I was recently interviewed by Alex Blackwell for his series called, “The Next 30 Blogging Heroes.” He asked some good questions, so I decided to reproduce the interview here.

Alex says, “Inspired by the book ‘Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers’ by Michael A. Banks, this series features the next group of exceptional bloggers who are making an impact in the blogosphere.

“Blogging heroes create quality content and build a loyal, and very large, base of readers. This series will center on their best blogging practices as well as tips and advice. You will benefit from their helpful tips, advice and insight.”

“The Next 45 Years is proud to welcome author and musician Tupelo Kenyon of TupeloKenyon.com.”

It was an honor to be included in this series. For interviews with other bloggers, visit Alex’s site: “The Next 45 Years.” Here’s the complete interview:

What prompted you to start TupeloKenyon.com (please mention when it was launched)?

“Prompted” is a good choice of words. A few years ago, in preparation for one of our concerts, we were loading our equipment through the back door of the venue. An intriguing old man was sitting on an overturned white bucket, outside the door. He was ancient, with a joyous and mischievous sparkle in his eye. I slowed my step, even though the load of instruments was heavy. With no small-talk preamble, he looked me straight in the eye and said matter-of-factly: “I’m here to tell you it’s time for you to start writing books.”

I acknowledged his strange statement with a nod, took it in stride and continued with the task at hand. There were people behind me, also carrying heavy loads, so I kept moving to get out of their way. I was eager to go back for details on my next trip. When I returned, he was gone. I asked around and none of the employees recognized my description of the old man. I never saw him before or since.

I enjoy a good mystery and pay attention to “coincidences,” hunches and inner nudges, but this experience was over-the-top. The weirdness of the circumstances and the bluntness of his message percolated within me for a few years as I contemplated “writing books.”

The mystery man planted a seed and successfully prompted me to begin. When I discovered blogging, I recognized it as an ideal vehicle for outflow that combines some of my favorite passions with several personal skills: writing about personal development ideas, contemplating great quotes, song-writing, instrumental music composition and computer skills.

When I think back on the aspects of my life that have provided the most satisfaction and joy, I realize they all started with a hunch, a quiet whisper in my ear, or an intuitive tap on the shoulder. Gratefully, I did not write them off as musings from an overactive imagination and ignore them. Instead, I was willing to at least consider it might be an important “prompt.” Usually, I’ll play along and take the next step in the direction of my nudge, and then the next, and the next, curious where it may lead.

One of my songs is about this willingness to live on the edge with an adventurous spirit:

“So I’m taking off those blinders and throwing them away,
There’s so much more to living than the safe and narrow way.
The meek will surely inherit the earth . . .They won’t get very far,
While the bold go for adventure, exploring beyond the stars.
So I’ll encourage inspiration, and I’ll soak it up like a sponge,
Instead of terminal safety, I’m ready to take the plunge.”
From the song, “Take the Plunge” by Tupelo Kenyon

So, I took the plunge and started the learning curve on the mechanics of blogging in November of 2006 and launched TupeloKenyon.com on New Year’s Day 2007. The blog is titled, “Personal Development Inspiration and Uplifting Music” and the very first article was titled, “The Power of Beginning.” Perhaps blogging is the first step to the old man’s prompt to “start writing books” since I have already published enough content online to fill a couple.

Your blog is unique in the sense you connect your articles with your music. What is your musical background and experience?

I am mostly a self-taught musician, although I did take guitar lessons for a few months when I was about fourteen. (Thanks, Mom.) After earning my Associates of Mathematics degree, I changed my major to music at the University of Texas in Austin. That lasted about three months. I learned some valuable music theory, but soon realized I’d much rather be making music than studying it. So I moved to Alaska and began making a living singing and playing guitar by the time I was 21.

“Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule.” - Samuel Butler (1612-80)

The musical teamwork with my wife, Janey, has resulted in 11 music CDs and performances in all 50 states plus several foreign countries. We are known as “Laughing Bird.” We’ve also produced a feature-length video DVD titled, “Celebrate the Journey” of our unusual lifestyle as touring musicians for the last thirty years. (You can see a 7-minute preview online free.)

More information about our unique musical journey is in the article titled: “Benefits of Music for Personal Development.”

What is your process for choosing how you link a song to an article on your blog?

The songs I recommend at the end of each article are chosen to support the subject matter and tone of the article. Sometimes they are specific and the reference is obvious. Other times, the song may be a related tangent. Sometimes the songs are chosen to facilitate the listeners to come to their own understanding and discover their own insights about what a particular idea means to them. Those are always the best.

Choosing which songs fit best with a particular article is a fairly straight-forward process since I also wrote the songs. As I am writing an article, song titles will pop into my head as good choices for related themes. After I finish writing the article, I usually scan a list of all the songs we’ve recorded (112 so far, with more added regularly). This helps me make sure I don’t overlook any appropriate recommendations.

The instrumental selections available at the beginning of each article require a different process. I currently have three CDs of original instrumental music to choose from, so I try to match the feeling of the article with the instrumental selection that best supports it. It’s a more subjective process, so I try not to over-think it too much and just go with whatever feels right at the time.

Are you achieving what you set out to do with the site?

It’s a good start, and I’m enjoying the process. I’m also recognizing the benefits of surrounding myself with these powerful, empowering ideas in such an active way. I’ve been attracted to these themes of personal development and inspiration since I was 17, so these are the ideas I contemplate in my quiet time. The process of writing the articles gives me the opportunity to explore deeper and discover what I really think about these important topics. The act of writing clarifies ideas and inspires new viewpoints that I may never have considered otherwise.

The site has evolved into an extension of my own process of personal development and my dedication to living an inspired life. So yes, I am achieving that aspect of continually taking the next step in the expansion of consciousness that has been so important to me for about forty years.

One of my songs explores this theme . . .

“My feet are in the water, my head’s up in the clouds,
Floating on a fantasy, but living out loud,
Living out loud.
An’ I wonder if I’ll ever do you proud.

“I’m not exactly grounded, but I’m not entirely free.
I’m not exactly ready to go, but this never felt like home to me.
So I’m eager for that next step, even though I’ve come so far,
With my seat right here in the saddle . . . and soul in the stars.”
From the song, “Soul in the Stars” by Tupelo Kenyon

One of things I set out to do with the site was to supplement my income, and this intent is manifesting slower than I had hoped. However, my quality of life is more important than stressing over the blog’s income issues, and the blog has contributed to my excellent quality of life from the very beginning. I knew blogging was not a get-rich-quick scheme, so I began with lots of patience and a long-term attitude.

As I continue my focus on delivering quality content with the potential to make a real difference in the quality of life for my readers, I am confident that the readership and the income will continue to grow. Since we have other income streams from other passions (concert performances, CD sales, and our recording studio), there’s no pressure to risk compromising my vision by trying to prematurely squeeze money out of TupeloKenyon.com.

