Pillars of Positivity

Stress relief during difficult times

2011-09-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Stress! What and where does it come from? Well this is a broad question that requires pages and pages of detail. To make a long story short stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. Stress is normally caused by an external stressor or situation like a death in the family, loss of job, or critical illness. Of course stress can be created by something as simple as stubbing your toe. At the end of the day stress can come from anywhere at any given time. As I always say it is not about the stressful situation you are experiencing its all about how you react. That is where I begin my thought on how to manage our daily stressors effectively.

I recently experienced a situation where I developed heart palpitations for the first time in my life. At first glance I thought I was developing symptoms of a more serious nature related to my heart. I followed the traditional path to western medicine to figure out what was happening with my heart. After a month of tests, hospital visits, and meetings with cardiologists we figured out that my heart was not only healthy but in athletic shape. So I asked the simple question why do I have these heart palpitations and how do I get rid of them. It came down to stress and how I was managing it. Subtle stressors were so immersed in my experience of daily life that I forgot to tap into the same thing I teach in my programs which is daily stress management. As amazed as I was that stress could become such an integral part of your experience through your daily routine it still took me by surprise and embedded its nasty nature into my physical health.

After some introspection, daily meditation using aromatherapy and music, regular exercise, and diet enhancement I was able to get the heart palpitations under control. The main items I added to my diet were banana's, vitamin B, vitamin C, green tea, and an influx of green leafy vegetables. Bear in mind nutritional changes to your diet require visits with your medical advisers to ensure your following a plan that suits your needs. With a daily focus on managing the subtle stressors in my life I was able to control my anxious thoughts related to my daily routine.

The strange part about this whole experience was how immersed the subtle stressors were in my daily routine. Without realizing how these stressors were affecting me made it difficult to manage them properly. The point is do not take for granted the role that subtle stressors from your environment have on your balance in life. The exciting part about this experience was the ability to transcend this stressful experience and bring balance back to my everyday life. When all is said and done I am able to take this experience to relay the fact that daily stress management is imperative in modern life for our health, quality of life, and longevity from attaining success in all areas of life.

Please do not take stress for granted and ensure that you are managing your subtle stressors by eating a vitamin enriched diet, meditating often, and exercising daily.

Until the next time stay positive and always think out of the box!

Michael Joseph
www.pillarsofpositivity.com

The art of communication

2010-09-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

The art of communication is taking for granted far too often. We spend too much time on our needs instead of focusing on the whole picture. The most powerful action human beings take part in on a daily basis is communicating with each other. At the end of the day we need to communicate effectively in order to find success in our lives. However we tend to handle communication like we do everything else and for most of us that means the message is lost in translation.

We have been communicating with each other for thousands of years in many different forms. In modern life we use language to communicate on a daily basis but 7% of what say is actually verbal. The other 93% is made up of body language (facial expressions, postures, and gestures.)

What does this mean? Well this is the part of communication that we take for granted. Not only do we get misunderstood with the language we use but we also become unaware of how people are reading our body language. Body language is important to understand due to the fact that it is what our sub-conscious mind uses to communicate what we really mean. That's right our conscious mind may be communicating a message using our verbal capabilities however we may be sending a completely different message to those who understand the subtle nuances of body language. The truth is we all read body language without knowing it. The simple way to overcome the body language challenge is to become more aware of the way you communicate to others.

Another factor that we tend to overlook in our communication process is the personality type of the person we are speaking to. There are so many instances when our message is blocked due to the way we communicate with the people we interact with on a daily basis. People are as unique as a snowflake so we need to keep this in mind when we approach others. Obviously it is difficult to read strangers in the first 5 minutes of our interaction. However it is not difficult to ask some open ended questions to try to understand the personality of the person you are speaking to.

Aside from strangers we can learn the personality types of the people we interact with regularly. This is very important so that you are able to communicate in the most optimal way. This is even more powerful in our work relationships because our success depends on it. If you need to learn about personality types I suggest that you study Carl Jung's personality archetypes or take a course online. It is in your best interest to become well versed with the various personality types if you plan on building powerful relationships in the future.

The art of communication is not just about using eloquent language and saying the right thing. It is based on many factors that require self-discovery, education, and personal development.

Until next time... Pick up some skills related to the art of communication and take your relationships to the next level.

Michael Joseph
Website: www.pillarsofpositivity.com
Email: michael@pillarsofpositivity.com

The power of self-expression

2010-08-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Self expression allows an individual the ability to channel emotions, thoughts, and feelings to overcome negative experiences on a daily basis. Why do so many people block this type of experience when the benefits are overwhelming?

