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Positively Speaking-John Rodgers
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Personal Improvement
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Posted in faith, Inspirational, law of attraction, motivation, Spirituality
Tagged inspiration, law of attraction, motivation, Spirituality
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Stay in your lane
One of the easiest ways to get in an accident on the road is to weave all over the road. On a motorcycle, “lane splitting” can cause some serious hurt. If we all stay in our own lane, everyone would be safer.
I think that is a metaphor that can be used for all of the activities and conditions of life. For example; everyone in my family is healthy right now. My job is going well; I’m losing weight, getting fit again and never felt better. This past spring I have been redoing my yard. It’s s low uphill battle, but is starting to look like the image I have been holding in my head. In February I became a grandpa to a beautiful little angel named Bridget. Without hesitation, I can say life is wonderful. That is my lane. I’m staying right there.
If I turn on the news I can easily start weaving all over the road. I can end up on highways that aren’t even taking me where I want to go. The amount of garbage “out there” to drag me out of my lane is incredible. I often wonder just how many people that are causing trouble over what they see and hear are directly impacted by it. I also feel that every disastrous new cause, outrage and controversy is being blown way out of proportion expressly to get us worked up. I’m sure that the small percentage of folk that are actually impacted by a lot of what so many are indignant about, could find a compromise, or happy medium. I don’t think there has ever really been a condition in this country that was so outrageous that millions suffered greatly because of it. Still, so many take to the streets and live in the lane of misery, just to be on the bandwagon of the outraged.
I call this self imposed misery. We all have a choice everyday where to focus our energy and attention. Sure there are things going on all around that don’t sit well with some of us. The answer is go out and vote, or volunteer. Better yet start a group that will do things the way you think is better, and if you are right, other will follow.
Fighting against something never brings about change or peace. You cannot create joy by destructive behavior and attitude. Anger and violence only creates more of the same, exponentially so.
I choose JOY today. I have no need to pay attention to the garbage and ruin my peace. I’ll pay the extra bucks at the pump, and the store knowing that it is a temporary situation. I’m not pleased about it, but getting crazy is not going to fix it. If we all stayed in our lane, many more of us may be happy. Happy people have a better chance of addressing the issues with level heads and calm demeanors.
While there may be a ton of crap out there, there is more beauty, peace and love than most know. All you have to do is look beyond the thorns to see the magnificent rose.
BTW, my book is out on Amazon now. Visit my Author page Https://www.Amazon.com/author/positivelyspeaking-jr.
The Book title is First Things First: My Journey with The Law of Attraction.
Respect The Connection
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No matter what road you are cruising, be it a state road, back road or interstate highway you can get to any other road from the one you are on. I know in Maine they tell you: ”You can’t get … Continue reading
Entrance Fee
Most events and experiences have an entrance fee of some kind. A great Car/Bike & Truck show certainly does. If you want to go to the Races you have to pay, Concert or even Home Show have tickets. A ball game or a Play can get pretty costly. One thing we can all agree upon is that when we want to enjoy ourselves, we are willing to pay the freight.
In the world today there are millions of folk that are not enjoying LIFE as they should. A good percentage of them pay all kinds of fees to attend seminars, workshops, lectures and even trips that will teach them how to turn their lives around. This is the world of Personal Development. As an industry it was estimated to be valued at over 40 Billion in 2020. The recent pandemic has certainly added to that figure greatly. When you invest $1 on goods, you walk away with $1’ worth of widget. If you spend $1 on services, someone does something that you can see. The big question I have about Personal Development and the “Coaching” industry as a whole is: Do we all walk away with value for our dollar? If we believe we do, how do we measure it?
As far as personal Development; The Law of Attraction and Positive Thinking are 2 sub-groups that assist in turning negative life experiences into positive ones. These Genres certainly do draw their share of that $40 Billion. I have been writing, posting and at times speaking about them for over ten years and have never taken a dime of that because I do not believe people are paying for the right ticket. Much of that $40 Billion is going to the scalpers.
I believe, and have seen and personally experienced, that people suffering through negative experiences, will pay large amounts of money to have someone drag them out, but no one can, We all can only fix ourselves. The Law of Attraction field tells people that by believing in anything, regardless how grand, it MUST come true. So desperate, needy folk, living in turmoil and lack, scrape up all they can to listed, and read more about it. They then repeat affirmations in front of the mirror, create vision boards, and get into debt, all while feeling fearful and impatient, hoping to become rich, famous, healthy and joyful. Most of them only end up frustrated, in debt and disillusioned.
The price we must pay for these positive conditions and experiences is not financial, it is emotional. One cannot enter the Kingdom of Joy in a feeling of desperation, no one will be wealthy who feels poor and destitute and we cannot know Joy & Peace while we are in the stae of fear and panic. The conundrum is that everyone chasing these conditions is now in the opposite emotional state. Real Peace, Joy, Health, Success and Well Being are dichotomies. You will only get them when you no longer want them. The entrance fee to wealth is to feel the joy of abundance. The ticket price for health and healing is to know your body is perfect. What we need to pay for joy, peace and love, is a happy grateful disposition with unconditional love for life.
You see, most country clubs will not let you join until you have the net worth they feel is desirable to them, and the night clubs will not let you enter unless you have a certain look or notoriety. We need to be and feel like we are what we desire to be or it will not happen.
Remember the song: The sign said Long Haired Freaky People need not apply”, went on to say: You’ve got to have a membership card to get inside”. Everything in life has these requirements. The vibration our consciousness puts out, (our attitude and perspective), needs to be aligned with our desires. No experience of wealth will allow a consciousness of need, likewise, any life of joy will only manifest for a person of gratitude and positive intentions. The bible tells us we need to pray as though our prayers have already been answered and it is so. Faith dictates that we believe in the outcome we desire. The universe will know we believe by our emotional state. The easiest way to feel the feeling of our wishes fulfilled is act as if we are what we want to be, remain focused on our destination, not where we are now, be grateful for everything we do have and feel as though it is enough.
The entrance fee is to “be what we desire now, and the outward conditions of that state will surround us”. I understand that we have these desires due to being in the opposite place, but feeling as though we are in the opposite place is what keeps us away from where we want to go. Pay the price and you WILL be granted entry!
The Journey IS the DESTINATION
Posted in faith, Inspirational, law of attraction, Spirituality
Tagged Faith, inspiration, law of attraction, motivation, personal growth, Spirituality
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Back to Basics
There seems to be a very pervasive condition of misery with an extremely ubiquitous presence spreading like a wildfire across our country. The current boogie man that gets the blame for everything is of course the Covid Pandemic. Is that the cause, or perhaps a result? Who knows? It’s an easy target to toss blame at for everything unpleasant so let’s go with that.
It is almost understandable that over 20% of America has been diagnosed with anxiety disorders and depression (yours truly included). That begs the question; are we the impetus for the misery of this virus, or the victims? I believe wholeheartedly that we create our own experiences and feelings based upon our thoughts, believes, convictions and expectations. Being a victim is easy. Just point a finger away from ourselves while lamenting over our challenge or “raw deal”. It is much more difficult to accept responsibility for our condition. While more difficult; taking ownership is exponentially more rewarding. Once we acknowledge we have created our own grief, we have allowed ourselves to overcome it, as opposed to being the victim where we need external conditions to change for us to be free of our malady.
ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY IS THE VACCINE FOR THE VIRUS OF MISERY.
My beliefs and convictions, along with everything I have ever spoken publicly, or wrote about points toward society compromising its authenticity, mortgaging free will, and seeking the path of least resistance in order to get along. We have morphed into an age of entitlement, convenience, and instant gratification. We chose the lure of quick riches over the joy of following our bliss. It is easier to accept handouts than to create our own opportunity. A “What’s in it for me, the heck with the other guy” approach to community has replaced unity, charity, care and outreach.
I allowed the difficulty of pursuing a dream and the apathy of society to allow me fashion a position antithetical to that which I am. The result has been a year of anxiety, and depression. Well I know that now and have moved beyond it. I will follow my bliss regardless the outcome, and identify as my authentic self regardless outward appearances. That is enough to turn around from misery and begin to feel joy,
Any of us that ride motorcycles will admit that sitting on the back is no way to get around. People that love to restore classic cars know buying one fully restored does not give that same sense of accomplishment. We need to get back to riding solo, getting our hands dirty and knuckles bloody, or there is no flavor to life. No flavor leads to disappointment which becomes anxiety, and depression. We have created our own misery and will only overcome it individually by taking back responsibility for being a productive component of life, a giver, not a taker.
Being connected by sprit, and sharing ONE LIFE; peace, joy, and contentment requires that we follow our passions to help improve the lives of others so we can make a positive impact on all that is while being grateful for everything, including our challenges as they afford us growth, and accept the conditions we face as our catalyst to create. We can all live best life by living life from within. The center where grace and the spark of all that is divine reside will guide us. We are all connected, so acknowledge that instead of living within the illusion of separation, isolation self, be mindful and a part of, not apart from life.
THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION
https://www.facebook.com/PositivelySpeaking.JR Jtrodgers512@gmail.com http://PositivelyJohn.wordpress.com
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Ground Hog Day
I know Ground Hog Day isn’t until February, and we are just approaching Christmas & New Years, but I feel I need to discuss it. Not the actual day as a Holiday, but the movie with Bill Murray.
In the movie, Phil Connors, a TV Weatherman, is doomed to repeat the same day ( Feb 2 Ground Hog Day) over and over as he had become stuck in a time loop. The underlying premise was that he was somewhat of a dick and would not break the spell until he “get’s it right”. If you are scratching your head wondering how I connect this aburdity to Chrstmas and New Years, just give a minute.
In the Christian Community, the birth of Jesus ushered in a new age of diety worship where “God” is no longer a vengeful demanding god, but a loving Father image that wants the best for his children and is always giving, caring and nurtring. Chritianity changed the way humanity viewed God as Jesus taught of love and kindness as opposed to obediance, and sacrifice. For me, Christmas is synonymous with “New Begininngs”
As we navigate through the holiday season with our focus on love, charity, giving and family, we end up at the start of a new calendar year ( yet another New Begininng). It is traditional to to make resolutions as to how we intend to improve ourselves in the coming year. All of these opportuities to start over are reminiscent of the movie. It is never too late to try again.
I like to view everyday as Ground Hog Day, or Christmas. Each morning when we face a new opportunity to collaboratively create this world, we have the option to do so with a clean slate if we so choose. We do not need to follow anyone elses lead, or be swayed by our own past. There is no reason that each sunrise cannot be a New Begininng.
I am sure I would be hard pressed to find anyone that would not agree that all of us could benefit from a “New Begininng” this year. In our wildest nightmares we never expected the last 20 months to be as brutal on as many fronts at it has been. I believe we have been stuck in this “Time Loop” because we have turned our focus to the pain, suffering, anger and division instead of the love, peace, charity and unity we are capable of as a species. I fear we will remain at Ground Hog Day until we all realize we can flip a switch in our hearts and wake up to a new day.
The life we all experience ( individually and collectivley )is the direct output of our innermost belief about who we are and our expectation of what we will encounter. Let us take this Holiday season to relfect what is in our hearts and not replay what is on the news.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Ground Hog Day.
THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION
https://www.facebook.com/PositivelySpeaking.JR
Jtrodgers512@gmail.com http://PositivelyPoetry.wordpress.com
Posted in faith, Inspirational, philosophy, Spirituality, spirituality
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Independence Day
Today is Sunday July 4th 2021. I prefer to call it INDEPENDENCE DAY instead of the ever so popular “4th of July”. By ignoring the proper name, I’m sure there are millions of folk that just think of it as a summer day to cook out and have parties, without ever giving thought to why. 245 years ago today the Continental Congress declared independence over Britain’s rule. That is why we are a nation run by the people and for the people with many freedoms to live according to our own design
What could be more positive than that? In the not too distant past, being a free person was all one needed to be happy and joyful. Nowadays, so many of us may be free technically according to the constitution, but we live in the bondage of our minds. If our own fears are not imprisoning us, perhaps we are shackled by runaway debt. Maybe we are even incarcerated by envy, jealousy, greed and indignation. Is hatred and racism, or malicious claims of it handcuffing us from feeling the joy of our freedom and unity? Suffice it to say, there are a myriad of other ways to be in bondage than the mighty foot of dictatorial rule. Most these freedom robbing conditions are self-imposed and more deadly that oppressive governing. We allow it in, hell, we practically invite it.
These days it almost seems as though the Government is trying to keep us fearing each other based upon our opinions and beliefs. The media is certainly sowing seeds of terror and tragedy. No one watches touchy feely stories of good people being good to people and enjoying it. No; Death, panic fear, anger hatred is not only all we are shown, but almost everything is spun to highlight that aspect of the story. No wonder we do not feel free. Fear is the antithesis of freedom. Keeping us in fear, in debt, sick, overworked and angry, has us turning control of our lives over to the predators that feed off us.
My Article is “Positively Speaking” as is my FB page and my Blog “Positively John” You would think I am ecstatically joyful, blowing sunshine and daisies out my butt all the time wouldn’t you? To be honest, I have fears, I have anxieties and I struggle just like most, perhaps even more than most. The media and life in general beats me down, and at times I am not sure how much I can take. The truth is I write this stuff as a means of trying to keep myself from falling into the abyss that lies ahead. Some days it is enough, others are not so sunny.
The one thing I know for sure. Turning over our minds to the material “They” are exposing us too is a recipe for disaster. No one will have to fire a shot to put us in bondage. We will walk into the cell and put on our shackles eagerly. This is why I try as hard as I can to share the understanding that we are each the arbiters of our own outcomes and designers of our destiny and it all starts in the mind. “What you think about the most becomes real”. The Government, our employers, the media or even our family cannot decide if we are free or in bondage, only each of us individually and independently can declare our freedom. The Continental Congress did not usher in the freedoms we enjoy. The minds of free men did. Only those that wish to be free and are willing to fight the demons that attempt to shred our peace and unity, by being free thinkers and focusing only what brings us joy, will be.
Many are imprisoned physically but are free in their minds and souls. Sadly though, millions are free physically and in bondage far worse than gov’t or institutional incarceration, they are hypnotized by mob mentality and conditioned to blindly follow the flocks.
As you think back to this Day of Independence, set yourself free. Positively Speaking, you are the only one that can!
THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION
Obstacles
The quality of our life experiences is dependent upon the perspective with which we view our challenges.
The Obstacle Course
Most of us view the challenges of life as problems. It is natural to be disappointed when something unexpected gets in the way of our plans and causes us to take actions we hadn’t thought of. No one really likes the unexpected. Challenges, obstacles, problems, roadblocks or whatever you want to call them are mostly associated with grief, pain and disappointment.
There is much to be said for the adage: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”. Folks tend to grasp onto that for comfort when the going gets tough. What if I told you that the obstacles we navigate around, challenges we overcome and problems that we solve define us? Would you embrace them?
The truth of our life’s events is that we need such situations to give life meaning. If we look closely at our life, and human history, everything we are aware of has been the navigation of obstacles and the overcoming of challenges. Every action ever taken by man, all creations, machines, equipment, roads, bridges , fashionable sunglasses, communication and entertainment were all solutions to problems.
The creative ingenuity of man, all of our talents and gifts have been for the express purpose of problem solving. When we extrapolate all of our actions and creations, we will see that the problem we have been endeavoring to solve is our search for peace, comfort, and well being.
Had there never been an obstacle, if the 1st man had everything he needed for total joy, there never would have been ANYTHING—ANY THING!. The universe would never have unfolded in the synchronistic dance of discovery had there not been the NEED. Then life would never have happened.
Looking at life this way, challenges are welcome as they are the catalyst that drives us. Obstacles are the genesis of creation and the foundation of ingenuity. Joy always follows the subjugation of a challenge as the prize for a job well done.
God’s infinite wisdom designed this obstacle course with perfection. The greatest component of the course is the free will and perspective. People that see the challenge as the valuable impetus they are know the true flavor of life. Those that see obstacles as problems only feel grief and despair at their arrival to struggle through them as part of the burden of life.
The events of the past year or more have certainly challenged all of us. Have you gotten stronger? Going forward, seeing the opportunity in every obstacle will allow us to look at life with renewed optimism and purpose. As long as we continue to see PROBLEMS, life will be a burden. By seeing opportunity, life will be an exercise in growth.
Once again,,,,,, it all boils down to CHOICE. What do you see?
THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION
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