A few things for you this holiday weekend...

In addition to wishing those of you in the US a happy (and safe) Independence Day weekend, here are a few things of note you should check out if you haven't already... On the Today show: Get out of your rut! Tune into the Today show this Monday, July 6th to catch me during the 10:30 AM half hour. I've been asked to share some insights on overcoming obstacles and getting out of a rut (which I've been hearing quite frequently these days)... Don't miss it. You never know what'll happen live! Thoughts on the Iranian election... Check out my latest article on the Iranian election, currently featured on Huffington Post. In addition to some insight on this important world topic, you'll explore how you learn and grow from this on a grand scale... Read it here (and be sure to join in on the discussion)... Tribute to Michael Jackson And finally, in tribute to the beloved Michael Jackson, I was inspired to write a piece in honor of him. Whether or not you're a fan of Michael, I think you may find interesting the notion that no one who was normal ever made history... Click here to check it out and leave your respects... To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc.

Axis of Evil... Not-So-Much

Please show your support by leaving comments on the Huffington Post article here and by passing it on to other harmonically-minded individuals. President Bush's January 2002 State of the Union Address, where he coined his "Axis of Evil" terminology to describe Iraq, Iran and North Korea, was an attempt to fit entire governments, populations and countries into a catchphrase box. Marketing propaganda at its very best. The trouble is, these countries are populated with real flesh-and-blood people--mothers, fathers, grandparents, children--just like us. While the media loved repeating the "evil" line for a while (sound bites are sexy and fun!), this good-guys-versus-bad-guys approach to foreign policy turned mostly into a public relations nightmare, empowering the hardliners it was meant to control. Energy flows where attention goes. Plus, I shudder to think how many millions of our fellow human beings felt judged and labeled unjustly. We haven't just been watching a backwards nation... We've been watching ourselves. Haven't we too been just as backwards in our thinking, believing people to be "less than" because they're different from us? Very few stop to realize that "evil" is just the word "live" spelled backwards. Evil is nothing more than to live in a backwards way. Think about it. How evil have many of us been with our backwards way of thinking? America's teens, for instance, grew up during the Bush years, and until very recently, didn't know Iran as anything other than "evil." The marketing and conditioning had set in--and set in well. "We should nuke bomb the whole country," I heard several teens say, after learning that its president disavowed the Holocaust. In their minds, it was easy to imagine wiping a country off the map when populated by a group of evil (and not individual) human beings. But maybe our teens' judgments (as well as our own) have shifted, after seeing images of tens of thousands of beautiful, passionate and energized Iranians protesting in the streets for their right to vote for a more progressive, democratic leader and future. The fact that courageous Iranians are willing to lose their lives for a fraction of the freedom most of us in this country take for granted is hopefully not lost on our youth--or their parents. Apart from color, race, country, or religion, it's becoming impossible to ignore that all human beings are the same and, ultimately, want the same things. Of course, we reach for different things at different times, and we come to the point when we're ready to stand up for those rights at different intervals. But shift happens. It's evolution, baby... And it can't be stopped. You Can't Turn Back the Clock Evolution is inevitable. It can't be stopped... Not for long. The human spirit is always for fuller expression and expansion. What we're witnessing in Iran and across the globe, where people are showing their solidarity for these expanding souls standing up for their rights, is a profound evolution of spirit. As consciousness expands, people once held down are awakening, beginning to say, "I'm worth more than this, and I deserve the rights and freedom to make my own choices and have a say in my own life." Consider Obama's election. Don't you think his election into the highest office in the land is certainly evidence of a huge shift in our country? One of the most obvious signs that consciousness is expanding was on Inauguration Day, where this son of a Muslim, said: "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth." How did we go from eight years of Christian supremacy to honoring Muslims and nonbelievers? Man, what a leap! Although Obama's statement got some people's DNA twisted tighter than a drum, the truth is that this evolution is as natural to life as birth itself. And, like the birthing process, it's difficult and challenging. Think about it: for anything new to live something first has to die. For you to be born to this lifetime, you had to die to the warmth and safety of the womb (where anything you needed was delivered immediately). Creation and destruction are two opposite poles of the same dance, and we must be willing to dance the dance. We must be willing to let go of the old to come into a new level of experience. Check history and you'll find that all profound transformation and growth always begins with a shift in consciousness. Just months ago, Iranians were part of the Axis of Evil. Now they're our brothers and sisters fighting for their freedom while we cry at their losses and pray for their safety. A Shift from "Me" to "We" to "All" The way I see it, there are three expanding levels of awareness with each expansion inclusive of the last. Humanity, helped in large part through the internet, is beginning a shift from the first and second levels to the third. Whether you like it or not, again, this process cannot be stopped. Let me explain. In the first level, Egocentric, it's all about "me." Me. Me. And me. In the second level, Ethnocentric, it's all about "we." Me and my friends (who are just like me--Christian, Jewish, American, white, black, male, female, wealthy, what have you). But, in the third level, Worldcentric, it's about "all." We can't help but go from "me" to "me and my buds" to "all." If you look at Obama's speeches, starting with his campaign speeches to his Inaugural address to his recent speech to the Middle East at Cairo University, Obama repeatedly makes "world statements." This snippet from his Cairo speech is an example of both an "All" and "Expanded Consciousness" mentality: "...There are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy." In other words, the world is slowly starting to understand that we can't forsake an entire group or population of people--no matter how far away or how foreign--because of a few Ego or Ethnocentric political and business leaders. All must be valued. Inclusion and integration is paramount. How Would Gandhi Think, Feel and Act? We would do well at this juncture in history to remember that Gandhi arose out of a culture of oppression, becoming a pioneer of non-violence and civil disobedience. His phrase, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," is perhaps one of the world's most inspirational slogans. His success in rallying his nation to freedom no doubt fuels the fight of so many others. If you've followed my work in any way, you've no doubt heard me speak on going "3 for 3." Going 3 for 3 is what happens when your thoughts, your feelings and your actions are all firing simultaneously and in alignment, creating a powerful, undeniable magnetic field. Gandhi knew what it meant to live in alignment with his thoughts, feelings and actions all working toward one goal: freedom for his people. We're observing the same thing now in Iran. This is not a populace who is just thinking and feeling that they need to be free with rights. They're thinking, feeling and taking ACTION! It takes a certain level of awakening and awareness to get to the point where you're ready to act. An idea usually has to germinate for a long time and gain substantial emotional energy behind it before people are courageous enough to shake, rattle and roll. And yet, that's exactly what we're seeing. Pain Precedes Change You've heard it before: People don't change unless and until they experience enough pain with the way things are (some say that's the "gift" of pain). A woman doesn't stop eating cookies until the pain of having thunder thighs is worse than the pain of not downing Oreos. A man doesn't quit his job until the pain of working for his maniacal boss is greater than the idea of living out of a cardboard box. Only then do we say: "Hey! Enough already!" Only then do we figure out how to think, feel and act in a different direction. In the case of America, it took eight years of Bush to help us elect a new, more inclusive leader. Sure, some were scared shitless to have someone with a middle name of "Hussein" leading a Christian nation at this time in history (with Muslim roots, no less). But, it was a hell of a lot scarier not to change, which would guarantee nothing but more of the same! The world is evolving, on that you can count. How quickly or how pain free, only time will tell. I know to my core, however, that freedom is eventually inevitable, for all people. The world can't stop evolving, even if we want her to. Neither can her people. This is not Disneyland, and you can't get off the ride. And, although birthing is hard, what choice do we have? Just suppose a mother during labor said, "I'm not going to go through with this after all. This process is just too damn hard." Would that stop the baby from coming? Would it stop pushing, turn around and go back up for another ten years? Hardly! Once spirit starts to birth forward, new life must happen. It's happening... Do you feel it? Better yet: Are you willing to Think, Feel and Act it? To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc.

A Tribute to Michael Jackson. No One Who Was Normal Ever Made History

Please show your support by leaving comments on the Huffington Post article here and by passing it on to other harmonically-minded individuals. I was shocked! And I'm sure you were too, hearing about Michael Jackson's death. But the more I thought about it... There were, unfortunately, too many warning signs for any one of us to really be that shocked. Almost immediately, the news began recounting the many controversies of his turbulent life. Michael changed the world of music as much if not more than any other performer--that point is not in contention. Despite the many dramas and accusations lobbied against him over the years (most significantly regarding his relationship with young boys) and even in the midst of what had been disappointing music sales, Michael Jackson never lost his title of the "King of Pop." I remember watching the video for "Thriller" in utter amazement when it was released on MTV back in 1983. Never before had there been anything even close to this mini-movie in terms of style and talent. As hard as I tried, I never could figure out how to do that darn moonwalk. Very few people could understand Michael's enigmatic life, and I'm not suggesting that I'm unique in that regard. However, as a student of history, what I do understand is that Michael's life, when considered within the broader scope of highly creative people throughout history, was not really that unusual after all. For instance, let's consider Friedrich Nietzsche, the German existentialist born in 1844. Throughout his life, he was continually frail and plagued with illness, a consummate recluse, an alcoholic and considered very controversial for his day. His ideas on God made him a complete outcast to the conservative majority of his day. In college, I devoured Nietzsche mostly because he was provocative and deep. I also thought it was cool to be controversial. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" became my mantra. Ultimately, Nietzsche suffered a psychotic breakdown, had two strokes which partially paralyzed him and died of pneumonia, still in his fifties. Consider Walt Whitman, the nineteenth-century transcendentalist poet who continues to be one of the most influential poets in the world today. Yet in his time, many thought him to be a madman. His homosexuality or possible bisexuality just didn't fly in the Civil War years. He refused to commit himself to any one religion, stating that all were equally valuable. He spent considerable time alone, and after suffering a stroke near the end of his life, he was too weak to even lift a fork and knife. He wrote, "I suffer all the time: I have no relief, no escape: it is monotony--monotony--monotony--in pain." He died of pneumonia as well. In the realm of religion, consider the Christian prophet, the man known as Jesus. He was born of Jewish descent, and yet he was constantly breaking Jewish laws and butting heads with the religious leaders of his own heritage. Jesus too is documented on several occasions as going off by himself and spending significant time in solitude. In one particular case, he spent forty days and nights in the desert fasting. Pretty extreme. As you know, he was ultimately sentenced to death by crucifixion. We could certainly discuss more examples. While some may say that Michael Jackson shouldn't be considered in this crowd, I submit to you that Michael made every bit as much impact on the field of music and race relations as any of these greats did in their particular fields. The point is that those who leave a major impact on the world are not marching to the same drum as the mass majority. They often, as with Michael, live controversial and turbulent lives, and they're often greatly misunderstood. Isn't it unfortunate that if someone is ten feet ahead, they're considered a leader, but if someone is ten miles ahead, a target? Michael certainly had his share of playing the target for the media. It's easy to take shots at those at the top, particularly if they're "different enough." Even though Michael was acquitted on all counts in his court cases, it didn't matter. He would still be plagued with negative comments and jabs. The very creativity that brought the moonwalk, highly produced choreography and music that emotionally moved all ages and races was the same unique mind that drove him to live a very different life that defied societal norms. In a nutshell, when you're a unique thinker, you have a very hard time relating to mass consciousness. Small talk becomes painful, and your inner world more fulfilling than your outer world. This results in behavior that's often misinterpreted as being aloof, arrogant or sometimes downright weird, which is too bad because people have no idea how very lonely it can be at the top. Furthermore, the contributions of many of these leaders are often never appreciated until long after they're gone. Howard Gardner's research from Harvard University suggests that there are eight distinct types of intelligences. Musical intelligence is one of Gardner's eight categories. While most of the eight are not measured in school or society at large, except math and linguistic intelligence, they are all equally important and valuable. It's well known in the studies of human consciousness that, to quote Ken Wilbur, "the greater the depth you have, the less the span." In other words, when you're supremely brilliant in one particular area, you may show deficits in other areas. Read accounts of Einstein getting lost on his own campus walking from one class to the next, and you'll see that the structure of genius takes tremendous depth while often leaving little room for the "less important" issues of life. What often appears to be dysfunctional to the mass majority may just be the hyper-functional behaviors of a true genius with great depth in his field and a lack of concern or ability to relate in the more mundane things of life. So here's to the memory of a musical genius, a unique human being that will be an icon for generations. May we always remember as Michael told us in his music that to make a positive change in the world, we must first start with "the man in the mirror." Thank you, Michael. May you find the peace in the next life that you rightfully deserve. You made a positive difference. You leave a lasting legacy. While few understood you, you ignited our spirit and touched our emotions with your upbeat message and music. Your gifts will continue to play in our minds and hearts forever. James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc.

Interview with Marla Maples

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing my good friend, Marla Maples. Whether or not you're familiar with the fantastic things she's been up to these days, I think you’ll find this discussion very enlightening... Watch the entire interview online here...

Creating Absolute Wealth with James Arthur Ray

How many times have you heard these words lately: "In this economic climate..." Grab the podcast. Can the answer to today's economy really be this simple? Click here to change your relationship with money and wealth forever...

Here's how I got Harmonic Wealth published with a giant advance...

It's time to take intelligent, bold action to empower your life and career... How long have you wanted to, planned to, hoped for and even ached to write your own book? In these competitive times, a book with your name on it increases your market value, your credibility, your opportunities and your professional profile in every way. Not to mention, the process of becoming an author is incredibly fun and fulfilling! My award-winning, bestselling writing partner Linda Sivertsen (the "secret weapon" behind my SEVEN-figure book deal) can't wait to share with you how I attracted top executives from the biggest publishing houses in NY and created multiple publishing offers for Harmonic Wealth®, which became a New York Times bestseller. You may not know this, but you don't need to have a book written to get a non-fiction publishing deal. In fact, most literary agents and publishers don't want you to. All you need is a unique concept backed by a winning book proposal! Linda recently revealed her book proposal secrets in her first-ever teleseminar series, divulging the same secrets she used for me. Her three-week course, How to Writing a Winning Book Proposal & Land Your Publishing Deal, was a huge success! People wrote me raving and thanking me for introducing them to Linda. Many said they received far more than they were promised and that the price was a bargain. Others wrote that they'd missed out and wanted to know when she was doing it again. I have good news! You didn't miss out because I've asked Linda to turn the course into a product. Linda's unveiling it TODAY at a huge discount for immediate access... Linda will share with you countless strategies and samples of winning book proposals, and you'll hear directly from a bestselling author of five internationally acclaimed books to tell you how you can also make millions with your books after you've nailed the proposal... Let Linda do for you what she's done for me and many others by helping you craft a winning book proposal that finally lands you YOUR big book deal! Time is of the essence! The first 10 people who sign up will get a free half-hour phone mindstorming session with Linda... Click here for the details... To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International

Happy Father's Day!

As we near Father's Day, now's the time to acknowledge that active and dynamic quality he nurtured in you. Check out the video now (and remember to honor your father this weekend)! Grab the podcast. To your continued wealth and fulfillment, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc.