Washington, DC – Metro Station.

On a cold January morning in 2007, the man with a violin played six
Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes . . . a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time.

This natural curiosity and interest was demonstrated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.

He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

* In a common-place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

* Do we stop to appreciate it?

* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

Possible conclusions reached from this experiment could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . . it makes you wonder:

Are we capable of recognizing talent, one person at a time? Or, do we need the approval of the masses first, and then simply go along with the herd and agree? Is social proof more important to us than our own personal experience?

How many other things in Life are we missing?

What other amazing experiences are right in front of us that we miss because we are too busy focusing on our preconceived “appointments?”

How many special persons pass us by and we do not MAKE ANY EFFORT TO get to know them?

How many other masters do we turn a deaf ear to?

If it is meant to be, it will be

At the beginning of the summer, we were invited by our Native American shaman friend to accompany her and another friend to England to stand inside the great ring of Stonehenge at dawn. We were asked to sing a song as the brilliant sun warmed the stones to a deep pink. Now I ask you, who would say no to this once-in-a-lifetime experience?

But there were obstacles to overcome. Our bank account was one. Soaring fuel prices meant soaring flight fares as well – the highest in history. Also, we were scheduled to perform on that night at a retreat outside of Denver. The two experiences had an ocean and seven time zones between them. To date, we have never canceled a gig, and we had promised we would be there in Colorado. To say we were conflicted would be an understatement.

But if it is meant to be, it will be.

The universe began to work overtime on our behalf, allowing serendipities and circumstances to shift into place. We had to shift into that place of allowing as well. No amount of excuses or sabotaging could stop what is meant to be. With the generous heart of a friend with lots of frequent flyer miles, we were thrilled to find ourselves standing on English soil four days before the event.

When the day arrived for Stonehenge, we got there at 6, long before the night gave way to the day. The stars shone pure and perfect in the night sky. The air was cool and crisp as if freshly born. The deep fog settled low into the surrounding valley, making it look like we were on the shores of the Isle of Avalon in King Arthur’s realm. Magical would be the word.

At 6:30, we were escorted by the night guard to the giant stones, standing black against the brightening sky. He left, leaving the four of us, along with two rabbits eating peacefully on the lush grass, to absorb the magnificence.

All these months of planning, dreaming, preparing and traveling funneled down to this moment. This solitary, exquisite, magical moment. I was preparing myself to be amazed.

But then I had to go to the bathroom. I was appalled when the physical tromped in on my spiritual turf, demanding attention, but my morning cup of tea was done with me. There was no fighting it. I ran with heels on fire back to the main compound. But time slowed. I got back in plenty of time because it was meant to be that I would be there.

At 7:10, the sun peeked above the horizon, a cool red with the promise of heat that hadn’t reached us yet. We brought out our instruments and sang the song that Tupelo had written especially for this moment. Our voices blended in harmony, singing to “the quiet that waits forever.” The stones absorbed the vibrations, turning a deep rose, basking in the quiet. The rabbits lingered close by so they must have liked it too.

No words can describe the clear emotions and the quiet peace of being inside the stones on that morning. Four friends came together, reuniting with their past and changing their present.

But the cosmos didn’t crack open as many friends joked would happen. We didn’t get zapped by a stroke of light from the universe. We didn’t get beamed up. The change was subtle. The shift within, soft and pure. The experience, gentle – like rabbits snuggling into the grass.

We were meant to be there on that clear morning, at that moment. Money, circumstances, or conflicting scheduling couldn’t keep us from being there. I didn’t question it. I didn’t doubt it, but I am eternally grateful for all the invisible work behind the scenes done on my behalf.

As if that experience wasn’t perfect enough, we did make our gig outside of Denver that night with ten minutes to spare. I should have been exhausted from the long road back from Stonehenge, but it felt like I had placed my hand in a light socket. I was energized and electrified.

It all worked out with perfect timing and delicate rhyme.

I’m still amazed by is all, and I was reminded once again: If it is meant to be, it will be.

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.

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

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 a fresh perspective on feeling afraid.

Fear is over-rated. We do it to ourselves. Fear has no reality other than our attention to it. Deliberately steer your attention to pictures in your imagination that emphasize what you want to happen – (instead of what you most dread) . . . and the fear dissipates.

Why do we hold on to so many illogical fears? It’s social conditioning. Learned responses. As children, we witness our parents (and other grown-ups) responding to the unknown with fear and worry. Naturally, we think, “Oh, that’s how you do that.” We mimic the behavior of those around us.

Mimicking behavior is fine if you happen to grow up in Shangri-La. It’s not so beneficial for the rest of us. We need a better response to the triggers that spark fear and worry. We need a deliberate, conscious reaction rather than the usual habitual, unconscious ones so common to the masses. For effective techniques on how to do that, don’t be afraid to check out: “Facing Fear with Deliberate Awareness.”

61. Notice the moment (… as often as possible.) Nurture the moment. Be here now.

60. Pamper yourself. You deserve it. Do you feel that taking time for yourself is a rare luxury? Do you continuously come to the rescue of everybody else, while time for yourself gets bumped to the bottom of the priority list?

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.

It’s vitally important to allow some time for yourself. Take time for whatever is truly important to you. And take time to rejuvenate and recharge your energy. Lavish some life-enhancing attention on yourself, for a change. If you don’t, you can run yourself down so low; you don’t even realize you are drained, until it’s too late. Then, you don’t have anything left to give others, even if you try.

It’s okay to meet your own needs, even when others are clamoring for your attention. Allow this article to redefine your idea of selfishness for the benefit of everyone in your life – including you. Read: “Take Time for You.”

59. Sidestep the traps of criticism. Why do people criticize? It’s not about you – it’s about them. When you get criticized, here’s what to do with it – don’t take it personally. Praise can be just as harmful (but sneakier) – don’t take it personally. Genuine self-love is the prize when you have successfully untangled yourself from the opinions, praise and criticism of everyone else.

And that is the perfect center of your world from which to grow and cultivate the very best version of your best possible life. Realize that you are the center of your own personal universe . . . and so is everyone else. Some people feel the world revolves around them. They’ve got it half-right. It does revolve around them. But it also revolves around every other person on the planet. We each live in our very own world, defined by our thoughts, feelings and belief systems. Our worlds intersect here and there, but we are each in the middle of manifesting a unique life.

Whenever one of us voices a criticism of another, we demonstrate not only our lack of tolerance and compassion, but also our lack of understanding. We demonstrate our unawareness of everyone else as the center and creator of their own world, and our unawareness of the importance of our own word. To continue fine-tuning your understanding of being at the center of your own creation while allowing everyone else the freedom to do the same, read: “Don’t Take it Personally.”

58. Write down your major dreams, and then read about them later, looking for insights.

57. Give yourself some slack. Hoyt Axton sang it true: “Work your fingers to the bone and what do you get? Boney fingers.” There’s more to life than toiling away our minutes, hours, days, years . . . and lifetimes. Give yourself a little breathing room now and then.

All areas of your life improve when you are not so constantly driven and consumed by whatever project, duty, job, or “crisis” has currently monopolized your attention. Sure, all those things are important, but the constant activity must be balanced by “quiet time” to give it meaning.

Allow yourself the luxury of time to just be without any urgency to do. A satisfying life includes time for doing, balanced by time for being. In the time set aside for being, doing is not required. Not necessary. Not allowed. It’s time for staring into space and enjoying the moment . . . time for daydreams, contemplating and musing.

With time invested regularly in the realm of being, the time spent doing takes on a different quality. Actions become more focused, more deliberate, and more on-purpose.

What we do and how we do it is determined by who we are. Balancing the realms of being and doing seems to be a healthy objective – on a personal level as well as on a global level. When our perpetual propensity to do is inspired and driven by “who we are” – the realm of being . . . then our actions bring satisfaction. To explore this important balancing act in more detail, read, “Action and Satisfaction.”

56. Notice (and be grateful) that it is no longer necessary to expend the lion’s share of your life’s energy just to keep body and soul together. You are not going to be eaten by a saber-tooth tiger, and it’s highly unlikely that you will starve to death or die from exposure.

For the first time in history, average people have the luxury of “disposable time.” We can choose how to spend our time since our basic needs are met by the science and culture of our era. This hasn’t always been the case. If fact, historically speaking, it’s a relatively new development.

