Gaia: Radical Clarity... Shi[f]t Happens

Re: How much giving is good?

http://beyondallthis.gaia.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:34:33 GMT

Hello to you Bruce~
To answer your initial question........."literally, one moment at a time!"
~Debbie

Re: How much giving is good?

http://beyondallthis.gaia.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:14:59 GMT

Peace and Light to you balloon string~
Let me turn this around on you a bit, a paradigm shift of sorts. In this shift, giving and taking are the same thing or even reversed concepts. Now imagine that what you have perceived as "giving" was really only to satisfy your own desire and need for attention and recognition, love and thanks, etc. Receiving these gifts as a result of your actions would make all of your "giving" actually "taking", right? Or, at the very least, setting yourself up quite nicely for the opportunity to "take". In other words, let's imagine that "giving" is the most selfish of acts, and "taking" is the most selfless.
I think the most important aspects of relationships (ALL relationships) is what knowledge and insights we aquire concerning who we are as individuals.....then as a partner....then as a member of the larger society. IF, that is, we are even paying attention.
Create the extraordinary.........
~Debbie

Re: Why I Left

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:11:24 GMT

i did! :)

Re: Why I Left

http://nunidots.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:53:54 GMT

you noticed im new eh :)

Re: Why I Left

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:15:57 GMT

It is exciting indeed!

But this is not an active group, and you may not get a response to your heartfelt sharing here. I suggest you look at the active Discussions to find an active group on a topic to which you are drawn, and share there.

All the best, and feel free to ask if you have questions,

Nicole

Why I Left

http://nunidots.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:12:51 GMT

I hadn't been happy with where i was going with my life, but i barely noticed. Growing up I was told what to believe was important and what i had to do to be successful, and i accepted everything i was told as true. I was comfortable letting my mom and step-dad make decisions for me and i lacked a lot of responsibility or drive. By mid-high school things started to lose meaning or importance to me and i felt a little lost.
April 25, 2007 I got on a plane to attend my dad's wedding to the woman of his dreams. Literally "of his dreams" because he would have settled for nothing less. My dad had always been the most confirmed bachelor and the fact that he was marrying should give everyone hope that love, real love, exists. But this isn't really about his wedding. I hadn't seen my dad in years and years, and we barely talked on the phone, which was my fault. Whenever he called i generally rushed to end the conversation, to continue with the part of my life that i cared about more. It hurts to say that, but I didn't have much of a relationship with him anymore, and i didn't care to build one.
He was so excited to see me, though I felt thrown out of my element and thus uncomfortable. I had always been a shy kid, i didn't welcome any form of change. My dad, however, would tell you differently- I lived with him till I was four, and he remembered me as the curious, friendly, vibrant kid he had raised. I'd gone through a lot of changes growing up that had created a much meeker version of that.
But my visit was extraordinary. If I've ever experienced an epiphany, this was it. My dad's views made more sense to me than anything I'd experienced thus far. Primarily agreeing with Buddhist views, my dad opened up a whole new world to me. The meaning of life was something I had never contemplated. We'd have long talks that would rile me up, and I never got riled up about anything. i finally had someone to say "hey, open your eyes." I had been under so many illusions about how life was supposed to be that I wasn't living at all.
Sometimes when my dad and I would have conversations, before my visit, my dad would suggest that I consider moving to live with him. I always scoffed at the idea, it literally did not seem like a possibility. I had lived with my mom since i could remember, gone to school with friends that I'd had for years, lived in alaska all of my life. Why would he ask such a thing of me? Once, he asked me why I said no so quickly. I responded without thinking, "I don't want to hurt my mom or step-dad." It made sense to me, i couldn't imagine their reaction to me asking to leave. Their lives practically revolved around me. Then my dad responded, "what about hurting me?" That sure brought things into perspective.
During my visit I realized how much i had grown in such a short time. I realized how purposeless my life in alaska was, and how unhappy i was there. I felt like I had had my first real conversation with someone, and i didn't want to go back. I didn't want to leave the first person I felt I truly could relate to. then another epiphany- I actually could move and live with my dad. I actually could do anything I wanted. This simple concept blew my mind. Of course I used to say that I could do anything I wanted, but I never believed it. "Anything I wanted" had meant that I could become a doctor, or a lawyer, or the gosh darn president. But it had been pounded into my head that "anything i wanted" could never mean any lifestyle that was seen as alternative. "You can do anything you want with your life, but god forbid you don't go to college." Before, I had been living between these set guidlines of what people are supposed to do, of how life is supposed to be lived. My mom and my step-dad obviously meant the best. They thrived on the belief that to be successful was to be happy. But I was starting to see that to be happy was to know yourself. And as of yet I didn't know myself at all.
After returning to alaska and my life, I realized that I only had one choice. I couldn't live that way comfortably anymore. Everything I did seemed without meaning, and everyone I worked with seemed stuck like i had been. So i finished the school year and mulled over how to tell my mom. I won't go into how difficult of a process that was, but suffice to say it's two years later and I am much happier with who I am and where I'm going. I know what I want out of life and while I've come far, I realize I have so much farther to go. I think that's what's exciting.

Reality... What a concept!

http://samiyam.gaia.com — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:09:34 GMT

So there I am as a "here I am" sort of person and I'm wondering where to go to spew the nowness of awakening.

Here I'm hoping to find more people like myself who see the approaching changes coming and are willing to allow them to affect our consciousness.

I need to share more... love more... sing more... be.

Why here, why now?

http://AmyMichele.gaia.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:40:41 GMT

Even with a BA in Psychology, and numerous trips to the proverbial "shrink", it wasn't until this weekend that I really discovered the path to clarity - and it begins with ME. Defining my egoist tendencies, my emotional triggers... in essence becoming aware. I'm looking forward to reading previous posts, discussion topics, and learning from everyone who has found themselves...here...too.

Best,
Amy

Happiness is a Decision

http://canadiansoccerbull.gaia.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:02:35 GMT

Hi,

I recently went through a rough spot in my life where nothing seemed as if there was a point to it.

Everything seemed meaningless and bleak and incredibly lonely.

The funny thing is that I have people about me who care about me.

Their love could not touch me.

Then, one day I started to gain a little steam.

I remembered that I was meant to enjoy life and do good things and have fun. I had let strength and anxiety and 'bouts of depression ruin my happiness.

I realized how foolish this is. I realized that whatever I want in life, it can be mine..I just have to reach out and grab it.

Anything is possible within the scope of human experience.

Just as there are downs, there are ups. The important thing is to remember why life is so beautiful. What is sacred about it. That it is meant to be cherished.

The unhappiness was a phase, but I believe I can make the happiness a permanent part of my life because happiness is a decision.

I choose to be happy for the rest of my life, no matter what life throws at me.

I challenge all of you to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
(Monty Python)

But you get the point. Everything has an upside and a downside. Remember that you were meant to shine. I was meant to shine.

We were all meant to shine so brightly that we give each other sun-blindness.

Go out there and do what makes you happy. Because you can. Spread the word.

Morals are subjective. If there is something that you want to do that makes you happy, yet others don't "support your decision" remember it is not up to them to support you.

Follow your bliss and bliss will follow you.

It's that simple.

Re: Getting Radically Clear & Shifting The MONEY Paradigm

http://seek2know.gaia.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:53:33 GMT

Hi Naumad, Bruce and all. I see I haven't visited in a long time. I agree about the diffrenece between wealth, inner wealth and money, which should not be the measure of all things we really value including life.

As we live consciously and become more and more conscious we not only think about ourselves but others well being as well. Now money-as-debt paradigm needs to go, it is commodifying everything we value, putting us on the wheel of mindless production, consumption, debt, waste, war, poverty, pollution you name it. But as Americans we are so conditioned by our comfotable lifestyle that we tend not to think or feel others pain, including our own. We are constantly avoiding facing our pain, suffering and disappointments and filling them up with whatever money can buy.

But the problem is more accute than we think or our mind is ready to accept. It is beyond belief what is happening in our economic political institutions for a long time. And we are not prepared if things turn very bad very quickly. Don't want to scare you, yet we must not get complacent or paralyzed by disbelief and think it happens to other people and countries and not here!

I was studying IMF for sometime and how it is invading and saddling poor countries with shaky or dictorial government with DEBT dollars.
And Unicef says 500,000 children dying each year because of debt burden on these countries.

I am for changing the current Money-as-debt paradigm TO

MONEY_AS_TRUST (debt-free) paradigm as it is supposed to work, had it not been monopolized by a few crooks.

Search my blog on DEEP CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM or join my POD discussion here.

Namaste
mita

PS. I am not asking you to believe anything...just keep an open mind
to new possibilities.

Re: Honesty.... the final frontier.....

http://alhambra.gaia.com — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:45:45 GMT

usually, for me, there is a queasy, tight feeling in my chest ( or
other parts of the body where tension is easily held ) ,
it alerts me to emotions that want recognition, because
denial is so painful, more painful I should say..., for me...
when I bring my focus to what is going on in me, my
heart softens with the same compassion I have for someone
or something else that is uncomfortable/in pain...
as I notice that awareness and kindness help to soften the
tension, I am affirming that being honest with myself
about what is asking/ what is dying for attention in me,
I realize any experience within or without has innocence
behind it...then my fear calms and then there is no
or little risk to expressing what is truly going on in me.
needing help emotionally, physically, spiritually is
not shameful: there is nothing to risk by speaking
anything, nor is there risk to express the heart,
because meeting oneself, meeting one's heart with
honesty in a loving, heartful way, is the relief
of pain and isolation that I desperately have sought.
Thus I am affirmed by the movement of compassion,
within myself, towards myself, towards others
that anything can be expressed(body,soul, mind) and be met
with liberating love.
It goes far beyond the moment or moments,
to a whole way of living, honestly.

Re: Honesty.... the final frontier.....

http://falbernez.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:25:31 GMT

very good statement bruce and i have to say that i agree, but the problems i seem to be having are removing those blocks in a current relationship. i just want to let it all go and tell her precisely how i feel but i keep getting uncertainty like katin said and it is gnawing at my inside. i was hoping some of you might be able to help me? i am lost, confused, and extremely scared and i don't know what to do

I started shifting when I moved to Hawaii in 2006

http://stephanielay.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:42:58 GMT

I believe everything pulled me here to heal and to grow. I have gained and lost friends along the way carving a new wave of clarity inside myself... This is a place of healing and this is a time of renovations. I hope we all have the same vision of peace and pleasure coming right over the horizon. I am VERY MUCH looking forward to this revolution. I will do whatever it takes to fulfill my purpose as a spark on the match tip of change. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS that have the same visions. I have been waiting to meet you guys for so long.

Aloha,

Stephanie

Re: Startin on The Path

http://afoojaspath.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:12:26 GMT

Hello, I am a new member here and finding all sorts of places and people I'd like to get more familiar with. My own spirituality started at a very early age, thanks to my sister Alice. She had a very challenging life and was endlessly looking for reasons, answers and ways to rise up from her own pain. It really wasn't until after her death, when I was almost 30, that I began to open my true spirituality. I suppose I progressed rather slowly and about ten years later I was helped along my path by a couple of painful whacks that served to strip away every scrap of me but my deepest inner core and guided me toward rebuilding the man I was meant to be.

I LOVE the person I am now and I have a deep longing to help others along their paths. My lessons have come from every aspect of life. I have a very personal relationship with God and belong to no group, although I would enjoy the camaraderie of like minded people.

My very first psychic experience as very, very early in my life. I have memories of riding in a dark green car with visor over the windshield. I later learned that it was and old DeSoto, a car they got rid of a short time before my birth. Things have been like that ever since.

Jon

Mind Ecology

http://slacker.gaia.com — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:11:58 GMT

Hey people check ideas for the paradigm shift at: http://www.ahileva.blogspot.com

● Every organism, with its unique brain and cognitive abilities, has a distinct perception of the universe; a singular, subjective reality.

● Brain and body is the instrument by which consciousness/spirit perceives the cosmos.

● By the laws of reproduction and death, natural selection yields organisms with increasing cognizance of the universe, and so, through evolving lifeforms, life garners awareness and consciousness unfolds.

● Because every living being is a shot at conceiving the cosmos,
● The phenomenon of life is the Will to Awareness; the cosmos seeking to conceive itself.

What do you think?

Re: Honesty in Relationships.....

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:45:14 GMT

My husband is learning the many modes I have, however the mode my husband is in most of the time is where things go in one ear and out the other.

Re: A group question

http://akcowboy.gaia.com — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:33:47 GMT

Your reality is limited to that which you real-ize.

Dale (akcowboy)

food for thought

http://iempoweredhealing.gaia.com — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 05:56:18 GMT

Hello all...here's a thought...

there are no victims, only choices...what is your choice today?

when we blame, scapegoat, procrastinate, etc. we shift responsibility off of our own shoulders and someplace else we think it goes therefore allowing ourselves to no longer be held responsible for the results, thus setting ourselves up to be the victim and there disempowered.

when we grow up, stop pointing the finger (remember that when a finger points...where are the rest pointing to?) and start saying "I made a choice" we become more in control of our lives, start taking action and start changing ourselves and the world...

Not knowing everyone's belief system here I will now walk a fine line...in some circles there is the idea that before we are born we make choices and decisions about our lives here and now. Lets follow this idea back that there are no victims and we can now take a new perspective about our lives and come from a place of empowerment. Even if you don't subscribe to the above belief you can stop dead in your tracks right this moment and start making decisions and choices that WILL get you where you want to be.

Try this...instead of seeing all that is wrong...see what is RIGHT and GOOD and just say thank you and pass it on...see how long you can stay a victim doing this...

