Will Hurricane Sandy Postpone November Election?

Will Hurricane Sandy Postpone November Election?:
WASHINGTON — One week before a close election, superstorm Sandy has confounded the presidential race, halted early voting in many areas and led some to ponder whether the election might even be postponed.
It could take days to restore electricity to more than 8 million homes and businesses that lost power when the storm pummeled the East Coast. That means it’s possible power could still be out in parts of some states on Election Day next Tuesday – a major problem for precincts that rely on electronic voting machines.
But as the storm breached the coast, even some of those intimately involved in the election seemed in the dark about what options are available to cope with the storm. Asked Monday whether President Barack Obama had the power to reschedule the election, White House press secretary Jay Carney said he wasn’t sure.
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Some questions and answers about what’s possible and not when it comes to reworking Election Day.
Q. Could the Nov. 6 election be changed?
A. Yes, but it’s highly unlikely, and it’s not up to the president. Congress sets the date for the presidential election – the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every fourth year. Congress could act within the next week to change the date, but that would be tough because lawmakers are on recess and back home in their districts campaigning for re-election. Plus, it’s likely that would mean changing the date for the entire country, not just those affected by the storm. What’s more, Congress only selects the date for federal races, so changing the date would wreak havoc for state and local elections also scheduled for Nov. 6. States might have to hold two separate days of voting, which could bust state budgets.
Q. What about pushing back the election just in some states?
A. It’s possible, but the legal issues get tricky. States, by and large, are in charge of their own elections. Each state has its own laws dealing with what to do if an emergency jeopardizes voting and who can make the call. Federal law says that if a state fails to conduct an election for federal races on the day Congress chooses, the state legislature can pick a later date. But state and federal laws don’t always jive perfectly. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has said his state’s laws don’t grant him authority to reschedule the presidential election.
Q. Have elections ever been postponed before?
A. Yes, but not on the presidential level. New York City was holding its mayoral primary when terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2001, and the city rescheduled the election. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana’s governor postponed municipal elections in New Orleans after elections officials said polling places wouldn’t be ready.
Q. Other than rescheduling the election, can anything else be done?
A. Voting hours could be extended at various locations. In places where electronic voting machines are in use, paper ballots could be used instead. Some areas also might choose to move polling locations if existing ones are damaged, inaccessible or won’t have power on Election Day.
Q. Would those options create any other problems?
A. Lots. If poll hours are extended, under a 2002 law passed by Congress in response to the disputed 2000 presidential election, any voters who show up outside of regular hours must use provisional ballots, which are counted later and could be challenged. Sandy’s impact was felt in some of the most competitive states in the presidential race, including Virginia and Ohio. The more provisional ballots that are cast, the greater the chances are that the winner won’t be known until days or even weeks after the election.
There’s another issue if poll hours are extended in some areas – such as counties with the worst storm damage – and not in others. That could prompt lawsuits under the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, said Edward Foley, an election law expert at The Ohio State University.
Relocating polling places is also risky because it could drive down turnout, said Neil Malhotra, a political economist at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. “If you disrupt their routine and the polling place they’ve always been going to, even if you don’t move it very far, they vote less,” he said.
Q. What is the federal government doing to help?
A. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s administrator, Craig Fugate, said Monday he anticipated the storm’s impact could linger into next week and affect the election. He said FEMA would look at what support it could provide to states before the election. “This will be led by the states,” he said.

When the Pursuit of Greatness Does More Harm Than Good

When the Pursuit of Greatness Does More Harm Than Good:

