Month: September 2010

George Gurdjieff on Freedom and Self Development

Here is a quote from George Gurdjieff talking about the importance, significance, and urgency with which must address our self-development. The final line is very reminiscent of the Buddha’s aphorism that, “The problem is that you think you have time.”

He also astutely reminds us that freedom is the the best environment to pursue our goals of self-awareness. How true.

“We must strive for freedom if we strive for self-knowledge. The task of self-knowledge and of further self-development is of such importance and seriousness, it demands such intensity of effort, that to attempt it any old way and amongst other things is impossible. The person who undertakes this task must put it first in his life, which is not so long that he can afford to squander it on trifles.”

~ George Gurdjieff

Stay inspired!

Ray

The Power to Be You for iPad

The Hero Within

Today’s Affirmation:

When I feel helpless I remember I AM powerful. When I feel weak I remember I AM strong!

superman_superheroSome may see it as cliche to talk in terms of the hero within. After all, we have a tendency to overuse words like hero and dilute their meaning. However, I really want you to embrace this idea that a hero lives within you. Every person reading this is disguised all day like Clark Kent just waiting for your phone booth moment to arrive.

We are inundated by the idea that soldiers, firefighters, and police officers are heroes. No question, they are heroes. Yet, I would argue that the seeds of heroism lie within each of us. The single parent raising several successful children is a hero. The person who works for peace daily is a hero. The person who shares a kind word with someone who needs it is a hero too.

Here are seven characteristics of a hero to help you see the moments in your life when you are one.

  1. The hero’s work may be great or small. It does not always change the world. Sometimes it just changes the moment.
  2. The hero’s work is everywhere he or she goes all day long. The hero is always looking for those phone booth moments to step forward and shine.
  3. The hero may deserve or even get the credit, but the hero does not do it for the credit.
  4. The hero puts the good of the team ahead of his or her own good. The hero knows his or her work is bigger than self.
  5. The hero sees beyond appearances and gets to what is real and true; choosing to live there.
  6. The hero knows that criticism and blame comes with the territory and is careful never to associate himself or herself with either.
  7. You are a hero. Plain and simple, you are. Let that part of you come to the surface at every opportunity.

The hero you are waiting for IS waiting for you in the mirror.

Follow your bliss. Experience your bliss. Become your bliss!

Ray

Hey, have you checked out the TAS YouTube channel?

Countering Negative Beliefs About Our World

Today’s Affirmation:

I believe in humanity. I believe in our potential. I believe our best days lie ahead!

A character in George Bernard Shaw’s play Back to Methuselah stated, “Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?”

Robert F. Kennedy used a paraphrased version of the quote in his speeches. Kennedy said, “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”

Why not, indeed?

Why not is a very important question. It’s the question we should always ask ourselves when we believe something isn’t possible for us for our world.

The world has hundreds of negative premises on which it operates. They should and must be challenged by a good why not.

  • We cannot have leaders who truly listen and respond to the will of the people who entrust them with their power. Governments have always been that way. We cannot expect them to change. Why not?
  • We cannot be responsible stewards of the environment without massive government taxation and regulation to tell us how. Why not?
  • We cannot coexist and build communities with people we disagree with religiously, politically, or economically on this planet. Why not?
  • We cannot feed the people of this planet without worrying about who gets paid for it. Why not?
  • We cannot do everything possible to see that every human being has an opportunity to pursue his or her talents to their full extent. Why not?
  • We cannot have a successful economy that doesn’t involve war and conquest for ideology and resources. Humans have always done this. We can’t change it. Why not?
  • A company must always have a bigger share of its market pie. It cannot be satisfied with merely employing thousands of people, keeping its customers happy, and making a healthy profit. Why not?
  • We cannot have a debt-free money supply and a banking system that doesn’t practice usury. Why not?

Each and every one of these negative premises is to some extent damaging people in our world. They make it harder for people to live their lives and get the most possible out them. We need to be asking a BIG why not on these issues and many others.

Someone owes us an explanation as to why the positive opposites of these premises are not the path we need to be following. Some can be reversed through our own personal actions. Others will require the disentrenchment of the powerful interests that keep these premises afloat.

Let’s pull this back to the personal level. You have negative premises too. Negative premises that are holding you back from your goals. Fortunately, the only entrenched interest you have to overcome to address them is you. I know, not always as easy as it sounds.

You don’t have to go to all the trouble of listing your negative premises. You probably could not come up with all of them anyway. Simply become aware of them when they appear. They are going to sound like the following.

  • I can’t pass the math test.
  • I can’t go to college.
  • I can’t get a better paying job.
  • I can’t be the top salesperson.
  • I can’t be the best baseball player.
  • I can’t be world-class musician.
  • I can’t be a good mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather.

I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.

Every time you hear an “I can’t” come into your mind, you are establishing a negative premise. Whenever you recognize your mind formulating a negative premise stop and challenge yourself. Demand to know why you cannot do whatever it is you want to do.

When you begin to put this into practice you will see that dreaming things that never were and asking why not is a powerful tool for success.

Be positive Be peaceful Be prosperous!

Ray

Ray Davis is the Founder of The Affirmation Spot and focuses on empowering minds to think positively, achieve goals, and live dreams.

anunnaki_cover_full_colorHe is the author of the Anunnaki Awakening series (2015). Book 1 – Revelation – is now available in paperback and on Kindle. This trilogy takes Ancient Aliens out of the past and into the present. An interstellar, interdimensional journey ensues with humanity’s future hanging in the balance.