Getting Results

We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see, but these things are only the effects of something subtle.--- Lao Tsu

We're having a little cold snap here in Central Florida --- also a little rain. Not the kind of inspiring morning I was looking for, but, realize it could be a lot worse. I could be up north. Anyway, they'll be no more lame excuses for not writing anything. I've decided to seize the moment and see what happens.

It occurred to me that one's motives for writing have a lot to do with the resulting productivity. To the extent that I actually take myself seriously about wanting to be the next Wayne Dyer --- or even to gain any tangible rewards --- I sabotage my efforts.

It's a very simple principle. My writing must be for it's own sake --- just as I was corresponding with an imaginary friend. And, I shouldn't fret over the fact that I can't spell or punctuate. Sometimes I think that english teachers should be taken out and severely punished for making people feel uncomfortable with their own language.

It's a very simple principle but, (aha!) it covers a lot of ground when I look at the subject matter which I usually write about --- feeling better about things.

What's the single best tip I have to offer in this area? Not that it even comes close to being original, but that would be practicing meditation in any of its various forms. There certainly are many forms, but, what I've come to learn is that function is much more important than form. My own bias is that no matter how you meditate, whether its sitting on a overstuffed pillow or hanging from a flagpole, one should try to extend the mind-set into the rest of the day, no matter what the activity.

Is it easy? No its not easy at all, but it's much harder if we're not pursuing whatever we're doing at the time for it's own sake. When you're washing the dishes, you should be washing the dishes.

There are lots of benefits attributed to meditation, stated far and wide in the literature --- stress reduction, relaxation, pain management, increasing one's sense of spirituality, finding enlightenment etc. etc. etc.. Paradoxically, the process itself demands a mind-set which is not looking for results or outcomes --- You need to focus on the activity itself --- for it's own sake. ( --- and, incidentally, without fretting about how well you're doing it.)

It's perfectly fine if our meditation practice makes us a more popular person, cures our achne, or makes us feel that we are enlightened. But, the true purpose is to accept the present moment as it actually is and be open to all possibilities. If we do, the real reasons for our practice become so clear it's as if we just bumped into an old --- and very good --- friend.

I live in Orlando, Fl. with my beautiful and brilliant wife, my dynamic and creative 13 year old son, and a totally spoiled female Shih-Tzu. I'm retired and trying to write stuff which will help people to feel better about things. BTW, that's the name of my web site: feelbetteraboutthings.com

San Francisco Chronicle

Demi Moore 'seeks spiritual help from Deepak Chopra' Digital Spy According to People, the Ghost actress is turning to the author of more than 60 books on spirituality and healing, following an incident in which she collapsed at her LA home on January 23. Moore has previously expressed her admiration for Chopra, ... Demi Moore Seeks Spiritual Guru Deepak Chopra's Helpallvoices Demi Moore Seeks Help from Deepak ChopraPeople Magazine all 8 news articles »

Church's New Rector Sees Social Justice as His Spiritual Mission Patch.com He says he sees himself as the church's “chief spirituality officer,” modeling a life of deep faith combined with service in the world. The arrival of Justin means goodbye to the Reverend Mark Shier, who served St. Michael's as an interim rector for ... and more »

Music channels God and spirituality Maroon Growing up as an LGBT person, understanding prayer and spirituality was a very difficult process. When taught to feel that unchangeable and inherent parts of myself were unacceptable in the eyes of God, I knew not how to seek or be a part of something ...

Spirituality, sexuality talk is set Poughkeepsie Journal “Radical Love: Taking Back Valentine's Day” will be the theme of Vassar's annual Religious and Spiritual Life Day today, to open up conversation about love, sexuality and spirituality. “Sexuality and spirituality often seem like strange bedfellows.

Spirituality: A lifetime of parenting in only 80 minutes The News-Press Whatever you think of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, you may want to say a prayer for his 3-year-old daughter, Isabella, who was admitted to the hospital last month with complications from a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18. and more »

Spiritual beliefs can have psychological pros, cons BG News Pargament, a professor in the Department of Psychology, researches the aspects of religion and spirituality that can be helpful as well as harmful to people. "We think of religion and spirituality as a double-edged sword," he said.

Religious, spiritual knowledge can provide positives for all people BG News by Bobby Waddle When people ask me about religion, I often tell them that I simply don't think about it - I prefer to live my life in the moment and worry about the spiritual realm later. In proclaiming my agnosticism, however, I am still taking my own ...

Demi Moore Seeks Spiritual Counseling Huffington Post Spiritual Counseling, well there's a waste of time. How about actual medical counseling. You know with Doctors and people with degrees. Ridiculous. cameron_d: Spiritual Counseling, well there's a waste of time. How about pathetic......truly pathetic! and more »

Washington Blade

Romance and religion Washington Blade (Photo by Danisha Crosby; courtesy Round House) Sex and spirituality — or the lack thereof — intersect in thought-provoking ways in the flawed-but-worthy play 'Next Fall,” a 2009 piece that's enjoying a post-Broadway local run at Round House Theatre ... and more »

Dr. R. Scott Colglazier, Author, Minister and Progressive Spiritual Voice ... Sacramento Bee 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Author and progressive spiritual leader, Dr. R. Scott Colglazier, is pleased to announce the release of his latest book, A Dictionary of Faith for Open-Hearted, Open-Minded People, an insightful and inspiring look at ... and more »