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So Far, A Good Year

So Far, A Good Year

It’s been a good year so far. Recently, I wrote an article about empowerment for the Association Executives of North Carolina. I was amazed and excited when it was accepted and immediately published in the March/April issue of their magazine, Success By Association. The article is entitled, “Empowering The Possibility Of Change,” and is in their “Leadership Strategy” column.

This happened shortly after having two articles published in the 2013 Winter issue of Ad Infinitum – Illinois Court Reporters Association newsletter. I’d connected with an Executive Assistant with an Association Management Company. We’d discussed the possibility of my speaking for one of the associations she manages. In our communication, I mentioned that my articles are available to be published in print or online magazines and newsletters. Within a few months, she let me know that not one, but two of my articles had been published.

I’m thrilled with the way this year is trending. New doors are opening and opportunities are appearing. I trust that the tendency continues to open greater avenues of success for us all.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

Attitude Makes All The Difference – By the Amazing Zig Ziglar

Attitude Makes All The Difference – By the Amazing Zig Ziglar

The amazing motivational speaker and thought leader, Zig Ziglar, passed away this week at 86 years of age. He taught millions about the fundamentals of sales, success and how attitude makes all the difference. He didn’t even begin his career as a motivational speaker until he was in his 40’s.

As a speaker, he encouraged others to believe in themselves. Ziglar emphasized that a positive attitude must be followed up by action before success could be achieved. To listen to his inspiring podcasts, visit http://zigziglar.libsyn.com/

In this video, he tells the story of a woman who complained about her job, changed her attitude about it, and changed her life.


Book Review-An Easy Guide to Meditation

Book Review-An Easy Guide to Meditation

An Easy Guide to Meditation [Kindle Edition]
Roy Eugene Davis

Many recent studies have shown that meditation changes the brain in beneficial ways, and improves your quality of life. With that in mind, I was delighted to find this gem of a booklet free on Amazon. The author studied under Paramahansa Yogananda and is the founder of Center for Spiritual Awareness.

This booklet starts out by discussing the purpose of meditation, and then explains simple steps to begin to access the meditative state. Succinctly, clearly, this booklet describes how to get into meditation, how to avoid the pitfalls, and what to do when you’re there. It condenses the knowledge you’d find in a much longer book.

I own an old physical copy of an earlier version this booklet as well as a couple of this author’s books (which are unfortunately out of print) and treasure them all. This is a Kindle edition, and you can download a Kindle app for all kinds of devices or or read it in the cloud.

Kumare – A Documentary About Faith And Empowerment

Kumare – A Documentary About Faith And Empowerment

Recently, I went with a friend to see a documentary about a filmmaker who wanted to prove that religion and religious leaders weren’t necessary. The young man created an identity of a wise guru for himself. To spread his message that each person was his/her own guru, he began attracting students.

Because of the way he spoke and acted, people believed in his performance and that he was a spiritual guru. People assumed he was a spiritual master because that’s what they expected to see. His followers accepted the way he defined himself and projected onto him their ideas of what a guru could do.

As he engaged with his followers, he accepted them unconditionally. This gave them the safety to begin to change. He communicated that he believed in them, which was in line with his message that they were their own gurus. But he also listened to them, which allowed them to feel seen. By doing this, he empowered them to believe in themselves.

The connection with his students, and what he shared with them, transformed them. These connections were powerful and changed him, too. We each have the power and knowledge within us to improve our lives, but we may not believe that we can do it. Sometimes we need someone to believe in and accept us to enable us to believe in ourselves.

The filmmaker wants to reveal himself to them, but he cares about them and is concerned about how it will affect the changes they’ve made. How will his ultimate message be received? Kumare is a fascinating documentary. It shows the power of our connections with other people and how they can transform our lives.

Springs and Pictographs – A Summer Hike

Springs and Pictographs – A Summer Hike

Jeff and I hiked a short trail near Flagstaff’s Snowbowl ski area recently. It was at 8000 feet, and much cooler than the high desert where we live. The 2-mile loop trail led through the Lamar Haines Nature Preserve. We enjoyed the rustle of Quaking Aspen trees, grasshoppers buzzing as they flew, birds chirping and ground squirrels chiding us for being in their territory.

Just off the trail, an old cabin has collapsed. Behind the cabin, just a short way up a hill, there are a couple of springs. One has been enclosed in a springhouse, and the other is a little way behind it at the base of the cliff.

 

While Jeff was taking photographs of the springs, a family joined us. The young lady, about ten, was fascinated by the springs. When we said there were Pictographs nearby, she accompanied us as we searched for them. Jeff found another spring and the Pictographs further along the cliff, after clambering over rocks and fallen trees. She, her Mom, Jeff and I examined the cliff face to see if we could identify the Pictographs. She had a good eye. She noticed as many as we did.

After we completed our hike, we drove the rest of the way up to Snowbowl. This is one of the ski areas in Arizona, and there’s a hiking trail that heads up the mountain. I wandered around the meadow, under a ski lift, as Jeff took some photos of Hummingbird Moths.

All in all, it was a lovely way to spend a summer’s day.

Book Review – Magic and Mystery In Tibet

Book Review – Magic and Mystery In Tibet

Magic and Mystery In Tibet
by Alexandra David-Neel

I read this book many years ago, and was intrigued. It tells the story of a French woman who was a Buddhist, and who traveled and lived in Tibet for several years in the early part of the last century. She encountered many monks, lamas, yogis and shamans during her stay, witnessed “psychic” phenomena and was told about many more. She had the opportunity to ask eminent mystics about their opinions on death and reincarnation.

Drawing on what she learned, Mrs. David-Neel explains many details about Tibetan Buddhism that western civilization hasn’t had exposure to before. In addition to various spiritual trainings, she describes some of the exercises of the hermits who increase their body temperature to the point that they melt the snow around them.

The reader will enjoy a first hand look at the way the Tibetans and holy men lived almost a hundred years ago. I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism or the other spiritual practices of that land.

Copyright 2004, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Book Review – The Sermon On The Mount

Book Review – The Sermon On The Mount

The Sermon On The Mount: The Key to Success in Life
by Emmet Fox

This author’s books made a huge impact on me when I began to seriously study metaphysics almost thirty years ago. This book was one of those that really affected me and my understanding of mental principles. It takes a metaphysical perspective on one of Jesus’ most well known messages. Mr. Fox states that Jesus’ message was to teach mental states, not theology.

Cautioning against taking Jesus’ message literally, the author explains how Jesus taught through parables. The Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Lord’s Prayer are directions on how to think rightly, how to manifest, and how to achieve a greater spiritual understanding. He dissects each phrase to explain it more thoroughly from a metaphysical perspective.

Many of the phrases that have been twisted or that many find confusing are very practically explained and now make sense. Karma is discussed, as are many metaphysical laws. This book’s original subtitle was “A general introduction to Scientific Christianity in the form of a spiritual key to Matthew V, VI and VII.” For anyone raised with the orthodox view of Jesus’ message, the information in this book is revolutionary and a revelation.

Copyright 2004, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

The Mirror Principle, Part 1

The Mirror Principle, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Your life and relationships are a perfectly polished mirror for what is in your consciousness. One of the unpopular concepts having to do with this is, “When you don’t like something in someone else, it’s reflecting something within yourself that you don’t like.” You might have heard about this spiritual principle, and wondered about it, as I did. How could it be? I didn’t like people to be deceptive or cruel. Did that mean that somehow I was being that way? Try as I might, I couldn’t see that in myself. It took many years of observation and contemplation before I finally made some sense out of it.

Some years ago, I was involved with a couple of men who were deceptive and manipulative. These are two characteristics that immediately offend me. However, while I was in the relationships, I wasn’t aware that they were expressing these traits, even when they lied to me. After the second relationship, I decided it couldn’t be a coincidence that I’d attract the same type of man one right after another.

So I began to explore where I might be deceptive and manipulative. What I discovered was that I was deceiving the world about who I was. I was hiding great chunks of myself, afraid of being criticized or rejected. I wasn’t lying to others, the way these men had been. Instead, I was lying to myself.

That’s when I began to understand the principle. A person doesn’t have to be expressing the disliked attribute in the same way. For instance, two friends each have an issue with time. One of the friends is chronically late, and the other is obsessively early. The issue is the same, but they are presenting different facets of it. I know this to be true, as I’ve had friends who are always late, and I’m almost always early.

Copyright 2001, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

The Serenity Of The Grand Canyon

The Serenity Of The Grand Canyon

Jeff and visited the Grand Canyon again recently. The day was unpromising when we got there, overcast with a brisk, biting wind. Not a great forecast for photos or comfort. But within an hour, the clouds broke up, the sun came out and the wind dropped to a mild breeze. It became a perfect day for hiking and taking pictures.

 

We wandered around the rim trail for awhile. Then we took the shuttle to S. Kaibab trailhead, and later to Yaki Point for the sunset.

There is something so peaceful and serene about the Grand Canyon. I know this is over-used, but it’s awe-inspiring. Every moment, the light on the rocks changes, shadows lengthen, colors deepen, and you have a completely different view. It is truly magical.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart