To me, what this film is documenting is the very thing that can bring transcending and fundamental changes in the world.  More than EVER, we need to spread awareness of this message…get involved in it…and encourage our friends, families, colleagues to join in.

I will tell you that doing this work for the past year has been an incredible experience.  Millions of people are shifting their habits, careers, and even their worldviews, and we need to rejoice in this global awakening!

Have you seen the Paul Hawken clip that describes THE SHIFT?  If not, check this out and begin seeing how real it is:

World’s Largest Social Movement

OK, so this is just a short post to ask that you to go to THE SHIFT site, http://www.theshiftmovie.com and sign up!

Today, the message for this powerful film and movement was finally released to a very large audience! Over 4 Million people know now about THE SHIFT…so lets give this movement some legs!

Also, for those of you bloggers, list owners, or just very popular people…please send this message around.  Vote on it on Digg, Stumble and all social networks!

Here are some links:

THE SHIFT on Digg

BRAND New Facebook Fan Page

Thanks everyone…this is going to be huge…it needs to be.  Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

Todd

Does it hear the crash of the waves on the surf, the high shrill of other birds swirling around, and the cackle of human voices milling about? Does it feel the wind, the sand, and the water in a similar manner as I?

Of course I do not know the absolute truth here. I can only surmise the answer is ‘no’, that the sea bird does not sense its surroundings in the same notion as a human being.

But how exactly does the bird perceive the realities around itself? And is it remotely possible for me, a human being, to comprehend the tangible sensations of a different species of observer?

A few moments later I watched a woman taking her very young child towards the ocean. I watched intently as the little boy excitedly jumped in and out of the waves, and shrieked with delight as the water came in towards dry sand and then back towards the horizon.

I began thinking about this young child’s perception, and wondered how he senses the ocean, beach, sky and realities around him. Was it similar to my observation?

I think its safe to say that the child’s discernment is more closely related to my own then the sea bird’s…but when you intently watch a young child it becomes clear that his perception is markedly different then an adults.

How Does Perception Really Differ Between Beings?

So even within my own species, perception can vary greatly depending on a variable (like age).

This really got my mind running, and I began contemplating two 50-year old men sitting beside me: one of them a clan leader for an indigenous tribe in remote Africa, and the other a Plumber from Brooklyn, NY.

How would these two men perceive the ocean, sky and beach around them? Would they see and feel the similar sensations? And if not how exactly would their base perception differ?

For my last experiment, I closed my eyes and lay back on the sand. I took several deep breaths and relaxed my mind. I sat there for 20 minutes straight solely focusing on my breath, coming in and out of my body.

I got myself in a wonderfully meditative state and felt very present. I then sat back up and opened my eyes ready to perceive the circumstances around me.

I could feel the wind much more crisply and noted its sensations on parts of my body that I did not feel earlier. The ocean and sky appeared much sharper to me, and I could see the ripples in the water much more clearly…almost as if they were moving in slow motion.

The blue color of the sky was so blazing that it almost startled me. Wow. I noted the horizon in a much different way as well, and could see ripples of current much farther away.

I heard sounds that I did not notice earlier, like the ripple of the wind on a kite that had been flying above me. I heard the sounds of people from way down the beach, and could also hear the rustling of sand as it whipped up on my shorts.

In all, it was like I was a different person observing the same scenario. But it was not a different person, I was still me.

3 Primary Observations From My Hour On The Beach:

1) That the human ability to perceive its surroundings is distinctly evolved, enabling us to understand the universe with the highest capacity that we are aware

2) That even within our own kind, perception varies greatly, and

3) That we can have a purposeful influence on how clearly we experience our lives

To point #1 the sea bird’s tools for perception are not as advanced a human being’s; it is an older, more archaic form of consciousness sensing its surroundings with less awareness.

The bird has a lower vibrating level of perception then we do, and therefore senses reality at a different level of stimulation.

To point #2 a young child, although not tainted by the ego and intrusive thought process of most adults, still has less potential for higher levels of consciousness then his/her elders.

So even though children may experience joy, excitement and thrill much easier then you or I, their potential for evolved human consciousness is not fully realized.

