Do We Really Want Change?

Written By Don Shetterly

These days I see people pushing one movement or another.  I look at where we are told to "stand up to this issue" or "prevent this issue" or "bring awareness to an issue."  But yet, I wonder if we really want to change.

We give lip service that we do.  We fill our Twitter and Facebook feeds with it, but then our actions portray just the opposite.   Please don't mistake this blog post as being a political one, because it is much bigger than that. I am more focused on mind body health and healing.

I've written some blog posts about intense and difficult subjects.  These are often about the things that everyone wants to stop, prevent, change or bring about through awareness.  Yet, when I share those online, the click rate to the blog post is barely existent.

It appears that we want to help change the world and bring awareness, prevention, or support, but we really don't want to do much more than that.  So, I have to question, do we really want change?

I know... I know..  Everyone will say of course we want change.  Of course we care about our issues, but unfortunately, actions speak louder.  If all you're willing to do is retweet or like or share the fact that you are raising awareness, does that go far enough?  In my view, I don't believe that it does.

I don't even believe it means we have to protest or sign petitions.  I'm not convinced that those always bring about the change we need.  We may think we do, and there may be some evidence of it, but does it really do what we think it does?  To me, it feels more like screaming and boiling water than actually doing something.

After all, if you want to change the world, it begins with each one of us.  It doesn't start by beating someone else over the head to see the world the way we do.  It doesn't begin with bullying someone into believing the way we do.  It starts with how we change our own lives in this world.

It isn't just a thought process in what we think and believe.  From deep within the core of the mind and body, it radiates out energetically as a vibration.  What is genuinely within us is shown to the world.  We may not be conscious of it.  We may not be aware of it, but it is on display.

Do we really want change?  If we do, we'll support conscious behavior that helps others heal.  We will quit focusing on the latest trending story of the day and look beyond to a bigger picture.  If we really want change, we'll start by examining ourselves from the deepest parts, not from our belief system.

I'm not going to stop writing about the hard and challenging subjects.  People may stay in the clouds and not read these things.  That is their choice, but I'm not going to sit by silently.  I'm not going to watch others be abused and remain silenced.

This blog and everything I write is about pushing us beyond our comfort zone.  It is about challenging our beliefs and opinions and current awareness.  I strive to get people who read this blog to think about everything more and in a different light.

We are following a dangerous path in this world, and we really need to ask the hard questions.  I'll leave you with this question one last time:  Do we really want change?  If we do, it must begin with each one of us.  Let our mind body health and healing start within our own continued awareness of what is possible.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Be A Positive Force In This World

Written By Don Shetterly

My heart is sad when it comes to the events going on across our country and the world.  This is not about politics, and if you think it is, you're sorely mistaken.  If you know me at all, you know that I do not subscribe to what the masses say on any level.

I see people that are so angry and so hurt.  I see people that are asleep and numb and disconnected.  I see individuals who view others as the enemy, not as humans walking this same planet.  It pains me.  It hurts me.  I weep, and yet my tears do no good.

There is far too much hate and too little love.  There is far too much judgment and too little understanding.  We stand opposed, rather than united to journey through our lives to discover more about who we are.

I'm perplexed because everyone points the fingers at each other.  We exclaim that we know what is best and all others are stupid, dumb, or irrelevant.  We fail to listen to each other while we scream how worthless all others are.

We hold out to the world just how enlightened we are and righteous and good.  We hold out to the world that we are superior and we know all.  We hold out to the world we are peace loving and conscious.  Yet, our actions contradict our every word.

If We Do Not Find Peace Within...

If we do not find peace within ourselves, we will not find it throughout the world.  If we do not learn to accept ourselves, the world will never accept us.  If we see others as stupid or idiotic or misguided and wrong, the rest of the world will see us in that way.

It does not matter what the world proclaims.  It matters more what you feel and think and believe on the inside.  If you want peace, it must first begin within you.  If you want love throughout the world, it must first begin within you.  If you want others to accept you as a valid human, you must first accept others in the same way.

We're at a crossroads I believe in humanity and either we keep heading down into the darkness of the world where there is no peace, or we rise above it all.  It is solely up to each one of us, but it isn't just words.  It is action that backs up our words.  It is action that shows what truly is in our mind, body, soul, and heart.

Let us be a force for positive change by changing our lives in a way that shows what love and peace are to the world.  This blog post is about taking a hard look at who we are as individuals and seeing what role we truly play in the world.

I implore you.  I beg you as the reader to help make a positive difference through taking stock of your own life.  I'm attempting to do the same.  Together we will make it further in this harsh world, rather than divided where we will not stand.

Let's stop pointing the fingers.  Let's cease to be part of the cycle of hate.  Instead, let our lives show love so brightly that it will take over the darkness.

