Advanced Life Skills — Wisdom from Outside the Box

Fear Lessons from a Bear, Rattlesnake, & New Yorker

by Jonathan on March 8, 2010

Fear is something we have all experienced at one time or another. Some people are so wrapped up in fear that they live in a constant state of paranoia. Others seem to experience very little fearful influence in their lives. What influences which side of the fear fence we are on?

I’ve always been fascinated by the subject of fear. On occasion, I’ve also been surprised by my own reaction to it. I’ve come to appreciate that there are different kinds of fear that serve different purposes and come from different sources. Some are healthy and some are not.

Should you fear a bear in the woods?

When I first moved to the forest, I knew that sooner or later I would encounter a bear. I played this scenario out in my mind and was convinced that when it happened, I would be able to put any fearful feelings out of the picture and make the most of the experience. I envisioned myself face-to-face with this bear in a state of peaceful coexistence and unspoken communication. And then, one day….

I was helping a neighbor run a fence line near a ridge on a steep hillside. We had just sat down on the uphill side of the fence for a water break. Up the hill just behind me I heard a rustling and turned around to see what it was. Suddenly, I saw this huge black face appear from out of nowhere. It looked right at me. He was close, very close, and it really caught me off guard.

Before I tell you what happened next, I invite you to stop for a minute and imagine yourself in this situation. This big bear is so close that with one leap he could be on you. How would you respond? Do you think you would be afraid? [continue reading]

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Seeking Wisdom from Outside the Box

March 4, 2010

By the time I turned 22 I was living a lifestyle that seemed completely unrealistic to everyone I knew. I had abandoned my suburban roots and struck out on my own. I was now living deep in the forest of southern Oregon. I had stripped my life down to the absolute minimum so I could start over from scratch. I was now living without electricity or a telephone, and my only source of running water was the mountain creek that flowed past my tent.
This was the beginning of a self-discovery quest that would forever change my perception of life. I [...]

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From Imagination to Realization – Bridging the Gap

March 2, 2010

Your Imagination is one of your greatest personal assets. It is a window into the world of possibility, and a powerful force toward the realization of a happier, more fulfilling life. When used purposefully, your imagination becomes the trigger of your creative abilities.
Without imagination we would never venture outside the box. Our reality would only exist within the confines of the status quo. What we tend to label as “fantasizing” is really a vital first step toward the realization of your dreams. Fantasy is a primary way that your imagination projects itself into the future and opens your mind to [...]

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The Art of Making Wise Decisions

February 26, 2010

When you are making decisions, what do you base them on? Have you ever found yourself searching for information and never finding the answers you really need? How do the questions you ask affect the decisions you make?
Sometimes it seems like the moment you go looking for meaningful answers to important questions so you can make a wise decision, things get confusing. Either there’s not enough information available, or there are so many opinions that you don’t know who to believe.

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Unchain Yourself from Conventional Thinking Myths

February 23, 2010

What if I said that conventional thinking is at best only a beginning, and often just leads to a dead end?
Not only that, but what if I also said that it has a way of limiting our beliefs and closing our minds to the possibility of living an extraordinary life of true happiness.
Why would I say such a thing?
Because conventional thinking is based on widely accepted assumptions which may, or may not, be true. Either way, these assumptions are designed to channel you into the vast sea of normality. In fact, conventional thinking is custom tailored to make you normal.
What’s [...]

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The Value of Networking With Others

February 20, 2010

Creating an online network is a great way to take full advantage of all the knowledge and resources available to you? It’s a way of allowing yourself to learn from others while they learn from you.
The reason I bring this up is because I’ve been reflecting on how much I learn from those around me, and how much I value their contribution to my life. I wanted to take this opportunity to give credit where credit is due, and to say thank you to those in my network of bloggers.
The concept of an online network
Succeeding online requires an incredible array [...]

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How Enthusiasm Was Secretly Sabotaging My Results

February 18, 2010

When the topic of self-sabotage comes up, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? The first thing I think of is internal disharmony and limiting beliefs. Makes sense, right.
Does that mean that people who don’t suffer from internal disharmony or limiting beliefs don’t have self-sabotaging issues? As it turns out, there are other ways we can sabotage our own results that have nothing to do with beliefs. How do I know?
This is somewhat embarrassing
Ever had one of those painful “Ah Ha” moments? You know the kind where you suddenly realize something about yourself that makes you feel like [...]

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7 Minutes on the Garden Isle of Kauai

February 16, 2010

It’s already been two weeks since we returned from the Hawaiian island of Kauai, also known as the Garden Isle. I know it’s been a rough winter for many of you, and I thought you might enjoy a few minutes in paradise.
These are some random highlights from our recent vacation. I move through them pretty quickly because I wanted to share the vast diversity that Kauai has to offer.

We had all kinds of weather while we were there, but the air and water temperature remained between 75 and 80 degrees for the most part. As you probably noticed, there are [...]

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How to Master Any Skill Right from the Start

February 11, 2010

We all would like to master a skill that we are unfamiliar with. Whether it’s cooking a great meal, learning a new language, or creating a successful business, mastering a skill helps us grow our character and increase our knowledge. Most people however want results as quick as possible. They want to become the best at something as fast as they can. It just doesn’t work that way. The good news is it doesn’t take rocket science to achieve mastery, but it will take a certain set of behaviors to get the job done.
Editor’s note: This is a guest post [...]

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Are You Creating What You Don’t Want?

February 8, 2010

All of us are very busy creating our personal reality. It’s a full-time job and we are all quite good at it. Problem is, most of the time we do this unconsciously. That means that there’s a strong likelihood we are creating things we don’t really want.
Because we are usually not consciously aware of our role in the creative process, there is a tendency to resist the idea that we are the ones creating it. This is especially true when we don’t like the reality we have created.
Until we acknowledge our role as the creator of our own reality we [...]

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