Excerpt

“I found it exciting to see how bluntly you took the Magic Mushrooms.” Vidar throws a kitchen towel over his shoulder, walks towards me and places his hands on the back of his chair.

“Exciting? What do you mean exciting?” Am I mistaken or is he giving me hungry looks.

The other day when we were talking on the phone I had no reserves when I told him I wanted to continue the training, but now I begin to doubt. Vidar returns to the kitchen counter, takes the mugs of red hot chai tea, places one on the table in front of me and sits down.

“You might also call it courageous.”

“What do you need courage for?” I ask him annoyed, “it’s part of the training, isn’t it? Tell me, what do you mean?” I hardly find myself courageous, rather impulsive, but never without feeling right about something.

“Matee  taught you during the first encounter the art of the warrior. And the warrior has the attitude of courage and deals with everything as though it’s the most ordinary thing, but you are of a higher level,” he says presumptuous, “to be exact you are one step higher, because you have the courage of a person of knowledge and you only reach that through spiritual bravery.” Vidar goes over it again: “You are passed the level of warriors and are still in the stage of early infancy as far as woman of knowledge is concerned.”

The only courage I can think of is admitting to him earlier on the phone that I have feelings for him, more than I can bear. I had finally put my fear of rejection aside. I was whining on the phone, telling him that I found all these feelings extremely confusing, but that I was proud of myself that I finally dared to admit it. I can still hear myself say with a trembling, peeping voice: “I have such strong feelings for you!” It was really terrible to have to do, but there was no way around it. After the last session I felt an overwhelming love, my love no longer felt scattered, but glued together like a firm whole, as though at that moment I knew how love truly feels. Yes, in the end I had faith he would react in a positive way, what would it matter anyway. In the worst case he would reassure me by saying that it was all part of the whole process and that things would blow over spontaneously. At best he would say he shared my feelings.

I felt greatly relieved to hear Vidar requite my feelings. I was in heaven. “Of course,” he said “we are united on a spiritual level and are part of the same spiritual family.” But for the time being I had to put my feelings aside, because he was going to visit family at the Southeast Coast of the States for a month. Of course, this trial left every room for doubt. Impatiently I kick the table-leg with my foot.

Vidar sits down and watches me radiantly. A warm wave runs through my heart and I abandon my built up reserves. “Are you familiar with the expression “she runs with wolves” he asks.

“It sounds familiar.”

“It’s important to show your true feelings, like a wolf breaking free from the pack, running across the tundra. The wolves play together, our feelings do the same. ‘She runs with wolves’ is one of the biggest compliments one can get, we need it to get to the second reality. We travel to the second reality through the lines of intent stretching out in front of us. Or it’s actually different,” he corrects himself, “you will see that the second reality comes to you instead of you going there.”

Without any reserve he says: “It’s important your true feelings are free and are no obstruction.”

I understand our love is definitely no coincidence. I suddenly remember I dreamed about a wolf the other night. From a safe distance a hunched wolf watches me in a dacor of  clouded skies and green hills. I don’t move, because with every step he will be scared off, I am sure of that. After I have waited patiently and won his trust, he dares me to follow him. He awaits me further down, in a farmyard, underneath the roof of a shed. Very carefully I come closer until he is ready for me to stroke him and he starts to roll over in the dry grass. Only then I see it is a male.

Read more about The Sorcerer’s Dream and Alysa Braceau, Dreamshield HERE.

Copyright 2010 Alysa Braceau, Dreamshield. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

RuPaul and The Mannequin
April 13, 2005

Afternoon
“You sure you wouldn’t like some wine, Derek?”

“No, thanks.”

My client is enjoying herself. She’s invited three of her friends for an afternoon of
psychic readings at her clothing boutique in Honolulu. Dresses, purses, jewelry, and
shoes are all tastefully displayed. A little cheese tray has been laid out, along with some
nuts and olives. It’s a quiet Saturday and, though the store is open, no customers have
come in. I have the sense she owns the business to outfit her friends more than anyone
else.

For the last two hours, the women have listened in on each other’s readings. I’ve kept
the psychic insights light and fun. These women keep no secrets from one another;
they’ve had fun watching me pick up on each other’s personality traits and little secrets.

After the last reading, one of the women asked, “Derek, how do you get your
information?”

“I interpret information from my imagination. I let myself play, and go wherever my
intuition guides me. Sometimes answers come from the walls or the things in the room.
I’ll allow the ‘real’ physical world around me to morph into an imaginary dreamscape. A
kind of waking dream emerges, an alternate reality that I give the same credence as the
conscious reality you and I know.

“For example, you see that gecko brooch there?” All eyes move to a colorful brooch
made with rubies and other gemstones. “Gecko’s have a definitive stare. When they look
at you, they draw you into trance with one eye. Have you noticed how they do that? The
next time a gecko stares at you, try mentally entering the eye to see what it is saying.
This one says to me, ‘I have a dream for you! I will share some of my talent with you!’
I’m not quite sure what this means. Well, actually, maybe I do know. Lizards are the
keepers of dreams. I think he’s saying I will have a psychic dream. Maybe that he will
come to me in a dream. Or that a dream of mine will have some correspondence in
reality.”

The ladies all stare at me blankly. Derek, your example is too abstract. Not everyone
understands your psychic language.

“You have to think like a child to capture psychic insight. When you were all kids, you
no doubt played with dolls. You briefly lived in an alternate reality. It was real to you.
Well, if you were to ask a doll for psychic information, then carry on a conversation with
that doll in your imagination, the doll would probably give you psychic information.”

The ladies still gaze at me blankly.

I continue, “See this white mannequin over here with the oriental dress? In my
imagination, she’s raising her finger to me. She says, ‘I have something to say!’ Her voice
is quite firm in my mind. She reminds me of that drag performing artist, Rupaul. Do you
know her?” They all burst out laughing. They do know her. Rupaul is an actor, model,
and songwriter, an iconic gender-bender, and race-bender. He’s black, but performs as
more of a blond white woman.

“It’s funny,” I say.”I know it makes no sense, and is strange, but you have to accept it
regardless, and assume there’s something psychic about it. She wants to say something
to you, Arlette.”

“Me?”

“I’ll interpret what I see her saying and doing. She’s flashing wide, white eyes. She is
presenting herself to me as a black woman, but made up blonde, like she’s trying to be
white. She’s standing on the coffee table, really confidently. She’s wagging her finger at
you, saying, “Girlfriend! Why are you letting your so called boyfriend run the show? If
he’s so bad, as you like to say, why don’t you leave him?”

The women all laugh. One says, “She has you pegged, Arlette.”

“The psychic dreamscape is fun to explore. The characters we meet there are clever.
Let’s break the symbols down a bit. This model, or mannequin, appears African
American to me. Why? To me, a black woman, as an archetype, represents strength and
the quest for equality. That’s why she’s speaking to you about owning your power. Drag
queens are another archetype. They live their lives on their own terms, nobody else’s.
They don’t care what people think and often make decisions that defy social norms or
conventions.” I say this to Arlette as if it might apply to her.

She smiles knowingly back at me and says,”It’s so amazing, how that message applies
to me.” The two other women exchange looks of disbelief. “I’ll say,” the owner of the
store says, but apparently for a different reason. “This is so freaky, Derek.”

“Why?” I ask.

“The other day, we painted that mannequin white. I didn’t think that outfit looked right
on her with her natural dark coloring. Underneath, she’s really a black mannequin.”

Read more about Can You Turn It Off? and Derek Calibre HERE.

Copyright 2010 Derek Calibre. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

Barriers to Communication

By Neil Fiore, PhD

Excerpt from Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer

The inability to talk about your problems and feelings is a most serious obstacle to having a good relationship. Every relationship has its problems, but if you can talk about them you have a better chance of living through them, together. It makes sense, especially during times of serious illness, to be aware of barriers to open communications. In my work with cancer-stricken families I have seen two major barriers to communication: a conspiracy of silence and premature mourning.

A Conspiracy of Silence

With any serious illness and emotional topic, there is the danger of avoiding mentioning it for fear of saying the wrong thing and evoking strong feelings. This can lead to a conspiracy of silence in which the patient and the family avoid the topic in an attempt to protect each other, all the while creating feelings of alienation, misunderstanding, and barriers to direct and open communication.

Out of a sense of duty and a desire to protect a loved one, a vicious cycle of silence, misinterpretation, guesswork, and isolation gets started. Phrases like, “I don’t want to say anything because I’m afraid she’ll get upset,” or “They haven’t brought it up so I assume they just donâ’t want to talk about it,” are signs that a conspiracy of silence is taking place.

While you want to respect another’s timing, this doesn’t mean that you must sit silently with your own feelings and try to interpret clues as to when it’s okay to speak. You can still invite a conversation with phrases such as, “I don’t know what to say but I want you to know that I’d be glad to talk whenever you wish,” or “Please let me know when you’d like to talk about what you’ve been through.”

We cannot protect others from reality; they usually have some idea of what’s going on and often are imagining the worst. Even though our intentions are good, the desire to protect someone from hurt usually comes with an attempt to protect ourselves from our own upset. It generally makes sense to say something about what is troubling you, even if you choose to keep the details vague. For example, “I’ve been avoiding talking to you because I’ve been afraid I’d break down and cry. If you don’t mind me crying, I’d be glad to talk with you.” Let them know that you can handle your own emotions and that you don’t need protection from their feelings. If the two of you are going to cry, at least you can cry together.

Premature Mourning

Learning that a loved one has cancer often causes family members to start a painful premature mourning process and to be less available to support the patient’s ongoing treatments. Anticipating that you’ll have to repeat the mourning process in the future can lead to avoidance of the patient, thereby depriving the patient of real, human contact. Patients and their families and friends have different timetables for grieving and adapting to how cancer has affected them.

Even when we know that many forms of cancer are curable, there remains the fear that a cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. This fear can lead us to mourn the loss of a loved one even though he or she may recover from cancer, may live with it for years, or may want to enhance the quality of the last months of life with frequent visits and support from family and friends.

Of course, the patient can be the one who’s doing the premature mourning, isolating himself from the family and depriving them of an opportunity to share feelings and to express their concern and desire to help.

Please remember that being diagnosed with cancer, having cancer, and dying of cancer are separate and different states, each requiring its own emotions and adjustments, each in its own time. Eventually, the premature mourner must cope with the present moment rather than the imagined future. The patient may want to tell the premature mourner what I told a friend:

Stop avoiding me and treating me as if I’m already dead. I’m still here. I’m still alive! I need you to be with me, now. Help me to make the most of whatever time is left. There’ll be plenty of time for grieving after I’m gone. But don’t be so sure I’m going that fast. In fact, I may hang around so long that you may be saying, “How can I miss you if you won’t go away?”

You most likely will find that, as you become more comfortable with these difficult feelings, you’ll worry less and will enjoy more fully the valuable time that you still have with each other.

Copyright 2010 Neil Fiore. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

MC: If I gave you God’s phone number, what would you do with it?

JT: Well, I’d have to call. Partly it would be curiosity. But another part would be the idea of hooking up to some natural voice speaking in English for the God Energy. There is this thing about God Energy. We’re swimming in it. It’s swimming in us. I’d have to see if I could really talk with this.

MC: What do you think you would say?

JT: Hmm… [pause] …That would depend on when you asked me. If you asked me today “this may be too mundane” but I would want to ask God why so much of our lives, my life, are ruled by money. I do five different things for a living, and the ones that I do the very best are the ones I don’t get to do often enough and don’t get to make enough money doing. I’ve been asking this God Energy this question a lot of times. The last couple of days I’ve been painting the roof of a barn. I make my own hours and all that, but it’s not what I do. It’s not who I am. I want an answer to that question.

MC: If this God Energy gave you an answer, what do you think that answer might be?

You know…I guess the answer’s pretty obvious. It would be: “Hey, I didn’t design it that way. Other people did that, and I may be able to tell you how it’s going to turn out, but this is your trip. You’ve got to do this. You’ve got to figure it out.”

I guess that’s always true. But it’s strange to me that there are so many great poets walking around on the Earth, and only some are making a living. There are so many that are struggling so hard. Yet the number-one-grossing business in this country is weaponry. There’s something there that’s really out of whack.

MC: Would you want to ask God about this?

JT: I wouldn’t ask God why it is that weapons are such a popular business. I know that that’s not God’s doing. I think I know the answer, it is that profit is more important to this culture than God.

A whole culture can be based on profit because people are unhappy. Somehow they think that attaining more will change that and make them happier. Maybe I would ask God what could I do about it. But I don’t know. [Deep sigh]

I could do what the Berrigans did and go into weapons plants and destroy those guns and get thrown into jail. I don’t know if that would answer anything. I really honor them for having done that, but I don’t know if that changes things.

I can try to find time and space to make more art. I do think that a person making a poem, speaking it out loud, even if it’s in their bedroom and nobody else is around, is a very healing thing. I think it’s a very mystical thing.

There is an energy to speaking our poetry, really Speaking with a capital S. I think we have to ask ourselves what is this stuff, this energy, and also really revel in the mystery of what that is.

MC: Is this what you call the God Energy, this stuff that you are talking about?

JT: I think it is. This spirit is in everything. It’s in you. It’s in the bricks. It’s in the trees. And it’s so much more that that. And yet, I really get tongue-tied at this point because it’s…[pause] …this Being, the Big Being is all around, and we’re in it.
When we get caught up in the daily struggle of paying bills, it’s real easy to lose track of that. To not recognize that you’re eating miracles all the time.

So I have a mixed feeling about someone’s saying, “Here’s God’s number, you can just call up.” On one hand I feel like I’m already right there in the middle of it. I should be able to get all the answers. They are internalized. They’re here.

And then again, there’s a part of me that says, “Yeah, I want to not only get the phone number, I want the address, fax number…email. I want to look into this face and see the face that’s behind the face.”

So many times in my life I’ve wanted to see that face in a really joyful way. I’m doing some great dance, and I really want to be grateful about it. Then there’re times when “I’ve been there a bit lately” I want to see this face because I just want to say, “Come on, you know, what is this? Give me a break and make it clear!”

MC: You’re talking about being in the throes of the trials and tribulations of our human existence…I really wonder if having such a number would make our trials any easier. I don’t know.

JT: Well, I think the big mistake that’s been made about God in so many church philosophies is that they think they understand God. They think they know what and who God is and what God looks like. And I think that’s a big mistake right there.
We’re not supposed to get this. It’s supposed to be a mystery. And the fact is that it’s the mystery that I really love. I really love the fact that we can spend all of our lifetimes trying to figure this out and put a name on it. And it can’t be done. At some point, when we see the real vision, there’s just no way it could be explained in human terms. No name would make it. No words could describe it.

It might actually be that if we dialed the phone number, the top of our heads would completely explode!

Copyright 2010 Mare Cromwell. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

PREFACE
The book you are about to read is God revealed and will change your life forever. Inspiration Divine foretells a journey you and mankind will take together. Unlike other books that seek to enlighten you with a new perspective, Inspiration Divine seeks to guide you down the path of your own enlightenment so that you may unlock the keys to your full human potential. In short, this book will reveal your purpose and through this purpose, you will find enlightenment.
A lot of people talk about enlightenment as if it were a state of mind that only a privileged few are capable of attaining. Similarly other people play down enlightenment as if it were nothing more than a heightened state of awareness. Neither statement is true, nor would anyone who is truly enlightened describe enlightenment in these ways. For enlightenment is a connection to God that reveals not only a complete understanding of everything you desire to know, but also provides a path to understanding everything you don’t desire to know. That’s a whole lot of information to know and thus enlightenment isn’t as much about knowing as it is about knowing how to understand. And this ability to understand is available to each and every one of us including you.
Similarly, enlightenment doesn’t have anything to do with religion. This isn’t to say that the understanding one can attain through enlightenment will be in conflict with one’s religion, but so too, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be in conflict either. In spirit and intent, enlightenment is above religion as it embodies a direct and communal relationship with God directly rather than through what others have written about God (no matter how divinely inspired their message was or not).
Simply put, enlightenment is a connection to truth. No matter what we believe about the Universe, God or Humanity, the truth is the truth. Our opinions about what is true or what is not true is irrelevant and we have a better than average chance that our current set of beliefs aren’t entirely true. One thing is for certain: enlightenment will be a humbling experience.
When we embrace the grace of the divine and the truth as being beyond reproach, we open up our hearts and minds beyond our current mode of operating in the world. And this is great news, for both the faithful and the atheist desire the truth. They may have contradictory points of view on what they believe the truth to be, but they both truly seek the truth. And in enlightenment they will both find the truth (one of them is going to be greatly disappointed).
Even staunch atheists like Christopher Hitchens, author of God is Not Great, are calling for a new revelation of the truth:
Above all, we are in need of a renewed Enlightenment, which will base itself on the proposition that the proper study of mankind is man, and woman. This Enlightenment will not need to depend, like its predecessors, on the heroic breakthroughs of a few gifted and exceptionally courageous people. It is within the compass of the average person. (Hitchens 2007)
What Hitchens is alluding to is the capability of enlightenment to be possible in every human being rather than a handful of prophets. And while it would be an odd world where God selectively picked who should be enlightened, our religious history certainly depicts Divine communication being highly selective. And with enlightenment not being a regularly occurring experience in our lives and the ancient texts demonstrating it only being blessed upon a select few, we’ve wrongly assumed that enlightenment isn’t possible for us. And so we don’t even consider it something worth pursuing.
Consider for a moment, if enlightenment was possible for you and the rest of mankind. What if we’ve been missing the messages from God that are all around us? What if our enlightenment was not only possible, but also part of our human evolution?  Consider the possibility that the keys to enlightenment are in our hands and we only need to learn how to insert the key and turn the lock.
Spiritual Evolution
The message documented in Inspiration Divine is not a self-help prescription nor does it contain mystical secrets that have eluded mankind. The lessons that you will learn by reading these pages are drawn from the messages that have been broadcast to mankind since the dawn of time. Only now are we awakening to these lessons and tuning in to listen like never before. These messages have existed since the beginning and are actually interwoven into our cultures, religions and fundamental assumptions. Beyond the wisdom conveyed by those that have previously discovered these lessons, you too will find that you have heard these messages deep within the essence of your soul. However, there is much more available to you.
Inherent in life are the keys to understanding everything. However, through the ages we have lost the ability to listen and thus we seek that which is actually already within our possession. From the very beginning, mankind has wrestled with elementary questions that we still desire to be answered:
Why am I here?
What is my purpose?
Who is God?
From there, our questions branch into many directions, but the underlying answers continue to elude mankind. Trying to make sense of it all seems to be impossible and thus most of Humanity leaves this task to those that study philosophy, psychology and theology. But even though we tell ourselves that the answers are beyond our grasp, we still desire to understand the Universe, God and Humanity.
The path to this understanding is inherently part of living and surprisingly simple. In fact, the path is so elemental that your Mind may reject it for not being complex enough. Our Minds are advanced thinking machines that crave complexity despite our attempt to simplify our lives. So too, we have established a partial understanding of life through our cultures, religions and personal experiences. In combination, our Minds tell us that the truth must be complex and in line with what we already believe to be true. And so we continue through life with the answers to these questions all around us, without an awareness of how close we are to the truth.
The world in which we live is advancing to an inflection point of enlightenment as is evident by the exponential change that is occurring around the world. Each and every day we create more information, knowledge and wisdom than we did the previous day. In Karl Fisch’s Did You Know presentation (Fisch 2007), he chronicled many of the amazing statistics that describe the exponential times we’re living in:
* The first commercial text message was sent in December 2002; the number of text messages sent today exceeds the population of the planet.
* There are more than 8 billion searches performed on Internet Search Engines every month (4.1 billion on Google alone).
* There are more than 540,000 words in the English language; about 5 times as many as during Shakespeare’s time.
* The amount of technical information being produced is doubling every two years and is estimated to soon double every day.
As we expand this collective knowledge, we gain insight, perspective and a bit more of the truth. Whereas previous generations could passively pursue the truth, our generation is called to an active participation in living the truth. In short, we are being called to understand.
Inspiration Divine foretells the evolution of mankind from a physical existence to a Spiritual existence. When most of us think of evolution, we envision Charles Darwin shocking the world with his evolutionary description of our lineage to our primate cousins. And while Darwin’s focus was largely biological, even he was aware of the future that awaits Humanity:
As man advances in civilization and small tribes are united into larger communities, the simplest reason would tell each individual that he ought to extend his social instincts and sympathies to all the members of the same nation though personally unknown to him. This point being once reached, there is only an artificial barrier to prevent his sympathies extending to the men of all nations and races. If indeed such men are separated from him by great differences in appearance or habits, experience unfortunately shows us how long it is before we look at them as our fellow creatures. (Darwin 1871)
As Darwin warned, the solidarity of mankind is a future state that we have yet to reach. The physical lives we live today fail to provide us with a path to solidarity or any glimpse that this path is in our near future. Clearly our physical evolution has brought us quite far, but the rest of the journey will require us moving to the next phase in our evolution: a Spiritual existence.
As you have gone through life, you have no doubt experienced amazing coincidences, ironic threads between two or more people in your life and chance encounters that could not be logically explained. We have all had “ah-ha” moments in which an idea leaps into our head or the answer to a seemingly unsolvable problem suddenly reveals itself to us. Moreover, even if these moments are rare, they provide us with a glimpse into the potential of a Spiritual existence. Inspiration Divine reveals how these connections operate in the Universe and how we can tap into God’s wisdom in order to achieve our hopes and dreams.
Understanding Inspiration Divine
Inspiration generally refers to an unconscious burst of creativity, but in the context of divine inspiration we’re invoking its original Roman relation to the term afflatus:
Cicero, in the oration for Archias, speaks of the poet as one who was breathed upon or into by some divine spirit, – poetam quasi divino spiritu inflari. Plato held the same view with regard to poetry. He believed that the poet was often so inspired that he said things that he did not himself fully understand.
“Himself From God he could not free;
He builded better than he know.”
Josephus, who was a cotemporary of Paul, in his first book against Apion, speaks of the twenty-two sacred books of the Jews as having been written by an inspiration which came from God, or according to a breathing upon them of God. (Evans 2004)
Similarly the term Divine, which has many meanings, refers to the concept that human beings are “God revealed” — living representations of God on Earth as they live in accordance with God’s intent. In combination, Inspiration Divine is about expanding our consciousness to tap into personal prophecy (the disclosing of information that is not known to the prophet by any ordinary means). (Davison 2005) Rabbinic scholar Maimonides, suggested that “prophecy is, in truth and reality, an emanation sent forth by the Divine Being through the medium of the Active Intellect, in the first instance to man’s rational faculty, and then to his imaginative faculty.” (Sunwall 1996)
Thus the title Inspiration Divine describes Humanity’s path to enlightenment as conveyed by the Divine Being (God). Most readers will immediately become skeptical of any proclamation of Divine communication, as our society has given up on direct communication with God. In our modern understanding of life, we’ve come up with lots of reasons why God doesn’t talk to us anymore, but for some reason, most of these theories leave out the simple fact that we’re not listening.
We assume that because God can communicate with us via any method of His1 choosing, that He will appear to us in a form that we will understand. We picture ourselves as Charlton Heston climbing to the summit of Mount Sinai in pursuit of the burning bush and hearing the voice of God. With a deep, raspy voice God will call our name and command us to listen.
And if God called out to us in this way, why wouldn’t we listen? This isn’t to say that God wouldn’t call to us in this manner. However, this sensational version of Divine communication is more appropriate for a single conversation rather than one with all of Humanity. Possibly God reserves the attention grabbing, burning bush communication styles for one on one conversations.
Inspiration Divine documents God’s message of love, acceptance and understanding for all of mankind. The message that is being broadcast is intended for everyone, rather than a chosen few. We are all called to listen and Inspiration Divine contains lessons on how to listen, how to communicate with God and, most importantly, how to evolve into a Spiritual existence that embodies the beauty of sustained enlightenment.
Whereas other books extol the benefits of enlightenment, Inspiration Divine brings enlightenment into your daily life with practical and accessible methods for achieving harmony with the Universe, connecting with your Spirit and maintaining balance in your life. However, beyond what Inspiration Divine can do for you, the lessons contained in this book are for Humanity as a whole and your role in bringing about the Spiritual enlightenment of Humanity is embedded in the message itself. In short, you have an unshakable responsibility to personally bring forth the next phase in the evolution of mankind.
In attempting to understand Inspiration Divine, you have already begun to experience the logical battle that will take place within your Mind. As human beings, we interpret and understand the world around us through our sensations, emotions and thoughts. When things make sense we accept them and when they don’t make sense we tend to refute them. There is no other way for human beings, for everything must ultimately be interpreted, analyzed and accepted by our Minds. However, in putting the essence of understanding entirely within the domain of the Mind, we also ignore both the Body and the Spirit.
In modern metaphysical circles there is quite a bit of discussion about the Body, Spirit and Mind. Our society readily accepts these three ways of describing being human but we rarely stop to understand the deep, meaningful consciousness that is present in these simple distinctions. They are so elemental a part of being human that we tend to accept them without fully considering the insightful role they play in our lives. But as soon as we start to encounter concepts that don’t make sense, we instantly become aware of just how entirely caught up in our Minds we really are.
By ignoring the Spirit and the Body in figuring out what is true, we ignore God and make our way through life embracing most situations based entirely on logical thinking. The problem with this approach is that with a mental existence we risk missing out on any relationship with God that doesn’t fall into the logical patterns that our Minds demand. Surely the burning bush and booming voice from the Heavens didn’t make sense to Moses either, but in trusting his Spiritual side, he was able to accept, understand and believe in the voice of God.
In bringing you Inspiration Divine, I’m not asking you to accept these words as the voice of God. I believe Inspiration Divine to be a message from God, for all of Humanity, which is intended to teach mankind how to attain enlightenment, how to serve God and how to be in communication with God. To your Mind, these words will represent a paradigm shift that will cause you to rethink your current understanding of the Universe, God and Humanity.
What I would ask you to do is consider the message contained in Inspiration Divine with more than the logical analysis of your Mind. As you read each chapter, your Mind may refute concepts that are presented and I encourage you to not fight or judge your Mind for being so quick to separate truths from un-truths. Instead let your Mind’s thoughts be nothing more than thoughts and instead let your Spirit engage in the conversation. In collaboration, the Body, Spirit and Mind will guide you down the path of determining what is right for you. By engaging all three in the conversation, you will find more wisdom and insight than could ever be provided to you by another.
Your Path
It is no accident that you are reading this book at this time in your life. No matter if you are reading this in a library or someone gifted this book to you, the motion of the Universe is unmistakable and there is a reason you were brought to these words. No two people have the same role to play, despite us all sharing a common purpose in life. And with this comes your awakening to a purpose that can only be revealed by a connection to your own Spirit. The words contained in this book will not dictate your purpose, for that message can only come from your Spirit. However, this book will show you how to connect to your Spirit and keep that relationship strong for eternity. In this, your path to enlightenment will be revealed through your discovery of purpose.
The final note I will add to this introduction speaks to the energy contained in this book. Your bookshelf is full of books that you find amusing, insightful, and inspiring. I truly hope that you find this book to be worthy of your bookshelf but ask that you do not park it there. Instead, learn what you can from this book and gift it to another. Take the teachings of this book and then give this book to someone else. If you cannot think of whom to give it to then pick someone at random, but make sure that it gets into the hands of someone that can benefit from its message of love, harmony and universal possibilities.
If you are one of the people that was handed this book, count yourself as both deserving and the most valuable person in the world. You have provided someone else the opportunity to practice sharing, to try giving and to experience what it feels like to take a chance on someone else. By receiving this book, you know that there is beauty in the Universe and that you are part of the evolution of Humanity towards a new, Spiritual existence. For you, the path is similarly simple: learn the lessons contained herein and gift this book to another. One by one, the human race will move forward to truly understand a new relationship with the Universe, God, and Humanity.
As we investigate the countless models seeking to explain the Universe, God and Humanity we should be inherently skeptical of complexity. A simple and rich river runs through us despite our propensity to focus on the wider ocean. When we find an understanding of the ocean that also explains the river, we will have found the truth.   In short, any explanation of life that is complex may be interesting, but it certainly isn’t enlightening.
Without a grasp of the path to enlightenment, our Minds are helplessly drawn to complexity. Followers of that path will certainly obtain knowledge, but they will be no closer to a union with the Divine than before they began.
In walking the path we seek the truth. Be the truth beautiful or be it ugly, we seek the truth in its purest form. We care not for what is appealing to our senses nor what calms the masses, but instead desire to know what we are, why we’re here and what is our purpose.
Already God is near, the Truth is close,
Walkers of the Path
Inspiration Divine is a handbook for Humanity designed to bring about enlightenment one person at a time. You are but one person in this chain, but the chain reaction cannot continue without you. For this reason, the journey you are about to take is both a personal one and an enabling key to another’s journey. Upon reading these pages, you will understand the beauty, peace and love contained in the message. Sharing this message with others will not only bring about the Spiritual evolution of mankind, but will also propel you on this path. Record your name below before beginning this journey. In time, you will know who should appear next on this list. Your time is now and by inking your name below you begin your journey:
1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
6. ______________________________
7. ______________________________
8. ______________________________
9. ______________________________
10. ______________________________
11. ______________________________

