Greetings my gentle readers to another week's instalment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. A time when we can all stop and reflect on ourselves, our interface with others and nature and the big blue marble that we call earth, plus the heavens and all things good in between.

This week let us take a look at stopping and reflecting. Reflections. These are mirrored back if the surface that is creating the reflection is good and true. Small ripples or aberrations in the reflecting source will cause a corresponding change in what is seen.

So...let us reflect on actually how we reflect and when we do, what is the filter or surface that mirrors the reflections back to us. We know that the tincture of time tends to heal things and adds a reflective filter of sepia that we consider to be nostalgia. There are more sinister, yet hidden reflective surfaces. One is that of self delusions and the other that of self preservations. Both of these surfaces or filters are inherently what I would call an "Ego-Filter" and as such the reflection that is considered is one of fallacy as it is created to enact and preserve one's own objectives, even at the cost of others. These forms of reflections often come across as gross hypocrisy to then informed and mindless pandering to the general population and wise expressions of insincerity to the uniformed mindless ones who are not able to reflect on their own. In my experience, the latter category people are more worries by people that I call "Boobs Cubed". The body fixated ones, the TV type (immersed with their shows and fashion) and the blunder (self-image) type.... all self (and false)- idoltry. They wouldnt appreciate a valid reflection if it came their way out of FEAR, causing the root endpoint of F--K Everything And Run. Seeya. 

What we need to REALLY do is to look at HOW we reflect and our meditative patterns that create that patterns. It should be in line with reality, as easy as that. And sometimes those reflections and corresponding honesty and truth hurt. I know that from experience. The ego-centric "all important ME" takes over and defends, cajoles and then pummels into submission those that dont reflect the way we want. "Tell the Truth"- you cant handle the truth unless you are able to SEE it my gentle friends!

So, how do we gain this clarity of filter? By example. By practice. By a fearless acceptance of the truth. By listening. By self-reflection and honesty. Our closest friends are the ones that can give us the clarity of honesty and allow us to see our filtering system as it really is. By mindful reflection, we can actually FEEL and be at ease in the head, heart and gut if what we are thinking is indeed accurate. Children and their thoughts and play and perceptions in youth is pure and they speak that of wisdom in honesty. They appreciate the beautiful sounds and such for what they are, not what they see, or even worse are TOLD to see.

To filter through a defective filter is to get an altered image. Many, many people seem to want that. Sad, isnt it? If you want me, send me an email at rev.joel@live.ca. Please feel free to join me as I'll be off polishing my filter with the goal to be myself, often. Will allow me to be good to myself and others. Join the filter polishers and be yourself, often

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure     February 2012 

Greetings my very gentle readers to this week installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" Blog. This is the time in the week when we can step back and reflect on the myriad of positives and negatives that have transpired across the past seven days. A time when we can give silent thanks for the opportunities that have arose, both good and bad. 

For as we all know, everything is an opportunity and alluded to before, it is what we do with these observations and feelings and how they are interconnected. We have the blessing of the Free Will Covenant so items that occur if we pass judgement on them that they are negative, WILL be negative. In fact, in my observations and experiences, that almost always will come to be. It as if our conscious and subconscious put an energy onto our thoughts which then are imparted to whatever the even that transpired was. That will then translate through into become realities... and as if we had wished it (which we did) it becomes truth. And not only that, there is a separate gift with purchase that translates through and in a negative perception will be guaranteed to add that little extra suck factor to the next event. Lets call it scribbling all over the paper with a black marker.

Sometimes my friends, the road less travelled is the one that is of the most reward. Although it may not be in our immediate best interests, if we can step back and reflect and strategize potential wins, then we shall approach the challenge ahead with relish and excitement. Seems to hold true as there are many positives in peoples' lives and they all look like they have the suck factor squared (or to the power of four) and those who seem to have a lemon handed to them are able to somehow find some salt and a bottle of tequila. Ole!

And how do we find the salt and tequila in life? Quiet reflections and the sound of silence. To listen to the moment and be able to reflect. To give quiet thanks and blessings with the knowledge that this is exactly what it is meant to be. That the next steps in collaboration are moving forward and advancing. To sometimes not take this so darn seriously and step back and reflect and look at this with the eyes of a child who can create magic out of nothing. A piece of wood can become a truck, car or building. I flashlight can become the sun and the vitality and clarity of those details are exactly perfect!

