It All Starts With Me

Don't look outward

for the answer

to the dilemna.

The answer lies inside.

Don't look at others

for a place to point the blame.

There is no one to blame.

Looking outside

instead of going within

is an ego thing anyway.

It all starts with me.

I am the interpreter

of my experience.

I am the creator

of my reality.

It all starts with me.

It's not all about me.

It just all starts with me.

Truth.

Lies.

Illusions.

What do I see?

What am I looking for?

How will this day

be described

when it's done?

Whether good

or bad,

it's up to me.

My focus

is on improving me.

I look inside

to see the real me.

Because...

it all starts with me.

I look inside

where no mask

can disguise

the real me.

No pretending.

No defending.

No mind game.

Inside.

In the midst of me.

In the deep place.

That's where the truth,

my truth resides.

Deep inside

I know that...

it all starts with me.

So...

Who am I?

know thy self

i know you think you know you

i thought i knew me too

then i met "we" sitting here

and found it wasn't true.

what i knew i only learned

from others who'd been burned.

they thought that i as well

should join in their concern.

i did because i was so sure,

and i wanted to be as pure

as possible, but i wasn't strong

i was always too demure.

i have my wings now friend

and my heart is on the mend

i trust my mind, i will always be

true to myself to the end.

for you see i had to go

down that familiar road you know

leads to joy, hurt, love, even loss

yet it taught me how to grow.

so i saw my self sitting next to me

i said, "tell me how to be as free

as my mind says i am, and why do i frown?"

i was hoping we could agree.

then self said to me so clearly

that i knew i was taken sincerely,

"you are we, we are one, you've nothing to fear

and i love you oh so dearly."

so...

know thy "self" as the one

be it christ, buddha, allah, or sun

love thy god, love thy neighbor, love thy self,

you are good... so have thyself some fun.

no need to break man's many rules,

just don't follow any of the fools.

remember free is what we came here for

so give yourself and then offer your tools.

freedom from ego is why

you can't wait till "the sweet by and by."

i know that i can know myself now

and i can know "we" before i die.

life is really good my friend

so you are free to buck the trend

and live your freedom right here, right now

and maybe this world will never end.

-- copyright: jeff baker

for my dear reader friends: i write all poetry posts in lower case, no offense intended to deity. i have my rather elegantly understated-i'm screaming-no offense-type style of expression and i like it but i am always respectful. may i also remind you that as i state throughout my blog, for me the christ is my self, but my audience is as diverse as those that he chose to be with, in his day. from my readings in this wholly accepting blogging community i find my self becoming immersed in, i have learned even more about the many versions of the true self that exist around the world. i respect and honor each of them -- for they have gone out of their way to respect and honor me. remember, there is no them; whether you believe it or not we are one. god is one. we are one. so it is. one. one hope. one world... without end.

one peace. one love. one thought: namaste'. (look it up) -- jb

the answer

i know of a place so near

how to get there is not always clear

yet knowing i can

keeps me seeking it still

for seeking is part of the plan

how valued your treasure my friend?

that forsaking all to the end

you would search high and low

leaving nothing to chance

it's a promise on which you depend

this place is not there it is here

nothing between us to fear

we seek the same place

moments lost till we wake to

the voice speaking right in our ear

questions we ask not believing

riddles that burn us, deceiving

don't be fooled by the lies

truth is waiting inside and

the answer is ours for receiving.

-- jb

asking is good. if it doesn't make sense, question it, and if the answer doesn't help... keep searching. never settle for someone else's version of the truth. know your truth.

I Know Nothing... Nothing!

I don't know about you yet, but I personally don't know a thing when it comes to the absolute truth about everything there is to know about everything that is. In fact, I am so glad of that fact that I am compelled to write about it so you can tell me if I am crazy. I was thinking just now, what would be your job title if your job was to be the One with all the answers? Would you work out of your house? Who would be your boss? (there seems to always be one) And can you imagine your cell phone bill? Oh my...

I was just dwelling on the thought that right now, I really don't know all that much when it comes to all-certain-there-is-no-error-possible type knowing. The fact is, I do not know, and I am actually cool with that. The next thought is really the impetus that started as the thought that led to my rambling in public once more.

So my question of myself is: Why am I not freaked out about not having the remedy for my current state of affairs? Why am I actually finding freedom with not being in control of "how" it all works out until it manifests as what I really want? Is it patience, passivity, complacency, sacrifice? Or is it trust?

Trust.

It matters little to me if you are a Christian, an Atheist, a Buddhist, or a Pimp, at some point you have to trust something, or someone, even if it is yourself. So the question that follows is: What level of control am I willing to relinquish in order for my dream to become a reality?

Place your trust somewhere.

I trust God but I also trust myself because I have learned to trust the innate instinct that comes from being alive and awake in this physical element we call human being. I am aware that animals ran for higher ground before the terrible Asian tsunami in 2004, while humans took pictures. Yet I am equally certain that while you and I are curious by nature, we also possess all it takes to have a trust level in our own instincts that cannot and should not be throttled by the teachings of the ones, whether they be professors or preachers, who would keep you from your completely and totally becoming who you really are.

Who are you really?

One way you can really know is to let go of the fear of asking the questions that are burning in your heart even as you read these words. You know which ones I mean, the ones you know that to ask them and then get certain answers could and would change everything. Just your asking could change everything. If only you would ask.

Here's the deal: It is the awareness of the question that is the hint of truth that there is truth that has not yet been offered. Trust the question and in the asking lies the answer. You deep down already know the answer, and you just need to get it out in the open and decide how you feel about it. There is freedom in asking. There is even more freedom in getting the answers. It is good to ask. It is even better to insist on the truth.

Let the chips fall where they may.

So in our asking we are making the conscious choice to challenge the system that we have known up to the point of the asking. This choice will lead to the beginning stages of discovering who you really are. Don't let popular opinion make your decisions for you. Don't let anyone lead you away from what your heart tells you is true. Truth is not always the same for each and every person... and that is quite by design. Truth is personal. Think about it.

Think. About. It.

Think! My friend, your opinion is important. It should be heard, for without your opinion there might never exist a reality called world peace. Without your input it might take longer than necessary to get this planet (and its management) on track with what's best for our Earth.

God bless her.

You know, it might ultimately be proven that I know nothing. I may have to adjust my thinking as new information comes along, but for today what I know is that as long as I make an intentional choice to press for truth, never settling for anything that leaves me less than completely satisfied, I can wait for the answer as long as it takes. Time is an illusion anyway, so it may just work itself out overnight.

Peace, love, and happy thoughts...what else is there? -- jb

And The Truth Will Set You Free

Why do we sometimes avoid the truth? What is it that causes us to take any route other than complete honesty? Ok, so let's be painfully, honestly straight with each other: Why do we lie?

I used to hold my stomach in when I looked at myself in the mirror. I can't explain it. It's not like I don't know the truth about my body and how it really looks. I guess that it boils down to fear.... ouch!

Well, I don't do that anymore. In fact, I have made a lot of progress with the truth that I understand about myself. And I think that that understanding has helped me to see a bigger truth about humanity in general. I will not place any blame on the media, but let's face it, they really portray an unrealistic idea of what is acceptable when it comes to how we look. Not everybody can look like those we see advertised... where would the contrast be? Ego has everything to do with that type of marketing and I for one, don't believe that it is necessary to fall for that line of doo-doo sales. It is just another example of plastic people putting out plastic concepts designed to sell something. But when we think about it, isn't it the way the world works at times?

I know people who are really great, but they have a sort of distorted perspective on honesty. And maybe I am wrong, but I also think those same people live in some type of fantasy world where they actually believe the lies they tell. Do you relate? I am not judging them, only making an observation.

Why do we ever lie?

Fear of anything can lead to an unhealthy life. If I am afraid at times I am only human, but does that make it ok to be dishonest? Not if you value those who might be hurt by that dishonesty. Wake up and smell the coffee. It isn't rocket science that one lie leads to another, and another, ad nauseum. It is down right unhealthy for the liar and the lied to. I think a healthy life is one that makes truth the only option. Telling the truth isn't difficult, but it can be difficult to accept. I have good friends who are not afraid to let me know when I am out of step with who I really am. I appreciate that. I try to do likewise for them. I think that is a healthy life between good friends. Don't you?

Try today to make honesty a priority. Even if you consider yourself completely honest, do you hold in your tummy when you look in the mirror? Trust me when I tell you that it can be very freeing to just be yourself with your Self. It also requires less energy :)

Peace and truth -- jb

Leave It Better Than You Found It

Happy Friday Mom!

I have always believed that I have the ability to make something better than it was before I got involved, and I wish I could say that it is true in every case. That belief originally sprang from my need to control everything. In my controlling, I actually thought I was making improvement... oops.

Enter reality.

I know people today who have a gift for making things better with seemingly little or no effort, and I like that. In fact, as I have grown older and somewhat wiser, I have found that I can and do make some things better. I have the gift of gab, and I have the freedom to say what I want, so I normally do... thus the dawning of Jeff Baker Talks. I make no excuses for my opinions, whether I am right in someone's eyes or wrong means little to me. I never intend to offend, and I really try to be uplifting. At the same time, there are days when I lose patience with something or someone, and after much quiet restraint, I just let go and let it fly.

Do you relate?

I hope to make a case for thinking before speaking today as I am freshly reminded that even when speaking the truth, there are those who cannot and will not hear it :O

Not that I have a corner on the truth market mind you. I make plenty of mistakes, and not just with my tongue, yet I am blessed to have great friends who keep me in check. That is more than a blessing, it is the way life should be for all of us. That life assumes, of course, that I am able to make and keep friends. And it assumes that any truth spoken, is spoken in love.

Always.

I have a quick wit and a quick mouth, and believe me when I tell you that it is always better to think before speaking. Words do not have a rewind feature; they are like arrows shot from a bow and can have deadly aim. I have learned all too often the hard lesson of saying something only to regret it afterwards. My friends, this is something we should all be conscious of because the power of our words is truly underestimated.

When we think from a place of loving intent, then our words and deeds will reflect that. If not, well, you get the picture. And, that is the point of this post. Let me say for the record also, that even if you are speaking from love, the hard conversations might not go very well. That is ok, because you can rest in the peace of the effort and not regret the result of having said something difficult. Remember, you are not responsible for anyone except yourself in these conversations, so speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

I will leave you with a link to a remarkable blog, written by an equally remarkable lady named Wendi. She says things the way I think them. One day I will be able to write like her and that will be the day that I finally get picked up by a sponsor! That is not a pipe dream. I believe it, and it is so.

Peace for your weekend, love for your friends, and thoughts that are firmly rooted in the power of Love. -- jb

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Thoughts Become Things

I have been enjoying my holiday today, and I have spent a large portion of it reading my favorite bloggers. I discovered a few new ones today, so I have been inspired to write about how our thoughts become things. Thanks to the brilliant insights of Robin, I was reminded of the importance of really being aware of my thinking.

I often speak about world peace. It is my loftiest dream and seemingly the most futile. At the same time, I recognize the fact that I alone do not have the power of mind to single-handedly create world peace. I like to think I can do anything... but for today, I humbly admit that world peace is a collective effort. So what are we waiting for?

Maybe the term "waiting" is a little off the mark, but sometimes the things I desire most tend to take a little while before showing up. Have you noticed? Actually, there are also times when I think something and for whatever reason, poof! -- there it is. These events, however, are usually related to parking spaces :-)

So, as I was thinking about thinking, I was reminded of a term used by Esther Hicks when discussing the delayed manifestation of a given desire. She calls this effect "the buffer of time." What she is describing is the space between the thought and the thought becoming the thing. Stay with me here, this is good stuff.

This idea really helps me to have patience, and it is rather beneficial to us as humans at this juncture in our evolution when you stop to think about it. (It will be interesting to read this back and count the number of times I use the word think.) When I think something, or wish for, or pray for anything, there is the reality that we exist within the spacetime continuum. It can make me nuts when I have to wait for the money or the phone call or the lottery results, and I am ok with that. The truth is, I understand the benefit of the delay between the thought and the thought becoming the thing. I'm sure none of us would like the hateful thought we had toward our friend or spouse to immediately become reality, would we?

If I have the power of mind to push my thought beyond time and space but my thought isn't pure, I am in trouble. Do you get my drift? I am thankful that I don't get instant results with each thought. At the same time, that awareness aids me in becoming the master of my thoughts. I can't always control my thoughts and that is not really my aim as much as it is to improve my thoughts... especially my thoughts about others. I don't want to inflict pain on someone by thinking something about them that could, in fact, do just that. I want to think good thoughts about everyone. It is a goal, not a reality so let me be blunt.

Watch what you're thinking! There will come a day when we will collectively possess the power to create anything we want, just by thinking it. We are in this physical plane of existence to work that fact out in our minds now in order to improve the state of our world later. If we all truly wanted world peace, we would already have it in our present reality. The fact that we do not, speaks to the way many of us think. I actually know people who are "praying" for the end of the world. Ouch! Sort of shortsighted if you are actually praying for the end of the world. Maybe you should concentrate on what is happening in your world if you're so ready to pop out. I like it here, and I know my work is not done.

May you monitor your thoughts lovingly, without judgement. May you reflect on your thinking and simply improve the thought that you are not pleased with, again without judgement. And may you come to understand that what you think about others, even though they may not be aware that you are thinking of them, must become a thought created in love. It will help me in my quest to see this world enveloped in peace, and it will help you in creating thoughts that become good things.

Peace in your world, love in your life, and pure thoughts in your mind. -- jb

I would like to hear what you think about thinking, so comment below and let's get the peace train rolling. Thanks for reading. Now you can join my blog network on Facebook

truth

i see a world
where no one lies,
no one tries
to cover my eyes

and keep me from the truth

i see a life
where there's no strife
only barney fife's
nip it in the bud reply

before you hide the truth

dont sell me that
its tit for tat
you're not where its at
and i forgot your name

you are not the one

i thought i knew
the truth of you
but now we're through
gone so soon?

so i forgot your name

no...

you are not the one

i see a world where
people live and die with grace
karmic ocean dried up
leaves no trace

but for now
you are not the one

yet we are all one
we are all one
no matter what you've done

we are all one

______________________________

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Where are you going?

"where are you going?"

i've seen you here before
with that look in your eyes
so tired of not knowing
still hurt by the lies

i've heard you before
questioning the words
of the rulers that be
spreading fear
spreading hurt

where are you going?
do you even care?

round and round
and round you go
who knows where

my friend
i've got great news
stop all your looking
take off your shoes

sit awhile with me
and i will share with you
the love i've found
a love that is true

the kind of love
that lets me be me

that bears
all my hurt
all my shame

set me free...

i've seen your face
shadow covering it all
heart downcast, oh my soul

listen to his call --

where are you going?

can you hear the words --

where are you going?
________________________

listen...

come to me
you who are bruised

come to me
all that feel used

come to me
give you rest
give you truth --

come to me, come to me, come to me...

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Resubmission and revised version of the original.

This post ends with the promise that it will remain open. (I hate rambling,) Therefore, I have done just that... revised and extended it, even though you have not commented. I commented to myself, and this is the new version. The original resides in a "Thought for the day" on my Facebook page. So here is the resubmission:
_____________________________________________________

Mondays are ok too... aren't they?

So, why is it that we give Mondays such a bad wrap? I don't get it. I have come to look forward to things that challenge me, and Mondays just don't mean anything special to me. It could be because I own my own business... well, actually my beautiful wife Cornelia owns her own business and she kindly allows me to work with her. :-)

As a result of this economic freedom, I have come to appreciate Mondays just like I do Saturdays or Wednesdays. I like all of my days. Every day is potentially miraculous and being always an eternal optimist, I prefer to be expectant. And I don't expect Monday to be any different from any other day I've been given. Days are gifts. Ask a terminally ill person.

You may be asking yourself, Where are you going with this? If I knew that, I wouldn't blog. I like to blog my mind, and I have learned that my blogging is a desire for dialogue. So other than that, why even talk about a Monday? I just want to talk. I want to listen. I really do listen. I want to help others with issues that are of concern for them and be a part of the AHA! moment that is sure to come when 2 or more are gathered together... there is power in being together. I know, I've been there.

We were never meant to do life alone. You are not alone even if you feel that way right now. You are not alone no matter what you think.

You are not alone.

In fact, we are all connected. Have you ever come across someone and had a "feeling" that you should speak to them? Have you ever wondered what was really going on behind your friend's eyes when they made that comment? What did they really mean? Did you ask?

Did you ask?

Communication. The word itself is foreign to many. It strikes fear into the hearts of some. We walk around in the midst of people and we have our head down with our ipod turned up as loud as we can take it, all the while feeding our minds with whatever that sound emits. And we miss our chances... chances to interact, chances to be available, chances to make a person feel valued.

YOU miss chances to show anyone who is looking that you can commit a random act of truth or goodness and leave that moment better than it was before you entered into it! You may not care about that, but I wish you did.

I really wish you did.

If you did, I did, and everyone else did, the world would cease to be the way we have come to know it. Everything would change. Think about it. Everything would change. Think about it. Everything would change. Think about it.

Think about it!

It is almost certain that when you walk around in the midst of this mass of humanity with your eyes and ears open, you will have the opportunity to participate in some form of communication. Smile, nod, bow, open a door, lift a bag, wave, reach down, say yes to "them" instead of no. There are many ways to be a part of the human story. Have you ever given it any thought? Have you ever?

Ever?

I remember being in New York City a few years back. My wife Cornelia and I were walking down toward the theatre district. We were there with our friends Leisa, Yolanda, and Kim. At this time however, we were alone. We have traveled extensively, and there is a familiar scene that you cannot overlook, especially later in the evening or first thing in the morning. Them. What you and I see are referred to as "them."

We have always been aware of the destitute. Some refer to them as "them" even today. You've seen them. Those who live on the streets for whatever reason. I have come to appreciate and recognize their unique dependence on kindness. This dependence is a result, I believe, of the absolute possibility that kindness from someone, at some point, somehow might have opened their eyes to hope. It is never too late to offer hope to one who needs it.
We were walking and we came upon a little withered, bent over woman who spoke no English. She was disheveled, desperate, and cold. It was the dead of winter and she wore no more than a tattered sweater over a long dress. I watched as my wife bent down with her and took her red hands in hers. She immediately removed her fancy gloves and helped the startled woman into them. The woman smiled and rubbed her hands warmly as we fell all over ourselves to give her some money.

I have witnessed many acts of kindness. I have participated in my own. I have watched my son repeat, with precision, something I know he witnessed his father doing. I am alive with the knowledge that we hold the keys (goodness and truth) to the kingdom of heaven. We each have one of our very own. A key that is. This key is a divinely-inspired place that resides in each of us. It is actually aching to be utilized. It is purposeful, and I am convinced that with each act of goodness and truth, we bring ourselves closer to God and ever closer to using our key.

What do you think? Do you think? You should not only think, you should do something.

So for those that detest rambling as much as I, let's leave this discussion open... once more.
...as of August 5, 2008,there is still no evidence of world peace. So you can rest assured, we will revise this blog again.

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