The Thing About Change - by KimEagles

After observing several disturbances to the peace and tranquility in our lives, most on us are forced to make a change at some point . It is that, or be miserable! We all make particular poor choices, bad decisions and untimely speculations. We become baffled, perplexed, bewildered and wounded from self failure—even to the point of being un-willing to parlay another bet in which winnings from a previous bet were gambled and lost. Finally, we panic or give up. Past waves of doubt tend to consume and baffle the mind with entirely too much clutter. It’s time to get a handle on making wise choices, attain wisdom, knowledge and understanding—and more specifically, to realize the task set before us—it’s time to consider making a change about something in our lives.
Change requires preparation—whether your decision has been to change your thinking and communication process or your heart toward forgiveness of others. You might want to change a relationship with your children, change your marriage, change your friendship with someone, or change to a healthier lifestyle. Or, perhaps you seek a change in your career, or a change in the dynamics within your family—it may also be your desire to change you financial situation. Finally you may long to transform living in a constant state of depression, fear, and worry to a new state of living. Regardless of what is the matter, we must prepare the way, throwing out the items of hindrance and destruction. The preparation for change requires getting things in order and asking some very direct questions. The questions are simple: why, what, when and how do you want to change?
The wise person needs to have clarity and complete understanding of the reason for desiring change. If there is no vision, no motivation, or a set purpose to the change we plan to make, there is no real passion to change. Therefore, you must dig deep and intentionally discover what’s been causing your stagnation and failure in order to develop, progress, or make necessary changes. The following format is a pathway to discover everything you need to know about making a lasting change.
Discover why you want to change
Why is used to ask a question, talk about the reason, purpose, or cause of something (for what reason?). As you determine the motive behind your desire to change , you must keep the question alive by not only asking, ‘why’ I want to change—but also and more importantly for ‘what reason I want to change’—the ‘why’ becomes our vision for changing.
Also, ‘why’ is used to express agreement with a suggestion or proposed course of action—such as “would you like another coffee?” “Why not!” It becomes a reason or purpose for something. So we see that ‘why’ becomes the vision and the purpose to change.
Discover what you want to change
“What” is word used in direct and indirect information or about the purpose of something. For example, it asks, “What time is it?” It is used to seek information. What is constantly asking you to define the directive question of describing the something “you” want—so, we see that “what” becomes the seeking variable for the specific information leading you to the purpose of change. Also, ‘what’ is a pronoun asking you the direct question of “What are they doing or what am I doing?”
Discover when you want to change
When is used to ask at what time or at what point something happens. When ask you the direct question, “When can we expect you to change?” The word “when” is a conjunction is also used to ask at what time or at one point something happening, for example, “They think I’m really easy going, when, in fact, I’m not.” “When” is also used to indicate a time at or during which something is happening “When did it happen?”

Discover when you want to change
When is used to ask at what time or at what point something happens. When ask you the direct question, “When can we expect you to change?” The word “when” is a conjunction is also used to ask at what time or at one point something happening, for example, “They think I’m really easy going, when, in fact, I’m not.” “When” is also used to indicate a time at or during which something is happening “When did it happen?”

Discover how you want to change
‘How’ is used to indicate the way in which somebody does something; to ask a question about someone, or as a means to change the subject of a conversation. It is also used as a suggestion. It gives instructions such as a “How To” manual. The “ how” of something gives detail or step-by-step instructions or outlines—step 1, step2 and so on. Finally, the why, what, when and how you want to change begins by you realizing that you must possess a willingness to change.
The Goal of Changing Your Life in One Year
It is my belief that when we make a decision to “believe” that there is a lot that we must all come to grips with. And it is to the degree that we make an honest assessment of where our hearts are, then start from that point and go forward, that we truly begin to experience all that life has for us. No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, there’s always room for growth that will bring us to a place of greater service and intimate relationship with our spiritual source.
The Goal of Changing Your Life in One Year system I have outlined here, uses learning wisdom based on Proverbs. The intention is to evoke proactive change and new awareness in various areas of life that have complicated and/or stifled healthy growth in our lives. This series is a tool for an introduction to self evolution of past and present beliefs, concepts, and misconceptions that may have caused confusion and misdirection. Having used the system, I know it works. It will excite you so much that you cannot wait for the next day to venture into finding out about just who you are! It’s thrilling to actually create your own personal blue print of your life’s experiences. The program’s theory helps you to see what makes you who you are and reveals who you desire to be. No more hiding and being fearful of the past. Choose to change! Be intentional and live! Let’s make this year different. If you are interested in this program of journaling for self-growth, send for your first week’s journal today at Kim_eagles@msn.com .

