Living in the Moment - Here and Now is All We Have

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday August 6, 2009

The forest fires here in The Okanagan Valley in beautiful British Columbia are absolutely something to behold. What is even more outstanding is the way these communities have come together in support of everyone involved. Boy, the human spirit is awesome.

Read on below.

Here's some of the night activity from the weekend.

Welcome all to this amazing Thursday.

The local forest fires we have here in the valley serve, for me, a metaphor. These fires will eventually be extinguished, life will return to normal, and a whole new growth will occur. Now isn't that exactly what always happens?

No matter what is being served to you in your life right now, things will be extinguished, life will return to normal, and new growth will occur. Isn't that just magical. Keep smiling!

Another new contributor reminds us today that we should be....

Living in the Moment - Here and Now is All We Have
by Aaron Whiston

In our chaotic modern society, most people spend their entire life in a past that no longer exists or a future that may never be real. Regret, anxiety, and displacement through fantasy are the norm in most cultures at the time of this writing.

The result is rampant stress-related illness and death, a soaring suicide and depression rate, and the widespread feelings of loss and disconnection so many people can relate to. But take heart in knowing that life absolutely does not need to be this way on either the individual or collective levels!

The life experience is an incredible journey, filled with surprise, satisfaction, and expansion on all levels. All one needs to do is become aware of the present moment and sustain this awareness long-term.

When you learn to be still and accept what this moment has to offer, you find peace, clarity, spontaneous joy, and inspiration. These energies are always present, but you can't hear or connect with them over the clamor and chaos of your thought-driven reality.

Answer this question honestly:

Have you ever really solved any perceived problem by fretting over it and worrying constantly? More likely you make things worse when you do this.

Here's another one:

Have you ever successfully traveled backwards in time to alter an embarrassing past event? If so I urge you to contact the nearest scientific research facility immediately and set up an interview!

The truth, of course, is that you have never changed the past by obsessing over it. Wallowing in regret does nothing more than diminish your involvement in the present moment and deteriorate your overall enjoyment of life.

Right now, in this present moment, reality unfolds. We can remember the past and plan for the future, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with doing so, but we can only live in the now.

At first, this sounds like some sort of work order or resignation to fact. But the opposite is true.

Embracing the present moment is the only way to live a truly exciting, refreshing life. Living in the now connects you with your true self and with the faculties of the higher consciousness.

You'll harness the powers of intuition and consistent inspiration when you immerse yourself in the present. In fact you will likely discover a completely new person within the self you thought you knew.

Being continuously aware of the moment also allows for full engagement in your relationships. Two people cannot fully connect when they are both lost in the world of past and/or future thinking. But when just one individual is clear and grounded in the now the entire relationship can obtain a more genuine quality.

And certainly if you have children in your care you will be doing them a wonderful service by teaching them to honor and live within the present moment. Day dreaming is a positive exercise in moderation, but today's youth are often mesmerized by hours of animated "entertainment" and thus severely disconnected from the real now.

All of humanity's hopes, dreams, and potential victories exist right here, right now, in this moment. Trying to hide our faces from our greatness or seeking to dwell in a state of past/future drama will only detract from our possible enlightenment, individually and as a society.

Right now is exactly what we have to work with. And it is brilliantly more than enough to achieve everything we could possibly desire.

Surrender Box: A Place For Worries and Fears

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday August 5 2009

Good day all and welcome to the midweek point.

My thanks to all of you who have written these past couple days since we got back on deck. Your notes mean much to us, and your sharing of what has been going on for you has been heart- warming.

With that in mind, we have a short reader today that highlights a practice that will likely be of value to many. You should consider getting your own...

Surrender Box: A Place For Worries and Fears

by DailyOm

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think. We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. In maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, we may actually delay the realization of our dreams and the resolution of our worries because we won’t let them go. At times such as these, we may want to use a surrender box.

A surrender box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box. By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We give ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it. You may even want to decorate your box and place it in a special place. Your surrender box is a sacred container for your worries. Not only do you free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires and dropping them into your surrender box, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the surrender box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.

Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes. It’s always fun to go back and pull the slips of paper out of the box once your requests have been granted. And it’s amazing how quickly problems go away and dreams come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.

