The Inspiration Nation

Have you seen the Nike video ad about courage?  It is awesome.

It gives me chills of joy and excitement to watch it.

It inspires me.

It also teaches me a little something about effective marketing.  If I can connect emotionally to my potential clients, I don't have to sell them.

They're already sold.

Just Do It.

Okay.  I have to apologize that you'll have to wait a few more minutes for that short video clip I wanted to share with you about what people are saying about Dov's programs.

I just looked at my email there's a contest in progress that you can enter!  Since time is of the essence -- it ends at midnight tomorrow -- I wanted to tell you about it right away.

(Apparently there were other contests that I should have known about and told you about, but as I mentioned in my last post, the month of March seemed to disappear into thin air for me!  I must have missed the notices.)

Dov Baron just last week launched his new eBook, The Secret Beyond the Law of Attraction.  There have been some questions about how to order, why anyone would want to purchase it, what makes this book different than all the other books on the Law of Attraction, whether this is just another bunch of hype, and other healthy skepticism-type questions like that.

Get the answers by clicking over to:  http://www.secretbeyondthelawofattraction.com/answers.htm

And for the contest where you have the opportunity to win

• a copy of Dov Baron's Equation for Manifestation Audio Technology CD (I've used this myself with amazing results, as I you can see in my testimonial at this link.  See me live in the flesh by scrolling down to the handsome black man, dressed in black with the spikey hair!), and
• a copy of Dov Baron's new eBook, The Secret Beyond the Law of Attraction (at this link, you'll see among many testimonials, one from my partner, the writer and poet Chad Helder.  Scroll down the page to see it.)
  

Wow.  Where did the month of March go?

I haven't wanted for things to talk about here, that's for sure.  Life's been a whirlwind of activity and excitement.

Whenever I experience a Dov Baron event (particularly the multi-day intensives), my physical and emotional body is (are?) thrown for a loop.

After my first event that lasted more than one day (The event was Attracting Force, a three-day event from March 30 to April 1, 2007), it was such a shock to my system that I experienced the worse diarrhea of my life.  It was so intense (and lasted for 4 days) that at one point my partner wanted to take me to the Emergency Room.

This was no mere stomach flu.

Neither was it unique to me.  I had previously learned from spiritual entrepreneur, Joe Nunziata, that when there are great emotional breakthroughs, very often this shock creates physical disturbances as a result of the clearing of emotional junk.

And when I explained my experience to my friend, Darren Little, he said a similar thing happened to him, only his aftermath manifested as violent vomiting.

I say all of this, not to scare you away, but to illustrate how powerful Dov Baron's programs are and how even small mental and emotional shifts cause dramatic changes, even monumental physical expression.

This is a good thing.  Change is always painful (even good change) because our natural inclination is to resist, even when we think we're not resisting!  I'd rather go through momentary stress as my mind and body adjusts than to prolong unconscious miscreating another minute!

After Quantum Soulmates for Couples that Chad and I just attended, I am definitely in a process of adjustment.  We both are.  But thankfully there's been no near trips to the ER!

Many, many amazing things have been happening in my life, my work, my relationships, and my business this past month.  It's just been a challenge keeping up with all my commitments, since immediately following the 5-day Couples Retreat, I experienced a dominant, general air of malaise -- a stupor of sorts that fought against the level of productivity I would have preferred.

I say all that only to say that I'm back in the saddle again, and very happy to share with you my journey of all things inspirational.....and the journey of finding the inspiration in that which on the surface doesn't appear quite so inspiring.

The second reason I say all of that is to make the point that if you want to get on the fast track to improving every aspect of your life, and are tired of stumbling along on your own, get yourself to a Dov Baron event.  There's an incredible one-day event coming up in Vancouver, BC that you won't want to miss, called The Secret Beyond the Law of Attraction.

(There is a charge of between $49 -- a special going on right now -- and $549 -- the regular price -- but if you're TRULY interested in attending, ask me how you can get in at no charge, as my guest.)

The program is nowhere near as intense as Dov's multi-day events (It is an introductory program, after all -- no fear of vomiting or diarrhea!), but you will be BLOWN AWAY at the content, the interactive experiences, and the practical tools you will take away just in one day.

In my next post here on The Inspiration Nation, I will share with you a short clip where one lady was so impressed by Dov's program that she said "Excuse the expression, but he (Dov Baron) kicks ass."

As for me, here's a copy of a thank you letter I sent to Dov Baron after I attended my first one-day event last year on March 17, 2007:

18 March

Dr. Dõv:

Twenty-four hours have elapsed since the end of Resonating Riches, and I'm still reverberating.  "My cup runneth over."  I learned so much about abundance, resonance, energy-vibration, how we create our individual reality and how we are simultaneously connected to all & everyone in The Universe.

Thank you, Dõv, for stepping up & stepping out by sharing all of you with us.  What a blessing, what a gift you are, Dõv -- and because of you and because of this program I am on fire.

I know that I am no longer trapped by my life.  No, instead I am (and from now on forever will be) Master and Creator of my life just the way I want and deserve it.

Thank you especially for your honesty.  You're not afraid to "give it to us straight" -- which is the true mark of love and compassion.

Mere words fail to express the depth of my gratitude.

With joy & heartfelt thanks,

Tshombé

 OK.  I've bended your ear long enough!  I'm off to look for that clip I know you'll want to see......

Last evening, Chad and I were at a Winter Soltice holiday gathering (The precise moment of the 2007 solstice was
Image by spackletoe, via a Creative Commons license earlier today, Saturday, December 22, 1:08 A.M. EST, in case you were wondering).

I was talking with a woman with whom Chad works, who asked me what I was doing (in the way of work) that gives me joy and permits me to live my purpose at the same time (I might say that the two are one and the same.....or at least very intricately linked).

I do a few different things, but two years ago, I discovered life coaching and immediately knew that if there was such a thing as a calling, this one was it.  I told her that I'm progressively doing less of those other things, and pursuing with more focus the coaching side of my business.

Coaching nurtures my spirit and permits me to inspire others to likewise discover and pursue that which nurtures them.  As a business coach, I help people (specifically real estate agents and other progressive entrepreneurs) merge who they are and what they value with what they do for work.

Coaching and coaching skills are the catalyst that help people create money and meaning in their lives, all with less stress, more fun, and more fulfillment.  This is my joy.

After explaining this to her, she (who has herself been seeking a way to do work that nurtures her, as well as provides a vehicle through which she can positively impact how others treat themselves, the Earth, and the environment) mentioned that friends and colleagues have been consistently commenting on how nonjudgmental and embracing of other people she is.

They have been telling her that she has a gift for deeply listening to people and really seeing what's underneath and behind the words they say.  Because of this natural ability, her friends have told her she would be a great life coach and should explore coaching as a possible line of work.

Her response was that she has been doing this all her life.

"It's natural for me to help people, so why would I ever ask people to pay me for something that comes easy for me?"

Have you ever asked yourself a similar question?

If she really thought about what she had just said, I think she'd agree that it not only didn't make any sense, but it also revealed a mentality of lack and feelings of unworthiness.

Why shouldn't she be paid (and paid well) for providing a service that came easily for her?

It's interesting how people seem to think that if what they're doing isn't difficult and hard and a struggle, it's not of any value.

This truly is ridiculous.  We don't need any more martyrs.

We need people who wholly embrace their talents and what they love to do and incorporate that into what they do for work in the service of others.  Work then becomes a joy, not a job.

Think about it.  We have no problem paying a doctor -- particularly a specialist -- for what he enjoys doing and what comes naturally for him.

We don't deny that a lawyer who is excellent at what she does and who finds joy in doing it that she should receive money in exchange for her services.

The same goes for firemen, city planners, laborers, artists, politicians, restauranteurs, mechanics and sports heros.

We gladly pay them because they enjoy what we don't.  They have talents and skills that we do not have.....nor do we necessarily want to have them.

"If you are a natural at coaching," I asked Chad's co-worker, "and love helping people in this way, why wouldn't you study and practice and hone those natural abilities and get paid for not only improving the quality of their lives but also nurturing your own spirit at the same time?"

Life is too short to struggle, especially on purpose, just to say at the end of the day, "We worked hard."  In fact, if you're struggling, your doing something incorrectly.  At the very least, you are not following your joy.

Find what brings your joy, follow and pursue that joy, and find a way to get paid for it, and you'll never "work" another day in your life -- guaranteed. 

This weekend, I was talking with my mom and my aunt and we agreed that it could be a pretty hard pill to swallow to consider that we might be addicted to, or in love with (or addicted to) our pain and suffering.

On the surface, to say such a thing seems a bit ridiculous.

But the truth is that we are all taught that the way to get ahead in this world is to work hard, to put our nose to the grindstone, to struggle.  If struggle is not attached to the processsing of accomplishing something, we may have been told that we were lazy.

As far as suffering is concerned, we may have had misinterpretations of the Bible thrust upon us, convincing us to welcome suffering "for great is your reward in heaven." 

Maybe all that struggling is unnecessary.  Maybe "they" were wrong.

My mother, for example, has struggled all of her life and has worked harder than nearly anyone else I've known.  Unfortunately, all that struggling hasn't conducted her closer to the fulfillment of her dreams.

I'm sure you've seen people in your life like my mother.  Maybe you can personally relate.

I've been learning from spiritual teachers that life has a grain to it, and it's more joyful to go with the flow rather than against the grain.  To go against the grain -- what we've been taught to do all our lives -- is resistance ("What you resist persists") that takes us away from joy, away from authentic abundance, not any closer.

And who doesn't want more joy in their life?

I think we all know that they is an easier way.  Deep in ourselves, we know what is true and untrue for us.

Dov Baron at is mind-blowing (no pun intended) personal development program, Mind Mastery, referred to this as "discernment."  The opposite of "judgment" -- which is presuming to know what's best for others and imposing that view on them -- personal discernment is all about us, all about choosing for ourselves what is true and right and good.

I like that.  Personal discernment is personal empowerment.

Ease and flow.  I love those words.

And no struggling.

During this Season of Gratitude, I am pleased and thankful to share with you here some inspirational thoughts from my good friend, Andrew Mugford.  Thanks, Mugs! :)

-- TB

Andrew Mugford, Accountability Coach

 
Are you thankful for the people who are and have come into your life? Are you thankful for the lessons they've taught you?

I'll tell you something I've learned.

If you want to lead a great life, start from a position of thankfulness. Start with an 'attitude of gratitude'. Make a list of all the things you are grateful for in your life. Read this list out loud in the morning and before you go to bed.

Sound strange? Think of the alternative? Actually, don't. Don't think of what you don't have.

Always focus on what you DO have... and watch that grow!

A

In the US, November is a month where "Thankfulness" is on the minds of many.

What does being thankful mean to you?  For what or for whom are you thankful?

I am particularly inspired by two women on the 'net who are holding the gratitude torch high and proud, inviting all of us to join them.

Colleen Wainwright ( AKA "the communicatrix,") is in the middle of a 21-day exploration of how to be grateful when life seems to be offering anything and everything but a bowl of cherries.  I love Colleen's incredibly inspirational series, as it reminds me of cancer survivor, Susan Metter's recipe for making fabulous Lemon Margaritas when you appear to getting a lot of lemons thrown your way.

Nneka (whose first name, by the way, is also my sister's middle name!) over at Balanced Life Center is celebrating her 2nd Annual Season of Gratitude, where thankful people across the blogosphere are focusing on gratitude and heartfelt appreciation.

Concerning thankfulness, I recently looked up the word "thankful" and its related terms:  "grateful" and "appreciate."

What do you make of this?

thankful |ˈθa ng kfəl| |ˌθøŋkfəl| |ˌθaŋkfʊl| |-f(ə)l|
adjective
pleased and relieved : [with clause ] they were thankful that the war was finally over | [with infinitive ] I was very thankful to be alive.
• expressing gratitude and relief : an earnest and thankful prayer.

---

grateful |ˈgrātfəl| |ˌgreɪtfəl| |ˌgreɪtfʊl| |-f(ə)l|
adjective
feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful : I'm very grateful to you for all your help.

---

appreciate |əˈprē sh ēˌāt| |əˌpriʃiˈeɪt| |əˌpriːʃɪeɪt| |-sɪ-|
verb [ trans. ]
1 recognize the full worth of : she feels that he does not appreciate her.
• be grateful for (something) : I'd appreciate any information you could give me.
2 understand (a situation) fully; recognize the full implications of : they failed to appreciate the pressure he was under | [with clause ] I appreciate that you cannot be held totally responsible.
3 [ intrans. ] rise in value or price : they expected the house to appreciate in value.

How do you see the interplay of these three aspects of thankfulness?  I think true gratitude encompasses all three, don't you?

It may be surprising to see "appreciate" so closely linked with being thankful and yet, it's meaning encompasses the concepts of worth, value, and esteem.

This time last year, I discussed gratefulness within the deeper context of appreciation.  You can read it by clicking HERE.  I'd love to get your thoughts on it.

November is a great time to remind ourselves of the magic of gratitude, but our thankful attitude and grateful heart needn't be confined to one month of the year.  Instead, let us persist in honoring everyone and everything in our lives each day -- prizing, valuing, appreciating.

This past weekend, Chad and I experienced for the second time a gift surpassing all others.  We attended Dr. Dov Baron's 3-day intensive workshop, Attracting Force, where we experienced firsthand how to release fears that have been holding us back from being all that we are meant to be.

Everyone on Earth should attend Attracting Force, and really, all of Dov's life-changing personal development programs.

Chad wrote a poem this past spring that reveals how to release fear and enter into joy.  Every time I read it, I feeeeeeeel the magic of every word as it sends chills up my spine.

You can read it here on The Inspiration Nation or on Chad's own website.  It is nothing short of inspirational and inspiring.

If you click on the link on the audio player below, you can listen to me reading Skinny-Dipping in the Unified Field as you follow along.

I'm excited to hear your impressions!

It never ceases to amaze me how much there is in the world that is inspirational.  Whoever said "S**t Happens" must have had their eyes perpetually closed because there is no end to the abundance of inspiration and love in the world; they're everywhere you look.

Just a few hours ago, there was suddenly a vibrant double ring on our doorbell.  When I got to the door (reluctantly, I admit, since I was engaged in work and didn't particularly wish to be disturbed), the visitors were nowhere to be found, but in their place on the porch was a marvelous and grand bouquet of stunning sun flowers together with a card to me and Chad telling us how wonderful and beautiful and amazing we are!

My joy was unmatched in that moment!

To be sure, we have the best, most loving (and beautiful!) friends in the world (Thank you, Andrea and Phil!). Now, that's inspirational!

Just now I came across a sheet of paper on which I had written several other thoughts on what it takes to be in a consistently inspired state.....or, to get into one in the first place, if we're feeling decidedly uninspired.

They each state a different truth, but they are related.  Taken together, they are very powerful messages and very inspirational.  Don't you think so?  Do they inspire you?

"Action is faith made manifest" -- Dr. Dov Baron

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

'An object in motion tends to stay in motion'-- Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion (paraphrased)

"Faith without works is dead" -- James 2:20 (The Bible)

"Out of action inspiration is borne ." -- Tshombe Brown

What can you begin right now that will leave you energized and inspired?  Don't wait to see the whole staircase.  Get moving!

Isn't life beautiful?  Isn't life Inspirational?!! 

As some of you who have been following this blog for awhile know, I have been making a decision each day to not listen or read the news (including on the web).  It is rarely uplifting or inspiring, so I say "Who needs it?!"

This has been a big step for me, since I used to be quite addicted to the news and the media.

Fortunately, there are great web sites, like the Good News Network, that proactively seek out and report on all the good that is occuring in the world.

If you haven't heard about it already, I wanted to introduce you to a new 24/7 resource on the web (launched May 15, 2007) that promises to offer consistent value in the form or inspiring, uplifting, and enlightened programming.  Is is called The Manifest-Station.

The Manifest-Station is an Internet TV Station devoted to providing programming that changes the world by raising our global vibration and collective consciousness.

There is no charge to access the programming, and here are some of the features and benefits you can expect when you surf over to The Manifest-Station.  You will:

• Observe as the worlds most enthralling teachers, guides, and visionaries unfold life’s mysteries into enlightening answers that propel you ever forward in creating your grandest life experience.
• Switch from low-energy, problem oriented programming to a solution-focused, high-energy programming alternative.
• Log on anywhere in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in true television style formatting.
• Raise your conscious vibration anytime day or night. Use The Manifest-Station as your daily bread.
• Receive a weekly, updated program guide and choose the programs that speak to you.
• Receive access to seminars, lectures, and workshops that are provided only for our viewers.
• Become part of a global community of  like-minded beings.
• Be the first to hear about new product launches, book releases, seminars, retreats, workshops, and events worldwide.
• Deepen your connection with these teachings, laws, and principles
  

Among the many spiritual leaders, teachers and coaches that have joined in providing valuable content to this new Manifest-Station creation are none other than my esteemed mentors and friends, Joe Nunziata and Dov Baron.

I am very excited to see how the programming develops, and I hope you will share with me your impressions of this new, inspirational good-news station.