loving wayne dyer

i’ve been loving wayne dyer since the early 90’s.  really, he should be my husband.  .  .  .

here’s his advice for today:

Inspiration is a state of being here now in this material world, while at the same time reconnecting to our spiritual origins. In order to be receptive to inspiration, we need to eliminate the ego clutter that accumulates all too easily for most of us—after all, if we’re preoccupied with events and activities that have nothing to do with inspiration, we’re unlikely to notice its summons. So in order to achieve a reunion with our ultimate calling, we need to emulate the clear, uncomplicated world of Spirit.

This doesn’t mean that we should sit around doing nothing, awaiting Spirit’s arrival; instead, it means having faith that our spiritual connection flourishes in a life dedicated to joy, love, and peace. If our daily activities are so overwhelming that we don’t make these things our priority, then we’re disregarding the value of living a simple life.

My 12-Step Program for Simplifying Your Life
Here are 12 very specific tools for simplifying your life. Begin using them today if you’re serious about hearing that ultimate call to inspiration.

1. Unclutter Your Life. You’ll feel a real rush of inspiration when you clear out stuff that’s no longer useful in your life:

   If you haven’t worn it in the past year or two, recycle it for others to use. Get rid of old files that take up space and are seldom, if ever, needed. Donate unused toys, tools, books, bicycles, and dishes to a charitable organization. 

   Get rid of anything that keeps you mired in acquisitions that contribute to a cluttered life. In the words of Socrates, “He is nearest to God who needs the fewest things.” So the less you need to insure, protect, dust, reorganize, and move, the closer you’ll be to hearing inspiration’s call.

2. Clear your Calendar of Unwanted and Unnecessary Activities and Obligations. If you’re unavailable for Spirit, you’re unlikely to know the glow of inspiration. God will indeed work with you and send you the guidance—and the people—you need, but if you’re grossly overscheduled, you’re going to miss these life-altering gifts. So practice saying no to excessive demands and don’t feel guilty about injecting a dose of leisure time into your daily routine.
3. Be Sure to Keep Your Free Time Free. Be on the lookout for invitations to functions that may keep you on top of society’s pyramid, but which inhibit your access to joyful inspiration. If cocktail parties, social get-togethers, fund-raising events, or even drinking-and-gossiping gatherings with friends aren’t really how you want to spend your free time, then don’t. Begin declining invitations that don’t activate feelings of inspiration. I find that an evening spent reading or writing letters, watching a movie with a loved one, having dinner with my children, or even exercising alone is far more inspiring than getting dressed to attend a function often filled with small talk. I’ve learned to be unavailable for such events without apologizing, and consequently have more inspired moments freed up.
4. Take Time for Meditation and Yoga. Give yourself at least 20 minutes a day to sit quietly and make conscious contact with God. I’ve written an entire book on this subject called Getting in the Gap, so I won’t belabor it here. I will say that I’ve received thousands of messages from people all over the world, who have expressed their appreciation for learning how to simplify their life by taking the time to meditate. I also encourage you to find a yoga center near you and begin a regular practice. The rewards are so powerful: You’ll feel healthier, less stressed, and inspired by what you’ll be able to do with and for your body in a very short time.
5. Return to the Simplicity of Nature. There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than nature itself. The fantasy to return to a less tumultuous life almost always involves living in the splendor of the mountains, the forests, or the tundra; on an island; near the ocean; or beside a lake. These are universal urges, since nature is created by the same Source as we are, and we’re made up of the same chemicals as all of nature (we’re stardust, remember?).

   Your urge to simplify and feel inspired is fueled by the desire to be your natural self—that is, your natureself. So give yourself permission to get away to trek or camp in the woods; swim in a river, lake, or ocean; sit by an open fire; ride horseback through trails; or ski down a mountain slope. This doesn’t have to mean long, planned vacations that are months away—no matter where you live, you’re only a few hours or even moments away from a park, campground, or trail that will allow you to enjoy a feeling of being connected to the entire Universe.

6. Put Distance between You and Your Critics. Choose to align yourself with people who are like-minded in their search for simplified inspiration. Give those who find fault or who are confrontational a silent blessing and remove yourself from their energy as quickly as possible. Your life is simplified enormously when you don’t have to defend yourself to anyone, and when you receive support rather than criticism. You don’t have to endure the criticism with anything other than a polite thank-you and a promise to consider what’s been said—anything else is a state of conflict that erases the possibility of your feeling inspired. You never need to defend yourself or your desires to anyone, as those inner feelings are Spirit speaking to you. Those thoughts are sacred, so don’t ever let anyone trample on them.
7. Take Some Time for Your Health. Consider that the number one health problem in America seems to be obesity. How can you feel inspired and live in simplicity if you’re gorging on excessive amounts of food and eliminating the exercise that the body craves? Recall that your body is a sacred temple where you reside for this lifetime, so make some time every single day for exercising it. Even if you can only manage a walk around the block, just do it. Similarly, keep the words portion control uppermost in your consciousness—your stomach is the size of your fist, not a wheelbarrow! Respect your sacred templeand simplify your life by being an exerciser and a sensible eater. I promise that you’ll feel inspired if you act on this today!
8. Play, Play, Play! You’ll simplify your life and feel inspired if you learn to play rather than work your way through life. I love to be around kids because they inspire me with their laughter and frivolity. In fact, if I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “Wayne, you’ve never grown up—you’re always playing.” I take great pride in this! I play onstage when I speak, and I’m playing now as I write.

   Many years ago I was given a tremendous opportunity to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The man who took a chance on me, booking me even though I was an unknown at the time, was a talent coordinator named Howard Papush. It was my first big break, and I went on to appear on The Tonight Show 36 additional times. Now it’s my turn to say thank you to Howard. He’s written a wonderful book titled When’s Recess? Playing Your Way Through the Stresses of Life, which I encourage you to read. (Howard also conducts workshops that teach people how to play and have fun in life.) In the book, Howard shares this great quote from Richard Bach: “You are led through your lifetime by the inner learning creature, the playful spiritual being that is your real self.” I couldn’t agree more—by all means, get back in touch with your real, playful self, and take every opportunity to play! Notice how it makes everything so sweet, and so simple.

9. Slow Down. One of Gandhi’s most illuminating observations reminds us that “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” This is great advice for simplifying your life—in fact, slow everything way down for a few moments right here and now. Slowly read these words. Slow your breathing down so that you’re aware of each inhalation and exhalation…

   When you’re in your car, downshift and relax. Slow down your speech, your inner thoughts, and the frantic pace of everything you do. Take more time to hear others. Notice your inclination to interrupt and get the conversation over with, and then choose to listen instead. Stop to enjoy the stars on a clear night and the cloud formations on a crisp day. Sit down in a mall and just observe how everyone seems in a hurry to get nowhere.

   By slowing down, you’ll simplify and rejoin the perfect pace at which creation works. Imagine trying to hurry nature up by tugging at an emerging tomato plant—you’re as natural as that plant, so let yourself be at peace with the perfection of nature’s plan.

10. Do Everything You Can to Eschew Debt. Remember that you’re attempting to simplify your life here, so you don’t need to purchase more of what will complicate and clutter your life. If you can’t afford it, let it go until you can. By going into debt, you’ll just add layers of anxiety onto your life. That anxiety will then take you away from your peace, which is where you are when you’re in-Spirit. When you have to work extra hard to pay off debts, the present moments of your life are less enjoyable; consequently, you’re further away from the joy and peace that are the trademarks of inspiration. You’re far better off to have less and enjoy the days of your life than to take on debt and invite stress and anxiety where peace and tranquility could have reigned. And remember that the money you have in your possession is nothing but energy—so refuse to plug in to an energy system that’s not even there.
11. Forget about the Cash Value. I try not to think about money too frequently because it’s been my observation that people who do so tend to think about almost nothing else. So do what your heart tells you will bring you joy, rather than determining whether it will be cost-effective. If you’d really enjoy that whale-watching trip, for instance, make the decision to do so—don’t deny yourself the pleasures of life because of some monetary detail. Don’t base your purchases on getting a discount, and don’t rob yourself of a simple joy because you didn’t get a break on the price. You can afford a happy, fulfilling life, and if you’re busy right now thinking that I have some nerve telling you this because of your bleak financial picture, then you have your own barrier of resistance.

    Make an attempt to free yourself from placing a price tag on everything you have and do—after all, in the world of Spirit, there are no price tags. Don’t make money the guiding principle for what you have or do; rather, simplify your life and return to Spirit by finding the inherent value in everything. A dollar does not determine worth, even though you live in a world that attempts to convince you otherwise.

12. Remember Your Spirit. When life tends to get overly complex, too fast, too cluttered, too deadline oriented, or too type A for you, stop and remember your own spirit. You’re headed for inspiration, a simple, peaceful place where you’re in harmony with the perfect timing of all creation. Go there in your mind, and stop frequently to remember what you really want.

A man who personified success at the highest intellectual and social levels would hardly seem one to quote on simplifying our life, yet here’s what Albert Einstein offers us on this subject: “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury—to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.”

Wow! I’d say this is pretty good advice, wouldn’t you?

Namaste,

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pure inspiration

of course i have added this to my  best short videos  page, but i want to share this with as many people as possible so i am posting it as well  –   enjoy!