Step back, breathe deeply in and out and there is thanks in that my friends. That in that period of silence we can feel and hear and see the winds around us and the invible lines and shadows may just show themselves to proceed to the next steps and open the next doors. The door opens to those that quietly reflect, watch and imagine that there even is a door there.

And then you open that door of mysticism and blessings and beauty and wide eyed perception of the young and once again you can become and be yourself, often. 

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure   January 2012 

Greetings my gentle readers to this week's installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. There has been so many things that have transpired in the worlds of nature, politics and rumblings at a small and large level on so many fronts. A time for reflection on who is wearing a mask and who is true... addressing old party lines along a new perspective. A time where the old have fallen and the new jockeying for acclaim beyond their time in shameless displays of self-perpetuity. A time when the real core of individuals come out and please allow me to state, it isnt pretty. Man truly does have many sociopathic traits and truly does not play well with others. But whats new?

Enough on my lament on the discourse of human beings and human behaviours in situations that are stoked by things that at then end of the day truly do not matter. I have and would rather to continue to practice with pride, honour and integrity and lose than to cut someone down... and then that it it is allowed to be continued to propagate at a minor and local level, which will ultimately translate into larger failings. Ouch.

Ok... I diverted again from my initial thoughts. That being to define what is truly important at the end of the days. I know that I have said over before in this very venue that an infusion of $50 bills (Canadian polymer pending) being run through and IV line will not save you. At the end of the day, it comes down to the person that we are and what we believe, which defines  what we think which defines our thoughts and thus defines our outcomes. People are quite predictable if you can look at and assess their root belief system. One can see how good they will be in the good days and in the challenging days.

Who are you? What do you stand for and what is your belief system? if its all about you and you are a General in your own army, then you are leading a platoon of fools my friend. Soory to say that. If you do truly believe that you know best and not open to the concepts that your way may not be the best, then the logical way you react is to attack. Scorched earth policy and hurt everyone before those darn liberals come out and nail you with their books and rhetoric. Yet the liberals may also react the same way in their bunker of books and suffer from their own rhetoric, plus smoke inhalation (puff-puff-pass dude).

Yet as trite as those comparisons are, they do certainly not capture the real essence, and that is the root analysis of humanity. And who are we and what are we able to do? Especially if we can link together and realize we are neither general nor soldier... nor liberal or conservative. There is a root humanity that we should really address and that is an intelligent concern for others, plus ourself.

We need not look to the large picture as we will get lost, but rather look to the smaller gifts and thoughts in the days. There are evil people and evil deeds and the converse. But in ourselves, we have that ability to make the decision of which way that we wish to be in this game of life. And to find the big picture and the grand schema, we must honestly look to the smallest and insignificant pieces in life. For these are NOT insignifant, but of great importance. The ability to be alive and to love, to express intelligent concern for others. To offer a gentle hand to others and not suspect or worry of them lashing back, but merely to do it for the sake of helping. Only we can truly decide how we feel about things and events.

I would rather be at one with nature and appreciate that we are made in The Image and to be comfortable in our own skins. For that is to be at- ease. And to be at ease will prevent dis-ease which is the root of disease. It is your call and your choice under the Free Will Covenant.

You can find me out looking at the stars and watching the patterns as the water freezes and looking at things with the wonderment of a child. You may join, or go on fighting your own battles and tilt away at a windmill General. Your call. Sir.

I like to think that intelligent concern for others and the simple things will quite simply, let us be yourself, often.

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure   January 2012 

Greetings my gentle readers to this week's instalment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. Thank you all for being here and reading and sharing! Perhaps, just maybe we can all dialogue and learn and reflect with each other. Would that not be wonderful?

Those of you who have met met personally know that when people ask how I am doing, I almost invariably reply "Living the Dream". I say it over and over and with the occasionally interspersed "Making history" for fun and chuckles.  I am sure that my poor friends and acquaintances are absolutely sure that either I have suffered a major traumatic brain injury and suffering from residual cranial and brain swelling or I'm purely delusional. I mean seriously... how could someone be possibly living the dream day in and day out? Are we not expected, may ENCOURAGED to have crappy days and be prepared at a whim in true Jerry Springer-esque fashion to divulge all the horrors of the moment?  Isnt it like a moment of enjoyment to lather on the lacquer of the trials of the day? Maybe Im just immune. Anyways... I must admit I get interesting responses when I offer either of those answers.

But what my gentle readers if you could live the dream every day? A dream may be good and bad in nature with the horrific ones headed towards nightmare land. However, a healthy fortitude and strong belief structure should allow us to weather the buffeting and challenges of the storms and bumps of the day and night. It is so easy to get so bent, so fast by something SO trivial in the grand schema of things. Sometimes it is better to take the road less travelled and as opposed of engaging and going to launch the nukes that we stop and reflect. Root cause analysis per wit as you know is my favourite teaching and reflective tool. While I am squandering my time away assessing what engaging or complaining about the situation and what it might mean to all parties (not just the all-critical "I")... the crisis passes. Didnt engage, didnt have a knee-jerk reaction, had time to think it through and in the meantime...  the issue passes, as it was not a real issue anyways in perspective. It was only anothers perspective that made it huge. It was just their goal to suck me into their story. Sadly... they often find other victims.

Intriguingly.. there are 2 points from above. That being the "All Critical I". Meaning I am the root here and my goals and my needs and my integrity and my life and my limbs and my health and my reputation and my ego are at risk here! Oh my salts and grits... thats a load of hooey my friends. Remember... to talk to yourself is to be labelled a lunatic. And if everyone in the world was all about themself? No room for anyone else. Sad state of affairs my friend. Freaking dismal. Its like pulling out a boardgame made for 2-8 players and having 1. Ever played Monopoly with one person? How long does it take before you get bored out of your skin and decide to rob the bank, occupy Boardwalk and Park Place and pillage the Utilites? Sigh.

The second is the work knee-jerk. Second word after the hyphen says it all if you just react. Often you will equal jerk. No information and hasty decision= Jerk.

So it is possible to live the dream and all the time we ARE making history my friends. It is about how you act and react with your friends and colleagues and interact. Love at its root is an intelligent concern for others. Its ok to feel love for others and embrace the moments as they come up. And embracing the moments means mindfulness, meditation, being a kid at times and not taking oneself so darn serious. As you do have a choice my friends and gentle readers... live the dream or dream that you lived. For me the choice is so obvious. To live the dream means you can be yourself, often.

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure      January 2012 

Greetings my gentle readers to the New Year and 2012 installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" Blog. I am hoping that all of you have safely made it to this point and through the holidays, resolutions, travel, dietary indulgences and yes, family.

With each new year, we do tend to look at changing our ways and patterns and behaviours, yet many of these well meaned resolutions will have gone by the wayside. Why? Because they are exactly that... behaviours and traits and comforts that we get entrenched in. How many are looking at each day as a gift with subsequent opportunities and have and give thanks for the Miracles of the Moment?

Only need to look at the blogs for the past 2 weeks if you have already forgotten, and in fact would be human nature. That is unless one makes a concerted effort and reminds oneself that this modification is needed and indeed healthy.

We have a wonderful chance to root cause analysis... whether or not it be positive or negative items. Why do we feel this way? Why are we always down? Why do I always get shiat on? Why do people avoid me? Well my friends... with some serious reflection and root cause assessment, plus a healthy dose of desire to change, these so seeming negatives may expand and demonstrate why they happen. Are you merely mentally constipated?

Want Hope, Faith and Belief? It may not come immediately but takes time and effort and hard work. To Believe in something is a wonderful thing. Even if you dont get it exact, it is far better to aim for the stars and miss slightly than to do nothing and stagnate in your own poop. (by the way.. Stinky wont likely attract many friends). Thats why we need to clean and clear and Believe. That we can shoot beyond that mire and mental detritus and advance into what we want and hope.

You need Faith that you can do it and that all will be and as exactly will be. Given our huge Ego that rides us like a monkey on your back, that isnt easy my friends. But to let go and move ahead through the subtle signposts in the miracle of the moment is to ensure an incredible journey! (With a window seat)

Let us Believe that we can, Hope that we can read the markings in the moment that will guide us and have incredible Faith that things ARE as meant to be. With that comes being at-ease which dispels the devils and demons of the dis-ease which prevents disease. Then you can be you and embrace the lighthearted side within yourself and each and every day be yourself, often.

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure     January 2012 

Greetings my very gentle readers to the last installment of the 2011 "Be Yourself, Often" Blog, a time to be able to look back on the year and the year's challenges and successes and determine what we decided were milestones and what were perhaps more millstones in theory.

The end of a year is very similar to Christmas. I posted in the last weeks blog entitled "Surviving Post Christmas" that perhaps if we were smarter and worked smarter as opposed of harder that we could successfully repackage and regift to ourselves each and every day 24/7 X365 some of the wonderment that comes on that day. In fact, it was also the topic of the December 28th radio show Prescribing Spiritual HOPE in regards to gifts and where they lie in the miracle of the day! 

Perhaps we could do the same for the end of the year? While we are running around in a slightly schizoaffective way all over the map and attending parties, drinking and much more... we tend to think to the way the year treated us. We think not how WE treated the year but in fact the impact it had on us. Oh Narcissus, pass me that mirror baby!  We tend to assign the year a grade and reflect on the trials and tribulations that has benefited and befallen us. 

Instead, why do we not approach this on a more logical thought curve and appreciate each day and each moment instead of wondering in a zombie state and not even realizing it? That is one of the biggest learnings that I have had this year. That we truly do not appreciate the intricacies of the moment and the enlightenment that is all around us. Perhaps we can take stock at all points on the impacts that we have on others instead of the essential "I" and ego driven approaches that drive our existence? To be be now more able to appreciate the quiet stillness that exists within all of us?

What if we looked at each day and each moment as a gift and new beginning? To be able to say that we have the ability to stop and reflect, in silent humility and by doing so, connected with the Spirit inside each of us that reflects on the miracles of the moment? To appreciate in advance the impact and import of what we do and how it impacts on others, including nature? What if we woke with the ability to see that you CAN and DO impact the world and CAN and DO make a difference to someone else? And along the course of the day to be able to hear the colours, taste the wind and see the sounds? Incredible indeed.

Perhaps then at the end of the day, each and eevry day we can give thanks and reflect on the miracles of the day? Would that not make each day deeper and richer? To stribe for a grade of B+ each day? (Be positive?)

For I do believe if we approach from that perspective and a new life each day and like the wonderment of a child, our approach and actions, beliefs and reactions will be different. To be able to not be afraid to play, hear the colours, taste the wind and see the sounds and embrace the moment is to live, feel and be alive and awake...truly to give you the gift that you can be yourself, often.

Have a wonderful and inspired and alive 2012 my gentle readers and Be Yourself, Often. 

  --- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure   December 2011  

Greetings to the "Be Yourself, Often" blog for another week my wonderful and very gentle readers. Thank you for all taking the time to read, reflect and meditate on the comings and passings of the week. To take away the learnings of the week to emerge into the next week with a new vitality and energy!

We will be at times trying to match this blog with our blog talk Radio show. Thus, we will start to address some of the concepts herein, both pre and post and then see in written and verbal formats how the events of the days, change our lives...for the better or worse. Join us live at 9pm EST on the ULC Radio show, "Prescribing Spiritual H.O.P.E" with Rev. Joel Lamoure, the topic being "Drowning after Christmas". Please share the link so that thousands may listen in and benefit!! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/universallifechurch/2011/12/28/ulc-radio-network--tuesday-night-schedule .You can either catch the show live, or archived, using the same link! 

The goal here is to be able to spread the information, much like a chain letter, gathering steam... but one of HOPE and inspiration and resonating with hope, faith, belief and tips and suggestions to advance YOUR life!

So this week, we take a look the the post-Christmas blues and that period that exists between the old and the new. The veil of time that exists with gauzy white wispiness between the old year and the new. A time for celebrations and seeing the months stretch ahead, but made better by often failed resolutions (and imagine what THAT does to the old psyche. OUCH.) Thats a thought for yet another blog... maybe mid January?

Folks... remember the goodwill, kindness, positivity of spirit. Dont focus on the gifts that you gave or received, the money you spent, the food eaten and bills pending... but instead reflect on the moments. What were you able to capture in the moments? What peace, what felt good, what resonated and what made you feel at ease? And then my gentle readers... to survive the all or none approach to Christmas (translate that plan for 51 weeks and gone in 1 week), could that not be spread and disseminated? Is it just barely possible that you can package and salvage away pieces of the non-monetary costing parts of these days that can be doled out in a way through the year that provides a steady bellwether?

Different things mean different responses to different people. But just for now, close your eyes and imagine and reflect on the pieces of the chaotic days that you felt most at ease with. How was your health, your breathing, your spiritual connection? Were you yourself or a mask? What feels right? What did you do of obligation, and what of personal wants and love....and most importantly, what did you gain from BOTH the good and the bad? To reflect and meditate is to advance.

Maybe my friends, jut maybe the gifts are those that CAN be captured and loved on a regular basis. The miracles of the moment and the love and kindness. I believe that they can. We all have a choice what to do with EACH moment and how we choose to see them. Maybe, just maybe my friends... if you reflect now and identify what made your heart and spirit sing over the past few days... you can gift wrap it and give it to yourself daily. It IS possible and like Christmas everyday.

And when you find and regift the gifts to YOU, with love.... then you can see the wind, hear the colours and listen to the moment and what she has to say. And in that bliss, you can be yourself, often.

--- Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure     December 2011 

Greetings again my gentle readrs to this weeks installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog. A time for peace, patience and silence reflection of the week past. A time to appreciate and look to the positives of the week to recharge the emotional and psychiatric batteries to prevent the dise-eases that lead to diseases. A time for "Prescribing Spritual HOPE"

Why select the third Sunday of Advent as a topic to discuss, as this is designed to be motivational, reflective and help the reader look to the small positives in the great field of life and look to become a blade of wheat that extends above the torrid weeds that threaten to choke us out? Before I answer that question... what is so critical about being a piece of wheat? It nourishes and many stalks together create bountiful bread, often used in sacraments and also even more importantly is that the wheat needs soil, dirt, moisture, light, sun, wind and energy to create and foster more energy. That the blades must rise above the oppressive weeds that choke us out on a regular basis. They are the BMW class of people, J Class. Biatchy, Moany and Whiny- Jealousy. So my friends if you and I meet personally and I describe something as a J-Class BMW, y'all will know what I mean. Those people are not who I consider to be friends, but I feel sorry for them in their weed chocked existence of human kind. Looks really pretty with such a glorious presentation and drag in the unwary, but are the Datura stramonium of life once their BMW-JClass existence comes in. If anyone wonders. that is Jimson weed...aptly in labelled stinkweed. Ouch... burn baby. All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing abnormal thirst, vision distortions, delirium, incoherence, coma. Often fatal. Crap. You play into that one and its seeya dont write baby... don't write and its a brutal trip. Sadly the plant and you are both DRT..... Dead Right There.

OK...enough about toxic stinkweeds, and Jimson weed too. Lets talk about the concepts of advent, this almost the third Sunday (and it already is to my Aussie and Kiwi friends). This is such a wonderful and joyous time to reflect on anointment and rejoicing. For there is so very much to be appreciative of, is there not? That we are even able to read this is I hope a miracle and a positive. That one can read, see, touch and feel is a miracle. That we love and can be loved. That we can speak and communicate and know that we have gifts and plenty beyond our expectation. It is about changing our thought process from one of entitlement, to one of looking ahead with the eyes of a child to the myriad of gifts that we may be graced with. The gifts are already there, not from Walmart or any other -Mart, mall or store. Look to these gifts I believe is what creates contentment and the positives in the moment. It may be what your neighbour has, or be the status quo or this years model. But DOES IT MATTER? At the end of the day, are you purely sampling the stinkweed and loving the psychotic atropine-like psychosis? Tripping the line fantastic and being Alice going down the rabbit hole? May I be blunt? Yes. End result.... DRT.

So my friends, open the eyes that you have been given and rejoice that we are here, alive and the miracles that abound. I know that we can change the world and believe that we can. The way? Through Belief, with hope and faith and a healthy dose of looking and being like a child on Christmas morning. But the gifts are the anotintment and let us rejoice in the days and the gifts.

For when the toxic efefcts and psychotic delusions of the stinkweed are gone, the eyes reopened and the detoxification finished... you may appreciate the moment, beauty and wonder in the moments of mindfulness. And to look in the eyes of another having undergone the same, is to be able to realize that you have and did and can be yourself, often.

--- Dr Joel Lamoure   December 2011 

Greetings my gentle readers to this weeks installment of the Be Yourself, Often Blog. A time where I hope that we are able to step back and reflect on the myriads of wonder and gifts that exist all around us. This is needed even more this time, that being the third Sunday of Advent... just 2 weeks from Christmas!

Now while you may think there are so many gifts out there and only so much time and spending disproportionate amounts of time, resources, angst and resources addressing The Perfect Gift!!! (capitals and exclamations intended), why need this reflective drivel? Serious, Christmas is a time for giving and receiving so why do we need to reflect and step back? For exactly the reasons listed above. These are all items based on the tangible and can we really state that what we do and the consumerism driven capitalistic expectations of excess are healthy? Thats a valuable question. I may address that one this week in my radio show, " Prescribing Spiritual H.O.P.E. " which airs Tuesdays at 9pm Eastern. The link should open a new page with the show.

There has been circulating around on the internet the past 2 weeks a caption picture of starving and hungry poverty children against a backdrop of Western culture at Christmas of a couple of scenes. One appears to be a Black Friday setting or the other is a elaborate Christmas tree resplendent with presents and trimmings. This is a time to be able to appreciate and give. Sometimes gifts come from the non tangible but are worth so much more, for example time. At the same time, there is a need for gifts for children and Toys for Tots and 20 out of 2100 families have been looked after, 14 days to Christmas. :( The story may be found here. This IS in our own backyard and we are so focused on the excesses in general that sharing one gift and one toy seems antithetical. The NIMBY mentality (Not In My BackYard) is akin to an ostrich with the head down, or perhaps a pig with the head in the trough.

We have an opportunity to have a healthy Christmas my friends. That being we can look to less and share of our time and resources. Doesnt have to even be all at once or today, but to give a chance even during the year to help someone less fortunate. And one doesnt have to spend big. Remember the premise of the non tangibles?

I do caution you is to give with blessings and kindness in your heart my gentle friends. Do not be one that is laden with hypocrisy and hate, that turns to helping and giving and then maliciously bullies others. Strive for just the altruism and consistently... be unipolar, not bipolar in presentation and avoid the swings of hypocrisy. The images and projections you may think of another is usually, well... wrong. Hate to tell you that. The best and strongest heroes I have seen and enjoy working with are those who seen hell itself, and came back and gave to others and send the tsunami of gifts and benefits and wonderment to others. They are the people who you wouldnt expect and they have given me presents of the time, teaching and helping my medical students, willing to be a kid, and praying for he sick. That has given me the gifts of a patient waving, someone smiling, and different perspectives. Sometimes... you have to be a round peg where there is a square hole and be different.

Now, while I preach about "Be Yourself, Often", every week and now in its third year... does that not sound like I am indulging in my own psychopathology? My own hypocrisy? Not at all, for as we look with the wonder of a child, give of the gifts we have once we have the realisation and embrace then, then we realize and love the we are ALL different... and only then can you be yourself, often.

--- Dr. Joel Lamoure    December 2011 

Welcome gentle readers to this weeks "Be Yourself, Often" Blog and happy December! This is a time as we move ahead to the the busy chaotic scurrying of Christmas, parties, gift buying and all sorts of family and social events.

A time for potential chaos perhaps and yet a time to reflect on what actually is important. Realism defines as what is the reality of the moment and what are the skills and assets that I have to contribute. This is not as much a time of giving, but a wonderful and blessed month of reflection. A time to ascertain what is important in your heart and are the goals and objectives and values in line with the real you. There will be periods of much hypocrisy and much covered up joviality and then the world turns in January. This my friends is a time to look around and take a fearless moral inventory of what you bring to the equation. What do you give as it relates to yourself and how is that translated as an end result? Important here to note that that end result may not be known to you and as such becomes on of Faith and Belief. I can almost 100% promise you that whatever you do has a ripple effect. Ever had someone smile at you? What is your first instinctive response but to smile back. That then places you in a more positive frame of mind. We all know that the negatives and converse is true and the downers and negatives will often make the negatives of the moment more amplified. Heres a hint my gentle readers, avoid the negatives and watch and learn as that can be you and there is always some negative in any encounter and challenge. It would be naive to state otherwise. However my friend, what you do with that challenge is what will define the outcomes of said encounter.

Actualities in society at this time of year may be antithetical to the realisms and as such there is a very high level of expectation for goodwill to man, smile at everything and feel the moments and wish a happy holiday season. That isnt always the case and one must look at why some of the positive feelings happen. The culture of purchasing and gift giving may be linked to positively lighting up dopamine in the pleasure reward system. But as a caveat this may create discord as the recipient may not be as enamoured by the offering as you were. This is statements of expectations and this may lead to resentments. And thats even before the post holiday blues.

Want to feel the realities? Then I suggest to put aside the pre conceived notions of the season and look to the real reason and Faith and Belief that comes with Christmas. What does it mean? What does it mean to you? What do you want? There are so many beautiful lights, trimmings and wrappings... so maybe just to look at it with the wonderment of a child and mindfulness in the moment. Its not all going to be positive and perfect, but the attitude you have and expectations will define the altitude of pleasure and love and enjoyment that can be attained.

To see with those eyes of innocence, is truly to be yourself, often.

--- Dr Joel Lamoure   December 2011