Gatekeeping your brains ultimate secretary

: Picture a secretary or assistant in your brain. This assistant is going to decide what information to allow through to your conscious brain. They are the gatekeepers of information. Their job is important, as an overwhelming amount of information is thrown at you daily and you’d go crazy if it all came to you on a conscious level. Part of the information they don't allow past the gate is anything that your brain or unconscious self does not want to accept as true. You see, we take on beliefs as we are growing up. These beliefs’ can come from our parents, teachers, friends and the society where we were raised. And they may not align with our beliefs today. This can be compounded when you are trying to work with co-workers or clients. You see the person you are trying to give a message to also has their own gate keeping system, with their own set of beliefs. For example, you may believe that the road to success is easy with the right tools. However, the subconscious is playing a tape from childhood that is saying, "Yeah right, you know that it's a struggle and most people don't make it." The result is that your gatekeeper will keep back success opportunities from you. It believes that it is doing you a favour. It doesn't want you to prove yourself wrong or create conflict in your mind and risk stress and anxiety that may come from conflicting beliefs. So the results are, that you will not see what is right in front of you. Have you ever been looking for something and said to yourself. "Why can't I ever find what I am looking for?" and then someone comes up and shows you that it is right in front of you. You stand there and can't believe that you didn't see it. This happens all the time. I also teach that the brains RAS (Reticular Activating System) looks at all the information and says, "Is this a danger or important?", and if no it filters it away. This shows just how little of the information you receive. This is one of reasons that it is so important to look at your belief systems. Many of them may be blocking you from the things that you want in life. There are ways to find out and ways to remove beliefs that don't serve you. First, look around at your life. Is it the one you want? Are there things lacking and missing? If not then the odds are that you have conflicting beliefs. I have read many articles about people who every time they received money, something came up and they lost it again. In looking into their childhood, they found that money meant pain, hurt, or being sinful so they got rid of it in a hurry. Once they removed the old beliefs, they were able to achieve, business, personal and financial success. One way to start is to start journaling and ask your self. Just what do I believe? And for each answer ask, "Does this serve me?" If the answer is no, then you need to replace that belief. For some people the changes come fast. For others that have several deeply ingrained beliefs, they may need help from professionals that are trained in replacing old beliefs. I have personally found that those with an understanding of Quantum Physics, have helped countless people change their lives. As well, there are many counselors and coaches that can help. In any case, with help you can move forward in life and place what you desire on your RAS’s important list. Then watch the opportunities start to appear. To see a list of people who teach Quantum Physics and Neuroscience for success go to: Golden Falcon Recommends and read, Teachers of Quantum Physics and Neuroscience for success.

Nightmares

Nightmares are the type of dream everyone fears and wants to avoid. By their nature, these dreams are fearful, but often they need to be faced. The mind may be presenting them to us in such a dramatic manner because we have ignored a message for a prolonged period of time and it’s resorting to more drastic means to get our attention. The truth is, many nightmares are actually gifts that we should be thankful for because they are trying to help us. Avoidance is the wrong response. The strong emotions evoked by these intense dreams are cries for help, and like a baby crying in the night for attention … they will not be denied. The longer you ignore them, the louder they will get! Therefore ignoring nightmares is not only the wrong response, it’s impractical in that it will make them worse. Sometimes the subconscious mind will work with your nightmares to bring resolutions without you being consciously aware of the entire process. But when nightmares become recurring, then it’s a sign that your conscious attention is being sought. It’s more common to wake up in the middle of a nightmare than during a regular dream. It’s also more common to remember a nightmare. This is, again, by design as a way of trying to get your attention. The best way to get rid of a recurring nightmare is to deal with it – that is to deal with the issue it’s presenting. It will take some courage, but here are some tips on how to do it: · Rather than turning and shooting a monster or “bad guy” that is chasing you, it’s better to turn and ask the aggressor how you can help it. Use such questions as “What is it you want to tell me,” or “How can I help you help me?” · Come up with solutions by asking other “cast members” in the dream what resolution they would like to see. · Bring your Spiritual Guide into the dream and ask for his/her suggestions. Nightmares may also be caused by trauma, psychiatric problems or drugs (both legal and illegal). In such cases the care of a health care professional should be sought immediately.

