You’ve heard about the “right brain” and the “left brain,” right? The left brain is all about logic and sequential thinking and the right brain is all about the abstract flow of consciousness and how it relates to “the big picture.”

Even though I’ve been aware of these concepts for thirty years or so, they were always a little fuzzy. Interesting, but I never totally grasped the implications until I saw an amazing video.

The video is one of the TED talks. If you haven’t heard of that yet, these are some of the most amazing, interesting and inspiring videos on the internet. They are ideas worth spreading . . . “inspired talks by some of the world’s greatest thinkers and doers.

Sometimes It’s Better to Learn from the Experience of Another

The talk I’m recommending now is from Jill Bolte Taylor, who is a neuroanatomist – a brain scientist. The video is about a rare opportunity few scientists would wish for:

One morning, a blood vessel in Jill Bolte Taylor’s brain exploded. As a brain scientist, she realized she had a ringside seat to her own stroke. She watched as her brain functions shut down one by one: motion, speech, memory, self-awareness . . .

Amazed to find herself alive, Taylor spent eight years recovering her ability to think, walk and talk. She has become a spokesperson for stroke recovery and for the possibility of coming back from brain injury stronger than before. In her case, although the stroke damaged the left side of her brain, her recovery unleashed a torrent of creative energy from her right. From her home base in Indiana, she now travels the country on behalf of the Harvard Brain Bank as the “Singin’ Scientist.”

“How many brain scientists have been able to study the brain from the inside out? I’ve gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career.” - Jill Bolte Taylor

See It . . . Hear It . . . Feel It!

This video will makes a powerful impression. Have you ever seen an actual brain with the two hemispheres clearly separate from one another? On this video, you will.

Have you ever heard a description about watching from a peaceful, detached viewpoint as the cognitive brain functions slowly quit functioning? Have you ever heard anyone talk about what it feels like when the inner chatter finally quits and all that’s left is awareness? On this video, you will.

Prepare to be amazed, moved, inspired and thrilled with this intelligent look at something that is rarely seen . . . and the fact that you’re hearing about all this from a brain scientist makes it even more fascinating.

Tissues Optional

Oh yeah, the end may tug at your heart strings a bit. Some of us may want to have a box of Kleenex handy.

This will probably be the most inspiring 12 minutes of your day. (It could easily be the most inspiring 12 minutes of your year!)

Here’s the link . . .

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Miracle in Disguise Synchronicity is such a positive and hopeful idea, it begs the question, "Why not actively look for it and even expect it, as long as it feels good?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor11 Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 Songs by Tupelo
Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion Is truth absolute or relative? Is there anything beyond science, philosophy and religion? Many of the world’s top quantum physicists think there is. Celebrate life by stretching you imagination. Ego or Soul? Who’s Driving Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego. What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics? Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. Appreciate Here and Now No matter what’s going on in your life right now, there’s something to appreciate about it. The act of appreciation rivets our consciousness to this present moment. With our attention focused on the here and now, we are living life fully, since right now is the only time there ever is. Get a Broader Perspective - Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Articles by Tupelo
Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

Do you hem and haw over the details of a decision so long that the actual decision is perpetually delayed? Do you get bogged down in the minutia and lose sight of the big picture?

Decisions needn’t be a chore. In fact, it’s a profound privilege to be able to make decisions for yourself. Consider the alternative.

Would you rather have someone else make your decisions for you? The ability to make your own decisions is a good definition of freedom.

Once you remind yourself how valuable your freedom is, it’s easy to see the decision making process from a broader perspective. Instead of laboring over the process and wearing yourself out, it makes sense to think about the act of decision making deliberately to make the process more effective, more fun, and more in alignment with your best interests.

Procrastination is a Decision Too

Life is a string of decisions – from little ones like what to have for lunch . . . to big ones like what career to pursue. Anytime you put off making a decision, that is a decision also. When you consider anything, you can decide yes, decide no, or decide to decide “later.”

There’s a fine line between being thorough in collecting all the facts before you make a decision and procrastinating. When you are thorough and make the decision in its own time, without feeling rushed, you feel good because you did your due diligence and have confidence that your decision is the right one based on the current information available.

If you procrastinate over making a decision, you diminish your personal power and erode your self-confidence. Avoiding your decisions makes you doubt your ability to chart the course of your own life. Instead you are pushed this way and that, and your life goes in the direction of any wind that happens to blow.

“It is in your moments of decision that your life is shaped. Develop your decision-making muscles.” - Tony Robbins

It’s better to evaluate the facts at hand and make a decision soon and move on to the next one. If you have developed the habit of putting off making a decision, maybe it’s because you are afraid you will make the wrong one. Realize that decisions don’t have to be forever. When new information presents itself, a new, improved and better informed decision can be made. Even if your new decision is a 180 degree about-face from the direction of a previous choice, that’s okay.

Remember that you are in control of your destiny by the thoughts you think and the choices you make. You are exercising your freedom and your individuality by making your own decisions. Nobody else can do it as well as you. You are the one with the most relevant information, the most to gain and the most to lose if you don’t make your own choices. Course corrections are common and inevitable as new experience is gained.

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.” - Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)

Zero In on Your Target by On-Going Course Corrections

If you are somewhere in the middle of the country - Oklahoma City for instance, and decide you want to live closer to the ocean, you may choose to drive to Los Angeles. You head in a westerly direction, but your entire trip is a series of small course corrections. You don’t point the car due west and then weld the steering wheel in a stationary position. Instead, you turn the wheel a little to the left. Then you straighten out. You turn the wheel a little to the right. You keep adjusting, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot, on a moment-to-moment basis, as needed, until you reach your destination.