Think about how life has changed for humans through the centuries, and how we now have the luxury of choice. We can choose what to do with some of our time and energy since it is not all required just to get by. 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.

To thrive, we need more than just the basic necessities of life. We need more than food, clothing and shelter. We need time. We need time for ourselves . . . time for reflection and contemplation. This quality time allows us to nurture ourselves at our deepest levels. It gives soul some breathing room and allows spirit to stretch its wings and fly.

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. Do you recognize how a lifetime of choices has brought you to this moment and the life you are currently living? Explore the value of creating the details of life through informed, conscious choices by reading the article: “Spiritually Thriving Through Choice.”

55. Go skinny-dipping. (Janey and I used to go skinny-dipping . . . but these days, we go chunky-dunking.)

54. Live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter. Then, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations of 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.

Whatever you choose to do in life, do it because it comes from inside you rather than from society, culture, religion, or the peer pressure of the day. All these things change – they come and go with the seasons. With your ever-increasing self-reliance, you are on the leading edge of humanity’s expanding consciousness. Inspire yourself to live from the inside out by reading: “Integrity Through Self-Reliance.”

53. Dream big. Think big. Do big.

There are 52 more techniques in this collection to help you supercharge your personal development. To get a free e-book with all 101, type in your name and email address below. You’ll also get my free newsletter, “Inspired on Purpose.” The newsletter will keep you up to date with more tips, techniques and resources similar to these 101. After signing up below, you will be taken to a page where you will be able to download your e-book immediately so you can continue reading the other 52 techniques within moments.

“What do you do for a living?” That’s an odd phrase when you think about it.

“How do you make a living?” That’s another one.

For those of us interested in personal development, a better question may be, “What do you do to make a life?”

Or, more specifically, ” How do you continually recreate your best possible life? How do you manifest the life you were born to live?”

Is there a particular profession, business or service you were born to fulfill? Are there different niches that fit you perfectly, at different times of your life?

These are questions to be answered one person at a time, in the privacy of your own mind, heart and soul. If you never get around to asking the questions, then FOR YOU, the answer is likely, “no.”

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it.” – Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“It is the first of all problems for a man to find out what kind of work he is to do in this universe. Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.” – Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

Do You Get to Work . . . or Do You Have to Go to Your Job?

For most people, a job is something they have to do. It’s not a “want-to” . . . it’s more of a “have-to.”

“If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place.” – Orison Swett Marden

Working for More Freedom

Getting a job feels like less of a choice and more of a requirement of our society and culture. What we all really want is total freedom – freedom to choose how we spend our precious, fleeting moments. We get a job to get a paycheck to allow us to buy at least a degree of freedom.

“When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery.” – Maxim Gorky (1868-1936)

Are You Doing Your Life’s Work . . . or Just a Job?

Job dissatisfaction is running rampant worldwide, so there is clearly something wrong. A Gallup pole revealed that over 33% surveyed would feel happier with another job. One in three! Are you one of them?

“Men who do their work without enjoying it are like men carving statues with hatchets.” – Anonymous

Why are so many people frustrated with their jobs? Perhaps relatively few have ever taken a time-out pit-stop from the rat race long enough to ask themselves, “Is my work just a job or visible love?”

“When you work, you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. To love life through labor is to be intimate with life’s most inmost secret. All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” – Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Beyond the Job

It’s necessary to think outside the box in order to allow what you love to merge with your work. We are programmed by the education system to go to school and get a job. That’s the goal: get a job.

“A job is what we do for money; work is what we do for love.” – Marysarah Quinn

Just getting a job is okay for many; it allows our society to function – but for those of us who demand more out of life, a job is not enough.

“The man who does not work for the love of work but only for money is not likely to make money nor find much fun in life.” – Charles Schwab

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. (But we also expect our actions and our work to make a difference in the world.)

“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the enjoyment of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)

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 better alignment with our inner being. How do we do this?

A good start is to do what you love.

“My father always told me, ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.’” – Jim Fox

After you’ve determined WHAT you love, look around for examples of people who have made a living (and a life) by doing that. Learn what you can from others and then proceed in your own unique way. (This was discussed in detail in a previous article entitled, “Your Passion as Your Compass.”)

“Never follow somebody else’s path; it doesn’t work the same way twice for anyone…the path follows you and rolls up behind you as you walk, forcing the next person to find their own way.” – J. Michael Straczynski

Your Life’s Priorities

Here’s a fun exercise to get your creative juices flowing: Imagine you have just won the lottery. Money (or the lack thereof) is no longer in the equation – it’s not an issue. How will you spend your days? What will you choose to do with your moments that will bring you joy?

Go ahead and think about it now, and write down what comes to mind. Do it now. I’ll wait . . .

“It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work. They seem to insist on somebody else doing their thinking for them.” – Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Now, look at what you just wrote down. (You did play along by writing things down, didn’t you?) Are you doing any of those things now? If not, why not?

No time? Make time – it’s obviously important to you. This simple exercise has helped you bring your priorities into focus.

Your Joy, Happiness and Fulfillment Index

For further clarification, ask yourself, “When have I felt happiest? When was I most joyful? When did I feel most fulfilled?”

What caused those feelings? What were you doing? Be receptive to ways that allow you to continue doing those things that have brought you joy.

(For more details along these lines, see a previous article entitled, “10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose.”)

“The fact remains that the overwhelming majority of people who have become wealthy have become so thanks to work they found profoundly absorbing. The long term study of people who eventually became wealthy clearly reveals that their “luck” arose from accidental dedication they had to an arena they enjoyed.” – Srully D. Blotnick (b. 1941)

Looking Back at Your Lifetime

Imagine yourself for a moment near the end of this life, and fill-in-the-blank: “If only I would have made time for _______. My life would have been so much more fun and satisfying if I would have only _______.”

Does it seem too difficult? Too much trouble? Do you feel like the odds are stacked against you? How is it going to feel on your death bed if you never even try?

Maybe it’s a little uncomfortable to think about it now, but just image how much more uncomfortable it will be then. It’s easier to think about it now, while you still have time to do something about it.

“If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.” – Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

When You Know the “What” . . . Allow the “How” to Come to You

The next step is to make an intention to discover ways to make your living (and your life) while actively engaged in your favorite activities.

Other people are doing it, so it’s possible for you to do it too. They have probably learned techniques and procedures along the way to help them make a living while they do what they love. You can learn those techniques and procedures too.

“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” – Confucius (c. 551-479? BC)

“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.” – Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)

It’s Never Been Easier to Find the Information You Need

These days, there’s no excuse. The internet is a tremendous resource for learning whatever you choose. You can learn about anything in the comfort of your bathrobe by parking yourself in front of the computer screen. (As an example, seven months ago, I had not even heard of blogging. When I did, it seemed like a good fit. So, I used the techniques discussed in the very first article, posted on January 1st, entitled, “The Power of Beginning.” I decided what I wanted, I began, and now I am learning as I go along.)

You can do the same, regardless of what new skills you would like to have. You will be amazed at how things begin to fall into place, once you make a decision of what you want and simply begin!

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato (c.428-c.348 B.C.)

Become a magnet of helpful information. Intend for the right information to show up at exactly the right time. Get smarter. Yes, it takes effort, but it’s worth it. What could be more important than living your life joyously and feeling fulfilled on a moment-to-moment basis?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

“Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.” – Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Quantum Leaps Are Rare

If it’s a long way from where you are to where you want to be, be patient and grow into your vision gradually. A sudden switch sometimes works, but the important thing is for the switch to stick. By laying the proper foundation, you ease into your new life comfortably without the risk of the contrast being too much of a shock.

“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.” – Richard Bach (b. 1936)

For instance, if you feel stuck in a dead-end job and if going to work doesn’t feel anything like love, it may be time to make a change. Your personal satisfaction and healthy self-image depend on it. Your general health and well-being also depend upon choosing work that is in tune with your values.

“If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.” – Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Once you make the decision to do something about it, you have two choices:

1. Quit immediately and run the risk of an uncomfortable situation as you scramble for income to pay the bills . . . or

2. Stay at your job for a while longer and change your attitude. Begin learning how others are successfully making a living doing whatever you have defined as your primary passion. Model their methods, but do it in your own unique way and in your own time.

