Christine Horner's Blog: Your Brilliant Future Here Now, page 13

Martin Luther King Jr. Taught Us Character Key to Freedom

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

How quickly we have forgotten that Martin Luther King stood not only head and shoulders above color and class disparity, he became the mountain top. King had a dream and he embodied it. How did he do this?

Character.

In my latest Huffington post, I discuss how MLK wanted each one of us to realize that the personal strength of character we display when interacting with others is the key to unlocking the prison of color and class discrimination.

The Bridge to Peace march in Charleston, SC, is the perfect example of what MLK stood for as the community rallied in love rather than fear-based protests or rioting.

My heart’s wish is for everyone to realize we contain the power to heal the world within us, by being the change we wish to see, leading by example.

Read Post »

Much love,

Christine

Let’s Work Together to End Abortion

Dear Friends,

After a lot of soul searching, I’ve decided to address one of the most

divisive social issues of our time in a very public forum. Four decades

later and the question of the morality and legality of abortion still remains.

I don’t think there is a soul alive who would rather that abortion no

longer even need to be  considered. We can achieve that end, because

there IS a solution. But it’s not on the track we are on. Please read on

to learn more. And please like on The Huffington Post.

“The morality of abortion is unresolvable because the miracle of life

doesn’t apply to just the one in the womb, it extends to all life. In

other words, if the crux of the issue is preserving the sanctity of life,

that must include protecting the lives of those already here . . .”

READ MORE »

Much love,

Christine

Revitalize Your Passion for Life

[AS SEEN IN BELLA MAGAZINE] We’ve been fortunate enough to survive the “me” generation to learn that life is much more inclusive than it used to be. Thanks to social media, “me” exploded into “we,” and a socially conscious generation was born. What was once considered personal fulfillment has changed for the better.

Let’s have a little fun, shall we? Even if you were born circa 1990 or later, we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy this quick reprise of a few of you or your parents’ greatest hits. You might even laugh out loud to discover how seriously you took life back then.

A few decades ago, you may remember that life got really big. Big hair, big shoulders, big houses and big mini-vans. Music videos and Madonna’s material world allowed us to dream bigger than we ever had before. We thought we’d finally made it, and that there was no turning back as to what we could personally achieve.

Not only were our prospects for a better quality of life opening up wide, women began to have more choices than just motherhood, teaching, nursing or secretarial positions. Race relations were improving, the Berlin wall fell, Gorbachev was in office, and Space Shuttles were orbiting the Earth.

It was the Me generation. Individual expression was “bustier”-ing out all over in shocking new ways. We fretted over our children’s self-esteem, the number of orgasm’s we were having, and making sure we kept up with the latest fads and trends.

Reminiscing, you may be recalling your own personal triumphs. More importantly, how are you feeling about life right now?

Undoubtedly, your hopes and dreams are different than they once were. Change is occurring at such speeds, you might not be sure of what to wish for except for a global group hug and a well-earned paycheck in everyone’s hands.

READ MORE

Identity Crisis: What’s Your ‘Why’?

[In Syndication as: The New ‘Why’ That Will Restore America to Greatness] This country is going through an identity crisis. Perhaps, the whole world is.

This isn’t the identity crisis of gender, race, or sexuality that is currently breaking wide open as we mature into the awareness that nature offers abundant variety. This is an existential crisis of what we as a people collectively value—the meaning and purpose behind our lives that propels us toward an unknown future.

According to famous developmental theorist and psychologist, Erik Erikson (1902-1994), it’s a strong sense of identity that equips us to face what lies ahead with certainty and confidence. Let’s revisit American history to see how our whys have transformed over the years.

The Narrative

The original thirteen British colonies that made up the first states of a new nation fled England to escape European religious persecution—our first why. The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1787 codified our political why. We were a fully empowered fledgling republic.

One of the difficulties that plagued our young country was financial. But, wise and skillful founding fathers, along with the grit of hard labor, voluntary and forced, began constructing a strong foundation that would come to underpin our nation’s success story.

Nationalism exploded after the War of 1812. We then busily focused on economic growth. Building the country and territorial expansion became our next why as we became the world’s leading agricultural nation.

Social reform turned our attention to the betterment of the quality of American life and the abolishment of slavery. The end of Civil War led a deeply wounded nation to seek to reconstruct a unifying why once more.

Industrial growth took our nation into the 20th century. Banking and corporate monopoly boom/bust cycles led to the Great Depression. Calls to end corruption, and for economic, political, and social reform grew louder. Our new why became the demand for opportunity, worker protections, and the reduction of poverty.

A global powerhouse post two world wars, America experienced an economic boon that spread wealth to more Americans than ever before. While our global why was the containment of communism, our domestic why became the pursuit of the American Dream.

