Sunday, July 26, 2009

Spirituality Sunday - The Five Attitudes

This is a textual version of components from the July 26 Spirituality Sunday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington


Thank You to Krista Tippett and her staff whose “Speaking of Faith” program on National Public Radio is a cornucopia of spiritual wisdom.


Thank You to Parker Palmer, Krista’s guest on today’s program, who is a Quaker, and Author and an Educator and whose insights on the human and spiritual aspects of the times we are living through together gave me valuable food-for-thought.

By the way, this material is available for your listening pleasure at Speakingoffaith.publicradio.org


Thank you to Dr. Shari Lieberman, who departed this earthly life this week at the early age of 51 and whose life will continue to be a reminder to me that it’s not how many days you put into your life, it’s how much life you put into your days that counts.


I want also to send out a shout of encouragement to Eric Proffitt who will be setting off on August 1st on a 25-day, five hundred mile run to raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking that is going on today.


You can learn more about how you can support this cause by visiting www.ericproffitt.com


Last but not least, I want to thank Neale Donald Walsch – whose book ‘Conversations with God’, to which you can find a link on today’s program website, inspired me to have deeper conversations of my own by adding dimensions I had not previously considered.


THE FIVE ATTITUDES


For today’s program I decided to reflect on what is described as the five attitudes of God as demonstrated in the feelings of being

  • Joyful
  • Loving
  • Accepting
  • Blessing, and
  • Grateful.

It would seem logical that if these attitudes are Godly, which I believe them to be, the more highly developed they are in our awareness and our actions the better off we will be spiritually.


So let me offer some thoughts for your consideration.


Joyful:


I have been blessed in my life to experience joy in many forms:

The joy of sporting success

The joy of an “I do” from the person you love

The joy of experiencing the miracle of birth as first-hand as a father/grandfather can

The joy of shared friendships

Think of the words enjoyment, enjoyable. Think what gives you enjoyment. What do you consider enjoyable? Capture them in your mind’s eye. Tap into the energizing force these experiences give. I’m sure they are an expression of the God inside of you.

Love:

I recently came to the realization that “Where love exists rear cannot. The more I love the less I fear”. This started me on a road to self-examination.


Accepting:


How accepting am I?

When I accept a gift, do I acknowledge the giver and their graciousness?

When I am confronted with difficulties in life, do I accept these as the tools to a better understanding?

When I have disagreements do I accept the value of different perspectives to my own?


Blessing:


Here I think of the power of the two words “God Bless”.

Since we are all blessed in so many ways by what has been given us by God to craft into what we choose to make of our lives, that knowledge alone asks me to stay humble by remembering the source of all my blessings.


Grateful:


I have found that the more I am able to add the “Attitude of Gratitude” to my daily routine, the more I feel obliged to give back.

Is that what is meant by one of the many paradoxes in St. Francis of Assissi’s famous prayer

“For it is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned

And it is in dying that we’re born to Eternal Life”


I am grateful that we spent this time together


IN CONCLUSION


I hope that as you reflect on today’s program you will:

tap into more Joy – let’s live the song “Joy to the world, all the boys and girls, joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me”

be more loving of yourself and others – love health, love wealth, love happiness, love love.

accept we are what we are, but not yet what we can become

understand the source of your blessings so that you can be a source of blessings to others.

And be grateful that you are what you are; to those who have helped you be what you have become; and to seize the opportunity to show your gratitude by being that somebody to that someone who needs you today.


For myself,

I am Peter Pocklington

I am a Good News Merchant

I am a purveyor of prosperity, and

I am my own personal guarantee.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening

Invest in yourself, YOU ARE SO WORTH IT.

GOD BLESS!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Spirituality Sunday - On Love, On Giving

This is a textual version of components from the July 19 Spiritual Sunday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Thank you to last week’s guests, Pat Rocchi the author of “The 6 Ps of Change” who was our guest on Mindset Monday, and Mike Quick, the owner of Quick Merchant Solutions, who was our guest on Business Growth Friday.

Thank You today to my many teachers, especially the ones who taught not only by words, but by example.

Thank You to the Reverend David Thomas – whose church building was sparsely populated for the Sunday services, but whose ministry was therefore the more vibrant as he spent his days as, in my mind, Jesus would have, reaching out.

Visiting the farmers whose days schedules were dictated by the needs of their animals not by the schedule of Sunday services

Visiting the sick in the local hospitals. Sharing words with those who “had nobody”. Sharing a cup of tea, sharing the warmth of love through a handshake, a touch on the shoulder, a nod of the head that said “I’m listening”.

