Tag: coaching

“What makes you think you aren’t enlightened?”

The question came from a quiet man who heard my presentation the day before at the Miracles Coaching event in Utah last month.

He went on to say…

“You write in your books that you are in the third stage of awakening but we all heard you speak, and we feel you are enlightened. We felt the energy in the room. We felt what you did for us. We feel you are there. Why don’t you think you are enlightened?”

I was honored and impressed.

After all, he was accusing me of achieving the very state spiritual seekers have been striving for centuries to attain.

It was a compliment.

But I saw this as a moment for him, not me.

“I love the flattering nature of the question,” I said, “but I think you can ask yourself the same thing.”

He looked at me, waiting for more.

“The only thing stopping you from being enlightened is your thinking about being enlightened,” I explained. “Your mind separates you from the experience. It’s probably as true for you as it is for me.”

I could tell he wanted me to explain, so I did…

I'm on cover September 2014 Austin All Natural magazine (Art by Donna Aloia)

“What most of us do is argue with reality,” I said. “Because we fight and complain and get frustrated over what is, we can’t allow ourselves any peace. When we accept reality, and know that all is good, we move in the direction of awakening, or enlightenment. But most of us simply think ourselves out of our bliss.”

But the gentleman persisted.

“The so called gurus of the world claim to be enlightened and act the part,” he countered. “Because they do, others follow them. Maybe you just need to own that you are enlightened.”

Again, I was tickled at the suggestion.

But I knew I would no more declare enlightenment as he would.

Saying “I’m enlightened” feels like what a non-enlightened person would say.

I’m told Buddha awakened and said we were all awakened but didn’t know it.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe the gentleman at the event was right.

Maybe all you and I need to do is own our enlightenment.

I’ve often said that if you want to tell if you’re enlightened or not, go visit your family.

Your family knows your hot buttons.

They put most of them there.

If you can visit them for a week and still feel at peace in every moment, you may be enlightened.

Then again…

I love the question and offer it to you…

“What makes you think you are not enlightened?”

Well?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Check out Miracles Coaching right here.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

Later this year I’ll be releasing a new book titled, The Secret Prayer.

It will reveal a three-step formula for attracting miracles through right prayer.

Prayer is a way to activate the Law of Attraction by requesting an intention and inviting inspiration.

In researching, I’m reading really old books, such as Prayer: The Forgotten Secret, from 1906, and really new books, such as Healing Words by Larry Dossey and Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson.

From what I can see, prayer has been around since the beginning of time.

But as we all know, they don’t always seem to work.

So what’s the secret to having a prayer deliver?

Let’s look at incorrect prayer first:

First, I don’t think most people actually believe their prayers. They pray without any real belief that anyone is listening or anything will happen. They simply “toss” one to the sky, like a stranded person on an island throwing a note in a bottle into the ocean. They hope someone picks it up. Then they hope someone acts on their plea.

Second, desperation is the other problem. Most prayers are just begging. People pray for help, solutions, miracles, healing, money and more. But when they pray, it’s often because they don’t see a way out and are pleading for intervention.

Third, most people don’t take action. This is a common thing in the world of metaphysics. People think their praying is action, when it’s really an action, but not the entire blueprint to results.

Again, prayer is a way to activate the Law of Attraction by requesting an intention and inviting inspiration.

So what’s the right way to pray?

“When you put yourself into the state of the wish fulfilled and think from it, you are praying, and in a way your reasoning mind does not know, your wish will become a fact in your world. You can be the man or woman you want to be, when you know how to pray.”  – Neville, The Right Way to Pray, 1967 lecture, http://realneville.com/txt/the_secret_of_prayer.htm

Subliminal and Audible Prayers

First, begin with a spirit of gratitude.

To me, this is the core issue. If we all felt more gratitude for what we have, even the things we complain about, we’d shift our focus, our mind, our thoughts, our energies, our spirit, our direction, our action, and more. Gratitude for the now is the number one way to begin any prayer. When you sincerely do it and feel it, you can stop with this step, too. It’s that powerful.

