Because
things are challenging it doesn’t mean we have to lose our s*t. This is
the most important aspect of managing the current crisis. That is, to
manage how we choose to process information and how we choose to look at
the facts.
How well are we able to separate the facts from the stories
we tell ourselves about the facts… We are really good at taking
ourselves on rides… (Continued below....)
(...Continued......)When we allow our thoughts to get the best of us, we flood our
bandwidth with noise, we get whirly, we trigger ourselves, we cut off
access to our higher thinking and problem solving capabilities and
creativity, we don’t see the opportunities and the good in front of us.
And, there is always good…, no matter what!
If we allow ourselves to get nutty, and allow the above to get the
best of us, how are we to make good decisions, not react (different from
respond), stay resourceful, take care of ourselves, stay healthy and
embrace wellness, take good care of our kids, show up for our partner,
see the opportunities to serve and help, become an innovator. Get my
drift?
And, when we are all twisted up inside our head, we feel all twisted
up, and then we act all twisted up. How is that for clinical language?
LOL
When we are all twisted up, this is how you may show up in your relationship:
WARNING – this might look normal to you… But these are not qualities
of a Successful Relationship and that’s why you are struggling…
Mindset
You complain about how your partner is doing themselves, the choices they make, how they show up, and how they contribute
You might pick at them, put them down, criticize, undermine, undo and the like whatever efforts they are putting in
You might not even see what they contribute, choosing to look at everything as an issue or it being done wrong
You might feel compelled to tell them how they need to think, feel and show up
Communication
You want to talk and address things even if they don’t want to,
regardless that you might be triggered or it might not be the right time
You go into a conversation making your partner wrong, blaming, putting down and the like
You think you are right and go in with your gloves off, because you
are upset you think it’s OK to throw out all skills, tools and civility
You don’t see, own or acknowledge your part in it, never mind apologize
Dynamics
You respond the same way to situations and try to solve them the same
way, even if that didn’t work before; and the focus is to prove your
point, meet your own needs, and get your way
You lose sight of the fact that your partner is also human and imperfect, and on their own Journey
You expect your partner to anticipate your needs, meet all your
needs, know what’s up and address things as if they were you or an
extension of you
Connection
You give your partner love the way you like to receive love, have no clue that they might want something differently
You expect your partner to want to do everything you want to do, when and how you want to
You want your partner to be there when you need and want them to, regardless of if they are able to
You want to spend a lot more time with your partner than they want to spend with you, and you take this personally or fight it
You assume your partner is not attracted to you or interested in
being intimate so don’t even attempt any physical closeness; or, you
assume your partner only wants one thing and is not really interested in
you or respect you otherwise
Partnership
You take on the brunt of the homemaking and joint life
responsibilities (regardless of whatever good reason you think you have
for this…) and become resentful about it and negative, whiney, passive
aggressive, controlling and all kinds of not so awesomeness about it…
You create a chaotic or military like home and complain your children
are out of control (all other things happen with the children as well)
Your home life feels overwhelming, exhausting, stifling, burdensome, irritating, joyless
Your partner has all kinds of reasons for not being home, and if they are home they don’t feel like they are home…
What do these mean? They indicate poor self-management, unresolved issues, lack of sills and tools, and more… Poor:
Mindset, expectations, personal ownership and sovereignty, and boundaries [Context/Mindset]
Communication, conflict resolution and repair [Communication/Alignment]
Understanding of self, drivers, needs, defense mechanisms [Clarity/Dynamics]
Know-how on connecting, sustaining connection, receiving and giving
love, being emotionally and physically intimate, having fun together
(couple fun, not just family fun…) [Connection/Intimacy]
Habits, routines, plans, resources, structures and systems [Collaboration/Partnership]
So, if you are not satisfied in your relationship (which you will be
at some point or another in its lifespan – that’s just the way it is)
and you are experiencing pain and aggravation, it doesn’t mean you have
to endure it and suffer through it…
This is the time to be proactive, get attentive and invest in
enriching and nurturing your relationship. This is the time to get
support if what you’ve been trying hasn’t been working. Don’t wait till
you do more damage! It’s hard to come back from severe damage, don’t
become another statistic… It’s best to get on it early!
ASSIGNMENT: Take a hard look at your relationship and how you are
showing up to it. Put yourself through the 5 Elements of the Successful
Couple Strategy™ — Context, Communication, Clarity, Connection and
Collaboration — and identify where you are not showing up with your Best
Self… Note, if you need to:
Clean up how you look at things and learn how to set effective boundaries
Improve your communication and other interactive skills
Heal and address some unresolved issues and change your patterns
Learn how to Be with your partner
Put systems in place to create a collaborative environment and joyful home
Creating a Successful Relationship is not difficult, it just requires
Commitment… We don’t want you curious or interested in creating a
successful relationship. To have an amazing relationship you have to be
Committed to making that happen. Just as with anything else in life…
Let’s rock your relationship. Let’s create your Successful Relationship – now is the time…
Learn how to do this with our upcoming Relationship Enrichment Bootcamp™ (REB)!
As you might already know, given the current crisis in NYS I felt
compelled to rework the REB virtual event, scheduled for on April 4th,
to make it more accessible not only financially but also practically:
I’m condensing the whole experience into a 1.5-hour presentation
It’ll have a replay, downloadable material, and all the other perks
AND, I’m now offering it for FREE
Get More Information HERE
Register For Your FREE Access HERE
(You’ll get an account and access on our Member Site as if you were purchasing the event!)
If you are struggling, why keep white-knuckling it? Support is here
now and very accessible. Please take advantage of this opportunity. See
you inside!
Complete the Assignment, and share your takeaway, insights, and
results with a note in the Comments box at the end! I’d love to hear how
you are using this content.
Happy Enriching!
P.S. Transform your relationship with our upcoming Relationship Enrichment Bootcamp™ (REB)!
REB is a virtual event, scheduled for on April 4th:
A whole experience into a 1.5-hour presentation
It’ll have a replay, downloadable material, and all the other perks
AND, I’m now offering it for FREE
Get More Information HERE
Register For Your FREE Access HERE
(You’ll get an account and access on our Member Site as if you were purchasing the event!)
It is packed with thought-provoking, mindset shift concepts and
simple, yet extremely powerful and transformational, easily
implementable tools for immediate results.
You CAN create the relationship you desire!
Get Bonuses, Perks and Access when you Register HERE!
P.S.S. Get the Snap Takeaways™ for this post (Stay tuned for it!)
P.S.S.S. Share Your Thoughts & Successes in the comment box at
the end! Take a moment now to share below any thoughts, comments, take
away, tips, and successes! PLEASE post a comment now – we grow in
community! Thanks for connecting with the MetroRelationship™ Family!
Copyright (c) 2020 Emma K. Viglucci. All rights reserved.
Want to Use this Article in Your Own Website or Publication?
Be our guest! Here is how, you MUST include:
Emma K. Viglucci, LMFT is the Founder and Director of Metropolitan
Marriage & Family Therapy, PLLC, a private practice that specializes
in working with couples, she is the creator of the MetroRelationship™
philosophy and a variety of Successful Couple™ content that assist
couples succeed at their relationship and their life. Stay Connected™
with Emma and receive weekly Connection Notes in your inbox with
Personal Growth and Relationship Enrichment insights and strategies,
visit: www.metrorelationship.com.
Emma K. Viglucci, LMFT has been in the mental health field
in varying capacities for the past 20+ years. She is the Founder and
Director of MetroRelationship.com a psychotherapy and coaching practice
specializing in working with busy professional and entrepreneurial
couples who are struggling getting on the same page and feeling
connected.
There’s no denying that money has the potential to turn people’s heads. There are competing influences in the world, and money can influence us for either good or bad.
However, as free moral agents, we can choose what influences we submit to. Knowing the biblical truth about wealth puts us in control of it, instead of in subjection to it.
One of the ways God wants to bless us and show us His favor is through financial increase; however, we need to first learn how to handle money in a godly way. Jesus called money the least important thing in the kingdom of God, but added that we need to be trustworthy in the least before we can be trusted with the truly important things. Most people allow themselves to be influenced by the spirit of mammon, which attaches itself to money and contradicts the Word of God in every way.
The spirit of mammon comes directly from Satan, who lies to us about everything. Whether we let God, or the enemy, influence how we handle money tells us much about where we place our faith. When Jesus had the conversation with the rich young ruler, the young man went away grieved, because he was unwilling to part with his earthly riches and follow God. Loving money more than anything else blocks God’s blessings and can cause us great distress.
Money is a tool to bless others, not something to accumulate and hoard. We must take heed to avoid covetousness, because life is more than the abundance of possessions. There’s nothing wrong with having money, as long as it doesn’t have us; the blessing that comes from God makes us rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. God is well aware that we need money for daily living, and when we seek first His kingdom, it will be added unto us.
Prayer:
Lord, one of the ways You show us Your grace is by blessing us in our finances. You also gave us Your Word on the proper relationship with money, which gives us an advantage over others who don’t know the spiritual influences behind it. Thank You for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Fear can
be overcome. Even very fearful Christians can become brave. In my own
experience of overcoming fear, I've found wisdom which I hope, dear
reader, will help you to find victory in your walk with God.
The Effect of Fear on the Believer
God wants his children to do his will. However, fear can interfere
with our trust in God; Men can act in disobedience, and even go
completely astray because of fear. They can doubt whether they should
trust God's leading. They wonder, for example, "Will God protect me in
witnessing?" or, "Is he really leading me to tell this person about
Jesus?" or, "Does he really want me to call my estranged sister?"
When God speaks clearly to a man, saying "Do this." or, "Go there."
or, "Stop doing that." in that moment, it is certain that God has
spoken. Yet, along comes fear. The man asks, "What will happen?" Doubt
then follows. He wonders, "Did he really tell me to do that?" So, the
man stumbles; he leaves the work unperformed, losing the narrow way. As
his stumbling continues, his fear settles in, and a pattern of
fruitlessness emerges in the man's life.
Hebrews 10:36-39 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the
just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have
no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
My Own Experience in Defeating Fear
I had this same experience early in my Christian walk; for nine years
I was in fear, fruitless, and running from God. But, I battled my fear
and overcame it totally. I returned to God, and found the narrow way.
Today, I've witnessed to thousands of people; I've served God
unceasingly for more than five years, in complete victory over all of
the power of the enemy. I write this to evidence to you, dear reader,
that the cycle of fear and doubt can be broken.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
You can totally defeat your fear. By trusting in God and doing his
will, you'll grow increasingly sure of your footing along the narrow
way. Your works along the way will bear good fruit for all men. You'll
live rejoicing in the satisfaction of truly serving God.
I'll show you how I overcame my fear; hopefully, my method will work for you, too.
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and
not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
John 15:14-16 "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his
lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have
heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me,
but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall
ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
Praying Unto God for Boldness, Bravery, and Strength
Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
God can save you from your fear. You need only to pray for bravery in
doing his will. God will hear your reconciliatory prayer for bravery,
with confession of the fear. I encourage you to pray such a prayer
today, in faith, dear reader.
With believing prayer in request for boldness, bravery, and strength,
God's voice will again be made clear to you. Importantly, this is the
time to begin obeying God's leading – the moment his leading is clear is
the one to trust and follow him.
Bravery is an excellent virtue of man. This virtue can be built in
the heart of even the most fearful men; I have further wisdom in this,
that I've learned of God. There is a method to establish bravery in your
own heart, which I'll share with you now:
We Become Brave by Doing Brave Things
Overcoming fear requires this simple technique: when you fear doing a
thing, you must do it. Bold people often fear too. But, they know from
experience that God is faithful, so they push through the fear, trusting
God, triumphing over fear completely.
On Breaking Down Fear
As a man walks the narrow way facing down his fears, carrying out the
will of God, he attains the mastery over the fear – it weakens.
Continuing in this way, fearfulness can ultimately be totally overcome.
All fear of doing good has it's root in lies; you must either rule
over your fear, or it will rule over you. God is trustworthy. I exhort
you, do trust him, and live in service to him.
The apostles are our best example of boldness, powerfully exhibiting
their faith in God. The book of Acts shows the efficacy of valor for
God, as the apostles saved many men by their trust in the Father.
Boldness can produce similar fruits in your own life, dear reader.
The First Time is the Hardest
We all start out inexperienced. Unfamiliar works are new to the
believer, making the fear especially strong. This is a vital time to
trust in God. He sees all things; he is our loving Father; all things
are held together by him. Though you cannot foretell what will come by
obedience to his will, he knows the good outcome. Pray to him for
boldness, while you are certain of his leading, and carry it out before
fear and doubt creep in. Act on God's leading. It will bear good fruit,
and the fear will weaken.
I want to tell you, I've found that serving God in good works is the most satisfying experience in life.
