Behind New Years Resolutions Part I

I cried and cried to make my New Years resolutions, 'til I met the man who had none.

Every year millions of people celebrate New Years. We have parties with friends, pop champagne, sing Auld Lang Syne and kiss at midnight. Then we start thinking about those dreaded New Years resolutions.

Here are some interesting facts about New Years.

• New Years resolutions began in 153 B.C. by Janus; a mythical Roman king.
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• Depicted with two faces at the head of the calendar, Janus looked at the past and to the future. He became an ancient symbol for resolutions.
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• At midnight on December 31st, while Romans exchanged gifts of sacred tree branches for good fortune, they sought forgiveness from enemies.

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Test Your Spiritual I.Q.

Have you ever had those days when you thought you just were not going to make it through? We all have. Though we each have different experiences in life, we are all tested in various ways and sometimes stretched to our limits.

It truly is survival of the fittest in both the physical and spiritual worlds. Here is a fun way that you can check your spiritual I.Q. and be ready for anything that life throws your way.

1. Spirituality is based on which of the following?

• a). Experiencing a deeper knowledge of life.
• b). Knowing the inner workings of God.
• c). Reading lots of books on the subject.
• d). Going to church religiously every Sunday.

2. What is karma?

• a). A religion.
• b). A motor vehicle.
• c). A neutral energy.
• d). The way god protects us.

3. Meditation brings us closer to God by doing what?

• a). Opening our hearts and minds to the God flow.
• b). Shutting out the outer world.
• c). Keeping us in tuned with our inner spirit.
• d). All of the above.

4. Why does soul exist?

• a). Because God loves it.
• b). To give us rhythm.
• c). To test us in the physical world.
• d). To make us stronger.

5. What is intuition?

• a). A knowingness.
• b). Something only a few of us have.
• c). Intelligence.
• d). A feeling of uncertainty.

6. People who have out-of- body experiences are what?

• a). Usually deemed crazy.
• b). Are dreaming.
• c). Have a near death experience.
• d). Get the opportunity to experience 'the other side.'

7. A spiritual exercise can do which of the following?

• a). Strengthen your inner spirit.
• b). Cause an outer peacefulness.
• c). Challenge your intellect.
• d). Give you the tools to communicate with spirit.

8. One way to increase your spirituality is by what?

• a). Going to Bethlehem.
• b). Going to Mecca.
• c). Going without.
• d). Going within.

9. The three greatest words you can say to someone is what?

• a). I am sorry.
• b). I forgive you.
• c.) I love you.
• d.) All of the above.

10. The phrase, 'Counting your blessings', refers to what?

• a). Thanking everyone who matters to you.
• b). Being grateful for what you have.
• c). Something you do when you can't sleep.
• d). Healing your heart.

Answers: 1- b; 2 - c; 3 - d; 4 - a; 5 - a; 6- d; 7 - d; 8 - d ; 9 -d; 10 - b.

There are no right or wrong answers. What is important is that you took the test. Only you know your strengths and weaknesses.

But if you did keep score, for each right answer give yourself five points and for every wrong answer zero.

40 - 50 points - you have the makings of a saint. Teach others to be like you.

30 - 40 points - you are definitely on the right track to get the most out of your life.

30 and below - try and understand that life is one big classroom. We are all learning as we evolve.

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God's Whisper (Intuition)

Sasha had planned to take a vacation to the Bahamas for six months. She couldn't wait to frolic in the crystal blue waters off the shore, but when she got to the airport a strange feeling came over her.

Her heart started palpitating, she was sweating and just didn't feel like herself.

She thought maybe she was coming down with the flu. As the announcer called the flight number over the P.A., a lump formed in her throat.

She decided not to take the flight because something didn't 'feel right.' On the way home she wondered if she made the right decision now that she felt fine. Later that evening while watching the news, she discovered that the same flight she would have taken -- crashed!

Her intuition saved her life.

Some people describe it as a subtle nudge; a knowingness; or a distinct feeling. Others swear that it speaks to them loudly, often times causing a sick feeling or an uneasiness about certain situations. Still others don't know what it is and skeptics don't believe in it.

Anyway you describe it, it is known as intuition or God's inner communication with you.

Nestled comfortably in the recesses of our brain sits this marvel that has the ability to guide us through life.

