A Website worth visiting – Story of a New Ager turned Christian

Today I thought I would write a note about an interesting website I visited.

Marcia Montenegro set up this website after spending several years delving into the occult and New Age…. until finally she felt impelled to enter a Church and her life changed when she discovered Christ.

Her website is full of rich information about the effects of New Age, occult and other areas that seem quite attractive for young people but which may actually lead to a lot of problems.

If you would like to gain some in depth knowledge on the subject of the New Age and the Christian response to it visit the link below.

Well worth a visit!

STOP Procrastinating!!!

Do you have a tendency to procrastinate at times? Well, if you do you are not alone. Procrastination can be defined as deferring action and putting off doing things that your better judgment tells you should be done now. The fact is that many people do procrastinate to some degree – but some are so chronically affected that it disrupts their life. Such people may feel overwhelmed when faced with a challenging task. They prefer the misery of a non-productive state rather than the consequences of change and fear of subsequent failure. Given a new challenge, they may find it difficult to decide where to start from and will keep postponing the task, waiting for the “right” mood or the “right” time to tackle it. . Your attitude becomes similar to the ‘Free beer tomorrow’ signs in pub windows! You plan to do it tomorrow but tomorrow is always in the future. Of course, this is just a delaying tactic and it never works as you just keep delaying for ever. What happens is that as time goes by you may get caught up in a loop of ‘failures’ and this leads to a vicious circle that continues to reinforce your procrastination. If you are a procrastinator there is a possibility that you may also have a perfectionist trait. You may never be happy with your results and your List of To Dos may be endless. You may work as hard as other people but you just mismanage your time and invest it in the unimportant tasks. You may jump from one task to another without a clear understanding of what is urgent but not important, and what IS actually important. Perfectionist and sometimes even catastrophic thinking could run something like “I must get all this work done today or I’ll be a total failure. But there’s just so much work to do. I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow when I am feeling better and can do a better job.” Be aware of your actions or inactions. Do not let procrastination sweep a dark blanket over your Dream. Identify carefully how you are spending your time and do not waste the privilege that life gives you to make a difference – to live your true Life Purpose. Make sure that in your quest for meaning you do not end up trying to keep ‘busy’ and running frantic circles around urgent but unimportant things. If you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself what the consequences are and if there are any hidden benefits that may be causing your behavior. You might feel that not cleaning up your garage is making you irritated because when you go in the garage you never manage to find the tool you need straight away. However the task may look daunting and watching TV could be more attractive. At the end you have to heighten your feelings of frustration to a level where you will not accept the garage looking a shambles.

So what are some things you can do to beat procrastination?

Manage your expectations: You may be expecting to do too much in the time you have available. Do not plan long endless lists because you are planning to fail. Chunk down your activities into manageable and reasonable chores. Write a list of the items you have to do but make a definite and reasonable maximum of chores per list e.g. 10 chores /activities a day. Try to time your activities and leave ample time space for any surprises. One thing I find with people who procrastinate is that they find it difficult to time how long it takes them to do an activity and normally they underestimate the amount of time it takes to do something. The outcome – impossible lists that are too long.
Start small: If you have several small items to do which are directly related to the work you need to carry out, do these first. Even though you may have some larger tasks left, psychologically it feels as if you have less to do when the list isn’t so long. It gives you a feeling that you have accomplished something. Just remember, it must be a task that is relevant to accomplishing your goal. Putting a new collection of stamps in your album may be a quick and easy task, but if what you really need to accomplish is to work on your thesis, you won’t be helping yourself!
Tackle difficult tasks first as you become more efficient: Although it’s good to initially tackle small items it might be a good idea to shift the system as you start beating procrastination. As soon as you start being more in control start tackling the big and important rocks first thing in your day first. This ensures that the activities you really need to do are done immediately, especially those that may be unattractive to do. In other words- eat that frog!
Focus only on your immediate goal. Put your focus fully on the task at hand and do not get distracted. Just become one with the task you are doing and put all your energy in finishing it with a clear attention to the activity. Do not jump from one activity to another. Finish what you started, take a small break and then move on to something else.
Just do it! Next time you catch yourself saying, “I can do this later”, think Nike. Just do it! Push on through the feelings and do it now. If you find yourself dragging your feet to do it, just say to yourself ‘I will do this for 10 minutes and then I will stop if I want to’. Then start for 10 minutes – you will probably continue. The feeling you get when you finish will be so much better than any relief you get from putting it off.
Pump it up! Choosing a particular music track to do a challenging activity can be a booster. The track should ideally be suited to the activity you are doing e.g. if you are doing an activity that requires energy and physical movement you can do an upbeat trek that powers your movement.
Mark it off. When you have accomplished a task, mark it out on your list with a pen. It gives you visual confirmation that you are progressing and this gives you a psychological boost.
Reward yourself when you manage to keep to schedule. Not only will this be a booster to help you deliver but knowing that you have finished your tasks will also make it easier to relax and enjoy your leisure time.

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The Dragonfly Story

Death remains the ultimate mystery.

We have no positive proof that anyone ever came back from the dead to tell the story of what awaits us after this life. You might refer to the Resurrection of Christ if you are a Believer and there are also the ever increasing reports of Near Death Experiences that continuously gain more credibility as study after study fails to disprove the possibility that consciousness remains beyond physical existence.

But in the end it is up to you to believe or disbelieve in life after death… and this is my statement that I truly believe that we do survive death… and that life on earth is a journey that provides us with opportunities to develop ourselves and to experience the beauty of life.

Today, one of my Coaching Clients was telling me how much she misses her mother who passed away a few years.

The client was very close to her mum and so I thought I would dedicate a post to her. My client is a very brave lady in spite of some challenges in life and I wanted to write this as a reminder that death is not the final word in the chapter of Being and existence. I am sure many of you know the story but it’s worth revisiting:

The Dragonfly Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “one of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?” Up, up, up it slowly went….Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return…

“That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second… “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. “I have an idea”. “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.”

“We promise”, they said solemnly.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

The dragonfly remembered the promise: “the next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.” Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water…

“I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least, I tried. But I can’t keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what has happened to me, and where I went.”

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air…….

Thank you God, for the story of the water bugs and the dragonflies.

Remember that your dear relatives who have passed on to a better life may be nearer to you than you realize!

Living Moments of Gratitude

It’s incredible what feelings an elderly man burdened by a lot of pressures from the world media can generate.

Pope Benedict is in Malta – and although initially there was a feeling that the welcome would be lukewarm, the Maltese have risen once again to embrace the spirituality that gives meaning in life.

Although it may seem incomprehensible for some people, the energy generated by the pope… the feelings of love, compassion, excitement respect and enthusiasm shown by the children and the people is just incredible.

The pressure on the pope related to the issue of paedophile scandals is enormous and it must really be a big burden. No one can ever justify such bad behavior by people who should be protecting the innocent – and it is not right that certain authorities tried to hide this.

I think as Christians we should be humble enough to accept that we make mistakes like everyone, and maybe the Catholic Church has an opportunity to look with humility and understand what is happening, what are the signs of the times and what can be done to prevent this…..

Having said this…

I think that even the perpetrators of these acts are humans who need help, even if the act itself was horrible… and we must be careful not to judge the people themselves, but the acts they do, even if they still should pay for the consequences.

Let us also remember with gratitude the great work that the Catholic Church does around the world… the many missionary charities like Mother Theresa’s, the help done in silence by priests, brothers and laymen in Church institutions……

Let’s learn to look at and celebrate what is beautiful, what is good, what gives sustenance and hope to Man’s Spirit.

The reality is that the priests of the Church are humans with good intentions but also with their fragility, and the Media, being what it is focuses only on what’s wrong. And it could be argued that this is the Media’s job, but unfortunately the many good deeds done are rarely recorded… we only want to know what shocks us.

The good news today was that the Pope did meet with the victims of paedophile abuse in Malta and it was a very moving and healing experience as expressed by one of the victims afterwards.

This is the beauty of reconciliation and healing of wounds and it is something that can only happen if we as humans are humble and do not play God by trying to judge people, even if the actions are wrong. We have to be careful not to be cynical by looking at what is negative only.

So, let’s make sure that we address ALL mistakes and acknowledge the damage done to people who suffered because of these scandals.

The victims of paedophile abuse did not deserve this suffering and they were victims who suffered because of the mistakes of others. We must make these people feel that their pain is real and that we acknowledge this and open our arms to love them for their suffering.

But let us also celebrate feel gratitude and acknowledge the beauty of good works that the Church has done over the years and is still doing EVERYDAY in spite of its mistakes.

May God bless everyone and provide us with a structure such as the Church and other genuine Spiritual movements or Religions who provide us with hope, love, connection and compassion for each other…..

And to my Maltese brothers and sisters…. enjoy the moment and enthusiasm of the Pope’s visit and let’s look at how we can connect and live in harmony together.

Let’s make this experience a lasting expression of a small nation with a big heart.

The Power of Gratitude in our lives

As we rush through life I realize how much we may tend to miss out.

Our daily struggles with schedules and achievements may at times deviate us from the powerful reality of the ‘here and now’ – and the things that are really important in our life.

Over the past three weeks I had the opportunity to spend some time out from my normal work and I realized how such time can truly re-create your spirit.

I managed to connect once more with my wife and children and I lived the moments of tucking in my son to bed, kissing him on the cheek and listening to the smart comments he constantly makes!

I also took my daughter and family out to dinner for my daughter’s 18th birthday to a Chinese restaurant that we had never gone to and we truly enjoyed it. Most importantly I made some quality time Coaching my other son about the issues and challenges facing a young 13 year old who is struggling to find his place in life.

It’s not that I normally do not do these things. I do enjoy going out to dinners with my family and my schedule is quite a maddening rush at times.

But when you actually stop and SAVOR each moment in full awareness of what you are doing – the difference is truly remarkable.

And I realized just how important it is for us to have a sense of GRATITUDE.

Gratitude for the life we already enjoy and for the small things that we may not connect with.

Gratitude for the ability to be self-aware and to really experience life like no other creature on earth can.

Gratitude for our family, for the work that provides our living standard, for our friends, for the little butterfly that flies around a beautiful flower, for the noise of children playing in the park …. for so many small things we take for granted everyday.

Why is Gratitude important?

Gratitude makes us aware of the Abundance that the Universe continuously sustains us with.

It makes us more aware of life itself, of each moment that we experience and of each blessing that we enjoy.

Gratitude also opens us up to receive even more blessings. The more we are grateful the more we tap our inner resources and the more we attract new opportunities.

The more we are grateful the more we influence those around us positively and in turn this will rebound back to us.

So make a resolution for the year 2010 – practice being grateful for all the small and big things that you enjoy in life.

Blessings to all!

The beauty of Values – Happy Christmas and Happy New Year!

This Christmas helped me to remember just how beautiful the individual Values of people and societies are.

Here in Malta we traditionally like to keep Christmas as a Family Value.

We go out to evening Mass, and then meet at someone’s house to have Dinner together and just enjoy the company of people we normally do not meet with so regularly.

On Christmas day it is normally more food again! This time possibly at your parent’s house where you get to meet all the family members and you spend time together in a relaxed manner and then watch the excitement of the kids as they open their presents.

The spirit that Christmas creates is something beyond description and it makes you just want to relax with your family and watch Scrooge and Christmassy videos while warming yourself in the cosiness of your living room.

Christmas provides an opportunity for people to manifest their Values of peace, connection and solidarity they yearn to live.

I wish everyone a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND AN GREAT NEW YEAR.

May God bless us all…. everyone of us!

Insight Zone

Christ is the True Way- my realization after dabbling with New Age

Category Archives: Success Coaching