Spiritual Growth: the Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times

 To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. 

Modern conveniences such as electronic equipments, gadgets, and tools as well as entertainment through television, magazines, and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives? 

To grow spiritually is to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations.

 Periodically examining your experiences, the decisions you make, the relationships you have, and the things you engage in provide useful insights on your life goals, on the good traits you must sustain and the bad traits you have to discard. Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. 

Like any skill, introspection can be learned; all it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truths that lie within you. Here are some pointers when you introspect: be objective, be forgiving of yourself, and focus on your areas for improvement.

To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. 

Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. 

In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. 

James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. 

Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianism, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of human life is to serve the Creator of all things.

 Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. 

We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth, but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm.

  Our lives have a purpose.

 This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live, and inanimate. Thus we call other people “brothers and sisters” even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. 

On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow.

 Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature.

 It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

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Las Vegas: How to Ensure Your Vacation is Full of Adventure and Kicks

 Las Vegas was for a long time the adult's playground. 

 Las Vegas was and is the gambling and drinking capitol of the world, and it was just about as Wild West as you could get in the twentieth century. 

 But in the last 20 years, Las Vegas has changed into a large amusement park for the whole family. There is such a wide variety of things to do inside and outside of Las Vegas apart from gambling, that it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity to see some of the beautiful sites around the area.

1) Think location.  

A hotel that is located directly on the strip will end up being much higher in price than a hotel just off the strip.  

Really, glamour is nice, but saving a couple of extra hundred dollars, in the long run, will allow you the opportunity to do some great things that had not been originally accounted for.

2) Outside of Las Vegas are some very nice deserts and mountains.  

Easy to get to and very close, it is nice to take a break from the gambling and partying to get out and visit a bit of nature.  Finding a hotel that is close to the Strip but also close to all the nature reserves is a big bonus when you are not having a good time at the casino tables.

3) Las Vegas is huge and continues to grow, so trying to visit an amusement park on the outskirts from the Strip, may tend to be a bit difficult, so try to aim to be a little farther from all the traffic if you are not just gambling and are doing other fun things.

4) When searching for a place to stay in Las Vegas, you will find that in just about any direction there will be hotels in which to stay, offering a drive of fewer than 10 minutes to the Strip plus there is free parking at most casinos on the Strip for when you are going to gamble.

5) Think Entertainment! 

Check out the available shows during the time you are in Vegas.

 If you are lucky, you might get to see some of the greatest entertainers such as Jay Leno, Edwin Murphy, Sting, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Jeniffer Lopez, Shakira, Madonna and many many more for just a few dollars. 

Sometimes, you might get a ticket dirt-cheap if you only look around and ask. Since Vegas is relatively small, it is worth your while to check out not just the shows that your hotel (however grand it is!) is planning for its customers, but also to check out those offered by the rest of the hotels in Las Vegas.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when traveling to Las Vegas. 

 If you are traveling with the family, you will want to remember that Las Vegas and Nevada offer excellent hotels and "http://www.gambling-portal.com" as well as some of the most undisturbed wildlife and nature reserves and fantastic camping in the area. 

If you wish to find out more about the casinos in Las Vegas or the entertainment and different adventures you could take part in, go to http://www.gambling-portal.com for detailed reviews, explanations and hot tips.

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Getting the Most out of today to improve your Personal Life

 Today is your only concern. 

You have no control over tomorrow or yesterday. Today you are going to get the most of your day while working to improve your personal life. 

To do this you will need to set up time management plans. You want to include your daily activities, work, and entertainment, relax time, family time and so on. 

When you set time plans, you are growing to spend your time wisely. You learn to live for now, instead of tomorrow or yesterday. 

As you write your plans, consider how you will deal with the world around you.

 If you are sweating their every move, you are wasting time. Instead, say, the world is their own, today is mine. If you have to work, then practice dealing with your fellow employees respectively.

 When you learn to respect, work in order, and try to get along it makes everyone’s life better. 

Each day you want to choose a couple of new strategies that help you to improve your personal life. For instance, if you are into a daily routine of drinking only one glass of water daily, move to drink two glasses.

 Build your health and you improve your personal life. 

If you do not exercise, plan today to walk thirty minutes. Plan to practice walking each day. The more effort you put into building a positive you, the more you will get from your works. “Faith without works is dead” the bible tells us. It has proven true far too many times to ignore. 

If you are attending school or working long hours, learn to manage your time as well. Overworking yourself is leading you nowhere but to poor health.  

You need to take time out for you. 

During work hours and school time, you can learn to deal with the complex problems first, as well as deal with the boring items first to eliminate stressing your day. 

Once you get past the tough, you will get moving toward the simple. Here you will find relief, even if you are studying hard or working long hours. Don’t put off what you can do today. Do it now, get it over with, and watch as you grow. 

As you plan, set a time that is best for you. For instance, if you are a student or worker and do your best job in the early morning, work hard then, and relax throughout the day. 

Tips for relaxing: 

You can stretch in the morning when you arise, stretch in the afternoon, and stretch at night to relax your muscles. 

Once you learn how to relax, you can move to find ways to reduce the time wasted. For instance, at night you can layout your clothes for the next day, prepare what you will take to save time. At what time you clear up time wasted you will find more time for productivity. 

Do you procrastinate? 

If so, stop. Procrastination is wasting time and building stress. Instead of putting it off, get it done now. You will be amazed at the free time you will accomplish by stop procrastinating. 

Do you spend long hours on the phone? 

If so, then you are forming a habit that will lead you to procrastinate, waste time, and put things off. Forget the phone. Set a time limit per phone call you take or make. 

Saying no is a great way to improve your personal life. Saying no is a positive attitude that takes you to success. If you say yes to each person that consumes your time, you will waste valuable time that guides you nowhere. 

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Self Improvement Advice

 If only self-improvement advice were free and scattered around everywhere, then there will be no problem regarding life, happiness and success. But then again, this is life. And it does not work that way. 

What would you do if you are trapped in an environment that you do not want to be in?  What if you are sick and tired of your job? 

What can we do to solve this dilemma? 

It is possible to take inspired and motivated action to survive your present situation and live the life you always dreamed of.

It is not that easy though.  You will have to come out of your comfort zones to discover potentials opportunities waiting for you.  You have to conquer your fear and take calculated risks. You have to stay focused and persevere despite the difficulties you will encounter.

Success does not come easy.  It takes heart, passion, and time. Experience is also a factor. The learning you get everybody becomes your foundation. These are the things we do not need to pay for. 

You have to work harder, dig deeper, and sacrifice more to attain your ambitions. But no, you do not have to hate the world and feel bad when you encounter a difficult situation.  

Just remember the Law of Attraction. 

If you hate the world, the world will hate you back.

What can you do? Below are some free advice to help you when facing difficult situations in life. They will also serve as your guide to improve yourself.

1. Learn to love your current situation.

  See all the positive sides of life.  Be enthusiastic.  Love your boss, your coworkers, your family, your friends, and even strangers that you meet on the streets. 

 

It may not be easy, but nothing is impossible with strong will power. 

Just do not fall in love so much that you totally forget about your dreams. Love, but try to hold on to reality.

2. Balance is the key.  

Dream and take some positive action to move you toward your goals. 

Take it one step at a time.  

While you are slowly starting on the long journey to success, be patient and be as enthusiastic as possible.  Do not hurry up too much that you totally forget how to enjoy life. Appreciate the beautiful things you will encounter on the journey.

One day, you will finally attain what you have always longed for.  But when that day comes, do not look down on those who belittled you.

 Forgive and forget.

3. Stay humble.  

Do not criticize others when you see that you are becoming more successful than they are. 

Try to help them. 

 Inject your positive aura into their personalities.  When you give, you will yield back equal or greater rewards.

4. Are you ready to begin the journey?  

Start it with the courage and desire to improve your life. Survive and go through it with persistence, enthusiasm, and positive thinking.  Finish it with a resounding bang of accomplishment and with the desire to help others succeed as well.

There are many other self-improvement advice that will get as you get on with your daily life. Take note that you are not alone. There are others in much more difficult situations.

 That is why is there will be a shortage of free advice about self-improvement you can get from other people who are only too happy to help.

Also follow my blog for more self-imprtovement tips! Becoming Your Boss

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How to rebuild your life after a Divorce? Find an Attorney +Find Out About Child Support

 How to find that right lawyer to handle your divorce can be difficult. There are many factors that you will want to look at. 

Once you have gotten over the pain and hurt, you need to consult a lawyer to advise you on what's fair. Some lawyers will try to go for all they can, but if you want to have a civilized divorce (if one is possible) you will want to go after only what is fair.