 

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

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volunteering is hard

for several years i’ve been wanting to do a little bit of volunteer work. since i work from home, waste no time commuting and never take a ‘lunch’, i could easily take an hour or two out of my day to do some good for someone, somewhere. being a big sister was high on my list. taking a kid to the zoo in central park would be fun. or clothes shopping every once in a while, maybe buying an outfit for their first day of school – i would love that. i would teach my little sister all of the things she may not have the opportunity to learn in her present environment, like the value of an education and why proper nutrition is so important. then we could hang out at my place and read wayne dyer’s kids books and concoct extreme salads! it would be great.  or, now that i live right across the street from the ronald mcdonald house, i was thinking i could bring ivan over a couple of times a week to hang out with the kids who may be missing their dog at home, while they were getting cancer treatments in nyc.

a lot of people need a lot of things – and it would be good for me to get out of the apartment more; but volunteering is harder than you think. the rules are ridiculous. no reading to a child in need of a mentor prior to a complete physical, a battery of blood tests and a test for tb, all at your own expense.  then there are interviews and psychological evaluations, training classes and so many rules that by the time you’re done listening to the list of requirements, joining the army seems like a better choice.  oh, and you’re not actually allowed to do anything fun with the kid.  no road trips – not even to central park or tasti delight for a frozen yogurt.

ok then, the ronald macdonald house will get my spare time. plus, ivan will be with me and that’s added incentive. but not before he gets a complete physical and attends a $350 eight week training course for his service dog certification! and after that is complete, i would be required to attend workshops on how to volunteer after all of my blood tests were approved by the rmdh staff.  why do they make helping so hard?

back in mid august  i found a website called  voulnteer match  and browsed around to see if they had something that wouldn’t require me to quit my full time job in order to prepare to help people in some way.

“exercise instructor for victims of domestic violence and abuse”

this may be something i could do. i called for more information. julia, the volunteer coordinator told me this was a one day event for abused jewish women of poverty, from the religious community. it was an opportunity for moms to have some time for themselves. the volunteer organization rented a space in soho for the event which would take place on october 18th.  the moms would drop their kids off in a large room filled with games, toys and plenty of volunteers for an hour of fun, while the adult exercise class was in progress. i would not have to do any more than fill out a short application and the job was mine – perfect!  i told julia to sign me up!  since the date of the event was more than 6 weeks away, i had ample time to review my notes from the old personal training days and prepare a class for the abused and impoverished jewish women.

several weeks after i had committed to teaching the ‘exercise’ class, julia sent me another e-mail to inquire about my interest in teaching an exercise class to senior citizens in a low income housing project just 12 blocks away from my apartment. it would be a weekly committment for just one hour.  this seemed like a good opportunity to do some good without interfering with my job. not only would this force me to take a ‘lunch hour’ which i rarely do, it would get me out even if it was just for a 10 minute walk down first avenue to spend an hour with people over the age of 65. not much of a man meeting opportunity, but it may very well be the catalyst which prompts me to get back on match.com.

just about 2 weeks prior to the 18th of october, julia e-mailed me to confirm the date and time of the yoga class.  yoga? she never mentioned yoga!  i am not a yoga teacher and cannot become a yoga teacher in two weeks. i immediately checked the old e-mails from julia just to be sure i wasn’t crazy. no mention of yoga. i got julia on the phone to inform her there had been a misunderstanding.  she apologized and told me not to worry as she was pretty sure these women had never taken a yoga class before and would not know the difference. she went on to say “oh, and don’t expect any of the women to show up in yoga clothing . . . they’re very religious and modesty will be an issue.”  the picture in my mind of 20 wig-wearing women in full length skirts with back seam opaque stockings left me speechless.  i envisioned 20 wigs on the floor as i directed the women to hold their position in downward dog.

“what about mats?” i asked.

“oh”, replied julia, do you have any?

“not 20”  i said, at which time  julia casually offered to bring her own yoga mat.  great, i’ll only need about 19 more.

“i will need music as well – will there be a stereo system that i may plug an ipod into?”  i asked

julia said she didn’t think so.  ok .  .  .  i had 2 weeks to become a faux yoga instructor, manifest 19 yoga mats and figure out a way to get music in the room.  oy vey!

the first thing on my list was ‘learn yoga’.  i got out all of my yoga dvd’s.  i immediately returned the brian kest dvd to it’s home in my closet.  i had never even been able to complete an entire kest routine even on a good day.  crunch yoga? –  still way too hard for a beginners class.  om with cyndi lee?   too spiritually oriented for a group of religious jewish women.  at barnes & noble i found a nice giam beginners class on dvd for $23.95. although no where in my 350 square foot apartment is there enough space to manuver through an entire yoga sequence, i practiced the best i could and then begin scripting the class and combining just the right mix of meditative music for a one hour class.

