April 6th, 2011 
Okolo I’ll be at a career fair today talking about my work as the owner of a small business, my web development business, but I’ll also be there to inspire them.
I’ll talk about reaching for their dreams, visualizing themselves in the roles they want to play, and moving forward with focus and drive.
This is my first forray into motivational speaking, wish me luck.
March 24th, 2011 Okolo In our fast paced world, sometimes it is great just to have a quickie. While this is true for sex, it is also true for meditation.
So at those moments when you feel like you are always running 100 miles a minute and just have no time to possibly do something like meditate, even if it is in the midst of what you are doing, start to focus on your breathing and slow it down.
If you can focus or close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths, great.
Another great exercise to do is while focusing on your breathing, practice holding your breath. Breath slowly in, hold your breath in, then breath slowly out. You can do this exercise anywhere, and while doing almost anything. I’ll often do this while sitting at my desk.
So next time you are feeling stressed, or bored, or are wishing for a simpler life, get a quickie in.
March 22nd, 2011 Okolo 
I hesitate talking about too many meditations, because I know when I first started meditating I felt like I needed to pick the “right” one, or the “best” one, or worse of all, there were times when I felt I needed to do them all.
Please don’t worry about that, just pick one, even the basic one, and just do it daily. Every day, even for just 5 seconds a day will make a HUGE difference.
This next meditation is a concentration meditation.
As always, get yourself comfortable, sit on a chair or on the floor in whatever position you prefer where your spine can be straight, and you’ll want to do deep breathing as always. Deep breathing consists of breathing in through your nose, and expand your stomach, out through your nose, and contract your stomach. If this is difficult, don’t worry about it, just relax. Meditation shouldn’t cause you more stress.
Now put a picture in front of you of someone you consider inspiring, or pick a circle or spot on the wall, or put a candle in front of yourself, and just focus on it. When your focus is lost, gently bring it back. Don’t get upset at yourself, don’t worry about the plethora of thoughts that are running through your mind, just gently bring it back.
Don’t worry about the goal or purpose of the meditation, just do it and practice your focus.
If you like this meditation over another, do this one, if you don’t like this one but prefer another, do the other. If you want to do one one day and another another, that’s okay too.
There’s so much dogma out there, what’s most important is that you are doing what feels good to you, and that you are doing something to elevate your spiritual self.
Best of luck, and always feel free to ask question.
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March 22nd, 2011 Okolo Well, it worked, my head is now back on straight. I read some real inspirational words in a book I was already reading that were further confirmation that I am on the right path.
I realized that I’ve gotten into a habit of doing a bunch of the things I know I need to do, but not all of them.
So today, I review and print and post my goals on my mirror, I put my vision statement on my mirror, and I’ve set a date to do a new vision board with one of my team members.
Bring it on!!!
March 21st, 2011 Okolo Every so often, the person who is full of good cheer, who’s always positive, and takes great joy in sharing that energy with the world, gets down in the dumps.
I’m in that position right now, so what am I going to do?
Let’s see how it goes…
March 16th, 2011 Okolo 
This is quoted directly from what for many is the Law of Attraction Bible, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, copyright 1937. Long LONG before “The Secret” which is now very popular. Of course, this science long predates that, and can be found in all of the scriptures, and far into antiquity.
But first, let me quote something from the intro to this book:
“In every chapter of this book, mention has been made of the money-making secret which has made fortunes for hundreds of exceedingly wealthy men whom i have carefully analyzed over a long period of years.
The secret was brought to my attention by Andrew Carnegie, more than half a century ago.”
This secret was the Law of Attraction, and can bring you not only money, but anything and everything you desire. First issue however, is figuring out what it is you want. If you aren’t sure what you want, you’ll get well, who knows what… And for most of us, that’s exactly what our lives look like.
Quoted from Think and Grow Rich:
FIRST: I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life; therefore, i demand of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and i here and now promise to render such action.
SECOND: I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.
THIRD: I know through the principle of autsuggestion, any desire that i persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object of it; therefore, i will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.
FOURTH: I have clearly written down a description of my definite chief aim in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidience for this attainment.
FIFTH: I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice; therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cycnicsm, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself. I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full faith that it will gradually influence my thoughts and actions so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.
March 7th, 2011 Okolo 
I noticed that there is often so much noise, and distractions, that often times when my kids talk to me, I don’t hear them. (and other people too I’m sure…)
Whether it is the radio, or the phone, or a txt, or the computer, or a conversation with another kid, or a thought, or often, all of the above all at the same time.
I’ve been reading about the importance of listening for years now, at Northwestern Mutual being an active listener was a vital part of my job, but somehow being able to unplug and really really hear what my kids are saying, THE FIRST TIME THEY SAY IT is something I’m going to have to work on.
Wow, there, I said it.
And I know, I’m not alone. Read more »
March 4th, 2011 Okolo 
Taken from the book Fundamentals of Yoga by Rammurti Mishra, M.D. Copyright 1959.
In the title, the word Yoga can be replaced with meditation, spiritual development, enlightenment, self realization, any number of words or phrases. Whatever works for you.
2. Enrich yourself with every possible truth and renounce untruth as soon as possible.
3. Every mental and physical condition is in accordance with the judgement of supreme consciousness and supreme nature. The child may weep if an operation is needed by parents decide to do the operation to save the child. In the same way, you are unhappy and full of anxiety, but this operation on your mind is permitted by nature to save you from destruction. Even death is nothing but the greatest operation; after this operation, old age is removed and the Self is incarnated again as a child. Ponder over it and be free from all cares of body and mind. Read more »
March 2nd, 2011 Okolo 
When I joined the Ancient Egiptian Order I was given a name of Sobek Seqen Pedi.
Sobek = Unite, Reuniter. Sobek was the Crocodile diety
Seqen = To be Trusted
Pedi = Wisdom, Wise
Wise and Trusted Reuniter. Read more »
February 28th, 2011 Okolo 
Often times when we think of making the world a better place, or think of world peace, these concepts seem so unabtainable that there can’t possibly be anything we individually can do.
Well, here’s my thoughts on that.
Let’s all just do what we can do, however small.
So, in order to make the world a better place, there are some things I do:
Just imagine if we all started there. Read more »
February 28th, 2011 Okolo 
Here’s my verse by verse explanation of the Lord’s Prayer.
This was originally posted in a discussion on FB, so if the post seems like it is talking to a single individual, it is because it was. I’ve been doing a lot of posting about Christianity, Jesus and the Bible. Not exactly sure why, but I just let the Spirit guide me.
Matthew 6:9-13
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Read more »
February 28th, 2011 Okolo 
African cultures have traditionally passed on information via oral tradition. Often, a griot or storyteller would share knowledge via song.
This isn’t only true today, but has been true for tens of thousands.
The problem is today, in order for something to be “true” it has to be written down. There needs to be “proof.”
In reality, many of the “secrets” were and still are only passed on mouth to ear.
It is time to stop ignoring the oral tradition that is in Africa, and also time to preserve it.
February 26th, 2011 Okolo 
For someone who doesn’t believe in the Bible, I sure do quote it a lot…
Visit this link to see my view on the scriptures. http://Okolo.org/?p=716
So we all know the story, Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. But just what does that mean, and more importantly what does it mean for us?
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
So many people only focus on the story of how Jesus relates to them, and not how they are supposed to relate to the rest of the world. The answer to both of those is the same. Read more »
February 25th, 2011 Okolo 
I feel there is a lot of good and inspiration messages in the Bible, which is why I often quote it, just as there are in the Torah and the Qur’aan, just as there are in the teachings of Buddha, or just as there are in one of my favorite books “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. And I also feel that some or all of those teachings/messages/scriptures were Divinely inspired. But it is my heart which weighs what I want to do, what I want to think, what I want to feel or believe. I do this through what the Ancient Egyptians called Ma’at. Ma’at can be defined as justice, or balance. And it is through a direct connection with the Divine (through prayer and meditation and other spiritual disciplines) that Ma’at is maintained. Read more »
February 24th, 2011 Okolo 
I see spirituality as the connection that each individual is able to have with God. (The All, The Creator, Amun, Amen-Re, Allah, The Most High, Jehovah, Yahweh, Yahuwa, Adonai, The Universe whatever…) I personally don’t like to use the word God, but it seemed to flow best in this post so I used it. If you don’t like the word, please just replace it with one you do like.
On the other hand, I see Religion as the attempt to explain that connection and give people a pathway to that level of spirituality. Read more »
