Positively Wonderful

 In March 2006, The Boston Globe reported that the most popular course at Harvard is an introductory class on positive psychology. Over two hundred colleges in the U.S. offer courses in positive psychology, and Cambridge University has established its Well-Being Institute. To learn more, read the Journal of Positive Psychology, the Journal of Happiness Studies, and the quarterly magazine Greater Good. Positive emotions make you smarter, more creative and healthier. Feeling good is serious business. Focus on what feels good in the deepest and most sustainable way, and you will be approaching your authentic greatness. (Artwork by Roderick MacIver, Heron Dance.)

Positive Psychology

 Harvard magazine recently quoted Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO of the Gallup Organization as saying, “The next wave will be behavioral economics and cognitive economics—positive psychology, well-being, strengths science. I’m betting my job and this company on it.” Organizations working in the field of Positive Organizational Scholarships include Appreciative Inquiry Commons, HeartMath, LLC and the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. Here is growing evidence of the quiet groundswell of revolutionary healing in human consciousness. Visit unlimitedloveinstitute.org and learn something wonderful about yourself. (Artwork by Roderick MacIver, Heron Dance.)

Worldwide We

 The cover story of the May ‘07 issue of Ode magazine is entitled, “Worldwide We: How the new spirit of collaboration will change everything.” How true that is. The software that I record these Lime Spectrums on is a sound-editing program developed by Audacity that I downloaded from the Internet absolutely free. I am currently optimizing my web site with the generous help of Brad Callen with seoelite.com. While Brad offers many products for sale, he also provides tremendous help for absolutely no charge whatsoever. The Worldwide Web is indeed the “Worldwide We,” a place where we come together to make our dreams come true.

The Hot-Pink Grannies

 At sixty two, Jewell Chapman plays basketball for the “Hot Pink Grannies,” in the Iowa Granny Basketball league. “I think I’m tough,” says Hot Pink Granny Colleen Pulliam, age sixty-nine, as she flexes her biceps at the opposing team. It’s the socks that are hot pink, offset by black bloomers to create a fun and distinctive uniform. And this is a growing trend, evidenced by five hundred women from forty seven states competing in the National Senior Games in ‘05. Seventy-eight year old Phyllis Huxford of Des Moines says, “I’m having fun and I love it. We have a nice bunch of girls here.” So whatever you want to do, go for it. It’s never too late.

Finding Real Love

 If it’s true that love is who and what we are, than it would certainly serve us well to know as much as possible about love. Naomi Rachel Remen, in her wonderful book, “Kitchen Table Wisdom” said, “The only love is unconditional love,” suggesting that if it’s got conditions, it’s not love. After experiences with professional success, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts, Dr. Greg Baer became a proponent of what he calls “real love.” Go to his web site at “reallove.com,” and you’ll see that he is teaching and doing his best to practice unconditional love. Think of the people you know who have demonstrated unconditional love. Are they not the heroes?

Mystic Genius

 How would you like to be able to use your whole brain? Neuroscientist Jerre Levin states, “Challenges are what appear to engage the whole brain, generate excitement, and provide the substrate for optimal learning.” Does your life challenge you? If you’re looking for some help with this, you’ll find the Abraham-Hicks materials to be wonderfully challenging, inviting readers to live on “the leading edge” and take full responsibility for creating their own reality. You know that glow about the head of mystics depicted in ancient art? What if that light was electro-magnetic energy resulting from the use of their whole brain? Challenge your inner mystic genius.

Don’t Forget To Laugh

  Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that watching a funny movie had a healthy effect on blood vessel function in his patients. He found that the benefit of laughter is “similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic activity.” So! Look on the funny side of life. Watch kid’s movies, let children and pets remind you how to play, and practice the masterful art of corny humor. A daily dose of goofiness is good for your heart, and will help you take yourself lightly. Put humor on your busy calendar, and make a point of doing something pointless. You are beautiful when you laugh.

Rule Breakers

 Throughout history, it’s been the rule breakers that have broken new ground and taken us to new levels of growth and development as a species. In Brazilian businessman Richard Semler’s company, Semco, “employees set their hours, determine their salaries and choose their bosses. Managers don’t have secretaries, reserved parking spaces or even desks.” In his completely democratic organization, everyone has a say in everything—and yes, it works. His multi-function company is growing twenty to thirty percent a year. Break the rules and do your own thing. Your creative genius is waiting to be set free, and we’re waiting to see what you do.