Intuition can provide you with some amazing viewpoints, helpful solutions and unexpected answers. As you develop the habit of becoming still and looking within for clues, it gets easier to hear that still, small voice within.

How can this inner communication become a trusted resource? How can it be leveraged to consistently increase the quality of life?

The answer my intuition provides for that question seems disarmingly simple - implement what you learn.

Actions

Ideas are cheap. Answers are easy. Solutions are more plentiful than problems because there are usually several ways to solve any particular problem. Intuition is happy to provide these insights and delighted when we notice help is being given. But these whisperings from the subtle side are all useless unless we actually do something with what we learn.

“For whereas the mind works in possibilities, the intuitions work in actualities, and what you intuitively desire, that is possible to you. Whereas what you mentally or ‘consciously’ desire is nine times out of ten impossible; hitch your wagon to a star, or you will just stay where you are.” - D. H. Lawrence (1885 - 1930)

Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea? Here’s an example of one way intuition is providing answers to your questions . . . spoken and unspoken.

Have you ever told yourself you’d remember the idea in the morning and gone back to sleep? Was the idea there in the morning?

Usually ideas like that are long gone by morning. Occasionally they can be resurrected. Maybe these words can serve as a catalyst to help you remember something important that you had forgotten until this moment. Pause to reflect on it, and allow your mind to recapture the idea and let it expand

Write it Down

All too often, ideas and answers delivered by our intuition are gone forever. Why? Because we never took action. In fact, sometimes we don’t even bother to write it down. Instead we fall for that old trick, “Oh, I’ll remember THAT!”

But do you? Have you remembered it in the past? Always? What’s the point of encouraging and developing intuition, only to ignore it when it offers help?

“As soon as you think it, ink it.” - Mark Victor Hansen

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost a song idea by not writing it down immediately when inspiration struck. I told myself, “Surely I’ll remember it!” Yeah, right. Occasionally. Usually not.

It’s a shame to lose a potentially good song, but that’s nothing compared to the “big questions” intuition can help us shed light upon. These are clues we don’t want to lose. That’s why it’s so important to get in the habit of capturing insight now, in the moment, while it’s fresh.

Later is an Illusion - Capture it Now

I read about neuroscience research findings concerning intuitive insights. Any new idea not captured within 37 seconds will likely be forgotten. After seven minutes, it’s almost certain to be gone forever.

So how do you compensate for such a rapid evaporation rate? You simply develop the habit of capturing intuition whenever possible. Too much trouble? Take a moment to review what’s at stake, and see if that will help you generate the internally driven inspiration needed to actually get it done.

“Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs (b. 1955

It’s an Easy Habit to Be Ready for Inspiration

Here’s how I do it. I prefer to wear shirts with a pocket. I almost always keep a small spiral notepad and a pen there. Through the years, I’ve been able to capture some helpful nuggets, just by my willingness to be prepared.

We travel quite often. Janey keeps a small notebook within easy reach while we’re rolling down the road. Frequently, she grabs her pen and writes for a couple of minutes, grabbing an idea while it’s fresh.

I also have a miniature recorder that I keep by the bed. It’s funny when Janey wakes up abruptly saying, “Huh?” When she realizes I’m whispering into my recorder again, she rolls over and goes back to sleep. She’s used to me writing in the dark or talking to the recorder in the middle of the night.

Use It

Receiving, recognizing and capturing intuition is a good start, but it’s a job half done. Without implementation, it’s all for nothing. Whenever possible, I try to take action on my inner impulses as soon as possible. Whenever I do, I find that related impulses come right on the heels of my action.

When I take action on that, more intuition arrives. As the time gap continues to shorten between the nudge and the action, it begins to feel easy, effortless, even magical.

Let’s examine the opposite. If you get a nudge and don’t write it down and don’t take action on it, that’s another way of saying you’re ignoring it. That sends a message to your intuitive nature that goes something like this, “Yeah, I heard you, but I’m too busy. Not interested. Thanks but no thanks.”

With this attitude, it’s natural for intuition to dry up. Use it or lose it. In my own experience, if I go through a spell where I “put off” song idea impulses, before long they quit coming. Ouch.