The attitude change goes something like this: “I am grateful for this paycheck and see the value of it. I am preparing myself to make the switch to a passion-driven life. It feels so good imagining my life focused around my passion. I feel so happy and grateful now that I realize it is possible to create my ideal lifestyle deliberately.”

“If you do not love what you do and do what you love, you have chosen mayhem over music.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer

It’s All About Choosing

This quote is especially pertinent for my wife, Janey, and me. We chose music over mayhem many years ago because it is one of the things we love. We enjoy making music together even when we are doing it for free. We feel our life is “on-purpose” and love the life we have created.

“Enthusiasm is unmistakable evidence that you’re in love with your work.” – Anonymous

Even though there have been plenty of experiences of uncertainty through the years, our focus has remained on doing what we love, no matter what.

“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.” – Walt Disney (1901-66)

Go with the Flow

When we are doing it right, it feels like we are in a canoe, effortlessly floating downstream with the current. We rarely have the visibility to see what is around the next bend, but we don’t worry about it. We just assume it will be good, and it usually is.

“I feel that you are justified in looking into the future with true assurance, because you have a mode of living in which we find the joy of life and the joy of work harmoniously combined. Added to this is the spirit of ambition which pervades your very being, and seems to make the day’s work like a happy child at play. (referring to America, although it sounds like he could have been talking directly to Janey and me!)” – Albert Einstein (1875-1955)

Don’t Let Your Unobserved Mind Work Against You

There have been times when I slip a little and become overly concerned that I can’t see what’s coming next. It’s all too easy to allow the mind to drift, and then run rampant and begin to focus on disaster. “What if there’s a big boulder around the next bend and what if we hit it and break the canoe? And what if we fall in the water and it’s too cold? And what if we loose our paddles? And what if . . . ”

(This idea of worry being creative visualization used backwards is discussed in detail in a previous article entitled, “The Law of Attraction.”)

“It is not hard work that kills men, it is worry.” – Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Whenever I catch myself doing that, I immediately and deliberately take my mind off of what I dread, and instead, I focus my attention on what I would most like to see.

“Sometimes my thoughts are little,
Even when I think I’m thinkin’ abundant,
Wondering why not, instead of what I want.
I want it, yes I do . . . Oh, yes I do . . . Or maybe not,
The balance of my thought reflects exactly what I’ve got.”
- from the song, “It’ll Be All Right Now” by Tupelo Kenyon

Of course, there are surprises, just like any ride on a river, but that’s what makes it fun. That’s adventure. It’s life, and the unexpected serendipities are Janey’s favorite part. (I like them too.)

“Life is what happens to you,
While you’re busy making other plans.”
– John Lennon (1940-1980)

Imagine

The river has always provided for us, even during those times when we couldn’t imagine how. (We should all take a hint from John Lennon and spent less time fearing the worst and more time imagining the best.)

Just like riding along on the current, the right thing has always showed up at the right time. It’s uncanny and it has happened so many times, now we are no longer surprised by it. In fact, we expect it and count on it daily.

“Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.” – James Lane Allen (1849-1923)

Have a Nice Ride

This experience has been a good lesson on: It’s not about the destination – it’s all about the journey. We have enjoyed the journey. We have loved the ride. And we feel fulfilled and grateful about making our living (and our life) by doing what we love. At this point, it’s hard to imagine doing it any other way.

With over thirty years of experience in this area, it is one of my most heart-felt recommendations: Just do what you love . . . and trust.

There will be a way. You’ll see.

“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?
Do what you love.”
-from the song, “Do What You Love” by Tupelo Kenyon (written in 1989)

Delight in the Surprises

You may not be able to see the entire journey spread out before you right now from your current vantage point . . . but why would you want to? It’s more fun to take it as it comes, and delight in the surprises and serendipities . . . as well as the specific details you deliberately create through the power of your imagination and intent.

“I’m taking the plunge, ready to lunge off the deep end.
Here I go, caution to the wind.
Cruisin’ on enthusiasm, taking what life gives,
Instead of dying before I ever live.

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

Playing at Work

After awhile, the line between work and play dissolves. When Janey and I sing together, it’s easy. Co-creative. Fun! When I’m writing a new song (or a new article), it feels good. I get in the zone and time flies by. When we are in the recording studio and everything is flowing, we feel exhilarated and fulfilled to be able to capture something as fleeting and nebulous as a song.

First there is a feeling, then a blank sheet of paper, then various sounds, and eventually there is a finished song on a CD. In its final form, it can last for a very long time and anyone in the world can hear it anytime. . . but not long ago, it was little more than a subtle musing. Very easily, it could have never been born at all. What an amazing process of creation! When it all comes together, it’s thrilling – the line between work and play has dissolved.

“When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of Creation is completed inside us, the doors of our souls fly open and love steps forth to heal everything in sight.” – Michael Bridge

Life is an Art

When Janey is doing her stained glass artwork or writing a book, it just feels right. She also gets in the zone, and the whole world fades away except for the work (play) at hand. These are the things we would be doing anyway – even AFTER we win the lottery!

“There are two kinds of talents, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.” – Pearl Bailey (1918-90)

These are some of our passions that we love “touching up once in awhile.” It feels like these are some of our purposes in life so time spent absorbed in them hardly feels like work. It’s all fun . . . it feels like we are right on target, playing at life.

“Right here, right now . . . You and me, and how,
The right place, the right time . . . Our very own personal paradigm.
‘Cause life is too important to be taken seriously,
Yeah, life is too important to be taken seriously.”
From the song, “Seriously” by Tupelo Kenyon

Inspired Work

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.

“A reed in the river
For water to flow through,
A hallow reed.
It’s just as it has always been.
And I am only a reed, a reed in the river,
A reed in the river of life am I.”
- from the song, “Story Belt” by Tupelo Kenyon and Spirit Walker Standing

Gratitude for Living Life On-Purpose

As you grow into your personal passion-driven life, you will know you are on the right track because you will be continually awash in a sea of gratitude. You will be in awe as you notice the countless details that manifest to allow you to continue to do what you love.

A Perfect Day in the Life

About twenty-five years ago, Janey and I sat down under a tree in a forest and asked ourselves what a perfect day would look like to us. We took our time, thought it through, and wrote it all down.

I wrote about owning my own recording studio in the mountains and spending the day recording. I wrote about spending quality time with my wife and having a quiet lunch outside on the deck, by the stream. Janey wrote about enjoying fresh veggies out of her own garden. She wrote about having a nice home in the mountains and her own stained glass art studio. She visualized having time to write the books she always wanted to write and create the art clamoring for expression in her imagination.

Twenty-five years ago, these things seemed like little more than pipe-dreams but we imagined them clearly anyway and allowed ourselves to really feel what it would feel like to experience it. We visualized that perfect day and felt grateful for it.

Today we lived that day!

We woke up this morning in our home in the mountains. We had a leisurely lunch on the deck we built overlooking North Piney Creek, grateful for the fresh, healthy, organic vegetables Janey picked from our garden. She “worked” on her writing for awhile and then went out to her stained glass art studio that we designed and built with our own hands. She spent the afternoon and evening happily creating yet another phenomenal feat of glass.

“He who works with his hands is a laborer,
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman,
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”
- St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1182-1226)

After lunch, I walked the 100 steps from the deck to the recording studio (also personally designed and built with our own hands) and enjoyed recording a few tracks for our next CD. All in all, another perfect day!

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood…. Make big plans… aim high in hope and work.” – Daniel Hudson Burnham (1846-1912)

What Kind of Life Do You Want to Live . . . Specifically!

Our perfect days are happening now because we took the time to define clearly what we really wanted. We wrote it down and felt it in our imaginations. It didn’t manifest all at once, but that’s okay because we enjoyed the journey. We just kept our eye on the prize and floated downstream.

Our attention to our specific, clearly defined visualizations set the wheels in motion, bringing it all closer, day by day, until our day to day reality matches and exceeds our original picture of a perfect day.