Learn how to meditate from animals

: You can learn how to meditate from a book, but meditation is as much an art as a science, and arts especially are better taught by live teachers than by books. That is why meditation is often learned quicker and brought to a deeper level when the beginner has someone to model their practice on. Can that someone be a dog, cat or other animal?

Learn How To Meditate From Your Cat

Have you ever watched a cat clean itself? It is usually fully involved in the process, and if you watch, you can intuitively sense that the cat is living right in the moment. It isn't thinking about what it will do later, or something that happened this morning. Watch how a cat stretches out in the sun and relaxes.

This is the natural state of "being in the now" that meditators work towards. Of course animals are afraid, but they aren't afraid and thinking "I shouldn't be afraid." They feel pain without the added suffering of contemplating the future of it. This "being here now" is what you see in the eyes of a deer. How can we more easily achieve this?

By using an animal as a model. This takes imagination, one of the strengths of the human brain, fortunately. Watch a cat, then sit and imagine you are a cat. You'll notice that your mind doesn't wander into thoughts of yesterday or tomorrow. It is more at rest, yet open to whatever the moment brings.

When you take a walk in the woods, pretend you are a deer. See the woods around you without thinking about them. Stop short of chewing on the plants, but be a deer for a while. You may notice that your senses are heightened. Can thinking too much lessen your ability to hear and see? It certainly can lessen your listening and looking.

Animal Meditations

The point isn't to think like an animal, though that can be entertaining and instructive too. The idea is to model the state of mind of an animal at peacebining that with your human awareness can be a powerful meditative practice. Why does this work?

Our minds are more powerful than our conscious thoughts alone. Try an experiment with someone willing to play along: Tell them to act tough. Maybe they'll flex their muscles and scowl. Then tell them to be Conan The Barbarian. The change will be more dramatic. Without needing to think about it much, their posture, expression and attitude will change.

This is the power of modeling. Our subconscious minds know more than our conscious minds. When you decide to be an animal for a moment, it influences you at a deep level. Pant like a dog and run around, and you'll feel quite different than you do now. Be a bear, sitting after he has eaten, and you'll feel more relaxed and content.

Watch a squirrel run around collecting nuts. He isn't worried. Of course he has fear at times, but he drops it when the cause is gone. He's just doing what needs to be done, right now, in this moment. He is at peace, even in all his busyness. Why not bring that state of mind into your practice, and learn how to meditate from the animals?

Read your mind are you hoping people will

: Do you or anyone else you know, expect others to read their mind? This is a common trait especially with family, spouses and close friends. You lose all control of your life when you do this. You are leaving probably the most important issues and decisions of your life on the hope that the other person will know what you are thinking and feeling. Then when they don't or mis-guess, well, then there is hell to pay. Much of this comes from an underlining feeling of, If you loved me then... (Fill in the dots) Did you know that this causes you to toss away you power, confidence and the ability to communicate with others. The challenge with this, is that you are leaving yourself vulnerable to other people's wishes, beliefs and understandings. And most people misunderstand another without having the added burden of being expected to read minds. I have seen people get upset and state that their birthday was ruined because the other person, husband, boyfriend, etc., didn't do what they wanted them to do. When I ask if they told them what they wanted, I get a No, I can't do that they should have just known. Well if it is that important, then why don't you say so? Why are you leaving your happiness to someone else's guessing? I have seen this go both ways. Men have come home and said to their wives, where is such and such. Or why didn’t you cook….? I left hints this morning. Think about this, the other person was probably half a sleep and you left hints. Why not just say it. When you don't speak up, you don’t own your mind and you allow others to own it for you. Sometimes we just hope others will know what we want and other times we may be scared to say what we want. I was at a workshop and much of it was based in Quantum Physics and practical application. One of the important things was to be very clear on what we wanted. This one person said a job. So I started asking what kind of job. Then she said research. Well, this too is a huge field. After several more questions, she stated out loud exactly what she wanted and said that it was the first time that she had ever said aloud what she desired in a career. Many people are like this. They don’t want to say and sometimes even admit what they want and just hope that others will figure it out. Or, that it will magically appear. Well, quantum physics teaches that even the universe needs a hand and that you being clear on what you want can help bring it to you. Quite often, the universe, source energy, God, whatever you wish to call it, is confused by most people's thoughts. We say we want one thing and then act or think in another manner. If we are sending out confusing and mixed signals, no one is going to know what you want. It is up to you to first, communicate with yourself, get clear, make that crystal clear with what you want, and then communicate this to the people around you. Most people will be very relieved at not having to guess anymore. One word of caution, if you are not used to speaking up, there is a good chance some people may try to stop you at first. They have gotten used to having things their way and even if they said it was annoying with you not speaking up, they would rather keep the control. That way if they do what they want, they can fall back on the, well I had to guess what you wanted. Over all though, when you take back your power and life, you will find yourself being a much happier, confident and self-empowered person.

Understanding depression

Everyone can agree on the fact that depression is a debilitating disease. What we can’t all seem to agree on however, is what this disease does to a person’s ability to think reason and perceive. The problem in coming to an agreement here lies in the many causes and physical reactions to depression. Common cause of depression include biochemical factors, severs stress, a sense of hopelessness, lack of sunlight and illogical thinking. The biochemical factors and sunlight are physical and environmental conditions that can be corrected with prescribed drugs or light exposure. What however can a person do about stress and feelings of hopelessness, and are these conditions causes of depression or symptoms of depression. It is within the confines of the medical profession that conversations such as this have raged for years. Some researchers believe that stress and feelings of overwhelming hopelessness are the causes of depression, while others believe they are symptoms of depression. Research conducted supports both conclusions. Further studies have supported lent even more support to the evidence that stress, changes in expectancies, and irrational or hopeless thoughts are a result of depression, not a cause. But what effect does depression have on our ability to think and reason? Do all our thoughts become illogical and negative? Not all depressed persons experience the same changes in their thoughts, but do all depressed persons experience some change in the thought process? Questions such as these are hotly debated even now, with all the wealth of information available to scientists and doctors. The brain is such a complex machine, that understanding of the processes and the ability to relate certain processes to the application of the masses is slow to come. In general the depressed person sees the cup as half empty, not half full. That’s not to say that some of the population, without any evidence of depression will still see the cup as half empty. Can you see the difficulty of the situation here? There are many symptoms of depression that exist even within the thoughts of people with no evidence of depression. How do scientists and doctors distinguish, for the purpose of setting clear guidelines? I don’t believe they can. I believe our thought process is like a fingerprint. Everyone’s is different in some way. No two people will be the same in their thoughts, or in their ability to act on those thoughts. Treatments for illogical and depressed thoughts will always be a tailor-made situation.

5 Ways to maximise your personal energy supply

Different governments, officials, environmental agencies exhort us to conserve the energy we use in order to save the environment and sustain our continued existence on the planet. On a personal level I think that we also need to know how to conserve, focus and maximise our own personal supply of energy. We unconsciously dissipate and waste our energy on people, situations, thoughts, attitudes and events which do not serve us well. This leaves less space and energy for creating and attracting the kind of abundance that we want in our lives. Interestingly enough I've also found that as I conserve, focus and thereby maximise my energy, I tend to use less energy on craving and acquiring "stuff", but more energy focusing on what is truly important to me, thereby helping the environment. So here are 5 Ways to Maximise Your Personal Energy Supply. 1. Release Resistance Releasing resistance will affect a profound change in your level of energy and how you view the world. Resistance often feels as though we are going against ourselves in order to satisfy some internal authority or a myriad of "shoulds" "oughts" and "have tos". It takes a tremendous amount of energy to be resistant. Related feelings and behaviour include: procrastination, using willpower and discipline to effect change (otherwise known as "I Have To Struggle To Achieve What I Want"!), stubborness, inflexibility, wanting to be right rather than happy (a very popular one:), holding onto self limiting beliefs way past their sell by date. Releasing resistance can be as easy as just making a decision to let go of whatever you are holding onto. Energy therapy also helps release resistance at a very deep level. 2. Reduce time watching TV Watching TV unconsciously is very exhausting. Haven't you noticed that when you watch TV continuously and do little else, you become extremely tired? That's because you are merely a passive recipient of information that you're not fully engaged with. On an energetic level, taking in all of those rays from the TV (similar to a computer) is overstimulating on a physiological level. Of course while you are watch TV, it means that you're not doing something more productive. Am I saying that you stop watching TV altogether? No, but to be more selective and watch only those programs that you are engaged with. I'd also say that stop watching the TV news - all of that manufactured fear really affects you on a cellular level. I find that my mindset, moods and overall energy improve significantly when I watch less TV. 3. Consciously create vacuums Ever heard of the saying: "Nature abhors a vacuum". If you clean out an area of your life, you are giving the Universe a message to bring in something to replace it. This is otherwise known as energetic and/or physical clutter clearing. Start with either. Most people find it easier to start with clearing out the physical which has an effect on their energies. You are consciously creating the space for change to occur and inviting what you want into your life. This is much much easier than efforting to make things happen. 4. Avoid/deal with Energy Vampires One of the quickest ways to get an energy boost is to disassociate yourself from those with those whose energy drains you. It is very effective. Unfortunately, it also becomes a little more difficult if they are your partner, member of your family, work colleagues or boss. It helps to develop a stronger set of boundaries and energetic protection, so that they are less likely to affect you in this way. 5. Create quiet time for yourself every day. Not to do anything (unless it relaxes you), but just to clear and refresh your mind. We are human beings, not doings. There are times when our crowded schedule and minds don't allow space and time for the creative to be welcomed in. Einstein liked to go sailing in the afternoons after working in the morning. Okay, most of us don't have this opportunity, but you get the point. If you only do one of the above, then your life will undergo a profound change.

Going for a win win result a guide to being assertive

"The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others” Sharon Anthony Bower It is interesting that many people still confuse being assertive with being aggressive. How about you? Have you learnt the difference? Forgive me if you have, but for those of you who still aren’t quite clear, here is a quick guide to assertiveness – going for the win-win result. Assertiveness is a behavior or skill that helps you to communicate, clearly and with confidence, your feelings, needs, wants and thoughts, whilst acknowledging the needs of others. It means that you are able to state your opinions without feeling self-conscious, as well as being able to express your emotions openly. Being assertive will enable you to make clear to others how you wish to proceed in all aspects of your life. At the same time you will value others, respecting their right to an opinion as well. Through effective, assertive communication you will be able to express how you wish to move forward. Is there an issue that needs to be resolved? Before confronting someone, why not write down what you are going to say? Be polite, concise and include the following elements: the nature of the problem; how it affects you; how you feel about it; what you want to change. Be prepared to negotiate if necessary to bring resolution. By using tact and foresight and by making the effort to see the other point of view and acknowledging it you will place yourself in a position of strength. Be prepared to offer a compromise if that fits in with what you are aiming to achieve. Assertiveness does not mean digging your heels in for the sake of it! Are you behaving passively? Do you think it is selfish to say what you want? Do you worry that if you refuse to do something, then people won’t like you? Or do you think that other people should know what you want? Sorry. Most people are so wound up with their own thoughts and worries that they usually haven’t time to be second-guessing you. By being clear and prepared to defend your own position if necessary, you will be able to build better relationships with those around you. Feeling aggressive? Take it out in the gym, on a punch ball or on the running track rather than at work or at home. Aggression is emotion out of control and can be very destructive. A physical activity can help you to diffuse the aggression. One of the great skills of an assertive person is the ability to say “no”. Be brief and to the point. Be honest. If you know an unwelcome request is coming your way practice saying “no” in advance. What are you going to say and do? If necessary, use the ‘Broken Record Technique’ where you just keep repeating your statement softly, calmly and persistently. Don’t confuse rejecting a request with rejecting the person making the request. Most people are happy to accept an honest “no” if it is expressed appropriately. The first time will be the hardest! Practice the body movements of an assertive person. When standing, be upright and relaxed with open hand gestures. Relax your facial features and make firm and direct eye contact with whoever you are communicating with. This does not mean that you spend the day grinning! Your facial expression needs to be appropriate to how you are feeling, so that you don’t give out any mixed messages. If you are pleased, smile, but if you aren’t so happy with the way things are, feel free to frown. Show a willingness to explore other solutions than your own if necessary. Encourage creativity from all. “How can we solve this problem?” will encourage others to tap into their resourcefulness. Sometimes it just takes a bit of encouragement. Weigh the costs. Telling other people how you feel also makes it easier for them to communicate their feelings to you. Assertiveness is about acknowledging that all opinions are important – “I matter and so do you”. By being passive or aggressive you will lose out. Being assertive costs nothing but brings many benefits. You will be able to communicate better, command respect and be listened to within respectful, negotiating relationships. Win-Win? Definitely!