It’s easy to get sidetracked. Our busy lives pull us in a thousand different directions. How can we stay on track?

Can we balance all the things that must be done, and should be done, with the things that mean the most to us?

Is there a way to make sure our true passions are not forever relegated to the bottom of our “to do” list?

Be with Your Passions

Passions have a way of shriveling up and blowing away when ignored. It’s the principle of “out of mind and out of sight.” This is what happens when your passions are put on the back burner, day after day and year after year.

“Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one- as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.” - François Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-80)

When the trivial details of daily life are consistently given preferential treatment, that becomes the primary focus of your life – a life built around trivial details. Do you get them all done? Maybe. Do you feel satisfied and inspired by prioritizing them? Probably not.

“‘Know thyself,’ said the old philosopher, ‘improve thyself,’ saith the new. Our great object in time is not to waste our passions and gifts on the things external that we must leave behind, but that we cultivate within us all that we can carry into the eternal progress beyond.” - Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803 - 1873)

It’s possible to attend to the details of life, and still make room for your passions. It’s a matter of attention. Allow room in your consciousness for the things stirring deep within you – your passions.

In your quiet moments, dwell upon them. Be with them mentally and emotionally. When they are deliberately included in the fabric of your life, opportunities present themselves that allow you to integrate your passions into your daily life. With practice, you will recognize these opportunities and serendipities because of your habit of regularly including your passions in your deep mental and emotional reality.

On the other hand, if your habit is to think about your passions only occasionally and briefly, before putting them back in your mental “later” file, the same opportunities and serendipities can easily go unnoticed.

Before your outer life can be a reflection of your true passions, your inner life has to be in alignment with them. If you ignore the true calling of soul, reflected by your passions, your life can turn out to be an exercise in “if only” and “what if.” The way to avoid a life of regret is to first recognize whether or not you have developed the habit of ignoring your true passions. If you have, this usually leads to an unfulfilled life.

So pay attention to your passions now, and continually incorporate them into your day-to-day life by energizing them with your attention, thoughts and emotions.

“As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at peril of being judged not to have lived.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935)

Go Deeper

What if you go through this process of externalizing a passion and integrating it into your life, only to discover that it does not satisfy you? Your interaction may leave you feeling flat and unfulfilled. How can that be?

The problem may be you need to dig a little deeper.

What you had identified as a passion may not be a true passion bubbling up from the depths of your being. It could be any number of things, but most likely, it’s born of ego, and may be ego driven. It could be the product of the “little me” in your head, rather than the irresistible impulse of the universe itself seeking expression through the unique combination of skills, talents and interests you bring to the recipe of co-creation.

“It’s the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.” - Rebecca West (1892 - 1983)

Embracing Change

When drive is mistaken for passion and situations change, it’s easy to throw up your hands in resignation and give up. When you are inspired from the inside out by true passions, your outer activities bend gracefully with the winds of change. The outer manifestations of your true passions morph, as needed, to best reflect the inevitable changing circumstances. New circumstances require new approaches, and when you are in alignment with your passions, it will become apparent how to best maximize the potential of each new circumstance.

Your Passions Make You Unique

Fundamental passions come from the core of your being. As you become accustomed to living your life in alignment with them, you become less and less like everyone else and more and more who you really are. As your outer life becomes in closer alignment with your true passions, you grow into the unique individual that you are.

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” - Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

The Ego-Driven Give Up Fast
Passion-Driven People Last

A passion-driven life does not come to an abrupt halt by a roadblock. Instead, from the inner place of stillness where you have invited passion to reside, an idea for the perfect detour springs forth. The detour itself could very well turn out to be a serendipity, bearing gifts and benefits that would otherwise never have manifested. It’s all a matter of attitude. The determined, yet gentle resolve that comes when you’re committed to living in alignment with true purpose, is fueled by your deepest passions.

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

Let Go of Resistance

Situations change. Perhaps the only constant in the universe is change. Change happens. It makes no sense to resist it. It does make sense to learn to roll with it gracefully and delight in new experiences and opportunities made possible by our ever-changing circumstances.

When situations change, we have a choice. We can become upset and resist the change. This approach wastes precious energy in complaining and blaming. Or, we can accept it as it is, settle our attention deeply inside, and become receptive to the next appropriate action based upon the new situation.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Unknown

When we focus our attention on this present moment and allow our true passions to be on-going companions, outer changes are not the enemy. Whatever happens, regardless of the mental labels of “good” or “bad” we give it . . . this too shall pass.

From the depth of stillness will come the impulse for the appropriate course of action now. This new urge for a specific action takes into consideration the most recent outer changes and your commitment to the deepest nudges from your inner reality. These nudges, rooted in true passions, represent your north star . . . you can trust them, and you can steer your life by them. (To help clearly define exactly what your passions are, see previous articles, “Your Passion as Your Compass” and “10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose.”)

When your outer activities are in the flow and inspired by your passions, your life becomes a work of art – an original expression of the teamwork between you and the universe itself.