by Lori Deschene
“Seek not greatness, but seek truth and you will find both.” ~Horace Mann
You’re destined for greatness. Don’t settle for mediocrity. You can be extraordinary.
Have you ever heard one of these motivating statements? I see them all the time around the web, and while I understand the intention, I sometimes have mixed feelings about the implication.
We all want to make a difference in the world. We all want to make some kind of impact, both to contribute to mankind and to feel that our lives mean something.
It’s a great, big world out there, and at times it can feel like we don’t matter unless we’re doing something huge. We might even be tempted to label our lives as unworthy if we’re not doing something that garners attention and admiration.
This was the foundation of my early interest in performing. It wasn’t just that I loved expressing myself creatively, though I did; I’ve always had a wellspring of emotion that craved some type of artistic outlet.
It was more that I needed that feeling of standing above a crowd that was fixated on me. I desperately craved their approval and applause, their confirmation that I was a valuable person—that I was someone with talent.
Talent made me special. It made me stand out. When I held a microphone or moved center stage, I felt good about me.
But when the house lights came on at the end of the night, that feeling depended on whether or not I received verbal confirmation of my greatness. If another actor received more flowers or compliments, I feared that I wasn’t good enough.
This, right here, is what I dislike about the implication we can and should strive for greatness—it seems to imply that where we are right now isn’t already great.
And the race to be extraordinary, to me this just feeds into the type of thinking that suggests we need to stand out, to prove we’re somehow better than ordinary.
Now I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t try to make an impact on the world, or that we should stifle our energy or efforts in order to play small.
This isn’t a judgment that small is better than big, though clearly I’m a proponent of focusing on the tiny things.
It’s just that we tend to feel more satisfied in the big things we create over time if we’re not focusing on the whole, but rather the many enjoyable parts that create it.
And we tend to be more effective if we’re drawn by a meaningful motive, rather than the need to reach some level of achievement.
When we strive for greatness, we feel a sense that we need to make a difference someday.
When we focus on our purpose, we feel a sense that we can make a difference right now.
When we aim to be extraordinary, we can get caught up competing and comparing, as if what we’re doing isn’t good enough.
When we endeavor to be meaningful, we make choices based on what aligns with our intentions, and feel good about each step along the way.
When we try to avoid mediocrity, we focus on what we don’t want to be, and create fear and pressure to excel.
When we embrace our passion, we focus on what we do want to do, and create excitement that naturally creates momentum.
If we have a compelling reason to do something, the doing itself feels great.
Now a caveat: As black and white as this may seem, naturally it isn’t. We may always feel that need for approval, at least on some level. We’re social creatures, and especially in our social media-driven world, we’re even more status-driven than ever.
This isn’t about completely relinquishing the desire to achieve and receive attention for it. It’s about recognizing how and when this desire creates more stress than inspiration.
At the end of the day, that’s what we really want—not just to seem inspiring, but also to feel inspired. We can only do that if we release the blocks that keep us gazing toward the future, looking for confirmation of our worth.
What’s your meaningful motive, and what can you do today to act on it with passion?
 Photo by Eddi van W.

BUS DRIVER UPPER CUT UPDATE:

UPPER CUT UPDATE:  RTA Union Supporting Suspended Driver Artis Hughes After Misdemeanor Charges Filed.  The uppercut heard around the world is heading to court and union officials are unhappy.  Driver Artis Hughes, 59, was charged with assault, while passenger Shi’dea Lane, 25, was hit with a disorderly conduct rap. Hughes remains suspended without pay from his RTA job, and faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $1000 fine if convicted of the assault count. As for Lane, a lesser charge carries a maximum of 30 days in custody and a $250 fine.
 http://globalgrind.com/news/cleveland-bus-driver-uppercut-artis-hughes-criminal-charges-passenger-and-driver-jail-arrested-video#ixzz29xVwzvaX
 

How International Bankers Plan to Economically Enslave You

Throughout the last century, the countries and political leaders that refused to play ball with the banking cartel got their asses kicked. Unfortunately, in the post-WWII world, the United States (both covertly and overtly) has been doing most of the ass kicking for the cartel. And we are in debt up to our eyeballs and our Constitution is hanging by a thread because of it (more on that later). Of course, we see the lesser “outsiders” Iran and Venezuela cozy up to Russia and China and use it to their advantage to thwart the banking cartel’s attempts to have the U.S., or other pro-cartel, military force take them out.

4 Ways To Take The Ego Out of Money Decisions

4 Ways To Take The Ego Out of Money Decisions:

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Mindy Crary
“Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have than having what you want.” ~Geoffrey Abert
Nothing has the power to mess up my finances more than my own brain—or, more precisely, my ego.
According to Eckhart Tolle, the ego entails the habitual and compulsive thought processes that go through everybody’s mind continuously. Left unchecked, this constant ego monologue prevents us from focusing on the present moment. Instead, we get caught up in worrying about what happens next.  Or, in my case, what I want to buy next.

My Ego Challenges

As a financial planner, you would think that I would have mastered money challenges! But the reality is, I have struggled as much as the next person because I allowed my ego to drive my decisions for almost five years.
When you’re a new financial planner, it’s easy to get caught up in creating the image of a successful planner—in fact, my first manager told me it was okay to go into debt to get a “successful” wardrobe!
And it doesn’t stop there; I bought the “right” car, the “right” house in the “right” neighborhood; and before long, I was exhausted from maintaining appearances. I may have looked like the perfect planner, but I sure didn’t feel like one.
I never enjoyed my successes, because I was too obsessed with getting the next thing on the list.
I finally realized that no amount of money would ever be enough to feel happy, regardless of what my ego told me. And so much money was going to maintaining appearances that I never felt truly prosperous, even though I was making more money than I ever had before.
That was the point at which I sold a successful practice and struck out on my own.
I decided that if I wasn’t happy with what I had, I needed to reboot. I don’t think everyone needs to take such drastic action; most people can simply bring more awareness to their decisions and start to course-correct as they go.
The reason I changed everything so dramatically—sold my business and my home and moved to a completely new city—was that I not only needed to get clear, I needed to recuperate. Letting my ego drive my life choices and burying my true self had made me physically sick, with hypothyroidism and adrenal burnout.
It took me another 5 years to heal and really understand what was going on—why I made the money decisions I had made, and what really felt like my own choices, versus the choices made by my ego.

The Four Ways To Tame Your Ego

You don’t have to be a slave to your ego. Whenever it rears its head, try these four steps to getting back control:

1. Become aware.

You can tell that your ego is present in situations when you feel yourself becoming stressed, defensive, outraged, offended, and angry. Your ego is telling you that there is a deviation from the ideal scenario, and you have to fix it!
Instead, remind yourself that perfect isn’t the goal anymore, and you’ll never “be” the ideal scenario if you want to be authentically you.

2. Stay present.  

When you focus on the future, you’re making things up. You actually have no idea what the future holds! Financial happiness depends on your ability to disregard the worrying activity of the ego and stay present in the moment.
There was a time when I was trying to survive on very little money. One day, I was waiting for payment to come in the mail that was going to cover my expenses for the next week, and I couldn’t go grocery shopping until I opened the mail.
When I did, the payment wasn’t there. But rather than freak out, I brought myself back to the present moment: How much money did I really need right that very moment?
I realized that bills weren’t actually due for another five days. And, I had lasagna in the freezer and plenty of staples. I didn’t actually “need” to go grocery shopping—which meant that the check didn’t “need” to come that day.
Once I realized that, I was elated that I could have so little money in my bank account and yet feel so secure in the moment.

3. Focus on the essence.

Letting go of the “should” in your life—the specific structure or action the ego wants—allows you to focus on the essence of what you want, instead of the form.
When I was looking for my first apartment out of college, initially I was obsessed with the idea of living in NW Portland, because that was the “cool” place to live. But when I looked at apartments there, they were noisy, old, small, and crowded—which was completely the opposite of the apartment living experience I had been dreaming of.
I realized that when I pictured my new place, it was somewhere quiet, green, serene, open, airy, and away from the hustle and bustle of business. So if I had rented an apartment where I was “supposed” to want to live, I would have regretted that decision.
By focusing on the experience I knew I wanted to have first—the essence of my desire—I was able to find an apartment about ten minutes away that made me much happier than I would have been living in the noisy downtown area.
Buddha believed that the origin of suffering is attachment to transient things—which not only include the physical objects that surround us, but also ideas. Abraham Hicks says you can have the essence of anything you want, but it rarely comes in the form you expect or want—but if you allow it, the result is better than you could have ever imagined.

4. Manage expectations.

The moment you become aware of your ego’s expectations around situations, the less power it has over you. I often notice it “leaking” when I am driving; if I am getting frustrated with other drivers, I know that I am buying into the way things “should be” instead of accepting “what is.”
When this happens, I take a close look at all of the areas of my life to see where I am letting my ego create expectations for me.
There is no specific object or thing, position, or status that you need to help define who you are in this world, or that in and of itself will help you achieve financial happiness.
The moment you let go of that, the real you is free to explore a life uniquely suited to you, and better—definitely more affordable—than you could have ever imagined.
How has your ego interfered with your money?
Photo by Ecstatic Mark

10 Ways to Be Great Today

10 Ways to Be Great Today:

by Lori Deschene 
Earlier this week I wrote a post about the pursuit of greatness. I highlighted how it can sometimes create stress when it manifests as fear that we’re not good enough and might never be.
In reviewing the reader comments, I felt a sense of deep appreciation for knowing so many truly great people. And I imagined there were far more of them who didn’t comment—some who may not realize just how great they are.
I decided to put together this list based on some of my favorite related quotes. If you’re looking to nurture greatness, these tips may help you do just that—or they may help you recognize the extraordinary impact you already have on the people around you.

1. Be a source of kindness.

“Men are only as great as they are kind.” ~Elbert Hubbard
We all want to live in a world where people are compassionate, understanding, and kind. Every time we treat someone this way, we do our part to create that kind of world.

2. Treat everyone equally.

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who does him absolutely no good.” ~Samuel Johnson
There’s another saying that suggests we should be nice to people on the way up because they’re the same people we’ll meet on the way down. But there’s a more important reason to treat people well: We all thrive together when we stop fixating on “up” and “down” and choose to stand beside each other.

3. Remember that actions speak louder than words.

“Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
Most of us have ideas to make a difference in the world—and we can do these things if we’re willing to act as much as we think and talk. Take your plans out of your head and off the page, even if with just one small step. Wherever you are in the process, that’s the opportunity to be great.

4. Focus on the little things.

“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” ~Helen Keller 
Underlying every great, big idea there’s a purpose we can also meet through small, noble actions. Go ahead and make that plan to change the world, but remember that the exchanges and efforts that may seem ordinary are often the most extraordinary.

5. Believe in the promise of tomorrow.

“Great hope makes great men.” ~Thomas Fuller
It may seem like it’s deluding yourself to nurture hope, but hope doesn’t have to imply blind faith that things will work out as you want them to. In can mean you have faith that you will learn, grow, and do something positive with whatever comes your way. When you believe you can, it’s much more likely you will.

6. Put love into whatever you’re doing.

“We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa
Create with love, engage with love, bake with love, build with love—whatever you do, put your heart into it. Even if you’re working toward a different career, know that this day counts. Take this opportunity to nurture something positive in whatever it is your doing.

7. Keep an open mind and be open to change.

“The final proof of greatness is being able to endure criticism without resentment.” ~Elbert Hubbard
People don’t always offer constructive feedback, but oftentimes they intend to; if we can stay open to what might be true, we can learn and grow a little every day. That’s greatness—not an enduring state, but the willingness to evolve.

8. Keep things simple. 

“Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life gets complicated when we overwhelm ourselves with things we think we should do or have. All those “shoulds” can easily suffocate the one simple thing we all want: to enjoy our time with the people we love. When we fully appreciate our days, suddenly being great seems less important.

9. Forget about yourself for a while.

“It takes a great man to be a great listener.” ~Calvin Cooledge
So often we merely wait to talk instead of actually listening, but this is why people open up to us—not just for advice, but also for our loving, attentive presence. When we give that gift to others we communicate how greatly important they are to us.

10. Motivate others to be who they want to be.

“Really great people make you feel that you too can be great.” ~Mark Twain 
We all want to feel that we matter. Show someone else they do, both by believing in their dreams and recognizing how they make a difference right now. The most powerful difference we can make in this world is the one we make supporting each other.
Photo by laughlin

Learn to Forgive Yourself Even When You’ve Hurt Someone Else

Learn to Forgive Yourself Even When You’ve Hurt Someone Else:

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Michael Davidson
“Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others.” ~Lama Yeshe
Think back to the last time somebody apologized to you about something. Did you forgive them? There is a very good chance that you did.
Now think back to the last time you harmed someone else. Have you forgiven yourself? Probably not.
We all make mistakes. Oftentimes, through our actions, somebody gets hurt.
During this past year, I served as a liaison between my fraternity and a 17-year-old cancer patient in a local hospital through the Adopt-a-Family program. This patient, Josh Goldstein, passed away around the beginning of March. (I’m not exactly sure when.)
My responsibility as liaison was to have a regular communication with Josh. I failed in this responsibility.
In the month after Josh died, I was overcome by shame. My belief that I was a fundamentally good person was shattered; how could I be so neglectful? Why did I not spend more time with him?
This feeling climaxed during “Family Hour” of Rutgers University Dance Marathon (a 32-hour, student-run event that raised over $442,000 for families that have children with cancer and blood disorders). I was standing in the rafters, listening to a speech by the mother of one of the families that we had helped.
I couldn’t bear to hear her thank us for all the wonderful things she said we had done when I felt deep down that I was a bad person!
I literally could not touch my friends who had been standing next to me because I might have contaminated them with the disease that was my poor character.
This terrible feeling continued, and tears began to stream down my face. Flashing before my eyes, I saw all the opportunities I had to visit Josh in the hospital but had chosen not to.
Then my memory came to our fraternity meeting where Josh’s death had been announced. His last wish had been that we would not forget him after he passed. I pictured Josh saying this over and over again.
And then a strange thing happened: I realized that not only was I not going to forget Josh, but that I would never make the same mistake again.
In an instant, I had forgiven myself, letting go of the pain and accepting that I could still be a good person even if I made a serious mistake.
How to Forgive Yourself Right Now

1. Accept yourself and your flaws.

Know that despite your flaws, you are okay as you are. Your flaws, rather than making you “less” of a person, are what make you who you are. What you think of as a defect actually makes you far more interesting to others.
You are not perfect. You make mistakes.
But you are also on a path of growth. Your mistakes and failures help you improve. As flawed as you may be, you must accept yourself, flaws and all, if you are to make progress in your life.

