Humanity On Purpose

The holiday season can be a time of great joy or great sadness.  If you have a friend or loved one who is coping with a job loss, death, serious illness, or home foreclosure, it can be hard to know how to help.

These tips from the authors of Overcomers Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will help.

1. Be sensitive to your loved ones’ limited financial resources. If your brother’s just lost his job, bragging about your holiday ski trip would be cruel.  Instead, suggest low-cost or free holiday gift suggestions so that everyone can participate, even if money is tight.
2. For the recently widowed or others who are in mourning, don’t avoid mentioning the departed family member. Gently reminisce about favorite family memories.  It’s better to speak of the departed that to carefully avoid all mention of his or name.  Follow the lead of the person in grief.  If the discussion is too difficult, she will change the subject.  Many times, the widow or widower will appreciate the chance to share a memory of the lost loved one.
3. Allow people to have their space, but watch out for isolation.  Stress and grief can be exhausting.  Your friend or family member may not be up to the traditional all day shopping trip or noisy holiday party.  Let her set the pace.  However, if you sense that your loved one is withdrawing from everything, consider stopping by for a quiet visit or a cup of tea.  Loneliness is most acute during the holidays so some extra loving care will be very helpful.
4. Invite your loved one to an uplifting community activity.  Holiday concerts, drives to see colored lights, and religious activities can be a source of connection and enjoyment.  It’s hard to not to smile when you see a child’s joy or a humorous holiday play.  Fun is often in short supply, especially when things are hard.  Strive to bring some joy to your loved one and increase their contact with their community.
5. Be patient and understanding.  Your efforts to bring joy and comfort will be appreciated, even if your hurting loved one can’t express that gratitude right at the moment.  A person dealing with a serious life challenge can be emotionally fragile so be gentle, encouraging, and present.  That understanding is the best possible gift you can provide.

What is it that you cannot see because your eyes have been blindfolded, your hands tied and your ears covered? The answer is you. And who did this to you? The answer again is you did, because you are afraid of who you might find looking back at you through the mirror.

Do you know who you truly are? Are you aware of your true nature? As you begin down the path of living a life with purpose, meaning and fulfillment you must begin to become aware of who and what you truly are. So many of us go through our days with self-imposed limits on our lives that we have come to believe them to be true. Not only that, but we then begin to impose those same limits on the people and world around us as we propagate those thoughts and beliefs throughout our lives in every area.

What is it that you’re hiding from yourself? That’s the question I encourage you to ask of yourself each day. Are the limits you face in your life real, or perceived? Is that obstacle you keep bumping up against on your way to the fulfillment of your desires an internal or external one? Consider for a moment that no external obstacles truly exist but in our minds. Further consider that the only thing holding us back from living the life we came here to live is our own beliefs about who we are.

The ‘limited you’ will come across an obstacle and either try to overcome it by going around, over, through, or below it, or you might turn and go another direction altogether. The ‘real you’ however, when faced with the same obstacle wouldn’t even see it and instead would continue on as if nothing was there and as if anything was possible, since nothing is impossible.

The real truth is that you are powerful beyond measure, boundless to no end, and brighter than any star. The real you knows nothing but abundance, the real you feels nothing but love, and the real you is aware of what your true nature is.

So now again I ask you… Do you know who you truly are?

I have a condition; I probably should have let you know about it a while ago since it’s highly contagious.

It’s been known to transmit to people in various ways… Over the telephone, through books, pictures, and even through thoughts and words.

I caught it many years ago and believe it may have been during my birth. I have done my best to hide from it over the years, but somehow it just keeps coming back.

There are times I even forget about it, but it always finds a way to remind me that it’s there.

It may seem selfish to you, but I’m actually happy that I exposed you to it. The way I see it, the more the better, and then I’m not alone!

I have found ways to deal with my condition, the first of which was to accept and embrace it as a part of me.

The next was to take an active role in it’s growth within me, rather than sitting back and letting it drive.

It’s probably a good idea for you to learn more about it since you’ve been exposed to it now; ignorance at this point is not the right answer.

Be sure to spend some time each day and learn new ways in which you can use it in your life, I have found it is possible to co-exist with my condition, and you will too.

I know what you’re wondering and no, I haven’t found any medical cure for it, however I have discovered that it in itself cures many ailments that medicine hasn’t been able to.

I haven’t found the secret to hiding it from others, but I have found there are others out there living with it that are always willing to lend a hand and help out when I need it.

Now I know this can seem scary to you, but let me assure you, it’s nothing to be afraid of, you’ll do just fine. In fact, I’m confident it’s exactly what you’ve been looking for!

