Some time ago I decided to go cold turkey and give up Facebook for a month and half. This decision was largely a result of reading Glen’s personal challenge post over at PluginID. Yes I’m a thief

Being the typical college student, (or rather any one of the  80 million users of Facebook), I found that I spent a great deal of time on the social networking platform: usually chatting with friends, keeping in touch with relatives, or finding reasons not to do work or study.

Having become attached to Facebook over the past few years, I thought it would be an interesting experiment to go on a Facebook fast. To make sure I succeeded in my own personal challenge, I had a good buddy of mine change my password so I was not able to cheat. I know.. it’s pretty depressing I had to go to those lengths, however I was fully committed to pulling it off. I began my Facebook fast late September and ended it on November 1st.

For such a  a simple “experiment” I did have my share of insights as a result. Here are some of the things I learned.

Time wasters are everywhere:

In an increasingly electronic world, there is an abundance of time wasters everywhere. Things such as online games, movies, and television consume vast amounts of our time. It doesn’t matter which form you pursue there will will always be something that can keep you “entertained” for hours on end. Having no access to Facebook, I unfortunately  still found my free time shifting to other mindless activities.

In this day and age we are constantly challenged to remain focused on the task at hand, which I admit is not easy. While giving up Facebook did increase my productivity in some regards, I still found myself wasting a fair amount of time on meaningless tasks. With Facebook gone, I spent a lot of time playing computer games with some of my friends on my dorm floor.

Clearly I need to continue to develop my self control as there will continue to be distractions that I must stay clear from. The Facebook fast did wonders for my awareness on this issue.

We are social creatures:

One of the reasons Facebook is so “addicting” is because it partly satisfies our need to be social. As human beings, we are inherently social creatures and Facebook helps relieve this desire. With millions online at any given time Facebook offers an effortless way to connect with someone in an instant.

While Facebook is undoubtedly a useful tool at keeping in touch and maintaining a solid connection, many often choose to go overboard. It is imperative that our desire to be social be met with a mature blend of self restraint.

Looking back it’s almost pathetic at how attached I’ve become to Facebook and social media in general. At the same time I feel social networking is immensely valuable as well. Finding the middle ground is something that we must all do.

Social media can be addicting:

Put simply.. social networking can be addicting, and should not be taken lightly.  Online relationships are in no way shape or form a supplement for real life experience. A fair amount of individuals confuse their online life with their real one, which unfortunately hinders their ability to truly connect.

Social media gives an immense amount of power which can often get to our heads. Never before have we had the ability to connect with so many people so easily. Online social media is only the beginning. Authentic relationships must extend into a physical form.

While I have made my fair share of relationships through an online medium, I much prefer a real life connection. It is important that we remind ourselves that social media is only one way to connect not the only way to connect. Taking time off Facebook gave me some much needed perspective on the issue.

The real world is nice:

While I do gain pleasure connecting with people through an online medium, nothing beats real life experience. While this statement appears to be common sense, I cannot tell you how many people fail to live this one out.

Without Facebook I didn’t have a crutch to initiate relationships, so I found myself to be a bit more outgoing. Instead of simply adding a person I knew on Facebook, I had to go and talk face to face. Rather than sitting in my room connecting online, I found myself more and more involved with people in real life. This is something I could get used to

Because we often get caught up in our online reality,
we often forget how magnificent the real world really is.

If you’re important people will find a way to reach you:

One of the more pleasant surprises of giving up Facebook was I was still able to maintain my most prized relationships for the most part. While there were a few that suffered due to living in different countries, I definitely  kept in contact with people that meant the most to me.

This just reassured to me that idea of if you are important to someone you will be able to keep in contact, regardless of the medium. While Facebook certainly makes contact easier at times , there are  plenty of other ways to connect as well.

I normally don’t talk on the phone very much but my phone usage was way up this past month.

Self control:

What habits have you become a slave to? Could you give up Facebook or Twitter for a month? Far too many people let their daily habits control them rather than the other way around. It only takes some conscious effort to realize that we are in complete control of our lives.

