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In a world that seems to spew forth activity and demand attention 24-7, it is hardly surprising that stress and anxiety are labeled as the number one health challenge facing people today.

If you secretly entertain fantasies of dropping off the grid or moving to a desert island, you are not alone! Millions of people are looking for ways to counter the relentless onslaught of technology and connectivity on their sense of well-being. And yet, the solution to peace lies within you, not somewhere in some tropical paradise. 

Peace is a state of being that is borne of silence. It is one of the most powerful forces in the universe available to humans, yet it is also one of the least understood. Inner peace offers a refuge from the turbulence of the outer world and wields enormous transformational power in the lives of those who cherish it.

You, too, can enjoy the benefits of inner peace in the midst of a hectic world. Here’s how to get from panicked to peaceful:

To know the peace that circulates through a quiet mind, you must take yourself to that place where this silent Presence can make itself known to you. First, you must go within.

When Jesus told his disciples to seek the Kingdom of Heaven within, his words were alive with practical instruction. He was showing people how to discover a secret part within themselves that remained untouched by the wear and tear of their outer world.

This master instruction still holds true. If we want to know the silent strength of peace that passes all understanding, we must go within. We must become quiet. In doing so, we learn to become the observer, not the doer.

The second step is to observe. A good wildlife naturalist observes the diverse ways of animals without interfering. Think primatologist Jane Goodall: in order to learn more about primates, she simply watched them over the course of many years without interfering. And that’s what you must learn to do within. You’re to become an impartial witness to your own thoughts and feelings. Let them surface and subside within you while you simply observe without the slightest judgment of their nature or character. Neither resist nor let yourself be drawn into any of their attention-stealing antics.

At times, it might be helpful to use the analogy of an ocean, where waves arise from the ocean to build, crest and collapse into the ocean again, just as thoughts arise out of consciousness and are resorbed by it again.

“Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind,” advises a Zen proverb. And you can! You can participate in the outer activities of life and still rest within creation; the trick is not to become attached to those activities and their stories. That is also the challenge: learning how to rest in pure consciousness where nothing can affect you.

That brings us to the third step: detachment. The more detached you become from the mind’s state of perpetual thinking, the easier it becomes to perform all the actions that need to be done without losing your sense of power.

All you want to do is observe with detachment. Detached self-observation is your aim. Each time you realize that you’re no longer watching, but instead got caught up in a thought or feeling and are being carried along by it, just quietly withdraw your energy from that temporary psychic wave. Come back to the awareness of yourself in the present moment. Remember who you are: the observer of the thoughts, and not the thoughts or the resulting emotions they invoke.

So there you have it: go within – observe – detach – repeat. This practice is at the heart and soul of finding stillness and becoming peace. Nobody can gift you with it; you must experience it for yourself. Let go of outer drama, turn inward, and observe. Then gently bring back your awareness each time it wanders, returning your awareness to the inner landscape of the present moment. You are training your mind that you are not subject to its thoughts; you are the observer of them.

Pay no attention to what your thoughts and feelings are trying to tell you. Learn to simply observe the inner voices, whether they are light or dark, joyful or sad. Gradually attune your inner awareness to the cracks between thoughts, the silence beneath the inner landscape, and sink deeper into that silent peace.

As you gently maintain awareness of each present moment, you will notice how the moment itself changes… and as it does, so do you! When you connect to the silence within, you train your mind to return to peace - your natural resting place in consciousness.

The next time you feel overwhelmed and rushed off your feet, take a few minutes to center yourself. Go within … observe … detach … repeat … as often as needed until your consciousness returns to peace.

The more you practice this, the more you will be able to experience inner peace, calm and strength in your daily life, regardless of outer circumstances.

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com.

“Every option seems to have a down side. How do I know what’s best? I just don’t know what to do,” a friend recently complained.

My friend was caught in a quandary familiar to many of us. After losing a well-paying job and pounding the pavement for months to find another, an excellent opportunity had just come up – but it required moving out of state. Now a decision had to be made: stay on unemployment and hope for something to turn up locally, uproot the family to accept the offer out of state… or consider something in-between?

Every option offered potential benefit as well as the potential risk of failure. The conversation reminded me of something I read many years ago when I faced a similar dilemma:

Decision-making is easy when there are no discrepancies in your value system.

The fact is, there are decisions to be made every moment of life: Over time, these choices tend to unfold as failure or success, fulfillment or disappointment, or any of the myriad choices in between. So how can we optimize decision-making and minimize the downside?

A clear understanding of your core values will help you choose well at the decision-making junctions of your life. These inner values and your emotions around them form part of the immediate content of the decision-making process. Awareness of your core values makes it easier for you to make choices in harmony with those values.  If you value being able to provide for your family, you will find it easier to make the sacrifices necessary (such as working out of town for a while) than if you deeply cherish the comforts of the known.

By the way, I have found that most people who cling to the comfort and security of their known environment, are doing so from fear: fear of the unknown, fear of failing, fear of making mistakes. If you want to make great decisions, you first need to evict fear from your life. It is a dream killer and a useless waste of energy!

Effective decision-making looks at the content as well as the context of the situation.

Your inner world of values and desires constitute the immediate content of your decisions. Beyond that inner world of content, effective decision-making also requires you to consider the external context of your choices. In other words, there are factors in your external environment that need to be taken into account: in the example above, my friend needed to consider the timing of the job offer, the overall conditions in the job market, the other opportunities out there, and how a decision might impact the family.

Without taking external factors into consideration, even great decisions can lead to failure.

Powerful decisions require you to be truthful.

Decisions based on inner truth lead to inner empowerment. Choices that compromise your truth, lead to conflict and confusion. 

It is helpful to remember Socrates’ observation that each of us chooses what we believe to be optimal, given our level of awareness and insight at the time. Our choices create a resonant frequency field which attracts resonant energies and repels dissonant frequencies. Over time, this quantum attractor field draws particles of probability into becoming possibilities, eventually manifesting as our reality. Our thoughts and choices eventually manifest as things, so it behooves us to focus on truth!

You cannot live an authentic life by dishonoring your inner truth. There comes a time for each of us when we must choose to honor our truth and let the chips fall where they may. As Marianne Williamson has said, our playing small does not serve the world!

The Course in Miracles teaches that Truth is not frail. Truth can withstand the demands of the ego. It can surmount the envy, misperceptions and judgments of others, because it needs no defense.

True power lies in choosing from within, from the strength of having owned your fears, from the gentleness that you carry with grace. Each time you choose to honor your truth, you are creating more resonance to empower you on your journey.

A great way of drilling down to your true intention, is by asking yourself powerful questions. Answering these questions will help you face patterns of self-sabotage, fear or compromise so you can make clear decisions. Author Debbie Ford outlines great questions in her book, The Right Questions. Here are a few:

•    Will this choice propel me toward an inspiring future or keep me stuck in the past?
•    Will this choice bring me long-term fulfillment or short-term gratification?
•    Am I standing in my power or am I trying to please another?
•    Am I looking for what is right or for what is wrong?
•    Will this choice add to my life force or rob me of energy?
•    Will I use this situation as a catalyst to grow or as an excuse to beat myself up?
•    Does this choice empower or disempower me?
•    Is this an act of self-love or is it an act of self-sabotage?
•    Is this an act of faith or is it an act of fear?

Powerful decisions require involvement of body, mind and soul.

Finally, sound decision-making requires you to listen to the subtle message of your being at all levels. To listen to all aspects of your being, it is most helpful to cultivate healthy connections among your body, mind and soul. Each of these levels of communicates with you in different ways. Remain aware of your spiritual core guiding you through the physical challenges of life, and you will become most effective at decision-making. Take time for meditation or contemplation. It will help you stay centered and at peace.

Once you have made a decision, stay flexible and embrace ambiguity. As additional information surfaces, you may want to adapt to it. Remember, change is usually a messy process! Flexibility makes it easier to release unrealistic expectations and to adjust to new information so you can optimize your decisions.

 

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.  

A lot of success coaches and motivational speakers tell you to THINK BIG. They tell you to create a big vision in order to succeed. And I agree - having a big vision is necessary to accomplish big things.

At the same time, even big things are compiled of multiple smaller components - and so I find myself coaching clients to think small instead.

Whenever you are in a tight spot in life, it is especially important to focus on the goodness of life at the present moment. The past is over and the future is not here yet. This is the perfect time to appreciate what you do have now instead of focusing on fear or lack.

Being laid off is a case in point. If you are out of work and have been for some time, it may be difficult to think about the perfect job or the ultimate contribution you want to make in the world. At this stage of the game, you may just want a paying job... it’s time to think small.

This bleak season will pass. Make the most of it by finding ways in which you can make a difference. Spend more time with loved ones, help the children with homework, plant some flowers. You can teach yourself a new skill or take a local adult education class. Join a Meet Up group. Being unemployed may feel like a permanent condition. The fact is, it is a season that will surely pass. You are not going to be out of work forever, so take advantage of the time you have now!

Whenever a project feels huge, it’s time to think small. If the size or complexity of a project overwhelms you, focus on just the next few itty bitty steps. Locate the phone numbers you need to call... schedule the time to make the call. Outline the chapters of the book you want to write...commit to writing just one chapter a month. Unclutter one drawer rather than thinking about uncluttering the whole house. Baby steps will get you there.

Even in business, there’s a place and time for thinking small. When thinking big, we often complicate things with too many ideas… and we overwhelm ourselves.

No matter where you are in life, there is always something you can do. If you cannot tackle big things now, don’t dither in indecision - start with something small! Here are a few pointers to help you take a step forward:

1.  Pick just one or two things to focus on each day. I find that most clients are trying to do too much in too little time. As a result, few things get completed. If you commit to one or two things daily, you’ll get more done and feel less stressed.

2.  Revel in little things. Go out and literally smell the roses. Slow down and appreciate your surroundings. Taste your food instead of inhaling it. Have meaningful conversation instead of passing interactions.

3.  Scale down. Get rid of physical clutter as well as mental clutter. Review your obligations and decide if they still serve you. Do you need to withdraw from some? Clear your mind by doing a brain dump: put your ideas, to-dos and tolerances (those things you are tolerating) down on paper. Prioritize what you will do and what you won’t, and tackle them one at a time.

4.  Focus on being great at what you do, rather than being the biggest or best. If you shift your focus to being great, you’ll begin to do things from a place of excellence instead of overwhelm.

5.  Allow extra time for everything you do. If writing a letter will take ten minutes, allow yourself twenty.  That way, you build buffer time into your day to cope with unexpected events. If you finish in less time than that... go watch the clouds!

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com.

Are we witnessing the end of the world approaching? What will happen next? Will we make it through 2012?

I believe that we are seeing the end of an era dominated by self-serving, egocentric living; an era that was mired in the duality of haves and have-nots. I also believe that in the perfect circle of life, new cycles are birthed from the ashes of the old, and we are currently right inside that wrinkle in time where two realities overlap: the dying former reality and the birth of a new era.

Things are changing so fast that many feel stuck, lost and afraid. But are you really?

Take a moment to really feel what is going on. You are not stuck… you are simply constrained. Yes, the old way of doing things no longer works, and you are trying to adjust to radical new ways of viewing life, doing things, and living.

Outside yourself, the whole world is going through a spin cycle. At the macroscopic level, systems and structures that formed an integral part of the old, dualistic Newtonian paradigm are crumbling. They are unable to hold the energy of higher consciousness that is sweeping the planet. On a microscopic level also, obsolete ways of being are falling away, affecting every individual.

