Dear Members of the Holistic Harmony Network,
May this find you well and happy on all levels of your being.

Here in Athens, Greece we have our registration week in during which about 500 students register for classes of various types seeking greater health and harmony in their lives, work and relationships, as well as spiritual growth. We all work on a volunteer basis and enjoy serving those to whom we can be useful. We are about 80 persons serving in various different ways.

We are always interested in hearing from you and welcome you to use our Life Clarification Process. We welcome knowing about the subjects which interest you and which you would like to see discussed on our site.

If any of you are interested in participating in a Chat Room on such subjects as psychological and spiritual growth, let us know so that we can designate a special time for this.

Robert Elias Najemy's Book the Psychology of Happiness is now available in English as a paperback with 352 pages full of useful information and techniques as well as case histories which enable us to understand ourselves and create greater happiness in our lives. You can order this book through our web site with your membership discount at www.holisticharmony.com/members/psychofhapiness.html. If you are not a member, click here.

=> 1. MANIFESTING OUR INNER POTENTIAL
=> 2. KEEPING OUR ENERGY HIGH AND HARMONIOUS
=> 3. FINDING OUR LIFE PURPOSE
=> 4. WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ILLNESS
=> 5. Review of The Psychology of Happiness

Elephants born in captivity are restrained by a chain that attaches one leg to a metal spike driven into the ground. This prevents them from roaming. They become accustomed to the fact that, as long as the chain and spike are next to them, they are unable to move.

As they grow older, their minds become programmed. When they see the spike and chain, they "believe" and accept that they will not be able to move. They become so conditioned that when their owners place a small rope and wooden peg next to them, they make no effort to step away from it, because they "believe" they are unable to.

In truth, their actual power as adults is so great that they could easily pull up a chain and spike of any size. Their programming or "belief," however, allows this tiny rope and wooden peg to limit their movement. We are all very much like these elephants. We allow the weaknesses, fears and rejection we experienced as children to program us into a life in which we lack power, peace, love and happiness. We become controlled by false childhood assumptions we have made about our ability, strength and self worth.

We can move away from these "pegs" of self-limitation, but we must chose to do so.

THE LION CUB

The story about the lion cub more graphically describes this process. Once there was a great lioness that went hunting with her newborn cub. While chasing and attacking a flock of sheep, the she-lion made a wrong move, fell off a cliff and died.

The cub was left without a mother and grew up in the midst of the sheep. As the years passed, the cub became a full-grown lion, but it was instinctually conditioned to behave as a sheep. It ate grass, made a bleating sound, and just like the sheep, developed a fear of all other animals. One day, another lion attacked the flock, and in the chase, was shocked to see the ridiculous sight of a full grown lion running away with the sheep bleating "bah bah" in fear.

He caught up to the sheepish lion, and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you acting in this ridiculous way? You a great, powerful lion acting like a lowly powerless sheep? What has come over you? You should be ashamed of yourself."

The sheepish lion explained that he was a sheep, and that the flock had taught him to fear and bleat and run in horror from the powerful lions. The adult lion took the sheepish lion down to the river and asked him to look at the reflection of his own face. He saw that he was like the lion and not like the sheep. The lion then woke up from its ignorance and discovered its previously ignored inner courage, strength and majesty. We are like the sheepish lion. The sheep represent our human nature, our personality, which moans, fears, complains and worries. The Lion is the spiritual aspect of our being, which is a source of great power, wisdom, creativity, goodness and love.

Great spiritual teachers have appeared throughout history with the same message of our "LION NATURE", the untapped spiritual power and greatness that dwells within us.

OUR LIFE PURPOSE

Our life purpose is to manifest our unlimited inner power, beauty, creativity and love. We will never feel totally satisfied until we fulfill this inner need to become who we really are. Just as every flower feels a basic need to bring forth its flowers and fruits, we too have an abundance of gifts to bring forth to the world around us. We can do this in many ways.

What are your challenges, which you would like to meet today with greater confidence in your inner power and ability to cope?

1. Dealing more positively with a relationship problem?
2. Healing yourself from an illness or weakness in the body?
3. Dealing with the loss of or separation from a loved one?
4. Solving an economic problem?
5. Bringing up children with love and wisdom?
6. Manifesting social changes?
7. Facing death with inner peace when the time comes?
8. Forgiving someone?
9. Confronting fears?
10. Transforming our belief system.
11. Coping with a law case or some injustice?
12. Creating something that requires all your inner resources?
13. Finishing school?
14. Making a new step in life?
15. Making an important decision?

Whatever our present challenges might be, we need to move forward and meet them on all levels with self-confidence, self-esteem, humility, love and clarity. In addition, we need to be detached from the final outcome. It is the motive and effort which count and not the result.

We will also need to develop patience and perseverance. We must preserver while also being patient for the results.

(Condensed from the recently released book "The Psychology of Happiness" (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) by Robert Najemy . His writings can be viewed at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com)

The quantity and quality of our energy flow deeply affect our emotions, thoughts and reactions. The quality of our relationships, productivity, creativity and health all depend upon creating a high level of harmoniously flowing energy.

The following techniques and ways of life will aid us in building a freer and more positive energy flow.

1. PROPER DIET: Few of us realize the powerful effect of a proper diet not only on our physical health, but also on our emotional, mental and spiritual states. A pure diet can create greater health, more positive emotional states, clearer mental functioning, and increased spiritual attunement.

2. VITAMINS: If we suspect our emotional state may also be the result of our worn down nervous system, we might benefit from a strong multivitamin and mineral supplement for one month.

3. FASTING: We can dramatically improve how we feel with short one-day fasts, or a mono-diet in which we eat only one type of food, such as only apples, watermelon or grapes. Some of us may experience an increase of symptoms as a healing crisis is produced. A beginner in this process should be assisted by an experienced guide.

4. HERBS or FLOWER ESSENCES: Some herbs can be very calming and / or invigorating, offering an extra boost which may give us the needed optimism we need to make internal changes.

5. DAILY PHYSICAL EXERCISE: The body is a live machine, and like all machines, it needs to move or it will begin to develop problems. Exercise is essential not only for a healthy muscular, skeletal and circulatory system, but also for a relaxed nervous system and balanced endocrine system. This systemic harmony is necessary for emotional and mental peace.

6. BREATHING TECHNIQUES are essential for the abundant flow of vital energy throughout the body and mind. Bio-energy is the basis of all physical and mental functions. Breathing exercises are one of the most effective ways to increase our energy level and keep it steady and harmonious so we will be less susceptible to low emotional states or illness. We should, however, have the guidance of person experienced in breathing techniques before we begin.

7. DAILY DEEP RELAXATION will calm the muscles, nerves and all other bodily systems, and thus rejuvenate the body and the mind. Deep relaxation, in conjunction with the above-mentioned techniques, contributes to the development of strong and healthy immune system as well as a form of self-therapy from psychosomatic illnesses.

8. CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION is much more important to our physical, emotional and spiritual health and harmony than most people imagine. Man is a creative being. Our purpose on earth is to create in some way. We might create a family, a business, a farm, a painting, a piece of music, a dance, etc. Creative self-expression is essential for our health, harmony and happiness.

9. MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY is necessary for us to feel that our life is worth living. If we do not see what we are doing as meaningful, useful or helpful in some way, we lose our reason to exist, and our health and happiness gradually deteriorate

10. MASSAGE: Shiatsu massage, polarity massage, spiritual healing, Reiki and other such energy-oriented types of massage can be especially effective in relaxing the nervous system and reducing negativity.

11. CLEANSING TECHNIQUES: One simple method is to increase the number of showers or baths. Contact with water can be healing and calming. We can also benefit by cleaning the body systems with enemas and other internal cleansing techniques.

12. EMOTIONAL RELEASE: We might need to partake in a program of emotional release under the guidance of an experienced professional, who can help us release pent up emotions which undermine our health and energy level.

13. SOCIAL HARMONIZATION: We need to discover and overcome any fears or beliefs that prevent us from feeling comfortable with others.

14. SPIRITUAL ORIENTATION: Each of us has his or her own personal relationship with the universe. Whether or not we adhere to any particular religion, it is important for our inner balance that we feel and cultivate our relationship with the whole as humanity, as nature, or as God.

15. SELF-KNOWLEDGE: We need to comprehend our own inner mechanisms, needs, desires, fears, expectations, beliefs and subconscious workings in order to free ourselves from the negative emotions, mechanisms or which undermine our health, happiness and relationships.

16. ENLIGHTENING THE SUBCONSCIOUS: This aspect of self improvement usually requires a psychologist or other experienced professional who can help us reprogram the subconscious with positive, more objective beliefs and perceptions of ourselves, others and the world.

17. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE towards ourselves and others is the ultimate key to a high and harmonious energy flow.

(Condensed from the recently released book "The Psychology of Happiness" (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) by Robert Najemy . His writings can be viewed at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com)

BASIC FOR OUR HAPPINESS

Each of us has incarnated to play a specific. When we find our special role and play it with love, we experience contentment and happiness. When we lose contact with our life purpose, or do not have the courage to live it, we experience discontent and sometimes depression.

WE MAY NEED TO MAKE CHOICES

In some cases, we may need to make choices between the following:
a. Money or meaningfulness
b. Comfort or creativity
c. Security or evolution
d. Social "success" or social responsibility
e. Superficial happiness or real inner contentment
f. Satisfying others’ expectations or our own inner voice or wisdom.

Let us examine what we can do to regain contact with our life purpose.

1. FREEDOM FROM SOCIAL PROGRAMMING

We need to free ourselves from our social conditioning concerning what kind of work has value. We need to be free to select the type of work and life style which suits us regardless of what others think of our choices. If our loved ones have a problem with our choices, we need to have enough inner confidence to lovingly help them understand that we are simply asking for the freedom to pursue that which fulfills us.

Often the simplest roles can offer us the greatest spiritual lessons and self-satisfaction. Take, for example, the roles of motherhood or fatherhood. Not much importance is given to them today because many feel that working in an office has more prestige or creativity. Yet, there is no more important and demanding role than that of parenthood.

2. OVERCOMING FEAR

We will need to overcome any fears that might obstruct our ability to give ourselves wholeheartedly to our goals. Such as fear of

a. Failure
b. What others think.
c. That we may not make it financially
d. That we may not be perfect in what we do
e. That we might make a mistake.
We are all in a process of evolution. Making mistakes is natural when we are learning and creating. It is important to understand that we are worthy and lovable even though we are not perfect and even when we not have perfect results.

3. SUCCESS IS NOT REQUIRED

It is imperative that we free ourselves from excessive concentration on success as a measure of our self-worth. If our motives are as pure as possible and our efforts our best for our present stage of evolution then the results do not matter.

Christ, Socrates, Gandhi and Martin Luther King all lived their life purpose but were all killed by the societies in which they lived.

4. CONTACT WITH OUR INNER VOICE

We will need to develop a deeper contact with our inner voice through prayer, silence, and meditation. Then we will hear the "small voice" of inner wisdom and know, within ourselves, the role that we have come to play.

5. TUNING UP OUR INSTRUMENT

Even if we know our role, we may not be able to play it effectively if we are frequently ill, tired, nervous, fearful or upset. A healthy body and clear mind can be maintained through healthy natural foods, exercises, breathing techniques, deep relaxation and positive thinking. With daily practice of these techniques, our bodies and minds will be capable of expressing our inner beauty and creativity.

6. SURRENDER TO THE DIVINE

An instrument must surrender completely to its player. Finding our role in life means being open to whatever role is useful to the universe at each place and time. We need to let go of egocentric needs and realize that at times we will be called upon to do "great works", and at others, we will be assigned simple task.

7. PRAY FOR GUIDANCE

We can pray for purification and guidance as instruments of divine harmony here on earth. Through prayer and sincerity, we can become transformers of spiritual energy into beneficial works here on the material level. Through our daily meditations, we can receive spiritual energy, which we can then share with those around us in the form of love, compassion, understanding and service.

8. BELIEF IN OURSELVES AND FOLLOWING OUR SATISFACTION

We need to believe in our inner feelings and what brings us happiness. Happiness and inner contentment are signs that we are aligned with our life purpose.

9. USING OUR TALENTS

We need to get in touch with and develop our inherent talents. They will guide us to what we have come to do.

(Condensed from the recently released book "The Psychology of Happiness" (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) by Robert Najemy . His writings can be viewed at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com)

Our difficulties and tests are like the weight lifter’s weights that help him to build up his muscular power. By exercising our inner power in response to these challenges, we develop our emotional, mental and spiritual muscles. We become emotionally stronger and mentally more positive and assured of our ability to face any possible situation.

Here are some concepts that will help us to grow through our life experiences:

1. Perceive life as a school.

2. Remember that every experience is a lesson designed to teach us something about our selves and the nature of reality.

3. Remember that life gives us exactly the lessons we need in every moment.

4. Discover which lessons life is trying to teach us. Richard Bach, in his book Illusions reminds us that a "problem never comes to you without a gift in its hands". Our life-challenge is to fearlessly study our problems and discover the gifts therein.

5. Determine what changes we need to make in our living or thinking habits in order to become free from this problem or, in some cases, to realize that there actually is no problem.

We can ask ourselves these questions:

a. What must I let go of? (Habits, emotional tendencies, addictions, attachments, fears, expectations, attitudes, beliefs.)

b. What can I begin to develop? (Positive beliefs, disciplines, attitudes, abilities.)

c. Is there actually any problem here or I am making it into a problem?

6. Decide how we can start making these changes so as to once again find peace, health and harmony.

7. Accept that only we ourselves can solve this problem, otherwise its solution is of no use to us. We can take advice from our doctor, psychiatrist, clergyman or guru, but it is up to ourselves to make the actual changes. It is our responsibility as well as our opportunity.

The difference between the pessimist and the optimist is that the pessimist sees the problem in every opportunity and the optimist sees the opportunity in every problem.

I remember a story told by Dr. Jayadeva of the YOGA INSTITUTE OF BOMBAY.

"Once an enlightened being was asked ‘Who was your guru?’ He answered, ‘Sinusitis.’ The enlightened one went on to explain that in order to free himself of his sinusitis he had to change his diet completely. Then he started doing exercises and breathing techniques to purify and remove the stresses from his body that intensified the problem. After that, he started practicing deep relaxation and meditation in order to quiet the mind and nervous system, which seemed to be at the root of the sinusitis. Finally, he had to completely alter his understanding of himself and the world around him, so as to remove the basic causes of imbalance in his body and mind. As a result of all these efforts and changes, his body and mind became so purified and in tune with the Spirit, he became enlightened."

Some possible lessons we might learn from illness are:

1. To improve our diet: Choose to eat healthier foods in proper quantities, so the body and mind will be strengthened and able to function effectively and clearly, biologically, mentally and spiritually.

2. To adopt healthier living habits: Learn to exercise, breathe and relax regularly, so as to create a body that has the strength to protect itself from microbes and various malfunctionings.

3. To analyze and correct any negative thought patterns that may create emotional, mental or physical blockages.

4. To learn to be more humble and compassionate through this rather humbling position in which we are temporarily weak, vulnerable, and perhaps even dependent upon others.

5. To learn to accept, love and care from others: Some of us cannot accept affection or even simple compliments from others. We always want to be on the giving side. This can sometimes be based on egotistic motives.

6. To think more deeply about the meaning of life: Why are we here? What is the purpose of life?

7. To reexamine our goals and value system: What do we want from life? What is important to us? Are we living in such a way as to achieve our goals?

8. To develop mental powers of positive thought projection so as to send healing energies into the various parts of our body and heal it.

9. To take a more active role in the creation of our health, happiness and harmony. Only we can create our illness and health.

10. To surrender to God’s will. Although we do everything we need to do in order to create health, we must also be able to accept whatever the results may be in order to unite our will with the Divine Flow.

11. To concentrate more on our contact with the Divine through prayer and meditation.

12. To realize that we are not this body and begin to dis-identify from it, feeling ourselves as an immortal spirit.

(Condensed from the recently released book "The Psychology of Happiness" (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) by Robert Najemy . His writings can be viewed at www.HolisticHarmony.com)

The Psychology of Happiness penetrates to the heart of the subject of human happiness in a deep and yet simple, clear and understandable manner. It offers a variety of techniques, questionnaires and guidelines for creating happiness. It covers many subjects including: Psychology of Evolution, Managing Emotions, Overcoming Fear, Loving Ourselves, Facing Loneliness, Stages of Love, Reconciling Inner Conflicts, Healing Our Inner Child, Forgiveness and Freedom, Coping with the Death of Loved Ones, How Emotional Reality is Created.

Included are 23 case histories - real life situations and the possible lessons, which we can learn from such and similar situations.

Its Greek version has sold over 20,000 copies.

Over 95,000 of Robert E. Najemy's 19 books have been sold in Greek, an impressive number considering the small population and reading tendencies of the Greek public. Some are translated into Portuguese, Polish, Arabic and German.