Showing posts with label self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self. Show all posts

Friday, February 13, 2015

Self Love vs. Narcissism

If you don't love yourself ...how can you expect anyone to love you?

Contrary to what many may believe, Loving yourself is not an act of selfishness.   That would be narcissism.  Sadly, most confuse self-love with narcissism.   But I am here to tell you that there is a vast difference between self-love and being narcissistic.

Self-love is acceptance of who you are, as you are,  in this moment.  Narcissism detests acceptance of anything that does not meet it's unreachable standards and  is not perfect.

People with Self-love embrace change -- they actually welcome it.   They happily and gratefully accept the changes that occur with our bodies over time.   Self-love has no need to flaunt.  It requires no attention from outside sources as it is self contained and content. Narcissism, on the other hand, lives in constant fear of change.  And is terrified of not being admired and envied.  

Narcissism insists on being the center of attention and is in the constant need of validation and confirmation they are the best, the prettiest and sexiest.  To get that validation and confirmation, admiration and envy, a narcissist  will use every level of shock value it can muster to get it.

People with genuine Self-Love know who they are and require no outside confirmations on any level.
  

 Self-love allows you to be comfortable in your own skin and gives off an energy that attracts others to you naturally.  With self-love comes confidence.   Confidence  in knowing that there is no lack of anything --especially and in particularly -- Love.

Self-love brings peace of mind.  Narcissism brings fear and unrest.  

Once Again For Emphasis

Self-love holds no judgments of anyone.  Self Love accepts and lives by the "as is" policy.  Self Love lives in the knowing that nothing is ever truly lost.  And that all is as it should be

 Narcissism  sees itself as  better than anyone else, judging others as worthless and never amounting to anything all the while living in fear of losing everything and/or being found out.  

Self Love is the ever growing creative whirl of confidence.  Narcissism is the void that creates desperation.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Practice loving yourself each and every day!  

Embracing all that you are and remembering that you are All that there is!

oxoxoxoxox 



























Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited


Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World.  



All Rights Reserved©™



Sunday, July 29, 2012

Forgiveness: Part 3 ~ The By-Products of Forgiveness

 There are many  by products of practicing forgiveness.  Here in part 3 of my on going blog series entitled Forgiveness, we will take a look at a few of them.

Good Health and Genuine Happiness
It has been proven that people who practice forgiveness on a regular basis are healthier and happier.

When you live in the state of forgiveness, your body is more relaxed.  Your heart rate and blood pressure stay on a normal healthy level.  This in turn creates a better flow of oxygen to the brain. A better flow of oxygen leads to clearer thinking and the wherewithal  to remaining calm and centered even during stressful situations.

People who practice forgiveness are not blind to the events taking place in the world.  They are not ignorant of the negativity that exists here on the earthly plane.  On the contrary! 

 People who practice genuine forgiveness are very much aware of everything happening to them and all around them.    But instead of living as a prisoner to all the negativity, they consciously make a choice to take (and keep) control of themselves.   Because they  know first hand the damaging results of holding on to any pain, they consciously exert the effort to maintain the energies of forgiveness.  In particularly, the forgiveness of self.  

Clarity and Expanded Conscious Awareness
As you sift through all the pain, releasing it through unconditional love & forgiveness, you begin to see more clearly.    The act of forgiveness literally lifts the veil allowing you to see  everyone involved did the best they knew how at that given time.    Even in the most harsh situations, we now can see how we may have done better -- but were not in a position to do so at that time.   But now we know we did the best we could.  The best we knew how at that given time.  We now see that everyone was doing the best they knew how.

We now can see how we have benefited from all those experiences.  How it has created the person we are today.  How it has led us back to our true selves!

Through the act of forgiving our Self -- we can now take all the wonderful things we learned with us … leaving behind only those things that no longer serves us.   We can now walk upright, shoulders back and chin up.  We now know who and what we are.   

This knowing brings us to the next by product of the forgiveness of self  . . . 

Courage 

Forgiving one’s self -- genuinely and unconditionally -- brings a type of courage  that no one can take away.

Forgiveness of Self breaches the energies of  our self-imposed prison -- freeing us --opening up our eyes to all the lies we‘ve been told and had continued telling ourselves throughout our lives.  

Like a rubber band stretched too far -- we snap back into full awareness.  It is then we become conscious of -- and fully connected to --  who and what we are.  We feel the fuel of  righteous indignation bubbling up, reaching a boiling point … and that's when it  happens.   That's when We suddenly stand up and say with conviction … shouting it to the heavens ... our independence!   It is in that moment ... We take back our power!  We take back what  what is rightfully ours -- OUR SELF! 
We now ... finally and fully ... comprehend that Everything we experience comes from within.  That the choice to live in freedom or to live in a self-imposed prison was always our choice to make.   We finally get it!  

Feels good … doesn’t it?

So what are you waiting on?  Your Self is waiting for You!

“I can only show you the door … but only you can open it!” ~ Morpheus to Neo, The Matrix

(Excerpts from The ZEN of Duct Tape: An Empress Is Born!)

Embrace All that you are!
For YOU … are ALL that there Is!

























Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style comparable to Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way.  




    PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

    Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited

    Saturday, July 28, 2012

    Forgiveness: Part 2 ~ Forgiving Self

    When it comes to genuinely forgiving -- I fall short.  Way short!

    I know this only because … I can rattle off the names of a half dozen people  who have gone out of their way to slander me, hurt me and my family in some way.   And not only that,   every once in a while -- I actually take a few minutes to envision these assholes  being trampled by a flock of 100 foot mutant chickens.   It puts a smile on my face!   Makes me giggle! 

    Seriously -- who wouldn’t laugh at the thought of someone running from a gigantic chicken?


    Don’t get me wrong -- I don’t spend too much time on these fantasies.   Those morons aren’t worth the time and energy.  But still … whenever I need a good laugh  … I just flip on that imagination switch and let those mutant chickens run rampant!

    *~*~*


    Entertaining thoughts such as these is what  EFT Practitioner Margaret Lynch refers to as “Negative Pleasures.”   According to Margaret, negative pleasures are one of the many ways we do battle with ourselves.  Granted,  while these negative pleasures do have their humorous side, they tend to keep us stuck  And being stuck  keeps us in “battle mode.”  Being in battle mode prevents us from living in freedom. 

    As human experiencers -- living in freedom is our ultimate goal.

    But how do you get past  being stuck in battle mode when the planet is over run by  the L.E.A. --League of Extraordinary Assholes?

    Well it ain’t easy!  Then again … no one said it would be.  However,  we have at our disposal a wide range of tools,  methods and modalities  for  dealing with the hardcore members of the LEA.  One of which is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) a.k.a. tapping.  

    EFT is astoundingly helpful in releasing whatever unwanted and unneeded energies floating in and around our bodies.   However, when combined with other healing modalities, such as Ho’Oponopono, I have discovered that my  tapping  has an even more profound impact.

    But don't just take my word for it -- try it out for yourself!

    You can check out some of the free EFT sessions on You Tube with a  host of expert EFT Techs such as Margaret Lynch, Brad Yates, and Pamela Bruner.

    *~*~*~*~*

    Now when doing any type of  healing modality,  I always start with myself.  Reason being, like all of you, I carry around this guilt and shame for being a "secret member" of the L.E.A.  And too, I have a boat load of negative pleasures that I indulge in now and then.    While it does make me smile, I do have a bit of shame for visualizing someone’s demise.   So the very  first person who gets the healing  is me!

    Why do I start with myself, you may ask?  Simple.  First of all,  on whole, we all tend to overlook our self when it comes to maintaining any level of health.  Be it spiritual, physical, emotional and/or mental.  We all tend to put ourselves last.     

    Many years ago, I remember someone stating that we take better care of our vehicles than we do ourselves.  Not sure who originally said it -- but whoever it was they were one very observant cookie!

     Secondly, and most importantly,  forgiveness is really about Self anyways.  We are the ones who are holding on to the memories and experiences.  We are the ones living and reliving those episodes over and over again.   So it's only logical that we begin with Self!

    In case of emergency ...
    place the oxygen mask over your face FIRST!  

    Then proceed to assist others!

    If you ever traveled by airplane, you are familiar with these instructions given before take off.    These  same instructions hold true for any healing work!

    Heal your Self -- FIRST!  

    And ... The first steps to healing our Self begins with forgiveness of One's Self!


    *~*~*~*~*

    While forgiving others may prove difficult -- forgiving ourselves is a seemingly impossible and unreachable goal.  

    There are endless reasons why we refuse to forgive ourselves.  Irregardless of the many reasons you can name -- it all comes down to one solitary belief … unworthiness. 

    Unworthiness.  Worthlessness.  Low or non-existent Self-Worth.

    Somewhere along the way … we were convinced that we are the most worthless beings on the face on  Planet Earth.  While the belief of unworthiness could have been triggered anywhere during the course of your life, chances are  it all stems from early childhood.   But only you can know for certain.  To find out, you (yes YOU) will have to take the time to literally dig through the huge piles of emotional bullshit to find the point of origin. 

    It isn’t easy.  No one said it would be!  It will take time and patience to sift through all that crap.  And a lot of hankies! 

    And folks … There are no short cuts to this process!  Trust me, if there was … I would have found them and used them-- a LONG time ago!


    *~*~*

    For me personally, my point of origin was easily detected.    The events compounding these beliefs of unworthiness is a very long list!   Trekking back in time, facing  the point of origin of my beliefs of unworthiness was heartbreaking.    But the more I went back, the more information I gleaned.  And the more information  I gleaned, the more my awareness expanded.  And the more my awareness expanded, the more my heart opened and allowed the forgiveness to flow more freely.

    Coming  into the present -- I now can see with crystal clarity what my choices as a young child had set in motion.  And too, how The Universe, in it’s infinite wisdom, had begun to gently nudge me out of that mindset.

    And how did it do this?

    By placing in my path the same type of people, situations and experiences with the same exact messages of unworthiness!

    *~*~*


    I don’t know if you ever noticed this  -- but The Universe has this two by four to the side of the head method it implements!

    Of course, it usually starts out with a ruler.   First it begins with a really subtle thump on the noggin.  If you get the lesson from that initial tap-- then you’re good to go! On to the next lesson!  Woo Hoo!!!   But ignore that little thump and the next thing you know … the ruler has been turned into a two by four … and before you have time to blink … BAM!  Right up side the head!  And you have no choice but pay attention to the lessons The Universe is providing!

    Ever notice that?  Okay, maybe it’s just me then!  However, my point being … ignoring an issue -- any issue -- leads to  more of the same, each time it returns is more intense.  And to make matters worse -- ignoring issues tends to mount even more  feelings of unworthiness!   So before you know it -- you are caught in this vicious cycle of self-abuse.  Before too long you wind up  in a sea of utter despair.

    As you  find yourself barely floating along--you manage to muster up enough strength to ask that all burning question … Why me?!!  Instead of throwing you a life preserver,  The Universe comes in with that two by four  and whacks you again and again! Each blow  harder than the last.

    And it just keeps coming ...

    Until …

    You stop struggling!  Yell “UNCLE!” And proceed to forgiving yourself!

    Yep!  The Universe is one helluva motivator -- ain’t it?   Unfortunately,  many view this process as cruel and unusual punishment.  They put all blame on The Universe!   Taking no responsibility for themselves.   Not really taking the time to understand and fully comprehend the way The Universe operates.   Which is … whatever you are in need of learning … The Universe supplies!  In abundance -- I might add!

     So if you are getting WHACKED upside the head … it is YOU who are doing it to YOU!

    End of Story!

    Now if you have any desire to place a cease and decease order on all the whacking upside the head … you will need to do one little thing.  And that is … genuinely, unconditionally, with love & compassion  -- forgive your … Self!

    Yes!  It really is that simple!

    The benefits of forgiving Self is infinite!  In fact, something truly marvelous happens when you genuinely forgive your Self!  All of which we will cover in Part 3 of this on-going blog series.

    Until then …

    Embrace ALL that you Are!
    For you ARE … All That There Is!

















    Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

    In the style comparable to Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way.  






      PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

      Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited

      Wednesday, June 20, 2012

      Embracing All That You Are: Part 2

      Embracing All That You Are is not a belief that limits you or hinders you in any way.  It is a knowing that allows you Freedom!

       

      To help you understand Embracing ALL That You Are ... here is my list that I have created for MY - SELF.  It is but a small fraction of all that I am.  But I think you will get the gist!  


      I EMBRACE ALL MY ....
      • Insecurities               
      • Doubt
      • Anger                      
      • Ignorance
      • All Fears -- great and small
      • Intolerance
      • Sorrow, pain and sadness          
      • Bigotry
      • Shallowness                 
      •  Selfishness
      • Control Freak in me              
      • Stupidity
      • Neediness and Greediness          
      • Pride
      • Hatred                  
      • Lies
      • Resentment                  
      • Hypocrisy
      • Self-Centeredness              
      • Temper
      • Failures  
      • Manipulativeness 
      •  All Judgments -- past, present and future
      I EMBRACE ALL MY ....
      • Love                      
      • Joy
      • Contentment                  
      • Gratitude
      • Laughter                   
      • Wisdom
      • Knowledge                  
      • Graciousness
      • Generosity                  
      • Silliness
      • Boldness                  
      • Courage
      • Creativity
      • Talents & Gifts

       I LOVE and EXPRESS MY HEART-FELT GRATITUDE for All these things stated , and for all things not mentioned.   

      I Embrace All  that I am, because I am All things, feelings and experiences. 

      I Embrace it All, Love it All, Greatly Appreciate it All …  so that I may be Free!

      Because … I AM Free!


      Photobucket














      Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

      In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 


      PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

      Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited




      Tuesday, October 11, 2011

      The “Occupy ‘Self Responsibility’ Movement”

      When it actually began -- no one knows for certain.  But you can bet your bottom dollar -- it has been around for a very, very long time! 

      How many are an active part of this particular “occupy movement”  -- is unknown.   But rest assured -- their numbers are vast -- and they are growing. 

       The many members of this "movement"  are All who are ready, willing and desiring to create, initiate and motivate the real changes.    They are  All of those people  who are willing to take and accept 100%  responsibility for Self -- they are those who have already accepted 100% responsibility for everything taking place throughout  the world; they are ALL  those who now know the “other person” isn’t to blame.

      They are those who know -- who believe -- who live by-- being the change they desire to see in the world!  They are the ones who do not wait for the "other person"  -- but take the initiative to do it -- to just do it!


      *~*~*


      “Whatever a man is sowing -- he shall reap.”   
      Galations 6:7 ~ The Christian Bible



      “Thoughts are energy!  And wherever your thoughts go -- energies flow!” 
      ~Louise L. Hay~

      *~*~*


      Each and every single one of us are contributors to this world -- to this reality.  The size of your contribution doesn’t matter.    You -- and you alone -- are responsible for your individual contribution.

      Like the tiny pebble that raises the level of the sea -- you too cause a rise in the global consciousness.

      And if you don't believe that ... then consider the following:

      Over the course of your life -- how many times have you uttered or just thought the phrase …   “I can’t afford it”?    that very thought created the global reality of lack.

      How many envy what others have?  How many wished for things they could not afford?  How many have gone into debt for things they could very well do with out -- but bought them because they wanted them?  Because their friends, family and neighbors had them? 

      How many have mocked and teased others for being too poor to afford the over priced name brand items?  How many have looked down on others for being poor?  For being homeless?  How many have mistreated others because they were seen as different some how? 

      How many go without giving thanks for what they do have?   How many go without helping others in need?

      How many have taken more than their fair share?  By stealing and killing.   And this doesn’t just fall on the rich-- the poor fall into this category as well  my friends. 

      Those very thoughts have help create the global reality of greed -- and a sense of entitlement!  These very thoughts alone have created a “class warfare” -- one that has been taking place for centuries.

      How many of you complain of big corporations polluting our land, water and air?  Now  how many of you drive cars?  Big SUVs?  How many of you routinely pick up the trash off the streets?  How many of you have the luxuries of microwaves, air conditioners, furnaces, computers, the latest cell phones?  How many of you use paper products of all varieties?  How many of you recycle? 

      Yes, we ALL have contributed to the pollution -- and continue to contribute in some way or another.

      We are ALL responsible.  Each and every single one of us.   No exceptions!

      If you hate someone because they hurt another person or hurt an animal -- you are only perpetuating the cycle of hatred.  You are not doing that person and/or  animal any justice by thinking of doing harm and/or acting on that thought of doing harm.

      Your thoughts of revenge only perpetuate the cycle of abuse.

      *~*~*~*~*

      Whatever seed you are planting -- your harvest will be reaped globally.    And if you don’t believe that -- take a good look around you.  Take inventory of all those times you had a certain thought -- and then take note of how that very thought manifested world wide.

      Yes, your very thoughts are  spreading -- evolving -- expanding -- and moving across the globe.  Can you feel it?  Can you see it?


      *~*~*~*~*


      “Be the Change you wish to see in the World!”  ~ Ghandi

      Occupying 'Self Responsibility' is the first step in making the real changes you desire to see in this world.  After all -- it all begins and ends with Self!   Your ... Self!

      It is -- has always been -- and continues to be … all about …

      Y.O.U.  
      Your Own Understanding 



      *~*~*~*~*~*~*


      Of all these things mentioned above  -- and so much more -- I take 100% responsibility.  No one else is to blame!  No One else is at fault!  I am 100% responsible!

      I myself have thought these things stated -- even acted out on some of them.  

      I am responsible.  100% Responsible.

      I am Sorry!  Please Forgive Me!  I Thank You!  And …
       
      I LOVE YOU!





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      Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited