TIPS For FORGING Thru A Spiritual Awakening ..!

 

We are in the midst of one of the greatest spiritual opportunities/awakenings within the entire history of this planet. Our moral integrity and character are being shown that the ‘system’ we have created the past few thousand  years no longer serves us. The brick wall we have been heading towards for centuries is now upon us. And we now have a God given choice to make a change that has the ability to completely eradicate the hate, narcissism, greed, apathy, disrespect, fear, and selfishness that has been built into the very fabric of our society. Just as the Blizzard of 2016 caused us to forge together as one and ‘DIG ’ ourselves out of the snow and ice that pelted half of our country, immobilizing millions of us for days if not weeks, it is now time for us to use that same gusto and fortitude to dig out the empty and shallow energy from the fabric of our INNER BEING. But here is the catch;  IT WON'T BE EASY! Change never is. And that is why most of us would rather live the same day 10,000 times in a row than face the unknown of what a new day of truth in perception and action may bring. It can be frightening stuff indeed. BUT WE CAN DO IT! We have too! The cost of being complacent is just to great. 

WE HAVE CREATED A PLANET THAT IS ACTUALLY DYING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR LACK OF COMPASSION FOR OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS SLOWLY ERADICATING ANY SENSE OF PURE LOVE FROM OUR COLLECTIVE LIVES....... ESPECIALLY WITH MORE REQUIRED GENUINE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS....

How many daily storms consisting of war, mass shootings, torrential weather wiping entire cities off the map, family and friends creating walls of separation against one another, and collective 'blind eyes' towards our fellow brothers and sisters who are in obvious emotional strife and mental pain must we endure? All before we finally turn our fear and frustration into ACTION! And have the courage and fortitude towards a rebirthing process of our body, mind, and spirit. For the highest good of all concerned. 

And ironically enough, our programmed biologic center actually transforms and rebirths our cells on a molecular level every seven years. In effect, you are NOT the same person on a cellular level that you were five to ten years ago. Old cells that no longer served you were let go so that a new version, filled with the new information to create an anabolic energy within your system would be kept in tact.  It is time for us to take a page from our biological programming and start to strip away the old patterns, thoughts, beliefs, and actions that no longer serve us.  Racism, lack, fear, complacency, disrespect, and shallowness must become relics of the past.  Replaced with the LOVE, compassion, joy, wisdom, and kindness that was built into our true spiritual DNA!!  We must be brave and courageous enough to be REBIRTHED into the Greatest Version of the Grandest Vision ever held of ourselves. And there is NO TIME TO WAIT!

But be forewarned. The birthing process is an arduous one! We must be willing to let go of who we thought we were, so that we can become all that we were meant to BE.  And that means there will be a period of time during the transition in which our new identity will feel new and awkward. You may feel depressed or filled with anxiety as the old you(ego) is shed. This process will no doubt be uncomfortable and even painful at times. Excruciatingly so for some!  During this birthing process, we must be squeezed through pressure to get to the other side of our salvation. And many will want to turn around and go back. The devil we know is often more comforting than the devil we don't.  But the time for excuses died long ago my New Age Nerds! 

For those of you currently completely disillusioned with your life, I want you to understand and know that you are NOT A MISTAKE!  This is not the 'Truman Show' and your life is not for the folly of the rest of us world wide viewers. You are an integral and important part of the process of soulful unfoldment on this planet. You matter.  MORE THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLE FATHOM!! 

Despite the social imprinting that has clouded and covered up the magnificent wings that you carry at your side, whether it be from abuse, poverty, shaming, or any other form of pain and suffering, this does not eradicate the fact that you are one of Spirit’s most precious angels! And the unique emination you came here to be is still awaiting the moment in which you put on your earthly wings and fly!  To shed the dirt and grime from a lifetime of illusion so that you can remember who you truly are and share that KNOWINGNESS with the world.

So I invite you to be brave enough to stand right where you are and shout to the world that you are a miracle makin' machine! And that you came here to spread your GLORY in all its forms; always and in all ways and will not stand for anything less than pure glory! As the luminary spiritual philosopher Victor Frankel said, "There are two times we are born in this life.  And the second time is the moment we understand the meaning of our suffering and the purpose it brings to complete our mission here on earth."

And for any of you New Age Nerds who find great inner discord within this grand growth process of the soul, remember, you are never alone! In fact, if you could allow yourself to reconnect (through meditation, prayer, communion with your tribe members, self growth media) with all the angels and your own spirit guides that are always at your side, you may never feel alone ever again! 

SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS:

We are currently living in very precarious times. People are living in FEAR, unsure of what their future may hold.  Our TV screens filled daily with images of senseless violence, separation, vitriol, and anger. A cacophony of never-ending  'Cosmic Chaos'.  Yet, in many ways, I am more hopeful than ever before! Why, you ask? Because I am experiencing an enormous amount of individuals who are beyond sick and tired of 'being sick and tired.' And are choosing to use this time to try and learn, grow, and change - despite the plethora of pain from nearly every corner of our collective lives. I get SO many personal messages from readers of The New Age Nerd sharing their personal stories of struggle and survival with me.   And I feel incredibly honored and privileged they entrust me with their deep, heartfelt longing and pain. Not to mention their sincere desire to experience a more spiritually awakened life. One that encompasses the reason why we are ALL here. A extraordinary life filled with purpose and deeper meaning that juxtaposes materialistic binges filled with 'quick hits' of happiness for more long lasting inner BLISS! And that is simply to give and receive MORE LOVE......... 

And for the majority of us, this shift in perspective and clarity occurs through spiritual awakenings.

Typically, the first sign of a Spiritual Awakening is having what I call a ‘BREAK OPEN.’ This occurs when we are at our own razor's edge. And life seems to be slowly breaking us down in every way imaginable. Many people call it hitting ‘rock bottom.’  And it's more than just emotionally painful. It causes us to question the very fabric of our foundational beliefs. And for those of you currently reading this who are in such a state, I want to say CONGRATULATIONS! Because this is a sign you may be at the precipice of having your first or one of many Spiritual Awakenings. You are being broken down so that you can ‘Break Open.’ And in doing so, unleash the gifts and talents you were blessed with for the purpose of sharing them with the world!

I am NOT implying that this stage is easy. FOR IT IS NOT! I know from a cacophony of my own spiritual awakenings (most of us will have several versions of spiritual awakenings within our lifetime) experience how scary, painful, and absolutely terrifying it can be. This stage often includes the letting go of things that no longer serve us; lovers, friends, jobs, even family members. As Marianne Williamson calls it ‘The Day of The Wrecking Ball.’  Because our very foundation must be pulled up and out to allow the space for the new one to be built in its place. And that my friends, is NO FUN!  Yet it is also a crucial part of the process. Just like any building, it is ONLY as strong as its foundation, right? Many of the elements born from our past foundations were manifested into our experience when we were not yet ready to Break Open. And match an antiquated energetic essence that no longer serves us! And now that we more of a match with that which we desire, some things are going to have to change. And for a while all the loss, change, and pain may cause us the desire to run back to our old, past surroundings and emotional programming. As the old saying goes, 'Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't."

SUPERHERO'S TRAINING TIP:  Please do not do that.....You are preparing to soar with the Eagles rather than continue to cuss out life with the Crows....    ;0)

One of my own personal heroes, the late Wayne Dyer, explained this crucial life stage, “The experience of a crisis immobilizes us for a long period of time. Our mind is focused on the disaster aspects of the situation, and we are unable to function effectively. We are unable to sleep or eat, and do not know how we are going to get past the terrible set of circumstances. We use our minds to focus on what is wrong, how painful it is, and how terrible it is going to be in the future. Advice from friends and relatives seems unrelated to our problem and usually results in anger and frustration. We cannot see any way out of our misery.

This is a typical response for all of us who are traveling our life paths in the belief that the external signposts are all there is to our reality. We cannot imagine that there is a valuable lesson in the trauma. We reject any suggestions that someday we will recall this experience as a necessary step in our development. We simply want to wallow in our hurt, believing that someone or something outside of us is creating this pain, and wishing that those externals would change.”

This stage often includes a short period of malaise and anxiety, or both. Please know that you are NOT broken- even though it will often feel that way! What you are doing is getting prepared to birth miracles. And the birthing process (as you ladies know) is an arduous one. Not for the faint of heart. Part of the sadness/anxiety stems from the longing of the things we are letting go of.  Some of it stems from the experience of having a keen awareness that we are not currently following our Superhero's Journey, the very purpose of our life  And leaving our old life behind so that we can accept the life that has been patiently awaiting us can be one of the most daunting endeavors we will ever undertake!  

Stage TWO of a Spiritual Awakening is where we begin the slow process of having complete gratitude for our sufferings. Because we start feeling that our pain and suffering is not in vein. We begin to have connection with and for our pain because we sense there is an important reason behind it. Things that once seemed chaotic start making sense. Wayne Dyer explains it like this, “This is an important step in the enlightenment process, and helps us to see how synchronized the one song really is. Certainly we still experience the pain and suffering, but we simultaneously know that there is something magnificent in this as well. We are able to be gentle and accepting with ourselves, and to honor and love even the part that is creating the crisis. We probably will not cognitively understand why this pain is occurring right now, but we will have an underlying knowingness and belief in the value of it.”

Stage THREE of this awakening is ALL ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY.  There comes a moment in which the pain of NOT committing to our awakening and purpose becomes more painful that the thought of taking that leap of faith.  So through pure force of will, we 'TAKE THE JUMP.' Having faith that Spirit will provide and protect us on this Journey. And guess what, Spirit  does.  Always and in all ways. It is a Universal Law  (A promise from SOURCE-THE ONE GOD MIND if you will) that once you truly commit to this Divine Awakening, Spirit will flood your experience with everything you need to fulfill your destiny. It may not happen all at once. So please, be patient during this stage. 

Miracles often take time in this dimension. But by staying in this new state of allowance, you will begin to experience synchronicity almost daily. People start showing up out of the blue to offer guidance. Financial opportunities present themselves to help support your vision. You begin to attract a new TRIBE of like minded friends and a support team. And let me tell you, it's when many first start experiencing the sensation of creating Heaven on Earth! And it is blissful, and magical.  You cannot imagine living in any other way, ever again!  

For those of you who may be skeptical of this process, I can understand.  ESPECIALLY if you are currently in the middle of Stage ONE.  I know, because I've been there.  BOY have I been there! There were many days in which after making it from my bed to the downstairs sofa I would softly declare, "Watch out world, there is NO stopping me now!!"  LOL

Even if it doesn't feel like it right now, LIFE IS A BLESSING! And please do not beat yourself up for whatever state you currently find yourself in.  You are EXACTLY where you need to be on your Superhero's Journey. Nothing you have experienced will be wasted. For the Universe wastes absolutely nothing!  And once you reach the place where you are in complete alignment of allowance, and living your PURPOSE, fully awakened to your calling, LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

And to assist every New Age Nerd in creating an ever growing sense of internal INSPIRATION, I'd like to leave you with the following transcendent musical lyrics:

                                                      

ONE by India Arie...........

Billions live their lives
Now Muhammad, Krisha, or the Buddha are the way.
Still some believe it's right to say
In the name of Jesus when you pray.

[Chorus:]
We are a human kind of 7 billion
So many different races and religions
And it all comes down to one

Some say God's a him
Still many believe that He is a Her
Does God Live in our hearts?
Or is She somewhere out there in the universe.

[Chorus]

How far will have to go before we learn the lesson?
Gandhi, was a Hindu
Martin Luther King, a Christian
Regardless of religion, they knew love was the mission
And it all comes down to one.

Is there no God at all?
Or a pantheon of gods up in the sky
We can heal our broken hearts
If we give up the desire to be right.

We are a human kind of seven billion
So many different races and religions
And we all want the same things
Health, Love, Prosperity and Peace
Tolerance is the seed
And the gift of pure acceptance is the tree

[Chorus]

Whether you are red, brown, yellow, black, or white
Man with a husband, or a woman with a wife
We can debate until the end of time who is wrong or right
Or we can see ourselves as one
Cause it all comes down to love.

BE SUPER HEROIC!

LOVE - SERVE - INSPIRE

STAY SO STRONG, THEY HAVE TO WONDER HOW YOU'RE STILL SMILING!

NERDMASTE,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

Incorporate THE THREE STRIKE RULE To Empower Your Relationships !!

 

How many people do you know that secretly desire to be writers of one form or another?  They have at least ‘one or two’ books in them.  Yet others may even have derived the ‘someday titles’ of these sure to be future best sellers. Yet, weeks, then months, and years pass by them by, and not a single page has been touched with any ink. 

Now, juxtapose this with all the people you know who are seemingly addicted to their EGO FILLED PERSONAL STORIES.  Stuck in a maddening (for them and US) pattern of perpetual rewind and play that consists of the The Best Hits of the loss, fractured relationships, complaining, excuses, problems, and other areas of their lives that just plain stink. Especially when it has gotten to the point where you you have heard the story so often, you can play along in your inner monologue, as if quoting lines from a movie you've seen one too many times!  Sound vaguely familiar?  ;0)

And let me tell ya, more than once I have had my own ‘Best Of’  playing like a 24 hour Christmas marathon of ‘It's A NOT SO Wonderful Life.’  Not so much fun for me or anyone else in earshot of this dysfunctional and insidious record player which is actually keeping us stuck from moving forward in our lives.

Now don't misunderstand me. We ALL need to talk through our problems, pain, and issues. It's a crucial part of the healing process. And being a compassionate and kind listener for others in their times of emotional need can be one of the most powerful gifts we have at our disposal. In fact,  at The University of Santa Monica, one of their favorite mantras was “no healing can begin until the last tear has been shed.” Amen! But sometimes, our little gremlin of an EGO comes into play, and has a pastiche of inventive tricks and mind games that actually desperately desires us to hold on to our past stories through the filter of victimhood to keep us from moving forward and growing back toward the LIGHT.  This is when we can get into some serious patterned problems!

In Eckhart Tolle's phenomenal book ‘A New Earth,’ he says, “A very common role is one of the victim, and the form of attention it seeks from others in the form of pity, sympathy or others' interest in my problems, me and my story.”  Seeing oneself as a victim is an element in many EGOIC patterns, such as complaining, being offended, outraged, and so on. Of course, once I am identified with a story I have assigned myself the role of victim, I don't want it to end. And so, as every therapist knows, the EGO DOES NOT want an end to its problems because they are a part of its identity. If no one will listen to my sad story, I can tell it to myself in my head, over and over again and feel sorry for myself so have an identity as someone who is being treated unfairly by life, other people, fate, or God.”

So very often, this addiction we have to our stories is actually a part of our own EGO wanting us to keep playing small. To hold the veil of illusion over our perception making it quite difficult to Re-member Who We Really Are. And to make things more challenging, we then tend to “make up” stories about who we think we really are based on our egoic pattern of not letting our old stories GO!

As Tolle addresses from the same book, “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your THOUGHTS about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is ALWAYS neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation and fact, and here are my thoughts about it.  Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts.  For example, “I am ruined,” is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking action. Facing facts is always empowering. Be aware that what you think, to a large extent, creates the emotions that you feel. See the link between your thinking and your emotions. Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.” Learn it, live it, love it!  The action steps Tolle describes above can make the most profound shifts in perspective.  And can save you from a gi-normous amount of needless pain and emotionally suffering about our STORIES.

Just as important as it is to know when to functionally be in emotional assistance of others in need, it is EQUALLY important to understand when to create healthy boundaries in NOT BECOMING a part of another's dysfunctional story.  Whether we realize it or not, when we allow the people in our lives to carry on with the exact same stories of a STUCK and DYSFUNCTIONAL nature, we actually BECOME a part of them ourselves.  So if I can offer a suggestion that has worked wonders in my relationships, it's called the ‘Three Strike Rule.’ I will allow myself to entertain the same story with someone three times. Hopefully, we can co-create some sort of understanding, uncover an a-ha moment, or self realization about how to move forward during these three chats. 

After that, I compassionately explain that unless some radically NEW information or aspect to the story as been found or created, that I cannot continue in the patterned process as to not become a part of the story myself. It may seem a little harsh, but it is actually a healthy self boundary action AND will help (at least with you) to curb these perpetual stories from being continually talked about in your energetic presence. I will also often offer up my reasoning for this boundary by saying how much I care for the other person and how I would like to assist in helping them from being MIRED in the past so that they can move forward toward the new life that is waiting for them!   Sometimes, we are not even aware just how much we are holding on to the stories we think define us. Try it in your own words and see how it works for you.....   

Let's face it, at the end of the day, what we are all seeking with our stories is to find a sense of PEACE about them, right?! I have a personal knowingness that the real issue is not that our life stories are not a part of our core being, but only when looked at through the proper lens can they help propel us forward in life. When we learn to use the transformative tools of ACCEPTANCE and GRATITUDE as the perspective in which to view our life, our stories no longer are clouded by the dysfunctional poison of the EGO. But rather become the essence from which we can unleash our true power! So I will close with this perfect prose from Tolle's ‘A New Earth’ as he espouses, “Listen to people's stories and they can all be titled ‘Why I Cannot be at Peace Now.’ The Ego doesn't know that your only chance at being at peace is NOW. Or maybe it DOES know and is afraid you will find this out.  Peace, after all, is the end of the EGO.  How to be at peace NOW. By making peace with the present moment.  The present moment is the field on which the game of life happens.  It cannot happen anywhere else.  Once you have made peace with the present moment, see what happens, what you can do, or choose to do, or rather what life does THROUGH you.  There are three words that convey the secret to the art of living.  ONE WITH LIFE.”

BE SUPER HEROIC!

BE LOVE- SERVE ALWAYS - INSPIRE ALL

NERDMASTE,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

If You Are TRULY Ready To LEVEL Up Your Life.. Here’s How !

 

In the Summer of 2003, my family and I traveled to the outskirts of St. Louis.  We have relatives who live there that we forged a special bond with when they lived three hours North of us in the suburbs of New Jersey.

In the 15 plus years since their eventual move to the Midwest, they had bought a cabin smack dab on the edge of the famous Ozark lakes. A few days after our arrival, we decided to rent a pontoon boat and head out into the well traversed waters already filled with a plethora of boats of all shapes and sizes. 

With a boat filled with over 10 enthusiastic family passengers, we set sail for an afternoon of watershed fun! Boy, did we get WAY more than we ever bargained for. (Note to SELF) Have an experienced boat navigator on board before even thinking about shimming your floating vessel out into very deep waters! 

That particular afternoon happened to have a near record setting amount of boats enjoying their weekend time of frolic filled fun! Little did we know that such a cacophony of water cruising causes Gi-normous wakes. They began to hammer our poor pontoon boat into something akin to an amusement park ride. I was at the very front of the boat catching the sun rays and amazing smells that  are conjured up during such a fortuitous day out in the middle of nature's magic. 

About an hour into our trip, I began to notice the boat starting to rock and roll as the waves began to grow into a formidable foe. As we tried to navigate the boat closer to shore to escape the constant pounding of punishing waves, I felt a very cold tingling sensation slowly creeping up my legs. I looked down to see that the front of the boat was quickly filling with water! 

I ushered my torso to get a glance of the back of the boat. Holy guacamole! It was nearly ten feet up in the air, taking many of my family members with it. Within seconds, I felt the water rising all around me as I desperately tried to climb to the back of the boat. Then the better part of my fight or flight instincts kicked in and I realized that I needed to jump out of the boat. And PRONTO! So I flipped myself over the pontoon's side rails quicker than a ferret striking back at its sneaky snake foe.  My 200 pounds of weight now having been released from the boats' bow caused the back of the fragile cruiser to drop back down into the water! 

"First one to shore, drinks are on me!" I shouted to the emotionally charged group still residing within the confines of the boat.  I , on the other hand found myself still shell shocked, wading by myself in the cold waters of the Ozark lake. 

Thankfully, we were eventually able to navigate the boat back to its home base. I was so blessed to have only a bruised leg to show from my efforts to keep our boat safely afloat. As I was washing the sand and water off my torso, I told everyone in our group to go ahead without me, because I was going to immediately start taking pontoon boat captain lessons!  LOL 


SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS

Life is so very much about timing. It's not so much about what you do, but when you do it! Sometimes you will have to make "the jump" before you feel ready. Just as I did on the pontoon boat that day! Other times, you will be given the space to prepare before taking a leap of FAITH.

I was recently watching an episode of The Steve Harvey Show. Standing like a preacher of passion in front of this live studio audience, Steve began to give a rousing speech, “I'm going to tell you something that EVERY single successful person has to do.  Including you.  EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON IN THIS WORLD HAS TAKEN THE JUMP.  You have to take that gift, which comes packed away on your back, you have to jump off that cliff and pull that chord.  That gift opens up and provides the SOAR.  And if you don't use it, you are going to continue to get up everyday and just go to work.   And if you continue getting up every day going to a job that you hate,  THAT'S NOT LIVING.”   Preach Steve, PREACH!  

Steve has of course done this himself, and understands the challenges that are a natural part of the process.   His point especially fleshed out when he says, “If you want to live your life in a comfort zone, it will become your FAILURE ZONE. In order to become successful, you are going to have to become uncomfortable.  Do not sit here in fear, and let fear control your fate.  Because you won't go ANYWHERE.  I'm going to tell you something about the JUMP you need to know.  Jumping is scary.  When you first jump, your parachute is NOT going to open up right away.  I would love to tell you that it would. That when you leave your job, the parashute is not going to open right away.  It's not going to happen that way.  You are going to get some skin torn off you on the rocks during the way down.  At times it is going to feel like an uncontrollable tumble.  But let me tell you this, if you NEVER jump, your parachute will never open.  YOU WILL NEVER SOAR.  You will be safe, with your parachute still on your back.  All your skills and talents still packed away and you will never get cut up.  But if you NEVER take that jump, YOU WILL NEVER SOAR.  If you don't jump, I am going to tell you something.  You will never know. You may be the best at what you do, but you will NEVER know.  You have to jump, everybody has to take the jump.”  And I could't agree more.  One of my definitions of a SIN, is unfulfilled potential.

Steve began to cry as he spoke, the obvious experience of his own pain and challenges, and the courage it took for him to take that jump , and the sense of fulfilled purpose it brought  him was so evident without him saying a single word. Simply crying on stage said it all.  

This segment resonated with me on SO many levels that I started to tear up myself.  It took me decades to take the jump. I'll tell no lies. My life is still FAR from perfect. The ass kickings continue! Yet, I have absolutely no regrets, as each and every experience I was collecting along my Superhero's Journey was preparing me for this moment!  

With the precarious state of the world, including mass shootings and acts of random violence, destruction from climate change, and the more than still lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic filling our lives and airwaves on a nearly daily basis, I have a theory.  And it is why I am so PASSIONATE about what I do as a coach and inspirational thought leader.  I truly believe, the quickest way to change the world is to help people Re-member why they are here.  As a collective consciousness WE HAVE LOST OUR PURPOSE.  And to fill the void of not taking the jump to fulfill the DESTINY that is part of our essence, we are chasing false idols, and quite frankly, have become truly lost.  From my own experience, I have learned that the ONLY thing that will permanently fulfill the longing in our hearts and souls, the void of disconnection from Spirit, is following our Divine Purpose.  That is what this blog is all about.  Inspiring all New Age Nerds to awaken and truly live their LEGACY.  Doing so is a spiritual balm that helps heal the deepest wounds and fractures in our own BEING and amongst one another.  

I know only too intimately how much a comfortable life may seem appealing.  But after a while, it leaves you with a deep feeling of unfulfilled potential. And that is when depression, anxiety, drugs, alcohol, and other self sabotaging behavior slowly start to creep into our experience.  AND it can sneak up on you if you aren't careful.  Trust me!!!

Please do not misunderstand me.  I am NOT saying everyone should up and leave their current jobs to pursue their dreams and follow their PURPOSE.  It takes vision, and a sound plan put in place first.  But at some point, it will be so critical to step up to the 'Edge of Life' and TAKE THE JUMP toward the very reason you manifested into the human condition!  And that, my friends, is when MIRACLES become commonplace and LOVE abounds!  And more importantly, the moment you truly commit to your purpose, the Universe will rush in and flood your experience with anything and everything you need to survive!   Now doesn't that sound like a life truly worth living?!

One thing I do know is that once you truly commit to a path in life, your guardian angels will swoop in to assist you in every manner possible. Just as they did by giving me the quick insight to jump off that damn boat before I was ready!    LOL  

BE SUPER HEROIC!
BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS

NERDMASTE,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

NO Matter How Much It HURTS....PLEASE Never Give Up On LOVE...!!

  

Although ‘The Big Bang Theory’ on CBS may have helped in the evolution of giving NERDS around the world a new distinction, there have been many other incarnations of such bonded friendships that could give their crew a real run for their geek cache. In fact, I had such a group of Awkward Superheroes growing up in a suburb outside of Washington, DC. Built from a composite of various brainiacs, gregarious geeks, and unlucky in love lotharios, what we lacked on the ‘popularity scale’, we certainly made up for with a passionate ingenuity!

One trait that perhaps best exemplified the glue that kept us close for most of our formative years, was our unified stand on LOVE. We cherished it. Desired it and fiercely defended its honor at all costs. Poems, love letters, songs....we did them ALL!  Nothing gave us more pleasure than conjuring the most creative ways to express our affections in the attempt to win over the hearts of the glorious gals that crossed our paths.

In fact, one particular young lady, who had caught my complete adoration, became the benchmark for the lengths to which we would extend ourselves. Her 18th Birthday was just around the corner and I was doggedly intent on making it one she would never forget.  So after an exhaustive trip to the mall for materials, I gathered our LOVE POSSE and we stayed up most of the night creating an 18 foot ‘Happy Birthday’ banner in our college dorm's parking lot.  These were obviously more innocent times; where five guys with spray paint cans and masks after midnight caused NO concern for further investigation. LOL  After several hours of drawing and painting, when we finally finished our mission it was nearly dawn. And that's when the real work began.......

I was gracious enough to let most of the guys get to bed, sans one. He had the stupendous task of convening with me a little later that morning at the High School that this lucky lass attended.  In true 'Mission Impossible' style, I told him we had exactly ONE hour to climb to the top of the edifice guarding the building's main entrance to erect my VISION of overlaying this banner and its ‘Ode to LOVE’, plus 18 pink balloons, completely covering the school's visible namesake in the process. That way, when all the busses pulled into the parking lot later that morning, my act of care and adoration could be seen by her and the entire school. And ya know what, we somehow pulled it off.  Totally ‘Say Anything’ style!!

My piece de la resistance. And........she LOVED IT! Not only that, but I ended up escorting her to the school's end of year prom. An amazing experience given I never attended my own! The school put out a beacon to find the culprit, but it did its job and I was never caught. Years later, she sent me a picture of the banner, and told me it is still one of her greatest treasures!

Unfortunately, not all of my other attempts, and those of our group, were met with the same enthusiasm in the following years. But we didn't give up.  LOVE never does.

There is a potent scene in the film 'Adaptation' staring Nicolas Cage that completely embodied the ESSENCE of our unabashedly passionate stand on Love's elixir and its importance in our experience:

Charlie Kaufman: There was this time in high school. I was watching you out the library window. You were talking to Sarah Marsh. 

Donald Kaufman: Oh, God. I was so in love with her. 

Charlie Kaufman: I know. And you were flirting with her. And she was being really sweet to you. 

Donald Kaufman: I remember that. 

Charlie Kaufman: Then, when you walked away, she started making fun of you with Kim Canetti. And it was like they were laughing at *me*. You didn't know at all. You seemed so happy. 

Donald Kaufman: I knew. I heard them. 

Charlie Kaufman: How come you looked so happy? 

Donald Kaufman: I loved Sarah, Charles. It was mine, that love. I owned it. Even Sarah didn't have the right to take it away. I can love whoever I want. 

Charlie Kaufman: But she thought you were pathetic. 

Donald Kaufman: That was her business, not mine. You are what you love, not what loves you. That's what I decided a long time ago.

Let THAT sink in for a moment.  You are what you LOVE, NOT what loves you. PREACH! And may I get an 'amen' in the back of the congregation!

Our world is in such need of Truth Seekers, Bringers of the Light, and convictions of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.  So even if you feel your wings are broken, or if your heart has been ripped apart by betrayal and loss, please NEVER give up on extending yourself toward others. Honesty, kindness, respect. There is simply not enough. And always remember, what you are currently seeking is also seeking you!  

Eventually, we will prevail NOT in spite of our pain, failures, and struggles, but BECAUSE of the strength and guidance we gained from those experiences.  As Neale Donald Walsh heard from God's continued silent whisper, “Know, that I send you nothing but ANGELS.”

BE SUPER HEROIC!

LOVE-LAUGH-SERVE-INSPIRE

NERDMASTE,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

How Your DESTINY Can INSPIRE Us Towards SUPER HEROIC Lives !

 

“THE DESTINY OF THE WORLD IS DETERMINED LESS BY THE BATTLES LOST AND WON THAN BY THE STORIES IT LOVES AND BELIEVES IN.”
~~  Harold Goddard  (LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT)


When I first decided to launch The New Age Nerd,  of course I was filled with some amount of trepidancy about how it would be embraced.  Would there be other people like me, who have found inspiring strength, motivation, and a sense of ONENESS with the world of Modern Mythology?  In the same manner the power of story has captured and informed my spiritual guidance and passion for life. From the response the site has received, I believe the answer to my question is a resounding YES!  

But I had the privilege to watch a magnificent and quite moving documentary called ‘Legends of the Knight’ that has eternally filled in any gaps in lapsed confidence about my mission.  In a relatively short running time of 1:15 minutes, it deeply and emotionally conveys the power of not only BATMAN, but many of the stories and modern myths that fill our collective consciousness and have the ability to transform our thoughts and actions toward ourselves and others in compassionate ways.

The documentary begins with a moving story from Michael Uslan, the executive producer of all of the Batman films since Michael Keaton first donned the cowl and cape back in 1988.  Back in 2012 he was asked to give a speech to the graduating class at West Point. Quite an honor, not to mention quite overwhelming.  He decided to frame his speech around BATMAN as he started, “Bruce Wayne in committing to become a hero for good after watching his parents brutally murdered before his very eyes, by believing ONE person can make a difference, sacrificed his childhood to train his body and mind in becoming the BATMAN.  He became a Legend, an urban warrior.  Cadets of West Point, YOU ARE BATMAN!”  The graduating class before him jumped out of their chairs in complete unison, high fiving one another for several minutes. Michael said it was one of the most magnificent moments of his life! A true testament to the power of modern myth in our lives!

My own childhood was fraught with strife and confusion and that is when I began to find solace in the world of WONDERLANDS from all forms of Modern Myth; TV, movies, comic books,  I simply couldn't get enough.  They inspired in me a belief life could be so much more than I was experiencing. Modern Myth became my entry point toward self realization and spirituality. In fact, Lydia Cerpa, a child family counselor was included in the documentary to express, “Stories with heroes help us in finding our true potential.  When a child starts to pretend with heroes they are actually creating new neuro-pathways in the brain that create new behaviors externally and internally as well.  Their brain begins to change .  Hearing a story wakes up something inside of you.  It can allow you to break through to your true potential by seeing alternate possibilities previously unheard of.   And when you see it through a story it becomes tangible because you think that could be me.”  YES!  And who amongst us New Age Nerds still doesn't try and use the Force just for shits and giggles every once in a while! Be honest! LOL

Later in this fascinating exploration of the power of our modern day Superheroes there was another important explanation of this phenomenon from Jonathan Gotschall, the author of ‘The Storytelling Animal.’ He explains, “What fascinates me about story is that we do it at all.  It's spectacularly improbable that humans would be this species that spends so much of our time on Earth in fabrication realities. When I talk to my students, I ask them why do they spend so much time wrapped up in various forms of fiction?  Why do we like fiction so much?  They tell me it is because stories give us an escape.  That life is hard and it is an opportunity to go on a short vacation from the stress and problems of everyday life.  We can leave it unscathed and unchanged. But, that is EXACTLY what the research is not showing. The research is showing that the time we immerse ourselves in various forms of our favorite WONDERLANDS actually creates profound change in us. This change comes on an emotional, and behavioral, and psychological level. And this can all be measured in a lab!” I love it when science and spirituality meet each other half way!

We live in challenging times. Not to be fear based, but there is no denying the amount of various forms of carnage that fills our nightly news and daily papers, websites, and blogs. This is not a part of our inherent nature. We are, after all ‘spiritual beings having a human experience.’ I believe we are all seeking a strong paradigm shift back to the attributes we find in many of our pop cultural myths. Kindness, compassion, heroism, and respect towards all! Why do you think SUPERHEROES have become a fanatical part of our current zeitgeist after decades where no movie studio would touch a comic book story w no matter the price. Thank goodness that Stan Lee held his vision for over 50 years! May his soul rest in the knowingness that his Legacy will continue to shift the collective consciousness on this planet forever! 

In “Hunting the Dark Knight”, Will Brouker writes, “In popular culture there are times when anti-heroes and morally ambiguous heroes seem to be popular.  But I think the pure essence of superheroes, especially BATMAN, and why we constantly come back to them is about becoming someone better.  The strength and heart of BATMAN is about making a positive decision to make positive change in the world.  And I think that is a heroism we can all ASPIRE to!”

The documentary is filled with a myriad of wonderful examples of persons both young and old, who have used the BATMAN myth to help inspire, propel them to unimaginable heights despite enormous physical disabilities, and generally provide them with a Heaven sent HOPE!  Many of the stories brought tears to my eyes and even provided me motivation toward some of my own unfinished goals!  

I appreciated the fact that although the documentary strongly focuses on the undeniable influence of BATMAN on our culture, it also touches on the importance of STORY in general as a stupendous source of collective unity, understanding, and inspiration for so many.  I try and infuse The New Age Nerd with the power of STORY as often as I can. I believe, like Joseph Campbell, that our collective Story told through MYTH is one of the most powerful gateways to our spiritual salvation on this planet.  Essentially, we all share the same story, and if we could just learn to acknowledge this on a deeper level, I believe the level of acceptance and unity in this world would be astounding. And create a transformational community built from LOVE!

That's why I loved this quote in the film by David Taylor from his book ‘Tell Me a Story’.
He espouses, “I think the greatness of seeing life through the lens of story is that I have the freedom to make real choices, I'm not determined by my biology, my gender, my history, or genes.  Those are all part of the story but at the end of the day, I have a choice to make and this is the most encouraging possibility of all.  You can be something other than you are if you wish to be.  You can be the GREATEST VERSION of who you are.”  

Couldn't have said it better myself...so I won't!   :0)

At the end of the day, we are all seeking ways to move through this life with Grace, Hope, Peace, and Joy. Us New Age Nerds get much of our inspiration and strength from the stories all around us. But there are so many paths back to the LIGHT!

For me, BATMAN has always held a special place in my heart and soul because he is the only superhero who has no supernatural powers.  He refuses to kill. Or use guns. His most potent superpower is his HUMANITY. And that is something we all have access to in becoming the 'Greatest Versions of the Greatest Visions' ever held of ourselves.

Because the truth of the matter is.......    

WE ARE ALL THE BATMAN


BE SUPER HEROIC!
LOVE - SERVE -INSPIRE

NERDMASTE,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

How To TRANSCEND Your SHAME Into SELF LOVE...!

 

______________________________________________

In a recent post, I wrote about the gift of receiving a DO OVER from the Universe.  If you haven't had the chance to read it as of yet, I suggest doing so before continuing with today's entry. (Just type in Do Over in the search bar) Typically, the reason we are given these opportunities is to learn from our ‘mistakes’ so that we can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding.  However, for many of us, we are forced to face a series of DO OVERS that could have been superceded had we not been so wary of making the same ‘mistakes’ over again.  It can paralyze us with fear and anxiety.  Stop us cold in our tracks from making authentic choices with the limiting beliefs that we are somehow JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH to make better choices this time around.  

Life is just too damn short New Age Nerds.  No sense spending too much of it in a vortex of resimulating patterns of similar circumstances and experiences.   Until we finally receive the understanding and remembrance they were presented for us to grasp . I have seen too many precious SOULS with so much potential who waste great periods of their life paralyzed with fear and worry. Too afraid they may make a ‘mistake’ and screw things up, yet again, rather than transcending their past actions as no thing less than MISSTEPS along their Journey.

So for any of you who find yourself often taking the SHAME TRAIN, I wanted to offer some important distinctions between MISSTEPS and MISTAKES. And their corresponding relationship to GUILT and SHAME.  So that the next time such pain and anguish flood your heart, you will be able to move through them with more GRACE.   Eventually leading back to your true essence of perfection which deserves your unconditional Self-Love.  

So what exactly is the difference between a MISTAKE and a MISSTEP? Glad you asked. 

A MISSTEP is simply any form of action (thought, word, or deed) that gives us constructive FEEDBACK -NOT FAILURE - from the Universe. You haven't done anything wrong. You only did the very best you knew how in that precise moment. Given the options you had to choose from combined with your level of awakened consciousness. SO RELAX, because that is precisely how we evolve, learn, and grow.  Precisely why we are here. So pat yourSELF on the back after your next MISSTEP!  In fact many MISSTEPS are unavoidable because we have never been in that particular set of circumstances before. And it is proof positive that you moved past your fear and gave something new a TRY! As the saying goes, “Life is 10% what happens, and 90% the way we show up in its wake to handle it.”  

MISSTEPS carry along with them a vibrational energetic offering of guilt.  And guilt is a very empowering tool.  And a "powerful professor." Guilt is about what you did. Let's face it, we all make miscues, blunders, and oops a daisies of all shapes and sizes as we navigate through our daily Hero's/Heroine's Journey.  And most all of them are blessings in disguise.  Giving us greater insight into how to engage the same situations the next time they arise with a deeper form of care and compassion.  And guilt can be a wonderful tool to help us uncover the growth that is needed to engage these moments when we get a ‘do over’ of similar events in our lives. And you will often get a do over.  The Universe is a never ending "pitching machine." It will keep throwing you as many balls to "swing" at as you desire.  So keep swinging for those fences until you knock one out of the ball park.  HOME RUN! Yeah!  

When we use the pain of guilt to try and learn and move forward through the past events that have occurred, we are what I call ‘painting with emotions’ on the canvas of our life.  In other words, constructively using our emotions as they were always meant to serve us. I believe your best teacher is your last MISSTEP!  If you take the time to listen, and learn from what it taught you!

MISTAKES on the other hand are a complete misnomer! They DO NOT exist. That's right.  You heard me!  And it's a damn good thing. Because believing in the illusion of a MISTAKE may very well be the most soul crushing motif imaginable. Thinking you made a MISTAKE causes an energetic vibrational offering of SHAME.  And SHAME equates to "I AM what I did(thought, said)." Carl Jung said, “ Shame is a soul eating emotion.” And when it shows up full force, each nibble it consumes becomes an agonizing exercise in self abuse.  This nasty and subversive feeling dictates and morphs our personal beliefs about our own self worth as a result of the actions we have committed.  It emphasizes what we erroneously think is WRONG with ourselves. And the longer we stay in this incredibly painful vibration, the more we move away from the core truth about who we really are;  pure perfection and absolute LOVE.

Multi-time best selling author and teacher Brene Brown is the authority on the destructive forces of SHAME. In fact, she has devoted much of her life's work on researching and teaching us all how to transcend the devilish emotions of SHAME. Here are some of her very memorable quips on the subject:

Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.

---

We live in a world where most people still subscribe to the belief that shame is a good tool for keeping people in line. Not only is this wrong, but it’s dangerous.

---

Those who feel lovable, who love, and who experience belonging simply believe they are worthy of love and belonging.

---

We judge people in areas where we’re vulnerable to shame.

---

For me, vulnerability led to anxiety, which led to shame, which led to disconnection, which led to Bud Light.

