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[Equality] 'I was born as I am...what's your story?'

“Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?”   – James Baldwin In his iconic novel Giovanni’s Room, gay author James Baldwin makes a powerful statement about love. He proclaims that sex and gender don’t matter; all that matters is that two people love each other. Nothing should stand in their way if they have love in their hearts. These words resonated with millions of people who felt like their emotions were invalid because of the gender of the object of their love. With this quote, Baldwin assured them that it didn’t matter because love is love. Equality means more than passing legislation. Equality is won in the hearts and minds of the the people. That's where it really counts.

In Heaven: Neither Male, Nor Female

by Michael Corthell While the gift of sex and procreation is a very important part of this earthly life, many religious teachings including those of Jesus say that neither of these will play a role in the afterlife (or the 'beforelife') because our souls and our spirits, which are the essence of who we really are as created beings have no gender. Our biological packaging is for procreation and gives most of us either a male or female gender assignment at birth, but it is increasingly recognized in the society today that not all of us fit neatly into gender assigned categories, either physiologically or psychologically. The truth is, that human beings are a combination of masculine and feminine energies (yin-yang balance). The physiological representatives of these energies is manifested in the hormone testosterone, and estrogen, we all have some of each in inverse proportions(normally). Generally speaking those who are male at birth would have more testosterone t

[Boredom] Creates action...

“I abhor the idea of a perfect world. It would bore me to tears.” ― Shelby Foote Boredom is the beginning of creative action. The state of being bored opens up room for new activities. Without boredom, no creativity. (See: #PositiveMindset)

Finding Inspiration in Boredom

by Michael Corthell We have all been bored and some of us are really boring. Boredom is being stuck between wanting to do something and not being able to. It's not that you don't want to do anything. It's just that every thing to do has no appeal—everything seems dull and boring. We are going to change that right now. ''Since boredom advances and boredom is the root of all evil, no wonder, then, that the world goes backwards, that evil spreads. This can be traced back to the very beginning of the world. The gods were bored; therefore they created human beings.'' —Soren Kierkegaard There is really no need to feel disturbed by a little boredom. There's a big world not only out there, and a really big one in here (author points to his head), just waiting to be explored. Here's how to  vanquish boredom . Boredom can be fought four ways:  1. By understanding what boredom is and what it causes. 2. By having some ex

[Minimal] Wants vs Needs

  “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” ― Joshua Becker, Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life When you shop and you see something you want remember this: 'Cost to keep'.  Some things cost way more when we keep them. You might even say that they possess us, we don't possess them. 

[High Interest] ...intense! and eager enjoyment!

“I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be.” ― Roald Dahl, My Uncle Oswald Never do nothing just because you can only do a little. Do what you can and do it with enthusiasm! (and expect good results!)  

[Confidence] With faith...

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust, First Part My words about Veganism may or may not inspire others, but they have me inspired and it's what keeps me keep going.

[Persistence] Patiently...steps...success

“You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain.” ― Tom Hiddleston Change is hard at the beginning, can be confusing in the middle and best at the end.

[Mindset] Walk in the sunlight...

Positive energy attracts positive energy. Look for something positive in each day – even if some days you have to look with a microscope!

The Practice of Turning Negatives Into Positives

by Michael Corthell  In mathematics, if we multiply the negative numbers, -6 x -2 it equals a positive 12. In the human mind and its behavioral world it is a bit different of course. To turn negative experiences into positive ones requires faith, wisdom and understanding. It is very important to understand that everything in life happens for a reason and there are no accidents or coincidences, and everything in God’s infinite universe is governed by immutable laws. It is also good to understand that everything that is happening around you, good or bad, is in some way organizing and conspiring to help you. If something happens in life, either positive or negative, it has happened to teach a lesson—a spiritual lesson. Who is the teacher? Why, God, of course. In reality, everything that happens is 'good' because it leads to the ultimate good. There is an old saying, ''Everything comes out in the wash.'' To even look at something as nega

[Secrets] I've got two...

If you can accept change and welcome surprise, you know the second most important secret of life. The first? All is One and Holy.

[Clear Sight] Quantum 'Magic'...

“Become a good noticer. Pay attention to the feelings, hunches, and intuitions that flood your life each day. If you do, you will see that premonitions are not rare, but a natural part of our lives.” ― Larry Dossey, The Power of Premonitions: How Knowing the Future Can Shape Our Lives ESP is a kind of spiritual GPS system that goes ahead of you to clear your path - if you pay attention to it, that is. “Quantum physics findings show that consciousness itself created order - or indeed in some way created the world - this suggested much more capacity in the human being than was currently understood. It also suggested some revolutionary notions about humans in relation to their world and the relation between all living things. What they were asking was how far our bodies extended. Did they end with what we always thought of as our own isolated persona, or ‘extend out’ so that the demarcation between us and our world was less clear-cut? Did living consciousness possess some quantum field l

[New World]...Vegan World

  It is essential for a sustainable global economy to see natural resources as an asset, and the common heritage of all Earth's residents.