Over time I’ve come to accept my condition, and after learning from so many others who are also contagious, I’ve discovered they even have a name for it. Somehow just knowing what it’s called brought me some relief.

No matter where they come from in the world, their race, age, religion, color, or financial background they all call this condition the same thing…  Success!

Here’s to OUR Success!

With Love and Gratitude,
Joshua Aragon
The Life Meaning Coach™

Amazing Grace in Roma

Joshua Aragon becomes a Bestselling Author with  Overcomers, Inc: True Stories Of Hope, Courage And Inspiration, Compiled By Lynne Klippel

Joshua Aragon of Greeley, Colorado achieved bestseller status on October 22^nd with the release of Overcomers, Inc. Joshua’s chapter is ‘How Big Is Your Tent’.

Love Your Life Publishing launched a compilation of 38 inspiring and thought provoking stories in the new anthology Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration on Thursday, October 22nd. 

Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration achieved #1 bestselling book status as well as hot new releases on Amazon.com in the following categories: Inspirational Books, Motivational Books, Spiritual books.

“Everyone at Love Your Life Publishing feels so blessed to have worked with such amazing men and women. They are living examples of those who walk their talk,” says publisher Lynn Klippel, “As you read the stories in this book, you will find real life tales of remarkable courage, strength, and perseverance.  You will be inspired, entertained, and uplifted. Some of the stories will make you laugh. Some of them will make you cry. All of them will make you proud of the power of the human spirit.”

The launch of this book was supported by over 90 top authors, industry experts, coaches and visionaries who donated nearly $6000 in life changing bonus gifts; including e-books, audio and video downloads, reports, special event offers and more.  Dozens of blog owners also joined in the promotions of Overcomers, Inc., on the day of the launch.

Among these supporters are Dr. Wayne Dyer, leader in the field of personal transformation, Best-selling author of Excuses Begone!, Chris and Janet Attwood, renowned authors of the recent bestseller, The Passion Test: The Effortless Path To Discovering Your Destiny, visionaries, leaders and authors including Dr. Joe Rubino, David Mathison, Alexis Martin Neely, Erin Blaskie and over 85 others.

Joshua Aragon, a leading authority on life meaning and purpose is a bestselling author, inspirational keynote speaker and human-potential trainer. Joshua is one of only one hundred people from around the globe personally trained and mentored by Jack Canfield to teach and lead workshops based on his Success Principles book. He is also a trained coach and leads workshops and training designed to help people find and live their true purpose in life. To learn more visit www.JoshuaAragon.com

For further information on Overcomers, Inc., Love Your Life Publishing and interviews with the authors, contact Lynne Klippel at lynne@lynneklippel.com or 636-922-2634 (EST)

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It’s been a dream of mine to get a book published, and today marks that day!  Although it won’t be my last, it was a very important step for me and one that I am very proud of. The book is called Overcomers, Inc. and it’s the life work of a group of 37 authors, plus myself. Within the pages you will find joy, peace, inspiration, hope and courage. You’ll smile, laugh, cry and find yourself lost within the pages of each authors life, you may even find your own story in there somewhere.

I’m feel both privledged and honored to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring group of authors and have no doubt that you will absolutely love this book!   The summary follows below…

Get Your Copy Now, Plus Dozens of Bonuses worth over $5K

Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph.

You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light.

All of the contributors to this book want to encourage you to hold tight to your belief that a better day will come. It is their sincere desire to pass along what they’ve learned through their own trials, to make your journey easier.

To get your own copy and receive dozens of bonus gifts go to;

http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

I had this story forwarded to me and it related to something I wrote in my newsletter this month so I also wanted to share it here as what it has behind it carries a lot of relevance to life today.

Enjoy!   – Joshua

Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning  in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the  station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a  middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He  slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried  to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw  the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to  walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned  against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch  and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3 year old boy  stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid  stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed  hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the  time. This action was repeated by several other children.  Every parent, without exception, forced them to move  on.

45 minutes:
The musician played.  Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave  him money but continued to walk their normal pace.

He  collected $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one  noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any  recognition.

No one knew this but  the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in  the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever  written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days  before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the  seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing  incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington  Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste  and people’s priorities. The questions raised: in a common  place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive  beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in  an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached  from this experiment could be:

If we do not have a  moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the  world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one  of the most beautiful instruments …..

How many other things are we missing?

If you’re anything like I have been in the past you no doubt find yourself feeling both unfulfilled and as though you’re lacking something quite often. This can manifest itself as needing the newest technology toy, fastest or largest vehicle on the road, something that someone else has and you want, excess food, or any relationship that isn’t yours…

Generally when we begin to feed these feelings of need by shopping, eating, exercising, or other activities to bring temporary relief to the issue we usually find that within a short period of time, the same urgent need has once again reared its ugly head and is looking for immediate satisfaction. You might bend yet again and take the steps necessary to place a temporary band-aid on this unending desire, however never quite get to the root of what the real need is; true fulfillment.

