The Bar is Being Raised

Did you know that children in wealthy households are not any happier than children in poor household if it comes at the price that both parents are overworked? It turns out that children of middle-class parents with secure jobs are the happiest; yet, these jobs are disappearing. The traditional middle-income family is getting squeezed by globalization. Income inequality is rising steadily, with poor as well as rich living in pressure cookers; only the pots are different, the pressure is the same.

There is income stagnation in the developed countries, while the rich get richer and the rest is getting poorer. In contrast, wages are rising in the poorer countries across all income spectrums, yet with it, there is increased competition, loss of traditions and social values. Increased wealth seems to come at the expense of lost happiness in many other areas of life. Apparently an price to pay for industrialization.

Stress is on the rise and with it come diseases such as heart-problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and even memory loss. There are even reports that claim when you experience stress on a persistent basis, your system's ability to handle fear is breaking down. Panic attacks are the norm, as are psycho-therapy and the use of anti-depressants.

The bar is being raised, but that only means that you as an individual have to become more focussed. The 'system' encourages you to find yourself. It is no problem to be occasionally distracted when you are full of energy and can compensate for the loss in direction, but once your 'system' starts shutting down on you, you have to become focused as a laser to stay afloat. And there is the good news. Because once you start thinking about your priorities you find that they are love, creativity and self-expression. You suddenly find that your search for God has started for good. The journey towards wholeness and healing starts just because you have run into a wall before and now you need to pick up the pieces. Accept all the trends society and the global economy send your way - Love, happiness and God are waiting for you. I know this journey home can be confusing and hard at times, but we are here to help you find who you truly are.

Don't Fire Your Coach

You may not be your thoughts, you may not be your feelings either. I am not exactly sure what to make with such a statement; does it really make sense to speculate about your true self when all you can experience is your self here and now? What I believe is authentic, it is you breathing in and out while saying "I am That". At this moment there actually are no thoughts and the feeling you experience is pure and hard to describe.

Your thoughts and feelings depend on the environment and the state of being you are in. Drink a glass or two of alcohol and it is hard to hear any guiding voice inside yourself. Watch pornography and it is difficult not to see your brother and sister as bodies. Be in a work environment about which you have few good things to say and it will be impossible not to react to your emotional baggage.

Mental bubbles come all the time. They offer you moment by moment the opportunity to make the right decision. The trick is to burst the bubble that you don't consider helpful along your spiritual path. You have to do it early before the train of thought leaves the station. Choose your environment, habbits and actions carefully. Most importantly, whatever you do, don't fire your coach.