variety of metaphysical knowledge includes hypnotherapy, astrology, angels, numerology and she practices the Law of Attraction. She and her husband currently own and operate www.foryourchi.com as well as the Global Consciousness website www.higherlight.org.
Contact info: Phone: (478) 227-2580 Email: foryourchi@gmail.com
Managing Generation XYZ
March 3, 2010 by darcelle
Filed under Business, • Headline
So how do we motivate our employees when we have 3 diverse generations are in the workforces at one time? Understanding the needs and how each generation is motivated and where their technology expertise is will be crucial to succeeding in today’s world. Here is my take on what may work best on methods for working with each generation from my experience as a business owner. There is no consensus on where the dates truly lie so these dates below are an estimation of the classifications for each generation. Did I forget to mention how Generation X rules the world…? Kidding… back to the article.
The Baby Boomers – Born 1946-1964 are 40% of the working population in Canada (Stats Canada 2009). Boomers are career focused mainly because of having to work hard hours in order to stand out from the crowd. Boomers like to put their stamp on their projects and take pride and ownership in their work. Many of today’s baby boomers (soon to be called zoomers perhaps?) also lead healthy lifestyles as well. They thrive on a personally supportive work environment where they can be given small rewards tied to their individual performance. Cash rewards, and promotions work well and resonate with this group. Supporting time away also works as they begin to deal with aging parents and their own children at the same time. They want to be known for who they are and prefer face to face as opposed to email or phone. You will want to show them how to collaborate and often having face to face meetings work best. Helping them work on a part time basis past retirement age is what this generation prefers as they ease into a new way of life.
The Generation X’ers – Born 1965-1980, and we are 30% of the population in Canada (Stats Canada 2009). Ok I will say it… they grew up in the shadow of the boomers and are pretty independent if I say so myself. They have seen an incredible amount of change during our generation with the introduction of AIDS, the Shuttle and many airline disasters, the fall of the Berlin Wall and multiple wars and conflicts. However they are a resilient lot who have entered into the workforce when companies and governments were downsizing. This led to remaining marketable as an employee, positive and determined but also gave us a love for more in life than simply working for another company. They place high value on life outside of work and are unsure of our retirement standings. Generation Xers are independent and are more adapt to change careers or jobs and remain competitive in the marketplace because of this. They love working from home and so managing this group differs from Boomers. They love technology but are also used to old school methods and so possibly more research is done before purchasing or believing its worth. The downfall is that Generation Xers want immediate action, feedback, gratification and so being direct is key. Be straightforward and dealing with issues quickly are the best way to provide feedback and support. It is about telling them what needs to be done and then letting them go to it. There won’t be micromanaging necessary here, but to entice them with good pay, or flexible work times and vacation time.
Generation Y – Born 1981-2000 comprise about 29.5% of the population in Canada (Stats Canada 2009). This generation has been born into a culturally more diverse community with more acceptance of everything different from themselves which is a great thing. They have been encouraged to have their own voice. However they have been surrounding by a lot of violence and support from adults other than their parents which has added to them being used to receiving a lot of guidance. They have been told yes but with options, almost to the point of a barter system, and do not place the same value on work as the other generations. With technology changing at a rapid rate they also not used to many traditional methods and may need more direction around certain company “methods” with an explanation why. They want absolute instant gratification and are used to calling the shots and love being seen and so job shadowing and mentoring programs can work well for this group. They are used to learning about technology on their own and need that informal constant gratification so let them know when they are doing a good job… often. They are also multi-tasker oriented when it comes to communication and technology so forming teams and collaboration can work well. Since unrealistic expectations on salary may be present let them know that the position will help their resume and support bonuses and creative pay methods.
Regardless of which category you fall under or which employees you have working for you the main point is that everyone is an individual and that recognizing the differences in everyone is crucial to understanding people and having employees that are happy and that remain with your company. Employee retention is so important as it costs time and ultimately dollars when we lose employees. Working with each group does require some thought and consideration and starts with understanding and acceptance to all that is great about the world of business.