I love this video because I believe it says so much.  It is Matisyahu singing and performing "One Day."  The words speak volumes.

Follow Me On

• Twitter:  @MindBodyThought

• Facebook:   MindBodyThoughts

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Forked Tongues and Authenticity

I grew up in a home where we were told one thing and yet witnessed something totally different by that individual.  It was commonplace for people to speak with forked tongue.

Often these same people that railed against doublespeak were the ones that did it the most.  There was no authenticity, even though they believed that they were authentic.  They felt that what they told others was what mattered, not what they practiced in their own life.

I see this playing out in almost every minute of our day.  Whether it is in politics, on the TV, or online, I hardly see "authenticity" showing up.  Yes, everyone thinks that it is the other person that does this, not them.  How foolish we are!

Like Judge Judy, I'm one of those people that can spot a liar a million miles away (or should I say someone that is not authentic.)  It takes me a split second.  Okay, maybe liar is a little too strong of a word here, but if your words don't match up with what I know about you or if they don't match up with your body language, I'm rolling my eyes.

The online inauthentic people...

Even when it comes to online, I can generally spot the "inauthentic" people quickly and I become wary of anything they say.  They often rail against certain things in life and those same things consume everything they share on social media.  Yet, they often do the very things they despise.

I quit watching the news years ago because it is nowhere near authentic.  I don't understand why anyone watches it these days and I mean "ANY" news.  Everyone goes to their corner of what they believe is true and the news media backs it up.  It isn't necessarily one side or the other on most issues.  It happens on both sides.  There is no authenticity in it whatsoever because it is so often for entertainment purposes.

Inauthentic Marketing...

Let's not forget the ones that equate marketing with spamming, trying to get you to buy their stuff even if it doesn't pass the sniff test.  Marketing these days has become a barrage of waste material constantly thrown at us.  It is not about what the person needs.  It is more about just shoving it down everyone's throat.  There is no authenticity in marketing these days.  It is cloaked in the forked tongue.

There are so many ways we speak with forked tongues but if you try to point that out, no one wants to truly listen.  If they listen, they don't always want to change.  We'd rather point the fingers at others than go in and do what we need to do to help make ourselves human.

I think that if you are authentic, it will show through.  You don't have to grandstand and prove to others you are authentic.  You just need to live your life through authenticity.  When you no longer speak with forked tongue, people will know they can trust what you say.  Whether that is online or in politics or the media and marketing, people will know it when they hear it.

I realize we live in a fake reality these days, but if we don't start turning the ship around and learning how to be human by being authentic, we're going to hit the iceberg and sink.  It isn't up to anyone else to do what needs to be done.  It is up to each one of us individually to take stock of our own life and make the changes necessary for the survival of this planet and our species.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Moderation For The Mind Body

How many times do we just over-indulge?  If you say you don't, then I'll send you a nice, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.  Oh wait, that might not be the healthiest thing.  *smile*   Unfortunately as much as we think we do life in moderation, evidence suggests the complete opposite is true.

Moderation for the mind body is essential to our health and well-being.  It helps us run efficiently in our day.  It keeps our body operating for the long-term. Moderation helps us balance the psychological and biological stresses of the day with peace, joy, and contentment.

So, let's ask the question again.  How many times do we just over-indulge in life?

It could be with the candy and cookies that someone at work puts out.  Maybe its the extra portion of food at the restaurant or the super-sizing of those fries and drink.  Heck, it could just be that instead of really needing to tack on the extra "value size meal", we instead say no to all the stuff we don't need.

Buying the smaller size...

Maybe we're just going for a soda (or soft drink) and instead of buying the smaller one, the large bottle is a good deal.  We don't think anything of it, and we tell ourselves that we are saving money, while in reality, we just don't really need to drink that much.

Maybe we're sitting at the restaurant and instead of showing some restraint, we go for that extra food serving.  After all, we're eating out and so that's a special thing.  We can do it just this once, we tell ourselves.  Unfortunately that "ONCE" quickly and easily becomes a habit.

Maybe instead of that super extra large sugar flavored coffee, you go with the small size.  Maybe instead of the coffee or supersized soft drink, you grab a glass of water first.  These little changes can help you change your life in some dramatic ways.

Exercise and physical activity...

Another way we might indulge stress in our life is forgetting to spend time exercising.  If exercising sounds like a dirty word to you, get some activity in your day.  It doesn't have to be extreme.  Maybe a walk at lunch for 15 minutes or one when you get home could be a big boost in your day.  Maybe take the steps back up to your office, rather than the elevator.  Its the little things that add up.  You could even park a little ways out in the store parking lot and get some extra steps in.

