Much of our misery results from unconscious decisions.

We seldom make a conscious choice to worry or get angry or engage in many other emotional upsets. An event happens; we automatically react; we experience thoughts, feelings, and possibly take action without making a conscious decision; then, our mind justifies and reinforces our response. Past reactions to similar situations have become so deeply ingrained…

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Rejecting a religious doctrine does not reject God.

Many have rejected God and religion; some refuse to believe anything that appears to disagree with science; still others have no need for anything that doesn’t fit “modern” ideas or improve their materialistic life. Rejecting organized religion, disallowing doctrines that are intellectually invalid or morally repugnant is not rejecting God. Some see God as the…

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Shed the darkness of religious lethargy; Enjoy the amazing adventure of personally experiencing divine power

Religion without a vibrant, personal spiritual connection to the divine source is like the reflection of a flame in a mirror; it contains no heat. Some discover an exciting, intimate association with God through religious participation. Others may use such involvement as a substitute; they assume that attending church and participating in ritual constitutes a…

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The value of a vessel is its emptiness.

Clay is formed into a vessel. The emptiness bounded by the clay creates the usefulness of the vessel. Walls, windows, and doors make boundaries of a room. The value is its emptiness, not the boundaries. — Verse 11, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu If I have a pitcher of dirty water and want to fill…

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Love people; use things. Don’t use people and love things

Our world focuses on “things.” We are bombarded with the concept that our life will be better if we just get this “thing”; we are told that we will experience love and exquisite bliss if we just buy this certain object. And it’s a lie. “Things” can make our life easier or more enjoyable; using…

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Wasting time, energy, and emotions on illusions causes discontent

Someone says or does something; suddenly a worrisome thought spawns in our mind. We unconsciously react, thus giving power to the false idea that this is a real problem. Thus starts the building crescendo of emotions and thoughts about the false problem. As we mature, we learn to pause and evaluate if we are facing…

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If nothing changes, NOTHING changes

If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll keep getting the same results (and keep feeling the way we’re feeling.) Burning our hand on a hot stove brings immediate changes so we don’t do it again; however, we may suffer emotional pain but continue to volunteer for the very acts that cause our misery.…

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Do you live in the “SOMEDAY ISLE”?

The Someday Isle is a little like Never-Never Land. Of course, adults don’t really believe in Peter Pan and Never-Never Land; however, many supposedly mature people spend a lot of time in The Someday Isle where they may join the chant that pervades the land.  “Someday Isle … Someday Isle… Someday Isle…” Someday I’ll quit…

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