When you finally reach Los Angeles, you may love it and celebrate your decision to come, or you may notice another decision would serve you better, based on the new information gathered along the journey. You may realize the smog is worse than you imagined, and the traffic is too heavy to tolerate. You may wonder if somewhere on the east coast might be better.

So, you make a new decision and chart a new course for Savannah, Georgia. You head in an easterly direction. Again, you make the necessary course corrections as you drive from L.A. to Savannah. Once you arrive, you notice the smog is not such an issue, the traffic is more tolerable, and you enjoy the sunrises over the ocean since you are a morning person. Your moment-to-moment course corrections may take you to a small village a few miles from the big city and you may notice you like that best.

You have learned much through the process of your decisions and you have exercised your freedom to choose the best life for you. If you would have frozen up and avoided making decisions instead, you would never know what your true preferences were. You may have never even imagined your affinity for the sleepy little fishing village on the east coast. You’d still be stuck somewhere in the middle – Oklahoma City, daydreaming about L.A.

Use Your Imagination

The imagination is a powerful tool to help fine-tune the decision making process. Put it to work for you by envisioning possible outcomes for each choice. Play it out in your mind first, and then pay attention to how you feel. Your feelings will provide honest feedback.

If you consider the “yes” decision in your mind’s eye and play out the ramifications in your imagination, how does it feel? Now consider the “no” decision and imagine where it might lead. How does that feel?

Don’t Bog Down in the Shades of Gray

There are only two emotions you need to be concerned about, regardless of all the different names of the shades of gray. One emotion feels good and one feels bad. That’s all you need to know to help you make a decision.

When an imagined decision stirs good feelings within you, that’s your emotional guidance system telling you this direction is in sync with your deepest desires and your current awareness of who you really are. If the imagined decision stirs bad feelings, that’s a strong clue that this direction is in conflict with your deepest self. This play-acting alerts you to the fact that this imagined course is in opposition to the direction that your innate wisdom knows to best serve your highest good.

Personal Insight Gleaned from One of Life’s Toughest Decisions

A dear friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly she was bombarded on all sides with conflicting information from the internet and well-meaning family and friends. It was all too much to sort out in order to make an intelligent, informed decision. She needed to make the decision of whether to have a mastectomy or a tricky double lumpectomy.

When she looked beyond the mental realm and began to pay attention to her feelings, she realized that whenever she imagined having a mastectomy, she got depressed – that felt bad. Whenever she imagined having a lumpectomy, that felt better. Compared to the alternative, imagining the double lumpectomy actually felt good. Her internal guidance system was sending her the nudge she needed when she realized that her emotions were providing an important conduit for information along with all the mental data she was learning. The procedure was a success and she is a survivor.

Recently, another friend asked for any insight she might be able to offer someone recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She agreed to allow me to publish her reply as part of this article:

Thank you for thinking of me with this question because I would love to help if I can.

I too had a lumpectomy (double) on the left side. The doctors pushed for chemo, but since my lymph nodes were clear, I opted not to do it. My cancer was classed Stage 2 because of the combined size of the two tumors. It barely eeked over the classification, so I decided to consider it Stage 1 and be very optimistic.

I did decide to do radiation, however. Thinking back, I don’t know why I did, but for some reason, I felt this was a safer alternative to chemo and not so damaging. I didn’t consider the effect it would have on my lungs and heart. This never occurred to me. I did do extensive research, however, and decided to go through with it.

I took a long time to decide what to do. It was 6 weeks before I had the lumpectomy. (By the way, it took me many phone calls to find a surgeon who was comfortable with doing a double lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.) He agreed with me. Why not go the least invasive way, and if need be, we could go with a mastectomy later. I am SO grateful I found him. He was wonderful. So far, so good. It’s been over 3 years and there hasn’t been a problem. I believe the cancer experience is behind me.

Two months after the lumpectomy, I had 6 weeks of radiation. I had few side effects with the radiation. The main one being a tremendous dip in energy. I wasn’t used to this state of draggin’ butt, and it took its toll on me mentally and emotionally. I finally had to slow down and let my body rebuild. I had wonderful care during this entire time from the radiation team, doctor, nurses, and my wonderful husband. The doctor is still the one I go to for my once a year check up.

In considering what to do, this is the best advice I can give your friend:

Dear friend I don’t know,

Don’t rush into anything until you are ready. You have time. Give yourself the opportunity to come to the right decision FOR YOU. You will get tremendous pressure for different procedures and medications and therapies from the doctors (this is their business, after all), well meaning friends and family. Find out for yourself what feels right for you - and then stick with it. The only way you can do this is to be confident in your decision.

With my 20/20 hindsight, I learned a very important lesson through it all - one that still helps me to this day. When outside forces tried to convince me of chemo and/or a mastectomy, my spirit plummeted. I cried and cried. Then the surgeon would step in and say it was okay for me to have just the lumpectomy if I wanted. I was elated. Then a well meaning friend of a friend called to tell me her horror story and that I would be crazy to not have a mastectomy. I cried some more and indecision crept in. When I actually got my first physical with the surgeon the day before surgery, he was reassuring again. I told him of my concerns. He just said to tell him what it was going to be - a lumpectomy or a mastectomy - before he starts to cut!

