Alive and Awake

Ok, so we've established that change is good and that in order for you to create change in life, you need to have a proper foundation. The right attitude.

But there is a problem.

As you begin to make changes in your daily life you will see the fruits of those efforts and so will the people around you. Alright, no problem there. But your perspective changes about who you are and what you want to be and so does your view of people in your life.

The nuances of your friends and family can often become more pronounced because you've already traveled that road and moved on. Have you ever caught yourself thinking that someone close to you could really stand for an attitude change?

Sally, you should watch a movie I recently watched, its called The Secret and it could change your life...

Once we've tasted the sweetness of growth and positive light its natural to want everyone to walk the same path but unless it is what they want, it isn't going to happen.

In my experience, trying to change the people around you is the hardest thing you're every going to try to do. Why? Because you can't force them down a path that isn't their own.

We adopt and accept the impossible because we feel it is our mission to help everyone. Yes, its true that if they adopted different ways and ideas, they would live a better life but you can't control them. You can't make that choice for them. What you would do or how you would live if you were in their shoes isn't the point. It isn't your life--it is their own.

Give them the best gift you possibly could. Just be yourself and walk your path. They will see for themselves what happens in your life and will make their own choices. Besides, you don't need the distraction from your own purpose and goals.

[[Tim Draayer also writes about this and other subjects pertaining to personal growth at Live Your Best Life]]

Have you ever Googled your own name? How did you feel about the results?
Submitted by elen.

Wow, its been a long time since I took the time to settle back into this community and write to you all. I came this way to do just that and decided to check out the Question of The Day. They funny thing is that I actually do this often but mostly because I own a online travel agency and do allot of advertising and such online. But that isn't the only reason, I also write 4 other for 4 other blogs and contribute to blogging networks whenever I have the chanc too.

I like seeing the results that come up because it shows me what is working for me and what isn't. It also shows me who is linking to my blogs.

Tim
www.ytbtravelworldwide.com

Unless you are a comic book fan or perhaps even a fanatic you probably don't recognize the name Wesly Dobbs. If you are a comic book fan you might recognize Wesly Dobbs as the 'original Sandman' created in 1939. The Sandman has been a prominent figure in comics, books, and even music for many many years. All of them make reference to a person being influenced by or put into a dream like state when they are in contact with this figure--this Sandman.

All of the accounts, while varied have one quality that holds true in each: Sleep.

What does it mean to sleep?
We all sleep. In fact we all NEED sleep but I'm referring to a different brand of being asleep. The Sleeper I'm referring to is someone who drifts through the days of their life in an almost comatose state. The person who is asleep in this respect doesn't experience life. They believe that life is random and when the things they want from life aren't given to them, they are crushed. As a result they are often distanced from the world and in general they aren't very happy.

How to identify the Sleeper
The best way to find the symptoms of the Sleeper is to ask a series of questions. There are many questions that can bring the Sleeper out into the open, more than I can share in one sitting so here are some questions to begin.

Do they lack enthusiasm and/or passion? Passion and enthusiasm are often the product of experiences that we enjoy or knowing enough about ourselves to know what makes us passionate.

Are they an energy drain? Negative people draw the life out of other people rather than living life.

Do they have planned goals and dreams that they aim for? Are they actively doing what it takes to realize them? To participate in life one has to be aware of what they want and go after those things.

Has the person in question developed an introspective way of viewing themselves and their world view? Knowing your heart and listening to its voice is paramount to anyones efforts in realizing their potential.

Are they adverse to change? Change is a rocky road and avoiding it can cause anyone to become complacent.

How about confidence? Do they believe in themselves or do they have low self esteem? Low cofidence can often cause people to withdraw.

Answering yes to one or some of these questions doesn't mean you have a Sleeper on your hands but if you are answering in the affirmative to most of them chances are you do.

If you do, however, the best remedy is lots of love, support and guidance when asked for it. Most of all support them.

What was (or is) your favorite subject in school?

I haven't been in school for years but I always looked forward to spending time in my Art classes. Strangely enough I didn't really get along with any of the teachers that I had for those classes, especially in college but I always had a knack for free hand drawing and some other artistic endeavors.

I have done a couple paintings but unless it was watercolor, I was horrible at it.

I still look back on those classes with a fondness. Especially my High School independent study classes. The only reason that I didn't get along with my teachers is because my work was always viewed to be my own. I always felt that a teacher was there to teach you the technique but never to try and force you to employ it in the manner that they percieve it to be. After all, art is expression and my art is MY expression.

What do you usually do on Sunday?

Most Sundays I drive to a little town of about 300 residents, where my parents live, and spend time with them and other members of the family. The ritual since I moved out quite a few years ago has been that I go to church with them in the morning and have dinner with them afterwords.

I really enjoy this as it allows me time to see everyone that is dear to me but don't get to see since I live about 30+ miles from most of them. It will be at these gatherings that I will start to talk to them about my recent decision to create a family tree and delve into the past.

After spending much of the day with them I'll often spend the evenings and into the early morning with friends. Lately we've been having allot of bonefires which is allot of fun and relaxing.

Its the one day I have that I can just relax and do the things that I consider fun so they are usually packed.

During the months of November and December of last year I was going through a few changes in my life. Some of them good and some were bad. The bad ones weren't by any means a negative change. I would say that it had more to do with the fact that the changes were forced on me and where difficult to handle so the result was that I was thrown of center.

Amongst all of the difficulties I was facing, the fact that I wasn't happy with my job was really starting to weigh-in on me. We're talking freight train heavy.

One of the guys that I work with closely, Lonny Larson (he owns a golf business ... visit his website), had gotten involved in a Network Marketing company called XELR8. I didn't get involved right myself but after talking to a few of the guys that I work with (who did) I decided to take the plunge myself.

So here I am 8 months later ... the only one still working the business.