“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” - Georg Wilhelm

“The worst sin - perhaps the only sin - passion can commit, is to be joyless.” - Dorothy L. Sayers (1893 - 1957)

“The more passions and desires one has, the more ways one has of being happy.” - Charlotte-Catherine

The Grandest You and Your Deepest Passions

In the stillness of your personal quiet times, re-connect with your passions. Revisit the stirrings of soul and refocus on what is genuinely important to you . . . not the “little you” – the ego, but the grand, bright and shining YOU – the one-of-a-kind embodiment of all-that-is, born into this world with a unique set of talents and tools to enable you to do what nobody else can in the entire world.

What is that? That is your true passion.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Miracle in Disguise Synchronicity is such a positive and hopeful idea, it begs the question, "Why not actively look for it and even expect it, as long as it feels good?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor11 Time of Our Lives Time is so fleeting, so elusive, it’s good to remember the importance and power of living right now. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor7 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Live From Your Heart We all come from a long, long, long line of love. And our lives are enhanced exponentially when we interact with one another as if that mattered. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor13 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! 10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose Of all the self-help ideas I’ve come across through the years, this one has been the most helpful. For me, it’s been the Rosetta Stone of personal development techniques. After getting a handle on the idea of “purpose”, other areas of my life fell into place more easily. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. Persistence and Perseverance for Winners - Losers Just Quit Giving up is easy. Most people make a habit of giving up. In fact, they make a life of it Persistence through a solution-oriented attitude is for visionaries, dreamers and other winners who refuse to take “no” for a final answer. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Ego or Soul? Who’s Driving Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego. What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics? Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. Enhance Your Self-Image on Purpose Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action - intuition. Know Thyself - Ignore Comparisons and Be Yourself The average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in. We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others. Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

We all get in a funk occasionally. It’s part of living here in this playground of duality – light and dark, hot and cold, up and down. Without occasional bad moods, how would we recognize a good mood? Without feeling despondent occasionally, how would we recognize euphoria?

Recognizing the fact that you are experiencing a bad mood is the first step to getting out of it. Once you realize your spirits could use a lift, here are some tips to help make it as quick and painless as possible.

Find the Cause and Make Inner Adjustments

Negative emotions of any kind, regardless of what you call them, are there to bring you a message from your deepest inner self. The message is something like this: “Your current train of thought is out of sync with the personal direction held most dear by the best possible version of yourself.”

When your thoughts are in alignment with your sense of purpose, you infuse your life with happiness, enthusiasm and joy.

So step back from the mind and settle into the objective viewpoint. From this perspective of pure awareness, take a good look at the thoughts you have been thinking lately. (It’s likely more accurate to say, “your thoughts have been thinking you,” before you brought the light of pure awareness to the table.) Your funky mood is telling you those thoughts are not serving you well. They are not bringing you happiness, enthusiasm or joy . . . so make a decision right now, in this present moment, to change the color of your thoughts.

Do a 180-degree mental pivot, and deliberately point your thoughts in the opposite direction.

Replace despair with hope.
Replace worry with confidence.
Replace fear with love.

This kind of deliberate, directed thinking is a choice. It’s a personal decision based on understanding what you want and how to get it. If you’re tired of seeing your life through the dark lens of a funky mood . . . and are serious about letting the light in, change your thoughts.

Nobody can do it for you. Nobody else has to change in order for you to feel better. Nobody has to behave differently. All that needs to change is your attitude . . . the way you react to the events in your life makes the difference. Once you get a handle on that, you can maintain mental and emotional equanimity, regardless of outer circumstances.

“. . . the way that you choose to take it into view,
Makes it hell or a whole lotta fun.”
- from the song, “Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun” by Tupelo Kenyon (written in 1976)

3 Steps to Busting Bad Moods

* Notice how you feel.
* Examine your predominant thoughts.
* Redirect your thoughts, as needed, in sync with your highest ideals and your sense of purpose.
* Repeat as needed.

Accelerate the Process with Outer Adjustments

Once you’ve addressed the inner causes, here’s a list of 17 funk fixers:

1. Meditate – If your stinkin’ thinkin’ is responsible for your funk, and if it’s a challenge keeping your thoughts in a better place, try placing your attention elsewhere. Take a few deep breaths and relax deeper and deeper every time you exhale. Become still, and focus your attention on your breathing. Notice that you aren’t controlling it – just notice how the breath seems to be breathing you, without any help on your part. Allow stress to melt away as you become deeply relaxed. Look for the stillness between the breaths and between the thoughts. Be here, in the stillness, as you simply witness everything – your breath, your thoughts, sounds and other physical sensations. (See previous articles, “Simple Toning Meditation” and “Guided Meditation for Self-Healing and Personal Development.”)

2. Change Your Environment – Get out of the house. Go for a walk. A radically different environment can expedite a radical shift in the color of your thoughts. (This can help you get a fresh perspective on things, but going somewhere else is never the entire solution because . . . wherever you go, there you are.)

3. Exercise – Get your blood pumping. Increased heart rate and respiration sends more oxygen and endorphins to your brain, and that feels good.

4. Use Your Imagination – Relive happy moments. Pull out an old photo album (or photo folder on your computer) and look for photos that feel good. Spend some time with them, wrap your thoughts around them, and allow the positive emotions to wash over you.

5. Gratitude – Have a personal gratitude party. You can do this alone or it’s fun to share it with someone you love. Notice (and feel deeply) all the things you are grateful for. To take this to another level, express your gratitude whenever you can. Look for opportunities to do that.

