Monthly Archives: June 2014

Abundance

Matthew 13: 11 & 12 states: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”

These verses had confused me for years. It sounds so unfair and certainly not my idea of what a Good God would do to anybody. It took a long time for me to understand the full import of these verses.

IT IS ALL A MATTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND UNDERSTANDING.

Consciousness is a big word that translates into: What are you thinking about and emotionalizing over?

Are you concentrating on what you DO NOT HAVE or grateful for WHAT YOU DO HAVE? Do you feel a sense of LOSS? Are you CONFUSED?

Separating emotions multiply exponentially – the more you dwell on them, the worse it gets. Bad things happen, but the more you dwell on them, the more it continues to occur. CHAOS REIGNS SUPREME!

Yes, abundance of the bad stuff that occurs is definitely not a goal for anyone, knowingly.

Many believe that SCARCITY RULES — If you have something, then someone else does not have it. In short, there is not enough to go around. It is not a matter of doing without while someone else enjoys a nice home, great clothes and jewelry, perhaps maid service or a private jet to travel the world. Actually, it is a matter of looking at your life and your choices and being happy with what gifts God has given to you. Envying others is a road that leads to nowhere. Yes, there are many others who have so much more than I will ever own, yet I truly enjoy my life and my possessions, whatever they are. Years ago, we were burglarized, and I lost many of my favorite pieces of jewelry which can never be replaced. It was a lesson to me to truly enjoy what I do have, and do not worry about anything else. If some good fortune comes our way and we change where and how we live, I will be just as happy. If it does not happen, I have lost nothing. You see, we always have enough and to spare and to share. God’s world is one of abundance for everyone – mankind creates shortages, wars, power struggles, etc. If one gets in touch with the idea that God provides OUR DAILY BREAD, the struggle ends. Daily Bread in Jesus’ time means everything that you need, not just bread, literally. Is that idea new to you? Ponder it, for it is a gem of the most precious worth to you.

So, are you one of those who HATH? Good for you! Or are you a HATH NOT? It says you will continue to lose ground.

Your heart and mind are a mated pair – not separated. What influences one changes both. If the LOVE you feel for self and others is a part of every moment of every day, guess what multiplies? However, if you CONDEMN yourself or others for any reason, it diminishes you and them as well. Which do you want to promulgate? The choice is yours to make.

Have you ever noticed a Dandelion that has gone to seed, or watched their seeds as they drift on the wind? That is the principle of abundance in action. You can see it everywhere in nature as things go to seed, getting ready for a new season. You, too, can do this. Just take a look at your consciousness and see what needs to change. Are you willing?

God’s blessings upon your journey!

Dandelion = Abundance of Seeds

Dandelion = Abundance of Seeds

Nature's Abundance in Action

Nature’s Abundance in Action

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Is Your SEED Being Spread?

Matthew 13: 3-9, 18-23 states: “And he spake many things unto them in parables saying, ‘Behold a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’

‘Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’ ”

So, I ask you, which type of soil are you? Is your heart and mind open, ready for the good seed of words, thoughts, and deeds so that they may multiply? Or are you caught up in the daily vicissitudes of wear and tear, lack of money, somebody else got promoted instead of you, you see a gorgeous dress and know you cannot charge another item on your credit card because it is maxed out, etc.? Daily circumstances can wear you out to the core, creating lots of negative emotions and very few positive ones.

Words cannot help much with the stony places in your life, especially if you focus on what is NOT WORKING WELL.  The heat of the sun is living your life every day, trying to do your best – yet you are experiencing strong feelings of being OVERWHELMED and even HOPELESS. Each one of these feelings becomes a stone, impeding your growth and happiness.

The good ground is someone who, in spite of negative happenings, can press on and believe that things will get better. It may take time to unfold, but the possibility of change is enough to spur on that person as he/she seeks to know more and grow. How about you? Could you cultivate a better soil in you by slowing down, breathing deeper, meditate, do yoga, pray, or any other idea that occurs to you, like take a class, a workshop, or anything that will address the problems that exist in your life right now?

In Matthew 13:10 & 13-16, it states: “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?”

It continues: “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”

Do you have ears that hear? Do your eyes really see? That indicates a connection with the brain so that it begins to think about what is heard. Have you ever talked to a child or teenager, knowing that they do not hear a word you speak? You have to first get their attention, which involves the Hippocampus at the base of the brain. If you can get their attention (like take away their game boy,  electronic gadget, or turn off the computer, etc.), you can actually communicate. How about you? Is your mind so busy with all of the things on your To-Do-List, or other consuming ideas that you cannot be calm, quiet, and peaceful? Check your breathing. If your upper chest is breathing up and out instead of deep breathing from your stomach area, you are stressed out and in need of a change. Do you understand with your HEART? Only you can answer that question.

This is the time of the Summer Solstice and rebirth. You can see it all around you: The ducks and ducklings; geese and goslings, birds and baby birds, etc. Do you want a new beginning for you as well? You can have it every single day if you so choose.

Life does, indeed, happen, You are the only one who can see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and understand with your heart. Are you willing to take whatever action is needed to get off the merry-go-round of your daily life?  Think about your soil and the seeds. What is it you really want? Only you can answer that question.

God’s blessings upon your journey.

Baby Mallards

Baby Mallards

Baby Goslings

Baby Goslings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regret

Here is an article from Dr. Wayne Dyer with so many good points in it that it is worthy of reposting:

 

Here is an article by my daughter, Serena:

10 Tips For Raising Your Child In A Spiritual Way
Lessons Learned From My Father, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

1. Don’t Die with Your Music Still in You
Serena: There’s something I have heard my father say too many times to count: “You will never regret what you do in life; you will only regret what you don’t do.” Everything I have ever done has taught me something, whether it worked out or not. Sometimes the takeaway is simply knowing what I don’t want. Notice whether you are moving toward or away from what excites you. If you pay attention and let yourself be guided by your intuition, you won’t have to worry about dying with your music inside of you.

2. Have a Mind That Is Open to Everything and Attached to Nothing
Wayne: We become what we think about all day long—this is one of the greatest secrets that so many people are unaware of as they live out their life’s mission. What we think about is the business of our minds. If that inner invisibleness called our mind is closed to new ideas and infinite possibilities, it is equivalent to killing off the most important aspect of our very humanity. A mind that is open and unattached to any one particular way of being or living is like having an empty container that can allow new and endless possibilities to enter and be explored.

3. You Can’t Give Away What You Don’t Have
Serena: It may seem impossible now, but one day, we’ll all look back at the storms we have weathered and give a silent thank you. For many of us, it is the storms of our lives that have given us compassion, kindness, and gentleness that we otherwise may not have known—and that we can now give away to others, because they are inside of us.

4. Embrace Silence
Wayne: I have long known the wisdom inherent in the ancient aphorism, “It’s the silence between the notes that makes the music.” This is a truth that both my wife Marcelene and I attempted to convey to all of our children as we sought to make our home a temple of serenity and peace, amidst all of the activity of a large family. Everything emerges out of the silence.

5. Give Up Your Personal History
Serena: Our personal history is all the things in our background that keep us the same. If more of the same is not what we want, we have to let go of our history. When we do, we let go of all the beliefs we’ve had about ourselves—beliefs which may not even be true. In letting go of the past, you may find that you’re able to be more alive in the present. If you don’t like where you are in life, then you must change your way of thinking.

6. You Can’t Solve a Problem with the Same Mind That Created It
Wayne: I would regularly remind the children that their concept of themselves is nothing more than all of the things that they believe to be true. And if what they believe to be true is helping them to create situations in which they are unhappy or even unhealthy, they are then challenged to change what they have unwaveringly held on to as an absolute truth. This is very difficult for most people to do, and this is why so many stay stuck, because they would rather be right than happy.

7. There Are No Justified Resentments
Serena: Growing up, there was a five letter word beginning with a “b” that we were not allowed to say or use. No, I’m not talking about bitch; the real bad word in our household was blame. Dad has a zero-tolerance policy for resentment. He simply wouldn’t allow any of us to place blame on anyone or anything other than ourselves. Freedom comes in forgiveness and letting go. When you free yourself of your past resentments, you release yourself of the worry of the future.