Just a thought,

Rev. Laura Bradley, RMT, CCA

Re: Getting Radically Clear & Shifting The MONEY Paradigm

http://rickybarnes1960.gaia.com — Thu, 17 May 2007 03:51:02 GMT

"Money" is nothing more or less than a tool representing value. It ought to be said that, in any society, the individual lives are its "life's blood." Money ought not be the primary focus but rather the value that the money represents. But, it ought also be said that money represents only some value, not all value present in a person or persons or in the products of their lives or in the products of nature without human assistance. Whenever I think of wealth, "money" is only a very small part of that concept. Wealth is present in tremendous quantities and qualities, much of which isn't readily translatable into money but, it is wealth just the same and perhaps wealth of greater value than money can possibly represent.

As an example, let me ask some simple questions - What monetary value do you place on life in general? On one life? On two lives? On a dozen? A hundred? One million? Six million? Six billion? The lives of the one you love most? Of all of those you love? Of those you hate? Of those you give little thought to at all? On your own life? Is it quantifiable in your own mind? Do you believe it quantifiable in the minds of others? In what way? What monetary value would you place on the life of another? And another? How do you determine that monetary value? Is your criteria objective or subjective? How do you know for certain? What monetary value do you put on a mother's love for you? A father's love? Brother? Sister? Sisters? Friends? Co-workers? Acquaintances? Your pet cat or dog or lizard? Your goldfish? Little Tammy's first drawing? Grandma's old wedding dress? Grandma's strawberry blackberry pie? Old photos of Dad? That clay ashtray you made in 2nd grade? Your first kiss? The first time someone said "I love you" to you? The one-thousandth time? The surprise gift of fresh-baked cookies from your neighbor two doors down? The suprise towel set you gave to them in return? Your first poem? Your one-hundredth poem? That last moment before Mom passed away? A successful marriage? A lost baby? Great sex? Heavy wild petting with a new boyfriend or girlfriend? A surprise sunset? A spontaneous walk in a fresh spring rain? That $1.00 bargain copy of last year's bestselller you've been meaning to read? Your first apartment? Your memories? Someone else's memories? All memories?

Is there a monetary value you can place on any of this? If not, isnt' it all value just the same? Isn't it all wealth? Where else is their hidden wealth not seen in that light? Is money the point or quite beside the point? Do we want money or value? How DO we define "wealth"? How SHOULD we define "wealth"? How are we GOING to define "wealth"?

"Money" is not a need - VALUE is the need. Money is only one method on a very long list of ways to obtain it.

The hair!

http://kissinginthegrass.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:19:16 GMT

Hi,

I feel kind of humiliated in telling you what I consider my greatest life struggle, because it's such a silly matter... but, well, it is what troubles me the most. I would consider myself a fairly reasonable person, and thus I this "problem" of mine is not a problem at all. It means nothing! I consider my mind the real problem, because I'm actually letting some completely meaningless aspect of my look reduce my life quality.

The thing is I'm loosing my hair. Okay, it's completely normal for men to loose their hair, but for persons my age it's not (I'm 18 in March). However, it's not uncommon either; I know a couple of people my age who's lost nearly as much hair as me. And it's not much — not yet at least, because I can hide it pretty easily with my long hair (I've only lost my hair in the front so far) — but it's progressing really fast, and I can already tell a good difference from how it was a few months back. Having read a lot about this, I believe I will be fairly bald before I turn 20.

I remember a year back, when I had short hair, people said I should let it grow longer, and that it would look better. I did, and it did look a lot better. For the past year I've gotten lots of compliments on my hair, and sadly I'm not happy to hear it, because I know that in a few years, most of it will be gone. I think short people can look good with short hair or no hair, but I'm a tall and slim guy, and I can't imagine that a bald head will look good, especially not in my twenties...

The thing is, I can do something about it. It's really frustrating, because I don't think I should. Why? Because the most effective treatment are these pills that you take, and it will cost me about $80 per month (it is most likely to stop the hairloss for as long as you take the pills, and regrowth is also quite likely). Okay, I'm in Norway and everything is really expensive, so you could probably cut a dozen or two dollars off if you're American, but it's still a lot of money that should be spent on other things, I think.

But oh, it's so temptating! I can't believe it matters, but I feel like it does. What do you think you would've done in my situation? What do you think about taking these pills for a few years only... because I feel ready to let go of my hair a little later, but not in my teens...

I'm very thankful for any advise or general thoughts!

(And please note, I'm not the kind of guy that would normally care a lot about things like this, but it's just that I love my hair, and that I have the opputunity to "fix it". Also, I am happy despite of the hairloss, but it does bother me a lot sometimes; thinking about how I will look in a year or two... But why does it matter how I will look? Bah.)

Have a nice day! :)