6. Be Here Now – Bad moods are often the result of worrying about the future or regretting something in the past. Refocus your attention on this present moment, and notice that, right now, all is well. The secret is to keep your attention sharply focused in this micro-moment. At this precise instant, I’m alive, I’m breathing, I’m not starving, and there are no wild animals gnawing on my leg. It’s good to be alive – it’s a priceless gift, and life is now.

7. Listen to Uplifting Music - Music touches us and transports us emotionally like nothing else. Pick your music deliberately to produce the desired result – happiness, enthusiasm and joy. (See previous article, “Benefits of Music for Personal Development.”)

8. Watch a Good Movie – Choose something that will give you a lift. Pixar and Disney animations are good for a change of emotional scenery. Some fantasy and science fiction movies work well, as do romantic comedies. Anything funny breaks up the brittle edges of a bad mood and lets in a little fresh air and sunshine.

“What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . . . a form of jogging for the innards, but that it creates a mood in which the other positive emotions can be put to work, too.” - Norman Cousins (1915-90)

9. Play with Pets – Puppies and kittens are fun. Better yet, try to find a litter, and just hang out with them for a while. If you can find some youngsters, six to eight weeks old, that’s ideal for a good laugh and an emotional facelift.

10. Indulge Yourself – You deserve it. Take some time for you, and do whatever makes you feel good – a hot bath, massage, nice meal, etc. (See previous article, “Take Time for You.”)

11. Help Someone – When we slide down into a funk, often it’s because we think, “It’s all about me,” or worse yet, “Poor me.” Be useful to someone else and get some perspective. Notice all the people in the world who, compared to you, have serious problems. Feel empathy and compassion, and do whatever you are inspired to do about it, but mostly . . . pause and be grateful for the blessings in your own life, as you help others. Get some perspective and blast yourself out of myopia by asking yourself, “Okay, really . . . how bad is it?”

12. Smile – Just the firing of those facial muscles can help lift your mood. It’s a psychological and physiological way to reverse engineer happiness. There have been impressive studies done demonstrating how this works. A smile activates the pressure points on both sides of the mouth, which triggers good feelings. So even a fake smile helps. Try it now. Paste a big, wide, cheesy grin on your face, and just hold it there for a few seconds. (You might want to do this while nobody’s looking . . . otherwise, they might give you something real to smile about.) As you feel the smile muscles exercised in your face, can you feel the subtle changes in your brain? Interesting, eh?

13. Enjoy Alone Time – If your life is full of juggling your schedule with lots of other people, get away for a day . . . or a week, and just be your own best friend. Remember who you are – not who everyone else thinks you are or who everyone else wants you to be. Get re-grounded and centered. Then you have more of yourself to offer others.

14. Be Inspired on Purpose – Whatever makes you feel good and enthusiastic is good medicine for the soul and poison to bad moods. Ask yourself what inspires you, and deliberately focus your attention on that.

15. Sing – Even if you don’t sing or haven’t sung for years, try it. Put on a favorite song or an album you are very familiar with, and sing along. When you don’t know the words, hum. Allow the magic to work on you. It’s almost impossible to remain bummed out while singing. Like the fake smile (tip #12), complex psychological and physiological factors come into play when your body is generating tones. (That’s why Tibetan monks chant.) Harmony, melody and breath are powerful. They revitalize your psyche and nourish the soul.

16. Visualize – Imagine how you want to feel. See it clearly in your mind’s eye. Once it’s identified and clearly defined in your brain, move it to your heart. Feel it. Imagination can apply to feelings too, so explore how you want to feel in great detail – mentally and emotionally. Once that’s done, guess what? You’re already there. Now just sustain it with the three steps offered earlier:

* Notice how you feel.
* Examine your predominant thoughts.
* Redirect your thoughts, as needed, in sync with your highest ideals and your sense of purpose.
* Repeat as needed.

17. Decide to Change Moods – Mean it. If you’re fed up with bad moods, make a conscious decision to do something about it. Personal resolve and commitment make it happen.

Banishing Bad Moods

Bad moods are unhealthy. They are stressful and take their toll on you. They also affect those around you who you love most. With practice, attention and deliberate action, inspired by your personal decision, you can make bad moods a thing of the past. You’re going to love how that feels. (So will your family and friends!)