The American Dream

The American Dream was first defined by James Tuslow Adams in his 1931 book, The Epic of America: “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”

The ethos mirrors the Declaration of Independence’s proclamation that, “all men are created equal” with the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Upward mobility the heart and soul of the American Dream, equality naturally reemerged as a perilous wound now festering upon our nation’s soul.

Opportunity. Equality. Personal fulfillment. Or, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What has happened to the American Dream? Why has it failed us, or perhaps, have we failed it?

The perversion of the American Dream began with marketers redefining it to narrowly mean happiness, success, and human value are determined by one’s ability to consume. This message has been pumped into our cultural psyche by the media long enough that materialism became this nation’s last why—the spread of freedom our global why.

Though conservation and sustainability are gaining traction, societal structural limitations leave most of us with minimal ability to make significant contributions toward reflecting these emerging values. Collectively, we have just begun to recognize the need to change our current trajectory.

America Needs a New Why

America’s narrative isn’t just an economic one. The impetus behind this country was and continues to be the human spirit that desires to realize true freedom and express creative potential so that we not only survive, but thrive.

Many have already realized that materialism alone is not meaningful enough to sustain oneself, a nation, or even the human species. According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory, those left with an unresolved identity crisis and in a state of confusion may go on to seek a negative identity.

As identity crisis arises out of the teen years into adulthood, an increasing string of why-less youth are turning private pain into public violence. Withdrawing from mainstream society and looking for someone to blame, directionless individuals may also seek out social groups experiencing the same confusion, rather than going within or asking for help to find a new why.

Adding fuel to the fire, the same corrupt conditions that have existed for millennia inhibiting equality and opportunity are still in place, though greatly improved in some areas of the world more than others. Our social, political, and economic constructs have hit their own walls of limitation. Resultant instability has humans continuously picking up the pieces of our lives.

Our New Why: Each Other

Fidelity (identity vs. role confusion) is the fifth stage of Erickson’s eight stages of human development ending in late adulthood. It’s time for humanity to evolve beyond our adolescent behavior and move into the next stage of growth: Love (intimacy vs. isolation).

Essentially, we must realize that we are one interconnected and interdependent family. If this is true, the only meaningful endeavor is to be in service to one another in one or more of an infinite number of ways that you would enjoy. If our species is to survive, our why must reflect this, therefore ending our existential crisis.

The Millennials, ages 18-33, are the first to recognize this. Millennial Impact Project data lists Gen Y as the first generation with a quantifiable desire to “do good” via involvement in social causes. Service to self is limited. We must ultimately end exclusivity which is a blight upon humanity.

What counteracts negative identification is a strong sense of community. Let us begin to heal today. Be the change you wish to see. Join with those already living and celebrating their new why. Not just for America, but for the world.

What’s your why?

WTMJ News Radio Interviews Christine Live

Dear Milwaukee Friends,

It was wonderful to speak to you on WTMJ News Radio!

Thank you to Derrell Connor for one of the best interviews ever!

Derrell has invited me back, so I hope to see you soon.

Listen to the interview »

All love,

Christine

Awakening Leadership on WTMJ News Radio

 

 

Christine Horner talked to Derrell Connor on WTMJ News Radio about how to ignite the leadership spark in all of us and unhinging our self-created shackles.

 

 

 

 

 

7 Ways to Overcome Frustration in Your Life

[AS SEEN ON THE HUFFINGTON POST] I often teach about building a better world by applying common sense on steroids. What has become glaringly obvious is that our society is set up to push us to extreme levels of frustration.

A new science is emerging linking happiness to our well-being, which in the final analysis translates to human sustainability. According to the World Happiness Report 2015 published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the United States ranks 15th in the world, just below Mexico.

Whether residing in a developed country or not, there are some key components to living the good life that tend to be overlooked as they run contrary to our consumer-driven culture. But, we are re-discovering economics is only part of the equation.

Losing everything during my child’s cancer treatment for a brain tumor a few years ago, I’ve learned a few things about what constitutes living the good life, and you know what? A warm shower and a walk in the woods with my family are right at the top.

What are the driving forces behind dissatisfaction? What is the common thread of personal well-being, or even ever-elusive personal fulfillment? How can you successfully navigate life when things take an unexpected turn?

The difference between achieving personal fulfillment or heart-breaking disillusionment ultimately begins with you and where you are placing your focus, regardless of circumstances.

Here are 7 reasons why you might be frustrated with your life.

You feel you have failed at something.Feeling cynical or defeated, or that your hard work is not paying off? Life continuously places road signs in front of you every day, guiding you along your journey. Are you listening and watching, or are you insisting the world conform to your demands on your schedule?When there is disappointment in life, seeing everything as an opportunity will keep you invigorated and challenged in a good way. The ability to adapt and learn are vital to living the good life. If you don’t evolve, you die. And then you die anyway. Consider changing course or starting something new. Age is not important. Follow your bliss.
You play the comparison game.

Making a living becomes complicated when you wish to live like someone else. Materialism and title are fake substitutes for real affluence—the ability to inspire people.What do you really value? Time, family, freedom, creativity, helping others, or maybe you just want to live a simple life. Make a list and then begin to devise an action plan. Our limited definitions of success are expanding to include less is more.
You’ve mortgaged your life.You’ve paid with your freedom for the illusion of security. Economy provides us with sustenance of life, but when it becomes the goal, you work like a machine, losing your passion for living.The American Dream is also changing. Too many of us watched our parents become enslaved by possessions they worked so hard for only to lose them or die too early to enjoy them. New markets are opening up that allow us greater life flexibility through stewardship rather than ownership.
You self-medicate to fill the void.Innovation and automation have provided us with more free time than we’ve ever had. Instead of filling it with creativity, we self-medicate our off-hours with TV, smart phones, information, and shopping, looking for a quick high to fill the emptiness in our lives.Do you remember when you were 5-years-old, happy and carefree? Every day was an adventure. Regain your sense of wonder by looking at every day as a fresh beginning filled with possibility. Rediscover your inner child.
You are daunted by all the strife in the world.Living the good life is being peaceful even when those around you are stirring the pot. When others engage in negativity, don’t get sucked in. Consider ending support of violent media content.Become response-able for you and your corner of the world. Share uplifting news and things you love on social media. Seek common ground with those you come into contact with to build upon, supporting change as needed.
You’ve allowed technology to supplant human contact and nature.Do you ever walk your neighborhood and ask where all the people are? When was the last time you roamed a nature trail? Technology is nice, but it’s not nicer than a sense of community and all the wisdom and health benefits hidden in nature’s vastness. If you’ve forgotten this, stop what you’re doing right now. Come back in 30 minutes and report your findings.
Too much “me” time.Self-love and self-care are certainly important, but keeping a healthy balance between ego and selflessness is the striking point of cultivating personal fulfillment. In a synergetic world, personal fulfillment and social responsibility are intimately connected.Try volunteering just two hours a month to discover what you would grumble about at minimum wage. Being in service to others takes you out of your head and your difficulties. It is a gift—the most exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling gift you could ever give—the gift of you!

* * *

Finding harmony between economic, social, and environmental objectives (or mind, body, and spirit) is key to personal and community well-being and happiness. The most important thing in life is the joy in being alive.

If you think there is something more important than this, you are bound to experience frustration. Your life becomes beautiful as soon as you put your heart into it. Your passion for life can never be taken away from you—unless you take away your focus.

Don’t worry, nobody’s perfect. We all have our rough patches. Focus is the key to mastery in life. Which do you wish to master? Gratitude for being alive or being alive and feeling like you’re dead?

I still own nothing but this laptop—this time by personal choice. Truthfully, I didn’t lose everything. I’ve got my beautiful daughter (and son). Everything else is just accessories. Once you let go of what is illusory, you embrace life’s mystery and really begin to live!

United We Stand Divided We Fall: Why Safety Nets Are Part of an Evolved Society

[AS SEEN ON THE HUFFINGTON POST] United we stand, divided we fall applies to more than just nationalism; it’s the very fabric of all of life. Each one of us contributes to the unique tapestry that is this planet, our planet a thread in the tapestry of the Universe.

You and I were equally born into the world naked and interdependent on our nuclear family, our extended families, and community to inform, educate, and support us. Likewise, all of nature is interconnected and interdependent. The whole of nature is just as inter-reliant on its parts as are the parts of nature on the whole to sustain it.

Interdependence, expressed as our symbiotic relationship with each other and the world never ends. Is there still any doubt in your mind that there is no separation?

Whether humans develop new social systems or amend existing ones, the goal is to minimize negative benefits and exclusion. Besides avoiding them to begin with, this is accomplished with the addition of safety nets, in the form of social agreements and other support, to counter-balance negativity.

If safety nets are not included, or they are reduced or taken away, you increase instability and reduce the sustainability of what you are attempting to build, whether dealing with your family, local community issues, the economy, national security, legislating morality, foreign policy, etc.

Often the initial ideal is on the right track as predominantly positive, but the approach used is not–particularly with systems founded in separation consciousness. The more rules that have to be installed to force compliance, the more alarm bells should be going off that there is too much exclusion, or negative benefits involved, and/or self-dealing. The approach may even be entirely backward.

How many times in your own community have you heard well-intending souls justify not providing assistance, whether through charitable means, helping out a friend or relative in need, or disavowing public benefits under the pretext of, “I’ve worked hard for everything I have, they can, too.”

There may also be other reasons, but the logic is part and parcel of a primitive survivalist mindset deeply embedded in the collective human psyche reinforced by current culture and conditioning–as a competition mindset. We’d better not make life easier for each other. “They” might win!

As a responsible human being, you begin to realize it is support and not “separation from” that heals society’s social ills. If there is some support and the problem persists, then the form of support needs to be examined. The support is either insufficient, not the right type, or still perpetuating separation.

A penal system is a case in point. A penal system is minimally required when there is adequate support from society. The greater the prison population per capita, the less support their society offered them before incarceration.

Treated as disposable and undervalued from the very beginning, the individual didn’t learn how to manage him or herself, in society. Society didn’t want to deal with her. Without full support in prison and everything they didn’t receive in the outside world, their reactive behavior patterns will most likely continue.

Regarding any social ill, an evolved society knows that it is investing in safety nets and support that lead to long term results. This is the infrastructure to our infrastructure. Begrudgingly offering minimal support and investing in wars against something will only provide short term relief, and likely lead to failure.

You will observe that in separation consciousness, providing support is feared and is believed to create dependency. Dependency remains when support is inadequate, and we engage in shaming others, which creates division within our communities and nations.

As you begin to build a clearer picture, a truly advanced society is built upon empowering the individual to be the best one can be. As we embrace each other as equals, apparent flaws and all, even the most disabled will understand they are valued and needed. Human shaming will eventually be recognized as negative reinforcement and no longer supported.

All life contains equal value. You are as vital to the progress of the human race as is any important historical figure you can think of. Standing together united, we can advance much more quickly toward creating the world we know is possible. As an interdependent species, we don’t “win” until no one is left behind.

The entire point of being in this together is to make life easier for each other. We truly are only as strong as our weakest link. Unlinked, we don’t have a chance at all. This is the next stage of human evolution as part of our maturation process, and could very well determine our success or failure.

The Michael Dresser Show and Awakening Leadership

 

 

Christine is a guest on The Michael Dresser Show, “the place for authors and experts to spread their word with your every day answers to life” on Blog Talk Radio.

 

 

 

 

Check Out Books Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Michael Dresser Show on BlogTalkRadio

Charleston and the End (Beginning) Times

Dear Friends,

I was just in Charleston in April. My heart goes out to a hurting community, to the families and loved ones. On my run this morning I thought a lot about the historic sites I visited, the wonderful people, and a city struggling to serve everyone from its heart center.

When we suffer great loss, for a moment in time, we feel a sense of hopelessness. For most of us it passes at the dawn of a new day or after many days as we seek to heal and find peace once more. Out of the depths of sorrow arises great wisdom, truth, and most of all love. It’s with a loving and open heart I share that it’s not the end of the world, or the end times, but it IS the end of YOUR world as you know it. And this is good.

There is a new world whispering in your ear, beckoning you to discover it. But, first, you must be willing to let go of the one you’re in, because you can’t take worn out beliefs/limitations with you. Those that are unwilling to let go, or are so disconnected from the their true nature are taking their life and other lives with them, essentially using force, rather than surrender to the greater wisdom and power that would have them and you go gently down the stream.

Yet, how are they any different than you and I? Didn’t you and I have to be forced by circumstances to open up to higher consciousness and awareness–a new world? Or we said, this is too slow, put me on the fast track (me-yikes, I really did that)! Armageddon is happening on a personal level. How many of you are having your dark night of the soul and are wandering the desert? I was in the desert for 45 days, but my dark night of the soul lasted years. The more I tried to control, the more I suffered and cause suffering for those around me. Is any sin (ignorance) greater than another? No. Let me explain.

As I was running this morning, I pondered those that have said that they can’t reconcile a God that would allow murder and the great atrocities of the world, therefore this world is a hallucination, or that God isn’t here. God is Creation. By self-definition, Creation is infinite expression. Therefore, God is here, expressed through relativity. The human mind cannot wrap around the truth God is ALL of it.

I was just in Charleston in April. My heart goes out to all that are hurting. I can share with you with absolute certainty that there is nothing but love, even acts we deem as unimaginable that are really a cry for love. Nothing is wasted by Creation. Equality is the very nature of Creation, therefore nothing is not love or, in relativity, being used to create love. As there is no separation, what is being used to create compassion/love is also love. Our minds can’t grasp this either. It just is. This is what makes each one of us innocent. This is our salvation. This is why there are no mistakes and that you are perfect in every way.

If you have any questions or comments, please post them below. My intent is to ask you to go deeper within yourself to where all Truths reside, not to tell you mine. What are you feeling? What have you awakened to?

Much love,

Christine