Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Economy of Self Esteem

Hello Everyone,

I spend a lot of time noticing people, behavior, money and time. In 'this economy' It's the catch phrase these days, so I have to use it for Googling purposes. But people seem to be working harder and faster, taking on more and more with a sense of desperation.

Perhaps they're fueled by the idea that the unemployment benefits are going to run out; or they have to find that job, right now; or I've only got a certain amount of severance, so I've got to launch this business pronto. Always we are thinking there's not enough - for me.

It's precisely thinking like this that got us into this recession in the first place. No where else on Earth, save the UK, maybe, do people work so hard and so long for so little. It defies logic and common sense. I wonder how much we make per hour as a nation. Now there's a question. If we added up the earnings of everyone in the US, then added up the hours worked and divided that into the earnings, what would we be making per hour? I can assure you it would be a pittance compared to our True Value.

This of course doesn't even take into account the "j" factor - you know, J.O.Y. Now, let's ask that question: how many of us really LOVE what we're doing? Preposterous!

We've got it all backwards, because we think the harder we work the more money we will make.

Forget the penalty in stress paid by the body. We work for those benefits, after all. We stick at jobs we hate, damaging our physicality so we can cash in on those benefits when we have that stroke, the heart attack or get the big "C" - which by the way we wouldn't have if we'd spent our days in joy.

How the heck did we get here?

I'd like to say it was a big conspiracy, but we all went along willingly like lambs to slaughter buying into the "American Dream" that the marketers were selling on behalf of the Banks, the HMO's, the insurance companies, and the pharmaceuticals.

They package it up real pretty and sell it; we buy it lock, stock and barrel. We should have that McMansion, those cars, these clothes, this gadget and that particular widget. Then we'll feel like we've made it; we've arrived - then there will be material proof that we're good enough - at last.

Hamsters on the wheel, we are. Hamsters on the wheel.

What fuels this? Why could they sell us this crock?

We have a national deficit, but it's not cash. It is a national deficit of personal and individual self-esteem.

We are poor in Spirit. We are poor in Who We Really Are. We don't know our own value, our own worth, and we do not trust our own internal thought processes as valid. We don't think for ourselves, we don't question the premise, and we think they know more than we do.

In the old days, I think they called it Common Sense. Today, we've all but abdicated our personal sense of what's a right and appropriate response to life. We trust 'them' to tell us what to watch on TV, what to wear, what to eat, what drugs to ask for at the doctor's, what symptoms to have, what beauty is, what to think about the 'news', and we do it it all. We follow so well.

Nothing will change until we remember and value above all else, Who We Really Are - individually - you and me.

When we truly trust our responses to life as right and appropriate; when we value ourselves, our opinions, our time, our talents, our very being as the precious and beautifully unique thing that it is - then, folks, the economy of our nation will thrive, because we individually are thriving.

Only we can do this. Only you and I can begin the transformation of poor self esteem into one of personal high regard and respect. This is our job.

Then, one day, in the midst of our work day, we will stop at least once and say, "I cannot believe they pay me to do this! I love my work."

Imagine this.

Thanks for reading!

Kath

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Soothing Someone Back into Well Being

Good Morning Everyone,

Recently I heard the best story. It involves friends of mine in Descanso. Jack is involved with Parkinson's. When I lived in Descanso, I used to go over to Jack and Doreen's because I just loved them as people and I would do energy work on both of them. Those times with them were amazing and fun. As the symptoms of Parkinson's progressed in Jack, Doreen moved with elegance to assist and care for him, as she still does.

Doreen is the portrait of True Love. She and Jack are entirely devoted to each other. They came to the US from Scotland back in the 60's. Jack's trade was that he was a glass man. So they started their own window and stained glass company, which is now run by their eldest daughter.

Jack is the quintessential Scot; he plays the bagpipes and has read every Scottish author and poet, and can quote them all. Together they are simply a joy to be around. As a couple they love and respect each other fundamentally. Even in this difficult circumstance, I have never heard them utter a disparaging word or use an insulting tone. It just isn't in their awareness, so replete is their joy in each other.

As time as gone on, Jack's ability to move about and communicate has become severely hampered. Doreen literally lifts him from his bed and moves him to place to place. And only she can understand his communications at this point, so in tune are they with each other.

Recently in Southern California the temperatures have topped 100 degrees over many days with crippling humidity.

The neighborhood guys got an idea. Once a week these fellows gather at Jack and Doreen's house to play snooker, although Jack can't play anymore, they have continued to come and have their weekly game including Jack in their fun.

Well, seems Tom, a neighbor, got the idea that if they all helped, they could take Jack on a field trip to his house where he has a swimming pool. This was executed last week.

The guys came and got Jack and they all trooped over to Tom's house where they had a pool party. Jack, included. They got Jack into the swimming pool, where for 2 uninterrupted hours, Jack was in heaven, diverted from the constancy of the Parkinson's.

He floated and wiggled and felt his body weightless and cool - almost free. For two hours, Jack was back in Well Being, diverted from his usual focus - the prison of his body.

According to all reports, a magical time was had by all.

The greatest gift we can give anyone who is focused on something "unwanted" is to soothe them back into Well Being. These guys, his friends and neighbors, and fellow Light Beings did just that.
When someone can be diverted from what is (unwanted) and soothed back into Oneness, that vibration goes out into the Universe and is answered. What is more is that in this place of Well Being, Jack is allowing his Good to be received. Amen.

Of course I know these guys, and all I can say is that I've never heard of a more wonderful INSPIRATION and just hearing the story put the biggest smile on my face. Well done, indeed, guys. Very, very well done.

Thanks for reading!

Kath

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, March 5, 2009

One Man's Desire for More and Better

Good Day Everyone!

Recently I've been watching Showtime's series, the Tudors. On the Special Features disc I was treated to see one episode of This American Life, another Showtime Series. This episode was about Michael Phillips. The best article I can find to tell you about the show and about Michael Phillips is in the St. Petersburg Times. Eric Deggans, staff writer, wrote an amazing account of Michael and his story.

I heartily encourage you to read the story and then watch the show. It is the first episode of the second season of This American Life. You can probably get it from your local library on DVD.
Talk about Quality programming, this is it.

Mike is an ordinary guy, except that he's got a particular challenge called SMA. The only part, save his head, that moves is his thumb. He's still an ordinary guy with hopes, dreams and desires. He is striving, like each of us, to become more than he has been.

The episode talks about his having lived with his Mother all his life, and now he wants some independence. He wants - his Life.

Wow, we think as we watch, how amazing is this? Yet, he, like each of us, is a Godchip in physical form. He is alive and reflective, a being of Light in a physical, albeit, broken body. Many, I suppose, would think, "why bother". Yet, he does. He strives to grow and become more Real, more himSelf. Michael is our teacher.

A friend of mine is reading The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. In sharing with my friend Michael's story, she in turn recounted to me that same Joie de Vive - zest for life - in Helen's words about her own life. Everyday was a wonderful day to Helen. Every letter started with some version of how happy she was to be alive and how privileged it was to feel the sun on her face, or the rain, or the snow...she was just happy for Life, Itself.

A new book has come to my attention, Happy For No Reason, by Marci Shimoff. On my walk this morning I was contemplating these three events coming into my awareness over the past 24 hours. Michael Phillips, Helen Keller, and Marci Simoff - all reminding me that my Life Is Good, as well, and to Be Happy for no particular reason except that I just get to be here in the physical and that is the Reason for Joy.

How grateful I am for the lives of others who influence me back into Reality.

Thanks for Reading!

Kath

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, July 30, 2007

Iraq Is in JOY

Good Day Everyone!

I am coming to love Yahoo News every day. They actually print happy news. Today they were covering Iraq's soccer win over Saudi Arabia.

Why do I think this is news worthy? Because every one's natural state is joyful well being. And if any people have had cause to ask, ask, ask for joy, it is the Iraqi people. And here is their soccer team showing them how to refocus on something that gives them joy. Bless sports. Bless Well Being and Bless this mechanism of the human being who has the choice to focus where it will.

“This is the happiest moment,” said Ali Hassan, 52, a Baghdad fan dancing in Paradise Square “The Iraqi people are thirsty to have moments of enjoyment.”

These days following the victory of their soccer team will give the people of Iraq time to focus on something that gives them joy. In these days of focus on something fun and good, their collective good is flowing into them.

In a companion piece (see link)http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070730/ts_nm/iraq_dc
The Iraqi Parliament has gone into summer recess. Well, good for them. If you're stuck then you need to back off, go play and get a new perspective with fresh ideas in order to plow on.

What I really love is to see Iraq expressing it's innate well being. It even may be in juxtaposition to what others might want them to do, but what I feel is a new life coming into them with its own momentum, direction, solutions and joy. We are all connected to that same Source.

Iraq will find its way, uniquely theirs. Like each of us, one step at a time, one day at a time, whilst reaching for feeling better and better, it will come to them faster and faster.

Be Well Iraq. Find a way to live in joy for all of you, and drop the labels. See each other as fellow countrymen with room and plenty for all. I, for one, am wishing you all pure joy.

thanks for reading! Kath


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?th&emc=th

Labels: , , ,

As Featured On Ezine Articles

Sign Up Now for the Applied Spirituality NewsLetter. You will get practical tools, tips and techniques that - when applied -  will change your life!
Aren't you ready for all the good stuff ?

Email:
    follow me on Twitter



    I Heart AWeber.com

    Do you love email marketing?