Fearlessness

Overcoming Fear… from 2012 to NOW!

A time for courage

At this point the majority of us have ‘heard’ about the notion of 2012.  No concepts win the populous over better than when those concepts are grounded in some degree of science, personal faith, and ancient allusion.

The idea could stem from the ancient Mayan ‘time keeping’ system which appears to end (and/or start over) in 2012; or they may be grounded in the prophecies from any one religion which almost uncannily seem to converge once we strip away our ‘man-made’ differences.

Independent of where the notion of the world ‘ending’ or ‘changing’ stems from – those notions are just seeds which do not grow until we allow them to root in ourselves.

No matter where the ‘events of today’ are leading – YOU ARE IN CONTROL (and thus, WE are in control).  It’s time for us as individuals, and as a globalized society, to change how we internalize these notions — and if nothing else, 2012 should mark the time we become FEARLESS! Continue reading “Fearlessness”

3-step Loophole to Doing Great & Being Greater

3-Step Loophole to Doing Great & Being Greater!

A better life begins with you.Who are you? What do you want out of life?  Why….and what’s stopping you?

From the day we are born, we open our eyes to a world which tells us what to see.  What we see, overtime, tells us who we are.  Understanding how the ‘system’ works is the first step to rising above it, changing, and accomplishing anything.

The world has a preconceived notion of what is “normal”, what is “remarkable”, what one is capable of and what one is not.  However, YOUR possibilities are only as limited as the world’s ability is to convince you of their limits — because eventually, we start convincing ourselves of the same.

In this loophole, we’ll discuss 3 simple tools to doing great and being greater, starting, right, now! Continue reading “3-step Loophole to Doing Great & Being Greater”

The God Question

God is the Answer, is he the Question?
Is God the Question…or Answer?

“Is there a God?”, “Was he an ‘invented’ by humanity”, “If he exists, what is he like?”

To play ‘devil’s advocate’ (pun intended) riddle me this:

If you knew the answer what, if anything, would you change about yourself?

So you’re looking for the answer to the “God Question”, huh?  Lucky for you, the answer is readily available in the place you least suspect. Continue reading “The God Question”

“Happiness: Contents of Content” Loophole

happiness: contents of being content
Table of Contents: Happy, Content

The Pursuit of Happiness is both the answer and the challenge to those of us seeking it.

Pursuit implies an end.  Yet, our “pursuit” does not end in this chapter of our journey until we close both the book and our eyes for the last time. However, there is a VERY simple solution to this VERY real dilemma, friends.

No grass is as green as the envy on the individual looking over the fence.

Continue reading ““Happiness: Contents of Content” Loophole”

“Good begets Good” Loophole

The Good begets Good Loophole

Good breeds good. One good turn deserves another. Karma.

This post will be as short & sweet as our actions ought to be.

Yesterday I made a “Help Wanted” Post called “Take one for the TEAM“.

Karma In – Small Sacrifices:

In general, I highlighted the unfortunate order mix-up at Starbucks where I had ordered my usual White Chocolate Mocha, got a Mocha (which couldn’t taste MORE different), but due to the tension in the environment, the fact there appeared to be a new employee who was struggling to get into the swing of things, and the long line/wait I was already apart of — I opted to just move on and be thankful for a hot beverage.

It may seem a bit prima donna, but it truly is all about the little things!

Karma Out – Coming “Full Circle”:

Less than 24 hours later, I placed my morning coffee drink at the same Starbucks. They recognized me and said “you waited a long time yesterday, this drink is on us!”

Patience and kindness IS rewarded, friends.  We tend to miss the opportunities all too often because of the latency involved.  Be good because it makes sense to be good, but also know that things DO indeed come full-circle.

I am now enjoying, and am thankful for, another warm beverage this morning…

But this time it was my favorite kind, it was free, and it tastes like magic.

Until next time, friends, be good! 🙂

Help Wanted: Take one for the TEAM!

Anyone familiar with the delicious sweetness of a Starbuck’s White Chocolate Mocha and it’s sharp contrast with the chalky flavor of their traditional Mocha can understand the disappointment of my first sip this morning (after an extraordinarily long wait in the line no less).

It was clear that the individual on hook for crafting my drink was new and was also having a rough go of it today.   The order right before me had been messed up as well (part of the longer-than-normal wait). I by no means encourage people to “always be complaisant”, your order is your order, and at some juncture it is important to provide feedback to ensure an individual can acknowledge a misstep, work on their accountability, and grow as an employee and person themselves…. HOWEVER, we all make mistakes, and sometimes when we’re bombarded with a series of them we are emotional wrecks which are unlikely to perform any better by ‘new knowledge of a misstep’…. sooo, if you can find the right opportunity this week:

Help Wanted! Take one for the team, and take it to the grave.  Let a misstep slide, no matter how small or big – bear the cross for yourself, just this once.  Sometimes the smallest ‘non-escalations’ can have the biggest impacts.

I really do not like mocha’s, I’d rather have a hot chocolate at this point.  Yet I am using this example, of something so small and sooo insignificant, to be a more patient person myself.  I may not like the taste of a mocha, but I am blessed to have a warm drink on this beautiful Sunday morning – and in another situation, that could be more than a person could ever ask or hope for.

“Redemption Song” Loophole

Since the day we were born – we’ve had the answers to, and the loopholes on, life readily available for us.

They have been bestowed upon us through EVERY generation, and their words tend to transcend both space & time.

The message has always been clear.  The message has been delicately carved into cave walls, thoroughly crystalized through parable & poem, and carefully captured through lyricism & music. Not to mention the diligent documentation of the Bible (#1 best-seller, one hundred and four thousand weeks strong, take that New York Times!).

But how do we receive this message for ourselves, overcome the mental manipulation that pollutes our society, and change both ourselves and the world for the better?  Continue reading ““Redemption Song” Loophole”

“How to be Happy” Loophole

We all want to be happy… right?!

If that was the case, why do so many people with such propensity to be happy…just…seem…to…eventually…self-destruct?

The trick to being happy is NOT to “obtain” happiness! By doing that, we are really putting our happiness in the “obtainment of whatever it is that was obtained”. The REAL secret to securing happiness is to… Continue reading ““How to be Happy” Loophole”

“9/11, was it a conspiracy?” Trendy Question

11 years ago marks the date of one of the most tragic events to fall upon American soil.

Many hard-fought debates and questions emerged from the wreckage, “Does the action justify declaration for war?”, “Who is truly responsible?”, “Was it an inside job?”.

The questions are to be expected, but the truth is that, in a life of “cause and effect”, the real conspiracy we were slowly trained to accept is:

Continue reading ““9/11, was it a conspiracy?” Trendy Question”

Part 1 – “Mind the Programming” Loophole

Life is more similar to a computer program than many of us tend to think. We make the program what it is, and the program makes us what it is.  Surround ourselves with stimulus which pique our interest. We surround ourselves with  people which are “of like mind”.  We mold them, and they mold us.

Continue reading to learn how to manage the inputs & maximize YOUR outputs…

Continue reading “Part 1 – “Mind the Programming” Loophole”

Help Wanted! For Giving Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not easy – but it is MUCH easier when first asked for it. Forgiving someone after being asked for it is important – but it still leaves room for personal validation of our egos to say “see, I was right after all, so now that you acknowledge it, okay – I forgive you.”

Help Wanted! If you were hurt long ago in the past, or in a small way today, close your eyes, take a deep breath, breathe out slowly and forgive the individual by name (and/or by face).  The world is more connected than we think.  There is more power to forgiveness, especially when the individuals ‘know not what they do’.

Few gifts worth giving rival proactive forgiveness — it will make the forgiven, the forgiver, and the world, better.

Help Wanted! A Turn for the Better

Traffic… There are few opportunities to exhibit a SIMPLE SELFLESS ACT more timely than on your morning or evening drive!  Each individual is likely “rushing to get somewhere” – yet – most of us fail to recognize the fact that everyone else is in the same exact boat! 

Help Wanted!  When traffic is backed up – and you see someone trying to take a “left turn” onto a busy street – take a moment to let them in if you can.  We’ve all had someone go out of their way to do it for us – more often, everyone ignores us – which means we likely tend to ignore them when the shoe is on the other foot.

Let someone in – give a stranger ‘the unexpected’ help that we would not expect but at the same time truly appreciate. Let a stranger take a left turn, and help the world take a turn for the better!

“Increase Memory & Brain Power” Loophole

Do we REALLY Only use 10-20% of our Brain?

While there is A LOT of truth to the fact we under-utilize our brain power – I believe this oft talked about ‘concept’ leads most of us to a misguided and/or short-cited conclusion.

Continue reading to understand the following:
1. “Understand the Ego & put it on Pause”
2. “What do we really know about what we don’t know?”
3. “Tips & Tricks to Increase Your Mental Aptitude”
4. “One Tool to Change Everything”

Continue reading ““Increase Memory & Brain Power” Loophole”

“Life on the Line” Loophole

The “What is the Meaning of Life?” Loophole

This loophole is not about answering that question – it is about ‘reminding’ myself an others that there are many tools & vehicles that can help facilitate “understanding”.  One of few tools we use effectively is language — but there is a higher level of learning, and even more effective too, that predated modern language, and that concept is the foundation for what language was built upon.

The usage of “architypes” has been underutilized for several millennium.  We’ve all heard the phrase “A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS”. In fact, written language undermines that very important truth.   It is more than a “picture of people” (smiles, body language, environment, distance, time, location). There are paintings and pieces of art that seemingly ‘never out date themselves’, that inspire, and mean things to us at a level deeper than we instinctively reflect upon.

Continue reading ““Life on the Line” Loophole”

“Secret to Success” Loophole

What is the Secret to Success?

Easy one! The secret to success is as simple as…

…understanding that “the secret” is that you SHOULD NOT be seeking this answer through a google search – or through the book – OR through this blog.  The answer you will find in any one of those places is at best, subjective – and at worst, constraining, misinformed and outright manipulative! 

I realize, and embrace, the ‘hypocrisy’ of providing an answer to a question via a vehicle (this blog) that I said should not be the source —- the point is, the best I can do is remind myself, and everyone, that “Success” is a very ambiguous term which is defined by sheer subjectivity.

All I can share is what I consider the “PATH”… which will be as pure/objective as I can keep it!

Continue reading ““Secret to Success” Loophole”

How do I overcome jealousy?

Jealousy?  JEALOUSY?!?!  when I typed in “How do I overcome…” the first one was jealousy??  Most jealousy stems from our need to protect our egos; and most egos do not want to admit wrong, and thus, most truly jealous people would not be searching the term “how do I overcome jealousy”.

How do I overcome jealousy?

If someone is typing that question in Google, congratulations, the inaccurate diagnoses of your condition also appears to be the cure!!

Complicated question: “how do I overcome jealousy?”

Simple answer: Continue reading “How do I overcome jealousy?”

Help Wanted: Smile at a Stranger

Help wanted!!

Tomorrow, my small contribution to a better world will be to:

SMILE at a stranger, and be soooo bold as to provide a genuine “hello!” as I walk by.

 

Sounds easy enough. That means that we probably don’t put enough importance into it’s impact. It’s probably a matter of prioritization versus challenge, because it’s easy enough I would have expected more strangers to smile at me today — yet, they probably would say the same to me, so one of us has to just “break the chain” and do it.

What’s the worst that can happen?  They ignore my hello and receive my smile with a scowl?  Any pain I feel from that is more on me and the unnecessary expectations I assign to the exchange.  Maybe that same person will be, even ever-so slightly, more inclined to smile back next time, or the ‘time’ after that.

Your help is much wanted, and your smile is much appreciated!!! 🙂

Re: to Charles; “Knowing Truth & Discernment”

Hello world,

I’d like to thank Charles for the first contribution, comment and commitment to “loopholes on life”!  While I only began this blog 3 days ago ‘physically’ (Sunday night, 8/19), I’ve been building toward it for the last two and a half years, when I had my first “click” (I’ll explain what exactly I mean by that at some point, for now, think of ‘clicks’ as meaningful milestones for the journey of truth-seekers & ‘game’-changers… or… perhaps more simply put, think of them as true blue epiphanies).

For today’s blog post I’d like to expound on some sage points he alluded to in his post:

I stumbled across this blog. I have been asking a lot of questions lately and looking for answers in places which they would make sense to be found. However, I have found only lies and deceptions that laid the ground work for building societies of followers and none of free thinkers.

A great man once said, “There is not a truth existing which I fear… or would wish unknown to the whole world.” I feel you are liberator of those truths.

I look forward to reading and sharing thoughts on your blog, and to helping make the world a better and more informed place.

Best,
Charles

I smell what you’re stepping in, Charles, and it smells like roses.  Continue reading “Re: to Charles; “Knowing Truth & Discernment””

Why are we here?

Trendy Question: “WHY ARE WE HERE?”

Having typed “Why are we…” in google, the first suggested search query was “Why are we here?”.

Questions we are all asking about Life, Health & Happiness.

Great question, one I should have anticipated, since it is the question that drives existence and gives meaning to ALL OTHER QUESTIONS!

With Complicated Questions, We Expect Complicated Answers

Many of us have heard it before, but few take advantage of the concept enough:  the most complicated questions often have the SIMPLEST ANSWERS.

At risk of sounding like a ‘cop out’, the answer is quite simple:

Q: “Why are we here?”

A: To pursue the answer to THAT very question.

To be a BIT Less Concise:

As human beings, we often consciously (or subconsciously) “need” specificity in our day to day.  Many of us approach life like a series of tasks – interwoven with a few great moments of down-time (vacations, hobbies, etc.).  This question has existed, and will continue to exist, for all ‘active participants’ of life’s journey — the ultimate answer will be like an infinite jolt of ‘aha moments’.  The jolt will not be due to the answer itself, it will be due to the awareness each individual has in one instance – as they understand the very reason they could not arrive at the answer during their journey.

The most important thing an individual can do is to “overcome the need to ask the question”.  Our awareness to greater truths is most clear when we calm our minds.  As we pursue the answer to this question —- we find that there are many roads to take up one mountain top, many separate lanes converging on the same highway.

Throughout history we have put great importance in those we feel “get it”, from prophets, to scientists, to explorers, to artists. Everyone “gets it” to varying degrees, many even “get it” more than they know.  In fact, as an individual progresses in their understanding of “how it is all connected” – all subject matters begin to converge.  I could go on another huge tangent here, but I’ll save it for another post.

Remember, however, using those types of ‘aware’ individuals throughout time as an example – it seems none of them could convey their comprehension of the answer in such a way that EVERYONE grasps.  Those spiritual, scientific, and creative leaders all expressed the answer the best they could – and it’s ALWAYS a balance of “breadth and depth”.   For example, most religions are founded based on TIMELESS messages which a broad audience could grasp.  Jesus often used parables/metaphor/etc. — having cast a very wide net, breadth; while tailoring his message to his apostles (and thus, “speaking their language”), depth… In the end – the best we can do is accrue information that speaks to our soul throughout our journey, to understand how it is WE learn.   Remember that understanding takes two things, the voice AND the ear. We are diverging from our quest for the answer if we focus too much on “looking for the voice” versus “understanding our ears”.  Once you, timeless truth, “Know Thyself”, you are in a better position to learn about how “Thyself” fits into the greater whole.

The ONLY way I can fathom to help an individual understand the answer to this question is by suggesting the process to learning what you need to learn to understand.

There is a very high probability that by the time “seekers” out there grasp the answer, they will simply no longer care!  Conceptualize, as always, “a world without time” – think about how you would understand this concept in a world without time — and REVISIT this question as you learn other truths about yourself as a microcosm and the greater whole as a macrocosm. At some juncture, the best way to obtain the answer to this question is by being aware of it BUT being at peace with it.  Allow all knowledge, experience, faith, etc. to culminate, build, change and grow together — ask yourself the question with a smile, and in the interim, do not chase down answers, quiet your mind and absorb them.

I’ll summarize my interpretation of the best means to find the answer with the last line in a song I wrote about a year ago:

“So quit asking questions; you’ll find the answers listening;

and be content with being stumped, kind of like the ‘Giving Tree'”

~Loopholes on Life

The Giving Tree was content with being stumped, are you?

About “Trendy Questions”: The answers we are all seeking…

“Trendy Questions” (an overview of this ‘blog category’):

We ask search engines many questions, “How can I…?”, “What is the…?”, “Why should we…?”, “Where do I…stop?” Let’s answer the questions on Google’s behalf! For this category – we can discuss loopholes on life by means of this process: (1a) type a few keywords in a search engine, beginning with a question (what, why, how, when, where – in priority order based on impact 🙂 ). (1b) look at the questions in the auto-suggestion drop list as you type, pick a question for discussion! (2a) add additional words to increase the specificity of the question as desired. (2b or not 2b) that is the question!!

Loophole on Life: Why do I feel anxious & why do I doubt?

Question: “Why do I feel anxious”? “Where does anxiety stem from”? “Why do I doubt myself?”

Loophole: ask yourself how you would feel “IN A WORLD WITHOUT TIME”.

Why? Continue reading “Loophole on Life: Why do I feel anxious & why do I doubt?”

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