Getting Results

We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see, but these things are only the effects of something subtle.--- Lao Tsu

We're having a little cold snap here in Central Florida --- also a little rain. Not the kind of inspiring morning I was looking for, but, realize it could be a lot worse. I could be up north. Anyway, they'll be no more lame excuses for not writing anything. I've decided to seize the moment and see what happens.

It occurred to me that one's motives for writing have a lot to do with the resulting productivity. To the extent that I actually take myself seriously about wanting to be the next Wayne Dyer --- or even to gain any tangible rewards --- I sabotage my efforts.

It's a very simple principle. My writing must be for it's own sake --- just as I was corresponding with an imaginary friend. And, I shouldn't fret over the fact that I can't spell or punctuate. Sometimes I think that english teachers should be taken out and severely punished for making people feel uncomfortable with their own language.

It's a very simple principle but, (aha!) it covers a lot of ground when I look at the subject matter which I usually write about --- feeling better about things.

What's the single best tip I have to offer in this area? Not that it even comes close to being original, but that would be practicing meditation in any of its various forms. There certainly are many forms, but, what I've come to learn is that function is much more important than form. My own bias is that no matter how you meditate, whether its sitting on a overstuffed pillow or hanging from a flagpole, one should try to extend the mind-set into the rest of the day, no matter what the activity.

Is it easy? No its not easy at all, but it's much harder if we're not pursuing whatever we're doing at the time for it's own sake. When you're washing the dishes, you should be washing the dishes.

There are lots of benefits attributed to meditation, stated far and wide in the literature --- stress reduction, relaxation, pain management, increasing one's sense of spirituality, finding enlightenment etc. etc. etc.. Paradoxically, the process itself demands a mind-set which is not looking for results or outcomes --- You need to focus on the activity itself --- for it's own sake. ( --- and, incidentally, without fretting about how well you're doing it.)

It's perfectly fine if our meditation practice makes us a more popular person, cures our achne, or makes us feel that we are enlightened. But, the true purpose is to accept the present moment as it actually is and be open to all possibilities. If we do, the real reasons for our practice become so clear it's as if we just bumped into an old --- and very good --- friend.

I live in Orlando, Fl. with my beautiful and brilliant wife, my dynamic and creative 13 year old son, and a totally spoiled female Shih-Tzu. I'm retired and trying to write stuff which will help people to feel better about things. BTW, that's the name of my web site: feelbetteraboutthings.com

MORE RESOURCES:

Best Life Week Spirituality 101 on Oprah - Examiner.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/01/west_shore_bakery_owner_to_be.htmlcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFHwtPXsK8esJnqR0fleQC1nc5VFgimg src=http://nt1.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=Od7gP3kj0YQJimgurl=blog.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/2009/01/large_treid.jpg width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2PennLive.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-1869-New-England-Fitness-Examiner~y2009m1d7-Best-Life-Week-Spirituality-101-on-Oprahcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFaRh8XmuVF63kQ_BYdLjImoQn_UQBest Life Week bSpirituality/b 101 on Oprah/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Jo Levy, New England Fitness Examiner Day 3 of Oprah#39;s Best Life Week was based on bSpirituality/b. You may want to ask me what bspirituality/b has to do with b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.bestsyndication.com/%3Fq%3D20090107_spirituality_101_coping_with_lifes_problems_best_life_week_oprah_winfrey_show.htmcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFGceIPaiaI106l-puHKSAJTYMNRAbSpirituality/b 101 – Job, Money, Family – Oprah’s Best Life Week on b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBest Syndication/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.best.2.901795.htmlcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFLAcFkAiynbRZbPTIGLwmvRfGo4wDay 3: Oprah#39;s Best Life Week - bSpirituality/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS 4/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/01/oprahs-best-lif.htmlcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNG65DGo0I4IOca_w0jnCsjyaZuE8QOprah#39;s Best Life Week continues with bspirituality/b advice, Suze b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe TV Guy/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://www.wgal.com/entertainment/18436551/detail.htmlcid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNEWPNhFmIj2g3i6Lorc5GQkUurdlwnobrWGAL/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf%3F/base/news/1231308603194650.xml%26coll%3D1cid=1287711754ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNEZQBvHNCOiZ9bu1SujWAKSKcsOjwnobrThe Patriot-News - PennLive.com/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287711754hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Spirituality May Help Adolescents Cope With Chronic Illness - Science Daily (press release)

Spirituality Is Key To Kids#39; Happiness - Science Daily (press release)

San Carlos honors Geronimo#39;s courage, spirituality and intellect - Arizona Silver Belt

The spiritual tragedies in Obama#39;s choice of Pastor Rick Warren - Examiner.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-806-SF-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m1d7-The-spiritual-tragedies-in-Obamas-choice-of-Pastor-Rick-Warrencid=1287118650ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNGHjR3ZaIKyS5i_Xl3pUwbeLi1eBQimg src=http://nt0.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=CI83Uq0G7sIJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img455Bonder-Saniel.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-806-SF-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m1d7-The-spiritual-tragedies-in-Obamas-choice-of-Pastor-Rick-Warrencid=1287118650ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNGHjR3ZaIKyS5i_Xl3pUwbeLi1eBQThe bspiritual/b tragedies in Obama#39;s choice of Pastor Rick Warren/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Saniel Bonder, SF bSpirituality/b Examiner Most people aren’t thinking a whole lot, right now, about the Pastor Rick Warren/Obama Inauguration controversy. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

University Professor: ‘I liked the message of awareness and ... - The Epoch Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9960/cid=1287832717ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNHht9wC3kw4wqAlOSWxUmw6I7kRigUniversity Professor: ‘I liked the message of awareness and b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Epoch Times,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“I liked the message of awareness and bspirituality/b,” said Mr. Greenaway. “That’s how I live my life, with compassion and kindness. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-1fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9852cid=1287832717ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNGgEp8alEy1tWWSoL9KJRqBuiy3bAArtist: It Is #39;very spiritually uplifting#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-2fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9948cid=1287832717ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFmiCXehV3kBv3IYhzXUJ4scJLhqwMore Than Meets The Ear – Profound Inner meaning of DPA Deeply b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-3fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9955cid=1287832717ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFobJ48_5JSxxVb36kF_qead4ZSlADivine Performing Arts Returns to Enthrall Canadian Theatregoers/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287832717hl=ennobrall 47 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Rabbi Cohen to study at Jewish spirituality institute - Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

A closer, faster walk with thee - Los Angeles Times

Transcript: Oprah panel on Larry King Live - CNN International

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/07/larry.king.oprah.transcript/cid=1286651027ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFP8imPQ7YQ7N049XO96AoHPZyiswTranscript: Oprah panel on Larry King Live/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCNN Internationalnbsp;-/font nobrJan 6, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He is the bspiritual/b adviser to Oprah. He will be a guest on Oprah#39;s Best Life week tomorrow. How is Oprah fitting bspirituality/b into all of this? b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.weight.2.900059.htmlcid=1286651027ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFOVxKkdxICiV1_CJapNrRmEJ65CAOprah#39;s Best Life Week Begins On CBS4/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS 4/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-2fd=Rurl=http://newsblaze.com/story/20090106083410reye.nb/topstory.htmlcid=1286651027ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNH78kv5qnH4k55NPVB9tnbxYmWWnQOprah Winfrey Embarrassed By Her Weight/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNewsBlaze/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-3fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-1869-New-England-Fitness-Examiner~y2009m1d3-Oprah-New-Year-New-Year-for-all-of-uscid=1286651027ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNFKinpD9vr_UA7_QCGSfRcI5cbLogOprah#39;s New Year New You for her and us/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrExaminer.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-4fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.weight.2.900910.htmlcid=1286651027ei=mElmSdTHJoHI9ATk3cnrBAusg=AFQjCNHAI3o6n0h_3rlIcHFjL8zr5vhCeAnobrCBS 4/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1286651027hl=ennobrall 164 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Good books in bad times - Christian Science Monitor

Spirituality - Google News

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