“Celebrating a Moment in History” by Kim Eagles

It’s not often that we get an opportunity to celebrate a moment in history—a women’s right to vote and man’s first step on the moon. But a couple of days ago, change occurred in America. Whether or not your personal favorite candidate won the 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Hussein Obama by sixty-five million Americans is our nations 44th President Elect. Not bad for a black man raised by single women once on welfare. As predicted by the late great Sam Cook in 1964 in the lyrics of his song, “A Change Gonna Come”, if you’ve have not heard this song; I highly recommend you do so. Because, ‘change’ is here and emotions ran high with this worldwide announcement of the United States electing the first Black President. For some individuals came tears of joy, some fell to their knees in thanksgiving, some speechless and for some people they became fearful of the future sending “them into mourning” as quoted by Family Activist James Dobson.
But for one individual when asked what he experience having the first African-American elected for the highest seat in U.S. history he stated, “As I walked on campus today, for the first in my entire life I felt that people looked at me differently”. Imagine, enduring a lifetime of being made to feel like a second class citizen, being made to feel not quite equal to others. This was a thirty-five year old black man holding back tears from a silent emotion never before having had the chance to share this hidden sentiment. The sentiment unknown to others is that many African-Americans continently endue a sense of racial differential as far back as slavery that has unfortunately been carried into 2008.
Martin Luther King’s dream came true November 4th, 2008. People of all races, creeds and colors voted for a man because his values, intelligence, dedication and love for the American Dream was chosen to lead change. Not since the horrific tragedy of “9-11” has United States come together in emotional solidarity in “The Audacity as Hope” coined in the title of the book written by Barack Obama. After being called a nigger, a Chicago thug, a terrorist, a Muslim and a man not ready to command has been chosen by the people and for the people of American. All races of people have experienced ethic harassment that we’ve had to overcome, I know I have. Once being told that I’d never be accepted in the business world because after all, “you’re black and you’re woman”. Something that I’ll always remember—however, perhaps it’s what has helped me fight for women’s issue still today?
It has to be said, racism its subliminal messages have existed for far too long! We must learn to celebrate victory and come together as one nation, under God. Remember that freedom is never free, the cost of freedom is begins in the value of a persons life. Countless individuals have died for a cause to unite a nation that we call a United States of America that includes a diverse melting pot of survivors of battle into a ‘new world’. We are America. We are one nation. We are a place where we embrace hope of the human spirit.
Take a moment to reflect on the words of a portion hope as described in Dr. King declaration of hope…
“This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. And this will be the day; this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!" And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true…
…And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last." http://www.freemaninstitute.com/Dream.htm
Mans division and discourse kills and stills hopes, faith and dreams. As both parties elected there candidates: one Democrat and one Republican our civil liberties were allowed to be activated. As a nation, each of us were given a right to vote our hearts, our conscious and our convictions—either candidate confirmed to be up for the task via their credentials and near impeccable public service throughout their lifetime. However, one of the biggest misconceptions is that individuals makes kings and kingdoms; a verse in the bible confirms, “He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning”. Daniel 2:21

Vote! Politics and Society: A History Lesson by Sue Grace

Let’s play a game of Historical Anachronism. Pretend, for a moment, that we don’t have a Presidential/VP ticket. Pretend, instead, that all the candidates run for President and that the top voter-getter wins the top office, the one with the second-highest number of votes wins the Vice Presidency. The combinations are interesting to consider: President Sarah Palin and Vice President Barack Obama. President Joe Biden and Vice President John McCain. Or how about a tie between John McCain and Sarah Palin that is decided by a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives?

These various scenarios entered my head while reading the book “Adams versus Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800”, by John Ferling. The resulting election crisis led a few years later to passage and ratification of the 12th Amendment, requiring that presidential electors vote separately for president and vice president.

In the election of 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson ran against President John Adams. Jefferson teamed up with Aaron Burr, a former New York Attorney General, State Senator and Republican organizer. The Republicans identified Jefferson as their pick for president and Burr for Vice President. Four years before, Jefferson ran for president, placed second and served as Adam’s Vice President, though they came from two different parties.

Voting was an arduous process in the early days of the Republic. Election polls were few in number, requiring in some cases, two-day trips to vote. The country had a patch work quilt of different election laws, some of which didn’t call for secret ballots. In some parts, voting was done orally. And voting was prohibited, not just for women and blacks but, in some areas, Catholics, Jews and Indians. State legislators voted for presidential electors in nine states. In the others, they were chosen by popular vote.

Adams campaigned more successfully than other members of his party. But when the electoral votes were counted, he came in third in a field of five, with 65 votes. Jefferson and Burr were tied at 73 a piece. Because there was no clear winner, the Constitution required the House of Representatives to make the choice.

For four months, despite several roll call votes, the House remained deadlocked. Republicans feared Federalists would simply refuse to allow the transfer of the presidency to the other party. As March 4 approached (the original Inauguration date), threats of mob violence, and even Civil War, began to spread. Governor James Monroe of Virginia ordered the state militia to guard the arsenal so that the weapons stored there wouldn’t fall into Federalist hands.