One of the challenges of modern life is our lack of focus on the self. We have become disconnected with our creative outlet and our ability to express our thoughts, feelings, and emotions in positive ways. Instead we are choosing to react with our ego which leads on a path to destruction. There are so many examples of the ego working its way into the arguments and constant battles in our lives.

The problem with this incessant need to control others is two fold. One we get lost in the constant need to control the situation. Two we create a cycle of negativity that is difficult to break when we are so focused on trying to please our ego. So, how do we break this cycle when it is so involved with our everyday experience? Simply put we need to utilize our creative outlet so that we can follow the path of self expression.

Our daily experience with the ego can be controlled through channeling your negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions through your creative outlet. Some examples of an individual utilizing their creative outlet is painting pictures, producing music, playing an instrument, writing poetry, performing spoken word, meditation, solving complex problems, sharing love with a partner, taking long walks in nature, or attending a show.

The point is all of us have the ability to connect with our creative outlet so that we can channel our negative experience into a positive one. We all have the ability to utilize the gifts that we were born with to experience life in a positive way. At the end of the day the choice is ours to follow the path of self expression or allow your ego to control your experience. Many social psychologists have studied this phenomenon for years. There are countless studies that discuss the benefits of painting, playing music, meditating, and being in nature.

The truth is it is up to us to focus on the creative outlet that drives us to channel our negative experience into a positive one. If we choose to let our ego control the situation then we will end up in a cycle of negativity that will spin our lives into a realm of chaos. The time is now to start searching out the positive ways for you to self express your negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions into a creative outlet. Here is some food for thought; some of the greatest creations were made because the individual involved figured out how to channel the negativity energy into a creative outlet.

Many blessings,

Michael Joseph
Managing Partner
Pillars of Positivity

Website: http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/
Email: michael@pillarsofpositivity.com

The definition of true wealth!

2010-06-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

How do you define true wealth? Is it measured by the number of 0's in your bank account? Have you ever thought about wealth in other areas of your life? Well I have some thoughts on this topic and want to share some insight that may help you define wealth in a whole new way.

As I was growing up I thought wealth was measured solely on how much money you had. My father always told me that you are much more than just the material things you own. He always used to say that wealth is in your heart, your health, your relationships, and the way you view the world. Of course at the time I thought he was crazy. I used to say dad we can barely rub two nickels together but yet you are telling me that wealth exists in so many ways other than financial gain.

Now that I have been around long enough I completely understand what my father was talking about. Our experience in this world is not based on the material pleasures alone. I believe it is based on our ability to balance our physical, mental, and spiritual experiences so that we find the wealth in all areas of our life which include financial gain.

To be blunt I believe we achieve true wealth when we are able to find happiness in having great relationship with others, ourselves, and the contentment with the climb to success. If we are able to define great wealth by including our health and stable relationships then I believe we are going to achieve a fundamental difference in the way we define this experience overall. At the same time our interpretation of this experience also has some foundation in the money we accumulate over time. I am not implying that we neglect financial wealth at all. I am merely stating a need to include our physical, mental, and spiritual experience in the definition of true wealth.

If we take the time to focus on the other areas of wealth then we will be able to achieve a balance in our experience. Think about a pendulum when you stack too many marbles on one side it leans too far to the left or right. Well the definition of true wealth works the same way. If we focus too much on financial gain then other areas of our wealth quotient suffer. With that being said there are easy ways to ensure that we are focused on all areas of our life. The easy ones are our physical health and mental state of mind. The more difficult area is our spirituality.

I believe the definition of spirituality is a challenge in the 21st century due to many reasons. The main one being confusion over the conflicting messages we have received over the years. Depending on your upbringing many of us have had a definition that has been pushed on us. At the end of the day our spirituality is defined by the individual. Our spiritual wealth is dependant on our ability to transcend the mundane messages we have endured to find a deeper meaning into something that remains mysterious to us all. It is our responsibility to ensure that we are in tune with our spiritual side without compromising our experience in other areas of our life. This process is very personal and requires deep thought away from the everyday challenges of life. The point is as we get older certain realities will become clear. With that in mind I hope we allow our experience to include the many facets that define true wealth. The focus my friend is about our ability to balance our physical, mental, and spiritual experience.

Many blessings,

Michael Joseph

Motivating others...

2010-05-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

Motivation is the psychological feature that arouses one to take action towards a desired goal. That is the official definition of motivation. What does motivation mean to you? How can you motivate others and yourself? These are the types of challenging questions we face on a daily basis when we try to inspire others to strive for the stars.

People are motivated by two major motivations the desire for gain and the fear of loss. From a psychological perspective the key to persuading others is through motivation. It is a consistent challenge to motivate others to attain their own goals and help you attain yours along the way. It is important to understand that human wants are only limited by our own imagination. As an inspiring individual it is up to you to figure out what motivates others to achieve their goals and help you with yours. When you can show a person how he or she can get more of the things he or she wants by helping you achieve your goals, you can motivate them to act on your behalf.

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs he focused on the fact that human beings need to satisfy their general needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) before they can act unselfishly. This is an interesting concept to understand when you are trying to motivate others to not only achieve their goals but also help you along the path to your desired outcome. The most successful leaders in the world have figured out how to motivate others to achieve higher level goals. They understand that every interaction between human beings involves some degree of persuasion and influence. This is why great leaders take the time to figure out what others really want by asking questions before they act. When you take the time to understand what others really want it will allow you the ability to help others get motivated by showing them how you can help them achieve their goals. Remember people are motivated by their reasons not yours.

The reality of motivating others lies in your ability to figure out what others really want. In addition to that you also need to understand the art of persuasion. Persuasion is not a negative thing if you have the intention to help others achieve their goals while soliciting their help to aid you on your path. The best leaders know that every human action is motivated by something. It's our job to find out what motivates others and then provide that motivation.

Most neurologists believe that we only use up to 10% of our brain power. The question is, how do we utilize the 90% that we do not typically use? The answer to that intriguing question lies in your ability to think out of the box and take every human interaction strategically. Stop thinking with an automatic response and start utilizing all of your interactions with others as a step to motivate.

In my next article I will be discussing self-mastery... Until then enjoy the beautiful weather!

Michael Joseph
Website: www.pillarsofpositivity.com
Email: michael@pillarsofpositivity.com

Perseverance and patience!

2010-04-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

As we enter the spring season we begin to experience feelings of relaxation. However, we also have goals to reach and things to do. The spring time is all about revitalization where we shed our winter sluggishness. During the spring period it is important to continue along the path of our goals for the year. The spring season is a critical point in the goal attainment process. Spring is the time to plant our seeds of success for the fall. If we follow the right plan during the spring we are able to relax and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.

What do we need to do in the spring to be successful in the fall? First, we need to align our goals and ensure that they are in synch with our daily routine. Second, we need to persevere and demonstrate patience. We will experience challenges and roadblocks during the goal attainment process so use the spring season to tweak your plan.

Spring is challenging due to the fact that we tend to lose focus of the goals we set in January. For many reasons people tend to drift from their original goals and start a new focus. This is dangerous due to the fact that drifting from your original intention means you are becoming impatient with the current process. It is at this time when daily discipline is needed to stay on course. As part of the goal attainment process we are always using checkpoints to monitor our progress.

Spring is the perfect time to perform a health check on your goal attainment. If the progress has stagnated we can easily make adjustments so that the success we desire is waiting for us in the fall. However, if we fail to make the changes necessary in the spring we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

The spring season is a powerful time of year for all of us. With that being said please try to utilize this new energy to ensure that your plans are on the right course for success in the fall. Of course if you have not set your goals for the year then no time is better than now. The point is it is never too late to set your sights on success. However the lack of a goal attainment plan will definitely create a barrier to success in the fall.

Many blessings,

Michael Joseph

For more information on Pillars of Positivity check out: www.pillarsofpositivity.com

Finding Positivity through Poetry!

2010-03-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Poetry is one of the most powerful ways we can express ourselves on a daily basis. The written word allows us to tap into the inner-self in so many ways. We have so many thoughts and feelings that can be expressed through writing our thoughts down on paper. Poetry over the years has become a powerful creative outlet for me when I am in need of a deeper experience with the self and has allowed me to express myself in a way that helps me to grow every time I write a new verse. Writing poetry is a self healing experience that allows the individual to express emotions that one may not have realized resides deep inside. It can provide an escape from the dungeons of modern day life and enable one to go deep within the self to express feelings that are swirling around the mind. Deep down we all need the ability to express ourselves to help clear out the clutter from our mind.

Writing poetry is meditative and expressive so it helps you to balance your mind-body-soul connection. Through the poetic process you will relieve your stress by bringing attention to the power of now, and turning a negative situation into a positive one. When you are feeling full of negativity you should take time to write down your thoughts in the form of a verse so that you can express your thoughts and release the stress. By allowing your poetic verse to shine you are also opening up a channel to focus on the power of now. When we live in the now we allow ourselves the chance to stop and smell the roses. If our minds are caught up in a negative experience we tend to focus on the past and let disturbing experiences from our past consume our thoughts. The poetic process brings you into the now so that you can write about your feelings to organize them into cohesive thoughts that you can express holistically. When you allow the poetic process the chance to shine you bring out the best quality we were all born with, creativity. When we are creative we are able to turn negative situations into positive ones by expressing our emotions through verse instead of physical aggression.

As a member of the League of Canadian Poets I have the unique ability to teach poetry in the classroom along with the art of positive living. As we work with the kids to help them understand the concepts of positive living we teach them how to express this experience through the power of free verse. This allows the children to express themselves from the inside and bring out all of the thoughts/feelings that may be causing a negative experience. Through the freedom of poetry children are able to process thoughts about positive living in a creative way. This creates an environment of fun and interaction between the children. The children will be able to share their experience with each other in a way that is non- threatening and filled with fun. Of course the most powerful way to get children involved with the learning process is to make it fun and interactive. In addition to that the children get to be expressive like the musicians they hear on the radio. By tying the concepts of positive living with the poetic process we are able to get the children to interact with the group and themselves in the most powerful way possible.

Overall the poetic process has opened up so many possibilities to teach the art of positive living to both adults and children. The unique experience that poetry allows one to divulge in is self healing and expression. It is one of the many ways we can allow ourselves the unique ability to achieve self-actualization on a daily basis. Poetry is a creative outlet that each one of us can utilize to help manage stress and turn negative emotions into positive ones.

Many blessings,

Michael Joseph
Co-founder
Pillars of Positivity
Email: michael@pillarsofpositivity.com

For more information related to our programs check out: www.pillarsofpositivity.com

Patience... How do we allow this experience into our lives?

2010-02-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

Patience! We are constantly told that patience is a virtue or have patience but what if patience was never something we used in our life. How do we let this feeling come into our lives? Fortunately there are many ways to implement and understand patience so that we can use it to improve our experience and achieve success at the same time. Of course those of us who do not use patience are probably thinking HOW?

Our personalities form our experience and some of us are not fortunate enough to have patience built into our lives. Some of us have to work at being patient. If you are a person with a driver type personality you will find it difficult to have patience and understanding during the process of achieving success. Or if you are an inspirer who constantly needs a changing environment you might find it difficult to slow down and smell the roses. At the end of the day we all have come to a point where patience is necessary.

One of the most eye opening experiences that required an extraordinary amount of patience was the birth of my first son. The parenting process requires patience like you will never imagine until you go though the experience first hand. Those of us who find it difficult to be patient will get a rude awakening when they become parents for the first time. As a high energy person who requires constant stimulation it is very difficult for me to have patience. Parenthood taught me this lesson quickly. Over the years I have acquired an extraordinary amount of patience. Of course pre-parenthood I believed that patience was not a word I would use in my life.

I grew up in a large urban city so patience was a difficult feeling to attain. The pace of life in a big city in a technologically advanced society makes it difficult to learn how to use patience in our everyday lives. The fact is you require patience to be successful in all areas of your life especially in a big city. You are constantly bombarded by other people who are not patient and will steamroll over your needs to get what they want.

So how do you use patience in your life when you are surrounded by people who have no clue what this word means? This is the million dollar question that we can actually help you answer through simple strategies that you can implement on a daily basis.

Please see the simple strategies for allowing patience into your life:

1) Meditate daily
2) Diffuse lavender oil in your home often
3) Spend time in nature
4) Use empathy when dealing with others
5) Surround yourself with people who are patient
6) Place calm photos of nature in your workspace
7) Use massage therapy to relax the muscles
8) Eat more fruits and vegetables

In order to allow patience in your life you have to look at the experience from a holistic perspective. Meaning if you do not eat right, surround yourself with people who are patient, or allow the mind a chance to take breaks then you will find it difficult to implement patience into your experience. By implementing the simple strategies mentioned above you will be able to allow patience into your life naturally without being forced to learn it when you need it most.

Have a powerful day!

Many blessings,

Michael Joseph
Co-founder
Pillars of Positivity
Website: http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/

Check out the Total Health Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on March 12-14, 2010. Pillars of Positivity will have a booth (Booth # 732) at this event.

The power of goal setting part 2

2010-01-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you have written down your goals and now you know what you want to focus on for 2010 and beyond. The question now becomes how do I focus on my goals on a daily basis and maintain the momentum? There are many ways to achieve this focus without compromising the attainment of your goals. At the end of the day it is all about action on a daily basis. To achieve your goals properly you need a plan. The best way to build a plan for your goals is through a roadmap to success. We suggest that you create a roadmap for your goals so that you know where you stand at the various milestones in 2010. Here are some tips for the creation of your roadmap:

* Assign a realistic date to each goal
* Write down the milestones to reach for each goal
* Create weekly goals to attain the overall objective
* Measure your success at the end of each week in your journal
* Add key stakeholders for the attainment of your goals

The roadmap acts as a guide to help you focus on the items you need to accomplish daily, weekly, and monthly. You will find the roadmap helpful when you need guidance on your goals for the week. It will be a constant reminder of your focus during the year. We also suggest that you update this regularly.