Although success is usually associated with money, according to Emerson’s definition of success, I am already enjoying a measure of success . . .

“The definition of success–To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)

Where do you get your ideas for content for your blog and for your songs?

I enjoy reading a wide variety of authors, philosophies and disciplines. I consider myself a “free agent,” so I don’t prescribe to any one particular “brand.” Some of my favorite authors include Esther and Jerry Hicks, Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Lee Carroll, Richard Bach, Paul Twitchell, Dan Millman, Steven Covey, Joseph Campbell, Neale Donald Walsch, plus many others.

There’s a page on my blog with brief reviews of the fifty or so books that have had the biggest impact on me. These books have moved me, opened me up, amazed me, thrilled me, and helped me feel something profound.

While reading, something will strike me just right, and an article title will occur to me. I use the original idea as a springboard and do my best to find a fresh perspective. Whether I’m writing an article or a song, I never know where it’s going. Instead, I trust the process and enjoy the ride. I am often surprised where it ends up compared to where it started.

I realize it’s an unconventional way to write, but it’s satisfying to me because it’s not as rigid and structured as strictly left-brained writing. Instead, it allows for the freedom of random associations and an overview of the big picture made possible by allowing the right brain to have free reign also. Since I enjoy the process of working this way, songs and articles get completed.

What do you find to be the more difficult aspects of blogging?

Time constraints are the most difficult hurdles I face with my personal commitment to publish a new article every week. My average article takes between 8 and 14 hours to complete. I decided at the beginning not to create a blog of short posts. There are plenty of excellent blogs with short posts, but in the interest of something for everyone, I decided to concentrate on the more in-depth coverage made possible by the technology.

I have published one new article per week since TupeloKenyon.com was launched on January 1, 2007. That may not seem like a big time commitment, but it feels like it with all the other activities that require so much time. Janey and I do major concert tours every year that keep us on the road for about six months. When we are at home, our recording studio, Riversong Studio, keeps me busy. I produce CD projects for other artists as well as our own. Busy, busy, busy. You know what they say about the self-employed: “You only have to work half-days . . . and you can choose which twelve hours that is!”

They also say, “Busy people get things done.”

“It is not enough to be busy. The question is: what are we busy about?” - Henry David Thoreau (1817-62)

Do you do anything special to increase your readership?

I stay focused on providing consistent, quality content that can make a difference in people’s lives. My intent is to make it so compelling that my readers won’t be able to keep it a secret and will share it and recommend it to the people they care about. I provide a link at the end of every article to make it easy to “email this article to a friend.” I also make it easy for people to submit each article to their favorite social networking sites.

I have also dabbled in carnivals, listed the site with blog directories, and have begun to learn more about the social networking phenomenon. All these things take time, so I haven’t explored them in depth.

I am not interested in spending my entire life in front of a computer screen, so I budget my computer time carefully. As I prioritize the limited time I am willing to stare at a computer screen, most of that time is spent writing articles.

Do you use SEO? If so, which techniques provide the best results?

I made sure my META tags include specifically chosen keywords that relate to the theme of my site. My decision to submit my articles to carnivals was driven, in part, by the hoped-for advantage of getting incoming links from related sites. I have a few hundred by now, but I honestly don’t know how much they help.

I try to use keywords in the article titles and in the body of the copy, but mostly I write in a stream of consciousness style better suited to human readers rather than search engine spiders. The algorithms used by the search engines will continue to get more sophisticated and keep getting better at catching on to the myriad ways used by people who try to “game” the system. The purpose of the search engines is to find the sites that do the best job in providing value and reward them with higher search rankings. If my purpose is also to provide value, the search engines will recognize that and everyone wins. And hopefully, I won’t have to spend too much time on boring, mind-numbing busy work like SEO. (Warning, this may be a blue sky, pipe dream with no basis in the real world of online traffic-building. Sometime in the future, I may change my tune and discover that yes, indeed, it is necessary to be more proactive in this area – but I hope not!)

What do you find gratifying about blogging?

It’s always gratifying to hear from someone who was touched by one of my articles or my music. It’s fascinating to hear how someone was able to apply an idea from a song or article to the unique circumstances of their life in a way that would never have occurred to me. I love to hear creative interpretations and stories of how something made a positive difference in someone’s life. The lyrics to one of my songs express this idea . . .

“The way we live our life is like a pebble dropped, into a quiet pond,
It carries on just like a circle growing.
The ripples that we make may touch another shore,
You may never know for sure,
How much you’ve helped someone without you knowing.

“Sometimes the ripples from our deed’s a gentle touch,
Doesn’t seem to matter much,
It’s like dropping flowers in the Grand Canyon.
And though we’ll never know just what becomes of them,
It’s all the same to them,
So drop them anyway, because you can.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting battles too,
Cruel wars within themselves, just like it is with you.
Be kind, because you’ll never know just how much good you’ll do,
A heartfelt word or two can soothe a hidden wound.”
From the song, “Be Kind” by Tupelo Kenyon

What are your future plans for TupeloKenyon.com?

I realize that big companies and corporations must have detailed, well-thought-out business plans for the future, but my approach with TupeloKenyon.com has been more organic . . . more in the moment . . . more about now. I take it one article at a time and do the best I can with the amount of time I have available.

I do have a vision for the future but have not nailed it down with any step-by-step action plan. I enjoy a wide-open approach to allow the universe plenty of latitude to take it in any direction . . . whatever is in the interest of the greatest good. I appreciate surprises, serendipities and “coincidences” orchestrated in the more subtle planes of consciousness, well beyond the one-dimensional confines of my best, well-laid plans.

My vision for TupeloKenyon.com is an ever-growing site contributing inspiration to those attracted to ideas of integrity and techniques of personal development and expanding consciousness.

It is personally satisfying when readers of my blog discover my music and when my music listeners discover my articles. As these readers and listeners continue to grow in number, this provides me with a ready outlet for more articles, songs and music. I see it as a full circle of contribution. I am gratified that all this is made possible by my own personal commitment to inner growth.

It feels like right livelihood. When people buy our CDs, download our music and contribute in other ways, it’s a vote of confidence that I am on the right track of making available something worthwhile for the good of the whole. That inspires me to become an ever-clearer conduit for ideas, words and music to flow through me, knowing there is an appreciative place in the world for it.

Now, after all that, here’s the short answer: My plans are open-ended. My vision is win/win.

What advice can you offer other bloggers?

Since I am a relative newbie myself, my first morsel of advice would be to take my advice with a grain of salt. One of the ideas that made a lasting impression on me came via Esther Hicks to a fellow-writer friend of mine: “Write for your own connection.”

To me, that means the act of writing should be done first and foremost as an exercise to deepen your own understanding and facilitate your relationship with your own inner self. It allows you to entertain ideas, concepts and feelings in detail that have the power to make a dramatic difference in the quality of your life. Instead of being motivated to write for money or fame or recognition or shallow ego gratification, write for you. Write for (and from) that deepest part of you, which cries out for its connection to the infinite. I am confident that this approach provides the greatest benefit for the greatest number, including the writer.