Second, requesting rather than begging is wiser.

After all, we don’t know the big picture or the whole story. Begging for a certain outcome is an ego trip; it’s pretending we know it all. We don’t. We barely know a tiny percentage of what is happening in our personal world at any one time. A wiser approach is to make a request but acknowledge that something better may be more appropriate. End requests with the phrase, “This or something better.” This step requires faith.

Third, acting on the insights, inspiration, intuition.

We co-create results. The Higher Power (God, Divine, Universe, etc) works through you, not for you. When you see an opportunity, seize it. When you receive an inspiration, act on it. You are the missing ingredient in most results from prayer. The famous joke about the man who prayed to win the lottery but was reminded to buy a ticket, is good to remember.

“Prayer is the effort to bring the human soul into tune with the Infinite.” – W. J. Dawson, Prayer: The Forgotten Secret

My book will explore all this and more when it comes out later in the year. For now, I wanted to give you a crash course in prayer.

If you really want your prayers answered, then follow a proven formula:

1. Be grateful.

2. Detached request.

3. Inspired Action.

Try it today and note the difference.

Expect Miracles.

Ao Akua,

joe

Expect Miracles!

PS – If you have other pointers or stories about prayers that work, please let me know with a comment below. Thank you.

PPS – If you want to explore prayers and music, be sure to check out my latest album http://www.InvokingDivinity.com

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

Every month I answer questions from people in my Miracles Coaching program.

Been doing it for years.

The questions are always raw, in depth, fresh, sincere, and often surprising.

For example —

• How do I stay positive when people around me are negative?

• How do I discover my life purpose when I don’t know what I want?

• How do I attract money in this terrible economy?

• How do I attract my soul mate?

• How do I improve my self-image?

• How do I help others?

• What can I do when everything looks hopeless?

Every call is recorded, and the best of the questions and answers get put into a series of books called, The Miracles Manual. There are currently two volumes in the series with a third on the way. (All are free right here.)

Recently I had this question tossed at me —

“If you were forced to set all learning aside and could only teach one principle for the rest of your life – what one principle would host the most importance to you?”

“I can answer that question in only two words, ” I replied.

“Oh?”

Click image to get Vol 1 and Vol 2 free

“Active Gratitude.”

“Active Gratitude?”

I went on to say, “If each of us would practice gratitude in the moment, all worries would vanish, all problems would resolve, all miracles would come easily — in fact, if we really were in gratitude in the moment, we’d realize we are already happy, already peaceful, and already living the miracle.”

Active Gratitude means noticing the good in every moment. When you actually come from gratitude, you wouldn’t judge the moment as good or bad because you’d realize the jury isn’t in yet and so every moment can be seen as good.

Active Gratitude means you live in a spirit of thankfulness, realizing all you have right now is a gift and a miracle in itself.

Active Gratitude means your meditation is gratitude, your process is gratitude, and your “technique” is gratitude.

Active Gratitude means giving thanks in each moment for the moment.

If each of us practiced Active Gratitude, we’d change ourselves and the planet and probably invite instant enlightenment.

We’d realize that in each moment the Universe is giving us so much that we rarely acknowledge — It is keeping us alive without our paying or doing a thing — that we would feel overwhelmed with love.

Active Gratitude would open our eyes to see the miracle of right now.

And from practicing Active Gratitude, we would have raised our vibration so all we attract in the future moments would be better and better, always raising the bar on the incredible beauty of the now.

Why don’t we practice Active Gratitude?

We are afraid.

We subconsciously think some version of this belief:

“If I’m happy and accept this moment as good, I won’t do anything to make my life better.”

But is that true?

I’ve discovered that when I am happy, content, and at peace, I tend to pursue my calling, my life path, and my life mission.

When I lived in fear, desperation and survival, all I attracted was more of the same.

The secret door to escape the mental torment of suffering is to begin the practice of praising.

In other words, look around and find what you are thankful for, and express it.

Yes, if I was backed into a corner and told I could only teach one thing, it’d be Active Gratitude.

