How come every human being desires to be love unconditionally? Maybe because there is a recognition that this is so unachievable in the normal course of most relationships? Or is it that we recognise that to receive love just for being us is so alien to our experience?

Or is it that this just fills the deep, gaping holes in the emotions of most men and women? Or perhaps that unconditional love fulfills the deepest fundamental heart cry of every human being?

Whatever the reason, unconditional love is a very rare commodity in the barren landscapes of the majority of our lives today. Some talk about it. Others are unaware of it. A few others will even deny it. Yet most yearn for it, consciously or unconsciously.

And to be accepted? Don’t all of us desire just to be accepted for the real us - “warts and all”. And yet predominantly we are categorized, valued, placed and accepted by what we have achieved, what we look like, what we do, etc. That acceptance is based on whether we ‘fit the bill’. The problem is that others decide what criteria make up ‘the bill’.

To achieve this is an impossibility but, nevertheless, if we are not careful, we can spend a lifetime trying to do just that. We struggle, strive, perform - do whatever it takes to achieve the pre-conditions that others have set for us.

The challenge can never be won. The game goes on and on. Like endlessly chasing our own tail. Coming close, but never quite getting there. Like a football game where we keep thinking we may be able to score the final goal, only to find extra play has been declared - and the goalposts have been moved anyway.

So, why bother? And is there a solution? As commented on earlier, the human condition inherently cries out for acceptance and love. Not just that - but to receive these UNCONDITIONALLY without having to strive to attain or achieve it.

To be given this……Our hearts cry out for that deep, soaking, freely given acceptance and love. But - more importantly - for it to be given without conditions or attachments.

Is it possible to ever be given this? Is there a solution to the deepest need of the human heart? Can a human being really meet that desire and heart’s cry? Can it be done? Or do we all accept that these needs are destined never to be fulfilled?

Some would say that it is only in the person of Jesus (claiming to be both man and God come down to earth) that we can find true unconditional love and acceptamce. Others would cry that this is absurd, heretical, wishful thinking, lies, brazen rubbish, the stuff of myths and fables, unproven, fanciful…….

What is true, however, is that this has been the source of endless debate, contention and dialogue for over two thousand years. Whether WE discover it to be true or not personally, is a challenge that many have set out to prove to themselves. Can that elusive search for unconditional love and acceptance (and forgiveness) be found in Him? Only by seeking, will we find out.

Tags: happiness, reference, education

A lot of people have been encouraged to learn how to play the piano when they were children, something that may or may not have had a positive effect on them or helped them develop a new skill. Piano lessons are rarely enjoyable for people who are forced to take them and who don’t even have the slightest interest in learning how to play. However, sometimes it turns out that people who didn’t enjoy and ended up quitting their piano lessons wished they studied the piano a little harder and that they know how to play.

Unfortunately, piano lessons can be very costly and time-consuming, and not everyone has the patience to face a piano teacher regularly or work on musical assignments. If you want to learn to play the piano but don’t have the time or extra funds to take classes, you can always choose to study on your own. Believe it or not, many people these days have had the capability to learn how to play the piano even without the help of a teacher.

The Internet makes learning the piano by yourself possible, what with the growing number of online courses–some of them available for free, some of them requiring you to pay a small fee–as well as online videos that can show you how to play the piano. Something that you should also look into is learning to play the piano with the help of software.

Instructional software that can guide you in playing the piano is widely available. These usually come in different levels, which accommodate everyone from beginners to more seasoned piano players. Piano learning software consist of introductory lessons to get you accustomed to the layout of a piano keyboard and also teaches you everything from the notes, basic chords, scales, etc., and it usually includes sample pieces for you to play. You can learn the lessons on your own time and at your own pace, thus keeping you from feeling pressured as you learn.

So is piano playing software indeed a better alternative to taking one-on-one piano lessons? If you value your time and your money, then the answer is a resounding yes. This is not to discount the help and instruction piano teachers can provide a first-time learner. Yet learning to play the piano with the use of software certainly makes it easy for busy people to learn, offering not just convenience but also a chance to learn independently.

Tags: reference, recreation, general

Just when do you regard an insomnia symptom as needing attention?

After family and friends give a lot of urging and encouragement, many people finally and reluctantly seek the help of a medical professional.

Isn’t is a strange quirk of human behaviour that often the individual who is in the front line encouraging someone else to seek medical attention fails to do so themselves when they are faced with the same problem.

How can you tell whether you just need to give it a little time to see if it sorts itself out or whether you need to get serious and make a appointment to see a doctor.

According to Webster’s dictionary, insomnia is defined as: “prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep.”

The U.S. National Institute Of Health gives a helpful categorization of insomnia:

Transient insomnia is just a temporary sleep problem lasting a few days or even a couple of weeks.

If the temporary sleep problem, lasting just a few days or at the most a couple of weeks, comes back at fairly regular intervals, it is known as intermittent insomnia.

Chronic insomnia is when a person is unable to obtain adequate sleep most nights which goes on for a month and longer.

With that criteria you can now evaluate the insomnia symptom that is causing you concern.

If your sleep problem is a category 1 or a category 2, it’s probably not serious.

These conditions can problem be helped or even solved by the use of certain medications or natural remedies that induce sleep.

Natural sleep remedies can include such things as: good bedtime routine, exercise before bed, breathing exercises, warm baths, music, stress relievers, diet, herbs, chamomile, lavender, valerian, vitamins, and chromotherapy.

Exploring any of these options may be enough to combat the minor insomnia symptom that is causing concern.

It is widely known of course that any medication can have side effects so a user does well to check with a doctor first, especially if they are already using other forms of medication.

Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia is another matter altogether. Going without proper sleep for weeks on end can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. It can affect social relationships and one’s level of performance in the workplace.

In such cases medical attention is advised. A doctor will probably try and ascertain the underlying medical or even psychological cause of the insomnia symptom and prescribe a course of treatment accordingly.

You may be prescribed medicine, or the doctor may recommend other therapies such as reconditioning, relaxation, or sleep restriction.

In conclusion, use the 3 category strategy above to decide whether the insomnia symptom you or a loved one is dealing with is merely temporary. If it falls into category 1 or category 2, it can probably be overcome after a short time, either with the help of medication or some natural remedies.

If it appears however that category 3 describes the insomnia symptom you are experiencing, treat it seriously. Make an appointment with your doctor and deal with it right away.

Tags: self Improvement, happiness, general