VividLife.me Contributor
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author, Speaker, and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder. Darcelle coaches entrepreneurs and business owners on understanding their brilliance and how to increase their profits for their companies by taking strategic steps to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through speaking engagements, tele-classes, online products, and Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com or www.strategicbizbuilder.com .
Rediscovering Spirituality in Religion
March 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Spirit, • Headline
“I’m spiritual, not religious.” If I had a dollar for every time I heard this, I could personally pay off the Canadian and American national debts and have enough left over for a lifetime supply of Chai Tea Lattes (my insanely expensive Starbucks addiction). Hyperbole aside, the revival of interest in “spirituality” in recent years has been accompanied by distrust for and disinterest in “organized religion,” especially among disenchanted Christians. People have discovered the transformative power of spirituality: the power to realize their highest goals and ideals, the power to overcome negativity, and the power to forgive. But what does it mean to be “spiritual, not religious”?
On the one hand, it reflects indifference and discontent with organized religion. People doubt religion’s ability to provide answers to our questions in today’s world. Also, they see how organized religion has contributed to global conflict and local abuses. On the other hand, it reflects a renewed interest in the ancient wisdom of sages from various religious traditions, re-tooled to suit modern sensibilities. But what would it mean to be “spiritual” without being “religious”? Let’s explore some problems and prospects.
Promisingly, interest in spirituality cultivates inner growth and self-realization, often leading to social and personal betterment. It helps us find “true north” on our ethical compass when we’ve lost our moral bearings. Moreover, it recommends openness to many different religious traditions and promotes tolerance. Problematically, however, it disconnects spirituality from its source, resulting in an arbitrary process of combining aspects of spirituality from different religions (or no religion). When we remove spirituality from its religious context, we lose its source of power. Individualistic spirituality, devoid of community, responsibility, and accountability, comes up empty.
We should embrace spirituality and tap into the renewed interest in spiritual awakening. It will enrich our lives and rejuvenate a world longing for deeper meaning. We should realize, however, that spirituality apart from religion will not yield lasting fruit. Once severed from its fountain source, the wells of wisdom will eventually run dry. Vibrant, lasting, and sustainable spirituality is grounded in a particular religious tradition and community. We rediscover spirituality not by turning away from religion, but turning toward it, probing more deeply for fresh theological resources. Christianity, for instance, has a rich and deep reservoir of approaches to spirituality that remain largely unknown and untapped by the modern skeptic and searcher. We would do well to rediscover these, since spirituality devoid of religion makes for shallow ground to cultivate our souls.
VividLife.me Contributor
Mark Scott Ph.D (Harvard)
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology
Concordia University
http://theology.concordia.ca/faculty/scott.php
10 Steps to building a Stronger Immune System
March 3, 2010 by Craig
Filed under Beauty, Body, • Headline
1. Lemon Juice Intake.
Lemon juice is an electrolyte that restores the acid-alkali balance of the body. Adding a squeeze of lemon, into your drinking water, tea, salad dressings, dips and sauces, is a good way to fight bacteria and viruses and keeps the skin healthy. Lemons are rich in Vitamin A, C and P (bioflavonoid). It has a powerful antibacterial property that helps treat cholera, malaria, influenza, common colds and typhoid fever. Lemon is also considered as a diuretic, which means it is good for people with urinary tract infection and high levels of uric acid, which are the main causes of rheumatism and arthritis.
2. Herbal Healing Habits.
There is a particular herb for a particular illness. Nature offers plenty of medicinal plants that can help your body cope with allergies or even sickness. Garlic and ginger for example, can be chewed or boiled into a concoction, to prevent colds and normalize your blood pressure level. To relieve stress, one may take a hot bath with chamomile, calendula, rosemary and lavender. Plants make wonders too!
3. Sleeping Sufficiently.
Our body takes more time repairing its cells and tissues when we are sound asleep. Sleep boosts endocrinal health and balances the hormones that regulate our bodily functions. Because sleep calms our adrenal glands, it regulates the cortisol levels in our body making our heart rate normal, making our mind and muscles relaxed and stress-free. Sleep contributes a lot in keeping weight down, in having clear thinking and reasoning, in improving mood and emotional conditions, and in having a vibrant, healthy skin.
4. Protein Policy.
Protein is the building block of our tissues. A high-protein and low-carb diet is more recommendable, which promotes bone and muscle growth rather than fat and lipid deposits in our body. Protein also makes the body more active and strong, which is advisable for people who goes to the gym or loves outdoor activities.
5. Water Is Life.
Headaches and stress are common signs of dehydration. Our body is 60-80% made out of water, thus lacking it could lead to cellular malfunction. The best way to enjoy water is before and after an activity. Eight glasses or more is the advisable quantity to cleanse you. Without water, the body is not able to fully absorb nutrients and correct balance of your acid-alkali level. The healthiest type of water is alkaline water, which helps the body combat free radicals, toxins and anti-bodies.
6. Avoiding Coffee and Chocolate.
Caffeine is the worst thing in chocolate and coffee that gradually dehydrates the body as opposed to water. Coffee and chocolate may corrupt your body of essential nutrients and minerals, as it becomes acidic when processed in the body. Since, coffee and chocolate are usually coupled with sugar; the body is disabled from sending out natural hormonal signals that make us sleepy when we are tired. Summarily, coffee and chocolate is the biggest adversary of water and sleep, which is not healthy.
7. Don’t Be Too Sweet.
For someone with a sweet tooth, sugary foods are plainly irresistible. However, sugar counts for a lot of sickness and deadly diseases, one of which is diabetes. When we consume food with carbohydrates, sugar readily becomes a bi-product after digestion. The body needs sugar to form energy but too much of it is really dangerous.
8. Get Addicted To Fruits and Vegetables.
If there is something in this world that you should get addicted too, that is eating fruits and vegetables. Aside from vitamins and minerals that are present in fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, fiber, enzymes and rare forms of protein are found in them. Having this diet also supplies your body with potent Vitamin C, which is best in protecting the cells from viruses.
9. Get Physical, Go Outdoors.
If you’re the type who doesn’t like the four corners of the gym and loves nature, the most enjoyable way to sweat it out is doing outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, jogging, rock climbing and many more. The body needs to excrete salt deposits and lipids through sweating and the constant cycle of dehydration and rehydration. Viewing the scenic beauty of nature is also proven to relieve stress and psychological imbalance. If you can’t get outdoors and need something gentle but very affective, think about investing in a vibration exercise machine. Or maybe your life is hectic and don’t have time? This investment can give you the benefit of a 1 hour workout in 10 minutes.
10. Enjoy Quality Time.
Modern science has pointed out that stress is a major culprit in contracting diseases. Emotional and mental problems are equated to ‘system failure’ like in your computer. The body needs time to breathe, which is lacking when we are full of activities or pre-occupied and anxious. Breathing deeply helps the body get the right amount of oxygen it needs. Take yoga sessions to improve breathing or learn a self-taught meditation exercise. Talk to friends. Talking your worries out frees you from anxiety and mental or emotional stress. Be happy and laugh more regularly, as they say it is the best medicine!
VividLife.me Contributor
Whether you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle or overcome an illness, Craig Jacobs & Healthier Living 4 You, offers you educational health information and wonderful health products. After Craig’s mother (Beverly Jacobs) was healed from their 3 in 1 FIT – Detox Foot Bath in 2003 from an overloaded body full of heavy metals which caused her chronic fatigue, depression and very painful joints, Healthier Living 4 You was born. There are 4 simple things you can do to live a healthy life very easily. First, start eating a healthy alkaline diet, drink good clean alkaline water, detox your body on a regular basis and exercise daily. Learn more on their products by going to www.healthierliving4you.com these are products every household needs! For some great health tips visit their blog at www.hl4y.com. Or for a great report on Your Toxic Truth visit: www.yourtoxictruth.com. Call us toll free – 1-866-745-5743
