Book of Redemption: Chapter 11 Purpose...
The 23 year truth IS impossible to ignore... There is absolutely no possibility America can achieve a military victory in The Endless War-- and The Worldwide Coronavirus Economic Crisis & THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS ARE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY... FIGHT & WIN THE WAR OF IDEAS... that began on 9.11.
AND... today is September 11th 2013. For the past week, Barack Obama has been using the awesome power of his office to make the case to The American People, Congress and The World... that the ONLY way forward for America is to initiate another war of choice.
What He should have said to America in the 7 days before the 12 year anniversary of 9-11 is this... "Look at all the damage The Endless-War is doing to US. It has changed US. It has changed me... and NOT for the better."
No idea is more 'Anti-American Dream' than Socialism... What's the best way to STOP Socialism in its track? Advance CAPITALISM... and... The American Dream. How do we advance Capitalism in America just in time to defeat this wave of Socialism?
One American Dream at a time.
It's finally time for ALL OF US to think about the idea that 'The Patriots' are a Team of Destiny. The New England Patriots aren't perfect. And no, they don't win every game. But in recent history, no team has won more games.
How do they do it? Well, no matter what role they play, each member of The Team is held to the highest possible standards at all times. And when the game is over, win or lose... there is no blame game- each member of the team takes their appropriate share of the responsibility, vows to get better and then, they all move on together to the next game.
The People in New England call this... 'The Patriot Way'.
Now we have it... a new metaphor, that provides Authentic American Leaders with the moral authority to ask each and every one of US to make a commitment to become 'Better'... in our own way of course and to start winning and losing together... 'The Patriot Way'.
America...
Tom Brady was suspended for 4 games and his backup Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt... AND... The New England Patriots still began The 2016 Season by winning their first three games... and went on to win another Super Bowl.
Why does this matter?
It matters because it's been far too long since America has had a leader who knew how to get the best out of The American people.
AND THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO LOSE.
It's time for those Americans who hate... 'The Patriots'... to think about this.
It's true... The Patriots broke the rules when 'SPYGATE' got its name... AND... when they played half an AFC Championship game against The Colts with under-inflated balls. But let's be honest... that's NOT why you hate The Patriots.
YOU HATE THE PATRIOTS...
Because they constantly beat the team that you love.
I say this to you... NOT because I love The Patriots.
NO, I say this to you because I love great metaphors. I say this to you because... in the eyes of most of The World... America is very much the team that 'they hate' for many of the same reasons that you hate the dominant, cocky, arrogant... CHEATING... Patriots.
To understand this... is to understand the nature of man... AND... the nature of and value of competition among teams and nations.
The truth is... The Patriots aren't going to stop winning to get you to stop hating them... AND... America shouldn't either. But some people believe America has grown too strong... AND... they believe that the weakening of America is the best 'way' to get the rest of The World to stop hating US.
I don't believe that is true... BUT... Barack Obama does.
Why? Because Barack Obama hates The Patriots too.
Why does this matter?
Because the intentional weakening of America through bad trade and climate deals... left too many Americans behind and because of that... too many Americans came to believe that drastic change was needed to...
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
And today is March 2nd 2019... Bob Kraft... owner of The New England Patriots and good friend of Donald Trump has decided NOT to do the right thing and accept responsibility for his role in supporting a prostitution ring... as his Patriots pursued their 6th championship ring.
Meaning... THE ELITISTS... keep giving America and the rest of the world good reason to HATE The Patriots and ignore the true value of... THE PATRIOT WAY.
***UPDATE: 11.19.2023***
ONCE UPON A TIME… The Patriots won just about every game because they had a tough smart coach and because… Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round and for a while led with The Underdog Spirit and a huge ‘chip on his shoulder’… and they won just about every game because Brady’s teammates knew… if Tom Brady could play in The NFL much, much, much better than anyone expected by outworking and outthinking everyone…
so could they.
Tom Brady led by example.
Unfortunately, today… THE PATRIOTS SUCK!!!!
The Patriots suck today because Bill Belichick let his Authoritarian instincts get the best of him. He wanted everyone to know The Patriots were HIS team and that he was the one in control.
So, he hired his son to be ‘his eyes and ears’ and chased Tom Brady away.
NOW… The Patriot Way... is dead in Foxboro and 2023’s biggest loser Bill Belichick is about be fired.
NOW… we have a much, much, much better metaphor than I could have possibly imagined back when The Patriots were “winning” just about every game.
IT'S TRUE... Over time, just about all everyone wanted to do is fight and once We started to fight among ourselves, well that was a dream come true for Al Qaeda and ISIS, because they could never have inflicted this type of damage on America all on their own. So it's finally time for Americans to stop fighting with one another and start working together to 'Help Save The American Dream'... before it's too late!
Looking back on the 22 years since 9-11... it's easy to see that America's biggest mistake was to fight this fight by constantly sending America's brave men and women into harm’s way and with unmanned drones and with limitless cash borrowed from China. After all, this fight was then and is now... A War of Ideas.
And since 9-11, in too many places and in too many ways, America has sacrificed... OUR BEST IDEAS... for The Idea of Endless-War and in doing so We have lost Our Moral Authority which has always been America's 'secret' weapon of choice.
In 2005, NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman published a book titled "The World is Flat". His theory... a shift in technology and a shift in international infrastructure has created a world where any country can compete with the United States in areas that were once solely within our domain. China, India, Indonesia... and now most of the rest of the world... possess many of the same technological abilities as America does... and because of this, these nations along with other nations such as Brazil, have become undeniable competitors.
Well I believe... "The Country is Flat"... as the same principles that make it possible for China and India to rise out of relative poverty and become international leaders, allow everyone... even unlikely individuals within this Country to advance quickly and become economic, social or political leaders.
Social advantages and high priced educations formerly divided the "haves and the have nots" but now because of the internet, knowledge and participation rely almost entirely on a person's desire for it.
What once took a generation or more can be accomplished within a mere decade or less. And because of this the current social and economic separation within our society can be made to disappear by creating a shift--- or perhaps more to the point--- by creating a 'rift' in individual and cultural expectations of 'The New Possible'.
In Friedman's "Flat World", it is conceivable that the New... "New Deal" he calls for could come from absolutely anywhere.
So it is with great humility that I profess that it comes from me and from you... IF... We can All find a way to break the emotional and physical bonds that keep us fearful and among the uninspired.
After all, without inspired action... The Prayers of Our Nation will go unanswered.
Today, I have Re-Branding America on my mind and first to mind is not better... just first. First for better and sometimes first to worst. America goes first to the moon... to protect freedom... to feed the hungry. I'm sure you understand it's in the nature of Americans to go first. But to understand Re-Branding America we must start with a basic understanding of "why now?"
"Why now?" should be first on everyone's mind as we try and figure out why we are having so much trouble now with economic corruption... with politicians who sell US out... with terrorism... with obesity... with kids who don't want to learn... with divorce rates at 50%... with college dropout rates over 40%... with Russia claiming "America as first among equals" with only the nuclear option to prove their equality to US.
For thousands of years mankind lived without much improvement in science or technology and then Boom the past two hundred and forty seven, well more to the point the last thirty or so years have been Spectacular.
But "Why Now? Why not two hundred or a thousand years before or two hundred or a thousand years from now?"
July 4th 1776... That day began our trek towards advanced science and technology. When "average" men began listening to their imagination and applied their courage to more than just war. But it wasn't until the past 30 or so years when women and minorities were first "legally" and socially allowed then expected to participate and contribute. Well, that's when things really got spectacular!
But there were two sides to that day when The Declaration of Independence was signed. It was clear that "all" really didn't mean All... so the signing also began a Hero's Journey for America and a race to the day when all really does mean All... and the time has come to make that day Today. Because All of the events that threaten Americans today, are tied to the successful completion of that Hero's Journey and the Glory of the Day when the Golden Ring of Equality is made Whole.
The most dangerous words ever spoken or thought are these: "You think you are better than me?"
Hear them, read them or see them on the face of someone in an ally, a bar room, a bedroom or a boardroom... or a UN negotiating room... or in an online chat-room of any hate group and you have got big trouble on your hands. Period. This festering energy is exactly the energy that fuels Osama bin Laden's filthy perversion of Islam. This festering energy... is exactly the energy that fuels individual self loathing and self defeat and why we do the things we do even when we know these things are bad for US.
Right now the American "Brand" reflects too much of the stuff we know is bad for US. And to too much of the world The American Brand reflects the idea of the "War on Terror" and they understand that idea loud and clear... America knows how to wage war. But the world also needs to know, We know how important their Equality is to them and to US and when we Wage War we do so to protect Everyone's Equality.
This is how we win the War against Terrorism, by drawing "the battle line on equality" and by extension Re-brand America as a Nation who goes first so others can go next.
And for those nations who don't like the idea of America always going first... Let The Race to a Better Place Begin!
Some Dream Researchers have found, that our nighttime dreams are "learning simulators"... teaching us what we need to know to overcome our challenges and achieve our goals. Although most dream research is in the early stages and so much is unknown about each dream, one thing I know about dreams is this: Your Purpose or American Dream gives purpose, order and meaning to your nighttime dreams.
How do I know this?
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It's 3:33am and I just woke up from a dream and I won't sleep again until I write about dreams and what they mean. You would be amazed at how much of W.A.Y. was written at 3am or right after a dream.
Don’t be overly concerned with how and why, but realize that purposeful ideas have been presented to you throughout your life through your daytime intuition and your nighttime dreams or through thought impulses and your inner dialogue. Ideas will flash in and out of your conscious thinking providing you with creative perspective and understanding of issues and opportunities.
This is inspiration and in these mental images resides your purpose.
Your daydreams may have caused you to make a statement like “wouldn’t it be great if…” or maybe you tossed it out to a friend, a co-worker or family member “wanna hear a great idea? What if we…” and because they didn’t see it, or want to help you with it, or even told you were an idiot for thinking that way, you dropped it, pulled back and allowed your purpose to recede. Maybe that idea wasn’t your purpose, but a step towards it. Taking that step may have allowed you to recognize something in yourself that you were unaware was there. Not taking that step only fed your skeptical self and provided proof to others that your ideas were foolish. Only you can determine what is purposeful to you.
Do not be concerned about what others will think of your mission or that it might not provide the social status that has always appealed to you. Do what you know to be right.
Your connection to a meaningful undertaking may lead you to write a great novel, re-design an economic system for third world countries or to invent an important cure for cancer but it doesn’t need to be. Perhaps you will finally fully embrace the emotional, financial and physical needs of your family. You might find that with a strong sense of purpose in your family you will find energy for a renewed focus and commitment missing from your current work.
With new courage you will demonstrate commitment to the brilliance of your ideas and be rewarded with increased income and self-esteem… in your current position possibly, but there is always a place for inspired and committed people if your employer is slow to respond.
Your purposeful endeavor may result in traditional trappings of success like money, recognition or power, but it doesn’t begin there. It begins with a decision to pursue something that you know to be meaningful even in the face of skepticism and lack of obvious rewards. It is the power of the idea that will bring the accomplishment necessary for what you seek (including wealth).
Just wanting and wishing for the end result without possessing a distinguishing idea will bring frustration and discontent.
Choose what is right for You!
Whether you will clearly define your purpose and begin to align your life and actions depends upon your willingness to let hope open your heart and mind. By casting aside reoccurring thoughts of hurt, disappointment and failure, hope clears a path for inspiration and strength.
Be wary of others who profess a direction or a plan for your life... as more often than not these ideas are wrought with manipulation. You and you alone must decide what is important and in your best interest. It will not happen by picking the “best available option” that others present to you. It will come by grabbing hold of an idea that inspires your thoughts and leads you towards courageous action. Rarely can others provide your access to those types of positions.
Opportunities will be presented to you and of these you will find many difficult to say no to. But failure to do so may result in a tragic loss of self-determination. Resist the temptation of the easy alternative, while it may provide relative comfort and stability, it cannot give you an outlet for your best thoughts and abilities.
Remember This: Just as horses need to run to stay healthy, people need to maximize their thoughts to stay healthy. Allowing others to determine your path will only limit your thinking and wellness.
Being “good” at something... does not mean that it will bring you satisfaction even if you are well paid. The ego loves to be stroked and is afraid of risk of exposure. So it convinces you to stay within your "comfort zone" where success is predictable. This is where many people with an abundance of potential get lost. Your talents may provide position, stature and security that are difficult to “risk” losing. Yet, if they do not provide immense meaning to you they will never reveal the full potential of your life.
Learning to make the determination of what is right for you must be done in the face of relative success. Because real success and satisfaction are never relative and growth always exposes your Self to risk and criticism.
Any place where proven talent, education and experience abounds you can be sure self expansion has slowed… Sometimes to a trickle. When that happens self-defeat begins to seep in… especially here in America where so many competent people have turned to comfort and away from the discomfort of expansion. Purposeful self-expansion and discomfort is the only way to relieve the discontent that comes from mundane jobs and lives.
There is widespread and growing discontent building among the already “Successful” people of the world. This is really good news because within this group of proven achievers are the authentic leaders that humanity has been waiting for. Never before have so many educated and talented people walked the face of the earth. As they look for ways to find satisfaction... some will turn to extramarital affairs but a larger group will turn to the affairs of the world.
A medium income (especially for the new elite)… can buy stuff. Maybe buy things that were never available in their childhood. With this novel feeling of commercial viability comes a false sense of pride in material possessions and for too many… the only thing “proven” is the capability carrying monthly payments on homes, cars and vacations that will never be bought with cash… without of course more expansion.
And instead of emotional freedom… there is financial stress and the hard to overcome perception that monthly payments and a résumé are the most important factors in determining career opportunities.
Those burdened with past indebtedness have a really hard time considering inspirational ventures when financial insecurity is so close by… so learn to travel light.
Your Purpose will generate the energy that will propel and guide you to great things and it awaits your full recognition and definition. Your understanding of it will eliminate the randomness of your behavior which makes finding lasting satisfaction so difficult.
All people are compelled to move towards purposeful behavior but most resist. This lack of alignment of thoughts and actions with meaning is the fundamental cause of most discontent.
The reasons for not pursuing a purposeful life are many and extremely complex, yet the resolution is simple: Do what you know is Right!
Psychologists, philosophers and other behavioral experts agree that the secret to a successful life is in the decisions that a person makes.
Determination of what is purposeful or 'on purpose' will guide all of your decisions. Make this choice... the choice to live 'on purpose' and your life will come to reflect this choice over time. Fail to consciously make that choice and over time your life will come to reflect that failure to choose. So choose well!
Whether you choose to believe that your purpose is part of an ordained destiny or that it is self-determined really doesn’t matter to me.
Some will use the term “calling” and others inspiration and still more feel it, but have no words to describe it. Maybe there is more than one purposeful pursuit for an individual. Maybe there isn’t. However, failure to define for yourself what is purposeful will negatively affect the way you move throughout life.
Some paths will bring you closer and others further away. But if your life is full of random decisions and experiences you must realize that you are surely drifting away. As a result you should expect to experience ongoing dissatisfaction and turmoil within relationships at home and work, not to mention a barrage of negative emotions such as fear, anger, jealousy and worry. This vicious cycle creates a reactionary existence and it is difficult and tiring.
As you have learned the most common (yet faulty) alternative to this strife for most people is to seek comfort. They look for it in food, alcohol, vacations and other distractions to help alleviate the pressure of life’s concerns.
Are you overweight from “stress eating”? Are you in debt from over use of credit cards? It is amazing. These outlets then become additional sources of stress as inflated interest rates and waistlines can wreak havoc on physical and emotional health.
Make the decision to define a purposeful pursuit and end this painful cycle.
Your Life...
How will you look back on your life at the end? Will you know satisfaction or will you know regret? Your life… is exactly what those words imply. You own it now and at the end when there is no more time or second chances. Will you move towards satisfaction or will you die in envy of those people who are purposeful and fulfilled? Instead of a few regrets will you have many?
This is your decision… to live a purposeful existence or not.
Purpose charts the course of your life by which… All decisions have context…All time spent worthwhile… All relationships meaningful… All Inspired ideas valuable.
With clarity of purpose you will become what you feel is possible regardless of past hurt, failures and intimidation. Without purpose you will always feel that there is something more for you to do with your life without ever knowing what it was. You will pass on without having delivered your contribution.
Purpose provides the seeds of strength where weakness prevailed. Purpose provides the seeds of intelligence when little has been demonstrated. Purpose provides the seeds of courage when strong character has been elusive.
In the face of adversity and doubt… purpose fends off detractors. Purposeful people are fueled by an energy known to very few. This energy transforms life into what is possible without regard for what has been done. The now and the future become your friend and the past obsolete. Seeds of knowledge are the product of your experiences instead of scars and baggage.
Manipulation...
Gaining the advantage of power and money is usually at the root of all manipulation regardless of the intent to do right or wrong. I recognize that the potential risk of manipulation is extremely high when discussing Inspiration, purpose and inner callings.
Turn on the television and you will see this manipulation as blatant as can be. Late night pitchmen with the latest get rich quick scheme or Men and women of God telling you to “plant a seed of money” and it will grow (their bank account). What they fail to tell you is that "the seed" of a great business or spiritual enlightenment has already been planted within you... and they have absolutely nothing to do with you finding it and making it grow.
Hold on to your money, because once you find "it" (your life's purpose) your money will come in handy.
Good people are constantly assaulted and taken advantage of because they seek more abundance in their lives. Because of this, I have tried to provide this information without the use of manipulative ideas and concepts. The single most effective way to demonstrate my commitment to this principle is to provide W.A.Y. free online.
The real story here is about you...
When you are done reading W.A.Y. if you are thinking about me and my life... well, let's just say one of us did something wrong.
The purpose for sharing personal experiences and stories is a simple one... I just don't know how to say what needs to said without these stories. If I could... I would. I have always been a very, very private person, and disclosing personal information comes with a deep sense of humility and at times a great deal of discomfort. But there comes a time for all of us when we will have to look back on our lives... and I don't want to look back on mine and regret holding something back... from you.
I have watched the negative effects of motivational speakers using self-experiences as a foundation for motivating others. In an attempt to make a connection to the conditions of their audience, speakers tell personal hardship stories. In many cases these stories do “touch” some portion of the audience but only serve to disenfranchise the rest. The tall, thin, handsome, white, educated, etc. etc. etc. will never truly "connect" with a large audience if the emphasis is on the speaker... especially if the audience is "The World" and all the people in it.
What you see when you look at anyone is the result of their upbringing and their thoughts and efforts over time and it is difficult to believe that these people didn’t always possess these special abilities. And because your demonstrated talents may be less than theirs (for now anyway) it is hard to imagine that within you are the same seeds of potential greatness…even though they are.
Remember This: It is most important for you to look not at others for strength and courage but to yourself.
It is there. Do not be distracted by the "differences" of others as you look for it.
It is our stories that show us how different and similar we truly are. The "value" in any person's story depends on what context you use to decipher the hidden codes and meaning found in any story. From time to time I will make reference to meaningful events in my life as they helped to reveal my understanding of certain “truths” that I wish to convey to you but take them only at face value and determine their usefulness for yourself.
It is not now, nor will it ever be my intent to tell you that I know what your "truth" is. No, the purpose for my words is to encourage you to go looking for your own words of wisdom... even if they directly contradict mine.
Most people spend their entire lives trying to determine who they can trust. If you have been burned by a friend or family member you know it is painful. If you have taken wrong advice, from trusted sources or strangers you know that can be hurtful and the consequences for doing so can be lasting.
Still on and on goes this process of weeding out the ideas and influence of the under qualified and ill-intended.
Perhaps it is a fundamental mistrust of one’s self which causes this enduring search for ideas, access and knowledge provided by others who are all too willing to put forth their worthless opinions.
While seeking “whatever” from others you become vulnerable. And this vulnerability exposes any character weakness or lack of faith... you may have in your "Self" and it also chokes the flow of Inspiration and self-determination.
To increase your 'Rate of Emotional Freedom'... the most overlooked aspect of The 'secret' Dream Code- you must be free of the sway of others.
For those who fail to understand this simple truth, the words... 'Wisdom is Always Yours' will always ring hollow.