Mr Thomas told my mother that one day he would fill our “Church on the Hill” to where it would hold no more. No mean boast for an average attendance of a few dozen.

That day came when, on the day of his funeral he was watching from his rightful place in heaven as the hills emptied, the animals needs were put on hold for a couple of hours, and those he touched gave thanks for the life of a man.

As I think about it more – where is Jesus busy today. Is he confined in the walls of a church building – or out and about with those who need him most? Where is the prophet Mohammed today? Where is the Lord Buddah?

I’d like to think you know the answer.

“Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst”

I was also given this week another great example of a person being a living example to me.

She decided that words of faith were not enough. If you speak it you must do it and you will become it. “Speaking into Storms” she called it.

She gave to God not that which was left over from her abundance. But of that which she was in need.

To cut a long story short – she was blessed in return with givings to her. Meeting necessities she had been putting off and taking good care of her.

Again I was reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Widow’s mite, and knew that I was experiencing truth in action.

All this got me to asking what I could share – what could I give back – as thanks for these insights, these teachings.

So I turned to my spiritual guides, accumulations of the written word that have served mankind through the ages. I was drawn to share words today

ON LOVE and ON GIVING

These words are taken from Kahlil Bibran in his work “The Prophet”.

Kahlil, by way of background, was a Lebanese poet, philosopher and artist whose earthly existence spanned from 1883 to 1931 – less than fifty years – but whose words of wisdom are timeless.

I share his words today in the hope they nourish your spirit, add a dimension to your understanding, and provide guidance for your actions.

ON LOVE

He writes

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him. Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you; And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning; Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth;
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would only seek love’s peace and love’s pleasure; Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing floor, into the seamless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself; Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’; And think not that you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.; But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understandings of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise on your lips.

ON GIVING

Then said a rich man, speak to us of Giving. And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?; Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much they have – and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome; And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty; There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward; And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space; Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving. And is there aught you would withhold? All you have shall some day be given; Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.

You often say, ‘I would give, but only to the deserving.’ The trees in your orchard say not so, not the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish. Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and nights is worthy of all else from you. And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be, than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, any the charity, of receiving? And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed? Se first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving. For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers – and you are all receivers – assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives; Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; For to be over mindful of your debt is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, DEAR LISTENERS.

We are called upon by Christ to be Christ-like.
We are called by the Lord Buddha to be Buddha-like.
We are called by all the spiritually enlightened ones to let our spirits become a light to others.

For now, I only ask that I may have helped you who are listening to this program, in some way.

For today it is enough that

I am Peter Pocklington

I am a Good News Merchant
I am a Purveyor of Prosperity
And I am my own personal guarantee.

Business Growth Friday - How is your Merchant Account Relationship

This is a textual version of components from the July 17 Business Growth Friday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington


Peter: As regular listeners know, the two major components for accelerating your business growth are: improving cash flow; and improving information flow to and from your customers.

I am thrilled today to have as my guest Mike Quick of Quick Merchant Solutions. Mike is an expert on what to look for in, and from a business owner’s Merchant Account provider. Hi Mike.

Mike: Hi Peter, how are you today.

Peter: Always great, because its always a choice.

I first met Mike when we were members of the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs together. Mike impressed me with his sincere desire to educate me and the members of the business community on what you don’t see, or may not be aware of when choosing a Merchant Services Provider – the person who is providing you with Point-Of-service cashflow.

Before we get down to business, we at M7Enterprises are about promoting people who go over and above – who prosper others. Tell me a little about yourself. About what you are passionate about.

Mike: Thank You for the introduction and for having me on the show.

I am Mike Quick. the owner of Quick Merchant Solutions, which is a Payment Services Company. I live in West Chester, PA with my wife and two children.

By way of background I have over 20 years in financial services, prior to starting Quick Merchant Solutions seven years ago.

In terms of things I am passionate about, I guess I’d say:
When it’s cold I like to do winter snow skiing with my daughter,
When it is warm I like to play golf.
I also feel very strongly about being able to give back. to the community

In that context I’m quite involved in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and, in terms of my business, this year I introduced an enhanced charitable giving program, whereby every time someone makes a transaction through my company I do make a small charitable contribution at the end of the quarter.

Peter: That’s truly the Mike I know. Giving back to the community. On the business side - what are you passionate about?

