Empowering what it is we oppose

My account last month of the young woman who died from cancer because she focused on avoiding it every day and night, might give the impression that God is aloof and coldly objective, and that "he" will allow us to stumble along until we painfully discover for ourselves how things actually function. This is how much of the world thinks God relates to such suffering.

Replacing the picture of God as an old man with a beard in the clouds with a picture of a formal, abstract and impartial judge, is simply replacing one Hamburger-Universe-style image of God with another. God as a cold and impartial judge who allows us to bungle along is just one more version of God as a human being enlarged.

From what we know of the universe and its workings (even while acknowledging the very limited abilities of our minds to envisage what the creator of this universe might be like), seeing God as a personal and conscious energy that pulsates through everything that exists is much closer to the mark. When we come to fully realize that this energy pulsates in each and every one of us then we can understand the truth which all the great teachers first propounded: "You are Gods." (And if that's too scary we can phrase it as "You are divine.") But the small degree to which we have managed to implement this in our lives makes us shamefaced to act on that truth.

Thank You Anger!

It was one of those days…I woke up on the “wrong side of the bed” and could tell there was a part of me that felt extremely vulnerable. Good time to write this monthly column on transforming anger with “Infinite Love & Gratitude!”

Anger has many destructive consequences that are experienced both internally on a psychological and physical level and externally in our relationships, jobs, and our ability to live life passionately. Some of us experience it daily, while others hold on to it for years at a time, leading to a life of victimization, regret, and fear. Over time anger can become self-destructive, ruining relationships, and eventually diminishing physical health.

This is not to say anger is always a bad thing -- anger is a natural part of living; it is a signal that something is wrong and is calling for your attention. Anger evokes that well-known "fight, fright, or flight" response, preparing us to defend ourselves physically and psychologically. Back when anger corresponded to real threats, this response could be lifesaving, but today it pushes your body and behavior into an overdrive mode that is almost always unnecessary…road rage, addiction, spousal and child abuse are to name but a few.

When you become angry the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to increase...