Awakening Consciousness: How Transitioning Through Brain Waves Can Promote Creativity and Inspiration

I've been reading a book called Frequency: The Power of Personal Vibration by Penny Peirce and have been learning some really interesting things about brain waves and their correlation to your levels of awareness and how learning to transition through these waves can bring you into heightened states of consciousness, awareness, and inspiration.

If you want your brain to function at it's best, if you want to enhance creativity, ideas, and inspired thought-flow, then you'll want to read this! :-) 

1. Beta Waves- The first are Beta waves--associated with high mental activity and engagement, as well as highly charged emotions such as fear, anger, arousal, etc. Beta waves correspond with a very low level of consciousness and are usually associated with very shallow, ego-based thinking.

2. Alpha Waves- Alpha waves occur when the brain is in a more relaxed and tranquil state, such as when you meditate, reflect, daydream, visualize, rest, spend time in nature, and exercise. In this state your brain becomes less worried, more open, and more aware of subtle information and new insights. Your brain is able to recall memories and develop a greater understanding of nature and your "true self," letting your ego die and becoming aware of your soul. When you take the time for self-reflection and your mind turns inward, you move from a state of Beta waves to the deeper alpha and theta waves, especially when you cut out external distractions (like turning off your cell phone, and getting into a quiet space for some alone time).

3. Theta Waves- Theta waves are associated with drowsiness, dreaming, the first stage of sleep, deep meditation, inspired creativity and imagination, and much slower than the two waves previously mentioned. Theta waves can put you in a trance-like state, where you lose track of time like when driving on the freeway or taking a long shower. In this state, free flowing ideas and visions come to mind, you become aware of suppressed ideas stored in your subconscious mind while in this state.

4. Delta Waves- The final waves are Delta brain waves and occur during sleep.

The reason I wanted to share this is because I feel it can be so easy to get caught up with living pedal-to-the-metal, non-stop, always caught up with the tasks of everyday life without taking the time to just relax, clear the mind, pray or meditate, exercise, or spend some time in nature. For your brain's sake, it's a good idea to take some time out for reflection, and peace and quiet without any distractions. You'll feel more creative, more inspired, more at peace, and you will have a healthier brain too! :-) 

Guard your Thoughts

   It is so important to guard our thoughts and the way we perceive ourselves, because how we perceive ourselves affects everything we do.

 

“As a man thinks in his heart, so he becomes” (Proverbs 23:7).

 

The Bible tells us that, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he becomes” (Proverbs 23:7). This Proverb is telling us that what we believe about ourselves, what we hold to be true about ourselves, actually determines what kind of person we become.

We live in a way that is in accordance with our beliefs and what we perceive to be true.

 

You've probably heard the quote:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

And it's true; it all starts with what goes on in your mind!

Everything you do begins with a thought. And the kind of thoughts you're thinking determine what kind of actions and behavior you will have. What gets me most excited about these truths however, are all the new discoveries in the field of positive psychology which scientifically prove the truth behind these age-old wisdoms.

Shawn Achor, author of the Best-selling book The Happiness Advantage and one of the world's leading experts in happiness and human potential explains, "Studies show that simply believing we can bring about positive change in our lives increases motivation and job performance; [and] that success, in essence, becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy... Amazingly, [an individual's] belief in their own ability is an even stronger predictor of job performance [and success] than the actual level of skill or training they had." How amazing is that! An individual’s belief of whether or not they can perform a task is more powerful than their actual training or ability!

 

An individual’s belief of whether or not they can perform a task is more powerful than their actual training or ability.

Think of it this way: A person who considers themselves unattractive will likely go through life feeling a low self-esteem and negatively towards themselves, unless this person can learn to focus on their attractive qualities, and make an emphasis on their positive attitude and personality instead of their undesired physical features. If they don't change their perspective about themselves, then their belief about themselves being unattractive will be more of a hindrance then their actual suppose lack of physical appeal. It's not about the individual’s looks, but their feelings and perception about their looks which then cause them to act, perform, and behave in a way that is either beneficial and productive, or harmful and destructive.

 

Success is not so much determined by the individual’s abilities, but their feelings and perception about their abilities which then cause them to act, perform, and behave in a way that is either beneficial and productive, or harmful and destructive.

 

Let me give another example.

A person who believes they will not go anywhere in life, or believes they are an unintelligent loser with no future is going to live in a way that is in accordance with those beliefs. Meaning, it is likely they will not make much of an effort to get an education, and they may fall into drugs, alcohol abuse, or other non-productive behavior, all because of their self-image and the way they perceive themselves. We are more prone into giving into self-destructive tendencies and habits if our self-image is distorted and our thinking is off-balance. If we believe that we are unsuccessful, stupid, or a loser, we will live and act in a way that is in accordance with those beliefs. But, if we believe that we have the ability to succeed, triumph over circumstances, that we are loveable, and beautiful in our own way, then we will live a life that is in accordance with success, striving to be the best we can be, and living to our full potential. Numerous studies discussed in The Happiness Advantage have repeatedly proven "how strongly our beliefs can affect our abilities." Achor writes that our "beliefs are so powerful because they dictate our efforts and actions." How you perceive yourself and what you believe to be true about yourself are so important because they will determine how you feel, act, and ultimately the choices you make which determine the course of your life.

 

“Beliefs are so powerful because they dictate our efforts and actions.” –Shawn Achor

 

Remember what it says in Proverbs 27:3? "As we think in our hearts, so we become." If our self-image is distorted and our thinking is off-balance then we will be more prone into giving into self-destructive tendencies and habits. If we can learn to guard our thoughts, recognize when they get off-balance, and make continuous and gradual changes towards developing a healthy self-image and mindset, we will prevent ourselves from the possible downfall of negative self-fulfilling prophecy. As Achor explains it, "By changing the way we perceive ourselves and our work, we can dramatically improve our results." In order to begin changing the way you perceive yourself, you need to begin focusing on all your strengths and reasons as to why you will succeed rather than fail. This does not mean ignoring your weaknesses. It simply means choosing to put a positive emphasis on your strengths which will boost your confidence, self-belief, and in turn, will actually alter and improve your ability to soar to new heights and accomplish new goals--all because you changed your perspective onto your abilities and successes rather than weaknesses and failures.

 

If you’ve found any of what you read helpful or encouraging, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my book, TNT: TeeNage Transformation –Explosive Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever! where you can read more on the power of transformational thinking and positive "Transformational New Thoughts!"

Additional reading recommendations: The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor.

He Has You Were You Are For a Reason

"And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you." -1 Corinthians 7:17 (MSG)

James 1:2-4 tells us that when we experience difficulties, tempations, and rough times, to react in a way that is contrary to what we naturally would like to do. He writes:“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” James 1:2-4

Sometimes we want to rush things in our lives or we become anxious or impatient and feel as if things aren't moving fast enough, or that we aren't where we should be. Let me tell you something, God has you EXACTLY where He wants you to be. If you are feeling discouraged because your life is not how you would like it, take heart knowing that God has you where you are for a reason. Maybe you're in a job you don't like or you feel overqualified for, maybe you can't stand your coworkers or bosses. Maybe you feel like you're in a relationship rut, or stuck in a circumstance that has just seemed to be dragging out for too long. Instead of complaining about how these circumstances could be better, I urge you to start asking what it is that God wants you to learn from this circumstance. You can tell him, "God, I don't know why you have me here, and even though it is uncomfortable, help me to learn what it is that you want me to learn from this situation. Open my eyes to see the work you want me to do here." Ask Him to help you see what you need to learn, and if there is someone He wants you to minister to. Maybe He has you at your job so that you can be an encouragement to someone in desperate need of it. Whatever situation you are in, there is a reason and a purpose. Start asking God for the reason of why He has you where He has you and what you can learn from it, and I guarantee you will begin to see doors open, results happen, and changes for the better begin to occur in your life.

"He has made everything in it's perfect timing." Ecclesiastes 3:11

TNT Quote of the Day

"When you feel like parts of your life are falling apart, it’s because you are in the demolition stage of the re-construction process of your life. God is preparing to build something much better in your life than what was there before.” –Dr. Bruce Bell

“I am making all things new.” -Jesus (Revelation 21:5)

 

 

From TNT: TeeNage Transformation --Explosive Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever!!

Be Persistant in Prayer

 In the last post I talked about the power of prayer, and the importance of reminding yourself of God's promises when you don't see immediate answers. Today, I want to discuss the importance of being persistant in prayer. One of my favorite verses is one in which Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray, and to be persistant in prayer. In Luke 11:5-13 He says this:

“Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."

 How cool is that! Jesus is saying that if you don't get an answer to your prayers, keep persisting, and you will get what you asked for just because of your persistance! He continues on to say,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

If sinful, imperfect human beings know how to give good things to their children, just imagine how much more God wants to give to you! If you have a child then you know the depth of love that you have for them. You want the very best for them. God is the same way. We are His children, and He wants the very best for each of our lives. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate answers to your prayers; keep persisting and you will surely see God's blessings flow into your life!

Handling Rejection

“When I go someplace and the people don’t receive and accept me, I don’t let it get me down, I just shake it off and go on about my business.” –Luke 10:10-11


We've all experienced rejection at some point in our life or another. It could be that job we didn't get, that car or home we didn't qualify for, that crush or person that didn't like us, or even a family member or close friend who decided to alienate themselves from us. We've all experienced rejection, but how we handle it could be the difference between a life-long chain of bitterness and resentment, or joy and forgiveness. I once heard someone say, “Rejection is God's protection." As funny or cliché as that may sound, it's true. There are many times in life in which God does not give us what we ask for or what we want because what He has in store for us is so much better. He doesn't want us to settle for any less than what He has planned for us, yet we often do settle out of fear that God's plan may not be what we want or like. Rejection doesn’t always have to be a bad thing either. Sometimes when we experience rejection (for example, from a job) it motivates us to improve and become better. Whenever we experience rejection in our lives, we need to recognize and remind ourselves that as one door closes, another opens. God may allow a certain door to a relationship, job, etc. to close in your life, but it only means it's because there is a better one about to be opened. When it comes to handling rejection in a healthy manner, it is crucial to remind ourselves of God's word and promises. His word tells us that He will never, ever reject or leave us (John 6:37, Deuteronomy 31:6), that He accepts us, and that He has chosen us to be His own (John 15:16, Isaiah 41:9). His word tells us that are His creation whom He loves and will never stop loving (John 3:16, Romans 8:38). Any time you feel bitterness or resentment over a rejection that you've experienced, it is so important to remind yourself of these truths of who God made you to be, and the love and acceptance that He has for you. Know that God loves and accepts you just the way you are. Below I've incorporated some scriptures on rejection and God's acceptance that can help you remember these truths of the love and acceptance that God has for you.
In Isaiah 41:9 God says, “I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” He loves you for who you are, He has a plan and purpose for your life, and if you turn to Him know that He will never, never reject you--He loves you too much!

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6-8

“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out, reject, or drive away.” -John 6:37

“If God is for me than who can be against me?” -Romans 8:31

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” -Psalm 23:1

“The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.” -Psalm 94:14

“He never rejects me, but has promised to be with me everywhere I go, always.” -Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:20

“God has chosen you.”-John 15:16

Humility Precedes Honor

In the last post I discussed the fact that sometimes we are in certain circumstances we may not always find enjoyable, yet which are crucial to our spiritual and emotional growth and are a part of the process of becoming who God created us to be. I wanted to share with you some stories of great men, who did not necissarily start out so great. God allowed each of these people to have extremely humble beginnings so that He could prepare them for all the greatness He had in store for each of them.
One of them is the story of King David. David began his work as a humble shepherd, but God ended up placing Him to be a great warrior, protector, and King over all of Israel!
Moses is another, who came from a bloodline of slavery and even killed a man. Despite Moses' shortcomings, (and his extreme fear of public speaking!), God spoke through Moses and used Him to lead an entire nation of people who had been enslaved for hundreds of generations to finally be set free and released from slavery!
Another great story of humble beginnings is the one of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, thrown into jail for a crime he did not commit, but then raised up and blessed by God to be put second in command in all of Egypt (just one step below the Pharoah!).
I'm sure none of these men "enjoyed" being humbled while it was happening, but God was doing a work in them to prepare them for the wonderful future He had in store for them. So, my encouragement to you today is to know that whatever your circumstances may be, that there is a reason for it. You may not like where you are at, but you are in the training grounds for becoming all that God wants you to be, so that He can put you in a position of greatness.  
Remember that "Humility preceeds honor, (Proverbs 15:33)" and that if you "Humble yourselves before the Lord, He will exhalt you [at the right time]." (James4:10, 1 Peter 5:6). So if you feel you are being humbled by your circumstances, know that it is because God is preparing you for great things. Also keep in mind that "those who can be entrusted with little can also be entrusted with much" (Luke 16:10). If you are faithful with the little God has given you, you will be blessed with more. If you keep being an honorable person of uprightness and integrity, despite your humble circumstances, God will honor that.

