We have all stumbled at one time or another in our life but it is always a great thing that we can change with every new day and mold ourselves into the person that we want to be, at the pace at which we feel is comfortable. Constructing your reality is all you can do to achieve your desires. Changing the world is something you can only achieve by setting an example for others to follow. Put yourself in a position where everything you do and say are the tools that you use to manifest what you want.

Integrity and the ability to act on what you say is a very good way to learn how to follow through. When you follow through, the energy that you have composed in doing what you say you were going to do actually circulates instead of being blocked. When the energy is blocked, the energy stays within and builds up to be a bigger and more detouring energy which grows into a very constant state of procrastination. With this ever building energy of procrastination it will take twice as much work to get to the state of integrity that you are looking for.

Lack of integrity can cause relationships to go bad. People that make plans and don’t follow through with them, people that say one thing and do another thing, these are the people that I am speaking of in this case.

We have all had this happen to us and I am sure you didn’t like it. It is also safe to say that some of us have also had a lack of integrity at a certain times of our lives ourselves. To administer the correct action, it is best to rely on the truth and honesty when dealing with integrity based situations. Telling someone how it is honestly is always the best method of sealing the cracks in a particular situation. If you must partake in an action that you have planned and you have fallen out of the grasps of commitment, it is wise that you advise others of what it is that has changed your line of action. To mend all loose ends is an easy way to keep positive energy flowing.

Will Barnes, author of  'The Expansion of The Soul'

Above ARE sad disturbing rape and abuse statistics by rainn.org, (the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.) I decided to post about this to bring to light what many seem NOT to know. I was motivated after reading the horrifying allegations on Bikram Choudhury raping 2 women and assaulting another, I think it is really important to educate ourselves on why women wait or don't ever come forward. These statistics show WHY some women (and men) have a hard time coming forward, not to mention they are traumatized, scared that no one will believe them, may have been threatened, do not want to relive the abuse and face the accused. Unfortunately, fear can be a very powerful motivator and rule our lives.

DID YOU KNOW: 
Approximately 2/3 of rapes were committed by someone known to the victim.

• 73% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger.
  
• 38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.
  
• 28% are an intimate partner.
  
• 7% are a relative. 

*Statistical studies indicate Only 1 out of 10 rapes are actually reported! Rapes by someone the victim knows are the least likely to be reported! False reports only make up 2% or less of the reported cases of sexual assault. This figure is approximately the same for other types of crimes. 
*from Rape and Myth Facts... 

As a human being and as a woman FIRST, I will give the benefit of the doubt and support to any woman (or man) who is brave enough to have the courage to speak up and come forward about any type of harassment, assault, abuse or rape she/he did NOT engage in con-sensually. If you have ever had any type of abuse happen to you personally, you would know how psychologically damaging it is, especially if it happened from someone you knew and trusted. 

Oh, How the Mighty Fall by Earth Energy Reader recently blogged about Bikram and abuse with a refreshing perspective. Below is a clip from The Invisible War a groundbreaking Oscar-nominated investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. You can watch the full documentary here: www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episode/invisible-war.html (only available in Canada for a limited time)

I send so much love and encouragement to these brave women (and any other woman or man out there who is struggling with their own personal experiences of abuse.) Its really hard to speak up and speak out. It is so important though for your own journey towards healing, and to just have a voice and be heard, regardless of the outcome. I have had my own personal experiences myself, so I know how it feels. I wish you peace and healing in your brave, vulnerable, hearts. You are all courageous warriors of the heart.

You must reach towards
the edges of the sky.

Beyond the horizon
of a timid
imagination.

For if you don’t,
you may as well
round your
shoulders
and shuffle lifelessly
toward a cold
unwelcoming grave.

Such is the consequence
of uniform ambition.
and not reaching
for the edges
of the blue blue sky.

Nic Askew
www.soulbiographies.com
Awesome sight! Check them out!

Thank-you to my friend Casey who posted this today...

by Marc and Angel Hack 
www.marcandangel.com

These 15 relationship truths may be a bit difficult to accept at times, but in the end, they will help you weed out the wrong relationships, make room for the right ones, and nurture the people who are most important to you.

Some relationships will be blessings and others will serve as lessons. Either way, never regret knowing someone. Everyone you encounter teaches you something important. Some people will test you, some will use you, & some will teach you; but most importantly some will bring out the best in you.

When times get tough, some people will leave you. When you are up in life, your friends get to know who you are. When you are down in life, you get to know who your true friends are. There will be lots of people around when times are easy, but take note of who remains in your life when times get tough, especially the people who sacrifice the resources they have in their life to help you improve yours when you need it most. These people are your real friends. 

Life is full of fake people. Sometimes the person you’d take a bullet for ends up being the one behind the gun. It’s so easy to believe someone when they TELL you exactly what you want to hear. But when a person SHOWS you who they really are, believe them the first time. Some people are only nice for their own convenience – the type of people who only call when they need something or come around when it’s beneficial to them. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. But sometimes you have to be tricked and mislead by the wrong lovers and friends once or twice in your life in order to find and appreciate your soul mate and real friends when they arrive. 

People can easily be insincere with their words. When someone truly loves you, they don’t have to say a word. You will be able to tell simply by the way they treat you over the long-term. Remember, actions speak much louder than words. A person can say sorry a thousand times, and say “I love you” as much as they want. But if they’re not going to prove that the things they say are true, then they’re not worth listening to. Because if they can’t show it, their words are not sincere. 

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.  Don’t settle to just be someone’s downtime, spare time, part time, or sometime. If they can’t be there for you all of the time, especially when you need them most, then they’re not worth your time. Read Codependent No More.

Harsh words can hurt a person more than physical pain. Taste your own words before you spit them out. Words hurt and scar more than you think, so THINK before you speak. And remember, what you say about others also says a whole lot about YOU. 

A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes. They are intentional choices. Stop hiding behind the words “mistake” and “sorry” and stop putting up with those who do.

Excessive jealousy doesn’t tell someone how much you love them. It tells them how much you dislike yourself. And no amount of love, or promises, or proof from them will ever be enough to make you feel better. For those broken pieces you carry, are pieces you must mend for yourself. Happiness is an inside job.

When people get nasty with you, it’s usually best to walk away. When someone treats you like dirt, don’t pay attention and don’t take it personally. They’re saying nothing about you and a lot about themselves. And no matter what they do or say, never drop down to their level and sling dirt back. Just know you’re better than that and walk away.

People will treat you the way you let them treat you. You can’t control them, but you can control what you tolerate. Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from negative people. Doing so does not mean you hate them, it simply means you respect yourself. Read Boundaries.

One of the most difficult tasks in life is removing someone from your heart.  But remember, no relationship is a waste of time. The wrong ones teach you the lessons that prepare you for the right ones.

Resentment hurts you, not them. Whisper a small prayer of gratitude for the people who have stuck by your side, and send a prayer of good will for those who didn’t. For should these people hear your prayers, those who have been there will know how much you appreciate them, and those who left will know that you appreciate your own happiness enough to not let resentment destroy your capacity to live with a compassionate heart.

Silence and a half smile can hide a lot of pain from the world. Pay close attention to those you care about. Sometimes when a friend says, “I’m okay,” they need you to look them in the eyes, hug them tight, and reply, “I know you’re not.”

True love comes when manipulation stops. True love comes when you care more about who the other person really is than about who you think they should become, when you dare to reveal yourself honestly, and when you dare to be open and vulnerable. It takes two to create a sincere environment where this is possible. If you haven’t found true love yet, don’t settle. There is someone out there who will share true love with you, even if it’s not the person you were initially hoping for. Read The 5 Love Languages.

Even the best relationships don’t last forever. Nobody gets through life without losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they thought was meant to be. People don’t live forever. Appreciate what you have, who loves you and who cares for you. You’ll never know how much they mean to you until the day they are no longer beside you. And remember, just because something doesn't last forever, doesn't mean it wasn't worth your while.

"Yoga is about moving and breathing from a place of depth, 
a location that cannot be intentionally or willfully discovered. 
It is naturally felt when the whole body is relaxed and participating 
in its life and relationships. You can't try and be deep. It arises"

Mark Whitwell

 When the ego is at war, that is no more than an illusion that is fighting to survive. That illusion thinks it is you. It is now easy at first to be there as the witnessing Presence, especially when the ego is in survival mode or some emotional pattern from the past has become activated, but once you have had a taste of it, you will grow in Presence power, and the ego will lose grip on you. And so a power comes into your life that is far greater than the ego, greater than the mind. All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it, since awareness and ego are incompatible. Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment. This is why we may also call it Presence. The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into this world. And this is also why becoming free of the ego cannot be made into a goal to be attained at some point in the future. Only Presence can free you of the ego, and you can only be present Now, not yesterday or tomorrow. Only Presence can undo the past in you and thus transform your state of consciousness.

Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth

If I am still ~ do you cease to see me?
Do I become invisible in your busy world?

If I whisper ~ will you hear me?
Or amidst the noise and chaos 
Do I disappear?

If I close my eyes ~ will you abandon me?
Or would you be willing to sit in the darkness by my side?

If I no longer hear you ~ and the story of your life ...
Will you forget me ~ and move on to another who will?

Please remember this,
in my stillness, and in my silence, 
in my darkness and in my pure light 
I can see your beauty, I can feel your heart, 
I can hear your truth 
and I can touch the love between us 
as the living energy that it is. 

I see you. I hear you. I feel you. 
In your stillness, in your silence, 
in your darkness and in your pure light.

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and sharing a life
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security
and loneliness is universal.

And you learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open
with the grace of a woman
not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your hope on today
as the future has a way of falling apart in mid flight.
Because tomorrow's ground can be too uncertain for plans,
yet each step taken in a new direction creates a path
toward the promise of a brighter dawn.

And you learn that even the sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and nourish your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that love, true love,
always has joys and sorrows,
seems ever present, yet is never quite the same,
becoming more than love and less than love
so difficult to define.

And you learn that through it all
you really can endure
that you really are strong
that you do have value
and you learn and grow
with every good bye you learn.


Veronica Shoffstall