InnerSelf

by Jim Dreaver. What becomes clear is the more you hold on to the need to have things be a certain way, the more emotional charge you are storing up. Then, when expectations are not met, there is pain and suffering...

by Thomas M. Sterner. Everything we do is a habit, in one form or another. How we think, how we talk, how we react to criticism, which type of snack we instinctively reach for: all are habits. Even when faced with a circumstance for the first time, we respond to it from habit. We may consider some habits good, others...

by Nicolya Christi. As we move into 2013, our ongoing commitment to an era of peace on Earth is essential to enable the divine blueprint of the new Earth to begin activation. It is vital that you understand what you are here to contribute and how to do this.

by Stewart Pearce. We need to awaken a crucial understanding at this time of evolution... What we need to become aware of is that the choices many of us have made on Planet Earth are not resounding with the highest truth, and therefore our planet is not evolving as fully as it could...

by Richard Bach. When the hypnotist's hand touched his shoulder, he tilted with the pressure. Blacksmyth caught him at once, thanked the other volunteers and dismissed them. Things had gone too far. "I'm sorry," Jamie whispered, "but I can't be hypnotized"...

by William R. Yoder. Desire and manifestation: This is clearly one of the most popular topics in the self-help and happiness literature today. The prevailing idea is that we will be really happy when all of our current desires are manifested — when we become and have everything we want. The positive or negative effect that desires have on our lives is...

by Starhawk. Mediation is appropriate in cases of miscommunication or misunderstandings, to clear up hurt feelings and hurtful interactions. Mediation implies that we can find a win-win solution, that no one is either completely right or completely wrong and that both parties can come to share a mutual purpose.

by Linda Star Wolf. Daily dedication and a willingness to heal our past will automatically move us forward on the spiral path of transformation. When we let go of old, outworn patterns that no longer serve us, we can energetically free up space in our psyches so that learning from the future becomes not only possible but the most...

by Alan Cohen. Considering the challenges facing humanity, one might wonder if it’s time to put less emphasis on activity and more emphasis on awakening. Less what and more why. The form of life is the chalice through which we drink the essence of life.

by John Robbins. So much is at stake in our times. Whether we like it or not, and whether we accept it or not, the choices we make, individually and collectively, in the coming years will make an incredible amount of difference, perhaps...

by Alan Cohen.

2012 is here. Finally. After many years of anticipation, sensationalism, foreboding, titillation, and wild prophecies, we’ve reached the end of the Mayan calendar. The era of momentous...

by Lynn Woodland.

When we join in a common intent with other minds, an amplifying effect occurs that is far greater than the sum of the individuals. Things that were difficult to achieve separately suddenly become easy when we join together.

by Imre Vallyon. What is in your mind is what you are going to experience. If your mind has negative waves in it, such as anger, fear, hatred or depression, then that is what you experience. If your mind is happy, joyous, peaceful and united, then that is what you experience. Heaven, hell or limbo are always a condition of your mind.

by Rev. Daniel Chesbro.

We're often told to live in the present, yet then we're told to set goals and plan for the future. Which is it? Daniel Chesbro helps us clarify the confusion: "...imagine you’re driving a car. As you look through the windshield you’re looking into the future. As you’re sitting in the driver’s seat you’re in the present. If you look..."

by Michael Gluckman.

Assumptions are thoughts in the mind that define us and limit us. But the strangest thing about these assumptions is that they are not even there. They are really just groups of thoughts, glued together by our assumption that they are true. And yet they seem to cause so much pain and suffering...

by Eldon Taylor.

Uncovering our biases is an important step in discovering ourselves. Evaluating the words we choose, what they mean, what they imply, and how we use them is an exercise in self-awareness. Whether we repeat a “blonde” joke, a sexist expectation, a racist definition...

by Thubten Chodron.

We are spend a lot of time thinking about the future. We create idealistic dreams. "The Right Man/ Woman will appear. He/she will understand me perfectly." "This job will fulfill me completely." As a result, we develop unrealistic expectations that leave us disappointed with what is. In addition, we don't create the things we imagine because we're stuck in our head just imagining them.

We move through our daily activities in terms of our past experiences, which are the building blocks of our personal belief systems. Our belief systems are the glasses through which we each view the world and anticipate what is likely to unfold. Our behavior is always loyal with our beliefs. Everyone has had the experience of learning something, but acting to the contrary...

by Alan Cohen. As we enter this bright new year, let’s notice the strong correlation between our expectations and our experience. Everything that happens to us is related to our beliefs about who we are, what we deserve, and what the universe is capable of supplying. The game is...

by William R. Yoder, Ph.D., D.C.

