OBTAINING OR REGAINING CONTROL OVER LIFE

what or WHO'S IN CONTROL? WHAT ARE THE FORCES THAT DICTATE THE DIRECTIONS OUR LIVES TAKE? THERE ARE BOTH FORCES AND FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THIS. WE'VE OFTEN EXAMINED THE FORCES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. HOWERVER THIS POST WILL FOCUS MOSTLY ON FACTORS. LOSING CONTROL IS EASY. GETTING IT BACK TAKES WORK. iF WE'VE NEVER HAD CONTROL, THE WORK BECOMES EVEN HARDER BY NOT KNOWING WHAT CONTROL REALLY IS. WHEN WE ARE NOT AT THE CONTROLS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ELSE IS! THIS POST WILL SCRUTINIZE SEVERAL IMPORTANT FACTORS TO GIVE READERS AN IDEA OF WHAT CONTROL LOOKS LIKE. IT MAY BE PROVOCATIVE. SO GET ENRAGED BUT STAY ENGAGED!

​​CLICK THE ARROW TO THE RIGHT FOR THE AUDIO SUMMARY Part 1 >>>>

BEING AWARE OF OUR THOUGHTS AND CONTROLLING OUR THINKING IS THE FIRST STEP IN TAKING CONTROL OF EVERY OTHER AREA OF OUR LIVES! THOSE WHO FAIL TO MIND THEIR THOUGHTS CAN LOSE THEIR MINDS.

For a deeper dive READ the entire post and click on letters and links underlined in green

Our spiritual state is the engine of our being.

Spirits are not responsible for many of our maladies. Although they try to associate or involve themselves in every aspect of our lives they are not the main driver, we are. Spirits influence us by connecting to our spirits through our thinking and senses. We cannot see them but we can feel their vibrations (if we learn to) as they work through our minds or through others. Many of the manifestations in our natural day to day lives are a direct reflection of our spiritual integrity. Spiritual integrity is not limited to but definitely includes these five factors:

Harmony in personal affairs
Harmony in social affairs
Harmony in priority and order
Harmony in finances
Harmony in health and fitness

OUR OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS ARE A DIRECT REFLECTION OF OUR INNER CONVICTIONS. OUR LIVES ARE GOVERNED BY LAWS AND PRINCIPLES. THE THINGS WE CONTROL OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES ARE LIMITED. THE THINGS WE CONTROL INTERNALLY ARE NOT. WE CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR PLACE BLAME! 

​Our soul is represented through the windows of managing our relationships, financial dealings and personal order in our lives. It requires as much effort to disguise the deficiencies in our character as it takes to remedy them. The inability or lack of desire to address the flaws in our lives perpetuates an unfamiliarity with their existence. We are constantly wrestling with spiritual influences. They appear in our thoughts and subsequently manifest in our behaviors. If we do not control them they will try to control us. PEOPLE ARE NOT LOSING THEIR MINDS! THE ANARCHY WE CONTINUE TO HEAR AND SEE COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE LENDING THEIR MINDS INTO A PARADIGM SHIFT. "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF THE THE PROBLEM!" THE ZEITGEIST FUNCTIONING AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE PROBLEM MAY BE A CLOSER AND MORE ACCURATE ASSESMENT. This is just one of today's many factors. We may not control every aspect of spiritual impact but we have authority over them. They must be identified, challenged and removed from our lives. Many of the spirits Jesus cast out were run of the mill, everyday, potentially destructive incognito manifestations. Sometimes he would rebuke the spiritual influence when they were bold enough to confront him through rulers, Pharisees, or other religious leaders of that day. Many people have pet or familiar spirits (habits) that they coddle and protect. Only by request or of necessity would Jesus cast out or cast off such spirits. Freedom requires the complete healing of the body, the soul,  and the mind (spirit). Jesus understood the factors of co-morbidity and knew that the whole man suffered whenever any portion of it was afflicted in spiritual or natural components. We have a responsibility to deal with all facets of our humanity. Let's factor in some of the main elements.

GAINING MORE 
​CONTROL

To control is to exercise rule or direct influence over someone or something. There is really no such thing as "out of control." If someone or something is not being controlled by one particular force it is being controlled by another. Many of us are being controlled by fear and the "spirit of fear" is a lousy leader. We have a choice in governance. The human body can be chained, enslaved and physically restrained. But the mind and spirit do not have to yield and can choose never to be broken! There are "principles of control" that can be applied to our individual lives. Knowing who we are allows us to begin exercising our energy. Knowing what we are allows us to focus on how and where to direct it. This is more than just the roles we play in life. This is what our being in life means to humanity. Here are six steps we can apply to gain greater control. 

