To many people, spirituality and religion are synonymous while to others, they couldn’t be further removed. Others find that spirituality is found in the silence of meditation and from going within themselves. Still others find spirituality in nature. In reality, they are all correct.
Spirituality is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as:
“the quality of being concerned with deep, often religious, feelings and beliefs, rather than with the physical parts of life.”
Spirituality is the finding and coming to peace with one’s place in the world and the universe. How we are able to reach a place of ease and belonging in our world. Then we are able to communicate with our higher selves and the power greater than ourselves.
You see, we are all on our Hero’s Journey trying to find our true purpose in life - Why we came here and what we have to learn from it. We are all on our paths, whatever they might be. There is no right or wrong, better or worse, nor one size to fit all.
Spirituality is living in all parts of life with clarity, focus, ease and grace, and knowing that all is well, always.
Your concept may be different, that is totally fine. We are all right if we are speaking our truths.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Have we forgotten who we really are?
The news is really scary today, right? Every day we tune into CNN (Consistently Negative News) or pick up the newspaper and are given our daily fix of doom and gloom. Each time we do, we get a little more concerned about the state of the world’s economy and how this downturn can impact our lives. We watch our retirement investments take hit after hit and sink a little lower on the emotional scale. It is so easy to buy into the apocalyptic mindset that is saturating our society today. We forget who we really are.
You see, the news industry is NOT a public service – it is a business – a very lucrative business. Its success depends upon building a readership/audience that is going to come back later today or tomorrow to buy another paper or increase its Neilson Ratings. It means more money! It is feeding the masses their daily dose of tragedy, and we keep on buying it. They seem to cater to the deep-set insecurities of their audience and we are fascinated by it. We buy into and see it as the truth. Is it the truth? It is only a part of the story and only the surface stuff.
We have accepted the idea that our well being and prosperity comes from outside of us. We have this belief that our well-being depends on the people, markets and situations ‘out there’. The truth is that our prosperity and well-being comes from within us. The truth is that there is an infinite source of abundance flowing from the Universe. There always was and always will be. That hasn’t changed, not one iota. The Law of Attraction is as powerful as it always has been. What we believe will come to be. Henry Ford said decades ago, “It doesn’t matter if you believe you will succeed or you will fail – you will be right.”
We believe that we have no control on the world around us. The news reinforces this every day. This is false. We can do small things in our own world, our own sphere of influence. Small changes in our world can completely change our perception of reality. When our perception changes, our reality changes. When our reality changes our world changes. When our world changes, it affects the world around us as well. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” We have far more power within us than we know… we have simply forgotten it.
We have a choice. We can shrink and contract with our fear or we can choose to see the endless opportunities that are around us more than ever in a time of down-turn. We only have to raise our awareness. Step forward, be how you really are and shine!
I am available to give an expanded explanation of this concept either individually or as a presentation in your organization. Contact me today.
Namaste
Bob Carscadden
You see, the news industry is NOT a public service – it is a business – a very lucrative business. Its success depends upon building a readership/audience that is going to come back later today or tomorrow to buy another paper or increase its Neilson Ratings. It means more money! It is feeding the masses their daily dose of tragedy, and we keep on buying it. They seem to cater to the deep-set insecurities of their audience and we are fascinated by it. We buy into and see it as the truth. Is it the truth? It is only a part of the story and only the surface stuff.
We have accepted the idea that our well being and prosperity comes from outside of us. We have this belief that our well-being depends on the people, markets and situations ‘out there’. The truth is that our prosperity and well-being comes from within us. The truth is that there is an infinite source of abundance flowing from the Universe. There always was and always will be. That hasn’t changed, not one iota. The Law of Attraction is as powerful as it always has been. What we believe will come to be. Henry Ford said decades ago, “It doesn’t matter if you believe you will succeed or you will fail – you will be right.”
We believe that we have no control on the world around us. The news reinforces this every day. This is false. We can do small things in our own world, our own sphere of influence. Small changes in our world can completely change our perception of reality. When our perception changes, our reality changes. When our reality changes our world changes. When our world changes, it affects the world around us as well. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” We have far more power within us than we know… we have simply forgotten it.
We have a choice. We can shrink and contract with our fear or we can choose to see the endless opportunities that are around us more than ever in a time of down-turn. We only have to raise our awareness. Step forward, be how you really are and shine!
I am available to give an expanded explanation of this concept either individually or as a presentation in your organization. Contact me today.
Namaste
Bob Carscadden
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Into the Silence
In these hectic days that we now seem to expect in our society, we are most often so wrapped up in what currently has our attention that we find ourselves and others saying “My God, where does the time go?” “Time just flies by!” “I can’t believe that the month is half over already!” We get out of bed in the morning thinking about all the stuff that we have to do today. We race to get the children to the sitter’s, grab a coffee and a muffin at Tim Horton’s or Starbucks, and hurry into work trying our best to not be late. We struggle to keep up with all of the goings on in the office while planning what to have for dinner before the kids have to be at dance, hockey, soccer…. When we finally get to bed and the day is over we are exhausted, but have trouble getting to sleep because our mind takes so long to stop chattering and let us relax enough to transition into sleep.
Sound familiar? Ever find yourself thinking that there must be more to life or that you wish things were different? There is and they can be.
One of the first things to do is to just stop and quiet yourself. There are 1,440 minutes in a day. Do you think you can find 15 minutes – just one/hundredth of your day, to find a quiet comfortable place and just be? Meditation and contemplation are practices which exist in most of the world’s religions and as well are the cornerstone of most spiritual practice. Stopping and easing ourselves into the silence does some wondrous things for us if we take the time to do it. It is the only way to discover who you really are. Stilling our monkey minds allows us to hear our own intuition, feel our emotions and access our inner power and wisdom. It helps reduce stress, tension, depression and anxiety. It also provides many of the same benefits as sleep. There are countless benefits and there are many ways to do this. Implementing this habit into our lives can have an amazing impact on our health and happiness.
As your life coach, I can assist you with exploring this amazing practice and getting started on the road to a more enriched, meaningful and centred life. Get in touch with me for a chat about how you can begin.
Create for yourself a wonderful day. I send you positive energy and good wishes.
Namaste.
Sound familiar? Ever find yourself thinking that there must be more to life or that you wish things were different? There is and they can be.
One of the first things to do is to just stop and quiet yourself. There are 1,440 minutes in a day. Do you think you can find 15 minutes – just one/hundredth of your day, to find a quiet comfortable place and just be? Meditation and contemplation are practices which exist in most of the world’s religions and as well are the cornerstone of most spiritual practice. Stopping and easing ourselves into the silence does some wondrous things for us if we take the time to do it. It is the only way to discover who you really are. Stilling our monkey minds allows us to hear our own intuition, feel our emotions and access our inner power and wisdom. It helps reduce stress, tension, depression and anxiety. It also provides many of the same benefits as sleep. There are countless benefits and there are many ways to do this. Implementing this habit into our lives can have an amazing impact on our health and happiness.
As your life coach, I can assist you with exploring this amazing practice and getting started on the road to a more enriched, meaningful and centred life. Get in touch with me for a chat about how you can begin.
Create for yourself a wonderful day. I send you positive energy and good wishes.
Namaste.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Today is the Day – Make it Count!
I found out this morning that a good friend whom I have known for over 34 years died last evening. I last saw him in hospital 10 days ago. He was a great friend. Although we had drifted apart over the past 12 years or so, we connected every few years and were always happy to see each other. We have so many wonderful shared memories. I visited him a couple of times in the last few months after I heard he was ill and am so grateful we had a chance to reconnect. My thoughts and regrets are with his family.
The sad fact is that Charlie retired only this past May and fell ill a few weeks later. He was looking forward to his retirement after a career of 35 years and had lots of plans to do things he enjoyed. In spite of his condition, he always seemed to be in good spirits and quick to make a joke when I was with him. It brings home to me more than ever how precious the Now is. Why do we wait for that day to come that we will finally be able to do the things we have wanted to do? One day the opportunities will have passed us by.
Take this day which we have and do the things that are close to your heart. Tell your loved ones how much you love them and how they contribute to your happiness. Spend time with them; it is your most precious gift. Plan for and take the vacation you always dreamt of taking. Get in touch with those good friends who have drifted away and let them know how much you appreciate the good times you have shared. Get clear on what is close to your heart and focus on that. Find a sense of ease and purpose in what you do and know that you have lots to be grateful for – always, and that all is well. Make each and every day the best it can be so when you turn in at night, you say, “What a wonderful day!”
So God speed, Charlie! Thank you for the contribution you have made to the richness of my life. I know we will meet again.
Manifest an excellent day for yourself.
Namaste.
The sad fact is that Charlie retired only this past May and fell ill a few weeks later. He was looking forward to his retirement after a career of 35 years and had lots of plans to do things he enjoyed. In spite of his condition, he always seemed to be in good spirits and quick to make a joke when I was with him. It brings home to me more than ever how precious the Now is. Why do we wait for that day to come that we will finally be able to do the things we have wanted to do? One day the opportunities will have passed us by.
Take this day which we have and do the things that are close to your heart. Tell your loved ones how much you love them and how they contribute to your happiness. Spend time with them; it is your most precious gift. Plan for and take the vacation you always dreamt of taking. Get in touch with those good friends who have drifted away and let them know how much you appreciate the good times you have shared. Get clear on what is close to your heart and focus on that. Find a sense of ease and purpose in what you do and know that you have lots to be grateful for – always, and that all is well. Make each and every day the best it can be so when you turn in at night, you say, “What a wonderful day!”
So God speed, Charlie! Thank you for the contribution you have made to the richness of my life. I know we will meet again.
Manifest an excellent day for yourself.
Namaste.
I Read the News Today, Oh Boy!
A San Francisco newspaper once published two different versions of a day’s news, one with a sensational headline about a murder, and the other with a more modest banner about progress in peace talks. The sensational headline outsold the mellower edition by four to one. The Fifth Estate works hard at producing a product that caters to our seemingly insatiable thirst for sensational bad news. With all due respect, I believe that what is published and broadcast is only a small portion of the truth (if highly spun to the negative at that).
In current times, the doom and gloom reporting is having a seriously harmful effect on our economies and well being. What they fail to report is that people are still buying and selling houses, finding new jobs, being successful in their businesses, extending a helping hand to others, falling in love and finding joy in their lives. Instead, collectively, we focus on the gyrations of the stock market, the blunders of the election candidates and the misfortunes encountered by the rich and famous. How much of the downwards trend in the market are actually driven by the pall of fear and anxiety spawned by the media? What is being attracted to us by our collective fear?
One of my teachers once suggested to me years ago as I wrestled with depression, that the world is full of negativity; it is all around us wherever we look. It is also full of the positive. Where are you putting your attention? At his prompting, I canceled my newspaper and quit watching the news on television. I listened to CD’s instead of the radio so I wouldn’t be exposed to the regular newscasts. I developed a practice of making a point to read positive uplifting books every day. I spent 15 or 20 minutes in silence daily to quiet my mind, centre myself and connect to my Source. My mood lifted and for years my problems with depression have greatly reduced. Wise people have always known that whatever we focus upon grows.
As I wrote last week, the past is gone and the future is a figment of our imagination; it exists only in our thoughts. We can choose to be happy or fearful in the Now. Why not choose to be happy. Right now, all is well - it always is.
Create a wonderful day. Namaste.
In current times, the doom and gloom reporting is having a seriously harmful effect on our economies and well being. What they fail to report is that people are still buying and selling houses, finding new jobs, being successful in their businesses, extending a helping hand to others, falling in love and finding joy in their lives. Instead, collectively, we focus on the gyrations of the stock market, the blunders of the election candidates and the misfortunes encountered by the rich and famous. How much of the downwards trend in the market are actually driven by the pall of fear and anxiety spawned by the media? What is being attracted to us by our collective fear?
One of my teachers once suggested to me years ago as I wrestled with depression, that the world is full of negativity; it is all around us wherever we look. It is also full of the positive. Where are you putting your attention? At his prompting, I canceled my newspaper and quit watching the news on television. I listened to CD’s instead of the radio so I wouldn’t be exposed to the regular newscasts. I developed a practice of making a point to read positive uplifting books every day. I spent 15 or 20 minutes in silence daily to quiet my mind, centre myself and connect to my Source. My mood lifted and for years my problems with depression have greatly reduced. Wise people have always known that whatever we focus upon grows.
As I wrote last week, the past is gone and the future is a figment of our imagination; it exists only in our thoughts. We can choose to be happy or fearful in the Now. Why not choose to be happy. Right now, all is well - it always is.
Create a wonderful day. Namaste.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Staying in the Now
Staying in the Now
Have you ever stopped to think about what your thoughts are focusing on? If you are like most people, a large percentage of the time you are thinking about things that happened yesterday, last week or years ago or else you are thinking about what is going to or might happen in the future. Our thinking in the past may be about how someone did us wrong, how we hurt someone else, how we wished something had turned out differently, how great something turned out or even how much we miss how something or someone used to be but no longer is. Our future focused thinking may be about how we will be happy when certain events or conditions have finally occurred, how much fun that vacation will be, how we can’t wait to retire, or what terrible things or outcomes are liable to happen.
All of these thoughts are stopping us from experiencing the present moment. The past is gone and doesn’t exist anymore and the future is a dream in our minds and doesn’t exist either. The Now, the present moment is all we ever actually have. It is the only time we will ever have to take action or enjoy. How can we be present when we are focused ahead of us or behind us? We end up missing all opportunities that we might have for being who we want to be. Ever find yourself wondering where the time goes?
I am not talking about enjoying fond memories of the past or forgetting about lessons we have learned. Nor am I saying that there is no need to plan and set up things for the future. I am talking about the endless useless and energy draining obsessions we seem to have in worrying about what could happen or regretting and resenting things or events that occurred in our past. As Leo Buscaglia once said "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy."
One of the ways that we can spend more time in the present moment is to be mindful of everything we are doing. Pay attention! There are so many wondrous things going on around us. Another useful tool to bring us into the present is to spend a little time each day being in silence. We can meditate or just rest and listen to soothing music. Each of these practices are grounding and connect us to the world around us and all that is.
Practicing staying in the Now is one of the tools I can help you to develop. You will be more content and actually get much more done. Call me today to chat about how this could work for you. I always offer a free session either in one to one or group coaching.
Create a superb day for yourself.
Namaste.
Have you ever stopped to think about what your thoughts are focusing on? If you are like most people, a large percentage of the time you are thinking about things that happened yesterday, last week or years ago or else you are thinking about what is going to or might happen in the future. Our thinking in the past may be about how someone did us wrong, how we hurt someone else, how we wished something had turned out differently, how great something turned out or even how much we miss how something or someone used to be but no longer is. Our future focused thinking may be about how we will be happy when certain events or conditions have finally occurred, how much fun that vacation will be, how we can’t wait to retire, or what terrible things or outcomes are liable to happen.
All of these thoughts are stopping us from experiencing the present moment. The past is gone and doesn’t exist anymore and the future is a dream in our minds and doesn’t exist either. The Now, the present moment is all we ever actually have. It is the only time we will ever have to take action or enjoy. How can we be present when we are focused ahead of us or behind us? We end up missing all opportunities that we might have for being who we want to be. Ever find yourself wondering where the time goes?
I am not talking about enjoying fond memories of the past or forgetting about lessons we have learned. Nor am I saying that there is no need to plan and set up things for the future. I am talking about the endless useless and energy draining obsessions we seem to have in worrying about what could happen or regretting and resenting things or events that occurred in our past. As Leo Buscaglia once said "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy."
One of the ways that we can spend more time in the present moment is to be mindful of everything we are doing. Pay attention! There are so many wondrous things going on around us. Another useful tool to bring us into the present is to spend a little time each day being in silence. We can meditate or just rest and listen to soothing music. Each of these practices are grounding and connect us to the world around us and all that is.
Practicing staying in the Now is one of the tools I can help you to develop. You will be more content and actually get much more done. Call me today to chat about how this could work for you. I always offer a free session either in one to one or group coaching.
Create a superb day for yourself.
Namaste.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Why is it so difficult to love ourselves?
As I work with people in my coaching, I am struck by the fact that the common underlying belief which causes everyone so much of their difficulties is they have a longstanding belief that they don’t deserve what they desire or they are not good enough to do what they want. We constantly are harassed by this internal critic who expects perfection in all we do. No matter how well things turn out or how many successes we have, the single thing that didn’t work out, the one thing we didn’t get finished, or the feeling that we could have done the task in a much better way, robs us of the satisfaction and joy that we could otherwise be enjoying. We don’t like how we look, how we feel, how old we are or where we live. We don’t like our job, we stay in abusive or unsatisfactory relationships and we feel we don’t measure up to the standards of others. I believe that this underlying belief causes of our stress, pain and ultimately our disease, addictions and mental illness. In addition to this, many of us are unconsciously passing these beliefs on to our children.
We have all been raised with the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as we would have others do unto us.” This is a wonderful way to live our lives but I think that in order to live this, we need to learn to love ourselves first.
I would like us to adopt a new rule that should be lived even before we live the Golden Rule. I call it the Platinum Rule – “Do unto yourself as you would wish to do unto others.” Many of us treat ourselves in ways we would never dream of treating others.
Isn’t it time to discover an easier softer way?
