Jillian Maas Backman >> Intuitive Life Facilitator and Award Winning Radio Show Host

I deliberately keep a close watch on the latest news making headlines. It is my responsibility to stay current with relevant social issues. Once again, this week we find ourselves grappling with the disheartening truth of loosing another sweet child to the harsh reality of school-house bullying. Fourteen-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer committed suicide because of alleged years of childhood harassment. He simply could not handle the pressure anymore and let go of life instead. This spiritual lesson will continue to repeat itself until we decide to make this a priority for change.

Lady Gaga and many others are calling upon our President to start a process to create an Anti-Bullying Law against those who perpetrate such heinous acts towards others. This is a good start, but the issue is more intricate than that. It is not enough to tell someone to stop saying bad things to other people. You must go after the root supplying the food to the infested weed. Attack the source that carries the vibrational energy hidden within the dysfunctional soil of intolerance and hatred. We need a vibrational shake-up and re-set our spiritual balance.

The word “vibration” is usually associated with a scientific method of describing sound waves frequencies. These kind of physical calculations are extremely important in measuring all kinds of vibrations and keeping a watchful eye out for anything that may threaten the balance of our planet. Physical anomalies such as earthquakes and other natural disasters upset the natural vibrational rhythms and cause permanent vibrational gaps. When this happens, we usually make physical adjustments to accommodate the shifts and settle into a new configuration of balance.

We know that earthquakes do not happen instantaneously. They are a gradual build-up of pressure plates moving within the inner core of earth. Eventually reaching the surface where it explodes with vengeance. Taking out whatever is in its natural wake with complete disregard.

The human body works much like the earth vibrational system. It too, operates on a natural internal frequency, which strives to stay in a state of balanced harmony. Whether we know it or not, our unconscious mind is registering vibrational motion all day long. This constant kind of stimuli has a lasting effect on the delicate balance between desirable and undesirable vibration in the human body. If you have to live with the constant bombardment of negative stimulus, eventually your vibration will only register the negative. At some point this will become your normal state of existence. This is where the bully mentality starts taking over.

It represents the “pressure stage “of a vibrational eruption.

Think of someone around you that gets angry. The first sign of vibrational pressure building up inside is the physical act of pacing back and forth. Their facial expression begins to contort. Straining to hold back the dysfunctional energy from busting through. Our body structure is designed to get rid of this sick emotional vomit any way it can. The mind begins to heat up with aggressive thoughts laden with bouts of hatred energy. It is an unstoppable energy train waiting to explode at any second. You cannot reason with a mind filled with vibrational hatred. Talking it out with someone like this will temporary put a stop to the underlying relentless negative attitude. Except the pathetic mind chatter will override any positive antidotes you attempt to throw at it and fight its way back to unhealthy normal.

The re-occurring bullying episodes should serve as a societal signal that we have reached the plateau of the “pressure stage” before the explosion.

The task of stopping this kind of hate crimes seems insurmountable but I offer this simple exercise to demonstrate how easy it is to get closure to this spiritual lesson before us.

Vibration is a very subjective awareness and somewhat of a feat to teach others on how it reacts inside the body structure. So, allow me abit of creative freedom here from the literal scientific definition. Stretch your scientific imagination and assume the next exercise will demonstrate how quickly friction/ie, vibration can change with your actions.

Put your hands out in front of you, palms together. Now rub them together as fast as you can. You should begin to feel the friction build between them and a sense of heat arise the faster you go. In a very loose interruption of physics, this is how quickly vibration can rise from an external action. Notice how soon after you started rubbing your hands together the balance was thrown off and heat came to the surface. It takes that little of effort to offset human vibrational equilibrium. That is somewhat un-nerving when you think about all the external stimuli we have coming at us every day. The more you live in a malfunctioning body system the more the vibration adapts the heat, the friction, the anger.

Now, stop and pull them apart. Can you feel the sense of coolness replacing the sensation of heat on your palms? Notice how quickly the energy stabilized back to normal without any effort on your part other than stopping the action of rubbing. This demonstrates how simple it truly is to re-set a person’s vibration if you take the time to identify your vibrational tools that get you back to balance.

Where do we start to rebuild our vibrational changes.

Hierarchy of Vibration:

For the sake of argument, let us assume everything carries some kind of vibrational value starting from very low to very high. I mean everything! Every person, place or thing carries some kind of vibrational energy tone. Collectively, these items have determined your vibrational stability.

If you are surrounding yourself with lower vibrational activities and people your balance point will stay low.

If you are surrounding yourself with higher vibrational activities and people your balance point will stay high.

Now, look at your significant people around you. How does that compare with your vibrational status? If you find yourself doing activities and mingling with people less than what your perceived vibrational value is you will be pulled down to that level. It is as if two magnets that dysfunctional attract.

We do not have the power to stop people from engaging in the lower vibrational act of bullying. These thoughts and actions are way down on the vibrational scale of relevance. Like the old adage says: Do not stoop to their level. In this case, don’t stoop to their vibrational level either. That is the worst thing anyone can do. Each one of us do however possess the power to go the opposite direction…………………….way way way up.

If each one of us dedicate ourselves to doing this and teaching our loved ones to do the same, we can change the vibration and energy around all involved.

We must minimize undesirable vibrations thoughts, feelings and actions and increase desirable vibrations.

The more we all take up the challenge of “Vibrational Clean Living,” the easier this kind of work will become. This always start with our vocabulary. The way we speak to one another. How we use words to build people up rather than tearing down is the first step.

Our vocabulary is constantly being word-smithed to keep up with changing times we live in. I believe this should continue to be our first plan of action in raising community conscious vibrational energy. Words have always been and will always be our most gracious, free and simple way to choke out the life force vibration associated with words laden with venom and intent to inflict harm towards others.

I will give you an example. In my book I write about the word “tolerance.” Years ago I suppose this word represented how the majority of people felt towards those who were different from themselves. This word is now archaic and obsolete. For those of us who strive for greater spiritual health feel the word tolerance implies there is something wrong with those who do not live as we do. We, as gracious spiritualist will overlook your impurities and still find it in our hearts to tolerate your ideology. Those days are long gone, thank goodness.

I was addressing a large college student body about this very issue. I began to recite my written words to the crowd before me. The silence that overtook those students in the auditorium was almost too much for me to handle. You could hear a pin drop and all attentions were directed towards the stage. The all-inclusive vibration was an intense and serious buzzing undertone. No one moving and waiting in anticipation for the next word that would bring the whole lesson full circle. Then I read the rest of the story and concluded with the word “Acceptance.” The students broke out into a sigh of relief and collective said yes to the challenge. They are ready to break the chain of vibrational assaults on those different from themselves, are you? Ready to replace the old worn out lower vibrational word of tolerance with a spiritually higher vibrational word of Acceptance for all.

Sending vibrational change your way,

The world is running on an inspirational empty tank of fuel right now.  An unknown source is depleting our natural energy resource of hope and desire for better days ahead.  The good news is that inspiration is an abundant organic supply and available to anyone willing to take the initiative to re-fuel.

Stop, Look and Listen to those around you.

We all have friends or family that sense the negative in every situation.  This can be more oppressive to your own energy source than imagined.  It is like being slimed with “spiritual grey gunk.”  It coats every emotion, thought and action with a tainted view of reality.  If you live long enough in this state of slime it will separate you from all internal soul’s hopes and inspirations.  In exaggerated cases, it can appear as if someone is walking around dead to the outside world.  Recipients of this kind of constant aggressive harassment are also affected by second-hand negativity.  You may take on their spiritual grey gunk and distract your intentions to live an inspirational path.

Know when to step away from the toxic energetic relationships.

We have become a society of relationship junkies.  Always planning to be somewhere with someone, doing some kind of activity to occupy our minds, bodies and spirits.  We stay in these unhealthy pairings out of obligation.  Even when it means spending time with others who are inspiration and hope stealers.  It never ends unless you make a decision to change.

Alone time is special time

We have adopted an all-or-nothing mentality to our personal relationships.  Either we throw ourselves emotionally, mentally and spiritual all in OR we totally retreat with the same conviction.  You do not have to make this abrupt turn-about and leave the relationship entirely, unless of course, physical harm is involved.

Instead, opt to minimize your time spent together.  Know your energetic limitations.  Set boundaries of how much time you spend in direct contact.  I reference back to the last July post and the energy sphere diagrams.  As demonstrated, close contact with this kind of energy will eventually suck your spiritual light right out of you.  Not leaving an ounce of personal inspiration left and you will be the one searching aimlessly for hope.  When this happens, text instead.

Host an Inspirational Intervention:

It is sad to be a witness to this kind of detached hopelessness.  You end up giving in on everything that brings one happiness.  Intimate connections of all kinds, career dreams and above all, the promise of a peaceful soul.  When one reaches this point of emotional devastation, it is an uphill battle to conquer alone.

Of course, we all want to reach out and give them a healthy dose of hope and inspiration medicine, but know that is unrealistic.  We can, however,  bring a source of inspiration directly onto their path.

Intervention reality television is a favorite of many who watch shows regularly.  You know the scenario.  A professional, along with family and friends, stage a pretend outing with the potential “lost soul.”  Upon arrival to the event enlist them into a pre-assigned program of wellness.  This kind of intervention works  for many who are dealing with their own inner demons of choice, drugs, alcohol and any other sad addictions.

Plan the same kind of intervention for those who have lost their inner connection to happiness.  This kind of interventions should incorporate activities that encourage and stimulate both hope and inspiration.  Think about your significant person.  What makes them feel energetically alive?  What kind of outing would bring your friend or family member peace again?  Be creative with your ideas.  Look for obscure and unique ways of triggering that hope button again for someone.  Tap into your own inspirational pool of thought and share it with the world.

Positive People Unite

Those of us who have our inspirational energy fuel tanks full need to reach out and help those in inspirational need.  We need a positive electric jolt to energize our communities.  All human beings have an incredible ability to change the polarity of energy from negative to positive in an instance.  For example, holding the hand of another human being while in prayer or singing circles can pass the energy from one person to another.  A perfect example of how to light up a friend who is going through hard times.  Share the energy, do not hold on to it.  One human body can only handle so much before it start leaking out the sides.

I know when my energy needs an inspirational fill- up from a friend.  If you need help to get motivated again ask those in your inner circle who are happy to share.  The universe is ready to give at a moment’s notice to anyone who asks for this blessing.  Search for a group that is willing to bring you into their clasped hands and make room for one more pair in their closed circle.

Healing circles of all kinds have been associated with cultures throughout the centuries.  Walking intricate labyrinths in England, medicine wheels from ancient times and ceremonies of all spiritual backgrounds incorporate the sounds of music.  They can mend emotional hearts and sooth a crying soul.

“Music is a historical muse for many an inspirational healing.  Unpredictable tones inner- woven by musician and melodic instruments,  sending out sound waves that inspire the coldest of souls to peace.  “

Living with inspired grace,

Jillian Maas Backman,

Author, Beyond The Pew, Breaking with Tradition and Letting Go of Religious Lockdown.”

Fire Circle Drum and Crafts,  Drum Across America Movie, www.drummingforpeace.com

Here is a copy of the interview I did BEFORE  my keynote speech at Bethany College New Student Convocation Ceremony.  I will be posting my follow-up interview as fast as I can.  Stay tuned!  Jillian

How do you feel about the naked golf team “exposing” their picture on Facebook?

Like everyone else, my first reaction was a great big WOW!  My second thought, as usual, I am right in the middle of the drama!  The story of my life……….and I love it!!!

I had just completed the final additions on my well -crafted Convocation speech for Friday and God shakes it up for all involved.  Students, faculty, parents and Bethany College.

These students need to realize that role model status comes into a person’s life unannounced.  By choice, they made a commitment to represent Bethany College to the best of their abilities.  They are examples of living out their soulful callings.  Bethany provided each one the opportunity to develop their athletic talents and take it to the next level of accomplishments.  That is a hard thing to wrap your head around as a college student living under this kind of expectation.

The speech to the student body addresses this very issue.  The world they live in is much different from years past.  We are no longer community “islands” unto ourselves.  Back in the day when you acted out in this manner it would stay within the confides of local neighborhoods.  This kind of isolation is long gone in today’s open societies.  The explosion of internet sites like Facebook personal actions become world known with a push of the “send” button on a computer.

Sometimes our spiritual/soul center gets lost in the shuffle of all the excitement and fun in college.  Decisions that seem reasonable in the moment may not be the highest good for your long- term authentic soul self.

“One should always keep your actions in line with your spirit/ soul intentions and let that be your guide for healthier choices.”

Do you agree with the decision by administration to suspend the team for the next three conference tournaments?

Obviously, a strong message needs to be sent out to any student in this country that represents upstanding college institutions like Bethany.  Actions like this call for appropriate consequences.  I have no idea what is appropriate is in this situation and leave that up to the institutional professionals to determine.

The one concern I have is the effect this will have on their spirit/soul identity.  Spiritual growth occurs differently than intellectual growth. The naked golf team knows by now this was not a wise decision by any strength of the imagination.  However, there will be an on-set of spiritual remorse to those involved.  Spiritual growth is based upon a series of life lessons.  Your actions in the world either add or detract value in our universal spiritual growth.  Unfortunately, this group of young people had to learn this lesson earlier than later in life.  Forgive yourself, spiritual lesson learned and make a better soul choice next time.

You are speaking at the convocation ceremony this week about the “Journey Within-Curiosity,” as the official launch of your new book.  BEYOND THE PEWS, will you address the curiosity of naked golfers?

Anyone who spends time with me knows I have a tender heart.  My empathy for others is sometimes over the top with spiritual healing for those in times of need.  Even though they have presented me with a perfect teaching scenario for other students.  There are other examples of Spiritual Curiosity and opportunity I am using that demonstrate the point without expounding on their public embracement.

Do you feel this type of publicity about Bethany College is necessarily negative, or does it show a sense of humor by the students involved?

I have to admit, at first glance I chuckled at their naivety.  If you read the article closely they were following the cues from another large state college institution with a similar team photograph.  Their intentions were based on being creative and funny and it back- fired. This was simply a misguided gesture at best. 

The college experience is about being able to explore who and what you are for the future.  I would hope that we honor Bethany College for instilling enough confidence and courage to take risks.  They must have loved themselves and each other to take the plunge together on this one.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  Either way they did it!

Working in the media community you learn any publicity is good publicity, negative or positive.  There is a buzz on the internet today about the incident.  Only time will tell what the outcome will be on this situation.

Surely this will have an impact on the next few days when you will be there, how will you handle it?

I believe there are no accidents in the world and for some reason I am meant to be a part of this story.  My job in the next couple of days is to go into mediation and ask the spiritual question to myself, Why?

God’s work in the world it is so unpredictable.  Some people fight against the change.  I thrive on it and have learned to adapt to God’s updated versions.  What a blessed speaker am I?  I will handle this situation with delicate words and calming tones one conversation at a time.

How can the lessons taught in BEYOND THE PEWS positively relate to the naked golf team?

“I am willing to risk exposing my human vulnerability for the chance to experience the ethereal learning curve of life.”  Jillian Maas Backman

When I wrote this quote in my book I had no idea it would become so literal.  By now the students are confused and remorseful for their actions.  Living an authentic life goes way beyond the confides of any institution, college or church.  It is about finding your true self through a life long journey riddled with tests along the way.  In the book and in my convocation speech this week I refer to these phases as spiritual life platforms.

As children our values and opinions are under the directives of other people.  In my book I talk directly about growing up as a preacher’s kid and the pressures associated with that lifestyle.

When you leave and go off to college you become responsible for designing your spiritual life platform.  There is no one telling you what you can and cannot believe in anymore.  You are on your own to create the vision of how God works through you.  It is a challenge to live in the process of God all the time.  There will be slip-up along the way.  In the book I refer to this as knowing your divine energy pattern.  I include exercises that help you figure out the life lesson you are experiencing and get back on track.  That is what the golfers need to do.

Ask themselves inward soul questions.  Open up to hearing the godly message and move forward to the next lesson at hand.

Jillian Mass Backman is an Award-Winning Radio Personality and Intuitive Life Facilitator. Her work reflects the deepest questions of life.

A graduate from the University of Texas in San Antonio, with a degree in psychology which equipped her with the foundation to see and articulate understanding human nature, emotion and response.

Her groundbreaking work in the criminal justice system embraced the “Alternatives to Juvenile Delinquency” programs. Utilizing the knowledge, along with her degree in psychology, she embarked on her career.

The quintessential preacher’s daughter, she was raised in the traditional church, honoring her faith and her church, while tapping into her intuitive abilities. The self-awareness of her soulful connections, melded with her intellect and intuition, culminated in an understanding of how this process could enlighten all aspects of her life, while at the same time seeking to enlighten others.

Through years of study and experience Maas Backman developed her career around her intuitive ability to assist those who required a distinctive, natural healing and knowledge, that of the soul. She opened a successful spa and wellness center in Wisconsin, and before long requests for her to speak and teach poured in from around the globe. The next step became clear as she developed her message for the masses. Radio would be the logical extension for enlightening others. In Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at WLKG.FM she could be heard teaching live from inside the studio with her show “ I.T.S’s For You.” Her show became an interactive opportunity for her audience as she created “e-lessons” that could be downloaded directly from her Website.This groundbreaking approach allowed the audience a step-by-step method that would be incorporated into their daily lives.

Jillian’s world-wide client base includes corporate executives, international business leaders, celebrity musicians, artists and school administrators.

BEYOND THE PEWS, is a brilliant insight bringing the readers from the pews to empowerment. Her new show titled the show, “CHANGE ALREADY“!,”debuts in the winter of 2011.

To find it’s way into book stores across America this summer! An Interactive-Autobiography compiling the many stories and lessons I have gathered along the way through this glorious unpredictable journey.

Like the rest of America, I am discouraged over the recent suicide of the young college boy, Tyler Clementi, of Reuckers University. The latest victim in an (alleged) secretly recorded cyber broadcast engaged in a gay encounter. The primary focus and media attention has been pinpointing bullying as the underlying culprit. I want to shift the focus to a more insidious cultural epidemic. I am beyond anger and outrage over the latest incident of labeling indignation. My soul is in complete surrender to the heartbreak of another child lost to the useless abyss of irrational rationalities. For crying out loud, what is left to say that has not already been written or spoken millions of times at the top of our exhausted lungs that can permeate and breakdown the harsh reality of prejudice?? We must all survive the drudgery of hearing the predictable banter of practicing more tolerance and compassion towards our difference. Our issue is much much larger than words. We have a people problem. We are wasting precious time with labels meant to deliberately separate us further apart. At some point in time, it will be too late to repair the labeling voids between us.

Labeling is an unavoidable cerebral task we can never escape. Our brain naturally categorizes all information that crosses its path. This is both a blessing and a curse. We unequivocally depend on our self-generated cognitive systems to keep an efficient handle on our chaotic Maya. The key word here is self-generated. Our labeling systems are dominated by what we key in. If not mindfully managed, there is the potential for abuse. We haphazardly break down social networks into labels because it is mindless. We pigeonhole people into categories of yes’s and no’s, like some crazy person with a labeling machine running around labeling everything in sight without rhyme or reason just because he/she can. We have total disregard for the consequences of mislabeling and the power to determine the rightness of one labeled group over another. Leaving all of us one-step away from the vicious nature of judgment. We have all fallen prey to this is self-serving habit at some point. Rendering a society of surface dwellers. Lives are at peril because we have become too lazy to explore each other from a soulful level rather than a surface level. This kind of laziness is stalling out our hearts. Many of you are quite happy with that reality. It takes effort to nurture energy between people, based in goodness or darkness. That contrast lies solely in your hands every time you reach out to know someone.

The good news: We are reversing this toxic behavior of cultural labeling.
Let us use this latest gut-wrenching episode to finally spark something in our core. Let’s literally shove this issue to the forefront of our existence.
It is time for us to implement a moral to- do list.
We have the capability at any point in time to reach back into our cognitive brain and re-assign information at will. This can be done! I personally have witnessed someone who had toxic preconceived ideas about a certain group of individuals. Through determination and exposure to those he naively mislabeled as “bad” in his mind, he now has come to an enlightened place of acceptance.

Have we become a society of mixed messages and contradictions?
I constantly hear the phrase “I don’t care what people say.” I get that it is an internal mechanism we have in order to take what others say about us personally. The table should be turned. The time has come for us to care about what we are really saying to each other. Whether that communication is through texting, telephone conversations or virtual, personal responsibility, filtering, and presentation must be employed immediately.
Yet every literary script supports this timeless belief that we are all unique in a special way. I ascribe to this authenticity. Radio is a perfect medium outlet that satisfies one of my favorite pastimes- listening. I have the esteemed privilege of listening and vicariously living through my guests who share their incredible American stories. I lose myself in their diverse recitation of cultural history. Their stories become a part my story. Lines of segregating labels transpose themselves into blurred images in my uncensored melting pot of memory. Therefore, those who want to use our diversity as weapons of emotional destruction dumbfound me. What good can it do to continuously beat up people over our differences and complexities? We have to stop living in the artificial vacuum of dualities. We cannot continue to encourage everyone to live in their authenticity, and not allow others the same common courtesy. Trust me when I say, I take great pleasure in being my unconventional quirky self! I simply cannot imagine a place where we all think the same, dress the same, look the same… Boring! Please invest more care and interest, with me, on what the public is saying about others. More importantly, please take care of what you are saying out in the world.

I will leave you with a passage from my forthcoming book, “Beyond The Pews.” Blessed with the opportunity to sit with one of my spiritual mentors, Swami Mohan Das, he granted me the privilege of asking any questions I had of him. In his opinion, what is the greatest challenge we face today? His response:
“Hatred is like pus in a boil. Many are filled with this pus of hatred. They hold onto their hatred for selfish reasons, to deliberately keep themselves separate from others. We must drain this before we can move forward.” Swami Mohan Das, India

Our words and actions only serve as temporary bandages over an open wound that oozes out a putrid stench named hatred of the sickest kind. This kind of unfortunate events will continue to plague our children, siblings, partners, and neighbors until we irrigate every germ of resistance to love- based infrastructures. We are in the midst of draining our pungent pus in a public forum. As you all know, this is always the hardest part- the- middle, the goal of building a more civilized communities. The majority of us prefer to do this kind of detoxification behind closed doors. We have passed the point of public humiliation as a deterrent for violent behavior towards others. We find ourselves at the ugly stage of deconstruction. It is not pretty to watch, but there are many lives at stake if we choose to withdraw because of dark forces. If we continue to feed off the dissected groupings we have unconsciously designed, the pus will re-infest itself as long as we stand on the sidelines and watch it build up again. Ravaged sores break through and take another child’s life in the name of vicious name calling, bullying and threatening labels.

Let us all stay steadfast to draining the filth out of this sickening disease known as hatred. Until, we reach the other side of reconstruction, commonly known as LOVE.

In grace, Jillian Maas Backman

One of the greatest business inventions is the simple business card! 2 by 43.5 inch calling cards to help the entire world immediately identify who you are. Corporations spend thousands of dollars hiring marketing gurus to design eye- popping icons with strategic catchy slogans to ultimately capture your attention. Some add self-portraits or snappy colors just to mix it up. Others opt for simple black and white for a more subdued, sophisticated presentation. Whatever your preference, the goal is to be noticed and more importantly, remembered. I started writing this blog entry several weeks ago after someone struck up a conversation about my unique business card. My intentions, is to conclude with a rousing discussion on the inherit power of this simple business tool. However, I was diverted by something much more compelling than my initial intention…
Recently America watched as, Beth Holloway, the mother of missing child Natalie Holloway, flew to a Peruvian prison to meet with a man that is being held on other charges and who is suspected in the disappearance of her daughter several years ago. We all gasped at the thought that she would jump on a plane, fly to a foreign country just to confront this man behind prison bars. Even though this part of the story is what took us all by storm, I was drawn in by a more subtle part of the heroic adventure, the ending. It has been reported that she did get to meet face- to- face with the suspect. However, the entire event was abruptly concluded after only 5 minutes. The man behind bars handed the mother a BUSINESS CARD, with the name of his attorney on it. Visit over, matter concluded. With a flick of the wrist from one hand to another, this simple little piece of cardboard was singularly responsible for altering the destiny of both parties simultaneously. Although this is not the ending this courageous mother was hoping for, it did give the world other insights to ponder– this is what caught my attention. What can we learn from this elusive pointed maneuver? We should never forget the power of the card! In a world where personal relevance and individuality seems to be fading away, it is somewhat reassuring to know there is still a way to keep separate from the pack. This is the last paper thread left connecting us to the business frontier of days gone by. May we all take refuge in the fact this sacred paper trail may be able to survive the hostile takeover of contemporized technology.
We all want to believe we are important enough to have our business card held onto, above all others; that we are the “one” to remember! And rightly, so, we are leaving behind our modern day legacy, a trail, for others to emulate after we pass. None of us wants to believe someone would deliberately discard such an iconic representation of ourselves so harshly. Nevertheless, the cold reality, the majority of the time they do. This is what Beth Holloway was attempting to complete for her missing child, remembrance, a cherished legacy of her beautiful but short existence. Why is that so challenging others to see? That is what the mother went seeking clear across the other side of the planet. How ironic is it that the one thing left untouched altered her legacy by modern evolution, the business card?
In other cultures outside of America, the exchange of business cards is considered ceremonial. It is an ancient artful ritual between individuals who pass through each other’s lives in a simple moment in time. Seen as a natural extension of the person themselves and treated with the highest form of respect. The protocol includes presenting and accepting the business card with both hands. Eye- to- eye contact, and a personalized “thank you” to seal the deal. You can see from the introduction, I deliberately used my own personal business card. Not to sell anything to you, but to demonstrate symbolic communications. The icon on my card is an actual impression of my hand. I love to give and receive business cards, which is an immediate glimpse into the reflection of someone’s soul. I have created my own ritualistic style of exchange. I literally hold each one of my cards before I give it away, and then the receiver accepts a blessing of some kind. I know it may sound corny to some of you. Nevertheless, there is so much pain in the world today every little intent counts. So next time when you engage in an unconscious business card exchange, do me a favor pause, reflect, and trade with loving intent.

Two strangers exchange business cards that then become two acquaintances. Those two acquaintances lead to business associates, which then lead to friendships, leading therein to partnerships, partnerships lead to groups, those groups lead to communities, and ultimately , the world…………………..
We are all one business card away from knowing each other.
In gracious love, Jillian Maas Backman

I want to dedicate this entry to my good internal emotional friend, Fear. One of the most mis-understood emotions and yet, has the greatest potential to be our working warrior beside all of us in a time of need.
So much is written about this illusive emotional condition. Just the word alone conjures up a negative reaction and sends people into a tailspin. Why? Along the way, we have received implied mixed messages, finger pointing towards FEAR as the “evil one” from our emotional piggy bank from which to draw from. Origins deriving from such statements, as “We must conquer our fears!” “That fear is going to kill you!” “FEAR is the root to all evil!” This kind of verbiage sets up a battlefield inside your conscious mind. Think about it this way, whenever someone goes into battle there will always be a winner and loser. When we apply this same kind of tactical representation towards fear, it is no longer an ally. It becomes an adversary to suppress. Nothing good comes from this kind of thinking in your head. We end up segregating pieces of ourselves and assign judgment. A power struggle ensues between good and evil.

We have humiliated ourselves into thinking it is cowardly if we admit experiencing some form of fear. Somehow, we are less emotionally healthy if we have bouts of fearful momental breakdowns. What a set up that is, in so many sad sad ways. Fear is a human emotional conditions we should honor and respect on different levels. It is not meant to be a comfortable state of being, by any means what so ever.

NEVERTHELESS, it can be an immutable force behind your intentions!
Every human emotion was given to us for a higher purpose of some kind. I believe we are trying to think our way through changing the human archetype we were heavenly blessed with from inception. Impossible and a waste of human time. My ability to feel fear is necessary for my survival in certain situations. It is how you act upon those internal markings is a gift not a punishment.

Let us take the fear out of “being in fear.”
First, there is lots of wiggle room between using fear as a catalyst for expansion and creating a fear addiction. As always, I am addressing a healthy dose of “fearness” herein. This is not intended for those of you that feel you may have crossed into the danger zone of a “fear addiction.” As with all addictive behavior, intervention prevention by trained professional is always advised.

Please do not abandon your sense of fearing.
Fear, as with all other human emotions, will be present forever. It is our natural sense indicator of change in the rawest form possible, an involuntary boundary sensor. The minute you find yourself outside your comfort zone, that fear brain sensor will be busy transmitting all forms of warning signs. Why in the world would you want to intellectually spend time fighting against this loving emotional companion is beyond me. For goodness sake, walk with it.

Years ago, I too was immobilized with my own fears. My perceived options were either ignore the presence of it and force my way through or accept defeat and surrender. Both seem ludicrate at the time. Neither option was going to get me to my desired destination of transformation. I trusted myself enough to know that fear was not my enemy. I was being guided to delve deeper for illumination on the gift of heavenly fear. The answer was not about the elimination of it, more on how to manage my way through the consistency of fear. How do you deal with the innate presence of emotional fear?
Which one are you; Cliff Diver or a Rabbit Hopper:
Before I share the details, let me preface this by stating: No one category is better than the other. Each one has inherited advantages and disadvantages. I use these labels as a fun way of stepping out from the wake of fear, observing how you personally deal with conflict resolutions, and possible modifications.

Cliff Diver: Peaks of Fearlessness followed by Peaks of Fear
Now cliff divers are the ones that do exactly what the label sounds like. Not literally, of course. When they decide to make changes, they usually go big. Not in the sense of crazy big, more like something out of the ordinary. The opposite, they sit back, internally analyze, wait for the right moment to jump, and then jump long! All the while, vacillating between moments of fear-ness and fearless-ness. This reminds me of that old cartoon, Wily E Coyote and the Road Runner. The coyote would chase the roadrunner off the end of a cliff. His first reaction on his face described it all. “Oh crap, what did I just do?” Eyes wide as silver dollars, realizing his forthcoming quandary, flapped his arms as fast as he could in the attempt to soften the blow with his eventual landing. He always seemed to survive another day of relentless chasing the Roadrunner.
Advantage:
-Fear instantly subsides. There is immediate spontaneous resolve to the inaction of fear.
-Go with the flow kind of people, flexible
-More times than not, this decision defines completion.
- Meaning, you have completed a cycle in your life that has been festering for a long time and your inability for movement has stalled. Your last bit of built up fears pushed you forward to a decisive action and possibly propel you to new territory of exploration.
- Feel your way through fears. No intrinsic internal need to identify and label each fear individually.
-Able to handle both conscious and unconscious pretara of “perceived fears” simultaneously.
-Insights always come from a multitude life lessons.
Disadvantages:
-Be aware of compulsive fearless moments. It is an incredible motivator but may also create lingering repercussions.
-Be conscious that you are a cliff diver. The natural order of human fear will settle in again, but the configuration will definitely be different from before. You will eventually decide to jump off the cliff of fearlessness once again and the cycle will repeat. What measure have you set in place to reconfigure a new way of handling fears when it comes around again? A good solution would be to adapt the ways of a “rabbit hopper…” Therefore, when you decide to “jump” again the aftermath may have a softer landing.

Rabbit Hoppers: Equal amount of fear and fearlessness
Bless them, for many do not understand their unseemly unassuming ways. We are promoters of cliff divers in this country. “Go Big or Go Home.” Come on really? Not every big way is the best way. There are times when slow and steady is the best method to resolutions of all kinds. I again reference a childhood story, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Even though the hare is portrayed in this parable as the one who lost in the end maybe both were correct.
Advantages:
-Break down fears into workable “chucks of insights.”
-Deal with fear as it comes along. They live by the rule, literally, one-step at a time. In this case, one hop at a time.
- Extremely methodical in handling all aspects of fear- based experiences. Goals firmly placed in front of them. Set in their immediate intentions.
-Can only deal with single fear issues one at a time. Multi-tasking lessons are not an option.
-Keep internal fear/fearlessness in balance.
Disadvantages:
-Assume fearlessness as being out of control.
-Tendency to avoid situations of complete fearlessness and spontaneous decision.
-Inflexible. Rarely deviate from the pre-set course of action.
- There will be times of urgency to make a fast decision. Fear is an incredible activator for quick movements. Many times rabbit hoppers avoid this kind of situations at all cost. That itself can create potential danger. You must adapt and take the “cliff diver” approach and jump in.
In order for rabbit hoppers to continue to move forward, they must always keep a balanced perspective on both fear and fearlessness. That is a tall order, for the demure rabbit. Fear has a tendency to silently take over the rabbit hoppers momentum.

I presented this fun fear quiz to demonstrate how each one of us handle and manage the stress of fear. Both represent the beautiful ways in which we assimilate our fears, transpose them into lessons, and share our well -traveled wisdom with others.
In gracious love, Jillian Maas Backman

Jillian Maas Backman is an Intuitive Life, Author (Beyond the Pews, spring 2011), and Award winning Radio Host. She can be heard on her weekly Sunday morning program entitled: “It’s For You” on-air 9-10am(CST) Lake 961 fm, Lake Geneva, WI, North Shore Chicago, Ill or by listening on-line world wide at www.lake961.com

In a time of reality TV, shock jock radio and bully commentators, how in the world has self-help gurus like Dr. Oz, Jillian Michaels and now , Anthony Robbins been able to infiltrate closed media programming? What could be the driving force behind this cultural open-minded media phenomenon? Maybe I am going out on a limb but I believe we are primed, willing, and able to see ourselves as WINNERS again. Have we had enough of powerful people telling us we are stalling out with our perpetual potential? Are they really self help gurus or possibly intense dynamic peaceful warriors coming forth to gather the troops to exclaim once again the battle cry of our American spirit………”YES WE CAN.”

By the grace of NBC and Anthony Robbins for the next couple of weeks, we are being allowed free prime time access to the highly successful world of what I call the “Anthony Zone.” This self-help entertainment encouraging us to think positive, go for it and let nothing stand in the way of your own success. An over worked battle cry we have heard many times before, ever so logical, but nearly impossible to replicate in our daily life. We will be inspired by human triumphs over the saddest of challenges. We will cry together, laugh aloud together, and recite simple mantras in unison with the intent of igniting the fire of greatness within each one of us. However, what happens to this “spark” after our high priced cheerleader is no longer available? Like anyone who has attempted to start a fire in the forest – it is one thing to have a spark but it is something all together different to create a fire capable of burning all night long. How do you sustain the spark so that it can ignite a fire within?

Robbins is a world -class public speaker capable of creating that spark. As a spectator in the television audience how can you capitalize on this once in a lifetime event? Here are my suggestions:
He will cover a lot of ground in several weeks of life coaching material. Listen with great intent to what he is saying. Focus on the information and take notes on the material that resonates with you. Ignore the rest. Work with your notes and break them down into workable pieces that you can implement as you go. Your understanding will come after the weeks of faithful work and repetition.
The goal here is sustainable changes inside and out. Anthony Robbins is a well-known figure in the world of life coaching but there are also exceptional life coaches in your local communities who are readily accessible to help you maintain the “fire” of your newfound course of action.
The simplest part of self-improvement is striking the spark for change. The most difficult part is maintaining the “fire.”

In loving gratitude, Jillian Maas Backman,

Listen every Sunday morning 9-10am (cst) to “Its For You” with radio personality, Jillian Maas Backman on-air live 961 fm, Lake Geneva WI or on-line at www.lake961.com

Private one on on Intuitive Consultations with Jillian Maas Backman, Intuitive Life Coach, Author and Radio Host

August 17-19, 2010, Deerpath Inn, Lake Forest Ill

Every year presents both global and personal successes and challenges. This year in particular, has shown a trickle down affect on our own individual journeys. Although many of you have been able to survive these transitions, we also deserve to thrive without fear!

Join Jillian for your half-year Power Point check up! In this intense hour with Jillian she will review the past six months. What’s working for you and how we, as a team, can finish this year with greatness. You will receive a personalized e-lesson, a to-do list like no other you have experienced. Reservation Required, on-line or e-mail for an appointment: www.jillianmaasbackman.com Call 262-812-3445 for availability.