[Meditation] Mesmerize me...

“Hypnosis is a normal and natural way of knowing your inner self and augmenting it with virtues like self-belief.” ― Dr Prem Jagyasi You are the writer, producer, and director for your subconscious mind's stage play.

[One Word] is all...

“Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think.” ― Werner Heisenberg, Across the Frontiers Quantum theory says that we can simultaneously exist in two(or more) places at once, as bizarre as that sounds.

[Nutrition] Food..it's in your jeans...and your heart

'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.'' —Hippocrates, 370 BC(yes, this is nothing new!) It’s true: The No. 1 killer in the Western world is preventable and even reversible. Heart disease claims more than 600,000 lives per year and is responsible for 1 out of every 4 deaths. The only diet that has been clinically proven to reverse this scourge is a plant-based diet. You can find out more through the works of Caldwell Esselstyn, MD , as well as Dean Ornish, MD  and Michael Greger, MD

[Philosophy] Opinions vary...

Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson stressed that maintaining an open mind requires the ability to understand that contrary opinions are not based on ill will.

How to Handle Criticism

by Michael Corthell In my series on phobias I found much evidence to support my belief that the fear of poverty was far and away the number one fear for people. But another fear is right up there too, and it is one that will hold you back, and keep you from finding success. It will also cause you endless worry — if you let it. It is the fear of being unjustly(or justly) criticized — having to stand there and hear those judgmental words streaming out of someone’s mouth and then feeling stupid, rejected or even depressed. ''The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.'' – Norman Vincent Peale How to handling it? I'll use myself and how I handle email as an example this time. I get quite a lot of email feedback from the people who read what I write and publish(or re-post). Much of it is positive and supportive. But there is also much criticism, and even nasty or ignorant attacks. It can be

[Healing] doesn't have to be hard...

The secret of a blissful happy life consists of practicing laughter, silence, breathing and meditation  

Reducing Stress: Breathe to Heal

Mindful Breathing  does three things; captures oxygen, provides focus and reduces stress. by Michael Corthell At a marina, not far from where I sit writing this article, a message is displayed on their roadside marquee. It says, ''EXHALE, You're Home.'' That says it all as far as our society's stress and health issues are concerned. People work, are all up tight and they feel that they cannot 'breathe' until they are on vacation. What has to happen is that we all have to learn to breathe mindfully to reduce their stress all of the time. It is best not to wait until you must control your breathing.  Don't wait until you're extremely stressed out, in a panic or an arguement before minding your breath. Be prepared through practice. ''Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.''    —L. Frank Baum, Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Mindful, (controlled) breathing not only helps your body functioning

[Carnism] Love Some, Eat Some

  A sure way to judge someone's heart and soul is by observing their treatment of not just some animals, but of all animals...and all creation for that matter. The Village Vegan  Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other. Louis J. Camuti

[Time] is a wastin'

  Beyond Procrastination:  Front-loading your work, works best. “It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Leaving Procrastination Behind

by Michael Corthell We set goals, but then we procrastinate. We write a to-do list, and then don't follow through. This happens time and time again. Wow, what's the problem? Many of us are really good at thinking about and planning what to do, but really awful actually doing those things. Why is that? ''Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.''     ― Hesiod There are a thousand and one ways to be unsuccessful in life, but the surest way just might be procrastination. Procrastinators sabotage their own plans. They lay down stumbling blocks for themselves. They actually choose ways to fail. Twenty percent of people identify themselves as procrastinators. Procrastination for them is a lifestyle ― a very maladaptive one. About procrastination:

[Equality] of all lives...

“I am not an angel," I asserted; "and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre The primary problem with our current culture is that while it honors merit, equality, and a level playing field, at the same time it also greatly honors those with wealth, power, and celebrity, no matter how they are achieved. “He - and if there is a God, I am convinced he is a he, because no woman could or would ever fk things up this badly.” ― George Carlin

In Eternity: Neither Male, Nor Female

by Michael Corthell While the gift of sex and procreation is a very important part of this earthly life, many religious teachings including those of Jesus say that neither of these will play a role in the afterlife (or the 'beforelife') because our souls and our spirits, which are the essence of who we really are as created beings have no gender. Our biological packaging is for procreation and gives most of us either a male or female gender assignment at birth, but it is increasingly recognized in the society today that not all of us fit neatly into gender assigned categories, either physiologically or psychologically. The truth is, that human beings are a combination of masculine and feminine energies (yin-yang balance). The physiological representatives of these energies is manifested in the hormone testosterone, and estrogen, we all have some of each in inverse proportions(normally). Generally speaking those who are male at birth would have more testosterone t