Intuition is God's built in navigation system that maps our twists and turns carefully pointing us in the right direction -- if we let it.

Although intuition is controlled by the brain, it is processed by the heart; not in a cardiovascular way, but a knowingness.

So how do we tap into this pure resource? It's as easy as listening to your inner voice. God speaks to us daily if we just listen. Simply ask a question and let God answer it for you. It may not be a direct answer, it may come in fragments, but it will come.

Pay attention to everything around you. The answers are usually right in front of you.

Remember everyone has it, but not eveyone knows how to use it. The next time you are not sure about something, follow your intuition, it's your hidden resource for everything.

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The Blue Water Technique

Christmas is over until next year. The Christmas tree will be soon be gone, Christmas lights down, relatives will head home and carolers fanfares silenced.

While our bellies slowly return back to their normal size and stress lingers, we breathlessly try to repair nerves that barely hang on.

If you don't recharge your spiritual batteries, you may never be at your best to handle life's impromptu moments. One way to accomplish this is to rekindle your spirit.

Find a quiet place to relax. Close your eyes. Focus on the space between your eyebrows (third eye) to open your spirit. In your imagination, gather everything that causes stress; heartache; loneliness, etc. and put them into a basket.

Imagine you are on a beach with the most sparkling blue water; the water of God. Let your body flow into the water, becoming one.

Release everything from your basket into the water. Let all of your burdens go. Slowly sing HU (pronounced Hugh)

Remember this place when you want to recharge your spirit. Let Go. Let God.

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Merry Christmas

eeeeeeee

Christmas is a magical time for many and a sad time for others. If you know anyone who is going to be alone, open your heart and share your joy. Imagine the greatest feeling you've ever had and replicate it throughout the entire year.

BE MERRY

BE GOOD

BE GOD

eeeeeeee

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Gifts To Yourself

No matter how much manufacturers try to entice you to buy their latest products, they neglect to tell you a little known secret.

This year and every year, the coolest gifts are not the hottest games, cell phones, or electronics and you don't have to fork over stacks of cash or go into credit card debt to get them.

When giving gifts to others, we must not forget that we are as important as the recipients. While they may not be the most popular, they are among the best -- and absolutely free. They are as follows.

1. Contemplate - quiet your mind, breathe deep, forget the insignificant.
2. Manifest - by visualizing what you want, you attract it.
3. Gratitude - be grateful for everything you have and everything you have not.
4. Forgive Yourself - don't keep thinking about what you did wrong. Accept it.
   
5. Forget Yourself - doing random acts of kindness accentuate goodness and godliness.
6. Priase Yourself - give yourself credit for what you do.
7. Thanks - thank those enhancing your journey. Lose those hindering it.
8. Questions - ask God to take you on a spiritual odyssey.
9. Participate - take part in your spiritual rejuvenation.
10. Repeat all of the above.

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Keeping The Holiday Spirit Everyday (Are You A Scrooge?)

One of the biggest insults we can be called during Christmas time is a "Scrooge." In Charles Dickens' classic, 'A Christmas Carol,' Ebenezer Scrooge has his reasons for detesting Christmas.

His business partner is dead, he has no wife, no friends, no love and he is lonely to the point of being miserable. His life is cold, dark, and empty, while Christmas is warm, bright and full of ebullience.

Scrooge craved happiness but didn't know how to get it. His spirit was reaching out, but he was too busy to feel it. What was this lonely miser to do?

At the time Dickens wrote this classic, commerciality of Christmas had not gotten out of control like it is today. People genuinely got into the Christmas spirit by baking specialty dishes, caroling, being festive with family and friends and having love and appreciation for everything.

Not like today when people disrespect each other and most people are out for themselves. Some people will even kill just to get the latest toy. Commerce has become more important than sentiment.

It's time to get back to our true holiday spirit and not succumb to marketers, merchandisers and the frenzy of possessions. Scrooge valued money over everything until his spirit stepped in.

Through a series of dreams, he sees how dreary his life is by treating people poorly and not showing them love of any kind. Not wanting to die without being fulfilled, he does a complete spiritual transformation.

Scrooge's spirit helps him realize that life is more rewarding when you are kind, warmhearted and loving all year long instead of only on Christmas. If his spirit had not of intervened, he would have probably lost what he values the most anyway.

People put so much time and energy into Christmas. Everyone is nicer than usual, holiday radio and television commercials play and store displays echo the season. When it's all over, people revert back to their usual ways. Wouldn't it be refreshing if we hung on to this spirit all year long?

It takes a transformation to bring Scrooge to his true spirit. He becomes charitable, kind, courteous, gentle, compassionate and caring. All qualities that go a long way.

We can have those same qualities if we stop and listen to our spirit.

The next time someone calls you a Scrooge, thank them.

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The Hell Consciousness

Have you ever seen anyone in a rage? Their neck veins pop out, arms flail, eyes bulge, teeth clench, fist pound, they shout, turn red, they spew fire. In fact, a rage is like a wild fire quickly spreading destroying everything in its path.

This is called the Hell consciousness and it is not a place that you want to be. The Hell consciousness is like a cancer that eats the soul. Many everyday situations can trigger this, but it often times it's manifested as road rage.

Spiritual exercises can help by protecting you from reacting to incidents that cause the Hell consciousness. They can assist is you staying calm and focused making this negative consciousness a thing of the past.

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A Spiritual Exercise

A spiritual exercise quiets the mind and lets the soul take over. By doing this you are telling your soul to give you an inner experience.

If you would like to try a spiritual exercise, just sit is a comfortable chair or lie down.

Close your eyes. Relax your body. Focus your attention on the space between your eyes; what is also known as your third eye.

Breath in and out in long deep breaths.

While you do this chant the word HU (pronounced Hugh) silently or in a normal voice.

HU is a love song to God. Do this for as longs as you can up to twenty minutes.

Record any experiences you may have in a journal. Doing this daily can greatly enhance your inner experiences while putting you in contact with your inner essence; your spirit.

Exploration leads to illumination.

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God Comes To Hollywood

There seems to be a mystique surrounding spirituality that is somewhat cloudy.

What is this strange phenomenon that causes celebrities such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Gere and others to suddenly want to get in touch with their "spiritual" sides?

After all, spirituality isn't an overnight sensation and celebrities don't suddenly "become spiritual."

The way these celebrities support their new found spirituality makes you wonder what is really happening? Some of them even taint the very religions they support.

Could it be possible that someone is actually selling spirituality or better still giving it away? Is God coming to Hollywood? Are you prepared?

Where does spirituality come from anyway? When did it begin? Where does it end? More important, how do we get it? Before delving into these questions, I would like to make one thing clear.

Everyone is spiritual. Some of us don't realize it so it bears repeating, everyone is spiritual. It is nothing you can buy, but it certainly sells big time, especially in Hollywood.

All it takes is a little soul searching to demystify this phenomenon. Spirituality is not created by a celebrity or guru, it already exists. We were all created by God. Soul exists because God loves it.

As we strive in our lives, we eventually discover that God's love transcends all that we will ever desire and all that we will ever become. Our experiences build our spirit, thus increasing our spirituality.

Sometimes our spirit gets broken. Other times our spirit is indomitable. Often times it is in between these two states.

Therein lies the rub. In order to keep your spirituality alive and in top shape, you must nourish it daily. Just like you exercise your body to stay fit, you can exercise your spirit to stay awakened.

One way to accomplish this is by doing what is known as a spiritual exercise. By doing this you can tone your spiritual muscle and strengthen your resistance to life's challenges.

After exercising your spirit, you will begin to understand how your life is interactive with God. You will acquire a quiet confidence to handle challenges that were once daunting.

You will have established a deeper relationship with yourself and maintain a reverence for everything. You will have a certain spiritual protocol the way you process life.

When someone asks you what is spirituality, you will be able to answer them with assurance. The light in your eyes. The fire in your passion and the song in your heart are all signs of a strong spirit.

To define what spirituality is, you must first define what it is not. Your spirituality will speak volumes when nothing else can be said. Spirituality is not a manmade concept rife in commercialism, nor a red string tied around a wrist, or a cross hanging from a neck.

It is balance in thoughts, emotions and actions. It is humility. It is completely quieting the ego. An effervescent essence of God that permeates throughout your being. It's divine spirit pure and simple.

After implementing these practices, you will probably have a better handle on how your life operates. You don't need any celebrity to tell you what to do. Listen to your own spirit.

When someone asks you what is spirituality, you can tell them, 'It's a place I call home.' You can also rest assured that the only God coming to Hollywood is Godzilla.

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