The Clean Money Revolution is Underway

by Joel Solomon

“What’s the single most important thing young entrepreneurs can do for future success?” That’s a question I often get asked when I’m promoting clean money at business schools or incubators.

My answer is always: “Learn inner skills.”

Cultivating insight and mastery of yourself is the secret of a successful life. You can know all the mechanics and necessities of business, but if you skip learning how to handle conflict, how to understand your own feelings, and how to be in relationship, you will likely wreak havoc. You might succeed financially, but you may die unhappy and leave a tainted legacy. Financial success and power can have big value, but there is much more to life than that. We must also be successful as human beings.

As children we absorb habits, behaviors, and assumptions from our parents and siblings. We endure later struggles and even traumas—everything from broken relationships and hurt feelings to personal failures and violent assaults. As has been well articulated by addictions specialist Dr. Gabor Mate, these ingrained patterns leave scars that affect how we respond to the world. Self-esteem challenges, abuse, and prejudice can leave us wounded and perpetually recreating what was familiar. That can mean abusing and wounding others in the process.

Our careers can also work against us. We can win the race for money, and find ourselves unhappy, lonely, and alienated from meaning. More enlightened states—compassion, joy, honesty, self-esteem— are at risk. Even the most fortunate of us face realities that can confuse and distort. Sadness, fear, insecurity, envy, greed, ego-inflation, and vexing challenges greet us throughout life. Strong as our Western culture is on intellect and ambition, it is proportionally weak in delivering good skills for thriving relationships, balanced power dynamics, crisis management, emotional health, and peace.

We lose what Martin Prechtel has called “the honey in our hearts.”

Knowing how to love, how to be a good person, how to reduce fear or the suffering of stress—understanding our mind-body relationship and how to enhance it—these are skills of the examined life. As you these master emotional skills, you will feel good, and “feeling good” increases trustable leadership and right action. Corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, homemakers, parents, hourly workers, students, retirees—we all need more awareness of and facility with our inner lives. As we challenge our preconceptions, shine light on blind spots, and stretch our emotional comfort zones, we will activate our spirits toward honorable, satisfying mastery. We can leave legacies we’ll be proud of.

The truth is that money has no values of its own. Money doesn’t account for fairness, justice, beauty, consciousness, or love. That’s our role, and it’s ever more crucial that we assume it. We need to start to talk about money in ways that dethrone it and make it subject to human ethics and standards of love and decency. An obsession with growing and clinging to wealth can damage us and those we love. We need self-awareness and spiritual grounding for safe, healthy engagement with money.

Money is embodied energy. It’s a tool. Using it with a divine intention to help others is wonderful. Without some inner guidance to steer by, lust for money can become the meaning and purpose of life. This incredible movement, the “clean money revolution,” is about causing less harm and doing more good. It is also about cleaning up our relationship with money. That means learning how to notice, acknowledge, and address our own inner damage. Maintaining a mental block about the mischief our money is doing—to whom and what, right now, on our behalf—is a corrupt morality. What will our descendants think of our financial choices? What do we tell our children when they ask: “Didn’t you know that you made your money investing in climate change and injustice?” Do our children need money and power, or do they need our inspiration as role models who show us good pathways to fulfilling opportunity? They may want both, but without the latter, they may be spiritually empty and aimless, wondering about the meaning of their lives.

We know the better business leader understands their own insecurities, fears, reactions, and ego. Organizations that motivate people, build self-esteem, and support self care and conflict resolution do more good for everyone. Without those practices we become narrower. As the inner world of leadership contracts into fear and negativity, our businesses, organizations, and institutions suffer. Our families suffer too. We grow callous. We teach our children and others we influence to perpetuate our poor or reactive examples.

The examined person thinks creatively and more independently. They trust an inner knowing, the mix of intuition and practicality. They get things done with flow and ease. They express clear boundaries. Nurture themselves. Speak truth to power. 
Such people live adult wisdom. They inspire. They are model ancestors. They are peace warriors for the future. They are all in. They show the way.

Love will drive people and businesses to know where their money is and what it is doing to the world (or for the world) at this moment. It’s the most important responsibility of our lives, and will lead us into the great adventure of creating the future. My intention is to raise consciousness about how we can use money in a regenerative way, rather than investing in damage and destruction.

The clean money revolution is on!

Excerpted from The Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose, and Capitalism by Joel Solomon with Tyee Bridge, with permission from New Society Publishers.

About the author:

Joel Solomon is a pioneer in the emerging world of mission-driven finance. His new book, The Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose, and Capitalism, challenges us to take a deeper look at the role of money in our lives, exploring a massive economic shift that’s creating new, ethical, and sustainable businesses that are making the world a better place. He speaks regularly to investors and wealth managers across the U.S. and Canada.

TEDx Talk JoelSolomon.org

How to Find Your True Calling

by Marlie Parsons

Living Your Life On Purpose

Chasing a career or studies or simply just immersing oneself in the daily requirements of the life cycle, does not really give anyone very much room to explore anything outside. This exploration would normally require the setting aside of some quiet time and concentration, in both body and mind and in the hectic surroundings of most individuals; this is not an indulgence that they are prepared to give attention too. Some would even go as far as saying that it would be a waste of time and effort, thus brushing aside such acts as unimportant and silly.

Discover Your Purpose

For the more discerning few, the exercise of finding one’s life purpose is anything but frivolous. Finding one’s purpose in life will help to give the individual a real picture of either his or her capabilities and put these into action to achieve the purpose perceived. It gives the individual the zest for life instead of just simply existing day to day on mundane and often exhausting and stressful regimens. Identifying the purpose of one’s existence also allow the individual to enjoy a certain level of fulfillment and peace as the energy used to strive towards the end goal becomes well worth the effort. It also provides the individual with a concept to live by and the positive energy will help the individual through thick and thin.

People who are able to find their purpose are usually people on a mission to get the most out of their lives, and they are also usually very driven, focused and energized. Keeping healthy both mentally and physically are the common traits of those who seem to have identified their purpose in life.

Find A Satisfying & Fulfilling Career

There are very few people who actually enjoy what they do and take pride in doing it to the best of their abilities. This is mainly due to the fact that such careers chosen are usually not done with the individual wanting to find satisfaction and fulfillment but rather to simply exist until something better comes along. The danger here is that sometimes nothing better comes along, and the individual ends up settling for just anything and eventually comes to a point where he or she is unable to get out of the rut they are in.

Find Your Path

The following are some points to consider in the quest to find a satisfying and fulfilling career while exploring all options available:

• Perhaps the first and often the most difficult step to take would be to actually seriously identify the career that might present these two elements within its package. Satisfaction and fulfillment should never be disregarded as an indulgence. It is often the most important feature that will keep the individual driven to do and be the best. Once this particular exercise is thoroughly explored, then the individual will be able to move on and look for positions that are based on this very basic finding. However caution should be exercised to ensure the individual stays realistic and in touch with the current market requirements and business trends.

• Next, there needs to be a lot of research, analysis and help exercised in order to acquire the information on the ideal position sought. This part of the exercise may include the seeking the expertise of a mentor, having dialogues with those in similar positions, having in depth discussions with career guidance counselors and other avenues of gaining information from those actually involved in the line the individual is interested in. First hand information is a lot better and more beneficial for the person who is seriously considering the particular career, for satisfaction and fulfillment elements.

Finding Your True Calling

Most people go through life dong a job just to get the pay check at the end of the month. Most spend nearly all of it on bills and rarely do something they actually like. Others are happy at work and have large amounts of money. However for the vast majority this is but a dream yet to be fulfilled.

Identify Your Calling

This causes the individual to lose any passion felt as the job does not in any way stimulate the mind and body to give the best possible results it can. Being stuck in the seemingly endless cycle does not encourage the individual to look to the future with anticipation and excitement. Therefore to get the best out of life itself, the individual would be required to spend some time and effort to actually explore the possibility of understanding his or her true calling and working on fulfilling this call.

The positive outcome of being able to understand the true calling has far reaching effects on the individual’s life in general. Everything will seem better and clearer and the individual will eventually be able to find happiness in the most simple of things. Reaching this level of mental and physical connection is something most people are never able to enjoy through their lifetime, due to their inability to make concerted efforts to understand the true calling of their existence. Being able to deal positively and honestly with the feelings and thoughts will help the individual better identify the inner voice that is so in tune with the true calling meant for him or her. Taking the time to stop and think really hard about what really excites, stimulates and interests them will help to narrow down the quest to finding the true calling they were designed to embark upon.

Using Your Intuition To Fulfill Your Life Purpose

Tapping in the intuitive side of an individual is not something that involves magic or guess work. Contrary to most people’s thinking, intuition is actually a very real and often proven element within the human mind. This intuition is plainly explained as the body working together with the mind to tell the individual something without the needs to use the other 5 sensors to make it understood.