i own 4 yoga mats including the nasty green soot-stained mat that stays in the backyard and serves mostly as a bed for ivan during the day.   there another 4 mats at my parents house sent to my by my awesome friend, mel.  the $53.00 mats were donated by the manufacturer for a day of yoga and meditation that mel was hosting in los angeles. after the event, mel asked if i had any use for 4 of the left over mats.  Figuring they may come in handy for an event someday, i said yes. she sent them to me and i stored them in new jersey.  that’s 8 mats total plus julia’s mat equals 9.  several weeks ago i saw mats on sale in tj max for $9.99.  i bought 3.  twelve mats will have to do.  total investment to date: roughly $54.00 and a special trip to nj.

as i practiced teaching the routine each evening, it became apparent that music was not optional.  it also became apparent that i was at least a size and a half larger than i was the last time i taught an exercise class.  i purchased an ipod dock at pc richards and a new yoga outfit at tj maxx.

October 18th, 2009

we are having a noreaster.  i load the car with mats, music box, ipod, gong, sage spray, the ‘please remember to turn off your cell phone’ sign, tape to affix the sign and my notecards that i will strategically place around the room just incase i draw a blank and forget what comes next in the routine. i head down to soho and ask pop to help me out with a good parking spot.  as always, he pulled through and i parked the car 1/2 a block away from the event location.  after unloading the car i was only mildly soaked. I have 40 minutes to dry, set up the room, go over my script one last time, and 15 minutes to meditate on playing the part of an experienced yoga teacher.

the room was much bigger than i had expected.  it was actually 1/2 of a gymnasium.  i placed the mats in a staggered line so that everyone could see me in the front of the room and have plenty of space to move without bumping into the person next to them.  i put my mat in the front of the room.  at the end of my mat i placed my beautiful cast iron gong  upon it’s round burgundy silk pillow.   i planned to use the gong to end both the introductory and ending meditations which i hoped would enhance my credibility as a real yogi.  i hid note cards with an outline of the routine underneath both the front and the back of my mat.   next, i set up the speakers and programmed the ipod to the  ‘yoga class’  playlist, dimmed the lighting in the gym and cleared the energy in the room with sage.  outside of the entrance to the room i taped the sign i made asking the women to turn off their cell phones.  i wondered if impoverished women had cell phones but  i posted the sign just in case.  i had 15 minutes of meditation time before the women would arrive.  exactly 15 minutes into my meditation, julia entered the room to inform me that  “this population is characteristically late”  and will most likely begin to arrive around 12:15.  my calm mind instantly went into overdrive as i wondered about the people who would show up at 12:15 for a 12:00 yoga class.  before i let myself get too carried away, i decided to use the time to go over my script once more.  at 12:15 i sat in crossed legged position in the middle of my mat all alone in the giant gymnasium and patiently waited.

at 12:30 i turned on my cell phone and called julia who was in another room setting up all of the games for the 30 children who were expected to arrive momentarily.  julia apologized to me for the wait and assured me that this was not unusual behavior for  ‘this population’.  she invited me to come to the playroom and meet the other volunteers who were waiting for the crowd to arrive. after spending 70 minutes alone in the gymnasium, i told her i would be right there.

i was surprised to see twenty three people in the room.  julia and two other staff members from the volunteer organization, and 20  volunteers who had given up their sunday to entertain the children, were sitting around playing go fish, pictionary, and nerf basketball.  julia introduced me to everyone and i made small talk with the staff director.  at 12:50, julia left the room to call the women who had rsvp’d.  she came back to the room at 1:00 and announced to the group that one carload of people, 3 adults and 8 children, were on their way and promised to arrive in 10 minutes. that would be ten minutes after one oclock, which is 10 minutes after the yoga class was scheduled to end.  again, julia apologized and asked if i would stay and do just a 1/2 hour class beginning at 1:15.  i agreed and went back to the gymnasium to get myself centered.  i reminded myself that these women had all been victims of domestic violence and were living below poverty level  with children to raise on their own.  i thought about byron katie and  “loving what is”.  i rolled up most of the yoga mats and left 4 in place for the 3 women who were on their way and one extra – just in case.  it was now 1:15 and according to my plan for the day, i would have been just finishing up packing everything into my car so that i would be home by 1:45 to walk ivan, who was probably sitting by the door with his legs crossed since he is used to going out at noon each day.  “love what is. . .”  i kept repeating to myself.

at 1:20 i rolled up the remaining mats, packed up my gong and my new ipod docking station, removed the sign from the door, schleped 1/2 a block through the torrential rain to my car and headed home in my fabulous new outfit.  volunteering is much harder than i thought.

“I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.”

– E. V. Lucas