<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442</id><updated>2011-07-30T11:56:54.254-07:00</updated><category term='challenge'/><category term='consciousness'/><category term='forgiveness'/><category term='understanding'/><category term='teachings'/><category term='ghandi'/><category term='branches'/><category term='empowerment'/><category term='Emanuel'/><category term='truth'/><category term='gap'/><category term='no'/><category term='refusal'/><category term='forest'/><category term='Hamlet'/><category term='Shakespeare'/><category term='suffering'/><category term='atttitude'/><category term='healing'/><category term='enlightenment'/><category term='to'/><category term='addictions'/><category term='process'/><category term='apology'/><category term='thanks'/><category term='motivational'/><category term='gratitude'/><category term='spirituality'/><category term='exists'/><category term='say'/><category term='namaste'/><category term='Swedenborg'/><category term='energy'/><category term='respect'/><category term='beingthechange'/><category term='enemy'/><category term='wisdom'/><category term='obsessions'/><category term='persistence'/><category term='distractions'/><category term='pain'/><category term='educational'/><category term='habits'/><category term='fear'/><category term='letting go'/><category term='love'/><category term='tree'/><category term='appreciation'/><category term='thankfulness'/><title type='text'>Say No To Fear</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>14</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-1062003641815661287</id><published>2010-06-23T06:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-23T06:42:00.112-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gap'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gratitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='thanks'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='thankfulness'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='appreciation'/><title type='text'>What Is The Gratitude Gap?</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Gratitude Gap happens when we fail to express appreciation&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;for the  goodness in our lives.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Gratitude Gap is occurs when we show lack to no appreciation for&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;the challenges, problems and pain that comes into our lives. &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The Gratitude Gap occurs whenever we show a lack of appreciation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;ul style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lack of appreciation for things ... great or small;  &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lack of appreciation of the painful things; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lack of appreciation for anything and/or anyone we may dislike or causes us pain.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The Gratitude Gap &lt;b&gt;isn't&lt;/b&gt; about liking or loving everything and everyone.  It's about showing appreciation for the gifts &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;EVERYONE&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; and&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; EVERYTHING&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; brings into our lives.  Situations, words and deeds that enrich us in ways we never believed possible.   No matter how painless or how painful they may be.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Bottom line... the Gratitude Gape&amp;nbsp; is about being thankful for every single opportunity to learn and to grow past our own short-comings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gratitude strengthens our emotional, mental and spiritual muscle.&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; The Gratitude Gap creates a weaken state within our selves. &amp;nbsp; We are left vulnerable to the challenges that come our way.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; By showing gratitude for those challenges, you build stronger 'muscles' that can help you get through the toughest situations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No, it isn't easy being thankful for pain.&amp;nbsp; No one said it would be.&amp;nbsp; But the more you do it, during the times it is happening to you ... you will soon discover how smoother it is to get past those little annoyances that come your way.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;You Don't Miss The Water 'Til The Well Runs Dry"&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;How quick we are to accept the good that comes our way.  How quick we are to call it our blessing when everything is going smoothly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;How quickly we forget the priceless gift our painful experiences are.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Be honest with yourself.  Where would you be without your painful experiences?  What kind of person would you be in this moment ... without them?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many believe they would have had a better and happier life &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;if only&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; ... if only there hadn't been so much pain -- so many hardships -- so many "road-blocks" in their lives.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;What the majority fail to understand is this:&amp;nbsp; Our hardships and pain help mold us and nourish us just as much as the goodness and the joy does.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a race, human experiencers are wired to come into a true appreciation &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;only &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;when something and/or someone is no longer available or 'something'&amp;nbsp; has been withheld. &amp;nbsp; Sad, but true.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We have left many clues for ourselves to remind us of this.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Clues that can be found through our 'sayings' ... such as&amp;nbsp; &lt;i&gt;'the forbidden fruit' is more desirable, 'you don't miss the water 'til the well runs dry', 'the grass is always greener on the other side.'&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp; These are only a few ... can you name others?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In truth, there are people and situations that drive us absolutely insane!&amp;nbsp; There are people in our lives we would love to see just disappear entirely.&amp;nbsp; I have a list of &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;those &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;types of people myself!&amp;nbsp; But if you were to step back and really see past the irritations, aggravations, annoyances and hardships ... I would be willing to bet that you would see how much you have learned from it all.&amp;nbsp; How much you have grown as a person.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take a few moments and see for yourself the valuable lessons these annoying situations and irritating people have brought into your life.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Express your gratitude for the opportunities it gave you to grow up emotionally, mentally and most importantly... spiritually.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Communicate, Appreciate and Validate&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take a moment,&amp;nbsp; each and every day,&amp;nbsp; to &lt;b&gt;Communicate &lt;/b&gt;your &lt;b&gt;Appreciation &lt;/b&gt;for all those who have help you grow!&amp;nbsp; No matter how insignificant you think/believe it is, no matter how painful it may be, &lt;b&gt;Validate &lt;/b&gt;those (including situations) who have come into your life, who took the time and energy in giving you that much needed growth spurt! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Notice the difference in your own energy when you do this.&amp;nbsp; See how much lighter you become.&amp;nbsp; How much stronger you feel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take stock in how far you have come because of --and in spite of-- those people and situations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In doing so ... you will close the Gratitude Gap.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A Simple "Thank You" goes a LONG way!&amp;nbsp; But don't take my word for it!&amp;nbsp; Try it Your Self!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/TCINVpzdPqI/AAAAAAAAADw/8MP5MghFwYc/s1600/ThankYouBLUE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/TCINVpzdPqI/AAAAAAAAADw/8MP5MghFwYc/s320/ThankYouBLUE.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-1062003641815661287?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/1062003641815661287/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-is-gratitude-gap.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/1062003641815661287'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/1062003641815661287'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-is-gratitude-gap.html' title='What Is The Gratitude Gap?'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/TCINVpzdPqI/AAAAAAAAADw/8MP5MghFwYc/s72-c/ThankYouBLUE.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-4902975549767711958</id><published>2010-03-06T14:25:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-06T14:32:59.221-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='refusal'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forgiveness'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='pain'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='letting go'/><title type='text'>Forgiveness: Part III -- Let Go &amp; Let God</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;input autocomplete="off" id="post_form_id" name="post_form_id" type="hidden" value="cf3288fb3248b77b352b5f919f13f2ac" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The road to freedom is through the doorway to forgiveness.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;~Louise L. Hay&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; Forgiveness &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;does not&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; mean condoning bad behavior.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Forgiveness &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;does not&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; mean condoning abuse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Forgiveness is the refusal of holding on to the pain inflicted through word and/or deed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Forgiveness is &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;refusing &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;to carrying that pain.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;                                                                 *********&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I feel guided to pass on to you an article I wrote back in January 2005. The Transformations we are each undergoing requires our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;"REMEMBERING"&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; the importance of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;i&gt; Letting Go &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; and Allowing ourselves to rely on God Creators when we cannot do what we desire on our own!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; Antari &amp;amp; I send you our Love and Great BIG Hugs!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; Namaste!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Julia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;                                                                      *****&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;    &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Let Go and Let God &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;©&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;   &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;b style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Let Go and Let God &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; ... These are perhaps the most famous words ever spoken. It is the mantra of the men and women who work a program well known throughout the world for their diligence in assisting people to work through their addiction and releasing their old ways of living… &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Alcoholics Anonymous&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I have been honored and privileged to know some of those who continue to work the "program" and reap the benefits of the wisdom of letting go and letting God. And it wasn't until I met these people that I came to truly understand what it meant to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;i&gt; Let Go and Let God&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; The most important thing I learned from these brave men and women is that  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;letting go &lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; does not come over night! It is a life time commitment to taking each day as it comes and treating it accordingly.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; Meaning ...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;i style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Not looking back to yesterday--as it has come and gone. Not looking forward to tomorrow--as it is may not even come. But taking the day you are given--this day, the present--and making good choices to build a strong foundation for the ever present &lt;b&gt;NOW&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; While each new day brings us the challenge to slip back into the old ways of doing and thinking...it also affords us the opportunity to stand strong and maintain the boundaries that we have established for ourselves.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; It's not easy. No one said it would be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; We have to face the struggles day after day to overcome and move on…to simply Let Go and Let God!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; How many times have we sat and wonder if the choices we made were the right thing to do? How often have we beaten ourselves up over the choices we made the day before and wonder why we even bother? But then we remember why. In remembering we then come to accept that we had to make that choice in order to move on to a better way of living. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; With each new day that enters our lives, we are faced with choices ... choices that doesn't always bring us happiness, choices that oftentimes appear and feel harsh, cold and cruel. However, if we truly desire to improve our way of thinking and doing, bring about a better way for ourselves and those around us, deep down we know we must make these choices!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; No, it isn't easy ... No one said it would be. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; When We remember and come to accept the fact that without making those seemingly harsh choices… we could not continue to move forward nor could we continue to improve and redefine our quality of living.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; And it is with this realization ... we come to know that we really must let go and just Let God.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; In the times we are currently living in, we are being challenged on a daily basis to let go…both individually and globally. We are faced with choices to move on without those we love and care for. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; While the reasons vary from person to person…the end result is still the same. We, as individuals, must let go and continue to move forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; For those of us who have had to say good-bye to friends and family who cross over, the challenge to let go and move on can some times seem harsh and cruel. We think to ourselves… &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;"how can I possibly just let go and move on without him or her?"&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; For those who had to break free of a relationship, be it with family members, loved ones, friends, etc. they find themselves wondering if they did the right thing by letting go. They find themselves feeling bad for breaking those ties for the sake of personal growth and forward movement. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; Irregardless of why and how the bonds and ties were severed, letting go is essential to an individual's progress. It is vital to the growth of a person regardless of what and/or who it is they are letting go.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; To get a clearer understanding -- consider the following: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; When you were young, you made many friends in elementary school. As you progressed onto Junior High School, some of those friends moved away and you never saw them again. What did you do? Did you stop having friends because you couldn't possibly go on without those friends who left? Or did you establish new relationships? When you advanced to High School and those relationships that you made in Junior High School faded for one reason or another, did you just give up making friends with other people? No, you simply let go and moved on, didn't you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; Same holds true as you advance spiritually. While some relationships continue, many others will be relinquished in one form or another. It isn't easy. No one said it would be! But you do it because you know you must!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; You learn and you work through letting go each and every single day. And while some days are indeed easier than others, you know deep within that you must continue to work on letting go. And in those moments when you can't do it for yourself…you hand it over to God.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt; &lt;br style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt; No, it isn't as simple as it sounds. And yes, you are going to slide back now and again ... more often than you care to admit. But that is all a part of growing and learning.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;                                                                             ****&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;  &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Do not look back to yesterday…as it has come and gone.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; Do not look to tomorrow…as it is may not even come.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; Take each day you are given…as it is given…One day at a time&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; And when you have done all you know you can…&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; Let Go and Let God &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/?action=view&amp;amp;current=IfYouLoveIt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="276" src="http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/IfYouLoveIt.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia provides tools and services that assist you in identifying and working through your fears. For more information or to schedule a private one on one consultation, please visit  www.juliakcole.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-4902975549767711958?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/4902975549767711958/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-iii-let-go-let-god.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/4902975549767711958'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/4902975549767711958'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-iii-let-go-let-god.html' title='Forgiveness: Part III -- Let Go &amp; Let God'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/th_IfYouLoveIt.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-866675605272158971</id><published>2010-03-06T14:23:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-06T14:23:51.777-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forgiveness'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gratitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><title type='text'>Forgiveness: Part II --To Forgive Is Truly Divine!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The importance of forgiveness has been proven over the years to be one of the healthiest ways to live. It has been noted that those who practice forgiveness on a regular basis are happier and healthier overall. These individuals do not deny there is negativity in the world, they don't live in some fantasy world where bad things only happens to others. On the contrary, they see it, recognize it, acknowledge it and most importantly, accept it as a part of a learning experience. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In fact, those who practice forgiveness on a regular basis are more apt to exert themselves in assisting others, bringing forth uplifting message by both word and deed, to show by example the benefits of letting go of the pain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After all, where has holding on to the pain gotten anyone?  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For me personally, I have made my share of mistakes. I have left in my wake more pain and tears than I really care to acknowledge. Truth of the matter ... I have wronged many. I have done more than my fair share in perpetuating negativity. I have no excuses to offer. And I can't begin to say how sorry I am. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I will be honest ... some of the pain I inflicted I feel no remorse nor do I make any apologies. This is something I know in my heart I will work through in my own divine timing -- when I am ready. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Admitting to it is half the battle.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't spend time mourning those times I screwed up. And I certainly don't beat myself up over it. I realize that all was merely lessons to help me along the way. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know that through these experiences I have learned a great deal. I know it has made me a better person overall. I have learned that letting go of the pain has made room for healing, and this in turn has created a stronger connection to my True Self.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wish I could tell you that it gets easier.  Some days are better than others...but it is still a challenge even now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Accepting the challenge takes courage. Working the challenge takes great strength. No one said it would be easy. And it isn't. It is ... what it is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Speaking from personal experience, the act of forgiveness lightens your proverbial load.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whenever we truly let go of the burden of pain that we have carried for period of time, there is a physical sensation that occurs. You literally feel an enormous weight lifted from your body. You begin to feel lighter. Your emotions start to balance out, you begin to see the world in a whole new light. In some instances, you will actually begin to hear joyful sounds like birds singing or the sounds of laughter. Sounds--happy sounds-- you didn't notice before. Everything looks more alive now ... more vibrant!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most importantly ... you feel this connection to everything and everyone.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All of this, and so much more, happens when you simply&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; forgive&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You quickly discover that Forgiveness is truly Divine!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But don't take my word for it!  Try it for yourself!  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What do you have to lose?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Excerpt from &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Say NO To Fear Challenge&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; by Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/?action=view&amp;amp;current=CherishTheMoments.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="380" src="http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/CherishTheMoments.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Julia offers coaching sessions to help you identify and effectively work through your fears.   &lt;br /&gt;For more information or to book a private session with Julia, please visit &lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/note_redirect.php?note_id=343633978855&amp;amp;h=5a326e5cff5cc322d8d6580ed9d4e9d4&amp;amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.juliakcole.com" target="_blank" title="http://www.juliakcole.com"&gt;www.juliakcole.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-866675605272158971?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/866675605272158971/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-ii-to-forgive-is-truly.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/866675605272158971'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/866675605272158971'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-ii-to-forgive-is-truly.html' title='Forgiveness: Part II --To Forgive Is Truly Divine!'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/Julia%20Tags/th_CherishTheMoments.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-8179488445309548577</id><published>2010-03-04T06:25:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-04T06:25:28.601-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forgiveness'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='suffering'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='habits'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='pain'/><title type='text'>Forgiveness:  Part I --A Hard Habit To Break</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;"The act of forgiveness is not the condoning of any action that causes pain, it is the refusal to carry the pain inflicted by that action." &lt;/i&gt; ~Grandmother to The Oracle, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Children of the Luminaries: Book III~The Day of Reckoning&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Long ago, when I had asked about forgiveness, the answer I received was simplistic in nature.  Though it is nothing new, the message bears repeating.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;When we forgive, we &lt;b&gt;are not&lt;/b&gt; condoning the action that caused us pain.  When we forgive -- we are in refusing to carry any and all pain  inflicted by that action.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;A Hard Habit To Break&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As human experiencers, we develop a wide variety of habits.  No greater habit have any of us than the habit of holding on to pain.  It doesn't matter how long ago it was inflicted, it doesn't matter how far we have come in our conscious awareness ... our habit of holding on to our pain is ever present.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  It is a habit that we hold near &amp;amp; dear to our collective hearts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We hold on to our pain as though it were a matter of life or death.  Why?  While the reasons vary, the root of this issue is &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;fear&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  Fear of not having purpose.  Fear of facing our true feelings.  Fear of taking responsibility.  Fear of owning up to any mistakes we may have made or imagined we made. Fear of being unworthy, of being unloved, unwanted.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;But above all these ...&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt; Fear of our own individual power&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We scare ourselves on a regular basis with stories we have been told and continue to tell ourselves about &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Our Selves&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  We know instinctively we are powerful beings -- but yet we hold on to the pain in lieu of our power.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We fear being seen as arrogant if we choose to live in our power.  So we hold on to the pain in order to blend in -- to be just like everybody else!  And just like everybody else -- we begin to forget who and what we truly are.&amp;nbsp; Just like everybody else -- we suffer needlessly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The pain we hold on to&amp;nbsp; allows us to feel.  So we hold on to it--with all our being.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;As long as we are feeling pain ... we &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;are &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;feeling something.  Right?   &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The pain allows us to remain in the state of forgetfulness -- all so we don't have to take responsibility for our lives.   It's better to let someone else take responsibility for our misery.  After all ... they are the reason we are in so much pain.  Right? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We hold on to the pain so we can punish those who caused the suffering.  If we suffer ... then they surely will suffer more by watching us live in so much misery.  We will live in our misery as a shining reminder of what a horrible person they are or were.  Right? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;RIGHT!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the question is -- If you  let go of your pain ... what is the worst that could happen?  What do you believe &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;would &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;happen if you chose to forgive?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What benefits has all that pain brought you?  What have you derived from holding on to past hurts?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As with any habit you have developed -- the habit of living in the state of unforgiveness &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;can&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; be broken.  &lt;i&gt;Whatever the mind can conceive and believe ... it will most assuredly achieve.&lt;/i&gt;  This is a proven fact.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The choice is yours.  It has always been yours to make.  You need only make it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many insist they can't forgive their abusers.&amp;nbsp; Many believe that in forgiving -- in releasing the pain inflicted --&amp;nbsp; would give their abusers the freedom to do whatever they want -- whenever they want.    &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Trust me when I say,&amp;nbsp; irregardless of what you do or don't do, your abuser will continue on with their lives.&amp;nbsp; Holding on to the pain they inflicted upon you will not stop others from carrying on with their abuse.  By the same token, letting go of the pain will not stop others from choosing to continue on with their deeds either.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the question remains ... what do you have to lose?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In all seriousness ... what do you have to lose by letting of the pain?  By refusing to carry it with you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Holding on to the pain is truly a hard habit to break!&amp;nbsp; But it is one that can be broken!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Excerpts from &lt;i&gt;Say NO To Fear Challenge! &lt;/i&gt;by Julia K. Cole&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Next Article:&amp;nbsp; Forgiveness:&amp;nbsp; Part II ~ Truly Divine &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/?action=view&amp;amp;current=CuteButDeadly.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="392" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/CuteButDeadly.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/span&gt; a personal calling?  Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Known as &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;The Empress of the Known &amp;amp; Unknown Universes&lt;/span&gt;™, Julia brings enlightenment and inspiration around the globe by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In her personal empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into the spiritual planes of existence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia's weekly radio talk show &lt;a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namastebeloved"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Namaste Beloved!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;™ can be heard on Blog Talk Radio every Friday evening starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-8179488445309548577?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/8179488445309548577/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-i-hard-habit-to-break.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/8179488445309548577'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/8179488445309548577'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgiveness-part-i-hard-habit-to-break.html' title='Forgiveness:  Part I --A Hard Habit To Break'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-3541600320393785108</id><published>2010-02-24T19:59:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-24T19:59:44.181-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Judge NOT!  This means YOU! --Fear Busters: Part 2</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;big&gt;When we judge ourselves, we are judging someone. Believe it or not, we are someone. And we tend to forget that -- on a regular basis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We don't like it when others judge us, yet we tend to judge ourselves often and with great fervor. Why? Well, that answer would take up more time than any of us really have. Sufficient to say, we do it! Our reasons, though varied, are based on one thing and one thing alone -- We don't love ourselves. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you compare yourself to someone else -- you are judging yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you call yourself names, put yourself down for not "measuring up" -- you are judging yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We've all heard it before.  At least a million and one times!   It is the proverbial wisdom of the ages.    &lt;i&gt;If you love yourself, then you won't judge yourself or others.&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But here's the catch ... the wisdom of the ages is only useful if you actually apply it; more importantly, &lt;i&gt; live it&lt;/i&gt;.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And before you even think about saying it ... I've heard it all before!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's just too hard!  I don't have time for this!  Why do I have to be the one to do it?  And my favorite ... &lt;i&gt;I can't!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, I've heard all the excuses.  Truth be told, I invented half of them!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wish I could say it was easy. It isn't! Then again, no one said it would be! But the bottom line is, what has taking the easy way gotten us?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sure, we can play the "Blame Game"! Why not! It's easier to blame others for our feeling the way we do. Why accept the fact that we are in charge of our own feelings? Especially when it's easier to just hand our power over to someone else! "He/She made me (fill in the blanks)." Yea, so much easier than saying ... "I'm feeling angry or I'm feeling sad". &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Deity of our Choice Forbid we ever admit we have the power to choose our feelings! Heaven and Hell forbid if we ever chose to admit we even had that power!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And why should we? Why should we own our power when it's so much easier to complain about how bad we have it? It's so much easier just sitting there on our collective asses and saying ... "I had a really bad childhood" or "I've had a rough life" or "I just have the worse kind of luck!" ... isn't it? Of course it is! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's much easier to say ... "he/she made me do it!"  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, it is so much easier just to sit there and pity ourselves.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Taking responsibility for our feelings, for our life ... for our Self ...  is the last thing we want to do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's easier to moan, groan, piss and bitch about it all. Let somebody else do it! After all, it's worked so well so far! Now hasn't it? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And then ... as we come to a point in our lives when we realize there isn't anyone to blame, we turn on ourselves. Instead of blaming others, we begin to blame ourselves. We start judging ourselves in ways no one else possibly could ever imagine! Breaking one cycle only to jump in to another.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you were to record every criticism you hailed about yourself on your self, you would be shocked at how often, how cruel and with such authority you do it. It's frightening! We are so abusive towards ourselves, it's nothing short of criminal! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not judging ourselves isn't something we stop doing over-night.  We have a lot of fear to acknowledge, work through and accept. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Loving ourselves isn't easy because we haven't bothered doing it with any regularity. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So why not try something different?  Why not spend the day &lt;i&gt;not&lt;/i&gt; criticizing yourself? Just one day! Each time you catch yourself saying ... "I'm so stupid!" Why not say to yourself instead, "that's okay! Everybody makes mistakes! I can't learn, if I don't make a mistake once in a while!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try it!  If only for one day! I mean ... what do you have to lose?&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/?action=view&amp;amp;current=SpeakSoftyandCarryABIGStick.gif" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/SpeakSoftyandCarryABIGStick.gif" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-3541600320393785108?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/3541600320393785108/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/judge-not-this-means-you-fear-busters.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/3541600320393785108'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/3541600320393785108'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/judge-not-this-means-you-fear-busters.html' title='Judge NOT!  This means YOU! --Fear Busters: Part 2'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/th_SpeakSoftyandCarryABIGStick.gif' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-6165767950235026641</id><published>2010-02-14T16:48:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-14T16:48:47.815-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='respect'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wisdom'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='exists'/><title type='text'>Love IS Everywhere!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;big&gt;Love isn't some thing you can capture and keep captive. It isn't something you chase or pursue. It isn't something that you can beat into submission or force. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love is not impossible to find because it's not lost! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seriously, how can you find something that was never misplaced or hidden?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love is a massive force of energy that cannot be measured. It is the creative energy that put into existence everything. And It is found everywhere. You can't look anywhere without seeing love at work. It is a tireless constant moving flow that is so powerful that it cannot be destroyed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is the energy that brought us into being; and it is the very energy that keeps us thriving.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether you accept it or not ... Love exists.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Love's existence isn't dependent on your individual beliefs.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's the thing you see--Love thrives irregardless of what you think and/or believe. It continues on whether or not you acknowledge it. It carries on despite ... and in spite of ... what you say, think or have convinced yourself of.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Persistent little bugger ... ain't it?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love doesn't stop just because you have decided it isn't there.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To understand this energy--to really see it at work,  you have to adjust your attitude.   &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;"When you change your attitude-- your perception will change!"&lt;/i&gt;  Demetrius to The Oracle, Children of the Luminaries: Book I ~ The Coming Storm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love is not about condoning any type of abuse. It is about accepting the challenge to rise above any given situation. It is all about refusing to hold on to the pain that was inflicted on you. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;b&gt;Refusing to carry it around with you.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The damage of any abuse is perpetuated when &lt;i&gt;we refuse to let go of the pain.&lt;/i&gt; As human experiencers, we latch on to pain and hold on to it as though it were a matter of life &amp;amp; death. We cling to our pain for fear of having nothing. Many of us have convinced ourselves that if we let go of that pain, we will fall into some dark black pit and never return. Many fear that if they let go, they will have nothing to live for. No purpose. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No matter where you find yourself, no matter what situation you find yourself in, no matter who you are, Love is present.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is much, much, much more to say about Love -- more than can be written here.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The bottom line is this--- if you are looking for Love you only need to change your attitude about Love. Upon doing so ... you will find it everywhere, in everything and in everybody. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find yourself in pain, try something different --let it go. If only for five minutes. Let it go. Replace it with Love. I mean what do you have to lose?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find yourself alone without that "someone special" -- try loving yourself. If only for five minutes--just try it! What have you got to lose at this point?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Changing your attitude does change your perception! But don't take my word for it. Try it for yourself! I mean c'mon! What do you have to lose? Seriously?&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/?action=view&amp;amp;current=Love.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/Love.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-6165767950235026641?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/6165767950235026641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-is-everywhere.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6165767950235026641'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6165767950235026641'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-is-everywhere.html' title='Love IS Everywhere!'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/th_Love.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-5491732490501609687</id><published>2010-02-08T10:48:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-08T10:48:59.580-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='addictions'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='obsessions'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='distractions'/><title type='text'>Distractions</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;We all have them.&amp;nbsp; We go out of our way to create them for whatever reason.&amp;nbsp; I know my favorite distraction is Paint Shop Pro.&amp;nbsp; It's my brand of therapy when I find myself stuck on a problem or just need to get out of the daily rat trap and get away from it all as it were.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Distractions ... everyone has at least one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Funny thing about distractions though,&amp;nbsp; it isn't too long before they develop into addictions.&amp;nbsp; And when that happens ---it isn't long before we find ourselves in deep shit!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Work, home, relationships (both professional and personal) suffer when we allow our distractions to take over our lives.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For instance ...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cell phones are a source of convenience for most.&amp;nbsp; It is a handy tool to have around in the event you can't find a pay phone.&amp;nbsp; And seriously, these days --- who can? &amp;nbsp; The cell phone is especially great to have on hand if you find yourself broke down in B.F.E.&amp;nbsp; Parents use it to keep track of their children.&amp;nbsp; All in all, the cell phone is a magnificent tool to have on hand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet thousands each day find themselves unable to live without them.&amp;nbsp; This simple convenience has not only become a distraction --- but a virtual addiction for thousands upon thousands world wide.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everywhere you look these days you will find someone&amp;nbsp; texting and/or talking on these devices.&amp;nbsp; It's gotten so bad that laws have had to be established in order to protect not just the cell phone users ---but&amp;nbsp; others from cell phone user addiction!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another prime example ... &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Internet&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The internet is a useful tool, a place where people work, find useful information, helpful suggestions, friendship and camaraderie.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Throughout the internet one can find a wide range of distraction.&amp;nbsp; All sorts of on line games to be played ... and for free I might add!&amp;nbsp; Not to mention all the free "networking" sites, chat rooms, radio shows, etc.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Many of which are extremely useful.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Yet, for many, the internet&amp;nbsp; is&amp;nbsp; another form of distraction.&amp;nbsp; And for many more-- it is a literal addiction.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Are you among those who spend more than 2 hours a day on the internet that is &lt;b&gt;NON-work related&lt;/b&gt;?&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So the question remains ... where is the balance?&amp;nbsp; Furthermore, how can one find, and most importantly, &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;keep &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;balance in a world filled with distractions?&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is a question only YOU can answer for yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In all things ... whatever it may be ...&amp;nbsp; no matter what you find yourself doing ... &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Moderation is the key.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anything outside moderation is nothing more than an Addiction!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But why do we, as human experiencers, need distractions?&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-large;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ABlueValentine.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/ABlueValentine.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia K. Cole&lt;br /&gt;Psychic Medium&lt;br /&gt;Empowerment Coaching&lt;br /&gt;Radio Talk Show Host&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.juliakcole.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;www.juliakcole.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.namastebeloved.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;www.namastebeloved.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/namastebeloved" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;www.twitter.com/namastebeloved&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/juliakcole" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;www.twitter.com/juliakcole&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;It's What I Do!&amp;nbsp; It's Who I Am!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-5491732490501609687?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/5491732490501609687/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/distractions.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/5491732490501609687'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/5491732490501609687'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/02/distractions.html' title='Distractions'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/Valetine%20Tags/th_ABlueValentine.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-6574834169491627128</id><published>2010-01-31T03:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-31T11:29:52.919-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gratitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='thanks'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='appreciation'/><title type='text'>Fear Busters!  Part 1:  Thank You!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-large;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;THANK YOU!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;How does that make you feel when you say those two words? How do you feel when those words are expressed to you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Makes you feel pretty darn good … doesn’t it?&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Thank You!&amp;nbsp; Two of the loveliest words in the human language.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;A few years ago, my youngest children had asked me why I say thank you to the bus driver when I get off.&amp;nbsp; My reply?&amp;nbsp; "That person provided a much needed service, they did a great job, and I really appreciate them being there for me. Those drivers put up with a lot during their shift, and I believe they could use a dose of appreciation.&amp;nbsp; They need to know.&amp;nbsp; And I need to do it!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;It was a simple explanation, but one that came from the heart.&amp;nbsp; As a result, when my children step off the bus, they say Thank You!&amp;nbsp; They discovered how good it made them feel.&amp;nbsp; But they soon found out&amp;nbsp; that showing appreciation had its other rewards.&amp;nbsp; The drivers remembered their appreciation and in turn, will stop and wait for my kids or let them on whenever they don’t have the exact change. My children know the bus drivers don’t do that for everyone!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It was a lesson in cause &amp;amp; effect for my kids.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The whole idea of saying thank you is to encourage and perpetuate a positive flow of energy.&amp;nbsp; While it may not always be reciprocated right away, saying “Thank You”&amp;nbsp; leaves an impression on others whether you know it or not!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;You never know who is watching.&amp;nbsp; And you never know who is benefiting from your act of gratitude.&amp;nbsp; And too, you just never know when that energy of gratitude is going to come back on you.&amp;nbsp; And trust me when I say … it always does!&amp;nbsp; In some way, in some form … that what you put out always returns to you!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;As human experiencers, we tend to focus only on the bad in life.&amp;nbsp; When we lend focus to that energy, we attract it, increase it and perpetuate it.&amp;nbsp; This is not to say we ignore the negative or pretend it doesn’t exist.&amp;nbsp; No.&amp;nbsp; But instead of focusing on it’s very existence, why not focus on what we are learning from it?&amp;nbsp; And once we discover that lesson, show a little gratitude for bringing it to our attention?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;What do you think would happen if you stop and see the&amp;nbsp; lessons being brought to your life?&amp;nbsp; What do you think would happen if you show gratitude for these lessons?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;When we live in gratitude we raise our vibrations&amp;nbsp; and strengthen our connection to our True Selves.&amp;nbsp; In turn, this energy flows out and connects to others increasing their own expanded awareness.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; As this occurs, fear begins to dissipate.&amp;nbsp; It’s hold over us begins to loosen and fall away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Saying Thank You is one small way of joining in and actively creating the change we wish to see in the world.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;For one week, practice saying THANK YOU to all you come in contact with.&amp;nbsp; See for yourself the difference it makes for you and the world!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;To Be Continued. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ThankYouBLUE.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="315" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/ThankYouBLUE.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/span&gt; a personal calling?  Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Known as &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;The Empress of the Known &amp;amp; Unknown Universes&lt;/span&gt;™, Julia brings enlightenment and inspiration around the globe by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In her personal empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into the spiritual planes of existence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia's weekly radio talk show &lt;a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namastebeloved"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Namaste Beloved!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;™ can be heard on Blog Talk Radio every Friday evening starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-6574834169491627128?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/6574834169491627128/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/fear-busters-part-1-thank-you.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6574834169491627128'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6574834169491627128'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/fear-busters-part-1-thank-you.html' title='Fear Busters!  Part 1:  Thank You!'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-8175330009196982018</id><published>2010-01-27T01:51:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-27T01:56:48.783-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='persistence'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><title type='text'>Persistence</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;"Persistence my daughter, means never giving in.&amp;nbsp; Even when you are faced with great odds,&amp;nbsp; you must continue on.&amp;nbsp; Even when you feel you can go no further, you must find that last ounce of strength and push forward!&amp;nbsp; It is the only way daughter.&amp;nbsp; It is the only way you can ever hope to succeed!"&amp;nbsp; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Grandmother to The Oracle, Children of the Luminaries~Book III: The Day of Reckoning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;Persistence is one of the keys to success.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; No matter what you are doing or setting out to do ... it is persistence that takes you down the road to success!&amp;nbsp; In fact --it is persistence that brings you right to success' door!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the mantra of persistence!&amp;nbsp; While many hold persistence in the same light as annoyance ... the truth of the matter is ... without it we would literally be in the dark!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was persistence that brought us our many luxuries and necessities.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It was persistence that gave women the right to vote and not be subjected to sexual harassment in the work place.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It was persistence that brought about religious freedoms in not only the United States, but in many other countries as well.&amp;nbsp; It was persistence that freed the slaves and brought about the civil rights movement.&amp;nbsp; And the list goes on and on to infinity!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Persistence Thy Name is&amp;nbsp; ...&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;The one thing we have learned about fear is Persistence is it's greatest tool.&amp;nbsp; So we have to be even more persistent to work with and through them.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It takes little to no effort to just give up and give in. &amp;nbsp; It is very easy to find and/or create a distraction that will prevent us from persisting.&amp;nbsp; We will come up against people who will make every attempt to stop us from proceeding forward.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; We have created many obstacles to over come in our pursuit of persistence.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;As Antari always says ... "You created it!&amp;nbsp; If you don't like it, then uncreate it!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;Being persistent --It isn't easy.&amp;nbsp; No one said it would be! &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It's hard work! &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;There are days when I just want to quit!&amp;nbsp; And some days -- that's exactly what I do!&amp;nbsp; I just Quit!&amp;nbsp; I don't do anything!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; That's when I usually get a telephone call from one of my friends who remind me of the advice I have given them during their moments of giving up.&amp;nbsp; oy!&amp;nbsp; Nothing like having your words thrown back in your face to get you going again, eh?&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;Having a circle of trusted friends is perhaps one of your greatest assets in working through any challenge. &amp;nbsp; Knowing you have someone to turn to keeps you going!&amp;nbsp; I should know, I have some of the most wonderful friends in my circle.&amp;nbsp; They are made up of some of the strongest, wisest and most gifted &amp;amp; talented men and women in this 3-Dimensional Realm!&amp;nbsp; And of course, I have my spirit companion Antari to keep me on the "straight &amp;amp; narrow"!&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;A good strong support system is essential to your life.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Be they a spouse, girl/boy friend, best friend,&amp;nbsp; a spiritual adviser, life coach, therapy group, 12 step program, or a small circle of friends and family members ... having at least one other person in your life is important in staying on track and being persistent!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;It isn't easy!&amp;nbsp; No one said it would be!&amp;nbsp; But the effort, time and energy you put forward will reap great rewards!&amp;nbsp; But don't take my word for it!&amp;nbsp; Try it for your Self!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;Five Minutes a day ... Each &amp;amp; Every Day Say NO To Your Fears!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"&gt;Be Persistent! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/?action=view&amp;amp;current=SayNoToFear.gif" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/NamasteBelovedTalkShow/SayNoToFear.gif" width="320" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/span&gt; a personal calling?  Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Known as &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;The Empress of the Known &amp;amp; Unknown Universes&lt;/span&gt;™, Julia brings enlightenment and inspiration around the globe by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding. In her person empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into the spiritual planes of existence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia's weekly radio talk show &lt;a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namastebeloved"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Namaste Beloved!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;™ can be heard on Blog Talk Radio every Friday evening starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-8175330009196982018?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/8175330009196982018/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/persistence.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/8175330009196982018'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/8175330009196982018'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/persistence.html' title='Persistence'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-6134765473079429476</id><published>2010-01-14T14:08:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-14T14:16:10.611-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Hamlet'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='process'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='teachings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wisdom'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='truth'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Shakespeare'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='spirituality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='consciousness'/><title type='text'>Personal Notes</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the beginning, I was vaguely aware of the impact working the&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; Say NO to Fear&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; challenge would have on not only me, but those around me.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Don't get me wrong.&amp;nbsp; I went in knowing that everything I was afraid of (even those fears I had long forgotten) would come up over and over again.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; And I was fully aware that I would not only fall down, but would get knocked down at every turn.&amp;nbsp; In short,&amp;nbsp; I knew I had a fight on my hands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;It's not like I just started doing all this&amp;nbsp; self work five minutes ago.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Let's face facts here.&amp;nbsp; I've been around the block a few times in this respect.&amp;nbsp; Studying, researching, meditating, etc.&amp;nbsp; been doing it for years.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Not only that, I have been providing spiritual counseling and psychic readings for what seems like forever. But even so, I was completely shocked by the results of working this challenge.&amp;nbsp; And yes, I still have a long, long, long, LONG way to go!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;2009 --&amp;nbsp; Change Cometh &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the beginning, I didn't notice any real changes&amp;nbsp; at first.&amp;nbsp; In fact, with everything that was going on in my life I was literally on the verge of just giving up.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I kept thinking ... "who in the hell am I fooling? This shit doesn't work!"&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; However, something inside of me whispered-- &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Keep going.&amp;nbsp; Persistence is the key!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; that little voice kept saying.&amp;nbsp; And so I did.&amp;nbsp; I just kept going!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It wore me out dealing with every fear I had or ever had.&amp;nbsp; All of it just kept coming to the surface, pummeling me with their words and feelings. &amp;nbsp; Each syllable just as hateful, hurtful and downright nasty in my mind as they were when first inititated. &amp;nbsp; Voices from the past kept repeating their rhetoric in my head leaving me in in constant doubt.&amp;nbsp; Ah! Doubt my ever present, dutiful and faithful companion during this initial process.&amp;nbsp; oy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As if that weren't enough ... my entire home life was falling apart.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It was a frickin' nightmare!&amp;nbsp; There were times when I half expected Freddy Krueger to show up!&amp;nbsp; I kid you not!&amp;nbsp; It was &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;that &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;bad!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;October 2009 was the turning point for me.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It was a month of intense challenges, as my family began&amp;nbsp; falling apart at a rapid pace.&amp;nbsp; My oldest son found himself in the midst of a nasty custody battle of his infant daughter (born on October 1).&amp;nbsp; His then girlfriend decided she didn't want the baby nor did she want him to have it, so she handed the baby over to the state.&amp;nbsp; It's been a living hell for all of us.&amp;nbsp; As his mother, I have had to stand back and out of the way. I never felt so helpless in all my life. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On October 12th, I fell in the bathroom sustaining three broken ribs, a fractured hip and bruised kidney.&amp;nbsp; Two days later I get a telephone call from an acquaintance who provided an unsolicited assessment as to why my family was having these problems and why I fell.&amp;nbsp; Her reasons?&amp;nbsp; Everything that happened was all due to my being arrogant, obnoxious and a know it all.&amp;nbsp; *sigh*&amp;nbsp; Of course it was!&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These were only some of the things that transpired during this time.&amp;nbsp; Let's just say ... October 2009 is a time I will not soon forget! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now why did I bring this all up?&amp;nbsp; Three reasons.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One, it was during this time I put into practice of minding my own business.&amp;nbsp; As a parent, we tend to believe/think that we know more than our children.&amp;nbsp; That we can fix their problems.&amp;nbsp; It's an occupational hazard!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My oldest son knows I am here for him, that I will do all I know and all that is within my power to help in any way.&amp;nbsp; But I know, as does he, that the best thing I can do for him is to get out of his way and allow him to work through the process in his own way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It wasn't easy.&amp;nbsp; It still isn't.&amp;nbsp; But I am practicing of allowing.&amp;nbsp; oy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The second reason, we all came in with a chart--an outline--of what we would experience during our journey as humans. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; This includes all of us!&amp;nbsp; As a parent, we tend to forget that our children have these charts as well.&amp;nbsp; They, like us, came in with the intent of learning through experiences.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Appreciating the lessons of another isn't always easy.&amp;nbsp; Especially, and in particularly, when it comes to one's own children.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Honoring the paths of others is what I came to remember, to know and to practice.&amp;nbsp; Not easy!&amp;nbsp; No one said it would be!&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The third reason, I learned to slow down, to pay attention, to listen.&amp;nbsp; (That fall really slowed me down ... let me tell ya!&amp;nbsp; oy!) I was reminded&amp;nbsp; to look beyond my feelings and see the message and the opportunities it brings for continued expanded awareness.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, I already knew alot of this stuff.&amp;nbsp; But it wasn't until October when I really began to understand on a soul level.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But it didn't stop there.&amp;nbsp; Oh no!&amp;nbsp; Little did I know at that particular time, my expanded awareness was on the verge of getting a profound tweaking!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On Friday, November 6th my beloved fur baby Zaffis da'Cat was brutally and viciously killed.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; (Zaffis da'Cat was named in honor of my cherished friend John Zaffis).&amp;nbsp; Zaffis was born on November 8, 2005.&amp;nbsp; I was present when that beautiful soul came into this world.&amp;nbsp; I was there when he took his last breath. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To make a rather long and painful story short, the person involved in the killing of not only my fur baby, but countless others, has been brought to justice.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Unfortunately Rodger, the dog this individual used to do all the killing, a beautiful pit bull, was put down on November 9, 2010.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;Was I angry?&amp;nbsp; You bet I was!&amp;nbsp; I don't ever remember feeling so much hatred for one person.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Did I want revenge?&amp;nbsp; You bet I did!&amp;nbsp; I wanted this person to feel everything that Zaffis did as he fought for his life.&amp;nbsp; I wanted this boy, this thug wanna be, to feel every thing ... all the pain, all the fear, all the horror that not only Zaffis had felt ... but all those precious animals he slaughtered.&amp;nbsp; I wanted him to feel the anguish I and my family experienced, the anguish of all those people whose pets he had killed.&amp;nbsp; I wanted him to feel the pain &amp;amp; fear of Rodger the pit bull as well. &amp;nbsp; I wanted this person to feel it &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;all &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;... and then some!&amp;nbsp; I wanted him to feel it all as people stood around and laughed.&amp;nbsp; Just as he had laughed when my baby was fighting for his life.&amp;nbsp; That is what I wanted!&amp;nbsp; That is all I wanted ... more than anything.&amp;nbsp; For him to feel.&amp;nbsp; To know first hand the pain we all experienced.&amp;nbsp; I just wanted him to feel it!&amp;nbsp; To know it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I just wanted this person to FEEL.&amp;nbsp; To feel ... to reconnect to his humanity ... and come into an understanding.&amp;nbsp; But what I got instead was my own&amp;nbsp; sense of understanding on a soul level.&amp;nbsp; It wasn't easy.&amp;nbsp; No one said it would be.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;I fought this feeling as it began washing over me in waves.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; As it did, an unimaginable calm filled me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;In the calmness, I began to understand.&amp;nbsp; What was perceived as a needless, reckless and utterly useless act was in fact a lesson in forgiveness.&amp;nbsp; If the sacrifices of Zaffis, Rodger and all those other animals were to mean anything ... anything at all ...&amp;nbsp; I had to make a choice.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Would I succumb to the perpetuation of fear, hatred and needless acts of violence just for a few moments of personal gratification?&amp;nbsp; Or would I practice the art of forgiveness and seek justice in a more peaceful manner?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I think you already know the answer to those questions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The choice I made sent out a message to the rest of the neighborhood.&amp;nbsp; And that message was ... &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;if we are to see any positive changes in the world ... we must first BE that change!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp; And so it was ... and so it is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;And no my friends ... it wasn't easy.&amp;nbsp; Even now as I sit here typing this out, I am crying.&amp;nbsp; I'm still working on letting go of that pain.&amp;nbsp; And I know ... in time ... I will.&amp;nbsp; Their sacrifice will not be in vain. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I will continue to rise above my own fears.&amp;nbsp; You bet I will! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The death of Zaffis da'Cat and Rodger the Pit Bull brought me into an even greater expansion of awareness.&amp;nbsp; I was able to see where I needed to make some rather important adjustments.&amp;nbsp; There were apologies to be made ... and I have made them.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; My resolve to continue&amp;nbsp; my reconnection of my True Self, to continue shedding the old ways, to face my own fears and just say NO has been strengthen beyond measure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The gratitude I feel for these two courageous souls cannot be expressed by mere words. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know where they are ... there is no more fear of being hurt.&amp;nbsp; I have seen them both, running side by side playing, jumping in huge piles of leaves, enjoying their peace.&amp;nbsp; They are joined by all the other animals who have returned Home.&amp;nbsp; It is most assuredly a Blessed Reunion of Souls.&amp;nbsp; A beautiful sight to behold.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; In that moment as they become aware of my presence, Zaffis gives out an aaaack (he couldn't meow) to let me know he sees me.&amp;nbsp; He sticks out his tongue and then scurries off to chase a butterfly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A sense of Peace fills me.&amp;nbsp; I know he and all the others are safe now.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Concluding Comments&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can only&amp;nbsp; imagine the changes that occur in 2010 will be even more significant.&amp;nbsp; But I can say with confidence ... I'm off to a good start!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be sure to tune in to my my show,&lt;a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namastebeloved"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt; Namaste Beloved!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;™&amp;nbsp; (air date January 15, 2010, 9-11 p.m. Eastern) as I go into further detail of my personal story in working the Say NO To Fear challenge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take the Challenge!&amp;nbsp; Say NO! To Your Fears!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;I mean ... what do you have to lose? &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/?action=view&amp;amp;current=January92010SayNoToFearTagKG.gif" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/January92010SayNoToFearTagKG.gif" width="304" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Known as The Empress of the Known &amp;amp; Unknown Universes™, Julia brings enlightenment and inspiration around the globe by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding. In her person empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into the spiritual planes of existence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Julia's weekly radio talk show &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Namaste Beloved!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;™ can be heard on Blog Talk Radio every Friday evening starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;To book a session with Julia, please visit her official website at www.JuliaK.Cole.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-6134765473079429476?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/6134765473079429476/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/personal-notes.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6134765473079429476'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6134765473079429476'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/personal-notes.html' title='Personal Notes'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt297/TheEmpressJuliaK7/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear%20Challenge/th_January92010SayNoToFearTagKG.gif' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-5058429436904287525</id><published>2010-01-11T09:28:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-11T09:28:00.322-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='empowerment'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forgiveness'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='apology'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='healing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='beingthechange'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='spirituality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='namaste'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='ghandi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='enlightenment'/><title type='text'>Being The Change In 2010</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Well, another year has come and gone.&amp;nbsp; And what a year it has been, eh?&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Is it me or does it seem that time is just speeding by like a bullet?&amp;nbsp; Appears that way, doesn't it?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;As with every year, we said good-bye to those we knew and loved in some way, on some level,&amp;nbsp; while welcoming in new friends and family members, reuniting with lost loves, reconnecting with those we had lost touch with and so on.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;For me 2009 was a year of intense awakening.&amp;nbsp; While I have been on this path of awakening for what seems like eons, it was 2009 that brought about the spiritual caffeine that really jolted me into a more awakened state.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; However, I wish to state that my personal expansion in conscious awareness during 2009 was different some how.&amp;nbsp; It was definitely unlike anything I had experienced in the past.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;To make a rather long story short, I made some rather intense changes within myself. &amp;nbsp; I faced my worst night mares ... My SELF!&amp;nbsp; And thankfully,&amp;nbsp; have lived to tell the tale! &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Though I had always known that our thoughts become manifested ... I had not really taken into consideration the depths in which these thoughts could materialized!&amp;nbsp; And have been for eons!&amp;nbsp; oy vey!&amp;nbsp; What a predicament.&amp;nbsp; As we all know, and in truth, nothing is outside ourselves ... it all comes from within us.&amp;nbsp; This was something I always knew intellectually.&amp;nbsp; But to actually experience it?&amp;nbsp; Yea, pretty darn eye-opening ... to say the least!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Delving deep within isn't something to be taken lightly.&amp;nbsp; I won't lie to you ... It's not easy--no one said it would be.&amp;nbsp; But I can tell you from personal experience, it has been worth the effort.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; To actually face your fears, to acknowledge all the mistakes you have made (ever made), to take responsibility for all the nonsense that has been mirrored back to you, then&amp;nbsp; to forgive yourself ... to love yourself ... is very intense.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;It takes a great deal of courage and strength to really look deep within yourself.&amp;nbsp; It takes even greater courage and strength to&amp;nbsp; literally acknowledge all that you are, have been and continue to be, then taking it a few steps further by taking responsibility, by accepting and Loving all that makes up your Self.&amp;nbsp; It's scary as hell!&amp;nbsp; But I did it!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; And yes, I will continue to do it.&amp;nbsp; I am, after all, a work in progress--a labor of Love! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;To Love One's Self is the greatest Love of All.&amp;nbsp; Why?&amp;nbsp; Again, nothing truly happens outside ourselves without first taking place within ourselves. &amp;nbsp; If we do not truly love ourselves unconditionally...then how can we ever hope for anyone else to love us in this manner?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;So what do I take into 2010? Just one thing ... &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Acceptance.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp; Accepting responsibility for every thought I think, accepting the responsibility for what these thoughts manifest, accepting the forgiveness for those thoughts and the actions it brings about, acknowledging the divine in others who come into my life, accepting gratitude by showing gratitude, and most importantly ... accepting the Love that I am.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;So how did all this acceptance come about?&amp;nbsp; It all started when I&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; was reintroduce to this healing method the beginning of 2009.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; But it wasn't until it came up again and again over the last few months&amp;nbsp; that I actually gave it a go.&amp;nbsp; And trust me when I say, I resisted it with every fiber of my being.&amp;nbsp; However, I came to the conclusion that it was something I needed.&amp;nbsp; I mean, why else would it keep popping up?&amp;nbsp; Yea,&amp;nbsp; that Self of mine is a sneaky little hussy ... ain't she?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ho'oponopono&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Loosely translated, Ho‘oponopono means &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;to set things righ&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;t&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;.&amp;nbsp; The basic concept behind Ho‘oponopono&amp;nbsp; is that you&amp;nbsp; realize the immutable fact that your entire existence comes from within, not from outside of yourself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I know from my own personal experience that once you truly grasp and get your head around the fact that you are creating, and we are talking &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;literally creating&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;,&amp;nbsp; every single aspect of your existence – from the smallest molecule up through the tallest building, from the most heart-felt Love to the most passionate hatred – then you realize that you can effect change over all of it! Why?&amp;nbsp; Because you know you&amp;nbsp; are responsible for them being there in the first place!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;How is all of this done via Ho‘oponopono? By simply accepting responsibility and showing gratitude.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Being the skeptic I am, I really didn't think it would work all that well.&amp;nbsp; But I figured I had nothing to lose at this point.&amp;nbsp; So I tried it.&amp;nbsp; I'm daring that way! I made a list of all the people who stood out.&amp;nbsp; I then listed all the qualities that annoyed me the most.&amp;nbsp; Wanna talk long list?&amp;nbsp; I then began seeing a pattern.&amp;nbsp; All those qualities on that list that bothered me&amp;nbsp; were the same attributes I possessed.&amp;nbsp; I only have three words to say at this point ... pot, kettle--black!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Armed with the necessary tools, I went about to first take responsibility for those attributes that had been mirrored back to me.&amp;nbsp; I was responsible ... no getting around it.&amp;nbsp; Next, I set out to ask forgiveness.&amp;nbsp; Finally, I expressed my gratitude and my Love for each person involved.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;My results?&amp;nbsp; Inner Peace &amp;amp; Contentment.&amp;nbsp; I really won't know how it affected everyone on my list until I get some kind of physical validation.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; And even if I don't ever get that validation, I still feel good about what I have done.&amp;nbsp; I mean, it was all about ME anyways ... now wasn't it?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I hope you will join me in 2010 as I set out to consciously work &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Ho'oponopono each and every day.&amp;nbsp; It's all part of the on-going challenge I initiated on January 1, 2008.&amp;nbsp; It's one of the best methods I have worked thus far.&amp;nbsp; And besides,&amp;nbsp; what better way to work the Say NO To Fear challenge than to face yourself and work from within, eh?&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Be the Change You Wish To See In The World&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; ~ Ghandi&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;And so it is!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I take responsibility for what is reflected back to me.&amp;nbsp; I'm sorry, please forgive me, I love you!&amp;nbsp; I Love You!&amp;nbsp; I Love You!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; I am sorry that I didn't accept the lesson when it was presented to me through you.&amp;nbsp; Please forgive me for not appreciating you in that moment. I'm sorry!&amp;nbsp; I Love You! I Love You! I Love You!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I am sorry for not showing you the respect you deserved and continue to&amp;nbsp; deserve.&amp;nbsp; I'm sorry, please forgive me.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I acknowledge and I&amp;nbsp; appreciate your bravery, your wisdom and most of all&amp;nbsp; ... the Love you have and always had for me by reflecting back to me in order for Me to Learn and Grow!&amp;nbsp; I'm sorry for not accepting all of these gifts when you presented them to me.&amp;nbsp; I'm Sorry!&amp;nbsp; Please Forgive Me!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I take responsibility for all the anger and hatred shown to me.&amp;nbsp; I now see how it projected out to you ... to the world we live in. &amp;nbsp; I'm sorry, please forgive me. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;I Love You!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;I LOVE YOU!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/Julia%20Tags/?action=view&amp;amp;current=TheEmpressJulia.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/Julia%20Tags/TheEmpressJulia.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Source:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.drcat.org/articles_interviews/html/hotfudge.html"&gt;http://www.drcat.org/articles_interviews/html/hotfudge.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://hooponopono.org/Articles/self_i-dentity.html"&gt;http://hooponopono.org/Articles/self_i-dentity.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://hooponopono.org/Articles/theres_got_to_be.html"&gt;http://hooponopono.org/Articles/theres_got_to_be.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Louise L. Hay&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-5058429436904287525?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/5058429436904287525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/being-change-in-2010.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/5058429436904287525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/5058429436904287525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/being-change-in-2010.html' title='Being The Change In 2010'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/Julia%20Tags/th_TheEmpressJulia.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-2422893964327576776</id><published>2010-01-02T01:54:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-02T02:00:58.784-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Swedenborg'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forest'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='branches'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='tree'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='energy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Emanuel'/><title type='text'>The Tree of Love</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I wanted to start off the new year with this blog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The following is a message I received during one of my daily meditations. &amp;nbsp; It is in answer to one of the questions I posed ... &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;where does fear come from? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;As a psychic medium, I am accustomed&amp;nbsp; to being visited by spirits of all walks of life--past, present, and yes, future.&amp;nbsp; I am always pleasantly surprised when I am visited by the spirits of people I've only heard about. &amp;nbsp; Like the numerous others who have visited me over the years, I only knew of him.&amp;nbsp; I never really bothered to read up on him or learn of his work in any manner.&amp;nbsp; In fact,&amp;nbsp; I had first heard of him in 2006 when I first met Vaishali.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;In human life, he had been an 18th Century Swedish Scientist, Philosopher and Spiritual Explorer, who at the age of 56,&amp;nbsp; had a spiritual awakening and wrote numerous books on his theological views and related topics.&amp;nbsp; His name of course is Emanuel Swedenborg.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;I had felt his presence in times past, usually when I was talking with Vaishali, but never really paid that much attention.&amp;nbsp; In truth, I ignored him.&amp;nbsp; I wasn't ready to hear anything he had to say, so I just chose to pretend I couldn't see or hear him. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The week before I was presented the answer to my question,&amp;nbsp; I felt Emanuel's energies filter through my room.&amp;nbsp; I could tell from the way these energies were intensifying, I would not be in any position to&amp;nbsp; ignore him as I had in times past.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Any well seasoned medium will tell you, whenever a spirit insist on being acknowledged they have something extremely important to convey.&amp;nbsp; And seeing I needed clarity&amp;nbsp; I thought what the hell ... I'll give it a go!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I asked him ... &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Where does fear come from?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He explained to me in detail that everything comes from one energy ... an energy we human experiencers call Love.&amp;nbsp; "In our true forms," he told me,&amp;nbsp; "we have another name for it,&amp;nbsp; but it doesn't translate over into human language, so while we are in physical form the word &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Love &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;is used in it's place."&amp;nbsp; The actual word for this energy is so complex that he had to write it out for me.&amp;nbsp; Upon seeing it in writing I came&amp;nbsp; to understand why we use that four letter word.&amp;nbsp; Trust me when I say, it's a humdinger!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;Emanuel explained that Love is the only energy capable of creating in such massive proportions.&amp;nbsp; He pointed out how this energy expresses itself in infinite ways.&amp;nbsp; I found this utterly ridiculous ... at first.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; So to prove his point,&amp;nbsp; Emanuel showed me a tree that seem to go on forever. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; He pointed at the base of the tree which was incredible!&amp;nbsp; It was bigger than a city--literally!&amp;nbsp; He told me ... "this tree you see here represents Love."&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; He further went on to say:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; "Each of the&amp;nbsp; branches you see on this tree contributes to the splendid collaboration of what you&amp;nbsp; see here.&amp;nbsp; Without the branches, the tree would not&amp;nbsp; be complete. "&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Keep in mind that each branch is an expression of the tree, but not the tree itself.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; All the branches make up the wondrous creation you see here.&amp;nbsp; Note that even the branches have smaller extensions of itself.&amp;nbsp; See how each stretch out and express upon itself.&amp;nbsp; Beautiful is it not?&amp;nbsp; As you can see, all aspects of the tree work in harmony to provide comfort and beauty to all those who come in contact with it.&amp;nbsp; As it is with the tree, so it is with you."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Like this tree, you too have infinite expressions.&amp;nbsp; Your base ... your trunk if you will ... is always Love.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; There is no separation from this.&amp;nbsp; If that were true, then you would have no branches.&amp;nbsp; Whatever it is you are expressing, be it anger, hatred, jealously or any type of fear, you are coming from that one particular aspect of the one energy ... Love.&amp;nbsp; Love, is the energy of creation, there is no separation ... only expression."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How can this be? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Love expresses itself in this vast manner for the soul to experience the variations of Creator energy.&amp;nbsp; It is why you took on physical form, it is why you chose the challenges you have in this life and all the others before this.&amp;nbsp; Without physical experience of those expressions, you would not come into full understanding of what Love is.&amp;nbsp; What it truly is."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So when I am experiencing fear, I am sitting on one particular branch to see what it's like?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yes! Yes!&amp;nbsp; That is precisely what you are doing!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Emanuel&amp;nbsp; pointed to the lower branches that were close to the base of the tree.&amp;nbsp; "These branches represent the many aspects of fear.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; See how each twig has sprouted from these branches?&amp;nbsp; These are the representation of each fear you experience.&amp;nbsp; Note how each twig slightly differs."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So when we climb up, we get a clearer view of what is transpiring?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Absolutely! And let us not forget our roots!&amp;nbsp; The roots expand out and connect to all the other trees creating a unique and beauteous connection.&amp;nbsp; It is a connection that reaches out to all creation.&amp;nbsp; This connection creates a network."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What effects one effects all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Precisely!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Looking up I couldn't see the top, but I began to be filled with an understanding. &amp;nbsp; It was an understanding that had always been there, but now was being absorbed throughout my entire being.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The tree grows up and forever, connecting us to Creators.&amp;nbsp; Our roots connects us here in the 3-Dimensional physical plane ... to all creation here.&amp;nbsp; I was more or less mumbling to myself at this point.&amp;nbsp; I saw from the corner of my eye that Emanuel was smiling.&amp;nbsp; It was then I realized I was standing in the midst of a forest so grand that even now it defies description.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Now that you understand, share with others what you have learned."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And with that,&amp;nbsp;Emanuel was gone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;*~*~*~*~*~*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When we look at a tree, we don't always notice the varying degrees of those branches.&amp;nbsp; How they sometimes twist and turn a certain way.&amp;nbsp; How they some times take on a life of their own at times.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sometimes we just look at the tree as a whole, not taking in consideration the beautiful detailed and various independent expressions that make up that tree.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; We just take for granted it is a tree with one particular purpose.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Same goes for Love itself.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Interesting isn't it?&amp;nbsp; How we are so focused on Love being one certain way we fail to notice the other aspects this energy entails.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am left to wonder as I ponder my next question.&amp;nbsp; If we truly believe that all of creation is made up of this energy we call Love ... then why do we dismiss so much and claim so little?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ahhh!&amp;nbsp; Now the plot really thickens!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Namaste!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/?action=view&amp;amp;current=MotherNature.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="333" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/MotherNature.jpg" width="400" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-2422893964327576776?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/2422893964327576776/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/tree-of-love.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/2422893964327576776'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/2422893964327576776'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2010/01/tree-of-love.html' title='The Tree of Love'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-6629833384619940340</id><published>2009-09-24T20:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-05T12:44:57.045-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='empowerment'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='atttitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='enemy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='motivational'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='enlightenment'/><title type='text'>Fear is NOT The Enemy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/NamasteBelovedShow/Newslettersign.jpg" style="height: 88px; width: 373px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contrary to popular belief, fear is not the enemy.  I'll repeat that.  Fear &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;is not&lt;/span&gt; the enemy!  If anything, fear is our greatest ally.  A life partner if you will.   Granted there is a vast difference between fear and fright.  But even fright proves to be anything but the enemy.  It's all a matter in how you look at it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Perception&lt;/span&gt;:&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;  to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses; to recognize, discern envision or understand&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Assume/Assumption:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;to take for granted or without proof; suppose; postulate; posit&lt;/span&gt;:&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perception and Assumption are often confused.  Which is quite interesting seeing how they differ so greatly.  Assumption is based on clouded and hasty judgments or perhaps ill informed advice, gossip, misinformation, etc.    While Perception tends to look past what it is being shown or being told, utilizing other forms of senses to seek out the truth of a matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A perceptive person will seek out more information to gain clarity, while a person who assumes will not bother exerting any energy to expand their awareness on any matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For instance, you become "aware" of a situation about your boy/girl friend.  At first glance, the situation appears as if that person is cheating on you.  What is your reaction?  Do you first get all the information regarding the situation?  Or do you automatically assume that person is cheating on you?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now think back on the time you thought and/or believed a certain way about a situation, a person, a culture or even a religion.  Do you remember how your attitude changed once you came into more information about that thought and/or belief?  Do you remember all the assumptions you had made during the time you had those thoughts/beliefs?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now you are asking, what does this have to do with my fears?  In short, everything!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When we assume ... when we did not bother getting the whole story.  When we assume ...  we create, generate and perpetuate certain fears.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Becoming perceptive takes work, but in the end it proves to be worth every ounce of effort made.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you put forth the effort to gather the information, the whole story if you will, the chances of looking and being seen a fool is greatly diminished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As the old saying goes ... When you assume ... you make an Ass out of U and Me!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Assuming that fear is the enemy only perpetuates that thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cannot stress enough that Fear is not the enemy!  And is not something that can be totally removed from the human experience.    It is a necessity.  A valuable tool that helps us to grow stronger, to become more alert ... and yes ... hones our perception on every level our experience.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fear was never meant to make us afraid.  It was meant to keep us alert and keep us safe.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But what happens when we take fear and hold on to it ... as though it were a matter of life and death?   What about all those people who live with phobias?  How is fear our friend and ally then?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Again, see where you are being perceptive and where you are assuming.  These are the keys to unlock the door to your freedom.  These are the tools that will assist you in seeing how valuable your fear(s) has been and is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, even those with phobias can take that step forward and seek out and search where they may be assuming certain things that they themselves, or perhaps others, have alleged to be true. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No one can do the work for you.  It's all up to you!  And no it isn't easy.  No one said it would be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But I promise you ... the work you do on your Self is worth the effort!  Living free is it's own reward.  But the choice ... as always ... is up to You!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remember, you are not in this alone.  There are many who are willing to assist you on your journey.  All you need do is reach out.  All you need do is ... Ask!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/Julia%20Tags/Say%20NO%20To%20Fear/justSayNOtoFear.jpg" style="height: 309px; width: 317px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/span&gt; a persona calling?  Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Known as &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;The Empress of the Known &amp;amp; Unknown Universes&lt;/span&gt;™, Julia brings enlightenment and inspiration around the globe by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding.   In her person empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life.   As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into the spiritual planes of existence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Julia's weekly radio talk show &lt;a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/namastebeloved"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;Namaste Beloved!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;™ can be heard on Blog Talk Radio every Friday evening starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ebe7e7; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color: #696a76; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ebe7e7; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 100%;"&gt;To book a session with Julia, please visit her official website at &lt;a href="http://www.juliakcole.com/"&gt;www.JuliaK.Cole.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-6629833384619940340?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/6629833384619940340/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2009/09/fear-is-not-enemy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6629833384619940340'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/6629833384619940340'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2009/09/fear-is-not-enemy.html' title='Fear is NOT The Enemy'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr207/KentuckyHobo/NamasteBelovedShow/th_Newslettersign.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287692510852403442.post-7995268259088704598</id><published>2009-09-24T20:31:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-03T17:11:08.537-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='empowerment'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='understanding'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='no'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='to'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fear'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='say'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='enlightenment'/><title type='text'>The Say NO To Fear Challenge!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;The &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Say NO To Fear! Challenge &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;is a self actualization process designed to assist you to live a more fulfilling life. &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;It &lt;u&gt;is not&lt;/u&gt; a positive thinking exercise&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; In fact, as you work the challenge you will quickly discover many more fears revealing themselves almost to the point of insanity! But don't panic! It's all part of the process!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Understanding brings clarity.&lt;br /&gt;Clarity brings peace of mind.&lt;br /&gt;Peace of mind brings movement.&lt;br /&gt;Movement brings growth.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So why take the challenge?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The challenge helps you to:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(1) &lt;b&gt;Understand What Fear Is And &lt;i&gt;Is Not&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are a great deal of misconceptions about fear. We all have them. Myself being no exception! In fact, when I began developing this challenge in 2008, l had this idea that fear was the enemy, an enemy that had to be eliminated at any cost! It took almost a year before I realized nothing could be further from the truth!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This particular challenge helps in clearing away all those little pesky misconceptions of fear, guiding you into an awareness that fear is not nor has it ever been the enemy. This in turn frees you from the cycle of self inflicted abuse you have lived with throughout your human experience.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(2) &lt;b&gt;Identify and Work Through The Issues That Frighten You and Keep You From Moving Forward&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In order to work through all those fears in your life, they first must be identified and acknowledged. Some fears are quite apparent while others not so much! The only way to root them up is to get busy and begin looking at ourselves and clearing away thoughts that no longer serve us.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many have fears and don’t know why. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Identifying your fears is merely the first step in understanding why you have them. Once the fears have been identified, acknowledged and sorted, the process of working through them begins. You do this by first working on the fears that are obvious and staring you in the face.&amp;nbsp; Once you have accomplished this,&amp;nbsp; the subtle fears start peeking out. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As each fear makes it’s appearance, it provides opportunity for healing. The healing in turn provides growth and movement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(3) &lt;b&gt;Provides Methods, Tips and Suggestions that will allow you to live with clarity and freedom&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Say NO To Fear! Challenge offers some thought provoking exercises along with some fun stuff you can do that bring about clarity, freedom and most importantly, healing!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because we are all unique individuals who work in differing ways, dealing with common fears can prove to be a little challenging all unto itself. And not only that, many of the fears we have do not respond to certain methods. Which is why we offer a wide range of methodologies!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Say NO To Fear! Challenge requires that you spend, at the very least, five minutes a day, each and every day, working the process. Five minutes a day! That’s all it takes to begin the healing process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Say NO To Fear! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take the Challenge!&amp;nbsp; After all -- What do you have to lose?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://s354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/?action=view&amp;amp;current=SayNoToFear.gif" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r415/JuliaKathleen7/SayNoToFear.gif" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;About Julia K. Cole&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76; font-size: 85%;"&gt;What can you expect from someone who considers  &lt;i&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/i&gt;a personal calling?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;Known as &lt;i&gt;The Empress of the  Known &amp;amp; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Unknown &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;i&gt; Universes&lt;/i&gt;™, Julia K. Cole brings  enlightenment and inspiration around the globe  by providing spiritual guidance to those seeking a deeper understanding.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;In her personal empowerment consultations, Julia provides in-depth advice, teaches  you to tap into your own inner-strength and provides tools to enable  you  to live a more  fulfilling and joyful life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: white; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;As a psychic medium, Julia brings healing and comfort by serving as a liaison  between those here in the physical realm and those who have crossed over into  the spiritual  planes of existence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666; font-size: 85%;"&gt;Julia has received national acclaim assisting in paranormal investigations into the known and unknown Universes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: white; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color: white; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #696a76;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: white; font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #666666;"&gt;To schedule a private one-on-one consultation with Julia please visit &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.juliakcole.com/"&gt;http://www.juliakcole.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: white; font-family: Georgia,&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5287692510852403442-7995268259088704598?l=saynotofear.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/feeds/7995268259088704598/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2009/09/say-no-to-fear-challenge.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/7995268259088704598'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5287692510852403442/posts/default/7995268259088704598'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://saynotofear.blogspot.com/2009/09/say-no-to-fear-challenge.html' title='The Say NO To Fear Challenge!'/><author><name>Julia</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6VwQFB4KhCs/SrQFjwg7RoI/AAAAAAAAAAM/iWd8voX6cyo/S220/JuliaKathleen.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
