If you are an entrepreneur or creator serious about your art, you may find this article helpful. Meanwhile, we really enjoyed the wisdom shared by spiritual teachers and authors Gregg Braden, Dr. Joe Dispenza and Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. You can get a preview of what’s to come in the video Q&A session from the excerpted quotes that precede it.

We’d love to hear how you enjoyed this and what you’d like to see more of as we develop this new website on Meditation from all disciplines and paths. You can send us a note here.

The moment you draw the line between your spiritual life and the rest of the world, you have fallen into the ancient trap of separation and polarity, that keeps you separate from the very thing that you love and cherish the most, and that is life itself.
~Gregg Braden, TCCHE 2017

Everything that happens is a part of your spiritual path.
~Gregg Braden, TCCHE 2017

“We’re living in such an amazing time right now… if you’re not being challenged in some way in your life, you’re not alive.”
~Dr. Joe Dispenza

If you see your life as the school… as the initiation, then you can no longer be a victim to your life, you’re going to have to meet the challenges in your life from a greater mind… greater than the mind that created it.
~Dr. Joe Dispenza

How do we become supernatural? We’re going to have to do what feels unnatural at first. If you doing what’s unnatural over and over again, sooner or later you’re going to become supernatural.
~Dr. Joe Dispenza

We came here to experience life… and to create.
~Bruce Lipton, Ph.D

You’re sure to enjoy more inspiring questions and answers from three mega popular wisdom teachers in this video.

The post Living an Integrated Life appeared first on Meditation Wisdom.

There is a man whose is classified as a genius IQ (reportedly 197, whereas Einstein’s was 160) named Walter O’Brien. He has a hit TV show modeled after his life and the MacGyver-like organization he founded, of geniuses who solve all kinds of problems all around the world. Yet when it comes to personal relationships, Walter says his emotional intelligence—EQ for emotional quotient—falls short. ^[1]https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2016/07/13/genius-pr-lessons-from-walter-obrien-and-scorpion-hes-real/#d0adca6d3822

Of course, Walter is an extreme example of a self-professed low EQ. However, not unlike many in the genius, autistic and/or ADHD spectrums of intelligence, uneven growth between the different aspects of human beingness, is not unusual.

Growing pains are about personality integration.  ~LeAura Alderson

Most of us have experienced growth in spurts in different areas of life, in other than even ways. We could even say that personality development up through our 30’s can look a bit like the gangly teen whose coordination has not yet caught up with itself.

Earlier in life it’s relative to physical coordination up through puberty. This is where people get and latch onto phrases like, “I’ve always been clumsy.” This physical phase is followed by emotional, and mental coordination.

From there, we’ve developed—hopefully—a solidly integrated vehicle that continues to improve and refine itself, even as the soul becomes increasingly more present, often expressed as mid-life crisis, if what we’re doing is off track from our deeper purpose, or as an urge toward more spiritual alignment. So it’s no surprise that more people discover—or seek out—meditation in and beyond their 30’s.

The Cycles of Personality Development

Some schools of thought consider seven year developmental cycles. Others look at it in 10 year increments. For simplicity here, we’ll speak to 10 year cycles of growth as a fairly accurate generality.

General Ages and Stages of Growth

• 0-10 physical development
• 10-20 emotional development
• 20-30 mental development
• 30-40 personality development
• 40 onward – spiritual development

So all of these constitute personality development, where personality represents the vehicle for your interaction with the world.  For your personal growth and development, consider if there are areas of your body, emotions and mentality where you could benefit by stepping up the development and achieve greater integration. This could be your next area for growth. Send us an email and let us know what it is for you. The more you share about what you’re looking for and needing, the more we can bring more of that to you. Remember…

Never stop growing. That’s what we’re here to do.  ~LeAura Alderson

If you’re a creator, you may also enjoy the article that we shared on our sister site, iCreateDaily.

The post Personality Development – the Integration of Body, Mind and Emotions appeared first on Meditation Wisdom.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. ~Robert Byrne, author

This is profound because it is so true. No matter whether we’re able to do the work we love we should be able to love the work we do.

Even Dogs Need a Purpose

One of my family’s favorite movies and books is A Dog’s Purpose.

Our dogs get restless if we don’t walk them and play with them. Cesar Milan, a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer says that dogs need three things, and in this order: Exercise, discipline and affection.

Our dogs believe their purpose is to keep us company, get us up and moving and to patrol and protect our home and neighborhood. Oh, and to play of course! Dogs are at their happiest when they’re active and doing something. It’s the same for people.

If you’re feeling stagnant, frustrated, depressed and lost, the first steps out of that is through motion. You need to get vigorous, get moving and change your physical state. That stimulates your circulatory system and boosts your energy, which in turn, boosts your sense of being and of hope.

You may have assumed I’d say that you should meditate. Well yes, but not as the first thing. To meditate while in a negative state can make things worse for some people, especially if you’re new to meditation. In meditation, your “monkey brain” can create a ruckus with its antics and rattle the mental cage as it swings from problem to problem, argument to argument, worry to worry.

The next thing you need to do is to change your story. Instead of dwelling on how bad you feel, reframe your challenges into opportunities. People who have faced tragedy were forced by circumstance to gain perspective and deep appreciation on what’s really important.

Don’t wait for tragedy to make space for what really matters in your life. Carpe diem. Carpe momentum!

If you don’t feel connected to any particular purpose and aren’t sure what it is that you’re here to do, don’t worry! That’s absolutely normal, and you’re actually in the majority. Most people go through life without even asking that question. That you’re asking and seeking means you’re already ahead of the game.

But there’s actually good news in not knowing your purpose. Author James Altucher says it this way:

Forget purpose. It’s okay to be happy without one. The quest for a single purpose has ruined many lives. ~James Altucher, author, entrepreneur

So rather than spend time seeking out your purpose, get busy living the life you’d like to live to the extent possible. In that journey you will find your way. So your task is not to seek purpose, but rather, to live more fully. Do more of what lights you up and that will light your way to greater purpose.

Finding Purpose in Presence

For many, the James Altucher quote and concept is contrary to how we typically think and speak of purpose. But when we move beyond the memes of our conditioning, we can begin to see the wisdom and profundity of this perspective, and it can be incredibly liberating.

It’s far more common for people to stress over finding their all-encompassing life purpose… the “one thing” they’re here to do. It’s excellent to steadily steer by purpose, however feeling as if the big life purpose has not been found keeps many from the kind of progress that’s possible, and from excelling as much as they’re capable of doing. And more importantly, it can keep you from living fully in the present and enjoying the journey and the purpose in each day.

You don’t need to seek purpose.
To seek purpose is to delay living in the present.
Live fully in the present and your purpose will find you.

Seeking purpose is like focusing on the destination rather than enjoying the journey.
Seeking purpose is like living for “when”, rather than living each moment fully present in the “now”.
 Seek the power of the present, and the present will reveal your power.
Invite wonder into your moments, and your moments of wonder will grow.
 Where you find wonder, you will also find clues to purpose.

Invite wonder into your moments, and your moments of wonder will grow.

Don’t worry about finding your perfect purpose. Just head in that general direction and your purpose will unfold in wonderful ways that increasingly enrich your days.

Anguishing over just what it is that one is here to do has caused too many people to stall into a tailspin, and despair at never finding their “true purpose”. Too many feel paralyzed by lack of direction and decision. They lose vision, and eventually give up the shadow of their dreams.

It is sad and irreversible to get to the end of one’s life and not be fulfilled… to feel life has slipped away, unlived. Don’t let that happen to you.

It’s never too late to create greater meaning in the moments. The more meaning we make, the more purpose we discover.

The good news is that now is the time to create your present and future. Begin now, today, in moving one step closer in the direction of your dreams. You may have to dig them out and dust them off. Don’t delay, just do. Don’t fret the past. Today is a new day; one that has never happened before in the history of mankind… in the history of you.

Your story is not finished. Write the story you want to love and head in that direction daily.

Purpose is in every breath you breath and every cell of your being. Purpose is found in presence, and presence is found in gratitude.

The post The Purpose of Life is a Life of Purpose appeared first on Meditation Wisdom.

As of this writing, January, 2018, a search of Amazon books and the word “Gratitude” currently yields 13,636 results. When I first looked this up in 2014, it was 2,940 search results.

Gratitude books on Amazon have grown by 464% over the four years between 2014 and 2018. Wow! Now that’s a positive and encouraging trend!

So… when the news today is so filled with so many negatives, it’s vital to remember that there are many more positives today than ever before.

Gratitude books on Amazon have grown by 464%!

A search of Google and the word “Gratitude” currently yields 125,000,000 results, and gets 90,500 searches each month, as of this writing. That’s over 90k people looking up gratitude things. E.g, sites, books, products and information related to gratitude.

Four years ago a Google of gratitude returned 21,100,000 search results.

Google search results for ‘gratitude’ have grown by 592% in four years!

But it gets even better. The word ‘grateful’ currently yields 224,000,000 search results, and there are 201,000 searches for “grateful” each month!!

Clearly, gratitude is a growing trend.

Gratitude is far more than just a word. More than good manners and social etiquette; more than something reserved for Thanksgiving, or when someone specifically helps us. Gratitude is a movement… a way of life… a lifestyle and a life saver.

One of the simplest things you can do for the greatest benefit to your life is the practice of gratitude.

Be Grateful and You’ll Be Happier and Healthier

You cannot…

 …hate when you are truly grateful, but love can flood your heart.
 …be fearful when you are truly grateful, but courage can fortify your mind.
 …be angry while grateful, and gratitude engenders empathy.

When you practice being grateful for your life and all that is in it, you begin to transform.

The Power of Being Thankful

Gratitude Transforms:

• Stress to strength
• Angst to enthusiasm
• Agitation to contemplation
• Irritation to patience
• Hopelessness to hopefulness
• Depression to joy

The practice of gratitude is a powerful way to practice presence, while attracting more in your life for which to be grateful.

We are thankful for you!

What are you thankful for?  Feel free to send us an email, We’d love to hear from you!

The post Be Grateful for the Positive Trend to Gratitude appeared first on Meditation Wisdom.

How many opportunities to love, to live, to make a difference… to matter in ways that have meaning for you?

To live a life of meaning, you give meaning to life.

You decide what you’re about… who you are, and who you will become by the decisions you make in each moment of each day. These moments are the cells that make up the body of your life and each day your choices determine the nature and health of it… of you.

Meditation Breathing flows as inhale… pause… exhale… pause.

Each in-breath is an invitation for the power of presence as awareness, to fill you. Breath in deeply.
In each pause, the opportunity for the poise of perfect presence.
Each exhale… a release of negativity and tension.

Presence is synonymous with love… with joy… with spirit… with good… with God.

Presence is the joyous gaze of a mother upon the face of her child.
Presence is the embrace of newlyweds, as they bask in their love for each other, in timeless moments in a world of their own.Presence is the married couple holding hands as they celebrate their 50th anniversary, volumes exchanged in a single glance.Presence is that space of quiet contentment that fills you at the end of a day well lived.
Presence is reflection on the many blessings in your life.
Presence is a listening ear and caring heart to the sharing of a friend’s dreams… and fears.
Presence is that place of power and peace; of love and joy.
Presence is a lifetime in a second… an eternity in an hour.

When it comes right down to it…

Presence is life; it is the essence of that which moves all life.
Presence is all that you really have and all that you really are.
Presence is you. Presence is me.

Presence is…

• not the body
• not the feelings
• not the thoughts

Presence is…

• the mover of the body
• the experiencer of the feelings
• the thinker behind the thoughts

In Presence…

• you discover your essential self
• consciousness expands
• presence expands

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.
~Thích Nhât Hanh, Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author

Presence grows as breath flows and in gratitude. For a journey into the life-transforming trend in gratitude, you may enjoy this article.

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