Inclusive Life Daily Vibrations

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Failures

Failure. A powerful word, scary most of the time. What do you think of when you hear the word? Too often we equate failure with negative behavior, thoughts or attitudes.

Failure should be looked at as a temporary condition that each of us can learn from, grow from and use to propel us forward. If you think that people who fail are losers, you have some learning to do! Check this video out… (best & brief motivation video ever!)

I would not be the person I am today had not failed at many things in my life. I understand know, part of life enlightenment, that those pieces of the puzzle help me to see a more full picture of who I am. I am a blessed man for that lesson.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One failure at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as a Multifaith Chaplain with Inclusive Life. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling. He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration.

Chaplain Royal shares two important messages: You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are. And: Now is time in this world that every human being is called to life up the weak, offer a hand UP to the impoverished, cherish our elders and stand up for the oppressed.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Friday, February 17, 2012

Cookies can...

KP Share this story and I wanted to share it with you. She writes “One of my intentions for 2011 was to continue surrounding myself with a community of individuals that helped bring the best out in me. By the end of 2011, naturally and serendipitously, I was introduced to group of individuals that gets together one Wednesday per month to meditate and discuss a passage.
After my second month of joining this great group of individuals, I sat down with a couple of the organizers, to get to know one and other better. What I assumed would be a lighthearted getting to know one and other session, became a heartfelt discussion with presence.

It felt like a therapy session. I poured my heart and soul into my confusions and challenges with figuring out my next steps with life and they listened and communicated so openly. They felt like long lost elder brothers giving me guidance.

While one of them was leaving, he gave me a bag of these delicious cookies and told me I need to give them out. Later on, the other one provided me with these cards that say “Smile. You’ve just been tagged!”

At around 12:30 AM Thursday morning, I began my expedition to give out cookies to strangers in NYC. I I first offered a cookie to the front desk security guard, he looked in the bag and took the biggest cookie he could find and said thank you. I thought well that’s the biggest cookie in the bag, that’s a bit selfish. Nonetheless, I smiled and was happy to give him a cookie.

Lesson 1: Mind = Autopilot. I noticed my mind is on autopilot! Even when I was trying to give out
a bag of cookies, I was judging the receivers! Although, I was happy to give the cookie, I still had expectations: What cookie will they take? A big one? A small one? A couple? How will they respond? With gratitude? Indifference? Skepticism?

I offered another cookie to this woman standing at the desk, she declined by saying “I don’t eat cookies, but thank you.” I smiled and laughed in my head.

Lesson 2: Not Everyone Wants Cookies (Rejection). I had a feeling some people would think it was odd that a random man was giving them cookies. Here were my assumptions of other people: They would think I put ruffis in the cookies. They would think there was a catch. Women would think I was hitting on them. At the end of the day, everyone had a different view of receiving a cookie — no one view was more correct than the other.

Lesson 3: Persistence. During my cab ride home, I offered the driver a cookie. He declined. I offered again. He declined. I offered again. He declined. I offered again. He accepted and said, “thank you, thank you very much, thank you very much, Sir.” I am not sure why I was so persistent, but I had a feeling he wanted a cookie but was being really kind.

The next morning, I had a bag of at least 15 cookies left. I thought to myself, how am I going to get rid of these cookies. For some reason I started the morning thinking it might be difficult to give away cookies. I gave one out to a lady picking oranges from the grocery store. She was glowing and excited. I was glowing.

I got to the 1 station at 23rd and 7th, I offered one to the station agent. He started laughing and smiling from ear-to-ear, but he declined. I felt amazing. I had made someone smile and laugh. I began offering cookies to people on the uptown subway. I got some strange looks, a couple rejections and a couple laughs and smiles. I felt amazing. I gave some out at an acting studio in midtown. The actors could not have been happier.

Lesson 4: Confidence. Giving away cookies, gave me confidence. Every time I would try to give a cookie, I would be scared of being rejected. But, the interesting thing was that every time I gave a cookie — whether accepted or not — I received something different: a laugh, a feeling of happiness, a sense of friendship with strangers and confidence to give more.”

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One cookie at a time.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Life is...

Life is good. Life is hard. Life is life. At times life goes by so easily, no rough patches. Health, work, finances, relationships, are all synced and hours become days become weeks become months become years… Sooner or later a snag, a hurdle or a brick wall brings that harmony to a complete stop.

You lost a job, a roommate moved out, a relationship has some communication problems, health issue arise, you fall on hard times financially, or you find yourself lost by change. It is most easy to beat yourself up, shut down, stop talking and become a hermit. Many people do withdraw from normal routines of talking with friends, going out, staying connected and often “hide” in shame.

I’ve been there. We were living less than paycheck to paycheck. Payday loans kept us a float. Car was just repossessed, utilities were about to be shut off. I stopped going to church, stop hanging around friends, didn’t communicate with my friends, I shut down too.