Actively engage the mystery in your life. Be unique, be yourself, be the brilliant individual you were born to be, and do it in your own way. Nobody else in the whole world can do what you do. Be sincere, be real and light-hearted, and be committed to excellence.

Learn whenever you can from whomever you can. Be aware of any advice offered. But also beware.

“No one can give you better advice than yourself.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

Instead of basing your direction on the advice of others, look inside for your own way. Listen for (and expect) nudges, hunches and intuitive taps on the shoulder from you inner self. Learn to trust them and discover for yourself that your intuition has your own best interests at heart.

Whatever you do, do it well, and others will recognize your commitment to excellence and will be attracted to whatever you have to contribute. Make it fun so you enjoy the process. Be in the moment. Give first without attachment to outcomes. Balance that with your expectation of great things already moving toward you. Receive the abundance of life graciously. Be grateful every day. Take nothing for granted – especially the wonder of life itself. Most importantly, do whatever brings you joy.

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.

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 Soul in the Stars It feels good to try to see the bigger picture once in awhile,and to focus on gratitude for what we have, rather than the frustration of what we are lacking. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor4 Be Kind Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor9 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 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 Songs by Tupelo
The Power of Beginning The most important part of any project is the beginning. Just begin and follow through and you will be amazed at the momentum. . The creative power of the universe responds by lining up the details to bring it into manifestation. Coincidences begin to occur. Your job is to choose and then begin. Benefits of Music for Personal Development All music is not created equally. This article takes a look behind the scenes to catch a glimpse of how the intent of the composer translates to the feeling evoked in the listeners. Many links are included to streaming mp3s. Celebrate life through music! Take Time for You Don’t put yourself at the end of the list. You deserve to be first, at least some of the time. Don’t let your entire life slip by with everything else (and everyone else) getting preferential treatment over your most important priorities. Their needs are important, but yours are important too. Celebrate life by taking time for YOU! 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. Relax and Rejuvenate for Balance and Productivity Whatever you do, taking time to relax and regenerate helps you to do it better. If you don’t pause occasionally, shift your mind into neutral and recharge your batteries, your productivity plummets and you may not even realize it. You need time to let your mind wander - time to imagine new possibilities - time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - time to nurture soul. Life is more than an endless to-do list, and many of its most important gifts come when you allow yourself to put the daily details on pause and just experience the simplicity of life in the moment with nothing in particular on your mind that needs to be done. 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. Goal Setting or Let Go and Let God There are two approaches people use to manifest their desires. Some set goals. Others surrender and presume the universe is conspiring to deliver to them their every desire without strain, in its own way and in its own time. Which way is better? Can these two methods be used together? 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. 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

Last week-end, Janey and I attended a three-day event at the Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado. It’s called the Kryon Discovery Series - An Interactive Retreat featuring the profound core teachings of Kryon.

It was produced by our long-time friends, Dr. Sid Wolf and Dr. Amber Wolf. The main attraction was Lee Carroll, prolific author and channel for Kryon.

We were invited to play music each day as part of the program, so we had the double privilege of being participants as well as contributors to the event.

About a hundred people attended and everyone I talked to had a positive experience. By the end of the event on Sunday afternoon, everyone was glowing. It was a profoundly moving experience for most, and I know of at least a few who had a life-changing catharsis.

An Inspiring Diversity of Fascinating People

The teamwork was impressive as so many experts were available to share their expertise with everyone attending. Knowledge and wisdom were flowing not only from the presenters, but also from the people attending the event. Participants brought inspiration and experience from literally all over the world. I was amazed at how many people came from Europe, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, as well as from all over the U.S. There was so much to do and see and experience and learn, the time flew by and seemed too short, even though it was a three-day event.

The Producers and Hosts of the Event

Dr. Sid Wolf was the primary architect of the group exercises. His credentials include a lifetime of service in the healing arts as a psychologist, with a PhD in counseling. He’s a holistic health practitioner, certified Rolfer, and for the last decade or so, specializing in a fascinating healing modality called “Body Talk.” His expertise and forty years of experience was evident as the events of the weekend unfolded. He guided everyone through a series of exercises in small groups of five people. We met once a day with the same people in our small groups. Layer upon layer of superfluous personal baggage fell away, revealing our connection to one another in profound ways.

Along with his wife, Dr. Amber, Dr. Sid also served as M.C. His style is casual, although it’s apparent that his knowledge and experience is deep and wide. His delivery is friendly and warm, and his quirky sense of humor had us laughing constantly. The profundity of the experience had many weeping because of the deep, personal revelations discovered as a result of the processes designed by Sid and Amber. Other people had tears streaming down their face because there were some hilarious moments.

Dr. Amber was the perfect counterpart to Sid’s contribution. She has a very calming, deep spiritual presence that helped set the tone for the experience. She led everyone in powerful meditations, including two that she has recorded: Alpha Healing Access and Healing Wave Meditations – Your Divine Flame, Letting Go Into Deep Sleep.

Both Sid and Amber have been working with Lee Carroll for many years and their friendship and playfulness were contagious. Everyone responded to the obvious love and camaraderie shared among them. Their light-hearted style drove home the point that spirituality can be playful, joyous and spontaneous. Their example permeated the room throughout the weekend, and by the end of the retreat, everyone seemed to get it: personal development and spirituality is FUN!

The Main Attraction

For me, the main highlight of the entire event was meeting Lee Carroll. We had never met him before this event, and didn’t know what to expect from such a famous guy. We were delighted with his casual manner, his sincere kindness, and his wonderfully spontaneous sense of humor. He is one of the funniest people we have ever met. That’s a significant realization, considering we’ve been in show biz for 30 years together and have met many other entertainers, including professional comedians.

Lee is in a different league. His humor is not the result of skits or gags or scripts or memorized jokes. Instead, it seems to overflow from his joyous heart, his infinitely deep spiritual commitment, his keen intellect, and his childlike, playful spirit. He trusts his spontaneity completely, and appears to hear the humor for the first time, at the same time as the audience, and enjoys it right along with them.

If you’ve never heard of Lee Carroll or the Kryon books or the channelling process, here’s a brief overview in Lee’s own words. This is from book 11 – Lifting the Veil: The New Energy Apocalypse (Kryon). See my brief review of this and two other Kryon books here.

New to Channelling?

“I don’t have an evangelistic work. In other words, I don’t have a doctrine for you to accept, and I don’t really wish you to dump your old ways and see mine as great. What I really want is somehow for the channeled messages to open a door within you, expanding what you might think of yourself, and for you to examine some information of what most of the masters on the planet tried to teach us. Do this, and it might expand the horizons of the reality of your spirituality.”

