Dejections

Our physical brains quickly and easily handle mundane sequences of operations, or “processes” without question. It repeats processes like a machine: ABC…Z. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “process” to mean “a series of actions, operations, or motions involved in the accomplishment of an end”. Heartbeat, breathing, and digestion are processes that occur without a single thought about “what comes next”. But, in many cases, our movement has become so consistent, that life itself becomes one of the mechanistic processes of the physical brain. Although, life is supposed to be dynamic, the brain only handles what it knows—what it has learned and what is sequenced.

Just as life is a process of the physical brain, so is the “mind”. We can touch, feel, or see a brain, but we can’t touch a mind because it is a sequence of operations that occur to accomplish one or more tasks. The mind is our dynamic structure that takes in information, pushes it through the rules of our belief systems and stored knowledge, and devises a solution. The brain has many processes that interact with each other. The brain’s mind process has two lesser processes of interest: an ability to analyze and another to react.

Where do we develop dynamic solutions if our brains are so rigid? First of all, when the brain encounters a sequence of events many times, it stores that information so that it knows how to automatically react and what to expect—a new process. It is a way that we handle those daily tasks that we know must be done and don’t have to think about it. Taking out the garbage, saying “hi” to our mates, and some tasks at work become so ingrained that they are processed quickly and easily without thought or emotion. Call it the physical body’s way of “making our lives more efficient”.

Is it really an efficient method? In some ways, yes. We can simply go through life “without thinking” and allow our physical brains to issue commands to ensure that tasks are completed. “Going through life without thinking” is the key point here! We “can” set our physical brain’s mechanisms in motion to process life and then phase-out to let it run its path. In general, a consistent and repetitive motion in life, without thought, is called a “rut”. This is where we run into trouble.

Is going through life without thought a positive move? It all depends on what you want out of life. We can “let it ride” or “actively participate”. It is in active participation that we begin to acquire dynamic solutions and processes in our physical brains. But, all dynamic processing and information occurs within an area known as the “virtual mind”. The thoughts and dynamic ideas in this mind are intercepted and processed by the physical mind and turned into new or altered mechanistic enhancements—call it “retooling”.

However, we have to be open to the new information and understand what it is before we can truly make beneficial use of it. Some of the unique ideas that are intercepted become colored by our own mind to fit within our experiences and belief systems through “analytic overlay”. Analytic overlay, taken from remote viewing, is the mixing of signals. It is our need to take incoming information and apply our own assumptions, views, and beliefs to make it fit within our realm. With this regard, it is our taking of information arriving externally, and modifying it to fit our understanding and systems. In this way we become more comfortable with new information; however, we tend to obscure information that could provide us with new and intriguing insight.

— Virtual Mind —

The virtual mind is the higher self. Some call it the subconscious, other the soul. It is that part of us that exists among and communicates with the other entities across the Universe. It allows us to move about freely from our physical realm, investigate new ideas, communicate with others, and acquire information that is seen as a “flash of genius”.

We have, as a society, grown to ignore the virtual mind. It has been overcome and overpowered by orthodoxy, which is the basis of the physical brain—standard processing of standard information. The orthodox methods limit us as the greatest amount of information is limited by the person with the least amount of knowledge. In this view, it is ourselves that is the person with the least knowledge because we are limiting our access to the vast amount of information available to us.

Many have come to accept the idea of the virtual mind in religious terms. That which is not physically understood is taken as a “miracle” or as an understanding of “faith”. However, to truly grasp and take hold of the realities of life, one must move from the elements of faith to that of knowledge. Knowledge of ourselves, the Universe around us, and the interaction gives us the power to understand and control our lives.

— The Doomsday Device —

Without the virtual self, left to its own recognizance, the physical brain creates its own “dynamic structures”. But, these structures are merely replications of what is already there. When one “lives inside their own head” they tend to generate their own ideas. Such generation is a downward spiral because the physical brain is focusing and processing “itself”. In this case, we end up poking holes in our own existence because the mind is seeking resolution and solutions for itself.

By creating its own structures, it defines resolutions that actually require problems or issues to create the “cause” for the “effect” or solution. As such, our brain tells us to go out and seek a problem to which it can apply its solution. This is, as grandma called it, “idle hands”. I believe it was “idle hands are the devil’s playground”.

In both of these cases, self-flatulation and the search for chaos, the physical brain is seeking information and issues for those solutions that it’s created within its own realm. This occurs when we cut off the information given to use by the virtual self. It literally creates a doomsday device, or a self-destructive situation, in which we cannot move forward, cannot move back, and simply exist in a situation of pure chaos.

— What’s next? —

Essentially, you need to hang a sign on your brain that states “Authorized Personnel Only”. We are not smart enough to go into a closed off brain and create something forward moving. The brain, alone and cut off, can create the most tumultuous chaos out of, literally, nothing at all. However, it is in our virtual mind that we can interact and grow to acquire the information we need to move forward in our lives.

The virtual mind is that part of us that gives us the power, knowledge, and ability to move forward in the physical life. The physical realm is never satisfied and is only bent on survival. It is the virtual mind, the soul that is easily fulfilled and is bent on life, love, and happiness. Let it come to the surface once in a while. Distract your conscious mind and let your brain have a piece of a “souler vacation” from time to time. Not only will it allow you to acquire the knowledge you seek, but it will also allow your virtual mind to help you resolve and move forward in your physical life.

I think that I recall John Milton, in “Paradise Lost”, saying “The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell and hell of heaven.” Bravo!

— About the Author —

Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D. is an author, publisher, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, and technical writer living in Las Vegas, NV. His research focus is on cognitive transformations, epistemology, and metaphysical topics. His experiences have spawned a new series of articles and a book project entitled “Dynamics of Life” that peers into the hidden recesses of our physical and spiritual interactions.

For more information, and to find out about his upcoming books, e-mail publish@toupin.com or visit http://www.make-life-great.com or http://www.life-vision-imagineering.com!

Copyright (c) 2004 Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D.

Children grow up fast which means it is essential to look at saving when they’re young. By saving from just £10 to £25 a month with Scottish Friendly’s Child Bond when they are young you could give them assistance that will help them when they are older. For instance helping to pay for university fees or to find the money for a residence.

You can invest in a tax-free savings plan for any child with a Scottish Friendly Child Bond. It’s tax-free since it’s a friendly society savings plan, which means that under present-day legislation it grows free of income or capital gains tax. Without doubt it is a wonderful way for parents, grandparents, family members and friends to make a big financial difference when the little ones are older.

Put concisely the Child Bond is a with-profits investment plan: It invests for long-term growth as well as a degree of security, in stocks and shares, fixed interest funds and cash.

Funds grows by means of the addition of potential yearly bonuses and when the bond reaches maturity there is a tax-free payout. The value of bonuses will depend on how much profit we make and how we decide to distribute it.
Bonuses are not guaranteed.

The Child Bond can run for a minimum of ten yrs, but you are able to invest for longer should you want - perhaps to coincide with an 18th or 21st birthday. You can save either monthly, annually or with a lump sum payment.We leave this completely up to you. Do not forget that if the plan is cashed in prior to the end of the term, the amount the child will be paid may be less than the amount paid in.

If you have a preference for the monthly option, you can start saving from as little as £10 a month - up to a maximum of £25 a month. Or you can make annual payments of up to £270 a year.

You can also remit all of the premiums in one go through our lump sum funding plan. If you invest the maximum permitted amount of £2,340 for a 10 year period, this actually invests £270 a year into the Child Bond - a total of two thousand seven hundred pounds. The minimum lump sum of £1,040 yields £120 a year for 10 years - a total of £1,200. This provides a way and means for you to make payment of all your premiums at a stroke and is particularly popular with grandparents who like the reassurance of knowing all premiums for the full term of the plan are taken care of.

This plan includes life cover, so you should consider if this is fitting for your financial needs.

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Have you ever made a list of a lot of things that needed doing and actually COMPLETED that list? If you’re anything like I am, it didn’t happen very often - but when it did, do you remember the incredible feeling of satisfaction you got out of actually doing it? Didn’t you feel wonderful? Like a WINNER?

I recently received an message from the Elpruhzlein Foundation of Forever Being, offering to share with my readers a FREE course from their website. The course is called ‘Miracle Mind Dynamics’.

Naturally, I was immediately intrigued and requested the course myself. This course is very unlike much of the motivational material which I’ve previously read in that it is very simplistic. Rather than expounding on why we do what we do and the meanings behind our actions, we’re put through a series of very simple exercises which surprisingly are very powerful. The first exercise shows us how to rack up WINS for ourselves each and every day.

I can honestly say that so far, this course has been a very intriguing look into how my present life has evolved and a glimpse at some very exciting possibilities in the future. I invite you to go visit Robin’s website and request your free copy of Miracle Mind Dynamics. It’s available at http://www.elpruhzlein.com . I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

What a great way to start off the New Year!

June McHardy is co-editor of the Motivational Ezine Prosperity News - dedicated to maximizing success and joy in our lives. To Subscribe FREE go to: http://www3.sympatico.ca/norm.mchardy/Prosper.htm#subscribe

Most nonprofits today live and die by their ability to successfully raise funds. The more funds they are able to raise the more good they are able to accomplish.
A successful fundraiser has the potential to do much more than just generate funds for an organization. It can energize staff and board members, it can generate awareness about the importance of the organization’s mission, it can be serve as the beginning of a new relationship with long-term donors and it may generate additional publicity for the organization. Unfortunately, a fundraiser if done incorrectly can produce a strong negative effect in just as many areas and may even end up costing the organization money rather than making it money.