Mike: I think the biggest thing is making sure that merchants have the correct information they need to make a decision on their merchant account . Specifically, I have become very passionate about making sure that the potential client has complete, timely, straight-forward communication detailing all the elements of that Merchant Account Relationship.

Peter: You mention all of the information. So, what information do your customers need that, in your opinion, they are not getting from everybody?

Mike: Well, this can include any number of things. It should be specific in terms of what is important to each business.

The things that come to mind are:
  • Price
  • Geography – do you want to work with a local company or is that something that is not important to you.
  • Maybe the size of Company – do you want to work with a smaller company or a larger company.
  • How important is access to the individual in that company that really knows what’s going on, including being able to leverage in your business the company’s knowledge of the industry, and how will that knowledge benefit you, particularly if you are in certain types of Company that have large ticket transactions, may have delivery risk, things of that nature.
I would suggest you think of all of these types of things, you put them on a list, you weight them, and you make a decision. In making that decision it probably makes sense to talk to two or three different providers, to get a really good sense as to what’s going on, and you will likely learn from each one of them.

This is something that was really lacking in the industry when I started my business seven years ago.

Peter: OK. So its more than just price then?

Mike: Absolutely

Peter: In my experience with the industry, price seems to be what most people focus in on. So they should be looking at more than just price?

Mike: I think it really has to do with the overall relationship, and price, obviously, being just a component of that.

Peter: Regarding the overall relationship. If there was just one thing you would stress to the listener who is considering his merchant account relationship - starting one, improving one, changing one - what would that be?

Mike: The one single thing I would say is “Make the list”. It is going to be critical as you make your business decisions, and its going to be critical as you make a decision as it relates to your merchant account.

That list should have the things that are important to you. What the pros and cons are on each one of those elements and that is going to put you in a good position to establish the right relationship.

Peter: Can you help the listeners understand with an example of things you have seen where better information, where going through the process as you’ve described it would have helped somebody?

Mike: Two situations come to mind immediately.

One is an individual that I worked with that was quoted a very low price on their account. They were quoted a price of 1.4% and 17 cents per transaction. As it turns out this price only applied to 5% of their sales. And they had 95% of their transactions whereby they were paying a higher rate. An additional 2.5 or 3.5%.

Now, in terms of the contract this had all been disclosed. But in terms of the discussion, maybe it wasn’t made absolutely as clear as it could have been.

Another situation that comes to mind is an individual I worked with who unknowingly had entered a five year contract that would have cost almost $3000 to get out of.

In that situation his account was not set up properly. When they fixed the problem they did so by opening a new account – which is very standard in the industry.

Unfortunately this particular merchant didn’t really understand that this was happening because no-one took the time to explain it to him. Of course, he’s busy running his business. He just received a FAX, signed the paperwork, and wound up with a very onerous contract. As it turned out we were able to negotiate a better rate for him with his current processor.

Peter: So what I’m hearing is – contracts are contracts, but it is really important to have a relationship where you can ask questions.

Mike: Well, I would even go a step further than that. I think it is even more important to look for a relationship where your partner in the Merchant Account is going to volunteer the information. Because every merchant is not going to know the correct questions to ask. Again, I would focus on someone that is going to be providing the information right up front, so you don’t have to stop and ask.

Peter: So not every merchant knows what questions to ask and you are going one step beyond that. More in the context of “you don’t know what you don’t know”. So get a relationship established where you will be told up front and not find out on request later.

Mike: Absolutely.

Peter: So, again, let’s emphasize what, in your opinion, the components of a well-rounded business merchant account client/provider relationship are.

Mike: Will I would focus on a few things.

  • The first one, the primary thing - make that list.
  • Make sure you are going to work with someone who you can trust and have access to – so that if ever you have a question you can get the right person on the phone that is going to have the correct answer.
  • Make sure that you have all the information in writing, not where you are going by a conversation that can’t be well-documented three years later.
  • The last thing, and this is particularly important for merchants out there who may have set up their account, 4, 5- years ago, this should be reviewed from time to time. Things do change. So you want to make sure you are taking a look at this and that what you have today is still appropriate. So take a look at your account from time to time.

Peter: OK - Make a list; Find someone that you trust and have access to; Get your information in writing; and Review your account from time to time.

So – where can a business go to learn more about you.

Mike: Two things, Go to my website at www.quickmerchantsolutions.com or give me a call at 877-879-9979

Peter: OK then, www.quickmerchantsolutions.com is the place to go to find Mike and to get Mike’s wisdom to you.

Thank you for listening today. I hope that what you learned today helps you grow your business to help your community.