A life lesson that I learned during my 120 day vacation in 2005 is that unless we are dead, we are alive…keep walking! I realized that I am not the first, nor will I be the last person on this earth to lose a job, have a car repossessed, have a utility shut off, have no money to my name. Guess what? I am still here. I lived through it. It was a humbling experience that I am too often reminded of when I “feel” like living large again. I can live within and below my means and be happy.

These three fables, sayings can help anyone put things into perspective…

Good Luck or Bad Luck? (a Zen koan)

Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Perhaps,” the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “What great luck!” the neighbors exclaimed. “Perhaps,” replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “Perhaps,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “Perhaps,” said the farmer...

We should certainly celebrate when things go well and life is good and we should not get carried away. And when things are not going well, we should not lose our focus, temperament, or drive. Life is not only a series of ups and downs but also, some great challenges… keep walking, you will get there.

I'd Rather Be a Happy Turtle (Chinese)

Zhuang Zi was a brilliant philosopher and strategist who lived in ancient China. His abilities were many and several rulers sought his services. One of them, King Wei, sent his courtiers out to Zhuang Zi's pastoral home to invite him to come to Wei's court and be the leader's chief counselor. They found him there fishing by the river bank.

Seeing his poor situation, they thought Zhuang Zi would jump at the chance for status and reward. Yet when they made their proposal to him, he said, "Once upon a time there was a sacred turtle, which was happy living his life in the mud. Yet, because he was sacred, the king's men found him, took him to the royal palace, killed him and used his shell to foresee the future. Now tell me, would that turtle prefer to have given up his life to be honored at the palace, or would he rather be alive and enjoying himself in the mud?" The courtiers responded that, of course, the turtle would be happier in the mud. To which Zhuang Zi replied, "And so you have my answer. Go home and let me be a happy turtle here in the mud."

In a culture and time that bigger is better, we want it now, we want more of…, and your “toys” seem to be the sum of you… this reminds us that we can be easily bewitched by advancement, fame, and reward. And we are so seduced by it that we trade our most precious resource, time, to get it. And many times, looking back, we are unhappy with the trade-off. So before you take on more, try and think about if you will be happier with "fame" or would you have more fun enjoying time "in the mud".

The King and the Pawn (Italian)

"At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."

Do you know someone who is wealthier than you? Of course you do. Where they live, what they drive, where they eat, where they travel, what they wear. Do you know people who have less than you? Of course you do. Who do you think of more often? Probably being more like those who have more. Maybe you are where you are supposed to be in life. I am not saying you are not worthy of being comfortable, and perhaps it is about knowing what REALLY brings happiness.

At the end of the day we do take our clothes off the same way and put them on the same way. The rich are no “better” a class of people then those who live in a cardboard box with no home. You are not the sum of what you own. You are the sum of the content of your heart and your character. You are the author of your own life story.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One life experience at a time.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Less is less

Karmatube is a collection of inspiring videos accompanied by simple actions. This particular story is about Jon, who now lives in Bangkok. (View his video http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2747)

"Life is easy" says Jon Jandai. "Why do we have to make it so difficult?" After pursuing "success" in Bangkok for several years, Jo dropped out of university to return to village life. There, he went back to the life he knew as a child, working 2 months of the year to grow rice (with an additional 15 minutes a day to grow vegetables), dug a couple of fish ponds, built his own homes using earthen bricks, and gave up buying clothes (he has so many clothes from friends and visitors that he has to give them away). Jo contends that to be happy, we cannot just rely on money; we have to reconnect with each other.

In a time that while we work we do more with less, it seems at home we need more to have more. It is about keeping up with “those” people next door. Little do we know that many high end homes are mortgaged to capacity and many are only two to three payments away from foreclosure. Expensive cars are not far behind on this list.

Doing more with less can be a very powerful way to live. Warren Buffet, believe it or not, is a man who lives closely to this model. I live only a mile or two from his Omaha home, it is modest, comfortable and nothing you would expect one of the wealthiest people to own. He drives a Cadillac, and it is a few years old. He wears the same pair of shoes that he wore a few years ago, he just had new sole’s put on them. If Warren can live will below his means (he could buy a shoe company!) I think that the rest of us would be doing ourselves a favor by seeing how we can do more with less.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One less thing in our life at a time.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Will you be my...

Valentine?

Is Valentine a synonym for love? In seems in the days we currently live in, it is easy to find an article, a politician, or place of worship telling someone that they are not worthy, they must change, they must do this or that, and that they are not loved.

Bahi, Buddhist, Christian, Islam, Hindu, Jewish, Native American are just some of the world religions, and most all of them have some form of the golden rule “do to others only what you would have done to you” (or some variation.)

I do believe that in most every religion, there is also some form of teaching with regard to loving fellow human beings. I am sad that so many times, humans seem to spend more time finger pointing and less time remembering that when you point one finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you!

My first childhood recollection was in elementary school when we would hand make Valentine’s for everyone in our class and exchange candy and other treats. I also remember making my mom a Valentine too. My mom always liked the Love Is… comic strip. So as far back as I can remember and probably since I could write I always intentionally signed any card to my mom; Love Is… MY MOM! (I still do today, she is 93.) What does the day mean to you?

Valentine’s Day, for some, may seem like just another day of exacerbated by the commercialism of it all. For those whom are single, it can be a bit overwhelming and perhaps shallow. Perhaps it is time to assign some new values to Valentine’s Day.

Maybe it is a day for everyone to pause and reflect upon those who have made an impact in their life. Maybe it is time to pause and reflect upon the good things that have happened in your life (and be thankful for the bad things that have NOT happened in your life!)

Love can encompass so many wonderful people, places and things; Friends, family, pets, loved ones, experiences, journey’s, homes, sacred places, faith, forgiveness, acceptance, and…

This February 14^th I encourage you to share a message of love with yourself, with someone you love, with someone whom you have not reached out to in sometime. And if you have the courage, to someone you don’t know, yes that is right, a stranger!

To the world you may be only one person, and to one person, you may be the world! We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One Valentine’s Day at a time.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Monday, February 13, 2012

Something Good is Going to Happen to You

Hello and good morning to you! How are you? I was recalling a time as a very young man we went to see Oral Roberts when he was in Omaha. I remember part of his mantra; something good is going to happen to you. He asked that everyone believe it. He believed it was a message from God that he was to share with the world. And he did. And they did.

Something good is going to happen to you. I have said many times we are the author of our own life stories, what are we writing? For some it is tragedy, for some comedy, for some adventure, for some it is simply a feel good story. There are lots of things that Oral said in his life that made people feel good, loved and worthy. And there were lots of things that he said and believed that hurt people equally, if not more.

It seems that when we look up to someone, we admire them, trust in them and respect them. And when they say or do something that shatters a belief, one’s safety or something that engages one’s self preservation it can be earth shattering to say the least.

In a day and age that we all are sent messages that we need to conform to this or that, it is too easy for any human to become victim to popular trend of the moment. With social media it is easier than ever to get a campaign of any message to go viral and spread from one coast to another in a matter of minutes. That message can be of any content, especially during campaign time, it is not often something positive, encouraging or uplifting. It is too often destructive, divisive, and damaging. I have especially great difficulty when messages like that are, at the root, born from a faith based organizations.

Not only can we write our own life stories we have the power, ability and free agency to write the history of our great country. Do we want to be known for demanding freedom, democracy, and human rights for other people in other parts of the world when we have 2^nd and 3^rd class citizens living here in the US? Do we really want to finger point at other countries when we have children living on the streets, people going to bed hungry and people without the ability to afford health care coverage? Can we continue to spend trillions on foreign aid when all of this is going on in THIS country?

I do not advocate that we stop helping other countries AND we do need to care of our own more.

I do not advocate that we just give money away to the poor AND we do need more equitable way.

I do not advocate that we give special to rights to anyone AND we do need to have equal rights for all.

I do not advocate that there is no accountability in “DC” AND we all need to vote and stay informed.

I believe that each human being is special and with their life comes a talent, a treasure, and a gift that is to be shared with you and me to make this world a better place.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. Because something good is going to happen to you.

Chaplain Royal officiates weddings and funerals in Iowa and Nebraska. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, pastoral care and hospital visits.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Abundance 3 of 3

Abundance 3

Giving does not lessen your supply of whatever you give, but increases it. The more you give, the more abundance that comes back to you. There is always something you can give. Always.

You can share love, peace, and joy with others.

You can offer gratitude and appreciation to people.

You can offer companionship to someone in need.

You can recognize the light in someone.

You can give forgiveness to someone, even yourself!

You can start each day and ask “what I can I give today?”

Focusing on what you share and give opens the way for abundance in all of its forms to flow back to you, making you a magnet if you will.

In our lives today, we live in a culture that has become about me, me, me. If someone else doesn’t have “it” it is only because they work for it, deserve it, or earn it and they don’t need and won’t get mine! I believe that if each of us begin to spread care and share, we can begin to change that culture back to a place where looking out for one another was second nature.

I do believe the more you give, the more you will get. The more you share, the more others will care and it will come back to you.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One culture change at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as a Multifaith Chaplain with Inclusive Life. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling. He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. Chaplain Royal shares two important messages: You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are. And: Now is the time in this world that every human being is called to lift up the weak, offer a hand UP to the impoverished, cherish our elders and stand up for the oppressed. Chaplain Royal is available in Omaha for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching and pastoral care. In Iowa and Nebraska he is available for marriage ceremonies, end of life planning and funerals.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Abundance 2 of 3

We explored the notion that perhaps if each of us could start the flow of abundance by giving. For some this will be a very foreign task to accomplish. It requires us to put the needs of others or the needs of the community before our own needs or wants. It requires us think of ourselves last. A great change in our world and this country operate today.

I do believe that because of our essential divine (spiritual) nature, we are designed to prosper, to thrive, to flourish and to be successful. If we are not accomplishing those things, then I am sure there is a lesson or two to be learned. I believe that we are designed to be spiritually aware, mentally creative, emotionally well, physically able, happy in relationships and to be a goal achiever.

Wallace D. Wattles wrote “It is a tremendous thing, this fact that all you need is already within you; that you do not have to consider how to get the power to do what you want to be. You have only to consider how to use the power you already have in the right way. And there is nothing to do but to begin.”

You are beautiful. You are loved. You are worthy! And we are all capable of the goodness that life can be for each of us and with/for each other. We are born to do things that have never been done, to understand things that have never been understood. We are here to express the rich and unique beauty that lives within ourselves.

Giving can be so much more than time, energy and money. It can be about non-physical aspects such as offering forgiveness, love, joy, and peace. Sharing THESE aspects with others is another way that we can increase abundance in our own lives. When these aspects are shared freely and without expectations or reservations it can be one of the most powerful ways to authentically increase abundance in your life.

Giving does not lessen your supply of whatever you give, but increases it. The more you give, the more abundance that comes back to you. There is always something you can give. Always.

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One lesson at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as a Multifaith Chaplain with Inclusive Life. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling. He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. Chaplain Royal shares two important messages: You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are. And: Now is the time in this world that every human being is called to lift up the weak, offer a hand UP to the impoverished, cherish our elders and stand up for the oppressed. Chaplain Royal is available in Omaha for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching and pastoral care. In Iowa and Nebraska he is available for marriage ceremonies, end of life planning and funerals.

CONTACT US:

402-575-7006

105 S. 49^th Street Omaha, NE 68132

500 Willow Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Omaha Weddings. Omaha Counseling. Omaha Funerals, Nebraska Weddings

Council Bluffs Weddings, Council Bluffs Counseling, Council Bluffs Funeral, Iowa Weddings

Friday, February 10, 2012

Abundance 1 of 3

Abundance and Generosity

This is going to be a 3 part series on Abundance and Generosity. When talking about “church” many people will say that they don’t like going because they are always asked for money, or they feel that there is always a hand trying to get into their wallet. Funny thing is, most pastors I know dislike (ok, HATE) talking about money. It makes them nervous to think will they turn people off if they don’t ask just the right way OR if they don’t ask often enough there may not be enough money to keep the lights on!

Churches, like most any business, needs an stream of income a stream of abundance to keep things flowing. Many forget that when they skip a Sunday or on vacation or don’t show up that amount they normally put in, is absent (like them.) And most don’t make it up. Tithing is about setting aside a portion of your income to help keep your church going.

I like the 80/10/10 formula. You should live on 80% of what you bring home. You should put 10% away in untouchable savings. And you should “share” 10% with whatever organizations are meaningful to you in your life; church, humane society, food pantry, shelter, etc. For some this will be more difficult than others. For some, it will become more meaningful, than others.

Let’s explore abundance, shall we? Do you need more of it in your life? Abundance like: money, food, time, energy, companionship, etc. Or is your plate of abundance overflowing now? Now let’s think if there is an area of your life that is experiencing scarcity or a lack of abundance? Most people have some part of their life that could use a tuneup or toneup (mine could!)

Take a moment and think about this concept: maybe could start the flow of abundance if YOU shared or shared more, yourself.

GIVING is an important aspect of increasing abundance. If something you need or want is out of reach maybe a question to ask is “what can I give?” Maybe it is time, energy, or money. OR maybe it is from or with a non-physical aspect of your life. We will explore that tomorrow.

I will also close with one of my favorite quotes. You may not get what you want when you want it. You will get what you need when you need it. I do believe there are things that each of us can do to help that work to our favor more often…

We can be the change we seek in this world. and in ourselves. One day. One journey. One person. One aspect of giving, at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as a Multifaith Chaplain with Inclusive Life. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling. He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. Chaplain Royal shares two important messages: You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are. And: Now is the time in this world that every human being is called to lift up the weak, offer a hand UP to the impoverished, cherish our elders and stand up for the oppressed. Chaplain Royal is available in Omaha for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching and pastoral care. In Iowa and Nebraska he is available for marriage ceremonies, end of life planning and funerals.

CONTACT US: