Living Energy Blog

I (Peg) am fascinated with the energetic aspects of money and what is does to us, what it does to society. For some time I have been thinking about the value of work and goods and services. Why do people work at jobs they don’t like? What factors go into deciding that an hour of time from one person is worth more or less than an hour of time from another? How did we get to the point where so many people are not earning a living wage while others have more than they will ever need or use? There are many reasons for all of this, on multiple levels.

What is interesting about our current times is that these topics have reached the mainstream and we are beginning to have intelligent conversations about them in many spheres of influence. Last week I started reading Debt: The First 5,000 Years, by David Graeber. Within a few days, a friend told me about Sacred Economics: Money, Gift and Society in the Age of Transition by Charles Eisenstein. Interestingly enough, they were published on the same day: July 12, 2011, just ahead of the Occupy Wall St. movement. As I was scanning my email today, a third link came in. The Daily Good posted a story called: “When Generosity Meets Venture Capital.” When I delve deep into a topic, things often come to me in groups of three.

A public conversation about money, debt and humanity is emerging. It’s a growing movement and it’s exciting. During Biblical times, Jubilee years were held periodically where all consumer debt was cancelled. Just imagine how things would shift if we did this today! The time is right to envision a world where we all live in peace, health and happiness … and we can all contribute in one way or another.

Related articles

• Debt: The First 5,000 Years, by David Graeber (theglobeandmail.com)

Bring Back My Happiness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness. — Chuang Tzu

After I cleared my incoming email recently of non-essential messages, five remained. “How curious,” I thought as two of the five messages pertained to happiness. One was from the Daily Good, which opened with the above quote from Chuang Tzu. Simple, refreshing and clean. The other was from publishing coach, Robin Hoffman, with details about another happiness book.

Next I typed “happiness” into the Yahoo search engine and noted 227,000,000 results! A Google search on the same term yielded 54,300,000 results. Far fewer, yet overwhelming.

What is it about happiness, I thought? The more we seem to pursue it, the further from our grasp it seems to be. Then I returned to the Chuang Tzu quote. It’s all right there. Stop doing and start being. Experiment with withdrawing your attention from the pursuit of happiness and decide to BE happy. Experience happiness in the moment, in every moment. Try it and share your experiences with us via comments to this blog or on our Living Energy Facebook page.

Related articles

• Livia Kohn, Ph.D.: Chuang-tzu: The Tao of Perfect Happiness (huffingtonpost.com)

There is a bit of controversy at Harvard University about the voluntary “Kindness Pledge” the institution has asked incoming students to sign this year. Some of those in opposition have indicated that kindness conflicts with intellectual freedom and that the pledge does not have a place at Harvard.

The Kindness Bus

I can understand this perspective. Kindness is a virtue that emanates from the heart, not the mind or the intellect. In my opinion, kindness is an automatic response when we cultivate love within our hearts, within ourselves. I can see where too much thinking about kindness might get you all mixed up inside. If you are arguing a point, the rational mind might suggest tossing aside civility and going for the jugular … win your argument at all costs.

What is “kindness” anyway and why is it important? The dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Wikipedia indicates that kindness is the act or the state of being kind —marked by goodness and charitable behaviour, mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. In his book “Rhetoric,” Aristotle wrote that kindness is an emotion that is defined as being helpful to someone in need, not in exchange for anything or for an advantage to the helper. Kindness is about caring. Kindness is important because it holds the possibility of all of us creating a better world. We are all human and we are one global community. What we do to one another, we do to ourselves.

While Harvard debates kindness, the rest of us can model kindness. Act according to your heart. Do what feels right. To learn more, check out Random Acts of Kindness, One Million Acts of Kindness, Carry Out Kindness. They’ll take you to even more resources and sites.

Be kind to yourself today and be kind to everyone you meet.

Related articles

• Harvard’s ‘Kindness’ Pledge: (huffingtonpost.com)
• Harvard Pledge Values ‘Kindness’ Over Learning: Virginia Postrel (businessweek.com)

It’s official, we live in an ever-expanding universe! First reported in 1998, the discovery earned three scientists the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. Half of the prize was awarded to Saul Perlmutter, from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley. The other half was awarded to Brian P. Schmidt of Australian National University and Adam G. Riess of Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute.

No longer can the concept of an ever-expanding universe be considered new age “bunk.” Measuring light coming from exploding stars, the scientists set out to prove that the expansion of the universe was slowing down and they found just the opposite. Their independent discoveries indicate that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. Apparently there is some sort of mysterious and invisible form of energy that counteracts gravity and is pushing matter apart. Imagine that! Reiss says that 74 percent of the universe consists of this dark energy.

So what does all this mean? Everything is possible! When we say something is true, it really means that that’s what is commonly accepted right now either because it has been said over and over for a very long time or we simply don’t know any different.

So everything and anything is possible! This is great news. Consider how this applies to your own life …your long held beliefs, thoughts, feelings, habits, ways of being, doing and living. If something is not working for you, change it. Adopt a different set of thoughts or beliefs about the situation. Try something new. Take different action. Expand your possibilities and create new energy. Step into some of the new and exciting energy of the universe.

Stepping into the unknown can be daunting. Among other things, it requires strength and courage. Strength to carve a new path and courage to withstand the naysayers or anyone who doubts new possibilities. Just because something hasn’t happened does not mean it is not possible. Everything is possible. Twelve years ago I left a well-paying corporate career because it felt right. I was ready to do something else. I was excited about the possibility of what was coming next, although I didn’t know what that would be. I just knew it would be worthwhile. Even though I was the family “breadwinner,” I consciously followed my passion and delved deeply into topics that interested me. Professionally, I entered a new field, launched my own business, co-authored a book, collaborated with like-minded partners, co-wrote a newspaper column for 4 years and kept pace with the explosion of technology and the birth of social media. On the personal side, along with my husband, we raised our daughter and became a meaningful presence in her life, led a Girl Scout Troop for 12 years, assisted my parents for 10 years, took more time for pleasure, did some traveling, read an amazing assortment of books, stayed healthy and much more. Now that our daughter is happily settling into college, I’m ready to expand again. The possibilities are endless.

Long ago I realized that we do live in an ever-expanding universe and that everything is possible. It is here for us to claim. It is our birthright. If you aren’t already doing so, experience it directly. Make new and conscious choices for yourself. You may be amazed with what is possible. Isn’t yesterday’s Nobel Prize in Physics proof enough?

Related articles

• Does the Multiverse Really Exist? (preview) (scientificamerican.com)

Cosmic Consciousness (Photo credit: Rainbow Gryphon)

Is there a link between compassion and crime? As I listened to an NPR story about the drop in violent crime for the fourth consecutive year, I wondered if this is a reflection of society becoming more community-oriented, compassionate, caring and kind. I see more and more evidence of this every day every day. Yes, there are still those who don’t have a clue and continue to operate under old paradigms. Although such voices are loud, domineering and at times unbelievable, I am convinced that this is a dwindling population. As we withdraw our focus from what feels wrong and place our energy on what feels right, each of us will experience more of the inevitable shift in consciousness. It is a sign of our times.

Look around. “Doing good” is a growing movement. You will find ample evidence that people DO care about others. In my town a Fire Fighter grows fresh produce for our local food pantry and encourages others with gardens to drop off their extra produce so that those in need can eat fresh, seasonal vegetables. Our Helping Hands organization of volunteers provides those in need with things such as support for basic necessities, back to school clothes and school supplies, holiday food baskets, items that are ready to pass along (such as bikes) and more. Some people contribute money, some contribute items, some contribute time. Some people do all three. What’s going on in your family, community, or social network that is “doing good” for others?

Daily inspiration is readily available. The Good News Network is in its 15^th year of providing good news to its internet readers. They provide inspiring stories of people doing the right thing world-wide. The Daily Good, another online resource, has been providing inspiration to its subscribers since 1998, almost as long. The mainstream media is also hopping on the bandwagon. Compared to prior years, more and more time and space is dedicated to human interest stories that encourage, stimulate interest, and inspire our spirit. These are just a few examples. I know that there are many more.

As we “do good” for others, I believe that each of us becomes more compassionate, caring and kind. Being part of the same human family, deep down we have similar needs and wants. What’s “out there” in the big, wide world is a reflection of what’s “inside,” closer to home, as reflected in our community, family, and individual consciousness. As we continue to shift and change for the better, the world around us will too.

One of the most effective ways to make a difference is to do “the work” on yourself. Consciously release your resistance to what “is”, accept things as they are, and change what you can. As you work with your own energy, the energy around you will shift as well. If you don’t believe it, just play with this concept. You will soon see evidence of your thoughts, feelings and beliefs playing out in front of you. Sometimes we are blind to this. As you tune in and observe what really shows up in your world each day, you may be delighted to realize how you, the observer, can change what is being observed. The world is one big mirror of our collective consciousness. We are all responsible for what is going on. You can begin by being more compassionate, caring and kind with yourself. Just do a little bit more every day. When you have a setback, accept it and begin again. Living your life this way can be a lot of fun and make a big difference in the world at large.

Our violent crime rate has dropped for four consecutive years. This is a good thing and each of us has contributed to it in one way or another. Maybe in 2012 we’ll see an even bigger jump. Let’s each BE the change we want to see in the world.

Related articles

• COSMIC Convergence – by Carl Calleman [topics include Elenin, pole shifts, consciousness shifts, and more]] (jhaines6.wordpress.com)
• World Peacemakers Call for 3-DAY Moratorium on All News 9/22-24 (news.yahoo.com)
• Clow’s 2011 Fall Equinox Report (deniselefay.wordpress.com)

Cover via Amazon

“My message is always the same: to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance.” Dalai Lama

This timely quote from the Dalai Lama came to me this morning through HeartMath.

Have you heard the phrase “thoughts create things?” I am a firm believer that words create things too. Tune into the words all around you … your words, others’ words, the words you see and hear.  Notice the messages being conveyed. More importantly, observe how the words both reflect and amplify what is happening. Do the words give power to what we want or are they strengthening the circumstances we wish to change?

Expressing oneself authentically can be a tricky process. How do we consciously choose words that reflect good feelings when our experience is so different?  This is where the cultivation and practice of love, kindness, compassion and tolerance can make a difference. And it begins deep within oneself. One way to begin is to omit the “no’s.” One friend recently lamented: “No job, no prospects, no income.” Well this will probably continue to be the case until this person consciously shifts her energy. A way to express this with more self compassion might be: I’m ready for a job, job prospects and income! Instead of saying “I’m not …,” began to say “I AM …”

Like anything new, there’s a learning curve. Observe everyone and imitate people who communicate effectively in a loving and compassionate manner. Each day provides ample opportunities to learn from others … your family and friends, your workplace, the supermarket and retail centers, public events, community gatherings, the media. Listen with open ears and an open heart. What feels genuine? How can you empathize with others without joining them in a spiral-down conversation? What new ways can you communicate without complaining? There are lots of ways to go about this and there are some wonderful role models. Look for them and I guarantee you will find them. Learn some new approaches and become a role model for others. Two people I admire are Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer. Both have a way of being truly present with people, feeling their pain and conveying their experience with kindness, love and compassion.

Like everything, words carry energy and are quite powerful. Choose your words consciously to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance. Each day brings an opportunity to develop your skill and get a little better at it. Before long it will be a habit. As your habit strengthens it will become a belief. Once it is a belief, it will become imprinted in your cells and be automatically reflected in your words and actions.

Language is an amazing tool that can change the world and we can all participate. BE the change you wish to see in the world and eventually it will be reflected in your life.

Related articles

• Positive Psychology News Daily ” Wired for Empathy (positivepsychologynews.com)
• The Four Immeasurables (jasontsukahara.wordpress.com)
• The Dalai Lama (marinalovemovement.wordpress.com)

Look to nature for things to appreciate!