That’s why it’s so important to find your own answers to some of life’s most important questions:

1. What do I do to make a life, and not just a living?
2. How do I continually recreate my best possible life?
3. How do I manifest the life I was born to live?
4. Is there a particular profession, business or service I was born to fulfill?
5. What do I love? (That’s important . . . worth repeating.) What do I love?
6. If I won the lottery, how would I spend my days?
7. When money is no object, what will I choose to do with my moments that will bring me joy?
8. Am I doing those things now?
9. Why not?
10. When have I felt happiest?
11. When was I most joyful?
12. When did I feel most fulfilled?
13. What was I doing then that caused those feelings?
14. Are other people making their living (and their lives) doing what I love?
15. How can I learn the techniques and procedures that make it possible for them?
16. Am I floating with the current downstream toward the life I love . . . or caught in an eddy . . . or fighting the current, trying to paddle upstream?
17. Have I really taken the time to think it through and clearly define what I want?
18. If not, why not?
19. If so, is it time to revisit and update my picture of my perfect day . . . my perfect life?
20. Can I feel grateful for where I am right now, while visualizing and eagerly anticipating my perfect life?
21. How do I think and feel about work . . . just a job, or visible love?

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.

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

It’ll Be All Right Now It’s one thing to understand intellectually that the thoughts we think mold our experience, and another thing to live every moment as if it really is a basic law of nature. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor10 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 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 Seriously A reminder of the importance of making it a point to deliberately live life in joy, reverance, and with a light-hearted spirit. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor15 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 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! 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. 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

A few years ago, Janey and I were walking along a deserted beach on the Pacific side of Mexico. A lone figure approached us, and as we converged, we struck up an easy conversation. She felt like an old friend. It wasn’t long before we had made plans for a campfire beach dinner of local fish, rice and fruit. It was her birthday, so we offered to provide an impromptu concert after dinner to help celebrate.

It was a wonderful evening. We were accompanied by Chis, a marvelous harmonica player and percussionist from New Zealand, and Jake, an accomplished guitarist and didgeridoo player from the U.K. The music was magical.

As the evening progressed, we learned more about our fascinating birthday girl. She was a multi-faceted jewel shining bright with a rare depth and beauty. I immediately appreciated her grasp of common-sense spiritual principles and her rock-solid dedication to her inner guidance. She was wise, worldly, and other-worldly, all at the same time. I recognized her as a shaman of the Native North Americans. We learned her name: Spirit Walker Standing.

At the end of the evening, as I was packing up my guitar, she approached me with a well-worn scrap of paper in her outstretched hand. She said, “These words came to me a couple of months ago, and I haven’t known what to do with them. Now, I know I’m supposed to give them to you.”

On the paper was written about a dozen words including the phrase, “story belt.” It made no sense to me. She explained a story belt is a tool that helps a shaman keep track of all the people of the tribe, as well as past generations. It’s a tool of remembrance – each person is represented by a colorful bead on the story belt. She is called “the keeper of the bones” for her people, and this is traditionally done with a story belt.

“A people without history is like wind on the buffalo grass.” – Sioux Native American Proverb

The next day, first thing, I grabbed my guitar and the scrap of paper, and a song simply poured out in about fifteen minutes. I showed it to Janey and after another few minutes, she had the perfect harmony vocal and dulcimer part.

We were eager and excited to show Spirit Walker Standing what her scrap of paper had grown into, so we walked to her camp with instruments in tow. We met her about half way – she was walking toward our camp. Janey said, “We have a new song for you.” The reply came, “I was thinking you might.”

Once again, we were delighted by her uncanny timing and nonchalance, although by now, we were no longer surprised by it. (Curious coincidences are a regular occurrence around Spirit Walker Standing.)

As we played the song for her, she went deep into the music, and into herself. As she concentrated, listening fully, I noticed her face seemed to morph until she looked completely different. She settled into a very peaceful place, deep within. As the song came to an end, she surfaced just long enough to ask us to sing it again. And then again.

The song obviously struck a cord with her, so I wanted to find a way to record it, then and there on the beach, so she could take the song with her. Things kept falling into place to make it easy for us to make a good quality recording that evening. (Again, we weren’t surprised.)

Jake just happened to have a DAT recorder with him in his backpack. We had an assortment of microphones, cords, and a mixer from our stage set-up, so in the spirit and tradition of Mexican ingenuity, we cobbled together a rustic recording studio . . . right there on the beach. We recorded the song that night, complete with guitar, dulcimer, didgeridoo, harmonica, percussion and harmony vocals.

We presented Spirit Walker Standing with the digital master and a cassette copy of the new song titled, “Story Belt,” but felt like it was we who were given a valuable gift.

We went our separate ways until a few months later, when we were able to spend a few more days together in a charming little stone village named Real de Catorce in north central Mexico. She explained how the song had been put to good use since the last time we were together.

One of the many humanitarian activities Spirit Walker Standing was coordinating was a gathering of the shamans. At her request, they had come from all over North and South America for the purpose of consecrating an area of spiritual importance. They were also likely comparing and combining their wisdom for reasons beyond my current understanding. Spirit Walker Standing was hosting the proceedings and began by playing the song, “Story Belt,” three times in a row. She said it set the tone for the gathering.

Once again, I was touched and amazed by this intriguing person (but still not surprised). Of all the awards and recognition available to singers and songwriters, this experience of “Story Belt” will forever remain in the most prominent and reverent place in my heart. What an honor!

Spirit Walker Standing received a spark of inspiration for this song and was interested and disciplined enough to write it down, and when the time came, pass it on to me. She felt something powerful, deep, and important through this song but it was I who received the most valuable gift . . .

• The birthing of this song helped me to remember the oneness we all share with all people and all things.

• It allowed me to reaffirm the magic and wonder of life . . . experienced through communing with nature.

• It allowed me to revisit my strong connection with the natural world and experience the awe and wonder of life and the oneness with nature.

• The entire experience of “Story Belt” reminded me that we are all one with each other and one with life . . . inner-connected. How many of us are there? One.

• These bodies are all hallow vessels, suitable to temporarily host what is known as the Great Spirit in the Native American tradition. When we get out of the way and let it flow, miracles happen.

If you chose to listen to the background, instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article, you have been hearing “Blue Sky Traveler / Story Belt” from the CD entitled, “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light – Volume One.” (Spirit Walker Standing handed me a scrap of paper one other time and said, “You have some beautiful instrumental music in you too, and here’s the title.” When I unfolded the scrap of paper, I saw only six words: “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light.”)

As of this writing, there are now two “Celestial Sounds” Cds: Volume One and Volume Two.

The version of “Story Belt” with the lyrics ended up on our CD entitled, “Here Like a River.” You can listen to the song by clicking the link above or at the end of this article.

Story Belt

A bead in a story belt, it is as I was told.
It was the way of the people,
It’s just as it has always been.
And I am only a bead, a bead in a story,
A bead in a story belt am I.

And I am a reed, a reed in the river,
A hollow reed.
It’s just as it has always been.
And I am only a reed, a reed in the river,
A reed in the river of life am I.

And I am a song, a song that’s singing me.
A song of the people,
It’s just as it has always been.
And I am only a song, a song of the people,
A song of the people, singing me.

- from the song, “Story Belt,” by Spirit Walker Standing and Tupelo Kenyon

Reverence for Nature

Janey and I both have always loved the peaceful inspiration offered by the wilderness. We have traveled to many incredible, remote places through the years and have made our homes far from the clamor and pollution of cities. Our sense of home is a peaceful place in the country, a few miles from a small village. We have insisted on this way of life since we first met in the mid ’70’s in Kodiak, Alaska. Since then, we have built cozy homes in out-of-the-way places including Monaska Bay on Kodiak Island, Spruce Island, and Homer, Alaska, the Big Island of Hawaii, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, and now in the Little Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. (We like to say that we had to move to Wyoming because Alaska got too crowded.)

As I write this article, I am on the beach, at the end of the road, outside of the charming little fishing village of Charlottesville on the island of Tobago, a few miles northeast of South America, in the Caribbean,. The wild, unspoiled places nurture creativity and make it easier to stay in touch with the things that really matter.

“Hills are always more beautiful that stone buildings, you know. Living in a city is an artificial existence. Lots of people hardly ever feel real soil under their feet, see plants grow except in flower pots, or get far enough beyond the street lights to catch the enchantment of a night sky studded with stars. When people live far from the scenes of the Great Spirit’s making, it’s easy for them to forget his laws.” – Walking Buffalo, Tatanga Mani, Stoney Indian

Even when surrounded by these serene “scenes of the Great Spirit’s making,” it is all too apparent to see evidence of man’s short-sightedness. It seems as if many of today’s world leaders and corporate CEOs treat the earth and her natural resources as if this is the last generation who will ever need them.

“In our way of life, in our government, with every decision we make, we always keep in mind the Seventh Generation to come. It’s our job to see that the people coming ahead, the generations still unborn, have a world no worse than ours – and hopefully better. When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them.” – Oren Lyons, the Onondaga Faithkeeper

I wonder how long we can keep behaving as if future generations don’t matter before harming the planet irreparably. For instance, in the last few weeks, I have been to some very remote beaches in Trinidad and Tobago, rarely visited by humans. Still, human trash preceded me to these otherwise pristine jewels of nature. The same scene of careless litter has met us on the beaches of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Hawaii and even Alaska.

We spent the last couple of days with new friends Dan and Sandra, who have been circumnavigating the planet in their sailboat, Mariposa, for the last fifteen years. They reported seeing disheartening heaps of human garbage accumulating in the most remote places on earth, including isolated atolls hundreds of miles from human habitation. Our litterbug mentality is no longer threatening just where we live. Our garbage is literally filling the far-flung corners of the earth.

“We do not inherit the land, we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb

Thirsty for a Better Idea

One quick example of blatant short-sightedness: One human is thirsty at a particular hour on a particular day at a particular place. He buys a plastic bottle filled with water. It takes about one minute for that one person to quince that one thirst. The bottle is tossed away, and quickly forgotten. Eventually it ends up in one of the world’s oceans, rolling on the waves for a few years and then coming to rest on a beach far away, decorating it with a 21st century motif for thousands of years.

Multiply that scenario by billions of people, each thirsty again and again throughout their days, throughout their lives, and the number of plastic bottles used once, then discarded to litter the planet is beyond comprehension. Is that really the best we can do? Doesn’t anyone have a better idea? Aren’t we smarter than that? How many years of this will it take for our beaches to be a foot deep in plastic bottles? Three feet deep? Will we find a better idea then?

How about this? Invent a new kind of plastic that doesn’t last forever. As long as the bottle is full of water, the bottle is impervious. As soon as the bottle is opened and air comes into contact with the inside of the bottle, a chemical reaction takes place and the plastic begins to break down in a reasonable amount of time, a year or two. I’m no chemist, but something like this should be possible. Consider it a challenge – here’s a million dollar idea – somebody needs to come up with a better idea than millions of discarded plastic water bottles lasting for centuries.

“Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.” – Red Jacket, Seneca Native American

Sharing the Planet

It’s not all about us humans, although we like to think it is. Other creatures, great and small, are also manifestations of the Great Spirit, and they are also paying dearly for our carelessness . . . with their very lives.

We recently witnessed the ancient magic of a 700 pound leatherback turtle laboring up the beach to dig her nest, lay her eggs, camouflage the nest, and then return to the sea. These majestic creatures have a life span as long or longer than humans, but just one plastic bag can cut their life short. They feed on jellyfish and easily mistake our litter for lunch. It just takes one to end the life of one of these marvelous, endangered reptiles who have flourished on this planet for eons before man showed up. And now, there are millions of plastic bags floating in our oceans.

Is our consumable, throw-away society more important to us that the creatures we share the planet with? How many more species have to become extinct before we become more responsible? Do we really understand that extinct means forever?

“To honor and respect means to think of the land and the water and plants and animals who live here as having a right equal to our own to be here. We are not the supreme and all-knowing beings, living at the top of the pinnacle of evolution, but in fact we are members of the sacred hoop of life, along with the trees and rocks, the coyotes and the eagles and fish and toads, that each fulfills its purpose. They each perform their given task in the sacred hoop, and we have one, too.” – Wolf Song of the Abenaki tribe

What is our given task . . . our purpose in the sacred hoop of life? That purpose is unique to each one of us who cares enough to ask the question and look inside deeply enough to discover it.

Our race appears to be at an important crossroads, right now, in our lifetime. We have the opportunity to choose like never before in human history. We have the opportunity for education. We can learn. We can know more than ever before, thanks to this rapidly growing age of information. But, we must remember that all knowledge doesn’t come from books. The quiet and peaceful places in nature can teach us important life lessons and help put us in touch with our true selves . . . not the selves that are the shallow byproducts of current societies and cultures, but the deep, everlasting self who we have in common and share, in spite of the short-comings of whatever culture we happened to be born into.

“Oh yes, I went to the white man’s schools. I learned to read from school books, newspapers, and the Bible. But in time, I found that these were not enough. Civilized people depend too much on man-made printed pages. I turn to the Great Spirit’s book, which is the whole of creation. You can read a big part of that book if you study nature. You know, if you take all your books, lay them out under the sun, and let the snow and rain and insects work on them for awhile, there will be nothing left. But the Great Spirit has provided you and me with an opportunity to study in nature’s university the forest, the rivers, the mountains and the animals which includes us.” – Walking Buffalo, Tatanga Mani, Stoney Indian

I feel that my life has been greatly enriched by the opportunity to study in the school of nature. It is also a constant reminder of the abundance available to all of us. Just look around at the diversity and tenacity of life as expressed through nature. What we see out there is not something separate from ourselves that operates with an entirely different set of rules. It’s all part of one thing, one reality, one nature . . . and we are very much a part of that oneness. I sincerely hope that awareness of the divinity of nature will continue to grow and people will once again revere and honor mother earth, jus as our wise native ancestors have, for thousands of years.

“The Indian loved to worship.
From birth to death he revered his
Surroundings. He considered
Himself born in the luxurious lap
Of Mother Earth and no place to
Him was humble. There as nothing
Between him and the Big Holy.
The contact was immediate and
Personal and the blessings of
Wakan Tanka flowed over the
Indian like rain showered
From the sky.”

- Luther Standing Bear, Ogallala Sioux chief

Wakan Tanka is simply another word for God, the Great Spirit. The word may be new to us but the idea of spirit flowing over us like rain showered from the sky is a universal understanding expressed by people all over the world.

Experience is the Key

Book learning is shallow. Politics, philosophies and even religions tear us apart more often than bring us together. It’s up to individuals like us to get beyond the words, get beyond the dogma, get beyond the minds of men with their short-sighted agendas, and experience the oneness we share on this tiny blue ball, forever streaking through endless space.

Each one of us comes to the planet alone and we leave alone. We are each “only a bead in the story belt” of life. That is the outer appearance.

Beyond appearances, we all share something profound. We share this incredible place we call home and take for granted – planet Earth. And we share this sense of aliveness, this awareness of “I am.”

We, as a people, are diverse, but through one of the greatest enigmas of all time, we are also one.

• Here’s hoping, as a race of people, we continue waking up to that fact, and then behave toward one another and our planet accordingly.

• Here’s hoping we learn to act as if the Great Spirit in all things really matters.

• And here’s hoping we learn to act as if “Good planets are hard to find” . . . before it’s too late.

Grandfather,
Look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the sacred way.
We know that we are the ones
Who are divided
And we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the sacred way
Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, honor
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other.

- Ojibway prayer, author unknown

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.

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

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 Deep Sea Blue A simple love song to the wonders of nature in general, and mother ocean in particular. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor9 Songs by Tupelo
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! The Trouble with TV Does TV enhance our life experience or get in the way of living our lives? Celebrate life with this refreshing perspective on the boob tube. Being Present through Sensuality 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. 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

When I was 17 years old in 1969, I was very fortunate to meet a couple of kind souls who were obviously more evolved than average. They were college art professors named Howard and Rochelle. They had been around the block a time or two spiritually and were always ready to share what they’d learned with whoever was ready to listen. (That would be me.)

Passing It On

Although I have not seen them in 38 years, I will always be grateful to them for the way they were so willing to light my candle from the light of their own. The song recommended at the end of this article is about this kind of selfless giving. It’s about how a gift of this caliber has layers upon layers of future effects, unknown to the giver of the gift. The giver offers the gift not for any particular desired result but simply because he can.

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

So be kind . . . – from the song, “Be Kind” by Tupelo Kenyon

Howard and Rochelle introduced me to meditation. It was very low-key, but a little bit mysterious to this 17-year-old kid. Nothing about it seemed dangerous in any way, just intriguing in a healthy way. That made the experience even more special, because from the very start, it felt right. No worries. No fear. Just eagerness for more.

The Road Less Traveled

There were a few of us who would gravitate to their home in the evening. We would usually visit awhile about things that were not typical topics of conversation in those days: psychic phenomenon, astral projection, clairvoyance, etc.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

I was always impressed with how at ease they were with all of this. They had nothing to prove and nothing to sell. They never pushed this information on anyone. In fact, unless someone had a keen interest and asked a lot of questions (like me), you’d never know they were any different from anyone else. If you were paying attention though, you might notice and extra sparkle in their eyes and a general sense of joy emanating from them.

Guided Explorations

After Howard and Rochelle had answered that evening’s round of questions, we would gather in their living room for guided meditation. Nothing about this ever felt spooky; it wasn’t a séance or anything cheesy like that. We would sit on the floor or the furniture or lie down, whatever was comfortable. We were instructed to close our eyes and listen. Then, either Howard or Rochelle would take us by the hand (metaphorically) and guide us through a whole new world of wonder and insight – inner space.

I honestly don’t know if they were particularly good at guiding meditations, or if it was just so new to me, but it was definitely effective. It was my first experience of this kind, so I had nothing to compare it to. In retrospect, I imagine they were good at it. Very good.

Deliberate Thorough Relaxation

Their technique was slightly different every night, but there were some common elements. First, we would concentrate on relaxing every muscle in our bodies. We did this deliberately, focusing our attention upon each area, relaxing it completely, and then moving to the next area.

Upon each exhalation, we were told to release all tension in that particular area, then we would move to the next area and repeat the process. We started with the bottoms of our feet, and in a period of 5 to 10 minutes, we would work our way all the way up to the top of our head, becoming increasingly relaxed with each out-going breath. (I have been using this simple relaxation technique ever since – it’s very effective.)

Sound and Light

Other times, our attention would be directed toward sounds. First, all the outer sounds. Leaves rustling. Traffic. Refrigerator running. Then, the inner sounds. Breath sounds. Heart pumping. Stomach gurgling. The ringing in our ears.

Then we would take imaginative flights of fancy. Through their soft, relaxing descriptions, we would visualize landscapes, seascapes, spacescapes, and somehow even places beyond description in the realms of light and sound. We were shown the awesome depths of our imaginations and the power of our visualization.

I Am . . .

We were then told to experience our body as a lump of clay and feel the sensation of gravity pulling it toward the earth. With no resistance, we simply felt the heaviness. We experienced the difference between this heavy lump of clay and the point of awareness who was experiencing it. This pinpoint of consciousness could be directed to become aware of the entire room, the entire house, the city, the continent, the planet, the galaxy, the universe. If the body was a heavy lump of clay, we experienced this awareness as light as a feather and responsive to thought at light speed.

Was this all just imaginative wanderings? It didn’t really matter. It felt great!

This was not any kind of organized group, not an official satsang of any particular brand, not a cult built around any particular charismatic personality. 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.

Those early meditation experiences opened me up to a whole new world . . . a world unknown to most. In fact, I’ve met very few people through the decades who are interested in such things.

“Prayer gives us the opportunity to speak to God.
Meditation allows GOD to speak back to us.”
– Unknown

Then and Now

Fast-forward 37 years. It feels like it’s changing now. More and more people are opening up to new possibilities. People are actively seeking ideas and techniques to help illuminate their inner landscapes.

We are approaching a quantum leap, a tipping point in our group consciousness. Suddenly, personal development ideas and techniques are hitting the mainstream. People are waking up. How exciting! It’s a good time to be alive.

Two of the more awake people I’ve met are Dr. Amber Wolf and her husband, Dr. Sid Wolf. Dr. Sid is a multi-faceted healer; a shining example of somone who has dedicated his life to ever-expanding consciousness, meditation, and helping others by teaching methods of natural self-healing. My wife, Janey, and I met Amber in the early 80’s in Alaska and always appreciated her deep, peaceful nature and her spiritual wisdom. She has been practicing and teaching yoga and holistic health care since 1982. We became fast friends and have stayed in touch through the years. She has also been meditating since she was a kid, so we have that in common.

Through Dr. Amber Wolf’s eyes (and her lifetime of spiritual experiences), I have recently come to an even greater appreciation for my early meditation experiences with Howard and Rochelle. Amber has taken the idea of a guided meditation to a whole new level, combining ancient principles of yoga with modern scientific knowledge of how the brain works.

Guided Meditation – The Next Generation

Amber recently booked a few days of studio time at our recording studio (Riversong Studio) in order to create a guided meditation CD. I was honored that she chose me to produce it. She and her husband, Sid, showed up with a rough draft for the meditation. In a pre-production meeting, Amber read the script as Sid, Janey and I got relaxed, closed our eyes, and took it for a test-drive. It was good, but all four of us had suggestions to make it even better.

Since the objective was to make it as good as possible, we decided to do a major overhaul. The four of us went through it with a fine-tooth comb for two days until we all agreed that every section, every sentence, every word was the best it could be. We did another test-drive and all got thrill-bumps – somehow, it had taken on a life of its own and had grown into something much greater than the sum of its parts.

Next, when the time was right, Amber and I went into the studio. She got very still, very peaceful, very deep, and calmly spoke the guided meditation as I recorded it. Her voice is as smooth as silk and has a certain quality that is very reassuring and trustworthy. Like my experience with Rochelle years ago, Amber’s wonderful voice takes you by the hand and leads you to a place of peace and wonder, like a spiritual big sister.

“Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit.” – Jeremy Taylor (1613-67)

Music to Allow Deep Relaxation and Healing

I accompanied her guided meditation with relaxing background music, using very mellow-voiced instruments including piano, woodwinds and string sections. Those specific tonal qualities did a good job of setting the tone to make it even easier to totally relax and follow her voice with your attention.

After about 25 minutes, the voice-guided part of the CD completes, and the music continues to guide the listener in a peaceful inner journey beyond words. (If you chose to listen to the music linked at the beginning of this article, you have been listening to the music used at the end of the Amber’s guided meditation: “Supernova Serenade” from my CD, “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light, Volume 2“).

Aha

The guided meditation CD is called’ “Alpha Healing Access.” The acronym, “AHA” is appropriate since there are plenty of opportunities for “aha moments” of insight and inspiration throughout the CD.

This 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, which helps open you up to allowing whatever you choose into your experience. Some of the techniques used in Amber’s guided meditation are based on yoga nidra, a type of healing meditation successfully used in the east literally for centuries.

Why Alpha?

The CD is called alpha healing because of the body’s ability to heal itself (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) when the mind is allowed to enter into the very peaceful, still states of alpha and theta brainwave activity. The guided meditation and peaceful background music leads you gently, easily into this peaceful state.

Although new to the market, this powerfully peaceful CD has already made a big impact on many people’s lives. After experiencing it for themselves, people regularly return to get more CDs for their friends and family. This has been very gratifying for Amber, as well as myself, as it reinforces my feeling that people are ready for deeper inner experiences in ever-greater numbers. And it reinforces my feeling of the importance of passing along what you know to others.

You can hear a free sample of the CD and read more about it at Dr. Wolf’s website so you can hear for yourself if her style resonates with you. Here’s the link: “Alpha Healing Access” CD.

Thirty-seven years ago, my meditation mentors led me on my first inner journeys of exploration and discovery. Those experiences have led me to where I am today, and who I am today. I am pleased with both.

Like Ripples From a Pebble Dropped in a Pond

Without Howard and Rochelle, I may never have learned the things that are now such an integral backbone of my life. My spiritual curiosity may never have been stirred and I may have never read the hundreds of books I’ve attracted to myself on the subjects of personal development, inspiration and uplifting music. And, I may never have become inspired to create this blog.

Thank you Howard and Rochelle. Your contribution to the quality of my life is incalculable.

Because of my early experiences, I now realize this is the life-enhancing potential of a tool like Dr. Wolf’s AHA CD. She is giving back what she’s learned.

This is my intent also with this website – to offer what I’ve learned so far – information, tools and techniques that can make a dramatic difference in the quality of life, for the good of the whole.

“Begin today! No matter how feeble the light, let it shine as best it may. The world may need just that quality of light which you have.” – Henry C. Blinn

Thank you Dr. Amber Wolf. It is my hope that your AHA guided meditation CD helps others as much as Howard and Rochelle helped me. Although you may never know just how much difference your creation makes in the world, still, thank you for passing along what you’ve learned.

And, it is my hope that you reading this article will take the AHA CD for a test-drive, and allow it to open up new possibilities in your life too.

