Orrin Jason Bradford's Blog, page 21

Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

This past Tuesday, Oct. 17, 49 exotic animals were killed in Ohio.  They were:

9 male lions,
 8 lionesses,
6 black bears,
3 mountain lions,
2 grizzlies,
2 wolves,
1 baboon . . . and
18 Bengal tigers (By the way, Bengal tigers are on the endangered species list)

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Flickr User TaranRampersad In a bizarre incident, 49 exotic wild animals were killed last week in Ohio.

One report (Pat Summers of www.AnimalBeat.blogspot.com writing for NewJerseynewsroom.com ) sited the cause of this horrendous tragedy to be due to "lack of tight regulations."

I'd like to offer a different perspective.  It wasn't due to a lack of regulations.  The root cause of this is a "erroneous cultural  mindset" that has been around so long as to be virtually invisible. This mindset can be traced at least as far back as the Old Testament if not farther:

"God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."  (Gen. 1:26)

This mindset is foundational to our current Civilization. The mindset of Civilization is hierarchical in nature and guess who we've put at the top? Us, of course, which means every other species on planet Earth is under our dominion. However, consider this:

"But what does 'dominion' really mean? It is traditionally interpreted as 'to subdue' or 'to rule over.' When taken to an extreme, it can include oppression and exploitation. However, an exploited planet Earth does not leave humanity richer. Perhaps there is a deeper, more sustainable aspect of dominion that includes a sense of service to one's fellow creatures and even a compulsion to protect those who cannot protect themselves. (From The Christian Science Monitor)

I'd like to propose that a much more sustainable, workable, even life-saving mindset is an 'integrative perspective' — that our species is an integral part of the whole of nature — no better, no worse, just an integral part of life.

How would this mindset have affected the tragic incident in Ohio?  Would the 56 'exotic' animals have even been in Ohio in the first place?  After all, the definition of exotic is: From another part of the world; foreign. As Summers pointed out, Ohio  is "not where lions, tigers, bears, wolves and primates belong." (at least not, non-human primates)

And for sure, from a integrative perspective and a mindset of "service to one's fellow creatures" if the animals had somehow found themselves in Ohio and then been released, we'd not have jumped to the immediate action of killing most of them, not if we operated from a "compulsion to protect those who cannot protect themselves".

Available on Amazon

Yes, I may be overly sensitive to this case, having been a small animal veterinarian for much of my life, and certainly a devoted animal lover since my earliest memories.  But I do wonder how Zak Bates, Ra-kit (the magic cat) and Sampson (the flying dog) — my characters in Dominion Over All might have responded to the killings in Ohio.  I believe they would have entered into a state of mourning and prayer for our fallen comrades, including forgiveness for those who "know not what they do."  I think I'll join them in those prayers.

"Want something More than Success." Veronica Roth

I picked up a new book, Divergent, today based on the short blurb on the back:

One choice decides your friends
One choice defines your beliefs
One choice determines your loyalties — forever
One choice can transform you

I was hooked even before I looked inside to learn that this first novel by Veronica Roth is about a "dystopian Chicago society that is divided into five faction, each one dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue."

But, as I often do before starting a book, I zipped over to Amazon to check out the reviews, which is where I found the following Q&A that blew me away even further:

Q: What advice would you offer to young aspiring writers, who long to live a success story like your own?

Roth: One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn't rely on it, because it's not guaranteed and it's not permanent and it's not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the writing—the characters, the story, the words, the themes—and make sure that you are who you are regardless of your life circumstances. That way, when the good things come, they don't warp you, and when the bad things hit you, you don't fall apart.

 

This little bit of wisdom from a young writer who looks to be no older than 25. I'm impressed. Thanks Veronica for the insightful comment.  I only hope your book is even half as insightful. If the reviews are any indication, I'm sure it will be.

By the way, Veronica also has a blog.

 

 

Make a Difference Day (Yes, this really is a recognized day)

As I was recently looking for a day that I could launch my Manifesto Bloginar for Visionary Writers, I stumbled upon a day that almost had me move the start of the Bloginar to a Saturday. It's Make a Difference Day.  Here's a little bit about it from the holidayinsights.com:

Make a Difference Day

When: The fourth Saturday in October

Initiated in 1990, this is a national day is for devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community. The activity can be almost anything. Millions of Americans participate in community improvement projects. It takes the form of cleanup, fixup, painting, and repair in poorer neighborhoods, parks and municipal facilities. It doesn't matter what project you take on. It doesn't matter whether you help a non-profit organization, the community, your town, nursing home, a church, a food kitchen, or any other group in need. What matters is that you participate.

Make a commitment to help others for just one day. Make a difference on Make a Difference Day!

Did You Know? Each year on Make a Difference Day, ex-President Jimmie Carter gets out his hammer and saw ,and helps to build or rebuild housing in underprivileged areas. There is not better example of people helping others than this!

Is that cool or what?  Of course, you could say — "Shouldn't every day be a day for making a difference?" to which I would answer — "why yes, certainly."  Still, it's nice to know that on the fourth Saturday in October some of us might just be more intentional about reaching out to our neighbors and lending a helping hand.  How about you?

What difference will you be making on Oct. 22, 2011?

Why I'm Using a Pen Name for Seeds of a New Birth

I'm working on the release of my next book — a SF techno-thriller entitled Seeds of a New Birth, due out by the end of October.  It won't have my name attached to it.  The author's name will be Orrin Jason Bradford — yep, I'm using a pen name for the first time.

Why's that?  So glad you asked.

During the process of revising and polishing the book I've pondered whether to publish it under my name or to use a pseudonym.  You see, I originally wrote the book while I was still a small animal veterinarian — that's, well, a few years ago (as in decades).  Now, don't get me wrong. I still think it's a very good book, especially since I've revised and polished it.  I know I was certainly entertained as I read it. In fact, blown away in several places since I'd forgotten the storyline.

But as I read it I also realized that it's quite different from most of my other books in one very specific way — it has a fair amount of sex in it — quite explicit sex in fact.  Now, I don't consider it gratuitous sex.  All the sexually oriented scenes are integral to the plot…and they're there.  So, since I also write YA fantasy, I wasn't comfortable with the idea that some of my YA readers would pick up Seeds of a New Birth and be shocked by its content.

This actually happened to me a few years ago.  Amber, my daughter, was somewhere around ten to twelve at the time. I gave her a book by one of her favorite authors. She read it and said she really enjoyed it, so my wife, who also enjoys YA fiction decided to read it next.  Boy, was she shocked to when she read the main character 'going down' on her boyfriend, in a much more graphic description than I'm going to give here.

Turns out, this author wrote both YA fiction and adult fiction using the same name, and I had mistakenly given Amber one of her adult novels.  Yes, I'm still hearing about that one.

So, while I'm proud of Seeds of a New Birth, and I'm not trying to hide behind a pen name, I do want to make it clear that it's not a YA fantasy.  It's rated M for Mature Audiences.

You can read the opening chapter of Seeds of a New Birth right here.

Where Did the Names Come From?

No, the name selection was not random.  Orrin was my father's name and although I don't remember a lot about him since he died when I was six, I do know he loved me and that without him, there'd be no me, so I wanted to honor him in this way.

Jason is the name that came to me a few months ago when I underwent a past life regression hypnosis session.  I like the idea of having lived one or more prior lives so I wanted to honor the me from my past in this way.

Bradford – well, duh, that's my real middle name.  I rarely use the whole name except in my writing and Ann and I liked the ring of these three names together.  So, meet my alter ego – Orrin Jason Bradford.

100 Book Giveaway – From Spark to Flame

Help Me Giveaway 1000 Copies of From Spark to Flame

Whoa – did I ever underestimate the response from my offer to give away 100 copies of  From Spark to Flame: Fanning Your Passion & Ideas into Moneymaking Magazine Articles that Make a Difference. I mean, I know we all enjoy receiving something for free, especially if it has some real value, which is one of the reason I decided to give away this book.  The book is packed with valuable information for aspiring visionary writers.

So, I figured I wouldn't have any real problem giving away a 100 copies before the kick off of the Nov. 1st Manifesto for Visionary Writers Bloginar.   After all, the book outlines in rich detail the proven, systematic and purposeful process that I've used to write, publish and be paid for over 350 magazine articles amounting to 1,000s of dollars of revenue.

But, boy, did I ever underestimate the offer with the the 100 book mark being reached and exceeded the evening I opened the giveaway while Ann and I were eating dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant – that was less than 12 hours after I announced it!

Time to Rethink the Giveaway

To say I'm thrilled by this response would be a gross understatement. I'm speechless…okay, maybe not quite but close.  I love the opportunity to give something that I know can really help people express themselves through their writing — that can make a difference while also making them some money. So, I've been rethinking the giveaway.

Why limit it to 100?  That was my first thought, followed closely by, "I wonder how many books I could giveaway, say in the next ten days?  250? 500?  1000?  Probably not without some help, but as Joe Cocker once sang, "with a little help from my friends," who knows what we could do together?

So, the 100 book giveaway is complete.  I'll be sending those books out very soon.

Now, let's see just how many copies of From Spark to Flame: Fanning Your Passion and Ideas into Moneymaking Magazine Articles that Make a Difference, we can giveaway in the next ten days.  That's right — we.  I don't know that many writers, but I know more today than I did yesterday, that's for sure.

A Little Added Incentive to Share

I next started to ask myself what else could I offer that would encourage writers to share this book giveaway opportunity with others.  Here's what I came up with (thanks to some brainstorming ideas from my wife, Ann):

Everybody who requests a book by subscribing to this blog will not only receive the book but also will be entered into a drawing that will work this way:

If/when we reach 250 books given away, I'll pull a name from the hat and that person will receive a 45-minute phone coaching session with me.
At 500 books given away, I'll draw a second name from the hat and that person will also receive  a 45-minute phone coaching session with me.
Another name will be drawn at 750 for a 45-minute phone coaching session with me, and
If we reach 1,000 books given away, a fourth name will be drawn.

The winners get to say what form the coaching will take. It can be about how to live your life more on purpose (I've been coaching folks in that for over 16 years), or it can be about your writing dreams and aspirations. (After all, I've been a professional writer for close to 25 years, so I can help you move forward there as well.)

Claim your copy of From Spark to Flame by:

Subscribing to receive updates from this blog by just entering your primary email to the right (where it says "Subscribe to Updates by Email). (NOTE: Be sure confirm your subscription when you receive the email asking you to do so. Books will only be emailed to confirmed subscribers. The confirmation will be coming from coachbrad@lifeonpurpose.com)

That's really all you have to do to receive your copy.  You'll receive your ebook PDF edition within a week. (I'll compile the list of new folks joining the blog roll and send out the ebook at least once a week).

Now, I'd really appreciate if you'd also:

Share this Book Giveaway and the Manifesto for Visionary Writers Bloginar with your writing friends so they can receive their own copy of From Spark to Flame.
Go to my Visionary Authors page at Facebook and 'like' it.
Once you've had a chance to look over the book, give me a positive review of it on Amazon 

I want to be sure everyone receives their book that subscribed to the blog. If you haven't seen a confirmation request check in your spam folder for the message from "Feed My Inbox". Periodically I'm sending out an instruction email to confirmed blog subscribers on how to download the ebook.  That email is coming from coachbradATlifeonpurpose.com (AT is really @, of course). Look for future updates under the comment section of this post.

Phase 2 of the Giveaway starts today, Friday, October 14, 2011 and runs…well, until we giveaway 1,000 books or October 24, whichever comes first.