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Trash Our Treasures People seem to have a history of awarding seemingly insignificant details with places of prominence in our lives, while ignoring or even destroying the most important aspects. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor2 May You Have Joy Have you ever felt a warm appreciation for someone in your life, and just wanted to wish them well? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#anchor12 Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 Seriously A reminder of the importance of making it a point to deliberately live life in joy, reverance, and with a light-hearted spirit. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor15 Blue Water Water and the sea are such perfect metaphors for the larger reality we are all immersed in. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor6 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun Nothing to do? How about too much to do? Our attitude seems to make the difference. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor16 Songs by Tupelo
	Simple Toning Meditation When it comes to meditation and contemplation, all we really need is a simple technique that produces obvious results. Celebrate life through this easy method of calming the mind and getting in closer touch with your inner being. Guided Meditation for Self-Healing and Personal Development It’s helpful to have a helping hand once in awhile. I was fortunate to have friends show me how to meditate. It was just friends showing friends something cool . . . because they could. Or maybe it was some kind of big brother / big sister program for the spiritually ripe. It was easy. It was casual. It was a life-changing experience. Benefits of Music for Personal Development All music is not created equally. This article takes a look behind the scenes to catch a glimpse of how the intent of the composer translates to the feeling evoked in the listeners. Many links are included to streaming mp3s. Celebrate life through music! Take Time for You Don’t put yourself at the end of the list. You deserve to be first, at least some of the time. Don’t let your entire life slip by with everything else (and everyone else) getting preferential treatment over your most important priorities. Their needs are important, but yours are important too. Celebrate life by taking time for YOU! How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. Life Drama as Blockage to Personal Development Some people seem to relish drama in their lives. They go from one catastrophe to another. They thrive on it as if drama is what makes them feel alive. You may be able to see that they are attracting these experiences by their daily thoughts and feelings. But, they don’t recognize it from within the narrow confines of their personal drama. To someone immersed in drama, the idea that they are creating it is completely foreign. With intent, practice and mindfulness, what was once considered drama that snowballed out of control becomes simply examples of the contrasts of life to help you sharpen your preferences and shape your desires. Six Killers of Individuality and Personal Independence Is the course of your life determined by your own internal road map or by a map made by someone else? Each of us can choose our direction deliberately and live a life custom sculpted. Each life can be as individually unique as the person living it. If you pattern your life after someone else, exactly what is it you have to offer? Self-Discipline in 3 Easy Steps Why is it so difficult to follow through and accomplish what you set out to do? Usually, there is one important missing ingredient: personal discipline. For most of us, the idea of discipline is an external force - it’s something that comes from the outside. For instance, we discipline our children. Most of us are familiar with discipline as a verb (something we do to someone else), but we’re not so familiar with the concept as a noun - something we cultivate from within and apply to ourselves. Relax and Rejuvenate for Balance and Productivity Whatever you do, taking time to relax and regenerate helps you to do it better. If you don’t pause occasionally, shift your mind into neutral and recharge your batteries, your productivity plummets and you may not even realize it. You need time to let your mind wander - time to imagine new possibilities - time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - time to nurture soul. Life is more than an endless to-do list, and many of its most important gifts come when you allow yourself to put the daily details on pause and just experience the simplicity of life in the moment with nothing in particular on your mind that needs to be done. Appreciate Here and Now No matter what’s going on in your life right now, there’s something to appreciate about it. The act of appreciation rivets our consciousness to this present moment. With our attention focused on the here and now, we are living life fully, since right now is the only time there ever is. Articles by Tupelo
		Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
		Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

Do you have to think, or do you think to have?

Thinking should be optional. Compulsory thinking is all too common. If your thoughts are non-stop, you are not thinking. Instead, your thoughts are having their way with you.

Your life is an effect of the thoughts that receive the most attention. If the thought process runs incessantly, willy-nilly, it’s easy to feel lost in the physical world, and life feels like something that just happens to you.

When you choose thoughts on purpose and concentrate your attention on those, your life is one of your own choosing, deliberately and strategically created, one thought at a time.

“Strategy is a style of thinking, a conscious and deliberate process, an intensive implementation system, the science of insuring future success.” - Pete Johnson

Unforeseen Benefits of Disciplined Thinking

Do you remember sitting in those uncomfortable desks at school, bored with what was being taught, and wondering how you’d ever use it in the real world? I studied mathematics for a couple of years in college. It came easy for me, but I remember marveling at how I was learning an entirely new language comprised of numbers, symbols and other odd characters that only other mathematicians would recognize or understand.

What was I going to do with all that gobbeldy-gook? Become a teacher? I could have taught it to other students who would also wonder about its practical value in their lives. I know calculus is handy for determining space travel trajectories and geometry is handy for carpentry, but beyond that, much of what I was learning left me feeling, “Cool, so what?”

To balance my checkbook, I really don’t access the theorems of calculus or the formulas of analytical geometry - although I was fascinated to learn a little about sacred geometry. (If you are interested in exploring it more, I wrote a short review of a fascinating book called “Nothing in the Book is True, But It’s Exactly How Things Are” by Bob Frissell. Here’s a link to my Recommended Books page.)

I was able to use trigonometry once to build a cabin in Alaska. It’s base was 23′ square, it was 17′ tall, and was built with the exact same angles and ratios as the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. I used trig tables for sine, cosine and tangent, but that’s the only time that strange language of advanced mathematics ever intersected my daily life.

Along with a few helpful ideas, I also learned lots of extraneous details in school. Still, the mental training I received and the discipline I learned studying mathematics has helped me every single day in many unforeseen ways.

“Thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break your world by thinking.” - Susan S. Taylor

Directed Thinking

I learned to think deliberately. I learned how to steer my thoughts and follow-through from A to B, B to C, C to D, and so on. It takes focus, concentration and one-pointed awareness sustained over a period of time. It’s about having an attention span that’s long enough to accomplish complicated tasks.

I took it for granted and assumed everyone thinks this way. In time, I discovered that many of the people I met simply don’t have the mental chops. They have the potential, but instead of deliberate mental training and exercise, many are content with the ever-shortening attention span that results from a steady diet of quick sound bites and the overwhelming video barrage so common on TV. Use it or lose it, and it looks like functional attention spans are lost to many.

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.” - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68)

This skill of directed thinking comes in handy in many of my everyday activities, like writing this article, writing a song, learning to play an instrument, producing a CD or DVD, creating a website, building a house or a studio, or just talking with a friend and logically trouble-shooting a technical problem. In retrospect, I consider this ability of directed thinking to be one of the most valuable skills I have to show for all those years in school. And, it’s a major contributing factor to the ongoing creation of the life of my dreams.

“The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it’s a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things.” - Eric Butterworth

I Am Thinking – I Am Not the Thoughts

Since I learned early how to pick and choose my thoughts and follow through with a deliberate train of thought, I realized a valuable spiritual principle: Thoughts are transitory – they come and they go. If I am choosing thoughts on purpose, my sense of self, my identity, is beyond the realm of thoughts. “Who I am” is the thinker of the thoughts – the watcher.

“Who is the watcher, who sits in the stillness and knows,
And who is the looker, who notices the king wears no clothes.
Who is the seer, who sees beyond the mind,
And who is the seeker, who’ll find the grand design.”
(From the song, “Who is the Watcher” by Tupelo Kenyon)

Beyond Thought

Spiritual awareness (aka religious experience) is all about going beyond the mind into the realm of pure being. Disciplines and rituals from all cultures through the ages have been used to help take the practitioner beyond the mental realm of thoughts, words and identification with physical things.

“Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence.” - Akhenaton - Egyptian king (d. c.1354 BC)

Meditation helps to identify and then identify with the being behind the thoughts. Prayer beads, mantras, mandalas and zen koans are all used to transcend the chatter of the typical undisciplined mind. Musicians concentrate on melodies or musical passages, a process which stops the internal string of words which are otherwise forever playing in the mind.

Awareness grows only when the internal dialog is slowed and eventually stopped. Even when the parade of thoughts is curtailed only for brief moments, the awareness of “I am” has a chance to shine through like the sun breaking through the clouds. (See previous article, “Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion.)

Thinking on Purpose

Once you no longer identify yourself with the stream of thoughts that once dominated your life, you are free to use thoughts deliberately, on purpose, as a tool to help you manifest chosen outcomes. Instead of being blown all over the mental map by every thought that presents itself, you are able to be a thought wrangler.

You can keep them under control, manageable, and keep your life heading in the general direction you choose. When you notice a stray thought going off in another direction, you can redirect it to better support your vision, or you can choose to ignore it altogether and replace it with another thought.

This ability to think deliberately, on purpose, is directly related to your quality of life. Since the Law of Attraction is continuously bringing you the balance of your thoughts, what could be more important than learning to create the life of your dreams, on purpose, by thinking deliberately?

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.” - Terry Josephson

Whenever you notice a thought taking you away from your chosen direction, immediately replace it with another that feels better. Your emotions will let you know if a particular thought is working for you or against you. If you feel good, your present thoughts are now helping to manifest the outcome you choose. If you feel bad, your present thoughts are now taking you away from the outcome you choose. (See previous article, “The Law of Attraction.”)

“Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” - Dr. Jonas Salk (b. 1914)

A Tool or a Prison

Your thoughts and the realm of thinking can be a powerful tool if it is recognized as such and used from the broader perspective of who you really are: awareness, consciousness, pure being. Or your thoughts and the realm of thinking can be a prison keeping you in an illusory world of words and things, mental constructs and objects of the senses.

“Awareness is not the same as thought. It lies beyond thinking, although it makes no use of thinking, honoring it’s value and it’s power. Awareness is more like a vessel which can hold and contain our thinking, helping us to see and know our thought as thought rather than getting caught up in them as reality.” - Jon Kabit-Zinn

This world of matter is a marvelous place, an incredible opportunity to experience the grandeur of the universe from within the universe. But, by all indications, we are just passing through.

We emerge from the stillness, the vast sea of emptiness. Compared to eternity, a lifetime is a brief moment, the wink of an eye, and then we return from whence we came. Where is that? Where is eternity? Where is the vast sea of emptiness? Is it everywhere? Is it nowhere? Here’s some interesting wordplay inspired by something Dr. Wayne Dyer said in his live presentation of “The Power of Intention” . . .

First we are nowhere.
Now here.
Then nowhere again.

Nowhere.
Now here.
Nowhere.

From this broader perspective, it’s folly to identify with the physical world or any of its attributes, including thinking.

“Just like an afternoon that disappears too soon,
Another summer’s day that fades away.
See how it marches on, another year is gone,
No time to dwell upon our fleeting fate.

“How can we wait again another day,
Now that we know how fast they always slip away.
Our little world’s our emphasis, this life is a parenthesis,
A heartbeat in eternity’s highway.”
(From the song, “A Heartbeat in Eternity’s Highway” by Tupelo Kenyon.)

Why not choose the best of both worlds? We are here now, in this world to enjoy and appreciate all that it has to offer. But, we are not of it – we’re just passing through.

