GROW OR GO HOME

We have total freedom from birth to face up to our potential and give meaning to our own lives, no matter what has happened to us or around us. Each day is a new day- a new beginning and we are given an opportunity every moment to make the conscious decision to strive for self-actualization- fulfilling our potential with goodness and growth. Each day we are also given the conscious choice to or shrink away from responsibility choosing to view ourselves as helpless victims of circumstance and our environment and live empty inauthentic and dysfunction lives as a result. The decision is yours. We here at GOGH are here to help inspire those who enjoy the positive energy and enjoy being alive, and to those who need to hear an inspirational word when we are thirsty for encouragement and doing better. Dark times lie in every individual and are part of life and a part of growing. GOGH to inspire and be inspired.



GOGHers are those who have an active interest in growing and learning and developing the positive attitude and outlook it takes to make this the best life it can be. We are dedicated to the personal and spiritual growth of those who wish to better and enjoy life in the present moment. Happiness is always an active choice and an inside job. Each of us determines our own weather and we are not driven by the outside circumstances of life. Life is 10% of what is happening and 90% the way we CHOOSE to react to it.
That which holds us back: Service to the self and the pursuit of activities that support our human existence: Material things, status, wealth, power, preoccupation of the self, judgment of the self and of others—all driven by the EGO.
That which propels us into greatness: A commitment to promoting others achieving a positive reality along with one’s own. Information is shared freely and lovingly. Lack of ego satisfaction, Personal journeys are recognized and valued. Love and positive light is seen in all things. Individuals seek to radiate unconditional love. Each individual is responsible for individual and collective growth and strive for community growth and progress; setting positive examples and being responsible for the energy each of us carries with us. Each of us have the ability to create positivity everywhere we go and to each person we encounter. You never know the impact your kindness has on another, even if it is never made aware to you. There are no limits to your greatness. Be the person you want to meet.

Characteristic of the Human Ego and false self that lead to unhappiness

 

“The ego is a false sense based on mental concepts. It is identification with the body and the mind—primarily identification with thought form. “ – Eckhart Tolle

 

Patterns of Egoic Behavior

• Blaming, Judging, accusing, gossiping and complaining. The ego always has to have something to oppose and complain about. It enjoys judging others and blaming behaviors that cause the individual to reflect outwards to keep attention and focus away from inward reflection.
• The need to be RIGHT, having enemies or constant opposition, and applying negative labels to people. Some people always have to be right or have the last word. These are the behaviors of line crosses and people who do not know when to stop or let go.
• Demanding recognition for something you did and getting upset if you did not get it. The ego needs and demands to be recognized. It wants to be better than others and seeks constant approval that will never be met. If you are self-satisfied and minimize ego- you will no longer need this approval or validation.
• Attention seeking behaviors such as constant talk of problems, illness, how you are the victim in circumstances, creating drama, stirring the pot and making a scene. We all know these people. The only things they have to discuss are negative things in life. Nothing ever new that is good happens to them. They revel in being the victim of their unfortunate and unfair life circumstances. Their story rarely changes. Don’t be this person and stay away from those who are. They drain your energy and leave you empty.
• Giving your opinion when no one asked for it and/or when it does not change the situation. If you are not looking to improve a situation or change the energy to a positive- keep your mouth shut. You sound like an idiot and no one wants to hear it.
• Being concerned with how the other person sees you than concern for the other person. Once again these people are completely self-absorbed and are only interested in what is going on in their or heads and lives. Shift focus on something other than yourself. There is a great big world out there that you could be improving instead of creating self-absorbed situations in your mind. It’s not ALL ABOUT YOU.
• Trying to impress others with possessions. Keeping up with the Joneses or showing off what you have is completely petty and self-absorbed. Try doing a random act of kindness instead.
• Taking things personally or being easily offended. There are too many positive things in life to focus on or be a part of. If you are easily offended or take things too personally, you are once again way too self-absorbed. It’s not all about you.
• Needing to be seen or to appear important. If you are a good person, people will recognize and see this. If you feel the need to choose attention seeking behaviors or things that would make you seem or feel important, you are way off track and will never feel satisfied.

Change Your Relationship With The NOW

The Zen master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan. He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching. Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next door neighbor became pregnant. When being questioned by her angry and scolding parents as the identity of the father, she finally told them that he was Hakuin, the Zen Master. In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting accusation that the daughter bad confessed that he was the father. All he was replied was “is that so?”

