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Spiritual Secrets of Concentration
By: Arthur Regis
For most of the time, we are barely conscious of what we are about, because there are so many projects, memories, words and images chasing each other rapidly through our brains, overlapping and interlacing in a totally free and chaotic manner.
There are not many people who can decide to devote their attention exclusively to something if only for an hour, and then keep their thoughts on track without getting confused or distracted.
There's right! We disperse and dissipate our mental energy all the time. Sometimes it's possible to concentrate hard in the heat of the moment perhaps when influenced by a powerful emotions or an urgent necessity. But even then, you are sumitting to the situation rather than controlling it.
This is not the deliberate, calm and active kind of concentration Maria Duval wants to discuss with you here - the kind that opens the doors to success and achievement.
In this world, there are students who in two hours flat can produce works that their comrades would find it difficult to accomplish in four hours.
There are people who when presented with a problem to solve, give it about fifteen minutes' thought and them come up with the answer.
There are attorneys or lawyers who only start to study their case files an hour before attending a hearing.
There are surgeons who examine their patient for only ten minutes before carrying out an operation. And who are capable, during the course of this operation, of modifying their technique each time a new factor comes to light.
The truth is that these people perform well because they know how to focus their mind, quickly and effectively. How do they manage to do this?? That's what Maria Duval is about to explain briefly.
Concentration is the power to focus all your psychic forces on a single point at a time, without allowing yourself to be distracted by any events or situations going on around you, says Maria Duval.
If you get a magnifying glass and allow the sunlight to shine through it, the light will be focused to such a point that it can burn many objects and burst into flames. Likewise, if you concentrate on a single issue as hard as you can, without getting distracted, you will experience a flash of enlightment. So using this technique, problems that creep into your mind can be solved after a few minutes of concentration.
Concentration is the faculty that makes people great. If you want to be successful, to do something worthwhile and reach the highest rungs of the social ladder, Maria Duval says it is important that you must learn to channel your attention, your thoughts, your feelings, your desires and your will by focusing them to a single point like the sun's rays.
Individuals who become high-flyers in absolutely any field of human activity, are people who are capable of concentrating their minds. Let Maria Duval explain the two main aspects of concentration, so that we can better understand the mechanisms involved:
There is one type of concentration that involves regular practise sessions, performed using specific places, times and body postures, and possibly accompanied by certain breathing techniques;
The other type is brought to bear on life itself, as it happens, with its obvious repetition, but with all its variations and surprises as well.
Although they can be exercised independently, an esoteric law known as the law of complementarity in fact links these two types of concentration because these practices support and reinforce each other. Understanding and observing this phenomenon is one of the keys to success.
Author Bio
Arthur Regis is a freelance spiritualist. He practises the spiritual laws based on the teachings of psychic Maria Duval. His blog can be found at Maria Duval's Talisman.
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Procrastination Solutions
By: Lael Johnson
I'm assuming that you have encountered some form of procrastination in your life. For those of you who don't struggle with procrastination. Congratulations! I find procrastination especially frustrating to handle, when it disguises itself as irritability, confusion and anger, pointing my heart and mind away from where the real causes lie.
Procrastination is a temporary solution to cover or push away intense feelings during the creative process. Some creatives feel anxiety before starting a project. Others feel depressed in the middle of creating a project. Still others struggle being unable to finish a project, especially one that comes closest to the realization of part of their artistic vision. They don't want to face the unknowns of exploring a new project.
Procrastination is a form of self-sabotage. I call it a short-term last resort. If you let procrastination go, it can take over your life. In the following exercises, I can increase your awareness of how procrastination may be interfering with your work. Remember to choose to work one exercise at time. Take your time when you write. Be patient as you start to react to these two exercises. Let your mind and heart gently guide you toward deeper awareness and desire to change.
TO-DO LISTS:
Lists are easy to write in your journal. If you can write a laundry list, then you can write a journal list. Feel free to choose organization tools that work best for you. My preference is to use a combination of my calendar, some goal files (pc), index cards and my memory. When I'm creating lists, I like having access to both flexible tools(cards and memory) and a workable structure ( past lists and some goal files). Remember to write a clear, easy to read, and detailed to-do list.
CHOOSE ONE AREA: Choose one urgent "procrastination" area.
To help your focus answer the following questions about your situation:
Purpose: Increasing your awareness of your resistance:
What part of this activity, that I don't want to do? (answer in specifics)
What am I feeling about working on this activity? (There may be more than one feeling)
What would I rather be doing?
What is so attractive about resisting this activity?
Purpose: Increasing your awareness of your motivation:
What part of doing this creative project do you like?
What are your feeling about this creative project? (any feelings)
Summarize your resistance statements and your motivated statements
Look for any similarities and differences (use this information to answer the next question)
Look for ways to increase your motivational actions and decrease your procrastination actions.
Congratulations! You've chosen your new goal.
Start working on it now!!
No more procrastination!
Author Bio
Lael Johnson, owner of Writer's Eye Advisory Service, offers creativity coaching services and additional writing resources. For more information visit: www.writerseye.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
Could you use a 'Stop Doing' list?
By: Inez Ng
One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools is the trusty old "to do" list. I was trained to diligently put one together at the end of the day for the following day, and whatever tasks I failed to complete, to carry it forward. This system has worked well in helping me prioritize and focus. But I have also heard many of my colleagues complain about having too much on their list, and feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed by the sheer number of items on their "To Do" list. To help ease the overwhelm, I want to introduce the concept of the "Stop Doing" list.
I first read about the "Stop Doing" list in "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He stated that one of the commonalities of the companies who were able to propel themselves from being just good to being great is that they all looked at what they were currently doing that they needed to Stop Doing. I am implementing this idea in a slightly different way, but I think a "Stop Doing" list can actually help your productivity and effectiveness.
So how do you decide what goes on your "Stop Doing" list? Here's what I suggest you do.
For the next week or two, each time you work on your "to do" list (and if you are not using one currently, I strongly recommend you start), or blocking off time for specific tasks in you planner, ask yourself this question: "does this task add value or generate positive results for me and my organization?" If the answer is no, it should go right on top of your "Stop Doing" list.
If the answer is "yes", ask yourself a second question: "am I the best person to do this task?" The first question tells you whether you can eliminate a task. This question tells you whether you can delegate a task. I know for solo-business people, you automatically think that you have no one to delegate any tasks to. But actually, that might not necessarily be true. Today, there is a whole network of virtual assistants who can handle a myriad of administrative work for you. Some accept work by the hour, and some accept work by the project. If you are interested in this resource, check out www.assistu.com
For some people, you may have to then overcome your resistance to delegating. I've heard many of the reasons. Do these sound familiar?
"By the time I explain it to someone else, I could have done it myself."
"I can't trust somebody else to do it right."
"It costs too much money."
Some of these are completely legitimate concerns. However, before you dismiss the idea, consider the following:
Is the task repetitive so that the up-front time investment to train someone is actually worth it 3 months down the road?
Are you the most qualified person to complete the task, or could someone else do it in less time with less effort for better results?
If you didn't have to do the task, what would you choose to spend that time on, and what impact will that have on your business, or your life?
So, after considering these tough questions, add your delegated task to your "Stop Doing" list as well and send them elsewhere, and I guarantee you will feel better.
Even though I wrote this article for people struggling with overload at work, the same approach can be applied to create a "Stop Doing" list for home. Think of the possibilities - you can delegate laundry, and cooking, and yard work, and cleaning, and what else?
Seriously, the current state of our lives is that there is generally too much to do and not enough time. So, go through this exercise at least once and see what you can shed from your "to do" list. If you like the results, then establish a routine and do this every 6 months or a year. The point is that you want to spend your time on high impact tasks, and work that you enjoy.
Author Bio
Are your business results suffering due to an ineffective leadership team? Find out what coaching with Inez Ng can do for your leadership team at www.Realizationsunltd.com Want to know about saving time handling emails? Check out her ebook at http://easyemailstrategies.com.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
Is the Law of Attraction Real? What is the Real Secret?
By: Jennifer Plouff
Everyone is lured in by the thought of easy money, especially today. Personal debt is at an all time high and personal savings haven't been this low since the Great Depression. The Law of Attraction seems to promise wealth and abundance simply by thinking about it. Easy money right? Could the Law of Attraction be simply a myth? The truth is out there but it's not what you think.
If you have been to the bookstore lately or checked Amazon's top seller list you will notice that there are several books that are based on the Law of Attraction. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is one of the most popular right now. Why are these types of books so popular now? I believe it's because people are looking for a way out of the financial messes and the chaos of everyday life today. In our efforts to be more productive and to live up to some fictitious standard we have set for ourselves, we have over complicated our lives and are now getting ready to crash and burn. We have been spoiled and have the "I want it now" syndrome. We want a simpler life, a more meaningful life and we want it now. We want to be wealthy, we want to be debt free, travel the world and we want it now. These books seem to promise and easy way to our dreams.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with these wishes. They are indeed wishes that will lead us in the right direction. The problem is that we can't have them right now just by wishing for them. So is the Law of Attraction a myth? I don't believe it is entirely a myth. I do believe there is energy out there that we can not see but we can tap into if we know how. There is a greater consciousness that holds the answers to all questions and guides the way to all dreams. However, it's not as simple as sitting down and telling yourself that you really want a million dollars and "poof" it's attracted to you. Unfortunately, it is being portrayed that way, like easy money.
The Truth to the Secret
If there is something that you really want, say a million dollars. You should think about it everyday. You should right down your goal. You should brainstorm ideas everyday that will be leading you in the direction of your goal. Make a list of the things you do everyday that are not leading towards your goal. If your goal is to get your bedroom clutter free than is sitting on the couch and watching soap operas getting you closer to your dream? Now some will say," You need some time for yourself and to relax". That's true; you do need to relax at times. That's when meditation is good and plays a crucial role. Meditating will help you to relax and clear your mind from the daily troubles. Most importantly it helps clear away the clutter in your mind and lets you find a clearer, simpler path to what you seek. The answers are already there, you already know the solution to your problem. You just have to relax and listen.
Once you have relaxed it's time to get back to working towards your goal. The more you work towards your goal the more things will start to fall into place and the more opportunities you will see. Is it the Law of Attraction that has made these opportunities available to you? Could it be that you are so focused on your dream and really involved in making it a reality that your eyes are just opened to the opportunities that were always there but you couldn't see them? I think it's more the later.
Take for example two women that want to get their homes clean and clutter free. The clutter is overwhelming them and their husbands are getting very annoyed. They are embarrassed to have anyone over. They both work full time and have two children.
Woman A is very determined about her dream to have a clean home. She thinks about it everyday. She has sat down and made a list of what needs to be done and has figured out the best way to accomplish it. Even though she is tired when she comes home she is determined to make her dream a reality. So, she spends a half hour cleaning a particular room every evening. She devises a routine to keep the rooms clean. She starts having the kids pick up their own clothes and be responsible for their own rooms. She asks her husband to help clean the garage out and to help do the dishes at night so she can have a few more minutes to clean.
As the family sees her get serious about cleaning they get in on the act too. Woman A finds that she needs a bunch of boxes to take stuff to the thrift shop. As she is driving home from work the next day she sees a bunch of clean boxes that someone has thrown out and she brings them home. Was that the Law of Attraction working or did she just know what she needed and therefore her mind was on the lookout to fulfill that need?
It doesn't happen overnight but eventually her hard work pays off and her house is clutter free and beautiful. It makes her feel so much better and her husband and children are happy too. There is no more stress about finding things because everything is organized. Her routine is simple to keep the house looking good and she can relax and take it easy. Life is easier and the stress of knowing that the house needs to be cleaned up is gone.
Now let's take woman B. She too wants her home clean. However, she just complains that the task is just too overwhelming; she doesn't know where to start. She says that she'll clean on the weekend but when the weekend comes she says that she wants to spend time with the kids and relax for awhile. On a day off from work she watches TV and looks around her at the clutter and just feels bad and tells herself that she will never have a clean home. Then she goes shopping to make herself feel better and just comes home with more stuff to fill up her house and has spent more money on nothing.
Her husband and children never help out because they see no motivation on her part. In their eyes she obviously doesn't want the house to be clean that much or else she'd be doing something about it. Nothing is ever attracted to her to help her out because she's not looking. That same pile of boxes was probably there for her too but she drove right by them because she didn't know what she needed. She will never reach her dream and the strain on the marriage and family will always be there like an anchor.
So was there some mysterious force at work attracting things to woman A or was she just simply focused and determined and took the time to clear her thoughts to find a simple path to her dream. Once you get working on something then things do seem to just fall into place. It's getting started that can be the problem. You must force yourself to take action. Sitting and wishing for you dream alone will do nothing to attract it to you. Work for it and it will appear.
So is there some magical thing out there that you can pray to that will make your dreams come true? I don't think so. I believe there is a Law of Attraction but I think it is simply stated this way... if you are determined and are focused on your goal. If you live every minute of your life working towards your goal in some form, then you will know exactly what you need to fulfill your dream and your mind will be on the lookout for it. So opportunities that you never saw before suddenly jump out at you. I don't think this is so much attraction as it is focused attention and energy.
When you have accomplished your goal then you can really relax. You will finally be where you wanted to be instead of relaxing and watching soap operas or football and still wishing you were living your dream. The secret is that nothing comes easy... it just comes easier to those who actively seek what they are looking for.
Seek, and Ye shall find.
Mat 7:7
Author Bio
Jennifer Plouff is an expert in the field of living simply to have more abundance and prosperity. Living debt free and focus on self and family are her main points. You can live the life of your dreams by joining her for free at www.livingcentsibly.com
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A Change Will Do You Good
By: Sharron Myers
As the last rays of summer's warmth ebb away and the gentle breezes of autumn waft themselves upon us, we recognize once again, that change is inevitable. Nature is constantly changing and yet, so many people have the notion that change is frightening.
People are creatures of habit and some find it difficult to adjust to changes that are certain to come our way. Life is like an old, comfortable pair of shoes. We may realize that we need new ones and we may even find new ones we really like, but, we know that changing will cause us discomfort for a little while until we break them in.
Sometimes we need to realize that life isn't always easy. What may be better for us is not what we are used to, but it is certainly worth the trouble of breaking in new habits and lifestyle changes.
Change does not have to be painful. Just look to nature and it will give you clues to how change can be effortless. The beautifully colored autumn leaves do not hang on to the old tree for dear life. No, they yield to the changes with ease and float gently off the tree.
With the coming of autumn we have been busy in our gardens pulling up the old stuff and getting ready for a time of rest. We know that the ground must rest and next year there will be more wonderful things in our garden to delight us.
Are there things in your life that need to be gently eased out of your life? Maybe there are bad relationships or habits or thoughts that need to be weeded out of your life. Don't be afraid to do a little gardening in your own life.
Every gardener knows that unless we get to the roots, we really are not getting rid of the problem. It may go away for awhile but unless we get to the root, it will sneak back into the garden very quickly.
Although the harvest time is here there is no time to stop weeding the garden of our minds. This garden needs constant attention in order for us to flourish and be all that we can be. The only way to keep this garden in top shape is to make sure that no weeds are there trying to strangle any good we are trying to do. The weeds of our mind, of course are negative thoughts that like to creep in and keep us from achieving that which we are striving for.
William James said, "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
How do we change the inner attitudes of our minds? By changing the way we think. We must put fear and negativity behind us. How, you ask? Just as the leaves of autumn gently blow from the tree, don't try and make a change in your thinking over night and expect to get instant results. We cannot rip these thoughts out of our minds, as much as we would like to sometimes. No, we need to be gentle on ourselves and let positive thoughts replace the negative.
Yes it will take some work on your part. You must constantly fill your mind with positive thoughts. Proverbs 27: 3 says, As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. We are what we think. When the negative thoughts come into your mind, you must be ready and willing to replace those thoughts with positive ones. Just say to yourself, no, I won't let that thought take over my mind, I will think positively. Affirmations are good to have readily available so you can replace the negative thought with the positive one. It won't be easy, it won't be hard either, it will just be different, like that new pair of shoes we were talking about earlier.
The autumn leaves fall to make way for new life. We too must go through changes that will bring new growth to our bodies, souls and spirits.
Change is inevitable, so why fight it? Why be afraid of it? Yes, change will require us to do a bit of readjusting but it is always worth it. Don't be afraid of change, a change will do you good.
Author Bio
This article is bought to you by Sharron Myers (sharronmyers@googlemail.com)
Sharron Myers has been a teacher of Spiritual Truth for over 30 years. She also is a Certified Aromatherapist and Personal Development Consultant. Be sure to check out her site: www.sharron-myers.com
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