The Unified Field That Contains Everything

In a live retreat, I heard Eckheart Tolle say the measure of spiritual maturity is how well you are able to transcend thought. I am paraphrasing, but my sense of his message is that there’s an infinite realm of being that exists as a colossal field. Everything else is included in that field. This is the same unified field that Einstein was trying to reconcile mathematically in the later years of his life. Perhaps “who we really are” is the field itself.

“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest–a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” - Albert Einstein (1875-1955)

As we live our physical lives, we are individual manifestations of the awareness of the universe, beyond thought, beyond things, beyond phenomenon. We are the silent watcher who sits in the stillness and knows.

“The evolution of consciousness culminates in an all-inclusive consciousness that functions in the context of the infinite and the eternal.” - Phiroz Mehta

When we know that to be true, we are free of the incessant chatter of our internal dialog – our thoughts. The jumping monkey mind still performs its histrionics but we no longer identify with it. It’s not who we are – it’s a tool to be tamed and used purposefully.

We can still think – clearly, deliberately and powerfully whenever we choose.

But we don’t have to!

Thoughts are one of the most powerful forces in the universe. But it’s not who we are. We are much more than that . . . more powerful and much grander than our thoughts can imagine.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 A Heartbeat in Eternity’s Highway In the grand scheme of things, what’s the difference between a single moment and all of eternity? What’s the point of reference? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor17 It’ll Be All Right Now It’s one thing to understand intellectually that the thoughts we think mold our experience, and another thing to live every moment as if it really is a basic law of nature. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor10 Soul in the Stars It feels good to try to see the bigger picture once in awhile,and to focus on gratitude for what we have, rather than the frustration of what we are lacking. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor4 Here A love song to the beloved and/or to the larger part of ourselves. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor16 Within Without An atom and a solar system is virtually the same thing - mostly empty space! Even quantum physics is still wondering, "Is the universe a great big thing, or a great big thought?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor6 Same Olde Time Time - it’s so relative. "What if distant starlight shining in the endless sky is just the same, by a different name, as the twinkle in your eye?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor7 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Get a Broader Perspective - Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Know Thyself - Ignore Comparisons and Be Yourself The average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in. We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others. Appreciate Here and Now No matter what’s going on in your life right now, there’s something to appreciate about it. The act of appreciation rivets our consciousness to this present moment. With our attention focused on the here and now, we are living life fully, since right now is the only time there ever is. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action - intuition. Enhance Your Self-Image on Purpose Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Ego or Soul? Who’s Driving Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego. What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics? Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. Beyond Science, Philosophy and Religion Is truth absolute or relative? Is there anything beyond science, philosophy and religion? Many of the world’s top quantum physicists think there is. Celebrate life by stretching you imagination. Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

I was recently interviewed by Alex Blackwell for his series called, “The Next 30 Blogging Heroes.” He asked some good questions, so I decided to reproduce the interview here.

Alex says, “Inspired by the book ‘Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers’ by Michael A. Banks, this series features the next group of exceptional bloggers who are making an impact in the blogosphere.

“Blogging heroes create quality content and build a loyal, and very large, base of readers. This series will center on their best blogging practices as well as tips and advice. You will benefit from their helpful tips, advice and insight.”

“The Next 45 Years is proud to welcome author and musician Tupelo Kenyon of TupeloKenyon.com.”

It was an honor to be included in this series. For interviews with other bloggers, visit Alex’s site: “The Next 45 Years.” Here’s the complete interview:

What prompted you to start TupeloKenyon.com (please mention when it was launched)?

“Prompted” is a good choice of words. A few years ago, in preparation for one of our concerts, we were loading our equipment through the back door of the venue. An intriguing old man was sitting on an overturned white bucket, outside the door. He was ancient, with a joyous and mischievous sparkle in his eye. I slowed my step, even though the load of instruments was heavy. With no small-talk preamble, he looked me straight in the eye and said matter-of-factly: “I’m here to tell you it’s time for you to start writing books.”

I acknowledged his strange statement with a nod, took it in stride and continued with the task at hand. There were people behind me, also carrying heavy loads, so I kept moving to get out of their way. I was eager to go back for details on my next trip. When I returned, he was gone. I asked around and none of the employees recognized my description of the old man. I never saw him before or since.

I enjoy a good mystery and pay attention to “coincidences,” hunches and inner nudges, but this experience was over-the-top. The weirdness of the circumstances and the bluntness of his message percolated within me for a few years as I contemplated “writing books.”

The mystery man planted a seed and successfully prompted me to begin. When I discovered blogging, I recognized it as an ideal vehicle for outflow that combines some of my favorite passions with several personal skills: writing about personal development ideas, contemplating great quotes, song-writing, instrumental music composition and computer skills.

When I think back on the aspects of my life that have provided the most satisfaction and joy, I realize they all started with a hunch, a quiet whisper in my ear, or an intuitive tap on the shoulder. Gratefully, I did not write them off as musings from an overactive imagination and ignore them. Instead, I was willing to at least consider it might be an important “prompt.” Usually, I’ll play along and take the next step in the direction of my nudge, and then the next, and the next, curious where it may lead.