This is what was happening. My inner core - my true self - had a hard time guiding me through all of these decisions because I was getting so many different opinions. It was very confusing. (I’m sure you know exactly what I mean.) So, the only way my higher self could communicate with me was through my emotions. I felt good when I considered having only a lumpectomy. I felt horrible when I thought I had to have a mastectomy. Simple. My emotions were guiding me, telling me what to do.

So, the big question is: How do you FEEL whenever you consider having radiation? I felt it was right for me. Don’t know how I knew this - I just did. No one was pushing for it, either, because the treatments took place in a town 150 miles from the surgery. My husband and I did all the arrangements. Perhaps it is because I didn’t want to do chemo, I thought that this would be just one more active thing I could do to make sure it was behind me.

I also cleaned up my eating habits. If you are interested, check out the book “The China Study”. A cliff notes version is on Tupelo’s website: TupeloKenyon.com. Here’s the direct link: “Finally the Truth About Diet – The China Study Review.” This will give you an good overview.

I truly wish you the very best in whatever you decide to do. There are no wrong choices. Breast cancer is no longer the scary diagnosis it once was. The survival rate is phenomenal and encouraging. Sometimes big events come along to give us a giant push along our spiritual path. We might stumble at first, but then we catch our stride. I am grateful for the experience. I’m a better person because of it. My life is enhanced because of it. What more could I ask for?

Sending love and encouragement that you listen to your inner guide,
Your new friend you haven’t met yet.

Being Receptive is the Key to Hearing What is Offered

The information is available from our inner guidance whenever we become still and pay attention. Sometimes this inner guidance is blatant and conclusive, like a two by four over the head. Other times, it’s more like a soft whisper offered gently – not forced. Either way, we must be receptive and listening for these clues or we could easily miss them altogether. (See previous article, “How Do You Feel – About Inner Guidance.”)

“Again and again, the impossible problem is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made.” - Dr. Robert H. Schuller (b. 1926)

Regret or Relief

In the decision making process, imagine a “yes” decision. Put yourself into the picture as clearly as possible. Imagine the details and ramifications, and then notice if you are feeling regret or relief.

Now imagine a “no” decision. Do the same detailed mental mock-up in your imagination and notice if it feels more like regret or relief. This simple question of regret or relief helps you to focus on what you really feel about the decision you are considering at your deepest level.

Let it Go or Embrace It?

A friend recently called, looking for a sounding board for a personal dilemma. She was having trouble making up her mind. A couple of years ago, she bought an expensive guitar and was excited to learn how to play it. Her husband was supportive and helped make it possible.

Recently she noticed the guitar was not “pulling” her to play. The excitement had waned. Instead she felt like it was something she “should” be doing since she had so much invested in it.

Someone asked if she might be interested in selling it. Her first thought was “absolutely not.” The guitar represented her relationship with her artistic side. It was something she had chosen to do for herself, simply because the expression of creativity felt good. But after a few days of hashing it over, she began to think about selling it. After all, she seldom used it. Was she turning her back on her creativity by considering letting the guitar go?

Here are some of the insights that came to light in our conversation: The guitar was only her temporary representation of her creativity. It was not her actual creativity. That was inside her, and her artistic expression could manifest in any number of ways. For instance: writing, sculpture, quilting, photography and more. All of these things brought her satisfaction and joy. She realized she has many talents and many choices.

The guitar was like a trip to L.A. She had to get all the way to the west coast before she realized she might like the east coast better. No problem. Just turn around and keep driving, while continuing to make course corrections until it feels better.

We talked about the technique of looking for regret or relief while imagining her decision. She realized that selling the guitar would likely feel more like a relief. Every time she saw the guitar, it reminded her of what she wasn’t doing, and what she felt like she ought to be doing. She had been beating herself up about not playing the guitar because it took effort and money to get such a nice guitar, and she felt like she “should” be using it more. She was also concerned because her husband had helped her make it possible and she didn’t want to let him down. (This turned out to be wasted energy because he was not concerned about letting the guitar go. He wanted her to feel good and would be supportive in her next creative direction, whatever it turned out to be.)

So instead of being inspired and joyous about making music, the guitar had begun to represent yet another thing in her life to add to her already long list of “shoulds.” This didn’t feel like art, and it didn’t feel like creativity or joy.

She realized that whatever regret she might feel about letting the guitar go would be far outweighed by the relief of releasing the “should.” She recognized that the money could be reappropriated into some other tool that more easily allowed her creative expression to shine through.

So the guitar gets a new owner and our friend gets to lose her sense of guilt for not playing the guitar. She also gets to enjoy the process of re-choosing a new avenue for creativity and personal expression – one that jazzes her now.

“Ever notice that “what the hell” is always the right decision?” - Marilyn Monroe (1926-62)

Decisions Don’t Have to Be Forever

Decisions can be fun. They don’t have to be hard work. It’s not complicated – it’s not brain surgery. It’s a process fine-tuned by daily practice.

Even when we make a decision that works against us (and we all do), we still benefit by learning something valuable. When the result of a certain decision obviously is not serving us, we fix it by making another decision that puts us back on track. It’s okay to change our mind. By trial and error, we learn to pay closer attention to our internal guidance system, and as a result, we get better at making decisions that feel good.