God is Worthy of Our Trust
The root of fear is lack of faith in God's trustworthiness. Doubting
God. But, God is worthy of our trust; he loves us dearly. He upholds
every believer with all that is needed to serve him. We need only to
trust in him. Strength comes from trust in God. With God's help we can
overcome anything.
1 John 3:18-24 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither
in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of
the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart
condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward
God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And
this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son
Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he
that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby
we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to
us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him."
Closing Prayer
I pray dear reader, that God blesses you with all bravery, boldness,
and strength, that you will trust in him, that your relationship with
him will forever deepen, that your love in him will increase, and that
you will successfully attain unto eternal life.
I pray that all who read any part of this article receive these
things, that God's will be in done in the lives of all, and that all men
come to love our LORD God. Amen.
Joseph B. Glosenger is the writer for Endtimes Victory a Christian site offering articles, books, and witnessing materials,
free and released to the public domain. Our content focuses on the
nature of God, the end times, and Christian growth.
Please use the contact information provided on the video to contact this student-athlete. US Sports Network has little to no contact with any of the student-athletes profiled on this site.
Presented on US Sports Net by Game Planner Pro! Enter Code USSports to save 10% off the annual subscription. For Football Coaches, By Football Coaches Learn More...
Cheerleading Sideline Dances featuring Coach Linda Rae Chappell
Coach Linda Rae Chappell and the William Jewell College Spirit Team demonstrate several new dances to inspire your squad! The program features seven original 8-count dances. The program teaches and performs each dance to counts so you can plug in your favorites music. Each dance is shown from the front and back to make learning easier and more enjoyable. A great video to help get your season started! Book this course.....
Linda Rae Chappell has been coaching amateur and professional cheerleaders and coaches for more than 30 years. She currently owns Spiritworks Cheerleading and Dance, LLC, where she directs summer camps and coaching workshops throughout the mid-west. A published author, college instructor, and NFHS service award winner. Linda has inspired, mentored and energized literally thousands and thousands of people throughout her career. Book this course
Soda, water without gas, tonics and isotonics (Gatoreid, Powereide),
plus really useful waters containing aloe juice, etc. etc. This is the
most necessary of all that you can buy at the bar. To train and not to
drink is like smoking between sets; load on the cardiovascular system is
not the most useful. The best choice of a sports drink for training in a
hall - usual still water. All the rest - either for fitness gourmets,
or for those who did not have time to eat properly before training (in
this case, the bottle of "Gatorade" will not allow dangerous fall of
blood glucose level during the load). (Continued below.....)
Team Beast Athlete, Raynor Whitcombe, takes you through a workout that focuses on building strength, conditioning, and the explosive power needed to elevate your game for sports.
That is, a protein that is easier to digest than the same protein,
taken from eggs, milk, cottage cheese, meat or fish. However, the need
for his admission from the very beginning of the classes is greatly
exaggerated financially interested in this people. The increased need
for protein can arise only in response to no less elevated loads, which,
as a rule, occur after a year or two of very intense and regular
training. For muscle growth, a novice serving of a protein shake before
and after training will be useful only if he last ate 6-8 hours ago.
Gainers
Protein-carbohydrate drinks, stimulating the secretion of insulin -
the main anabolic hormone, responsible for the assimilation of proteins,
fats and carbohydrates. In practice, the gainers are used to quickly
gain weight. Taking 2-3 servings of a geyner a day with food (and not
instead of it), any sloth will accumulate a five kilogram of muscle mass
in just a month. Those who have been training for a long time, it is
useful to drink the geyners right before classes - their increased
caloric content will help to conduct more intensive training and recover
faster. In this regard, the gainers are much more useful than proteins,
but, like all high-speed, have a side effect - the inevitable increase
in fat under the skin.
Vitamins, amino acids and other fat burners
All this can easily be combined into one group of expensive, probably
useful, but not the most necessary drugs. Alas, the sports nutrition
market is also a market, it needs diversification of the product, and
therefore you will always be offered a new chondroprotector, then a new
creatine. Yes, the producers will not take offense at me, but these
products duplicate what you can buy in a pharmacy, and much cheaper. The
best chondro- and cardioprotective agent is regular fish oil. Sports
vitamins carry a thermonuclear dosage, which is difficult to absorb even
a very heavy athlete; Pharmaceutical dosages are much better for normal
active people. Amino acids - in general the lot of competing
bodybuilders. So if you do not have extra money, excess health and
unnecessary curiosity, refrain from applying the above.