2. Remember that you are not a bad person.

You can do something wrong while still being a good person. A lot of guilt or shame can make you feel like there is something wrong with you.
Realize, right now, that there is a very big difference between doing a bad thing and being a bad person. Even when you do something that you regret, you most likely had a valid reason for doing it at the time (even if that reason doesn’t make rational sense).
You didn’t do something bad because you are a fundamentally bad person; there was an intent, or valid motivation, behind your action.

3. Talk to someone.

Sometimes you just need to get it off your chest. Talking to someone else about what is bothering you can have serious benefits.

• Another perspective. When you are upset at yourself, emotions can cloud your reasoning abilities. A friend will often point out a reason why you deserve to forgive yourself that you never would have seen.
• Social support. You always feel better when somebody else has your back. Knowing that other people are less critical of you then you are of yourself can be encouraging.
• Therapy. Professional help may be necessary or at least a good decision in some cases. If your self-hatred seems insurmountable, you might want to consider this.

4. Talk to your internal voice.

It can be useful to “personalize” your internal voice. Imagine that there is some other entity that is thinking your self-critical thoughts and have a conversation with them.
It might sound silly, but you should give this entity a name, which will reinforce the idea that this voice is separate from you.
During your “conversation” I want you to ask your internal, critical voice what its positive intention is. This voice is saying what it’s saying for a reason. It might be to protect you, to prevent you from making the same mistake again, or to help you improve in some way.
When you realize that your thoughts of guilt or shame are intended for your benefit, it becomes easier to forgive yourself. You can find another way to satisfy that positive intent while reducing your guilty feelings.
In my case, one of the positive intentions of my internal voice constantly shaming me was to help me remember Josh after he passed. Since forgiving myself, I have dedicated each of my yoga sessions to Josh, which ensures that he will not be forgotten.

5. Do the best friend test.

Imagine your best friend had done exactly what you did and then came to you for advice. What would you tell them?
You would reassure them and tell them not to be so hard on themselves. You would tell them that everyone makes mistakes. You would tell them that they deserve to be forgiven.
Why can’t you say this to yourself?
(Erin Pavlina has written a fantastic example of using this technique that I highly recommend checking out!)
–
Forgiving yourself is far more challenging than forgiving someone else because you must live with yourself and your thoughts 24/7. Despite the challenge, emotionally healthy people must have the capacity to forgive themselves when they have made a mistake.
When you forgive yourself, you are not pretending as though it never happened. On the contrary, you are acknowledging that your actions have consequences. But the consequences need not include self-inflicted negative feelings.
Not forgiving yourself is like picking at an open wound; you are only making a bad situation worse. The wound is already there, but you do have control over your reaction to it, and you can stop it from getting worse.
If you can forgive yourself when you make a mistake, it becomes easier for you to address the consequences of your action in a productive way.
Photo by flickrPrince

Help People Feel Better: The Power of Understanding

Help People Feel Better: The Power of Understanding:

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Kristin Carvalho
“When you judge another, you do not define them. You define yourself.” ~Wayne Dyer
I used to be someone who always gave my opinion, or confronted issues in relationships regardless of whether someone was in the mood for what I had to say.
I always brought up whatever was bothering me or said my opinion, perhaps in not so tactful ways. Needless to say, this led to a lot of emotional confrontations and blowouts with friends and family members, sometimes destroying important relationships.
I justified my actions by thinking that people deserved to hear the truth, no matter what.
Despite my strong opinions, loved ones still came to me for advice or help when they were in need. This might have been because I seemed like a well-grounded person with strong convictions—someone who knew what to do.
When giving my opinion or advice, I would always think to myself, “Well, they are coming to me for the truth, so they deserve to hear it no matter how bad it might sound.”
While I thought my advice came from a place of caring, it would take years before I realized how selfish and thoughtless I was being.
Sometimes my sister would talk to me about issues she had with friends, and I’d say, “Why don’t you just tell them what’s bothering you. Why not tell them the truth?”
It would frustrate me to see my sister upset with such friends, putting on a happy (or, what I thought was, fake) face, and going on with life.
What I had yet to realize was that by being patient and understanding with her friends, my sister was avoiding confrontations for situations she may eventually let go of with time and understanding.
My attitude only began to change after a series of big mistakes that I made. These painful events pushed me to take a big look within. I saw that I’d made a lot of judgments or criticisms of my loved ones for things they had done, when meanwhile, I had done the exact same things!
I thought about how I had moments when loved ones came to me in pain or in need of a friend, and instead of being there for them or listening, I would give my opinion, for better or worse—even if it made them feel worse off.
After I made my mistakes and sought advice from others, some of the things I heard really hurt me, and I would think to myself, “Wow, is that how I sounded?”
Around the same time I had these realizations, I was doing a lot of traveling, and meeting people from all walks of life. I really started to appreciate the beauty in people’s stories, including their blunders.
I saw how sometimes it brought them to where they were in their lives, or made them who they were, and it usually made them stronger.
On one of my travels I went on a cultural exchange with my university along with a group of students from the same area where I lived.
On this trip we had to open up to each other and tell our life stories. It was extremely difficult for me to put myself on the spot and open up about my life, especially for fear of judgment for some of my own mistakes.
However, in the end I realized that opening up to my group was not so different from my friends or family opening up to me in vulnerable moments. After telling my life story, I received so much love and support from my group. (And this support was coming from people I barely knew!)
I decided that from that day forward I wanted to share this love and support with anyone who had the courage to come to me, needing someone to listen and be there for them. I vowed that I would let go of my preconceived notions and opinions and just listen.
I think a part of my maturity and growth was realizing that real courage comes from anyone willing to open up about themselves, even if they are afraid of being judged.
Now when people come to me for help or advice, instead of condemning them for the things that I may not agree with or think are right, I take the time to just listen and allow them to go through what happened and how they feel about it.
I realize that when I show understanding, I get a bigger picture of what goes on in people’s lives—that some decisions are much more complicated than they seem.
Even though we may care deeply about a friend in a bad situation and all we want to do is tell them how to fix it, sometimes just by listening we are helping them in more ways than we know.
For example we can help a person get better clarity about what they want to do, or what feels right to them.
Also, what we may consider to be a mistake might actually turn out to be a blessing in the end.
Although I messed up some things in my life, if I never made mistakes, maybe I would not have put so much thought into my the fact that I had been judgmental of others who went through similar situations before me.
I may not have made this connection, which ultimately had a positive impact on my outlook, and hopefully on the people I care about.
Through these lessons, I learned how important it is to exercise patience when I am upset with someone. Now I make sure to spend time thinking through a situation for as long as I possibly can before I confront anyone and potentially create an even bigger problem.
Usually I end up realizing that I overreacted, or that I am really not as bothered about something I initially thought I was.
When I give myself time to think through things instead of speaking up impulsively, I have space to recognize what I truly value. Then I really know the things I can or cannot let go of before I speak up.
I think a large part of growth and maturity is realizing that everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect. Although it might be easy to lose patience with others, or think what they are doing is wrong, we must keep in mind that we’re not in their place.
We may think someone’s actions are wrong at one point in our lives, but find ourselves acting the same way when put in a similar situation.
Keeping this lesson in mind, I always try to remember to be mindful when giving advice to another, especially when I have no idea of how I would act in that particular situation.
While I still see the importance in having opinions and feeling passionate about things, I see even more importance in questioning my beliefs, and watching them grow, expand, and change.
Whereas I used to believe in always speaking up or stating my opinion, I now see the healing power of being humble and really taking time to listen and carefully think things through.
Opinions can be valuable when they are put to good use—such as the opinion that we’d rather make our loved ones feel better, not worse.
Photo by David Noah 1

Corporatism Explained "How the Bankers make Slaves out of YOU"

The Debate is over, You can put your Pom Poms down. Doesn't matter which side you chose to cheer for, you're being HAD aka PIMPED, why? Because both candidates are owed by the BANKERS ....here is Information that Obama and Romney will NEVER tell YOU>

 

