Yanni's Blog

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"This is My Story, What is Yours? Part V” Podcast"


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part X of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

As I wrote earlier, “you can’t do it alone!” And the most important belief I feel that we have to clear within ourselves is that we somehow believe that we are alone. We are not.

We are not “spiritual orphans” abandoned by a heartless Creator. We are precious, beautiful, beloved children that are cherished beyond what we can imagine by an incredibly loving Being. Yes! this applies to you and to every other being in all of Creation!

The Universe is indeed a friendly place. It is here to support you. It is filled with beings, physical and non-physical, who are always available and very willing to help you fulfill all your dreams. All you have to do is to ask and you will receive. The Universe wants to support you in any and every way possible!

I ask you now to re-read through the three preceding paragraphs again and see if any of what I have written is something that you do not presently believe. If there is something that is hard to believe or impossible to believe or sounds like a bunch of drivel, then perhaps you need to look at that belief and be open to the possibility that you may be looking at all of this in a mistaken way.

Believe me, if you can truly “own” in your heart and soul what is contained in these three paragraphs, you are well on you way to being true to your inherent, essential nature and to a life filled with meaning and purpose.

Take the time to “Face, Embrace and Replace” these three paragraphs and the beliefs contained within them, word by word, sentence by sentence, belief by belief and in time you will be free to be yourself!

Why am I so sure of this? Because I have come to understand that all healing is a spiritual matter. It’s not mental or physical or metaphysical!

It is about learning how to reconnect with the Love and support of your Creator! It’s about learning how to bypass the duality of the mind and enter the Oneness of the Heart.

This is Part X of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IX of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Below is a poem by Eileen Cady, a co-founder of the Findhorn Community that I feel can help you to better understand the process and the opportunity that you are offering yourself when you consciously choose to really “be true” to yourself.

I would suggest that you read this passage over slowly and carefully a couple of times and let its message sink in. For within it is contained the keys to taking courage and to “replacing” and transmuting all that which is not you into all that which is!

This is Part IX of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VIII of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So, how this “Face, Embrace and Replace” process works is that you first identify a belief or two about yourself or your life that you feel uncomfortable with. You can do this simply by just sitting down and spontaneously writing down whatever comes to your mind and as you do you will come up with a few uncomfortable beliefs.

Then, after that doing that, find a comfortable place where you can quietly be away from the distractions of life. Take a few deep, cleansing, relaxing, healing breaths, close your eyes, and then just sit there with one of the beliefs you are uncomfortable with.

This is the “Facing” phase of the process. By doing this, you are identifying the belief and taking ownership and responsibility for it.

Now comes the “Embracing” phase of the process where you allow whatever feelings that come up to come up around this belief. Just “embrace” these feelings that come up now—no matter how uncomfortable or negative they may be. Just sit and be with them for two to three minutes or so. If you wander, just come back to the focus of this exercise which is your feelings and not your “thinkings.”

Then after you have sat with your feelings for a bit, ask your self how you can change this belief. You are now entering the “Replace” phase. Then sit and “listen” to whatever impressions, thoughts, feelings or images that come up for you. Don’t be afraid of what you “hear” or “see” or “sense.” Just accept! Change is a challenge for almost everyone, but it is good!

Then ask for the courage to take the actions and make the changes in your life that need to be made in order for you “to be the change you wish to become!”

Yes, truthfully “facing” and identifying your beliefs is challenging and so is “embracing” the feelings that surround them, but the biggest challenge is “replacing” them. And to replace them you must have the courage “to be yourself.” This is the biggest and most important challenge you can possibly take on in your life, that is, to dare “to be your self!”

You can “be yourself!” You are not alone; but boy it is not easy to believe at first!

This is Part VIII of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VII of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Life is a juxtaposition of opposites. The yin is looking for it’s yang to complete itself; the yang for it’s yin; the negative is looking for the positive; the positive for its negative; the feminine for the masculine; the masculine for the feminine; the ebb for the flow; the flow for the ebb; the in-breath for the out breath; the out-breath for the in-breath.

So, as we sort through all the dross of our beliefs, please understand that everything we unearth and experience is there solely to help us to climb higher upon our mountain of Self-Mastery. Our “opposites” are our “complements.”

Nothing is in our way! Everything is The Way! Your Way! The “High” Way!

So which way are you going? Which path are you taking—the High road or the low road?

One of the most valuable phrases and techniques that I have found on my path is: “Face, Embrace and Replace.”

Over twenty years ago, I had a spiritual reading with a man whose name I have lost and forgotten. In that reading he introduced me to this phrase and the “work” that goes along with actualizing it. I am eternally indebted to him for it. For it has given me the formula for how to look carefully at my belief systems and then how to transmute the dysfunctional ones into functional ones.

So, again, it all began with me not being comfortable in the roles my parents and friends were expecting me to play.

How about you, did you just accept the roles you were uncomfortable with anyhow and just try to make the “best of it?” Or did you totally deny that you had dreams and desires that were not being supported?

What roles are you presently playing that are not comfortable or true to who you are?

This is Part VII of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"This is My Story, What is Yours? Part III” Podcast"


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(length 9:29 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VI of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Actually, at this point it might be helpful for us to explore the etymology of the word “story.” It comes from the Greek and Latin and means “to inquire into” or “to examine.” So, as we explore our stories here, let’s really “inquire into” and “examine: honestly and thoroughly what beliefs we base our lives upon.

As Socrates once said:

The life unexamined is not worth living.

What we are exploring here is not simply a mental exercise, but it is a “life” exercise. This is about exercising your “life-giving” muscles. These “life-giving” muscles are your ability to choose, to create, to intend, to dream, to love, to laugh, to be free, to nourish yourself, to experience change, to honor and love yourself and others, to “be true” to yourself, to “know yourself” from the inside out and to experience the God/Goddess within you.

I suspect that one of the biggest false beliefs that I carried around for a very long time was the belief that “I was not good enough.” I was always overestimating others and underestimating myself. I might add at this point that this is the best way I have found to give away my power!

Now, let me be clear here I am not suggesting that you now go around overestimating yourself and underestimating others. That doesn’t work either. For some folks this is the belief/pattern that needs to be examined. It wasn’t the one I needed to examine, though. But we are all in this together and opposites do manage to find each other in order to balance each other out and find the “golden mean.”

We create our opposite in order to find the balance we seek and to help another find his or hers. It really is a neat Universe we live in! I’ll explain further.

This is Part II of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part V of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

I knew that something was “wrong,” so to speak, when I was quite young. I always felt that I didn’t fit in anywhere—even before entering Kindergarten! My parents wanted me to be a “certain” way and my friends wanted me to be a “certain” way. But none of it was comfortable for me. No of it made sense. None of it fit! None of it was “certain” to me!

I’m not sure when the following question began to be a conscious one for me, but it seems that it was one that came up for me at a very early age, for it has stayed at the forefront of my awareness all my life and has been the primary determining factor in all my decisions in my life; it has been, in effect, my North Star: The question I am referring to is: What is the purpose of my Life! What is the meaning of Life?

I know that these are two questions, not one, but for me they were always one and the same—inseparable—two sides of the same coin! I could never get away from these questions. No matter how hard my ego/little self tried to distract me, these questions always appeared up-front and center-stage for me.

Yes, these questions were and are my North Star! Whenever I remembered to ask them of myself and then stopped long enough to listen to the answer I got and followed what I received, I would, as a result, find myself on my path and would be actualizing my purpose in my life and my life would have meaning.

Whenever I didn’t ask these questions and relegated them to the dust bin of obscurity and irrelevance in my life, I got myself in big trouble. Yes, they were always there in the forefront, but I, at times, looked away or down and missed what was right in front of me and what was most important.

This is Part V of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"This is My Story, What is Yours? Part II” Podcast"


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(length 10:14 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IV of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Thus, I discovered that I had to dig deep within to find the “bedrock” of my “being” and free myself from the quicksand of other people’s desires and expectations of me.

To do this I had to plumb the depths of my little self and navigate past all of its fears and insecurities and come up, instead, to land upon the solid ground of the shores of my Higher Self! There I could stand on the core foundation of who I really AM. There I could look at myself in the mirror and see who I really AM!

As I began to do this, I clearly realized, then and there, that I could no longer live in the shadow of my ego or of someone else’s expectations, but had to live in the Light of my Soul!

I am well aware that all of this is a lot easier said than done—but regardless this kind of brutally honest soul-searching is very, very necessary.

So, what I would like to share with you now is a bit of my story; how I originally wrote it, how I gradually began to read it over and rewrite it, how I eventually chucked the whole thing, and how I, now, no longer have a story, but just AM from moment to moment!

It’s all about “Being” and not about “doing.” A story “does;” a Life IS. I choose to BE who I AM and not to just “do.” I am a human “being” and not a human “doing.”

So, let’s explore this story a bit, perhaps it can help you to find or refine yours, as well!

So, let’s discover what it means “to live your life from the inside out,” to live your life seeing everything and everyone through the eyes and heart of your Soul rather than following a prepared, cookie-cutter script and being blind to and afraid of the possibilities that are you!

This is Part IV of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part III of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

In other words, I lived with beliefs and expectations that were limiting and that assumed that my life was not my own. I assumed that my life was just something that had already been scripted by others and that it was my responsibility to follow that script and then all would be well and safe!

But what I didn’t understand was that all the “stuff” that I didn’t want in my life was there simply because I didn’t realize that I was letting it be there. I was allowing it to be there because I believed, deep down inside, that life was not much more than tagging along on a prearranged plan, following orders, paying taxes, having a few beers and then dieing.

Parenthetically, I know that the above description of what I expected of life sounds rather morose and exaggerated, but it was pretty true to course considering what I was experiencing in my life. But, and this is a big BUT, there was also a part of me that knew that life was about joy, freedom and love.

But somehow my dysfunctional, old belief system had me accepting as true that I had to endure all this “sad” stuff so that as a reward for my penance I could occasionally be doled out a few of life’s pleasures and riches. Boy was I ever totally wrong about that belief!

I came to realize that I really had a poverty mentality: Life was a drag; Money was not easy to attain; I had little to offer others; I wasn’t really worthy; every thing was hard to come by! To attain anything, one had to work one’s tail off; nothing comes easy; it’s immoral to charge for my services; Money is the root of all evil; etc, etc, etc. My! What a litany of life-restricting negativity.

So, in time I came to realize that another’s person’s dreams were truly my nightmares!

And I also came to realize that there was no safety or security on the shifting sands of another’s’ expectations of me. Sound familiar?

This is Part III of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"This is My Story, What is Yours? Part I” Podcast"


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(length 8:30 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part II of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 09/03/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous part.

But it was interesting that I really believed that the characters in the story that I had “bought into” were real, even though I wasn’t being “real” or honest with myself. Actually, I thought that these characters and scenarios were more real than I was.

In other words, I believed that these characters and scenarios had an existence separate from me and that they could influence and affect me no matter what I did or didn’t do. I thought I was powerless in the face of these all-knowing, all-mighty “external” forces.

But I didn’t realize that I created them all for me to learn from and that they did not have an existence separate from me. They were me! I created them. I gave them life. I perpetuated them because I chose to. I allowed them to remain in my life.

How I chose to view them determined how I experienced them! They were me. I was them! No one forced them on me, I invited them all in! They were mine! Period!

Whew! In other words, everything in my life was something that I had, in some way or another, chosen, consciously or unconsciously, to have there with me. This was my script/story and I had written/created it all—all the drama, pathos, comedy and tragedy! All of it!

It was all mine and no one else’s! So, I either was conscious about what I was doing and got something I really wanted or I was unconscious about what I wanted and got what I didn’t want or understand. So, no matter how you cut it, whether I was conscious or not, I had attracted and drawn it all into my life.

This is Part II of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part I of a twelve part blog.

I have a story to tell and that story is my story. I once thought that I had my story “down,” so to speak, and that I was living my own life. But as I became more and more conscious and honest with my self, I realized that it was not really my story that I was living. It was someone else’s.

It turned out that as I examined what I was doing with my life, that really all I was doing was following the script that someone else wrote for me. Actually, as I got even more truthful with myself, I realized that I, somewhere deep inside me, believed that it was my responsibility to follow the script that was handed to me.

That was kind of dumb, I guess, but it took quite awhile to open up to the truth of the matter and to be genuinely honest with myself.

Actually, it took quite a bit of courage to look at my life candidly and realize that I was living a “lie.” I wasn’t living my life. I was living the expectations and dreams of my parents and of others. All of which were well-meaning, I might add, but very little of which were mine.

And, as a result of all this, I came to ask myself this all important question:

So, I finally I got around to realizing that my life Is My Story and no one else’s; and that I can change it, keep it the way it is, erase parts or all of it, create new scenes, characters and scenarios, whatever! It’s my play to write and re-write—“to play with,” so to speak!

What I want to be and do, I CAN be and do!! Really! I just have to discover and recover what it is that I want to be and then have the courage to claim it!

This is Part I of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Your Attitude Creates Your Reality, Part II” Podcast"


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(length 9:38 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IV of a four part blog.

What you look at is what you see. And whatever you are looking for, you will find!

So, now that you have a handle on your general attitude about Life, what is really neat about all this is that you can change your attitude. Yes, you can!

Once you are honestly aware of what your attitude generally is then you can gradually, consistently and intentionally change anything that is negative and not life-affirming about it into something that is.

Bit by bit as you notice the negative self-talk and the negative projections that you make on others or on situations, you can determine that you will look at them more positively. And by looking at them more positively, you will draw to you insights and inspirations into finding positive solutions to them. And, as well, you will learn what the larger life lessons were in these particular situations.

Remember that whatever you ask for, you will receive. And whatever you are looking for, you will find!

Life is constant stream of moving forward to higher and higher ground unless you choose to take the “low road.” By changing your attitude you get to take the “high road” in life and get to enjoy the broad vistas and the wide, clear horizons. Otherwise, if your attitude is negative, you get to wallow in the quicksand of your limiting beliefs on the “low road” of life, which some call hell.

Thus, as I wrote earlier, you get to choose your attitude and your attitude determines the kind of experiences you have. Thus, you, and only you, get to give meaning to your life!

So, is your underlying attitude about your life one that affirms your eternal, divine value? Or is it the opposite?

Your attitude is the key to your happiness and to the amount of Love and Life you experience. Change your attitude and you change your life! The “Kingdom of Heaven is with in you!”

This is Part IV of a four part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part III of a four part blog.

What you look at is what you see. And whatever you are looking for, you will find!

You can see an ending as a new beginning or as you can see it as something negative and terminal. You can decide that as one door closes another one opens. Or you can choose to remain fixated on the closed door and miss all the other doors and opportunities that are in fact opening before you.

The Universe is not a stagnant, unloving, unforgiving place. It is full of new possibilities and new probabilities all the time. It is constantly expanding and opening up new doors. Unless, of course, you are not looking!

You can choose to interpret a delay of any kind as Divine Timing or as a huge inconvenience that has negative providential significance in your life. You can choose to live your life “awfulizing” and “catastrophising” about every thing or see “the silver lining in every cloud.” You get to give meaning to your experiences by your attitude or how you choose to interpret them.

What kind of meaning do you give to your experiences?

Albert Einstein once wrote that the most important question that you can ask yourself is: “Is this a friendly Universe or not?” In other words is the Universe on your side or not on your side. How you answer this question determines your attitude about Life in general and your attitude about your life in particular. And, most importantly, it determines the kind of life you have!

So, take a moment to reflect consciously on this question. It actually is very, very important and is well worth a few minutes of your time……

So, what is your answer?

Your answer to this question, that is, what is your predominant attitude about life, is the sole determinant of what kind of life and what quality of life you have.

This is Part III of a four part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Your Attitude Creates Your Reality, Part I” Podcast"


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(length 8:43 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part II of a four part blog.

What you look at is what you see. And whatever you are looking for, you will find!

Attitude has a huge impact on your life. Actually, it is the most important determining factor in how you experience your life and in what and who you attract into your life.

Attitude is more important than any of the facts or details of a situation, than what has happened or not happened to you in the past, than who you know or don’t know, than what you have done or not done so far in your life. It is more important than the degrees and experiences you have had; than the amount of money you have presently, had in the past or wish you had; than present circumstances; than past failures or successes; than what other people think, say or do about you. It is more important than appearances, skills and talents. It will determine the success or failure a business or a relationship or, for that matter anything you are involved in.

What is so important to understand here is that you have a choice as to the attitude you have at any given moment regarding anything you are experiencing. And it is precisely this attitude that determines how you experience what you are experiencing. And, as well, it is your attitude that determines whether you will get more of the same or not.

You can not change your past. You can not change how a person will act or react to you; and you can not change a given situation. You can not change events as they unfold. But the only thing you can change is your attitude. You can choose to see the cup half-full or you can choose to see it half-empty.

This is Part II of a four part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part I of a four part blog.

What you look at is what you see. And whatever you are looking for, you will find!

What you place your attention on is what you notice. And what you notice defines your “reality.” Your “reality” is solely of your making. And you make it by the way you choose to look at things, as well, as by what things you choose to look at.

What do you choose, consciously or unconsciously, to focus on during your day? Take the time to notice.

Take the time, as well, to listen to your mind’s chatter on a regular, consistent basis during the day. If you find that what you are mostly focused on is negative, then that is what you are experiencing and then that is what you are attracting more of. If it is mostly positive then that is what you are experiencing and attracting more of.

What do you want more of: the positive or the negative experiences?

So, honestly ask yourself, what do you mostly focus on?

But you then might say to me in response to this, “But I can’t control my mind. It has ‘mind of its own’.”

Well, you know deep down inside that the statement above is simply not true and that it is just a lame excuse for being lazy. That is, you are too lazy to take the time to learn how to tame and master your “monkey mind.” Or, perhaps, it simply is that you are just unaware that it is really possible to “change your mind,” so to speak.

So, if you want to experience more Love and Happiness in your life, you must focus your thoughts on Love and Happiness. It’s really rather simple. But how you might ask do I do that.

Well, there is only one way to do that and that is to change your attitude.

This is Part I of a four part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Meditation—A Way to Become Physically, Mentally and Metaphysically Fit, Part IV Podcast"


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(length 12:10 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 1:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VIII of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

What follows in this and my previous blog post of July 16 is the text of the abdominal breathing meditation which I have recorded as the July 20th Podcast. Feel free to either listen to my recording or make your own. As well, read through the text below to get a feel for what you can do to calm yourself down during the day.

Continue counting your inhalations and your exhalations. If you lose count and don’t make it to ten, that’s fine. Start again and start counting all over again. Some thoughts or emotions may make it into your awareness as you do this, but just ignore them and keep counting your breath. Just do you best to keep your primary awareness on your breath. Allow everything else to fade away to recede.

If you get to ten, then just continue counting beyond the ten, just counting the breath, keeping your focus on your abdomen. When you focus on your abdomen and count your breath, it helps to calm you down. It draws the energies down that are bouncing around in your head and grounds them in your belly so to speak. This is a great breath to do whenever you feel anxious, worried or just plain hyper. Just breathe in and breathe out and note the rise and fall of your abdomen as you do.

As you continue, you might even notice or feel that your breathing has become deeper and slower. Your blood pressure is going down and your pulse is slowing. You are releasing relaxation hormones into your blood stream. Physiologically you have made a significant change in your blood chemistry in just these few minutes. Whereas before you may have been in a fight or flight state and your body was tense and poised to run or attack and filled with stress hormones, now you are in a relaxed state, a peaceful state, a healing state. Continue the counting of the breath, the inhalation and the exhalation for a few more breaths….

And now you can begin to let go of your focus on your breath… Make note of what your mood is now…. What your energy level feels like... As you did at the beginning just do a quick body scan from head to toe and just feel, sense, see how your body is doing now….And now become aware of your feet, your abdomen, your chest, your hands, your head, your breathing and your breath. Take a few conscious breaths and begin to come up and out. When you are ready you can begin to open your eyes, with a soft focus, so much more relaxed, so much more at peace, than when we began.

This is Part VIII of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VII of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

What follows in my next two blog posts is the text of the abdominal breathing meditation which I have recorded as the July 20th Podcast. Feel free to either listen to my recording or make your own. As well, read through the text below to get a feel for what you can do to calm yourself down during the day.

Close your eyes now and get nice and comfortable... First thing I would like you to do is to just become aware of your physical body. Notice your feet, how and where they touch the floor. Notice, as well, how you are sitting in your chair, where your body touches the chair and the placement of your arms...

And now become aware, as well, of your whole body. Do a body-scan from the top of your head down to the bottoms of your feet. Just notice if there are any areas that are tight or tense or sore. Or maybe there are areas that feel relaxed. Just have an awareness, not a judgment. Just an awareness of how your body feels…..

Become aware, as well, of your mood, just an awareness of it, don’t try to change it…. And your energy level, just an awareness, an objective awareness of how you are right now.

And now I would like you to place your attention on your abdomen and your breathing. I would like you to notice as you breathe in that your abdomen expands slightly. And as you exhale, your abdomen contracts slightly. Now don’t force a change in your breathing pattern in order to expand your abdomen; I’m not asking you to change anything, just notice it. Breathing in, the abdomen expands slightly. Breathing out, exhaling, the abdomen contracts, slightly.

So just continue to be aware of your breath, your breathing, your abdomen expanding and your abdomen contracting. Just have an awareness of your breath, your breathing. If there are any distractions or noises that you might hear in the background or foreground, just ignore them. Any thoughts that may come to your mind now; just ignore them, they are not important. Or even any emotions that might bubble up; just ignore them, let them go, let yourself be still and let yourself be quiet.

What I would like you to do now is to begin to see if you can do ten full breaths, a full breath is one inhalation and one exhalation, without getting lost in your thoughts. Find your own rhythm and just see if you can do ten full breaths without losing track. Breathing in, breathing out, without getting lost in your thoughts, emotions or any distractions. Just be present within the stillness of yourself, for it is in that stillness that you will find the real you, that is, a human “being” and not a human “doing.”

This is Part VII of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Meditation—A Way to Become Physically, Mentally and Metaphysically Fit, Part III Podcast"


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(length 11:00 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 12:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VI of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

Now, in terms of how you sit or what you do when you meditate, the most important thing is to make sure you are comfortable. If you have the flexibility to go into the yoga lotus or the half-lotus position, then certainly do so. If you don’t have the flexibility, then I would not suggest you do that. You can meditate very effectively sitting comfortably in straight backed chair. This is the way I do it all the time.

Just sit up straight with you spine erect, but not rigid. It is best that your legs are on the ground and are not crossed. Your hands are in your lap, palms up or down, whatever is most comfortable for you. And as we proceed with the meditation, if at any point you are uncomfortable, then shift. Move around a bit. If you need to cough, do so. Don’t spend ten minutes suppressing a cough or being physically uncomfortable and then conclude that you can’t meditate. As well, breathe in and out of your nostrils and not your mouth.

The most important thing to remember is to make sure you are comfortable while you are doing meditation. I might add, though, not so comfortable that you fall asleep. By the way, I do not recommend that you lie on the floor or a bed when you meditate because you are very likely to fall asleep. Lie down only if you have a significant back problem. So, again, the idea is to be as comfortable as possible, yet still alert; and, most importantly, enjoy the experience of “being” with yourself.

This is Part VI of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part V of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

As well, please note that you can do the following breathing meditation/exercise with your eyes wide open while you standing in line at the bank or a grocery store, while attending a boring meeting, etc., in any setting where you don’t need to be putting your complete attention on anything in particular.

You can even do this, with your eyes open, of course, while driving your car. No, I’m not crazy! You can do this while driving. I always do it. As I drive to teach a class or to any destination, for that matter, instead of thinking about the hundreds of things that I may need to do, I choose instead to just BE, to be present and conscious with myself, with my body and with my breath. This way I am more relaxed while I am driving and as a result of being more relaxed, I am much more alert.

So, instead of incessantly thinking, I give myself a break from all that “thinking” and “doing” and just consciously breathe all the way to my destination. As well, I do this as often as I can in as many other settings as possible.

Again with regard to driving, you really are much more alert when you are relaxed. Accidents occur when you are distracted and usually you are distracted because you are overly caught up in some emotional or mental drama in your mind. By doing this technique, you will actually be much, much more alert and relaxed while driving and you also will be much more relaxed when you reach your destination. You will respond more effectively to any stimulus that occurs and you will be aware of a lot more of what is going on than you would be if your mind were overly cluttered and distracted by too many thoughts.

This is Part V of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Meditation—A Way to Become Physically, Mentally and Metaphysically Fit, Part II Podcast"


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(length 10:43 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IV of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

So, meditation can help you to learn how to slow your mind down enough so that you can consciously and proactively choose what you think about and how you feel. Yes, there are stressors or “buttons” that will get pushed, and will cause you to “loose it;” that’s called “life.” But one can still choose how one reacts, no matter what is happening or has happened. You can choose to loose it completely or just step back and be objective with regard to what is going on.

So, the key here is to learn how to bring forth the relaxation response more and more often during your day instead staying stuck in a constant state of overdrive, of over-thinking. In other words how can you minimize being hyper during the day? How can you minimize the fight or flight response?

You can minimize it by creating many little mini-breaks during your day to help calm yourself down. All you need is three minutes at a time. I will outline a breathing exercise shortly that will change your blood chemistry from one that is overloaded with stress hormones to one that is full of healing relaxation hormones. All you need is three minutes. And in those three minutes you will have affected a profound physiological change in your body and you will feel quite different.

What I would like to share with you now is a breathing meditation. The whole point of teaching you this breathing meditation is to help you to remember to take regular breaks from your incessant “thinking” and “doing” so that you can give your mind a respite and your body a breather, physiologically.

This is Part IV of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part III of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

Our bodies were not built to live under the mental stresses of this age nor were they meant to be sedentary. Now, I am not suggesting that you go into a cave, eat wild berries, roam the forests and meditate for the rest of your life, and forget all of your responsibilities.

But what we can do is to learn how to lessen the intensity of the over-stimulation that we experience. Our bodies are not capable of handling this over-stimulation for long periods of time without significantly breaking down, be it physiologically or emotionally. So, what meditation does, and it has been around for many millennia, is to help you to slow down and to feel physiologically and emotionally better and more balanced. This is the incredible gift that meditation freely offers anyone willing to experiment with it.

What we do not realize is that our minds do not think on their own; we choose what we think about. It may seem at times that we don’t choose our thoughts and that we don’t choose our emotional reactions and that our minds and emotions have a “mind of their own.” But, in fact, you can learn to choose what you think about and you can learn to choose how you feel.

You can choose to “awfulize” or you can choose to see the best in yourself and your situation.

There can be a big difference in how you experience an event. It depends on whether you see the cup half-empty or half-full. How you choose to perceive an event determines how you physiologically and emotionally experience it.

This is Part III of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Meditation—A Way to Become Physically, Mentally and Metaphysically Fit, Part I Podcast"


Click Here to Download MP3/Audio

(length 10:15 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part II of an eight part mini-course in Meditation in which I discuss the benefits of Meditation, how to best do it and then lead you in a guided meditation. In order to get the most out of these blogs and podcasts, it would be best for you to go back and start with the first blog entry on June 25.

So, as your mind slows and calms down, so does your body. And not only does your body slow and calm down so that it is not as tense, but, as an added benefit, the relaxation hormones you are now releasing are “anabolic,” that is, they actually build up or heal your body.

In contrast, when you secrete stress hormones, you create a “catabolic” effect; that is, an effect that breaks down your body. So when you are stressed you are creating an environment within yourself physiologically that is literally breaking you down (catabolism). That is why there are a lot of stress related illnesses. Some experts believe that nearly 80% of all doctor visits are stress related.

So, therefore, in order to be as fit physiologically as you can, it really is important to learn how to master your mind. You need to learn how to allow your mind to go into a neutral state more often than it does now. [By the way, there is nothing wrong with multi-tasking. It is a very useful function. But the problem occurs when you are multi-tasking all or most of the time.] Our human bodies have been around a very long time and there really is only about a 1.0% difference between the makeup of a Neanderthal’s body and ours.

So, we were created to function optimally by being, as our ancestors were, physically active. As well, we are not made to be as mentally over-stimulated as we are with all the data and information and “doing” and “thinking” we engage in in this modern technological age.

This is Part II of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Starting today and continuing through the next four weeks of blogs and podcasts, I will be offering a mini-course on Meditation. The first three weeks will be a discussion about Meditation, its benefits and how to best do it. The last week I will lead you in a guided meditation.

Most people discount meditation when they speak of getting fit. They usually think of fitness solely in terms of doing exercise and eating a proper diet. From my point of view it is not only physical fitness that we want to aim towards, but there is also a mental and psychological or even a metaphysical fitness that I personally believe is primary in attaining well rounded health and wellness.

What meditation really helps one learn how to do is to slow down and quiet the mind. Of course, you might well ask, “What good does that do?” Actually slowing the mind down is a very valuable skill to learn because every thought and feeling that we have gets expressed in every cell in our body.

This happens because every thought and feeling we have creates synaptic exchanges in our brain which then creates a hormonal response. So, a hormone of some kind, either a stress or relaxation one, is released as result of the kinds of thoughts and feelings we have. These hormones, courtesy of our cardiovascular system, are then pumped throughout our whole body and bathe all our cells. So that when you are angry about something, the cells in your big toe are bathed in an anger hormone and you now have an angry big toe, so to speak.

So, too, with being uptight or anxious, when you are uptight or anxious it is not just something that is going on in your mind, it is something that also is happening in you physiologically--in your body. So the kinds of thoughts and feelings you have determine whether a stress or a relaxation hormone is released into your bloodstream and that then determines what your body is experiencing.

This is Part I of an eight part blog.

Please go to the following link if you have interest in my new book on Meditation and Intuition: http://www.MagicalKeystoSelfMastery.com/

As well, if you have interest in my Meditation CDs, please go to the following link:
http://www.LearnMastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part XII of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So, in conclusion, learn how to relax and let go emotionally and let God/Goddess and your Guides lead you into the fulfillment of your life.

When you have something that is hard to let go of, ask God/Goddess to take away that old baggage—to simply take it away—and to replace it with clarity. Just hand it over; it’s not your problem any more!

And by just simply doing this, you can release your hold on the problem. And by doing so, you create enough distance from it so that you can see the bigger picture and listen to the guidance that is coming in from a broader perspective.

Doing it the old way from within the box of your ego’s mind, will get you nowhere. It will just get you further boxed in.

So, allow yourself to be helped by God/Goddess. Have faith and confidence in Her/Him. If you can’t let go of a thought or situation, ask God/Goddess to help you release it. And She will. Be patient, gentle, generous and compassionate with yourself and with others.

Constantly keep refocusing the negative “stuff” by asking to see the “Good” in any given situation. As well, honor other people’s journeys rather than judging them, appreciate and accept every one and every thing with gratitude, and always ask yourself: what did this situation or individual teach me and then sit back and listen for the answer?

You are not alone! By no means are you alone! Hold on to God/Goddess’s hand. Do not let go! He/She is your strength and sustenance.

You were never intended to “go it” alone. You are not a “spiritual orphan.” God is always on your side, that is, inside you! So, quiet the ego mind and listen and you will come to hear and Know Thy Self.

So, learn how to look for “Soul”lutions in your life. Rather than trying to it do it all by yourself and then getting stuck in finding only “sole”lutions.

You don’t have to “wing it” on your own anymore. You’re not alone anymore! You have this wonderful group of souls who are very ready and able to assist you in finding your Self and being true to your Self.

You have an incredible well of Wisdom and Love you can tap into at any time. Just ask and then open to receive.

In conclusion, stop and ask yourself; “Who now do I choose to talk to or ‘commune with’ all day long?”

Give it a try! You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. “Everlasting life” is waiting for you!

Please note that the word “communion” or “communicate” comes from the Latin and means to become one with. So, our purpose in life is to “communicate” with God/Goddess so that we can become one with Her/Him and then we can truly come to know and BE who we really ARE!

Peace be with you!

This is the final blog post of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part XI of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So, take the time every day to connect with and “listen” to your Soul’s promptings. Ask God/Goddess to help you with this. Ask your Guides to help you with this. Just ask and ask and ask and in time you will receive the guidance and clarity you seek.

And you will, through this process, have learned how to no longer listen to your ego, but instead to be guided by the promptings of your Soul. You will then know what it means to live a “Soul-filled” life.

So, whenever you find yourself lost in your thoughts of limitation and fear, ask God/Goddess and your Guides to help you find your way back home again. Ask for clarity and then refocus your negativity to positivity, so that you can release yourself from the yoke of the fears, anger etc that encumber you.

In other words, learn how to give it over to God/Goddess or your Guides for a solution. Don’t try to figure it out all by your self or try to control it, just offer it up to God/Goddess, let go and trust that it all will work out for your Highest Good and for the Highest Good of all concerned.

Your ego mind could not possibly have all the answers, only your God/Goddess mind does. Quiet the ego mind and then listen to the promptings and inspirations you get. Release your fears and let God/Goddess be your strength and inspiration.

Your ego is not strong; it is actually very weak and will eventually crumble at the slightest provocation. Your real strength lies in your connection with God/Goddess and your Guides. There you will find solace, strength and inspiration. There you will find your Self.

This is the source of all real strength and power. All the rest is worldly and will fade. What you have come forth in this lifetime to experience and embody is to really understand and learn what it means to dwell in the Love of the “Embrace;” and by doing so you really will have gained strength and wisdom.

None of us can do it on our own. We are all a part of a wonderful Soul family that is here to guide us to a higher and purer expression of the unconditional Love of God/Goddess. It is all rather incredible and so magnificently beautiful!

Part XII of this blog entry will post on 06/20/07

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part X of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So, your Guides are very essential in helping you to feel “connected.” And, with their help and expertise, you can gradually trust that you are held in the heart and hands of the “Embrace” and that you are really, totally and completely cared for and loved.

And then you can flow effortlessly and joyfully down the stream of your life. You can, as well, just slide on over to the passenger’s seat and let them chauffer you around. You can let go of trying to control your life and instead allow it flow to you. You can let go of your ego’s point of view and learn to now see with and through the eyes and heart of God/Goddess.

So, quit trying to control everything! You can’t and you never will. It is totally futile. Learn to surrender your ego’s will and accept and dive, instead, into your Soul’s will for you. Embrace and Embody Your Soul’s Wisdom and Soar!

It’s all about quieting the ego mind and connecting with your Soul. And when you do, you feel so strong, free and light. And then you always know what to do next because it is always intuitively, not intellectually, obvious what is for your Highest Good.

Quiet the mind and learn how to wait and intuitively “listen in” so that you can hear what is for your Highest Good and the Highest Good for all involved. For most of you this is a radically different way of functioning.

Most people try to control events and others by imposing their will on a situation. They do this despite the fact that the actions they take are based on all kinds of false assumptions and partial truths that their ego has “bought into.” And they do it all without any real due diligence; they just do it out of raw impulse or ignorance.

The mind/ego is meant to be a servant of the Soul. But we have turned it all around and allow our ego minds to be the master and we ignore our Soul. We only listen to our minds and we never “hear” our Soul. This is a recipe for disaster!

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IX of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Another aspect of this that I would like to discuss now is that it is so important that we have a strong, clear loving relationship with our Guides. Firstly, all our healing comes through a direct relationship with God/Goddess and our Higher Self. And it is our Guides who are so pivotal in this process of connecting us with God/Goddess and our Higher Self.

Our Guides know us better than we know ourselves. As well, they can see where are lives are going and can help us to make the best decision regarding any situation that comes up. They know what is for our Highest Good and, if we touch in with them, they can help us find the straightest and clearest path to our healing and awakening.

Guides even help create situations that will help us to grow. They are really there for us. They are a part of our “Soul Family” and really care for us. And, again, they can help us make the best choice for our growth in any given situation.

But so few realize that they exist and even less people realize how helpful they can be. God/Goddess did not leave us out here to fend on our own. There is an incredible support network available to us. We just need to open the channels of communication to them and, boy, oh boy, will our lives change! But if we continue to just listen to our little selves, we will end up missing out on so much of what is possible for us.

So, to create this connection, all you need to formally do is to sit and just “listen” for ten minutes a day. Yup, that’s all! Just sit and quiet the ego mind, connect and listen. You do not need to do it for hours and hours, really!

As well, as you go through your day, keep a constant dialogue going with God/Goddess, your Higher Self and/or your Guides rather than waste your time and energy ‘talking” with a bunch of surly, unruly, negative characters that just drain your energies and have no vision for your life. With God and your Guides, you can dream big and then live those wonderful dreams, but with your low-life motley crew all you get is more of the same, old, sad story.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VIII of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

You can’t solve a problem at the level that it was created. You must get out of your box—that is your limiting mindset. You must get out of your own way! And the only method to do this with is to learn how to see things through the broadest perspective possible, namely, through the eyes and heart of God/Goddess.

So, it is all about connecting with God/Goddess, your Higher Self and your Guides and it is in this way that you get answers and see the bigger picture. But more important than just getting answers and seeing the broader perspective is “feeling” a sense of “connection” with All That Is. This is “the key.” This is why you were created—so that you could embody and experience this ultimate Love and “communion” with all of creation.

And as you make this connection, you truly learn how to develop unconditional Trust in God/Goddess, your Self and your Guides. As well, you learn how to appreciate that everything is perfect in your life and in Divine Order and Timing. Life becomes a magical adventure rather than a fearful series of unknowns. You now enter into the mysteries of life and can trust and “Let go and let God!”

As well, you learn as you evolve through this process how to develop high acceptance of your circumstances and, as well, how to release your ego’s limited and limiting expectations. This, too, is another key to becoming a Master—acceptance, appreciation and letting go! Once you see the bigger picture this becomes so much easier.

So, lastly, to understand God/Goddess and to develop a relationship with Him, you must be like Her. You are made in His/Her image. You are a reflection of the Source that created you. Be like who you ARE and you will “know!”

The more of God/Goddess in your life, the less needs and voids there will be in your life. Fill up with God/Goddess and you will never again run on empty again or feel alone!

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VII of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So, in order to bring in these positive, life-affirming energies and for you to return to the Land of your Soul, spoken about previously, talk to God/Goddess all the time; and, while you are at it, feel free to talk to Her/Him about anything! Yes, anything--just as you would with a loved one or a very close friend!

Ask Her/Him questions and trust that you will receive a response. God/Goddess communicates through Love. And Love is everywhere and messages are hidden in His/Her countless expressions Love.

For instance, notice the beautiful cloud formations in the sky, or the warm gentle breeze or the smile of a child, or the beauty of a tree. All these are talking to you! All these are expressing God/Goddess’s Love for you and are answers to your questions, if you just know how to “listen,” if you know the “code.” All of creation is a gift of Love from God.

By contemplating the Love that is all around you, clear answers come to you--no, not through the logical mind, but, instead, through your heart and through the intuitive, non-cognitive right brain.

The language of God/Goddess is Love. If you want to hear God/Goddess and develop a deep personal bond and relationship with Her, you must learn “Love.” You must see Love, look for Love, be Love, become Love, give Love, open to receive Love. Then you’ll get IT!!!! Then you will be able to speak face to face! Then you will find the answers to all your questions.

Also, whenever you find yourself with questions about why you find yourself in a “challenging” situation regarding your relationships, health or wealth, you might want to ask your Higher Self the following question: What lesson is there in this situation that will help me to learn how to more fully and completely love and accept myself or another?

So, rather than trying to avoid the situations you find yourself in, this process will help you to learn how to face them, embrace them and then, after having done that, you will be better able to replace or transmute them. Just ask your Higher Self or God/Goddess to guide you and the keys and answers to your healing will be given. But you must ask and then “listen.”

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part VI of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

The best way, I have found, to bring in more of these positive, loving energies is to talk to God/Goddess. Yes, literally chat all day long with God/Goddess. You “chat” all day long with all kinds of other characters in your mind, why not make God/Goddess your primary companion.

At this point, I would like you to literally stop and ask yourself: Who are my primary companions?

Who are you talking to most of the time: your “little self” with all its fears and limiting beliefs; your “imagined” enem(y)ies; your long lost friend; a fictional character; a TV personality? Who are you talking to and why?

And, most importantly ask yourself, “Is this doing me any good?

Why waste energy on “someone” or something that is of no benefit to you!

Also, why assume that it is impossible to talk to God/Goddess and to have a personal relationship with Her, if you have never really tried it? God/Goddess, aka, the “Big Kahuna,” started it all and is certainly the most experienced at Unconditional Love.

So, the real question here is, why do you keep “looking for Love in all the wrong places?”

Go to the Source and give it a try. What in Heaven’s Name do you have to lose--a boring, banal relationship with projections of your “lower self?” Please take the time to slow down enough to notice the company you keep! And when you do, I can assure you that you will want to make a change.

We are meant to be a human expression of God/Goddess. So, why not embody that now? Why not come to truly know your Source? What a great way to spend your time and energy!

Also, if you truly want to build up your self-worth, believe me, this is the best way to do it. Just imagine having a personal, loving, uplifting, eternal relationship with All That Is, your Source. It really doesn’t get any better than this!

So, return to the Land of your Soul. Get back to who you are as a Soul—no longer identify yourself with your present personality and lifetime! This will help you to really ground yourself and bring more fun and freedom into your life.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part V of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Yes, God/Goddess made it simple to create the life you want and to release your negativity, but it isn’t that easy to change your old habitual ways of thinking and feeling-- especially since you have practiced them in many lifetimes and, as well, have had them reinforced by your family and by society in general.

So, this is all a process in which you gradually, like peeling off the layers of an onion, become aware of more and more of the layers of limiting beliefs and negativity that you participate in, and as you do, you gradually release them.

So, to most expeditiously facilitate this process for yourself, begin by becoming very aware of your thoughts.

What do you think about most? What do you worry about most often? What issue, situation, or person is most dominant? Also, ask yourself, what thoughts am I having that I can not let go of? Just sit and listen to yourself; you’ll be amazed at what you find!

This is no different than driving a car. In order to drive a car you must know how to start it, steer it, etc. and then while it is in motion, you must be very cognizant of where you are spatially and where you want to go and where others are relative to you. But you didn’t learn how to do this all at once. It took time. And what was initially a complicated task to achieve, namely driving a car, has now become routine and easy.

So, too, if you give the ruminations of your mind as much attention as you did the mechanics of driving your car, you will gradually become a Master of your thoughts, and, therefore, a Master of your Life.

So, practice raising your level of awareness with regard to how the negativity comes in for you. Also notice what thought patterns leak your energy and then let them go and bring in more positivity.

So, you gradually notice the patterns and then you gradually release them and in time you have created a whole new reality for yourself.

You do this one step at a time: “Inch by inch, it is a cinch; yard by yard, it is hard.”

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IV of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

Your mind is the problem and your mind is the solution!

God/Goddess made it simple for you to get out of this trap where your mind is both the problem and the solution. All you have to do is to shift out of the fear, anger, worry, etc that you usually are focused on and instead move into trust and gratitude!

Shift what you place your attention on from negative to positive; and what you see and experience in your life will be radically transformed. You can change yourself, if you change your self; that is, if you change your thinking!

So, slow down enough to take the time to ask yourself the following: What leaks your energy out, what disconnects you from Source? And when you do, you’ll see that negative thinking is the culprit.

Negativity closes down your ability to receive the Universal prime energy of Love and Wisdom that is there waiting for you to tap into. It puts up a defensive barrier to all the pure positive energy that the Universe wants to pour into you.

Positive thoughts and expectations draw in this pure, positive life force energy through your crown chakra. But when you are in a negative loop, you restrict the flow of these positive, loving energies to you. You close the door to them, so to speak.

The experiences you have in your life are created by the variety of thoughts you have. Happy thoughts create happy and healthy experiences; negative thoughts attract and create unhealthy experiences. You get to choose.

So, too, different cells are created in your body by the different thoughts you dwell on. Happy thoughts create happy and healthy cells, negative thoughts create unhealthy cells. You get to choose.

So, it is very important to observe the limiting beliefs you have that restrict you. Take the time to just “be” quiet with your Self and you will see your patterns. Notice what comes up.

Ask yourself: What makes me lose it? What blocks me from bringing it all in? And then after you identify your energy drains, choose to let them go and then bring in more joy and love.

More about how to do this in the next blog post.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part III of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous parts.

So many people get caught up in the details and minutiae of life and miss the bigger picture. Many see the dot on the top of the “i” but completely miss the “i” as well as the word that the “i” is contained in, least of all do they even imagine that there is a sentence, paragraph, chapter and whole book that that “i” is a part of. As well, they miss that the book is part of a library that is part of a culture, that is part of a planet, that is part of a solar system, that is..., that is …, ad infinitum…a part of…

We are so much more than that little “i” that we identify ourselves with. We are not the ego mind, we are the Self! We are the Divine Self!

So, I hope to help you to better see the bigger picture that the words above are pointing to through what I will be sharing with you in this series of blogs.

So, how does one learn how to love purely and unconditionally?

It all boils down to developing your own very personal relationship with God/Goddess.

As well, it depends on you developing a very direct connection with your Higher Self.

And the greatest tool you have to help you create this special, personal relationship with God/Goddess and your Higher Self is all your Guides, Mentors, Masters, Angels, etc—your heavenly crew of helpers who are there solely for this purpose—namely they are there to help guide you into a very deep connection, “communion” and oneness with your Self or Soul and with God/Goddess.

These Guides, Mentors, Master, Angels, Extra-Terrestrials, or whatever name or identity you want to give to them, really do exist and they really are here to help you—really!

You are way more powerful than you ever dreamed of, and have all of God/Goddess’s Love and Wisdom surrounding you in every way, wherever you go and whatever you do! That is what your Angels, Guides and Mentors want you to know and feel. You are not alone. You are not a “spiritual orphan.” You are a very powerful being who has a whole host of help at your side!

This is Part III of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part II of a twelve part blog. Part I begins on 05/14/07. In order to better understand what follows, it would be best to read the previous part.

In order for any of what I will be sharing with you in this series of blog posts to “work” for you, you will have to not only suspend judgment, but also let go of trying to make sense of any of this with your ego, left-brain mind.

“All of reality is not thinking” as Carl Jung wrote. So, in order to get into these new realities, you will have to shift out of your old habitual way of receiving and processing information, that is by using your left-brain and shift instead into a whole new, non-cognitive, non-linear, right-brain way of “knowing,” receiving and processing information.

So, just let go and enjoy the ride! Allow yourself to enter into other realities--other dimensions, other paradigms, other ways of “knowing.” Let a whole new series of worlds open up to you—ones that the mystics and sages of old have been pointing to for millennia.

So, join me now on a magical, mystery tour into your Self and the world of Unconditional Love and Perennial Wisdom.

Ultimately, from my point of view, it all comes down to the following question:

What is my Purpose in this Life?

And, for me, at least, the answer to that question all boils down to learning how to Love, embrace, appreciate and accept myself, my experiences, others and the whole Universe unconditionally. My purpose in life is definitely not about acquiring, skills, power, possessions, positions, etc. It’s all about learning how to Love.

Of course, in the process of learning how to love unconditionally, you may, in fact, acquire some skills, power, possessions, positions, etc. But it’s not about any of these “things” that your life is really all about.

Actually, you don’t need any of the above “things” to learn how to love; poverty and misfortune can teach you the same lesson. You have your experiences simply and solely to help you, as quickly and permanently as possible, to learn how to love at higher and higher levels of purity and unconditionality.

This is Part II of a twelve part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part I of a twelve part blog.

This next series of blog posts can be read on their own, though they are a continuation of a theme that I have been developing the past month or so. In order to get the full context for what follows you might want to go back and read my blog posts entitled: What Does it Mean to Have a “Personal” Relationship with God/Goddess? posted 04/16/07 and Who are You Really Talking to All Day Long and Why! The Art of Mindfulness, posted 04/30/07.

If we take the time to become aware of it, we discover that we are constantly having some kind of an internal dialogue going on in our minds. And as I wrote in my earlier blogs most of it is repetitious, boring and usually rather negative.

What I would like to share with you in this next series of blog posts is how one can channel this previously mostly wasted energy of negative mind drivel into something very wonderful, life transforming and enriching.

Instead of spending most your energies rehashing old, worn-out scenarios or dialogues in your mind, why not take that time and energy to consciously and intentionally develop a personal relationship with God/Goddess, your Higher Self and your Guides?

I realize that for some of you the above statement, in and of itself, may seem rather absurd. But I ask you to reserve judgment until you have both read through what I have to offer and tried what I suggest.

Yes, I understand that many believe that a personal relationship with God/Goddess is either unimportant or impossible, but until you have taken the time to try it out, please hold off judging the proposition. [See my previous blog posts referred to above for more about this.]

Also, many believe developing a relationship with our Guides is also rather preposterous-- that any such relationship is basically a projection and not real. Well, that’s what I thought about it at one point, but as time went on, I began to develop a very real connection and communion with an incredible group of energies that was more “real” than real. I have no doubt that what I presently experience is not projection. It is very, very real.

As well, for me the concept of connecting with my Higher Self had also been one that was, initially, quite hard to grasp. It all felt so amorphous, ethereal and hard to believe, but, in time, I was able to learn how to shift into an awareness that allowed me to “hear” and “listen” to my Self, that is my Higher Self. And, boy, oh boy, it has been such a blessing and wellspring of incredible comfort, guidance and wisdom since then.

This is Part I of a twelve part blog.

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"Who are You Really Talking to All Day Long and Why! The Art of Mindfulness, Part II Podcast"


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part IV of a four part blog. See my blog post of 04/30/07 for Part I.

So, from my point of view, we are literally meant to “whistle a happy tune” and that happy tune then creates our reality. We can, if we wish, let go of the past and focus instead on the present. We can look for the good in situations and for the beauty in the present moment and let of go of old negative fixations. We can trust that the future is a peaceful, positive place that we are heading towards rather than a fearful void of unknown disasters.

We get to choose all of this! We really do!

So, be very mindful about who and what you invite into your internal dialogues. It has a profound impact on your life. When you invite anger, you experience anger; when you invite fear, you experience fear; when you invite worry, you experience worry. On the other hand, when you invite joy, you experience joy; when you invite peace, you experience peace; when you invite love, you experience love.

The kind of thoughts you choose are no different from the kind of friends you choose in your life. Who you hang out with, determines who you bring home with you. And who you bring home with you, determines the quality of your life.

So, choose your thoughts consciously and wisely. Choose who you speak with internally very carefully. Ask yourself why you are having these thoughts. This is so important because if you chose poor thoughts, you create poverty and live down in the dumps; but if you choose lofty thoughts, you create a life of freedom, joy and love and live a regal life.

So, choose very carefully who you are talking to throughout your day; your life depends on it.

In my next series of blog posts, I will offer suggestions about what I believe is the best kind of internal dialogue to have.

Rather than talking to all these disparate voices, instead why not talk to God/Goddess, your Higher Self or your Guides on a consistent basis? You’d be amazed at how different your life will become and how much more in touch with who you really are you will become when you do this. As well, you will discover a very profound place of peace, love and contentment.

This is Part IV of a four part blog.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part III of a four Part blog. See my blog post of 04/30/07 for Part I.

So, it is rather amazing to realize how much of what we think about in the present is just a rehash of what we have been thinking about in the past. And it usually is at best boring, if not down-right negative. It’s no wonder that nothing ever changes in our lives! It’s no wonder that life is rather mundane and tedious!

An interesting fact about all this is that modern science has come to understand that every thought we have is also connected to an emotion. And these thoughts/emotions that we are having trigger “pictures in our minds.” And these “pictures in our minds” are experienced by us as very “real” both psychologically and physiologically.

Whatever we are thinking about creates these “pictures in our minds.” Whether what we are thinking about is actually something that we are physically experiencing in the moment or whether it is a fanciful projection into the future or the rehashing of the past--all of this is experienced by us as “real.”

Our subconscious does not distinguish between what is actually happening to us and what we are imagining is happening to us.

So, our reality is purely, totally shaped by what we choose to focus our minds/emotions on—period!

That’s why it is so important to pay close attention to your thoughts because once launched, they gather momentum and shape the experiences you are having.

So, minimizing most of the internal dialogue, especially the negative stuff, releases you from the clutches of a downward spiral of thinking. If you allow yourself to get into these downward spirals, you create both a negative emotional experience and a negative physical experience for yourself.

Science has discovered that we release the same hormones and have the same muscular contractions in our body when we are actually experiencing an event and also when we are “just” imagining it!

So, why not focus on all the good around us so that that we can then experience that same good within us?

This is Part III of a four part blog. Part IV will be posted on 05/09/07.

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

Life Mastery's Friday Weekly Podcast:

"Who are You Really Talking to All Day Long and Why! The Art of Mindfulness, Part I Podcast"


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(length 9:41 minutes)


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Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part II of a four part blog. See my blog post of 04/30/07 for Part I.

It is rather interesting to note how busy and active our minds are! It is amazing how much energy we expend towards “thinking” all the time. And it is amazing how much of that “thinking” is either takes us into the past or projects us into the future.

So, little of it is focused on what is happening in the here and now! So little of it pays any attention to what is in front of us at the moment. So little of it gives us the opportunity to “stop and smell the roses” or to appreciate the sunset or receive a smile or look into a child’s wondrous eyes.

It’s usually all a pile of mind drivel that we place our attention on—really rather boring and monotonous stuff. We become so self-absorbed in little meaningless, repetitious dramas that drain and distract us from what is happening in the present moment!

We have often heard it said that children have a very short attention span. That may be true, but I have observed that most adults have even shorter ones. Their minds are constantly jumping around from one thought or scenario to another. The Hindus call it “the drunken monkey mind.” It is really an incredible waste of energy and quite something to observe in action!

But why? Why do we get stuck in these quagmires of the mind? Why do we race around in our minds, but ultimately end up going nowhere? Why do we walk down the same street each day and fall into the same old hole? Why do we repeat the same old experiences and wonder why life is so meaningless? Why? Have you stopped to ask yourself why? Or do you think this is just the way it is?

Actually, all it is--is a habit! Albeit, a bad habit, but it’s all just a habit. And habits can be changed, if they are first identified, that is made conscious, and then they can gradually be changed.

This is Part II of a four part blog. See my blog post of 05/07/07 for Part III

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink

This is Part I of a four Part blog. See my blog entry of 05/02/07 for Part II.

Who are you really talking to all day long and why? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself this question? Have you ever stopped long enough to listen in—to be mindful?

Have you slowed down enough to realize that almost always there is an internal dialogue or monologue going on within you? And if you have slowed down enough to listen to this dialogue, you have come to realize that you are in fact talking to someone, so to speak.

You are either talking to yourself or to someone else. And, if you are talking to yourself, you are either being self-critical or appreciating yourself. Actually most of our internal dialogue is about us. And unfortunately, most of it is negative.

Or, if you are not talking to yourself, you are having a “fantasy” dialogue with someone else, whether it is your partner, your child, your dog or cat, a character in a novel you are currently reading, your mother-in-law, a parent, a friend, an “enemy,” a commentator on TV, a political figure you agree or disagree with, your neighbor next door, an old friend, someone you want to meet, a celebrity, a TV character, etc. The list is rather endless and rather amusing when you look at it.

Or, if you are not having a dialogue with one of these or a million other characters, perhaps you are rehashing or reliving a past experience, be it a good one or a “bad” one. Or perhaps you are imagining a future dialogue or a meeting with someone or anticipating a situation that you know will be coming up.

Just take the time a couple of times during the day to slow down and take note of what you are thinking about. I do not mean when you are in the midst of accomplishing a task, but I suggest you do this when you are idle or alone. What you discover will amaze you. The amount of banal repetition will, as well.

This is Part I of a four Part blog. Part II will be posted on 05/02/07

Posted by Yanni at 4:00 AM | Permalink