From the Kryon Website: “Channelling Definition: The divine, inspired words (or energy) of God as imparted to Humans by Humans.”

Sacred Paths are Many

One of the things I appreciate most about Lee Carroll is his obvious commitment to the information coming through him. Of everyone I’ve ever known, Lee is the most ego-free. He has no possessive sense of ownership or monopoly of the truth. Instead, he honors and speaks highly of others who bring light to the planet in their own way, even if it’s different from his way. (And even if it’s very similar to his own way – other channelers, for instance.) This fact is demonstrated by his willingness to team up with other channellers and present programs together, each contributing their unique version of the truth.

The Reluctant One

If this was all Lee Carroll did, it would be amazing, even potentially earth-changing, but it’s just the start. He is known as “the reluctant channel” because, on the surface, it appears that he didn’t exactly choose this life. It chose him.

He used to be the kind of person who would roll his eyes at all this woo-woo (his word), and chuckle under his breath at the absurdity of it all. All this new age stuff is invisible, right? So, you can’t prove any of it. How convenient!

Lee’s background was very left-brained, linear and logical. He was a successful engineer and owned his own recording studio for about 30 years. He struck me as being very intelligent and has a love of understanding things scientifically. This particular trait makes for a fascinating dichotomy. The leading-edge information about spirituality and personal development described in the Kryon work is primarily invisible. At first brush, it’s not provable. It’s beyond the scope of the five senses, and therefore not in the scientific arena, by definition. Or, is it?

Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

For someone like Lee, it’s not enough to simply deliver the information. Instead, for 18 years, he has been scrambling around behind the scenes “connecting the dots.” He seems passionate about finding and reporting on the scientific evidence that supports the information given by Kryon. The result is an amazing combination of the metaphysical and the scientific. The gap between spirituality and science is closing and Lee’s work is on the cutting edge of helping people see the bigger picture hinted at by the quantum physicists. (See previous article: “Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion“).

Witnessing the Channel

During the weekend, Lee channeled Kryon three different times. It was fascinating to see the process, as well to experience Lee’s casual manner about it. To say it was inspiring would be an under-statement. I was introduced to the Kryon material about ten years ago by Dr. Sid Wolf, and I have read all of the Kryon books. I’m familiar with the material, but to witness Kryon’s delivery from only a few feet away was a special spiritual treat.

The “New” Science Forecasted by Kryon

On Sunday, Lee presented a narrated slide show on his on-going research to validate and substantiate the Kryon information. It included information about the shifting of the earth’s magnetic grid, the evolution of human DNA, and our growing understanding of what was once called “junk DNA.” It now appears to be much more important than junk - perhaps even playing an important role in our awakening inter-dimensional awareness.

It would be amusing, if it wasn’t so sad, to admit that we humans see something we’ve yet to understand, and decide to call it “junk.” A better use of the word may be to describe our arrogant style of trying to force new discoveries into old paradigms.

Another fascinating part of Lee’s presentation was a six-minute video clip of gifted children in Japan who have the ability to learn in an entirely different way. Most of us were taught all the small pieces, one at a time, in a linear, sequential manner. From an understanding of all the pieces, we are expected to deduce the whole.

These special kids already seem to be aware of the whole. They see the big picture, and have the ability to learn spatially, holistically, and intuitively. The video showed them “reading” by simply fanning the pages of a book quickly several times and then reporting on the details.

Another youngster, probably about eight years old, was able to report the theme of the book simply by placing his hand on the cover. This is even more remarkable than reporting the facts and details in a book because the theme is not described in the words of the book. He got a holistic understanding of concepts that are beyond the words themselves.

There was much more awe-inspiring information in this scientific segment of the program. Ah-ha moments came often. I was soaking it up like a spiritually parched sponge. I felt like it was over way too soon. I could have been there for hours watching Lee “connect the dots.” You can catch a glimpse of more of Lee’s discoveries and insights here.

A Gig to Remember

On Friday and Saturday evening, before Lee’s channel, and again on Sunday afternoon, Janey and I were invited to play music. We played six songs on Friday night, right before the evening channel. We performed six more on Saturday, followed by the evening channel. Then, we played two more songs as a farewell at the end of the event on Sunday.

Were we nervous? Yes, a little at first, but the audience was so enthusiastic and loving, the experience was a pure joy.

Seconds before we took the stage on Saturday night, Lee turned to me and asked, “Ready?” My reply came quick and clear, “I’ve been getting ready for this moment my entire life.” What an honor to be a part of such a profound program! We made many new friends and became reacquainted with some old friends.

Genuine, Personable, Accessible and Fun

One of the most incredible aspects of the weekend was Lee’s accessibility. He’s available, just one of the folks, like family, usually hovering around with his Nikon camera, documenting the details of the retreat.

At one point, our conversation turned to websites. I mentioned this site and told him I had recently decided to make all our songs from all eight of our CDs available to hear online free, as streaming mp3s. He said he had recently done the same thing with the Kryon channels.

As of this writing, there are 69 channellings of Kryon available from live events around the globe since 1997. This list is continually updated. They can be read free online or printed out. Here’s the link to the printed transcripts. Some of these are also available as free audio downloads.

By request, Lee has also been invited to channel Kryon at the United Nations – six times! Those channels can be accessed here.

Later in the conversation about websites, Lee mentioned he was curious to see if book sales would diminish, but they remained steady, even with the same material available online for free. We talked about giving and contributing without preconceived assumptions or attachments to outcomes. And then, he probably said something hilarious, and I laughed until my sides ached. (Again.) Did I mention he was funny? And warm? And real? And inspiring? What an amazing person!

The Next Kryon Discovery Retreat

As you can see on the Kryon website (on the “Seminar and Conferences” page), there are several opportunities to go to a Kryon event (about 60 per year), but this Kryon Discovery Series is unique – it happens only once a year. We have been asked to return next year with our music (and quickly inked it into our calendar). Here’s another link with many photos of the 2007 event, including many of the attendees as well as the people mentioned in this article. There’s even a few of Janey and I doing our “Laughing Bird” thing. If all those great photos look like fun, that’s because it was!

The dates for next year’s event are September 26, 27 and 28, 2008. If you are interested in attending next year, here’s a link with a list of all the up-coming Kryon events. As the time draws nearer to September of 2008, this Discovery Series Retreat at the Sunrise Ranch will be listed (although it’s not listed yet, as of October 2007.) By January, it should be listed.

The 11th Annual Kryon Summer-Light Conference™
KRYON REUNION IN SEDONA

Earlier I mentioned how Lee Carroll sometimes teams up with other channellers at the same event. There will be three others joining Lee at this Kryon Reunion. (Geoff Hoppe, Steve Rother, and Ronna Herman. Ronna was responsible for helping to get Kryon noticed by sharing her experience and contacts with Lee when he was just starting in 1995.) This is the “flag-ship” event of the year and is being held in beautiful Sedona, Arizona on June 13, 14 and 15. We have been asked to perform at this event too, and are delighted to be opening the seminar on Friday. For complete details, here’s the link: Kryon Reunion in Sedona.

