August 26, 2010

Losing The Faith — Young People Are Abandoning Church In Record Numbers

by Editorial Team
Published in: Spirituality
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losing the faithSimply put, the old-fashioned sit-in-a-pew-and-listen method of faith just ain’t flying with today’s 20-something year olds. And on top of that the whole religious faith is falling farther and farther away from the values and realities of today’s youth.

Despite what religious people may say, there’s still a lack of representation of women in Church, individuality is played down while collectivism is valued, and homophobia still runs rampant with the congregation.

So unless they pull a Madonna and revamp their whole image, it’s going to be tough to convince Generation Y that going to church will be worth their time.

Check out the article below from the Root for more stats and studies. Neat stuff. And as always, drop a comment below. Let’s get the discussion rolling.

Are Millennials Losing Faith?

Why so many Gen Yers are abandoning the church.

By Brandee Sanders for the Root

Sunday morning rolls around again, and I get the early wakeup call from my father. “Get up, Brandee. Get ready for church.” My first thought is to go right back to sleep, because I don’t want to go. It’s not a case of Sunday-morning laziness; I’d just rather not be there, and according to a study conducted earlier this year by the Pew Research Center, two-thirds of young Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 agree with me. Read the full article »

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A 3 Step Process to Make Sure You’re in the RIGHT Career (and What to do if You Hate Your Job)

by Vishen Lakhiani
Published in: Goal Setting, Happiness, Life Purpose, Motivation, Success
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Targeting your dreamsRecently a FinerMinds reader asked me a question about discovering their life purpose. How does one find the right career? And WHY are so many people miserable in their current careers? This got me thinking. And I realized that the very core of how we’re trained to pick a career in this modern world is ludicrous and faulty.

So here’s my reasoning on why so many people get stuck wasting their lives doing something meaningless and boring. I then offer 3 ways to help you find the right cover by taking yourself through a simple thought process.

Did You Want To Be A Lawyer? I Didn’t Think So…

Most of us, when thinking about what we want to do in life, choose careers that we think will be marketable. For example, no kid grows up thinking they want to be a lawyer or accountant. But then why is it that America has 1,116,967 lawyers?

It’s because at some point in our society people began to view being a lawyer as a method of survival, of attaining the glamorous lifestyle they see on TV. (we can thank those 90s TV shows like Ally McBeal and LA Law for that!). These people picked Law as a career because they saw it as a way to pay of their student debts and meet their needs for happiness and fulfillment. Unfortunetly this is bullshit. America has 5% of the world’s population and 70% of the world’s lawyers. The oversupply causes most lawyers to earn measly salaries, struggle for clients and detest what they do. I was in the legal industry for 2 years selling technology to law firms. I know this from the hundreds of lawyers I befriended. (In a recent poll,  52% of practicing lawyers describe themselves as dissatisfied.).

So why then do so many college kids chose law as a career?

It’s because our society has conditioned us to choose careers in the the most impractical, dumbest way possible.

If you choose a career based on what makes you money and not what will drive your passion — you’re setting yourself up for misery.

How do we break this pattern? Well first you have to understand the difference between a MEANS goals and an END goal.

Stay with me for a few minutes..this is going to get interesting

Read the full article »

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August 25, 2010

Warning Labels For Newspapers And Media — Funny But True

by Editorial Team
Published in: Creativity
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There’s warnings on movies, music, and just about everything else out there. EXCEPT when it comes to print media like the news or magazines. So Tom Scott created these incredible labels you can stick over newspapers and magazines to give people a heads up about what they’ll be reading.

It’s time average consumers (i.e. you and me) get a heads up on what we think is the “truth” and the “news”.

If you want to print out your own labels, he’s made some just for you. Just head here and scroll to the bottom to make your own warning labels. All you need to buy is one of those Avery label sheets.

After all, you can’t believe everything you read.

Read the full article »

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How To Spend Your Money So That You Maximize Your Happiness — Cool Studies On The Art Of Simple Living

by Editorial Team
Published in: Happiness
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Here’s an awesome article from NYTimes you gotta read. It’s about the art of simple living as well as how to spend your money to maximize your happiness. There’s some really cool studies and stats in there and I recommend all read it.

It’s amazing how the same amount of money can make you happier if you only know how to spend it. I kinda wish I read this article before I splurged on my new handbag. Oops.

