Growth Quote:

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."

- Gail Sheehy, is an American writer and lecturer, most notable for her books on life and the life cycle. She is also a contributor to the magazine Vanity Fair.

God, grant me the courage to CHANGE the things I CAN. = ]

Affirmations:

I celebrate taking my mask off today and revealing my authentic self.

Be Positive!

Keep a positive outlook even when you fail or fall on your face. It's those that try that change the world.

Why men are in trouble

By William J. Bennett, CNN Contributor

Editor's note: William J. Bennett, a CNN contributor, is the author of "The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood." Bennett is the Washington fellow of the Claremont Institute. He was U.S. secretary of education from 1985 to 1988 and was director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H.W. Bush.

(CNN) -- For the first time in history, women are better educated, more ambitious and arguably more successful than men.
Now, society has rightly celebrated the ascension of one sex. We said, "You go girl," and they went. We celebrate the ascension of women but what will we do about what appears to be the very real decline of the other sex?

The data does not bode well for men. In 1970, men earned 60% of all college degrees. In 1980, the figure fell to 50%, by 2006 it was 43%. Women now surpass men in college degrees by almost three to two. Women's earnings grew 44% in real dollars from 1970 to 2007, compared with 6% growth for men.

William J. Bennett

In 1950, 5% of men at the prime working age were unemployed. As of last year, 20% were not working, the highest ever recorded. Men still maintain a majority of the highest paid and most powerful occupations, but women are catching them and will soon be passing them if this trend continues.

The warning signs for men stretch far beyond their wallets. Men are more distant from a family or their children then they have ever been. The out-of-wedlock birthrate is more than 40% in America. In 1960, only 11% of children in the U.S. lived apart from their fathers. In 2010, that share had risen to 27%. Men are also less religious than ever before. According to Gallup polling, 39% of men reported attending church regularly in 2010, compared to 47% of women.

If you don't believe the numbers, just ask young women about men today. You will find them talking about prolonged adolescence and men who refuse to grow up. I've heard too many young women asking, "Where are the decent single men?" There is a maturity deficit among men out there, and men are falling behind.
This decline in founding virtues -- work, marriage, and religion -- has caught the eye of social commentators from all corners. In her seminal article, "The End of Men," Hanna Rosin unearthed the unprecedented role reversal that is taking place today. "Man has been the dominant sex since, well, the dawn of mankind. But for the first time in human history, that is changing—and with shocking speed," writes Rosin. The changes in modern labor -- from backs to brains -- have catapulted women to the top of the work force, leaving men in their dust.

Hanna Rosin: Are women leaving men behind?
Man's response has been pathetic. Today, 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games a day than 12-to- 17-year-old boys. While women are graduating college and finding good jobs, too many men are not going to work, not getting married and not raising families. Women are beginning to take the place of men in many ways. This has led some to ask: do we even need men?

So what's wrong? Increasingly, the messages to boys about what it means to be a man are confusing. The machismo of the street gang calls out with a swagger. Video games, television and music offer dubious lessons to boys who have been abandoned by their fathers. Some coaches and drill sergeants bark, "What kind of man are you?" but don't explain.

Movies are filled with stories of men who refuse to grow up and refuse to take responsibility in relationships. Men, some obsessed with sex, treat women as toys to be discarded when things get complicated. Through all these different and conflicting signals, our boys must decipher what it means to be a man, and for many of them it is harder to figure out.

For boys to become men, they need to be guided through advice, habit, instruction, example and correction. It is true in all ages. Someone once characterized the two essential questions Plato posed as: Who teaches the children, and what do we teach them? Each generation of men and women have an obligation to teach the younger males (and females of course) coming behind them. William Wordsworth said, "What we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how." When they fail in that obligation, trouble surely follows.
We need to respond to this culture that sends confusing signals to young men, a culture that is agnostic about what it wants men to be, with a clear and achievable notion of manhood.

The Founding Fathers believed, and the evidence still shows, that industriousness, marriage and religion are a very important basis for male empowerment and achievement. We may need to say to a number of our twenty-something men, "Get off the video games five hours a day, get yourself together, get a challenging job and get married." It's time for men to man up.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of William J. Bennett.

Hey women: value your bodies, respect your sense of self.

Is It Possible For Women To Hookup Like Guys?

Is it possible for women to casually hook up or have sex without creating any kind of emotional response or a longing for attachment? In other words, are women as able and likely to have emotionless sexual experiences as many men are? From my point of view, in 99% of the cases the answer is no. For the purpose of this article I am defining “a casual hook up” as having sex or any sexual encounter beyond good old-fashioned making out with someone whom you have no mutual emotional connection or established relationship with. It’s the guy you just met who is super cute, confident, and ultra flirty. He’s says things to you that sound so good you intuitively know he’s had a lot of practice saying them to other girls. Or the guy you may have known for a while who only texts you to see if you want to “hang” but has never asked you out on a real date. Or it could even be the guy you’ve been on a couple dates with and by now feel obligated to “put out” more.
Most women are not able to have casual hookups without getting their hearts involved or having any follow up expectations. Why? Let’s begin by looking at basic biology. When we have any kind of physical exchange with a guy from cuddling to having sex, we release a ton of the bonding hormone oxytocin. When we release oxytocin, it changes the chemistry of our brain and we start to feel more emotionally connected to whomever triggered it. If you think you are totally capable of having a meaningless romp or really aren’t into the guy, oxytocin may change everything! Even if you really have no interest in seeing him again, chances are you still will want to hear from him just to have proof that it wasn’t totally meaningless. And if you had any interest in him pre hook-up, oxytocin will leave you longing for more. You will probably be checking your phone incessantly the next day for a text with a winky face and find yourself distracted by thoughts of him. This is painfully natural. Our desire to connect emotionally is amplified when we have connected physically because of the hormonal change in our brain AND because as women, we are emotional creatures – which is something to be cherished, celebrated and respected!
When a woman engages in a casual sexual encounter and does not ask for what she wants, stop what she doesn’t want, or feels rejected in any way, she is likely to experience what I call a post hookup hangover. This hangover stems from having a surge of bonding hormones pumping through your body without having anyone to bond to. You may feel disappointment, sadness, anger, guilt and/or shame because a ton of oxytocin has been released without any kind of emotional connection present with the other person to be a container for it. I’ve been working with women as one-on-one coaching clients, facilitating workshops, and speaking to large groups for seven years now and I have heard a lot of “day after” stories. I see a lot of pain and upset around feeling rejected after being so vulnerable, and anytime you get naked with someone it is vulnerable!
Additionally, women who are consciously walking on a spiritual path are even more susceptible to the post hookup hangover. Why? Because when we work to become more aware, we become more open and connected. A large part of our spiritual growth is about taking down the walls that have perpetuated a sense of disconnection. We naturally become more sensitive, attuned to our inner guidance, and our ability to check out decreases. So, if you do feel more open and expansive, it is very likely that you are going to feel a desire to connect on an emotional level with the person that you are connecting with on a physical level. Physical and sexual intimacy can be an amazing part of our spiritual life if we go into consciously and choose to engage with people that are willing and able to meet us at the level we are at. Otherwise, it can just feel empty and meaningless and honestly, is it really worth it?
Perhaps you draw the line at having casual sex, but consider whether drawing it even sooner could be an act of Self Love. Rethink your boundaries and get clear about how your choices with men are affecting you and contributing to the type of men you are attracting. The next time you are heading toward or find yourself in a hookup that is not with someone you have been dating or in a committed relationship with, please ask yourself these things:
1. Am I just doing this because I think it’s time to or because he seems really into me and I don’t want him to lose interest?
2. Am I engaging in a casual hookup to prove something to myself or someone else?
3. What are my boundaries and do I state them and honor them?
4. Am I doing things that I really don’t want to do or don’t feel good?
5. Am I allowing him to lead and maneuver through a bunch of moves rather than really being in tune with me/my body?
6. Am I more focused on performing or pleasing him rather than on my own physical pleasure?
7. Will I be totally okay and not disappointed AT ALL if I don’t hear from him tomorrow or ever again?
Be honest with yourself. I totally get that when hormones start firing (and especially if you add any kind of alcohol into the mix), your mind is not always that clear. This is why it’s so important to consider these things before you find yourself in a horizontal position. And trust me he is not going to like you more if you are sexual with him before you are ready to be or before you have built an emotional connection. The guy that is truly your match will go at your pace. Please discard any limiting beliefs that there is some “putting out” timeline that you are supposed to adhere to other than your own inner voice. Wait for the guy who takes you out on real dates, asks you questions about your life, and remembers that you really love Diet Dr. Pepper.
So is it ever possible for a woman to engage in meaningless, casual hookups without creating any emotional attachment, expectations, or longing for more? There are two conditions in which I have observed this to be possible. The first is when a woman is 100% comfortable and empowered in her own sexuality, totally asks for what she wants and honors her boundaries, has zero expectations, and is not looking for a relationship of any kind. The second is when the guy is WAY more into her than she is into him and delivers on the cuddling and calling. If a woman feels smothered by a guy she does not really like all that much, she is more likely to chalk it up to a good time and move on. Both of these situations are rare. More often I see women regretting casual hookups where they’ve gone further than they wanted to go or gone into it knowing that the guy was not into pursuing a relationship, but tried to convince themselves they’d be okay with having a purely physical/sexual experience.
Ladies, your body is sacred and your sexuality is an extension of your Spirit. Both are here for you to enjoy and express in ways that feel nourishing and pleasurable for you. Your heart is connected to your sexuality so when you open yourself up sexually, know that you are putting your sweet, loving and tender heart on the line. My encouragement to you is to explore ways to experience sensuality and express your sexuality in ways that don’t make you feel bad about yourself! Have fun, date, flirt and make a commitment to be self-honoring and authentic when it comes to hooking up.
If you are experiencing a hookup hangover, first of all forgive yourself and stop judging yourself. Navigating the waters of love and sex can be treacherous so go easy on you! Then, write in your journal what you learned from the experience, how it is helping you to clarify what you really want, and what you are committed to when moving forward. Take the reigns of your sexuality back into your own hands and enjoy a ride that feels more in alignment with the Truth of who you are and the kind of intimacy you want to share with someone.
I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences on this topic. Do you think it is possible for women to have casual hookups without creating an emotional connection or longing for more? And if you are ready to publicly commit to opting out of casual hookups that lead to hangovers, I invite you to claim that in the comment section below!

by Christine Hassler on October 12, 2011

Christine Hassler is an author, speaker, life coach and spiritual counselor dedicated to helping people answer the questions who am I, what do I want and how do I get it? You can check out her website here: http://www.christinehassler.com/

Don't forget to dream today.