To keep your fundraising efforts on track and prevent your fundraising efforts from becoming fundraising failures consider the following five common mistakes made during fundraising.

Many organizations lack a written plan for their fundraising efforts. Without this important document, they bounce around from one idea to a next. “Oh I know, lets try a letter writing campaign,” someone will suggest sending the agency off in this direction. Another board or staff member says, “The humane society did a pet walk and it worked great for them. People love to walk their pets.” When that doesn’t work out the organization is off to yet another idea. A written plan with clear goals, objectives and a timeline for each effort provides the organization a rudder without which the organization wanders aimlessly and wasting time.

In order for people to participate financially in a fundraiser, they need to understand what it is the organization does and why it is important. Too many fundraising events never reach their full potential because the organization fails to convince the donor of the importance of the mission, or worse yet never even bothers to explain the mission at all. Communications to the public and outreach efforts to specific individuals should communicate a sense of urgency for the need that the organization meets. “There are 300 children who go hungry in the city each day,” or “100 wild horses will be put to sleep without this organization’s efforts and we need your help” are examples of clearly stating the need. The message should then be repeated at the event so that people are reminded of why it is important that they give.

Removing the fun from fundraisers can be a crucial mistake. Fundraisers are most successful when they attract repeat donors. These individuals are more likely to donate at higher levels and invite others who are willing to do the same. Keeping a donor coming back is often the result of making sure that they have a good time. Outward Bound which puts on a black tie and tennis shoe annual dinner, sets up ropes courses and climbing walls and has a high number of returning donors year after year.

Over and over planning for fund raising events is left to the last minute. Invitations don’t go out in time for individuals to make plans to attend; auction items aren’t secured in time for a sneak preview in the form of a letter or program; and special guests in the form of important legislators or other persons of honor are not asked far in advance making it impossible for them to fit the event into their schedules.

One of the most frequent mistakes made in fundraising letters and at fund raising events is the failure to “make the ask.” All to come in the fund development field is the direct appeal letter that lacks the direct appeal. Yes, it’s important to explain the mission, give a heart warming story about how the organization has impacted the life of a client, but most important is stating in no uncertain terms what is wanted from the reader. The same is true for an annual fund raising dinner. Success is dependant on not being shy, “We need you to donate today.”

The most important thing to keep in mind about fundraising failures is that they are preventable. If organizations know where the pitfalls lie, plan carefully, and work diligently to meet the needs of donors every fundraiser can be a success.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Westbrook is a freelance writer living in Portland Oregon. For more information on fundraising, see http://www.ancfundraising.com and http://www.sbcfundraising.com

Walk into the room and can’t find your keys? Or forget why you entered the room in the first place? Wondering what has happened to your short-term memory? Feel overwhelmed by information, people, to-do lists and demands on your time?

You very well could be suffering from SADD-situational attention deficit disorder, a term coined by Anderson Consulting Institute for Strategic Change. Specifically, most of us are now in situations in which we are bombarded by so many demands for our attention that our brains close down.

It’s a phenomenon of our time. Our brains, evolved over eons to respond to our environment and each other are exponentially being taxed by the growth in information and technology. Everyone and everything is vying for attention. We are hardwired to respond but when it’s deluged like that, the brain just “goes blind”. Engineers discovered this phenomenon when they installed hundreds of communication devices in cockpits, thinking it would improve the pilot’s performance. Instead, when the pilot’s performance decreased.

Information and technology will no go away. But there are ways to turn from “SAAD” to glad.

1. Determine your priorities and focus on them.

Don’t let yourself be pulled into anything from meetings, to readings, to conversations that thwart your priorities. Literally block out space on your daily to-do list for things that are important to you: from projects, to exercise, to family time. Hold these times as sacred.

2. Say “no” to answering every message.

The average American receives 201 phone, paper, and e-mail messages a day. Take care of those that are priority and let the rest drop off. Ignore the messages that are uninvited and unnecessary.

3. Let technology work for you in prioritizing.

Called ID and voice mail can allow you to screen calls. For those who depend upon business coming in via phone and need to take every call, develop a way to shorten incoming sales calls. Telemarketing calls that come in via a computer dial-up have a few seconds of silence before a voice is heard. If that’s the case, just hang up. If you are solicited, ask them to please out your name on the DO NOT call list. And then hang up.

4. Create a centering place.

Whether it is in the silence of your car, or in a shower, or closing your door, take 15 minutes per day to practice paying attention to ONE thing: your breathing, a flower, a fish tank. Like the muscle in our bodies, the brain gets strong I the places where we train it. Focus turns SADD into glad!

© 2000 by Eileen McDargh. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.

Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE, is an international speaker, author and seminar leader. Her book ‘Work for A Living and Still Be Free to Live’ is also the title of one of her most popular and upbeat programs on Work/Life Balance. For more information on Eileen and her presentations, please call 949-496-8640 or visit her web site at http://www.eileenmcdargh.com.