News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond. The master lost his reputation. This did not trouble him. No one came to see him anymore. He remained unmoved. When the child was born, the parents brought him to Hakuin. “You are the father so you look after him.” The Master took loving care of the child. A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop. In great distress they went and apologized to Hakuin and asked for forgiveness. “We are really sorry. We have come to take the baby back. Our daughter confessed that you are not the father.”  “Is that so>” is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.

The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way. “Is that so?” He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so he does not become a participant in human drama. TO him there is only this moment, and the moment is as it is. He is nobody’s victim. He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore. Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness.

Imagine briefly how the ego would have reacted during the various stages of the unfolding of these events.

Ego and the Present Moment

The most important, the primordial relationship in your life is your relationship with the Now, or rather with whatever form the now takes, that is to say, what is or what happens. If your relationship with the Now is dysfunctional, that dysfunction will be reflected in every relationship and every situation you encounter. The ego could be defined simply in this way: a dysfunctional relationship with the present moment. It is at this moment that you can decided what relationship you want to have with the present moment.

Once you have reached a certain level of consciousness, (and by reading this you almost certainly have), you are able to decide what kind of relationship you want to have with the present moment. Do I want the present moment to be my friend or enemy. The present moment is inseparable from life, so you are really deciding on what kind of relationship you want with life. Once you have decided you want the moment to be your friend, it is up to you to make the first move. Become friendly toward it, welcome it no matter what disguise it comes, and soon it will become friendly toward you, people become helpful, circumstances become cooperative. One decision changes your entire reality. This decision has to be made again and again and again- until it becomes natural to live in such a way.

The decision to become friends with the present is the end of the ego. The ego can never be in alignment with the present moment, which is to say, aligned with life, since it is its very nature to ignore, resist, and devalue the Now. The stronger the ego, the more time it takes to over your life. Almost every thought you think is concerned with past of future, and your sense of self depends on the future for its fulfillment. Fear, anxiety, expectation, regret, guilt, and anger are the dysfunctions to the time bound state of consciousness.  

Via A NEW EARTH- By Eckhart Tolle

Living in the NOW

• “Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”
  ― Eckhart Tolle

The Journey

A good traveler has no fixed plans,

and is not intent on arriving. - Lao Tzu

Most of us live a life of thoughts of the past or of the future. Many of these thoughts and ideas are of our fears, regrets and disappointments.

The past can be a detriment to the way you currently live your life. Do not let the fears of a repeated past, bad experience or memory hinder your present or future. The past can be viewed as a gift of valuable lessons and experiences that have molded you into a better person, if you choose to view it that way. The choice is ultimately yours.

The future is inevitable, and always on its way. Embrace the future with positive thoughts and expectation to attract the best possible scenarios the universe can hand out to you. It is good to make plans and have goals, but don’t forget that the present moment is all that is ever available to us. Don’t forget to live each day and enjoy what is now. None of us are guaranteed the future.

How many of us live in the present moment, enjoying the journey?

We are lucky to have the present time to be alive, aware and present. Most of life isn’t filled with huge events and milestones- it is often filled with tiny moments we deem insignificant, but these are the moments that fill up most of a life time. Enjoy the little things life has to offer. That great cup of coffee, the car that let you pass giving the friendly wave, spending time with a great person- the list is endless of the good things that do happen each day. When we become less obsessed with thoughts and being self-absorbed in our own minds, we can really become present in living in the current moments of our lives. We are all here to learn and grow and enjoy life. Happiness is attainable by choice, living presently and seeing the greatness in the little details that make up the whole. Enjoy the journey.  

Advancing In Perspective

 

Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.- Leo Tolstoy

 

Life is generally nothing more than how we see it- our perspective on things. This determines the emotional mindset of every individual that has ever drawn breath. It is also my favorite super power to play on, aside from my magnificent dancing which sort of resembles DeeDee from the cartoon Dexter’s Laboratory. My advances in my “creative thinking” have come a long way over the years, thus causing an increase in my happiness’s.

 

I was having an interesting morning the other day, that of which a few years back I would have instantly dubbed it a terrible morning. But it was the perspective I chose that made it just the opposite. It was the kind of morning where time was not on my side. I spent much of it inside of my closet giving every article of clothing I owned the brow for not being something magnificent I wanted or Pintrest worthy.  “What the hell is all this crap and where did all the good outfits go? These outfits all suck..”. Ok- checkpoint one on pre-coffee brain- I am lucky to have these clothes, and I know it. There would be tons of people in line to have my “subpar” outfits any day of the week. Pick something and go!