In addition to your roadmap you need to also bring your subconscious mind on board with your goal attainment. This process can be handled through the following methods:

1) Creative visualization
2) Vision boards
3) Positive affirmations
4) Meditation

Pillars of Positivity teaches the above methods to help build the emotional intelligence necessary to attain your goals. Many famous athletes, leaders (business and government), and celebrities use these techniques to achieve success in all areas of their lives.

Goal attainment is very personal and it requires a lot of focus from each individual who wants to achieve success on a regular basis. Pillars of Positivity can help you become a high performer in all areas of your life if you want to focus on improving your overall experience.

Until next time focus on your goals regularly!

Michael Joseph
Co-founder
Pillars of Positivity
Website: www.pillarsofpositivity.com
Email: michael@pillarsofpositivity.com

The power of goal setting Part 1

2009-12-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

Goal setting! What do I need to focus on? Where do I want to be in 5 years? How much money do I want? I want to be in a loving relationship. I wish I had a job that I enjoyed. We have so many desires and needs that must be met during our lives but we have challenges that take us off our path. What do we need to do to ensure that we are consistently staying focused on the things that we desire? That is one of the main questions that comes to mind when thinking about goal setting. This article will attempt to address the concept of goal setting and how to implement a strategy to focus on during the year.

Let's start with the definition of goal setting. The dictionary meaning for the word goal is the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve. With that being said our goals need to be clearly defined, personal, consistently updated, and realistic. Please see the process for goal setting below:

Think about what you want out of life both long and short term
Write down your thoughts during this brainstorming process
Narrow down your short and long term goals
Clearly define your goals both long and short term
Write down your specific goals with dates (be descriptive as possible)
Read your goals daily and update them as you progress
Use strategies to help program your mind to focus on your goals

The above mentioned process is a guideline that requires consistent updating and focus. In order to focus on your goals consistently one must understand the science of the mind and body connection.

The mind has two realms of experience the conscious and subconscious. The socialization that we experience during our lives has shaped our subconscious mind. In some cases it is this part of our mind that needs to be re-programmed to help us focus on the goals we want to attain. There are many simple tips and techniques to implement in order to help the mind focus on the goals you have outlined for your life. Self-limiting beliefs that stem from the subconscious mind need to be addressed through various methods that are taught in our workshops.

One of the easiest things to do to help focus your mind on your goals is meditation. Meditation allows you to clear out the clutter so that you can focus on your goals. When our minds are filled with too many thoughts we become overwhelmed and lose focus of our intentions. Practicing meditation will help you control your thoughts, emotions, and allow you to think clearly. If the concept of meditation is new to you I suggest that you take some time to learn about this ancient tradition. As you learn to meditate you will find it easier to focus on your goals. In North America it is very easy for us to become distracted with all of the stimulants that we are bombarded with on a daily basis. This is one of the main reasons it is important to control our thoughts per second through meditation.

In part 2 of the power of goal setting I will discuss tips and techniques to implement to help you focus on your goals.

Happy New Year and good luck with your goal setting in 2010...

I wish you a prosperous and joy filled 2010!

Michael Joseph

Co-founder

Pillars of Positivity

To learn more about our workshops and lectures please visit www.pillarsofpositivity.com.

The Creative Outlet

2009-11-04T07:43:00.000-08:00

Creativity is one of the most powerful traits a human being can demonstrate. Our creative ability has allowed us to transcend barriers to success that a modern society faces on a daily basis. So how do we stay connected with our creative side? How do we keep our right brain functions in tact? Why is it so important for our creative juices to keep flowing? This article will attempt to address the above mentioned questions.

For thousands of years human beings have been demonstrating our powerful creative abilities through art, music, dance, poetry, books, speech, problem solving, games, sports, and so on. The point is creativity is not limited to the arts. Creativity is something that is demonstrated through out of the box thinking. We can achieve higher level capabilities through our ability to connect with our right brain functions. Our minds are divided into two rhealms left and right brain. One side is logic (left brain) and the other side is creative or intuitive (right brain.) The inter-connection of both sides allow the ability of quantum results in all areas of our lives. Specific use of the right brain will allow for creative thoughts to flourish. When we are in the creative flow we are focussed on the present moment which allows us to escape the confines of our limited thinking. We are able to integrate the mind, body, and soul to work as one when we are immersed in creative outlets.

Think about all of the times you are working on a new idea that require creative thinking and abilities. In those moments more often than not you lose track of time and space. You become so immersed in the moment that your ego is completely detached from the situation and you are able to connect to your higher self. This is important because you are able to keep the mind, body, and soul focussed on the positive energy that exists in these moments. While you are focussed on the positive energy your inner self is able to rejuvenate and recharge. This is necessary for those of us who want to be high performers in all areas of our life. The more we are able to connect with our creative flow the more we are connected to our infinite life force. This means that we can tap into this energy whenever we need it.

As part of our creative flow we become inspired to do great things when we setup the right environment for our creative juices to keep flowing. Inspiration (which comes from the latin word inspire which means "in spirit") can come at any time or when you least expect it. The question then becomes how do I become inspired? I have outlined some great tips and techniques below to help you become inspired:

Add creative visualization to your meditations to set goals
Burn natural oils such as tangerine or lavendar to put you in the right state of mind
Take relaxing bathes to ease your mind and allow new ideas to come
Stay physically active on a regular basis to maintain your confidence
Eat well balanced meals to keep your energy flowing
Surround yourself with creative people
Spend time in nature
Take a course to upgrade your skills

Everyone has a creative outlet so let your's shine by tapping into your own skill set or natural talent. Some people figure out their creative capabilities easily and others need to give themselves a chance to figure out their unique talent. The point at the end of the day is we all have the power within us to do great things. In order to get to that point we need to let our creative capabilities have a chance to be cultivated. Far too often people give up on their creative outlet and end up believing that they are not creative or have no special talents to share with the world. That is a sad reality for some people so I am here to say that is not true at all. Once again we all have unique talents and capabilities that need to be cultivated in order to shine. Rome was not built in a day so do not expect to figure out your creative outlet overnight. In time when you allow yourself the ability to relax and follow the tips above you will eventually figure out what your creative outlet is.

Until next time let the creative juices start flowing...

Michael Joseph

To learn more about tapping into your creative outlet and being a high performer please go to http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/

The ego battle!

2009-10-06T06:20:00.001-07:00

Ego. What is ego? It is defined in so many ways. For the purposes of this post I am defining ego as our socially conditioned mindset. The part of our mind that reacts following a habitual pattern that we have learned from our social interactions. Ego is based on fear and leads us down the path of lost faith. With that being said our ego is not who we are. We are powerful beings that can bypass the ego in every situation. This power exists through choice.

Everyday we are faced with challenges that require our full attention. Each moment we need to be cognizant of our higher self capabilities. At first this feels like a daunting task because our ego has been allowed to run free for so long. Our ego directs us to feel hurt or offended so that we react with anger or malice. Our ego directs us to be combative with each other. The pattern is simple our ego keeps us rooted in fear so that we react with various emotions such as doubt, worry, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and hate. Dont despair we do have options. We need to let go and detach from the ego and empower the higher self. The natural question is how? Please see some techniques below:

Meditate often to bring you back to your internal reference point
Awareness
Understand that you have the choice moment to moment
Think before you react by taking a few deep breaths

Now that we understand how to detach from the ego it is important to understand why we need to focus on this detachment. Our health depends on our ability to detach from the ego because of the immense stress we put on our immune system. The number one killer of human beings is stress. Stress is the common factor in most major dis-ease. We can also attribute stress as a major cause of failure from a health perspective and success in life. When we are consistently stressed out we are unable to make clear decisions and perform in an optimal manner. Stress is not difficult to reduce if we follow a healthy lifestyle that focusses on the following:

A healthy balanced diet
Meditation on a regular basis
A positive circle of influence
Regular physical activity
Regular contact with nature
The power of goal setting

The ego does not control our lives we do. We have the power to choose our direction in every situation. It is time for us to empower our higher self so that we can utilize the powers within to transcend the grip of the egoic mind. Our health and success depend on it...

Michael Joseph

Check out the Pillars of Positivity website to learn more about our workshops, seminars, and lectures:

http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com

Intuition Part 2: Your link to attaining success

2009-09-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

In my last post I discussed what Intuition is and how it works at a high level. Of course to understand intuition and its full capabilities I suggest you do your own research on the topic to help you understand it on a deeper level. In this post I want to discuss how intuition can help you attain success in your everyday life. To be honest it starts with an open mind and the understanding that there are powerful connections happening all around us. It is our responsibility to have a clear mind to be able to focus on the details that we need to be successful. With that being said I have outlined some points below to help you connect with your intuitive mind (right brain) often.

Please see the points below:

Meditate often
Try to be in a balanced state as often as possible
Involve nature in your everyday life so that you remain calm
Surround yourself with intuitive people
Burn lavender oil from source to bring balance
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
Walk after every meal to clear your mind
Think outside the box
Be patient
Break through the fear barrier
Understand the inter-connection of all your 5 senses
Write down your goals and objectives for all areas of your life
Take warm baths to relax your muscles
Avoid negative people (energy vampires)

Now that we understand how to connect with intuition we need to focus on the culture of success. In order to achieve positive results in anything we do we must use insight with action and allow things to fall into place. Along the way when we are connecting the right and left brain with all of our decisions we are allowing the intuitive mind to shine in a way that will achieve success. Your intuitive mind works best when you are calm and in a balanced state. So it is no surprise that intuitive people are very relaxed, calm, and patient individuals.