You can email us at m7enterprises@gmail.com with your comments and questions.

Our Business Growth Team is always happy to learn from you and get your questions answered.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

YOU ARE in the middle of A MIRACLE

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES

Take it easy ..... you're in the middle of a miracle

Let me repeat

Take it easy ..... you're in the middle of a miracle

What was on my soundtrack yesterday?

The album "Already Home" by special people Jan Garrett and JD Martin.

In fact they are so special here's an interesting video about them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPjOKMU6igo

I was thinking of you when my iPod skipped the first track and went straight to the song "Middle of a Miracle"

The lines went

"Take it easy baby ... you're in the middle of a miracle
You are right smack dab in the midst of the action
You're the main attraction
You're in the right place at the right time
You're a legend in your own mind
Take it easy baby ... you're in the middle of a miracle
you're in the middle of a miracle"

So why did I think of you?

Like everybody, you form the miracle of life.

Why did that sperm end its life giving mission by fertilizing that egg? The answer is - TO CREATE YOU!

I know you are part of the fellowship of the 3%.

The people that make things happen - instead of being acted upon. That's how we met "FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!"

So you are definitely in the midst of the action.

Now it is a Universal Law that you attract what you believe you are and what you expect to get.

That makes YOU the MAIN ATTRACTION - quite literally.

Through Grace we are always at the right place at the right time - to fulfill our own master plan.

One of the problems is that we don't believe this to be true, so we don't see it. It may be simple, but it isn't easy!

So, just have faith and believe in you, as I do!

Work on giving more focus to the legend you are creating in your own mind of you.

What you create lives on long after you you have transitioned to the higher plane that is promised you.

BE LIFE. CREATE LIFE. LOVE LIFE.

You are SO WORTH IT.

Speak to me. GIVE ME WORD!

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Hey - while I think of it - pick up our free Mechanics of Wealth package - pay only S&H

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wellness Wednesday - Sleep: Essential for optimum health

This is a textual version of components from the July 15 Wellness Wednesday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington

In an Attitude of Gratitude

Thank You to Dr. Steven Lamm – for his insights into the power of Pycnolgenol, especially in its isotonic form.

Thank You to Dr. Julian Blumenfeld - for his on-going dedication to educating physicians into the patient benefits and the economic benefits of incorporating wellness into their practices.

Thank You to Dr. Roslyn Gill of Sciona Labs , whose tireless work is addressing the steep learning curve that regulators have when coming to grips with a wellness paradigm.

Thank You to Dr. Milan Moore, who, as an orthopaedic surgeon who specialized in knee and hip replacements, remained open-minded enough to incorporate the benefits of adding our weight management lifestyles into his practice. As he points out, every 1 lb. weight loss results in a 4 lb. stress reduction to the knees. Are you listening ex-NFL players!

Dr. Lamm, Dr. Blumenfeld, Dr. Gill and Dr. Moore were panelists at the February Market America World Conference, which is , co-incidentally, one of the largest gatherings of Wellness Warriors held anywhere.

Thank You to my colleague, LaDonna Phelps, who is launching the Ohio/Akron Women’s Wellness Society on August 31st 2009 at the Southern Gardens Tea Room, 497 Portage Lakes Drive in Akron, Ohio 44319 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Set your GPS and take a ride!

And to Wellness Warrior, Lucy Del Sarto of T C O Y Wellness (that’s Take Care of Yourself Wellness) at www.tcoywellness.com , from whom I will be receiving further wellness education later today. Watch out for Lucy on a future Wellness Wednesday show.

WHAT IS WELLNESS?

Before moving to the topic of today’s show – SLEEP, AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT TO OPTIMAL HEALTH – I want to address one of the questions I am most often asked “What is Wellness?”

Someone once said that “Courage is not the absence of fear – it is the ability to take action in spite of the fear”

In my mind, Wellness is not just the absence of disease – it is the absence of dis-ease. It is the proactive empowerment of the body to do what it does best, heal itself.

The more accurate we can get our language, the better our chances of fixing our problems. Let’s stop, for example, calling the sickness and repair industry the “Health Care” industry.

This attention to language will also help us to call upon the Power of The Subconscious Mind – the title of the book that is recommended on today’s show page.

Read Chapter 3, on the miracle working power of your subconscious

Read Chapter 4, on mental healings in ancient times

Read Chapter 5, on mental healings in modern times

You may be surprised by the power you have to change your wellness. YOU JUST HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!

SLEEP, AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT TO OPTIMAL HEALTH

”To sleep, perchance to dream” – Samuel Pepys – [perhaps literature's first blogger]

Sleep is a longevity essential. It is one of the most basic and universal activities in which we all engage. Yet, getting to sleep, staying asleep, and waking refreshed can be highly elusive to most of us some of the time, and to many of us all of the time.

The National Sleep Foundation reported in 2002 the following statistics

  • 63% of American Adults get less than the eight hours of sleep that experts recommend to maintain optimal physical, mental and emotional health

  • one third of the US population says they get less sleep now than they did five years ago

  • one half of all Americans have experienced insomnia

  • drowsiness due to a lack of a proper night of sleep interferes with the daily activities of 37% of all adults.


In 350 BC (Before Christ) Aristotle wrote that “all animals are clearly observed to partake in sleep … Nutrition and Growth are then especially promoted”

In today’s 24/7, stimulus overloaded, stress-filled society, many of us need to make a deliberate effort to achieve the best sleep we can get. Look for the following nutrients:

  • Melatonin – to repair fragmented sleep architectures, reduce the time to fall asleep, reduce the number of night time awakenings, increase the total sleep time, decrease the body temperature phase setter, and have an anti-anxiety effect. This will extend your lifespan, give a better immune/inflammatory response, increase your IGF-1, and increase your DHEA.

  • Valerian – to repair fragmented sleep architecture, improve sleep quality, reduce restless leg syndrome, reduce muscle spasms, and reduce aches and pains.

  • Lemon Balm – has an anti-anxiety effect, and reduces the pain from arthritis and chronic joint problems.

  • Passionflower – anti-anxiety effect and is a pain reliever.

  • Chamomile – decreases the inflammation in arthritis and chronic joint problems and soothes the stomach

  • Hops – are a sedative

  • Jujube – reduces restlessness and irritability

  • Velvet Bean – is a phase setter and helps with restless leg syndrome

  • Astraglus – provides a healthy stress response

  • B-vitamins – help with the production of neurotransmitters and melatonin, and

  • Magnesium – helps with restless leg syndrome, muscle spasms and general aches and pains.


So there you have it. Look for these ingredients in your nutritional supplementation.

Also create your sleep haven where you can put your head on your pillow and be completely at mental, emotional, and physical ease.

The return on your investment is priceless.

Peter Pocklington

BTW, I can probably get tickets to the August Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina. Contact me personally at prp@m7enterprises.biz should you want more information.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Spirituality Sunday - Levels Of Human Consciousness

This is a textual version of components from the July 12 Spirituality Sunday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at www.blogtalkradio.com

Thank you to the pioneers

Dr. George Goodheart - the pioneer of Applied Kinesiology - whose work on benign stimuli, such as nutritional supplements - implied that the body knows - at a level far below conceptual consciousness - what is good and bad for it.

Dr. John Diamond - who refined this into Behavioral Kinesiology - taking the research a step further to observe the same effect for emotional ind intellectual stimuli as for physical stimuli.

The simple fact that a smile will make you test strong, where the statement "I hate you" makes you test weak can be a life changer!

Finally to Dr. David Hawkins - whose research on the kinesiological response to truth and falsehood led to his book "Power vs. Force", the book that provided insights for me into the spirituality of science and the science of spirituality. The book that provides today's spiritual 'Food For Thought'

While I encourage everyone to read the book, since it contains so many powerful concepts, today I will focus on his definitions of the levels of human consciousness.

Why? - because the ways they express themselves are both subtle and profound - and the consequences far reaching. Understanding the destructive effect of the lower levels and creating motion towards the higher levels can positively affect you, the listener, as an individual - and society at large - in so many ways.

It is important to acknowledge also that the energy fields of consciousness are rarely, if ever, displayed as pure states in any individual. We are all complex creatures operating at different levels in the various aspects of our lives.

From bottom to top, the levels of human consciousness that Dr. Hawkins identifies and describes are:
  • Shame

  • Guilt

  • Apathy

  • Grief

  • Fear

  • Desire

  • Anger

  • Pride

  • Courage

  • Neutrality

  • Willingness

  • Acceptance

  • Reason

  • Love

  • Joy

  • Peace

  • Enlightenment



To help identify the characteristics of each

In Shame we hang our heads, wish we were invisible, banish ourselves from society.

Guilt is often used by society to manipulate and punish. It often results in a preoccupation with 'sin' and unforgiving emotional attitudes.

Apathy is characterized by poverty, despair and lack of hope.

To Grief - while most of us experience grief for a short time, living in grief constantly creates a situation where the person lives in the past.

Fear - once fear becomes your focus, the endless worrisome events of the world feed it. Fear is the tool of oppressive totalitarian agencies. However it is also a tool used by the marketplace!

Desire - has a higher level of energy because in order to 'get' you have to 'want' - which will start us on the road to achievement. It is often the springboard to higher levels of success.

Anger. It was interesting that this calibrated above desire in Dr. Hawkins' experiments. However, he notes that since it is based on frustrated want it has to be based on the level below it.

Pride at last takes us to a level where we feel positive. It looks good, feels good - BUT - it is inherently vulnerable because it is dependent on external conditions.

As expressed by Dr. Hawkins Courage is the level where Power, where Empowerment, first appears. It is the zone of exploration, of accomplishment. Once you take courage to try new things, to deal with the changes and challenges, obstacles become stimulants and productivity begins!

Beyond courage comes Neutrality where positions are less rigid - people have the inner confidence to detach themselves from outcomes, to not feel defeated by setbacks.

Next comes Willingness the level at which people become builders of, and contributors to, Society.

At the level of Acceptance, which is not to be confused with Apathy and Passivity, YOU BECOME BOTH THE SOURCE AND CREATOR OF YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES. You take back your own power. Love is not something given or taken away by others. It is created from within.

Reason - the level of Nobel Prize Winners, of Great Statesmen - is the level of conceptualization, of comprehension. It is effective in a technical world of methodologies and logic, but is is also the major block to reaching the Higher Levels,

Love the type of love that is unconditional, unchanging and permanent. That comes straight from the heart!

Joy the level at which the inner radiates to affect the outer.

Peace the peace of God that "passeth all understanding" .

and finally to Enlightenment the level of the great ones we revere as Lords, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddah and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I speak as a fellow traveler on the road to enlightenment as I strive to increase the level of my own consciousness, and remain

Peter Pocklington
Good News Merchant
Purveyor of Prosperity, and
My Own Personal Guarantee!

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You for participating
Invest in Yourself - You are SO Worth It!

God Bless

Monday, July 6, 2009

The Guru And The Teacher

This is a textual version of components from the July 6 Mindset Monday show. The full show is archived for your listening pleasure at www.blogtalkradio.com/PeterPocklington

A teacher takes responsibility of your growth
A Guru makes you responsible for your growth

A teacher gives you things you do not have and require
A Guru takes away things you have and do not require

A teacher answers your questions
A Guru questions your answers

A teacher helps you get out of the maze
A Guru destroys the maze

A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil
A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil

A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey
A Guru strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey

A teacher is a guide on the path
A Guru is a pointer to the way

A teacher sends you on the road to success
A Guru sends you on the road to freedom

A teacher explains the world and its nature to you
A Guru explains yourself and your nature to you

A teacher makes you understand how to move about in the world
A Guru shows you where you stand in relation to the world

A teacher gives you knowledge and boosts your ego
A Guru takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego

A teacher instructs you
A Guru constructs you

A teacher sharpens your mind
A Guru opens your mind

A teacher shows you the way to prosperity
A Guru shows the way to serenity

A teacher reaches your mind
A Guru touches your soul

A teacher gives you knowledge
A Guru makes you wise

A teacher gives you maturity
A Guru returns you to innocence

A teacher instructs you on how to solve problems
A Guru shows you how to resolve issues

A teacher is a systematic thinker
A Guru is a lateral thinker

A teacher will punish you with a stick
A Guru will punish you with compassion

A teacher is to pupil what a father is to son
A Guru is to pupil what mother is to her child

One can always find a teacher
But a Guru has to find and accept you

A teacher leads you by the hand
A Guru leads you by example

When a teacher finishes with you, you graduate
When a Guru finishes with you, you celebrate

When the course is over you are thankful to the teacher
When the discourse is over you are grateful to the Guru
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May this provide some guidance as you consider the role that the
various people who enter your life might be playing in your mindset
education.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

For Independence Day 2009 - Ten New Commandments

#1 – Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities”
#2 – Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass”
#3 – Thou shalt not cross bridges before ye come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this”
#4 – Thou shalt face each problem as it comes, you can only handle one at a time anyway”
#5 – Thou shalt not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows”
#6 – Thou shalt not borrow other people’s problems. They can better care for them than you can”
#7 – Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, for it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now”
#8 – Thou shalt be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do”
#9 – Thou shalt not become bogged down by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action”
#10 - Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones – for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one”