I invite you to challenge yourself in some area of your life. I know giving up Facebook was a great lesson for me and I’d happily do it again.. in a year or so

P.S If you happen to use Mac I highly recommend  the free application called ” Self Control”

Post from: A Boundless World

5 Powerful Lessons I Learned From A Facebook Fast

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Watching documentaries is a wonderful way to expand your awareness of the world around you. The following are 3 reasons  why watching documentaries is beneficial.

Critical Thinking:

One of the main reasons I enjoy watching documentaries is because it forces me to view a specific problem from an array of different perspectives. Many documentaries are inherently biased, so it is important to have a holistic view of the topic being discussed. Even though many documentaries clearly have their own agenda, many times they still provide a solid understanding of issue at hand.

Recently I watched the documentary “Maxed Out” which explored the increasing number of Americans who are in debt. While I found the documentary enlightening, it was definitely one-sided. Our ability to discern and draw our own  conclusions is an imperative skill to develop. I have found watching a documentary a week an invaluable tool for developing my critical thinking skills, which I think we all must continue to improve.

Educational:

Viewing documentaries is also incredibly educational. As a person committed to personal growth, I feel obligated to educate myself in numerous ways. The majority of the time I come away from a finished documentary a more intelligent individual. We must get excited about educating ourselves. We are responsible for our own education.

This past week I watched “Flow” a documentary on our current water crisis, and I was dumbfounded at how ignorant I really was. Did you know America spends 60 billion (yes billion with a B) dollars on water bottles each year? Did you also know that it is estimated 30 billion dollars a year could give clean drinking water to the entire global
population. Some drink for thought.

Empathy:

As I continue to watch more and more documentaries, I can’t help but feel the need to personally help alleviate the problems of the world. While I know I’m only one person I sincerely believe  that I really can make a considerable difference in hundreds,thousands, or even millions of people world wide. It’s very easy to say, “This [insert problem here] doesn’t affect me. But when we do this we simply turn our back on truth. As Steve Pavlina says, ” If you see a problem you own it.”

When I watch a film on world hunger, I let my heart connect with those who are starving to death. When I watch a movie on the millions dying from unnecessary war I can’t help but feel a great sense of pain. Becoming aware of the world as it is now is essential for the betterment of humanity. While it is never beneficial to dwell on the problems of the world, becoming aware will eventually lead to action. The world needs more understanding.

Watching A Documentary A Week

Watching a documentary a week has truly increased my awareness as a human being and has proved to be very rewarding. I highly recommend netflix as they have a have a wide array of payment options to fit your financial needs. I can’t wait to receive ” Who Killed the Electric Car?”

How are often do you watch documentaries? What are your favorites? Please share in the comments below.

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Courtesy of Esparta

Is that all you have to give?
Spread your wings and try to live.
Indulge yourself in endless sky,
Take a leap and begin to fly.
It’s in you; I know it,
Find some courage and show it.

The path will be muddy, of this I’m sure,
but only when you walk it, will you find the cure.
Happiness and peace all the same,
A forgiving heart will reduce the blame.
Radiate the love that you contain,
adore the temple that you maintain.

Humanity depends on your gifts explored.
Don’t let your passions go ignored.
Misery manifests in the thoughts you choose,
Protect your mind from a negativity bruise.

Lead by action not mere words,
Soar with the eagles not with the birds,
Feed those who struggle with the power of heart,
Conquer your fears and develop a true work of art.

Breathe, smile, continue to explore,
follow your dreams up onto the shore.
Live your beauty in each day,
Turn the world from dark to play.

Is that all you have to give?
Spread your wings and try to live.
Indulge yourself in endless sky
Take a leap and begin to fly.

-Bud

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I’m a big fan of positive thinking, really I am. Those who think positively tend to have a much greater quality of life than those who let negative thoughts continually command their lives. But the fact of the matter is, positive thinking can only get you so far, by no means is it the answer to all your problems.

Being an active member in the personal development community, I see countless of individuals claiming their lives are a mess, many modeling the complaint,”I sit at home all day thinking about all the things I want, but nothing good ever comes out of it.”

Really? Do you really think just sitting at home all day thinking “positive thoughts” will manifest the life that you desire? Unfortunately many do.

That’s the problem with movies like the Secret and similar belief models; they falsely market the idea of “think it and it will occur.” Hundreds of thousands of individuals believe that by just thinking positively their life is going to magically transform. They then fall victim to the delusion of their own reality, causing a tremendous amount of pain and suffering.

Does that render visualization and uplifting affirmations useless? Absolutely not. I’d be crazy if I were to say positive thinking is worthless, because  it really can make a huge impact on the life you life. Yet the act of wishful thinking remains deficient, it can’t stand alone without quickly collapsing.

Positive thinking without action is like a beautiful car without wheels. It doesn’t matter how good it looks, without wheels your car isn’t going to go very far (if anywhere at all.) This same principle applies to your life journey. You can think all the wonderful thoughts you want, but without effort and execution the life you long for won’t ever truly appear.

Because a great majority of our society is so habitually negative to begin with, positive thinking often represents a tremendous upgrade to the quality of one’s life. A positive thought is always better than a negative one. But in the end reality always trumps your thoughts regardless of its intention.

I’m not going to lie, I tend to be an overly optimistic person, with an occasional flash of pessimistic pride. I like to believe that I am going to create massive change in this world. I like to believe that one day I’m going to touch millions of peoples life’s. I like to believe that through my writing and passion for growth that I will have an impact on all those who encounter me. Some pretty lofty goals. And for me to make my goals and aspirations a reality, I’m going to have to think big and take constant action. That is the only way.

It takes a truly aware individual to acknowledge when his or her reality isn’t congruent with their thoughts. Yet examining your  reality from an objective lens is essential. No doubt doing so takes a great deal of courage but it is required to really grow. Flooding your head with positive intentions is a great step up from a mind filled with negative muck, but even then you still have room to evolve.

Do you substitute action with thoughts  of fluff? Or do you supplement positive thinking with consistent hustle?

All the thinking in the world doesn’t change the truth.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on positive thinking and how it affects your life. Please share in the comments below.

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While I do my best to provide unique content from my perspective here at A Boundless World, I also like to occasionally have another blogger voice his or her opinion as well.  Last month I featured Ivan Campuzano and today I have the pleasure of sharing with you, Alex of Unleash Reality. I hope you enjoy

Alex, what exactly does Unleash Reality mean?

Unleash Reality means living and expressing your limitless, undiluted potential and experiencing the infinite amazingness of life.

It’s kinda a remix between personal development and spirituality. Punctuated by fresh melodic urban quests and wild adventures that mark my journey to living my dream life.

Although still relatively new, your blog has already developed quite the following. What do you feel is the reason for this?

I think the main reason it’s grown so quickly is related to the “being real” question below in the way that I fully put my personality out there on my site and in my writing.

It’s an attitude of “here I am, take it or leave it”. Not in a bad way, but in the sense that my site is a raw expression of who I am. Sure, some of the ideas I write about are not new, some are, but it’s the way I convey the content and the expression of my somewhat quirky personality that I infuse into my writing that has made it grow so rapidly.

People are scared to be real, especially in their writing, because they’re worried that who they are isn’t good enough. They’re worried to write what they want to write because it doesn’t read the same way as a Steve Pavlina article does or wa’eva and think that they need to edit their personality out.

Dunno ‘bout you, but I like reading articles that take me on an emotional journey, an adventure, you know, the warm fuzzy kind that has a moral at the end, but an adventure nonetheless – my favourite writers make me smile, laugh out loud, frown, sad, happy again, and then teach me a lesson at the end and send me away feeling great.

What advice could you offer to someone who is struggling to “be real”?

Stop struggling

You can’t try to be real.

Trying is seeking to accomplish something and wanting things to be different for the sake of others.

But being real is living for you.

Sure, you will have compassion and love for others and interact with them and consider them, but you’re doing it because it’s what makes your soul smile, and not to make other people like you or because you think you “should”.

Being real tapping into the pure undiluted depths of your being and expressing that life within.

Being real, more than anything, is a deep trust in life. Knowing deep down that everything is going to be okay. When you stop wanting to control everything that happens in your life, including other people, when you relax into the knowing and perfection that you are; and express it, that’s being real.

See, it’s one of those really difficult things to explain. Like dancing. Mainly because being real isn’t about doing anything really. It’s not a doing thing but an allowing for life to flow – being real is an effortless expression of who you are beneath all your stories and judgments and labels and ideas of separation.

You can say what being real isn’t – but trying to define “being real” is limiting something that is limitless expression. Just duddn’t work.

At its deepest level, being real is expressing the life that you are, and that is everyone, you know, that deep perfect connectedness, and letting it shine through you, every moment, unedited and undiluted.

So my advice would be to stop struggling. And every time you do something that feels like you’re “not being real” or feels like you’re wanting something or trying to control what’s going on, just see if you can feel where that want is coming from or feel that resistance, allow it to come up, and then become aware of the awareness in and on which those feelings of want or resistance are arising. And feel the infinite depth of your awareness compared to the tiny emotions that come up. The emotions feel big when you’re focused on them, but what you really are is the awareness. That’ll help you realise that the wants and feelings of being “not real” and the resistance – all that stuff is just a fun little dance, it’s not real and it’s not you – trying to make it real, that’s being not real. So just let it go and allow your true nature beneath all that stuff, allow your deep awareness to shine through.

Yeah, long answer, I know, but “how do I be real” is pretty much on the same level as “what is the meaning of life” so a couple of sentences were required haha.

What is your favorite post for unleash reality and why?

Hmmm.

If I had to choose, I’d say Hate me or love me.

…it’s about “being real” actually, and why it’s such a kickass idea. You should read it. And leave a comment too.

Obviously you have a lot to offer in the personal development field. Where do you see yourself going in the next 5 years?

Awwww shucks. Warm tingly feelings.

Man, it’s a pretty tough question.

On a practical tip, I’d like to see myself living a life of choice, able to do what I want and go on adventures and study and do things that make my soul smile.

But personal development wise, hmmm. In myself, I’d like to be completely free of tension and stress and judgments and bleh.

I just think that people are so… bad to each other. All the time. For the stupidest reasons. Myself included. And I try to catch myself and it’s getting better but I’d like to dissolve the part of me that wants those things to happen and just live free and feel nothing but love for everybody.

And I’d like to live more, experience real life more than my interpretation of it… you know; live in reality instead of in my thoughts and judgments about it.

Very hippy sounding, I know.

How has your international experience aided you in your growth as a human being?

Well I haven’t had nearly as much international experience as I’d like.

…but I spent some time in India a little while back.

The place is really wild and beautiful and passionate and crazy and magic and wow.

One experience really stuck out. I spent around two weeks at an ashram, kinda like a temple but where there are like 10000 people living and new people visiting and staying for periods of time from all over the world.

And the whole deal with this ashram was that it was the ashram for this living saint called “Amma” who is also known as “The Hugging Saint”. Basically all she does from like 4AM to 11 at night is she hugs people. People queue up for hours and hours – there are like 10000 people there, 500 new people coming in and out daily, all there to be around this amazing being and get a blessing and a hug. She’s hugged over 20 million people and is recognised as a living saint by the United Nations.

Best hug evar. Really. But more than that, the overwhelming compassion and excitement and realness of the place was life-changing. You can see the pure expression and passion of the people and can see and feel all their and your problems melt into the overall indescribably energy of the place. Oh, the other thing about the place is that it’s not about money, how it stays running is that everyone – all ten thousand – has to help out around the ashram by cleaning or making books or food or whatever.

I wound up taking out the trash for all ten thousand people. A lotta trash. And initially I was really resistant to it and all that but eventually did it and just the scale and energy and aliveness of the people and especially of this amazing being, Amma, and the whole dance of all these feelings, it just makes you realise how insignificant your story is and yet at the same time you’re in the middle of the jungle right on the coast of the-middle-of-nowhere in India and you realise how amazing life is beyond and behind all your so-called “problems”.

That was the first glimpse of the awesomeness of life that lies underneath all our stories and all that yuck that we call “me”.

It’s well known you’re good friends with Glen Allsopp of Plugin ID. How did you meet him?

Glenny is a really good buddy of mine. He’s gonna get bleak that I’m calling him that but what evs. HaHa.

We met when he first came to South Africa a while back through a mutual friend and had some really mad crazy experiences and adventures together.

Unforgettable times. Best friend for life. He’s a really cool guy, you really should check him out. But don’t call him Glenny. He’ll get bleak. True story.

Any other advice you wish to share with readers who are looking to unleash their reality?

I know that if I answer these questions in two hours, let alone two months, my answers will be different. Mood, feelings, ideas, perspectives – all those things change, constantly… but now, life, this, life – it’s always here.

No matter how chaotic things seem, or how real all your stories feel, or how many problems or issues or whatever – life, the deep awesomeness of life that you are – that’s always here.

Being real is expressing that, it’s expressing who you are beneath all the stories and wants and yuck… allowing your undiluted core being to come up and flow in all its glory.

You don’t need anything to be you.

This is it. Right Now. This is life. Live it and let it flow. Unleash reality.

Alex runs a very popular personal development site called Unleash Reality. You should check it out right now. And subscribe too.

Post from: A Boundless World

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This is my second year of participating in Blog Action Day and I have to admit I love the concept. With technology as powerful as it is now there is no reason why we can’t leverage blogs to create MASSIVE change. That being said this year’s topic is Climate Change and I hope to tackle the topic from a fresh perspective.

Develop Awareness:

While many climate change activists use fear based methods to create change, I personally find it more effective to develop true awareness rather than scare someone into action. I think any reasonable human being will admit, quite freely, that our environment and climate are of great importance. And I also believe that any reasonable human being would acknowledge that our actions large and small, have a large impact on our planet.

If we wish to create any lasting change (change that is beneficial to our environment) it is essential that we develop awareness of our surroundings. Only after we develop awareness can we truly restore our planet back to the the beauty it needs to be.

In order to develop awareness try asking yourself these three questions:

Three Questions

“Do I need this?”

One of the largest reasons our planet is destructing like it is, is because we live in a world of consuming. We equate happiness to stuff.  Following that  model, we buy more stuff. This way of  “happiness” depletes resources from our planet faster than you can say “Climate Change.”

Using less resources  is something I’ve been personally working on, and I find the journey incredibly empowering. The past few months I’ve been making a conscious effort to live my life as simple as possible. And guess what? I’ve been happier than ever.

Asking yourself “Do I need this?” is without a doubt one of the best ways you can help the environment.  Buying less not only contributes less to the destruction of the planet but also enables you to appreciate all that you already have.

To clarify,  by no means am I perfect in this regard. I have just as much work to do as the next person but I’m doing my best to create lasting change.

“What will the future look like?”

It is my belief that as global citizens of the world,  we are obligated to create a world that is not only beneficial to ourselves but future inhabitants as well. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “I’ll be dead by then” mentality and succumb to the instant gratification at the cost of the destruction of our planet. However, any truly conscious person knows that the easy way out is usually not the best course of action.

Taking time to reflect on what the future may hold is a powerful motivator to take action. Can your conscience  handle that your children might live in a world that is almost inhabitable? Imagine the type of world that your current actions are creating.  Is it one of love and abundance?  Or is it filled with scarcity because of your selfish needs? Too often we underestimate the power we possess.

“How can I live more simply?

Living simply creates less pollution. Living simply creates less clutter. Living simply creates less stress. Notice the minimalism rage? It’s we are finally catching on to how porweful it really is.  The benefits of a simplistic life are extraordinary.

The answers to our climate woes  lie in our ability to simplify. A life of simplicity creates rather than destroys. Take pleasure in the the beauty of life. Realize that we are incredibly blessed to be alive in the time we are now. Open your eyes and immerse yourself into the world.

We have the power:

Believe it or not we have the power. We have the power to create a beautiful world in which abundance covers every inch of the earth. We can end poverty. We can stop the destruction of our planet.

We have the power to respect and nourish the nature that created us. We have the power to give more than we receive.  We have the power to save our planet from becoming inhabitable and instead allow its real beauty to shine.

Acknowledging the fact that we have the power to literally alter the course of humanity is a strong truth to accept, yet it doesn’t make it any less true.

We have the power, the question is: Will we take action?

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Yet by taking a few minutes to consciously plan our day, we can create a healthy and productive routine. By repeating simple, yet powerful habits, we can move closer to fulfillment and composure. Having positive habits embedded into your day is a powerful way to “kick ass and take names.”

The following are 11 simple habits that will tremendously aid you in creating the day that you desire.

Drink water upon waking: Drinking water as soon as you wake up is a powerful way to start your day.  The first thing you should do when you get up ( aside from rolling out of bed of course), is drink a glass of water. This will jog your brain and help you get moving. Try putting a bottle of water near your bed so you don’t forget.

Go for 30-minute walk: I realize many people don’t have enough “time” to walk for 30 minutes, but I promise the benefits are well worth the effort. Walking not only strengthens your bones and immune system but also does wonders for your mood. Get the family involved or use it for one on one time with your pets.

Visualize: Set aside 10-15 minutes to just imagine yourself in your ideal life. How do you feel? What it is it like? Get excited about the future you. When you visualize success, you’re calling your subconscious mind to go to work.

Deep breathe: There is no reason why you can’t do this everyday. Whether it be while at a traffic light or while your waiting in a long line, take sometime and draw a few deep breaths each day. Feel the positive energy flow into your body.  Take a few breathes now.

Eat slowly: To be honest this is something I’m working on myself. In our fast paced world, too often we devour our food without appreciating the meal. If you eat slow, not only will you eat less but you will immerse yourself in the moment and enjoy your food a great deal more.

Smile: Free and simple, do it.

Be thankful: Too often we get caught up in what’s wrong with the world, instead shift your perspective and appreciate the blessings in your life.  Not thankful for anything?  Be thankful for your computer. Take a few moments and reflect on how privileged you really are. You can’t be miserable while thankful, gratitude is a powerful cure.

Help someone: Don’t go to bed unless this one is checked off your listen. There are literally hundreds of ways you can help someone. Take some time to listen to someone in need. Hold the door for someone. Choose the farthest parking spot so someone who is running late can park up front.  Get creative! The possibilities are endless.

Take a step towards your dreams: Do one action that will move you towards your dream everyday.  Don’t know what  what to do?  Try crafting a mission statement. Consistent action yields results.  As Steve Pavlina says ” People overestimate what they can accomplish in a year and underestimate what they can accomplish in 5.”Just take a step.

Seek inspiration: When you surround yourself with inspiration you condition yourself to create. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Have deep conversations, watch inspiring videos, meditate , or just observe. Find the beauty in life. Inspiration is there, can you find it?

The total time of doing all of the above shouldn’t take more than a few hours a day max. See if you can do all 11 habits everyday for a month. I promise that if you do, your life will be forever changed. Get going

Post from: A Boundless World

11 Simple Daily Habits You Should Adopt

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Courtesy of Grant Hindsley

If you’ve been following my twitter feed, you may have noticed I recently challenged Dirk aka Diggy of Upgrade Reality to a race to 1,000 subscribers.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to take part in this challenge. While my traffic levels have been steadily increasing for quite sometime,  my subscriber count is still relatively low to where I want it to be.

Since Diggy and myself are within 10 subscribers of one another, I felt he would be an admirable “opponent.”

Why the race to 1,000 subscribers? What do I hope to accomplish? I’m partaking in this challenge for a few reasons:

• Get Competitive: Diggy is killer at what he does, that is, he writes powerful content that inspires people to change. For me to beat him in a race to 1,000 subscribers would require  me to bring my best day in and day out. What’s not to like about that?

• Established Deadline: Diggy and I decided that our goal must be reached by January 1st 2010. Setting a concrete deadline informs our subconscious minds to go to work. Both Diggy and I  know we are going to have to be creative if we hope to reach our goal. Apparently he has a few tricks up his sleeve, which I’m looking forward to. Who knows I might have something brewing myself.

• Going Public: Stating my challenge on twitter and this blog also holds me accountable. There is no turning back. I either beat Diggy or I don’t. I will either reach 1,000 subscribers by January 1st 2010 or I won’t. Regardless of how things turn out, several months from now I will be light year’s ahead of where I am today.

• Branding: In order for me to reach my goal 1,000 subscribers I’m going to have to branch out and write a ton of guest posts. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while yet failed to do so. I know longer can fall back on the crutch of an excuse. I must get my name out. (Consequently, if you are interested in a guest post by me please feel free to contact me.)
  

• A Mental Milestone: 1,000 subscribers is no easy feat. Breaking a the 1,000 subscriber barrier will help me overcome some of the mental blocks I might have. When you have 1,000 loyal followers that generally means you’re doing something right. Bottom line is I’m aiming to deliver value not worthless stats.
  

Being the wonderful readers you are, I would greatly appreciate any and all  help in reaching my goal.  If you resonate with a particular post I write, PLEASE tweet it, stumble it, or email it.  Do whatever you can to let the world know. I know without your help I won’t be able to succeed. I am also open to any suggestions that would make your experience more pleasant. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Good luck Diggy, Glen or no Glen you’re going down.

Let the numbers speak.

Post from: A Boundless World

It’s On: A Race To 1,000 Subscribers

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Courtesy of Sam Gause

My transition to college has been nothing short of sensational. I’ve met tons of amazing people, I have a wonderful roommate,  and have had plenty of time to explore myself and my passions. Obviously I’ve had a few rough days, which one must expect, yet for the most part my constant state of mind is bliss.

I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting over the past few weeks and have been putting extra effort into appreciating the beauty of everyday life.  As a result I can’t help but feel blessed. The truth is we all are blessed. Look around you, there’s beauty everywhere.  The people, the sounds, the colors, it all creates the sensational reality we call life.

Does this mean there isn’t terrible things in this world? Of course not. Hatred, murder, and famine plague many parts of the world. Look at the major news sites, the vast majority of the “important” stories focus on all what’s wrong. The latest murder, the newest health scare, and the less than stellar economy all add to the stress of our everyday lives.

And while one can choose to focus on all these horrendous things, doing so will accomplish  nothing. You’d think we’d learn this, but instead we continue to come back and absorb our daily dose of negativity.

The happiest and most successful people know that focusing on beauty creates a much better world than becoming a slave to negative thought. Stop searching for whats wrong and instead appreciate the greatness of the world. Beauty not ugliness creates change.

When you focus on beauty you attract beauty. When you focus on the negative you breed a world of darkness.

Here are some simple ways in which you can just listen and enjoy the beauty of being. The smallest details often provide the most pleasure.

• Go Outside: Disconnect from the world around you and just listen to the sounds of nature. Look at the skyline and the stars. Hear the sounds of the wind. Appreciate the magnificence of nature.
• Walk: Go on a walk and let your body flow, feel connected to the energy around you.
• People watch: How often do you take the time to observe those around you? Observing humanity  is an incredible process that does wonders for your awareness.
• Notice the details: Disengage auto-pilot and instead  make a conscious effort to see the details that create your reality.
  
• News fast: Don’t read the news for a week and notice at how happier you become.
• Be invisible: Turn off your cell phone and your email and disappear for the day.
• Be grateful: What are you grateful for? Do you show that gratitude? Write a list of what you’re grateful for, or even just say thank you.

Life is forever and always beautiful. When you don’t see beauty in life it’s not because it’s not there it’s because you’re not looking hard enough. Are you finding the beauty in life?

Post from: A Boundless World

Finding The Beauty In Life

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