Music

The songs we chose to perform at the Kryon Discovery Retreat are listed below. (You can listen to 12 of the 14 songs online. “Life is an Art” has not been recorded yet – next CD. “Merlin’s Magic Spoons” is very visual and appears only on our DVD entitled, “Celebrate the Journey.”) Throughout the weekend, behind the various activities and meditations, they played our instrumental CDs entitled, “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light” - Volume One and Volume Two. This is the music offered at the beginning of most of these articles that you can listen to while reading.

Basking in the Warm Glow of an Amazing Experience

I drove away from the Sunrise Ranch deeply grateful that there are people like Lee Carroll in the world, and Dr. Sid Wolf, and Dr. Amber Wolf, and my wife Janey - busy going about the work they are inspired to do. They move us, open us up to new potentials, and help us see the bigger picture. These angels-in-disguise offer the wisdom of their experience to bring us understanding, laughter and joy in the sacred process of our own personal development.

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.

Friday night: 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 Angels Around Us Is it your higher self, or your guardian angel, or perhaps an over-active imagination? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor3 All That We Take With Us Even sorrow brings us gifts of deeper understanding and a clearer perspective of what is really important. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor3 Be Kind Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor9 Blue Water Water and the sea are such perfect metaphors for the larger reality we are all immersed in. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor6 Story Belt Celebrates the importance of keeping things in perspective while being a part of the bigger picture. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor8 Saturday night: Life is an Art - (not recorded yet) 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 Soul in the Stars It feels good to try to see the bigger picture once in awhile,and to focus on gratitude for what we have, rather than the frustration of what we are lacking. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor4 Merlin’s Magic Spoons In this story, set to music, Janey finally reveals the secret of her famous magical spoons and how she learned to play them so well. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescCJ.html May You Have Joy Have you ever felt a warm appreciation for someone in your life, and just wanted to wish them well? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#anchor12 Sunday Afternoon Wrap Your Wings Around Some call it intuition; others call it inner guidance. Whatever it is, once you begin to rely on it, it "sounds" mighty quiet when it seems to stop. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor4 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 Songs by Tupelo
Choose the Companionship of Positive People Who Inspire You If the people you spend the most time with are inspiring, supportive, encouraging, and they demonstrate qualities you want to emulate - great, you are on the right track. If not, it’s up to you to do something about it. Life is too short to put up with other people’s pity parties, bitch-and-moan marathons, and oh-woe-is-me clubs. 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. 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. 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. Guided Meditation for Self-Healing and Personal Development It’s helpful to have a helping hand once in awhile. I was fortunate to have friends show me how to meditate. It was just friends showing friends something cool . . . because they could. Or maybe it was some kind of big brother / big sister program for the spiritually ripe. It was easy. It was casual. It was a life-changing experience. Benefits of Music for Personal Development All music is not created equally. This article takes a look behind the scenes to catch a glimpse of how the intent of the composer translates to the feeling evoked in the listeners. Many links are included to streaming mp3s. Celebrate life through music! 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. 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:
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Don’t stress over it. Enjoy the process. Get your satisfaction and joy from the journey instead of reserving your enjoyment only for the destination. Realize that none of this can happen unless you actually begin. So, do something now and approach your goals and dreams one step at a time. Find more inspiration on translating nudges to action here: “The Power of Beginning.”

100. Supercharge your enthusiasm by clearly defining your true passions. Enthusiasm is a compelling word; from the Greek root theos, “…inspired or possessed by a god.” Entheos means, “to be called by God” or “God within.”

Use enthusiasm deliberately, on purpose, by living your life in accordance with your true passions. Your passions are your North Star, your internal guidance system pointing you in the direction of your best life. Live it.

What are you passionate about? Are your passions buried in denial? Are they on the back burner until “later?” Do you even know what your passions are? Allow them to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you, in a good way. Learn how to identify and clarify your true passions to help you squeeze more enthusiasm out of life. Read “Your Passion as Your Compass.”

99. Say “yes.”

98. Mean it.

97. Put the power of positive affirmations to work for you. Feed your mind deliberately with healthy ideas that are in sync with what you want to manifest, as well as with who you want to become. We are surrounded by negative input from the media, from unaware people, and even from our own negative self-talk. That’s why it’s so important to tip the scales deliberately in the direction of where you want to go.

There are many helpful affirmations ready-made that you can use, but the most powerful affirmations will be those you create yourself. This allows you to breathe life into the entire process of manifestation – from the creation of the affirmation itself all the way to the emergence of your heart’s desire. Here’s a simple technique you can adapt to your own style. First, I’ll give you the formula as I currently use it. Next, I’ll discuss each word so you’ll see how it has evolved into its present state. Then, I’ll add some supporting information to provide you with a ready-to-go affirmation for your own experimentation. Read: “Manifestation Fill-in-the-Blank Affirmation.”

96. Give up your need to always be right. Can you allow your partner to be right? Can you walk away from a potential argument in order to preserve the peace? Sometimes, who’s right doesn’t really matter. Why strain relations for some nebulous, irrelevant egotistical reason? It’s not worth it. Would you rather be right, or would you rather be at peace?

This sounds so easy but you see it in kindergarten children . . . you see it in squabbles in nursing homes . . . and you see it at all stages of life in between. Some people never seem to catch on to this fundamental principle of togetherness. Explore this idea and several others compiled to help you create your dream relationship here: “10 Ways to Grow a Relationship of Mutual Personal Development.”

95. Say the words “I love you,” to the one who needs to hear it the most. Say it to the person who already knows, even if it’s obvious.

94. Make peace with the fact that there are mysteries beyond our reach. Be okay with paradoxes and enigmas. They can be fun, and thinking about them can make the inside of your head feel bigger. Much bigger!

Science, philosophy and religion all have one thing in common. They are all subjects we think about – that is, they are all accessed through the mind. Therefore, to go beyond science, philosophy and religion, it is necessary to go beyond the mind, beyond thought.

What is beyond the mind? Pure being. This is the realm beyond the world of thoughts and things. It is awareness – the sense of “I am.”

Wouldn’t it be convenient if physics could prove, once and for all, the validity of mysticism? In my imagination, I can hear physicists scoffing at the absurdity of the question. That begs another question - Why are so many physicists also mystics?

A lifetime of study has convinced them that physics and mysticism are two entirely different fields. Mysticism deals with states of consciousness, timeless being, the presence of “I am,” the formless. Science in general and physics in particular, by definition, deals with the world of form. For a complete understanding of the bigger picture, it takes both. Here’s a good place to start: “Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion.”

93. Discover your life’s purpose. It’s worth the effort. In fact, what could be more important than to know why you are here . . . so you can get on with living the life you were born to live?

Here’s an exercise to help put it in perspective: Let’s assume that you now have a crystal clear understanding of your life’s purpose. In your imagination, fast-forward to the last days of your life. In your mind’s eye, see how your life has turned out by paying attention to your understanding of your life’s purpose for so many years. Experience how it feels to know why you were here. Look back over your life from this vantage point and write your own obituary. Are you happy with it?

If you have truly been living your life on purpose, you will feel content and fulfilled. Bask in the warm glow of a life well lived. Avoid the unpleasant consequence of never realizing your purpose by giving your attention now to the idea of your life’s purpose.

Some people don’t think it’s possible to know their life’s purpose. Maybe they just don’t know how. Perhaps they never really looked, or perhaps they never came across a structured system to help them easily discover their life’s purpose. Those who are living their lives along the lines of their purpose can’t imagine living any other way. Here’s an easy way to help you bring the idea of “purpose” into focus: “10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose.”

92. Be still.

91. Recognize the difference between daydreaming, meditation and contemplation and then benefit from all three – deliberately. Meditation can be a nebulous concept. There’s a fine line between meditation and idle daydreaming. (I consider daydreaming healthy and beneficial too, but it’s altogether different from meditation.) For now, let’s think of meditation as a state of consciousness beyond thought, where you are identified with pure being.

Not many of us can shift into that lofty position in a moment’s notice. We need a tool, an easy technique that helps us get from point A to point B.

If you’ve been meditating for a while, it could be time to try something new. Meditation is like the path of personal development – there are many “right” ways to do it. Shake things up a little. For variety and possibly a new perspective, try contemplation.

Contemplation is a tool of deliberate, directed attention that allows us to access the more subtle states of consciousness experienced in meditation. Contemplation infers there is something specific upon which the attention is placed in order to help quiet the mind. Here’s a simple exercise, to help consciously point your attention toward four areas: breath, vibration, inner sound and light: “Simple Toning Meditation.”

90. Fine-tune your understanding of the Law of Attraction by getting it from the prime source. There are lots of descriptions, opinions, anecdotes, and viewpoints about the Law of Attraction online. Some are better than others. My article, “The Law of Attraction” offers an overview.

The best primer to round-out your understanding is this excellent book: The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham

Your best opportunity to internalize this powerful principle of manifestation and systematically put it to work in your life is to read these two in-depth, literary works of art: Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires . . . and . . . The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing. (All three of these recommended books are by Esther and Jerry Hicks.

89. Don’t take yourself seriously. (Because life is too important to be taken seriously!)

88. Use music deliberately to help you feel better almost immediately. Unless we’re some kind of masochist, that’s really what all of us want . . . just to feel a little better. Music can be an effective tool to help us move in a positive direction, no matter where we currently are on the emotional scale. It’s a matter of knowing approximately where you are right now emotionally, and choosing music that helps give you a boost.

The Law of Attraction applies to music too. Whatever you think about (or sing about) grows and attracts more and more similar thoughts. When you infuse it with emotion (plenty opportunity for THAT in music), you have the recipe for manifestation.

Once the Law of Attraction is understood and embraced, after seeing it in action in our own lives, its unthinkable to deliberately pollute our creative process with negativity of any kind. (Although this discussion is focused on music, the same principles apply to most television, radio, newspapers, gossip, as well as counter-productive songs.) Explore the power of music and how to use it consciously as a tool for growth here: “Benefits of Music for Personal Development.”

87. Learn from those who know. Model success. It’s helpful to have a helping hand once in awhile. I was fortunate to have friends show me how to meditate. It was just friends showing friends something cool . . . because they could. Or maybe it was some kind of big brother / big sister program for the spiritually ripe. It was easy. It was casual. It was a life-changing experience. That was 37 years ago, and meditation teachers are still touching lives in profound ways. They pass along what they have learned . . . because they can.

If you’re new to meditation, it’s not mysterious or scary or weird. Maybe you’ve never had the opportunity to have it explained to you properly . . . or maybe you’ve never had a qualified guide lead you through the process.

Meditation is a powerful tool of personal development that can be used literally for whatever ails you. And if nothing specific is ailing you, it can be used for creating a state of deep peace and general well-being. Meditation helps open you up to allowing whatever you choose into your experience. Benefit from those who know and model their methods by reading, “Guided Meditation for Self-Healing and Personal Development.”

86. Tickle someone. (Maybe they will tickle you back.)

85. Prioritize your projects and do the most important one first. Before incorporating this simple idea, it was easy for me to get distracted, derailed, and detoured onto some tangent. There are still plenty of opportunities for distractions, but the discipline learned from years of prioritizing my projects has helped me to recognize the potential detours clamoring for my attention before they have a chance to sidetrack me.

I’ve never been keen on creating any hard and fast rules about this. Sometimes, when in the middle of a deliberately chosen priority project, something else will come up. At that moment, I am aware that I have a choice to make. Either continue with my original project, or make a decision that this new direction is my new priority project.

It sounds simple, but you don’t want to undermine your chosen priorities by every little thing that blows your way. The secret is to make these revision decisions deliberately. It’s one thing to consciously change directions and another to look up and find yourself way off course and wonder what happened. Learn more about this powerful technique to get things done here: “The Quarter Million Dollar Idea for Productivity.”

84. Discipline yourself. Personal discipline in one area can spill over with benefits in all areas of your life. When something comes too easy and too cheap, it’s value can be overlooked. Some people need to make a significant investment in time and/or money to trigger their psychological perception of value. Are you one of those people?

For example, here are a few easy exercises that take only a few minutes per day, but it takes discipline to actually follow-through and do them. Just knowing about them won’t do you much good unless you actually go through the motions. You have everything you need to begin. You have your body. By the time you finish reading the recommended article and links, you will know exactly how to do all five of the Tibetan rites (as well as why to do them). The only other ingredient you need is discipline to begin reaping the benefits.

Everywhere you look, people seem to be too busy . . . too busy to take care of themselves and exercise. Here’s a quick solution that you won’t have to force yourself to do. It takes mental discipline to actually set aside 15 or 20 minutes to do these stretches . . . especially at first. After awhile, if you’re like me, you will look forward to your routine because of how good it makes you feel. Learn more about them here: “5 Tibetan Rites – Easy Yoga for Busy People.”

83. Read a book for no other reason but to laugh out loud. Share it with someone. Take turns reading and pause whenever the urge to laugh strikes, and then milk it for all it’s worth. The best books I’ve found for this are Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assaults Upon Our Language and More Anguished English: an Expose of Embarrassing Excruciating, and Egregious Errors in English

82. Turn off the TV. When television is an everyday part of your life, it’s hard to imagine life without it. That’s the point: TV is robbing your life of the power of your imagination.

TV addicts gradually loose the ability to form their own internal images and stay confused about what they really want in life. Instead of focusing their attention on their own mental images of what they want, their minds are pumped full of images and desires artificially manufactured by Madison Avenue by people with their own agendas. They don’t have “your” best interests at heart. Do you?

Choose deliberately . . . consciously . . . which desires are worthy of your attention and which ones are artificially planted within you by outside influences. We create our lives by the thoughts we think. Supercharging our thoughts with strong feelings speeds up the process. Focusing our attention on clear mental images tells the universe what we want and puts the wheels in motion to help us manifest our dreams.

How does the Law of Attraction relate to a lifetime of regular TV viewing? With a steady diet of TV, you are giving your attention to many, many things. Some wanted. Some unwanted. You engage with some of these images and ideas deliberately . . . most of them, non-deliberately. (It’s just what came on next.) Some of the non-deliberate ideas and images are upsetting to you, and you react to them with strong emotions.

Do your recognize this combination as the formula for manifestation? Clear mental images accompanied by strong emotions set the wheels in motion for creation. The Law of Attraction brings into your life whatever you focus your attention upon most, whether you want it or not.

Unfortunately, while watching TV, you are creating accidentally, unaware, by default. Instead of deliberately choosing what you want, you are giving your attention to (and therefore creating in your life) what someone else chooses for you.

However you choose to include the phenomenon of TV in your life, do it on purpose. Don’t allow it to shape the direction and quality of your life accidentally, just because it’s always on and you are always in front of it. For more food for thought on the phenomenon of television, read: “The Trouble with TV.”

81. Pay attention to how you feel. Your feelings can provide you with clear inner guidance. Feelings don’t lie. They don’t have a hidden agenda or secret motivation for influencing you one way or another. Their job is to simply let you know if your current course of action, or current train of thought, is in sync with who you really are and what you really want . . . or not.

Whenever you feel bad (regardless of what name is used to refer to the negative emotion), ask yourself, “What thoughts am I thinking right now that are taking me away from my true goals?” Once identified, direct your thinking in the opposite direction, toward what you really want. Choose thoughts that feel good. Allow those thoughts to grow and blossom into other thoughts that feel even better.

When you get that tight feeling in the pit of your stomach, there is an important communication trying to get through from the depths of your being. Are you listening? 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. Why is this important? Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by won’t carry you away. Regular meditation helps you stay centered so the nudges coming from your inner guidance are quickly recognized and acted upon. If it makes you feel good, you’re on the right track for you at this particular time. To explore this idea of inner guidance reaching you via your emotions, read: “How Do You Feel – About Inner Guidance.”

80. Eat a ripe apple and be mindful of every bite . . . every crunch . . . every mouthful . . . every taste . . . every smell . . . every sensation. (Chocolate works well too!) Better yet, eat a peach. Best yet, find a great mango.

Don’t worry about making a mess. Let it drip down your chin and get all over you. If you can, wade into the ocean, a lake, or a stream and rinse your hands and face when you’re done. (Or, just lean over the sink and dig in!)

79. Be at peace with your desires. Understand their purpose. Don’t deny them. It’s not necessary to shy away from them or be afraid of them. And, it’s not necessary to drop everything and chase after every new desire that comes along.

Avoid disappointment by recognizing the difference between placing your attention on the object of your desire . . . and placing your attention on the absence of your desire. While trying to learn how to manifest deliberately, many become frustrated and choose to rein in their desires. They choose the status quo. They choose to ignore the picture of their best life blooming deep inside.

Many tried manifestation but kept noticing it wasn’t working for them. Their attention was repeatedly and continuously on the lack of their desire manifesting. Therefore, the Law of Attraction dutifully delivered exactly what they most often pictured. More time was spent thinking about what was missing in their lives than time spent visualizing what they wanted to create. Their balance of thought was on the lack of their desire, so that’s exactly what they got – the lack of their desire.

Instead, attention should be focused on the thing itself. While feeling excited, happy and exhilarated about it, inner guidance is saying, “Yes, these thoughts are in alignment with what is truly wanted and it is now being attracted to you like a magnet.”

What is desire? Where does it come from? Why do we have it? Does it serve us in a positive way, or does it distract us and keep us perpetually in discontent? This article sheds some light on these important questions so that each of us can find our own answers: “The Dilemma of Desire.”

78. Embrace abundance. We must understand and believe the fact that there is abundance in nature. There is plenty to go around. The visible part of nature is practically endless and inexhaustible. The invisible side of nature really is endless and inexhaustible.

Nature is not poor. If a man is poor, living in the midst of nature, it is because he has not yet learned how to help himself to nature’s bounty. It is his to enjoy, as long as he obeys nature’s laws. There is no reason to deprive ourselves, and no way of keeping us from enjoying the riches nature is happy to provide.

Nature provides a waterfall of abundance that is never ending. We can go to the waterfall with a thimble or a barrel or a tanker train. The waterfall itself doesn’t care how much or how little we take. The abundance will keep flowing, and it’s completely up to each of us as to how much we can hold. The limitation is not the waterfall, but the vessel that we take to the waterfall.

The principles of “The Subtle Side” will show you how to take a vessel of any size you choose to the waterfall. And then, about the time when you think your vessel is full, you will realize that the waterfall of abundance is inside of you and inexhaustible.

The contrasts of our lives do a fine job of helping us identify what we want, by clarifying what we don’t want. Focus your energies on what you “do” want and withdraw your attention from the things you “don’t” want. Hold a clear mental image of already having obtained your objective. How does it feel? Experience it in your imagination with your senses all functioning at 110%. See it, smell it, taste it, hear it, touch it. Make it real and immediate in your inner vision. Be grateful for it.

Then, let it go with the assumption that the physical counterpart to your mental and emotional creativity is on its way to you.

This in-depth, 4-part article explores the principles and laws that deliver what we desire. Learn to accept all that life is willing to give through the awareness that you have control over your expression of abundance. Here’s how . . . read: “The Subtle Side of Manifestation.”

77. Be playful.

76. Write the story of a significant ah-ha moment. It doesn’t have to be a perfect composition – just write your experience as you remember it. Allow the process to give you the opportunity to absorb what you learned. By writing the details, you are investing time with your attention focused on something especially important in your life. This helps you to squeeze every benefit possible from the experience.

An example from my life: An interesting chance meeting with a shaman on the beach in Mexico put into motion a stream of events that could never have been foreseen. This article explores the seeds of creativity, as well as the celebration of all life through nature: “Reverence for Life Through Nature.”

75. Learn from the mistakes of the past to avoid repeating them. It’s obvious that we can learn from our own mistakes, but we can also learn from the mistakes of those who have come and gone. Humans have been on this planet for a long time, and only recently (relatively speaking) have we had the ability to expose ourselves to the lessons learned and wisdom gleaned from the ancients.

