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    Radical Paths To Contentment
    Radical Paths To Contentment
    Radical Paths To Contentment
    Ebook162 pages2 hours

    Radical Paths To Contentment

    By John Barringer

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    About this ebook

    The aim of this book is to make life more fruitful and enjoyable while leaving the world a better place than before. Its purpose is to identify and model how alterations within human perception can bring about changes for the better in the experience we call ‘reality’. These changes are not only concerned with physical wellbeing but also with the mental and spiritual outlook that can affect an individual’s attitude towards others

    Transformations within consciousness can give individuals a clearer understanding of their own existence, as well as assisting them to be more positive in their personal lives. Furthermore, ongoing research within the realms of the mind and consciousness is working towards a greater understanding of how these can affect physical matter. Of equal importance is the quest to discover more evidence concerning the relationship between humans and the universe.

    Luckily we have all been blessed with both the gift of choice in life plus an intellect to provide guidance concerning the right direction.

    This book is about direction, the path that we all follow through life. For most this path is chosen for us by others, rarely is it of our own choosing, although most believe that it is. Our ‘life path’ is determined by the influence of our parents, peers, social background, teachers and the state. These authority figures have been applying subtle pressures throughout their lives to guide individuals forward towards a goal of their choosing.

    Yet supposing the path an individual now travels is the wrong one? This may not just apply to their career or line of work but almost certainly to a person's whole outlook on life. Simply changing ones attitude and outlook can work wonders. It sounds simple, and it is, yet rejecting a deeply imbedded ethos carefully woven into one's psyche over many years can cause extreme mental trauma. This book lessens this impact by the simple expediency of going back to radical basics. The reality that we all enjoy, or otherwise, is constructed entirely in our minds. Our five senses, together with our brain plus our education and upbringing, construct a world that we can make sense of. Added to this is the influence of emotion that has a profound effect on our every action.

    If our senses are engines of interpretation that are driven by emotion, then controlling and changing our emotional response will alter our view of reality. If we create our own reality then we must be able to alter it. Reality is therefore flexible.

    Twenty three chapters include such headings as:-breaking down barriers, perception and reality, money, escaping the rut, eliminating negativity, professional clearing, sour memory removal, comfort eating and depression, positive thinking, symbolism and decision analysis.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn Barringer
    Release dateMar 17, 2012
    ISBN9781476003245
    Radical Paths To Contentment
    Author

    John Barringer

    Lived through a world war. Educated at Luton Technical School. Graduated at Luton University. Survived military service. Married to Patricia, two sons, Nicholas and Simon, both working in artistic pursuits, one with his own furniture business and one in the film business. Worked at one time as a technical author with General Motors. Written many articles and poetry for magazines. After that it was all downhill to becoming a novelist! Hobbies: helping my wife with the horses and driving my vintage car.

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      Book preview

      Radical Paths To Contentment - John Barringer

      RADICAL PATHS TO CONTENTMENT

      By

      Paris Phaeton

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      *****

      PUBLISHED BY

      Paris Phaeton on Smashwords

      RADICAL PATHS TO CONTENTMENT

      Copyright 2012 by Paris Phaeton.

      All rights reserved.

      No part of the body of the text, verse, or cover design may be reproduced in any way whatsoever without written permission from the author.

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Contents

      Chapter 1 - Nirvana? Where is that?

      Chapter 2 - Viewpoint

      Chapter 3 - Breaking down barriers

      Chapter 4 - Benign revolution

      Chapter 5 - Perception & reality

      Chapter 6 - Diet & exercise

      Chapter 7 - Viv & all that

      Chapter 8 - Money

      Chapter 9 - Escaping the rut

      Chapter 10 - Eliminating negativity

      Chapter 11 - Professional clearing

      Chapter 12 - Solid mental images

      Chapter 13 - Sour memory removal

      Chapter 14 - Over arching

      Chapter 15 - Double jeopardy

      Chapter 16 - Comfort eating and depression

      Chapter 17 - Ask and you shall receive

      Chapter 18 - Positive thinking

      Chapter 19 - Symbolism

      Chapter 20 - Tri-circle confluence

      Chapter 21 - Investment, investment, investment

      Chapter 22 - Decision analysis and the power of seven

      Chapter 23 - Insomnia

      Foreword

      The aim of this book is to make life more fruitful and enjoyable while leaving the world a better place than before. Its purpose is to identify and model how alterations within human perception can bring about changes for the better in the experience we call ‘reality’. These changes are not only concerned with physical wellbeing but also with the mental and spiritual outlook that can affect an individual’s attitude towards others. Social and business interaction in the modern world, very often referred to as ‘networking’, is a case in point where the quality of ‘persona projection’ is critical. It is beyond doubt that if you are seen to be doing the right thing by others then most will reciprocate harmoniously to you.

      Transformations within consciousness can give individuals a clearer understanding of their own existence, as well as assisting them to be more positive in their personal lives. Furthermore, ongoing research within the realms of the mind and consciousness is working towards a greater understanding of how these can affect physical matter. Of equal importance is the quest to discover more evidence concerning the relationship between humans and the universe.

      No person is an island and therefore various aspects of interaction with others and its effects on our reality will be examined. Finding the right spiritual place for you in the world is essential as a positive outcome will spread divine inspiration like ripples in a pool. This ethereal communication is crucial in the pursuit of contentment, as every positive action we undertake touches and uplifts the lives of all those within, and beyond, our immediate circle of influence.

      Unfortunately the world has many negative elements in its make-up; however these can be more than offset by the natural integrity that is endemic in existence itself. The life force that drives us all is based upon fellowship and fraternity rather than voracity and evil. When times seem troubled we can all take strength from the fact that our love for each other is the most powerful force in the universe.

      Luckily we have all been blessed with both the gift of choice in life plus an intellect to provide guidance concerning the right direction.

      This book is about direction, the path that we all follow through life. For most this path is chosen for us by others, rarely is that path of our own choosing, although most of us believe that it is. Our ‘life path’ is determined by the influence of our parents, peers, social background, teachers and the state. Those that we perceive as authority figures have been applying subtle pressures throughout our lives to guide us forward towards a goal of their choosing.

      Yet supposing that the path that you now travel is the wrong one?

      Do you start each morning dreading the slowly ticking clock of each ghastly hour as you carry out duties that are deemed necessary for your existence yet hateful to your very nature? Stress, depression and physical illness can strike down those who battle against the seemingly mindless daily grind that is the reality of ‘getting by’.

      Life does not have to be like that. These pages will release you from the well meaning barriers that have been erected by others in the misguided hope of giving you a better life. You, and only you, can choose the best ‘life path’ for yourself.

      Read the whole book then wait for a period of time to digest the implications of each chapter before putting any of these exercises into practice. Each one of us is different and therefore we must choose which action is best suited to ourselves.

      Enjoy!

      Chapter 1

      Be gone dark thoughts to another place

      We have no reason to welcome you here

      Disdain to your cause is all we offer

      Our love of life disarms our fear

      Nirvana? Where is that?

      Have you ever experienced contentment? Do you think you enjoyed it once but like so many good things in life it evaporated like the morning mist at sunrise?

      Quite a paradox!

      Contentment, to many, is seen as an enduring condition enjoyed only by an elite few at the very top of society. Viewed as perhaps a gift from the gods bestowed upon celebrities and the super rich; their money and fame providing a mythical magic carpet on which they waft through life without worry or care.

      The success of national lotteries across the globe, not to mention the contemporary obsession with the cult of celebrity, merely confirms this distorted view in the psyche of so many. While money can bring its own rewards in terms of security and an enhanced lifestyle, it is erroneously assumed that the simple act of spending large amounts will buy a ticket to ride within the Pullman car of contentment.

      Nothing could be further from the truth; for in reality, the lives of many within the public spotlight are more prosaic than we might imagine.

      The amount of money you accumulate is simply a measure of your success in the physical world, and if properly managed can bring happiness to yourself and others. Wasting it on shallow projects in an attempt to enhance your status in society will achieve nothing but ridicule from your peers. Money, it is said, does not buy happiness, and this is true, yet it does solve many of life’s problems that can cause unhappiness!

      Without guidelines or at the very least a brief narrative, how will we recognise contentment if it manifests itself and, hopefully, impinges its benefits upon our consciousness? It is unfortunate that so many drift through life in a perpetual state of unease; their condition brought on by lack of direction and the influence of social pressures imposed by the contemporary world. They may, in rare moments of mental clarity, consider jumping off the conveyer belt that drives them to an uncertain future; however the dread of a painful landing can bestow even more ambiguity than many would wish to bear. Some misguided individuals take the route of ingesting legal and illegal stimulants in an attempt to insulate themselves from life’s recurrent inconvenient consequences. This act is not cool or clever but pathetic and cowardly and only financially benefits dealers and pushers and places an additional burden on society and taxpayers. To so many, trying to grab even a small portion of contentment is seen as more difficult than seizing a handful of smoke.

      In view of this rather confused notion, the state of ‘contentment’ requires some explanation; after all if you are aiming at a target it is essential to know its location and appearance.

      The ongoing human condition known as ‘life’ has bound into its state of ‘being’ a whole kaleidoscope of emotions that touch virtually every moment of our lives. These, although differing in consequence, are not endowed with solid boundaries but have blurred edges producing a form of mental mélange. In fact we are able to experience several emotions at any one time, all of which may not necessarily be good or give a contented outcome. As with the performance of a large orchestra, we can both appreciate the work being played as a combination of all instruments as well as taking pleasure in a virtuoso recital.

      So too with emotions, although it must be said that not all bring pleasure.

      They come and go in seemingly random waves that are sometimes called ‘bio rhythms’. Certainly, the health of both body and mind can contribute to these seemingly arbitrary feelings.

      In addition, the actions of others can bring on apparently mixed emotions that seem unrelated to a word or action randomly thrown into the mix. These feelings may just mark you as a sensitive person but you cannot help but wonder how good it would be to have some control over it all.

      Although contentment is bound up with emotions it is not an emotion as such. Contentment is an ongoing state of mind as opposed to the occasional moment of delight. Ecstasy, bliss or amusement, all describe ephemeral states rather than a continuous and perennial state of consciousness.

      From this it is clear that although an individual may find, and experience, ongoing contentment, they will not be insulated from all the other emotional states that touch us each day. Sorrow, love, even hatred, will be there to delight or test the most well adjusted person, nevertheless the contented individual will enjoy a buttress provided by a strong foundation of emotional stability that will placate even the worst outcome.

      Being upbeat, optimistic and of stable disposition is sometimes cited as a fairly accurate description of those individuals who have found contentment in their lives.

      Yet

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