 There is a lot of stress that divorce can bring, but if you find the right attorney you will find that you won't have to deal with so much. You need a lawyer that will ease your stress levels. 

One thing that you need to look at when choosing an attorney is the fee. 

Is it going to cost you an arm and a leg?  If so, then you may just be adding more stress on top of things. 

Lawyers will let you know what the costs will be, and that will depend on the difficulty of the divorce. If you don't have anyone contesting a marriage then you may just want to hire the same lawyer and get things over with.

 If you want to have a sensible divorce, you don't want to go with the high paid lawyers. They will go for all they can so that they can get a better feel. You need to be as open and honest as possible when you first meet with the lawyer. This way you can have a good idea of what to look forward to.

You should also take their expertise into consideration too. If they have a good track record, you should hire them if you want to have a blood battle or get as much as possible. 

However, you can hire a lawyer outside of the divorce field.

 But if you get an experienced lawyer, they know the judges and how they react to certain cases. They will use all of their knowledge for your advantage. 

The fee may be more important than expertise, but you should know that you get what you pay for.

You may also want to ask around. Your friends will know a few lawyers that will be good candidates. A good lawyer will not hide anything. They will let their clients know that they would like to be referred and they may even talk about past clients. 

This will convince you of how experienced and good they are so that you will hire them. Their testimony may mean nothing, but if you ask around you will be able to get a good idea of what they are really like. 

Some lawyers are known for being hard and so if that's what you are looking for, then you should go with a lawyer that everyone speaks of.

You should also go with a lawyer that you like. It is important that you trust your lawyer. You need to be able to rely on them.

 You also need to know that their attitude goes along with yours. 

If you want a cutthroat lawyer, then make sure that have the personality to be, but if you just want to get it over with and be done than seek a lawyer who will go after what's fair.

When it comes to picking your lawyer, you will want to make sure that you have one in mind that will do exactly what you want. 

You also want a lawyer who will have the time to deal with all the stress of the divorce so you can easily wash your hands of it all. 

You will want a lawyer that understands how you feel and knows what you want and how you would like to get it.

Find Out About Child Support

You will need to see what your state laws say about child support. 

The key point to child support is to make sure that the children are taken care off when the parents separate. 

 After a divorce, some people can not provide enough for their family on one income, that is why you need to file for child support. 

The judge will make the child support reasonable by looking at what the father or mother makes along with the guardian of the child and then the needs of the child. 

The older a child gets, the more money you will pay because their needs increase. 

Those who refuse to pay their child support will be prosecuted. 

It is against the law to ignore the decisions of the courts. 

Usually, for child support, you get to see the children on a regular basis. 

Both parents have a duty towards the children. One will give support, and the other will use the support money to help their children's expenses. 

Usually, the one who has the least time with the child will pay the support. Sometimes it is the father and sometimes it is the mother. 

Your martial issues are never a concern in the child support because it doesn't matter what went wrong with the marriage, only that the child is taken care of. 

The only thing that matters is if the parent is responsible. 

If there was abuse, obviously they won't get custody and will end up paying child support regardless of visitation. 

You do not get to choose what you will pay, so you need to do your research when you first start the divorce proceedings. You will first want to make sure that your payment is scheduled. 

Your payment is due a certain time of the month and if they aren't on time, you may end up in jail for backed child support. Child support is only used to give the child shelter, food, and clothes. It may be used to purchase school supplies as well as other related things. 

Your payments will stop as soon as they turn 18. 

Some states require you to pay child support past 18 if they are still in high school or even college. If they become emancipated, you don't have to pay child support anymore either. 

Obviously, if the child dies, you no longer have to either.

Find out right away what you may be paying because if you don't pay then you will either go to jail, things will be auctioned off to pay your debt. 

You will have property seized by the government and then they sell the items to get the money. 

If you would like to keep your things or freedom, you may want to think about the amount you are willing to pay and then consult your lawyer on seeing if you can get the payment around that amount. Most people pay about $200-300 a month on child support per child. 

You may have to get a second job just to keep your payments coming. 

Don't worry about not getting the payment on time, because most employers will send it straight from your paycheck.

 Every check that you get, you will have a little bit taken each time for your child support bill. If you are used to living quite extravagant when you start paying child support, your spending will have to go down or that you can afford to live on what you make.

Child support is very serious and you will find that it isn't cheap.

 Consult your lawyer to find out what you should expect to pay.

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