Helpful advice: if you constantly use the products of a fitness bar,
do not be lazy to ask the bartender to look at the jar of what you are
constantly drinking - a gainer or protein. In many bars there is a
restaurant "tradition" not to report in cocktails recommended by the
manufacturer a dose, providing volume of ice and other by-products. If
you notice the difference (the bartender is obliged to tell you how many
grams of this or that product he pours into a cocktail) - order a
double portion or buy your own jar.
Special diet provides you with muscle grow but you also need a lot of
energy and strength to build muscles. That is why you may need a
pre-workout supplements.
Pre-workout supplements are one of the types of sports nutrition that
increase the working capacity of an athlete before training, increase
strength, help build muscle mass and burn subcutaneous fat. There are a
number of different ingredients in them. Some of the ingredients are
effective, and some are not, but in the aggregate, they are a very
active mixture that really improves the quality of the athletes'
training process.
Pre-workout supplements
Composition of pre-workouts
The composition of Pre-workout supplements includes many components,
usually 15-25, but most often you can find the following substances:
Creatine - increases the strengths, stimulates the growth of muscle
mass. Pre-Workouts in the composition contain a variety of transport
systems, which improve the assimilation of creatine.
BCAA - 3 essential amino acids that nourish muscle tissue and prevent catabolic processes.
Arginine - is needed to make up the muscles and the effect of pumping.
Vitamins and minerals are vital components for the human body, the
reserves of which are depleted during intensive training, so they need
to be restored.
Caffeine - a stimulant of the central nervous system, promotes the acceleration of metabolism.
Geranamine is another stimulant of the central nervous system, several times stronger than caffeine.
Taurine - a stimulant and a reductant, according to unconfirmed data stimulates the production of growth hormone.
Beta-alanine - restores muscles after training.
As practice shows, the remaining components, which are part of the predecessors, are not effective.
Cons of Pre-workout supplements
Pre-workout supplements contain a lot of stimulant and other various
components that can be dangerous for the cardiovascular system,
therefore, it is not worth taking sports complexes to athletes with
heart problems, and it is also not recommended to use preworkouts if you
are 40 years old or more. Cases and problems with digestion associated
with taking stimulant supplements are not uncommon before buying a
product, check the composition, make sure you do not have an individual
intolerance to one of the components.
The Best Pre-workout supplements
The best Pre-workout supplements This list contains only
pre-training, time-tested, they collected a lot of positive feedback and
recommendations from professional athletes:
Jack3D from USPLabs;
No Xplode from BSN;
Mesomorph from APS;
Assault from MusclePharm;
Friction from VPX;
SuperPump Max from Gaspari Nutrition.
You can familiarize yourself with each of these products by simply
clicking on the name in the list. All of them showed incredible
effectiveness, of course, each of these preworkouts deserves attention.
How to take a pre-workout complex
Each manufacturer, together with a pre-workout instructor, provides
consumers with an instruction on how to use the additive, while holding
it, you can achieve maximum results. Deviate from the recommended dosage
is not necessary, it can lead to a mass of health problems. Some
companies also offer athletes to take Pre-workout supplements and during
rest days, it is worth saying that in such cases they are more worried
about the state of their wallet, rather than your physical form. In days
off from training, it is better to take some restorative and nutritious
supplements such as protein or amino acid complexes, daily use of
potent stimulants of the central nervous system will deplete your
strength and only slow the progression.
Reviews on Pre-workout supplements
In discussions at various forums and the most popular bodybuilding
portals, one can find both positive and negative feedback about
Pre-workout supplements. Athletes share their feelings and results,
discuss the taste, effectiveness, safety and quality of products. Having
analyzed a lot of Internet resources, we came to the conclusion that
there are many times more positive reviews of pre-teens, moreover, one
often finds statements by reputable sportsmen who recommend one or
another stimulating complex.
Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV) sufferers or those at risk, now have a more
natural alternative in the fight against and in protection from the
disease – a welcome announcement for women and girls the world over.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny joins us to share more about HPV vaccine side effects and carcinogens found in vaccines.
