Passion Vs Obsession

By Derek Fredrickson

What am I passionate about? Skiing - pretty much everything about it. I ski every weekend from November to April and do the same with my kids. I like other crazy and outrageous outdoor activities but pretty much anything to do with snow on the ground and two boards on my feet will make me a happy camper.
However, I'm beyond passionate for skiing. I have to say I am obsessed with skiing. Ask any member of my family. And when I say obsessed I mean beyond just having ski pictures and posters in my office or at home (which I have).
I read ski magazines on summer vacations at the beach. My iPhone wallpaper is skiing. When we play family games about favorites (what's your favorite color, favorite food, etc.) - mine all have to do with skiing. I keep every issue of all four (yes, there are 4) ski magazines. I mostly wear t-shirts to work and they all have skiing references or photos on them (my favorite is the spin off from the "Got Milk" campaign and says 'Got Powder?') I follow the top ski racers on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc. I even bid (and won) on a pair of autographed Lindsey Vonn skis for my daughter.
I think my obsession is good - it teaches my kids to focus on what you believe in passionately - no matter what. My 7 year old daughter Claire now wants to grow her hair really long so she can wear it in a pony tail like Lindsey Vonn. How crazy is that? She's passionate about skiing and almost obsessed. I don't think that's overdoing it.
I see myself as I write this article - I could continue on and on and on - but maybe not everyone is as crazy obsessed with skiing as I am. And, wondering "what does this have to do with authentic internet marketing?" But, it does show people how it is good for the soul (and the business) to embed obsession into their values.
Now, I'm also obsessed with authentic Internet marketing. It started out as a hobby when I began working with my wife under 2 years ago. I read some books, studied some courses online, and followed some of the best online mentors. I learned everything about online marketing and then some. I took this passion and then went even further - to see what I could do for our business.
You could say I took my wealth of online marketing knowledge and turned it into something really authentic. Something people can learn from easily in a step-by-step manner to implement in their own business so they can see similar results. Now, I'm obsessed with teaching and sharing how you can authentically market your business on the Internet.
Your Assignment:
What are you passionate about? Make a list of the 5 things that first come to mind when you ask yourself that question. They must be the first 5 that come to mind. If it takes longer to think about it, they are not front of mind and something that you're probably not always thinking about. They can be values, work, hobbies, etc. For me, it's about helping people, learning, family, skiing and doing the right thing. Now, which of these could you do all day long for free? If you were given $1 million dollars tomorrow, which of those 5 would you still wake up each and every day saying - "I can't wait to get started." This is your obsession. Follow that and do everything you can to make it a reality and good things will come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5180696

Awakening to Life's True Purpose

By Steve Wickham

Distraction is the concept in contention with life's true purpose; the biggest, now global, trick of human history. This is as visible a threat as it is insidious. It is literally strangling our quality of life and we are helpless against it, unless we are awakened to our true life purpose.
Life, ironically, is a distraction from our purpose. Almost everything in today's world conspires against this purpose. Not that we should reject our world and live as secluded hermits. But there is a force in this life that blocks our awareness of, and our access to, our purpose.
SO, WHAT'S OUR PURPOSE?
Our purpose is to honour God by living our lives - not kidnapped by agendas-of-distraction but with eyes wide awake to the God-honest realities that are somehow subsumed by these agendas-of-distraction.
Allow me to put it in plain illustrative terms.
One example of distraction is entertainment; what is not clear about entertainment, however, is what distractive element takes us toward our purpose (for some entertainment is purposefully distractive) versus what takes us away. Most entertainment takes us away. For instance, we choose entertainment when we should be doing other things. Or, we choose the wrong sort of entertainment. Moreover, much entertainment takes our minds away from more relevant God-honest realities. We are all implicated.
Dismissing or rejecting entertainment out of hand, if we follow the chosen example, is not the answer; nor is merely giving in to the entertainment revolution sweeping the globe continuously.
There has to be a more compelling and effectual answer.
Frustration has no part whatsoever in us living our purpose, unless it's part of the learning process. There's little to be learned via the frustration of chopping and changing in indecision.
THE AGENCY AND PROCESS OF AWAKENING
Let us be perfectly clear that the awakening in view is no New Age concept. Such an awakening - the necessity of humanity to partake - is as old as creation itself. Adam and Eve, of course, failed their awakening test, as have and do we.
Awakening is nothing about failure, however.
It is, like salvation, an initial choice as well as an ongoing choice-the finances of the mind invested in focusing on what is really relevant, as well as learning what agendas-of-distraction we are to dispatch to the archives of previous currencies.
Awakening is truly about choosing to live the abundant life.
THE SCIENCE OF THE ABUNDANT LIFE
One of the most poignant things Jesus ever said about the nature of worldly life, and the countering nature of salvation, was:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
~John 10:10 (NRSV).

Agendas-of-distraction are an example of the thief, among many examples. The myriad examples of distraction sway us away from true abundance - the experience of God breaking through our consciousness and awakening us to reality.
This is no subjective reality, but the reality.
It must surely be the greatest gift; to enjoy knowledge of reality. That is, to be at peace with it. This is where the abundant life begins. Indeed, this, not apart from the Saviour, is its source.
The abundant life journeys with simplicity. Having dealt with the distractions - those that would otherwise seal our fate as stolen - the simplicity of the abundant life opens up new doorways and new streams of thinking.
The abundant life is our true life purpose. It is no destination, so we must endear ourselves to it, rejecting distractions, and follow it passionately all our lives.
Perhaps the following quote of Isaac Newton's encapsulates the whole article:

I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

Ours is to look past the distractive pebbles and shells on the seashore and further yonder to the ocean of truth. There is where life is truly at; nowhere else.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6535850

Life - An Evolutionary Process

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD

Life is meant to be an evolutionary growth process, which means then that no matter how good your life has become, no matter how available you are in the Laws of Life - you are on a continuous evolutionary process. If you are on a stationary plain, you might notice you feel stagnated or that life is passing you by. You are right. Life was meant to be continuously in an evolutionary pace. However, this is not to say that you need to be creating something earth-shattering every day. To the contrary, it simply means that you need to have a vision for the next phase.
Many people say they want success, but any time one agrees that conditions are difficult, and also talks about how life is unfair, or holds negative thoughts they are out of harmony with the Universal flow of life. Talking about unfairness or holding negative thoughts locks the energy flow is at a lower level of existence and out of harmony with the thing one says one wants. Thus, you are creating resistance against with what you say you want.
Of course, the question is how does one open up? By being in agreement with all that is prosperous and using every means at your command to make it easy for prosperity, abundance and the free flow of life to come into existence. Stop negative beliefs - i.e. how life is unfair Believe that prosperity and abundance is available for everyone.
On this journey called life, difficult issues come about - fair or unfair as it may seem. It is paramount to remember that there is an answer greater than the problem you are experiencing. All problems seem daunting or overwhelming when you have the attitude that things in life are fair or unfair. It is only daunting and overwhelming until you apply the right thinking, and then, the solution reveals itself.
The cliché that unfairness and making mistakes is part of life is what keeps you locked into what you fear the most - unfairness and making mistakes. The power of the Universe is consistent for everyone and in all things. The Universe is available to everyone and everything in the same fashion and intensity. Through proper thinking about the problem, challenges and vicissitudes you have access to the power to receive the answers you need.
Where you are right now as you read this; take a deep breath and accept, that your greatest answer is seeking to emerge through you. All answers to all life's questions are waiting for you to discover them. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6536762

The Power of Belief To Transform Your Experience

By David Neagle 

I just had a great conversation with a friend who was telling me about some business associates who have had a complete turn around on their dream.
A few months ago, they were enthusiastic and on fire for their future. Unfortunately, they didn't keep their mental doors locked... and something negative slipped in, and they dropped the pursuit of their dream.
All failure begins this way.
People may have high hopes, but when their perceived circumstances suggest a lesser outcome is more likely (perhaps via an unexpected obstacle), this perceived discrepancy becomes the initial seed of failure.
Being unaware of how this process destroys the dreams of countless people, they fall victim to its seduction.
Take a look at what happens and how this process works:
1. We all have two parts in our thinking: One is our dream or goal, and the second is the belief that it might not ever happen. This is where most people start out.
2. Next, something begins to spark or inspire a person to take action on their dream. (Yet, not having a full understanding of the Laws of Success, they are actually moving in the direction of their dream with a great deal of ignorance. Ignorance is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as a person stays open to what he/she must learn along the way. The problem is many individuals are not open to growth and change.)
3. Their subconscious manifests an obstacle to keep them from experiencing anything "new". This new challenge is perceived as a point of failure.
It is at this point in a person's journey where moving forward becomes too painful or fearful, and a person usually chooses to stay "safe". The truth, however, is that this is also the point where moving forward would allow a person to see the bigger win they are hoping for!
You see, YOUR beliefs control your perception of everything in your world, which in turn creates your reality. If you want to change your reality, you must use new information to change your beliefs AND your perception. Until you see things differently, you will continue to makes choices that keep you where you are. And eventually, you will give up on your dreams.
In other words, your experiences reflect your belief system. This means that if there is anything in your life you don't want to experience all you need to do to change "it" is to change the belief that caused "it" in the first place!
In theory, it's really simple... but in practice, many people find it difficult because they really don't understand all beliefs are nothing but illusions anyway. But these illusions are so strong people think that they are real when actually they are not.
The power of belief is astounding. I encourage you to study its mysteries for yourself and see what changes you truly do have the power to make.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6483484

Keep "Doing": Empowerment to Maintain Certain Societal Virtues

By Jennifer N Daniels 

There is always something to fight for in our society, whether social, political, or environmental. Those of us that remain in the fight for a better society sometimes become weary. ("...let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart" Galatians 6:9 (RSV)). Sometimes it also seems that we are the only ones in the battle for good. On the contrary, there is a theory that may help; stemming from more obvious societal values, we glean hope!
In efforts to "reconcile our social world", John Rawls, political philosopher at Harvard University has reminded us of some necessary [political] virtues that can provide us initial encouragement.
We know that our fragmented society has always needed cooperation. And Rawls asserts that "fairness and tolerance and a willingness to meet others halfway" are the things that lend us to greater cooperation. What we are now empowered to do, in every corner of our lives, is actively pursue cooperation. And here is the reason to maintain an active pursuit: there are residual benefits that foot soldiers still in the fight may not see for ourselves and those surrounding us.
I am sure we can all think of other societal concepts that stress these precepts. What would our world look like if we all aspired to do these very things in our daily life? What type of society would we have if no one had this frame of mind?
Light at the Middle
If "a sufficient number" of us could find ourselves in a loving position like this, Rawls assures this 'hypothetical society' that "even if numerous citizens lapse on occasion," and become weary in well-doing, we can still maintain a cooperative healthy society and much more as it relates to a "realistic utopia". And this is because we pushed the persistence in the first place. Therefore, if we begin to push ourselves more to maintain purity, we can then take concessions for the times we are weak ourselves.
If you can picture each of us practicing these values -fairness, tolerance, and willingness to meet half-way -- we can significantly shape our societies foundation, one pillar at a time. We each become the basis and basic structure of our society, the face of modern times. Moreover, as we build the society up to the utopia that we have defined and hoped for in the back of our minds, we simultaneously engender a support system for ourselves when we are weak.
Always a Current
Now is the time, if ever before, to shape our nation and society as a whole, by principles that are essential to our foundation. We can sing "Kumbaya" for we have other principalities fighting for influence; but if we can finally come to a point in which many of our sectors stop discussing unity and begin to act on it, we will renew our strength. (There are many divisions in society that we could discuss, but I am sure you can think of some groups of your own.) Moreover, with faith in our hands, we will directly and indirectly hasten closer toward a "realistic utopia".
Although there is always a current pushing against our attempts at cooperation, now is the time. Now is the time for a movement, as the political tides of the United States are applying more pressure on the truth, while pushing its very essence out of consideration. Now is the time as we find increasing numbers of people turning to religion and relinquishing spirituality. Now is the time as we soldiers begin to lose heart while losing contact with others in the fight for what is 'well'. THIS is an important time! Do not faint! Understand your mutual relationship between yourself and your community and be empowered to value your action!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6498645

6 Important Questions That Can Improve Your Life Quality

By Rolf Trondhjem

Financial pressures can induce stress-related illness, impact your study performance and productivity and restrict your chances to build career shifts.
As a fact:
* 35-40% out of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
* Financial trouble is the #1 cause of divorce
* Workers rated personal finance as the #1 root of stress
* 4 out of 10 Americans say they live beyond their means (Strong Employee Assistance Program, 2007)
With all this in mind:
* Would you like to make more money?
* Have you tried to shift your mental attitude in order to achieve financial security?
* Would you wish to save yourself from latent divorcement?
* Do you have the talent and drive, but find things merely don't seem to go your way of life?
* Have you tested other programs for making money only to be frustrated?
* Are you up for a programme to help assist your financial abundance that genuinely works?
If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, you are open to unlock your right power to get all you prefer with The Sedona Method.
Did you ever noticed that two people with the identical background and education, in the same area, often perform very differently? Why?
Because of their mental attitude. Our feelings produce our thoughts, and our thoughts either place us into action or forbid us from acting.
Our feelings set our own draft for prosperity. See, hear and experience your negativism fade away on the spot.
When you perceive you are being held back by your negative thinking, whether in paying off your bills, negociate a deal, planning your financial goals or in making the steps to attain them, simply ask yourself the easy-to-learn and easy-to-remember queries that make up The Sedona Method.
You will feel the constriction leaving your stomach, shoulders and chest. In its situation, you will feel confidence, relaxation and clearness. You will no longer feel destructive, upset or out of control. You will feel more relaxed and fit to manage whatsoever life throws at you more easy.
The disturbance of your mind will subside, and you will have the clarity of mind to say and do what is appropriate and unaffected in order to control any life situation.
You will have a certain mental attitude without any attempt, thereby creating abundance emotionally and physically. You don't have to struggle to keep a beneficial mental attitude any longer. Although applying affirmations, subliminals and motivation do seem to work in helping you proceed in the direction of thinking more positively, you will see there is a greater way, called The Sedona Method.
The Sedona Method is based on the premiss that we do not have to program self-confident thinking. All we need to do is to release our normal positive nature. Let's analyze the options to exploiting your positive thinking power:
I. You can affirm the positive. Practicing positive thinking sentences involves a sizeable, continual effort to remember and repeat the exact positive words over and over again. It is also only layering positive thoughts on top of the existing negative ones, which clogs up your brain with a lot of needless extra noise.
II. Subliminal programming. Although it may seem simple just to plop in a subliminal tape and make it reprogram your unconscious, practising this comes with risks. Firstly, if you buy pre-made subliminal tapes, you actually don't know what is in the subliminal messages. You are at the mercy of the people who made the tape recording and their consciousness. Not only that, this form actually only layers supposedly "positive" thinking on top of the existing negative thoughts, which only clogs your brain with a bunch of unneeded extra disturbance.
III. Motivation. Have you ever gotten really pumped up by some motivational presentation only to have it wear off in hours or, at the most, days later? Motivation works merely while you are being motivated. It too makes you based on someone or something outside of yourself to retain you motivated. Even self-motivation only temporarily overrides the existing negative.
IV. Your solution to pure positive thinking power and attaining financial security: The Sedona Method.
The scientifically tested Sedona Method is an elegant, easy-to-learn, do-it-yourself system that will teach you how to tap your normal ability to let go of any devastating thought or feeling on the spot.
It can be used in life to achieve blistering relief from the effects of negative thinking whenever it's keeping you back from performing at your greatest.
The Sedona Method supports you to easily stop the patterns of thought and behavior that stimulate your self-sabotage to reoccur and prevent you from getting what you want, including financial safety.
The Sedona Method also contains several really powerful instruments for making decisions and accomplishing goals. As you practice your natural power to release, you'll create a strong, positive psychical posture that will serve you succeed where others might fail, even in today's rapidly changing economic times.
Will The Sedona Method work for You?
As you use the Method, you will discover over time that the real situations and experiences that you used to find the most exhausting or disturbing will get less and less so, until you may even forget that you used to have those sorts of experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6432477

The Power of Belief

Change YOUR Beliefs And You Will Change YOUR World

"What Ever The Mind Can Conceive and Believe, It Can Achieve"
Napoleon Hill