Intent.com is a premier wellness site and supportive social network where like-minded individuals can connect and support each others' intentions. Founded by Deepak Chopra's daughter Mallika Chopra, Intent.com aims to be the most trusted and comprehensive wellness destination featuring a supportive community of members, blogs from top wellness experts and curated online content relating to Personal, Social, Global and Spiritual wellness.

Your Perception is Everything

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday August 4. 2009

Good day to you and welcome to an amazing summer Tuesday.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ll share some of my summer awareness’s as we get fully launched in this new season of learning.

I have long been an advocate for taking 100% responsibility for the entire life experience. That means we, you and I, are completely and totally responsible for absolutely everything that we attract as experiences into our lives.

In these times of economic adjustment I’ve noticed that most folks take one of two positions. One runs around like a chicken with its head lopped off declaring that “the sky is falling, the sky is falling”! The other takes an open minded approach knowing “that this too shall pass”. The quality of your experience will be determined by which position you take. Choose carefully, and take the necessary inspired actions to live the experience you desire.

A new contributor shares a neat personal perspective on why…

Your Perception is Everything
by Jahiel Yasha Kamhi

Let me tell you my story. The other day a friend of mine came over to my place for just one reason; to complain about a recent event, a disturbing event as he explained it to me. When he finished his "monologue" (I am sorry, but I have no other word) I just said one thing: perception is everything. Instantly he was angry and started yelling at me. " What do you mean by that, Mr. Philosopher?" he asked, incensed. "Are you saying I am a liar or crazy or that it's my imagination?"

When these words came at me, I felt there was just one option. I let my friend cool down a while, not saying nor doing anything. The story is not yet over and I need to explain to that angry man the meaning of what I said to him.

This is my explanation in terms of what can be learned from it. Our perception--how we become aware of success, failure, happiness, friendships, love, and everything else--is just a perception. It is how we perceive failure or defeat, and what we do with it, that makes all the difference. Actually, perception is our personal opinion or our point of view about any particular event. Of course, the event is a fact, not imagination, but at the same time there is a very personal view coloring the event. We really need to accept the truth about our emotions and perception: our thoughts and attitudes create our emotions - not the external event!

Our own perception depends on many things. These include our attitude, which, in turn, includes self-acceptance, self- confidence, self-respect and other things. Because your mental structure is different from my mental structure we see the same situation differently. The same pleasant or unpleasant episode is not the same for you and me. You choose your own perception and the consequences are yours, not mine.

Is it clear? If not, may I remind you about cognitive distortion? Cognitive distortion simply means that our thoughts and our way of thinking sometimes misrepresent the facts. Our own mental filter chooses how we feel. This filter will pick up any detail to prove that things are as we perceive them-negative or positive--but mostly negative! Sounds strange but any kind of behavior is a conscious choice. I didn't choose for my friend to be angry or upset. I am sorry if I am unkind but this is a reality that my friend doesn't want to see and understand. It was his attitude, his perception, of this "disturbing event" that led him to his behavior.

It is necessary to understand that sometimes the next day we will see the same event differently. How is it possible? The next day we are wearing a different "pair of eyeglasses." That is, a different mental filter. Yes, we are very fashion-conscious in that respect--we change our mental filter every time we process our thoughts. Now you know why some days are "so bad, boring and disturbing" for you. Your emotions-fear, anger, anxiety and guilt are a direct result of your mental processing system that day. Don't blame the weather, the event, the company, the other person or the government.

Our emotions are an indirect response to our environment, based on our inner thought processes. When out thoughts are in conflict with one another--cognitive distortions-or with reality, they will produce a sensation we will call emotion. All emotions are actually a result of an inappropriate response to external events. Actually, they are cognitive distortions

If you see my friend around, tell him to change his "pair of glasses". He will feel better. I, however, was not able to do it. I couldn't explain to him that he feels so negative and angry because he assumed things were otherwise than they really were.

We all need to accept one thing: our emotions follow our thoughts. It took me a long time to logically understand that the only person who is in charge of my feeling and emotions - is me. I am responsible for my "pair of eyeglasses". Whenever I start to feel inappropriately "emotional," I ask myself: What kind of mental filter is in my mind today? Where is the twisted thinking?

The more depressed or miserable I feel, the surer I am the more twisted my thinking is! In the absence of mental distortion I cannot experience my anger, fear, anxiety or depression. What about you?