And to point #3, what about my own personal ‘transformation’? The difference between Todd before he lied down and Todd after he lied down is that the second Todd was much more present for the experience, sensing with greater clarity the truer nature of his surroundings.

Before the breathing and meditation exercises he was still wearing the lens of his everyday life. Things like work, money, food, and everything else that his mind incessantly thinks shrouded his ability to perceive to some degree.

Todd post relaxation was more still, present and aware. His ego was shelved for a few moments allowing the lens of his authentic self to perceive, in a more genuine manner, reality around him.

And what did this new perception bring? Clarity, crispness, increased beauty, and a sense of calm that were not there earlier…

We are always wearing some sort of lens that shapes our reality, and we have the ability at any given moment to wipe that lens clean!

So what is the point of making these distinctions?

The point is this: That we have the ability to purposefully generate a greater awareness of the world (and universe) in which we live.

Right here Right now YOU have the ability to be more aware and present.

And this is important because the more conscious we become, the more beauty, peace and love is brought into our lives and to the world around us.

And what’s more important than that!!

Well, the purpose of this article is not to be a long diatribe about my emotional state of being since the break up (sorry to disappoint you sap seekers). BUT I do want to discuss the concept of having ‘anchors’ in our lives and what to do when an important one unhinges itself from your existence.

Relationships Can Be Awesome Anchors

One of the beautiful pieces my relationship with Irina was the fact that she was a very stabilizing force in my life. She was (and still is) a very peaceful, structured and regimented person who relishes the simplest ways of living.

During the years we went out these traits seeped into my own way of being and as a result I became more peaceful, structured and regimented. This was certainly NOT how I was before I met her, and I reaped many practical benefits from learning how to be this way.

So I not only miss the person who she was, but also the securing way her energy allowed me to mature and become a better person. [And if you are reading this Irina, yes, I am extremely thankful and grateful to you for being such a solid and stable presence during our time together]!

Losing a strong anchor like this can be difficult, and when it happens the first step is to become aware the affect its void is having. There are several more things you can do, and here are some helpful recommendations:

1. Become Aware of Other Anchors

The great thing about anchors in our lives is that unlike ships, people can have many of them. When you lose something stabilizing, it is important to ask yourself: what was it about that thing, person or activity that made you feel happy and secure?

Many of you have noticed that my writings on We The Change have dramatically decreased over the last few months. I think this is because I have been going through the process of transitioning out of old ways of being into new, higher vibrating paradigms.

This growth process often requires patience and a sense of stillness. I am a high energy person living in Manhattan (the most frenetic place in the world) and it is extremely difficult for me to cultivate patience and stillness, even when I know I need it.

For me, this often results in feelings of frustration and over the last few months I have experienced un-motivation, insecurity and apathy…and I get angry because these traits are so unlike me! And not having the wonderful anchor of Irina has made it even tougher.

But these times (which we all experience) are destined to pass and now that I am broaching the upside of the transition I see that We The Change, and the mere act of writing for it, is a huge anchor in my life that has been missing.

So how can you start recognizing what anchors feel like? Simple: they make you feel secure, stable and just plain good! Writing these articles makes me feel amazing, gives me a sense of stillness and is therefore a very beautiful anchor. Other anchors may include:

– Spending time with family and friends
– Focusing on meaningful work
– Being in nature (Mother Earth is our greatest anchor of all)
– Getting lost in a great book
– Spiritual practices like meditation
– Emotions, like love and gratitude

When you feel like you have lost something significant, you have to honor it. But there are plenty of other significant things to anchor onto, and we have plenty of abundance around us all the time.

2. Remember The Greatest Anchor of All

My first piece of advice—looking for other anchors—is a beneficial practice but pales in importance to the following axiom: that the greatest anchor you have, and will ever have, resides within you and is also accessible to you at all times for the rest of your life!

YOU are your greatest anchor, and you always will be. The power to make yourself feel stable, calm and peaceful is there for you at every moment. When you begin to feel lost and adrift, the best thing to do is to quiet your mind, take several deep breaths, and purposefully find the tranquility inside of you.