 

After finally getting it together, I leave the house, pull out of the garage and then try to close my garage door…which isn’t working. I give another round of the brow, And then checkpoint two -come to the realization that I am extremely lucky to own a home and have a garage door…which may or may  not work. If you own a home, things go wrong from time to time. If you have the privilege to own anything, they will break or need repair. And I feel privileged to have the opportunity.  

After manually closing my garage door, I go out the front door to leave once and for all, when I run face first into a spider web, fully equipped with a friendly spider that is now in my face. This- will wake you up faster than any cup of coffee- I guarantee it. After an awkward series of gestures, I wipe Mr. Friendly spider and said web off of me and giggle- another wonderful day to enjoy silly encounters such as spider web in the face. Good Morning- I am lucky to be alive. Many would give anything for another day, regardless of the circumstances or how it started. Embrace life with an attitude of joy and happiness. It is not necessarily about what is going on, but just your perspective.

 

 

New Directives

 

 

Everything Begins with You. You are responsible for your life, your choices, your attitude and the energy you allow to radiate from you. Whether that energy is positive or negative, it is your choosing of the vibe you put out and attract back. The mind is a rather complicated entity, yet in the same regard, can be kept simple. When things are put into perspective, the mind goes from a complex thing to a simple and easy to maneuver your life and your actions- stress free and worry free.

 Napoleon Hill quoted, “Whatever your mind feeds on, it attracts.” Consider the content of your mind. What type of thoughts do we allow to occupy the mind? Usually, it seems to be occupied with  worry, doubt, and fear or our personal problems and life issues that come our way. Unfortunately, what most do not realize or consider is that the worry, doubt and fear aspect that we have become accustomed to having in our thoughts more often than not, attract those very things we worry, doubt and fear. Worry, doubt and fear are composed of negative energy frequencies. If lack and limitation of any sort is on your mind- you will more than likely attract lack and limitation.

The mind is a very powerful source of energy. It is a tool that we do not use to its maximum ability. Education and being smart is one thing, but this is training the mind to attract better energy frequencies, which are more likely to yield more positive results. We have the ability to use the mind power to direct it to whatever we may choose. Take possession of the mind instead of letting the mind and its problems take possession of you.

If you have a worry or concern, limit the amount of time those thoughts can occupy your mind. Instead of worrying, being fearful, having thoughts of lack or limitations, replace those thoughts immediately with thoughts of thankfulness and gratitude. The energy around you needs to be stabilized and grounded for a good beginning of positive thought process and a positive frame of mind. First and foremost, give gratitude for what you do have. Many people in this world would trade places with us instantly. I recently read an article from the New York Times for a class about modern slavery and human trafficking. It was in this I gained a huge perspective of my thankfulness and gratitude to be who and where I am in life.

The article was about a young Asian girl who at the age of six years old, was sold by her family to a brothel. At the age of six, she was sold as a commodity to a foreign pedophile as a child virgin. Thinking the nightmare of her life couldn’t get worse, it is common for young children prostitutes to be re-stitched as virgins to be sold again as a prized commodity.  The young girl tried to run away but was caught each time, in which punishment consisted of being put into a vat of human excrement filled with scorpions and spiders. The girl recalls being punished up to nine days in this manner. Things like this are happening in the world this very moment. So there is my personal perspective to give me instant gratitude.

When I am being a spoiled brat for wanting more material things, ways of life, the infinite quest for “more” -perhaps one should focus on the greatness that already surrounds us, the ability sometimes for happiness is just to recognize it. So many people would be willing to trade places with us. We have so much, but lack the ability to recognize it and the ability to be grateful.  This is the foundation upon which happiness and positivity lie. Whenever you have a problem, give thanks first for what is going good in your life. Then, focus on the solution of your problem- without worry, doubt or fear. One of the most important things to do is to give thanks in advance- for the solved problem, the solution or whatever it is you want. This will likely attract those positive energies your way- versus if you were focused on worry fear and doubt, it is those energies that would attract to you. It really is your choice what type of energy or vibe you put out. If it is negative- you will unfortunately attract that right back to you. If it is positive, positive energy will find you more easily. It is all a simple choice of the mind. Doubt, worry, fear, lack, and limitation should have a very limited role in your show. Give the lead role to a positive character. Let only good thoughts possess your mind so that you may be open to attract the good things that are all around you.  Good energies are out there, but they have to be called upon to work for you. Let that be your directive.

Life Is....

Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands.

