Like any good mother, her desire was to have her child grow bright and bold, and to be full of good humor and wit, and to be generous and courageous and kind.
For, being such, how could anyone not have the most beautiful story?
After all, what is the code and concept of life, of living, of humanity, if it is not to find one's calling and to have that calling be greater than one's self; if it is not to pursue that calling and complete it with joyous self-respect?
“I am a writer. And my faith in the world of art is intense, but not irrational nor naive. Because art takes us, and makes us take a journey beyond price, beyond costs, into bearing witness to the world as it is, and as it should be. Art invites us to know beauty and to solicit it, summon it from even the most tragic of circumstances. Art reminds us that we belong here. And if we serve, we last.”
- Toni Morrison
I came to know fire then discovered ice.
In their realm neither is extreme. They do not counter-balance each other. They may serve us, but they are not servants. They do not warn, they bear witness. We are not necessary to them; they are essential to us.
Fire and ice enter awareness by way of transformation. They do not disappear or die; they remain in continual exisience along a spectrum stretched beyond the sensory probes of mortals. They are beacons. They are benchmarks.
We are beacons too. We can shine light.
Some envision ice and fire as chemical reactions, symbolizing one as frigid and the other as fury. Rather, they are life-shapers. They are not passive; they are adaptive; they are creative. They are artists. They are alchemists. They are activists. It is their world mortals live in. It is a folly to forget that. And now, in these moments, you are entering our world: a community of grace, love, joy! Leave your troubles behind. Dust your feet. Smile.
Welcome to the fifth episode of Myth Or Mystery - the big life - curated by Neville DeAngelou, and in honor of the most wonderful woman I have ever known - my mother - who envision fire and ice, not as challenges, but as collaborators; not as reckless, rather as resources. Meet some of the most marvelous humans on the rise who know peace, practice inclusion, and press ever onward toward the prize.
You will know us by our fruits.
Enjoy actionable discoveries continuously being shared - smartly - particularly those that uplift, inspire, promote harmony, expand opportunities, exemplify beauty, and reveal wonder, in other words, those proven to strengthen our emboldened exercise of genuine love through all of its fertile dimensions, supplying those of us, who are blessed and inspired to take action, with the necessary skillsets to be awesome in our real world. Namaste. Share.
In the toss of many words few perform sweet puppetry in all of us. God utters this word and that word, and we behold wonders. So is heard. And so is said. The mind of a champion, the soul of a hero, the spirit of a believer, the will of a survivor, are swept and swooned into the realms of greatness on the wings of just a few words. Such words are like mustard seeds.
During
this series we are exploring myths and mysteries to peel away practical wisdom without asserting fact or fiction purely to glean what's usable for enriching relationships, confronting challenges, and producing outcomes worthy of the label well done.
As we share real snap stories of our search and findings (in context with our word of the moment), we will encourage each other to select gems from the scramble, thanks to exceptional creators, influencers and producers.
Occasionaly we will invite you to score a particular disclosure - myth, mystery, awesome revelation, or pure folly - then to re-examine your evaluation after a period of reflection. At the end we will ask you to put it all together. Then voila!
Enjoy.
"All that you've done and been this far has prepared you for the next step you will take. What have you been? What have you done? What did you learn? Is your best yet to come? What is your next step? When will you take it?"
* * *
You are along this journey with humans, some of whom are the epitome of fire and and some of ice. There are many oases along the desert stretches we travel, and there are forests, and there are oceans, and there are cities, and there are mountains, and there are plains. They are all interconnected. And here, along this patch, trash is burned, thirsts are quenched, lives are empowered, and lies are, well, how may I put it nicely . . . freeze-fried.
There is a battle up ahead.
We encourage travelers pressing toward 'the prize' to guard against distracting noises, the lulling effects of reverberating doubts, hubris, tripe, unrewarding indelicacies, anything that keeps one stuck. By guard against (for the mature traveler), we are not implying you should erect walls, install gates, construct ramps, all of which may have the reverse impact of trapping and tripping and blocking and blinding the builder, rather let it be that wiser move, a smart guard - good management of thine own business, inclusive of one's self - to phrase it delicately.
You will find yourself here amongst blessed company, including some of the finest and 'givingest' and most notable influencers in our carried fields of health, wellness, fitness, entrepreneurship, business, technology, science, education, leadership, productivity, finance, and more, fine folks readily sharing their insights and guidance and offerings. Perhaps you'd want to keep tabs on our PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT and associated playlists. You are ALWAYS welcome. Our gift to you.
In this episode, as we explore the myths and mysteries of the big life you may find, like we have, a few (perhaps) fresh perspectives on pain and suffering discussed in our highlight video, How To Improve Your Mental Health, featuring Preethaji, quite illuminating.
It has already been established that there is a higher risk, that people in pain will inflict their pain on others. Negativity, judgments, condemnations, verbal abuse, and the like, are forms of violence that are the signature of people in personal pain and suffering. The inflicter of such violence may very well, for want of a better term, be 'a good person' with 'good intentions' quite unaware that they have learned to normalize this kind of violence (unresolved pain and suffering), it being quite acceptable in their particular community, even promoted (falsely) as God-Sent. It isn't! (The devil uses scripture too.)
If one has become so numb to such a pain or feels so comfortable with it that such a person cannot recognize it thriving in that person's own heart and soul, here is a little hack one may find revealing and instructive: take your social media posts (all of it), sit before a mirror, now say with passion everything you posted, speak each word, each phrase, each sound of it to the person you are facing in the mirror. Should that bless and uplift and press that person in the mirror toward the prize, you too will be infused with new personal power. Use it positively to be a blessing. If not, check in with Preethaji for a personal check-up. We heartily encourage it. You are loved. (See also HEALTH.) None of us is exempt. I do it. (Our trash can is full of the evidence. Thank you, Jesus!) Ha! Oh, so sweet. My joy unspeakable and full of glory.
This episode's word is resourceful: def - "having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties; ingenious, imaginative, creative." (Which of the world's four most powerful words by virtue of influence would 'resourceful' be considered a derivative of? 50 points.)
* * *
There Is A Price
"Of humanity, some sweet souls are resigned to destiny; they know no better. Some are lost in a dream, possessed of that desire, but afraid of its reciept; resigned to destiny. Some are trapped by indecision, distracted by their choices, unable to proceed; resigned to destiny. Most of these many are simply decieved. So, welcome destiny. Hello, small life."
The Guest, for so the tea-lover explained it, is that one (a person along the journey) who has recieved and accepted an invitation from Destiny and The Dream.
This is no ordinary invitation. Grace is extended to all. Love is available to all. Joy is offered to everyone. Not everyone afford themselves acceptance of these peculiar gifts, these others having negotiated their own reasons for rejection.
By virtue of that distraction and in the pain of its peculiar suffering, and because of that lack, now being peculiarly indebted, they are unaware of the priceless invitation with an RSVP attached.
And some having heard trying stories after the fact, wisely, do not regret having mssed the party. After all, there are a few priceless charms equally available to all, even partakers of the small life: gratitude, comfort, kindness.
But for the big life, The Guest, on the way to Destiny and The Dream, hears thundering sounds of epic proportions. Here comes The Decider - commander of an impressive array of batalions whose leaders are a jaw-drop to every unprepared guest. There is going to be a battle for passage. The Guest had better be ready for a most impressive fight, requiring fire and ice!
The clock chimes. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes.
Prepared
"Know what you own. Understand what you claim. Believe you can achieve what you conceive then call it by its name. Mine! The extent to which you have this clarity of mind, this purity of understanding, this strength of belief, you have the fire, the fuel, the impetus, the passion, the determination, the willpower you require to pursue and retrieve your truest desire. But do not claim what does not belong to you. It will not keep you . . . it will suffer you but for only so long."
You are valued. You are important. What you experience is important. Your intention matters. You are a whole being. You are a true wonder. You diminish yourself whenever you pit valued elements of who you are against vital elements of who you are: your intuitive self against your intellectual self, your rational self against your emotional self, your gut against your heart against your head. Don't be put at war against yourself: you are a masterpiece. An intricate being. Human!
How to be a Super Hero (without being self-absorbed!) Part Two
We happen to think its cool to be super - living a life beyond the hero, evidenced by grace, love and joy.
EXERCISE - PRACTICE Continued
5. ASSESS THE QUALITY AND PURPOSE OF YOUR DREAM. (Does it match your touchstone - your accepted standard of the life you are meant to be?)
6. DECIDE HOW THE DREAM WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED. (If you can achieve your dream alone, it is way too small for the big life. Re-evaluate your purpose.)
7. ASSESS THE POWERS OF THE MEMBERS OF YOUR ROUNDTABLE. (Are they the approrpiate complement or relationships to get you through The Decider?)
mentor
coach
advocate
sponsor
Life: it is a dance. It gets better with practice; its music is in your heart and in your soul and in your blood and in your bones. Life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. You have a partner – your spirit. You can have a party if you like, but choose smartly who you invite, for life – your life – is a dance. It gets better with practice, unless you stop the music or so crowd your dance floor there is no space to move or be moved within it. Explore. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice until the dance becomes the dancer and the dancer becomes the dance and life and all of existence becomes a singular flow. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. Dance.
Masterpiece
a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
tour de force
EXERCISE - PRACTICE Repeat
1. LIST IN YOUR JOURNAL YOUR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES. (Most people are aware of their weaknesses. However, if you are unsure what these are, ask three people who you trust and know you well).
2. LIST IN YOUR JOURNAL WAYS IN WHICH THESE WEAKNESSES ARE IMPACTING YOUR PROGRESS AND SUCCESS.
3. FOR EACH OF THESE RECORD WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TURN THEM INTO STRENGTHS OR TO MITIGATE AGAINST THEM. (The Decider will be using these against you.)
Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.
. . .
live laugh love
. . .
let your light shine
Come, let us all be friends for once,
Let us make life easy on us,
Let us be lovers and loved ones,
The earth shall be left to no one.
Across the nation and around the world there is a long rumble.
It is a rumble so loud it strikes ready ears as a distant clap of a fierce thunder. It is a rumble so low, it rides beneath the noise of a thousand human fears; it can no longer be heard. Fear of flight, fear of heights, fear of sand, fear of snow, fear of monsters in the closet, fear of bugs in the pillow, fear of cats, fear of bats, fear of strangers at the door, fear of being lost, fear of being laughed at, fear of being stuck in the toilet bowl, fear of whites, fear of blacks, fear of browns, blues and yellows, fear of nakedness, fear of the unknown, fear of being hurt.
Smile. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Learn. Be awesome. You are powerful beyond measure. You are not alone. You can do all things. I am you. You are me. We are one. Keep Sharing.
May our light shine on sprinkled seeds along The Journey.
"Live Your Life - Live it well. You are worth it."
Listen. Learn. Lead.
Consider these standard problem-solving steps: 1) Understand the problem. 2) Devise a workable plan to solve the problem. 3) Test your plan where applicable. 4) Implement the plan. 5) Interpret the results. 6) Use that feedback.
Something else to Consider: Using one's superpowers to solve problems in ways that uplift and progress the human family usually impact imbeded concepts of home: what awakes us to accomplish more, what comforts us in peaceful sleep. - (A Place Called Ah.)
Breathe.
We are accompanied.
Balance - Focus - Rhythm
Love is alive in fertile dimensions, where it lifts you up, never puts you down, and is always real! Love heals.
The Journey - Your Voice Illuminated - Our Global Digital Radio Show & Podcast. We stop at exotic places, meet fascinating folks with intriguing stories and novel solutions to some of life's tricky problems. We play a few games too, and track remarkable characters of three classics: ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) SBL Series: 2:26 AM, The Gathering (Matchbox Mystery) and Flight Of The Fused Monkeys (5-Star Series). Life is beautiful and full of surprises. Breathe! Along our journey of life and learning we challenge ourselves toward the reaches of our highest ideals: to be our best, do our utmost, achieve our finest, wherever necessary and practicable redesigning the contours of possibility, reshaping human capability. Join our posse. We are changing the game! We welcome your perspective. Enjoy top dramatic, inspirational, mystery, scifi, and true stories. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Lead. Learn with us. Get your FREE AUDIO of 'Sven: The High Achiever's Journey'. You'll be glad you did. Share the experience.
ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) 
