The Vehicle Of Your Soul

"Eating good food, exercising, mental stimulation, and rest are essential to the care of our physical being. When we breathe deeply and consciously, we take in and circulate life-giving oxygen, allow our bodies to function more smoothly. In the mental realm, flushing out old habits, thoughts, and attitudes can help to refresh our mind and allow our life to run more smoothly. Controlling knee-jerk reactions that limit our options to knowing the truth can give us an opportunity to more gracefully respond to circumstances and events." --Carrie Masters in Science of Mind Magazine.

I love the clients I work with. They are so committed to making a difference in the world. Many of them are like high performance racing cars. They speed around the track of life at breath-taking speeds. Unfortunately, many of them have refused to make a pit stop or take a break between races and their bodies, the vehicles of their soul, show sign of severe wear and tear, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Just like it's necessary to take our cars into the shop for servicing, it's important that we stop driving ourselves with our to-do lists long enough to reflect on old habits and attitudes that can rob us of our joy and can lead to serious breakdowns.

As Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz point out in their book, The Power of Full Engagement, we are like a complex engine with 4 different, but inter-related energy sources. Our physical energy may dictate how fast we can run around the track of life, but our over all happiness and balance comes from taking care of all four sources of energy - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Ignore any one of these for an extended period, and it won't be long before our performance in life is diminished.

Are you willing to take a quick inventory of how well you are caring for the vehicle of your soul?

PHYSICALLY, are you within your ideal body weight? Do you eat balanced, nutritious meals, and regularly perform the important exercise of pushing away from the table before you're stuffed? Do you schedule in regular time for exercise and keep those appointments with yourself? Do you go to bed at a regular time, sleep well, and awaken energized and inspired into the next day? Do you drink plenty of clean, life-giving water?

MENTALLY, do you regularly flush out old habits, thoughts and attitudes that can serve to gum up the works of your mind, thus freeing yourself up for new ideas, new purposeful patterns that serve you, and new ways of being that are consistent with your life purpose?

EMOTIONALLY, do you regularly catch yourself in those moments when fear, lack, and struggle are about to take over your life, and consciously pivot to love, abundance, and flow, thus allowing your true, divinely inspired purpose to direct your life?

SPIRITUALLY, do you take time to connect with the source of all creation? Do you reserve time each day to connect with this source with the intention to raise your consciousness and awareness of your true purpose?

Or are you like a high performance race car in dire need of a major check up and overhaul? Remember, without proper maintenance on the vehicle of your soul, you may find yourself in the pits with a blown engine well before the race is over.

Dr. W. Bradford Swift confesses to be a Burned Out Boomer (in recovery) who has dedicated his life to assisting people to rekindle their passion and sense of purpose while growing their businesses to be 'multi-dimensionally' profitable. Take the quick and insightful Life On Purpose Self Test to determine how on or off purpose your life is at: http://lifeonpurpose.com/index.php?page=24

©2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.

Web Filtering

Web filtering is the prevention of access to offensive or malicious sites.

Did you know 25% of the total search engine requests are porn related? And that 70% of the access to porn related sites is during work hours? Or how about that 30 - 40% of employee's web activity is not work associated? These are the facts that many employers are failing to do anything about.

Access to malicious sites leaves your companies network open to security threats that may include the download of harmful software and the exploit of vulnerabilities. As a company you have the responsibility of making sure your network doesn't have any security threats by stopping admission to certain sites.

Not only does restricting the entry to certain sites stop your network from becoming vulnerable to security threats it also means that your employees are productive during working hours instead of wasting time browsing sites that they shouldn't be on. Web filtering allows you to take control, you decide what the computers in your network can access and what they can't, dependent on what your company is about and what its needs are, making it a very flexible piece of software.

Web filtering software is not only for use in a company, office environment but is also available for use on home computers in the cases of parents who want to control the content that their children can gain access to on the computer. This also applies to schools who want to stop children gaining access to sites that could not only damage the computer network but that could also put the children in danger of, for example, pedophiles.

So would it bother you if your company monitored or filtered your web access? To some the idea of Web Filtering is like taking away pens to prevent doodling. Web Filtering in the eyes of employers is a way of monitoring their employees without directly saying that they are doing so. Employers are given complete peace of mind benefits from using Web Filtering software on computer networks. The networks are protected from not only the basic web threats but also from inappropriate or illegal web content and reduces the risk of illegal content entering.

As a company money is an obvious issue and another reason why many companies decide to use a Web Filtering service. This is because by restricting the amount of sites employees have access to you are reducing the bandwidth that is being used, saving you money

The amount of time spent browsing the internet continues to rise, which makes it harder to monitor and regulate all the sites. Most web filtering checks the sites you are trying to gain access to against a list of sites that are restricted, however you may struggle with this as the volume of new sites continues to grow.

Web filtering in the workplace puts you in control of what your employees can gain access to; you are controlling their use of the internet, which makes them less likely to try and get onto non work related sites, meaning they will be more productive.

"Stewards of the Flame" by Sylvia Engdahl - Book Review

What if our government took full control over monitoring our physical and mental well-being? What if we were forced to submit to health screenings to see if we had any problems? What if we were forced into treatment we did not want? What if we were no longer allowed to die, but had to be put into stasis in vaults to continue our heartbeat, so that the government could continue to profit from our investments?

Starship Captain Jesse Sanders finds himself in such a predicament after passing out in a bar on planet Undine. Even though Jesse limits his drinking to when he is off duty, he is targeted as an alcoholic and locked up for treatment. The treatment is quite painful and invasive. He loses his rights as a Starship Fleet Officer. Now he has nothing. Jesse encounters some people who work in the medical system who do not want to live this way. They believe that people have a right to die and should not be kept alive after their brain is dead. However, against their belief, if you intentionally allow a person to die, you are considered to have committed a crime. To dispose of a body without putting it in stasis is another crime. There are people on the planet who are elderly and ill who just want to be allowed the dignity of death.

The group that Jesse encounters calls themselves, "The Stewards of the Flame." They say, "We are stewards of a flame that will illuminate future generations." To them, the symbol of the mind's power is fire. They help Jesse escape from the hospital and take him to an island retreat where they teach him how to develop his mental powers. He learns to mentally overcome pain, and to communicate by ESP. The leader of this group recognizes Jesse from a precognitive dream and knows that he holds the key to helping them escape from this tyranny.

"Stewards of the Flame" is an excellent fictional novel, however, it inspires a lot of thought provoking "what if" kinds of questions. The author points out that our own society has moved in a direction where our government and technology have accessed more control over our lives. Such as on the planet Undine, some people find this reassuring, however, others would prefer to limit the governments control over their bodies. This is an excellent novel to read, just for pure enjoyment, however, I would highly recommend "Stewards of the Flame" to bio-ethics classes. It will certainly lead to some stimulating conversations.

BookSurge (2007)

ISBN 9781419675065

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/07)

A Vitally Important Piece of Advice to All Women

Really? Vitally important? And what can this most important piece of advice be? Get your own credit rating established! I learned this the hard way when I got divorced after 23 years of marriage. Recently one of my clients -who is going through a divorce-was shocked when she was told she had no credit history. I now ask every woman who is in my coaching practice if she has established her own personal credit history.

Many women who married young and then find themselves single sixteen or twenty or more years later, find that they have no credit history if their credit card has been an extension of their husband's. Even if the woman was in charge of paying the bills, the monthly statements or the mortgage payment, it's the husband's credit rating that gets credited, not hers.

When this woman applies for her own credit card, it may be denied "because she has no credit history." Or she may be offered a "secure" pre-paid card, until she establishes her own credit. This card may be limited to $500.00 dollars and it might be a year before she is given a "real" one.

It is very convenient to have a joint bank account and have a credit card that is an extension of your husband or partner. No one wants to think of their relationship ending, but it does happen. Even if you have a wonderful relationship, and it is not ending, it is wise to have your own bank account and a credit card in your own name: you can subscribe to a magazine or put the gym membership on your card and pay it religiously when the statement comes in.

We live in a credit economy as opposed to a cash economy. You might want to start your own business or it might just be important that you feel in control of your own finances. Many of the discussions a couple have around money centers on one of them -A) spending more on personal items than the other -B) who then feels resentful and unhappy. One possible solution is that A and B each keep a predetermined amount of their income for personal use, and pool the rest. This amount is kept in their personal account and can be used with their personal bank card. Everything else is paid through the joint account and with the joint credit cards.

You are liable for the debt on your shared credit card, so you might as well be liable for your own credit rating. If you are interested in working through the emotional component of your money, finance and abundance issues, give me a call or send me an email.

© 2011 Patzia Gonzalez

Staying Safe While Selling Your Home By Owner

Image the following situation: you are home with your children while your spouse is away when you hear a knock on the door. It's someone who saw your yard sign while driving by and wishes to take a tour of your home. You are now faced with a situation that many unrepresented sellers are faced with daily - do you turn away a potential buyer or do you let them in and perhaps endanger the safety of your family?

Realtors are often trained in home showing safety techniques and have quite a few tools at their disposal to mitigate these risks. They know the correct questions to ask and the red flags to watch out for. If you haven't thought of this, here is a quick list of some things you should consider before you answer the door or the phone:

1. Do not show your home by yourself.

This is often difficult to do but is very effective in deterring problems. Your risks are significantly lower if you show your home to visitors with a friend or spouse present. If someone is not available to help you, then ask your visitors to stop by another time when you can arrange for some help.

2. Set appointments

Another tool is to automatically ask all stop-in visitors to come back at another scheduled time for a showing. This is also a great way to weed out the unmotivated who might only be interested in seeing inside your home and have no intention of actually placing an offer.

3. Keep groups of visitors together during a showing

Don't leave someone downstairs while you show someone the upstairs or allow groups to split up. Thefts have occurred and some criminals are very skilled at getting themselves into this situation, claiming "bad knees" or other medical problems that require that they be "left behind". If this occurs, have a helper or spouse keep the other party company while you show the home to the rest. If you are alone (hopefully you aren't), ask them to wait outside while you finish showing the home to the rest of the party.

4. Keep a phone handy

If you have a cell phone or cordless phone, make sure you have it with you during a showing. Also, if you have a car alarm, keep your keys with you in case you need to use the "Panic Button" on your remote. You can also ask your visitors to wait outside while you "prepare the house" and call a friend or family member. Let them know that you will be doing a showing and will call them back when it's done and if they don't hear from you in an hour, to call the police.

5. Don't let visitors box you inside a room

Always keep a clear avenue to an exit. Don't go first into a room - ask your guests to go first.

6. Ask the right questions.

A few questions will tell you a lot about a potential buyer. Realtors are experts at reading people and you can be too, if you know what to look for. Ask a potential buyer if they have been pre-qualified or pre-approved by a lender. If so, they are probably serious buyers. If not, you might want to ask them to set an appointment for a showing - if they are not willing to do this, they are probably either unmotivated or may be a safety concern. Ask them when they're looking to move and if they have a home to sell first. This will also give you an indication of motivation as well as warn you if they are unable to answer these questions quickly. Ask how long they have been looking for a home. Again, this is a dual-purpose question. If your answer is "6 months", you probably have an unmotivated buyer. If the answer is "Ummm.....", you should watch out. You can always ask to see identification before you let them in. Tell them that you just want to be safe - buyers will understand. Ask them if they are being represented by a Realtor. Nearly 97% of buyers are represented by Realtors and should be accompanied by them when they tour homes. If they are working with a Realtor, ask them to have their Realtor contact you for a showing. If they aren't working with a Realtor, there are many possibilities, the most innocent being that they have just started looking for a house and don't yet have representation. However, other possibilities may include a lack of motivation, no desire to buy (I.E. "We're just looking....."), or other more dangerous reasons. Just be cautious and stay safe.

7. Be careful of what questions you answer.

Never tell someone when you won't be home, especially over the phone. A better phrase is, "the house won't be available for a showing at that time". Other questions from a visitor/caller that would raise a warning would be, "Do you live alone?", "Do you work during the day?", "Will your spouse be home soon so we can meet them?", "Do you have a security system?", or similar probing questions.

8. Watch out for Red Flags

There are a few safety concerns that should be kept in mind and if you encounter them, think twice and maybe opt for an appointment instead of an immediate showing. Visitors at night or early morning. Two or more visitors if you are alone. Visitors unwilling to set a scheduled appointment for a showing. The types of probing questions described above.

Always remember that the safety of you and your family is your greatest possession - not your home. Nothing is worth giving up your security. If you are presented with a situation that might compromise this, always opt for another appointment and don't open the door. The scheduled appointment is your best tool for being prepared for guests and staying safe. Serious buyers will understand and be willing to return at another time.

If many of these precautions are difficult or impossible, you can always seek representation from a Realtor. One of the many benefits of selling your home with professional help is that safety is always a top priority and many issues and concerns can be prevented and eliminated.

Finding Charity Car Donation That's Suitable For You

When you are seeking for an excellent charity, discovering a place to get your car donated to is the excellent manner to go. You are able to discover a charity that receives the donations of car that easily. This article will show you the way you can do for discovering a center of charity for car donation.

The simplest manner for discovering a center of car donation is by seeking online. The only thing that you must do is to browse all search engine and enter the words of car donation for charity. You will be appointed to several differ websites that will receive the vehicle you have as a donation. In reality, you might even be capable of finding a website that will perform all of the work to you.

After you obtain the outcomes for the diverge centers of charity, you can have each of them researched by you. It is difficult to make a decree of which is the finest place to make car donation because a lots of places out there that receive cars as a kind of donation. To be able to select the finest place you have to conduct your research on any of the organization. You are able to get the finest place picked up that utilizes the cars that are donated for a good reason. You are able to have each of the organization compared and find out which is the most suitable to you. You are able to look at the reason, the process and the sum that goes to the charity.

Once you have differ organizations compared by you, you will be capable of picking one charity that is suitable for you. Almost all of the websites will provide you details of instructions on the way to do the donation of the vehicle you possess. It is not important the organization you select to, you just have to be sure that you obtain the evidence from the donation of the car, seeing that it can assist you by the time you are getting your taxes done. You will be capable of utilizing the car donation of charity as a tax write off. By the time all is stated and completed you will have your car donated for an excellent reason of your option.