DEFINE exactly what we want control over
DECIDE exactly how we want to control and what effect we want our influence to have.
DECLARE (announce/share) that intention(s) to a friend, coach or mentor. (speak faith)
DELINEATE and write a plan with steps, milestones & measurable results. (make a chart)
DO work consistently over an extended period of time without taking our feet off of the gas.
DISCOVER the failures though reviews and evaluations and take corrective actions.
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This post examines communications, finances, organization and health. Communication is the expression of fellowship with God and our fellow man. Finance is the expression of our personal power in this world. Organization is the expression of order within our lives. Health is the way we appreciate, honor and maintain the instruments we express and exist through. No matter our vocation or status, much of our power and influence lies within these qualities. Who we are, is mostly described by others but defined by us. What we are, is totally controlled by our attitude and behavior which is the spirit of our expression and our being as a human. Maybe that's why we are called "Human beings!" ​

COMMUNICATION

The heart of all our relationships are embedded within our communications. We begin to communicate what and who we are the moment we interact with nature and/or other people.  It is important to understand that communication goes beyond speech. Communication is more than just talking.

Talk is a simple tool that can be skillfully used to build false expectations and tell lies. Communication is essentially about connecting to a thought or idea in meditation or by expressing a vocal or written declaration that can be heard, read and shared. Many forms of communication are used to send and/or receive messages. Moans, groans, prayer and supplication are some of the ways. Speech is simply one of many forms of expression. There are also gestures, motions, noises, facial looks, and physical contact that send distinct messages.
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Communication is mostly about exchanging information. Communication is a process by which information is exchanged through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Without mutual understanding of the exchange most of it is just noise. In human beings and many animals, much of exchange occurs through the tongue. The tongue is one of the sensory organs that have multiple functions. The tongue is involved in licking, tasting, breathing, swallowing, and speaking. All of our Spoken words, though invisible, manifest tangible actions that ultimately have a spiritual effect. Being threatened can resonate in our spirit as fear. Fear can trigger a freeze, fight or flight response. It is important to know that there are always emotions and/or intentions built into every one of our actions. Usually, the last and ultimate form of communication is expressed in our actions. One of the reasons that we continue to have so many mass shootings is that mankind refuses to factor in the ramifications of spiritual operations. The attitudes and behaviors that our leaders and role models are displaying permits us to sanction suggestions from evil spirits that communicate with our minds and our thinking.

Extreme speech leads to extreme or unrestrained thoughts and actions. Any message or method we accept or allow, we also authorize. The tone of today says that anything goes. The phrases and words are the expressions we use for sharing, exchange and relating. They are paramount in forming the effects our communications have on others. They have the capacity to create two way streets or erect roadblocks. Many of the problems we encounter in society today stem from a poor understanding of what the actions coming through our laws, rules,  policies, speeches and talk are communicating to others. All of the declarations, statements and everyday conversations we have with one another must be tempered to effectively reach and resonate with that audience. That same audience will carry the message they internalized from us to many others! Words are carriers of spirit! They reflect mood, attitude and intentions. We must be careful with our words; once words are said they can be forgiven but not forgotten. When contained thoughts visibly or tangibly manifest themselves and are no longer expressed as words they can exhibit archaic actions. Our words or lack thereof manifest our operating energy. Some of us need to shut up more. Some of us need to speak up more. Free speech is free but it comes with a price. It can free spiritual energy to demonstrate itself. 

Our relationships with the world around us is simply a learned call and response mechanism to life. We express harmony with life through the way we interact with it. The first thing we learned to do in life was to communicate. As a baby our first interactions were pre-intentional. This was purely accidental communication. This is what babies do in their first weeks of life. Babies respond to discomfort like hunger and pain by crying. In turn the parents respond by doing something to comfort the baby. It's easy to see how communication occurs here. At this early stage crying is simply a response to feeling uncomfortable, it's not an intentional attempt to communicate. The response becomes an enjoyable consequence. 

Over time a baby, a kitten or a puppy will make the connection between crying and something pleasant happening. This conditioning causes the baby to develop an effective way to obtain increasingly specific desires. The law of cause and effect begins even at this stage of innocence. This is the beginning of intentional communication. The baby can now cry with the specific intention of communicating a want, need or demand. This development signals  a new level of communication that merges into every aspect of interactions within the life of every individual. Difficulties with relationships as an adult may be the result of a child being spoiled from catering to unreasonable demands. This in turn can lead to more undeveloped or poorly developed communications skills. The lack or loss of a two way street sometimes turns into a one way dead ends without any traffic control devices allowing alternating traffic flows. Even worse, sometimes the intersections on our one way streets are full of crashes we cause but blame on others. It is important that we build our roads of communications properly.  Our company and communication has an effects on ourselves and others. The Bible says that evil communication corrupt good manners! Acknowledging, providing and respecting the yellow lines that divide traffic is a good start. Allowing others to be heard and understood, even if we disagree with them is paramount. Exercising patience and "expressing understanding" allows conversation to flow in both directions. When, where and how we communicate is an important factor. More often than not, our tongues are directly involved in the communication process. The Bible is filled with multiple admonishments regarding how we should keep the tongue under control, although it can not be tamed.

FINANCES

Our finances are a reflection of our power in the world. The Bible says that "Money answereth all things." Along with legal authority and moral authority, financial authority influences how other see us and treat us. The responsibility that comes with such authority cannot be underestimated. We are all money managers! Whether we are health care proxies, durable power of attorney or just co-signers on bank accounts we are accountable to God, our family and friends for how we influence destiny! Do not take this lightly. We all must stand before the judgement seat. 

WARNING: Here comes the hard part. This is the chance to disconnect or be forced to reflect and examine our lives! We are stewards over whatever we have because we cannot take it with us, remember that! BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THAT GAMBLING WITHOUT EQUAL GIVING IS A SIN. Whether our gambling is done in the form of business investments, stocks, bonds, crypto, slots, table games, lotteries, online betting, cards, shooting craps, entertainment or any other method it should not outweigh our charitable contributions!
The (attitude) "spirit of greed" should never outperform the (attitude) "spirit of need." If just half of  our financial investments were spent on helping others poverty would not exist.

A formal financial education is something just a few of us receives growing up, yet it's one of the primary components of overall success. How we handle our finances is a true assessment of our character. Every other aspect of life will suffer if our finances are out of order.  "Dependency theory," regardless of blame or cause is real. The association that our finances play in almost EVERY other part of our existence should never be minimized.
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Poor financial status challenges integrity and lowers self esteem.
Poor financial status promotes dishonesty, lying and stealing.
Poor financial status sickens our spirit, invites distress and invokes denial.

​Here are six steps for a financial foundation to factor in.
The majority of our time is used making, spending and manipulating money.  Money is involved in every aspect of our life. We work for it, we take it with us everywhere we go, we save it and usually keep it in a safe place. Money is not the root of all evil; the love of it is! Many people are willing to fight or die to get it or protect it. No matter how much or how little of it we have our respect for it never changes. Chances are if we learn how to treat it better, it will in turn treat us better. Don’t treat it like a casual courtship in grade school. Treat it like a intimate romantic relationship. Better yet work on it and with it like any smart couple works to maintain a marriage. It’s till death do us part, take it on dates.

Step #1: Dating our money - Schedule weekly money dates.
According to research by business theorist, millionaires spend an average of 8.4 hours a month dealing with their finances. Most people want to be millionaires but most people won't devote the time and energy it takes to become one. That is the first mistake. We always make time for the things we really want to do. Choosing to watch TV, surf the internet or socialize rather than setting up our finances is neglect. There must be a recurring event in our calendar for a weekly money date. Everyone should allocate at least one hour a week to their finances. During our money dates, we should update our budget, review  upcoming expenses, pay bills (automate  as many as possible), review our accounts for accuracy and handle any other pressing financial matters. Making our money dates as enjoyable as possible. They are dates! listen to music, dance, light candles and do anything that makes those encounters fun for us and our date. The more fun it is, the longer the romance will continue. Consistency is what counts. Money, or the lack of it, causes a lot of undue stress. No one finds economic stability by chance. It takes a keen awareness of one's lifestyle along with planning, and discipline. Money loves to work we can make it work for us! 

It is amazing how traits are inherited and perpetuated from generation to generation. This is what we call iniquity; which is our genetic predisposition that inwardly tends towards sin. Whether we realize it or not our legacy is passed down subconsciously and intuitively to our children. As an adult, the stark realization of bad money management creates anxiety, guilt, and self-doubt. Most everybody loves money. Not having money when we want or need it leaves a bad taste in our mouth. There's plenty of it going around so why is it so hard to hold on to? The way we exchange it may hold the answer to this question. Money should serve us! We should not serve money. Don't like it, don't love it, don't hate it, don't marry it, just date it and trade it. We want a relationship with money but we do not want to fall in love with it! We want to use it but not abuse it. Advice alone without consistent action over an extended period of time will be fruitless. We may not have grown up in a household that managed its finances well, but we can learn a lot from our parents' mistakes. Many excuses are lies in disguise. Sometimes our lack of money indicates poor discipline. God will supply all of our needs and credit cards will supply all of our wants - to a point. When institutions extend us credit it simply means they are willing to exploit what little we have for their own profit. They help us through exploitation by means of self destruction. Credit cards can empower us, but usually they enslave us. Usury or charging interest is not forbidden in the Bible, it is regulated. Overall the practice obfuscates the "spirit of charity" a lender can extend and the appreciation a borrower can show.  Credit does not get us out of debt. Credit adds more debt. When greed is mistaken for needs; look to bleed rather than succeed. Once we learn how to manage our day to day finances successfully over a long period of time, it may be possible to manage a small credit card. If we can’t handle it get rid of it. We do it with cars and pets and spouses. Why not do it with credit cards. Instant gratification works against exercising patience and does not promote control. Our money wants to stay with us as long as possible. Our money is interested in a faithful commitment not multiple off and on relationships.

The majority of people who struggle with their finances are crippled by debt. The problem is not necessarily how much money we have, but whether we understand how we obtain it and where it needs to go. A big fear for many people who don't manage their personal finances is math. Numbers intimidate a lot of people. The good news is that software programs, online tools, and basic information is available locally that can help us do all the calculations. Our job is to use the right tools for the situation and stick to the rules designed for us and our date. 
 
Step #2: Track Every Penny we Spend. The next thing we need to do to get our expenses in order is track "EVERYTHING" we spend down to the last penny! It doesn’t matter how, that is the method we use to track our spending, just start doing it! If we truly decide to be honest we will make our money represent our integrity. This process is extremely similar to counting calories if we're trying to lose weight. Our spiritual integrity is intertwined with our habits. Everyone should know that spirits can inhabit their habits!

Some people track expenses automatically using a computerized money management programs. Others track their spending manually by saving receipts and entering them into a ledger or notebook. Whichever method we choose, stick with it, make it a habit, and record every transactions at the point of the transaction. This step is all about gathering data, not judging how the money is spent or making drastic changes to our current money management habits. When we see something written down, we will be motivated to live more frugally. We favor using pen and paper to initially record everything. A tactile experience can create a connection to money better than a digital note. A ledger allows us to discover that we are spending too much on fast food, or maybe the cost of commuting is higher than we think.

Step #3:  Develop a Useful Budget. After we have collected data on our spending habits for a few weeks, or even a month, we should then develop a budget. It's interesting to know that 55 percent of millionaires develop and live on a budget? Many people fail to live by a budget because it appears to be limiting, or it may seem hard to create. Some of us are just too lazy to do it. Developing a budget is the best way to keep ourselves focused on financial goals. In many instances, we will need to “cut the fat” in our spending habits. We may have to limit the number of times we eat out or buy lunch, but if we stay focused on the long-term goal of freedom, it will not be difficult. We should take time and use caution when making cuts in our spending. We do not want to make deep cuts in areas where we really need to be spending money. When we have a family, we should be sure the budget meets the real needs of the family. Distinguishing wants from needs is paramount.

​Step #4:  Start an Emergency Fund. Many people live paycheck-to-paycheck and figure they cannot save; however, everyone can save…it just takes discipline. It makes no difference whether we’re rich or poor, a slave or a free man. We should always save something for a windy, rainy or stormy day. As part of our budget, we need to develop an emergency fund for things like unexpected medical or transportation expenses. Some experts state that once we have safely put together an emergency fund of at least $1,000, then we can move on to attacking our debt. But how can we create a fund when we are living so tightly month-to-month? We can try tithing! Giving God a tenth right off of the top is a discipline that teaches us how to allocate money. When we pay God first then it's becomes easier to pay ourselves second. Heavenly investments pay spiritual and tangible dividends called blessings! If we don't have the faith, then let's just pay ourselves first. Yes, that will also work, but it will lack the heavenly favor factor. Make having an emergency fund something that MUST be done to survive, or at least as important as paying the rent, mortgage or electricity bill. The rule of thumb is to save approximately 10 percent of our gross income. Consider saving this amount automatically without ever seeing the money. Let's Stop fooling ourselves. How many commitments have we broken because some urgent matter or "so called" emergency arose and we chose to meet that calling above a previous obligation? Put that money in a place or an account that makes it difficult and/or tedious to reach! we cannot continue to divert the sanctity of our saving for these trifling everyday situations. But we can certainly divert some money consistently over an extended period of time for real emergencies.

Step #5:  Get Out of Debt, cut up those credit cards! 
Yeah, we're saying destroy them! Debt is the enemy when it comes to managing our finances. When struggling with heavy credit card debt, or student loans don't get any more credit from anywhere. The simplest part of eliminating the debt that we have is to not create any more debt. There is treatment and counseling for drug addicts but there are no recovery programs for "debt addicts." Start by paying debts beginning with the smallest balance first. Prioritize debts from the lowest to the highest balance. Pay slightly more than the minimum balance on all debts. Launch an all out attack against the smallest balances, where we can make as high a payment as our budget allows. Using a budget allows us to designate a fixed amount we will pay monthly toward each debt. When the smallest debt is gone, work on the next smallest debt, and so forth. Create in writing a list of goals and a chart of achievements. Follow the goals and update the chart during every "money date." When we begin to pay off our debts we will see progress and feel accomplishment. Accomplishments motivate!
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Step #6:  Keep It Real. Debt is a spiritual, personal and moral dilemma. Despite our intentions the spirit of debt takes advantage of us during times of weakness or need. As a conflicted junkie or lucre abuser it's easy to convince ourselves that the state we're in is temporary. We may continue to think that we can kick the habit of abusing money at any time; but until we stop believing our lies and find the will or wisdom to free ourselves, we will remain victims. It is like driving a car downhill with no brakes, even if we want to stop we can't. The good news is that if we persist in the efforts to free ourselves consistently over an extended period of time eventually we will bounce back and discover a new state of living we've created. Just because wisdom may be slow to arrive and results take time to materialize; we should always expect them to come. Now factor that in!

The bottom line is that we are stewards over whatever we earn or are given. Although we may call many of our things possessions in reality they are achievements, gifts and gains. We can utilize them for leverage and duplicate them again and again. Ownership of anything is a misnomer. As temporary inhabitants on the planet anything we acquire will eventually end up abandoned or in the hands of someone else. Money is actually an influential power that can be used or abused. One way or the other we cannot keep it forever or take it with us. Remember to save it, invest it, give it, lend it and spend it wisely. Money can make life fulfilling, fruitful and rewarding; but it will make us unhappy if we don't manage it.

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CLICK THE ARROW TO THE RIGHT FOR THE AUDIO SUMMARY PART 2 >>>>

ORGANIZATION: THE BROTHER OF ORDER​

​There is a difference between having an organized life and living a life that is ordered. Most people organize some aspect of their life but that doesn't mean it is ordered toward a specific end or goal. On the other hand, there are peoples who’s life is ordered but they may not be organized. Both organization and order "appear" to have natural intuitive characteristics we all seem to share. Some level of order automatically operates with or without our concern or consent, but the structure of organization does not. Many times to maintain order organization must be added. Such was the situation in the early church. Maybe this is part of the reason why we have so many denominations, factions and "so called" organizations now. Organization is one factor we must include and impute into our lives to maximize our ongoing effectiveness. Nature by default is naturally organized. Generally, whenever we discuss getting organized we think of assemblies or things involved in arrangements and/or storage. We will divide organization into two categories. The first is priority organizing and the second is placement organizing. By engaging in this post we are creating order. "Let all things be done in decently and in order."
 
                                                            PRIORITY ORGANIZING
 
Disorganization is simply a lack of discipline, priority and/or control. Congesting our lives with many unnecessary accumulations of things like objects of "special interest," souvenirs or collections without sharing or using them is vanity. To achieve order outside we have to do something on the inside. Determining how we want to share our environment factors in to how we arrange the people and things within it. That is to say, that whatever means the most to us will take a prominent position in our shared physical, social, and spiritual surroundings. Someone or something will have to occupy second place or worse. Obtaining and possessing are two different manifestations from similar actions. Goals and achievements can be obtained while things and positions may be possessed. Whenever entertainment, social media and  inanimate things take on more importance than family and personal relationships it's apparent that there is a serious distortion of values. There are multiple signs of this all around us. The inclination to become perturbed over being disturbed by a loved one (not telemarketers) during our favorite hobby, pastime or program indicates that our priorities are out of order. Don't save it all for Christmas day find a way to give a little love everyday! People should take priority over possessions. Things have a purpose for existing. The reason they were made was to be used. Collecting anything without the intention of providing for a need or sharing its purpose is simply selfish. Hoarding is a side effect of organizational neglect. Hoarding is actually a disorder that spirits can inhabit and hide from us. Hoarding spirits can disguise themselves through finding fantastic deals and collecting valuable things. Even charitable and giving people can fall prey to hoarding! The word "stuff" implies an indeterminate collection of belongings without a dedicated time and place for use. Belongings belong to someone and also belong somewhere. The real question to ask is do we belong to it or does it belong to us? There's an old saying that says "whatever we own owns us." The full quote by Chuck Palahniuk says “The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything.” Robbing anything of its purpose from food to flowers is a sin. Finding our purpose and fulfilling our purpose offers the greatest reward we can obtain in life. Purposeful living comes with order and organization. Placement or structure organization can begin only after priority organization is in place. Many people seeking to be organized only deal with the symptom of their problems rather than the cause of it. Being organized takes time, but when we get into the habit of it, life becomes so much easier! It only takes constant repetition over time to start a habit. Ask any smoker. The Bible warns us that "there is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt."
 
                                   PLACEMENT ORGANIZING

Let's keep everything in Its Place. Let's organize our space. Whether it's our car, home, bedroom, kitchen,  office, closet, or desk, we need control over what's in there. Give away or discard anything not regularly used. Assign everything else a convenient and clearly designated space. Placement organization is a by-product of prioritizing things in such a way so that what is important gets nurtured,  protected,  separated and utilized. Our Possessions can promote selfishness and make us feel powerful. They should have an intended place and a purpose. They should be positioned and prioritized after people and relationships. After all possessions can be replaced, people can not. Whenever our connections to people, power or possessions is out of balance, we lose influence and control in our own lives and alliances. ​

HEALTH AND FITNESS

The being and body we were given to exist in and express through is our responsibility to keep and maintain. Health is the state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. It should not be defined by the absence of disease, sickness or infirmity. Our health is the critical factor in all of our affairs. Our overall health is kept in balance by our diet, movements, thoughts and social activities. Any compromise in any of these areas affects the others.
                               DIET
They say we are what we eat. If that is true then it stands to reason that what we don't eat we are not. Protein is vital to our body's function it helps our cells to grow, replace and repair themselves. Our body makes some proteins on it's own from the twelve amino acids it produces. The other nine amino acids must come from the proteins in our diet. Whey, the protein supplement extracted from milk, provides all nine of these amino acids. If we consume more protein then necessary, our body will break it down into amino acids, then into fatty acids and sugars. These excess chemicals travel to the liver which converts them into cholesterol and fat for removal. It's amazing how these natural systems function. When they work properly and are not overwhelmed by practicing bad, pig-like dietary habits we can reduce detrimental nutritional effects and enhance our physical health. Too many of us have become dependent on a system that at some level may be failing us. We've become use to fast food, partially prepared foods, processed foods, vitamin supplements and pre-cooked meals. Buying into the advertising we're bombarded with is brainwashing our behaviors. In the United States many of the households consuming foods have no idea of where it originates , how its farmed and harvested or how it's raised and slaughtered.
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Wouldn't it be nice if our minds could automatically and correctly process all of the information we're exposed to on a daily basis? We could continue to progress while spontaneously rejecting any false or unnecessary food and data. Controlling our thinking would also become unnecessary! We know that it would compromise free will, but who needs autonomy if we have a guarantee of always being right instinctively. Maybe that's the condition some of us exist in right now? 

                              MOVEMENT
Motion is lotion: Get up off of those ASSETS. As we age estrogen for women and testosterone in men decreases. What does that mean? The transition that our bodies, mind and spirits go through as we age has stages. Dealing with unexpected experience of simultaneous evolution and involution becomes a "novel experience." A novel situation is a scenario that's unique and unexpected. Most of us are unaware that these changes can be traumatic. They're a lot more common than we might be aware of. Everybody at one time or another goes through them.  As age increases, our negative thoughts, bad habits and weak character traits may become more permanently ingrained, if we are not careful. What many of us forget or neglect is the spiritual aspect of our existence. Stress adds to the fuel behind "the spirit" of Dementia and Alzheimer disease. As we age it is important to free ourselves from the cares of this world and allow the wisdom and purpose of our passion to speak for us without wasting to much energy in the effort. What we can't control we let go of while allowing the grace and tranquility of a "care free concern" towards anything we face. Learning to "let go" and "flow" is paramount. We may not go with the popular flow but we still flow none-the-less. Our posture is paramount. Believe it or not, our bodies signal our systems partially based on our posture. The energy our bodies call for, need or use differ according to whether we're laying, sitting, standing or moving. Now is the time to practice standing and bending without breaking. Even if we feel that we are in good shape and continue to work part time, daily movements of bending, dancing and/or routine exercises are mandatory! If we don't do anything else it is essential to at least do the W.U.A.S.E. (Warm Up And Stretching Exercise) daily. The spirit is willing but at times the flesh is weak. We must consistently dedicate a minimum of 60 minutes a day every day to physical activity. Even these 60 minutes can be broken up into multiple sessions. New evidence strongly recommends about 3 minutes exercise for every hour of sedentary relaxation. The flesh may act reluctant, but a motivated spirit  will keep us moving along. The task becomes easier when we use the "spirit of music" to oil the engine of our mental, physical or psychological endeavors. This is why slaves sang songs as they toiled in the fields. They did not sing because they were happy they sang to ease the burden of their task. Maya Angelou explained to us why the caged bird sings! The "spirit of music" is so under appreciated as well as the "spirit of colors" and the "spirit or sense of smell" called aromatherapy. Our sensory faculties connect us to ENERGIES that "THEY ALONE" are capable of detecting. Touch, taste, spacing, smelling, seeing and hearing all interact and connect with our intangible spirit. Our spirit is designed to easily adjust to the vicissitudes of life. The "nature of spirit" never changes but can accommodate any environment. "Spirit" properly directed, goes with, flows with and rolls with the punches as it bends with the wind. Even our bones and minds bend. Bones are composed of solid yet supple substances. The idea that our skeletal system is called a bag of bones is short sighted, our bones connect with our mind. The mind is not the brain, yet has its own doing, thinking and feeling attributes. Sometimes we can "feel it in our bones." The mind is a distributed attribute. The heart and the brain are a part of the mind as well as muscle memory. Every part of our body has a mind of its own and sometimes joints and old injuries can sense changes in weather. The agility and flexibility of the body and mind go "spiritually" hand in hand. Our bodies can sense and adjust to environmental changes. Once we understand a change we can more easily embrace it. Maintain a standard of health. Sometimes if a poor standard of health is accepted to long we tend to become comfortable living that way. This is a personal formula we created, everyone can try making one of their own. 

THINKING AND THOUGHTS

We should know that our minds, bodies, and thoughts are all connected. There is a harmony and order to their function. Homeostasis maintains their continuous coordinated interactions. Nothing exists, operates or stands in and of itself. Disorders disrupt the systematic functioning or neat arrangement of how we live. Every aspect of our connected existence plays at least two roles. Duality is a common theme in life and we should pay close attention to it. There are things we never find alone and certain things that only happen in two's. Trauma and disease are interrelated. Laughter and happiness congregate on the same street corner as does crying and sadness. Our sense of smell is so linked with our sense of taste that when it comes to eating, one is almost useless without the other. Physical and psychological stressors walk hand in hand even if we think they are unrelated. It is important to understand that we have feelings and feel emotions along with other sensations and stimuli that we discern and distinguish through our senses. We feel our way through the dark by extending our hands out in front of us. We can feel sick to our stomach, repulsed or attracted by experiences. We can feel pressure in multiple ways from the atmosphere while in an airplane, elevator or swimming. We can also experience pressure in terms of having to meet expectations taking tests or performing. The way we hold thought as memories, plays into our daily perspective of life. Despite how difficult the events any of us faced as youths, it's never too late to have the experiences of happiness in our childhood even if it's just in our imaginations. Life altering events can occur at any time through traumatic experiences both good and bad. The traumas we experience in life can be defined as any situation that presented itself juxtaposed to our perceived reality. The covid-19 pandemic has emphasized this. The events that happen to us in life are recorded in the brain from our perspective "as is." These memories are retained in both the psychic and emotional energy of their occurrences. Memories are powerful forms of energy and have the ability to initiate the exact same powerful feelings virtually by recalling the formula of those stored emotions. As humans we generally attach meaning to every situation and store it in our heads as such, whether right or wrong. Although these memorized emotions are stored forever they do not have to be recalled in the "same" way or produce the same stresses they once did. Our egos, which can be defined as our core sense of self can rescue us from "bad" memories.  Thoughts, once in memory form, can be engineered to yield pleasurable energy (hormones) and give new insightful meanings to the story of the experience. It all depends on how we tell the story!

THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR SOCIAL CIRCLE

​Human beings by necessity are dependent upon one another. "You can't manage this all by yourself; no man is an island." This expression is a quotation from John Donne's Devotions (1624): “No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.” This is the basis of all existence. ALL THINGS at some level are connected and interdependent. ​The "principle of interdependence" is the key to the existence of nature's entire system. The best example we have of this are the cells in our human bodies. They connect with one another through mutual exchange for the benefit of the entire body. Every aspect of existence atomic, molecular, biological, mineral, fauna and flora each have some component of interdependence. By applying interdependence to culture; boundaries created by biases crumble. When interdependence is applied to morals our interactions nurture our relationships. By applying interdependence to the indigent, we foster empathy. Even more importantly by applying interdependence to communication; understanding and enlightenment is shared. Interdependence works through the strengths of association. The "spirit of interdependence" removes the selfishness of the "Y" in your and highlights "our." The character of our consciousness is reflected in how we treat one another. Our and we are the most common words in all of our posts!

Acknowledging that life functions through interdependence is one thing. Knowing how to work interdependently is another matter. Our society, culture and consciousness is teaching us to live work and play competitively. Although it is socially and spiritually destructive, mankind continues to practice the art of "winning" and "beating" as if there is some virtue in dominating, controlling, or enslaving one another. Is Friday the 13th unlucky? The superstitions surrounding the number thirteen is similar to our behaviors towards one another. Jesus, plus twelve disciples at the last supper makes thirteen, along with the fact that he was crucified on a Friday adds to that myth. Do we really think Jesus was unlucky? Or is it more likely that through such a tragedy came our liberty. This is the same type of logic being applied to the belief that we can stand divided. We cannot consider ourselves to be standing united while we are falling divided.  Nothing in nature isolates itself from the rest of nature. Even a cactus needs water; just as the dust of the earth needs the wind to move it. Nature collides and divides as it combines its forces. By examining the process of mitosis we learn that the primary reason the universe divides is to multiply. 

Anyone who believes that isolation trumps cooperation is sorely mistaken. When we understand interdependence we become comfortable with being intertwined while simultaneously maintaining our autonomous identities. If we are not intentional about being inclusive we will continue to knowingly or unknowingly perpetuate our existing inequities and biases. We are all created equal but there is a distinct difference between equitable and equal considerations. Every situation is not equal but all situations deserve equitable treatment. EVERYTHING is dependent upon something else in order for it exist. As harsh as it sounds winners can only define themselves through the losers they conquer or vanquish. In contrast to that all hero's are defined by the results of their acts of valor. Without consideration for the effect upon all other interrelated things our actions may be detrimental to our own well being. When we operate in a manner that is unaware of the "principle of interdependence" we create imbalances that can range from chaotic to catastrophic. When we consider the relationships in all existence, interdependence is at work regardless of how we frame it. Co-dependencies are a foundation of science. Whether we examine the three major branches of sciences or consider expanding it into numerous others, the evidence is irrefutable. No "one" thing can have purpose or function without affecting and interacting with something else. Even without believing in quantum entanglement everyone should get this! We are interconnected more then ever before. It is both futile and destructive to pursue independent and separatist agendas while the world is becoming more and more connected. The principle is simple! If all of our thinking, policies and practices are done in the light of the "principle of interdependence" we will make decisions equitable for all of life. If we fail to do so our ignorance and/or arrogance will be our demise imposed upon ourselves.