Tranquil Hearts

Visualize Success!

2012-02-24T12:41:00.000-06:00

Visualizing is like daydreaming, only instead of thinking about whatever comes to mind, it is carefully thought out and planned for a purpose.

This can be very powerful if a person can focus and be of one mind about the goal, because the human mind cannot tell the difference between actually doing the tangible activity and just thinking about it.

When a person places success in the unconscious programing, he or she makes better decisions and creates more opportunities.

~ For more information, read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program For Achieving Peace, that is available at www.tranquilhearts.com

Love Yourself By Changing Yourself

2012-02-17T09:36:00.000-06:00

When you have self love, you will want to be the best person you can.

One way to create this improvement is to write a journal about your life to find areas of resistance, doubts or negative thoughts that need to be changed.

After separating out these areas to change, you can develop a counter argument for each one and put these on index cards to read over and over until your thoughts are changed.

~ For more information, read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program For Achieving Peace, that is available at www.tranquilhearts.com

Make Great Decisions!

2012-02-10T19:12:00.000-06:00

Since beliefs are mostly "opinions masquerading as facts," people must decide what they want to think for a successful life. To make a decision on what to think and do, people need to consider:

1) What experience they want and is it realistic.

2) Do they have enough information on all the possibilities and have they considered the consequences.

3) When people are unemotional and objective, they think much better, so always take a relaxation break to calm down if needed.

~ For more information read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program For Achieving Peace, that is available at www.tranquilhearts.com

An Extraordinary Life!

2012-02-03T12:39:00.000-06:00

Because unconscious programming determines the recognition of input, people need to address their limitations by expanding their "box of acceptable reality data."

When people open their minds to new and different experiences without judgment, they can find the correct reality for love and success.

Become an open-minded adventurer to create the extraordinary life!

~ For more information, read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program for Achieving Peace, that is available at www.tranquilhearts.com

Enjoy Your Partner!

2012-01-27T13:48:00.000-06:00

In beneficial partnerships, people need to be friends, which means liking, enjoying, respecting and accepting each other.

All relationships can be loving and fair, when people compromise on issues, strive for balance with give and take, work as a team, listen and discuss concerns in a fact-finding way, give sincere compliments and use active, objective communication.

While a great partnership takes work, it is well worth the effort!

~ For more information, read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program For Achieving Peace, that is available at www.tranquilhearts.com

Reduce Dramas and Stay Healthy

2012-01-20T10:18:00.000-06:00

People wear out their bodies from excessive emotion due to constantly activating the Fight or Flight Syndrome.

When the mind perceives danger and physically creates changes in the body for a person to run or fight, this constant repeated mental and physical stress causes internal damage that wears the body out.

The American Medical Association says that stress causes about 80% of illnesses and 60% of people die from their stress. So before reacting to a situation, people should ask themselves if this is worth being sick or dying over.

~ For more information, read my ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program For Achieving Peace, available at www.tranquilhearts.com

Change Your Opinions and Be Happy

2012-01-14T09:23:00.000-06:00

Since most facts are created by a group consensus and fully established when accepted by the society with no proof necessary, people need to search for their truth.

People must realize that most of the unhelpful information received has been opinions masquerading as truths that can be replaced.

Unbeneficial beliefs make people very unhappy with all the subjective information that does not agree with the real self inside. People can change this outcome and improve their lives by analyzing everything; like thoughts, behavior, emotions, life, dreams, relationships, etc.

~ From the ebook, Tranquil Hearts Program for Achieving Peace, available on my website: www.tranquilhearts.com

Sparkle For God In The New Year

2012-01-06T10:19:00.000-06:00

"All living creatures are, so to speak, sparks from the radiance of God's brilliance, and these sparks emerge from God like rays of the sun."

~ by St. Hildegard of Bingen

Create Peaceful Holidays

2011-12-23T15:46:00.000-06:00

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

~ John 14:27

New eBook Announcement!

2011-12-16T12:52:00.000-06:00

The Tranquil Hearts Program for Achieving Peace is now for sale through my website. This book explains a brief overview of how life works and teaches skills on how to become truly happy. I wish I could have read this book 30 years ago. I guarantee it will change your life!

Have A Peaceful Holiday

2011-12-16T12:20:00.000-06:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 4:6-7

Soul Surfer - A Must See Film!

2011-12-09T18:25:00.000-06:00

The movie, Soul Surfer, is the inspirational true story of Bethany Hamilton based on her book by the same name. When Bethany was 13 years old, she lost her arm in a shark attack when she was surfing with friends. It was a miracle she survived.

At 13, Bethany had a promising career as a professional surfer and was a deeply spiritual Christian that prayed for God to use her. The sudden tragic accident did not change her goals. She went on with her surfing career to become a champion and gained world-wide appeal because she only had one arm.

Bethany believes that her mission is to inspire others and spread God's Word. She turned her loss into a plus through faith and courage.

Holiday Thanks

2011-12-02T15:35:00.000-06:00

This last Thanksgiving I decided to visit my relatives, but instead of sending them love to change them, I decided to just let everyone be themselves. At the holidays last year, I discovered that it would take me about two hours of mentally sending love to change my crabby relatives into pleasant company.

This year I wanted to practice acceptance, which would allow me to experience them as they really are with clarity and understanding. At the first house, I had a delicious meal, learned about football and received a lecture on my selfishness. At my next family stop, I enjoyed good company and conversation but had to leave early to deliver medicine to my daughter, since she was home sick.

On the way there, my car caught on fire, so I pulled off the road, ran from it and dialed 911. Some wonderful strangers stopped to help and would not leave until after the fire truck left and the tow truck arrived. The firemen were happy to be there and help! They even joked about needing some exercise after their big Thanksgiving Day meal and would not leave until the tow truck arrived.

After meeting all of these great people in my time of crisis, I felt like a part of a community of love and support. This had been a wonderful ending to a day set aside for thanks, and I certainly felt grateful to God for my variety of life experiences.

Free Holiday Stress Relief

2011-11-30T11:46:00.000-06:00

If you are feeling stressed for the holidays, I am offering a gift of free advising through email until February 1, 2012.

Just put "Free Holiday Advice" in the subject line of your email, and I will be sure to answer you within a few days. All correspondences are confidential and I am very accepting, so feel free to express your concerns.

Happy Holidays,
Susan

Be Love

2011-11-18T13:23:00.000-06:00

Love is not a feeling. It is ceasing to see the self as separate. I experience you as part of myself. When I experience and love myself, that is not a feeling either; it is the agape-love, whereby I love you and all beings as myself. I am participating in the Creator's love who makes His sun to shine and His rain to fall on all alike; all participate in this kind of love. It involves compassion, feelings.

~ from the book, Praying Naked; The Spirituality of Anthony De Mello by J. Francis Stroud, S.J.

Be Uncomfortable And Experience God!

2011-11-11T15:37:00.000-06:00

How many times have I told You, no, God?

How many times because I was too tired, too insecure, too uncertain, too busy, or too selfish have I walked right past Your divine appointment for me and missed experiencing You?

~ from the book, What Happens When Women Say Yes To God, by Lysa Terkeurst

Partner Up With God

2011-11-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Create Positive Energy With Calmness and Patience

2011-10-28T16:13:00.000-05:00

Suppose you are in the desert, and you only have one glass of muddy water. You have to transform the muddy water into clear water to drink, you cannot just throw it away. So you let it settle for a while, and clear water will appear. In the same way, we have to convert anger into some kind of energy that is more constructive, because anger is you. Without anger you have nothing left. That is the work of meditation.

~ From the book, Being Peace, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Suffering Teaches Us About Love

2011-10-21T08:48:00.000-05:00

Without suffering, we do not have the opportunity to cultivate compassion and understanding; and without understanding, there can be no true love.

~ From the book, You Are Here, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Business Is About Love

2011-10-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

If you understand your employees, you will be able to love, accept, and care for them. You want more than employees; you want allies, allies on the path of service.

Once we have created good communication and harmony in our workplace, we can extend it to our customers or constituents, and finally to the larger community.

~ From the book, The Art of Power, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Culture Determines Our Programming

2011-10-07T17:51:00.000-05:00

Western children are encouraged to sleep alone and to move as quickly as possible toward independence in their thinking and choices to be unfettered free agents with autonomous identities and masters of their universes. Eastern children are taught to have a strong sense of connection to others and only see themselves in relationship to the whole as represented by their family, neighborhood, culture, Tao, etc., so context becomes important, not the individuals.

~ From The Bond: Connecting Through The Space Between Us by Lynne McTaggart

History Shows That Evil Has Its Limit

2011-09-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Evil carries the seed of its own destruction. In the long run, right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.

It can go a long way, but then it reaches its limit.

~ From "Strength to Love," by Martin Luther King, Jr.

God Choose You

2011-09-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

God knew you, loved you, and chose you before there was an angel, before there was a world, a universe or a star.

From ~ Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality

Eliminate the Negativity & Be Healthy

2011-09-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again.

Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

John 5:14

All Creation Has Salvation!

2011-09-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Mark 16:15

Have Faith! Expect Miracles! Grab Jesus's Hand!

2011-09-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," He said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14:28-31

Be Right With God so He Will Protect and Provide

2011-08-26T08:20:00.000-05:00

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:44-45

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Matthew 7:1

Choose God and He Will Provide

2011-08-19T15:57:00.000-05:00

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33-34

Build Faith For Safety

2011-08-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

Do Not Forget God!

2011-07-29T17:37:00.000-05:00

When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied,
they became proud;
then they forgot me.

Hosea: 13:6

God Always Knew Us

2011-07-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5

Ask To Go Beyond Your Limits

2011-07-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16

Trust God

2011-07-08T12:45:00.000-05:00

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 11:28

A Balanced Life

2011-07-01T17:33:00.000-05:00

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.

The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
Ecclesiastes 7:18

God's Voice

2011-06-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I Kings 19:12

Be Worry Free

2011-06-17T13:08:00.000-05:00

Anyone can meditate and pray doubts and worries away.

Pride

2011-06-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

The ego is like a hungry monster, never satisfied and always wanting more.

Tame this inner beast with selective, limited feedings.

Be Love

2011-06-03T13:49:00.000-05:00

Living without love is a life missed.

To know love, be loving.

An Easy Life

2011-05-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

Make life easy by choosing God. He is available 24/7!

Use Free Will

2011-05-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Without using a conscious free will, every person is his or her own prisoner and jailer.

Free the mind by questioning and knowing the source of negative emotions and behaviors to create miraculous change.

Freedom!

2011-05-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

Release your limiting beliefs and create freedom!

eBook Preview - Walking With God

2011-05-06T13:48:00.002-05:00

Chapter 1 – A Solid Foundation

While my quest did discover some truth, as I explained in Part I of this ebook, I realized its scarcity and the overwhelming amount of opinions masquerading as facts. We live in a world of illusions and games to fool others and ourselves. This provided lots of options for changing my beliefs to beneficial ones, but I needed a foundation. Then I met God and felt inner peace. I was reborn, but God had work for me!

1) What truth can I build upon?
2) If most things are an illusion, what is the point?
3) Since God filled me with His love and peace, do I still need to suffer?
4) Why is God telling me I have to serve others and start a business?
5) What is the purpose of life?

God is Truth and created All in existence from His Great Love to be both One with Him and individuals. When humans come into this physical world, they must be true to themselves, use their talents and follow their destiny, which is the same as God’s will. People can get both His “great peace that surpasses all understanding” and a lesson of illusion from the Devil. God loves all equally and unconditionally, but not as a human loves, because He sees the big picture and understands the purpose of suffering and work. Humans were created to spiritually evolve and return for eternity through the loving service to others, but with His gift of free will, there are lots of options for both growth and regression.

Want to read more? The entire ebook From Terror To Tranquility Part II: Walking With God is now available for purchase and download on my website at www.tranquilhearts.com.

Discipline the Mind

2011-05-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

I fixed my computer problems when I discovered how my random thoughts were the culprit.

Discipline my mind and fix technology!

Creative Living

2011-04-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

A person must believe at both a conscious and unconscious level to create something out of nothing.

Enlightenment

2011-04-15T12:59:00.000-05:00

Building spiritual awareness causes a person to see the world with new eyes and know its limitless possibilities for manifestation.

Stillness

2011-04-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

Be still and meditate to relax the mind, heal the body and develop the spirit.

Struggles

2011-04-01T19:59:00.001-05:00

Life's trials and tribulations are the necessary gifts of love from God.

Choose Happiness

2011-03-25T16:56:00.000-05:00

Life offers happiness and misery, so choose to think about happy things while you plan how to change the miserable ones.

The Power of Silence

2011-03-18T11:56:00.000-05:00

Internal silence disciplines the mind, heals the body and builds a relationship with God.

Free Ebook

2011-03-11T21:58:00.000-06:00

Read about the first fifty years of struggle in my ebook, From Terror to Tranquility, on my search for truth and inner peace with God for Free off my website - www.tranquilhearts.com.

Wisdom

2011-03-04T14:46:00.000-06:00

Do not just learn, one must integrate and apply knowledge to gain wisdom.

Placing Value

2011-02-25T11:15:00.000-06:00

Nothing really has value unless God assigns it one.

Illusive Truth

2011-02-18T21:46:00.000-06:00

Ever creating theories and opinions but no closer to the truth became my understanding of human reality.

Walk In Faith

2011-02-11T16:23:00.001-06:00

Fear rules this world, so walk in faith, awareness, enlightenment and love to avoid a life of terror.

Hold The Balance

2011-02-05T14:53:00.000-06:00

This world is full of beauty and sorrow, so hold the balance that feels right for you!

Know Reality

2011-01-29T08:08:00.000-06:00

Go with the flow of life by accepting and understanding reality so beneficial decisions will be made to move a person forward.

The Journey

2011-01-22T13:05:00.000-06:00

A journey is only as joyful as its participants.

Be the joy and then continue.

God, The Author

2011-01-14T13:33:00.000-06:00

Like all good actors, humans bring God's story to life with their emotions and actions.

What role do you play?

Think!

2011-01-07T12:37:00.000-06:00

Learn to think.

If you do not know how to think, someone else will do your thinking for you, and they usually will not have your best interests at heart.

New Year's Resolution

2010-12-31T10:05:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of my spiritual existence, physical life and free will.

Please help me to open my mind and heart, so I truly fulfill these gifts for the benefit of all.

As a servant of Jesus, I pray.

Amen

Gift of Free Advice

2010-12-21T13:16:00.000-06:00

Reduce worry by calling or emailing for a Free Gift of Advice for the Holidays until January 3, 2011.

Worrying is a common habit and could even be an addiction with some people if it leads to illness.

Stress management experts say that only 2% of the average person’s worrying time is spent on things that might be helped by obsessing over the issue until a decision or resolution occurs.

The other 98% of the times is wasted as follows:

40% on things that never happen

35% on things that cannot be changed

15% on things that turn out better than expected

8% on useless, petty issues

HAPPY & PEACEFUL HOLIDAYS!!

Spiritual Empowerment

2010-12-17T15:24:00.000-06:00

Spirituality occurs when the human spirit connects with The Creator, and people are aware of this experience through and through from their toes to the top of their head, on a conscious, unconscious and subconscious level. All children begin as spiritual beings, and they can feel this connection with God their whole lives if it is not interrupted.

By 17 years old, I felt spiritually dead and suicidal because my physical world became the dark shadow separating me from God. My over 30-year journey for truth and happiness brought me full circle back to where I started spiritually as a child.

I now have the confidence, self-empowerment, inner peace and tranquility that can be everyone’s possible reality when spirituality is developed.

If you want to know more, I am offering FREE ADVICE for the holidays by phone or email (618-917-5974 or sw@tranquilhearts.com) until Jan. 3, 2011.

Forgiveness is Freedom

2010-12-10T09:52:00.000-06:00

Forgive others and yourself, so transgressions do not become your poison.

To forgive does not mean to condone, but to free yourself from the pain through acceptance and unattachment.

HOLIDAY STRESS REDUCTION

2010-12-03T12:52:00.000-06:00

Prepare for stress now by storing up tranquility with relaxation techniques that clear the mind and create a physical calmness, like prayer, meditation, exercise, etc. If you need more time to do this, give up something unnecessary, like worrying, watching T.V., playing video games, etc.

Prioritize what must be done and eliminate anything that falls at the bottom. Always put “down” time at the top to stay relaxed because this creates clear thinking for good decisions.

Think about what experiences you want but be realistic on your limitations. Placing boundaries and thinking creatively are much more advantageous than trying to control with anger or manipulation.

Keep your expectations low, so disappointments stay low, too. Know and accept people how they really are and don’t assume they will be more cooperative for the holidays.

Need help with specific situations? Call or email me (618-917-5874 or sw@tranquilhearts.com) for FREE holiday advice from December 3, 2010 until January 3, 2011.

Experiment with this adventure called life and have fun! Happy Holidays!

What is Mindful Eating?

2010-11-28T12:30:00.000-06:00

To understand mindful eating, first you need to understand mindless eating.

The definition of mindless is to act without concern for consequences. Mindless eating is a term Brian Wansink of Cornell University and author of Mindless Eating defined for reference of eating triggered by cues other than hunger. Mindless eating could be therefore defined as eating without concern for consequences related to cues other than hunger.

A study published in 2009 estimated an average of 66 days to form a new habit but it could take anywhere from 18 to 254 days. Drinking a daily glass of water became a habit very quickly but doing 50 sit-ups before breakfast required more perseverance. Some may be more resistant to changing habits than others. It may take a person who wants to develop a relatively simple habit over two months of daily repetitions before the behavior becomes a habit.

The first step to changing habits is to identify the behaviors that lead to mindless eating.

They are many reasons for mindless eating, from internal to external cues. Some examples of internal cues are

stress

anxious

lonely

bored

depressed

tired

Some examples of external cues are:

watching TV

social situations such as

parties or holidays

don’t stop eating until your plate is cleared

or someone else is encouraging you to eat.

The next step is to recognize the cues causing you to eat mindlessly.
They may be ones mentioned above or for other reasons.

Pick one or two habits that trigger mindless eating.

Write down the behavior you want to change and the more desirable replacement behavior.

Post it in a highly visible location.

After you have accomplished new habits to healthier behavior, you will be ready to make new goals until your eating habits are mostly mindful eating.

Remember to be patient with yourself because new habits take time to form.

Guest post written by Andrea Wilhoit R.D., L.D.

What is Spirituality?

2010-11-19T12:29:00.000-06:00

Finding The Truth and knowing This is God.

Spirituality develops from a close partnership with The Creator.

What is Enlightenment?

2010-11-12T13:15:00.000-06:00

As the darkness leaves our minds, the light will enter.
Enlightenment comes through a continuous building of awareness.

The Tranquil Hearts Program provides the skills to reduce the night and gain more day.

My Ideal Life

2010-11-05T14:17:00.000-05:00

When, I missed my opportunity for a vacation this year, I really did not mind. I realized that I already felt relaxed because I am living my ideal life.

My life is about having a career I love, continuing my personal growth and enjoying the company of people I love. Even when I have problems, they are an easy fix as long as I am realistic about the situation, keep in mind the experience I want and stay true to myself.

Tuesday for example, I got up in the morning at 7 a.m. and ate breakfast, went to get a contract notarized for my daughter and then came home to walk my dogs around the lake and through the woods. Next, I went to my Tai Chi class and afterwards, met my boyfriend at the gym for a swim in the pool.

In the afternoon, I ate lunch with my boyfriend at Subway and then came home to repot my plants, pick the last vegetables out of the garden and work on my business. My evening consisted of a quick supper, reading a great book, meditation and prayer.

Of course my days vary, but I always try to make choices on what experiences I want and balance the needs of my mind, body and spirit. After all, the purpose of physical life is to learn and love, which includes being good to myself.

Seeking Visionaries

2010-10-29T13:10:00.000-05:00

My business has provided me with the opportunity to meet and help some wonderful people that have enriched my life greatly with their beliefs and ideas. I would classify all of these people as visionaries because they search for the knowledge to improve their lives (as in the big picture) and not just solve a problem.

Visionaries are creative thinkers that recognize the benefits of an open mind and facilitating change to obtain their dreams. These people work hard and utilize self-discipline to become the amazing individuals they were born to be.

It has been such a joy working with these people that I am always seeking more visionaries to teach. Individuals that want to gain life-long applicable skills for happiness, confidence, peace and health.

Are We Compatible?

2010-10-23T08:35:00.000-05:00

Relationship compatibility questions come up pretty often with people, and no wonder considering the divorce rate. Problems can occur when choices are based on the subconscious desire to seek out the familiar relationship pattern learned from influential, childhood authority figures.

If the relationships were beneficial and enjoyable with these authority figures, any future attachments would be wonderful, too. However, people often have compatibility problems with them and a desire to resolve these issues, so they attempt to change the past by selecting the same type of dissimilar people for partners – and the conflict continues.

However, this situation will improve once people recognize that differences can be good and quit repeating their childhood role. As adults, people can stop reacting and start thinking before responding to a comment or situation.

Successful relationships require excellent communication, and with the greater the differences between the couple, the greater the work this is to obtain. When striving for understanding, it can be effectively accomplished with role reversal.

Role reversal is pretending to be the other person and calmly explaining his or her view for clarification, which means NO sarcasm, judgments, insults, etc. Another method is to strive for discernment by asking and answering information-gathering questions for insight and acceptance.

Along with communication, people must have a foundation upon which to build their relationship. The basis for this support is mutual acceptance, respect and values because people need to not only love each other but like each other, as well.

Tranquil Hearts Origin

2010-10-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

This business started because I wanted to share the fast, simple methods for changing beliefs that took me over 30 years to learn. However, what to call my business?

After I had removed enough negative beliefs and expanded my perceptions to include a personal relationship with God, I learned that The Lord has an interesting opinion. God told me to use the word tranquility and tranquil for my business.

Oh no, not a word that is difficult to pronounce and not in common use! This did not sound like good marketing. So, I asked, "Why?"

God said, "Because there's not enough peace in the world." Well, that made sense to me.

Grow Old and Stay Healthy

2010-10-08T13:23:00.000-05:00

The older I get, the more I hear about health problems from my peers, but I have nothing to contribute. I have not been sick in two years and do not have the "normal" back problems, arthritis, headaches, PMS, asthma, allergies, etc.

From my own experiences, I recognized years ago that stress causes illness. Discovering that the American Medical Association acknowledged 70% of illness caused by stress was a wonderful validation.

The first 30 years I had lots of stress health problems like the ones above plus, but as I gained peace by resolving my inner conflicts and ate to build my immune system, the healthier I became. At 51 years old, I feel great but my very best is yet ahead!

Do You Need to Change?

2010-09-30T21:56:00.000-05:00

Considering that 93-97% of us are raised in dysfunctional families, most of us have unbeneficial programming. The Tranquil Hearts Program is about learning skills to change this thinking and gain inner peace.

The American Medical Association says that stress causes about 70% of all illness. Psychology supports this depressing statistic with its own conclusion that 70% of people's thoughts are negative.

What would your life be like if 70% of your thinking was beneficial? Happier? Healthier? Clearer? Easier?

Go against the norm! Change your dysfunctional thinking and gain inner peace.

All the Answers

2010-09-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

This poem is printed with permission from Dee Ann Barton, Tranquil Hearts Program Graduate.

All the Answers

I've been there before, I know that I have.
Within myself and back out again.

Looking for answers within my soul.
Answers to questions that only I know.

I know that the answers are all right there.
Just accepting the reality is hard to bare:
Life, it just isn't fair.

Especially when we feel others just sit and stare.

It hurts sometimes, and I might cry.
But now I’ve got the answers as to why.

No matter if I like them or not,
I try, and deal with what I got.

Tomorrow is another day I have to stand and say.
With all my pride and all my might.

I must live to fight for the good life.
After all, the answers are always there.

Just waiting patiently within ourselves.

But if we cannot find them there.
Then always look within the face of a friend.

For as we may or may not be aware.
Sometimes the answers might just be hidden there.

So at the end we can and all must win.
Over all of our personal demons within.

So what does all this mean?

At the end of our days, we should, could, and will be ready to face another day.
Most definitely in each and everyone of our own way!

Good from Bad

2010-09-17T13:04:00.001-05:00

Whenever a storm hits, I always search for the rainbow because life is a mix of both good and bad. I gained many wonderful benefits from my Father's illness, like an opportunity to study the medical system, a greater appreciation for the body's ability to heal, interesting information on how the brain works, etc.

I gained this new insight on brain functioning from this wonderful book recommend by a Respiratory Therapist named Larry at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Out of all I read, this book,"My Stroke of Insight," by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., provided the best information on what my Father was experiencing from his stroke.

This book explains clearly from both a medical and personal experience what a stroke involves. When Ms. Taylor had her stroke at 37, she worked at Harvard Medical School as a Brain Scientist performing research and teaching.

The great information Ms. Taylor provides in her book comes from both her medical and personal knowledge on how the body reacts and recovers from a stroke. It is interesting on how this data sometimes conflicts with the medical system.

In her book, I especially found it interesting on how the two hemispheres of the brain function. I know that the methods I follow stops the unbeneficial programming and when this happens, it opens up inner peace, but what I did not know was that the critical, unhelpful beliefs came from the left side and the peaceful, spiritual ones from the right hemisphere.

The human body is both amazing and mysterious. Any opportunity to discover and learn more is always a blessing.

To learn more about Dr. Jill, her work and experiences, you can visit her site at www.mystrokeofinsight.com

Life Can Change Fast

2010-09-03T12:52:00.000-05:00

No matter what the age in my family, we don't talk about illness much because we are all so active and healthy. However, this changed on Aug. 6 for my 82-year-old Father. After he took his usual walk around the lake, ate breakfast and sat down to discuss plans for the day, he had a massive stroke and was in the ICU at Barnes before lunch.

My Father, Keith Wright, loves his life. He has a beautiful partnership with his soul mate and wife, Dorothy, flies his own plane, active in the VFW and community, has many interests and lots of family and friends that love him. It was very heart-warming at his 80th Birthday Party when many of his friends told me how Dad had helped them.

Not wanting to miss my Father's last days on Earth, I placed my life on hold and entered his world in the hospital. What a difficult place. I have met so many strong, caring people working together to provide the best for their patients!

This trip with Dad has been quite a roller coaster ride between life and death with other life threatening issues besides the stroke developing and then disappearing. During this up and down experience, Dad strongly stated he wanted to die, but instead he has slowly been getting better. When I asked why, he said that God told him, "No."

With the eminent danger gone, I am returning to my business while still participating in his rehabilitation. It is very interesting on how rehab therapists use electrical stimulation of the muscles to start them working again. Dad says that it's painful but there's no denying the great results and hopefully this will get him back on his feet quickly.

A Simpler Life

2010-08-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

My collection of material possessions hit its peak when I lived in my average three bedroom home in the suburbs. Over the course of about forty years, I had accumulated enough things to fill closets, basement and garage.

After complaining about not enough time in my life, a friend told me that I did not own my stuff; it owned me. I thought about all the dusting, packing, storing, moving, etc. that my things required.

Down sizing made sense to me, so I created three categories. The new things I gave as gifts, used ones I sold in garage sales or donated to charities and other people's stuff went back to them.

Spaciousness and more time was my reward.

Meeting Susan

2010-07-30T13:10:00.000-05:00

My relationship with Susan began over email and phone calls. One of the good but sometimes strange things about working online is that often, there are times where you never meet your client in person. As a web designer, I’ve worked on several projects and had very successful working relationships with people I’ve never met. So when I do get to finally meet someone, it’s always exciting – you never know exactly how things will go but always hope for the best.

I got a chance to first meet Susan in person when she invited me to a health and wellness fair she was attending. I was surprised at how crowded the fair was as I scanned for her booth but I recognized her immediately and went over to say hello.

My first impression was how relaxed and calm Susan was. In this storm of noise and an extremely crowded isle, she seemed completely at ease. Unfortunately, I was not; wrestling with a stroller, a bored toddler and not really enjoying how cramped the space was, I was thrilled to meet but could only speak briefly so we decided to get together later when we would both be “off duty”.

Meeting Susan for the second time, I noticed even more; there is a real calm and warm serenity around Susan that draws you in and instantly sets you at ease. Kind, honest, relaxed and so easy to talk to, she truly listens – a skill I appreciate so much and sometimes I think a lost art form in itself!

As our relationship has changed and grown from client to friend, Susan can always help me put things in perspective, feel more confident and just overall better about any situation with simple truths, compassion and wisdom. That is truly her gift and I'm truly thankful for her.

Anna Mahler is a freelance web designer at Pinup Designs. She writes about her insights, experiences and knowledge in the world of freelance and web design at www.pinupdesigns.net/pinupblog. You can also follow her on Twitter at @AnnasPinup

Living in Harmony

2010-07-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

All major religions, like Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Taoism, have teachings about how we should all live in harmony. However, all these religions have also been twisted into a means for violence and profit.

Does this make religion horrible or just the people that manipulate it? To stop this, it is so important that we all learn to think for ourselves and not just follow religious teachings blindly.

No matter what someone says, no one is perfect, and all religions are full of imperfect people just like everywhere else. So people should not expect or seek perfection, but focus on the core beliefs that run through all major religions of love, acceptance, balance and harmony to find the truth.

Do What You Love

2010-07-16T20:09:00.000-05:00

For most of my life, I have worked at jobs that I did not enjoy. My unconscious, career programming said that I needed to work for survival and nothing more, but the conscious me protested.

The path to a happy career begins in childhood when authority figures help develop the innate talents that will lead to a rewarding life. However, if these talents were not uncovered and encouraged in childhood, there is always time to start now.

Think about what is so enjoyable that it is impossible to stop doing it, like it is part of you. Sometimes respected others or even strangers can help identify these unique abilities.

Our talents are part of the gifts that God has given to each one and the key to our destiny. When following our destiny, we are in harmony with the world and life becomes easier.

Making Time To Live

2010-07-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, my life used to be so busy that I didn't have time to eat three meals, get enough sleep or even bath regularly. I was pulled in so many directions that it seemed I just moved in a daze from one task to another with no time to think.

Then I discovered a wonderful time management exercise. Make a list over the course of a week on what you do every hour of every day. Now take these items and prioritize them with the important stuff at the top and the least important at the bottom.

What I learned about my life was that I spent about 30 hours every week doing things I did not need to do (like responding to other people's demands), so I cut this off the bottom of my list. Then I had time to relax, take care of myself and work on my personal growth.

Now Hosting Tranquility Parties!

2010-07-01T21:20:00.000-05:00

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A Balanced Relationship

2010-06-25T20:35:00.000-05:00

My initial frame of reference for a relationship was not a balanced one. The role I played in my family of origin was one of care taker and peace maker.

After rebelling against this as a teenager, I fully embraced it as an adult and repeated the pattern many, many times. But as my awareness grew, my choices for relationships improved because I started to develop my fairness guide.

This guide is about stepping back and analyzing the big picture (not just the day-to-day activities) to make an evaluation on fairness and balance in the relationship. When considering an adult relationship, it is important overall to invest the same amount of work as the other person to achieve balance, and this can always be accomplished by contributing more or less effort.

Love Those Differences!

2010-06-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

Since I've gained inner peace, I started noticing why things used to bother me. One of the big challenges was my family because I'm so different.

Family reunions used to be so hard for me. I always felt like an outcast, but my last one this month was fantastic!

I truly enjoyed learning about everyone and not feeling threatened by their differences. These obvious differences used to make me feel judged and question my sanity.

Now that I have inner peace, I feel confident, accepting and relaxed. So when differences arise and people are surprised or uncomfortable with my responses, it doesn't bother me at all and I can enjoy the experiences.

Who Runs the Show?

2010-06-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

Many people, myself included, have found themselves in undesirable situations and wondered how they got there. Our minds are like computers, when they work the way we want, it is wonderful, but when they do not; it can be a mess!

Everyone receives programing from the surroundings as soon as the senses start working and the brain can process the information, which then begins our unconscious. This automatic integration of data into the mind is the most prevalent during childhood because of the brain waves children use the most.

Once we become adults, our unconscious part of our mind is about 95% with conscious at only 5%. This "unconscious partner" is usually the one making the decisions; but when a problem occurs, it is our conscious part that wonders what happened!

Real Success

2010-05-28T20:31:00.000-05:00

The world we live in defines success by an economic level based on the theory that this acquisition of money, things and comfort will create happiness. All of my life, I have searched for happiness through both external and internal experiments.

While materialistic societies can give a good argument, I discovered that the journey to real happiness actually becomes an internal success story, not rags to riches but fear and anger to love and peace.

Change: Easy or Difficult?

2010-05-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

After my 30 years of searching, I discovered that the process of changing my thinking was easy. The difficult part was deciding what beliefs to eliminate and what replacement thoughts to use instead.

Just like writing a story, painting a picture or decorating a house, I started with getting in touch with my feelings. Being aware of emotions and asking "is this really me, who do I want to be and why do I feel this way" led me to create my real-me foundation.

The sorting and sifting of the "who I was born to be" from the "what others said I should be" information can be time consuming and difficult, too, depending on the unbeneficial amount. But whether it is easy or difficult, the happiness is well worth the effort!

The Three Keys for Changing Your Thinking

2010-05-14T20:37:00.000-05:00

1) Always replace unhelpful beliefs with beneficial, realistic ones that connect with the original thoughts you want to change.

2) Tell yourself to turn on the switch by making a conscientious decision to change.

3) Repeat new thoughts often enough (20-60xs a day) to create the change you want.

Joys of Parenting

2010-05-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

One of the wonderful joys from parenting was how much I learned from my child. In any good relationship, learning flows both ways.

Since children are born into this world with unique temperaments, personalities, likes, dislikes and talents, they will have their own opinions, comments and questions about everything. This exploration of their world enables us, as parents, to also see it with new eyes.

This fresh look at life made me feel so excited! Enjoy this time while it lasts because very quickly children are off to school for adjusting to society's standards, and this innocence will soon disappear.

Finding What We Know

2010-04-30T20:45:00.001-05:00

Gathering information that expanded my perception of the world and challenged the negative beliefs that ruled my unhappy life was difficult for me to find. I wanted it to be beneficial and useful, not just weird and exotic.

One way of doing this is checking out what others have found to be the truth for themselves. This can be accomplished through lots of different mediums but a favorite of mine developed when independent films started to flourish from the advances in technology.

It can be educational and fun to watch a fictional flick, but to really learn a lot about a subject, documentaries are the best. Since my favorite subjects have been science, spirituality and psychology (which accumulated in college as my degree in Liberal Studies), a must-see film that brings these subjects together in an entertaining, enlightening adventure is What the Bleep Do We Know? that was developed by William Arntz.

A New Life

2010-04-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Spring is the season for growth and change. People have the potential to change and grow so much that completely new lives can be created.

There has been many times in my life that I have done just that; through moving, marriages, new careers, different hair colors or wardrobes, etc. Random change was helpful by showing me what does not work but what I needed was purposeful change.

This world offers so many different ways a person can discover his or herself. One of the ways I do this is through meaningful, inspirational music and my favorite is singer/songwriter Adrianna Larkin. Her latest CD, Sacred Fire, is about change and exploring the inner self.

Uniting Our Mind and Body

2010-04-16T12:01:00.000-05:00

Science and religion have been separated ever since the Church killed scientists because their discoveries did not agree with the religious beliefs. This division even extended into how we feel about our own bodies, as in the separation of mind and body.

We go to doctors for checkups because our minds do not know when something is wrong with our bodies. Is this true? Or is this a subjective belief that we been taught?

No matter how many centuries a belief has been practiced, it is never too late to reconsider and throw it out. For help in changing this thinking and uniting science with spirituality once again, my favorite book is Biology of Belief by Bruce H. Lipton, PH.D.

God's Great Love

2010-04-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

God loves us so much that He will not take away His gift of free will to save us from ourselves. We must make our own choices for change to improve our lives.

His purpose for us is to grow as beings and learn how to love. He does not view suffering as bad, but a very good thing that gives a person the opportunity for learning and redemption.

This world is full of pain and struggle because if we do not have the bad, well, we would not recognize the good. But more importantly, suffering can cause great insight and personal growth.

But when people get their own way, they usually become entitled and selfish, not more loving. Real Love is what Jesus said about "Loving your neighbor as yourself and loving your enemies."

Frequently Asked Questions Continued - How do I start?

2010-03-27T20:24:00.000-05:00

The first session can begin by proposing options on any current difficulties and to gently discuss the unbeneficial opinions that surface to demonstrate examples. This is the process I call Reality Checking. Then I hand out the information concerning this method and discuss it.

The next step is the first exercise needed, which is usually to identify unbeneficial beliefs and apply the best method(s) to change them. Here, too, we discuss examples on how to formulate beneficial beliefs from ones that are not.

These methods are self-empowering because once you learn them; you always have the skills to combat the many difficulties that occur in life. This will reduce stress and bring tranquility as these are applied.

Working on Inner Peace - Frequently Asked Questions

2010-03-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

How long will this take?

This depends on your goal, the amount of effort invested and how conducive your environment is for learning. To learn a method could take from ½-1 hour and then lots of practice on your behalf.

The harder part is not the learning but the implementation of it, which requires lots of repeating a beneficial thought for changing from maybe 20-60 times a day. This might be needed from a few days to months, depending on the complexity of the belief being addressed.

For me, the biggest difficulty was realizing at a deep level that most of what I believed as truths were really opinions masquerading as facts. Someone else’s beliefs were the foundation for my reality and to create my own thinking required an evaluation of each thought, especially the emotion-packed ones. And, of course, this takes time.

What is a Tranquility Advisor?

2010-03-12T12:43:00.000-06:00

I think of myself as a wise friend, mentor or teacher that enjoys guiding others and imparting life skills for changing a person’s thinking to achieve personal happiness and success. People have been changing and developing their minds for a very long time.

This knowledge I have gathered is from thousands of years old until now. These methods can be taught to anyone; individuals, students, parents, families, couples, employees, groups, etc.

A New Me

2010-03-05T13:07:00.001-06:00

Once I learned how to love, my mind became open and I developed the art of discernment as my deep-seated fears vanished. Also, I understood reality more clearly, became quite intuitive and developed a close, loving relationship with my Creator.

Along with this clarity on life and support from The Divinity, I could appreciate and embrace my talents and destiny. There is a destiny given to all human beings for the journey back to God and then there is free will, which gives all life forms the choice of which path to follow.

Being the real Susan has made me very, very happy and humble. I discovered that the more I know, the more I do not know, nor even have the capacity to understand with my limitations as a human being. I, also, realized that life is a precious gift and we are all very blessed to be here on planet Earth.

A Higher Love

2010-02-26T12:37:00.001-06:00

Everybody has been created out of the Joy from our Creator’s Love in order for all beings to evolve their souls and return. Life is a wonderful gift that some beings embrace and develop, while others rebel and exercise their free will in a destructive manner.

One step down this path of growth is for human beings to rediscover their real selves and shed the parts of their false selves, so they can stop being in conflict with God, themselves and others. Real love is humble, confident, accepting, giving, compassionate, genuine, wise and forgiving as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

With this love thinking, inner peace becomes the primary mood and even when negative feelings come, they are only temporary. The whole range of human emotions is still everyone’s experience to facilitate spiritual growth.

A Loving Family

2010-02-19T12:49:00.000-06:00

Sometimes the people I have perceived as my enemies are really my family. The misinformation that I received in childhood was constantly being reinforced by these people, and I hated being around them.

Once I learned how to rid myself of these unbeneficial beliefs, I learned to accept and love not only myself but my family, as well. My family has not changed but because I have changed so much, our relationship has turned from barely tolerable to fantastic.

Despite having fantasized many times about changing my family, I discovered that it was not necessary. After gaining inner peace, I now have the self-confidence, clarity and wisdom to realize my limitations (as in I can not control others) and obtain the great experiences (by making good decisions) I had always longed to have with them.

A Loving Partnership

2010-02-12T12:07:00.000-06:00

Even after three marriages, I had no frame of reference for a loving partnership. My selection of partners was based mostly on beliefs from my childhood with a few new ideas, like needing something in common.

Gaining inner peace gave me the clarity and understanding to realize that a great relationship is far more than satisfying a need or convenience. A loving partnership starts with an incomprehensible amount of mutual insights that are both surprising and mysterious, like a spiritual experience.

This spiritual relationship then grows into a wondrous adventure of learning and enlightenment traveling through both ups and downs. Beneficial partners develop a great union because they feel compelled to strive for a better and closer loving connection with each other.