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.

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

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 Ten Purdy Word Song The style and mood of the song matches the flow of the words themselves, painting a colorful word picture that is easy on the ears. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor14 Songs by Tupelo
Simple Toning Meditation When it comes to meditation and contemplation, all we really need is a simple technique that produces obvious results. Celebrate life through this easy method of calming the mind and getting in closer touch with your inner being. 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! 5 Tibetan Rites – Easy Yoga for Busy People 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. In only 10 or 15 minutes per day, you can stretch your whole body (all muscle groups) and even help rev up your charkas (if you subscribe to that sort of thing). It’s fun, it makes you feel good and you can see the results. Reverence of Life Through Nature An interesting chance meeting on the beach in Mexico with a shaman 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. Being Present through Sensuality 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. Articles by Tupelo

Obviously, all music is not created equally. Composers and performers have different motivations to do what they do. Songwriters have all sorts of different intentions that move them to create songs.

These diverse motivations and intentions leave a subtle residual stamp on the music. When you listen to the music, especially when you hear it several times, those subtle factors from the music’s creator seep into your experience and affect you, too.

“Every man’s work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.” – Samuel Butler (1612-1680)

You may be aware of how you are being affected, and therefore, deliberately choose the music you listen to. Most people are not consciously aware of the more subtle effects of music. They don’t choose their music with attention to detail, and as a result, the music takes them wherever it will, with the listener rarely connecting the dots between the music they hear and how they feel.

Potential to Go Deep

Music can touch us in ways that nothing else can. Songs can reach places deep within us where we are seldom touched. They are able to do this because of the way music stirs our emotions. When a song activates our emotions, the experience goes beyond the mind, beyond our thoughts, and communicates directly with our feelings.

This is sacred ground. This is the domain of our internal guidance system, as discussed in the previous article, “The Law of Attraction.”

“Music is the shorthand of emotion.” – Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)

This is a place deep inside where very few things can touch us. Music has access. Music can reach that point and communicates with our emotions directly. It seems like a good idea to have a watchman at the door to determine whether or not a particular song or type of music is appropriate for entry into our inner sanctum. (In the case of some of today’s outrageous, angry music, it may be better to post a bouncer at the door!)

Baby Steps to Feeling Better

When I was a kid, the older generation called our music loud. Yes, it was loud, but there was something else about it we liked. It felt good and it was a good fit at the time. Now that I am part of the older generation, I notice the music of today’s kids is still loud, but there’s something else about it I personally don’t relate to. It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t fit me. Some of it sounds like audible anger – raucous rage.

There are some people who are so down and out, that these emotions are actually a step in a positive direction. For instance, for someone feeling utter despair, deep depression, or unworthiness, anger and rage is an improvement. It’s unlikely that a person currently experiencing despair could make a quantum leap to peace and joy, but hey, angry music could provide them with an emotional boost that helps them take a small step forward and move up the emotional scale toward something that feels a little better.

Even if they were determined to make a quantum leap emotionally, it would likely be temporary. The contrast is simply too great to maintain an emotional state drastically different to what they are accustomed to. Small steps allow them to feel a little better, and then take another small step to feel better still, etc. This more gradual climb up the emotional scale allows them time to get acclimated to the new emotional climate, before moving up to the next area.

Climbing the Emotional Ladder

From feelings of fear and unworthiness, perhaps music full of rage could help someone move up to anger so they could feel a little better. From there, they could become inspired to move on up to worry or doubt. From there, they could eventually move up to pessimism or boredom. From there, they will need to broaden their musical horizons to accompany them on their journey through hopefulness, enthusiasm, love and joy.

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life, bringing peace, abolishing strife.” – Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Feel a Little Better

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.

“Music is a higher revelation than philosophy.” – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Here’s an illustration from the other end of the spectrum. As I write this, I am sitting in the shade of a palm tree on the shores of a peaceful lake in Southern California. There’s a gentle breeze under sunny blue skies, and I am being entertained by the songs and antics of several kinds of ducks and other waterfowl.

At this moment, “techno shred metal power punk” music wouldn’t do me much good! However, soothing instrumental music with soaring melodies and tight harmonies that produce thrill-bumps would be nice. Or, songs crafted with the intention of offering lyrics that are positive, worthwhile and uplifting would be very pleasant.

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” – Aldous Leonard Huxley (1894-1963)

You wouldn’t deliberately choose to get repeatedly smacked in the face with a wet fish, so why would you allow yourself to get beat up emotionally by music not suitable for where you are and where you want to go?

Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Songs

Have you ever wondered what’s happening behind the scenes in the lives of all those country songwriters and singers who specialize in the cry-in-your-beer, oh-woe-is-me, failed-relationship songs? I wonder how many of them pause long enough to ask themselves if their art is a reflection of their life or if their life is a reflection of their art. What’s the cause and what’s the effect? Considering the power of the Law of Attraction, I would not want to be in their shoes. (Or, boots rather.)

The Law of Attraction Applies to Music Too

Whatever you think about (or sing about) grows and attracts unto itself more and more similar thoughts. Then you infuse it with emotion (plenty opportunity for THAT in a sad country song), and you have the recipe for manifestation.

Attention to troubles continues to attract more of the same – every day . . . every moment. The Law of Attraction works the same way for everyone, whether you are the one writing the song or singing the song or listening to the song.

These songs have the potential to go deep . . . very deep, if you let them past your gatekeeper. Why would you do that?

The only reason why is if you just don’t know how these things work. 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.)

Garbage In . . . Garbage Out

This phrase was originally used by early computer programmers. To them, it meant if you did sloppy programming, you’d get sloppy results. Or, if you feed your computer garbage, the best results you can hope for is garbage. It’s a good metaphor for personal development in general and music for personal development, in particular.

To manifest the good stuff in our lives – to attract what we really want, it’s imperative to feed our minds a steady diet of the good stuff that provides balanced nutrition. This idea of garbage in . . . garbage out applies to all areas of our lives: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Even though the Law of Attraction is universal, people are not. We are a diverse, ever-changing lot, at all levels of experience and awareness. It’s as it should be and it’s all OK. There’s something for everyone, regardless of where we are on the emotional scale.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

If someone is currently in an emotional state of insecurity or guilt, a heartbreak song about jealousy or revenge might sound pretty good and help lift them in a positive direction. There are apparently lots of people in those dire emotional situations due to the popularity of so much “ouch” music. (But that doesn’t mean you or I have to write that song . . . or sing that song . . . or listen to that song!)

“The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music.” – Agnes de Mile (1905-1993)

Music as a Tool for Personal Development

This article isn’t written for those wallowing in pitiful music. It’s written for you. You are interested in personal development and are ready to sit in the driver’s seat and do whatever you can to take more control of your life, and create it deliberately according to your ever-evolving preferences. Music is one of the tools that can help you do that.

Choose your music deliberately rather than allowing yourself to be an effect of whatever drivel is being dished out for mass consumption.

Trust Your Internal Guidance System

Notice how you feel after hearing a particular song or CD. If you catch yourself feeling worse, that’s good – you’ve just learned something. You now know what it feels like for your internal guidance system to say to you, “Avoid this music, it doesn’t fit your vibration – choose again and move on.”

Look for songs with inspiring music, with lyrics that celebrate life and encourage personal growth. Look for music that excites you in a positive way . . . music that makes you feel alive . . . happy . . . hopeful . . . and joyful.

“Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.” – Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

After hearing a particular song or CD, do you feel better than before? If so, that’s your internal guidance system telling you the thoughts you are entertaining and the emotions you are allowing past your gatekeeper are moving you toward what you really want. This music is an effective tool for you, helping you be more aware of who you really are. It’s helping you move in the direction that, deep inside, you really want to go.

Go with it. Enjoy it. You’ve just found music that fits . . . an excellent traveling companion and a good friend that will continue to offer more gifts to you as you listen to it over and over.

Music to Give You a Lift

This is the kind of music I have always been attracted to . . . it’s what I listen to and it’s what I am dedicated to creating. I have always gravitated toward music with a hopeful message. Personally, I don’t care for music that comes off as “preachy” or “holier than thou”, but I am attracted to and soak up music with a positive outlook. I’ve always appreciated non-denominational, non-evangelical music with nothing to prove, no particular dogma to sell, but something worthwhile to offer for those with the ears to hear. If there are several layers of meaning, that’s even better.