His Timing is Perfect

"He has made everything in it's perfect timing."Ecclesiastes 3:11

Sometimes we want to rush things in our lives or we become anxious or impatient and feel as if things aren't moving fast enough, or that we aren't where we should be. Let me tell you something, God has you EXACTLY where He wants you to be. If you are feeling discouraged because your life is not how you would like it, take heart knowing that God has you where you are for a reason. Maybe you're in a job you don't like or you feel overqualified for, maybe you can't stand your coworkers or bosses. Maybe you feel like you're in a relationship rut, or stuck in a circumstance that has just seemed to be dragging out for too long. Instead of complaining about how these circumstances could be better, I urge you to start asking what it is that God wants you to learn from this circumstance. You can tell him, "God, I don't know why you have me here, and even though it is uncomfortable, help me to learn what it is that you want me to learn from this situation. Open my eyes to see the work you want me to do here." Ask Him to help you see what you need to learn, and if there is someone He wants you to minister to. Maybe He has you at your job so that you can be an encouragement to someone in desperate need of it. Whatever situation you are in, there is a reason and a purpose. Start asking God for the reason of why He has you where He has you and what you can learn from it, and I guarantee you will begin to see doors open, results happen, and changes for the better begin to occur in your life.

“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” James 1:2-4

Fight Jealousy with Gratitude

"Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?" -Proverbs 27:4

Have you ever come across a person who just seems to "have it all?" They seemingly have the perfect life, with the perfect friends, perfect family,  the perfect home, perfect cars, and perfect career to back it all up. We all know someone we may think has the perfect life, but something to keep in mind is that you are only seeing a small portion of how they actually live. Despite all of the apparent outter whealth, the truth may be that they really feel empty, alone, or too stressed out on the inside to even enjoy what they have. The point I am trying to make is to learn not to let jealousy get the best of you. The best way to combat jealousy is to focus on all the wonderful things in your life. If you want to be miserable, then keep comparing yourself to others; you'll never be happy. If you want to enjoy life as it was meant to be enjoyed, start by showing appretiation and gratitude for the things you do have. I love what Max Ehrman says about comparing ourselves to others, "If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter, for there will always be a greater and lesser persons than yourself."

You see, making comparisons leads to a false sense of identity and will either result in your pride becoming over-inflated, or your self-esteem completely diminishing. You can be pro-active by choosing not to compare yourself to others, as well as practicing gratitude. Gratitude, as I have learned over the years, is an extremely important factor of our mental well-being and true happiness. It makes sense that if you focus on what you don't have, you will feel bad, but if you focus on what you do have, you will feel good. Scientific studies confirm the power and importance of gratitude as well. By practicing gratitude by making a gratitude list every morning, and reviewing it every evening, you will be putting yourself in a perpetual mindset of thanksgiving and joy will overwhelm you. So instead of coveting, getting jealous, or being upset that you aren't "keeping up with the Jones,'" practice gratitude and you will combat all of those negative feelings. Practice gratitude, and you will experience a higher quality and appretiation for life and living!

"Every morning tell Him thank you for Your kindness, and every evening rejoice in all His faithfulness." -Psalm 92:1-2

For-Giving and For-Getting

I've learned that there are some people in life who like to try to do whatever they can to make your life miserable. It can be a co-worker, boss, family member, or even so-called friend. Something to keep in mind is that miserable people try to make others feel miserable too, whereas happy people try to do whatever they can to build-up and be uplifting to others. So instead of getting angry and looking for a way to "get back" at them, have pity and see that their actions are a result of their own suffering, misery, or jealousy.

I recently watched an interview between Oprah and author of the #1 National-selling book, Illuminata: A Return to Prayer, Marianne Williamson. In the interview, Williamson discussed the utter importance of loving and praying for our "enemies." Some of you may be thinking, "What?! How am I supposed to love let alone pray for those who have hurt me?!" But Williamson talked about the importance of doing so because of the "alchemy" or "balance" that will occur. Either one of two things will happen when you love, bless, and pray for those who have hurt you. Either:
1) You will see a difference in their behavior, or
2) You will no longer care because you will be so full of love, grace, and forgiveness.

Forgiveness, love, and grace towards those who have hurt us goes against our very human nature. Human nature seeks vengence. Human nature wants to get even! But

TNT: TeeNage Transformation -Part 1: Dating

I’m very excited to announce that my first book of its series has now been made available to the public!TNT: TeeNage Transformation -Explosive Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever!! (Part 1: Dating) is a book guaranteed to give a perspective, knowledge, and helpful advice along the journey of finding true fulfillment, peace, healing, and love.

"Fail Foward"

Sometimes, in life we are not always were we want to be. Things may seem to be taking longer than they should be, dreams may appear to be delayed or even failed, and everything just seems to be moving too slowly. You might feel "stuck" in a certain situation, or even like you've failed at accomplishing certain tasks. Well, I'm here to tell you that despite what it may seem like on an external plane, that God has you exactly where He wants you. Despite what may appear to be delays in accomplishing your goals are really just character-building steps that are leading you closer and closer to accomplishing your dreams. So don't get frustrated, discouraged, or distraught when things don't seem to be going your way or as you had planned. Instead, thank God things are not going your way! Because His way and His plans for your life are so much greater than anything you could have planned or done on your own! Just keep being patient, keep perservering, and don't give up! You may be right around the corner from a breakthrough. But, until then, "keep your eyes on the prize." Work with the end goal in mind; imagine the feeling of accomplishing that goal. If things don't seem to be going right, if you feel like a failure, then get excited! Why? Because God loves using people who may consider themselves inadequate or unsuccessful and using them to show His adequacy, His success, His power, and strength to do something so completely beyond what they considered possible.


When you feel like a failure, remind yourself of all the other people before you that "failed foward." Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When asked about it, Edison said, "I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb." He didn't see his failed attempts as ultimate sentences of failure. Instead, he saw his unsuccessful attempts all as stepping stones bringing him closer and closer to his end goal: The light bulb. Because Edison did not give up after the 10th, 50th, even 500th attempt, we now have light accessible to us whenever we need it. Think about the impact your goals could possibly have on society, or the world, if you don't give up and keep pursuing your God-given dreams. There is no limit to what you can do when God is on your side. "Failure" is not final. Failure is only failure when you give up, everything else just means you are one step closer to accomplishing your dreams.


"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB).

Follow Your God-Given Dream

God has given each of us a special dream or vision of what we would like our lives to look like. He's imputed within each of us a purpose to make an impact in this world for the better. Each and every one of us has been hand-crafted, uniquely designed with a specific purpose that only we can fulfill because we were created for it! God may have put a dream in your heart that, to the outside world, may seem completely ridiculous or even impossible. Something I've learned however, is that nothing is impossible for God. If you've let go of your God-given dream because it seems too unatainable, know that the God you serve holds the universe in the palm of His hand. He gave you that dream for a reason! It is attainable! God is more for you than you are for yourself! With Him on your side, nothing is impossible!


Start taking action today towards your God-given dream.  Every large goal starts with one, small and minute action. No matter how large your goal may be, take one step at a time, only looking at the step right in front of you--soon enough you will see your dream come to pass!

He will guide you

"Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21


Time and time again, both history and experience prove that when we trust in God, He will never fail to show us the right path to take. For teens (and young adults) especially, deciding what career path to take, what college to go to, and what to do with life in general can be extremely stressful and overwhelming without the right perspective.
 The Bible tells us that "success comes from God, (2 Corinthians 3:5)" that "God is the one who promotes, He brings a person down and exhalts another. (Pslam 75:6)"
When we put Him first in our lives, He blesses us in ways like never before (Matt. 6:33). So my friends, if you have  been worrying about what to do in life, what direction and path to take, keep looking to God and asking Him for instruction. He will direct you and give your life amazing purpose and meaning!


"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6