Mind Matters with Eldon Taylor

Answers

2010-04-08T06:01:00.001-07:00

Answers

At a very early age we begin a process of conditioning. There are many facets to this process and its influence on all of us, and I have written about much of it. However, there is a particular form of conditioning that can set us up for disappointment and failure. I am thinking of the conditioning that teaches us we should have an answer.

Our schooling insists that we have answers in order to pass. Our parents often ask us questions for which we have no answer but they insist we find one, so we do, even if that means we make it up. Consider how many times, for example, that you may have been asked something like, “Why did you do that?” The fact is, you probably did not think about everything you did and reason an answer in advance, so the best you can do when asked is take a 20-20 hindsight guess.

Einstein is credited with saying, “I want to know God’s thoughts—all else are details.” Do you honestly think Einstein ever learned the answer to this enquiry—God’s thoughts? How many people do you think truly possess the secrets to life or to our spiritual possibilities? I hear “answers” everywhere to every conceivable question. It’s as though we’re addicted to “answering” and need absolute answers to be happy.

The number of people that claim to have answers and have literally no foundation for their statements bemuses me. Perhaps some do have answers—I don’t know for sure, but what I do know is that I have spoken with very many that really don’t have a clue. When someone claims to have spoken with God I listen—but then many make this claim and many tell different stories. Are there different gods?

I watch so-called illuminated sages, channels and the like teach one thing and behave in another. One might teach the law of attraction and the nature of the unlimited source for all, for example, and then turn and act in such a way as to stop others from spreading this teaching on the basis of their proprietary ownership.

For me, questions are the way we activate our thought processes but they should not be necessarily considered answerable. After all, how could one expect the finite to comprehend the infinite?

I love questioning. I love the process of enquiry. I seek thesis, antithesis and synthesis in all those grand areas of metaphysical enquiry and feel deeply enriched by pursuing the process, realizing that I will probably never know in this lifetime with epistemological certainty the absolute answer to many of my enquiries. I hope you find the process worthy and recognize that the “pat” answers rarely serve more than a childlike curiosity.

What are your thoughts on this? I invite you to opine by writing me: eldon@innertalk.com

Breaking News: Mind Programming Is Real

2009-09-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Breaking News: Mind Programming Is Real

Hello,

Sometimes I encounter a new book that just blows me away and I am really excited about sharing this one with you. In Eldon Taylor's Mind Programming, you will gain amazing insights into yourself. The revelations in this one book about the efforts to control your thinking will shock you. But even more important are the "Aha moments" that come when you finally see why you may have stumbled in your quest for success.

Eldon Taylor, former criminalist and author of the New York Times best seller, Choices and Illusions, is one of the foremost researchers into the power of the mind and the mind/body connection. His approach is both scientific and down-to-earth, and his techniques are easy to implement into your own life. Hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world have benefited from his teaching and his latest release, Mind Programming: From Persuasion and Brainwashing to Self Help and Practical Metaphysics, condenses his 30 years of research into one amazing read!

For more information:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

This work is so important to all of us that when I was asked to share this info, just like the many other leading visionaries who are sharing this with their subscribers today, I said "absolutely yes." What is more, as my own incentive to you, I will also be providing a very special bonus gift to everyone who purchases just one copy. Many of the other visionaries and authors are also providing bonus gifts, so you really do want to check this out. Among those providing valuable bonus gifts are: Eldon Taylor, Bob Doyle, John Assaraf, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Christiane Northrup, Doreen Virtue, Doris Cohen, Angelina Heart, Caroline Sutherland, John Turner and many more!

For more information:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

Here is what one reader said about Mind Programming:

"READ THIS BOOK - if you want fabulous insight into the secret battles that are being waged for your mind - AND want tangible solutions to help you protect it.

"As a student of thought physics, metaphysics, quantum physics, and all things related to the powers of our minds, including the paranormal, I have felt for some time that the last wars on this planet will be fought not for the control of land or money but for our minds.

"Eldon's book outlines in excellent detail the battle that is going on-- and documents how it has been going on for some time. Anyone familiar with Remote Viewing or the experiments done by our own CIA and other agencies knows the frightening validity of this reality.

"I especially love that Eldon did not just leave us in conspiracy land, but also devoted the second half of the book to actual exercises we can do to experience the mysteries of our minds and feel the excitement of exploring this vastly unknown frontier.

"Here's an interesting side benefit you may not expect: When you tap into these deeper levels of mind and connect with the all knowing part of yourself, you begin to experience life in a very different, very peaceful way.

"So, probably the best reason of all to read this book is to learn to develop the powers of your mind for good. When you do that, you will be, in my opinion, doing high soul work to truly help this planet and everyone on it.

"It doesn't get much better than that, does it now?

"P. S. The Subliminal CD "Serenity" included in the book is a fabulous surprise gift. Simply priceless - all of it."
~M.G.

For more information:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

Mind Programming is really two books in one. The first half of the book is the tell-all story that uncovers the unseen influences that are so pervasive, penetrating and effective. It is no wonder that failure is so much more common than success! The second half of the book is all about the tools and technologies you can use to cleanse your mind of the non-sense you may not have even recognized as being present before reading this liberating book. Think about it. How many original thoughts do you really have? How many thoughts are about your limitations, your fears, your anxieties, the things you want, and so forth. You will learn that from sickness and anxiety to the way you comb your hair and dress, and so much more, all are a part of what you have been trained to think and choose. You will also learn some very simple easy-to-use tools that can free your mind and empower your being.

For more information:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

These tools range from exercises that will not cost you a penny, such as the '50-day plan,' automatic writing, and mind exercises, to high tech (but affordable) tools such as the 'God Helmet.' Whatever your preference, Mind Programming will provide you with the information vital for today's climate.
PLUS: Mind Programming ships with a free, high-tech, mind-training CD, that utilizes the patented and proven InnerTalk technology.

More details here:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

"Even though I consider myself to be quite aware of what is going on in the world, this book boldly shatters illusions about how extensive the mind control in our society has become. Are you really free? Only if you can take back control of your mind. Thank heavens, Dr. Taylor shows us how in one of the most important books I have ever read."

Terri Marie, author of Be the Hero of Your Own Game

Buy this International Bestseller Now!
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/Sept09/IndexC/IT.htm

Within the first two months of it's release, Mind Programming was already in its fourth printing, was sold into five other languages, and the publisher is still having difficulty keeping it in stock. Find out for yourself what all the buzz is about. The free CD that comes with this book normally sells for more than the cost of the book alone so you cannot go wrong! Get the book and take back control of your life today!

Sincerely,

Progressive Awareness Research, Inc.

Watch What You Watch

2009-08-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Watch What You Watch

Just today I had the occasion to share some of the information and data regarding the influence on beliefs and behavior patterns that arises as a result of the media. The fact is, the information game of the day, today and everyday, is to sell you something, to gain some advantage, to plant something in your mind and so forth. When asked today, “I take it that you see yourself on some mission informing the masses of this brainwashing,” my answer was a passionate, “Yes!”

Those of you who have read my books know that billions and billions of dollars have been spent learning how to control your every choice—even what choices to give you to choose between. Very sophisticated means are employed for this purpose including such things as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to view exactly what goes on and in what area of the brain when a stimulus is presented. These mind plumbers are intent on plumbing the deepest regions of the subconscious where the evidence suggests all choice originates. Said another way, this means that programming your subconscious gives rise to the personal illusion of choice—you only think you’re doing the choosing when in fact, as bizarre as it may sound, your subconscious has already done that for you.

The bottom line for those pragmatists like myself that are among us goes like this. The information you put into your mind registers somewhere in the unconscious and may at some point predispose your action, thoughts and behavior—and this is just fact! Our children see commercials, some full of sexual content as is the case with the new green M & Ms commercial, and we must ask, what are we suggesting to our children? We watch a commercial that suggests doom and gloom unless we buy gold, what are we programming? The family views a commercial suggesting flu season and illness and what do you think goes into that old mind program? I can’t prove it definitively, but I am aware of a case where a 6-year-old boy who was absolutely fascinated by technology watched a television show about a young man with asthma. The boy in the show had a hand held inhaler and within a couple of days the child owned the asthma symptoms and he got his inhaler. He outgrew the condition within a couple of years but the onset and the show were just too closely linked for this connection to go unnoticed.

Pay attention to the message. Whether it is for self or others, watch what you’re watching! Ask yourself, what does this suggest? Is this a suggestion I want? Know this, the typical person goes into the same brain wave state (alpha) that is associated with hypnosis in under three minutes when watching television. How would you like to go to your local hypnotherapist and have them suggest the same things to you that you are watching on television?

Thanks for the read,

Eldon

P. S. If you still haven’t obtained a copy of Mind Programming, use this link to get your copy plus hundreds of f r e e bonus tools:
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/May09/index.htm

The Real You

2009-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Real You

Everyone has heard of the power of the mind but few know just how much someone else owns their own mind. Before you say, “Not me,” think about this, “When was the last time you had an original thought?”

Billions of dollars have been spent since the early part of the last century to learn how your mind works, what excites you, how to influence and manipulate you and more. Manipulating your mind is legal and done everyday. Who does it? The government, educators, salesman, ad agencies, and even your family, peers and friends. In short, in almost every way you are the result of a program written by the influences you have consumed in your lifetime.

What you wear, how you stand, how you do your hair, the clothes you wear, and so forth—these things represent you? Are they you? How do you know the real you? Like most, you probably practiced some conversation, or what you might have said, or you may have stood in front of the mirror and practiced saying something, looking a certain way, and so forth. These practice sessions have become who you are, or they have at least influenced you, and that too is understood and designed to be a part of the programming. We are all imprinted like a duckling raised with chickens.

‘Same old same old,’ ‘I don’t get even I get evener,’ ‘go ahead and make my day’-- are there any such thoughts in your mind? What kind of bumper sticker slogans do you carry around in your mind? Do you have thoughts that you do not want? Do you do things and not know why? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to turn off the programming and turn inward to find yourself.

Your creativity—your true self—you, the real you deserves to be the best possible. True self help begins by uncovering our real selves and changing our inner talk until it reflects our desires. The real you comes from the inside-out, not the outside-in. I know no better way to access your best self than to saturate your mind with positive input while taking time out to be still and know, above all else, your self.

Do yourself a real favor and take time to get to know your true self. I know you won’t be disappointed.

To the miracle that you are
and thanks for the read,

Eldon

P. S. If you have not yet obtained your copy of my newest book, Mind Programming, which can be used to deprogram, use the link below to take advantage of all the gifts that come with it. Here is but one recent comment from a reader about Mind Programming:
“Your book is fascinating. It's great to have metaphysical ideas like belief and intention explained in scientific terms, not all ‘warm & fuzzy’.” ~R.B.
http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/May09/index.htm

The Genie Within

2009-05-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

THE GENIE
Imagine that within you was a genie, a veritable creation machine capable of bringing you anything you desired-good and bad.

Let’s imagine that you were unaware of this genie within or had heard about it but disbelieved. Perhaps you’d tried to believe and discovered that it was bogus-the whole thing about the genie within was just so much superstitious mumbo jumbo. We’re all familiar with such phrases as “the power of the mind,” “mind over matter,” and “the mind-body connection.” We’ve heard of spontaneous healings and achieving or creating the life of our dreams. Most of us have even experienced some of this, even if it appears to be in very limited ways. Almost everyone today has at least heard of the book and movie The Secret. They were marketed in an absolutely magnificent manner, and although they contain no real secrets, they nevertheless retold in new ways the inner mystical teachings of all ages. The Secret informed readers and viewers that one’s mind was a genie of sorts, for whatever it held in sufficient detail it would attract or create, and these two words were actually interchangeable in this context.

Maybe you watched The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, or some other program and heard of the magnificent wealth and abundance that people had attracted using The Secret. Perhaps you grabbed a book, CD, or DVD all about the Law of Attraction and pored through it to glean the exact hows, whys, and wherefores. Now armed with the secret knowledge and the testimony of so many, you created a vision board and printed out affirmations that you pasted everywhere so you’d constantly see them. You began visualizing all the things you wanted to attract and even started down the road of daily meditation.

You got on the Internet and looked up such terms as New Age and metaphysical. You subscribed to numerous mailing lists, tuned in to New Age Internet radio shows, and began to buy self-help books. Alas, nothing wonderful happened.

Unfortunately, that’s the experience of most people who tuned in to the idea of the genie within. Some, however, found a different result. They manifested their home, a special relationship, or the like. Not many achieved this, mind you, but some. Why?
The mind is that genie, and it’s the doorway to the manifestation process, although its role is often misunderstood. It’s an entry point, a doorway, not the manifestation tool per se. The mind provides the pictures, not the feeling. It organizes our activity to build a vision board, post the affirmations, and so forth. It invests some learned belief (expectation) in the process. Actually, the mind’s highest role is inhibition.

Let me say that again: The mind’s highest role is inhibition!

The Human Mind

Like it or not, we’re all the product of millions of years of survival evolution. Wired in every one of us, no matter what our calling-including the highest evolved of spiritual beings now walking the earth-are primitive mechanisms that respond to primitive and sometimes rather gross stimuli.

Often, stimuli that we consciously claim as reprehensible are nevertheless processed subconsciously in ways that drive us toward seeking more of the same. Those mechanisms respond to fight and flight, taboo images, socially fearful rejections, and similar stimuli in a mechanical way-thus, the term mechanism.

The human brain is a marvel of evolution, and one of its most splendid developments as far as human consciousness is concerned is the cerebral cortex. One of my early teachers, Professor Carl LaPrecht, used to say,
“Whenever you find something in nature in great abundance, pay attention. It is critical to the system.”

The cortex or gray matter is by far the largest part of the brain. And it’s within the cortex that inhibitory power resides. The cortex is the brake.

Cortical power inhibits impulses that aren’t in our best interest or the result of our best intentions. The cortex shuts off the television when the content is violent, suggestive of disease and illness, or otherwise contains matter that’s purely garbage.
Our minds are like large trash containers: we can put anything into them. And like Dumpsters, they’re difficult to clean out. Dumpsters don’t tip over easily, and to clean one requires climbing inside, perhaps with a garden hose, a bucket of hot water, cleaning products, brushes, and so forth. What a tedious and nasty job. All of us have minds, of course, and evidence suggests that when we come into the world our minds aren’t blank slates, despite the tabula-rasa argument by the philosopher John Locke.

No, it appears that certain predispositions and even some types of knowledge (cell memory and more) are already written in our minds when we make our first inhalation. Still, the content of our mind that’s acquired following birth is the beginning of what we shall eventually hold as both our identity and our knowledge/beliefs.

The Law of Attraction

You may have heard of the three components of the Law of Attraction-ask, believe, and receive. This sounds really easy until you question the degree of your belief, and that’s where most people fail. I actually divide belief into three components that must be activated in the proper sequence to manifest using the inner genie. These components are:
1. The emotional input that’s passionate and convinced
2. The confidence/mental element that can simply and truly visualize something and then let it go, knowing it will happen
3. The spiritual sincerity that realizes at the deepest level of our beings that we’re a gift from the Creator. Knowing that, we release our vision, for we believe this or something better, according to the highest good of all concerned.
Anything that would distract from thinking, feeling, and knowing these three components will, in direct proportion, sabotage our efforts at manifesting our desires.
Given this understanding, it becomes easier to see why some people first manifest their desires, only to lose their treasures and find themselves worse off than they were before, some fail to manifest at all, and others seem to manifest the opposite of what they’re seeking. With this under your belt, you might ask, as I did: Why do most people seem handicapped by the inability to use the genie within and create the reality they deserve? The Dumpster analogy is the first clue to answering this question. The garbage some hold in their minds would be frightening if it were visible to the public eye. As Strongheart, the German shepherd hero of the movies, put it in his letters to Boone, “What a dreadful sight to see people’s faces as incomplete as their minds.”

I would paraphrase: “What a horrible sight to see people’s faces as grotesque as the worst in their minds.”

I’d like to imagine a world full of joy, peace, balance, and harmony. That’s truly difficult to do when nature seems so callous and carnivorous. As I think about this, I realize that I’m anthropomorphizing nature, so I turn my thoughts to humans, where I find such horrible acts that a lion killing a lamb is innocent in comparison.
How do we truly find peace, balance, and harmony?

How do we gain spiritual sincerity and merge this with the right balance of mental and emotional stuff to manifest a world full of peace, balance, and harmony?
For some, manifestation is about things such as cars, swimming pools, houses, riches, sexy this and that, and the gratification of other sensual desires. For the spiritually sincere, manifestation is first about peace, balance, and harmony and then about health and individual happiness.

These are complex issues that labels alone don’t cover, so we can let the subject rest with this: each individual has a purpose for being here; and when individuals seek to manifest according to their purpose, they’re enlightening themselves and the world around them. Back to the main point: the mind is both ignition and brake. First thing in the morning, I open my eyes and begin talking to myself. My thoughts may recognize a dream or immediately turn to the new day’s itinerary.

The mind goes immediately to delivering the inner world of thoughts, beliefs, ambitions, goals, and so forth. That constant stream of consciousness-self-talk-informs us of our mood, attitudes, likes, dislikes, and so much more. It’s this stream of consciousness that reflects the contents of our “Dumpster.”

We started this dialectic journey by imagining a genie within. I believe that this inner genie actually exists, but if you don’t, that’s okay. What I intend to show you is that the genie has been creating all along, even if you think that it’s only some concocted get-rich scheme.

In fact, the worse your life might seem, the higher the probability that the genie is working hard at fulfilling your every fear (emotion), thought (expectation), and spiritual insight (”Life sucks, and then you die”). It’s in precisely this way that your hopes and ambitions are slain. Thus, your mind has been turned into the slayer.

About the Author: The Genie was excerpted from Eldon Taylor’s latest release Mind Programming. Eldon Taylor has made a lifelong study of the human mind and has earned doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and pastoral psychology. He is the CEO of Progressive Awareness Research, an organization dedicated to researching techniques for accessing the immense powers of the mind, and is the author of the New York Times best seller, Choices and Illusions.

For a limited time only, when you purchase just one copy of Mind Programming, you can receive hundreds of bonus gifts valued at over $5000. For details, please go to: http://www.progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/innertalk/May09/index.htm

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

2009-04-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Imagine a child, perhaps your own. It doesn’t matter if it’s a girl or a boy. Let’s give the child the name: Bobbie. Bobbie wants very badly to win the state competition in any event—let’s just say it’s a “Math Is Cool” competition. Bobbie is good a math—really good. Bobbie practices and practices and studies for the upcoming competition. Bobbie has heard of visualization, so Bobbie begins visualizing the victory.

Bobbie reads all about visualizing success. Books that teach the power of attraction, the power of the mind to create, the power to focus, visualize in detail and with emotion and to let the visualization go, knowing that it is done. Bobbie has done all of this and Bobbie has done it just exactly as taught.

Bobbie does well at State but Bobbie does not win. Bobbie does not even get an award. Bobbie goes away sad and feeling broken. Bobbie knows the winner. The winner doesn’t practice, study or visualize. In fact, the winner doesn’t even seem to care if they win or not. Bobbie doesn’t understand and Bobbie comes to you for answers. What do you tell Bobbie?

Just pause now and genuinely reflect on what would you tell Bobbie? What would you tell your own?

What’s wrong with this picture? Again, take a moment and ask yourself this question, “What is wrong with this picture?”

I assume that before you continue reading you have taken the time to really give serious thought to the past two paragraphs. If not, please do so for the value here is not in how quickly you can read the material or whether you can comprehend the words, the real value is in the feeling that comes when you realize that what’s wrong is beyond your controls. Perhaps it’s also easy to become agitated—maybe this visualization stuff is all just so much hocus-pocus.

Here is what we know scientifically about visualization. It works to improve motor skills. Vividly imaging shooting free throws with a basketball is statistically almost as effective as practicing. It can also work to attract things into people’s lives. It can influence how one walks, how they dress, how they speak, even how they talk to themselves. It can definitely influence levels of confidence; form self-fulfilling prophesies and mold expectations while shaping in some ways future and careers. But with all that said, does it create like creating a painting or building a race car? Even more provocative, by way of interrogation, should we be visualizing the stuff we want to create?

On any given night in America there might be a million people tuned into some lottery drawing, all in hopes of winning the jackpot. If they all vividly visualize winning will the prize be split or will it take one million episodes for each to realize their visualization? When put in this light, when held under this level of scrutiny, what is it really about visualization and manifestation that so many are claiming?

In my opinion, for what it’s worth, there is a lot of nonsense out there about visualization. We are all capable of certain types of manifestation but it is my training and experience that in order for a lasting manifestation to be realized, we must first make the changes in ourselves. We are much more likely to manifest success when we look and act successful. Creating a vision board and hanging it in the television room next to that good old TV, filling that board with pictures of the house, the car, the flower garden and so forth of our dreams, visualizing the same over and over, even smelling the flowers and feeling the leather seats or holding that door knob in our hand during our visualizations, then opening our eyes and watching that television while we relax and put something into our mouths—all of this just doesn’t cut it!

In other words, if the changes are in us then the manifestation may follow—but then the question, because we can, should we?

There is a story I like about a man who finds God. God looks upon this man as a parent might its child. Anxious to tell the child a few things, God approaches to speak. There are only a few brief moments available, for God knows that soon this interlude will disappear. Before God can speak, the man recognizing the presence of God anxiously begins an endless steam of questions. Like a child, they are questions such as, “Why is the sky blue?” “Why is the earth round?” God patiently provides the answers but suddenly the phone rings and our man is awakened from his dream. “Wow,” he thinks, “God just answered my questions in my dream.” Unfortunately, the question he did not ask would have given God a chance to tell our fellow just exactly what God thought he should know. The question that went unasked was, “What do you want me to know now God?”

Isn’t visualization a little along this line, if what we are doing is designed to fulfill us, to serve our purpose—for that matter, to make us truly happy? Should Bobbie be asking, “What would you have me know and do now?” as opposed to attempting to force an outcome? Choices and confusion. As I pointed out in my book, Choices and Illusions, I submit that each of us is different, with different gifts, separate identities and all of this is part of our birthright. It is in accepting and employing to the very best of our abilities those gifts given us that we fulfill our purpose. As my friend and wife says, “Let me know what you want me to know and do. Let me do Thy work and if I am doing as I should be doing, help me so it is easy.” I think of it this way, “Let me do Thy will, for my perfect will is Thy will.”

Blessing to all of you and thanks for the read,

Eldon

Mind Programming

2009-04-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

You are not free if your mind is not free! Mind Programming is my latest book. It was my desire to once and for all expose the intentional efforts and the billions of dollars spent by a few to control the masses. Thought control could be said to be very real in this day and age and most are oblivious to it. It is much more than just subliminal although that technology has a very definite role. If you really care what’s in your mind, then this information is for you. If you truly seek self-improvement, personal growth and the like, then you must read this book. Take a look at the trailer, I think you will want to order your copy today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJHhWvFRuvk

It's Never Too Late

2009-03-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

It’s Never Too Late
Excerpted in part from Choices and Illusions by Eldon Taylor

In my journey there came a point when I hungered for more metaphysical information. I enrolled in a California university, The University of Metaphysics, and by correspondence commenced a study in metaphysical science. This was not the metaphysics of an upper division philosophy course, as I expected; rather, it was a practical metaphysics for living. I had worked for a long time, often doubling the required number of exams in order to reach their designated bachelor’s level of education in this unique form of metaphysical science when they sent me the news. I was ready to advance, but to do so I must become an ordained minister.
This was not a strictly academic environment, and I should have recognized that, but the requirement blind-sided me. Still, I knew I was not worthy of being anyone’s minister, including myself.
Weeks passed, and one Sunday afternoon while reading spiritual materials, I remembered a teaching from the school. I pulled out a binder in which I kept many notes, and the letter from the university fell upon the floor. As I picked it up, I knew immediately that I missed the lessons and all the joy and change they had brought into my life. I sat back down in my recliner and held the letter in my lap.
My thoughts put me to sleep, and soon I was dreaming. This is the dream.

Once upon a time a man looked to himself. He spoke to himself, “I desire to serve God, but my life has been full of error. The example I have set is not that of a cleric. People will only scoff and say, ‘Know ye them by the fruits of their tree.’ Who am I, then, to speak for or of God?”
With these words circling within his head, the troubled man lay down to rest. He spoke to God. “Your will, not mine, be done.”
As he drifted into sleep, pictures began appearing that told this story.
Once there stood a tree—a tree of life, full of fruit. The limbs bent toward the earth under the weight of the lush red cherries. The cherries danced in jubilee with the breeze that bathed their tender skins and turned their fullness and vivid color to face the Father, the Sun of the heavens.
With the dew and the rain they would polish their beauty and drink of the earth; to store within the energy and vitality of life taken from the soil through the roots and fired with the spirit of the Sun radiating through the leaves of their parent tree.
But alas, not all of the children of the tree would mature into lush red fruit. Out of an urge to experience and learn on his own, one turned away from the Father and ignored the parental warnings. Charlie, as he was known by the others, kept his life juices warm, daring the cold, the frost, the elements. He began to fill with color and mature early.
Pivoting on his base, he turned away from the Sun and took shade in the leaves. Daring to fornicate with the world, Charlie refused to release the natural pesticides within himself and took up affairs with the parasites.
Soon his delicate skin was broken, and his fruit exposed. The fragrance attracted the birds, and they too feasted on his flesh. Charlie lived off the flesh and of the world. Passion, experience, and knowledge were his prize.
Then one day the gardener came. Gently he took from the parent the pure and ripened children, leaving only Charlie behind. Hanging alone, Charlie looked about him. The fall nights were cold and lonely. His friends, the birds, were on wing, abandoning him. His flesh had spoiled, and even the insects avoided him now. His soul hung onto his tattered body. The elements he had once faced with a thrill now threatened to snap him from the stem of life. Charlie was sad and lonely. He had learned these things: knowledge is not necessarily wisdom; experience is not always a kind teacher; and passion is sometimes a poison that betrays whatever value there is to be had in experience and knowledge.
Charlie looked up at the beautiful blue sky and the buoyant white billowy clouds adrift, seemingly with nothing to do or a care in the world, lazily on sail across the vast blue heavens. “They and the lilies of the field,” Charlie said to himself.
“Dear God,” he spoke aloud, “I have sinned. I have wasted the beauty of your flower and turned my back on simple truth. In my pursuit of wisdom, I lost sight of Your Great Form and indulged in physical illusions. I was lost. I alone am to blame. I give my essence over to thee, Creator of all that is good within me and all that could ever be love within me. For you are Eternal Love, and what is best for me is also your way. That I should discover this so late in my life is my most significant regret.
“I have watched the caterpillar spin his cocoon and perch on the leaves above me as a butterfly,” Charlie continued, “but I fear that this recognition has come so late in my life that I will be unable to share this Beauty, this Truth, with others.”
With that Charlie lowered his head. Suddenly a squirrel jerked him from the limb and scampered down the tree and across the meadow. The squirrel paused, examined Charlie, and then as though rejecting him, dropped Charlie in the grass.
Charlie rested there for a day or two, and then the snow came. Covered by the white blanket, Charlie slept.
The seasons passed as though in the twinkling of an eye. Charlie took root and grew strong. From his branches came blossoms, followed by fruit more beautiful than Charlie could ever remember beholding.
Charlie praised and gave thanks to God!
The lowly man in my dream raised his head from slumber. His prayer had been answered. The Lord does not forsake man; man forsakes the Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done; for, after all, in their eternal boundless beauty, they are one and the same.

My life has changed since this dream. It really never is too late. Thanks for the read and all the best. Eldon

Mind or Heart

2009-02-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

Mind or Heart?

It is difficult to say with any certainty where the notion of “an opening heart” originates, but it exists in all cultures. What gives rise to the equation that somehow the heart is the source of caring and emotion is also somewhat of a mystery. However, there is no mystery when it comes to knowing what is meant by a “broken heart” or “opening our hearts.”

Many people nowadays think of mind power as some force that exerts itself in inner and outer ways as with self-discipline or in some psychic manner. For me, after over a quarter of century studying mind, motivation and behavior, mind power is simply the starting point or ignition for “heart power.” As with our thought of this month, “a change of heart is a change of mind.”

Many believe that self-help and self-improvement is about rags to riches, failure to success, and so forth, when indeed it is the beginning of journey into self-discovery. Inside every human being is an eternal truth and a life purpose. Using our mind power is simply starting the engine on that journey of self-discovery and highest self-actualization.

An enlightened mind is an open heart. An open heart is warm, understanding, loving, forgiving, compassionate and so forth. Indeed, it could well be argued, and has been in various religions, that an open heart is that path to the Divine. It is the path because it is the way in which we see the Grand Organizing Designer (GOD). With that in mind, I am sometimes bewildered by those who would argue that mind power, “messing with the mind or fate” or what have you, is somehow inherently wrong. Cultivating an enlightened mind is opening the heart and opening the heart begins with changing the mind.

There’s a wonderful story that was passed around on the Internet recently by Temple of Peace (templeofpeace.net). The story goes like this:

“A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"

"God created everything?" The professor asked.

"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works Define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not respond to the professor's Hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the religious faith was a myth. Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when Man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name -- Albert Einstein. A true story.”

As a new spring season is upon us, I wish you all the budding opportunities, flowering possibilities and new growth that this wonderful thing we call life has to offer. May your minds be enlightened and your hearts opened and made light.

Thanks for the read and all the best, Eldon

Self Imposed Limitations

2009-01-30T16:27:00.000-08:00

Choices and Illusions opens with a story of the chicken and the eagle. The story imparts the indelible signature that imprinting can leave on all of us. In the story a female eagle is raised as a chicken and when another eagle attempts to convince her that she is really an eagle, she tricks him and runs safely back to the chicken house where all the chickens reward her with praise. This story all too often unfortunately typifies people who limit their own experiences and expectations based on the teachings of their personal “chicken yard.”

Recently I shared the story with a radio audience and following the show I received a nice note from Cynthia Brian, author of “Be The Star You Are!” regarding the interview. Included with the note was the following gosling story that I believe delivers the point of the power of belief like a razor sharp hunting arrow.

“Having raised poultry since I was 8, I have witnessed this first hand several times. Once a turkey and a chicken shared nesting on a goose egg. The gosling hatched and of course was imprinted with the turkey/chicken mentality. At four months old the little goose fell into a small bowl of water and drowned, not realizing that it was a goose who could swim. Very emotional lesson.”

Think about those beliefs that instruct you in ways that betray your true potential. Remember the chicken and the eagle and the gosling story. Indeed, the next time you think things are tough, think of this. What would you do if you fell down and had no arms or legs to get up? Impossible? Take a look at this video and you might never again hesitate when an obstacle comes your way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnlhZyW959k

Here’s to your best and thanks for the read,

Eldon

Mind Power--Mind Tricks

2009-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

Mind Power—Mind Tricks

In my book, Choices and Illusions, a good deal of time is spent developing the hows and whys one’s mind often delivers false or incomplete information to them. The fact is, the mind simply makes up or fills in missing information on a regular basis to all of us. Being diligent about our mental shortcuts, our intellectual habits, and the very choices one makes can seem to be a full time job.

One of my favorite examples of mind power and mind tricks is exhibited below:
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt. 

Researchers have learned that so long as the first and last letter of a word are in place, the mind seems to be able to sort the rest out. Unfortunately, our choices do not seem to follow this schema. Where the power of the mind can make sense out of nonsense, some of our human choices appear to be locked into no-win nonsense. The result is that for many, “same-old, same-old” describes their reality in truth. In a circular fashion one loops yesterday into today, failing to make a new choice.

Mind traps set limitations—or more precisely, are limitations. When one fails to find alternative choices that promote health, happiness and helpfulness, one is addicted or habituated to limitation. For the best example I have ever been able to work out regarding this illusion of limitation on choice, take a look at the “Flower Pot Story” now on YouTube. Go here: http://www.youtube.com/progressiveawareness

In my opinion, destiny is largely a matter of the accumulation of our choices.

Thanks for the read and I love to hear your viewpoint,
Eldon

Animal Consciousness

2009-01-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

What Kind of Intelligence

I recently viewed a PETA commercial that compared a family with pets. Designed to be a satire, the message was one of “sure—breed all you want and we will dispose or perhaps keep and love some of the newborns.” I found this message cute as a satire but distasteful. The point PETA was attempting to make is valid however. What is it that gives us as humans the prerogative of life and death over the animal world? Is it our so-called right of dominion spoken of in the religious texts?

It might surprise you but the 1936 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, was later slaughtered for food. Apparently gaining even the fortune and fame that comes with winning the Kentucky Derby is insufficient protection against winding up dead at the whim and will of some human. What does this say about being human?

There was a time that I raised horses and cattle. I owned an all breed stallion station and racing stable. We had a number of stallions for breeding including several that were mine. Naturally we handled hundreds of mares every year that belonged to other people who brought their horses to us for breeding.

One day my Foreman came to me about a customer who was delivering his mare for breeding. The mare did not have the required health papers that I insisted on before entering our facility. I went with him to meet the customer myself.

I saw the mare standing in front of the barn offices as I approached. She was obviously wormy--boney with long course hair. There was a new filly sucking on her. After the amenities I told the owner that he would have to come back when the mare hit her thirty-day heat (he had brought her in foal heat which means the filly was only a few days old). In the meantime, he should worm the mare, give her inoculations and get health papers on her. The owner was quite upset about this inconvenience. He insisted that we should take the mare. I tried to explain to him that the mare was not in the best of health for breeding and that to protect his investment he should worm her lightly with a paste wormer before tube worming her. Too good a kill on the worms could send too many dead worms down her digestive track and this is known to colic and kill horses.

The owner insisted that he had made arrangements to bring the mare to us in foal heat and that he had paid the stallion fee and therefore wanted the mare bred now. I refused finally pointing out the breeding contract required the mare come to us with current health papers. The owner drove away mad.

He went straight to a vet who gladly tube wormed his horse, gave the mare her shots and hung health papers on her. This vet and I did not see eye to eye so I was not surprised to see his name on the health papers when the owner returned with the mare and foal. We had no contractual choice at that point but to take the mare and do our best.

Two days later the mare was in trouble. I received the phone call at home during dinner. I instructed that our farm vet be phoned immediately as well as the mare owner and they were to keep the mare up and walking—she had colic and that was discovered during early evening watering and checks. (For those of you who don’t know, colic is an attack of acute abdominal pain localized in a hollow organ and often caused by spasm, obstruction, or twisting, and it is the number one killer of horses. What kills them is that they distend or twist their intestines and die of peritonitis).

When I arrived at the ranch the vet was already there. Soon thereafter the owner and his entire family arrived. It was a large family with seven or eight children. The night drug on. My Foreman and I took turns walking the mare. We had done everything that we could do. The mare was given drugs to relax her and minimize the pain and we had oiled her stomach. The vet and I chatted when he left at around 11:30 pm that evening, both of us knew the odds were against saving the mare. She had laid down and now refused to get back up.

I went to the mare and took her lead line from my Foreman. I sat down on the wood shavings that covered the indoor alleyway and arena the mare was lying in. I lifted her head to clear her eye of the shavings and after brushing the eyelid and lash clean, laid her head in my lap. She was a beautiful young mare and she just looked at me as I gently stroked her about the head and neck.

Her foal was free in the alleyway not far from us. Some members of the owner’s family were around the foal talking and petting and the remaining people in the barn were standing near the entrance to our coffee lounge speaking to each other. For a moment the mare and I were alone, eye-to-eye, sharing only the deep sadness of the moment.

The barn was full. The alleyway separated the stalls on each side of the barn that was 303 feet long and 60 feet wide. The stalls on both sides were 12 foot by 12 foot and the horses in the fifty plus stall barn were all turned away from the lights that lit the alleyway and entrance to the barn. It was midnight and the well past their bedtime.

I stroked the mare and heard her filly neigh. I saw her eye roll some toward the filly and I thought of how sad she might feel if she were human, and I wondered if she was. I spoke softly to her reassuring her that I would see the foal was taken care of. She looked at me and the breath left her body. Still and dead, her head lay in my lap and only I knew that—at least as far as the humans present were concerned. For just as her breath left her every horse in the barn turned and came forward, leaning their heads over the stall door into the alleyway and, as though on cue, they all began neighing, whinnying and otherwise setting up a vocal ruckus. Somehow the horses knew.

My Foreman asked, “What’s wrong with the horses?” I simply told him that the mare had passed.

I will never forget that evening. How is it possible that the horses knew this mare died at exactly the moment she passed? She made no sounds. I made no announcements. How did this information pass to them? What is there about animals that we do not know? How can we arrogate so much special-ness to our human species and no so little about others?

I don’t claim to have the answer, but I am certain that whatever we do with animals we should do it with respect.

Thanks for the read and I love to hear your viewpoint,
Eldon

Happy New Year and Resolutions

2009-01-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

Why It's So Easy to Fail at Our Resolutions

The New Year is upon us and if you are like so many, you made some resolutions and already have relented or let go of some of your ambitions. Every year millions of people do just that. There is such hope in the approach of a new beginning and yet it is so easy to just let that hope slip into forgotten dreams of the past.

I have spoken with many people that do not remember their New Year resolutions from years past. If you think about it for a moment, do you remember your resolutions from five years ago, from two years ago, indeed, from last year? Why is it we forget so quickly? First we resign ourselves to relenting and then we forget what we relented--is that instructional? I think so.

We are all familiar with "wishful thinking." Yet, most make their resolutions in much the same way. We can imagine an internal dialog deciding on the New Year's resolutions: In this next year I will stop getting angry! I will use my spare time in wiser ways. I will save money. I will get fit. And so forth. The problem should be obvious. Let's think of it framed in the same context, an internal dialog but one that promises success with the resolutions: In this next year I will stop getting angry. How will you do this? Good question--what triggers my anger? I know when I get upset and it comes from frustration. So, how do we control the frustration and get to what's behind it?

When you dialog a resolution in this manner, it becomes easy to see why most resolutions fail. That is, there is always an underlying cause and at least one, if not a set of emotional triggers that are incorporated in and around any and all of our so-called behaviors. What is more, some emotional "need," at least a perceived need (belief), is satisfied as a result of our existing behavior. As such, we fail to make the change we desire until and unless we redefine the context in which our beliefs rest so we can effectively alter our "needs."

I spend a good deal of time in Choices and Illusions on how we get these beliefs that fail to serve our highest best. I also discuss how the context behind our beliefs frames and specifically delimits our choices. Recently I had a conversation with a talk radio host and it occurred to me that one of Ellen Langer's ideas might help everyone understand just how powerful this context stuff is. I use this metaphor for many things but in particular for smokers and I do know something about that addiction having smoked three packs of cigarettes a day for over thirty years. So here is the metaphor, think about the saliva in your mouth. Move it around and taste it. It may surprise some, but it actually tastes good and we are glad we have it. Now think of spitting some saliva into a clear glass and then imagine picking the glass up and drinking the spit. Something changed--didn't it. When smokers realize that the context they hold cigarettes in must fundamentally shift from the saliva in their mouth to spit in the glass, they get it. All of us have a context to our beliefs and sometimes the context both betrays common sense and ourselves.

One of the powers people experience with our InnerTalk programs is a new internal dialog that leads to a shift in context and follows with the desired change. In my book, Choices and Illusions, you will find many other ways to alter old self-sabotaging beliefs and replace them with powerful new convictions that truly do empower you to realize your highest best.

To your success in 2009!

Thank you, Eldon

Change Is In the Air

2008-12-31T19:23:00.000-08:00

Change is in the Air

Change—that seems to be the theme of the day everywhere. During this last election cycle I found myself doing several radio interviews regarding subliminal communication and the art of persuasion. There were subliminal ads aimed at both political parties and there were a number of other psychological techniques employed to gain your vote, but then there’s nothing new about that. What did impress me was the number of people on both sides who were just totally fired up about the election. There was a new level of energy, a higher sense of enthusiasm and as a result, some deeper divides. Passion—that is the word I would use to describe this last presidential election; passion on both sides of the aisle.

Pundits for both sides had plenty to say but ultimately everything came down to one word-- “change.” The dynamics of the election were such that change was virtually assured in some way regardless of who emerged victorious. Change is what the world wanted as well, and change is what the world celebrated when President-elect Obama was chosen by Americans. Our time now is a time of change and change is what we want and change is what most people resist the most when it gets right down to it. So, this newsletter is dedicated to the idea of change—not political change but individual change.

My staff has asked me over the years about our products and our philosophy. Whenever I am asked this question I think of Bill Gates and his book, “Business at the Speed of Light.” Gates explains in this book how the railroad companies used to think of themselves as in the business of trains. Has they recognized that their business was transportation, there would have been a different future in front of them then that of trains alone. I think of my business as a business whose product is “change,” not CDs, tapes, books, software and so forth. Indeed, whatever the tool we offer, it is about assisting and facilitating change.

In a couple of months a New Year will be upon us again. Think for a moment, what would you like to change? If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you change that is changeable? Would you like more energy and enjoy feeling and looking much younger? Would you like a greater sense of inner peace? Would you benefit from a better memory or an enhanced learning ability? Would you like to improve or attract a relationship in your life? Would you like to find the perfect employment? Would you like to change your body image or end some addiction? Or how about becoming fitter and/or more athletic? Again, what would you change?

For 25 years now I have researched and developed programs and products designed to help you make that change—the change that makes a difference. In that time I have found products that do it better than anyone else, and we have added these to our lines. In that time I also developed our patented and scientifically proven effective InnerTalk programs and the sister technologies like Power Imaging and Echo-Tech. Over the past twenty-five years I have also had the good fortune to actually conduct studies that helped many people and to hear from them and others. I readily admit that a very meaningful compensation aspect to what I do is the feedback you and your fellow customers have provided. I thank you!

As we approach a new era of change, let’s each of us pledge to make our change a change that helps make our lives and the world just a little better. To that end, I want to toast you and every other American and formally acknowledge what a truly wonderful country we live in. And if you are not American, I toast you as well in confidence that as a world citizen you share the same goals—peace and freedom with opportunity for all.

Thanks for the read and all the best!

Eldon

P.S. Confused about your choices for change? Here is a wise choice, get a copy of my book, Choices and Illusions. Readers from around the country have told me how helpful it was to them. Here is a link that contains some truly wonderful additional incentives when you get it: http://progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/hayhousepromo/092008/

Prime Directive

2008-12-30T17:41:00.000-08:00

Prime Directive

If you had a prime directive in life, what would it be For me, it is happiness. The Tao makes it plain, when we are happy we are living our purpose. Conversely, true happiness is not possible when we’re out of sync with our purpose. However, many people equate purpose with destiny or vocation or some other defined this or that when whatever your purpose may be, it is always dynamic.

I remember thinking about the Star Trek movies and the idea of a prime directive and then of the various oaths such as the Hippocratic Oath and the other directives held inviolate as a result, and I asked myself, what is my Prime Directive? Have you ever asked yourself that question?

For myself, I settled on what I think of as the three H’s. I try to base my choices and activities on meeting these three criteria: 1. Does it make me happy? 2. Does it promote health? 3. Is it helpful? Happy, healthy and helpful—if I use my time or make my choices with this in mind, I find that life seems to love me. It brings me the opportunities I seek to grow and learn while regularly putting a big smile on my face. Being helpful also provides that warm fuzzy feeling that I want when I put my head on the pillow at night.

In my newsletter I have addressed the seriousness of our time. The practical side of matters leads us to understand that there are some things we can do something about and others that are out of our control. Okay, we let go of those that are not in our power anyway and we apply our Prime Directive to all else. I think you will find that if you do this, meeting all three criteria in your every choice and endeavor, peace, balance and harmony will perennially visit you.

For example, when being cut off in 5 o’clock traffic, rather than getting angry I can simply slow down, allow the person who is obviously in a great hurry the space to drive safely, and feel good about being able to help. This choice pushes good chemicals through my body helping to keep me healthy and happy, while allowing me to help someone else.

This criterion can be applied to every situation and I guarantee you, if you choose the option that brings the most happiness, makes you feel good and contributes to helping someone else, then you too will feel that warm fuzzy feeling when you put your head on the pillow at night.

Be blessed and thanks for the read,

Eldon

P.S. If you would like more on making wise choices, get a copy of my book, Choices and Illusions. Here is a new link that contains some truly wonderful incentives when you get it: http://progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/hayhousepromo/092008/

2008-12-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

Memory And Me

When asked, the majority of people describe their real self as abiding or existing either in the mind or as consciousness in and out of the mind. Sounds complicated at first blush, but if you think about it for a minute, all of us think of ourselves, our identity if you will, as somewhere in our head. Our consciousness is who we are, at least for most. As such, our personality, our memories and everything else that is who we are, is a heady matter, pun intended. So what happens if one loses their ability to think or much of their memories? Who are they then to themselves?

I was asked to review a book titled, “A Matter of Panache,” by the author, Debra Sanders. The book retells the story of a woman who lost much of her memory and ability to think as a result of head injuries suffered in an automobile accident. It’s a great read and it set me to thinking. There is a part in the book where Debra informs the reader that she had to speak to people she once had relationships with just to ask them what happened.

Imagine that you remember a relationship with some significant other but your memory leaves off years before the relationship ended—years before. In fact, your memory leaves off following a wonderful and loving exchange between the two of you. Imagine having to ask what happened and somehow getting your feelings to square with your head. Who are we if we wake up one morning and know little of our selves?

Our memory, our time line, is who we are—or is it? I know who I am in part because I know what I did to get where I am. I know where I went to school, who my friends were, where I work, who my significant others are and so forth. I know my dog’s name and his peculiar crying sounds when I leave him unattended in the car. I know my favorite music, movies, television shows and on and on and on. So, I think I know something about me.

I could add that I also know of experiences that attest to a life after death, Divine intervention and more. I know also about the dark. So I think I know a little more about myself including the vast amount that I simply don’t have a clue about—can’t even take an educated guess over. So what then if suddenly I have no memory, no yesterday or last night, like I went to bed around ten pm and here I am?

Imagine waking up in a strange place to a stranger—yourself. You don’t even know until you try whether you are right or left handed. In fact, it takes little more to imagine not even knowing what handedness is. Just a bit more imagination and we could wake up without a memory of everything we have learned including our language. Now what do we have?

I’m sure you have just realized what we have is essentially a newborn only perhaps one that is 6 foot tall and more than a few minutes old. That in and of itself is worthy of some thought for it is an intriguing idea to think of memory as our identification. What if when we are born there is some mechanism, like the veil so many spiritual teachers speak of, that starts memory all over?

Back to the original point, who am I if I have no memory of who I am? Is memory critical to our being? The answer is obviously no for many people have experienced amnesia, partial and otherwise, throughout history, and they were all ‘being’. Then is memory more like an anchor that keeps us from moving into new ways of being? I remember, for example, that public speaking can make me very nervous, so I avoid much of it. What if I did not remember any so-called self-imposed limitation?

What if in losing my memory I gained the ability to experience and learn all over and in doing so I never experienced the same failures or fears? Would I still be the same person? The answer again is probably not. What then is who I am if not my memories? And if this is who I am, can I selectively change the memories I choose? After all, I want only positive reinforcing memories that encourage me to succeed at everything I enjoy or love. Isn’t this the exact thing we want for our children?

Somehow I sense, even know in a Noetic way, that the me that is me is still there even if I don’t remember who I be. What I also somehow know is that within each of us is the ability to rewrite memory in favorable ways. Ways that empower us to improve and to reach new vistas in our search for meaning and exploration of life. Indeed, our InnerTalk technology was designed with just this purpose in mind.

I am convinced that if we forget about ourselves, our past, and instead turn our thoughts to others, real insight into who we are and what we are made to do becomes obvious. For in aiding others, we experience a neuro-chemical reward (apparently we were wired from the factory this way) and that quintessential sense I just call the “warm fuzzy feeling” in my book, Choices and Illusions. It is almost as if we are factory built for service to our fellow human being and that in freely providing that service we find we are actually rewarded with all of those good neuro chemicals that make us feel happy.

It’s the Holiday Season and we celebrate at this time of year the real miracle of life. ‘Tis the time to be happy and give good cheer! May you truly smile from deep within and know the joy that is your birthright!

Thanks for the read.

Eldon

P.S. Readers from around the country have told me how helpful Choices and Illusions was to them. This is what one person sent me just last week, “I recently purchased your Choices and Illusions. Little did I realize how "mind altering" the information you shared would be in my life. "Choices and Illusions" was there, just when I needed clarification!”

Here is a link that contains some truly wonderful additional incentives when you get a copy of Choices and Illusions and as it costs under $15, you can’t go wrong: http://progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/hayhousepromo/092008/