Taken from Christie Inge (please take the chance to visit her blog of the same name)


Brown stresses in her teachings that SHAME, especially for woman "is this web of unobtainable, conflicting, competing expectations about who we’re supposed to be. And it’s a straight-jacket."  And that EMPATHY toward ourSELVES is the most powerful pill to counteract it's devastating effects. She believes empathy is linked directly towards our ability to be raw and vulnerable with each other and especially ourSELVES.  In a head strong statement during a fabulous TED talk (highly suggest you listen to her speech "Listening to Shame" on YouTube) she expresses "The two most powerful words when we’re in struggle: me too. If we’re going to find our way back to each other, vulnerability is going to be that path. And I know it’s seductive to stand outside the arena, because I think I did it my whole life, and think to myself, I’m going to go in there and kick some ass when I’m bulletproof and when I’m perfect. And that is seductive. But the truth is that never happens. And even if you got as perfect as you could and as bulletproof as you could possibly muster when you got in there, that’s not what we want to see. We want you to go in. We want to be with you and across from you. And we just want, for ourselves and the people we care about and the people we work with, to dare greatly."  And daring greatly is the golden key to unlocking your SUPER HEROIC HIGHER SELF! 

It's your small cracks and dents that others will relate to.  Not a perfect shiny persona that hides all the scars that prove you have weathered many storms and still live to tell those tales! For YOUR story matters.  Never, and I mean NEVER be ashamed of any of it!  It molded and forged you into the gorgeous, one of a kind creature that now stands before us all. Meant to inspire the world with your truth and hard fought wisdom. Now, forever cloaked with the charismatic colors from one of Heaven's secret gardens. In all of God's GLORY! And you have earned every single radiant, blissful blast of light that now shines ever so brightly from your beautiful BEING! So own it! :0)

But we live in a society that demands perfection. I recently had a rundown of my Godson's nightly homework assignments (He is only 13) and I needed a drink just to contemplate how such a young lad could handle such a massive amount of information! Aye dios mio! We are taught at a young age the importance of ‘being right and bright’ and social media has made it critical for us to show the world a persona sans any signs of imperfection!  

I suggest we all start committing toward's a life of daily progress, instead of perfection.
I believe that would hasten the train tracks so many of us are taking straight to "The Shame Game" every day. Don't you?! Simply choose to always do your best. Because your best will ALWAYS be enough. 

The next time you feel yourSELF bubbling up with feelings of SHAME, simply remember that YOU and God are ONE! And The Grand Creator herSELF is pure, powerful, and absolutely perfect.  There is absolutely no space for SHAME being a part of the ONE GOD MIND! Wallah..... Now how does THAT make you feel.....    ;0)


SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS:



The ONE big distinction between GUILT and SHAME is that guilt is about ‘what I did.’ While shame deals in the feelings and beliefs about ‘who you are as a result of what you did’.  As in, "I AM what I did." (said, thought)  See the gi-normous difference? Hope so!

As the great master teacher Yoda says, “If no (missteps) are you making, another game should you be playing.” And he is so right!  In fact, most of the world's great visionaries used this reframing of mistakes to their great advantage.  Take Thomas Edison for instance.  He tried to make that bulb in his office light oh so bright through electricity over 2,000 different times. Yet, he refused to ever say he made a mistake. Instead, he transcended these attempts as missteps; each one actually a revolutionary success. Because each time the bulb failed to light, he knew he had discovered a way that electricity would NOT WORK!  How many of us would have gotten frustrated, embarrassed, or fearful that we would have never succeeded in this chosen endeavor if we were in his set of DO OVERS? Ok, I see some hands up and I feel ya! lol

So what can you do when you find yourself somehow being triggered by the dysfunctionally seductive force of such SHAME? One of the most magical elixirs is to BE THE SOURCE of assisting others in remembering who they really are when they are feeling the same way. Perhaps the most valuable gift we can ever offer another is our raw vulnerability.  As Brene Brown writes, “When we deny our stories, they define us.  When we own our stories we get to write the ending.”  And by sharing our stories, infused with compassionate vulnerability with others, the end byproduct can be a support line to remind YOURSELF that you have wings when you've forgotten how high you can fly.  By daring greatly in this manner, you can slay the dragon of shame for both parties on the Love Line!

That's exactly what a friend did for me earlier this week. And the result has been no thing short of a Harry Potter worthy magic miracle! By him being kind and vulnerable enough to share his current Journey, he further cemented within me the KNOWINGNESS of my own SUPER HEROIC HIGHER SELF.  And at the end of our chat, he shared with me that in his vulnerability, a great deal of his shame had been lifted. He was even gifted by Spirit with a new game plan for how to move forward in a greater sense of peace in his current challenged relationship!  

Remember The New Age Nerd's definition of a sin is to suffer without meaning. When we use our suffering to first learn and grow ourselves, and then bring that deeper insight and understanding back to others from a place of service, we are living out our true Superhero's Journey whether we realize it or not!

So please remember in the times when you are engaging the often confusing and  destructive emotion of SHAME, you are seen by the Universe as pure LOVE and the brightest of Light.  If you find yourself super challenged to hold that space for yourself, seek out your ‘Search and Rescue’ team. And if you don't yet have one, start NOW. Get a blank notecard and write down a list of a few select Souls who have proven themselves as trust worthy in your life. Individuals who will follow you into the darkness of the night, and pull you back into the light. Give one of them a call and lean into their FAITH in you until you can hold it for yourself. Better yet, hire a coach. It's our job to be a "Space Holder!"


And no matter what may have transpired in your past, it will NEVER change the fact that you are held as a magical miracle in this world always and in all ways! 

What pains my own Soul is the thought of how many great works of art, poems, paintings, songs, architecture, books, businesses, children, and relationships NEVER came to be because of those individuals whose fear of making a mistake kept them from ever completing their own Hero's/Heroine's Journey!  It's absolutely maddening to contemplate!  If only they could have had the understanding to transcend any perceived MISTAKE as simply a MISSTEP on their path to soulful fulfillment. 

Please do not be one of the 'Special Spirits' who came here to bring their magnificent talents and gifts to share with the world only to become stifled from fear of making a MISTAKE along your Journey. Instead, remember MISSTEPS are not only allowed, but essential for your learning process! For you are a perfect emanation of God and as long as you stay aware, he will guide your MISSTEPS into the remembrace of why you came and the BLISS you are here to share!



BE SUPER HEROIC!
Love-Serve-Inspire

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez