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Conspicuous Consumption: Tipping Over The Sacred Cow of Materialism
by Dr. Jeanine

Simply Divine Solutions Personal, Professional and Spiritual Coaching for Women Worldwide
simplydivinesolutions.com
copyright 2008 ~ July 3, 2008



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Because I am a huge comedy fan and was saddened by the recent passing of George Carlin, I have been watching many of Carlin’s comedy vignettes on television and on the internet. One of his central themes throughout the years was that of materialism. George was never shy to poke fun at our country’s insatiable and gluttonous desire for things. He observed again and again that Americans will work tirelessly for material things, pack their houses to the brim and then find themselves needing to buy a bigger house to accommodate all of those purchases. The jokes about inane spending always got a laugh for George because it invariably rang true for the audience.

Other comedians have also had a big tease regarding materialism. I once heard Robin Williams say during a stand up routine to a woman in the front row that her necklace was very beautiful and could coincidently easily feed the entire nation of Thailand. Similarly, in the British comedy television show Absolutely Fabulous, Jennifer Saunders leaves her home for a holiday wearing every conceivable signature piece of England’s Burburry line of high end plaid wear: raincoat, luggage, scarf, handbag, hat and umbrella. The writers are making their own statement of course. Conspicuous consumption is funny, if not somewhat tragic.

I recently saw a You Tube interview with musician Seun Kuti discussing the lack of resources in his home country of Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. He talked about the challenges inherent to daily life for his countrymen. His candidness about the suffering in his country stands in stark contrast to the bottomless desire for expendable things we seem afflicted with in the United States.

Many people are now coming to appreciate the life philosophy of minimalism. We don’t need to live as monks or ascetics to embrace this simple way of life. We can clear out our belongings and donate them to charity using the criteria “Does this item add real value to my life?” We can choose simple but expressive wardrobes. We can choose to live in homes and drive cars that are the right size for us and no bigger.

In the end living a life driven by material desires is no laughing matter. After all, we can’t take it with us.


Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal, Professional & Spiritual Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
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Big Ego Identities by Dr Jeanine
copyright July 17, 2007
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide

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“Big ego is lack of trust in your own soul.” ~ Lauren Brownell (Vermont Artist)

We all know exactly what people mean when they describe someone as having a big ego. They are describing someone who is very self-referenced and self centered, often with mind-bending hubris, and perhaps someone who thinks we should worship gratefully at their feet. For some of us, a big ego may call to mind the “big ego anthem” You’re so Vain by Carly Simon. (On an ironic note-it was rumored to be written about Warren Beatty who I happened to say hello to last Saturday. He was warm and friendly. No trace of ego!).

When we talk about this type of ego, we aren’t using Sigmund Freud’s definition of the ego. In his seminal work, he defined three aspects of the self: the ego (the core self), the superego (the conscience) and the id (the primitive and impulsive self). In our current vernacular, we talk about a big ego in the way that A Course in Miracles describes the ego. In Marianne Williamson’s classic A Return to Love, she writes, “In Course terminology, our entire network of fearful perceptions, all stemming from the first false belief in our separation from God and one another, is called the ego. The word is used differently here than the way in which it is often used in modern psychology. It is being used as the ancient Greeks used it-as the notion of the small, separated self.”

When anyone is running around with a big ego, we can be assured that the person is operating from fear. Whenever I think I have found the person who is the exception to this truth, I invariably find out later that in actuality they are fearful. Having an exaggerated ego is the same mistake as thinking you are unworthy or not enough. Both the “too much” and the “not enough” perspectives are generated from fear and the idea that we are separate from God. I was speaking to my brilliant friend Lauren last night and she casually said “Big ego is lack of trust in your own soul.” Wow! In other words, having an exaggerated self identity is a smokescreen. It is really about not trusting (fear) in the Divine. For someone with more of an atheistic or agnostic perspective, this fear might come from lack of trust in love or fear concerning the natural order and the inherent organic patterns of life.

The really good news about this big ego awareness is that we can be more forgiving of those who are operating from fear and consequent big ego identity. If we are honest with ourselves, most have us have done at least a little ego posturing. Because we were fearful, we created a façade. Let’s remember to forgive our sisters when they are tempted to use this same defense mechanism. Of course, it can be very challenging to be generous of spirit when we are thoroughly annoyed. However, this challenge may strengthen our spiritual muscle. It may help to put into practice the belief that many of us share; that the personality “layer” is really only part of our outer packaging. The deeper truth about our selves and others is the soul or spirit that lies within. My experience has been that when members of the big ego brigade feel safe enough, which must include not being judged by us, they will soften and step into a much more balanced, relaxed and honest self identity.

Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail: jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
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Awaken Your Consciousness to Invite a Joyful Worldview
By Dr. Jeanine
www.simplydivinesolutions.com
copyright 2007
December 7, 2007



Many of us have come to believe that our worldly experiences are born from our perceptions. Moreover, many now believe that it is the inner world which is mirrored in the outer world. While some people formerly believed that we create by doing in the world via outwardly motivated strategy and effort, perhaps because of the metaphysical ideology explained in the movies The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know? , many people desire to shift their attention, awareness and ultimately awaken their consciousness to affect a divinely inspired life.

There is a metaphysical principle which states that the highest level of consciousness is surrender. This idea seems to be in conflict with the idea of actively creating our reality. In fact, it was a personal challenge for me to get my mind around this concept. I have enjoyed creating affirmations and having my desires manifest in the world. When I discovered this idea about 24 years ago, I was excited to find out how easily I manifested my desires into being.

However, when we align ourselves with God, Source and Divine desire, whatever that might be, we can manifest love-based forms and situations which are often better than what we could have imagined. These outcomes encompass the whole of humanity, not just our individual lives. Of course, we all have personal preferences and desires, and there is nothing inherently wrong with personal desire. We can always intend our desires. But often we forget to “release” them to God. Many who are working on affirming may state their desire and also add earnestly “this or something better”. When we release we are surrendering to the fact that we may not know what is best and may not know what exactly will serve the higher good. The adage “Be careful what you wish for” is addressed by this action.

The metaphysical textbook A Course in Miracles has students ask “What would you have me do?” This form of release and surrender creates a powerful flow in our lives. Our mission becomes “How can I serve?” rather than “What can I get?”

Inherent in the question “How I can serve?” is the notion that our life here is not just about fulfilling our own desires but to serve humanity. There is nothing wrong with desiring the new job, relationship, car, or the perfect state of health. But beyond these personal desires lay the opportunity to act from compassion. Many spiritual teachers, myself included, believe that compassion is love in action and is the highest form of love. When we act from compassion we are aligned with our inner being, acting from our essential self and our most awakened consciousness.

To deliberately act from the awakened or conscious mind we might start by intending it. We can align with a capital “S”ource perspective rather than a small “s”ource perspective. For example, if we wish to buy a home, but the prevailing thought of those around is that this is a bad time to buy, we can remember that this is a little “s” perspective. Our source of information in this case is those around us. They are responding to their reality based on fear or thoughts that “what is” isn’t enough. Aligning with Source, gives us an empowered perspective. Our source is not other people’s ideas, fears or perspectives, but in fact, the abundance which is of God.

It is true that the mind cannot serve two masters. We must choose our allegiances. We can choose fear based thoughts or love based thoughts. If we live in duality we may try and choose both and end up confusing and frustrating ourselves and those around us.

We may have to be deliberate in order not to buy into the thought patterns or race consciousness of the world. It may be highly important to seek support to stay on the path on love and a belief in Source. Because we live physically in a temporal world, we are often seduced into believing that the world we experience with our five senses is the whole enchilada. However, the more we operate from an expanded and awakened consciousness the more we begin to see clearly that there is more to our experiences than meets the eye.

It is also important to recognize that in order to awaken you must be completely committed to a journey that supports your efforts. The commitment we undertake pays huge dividends even if we fall back into old patterns from time to time. If you wish to commit to a life based on these principles, I am here it help you. 


Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail: jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
Radio Show: www.blogtalkradio.com/Coachfo...orldwide
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You Tube Video: www.youtube.com/user/DrJeanine
Expert Encyclopedia~Selfgrowth.com: www.selfgrowth.com/experts/...stin.html

E-course for Men and Women: Dr. Jeanine is the creator of
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21 Sacred Soul Steps to Divine Solutions"
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Finding the Mystical and Magical in Everyday Life by Dr. Jeanine
copyright 2007 ~ October 2007
www.SimplyDivineSolutions.com

I saw a commercial today that made me laugh aloud. A man was beginning his day while a chorus of exuberant, if not completely over-the-top dancers, sang his day’s praises. The man walked outside, admired his beautiful home and smiled happily at his steaming coffee. Suddenly, a giant tree branch fell on his car and completely crushed it.

Many of us have had the feeling of the magical in life and then something happens and we completely lose our mojo. Just like that, the ordinary, mundane and unpleasant has returned to be the focal point of our experience.

On the other hand, most of us can also relate to the feeling of the magical; suddenly our ordinary life takes on extra-ordinary qualities. Unfortunately, these experiences are often fleeting.

Just the other night I was taking out the trash and looked up at the full moon. I had an overwhelming feeling of connection, hope, and appreciation. It seemed as if something so impossibly beautiful was hung there only to communicate those feelings to me.

Not soon after returning inside the house, the feeling of connection to the mystical and magical was gone and forgotten. I was back to clipping children’s toenails, making lunches for the next day, emptying and loading the dishwasher, picking wet towels off the floor and putting Spiderman Band-Aids on boo-boos.

Sometimes these experiences of feeling connected to the mystical last slightly longer. Most of us are familiar with the feeling of falling in love. Our lover’s voice and touch transport us to another world where everything is alive, awakened and magical. The limits we once perceived for our lives seem to wash away and we bask in the appreciation of everything about our beloved. All the synchronicities and the shared experiences seem magical and mystical. While this is amazing time in our life, for whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to last. For most people the goose pimply early stage of coupling is gone by the second year.

Most of us relate certain types of experiences to the mystical and magical while other experiences to the mundane and non-extraordinary. We may feel that a sunny seaside hide-away in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico is magical while a business trip in winter is undesirable. We may think a shopping spree to Dolce and Gabbana is magical while a new outfit purchased from Target is routine. Similarly, basking in a rose filled garden may seem magical but mowing the lawn may seem drudgery. We may think of life without our departing beloved as unbearable. How can we find the mystical and magical when he seems to have taken those possibilities with him?

The adage, “Happiness is not a destination, it is the journey” applies to accessing the mystical and magical as well. Mystical and magical experiences don’t happen to us, we choose them. We don’t have to wait until we go somewhere, fall in love, or appreciate something beautiful. At any given moment, the mystical and magical are there for us to appreciate.

The book A Course in Miracles discuses miracles as being shifts in perceptions. In keeping with this concept, if we open our hearts and minds, we begin to see our ordinary, temporal experiences, from of a perspective of the divine. We can decide that we will perceive our world as much as possible from this vantage point.

People who are enlightened may truly understand what it means to see the entire world as divine. An awakened individual would say that there really is no difference between a trip to Muleshoe and a trip to Tuscany. They describe the magical and mystical as not separate from the ordinary. Some may describe this perspective as a “one taste” experience. In other words, every taste or experience is one with the divine.

In order to experience more mystical and magical elements in life we may choose to see our lives as inherently mystical and magical. Those of us who desire more mystical and magical elements in our lives may deliberately decide that whatever our dharma is, we will commit to seeing all of our life’s elements and nuances as divine, beautiful, mystical and magical; even when a tree branch crushes our car.

Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail: jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
Radio Show: www.blogtalkradio.com/Coachfo...orldwide
Myspace: www.myspace.com/spiritualcoach
You Tube Video: www.youtube.com/user/DrJeanine
Expert Encyclopedia~Selfgrowth.com: www.selfgrowth.com/experts/...stin.html

E-course for Men and Women: Dr. Jeanine is the creator of
"The Alma Answers!
21 Sacred Soul Steps to Divine Solutions"
No matter what the question, the Alma Answers!

E-mail now for a FREE~NO OBLIGATION~consultation
A $95.00 value!