In The World Is Flat, Best-Selling Author, Thomas Friedman explains that the world is flattening because globalization and lightning swift advances in technology and communications connect people from all across the globe as never before – creating a global market place for labor, services, products and employees. In this flat world people from all socio-economic backgrounds are competing for jobs with other people from all over the globe. For example even professions such as accountants, attorneys and radiologists are now losing their jobs because people from other countries can do those same jobs more efficiently and at a lower cost. In order to be successful and thrive in this new flat world, a person has gotta follow their passion!
The only people who are not in danger of losing their jobs in a flat world are the untouchables. Friedman defines the untouchables as employees who cannot be replaced because they bring an intangible quality to the market that cannot be replicated or outsourced by someone else who can do the same job better or for a lower wage. When we are following our passions we are doing what we love and expressing that intangible and untouchable part of ourselves. This unique expression of the sacred part of ourself can never be outsourced to someone else who can do the same job at a lower wage or automated by some machine or a computer.
This is why following your passion is absolutely essential and even a financial necessity at times in todays global market place. Freidman recognizes this when he writes, “When the world is flat, curiosity and passion for a job, for success, for a subject area or even a hobby are so much more important. . . . That innocent passion for a certain job, without knowing the salary or the working hours or the preparation required, is what you need to get back in touch with. It’s that childlike feeling of, ‘I want to do that because I want to do that-and I don’t have to explain why,’ that we all need to rediscover.”
We can learn how to turn ours passions into our career by cultivating and developing our right-brain capabilities. For example, Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, explains:
“The left hemisphere handles sequence, literalness, and analysis. The right hemisphere, meanwhile, takes care of context, emotional expression, and synthesis. . . . Until recently, the abilities that led to success in school, work, and business were characteristic of the left hemisphere. They were the sorts of linear, logical, analytical talents measured by SATs and deployed by CPA’s. Today, those capabilities are still necessary. But they’re no longer sufficient. In a world upended by outsourcing, deluged with data, and choked with choices, the abilities that matter most are now closer in spirit to the specialties of the right hemisphere-artistry, empathy, seeing the big picture, and pursuing the Transcendent... ”
Pink concludes, “When you hear your parents or your college graduation speaker telling you to “do what you love,” they are not giving you some syrupy pabulum. They are giving you a survival strategy.”
Of course, Friedman and Pink’s contention that following your passion is a necessity in today’s new flat world may be incorrect. However, the alternative is to not follow your passions and to live a life wondering how things might have been. It seems at the very least, the intrinsic motivation and joy of the journey that following your passion provides one with makes it well worth the risk.
Interview with Jeff Rivera on Gumbo Writers about how people can best pitch Matt ideas for Spiritual Media Blog
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Jeff Rivera, creator of Gumbowriters.com, interviews Matt about Spiritual Media Blog and how people can best pitch him an idea for his blog.
One of the best ways for authors to get the word out there about their books is through bloggers. We had the opportunity to interview blogger, Matthew Welsh about how to pitch him.
You started out as an assistant at William Morris. What did you do exactly for them and why make the switch to blogging?
William Morris is a talent and literary agency. I worked as an assistant at their Beverly Hills office. I was responsible for managing the agents’ phone calls, emails and calendars. I would answer and screen their calls, take messages and set appointments for them. Sometimes, an agent would ask me to read and write a review for a movie script that they were considering whether or not would be a good fit for one of their clients to have a role in.
I switched to blogging because I like the creativity and freedom that is involved in blogging. Instead of reviewing a script that might be boring to me, I can write about books, movies, TV shows and music that I believe in and that I am passionate about.
Another reason I switched to blogging is that while I was working in Hollywood, I realized that there were a lot of really good inspirational and spiritual movies, TV shows and programs being made that were not getting that much attention or respect from agents, studio executives and actors.
So, I decided to create Spiritual Media Blog to raise awareness for positive programming and emerging conscious entertainment to help balance the vision of darkness and negativity that most of the media and Hollywood focus on. I wanted to create a blog that inspires more people to produce this type of entertainment in order to let the mainstream media and Hollywood know that the public really does want and is willing to pay for spiritual, inspirational and uplifting entertainment.
What is your blog about exactly?
Spiritual Media Blog is about spiritual and inspirational entertainment in music, movies, books, television and new media platforms. I believe there is an emerging genre of entertainment that shows humanity acting at its best, leaves us touched, moved or inspired, or calls out to the deepest and most Sacred part of our being. For example, I recently interviewed Tamara Henry, one of the producers of Unbeaten, a documentary narrated by Dan Akyroyd about paraplegics participating in a 267-mile wheelchair and hand cycle race across Alaska. This movie really inspired me because it is about the heart of a champion and people who refuse to be defeated.
Do you get a lot of people pitching you? What really turns you off when people pitch you?
I do get a lot of people asking me to review their book, movie or Web site. Probably the biggest turn off is when people ask me to review a book or movie that is not related to the subject matter of my blog. Another turn off is when people ask me to introduce them to other people who I have interviewed or reviewed for my blog. This puts me in a difficult situation because it’s hard and sometimes uncomfortable for me to introduce someone to somebody after only one or two emails.
What would you say is the best way for people (and authors in particular) to pitch you?
The best way for people and authors to pitch me is probably to try to develop a friendship or professional relationship with me first before trying to pitch me. For example, they could leave a comment in my blog, connect with me through Twitter or Facebook, or sign up for my online Newsletter. This lets me get to know them and their work a little bit before they pitch me an idea.
This is not always necessary though. If they are really passionate about their book or project, then they can email me first and let their passion come across in their email. If they do email me first, then it can be helpful if they know someone I have interviewed or reviewed on my blog. They could either mention that they know that person at the beginning of the email. Or, they could have their friend who knows me introduce me to them over email.
How often should they follow up if they haven’t heard from you?
Probably once every other week. If someone sends me a few emails and I don’t respond, then it is best to wait a couple months and then try to approach me with a different angle for their pitch or they could update me on any significant changes in the progress of their book, movie or project.
Any last words of advice?
If you are going to ask another blogger to review your book or web site, then it is always helpful to let that blogger know any way that you might be able to help support their work. For example, you could offer to put a link on your web site to their blog, mention their blog to your Facebook friends, Twitter Followers or Email Newsletter subscribers, or write about their blog on your own blog if you have one.
Also, this may seem pretty obvious, but excellent writing and passion for your work is probably the best way to “pitch” someone or market your book. There are a lot of programs out there that claim to be able to turn your book into a bestseller, generate publicity for you, or help your web site get tons of traffic. These can be useful. However, excellent writing and passion for your work are so much more important than these programs because they lead to word-of-mouth publicity and authentic recommendations from people who have actually read your work. If you have a book that will inspire, entertain or inform people, then stay persistent because the people who need to read your book or visit or web site will eventually find you one way or another.
Interview on Tina Ferguson’s Podcast about the future of spiritual entertainment.
Tina Ferguson, host of Intuitive Life with the Queen of Dreams, interviews Matt about the future of spiritual and inspirational entertainment and how working in Hollywood motivated him to create Spiritual Media Blog. You can listen to their conversation by clicking to play below.
Petra
Nemcova, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model, recently published
a book, Love Always Petra, recounting how she was
heroically rescued during the Thailand tsunami that took place
on December 26, 2004.
This is the most inspirational story I have ever heard
because her reaction to nearly losing her life during the
tsunami inspired me to change my generally philosophy, attitude,
and outlook on life.
On December 25, Petra and her boyfriend, Simon Atlee, celebrated
Christmas together at a resort in Phuket, Thailand. They
talked about their future together and possibly having kids
someday. The next morning, she was packing in her hotel
room when the first wave hit.
The wave came through the balcony of her hotel room and
she grasped onto the roof. That was the last time she saw
her boyfriend, Simon. Trash and debris hit her, breaking
her pelvis in four places. Then the current released her
from the roof and she grabbed onto a tree. She was not able
to hold onto the first tree because of the current's ferocious
power. The power and force of the fierce waves tore off
all of her clothes. However, she did grab a second tree.
She was left clinging for dear life onto that palm tree
for eight hours, naked, with a shattered pelvis and no feeling
in her legs. Eventually, she was rescued by the Thai natives
and now has healed nearly all of her injuries.
Last year when she was on Larry King, he asked her what
was going through her mind while she was clinging to the
palm tree. There was pure grace and gratitude in her voice
when answered, " . . . it was actually, in some
way, it was really peaceful. I wasn't afraid. I was very
– the whole time through, I was very calm and focused.
And I was making lots of prayers and sending energy to people
and thinking of Simon and all the people there . . . I never
lose faith, even when there was a moment when I stopped
fighting, stopped kicking. I was very peaceful . . . I accepted
it, and it was actually beautiful. And I didn't have a fear."
I heard her interview with Larry King at the perfect time
in my life. You can read the entire transcript of the interview
at Larry
King's Website under the Transcript Archive for May
13, 2005. It was about this time a year ago right during
my final exams for law school. I was also completing my
debut novel, The Bottom Line. After I heard her speak, my
initial reaction was complete awe and amazement and I knew
I had to incorporate her story into my book.
Then, I began to ponder her serene and graceful reaction.
She found peace and beauty in the midst of such a terrible
tragedy. This observation led me to question and develop
a much greater understanding for the notion that ones thoughts
create ones reality. I still do not fully understand exactly
what it means that your thoughts create your reality. Does
it mean that our objective reality is actually entirely
subjective because it is determined by our thoughts? Does
it mean that our thoughts have the power to influence our
reality by attracting circumstances, events, and people
into our life that are aligned with the vibration of our
current thoughts?
It appears that Petra was able to use her thoughts to create
her reality. For example, by focusing her thoughts on sending
love, prayers, and energy to Simon and other people her
reality became filled with calmness, tranquility, and beauty
in the midst of a tsunami. Additionally, was she able to
use her thoughts to help attract a Thai native to heroically
rescue her and then use her thoughts to help her heal nearly
all of her injuries?
Finally, if your thoughts do create your reality, what is
the most powerful thought to think in order to create the
most fulfilling, meaningful, and joyful reality for yourself?
It is my belief that the most powerful thought I can think
is a "thought of God" - a thought filled
with joy, forgiveness, peace, creation or love. I believe
that thinking a "thought of God" is a conscious
act that can be facilitated when one chooses to surrender
their will and thoughts into to the Hands of God. For example,
one of my favorite and most powerful prayers is:
God,
I surrender my will and thoughts over to you. I place my
future in Your Hands. Thank you for already solving all
of my problems for me. Everything I need is on its way.
God, how may I serve You today?
Is this what Petra did - surrender her will and thoughts
over to God - when she said, "I accepted it, and
it was actually beautiful. And I didn't have a fear."?
The Soul: Learn how to utilize your soul and deconstruct the ego's thought pattern.
Published
on Kavita Chibber's Words of Wisdom,
April 2006
Matt is a regular contributer and has a column on Kavita Chibber's monthly e-magazine. Other regular contributers to Kavita Chibber's monthly e-magazine include Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur. |
Scientists,
philosophers, and mystics have been trying to understand
the nature of the soul since the beginning of time. This
piece will not be able to give a definitive explanation
of the soul because it transcends human experience. However,
it will explain how you can wake up your Spirit and utilize
your soul.
Theologians
describe the soul as the transcendental dimension of human
existence and explain that human beings are not a soul separate
from his or her body, but rather a soul and a body that
is immortal. This explanation is absolutely consistent with
scientific studies. From the moment of conception, when
a tiny drop of human protoplasm combines with an egg, life
in physical form begins, but our higher reality, (soul)
is directing the process. Where do the molecules, atoms,
electrons, and sub-atomic particles that are produced when
the seed and egg combine come from? Why does the heart begin
to beat at the specific moment it begins to beat and cause
a life to begin? What causes the heart to begin to beat
at that moment?
Einstein
and leading contemporary scientists have concluded that
there is no absolute, definitive particle at the source
of sub-atomic particles. The source of these sub-atomic
particles, the soul, is an invisible domain of an unbounded
spiritual field of energy vibrating so fast that it defies
measurement and observation and is responsible for the formation
of the body. It is present before conception and will remain
immortal after death. It is a person's connection to their
divine source. It is also known by some as the Self, Higher
Self, Intention, Source Energy, Non Local Field of Intelligence,
Subtle Body, or Spirit. It is the part of the mind that
is nonlinear and hears the Voice of the Holy Spirit. Three
quick and easy ways a person can wake up their Spirit and
utilize their soul are through meditation, following their
intuition, and an awareness of Divine providence through
coincidences. These are not the only ways one can connect
with their soul, but are the f ocus of this article.
The
goal of any meditation technique is to quiet or eliminate
one's conscious thoughts to silent the mind so that they
can be open to experiencing and reflecting on the Presence
of God or their Self dwelling within them. Two common meditation
techniques involve either focusing on ones breath or repeating
a mantra such as the sound "ah". The
"ah" sound is a useful mantra because
it is a common sound for the Ultimate Reality. For example
Krisha, Nirvana, Taku Wakan, Yahweh, Allah, Braham, Atman,
and God all share the "ah" sound. One
of the many positive effects of meditation is a deeper level
of awareness and openness to what God is trying to communicate
to a person. When a person quiets his or her thoughts and
eliminates the desires of their ego, the "voice"
which is revealed is God, however one may understand God.
For example, some refer to God as Spirit, Universe, Ultimate
Reality, Yahweh, Source, Brahman, Oneness, Divine, Sacred.
All of these ter ms refer to a supernatural creative Presence.
God
communicates to people everyday through a person's intuition
if a person chooses to make a conscious effort to become
aware of it. Intuition can be described as a gut feeling,
gut instinct, following ones heart, hunches, guiding light,
inspiration, or the Voice of the Holy Spirit. It is often
an ineffable experience or communication of Divine Knowledge
at a deeper level that may not always be rational, logical,
or easy to express because it often transcends ordinary
human logic, feelings, and senses. Still, meditation allows
one to connect with his or her soul and be more conscious
of what God's Divine purpose is for them.
Not
only does meditation allow one to be more aware of their
inner dialogue between one and God, but it also allows one
to have greater awareness of how Divine Providence is revealed
through outside events, objects, and observations. Karl
Rahner described this process as "experiencing
ourselves as a subject radically open to God."
Carl Jung and Deepak Chopra describe this as synchronicity.
Many refer to this phenomenon simply as serendipity. This
spiritual experience is consistent with the science of the
Chaos theory. Scientific research of the chaos theory has
shown there are no random events in nature and everything
and every event is interconnected to every other thing and
event in nature.
Atheists
often claim that the world is filled with a chaotic configuration
of random events, situations, and coincidences that have
no spiritual meaning, connection, or relationship to one
another. They believe the world's creation is entirely random
with no greater spiritual explanation. However, those who
are connected with their soul can find inspiration by knowing
and trusting that a "coincidence" is
just one example of how God draws attention to the intentions
of each person's Divine purpose. Examples of Divine Providence
may include the right person coming into one's life at the
exact right time, reading a book or watching a movie with
a theme or message that is perfectly applicable to a person's
specific life circumstance at that particular time, or any
other so called random event, person, or object that draws
attention to or leads to a greater understanding of what
his or her true divine purpose is. Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe explains what happens when one is open to God's Divine
plan . . .
"The
moment one definitely commits oneself (to connecting with
the soul), then Providence moves too. All sorts of things
occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred
. . . unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamed would have come his way."
The
only caveat to following one's intuition or Divine providence
is if a person is tempted to act on thoughts that are contrary
to love. This is where free will plays a role. A person
can freely choose to make a commitment to cultivate thoughts
of love, peace, joy, and kindness. Thoughts of anger, hate,
guilt, shame, depression, judgment, fear, and anxiety are
not consistent with one's true essence because one's true
essence (Spirit/Soul/Self) is constantly connected
to God who is all love.
While
anger may possibly spark one to move from a lower state
of consciousness such as fear, apathy, or guilt to a higher
state of consciousness such as courage, acceptance, forgiveness,
or love; anger eventually weakens the mind, body, and spirit
because it plants the seed of harming another or holding
a grievance against another. It can provide a temporary
boost of force by releasing adrenaline into the body. However,
anger ultimately damages ones mind, body, and spirit. Additionally,
anger, and even righteous anger, contradicts Jesus' message
of being nonjudgmental, practicing forgiveness, and having
unconditional love, even for ones enemies. If one is experiencing
these low energy thoughts, then one has the free will and
power to change and focus their thoughts, attention, and
actions to thoughts of love and forgiveness.
At
times, one may have trouble distinguishing the ego from
ones true intuition or soul because a person may mistake
an illusion as truth. This article is not referring to the
ego that psychologists refer to for a person's self-development,
nor is referring to the ego that most people talk about
in typical conversation. This article defines the
ego as the part of the mind that believes in a dualistic
reality or the part of the mind that experiences an illusion
of being separate from God. Quite literally, the ego is
a thought that provokes fear. The ego seeks survival. It
believes it has good intentions, but it is only operating
out of ignorance.
One
of the most effective techniques for overcoming the ego
is unconditional forgiveness of ones self and of others
when a thought of fear surfaces to the mind. Simply forgive
yourself for having a thought contrary to love or forgive
the person who provokes the thought contrary to love. Eventually,
the ego can "dissolve" as one gradually
becomes aware through forgiveness, surrender, and Self-Realization
that the best way for survival is to live accordingly to
ones higher Self. The ego's clouded illusions can slowly
dissipate and the Light of ones radiant Self shines through.
It
is important to have a basic understanding of the ego so
that one can recognize it, deconstruct its thought pattern,
forgive it, and thus develop a greater awareness and connection
to ones higher Self. One can tell if they are connected
to their soul/Spirit/higher Self/intuition by the results
of their thoughts and their actions. True intuition generates
energy, light, and love. Conversely, ones ego generates
anxiety, grievances, and conflict. These feelings generated
by ones ego are not necessarily wrong, bad, or uncommon.
At times, the thoughts produced by the ego can be helpful
signals that indicate that the particular thought or action
that is generating these low energy thoughts or action can
be forgiven and replaced with a more empowering, energetic,
or loving thought or action.
While
it can be an arduous process at times, the result of connecting
to one's soul is finding one's true purpose that ultimately
leads to a life filled with an abundance of happiness and
love. One of the core messages of the bible is: The Kingdom
of Heaven is within. God is love, "and he that
dwelleth in Love dwelleth in Me and I him". Or
as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Love is our highest
word and the synonym for God." Thus, when a person
connects to his or her soul, he or she is experiencing God
dwelling within them and that is an experience of unconditional
love.
Consequently,
when one is connected to his or her soul and experiences
this unconditional love, he or she is often moved to spread
this love by living a life focused on kindness and service
to others. Additionally, this process of loving others provides
one with intense feelings of ineffable serenity and exuberant
bliss.
This
has also been demonstrated by scientific studies. Research
has shown that simple acts of kindness improves the function
of the immune system and stimulates the production of serotonin
in both the recipient of the kindness and the person extending
the kindness. Additionally, even persons observing the act
of kindness have similar results. Serotonin is a naturally
occurring substance in the body that makes people more comfortable,
peaceful, and even blissful. Most antidepressants are taken
in order to stimulate the production of serotonin chemically
to help reduce depression.
These
scientific discoveries are consistent with the spiritual
truths: "You reap what you sow." or "It's
only through giving that we receive." The interesting
paradox is that the more one loves and gives to others,
the more one will receive love in return. In Power vs. Force,
Dr. Hawkins summarizes this point by explaining . . .
"Simple
kindness to oneself and all that lives is the most powerful
transform-ational force of all. It produces no backlash,
has no downside, and never leads to loss or despair. It
increases one's true power without exacting any toll.
But to reach maximum power such kindness can permit no
exceptions, nor can it be practiced with the expectation
of some selfish reward. And its effect is as far reaching
as it is subtle."
Swami
Paramananda explained, "Self-realization means
that we have been consciously connected with our Source
of being. Once we have this connection, then nothing can
go wrong..." These powerful words have extraordinary
implications. Once a person chooses to connect with his
or her soul, they become more aware of their instrinsic
Divine nature and encounter the joy, peace, power and love
of God who has constantly been residing within them. As
one experiences God dwelling in his or her soul, he or she
is unselfishly motivated to spread these high energy feelings
of love to everyone they come into contact with, which in
return prompts an abundant, reciprocal succession of giving
and receiving additional peace, joy, and love.