Many people have recently expressed that their energy is unsettled, leaving them feeling scattered and fragmented. As a result they are easily distracted, have a hard time focusing on the task at hand and get annoyed with small, inconsequential matters. Can you identify with this?

Part of what happening is that we are living through unprecedented change on so many levels. Things that are not working are breaking down in order to be remade …this includes health, work, relationships, long standing institutions and companies, governments, you name it.  We’ve been seeing the pace accelerate for months.

An effective way to shift your energy and get back on track is to take a situation that annoys you and express genuine gratitude for what is good about it and what is working well. Use what is not working to help you focus and identify what you do appreciate. For example, maybe there is someone in your life that you find particularly irritating. Identify the traits you don’t like and view them through new eyes. Take a different perspective. Perhaps a controlling personality can be seen as expressing determination, reliability, passion and care. If you don’t like your job and are hanging on out of fear that nothing else is available, perhaps you could express gratitude for having the means to support yourself or your family, providing a valuable service to someone in need or developing the qualities of grace and patience. Maybe a speeding ticket is a good reminder to slow down or helped prevent an accident. How can you view a troubling situation in your life through new eyes?

Another technique is to express gratitude before going to sleep for at least five things that happened or that you experienced or noticed during your day. Write them down in a notebook or journal. As you do, feel genuine appreciation. Your energy will begin to shift as you write and the process will continue as you sleep, imprinting your cells and subconscious with more calm and more coherent energy.

Gratitude is one of those magical ingredients that you can use to begin to realign your energy …sometimes overnight.  Practice and experiment with it to help you move beyond judgment, accepting things as they are and bringing more compassion and wisdom to each day. A conscious, gracious, and heart-centered approach may make a big difference with the way your day unfolds.

Related articles

• Are There Benefits of Gratitude? (livingenergyworks.com)
• Great Video from 365 Grateful (livingenergyworks.com)

Today, Labor Day, 2011, I find myself reflecting on the meaning of work. Most times when I hear about work it is in a negative context such as: “Ugh! I have to go to work.” Or “No, I can’t do that, I have to work today.” Or one’s spirit is a bit deflated and resigned to: “I wish I could join you but I have to work.” Sometimes I hear people looking forward to the future: “I can’t wait to retire. Then I won’t have to work.” Some of my Facebook friends commented on those who were working on this holiday vs. those were enjoying the fruits of that labor. The ones doing the commenting were the ones “working” today and not enjoying it.

So what is “work” and why does so much of our life revolve around it? What is your purpose in exerting physical labor or mental activity? In a larger context, consider whether or not your work reflects your passion … something that interests you deeply, something you care about and something you love doing. A job, on the other hand, is a way to earn a living and pay your bills. If you are among the lucky ones, you love your job and that is your work.  Imagine how different the world would be if everyone unhappy with their jobs, switched until they found something they truly loved and then they engaged passionately in daily work. Or perhaps people could begin to view their jobs differently and appreciate the ways in which their job adds value to their life as well as the lives of others.

It used to baffle me why people spend so much of their lives doing something that they regularly complain about or that genuinely makes them sick or that they don’t enjoy. The more deeply I engage in my work, the more I realize that it’s because many people live their lives unconsciously, on automatic pilot, and feel powerless to change. Without thinking, people spout off about going to work, being at work or having to work. Are you among them? When this happens, universal forces arrange themselves to bring you exactly what you are feeling and what you express. Reflect on this for a moment. How do you feel about your job or your work and what do you say to others or articulate about your circumstances?  Do you see any patterns between what you convey and what actually happens or unfolds?

The good news is that you and your circumstances can change, even with our high rates of unemployment. In a few days, Karen Kallie, Tony Pace and I will launch the first program in our Living Energy: Personal Energy Empowerment Series. Watch for it. It might help you shift your life and engage in work that you truly love. Perhaps by Labor Day 2012 you will be positioned to love your work and your job!

Related articles

• Labor Day (xandrepressview.com)
• Labor Day Blessings! (guchiid.wordpress.com)

A great explanation of thought, feeling, emotion and chakras and how they relate to our lives!