None of us are exempt: relationships, employment, institutions and other external forms of security are subject to the scrutiny of a higher awareness that is emerging as individuals awaken from the grand illusion we have believed to be real.

The choice is no longer if we’ll let go of the old ways; it is simply how you will let go. Will you gently release the dense relationships with people, power and money that no longer serve your soul’s evolution so you can make space for a higher reality? Or will you fight to the bitter end, trying to hold on to some semblance of control until things are torn from your life with deep claw marks – your claw marks – all over them?

Resistance brings pain and suffering. Great spiritual teachers like Jesus and the Buddha taught their followers not to resist, but to surrender to the Higher law at work beyond the visible realm.

The truth is that, throughout this time of constraint and upheaval, there are unseen forces holding you steady while you learn to run this new kind of energy… the energy of Oneness with Divine purpose. It is your Divine connection, hosted in a human shell. Long ago, before you ever came into this life, you chose to embody this energy at this time. It is your contribution to the shift of the ages, and now is your time to fulfill that agreement.

The energy of Divine oneness or unity is the most powerful force in the Universe. It is powerful enough to constrain you when you try to separate from Divine guidance at your core and assert your human will.

In the old way of life, we accomplished goals by imposing our human, egoic wills onto external reality. We were conditioned to be willful and determined, wanting whatever we chose to have when we decided to have it.

This way no longer works. When we assert our human, egoic will in the new energy that surrounds us now, there are numerous obstacles constraining us.

To move past these constraints, we have to give up the drive to accomplish things by sheer force of will. Instead, we need to align with the power of All That Is. We need to surrender to trust: trust in the Divine, in Higher Guidance, in Spirit, God… whatever you choose to call the essential Life Force Energy.

When we choose to trust, the ego yields so we align to a Bigger Plan - the Higher picture of Divine perfection. From there, we are able to flow and co-create a higher reality than we could have ever conceived of before.

It is no longer possible to more forward in ego and still make spiritual progress. The constraining force of Spirit will block your movement at every turn - the old ways of doing need to be surrendered to embrace higher ways of being.

Spirit will get you through this time of transition, no matter how difficult it feels.

Those same unseen forces that hold you steady now, can and will lift you out of all the illusion of despair. All it takes is for you to let go of all attachment to the old forms of power, and to embrace the path of alignment, the way of trusting and allowing.

We are living in a very different reality now than even five years ago. The old life with its hopes and dreams is filed away in the archives of All That Is. To keep looking for it, merely deters our progress.

Instead, you need to learn how to commune with your soul to access the inner guidance that is stirring there. Every change that you wish to see in society starts with you and the field of consciousness that you are holding.

Now is the time to embrace what shows up in your life moment by moment.

Look for new ways to reframe things, new tools to do things with.

Go inward.

Drink deep from the wellspring of life.

Let the timeless wisdom and healing energy of sacred teaching wash over you to renew your soul.

Develop a dialogue with Spirit and ask for guidance and clarity.

Stay present in the moment and allow the answers to flow to you through circumstances.

When action is indicated, do it. When circumstances open up for you, move forward. And when doors close, don’t try to break through them. Sometimes, we need to spend a while living in the in-between: learning to let go of the need to control, the need to logically understand.

At times like these, we need to ask ourselves what we really want and why…even as we surrender the need to know how it will come about. We need to simply align to the Eternal Presence and be present, patient, and still.

 

As you consciously evolve in response to the Divine nature within you, you will embody the higher energies of the life force field wherein everyone’s consciousness can evolve.

From the Source of Truth at the microscopic core of you being, the energies of a new and higher way of being will ripple out to touch, change and heal the realities of life on a macroscopic level. In a world crying for hope and healing, there is no greater service you can offer!

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com

As we continue to evolve, many of us struggle with a sense of not quite fitting in with our traditional community or tribe: we may have expanded or changed beyond the borders of its tribal norms, and no longer find the same sense of belonging there. Other members may have tightened the tribal rules to foster a sense of security. As a result, we may feel a sense of disconnection or alienation.

In truth, each one of us belongs to many tribes simultaneously: there is your original tribe – the family you were born into - and then there are all the communities of choice you have joined: your work tribe, your social circles, your faith-based community, your neighborhood, and more. These communities are not static; they are in continuous flux because they consist of individuals who are in continuous states of change. When there is a lot of change happening either in the individual or in the community, a sense of dissonance results.

How are we to deal with this? First, it is important to recognize that tribal allegiances were historically forged for survival. They were adapted over the course of centuries to ensure the safety and survival of the group. Individuation was sacrificed for the trade-off of security as a member of the group. In other words, tribal survival was based on keeping every member in line with tribal rules and norms.

In modern society, the tables are flipped. Whether we enjoy it or not, change is essential for survival at every level of being. The pace of change is driven by technological advances that occur with increasing rapidity: sociologists estimate that more change has taken place in society over the course of the past 100 years, than in the totality of the previous 6,000 years! Individual adaptation is a requirement for survival, and the pace of individual change does not always match the pace at which our various tribal communities evolve. The resulting dissonance can cause intense friction and pain.

Dissonance also results from confusion between the concepts of ‘connectivity’ and ‘community.’ We tend to equate one with the other, when they really relate to different qualities. Connectivity relates to inanimate technology that offers us the infrastructure to build community, but which does not represent the quality of that community. Connectivity simply offers the opportunity to connect with others through the internet, texting, tweeting, or any other social networking options available.

Community is the result of building enduring relationships through meaningful interaction over time. There is no shortcut to community; it is a process that develops when bonds of trust and intimacy are nurtured and honored.

And here lies the caveat. When we confuse connectivity with community, we depersonalize the sacred nature of true community and start relating to people as objects instead. Instead of developing intimacy and respect over time, we may focus on collecting contacts on social network sites, mistakenly equating larger numbers with more community. Yet friending a contact is not the same a nurturing a friendship; it does not create intimacy.

In fact, social experiments indicate that technologically dominated connectivity tends to result in alienation and social collapse over time. In a groundbreaking social experiment conducted by Josh Harris, one of the founders of social networking on the internet, he found that the more people’s personal lives were exposed by 24/7 technology, the more their sense of intimacy and relationship deteriorated until the community collapsed in violence and self-destructive behavior. Harris’ chilling findings are documented in the 2009 movie, We Live In Public.

Perhaps it is time to revisit our concept of community in order to create tribes that offer a true sense of intimacy and belonging.

In his 1987 book, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace,  psychologist M. Scott Peck described several core characteristics of true community. Beyond the obvious components of inclusivity, commitment and participatory consensus, Peck pointed out the quality of embracing diversity through realism. When each member contributes their unique viewpoint from a place of humility and goodwill, the community benefits from a broader perspective in which to better grasp the full context of a situation. In other words, mutual tolerance helps members to embrace one another’s different viewpoints as an integral part of the whole, instead of imposing a forced compliance to groupthink or cohesion.

In an environment like this, members experience and express compassion and respect for one another. They allow others to share their vulnerability, to learn and grow, and to express who they truly are. When conflict arises, they learn to resolve it with wisdom and grace. Members listen to and respect each others' gifts, accept each others' limitations, celebrate their differences, and commit to find solutions together rather than to fight against each other. Indeed, the true spirit of community is the spirit of peace, love, wisdom and power. The source of this spirit may be seen as an outgrowth of the collective self or as the manifestation of a Higher Will.

Does this description of community sound spiritual to you? It is indeed, because Spirit is the common denominator among all of us, regardless of how separate we feel from others.

As human beings, we often experience a socio-economic sense of separation from others because of different opinions, beliefs, expectations, language, culture, or interests, since each one of us expresses these in a way uniquely different from anyone else. And we continue to differentiate! We are always evolving or devolving in response to life. The tribal community that felt like a good fit last year may no longer work for us; the places where we felt embraced, now may suffocate us. Over the course of a lifetime, we can expect to outgrow and change allegiances to many of the tribal communities we once belonged to.

How can we maintain relationships in such a changing world? We need to find the common denominator between us and others. When we transcend the layers of physical appearance, mental beliefs and socio-economic conditioning, we discover the presence of Divinity as a common denominator in everyone around us. Perhaps it is time to expand our tribal definitions to embrace a spiritual community that includes all of mankind as children of God.

Mother Teresa admonished her nuns to see Jesus in every leper they encountered, to find His presence as they looked into the eyes of the homeless. When we can look past the issues that divide us to find omnipresent Divinity in each other, we will find the foundations of true community there.

This type of spiritual community transcends all socio-economic borders, beliefs and backgrounds. It is inclusive because it operates on voluntary self-responsibility and mutual compassion, and its doors are open to everyone.

Building this type of community takes time: time to listen, to hear, to respond and to participate. As we approach the ending of one year and the start of another, resolve to make time in your life to a sense of true community with the people that matter to you. You are one of the architects of community in your life, and you can participate in building a tribe where you truly belong.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Most of us have days when we feel stressed out, overloaded or unappreciated; when the batch of responsibilities we juggle aren’t noticed or rewarded; when dragging ourselves out of bed requires Herculean effort. If you feel like this most of the time, however, you may be flirting with burnout.

While everyone experiences stress, it does not have to lead to burnout. Stress has to do with too much: too many demands on your time and resources, leading to physical depletion.

 

Burnout has to do with too little: too few reserves left to cope effectively with life challenges, leaving you feeling emotionally and mentally empty. Burnout happens as a result of exposure to long-term, chronic stress without appropriate support or coping mechanisms.

When running on empty, it is tempting to grab a quick fix like coffee, candy bars or some high-powered energy drink and keep going. Instead of reaching for an artificial energy boost, burnout means it’s time to find more appropriate ways to support yourself. If you take proper action now, you can interrupt the downward spiral of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion, and turn it around before it causes real damage.

Dealing with burnout requires a three-step approach:
•    Recognize the warning signs of burnout
•    Reverse the damage by managing stress and seeking support
•    Resilience – build long-term resilience to stress with proper self-care at levels of body, mind and spirit.

Step 1: Recognize the warning signs of burnout:

You may be on the road to burnout if:
•    Your state of mind is marked by not having enough: not enough time, resources, energy, enthusiasm, motivation or caring; instead, you feel all dried up and emptied out.
•    You’re feeling physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted or drained.
•    Frequent headaches, back pain, muscle aches or changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
•    You disengage from people, activities and interests that you would normally enjoy.
•    You’ve lost your sense of confidence and faith. Instead, you're focusing on shame and doubt, feeling shaky in the present and insecure about the future.
•    You struggle with a sense of loss: loss of control, loss of goals and ideals, loss of motivation or loss of your ability to cope.
•    Your emotions become blunted: You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated, so why bother?
•    You feel increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, angry or resentful.
•    You feel like you have nothing more to give, and you are stuck in a no-win situation.

The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life – including your home and social life. It can also wreak havoc on your health: constant stress has been shown to suppress the immune system, cause chronic inflammation in the body, and make you more susceptible to a host of illnesses. When long-term stress turns to frustration, anger and resentment, it can lead to hardening of the arteries. High blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular complications, even heart attacks and brain attacks (or strokes) are potential health risks. Prolonged stress over time also impairs your hormonal and biochemical systems, influencing neurotransmitters such as serotonin that support mood stability.

Step 2: Reversing Burnout

Before throwing up your hands, remember, burnout is not for wimps. A lot of folks reach the advanced stages of burnout because of their sense of responsibility and dedication… taken just a bit too far.

If you recognize the warning signs of impending burnout in yourself, it’s time to take action. You can prevent further breakdown, provided you make some important changes. Remember that it will only get worse if you leave it unattended. By taking steps to get your life back into balance, you can prevent burnout from becoming a full-blown breakdown. Here are some to get you started:

•    Slow down.
By the time you reach the later stages of burnout, adjusting your attitude or taking some vitamins won’t be enough to solve the problem. You need to force yourself to slow down or take a break. Cut back whatever commitments and activities you can. Give yourself time to rest, reflect and heal.

•    Get support.
When you’re burned out, the natural tendency is to protect what little energy you have left by isolating yourself. But friends and family are more important than ever during difficult times. Turn to loved ones for support. Simply sharing your feelings with another person can relieve some of the burden. Seek out professional support to help you change unhealthy habits and find the way forward.

•    Reevaluate your goals and priorities.
Burnout is an undeniable sign that something important in your life is not working. Take time to think about your hopes, goals, and dreams. Are you neglecting something that is truly important to you? Burnout can be an opportunity to rediscover what really makes you happy and to change course accordingly. 

•    Acknowledge your losses.
Burnout brings with it many losses which can go unrecognized. Common losses include:
     Loss of your idealism or dreams
     Loss of your role or identity in life or in society
     Loss of physical and emotional energy
     Loss of friends, fun, and a sense of community
     Loss of esteem, self-worth, and a sense of control
     Loss of the joy, meaning and purpose that make life worthwhile

Unrecognized loss traps a lot of your energy. It takes a tremendous amount of emotional control to keep yourself from feeling the pain of these losses. When you recognize them and allow yourself to grieve them, you release that trapped energy and open yourself to healing.

Step 3: Build Resilience

 

To prevent yourself from slipping into burnout again, you need to build resilience to stress by taking excellent care of yourself at the levels of body, mind and spirit.

•    Start and end the day with a relaxing ritual.
Rather than jumping into or out of bed, spend at least fifteen minutes meditating, writing in your journal, doing gentle stretches, or reading something that inspires you.

•    Adopt healthy eating, exercising and sleeping habits.
When you eat right, engage in regular physical activity, and get plenty of rest, you have the energy and resilience to better deal with life’s demands.

•    Set boundaries.
Don’t overextend yourself. Learn how to say “no” to requests for your time without feeling guilty. Remind yourself that saying “no” allows you to say “yes” to the things you truly want to do.

•    Take a daily break from technology.
Set a time each day when you completely disconnect. Put away your laptop, turn off your phone, and stop checking email. This strategy does wonders to help me recharge after an intense week!

•    Nourish your creative side.
Creativity is a powerful antidote to burnout. Try something new, start a fun project, or resume a favorite hobby. Choose activities that have nothing to do with work, and let go of trying to be perfect when engaging in them.

•    Learn how to manage stress.
You may feel helpless when facing burnout, but you have a lot more control over stress than you think. Learning practical techniques to manage stress can help you regain equilibrium.

If you are prepared to make these adjustments, burnout can be a powerful incentive to find more clarity, balance and fulfillment in your life.

 

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com. This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.  

Have you ever had the experience where someone presents a smooth façade, yet their actions speak so loudly that you cannot hear a word they say? The experience felt odd because you sensed a discrepancy between the person’s words and actions.

Personal growth brings to light such discrepancies in ourselves so that we can take appropriate action to become fully integrated beings.

Of all the things you can do to impact your future, I believe personal growth is the greatest. With personal growth, I refer to the process of improving one’s awareness and identity, developing one’s potential, and maturing emotionally, mentally and spiritually to fulfill one’s destiny. It is the primary catalyst to who you’ll become over the course of your life.

Personal growth paves the way to lasting effectiveness and fulfillment. It cultivates an environment where decision-making becomes easier, because you eliminate discrepancies in your value system as soon as you become aware of them. It’s your key to a truly meaningful life.

This key to a meaningful life rests in your hands, because the key is you. It does not rest on finding someone to love or support you; or on getting a tax break, electing a different president, winning the lottery, or even moving to another country. It rests with you – and that is great news!

All personal growth starts with the willingness to accept responsibility for where we are at, for the actions and choices that brought us to the present. Instead of beating yourself up over past decisions you made, you can initiate meaningful change by accepting that you are the key factor to a meaningful life.

If that statement feels a little awkward to you, it means you need to own it more fully. Post it where you can see it every day: in the bathroom, the kitchen, your car, or your computer – anywhere you can see it. You are the key to a meaningful life!

You are the key to a meaningful life; ponder it until you know it in your bones! Your potential and your future are in your hands, because you are the key to creating the change you desire.

How does one create meaningful change? First, you may want to nurture change with a strong, dynamic support system; an active pursuit of personal growth; clear goals and boundaries; and the knowledge of what your value system requires from you to maintain inner peace.

 

Second, you may also want to minimize the impact of obstacles such as health setbacks, financial exposure, and negative influences. However, none of these things can replace the most important aspect: your conscious presence as the core catalyst to creating the change you desire.

You are the key to creating a meaningful life! Imprint that concept on your mind, because it is super important. You don’t have to be perfect, you simply have to make progress.

One of my former colleagues was a very successful entrepreneur who really understood this concept. Whenever people asked him how he became so successful, he would answer, “Simple. Just go beyond the average. Focus on becoming your best.”

How wise he was! In a world of mediocrity where the lowest common denominator usually is enough, you can surpass the norm simply by becoming more than average. You don’t have to strive for perfection or even excellence; you just have to rise above the average.