8. Treat Yourself as If You Already Are What You’d Like to Be
Wayne: The greatest gift that any of us are granted is the gift of our imagination. Every single thing that now exists was once imagined, and the corollary of this assertion is that everything that is ever going to exist in the future must first be imagined. In my role as a father and a teacher I felt it was incumbent upon me to help my children understand and apply the phenomenal implications of this basic notion. “If you want to accomplish anything, you must first be able to expect it of yourself.”

9. Treasure Your Divinity
Serena: When we were little, my brothers and sisters and I were taught by our parents that God resided within each of us; that our divinity was not something we needed to go out and look for. Instead, we would find it when we looked within.

10. Wisdom Is Avoiding All Thoughts That Weaken You
Wayne: All I wanted for my sons and daughters, and all of those who read my books and attended my lectures, was to realize that they could always choose a thought that would empower them, as opposed to ones that make them fragile and weak. This is one of the greatest lessons we can all use each and every day of our lives: wisdom is avoiding all thoughts which weaken you. Or as the children heard me say so many times, “Your life is a product of all of the choices that you have made, so choose well.”

For some other lessons I learned from my father, read our book, Don’t Die With Your Music Still In You (http://www.hayhouse.com/don-t-die-with-your-music-still-in-you-1).

Read and Heed! 🙂   God’s blessings on your journey!

 

Are You Building Your House Upon the Sand?

Matthew 7:24-27 states: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

This Biblical story is now thousands of years old, yet it can guide us in our lives today because it is a story about CHOICES and VALUES. Think about it. What did you have for breakfast today? When did you get up? Why did you get out of bed? What are your plans for the day? Are you going to be a couch potato, or is it time for a family outing? Do you want a beer or a cup of coffee?

LIFE HAPPENS A MOMENT AT A TIME. THE CHOICES YOU MAKE, BASED ON YOUR VALUES, WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE, EACH AND EVERY DAY!

The sayings are, of course, WORDS, and the rock is your BELIEF SYSTEM. It is more than what Jesus taught. It is, in fact, how you live your daily life. Your BELIEF SYSTEM is more than going to church every Sunday or whenever the Church door opens. It is more than what your pastor, preacher, Rabbi,  priest, or Holy Man says. IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT THEY SAY THAT MATTERS.

Are you doing ARK’s (Acts of Random Kindness)? Are you acting in a caring manner with your coworkers, family, friends, acquaintances, and the local confused sales clerk? Or are you spewing forth unthinking words just because the milk got spilled all over,  a mate does something you do not like,  a clumsy child breaks something, or a sales clerk rings something up incorrectly? The point is: WHAT YOU SAY AND DO EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY MATTERS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM IN MOTION — IT IS BRINGING YOUR VALUES INTO REALITY.

John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This is more than a casual verse. It brings the importance to light of: WHAT WORDS YOU SPEAK ARE VITAL TO WHICH HOUSE YOU CHOOSE TO BUILD! Your actions will follow your words and thoughts!

If you think that words and actions do not matter, you are literally “BUILDING YOUR HOUSE UPON THE SAND!” Do you feel like you are on a treadmill, going nowhere fast? Every day is like all the others. Money goes out faster than it comes in. There is always more month left and no money to live on. CHAOS RULES! IT PROPAGATES ITSELF SO FAST THAT YOU CANNOT FIND THE OFF BUTTON! Confusion is the order of every day. Priorities change constantly. Perhaps you have great intentions in the morning, but by the evening you just collapse on the couch and turn the TV on, glad the day is over.

SYNERGY OCCURS AT ALL LEVELS. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU BRING ABOUT! Do you ever ask yourself, “How is it I am thinking? Are my emotions running away with me? Is my anger a realistic reaction to the circumstances, or is it not commensurate with the situation?” Questions like these could begin to turn the tide of every day for the rest of your life. You see, questions indicate a change is possible – then the answers will come to you, teaching you what you need to do differently. The answers will come in many forms: Books, classes, workshops, preachers, teachers, etc. Your Spirit will recognize your answer because you asked the question in the first place. I actually write down my questions and then the answers when they come, dating them for fun. I have enjoyed watching the changes unfold. Are you willing to try it?

The house Jesus was talking about is your Spirit, which is inside of you. The sayings He was talking about is all the good, positive stuff which can help you make changes and have a better life. If you choose to follow the negative thoughts and emotions, your SYNERGY is stifled, no real changes in your life can be experienced,  and CHAOS RULES THE DAY! SYNERGY THEN MULTIPLIES THE BAD STUFF! Is that what you want…more of the same yuck?

It is your choice: WHICH HOUSE WILL YOU CHOOSE: BUILD IT ON ROCK OR ON SAND? Your words and actions are the expression of your POWER OF CHOICE IN MOTION. The power to make changes in your life is held solely in your own hands…nobody else can do it for you.

Kahlil Gibran stated: “If your garden is to be lit, it is you who must do it.”

God’s blessing on your journey!

Light on Poppies

Light on Poppies

Rose in the Light

Rose in the Light

 

Growth Happens From The Inside To the Outside

As you watch the trees, Growth Happens From the Inside To the Outside. Some of the bark peels off, but enough of it stays to add to the tree ring which scientists use to tell the age of the tree. Each ring represents a year of life for that tree. The tree draws sustenance from its root system, the sap, and the leaves, which use photosynthesis to feed the tree. No matter how little the tree is or how big, the above holds true.

So, if you were a tree, what would your ring look like? How is your root system? How do you nourish yourself? Would you be a healthy tree, or a spindly sapling?

Your root system is your beliefs. The Religion you espouse yourself to be is a belief system.  Do you live your beliefs? Or is it a Sunday only kind of thing? Is it a healthy one, or not?

The Aspen trees can become quite big. Yet, when you look at their root system, it is very shallow and small. A strong wind can blow it over.

When you look at a Maple tree, its root system is huge and can be up to 1-1/2 times its height.  Strong winds may break off a branch, but not the tree.

Cottonwoods can become rather large. Yet they rot and deteriorate from the inside. When the winds blow them over or break them, they are hollow inside.

Which tree would you want to be most like? Are your beliefs so strong that, though strong winds of life may blow, you are able to bend with the wind and not break? Or is it shallow and built on what others have told you for years? Have you put to use the words so they become part of your story? Or do they lie fallow, like a field that is not planted?

Do you sometimes feel hollow inside? Perhaps you are unsure of yourself and lack confidence in your decision-making capability. Perhaps you have low self esteem, established when others told you that you did not measure up. Believe it or not, these are repairable. You are not doomed to be that way forever.

The sap of the tree is likened to your mind chatter. How is it you are thinking? This is what feeds your tree. Are you sometimes poisoning your tree by condemning yourself for some shortcoming, either perceived or real? Self condemnation is the biggest inhibitor to growth and change that exists.

The leaves are your daily actions, which generate life-giving, spirit-lifting moments and experiences. Do you take action mindfully or do you just slop along, doing what you do without enthusiasm? What do your leaves look like? Are they vibrant and colorful or wilting and sad?

Together, all of these analogies speak to someone who is enjoying their life, whatever that looks like. The trees I speak of are whole beings, and so are you. One cannot take just one element of it and have it survive. It takes the entire system in order to be complete.

Jesus talked many times of ATONEMENT. What if you were to break it apart into AT-ONE-MENT? Would it mean something entirely new to you?

The winds of life come at us every day in varying force and velocity. How you tend to your tree (yourself) will determine how you can survive it, learn from it, and go forth with a happy heart.

Are you willing to look at the elements of your tree: Is your belief system firmly rooted, able to guide you come what may? Do you control your mind chatter, directing it wisely into good channels of thought,  or does it control you, dictating to you about every detail of your existence? Are your daily actions mindfully and thoughtfully directed or willy-nilly, being blown every which direction?

Take hope. You can use the power of CHOICE and begin to learn to change whatever you think you need to. Books, teachers, workshops, preachers, etc., can all play a part in your growth. Once you DECIDE to implement some new directions in your life, the LAW OF ATTRACTION will come into play. SERENDIPITY and SYNCHRONICITY will unleash their powers for you.

Are you willing to take a close look at your personal tree of life in order to determine if changes are needed? Is the Status Quo good enough for you? Are you willing to live the way you do for the rest of your life? Only you can answer that question.

Rest assured that growth does, indeed, happen from the inside to the outside of you!

God’s blessings upon your journey!

Colorful Trees

Colorful Trees

Colorful Leaves

Colorful Leaves

 

 

 

 

 

Inside vs. Outside

When you are looking for answers or you have questions that need responses, where do you start? That sounds like a silly question, but it is vital to your personal and spiritual growth.

The very beginning of wisdom begins with a personal relationship with your Creator. Every religion in the world begins here for every person.

When I open my eyes  every morning, I say a prayer before my feet ever touch the floor: “Good morning, Lord! Thank you for this blessed day. I know that you will be with me every minute, unfolding my highest good before me. Take my hand, this day, and guide me. Amen!” Then I mentally take my Father’s hand, just like a trusting child, and begin my day. (By the way, if I ever turn loose of His hand during the day through negative emotions, I have to turn loose of them and reach for His hand again, trusting that all will turn out OK.)

You might ask why that is important. My answer? I know I am not alone, ever (that is, unless I choose to cling to negative emotions).

When I am seeking answers, need information, or just confused about some matter, I either write it down or ask the Universe to provide my needed responses. It comes in the form of a magazine article that I just happened to pick up, or someone sends me an email, or I become aware of just what I need to know, or a spiritual teacher comes into my life (in many forms, I might add).

Some religions call this: The Law of Attraction    OR What you think about, you bring about!

The difference between the INSIDE vs. OUTSIDE approach is that countless numbers of people seek answers from those outside, trusting them before one’s own insight is utilized. Many seek the advice of psychic readers, Tarot cards, talking with friends, teachers, preachers, Personal Growth Speakers and Workshops, gurus, Holy Men, Wise Men, Elders, etc. My point is that inside of you, you have a guitar string that resonates to your inner being and its growth. If you receive information from outside of you, give it the guitar string test: If it resonates, your highest good is being blessed.

This probably seems like an outer space idea, at first, if you have never resonated before. My example is that I was in Harper’s Ferry just wondering around on my own for a few minutes. I heard some notes of music coming from a store. I walked in, asked the sales clerk what the music was, she answered, “Danny Wright’s ‘Time Windows.’ ” I walked over to the rack, picked it up, and turned to go to the cash register. A lady stopped me by asking, “Excuse me, but you just walked in, found out what was playing, and now you are buying it. How did you do that? I have been here for two solid hours, listening to these. I still do not know which one to buy. How do you know you will like it?” I responded, “My inner Spirit just began waltzing the second I heard it. I know I will love it for always!” She, of course, looked at me like I was a lunatic. I smiled at her, turned to the cashier, bought it, and walked out. Of course, Danny Wright has many wonderful works out now, but that one was my first experience, and it was not being sold in Colorado for a long time. I still love his music.

If I did not resonate, I could never have done that.

Resonating comes in the form of words as well: Books, Preachers, Teachers, Wise Men, Gurus, etc. All of these are outside sources. My point is that, when I resonate to these words, I am forming a relationship with them, making them my own. They become part of who I am.

People can be seekers, going from a book, to a teacher, to a class, etc., accumulating knowledge all the while, but they never ask: How can I use this? How does this apply to me? What will I change because of this new piece of information? It never becomes part of their being, used, contemplated, and cherished.

It is like three blind men trying to describe an elephant: One has hold of its leg, saying, “It is like a tree trunk!”; one has hold of its tail, saying, “It is like a snake!”‘ one has hold of its trunk, saying, “It is like a rope!” They are all correct from their point of view, but the concept of an elephant has truly eluded them.

Some people accept words of an Authority Figure, which could be anyone that person holds in high regard or who they feel has power over them, and blindly follow whatever they dictate or whoever is interpreting their ideas. There have been many famous and infamous figures throughout history who prove this, including Jesus, the Pope, Dalai Lama, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Confucius, Mohammed,  John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Plato, Plotinus, Aristotle, Hitler, Stalin, David Koresh, Jim Jones of Jonestown, Billy the Kid, Geronimo,  etc. The list is endless. It can be anybody whom one places their trust in or who they feel subservient to. In inner cities where gangs rule, guess who is dictating to others? You know who it is. This idea can be applied to a manipulative Preacher as easily as it can be anyone you put ahead of your good common sense, your Inner Guide, and your resonator. Wars have been fought for thousands of years and continue today because people give up their personal power to someone else.

You might say: “I cannot control the world. All I can do is make decisions for me.” PRECISELY!

You can be a seeker and travel the world, looking for completeness outside of yourself. Lots of luck with that one.

Or you can begin with the personal questions that you need answers to. Write them down. Ask your Creator to teach you what you need to know to understand how to RESONATE to an inner guitar string so you can hear it when it twangs, be it music, words, books, teachers, or friends. Make it your very own music. Create your very own symphony inside of you. This will guide you to the end of your days.

The only question is: Are you willing? God is the Potter, and you are the Clay. In order to change your reality, it must begin inside of you. It is your choices in action.

God’s blessing on your journey!

 

 

 

What Does Enough Look Like?

The only question you need to ask yourself in your daily grind of life is: What does enough look like? Are you trying to buy a new house and need money for a down payment? Is your car falling apart, and it is necessary in order for you to work, go to college, or fetch the kids from school? Did you just see a necklace that just put a yearning in your soul to own something that gorgeous?

I could go on with many examples of the materialism that pervades our society today, world-wide.

There was a man in China, sitting on the curb with his family, with each one eating a Colonel Sander’s Kentucky Fried Chicken meal. He was asked how long he had to work to earn the money to purchase the meal. His answer? One week. He was very happy to do it.

So, how much of the money that you spend daily actually brings you a feeling of joy and happiness?

Most of us know that, in this economy, the money is spent before it ever arrives. There is also a lot of month left and not enough money to go around.

Could you step back a moment from your daily tasks to look at the long term of it all?

Have you ever asked yourself the key question: What does enough look like?

It is a key to prioritizing not only your money, how you spend it, and your long term goals, but also your time. How much of that precious commodity do you exchange for working to earn the money?

How long will you have to work? Must you work forever in order to maintain your current life style? Are you willing to change it so you can retire sooner and live on less income?

It is a fact of life that the more money you earn, the more you spend. Your expectations and choices change as you move up the ladder of success. It is almost imperceptible if you are not carefully monitoring your choices.

Many people are familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which is in the shape of a pyramid. The base is Physiological needs: Air, water, food, clothing, shelter, and human sexual instinct. Next comes Safety needs: Security of body, employment, financial resources, of morality, family, health and property. Then comes Love/Belonging: Friendship, Intimacy and Family connections. The next level is Esteem, which is about your personal self-esteem and self-respect, confidence, achievement, respect of others and from others. At the top is Self-actualization: morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. Maslow believed that, in order to understand this level, all of the previous levels must be mastered. Of course, there are no strict lines between these areas as they are interrelated instead of sharply separated . Many levels can be experienced at any time as they are closely related.

My point is that, beyond the need of a roof over your head and food in your stomach, a coat to wear if it is cold and shoes for your feet, a safe and warm place to sleep, water, and perhaps a little loving, what more do you need? Must the apparel have a great name like Prada or Gucci? Do you need a Penthouse? Must you have an  “arm candy” woman at your side as you stroll through a fancy restaurant, reveling in the looks you get? What kind of car are you driving? Is it good transportation or a fabulous vehicle? The answers to all of these questions are determined by your choices, one day at a time.

You can go up the ladder of needs, and think about what they mean to you. How much of your energy does it require to live at the level you have attained?

Life is so very precious, and no one knows how long one has. Are you willing to ask yourself sincerely: WHAT DOES ENOUGH LOOK LIKE?

Your answers could affect the rest of your life here on Planet Earth. You alone must determine your priorities and choices.

God’s blessings on your journey!