Finally, Federalist Congressman James Bayard of Delaware offered to abstain from voting. Suspicions immediately emerged, that he had made a deal with Jefferson to soften the Republican agenda. Historians have given credence to these arguments based on Jefferson’s policies and decisions while in office.

So with the vote of one congressman, crisis was avoided and peaceful transfer of governance was made possible, a rare accomplishment at that time in history.

Health & Wellness: Retreat & Rejuvenate by Sue Grace

If I could pack a bag, throw it in the back of my car and head down the road for my ideal vacation, I would probably end up on an isolated Pacific Coast shoreline where I could hear sea lions barking and waves crashing and where the scenery is like something out of a sports car advertisement.
Instead, this summer I ended up in a less exotic, but beautiful, vacation spot along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in my hometown, Milwaukee. I found it restful and renewing; my husband, however, dragged his working world with him, complete with laptop and cell phone, mentally staying in his office-away-from-his-office for much of our trip.
His experience of our “vacation” is truly American. As a nation, we take less time off than workers in most other industrialized countries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 25 percent of American workers don’t receive paid vacation. And many who do skip the time off and bankroll the extra pay. Others skip it to avoid dealing with the piles of paperwork and backlog of emails they would face upon their return. Or, like my husband, they take “pseudo vacations.”
The devaluation of leisure has led to higher levels of stress among workers, and subsequently, cardiovascular problems. A Farmington Health Study, which examined women’s responses to questionnaires over a 20-year period, found that those who vacationed once every six years were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than women who vacationed at least twice per year. Another nine-year study of 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found that those who didn’t take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from heart attack by 32 percent.
Vacation offers what is called “a respite effect.” Try out some of these ideas to provide a respite from the grind of daily living.
Electronics-free zones
· Pick a location that makes it easy to tune out. The Sheraton Hotel in Chicago has developed the “BlackBerry Check-In Program.” Guests who turn-over their PDAs are rewarded with various freebees such as complimentary dinners and free or upgraded accommodations.
· Find isolated, scenic destinations that make it easy to disconnect. One of my personal favorites is Chiricahua National Monument. Located in southeastern Arizona, the natural beauty of its rocky spires is greatly enhanced by its peace and quiet. Only dedicated nature lovers will travel to this remote location.
Retreat & Rejuvenate
· Try a retreat. Retreats provide the perfect environment for reflection and meditation. “Retreats are a means to look within ourselves in stillness and silence, to locate what may be missing in our lives…”, writes Lani Luciano in “Where the Spirit Moves You.”. Whether for spiritual renewal or for personal growth, retreat opportunities are abundantly available and very popular with Americans. The website Findthedevine.com is a good source of information on the subject.
· Add physical activity to your vacation. How about bicycling through Sonoma’s wine country? Or white water rafting on the Colorado River? Adding a physical element adds to your ability to truly relax and unwind. Once you get your heart working in the fresh air and sunshine, it is hard not to let go of one’s troubles, if only for a few days!

Inspiration: Walking Meditation by Shavawn M. Berry

I first experienced the meditative peace of walking during the eighteen months I lived with my mother after my father’s death. My friend Cathleen and I walked the wooded pathways of a nearby park three times a week. We did it for exercise, but also saw it as a chance to talk freely about our lives. It deepened our connection, got our hearts pumping, and cleared our minds; however, it is the solace that came from those walks that has stayed with me ever since.
Whatcom Falls Park, where we took our walks, is full of ancient evergreen trees. Its woods are home to ravens, spotted owl, deer, squirrels, and a plethora of wild birds. We usually took the same route each day, crossing down to the entrance of the park, and then heading for the duck pond. Once in a while I brought bread to feed the ducks, and a large scramble of mallards and their ducklings immediately surrounded the waters in front of me, begging and squawking as bread sailed through the air. Occasionally, even a seagull who had flown up from Bellingham Bay several miles away, joined in the fun. After we fed the birds, we’d head down a pathway that led deep into the park, crossing a small bridge over Whatcom Creek to get into a large cathedral of trees that felt like sacred ground to me.
Crossing under that thicket of trees, sunlight spattering the ground, birds calling in the distance — there was nothing that could have offered me more in terms of assuaging my grief over my father’s death, and the other losses that coincided with it, including the break-up of a long term relationship with my boyfriend. It was almost as though the trees knew me, knew my sorrows, and offered themselves as living examples of how to endure. That’s why I love trees — everything from mesquite to saguaro to willow to redwood. They endure. Barring interference from human beings, most trees will outlive us. They were here before we were born, and they will likely be standing with their branches touching the sky on the day each one of us dies. The act of walking in any natural setting — whether a state park, a mountain trail, or through someplace urban and lovely like the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix — allows us to reconnect with silence, with God, with the sound of our footsteps and heartbeat, with spirituality, and with the slow grace that accompanies peace.
Walking in nature is a meditative act. Nature can truly be a balm for whatever ails us.
I remember walking through grief. I remember the way the sky looked through an umbrella of tangled branches. I remember the sound of the river and coming face-to-face with my ability to continue living, even in the face of a very real death.
In our society’s quick worship of the automobile, some people have never had the very real pleasure of taking a walk. Try it. Go down to the promenade at Tempe Town Lake or to Papago State Park. Walk at dawn or by moonlight. Reconnect with your inner life and find out how healing a walk in nature can be.

