man-o-pause

Search For Meaning | Manspurpose.com Web Launch

This day has been almost four years in coming. Man-o-pause is the precursor to my new site, Search For Meaning.

When Man-o-pause.com ranked #1 on Google out of 88,000,000 pages for the term, "man's purpose in life," I knew I was on to something. It helped that I'm skilled in search engine optimization (SEO), which is my day job, but still...

I bought the domain, www.manspurpose.com, not quite knowing what I would do with it. As traffic continued to build on this site, I realized that I was meeting a need. Almost 70,000 unique visitors have stopped by, reading 92,000+ pages of content collectively.

For your readership and following, I'm eternally grateful.

Over time however, I became more and more interested in talking about the deeper meaning of life.

While understanding one's midlife crisis can indeed be a path toward transformation, I believe that the state of the world demands deeper spiritual connection not only to the family of man, but also to the planet.

World events have created a "crisis of opportunity." Man-o-pause is a bridge to this new site, Search For Meaning. It is not for everyone. But

• If you're looking to broaden your consciousness, then this site is for you.

• If you want to experience creative flight, then this site's for you.

•  If you strive toward the Future with a flaming heart, then this site's for you.

• If you're seeking your Soul purpose, then this site's for you.

You can subscribe to newsletter updates by inserting your email address in the sign up box on the upper left of this page. Or visit the site and sign up there.

A Road Map for Personal Growth

I discovered a wonderful new blogger, whose writing rivals the wisdom of elders. He embodies the virtues of a man not often seen in one so young.

His stated purpose is

"to aid you in realizing your dreams and then creating an efficient path to take you there. I truly believe that every one has a voice to be heard and the only way to do that is by allowing your soul to speak."

I'll say no more, but let his words speak to you.

Read the ABCs of Personal Growth from www.aboundlessworld.com written by a 17-year-old Sage.

We Conquer By Thought

Lately, a number of friends and family have undergone surgery for serious, even life-threatening illness. It's in times of crisis, especially with a health crisis, we question the meaning of life because it brings us face-to-face with our own mortality.

Often, unresolved childhood issues surface that need to be dealt with. Every range of emotion is experienced. Advancements in medicine, technology and alternative healing gives many hope, but there's only one thing that can truly overcome any obstacle. And that is our thoughts.

Just as negative thoughts form a dark wall around our mental sphere, assimilating positive thoughts can change the polarization of our mental body. This is very different than repeating affirmations. Assimilation means digesting, understanding and making great ideas a part of our life and trying to live them.

Virtues such as patience, courage, beauty, goodness, righteousness, unity provide a communication line between the thinker and his Higher Self. We can then become receptive to "advice" which serves to transform and spiritualize the life.

"Our thoughts are with you, and we know that all will come about safely unless we ourselves sever the silver cord by your selfishness, sluggardliness, and superficial attitude toward the Advices."

Agni Yoga Society, Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol. I, p. 105.

The Essence of Life - Heart

"After our daily labors, let us gather to discourse about the heart. It will lead us beyond the domains of Earth toward the Subtle World, in order to bring us closer to the sphere of Fire."

from Heart, Agni Yoga Society

After any major crisis or upheaval, we often ask ourselves, "What is the purpose of life?" Hurricane Ike washed away old patterns and thoughtforms I thought I'd rid myself of long ago. When you lose everything, like many had and have during both Katrina and Ike, I believe the essence of Life is revealed.

I've lost everything ... twice. And it wasn't due to any hurricane. Sometimes we can't choose our path, but only have faith that our labour will lead us beyond who we thought we were and to our true path of Service.

True friendships, real neighbors, sincere concern and caring emerged from the wreckage of storm damage. I can only attribute that to one thing -- the heart.

 

Laborless Labor Day

I am not an early adopter of technology. In fact, I use my cell phone as a clock. As a society, technology has become so enmeshed in our daily lives, that I doubt few of us even question its value.

Ben Stein, author, actor, economist and social commentator, referring to the modern-day ball and chain (with a nod to Jean-Jacques Rousseau) wrote in The New York Times recently,

". ... They are not made of steel or iron, but of silicon and plastic and digits and electrons and waves zooming through the air. These are the chains of all kinds of devices, like the BlackBerry, the iPhone and the Voyager. These are the chains with which we have bound ourselves, losing much of our solitude and our ability to see the world around and inside us. ..."

The danger of always being on and available 24/7 is that it creates an illusion of activity and connectedness when, in truth, we're less engaged with our family, community and inner self.

Compulsive and obsessive behaviors are warning enough. It's not called "CrackBerry" for nothing.

Without time for reflection, we will continue to add layers of blankets, burying ourselves deeper and deeper into un-remembering. The American Labor Movement of the late 19th Century was inspired into birth for good reason. It is true that "labor is endless" but to what end?

How do we define true labor when we've exchanged a true sense of purpose for tantilizingly sleek plastic? I'm no Luddite but, perhaps for just one day, we can all "turn off and tune in." That would be just the opposite of the "turn on and tune out" of the 60s Generation.

I think it's time to start a new trend.

(To my non-U.S. readers: Labor Day is the first Monday in September, observed as a holiday in the United States and Canada in honor of working people.)

Read the full article, Connected, Yes, but Hermetically Sealed, in the August 23, 2008, edition of the NYT.

Speechless in Beijing

One world. One dream. One word. WOW!

Update: I finally found video and spectacular images of the 2008 Beijing Opening Ceremony.

Center4Humanity

There's no better cause today than the fight for human rights. Today, we stand at the cusp of global change. The deepening world crisis, on all levels, calls upon each and every one of us to focus on the purpose of humanity.

Compatriots of mine are launching a Web site that intends to meet the needs of humanity worldwide. It's called simply, The Center For Humanity. It's goal is to match human need with available resources. The watchword going forward is "sharing."

If you'd like to be notified when the site launches, just follow the Center 4 Humanity link, and add your email address.

In the meantime, Support Human Rights in any way you can. Even a simple act of kindness is registered by Cosmic Law.

For deeper discussion on finding your soul purpose, visit my new site, Search For Meaning.

Giving Purpose To Life: Imagine Peace

Forty years ago, John Lennon invited Yoko Ono to tell him more about a light house she had conceptualized. Today, the Imagine Peace Tower is a reality in Reykjavik, Iceland dedicated on October 9, 2007 - a day when John would have been 67 years old. His light shines on in this image and in his words.

Here's Yoko's story on YouTube with John Lennon singing "Imagine".

All we are saying is give peace a chance.
John Lennon, 1968

ImaginePeace.com

Let us wake up, come together,
and work on cleaning and healing our planet,
instead of further destroying it.
Let's not waste one more day in creating a machinery of destruction.
Give us a chance.
On behalf of ourselves and all species on Earth.
We can do it.
We must.

Yoko Ono
Address to the United Nations, 2005