Seth David Chernoff's Blog, page 2

Fifty Shades of Book Publishing – Why Bother Being an Author?

How does our perception prevent us from taking conscious action in our lives? Have you ever wanted to do something amazing, inspiring or innovative in the world? Sometimes we find an area in life where we want to show up, to be of service, and suddenly we see countless others who appear to be doing the exact same thing. Looking to purchase a blue BMW? Look around and now everyone has one. Have an idea for a new invention? You come across someone doing it already.

Take book publishing for example. These days, it appears to me that everyone is or knows an author. Some would say that EVERYONE has a book in them, but not all books should be published. Does that mean that there is no space or need for our contributions? Who is to say whether or not a book should be published? Let’s walk down this path together for a moment as I believe you might find it insightful.

Book Publishing Statistics that may surprise you:

According to the New York State Library Bookboard, there were only 9,260 books published in the US in 1907. Jump forward just over a century to 2010 where 328,259 books were traditionally published (source: Bowker). We can add to that about 3.8 million books published by on-demand or non-traditional publishers which brings us to a total of 4,134,519 books published in 2010 (again Bowker). According to Google’s advanced algorithms, in all of modern history, 130 million books (or 129,864,880 to be exact), have been published. (A fun side statistic is that 2010 accounted for over 3% of all books in modern history – if only there were a direct correlation there between quantity and quality) – but I digress…

Let’s put book publishing into perspective:

The number of words in the English language as estimated by the Global Language Monitor as of January 1, 2012 is: 1,019,729.6 words. In the context of the 130 million books published in all of modern history (thank you Google), and doing some very simple math – that equates to 127 books for every word in the English language. Can that be right? 127 books for EVERY WORD? Do we REALLY need ANY MORE BOOKS?

Hasn’t everything been said in one form or another (at least a few hundred times by now)? One could make the argument that there is NO NEED for new writing. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even with all of these books, the content each of us is looking for in our lives in categories like business, happiness, fulfillment or spirituality is somehow unique. We can’t get enough, we are constantly thirsty for more.

Why do authors publish new books?

With this information, why is there a SURGE in new authors publishing their work? Is it rumored that NO OTHER industry in the world has so many new product introductions. Yet there are still surprises like Fifty Shades of Gray selling OVER 15 MILLION copies – is that a reference to pent up demand or clever writing? Other renowned books have only had a fraction of that success like Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (just over 300,000), and Life of Pi by Yann Martel (around 150,000).

Is there still room for new writers or new content? Why would I or anyone else consider publishing a NEW book?

The answer is actually simple. For most of us, it’s not for the money or the notoriety but it’s because it’s who you are, it’s part of your reason for being – it’s in your blood and in your soul. You realize that your life is unfulfilled without stepping forward into the fullness of who you are. It doesn’t matter whether you sell 10 copies or 10 million – your impact isn’t determined by statistics or revenue – but by the lives you impact, starting with your own.

Its easy for us to give up on our dreams when we obsess over the excuses for why we should play it safe, but perhaps our dreams aren’t about outcome or income, but instead about our inner journey and the rewards that arise as a result of following our dreams and being true to ourselves.

Don’t get caught up in the hype.

Listen to your heart and follow your dreams – rarely has better advice been given. Your rewards are not measured in numbers but in feelings, not in dollar signs but in a sense of fulfillment and reward.

Enjoy the journey and until next time,

Many blessings,

Seth

The post Fifty Shades of Book Publishing – Why Bother Being an Author? appeared first on Spiritual Growth, How To Be Happy - Seth David Chernoff – Manual For Living.

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How to Distinguish Your Inner TRUTH From Your Inner JERK

We all hear that voice inside us from time to time, giving us direction, guidance, and helping us along our path. It whispers in our ear, speaking softly from our soul, and sometimes it just blurts out obscenities.  In one minute it’s our inner truth – the angel that saves us from a car accident, helps us say just the right thing to a loved one at the perfect time, or somehow guides us to find a long lost friend through a sea of strangers. But in the next moment somehow it rears its head to judge our neighbors, belittle ourselves, or to undermine our progress in life.

What gives? How can our inner truth that keep us safe and intuitively guides us to the most majestic places also incite us, causing hardship to ourselves or others? There is a distinction. One of the voices we hear is our inner truth, inner angel, or internal guidance system (consciousness itself perhaps), and the other voice is our inner devil if you will, our ego, our inner child filled with negative self talk.

How do you distinguish your inner TRUTH from your inner JERK?

The I Ching infers that inner truth is the connection between heaven and earth, it is source – consciousness. Your inner voice is often a whisper, and is generally a reflection of guidance toward what you truly desire in your life. It doesn’t matter whether you believe that inner voice is God, your subconscious, or the universe speaking to you – we are all guided in life and its up to us to listen to the guidance we are given.

The best way to tell the difference is based on the way we feel – to check in with our emotions. If we are inspired, positive, engaged, and in love – we are going to have a better chance of hearing and following our inner truth. However, if we are angry, frustrated, disappointed- then most likely we are doing just the opposite and following our inner jerk.

10 ways to determine if the voice you hear is your inner schmuck, and not your inner wisdom. If the voice you hear resembles ANY of the following qualities – then it’s not your inner truth…

Demeaning
Disrespectful
Insulting
Sarcastic
Crass
Mean
Condescending
Rude
Impatient
Irritated

Your inner truth always sees you for your greatness, for your magnificence. Your inner wisdom is always guiding you toward the highest good, not the lowest common denominator.

How to do we connect with our inner truth?

Breathe, pause your life for a moment, sit quietly, and enjoy the moment. Remove the chaos, drama and distraction from your life. Turn off the noise and go within. First thing in the morning is a great time to connect to our inner truth, as we lay in bed immediately upon waking and set our mindset for the day. It’s actually available to us anytime we desire – we need simply stop, quiet our mind, and go inside.

I invite you to stop and listen to what your inner truth, to what the universe is telling you right now. It’s always giving you the guidance you desire, but often we are unable to hear it. Just remember that it is ALWAYS giving you guidance. Everything you desire is here for you right now – if only you can open yourself up to receive it and step into the true magnificence of who you really are.

Until next time my friends,

Many blessings,

Seth

The post How to Distinguish Your Inner TRUTH From Your Inner JERK appeared first on Spiritual Growth, How To Be Happy - Seth David Chernoff – Manual For Living.

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Oh Yes You Can – Making Better Choices and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

I CAN’T DO IT!

I DON’T HAVE TIME!

I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY!

I CAN’T, I HAVE TO WORK!

We hear it all the time, and have said it ourselves many times: I don’t have X! I can’t do Y, I have to do Z. When did we give up our right to choose? Don’t most of us live in a free country?

The problem is that we DON’T consciously choose – we let our life circumstance dictate the choices in our life. But when did that happen? When did our choices become obligations? When did our commitments become commandments?

Aren’t we totally free? Don’t we have CHOICES? (by the way, the answer is YES > we ALWAYS have a choice) – although we are often imprisoned in our own mind (as spoken so simplistically by Og Mandino).

Making Better Choices

The moment we move from CHOOSING to do something to HAVING to do something, we immediately give our power away and become subservient to our agenda. We play second fiddle to our own life – as if we could BLAME someone else for our misfortune.

We don’t need to run away or disappear from our lives in order to find balance, but there are TWO KEY things that must happen in order to right the course of our life.

We need to TAKE CONTROL, not so much in the form of action but INTENTION. Change the languaging -  for example: “I have to go to the doctor” becomes, “I look forward to going to the doctor.” “I HAVE to pick my son of from school” becomes “ “I am excited to pick my son up from school.” A simple change in languaging immediately shifts us from feeling like puppets on a string to being in the drivers seat. In addition, it moves us immediately away from frustration and often to gratitude.
Secondly, we need to get clear on our priorities and what REALLY matters in our life. We often forget that our priorities drive our commitments, so if our life is out of balance, we need to look first at our priorities.  Let’s be conscious about how we spend out time – doing those things first that really matter, that make a difference in our lives or in the lives of those around us. It’s fine to be a fully committed parent, but not at the expense of our own well-being and happiness. If part of our job is to teach our children how to find happiness in their life, then we must lead by example, and what better way to teach then to find happiness in our own life.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

We cannot do it all, for that I am certain. Regardless of our age, ethnicity, or the money in our bank account – we all have the same amount of hours in the day, and minutes in the hour. It’s what we do with that time that makes all the difference. Our ability to change ourselves, to improve and enhance our own well-being is all that is required to change the world, and to impact the lives of those around us. Often it’s not ACTION that makes the biggest difference but WHO we are choosing to be in the process.