“Making a wrong decision is understandable. Refusing to search continually for learning is not.” - Philip (Bayard) Crosby (b. 1926)

We appreciate our freedom of choice and dive into decisions willingly, even though we know some choices will need to be adjusted later. That’s okay, it’s all part of the process of learning how to steer our own ship.

We are in control of the life we live by the choices we make. As we continue to practice making choices that feel good, we continue to get in closer alignment with our deepest inner self. We notice our inner guidance system helps us steer our choices towards those that feel best for us. As a fascinating result, those are the choices that seem to benefit others the most as well. Choose to feel good – it’s a win/win situation.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the song samples below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Don’t Tell Me No Just don’t do it. It’s better that way . . . for both of us! http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor3 Miracle in Disguise Synchronicity is such a positive and hopeful idea, it begs the question, "Why not actively look for it and even expect it, as long as it feels good?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor11 Time of Our Lives Time is so fleeting, so elusive, it’s good to remember the importance and power of living right now. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor7 What Would Love Do Now It’s tough to remember to ask yourself this question in the heat of the moment, but it can pay big dividends. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor10 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 No, Yes! Examines the folly of continually holding conflicting thoughts at the same time. Yes I can. No I can’t. I want that. But do I really deserve it? Around and around it goes. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor10 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
	Self-Discipline in 3 Easy Steps Why is it so difficult to follow through and accomplish what you set out to do? Usually, there is one important missing ingredient: personal discipline. For most of us, the idea of discipline is an external force - it’s something that comes from the outside. For instance, we discipline our children. Most of us are familiar with discipline as a verb (something we do to someone else), but we’re not so familiar with the concept as a noun - something we cultivate from within and apply to ourselves. Six Killers of Individuality and Personal Independence Is the course of your life determined by your own internal road map or by a map made by someone else? Each of us can choose our direction deliberately and live a life custom sculpted. Each life can be as individually unique as the person living it. If you pattern your life after someone else, exactly what is it you have to offer? How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action - intuition. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Spiritually Thriving Through Choice As we go through the motions of life, eventually it becomes apparent that what we have to do to get by needs to be balanced with our deep longing to thrive spiritually. Our activities need to be undertaken consciously. Our choices need to be made deliberately - with full awareness of the potential consequences as well as the potential rewards. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! Articles by Tupelo
		Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
		Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

Giving up is easy. Most people make a habit of giving up. In fact, they make a life of it.

Achievers approach problems and setbacks with an entirely different attitude. When adversity strikes, they look for work-arounds and adapt their procedures. As a result, they may find better ways of proceeding toward their dreams that they may have never discovered otherwise.

Instead of reasons to quit, winners see apparent road-blocks as opportunities to fine-tune their methods in order to continue re-inventing their approach to make it the best it can be in any given moment. Quitting is for losers. Persistence through a solution-oriented attitude is for visionaries, dreamers and other winners who refuse to take “no” for a final answer.

“‘No’ is a word on your path to ‘Yes.’ Don’t give up too soon. Not even if well-meaning parents, friends, and colleagues tell you to get ‘a real job.’ Your dreams are your real job.” – Joyce Spizer

“I’m spreadin’ my wings, and I’m learnin’ how to fly,
Let me do it my way . . . no need to justify.
Don’t tell me no, no don’t tell me no,
You might as well hand me an engraved invitation,
Don’t tell me no.”
- from the song, “Don’t Tell Me No” by Janey Kenyon, Jeannie Robertson, JoAnn Molloy

Quitting is Not a Reasonable Option

When a problem come up, the average person sees it as yet another reason to quit. Giving up rarely occurs to someone who is engaged in activities in sync with their passions. When your daily activities feel in alignment with your sense of purpose, persistence is not a difficult inconvenience – it’s a way of life. (See previous articles: “Your Passion as Your Compass” and “Work – Just a Job or Visible Love.”)

Thomas Edison is a good example of someone passionate about his work with a clear sense of purpose. There’s a good story that illustrates his perseverance: A reporter once asked him if he ever got discouraged after working so long and hard with no results while trying to invent the light bulb. He said:

“Results? Young man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.” – Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

The rest of the story is that he kept at it, and never gave up. As a result, at this very moment, you and I are likely both benefiting from Edison’s solution-oriented attitude. How many light bulbs light your life every single day? It’s a good reminder how much we all benefit from this “never give up” attitude, even when practiced by someone who died before we were born.

“Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

“It matters if you just don’t give up.” - Stephen Hawking (b. 1942)

“Genius is perseverance in disguise.” - Mike Newlin

Commitment Equals Quality of Life

To me, the idea of persistence, determination and perseverance are all about the quality of life. In our own personal experience, Janey and I see the positive results of this solution-oriented attitude on a daily basis. We have lived our entire lives in the arts. She was a dance major in college. I studied math, then music. We were always the stubborn ones, following our muses, dedicated to living the life of our dreams, no matter what.

Janey is a writer and a stained-glass artist, as well as (like me) a singer, musician, entertainer and recording artist. We have both made our living (and our lives) playing music for over 30 years.

Has it been easy? Well, no – all those jokes about starving artists are grounded in typical experience. We chose the independent route and realize it was the best decision for us. We don’t care about fame – it looks like a serious inconvenience. What we do care about is independence and personal freedom. These things are the cornerstones upon which we have built our life together. And, we are willing to work long and hard in order to continue experiencing the joy and satisfaction we feel from this kind of lifestyle. I’ve heard people say how “lucky” we are to live such a wonderful life. I always smile and think to myself: “Yeah, and the harder we work, the luckier we get.”