There are things that we just don't do for the mind and body and so we indulge behavior that is not helpful.  Regular massages, vacations, relaxation and times to just stop in our life, help us from indulging in poor behavior that will only lead to health issues.

Sometimes moderation for the Mind and Body can be just what the doctor ordered.  Sometimes, its that few bites of food, or the discovering the importance of daily activity that make the difference.  We are a sedentary society and it is showing in health conditions from heart disease to diabetes.

There are so many things that we can do to bring balance and moderation to the mind body that cost very little and are not hard to do.  I can only write and encourage you to do like I'm doing.  I'm working to find moderation in the things I consume and increasing my own daily activity with walks at the park. 

Don't wait until your doctor says that your blood results require immediate action.  Don't wait until your doctor is writing out a prescription to help "mask" the failure to find moderation in your mind and body.

Simply changing things in your daily activity, portion control and beginning to be mindful of what you take into your body can bring life changing improvements.  We only have on body, so lets see if we can find a way to take care of it.  The more we take care of it, the more it will be there for us.

Let's work at finding balance in a crazy world.

#Healthy

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Lets Move Forward

This is the day of the year that everyone pauses to reflect upon their life.  Well, at least many people do this on New Year's Day.  Unfortunately, the majority of New Years Resolutions don't last and are forgotten within a few weeks of making them.  So, let's look at this differently this year.

Yes, it is good to reflect upon your life and see it for what it is.  What areas are you doing well at?  Give yourself a pat on the back.  What areas are you doing poorly at?  How can you start doing something today that will impact your weak areas?

It isn't just about physical activity, although that seems to be one of the main ones.  It could be about how you deal with stress or maybe the lack of dealing with stress in life.  No, dealing with stress is not about drinking alcohol.  It's learning how to go in and let go of those moments that build up in a day.  To ignore them, it not dealing with it.  Sorry, if that bursts your thought bubble.  Sometimes a thought bubble needs to be burst though.

Have you confronted them...

Sometimes there are things that we've been through in our life.  For some, it seems like they get an extra dosage of moments that they would love to forget.  If you have those moments, how are you dealing with those?  Have you looked at them and confronted them?  Are you healing them and moving forward in life?

It is easy to say we've healed everything in our life, but often we are just disconnecting and numbing to all that we find difficult to deal with from our past.  Hey, we've all got issues to work on and that's part of being human.  To deny and ignore them doesn't get you too far though.  Take it from someone that had to learn the hard way through Conversion Disorder.

How can we move forward...

Maybe instead of making grandiose New Year's Resolutions today, let's take a look and see how we can move forward.  What is the most pressing issue?  What one thing can you do starting today to make a change and improve your life?  How will you do this?  Who will help keep you accountable and encourage you?  How likely and how willing are you to do this?

Most people need at minimum, three months to make a behavior change in their life.  It may take up to six months to lock the behavior change in so it becomes a part of your life.  Sometimes you need a health coach or trusted friend to help you through this that will keep you motivated.

If we repeat the same things...

For years, we have often done some unhealthy behaviors that have created our life as we know it.  The only thing is, if we keep repeating these things, we're going to get the same result.  You can't expect a different outcome by doing the same thing over.

So, here's my offer to you.  If you know you need to work on things in your life, let me help you move forward.  No, I'm not offering this for any compensation at this moment.  This offer is free and its on the table.  I just became a certified health coach and am trying to figure out how to implement what I've learned.  I'll accept the first 5 people that contact me totally free and without charge.  I'm looking for people are ready to change.

Let's move forward together.  Contact me by email and we'll work on some questions and plans and then I'll help be your encouragement.  I'll help be the cheer leader for what you want to accomplish.  Don't contact me, if you're not ready to change because that would just waste my time and yours.  I don't mean that to sound harsh as I'm trying to protect and honor my time effectiveness.

Together and united we can move forward.  Sometimes on our own, we're not always strong enough, but with the help of someone in our corner, we can do great things.  I hope to hear from you.  All emails are confidential of course.

Here's to a great New Year of moving forward in life!

#MovingForward

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Change Is More Than Just Your Thoughts

I read things online that make my head spin around a few times.  Great sounding statements that are put out there as something of life-changing universal value, but are lacking in the completely thought-out department.

Yes, I know we can choose to change our thoughts.  I know that what we think creates us.  I know that thoughts are very powerful in how we move forward or we don't.  My life has experienced this firsthand in some pretty difficult moments.

The only thing is, the thought I keep seeing online suggest that you can just wake up, change the thought and poof it is all 100% magically better.  Maybe they don't mean it to come across that way, but it does.  Maybe they think that "thought" alone is the key to everything, but is that the whole story?

You see, we are so unconscious in our days.  We think we are aware, but that's the story that unconsciousness tells.  It is what convinces us that we are truly more awakened then we are.  The ego loves that.  The self likes to proclaim this.

Unfortunately, we are unconscious.  We are numb and disconnected.  We are not aware of what is truly going on in our mind and body.  There are so many tapes playing over and over in our head as if we're just taking a breath without thinking about it.

So, when we say we can choose our thoughts to change our life, I would not disagree.  However, that's only part of the story.  We've chosen to disregard the rest of the story.

The only way to unearth that unconscious tapes that play in our head (the thoughts we don't see or account for), is to go in deep within the mind and the body.  No, it isn't the mind only.  This is a deep mind and body centered moment.  It has been written and taught about since the ancient times of our planet, but few dare to travel into these worlds.

Instead we focus on stating happy thoughts.  We focus on telling others what they should know so they move on.  We look at the world through simplistic eyes, rather than seeing the big picture.  That is what unconsciousness does.  It is a silly and insidious voice.  It is a trickster.

There is more to life, than just being part of the status quo of regurgitated content and happy thought practices.  There is more to life than boiling it down into one size fits all.  It is complex.  We are complex.

Because we are complex, we often hide from knowing our conscious thought.  It often involves some hard work to go into those deep dark closets and clean them out.  It is often easier for us to just numb and disconnect and avoid them.  It takes courage to truly know thyself.

At the end of the day, let your thoughts be filled with consciousness.  It is an ongoing process that the world needs, not a one-size fits all approach.  It is a moment where we realize we aren't all we need to be, but if we step forward, we will discover much more than we knew existed.

Thoughts can and do change our lives, but thoughts connected with consciousness and love are a million times more powerful.  These thoughts truly get the essence of life and when the essence of life is understood, there is no stopping personal growth and change.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

We Fail To Look At Our Own Faults

Attention all humans, this blog post may make all of us a little uncomfortable.  In my view, that's okay because sometimes we need to be challenged a little bit.  We need to be pushed out of our comfort zone.  I promise though, I'll do it with love and ease and compassion.

One of the things I grew up with was living in a house where we criticized others.  Other people weren't good enough.  They didn't do things right.  They weren't righteous enough.  They weren't smart enough or nice enough.  They just didn't measure up.

In fact, even within the house, there was always someone in the doghouse because they weren't good enough or didn't follow directions and commands as dictated by my father and God almighty.  If you didn't measure up, you were shunned, pushed aside and ridiculed.

Today in our society, I see far too often where we point the fingers at other people, but we hold ourselves up as we are better than others.  Whether it is politics or religion or in our little society clicks, we tend to do this.  We see the stick in our brother's eye but we don't see the log in our own eye.

We go on social media or we join in causes pointing out just how bad the "others" are in our society.  We proclaim how unenlightened and stupid they are.  We proclaim how they are like sheep.  We create conspiracy theories to prove our points.  We have our facts as we know them to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are right and others are wrong.

Yet, we don't stop and look at ourselves.  I'm not talking about other people who don't stop and look at themselves.  I'm talking about each one of us, myself included.  We find their faults, but we see our life as perfect.  We find their faults, but we fail to even begin to understand the work we need to do on ourselves.

It is epidemic and it increases more with each day that goes by.  It is sad because when we point the finger of blame and accusation while holding ourselves up on a pedestal, it is then that we have lost site of what it means to be human.  We have lost the love that we proclaim we have.  We have lost the compassion and respect for others which we think we have.

It isn't up to any leader, political or religious or others, to change this.  This change has to start within us, even if we think it should start in others.  This change has to begin in our life.  It needs to be from the core and depth of our being, not just from the words we speak but with action.

If we want this world to prosper for all and to continue, we must begin changing ourselves.  Our change must not be dependent upon what others tell us to think or what they do.  In order to grow as an individual, it becomes a necessity to change ourselves.

We can and we do impact and influence this world.  Unfortunately in these times, it seems like more negativity is being spewed on social media and in our casual acquaintances than ever before.  Surely we can do better than this.  Surely we can be more than we are.  Before we all run off the cliff hanging on to our own beliefs, may we wake up and heed the warning lights.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Learning To Let Go In The Healing Process

Healing is about learning to let go and every time we go into the process, the body and mind (all the old fear patterns and tapes that play) don't want to give up control.  It is the old self - the ego part of us that says - no way - I'm going to stay in control.

These toxic parts and old tapes desire for us to keep everything in place, even if it is the most toxic thing for our lives.  These parts have a strong desire to survive even though they may be hurting us at the same time.  Deep healing takes us into those moments and it can become a tug-of-war.  The trick is allowing it to happen in the way that it is unfolding. 