Remember we ALWAYS have a choice as to how we live our life but we only control WHO we are being, and the ACTIONS we take.

Choose wisely friends, and enjoy the ride.

Many beautiful blessings,

Seth

The post Oh Yes You Can – Making Better Choices and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs appeared first on Spiritual Growth, How To Be Happy - Seth David Chernoff – Manual For Living.

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How To Be Happy – Philosophy

They say life happens in between what we plan…

…and my life has been planned to the brim as I continually relearn how to be happy, yet the universe sees fit to continually push me beyond my wildest dreams – even further than I thought possible. I didn’t even realize there was SPACE between my plans, but there is now. Not being someone to whine, complain, or spread drama, I won’t go into the details,  but what I will say is that in light of all the “excitement,” I have witnessed profound transformation in my younger son, and my overall well-being is better than it ever has been. Everything else…I suppose…is water under the bridge.

I realize that it’s about new beginnings.

Then again, it’s always about new beginnings, in every moment. How to be HAPPY? Moving forward, constantly progressing toward what we truly desire…which simplistically speaking is happiness, fulfillment, and contributing to the greater good in a meaningful and powerful way. So, if it’s so simple, why does it often feel so daunting, surreal, and out of reach? Clearly it’s not for lack of effort, for if nothing else, persistence and obsession are our most natural virtues. But if life is “meant” to naturally flow (as if we could presuppose anything), and hard work doesn’t necessitate results…then what are we missing? Is it impatience, or perhaps old fashioned naiveté? Is it ignorance or arrogance? I surmise that it is none of these. In fact, I propose something far more dramatic, engaging and transformative.

If we accept that perception is everything (because it is), and our thoughts create our reality (because they do)…then all we require is recalibration.

Let’s remember that no matter what is happening in our lives…where we are is perfect - it is exactly where we have manifested our life to be…not based on physical manifestation, but on the experience of the moment. Put another way – how we feel right now, in this very instant, is the only barometer we need for determining our level of happiness and fulfillment, and clearly we can all embrace and express our gratitude for not only the power of the present moment, but our control over it. This moment is anything and everything we desire it to be…but it’s not chance or happenstance…

Our present moment is a DIRECT REFLECTION of who we have been being, and the actions we have been taking.

This moment is anything and everything we want it to be…we must merely choose it and release any societal connotations that our life is meant to feel or look a specific way – as if our current creation could ever be judged by those around us. Our intuition and spiritual guidance will assist us in finding everything we desire, but we often spend far too much time looking outside of ourselves for everything we think we desire. All we truly desire…everything we have always desired…exists here within us, available to us at any time…and all we have to do is expand our awareness and embrace the power of the moment before us.

How to be happy?
Remember, our present moment is a reflection of the past – to change the future, we must change the present moment.

 

Many blessings to you as always,

Seth

PS – A few of my most popular articles to help you along theway: 10 Powerful Ways To Get Positive, Positive Thinking Techniques When Stuck In A Rut, and Spring Cleaning Your Life – 10 Surefire Ways to Let Go of the Past. Also, don’t forget my free true happiness videos here.

 

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Are You Feeling Stuck? 5 Powerful Possibilities

Feeling Stuck

Life can be a bit of a roller-coaster, especially when we are out in the world striving for more, and particularly when we are willing to let go of the status quo because we desire more, because we aren’t willing to let go of our dreams. Moving from where we are to where we want to be often requires shaking things up.

As luck would have it, sometimes we hit a wall, or find ourselves in a position without clarity as to what comes next. We don’t often like to admit it, especially those of us that are fairly driven, but it happens, and more importantly it’s a very natural part of this life.

Instead of ridiculing ourselves over how we got here, lets focus entirely on getting ourselves unstuck. Here are 5 powerful ways to unstuck yourself right now from your current state of being.