And I’d be grateful for that, too.

Any more questions?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Check out Miracles Coaching by clicking right here.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

I’m in the recording studio with Grammy nominated legend Ruthie Foster and award-winning singer and producer Daniel Barrett. We have joined forces to create an album together.

I’m flattered beyond belief that these two superstars want me on an album. After all, I’m relatively new to being a musician. And I’ve been a long time fan of both of them. To be in the studio with them is mind boggling.

I was so excited to record with them that I showed up for our first session thirty days early. (!)

But what’s really interesting is how we are all stretching ourselves.

For example —

Daniel Barrett, Ruthie Foster, and me

Ruthie is famous for her singing but not her lead guitar.

On our album, she is playing lead electric guitar.

Daniel does everything, from engineering to singing and more, but he doesn’t play the drums. Or at least didn’t.

On this album, he does.

I’m a newbie to music and don’t have all that much experience doing anything (even though I’ve released eight albums in over three years). I certainly am brand new and uncomfortable on the saxophone.

On this album, I am playing a baritone saxophone.

What’s going on here?

Ruthie Foster stretching

Each of us is stretching out of our comfort zones.

Why?

How?

When you stretch your comfort zone, you reach a new level of comfort and confidence.

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” – Robert Browning

When Daniel, Ruthie and I go into the studio, we talk, share, joke, and play. Out of our openness, we come up with songs. Out of our willingness to take risks, and exceed our comfort zones by pursing our desires, we create new possibilities.

The result is magic.

And some pretty cool music.

This is an important lesson for each of us.

You have “comfort zone limits,” too.

When you find them and nudge them a bit, you extend your power and attract new results.

We aren’t doing daredevil stuff in the studio.

When you look in the mirror, what do you hear?

We are taking what we haven’t done before but want to do, and focusing on making something happen by doing it.

We are simply following our inspiration and taking action to create something new.

Yes, there is often fear involved, but we feel the fear and do it, anyway.

We turn the fear into fuel.

Here’s an example —

One day, while Ruthie was playing lead electric guitar (and truly wowing me at it), I received an idea for a song.

I jotted it down.

As she kept playing, I started singing the song in my head.

The lyrics and her melody seemed to work together.

When she was done playing, I did something daring.

I said, “I want to sing!”

This was a huge move on my part.

Singing at all, any time, any place, has been a challenge for me.

I’m new at it.

I’ve been insecure about it.

And to sing for Ruthie Foster — one of the best singers I’ve ever heard in my entire life — was a courageous even outrageous thing to suggest.

Even though Ruthie had mentioned just the day before, “I like your singing, Joe. You can sing with me if you want,” I didn’t feel ready to leave my comfy mindset and step into her arena.

But.

But I wanted to push out of my comfort zone.

My heart was racing but I knew I had to do this.

Daniel and Ruthie are loving and supportive, and urged me on.

After all, each of us was doing something new.

We were all stretching.

So I took a deep breath, got in front of the mike, and belted out my tune.

After I sang, Daniel said, “That was some of the best singing I’ve ever heard out of you.”

Really?

Adding Bari Sax

I looked over at Ruthie and she was beaming a sunny smile and nodding her head in agreement.

It was amazing.

Daniel’s drumming, Ruthie’s lead guitar, my vocals — it was a stretch for each of us but it all came together into a powerful new song that will be on our forthcoming first album.

And that song will probably be titled, “Stretch Yourself!”

All I’m reminding you here is do what you fear.

If you have a dream but feel nervous about it, that’s good.

It means you care.

The next step is to get up and do something about it.

Your comfort zones are invisible lines in your mind.

You can melt them with a little stepping forth.

I’m packing up my baritone saxophone and heading back to the studio right now.

It’s time for Saxman Joe to do his thing.

What are you going to do today to stretch yourself?

Ao Akua,

Saxman Joe

PS — Ruthie Foster told me she got an “Aha!” from listening to my song, ‘Reflection,’ off my latest singer-songwriter album of the same name. You can hear samples of all the tracks on that album and grab the CD (which comes with a collectible, limited edition booklet, and with a surprise gift) over at http://www.ReflectionCD.com

BONUS: If you’ve never heard Ruthie Foster sing, watch this…

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

Last week I completed my fourth consecutive physical transformation challenge!

I wrote about the previous ones over the last year and a half.* All have been under the guidance of Body for Life fitness legend Bill Phillips, and his wife Maria, with personal coaching from Scott York.

The results have been spectacular!

I'm an athlete!

I’ve released about 60 pounds, packed on about 15 pounds of muscle, dropped at least one pants size, lost several inches off my waist, have made daily exercise my new habit, have a new eating plan, and feel like a new man.

While it’s taken commitment, persistence, and lots of perspiration, I have done it and am continuing to do it. I feel younger and stronger than ever.

I’m the new Hercules! (Or maybe one representing AARP.)

AARP's Hercules

Working on age 61, I may be in the best shape of my life since I was a teenager in high school training to become the world heavyweight boxing champion. (It was 1970 and I was so young.)

I don’t want you to think it was a breeze to get here, though.

During the last twelve week challenge, I found myself slipping.

I wrote the following for myself and the others in the same challenge as me:

A message to all those who have stalled or stopped…

Recently I had to reactivate my intention, goal, and purpose.

After being in three programs, and eight weeks into my fourth one, I started to get comfy. I looked back and realized I had released 50 pounds, added 15 pounds of muscle, dropped a pant size, made exercise a locked in habit, and heard praise from people like my personal doctor, who says he has known me for 15 years and has never seen me look so healthy.

I figured I had achieved a “good enough” stage of fitness.

Somewhere in there I got relaxed and let my eating slide. I never pigged out, but I’d give in to temptation now and then. It’s easy to do, as I live in a test kitchen and my wife is on deadline with her cookbook. Foods are everywhere and so is the hypnotic scent of fresh baked meals. Even though it’s grain-free and sugar-free, it still has calories. It still counts. I’d eat a little anyway.

I didn’t think much of it.

But then I took my 8 week photos and scale weight.

Shit.

I didn’t like that there was no change AT ALL.

I felt like a failure.

That’s when I had to regroup and recommit.

To me, motivation (mindset) is more important than ANYTHING else. When you have made a decision and commit to it, nothing will stop you. Any diet will work. Any exercise will work. Of course, what Bill and Maria teach is the best. But without mindset, you (or I) won’t do anything. We will simply give in to whims and temptations and instant gratification.

So I reviewed my goals and decided I was NOT going to stop or stall.

I thought about the payoffs for being even slimmer, stronger, and healthier: increased self esteem and inner power, inspiration to others and myself in the world, the chance of accomplishing something BIG in the area of fitness, etc.

I recommitted to my 12-week goal and my lifetime goal.

Instantly I felt better.

By the next morning I felt renewed strength.

My workouts, which have always been intense, are even more on target.

When my wife offered me a dessert she just made, I politely said no. She didn’t bat an eye and honored my decision.

Right now I’m wearing a muscle shirt. It’s tight, so my stomach shows, but so do my biceps. And they are something to behold.

I’m posting this to remind each of us that we CAN achieve our health goals. It begins with a decision, and then ongoing commitment to it, and every day action. Having support (which we have here) is priceless, as big dreams are easier when you have people rooting you on.

I’m back on track.

Join me?

After I shared the above, I made a decision and turned on the afterburners to my commitment to fitness.

I completed the challenge.

The results speak for themselves.

I don’t know what your own personal goals are, but I’m pretty sure you can achieve them, too.

Why not go for it?

Expect Miracles!

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – I fully endorse Bill Phillips. I am not an affiliate for anything he offers (he doesn’t know I’m writing this) but I fully recommend all of it. For more details, see  http://www.transformation.com/ or send an email to [email protected]

* My previous posts about Bill Phillips and my Transformation progress:

March 1 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-on-demand/

May 16 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-update/

October 22, 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-part-three/

May 1, 2014: http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-part-4/