Over the years, I have read many wonderful books on the subjects of spirituality, philosophy, and personal growth. These books usually paint a beautiful and inspiring picture of reality.  But often, after the inspiration of the book had faded, I found myself asking, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if reality were like that?"

When we arrive back home after a mountaintop experience, often we are required to deal with the maddening routines of life. Laundry has to be done, dishes have to be washed, professional work needs our attention, lawns have to be mowed, pets need to be cared for, and our families need our attention; all of these...

The pattern I have seen repeated both in myself and in others around me is the sleeping beauty/frog prince complex. It consists of waiting for something or someone to deliver us from whatever situation we have gotten ourselves into.

by Stuart Wilde.

What we think we know to be true, we actually borrowed from somebody else. When you were born, your subconscious mind began to record all the sensations and inputs you were exposed to. Bit by bit, you sucked up, without question, the tribal belief patterns you were exposed to...

by Robert Ohotto. When we don't recognize or accept certain parts of our own nature - positive and negative - we'll project these qualities onto others. Those who anger, irritate, frustrate, and even consciously attempt to sabotage us are our greatest teachers...

Thought-power is creative power. It is the power that sparks action. Action, then, becomes directed behavior that produces an identifiable result. Good results come from good thoughts. Good thoughts are like a good foundation that is unshakable and permanent. Things do not appear without a thought having first given "life" to them.

by O.C. Smith & James Shaw. 

God's little green apples are yours for the picking. Whether you reach above your head for the green apples, or whether they fall at your feet, you must do the picking. It is only then that you can "bite into" (have) your new and changed experiences.

by Marie T. Russell.

For years you have been molded. You have been asked to adhere to tradition, to behave according to certain accepted rules of behavior, and to dress according to the norm. You have accepted beliefs that others held. You have believed...

by Marie T. Russell. Some people feel that they are limited by their genes, by what is encoded in their DNA. Studies show that identical twins raised in different environments have some strikingly similar tastes and behaviors. While that may be true, one must be careful not to use that as an excuse.

by Matthew Flickstein. We need to avoid dwelling on any judgments, decisions, or internal commentary that may arise based upon the feelings we are observing. We must be careful not to identify with the feelings and consider them "ours". The following contemplations support the arising of insight into the nature of feelings, the ways in which we react to those feelings, and the impersonal causes and conditions behind the feelings themselves.

by Douglas Davis. "The weekend is over and tomorrow it's back to reality!" "You've lost touch with reality!" What exactly is reality and whose reality are we talking about? I saw a bumper sticker not too long ago that said "Question reality". I agree. I think reality should be questioned and challenged and maybe even done away with...

by Marelin the Magician. Radiating the resonance of unconditional love is the intention of all those who have attracted this message. You have come forth to teach one another to stay with the love, no matter what the conditions hold.

The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer a sheep. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom. What people say does not matter. Your whole and sole judge is God. And God simply means the whole universe.

  by Dr. Brenda Davies.

Friends encourage and support each other in difficult times and generally make a positive impact on each other's lives. However, they're also willing to confront and constructively . So let's take a look at how you can deal with conflict and with saying those things that your friend might not want to hear.

by Alan Cohen.

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose.

by Sarano Kelley. Humans invented the measurement of hours fairly early on in our history. Then we added minutes and seconds. We've only recently conceived of the nanosecond. We've forgotten that time is fiction, a simple measuring device we created in our history as a human race. We imbue time with significance, judge it as being "quality" or not, and race against it.

by Alan Cohen. If you are losing energy in the form of joy, health, money, or love, you have a leak in your system. There is no malevolent parasite that has invaded your world and is undermining you. Your leak is on your property, and as such you have access to repair it.

Knowledge has been handed down through the ages regarding the contributions that essential oils can make in our lives. Some of the stories originated in our grandmothers' tales, some were told by wise sages, while others were revealed by those deeply in touch with the plants. Essential oils are established and revered as a reliable and resourceful healing modality.

Just as we meet limits in the midst of life, we also find possibility, the undiluted freedom to create and live our lives. We do not have to approach today in the same way as we approached yesterday. Every week is a new week with a new set of tasks, demands, adventures, any of which reveal brand new possibilities.

We often talk about "wanting to be spiritual," but being spiritual and taking care of our everyday affairs are exactly the same thing. There is no difference. With clarity we become ordinary -- simply taking care of whatever comes before us. In this process, we develop trust that whatever shows up in our lives, we will meet it.

Carrying the weight of the world is overbearing. While Atlas is often romanticized, his job sucks. If you accept his role, your life will suck. If you assume responsibility for everyone and everything around you, you will rapidly become a crispy critter. Besides, it doesn't work...