The authentic life is one governed by truth and the freedom to express who you truly are without reservation. You are no longer burdened with the facade of political correctness. To be truly authentic, a person must have  a strong sense of who you are. Your happiness,success and self worth are all established on your own terms. In order to do this , one must have strong critical thinking skills. These skills assist us in establishing our authentic identity. We each possess an ego. The word has been tied to being arrogant, but this isn’t necessarily true. Our egos can be helpful to us. It helps us to consciously connect with others . This connection might be superficial, but, nevertheless, useful. Critical thinking has been described as the art of using reason to analyze ideas and dig deeper in order to get to our true potential. Critical thinking isn’t about thinking more or thinking harder; it’s about thinking better. I have identified  several strategies that can possibly help you to develop stronger critical thinking skills:

Begin to Question Your Assumptions

What do you assume about different types of people? Do you have prejudices? Where do they come from? Are they based on fact or  lies? We each potentially make assumptions about numerous things, situations and people all of the time. In many cases , these assumptions are made without us realizing it. Many have been passed down to us without any true authority as a reference. It is as if we are on automatic pilot. In order to grow in are critical thinking, we must practice being mindful of our habitual thought processes.

We are each complex beings. No one deserves to be put in a category starting with yourself. Practice taking a moment to recognize your assumptions . Track down the origin of it. Afterwards, determine if that point of view serves you or not. If it doesn’t, make a conscientious decision to develop a different one . Ideally, both your thoughts and habits should serve you.

Empathize With Others

As the saying goes,”Put yourself in other peoples’ shoes”. Each of us has our own perspective about our experiences. We each come from a “different place”. There are numerous factors that influence us in one way or the other. Part of being a critical thinker is realizing that not everyone thinks like you do and that’s okay. We are each on our own unique journey. You don’t have to agree with someone in order to empathize with them. Simply making the effort to understand someone’s point of view brings you that much closer to connecting with them. Allow others to be themselves without judgement. Putting  yourself in their shoes helps you to develop a broader perspective reminding you that it’s not always about you. Each life is important. Each matters equally.

Evaluate Your Options

When faced with challenging situations, consider all of your options. Learn to brainstorm. Think of all possible scenarios starting from best case to worse case. Try to think outside the box. It is easy to pigeon hole ourselves based on routine. In most cases, you will realize that you have more options than you might have realized initially. Remember that every problem has a solution.

Critical thinking is crucial for self realization. Every day you are “tearing” yourself away from that “sheep mentality”. You are beginning to tap into a bottomless reservoir of ideas. This is necessary in order to have the ultimate human experience. You begin to appreciate life as it is as well as your place in it. Critical thinking helps you to pay attention to what is most important in life. Your experiences become fuller and richer. Life takes on a whole new meaning. Nothing is taken for granted. Decisions become clearer and we begin to truly live life on purpose. Until next time…

Buy my book , “The Authentic Life” here

Okay, so now that I have your attention, I have a confession. My intention was to create a title that would get your attention.  It is my opinion that becoming a super human is synonymous with developing the best version of yourself . This is achieved through self realization. This is what it means to be authentic. In order to accomplish this goal, we must , first, start with our mindset. One of the most effective ways to develop an optimum , constructive mindset is through meditation. As human beings, the mind is the key to everything.

First of all , with consistent meditation, your bodies physiology is affected in a positive way. Each cell in your body is filled energy. This energy is called prana. The word is Sanskrit(Hindu origin) for life force or vital principle. It is all pervasive, organic energy that permeates the entire universe. Through meditation, our prana levels can be increased resulting in heightened experiences of joy, enthusiasm, creativity and peace. Let’s look further into the various benefits of establishing a daily practice of meditation.

Physical Benefits

• Lowers high blood pressure
• Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate
• Decreases tension- related pain, such as , tension headaches,ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems.
• Increases serotonin production improving mood and behavior
• Improves the immune system
• Increases energy level as you develop ability to tap into your inner source of energy
• Promotes healing through bringing brainwave patterns to a relaxed state while decreasing stress

Mental / Emotional Benefits

• Decreases anxiety
• Improves emotional stability
• Gain clarity and peace of mind
• Increases creativity
• Increases happiness
• Develops intuition
• Become a better problem solver/ More solution oriented
• Sharpens the mind through increased focus
• Expands consciousness

Spiritual Benefits

• Increases awareness of  Source aka God , Creator, Higher Self.
• Learn to trust inner guidance/Intuition
• Become more aware of connection to others as all creation
• Start to live from the “Overflow”/Develop an Abundance mindset rather than a Scarcity mindset
• Achieve Self Realization/ Authenticity

Meditation cleanses and nourishes you from within. You will begin to realize that your happiness is not determined by outer circumstances. Your inner perception of  yourself , others and situations determines your happiness. You will find yourself , more often, in a state of clarity, peace  and joy. You will experience more creativity as well as appreciate the uniqueness of others. You will also experience a deeper connection to them. Through meditation, we can discover more about ourselves and become more aware of why we make the decisions that we do on a regular basis. You naturally begin to express more of your authentic self because you are more confident in who you are and what you have to offer. All of these benefits might not be experienced overnight, yet,with daily practice , transformation is assured. You will start to experience life at a much higher level of joy and fulfillment. Your potential is endless. You will start to make better choices in your life. You will begin to engage in thoughts and activities that serve. Life begins to be experienced at an optimum level. In my opinion, this is what it means to be a “super human”. Until next time….

Buy my book , “The Authentic Life” here

Yes, you are a microcosm of everything.First of all,let’s define microcosm. According to the dictionary, microcosm is described as meaning “small world”. As human beings , we are the epitome or the perfect example of the universe. When I refer to the universe, I am writing about what traditionally is called “God”, Source or our Creator. We are each perfect examples of the creator. Each one of us is a “miniature” version of the creator. We are  “gods” .

It’s all about awareness or consciousness. There is , for lack of a better term,an  “intelligence” behind every action and  reaction in the known universe.Planets and stars are alive. Chaos occurs throughout space and the result , in many cases, are new stars and planets. Why?!! What causes this? I am not referring to any personage of any kind , but, rather, a source that is behind all of it. Why do you look like your mother , father or both?Why does our planet stay suspended in outer space rather than fall into the abyss or wander through space? Yes,we know about gravity, but what causes gravity? This is the intelligence that I am referring to. It is the same intelligence that is behind each child birth of every species that has ever existed. It is the same “force” that creates planets and stars. Although it has been given many names , no one can accurately describe it. Nevertheless, it exist. It has to exist because we exist.

We are talking about pure consciousness. It is has no form , yet, it is  the source of every form that has or will ever exist. It is the force behind every heartbeat. You and I are a part of it. We are an intricate part of it and unlike any known life form, we have the ability grow in our awareness of our connection to it. We are each part of this vast ocean of creative power that is constantly manifesting various forms of life. It is it’s nature to create. Having the ability to grow in our  awareness of this intelligence and our connection to it gives us a unique advantage over every known life form on this planet.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, thoughts become things. I am not referring to fleeting thoughts ,rather , the consistent thoughts that we think about ourselves , others and circumstances. We are like magnets. Each thought is tied to an emotion that serves as a type of “engine” that not only has a direct effect on what we attract into our lives, but also the rate speed that we attract it. This is why it is vital to train ourselves to be more conscious of our thoughts as well as our emotional state. We can each train ourselves to only pay attention to the thoughts that serve us . Although it is normal to have negative thoughts about situations and people, we don’t have to be controlled by them. We can practice finding the good in any situation despite the circumstance. This doesn’t mean that we will never have a negative response again. It means that we will spend less and less time in that state. It is possible to learn to move on quicker.

Masaru Emoto wrote a book titled “The Hidden Message of Water.” In the book , he claimed that our thoughts altered the molecular structure of water. Apparently , positive thoughts and words directly affected the shape of the molecules. They seemed to respond by morphing into “prettier” shapes while the molecules exposed to negative thoughts and comments morphed into more jagged, “uglier” shapes. This claim may seem questionable, but it is still food for thought. In the same way that there is an intelligence or consciousness behind the design of the physical universe, your thoughts have a direct effect on the design or outcomes of your current lifestyle. The formula is as followed: thoughts+action= outcome. Your present reality is a result of your consistent thoughts and actions.You are a creator. Our thoughts both individually and collectively have a direct impact on our world.Learn to choose your thoughts. Learn to get quiet. Meditate. An effective way to learn how to become more aware of your thoughts is to practice not thinking. Meditation can help you to stay calm and level headed even during stressful situations. There are numerous  free resources available on the internet. Simply chose a search engine(google,yahoo, bing,etc). For example,search terms such as meditation, meditation techniques or how to meditate.

The purpose of  me writing this post is to share with you how truly powerful you actually are. You are a unique and vital part of the grand design of everything . All of creation exist for your benefit if you learn how to consciously connect with it. You matter more than you might have realized. Create wisely. Until next time…

Buy my book,”The Authentic Life” here

There is a saying that I remember hearing many years ago which goes something like this,” Smile and the world smiles back at you.”Believe it or not, I have found this statement to be true. I will explain. Earlier today, I decided to pay a traffic ticket that I had forgotten about earlier. The ticket cost almost $300 dollars. Initially , I was not happy with this situation. It was for running a red light which I didn’t even remember doing. I decided to “bite the bullet ” and get it done. I decided that I would face this situation with the most optimistic attitude possible. Normally, I would have complained about long lines and having  to pay the ticket off in the first place. Nevertheless, before entering the courthouse, I spent several minutes reflecting on what I was grateful for at that moment. I focused on the fact that I had the money to pay the ticket in the first place. I was also grateful that I had the time to go to the courthouse on that day because I didn’t have to pick my son up from school. He was on spring break. I reminded myself that  I had enough money in my account to live off of until pay day. I also reflected on the fact that I would be preventing my drivers license from being suspended .I took the initiative to recondition my thinking by purposely focusing on the positive. I had to dig a little bit, but that’s okay. It’s part of the process.

It gets easier to do  with consistent practice. What you focus on determines your emotional state. Initially, I was stressed out about the entire situation. I didn’t even remember running the red light nor getting the ticket. I damned sure didn’t feel like paying $300 for it. I was determined to have the best day possible. To make an even longer story short, I ended up being assisted by the nicest representative in the building. He advised me not to pay the fine, but ,rather, to schedule a court date. He said that the judge would most likely throw the case out. I ended up paying no more than $16 dollars. You want to hear something “freaky” . I envisioned myself leaving the courthouse with better results than I had originally expected. It happened exactly the way that I had imagined it to happen. Even if my results had not turned out as fortunate , I still would have found the good in the situation. I still would have smiled at the representative and told him to have a great day. I would have meant every word of it. I am determined to train myself to find the good in every situation. Why ? Because attitude has a direct effect on outcome. It also plays a significant role in determining how people treat you. Try it for yourself. The people and situations that appear in your life , ultimately, are a result of how you truly feel about  yourself and others.

Be Your Greatest Cheerleader

Anyone can benefit from encouragement every now and then. Although this can be the case, there might be times when , for various reasons, it may seem scarce. There might  even be times that you feel alone or ,worse, that everyone is against you. Perhaps it seems that the people that are closest too you don’t understand you. I’ve been there many times. It is at these times that it is necessary for you to focus on what great about you. Yes,I said great . I’m not just saying that to make you feel good. I mean it. You have greatness in you. You have unique ,untapped abilities and ways of looking at things that , if you were to share them, could bring “light” to many people’s lives. You can do this by simply being you . Believe it or not, there are others in this world that only you can reach. They might be right under your nose. Relish in this fact. When situations seem to be going exceptionally wrong in your life and , at that moment,there seems to be no coming back from it, meditate on it. No one is keeping score. Learn from your mistakes even when others are hurt by them. Sincerely apologize to whomever can benefit from hearing it and move on. There might be others around who might keep bringing up the incident . Wish them well even if you have to do it silently, but try not to hold grudges against anyone. Take pride in the fact that you recognized your error and that you had the courage to take responsibility for it. Celebrate the fact that you made the “grown up ” decision to learn and grow from the situation. Most people wouldn’t have been as resolved about the situation. Regardless of the circumstances , make the conscious decision to grow stronger cheering the whole way!!

Learn to Find the Good in EVERY Situation

Let’s face it. As humans, we can face some potentially devastating situations. Please don’t think that I take your challenges lightly. I will be the first to admit that when faced with a particularly difficult challenge, I have been struck with “amnesia” when it comes to finding the “bright side” of a situation. I believe that each of us has “buttons”. A button refers to a specific situation that , at least for that moment, seems to tear you apart emotionally. No one is safe. We each have our moments. Sorry, it’s just part of being human.

I have also learned that with consistent practice and mental “wrestling”, it is possible to alter my emotional state. Don’t get me wrong.When faced with a major challenge , I go through the same emotional upheaval as anyone else. Eventually, I get to the point of realization that staying in a negative state will not help me to solve my problem. Finding a solution as soon as possible will solve my problem. I have come to the conclusion that each problem comes with a solution.They are opposite sides of the same coin. At times, it might be necessary to let the situation work itself out. Either way , there is ALWAYS something to learn if I choose to learn it. I have come to the conclusion that in order to live a full life , ultimately, I find it helpful to be a student of life. I am training myself to look at each circumstance as a lesson . As the old saying goes , “What doesn’t kill you , makes you stronger.” I have chosen to become stronger. You can too. Strength is always good,right?

Train Yourself to Look For the Good in Others

We are all connected. Regardless, of your gender, race ,age ,economic status, social group or “all of the above”, you are connected to every being with a life force on this planet. This group includes the driver who cut you off this morning( remember? the one who flipped you the “bird”), the bully in elementary school, an abusive parent, your best friend, worst enemy and anyone else that you can think of. The connection that I am referring to is on an energetic frequency level. You live in your own personal “universe”. UNIVERSE?!!! Yup….

Each person that you interact with ,on a daily basis, is there because you “attracted” them . Your emotions and perspective of yourself and others determine who and what situation shows up in your life. I believe that each circumstance and individual, regardless of appearance, is there to teach me something. This group includes the people who get on my last nerve. I especially mean them. If someone pisses me off, it’s not indicative of their “flaws”. My reaction shows how much more I need to grow and , in most cases, am growing in order to overcome my anger. No one can “make” me mad. You and I choose to be mad. Absolutely nothing nor no one should have that much control over you to “make” you angry.

I find it much more pleasing to conclude that the situations and people in my life are my greatest teachers. I have come to the realization that in order to live the best live i.e. an authentic life, I must become and remain a “student of life”. Yes, I realize that I wrote about this point earlier.It’s worth mentioning again.

The purpose of a student is to learn, therefore, I look forward to being taught each day. This is how both you and I can grow if we choose to do so.If we face each situation and interaction as an opportunity to learn , what is there to be negative about? I believe that most people do and respond the best way that they have been conditioned to respond. Most people are not even aware of how “conditioned” they are , at the moment. Nevertheless, I am convinced that I can learn from anyone even if that simply means not responding to a situation in the same way that I witnessed them do. I still learned something new.

With every lesson there is an opportunity to evolve. We teach each other. I am learning to appreciate each situation, therefore, reconditioning my response to it. Changing my perspective towards a person or situation directly changes my emotional response. Ideally, it is a daily practice. I am not saying that I am never upset nor negative. I’m simply saying that through consistent practice at focusing on the good attracts more evidence of it. You start to see less and less of the negative because your perspective starts to change about it. You start to respond differently not only in your words and actions, but on an energetic level. You start feeling happier simply about every day circumstances. Your frequency changes like turning the dial on a radio. You’re on the “happy” station. This may sound cheesy and corny, but I believe it too be true. Focusing on the good in every situation and others alters your emotional state to a more ,genuinely, positive one. This altered emotional state results in you attracting more people and circumstances in your life to be happy about. Consistency is the key. How you and I see others is a direct reflection of how we truly see ourselves. The most notorious bully is one of the most insecure people on the planet. To love others is to love yourself. It is impossible to truly live an authentic and hate.

Ultimately, your world and everyone in it acts as a mirror. This world is neither good nor bad, rather it’s what you have determined it to be. Happiness is and always has been an “inside” job. Choose to be positive and to see it in others. I doing so, you might help someone see it for themselves. This is how we change the world. Let’s start our own movement. Until next time….

Buy my book here

We tend to have mixed opinions about money. Our backgrounds, family histories and religious beliefs tend to dramatically shape our perceptions about money. In many cases, we have been influenced more than we might realized. Money is a necessity. There is no way of getting around it. We associate money with freedom. Many of us believe that having money or at least access to it, gives us the means to buy the things that we need as well as what we want. We feel a sense of security and accomplishment once we have earned a lot of it. We hold millionaires and billionaires in high esteem. Marriages have ended because of the lack of it. People will lie, cheat, steal ,beg and even kill for it. What is money anyway? Literally? Think about for a moment.

It’s paper .That’s all. It has been  “assigned” value . Technically, the paper itself is not valuable rather it is a representation of value. Money is directly associated with wealth.The more money you have, the  wealthier you appear to be. Many of you might be asking, “What does any of this have to do with being authentic? Well, let’s think about it for a moment. Many of us have at least one if not several jobs that we work at in order to earn a paycheck in order to pay our bills and take care of our families. We play the lotto because we associate a million dollars with freedom from the “rat race”. Is it really the million dollars that we are after or is it the freedom that we perceive that amount represents for us. Trust me, I’m leading up to something.

We are energy. Everything is energy. Money is energy. We either attract it or repel it. We are part of an abundant universe with limitless resources . We gave value to that paper. In actuality , we can give value to anything that we choose. If you are serious about living an authentic life, money can be a useful resource. Part of the reason why so many of us settle for “status quo” is because we are fearful about losing financial resources i.e. getting ostracized for not “fitting in” in or , simply put , getting fired. We might be scared of “stepping out”  of the “comfort zone” of  full time employment in order to create a brand that exemplifies our unique gifts and talents. Imagine creating a business model that enables you to provide value to peoples lives in exchange for them to provide you with value in the form of money. Potentially, you will always get paid more for the value that you bring to the marketplace than you ever will working for a salary or hourly wage. Corporate america doesn’t exist to make you wealthy. In most cases, you are going to have to climb your own corporate ladder as a founder /CEO of your OWN company. It is important to learn how money works so that we can make it work for us  in order to assist us in establishing a lifestyle that provides us with the freedom to do what we want. It is our birthright.

We are each a part of a universe that is abundant by nature. When I write about abundance, I am referring to unlimited abundance. You are “one” with this universe because it originated from a “source”, therefore, so did you. As I wrote earlier, everything, at its core , is energy. Energy is unlimited, never disappears and can’t be destroyed. It can change form. Again, money is energy and so are you. Do you know what else is energy? Your thoughts. Your thoughts become things. Your perceptions about money determine how much of it appears in your life. Based on our “conditioning”, growing up, you might have been taught, “Money is the root of all evil”, “Money can’t buy  happiness”,  “More money, more problems” etc.. You get the idea. It is possible that you might not be consciously aware of that fact.

Currently, I am reading a book titled,” The Rules of Money” by Richard Templar. In it, he shares some interesting points about money. He wrote, ” Money is neither good nor bad,neither friend or for. It is not the evil we have come to to believe it to be. Without it life disintegrates. Money is the oil that smooths life for all of us. What we do with it is the good or bad, the right or wrong, the friend or foe.” Money is a resource. A resource is designed to be used . We don’t have to settle for status quo and thoughts of limitation. We can choose to be proactive and take steps towards realizing our ideal lifestyle. Stop allowing others outside of yourself to influence your viewpoint about money. Towards the effort of building an authentic life which is synonymous with a successful life , money can be an invaluable resource. If necessary, make both a consistent and conscientious effort to reexamine  your true perspective about it. Affirm to yourself that money is good,money is your friend and that there is enough for everyone because there really is. Perhaps you might want to consider ways that you can provide significant value to people through the marketplace in a way that you are uniquely prepared to do. Maybe you have already acquired your dream job or career. It would still benefit you to evaluate your  perception about money. Do you have an abundance mindset or a scarcity mindset? Are there certain habits that you have that sabotage your efforts and act as blockages to the steady flow of money to you. As I have written in past posts and will continue to mention now, mindset is everything. How you see yourself, how you see others, and how you view the world , in general, play significant roles in determining your financial well being. Not only the accumulation of financial wealth, but your state of physical wealth and emotional wealth are also greatly determined by thoughts concerning these matters. I will go into more detail on this matter in future posts. I associate an authentic life with a fulfilling one in which there is an overflow of  “wealth” in every area of your life. I will close with another saying by Richard Templar from “The Rules of Money”, ” Money isn’t and never will be the cure. It is the oil that smooths the wheels. It isn’t the engine.” Your mindset followed by both inspired and consistent action is the only engine that you can use to create the lifestyle that you deserve. You are designed for greater things. Until next time…

What is your life purpose? Do you know? Most people, in one way or the other, ask themselves this question. It may not be asked in quite the same way, yet it’ll be the same theme. The question might be, ” Why am I here?”, “What is life all about?”, ” Why do these things keep happening to me?”, or the infamous question ” What the f@#$ is going on!!!?” Actually I have personally asked that last question many times. Sometimes, I still do. It’s natural. I have pondered this question many times throughout my life. I have come to a conclusion. My purpose, your purpose, each and every human being that has or will ever walked the earth’s purpose is to be ….. Drum Roll Please!!!!…. ALIVE…. That’s it… That’s enough.. I’ll explain.
Most ,if not all religious traditions, teach about an afterlife. The idea pertains to going “somewhere else” after we die. According to the most popular religious teachings, our final destination is mainly determined by our overall conduct while we were alive.  What if it’s the other way around? This is just food for thought. Perhaps you might be thinking,” What does religion have to do with being authentic?”. Religion has nothing to do with it, but spirituality does. Why? Because it is my opinion that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, rather, we are spirit having a human experience. When I write about spirit, I ‘m referring to that “power ” that causes each heart to beat involuntarily. It is the same power that creates each and every living being that has ever existed on this planet. It is the reason why  each species can reproduce its same species and only that one. Spirit refers to that power which is the source of everything yet cannot be experienced with the five senses.It transcends the senses. It is what remains even after your  heart stops and your body stops working. Spirit never stops. It has no boundaries and is timeless. It is pure consciousness. It is not subject to the same natural laws as we are , yet, it is the reason these laws exist in the first place. This is who we are …. pure, timeless ,boundless consciousness (singular)having numerous human experiences simultaneously. It is the source of all life ,yet, doesn’t need oxygen,food , shelter , water nor anything else to exist. It has always been and will always be.Anything and everything that you could ever imagine originated from it. It is the creator. Okay, enough of that. I think you get my point ,right? I just wanted to take a moment to introduce yourself to you.. the real you.

You are, in essence, all-encompassing spirit that has subjected itself to the natural laws, a physical body, oxygen, hunger,thirst,pain,discomfort, and all other perceived limitations for one main purpose…. to experience life. Actually, you ARE life experiencing itself. You are the “intelligence” behind the design of creation. Planets and whole solar systems were formed through you. Ponder this next question for a moment. The vast majority of the human population live their lives based  on a set routine day in and day out.What would life be like for someone who had “awakened ” to the fact that they were Spirit having a human experience. I capitalized the word “spirit”  in order to emphasize the magnitude of that term. You are all encompassing spirit subjecting yourself  to the “perception” of limitation. In actuality, you are not truly limited at all. You are more than what you thought you were when you were still “asleep”. You are more than your daily routine,problems,ailments and numerous other concerns. You are more than others perception of you , your actions , your accomplishments or your failures . How can you compare any of those things to being boundless, all-encompassing spirit?

Do you remember what it took for you to even get here? Probably not. Well, let me remind you. Nine months, more or less, before you were “born” , you were , literally,on a life or death mission to get here. Out of millions of others(sperm), you were the most determined to live. What happened after that? You were subjected to conditioning, outside influences,circumstances,etc. Eventually, you “settled in”. You forgot what it took for you to get here in the first place. You started believing that you were limited, to an extent , by your circumstances. You became a “product” of  numerous systems (educational system,religious system, government system,business system, health system and the media). Congratulations!!! You graduated. You are know part of the “status quo”.Is this why you fought so hard to get here? To settle in? To simply exist? Routine should be considered a curse word!!!

What does it mean to be alive?  What can it mean for you? Why would you,all encompassing spirit, subject yourself to physical form?I have a theory. Your body is a “vehicle” ,with all of its senses and parts,  for you to use to navigate through this experience. It is a wonderfully,complex organism far more capable than any man-made computer. Some would considerate it an “organic machine”. The human body has the potential to be very efficient.It is necessary to have it  in order to get the most out of this experience we call living. Once you awaken to the fact that you are more than you ever thought you were  and not limited , in any way, by your circumstances, you are ready to live the authentic life. You fought hard to get here. You are a natural champion.You beat out millions of “competitors”. What would happen if you took that same “inner drive” and applied it to designing a lifestyle based on your own terms. I’m not talking about an overnight change. I am talking about you taking a moment to do a personal inventory of each area of your life. Let’s focus on several key areas, namely, physical well being,career,mental/emotional well being,financial well being, and relationships. First, I will touch on the importance of loving yourself.

Loving Yourself

Regardless, of where you are in your life right now, it doesn’t change your true value which is priceless. No one can put a price on the potential impact that only you can make on certain people’s lives. Being authentic has to do with embracing yourself. You are a wonderfully unique being. There has never nor will there ever be anyone quite like you. There are individuals out there that only you can reach. They are waiting for you whether they realize it or not. They are waiting for you decide to live out your version of the authentic life in order to encourage them to do the same. When we choose to live lives based on other’s standards, we commit one of the greatest crimes against all humanity. The world need’s individuals to stand up and freely express who they are and how they feel about particular issues. I am not promoting arrogance and obnoxiousness. I am promoting true authenticity. Ready to get into it? Let’s go…

Physical Well Being

Your body is your “vehicle”. Think about a car. What would happen if you consistently put the wrong type of gas in it? What if you never got an oil change?a tune up? new tires? What if you constantly drove the car at the maximum speed for the entire day, every day? The car would eventually malfunction. Think of your life span as a journey. Think of it as a pilgrimage towards a deeper knowledge of your true self. Although there is no arrival , necessarily,  this part of your journey requires a suitable vehicle. Take care of it . It is an incredibly unique organism that many of us take for granted. Great physical health is directly tied to mental and emotional health. Nourish it properly. Try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Exercise regularly. Drink more water. If you need to, lose some weight or , for that matter, start lifting weights to build muscle. You don’t have to train like an Olympic athlete. Go walking outside while breathing fresh air. Being authentic has to do with living your best life. Enjoying life on your own terms. Life is worth living when you are an active participant in it. Experience it as it was intended to be experienced. How can you live life to it’s fullest potential if you are unhealthy? I will touch on this topic more in future articles.

Mental/Emotional Well Being

I , purposely, positioned these two aspects together. When I write about the mental aspect of things, I am referring to the mindset. What a person thinks about a certain thing,topic or person tends to have a direct affect on how they feel about it. A person’s emotional state directly influences their immediate response. Both our mental and emotional states determine what we attract into our lives. The event’s occurring in our daily live’s is directly linked to our thoughts and emotions. Everything is energy. Nothing is truly separate.We are all connected like one limitless energy grid(aka “God”). I am not referring to a person named “God” , rather, an intelligent design that we are not only a part of ,but  is actually us and we are it. Each of us is a creator whether consciously or subconsciously. We can’t help it. In order to live the authentic life , it is necessary for us to practice daily mindfulness in order to master both our mental and emotional states. I am not suggesting that you will never have another bad day or challenge. I do believe that we develop the ability to find the good( i.e. “god” )in every situation. When we learn to be mindful through focusing our attention on the good in different situations, we open the door to experience the feeling of gratitude. Gratitude is sincere. You can’t fake gratitude on an energetic level. Do you remember what I shared earlier? We are energy. Our mental and emotional states act as magnets .They attract to us people and events that mirror those particular states that we most commonly find ourselves.  Look forward to a post on this topic in the near future.

Career

You possess strengths, gifts and talents. Many of you might already be aware of them. The majority of people are clueless about how much potential they truly have. They settle for making a living for themselves instead of building a life. As the old saying goes, they end up living lives of quiet desperation. Believe it or not , there are people in this world that only you can reach. There is something about you , your perspective on life as well  as your experiences that uniquely prepare you to assist a section of the world population. Your chosen career can be the ideal vehicle for you to use to accomplish this part of your “mission”. You are not here to simply pay bills. Part of feeling alive is sharing yourself with others in order to provide a significant value to their lives. As adults , we spend a majority of our waking hours working. Let that time be used for fruitful labor. Find and establish a career that resonates with you. Don’t be  concerned as much with the money. Yes, I understand that money is important. If you work at what you love and  practice at it until you are excellent at the profession, you will , undoubtedly , provide significant value to the lives of others. You will always get paid more for the noteworthy value that you provide others than you ever will clocking in from 9-5 for an hourly wage. You have a choice.

Financial Well Being

Although I do believe that it is true that money can’t buy happiness, it is still a valuable resource. There is a popular Zen saying which states,”Before enlightenment,chop wood carry water,after enlightenment, chop wood carry water.” In order to live the authentic life, you must be self realized. Self realization is connected to true enlightenment. No matter how “enlightened” you are,you still need shelter,food, water and ,unless you live out in the woods, electricity. These needs can be met , most adequately, with money. In Christianity, for example, money is described as ” the root of all evil”. To clarify, money ,itself, is not evil, rather, it’s a person’s perception of what money is that motivates them to commit evil acts against others. As written earlier,money is simply  a resource albeit a valuable one. I believe that it is also important to mention that it isn’t necessary for your entire life to revolve around making money. There is a difference in lifestyles between a corporate executive who is earning over six figures a year while working 60 + hours a week and an entrepreneur /investor earning  passive ,limitless income in a 24 hour  time span while vacationing. One person’s income is based on a salary determined by another person while the other’s income has no limit because it’s based on the sale of a product or service that can be produced repeatedly without stopping. Which person’s lifestyle  do you think provides  the most opportunity to live life on their terms? In order to achieve financial well being, one must not only have enough money to provide for their basic needs, but also the time to enjoy it. You are born free. You are not designed to be a slave to anyone or anything, especially, not the dollar. Money should be used to help you achieve balance in your life in order to live it fully. When I write about balance, I am referring to the above qualities (physical ,mental  and emotional well being) among others. This what it means to live the authentic life. There will be more to come on this subject soon.

Relationships

No man nor woman is an island. Each of us is not only connected , but we “feed” off of each others energy. Have you ever met anyone that for , whatever reason, rubbed you the wrong way? They didn’t necessarily do or say anything to you, yet their was something about them that didn’t feel right. Do you know someone who seems to see the negative side of every situation? How do you feel after speaking with them? Do you feel drained or discouraged? On the other hand , there are certain individuals that we seem to ” click” with from the first time we meet them. It is important to surround yourself with people who are generally optimistic and progressive. You don’t necessarily have to  agree with them on every issue, yet you support one another . Each person in your circle should be secure in who they are and clear on what they desire to accomplish in their lives. You are all comfortable around each other and sincerely spur one another on to be successful in all of your endeavours. Each one of you should leave “positively charged” after speaking and/or meeting with one another. These are the type of relationships that need to be fostered. There can be no tolerance for negativity. In all relationships, whether with friends or family members, focus on finding the good in every circumstance and encourage one another to do the same. This also the case for romantic relationships.These type’s of relationships cultivate positive energy which filters into the other areas of your life. They support authenticity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no one can tell your story as well as you can . Each day of your life is another page written in it. Ultimately, you decide whether it is going to be a masterpiece or a flop. Make the decision to live your best life. Living the authentic life has to do with living your life at it’s fullest potential. Your authentic self should be  reflected in the physical,mental and emotional aspects of your being. It will be also be reflected in your career choices which can ,potentially, have a direct,positive impact on your finances. You are most powerful when you are true to yourself about who you are and what you desire out of life. No one can do it for you.You are your greatest resource. Being authentic is about loving yourself. It doesn’t matter what other people think. People are inspired by others who exhibit courage. You making the decision to live your best life causes others to evaluate their own lives. They might even feel challenged. Even your naysayers will be compelled to do a “gut check”. If each person on this planet made the decision to live their best life, what impact would it have across the globe? The world needs to know your story . Make it a good one. It’s great to be ALIVE!!!

Well… here we are… another year. New starts.. New years resolutions… Goal setting… For many of us , going back to work and getting back into the “routine” again. What’s going to be different about this year? Statistics show that by February, most of us have all , but forgotten about our New Years resolutions. It tends to be the running joke, ” Who will quit first?”
If you are not happy with where you are in your life right now , perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your choices . In order to establish a different outcome, one must take different action and, in most cases, consistent action. You are where you are in your life because of the decisions that you have made up to this point. You might not be aware of those decisions . It is the curse of “routine”.

You can be caught up in a vicious cycle. This is the worst type of prison. It is the prison of mediocrity and complacency. What is worse than being a prisoner and not even realizing it? Mental slavery will always be worse than physical slavery. The repercussions are greater. They can last for generations. We pass our “legacy” of mental slavery down to our children due to our conditioned mindset. Conditioning has to do with being taught to think a certain way about ourselves , others , our environment and , worst of all, what is possible . This doesn’t mean that ,in every case, someone outside of ourselves  purposely taught us how to think. Most of our conditioning was based on our perception of our experiences. Two people can witness the same event, yet come to different conclusions.This type of mindset stems from fear. Perhaps an unlearning of things is in order.

I am just as “guilty” as anyone else of procrastination,complacency, giving into fear ,etc etc. My greatest fear has been the fear of failure. For nearly 25 years of my life, I have been “sitting on the fence”. Perhaps you might be asking yourself,”What does that mean?”. I’ll tell you. I have never wanted to be status-quo about anything. I have always known within myself that I was capable of accomplishing far more than I had done. Working for a company for 20+ years only to retire, get old and die was a fate worse than death for me. First of all , I don’t like being told what to do. Second of all, I was never truly interested  in climbing anyone else’s corporate ladder , but my own. This past year was probably one of the most challenging years of my entire life. It needed to be that way.It was a defining year for me. I experienced a rock bottom moment ( one lasting about a year and a half). Challenges, if you allow them to, both refine and train you. They serve you by assisting you with defining what is most important in life and what isn’t . Challenges humble you. You get pushed in a corner while they , unmercifully, continue to pound the shit out of you. You either decide to fight ( simultaneously define your vision while moving  forward towards it’s realization) or continue to get your ass kicked( feel sorry for yourself). I choose to fight.