The first step in breaking free from this common situation is first to identify that you’re in it. If you aren’t able to take a step back from your life and see it from another perspective then identifying it may be a challenge. At times like this close friends and family members may be your window to identifying and pointing out the pattern to you.

The next step is to start looking beyond the material need and attempt to get at the root of what it’s all about. When we are faced with the ‘lack’ or ‘scarcity’ of some type of material or external need, generally there is a larger and more pressing internal need or desire that is underlying the issue. Placing your focus and energy on this internal need not only brings light to the sometimes unnoticed need, but also brings you back in control of what’s really going on and removes the ‘external’ factor from the equation.

The final step after going through the discovery steps above is to begin the process of taking the time to nurture the underlying needs that have been ignored or neglected in the past. This can be as simple as adding a 30 minute exercise routine to your day or as large as a career change, new relationship, or physical move. The key is to take action and ensure that it’s in a purposeful direction for you.

You may have to utilize this process many times in order to flush out multiple areas where you are experiencing the ‘can’t get enough’ feelings you are experiencing. However, by following the steps above you will, without a doubt, find yourself further down the path to living a life with more meaning, satisfaction, joy and peace.

In my last article we discussed how the process of ‘dream seeding’ allows you to plant seeds in the abundant soil of the Universe and reap the benefits of the unbounded knowledge found there.  The idea is for you to place a problem, question or other situation into the Universal Mind and trust that what you need will be on its way immediately to you.

The basis of the technique I utilize both in my practice and personally was derived from the work of Deepak Chopra and other mentors I have studied, however I have modified and added pieces based upon personal experience.  The biggest challenge you will face is to stick with it even during those days or weeks when you feel as though you may not be making any progress. I encourage you to take this as a model to learn from but understand that it’s not the only way. You may even decide to personalize this one, as I have done, and use the pieces that make the most sense for you in your life.

I suggest you start with something small at first and then as you get more practice you can up the ante and increase the complexity and number of questions you’re seeking answers to. It’s generally best to work with just one item at a time as you get started.

I’ll break it into a few simple and easy steps for you here to get you started…

I have found that it’s best to practice dream seeding when you know you will have at least 5-7 hours of continuous uninterrupted sleep, although I have seen results with much less. (New babies can cause the much less sleep I speak of!)

1. Locate a notebook, sketchbook or pad of paper that you will use as your new ‘dream journal’.
2. Come up with one question to a problem or dilemma that you’re currently facing on your journey to a more purposeful life and write it down. (This should be a single question, not a question on top of a question or a barrage of many ideas in one. It can be as simple as, ‘I want to know how I can best be of service to others.’)
3. Once you have your question written down in your dream journal place it on your nightstand or next to your bed on the floor along with a pen or pencil and possibly a book light or flashlight.
4. As you prepare for bed read the single question you have written in your journal aloud several times and try and commit it to memory. (This is why it’s best that your question is kept simple and short.) Your objective is to have this question on your mind right as you drift off to sleep.
5. As you’re lying in bed say something similar to the following; ‘Tonight I would like to know (insert your question). I release this question into the Universe and ask that I remember the answer when I wake up in a way that I can immediately understand.’
6. Go to sleep…..

Okay… believe it or not, that was the easy part, the actual planting of the seed. Now I will give you a few more items that will make this journey a success, and that are equally important in this process.

When you wake up in the morning, even if it’s at 2a.m., write in your journal anything that you can remember about your dreams. Try to capture every detail down to the colors, smells, feelings, images and words. You may find that once you write the main idea, others immediately pop into your head, just keep writing until there’s nothing left that you can remember.

It is extremely important that you do this while in bed and that you don’t jar yourself too much or move to another location if at all possible. Also, use your flashlight rather than turning on the room light (your spouse will also appreciate this!).

Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is that you do this immediately upon waking up before doing anything else, even using the restroom! No matter how strong the mental image is when you wake up, these dreams can disappear back into the unconscious mind before you know it leaving you frustrated and unable to recall any details.

Don’t become upset or feel that you did something wrong if when you wake up you don’t remember anything about the dreams you had that night. Also don’t become angry at yourself or the process if you either forget, or don’t have the complete picture you were expecting. The dreams may not seem complete when you start this process, however as you progress you will learn the best questions to ask to get the more complete picture of what you’re truly seeking.

Finally, I recommend that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get it all perfect, just experiment with it and find the way that it works best for you. Your dreams are your playground, enjoy the journey!