Work on yourself and develop more than average enthusiasm. Develop more than average clarity. Develop more than average vision. Develop an above-average commitment to live your best life. In short, to have more, focus on becoming more. When you invest in and work on yourself, the results will follow!

One day shortly before final exams, my high school English teacher read us The Victor, a poem by C. W. Longenecker that I’ve never forgotten. It was written well before the age of gender-sensitive language, yet its message is still as powerful today as when it was penned:

“If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.

“If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.

“If you think you are out-classed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize.

“Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.”

If you were to look at the people who attended school or college with you, you may notice that each person has reached a different place in life. Given the fact that they attended the same educational system, speak the same language, and share the same culture, what accounts for the difference?

The difference is on the inside, not outside. It lies in how well each person understands the key to creating a meaningful life.

Every day, you make choices that determine whether something is meaningful for you or not. You are the only person qualified to measure an external experience by your internal value system and give it the thumbs up or down. The better acquainted you are with your inner value system, personal goals, boundaries and dreams, the more accurate will be the choices you make.

You see, the real difference is inside you. In fact, the difference IS you. The power that makes things better is inside you, and personal growth is the catalyst that activates that power in your life.

Within you is the power to believe, to dare, to do, to persevere. Within you is the strength to love, to forgive, to grow, to heal. You are the key to creating a meaningful life and a better future!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com. This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

The rules are changing.

Life is shifting and changing around us, at times in ways that can seem terrifying. Nothing seems stable or secure any longer: natural disasters are striking at unprecedented rates, terrorist activities violate daily life, and economic security seems like a forgotten dream to many.

Banks are not safe anymore, support systems fail to provide support, and job security is an oxymoron... at times, we may even question the rules we have lived by.

What is really happening? Do we even know what is real any more? As old paradigm systems and structures crumble, I often remember these words from A Course in Miracles:

"Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God."

When the chips are down, only that which is real, remains. So, how do we get to what’s real? More than ever, it is time to know: who are your real friends, where are your forms of real security, what are the things to really focus on?

This is a time to recognize the real support system that upholds you with unseen arms and to align with the Higher purpose of your life. It is time to fully embrace your real nature as an eternal spiritual being, so you can access the limitless resources beyond this physical world.

Yes, life in the physical world can be startling, yet your resources and sense of security are not limited to the physical realm. As spiritual beings, you and I have 24/7 access to the vast potential of the Universe. We are able to create a real version of reality distinct from the virtual reality bubbles popping around us in the material realm.

Our true home and resources are in the realm of Spirit, which is the world of cause. The physical world around us is the world of effects, the place where our creations manifest based on what we hold in mind. To change what we see around us in the world of effects, we need to shift our focal point to the world of cause, the realm of Spirit.

Are you focused on scarcity, dualism and fear? Then that is what you will notice around you. Are you focused on the bountiful resources and potential of Spirit? That can be yours too - it’s your choice!

Once you truly grasp this concept, the cloak of fear drops away. Your true resources are as limitless as your Source, so what is there to be afraid of? And since those resources exist as pure energy, they are instantly available in whatever form you need at any given time!

We are eternal beings, created in the image and likeness of our Creator. Just as our Source is without beginning or end, so our resource (our supply and support from Source) is without beginning or end. These boundless resources are available to us in the quantum Field – the higher dimensions where outcomes exist as a limitless field of potentiality, prior to collapsing into physical form.

In this holographic Field, time does not exist as a linear, Newtonian paradigm of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Instead, multiple outcomes coexist as undifferentiated potential. The potentialities respond closely to the wave forms of thought, intention, movement and focus rippling through the Field in continuously.

You and I are adding to this action in the Field every moment by our participatory thoughts, emotions and choices. When one of these potentialities in the Field reaches critical mass, it collapses the wave form and manifests as a physically observable outcome.

Even though our bodily existence is anchored in the physical paradigm of linear time, our consciousness is free to move beyond it. In consciousness, we are able to access the Field – the place where miracles are created. And we access this Field in the present, because that is the only time existing beyond the physical realm.

Whenever the mind strays to the future, the ego responds with thoughts of anxiety and fear. Likewise, when we focus on the past, the ego responds with thoughts of guilt and regret. Simply put, both past and future are the ego’s domain; yet the present is the domain of the Field – the place of Creation and the realm of Spirit.

To put this in a spiritual perspective, the Field is the home of the Creator energies. It is the realm of Spirit where there is only the Eternal Now, without beginning and without end. As we shift our awareness to being fully present in the Field of the Eternal Now, we access a place of deep inner peace. We connect to the realm of possibilities – the source from where our needs are met moment by moment.

Accessing the Field requires us to shift our focus from the material world to the eternal domain of Spirit. The material world is the densest of all worlds. It is the place where things manifest and are destroyed in cycles that follow one upon another throughout history. Nations rise up and are destroyed, civilizations blossom and fade away. Everything that has a beginning – in other words, everything that has been created – also ends. Only that which emanates from the domain of Spirit, has no beginning and no end.

When we limit our focus to the material world, we are severely curtailing our co-creative partnership with the Divine source of creation. The presence of Divinity is not limited to a mosque, church, temple or synagogue – it is in every atom and molecule of every universe, as well as in the spaces among them. Divinity is everywhere.

As human beings, we embody both the temporal, physical aspects of matter and the eternal, timeless aspects of Spirit. Our bodies are created forms that come to an end after they reach their biological expiration date. But you and I are more than just our physical bodies! We are eternal souls – pure consciousness - inhabiting a body, and when we leave this physical vehicle, our consciousness will continue to exist because it is part of our Divine Source.

While in the body, our assignment is to evolve into the highest, purest expression of consciousness embodied in human form. You and I are not just physical bodies; we are eternal souls. Our souls are unbounded by time and space. It is the part of us that most clearly emanates Divinity and when that Presence is able to shine through us, miracles happen.

You and I chose to be present on the planet at this momentous time in history to participate in one of the most challenging and exhilarating assignments ever. Through our evolving consciousness, we are holding a space of light and clarity that shines as a beacon of sanity in an insane world. We were selected to hold this space at a pivotal time in history when the collective choices of humanity are determining the potential that will manifest as our future.

Around you, man-made institutions may be stressed to breaking point; perhaps even crumbling. The false security of the material world is exposed as an illusion, but you need not be afraid.

Remember the way of faith. Faith is the substance of things not seen, the evidence of life beyond the dense material world. Through faith, you came into this world to grow, learn and evolve. Through faith you awoke from the dream of forgetfulness that fell upon humanity, and through faith you are remembering that your destiny is more than mere physical survival.

You have been hand-picked to be on this planet at this time in history as a place-holder for higher consciousness, a beacon that radiates the reality of a Higher way of living. As you clear out your own amnesia and limiting beliefs, that Higher consciousness of Spirit can shine through you with increasing clarity to bring hope, healing and purpose for others.

This is not a time to be afraid – it is a time to remember who you are. It’s time to step into the true magnificence of your being and to apply what you have learned. It is also time to answer the call and aligning with your higher nature, the presence of Spirit in you. Your spiritual nature will magnetize and attract optimal outcomes into your life through your alignment to truth. It is time to stand firm with your head held high, living from your spiritual core!

As each awakened soul unites with fellow awakened ones around the globe, we are creating a web of light holding our planet, her people and her future in an embrace where Divine potential can manifest. Free from fear, we are able to foster the emergence of a higher planetary consciousness that transcends political and religious barriers to embrace all humans as one. Yes, we are all members of the human family, emanating from one common Source despite the color of our skin, the doctrines of our beliefs, or our geographical location.

Together, we can usher in the critical shift in consciousness that is needed to create a new ecosystem: a world where we can co-exist by treating everyone as children of the Divine, instead of creating separation based on nationality, beliefs or color.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by the changes in the world around you, remember the truth who you really are… then realign to that Higher purpose and let your light shine!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com. This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Disasters and upheaval happen in every life. You may have been spared the trauma of earthquakes, terrorist attacks or civil war. Instead, you may be facing work layoffs, mounting debt, or a devastating medical diagnosis. You may feel stuck working at a job you hate but can’t leave because of current market conditions, or you may feel stuck in a seriously dysfunctional relationship. When trauma strikes, it is common to feel overwhelmed, helpless and scared in a world that seems to spiral out of control.

The intensity of your emotional response to a present setback may seem out of proportion to the level of the event, because the current event may have triggered an avalanche of past trauma memories or  flashbacks. Your ability to deal with setbacks depends on many factors, including your natural resilience or ability to cope with stress, the severity of the trauma, and what kinds of support you got from family, friends and professionals immediately afterwards.

When setbacks leave you feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable, it may be tempting to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. These substances may temporarily make you feel better, but they make things worse in the long run. Substance abuse worsens many symptoms of trauma, including emotional numbing, social isolation, anger and depression. It also interferes with treatment and can add to problems at home and in relationships.

As news of disastrous events continue to unfold worldwide, it is more important than ever to sharpen your coping skills at physical, emotional and spiritual levels. It is up to you to put together your own disaster-preparation kit, so that you can be resilient in navigating winds of change.
 
Here are some positive coping strategies to help you get through times of major upheaval:

Recognize that you may be grieving. Grief is a natural part of the life cycle that follows loss. You may find yourself cycling back and forth through five major stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Cycling through the stages of grief is normal – you are not losing your grip on reality. Allow yourself to grieve for the parts of life that you have lost, and take comfort in knowing that this process will come to completion in due time.

Honor your losses. Loss can show up in many ways. You may have lost your job, a relationship, a loved one, friends, pets, your home, possessions, your dreams, health, or your quality of life. Try writing about your loss or create a ritual to express your sense of loss. Rather than expecting to just "get over it" and move on with your life, take time to honor and affirm your losses - it is a valuable part of the healing process.
 
Talk to someone for support. It is important not to isolate yourself. Instead, make efforts to be with supportive people that you have carefully identified as safe. Face the challenges in your life and identify the most important problems. Then get help from safe friends, family members or professionals to help you address these so you can move past them.
 
Find your new normal. When life as you knew it ends, you may feel as if your entire infrastructure has collapsed, and rules of your previous world no longer hold true. You may find your emotions swinging from one extreme to another, and temporarily lose your sense of what’s normal. When your personal world falls apart, it is important to remember that you are not alone, weak, or crazy. It helps to know your problems are shared by many others who have experienced – and survived - similar setbacks.
 
Break things into manageable chunks. When feeling too scattered to focus, recognize that your mind is trying to cope with your situation the best it can. Instead of putting yourself down or fearing that you are losing your mind, take positive steps to regroup. Slow down. Give yourself time to focus on what you need to learn or do. Write things down and make “To Do” lists. Break tasks down into smaller, manageable chunks. Set one realistic goal or task for each day. And get help if you need it.

Take time out when angry. The stress that accompanies major setbacks can create irritability and anger. This can affect your self-control, health, and relationships. Anger can increase your heart rate so much that you cannot think clearly. Remember that staying angry doesn't work. It actually increases stress and can cause health problems. Burn your anger off in the gym or get professional help to learn how to manage it more effectively.
 
Reconnect to positive emotions. After a major setback, many people have trouble feeling or expressing positive emotions. They may even feel guilty for surviving while others did not. This is a common reaction to trauma. It is not helpful to feel guilty for something you did not want to happen and cannot control. Instead, shift your focus to gratitude for surviving and resolve to live in the present.
 
Practice helpful thinking. Monitor your thoughts. If they cause you to feel stuck or helpless, focus on generating more helpful thoughts. For example, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't do it," challenge yourself with questions such as: "Is it really true that I can't do it?" "Is it ALWAYS true?" "Under what circumstances could I do it?" "Could I do it if I had some help?" Then select a more helpful thought. In this case, you might say to yourself, "With the right help, I can get through this."

Take time to relax. Consciously choose to focus on something positive in your life to help you relax. Some helpful activities include mental calming with progressive relaxation, mindfulness meditation, or conscious breathing; physical exercise such as swimming, walking or yoga; spiritual activities such as prayer, chanting or singing; and other healing activities such as listening to quiet music, spending time with pets or being in nature.

Reach out to help others. Helping others in need or volunteering in your community can make you feel better about yourself. It can relieve stress by taking your mind off your own problems for awhile, and may help you see them in a different light. Providing support for others can also make you feel more connected and empowered.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com.  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

“I can’t seem to focus long enough to get unstuck.” This is one of the most common complaints I hear from clients these days.

There are some good reasons why we have difficulty focusing on what is most important to us. With increased levels of hi-tech connectivity, smart phones continuously alert us to incoming e-mails, tweets, text messages and alarms. We are surrounded by electronic media streaming news and information from around the world - and the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. Add to that the increased pace of life, the challenges of making a living, and the never-ending demands for our time, money and resources – it can get overwhelming.

So what goals should we focus and how do we sustain that focus?

Without clear focus, people commonly go into reactive mode; instead of initiating the change they wish to see, they react to what is happening to them. Amid an endless onslaught of distractions, we can easily spend days without focusing on our true agenda. And we end up losing out on the joy of living a purpose-directed life. Author Deepak Chopra expressed it thus, “The events on the surface of your life distract you from the deeper work of soul-making.”

I have learned that when someone makes the decision to get focused, there are several things that can help support a lasting shift. Here are a few nuggets you may find useful:

Choose To Live Your Life With Purpose. When you work toward something positive, as opposed to running from or being driven by fear, you quickly build up momentum. Why are you here? What do you want to learn, do, experience or share? What’s on your bucket list? If you haven’t created a mission statement for your life, then do it now. It will give you a vision bigger than yourself to focus on when the going gets tough. My mission statement for life is posted right above my computer, where I am reminded of my purpose every day.

Set Priorities. Once you have clarified the mission statement for your life, identify specific related priorities you want to focus on. Next, break those down into smaller chunks until they don’t feel so intimidating and you can envision yourself doing them. 

Focus On One Goal. Still feeling overwhelmed? Overwhelmed most often happens because we try to juggle too much. When overwhelm hits, you can counteract it by simplifying your priorities even more. Break down your action steps or To-Do list items until you can identify the single most important goal to focus on for this hour, this morning or this day.

Analyze Why You Lose Focus. Knowing yourself better allows you to identify what gets in your way, so you can step back and look at these issues in a more detached, objective way. Instead of getting frustrated that there isn't enough time in the day or getting swept up in the flood of activities, dig down inside to discover what is pulling you in and recognize that you can choose a different response. Clear out old limiting beliefs, slash the sabotage programs and dare to create new rule sets that work for you now!

Pay Attention. Learn to observe how you spend your time and stop wasting time on unworthy projects. If your teenager had a big test tomorrow and you saw her doing everything except study, you'd probably have a talk with her about timely preparation and focus. Do the same for yourself! Set one goal for yourself each day to help you overcome procrastination. Start small and review your success every night to reinforce your accountability to your goals.

Slay The Dragon First. Start your day with the thing you avoid the most and get it done. This one principle really moves me forward. Once I have the most dreaded thing out of the way, the rest looks like cake; I’m a dragon slayer, after all!

Stop Interrupting Yourself! Do yourself a favor – turn off the phone or computer ding and disable the pop-up box that tells you, “You’ve got mail!” Instead of losing valuable time and energy by diverting your attention to check on messages, you will have more energy available to focus on the task at hand.

Feed Your Soul. Feeding your soul requires you to detach from the surface world of activity – even if just for twenty minutes a day. It’s during that time of stepping back from the activity at the surface of life and reconnecting with your identity as a timeless soul, when solutions to problems become blindingly obvious. It’s called inspiration – and it arrives when your mind is still, whether in relaxation, contemplation or meditation. One of the most prominent benefits meditators experience from their practice is becoming more focused in their daily activities. Meditation also boosts your intuitive abilities to recognize true priorities and make better decisions. Whatever, your spiritual practice of choice, recognize the importance of feeding your soul, and hence, your creativity.

Do A Brain Dump Before Bed. I write down my “To Do” list at the end of my work day as a part of reviewing the day. Writing it down clears my head and when I wake up in the morning, the list is ready for me to get focused right away.

Stick With It. Whatever you do, don’t give up! Even if you feel discouraged today, don’t give up. All of life consists of energy cycles that ebb and flow. Think of your life as a long journey and the present problem as just a little bump in the road. If you can stick with it during the rough times, just imagine what you could accomplish when you get the wind from behind! Remind yourself that it is progress that matters, not perfection.

And A Few More:
•    Distinguish between what’s important and what is simply urgent.
•    Eliminate unnecessary activities and physical clutter; they stop up your life and drain your energy.
•    Reduce your overhead – financial burdens drain your energy and your vitality.
•    Do projects when they align with your vision and purpose, not because you feel obligated
•    Don't say yes to anything right away; reserve the right to sleep on it.
•    Share your goals with a few trusted friends so they can support you and hold you accountable.
•    Acknowledge your progress and celebrate your successes!

Applying even just a few of these tips will bring about noticeable changes in your life right away. By applying them over time, you will feel more productive, energized, and focused!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.