Category Archives: Writing
Books as Inspiration
Bonita Kay Summers writes a blog called The Intuitive Perspective; and she recently posted a column Books for Practical Enlightenment. Seeing as I’m such a vociferous reader myself, I jumped all over the column and wanted to offer my view on using books not just to better ourselves but also as inspiration for my own blog.
I’ve blogged previously bout some of these books, but as with everything It can sometimes be helpful to revisit some of our old friends. As most of you who have been following me for sometime are aware, since I began writing this blog, my spirituality has become stronger and I look to more faith based books now then I have in the past.
I think one of my favorite authors in this field now is:
Timothy Keller
Having now read a few of his books I found him very refreshing. One of the things I look for when reading books in this genre is someone who doesn’t preach to you, someone who when you read you don’t feel like rolling your eyes and feeling uncomfortable, like they are invoking God in a way that some televangelists do. Don’t quite know if you understand what I’m getting at, but I DO know that you understand it when you see or hear it. Timothy Keller doesn’t do this. His books are spiritual without being religious. If you want to check him out, I recommend:
The Prodigal God
and
King’s Cross
Another author I discovered and the one book that left a huge impression on me last year was:
Rob Bell
His book:
Inspiration For My Blog:
I use several books as “Get Me Started” vehicles when I need quotes to move my blog forward. These resources have yet to let me down. Those who have been here awhile will recognize the titles but will not have seen them collected in a list:
1. Letting Everything Become Your Teacher
2. Change Your Life! A Little Book of Big Ideas
3. God Always Has A Plan B
4. A Book Of Bliss, Thoughts To Make You Smile
5. Inspiration For A Lifetime
Okay. So what do all of these books have in common? They all have short quotes, thoughts to inspire, thoughts to help you move forward. I come to these books when I want to find something to write about. I naturally have many resources I use for my blog but books still are at the top of my list. Seeing that my day job is at my local library this should come as no surprise.
Other Books That Inspire:
The Ultimate Gift
My Name is Memory
Siddhartha
The Alchemist
Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Tunnel Vision
As you see, books inspire me in many ways. They’ve always been an important part of my life and I read everything. I’ve said it here before and it bears repeating:
I’m so fortunate to have been able to bring my love of books and reading into my career and I can only thank the Divine/God for guiding me to the career I so wanted.
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
–
Chris
Divine Creativity
An Overflowing Faith. The reason I’m giving this background is so you’ll understand how deeply I feel about my spirituality and my faith, how much it is a part of who I am.
I am my faith!
I am my spirituality! I don’t broadcast it to the world in general because I understand that not everyone is in the same place. It is an extremely important part of my life however.
My creativity is a direct result of my spirituality. I sincerely believe I have a Divine Conduit and when I’m in The Flow, I’m convinced it’s God/Source/The Divine working through me. It’s why I write this blog. I’d like to think this blog is my way of repaying the gift I was bestowed with when I incarnated this time. God knew I was going to need all the faith I he could give so he opened me up and gave me his greatest gift.
My creativity is a direct result of that gift.
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
–
Chris
Never Say Anything
Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.
Brian Tracy
09.15.2011
Words are powerful tools. If used incorrectly, the can do severe harm, including causing self inflicted wounds.
Do you put yourself down?
Do you tell others you’re not good at what you do?
Do you say you’re not something?
I’ll give you an example of what I’m referring to, and bear with me as this is an illustration of my being in this field. Being a photographer, leads me to a forum to share my work. Of course I’m going to run into people who take pictures all the time. How many times have I heard someone tell me:
Oh, I’m not a photographer.
or:
Oh, I can’t take a picture.
When clearly the obvious says different. I’ve seen these people’s photos and some of these people I know who say they can’t, clearly CAN. If they continue to downgrade themselves, saying they can’t, putting themselves down, how is that helping their self esteem?
Ya know what? It’s NOT! I refer back to the above quote:
Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.
If you say something enough times, eventually you’ll believe it. Your words will become a self fulfilling prophecy. Wouldn’t it be better to build yourself up? I’m not talking about bragging. There is a monumental difference between being pompous, smug, egotistical; and simply using words to give yourself the credit you deserve. You don’t have to say you’re the next Ansel Adams, the next Van Gogh, the next Hemingway to make your point; but if someone pays you a compliment, you can graciously accept it and give a little background on how you took the photo, painted the picture, wrote that column, all the while giving yourself an in visible pat on the back.
I understand that sometimes it can be difficult to raise yourself up if you’ve been taught to do so is embellishing, bragging. If you want to get ANYWHERE in this most recent incarnation, you have to learn the difference between embellishment and being good to yourself, being true to yourself.
Everyone wants to be successful in their chosen endeavors. The first step to getting there is knowing you have the talent it takes to move forward. If you continue to say you DON’T have the skills to get there then you certainly will NEVER get there.
Stop playing against yourself!
Start believing!
Start today!
The next time someone pays you a compliment take it and run with it.
Start today!
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
–
Chris
The Juice Will Come
As long as you can start, you are alright.
The juice will come.
Quote attributed to:
Ernest Hemingway
Change Your Life
A Little Book Of Big Ideas
Page 174
Interesting that this quote came from Hemingway as he started any number of times and he proved that HIS juice came.
Is there something in your view that has you in its thrall? Have you begun? If not, what’s holding you back?
Fear of failure, defeat?
Are you going to be one of those to look back on your life with regret?
I certainly hope not.
You have to grab for what you want. Start today. What’s your plan?
Writing a novel?
Acting?
Photography?
What is it that you want to start? Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back. You have everything you need within yourself to implement your desires. If someone tells you no, use that negative as fuel to light your fire. No can be a very powerful word when someone uses it against you.
“No” fuels me. If you say:
No! You can’t do that. to me. I’ll do everything in my power to prove to you that:
Yes! I can do it. See?
Tell me no. I dare you.
As long as I start nothing will prevent me from reach my desires.
Writing?
Check! and published too:
Haunts Magazine
Being Magazine
Photography?
Check! and selling my photography and published too:
Pub List
Start something. Don’t let intimidation be what prevents you. Be like Hemingway. Start something new every day, every month, every year. It’s the only way to see improvement.
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
–
Chris
Happy Anniversary
A year today:
That’s how long I’ve been writing Wisdom and Life. I can say with confidence that I’m as enthusiastic about this blog today as I was last year on this day. I’ll go so far as to say I’m MORE enthusiastic now then I was when I began this journey. Most of you are probably unaware that I started and stopped two other blogs along the way. I see those other attempts NOT as failures but simply as stepping stones to get to this point.
Had I not started those two blogs, I wouldn’t have the experience to know what blogging was and I would maybe have given up on this blog as well. After a year’s worth of posts behind me now I can say with near certainty that I have DEFINITELY found my blogging niche. I feel reinvigorated with my writing EVERY day; And as I’ve said here before I believe in the post called:
The Itch, I will NEVER again take my gift of writing for granted. Very few times in ANYONE’S life are we given something back that was taken away from us.
We must take full advantage when this happens as I have done with this blog. The message I received from having my love of writing restored to me is:
This is a one of the gifts that was bestowed on you when you incarnated this time. We’re giving one more opportunity to use it and this time we want you to use your writing to move people forward. Don’t blow it again. Because there won’t be a NEXT time.
Believe me! I heard the message loud and clear, and I listened. The original intent here was to write about Law of Attraction but somewhere along the way, I felt an unseen hand guiding me in a different direction. I see it as the Divine slowly moving me to a more spiritual place and writing about how my own spirituality has progressed as I’ve been following Law of Attraction. I’ve discovered since writing this blog that my own faith has become deeper, my spirituality has increased.
I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with everything I say, but if I can show how I’ve changed and continue to write about it that’s all I can ask. Right?
To those of you who have followed me from this blog’s inception, thank you. To my recent followers welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay. If any of my followers feel they know someone who could benefit from my words, please don’t hesitate to forward my blog.
Thank You!
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
–
Chris