I know I fought it in the beginning and wanted everything fixed now.  I was frustrated at times that everything wasn't magically better.  However, just like then, I'm still learning what it truly means to surrender into the moment I am at in my life.  It is such a part of being human and living the human experience.  What healing is trying to do is take us beyond our current moment and when we go beyond that, it begins to change internal things from the inside out.

Sometimes those changes take time...

Sometimes those changes happen overnight.  Sometimes those changes take time.  It is a process...  and the process will continue to unfold as far as we allow it.  I go through this too just like many others do.  Its not easy to walk into the darkness of the unknown.

One therapist repeated to me many times, the following thought which I found very useful.  I know that sounds simplistic, but it is the essence of what all this is about.

When we step into the darkness of the unknown, one of two things will happen.  We will either be given wings and taught to fly or we will have something solid to stand on. 

The fears are powerful.  There is no denying that.  I remember one healer talking about "negative pleasures".  Even if something is negative or harmful in our life, there is often a part that we are too afraid to give up.  We want to hold on to it because that is all we know to do.   It was our method of survival when the trauma was taking place.  To give it up and find the peace and healing is part of the lesson.  It is the part that helps us find out what we need to learn.

I still remember one time that I was struggling with a rash that would not go away.  Dr. Canali looked at me and said, "are you ready to let go?"  At first, I thought I was, but as I started to get angry and upset, I realized in the session that I was not ready to let go of it.  I feared that if I let go, I wouldn't survive. I wouldn't make it.  I wouldn't know what was beyond that which I was experiencing.  It was all that I knew and as if someone was asking me to cut off my leg or arm.  It was a struggle to understand that.

Healing is about learning to let go but it is a process.  It is a process that has to unfold and the more we stand in the way of it, the more we hold it back.  It is not a race to the finish line, but an awareness of all that we are.  Through that awareness and consciousness, we heal and become more than we are today.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Tired Of The Things People Do?

Are you tired of the things people do?  Are you tired of how they behave in ways that you find reprehensible?  Do you think others just don't live in life the way you think they should?

Maybe you think they should change and they don't.  Maybe you think they should live a life in the way you see it, but they continue to do things that displease you and upset you.  Maybe they believe in things you don't and you think they are wrong, or they take actions that you find totally upsetting. 

Here's the secret to getting people to change.  If you want people to change, then don't criticize them.  Don't tell them how wrong they are.  Don't scream that they know nothing and you know what is best for them.  Don't hold your ideals and beliefs as the true source of information calling everyone else stupid.  Don't say you love all people and then show nothing but hatred and contempt through your words and actions.

Focus on changing yourself first...

If you want people to change, focus on changing yourself first.  They might be mirroring what they see in you.  They may look up to you and if you act a certain way, that may become the teacher for their own life.  Focus on changing yourself first and then watch what happens to those around you.

If you want people to change, allow them to be who they are.  Allow them to be in the moment of their life where they are discovering themselves and learning and growing.  If you inject criticism into their process, you might very likely be stopping them from changing.

Stop trying to force your way of thinking...

If you want people to change, stop trying to force them into your way of thinking.  There is a good chance that you might not be 100% right either and will need to adjust your thinking in the future.  There is a possibility that someone you want to change may already have arrived at that spot a little early.

If you want people to change, give them the ability to feel loved without judgment in your presence.  Let them know that you love them no matter what and no matter how many times they feel they screwed up or stumbled.  Let them know that your love for them is without judgement.  It will get the best results.

Changing other people begins by changing ourselves.  You will get much further in changing others, when you have changed how you think, feel, and see.  Criticizing others will bring absolutely little real change.  It only sows disharmony.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

It's Easy To Point Your Finger

We all do it.  Yes, we do.  We all do it.  No matter how much you don't think you do, there's that one ounce of a probability that you do.  It's easy to point your finger at others.

Whether it is politics and how we respond or how someone looks or acts or behaves.  Whether it is those that don't measure up to our standards or irritate the daylights out of us at every turn, we point our fingers at them.  Whether it is those that don't believe like we do and we feel are lost or those that share differing opinions, we point our fingers at them.

Sharing things online...

It is easy to point your finger at others while declaring you know all and have all the answers.  It may be labels that you use towards one another, or how you think they are so lost and will never see the light of day.  It may be the way you share things online that become nothing more than pointing your finger at another person.

While skepticism and disagreement can be healthy, we have gotten to the point these days that we hold on to a mentality of "you are either with us or against us".  There is no happy medium.  There is no middle ground.  It is either one way or no way.   If you need evidence of that, just spend 5 minutes on Facebook or Twitter and it should become quite clear.

We don't listen to others...

We don't welcome the opinions of others although we often claim we do.  We don't listen to others like we think we actually do.  We are too busy telling others how to think, what to do, how to believe, and which thing they should follow.  We are too busy telling people the solution to their problem that we don't even bother to listen to their problem first and understand it.

I grew up in a church and a home where we criticized everyone that didn't think the way we thought.  If they believed differently in our church, they were going to hell.  If they didn't do things and act the way we thought, they were just wrong.  There was no adherence to understanding or tolerance.  We sought out people and churches and organizations that made it okay to point the fingers at others. That was how our family operated.

Disgust, rather than listening...

Our society is the same way.  Every day, too many look at others with disgust, rather than sitting down and listening.  We rant and rave and scream how stupid or idiotic others are.  If we don't do it online by our shares and likes, it is often in our private thoughts.

How strong will our civilization and world be if we continue down this path?  How much do we really care for others, if all we can do it focus on the things that we cannot stand about each other?  What does it truly say about how we see ourselves, if all we can see are the perceived faults and deficiencies in one another?

(click image to read)

The government cannot change it.  Our leaders and ministers can't change this.  This is something that each one of us needs to search our hearts and really open our eyes to what we do.  It is something that not everyone else needs to change, but each one of us individually.  If you think it is everyone else that has the problem, it is within your own heart that you need to change first.

I'm no different.  I try to accept everyone, but there are those that are screaming at the top of their lungs that can make me cringe.  I want to point my finger at them and say, "how dare you?"  How can you say these things.  Yet, if I expect them to listen to me, then I need to be able to listen to them without judgment and condemnation.

It isn't easy.  If you think it is, find the person that irritates you the most and see if you can sit with them for a day and not condemn or judge them.  I don't mean, play like you can, but really go deep within your own soul and don't point your finger at them.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

The Shock Of The Orlando Massacre

I'm numb.  I can't focus.  I want to cry.  I do cry. I can't cry enough.  My heart aches for all those in this horrible massacre.

I'm afraid to go out.  I'm afraid that others might think I'm gay and shoot me.  I want to hide.  I want to sleep.  My heart aches for all those in this horrible Orlando Massacre. 

How do I make sense of this?  One individual wants me to blame a group of people.  Another individual says, "no, blame this!"  Yet, others are quick to tweet and judge and pronounce condemnation on the world, on a country, on religion, on gays or whatever else they think it is.  They are all experts of course, in their own minds.  Yet, their logic has hid under a rock.

Everyone wants to help, donate, make a difference - and that is good.  Yet, no act you can do seems like it is enough.  No amount of money can make up for the pain you feel watching all those who went through things that are hard to imagine.

We become angry...

We become angry at the shooter.  We become angry at those who minimize, or we blame the ones that are suffering.  What kind of God delights in punishing a group of people in this way, as some off-balance religious people would say?  I'm not going to give them their self-gratifying sense of ego by glorifying the name of these religious zealots. 

We blame ourselves.  We blame everyone.  Yet, blame is never enough.  Yet, blame will never heal, but we have more than plenty of it.

We cry out for change...

We cry out and hope for change, but yet we do nothing.  We cry out that things must change, but they seldom do.  We cry out for the our friends we will never see again, but yet it feels like the forces against making this right are more concerned with lining their pockets with cash, than they are about making something happen.

We go through our day as zombies, thinking about all those lives which were taken in a second;  the remaining tweets, the last videos and the last voicemails.  That is all that's left - beside our memories.  They were our sons, daughters, lovers, partners, husbands, wives, friends, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.  They are now gone. Nothing will bring them back. 

What's next?

What's next?  No one can say!  Where do we go from here?  No one knows.  How do we begin to heal?  That is difficult question to answer.

The foundation for many gays has been shaken in the shock of a massacre.  Is it safe for gays to live in this world or will others be killed just for being who they are?  The only crime these people committed was loving life and having fun while being themselves.  One hateful and judgmental ignorant fool made that determination because of his own beliefs and from that which he had been taught.   It almost looks like he did it to please his father but I could be wrong.  That's only speculation, not fact.

The shock of a massacre doesn't just go away.  It will be with the Orlando community for a long time.  It will permeate every area of life and become a hidden poison locked away in the minds and bodies of those left behind.  It is part of the LGBT legacy now.

Yes, we can and will find ways to heal, but it comes at a price.  It comes at a price that was too high.  The price is raised every time we hear the political grandstanding of the day.

Together we will make it...

Together is the way we will make it through this.  Together as we look out for one another and feel the love and companionship we all share, may our hearts not close with bitterness to all people.  May the pain we feel, not only be replaced with a new awareness of life, but motivate us to remember in ways we cannot imagine.  May those ways be positive for the world.

Let us not forget that this process will not end tomorrow.  It will not end next week.  It may never fully end, but in all things, let us remind ourselves that we have to take care of ourselves.  We have to reach out when we need to, because this pain is great and no one should have to bear it alone.

May this Orlando community become stronger and may we stand up against the hate and intolerance and religious judgmental fools of our day.

To leave everyone reading this with something that I find helpful to do, please read "The Importance Of Breathing" or click the image below.  It is something that we forget in times like these.

The Importance Of Breathing (click image)

Please feel free to leave your comments below if you want.  Keep them respectful as I do moderate all comments. 

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

Power To Change Our Mind And Body

Its far to easy to think we can't!   It is far to easy to think the odds are stacked against us.  All too often, we don't believe in the power to change our lives.  We think that to change requires a drug, surgery, device or new age cure.

Yes, there are times when these things are may be necessary, but many times we have not exhausted our options.  We fall for the "fear" of having to do "something" to treat whatever condition we have.  We fall for the fear of listening to the hype in the media or online of how to find some substance and cure to treat ourselves.

All too often, we chase after the placebos and yet we don't even realize it.  We look to outside sources and we look to the modern day miracle cures as if they were our only salvation.  Yet, we do not stop to look within and tap into the natural healing power we posses.

We may think we aren't smart enough or not talented enough to do this.  We may think that this only applies to a special few.  We may think it is just new age mumble jumble and only God heals us if we're good enough.

Our bodies strive for health and balance.  We have many biological processes that help us maintain homeostasis in the body.  When we input stress constantly, we disrupt the balance.  When we carry around the baggage of a lifetime, we disrupt the balance.

When we inject substances into our bodies, one part of our biological system is helped while another is short-circuited.  In that moment, we force our body to find a way to bring us back to homeostasis.  Instead of working to balance out that which is not working, we introduce yet another entity that now the body will need to overcome.

There are far too many cure-all substances out there that get pushed every day.  Many are not backed up by science and some that are, were done in research studies with so much bias that they are no different.  It does not stop anyone from pushing the drugs, miracle cures and unnecessary stopgap measures.

We have far more power in us to do that which is laughed at in modern society.  We chase too many nonexistent rainbows when all we need to do is believe in the power we have to change our mind and our body.

---

Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

---

The Caterpillar And The Butterfly

The day was like any other day.   The birds were chirping and soaring through the bright blue sky.  The little caterpillar was slowly trudging along the ground through the bright green grass.  The sun was shining down warmth upon the earth.

The little caterpillar noticed the beautiful butterflies flying here and there through the flowers and vegetation.  They seemed to go at ease and have no cares in this world.  "It wasn't like they needed to worry about getting stepped on like I do" the caterpillar thought to himself.

Finally after watching this for a significant part of the day, the caterpillar called out to the beautiful orange butterfly circling around.  "How do you soar and fly like that? he asked.  "Do what?" she asked.

The caterpillar cleared his throat and amplified his voice asking one more time, "How do you soar like that?"

The butterfly responded, "It is actually very easy, but you must first become a butterfly to fly like we do."

Perplexed, the caterpillar said, "I would like to become a butterfly.  I will do anything to fly like you do and enjoy a world far above my view.  Do I just make an affirmation and believe it is so?"

The butterfly explained to the caterpillar exactly what she meant.  She explained that he would have to surrender his existence into a cocoon and leave all that he knows.  He would completely transform from the shape and form he was now, into a butterfly.  Once he did this, he would not resemble anything that he is today and he would not be able to go back to this life that is his.

The caterpillar was confused.  How could he transform into something that he was not, and he wondered if it would be painful.  What would happen if he surrendered into this new form to become a butterfly?  All he had known was the life that he now lived crawling around on the ground.

The butterfly went on to explain that even though the change may seem difficult and confusing and it may not make complete sense, it is the only way for a caterpillar to become a butterfly.  It is a marvelous transformation, but the only way to find out is to surrender and let go of the life that you know.  It doesn't happen overnight, but takes some time to complete.

We are much like the butterfly and the caterpillar.  Until we surrender to all that life holds for us, we will not transform into that which we are meant to be.  We will remain a caterpillar crawling on the ground, wondering what the butterfly sees.  Yes, the transformation may not be easy. We will need to lose our self in the process so that we can discover who we truly are.


Check the following website out if you want to know more about how a caterpillar transforms and evolves.  How Caterpillar Gruesomely Turn Into Butterflies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Post And Images (c) 1/7/16 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See Your Progress

We are constantly moving through life even if it sometimes doesn't feel like it.  We're growing and learning and changing.  Maybe we don't see it right now and we don't feel it, but it is there.  Just look and see your progress.

I think others cross our paths to help us grow and find our way while we do the same for people we meet along the way.  It is cool to look at that in this way because it means we need each other along all the changes and growth we go through.  We need each other to help us progress along life's journey.

Even in the moments that we may feel like we haven't gotten very far, just wait a few more moments and then take a look back over your shoulder.  I've got a feeling you will see things differently and see the progress you have made.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Post And Images (c) 1/3/16 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Healing Your Body By Observing

Have you ever stopped and when you did, things looked differently?  It is the same in the body.  When we stop and observe the body, we allow healing to take place in ways we can hardly imagine.

Just that moment of observing what is going on in the body can give you an experience of healing.  It can be more simple than you think, but more profound with possibilities than we are consciously aware of in our life.

Often in our day, we are unconscious and while that helps us get through the day, we need to take moments of pause, or we begin to lose touch with reality in our life.  We lose our internal awareness because of the daily build up of stress or traumatic moments.

To read more, check out a recently published article on Somatosync.com called Healing By Observing Your Body.  It has some simple exercises to help get you in touch with your body through the mind body connection.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Post And Images (c) 12/15/15 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The World Is Spinning Out Of Control

I continue to see the world around me spinning out of control.  I see the nervous systems of most people vibrating at such a rapid speed that the body cannot sustain it.  I see the hype activity of the world around me running at supersonic speed.

We cannot continue to spiral out of control as we are doing now.  We can't continue to burn the candle at both ends.  We cannot continue to treat our bodies as if just another medication pill will bring us back to balance.

Things have greatly changed in the last six months to a year.  At one time, you could do some bodywork to help ground people and bring their nervous system down.  In fact, you had to sometimes push their systems up a little to drop it down.  Now, it is like you can't push them up because they are already wound too tight.

I cannot believe how much things have changed in humans.  I feel it and sense it in those that I touch or that I am around in a day.  I feel sad for the people who don't even realize it and I can see them headed for a disastrous affair with illness and disease.

Something Changed

I can't put my finger on it.  I am not sure if I can even describe it.  I doubt I could give all the details and it would make sense.  However, something changed.  I can feel it, sense it and see it.

Its been a tough time of uncertainty and one challenge after another in my life lately.  I had a great time at a Film Festival and its the first time I've been out and around people in a few weeks.  After some challenging events, I just wanted to hide in my cave, but last night and today, I noticed that something changed.

Someone I had not heard from in a time, sent an email to me and it connects me back with something from many years ago.  It was interesting that just yesterday, before the email arrived, I was discussing a question with a friend in regards to this topic.  Its like the answer or one more piece of it is showing up.

Then I had felt stuck and not sure what was happening and there was all this uncertainty, but all of the sudden I got an email that connected to me with part of what I am trying to create.  It was a moment that was kind of like saying, "hey, I'm here - don't forget about me".

Bring It On

One of the most healing things I have done in my life is not shying away from that which I needed to do.  In fact, in order tor heal and move forward, I basically used the statement "bring it on".  Yes, I know that if someone is overwhelmed, this statement looks as foolish as it can be.

Yet, the more I tried to numb and hide and not deal with what was going on, the more things got worse.  The more things were prolonged.  The more I stayed asleep to what was going on in my life.

Too many want things to change in their life.  Too many want things to improve or their health to be better or a relationship to improve.  Few will go in and actually do what is necessary to do.  Its just too easy to sit there and wallow in the mud hole then to get up and walk out.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not chastising anyone for wallowing in the mud hole. In fact, I think that the mud hole serves a very valid purpose.  Too many people like to use this as a beating stick on those that are in the mud hole and I find that horrible.  The mud hole has its purpose.  Use it, but don't use it as the means to an end.

Take A Step

As we step forward, our view changes.

This is true and yet, it can be frightening at the same time.  

Of course, as you take one step after another, you don't see quite the same view as if you look back and see from where you came.

Sometimes Change Is Hard

We all come up on those moments in life where we know things have to be different.  We all know that sometimes changes is hard.  Yet, it doesn't make it any easier and sometimes it feels like it is more than we can take.

I wish I had a magic wand to make this easier for myself and everyone reading this blog post.  I wish I could go abracadabra and everything would be a sunny day with pretty rainbows.  Unfortunately I can't do that and neither can you.

In some ways, if things were always easy, I'm not really sure we would learn as much as we need to.  I think we would rob ourselves of moments where we build on for the future.  Easy is not always best.  That is why I think that sometimes change is hard.

We're often building a foundation for the future.  We're opening our eyes to see things we haven't seen.  We are becoming aware of thoughts and concepts and a consciousness that we may not yet posses.  Sometimes change is hard so all of this comes together and happens.