But Will It Make You Happy?

By Stephanie Rosenbloom

SHE had so much.

two-bedroom apartment. Two cars. Enough wedding china to serve two dozen people.

Yet Tammy Strobel wasn’t happy. Working as a project manager with an investment management firm in Davis, Calif., and making about $40,000 a year, she was, as she put it, caught in the “work-spend treadmill.”

So one day she stepped off.

Inspired by books and blog entries about living simply, Ms. Strobel and her husband, Logan Smith, both 31, began donating some of their belongings to charity. As the months passed, out went stacks of sweaters, shoes, books, pots and pans, even the television after a trial separation during which it was relegated to a closet. Eventually, they got rid of their cars, too. Emboldened by a Web site that challenges consumers to live with just 100 personal items, Ms. Strobel winnowed down her wardrobe and toiletries to precisely that number. Read the full article »

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Childhood Indoctrination — What Are Your Thoughts?

by Editorial Team
Published in: Spirituality
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Richard DawkinsFound this interesting quote from Richard Dawkins and was wondering if we could get your opinion on this. Drop a comment and let’s get the ball rolling.

Isn’t it a remarkable coincidence almost everyone has the same religion as their parents? And it always just happens to be the right religion. Religions run in families. If we’d been brought up in ancient Greece we would all be worshiping Zeus and Apollo. If we had been born Vikings we would be worshiping Wotan and Thor. How does this come about? Through childhood indoctrination.

- Richard Dawkins

Give us your 2 cents. It’s a pretty big topic but we think it requires discussion.

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August 24, 2010

Getting High On Gratitude — The 30 Day Challenge (Lots Of Fun)

by Editorial Team
Published in: Gratitude, Happiness
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gratitude and happinessGratitude rocks. Plain and simple. It’s like a magic little pill that makes even the worst days seem okay and great days seem frickin’ euphoric. Gratitude also puts a whole lot of everything into perspective. How often have we gone on an airplane to complain about how long the trip is, or how horrible the security was, when a simple thought such as, “Holy cow, I’m flying across the world! I can see my friends, my family, and the entire planet in hours,” can make us feel so much happier.

Yes, gratitude is pretty powerful. So why not incorporate it into your life?

Check out the article below from the Huffington Post on how to start using gratitude in your life to kick butt and get a whole lot happier.

Or if you’re the digital type (and you want to save some trees in the process), check out GratitudeLog.com for a free account where you can send appreciation gifts to friends and record all your gratitude.

Get High On Gratitude

By Maddisen K. Krown for the Huffington Post

Here’s a question from a reader regarding the value of gratitude:

Several of my friends extol the power of being grateful and of keeping a daily gratitude log, and I just don’t get it. I tried listing what I’m grateful for a few times, but it didn’t do much for me; in fact, it feels trite and almost trendy to do so. Yet, I sense there may be some value underneath all of the commotion about gratitude. What’s your take on it?

Interesting question, and I’m happy to share my take on it. I keep a gratitude log myself and will share more about that below. I can understand how too much lip service or an unquestioned obedience to doing it or how trying it only a few times might play down the value and meaning of such a potent practice, making it feel trite or trendy. So, let’s look gratitude in the eyes and reconnect with its inherent power. Read the full article »

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Can We Date? — A Flow Chart That’ll Answer All Your Relationship Questions For Good

by Editorial Team
Published in: Love, Relationships
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Here’s a pretty funny flowchart we found that might brighten up your day and give you some applicable advice for your love life.

The picture’s really big so just click on the one below and it’ll open up in a new page for you.

Dating and relationships flow chart

Now if only life were this simple. Someone ought to come up with a life purpose/action plan flow chart. Then maybe I wouldn’t have to do so much soul searching.

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67 Ways To Change The World

by Editorial Team
Published in: Gratitude, Spirit
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Nelson MandelaAbout a month ago on July 18th, it was Nelson Mandela Day. We love the guy because of what he’s done and what he stands for. And that’s change.

So we thought we’d share this inspiring list of 67 things you can do to change the world taken from NelsonMandela.org.

Enjoy and let us know which ones you’ve already started doing :-)

67 WAYS TO CHANGE OUR WORLD

1. Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.
2. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else.
3. Fix the potholes in your street or neighbourhood.
4. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love.
5. Find out from your local library if it has a story hour and offer to read during it.
6. Offer to take an elderly neighbour who can’t drive to do their shopping/chores.
7. Organise a litter cleanup day in your area.
8. Get a group of people to each knit a square and make a blanket for someone in need.
9. Volunteer at your police station or local faith-based organisation.
10. Donate your skills! Read the full article »

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Experience Alternate Realities With Holophonic Sounds (Spooky Video)

by Vishen Lakhiani
Published in: Mind
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In our last few newsletters we sent out videos that challenged the normal view of reality. These videos took on the viewpoint that reality is but a creation of our brains. I.e. What’s around us is just a series of quantum particles existing in various states of probability. Our brain then coalesces these into what we see as reality.

I first came across this in The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot. He suggests that reality is just a hologram created by our brains and in the future, people will find ways to emulate reality. One of the methods he mentions is holophonic sounds. When I first listened to holophonic sounds, it wowed me.

They trick your brain into perceiving a reality that does not exist. It’s spooky but really cool. Check it out below and make sure you CLOSE YOUR EYES.

YouTube Preview Image

It was actually Argentinean physiologist, Huco Zuccarelli, who developed this audio technique, which allows you to create holograms in your mind. A while back, a reporter for the Times of London wrote, “I stole a look at the reassuring numbers on my watch to make sure where I was. People approached from behind me where I knew there was only a wall… By the end of seven minutes I was getting the impression of figures, the embodiment of the voices on the tape. It is a multidimensional ‘picture’ created by sound.”

Our recommended product if your really want to explore the nature of alternate realities and use this to improve your life is Quantum Jumping by my friend Burt Goldman, the famous 83-year old American Monk. Quantum jumping rocks and it’s based on the idea that we can tap into alternate realities to help us improve our current reality. It’s wild, but very cool. Check it out here »

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August 23, 2010

3 Exercises, 1 Hour — Having Your Wealth Blockages Zapped For Increased Moolah? Priceless

by Vishen Lakhiani
Published in: Energy, Success, Wealth, Wealth Generation
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Mark this date in your calendar right now. August 26th at 6 PM (PST). Two of my favorite teachers, Kristin and David Morelli, will be guiding you through an online meditation experience. 1 hour, 3 intense and powerful exercises that will break your limiting beliefs that are preventing you from receiving wealth.

Kristin and David Morelli are the most seasoned of pros in the world of personal transformation, manifestation and energy. Kristin began in her twenties with a less than elegant start selling shampoo from the back of a van. But when she realized how to work with energy, she transitioned from meager wages to retiring a multi-millionaire at the age of 30.

David’s is an intuitive and psychic who has helped countless people find financial strength and freedom. He is trained in Reiki, Hands on Healing, NLP, Biofeedback, Intuition and Energy Healing. Together with his wife, they form a dynamite combo, teaching tens of thousands of people how to achieve peace, wealth, and health.

It’ll be a major money mindset shift. Because let’s face it. We ALL have money blocks. Maybe Bill Gates doesn’t, but for the rest of us (me included), we just aren’t receiving as much as we could be.

The online event is totally free. You just need to sign up here so that you can get the pre-event prep material and instructions on how to attend the event (you can call in or listen via internet).

Here’s a look at the 3 exercises you’ll be going through. David walked me through a couple of these and I can assure you, they’re nothing short of powerful.

The Golden Ball of Light — An intense and slightly orgasmic exercise where you feel energy radiate throughout your entire body. With this you’ll be able to access almost an unlimited amount of energy so that you can create real and permanent change to your life and finances.
Xerox the Box — This exercise acts like a body scanner, searching your entire being for negative blocks that have been holding you back. After you experience this, you’ll be able to take back the energy that was lost from your negative blockages.
The Sabotage Solver - ALL people have sabotaged themselves one way or another. It’s just we never notice it. This exercise is designed to prevent you from ever sabotaging yourself again from a deep subconscious level to the conscious level.

Sign up for the Wealth Energy Online Event »

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This could be the most important thing you decide to do. Don’t say maybe, say YES. There’s already 6195 people signed up for this event and I can’t wait. It’ll really bring the FinerMinds community together and people from all walks of life.

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