What is an example of a price you felt you had to pay to make you feel wiser today, lately?   "... it may seem easier to manipulate outcomes or avoid consequences, [cuz] we know that we cannot afford the price we would have to pay.  The resulting shame, regret, and loss of spiritual contentment would far outweigh anything we might possibly gain by compromising our principles." (It Works, How & Why, p. 47) "Many of us had lived our lives up to this point with a secret feeling of shame ."  "Often this shame stemmed from unresolved guilt over…

"His are the gifts that we inherited before time was, and that will still be ours when time has passed into eternity.  His are the gifts that are within us now, for they are timeless. And we need not wait to have them. They belong to us today." ACIM* (Lesson 104) on achieving inner peace.  "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking."  Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) German-American scientist What "great gifts" of your own have you used…

WE STAND UP AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS - "Strong, confident,  and well-rounded peo- ple  have  formed  values  and principles to live by and  believe  deeply  in  their  right- ness.  Such  people  live  what  they believe and share those  beliefs  with  others  in  a non-critical  way  when  asked."  (It Works, How and Why,  p.45) "This is for all of  those still in the mil- itary who are languish- ing - not  able  to  come out to themselves ... so I hope that this real- ly stiffens their spines" West Point Grad., Lt. Dan Choi (1981 -   ) Response to the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell - 12/18/10 Stand - Rascal Flatts (3:36)  Marines…

REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS CAN EASE TENSIONS - "We can stop making unreasonable demands on others and begin to give of ourselves in relationships. Our romantic relationships, our friendships, and our interactions with family ... are undergoing an astounding change." (The Basic Text, p. 74) "It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance." - 14th Dalai Lama (1935 - ) Tibetan spiritual leader   Coming Home - Diddy ft. Skylar Grey (4:10) How to be Healing in Dysfunctional Families (5:00) Dalai Lama Words of Wisdom Meditation (7:07)   From whom have you learned…

THEN REMOVING ALL SELF-SERVING DESIRE COMES NEXT -  "When we ask our Higher Power to remove these shortcomings, we ask for freedom from anything which limits our recovery. We ask for help because we cannot do it alone." (It Works, How & Why, p. 49) "Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem." - Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 - 1986) Indian spiritual author/guru   True Faith New Order - (4:35)   Indian Raga Meditation w/ Krishnamurti notes below (7:27)   What solutions have been revealed to you lately after having asked for help?  …

How would you describe the "main ingredient" of your own spiritual growth, nowadays?   IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK DEEPER - "... when we have taken a square look at some of these de- fects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning." (12 & 12, p. 74)   THE MAIN INGREDIENT - "We couldn't handle the ordeal of life by our- selves. It wasn't until we made  a mess of  our lives that we realized we couldn't do it  alone.  By admitting this,  we…

"A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted; rather than as something we must have." (12 & 12, p. 75)   "My turning point was my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  It was then that I, who had dedicated most of my life to penetrate the  'secrets' of the universe; realized that there are no secrets.  Life is and will always be a mystery."  - Paulo Coelho (1947 -   ) Brazilian spiritual author   The Crossroads - Bone Thug-n-Harmony (4:37) Krishnamurti Speaks on the "the Turning Points" (10:42) Hypnotic Deep Guided…

What changes in your life do feel have been necessary to make, lately? THE NEXT TO LAST GASP AGAINST THE SQUALL - "Failure had be- come our way of life and self-esteem was non-existent." "When nothing relieved our para- noia  and  fear,  we hit  bot- tom and became ready to ask  for  help.  We  were searching for an answer when we reached out ... ." (The Basic Text, p. 15) "The greater the difficulty the more glory in sur- mounting it. Skillful pi- lots gain their repu- tation from storms and tempests." - Epicurus (341 BC - 270 BC) Greek…

"A PROGRAM OF ATTRACTION" - "... we are not a glum lot. If new- comers could see no joy or fun in our exist- ence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state  of  the  nations,  nor do we carry  the  world's troubles on our shoul- ders." (The Big Book, p. 132) "If you have zest and enthu- siasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind." - Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993) U.S. clergyman   Physical Attraction - demo version - Madonna (6:16)…