Be Creating

Learning and understanding the levels of perception can help you reduce stress, get better results at work, create stronger relationships and become a more effective educator, mentor, parent and boss.  First a few basics – the levels of perception are a collection of references you have, they are your own personal library of how you like the world. I think of the levels like the neural connections in the brain – a bunch of things all wired together.  They are formed from the lowest level (most basic) to the highest level (most complex). Each higher level is developed by combining different perceptions from the levels below.  For example the color red, a somewhat round shape, a stem at the top, a dimple at the bottom, may be combined to become “apple,” at a higher level.     Learning is about creating and connecting the lower levels and moving your way up.  Think of learning math.  You learn to understand what the symbol “5” represents - later...

I actually had my last post ready two days ago. I was busy enjoying the wonderful weather,  I had just returned from a conference and finally arrived at the lake by 4:30 a.m. just as the sun was coming up. I knew my boys would be here this weekend  so I took advantage of the quiet before the 4th. As I was heading in to post my final blog in the series my grandson arrived.  He became the center of attention and the day slipped away. For me this challenge has taught me a lot about myself and my writing process.  I've learned that I can write everyday but feel like a photographer who takes hundreds of shots to find one that is worth sharing.  I may go back and have already done some, rewriting on the blogs.  I once heard a speaker tell the audience - we are all re-writers. A few will become articles on Ezine.com, and I may use bits and pieces in future works. The experience of thinking deeply about what has influenced my thinking was interesting.  Wha...

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreaming This is one of the few books I have read over and over again. I have turned to the words of the poem and the meditation at some of the most glorious and some of the most sorrowful times in my life.  I have gifted it many times to my female friends in times of stress, recommended it to husbands, boyfriends and lovers.  I have shared it with hundreds of people during workshops. The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreaming is a book that helped me transition from being married to being single. It was recommended to me by my friend, Larry Larson, during my divorce.  The book begins with the poem allowing readers to settle into their own soul.  Her poetry is a gift she gives her readers. Each chapter then explores one verse of the poem by sharing the author’s life experience.  She then takes you back to your inner self through ending the chapter with a meditation. I nearly wept the first time I read these two ...

  Thirty Days of Blogging and Learning I have been called a walking library, a jolly sponge and “my own personal research guru.”  I credit my 60+ years of possessing an insatiable sense of curiosity for each of these monikers. I love learning – I always have and I will until I end this journey. I admire characters like Number 5 and Spencer Reid, for their ability to quickly consume more input and their eidetic memory.  As I prepared to move to Miami, I was struck by the number of books, movies and articles I had accumulated in three years in my Charlotte apartment.  This didn’t include the four filing cabinets, the wall length shelfs of books and boxes in Minnesota. Yes, I am a hoarder of information. Because I love to learn, I want others to love to learn. I decided to take thirty days and share books, movies and people who have influenced my thinking. As part of my learning network, I’d love to post some guest blogs and expand the learning.  Contact me i...

"Last night I lost the world, and gained the universe." C.JoyBellC. Becoming open-minded creates room for clear thinking allowing you to move forward with ease.  In the movie, The Secret Mike Dooley states "Thoughts become things."  Wouldn't it be great if each thought you have were the best thought you could be thinking. This means clearing out the clutter in your mind.  Just as you may take time twice a year to deep clean your living space take time to deep clean your mind. One way to start this process of turning your mind from a garbage dump to a fertile garden where beautiful thoughts can grow is to examine your core beliefs. First, brainstorm a list of beliefs in one/all of the following areas: self, health, wealth/abundance, relationships/connection, intellect/learning, spirituality.  Write quickly, quantity is more important here than quality, just get them down.  Now go back and examine each one carefully.  Then mark a K for Keep next to an...