“Trusting your intuition means tuning in as deeply as you can to the energy you feel, following that energy moment to moment, trusting that it will lead you where you want to go and bring you everything you desire.” - Shakti Gawain (b. 1948)

It’s all about trust. It’s about a way of life beyond the narrow confines of the logical mind. Logical, predictable, left-brained thinking definitely has its place, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

“Intuition isn’t the enemy, but the ally, of reason.” - John Kord Lagemann

“Brain researchers estimate that your unconscious data base outweighs the conscious on an order exceeding ten million to one. This data base is the source of your hidden, natural genius. In other words, a part of you is much smarter than you are. The wise people regularly consult the smarter part.” - Michael J. Gelb, author of “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci”

“Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality. All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or analysis, what they need to know.” - Alexis Carrel (1873 - 1944)

Many of the most brilliant people who have ever lived tapped into their intuition and used it daily. When it becomes a habit, it becomes expected and natural. It’s an effortless way of life - a no-brainer. To others, not privy to the process, it looks like living in the flow, like magic.

“The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you, and you don’t know how or why.” - Albert Einstein

“Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” - Dr. Jonas Salk (b. 1914), doctor, discoverer of polio vaccine.

“During [these] periods of relaxation after concentrated intellectual activity, the intuitive mind seems to take over and can produce the sudden clarifying insights which give so much joy and delight.” - Fritjof Capra, physicist

Watch for clues. They come in many ways . . . goose bumps, (a.k.a. thrill bumps), a sudden chill, butterflies in the pit of your stomach, a constricted feeling in your chest, a sudden, expansive feeling of relief, sudden nausea. These are examples of how effective your body can be at communicating with you directly, without the need for words. If you are pondering a particular question and your body gives you one of these sensations, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to translate the message . . . “Yes” feels good. “No” feels bad.

“The mind can assert anything and pretend it has proved it. My beliefs I test on my body, on my intuitional consciousness, and when I get a response there, then I accept.” - D. H. Lawrence (1885 - 1930)

Other times, you may see words form on the inner screen of your mind. Or you may hear words in your imagination. How do you know if these “messages” are real?

“Trust your feelings, Luke.” - Obee One Kenobee, “Star Wars”

True messages often come with a feeling of lightness, euphoria or joy. Questionable ones are often accompanied with a sense of foreboding, doubt or fear. If a new idea shows up and it gives you energy and hope, that’s a good vote of confidence that you can trust it.

If you feel drained of energy, that’s a good clue your intuition is warning you to go the other way. Intuition has its own language, and like any other language, it becomes easier with deliberate resolve, attention and practice.

“Intuition isn’t mystical.” - Dr. James Watson - Nobel laureate and co-discoverer of DNA

When we’re in the flow, it’s effortless and it feels good. Very good. We expect intuitive help, and our expectation expedites its manifestation. We expect it to be helpful and so it is. We expect it to enhance the quality of life, and so it does.

We expect to be in the zone . . . enjoying the benefits of a life inspired on purpose by inspiration. And so we are. And so it is.

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.

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 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 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 What Would Love Do Now It’s tough to remember to ask yourself this question in the heat of the moment, but it can pay big dividends. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor10 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Here A love song to the beloved and/or to the larger part of ourselves. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor16 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
Inspiration from a Stroke of Insight from Jill Bolte Taylor You’ve heard about the "right brain" and the "left brain," right? The left brain is all about logic and sequential thinking and the right brain is all about the abstract flow of consciousness and how it relates to "the big picture." Have you ever heard a description about watching from a peaceful, detached viewpoint as the cognitive brain functions slowly quit functioning? Have you ever heard anyone talk about what it feels like when the inner chatter finally quits and all that’s left is awareness? On this video, you will. Prepare to be amazed, moved, inspired and thrilled with this intelligent look at something that is rarely seen . . . and the fact that you’re hearing about all this from a brain scientist makes it even more fascinating. Get a Broader Perspective - Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Transform Your Inner Critic into Your Inner Coach Whatever is the predominant thought and attitude about any given subject is what we create in our experience. So if we allow our inner critic to run amuck with the usual garbage dished out by the modern media conglomerates and cultural conditioning, we lock ourselves into a self-perpetuating cycle of negativity, lack and disempowerment. If you look beneath the surface, these prolific comments from our inner critic contain concealed, valuable and powerful gifts. To receive the gifts, it’s necessary to shift your attitude about the nature of the inner critic self-talk. Quit considering it as a negative hindrance and out-of-control annoyance bent on your self-destruction. Instead, see it as an attempt at communication from your higher self, urging you to make improvements in order to live up to your potential. 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. 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. Articles by Tupelo

Truth is one. Opinions are many. Or does the following sound more like the truth?