“When you are self employed, you only have to work half-days. (And you can choose which twelve hours that is.) – Jim Guhlke

Just Because Someone Else Has a Problem, Don’t Adopt It as Your Own

Every job or business has its own unique problems that seem to come with the territory. In our music career, whenever some concert promoter is a jerk and showers us with his bad attitude, we remind ourselves it’s his problem. It may inconvenience us in the short term, but it has little impact on the overall quality of our lives. Unlike us, his personal life choices were likely not based on passion and purpose, and he likely doesn’t benefit from the freedom and independence we enjoy daily.

Is that our fault? No. Are we going to allow ourselves to be an effect of his negativity? Momentarily, maybe – until we catch on and remind ourselves that our chosen life of happiness and satisfaction goes on, in spite of him. Are we going to give up on our dreams and quit our rewarding lifestyle because of some faulty-wired, loose-lipped jerk? Nope.

“Take control of your destiny. Believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Don’t give up and don’t give in.” - Wanda Carter

We All Have Problems – So What? What’s Next?

From the outside, looking in, a life built on music and art looks idyllic and romantic. It is, but the roadblocks, complications and set-backs are significant – likely as intense as in any other form of human endeavor. Still, we have always looked over, around and through whatever obstacle reared its ugly head and kept our focus on the solution.

“Follow your bliss.” – Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)

There’s a rare satisfaction from doing what you love, and if you dedicate your life to that, it becomes second nature to find solutions rather than to collect excuses to quit. The solutions are there to be found, but they will only show up if you are receptive and deliberately looking for them. (See previous article, “10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose.”)

“And no one but you can find the answer to your quest,
Your answer’s for you and not all the rest.
(You know your answer’s the best, it’s not a contest.)
The question is easy enough, and any honest answer is good enough,
You really gotta know . . . . . what do you love?

What do you love, do what you love,
Do what you love, Oh, do what you love.”
- from the song, “Do What You Love” by Tupelo Kenyon

Don’t Allow Persistence to Morph into Stubbornness

If you are truly passionate about your dreams and feel like your chosen activities are “on-purpose,” you’ll probably never have to be concerned about the difference between persistence and stubbornness. If you’ve taken the time to ask the big questions and listen patiently until your feelings convince you that you are getting a clear answer, your resolve is based on passion and purpose rather than a selfish, ego-based stubbornness. Still, it’s a good idea to check in with your emotional guidance system regularly to make sure you’re still on the right track and not deluding yourself. (See previous article: “How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance.”)

“Perseverance alone does not assure success. No amount of stalking will lead to game in a field that has none.” - I Ching (BC 1150)

Persistence Reveals Personal Depth

Even when you are committed to your dreams, living your life on purpose and doing what you love, you will still have trials and tribulations. Things come up you never could have foreseen. You can’t prepare for everything – that’s why a positive attitude is so important. The choices are endless. The potential is staggering.

“Now it’s happening every moment, far too big to see,
It’s all too much to do it all, so passion is the key.
It’s a question of perspective, alive to pick and choose,
It’s where we aim our focus that brings it all into view.

It’s just the way of the world . . . It’s just the way of the world,
It’s really nothing personal . . . It’s just the way of the world.
- from the song, “Way of the World” by Tupelo Kenyon

Deliberately Shift Your Attention to Solutions

Recognize the problem, understand the implications to the best of your ability, and then immediately change your focus. Take your attention off the problem itself and deliberately aim your mental power in the opposite direction. Shift your attention 180 degrees toward possible solutions.

Most people don’t do this. Instead, they get stuck staring in the direction of the problem, as if staring it down will somehow make it disappear. Of course, just the opposite is true – whatever you give your attention to grows in your experience. Even if you are shouting “NO” to something you do not want, the Law of Attraction brings even more of it into your experience. (See previous article: “The Law of Attraction.”)

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.” - Walter Elliott

Opportunities for Personal Growth

The interesting thing is, by shifting the focus of your attention away from the problem and toward solutions, dormant skills and talents are activated that you may not even know you had. The problem gives you a reason to reach into that infinite well of resources usually dormant deep inside. As a result, you may learn new skills, and develop new mental disciplines that you may have otherwise overlooked.

“Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.” - Richard Bach (b. 1936)

Mine the Depths

There’s a story of two brothers caught up in the gold fever of the California gold rush. They were among the few who arrived early enough to be able to secure a productive claim. Almost immediately, they struck gold. Not a lot of gold, but enough to get them serious about mining. They got tooled up, hired some help and went to work.

Then, as quickly as their discovery appeared, it disappeared. The gold vein simply fizzled out. They were disappointed and decided to just give up. They quit gold mining, sold their claim cheap and went back east.

The new owner of the claim looked at the problem and immediately started looking for solutions. He decided to hire an engineer and a geologist to evaluate the situation. They recommended to keep digging at exactly the same spot – just a little deeper. After just three feet, they struck the mother lode and became multi-millionaires.

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” - Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-96)

Rejection? No thanks, I’ll Pass. Next.

My wife, Janey, spent the last three years writing a novel – a really good novel. Like most new novelists, she soon had collected a stack of rejection notices from literary agents. Every time she received another rejection, her attitude was, “Okay, you’re not the one. I’m looking for the perfect agent, the one who ‘gets’ it. That’s obviously not you, so get out of my way!” She simply rejected rejection and kept scouring the “Writer’s Market” book and the internet, looking for the perfect agent. She knew all along that such a person existed and it was up to her to find the agent who was also looking for her.

Janey continued submitting query letters and continued ignoring the rejection letters – refusing to take it personally. Today (yes TODAY!) she had a nice, long talk with her new New York agent, who definitely “gets it” and is as excited as we are about the future potential of Janey’s excellent novel. (So, one of these days when you walk into Barnes and Noble’s bookstore and see a mountain of Janey’s books or see the major motion picture based on Janey’s book, you will know that it’s there because Janey kept her eye on the prize and never gave up.)

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – U.S. President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

They Never Gave Up

Walt Disney had a dream of creating “The Happiest Place on Earth.” One of his major obstacles of such a grand idea was funding. He was turned down 302 times before he got a “yes.” As a result of his vision, his commitment to his dream, and his dedication to his feeling of purpose, Disneyland was born. Just imagine all the happiness it has created for all those kids (and adults) for so many decades!

“Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t sell out.” - Christopher Reeve (American actor/performer/advocate for the disabled and spinal research. Star of “Super Man”)

In his seventies, Harland Sanders spent two years driving all over the U.S., trying to find resturaunts to buy his recipes. He was turned down 1009 times. But, he never gave up. Today, everyone has heard of Colonel Sanders, and his finger-licking-good Kentucky fried chicken is a household word worldwide.

“Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory.” - Herbert Kaufman

In 1998, Google co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin offered a merger to Yahoo for minimal stock options. Yahoo didn’t take these two college kids seriously and promptly declined. Sergey and Larry persevered. They overcame the obstacles, they dug a little deeper, they developed new skills, new ideas, and new technologies that eventually revolutionized many aspects of the internet that we benefit from every single day. They could have become discouraged at Yahoo’s unflattering reaction to their proposal, and simply quit. Instead, within five years, their persistence grew Google into a world-class corporation.

Google’s shares have now topped the $500 each mark. This makes the company valuation somewhere in the region of around $154 billion. To put this into perspective, Yahoo is valued around the $34 billion mark. This puts Google just behind Microsoft and Cisco in terms of high-tech companies.

“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill - Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverance.” - Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-84)

Have you heard of Oliver Twiddledee? Have you heard of the incredible life he created, the millions of lives he touched, and all the money he made? Of course you haven’t because, sadly, Oliver got discouraged by focusing on his problems. He gave up and quit. Pity.

Oliver Twiddledee is not an inspiration – not a role model. Nobody cares about him. He helped nobody and went on to live out his life in quiet desperation and regret – a life of broken dreams with a shattered self-image.

“I promise to keep on living as though I expected to live forever. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up wrinkles the soul.” - Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964)

Instead of focusing any more attention on pitiful Mr. Twiddledee, let’s celebrate the lives and inspiration we get from Thomas Edison, Walt Disney and those two “stubborn” college kids who dreamed up Google. Let’s celebrate and then emulate the lives of the winners who chose to do what they love, dedicated their lives to their passions and never gave up on their dreams.

“Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you — gently, with love, and hand your life back to you.” - Tennessee Williams (1911-83)

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Way of the World Life is so huge . . . so diverse . . . the possibilities are literally infinite. What’s the best way to sort it all out and carve out a little niche of our own? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor1 Don’t Tell Me No Just don’t do it. It’s better that way . . . for both of us! http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor3 Time of Our Lives Time is so fleeting, so elusive, it’s good to remember the importance and power of living right now. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor7 Songs by Tupelo
Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! Work - Just a Job or Visible Love Do you love what you do and do what you love? Here’s a step-by-step method on how to put your passions to work and start living the life you were born to live. 10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose Of all the self-help ideas I’ve come across through the years, this one has been the most helpful. For me, it’s been the Rosetta Stone of personal development techniques. After getting a handle on the idea of “purpose”, other areas of my life fell into place more easily. How Do You Feel About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

Occasionally a book comes along that has the potential to change the world. I just finished reading such a book – a small book with a large message: “What God Wants: A Compelling Answer to Humanity’s Biggest Question” by Neale Donald Walsch.

If you are new to this author, he is the one who wrote the “Conversations with God” series. This new book is not written in that style of conversational dialogue, but it’s just as direct, clear, well thought out and spiritually moving.

The main premise of the book is summed up by the three words of the title, and the answer to this implied question has far-reaching consequences into all areas of life: religion, government, society, culture, evolution of consciousness, and the potential of mankind’s future on planet earth.

The book asks some mighty big “what if” questions. My paraphrase of the biggest question is, “What if the earth’s major belief systems, religions and cultures are based on an inaccurate assumption? What if the fundamental idea, upon which everything else is based . . . is simply incorrect?”

We have been trying to “fix” the effects of this error for centuries . . . millennia. As we look around the planet today, it’s obvious that humanity’s current lifestyle includes many aspects that are simply not working. We allow children to starve while we spend billions on “defense.” People are homeless while others live in mansions with dozens of empty rooms. We kill one another “in God’s name.” How can we let these things happen?

Obviously, we feel removed from the pain. As a race, we consider ourselves separate from one another rather than all a part of one greater reality – one life, one energy, one God – whatever name is preferred. If we truly understood the profound implications of the golden rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you), we would behave differently. If we are all the same – all one – and if we knew that, it would be the most natural thing in the world to treat everyone as we would have them treat us. That’s a no-brainer. Of course you are going to treat others that way, because deep down inside, we are all the same. We are all in this together and we are the same consciousness, the same being, the same sense of “I am.”

The only way to really fix our currently dysfunctional world is to re-examine the fundamental ideas themselves rather than the results of those ideas.

One of the main ideas Walsch suggests we re-examine is the concept we hold for God Itself. The vast majority of people worldwide believe in some kind of higher power, although the details vary widely. Still, there is much in common. In spite of the teachings of many of God’s messengers, most religions have evolved into teaching about a God who is external and separate from us. The doctrines suggest that this kind of external God needs humans to behave in a certain way, worship in a certain way, and devote their lives in a certain way in order to please and appease a historically volatile, wrathful and conditional God. This kind of God promises to love us if . . . (and that’s a big “if”) . . . if we do this, that, or the other in just a certain way to satisfy the mythology of the ancient scriptures.

This is a snapshot of a small, conditional God who has conditional love for us, often withheld because of His need for us to play the game of life by narrow rules. Why would the Almighty Creator need anything at all from us? That question is seldom asked from within the walls of current mythology – it is enough to allow it to remain unfathomable. The word “want” is defined as “to feel the lack of something.” What does God want? How could the creator of the entire universe feel the lack of anything?

From the book, “What God Wants” by Neale Donald Walsch: “Let’s pretend just for the moment that it’s true that God wants nothing from humanity. If that is so, then virtually all of life’s apple carts are upended. Ancient myths are upended. Cultural stories are upended. Ethnic customs are upended. Familial traditions are upended. Legal systems and educational systems are upended. Political, economic and social constructions of every kind are upended.

Could this be the reason that the idea of a God who wants something has been perpetrated?”

What if these ideas of separation and want evolved not from God, but from man’s own primitive and incomplete understanding of the Creator? What if these ideas represent unexamined habits of thought, handed down through the generations and have very little to do with truth? Instead, what if they are primarily about power and control over man by man? What if the mythology and doctrines of the major religions of the planet are based on an outdated concept of God that is simply incorrect? What if the “consume by” date has long-ago expired? Nobody noticed, so we are still swallowing it by habit even though it’s making us sick. Very sick.

Again from the book: “Consider the possibility that what you call ‘God’ might also be called, simply, ‘life.’ Consider the possibility that God not only created life, but that Gods IS life – and that life is God made manifest . . . It has not been widely taught because it does not serve the Top Down, Power Over paradigm created by the earliest power structures of humanity, religion not the least among them.”

The book asks (in so many words), “What if God is really Unconditional Love, the Alpha and the Omega, the All in All, and Omnipresent . . . just as his messengers have always said?” That would mean that God is literally everywhere, in everything. And that includes . . . inside us. If God is literally the one reality, the only thing there is, and we are all part of it, what would God possibly want or need from us? He already has everything . . . IS everything, and so he would need nothing from us to be complete.

She already is complete. (The idea of a separate male entity judging us from somewhere in the sky is another concept examined objectively, with one eyebrow raised.)

So, shifting our understanding allows us to see that such a God couldn’t possibly want or need anything from us. He/She already has/is everything that exists. This idea can have wonderfully enlightening ramifications.

For centuries, every major religion has tried to “educate” us that “My God is bigger than your god.” Your god is inferior and it’s my job to convince you that my way is better. If you don’t believe it, my people (the chosen ones) have a specially ordained mission from God (the real God) to kill your people. (In God’s name, of course . . . because WE are the good guys!)

What’s wrong with this picture? Is it working? As we look around the globe, the answer is a deeply painful, “No!” It has never worked and it’s still not working. Individuals want peace. Organizations want war. The individuals who comprise the organizations can’t be blamed. From the moment they arrived on the planet, they were “educated” – trained, conditioned, brainwashed and polluted with erroneous premises. You can’t arrive at a correct conclusion if you begin with an inaccurate premise. (That reminds me of the little church on the hill that so many are now struggling to recover from: Our Lady of the Inaccurate Conclusion.)

“Humanity’s collective reality – its cultural story, if you please – has been created over a period of many, many years through a three-step process:

1) People are given INFORMATION about God and about What God Wants from their elders – information that they widely embrace as true.

2) This information sponsors BELIEFS about Life and how it is, as well as how it ’should’ be.

3) These beliefs produce BEHAVIORS within the human family that create humanity’s on-the-ground experience.

Everything begins with the original information. Even those people who do not ‘believe in God’ are affected by the ideas ABOUT God held by those who do.” - Neale Donald Walsch, in “What God Wants: A Compelling Answer to Humanity’s Biggest Question.”

The book is full of startling statistics and goes into fascinating details about the ramifications of these ideas in all areas of life – God’s Word and God’s many messengers, the concept of Heaven and Hell, the current perceived inequality of the sexes, marriage, sex, love, free will, suffering, money, morality and death. Literally all areas of life are impacted by the fundamental ideas about our ideas of God. (One of my favorite scenes in the movie (DVD): “Conversations With God,” is when a member of the audience asks Neale Donald Walsch this question: “If God was to sum up everything he wanted us to know about him in one sentence, what would it be?” The answer came immediately: “You’ve got me all wrong.”)