Recently I had my birth chart completed (which shows how the ‘stars were aligned’ at the exact time of my birth) and not to my surprise I was ALL fire and air signs. Because I had absolutely no earth energy at the time of my birth, I am compelled to be high energy, lofty, flighty and idealistic with little a sense of grounding. All true.

For people like me, it is REALLY important to find and utilize anchors in our lives. Ask yourself: what about the things in this article resonates with me in terms of gaining more stability in my life? How I can I begin to use myself as an anchor?

I can tell you this, just becoming aware that we all need stabilizing energies, or earth energy, in our lives is a huge bonus. As always feel free to comment below and I look forward to your thoughts!

I would like to share this story with you and discuss how the caterpillar’s transformation is highly symbolic with what’s going on in our world today:

Imaginal Cells and Transcending Change

The genesis of the caterpillar’s transformation begins with the appearance of what scientists have termed “imaginal” cells. Researchers have no idea where these cells come from, or why they appear.

They are termed ‘imaginals’ because scientists can only hypothesize that their purpose is to ‘imagine’ something incredible that is about to happen.

At first, the imaginals are fought off and destroyed by the intelligence of the caterpillar organism. But the imaginals keep coming back and eventually form clusters of cells to strengthen their domain.

Soon the clusters form bonds where they pass genetic type information to one another. The clusters resonate at a higher frequency then their host and begin changing the physical make-up of the caterpillar.

At a certain point in time, the long string of clumping and clustering imaginal cells switches gears from simply being a group of like-minded cells into the programming cells of the butterfly. They literally reach a critical mass of influence where the caterpillar’s destiny is altered to become a butterfly.

The pictures on this page show the beginning of the physical transformation the caterpillar undergoes, and certainly connotes a temporary state of chaos.

What is happening amid this clump of goo is old caterpillar cells transforming into wing cells, into antenna cells, into digestive tract cells, and so on. A new consciousness being born…

Implications of Imaginal’s in Humanity

Many people believe that this story is highly symbolic of what is occurring in our world today, and how a more evolved experience is on the horizon for humanity.  Imaginal cells are clustering all over the globe, resonating at a higher frequency and bringing the light of a new consciousness to mankind.

We can see it tangibly by the countless people that are stepping out of their societal roles and doing things to help the collective good. We see it by innumerable organizations that are popping up with the sole mission of making the world a better place.

We can see it by books like A New Earth becoming international bestsellers for the first time in history. We can see it by mainstream icons like Oprah Winfrey taking this type of content and bringing it to the masses in unprecedented ways.

We can see it in the excitement that Barack Obama’s campaign is providing tens of millions of people with the simple message “we need to change things”. These are humanity’s imaginal cells manifesting and clustering.

They are resonating at a higher frequency and their purpose is to bring about a new consciousness to mankind where peace, sustainability and social justice become the norm.

Why Your Personal Growth Means So Much

In order for you to evolve within the collective movement, it is absolutely necessary for you to embrace your own spiritual development. The answers are not somewhere outside of you, but within the framework of your being.

Imaginal cells exist within your body right now, and are attempting to cluster together and help you increase your own consciousness. We The Change must begin with I The Change. The question is: are you allowing this to happen?

The spark for your individual transformation is all around you…all you have to do is look. Perhaps reading the words of this article will serve as an increase in awareness, and motivate you to expand your consciousness.

The point is, we must all become seekers of our own mission in life for a new global reality to take form. It is the only way…

What Our Collective Future Looks Like

Currently mankind resembles the clump of caterpillar goo shown on this page. There is internal conflict which is exemplified by great war, poverty and suffering that exists in our world.

But there are also clusters of imaginal cells emerging and organizing into stronger groups. The chaos we feel is part of the transformation process, as humanity is literally being pulled in two opposing directions as a rubber band being stretched to its max.

Our destiny is to emerge into a new realm of being, and we must each make the decision to either become a part of the new consciousness (butterfly) or stagnate with the dying way of things (caterpillar).

So allow yourself to cluster with the other imaginal cells, and “be the change you want to see in the world”. That’s really the best advise I can give

OK, keep your intrigue going and read these We The Change classics:

Healing From The Inside Out: A Remedy To Save The World
How To Find Your True Purpose
4 Pillars of Effective Personal Growth

One of the promises I made to readers when I launched We The Change was to only write about things that I personally experience. 

Given that this website has garnered over 1,000 subscribers in 6 months (I still can’t believe this) there must be something appealing to the very personal and sometimes vulnerable approach I take with the articles I publish.

Truthfully, this website has served as a direct mirror to my life over the last 180 days.  As many of you know I left a relatively stable and financially secure job situation last September follow to my passion in life. 

More accurately, I transitioned out of the position to give myself time to figure out what my passion really was. 

So 6 months later the million dollar question becomes: have I found it?  Yes, I think I have.  But that is not to say I know exactly how it’s all going to play out…because I don’t. 

I am moving into what I call “Phase II” of my life transition process, which entails how I am going to make money and support myself amid recent revelations. 

I plan on openly exploring this next phase with We The Changers, and am certain the right situations are manifesting even as I write this!

The Evolution of My Own Personal Development

When I first began writing this site, I wrote a lot about the benefits of nutrition and physical exercise.  In the last few months, I have not written so much about these topics. 

It is not that I don’t believe in proper eating and exercise anymore (because I do), it’s just that my own journey has evolved to a point where I feel compelled to write about other issues.

I have made no secret that I believe we are living in a time where fundamental cultural changes need to occur across our political, social and economic spectrums.  Actually, I think we would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t understand this…at least from an intellectual standpoint.

I have written a lot about the underlying movement that is banding together all over the world to initiate such changes.  At its core, this ‘movement’ has a spiritual undertone and I have embraced this philosophy because I am experiencing it very personally. 

I have tried to share my own awakening with readers, and my mission in doing so has been to initiate these types of changes within YOU.  For more, please check out the following articles:

All Roads Leading to Costa Rica (For Me)!

Kill Your Ego: Recognize The True You

Stages of Consciousness

I want you to know that writing articles on these subjects, because of their subjective nature, has not been a great thing for the physical growth of We The Change. 

I get a lot less traffic then I did when I wrote about the benefits of eating berries everyday.  But the truth is, I don’t care so much.  I am sharing my own journey in life, and I refuse to steer away from this purpose.

Where We The Change Is Headed Months 6-12

This site is 100% about helping readers expand their consciousness.  My mission is to provide content that sparks moments of awareness within you, and I will continue to share my personal journey as I think it’s a very effective way for this to happen.

I see myself as a conduit of information.  Stuff comes to me, I experience it, and then I throw it out there.  But I do not want WTC to be solely viewed through my own lens, which is why I have started a Podcast called Conversations to Change the World. 

There are countless individuals out there who are doing incredible work to help you live a better life, and my goal is to share a different angle with you every other Wednesday.

As for what I hope to get out of We The Change, I feel that if I am honest about the things that I am going through this platform will not only serve me externally (as a business venture) but also internally, and help me find my most sought after paths in life.

Both of these things are happening, and I am now experiencing a much higher level of clarity about my life’s purpose then I was 6 months ago.  I will continue down this path and utilize WTC as a tool for detailing my experiences.

Lastly I am VERY OPEN to reader suggestions.  How can I make this site more meaningful for you?  Are there any specific things you would like to hear about?  Please let me know and I will try my best to accommodate.

This is NOT a One Man Gang

I want to recognize the incredible array of people that I have met in the last 6 months that have helped me establish WTC as one of the fastest growing personal development blogs around! 

These people are my mentors, my inspiration, my supporters, and my friends.  If you like what you have found here, please take a few moments and learn from these amazing people:

Tim at A Daring Adventure
He is an incredible Life Coach and a unique writer.  Check out one of his best articles Changing Your Thoughts!

Steve at Champion Success
A true inspiration, Steve has attained success in all areas of life.  My favorite piece of his is Top Opportunities for Entrepreneurs.

Peter at I Will Change Your Life
Perhaps my first blogging friend who has also become the editor of Pick The Brain.  This is my favorite article from Peter: Feel The Pain, Then Make The Change.

Tejvan at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration
If you are ever looking for perspective in life, he is one of the best.  My favorite is Seven Steps to Inner Peace.

Albert at Urban Monk
His articles are thoughtful, deep rooted and comprehensive.  His greatest piece is The Blossoming of Love.

Alex at The Next 45 Years
A newer blogger with so much to offer.  Alex’s greatest piece in my eyes is How To Live a Balanced Life.

There are so many more (I feel like I am accepting an academy award here, hehe)..but I can’t mention everyone. 

As always, I hope sharing my personal story contributes in positive way to your personal growth and happiness!  I Look forward to continuing the conversation with you!  With much gratitude and respect, Todd

A few weeks ago I ran into an old friend that I have not seen in years. He has a terrific job at a large media company where he is highly respected and well paid. He has a very pretty wife, two healthy children, and a second home being built near the beach.

He has money, health, security, family, etc…but all he wanted to talk about was his frequent trips to Las Vegas where he does…well, lets just say he does seem pretty terrible things which really should “stay in Vegas”.

It was apparent that all his external success is not translating to internal fulfillment. He has done everything perfectly right according to societal standards, yet can not seem to find real satisfaction in his life. He goes to Vegas for what he calls a “release”; although I would more accurately call it an “escape”.

Internal Purpose vs. External Purpose

Isn’t the scenario above pretty common nowadays, and how many people do you know that fit this bill? My buddy is making the same error that way too many people are making, and that is searching for fulfillment on the outside first and then expecting it to transpire on the inside second.

My friends, it just does not work this way. No matter how much external possessions and material you have, it will never translate to inner happiness.

You must first make the commitment to be happy internally. To do this you must garner a genuine understanding of who you really are. Although this can be hard work, and is certainly a different path then what most people follow in our society, it is the only way you can attain true happiness:

“Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success. Without that alignment, you can still achieve certain things through effort, struggle, determination and sheer hard work or cunning. But there is no joy in such an endeavor, and it invariably ends in some form of suffering”.

- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

Therefore we must put aside societal pressures and search for our life’s purpose internally. Once we get a sense of it, our external purpose flows as an extension. This is the essence of effective spiritual development.

Seeking Internal Purpose Leads To…

When you start becoming aware of your inner purpose, it is incredible what happens. Many of the shackles of modern-day culture suddenly disappear, and you feel free and light. People around may even tell you that you are “glowing”.

This happens because you learn to let go of all the ridiculous expectations others have of you, and also rid your mind of self-deprecating thoughts. Ask yourself: how much more powerful of a person would you be if you freed yourself of all the societal constructs that keep you in place?

How do you think my friend above would answer this question? This is not to say that you can not have kids, a wife, and a stable career. On the contrary, when you search for and find internal purpose first the things you want to happen externally become a reality anyway.

But when you do it the right way, the external results are a physical manifestation of the internal intelligence…and this makes all the difference.

Here are 5 important steps for manifesting internal purpose:

1. Ask yourself the question “what do I really want in life”?

Most people are too afraid to ask themselves this question, and I find this totally insane! To me it is perhaps the most important one to ask in all of life, and is the first step to locating your true purpose.

2. Make a practice of sitting in silence

The reason why most people are not in touch with their true purpose is that they either don’t know it exists OR they don’t know how to listen. Sitting in silence is an excellent way to have your truest purpose manifest. Every day spend at least 20 minutes in stillness and get in touch with your intuition.

3. Become a seeker of people and information

There are so many individuals out there who are experiencing higher levels of consciousness and so many books that talk about uncovering truer meaning in life, that you are doing yourself a disservice by not finding them and learning from them.

4. Create outlets where you monitor your progress

One of the main reasons I started this blog was so I could have an outlet for my spiritual development and quest for true purpose in life. You don’t have to start a blog and be as public about it as I, but what about writing in a journal? Perhaps writing a letter or series of letters to old teachers might help. Be creative about finding your inherent voice!

5. Be OK with the initial struggle

As you first start down this path, your practicality (ego) may resist your internal purpose. That is OK, accept that it is a struggle. Soon it won’t be, and you will be living externally in full alignment with the internal. That is called living a life of dreams…

It is never too late to start looking inside. I look forward to your comments and emails…

If you enjoyed this article, I am sure you will enjoy these We The Change beauties:

Spirituality: What I Have Learned So Far
All Roads Leading to Costa Rica (for me)
How To Meditate: A Beginner’s Guide

Picture above by photographer extraordinaire Jane Feldman. And yes, that picture is of me in Costa Rica a few weeks ago!

One of them asked the other “so what are you going to do now”?  The other sat for a moment contemplating, then looked up and said questioningly: “Give back”?  They both hooted in laughter at the response, and began perfunctorily yapping about the stock market, recent travels, and other typical conversation.

The dialogue bothered me ever since hearing it.  It is so common in our society for people to work their whole lives with the primary goals of making money and becoming “successful”, and then retiring to a life of leisure where they can potentially “give something back”.

I am not saying there is something wrong with working hard, creating wealth, and making a success of yourself.  But when the end result of 30 or 40 years in a profession implies: “OK, now I am ready to show compassion outside the realm of my family, friends and immediate situations” then something is fundamentally off.

I say we should seek to have it all:  A successful, abundance-filled life in conjunction with a caring attitude about the people and world at large!  With this said, here are 5 excellent ways you can begin your giving ways well before retirement:

Become Conscious of Your Desire to Help Others

I am aware that I painted a pretty negative picture of the two gentlemen I sat next to at lunch.  For all I know both these men spent their entire professional lives helping other people.  However, the tiny slice of conversation I heard extrapolated a bigger issue in my mind, and I wonder how many people in the world wake up each morning and say to themselves: “what can I do to help today” or “how can I serve today”.  I imagine that a much more significant number of people think “what can I do to get ahead today” when they wake.

But when we are able to step outside our socially conditioned roles, the more basic human traits shine through: to help, to give and to love.  If you go deep enough, you will remember these are the most important qualities to have.  So get out there NOW, even while you are ensconsed in your “life”, and become a giver. 

Help Children

Recently I became aware that 60% of the world’s population is under the age of 25 (isn’t that amazing)!  Unfortunately, many of the problems our society has created will fall on the leaders of tomorrow.  Ask yourself:  what can you do to help cultivate exceptional human beings who will make wise decisions in the future?  If you have kids, raising them well and providing love is obviously the #1 thing you can do.  But I challenge you to think outside the box and devise a few ways you can help make a difference to children beyond the realm of your own home!

Become a Mentor

Another great way to give back is to educate.  What are your best skills, and how did you become a success?  There are people who want to know and can benefit from your expertise.  And there are a myriad of ways you can do this; perhaps you can use your contacts within your profession and let it be known that you want to help others.  Maybe you can give a class.  Nowadays you can mentor people online.  Either way, teaching your most valued skills for the betterment of others is a great way to give back.  And do it while your in your prime!

Volunteer Your Excess Funds

Do you remember the end of Schindler’s List when Schindler (Liam Neison) had a breakdown when he realized that he could have done so much more to save people?  Even though he was a hero, the perspective of time made him realize that life will always be infinitely more valuable than possessions.  So yes, I am suggesting to give money to groups, charities and individuals that represent wonderful causes.  I love the fact that there are so many high level individuals across the globe giving away their fortunes to make the world a better place.  It is awesome, and we should all follow their lead.  Why wait until later?  Start giving NOW!

Volunteer Your Time

Choose a few causes that you care genuinely about, and become involved.  There are hundreds of millions of people in the world who are hungry, poor and need some form of help…and your actions will make a difference.  The great thing about volunteering is that there are no obligations:  you can do it on your time, give only what you can (although you may be compelled to start giving more once you feel the benefits), and no one will debunk you for your effort.  Don’t be like the men in the restaurant and wait, do it now!

If you enjoyed this article, check out some of the best of We The Change:

How To Cope When Something Goes Terribly Wrong
50 Ways You Can Be The Change
The Benefits of Flexible Goal Setting