If you are, I have some good news. In the personal develop industry, it is widely accepted that we attract to us those things we think about most often; whether or not they are in our best interest, or whether we think them consciously or unconsciously. Our beliefs influence the types of decisions we make, and the types of decisions we make produces our overall results.

Decisions made yielding unfavourable results are decisions based on false beliefs. Regardless of your beliefs, what you sow so shall you reap. In the process of decision making, a decision always precedes an action or inaction, and all actions or inactions have consequences. Based on past results we tend to develop preconceived ideas about consequences and in the process are quite often drawn to inaccurate conclusions.

Consequences are what they are; only our perception of them changes. Consequences also have a four stage lifecycle; none of which have anything to do with instant gratification. Based on our preconceived perceptions of certain, known consequences our mind will search for all relevant information regarding that situation which reinforces our beliefs about it. Our beliefs can either be true, or they can be false, according to which inner voice we listen to.

The loudest voice within is determined by the level of awareness one has achieved in life.
For those who are unaware, this voice is called the ego and its job is to control your choice of decisions. The voice we are in search of, I call, the source. The source is a benevolent nature within that strives constantly to help you survive regardless of what the ego has done to sabotage your efforts.

The ego is like a person who claims to be your friend, but then it does everything it can to make you look like a fool, laugh at you when you’re down, and then convince you of how sorry it was, only to do it again and again; if you let it. The ego robs you of your confidence, your self-esteem, and your purpose.

The source, not only always acts in your best interest; it acts in the best interest of all involved. The source is a constant internal companion. It will accompany you throughout life; where-ever it leads, always doing its best to guide you where you most need to be. It also gives you the inner strength and energy necessary to carry on, especially, when things are at their worst.

I am not going to tell you that I have a secret formula that will eliminate all the negative effects caused by poor decision making, but I can show you in a visual way a formula that exposes all the factors that are at play so you can better understand the consequences of your decisions, before you make them; thus giving you the power to have greater influence over your present and future circumstances.

Our choice of possible decisions ultimately determines our future possibilities, albeit one decision at a time. However, on average, we make about 300 decisions each hour so it can add up in a hurry. Aside from the four stages of consequence, regarding decisions, we also need to take into account the different levels of determination in achieving our goals. They are: wishing, hoping, wanting, needing, faith, desire, planning and action. The greater one believes in the possibility of achieving future possibilities, the better the decisions they will act upon along the way. Better decisions, better results.

If you have a particular topic you would like to hear a fresh perspective on, write to me: larry@deeponpurpose.com. I welcome your comments and feedback.

My guess is, because not many classrooms are designed to encourage the art of decision making in its relationship to a successful, fulfilling and purposeful life. Instead, it appears as though we are just meant to learn as we go and help fund the coffers through our mistakes.  After all, as an adult, every mistake we make costs us time and money, and the economy in which we live has been built on those 2 very principals.

In knowing this you now have the choice to decide whether you need to make more money, less mistakes, or both. If you believe the news stories, making more money might seem like a pretty big hurtle these days. Making less mistakes – well I’m sure you have never intentionally gone out to make a mistake, and I’m also pretty sure you have worked hard at making less and less of them.

Trouble is, sometimes we can fall into the belief system that if we just make less decisions we are bound to make less mistakes. To a certain degree this is true, however even indecision and procrastination have consequences, and consequences are like mistakes in that they also cost you time and money. In this scenario, participants find a comfort zone safe and away from the responsibility of decision making.

They lead quiet lives of desperation, slowly losing their hopes and dreams; robbed by the unforgiving hands of time and the shadow of failed attempts. Their dreams either completely dashed or inflicted upon their children. Rare is the case were a child is encouraged to follow their own dreams and aspirations, but for those who are we were recently reminded of what is possible, in Vancouver. There is gold, in the power of belief.

At no other time in history have we had a greater opportunity to shine, in the way of solutions. It seems everything from the world economy, to humanitarian crises, to global warming, to endangered species needs some kind of intervention. Each of these things, one way or another, affect us all. Therefore, each of us needs something to make our lives more comfortable and rewarding. Chances are, the things you truly need are not that much different from those of your neighbours around the world.

Finding a way to add value to the lives of others is a sure fire way to build confidence and self-esteem and to give meaning and purpose to your life. It is also the most direct route to achieving a more balanced lifestyle. Regardless of your age, background, gender or color each of us do have the talents, skills and abilities to rise above our current situation and lead a successful, fulfilling and purposeful life.

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that two heads are better than one! This is true only when both minds are focused on the same solution. In fact, seven minds is the ideal number to generate invaluable solutions, but even a great solution left abandoned yields little in the way of results. As I bring this article to a close, I would like to leave you with a quote by: John W. Gardner. “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”

It all starts with one decision and the right question. Better decisions, better results.

If you have a particular topic you would like to hear a fresh perspective on, write to me: larry@deeponpurpose.com. I welcome your comments and feedback.

At one point in my life, over a long period of time, I was drawn to tame those unpleasant emotions in myself and others; much like a lion tamer, so to speak. As with anyone, the formative years and parental influences hard-wire a child’s mind in such a way that, as an adult, it predetermines their unconscious first response to a situation; which is a combination of react-respond. All too often though, there is too much react and not enough respond. This is caused by two things: lack of awareness, and not enough reflection.

I say lack of awareness, because until you become consciously aware you are only unconsciously aware. Being unconsciously aware is the ability to recognize the faults of others and make no bones about it. Being consciously aware is the ability to recognize your own faults as well, and the ability to respond appropriately to both. However, simply becoming aware of your own faults is not enough; only through reflection will you begin to understand why simple awareness only leads to a cycle of excuses.

Excuses are like gift cards: there is one for every occasion, though most are not as well received. The semi-consciously aware individual who relies on the originality of an excuse for greater understanding from others will soon find the cup is already full. Sometimes just learning how to say no, firmly and respectfully can eliminate the need for most excuses. To learn how to say no correctly and without guilt, you first have to set boundaries for yourself.

To be able to set boundaries for yourself you must first learn to respect yourself; until you can truly respect yourself you can never truly respect others. There are the basic moral boundaries, boundaries we set for the individuals with whom we do business, boundaries we set for our family and friends, pets, etc. The effectiveness of these boundaries is based on how realistic they are, and how effective we are at conveying them.

In order to convey anything we must first learn how to communicate. Being able to talk is only half of the ability to communicate, and the smaller half at that. Learning how to listen, rather than just hear, is the secret to effective communication. Perhaps this is why we were given two ears and only one mouth. Listening with the intent to truly understand, and not automatically jumping to criticisms, quick fixes or one-ups, to what is being said will go a long way to improved communication and relationships; personal or otherwise.

In situations where feelings of being let down, disappointed, frustrated, disgusted or other uncomfortable situations that may arise, try treating them like traffic signs along the road; little indicators of impending obstacles up ahead that may cause you some kind of trouble or setback if ignored. Becoming aware of how to read these internal warning signs will give you much greater control over their frequency and your ability to effectively deal with the ones that do pop up. Better decisions, better results.

If you have a particular topic you would like to hear a fresh perspective on, write to me: larry@deeponpurpose.com. I welcome your comments and feedback.

This month’s article was inspired by Kt – C.P.

This may be the single most confusing lesson in life to be learned, for if you were unable to differentiate, how then would you be able to judge what is best for you?

I believe we are all guilty of passing judgement, whether silently or aloud. I have observed and debated this idea for some time, and my conclusion is that the simplicity of the biblical statement: “Judge not lest ye be judged”, may have greatly preceded the human state of consciousness of that time. If you are of the mindset that you mustn’t ever judge things in order to be more God-like, you must be terribly frustrated with your life and it is to you that I am writing this letter.

Each and every one of us passes judgement on everything in our lives on a continual basis. Some people even pass judgement on the lives of others, and still others thrive on hearing what that might be. Regardless of which category you fall under, there is absolutely nothing wrong with passing judgement along the way, but rather it is how you do it that matters. Pay special attention to this part of that statement: “how you do it”.

If we all do it and each of us is a uniquely different individual with distinctly different points of view, then how could we more effectively express our thoughts and feelings, when passing judgement? If you are going to be judged for judging, how can you become judged for the better, without changing who you really are? Why is it that some people seem to be so popular while others are not? Could it be in how they pass judgement?

Think of the person who you most respect. What is it about this person’s attitude toward life that you most admire? Now think of another person, someone who you least respect; the fact that you are able to do this only proves that you are a judgemental being. What is it about this person that you most despise? Which person would you rather be like? Chances are you would gravitate toward the person you most respect; however, each one is offering you a gift.

The person you most admire is demonstrating for you how you like to be treated, while the other is demonstrating for you the things you find distasteful. The most important thing is how appropriately you respond or react to these demonstrations. There is almost always a better way to respond or react to things. How many times have you said, “If I had it to do over again, I would have…”?

Balanced living comes from within the boundaries we have drawn on what we will accept and what we will not accept. How we demonstrate these acceptances and in-acceptances can greatly influence our emotional state as well as our opportunities in life. It is from this emotional state that we act out our decisions, thus we sow what we reap and, ultimately, reap what we sow. Over time, this cycle of sowing and reaping helps to shape and mould our personality.

Our personality, in short, is either honest, pleasant, enthusiastic, willing, co-operative, intelligent, etc; or it is not. If it is not, there is a better chance than not, that you are unhappy with some part(s) of your life. Should this be the case, the only way to change things for the better is through awareness, need, proper action, persistence and feedback. The more and better you do for others, the more and better you will do for yourself. What you sow, so shall you reap, and always remember, you are constantly being judged on how well you do that.

I welcome your comments and feedback.

Mother Nature continues to teach us that, in the right environment anything is possible. When all the right elements are in the right place at the right time, under the right conditions; miracles happen. The conditions under which these miracles take place are and have been the same since before time. Science has found a way to recreate millions of scenarios of this process which can help them to more accurately predict the outcome of a magnitude of possibilities in advance.

Having all the right elements in the right place at the right time when the conditions are unfavourable will create an entirely different result. Due to research, science can also measure and determine whether to add or subtract from the current situation in order to better control it.

Each and every one of us on this earth lives in a particular geographical location which I will now refer to as our world. Our world, the path we travel, contains trace amounts of everything that exists within that geographical location but not every element on this earth. This narrows the odds down from possibilities to probabilities. The fluctuating of weather and temperature and such from one day to the next then influences the likelihood of those probabilities as well.

The events in our lives are no different; except within our world is another world, a world of thought. Within this world of thought lie the endless possibilities of how we will perceive our reality. Our level of self confidence and belief system around how we perceive our reality determines our probabilities. Our probabilities will then go through a boiling down process and one by one be reasoned out until we are left with the likelihood that becomes our reality. However, the past does not have to equal the future.

Sometimes eliminating only a few elements in your environment can make a big difference in your results. Other times you need to add something to create that difference. Like a scientist, you need to research what it is you need your environment; your world, to look like, feel like, sound like, smell like and even taste like. Only then can you determine which elements are too abundant or which may be missing all together. Awareness is the beginning of turning information into knowledge which benefits all involved.

Of all the things one could do to ensure a life with greater balance and harmony, surely it is to learn more about this topic coined “Social Sciences”. Once referred to as “Personal Growth” the concept of self improvement, in my opinion, will do more to help the average individual on a day to day basis than any other form of study. Stop by your local library or book store today and begin your own journey into a life of deeper meaning. Discover your purpose ~ unlock your potential.

I welcome your comments and feed back.

However, it is the emotion with which a twin seed is sown that determines the type of energy it will produce, either in a positive or negative sense. The more contemplation exercised in sowing a twin seed as to whether or not it is in the best interest of all involved, the better the chances of planting a positive seed. A thought, decision or action seed sown with an ill emotion will always produce a negative seed.

Each day we sow thousands of seeds, most of them in thought, others through decisions and subsequent action. If only 50% of the seeds we sow are positive in nature then we will experience equally as many hardships and setbacks in the future. What you sow, so shall you reap. Just as every dog has its day, every seed has its harvest.

When we go to the seed store to buy seed to plant in the ground, those seeds have been treated with chemicals and dyes to help boost their immune systems so they are able to fight off the diseases and poisons in their environment until they have grown enough to fend for themselves.

Our twin seeds must be treated with a minimum of love and understanding to boost their immune systems so they are able to fight off the fear of negativity and the toxic personalities in their environment, at least until they have grown big enough to fend for themselves.

Each day as we are sowing seeds we are simultaneously reaping a harvest of past seeds sown. Although some harvests take years to mature, as a rule this rotates on a 7 to 14 day cycle. What this means is that what you are sowing today will, for the most part, be ready to harvest in 7 to 14 days.

The harvest you are reaping at any given moment can and does affect the type of energy attached to all seeds sown within that time frame. We therefore unconsciously plant and reap a similar harvest for the next cycle.

Still you are the Master Sower and Chief Reaper and so you can change the sow cycle any time you wish. If what you want is an improved harvest you must also keep in mind that, when you consciously begin to plant positive seeds, you will also continue to reap past harvests. This could be a positive or negative experience depending on the type of seeds you have already sown and over which you now have little or no control.

When reaping an undesirable harvest you must consciously refrain from planting like seeds. Eventually you will receive less and less undesirable harvests and those you do get will be much more gratifying with less effort. This will greatly reduce your level of stress and help you to become a happier and more balanced individual.

Consciously sow your seeds, enjoy your garden and remember that even after a carefully selected positive seed has been sown it can still cross-pollinate with different types of opinions that will enhance or disable your seedling’s harvest. Do not despair if your positive roots have come into contact with someone else’s pollen of fear doubt or ridicule. These miniature fragments of pollen cannot grow by themselves. They require your approval to fester and multiply. If you refuse to approve of their presence they will whither and die leaving your positive seed’s harvest unaffected.

I welcome your comments and feedback.

Celebrating the Christmas season “North American Style” has become a season of gluttony and greed and trying to satisfy everyone on your list may leave you feeling more like Scrooge than Santa, especially during an economic downturn. If you are among those holding the purse strings a little tighter this year, I have some advice to share.

Christmas need not be about how many things you can stuff in a stocking. In fact, it need not be about material things at all. Holidays are about getting together and sharing good food with family and friends. It’s about recalling and creating fond memories with those you love. It’s about reuniting and enjoying each other’s company and it’s about teaching little ones the true value of what is most important in this world.

Commercialism tries its hardest to pressure you into providing for and fulfilling that wish-list your child or sweetheart has come to expect. Still, the newest and latest gismo will not do much to replace the love and attention these wanting recipients really need. However; if you are of the mindset that the bigger the gift the more love is associated with it, you may miss the deeper message here.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a Holiday that doesn’t come with a big financial obligation yet creates a huge emotional payoff then why not plan a theme based on an “Old Fashioned Christmas”: a time of hand-made cards, where the present was in the thought and the gift was in the companionship of the day; a time where people came together and were content in knowing they had each other, a time when people cared more about people than things!

I wish you a wondrous, safe and happy holiday season.

Larry

Starting over is usually one of those times of uncertainty and for those who have the added responsibility of children in the mix, that stress is compounded. Often this leaves little or no time to review the course we’re on and sooner or later the constant stress of being the protector and provider is bound to catch up with us. We all need to take some time to reflect, every day. But what are we reflecting on? I think many of us use that time to beat ourselves up mentally for our seeming lack of control over our circumstances. How productive is that?

There are always two things that I ask myself after each experience:
1) What did I do right?
2) What could I have done better?

Notice how they both promote positive answers and lead you toward solutions. Having discovered my purpose in life has removed the question of “Am I even on the right path?” Now it’s more like “Wow, what’s the universe got in store next?”

Life is truly what we make of it and I don’t mean learning to adjust to an uncomfortable situation. It is rather an inner knowing that this is what is and that is my desire and (this) is what I can do right now to help ensure it happens. We measure our success by the distance we are from where we would like to be and when we’re not very close to where we would like to be, all too often we lose sight of the path to get there. We got to where we are in life one decision at a time and the only way to get to where we would like to be is the same way. However, sometimes things have to be at their worst before we are ready to accept a new way of thinking. This need not be the case! The old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” does not apply to personal growth. Being open to a new concept or idea doesn’t mean you have to change who you are and become something else, it’s more like allowing yourself to gather further information so you have more to base your decisions on.

According to “The Formula” for effective decision making, there are 8 parts to a decision. Each part has at least 6 influences, making a minimum of 56 aspects at play for every decision made. At an average rate of 300 decisions each hour, imagine how quickly your circumstances could change with the 4,800 decisions you make daily!

I welcome your comments and feedback.

Being in the now is even more important for “live theatre” because you don’t get a chance to do a re-take.

In everyday life we don’t have the opportunity for rehearsals and coaching to get it right before people take it seriously. In real life it’s called “first impressions”, and for many of us they can be awkward and cause us to paint a less than desirable picture of ourselves. For people with low self-esteem and low self-confidence this can be practically paralyzing, in they seldom push themselves to get outside of their comfort zones and experience all this life has to offer.

If you are one of those people who sit on the sidelines and wish your life away in quiet desperation, I challenge you to try something new, with the intention that you are only doing it for the experience rather for a lifestyle change. Don’t just be an observer of life, get involved and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Did you know that there is no such thing as a stupid question? You might even amaze yourself with the people you meet and the new friends you make. Think about it, your current best friend was once a complete stranger.

Your life only gets better one decision at a time. Think of a stamp collection; it only takes one stamp to get started. Although it might not be very impressive in the beginning, over time it can grow to become something rather interesting if you stick with it (no pun intended). The title you give your collection becomes the purpose for creating it, and your reason for adding to the collection is to fulfill the purpose. But rather than starting a stamp collection, why not start a collection of decisions. Making decisions that are truly from your heart, with no hidden agenda, and in the best interest of all involved is the quickest way to see and feel your life change. Nothing will build your confidence and grow your self-esteem like being of service to others while following your life’s purpose.

I welcome your comments and feedback.

Other than that, I mean humans are the only species on the planet with the ability to daydream or pre-meditate. Because this ability allows us to temporarily avert the present into the past or future so effortlessly, we spend much more of our time doing that than we do being present. It’s like we are walking through life with our hat on backwards, so-to-speak. We are alive in this very moment but for the most part remain only semi-conscious of what is before us because we are living/observing “The Now” through an almost continual past or future lens. This lens is shaded with the beliefs of our childhood environment, our teenage environment and our adult environment. Our early experiences begin the inner dialogue that creates our adult views and our perceived reality. Our perception is only ever our perception although we can and do consciously and unconsciously continue to influence others by what we say and do about our perceived perceptions.

Our perception of life is indicated in our environment, our beliefs, our possessions, our appearance and even our posture; all of these things make-up our personality. Our personality can be broken down into its smallest terms of optimistic or pessimistic, positive or negative, smooth or abrasive, etc. etc. This is a general characterization, meaning that someone is more often than not, one way or the other. It also means that each of us have the option and the ability to be more of whatever we choose. But first we would need to understand why we would want to do that. THAT is a lot of work and this is easy. Well the truth of matter is it’s only hard work in the beginning, while you are in the middle of breaking routine from who you are now to who you would like to be. Once you have seen enough positive, pre-meditated changes in your life, your mind stops trying to resist change and things get easier and easier.

Most of our beliefs have been planted by other people long before we were old enough to know how they got put there. Many of those beliefs serve no real purpose in our life today and more often than not they prevent us from discovering our authentic self and finding true joy. Not knowing your purpose in life, is the one thing preventing you from making the long lasting, meaningful changes you need to feel whole. Changes that fit so well you’ll want to work on them. Knowing how to start that process can be very difficult. Having a formula on how to make effective decisions that the majority of the developed world would agree with, would be a good start to understanding our common internal need to feel loved and respected. I believe that Deep on Purpose is that formula and I invite you to visit our web-site and challenge yourself to becoming a better you, today!

Discover Your Purpose ~ Unlock Your Potential.

I welcome your comments and feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me, also if you would like to receive this monthly newsletter by e-mail.