123 Books Already Claimed (136 to reach 250 and first drawing for coaching session)

Why I'm Giving Away these Books

I love creating win-win-win scenarios.  I believe this giveaway is a perfect example:

You receive a really valuable gift that can make a real difference in your writing career (It sure has for me)
At the same time it helps me reach more writers that I can help through this blog and my upcoming bloginar
The world ultimately benefits as well as more visionary writers step into their power

Win – Win – Win!

My Salute to Steve Jobs

Before becoming a writer and life coach, I practiced veterinary medicine in High Point, North Carolina. In 1984, I began hearing about a new computer called the Macintosh. Being an Apple computer enthusiast, I decided one Saturday to visit the local Apple store and check out this new toy. Twenty minutes later, thanks to a nice (and very attractive) sales lady (no her name wasn't Fate), I strolled out with my first Macintosh, a printer, and a new credit card with the entire purchase on the account.

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One of the First 1000 Macs

My Macintosh was one of the first 1,000 machines off the assembly line, and only two programs were available for it —MacPaint and MacWrite. It didn't take long for me to realize it's next to impossible to draw anything useful with a mouse. Fun, yes. Useful, no. By Monday morning, with a good case of buyer's remorse setting in, I became frantic to find some way to justify this irrational and spontaneous buying spree.

Finally, I decided the Macintosh was a sign. After all, I had been telling myself for years that one day I would try my hand at writing, right? After glancing at the calendar and my charge card bill, I realized that "one day" had arrived.

I set about writing my first article, a short piece about the reasons for spaying your cat, which I promptly sent off to Purrrrr! (I remember to this day that the title of the magazine is spelled with five R's), a newsletter for cat lovers published in Maine. A month or so later, I received my first check in the mail for $50. I was thrilled and delighted.

As they say, the rest is history.

Since 1984 I'm sure I've written millions of words on a Mac. I've even managed to chain some of them together well enough to sell the completed pieces to regional, national and international magazines.  (I quit counting sold articles around 300, so I know the count is well beyond that.)  I've also written all my books on a Mac, numerous short stories, newsletter articles in the hundreds, and gigabytes of other material…all on a Mac.

My wife and I founded Life On Purpose Institute over 15 years ago and have reached around the world, all from a small mountain village in North Carolina.  I'm clear I couldn't have done that without my Macs. While I might have done these things on a PC, I'm sure I wouldn't have been as creative nor would I have had nearly as much fun in the process.

It's been a strange day for me, this Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, and I'm just now realizing why.  I'm saddened by the death of Steve Jobs.  Part of me says that it's silly to be so sad about the loss of someone I never met and really don't know personally, but the other part of me says it's really okay. That part of me knows how much of a difference Steve made in my life over these past 27 years.  And don't even get me started on how much I've learned and how much fun I've had with my iTouch.

Thank you Steve.  Your creativity, innovation and leadership will be missed.

Connecting Visionary Writers & Readers

For Writers: I help aspiring and emerging writers to make a difference as they express their life purpose through the power of the written word.  As visionary writers, we're catalysts for creating a world on purpose.

For Readers: If you love a good story that entertains while also enlightening and encouraging you to live your own life on purpose, you've come to the right place. That's visionary fiction.

If you love a good nonfiction book that both enlightens and encourages you in your life while also being entertaining, that's visionary nonfiction, and this is the place for you as well!

Manifesto Bloginar Starts November 1, 2011
1,000 Book Giveaway – Receive From Spark to Flame for Free

Where to Start on the Spiral of Fulfillment

As I wrote last time, wherever you begin on the Spiral of Fulfillment, if you stay involved you will no doubt find the other aspects of the Spiral slipping naturally into your life as well. Here's a brief overview of some of the starting points where you may begin to align your life with the universal flow which will ultimately lead to a "life on purpose."

Spiral of Fulfillment

Service

Service has gotten a bad rap lately, or has been confused with such terms as "customer service" or "service with a smile." But what does a "purposeful, passionate and playful life of service" mean? It means quite simply that you'll be more satisfied and fulfilled in your life when you express your true life purpose in service to others. Think of it this way: Your true, Divinely Inspired Life Purpose is who you are as a spiritual being and what you came here to planet Earth to be and experience. And since we are all here as spiritual beings who have a physical experience, we're also here to express our purpose through service to others.

Now, hold on. . .there's another part. Engaging in service for others doesn't mean at your own expense. It's important for you to take care of yourself at the same time, so you will have plenty of energy to serve others – not just plenty of physical energy but also mental, emotional and spiritual energy. The first step to taking care of yourself is to take the time to clarify what you're most passionate about which is closely associated with your life purpose.

In fact, when you bring clarity of purpose to your life, you are then able to tap into a wellspring of passion and enthusiasm that can fuel your efforts to express and fulfill your purpose. All of this is augmented when you add a healthy dose of purposeful play into the mix.  With purposeful play, you bring a childlike innocence and sense of awe and wonder to your daily life. There's a sense of freedom and a willingness to flow with what's flowing as you're open to exploring and experimenting with life.

Simplicity

There's a growing, quiet movement underfoot to simplify our lives. Many of us have realized the Great American Dream of owning a huge house, with two late-model cars in the garage, expensive vacations and all the trimmings of a "keeping-up-with-the-Joneses" lifestyle has one fatal flaw: Such a lifestyle doesn't guarantee our happiness. As modern-day spiritual sage, Bo Lozoff, cofounder of the Human Kindness Foundation points out in his book, Deep and Simple:

"It's time we notice that the Joneses are not happy. One of their kids is on drugs, the parents are in divorce court, Mr. Jones is $50,000 in debt, and Mrs. Jones is taking anti-depressant medication."

But we have to be careful about the notion of simplicity. Many of us have also misinterpreted it to mean frugality, depravity, or even poverty. It's not that either, which is why we're introducing the distinction of "mindful abundance balanced with simplicity." A simple approach to life starts with being mindful (as in thoughtful, awake and aware). This means taking the time to reflect upon what's most important in life and to do so from a mentality of abundance and gratitude rather than from a consciousness of lack or limitation. When you start living a life of mindful abundance balanced with simplicity, you start to realize that such a life can look quite different for people. As Vicki Robin, coauthor of Your Money or Your Life once said, "Simple living isn't a cookie cutter lifestyle."

Spiritual Serenity

I was raised in the "Bible Belt" of the South where I was taught that there are two subjects that you are safer not talking about in public, politics and religion. But it's time we all broke our "vow of silence" and for many of us "closet spirits" to come out and express ourselves and our faith in a Higher Power. Embracing a sense of the Great Mystery of the Universe through an authentic spiritual inquiry will add a whole new dimension to your life. What form this dimension takes is completely up to the individual. After all, that's one of the basic freedoms upon which the United States of America was built. It's time we got back to it. And for now, that's all this Southern gentleman has to say on the subject. But read on for more.

Elegance

I've been told that there's a principle in physics known as "elegance" that says that the universe operates in the simplest manner possible. Thus, water takes the path of least resistance (a notion that a lot of us could learn from), an object is pulled by gravity in a straight line unless another object or force comes into play, and so forth. When you combine the distinctions of service and simplicity in the Spiral of Fulfillment, what arises is the possibility of living an elegant life. To quote Einstein again, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

Each morning as I prepare myself for the day, I recite a "purposeful prayer" that helps me get in touch with my life purpose so it will be my purpose that shapes my day. A part of this litany points to the idea of elegance. It goes like this:

"I rest in the assurance of knowing that as I continue to live true to my life purpose, the entire Universe provides amply, abundantly and in perfect timing all the resources necessary for the ongoing expression and fulfillment of this purpose. My job, first and foremost, is to live true to my life purpose."

That's elegance in a nutshell.

Peace-of-Mind

When you meld simplicity and spiritual serenity together you get peace of mind, something that is usually absent if either one of these key ingredients is missing. This might explain the incredibly high suicide rate in this country and the fact that Valium is one of the most widely purchased drugs year after year. Want more peace-of-mind in your life?

Try this simple recipe: Add one cup of simplicity with two cups of spiritual serenity, fold gently together while breathing deeply, add a pinch of gratitude to taste, let set for several minutes. While it's congealing, go take a quiet soak in a hot tub of water surrounded by candles. Ahhh. Peace of Mind.

Contribution

All I've ever wanted to do in life is make a difference with other people. In my view, contributing to others' lives is what we all most want from life. When you know your purpose, you know how to contribute; you know your unique gift of being – your soul's purpose – is to offer to others. Through an authentic spiritual exploration you realize that we are all connected to each other and to the whole Universe. When these two ideas are combined, the possibility of us all contributing to each other is the natural outcome.

A Life On Purpose

At the center of the Spiral for Fulfillment, where all these basic ingredients are blended together is where a life on purpose lives. As you read this book, I invite you to savor each chapter. Imagine each one is like a fresh slice of orange or a juicy, sun-ripened strawberry. As you read, roll the ideas and insights around in your mind. Ponder these notions between your readings.

Take your time, but take action on the ideas that make the most sense. If you do, I believe you will find that it is possible to live a satisfying and fulfilling live – a life on purpose – no matter how turbulent the rest of the world may be.  And given enough time, I have faith we can all create a world on purpose in this way.

Beginning the Journey

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It is my deepest desire that the following selection of essays will assist you in traveling along the Spiral of Fulfillment and that with each turn along the Spiral, your life will take on a deeper sense of purpose as you discover new ways to be of service, while also simplifying your life, and bringing a profound sense of serenity as you reconnect with your true Self.

Learn more about this newest book in the Life On Purpose Book Series and order your copy here.

The Interconnected Nature of the Spiral of Fulfillment

Imagine for a moment living a completely satisfying and fulfilling life: Your work is a wonderfully rich expression of your purpose and passion, you have ample time to engage in worthwhile endeavors with your family and friends in engaging ways, and you are deeply involved in your community. In this fulfilled life, you fully experience the interconnected relationship of yourself with the rest of the Universe, and you take full responsibility for your role in it.

If you find such a life difficult to imagine, read on as we explore the facets of life that make up the Spiral of Fulfillment. As you read, know that such a life is not only possible, it is your birthright.

From Project Purpose a Seed was Planted

Several years ago, I created a pet writing project known as Project Purpose. The goal of my project is to write and publish articles about people and institutions whose lives and missions are dedicated to a bold and inspired purpose or vision.

I created this project for two main reasons. First, I want to bring more purpose and meaning to my profession as a freelance writer, and second, I want to inspire other people to live a more satisfying and fulfilling life for themselves through service to others. It was my hope that people would read one of my Project Purpose Profiles and then say to themselves, "Well, if that person can make a difference in the world, certainly I can do something for others as well."

Purposeful online resource:  if you'd like to read some of these inspiring stories and profiles about purposeful people, go to the Project Purpose Page.

Over the next few years, as I interviewed dozens of people living purposeful lives, I began to notice some common elements shared by most of the people I interviewed.  These elements resonated deeply with my own soul and my own experience of life. They eventually became the core ingredients of my own life purpose. These core elements are:

•    Service

•    Simplicity

•    Spiritual Serenity

In other words, the people I interviewed were all clear about their life purpose and were expressing their purpose through service to others. They led lives of "purposeful, passionate, and playful service."

That wasn't all. These ordinary people who were leading extraordinary lives maintained much simpler lives than most, partly because they knew who they were and why they were on the planet. They lived lives of "mindful, abundance balanced with simplicity."

The third common characteristic these people shared was a profound and inspiring spiritual life. Some were quite vocal about their relationship with God, while others were quiet and subdued. Some talked about their relationship with a Higher Power, or the Universe, some referred more to their spiritual nature or spirituality. But it was present in almost every case.

From these observations evolved the Spiral of Fulfillment Model, the essence of which is captured in the saying:

A life on purpose is a life of service, simplicity, and spiritual serenity.

 

Spiral of Fulfillment

Turbulent Times

I think most people will agree that we are living in turbulent times. Some might even say that our world is going to hell in a hand basket.

One way to view the cause of these turbulent times is to realize that on a cultural and societal level, we are out of alignment with the universal flow of life. Let's face it: We live in an amazingly complex universe – one so complex that we'll never be able to fully comprehend it or fully appreciate its intricate design. As Einstein once said:

We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see a universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws, but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations.

At the same time, like the child, most of us know intuitively that there is a design to the universe in which we live. I call this design the universal flow of life. You can think of this universal flow like a current of water going in a particular direction. As long as we flow with the current, life works and works well. We're "in the zone," so to speak. But what happens when one current of water going in one direction meets with another current of water going in a different direction?

At the point where the two currents meet you will find turbulence. And what I'm suggesting is that much of our culture is going against the universal flow of life, thus creating our turbulent times.

But the elements of the Spiral of Fulfillment are in complete alignment with the universal flow. In other words, if we want to regain our equilibrium, if we want our lives to work, aligning our lives with the Spiral of Fulfillment will allow us to once again enter the natural flow of the universe.

The great thing about the Spiral of Fulfillment is that it doesn't matter where you start.  You may start by one day realizing that your life has become far too busy and complicated and that it's time to simplify matters. Or perhaps you've been realizing that your life is missing direction and meaning. You may know that you're meant to be of service but aren't sure how or where.

Or, you may feel like there's something missing from your life, that you're more than just a body and mind, but that you've been operating as only a 2-dimensional figure. If so, you may start on the Spiral of Fulfillment by adding a new dimension of spirituality to your life.

Wherever you begin on the Spiral of Fulfillment, if you stay involved you will no doubt find the other aspects of the Spiral slipping naturally into your life as well. Next time (as in the next post in a few days) we'll explore a brief overview of some of the starting points where you may begin to align your life with the universal flow which will ultimately lead to a "life on purpose."

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(If you don't want to wait, you can order Spiral of Fulfillment Now.)

Inspired to Write about Inspiration

It struck me as one of those 'duh moments.'  You know the kind.  After you have this kind of an idea, you wonder why you hadn't thought of it before.  They're like the commercials that used to be on TV – "Duh, I coulda had a V-8."

Is Your Soul able to Breath?

The idea that landed in my pea-size brain over the weekend was the idea to explore (including through writing about it) the subject of inspiration.  What is it? What's the difference between inspiration and motivation? Why does the world seem so obsessed with motivation and why is inspiration missing from so many people's lives right now?  And most important of all, how can we all tap into this powerful force for change in the world?

It's funny.  For years (as in a decade and a half), I've created almost every day with my life purpose statement that begins with:

 

"To live an inspired, inspiring and courageous life of purposeful, passionate and playful service."

That's why this struck me as a 'duh moment.'  So, how am I going to proceed with this exploration…and here comes the 'writer's lesson' if you care to think of it that way.  Here's what I've come up with thus far:

Explore this by reading a book I started years ago and pulled out yesterday – Inspire! What Great Leaders Do by Lance Secretan. Always like to read what other writers have learned already about a subject, especially when it's someone whose work I admire like Lance's.
Share what I'm learning about inspiration via this blog (which I'm doing right now) and via the Life On Purpose Facebook Page including inspiring quotes shared like the image above. (Of course, I'd love to have you join me there as well.
Query one or more magazines offering an article on this topic. First one is about 70% written with the working title of "Stop Motivating and Start Inspiring."  It's directed to a business management journal I've written for over the past 20 years.  I do see this is a great topic that can be slanted in a number of different ways.

Okay, I imagine there are at least 3-4 other good ideas how to proceed with this. Care to share a few?  How would you proceed exploring such a topic?  Inquiring minds want to know.