Persevering from a different perspective is a very healthy way of living. We will save a lot of energy and do our nerves a favor if we can wear the appropriate "pair of eyeglasses". And we won't save just energy - maybe you can save your marriage, or friendship, or even a job!

Next time when you or someone else says, "I am sorry, that's my mood," don't be afraid to say, "Yes, I understand that, but you can change it. You have an obligation to feel better about yourself."

I didn't want to be too complex, but if I still sound "too technical", you have a choice: go over my article again and learn more about how the mind works, or simply hit a delete button. As I already said: YOUR PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.

Jahiel holds a degree in Medical Biochemistry and a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. He is passionate about writing, and conveying positive ideas that help people live life with more passion and purpose. His mission is to promote a good mental and physical health. Jahiel's core message is to inspire and encourage people, to give them hope and help them live their everyday life. Being thankful for what is good in life rather than focusing on the negative is his message. With hope, all things are possible. Yasha can be contacted at jasakamhi @ hotmail.com


Also, don't neglect to check out The GLOW Project. This is going to impact many women in some amazing ways. Just click on the graphic below.

The Like Attracts Like Attraction Factor

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday August 3, 2009

Let me begin by saying that I'm blisteringly excited to be back with you. As I mentioned last week, the move to British Columbia took way more out of me than I expected.

Everything seemed to be calling me to shut down for a while, take a break, re-evaluate, and frankly just rest. So I did, and the effects have been wonderful.

I'll not go into much detail right now, but over the next while I'll share with you some of the awareness's that came up for me throughout the time away. But needless to say, I'm happy to be back and in communication with you.

So let's get right to one of our very favorite contributors. Thea Westra from Forward Steps is on her own amazing journey and we'll be featuring her quite a bit in the upcoming months. To get you re-acquainted with her, enjoy her as she clears up.....

The Like Attracts Like Attraction Factor
by Thea Westra

Someone once said to me, if you want to know to what you're committed, just take a look around you. They are words I have never forgotten, and they can raise my spirit, or other times can leave me a little flat. Depending on how I interpret my surroundings in the moment.

Another suggestion, associated with the like attracts like phenomenon, is that of giving more love if love is what you are seeking, generosity when wealth is what you are after, being a great friend if you value your friendships. This removes you from a wanting or needy state, and back to where creative responsibility truly lies: with you.

We all know these to be truths, when we observe our lives, yet do we consciously take them on board as a way of living, and as path to achieving the things we want to accomplish? It is logical that if you want to live with greater awareness and live in a more enlightened way, then be mindful to envelop yourself with those things that support keeping you in a state of awareness and enlightenment.

Given that it is our mind registering all the things that surround us, and that the thinking of our mind is in the form of words and pictures, then our interpretation of what we see is paramount. It is one reason that gratitude journals and visualization tools are so effective. In the moment of recording those things for which we feel gratitude, we fill our mind with the upside of our lives. That compounds, every time we do it. The mind creates new neural pathways, changing our possibly negative perceptions to deliberately generated, affirmative patterns of thought.

Consider then how else you use language to interpret the things surrounding you each day. How do you think the cells of your body might logically respond to the words: I am starving? What image does that conjure? Would it cause a shift in the cellular and chemical response of your body if instead, you were to tone that down, and use the words: I am hungry? New words, new pictures, evoking empowering emotions.

What do you see around you, and what do you take on board emotionally, when you say to yourself: I have no money? Try this at home! Look around your home and say those words several times over. Do you notice what your mind is picking up and tuning in to? Now, try the flip side of that exercise, allowing at least five minutes to just be with it. This time, walk around your home saying: I am so wealthy. What did you notice?

You can use that very simple exercise with anything you like. Walk around for an afternoon, with the words: I am so alone. Then try it differently, and this time repeating the words: I have so many wonderful people sharing in my life. You may even be surprised by a few external manifestations of how like really does attract like.

There are so many ways in which you can become more attractive to the things you want to bring into your life. It all comes down to the emotions you feel, and these are triggered by thoughts created from the words you hear, and pictures you see. Every cell of your body responds to the emotions. Your body produces chemical, and therefore physical changes with each feeling that you experience.

The way we can manage emotion is with our thoughts, and you can help that along by shifting your interpretation of what you see and experience. You can also be much more vigilant with what you feed your mind, from external sources included. We can so easily fall into automatic patterns of thought, because we have had years of practising! It is going to take conscious action on your part to manage those thoughts, and remodel mind patterns if that is needed.

All this does not need to be hard work. For example, carry a number of one hundred dollar notes in your wallet at all times, so when you open the wallet you are not negatively triggered by a possibly low amount of money that you might otherwise see. At the end of each day, record at least five things for which you are grateful, in this way you will not look back on a less than satisfactory day and associate negativity, and taking that into your dreaming.

By keeping track of accomplishments, and listing at least one hundred of those at the end of a year, avoids the scenario of looking back over the year and being despondent over where that time went, and what you may imagine you did not get to do. As an aside to that, have you noticed that televised programs that present reflections over a past year, give to us a collection of the most highly dramatized, often negative events of the year?

Like attracts like, so set up your habits and the things in your environment to help you be someone that upbeat people love to be around. More opportunities and courageous living shows up around those kinds of friends. If you consciously work at interpreting your environment with the glass half full mindset, your skin and body posture will eventually reflect these positive emotions, through chemical shifts brought about by those states of being. Who and what, do you think, are most attracted to you? Look around you and you will have your answer, harsh or too fantastic, as that may seem.

Thea Westra is founder and author at www.forwardsteps.com.au She resides in Perth, Australia with her ultra-supportive partner Greg. Enjoy her other publications with these Forward Steps subscriptions, and download this handy Positive Emotions list.

P.S. Also check out The GLOW Project. Every woman is going to absolutely love what's happening there. Just click on the graphic below.



Enjoy this amazing day.

~peter~
Twitter: glasshammer1
Skype: pcomrie

Phoebe's Food Bank

I just could not wait until next week to get started back with the Daily Reader. And just when I was wondering how to jump back into motion, up popped someone who just commanded my attention.

The little girl in today's video offering reminds each and every one of us that with the power of an idea, some inspired action, and the cutest smile, we can soften hearts and move mountains.

You're going to like.....

Phoebe's Food Bank

Just think about what you can accomplish with your amazing powers!

See you on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~
peter@thewealthyattitude.com
Twitter: glasshammer1
Skype: pcomrie

If You Intend To Do It,
Do It Now,
This Day Will Not Come Again.

The GLOW Project

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday July 30 2009

Hello there everyone on this very fine Thursday.

Our most sincere thank you for all of the comments and mail responding to our note of yesterday. You consideration means much to us.

In my note yesterday I meant to bring something to your attention that we believe is going to serve a great purpose and have a huge impact in our world.

The GLOW Project is incredibly timely, and many of our great women are going to relate to what the project has to share.

Check it out by clicking on the graphic below.

Ladies, you are definitely going to like this, and gentlemen, you know what YOU need to do.

Have fun always....in all ways.

Joyce and Peter

The hiatus is almost over!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday July 29 2009

Well my friends, the hiatus is almost over. The packing and move across country, and our re-settlement to the beautiful Okanagan Valley took way longer than we anticipated, and we were frankly, just puckered out.

We decided to take a while to just rest up and enjoy this gem nestled here in the Rocky Mountains. We've picked fresh local fruit, made jams and marmalade's, taken walks along the lakes, visited vineyards, juiced fresh vegetables, and, of course, eaten fine ice cream.

We've hung out on a houseboat on Shuswap Lake, looked with awe at the majestic mountains, we've been taken aback by some raging forest fires, and sat in gentle rains as they helped out the firefighters.

We've also deeply appreciated the never-ending vibrancy generated by the true entrepreneurs among us, and their enlightened spirit of real possibility. We bow deeply to their shining examples.

We'll be back up and running next week with a whole new line-up on Daily Readers for the upcoming Fall season.

Here are some up-to-date photo's of what our new location looks like. Let us know what you think.

See you next week for a whole new season.

Take care,

~peter~

Our morning view.

Another angle.

Getting the day started.

What forest fires can do to the sky.

More.

Over the houses.

Lake Okanagan

Lake Okanagan

Peter on the terrace.

Last of the snow.

Joyce enjoying the moment.

Ah surprise.

From Mission Hill Winery.

Up close and personal with the lake.

Joyce sampling the summer treats.

A dream in the making.

Future wine...

....by the vat load.


Come and visit the Okanagan Valley in B.C. You'll absolutely love it......and we can have ice cream.