It is impossible to grow without experiencing stress. In most cases, true growth is the result of constant stress. Most people, especially in the free world, tend not to have the stomach for it. They try to avoid stress rather than allow themselves to be trained by it. They get distracted with everyday troubles . Challenges help you to gain clarity in order to establish a clear vision for your life. It all comes back down to mindset. You have to condition your mind to see the positive in every circumstance. Once you have established a clear, concise vision, every situation , regardless, of appearances exist to serve you. Have you ever heard of the expression, ” What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger?”  You must set your mind on strength.

What is going to be different about you this year? Are you living an authentic life? Are you living life on your terms or, for that matter, do you even think that’s possible? What are you doing about it? Do you realize how powerful you truly are? Your thoughts become “things”. What thoughts about yourself, people or situations do you ponder on a consistent basis? Thoughts either serve or “cripple” you. They lay the foundations for our actions. Take them “captive”. Make it habit to fill your mind with thoughts that strengthen you. Question why you think the way that you do. Be mindful of your reaction to certain people and situations. Take time out of your “busy” schedule to get quiet . Spend quality time with yourself… dreaming.

Take inventory of the different areas of your life. Be honest with yourself. You owe it to yourself to be happy.To truly be happy, you must develop a strong sense of who you are…. your authentic self. It is only after you have established for yourself what you TRULY desire out of life can you ever be successful at accomplishing any worthwhile goal. Everything that you could ever aspire to become already exist in you. It calls you because it is a part of you waiting to be realized. You are not here to be like everyone else. You are here to express your “genius” fully in order to inspire others to do the same. It is at this point that each of us realizes this fact that this world will be saved. We are each individual expressions of the ONE. The entire human race is in a state of awakening. We can no longer look to any person or thing outside of ourselves to “save” us. We must participate in our own rescue. This is our time…. YOUR time……

Do something… anything. You must participate in your own rescue. Are you happy with where you are in your life right now? Well, are you?!!! How badly do you want your situation to change? What’s your plan? Do you even have one? Do you even know where to start? The truth is that you don’t have to know every detail.  You are the visionary. Establish a vision in your mind that is as clear as possible. Start from  the end then work backwards. It is important to be honest with yourself. Make sure that the origin of your vision stems from inside you rather than based on other’s expectations. This is a crucial step because your vision must be charged with emotion. We are emotional beings. The word “emotion” is actually defined as energy in motion. How you feel about yourself, situations and other people determines who and what shows up in your life. There are no mistakes. Although it is important to have a clear idea of where you are going, it is impossible to anticipate the exact steps.  The key is to step and keep stepping because you realize that whatever you are able to do , at that moment, will be good enough. It isn’t necessary to have it all figured out.

Leave the details of how your ideal situation will manifest to a power greater than your “lower self”. Your “higher self” (i.e. God, Source, the Universe,etc…) knows exactly who you need to meet, where you need to be and who you need to become in order for your vision to become your present reality. Learn to trust it. Our role is to take inspired action.. consistently. In order to do this, we must each practice being still and listening . We must go within. Going within determines what we experience “without”. The biggest challenge is getting started and staying consistent. When the student is ready, the master appears. In other words, don’t get caught up in your head. Keep moving forward. The doors appear and open when you move towards them. Fear cripples you. As long as you are breathing , regardless, of how traumatic a situation might be, the next day always comes…. with or without you. If you are fortunate enough to make it to the next day, make the most  of it. One of the benefits of practicing stillness whether it be through meditation or , simply, sitting quietly, is being open to receiving instruction from your higher self(i.e.  God, Source, Universe, etc).

If you are acting according to your own intuition , it will be natural for you to take action. I’m not saying that there won’t be challenges,but rather you will be more likely to face them because you will be inspired to do so. When you decide to go after what you truly desire , you become resilient .You develop a mission mindset. What you desire is already yours. First, it must already be yours in your mind. Once you decide to take action, you are sending a message to your higher self that you are going forward to claim what is already yours. This is what it means to take inspired action. It is as if you have the winning lottery ticket and you are going to go pick up the money. You have unique gifts that only you can offer to the world. There has nor will there ever be anyone exactly like you. The world needs what you have to offer . Your “gifts” are directly tied to your happiness and fulfillment. You making the decision to embrace your authentic self both directly and indirectly inspires others to do the same.

Trust the process. Easier said than done, but, in my opinion, necessary. Life comes with challenges. Challenges are necessary. We set goals and think that it should be easy. Why? We have a destination in mind, but no one knows every turn to take in order to get there. What point is certain. Regardless of what is occurring in your life at the moment, keep moving. Keep moving no matter what.I have come to this realization in my life. I am learning that despite my struggles, I must never ever give up and to always move forward. I am going through what is probably one of the most challenging times as well as exhilerating times of my life right now. I am facing my greatest fears  and insecurities daily. I am overcoming them daily. I am following my own path. It hasn’t been easy. I am not comfortable. At times , it feels like my world is crumbling all around me. I have learned that if it seems like the sky is falling, deal with it, but keep going forward. I am reconditioning my thinking about what is possible. I go through a challenge that seems impossible to overcome ,yet, I try anyway. Trusting the process means moving forward despite what’s going on. I don’t have to know all of the answers. There is a definite trust factor.I focus on mastering what is in  front of me. I am learning not to be concerned with the details. It all comes together. There is no such thing as a wasted experience. My challenges,triumphs and failures work together to form a perfect picture of my life. I am determined to live my best  life on my own terms. This is my definition of success. I want to be able to look back on my life and be proud of what I created.

Why is it  necessary for us to discuss trusting in the process in the first place? Life can seem hard as hell!!! For many of us, at times, unbearable. We start “taking control”of our lives, reading self help books, getting in shape, working on our finances and whatever else we need to do to improve ourselves. We set goals with the best of intentions. Then what?!! LIFE!!! Unexpected setbacks, unfortunate events, illness, bills and the like…. as I said… life. It is my opinion that each of us has “buttons”.  Buttons are situations that affect us deeply. We can be easily distracted, discouraged and frustrated. We start off enthusiastic about accomplishing our goals. We had it all planned out. The plan was well thought, logical and most feasible. It was supposed to work. We start second guessing ourselves. We tell ourselves, “Maybe it simply wasn’t meant to be” or “Perhaps I should play it safe”. This is where many of us fall short of  reaching our destination.

Let’s define what that destination ultimately is: BLISS… Overflowing joy,fulfillment, happiness, purpose and every other descriptive word imaginable that applies to living your best life. This is why you exist. You are alive to experience bliss. You have that option. Life is not meant to be endured rather to be savored and enjoyed. This can be our natural state, but it will take some “reconditioning” of our thinking . This is where certain challenges come in to play. They can serve us by helping us to see things differently. There is a certain pruning process that takes place once we “allow” ourselves to be trained by our struggles and temporary misfortunes. They tend to motivate us to think outside the box in order to find solutions. Challenges can test us in order for us to see how badly we want change in our lives. Perhaps we should consider asking ourselves different questions. Instead of asking ” Why do these things happen to me?”, perhaps, a better questions would be ” What can I learn from this situation?” or ” How do these circumstances serve me?”

In reality, you may not have control of the circumstances, but you CAN control your reaction to them. You can choose to benefit from each situation. You can choose to believe that every situation and person appearing in your life is there to “assist”you in realizing your dreams and desires despite appearances. Although it takes consistent training, it can be done. Train your mind to see the positive in every situation. There have been countless others before you that have done it. The difference between a stumbling block and stepping stone is perception.Period. Your mind is powerful… Full of Power.. You have unlimited possibilities yet , like most of us, conditioned to see limitations. Limitations are not your reality. There is no universe outside of you. The entire universe conspires on your behalf to prepare you to “receive” based on your thoughts. Our experiences are a direct result of our thoughts and words. Think wisely. Master what is in front of you. Expect the best outcome despite appearances. Know that all of creation conspires on your behalf.Each situation is there to prepare you to realize your greatest aspirations. Set the intention while leaving the details of it’s realization to your “higher self” who is always working behind the scenes i.e. beyond the five senses. Look for the “signs” of its arrival. The universe will never disappoint. It always gives back what YOU put out without failing. Again, focus on mastering what’s in front of you “knowing” that your efforts will never be for nothing. What you desire already exist and is becoming more apparent moment by moment. look for it and expect it, out of nowhere , NOW HERE… Trust the process. Until next time…

You are God and so am I. God is all that is. What is God you might ask? Everything seen and unseen. The raw substance of all things experienced with the five senses and beyond them. God is spirit therefore you are spirit. You are spirit having a human experience. The span of your life is a dream in the mind of God. Our thoughts become things. There are no exceptions in this area. Whatever you put out, both consciously and subconsciously, comes back to you. It may take some time , but there is always a result. You are a creator whether you like it or not. It is your nature. Guard your thoughts. Your life is your universe. You created it . You created each and every detail of it.

Train yourself to be mindful of your thoughts and to listen to your “higher self”. Believe it or not, there is nothing outside of you. Everything that you experience is a result of your own perception. Changing your perception of things directly effects your reaction to them . If you react differently to the situations that you experience, the outcome changes.We must learn to face our fears.

We are gods. A god is simply another name for a creator. Our thoughts are powerful. Every time we think a thought, whether constructive or destructive, it produces a result. Each time that we  think , we send out energy on a type of frequency that, in turn, attracts the people, things and situations that are on the same frequency. It is as if each person on the planet is part of a vast ocean of energy moving back and forth . These waves of energy represent the situations of our lives. We are the ocean and the ocean is us.

If we train our minds by “governing” our thoughts , we would eventually produce better outcomes. Ideally, we can train our minds to only look for the good in every situation despite the challenge. I am not suggesting that this is easy, on the contrary, it can be very difficult. It is difficult because each of us has been conditioned to think and react a certain way to different experiences. This is the reason why it is important for us to spend time each being still and quiet. Meditation can be helpful in this matter.It is important to spend time going inward even if only for a few minutes.Meditate on your “divinity”. What is your divinity, you might ask? It is the presence that exist in you because it is you. Going inward is basically looking inside yourself in order to witness the one who is looking back. It is you. The real you. The one that is not limited by the flesh. It is the one that is responsible for your heart beating as well as every one else’s heart beat.

We are all part of an unlimited existence. This ocean of energy  that we are apart of is infinite and so are our possibilities. We are spirit having a human experience. My definition of spirit is the presence that exist beyond the five senses.The power that animates all things . It is the source of the heartbeat. It is also the source of every creative thought and invention that you can think of. All things come from it. It is the source of everything in the material world yet not bound by nor separate from it. It is the source of all “genius” and it is in you because it is you. I keep repeating this point because I want you to awaken to the fact that you are not limited to your circumstances. Each one of us can set a conscious intention, go within, visualize it and take inspired action until it materializes. Be patient with yourself. Time is an illusion. It is designed to serve us.It helps us to gauge ourselves in order to make the most of this human experience. Through consistent mental conditioning, we will become primed to have the best experience possible. Life is never over. There is no true death . There are only transitions and different types of experiences. Be determined to have the best one.

As I mentioned earlier, you are a creator whether you like it or not. Choose to be a conscious one. Learn to monitor your thoughts. Train yourself to both focus and act on the ones that serve you. There is neither a person nor thing that can determine your success or happiness unless you allow them do it. The life situation that you are in is a result of your thinking. If you truly want to change the situation, start with your thoughts. Achieving happiness and success are “inside jobs”. You are the creator of your life, therefore, all things,people and situations conspire on your behalf despite appearances. Meditate on that point until you believe it.  Your emotions determine what type of energy you send out. It always comes back. Embrace your “godhood”.

Take responsibility for your life. Set the intention,master what is front of you and learn to trust the process. Allow the details to unfold knowing that thoughts always produce a result without failing. As the saying goes”Let go and let God.” The “God” that I am referring to is that presence that is you. It is your higher self. Trust it to work out the details. The destination is set. Enjoy the journey. It is time to leave the life that intended to live. Live well. Until next time…