Saturday, December 31, 2005

Chapter Fourteen: Living or Existing

Do I live or do I exist? That question reminds me of a part of Hamlet’s soliloquy--"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them."

William Shakespeare

Did Hamlet live or exist? One way to answer the question might be he did both. However, a case can be made to suggest that if a person chooses to not examine his/her life then life is mere existence. To choose to sit back and let life throw at you what it will is a choice that each of us must make from time-to-time. And, as mentioned in the previous chapter, the choice can be both the right one and the wrong one.

The first few lines of Hamlet’s soliloquy might well have said, “To live, or not to live: that is the question.” This seems to be the struggle he is having. Reading the total soliloquy will suggest he is thinking about suicide, and that can be a valid choice. I, personally, do not recommend it, but it is a choice.

We would be well served by asking this question of ourselves. Do I want to live or do I want to exist? Can I vacillate between the two? What do each of them mean to me? The answers to these questions can only have meaning to the person who asks them about themselves. For some, their life journey may well be to “…suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” In spite of that, can a person live under such circumstances?

To move from mere existence to living, requires a conscious choice. The choice to live one’s life is one that requires some introspection. It requires that we love ourselves enough to love others. It means we must behave in ways that will be of service to others. It means we must find the beauty and blessings in the events that we have chosen to make up our lives.



Jack’s Nugget: To live and love fully, do good works.

Take me back to the Directions page:

Friday, December 30, 2005

Chapter Fifteen: Discovering Your Personal Power

One of the things I endeavor to do in my real estate classes is to encourage a positive mind set for success. Many of the previous chapters are evidence of this effort. Indeed, this collection of “nuggets” has been gleaned primarily from such classes.

In the class that just ended the idea of discovering and exerting your personal power surfaced, ergo, another chapter was born. It seems important to share these ideas of potential personal growth is part and parcel of preparing for a new career.

Discovering your personal power is the realization that you are a person of worth and dignity. You are a person to be reckoned with, and not in a negative way. You are someone who has a positive sense of your place in the world. You care enough about yourself that you are ready to serve others and care about them. You are not abusive toward others and you do not permit others to be abusive toward you.

In my own life I can remember when I didn’t even think in these terms. While I didn’t have knowledge of such terminology, I did use positional power. I can clearly remember a time early in my teaching experience when I exercised my positional power. What is a young, skinny, “four-eyed” kid supposed to do when put into a situation of power. I out-ranked them by at least one stripe. It was only “natural” to take advantage of my position when they wouldn’t get down to work. I remember one group that seemed to be made up of half the bad guys from Pittsburgh and half from Philadelphia. Upon reviewing the notes they were taking, several of them were working on some pseudo-pornographic material. I decided it might be time to conduct the obligatory, weekly “GI party” and clean the place up.

As I look back on it, I am not pleased with my actions. Then I didn’t know there was any other way to be in charge. You just had to let them know you were in charge the best way you could. I was a real tyrant.

It took quite a few years, more education, and expanding my reading and studies to learn there was a difference. Many of the books that influenced me are a part of this book. It became clear to me that positional power will only get the reluctant compliance of those with whom I worked. There were plenty of examples of other leaders who only used positional power. It was quite apparent that this approach was less then effective. Good leadership requires willing compliance with instructions.

During my studies I learned about the different types of power that people can exert. Since then I have also come to the conclusion that personal power requires one to be comfortable with one’s self, to be confident in one’s place in the world.

It is possible to be successful in any endeavor if one relies on personal power. I would suggest that people become familiar with their own personal power. Once they can do this, they will be able to present themselves in an extremely confident manner. Others will be more likely to want to spend time with them and rely on them to provide whatever service might be required. In real estate it is necessary to be able to serve the clientele. That is one of the most important skills the licensee brings to the interaction.

Most of us can recall more than one occasion where we had the pleasure of working/associating with a confident, positive person. We wanted to spend more time with that person. If they were service providers, we would go out of our way to refer others to them.

The more the licensee exhibits positive, personal power, the more confident the consumer will be that the transaction will be completed efficiently and effectively. The consumer will have a confidence similar to the licensee’s. It is more likely that the licensee will get more business in the future because of such positive behavior.

Take the time to determine your personal power. It may require some effort for some folks to find it and rely on it. Just remember, it is in all of us. Pay attention when you hear your inner voice guiding you toward your positive personal power.

Jack’s Nugget: Positive use of your personal power is a way to do good works.

Take me back to the Directions page:

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Chapter Sixteen: Discover Your Spiritual Self - Part One

One of the missions I believe I have for this life is discovering my spiritual self. I believe we all share this same mission, but it is only one of many. We get caught up in the day-to-day survival activities and tend to forget about our spiritual life. I am realizing that when this occurs, our priorities are reversed.

Part of my realization process was reading, and paying attention to those things that were happening in my life. For about thirty years I have thought and talked about being able to connect to others at a different level/medium/realm of communication. For lack of a better way to describe it I have used the term energy level. The closest analogy I can use is a recent technological advance – instant messaging. However, it is much more sophisticated than that. It occurs on a level that is beyond non-verbal.

There are some people with whom I have had the pleasure of sharing time and space. I felt I have known forever. There are not many, but when we meet it is as if we are reconnecting. I know that they are strangers to me when I first see them, but after a very few moments together, I know we are “family”.

As we begin talking about anything I sense almost immediately that we will be able to communicate and rely on each other to understand what is being said. The sensing is mutual. I have found a kindred spirit. If I could see auras, I am sure that the auras around each of us are strong, positive, optimistic, joyful, intense and healthy. We are probably from the same soul unit. After spending some time together we will be able to finish each other’s sentences. We are synchronized without making an effort to do so.
This is an exhilarating experience for me. It doesn’t happen often. When it does it is magical.

Another indicator of spirituality is my reaction to music. I am so overwhelmed by some music that I am brought to tears. I wonder if the songwriter had the same feelings when composing it. Sometimes it is just the musical notes and sometimes the combination of notes and words. Examples of this are Herbie Mann’s rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Merle Haggard’s That’s the Way Love Goes, and Eric Clapton’s My Father’s Eyes.

Some books have had similar affects on me. I read Richard Bach’s Jonathon Livingston Seagull in about 45 minutes while attending the FBI National Academy many years ago. It brought tears to my eyes because of its spiritual beauty. From this experience I became more aware of this feeling and began to seek other similar experiences. I couldn’t wait to read other similar material. When Bach’s Illusions came out I got it as a Christmas gift. I read it completely that day amidst children enjoying their gifts, in-laws celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary and Penn State playing Arizona State in a bowl game. (My wife is a Penn State alum and I graduated from ASU.) There have been many more books that have influenced me over the years, including the Messages from Michael series and The Hawayo Takata Story. As with the music mentioned above these are just a few of the many.

There were also discussions with friends that I now realize have been part of my spiritual discovery journey. There were philosophy classes during my undergraduate work that awakened me to the Eastern philosophies and religions. They resonated with me in ways that suggested a higher connection than just reading words and ideas. It was an inner realization that these concepts “felt right”. I suspect these feelings were my first conscious connection with spiritual energy. Further reading, study and discussions with friends increased this awareness. It made me look for more connections. I became aware of my responsibility/duty to be open to such connections. I also realized that such connections can’t be forced. I have to let them happen. I am now discovering that even the smallest, least significant event can be such a connection. Sometimes it is the “stumbling across” the blog of people from different countries.

Jack’s Nugget: The spiritual journey is constant, be open to it.


Take me back to the Directions page:

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Chapter Seventeen: Discover Your Spiritual Self - Part Two

For the past twenty some-odd years I have ended my day with this mantra of thanksgiving. It has been modified slightly as I have learned new bits of information. I believe it is an example of my spiritual self.

Thank you guides for helping me survive and thrive this day

Thank you for helping me as I work to fulfill my missions efficiently, effectively and elegantly.

Thank you for helping me learn more about the “Divineness of Perfection”.

And a special thanks for the assistance you provide the people on my prayer list to assist them in the successful completion of their individual missions.

Back in the late ‘70’s I read Spirit Guides by Samuels and Bennett. The primary theme as I remember it now was that we all have spirit guides that are available to us.

Thank you guides for helping me survive this day.

These guides are there to do just that, guide us through our lives. We don’t even need to recognize them. However, I believe that they are able to work more effectively and efficiently with our acknowledgement. I also realize that all of my behaviors are my choice.

I recognize that being able to say this mantra I have survived another day. That is the most I expect of them. Even during the day I may recognize my guides. When things are going well I might give a quick thanks to the spirit guides for their assistance. When things aren’t going so well, I thank them for the challenge and ask for additional assistance. There have been times when I drove under less then perfect conditions. At those times I rely on my guides to help keep me safe. For me, it works. I may be speeding along when I come to the realization that I need to slow down. When I ignore the message I come to regret it. The only speeding ticket I ever got came when I chose to ignore the message from my guides.

Thanks for your help as I work to fulfill my missions efficiently, effectively and elegantly.

My belief is that I have missions to perform during this life. As long as I am still able to recite my mantra I am not done. I want to complete the mission work the very best that it can be done. I ask my guides to keep me on that path. I take it on faith that it will happen. Looking at where I am in my life I can only think that things are going well. I am so grateful for my place in this life this time.

Thank you for helping me learn more about the “Divineness of Perfection”.

Dr. Wayne Dyer spoke the phrase the “divineness of perfection”. Whatever happens, “good” or “bad”, is the results of our personal choices. Under general systems theory everything in the universe is connected at some level. That is the system that is divinely perfect. Everything that happens needs to happen that way because of the choices made by everyone. It may not seem like the best of all possible worlds, but it is what we endure every day.

And a special thanks for the assistance you provide the people on my prayer list to assist them in the successful completion of their individual missions.

This is one of the most important parts of the mantra for me. I have made a prayer list that is maintained by my spirit guides. Whenever I learn of people who are having a particularly rough patch, I say prayers for them and also add them to my prayer list for continued support. Depending on how difficult their situation is, I might add several stars next to their name. The stars denote the need for special attention. I never remove anyone’s name from the list. Even when they transition to their next life, their name remains on the list. There is an advantage for maintaining such a list. I don’t have to keep them individually in my mind for them to receive whatever assistance they might need.

The recitation of this simple mantra allows me to peacefully complete my day prior to my Reiki session that also sends universal energy to them all. The recipients have the option to use the Reiki energy in whatever way they choose. It is all done on the “energy” level that connects us all.

Jack’s Nugget: We are not alone. We have each other and our Spirit Guides.


Take me back to the Directions page:

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Chapter Eighteen: Discover Your Spiritual Self -Part Three

In our search for meaning to our lives, we come to a place where we question life itself. We question our place in the world and the universe. The search usually occurs when we are young. Guides will be there to assist us. If we are fortunate, we will recognize the guides and invite them in. Our good fortune may come in the form of another person seeking the same answers. When you need a teacher, one will appear. When you need a student, one will appear. Our good fortune will be our discovery that we are all students and teachers. Being aware of this notion has helped me on my spiritual quest.

There are numerous people who serve as my teachers. Often it is their questioning life that has contributed to my learning. In my effort to provide some answer to them, I come to a clearer understanding about my own spiritual life. There is a young man who is currently struggling with making some sense of his own spirituality. His parents are quite religious. For them a strong belief in God is extremely important. His perception of their responses to his questions is one of them insisting he just have faith and it will all work out. I get the impression that they would prefer to not have the discussion. They want, maybe even expect, him to accept their approach and everything will be all right. If he just gets more involved with the other young people in the church his questions will be answered.

There is another person, an older woman, whose own search has led her to the belief that God does not exist. My impression of how she came to this conclusion is from having experiences similar to the young man. On top of that, she has witnessed so many instances of man’s inhumanity to man, that she could not help but come to the point of view that there is more to spirituality than organized religion.

They are both examples of people beginning to question organized religion. They are not too happy with the examples being set for them. However, they continue to seek a spiritual answer. Their sharing their experiences has helped me to come to some conclusions of my own. Earlier I posted a list of books that have also had a great impact on my spiritual quest. I would suggest that we could all review our lives to identify those people and books that have had an impact on our spiritual quest.

Is it possible to be spiritual without being religious? Probably. Is it possible to be religious without being spiritual? Not very likely. For me, spirituality has more to do with the energy that connects me to the universe than it does to connecting to a specific religion. I do understand that most religious believers are sincere in and committed to their beliefs. I will not argue that this faith brings them great comfort and solace. However, I am concerned that this faith may limit their search for spirituality. (This probably shows my own ignorance of their view of the world.) My understanding suggests that there is no room in their belief for conflicting religious views.

Is it possible that spirituality is the larger category and religion a subset of that category? If we view spirituality as the ultimate energy of the universe, the answer is yes. It seems possible and most probable that the “glue” that binds everything together is this positive energy field, that I choose to call Universal Love. I am also aware of the notion of yin and yang. It is most probably present with the spiritual energy. Evidence of that, in my view of the world, is the narrow view of the world taken by fundamentalists of every organized religion. Their fixation on doing things their way or be damned to fire and brimstone is a prime example of the negative energy operating.

We all have choices. Most people, who practice their religious beliefs, agree with that concept. The ones who choose to believe in the narrower, negative view do serve a greater purpose. A purpose that is greater than they realize. If we observe them in their daily lives we learn that they are waiting for the “after life” for their positive life experience. To that end I wish them well. However, we must be alert to their efforts to force the rest of us into believing as they do. The Positive Spiritual Energy will serve us better to serve others.


Jack’s Nugget: Spirituality is an important part of us all, it defines our humanness.

Take me back to the Directions page.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Influential Books

These are the books that have had the most influence on me in my spiritual quest.

TITLE ---- AUTHOR
Illusions ---- Bach, Richard
Jonathon Livingston Seagull ---- Bach, Richard
Frogs into Princes ---- Bandler, Richard & John Grinder
Reiki Energy Medicine ---- Barnett, Libby & Maggie Chambers
The DaVinci Code ---- Brown, Dan
NOW, Discover Your Strengths ---- Buckingham, Marcus & Donald Clifton
They Lived Happily Ever After ---- Cameron-Bandler, Leslie
The Tipping Point ---- Gladwell, Malcom
Blink ---- Gladwell, Malcom
TRANCE-formations ---- Grinder, John & Richard Bandler
Hawayo Takata Story, The ---- Haberly, Helen
The Law of Attraction
---- Hicks, Esther & Jerry
Center of the Cyclone ---- Lilly, John
Dyadic Cyclone, The ---- Lilly, John & Antonietta Lilly
Complete Reiki Handbook, The ---- Lubeck, Walter
Stories of Uncle Adrian
---- Monroe, Zan
Sacred Contracts ---- Myss, Caroline
Anatomy of the Spirit ---- Myss, Caroline
Dreams From My Father ---- Obama, Barack
Celestine Prophecy, The ---- Redfield, James
Tenth Insight, The ---- Redfield, James
Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide, The ---- Redfield, James & Carol Adrienne
Spirit Guides ---- Samuels & Bennett
Be Well ---- Samuels & Bennett
A New Earth ---- Tolle, Eckhart
Tao Te Ching ---- Tsu, Lao

The Book: On the taboo against knowing who you are ---- Watts, Alan

Natural Mind, The ---- Weil, Andrew

Messages from Michael ---- Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn

More Messages from Michael ---- Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn

Michael's People ---- Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn

Michael for the Millenium ---- Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn

Autobiography of a Yogi ---- Yogananda, Paramahansa