After 27 years of recording our original songs, I feel excited and grateful now that technology has advanced to the point where almost anyone interested can hear our music. You can listen to excerpts of every song on every one of our CDs for free. (Streaming .mp3s)

Listening to our music for free helps to attract people of like mind, and like hearts. This technology allows folks to take our music for a test drive first, and then decide from personal experience if this kind of music fits or not.

My wife, Janey, and I, are known as Laughing Bird and our current CD titles (with lyrics) include:

Anthology, the First 20 Years
Close as a Heartbeat
Have Tunes, Will Travel (Live in Concert)
Here Like a River
Record-X, Laughing Bird’s 10th

Each of the titles above is a link that will take you to that CD’s webpage where you can read descriptions of each song, view the lyrics, download chord charts and listen to sound clips. The link below will take you to our home page:

http://www.SomeMusicMatters.com
The following link takes you to the same place:
http://www.LaughingBirdMusic.com

There’s a tab at the top of each page of this blog website named “Songs.” Here you’ll find a list of which songs are referenced in all these articles. It includes the instrumental music offered at the beginning of each article as well as the songs with lyrics recommended at the end. You’ll also see which CD each song comes from. Here’s a shortcut link: Songs.

Note: The links from within these blog articles will allow you to hear the songs in their entirety. The sound clips available on our music website allow you to hear the first 2 minutes of every original song on every CD.

A Moving Picture Can Be Better Than 10,000 Words

We also have a video of our live performance available on DVD. It’s called, “Celebrate the Journey.” It’s two and a half hours of concert footage with personal interviews sprinkled throughout. There are also several hundred photos we’ve taken on our travels around the world incorporated into the video wherever appropriate – primarily during our travel songs. You can see a 7-minute preview of the video free by clicking here: Laughing Bird’s “Celebrate the Journey DVD.”

Laughing Bird In Concert

We are on tour for many months of the year, and travel all over the country. We may be coming through your neck of the woods sometime. If you are interested in catching one of our shows, we try to keep an updated tour schedule posted on the home-page of our website. Here’s a link to it: Laughing Bird’s Concert Calender.

Host a Laughing Bird Concert

Here’s a link with details of all the different kinds of performances we do and information about hosting a Laughing Bird concert.

Stress-Buster Music

Through the years, I’ve also found it very helpful to look for music conceived and performed deliberately to help the listener be still and peaceful. Some of the new-age music can take you by the hand and lead you to wonderful inner landscapes of tranquility and clarity.

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossile to be silent.” – Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Some “New-Age” Music is a Little Too “New”

Note: Some “new-age” music sounds like a 12-year-old got a new synthesizer for Christmas, found a button marked “mellow”, created a loop, hit the “record” button, went for a ride on his skateboard, and came back an hour later to hit the “stop” button and burn a CD. This kind of “music” feels very monotonous and irritating to me.

“Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end.” – Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971)

With the tools of the recording industry becoming ever-better and ever-cheaper, it’s more important than ever to choose deliberately. There’s a lot of amateur schlock out there, as well as some of the most amazing music you almost never heard. (You almost never heard it because the technology is new that makes so much refreshing and diverse music available. The internet allows independent artists and composers to reach their listeners directly without all the middle-men and without all the compromising, mind-numbing hoops the music “business” forces artists to jump through.)

I listen to instrumental music quite often as I am writing, reading, dining, relaxing or doing some other activity where lyrics would interfere. All too often, a mellow passage will lull me into a peaceful place, and then suddenly, BANG – the music gets rambunctious and breaks the spell. This experience planted the seed for me to create CDs deliberately designed to encourage and then allow the listener to get peaceful – and stay that way!

I had this idea on the back burner for a few years and every time I was jolted by an overly energetic change of pace in a selection of relaxing music, it would reinforce the idea. It would be so nice to have soothing music that leads the listener to a place of inner peace and tranquility without any jarring surprises. I didn’t get around to it though – I guess I needed some kind of catalyst to begin the creative process.

When the Artist is Ready, the Catalyst Appears

When we were traveling around Mexico a few years ago, we met a fascinating shaman named Spirit Walker Standing. On the night we met her, under the stars, after a spontaneous campfire concert on her birthday, she eased up to me and practically whispered, “It’s time for you to make some peaceful instrumental CDs.” She handed me the small strip of paper I had watched her fondle during the concert, and she said, “Here’s the title.” I unfolded the well-worn, small strip of paper and read only six words, “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light.”

That did it. It came about in such a cool way, I knew I had to try to create the music that would do justice to such an intriguing title.

Shortly thereafter, Janey and I built our own recording studio and the first CD recorded at Riversong Studio was “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light – Volume 1.” The next instrumental CD was “Wooden Voices,” a collection of acoustic guitar pieces accompanied by other wooden instruments, including 12-string guitar, dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, violin, and percussion. Next, came “Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light – Volume 2.”

If you have chosen to listen to any of the music linked at the beginning of each article, you’ve already heard music from the Celestial Sounds CDs and/or Wooden Voices. For more information, the following links take you directly to their description pages where you can read more about them and listen to free samples of all songs:

Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light – Volume 1
Celestial Sounds of Harmony and Light – Volume 2
Wooden Voices

Conceived, Composed and Performed to Induce Peace and Deep Relaxation

The music on the Celestial Sounds CDs is all instrumental, using the soothing voices of mellow instruments including flutes, harps, strings, woodwinds, pianos, etc. The music ebbs and flows, so it really doesn’t maintain a “beat” as such, but it all “pulses” at around 60 beats per minute, (for an hour). I chose this pace deliberately, because after listening for a few minutes, the listener’s heartbeat and respiration begins to match the pace of the music, and encourages a deep relaxing experience. 60 beats per minute allows the body to ease into alpha state, which along with theta, is where the yogis and mystics “go” when they have their eyes closed with that subtle enigmatic smile on their face.

And guess what? There are absolutely no annoying jolts to knock you out of your reverie!

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935)

The Celestial Sounds CDs have been an amazing experience for me and I will be forever grateful to Spirit Walker Standing for being such an effective catalyst . . . to inspire me to get on with it and allow this music into the world.

Some Music Matters

It’s always so gratifying to hear from people, even from the other side of the world, who write to tell me how this music has been such a positive influence in their lives. If you’re interested in reading some of them, click the link below:

Celestial Sounds Listener Comments

I am constantly amazed at the creative ways people have come up with to squeeze the maximum benefit from the music. People are using this music for meditation, massage, and various kinds of healing body-work. Others use it for yoga, tai chi and other martial arts disciplines. I love being able to offer people the opportunity to listen first, so they know from direct experience how it makes them feel.

A Lifetime of Music

For Janey and I, music has been a major part of our lives since we first met in the mid 70’s. For all these years, we’ve made our living, but more importantly, we’ve made a great life by creating and performing music that uplifts us while ignoring music that beats us up.

Putting the Value of Music in Perspective

I recently heard of a lady who was deaf since birth. Through the wonders of modern science, she was able to hear for the first time in her life. Her first experience of music brought tears to her eyes – a very intense emotional reaction. Can you imagine?

Think of how often we take music for granted.

Think of how it amplifies and provides the perfect backdrop for so many of life’s most important experiences.

Think of the soundtrack of your life, and the importance of choosing it deliberately.

Choose music to help you feel exactly how you choose to feel. Avoid the rest.

Life is too short to listen to bad music.

Yours for a song,
Tupelo

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.

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

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 Love is Who You Are – Live Version "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/DescHTu.html#Anchor19 Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun Nothing to do? How about too much to do? Our attitude seems to make the difference. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor16 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 Story Belt (Inspired by another crumpled scrap of paper slipped to me by Spirit Walker Standing. Read about the experience in the first artcle recommended below.) Celebrates the importance of keeping things in perspective while being a part of the bigger picture. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor8 Songs by Tupelo
Reverence of Life Through Nature An interesting chance meeting on the beach in Mexico with a shaman 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. Being Present through Sensuality 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. The Trouble with TV Does TV enhance our life experience or get in the way of living our lives? Celebrate life with this refreshing perspective on the boob tube. Simple Toning Meditation When it comes to meditation and contemplation, all we really need is a simple technique that produces obvious results. Celebrate life through this easy method of calming the mind and getting in closer touch with your inner being. Articles by Tupelo