Truth is relative, depending upon the opinion of the beholder. Or how about this . . .

Truth depends upon your belief. If you believe something is true, that makes it true . . . true for you. Of course, if you don’t believe that statement, never mind, because your belief defines your truth in another direction.

Truth is Many

Obviously, there are many versions of truth . . . or at least, perceived truth. A quick glance around the planet reveals a dizzying array of diverse “truths.”

These truths are a reflection of the culture and century they are born into. Only a thousand years ago, the truths of the day included such gems as these:

• Bathing is hazardous to health.

• Women interested in learning about herbs and potions are witches and should be burned alive.

• The earth is flat and is the center of the universe.

• God demands that everyone subscribes to only one version of truth. All others are heretics and should be killed. (In the name of God, of course . . . yes, that’s the same God who decreed “Thou shalt not kill,” but this is an exception to that rule – a divine loophole in this particular brand of “truth.”)

“The belief that there is only one truth and that oneself is in possession of it seems to me the deepest root of all evil that is in the world.” - Max Born (1882-1970) - German physicist

The Birth of a Brand of Truth

When temporal truths become sanctioned policies of some official organization, they become brands. This is the truth about truth, and it has been this way for millenia. For many, the idea of truth is merely a brand that has been effectively marketed until it becomes a belief. A belief is simply a thought that is repeated over and over again. It is repeated because it’s in the interest of some brand of truth to have as many people as possible supporting their particular “take” on truth.

What’s Behind the Smoke and Mirrors?

An objective look at this phenomenon reveals that the various brands of truth have an agenda. Usually, the agenda is obvious – they want their brand to grow and prosper in order to increase the power base and affluence of those who are founders or stewards for each particular brand of truth.

Sometimes the agenda for a particular brand of truth is not so apparent. How do you get to the bottom of their motivation for spreading their particular brand? There’s one reliable method, proven effective through the millennia: Follow the money trail.

Lighthouses Through the Ages

Sure, there are altruistic individuals in every discipline, sincere and passionate about their personal insights and eager to share what they’ve learned. There have always been inspiring stories of discovery and wisdom in every culture, and people with a message worthy of being heard. This caliber of sincerity burns brightly through the centuries and helps to inspire us all to greater understanding.

Fortunately, every age has highly functioning individuals who serve as shining beacons, able to inspire others from within the culture of the times. They are able to use the language and thought forms of the day to help people take the next step toward new ideas, expanded beliefs and new truths.

“I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with a passive or hereditary faith, [and] receives new truth as an angel from Heaven.” - Woody Allen (b. 1935)

Dear God, Please Save Me from Your Followers

Historically, the problems begin whenever someone’s personal understanding of truth begins to congeal into a brand. The visionary may have no interest in creating anything resembling a brand, but life-enhancing ideas have a way of taking on a life of their own. Friends and associates become interested, then converted, then fervent, then passionate. They become disciples, then missionaries, then soldiers for “truth.”

They take it upon themselves to spread their particular adopted brand of truth far and wide, regardless of the intent of the founder. They make it their personal life mission to assure everyone knows about their brand. If they meet resistance, it must be overcome, because their crusade is true and just, and their brand must be spread, at all costs, even if deadly force is required. Whenever someone claims to have a monopoly on truth, history reminds us of the wisdom of walking (no, running!) in the opposite direction.

Adopted Truth

Some of these endorsees of “truth” are sincere and honestly believe they are devoting their lives to the mightiest of missions. Others are swept up in the frenzy of someone else’s truth, someone else’s belief, someone else’s habit of thought. They readily adopt someone else’s brand of truth because they don’t have one of their own

“Don’t let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth — don’t let that get swallowed up by the great chewing complacency.” - Aesop (620-560 BC)

Is Truth Too Difficult?

Why are some so eager to adopt the truth of another? Perhaps they never realized the possibility of discovering their own personal truths. Maybe they are gullible and easily influenced by those who talk a good game. Maybe they are simply lazy and found it too much trouble to discover their own truth. They’d rather fit in, and go along with the crowd. It’s much easier to subscribe to some pre-packaged, ready-to-consume, bite-sized brand of truth – custom marketed to fit nicely into their busy lifestyle.

“It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.” - Giordano Bruno

“The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.” - Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Truth Through the Ages

We can learn much from history and our race’s relationship with truth. By looking back with objectivity, we can look forward with more intelligence, keener insight and a sharper discernment for identifying personally appropriate truths.

“A lively, disinterested, persistent looking for truth is extraordinarily rare. Action and faith enslave thought, both of them in order not to be troubled or inconvenienced by reflection, criticism or doubt.” - Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-81)

We are living in a different world than the world of our ancestors. Our world is round, and like any other circle, there are no beginning or end points. We can thrive in an endless sea of ideas, and find our own place in the continuum of truths. We can pick and choose what fits best from this buffet of truth and marvel at our own potential of reaching for understandings we have yet to imagine.

Can You Imagine Truth a Thousand Years from Now

Just as our ancestors of a thousand years ago could never have imagined today’s recognized truths of stellar nurseries, black holes in the center of countless galaxies, and the vast space and unfathomable energy inside tiny atoms, there are truths still unknown to us that will continue to redefine who we are and how we fit into this mysterious universe we call home. There are many ways to understand bits and pieces of it and other ways to appreciate the mysteries, and they are all valid.

“No human being is constituted to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; and even the best of men must be content with fragment, with partial glimpses, never the full fruition.” - Alan Marshall Beck (b, 1942)

All Things Change – Even Truth

Truth is a moving target. Our idea of truth grows as our capacity to understand unfolds. We do a serious disservice to ourselves and our fellow man and the entire universe whenever we get stuck on any one particular brand of truth . . . any one particular habit of thought.

“If what you seek is Truth, there is one thing you must have above all else…an unremitting readiness to admit you may be wrong.” - Anthony de Mello

We have an amazing brain, so powerful, we are just beginning to fathom its awesome potential. It’s a built-in tool to help us compare and analyze “truth.”

We have a heart to help us feel what is in alignment with who we really are.

And, we are soul with the capacity to know from direct personal experience what is truth for us, right here and right now.

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.” - Deepak K. Chopra (b. 1946)

If our personal truth morphs over time, that’s okay. Everything else in nature changes, so why should we be surprised when our understanding of truth grows? It is only natural for our personal truth to grow wider and deeper as our consciousness expands.

The New Age of Truth

The idea of warring brands of truth is part of our ancestor’s world and has no place in the reality of those of us interested in personal development and ongoing inspiration. We recognize the greatest gift is the gift of freedom – freedom to choose, explore and try out different brands of truth until the dawning of our own personal truth. This is our birthright and we demonstrate divine understanding best when we offer the same to our fellow man. Many paths can lead to the same destination.

“The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.” - Niels Henrik David Bohr (1885-1962) - Danish physicist, chemist

As a race, we no longer need an intermediary to tell us what we are allowed to believe, how to feel, how to think, and what to embrace as truth. We have everything we need to find our own truth . . . truth for us . . . in this present moment.

“What has not been examined impartially has not been well examined. Skepticism is therefore the first step toward truth.” - Denis Diderot (1713-84)

This understanding of personal truth has the power of transforming our world. Look at history for examples of all the wars waged and people killed because someone felt the need for their particular brand of truth to be validated. This idea is barbaric. We are better than that, and it’s time we start acting like it!

Let it Be

We can’t change those who are stuck pushing someone else’s brand of truth. They will continue to indulge in their drama and eventually die off (or be killed by someone flying the flag of some other brand). We can offer them kindness, tolerance and grant them the freedom to discover their own truth in their own way and in their own time.

“Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.” - Robert Brault

Meanwhile, we can commit to finding our own personal truth. We can hope our example will inspire others to look inside for their own truth rather than looking outside at the tumultuous world of competing brands of “truth.”

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.

	Way of the World Life is so huge . . . so diverse . . . the possibilities are literally infinite. What’s the best way to sort it all out and carve out a little niche of our own? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor1 Trash Our Treasures People seem to have a history of awarding seemingly insignificant details with places of prominence in our lives, while ignoring or even destroying the most important aspects. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor2 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 Within Without An atom and a solar system is virtually the same thing - mostly empty space! Even quantum physics is still wondering, "Is the universe a great big thing, or a great big thought?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor6 Same Olde Time Time - it’s so relative. "What if distant starlight shining in the endless sky is just the same, by a different name, as the twinkle in your eye?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor7 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 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 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 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Know Thyself - Ignore Comparisons and Be Yourself The average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in. We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others. Six Killers of Individuality and Personal Independence Is the course of your life determined by your own internal road map or by a map made by someone else? Each of us can choose our direction deliberately and live a life custom sculpted. Each life can be as individually unique as the person living it. If you pattern your life after someone else, exactly what is it you have to offer? Life Drama as Blockage to Personal Development Some people seem to relish drama in their lives. They go from one catastrophe to another. They thrive on it as if drama is what makes them feel alive. You may be able to see that they are attracting these experiences by their daily thoughts and feelings. But, they don’t recognize it from within the narrow confines of their personal drama. To someone immersed in drama, the idea that they are creating it is completely foreign. With intent, practice and mindfulness, what was once considered drama that snowballed out of control becomes simply examples of the contrasts of life to help you sharpen your preferences and shape your desires. 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. Methods as Temporary Tools Instead of Lifetime Crutches We are obsessed with our methods. We become attached to our particular way of doing things. The trouble comes when we cling to an old method that we have outgrown. We feel bogged down and then stuck when our personal development potential is being limited by an outdated method. If your method feels more like a crutch than a tool, it’s time to take an objective look at it. Is the method in question bringing you peace and joy? Is it helping your personal growth, or is it just a familiar and comfortable habit of thought? Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. 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. 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

]]> http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/06/27/beyond-the-brands-of-truth/feed/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/16/inspiration-from-a-stroke-of-insight-by-jill-bolte-taylor/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/16/inspiration-from-a-stroke-of-insight-by-jill-bolte-taylor/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 04:47:25 +0000 Tupelo http://www.tupelokenyon.com/?p=113 For instrumental music while reading, choose: hi-fi (broadband) or low-fi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tissues Optional

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

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

Here’s the link . . .

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

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

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

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

]]> http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/16/inspiration-from-a-stroke-of-insight-by-jill-bolte-taylor/feed/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/04/18/directed-thinking-vs-compulsive-thinking/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/04/18/directed-thinking-vs-compulsive-thinking/#comments Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:56:50 +0000 Tupelo http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/04/18/directed-thinking-vs-compulsive-thinking/ For instrumental music while reading, choose: hi-fi (broadband) or low-fi.

Do you have to think, or do you think to have?

Thinking should be optional. Compulsory thinking is all too common. If your thoughts are non-stop, you are not thinking. Instead, your thoughts are having their way with you.

Your life is an effect of the thoughts that receive the most attention. If the thought process runs incessantly, willy-nilly, it’s easy to feel lost in the physical world, and life feels like something that just happens to you.

When you choose thoughts on purpose and concentrate your attention on those, your life is one of your own choosing, deliberately and strategically created, one thought at a time.

“Strategy is a style of thinking, a conscious and deliberate process, an intensive implementation system, the science of insuring future success.” - Pete Johnson

Unforeseen Benefits of Disciplined Thinking

Do you remember sitting in those uncomfortable desks at school, bored with what was being taught, and wondering how you’d ever use it in the real world? I studied mathematics for a couple of years in college. It came easy for me, but I remember marveling at how I was learning an entirely new language comprised of numbers, symbols and other odd characters that only other mathematicians would recognize or understand.

What was I going to do with all that gobbeldy-gook? Become a teacher? I could have taught it to other students who would also wonder about its practical value in their lives. I know calculus is handy for determining space travel trajectories and geometry is handy for carpentry, but beyond that, much of what I was learning left me feeling, “Cool, so what?”

To balance my checkbook, I really don’t access the theorems of calculus or the formulas of analytical geometry - although I was fascinated to learn a little about sacred geometry. (If you are interested in exploring it more, I wrote a short review of a fascinating book called “Nothing in the Book is True, But It’s Exactly How Things Are” by Bob Frissell. Here’s a link to my Recommended Books page.)

I was able to use trigonometry once to build a cabin in Alaska. It’s base was 23′ square, it was 17′ tall, and was built with the exact same angles and ratios as the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. I used trig tables for sine, cosine and tangent, but that’s the only time that strange language of advanced mathematics ever intersected my daily life.

Along with a few helpful ideas, I also learned lots of extraneous details in school. Still, the mental training I received and the discipline I learned studying mathematics has helped me every single day in many unforeseen ways.

“Thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break your world by thinking.” - Susan S. Taylor

Directed Thinking

I learned to think deliberately. I learned how to steer my thoughts and follow-through from A to B, B to C, C to D, and so on. It takes focus, concentration and one-pointed awareness sustained over a period of time. It’s about having an attention span that’s long enough to accomplish complicated tasks.

I took it for granted and assumed everyone thinks this way. In time, I discovered that many of the people I met simply don’t have the mental chops. They have the potential, but instead of deliberate mental training and exercise, many are content with the ever-shortening attention span that results from a steady diet of quick sound bites and the overwhelming video barrage so common on TV. Use it or lose it, and it looks like functional attention spans are lost to many.

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

“Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68)

This skill of directed thinking comes in handy in many of my everyday activities, like writing this article, writing a song, learning to play an instrument, producing a CD or DVD, creating a website, building a house or a studio, or just talking with a friend and logically trouble-shooting a technical problem. In retrospect, I consider this ability of directed thinking to be one of the most valuable skills I have to show for all those years in school. And, it’s a major contributing factor to the ongoing creation of the life of my dreams.

“The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it’s a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things.” - Eric Butterworth

I Am Thinking – I Am Not the Thoughts

Since I learned early how to pick and choose my thoughts and follow through with a deliberate train of thought, I realized a valuable spiritual principle: Thoughts are transitory – they come and they go. If I am choosing thoughts on purpose, my sense of self, my identity, is beyond the realm of thoughts. “Who I am” is the thinker of the thoughts – the watcher.

“Who is the watcher, who sits in the stillness and knows,
And who is the looker, who notices the king wears no clothes.
Who is the seer, who sees beyond the mind,
And who is the seeker, who’ll find the grand design.”
(From the song, “Who is the Watcher” by Tupelo Kenyon)

Beyond Thought

Spiritual awareness (aka religious experience) is all about going beyond the mind into the realm of pure being. Disciplines and rituals from all cultures through the ages have been used to help take the practitioner beyond the mental realm of thoughts, words and identification with physical things.

“Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence.” - Akhenaton - Egyptian king (d. c.1354 BC)

Meditation helps to identify and then identify with the being behind the thoughts. Prayer beads, mantras, mandalas and zen koans are all used to transcend the chatter of the typical undisciplined mind. Musicians concentrate on melodies or musical passages, a process which stops the internal string of words which are otherwise forever playing in the mind.

Awareness grows only when the internal dialog is slowed and eventually stopped. Even when the parade of thoughts is curtailed only for brief moments, the awareness of “I am” has a chance to shine through like the sun breaking through the clouds. (See previous article, “Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion.)

Thinking on Purpose

Once you no longer identify yourself with the stream of thoughts that once dominated your life, you are free to use thoughts deliberately, on purpose, as a tool to help you manifest chosen outcomes. Instead of being blown all over the mental map by every thought that presents itself, you are able to be a thought wrangler.

You can keep them under control, manageable, and keep your life heading in the general direction you choose. When you notice a stray thought going off in another direction, you can redirect it to better support your vision, or you can choose to ignore it altogether and replace it with another thought.

This ability to think deliberately, on purpose, is directly related to your quality of life. Since the Law of Attraction is continuously bringing you the balance of your thoughts, what could be more important than learning to create the life of your dreams, on purpose, by thinking deliberately?

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.” - Terry Josephson

Whenever you notice a thought taking you away from your chosen direction, immediately replace it with another that feels better. Your emotions will let you know if a particular thought is working for you or against you. If you feel good, your present thoughts are now helping to manifest the outcome you choose. If you feel bad, your present thoughts are now taking you away from the outcome you choose. (See previous article, “The Law of Attraction.”)

“Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” - Dr. Jonas Salk (b. 1914)

A Tool or a Prison

Your thoughts and the realm of thinking can be a powerful tool if it is recognized as such and used from the broader perspective of who you really are: awareness, consciousness, pure being. Or your thoughts and the realm of thinking can be a prison keeping you in an illusory world of words and things, mental constructs and objects of the senses.

“Awareness is not the same as thought. It lies beyond thinking, although it makes no use of thinking, honoring it’s value and it’s power. Awareness is more like a vessel which can hold and contain our thinking, helping us to see and know our thought as thought rather than getting caught up in them as reality.” - Jon Kabit-Zinn

This world of matter is a marvelous place, an incredible opportunity to experience the grandeur of the universe from within the universe. But, by all indications, we are just passing through.

We emerge from the stillness, the vast sea of emptiness. Compared to eternity, a lifetime is a brief moment, the wink of an eye, and then we return from whence we came. Where is that? Where is eternity? Where is the vast sea of emptiness? Is it everywhere? Is it nowhere? Here’s some interesting wordplay inspired by something Dr. Wayne Dyer said in his live presentation of “The Power of Intention” . . .

First we are nowhere.
Now here.
Then nowhere again.

Nowhere.
Now here.
Nowhere.

From this broader perspective, it’s folly to identify with the physical world or any of its attributes, including thinking.

“Just like an afternoon that disappears too soon,
Another summer’s day that fades away.
See how it marches on, another year is gone,
No time to dwell upon our fleeting fate.

“How can we wait again another day,
Now that we know how fast they always slip away.
Our little world’s our emphasis, this life is a parenthesis,
A heartbeat in eternity’s highway.”
(From the song, “A Heartbeat in Eternity’s Highway” by Tupelo Kenyon.)

Why not choose the best of both worlds? We are here now, in this world to enjoy and appreciate all that it has to offer. But, we are not of it – we’re just passing through.

The Unified Field That Contains Everything

In a live retreat, I heard Eckheart Tolle say the measure of spiritual maturity is how well you are able to transcend thought. I am paraphrasing, but my sense of his message is that there’s an infinite realm of being that exists as a colossal field. Everything else is included in that field. This is the same unified field that Einstein was trying to reconcile mathematically in the later years of his life. Perhaps “who we really are” is the field itself.

“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest–a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” - Albert Einstein (1875-1955)

As we live our physical lives, we are individual manifestations of the awareness of the universe, beyond thought, beyond things, beyond phenomenon. We are the silent watcher who sits in the stillness and knows.

“The evolution of consciousness culminates in an all-inclusive consciousness that functions in the context of the infinite and the eternal.” - Phiroz Mehta

When we know that to be true, we are free of the incessant chatter of our internal dialog – our thoughts. The jumping monkey mind still performs its histrionics but we no longer identify with it. It’s not who we are – it’s a tool to be tamed and used purposefully.

We can still think – clearly, deliberately and powerfully whenever we choose.

But we don’t have to!

Thoughts are one of the most powerful forces in the universe. But it’s not who we are. We are much more than that . . . more powerful and much grander than our thoughts can imagine.

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.

	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 A Heartbeat in Eternity’s Highway In the grand scheme of things, what’s the difference between a single moment and all of eternity? What’s the point of reference? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor17 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 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 Here A love song to the beloved and/or to the larger part of ourselves. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor16 Within Without An atom and a solar system is virtually the same thing - mostly empty space! Even quantum physics is still wondering, "Is the universe a great big thing, or a great big thought?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor6 Same Olde Time Time - it’s so relative. "What if distant starlight shining in the endless sky is just the same, by a different name, as the twinkle in your eye?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor7 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Get a Broader Perspective - Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Know Thyself - Ignore Comparisons and Be Yourself The average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in. We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others. Appreciate Here and Now No matter what’s going on in your life right now, there’s something to appreciate about it. The act of appreciation rivets our consciousness to this present moment. With our attention focused on the here and now, we are living life fully, since right now is the only time there ever is. 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. Enhance Your Self-Image on Purpose 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. Ego or Soul? Who’s Driving Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego. What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics? Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. 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. Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. 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

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