The Official Website of Michael Corthell

 

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh We all need a thing that takes us out of our day to day, and reminds us that all will be well. Meditation, a nap, does that for me. Let it be. “The period between four and six in the morning is called the Brahmamuhurta, the Brahmic time, or divine period, and is a very sacred time to meditate.” ― Sri S. Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

Some people want God, the Universe, to come to their rescue, and give them a new life, a new job, or some new and improved situation, but they don’t want anything in their lives disturbed. That's crazy, right?  For instance, if I wanted to remodel my home and told my contractor that I didn’t want him to touch anything, he would have told me that I didn’t really don't want to remodel. If I wanted new paint, a new floor, or new cabinets, none of that would be possible if the old stuff wasn’t changed out first.  Many times we need to be stripped, broken and removed from what we have come to rely on in order for us to be rebuilt with greater spiritual strength, focus and stamina.  It never feels good when security and other things are being taken from us, but if we can trust the process, we will experience greater good on the other side of the process. We need to trust God, and give Him permission to tear things down so that He can make things new(and improved).  It...

“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams When we turn the corner, and find ourselves facing in the right direction, then all we have to do is keep on walking. “Recovery didn’t open the gates of heaven and let me in.  Recovery opened the gates of hell and let me out!” – Anonymous

 

 

“Gaslighting are lies with a purpose to confuse and control.” ― Tracy Malone Invalidation, and the devaluation done by psychopaths and narcissists makes people feel crazy and unmoored ― it is the root of gaslighting ― either in personal relationships or in politics. Victims are told not to believe their eyes and ears. Their feelings are then purposely denied or manipulated in order to make them question their own reality and even their own sanity. “Remember, a fact is a fact, no matter how hard the liars  amongst you might try hushing it up.” ― Billy Childish

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama Compassion can be painful but it doesn't have to be. Many of us hurt because when we feel connected to everything, we also feel responsible for everything. And we cannot turn away from injustice. Our destinies is bound up with the destinies of others. We must either learn to embrace the Universe as One(holy) or be burdened by it. Each of us needs to grow strong enough to love the All, but also be 'empty' enough to withstand its worst horrors. “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ― Mother Teresa

“I don't know what good it is to know so much  and be smart as whips and all if it doesn't make you happy.” ― J.D. Salinger Everyone seeks happiness in the world and there is ONE best way to find it ― by controlling your mind. Happiness doesn't depend on what's happening 'out there'. It depends on what's rattling around inside your head. We are all as happy as we can be if we WANT TO BE.  Be POSITIVE in thought and deed. “Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 First recognize the universe is in you -- you are part of it. Many believe it is all 'out there'. Not true. We somehow think some external force is going to swoop into our lives and save us from all the challenges we are experiencing. Again not true. The Universe is inside you, it is your partner. Two, we have to let go of what is preventing us from succeeding. When we’re caught up in the "I just need to trust the universe” state of mind, we can focus too much on the practice of "letting go" as an abstract thought. But trusting the universe isn't just about hoping we'll be saved. It's about being practical, about approaching our fears head on and learning what specific limiting beliefs we have that we need to let go of. When the desire for change is bigger than the desire to stay in our comfort zone, big things can and will happen. Three, The universe will serve you, but not always please you. For example, would really please me to get a boat load...

  And at the very least; Everybody is a somebody to somebody.

Think positive, be positive and positive things will happen. Thoughts create emotions, emotions create more feelings and these feelings dictate our behavior. Therefore, it’s vitally important that our thoughts be positive. Staying positive greatly increases the probability of attracting positive people, events and circumstances into our lives. “Plant seeds of expectation in your mind; cultivate thoughts that anticipate achievement. Believe in yourself as being capable of overcoming all obstacles and weaknesses.”  – Norman Vincent Peale

What areas? I say empathy for one. What do you think?

“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man.  When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.” ― Bette Davis Feminism is hated by many in our society because women are hated by many. The spirit of anti-feminism manifested in our culture is a direct expression of misogyny because it is the political defense of woman-hating itself. Don't be fooled  —  any objection to women's rights, such as the right to vote, educational opportunities, property rights, and access to birth control fits the definition of anti-feminism. “...women don't have to be men's equals to be considered contenders; they have to be better. That's the lie of it all. You have to be better to prove yourself worthy of being equal.” ― Mackenzi Lee

The more that you begin to understand that you alone create the world you experience, the more critical it becomes for you to discover just what kind of person is doing the creating.

“Just like there's always time for pain, there's always time for healing.” ― Jennifer Brown Looking at the bigger picture. During the course of the year 2020 I finally realized(and accepted) that the entire human race is functionally insane...nuts...the cheese has always been sliding off our crackers.  But I also observed, and understood that many people have come to the same conclusion. That brings me hope, because to recognize our own insanity is, of course, the very beginning of sanity. It is the beginning of healing and transcendence. “As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.” ― Maya Angelou

“The Simple Path” Silence is Prayer Prayer is Faith Faith is Love Love is Service The Fruit of Service is Peace ― Mother Teresa When the journey you're on lights up your soul, there's no standing still. Your feet touch the ground, but not for long. ''Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.''   ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind,  because oneness is the secret of everything.” ― Swami Vivekananda A s a practical matter, if we want to preserve our planet's ability to provide a viable, life sustaining ecosystem, we all must come to understand that all lives are connected, and interrelated. We must understand that what we think, what we say, what we do, and what we believe has a corresponding effect on others, and the entire universe. “Technology is destructive only in the hands of people  who do not realize that they are one and the same process as the universe. ” ― Alan Watts

If we want positive things to happen, we should do positive things to make them happen. Voting for good, positive, empathic people is part of ensuring a better country, and a better world.  Bad people don't give a damn about good people  —  they care about themselves  —  they care about turning good people into bad people  —  they enjoy the pain caused in doing so.  Nothing comes from nothing and evil doesn't birth good.

“To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” ― Marilyn vos Savant As the saying goes, we will believe it when we see it, or what we believe is what we see. If we take those idioms at face value, we had damn well look closely. AND take note: the act of observation changes the thing that was observed as well as the observer.  [That is quantum-ness !] “To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees.” ― Paul Valéry

 

“Your life must now run the course that's been set for it.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro The lucky few(in my view) who are fully woken and self-actualized just know what they're doing is the only thing to be doing. They believe that the world is conspiring all around them to make it happen, and not just giving them permission, but driving them in the direction they need to go, even giving them secret nods, winks and clear hand signals. Yes, these folks believe that fate is getting everything out of the way so they have the clearest path possible toward their destiny. “We are forced to fall back on fatalism as an explanation of irrational events (that is to say, events the reasonableness of which we do not understand).” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved,  and believes in the goodness in people. What people want, what they really need is kindness shown to them when they feel they don't deserve it. That simple act, of seemingly undeserved consideration, can start a chain reaction of kindness. Nothing so rewarding and important as to make people realize that they are worthwhile. That's how one act of charity can change the world, and put us on the path to peace. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Kindness has no religion. Religions are narrow, but kindness is like a wide open sky.

Mindless fear is greater than mindful fear. “You can't possibly be afraid of death, really, you can only be afraid of life.” ― Carl R. Rogers Looking at graveyards is good. I think about all those lives that are recorded in eternity. It gives me perspective, I think about what's important in life. Thinking about all those lives and eternity is where I get most of my inspiration for wisdom and life. So, it would be wise to remember that everyone dies a day at a time. I think there's some equality in that truth. “Though we are terrorized by death, it's not different from birth, it just happens” ― Bangambiki Habyarimana

“Miracles surround us at every turn, if we but sharpen our perceptions to them.” ― Willa Cather I have to stop right here and inject some realism into the miracle discussion I'm presenting this morning. Let's consider this: When we read in the news that someone was saved from certain death by a strange set of circumstances, most will say, ''It was a miracle he wasn't killed.'' But, if someone is killed by some weird chain of events ― say oil was carelessly spilled, the safety device was turned off or broken ― that must also be a miracle. Just because it's a negative event doesn't mean it's not a miracle too. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

“Intimacy is the capacity to be rather weird with someone - and finding that that's ok with them.” ― Alain de Botton In a committed, loving and intimate relationship two hearts grow together and wrap themselves around each other, so that they spiritually make one heart with one common thought. That's why separation is is so painful. “The opposite of Loneliness is not Togetherness , It's Intimacy” ― Richard Bach

by Michael Corthell Only during the past generation have we discovered that babies need to be held and touched. We now know that they cannot grow and that they will literally fail to thrive unless they share physical and emotional closeness with another human being. Growing up doesn't alter that need either. We are social creatures. ''True marital intimacy depends, in large part, on truth that is lovingly told while laying in bed.'' In a close personal relationship such as marriage, it is 'hurt feelings' that very often set the union toward the divorce cliff and set it crashing to the rocks below. How do the hurt feelings get a foothold? It all starts with the 'illusion of perfection'. ''We are going to live happily ever after!'' This is often said as an end all, because the new bride and groom don't know, or don't understand that any relationship needs to be tended to and cultivated. Time passes and then they beco...

''Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.'' ― Mother Teresa 'Who is like God?' When I ask for the gift of charity, I'm not asking for warm, fuzzy feelings toward someone who has injured or taken from me. Rather, what I'm actually asking for is to have my very nature changed, to have my character and constitution transformed to become more and more like God's, so that I actually feel as He would feel and behave as He would behave in any given situation.   ''Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.'' ― Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Michael Corthell The dictionary says that to 'forgive' means to stop being angry or resentful toward someone or something. That, of course, would also include yourself. In fact, that should be your first stop on any spiritual journey. And today, in 2021, that forgiving spirit could be the one thing that saves our world. ''...if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins...'' —Matthew 6 Forgiveness is about dissipating negative energy (self-loathing, grudges, victimization, etc.). These things can severely harm your health and wellbeing. (Forgiveness is not 'letting someone else or yourself 'off the hook' for harm caused, however.) Forgiveness is an act of love — first yourself and then others. First ,  you have to learn how to love and accept yourself for who and what you a...

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” ― William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well Just an observation and a warning: What profession could be more suited to a narcissistic personality than politics, where the spotlight of attention is constant?  Narcissists feel entitled to gain power because of their sense of superiority and self-importance. Those with narcissistic personalities tend to crave attention and admiration and feel it is right that other people should be subservient to them. Their lack of empathy means they have no qualms about exploiting other people to attain or maintain their power. So, be wise before you vote. Always vet the candidate you are drawn to. There is only one way to determine that. You have to know if  they are trustworthy.    Here are the 10 most important traits that the trustworthy share. 

Trust is earned over time.    by Michael Corthell Building trust requires two primary ingredients: time and consistency. Consistent behavior over time equals trust. Trust is a willingness to be vulnerable to another. Trust is a very valuable asset. It affects everything we do. Being trusted by other people is one of the things you must have to be a successful human being. Trust weaves human societies together. It is also the most important part of effective communication. It is a foundational principle that bonds all relationships. To be a person that other people trust, take a look at your actions and the decisions that you make as you go about your business. Do people trust you? They will if... You are a positive person. You are optimistic. People value and trust others who are not negative minded and have a can do attitude. You are authentic. People want to be around people who are real, meaning people who are authentic and have high moral char...

  Why should people look for a conspiracy when stupidity can explain so much?   I highly recommend mixing healthy curiosity with discernment and critical thinking as a reality tonic. “Indeed, to this day, I think if you blame everything on the government, you're not just wrong, you're being reckless. It's as silly as blaming everything on the Freemasons, or the Illuminati, or insert-bad-guy-here. But I do believe that someone must ask the hard questions, especially of our elected officials as well as powerful men who become members of so-called secret societies. Remember: Governments don't lie. People lie. And if you want the real story, you need to find out more about those people.” ― Brad Meltzer, History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time Fascinating: History Decoded explores fascinating, unexplained questions. Is Fort Knox empty? Why was Hitler so intent on capturing the Roman “Spear of Destiny”? What’s the government hiding in Area 51? Where did the ...

 

A person who has a 'why' to live for can endure almost any 'how '. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Be Good, Do Good Be a Life Boat to save a drowning soul. Be a Ladder to lift someone up. Be a Light so others do not stumble. ― Michael Corthell

  What is anything in life compared to peace of the soul? If your goal is to find inner peace it must be accepted that it is impossible without patience. Wisdom also requires patience. Spiritual growth requires the mastery of patience.  Patience allows you to more fully actualize yourself .   Never be in a hurry, because, believe it or not rushing around leads to wasting time. To be efficient, do things quietly with a calm spirit. “We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.” ― Abraham Lincoln

  Why plant-based? It supports your immune system. Plants have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. The vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in plants help keep your cells healthy and your body in balance so that your immune system can function at its best. “Plants give your body what it needs to help fight off infection,” says Andrea Murray, MD Anderson health education specialist. “A plant-based diet strengthens your immune system to protect you against germs and microorganisms.” A healthy immune system is essential for reducing your risk for cancer because it can recognize and attack mutations in cells before they can progress to disease.

  “Trust is like a mirror, you can fix it if it's broken,  but you can still see the crack in that mother f**ker's reflection.” ― Lady Gaga (Cynical, or does the above quote reflect reality?) Sometimes, to be be trusted is the greatest compliment, sometimes even better than being loved, depending on the situation. The bottom-line in building trust is to be consistent in your actions. We must either keep our promises or not make any we know we can't keep.

  It began to dawn on me some time ago that having a sad thought, even having a continual succession of sad thoughts, is not the same as being a sad person.  There are situations that demand we be sad, to be normal. Part of becoming a grownup adult is the acceptance of difficulty.  The other part of this acceptance is taking action to make things less difficult. Life is hard, acceptance can be hard, but doing noting makes life harder. But, (there's always a 'but' isn't there?) realize that you can have a happy, successful life if you just take action and do the work before you. Why? Because just being positive and doing nothing will generate nothing. Being negative and fighting everything that crosses your path can still lead to success. Always start, always take action. Bottom-line? Thoughts become things so... Choose The Good Ones!

  “Kiss a lover, Dance a measure, Find your name And buried treasure. Face your life, It's pain, It's pleasure, Leave no path untaken.” ― Neil Gaiman I've found that when the pain of a toothache is over, remembering that pain becomes sort of a pleasure. What does that mean exactly? For one thing it means life is a contrasting experience. I also remember that the passage of time is affected by pleasure and pain: Albert Einstein’s secretary was overwhelmed with inquiries as to the meaning of “relativity” that the professor decided to help her out. He told her to answer these inquiries as follows: “When you sit with a nice girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours. That’s relativity.” Time's true worth is reflected only in what we are doing as it is passing by.

 

Bring to the suffering person your holy silence, and just listen. Why deep listening? Listening deeply by being completely focused on what a person is telling you establishes a presence -- a presence not only of mind but of spirit. In the healing process two spirits are better than one. Bottom-line. By listening carefully, purposefully, that is deeply when someone speaks we're telling them that we care about them. That's empathy. That's love. There is no mystery as to why deep listening works. Love heals...  — Solomon And as is almost always the case when we do the right things, we get something good back. Your deep listening is contagious. When we listen to others they will be much more inclined to listen to us!  

Charisma is compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. Experts in sociology, political science, psychology, and management reserve the term for a type of leadership seen as extraordinary. For some background, in Christian theology, the term appears as charism , an endowment or extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit . Charisma seems to be inborn but it can also be achieved by building positive self-confidence .  A person who is charismatic is exceptionally engaging, likeable, trustworthy, and, in many cases can seem 'magical'.  Larger-than-life personalities such as Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and Sir Richard Branson are all known by this trait. People with charisma are assertive, confident, inspiring, and warm. They make a point of listening to others, and they have an innate grace that often stops people in their tracks.

by Michael Corthell When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things. To be successful in your life, you must be willing to stand out and stand apart from the rest. You must act and be yourself.  Success is something that is unfortunately currently achieved by only a small number of people. It is my goal that all people live positive and therefore productive and successful lives. Also, in today's world you will discover, as you become successful, that there are many who, out of jealousy or envy, will belittle your achievements. No matter. When you have the courage of your convictions, nothing can keep you from becoming successful. You will develop confidence in your beliefs by doing your own thinking and by constantly being testing and revising your knowledge. Why Confidence Leads to Success: The Drive to Start Things – Confident people start things. They are not shy about striking out on a new i...