Postcards from the Funny Farm

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I talked with my mom today on the phone and she had an amazing quote for me. Without sounding like a typical son, I have to tell you that I have one of the smartest moms on Earth.  She taught preschool for 20 years and holds a degree in history from Cal State Fullerton. There are other accolades, one of which includes raising a son who writes a blog from the funny farm (borderline accolade LOL) … anyway, read what I have to say about her quote won’t you?

As we chatted about certain woes people in our extended family like job lay-offs and divorces, (Thankfully not me! Our advice was for people not in the conversation, ever have that kind of phone convo?) Anyway, she offerred me some simple advice as I was trying to give some to her. We were talking about how important it is to be conscious only in the “now.” As Eckhart Tolle says: “The past is just a dream, the future never comes. All we have is now.”  She said this quote that I absolutely love:

Learn how to find peace between the things that happen.

Now, I don’t normally write about the phone conversations I have with mom. She’s a great lady and like I have said, she raised me! BUT this one was so great and helped me so much this morning (even when I didn’t even think I needed help!) I had to share it with my readers before I started teaching today. Remember it … we all ought to. To read more about Eckhart Tolle, read my latest article published at BlogCritics where I discuss Consciousness and the Current Recession in America. Have the best day of your life! (another lifelong quote of my Mom’s)

Yesterday I wrote about how Google PR and other ranking systems for blogs fall short of really selecting value. Let’s face the fact at the start though not everyone agrees on what is valuable in blogs. It is often the same sort of preference as between clip on earrings and studded. There are some things that are universal though. I wrote about an acronym v.a.l.u.e. and specifically the “V” in value for a blog. I chose the word “visceral” and targeted to a nice short 200 words because so many blogs are not.

While that was a very large point that needed over 400 words ;) the aspect today is not so needy of length: “aphoristic” for example, with a catchy title. An aphorism is a short quote or phrase.

Writing a blog is unlike writing a book. Readers rarely will “curl up with a good blog.” On the other hand, when they read a book they are more patient and allow more time for ideas to develop. SO, be careful to not fall into the trap of thinking you are a JK Rowling or Eckhart Tolle online. Even if you write that well, you have a different sort of audience that doesn’t want to hang out long.

Here are three tips on how to add value to your blog by being aphoristic:

1. Wait to create your title until you have written your 200 or so words in your post. 9 times out of 10 you will have a better title after you have the post.
2. As you write thing more in sound-bytes, or lines people could quote. I did that when I wrote: “Readers rarely will “curl up with a good blog.” On the other hand, when they read a book they are more patient and allow more time for ideas to develop.”
3. Use the blockquote function as much as possible without being over-the-top.

So now we’ve covered 2 aspects of a valuable blog: 1) visceral, and 2) aphorostic. Tomorrow I will talk about “L.” If the suspense is too much, again, I will tell you in an email for 25 bucks and I hope you appreciate sarcasm. Have a great Sunday out there making blogs of value.

I asked myself a question today as I was preparing to go out into my Truman Show here at the Funny Farm here I call my life. The question was based half on Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth and half on my own outlook on life. Blogs can be a great way to journal what is going on in your life while getting feedback as well.   Since I am turning 39 June 9th, I am tending towards the philosophical side. I know you may find it hard to believe that I love it but I do. Happiness is found there as well I am finding.

We are all in a proverbial “funny farm” I think and so there are two sides of life we need to address to succeed, get out, and to be happy: 1) The side of neurophilosophy, or our physical brains, and 2) the cognitive side. This “present” idea is a cognitive idea. (and what’s cool about it is you don’t even get charged a copay here, though you may want to subscribe via -or- .

Anyway, Eckhart’s book is all about being “conscious.” (See here for another post I wrote about him) If I could count the number of times he uses that word, I would say it’s probably more than any other word apart from “the.”

It’s an awesome word to keep in your head all day “conscious, conscious, conscious.” If you have ever been unconscious (as I many times am) in a room you know how much you can miss just pretending to be there. I strive to be conscious always but today that is not my word. Today I am present.

Present is the word on the way to consciousness. Like water spilling over from a river into the sea, consciousness usually merges with present. Remember the annoying, idiotic boy in grade school who after every person’s name was called for attendance with a resounding “here” had to shout “present!” You know, the one the teachers always ranted about. Well I am/was that kid and the only difference is now I am shouting “present” on my blog.  Here’s my simple goal today for being present.

Today I will be present by looking people in the eye

I will also say this mantra today every time I start to think I am becoming “absent:”

(YOUR NAME HERE), Present!!!

Here’s a question for you: maybe down the road we can get more deep, but for now: In what simple way can I move toward being present today? Here’s a picture of me a couple years ago fully present.  Can every moment be that way?  That is my goal.

Today I will be present by looking people in the eye.

In what way will you be present today?

“when you accept everything for what it is without labels you are outside of your ego”
-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

To me this is such an excellent thought. I’d say about 70-80% of ALL our anxiety is borne out of imagined conclusions. We could turn that imagination into creative thoughts to make our lives better. Did you know that most inventions I read about when I write my for biographical series “Amazing Visions” came about as a result of a person trying to make his/her life better? In some cases I’ve been reading about lately for celebrities, it can make the difference between contentment and adrug treatment center.

This house is ours. We move into it tomorrow. My mind would never have grasped we could own a house like this with a pool. It is a result of possibility thinking on the part of my wife and I and steady work toward a goal. This is my first home and I will be 39 years old next month. Those impossible dreams should turn into visions for all of us.

Do you know an example of a visionary? Maybe a famous person? Maybe your uncle Bill? Maybe you? You might want to blow us away and write about them for my Amazing Visions Writing Contest. It’s gonna be huge. Here’s a thought for today:

Let what is … BE. Down the road ahead, the only limitation is in your mind

My mom and I have been talking a lot lately about the book A New Earth. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you soon will. Oprah has fully endorsed its author, Eckhart Tolle, and we all know that what Oprah endorses, sells like crazy. But Tolle is a very humble guy. He claims his ideas were all around him and that he didn’t invent them. Pretty humble for a guy who’s probably going to become the next psychology writer billionairre. More and more people I talk to about the book tell me they have either read it, or want to read it. But this guy isn’t hype, he has great vision in his book. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.

I remember getting a similar feeling about a book when I read M. Scott Peck’s psychology book: The Road Less Traveled. ” When I read great books like these, so full of truth and help, it’s like relaxation comes from he page, into my eyes and throughout my body spreading calm and joy. I’m still on chapter one of A New Earth, but what I have read so far is pure genius. My goal is to write a review of it very soon, so stay tuned to Postcards from the Funny Farm for that. I want to do this to spread the news about this amazing little book. Tolle’s insights on spiritual meaning in the world around us are really revolutionary and life-changing. Whether you are going through something as simple as trying to experience life more or something as serious as working through drug rehab and the like, this book brings out a strength you didn’t know you had.

At any rate, my mom told me a story from his book the other day that really intrigued me. She also watches the author every Monday she can on Oprah’s website where he does a regular video “town hall” style class where people can participate and ask questions. She gave me some good advice from him regarding negative people. Lately I’ve been getting some bad energy from people in all areas of my life and it’s beginning to worry me. Why am I attracting this sort of energy? Is it the way I talk? Is it the things I say? How do you deal with negative people anyway? We’re supposed to stay positive ourselves but what about when we can’t control bad energy around us. As I’ve speculated on here in the past, we should ignore it but as some of you commented, that isn’t always the best option. There is an alternative to ignoring Tolle offers that I prefer. It’s a phrase to have waiting in your back pocket. When negative people spout all sorts of negative things, just tell them this:

Is that so?

You can respond without reacting. Reacting is the “ego” as Tolle calls it. Responding is more of the being who you are inside coming out. There are so many good energies in my life these days now too, but why is it that I allow the bad ones to bring me down? It isn’t even rational to pay the most attention to negativisim. Another book by Tolle is called simply: “Stillness Speaks.” I would agree with that, wouldn’t you?

Anyone coming into your emotional space and saying “blah blah blah (something negative - you fill in the blank here)” should never take your good energy. Simply nod your head and say “is that so?” I love this mantra and I intend to use it from now on. If you tell me the sky is falling, I can say calmly “is that so?” If you tell me something is impossible I will say “WHY?’ Then, if you tell me why I will say: “is that so?” If you make a point on a forum I don’t agree with, there is no need to argue or even debate. All I need to do is consider what you have said and then say: “is that so?” Think about it, for real life or even social internet connections, it’s a pretty good mantra! Revolutionary thoughts like these take meditation. Here is a video I ran across of Tolle talking about getting that into our daily lives.

How are you reacting to bad energy in your life?

Here’s the best I ran across last week. As always, the posts all received a well deserved Stumble. If you enjoy them, I request you do the same. It’s also Safari etiquette to leave them a comment. These are animals for which the guide encourages feeding. Enjoy!

myrnaslist.com/2008/03/25/eckhart-tolle-on-the-me...
I’m becoming more and more of a fan of this writer (and this blog). For some people it goes way beyond that. This blogger calls him a spiritual leader. I simply find his creative ways to look at the universe fascinating and healing.

blog.getmywealthnow.com/2008/02/email-guts-innard...
Kimberly Clay offers us the crucial innards of a marketing email. I am very careful when I do these, I don’t want to turn anyone off. This post from a professional affiliate marketer tells what to put in and most importantly, what to leave out.

itmightbelove.com/2008/04/03/kill-the-spidersbe-a...
Chelle gives us an excellent reminder that the guys can still be chivalrous to an extent in today’s world.

diigo.com/dashboard
This is just amazing. You can sticky note websites and others see your notes.

lifeisrantastic.blogspot.com/2008/04/paperback-wr...
Jessica the Rock Chick is writing a book! Where can I pre order?