Where is the Value?

Where is the Value?

By Jerome Dechant
April 12, 2012

These days, there are many people who label themselves as a “Life Coach,” and there is always a price tag attached to their coaching services. Most of them have the approach: do what I say, not what I do. They are often only parroting what someone else has told them, not what they’ve actually done and found to be effective or not through their own experiencing. I think it is interesting that this has become such a big business. I am certain some of the people who advertise themselves as Life Coaches don’t really have much to offer except to provide you with the opportunity to empty your pockets of your money.

In the sports world where the coach idea originated from, most often the coach for the team is someone who has spent years of his life playing the game. Some coaches become coaches because they were never quite good enough physically to compete in the sport, but they had enough practical knowledge and experience that they easily move into a coaching position. So you don’t really have to be the best athlete to be the best coach. You have to be enough of a leader and knowledgeable enough to inspire the team members to do what you tell them to. And, to the extent that what you tell them to do along with their innate abilities as athletes, as well as their ability to work together as a team, enables them to compete and win. I think it is more important how you play the game than actually winning. If you play the game, giving it your all, doing your best, you are a winner regardless of what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. I think this is true about how we live our lives as well. It is the living of life, giving it our all, and doing the best we know how to do, that makes us a winner whether we end up a billionaire or not. Ending up as a billionaire, if that’s your goal, is then just the icing on the cake, which makes it all that much more sweeter.

So, in the area of life coaching, the best ones are the ones who really know the game of life, how it is played, and what you need to do to be the best at playing this game most effectively, and they know this from their own personal experience, not just from someone else telling them or from having graduated a course at a school or university. In other words, they have been there, done that.

Personally, the best teachers are those who embody that which they teach. Actually, they don’t really “teach” anything. How they live their life is the teaching. So observing and then emulating them, we begin to embody the life experiencing which is a true learning experience in expression. It isn’t very intellectual, it is mostly experiential. Life and being are experiential. It is through experiencing life and being that we each learn most profoundly the lessons life holds for us, that is, if we approach life as a sort of school. If we approach life in this way, we graduate through our own efforts, by effectively embodying the lessons life presents to us. The magnificent thing about this life experiential school is, no one promotes us to the next class or level, but rather as we mature through our learning experiences, we naturally progress through the classes or levels.

Not everyone is here to learn lessons though. Some of us are here just for the joy of being and expressing life fully. I think possibly the ability to just be here now, and express my life in peace, love, joy and abundance is possibly what those struggling through the school of life, are really after. So, maybe if I am experiencing joy in this moment, this is the culmination of my attentiveness to being joyous here now. And this joyousness is self fueling and perpetuating to the extent that I remain present in this moment and immerse myself fully in this experiencing.

There is no price tag on experiencing your own innate joy. It wells up from within you by your own volition. If someone guides you to this experiencing, and you are grateful and appreciative of their guidance, you may wish to make an offering of gratitude to them for helping you to find this experiencing within yourself. And such an offering of gratitude happens after you’ve experienced firsthand the value of their guidance and thereby know the true value of what it is they have offered to you.

And such a teacher doesn’t provide you with the guidance for his own personal gain, but rather for you to experience the value of the guidance through your own experiencing. The teacher’s greatest reward is when the student fully embodies the life experiencing the guidance leads to. This is why I don’t say you need to pay me for the guidance I offer, because it isn’t worth anything until you embody it, and thereby realize the value of it. And when you embody the guidance, you truly know the value of it which often naturally results in gifts of appreciation and gratitude.

This sort of thing isn’t something someone should make you pay money for. It is an innate ability, within each of us, experienced through our own intention and attention to this moment, how we are feeling and what we are doing to engender this joyous life experiencing right now.

So reading this doesn’t really do it, does it? I’d have to say no if all you do is read this. There is no value realized by just reading this. The value is experienced through taking hold of the guidance and embodying it. This reading possibly points the reader in the right direction so that by his or her own volition, attention, focus and presence, he/she can unfold the joy in life in this moment to the extent that he/she has the capacity to do so. The capacity to do so is not static in that as one becomes more attuned to presence in being and attentive to moving more deeply into a joyous life experiencing, their capacity to experience this joy more deeply and more fully, naturally unfolds.

The value is in the embodiment and life experiencing in being; thereby you know how great the value is and have a real sense of appreciation and gratitude.

The Spoiler

The Spoiler
by Jerome Dechant
March 27, 2012

CAUTION:  DO NOT READ THIS BLOG AS IT CONTAINS "SPOILER INFORMATION."  IF YOU DON'T MIND KNOWING INFORMATION WHICH EXPOSES THE TRUTH, THEN GO AHEAD AND READ ON.  YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

For Role playing gamers who play games such as” SkyrIm” and “Mass Effect 3,” to name a couple of recent titles, what makes these games good ones? 

Maybe not the only thing, but certainly up there in relevance, is the realism and immersion the player can experience while playing the game.  The quality of the graphics and the activities the player experience also contributes to the enjoyment of the game. 

For movie goers, what makes the movies they watch good movies? 

The story is good, the acting is not obvious and the environments the story takes place are fully developed and believable.  The production is typically made in such a way that the viewer is able to become immersed in the story and feel like they are identified with a character or characters in the movie.  In other words, for the movies which are really good, the viewer forgets he/she is watching a movie and begins to forget that he/she is sitting in a movie theater watching light being projected onto a blank white screen. 

Now, here is something you might not have ever considered before.  (The Spoiler.)

We are in the ultimate role playing game/movie right now.  Yes we are.  It is so well made, with such great detail, that we are certain this is real, and we've become so identified with our part in the game/movie of life, that I am fairly certain no one is willing to readily believe me when I tell this to you, it is more like light shining on the movie screen than you might want to believe.

This life experiencing in this 3 dimensional reality is 100% immersive.  The creator has spared no expense in bringing this to you so that you could believe you are the character you are playing, you are the person you believe yourself to be, and the feelings and experiences you are having are real. 

Yes, it feels extremely real.  It looks extremely real, and all the elements which involve all of our senses inform us that this is real.  But of course, if you wanted to play in this reality, you would make it as real as possible, wouldn't you?  Maybe somewhere, you'd provide clues, or some way for you to eventually realize this is figuratively a projection of light on a screen. 

For those of you who enjoy the mystery and fooling yourself, I am sorry to have revealed this to you.  Of course, you can easily deny it and say I'm crazy, but once you know it isn't real, you know.  It is like when you learn how a magician does his tricks, the fun and mystery is removed and you may no longer have an interest in watching the magician perform his tricks. 

Some people who learn how the tricks are done, want to perform the tricks themselves and therefore entertain others who don't know how the tricks are done.  Some people knowing how the tricks are done, might want to fashion the tricks to be to their own liking and interests, and so new tricks are born using the same methodology. 

So, who is it who is making this life experience totally immersive game/movie we find ourselves in? 

Each of us is.  We each are the creator of our own life experience totally immersive game/movie, even to the extent that we believe we aren't doing this, even to the extent we believe we aren't creating this and it is just happening, or we believe someone or some supreme being is doing this. 

Actually, it is marvelous how well made this life experiencing is.  It is the supreme creation of a master creator, and this master creator is the source of the one who is reading this right now, is the source and substance of each particle from the tiniest of tiny to the largest of large expression in being.

Now that you've read this, what's next?  You're the creator, it is up to you.

Cutting Edge Consciousness video & commnet

I thought this was really good.  Actually, if you haven't listened to or viewed these clips from Barnet and Freeman, you might find them worthwhile.  You can find them by searching YouTube for "Cutting Edge Consciousness."



Uploaded by CuttingEdgeConscious on Mar 6, 2012 Cutting Edge Consciousness,

co-hosts,Filmmaker Barnet Bain and Life Coach Freeman Michaels

I posted a comment to this video:

A light bulb went on when you spoke about lucid dreaming! Thanks for triggering that.


I've recently been interested and reading about lucid dreaming. I got a little book with a CD that provides instructions on becoming lucid in the dream state. Now, I am seeing that while I initially thought I was interested in becoming lucid in that particular state, really, that state is just one mirror reflection within an infinity of mirror reflections, like when you stand with a mirror in front of you and behind you. I thought I wanted to change one of those particular reflections, become lucid in one of them. Now I realize, in order to change any of them, I standing between the mirrors am responsible for those reflections, and as I change, they change.
It is so obvious, that it was hard to see.

Thanks again!

The Head or The Heart

The Head or The Heart
By Jerome Dechant

Feb. 29, 2012

You can tell, if you take the time to be observant, when a person is speaking from his/her head or his/her heart. The head doesn’t express or comprehend emotions, it is cold and void of such expression because the head doesn’t feel. The mind is an analytical data retrieval, storage and output device. A person who lives his/her life expressing primarily through the mind, radiates the certainty, or uncertainty of that which he/she believes to be true. Typical words or phrases used by a predominately Mind based person are, “I think,” “I believe” “I know.”

The heart feels, therefore its expressions are emotions. The heart is not at all analytical therefore; its expressions are not logical or well founded in data type facts. A person who lives his/her life expressing primarily through the heart, radiates the emotions he/she embodies. Typical words or phrases used by a predominately Heart based person are: “I feel” “I sense” “I love” ”I appreciate” I’m happy or I’m sad.

The mind speaks of emotional things but does not really comprehend them because emotions are not the purview of the head. Likewise, the heart speaks of logic, but doesn’t really comprehend logic because logic is not the purview of the heart.

Fortunately, a person can function in a state where the mind and heart harmoniously work together and function as one so as to temper the logic of the mind with the illogical feelings of the heart, and visa versa with the heart and mind.

There may be those who think logic is better than feelings and those who feel emotions are better than logic. These perspectives are divisive, they are “either or” type perspectives, not “and” type perspectives.

The person who adopts the inclusive perspective, benefits by accepting and allowing and incorporating what some might consider radically opposed perspectives. By incorporating all the parts, the resulting life expression is fuller and richer than any life expression which only allows for a “this or that” or “parts” perspective.

There are reasons why we have a head and a heart, why we have a right hand and a left hand, why we have 2 eyes, 2 feet and so one. Each part functioning properly enables us to have a full life experiencing, not possible without all parts being brought together and functioning as one.

That last statement speaks to a human being in physical form, but expanding the understanding, one can see the principle applies on a grander scale as well. It applies to neighborhoods, cities, states, countries, planets and so on.
Consider how you express your life, consider whether you are a “parts perspective” person, or a “whole perspective” person, or some combination between those extremes.

If you are primarily focused in the parts perspective, it is useful to realize the limitations of that perspective, and to realize that expanding your perspective reduces the limitations one with a “parts perspective” is confronted with.

If you are a “whole perspective” person, it is natural to have compassion and understanding for those still expressing within the confines of their limited parts perspective. By the nature of your broader understanding and perspective, you are empowered to be able to open the door through which the expanding of the parts perspectives is enabled and encouraged.

Then it is a matter of allowing the parts to naturally find the door and thereby unfold into a broader perspective and life expression. When the door is open, it is the passage through which the parts realize the whole; where the Head and Heart are known to be aspects of the one being.

The Hundredth Human Effect

The Hundredth Human Effect

By Jerome Dechant

Feb. 15, 2012
 

There is some debate whether the hundredth monkey effect is an actual effect.  Whether it is factual or not, there are many people who have heard about it.  There are those who have heard about it who believe it to be true while others believe it is not a scientifically proven fact, therefore not true.

A good way to determine whether such an effect exists is to observe behaviors of an isolated group of participants, be they animal or human, and determine whether a group behavior, known and practiced by that isolated group spontaneously occurs in other groups who have no contact with the control group.

There are logistical problems to establish such an experiment with sufficient numbers of participants to facilitate the hundredth monkey effect occurring in a controlled and observed environment.

Maybe there are other indications in nature which, to some degree, indicate the possibility that this effect may actually be true.  I think looking into the sky and watching a flight of hundreds of birds flying as though of one mind may be an indication that the monkey effect may be true.

I’ve heard of and read a study done with groups of meditaters (http://www.mum.edu/m_effect/dc_md.html) who favorably reduced the crime rate in an area where the level of crime statistics reflected a drop in crime during the period the experiment was taking place.  This sort of experimental study is easy to repeat to substantiate the validity of the study.

Attributing a drop in crime to some people sitting quietly with their eyes closed for a period of time may seem totally ridiculous.  A flock of birds flying as if with one mind or a school of fish, or heard of animals demonstrating the same mass movement effect is not explainable except by one very important understanding:  Oneness.

In the same way the countless cells of our body function as one body even though they are separate and distinct cells, the individual animal whether it is a bird, fish or elk, are cells of a greater body and when they move, they can move as one body even though they are separate.  They don’t talk to each other saying, okay, now I’m gonna turn left, tell the others to turn left now.  The communication is instantaneous and universally acknowledged and acted upon by those identified and attuned to that conscious expression in being.

 The hypothesis is that a certain number of parts have to be united in the universal consciousness to facilitate the greater number’s participation in the mass movement.  What starts out as a few individual’s intention and movement can easily grow when like minded beings come into the field of energy and consciousness together.

We know how wonderful it feels to be a part of a group energy, celebrating life, joyously indulging in the harmony and bliss of the moment.  These experiences are contagious.  I know from personal experience that being in the proximity of a group of like minded people focused and radiating joy easily lifts others into that same field of vibratory expression in being.  This sort of experience transcends the notion of individuality while at the same time allowing awareness of individualness.  In other words, by participating in such a field of energy the individual doesn’t lose his or her individualness, but rather expands in experience beyond that separate identity.

What this is leading to is this:  It is to our benefit to join together and partake of the universal expression, or group consciousness which can lift us up individually and collectively.  Maybe just that one more member can tip the balance so the human race makes the shift together, as one.

Current of life, Flow of life

Current of life, Flow of life


By Jerome Dechant
Feb. 14, 2012

For some fish, it is necessary to swim against the current of the river in order to stay alive, but for most of us, who aren't designed to swim against the current of the river, it is not in our best interest to do so unceasingly. It certainly may be a good way to build muscles and endurance to swim against the current for periods of time, provided there are intermissions where we can relax and recoup our vitality and energy.

There is a flow of energy associated with our life unfolding from moment to moment. If your life is a constant struggle, you may feel like a little like one of those fish trying to swim upstream against a very strong current. When the current is really strong, no matter how hard you try, you may not be able to advance against the powerful flow. What typically happens is it wears you out until you either let go or die trying. Unfortunately, many people die trying. If only they knew that what they were after wasn’t to be found struggling against life’s flow or current, that what they really wanted was easily accessible to them by going with the flow, and letting life guide them effortlessly towards their fulfilled desires.

Life is suppose to be fun. Someone said that before, I wonder how many people really believe that? Considering the current state of affairs in the world, my guess is there are more people who believe life is suppose to be hard and a struggle because that’s the life they’ve found themselves in.

What is the struggle? It is mostly thinking you know best, and being determined to be right in holding that attitude. Being strong willed, fighting the odds, just keeping at it until you can’t anymore with unending determination.

What is relaxation and letting go? It is a deep breath that was held being let go. No effort to let it go, it just happens naturally. It takes effort to hold your breath; ceasing effort allows your breath to flow naturally, in and out according you your natural need to breath.

When you find the natural rhythm and flow of your life, then just relax into it, there is no struggle, unless you choose for there to be struggle. And if you do choose to experience struggle, you know you can easily relax back into the flow of your life because the flow of your life is naturally always here.

There is a lot we do, which is not inspired by the nature of things. As an example having set times during the day when it is appropriate to eat; i.e., breakfast, lunch and dinner. Look around the natural world; do any other creatures which inhabit this planet abide by such time constraints? You may say, yes, our pet animals do. Why is that? The reason is because we impose the unnatural cycle upon them. Most creatures on this planet eat when they need to in order to sustain their life, but us humans eat for more than just the physical need to do so, we eat because we enjoy the tastes and textures of the foods we have available to us. We eat for social reasons, a sense of community in sharing our food and bounty with others. There are many more reasons why humans eat, some beneficial reasons, some not so beneficial reasons.

Conscious intelligence which is guided by natural urges informs our decisions and enables us to find the flow of our life experiencing with the greatest ease.

When we struggle against the flow of life the experience is a war.

When we flow with the energy of life, the experience is a dance.

Which is more appealing to you? Which seems more natural to you? Would you prefer fighting and struggling, or playing and dancing?

Where is the flow to be found and experienced? Here, now. We are immersed within the flow right now. Can you feel it? Can you sense the ease? It is right here, right now. It is always right here, right now whether we are aware of it or not, whether we relax into it or not. The flow of life is an eternal river, a fountain of youth. When we drink from the river it sustains us, heals us, supports us, and elates us and by partaking of the river, we become the river, we are the flow of life, ageless and timeless.

It may be easy to get caught up in the game of life, to return to the old familiar struggle, but the grace of life is, the river is eternally flowing and without requirements to be met, unceasingly is open to our return to the ease and flow it offer us.

What that means is, you don’t “have” to accept what I am writing about because you can experience, you are experiencing life right now. How you are experiencing life right now is open to your making a decision which leads to what feels best to you right now.

When you find the decision you’ve made results in feeling better right now, you can choose to linger in this better feeling right now. Savor it, like the delicate sweet experience it offers in this moment. When the feeling subsides, you can again choose a better feeling.

There is an ebb and flow to this feelingness sort of like the ebb and flow of your breath. You can find the natural flow of it. Easily return to this flow all the time, or any time you choose to. You don’t have to control your breath, just let it flow naturally. In the same way, you don’t have to control your life, just let it flow naturally.

Joy! Peace! Love! Prosperity!
Jerry

If I post a blog and no one reads it, does it make a sound?

By Jerome Dechant

Jan. 1, 2012

Today is the first day of 2012.  I hope it is/was a good day for you which unfolds all the good you wish for yourself and others.

I was going through my blogs viewing the number of views for each blog posting.  I noticed some blogs appear not to have been viewed, so I've posted this list so you can check them out if you want to. 

There is a search box at the top of my blog page where you can copy and paste in the title and press the search button.  That will bring up a list of blog links so you can click on the one that matches the title you searched for.

Everything is Energy - June 4, 2009

The Little Ego, the Big Show – June 11, 2009

Diving Deep – June 12, 2009

The Dragon – July 12, 2009

Predictions – July 13, 2009

Conditional Moments – July 16, 2009

Playing – January 3, 2010

Keep it Simple – March 29, 2010

A Deeper Understanding – March 30, 2010

A Quick Lesson – April 6, 2010

In Debt? – July 18, 2010