This age of information makes it possible to benefit from the thoughts of the best thinkers, writers, philosophers, poets and teachers the world has ever known. Even though they might have lived long ago and far away, we can see into their minds and supercharge our own unique path of personal development simply by evaluating their insights. It’s inspiring to catch a glimpse of others dedicated to living life to the fullest, in spite of the fact that humanity has been making some of the same mistakes for centuries. Here’s a good reminder to help make sure we don’t continue to repeat them: “The Six Mistakes of Man.”

74. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. (But be creative and make some new ones instead of the same ones referenced above.) If you aren’t making mistakes, you are probably doing nothing. As Gandhi once said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

73. Read books out of your comfort zone. Expand your horizons. Expose your mind to new ideas, fresh perspectives and viewpoints you would have never thought of, on your own. Stretch your mind. Give your heart wings. Allow for the expansion of soul, outside of the box of your habitual thoughts. Consider the thoughts of some of the most brilliant minds that have ever lived. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel intellectually. We can see further by standing on the shoulders of giants. Here’s a list of books that have moved me, opened me up, amazed me, thrilled me, and otherwise inspired me to take the next step of personal development. Click here for a list of books to help you supercharge your personal development.

72. Take time to communicate. Not just visit, chat or talk, but really listen, and then say what you really mean. Say what you want, clearly and directly. Let your deepest desires be known. If you don’t ask, you may not get. Communication skills can make or break us. Speak up. Listen deep. For more insights about the art and science of communication, read: “Communication – Friend or Foe.”

71. Rejoice in the delights of the senses, but don’t get stuck there. Instead use the wonders and joys of sensuality as a launching pad to experience another dimension of life . . . beyond the senses.

The idea is to occasionally turn off the senses in order to better tune into the aliveness that lies beyond them. The realization that there is something beyond the world of the five senses can provide an “aha” experience, especially at first. With the senses turned off (or even turned down), there remains a vibrant sense of aliveness – the world of feeling and the realm of being.

Once you are able to experience your self as the one who is seeing, apart from what is seen, it’s a brand new world. You aren’t the sound, but the one hearing it. You aren’t the taste, but the one tasting it. You are beyond the reach of phenomenon – you are the one who is witnessing the phenomenon. Read: “Being Present Through Sensuality.”

70. Breathe deeply with your eyes closed for 5 minutes. Then, keep your attention on your breath for another 5 minutes as it returns to normal. Whenever you notice your attention on a thought, gently return it to your breath – just watch.

69. Choose your own beliefs and re-evaluate them from time to time. Be careful that you are not mindlessly adopting the beliefs of someone else. Allow your mind the option of a fresh perspective. Entertain the possibility that new ideas can take you in new (and exciting) directions.

It’s easy to slip into mental habits. An idea isn’t necessarily true and the best of all possible viewpoints just because you’ve been thinking it for a long time. Beliefs don’t have to be static but can grow and mature as your understanding unfolds.

There’s a lot of pressure to believe. Social pressure makes a strong case to believe this way or that way or the other way. Why is it so important to so many people that you believe exactly like they do?

Is it simply a matter of insecurity? Without a strong personal sense of knowing, some people need belief to fill the gap. For many, belief is a placeholder until personal knowing can take over. Some people never know and are content to forever believe instead. Others lean on blind faith, a kind of desperate hopefulness, to fill the empty space inside when knowing remains elusive.

This article explores these two fundamental ideas of the human psyche - belief and knowing - and compares their influence in our lives: “Belief Systems vs. Knowing.”

68. Look for the spark of God in all people. Even though it is often well-disguised and deeply buried, that spark is still in there somewhere. Even when people choose to ignore it within themselves, it’s still there, waiting patiently but crying out to be recognized. Your kind word, gentle action or smile could be the catalyst that allows it to surface. What a profoundly important service you could offer by reaching out and connecting on a soul-to-soul level.

To me, a spiritual relationship exists between any two people who recognize and acknowledge that deep inside, we are the same. 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. Take your personal relationships to a whole new level. Read “Meaningful Spiritual Relationships – Namaste Matters.”

67. Write down five major blessings in your life.

66. Speak deliberately and consciously. Let the depth of your being be present in your words. The power of our word is related to our power to create. We clarify and make our intentions known through words. This power of creation is an ability attributed to and shared with God. We are the only species known who decides, intends and then manifests the fruits of our imagination. Words are powerful tools used in this sacred act of deliberately creating desired outcomes.

Most of us use this tool every day. Most do it unconsciously, unaware of the effects of their words. A few choose words carefully, aware of their power to influence and create results. Learn more about the deliberate, conscious use of language here: “How to Keep Your Word.”

65. Cultivate gratitude, feel it deeply and often, and express it to the key players in your life. How do you feel about your home? How do you feel about the people who share your home with you – past and present? How do you feel about the people who provided you with a home as you were growing up? Just imagine their sacrifices, hard work and determination to do the things they did so they could pay the rent or mortgage every month to provide you with that incredibly valuable thing called . . . home.

Can you see the value of gratitude for these fundamental elements of human experience? Where would you be without them? Can you imagine what your life might have been like without the people and place that defined your experience of home?

The feeling of gratitude is a wonderful thing. Not only does it feel good, it helps create an on-going life experience that continues to feel good. If there is anything better than the feeling of gratitude, it’s the expression of gratitude. Tell them how you feel. Find a way to communicate the fact that you appreciate what you’ve shared. Let them know their presence in your life means a lot to you. Let them know you noticed all the things they did to enhance the quality of your life. Let them know they matter.

Home and family is literally the center of our universe, but how often do we take it for granted? Celebrate life through gratitude for our sense of home and the people we share it with. Read: “Gratitude for Home and Family.”

64. Pet your cat or hug your dog.

63. Do what you love. Explore the difference between your job and your life’s work. Do you love going to work, or is it “just a job?” Do you love what you do and do what you love?

To feel complete, happy and fulfilled, the moments of our life need to be full of rewarding, satisfying activities. We enjoy our days because we enjoy our work. We also hope our actions and our work makes a difference in the world.

Those of us interested in on-going personal growth intend that our lives continue to get better and better, as our outer actions continue to get into closer alignment with our inner being. How do we do this?

A good start is to do what you love . . . as often as possible. First, clearly identify what those things are. When you really focus on what you love, and why you love it, the “how” to do it begins to show up in your life. Your attention to your passions makes you alert to opportunities that you may have otherwise missed.

When you are on-purpose and absorbed in activities related to your passions, you feel inspired. The word inspired is derived from “in spirit,” and that’s how it feels. When you are in the zone, doing what you love, you are working in spirit, with spirit, and for spirit. You are a co-worker, a conduit, a hollow reed, allowing the “goings-on” of the universe to “go-on” through you with no resistance. Instead, you consciously allow it to flow. 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: “Work – Just a Job or Visible Love.

62. Do something that takes courage. Feel the fear without denying it or suppressing it, and follow through anyway. Define exactly what you are afraid of, look it squarely in the eye and say, “You may be excused. Good-bye.” This may give you