In order to link intuition with success you need to allow a consistent balanced state to exist in your everyday life. It is difficult to be decisive and trust your gut feeling when you are constantly tired, stressed, and out of focus. This sounds like a tall order but in reality it can be achieved by utilizing the tips above to help bring the balance back to your life. We are all faced with challenging environments that are constantly battling us for our attention. It is our responsibility to manage our time in a way that allows us to fit in "Me time." It is imperative to our success.

Success is a culture that we can all implement in our lives. The best part about this fact is our choice to accept that fact or ignore it. Once you choose to be successful then you must define your goals and objectives. Once you define your goals your intuitive mind goes to work on helping you attain the success you desire. The intuitive mind (right brain) works with the logical mind (left brain) to bring you the balanced decisions you need to be successful. Relying on one or the other is a formula for questionable results. It goes without saying that being in a balanced state is the foundation for success. Now is the time to bring the balance back to our lives because our success depends on it. Success is waiting for all of us. We need to allow the success culture into our lives by accepting the responsibility that comes with it. It begins with each one of us. We cannot blame our lack of success on others because we hold the key to unlocking our infinite potential. That my friends is where our power lies.

Until next time try to maintain a balanced state often...

Michael Joseph

Check out my member profile with the League of Canadian Poets: http://www.poets.ca/linktext/direct/josephm.htm

Pillars of Positivity website: http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/pillars/HomePage.aspx

Intuition Part 1: Your link to attaining success

2009-08-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

Intuition, what is this mysterious experience that so many people talk about? Where does it come from? How can it help me? There are so many questions surrounding this powerful experience. The plan is to help you understand this powerful source of knowledge and wisdom so that you can utilize its omnipotent influence to do good things. First we must define what intuition is. Simply put intuition is the language of the soul. It is our internal compass to help guide us through the various challenges in life. Intuition is a spiritual gift and a practical tool used by many to navigate the modern world. Intuition stimulates our creativity through right brain functioning. We all have different names for intuition such as gut feeling, hunch, sudden knowing, and judgement call. Dr. Emery (author of a great book called "Power Hunch") calls it a "Power Hunch" because of the powerful force within us. Intution can be considered that aha moment that impels you to make a change out of the blue to meet a new friend, choose the right school for your child, solve a problem, etc...

Some benefits of intuition can be seen below:

enhances relationships
gives you a sense of timing
enables you to find a new balance
reveals hidden symbols in your dreams
tunes you into your environment to open doors of opportunity
developed intuition puts you in the flow
you experience synchronicity
problem solving becomes easier

The function of intuition allows an individual to marry the right and left brain so that they have a whole brain experience. By utilizing the whole brain to make decisions and navigate the challenges we all expereince we allow ourselves the balance necessary to achieve higher levels of success. Some of the most successful people in the world use intuition to make all of their important decisions. As a matter of fact a lot of these super successful people attribute their success to their ability to connect with their intuitive mind. They follow the intuitive direction through the use of one of their five senses. You can connect with the intuitive mind through all five senses. Once you understand what intuition is you can learn to connect with it through all of your senses which is the most powerful way to connect with this infinite intelligence. Your gut feeling acutally has a scientific background. Scientists have found that the gut feeling scenario involves neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) called peptides in the gut area. They are identical to the brain cell receptors and that means that the active peptides in the gut act in the same manner as the ones in the brain. With that beind said it is not surprising that the gut feeling is a source of getting messages from our intuitive mind.

Intuition is not age or gender based. We all have equal access to this powerful force. Intuition is not a whim, a good guess, or blind luck - it is a real force in every human psyche. Unfortunately we are constantly taught to ignore our intuitive mind and use our logical mind. In order to utilize this internal gift we need to become whole brain advocates so that we apply the principles neccessary to experience our intuitive mind properly. Intuition can be experienced in all areas of our life which include work, family, friends, school, nature, and ourselves. Intuition and logic together lay a powerful foundation to make the right decisions for success. Intuition is omnipresent so that we can utilize its potent force when we become more in tune with its potential.

In Part 2 of Intuition I will be discussing techniques to connect with your intuitive mind and link this to a successful life.

Until next time stay calm, meditate often, and start trusting your gut feelings...

Michael Joseph

Pillars of Positivity website: http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/

To purchase a copy of Urban Verses: Spiritual Awakening go to: http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=59524

How to be happy in tough times...

2009-07-03T04:56:00.001-07:00

We all face challenges in our lives. This is a fact of modern life in the 21st Century. With that being said the question becomes how do we find happiness when we continuously find ourselves bombarded with negativity and reasons to be upset. The 3 steps to quickly adjusting your life to your challenges can be seen below:

1) Acceptance: Once we understand that negativity or challenges are something we will experience from time to time it becomes easier to overcome the hurdles we encounter. When you are faced with a challenge it is a paramount fact that you need to understand that you have the power to choose how you want to react. In my experience it is not the challenges you face that makes a person. It is the way you react.

2) Avoidance: If it is possible to avoid negative people or environments that you are aware of then it is important to steer clear of them at all costs. It is not wrong to avoid situations that you know will end up draining your energy or creating negative situations.

3) Rectify the situation: If you can be the bigger person then do it. We all can lead by example and if someone is tearing you down you can alleviate the situation by using positive language and a mature attitude. Try not to stoop down to somebody elses level. You are a powerful being that can transcend positive energy to any situation. We have that choice to make in every situation. You are powerful.

We are truly remarkable beings with such intricate mind, body, and souls. We have the ability to achieve whatever goals we set for ourselves. We can rebuild in any situation. Human beings have demonstrated how beautiful we are on many occasions. Let's celebrate the powerful things that we have achieved and focus on the moments that are filled with positivity. We do not have to focus on the negative. We can choose the path we want to follow in every situation so why not pick happiness. Why not choose to be happy and find a way to feel this emotion whenever we can. Our goal as human beings is defined by each one of us. Whatever path you want to follow is your choice...

Written by Michael Joseph

Pillars of Positivity

"Unlock your infinite potential"
http://www.pillarsofpositivity.com/
To order a copy of Urban Verses: Spiritual Awakening go to:
http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=59524

Top 10 ways to stay positive

2009-05-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

I have experienced so many opportunities to take the path to a negative mental attitude. Every time I am faced with the choice to use PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) or NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) it always becomes apparent which path to follow. The path I am referring to always leads to a positive mental attitude. Using the 10 points below I am able to connect with the positive side of my thinking on a regular basis:

1) Burn essential oils and incense to relax and clear the air
2) Read an inspirational book, poem, or thought daily
3) Surround yourself with positive minded individuals
4) Be physically active for at least 20 minutes everyday
5) Do not sweat the small stuff
6) Daily meditation
7) Take a walk in nature daily (could be something as simple as a walk down a tree lined street)
8) Compliment people as often as possible
9) Smile often (even when you feel angry)
10) Start the day with a saying like "I feel happy, I feel healthy, I feel terrific..."

To help me maintain a positive mental attitude I follow the above 10 points on a daily basis. It is not always easy to maintain a positive state but it takes just as much energy to be in a negative one so you might as well follow the path that feels better. Please feel free to email me the ways you stay in a positive mood on a daily basis. Please email me at michael@pillarsofpositivity.com.

P.S. I just released my first book called Urban Verses: Spiritual Awakening. If you would like to purchase a copy please go to http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=59524.

Written by Michael Joseph
Pillars of Positivity
www.pillarsofpositivity.com

Passion...

2009-04-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Passion is a powerful way to express your true feelings about the life you live. Too many people try to fake passion and become engulfed in the game of trying to prove their worth. Our time in this realm of experience is based on our ability to see beyond the external games that are played in a capitalist society. These games are just illusions of the truth that exist around us. We are constantly given the answers to our passion filled days. However we choose to follow the path that leads to confusion. If we take the time to let our mind-body-soul speak as one then we allow the balanced passion of life to shine bright. If we do not allow this natural body of light to shine then we will become confused and the illusion that we are constantly bombarded with on a daily basis becomes our reality. Our mind will play tricks on us because we allow it to so let your mind be free. Our mind is nothing but a tool of the soul to experience our time on earth. Passion my friends is the key to experiencing life in its true nature.

Check out www.pillarsofpositivity.com to learn more about the science of positive living.

Creativity and life

2009-04-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Life is full of challenges and opportunities to learn. One thing I have realized in my life is the power of creativity and the outlet it creates for me. I am never as content as I am when I am creating music, writing poetry, and speaking at events. I feel totally alive and in the moment when I am writing verses for my new book. I do not feel time pass. It is almost like I am in a trance and the world just stops. The best part about this experience is the ability to escape the mundane trances that everyday life can inflict on an individual. The powerful part about this reality is the fact that we are all creative beings with the capabilitity to achieve higher heights. Each one of us has the ability and talent to create something out of nothing. We just need to tap into that inner knowledge to create...

Check out http://www.pillarsofpositivity/.com to learn more about how you can learn the science of positive living!