Contact me to explore so we can explore this further. I always offer a complimentary trial coaching session.
Create a wonderful weekend for yourself. I send you positive energy and love.
Bob Carscadden
We have all been raised with the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as we would have others do unto us.” This is a wonderful way to live our lives but I think that in order to live this, we need to learn to love ourselves first.
I would like us to adopt a new rule that should be lived even before we live the Golden Rule. I call it the Platinum Rule – “Do unto yourself as you would wish to do unto others.” Many of us treat ourselves in ways we would never dream of treating others.
Isn’t it time to discover an easier softer way?
Contact me to explore so we can explore this further. I always offer a complimentary trial coaching session.
Create a wonderful weekend for yourself. I send you positive energy and love.
Bob Carscadden
Monday, October 6, 2008
Imagine what life would be like if things just got easier.
Imagine what life would be like if things just got easier.
What would change if you absolutely knew what your purpose in life is?
How would you feel getting up on Monday morning if you just couldn’t wait to see what wonders await you in this new day?
Suppose you found out that there is nothing broken in you that needs fixing…. and there never was?
Who would you be and what would you be able to do if you could find peace with your past and not worry about the future?
These are a few of the many questions people have wanted to find answers to for thousands of years, yet so few arrive at them. Those few who do may try to pass their wisdom on to the rest of us. They have varying degrees of success. No one comes up with THE answer that works for everyone no matter how convinced or convincing these Masters are that their answers are the right ones. Why? People need to find their own answers to these questions for themselves since we are all looking through different lenses, lenses which have been crafted by our own personal experiences and learning that we have accumulated throughout our lives. We are all on our own journey to reach our own knowing. Ultimately, we all want the same thing; we all want to find peace, fulfillment, joy and happiness, whatever that means to us.
Do I have the answers? NO… but I have learned many things during my journey, and I continue to. What I can do is share my experience and knowing with others and help them to discover their own truths. That is what I have based my coaching practice on. No matter where you are upon your journey, together we can add focus and progress to ease you along that path. By asking questions and telling stories, I can help you come to new awareness and realizations that could otherwise have taken much longer to reach on your own. I believe that we all have these answers within us already but have somehow lost them along the way. That is why I ask people “When is NOW going to be the right time to rediscover the awesome POWER within you?”
I offer both personal one-on-one coaching and group coaching to help you find your own life answers and remove the blocks to your success and happiness. To borrow the words of Dr. Maria Nemeth, together we will discover how to live your life with “clarity, focus, ease and grace”. Contact me today to talk about what would best fit you. I always offer a free introductory coaching session.
Create for yourself a wonderful day. I send you positive energy and love.
Regards
Bob
What would change if you absolutely knew what your purpose in life is?
How would you feel getting up on Monday morning if you just couldn’t wait to see what wonders await you in this new day?
Suppose you found out that there is nothing broken in you that needs fixing…. and there never was?
Who would you be and what would you be able to do if you could find peace with your past and not worry about the future?
These are a few of the many questions people have wanted to find answers to for thousands of years, yet so few arrive at them. Those few who do may try to pass their wisdom on to the rest of us. They have varying degrees of success. No one comes up with THE answer that works for everyone no matter how convinced or convincing these Masters are that their answers are the right ones. Why? People need to find their own answers to these questions for themselves since we are all looking through different lenses, lenses which have been crafted by our own personal experiences and learning that we have accumulated throughout our lives. We are all on our own journey to reach our own knowing. Ultimately, we all want the same thing; we all want to find peace, fulfillment, joy and happiness, whatever that means to us.
Do I have the answers? NO… but I have learned many things during my journey, and I continue to. What I can do is share my experience and knowing with others and help them to discover their own truths. That is what I have based my coaching practice on. No matter where you are upon your journey, together we can add focus and progress to ease you along that path. By asking questions and telling stories, I can help you come to new awareness and realizations that could otherwise have taken much longer to reach on your own. I believe that we all have these answers within us already but have somehow lost them along the way. That is why I ask people “When is NOW going to be the right time to rediscover the awesome POWER within you?”
I offer both personal one-on-one coaching and group coaching to help you find your own life answers and remove the blocks to your success and happiness. To borrow the words of Dr. Maria Nemeth, together we will discover how to live your life with “clarity, focus, ease and grace”. Contact me today to talk about what would best fit you. I always offer a free introductory coaching session.
Create for yourself a wonderful day. I send you positive energy and love.
Regards
Bob
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