Living a bogus life?

Do you dream the sham was over? If you truly wish to evolve into a more authentic person, train yourself not to be bothered by how society reacts to your choices. This doesn't imply you should always rebel against rules society has established. Rather, it's up to you to explore and discover your true self. What would this mean? If the traits and skills you discover inside fit well into known social structures, that's fine. Yet, if what you learn about yourself doesn't seem compatible with what others feel you should do, you have no need to follow their goals.Do you ever question your own?

Your goal is ultimately to unveil your true character and to apply it to the best of your ability. In the minds of others, if you're unlike them, you may appear as a reactionary or non-conformist. It may seem you would disagree with other people just to disagree, even if what they said to you made sense. Sometimes people are right, for they can't always be wrong. The goal to disagree at all costs wouldn't propel you forward or help you better understand yourself.That would reinforce a bogus life.

If you see yourself as a non-conformist, you may also be a rebel. You may choose to live based on what you perceive works for you, regardless of what other people think. If you're a bit unconventional, and you evolve to follow your soul, you'll realize your goals, providing that you believe in them. You'll discover this simply requires time and concerted effort.

To become authentic then, you must stop living a bogus life. It's useful to learn to be natural, and not superficial or two-faced. If you don't express how you genuinely feel, people will not be able to trust or depend on you, and you'll feel uncomfortable in relationships without connection or depth. Do you realize the difference between when you're being true to yourself and when you're just pretending?

It's desirable to discern what feels right and what feels wrong at a given time, and to act on that. It's also desirable to re-connect with your inner self, especially if you feel alienated from what makes you who you are. Difficulties begin and end in you. Some people assume an insincere life would only lead to emptiness and unfulfillment. Why explore that hole if you could experience what it means to be real?

Chocolate destiny

Many people dream of chocolate, consider it an aphrodisiac and even legitimate food group. Chocolate lovers and supporters of its anti-oxidents may have reason to become concerned about a new chocolate debate in the U.S. that challenges the definition of chocolate itself. Should % cocoa in production mean some candies will be unable to be called "chocolate" food? Would this cause you to reflect more on the ingredients of what you consume? Or, do only the after-effects matter?

Currently, the U.S. rarely allows vegetable fats as ingredients of products labeled as "chocolate." BUT, this may be about to change. An industry trade group called the Grocery Manufacturers of America, has combiend with the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association of America, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and a variety of groups. They desire to incorporate cheap veggie oil and lower chocolate food value. This curious effort to lobby the FDA to weaken chocolate standards has won allies among industrial-meat interest groups. They include the National Cattlemen's Beef Assn., the National Meat Institute, National Fisheries Institute, the National Meat Canners Association. Why might such groups suddenly take an avid interest in chocolate?

Consolidated buying enables large cocoa users to wield a significant impact in economies. Big profits mean its easier for companies to take advantage of poorer nations, that rely on cocoa production as a key element in foreign exchange. ADM is a key producer of cocoa, cocoa butter and chocolate, as well as products from livestock feeds to distiller's grains and processed foods. This suggests the company is seeking a wider market influence than we imagine. As the result of ADM's efforts, Congress is leaning toward considering the latest docket agenda that would replace cocoa butter and dairy components of chocolate with cheaper vegetable fats or PGPR. This means reducing quantity of actual cocoa in the finished product and creating an unknown result. So much for encouraging public health awareness?

It's as yet uncertain if repercussions of this debate will affect companies that choose to use real cocoa butter and high quality cocoa. If markets are flooded with low-quality chocolate, the price of 'good stuff' may sky-rocket because of its increasing exclusivity. How many people realize major chocolate makers profit from unsustainable growing practices and slavery to bring you those one-dollar bars? Free trade chocolate is not the only kind that protects farmers.

Rather than eat chocolate meat because you think any chocolate is good for you, or your consumer choices don't matter, think again. The cheap stuff may become worse for your health than ever. Eating it may not support sustainable business that will positively influence the destiny of chocolate you know. Read labels! Many people hope higher cocoa % and cocoa butter content chocolate stays available. Fake chocolate is over-modified with emulsifiers and questionable sources of ingredients. The simpler the product, the less fillers, the tastier and more nutrititious it is. Chocolate lovers have the power to shape the confection's destiny.

Step away from self-sabotage

How far would you go to live your dreams? What risks do you contemplate? A sense of insecurity may cause you to avoid risks. Ask yourself why you hesitate to discover yourself. Drifting around in defeat and failure doesn't have to define your future. What looks like a mistake, isn't really a mistake at all. It's all in how you interpret it, what you choose to learn. Your family history may include serious physical illness, depression, addictions, negativity, disaster or 'wrong' choices. This track record doesn't mean you must forever identify with pain or failure. You aren't your relatives. Step away from self-sabotage. You define yourself through your own risks.

Consider the story of Santiago Munez. As an illegal Mexican-American immigrant, he worked as a gardener with his father to pay bills. His father repeatedly told Santiago he wasn’t capable of doing anything meaningful with his life and that he would always be underprivileged. When he was offered the chance of a lifetime, he chose to leave his family, his struggling life in Los Angeles and everything he knew to travel to England to a totally foreign world. His determination and belief in himself led him to exhilarating, fast-paced international soccer areans. He rose to be a star.

Consider the story of a Costa Rican boy who grew up with 17 siblings in a small apartment with a drug addicted mom. At age 15, he left for the U.S. with an older brother. About a year later, then living on the street, this 16 year old boy grew into one of the most violent gang leaders in New York’s history. At one point, a brave priest approached him to attend a church meeting. The boy reacted with ridicule. He took his gang to church, intending to disrupt the service. Yet, instead, he was moved beyond measure by a love and compassion he had never known. That turning point led him to become a missionary and evolve to counsel violent teens.

Consider the man who's relationship history includes three marriages and three divorces. After a bout with infidelity, another wife contracting cancer, and a quick fling and run to the chapel he'll seldom discuss, his view of good relationships has been severely damaged. Although employed with a stable income later in life, his self-esteem has progressively deteriorated. Yet, somewhere inside, he realized restlessness wasn't the answer. He realized hanging in limbo with a sense of self-defeat wasn't resulting in his desired reality. He took a hard look at himself, sought counselling, admitted accountability and clariifed his desires. Soon after, a kind woman entered his life. His new marriage is the most loving and meaningful yet.

Just because previous attempts to get what you wanted didn't work out, doesn't mean all is lost. You could be from a dysfunctional background, or maybe you've done things you aren't proud of. Even though you think you've repeatedly messed up, if you keep faith in your abilities, you nuture hope. If you aren't blaming the past, you may blame yourself. The only person who holds a grudge is you. You may know divorce, bankruptcy, even illegal acts. Your past choices don't have to define how you proceed from here. You decide whether you'll risk a new path. Isolate and reverse any self-defeating thoughts prevent you from doing what you aim to do.

Reach out for guidance. Learn how to put your hopes up. A positive, hopeful frame of mind will encourage you to take risks to lead a more fulfilling life. You have as many chances as you're willing to give yourself. As you give yourself another chance, you won't change the past, but you can ressurect your dreams and pursue them with new vigor. Move beyond disappointments and situations that discouraged you. You have a destiny. No matter what your perceived setbacks, you can rise above them.

Reprogram your mental computer

How often do you awaken thinking you're in for another lousy day with lousy people? Do you feel your dreams have been stolen, and heavy responsibilities unloaded on you by others? You may tell yourself it's okay make light of and exaggerate your perceived problems. Where you are now and with whom may not seem ideal. If you haven't yet learned to accept you can change your situation with your mind, you're about to discover an incredible inner power that will change you forever.

How are you being prepared for a more fulfilling life? You may be in a relationship that is painful and challenging. You may wonder how you'll make it through hardship. You may have a child with learning disabilities, a relative with serious health problems, a partner with whom you conflict. You may have stepfamily with whom you don't see eye-to-eye, you may sense interactions with friends and acquaintances are more a burden than a blessing. What kinds of obstacles do you face? How do you create your own illusions? When will you reshape them? What is your attitude?

1) No more blaming. It's not people around who have stolen your dreams and made your life harder than you think it should be. You may simply have lost or never really developed faith in yourself. The secret to strengthening relationships with yourself and others is to believe your attitude is convertible. Rechannel the energy inside.

2) Refrain from worsening your situation. If you feel guilty or afraid of more mistakes, you need to dig your heels in. As you complain, you underestimate your power to focus on the possible. As you focus on what isn't right, you permit your mindset to steal your joy. Those little things become huge. The more you talk about problems and distractions, the more depressed you'll get. Negativity drags you and other people down. Instead, focus on solutions to uplift your spirits and strengthen relationships. Attract the people you desire by talking about the qualities you seek. Discover these desirable qualities lie in people you know and in you. Learn to see it on the inside or it won't evolve into reality on the outside.

3) Stop allowing yourself to feel overwhelmed. You may have difficulties, but you are where you are to gain new insight into yourself. You have the necessary strength and resourcefulness. If you weren't in your current situation, you wouldn't have the chance to prove yourself or convince yourself that you can accomplish things you never even imagined. Shake off a sense of failure in your past. Choose to enjoy your life. Be grateful you're alive, that you have the abilities you have, and that people you meet teach you what they do about yourself. Don't give into temptation to worry. Reframe the situation based on what you gain, not on what you lose.

Empower yourself from within

You won't go anywhere today without something happening inside yourself.  You may dream of encountering people and situations, but does your life meet your expectations?  We have to stir ourselves up to get useful things out of whatever happens.  You have a reaction to every event and encounter, but are you aware?  How do you recognize the nature and impact of your reactions to the rest of your life? You have the advantage to open or close your own doors of opportunity.  The question is, do you empower yourself within as you can?

Ask yourself if your reactions are open-minded, compassionate and characterized by a desire to embrace uncertainty and make the best out of it.  Ask yourself if your reflex reaction is negative, angry, frustrated, fearful or doubtful.  Over time, you can learn to discern whether your reactions are subtle and unconscious, and whether you build up undesirable tension. What does this teach you?

If you think back to your past reactions to people you've met and events that have unfolded, you can detect the energy of your reactions, whether its built you up or dragged you down.  You can let go of mistakes you feel you've made, of triumphs which have enabled you to better yourself.  Everything that has happened, how you've been treated in relationships, what medical diagnosis has revealed, what your boss has reported, what you have felt about a sense of defeat, you can use your past to empower your future.  You have the strength you need to build a good attitude.  Your life may be difficult, but how does it make you stronger?

You may be discouraged by things you've seen and heard, yet, remind yourself that was a way to raise awareness of about what you have yet to do, but know you will inside your heart.  Consider Catherine Hamelin, an Australian physician who was so moved by health problems of fistulas in Ethiopia, she and her husband opened a women's hospital there to treat the problem.  They devoted their lives to this cause. 

Do you remember what you promised yourself? Move beyond the frustration you may feel because someone forgot what you asked them.  Don't focus on what hasn't been done for you. Recognize not what you don't have, but the skills and abilities you do, and what you have the power to do with it.  Gifts are meant to be valued and used for the betterment of yourself and others.  Be there for yourself, even if other people aren't supporting and encouraging your ideas. The insight you gain into yourself gives you strength and inspires positive people to enter and enrich your life.