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 <<>>   VOLUME 2    <<>>   Issue 17  <<>>   August 27, 2004    <<>>

A Heartfelt Welcome
ARISE and be FREE
Your ARISE Article
Can I Get ARISE Outa You?
Poignant Ponderings
Giving  Back
Will You ARISE & Help Me?



Dear Valued Subscriber,

The dog days of summer are upon us and the leaves have just started to lose their brilliant green in this part of the world. Incidentally, I am located in Windsor  (referred to as the "banana belt" of Canada), which is south of Detroit and  almost parallel to San Francisco, believe it or not!

The Detroit River is still abuzz with pleasure boats and yachts of all kinds, especially during the weekends, and the Staten Island Ferry (bright orange) even chugged by a few weeks ago. The deep, concussive sounds of military helicopters fill the air several times a day and Coast Guard and Police boats endlessly patrol this international border. Sign of the times. But nothing beats the haunting sound of  fog horns, one long, too short, as the lake and ocean freighters signal each other as they pass in opposite directions.

I would like to mention my teen book project again, as school is about to begin (if it already hasn't in your area), and we have started the ball rolling collecting stories for "The Ultimate Teenager's Survival Guide".  We got a top feature in About.com and many more sites and groups are joining us in the attempt to create a book that will truly empower teenagers.

If you know of a school, or a teacher (a project for the upcoming school year?), or a community group/leader that is centered around teenagers, I strongly encourage you to visit our site, and immediately contact those persons to help spread the word. Send those people here. Thank you!

You read in this issue's email announcement that I refuse to strike out:-) There is definitely an issue with the Coupon-creating function of the software that drives People Building People, as my second attempt at offering the big discount resulted in a Coupon that was good for only a single subscriber. I DID create it correctly this time.

So, if you are interested in the original offer , don't act upon it from there, simply email me, and I will create a one-off coupon for you.

You know when during times of extreme busyness that you tend to often overlook things? Even important things. Well, the domain for my most favorite Internet project, The Internet Toy Drive (which raises tens of thousands of dollars each year for needy families at Christmas), expired without me noticing earlier in the year. Someone else has claimed it. So, I purchased the .org version and have now uploaded the entire site to that domain. I'll most certainly be asking for your help to expose this later in the year:-)

Speaking of helping children, I want to direct your attention to what I feel is a noble effort to help children all over the world. His name is Felix Ibay and he is a fellow Canadian entrepreneur. I believe you will really gravitate to his DWYL Project. I had the option of joining the ClickBank affiliate program but decided to simply point to his link so as to maximize his income in order to support his mission.

The writer of your ARISE Article is an amazing personal coach named Drew Rozell. I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Drew in Success: A Spiritual Matter, and quite frankly, his was one of the most intriguing interviews of all. I guarantee that you will totally enjoy Stare at the Light. Thank you Drew, for all that you do!

Now, please kick back (and if you can't right now, just click on the Print This Page icon at the top, scoop the pages from your printer and take it to bed with you:-) and enjoy this issue of ARISE!

As always, my greatest wishes for your complete success,

Rick Beneteau

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ARISE and be FREE

I'd love for you to take advantage of the following free gifts I've provided just to show my deep appreciation for your choosing to receive my publication:

Pearls of Success - My Free Inspirational eBook

Free PDF Chapter of my business eBook, Branding YOU and Breaking the Bank

The Articles - My Free Collection of Business Building Articles

My Inspirational Screensavers

Special Inspirational PDF Files

My 9/11 Tribute Song

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"I've read probably 1000 books on the topics of business, spirituality, and motivation. Rick Beneteau's book, 'Success: A Spiritual Matter,' is the best I've seen at addressing all these critical issues in one place."
Paul Meyers * TalkBiz News

"Astonishing. Unforgettable. Electrifying. 
It's a masterpiece."
Joe Vitale* author of "Spiritual Marketing," and "Hypnotic Writing,"

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YOUR ARISE ARTICLE

Stare at the Light
by Drew Rozell

I woke with a smile this morning. My bed was a cozy cocoon – silky sheets, soft pillows, the oh so comfortable comforter. And then there was Kerri’s warm body next to me, connected to another smiling face. We transitioned our conscious states gradually, awakened by the sunlight streaming through our window; there was no harsh alarm to jar us into the new day. Instead of rising, I lay there and just let my thoughts flow over how good everything felt and how much I appreciated everything in my life. And I grew excited to write this.

We all want to feel good. Deep inside, we know that when we feel good we attract more of that which makes us feel good. While this is such a simple formula, it’s surprising how difficult it can be to remain in a positive mood. In my conversations with folks, I’m convinced that maintaining a happy mood is the single biggest challenge we all face in attracting that which we desire.

Why is that?

I think the primary reason is that we have developed a bad habit of where we place our attention. We tend to let our minds focus on the things that we believe need fixing in our lives. If no problem is readily available, we often continue the search until we find what we are looking for. Our motivation underlying this habit is most likely well-intentioned –- we believe that by focusing on a problem we are somehow being "productive" and making our lives better.

Yet stop and think about this habit for a moment. Does focusing your energy on having to fix stuff feel good? No, it doesn't. Does the process ever end? No, there's just an endless stream of things that are problems that need to be fixed.

What this habit of thought does is keep your attention on what you do not have, rather than all that you do have. When we come from a feeling of lack, we create a greater feeling of lack. When we come from a place of abundance, we create a greater feeling of abundance. That's how it works.

The lynchpin in consistently feeling good is gratitude. Expressing gratitude leads you to attract more of that which make you feel grateful. What's more, expressing gratitude has the power to immediately derail a train of negative thought. Just try and feel grateful and bad at the same time, I dare you.

Here's the true power of gratitude...

When you can feel grateful for all the events in your life -- especially those that might not initially feel very good at all -- you will open yourself up to experience true abundance in every aspect of your life.

As one example, over the past few years, I’ve spent many hours thinking about the absence of my parents in my life. My habits of thought would not allow me to see anything good in this situation. When I'd see others in my age cohort with two vibrant parents with whom they could share their life experiences, I'd often fill up with feelings of resentment.

Why did I have to experience this pain and they did not? How was that fair?

I've allowed my thoughts to visit this place hundreds of times and not one good feeling has ever come from putting my attention there. Not a one. In fact, putting my attention in this very negative place was the trigger that would release an avalanche of negative feelings that would take me days to dig out from.

Old habits can be tough to break, but they are just that – habits – and they can be changed. More and more I am aware of those old thought patterns and can then shift my attention on how much I appreciate the time I shared with my parents.

And guess what happens when I do this? My whole body vibrates good feelings about all I have been given. There's no more heading into the dark abyss of one bad thought after another.

With all events in our lives, there is a gift in the situation. And with any gift, it's always up to each of us as to whether or not we decide to open that gift. We get to choose. Always.

Gradually (yes, this has taken time and tears), I’ve come to see that there is nothing "wrong" with this or any other life situation. Instead it's been my habits of where I place my attention that have caused the problem, not the events.

When I look for how I can feel grateful, I become aware of all of the benefits (yes, benefits!) of experiencing these losses. For instance, compared to most folks, I think this experience has made me rather fearless in many of my life choices. This absence of fear has allowed me to prosper and to live a life full of freedom. I feel so very grateful for all the freedom in my life, and in turn, the universe sends me more and more that supports my love of freedom. That's the circle (and power) of gratitude.

So whenever you become aware that your thought patterns are driving down the same old dead ends, hang a U-turn. Concentrate on all that you have. Be grateful that you have a bed to sleep in. Be grateful for the warm sun. Be grateful that your car starts. Be grateful for hot water in the shower. Be grateful for the garbage man who whisks away the trash. Be grateful for the music that brightens your day. Be grateful that every day takes you close to who you really are. Wake up and see the wonder that surrounds you.

Practice this habit of being thankful for all you have and two wonderful things will happen. First, you will be able to tackle any bad mood and you will feel better and better. Second, you're positive thoughts will work in tandem with the universe to create more and more for you to feel thankful about.

Stare at the light, and you'll not experience the dark.
 

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Can I Get ARISE Outa You?

Some of the artists from the '60s are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers. They include:


Herman's Hermits
"MRS. BROWN, YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY WALKER"

The Bee Gees
"HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HIP"

Bobby Darin
"SPLISH, SPLASH, I WAS HAVIN' A FLASH"

Ringo Starr
"I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM DEPENDS"

Roberta Flack
"THE FIRST TIME EVER I FORGOT YOUR FACE"

Johnny Nash
"I CAN'T SEE CLEARLY NOW"

Paul Simon
"FIFTY WAYS TO LOSE YOUR LIVER"

Commodores
"ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES TO THE BATHROOM"

Marvin Gaye
"I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPE NUTS"

Procol Harem
"A WHITER SHADE OF HAIR"

Leo Sayer
"YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE NAPPING"

The Temptations
"PAPA'S GOT A KIDNEY STONE"

ABBA
"DENTURE QUEEN"
 

Poignant Ponderings

WHAT IS LOVE?
by Steve Goodier

Diane Ackerman said, "Everyone admits that love is wonderful and necessary, yet no one agrees on just what it is." Over the years, I have been learning what it is.

When I first got married, I wanted to show my love to my new wife. I was drawn to romantic stories like one from the time of Oliver Cromwell in England where a young soldier had been tried in military court and sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the "ringing of the curfew bell." His fiancée climbed up into the bell tower. Several hours before curfew time and tied herself to bell's huge clapper. At curfew time, when only muted sounds came out of the bell tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the bell was not ringing. His soldiers went to investigate and found the young woman cut and bleeding from
being knocked back and forth against the great bell. They brought her down, and, the story goes, Cromwell was so impressed with her willingness to suffer in this way on behalf of someone she loved that he dismissed the soldier saying, "Curfew shall not ring tonight."

That must be love, I thought! That was the kind of commitment I needed to make! I wanted to give my all. To tie myself to the bell for her. To die, if necessary, for her. To sacrifice myself on the altar of true love! I wanted her to know that I'd give it all up for her.

But she never wanted me to die for her. Never! Clean the toilets, maybe, but never die. My commitment was to be shown in household chores! (I read that an exhaustive study showed that no woman ever shot her husband while he was doing dishes. What a relief. Washing dishes may lack inspiration, but at least it's safe...)

I was never called upon to tie myself to the bell. But I was still called upon to show my love - in little ways, mostly.

I was needed to comfort her before we were married when the doctor told her she could never have children. To hold her hand and tell her I wanted her more than I wanted a family.

I was called upon to sit by her hospital bed after surgery and encourage her.

I was called upon to hold her after her father died and let her cry.

I was also called upon to carve out alone time with her as often as possible and to make sure my plans included her as well as me.

I was never needed to prove my undying love through a glorious act of self-sacrifice. It was something I was required to do in little ways, through one small act of kindness at a time.

And that, I've learned, is love.

Did You Get Your "Slice" Today?

GIVING BACK

You might already support these or similar organizations, but it's the sad truth that we can never really do enough to help people, especially children. Here is what I support and encourage you to review:

The Internet Toy Drive  
Founded by Anne Marie Baugh and myself, and sponsored by Drew Bledsoe (#11, 2001 Super Bowl Champion quarterback), we are official corporate sponsors of the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots program.

My WorldVision Children
This is the special group of children from around the world that I sponsor. WorldVision is a Christian organization that has been around for decades and almost every penny donated goes directly to these needy children and their families. Nothing beats receiving a handwritten letter, or even an email now, from "your child":-) You can even buy chickens or cows that get right to these families in dire need!

St. Jude Children's Hospital
My father was a lifelong musician and played piano in bands with Danny Thomas (founder of St. Jude and father of Marlo Thomas) among others during the depression, thirties and early World War II years. Understandably, this world famous research hospital is close to my heart:-)

Parenting with Dignity P
If you are a parent, expecting to be one in the future, or even believe you've done your parenting job, do yourself a great favor and check out this fabulous resource! Drew Bledsoe, his father and family members, my great friend Tom Heatherington and many more have established an absolutely wonderful foundation devoted to the betterment of children and families (Mac Bledsoe was interviewed on ABC's 20/20 this year).

Will You ARISE & Help Me?

I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a few seconds to tell just a few of your friends about ARISE. Simply Forward this URL to everyone in your Address Book.  All they need to do is enter their email address below (it will NEVER be shared or given away).

Thank You!!

   

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