More Rare Sense Random Thoughts

In today's issue of Rare Sense Random Thoughts, I ask the following:

Why do we find it necessary to judge others? Do we do it because we think we are superior? Do we do it because we feel inadequate and use it to make our selves feel better? Does putting someone else down really make us feel superior? We don't like when others judge us, so why do we do it to them?

And in a twist on this, why do we judge ourselves? Why do we put that negativity inward, I mean it's bad enough that we judge others and release that poison on them but then we also do it to ourselves!

Here's another way of looking at it. Would we be friends with someone if they talked to us the way that we talk to ourselves? Did you ever catch yourself calling yourself, stupid or say things like, I hate myself. How about, I hate the way I look.

I mean self evaluation is a good thing. It keeps us growing and wanting to get better. As a matter of fact, it is absolutely necessary to our growth but it should not be negative. Positive yes! Negative NOOOOOO! We all have things we need to work on. However, we need to work on them in a positive way.

Also, when we are working with others, we can give constructive criticism without judging. In fact, constructive criticism is also another important way that we grow for we cannot always see things that we need to work on, as well as others. You know the whole "can't see the forest for the trees" thing.

So, how do we get past the judging aspect of this whole thing? Let's try this shall we?

First of all, when someone is presenting us with the truth, aka constructive criticism, we need to recognize that they are trying to help us. If we start there then we are less apt to go into the whole, "You are judging me thing". Yes, even if it may seem as it is coming off as being judgemental, if we look at it from a positive viewpoint, it will be positive. Remember we control how we react to things, that keeps the power with us!

Now, when providing the truth to others, please due it in the most loving caring way possible. You know, do unto others!

Now, a couple more questions I know I will get from this post. How do you know when it is the truth? And, how can you be sure they will recognize it? If you doing self-talk, it's easy, you'll just know. Your gut will tell you. When dealing with others, you can't be sure they will get it but if you feel it, once again in the gut, you'll know and that is all that matters.

This has been another issue of Rare Sense Random Thoughts. It is my goal to get everyone (that would include me too) to ponder (I like that word!) and be better tomorrow than we are today.

May you be blessed always and in all ways.

Harry Shade
Author - Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life (Boy, my next book really needs a shorter title)

www.raresenseunlimited.com

You Are An Inspiration: Don't Ever Forget

OK, so because I am a little behind due to Internet issues so I am going to be efficient today and post poem by an unknown author that is a great reminder just how important you are to the world!

However I want you to see the "other" lesson here. Earlier in this paragraph I said I was being "efficient", which is the positive way of looking at it. I am wondering how many of you would have said,

"I am being lazy."
"I am taking the easy way out."
"I could not think of anything myself, so I posted a poem."

All things can be viewed from either a positive or negative perspective. What is your perspective? With that said, I hope the poem reminds you that you do matter!

You Are an Inspiration: Don't Ever Forget

Your presence is a gift to the world, You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be - Take it one day at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles, And you'll make it through what comes along.
Within you are so many answers, Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself; Your dreams are waiting to be realized.
Don't leave your important decisions to chance - Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - The longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously - Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way - Remember that a lot goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment, Life's treasures are people ... together.

Have health and hope and happiness, Take the time to wish on a star.
And don't ever forget for even a day... How very special YOU are! --Anonymous

Make it a great day!

JG8D69D

One Heart, Wisdom from the World's Scriptures, A Book Review

I have always known that the world's religions have come from the same source and I found a book that confirms that for me in the most simplest of ways. One Heart, Wisdom from the World's Scriptures pulls writings from the world's religions by topic that paraellel each other so closey that one can only conclude that they are indeed from the same source.

If you want to read a powerfully uplifting and inspirational book that shows you that we are all more closely aligned spiritually then anyone could have ever imagined, then this is the book. Once and for all the world can see through this book that we in fact one and that all the things we put between us to seperate us are in fact illusions.

Go to http://www.amazon.com/One-Heart-Universal-Wisdom-Scriptures/dp/1569244030/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217307668&sr=8-2 to order this wonderful book today!

Randy Pausch, A Wonderful Spiritual Messenger

Lately, I have been blogging about being a teacher. Today I am going to talk about Randy Pausch, a wonderful spiritual messenger and what a teacher! If you do not know Randy Pausch, I would have to say that he was one of the most spiritual teachers of our time.

About two years ago, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and he left this earthly plane today. The teachings and messages he left behind, however, will live on forever. Through it all, Randy squeezed every bit of living out of his life. He is an example to anyone, whether you are battling a life threatening illness or just wanting to know how to live.

Below is a link to learn more about Randy and the wonderful gift he left behind in his "Last Lecture".

http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/

My sympathies go out to his family. The world has lost a wonderful teacher, husband, father and man.

You Are a Teacher, Part 3.

In the last two posts I covered how you are a teacher to others and yourself. Today, I am going to narrow the focus a bit and talk about the most precious of students, our children.

There is always a lot of talk about creating a more harmonious world, one where peace and love rule. A place where we want to raise kids to be better citizens. Well, if that is true then we have to realize that it all starts at home.

Kids are a blank slate so the only way they can learn hate, prejudice, violence, deceit, bad attitudes, worry, deviance and anxiety is by example. Whether it is from the people they are in direct contact with or the almighty boob tube, it has to be learned.

So how is your home life? Do you show love and compassion? Are you honest and happy? Is it a calm, peaceful, serene place? Do you value service to others? Do you have a positive attitude? Are you a caring, kind and considerate? Do you tell your children that you love them? Are you encouraging them to play, create and explore? Is acceptance and tolerance taught? Are you flexible, patient and open?

Sure parenting is a tough thing, probably one of the toughest things you will ever do but it is so full of joy and priceless rewards that nothing can replace it.

The beautiful thing is you are not alone, ever. Everyone has someone they can turn to for support. Be it family, friends, mentors or social service organizations, there is always someone willing to lend a hand.

As a parent myself, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that there were times where I had no clue what I was doing and I know that I made some mistakes when raising my daughter. Overall, everything I did, I tried to start from a position of love and when I did that it all seemed to fall into place. Our soul instinctively knows what to do.

Even if your own childhood was not the best, you can still be a good parent. You have a choice as to how you are going to raise them. Just like any other thing you will choose throughout your lifetime, you can choose to be an involved, positive parent and raise a loving child.

My own father was an alcoholic and just never there, so I grew up essentially without a father. Now, I had two choices when I became a father, I could choose to be like him or not. I chose to be the exact opposite and I can say that it has worked out very well. I have a lovely daughter!

I'll sum this up with one of my quotes from my presentation, "The ABC's of Life".

"Children are the canvas on which is painted the next generation."

You Are a Teacher, Part 2.

Yesterday I wrote about all of us being a teacher and I focused on what we teach others. Today I would like to expand on that thought by turning the teaching inward. What I mean by that is while we are teaching others with our words and actions, we are also teaching ourselves.

How do we do that? Actually in the same ways we teach others, through our words and actions. Self-talk is one of the greatest teaching tools that we have in forming who we are for the rest of our lives. Especially after we leave childhood, our inner dialogue is more responsible than ever for who we are today and who we will be in the future.

Here are some questions to ask yourself: How is your inner dialogue? Do you say/think good things to yourself or are you constantly saying/thinking negative things to yourself? Do you encourage or discourage yourself? If a friend talked to you as you talk to yourself, would they still be your friend? Why do we put up with negative talk from our self when we probably would not from others?

To expand on this teaching thing a little further, how we treat ourselves teaches others how to treat us. If we are being negative towards ourselves then we are giving permission for others to treat us badly, in fact we are attracting those that treat us badly and then wonder why it happens. Like a bee is attracted to flowers because of the scent, we are sending our signals to the world (our scent) that it is OK to treat me badly because I don't really like myself anyway. The ironic thing here is that all of it is self-perpetuating. The more we think/say bad things about ourselves, the more we attract negative responses from the world, so the more we feel badly and dislike ourselves even more.

However, we can reverse the cycle by simply saying/thinking good things about ourselves. If you want to have good things happen to you then start by being a better friend to you. Then you will attract positive people who will treat you right, which in turn will build your self-esteem and self-confidence. Since at this point you are feeling better about you, then you will think/say good things about you and in turn you will continue to attract positive things. Once again it is self-perpetuating and will continue to feed upon itself.

Our words and thoughts are powerful things and they can lead us down two very different paths. One path of joy, love, happiness, peace & harmony and the other path of depression, despair, guilt & misery. What path do you want to be on? It is all up to you and you are teaching yourself and the world which path you will ultimately be on.

Well, that's it for today. I'll be back soon with more Rare Sense Thoughts!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

You are a teacher!

If you want to live a fulfilled and balanced life then you have to recognize that you are a teacher and have all the responsibilty that comes with being in such a position.

Whether we realize it or not we are always teaching others. Some of us do it as a profession and all of us do it by our mere actions and words. How we treat others and the words we use, tell the world who we truly are on the inside. We must take this into consideration anytime we are around others.

How do you want the world to see you? What do you want to project? What do you want to teach others? What kind of world do you want to co-create? These are serious questions with serious ramifications, for if you say you want a world of peace, harmony and love, is that what you are teaching the world by your actions and words?

I have a list on my bulletin board entitled the "Five Laws of Life" that illustrates my point rather eloquently:

May every thought that you think be etched in fire in the sky for the whole world to see, for in fact it is...

May every word that you say be said as if the whole world were one great big ear for everyone to hear, for fact it is...

May every deed you do recoil on top of your head, for in fact it will....

May every wish you wish another be a wish you wish for yourself, for in fact it is...

May everything you do be done as if God is doing it, for in fact God is!

That's it, short, sweet and to the point. Sometimes I just like to be efficient.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!