How often is it that you hear people commenting on how ‘time is flying by”? Days, weeks, months, and even years pass as if life’s DVD were stuck on fast forward. I also hear from a lot of adults that subscribe to the idea that the feeling of time accelerating comes with age. That may be true but adults aren’t the only ones noticing how fast-paced life has become. I’ve asked several kids and without exception they feel the same way - time is moving at a very fast pace. The kids I’ve asked say this is evident even during the school year, which completely baffles me, because when I was a kid the school year moved along like a slug climbing a very steep mountain. There’s no denying this phenomenon is a part of our current reality but the question I want pose is this: Can something be done to slow it down? I personally think the answer to that question is yes because I believe that collectively we’re to blame. Our thoughts, words, and actions (behavior) are what’s causing the acceleration, therefore if we so choose we can reverse it and slow things down. How do we do it you ask? By spending more time in the present. Living in the now slows life down. The anticipation of things to come in the future is what speeds it up. Let’s use the workweek as an example. How many millions of people are out there loathing Monday’s and how many more millions can’t wait for the weekend? We start this anticipation thing very early on in life. Kids can’t wait to get older, as if there’s something more magical about being 10 then being 9. Can’t wait to get our drivers license, can’t wait to turn 18 to move out or go to college, can’t wait for 21 as if there’s something special about being able to legally consume alcohol. Can’t wait for a cell phone upgrade, can’t wait for summer, can’t wait to go on that vacation, can’t wait for the next season of Entourage. Many of our lives have become all about anticipating things to come as opposed to appreciating and enjoying those things that we already have. Maybe you’re someone that doesn’t mind living life this way. But I think this way of life causes stress, leaves us anxious, disconnected, dissatisfied, and needlessly suffering. If you agree and want to try to slow things down than I recommend you spend more time trying to enjoy the present instead of dreaming about the future. Living the 7 will help if you’re interested in slowing down.

Whenever I sit down to write a blog there’s always some sort of inspiration that preceeds my decision on the topic. My main source of inspiration comes from my desire to help remind people of their innate potential and the enormity of the power they possess. I’m motivated to share information that can be helpful in some way.  I try to write about things that are insightful, informative, enlightening, interesting, and hopefully inspirational. Although my blogs are meant for others, there’s no doubt that I write them for myself as well. A little reminding every now again or a push to get us moving in the right direction never hurts. Today’s fast paced world makes it easy to fall off track and forget about the things that make us feel good or keep us healthy and connected. I heard the phrase ‘Soul-Work’ used in a documentary film and immediately thought it would be a perfect topic for my blog. The term Soul-Work can be applied to a variety of different activities all relating to the spirit and our relationship with our creator. So when I pose the question are you doing your daily Soul-Work I’m talking about doing those things that bring us closer to understanding who we are, where we’re from, and why we’re here. These are questions that we all need to ask ourselves. Are we living life to the fullest? Are we practicing compassion? Are we connected? And if were not, are we willing to do something about it? Are we willing to change our ways and consider doing the work that will make the world a better place? The work that will help us find our purpose. That will help to eliminate fear and ignite passion. That will help to raise our vibration and energy levels, enabling us to rise up out of the darkest of circumstances. Your daily Soul-Work is just as important as your profession, as every breath you take, as every bite of food you ingest, or sip of water you take. Do the things that bring you joy– authentic joy– not some fleeting physical stimulation that disappears with the wind. Partake in the things that bring you lasting satisfaction and an inner calm that can never be compromised by anyone or anything. As always, it is my suggestion that you all give the 7 disciplines a try. Give any of them a try making them a part of your daily work that your spirit is begging for. Whether you’re aware of it or not your subconscious is in desperate need of daily Soul-Work, so don’t deny yourself the peace, love, health, and happiness it deserves.

Aren’t we all seekers in one way or another? Throughout our lives aren’t we constantly in search of______ ? The Truth? Unconditional love? Happiness? Companionship? Answers to life’s biggest questions? It could be a very long list. As a young boy I sought the approval and the love of my parents, my sisters, and my extended family. As I grew and ventured out into the world I sought acceptance by my peers. As I developed into a competitive athlete I sought the admiration and the accolades that came with winning. As I transitioned from a boy into a young man I sought the affection and the company of women. During my high school and college years I unsuccessfully sought confidence and a positive opinion of myself. Post college I found myself searching for the right direction only to wind up on the wrong path which led to some crazy days and a lot of even crazier nights. Having completely lost my way during my mid to late twenties, that was when I began my arduous search for answers to some very hard questions. I had to ask myself how I developed such a blatant disregard for my own sanity and well being. How was it that I could compromise my spirit again and again just as long as I fit in as one of the herd? And the most pressing questions were: Who have I become and how can I shake this misery and suffering I’ve created? It was then that I started my journey to seek out a life void of fear, insecurity, and over indulgence. I learned that there was a better way, a smarter way to live. A way of life that promised limitless peace of mind, a purpose and passion. The best part about it is that it’s available for most of us if we’re hungry enough to go after it. Live the 7 my friends. It’s a simple solution to some very complex problems. To learn more visit our website at www.powercenternj.com

When you were a kid, did you look up to someone that you would consider a hero? For me it was my Grandfather. The man was very special to me. He had a way about him the was infectious in a good way. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing the emitted the most amazing energy. He was full of enthusiasm, always positive, and full of love for everyone, even strangers. He adored his wife, his children, his family and his earth. I worshipped the ground he walked on. He was an example to live by.  Life offers up plenty of opportunities for all of us to be heroes. We have plenty of examples that can be found in the movies we watch, the literature we read, or the current, real-life examples that we read about in newspapers, magazines, blogs or see on the news. A hero is regarded as courageous, fearless, strong, resilient, selfless and persistent. The cool thing about the opportunity that presents itself is that every last one of us can access those characteristics and can be a hero if we so choose. It really doesn’t take exorbitant amounts effort, skill, or intelligence to become a hero nor does it require super-powers or super-human strength. All it takes to be a hero is love, compassion, the right attitude and the ability to recognize someone in need and subsequently providing that person with some quality time, support, guidance and friendship. Heroes can have a dramatic impact on those whose lives they touch. They help someone to feel safe, as if their is someone always watching your back, or standing by our side when life’s challenges present themselves. A hero can raise your spirits and inspire you to tap into your own power and potential. Heroes make our our lives more manageable and much more enjoyable. So I ask you again- Are you being a HERO??

As beautiful and precious life can be, it can be equally challenging and sometimes even devastating. At times we’re faced with unavoidable hardships and then there’s the circumstances we create all on our own that lead to suffering. It’s not very difficult to find yourself feeling lost, disconnected, lonely, full of anxiety, or crippled by fear. Hardships and feelings of despair can come in a variety ways be it from illness, natural disaster, the loss of a loved one, financial misfortune, injury, addiction, dysfunction in the family or in a relationships, failed goals, or unrealized dreams to name a few. Life can place a heavy load on our backs at times and there’s no question that many of us are often pushed to the edge or find ourselves at the bottom of a very deep hole. As the pain and suffering builds so can the hopelessness. Although it might seem as though there’s no way out and the walls are closing in, you need to believe in this fact: as long as your breathing, your mind and body are in tact and functional, you’re capable of rational thought, and you desire to change the way your feeling and the predicament your in, then there is hope, there is a path you can take that will lead you home. A path that will take you back to a place of peace, of love, of health, of happiness. A place to call home, where there is no fear, no self loathing, and no suffering. Here’s a short story of inspiration that should put things in perspective for anyone that thinks they got it tough. A friend of mine invited me to sit in on one of his therapy sessions with his psychitrist. The session started with the Doc asking him why he missed they’re last appointment. He started to use his miserable life and the incredible struggle he endures as his excuse. To my surprise the Doctor was quick to shut him down and he did it in a way that was much more aggressive than I’d ever expect a Doctor to behave. “Brian! Brian! Save your BS for someone who cares! I’ve heard it all before! How long to you plan on letting what happened to you as a kid destroy your life? Everyone has a tragedy Brian, I can introduce you to a friend of mine who watched his entire family be murdered by the Nazi’s in Aushwitz. He escaped and lived in the woods for five years. He was twelve. At seventeen he came to America, taught himself to speak English, got a job, put himself through med school and became a doctor. He got married had kids and had a wonderful life. This is available for you too Brian if you want it badly enough.

Summer is in full swing and yours truly couldn’t be any happier. Being a native of New Jersey I grew up with all four seasons. There are things that I absolutely love about each of them, but summer is the one that has a special place in my heart. During my formative years, my Mom owned a preschool and had the summers off. She would take me and my three siblings to the beach, what seemed to be every single day, as long as the weather was cooperating–and believe me there were plenty of days when we would be the only ones there sitting in the rain waiting for Mom’s prediction that the storm was going to blow over to manifest. Most times it didn’t and we would eventually give up and go find some suitable alternative to our favorite activity. This past weekend marked the first two days that I got to spend a decent amount of time with my favorite part of nature. Despite the fact that this will be my 43rd summer spent on the beautiful beaches of what we New Jerseyans refer to as “The Shore” I can never get enough. Saturday July 9th was an epic day for me and my clan, spent at the Allenhurst beach club. The temperature was just right thanks to a consistent, yet subtle breeze, the water was refreshing and clean, and to top it all off the waves were the perfect size for body surfing/boogie boarding. To sum it up in one word the day was AMAZING!! As the sun slowly sunk over the seawall turning the seagulls’ playground violet and pink I looked out to the horizon and thought about all of the incredible memories I have at the the beach and ocean. I sat there for a few moments in absolute awe, overwhelmed by my surroundings. I took a deep breath and thanked God for the perfect day and hoped that the next would bring more of the same. So I leave you today with a simple question: What do you find amazing?

Dear Power Center Family,

Did you know that over 60 million plastic water bottles end up in US landfills everyday? This means a staggering 22 billion plastic water bottles end up in US landfills every year!

I’d like to ask everyone to try to refrain from bringing plastic water bottles to The Power Center. We have filtered water and cups available, please bring your own reusable bottle or we have glass love bottles to purchase. You can save $252 a year by using a reusable container. Join us in making a choice to better your health, your environment, and the planet.

In addition to improving your health and the environment, 100 % of the proceeds from the sale of love bottles goes to The Live The 7 Foundation to fund preventative health and transformative fitness programs for children and young adults in need. Small love bottles are $20 (2 for $30) and large love bottles are $30 (2 for $50). Please read the following information that is the driving force behind this initiative to eliminate plastic bottles at The Power Center, and I thank you all for your support.

Live the 7,
John Nies

Drinking single serving plastic bottled water opens up a whole new set
of health and environmental concerns and hazards.

Get the Facts…

Studies show that about 40 percent of bottled water is actually
regular tap water with possibly no additional filtering treatment.
The EPA standards that apply to public water supplies do NOT apply to
bottled water. There are no restrictions protecting against a source
of bottled water being located near industrial facilities or waste
dumps. Overall, bottled water is less regulated than tap water. A
recent Environmental Working Group test uncovered 38 contaminants in
10 brands of bottled water, including DBPs, nitrate, caffeine,
arsenic, Tylenol, bacteria and industrial chemicals.

The Problem with Plastic Water Bottles

In the time it takes you to refill your water bottle over 8,000 empty
water bottles are being thrown away worldwide. According to the
Container Recycling Institute, in the U.S. alone, more than 67 million
plastic water bottles are discarded each day.
That’s enough empty plastic water bottles to…

Fill 5500 garbage trucks each day.
Bury Manhattan Island one foot deep each day.
Wrap around the planet 149 times each year!
Not biodegradable, empty plastic water bottles are a major contributor
to worldwide pollution.

In fact, water bottles make up a sizable portion of the garbage patch
of discarded plastic swirling in ever ocean. In the Pacific Ocean just
a few hundred miles off the coast, there is a swirling vortex of
plastic “stew” , The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is currently larger
than twice the size of Texas and growing!

The enormous waste issue is not the only problem. According to the
Sierra Club, the U.S. alone uses 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce
all the water bottles we toss each year. And along with oil, comes
unwanted toxins. The processing of plastic water bottle releases toxic
compounds such as nickel, ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide, and benzene
into the environment.

Boycott Plastic Water Bottles

The Story of Bottled Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Other Boycott Plastic Articles
http://agriculturesociety.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/start-a-boycott-on-plastic/
http://www.justmeans.com/Living-Green-by-Boycotting-Plastic-Water-Bottles/7061.html