"Who Am I? Discover Yourself" FREE Workbook

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"Who Am I? - Discover Yourself"

A Workbook to Help You Recognize Your Potential

Includes 8 Steps to Healing Wounded Relationships

Have you ever asked yourself “Who am I?” Are we the roles we serve in our lives: fathers, mothers, employees, bosses, students, teachers, men or women? Are we our job titles? Are we athletic or out of shape? Are we talented with words or music? Are we rich or poor? Famous or obscure? Who are you? We wear many hats throughout our lives, often simultaneously. Others often define us by our roles, but if we search inside of ourselves, how do we define our own identities? Do you think about it or do you define yourself by how others see you? Do they truly know you? Do you know yourself?

Discover who you are in Christ. The attributes given to us by Jesus at the Sermon of the Mount are those that are valued by God. They are the characteristics God bestowed upon us when He made us in His image. These attributes are necessary to be able to love unconditionally, the way God loves us. Developing these traits helps us live happier lives with more fulfilled relationships. They unlock our potential. 

Do you possess these traits and to what degree? Find out what attributes you need to develop in order to reach your potential. This workbook also includes “8 Steps to Healing Wounded Relationships” as taught by Christ through the Beatitudes.

We often spend time caring for our physical health, exercising or watching what we eat, but we do not always spend enough time on our spiritual or emotional well-being. Often, ignoring our emotional health leads to anxiety and stress. Our physical well-being may extend our lives, but our spiritual welfare determines the quality of our lives. Take the time to reflect on your spiritual and emotional development in order to realize your potential and help you improve your relationships.      

         

This 14 page workbook in pdf format includes:

• 3 questionnaires to help you discover yourself
• A chart to help you analyze the traits you possess, valued by God
• Opportunities for reflection
• Identify which attributes you admire in yourself and others
• Determine which characteristics are your strengths and weaknesses in developing better relationships

You will also receive my FREE monthly newsletter, Defending the Faith.

Follow this link to receive your FREE workbook Now: http://www.helenkamenos.com/free_workbook/

Two Versions of Self

There’s no denying the self exist, but there are two versions of it. One is the self that thinks it constantly needs, and the other is beyond the thought of needing because it’s beyond the thought of self.

When you ask the question of who is the image in the mirror, do it in the context of who is the one who feels. Naturally the surface answer would be I feel, but who is this I (self) that feels and how about the one that exist beyond the surface of any feeling. This is the self outside the realm of one’s thoughts. Seeing this is all dependent on how settled the mind becomes and it’ll determine if one is aware that beyond the thought of self there is no one there, at least not in the context that self is thought of.

So who is it that feels? Sure the self feels, but it’s just not in the context where one attaches to any of their feelings. The thought of self and the self that exist beyond thought occupy the same form, they just exist totally separate from each other. They are as different as night and day as are the results of how one lives their life. One exist in the realm of attachment (thought). This is the self who most people think they are. The other self needs no label, there is existence, there just isn’t attachment to it. Find the self which brings the most benefit to life, beyond thought and the self without attachment will be revealed. This is the true essence of who you are, that is unless of course your thought of self is who you think you truly are.

Choosing Peace

When one wakes up from the sleep of the Conditioned Mind to notice just how much control it has over you, it is then that the chains that hold you in captivity are slowly removed one link at a time.

It may seem like there are many things that can take you from your peace, but in truth there’s only one. It manifest in many different ways, but it only occurs because of the conditioning in place. This simple fact is what’s mostly missed and it’s missed because it’s not seen. The other day I experienced this first hand as I was driving to work. I noticed a rattle every time I went over a bump in my car. At first this was really annoying me to the point where I pulled over to see what was causing the rattle, I couldn’t find anything. I continued driving and would get annoyed with each rattle. Then it hit me, I was allowing the rattle to take me from my peace. Before this epiphany my conditioning was in control, but once I become aware of this, I had the choice to not be taken from my peace. I didn’t have to replace the rattle with anything, I just had to stay in the present moment.

To me it’s these subtle annoyances that ruin my peace and they’re only in place because it’s the way I’m conditioned. Once the conditioning is seen, this produces the choice to not allow the annoyance controlling energy. It doesn’t stop the rattle, but it does stop attaching to the rattle; this is key in remaining at peace. This is the point missed by most. There are many rattles in life, from the way I write, to Donald Trump, a boss or job, the traffic, and so on, and not one of them has anything to do with taking you from your peace, only the conditioning in place allows that. Hold on to your rattles, and you will if it’s not seen that you don’t have to, but don’t blame the rattle for not being at peace, because that comes strictly from within you and since it comes from within you, only you can choose to not be rattled, one link at a time.

Today Self~Empower Self-Communicate – 10/30/17~

Today’s self-empowering communication to positively affect yourself:

Repeat with me: I AM SUCCESS EVERY MOMENT!

“I am thriving on the love I have for myself, loved ones, and those of like-minded nature I choose to surround myself with! I am thriving on the peace and serenity within me! I am thriving on a life of love, peace, bliss, and good wonder…”

to continue a greater life!

Great day to you, as a great day continues~

Edward F. T. Charfauros

Life Guide and Author

Image: https://www.pinterest.com/edcharfauros/mind-nourishment~

Original: https://edwardftcharfauros.com/2017/10/29/31-5/

There Is No Greater Truth

The word “religion” has come to develop negative connotations in today’s culture. It has become associated with hypocrisy, terrorists, or the narrow-minded irrational adherence to dogma. It has become associated with organizations, rather than communities of people. In the case of Christianity, many denominations have become associated with religious leaders than with Christ. The graphs below show the trends, by age group, of those who consider religion important and those affiliated to a specific religion. Fewer and fewer young people, especially those under 36 years old (28%), identify themselves with a religious denomination. Even more revealing, only 40% of millennials compared to 75% of those over 89 years old consider religion important. Each generation has shown a marked decline. Where will this trend lead? What conclusions can we draw?

                      

 

Isn’t it interesting that religion becomes more important as we become older and closer to death (graph on top)? The greatest increase in the importance of religion is indicated by the Baby Boomers. During their youth, 39% considered religion important, but more recently and thirty years older, 60% of the Baby Boomers consider religion important. There is little change for each generation in their affiliation to a specific religion by age (chart on bottom). Of those surveyed, 13% of the Baby Boomers had no religious preference in their youth and thirty years later, 13% still indicate no religious preference. That does not bode well for our youngest generation, where twice as many (26%) have no religious preference. In addition, each subsequent generation considers religion less and less important and thus, does not associate themselves with a specific religious affiliation.

When analyzing both graphs together, we can conclude that although God is important to the lives of many, fewer are associating themselves with a specific religious affiliation. Why is that? Are many disillusioned by religious organizations? Are we not meeting the needs of the people? Our churches are seeking ways to increase the engagement and involvement of young people, but what do young people need from their churches? What do all people need?

According to James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” According to James, we need to set a good example by the life we lead, being charitable and “unspotted from the world.” Yet, there is an important social component necessary. I remember when I was a teenager and young adult, even though it was long ago! The most important thing to me was my social life, my friends. I went to church because I belonged to a youth group at my church, and that was where my friends were. Well, God was important, too, but I regularly attended church to see my friends. As I grew older, my church attendance was determined by my closeness to God, my relationship with God. Each time my relationship grew stronger, I sought to learn more about God. I hungered for knowledge and wisdom. I hungered to experience God.

I believe that the most crucial factors in increasing our participation and church attendance are the same two factors, genuine love through relationship with God and with others. These are the same two commandments Christ gave us; we are to love God with our entire being, and we are to love one another. If these precepts are not alive in our churches, in the hearts of our parishioners, Christ’s message is in vain. I believe that people hunger for the word of God, but are unwittingly starving themselves.

Whose responsibility is it to meet the needs of our people in our Christian communities? It is not just the responsibility of the priests or pastors. It is up to each one of us. Each community member is responsible for supporting and encouraging one another, responsible for loving one another.

Another interesting statistic, according to Petts (2014)¹, is that parental influence on children’s religious life is overwhelmingly the greatest factor in church affiliation as the children become adults. In other words, Christian children who are taught about Christ by their parents, will follow Him, even as they become adults. Parents, not priests, pastors, or teachers, have the greatest influence on their children. Parents who teach by example have an even greater impact. When children see their parents pray, when they go to church with their family, when they participate in church activities, these children will develop their faith. When children see their parents loving one another and showing love to others in the community, they will be inspired to follow that example. They will know the love of Christ.

Children need a moral compass as they become adolescents and teenagers. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray” (Proverbs 22:6). Teach your children to love and respect everyone and teach them good manners. The children of today need an example of God’s love to flourish into confident adults. They need the support and encouragement of the church, their Christian peers and their families to experience genuine Christian living and to experience Christ Himself. They may act as if they are not listening, but they are outstanding observers of those around them.

How can parents teach by example? Parents must always be loving, honest and genuine. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We will make mistakes, but we can acknowledge those mistakes and teach our children what is right according to Christ’s teachings. We must always be loving to all in all situations, “take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:17-18). In other words, as much as we are able, we are to live with integrity, humble and compassionate, merciful and kind, enduring suffering with patience and courage. Finally, “Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:23-25). When we correct our children, we should do so with love and gentleness, teaching and encouraging them in the ways of the Lord. We can offer consequences, so they understand that poor choices in life have consequences, but they must be appropriate to the behavior. “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).

According to Merriam-Webster, “religion” is the service and worship of God, or a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. Religion is the dedication to our beliefs about God. The negative connotations of religion originate from beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of Christ. Christ taught us to love, to be compassionate, not to judge others, not to force our beliefs on others. We teach others about Christ through love, by the way we live our lives in the love of Christ. We are Christians because we follow the ways of Christ, who embodies the purity of love. This is why it is so important that our children are taught our faith. There is no greater truth than Christ’s love.    

¹ Petts, Richard J., “Parental Religiosity and Youth Religiosity: Variations by Family Structure,” Sociology of Religion Advance Access (November 10, 2014). Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2017 from http://youthandreligion.nd.edu/assets/156823/sociology_of_religion_2014_petts_socrel_sru064.pdf

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