Examine It Well

Intuition is usually closely connected to or associated with women, as men are perceived to be rather too “shallow” both in body and mind to be able to tap into or feel such depth the intuitions normally dictates. Feeling something without actually knowing the source of the prompting could be categorized as intuition and when an individual chooses to ignore such promptings, there are usually dire consequences to be paid. A lot of people especially women rely heavily on the particular style of seeking and getting answers or solutions to a situation or problems that is weighing heavily on their mind.

A more complex and scientifically acknowledged form would be the multisensory perception whereby the individual would claim to experience a hunch or an acute prompting about a particular element. This is a very sophisticated system that connects, with elements within and outside the human body and mind to produce enlightening perceptions in general.

With practice this exercise can be called upon and interpreted accordingly, while still acknowledging that is does require some extensive understanding which unless the individual is tuned into will not bring forth the desired results. Being able to practice being intuitive will certainly help when wanting to explore life’s challenges and directions for the individual.

Finding Your Purpose Through Serving Others

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to indulge in the activity of finding their purpose in life, and this is mainly due to the fact that they are mostly so caught up in the daily challenges of life, that this activity seems to be always benched. When this goes on for years without any end in sight, the individual eventually loses the will to finding his or her purpose in life, and instead opts to continue drifting in life.Help Others Help You

The following are some areas to consider, as it should give an interested individual some indication as to how one can go about finding the purpose of life:

• For some it is very easy to identify the things that make them happy and excited, while for others it may take a little time, effort and exploration. There is also the possibility that once identified, the exercise that beings forth joy and fulfillment is not measurable or accepted by society as beneficial, thus forcing the individual to rethink and perhaps even consider discarding the idea altogether. Therefore there is a fine line between indulging in frivolous activities and indulging in activities that are considered beneficial to both the individual and those around.

• Discovering the natural gifts and the joys of exploring and using these gifts to help others may eventually cause the individual to be able to identify the areas that most create passion and excitement from within. Fulfillment is usually found when the individual is able to see the fruits of labor benefiting other while at the same time enjoying the whole process.

• Exploring various different types of ways of serving people may eventually help the individual identify the one that most gives fulfillment. Getting involved in organizing or facilitating events for the less fortunate can be a very fulfilling experience.

Are You Living Your Values?

In order to be able to effectively live by one’s values, there should first be an exercise to identify these values clearly and to ensure they are the defining points of the individual’s general life and the journey it takes.

You And Your Values

Most people have a few core values they live by and understand the extent they are willing to go to ensure these core values are not compromised in any way, will show the inner character of the individual. Some of these core values may include elements of honesty, hardworking styles, perseverance and many other actions or characteristics that define the individual. These values are the elements that usually carry the individual through tough situations, where decisions made are based on these values. Priorities are usually given to this mindset and judgment calls are made in line with this, thus it is important to be able to fall back on some really good and strong value systems.

The important question that should be the focus of the individual’s life, would be if he or she was living life according to these values or if there were numerous compromised being made, in order to be pleasing or accommodating to others. If the individual finds that compromise seems to be the general agenda in their lives, the outcome will eventually cause the individual to perhaps become a negative person, as frustration takes hold and values are abandoned.

Therefore besides the exercise of exploring the value system the individual perceives to adhere to, it is perhaps more important to ensure these values are completely understood and practiced on a daily basis. This is what eventually defines the individual as different and help make it possible to happily acknowledge that they value their beliefs greatly. Knowing that one is living according to a value system that is part of the mind and body will definitely bring about a deep sense of satisfaction.

What Are Your Innate Talents?

Finding one talents is something that could be quite a challenge especially if that talent is not really evident and has not surfaced significantly in any way. However exerting some effort to actually take the time to find this area of perceived gifting, will eventually help the individual to attempt to incorporate this talent into the everyday experiences, thus effectively ensuring a more enjoyable and fulfilled life.

Tapping In

There is a lot of misguided acceptance that an individual will eventually control and influence the mind and body to learn to accept circumstances and make the best of them. This may be true to a certain extent but it will not really help the individual to bring out the talents that may be hidden deep within. Most times these talents are not used simply because the individual is really unaware of its existence, thus making it impossible to capitalize on them.

Then there is also the thought process that encourages people to strive for being the very best in whatever endeavor they decide to take on. Any success is then related and connected to the perceived talent it took to bring the endeavor to its current success state. This too is not really the inner talent that is so popularity talked about.

The following are some guidelines that could be adopted in the quest to find the individual’s talents:

• Being able to identify the difference between learned skills and skill that are apparent through inner motivation and drive.

• Being able to connect to something and feel really complete and comfortable without much prompting will also be another indication of the innate talent.

• Searching for jobs that would seem to suit the individual both in body and mind can only be accommodated if there is some chance of talent displayed.

Your Interest And Your Passion

Happy people are people who have learned to be comfortable within themselves and thus have the knowledge of what interests them and what ignites their passionate side. If the individual is looking for a happy and fulfilled life, then it would be worth exploring the various ways of finding this often illusive passion and interest.

Ignite Your Passion

The following are some ways to help discover the elements that could tickle the interest and ignite the passion of the individual:

• Almost everyone is able to identify a hobby or an interest that keeps them happy, focused and feeling useful. This is a good place to start when it comes to the exercise of finding further interests and passions. Understanding that this may require the individual, to take the very important decision to step out of the comfort zone is essential.

• Being open to new experiences will also help the individual to explore other possibilities that may surprisingly ignite the interests and passion of the individual. There are many things to be learned and experienced when making the effort to try new things and if the results are positive and enjoyable, then exploring further would be the next step.

• Communicating and staying informed of anything and everything will also help the individual come into contact with elements that could create feelings of interest and passion. There are always new developments to explore and actively participating in such exercises would be rewarding in itself.

• Facing fears is also another way to find a person’s interest and passions. Often people are afraid of being rejected or turning in work that is considered below standard, thus keeping them from venturing into making an attempt at these things. Overcoming these sometimes irrational fears can unfold surprising capabilities.

Searching Your Life Purpose With Numerology

Life in general is confusing enough, without the added confusion of having the figure out who we really are and our purpose. Most people try and define who they are, using the ever common method by linking their lives to what they do, but this does not really define the person.

Beat The Confusion

When questioned, most people respond according to what they do rather than really know who they are in terms of purpose in life. The idea is to be able to differentiate between the two and really explore the possibilities through finding one’s purpose in life, and one way of doing this would be to turn to the art of numerology.

The idea of using numerology can seem to be confusing and a rather skeptical one, but by simply using facts such as the name and date of birth, an individual is able to gain some insight into the realm of finding the life’s purpose. Some sources believe that numerology does help to steer an individual according to the path of life mapped out by connecting factors that may be beyond comprehension. Numerology is sometimes considered an ancient occult that helps an individual to find the direction in the life through a series of numbers and their connecting meanings which the life purpose reflects. The two types of numerology would be Chaldean and Pythagorean and these are supposed to help unlock the life directions as seemingly as a manual would.

Using the life purpose number which is basically calculated on the letters of the name, the individual would be able to learn the purpose of life based on the personality traits that might help to send the individual in a certain direction.

Never Be Afraid To Pursue Your Purpose Of Life

Many people fail to live purposeful lives simply because they are not really in tune with their mind and body, and are nor focused in exploring the things that most ignite their passions. Getting caught up with the everyday challenges seem to force and individual to put their own personal needs and desires on hold and focus instead on just getting through life’s challenges.

Live Your Purpose

However for the lucky few who are rebelling against the need to simply submit to life’s challenges, there is some hope in finding and pursuing life purpose to the fullest measures possible. Understanding that the purpose in life has a higher importance when measured against achieving just goals is something to consider in the search. Ideally the purpose in life, arises from the talents and values of an individual and this is easy to decipher if these fact are obvious to the individual, however the confusion usually arises when the individual is unaware of his or her talents which is commonly confused with skill.

Still the most telling elements that can steer the individual towards a clearer picture of the purpose in life would be to connect it with valuable insights gained by immersing one’s self into different activities. The comfort and enjoyment derived from certain actions will give the individual a clue as the direction toward the purpose in life. There should never be the element of fear or discouragement that should be allowed to dominate the individual’s thoughts to keep the individual from trying new and seemingly impossible things. Fear is something that should not be allowed to creep into the equation, as it is often the crippling point that stops the individual from pushing limits to seek answers. Exploring and staying excited about new things will always help the individual gain more insight to the purpose in life.

Wrapping Up

Don’t sell yourself short by not living your life by its purpose. It may not be easy to identify what exactly your life’s purpose is, but once you have discovered the purpose, it will be well worth it. Those who have found their lives purpose live much happier lives than those who choose to just get by day by day. You deserve to be happy! Start living life with purpose now!

Photo by Haley Phelps on Unsplash

How to Remember Your Dreams

Dreams are a powerful tool in developing deep insight about yourself and your life purpose

by Asoka Selvarajah, Ph.D.

Dreams are a powerful tool in developing deep insight about yourself and your life purpose. They are a priceless source of inspiration and creativity, as witnessed by geniuses spanning the entire range between Einstein and Salvador Dali; both of whom worked with dream and fantasy in their work.

In sleep, your spirit is unbound and you touch the subtle realms beyond waking reality. This is the place where the highest part of your consciousness, your Higher Self, can communicate directly to you. The language of this communication is the language of symbol and metaphor.

Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers their dreams. The following simple 3-step process will enable you to work with your dreams to gain deeper insights into your psyche:

(1) Make a written declaration before you sleep.

Say, or better still, write down a statement such as “I want to remember my dreams in order to receive valuable guidance”. If you are already able to remember and capture your dreams, modify this question to “Which direction should I go in life?” or “Should I take that job?” or whatever.

Put the declaration under your pillow before you go to sleep.

(2) Perform stretching exercises before you get into bed.

If you can touch your toes, then do so. At any rate, gently stretch your body so that it is relaxed and flexible. Once you are in bed and ready to sleep, you can also relax your body further. Tense and release each of your muscle groups in turn, beginning with your legs, and gradually working all the way up your body to your face. Take several deep breaths, and feel yourself relax more with each breath.

The fact is that much of our sleep time is spent de-stressing the body, which is why people often do not sleep that well. Much of this de-stressing can be done before you ever drop off.

(3) Write something down when you awake.

It is necessary to awaken gently. If you can use an alarm clock that plays GENTLE music, e.g. chimes, that would be best. Once you are awake, write something down about your dream, even if it is just a feeling.

Sometimes, if you cannot remember the dream straight away, simply lying there in your bed and pondering it will bring a fragment of the dream back. Write that piece down and often, the rest will return to you. If it does not, be content with what you have.

If you really cannot remember anything at all, then still write something down. Often, your physical, mental or emotional state upon awakening is a direct result, a hangover if you will, from the dream you have just experienced.

Be prepared for the need to persist with this process. It DOES work. Like any muscle that has been unused for years, your dream muscles may have atrophied through disuse. If you persist, the spiritual rewards and insights you gain will be very well worth it.

Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka’s work helps people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul’s purpose. Copyright 2001, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved.

No Thinking, No Suffering

A story told by a Zen master about the power of the mind

by Charlie Badenhop

zen masterThere is a story told by the Zen master Seung Sahn. Many years ago there was a young man living in Korea, and the young man felt that his life was quite empty. So he shaved his head and went up into the mountains to live the life of a monk. He studied diligently for a number of years, but still felt that he did not really understand how to be free.

The young man had heard of certain Zen masters living in China so he gathered his meager belongings and started a long and arduous journey across arid plains.

Every day he would walk for many hours, and would stop only after finding a patch of land that had a source of water. Finding water was not at all a simple task in such dry lands, but a task necessary for preserving his life. There were many times he had to walk until quite late in the evening before finding a suitable location in which to rest and be refreshed.

One day was particularly hot, and the monk walked on endlessly, unable to find an oasis. As day turned into a moonless night, the pace of his walking slowed considerably so that we would not fall and hurt or kill himself. When he did finally find a shaded area he collapsed on the ground and slept for several hours. He woke up some time after midnight and he was tremendously thirsty. He crawled around on his hands and knees in the darkness, and ran across a roughly made cup that must have been left by a previous traveler. The custom of leaving a cup with some water in it, for the next traveler to drink from was quite common. He drank the meager amount of water in the cup and he felt very blessed and very at peace with the world. He laid down again and slept quite comfortably until awaking to the light of the early morning sun.

Upon sitting up he saw what the night before, he had taken to be the roughly made cup. It was a shattered skull of a baby wolf. This skull was caked with dried blood, and numerous insects were floating on the surface of the small quantity of filthy rain water still left in the bottom portion of the skull.

The monk saw all of this and immediately started to vomit. He had a great wave of nausea, and as the fluid poured forth from his mouth, it was as if his mind was being cleansed. He immediately felt a deep sense of understanding. Last night, since he couldn’t see he assumed that he had found a cup which had been left by a fellow traveler. The water tasted delicious. This morning, upon seeing the skull, the thought of what he had done the night before made him sick to his stomach. He understood that it was his thinking, and not the water, that made him feel ill. It was his thinking that created good and bad, right and wrong, delicious and foul tasting. With no thinking there was no suffering.

Having realized this, his journey was complete, as he no longer needed to find a Zen master.

Charlie Badenhop is the originator of Seishindo, an Aikido instructor, NLP trainer, and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist. Benefit from a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by subscribing to his complimentary newsletter “Pure heart, simple mind” at http://www.seishindo.org/newsletter. Contact Charlie at [email protected].