Scatter Me To The Winds
December 29th, 2009
Something I made some time ago. Personal, non-business and yet, it is all that life is…and will be. May it inspire you.
The New Paradigm
December 20th, 2009
Make no mistake, the world out there is changing before your eyes. But it’s more than that – the world in your head needs to change too. You need to bring your “world view” up to speed with what is really happening – a completely new paradigm.
What’s a world view? In short, it’s the way you see the world. The way you were “taught” to see the world. The way those in authority “want” you to see the world. Right from your first steps, to your first day at school and on to adulthood – you have been meticulously fed a particular world view.
It changes slightly with your cultural background – but not that much. It changes slightly with each generation. But this is the first time in history it is undergoing a fundamental change.
No matter what race or cultural background you come from, no matter what religion you were brought up in, or what country you grew up in – one thing’s for sure, you were taught that your life was not really your own. You were taught that you owed a debt somewhere. A debt to society. A debt to your race. A debt to your family – a debt to your government. Even a debt to some supernatural power. In other words, your life was already mortgaged from the day you were born – to be paid off by serving the needs of others.
And how were you to repay that debt? By being a good citizen and doing what you were told. And, of course, by paying your taxes!
Have you ever stopped to think what you really get for your taxes? Here’s a short list: roads (often badly designed and maintained); medical care (if you’re lucky); education (if you can call it that – brainwashing more like!); police protection (what?) and justice (you hope!)
In fact, if you really think about it, what you get for your taxes is pathetic. If you got the same level of service from any private business (charging up to 50% or more of your income) you’d be protesting and asking for a refund right outside their doors!
But, like sheep, most people don’t protest – because tax is built into their world view. The injustice of tax is not even noticed – because its justification has been drilled into the subconscious corners of everyone’s mind. You must pay tax because you “owe”.
You don’t believe me? Well, consider this:
Imagine you have a neighbour called “Joe”. Imagine that one day he turns up on your doorstep and says, “Hey listen pal, I’m having trouble making ends meet – and I’ve noticed that you seem to do okay moneywise. Well, it’s simply not fair. So I want you to give me 40% of your income each week – so I can get by with some self-respect! And don’t think of not giving this to me, or I’ll bring round some of my heavy friends to lean on you!”
Of course, you’d call this extortion. And you’d be right.
So, ask yourself this question – what makes the above scenario “extortion”, when one individual demands your money because he needs it – but “social responsibility” when the same demands are made collectively – by all the “Joes” out there who need a share of your income – and then vote for a policy that will take it off you – by force?
Morally there is simply no difference. So the next time you get a twinge of guilt about paying as little tax as possible – remember you are simply responding according to the world view you were indoctrinated with. A knee-jerk reaction – that’s all.
But change is in the air. The idea that your life and your cash is not your own is undergoing a revision. People are standing up and questioning this antediluvian morality. The very existence and growth of the offshore industry is proof that individuals are taking their money and privacy seriously – and guarding it accordingly.
More and more people are questioning the authority of governments.
More and more people are beginning to see the light – that they don’t need what most governments are offering – poor service and shoddy goods – priced like an extortion racket.
The internet is making such thinking even easier to act on. Not only does it provide the spread of information that liberates people – it also provides the means of achieving the personal and financial freedom that beckons those with the courage to step outside their old world view.
The old world view is one which sees you as a slave – a slave to a system that claims your life and property – and does this by taxing your effort, ambition, success, persistence and creativity.
The new world view is one which sees you as an autonomous individual.
A unique person who should be free to lead your life as you wish (provided you leave others alone to do likewise), and to keep the results of your efforts and creativity. It’s a world of unlimited possibility – a world of increasing wealth.
If you’re standing on the fringe, fascinated by the possibilities of going offshore, but haven’t taken the plunge – then don’t wait too long. Don’t become a spectator. If you’re in business for yourself, or you are generating some income using the internet, or you have a nest egg you want to protect – then you stand to gain a great deal by learning the advantages of going offshore.
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This article appears courtesy of David MacGregor, founder of SovereignLife.com, a site dedicated to helping individuals regain their personal and sovereign freedom AS individuals.
Improve Your Health in 2 Simple Steps
December 17th, 2009
Considering the turmoil in the economy, I understand if your primary concerns are to protect your wealth, boost your earning power, and increase your financial independence. But if you want to achieve all of that (and certainly if you want to enjoy it), you must also focus on your health.
When your mental and physical health are in top form, your thinking improves… you have more creativity and energy… you are more confident… your relationships get stronger… and your success is an inspiration to those around you.
When your health is at its best, your skin maintains its youthful appearance. You have fewer aches and pains. Your immune system protects you from illness. And your body naturally sheds fat, leaving a leaner, fitter you staring back from the mirror.
So I urge you to make the strongest commitment to regaining or maintaining your health and fitness this year. The great news is that it is not complicated and it doesn’t require toil and sacrifice. In this article, I will share with you two very simple things you can do that will make a PROFOUND impact.
It doesn’t matter whether your goal is to lose weight… heal a condition… reduce pain and inflammation … improve your appearance… have more energy and stamina… live longer… break free of prescription drugs… or just feel well again… the following two steps will help you achieve it!
Step #1 – Eat a Low-Glycemic Diet
The first and most important step you should take is to strictly limit the amount of sugar and high-glycemic carbohydrates in your diet. Carbs that are high on the glycemic index are rapidly converted to glucose in your system. This raises your blood sugar levels and requires a rush of insulin to shuttle the glucose molecules into the muscles where they can be used as fuel.
Here’s why that is a bad thing: Perpetually elevated blood sugar and insulin levels lead to premature aging, wide swings in mood and energy, reduced immunity, and chronic inflammation. Not to mention a much higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and more.
Insulin is also the hormone that controls fat storage. If you want to convert your body to a perpetual fat-burning state, you must keep your insulin and blood sugar levels low. For many people, controlling insulin levels by eating a low-glycemic diet can produce nearly effortless weight loss.
High-glycemic foods that you should limit or avoid include starchy carbohydrates – potatoes, flour, rice, pasta, corn, cereal, bread and other grain products (even whole grains), and baked goods. If you can’t live without bread, tortillas, and cereal, look for Ezekiel 4:9 organic sprouted grain products made by Food for Life. They are all low-glycemic and taste great.
You should also strictly limit the amount of sugar in your diet. In one form or another, sugar is in most foods. And it is a primary culprit in our epidemics of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Read the labels and try to avoid anything with more than 10 grams per serving.
And don’t use artificial sweeteners. They can damage your health – and there are better alternatives. If you wish to sweeten foods and drinks or make your own desserts at home, use sweeteners like erythritol and stevia (or agave nectar, in moderation).
With these all-natural ingredients, you can make low-glycemic desserts that are perfectly healthy and taste even better than those made with sugar.
Step #2 – Balance Your Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio
The second highly important step you must take to improve your health and longevity, lose weight, and slow down the aging process is to balance your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.
Omega-3s and omega-6s are known as essential fatty acids. They are essential to every cell in your body, and they must be consumed in your diet. Your body cannot manufacture them. However, while omega-6 fats are essential in small amounts, they actually promote disease when consumed in unnaturally large amounts.
Based on our evolutionary history, the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the diet is 1:1. Our ancestors evolved over millions of years eating that way. However, our modern diet has skewed the ratio significantly.
A hundred years ago, the average American ate less than one pound of vegetable oil per year. Today, the average American eats more than 75 pounds of these polyunsaturated omega-6 fats each year. So, instead of the ideal 1:1 ratio, most people consume anywhere from 20 to 50 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids!
This is a prescription for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cataracts, infertility, skin wrinkles, and much more. The twofold solution is very simple:
• First, reduce – as much as possible – the omega-6 fatty acids in your diet.
Strictly limit vegetable and seed oils – corn oil, soy, canola, safflower, and sunflower oils. You should also avoid fried and processed foods. Potato chips, baked goods, salad dressings, margarine, shortening, etc. all contain vegetable oils and high levels of omega-6 fats.
Replace any vegetable oils you currently use with extra virgin olive oil, organic grass-fed butter, and organic unrefined coconut oil.
Conventionally raised meats are also much higher in omega-6 fatty acids than meat from animals raised on their natural diet. Cattle raised on corn, for example, have a much, much higher ratio of omega-6 fatty acids in their meat than cattle raised on a natural diet of grass. Grass-fed beef is generally very rich in beneficial omega-3s. Buy organic, naturally raised meats whenever possible. (U.S. Wellness Meats is a multi-family run business that takes great care of their customers.)
• Second, boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in very few foods, which is why most of the population is deficient. This is a shame, because omega-3s are one of the most beneficial nutrients in the human diet. Hundreds of published studies show that optimal omega-3 levels can greatly improve your overall health, optimize your weight, increase your energy, and help you retain mental function as you age. Omega-3s also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression. And they can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, hyperactivity, diabetes, digestive disorders, and a host of other conditions.
While you can get omega-3s from flaxseeds and walnuts, these plant sources contain only the fatty acid ALA. The best omega-3 fats are those found in fish – DHA and EPA. Your brain is highly dependent on DHA. Low DHA levels have been linked to depression, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Wild Alaskan salmon (not farm-raised) is one of the best food sources of these fats. But your best bet is to take a fish oil (not cod liver oil) supplement. I recommend Carlson’s Lemon Flavored. I find it’s easier to take from the bottle, rather than swallowing capsules.
That’s it!
1. Eat a low glycemic diet, and
2. Balance your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.
And you will have taken two of the most important steps toward a lean, fit body and a lifetime of health.
Of course, that’s not all there is to it. You should also break a sweat on a regular basis. You should eat a varied, natural diet of whole foods, and avoid chemicals and preservatives. Drink plenty of purified water every day. And allow your body to rest peacefully at night.
It doesn’t matter what your age or prior bad habits… or how overweight and unhealthy you might feel at the moment. You can experience a higher level of fitness and the profound sense of well-being that comes with it – and you can accomplish it this year!
Make 2009 the healthiest and most successful year of your life!
[Ed. Note: Following Health Editor Jon Herring's recommendations isn't difficult - and it can have a profound effect on your life. But don't worry. It doesn't mean eating boring, tasteless food. You can enjoy low-glycemic desserts that are delicious and healthy with the help of Jon's wife, Kelley. A nutrition expert herself, Kelley Herring has created Guilt-Free Desserts - a book full of easy-to-make, mouthwateringly delicious, 100% healthy recipes you can make at home. Order today, and you'll receive the e-book Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres for free.
And for a source of motivation, fitness advice, weight-loss recommendations, and details about the latest health breakthroughs all year long, sign up for ETR's free natural health newsletter.]
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This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, a free newsletter dedicated to making money, improving health and secrets to success. For a complimentary subscription, visit Early To Rise.
