How is your focus? Do you find it easy to concentrate for longer chunks of time or are you easily distracted? Do you enjoy doing the same thing at the same focus level over and over again, or are you easily bored?

I used to think that focus is a function of pleasure: I can concentrate on this because I like it. I do some stuff better than other because I like it. While loving what you do can keep your concentration high, at least in the beginning, maintaining a constant, high focus is not a function of pleasure at all. It’s a function of will.

Focus can be trained. It can be enhanced, it can be shaped the way you want. It can serve you well, if you treat it well. In today’s post I’ll share some of my observations regarding focus and how one can work this tool the same way you work your muscles in your daily workout.

Read the rest to enhance Your Reality

²⁶ Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.

²⁷ You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.

²⁸ What you decide on will be done,
and light will shine on your ways.

²⁹ When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
then he will save the downcast.

The Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible is considered the oldest book of the bible.  A very complex literary work dealing with the problem of evil.

I am being taught that light shines on the good way!

“Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth –

that the moment one definately commits oneself, then, Providence moves, too.”

–Van Goethe

(thanks to Amy Deputy for the card)

Tao 43

The softest of all things

Overrides the hardest of all

Only Nothing can enter in to no-space.

Hence I know the advantages of Non-Ado.

Few things under heaven are as instructive as the lessons of Silence,

Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.

Pocket Classic Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu, John C.H. Wu

The highest form of goodness is like water.

Water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them.

It stays in places loathed by all men.

Therefore, it comes near the Tao.

In choosing your dwelling, know how to keep the ground.

In cultivating your mind, know how to dive in the hidden deeps.

In dealing with others, know how to be gentle and kind.

In speaking, know how to keep your words.

In governing, know how to maintain order.

In transacting business, know how to be efficient.

In making a move, know how to choose the right moment.

If you do not strive with others,

You will be free from blame.

Pocket Classic Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu, John C.H. Wu

]]> http://makelightreal.com/mind-like-water-falling-water-07-08-09/feed/ 0 http://makelightreal.com/mind-like-water-tao-29/ http://makelightreal.com/mind-like-water-tao-29/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:07:41 +0000 Neil http://makelightreal.com/?p=719 Trying to control the world?

I see you won’t succeed.

T’ien hsia shen ch’i

The world is a spiritual vessel

And cannot be controlled.

Those who control, fail.

Those who grasp, loose.

Some go forth, some are led,

Some weep, some blow flutes,

Some beceome strong, some superfluous,

Some oppress, some are destroyed.

Therefore the sage

Casts off extremes,

Casts off excess,

Casts off extravagance.

- TAO TE CHING by Lao-Tzu Translated by Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo

“Creativity is a fact of your spiritual body and nothing that you must invent.”

The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron

Best Price $2.93 or Buy New $11.02

tutorial is sponsored by the generously donated pinup images of Kelly @ Bay Area Pinups

This is some of the fun vintage effects achieved with the Vintage packages, video guide after the jump:

Would you like to bring a truely vintage and artistic look to your boudoir photos?

Well start out with a great photographer like Liesl Cowley, Kelly Hsiao and use the finishing tools linked below in these video tutorials:

Leave a comment if you would like to hire Neil to retouch your images for a vintage effect!  The client initiation fee is $40, and that covers the first two images – after that it is $5-20 per image depending on the style and complexity you are after.

The Make Light Real Create cart has these products available to help your boudoir retouching and vintage photoshop retouching:

	Vintage Master Kit Vintage Master Kit – 18 Postcards + 30 Textures + Multiple Choice Action Set You want to master the vintage look – bring that soft, worn lovability…	$89.00 … more info
	ONE ACTION: workflow and training Available for Immediate Download The complete ONE ACTION Photoshop workflow action with training video. Set includes: ONE: lightroom preset/camera…	$79 … more info
	Vintage Multiple Choice Action Set Vintage Multiple Choice Action Set The Vintage Multiple Choice action produces 11 layers for you to blend into your vintage style. The action does…	$39.00 … more info
	Vintage Soft Color Faded color, bleached negative antique vintage styling The vintage soft color action will gently desaturate your image with a soft chocolate antique…	$4.00 … more info Max: 1
	Golden Touch Monochrome Sunny Golden B+W Toning Photoshop Action free download Part of the Golden Touch Series Golden Touch Video Tutorial = training + inspiration Golden…	$9.00 … more info
	Skin Smoothing Photoshop Actions Skin smoothing for perfect portraits description	$9.00 … more info
	Draw a soft vignette action Draw a soft vignette action This quick photoshop action helps you draw attention and focus to an area of the image you select with one of three…	$4.00 … more info

The classic illustrated pinup styles are commemorated in the work of these artist if you’re looking for tone and style clues:

• Edward Runci – Google Search
• Alberto Vargas – Google Search
• Gil Elvgren – Google Search
• George Petty – Google Search