Mind & Soul: Spiritual Rejuvenation Through Prayer by Elaine Yoshikawa

The benefits of prayer are numerous. The act of prayer lifts us up, enriches our souls, opens our hearts, and brings us back to a conscious relationship with God (whatever you conceive God to be). In her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux says: “prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy. It has a supernatural grandeur which expands the soul and unites it with God.” When prayer originates from the depths of our hearts, it is an act of love, and all acts of authentic love rejuvenate the spirit.
This is why prayer is so important. It reminds us that we are part of something universal and that we are more than what external circumstances may indicate. In the depths of our inner being, we can encounter God who infuses us with life, breath and spirit, who renews us with His eternal presence. We can experience His divine love by accessing the deep stillness within our own being for “prayer is essentially standing face to face with God, consciously striving to remain collected and absolutely still and attentive in his presence, which means standing with an undivided mind, an undivided heart and an undivided will in the presence of the Lord...” (Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh)

There are as many types of prayers as ways to pray. St. Climacus suggests that we choose any prayer, long or short, and that we repeat the prayer slowly and deliberately, with full attention on every word. As is often the case, when the mind wanders, gently redirect the attention back to the prayer. If the words you are presenting to God are not fully attended, they are not fully possessed by you, and thus, they are not yours to give as a true offering to God. You should offer to God in prayer, only what is genuinely yours.
Thomas Keating in Open Mind Open Heart writes: “prayer is not only the offering of interior acts to God: it is the offering of ourselves, of who and what we are.” In other words, in prayer we offer all that we are to God. We pray not with words alone, but with our entire being. In contemplative prayer, in which “the Spirit prays in us and we consent,” we can experience the essence of all prayers—union with God. At this level of prayer, there is no intermediary, there is no separate will – there is only God or Spirit. The individual in prayer disappears, and it is God praying through us. In this way, God gives to us, transforms us, and deepens our relationship with Him.
In the end, when we pray, we are giving and receiving through an act of pure love. As a result, the mind, soul and spirit are refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.
Elaine Yoshikawa, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Philosophy at ASU, Polytechnic Campus. Her current research interests are: Virtue Ethics, Christian Ethics, Buddhist Ethics, and Happiness.

Scribbling Down Your Trials and Tribulations by Mary Powell

When most people think of relaxation, they envision themselves sitting next to a pool with a cool Pina Colada in one hand and a Danielle Steele novel in the other. But, what most people don’t envision is sitting and typing at one’s computer; however, this can be quite therapeutic and rewarding.
Journaling can be used as a means of relaxation and therapy. Recording stressful encounters and pent up emotions helps a person clarify and alleviate feelings that would typically stress them out. For example, recording a stressful occurrence regarding a family member or work situation can help you reassess the situation and place it into perspective. I find that while I journal, my emotions feel expurgated, as if a weight of burden has been lifted off of me. I try to envision my stress being physically transferred from my thoughts onto a sheet of paper or into the computer so that the burden is literally released.
Journaling to soothing music, or describing a peaceful photograph or painting also serves as a relaxing activity. Describing the peaceful imagery of trees, plants and other rejuvenating scenes allows you to feel transported into a stress free plane. Writing about interesting quotes also helps to serve as a therapeutic journaling exercise. Choosing a quote on a theme that may be a source of stress, such as friendship or family can allow for you to think about that experience, and release pent up emotions. Quotes of empowerment can also provide you with an encouraging writing topic.
Research shows that journaling has several health benefits, including decreased symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It also improves cognitive functioning and strengthens the immune system. One word of caution, if you are using journaling as a means of relaxation do not be too concerned about writing a perfect piece of prose or perfect penmanship as journaling can then become a means of stress. Also, when recording negative feelings it is important to add thoughts of encouragement to yourself, as well as the positive aspects of the situation so that the writing experience is not a negative, stressful one (Scott about.com).
Many women like knitting, sewing or scrap- booking as stress alleviating hobbies. But next time, try journaling instead. In the fast paced world of instant messaging, texting, My Space and blogging, you just may be surprised at how relaxing it feels to scribble down your day’s trials and tribulations.