This little book packs a powerful punch – hopefully we are mature enough and intelligent enough as a species to be able to set aside our pre-conceived notions and our ancient prejudices long enough to really hear and consider fresh, new ideas. Ideas like these are powerful – the most promising catalysts available for positive change worldwide.

“In your opinion, have our earthly theologies provided humanity with effective guidance in how to live together in peace and harmony?” – Neale Donald Walsch, in “What God Wants.”

What does God want from us anyway? This inspiring book provides page after page of compelling answers to humanity’s biggest questions.

The author makes it clear that the answer is not to trash our mythologies and institutions, but to expand them so that they are able to embrace bigger ideas. All institutions must incorporate change as our capacity to understand continues to grow. Religions are not famous for rapid acceptance of new ideas. What other discipline would survive if new ideas were kept at bay with such determination? If the medical community functioned in this way, Walsch says that would be like a “surgeon stepping into a modern-day operating room with a very sharp stone.” (Because the ancient texts on surgery decree that this is how it is to be done.)

As our consciousness grows, we need new tools and new ways of interacting with our world and our fellow man. We need new ways of understanding the Creative Power of the universe and how we can put it to work co-creating the life we choose.

All of the paths to God are valid and all of them provide a good fit for certain individuals who are ready to take the next step. Just because their next step is not the same as ours doesn’t mean it is wrong. All of the world’s religions and philosophies could benefit from the wise perspective offered in this book. When they are able to mature enough to incorporate the enlightened viewpoint so eloquently expressed by Walsch, everyone benefits. Variety is good.

When we finally experience the inner connectedness of all things and all life, we are no longer susceptible to the questionable agendas of those who would confuse us with shrewdly constructed mythology in order to hold power over us. When we understand that free will is the ultimate gift from an omnipotent, unconditionally loving Creator, we are finally free to live our lives in our own way, without fear of judgment . . . now or ever.

The ideas in this book have the potential to spark a quantum leap in consciousness and spiritual understanding. As more and more people become willing to consider new ideas and spiritual viewpoints, the quality of life on earth improves proportionally.

Of all the books I’ve read on spirituality and human potential, this is definitely one of the most hopeful, helpful and inspiring. It’s an easy read – quick and to the point. There’s plenty of background information supporting the ideas presented, but not so much that you get bogged down in detail. Instead, it’s compelling and fascinating. I personally enjoy the author’s casual, conversational style. I like his skill at wordplay like creative acronyms and clever phrases. That makes the material more accessible, in my opinion and helps lighten the mood while offering some of the most profound ideas ever offered.

I read this little book in two sittings and have been inspired ever since. It’s the kind of book that, upon finishing the last page, I immediately return to page one and start over. I find myself imagining what this world could be like if everyone could be exposed to this kind of common sense spirituality. This is the kind of book that you instantly want to share with everyone you care about.

This book is chock full of insightful, unusual, and advanced ideas on God, religion, spirituality, culture, history and man’s place in the overall scheme of things. It doesn’t matter if you agree with all these ideas or not. Just agreeing to consider them is likely to make a lasting impression and could help expand and deepen your belief systems forever.

The back cover asks, “When was the last time you read a dangerous book?” The inside flap warns, “Be careful. This book is dangerous. It explores with startling freshness the most important question you could ever ask, and offers with breathtaking courage the most extraordinary answer you could ever imagine.”

I appreciate the hopeful attitude that there are realistic options to the broken way of life so energetically illustrated on the evening news. This life-changing book asks a pivotal question in the spiritual journey of mankind: “What does God Want?”

This simple, yet profound question implies another: “Are we spiritually mature enough to hear the answer?”

Read this book. Maybe that’s What God Wants.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	What Would Love Do Now It’s tough to remember to ask yourself this question in the heat of the moment, but it can pay big dividends. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor10 Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 Here A love song to the beloved and/or to the larger part of ourselves. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor16 Love is Who You Are "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor1 Within Without An atom and a solar system is virtually the same thing - mostly empty space! Even quantum physics is still wondering, "Is the universe a great big thing, or a great big thought?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor6 Songs by Tupelo
Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion Is truth absolute or relative? Is there anything beyond science, philosophy and religion? Many of the world’s top quantum physicists think there is. Celebrate life by stretching you imagination. Belief Systems vs. Knowing How do you discern between something known and a habitual thought - a belief? The first step is to recognize that the vast majority of our beliefs are based not upon our own personal experiences and revelations but upon anecdotal evidence and the recommendations of other people, past and present. Meaningful Spiritual Relationships - Namaste Matters Behind the faces, beyond the reach of social conditioning, deeper than individual egos, we are identical. We are presence, consciousness, pure knowingness - the awareness of “I am.” We are life itself. Celebrate life with this insight on how to take your personal relationships to a whole new level. Spiritually Thriving Through Choice As we go through the motions of life, eventually it becomes apparent that what we have to do to get by needs to be balanced with our deep longing to thrive spiritually. Our activities need to be undertaken consciously. Our choices need to be made deliberately - with full awareness of the potential consequences as well as the potential rewards. Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. Methods as Temporary Tools Instead of Lifetime Crutches We are obsessed with our methods. We become attached to our particular way of doing things. The trouble comes when we cling to an old method that we have outgrown. We feel bogged down and then stuck when our personal development potential is being limited by an outdated method. If your method feels more like a crutch than a tool, it’s time to take an objective look at it. Is the method in question bringing you peace and joy? Is it helping your personal growth, or is it just a familiar and comfortable habit of thought? Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon