“The Elevated Eleven” tips regarding Philanthropy

"If service is the rent you pay for your existence on this earth, are you behind in your rent?" Robert G Allen

“Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism” by Nobel Laureate, Muhammad Yunus is our book of choice for our Philanthropy discussion this week. Business Week made these comments regarding the author: "[Yunus] means to reform capitalism to make it a tool for ending poverty. Think of him as Gandhi with a BlackBerry.  Now Yunus is back in the public eye with a concept he calls social business. This form of capitalism, he believes, can make progress against poverty in ways that governments and traditional charities have not done. He lays out his concept in his new book. It's an inspiring volume, full of practical information for people who are motivated to try out his ideas."

What if you could harness the power of the free market to solve the problem of poverty? Grameen Foundation board member and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the quest for a more humane world and tells the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today.  In “Creating World Without Poverty,” Yunus goes beyond micro credit to pioneer the idea of social business—a completely new way to use the creative vibrancy of business to tackle social problems from poverty and pollution to inadequate health care and lack of education. Former President Jimmy Carter said of Yunus, “By giving poor people the power to help themselves, Dr. Yunus has offered them something far more valuable than a plate of food—security in its most fundamental form.”

Former President Bill Clinton's philanthropy philosophy has more to do with ideas than with money.  His idea is to gather together those with the ideas to help those in need and those with the money to facilitate the help and find creative solutions for the betterment of mankind.  Philanthropy is one of society’s mechanisms for addressing both the acute and chronic challenges that emerge in the world around us.  It is voluntary and independent, and to the degree it is rooted in our basic willingness to help others, it is timeless.  Indeed, the word philanthropy literally means “love of humankind.” Philanthropy is “the giving of time, money, and know-how to advance the common good.  Philanthropy is love, benevolence and generosity within the human condition. 

Philanthropy in its purest, and therefore most rare and elusive form, is the giving of oneself or one’s means for a purpose that is selfless and good.  It can be done in small ways and large ways.  We hope that you are inspired to really look into your heart and reach out to those who are hurting and in need…and help in any you can.  Each one of us makes a difference when we put forth “our” effort, whatever that may be.  So, please, do what you can do from your heart…it is “The Heart of the Matter.”

“The Elevated Eleven” tips on Philanthropy

1.     Give often from and with your heart

2.     Visit HelpOthers.com

3.     Find a local charity to give to…there is always a need…search local charities and you’ll find one that fits

4.     Give often...help is needed by so many…not just during the holidays…help is always on time

5.     Volunteer your time to a local food bank

6.     Volunteer to serve or feed the Homeless

7.     Give again…please…from and with your heart

8.     Visit the Bill Gates Foundation or the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation…you can help

9.     Give for the sake of giving…it’s good for your heart

10.  Find a way to help children…they did not ask to be here…they are the most vulnerable…please help

11.  Visit YourElevatedLife.com for more information on Philanthropy and Giving, Inspiration, Happiness and Peace of Mind

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams! 

The "Elevated Eleven" for Gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melodie Beattie~

Researchers, Psychologists, and Mental Health experts have collaborated regarding gratitude research and they all agree that these benefits are part of an emerging study. As we go forward on our quest for Inspiration, Happiness and Peace of Mind, we always encourage the practice and awareness of the “Elevated Eleven” benefits regarding gratitude.

Everyone has the opportunity to be uplifted. Gratitude is really an individual choice to develop a consistent habit of expressing heartfelt gratitude. There is no greater power in the Universe than gratitude. Being sincerely thankful is the demonstration of universal love. There is nothing that you cannot be, do or have once you learn to be grateful for everything in your life.  Feeling and expressing Gratitude makes life better for us and for those with whom we share our lives. Until next time…wishing you a life filled with gratitude.

“The Elevated Eleven” benefits of Gratitude…

1. Practicing feeling more gratitude leads to higher levels of happiness.

2. When we feel gratitude our energy changes and expands into kindness.

3. When we reciprocate a favor it causes an upward spiral of helping and support.

4. Gratitude creates better social and personal relationships.

5. Gratitude Journals are perfect…Check this out and get yourself one…Even Happier…52 week Gratitude Journal@yourelevatedlife.com 

6. Being grateful makes a healthier person in general.

7. Practicing gratitude helps us to have a higher level of control in our environment and personal growth.

8. We develop positive ways of coping with difficulties with gratitude.

9. We sleep better, experience a higher vitality, and have more optimism when we’re grateful.

10. Expressing gratitude helps us become more spiritually aware.

11.  If you would like more tips on how to increase gratitude in your life…go to http://yourelevatedlife.com

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!  

Forgiveness Is Choosing to Love

"Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions." - Gerald G. Jampolsky

A few months ago I read a great book by Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now, a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.  In this book he discusses forgiveness or the lack thereof.  He says that un-forgiveness is an emotion which left unchecked can survive inside of you for days or weeks, or join with other emotions of a similar frequency that have merged and become the pain-body, a parasite that can live inside of you for years, feed on your energy, lead to physical illness, and make your life miserable.  If your mind is holding on to a grievance pattern such as blame, self-pity, or resentment, it means that you haven't forgiven. Non-forgiveness is often toward another person or yourself, but it may just as well be toward any situation or condition   that your mind refuses to accept.  Forgiveness means to relinquish your grievance and let go of grief. It happens naturally once you realize that your grievance serves no purpose except to strengthen a false sense of self. Forgiveness is to offer no resistance to life - to allow life to live through you. The alternatives are pain and suffering, a greatly restricted flow of life energy, and in many cases physical disease.

What I found to be true regarding forgiveness is that many of the authors and philosophers that I read all arrive at the same conclusion.  Love and personal forgiveness are the keys to fundamental transformation. Love is by far the most important thing of all. It is said to be the Golden Gate of Paradise. Pray for the understanding of love, and meditate upon it daily.  Love is absolutely invincible. Forgiveness is an integral part of the Pathway of Love, which is open to everyone in all circumstances, and upon which we may step at any moment – even at this moment if you like – it requires no formal introduction and has no conditions whatever.  It does require that we begin steadfastly to expel from our mentality every thought of personal condemnation, of resentment for old injuries, and of everything that is contrary to the law of Love. We must not allow ourselves to hate a person or anything whatever.   Forgive and let go of hate.  Love will heal you.  The moment we truly forgive, we have reclaimed our power and we are free. We have a new beginning. Researchers have become interested in studying the effects of being unforgiving and being forgiving. Evidence is mounting that holding on to grudges and bitterness results in long-term health problems; Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers numerous benefits.

Forgiveness has been found to be associated with lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as stress relief. Forgiveness has and can bring long-term health benefits for your heart and overall health.  Forgiveness produces a reduction in negative thoughts and behaviors and that leads to strengthened spirituality and an overall feeling of well-being in general. Forgiveness promotes positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and the benefits of forgiveness spill over into our total life experience.  If you are just beginning to more intentionally add love and forgiveness to your life, read through some of the benefits agreed upon by health experts, philosophers and many authors on the subject.  Share the “Elevated Eleven” benefits with a friend or family member and support each other in becoming more loving and forgiving.  Forgiveness is a new healthy process that will lead to a more inspired, happier you who will be able to experience peace of mind on a regular basis.

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

The Elevated Eleven

“The Elevated Eleven”…is a special segment that we are going to include on every Radio show.  Anybody can give you the “top ten” but we deal with “Elevation” so we think that “The Elevated Eleven” is appropriate.  “The Elevated Eleven” will always consist of practical tips to help you live your most “Elevated Life.”  They are easy and everybody can do these…you will “Elevate”…if you make the effort…it’s that simple…just do them.

"The Elevated Eleven" tips to assist you in gaining Peace of Mind.
1.BEGIN your day with a positive spiritual focus, either an affirmation or a prayer…include it with your coffee...focus on this...first thing.
2.REDUCE the amount of time you spend engaging with the newspaper or TV.
3.DO NOT engage in negative conversation or with negative people…simply excuse yourself.
4.LEARN to REALLY forgive yourself as well as others.
5.PRACTICE being patient, kind, and tolerant.
6.DON’T take things too personally…we all are a part of a much larger picture.
7.PRACTICE being a neutral observer…diminish your judgment…just observe.
8.BE PRESENT…in the NOW…not reliving yesterday or imagining tomorrow…everything is perfect in the present moment…live it.
9.BE GRATEFUL and SERVE SOMEONE everyday…you can do something for someone everyday even if its just to say a prayer or extend words of kindness or a smile.
10.MAKE AN EFFORT to learn meditation, yoga and/or tai-chi or chi-gong. We are responsible for our personal condition…Focusing mind exercises and physical exercises keep us fit and healthy.
11.Spend time every day observing nature. Really listen to the birds or the ocean or really look at a flower…just truly be still and aware for a few minutes.

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

Victim or Willing Participant

False beliefs about ourselves are the delusions which darken the intuitive vision, and when we lift the veil of delusion and see ourselves as we are, thus putting away error of thought and perception, then pain and discomfort drop from us as naturally as leaves in autumn drop from trees. Malinda Cramer

We are“human beings” being what exactly? There is much drama in our society on a daily basis involving all people in all walks of life. We have daily episodes of drama throughout the world and we seem to like it. We all have heard that if there were nothing but “good news,” no one would be interested.Do you think that’s true? Are we addicted to the drama and the victimization of others and ourselves? If so, what does that mean to each of us personally? Are we the Victims of a negative society and do we have any personal responsibility regarding negativity?



We apparently have no issues with talking at great lengths about our misery or our illness or what we hate or what we dislike or what we can’t stand about someone or how awful Susie or Joe behaved or what hatefulness was being gossiped about around the water cooler or other negative sources that we freely choose to allow in our lives. There are many people who find it easy to look for only what's wrong. They have lived around negativity for so many years that they have become numb to their actions and its just part of what they do without any thought whatsoever. They are quick to say what’s wrong with other people, with their lives, their work, their day, their relationships, their conduct, or any of several other examples. Many people start their day by turning on the TV and start their day with the negative influx of comments and then experience their day repeating and adding to the negativity and finding someone to blame…seems like lots of people are looking for someone to blame.

The choice that is always present would be the opposite thinking process, that of a lifestyle that involves looking at things with a higher awareness and different perception. It requires that you see and understand the positive aspects of people and situations - instead of just focusing on the negative. If our goal is to produce and live a positive and happy life, then practicing negativity is not the path. Too often we get caught up with the negative opinions, attitudes, actions and thoughts of those around us finding ourselves “in it” and in the end, we have created a negative experience that leaves us unhappy, depressed, hopeless and angry. Not understanding how we got there, we blame someone else and move forward carrying the negative baggage with us. After blaming someone else, then what?

When people engage in negative thinking are they just not thinking “right thoughts” or are they so used to being the Victim that this environment seems like a comfort zone or is there another possibility? In our daily dramas, maybe we are addicted to the drama and we think being the Victim feels good. Everybody seems to be engaged in the drama and having the same thoughts, so why not join in, right? So are we just “fitting in” and “doing what everybody else does” and therefore we are just part of society repeating what’s all over the television and elsewhere. Maybe we are just not aware of what we are doing. Is that possible, to not be aware? Are we engaging in something that we are not aware of or do we somehow believe that negative thinking and talking is acceptable? If your role became something other than a Victim, would your conversation change? There have been many times when I have asked someone who said something negative if they really meant what they said and the most common reply was, “Well, I didn’t mean it that way.” Most of them were angry that I actually asked the question even though I just repeated exactly what they said! I wonder if there is no “thought” given to what is said sometimes.

Maybe negative thinking feels realistic and it helps us “fit in.” Maybe negative thinking and behavior is a lot more fun than positive thinking...maybe its easier…maybe that’s why we do it. Are we truly addicted to the negativity and the dramas? Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without drama and playing the Victim? What would happen if instead of spewing the negative phrases you just said nothing…how uncomfortable would you become? It takes courage to be the “one” that does NOT engage in the negativity. Just politely remove yourself and see what happens. I have done that before and the results were fascinating and my office became a positive environment rather than a gossip hall. And believe it or not, the people in the office were as grateful and as interested in the experiment as I was. Everyone’s life changed dramatically because the thoughts that were being held and behaviors that were being acted out were transformed. “No Negativity Allowed” became our motto.


Positive thinking requires responsibility and consistency. Our belief that the easy button of negative thinking is actually appropriate, and that it works for us is the mistaken perception that leads to a life of “existence and going along” rather than one of “living and being a positive creative force.” We are what we think. Know what thoughts you are holding. If your life is not happy and things don’t seem to be working out for you, spending your time in negativity is a contributing factor. That is what manifesting your negativity means. We can use exactly the same principle used to engage in the negativism to firmly place ourselves in a positive, productive lifestyle. We are the ones who create our feelings and experiences based on what we think. We can chose to hold and interact with only positive thoughts but as it is, we turn away and manifest negativity by blaming someone or something because we are not getting what we want. We are the decision makers of the thoughts we hold and entertain. We can dissolve the negativity instantly if we can just stop empowering our thoughts of separation and our feelings of inadequacy through playing the Victim. Positive thinking has been shown over and over again to improve performance and the quality of life.

Are you the Victim engaging in Negative thought energy dramatized to the max and joining in on negative conversation every chance you get and living the consequences of negative thoughts like worry or anger or jealousy or are you a practitioner of Positive thought energy that creates a life of abundance that is worry and stress free? Everyday brings new choices to you and remember that the thoughts you hold create your life experiences. Take an objective look and determine what your life experiences are made of. A change can happen in a heartbeat; all it takes is just one thought from you. You can be a Victim…or not.

About the Author
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife. and Your ElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!