The ordinary life is that of the average human consciousness separated from its own true self and from the Divine and led by the common habits of the mind, life and body which are the laws of the Ignorance…
The spiritual life, on the contrary, proceeds directly by a change of consciousness, a change from the ordinary consciousness, ignorant and separated from its true self and from God, to a greater consciousness in which one finds one’s true being and comes first into direct and living contact and then into union with the Divine.
For the spiritual seeker this change of consciousness is the one thing he seeks and nothing else matters.(Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga 1970)

Copyright 2009 Darwin Stephenson. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

From Week 1

Choosing the Creative Life

How our personal creativity manifests itself depends on how you choose to engage life. For example, my ability to express ideas will be manifested one way when I’m writing a book, yet quite another way when I’m working with a client to obtain a better, more satisfying business or to take that business to new heights.

Before taking the first step, I suggest you spend time examining how and where your life is blocked. Find where your natural inclinations have taken you in the past. What sort of activities feel easiest for you?

There is a perverse idea in our society that if something comes easily for us, it’s not important. Hogwash! What comes easily for us is precisely what we’re best equipped to develop! Focus on those talents, skills, and insights, and you’ll create a life that’s great to the last second.

Never discount that which comes easiest to you.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t work on your weaknesses. Develop your strengths. Maximize what you’re best at, and the creative life will unfold as if it were your true destiny.

Because it IS your destiny.

Copyright 2008 Michael Knowles. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

Shamanic Dreamtime:
Discovering the OtherWorlds
By Connie Caldes

I do not know how to distinguish between our waking life and a dream. Are we not always living the life we imagine we are?
- Henry David Thoreau

The shamans of indigenous cultures consciously traveled the dreamworld to heal individuals and ensure the survival of their communities. Resurgence in this ancient wisdom indicates that our culture is opening to the gifts of dreaming and the many benefits of listening to dream wisdom. Personally, working with my dreams has taught me much about my inner being and the need to listen to my heart.

For many years, I have known that dreams were guiding me in making choices. Dreams of long-lost friends prompted me to look them up. Terrifying dreams demanded that I make major changes in my life. Dreams of deceased loved-ones eased my pain during difficult periods. Precognitive dreams surprised me. And, mystical dreams left me in awe.

I thought that everyone dreamed this way, with deep emotion, vivid color and powerful content. I think everyone does. Some do not remember. Some do not want to remember because they don’t like the message contained in these dreams. Others have been told that dreams are nothing more than random nerve firing and consequently, they discard them as useless. But many believe that there is much more!

We are a confused culture when it comes to understanding the purpose and meaning of dreams. Are dreams communications from our soul? Is it possible to extract guidance and wisdom from our dreams? Can we find creative solutions to complicated problems (including those that are technically challenging) in our dreams? Albert Einstein spoke of his dreams guiding him in his work on Relativity. Do we work out our everyday issues in the following night’s spontaneous dreams?

If you have come to believe that you might be more than your physical body, I invite you to consider working with your dreams as a means of exploring your spirit. There are many ways to do this, but it is best to begin by keeping a journal. And, if you don’t remember your dreams, state an affirmation just before going to sleep and write down something when you wake, even if it is a feeling or thought. Begin to send a signal to your deeper self that you wish to lift the veil between your conscious and sub-conscious. In recording my own dreams, I’ve found that I have many types, a few of which I will share here.

A profoundly healing dream came to me in 1999 in which I perceived myself to be outside of my body:

Child in the River

I wake up to find that I am floating above my bed and facing upward. A card comes through the ceiling with a light blue angel inscribed on it. I realize that I am free of my body and wish to stand on the floor. I am transported to the desired position with sensations that are somehow familiar to me. I pass my hand through the curtains and confirm my ghostly status. A river forms in the floor of my bedroom, under my favorite window. As I look into the river, I am surprised and somewhat fearful because I see a little girl struggling in the current. I realize that this little girl is my younger self. Birds appear in the window behind the river.

This dream has had life-changing consequences for me. First, the sensations of being outside the body during a dream were beyond exhilarating. For me, they confirmed that we are so much more than our physical selves. Next, I did everything within my power to further explore my childhood and the meaning of this image. This process has been deeply healing and has guided me in discovering gifts that I might bring to my friends and community. And finally, the dream compelled me to learn about shamanic healing, which has led me to many enriching life experiences and even new work.

I have had many lucid dreams in the recent years and find them to be exciting. A lucid dream is when we wake up in the dream and realize that we are dreaming. Here is an example of such a dream.

T-Rex Attack

I am running from a T-Rex. Suddenly, I become fully aware that I am dreaming, feel fear flow out of my body and turn to face the T-Rex. I punch his snout repeatedly until he turns into a non-functioning blob. Then, he re-emerges from the blob and goes after me again. I attack him again and he is reduced to another blob. This time it is really over. I am very pleased with my power and that I did not give in to fear.

When I woke from this dream, I was acutely aware that the attack was an illusion. I strive to reconnect to that deep knowing when other fearful situations arise. Also, I felt sad when I thought about this dream and wondered if the T-Rex might have had a message for me. When I used a technique to go back inside a dream to search for more information, I heard the T-Rex say “Slow down!” My immediate thought was that this was a commentary on my life-style, but soon after, I received a speeding ticket. In looking back in my dream journal, Recommended Reading this was the second time that I received a speeding ticket right after dreaming of the T-Rex. The T-Rex might be more than a metaphor for a police officer with a radar detector, but I will be checking my speed whenever the T-Rex shows up. And, as usual, synchronicity was about to strike. A few months later, I was driving down a road and noticed a large green construction vehicle. The side indicated the brand as TeRex. My foot went for the break pedal immediately as I assumed that I was getting a warning. Just one mile later, on what was a very rural road sat a police officer pulling over unsuspecting drivers.

We can dream of departed loved-ones. In the late 1980s, I had a series of dreams about the wishes of my grandfather who died in 1975. I will discuss these dreams in detail in a later chapter. The dreams centered on my father and his love of baseball. I felt profoundly guided and supported by my grandfather in these dreams. Many months later, I found myself sitting in the movie Field of Dreams. I was blown away by the strong connection between the story in this film, my family history and the dreams of my grandfather. At that time, I could not make any sense of how I could have dreamed the themes in this film prior to its release. These things still surprise me when they pop up, but I don’t try to understand. Rather, I know that it is confirmation from the otherworld that our waking reality is limited, and that we are not limited to it!

I wake up in a state of awe when I dream of reading poems or hearing music. This dream was one of my favorites:

African Chorus

A friend and I take a ride to the ocean. A group of people, African except one Asian male, in gorgeous colorful gowns, walk toward me on the shore, singing a beautiful African song. I hear sophisticated harmonies in a foreign language. They pass me, turn and face me and sing more. An African man in his fifties leads this group. The vivid sights and intricate sounds in this dream mystified me. I felt honored by the chorus of beautiful people. A little more than a year later, I found myself working with Malidoma Some, author of The Healing Wisdom of Africa. It did not surprise Malidoma or me that he looked very much like the man that led the chorus in my dream.

I sometimes see beautiful ethereal visions in my dreams. They have an otherworldly feel to them. One showed up at a time when my husband had partial hearing loss and was being tested for a brain tumor:

Eagle Totem

I “wake” to a beautiful sight in my room. Near my husband’s tall chest of drawers is something that looks like a totem pole, except it is ethereal, appearing to be made of a lightweight tissue paper-like substance with all sorts of filigree patterns cut out all over. On top, sits a beautiful pure white bird. In front of this totem-bird image is a swirl of energy and light rotating in a clockwise direction, like a spiral towards its own center. This image appears to be riding on the end of a light beam that is pouring in the window.

When I woke from this dream, my memory of the breath-taking image in front of my husband’s dresser convinced me that he was not in medical danger. This feeling was soon confirmed when the MRI came back negative and his hearing returned. This dream is still my lifetime favorite!

I’ve learned from Sandra Ingerman, faculty member for The Foundation for Shamanic Studies and author of Soul Retrieval and Medicine for the Earth that from a shamanic point of view, power animals empower, protect and guide human beings. I dream of many species each month and notice certain animal images showing up repeatedly. As an example, I often dream of bears. Amongst Native Americans, Bear is the Great American Medicine Animal. For others, Bear is the Great Mother. When the Bear shows up in my dream, I honor the dream by working with it extensively, searching for messages of protection and healing.

Dreams of death are often frightening. Some people think they mean that they are going to die soon when these dreams might be pointing to part of them that needs to die to open to a deeper life. This is not to say that death dreams are never about physical death, but I’ve had two dreams of my own death, both of which directed me to terminate an unhealthy relationship in order to resurrect myself.

Synchronicity in many forms is a natural by-product of dreamwork. You will see the images, people, animals, symbols and more from your dreams show up in waking life in the most unusual of ways. You will know when it happens. And those that believe in the magic of the universe will be receptive to your stories. Your relationships will be more exciting if you share your dreams and synchronicities.

There are many gifts of the dreaming. Dreams can help you recover lost aspects of yourself, find your soul friends, discover your life’s work, deepen healthy connections, find the courage to end destructive relationships, write with greater creativity and be in touch with your inner guidance. The gifts are endless. Set intentions when you go to sleep. Ask questions. Look for answers. Your life will change! May you find your own majesty! And may you have wonderful dreams!

Read more about Dream Stories: Recovering the Inner Mystic and Connie Caldes and Kellie Meisl HERE.

Copyright 2008 Connie Caldes and Kellie Meisl. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

I once started a job as an office assistant on a Monday.  I was so happy to get that little job that I cooked rice-and-beans for my entire building just so that I could celebrate. My boss, Ti-mama referred to me as Miss America. Since I didn’t know what to make of it–was it a compliment or an attack?””I just smiled. As I was being given the office tour, I overheard two women trying to predict how long my stay on the job would be.  “I say four days,” said one woman.  “No, I say one week,” responded the other. “Are you sure?” said the first woman. “Well the last four girls lasted only three days each,” said the second woman.
“No, she won’t last because she started on the wrong day. Ti-mama hates Mondays.”  Laughed the receptionist.
Their comments didn’t sit so well with me, but, since I really needed the job, I prepared a strategy. When I found out that I would be sharing an office with Ti-mama, I nearly fainted. Ti-mama’s office was freezing cold, and she had a fan on her desk to circulate all the cold air. The office was so cold I had to wear a sweater. Maybe the girls that had up and quit had done so because of the artic weather!
Ti-mama’s eyes never made contact with mine the entire day, and she didn’t say a word to me about what I should be doing.  Every time our eyes met, she would simply turn away. When I would ask her for something to do, she’d ignore me. I had to find my own work to do to keep from dying of boredom. All she did the whole day long was eat.  Not only did Ti-mama keep piles of food on her desk, she kept food inside the files, on top of the filing cabinets””everywhere you looked there was junk food. I tried not to let it bother me, as I considered Ti-mama’s eating habits to be her own business.
At four-fifty p.m. on the first day, Ti-mama handed me a pile of work to do. “This has to be done before you leave,” she ordered, even though she knew I had to leave at five, as I had classes in the evening. However, I was so happy to finally feel needed and be recognized as an employee, that I went ahead and worked until eleven o’clock just to establish a good rapport. I figured that since Ti-mama doesn’t like Mondays, maybe she’ll treat me better on Tuesday. The following day, though, she pulled the same trick on me. Okay, I figured maybe she doesn’t like Tuesday either, since it’s so close to Monday. But on Wednesday, she again did the same thing.  I could see I was in big trouble.
In spite of all those problems, I did really like the job and needed the experience, so for a few days I acquiesced to Ti-mama’s lack of consideration. As each day went by, Ti-mama seemed to get more ornery.  Finally, it was Friday””I had broken the record for staying an entire week on the job. By week’s end, however, I figured I needed to formulate a strategy for keeping my job.  I was not going to just quit the job, as I was sure Ti-mama would love that.
I had noticed the other workers were very hostile toward Ti-mama. They would talk behind her back, laugh at her, and leave her to have her lunch alone rather than invite her to join them. All of this treatment would cause her to become highly agitated and defensive.  On my first day there, I was invited to hang out with the others. We would all laugh and joke together, even though they could barely understand my Franglish and I worried that Ti-mama might be jealous of all the attention I was getting.  So, in an attempt to resolve the situation, the next Monday I packed a large lunch of healthy food and invited Ti-mama to join me.
“Get out of my face, kid,” she said.  I was shocked and crushed, as no one had ever turned down my rice-and-beans before””until I remembered it was Monday, and Ti-mama hated Mondays. I am now confused because Ti-mama loves to eat. I am thinking that I’m really in trouble.
The following day I tried that tactic again, but to no avail.  I worked on that strategy the entire week. I would bring an apple or something sweet for Ti-mama to replace the huge bags of chips and cookies. I would bring fresh coffee to her desk and she’d look at me as if I were a nutcase, while she continued treating me like something to be trod beneath her feet.
By the third week, I discovered that on Ti-mama’s birthday, she anonymously received a diet book, some deodorant, and soap. I noticed a tear in her eye as she looked at the gifts; I simply walked over and gave her a hug. Ti-mama placed her great head on my shoulder and rested it there for so long she nearly broke my shoulder. I gave Ti-mama a colorful crocheted scarf that my step-ma had knitted me for Christmas, which I thought would give her a little warmth in the low-temperature room and cheer her up. I then coaxed her out to lunch, to which I’d invited a few of the office girls, and had arranged with the waiter to sing happy birthday to her. Ti-mama cried at all the attention she was receiving. Apparently, this was the first time anyone had celebrated her birthday since she had been on the planet.
By week’s end, I had become Ti-mama’s best friend, to everyone’s surprise. Thereafter Ti-mama talked openly to me about herself and her childhood traumas. She even bought me a pet rabbit. All she really needed was for someone to make her feel wanted. Ti-mama turned out to be one of the kindest, most loving people I have ever met. And I wish the others could have taken the time to get to know her.
A little compassion goes a long way. You can use this strategy yourself, if you so choose.  It might not work for everyone because it takes a certain amount of patience; however in the long run it may help you as a human being.  Of course, one doesn’t take human folly too seriously as it’s not the ease of being human that concerns us, but rather, the fact that many of us tend to vent our frustrations on others even when they have nothing to do with our problems. You need to use your best judgment, because the same strategy may not always work with everyone.  Sometimes, you just have to walk away. I was born with patience in my veins, because where I am from, you can’t make it without it.
There are many different ways of negating a bad situation. One way is to have a drink of water.  You just have to choose what is right for you under the circumstances.  Another person’s reaction to Ti-mama may have been “Storm the ramparts, ladies and gentlemen.” I usually use love to get through to people.  But, this is a personal decision, and one only you can own. In my case, I could have easily walked away like the other girls, but I chose not to.

Copyright 2008 Lili Dauphin. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”   ~George Bernard Shaw

A Note from the Author

First, I want to thank you for your interest in learning more about living on purpose through the pages of this book excerpt, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life.  It’s been my great pleasure to write this book and to endeavor to “practice what I preach” over the past decade-plus, although I do hope I don’t come across too “preachy” in the book or in my life.

I believe that there are no accidents in the Universe, including that you and I have been connected in this way.  I imagine for most people who have downloaded this excerpt, they have done so because they are longing for a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in their life. I honestly believe that the Life On Purpose Process that is outlined in depth in the complete book is an invaluable roadmap to such a life.  I can say that with utter honesty because I’ve witnessed its positive impact not only in my life over the past decade-plus but in many other people’s lives as well.

It’s my hope and intention that this “sample” of the book that outlines the Life On Purpose Process will be of value to you as well as helping you to determine if the whole meal – the whole Process – is something that will serve you along your own path to a life on purpose.    Here is an overview of what’s included in this excerpt:

A Life On Purpose in a World On Purpose: This first portion is intended to give you a sense of what’s possible, and to begin to answer the question: “Why bother taking the time and energy to clarify my life purpose?”

Table of Contents of the Full Book:  Just to give you an idea of what’s included in the full book and so you’ll know where the parts that make up this excerpt fit in.

My Personal Journey Along the Purposeful Path – I’ve included part of my story in this excerpt so you and I can become better acquainted and so you will understand why I feel so passionate about people clarifying their life purpose.  Of course, you may elect to skip this section and go straight to the heart of the Life On Purpose Process, and then come back to this section later.  That heart is Passage #2, which is included in this excerpt.

Meet the Boomers:  The Boomers are fictional family – a composite of many of the clients I’ve worked with.  In Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life, we follow them along as they travel the six passages that make up the Life On Purpose Process so I thought you’d want to go ahead and meet them.

Passage #2 — Starting on the Purposeful Path: Albert Einstein once said: “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” In this free excerpt you will learn about the life on purpose perspective — a shift in consciousness that is at the heart of the Life On Purpose Process thousands have used to bring clarity of purpose to their lives.

The shift in consciousness and thinking that’s outlined in depth in Passage #2 is such a foundational part of the Life On Purpose Process I felt in would be the best way for you to gain value from this excerpt while at the same time getting a tasty sample of the overall process so you could decide whether to enjoy the full meal.

From Sample to Full Meal: This section provides you with a good overview of the entire Life On Purpose Process so you’ll know what’s available if you decide to begin your journey along the Purposeful Path using this process as your roadmap.

Reviews & Endorsements of Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life: I thought you might be interested to hear what others are saying about this life enhancing process and book.

Life On Purpose: More than a Process – a Way to Enhance Your Life: By the time you reach this section, you will have experienced a tasty sample of the Life On Purpose Process, and some of you will be hungry for the whole meal.  I’d be remiss to keep you salivating without letting you know where to go for satisfy that hunger.

So, let’s get started.

Table of Contents of the Full Book

Introduction: A Life On Purpose in a World On Purpose
My Personal Journey along the Purposeful Path
Why Begin the Journey?
The Six Passages of the Purposeful Path
Passage #1: Preparing for the Journey
Determining Your Starting Point
Exercise: Living on Purpose Self-Test
Determining Your Destination
The Tremendous Life-Shaping Power of Vision
A Word About the Value of Personal Coaching
Passage #2: Starting on the Purposeful Path
The Three Basic Components of Life
The Basic Elements of an Empowering and Enduring Life Purpose
Exercise: Wheel of Life
Passage #3: Uncovering What Has Been Shaping Your Life
What Shapes Your Life Before You Know Your True Purpose?
Pulling the Curtain on the Wizard of Your Past
Pulling the Curtain on the Wizard Who’s Been Shaping Your Life
Deepening Your Awareness of Your Inherited Purpose
Obstacles and Roadblocks to Clarifying Your Life Purpose
Passage #4: Clarifying and Polishing Your True, Divinely Inspired Purpose
The Bridge to the Land of Purposeful Paradox
Exercise: Priming Your Passion
Polishing Your Life Purpose
Passage #5: Learning the tools for Living on Purpose
Living True to Your Divinely Inspired Life Purpose
Where Does a Life Purpose Live?
Opening the Purposeful Toolbox
Universal Laws of Attraction and Purposeful Creating
Purposeful Practices, Ponderings, and Prayers
The Purposeful Pivot
Purpose Principles
Purpose Projects, Purposeful Play, Patience, and Persistence
Life Purpose Project Page
Purposeful Play
Purposeful Patience and Persistence: The Unstoppable Tool
A Potpourri of Additional Power Tools
Replacing Off-Purpose Patterns with On-Purpose Patterns
Passage #6: Mastering the Tools for Living On Purpose
Three Dimensions of Living On Purpose: The Spiral of Fulfillment

A Life On Purpose in a World On Purpose

What would it be like to understand your Divinely Inspired Life Purpose with crystal clarity? Right in this moment, you can begin to experience your life on purpose. Imagine that you know and are deeply in touch with your vision for what’s possible, like when you were a child just starting out on this bold adventure called life. Imagine also that you know and are deeply in touch with your core values-those intangibles that mean the most to you. And that you know and are deeply in touch with the essence of who you are. Finally, imagine that all of this is bound together and connected by the attractive power of Universal Love, your relationship with God or a higher power, and by your spiritual nature.
Through this book, it is my interest and intention to create a powerful and purposeful coaching relationship with you, one that is perhaps best summed up by these words from the Life On Purpose Coaches Creed:

Imagine a relationship in which the total focus is on you, on your Life Purpose, and on living true to it …
Imagine someone listening not only to your words, but also to the soul behind them as it expresses its truest desires …
Imagine someone who will be your partner as you hold yourself accountable for living true to your Life Purpose …
Imagine that this person is curious about your dreams and aspirations, your vision for the world, and what you are most passionate about in your life. -This is a person who will help you clarify projects that are consistent with your vision, your values, and who you are, and will help you develop the means to fulfill them …
Imagine a relationship with a person who may, at times, appear even more committed to what you want in your life than you are …
Imagine that in this relationship you can count on this person to absolutely tell you the truth with ruthless compassion-about the many gifts and talents that perhaps you’ve taken for granted, as well as where you might be selling out on who you really are …
Imagine a relationship that supports you in breaking free from the self-limiting constraints of your past, in which the voice now exposing your limitations is recognized for what it is-a voice from the past. Imagine that your true spirit is nurtured to shape and form your life, moment by moment, day by day.

Imagine every aspect of your life being shaped by your Divinely Inspired Life Purpose. Your actions are shaped by your Life Purpose; your thoughts, decisions, choices … all shaped by your Life Purpose, which comes from the blending of your vision, your values, and the essence of your being together with Universal Love and your spiritual nature.
What would such a life be like? Imagine it right now, for just a moment or two. What would you experience, living such a life? What would it feel like to know your Life Purpose so clearly that it would have the power to shape each moment and all that you do?
What would your life look like? What are some of the things you’d be doing as true expressions of your vision, your values, and the essence of your soul? What would you no longer do because it would be inconsistent with your Life Purpose? Imagine the magical nature of such a life.
What would be different about your life? And what would likely be the same? What would you have in your life, and what would you no longer have-simply because it is inconsistent with your Life Purpose?
Now, let’s stretch our imagination just a bit more. Imagine that you’re living in a world where everyone knows his or her Life Purpose, and is living true to it. In other words, you’re living on purpose in a world on purpose. Can you imagine such a life? What would that be like?
This book outlines the Life On Purpose Process-a proven, systematic, spiritually based, and practical approach that has already assisted thousands of people to clarify their Divinely Inspired Life Purpose and to begin to live a life beyond what they could have initially imagined. Are you ready to begin your journey along the Purposeful Path to such a life? If so, here’s your first coaching assignment:
After pondering about the questions above, write down your thoughts to each one, and share this with someone whom you care deeply about. Explore this world on purpose with him or her.

My Personal Journey Along the Purposeful Path

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” – Patanjali, Indian philosopher

As part of my early morning spiritual practices, I often trudge up the footpaths that wind around Glassy Mountain behind Carl Sandburg’s home, a few blocks from my home in Flat Rock, North Carolina. On this morning, as I stop to catch my breath, my mind flashes to an ugly, yet necessary, time in the early eighties. I’m on the bathroom floor in my apartment in Greensboro, , during another time of contemplation. Sobbing, and in a fetal position, I can’t remember how I ended up here or how long I’ve been this way. I know only that I’m in great emotional pain and will do anything to make it stop. I imagine what I might do if I had a gun. Would I have the nerve to use it? If I did, would I screw it up like I’d screwed up the rest of my life? The more I think about it, the more real the gun becomes, until finally I realize it’s not my imagination but a real gun- which I hold in my hand.
I feel the smooth wooden handle in my palm and the cold metal circle of the snub nose pressed against my temple. My finger begins to tighten on the trigger. Just a little more pressure, a quick flash of pain, and the deeper pain will finally be over. Funny, I think as I lay there, how many people will be surprised to learn of my suicide. To outward appearances, I’ve got it made: my own veterinary practice, investments in real estate, a fancy car, a wallet full of credit cards-all the trimmings of a supposedly successful life. But beneath the well-crafted exterior is a hollow core of emptiness and suffering. My life feels worthless, without any real meaning. All the adornments of my Good Life don’t add up to true happiness or fulfillment. The truth is, I feel alone in the world, with no one who truly cares about me or understands what I’m going through.
Suddenly, someone has invaded my privacy. “Go away,” I think as loudly as I can, then realize I’m also shouting it. “Go away! Leave me alone!”
But whoever it is doesn’t leave. A moment later I smell the pleasant fragrance of a woman’s perfume, then hear the voice of an angel. “It’s okay, Brad. We’re going to get you some help. It’s okay.” I recognize the voice of my friend Rebecca.
Now, as I sit watching the exquisite sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains, that day in Greensboro seems to be from a different person’s life-and in many ways it is. I am no longer that confused, scared, lonely young man. I no longer practice veterinary medicine; instead, I’m the founder of the spiritually based Life On Purpose Institute. And today I can truthfully say my life is filled with purpose and meaning.
The journey of the last two decades has been a wild roller coaster ride, filled with slow upward climbs and exciting, sometimes scary descents. It is what I affectionately term my Purposeful Path. Before my near-suicide, I traveled the path mostly asleep, unaware that I was even on a journey. Then came ten years of awakening, with a few long naps mixed in. And for the last decade, as I’ve continued my awakening process, I’ve done my best to assist others along their own Purposeful Path. What follows are some of the key stops along the way.

Chasing the Red Queen
I’d like to say that after my near-suicide my life was suddenly and miraculously transformed…but my mother told me to never lie. The truth is that my transformation was slow and arduous-a journey of many trials and errors, with a number of side trips and more than a few dead ends.
My next significant moment of awakening came a few years later, during my second marriage. At that time, I was still caught up in the great American Dream of acquiring as many expensive toys as possible and had a lovely companion who was just as good at the acquisition game. We lived in a plush neighborhood, on an acre of land, in a beautiful home complete with a rear deck overlooking a babbling brook.
Unfortunately, I was working too much to enjoy any of it. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. In Lewis Carroll’s childhood classic Through the Looking-Glass, one of Alice’s misadventures in Wonderland is with the Red Queen, who takes her on a wild run through the countryside. But no matter how fast Alice runs she can’t seem to get anywhere. Finally, breathless from her efforts, Alice is allowed to rest long enough to comment, “Everything is just as it was!” The Queen replies, “Here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”
I knew just how Alice must have felt. I was physically exhausted and emotionally out of breath, running as fast as I could to keep up with an out-of-control lifestyle of my own making. As I gazed across the wooded lot and listened to the bubbling of the water across the rocks, I realized that much of my reason for purchasing the home had been that very scene. At the time I had imagined spending countless hours out on the deck, basking in the sun, watching the seasons roll by-but the seasons had rolled by without me. I’d not so much as stepped foot on the deck in all that time. I’d been too busy working fifty to sixty hours a week at my veterinary practice so that I could pay the mortgage on the house and keep two car payments up and three credit cards paid down. Like Alice, I realized something was wrong with this picture. I was running as fast as I could just to keep up.
While I still hadn’t suffered quite enough to make any radical changes, a seed of “divine discontent” had been planted.

But Enough About Me (for now…there’s more in the book)
I love to share the story of my journey along the Purposeful Path, but this book is really intended as a personal guidebook to assist you.
First, you’ll uncover what’s been standing in your way and move it aside, opening yourself to do the inner work of clarifying your true, Divinely Inspired Life Purpose. At that point, the real fun and adventure begins as you step onto the lifelong path of living true to the life purpose that has revealed itself.

Meet the Boomers

Meet Bob and Barbara Boomer. Bob is closing in on sixty, while Barbara is in her middle fifties. They’ve been married, more or less happily, for over twenty-five years. They have three children: Becky, twenty-four, who recently graduated from college and is searching for the career that will make her happy; Brent, twenty-two, who is in his junior year of college; and Brandon, seventeen, who will be graduating from high school this year and will likely go on to college-although he hasn’t a clue which one or what he wants to major in.
The Boomers are a typical family, and being American, their lives have been shaped by the pursuit of the Great American Dream. Until recently, neither Bob nor Barbara have given much thought to the idea of. If you were to corner them into talking about it, though, their views would be consistent with the common cultural perspective that a Life Purpose is what one is to do while alive on Earth. But recently, one of Barbara’s friends gave her a book that started her thinking more about her purpose in life, and which then led to her sharing her thoughts with another good friend-her husband, Bob.
Because he thought of Life Purpose as “what I’m here to do,” when Bob went to find purpose and meaning for his own life, he went the route of work. On the strong advisement of his parents, he became a dentist like his dad. He graduated from dental school with honors and worked for five years as an associate before opening his own practice, in which he’s been for over twenty years. While he won’t admit it to anyone but Barbara, he’s pretty burned out from having looked into thousands of mouths for over two decades, and the sense of purpose in his work has dried up. Still, since he has college tuitions to cover, a hefty mortgage on this 2,500-sqare-foot home, and monthly bills to pay, “off to work I go” has become Bob’s theme song.
The upside of Bob’s focusing so heavily on work is that he has become a very successful dentist and a prominent member of his community. The downside is that, in the process, the rest of his life has been thrown out of balance in the following ways:

* He’s alienated from his wife and children
* He has no real time for friends, only professional colleagues
* He doesn’t really have any hobbies or interests outside work
* Spiritual life … What’s that? He hasn’t gone to church since his wedding to Barbara and while he does believe in God, he’s not bothered to be in touch since he was a child. Late at night, however, when he can’t sleep which is often, he wonders if there isn’t more to life than he’s experiencing. He suspects the answer if a resounding Yes.
* His health is poor by most people’s standards though fairly typical for those in his profession. He’s about 20 pounds overweight, has high blood pressure, insomnia and is addicted to watching late night TV as a way to de-stress from his work.
Barbara, on the other hand, considers it her purpose in life to be a good mother and a supportive wife to Bob. One of her greatest worries is what she’ll do with herself once Brandon leaves home-which is due to happen in less than a year. It was because of this that her friend recommended Traveling the Purposeful Path. She also finds herself awake at night asking herself such questions as “Who am I? Am I really just Dr. Bob Boomer’s “Better Half”? What is the rest of my life for?”
Neither of the Boomers can really see themselves in a shuffleboard-and-golf style retirement, though Barb is tired to the point of exhaustion from the last two decades of trying to keep up with her adrenalin-addicted husband while also raising her three children, more or less single-handedly.
The Boomers are a fictional-real family, a composite of many different people I’ve worked with in the past, and their plight is typical of many people who have mistakenly identified their Life Purpose to only be about what they do to get by. We’ll be following the Boomers as they travel along the Purposeful Path.

Passage #2: Starting on the Purposeful Path

As you begin your journey along the Purposeful Path it makes sense to choose the one that will get you where you want to go most expediently. To do this we’ll start by exploring this basic question: What is a life purpose?
I’m not asking what your personal purpose is, not yet. In fact, I’d like for us to look beyond your own limited, personal view to see if we can identify a more common, general definition of a life purpose. What would you say the Cultural Perspective is?
One way to think of this would be to imagine that you’ve decided to conduct a survey by going out on a street corner where you live and asking a few hundred people what a life purpose is. What do you feel the most common answer would be? What would be the central theme of the responses you receive?
The most common response may be similar to your personal response, or it may be different. What we’re really trying to get at with this survey is not just what people say a life purpose is, but how they relate to the concept. In other words, look not only at what people say, but also at what their collective actions say. This is important because we often talk about something conceptually, but it may not be reflected in the actions we take or the way we live our lives.
Write down one or more responses that you think people would give if their responses accurately described and reflected how they lived their life. For the moment, disregard those that wouldn’t have an answer or wouldn’t know what you meant by the question.
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Since founding Life on Purpose Institute in 1996, I’ve had the opportunity to ask this question of not just a couple hundred people, but thousands. Here is the central theme that runs throughout the vast majority of those responses:
“A life purpose is what I’m meant to do while I’m here on earth.”

The key here word is “do.” Most of us believe that our life purpose is all about what we’re here to do. We may say this in various ways-it’s what we’re here to accomplish, it’s something that only we’re able to do, it’s something we’re to do that gives us joy, and so on.

Since we’re talking about people’s perception of something, of course, this perception is as valid as any other. And as with any perception, it results in a certain way we live our life. What I’m going to suggest next may stretch you a bit, so be ready to simply try this idea on and let’s explore it together.
I’m suggesting that when we think of a life purpose as something we do, it heads us in a particular direction right out of the starting gate. It’s as if we jump into life and see a sign that says, “This way to your life purpose,” and the sign points in the direction of “doing.” So when we get to the next question, “What is my life purpose?” we’re already heading down the path that’s all about doing.
As a result, most of us live a life filled with a lot of doing-and for many of us, a lot of having, which is a natural byproduct of all the doing. But we may be missing something, like the true sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that we really want. It’s as if we’ve taken a detour without realizing it. We wonder how we ended up where we are…but it was that road sign pointing to “doing,” way back at the very start.
I have found that when people work from this Cultural Perspective, they often look to two areas of life for purpose and meaning. For many, they look for purpose in their work-their job, career, or profession. For others, they may look in some primary role in life, like being a good parent or spouse, or a “dutiful” son or daughter.
Unfortunately, operating from this perspective has some limitations and pitfalls. For example, what happens if you misidentify your life purpose as your job, career, or profession, and then, for whatever reason, you’re not able to continue your work? Some time ago, when I first paid a visit to my local dentist, this struck home in a very powerful way.
As my dentist looked over my record, he noticed that I’d stated my profession as a Life on Purpose Coach. Most people have one of two responses when they learn of my profession. They are either confused by it but too embarrassed to ask, so they say nothing at all, or, as in the case of my dentist, they become curious and ask what it means.
After describing the type of work I do, my dentist replied, “Boy, my dad could sure use you right now.” He then went on to tell me that his dad had been a prominent physician in this part of the country for close to forty years, but that recently, due to his health, he could no longer practice medicine. “He feels like he has no purpose or meaning to his life,” my dentist went on to say. And that accurately describes what often happens when people misidentify their work as their life purpose.
The same is true for people who think that one of their primary roles is their life purpose. For example, what happens when someone thinks that being a good parent to their children is their life purpose, and then they wake up one day to find that their children have grown up and left home? We even have a name for such a condition: it’s called the empty nest syndrome.
Looking from this perspective has another pitfall in that we often misidentify some part of our life as our life purpose. But doesn’t it make sense that our life purpose should be able to include all of our life-not just our work, not just some significant role, but all of our life and all that we do in our life?
If we’re interested in clarifying our true purpose so that we can have a life that is fulfilling and satisfying, we need to operate from a new perspective of what a life purpose is. This way, when we head out into life, we’ll be able to travel down a different path-a Purposeful Path that leads to a life of joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Here’s a different perspective I’d like for you to try on-the Life on Purpose Perspective. Consider that:

A life purpose is the context, vessel, or container into which you pour your life.

Sit with that for a moment before reading on, and then we’ll look at this perspective more deeply…
Let’s use a visual aid to examine this perspective in more depth. Imagine you have your favorite coffee mug in front of you-or better yet, stop reading for a moment, go get it, and fill it with water. Now, consider that the mug and water visually represent the Life on Purpose Perspective. In other words, the mug represents one part and the water represents the other.

Write down the part of the statement represented by the mug:

And now write down the part of the statement that the water represents:
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Now check your answers:
The mug represents the context, vessel or container (i.e. the life purpose).
The water represents your life.

Now, let’s focus on just the mug and water for a moment. You may find it helpful to actually have a mug filled with water in front of you. If you look at the mug and the water, you can notice that there is a relationship that exists between them. What can you observe about this relationship? If you’re not sure where we’re going with this, think of it this way: What happened to the water when you first poured it into the cup? Before reading on, see if you can come up with your own answer.
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The water took on the form of the inside of the mug, or said a different way, the mug gave shape and form to the water.

Quick Review
In our comparison, what does the cup represent and what does the liquid represent? Choose A, B, or C below.

A. The cup represents how far you can travel, and the water represents the direction.
B. The cup represents one’s life purpose, and the liquid represents one’s life.
C. The cup represents a vessel, and the liquid represents what’s inside it.

The cup represents one’s life purpose and the water represents one’s life, so B is correct. In this example, the cup is the context that shapes one’s life: the life purpose. The water is what is being shaped by the life purpose: your life.
In case you feel like you’re about to have a brain strain, pause for a moment. Take a deep breath and let it out. Now, we’re going to look a little closer at the notion of a life purpose being the context for one’s life. Remember that part of the reason we’re looking at this perspective in such depth is because we have an old Cultural Perspective to transcend.
Here are the next questions to consider:
When we talk about our life being shaped by our life purpose, what do we really mean? What makes up a person’s life?
To get to the answer, let’s go back to our comparison of the mug and the water. We said that the water represents our life. Think back to your ninth grade science class. The simplest unit of water that retains the property of water is a molecule.
If you went any smaller, you’d have atoms-two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen-but those individual atoms by themselves don’t have the properties of water. It takes a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom to give us the properties of water. But what does this have to do with a life purpose? Well, here’s the really big question, which will bring us back to what a life purpose is:
What’s the simplest unit of a person’s life?
What we’re looking for is the simplest or most basic unit of a person’s life that will retain the properties of the life. When we know this, we’ll know what’s truly being shaped by our life purpose. When we multiply this molecule enough times, we will have a person’s full life.

Hint. Just like a molecule of water has three components, the simplest unit of a person’s life has three components as well. Take a stab at it now: What are the three simplest components that make up a person’s life?

1. _____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________

The Three Basic Components of Life

As we continue this exploration, we’ll next identify each of the three basic components that make up a “molecule of life.”

What do you think are the 3 basic components of a “molecule of life?”

For the purpose of this discussion, “life” refers specifically to the period of time that begins at the moment of conception (or birth, whichever you prefer) and ends at the moment of death.

Conception/Birth <============Life===========> Death

Imagine that someone decides to make a movie of your entire life, starting with your birth or conception and ending with your death, after which point the credits start rolling. As you know, a movie is made up of a whole bunch of individual frames. You can think of each individual frame as one of the basic components of the molecule of life. But what exactly does one frame of your movie represent? If you break it down into single “frames,” isn’t your life a composition of moments in time? You live first this moment, then the next, and the next, and the next… So, one of the basic components of a molecule of life is “moments in time.” Write that in one of the circles below.

In keeping with the movie analogy, let’s look at any frame of your movie. In fact, let’s look at each and every frame of the movie of your life-what’s the one thing that you consistently see in each frame?
Hint. This one is similar to the question, “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” Be careful not to make it more difficult than it is.

Doesn’t it make sense that the one thing you’d see in each and every frame of the movie of your life would be you? The second basic component of a molecule of a person’s life is the person-a living, conscious human being. So, write “Self” in one of the other circles.
We now have two of the three basic components. Let’s go back to the movie one last time and look at a strip of the film from any part of the movie. We could take a strip from the first day you were born, or the first time you went to grade school, or from any part of the movie of your life. If we run it through the movie projector and shine it on a movie screen, what would we see?
Take a moment to ponder this before moving on. Give it your best shot.

Hint. If you suddenly flipped the switch on the movie projector to fast forward, you’d be able to observe what we’re talking about more easily.

Think about it for a moment. Aren’t we always doing something? Even when we’re sitting around “doing nothing,” we’re doing something-we’re sitting around doing nothing. So, the last basic component of a molecule of life is “Action.” Write that in the last circle.

Now, let’s review what we’ve come up with and see what this all has to do with living on purpose. First, we’ve identified that the basic molecule of life is a living, conscious person, doing something in a moment in time. This is what is being shaped by the person’s life purpose.
You may still wonder, “What does all this have to do with my life purpose?”
Well, you may not have noticed it but we’ve just made a very important distinction-one that many people fail to make. And in failing to make it, those people are left stuck trying to figure out their life purpose.
Let’s go back for a moment and look at both Life on Purpose Perspectives-the Cultural Perspective and the Life on Purpose Perspective. Remember, we said the common theme of the Cultural Perspective is that a life purpose is what we’re meant to do while on earth. The Life on Purpose Perspective, however, says something very different. I’m suggesting to you that a life purpose isn’t what we do, but what shapes what we do.
You see, most people are asking themselves the wrong question when it comes to their life purpose. They’re asking, “What is it I’m supposed to do with my life?”
But the doing itself isn’t the life purpose. The life purpose is that which shapes and gives context to the doing!
Said another way, your life purpose is the context or overarching meaning you ascribe to life that then shapes the doingness of your life. The things we do in life are expressions of our life purpose. They aren’t the life purpose itself. The important distinction we’ve made is:
Life purpose = The context of your life that shapes what you do
Doing, actions, projects, goals = The ways in which you express your life purpose
We’ve all heard the old joke of the man who lost his keys in the dark alley but chose to look for them under the street lamp because the lighting was better. There is a lesson here that can be applied to the way in which many of us go about clarifying our life purpose: Many people are like the man who’s trying to take the easy approach even though, in this particular case, the easy approach won’t work. They’ve spent most of their life looking under the street lamp of “doing,” trying to find something that’s not there. They really need to be looking somewhere else. But where?
Let’s go back to the mug and water analogy. The question we really need to ask is what the mug is made of. In other words, what are the key ingredients of a life purpose?
We’ll start with the mug. It can be made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, steel, wood, Styrofoam, cardboard, and many other materials. And just like a mug can be composed of many different materials, so can a life purpose. As the Life on Purpose Process came to me from my inner guidance and source of creativity, however, I realized that there were certain qualities that any life purpose should have. A life purpose needs to be:

* A powerful shaping force in our lives. It should be powerful enough to shape us as we go through the many moments of our lives, doing whatever we do.
* Long lasting and enduring. Wouldn’t you want a life purpose that could last a lifetime or beyond? I sure do.
* Flexible. It should give us plenty of room to play and to express ourselves fully.
With these three qualities of a life purpose in mind, I asked my inner guidance: “What basic elements will consistently result in a life purpose with these essential qualities-every time and for everyone?” And that’s what we’ll explore in the next section.

The Basic Elements of an Empowering and Enduring Life Purpose

Many elements could contribute to the creation of a powerful, long lasting, and flexible life purpose. In my work with hundreds of individuals and thousands of people in groups, I have found the following three elements to be most effective:
* Vision: What is the vision or possibility you see for the world?
* Values: What are the core values you stand for and are willing to give your life for?
* Being: Who are you? What can people count on from you? Life purpose is more about who you are than what you do. Remember, we’re called human beings, not human doings. Many of us have forgotten that.
Let’s look at each one of these elements in more depth.

Vision-What’s Possible
If you spend much time around young, fully expressed children, you’ll notice how they live in possibility. They invent games on the spot and then aren’t afraid to change the rules whenever they realize there’s a new way to play that will be even more fun.
Children are filled with the spirit of what’s possible. Unfortunately, far too many of us have had that spirit stifled by well-meaning people, challenging circumstances, and our own reactions to and interpretations of them.
However, no matter what has happened to us in the past, it is possible for all of us to return to that childlike innocence. Not only is it possible, it’s necessary if we want to clarify our true purpose in life.
Each of us has a unique sense of what’s possible in our own lives-with our families, in our community, in the world. Getting in touch with this vision of what’s possible is one of the basic necessities for clarifying your life purpose.

Values-What Matters Most
Clarifying our core values is a refinement process, not all that different from peeling away the layers of an onion.
We often start with a long list of things we’ve been taught we should value. In fact, I call this first layer the should values.
But it’s important to peel through this layer until we get to those values we really choose to live in our life. The second layer of the onion is our chosen values.
The really important layer is even further within. I’m talking about those select values, usually not more than three to six intangibles, that we’d be willing to give our lives for. These are our core values.
Just like we all have a unique vision of what’s possible, we also have a unique set of core values that are an integral part of our life purpose.

Being-The Essence of Who We Are
One of the most important questions that can shape anyone’s life is, “Who am I?” When we can distinguish who we are and the way or ways of being that are at our core, then we have another important basic element for our life purpose.
We all have unique ways of being that we’ve come to count on and that we know others can count on as well. Distinguishing these gives us yet one more important piece of the puzzle of what our purpose in life is.

The Glue That Holds it All Together
There is actually a fourth component life purpose that is so critical to the formation of a powerful, enduring, and flexible life purpose that you can think of it as the foundation upon which the life purpose stands and the glue that holds it all together.
There are various ways to refer to this last ingredient. One way is to call it love-the universal attractive force of unconditional love that binds us all together and connects us powerfully to the rest of the cosmos. Another way to describe it is your relationship with God, a higher power, or your spirituality.
When we combine this glue with your unique vision of what’s possible in the world, your unique set of core values, and your unique qualities of being, we end up with a powerful, empowering, and enduring life purpose that still has ample room for us to play and express ourselves. This life purpose becomes the context that shapes and forms us as we go about doing all the things that make up our life.

From Concept to Reality: An Example
Okay, now let’s look at an example that will move us from concept to real life. The example I know the best is my own life. I’ve enjoyed coaching people for close to two decades, and for the past decade I’ve also run my own spiritually based enterprise, Life on Purpose Institute. While both of these are important to me, I’m also clear that they are not my life purpose.
I’ve also been happily married to my wife, Ann, for over fifteen years and I’m the proud father of my daughter, Amber. Both of these roles are very satisfying and fulfilling; yet, they are not my life purpose. My life purpose is to live an inspired and inspiring life of purposeful, passionate, and playful service; a life of mindful abundance balanced with simplicity; and a life of spiritual serenity. Or to give you the shorthand version, my life on purpose is a life of service, simplicity, and spiritual serenity.
This, then, becomes the context, vessel, or container into which I pour my life. It shapes who I am and what I do as a coach, writer, speaker, and founder of Life on Purpose Institute. It also shapes my personal life as a husband, father, and member of my community. In fact, it can shape all of my life, each and every moment of it. Said another way, some of the ways I choose to express my life purpose are as a coach, writer, speaker, founder, husband, and father.
Once you are crystal clear about your true life purpose, it has the power and the possibility to shape all of your life-your thoughts and feelings, your decisions and choices, your speaking and actions, and ultimately your results in life. There is tremendous power when all of these factors come together in a congruent way, when your thoughts, feelings, decisions, choices, speaking, and actions are all congruent and in integrity with each other. This is what makes living on purpose both possible and so exhilarating.

Call to Action Assignments
In the game of golf there is a flag at each hole. What’s the purpose of the flag? It lets the players know where they want the ball to go. This first assignment will give you a sense of the direction in which we’re headed along the Purposeful Path. Remember, you don’t have to come up with the definitive answer-simply ponder it for a few days.

Flag Assignment
Here are a few questions to ponder as part of your assignment:
* Viewing your life purpose from the Life on Purpose Perspective, what is the vision you hold for our world?
* What are the core values that you’d give your life to uphold?
* Who are you and what can we count on from you?
Now, blend all of that with the universal attractive force of unconditional love or your relationship with God, a higher power, or your spirituality. Then consider:
* What context or vessel could shape the rest of your life and all that you do?
Remember, just ponder it and see what you discover.

In Passage #3 we’ll begin to carve away whatever’s between you and determining your life purpose. We’ll begin with this basic premise: your life is always being shaped by something. There is never a time when it is not being shaped and molded. However, since most people aren’t clear what their life purpose is, it’s unlikely that your life purpose is what is shaping your life. With that in mind, take some time to work on this next assignment.

This is the next question we’ll explore:

If your life is always being shaped by something, what shapes your life when you aren’t clear what your life purpose is?
Hint. Look back to your early childhood, the “formative years,” to begin to find the answer.

Second Hint. There are many factors that shape a life. We’re looking for as many different things as you can come up with.
The Boomers at Passage #2
Here are a few of the comments that Barbara wrote in her journal regarding her insights from the Life on Purpose Perspective:

Wow, that’s all I can say-Wow! Bob and I continued the life purpose work and today we learned a new way of viewing what a life purpose is. My head and heart are still spinning. I realized today that I’ve been thinking for decades that my only purpose in life was to be a good wife to Bob and a good mother to my kids. No wonder I’ve felt in a state of panic these last several months, as my third child rapidly approaches the age when he’ll be leaving home and Bob and I appear to grow further apart.
While I still don’t know what the “context” of my life is, I feel a sense of hope and excitement at the prospect of discovering it, though also a bit of fear about the whole idea. After all, once I know my life purpose, I won’t have any excuse for not living true to it.

Here are some of the thoughts that Bob shared with Barbara after completing Passage #2:

I’m still processing the idea that a person’s life purpose isn’t all about doing. I’ve been a great “doer” all my life, since starting my first job when I was fifteen-and in the process I’ve become a good provider for you and the kids. Now I’m asked to consider that neither my professional career as a dentist nor being a good provider is my life purpose. That’s a tough one, I must admit. Still, I don’t think it will serve me to be a “full cup” on this one. Besides, as I consider that my life purpose could be the “context, vessel or container into which I pour my life,” and that context could then have the power to shape all of my life, I feel a sense of excitement and adventure, and that feels good.

From Sample to Full Meal

I trust you found this “sample excerpt” of Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life both interesting and thought evoking.  Of course, we’ve only touched upon less than 10% of what’s in the Life On Purpose Process.
The Life On Purpose Process is a proven, systematic, spiritually based and practical process that has already assisted thousands to clarify their life purpose. It will give you the tools to design your life to be a true and authentic reflection of that purpose.

Proven – Since its conception in the early 90’s, thousands of people have used the Life On Purpose to bring clarity of purpose to their life so we know it works and works well,

Systematic – The 6 Passages that make up the Process will guide you step by step – truly a road map to your life on purpose

Spiritually Based – The Life On Purpose Process works with and is consistent with universal spiritual principles that are found in all authentic spiritual paths, like the Law of Attraction, the Attractive Force of Universal Love, etc. People of many different religions and denominations have experienced the process and received immense value including those whose definition of spiritual didn’t include a belief in a Higher Power necessarily. In the Life On Purpose Process spiritual is defined as a connection to a deeply held set of values and to a purpose beyond one’s self-interest.

Practical – Not just theory or esoteric principles, but ideas, distinctions, and tools that you can apply immediately to your daily life.
So, let’s take a look at the six passages that make up the Process:
1. Preparing for the Journey Along the Purposeful Path
As with any challenging journey, it’s best to thoroughly prepare yourself for your travels along the Purposeful Path. This includes accurately determining where you are starting from and where you intend to end up, as well as knowing some of the obstacles that could possibly get in the way of completing the journey. Purposeful Preparation is important to a successful journey. The title of David Campbell’s book sums it up well: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll Probably End up Somewhere Else. Some of the exercises included in this important first passage include:
The fun and engaging Life On Purpose Self Test, the Life On Purpose Scale, the Wheel of Life Exercise, and a very powerful process for creating a “Visionary Reality” of your Life On Purpose, along with the mental roadblocks that can slow your progress along the Purposeful Path.

2. Starting on the Purposeful Path with the Life On Purpose Perspective
As you can tell from this excerpt we delve deeply into this foundational mental shift that has served as a door into a new world of purpose and possibility for many people.

3. Uncovering What Has Been Shaping Your Life-Your Inherited Purpose
Have you ever tried to look at the back of your head without the assistance of a mirror?  Gently try it right now.  You know you have a back of your head, and it seems like if you could just turn your head fast enough, you’d at least be able to catch a glimpse of it, right?  Well, that’s what feels like for many people when it comes to uncovering what has been shaping their life.  That’s where the “Pulling the Curtain on the Wizard of Your Past” exercise comes in.  Remember in the Wizard of Oz how the Wizard ran Dorothy and her friends all over Oz looking for the witch’s broomstick?  But there was a moment when the Wizard lost his power over them, when Toto, the dog, pulled the curtain, revealing him to not be a mighty, powerful wizard, but simply a little old man with a bunch of smoke and mirror.  That’s what you’ll be able to do in this Passage #3.

4. Clarifying and Polishing Your True, Divinely Inspired Purpose
After “cleaning the slate” by identifying and beginning to be responsible for your Inherited Purpose, the real fun begins as you go through a process called Priming Your Passion to clarify your true, Divinely Inspired Life Purpose. The process can be not only life affirming, but also life transforming. In this Passage you will also discover the Land of Purposeful Paradox, the birthplace of your true life purpose and where it’s found on the Map of the Kosmos. This completes Stage One, or the clarifying your Life Purpose stage.

5. Learning the Tools for Living On Purpose
This is the start of Stage Two  of the process, in which you begin to live true to your Life Purpose. This is where the rubber meets the road, and where some of the biggest transformations take place as you’re introduced to Sixteen Power Tools for Living On Purpose. You will use these tools to begin to build your Life On Purpose.

6. Mastering the Tools for Living On Purpose
Of course, being introduced to a set of tools is just the beginning, especially if you’re interested in building a masterpiece of a Life On Purpose. In this next part you will learn how to master the art and science of creating a life that is shaped by your true, Divinely Inspired Life Purpose.

What Others are Saying About
Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life

You can read Life on Purpose superficially, and learn quite a bit about purposeful living.  That’s what I intended to do; learn about the whys and wherefores of finding my life purpose.  Instead, I found myself engaging with the material, thinking about the questions and doing the assignments.  And becoming clear about my own life purpose and how to live it out.  The book is engaging enough to pull you into the process.

Dr. Swift draws you into a relationship with him and the book.  His language is intimate and encouraging; you feel like he’s there with you, coaching and helping you as surely as if he were speaking with you in person.  He manages to translate the coaching relationship into written form, making it accessible for anyone who reads his book.

Life on Purpose is a practical, friendly, hands-on book for anybody who wants to live a more meaningful life.   – Penny Watkins for Bookpleasures.com

People successfully using the six passages have stated that the result was like the alignment of the universe for their own nurturance and reward. As they began fulfilling their individual purposes, good things began to happen for themselves and for others that they met and served.

Along with Howard Gardner’s works on multiple intelligences theory since 1983, and the many books and other tools available to use in examining one’s vocational calling and skills, Dr. Swift’s book, “Life on Purpose,” should become part of any vocational or spiritual library.  — Reviewed by Patty Inglish for Reader Views (5/07).
I feel Life On Purpose stands out from many of the other self- help books. I think the reader will find that it has more depth than some writings, which only advise the readers to think positively and visualize success. Dr. Swift’s book stresses the idea that our desires and motives need to have spiritual roots. He encourages us to realize that our life purpose can still benefit us without being at the expense of others. Love and our connections to each other are key ingredients to a truly successful and joy filled life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt that it’s motives were sincere and the contents very helpful. Brad Swift has obviously found how to best express his Life Purpose. Review by: Marjorie Tietjen.
“Brad has created a simple and easy way to become crystal clear about your reason for being on this planet.  Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life is your road atlas to live a more purposeful, passionate and playful life.” -Mark Victor Hansen Co-creator, #1 New York Times best-selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul(r) Co-author, The One Minute Millionaire

“Brad Swift brings us a new vision of power, passion, and purpose.  His clarity shows us how to see with new eyes, hear from within, and act from a tender and gentle integrity. With freshness and honesty, Swift opens the way for our transformation and generates in us a new excitement about our lives and our infinite possibilities.”  Edwene Gaines, author of The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance (Rodale)

Enlightened Millionaires know that they have a purpose for being on planet Earth.  This clarity of purpose is an integral ingredient of being both enlightened and an Enlightened Millionaire.  The book you hold in your hand outlines a proven, systematic, spiritually based approach that will assist you in clarifying your life purpose with crystal clarity.  Whether you choose to become an Enlightened Millionaire or not, you will find the Life On Purpose Process of invaluable benefit that will enhance your life and those around you.  – From Robert G. Allen, Co-author, The One Minute Millionaire

” Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life is a gentle and heartfelt guide to the fundamentals of living a life rich in joy and contribution. Brad’s style is accessible and user-friendly, and his book a compendium of thought-provoking questions and deep convictions.”  Gregg Levoy, Author, Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life

“In a world desperately in need of hope and healing, Brad Swift’s Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life serves as an excellent tool and resource for creating a life that is personally meaningful and outwardly contributive. Swift’s methods are simple yet powerful, straightforward and profound–and whether you are new to this exploration or have traveled a ‘purposeful path’ for a while, you will find insights and exercises of great value within these pages.”– Maggie Oman Shannon, author of The Way We Pray and One God, Shared Hope: Twenty Threads Shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Life On Purpose: More than a Process – a Way to Enhance Your Life

It’s been well over a decade since the Life On Purpose Process came “through” me as a result of asking of my Divine Inner Guidance two questions.  You see, at the point I finally had some “clarity of purpose” for my own life at around 40-years of age, I looked around and realized that there were many others in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and older who seemed to be pretty clueless about their life purpose.
So, I asked “Does it really need to take us human beings 40, 50 or more years to become clear about our purpose?  Isn’t there some way to shorten that learning curve just a bit?”
And the answers that poured forth became the foundational elements that have grown today to be known as the Life On Purpose Process.

Copyright 2008 W. Bradford Swift. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Excerpt

Chapter 1. Appreciating Life around Us

Our world is full of unexplored marvels. We pass by them every day. These reflections encourage
you to slow down, notice life’s treasures, and enjoy them rather than rushing through life. I
encourage gratitude for life’s magic, the angels in your life, and your times of good fortune.

The World of Blooming, Buzzing Confusion

Try to find your deepest issue in every confusion and abide by that.

D. H. Lawrence

I was sitting on my porch the other day watching trees blooming and cars buzzing by. I thought of how the nineteenth century psychologist William James described the world as babies first see it, a world of “blooming, buzzing confusion.” Other psychologists have since speculated that babies can make more sense of the world than William James first thought. The dispute does
not seem to have ever been settled to anyone’s satisfaction. But then, babies aren’t prone to lengthy explanations of their world view.
As adults, our world still seems to consist of blooming, buzzing and everything in between. Trees, flowers and plants slowly and gracefully unfold to share their beauty with us. People often buzz by, not wanting to share anything with us. They just wish we would get out of their way.
I have wondered lately where everyone is heading in such a rush. If we work ourselves into a lather trying to save a few minutes, what are these few minutes like when we finally get them? Can we enjoy them or do we need them to catch our breath after rushing to wherever we are headed?
Sometimes I think we are preoccupied with where we are coming from and where we are going, forgetting to enjoy the journey in between. I remember when I was young and our family would sometimes take a ride in the country. We weren’t trying to get away from anything in particular or heading any place special. The ride itself was the whole point of the adventure.
What would it be like if we looked at our lives as a ride in the country? What if we got our minds off what we were trying to accomplish with our lives, even for a little while, and instead concentrated on enjoying the journey?
We don’t often think to do this. Sometimes it is easier after a major illness or other setback. We are reminded that we won’t be here forever. Even if we win the rat race, we are still rats.
We can slow down from time to time or even stop to enjoy our lives rather than letting them slip by as we race to our next destination. On holidays, we tend to take time out from our hectic pace, but often we find chores to occupy us rather than spending time with the treadmill turned
off. We can even fret our way through vacations. We work hard to make sure we are having fun rather than just letting the vacation happen.
Do you remember the Simon and Garfunkel suggestion “Slow down, you’re movin’ too fast?” from “The 59th Street Bridge Song.” I think they had the same reaction to the bridge that I had to the traffic whizzing by my porch. Our lives lie in the space between where we start and where we end. Don’t let your life get away.

Life Lab Lessons:

*When was the last time you took time out from your busy schedule to just enjoy
life?
*What was it like?
*When do you plan to do it again?
*What do you think you might have missed while rushing through your life?
*What would it be like to live your whole life in this moment rather than constantly pushing yourself toward the next goal?

Nourish and Preserve Your Sense of Wonderment

The possession of knowledge does not kill
the sense of wonder and mystery.
There is always more mystery.

Anaïs Nin

Recently I found myself at a funeral home following the sudden death of a friend, Mary Anne Graney. Near the guest book was a stack of cards and the invitation to write favorite memories of her to share with her family. I stopped to recall memories of her.
My first thought was her ability to make everyone she met feel special. This trait, in my mind, made her special. It was not quite what I wanted to write, but the right words to describe what set her aside from other people did not come to me.
This morning I woke up realizing what I wanted to say. What was unique about her was her ever present sense of wonderment. Hers was a rare gift which I have noticed in only one other person on a regular basis. I can’t recall a conversation with her in which she did not display her gift.
I don’t think I would have recognized her gift had I had not learned about it from a priest I knew long ago, Father Augustine Paul. It is a little hard to define but has also been described as “thinking with a child’s mind,” or openness to experience and suspending judgment.
Cynics would call this approach to life naïve. Life is serious. We are playing for keeps. This is no time to fool around. Some people become caught up in the practical. They leave no time for things which are interesting, fascinating or even wonderful. Dreamers can be annoying to people
who want to avoid the nonsense and just get things done.
Religions have often started out with a sense of awe at creation and ended up becoming a justification for the way of life of its adherents. The writings of early explorers describe the wonders of their discoveries. Often the lands they discovered have become the focus of squabbles about how to use the natural resources they contain. A beautiful maple tree, which I admired for
years each morning over coffee, was finally gobbled up by machines to make way for a store parking lot.
I have written before of the sense of wonderment children have. I still remember a photo I took of my son around age two, running through a field holding up a daisy he had found.
We become jaded by our pursuit of careers, possessions and money, known as the rat race. This is a good descriptive term which suggests roaring ahead full steam toward a goal with no awareness of our surroundings. Sometimes we lose sight of the goal and are aware only of the rat
race.
We have another choice. We can reassess our goals and decide whether they are worth all of our energy. We can work toward a balance in our lives, taking some time to appreciate the wonders around us. We can also share our sense of wonderment with our more frantic fellow life travelers. Mary Anne thanks for your example.

Life Lab Lessons

*What makes some people special to you?
*How is your life better for your association with them?
*What have you learned from their lives?
*How could your life be more like theirs?
*Incorporate their best traits into your daily life.

The Magic of Everyday Life

Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.

Boris Pasternak

I learn daily of the number of American soldiers dying in Iraq. I hear less about the much larger number of dead Iraqis. I read of the ingrained hatreds among groups around the world and wonder how things could have come to this. The problems seem overwhelming. How the world could be a different place?
Just when things seem most hopeless, something happens to remind me that life is still full of wonderful surprises. They do not appear every minute or maybe they do and I just don’t notice them. When I sense them, they remind me that people are on earth to enjoy what God has put before them rather than to find more efficient ways to destroy each other.
I have seen the most glorious sunset I could imagine at Sunset Beach in Oahu. I was present at the births of three healthy babies entrusted to my safekeeping. I looked down on the Grand Canyon from thirty five thousand feet in the air.
I have heard Dvorak’s Symphony From the New World played in a park in Pittsburgh and the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute sung in concert as well as whistled on the street. I have heard my grandson Joey talking a mile a minute after having to learn sign language because of his delayed speech.
I have smelled the scent of holly flowers meant to attract bumblebees. I have enjoyed the aroma of honeysuckle pervading the countryside and the fragrance of night blooming cereus wafting `across my front porch.
I have tasted Evil Jungle Prince sitting in Keo’s Honolulu Restaurant among the orchids, sipped Sangria at a modest restaurant in Gijon, Spain and relished Pat Davis’s cakes at family celebrations.
I swam in the Sea of Cortez, felt my hair stand on end as I touched a Van de Graf generator and had my hand tickled by a salamander scooting across my palm.
These are a few of the sensory experiences which have surprised me over the years. I did not plan or expect any of them to happen and they are by no means the only pleasant surprises I have encountered during my journey through life.
Thomas Moore in The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life helps us regain a sense of wonderment about the many mysteries of the world waiting for our exploration and appreciation. Diane Ackerman in A Natural History of the Senses gives us a context for appreciating all that our senses bring to our life experience.
I am sure there are many delights I have encountered in passing but have not dwelt upon sufficiently and many others which I have not taken the time to even notice. I hope I can set aside my concerns to better notice the delights God has placed along my path. I also hope that delight in nature can help turn the world people’s attention from its conflicts and give them a context in
which to start appreciating each other better.

Life Lab Lessons

Recall what has delighted you over the years.
Think of the last delight you encountered.
Which of your life experiences means the most to you?
Think about how you could delight someone you care about.
Set aside some time for wonderment about the world you live in.

Things That Make Me Feel Grateful

Let the man, who would be grateful
think of repaying a kindness,
even while receiving it.

Seneca

Several years ago I started following the example of Henry Thoreau. He made it a practice not to get out of bed until he had written down things for which he was grateful that day. I usually have a cup of coffee but like to make my list before doing anything else. In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I would use this column to share some of the things for which I am grateful.

Thank you God for:

-The cloth-bound journal I found at the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore.
-The wonderful sunrises and sunsets this year which never fail to gladden my heart and raise my spirits. Even on gloomy days, I know that sooner or later one or the other will eventually grace the sky.
-The warm summer sand at Gay Head Beach on Martha’s Vineyard and the lazy waves lapping at the shore.
-Attending two delightful weddings in one summer and meeting new people.
-The many teens honored at the Bishop McNulty Awards for parish service and for the adults honored for working with youth.
-Sharing my perceptions of the world with my brother Bob and his understanding of what is important to me.
-My mother’s acceptance and caring for every person I have ever brought to her door.
-My friend Smoky, the joy he brought to my life and his many friends I had the chance to meet if only briefly.
-Being able to publish three books and write a newspaper column for five years without losing my perseverance.
-Inspiration for my writing each time I get my fingers moving.
-My muse, Calliope, and my ongoing conversations with her.
-Attending the celebration of Rose’s and Russ’s sixtieth wedding anniversary.
-Seeing Aunt Lucille’s zest for life well into her eighties.
-Mike and Joe’s delight in each other’s company.
-Matt’s ability to commune with nature whether anyone is around or not.
-Visiting England, Spain and Portugal.
-Peter’s prolific pursuit of his artistic ability.
-Sue’s professional competence and community contributions.
-Becky’s caring for everyone she meets following her grandmother’s example.
-Coming to a decision about Medicare coverage and its many options.
-Delightful conversations with many people I never thought I would meet.
-Sailing on cruises among the Caribbean islands in February.
-Having owned my own sailboat.
-Visiting a sugar plantation in Barbados.
-Rediscovering my friend Gerry and knowing I can count on his constant support and encouragement.
-A sense of prosperity after years of worrying about money.
-A growing sense of my spirituality and coming to terms with it.
-Visiting St. John the Divine in New York.
-My joints working well again after several years of feeling almost crippled.
-Carol’s love, support and acceptance of me no matter what.

Life Lab Lessons:

*Think of some of the things for which you are grateful.
*List the people who have meant the most to you.
*Tell the ones who are still living how you feel about them.
*Do something in honor of the ones who have died.
*Consider writing down a few things each day for which you are grateful.

The Care and Feeding of Angels

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Hebrews 13:2

I wrote in the past about the angels among us, working quietly to make our lives better and easing the strain of our life challenges. They are often unacknowledged and sometimes unnoticed.
Even though I refer to them as angels, they are not just spirits. They have human needs too. However, in their efforts to care for the rest of us, they often forget about their own needs. They are just as prone to stress and burn-out as we are, although they are probably less attuned to these
signs, since they are so focused on what others need.
I have often heard from people who are good listeners that no one cares about their concerns. No one imagines anything could ever bother them. Caretakers sometimes seem indestructible, or maybe it is just our wishful thinking.
Whose responsibility is it to care for the angels in our lives? First, it is their responsibility. Everyone knows that a car will break down quickly without regular service and maintenance. While people are not machines, they also need nourishment, rest, exercise, appreciation and support.
If you are an angel, stop to think how much you are doing for everyone else and also what you need. What do you do for yourself? In your efforts to care for everyone else, do you forget to take care of yourself? Do you listen to what your body is telling you? Do you pay attention to your feelings of stress, exhaustion and loneliness, or do you try to carry on as if you don’t have
any of these feelings?
You deserve to take care of your body, and especially of your spirit. Take time to sit quietly and be aware of your requirements as you do for everyone else. You have needs too. Once you
are aware of them, set aside some time for yourself. It may seem selfish, but unless you do, you won’t remain helpful to others.
If you are not an angel but have one or more of them in your life, stop to think about what they may need. Encourage them to consider their own desires and what may please them. There may also be things you can do for them. It might be hard to figure out what they want since they do not often make their wishes known. They may seem like they can go on forever taking care of you as they always have.
It helps to let them know you appreciate all they do for you instead of taking them for granted. But this might not be enough, since appreciation might tempt them to work all the harder.
You might watch them and see what they need. They might appreciate being reminded to take time for themselves. You could let them know they don’t have to be of service immediately or on call twenty four hours a day. Or you could find a way to be their angel at least on occasion.

Life Lab Lessons

*Discover who your angels are.
*Think about how they have enriched your life.
*Make sure you thank them.
*What could your angels use from you in return?
*Do it for them.

Thank Your Friends for Their Help

Do not save your loving speeches for your frends      till they are dead.
Do not write them on their tombstones,
speak them rather now instead.

Anna Cummins

Dear Pat,
A while ago when I was visiting your house, you made a comment to me which seemed like no big deal. You had seen an ad in the paper for volunteers to take part in a study of rheumatoid arthritis. I have been struggling with arthritis for a couple years and thought I might have the rheumatoid variety, but so far had been unsuccessful in finding a rheumatologist.
I had been taking Celebrex and Tylenol for a while with little relief. But lately every time I moved my shoulder, I felt a crunch like I had no cartilage. I was about to resume my search for a rheumatologist, which last time led to a dead end.
The morning after you told me about the study, I called the number you gave me and set up an appointment. I was screened and accepted for the study and finally began treatment. The morning after I started, I woke up with not an ache, pain or discomfort anywhere in my body. I considered it a miracle and felt like a new person.
After being in the study for a couple weeks, I looked around my house and discovered stacks of unfinished projects. When I thought about it, I realized I had been depressed for some time. I work with many depressed people and somehow did not recognize the symptoms in myself.
Every morning since, I have woken up thanking God for leading scientists to the discovery of the medications I now take, for leading me to your house that afternoon, and for your thoughtfulness in telling me about the study. I think I sometimes take others’ help for granted.
Maybe it takes something this impressive to make me realize friends make many gestures which improve my life in less dramatic ways.
We all get busy thinking about our own needs and how things affect us. I have had concerns that our society has been becoming more selfish and people are becoming so preoccupied with their own needs that they do not pay attention to those around them. It is sometimes hard to remember that people traveling their life paths next to us are also preoccupied with their own concerns at the people next to us and gain some appreciation of their struggles. Going further, we can find and share something which might help them a little. Getting in touch with their needs also opens up a channel between us and them and makes a connection with all the people they are connected to. The information you shared with me about the study led to my finding out about the study medications. I shared what I discovered with a colleague, who in turn passed it on to
someone she knew with rheumatoid arthritis whom I have never met.
When I think back over my life, I can recall times when I was helpful to others, sometimes in ways which made a dramatic difference in their lives and sometimes in ways which may have made their way just a little easier. I have learned two lessons from your kindness. One is to acknowledge my appreciation for others efforts on my behalf. The other is to extend myself when I can be helpful to others and make their lives a little better.

Life Lab Lessons

*What have been the most difficult times in your life?
*Which of your friends have been most there for you at those times?
*How did they help?
*Did you thank them properly?
*It’s not too late.

Following the Relay for Life

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.

Author Unknown

Recently I found myself in the Spencerport High School sports stadium. Tents rose throughout the infield; a band warmed up. The high school color guard marched in to the beat of their drummers. Among them I found the names of Carol, her younger sister and her nephew.
Around me was a sea of people wearing purple shirts, all displaying a message on the back, “Survivor.”
Everyone had gathered for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, in honor of those who had survived cancer, those who had not and those who might eventually face it. We had been invited to attend several times in the past, but had not ever done so for one reason or another. This year was different.
The announcer read the names of all the survivors present, their type of cancer and how long they had survived. Among them were a five year old boy, people in wheel chairs and women with the tell-tale scarves covering their chemotherapy-induced hair loss. As their names were read, they assembled on the track. After the reading, they walked together around the track as those who loved them looked on in silence.
Toward the front walked Carol, her older sister Sharon and brother-in-law Gary. I took this in stride until they walked by me. I had not known Carol’s mother or sister Marie who had died of cancer before we dated. I knew Carol’s nephew, Tommy, who fought cancer for three years to have more time with his children Haley and Andrew.
For the past six months, Carol took on her own fight with cancer while I did what I could, often feeling helpless. We both focused on what had to be done and had little time to think about how we felt about the ordeal.
After supporting her through her diagnosis, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I stood beside the track watching Carol walk with the sea of other survivors. For the first time since her diagnosis, my emotions overcame me and tears came to my eyes. I felt remnants of my initial fear, sorrow that her family pattern of cancer had finally caught up with her, respect for her
courage in facing her ordeal and gratitude that she had survived it.
I often wondered about cancer but had never taken it seriously in the past. My first question to her radiologist was, “Why do people get cancer?” I have seen and heard explanations on many levels but have yet to find one which adequately answers my question. Cancer has been around for centuries, but not to the extent it is today. Our environment, lifestyles and diet all seem to play
parts. Still it is not clear, at least to me, why some people get cancer and others don’t.
Carol’s encounter has brought me to a new respect for life, how precious it is and my need to cherish it. I don’t think I will ever look at Carol again and take her for granted.

Life Lab Lessons

*Think about how you live your life and how you treat your body?
*What would your body say about how you treat it?
*Find out what you can do to protect yourself from cancer.
*If you have lost someone to cancer, live part of your life in his or her honor.
*If you love any cancer survivors, find ways to show them how much they mean to you.

Read more about NAVIGATING LIFE: Commonsense Reflections for the Voyage and Joseph G. Langen HERE.

Copyright 2008 Joseph G. Langen. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.