One of my songs is about this willingness to live on the edge with an adventurous spirit:

“So I’m taking off those blinders and throwing them away,
There’s so much more to living than the safe and narrow way.
The meek will surely inherit the earth . . .They won’t get very far,
While the bold go for adventure, exploring beyond the stars.
So I’ll encourage inspiration, and I’ll soak it up like a sponge,
Instead of terminal safety, I’m ready to take the plunge.”
From the song, “Take the Plunge” by Tupelo Kenyon

So, I took the plunge and started the learning curve on the mechanics of blogging in November of 2006 and launched TupeloKenyon.com on New Year’s Day 2007. The blog is titled, “Personal Development Inspiration and Uplifting Music” and the very first article was titled, “The Power of Beginning.” Perhaps blogging is the first step to the old man’s prompt to “start writing books” since I have already published enough content online to fill a couple.

Your blog is unique in the sense you connect your articles with your music. What is your musical background and experience?

I am mostly a self-taught musician, although I did take guitar lessons for a few months when I was about fourteen. (Thanks, Mom.) After earning my Associates of Mathematics degree, I changed my major to music at the University of Texas in Austin. That lasted about three months. I learned some valuable music theory, but soon realized I’d much rather be making music than studying it. So I moved to Alaska and began making a living singing and playing guitar by the time I was 21.

“Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule.” - Samuel Butler (1612-80)

The musical teamwork with my wife, Janey, has resulted in 11 music CDs and performances in all 50 states plus several foreign countries. We are known as “Laughing Bird.” We’ve also produced a feature-length video DVD titled, “Celebrate the Journey” of our unusual lifestyle as touring musicians for the last thirty years. (You can see a 7-minute preview online free.)

More information about our unique musical journey is in the article titled: “Benefits of Music for Personal Development.”

What is your process for choosing how you link a song to an article on your blog?

The songs I recommend at the end of each article are chosen to support the subject matter and tone of the article. Sometimes they are specific and the reference is obvious. Other times, the song may be a related tangent. Sometimes the songs are chosen to facilitate the listeners to come to their own understanding and discover their own insights about what a particular idea means to them. Those are always the best.

Choosing which songs fit best with a particular article is a fairly straight-forward process since I also wrote the songs. As I am writing an article, song titles will pop into my head as good choices for related themes. After I finish writing the article, I usually scan a list of all the songs we’ve recorded (112 so far, with more added regularly). This helps me make sure I don’t overlook any appropriate recommendations.

The instrumental selections available at the beginning of each article require a different process. I currently have three CDs of original instrumental music to choose from, so I try to match the feeling of the article with the instrumental selection that best supports it. It’s a more subjective process, so I try not to over-think it too much and just go with whatever feels right at the time.

Are you achieving what you set out to do with the site?

It’s a good start, and I’m enjoying the process. I’m also recognizing the benefits of surrounding myself with these powerful, empowering ideas in such an active way. I’ve been attracted to these themes of personal development and inspiration since I was 17, so these are the ideas I contemplate in my quiet time. The process of writing the articles gives me the opportunity to explore deeper and discover what I really think about these important topics. The act of writing clarifies ideas and inspires new viewpoints that I may never have considered otherwise.

The site has evolved into an extension of my own process of personal development and my dedication to living an inspired life. So yes, I am achieving that aspect of continually taking the next step in the expansion of consciousness that has been so important to me for about forty years.

One of my songs explores this theme . . .

“My feet are in the water, my head’s up in the clouds,
Floating on a fantasy, but living out loud,
Living out loud.
An’ I wonder if I’ll ever do you proud.

“I’m not exactly grounded, but I’m not entirely free.
I’m not exactly ready to go, but this never felt like home to me.
So I’m eager for that next step, even though I’ve come so far,
With my seat right here in the saddle . . . and soul in the stars.”
From the song, “Soul in the Stars” by Tupelo Kenyon

One of things I set out to do with the site was to supplement my income, and this intent is manifesting slower than I had hoped. However, my quality of life is more important than stressing over the blog’s income issues, and the blog has contributed to my excellent quality of life from the very beginning. I knew blogging was not a get-rich-quick scheme, so I began with lots of patience and a long-term attitude.

As I continue my focus on delivering quality content with the potential to make a real difference in the quality of life for my readers, I am confident that the readership and the income will continue to grow. Since we have other income streams from other passions (concert performances, CD sales, and our recording studio), there’s no pressure to risk compromising my vision by trying to prematurely squeeze money out of TupeloKenyon.com.

Although success is usually associated with money, according to Emerson’s definition of success, I am already enjoying a measure of success . . .

“The definition of success–To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)

Where do you get your ideas for content for your blog and for your songs?

I enjoy reading a wide variety of authors, philosophies and disciplines. I consider myself a “free agent,” so I don’t prescribe to any one particular “brand.” Some of my favorite authors include Esther and Jerry Hicks, Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Lee Carroll, Richard Bach, Paul Twitchell, Dan Millman, Steven Covey, Joseph Campbell, Neale Donald Walsch, plus many others.

There’s a page on my blog with brief reviews of the fifty or so books that have had the biggest impact on me. These books have moved me, opened me up, amazed me, thrilled me, and helped me feel something profound.

While reading, something will strike me just right, and an article title will occur to me. I use the original idea as a springboard and do my best to find a fresh perspective. Whether I’m writing an article or a song, I never know where it’s going. Instead, I trust the process and enjoy the ride. I am often surprised where it ends up compared to where it started.

I realize it’s an unconventional way to write, but it’s satisfying to me because it’s not as rigid and structured as strictly left-brained writing. Instead, it allows for the freedom of random associations and an overview of the big picture made possible by allowing the right brain to have free reign also. Since I enjoy the process of working this way, songs and articles get completed.

What do you find to be the more difficult aspects of blogging?

Time constraints are the most difficult hurdles I face with my personal commitment to publish a new article every week. My average article takes between 8 and 14 hours to complete. I decided at the beginning not to create a blog of short posts. There are plenty of excellent blogs with short posts, but in the interest of something for everyone, I decided to concentrate on the more in-depth coverage made possible by the technology.

I have published one new article per week since TupeloKenyon.com was launched on January 1, 2007. That may not seem like a big time commitment, but it feels like it with all the other activities that require so much time. Janey and I do major concert tours every year that keep us on the road for about six months. When we are at home, our recording studio, Riversong Studio, keeps me busy. I produce CD projects for other artists as well as our own. Busy, busy, busy. You know what they say about the self-employed: “You only have to work half-days . . . and you can choose which twelve hours that is!”

They also say, “Busy people get things done.”

“It is not enough to be busy. The question is: what are we busy about?” - Henry David Thoreau (1817-62)

Do you do anything special to increase your readership?

I stay focused on providing consistent, quality content that can make a difference in people’s lives. My intent is to make it so compelling that my readers won’t be able to keep it a secret and will share it and recommend it to the people they care about. I provide a link at the end of every article to make it easy to “email this article to a friend.” I also make it easy for people to submit each article to their favorite social networking sites.

I have also dabbled in carnivals, listed the site with blog directories, and have begun to learn more about the social networking phenomenon. All these things take time, so I haven’t explored them in depth.

I am not interested in spending my entire life in front of a computer screen, so I budget my computer time carefully. As I prioritize the limited time I am willing to stare at a computer screen, most of that time is spent writing articles.

Do you use SEO? If so, which techniques provide the best results?

I made sure my META tags include specifically chosen keywords that relate to the theme of my site. My decision to submit my articles to carnivals was driven, in part, by the hoped-for advantage of getting incoming links from related sites. I have a few hundred by now, but I honestly don’t know how much they help.

I try to use keywords in the article titles and in the body of the copy, but mostly I write in a stream of consciousness style better suited to human readers rather than search engine spiders. The algorithms used by the search engines will continue to get more sophisticated and keep getting better at catching on to the myriad ways used by people who try to “game” the system. The purpose of the search engines is to find the sites that do the best job in providing value and reward them with higher search rankings. If my purpose is also to provide value, the search engines will recognize that and everyone wins. And hopefully, I won’t have to spend too much time on boring, mind-numbing busy work like SEO. (Warning, this may be a blue sky, pipe dream with no basis in the real world of online traffic-building. Sometime in the future, I may change my tune and discover that yes, indeed, it is necessary to be more proactive in this area – but I hope not!)

What do you find gratifying about blogging?

It’s always gratifying to hear from someone who was touched by one of my articles or my music. It’s fascinating to hear how someone was able to apply an idea from a song or article to the unique circumstances of their life in a way that would never have occurred to me. I love to hear creative interpretations and stories of how something made a positive difference in someone’s life. The lyrics to one of my songs express this idea . . .

“The way we live our life is like a pebble dropped, into a quiet pond,
It carries on just like a circle growing.
The ripples that we make may touch another shore,
You may never know for sure,
How much you’ve helped someone without you knowing.

“Sometimes the ripples from our deed’s a gentle touch,
Doesn’t seem to matter much,
It’s like dropping flowers in the Grand Canyon.
And though we’ll never know just what becomes of them,
It’s all the same to them,
So drop them anyway, because you can.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting battles too,
Cruel wars within themselves, just like it is with you.
Be kind, because you’ll never know just how much good you’ll do,
A heartfelt word or two can soothe a hidden wound.”
From the song, “Be Kind” by Tupelo Kenyon

What are your future plans for TupeloKenyon.com?

I realize that big companies and corporations must have detailed, well-thought-out business plans for the future, but my approach with TupeloKenyon.com has been more organic . . . more in the moment . . . more about now. I take it one article at a time and do the best I can with the amount of time I have available.

I do have a vision for the future but have not nailed it down with any step-by-step action plan. I enjoy a wide-open approach to allow the universe plenty of latitude to take it in any direction . . . whatever is in the interest of the greatest good. I appreciate surprises, serendipities and “coincidences” orchestrated in the more subtle planes of consciousness, well beyond the one-dimensional confines of my best, well-laid plans.

My vision for TupeloKenyon.com is an ever-growing site contributing inspiration to those attracted to ideas of integrity and techniques of personal development and expanding consciousness.

It is personally satisfying when readers of my blog discover my music and when my music listeners discover my articles. As these readers and listeners continue to grow in number, this provides me with a ready outlet for more articles, songs and music. I see it as a full circle of contribution. I am gratified that all this is made possible by my own personal commitment to inner growth.

It feels like right livelihood. When people buy our CDs, download our