- Cathy Better

Free Your Mind

Here is a small expert from a Buddhist view on detachment. It is always our attachments in life that cause us the greatest pains, miseries, and sufferings; such as:

·       The object of our desire that we cannot attain or keep, whether they be material possessions or otherwise.

·       Unrequited love.

·       The disappointment of relationships- family, friends, lovers.

·       Unmet demands of people or situations.

·       When things don’t pan out the way we wanted them to.

 The word and concept of detachment can be misleading, as it denotes being free of all things, possessions and relationships- when that is not the case at all. The concept and implementation of detachment releases us from our Ego and allows the freedoms of negative emotions that attachments always keep us in that constant state of emotional rollercoasters- somewhere between happiness and disappointment.

 

Question: What is the meaning of detachment?

Answer: The Buddhist meaning of detachment is slightly different from what the word normally means in English. Detachment in Buddhism is connected with renunciation. The word renunciation in English is also misleading, for it implies that we have to give up everything and go live in a cave. Although there are examples of people like Milarepa who did give up everything and live in a cave, what they did is referred to by a different word, not the word that is translated as "renunciation" or "detachment". The word that has been translated as "renunciation" actually means "the determination to be free". We have a strong determination: "I must get out of my own problems and difficulties. My mind is totally firm on that goal." We want to give up our ego games because we are determined to be free from all the problems they cause. This does not mean that we have to give up a comfortable house or the things that we enjoy. Rather, we are trying to stop the problems that we have in relation to these objects. That leads us to detachment.

Being detached does not mean that we cannot enjoy anything or enjoy being with anyone. Rather, it refers to the fact that clinging very strongly to anything or anyone causes us problems. We become dependent on that object or person and think, "If I lose it or cannot always have it, I am going to be miserable." Detachment means, "If I get the food I like, very nice. If I do not get it, okay. It is not the end of the world." There is no attachment or clinging to it.

In modern psychology, the word attachment has a positive connotation in certain contexts. It refers to the bonding that occurs between a child and parent. Psychologists say that if a child does not have the initial attachment to the parents, there will be difficulties in the child's development. Again, it is problematic to find the appropriate English word to convey the Buddhist meaning, for the Buddhist connotation of attachment is quite specific. When the Buddhist teachings instruct that we need to develop detachment, it does not mean that we do not want to develop the child-parent bond. What is meant by "detachment" is ridding ourselves of clinging and craving for something or someone.

VIA- http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/approaching_buddhism/introduction/basic_question_detachment_nonviolence_compassion.html

 

Find Your Own Truth

                 

 Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.     

                       

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.                            

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

~Buddha

On Happiness...

                                Happiness is not a matter of events, 
                 it depends upon the tides of the mind.
                    ~   Alice Meynell

Solitude within the Multitude

     What do you see when you look at this painting? Most would say they see a man and a woman sitting together in a room- but if you take a closer look, you will see what Edward Hopper was conveying in this scene. Hopper is one of my new favorite American Artists. I am haunted by the message he is conveying here in this piece- along with many of his other works. Here Hopper is conveying the concept of which I think we all can connect to “the Solitude within the multitude.” In this scene there is a disconnect between the man and the woman. The man is reading his paper and the woman is keying piano chords. They are in the same room, yet turned away from one another, absorbed in their own thoughts and their own worlds. This is a great example of how we all have massively valuable people around us, we are never truly alone, yet we all often feel alone- the solitude within the multitude. We often feel a disconnection toward other people and isolate ourselves from a potentially great life. This is often a silent, unconscious choice that we have a habit of making- at least that is the way it seems to go for me.



     For me this painting is a great reminder that we do not have to be a solitude within the multitude (although some alone time can be the most fabulous thing on the planet, but that is not what I am talking about here), there are a lot of great people and wonderful things around us if we just allow ourselves to open our eyes to it. When I see Hoppers work, it makes me want to connect to people again. There is a massive disconnection in the world, and I think it’s time we all make an attempt to reconnect once again- to family, friends, and strangers on the street. Just a simple smile can make a huge difference in someone’s day. Any act of kindness is never wasted.


On this subject, the following quote comes to mind:


“For every man is a golden link in the chain of my good.” -Scovell Schinn


     It conveys that we are all connected, no matter who we are or how removed we are from each other. We are all living breathing creatures who all deserve loving kindness- the neighbor across the street, the jack wagon that cut you off in traffic, even the bully who made your life a living hell in high school.


     I suggest you give it a whirl. Connect with humanity once again and be present in the moment where ever you are- and smile. We all have a lot to be thankful for.