MOVEMENT. Good old-fashioned movement. Movement has to do with the shifting of energy, releasing old patterns, and creating new patterns of thought,  belief, and enhancing the foundation used to build our future. Exercise is one of the easiest ways to move and create shift. For me these days it’s raising the bar on my workouts, pushing myself to be stronger, faster, and more flexible – not because I need to, but because I want to move beyond complacency. The benefits of exercise are endless – they have a direct impact on our state of well-being, and will directly contribute to how we feel. Don’t be afraid to get out and take a walk, join a team sport (soccer, dodge ball, soft ball, rugby), take a bike ride, go roller blading, or just work in your garden. When we hit a brick wall in our lives, we often feel paralyzed. Movement in ANY capacity is a step in the right direction.

Stuck (2001 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

GRATITUDE. It all begins with gratitude. If you have read my books or have been reading my blog, you know that Gratitude is one of the pillars to finding true happiness in life. In the moments that we feel stuck, it is also a powerful weapon against the negativity of our inner thoughts. Feeling stuck by its very nature has a tendency to leave us feeling powerless, and it’s hard to transform our lives when we think we have no control over the outcome. BUT, we know that we are the ONLY ONE who can affect change in our life – and gratitude is one of the best ways to get us there. A simple exercise is to get out a piece of paper and to write down all of the things you are grateful for. Don’t stop until you have 30, 40, 50, or even 100 things on list. Something happens in the process of reminding yourself of everything you appreciate. Do this every day until your focus is not on your problems but on the magnificence all around you.
REMEMBER SUCCESS. Most of us have achieved and overcome SO MUCH in our lives. When we feel helpless or stuck, reflecting on our success reminds us that we can overcome anything that comes our way.  We have proven time and again that we can persevere, overcome, and nothing can stop us from moving forward in our lives – other than ourselves. Sometimes it helps to write down our greatest achievements, and the challenges we overcame. Remember, success begets success. The more we live in a positive state of achievement, the more likely we are to overcome any obstacles in our way. You don’t need me to tell you that you can do it – you already know that you can because you have done it many times before.

(Photo credit: nicole.pierce.photography)

DREAM. Our lives are made of big dreams and little dreams, but it is our desires that move us from place to place. It is our dream of something more in life that forces us to shift our patterns, breakthrough our limiting belief systems, and to remind us that we can remove anything that stands in the way of what we truly desire. Take a few moments to remember your dreams and even to map them out. Think about what it will look like, what it will feel like, and pre-pattern yourself for the success that is already well on the way. Your dreams are what make you who you are – don’t let them gather dust – keep them powerfully active in your life.
KINDNESS. Be kind to yourself – and be patient. We often underestimate how challenging it can be to walk in our own shoes. Don’t judge yourself – accept where you are and trust that you are being guided and are exactly where you need to be. Take time to rest, nap, meditate, or pamper yourself with a pedicure or a massage. Trust me – you ARE worth it, and pausing to smell the flowers and love yourself is often exactly what you need the most in this moment.

Getting stuck is a natural part of this life, but acknowledgement isn’t the same as complaining, for accepting where you are often provides you with the clarity required to map yourself from where you are to where you want to be. Embrace your current situation, and allow yourself to adapt and evolve in the direction of your true dreams and desires.

Good luck – your thoughts and comments are always welcome,

Until next time – Many blessings,

Seth

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New Years Resolutions Are Over – NOW WHAT?

Is that it? It’s a new year – but is it really a new you?

You made your New Years’ Resolutions and now your life is EVERYTHING you wanted it to be. Really?

If only it was that easy. Let’s move BEYOND our need to “make resolutions” in our life that will make us happy. Instead, we need to find our happiness in THIS moment (obviously). But HOW? We know that our happiness is a direct result of the choices we make in any given moment (but of course I can hear you say)…but wait, I’m still not happy? Remember, we only control WHO we choose to be and the ACTIONS we take – there is nothing else we can control.

Our happiness is a direct result of who we choose to be, how we define ourselves – which is the root of defining happiness. This past week I gave a seminar on moving BEYOND our New Years Resolutions – you can view a complimentary recorded version of the seminar/workshop here (http://www.learnitlive.com/class/3131/New-Years-Resolutions-are-Over-NOW-WHAT) – it’s about 35 minutes.

It doesn’t matter whether your resolutions are tangible & measurable (weight-related, money-related, health-related), or intangible (self-improvement, relationship, well-being), we have the opportunity right now to make the decisions that are going to impact our lives in positive and meaningful ways. Remember, we are all here for a unique purpose, and it is our responsibility to discover what that purpose is, and to live it in every waking moment.

This physical existence by its very nature involves pain as we are challenged with illness, conflict, and eventually death – but these challenges NEED NOT DEFINE US. Through challenge and pain we have the opportunity to learn and to grow, to step into the fullness of ourselves, and to obtain true happiness and fulfillment.

We all know that it takes more than one time per year to make the resolutions that will bring us happiness. If you fell off the wagon, just recommit – and recommit again. Take it one moment at a time, one day at a time, one month or one year at a time. You can pace yourself for success – but never give up.

Happiness is attainable, and available…right now. Just pay attention and show up – and everything will fall into place.

Until next time – many blessings!

Seth

 

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Happy Happy Joy – Bringing In The New Year

It’s that time of year again when the clocks tick down to the end of the year, and somehow we are still here – contrary to the conspiracy theorists, the world has not ended. While the media immerses itself in the fiscal cliff and the traumas of the prior year – individually we have more important things to focus our energy upon. We have the incredible opportunity to review the prior year at a glance to see what worked, what didn’t, to see how we have evolved – and to figure out what comes next.

Tuesday marks the beginning of the new year, providing us with a new beginning, a do-over if you will for each and every one of us. We can reinvent ourselves, re-prioritize what really matters, and consciously decide what the next year will bring.

We all have endless choices and opportunities, and although we may feel challenged in various areas of our lives, we are in the perfect place to create everything we desire. NOW is YOUR time – you are worthy of everything you desire.

Important Principles to Start a New Year

When looking at your life in retrospect, always focus on the positive. We all have our missteps, but they often pale in comparison to all that we have achieved, all that we have become in the process. Celebrate the wins, and take the rest in stride.
Remember, you can go ANYWHERE from here. Stop obsessing about the past, about what could or should have been. This is our chance to dream of a future fulfilled and FULL of bliss. Now is our opportunity to imagine a consciously created life – one in full alignment with our truth, with who we know ourselves to be.
We each have created our current life, and every decision up to this moment. If we want to change the future, we have only to look in the mirror, and at the present moment – for it is the ONLY moment we can control.
Let down your guard and DREAM. Many of us have given up on our dreams as we have gotten older and settled into the structures, responsibilities and demands of our lives. Remember, nothing is certain in life other than change and our physical death (and perhaps taxes) – everything else is left to our own creation.

My father Captain Chernoff saying goodbye to the USS Enterprise where he served (with my younger son Eli).

Here are a few fantastic articles to help you create your future exactly as you desire.

Five Ways to Succeed With Your New Years Resolutions and Intentions (http://www.sethchernoff.com/enlightenment/five-ways-to-succeed-with-your-new-years-resolutions-and-intentions/)
Your 2013 New Years Resolutions Planning Guide (http://www.sethchernoff.com/spirituality/your-2013-new-years-resolutions-planning-guide/)
Spring Cleaning Your Life – 10 Surefire Ways to Let Go of the Past (http://www.sethchernoff.com/enlightenment/spring-cleaning-your-life-10-surefire-ways-to-let-go-of-the-past/)

Until next year – many blessings and VERY Happy New Year!

All my best,

Seth

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Your 2013 New Years Resolutions Planning Guide

Yes, Thanksgiving is over, and it’s almost that time of year again when we begin anew and have yet another opportunity to create new beginnings and to re-write our life story. Oh, it’s not for a few weeks, but this is the perfect time to start dreaming about what you want your life to look like, what you want it to FEEL like. It’s time for another installment of my annual New Years Resolutions Planning Guide, which has proven to be a popular way to help you design and implement your resolutions for greatest effectiveness and success.

Crafting YOUR New Years Resolutions

A few guidelines to start with. I would like to give you permission to be selfish. YES you can be of service, and YES you can care about those who are suffering or have experienced loss. However, resolutions are about YOU, YOUR life and YOUR life story. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be of service, but you are the center of your universe – your life occurs from the inside out, not the outside in. Remember, you have to love yourself before you can love another, and you need to care for yourself before you can fully care for another.

I have organized our resolutions into the most common categories that people generally pull from.

Caring for Yourself– this category includes everything to do with your personal health and well-being.

Physical – Your body is your vessel for greatness in this life. Perhaps stop smoking, drink less alcohol, eat healthier foods, get more exercise, do some yoga, breathe more, get a facial – take care of your body. Quick tip: Don’t change your lifestyle for others, do it for yourself, which will increase your chance of success exponentially, and will feel much better as a result.
Emotional – Our emotions are the gauge, the barometer of our life and wellbeing. Do you want to be happier? Make better choices. Spend less time with negative people, let go of bad or abusive relationships, and spend more time with those who lift you up. More than anything – don’t be so hard on yourself. As simplistic and cheesy as it sounds – just love yourself.
Mental – Yes there are proven ways to keep your mind sharper and more engaged. Try reading more, watching less television, learning a new skill or new language, keeping yourself mentally stimulated, and perhaps take a break from technology from time to time.
Spiritual – Find meaning in your life, discover your faith, enhance your intuition, and connect with others on a new and deeper level. Plan a trip to an exotic location, or reconnect with your spiritual community. Don’t allow the chaos or drama in your life to overcome what truly matters.


Money & Debt – You might wonder how Money & Debt can fit in with caring for ourselves, but money seems to be a top resolution for most – generally having something to do with getting OUT of debt, which is an impossible resolution because it’s based in the negative. That desire doesn’t live in inspiration or passion, it is a statement of fear. Financial Prosperity on the other hand is the basis for an impassioned existence – one based on the excitement of what is to come. If “prosperity” is on your list, make it one that excites and uplifts you.
Passion & Purpose – What are YOUR dreams? We have a tendency to mute our dreams over time as we deal with the trials and tribulations of life. Reignite your passion, rediscover your dreams, and make them a part of your every waking moment – and especially your resolutions for the year to come.
Service & Community – We aren’t alone, we are part of a greater community. Our meaning in life comes partly from the way we are of service to one another. There is no right or wrong way to be of service – simply discover your way to serve and make it an active part of your life.

Remember, your life is what you make of it. Nothing more, and nothing less. You are the captain of your ship – you are in charge of your life, your emotions, your physical well-being, your emotional health, and your spiritual connectedness. Choose wisely (but remember – you can ALWAYS change it).

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

A few parting notes: Remember, keep your goals achievable. Unless you are truly ready for a cataclysmic shift in the way you live your life – don’t assume that you are going to reasonably change decades of bad habits overnight.  Pace yourself, and know that you won’t succeed in every resolution – so make peace in advance. Remember, its not about the end result, its about the process, the road we take to get there.

Set yourself up for success

We set ourselves up for success by pacing ourselves and taking our lives on a moment-by-moment basis. We take control of our destiny by making commitments that we are capable of achieving in this moment. Understand what you control – and leave the rest to the universe. Know what you can achieve – and make it happen.

Don’t berate yourself

You may not succeed in your resolutions, and that is fine. Don’t beat yourself up – just give it your best shot. If you miss a few days, re-engage yourself and get back to it.

Enjoy the process

There is much to be grateful for in all of our lives. This is a special time to redefine what really matters in your life – appreciate the process. Enjoy the last few weeks of 2012!!!

Many blessings,

Seth

 

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Life Transformation Kit – Just Add Water

Give the gift of change.

As the election is finally over, and the holidays are right around the corner, I decided that it was time to do something special. Starting today, I am offering an exclusive “Holiday Gift Transformation Kit” designed to give you everything you need to transform your life, or the life of someone you love. I would say “just add water” but we all know that transformation takes a little more effort than that. We all know that we need to show up and do the work if we want to change our lives.

Let me tell you what’s included:

An autographed copy of the award-winning and best-selling book: Manual For Living: REALITY, A User’s Guide to the Meaning of Life .
An autographed copy of book two in the series: Manual For Living: CONNECTION, A User’s Guide to the Meaning of Life


AND your very own copy of the Manual For Living Guidebook: Applying the Manual For Living: Exercise & Meditation Guidebook – the 324 page spiral bound guide complete with powerful content, daily exercises, daily mantras and evening meditations – which also gives you access to over 90 online lesson videos.

Give the gift of love, of transformation.

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This holiday season, don’t just give an iTunes gift card, or a gift basket. Give something that will change someone’s life forever.

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What is Spiritualism? What is Spirituality?

spir·i·tu·al·ism \ˈspir-i-chə-wə-ˌli-zəm \

Is spirituality truly distinct from reality? Some may claim to distinguish between what we perceive as our “physical” reality from that which is distinguished by our “spiritual” reality, as if there were a delineator between what we can physically experience, and the overriding spirit, the universe itself, and our individual inner being.

Merriam Webster defines Spiritualism as the view that spirit is a prime element of reality, and that the basis of spiritualism is the conviction that spirit is the essence of life, and lives on after the body dies.

So what is Spiritualism? If you accept that our thoughts create our perceptions, and thus our perceptions create our reality, then we become the ultimate driving force for everything we see, feel, and experience in this “physical” life. However, if we believe in a higher power of any kind, and we understand that we are a soul, energy, or are in some way connected to God or that higher power, then our entire reality exists as a direct result of that higher power or universal energy. Spirit or spirituality becomes the basis for every element of this physical existence.

For most who believe in some type of higher power, this is potentially the natural assumption, that perhaps spirit permeates all things – that maybe it isn’t distinct and dissimilar from physicality. Beyond the permeation of our spirituality into our physical reality, without the spiritual would we ever have the physical?

Take animals for example. Many would naturally assume that their purpose for being, albeit perceptively trivial, does not include the higher aspirations of the spiritual. As service is the defining factor of a life of fulfillment, it becomes our greatest aspiration, the direct connection between ourselves and another, and consequently a direct path to happiness. So the question becomes – do animals serve?

Does a bee pollinating flowers and producing honey not serve his hive? Does a mother nursing her young not serve? But of course you may say that these are simply animals and insects, but clearly they are not responsible for the creation of this universe? But would this universe exist if it weren’t for its inhabitants? Would any of the systems and structures on this planet exist if it weren’t for those who occupy and help to create it?

Without ones purpose for being, many of what is created and that currently exists would cease to do so. Everything you can feel and touch within this “physical” existence is here in large part because we perceive it to be so. If our perceptions create our reality, then how can we separate that which exits physically from that which exists spirituality?

There isn’t as much delineation as we might initially think, because we are holistic beings. We cannot separate our arm from our body without tremendous pain, and nor can we separate our emotional body from our mental body, or our soul from our living and interacting physical person. This life is experienced through our interconnectedness, in how we reach beyond our internal physical being to be a part of our community, through our contributions, and through our path to experience love and true happiness. It is through these methods that we express the full embrace of our soul within our reality.

Our perceptions do create our world – as a direct reflection of who we choose to be in any given moment. Our choices are not driven nor directly controlled by our physical presence, only influenced by it. Our higher calling – our reason for being if you will, is what determines our ability to not only find happiness and fulfillment, but to express the fullness of who we choose to be in this life.

So then – what is spiritualism? Spiritualism is how we embrace and understand that we are more than this physical body, that we are here in this life to express the fullness of our being. Our very existence is the integration of our physical reality in conjunction with our truth, our belief system, our inner knowing, and the universe itself. There are no coincidences that aren’t premeditated in some way as a result of the choices we make in any given moment. Our impact in this life is directly correlated by how we live our truth in the present.

What is the path to happiness and fulfillment?

To embrace your truth, the fullness of who you are, of who you came here to be, and your unique purpose in this life. Your spirituality is not governed by any outside force or belief system, only contributed by those elements that support your journey.

Write your own story – allow your life to naturally unfold before you. Fate is not predetermined – we consciously and unconsciously set the groundwork for every event that transpires in this life. Consciously create your life with pride, awareness, and intention so that your life unfolds exactly as you desire. Choose happiness over misery, greatness over pettiness, and choose to live the life you were destined in this moment, and in every waking moment.

Allow yourself to embrace the fullness of this life., and until next time…

Many blessings,

Seth

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