A stunning (and important) piece from Michael Norton at TEDx Cambridge — ‘Can Money Buy Happiness?’ Surprisingly the answer is ‘yes’ but in the most fascinating way. Uncover some great research and enjoy the fun way Michael presents it.
At TEDxCambridge, Michael Norton shares fascinating research on how money can, indeed buy happiness — when you don’t spend it on yourself. Listen for surprising data on the many ways pro-social spending can benefit you, your work, and (of course) other people.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles on sustainable living and the environment revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
]]>In places from drought-stricken Mongolia to flood-stricken Thailand, from fire-ravaged Australia to Himalayan communities threatened by glacial melt, people will hold rallies reminding everyone what has happened in their own neighborhoods.
At each of those rallies, from Kenya to Canada, from Vietnam to Vermont, someone will be holding a…dot. A huge black dot on a white banner, a “dot” of people holding hands, encircling a field where crops have dried up, a dot made of fabric and the picture taken from above — you get the idea. We’ll share those images the world around, to put a human face on climate change–we’ll hold up a mirror to the planet and force people to come face to face with the ravages of climate change.
As part of this day DRREA – Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association will be holding a
‘Climate Impacts rally’
at Belgrave 10-11 am.
Meet outside Ranges Community Health Centre (next to Cameo Theatre).
The focus of rally will be highlighting the link between climate change and the predicted increase in extreme fire weather days.
Our blunt message will be that climate change equals more Black Saturdays. The incidence of extreme and catastrophic fire weather days is predicted by the IPCC to increase as a result of climate change. We could be next! Increased public awareness of this and other climate impacts is critical to decisive action on climate change. Help bring this message to other hills residents.
BYO climate change=bushfires placards and wear fiery colours (red/orange) Be seen and be heard
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles on sustainable living and the environment revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
]]>This is a thought-provoking movie that shares ideas that the main-stream media is not telling you about the inter-relatedness of the current financial situations, the environment and our ongoing health. Although many of us suspect that the “Occupy Wall Street” movement wass onto something with their claims of the inequality of the money flow, this movie explains the money flow of the world in a straight forward down to earth fashion.
www.thrivemovement.com
THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what’s REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream — uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.
Thrive also covers the solutions and how we can take back control of our lives.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
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and have now been included in a feature article in this month’s Connect magazine put out by Cardinia Council. This article features sustainability and is designed to help educate people about the benefits of sustainable living.
One of the important features mentioned in the article is the importance of good insulation in maintaining a stable household temperature all year round. In fact the temperature inside the house has never been outside the range of 11 – 28 degrees, irregardless of the temperature outside.
One of the other keys to achieving this stable ambient living temperature is the north facing placement of the house on the block, with all living areas being on the northern sideof the house.
The eaves are designed to allow maximum internal heat gain in the winter while allowing minimum amounts of heat inside the house in the hotter summer months. Also the windows are placed to allow maximum cross flow of air. This means the house needs no air conditioning and requires far less heating in winter than a traditionally designed house that has not taken into account sustainable housing design features.
Another feature that is often overlooked in building is the importance of light covered roofs to keep the temperature of the house more stable. It is sad to see new housing estates with house after house with dark colored roofs. It doesn’t matter to the builders as they aren’t the ones living in the houses, so, it is up to the people that employ the builders to insist on light coloured roofs and walls so that the houses become much more liveable in the summer and the need for air conditioners is minimised. If this feature was used more there would be less pressure put on the energy consumption on hot summer days and less need for polluting coal companies to insist their power stations need to be upgraded.
In fact here is an article called “The White Roof Project” from http://yef.org.au/m/projects/id/2e3b-white-roof-project which discusses this idea.
The article covers areas of collecting rainwater for household use as well as the garden as well as the benefits in growing your own fruit and vegetables to aid in food sustainability.
For more sustainable building features visit our article http://wheeloflifeblog.com/environment/tips-to-building-an-energy-efficient-house-2/
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles on sustainable living and the environment revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
]]>Cerainly different from an oil spill.
Just another reason to move towards 100% renewable energy.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles on sustainable living and the environment revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
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Sacred Economics with Charles Eisenstein – A Short Film from Ian MacKenzie on Vimeo.
Sacred Economics traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation, competition, and scarcity, destroyed community, and necessitated endless growth.
Today, these trends have reached their extreme – but in the wake of their collapse, we may find great opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
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The Best Form of Energy Efficiency is to Use the Free Energy of the Sun.
There are many features that can be included when designing and building a home to be sustainable or environmentally friendly. The following list gives many features that when incorporated can greatly increase star ratings and make a house much friendlier to live in. As an added bonus, heating and cooling costs are reduced which also reduces the impact on the greater environment.
Different climates will need an emphasis on different areas like window size and insulation so make sure you understand your area when designing your house. The list below works well in the cooler southern states of Australia.
| Design Feature | Environmental Benefit |
| House north facing on property – passive solar design | Reduced heating needed |
| Eaves designed for maximum solar energy efficiency | Reduced heat in house in summer but maximum heat in winter |
| West wall double brick | Less afternoon heat gain to house,Double brick acts as thermal storage – reduces heating costs |
| Double brick garage at west side of house | Less afternoon heat gain to house |
| Colourbond light green roof | Light colour roof for less summer thermal gain to be stored in the roof area – less cooling required |
| Gutters larger design | Maximum water flow to tanks |
| Mesh to all gutters | Reduced leaf collection so Maximum water flow to tanks, Improved fire safety |
| Double glazed composite timber/aluminium windows | Improved thermal efficiency Inside timber improves energy and feel of the houseExternal aluminium for improved fire safety |
| Windows –North side – largestWest – smallestEast – mediumSouth | Maximum solar gain in winter (eaves protect in summer)Minimise summer thermal gainMorning sun onlyDesigned for maximum light transfer as no sun from south side to utilise |
| Lined drapes throughout | Improved thermal efficiencyKeeps heat in during winterCan be used to keep heat out in summer |
| Gas space heater flued to outside of house | Only heating needed in energy efficient house |
| Ceiling fans, | Circulates air and heat to reduce heating costs in winter and improves cooling in summer |
| Living areas on north side of house | Reduce need for heating |
| Windows in each room | Reduce need for electronic lighting |
| Low energy lighting in all rooms | Reduce cost for electronic lighting |
| Windows designed for maximum air flow | Faster cooling in summer, improved air quality |
| Solar hot water, gas boosted | Reduced reliance on water heating. Booster is turned off 4-6 months a year. North roof, unshaded |
| Water tanks plumbed to house – 23000 litre | Also plumbed for mains water in emergency but not used |
| All downpipes lead to underground pit before flowing into water tank | Leaves and other rubbish that fall in gutters collect at lowest point to keep tank water clean. |
| Grey water diversion valves | Diverts bathroom and laundry water to garden for improved water efficiency |
| Low flow shower heads | Improved water efficiency |
| Plumbing in same corner of house (kitchen, bathroom, laundry) | Reduced water heating costs as hot water moves through pipes |
| Internal toilet fans, wired to lights | Less energy needed to control odours – no smell |
| Tallow wood parquetry floor throughout | Stained with oil to avoid off-gassing far cleaner than carpets – doesn’t collect dust |
| Timber staircases | Stained with oil to avoid off-gassing anti-clockwise to improve chi energy flow |
| Foil-board and batts insulation | all external walls (1.5+2.0), roof (3.5) and under floor (1.5), |
| Batts insulation to vertical roof walls | (3.5) |
| All foil-board insulation joins taped to reduce draughts | Improved insulation efficiency |
| All bats fitted exactly to space not squashed | Improved insulation efficiency – compressed insulation reduces R values |
| Soundproofing insulation (2.0) to 1st floor ceiling and internal walls, | Decreased sound transfer between levels/ rooms |
| All doors, windows, wall joins sealed to reduce draughts, airtight house | Less heating, cooling, Need to make sure and open windows to keep air quality healthy not stale. |
| Stainless Steel mesh around balcony | Improved fire safety |
| Stainless Steel posts around North and West | Improved fire safety |
| Low solar flow through Laserlite roofing on west facing balcony | Less afternoon heat gain to house |
| High light flow through, maximum solar flow through Laserlite roofing on south facing veranda | Reduce need for electronic lighting in south rooms, maximum heat transfer |
| Verandas with panoramic views on 2nd floor and rear of house | Good chi energy flow |
| 2.7m ceilings with2.4m timber doors throughout, | Improved feng-shui energy flow |
| Curved walls throughout | Improve chi energy flow, slow and gentle |
| Curved driveway | Improve chi energy flow, slow and gentle |
| House square – no corners missing | Feng-shui – no health/ energy areas missing from house |
| 2/3 acre of flat land with multiple fruit trees and raised vegetable gardens | Food sustainability |
| Water tank for vegetable garden – 9000 litre | Water efficiency – mains water not used |
| Garden beds mulched | Water efficiency – less evaporation |
| Trees on west fence line | Minimise summer thermal gain to house |
| Plants in various rooms throughout house | Improved air quality |
For more information on building Sustainable Homes email Linda
]]>The gifts we are born with and those that we work to develop throughout our lives vary in form and function. Some we find use for every day while others are only useful in specific circumstances. Yet many times we overlook opportunities to share our unique gifts with others. It may be fear of criticism that holds us back or the paralyzing weight of uncertainty. Ultimately, we doubt that our innate talents and practiced skills can truly add value to others’ lives. But it is the world as a whole that benefits when we willingly share our gifts. Whether you have been blessed with the ability to awaken beautiful emotions in others through art or industry, or your aptitudes transmit more practical advantages, your gifts are a part of who you are. As you make use of those gifts as best you can, be assured that your contribution to worldly well-being will not be overlooked.
Your personal power is defined in part by your gifts. To use your talents is to demonstrate to the world that you understand yourself and are truly attuned to your capabilities. Your earthly existence provides you with ample opportunity to explore your purpose, to utilize your skills in a life-affirming way, and to positively touch the lives of others while doing so. Yet you may feel that your gifts are not as valuable or worthy of attention as those of others and thus hide them away. However, every gift lying dormant in your soul has the potential to fill a void in someone else’s life. Just as your existence is made richer by the love, support, friendship, aid, and compassion of others, so, too, can you add richness to their lives. Your natural ability to soothe hurt, inspire compassion, bake, dance, knit, organize, or think outside the box can be a boon to someone in need.
As you embrace your gifts and allow their light to shine, you will discover that more and more opportunities to make use of them arise. This is because your gifts are a channel through which the universe operates. By simply doing what you are good at and also love to do, you make a positive difference. The recognition you receive for your efforts will pale in comparison to the satisfaction you feel when fulfilling your innate potential.
http://www.dailyom.com/
Remember to be happy it is up to you.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
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azon. This is the first of our Kindle books to be published so we are very excited at this next phase of our book publishing journey.
Did you know that there have been more than 4 million Kindles sold in December and leading up to Xmas Amazon was selling Kindles at the rate of $1 million a week. Amazon is now selling twice as many eBooks as Hard cover books so it is great that we can be part of this revolution.
In this book we go over different types of meditation and explain how a beginner can get started and benefit from the great benefits that are available.
When you purchase this eBook you can join us and let us help you on your meditation journey.
For too many people, the word “meditation” conjures up the picture of a bearded man sitting cross-legged in front of an entrance to a cave or high on a mountaintop maybe even chanting the word “om”.
Today there are many types of meditation and most of them are directed at achieving a level of relaxation or stress relief. Traditionally meditation was not intended for this purpose, relaxation was the side effect if you like. Just imagine for a moment, if you like, that bearded fellow sitting on the mountain peak in deep meditation or even in his day to day life.
Now, if you have ever met one of these people you would find that they are so relaxed, that if they relaxed any more I am sure they would probably stop breathing or be dead. So they definitely don’t meditate to relax.
Traditionally meditation was (and still is) used for spiritual growth, i.e. becoming more conscious; obtaining Wisdom; becoming more aware and finding our True Self… or, as we believe, seeing the truth. There are many definitions, beliefs, dogmas and traditions associated with meditation and what we are endeavouring to present to you is the result from our own journey with meditation.
Meditation is about mastery of the mind. To be able to maintain a calm inner awareness, balance and clarity not just in meditation but also in daily life.
To do this is simple yet hard at the same time.
Have you ever noticed how your mind jumps from thought to thought, like a monkey jumping from branch to branch? Well, meditation is about taming that monkey. It is about keeping the mind focused and in control.
There are many Misconceptions about Meditation, such as “Meditation is turning off your thoughts or making your mind a blank.” While you can experience Inner Quietness in meditation we are not trying to kill the monkey. Quieting the mind happens effortlessly
It is also commonly thought that Meditation is difficult and requires great concentration.
This brings a reminder of a teacher who used to tell the story of a great master and his pupils where one day one of the pupils said to the master.
“Master if I practice your teachings how long would it take for me to become enlightened?”
To this the master replied, even though there was no real answer “maybe 10 years”
The student then said “But master, if I try really hard and put a lot of hard work into practicing what you are teaching, with much effort then how long would it take?”
To which the master replied “maybe 20”
You see, meditation can be learnt easily and practice is only as hard as we make it.
Learn how you can benefit from the experience we have amassed in this book and go over the different types of meditation that explain how a beginner can get started and benefit from the great benefits that are available.
You can purchase this Kindle eBook at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BICKCU and you can join us and you will be helped on your meditation journey.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
]]>The issue is not that they don’t have the talent or interest to find their soul purpose, in fact, it is far simpler.
For many people it is a struggle for them to fully understand their purpose because they haven’t woken up to – or are only partially awake to – their unique individual place in the world as a whole unit. Most people hold on to old, limiting beliefs of themselves and the world in general. Many, many people don’t realise the significance of the statement
“everyone and everything in the world and universe is interconnected.”
When people become overwhelmed by all the changes in the world around them, most people live their lives within a “very small story”. As a result, of doing this they confine themselves to a “small self.”
This is the real reason why so many people feel that they don’t have a purpose, or that they aren’t able to actually *live* the life they were born to live.
The first secret in your journey towards activating your life’s purpose and being able to live a purpose driven life is to develop new beliefs about yourself and about your role in the world and its future.
If you want to live a fulfilling purposeful life, first you must fully understand the challenges and opportunities of your life along with those of the larger world today. That is really the only way any of us can be truly creative individuals and find the way we can be of service to the world.
There are a number of things that need to be recognised in order for a full understanding of the shifts needing to take place for you to cultivate your sense of compassion and of the infinite possibilities available at this moment in time.
These understandings of life are:
- Become aware of who and what you are and what you need to become in order to be able to deal with the complexity of our current time and become aware of how the world, as a whole, is evolving.
- It is believed by many that human societies are in the process of re-patterning. Social constructs are dissolving and whole new stories are trying to emerge. Recognise how this is affecting you (and everyone around you) and see how this is affecting your question “What should I do with my life?”
- All over the world, how we conduct business and commerce and how we interact with others is shifting. This is perhaps the largest and most important social event of the last five thousand years, because commerce impacts almost everything in our lives.
- The rise and fall of different cultures is changing daily-we are swiftly moving towards a planetary civilization that accentuates the uniqueness of each culture while blending them together in a true case of multiculturalism. Think of the great fusions of food and of music and of beliefs that have already taken place since the 2nd world war.
- There are completely new orders of spirituality that are emerging that are not about religion. The new lessons on spirituality are giving us a view of ourselves that we never had before. For the first time ever, we are recognising that we do not just live in the universe, but that the universe lives in us and we are all connected.
When you take all of these ideas together, you can recognise that there is a whole system pattern shift that is happening all around us.
In order to flow with this journey and recognise how it will affect your understanding of your soul purpose it begins by letting go of old beliefs and patterns to make room for the new beliefs and capacities that will empower you to awaken to and live your higher purpose.
Once you recognise this need to shift your ideas around yourself and your place in the universe you will activate your RAS (reticular activating system) and you will begin to see things you need and the answers to your questions on how to change your life in order to discover your unique soul purpose.
Be open to what the universe puts in your path and willing to move through your lessons even if they are challenging. In addition, remember the best way to grow is through adversity. When you find yourself in a situation that you find difficult and are able to move through it you will look back and recognise the value of the situation. How often have you heard people say about a disastrous situation that in retrospect it was the best thing that happened to them as it allowed them to move ahead on a different path on their life’s journey.
Look for your own life’s lessons and see them as part of a bigger picture. Learn to recognise your place in the world and your life purpose will become clearer every day.
John and Linda Ballis
Wheel of Life book
For more helpful tips on balancing your life and further articles revisit this blog regularly, http://wheeloflifeblog.com or go to our website http://wheeloflifebook.com and purchase our book “The Wheel of Life’s 8 Keys to Success”
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