Energy of Heart

  As a refresher, the law of compensation states that the amount of money you earn is always in exact ratio to: 1. The need for what you do. 2. Your ability to do what you do. 3. The difficulty there is in replacing you. So, the question comes down to, is there a great need for what I (or you) do? If there is, then that's a good step towards getting more money. If there isn't a great need, then it won't matter how good you are you won't earn lots of money. If there is a need, especially a great need, for what you do, then you (or I) need to become really good at it. The better we become at what we do, the more value we can command and will receive, if there's a great need for what we do. There may be a lot of others working in that field, usually because there's a high demand and need. But if you're among the best, or the best, you are more valuable. This leads to the third part. The better you are at what you do, the more valuable you become, then the diffi...

A few days ago I was at a writer's weekend. During one meal I was listening to those around me discuss the economy and one lady mentioned that everyone should be paid what they're worth. Isn't that a nice thought. But there's a problem with that simplistic view: How do you determine what somebody is worth? Sure, someone may be a reliable worker. But the law of compensation limits how much that person will get paid. The law of compensation states that the amount of money you earn is always in exact ratio to: 1. The need for what you do. 2. Your ability to do what you do. 3. The difficulty there is in replacing you. Wherever there is a great need, there will be great money to be earned. If there isn't a great need (demand) for the job being performed, then there won't be much money involved. But need isn't the sole factor in determining how much someone gets paid. How well you know and perform your job becomes a big factor. The reliable, hard worker who knows ...

 In the Old Testament, Joshua chapter 3, the ancient Israelites were told they would cross the Jordan river on dry ground. As the priests carrying the ark of the covenant approached the river, there was no sign anything would happen. And nothing happened until after they had stepped into the water. From my understanding of the scripture, it seems that it wasn't the feet of just the first couple of priests stepping into the water, but it was when all the feet of the priests had gotten wet that the river's flow rose up into a heap and the people crossed over. Did any of them have any doubts when the first priest stepped into the water? And it should be kept in mind that the river was overflowing its banks so it wasn't a small thing to cross. Isn't that how stepping into the unknown is?  We can see the other side of the river. We know where we want to go, but how to cross isn't really known. Are there rocks we'll trip on? Are there undercurrents waiting to pull us ...

We attract into our lives abundance or scarcity. Scarcity-minded is fear. It is immobilizing. It is believing that laws, regulations, restrictions, etc. should be enacted to control people because of fear of bad choices others make. Scarcity-minded leads to captivity, whether real or in the mind.  Scarcity-minded relinquishes your choice and accountability to those who promise to reduce or eliminate your fear through increased security and protection. If you are scarcity-minded you are allowing others (including the media or social media posts) to easily influence you and to manipulate you through your fears. So, here's a warning: Those who lust after power, control, or authority over others use the fears of the scarcity-minded to maintain power, control, or authority.  If you are swayed/convinced some regulation, restriction, and/or legislation is needed because of a fear (fear of a disease, difference in lifestyle or belief, violence, etc.) that a politician or the media pus...

 How much do you give? This could be giving of yourself, time, resources, and/or money. Why do you give? Is it because you "have to" or because you "want to"? There are people who do not give. Not money. Not of themselves. Nothing. Often these people just take. They want others to give to them, and this includes handouts from the government. Most of the time they feel entitled and deserving of what they receive, and often they demand more. And there are people who give, but do it grudgingly or because it's required of them. They are not giving because they feel free to do so, because they desire to give. If you do not give freely, you do not have abundance. Often this lack of giving stems from fear. Fear that you don't have enough. Fear that others have more. Fear of perceived and real inequalities or unfairness.  One of the joys I've had has come from the increasing donations I have given and continue to give to my church. They do a remarkable and amazi...

Society has constructed or defined certain feelings and emotions through the abstract construct of labeling the feeling.  In a general sense, there are really only two sides an emotion can be on. And neither side is inherently good or bad. Each emotion just "is" but it's how we think and react that determine whether a feeling becomes good or bad. Tony Robbins says emotions are either categorized as pleasure or pain. Others characterize our many different feelings as being different flavors or colors of either love or fear. That said, we like to label things. This includes all the different emotions we can experience, even though the reality is emotions are personal and very subjective. One person's "happy" may be a little different than someone else's. But there is a general consensus or understanding of the emotions someone is experiencing when they are feeling a certain way. In my mind emotions have labels. Happy, Sad, Grateful, Sorry, Excited, and on ...

 I'm guessing everyone would rather have abundance instead of scarcity. So why is it most people experience scarcity? It's because that is the belief most people have. It is their mindset, their paradigm.  Here's something to think about that can help you identify whether you are more abundance or scarcity focused: Why do you like to buy something on sale? Do you buy things on sale because you don't have enough money to pay full price? Are you trying to save money, to keep more of it? If you have a fear of losing money if you don't buy things on sale then you are likely more scarcity-minded.  I'm not saying pay full price. Consider this:  What if you like buying things on sale because it means more money you have to help other people, to donate to a charity, or to make your family's life better through additional opportunities you can buy? Again, I'm not advocating paying full price for everything. But I really enjoy the bargain, a great deal on somethin...