In today’s world, fear is all around us and a commonplace, yet it is not real. Fear is a purely imagined “worst case scenario” that hasn’t happened, is untrue and inauthentic. Those trained by the military and other service men and women are taught to stay calm during times of crisis. People who panic are those most vulnerable.
Living with fear continuously is a recipe for disaster and affects our mental capacity to absorb new information. This fear develops into becoming impulsive and emotional which leads to being negative in judging and decision making. Instead of being safer with fear, it actually weakens our immune systems.
Anytime you experience fear think about whether it’s true, then think of the actual truth (reality) by imagining the “best case scenario” and how that will feel. Enjoy the feeling of faith and trust by doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God.
According to Matt James, PhD in his “Ready to Release” article in Psychology Today, our emotions carry purpose and wisdom. As we all experience positive and negative emotions he suggests us to begin “working with” our emotions instead of hiding them in order to release them. He feels that using the well known expression of “controlling” them could actually be misinterpreted as beating them into submission.
Many of us hide our emotions especially the negative ones and even if we might think “out of sight, out of mind,” these emotions are still there and working on causing all types of problems as they manifest mentally and physically. Many of these can be held in resentment, anger, hostility, fear, guilt and regrets. Some people hold onto things so long, they might not even know what they’re holding onto anymore.
In his research, James found a great example of the 19th century Hawaiians and their vastly different approach to releasing emotions. As the Westerners were arriving, the ancient Hawaiians were in fact almost devoid of mental and physiological disease. How is this possible? This is because the Hawaiians work with their “unihipili,” (trans. “little creature/a little self inside you = our unconscious mind).
In a nutshell, our emotions that are stored within us collect, and once they surface, they will be expressed and worked through so that they can be released. This relieves stress, repressed emotions and memories.
In Don Miguel Ruiz’s book “The Four Agreements,” a Toltec Wisdom book, he describes us as having agreements with ourselves and others. Anything we accept as true, is an agreement we make with others and/or with ourselves. If we believe someone who speaks bad words against us, we are accepting it as a truth in agreement against ourselves and this is a sin. This sin begins with self-rejection in which is everything you feel, believe or say goes against yourself.
He talked about how animals only pay once for their mistakes, yet humans pay 1000’s of times. Our belief system is responsible for abusing ourselves as the judge and the victim. We ourselves are our worst judge and critic. Ruiz said: “The Word is a force you cannot see, yet you can see the manifestation of the force in your life. You know you’re using the word against yourself if you’re suffering with guilt, sadness or fear and using it impeccably if you’re happy.”
Being impeccable (sinless) with your word is the most difficult yet powerful agreement. Your word is God for “In the beginning was the word,” a gift from God. Through this word, we manifest everything through expressing creative power. All of our knowledge, everything you think, every opinion and every belief is created with the word. By using words, we create belief systems and entire life stories are made of words.
We use words by our thoughts, expressing feelings, opinions, ideas, remembering the past and imagining the future. Our very own personal life story is created by words. Your word is what you tell yourself, agree to accept as the truth, then believe. It a force that you have the power to create. Use your word as a beautiful story instead of misusing it and its force energy will be heavenly sinless.
Words give us the opportunity to create a better story. When you find yourself in thoughts that are troubling think out loud: “Is this true?” 95% of our beliefs are lies we believe and this is how we create drama. Instead of doubting yourself, doubt the lies. After each “untruth” is dispelled, it dispels the negative power and raises faith and good vibes.
Use your word to express truth in every thought, every action and every belief to create your best life story.
Event Manager on Live Music Industry, Venues’ and Artists’ Community Situation
Jeremy Hurt, Event Manager and WordPress Blogger wrote on May 23rd, 2020: “One thing that I do know for certain, we HAVE to work together to solve this metaphorical Rubik’s Cube that has been placed upon our industry.
We are a community and a family first regardless of how well we may know each other or any past disagreements and we must as one in order to prevail. The future may be completely unknown, but one advantage that gives us is the ability to write it as we seem fit. We can break away from the norms and not be questioned. Anything is and will be possible. So through the tear-blurred vision, I ask of you to join arms with your fellow entertainer, producer, or venue owner and make this future something the world will talk about. I love you all and pray that we overcome this.”
Raising Awareness of Narcolepsy and Cataplexy, a Rare Neurological Disorder
I first met Lisa at a local grocery store. I noticed her friendly demeaner right away as I commented about how discovering Teddy Grahams excited me and brought me back to when my kids were younger. It was easy to quickly become friends with our instant rapport.
A week later, Lisa and I met up at Starbucks and before we met, she explained to me that she had Narcolepsy and Cataplexy. I had no idea what it was and had never heard of it before. She went on to break down what exactly she was dealing with on a daily basis.
She told me that Narcolepsy is a condition in which she suffers a lack of hours of sleep and deep sleep at night, then falls asleep for short periods of time during the day at random and unpredictable/inconvenient times. Her condition includes “cataplexy”, which results in sudden loss of muscle control when experiencing everyday emotions like laughter or surprise.
The consequence of this condition is decreased concentration and focus, memory and chronic fatigue. People with Narcolepsy and Cataplexy have to navigate today’s life through these very serious and difficult challenges.
To raise awareness, help with resources, educate people and help connect those who are affected, “Lisa’s Wake-Up Call” fb page was launched.
I experienced her condition first hand on that day at Starbucks. She had been dropped off by a friend so she wouldn’t have to drive. I didn’t know what to expect and we just started talking like friends usually would, we got quite excited about possibly writing about her disorder and all of a sudden, her eyes shut and she seemed unconscious. “Help,” was my first reaction, what is happening?, How long will she sleep? Is she okay? How often does this happen and various other questions raced through my mind.
Several minutes passed by as she came back. This happens several times a day and was not a full description of Narcolepsi and Cataplexy. It’s basically a neurological disorder that disrupts ones natural cycles of sleeping and waking and is characterized by excessive sleepiness during the day and cataplexy interfers with muscle control and causes partial paralysis when feeling certain strong emotions. Considered a rare disease, Narcolepsy with or without cataplexy affects 2-5 out of 10,000 people.
Lisa is an exceptionally strong woman. When faced with obstacles, she does not falter, instead, she finds new ways to overcome personal hardships. Lisa is very creative by nature and she is the queen of making gorgeous flower arrangements and is a very talented photographer as well.
From Lisa’s post: LISAS WAKE UP CALL- Narcolepsy and Cataplexy · August 21, 2019 · This stands for me very strongly… I struggle with this just even simple things that have to get done because I can’t stop sleeping all day. But when I do have good days and I get out and get things done ✅ boy I sure do pay later that day and the next day. Everyday I try my Best! ~ Lisa
Check out this article about a 2019 movie “Ode To Joy,” a romantic comedy that portrays a man living with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy while navigating a romantic relationship: https://aasm.org/movie-narcolepsy-cataplexy-sleep-doctors