40 Ways to Create Peace of Mind

40 Ways to Create Peace of Mind:

by Lori Deschene
“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.” ~Brian Tracy
There was a time when I thought peace was a destination, in much the same way I imagined I’d eventually arrive at happiness or success.
It seemed like something I needed to chase or find—definitely not something I could experience without dramatically changing my life.
I needed to work less, relax more, and generally revamp my circumstances and relationships in order to be a peaceful person.
Despite seeing peace as an endpoint, I also saw it as something passive—after all, that’s why I was so stressed: I had so much to do.
I’ve since realized that peace is always available, and like any desirable state of mind, it requires effort, even if that effort entails consciously choosing to be still.
Sure, our circumstances affect our mental state, but they don’t have to control them, not if we make tiny choices for our well-being.
Admittedly, it’s not easy to choose peace when we’re going through tough times. I still go through periods when I get caught up in worries and stresses, and it can feel like that’s the only available response to things that have happened.
But it’s not. There are countless things we can do to create peace of mind—both in response to events in our lives, and proactively, everyday.
If you’d also like to develop a greater sense of peace, you may find these suggestions helpful:

Meditation

1. Take 5-10 minutes for a simple seated meditation.
2. Take 100 deep breaths, counting “and one,” “and two,” and so on, with “and” on the inhalations and the numbers on the exhalations.
3. Take a meditative walk, focusing solely on the physical sensations of walking—the earth under your feet, the swing of your hips.
4. Find a guided meditation on YouTube and let it lull you into a blissful state of presence.
5. Practice alternate nostril breathing. Hold the left nostril down and inhale through the right; then hold the breath. Release the left nostril, hold the right one down, and exhale through the left. Now start on the left with an inhalation, exhaling on the right. This is one set. Do up to five of them.

Communication

6. Write down everything that’s weighing you down mentally and then burn it as a form of letting go.
7. Write down everything you’ve learned from a difficult experience so you can see it as something useful and empowering, instead of something to stress you out.
8. Tell someone how their actions affected you instead of holding it in and building resentment.
9. Call someone you’ve denied forgiveness and tell them you forgive them.
10. Apologize for a mistake instead of rehashing it, and then choose to forgive yourself.

Creativity

11. Engage in a little art therapy; grab some crayons, markers, or paint and put all your feelings on the page.
12. Create a peace collage. Include images that make you feel relaxed and at ease. (Google “peace collage” and you’ll get lots of ideas!)
13. Meditate on your favorite peace quote and then write it in calligraphy for framing.
14. Take a walk with the sole intention of photographing beautiful things that make you feel at peace, like a tree with colorful autumn leaves.
15. Write a blog post about what gives you peace of mind. (This has been a calming experience for me!)

Activity

16. Get up and dance to your favorite song, focusing solely on the music and the movement. Get into your body and get out of your head!
17. Take a long walk on the beach, focusing on the feel of the sand between your toes and the sound of the crashing waves. Cliché, but highly effective!
18. Go for a bike ride in a scenic part of town, and immerse yourself in the calm of your environment.
19. Take 5−10 minutes for stretching, syncing your breath with the movements (or if you have an hour, visit a local studio for a yoga class).
20. Declutter a cluttered part of your home, creating a more peaceful space.

Acceptance

21. Muster compassion for someone who hurt you, instead of wallowing in bitterness, which will make it easier to forgive them and set yourself free.
22. Set aside some time to actively enjoy the good things about the present, instead of scheming to create a better future.
23. Create a list of things you love about yourself instead of dwelling on how you wish you were different.
24. Focus on what you appreciate about the people in your life instead of wishing they would change (assuming you’re in healthy relationships).
25. Recognize if you’re judging yourself in your head with phrases like “I should have” or “I shouldn’t have.” Replace those thoughts with, “I do the best I can, my best is good enough, and I’m learning and growing every day.”

Solitude

26. Start reading that book you bought about dealing with the challenge you’ve been facing.
27. Schedule a date with yourself—a time when you don’t need to meet anyone else’s requests—and do something that feeds your mind and spirit. Go to a museum or take yourself to your favorite restaurant and simply enjoy your own company.
28. Sit in nature—under a tree, on a mountain—and let yourself simply be.
29. Be your own best friend. Tell yourself what’s on your mind, and then give yourself the advice you’d give a good friend who had the same issue.
30. Repeat some positive affirmations that help you feel present, peaceful, and empowered.

Connection

31. Tell the truth in your relationships. When we hold in our true feelings, we create stress for ourselves. Be kind but honest and share what you really feel.
32. Catch critical, blaming, or self-victimizing thoughts. Instead of ruminating on what someone else did wrong, express yourself and ask yourself what you can do to create the change you’re seeking.
33. Have fun with someone you love. Forget about everything that feels like a problem and do something silly and childlike.
34. Connect with someone online who can relate to what you’re going through and create a mutually supportive relationship by sharing and listening.
35. Let someone into your self-care routine—ask a friend to join a yoga studio with you, or invite your sister to jog with you on the beach.

Contribution

36. Volunteer your time to help a charity you believe in. Put all your energy into helping someone else, and you will inadvertently help yourself.
37. Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Animals are naturally present, and it’s contagious!
38. Do something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return. If they ask what they can do for you, tell them to pay it forward.
39. Leverage your passion to help someone else (i.e.: if you’re an aspiring designer, design a logo for a friend). You get to get in the zone doing something you love; someone else gets support they need. A win/win!
40. Leverage your purpose to serve someone else, not for money—just because. That might mean helping them pursue their passion, or motivating them to reach their fitness goals. Whatever gives your life meaning, give it to someone freely.
As is often the case with these types of list, this can seem a little long and overwhelming. The important thing is that we do at least one tiny thing every day to create mental stillness. What helps you create peace of mind?
Photo by h.koppdelaney

7 Things to Remember When People Don’t Support You

7 Things to Remember When People Don’t Support You:

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Alden Tan
“I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!” ~Theodore Roosevelt
I’m currently doing the whole “quit my job to pursue a dream” thing. I left the security and stability of having a salary along with a supposed career.
Back then, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had no experience in blogging, plus I didn’t exactly have the confidence to market and start running a business.
Sounds crazy, right?
You can imagine the reaction I got from my friends and family. The support was next to nothing, and people generally never understood what I was doing—what I was trying to do.
Does this sound familiar?
You may not have done something huge, like make a career shift, but perhaps you’ve offered a different opinion, and everyone just disagreed.
You would have expected more from your loved ones. I know how disheartening that can be.
You expect support and encouragement from people you consider close to you only to be completely rejected, criticized, or worse, laughed at.
It can be really hard to swallow all the “noise” around you.
I was taken by surprise by some of the things I heard from friends; some of the comments were particularly hurtful.
I think it boils down to learning how to not care so much about what others think, and also, conversely, understanding what goes on in their minds.
I’ve come up with a little guide of reminders that I hope can help you keep going if you feel alone.

1. Your passion is a priority.

A lot of people go through the motions in life, not doing what they love. They end up constantly looking back, asking themselves, “What if?”
Whether people support you or not, do you really want to look back in regret one day down the line? To not know what could have happened if you tried to do what you really wanted to do?
This love of yours is one of the most important things in your life. Follow your heart, and not the words of others just to live up to their expectations.

2. Life is short.

It may be a little disheartening to have people around you discourage you, but remember, life is short.
Do you really want to spend your time feeling down over others’ words when they’re completely unwarranted, baseless, and probably not making any kind of sense?
Do you really want to pull back on following your dream or doing what you want because of others, and start living a life that probably doesn’t fulfill your potential?
Remember that life is short, and it will be easier to stick to your own convictions when other people disagree with your choices or put you down.

3. Others may not fully understand.

People who don’t support you and discourage you may not actually be bad people who intentionally want to destroy your dreams.
Sometimes, they just don’t understand why you do what you do, so they voice out their concerns, which may make them seem dissenting.
I personally try not to take it to heart when people discourage me. I see it as they need a little education and explanation. Or sometimes, I just ignore them.
If anything, since they don’t fully understand, I don’t see why it’s something to be upset over.

4. Sometimes others are insecure.

Sometimes when people don’t support what you’re doing, it may be more about them than you.
It could be plain ignorance or even jealousy, but some people tend to attack things that are new to them.
So again, don’t take their words to heart. If their criticism isn’t constructive in any way, they may be discouraging you because of their own fears and insecurities.

5. Remember anything is possible.

Nobody can predict the future for certain.
The people who don’t support you might paint a gloomy picture of what’s to come if you do what you want to do.
You don’t know the future either, but do you want to listen to others instead of believing in yourself?
Don’t let objections from others become your truth and limit you from creating what you want in life.
Anything is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard.

6. You can do this without their support.

It’s natural to want support and encouragement from the people around you, but it is possible to do what you want to do without it.
Just think of how many successful, inspiring people took the road less traveled.
You’re a very powerful being, just by yourself. Believe in that, don’t give up, and you’ll go a long way, whichever road you take.

7. You can’t please everyone in life.

You can’t. It’s impossible. And a lot of people forget that.
If you try to please everyone, it’s going to be next to impossible. So don’t bother. Keep your focus on what you want to do and why.
In an ideal world, would we could constantly surrounded ourselves with positivity. We can’t do that, but we can work on ourselves so that we stay committed and positive.
Are you surrounded by naysayers? How have you dealt with this?
 Photo by Seattleye