The Indian Institute of Toxicology Research Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research have released findings that Green and Black Tea
Polyphenols (GTP & BTP) are strong allies in the fight against HPV
and cervical cancer as they kill the cells that create these diseases
within the body. The authors of the study say "tea polyphenols exhibit
anti-cancer potential against cervical cancer by inhibition of cell
growth and induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death)." In layman's
terms, the properties of the tea make harmful HPV-positive cervical
cancers cells destroy themselves before becoming cancerous.
With reports by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention that
26.8% of American girls and women between the ages of 14-59 are
suffering from the disease, the HPV preventative vaccine has gained
popularity – by doctors and in the media – yet usage of this vaccine
remains low owing to the publicized risks, which include nausea,
paralysis and even death. In addition, the vaccine is only available to
girls of and under the age of 26.
This new study introduces a whole new alternative for all those at
risk – however, drinking the tea is not effective as heating the tea
destroys the inner properties which are needed to fight cancer and HPV.
Supplements such as Gene-Eden contain enough traces of the necessary tea
polyphenols to be used effectively and efficiently both as a
preventative measure, and during recovery from either disease. Gene-Eden
is an anti-viral dietary supplement, developed on the basis of
extensive research. It consists of proven natural ingredients with
strong anti-viral properties to fight against most of the viruses during
their chronic and latent phase.
While fighting disease, these natural supplements do not carry nasty
side effects and offer a natural and far more affordable option to the
vaccine; enabling girls and women to take the supplements regularly and
rest assured that they are receiving the highest possible antiviral
care.
For more information on Gene-Eden, go to http://www.Gene-Eden.com.
Gene-Eden is available on Amazon.com.
About:
The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease (CBCD,
http://www.cbcd.net) is a research center recognized by the IRS as a
501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. The mission of the CBCD is to
advance the research on the biology of chronic diseases, and to
accelerate the discovery of treatments for these diseases. The CBCD
published the "Purple" book by Dr. Hanan Polansky. The book presents
Dr. Polansky’s highly acclaimed scientific theory of the relationship
between the DNA of latent (chronic) viruses and the onset of chronic
diseases. Dr. Polansky’s book can be freely downloaded from the CBCD
website.
As a
modern form of slavery, human trafficking represents a type of
criminology in which victims are forced into an illegal form of
involuntary servitude. The range of illicit activities, by force or
fraud, include sex trafficking, debt enslavement or forced labor. A
multibillion-dollar industry in human beings, human trafficking ranks
second to drug trafficking. One source cites between 600,000 and 800,000
men, women and children are trafficked across international borders
every year. Up to 80% of those are women and girls, with over 50% under
legal age, or children, in terms of a global perspective. (Continued below......)
(...Continued.....)Domestically, within the U.S., it is estimated that the level of
criminal activity for human exploitation ranges between 240,000 and
300,000 youths each year. Many are at risk for sexual exploitation,
while others are involved in forced labor situations or other criminal
activities. As such, given the dangerous potentiality of the associated
criminal activities, as well as other threat possibilities, a personal
strategy for safety and security is essential. Part of the planning
individual safeguards, includes raising one’s level of awareness to a
more heightened state of informed vigilance.
Another aspect includes the realization and recognition that deadly
possibilities exist everywhere. Regardless of where you are or where you
go, a threat potential could erupt when least expected. As a seemingly
vulnerable target of opportunity, a criminal event could happen in the
most unlikely places. Unfortunately, most people remain willfully
distracted by technology, or other preoccupations, to maintain a state
of deliberate readiness. Planning personal safety countermeasures is a
full-time effort for savvy urban vigilance, both within the U.S., and
especially during foreign travel.
Under “Gonzo Theory”, the rule of “5-P’s” apply. This refers to
“proper planning prevents poor performance”. The concept includes both
formal and informal risk analysis, defensive preparations, and
contingency plans. Naturally, within this scheme, a good safety protocol
begins at home with a thorough security assessment of the home
environment. From living room to classroom, boardroom or workroom,
personal safety is a primary concern. In between, there are traveling
considerations. Whether going to the school campus or the workplace,
defensive driving demands full presence of mind and body during the
trip. Vehicular operations require exceptional attentiveness.
Both illicit sex trafficking and forced labor conscription involve a
variety of tactics and trickery. From fraud to force, whereby the victim
becomes trapped in dangerous scenarios, sometimes involving torture and
death, criminals use various means. A swindle could come from nearly
anyone, like an intimate partner, or a co-worker, and the offer of a
“good deal” is “too good to pass up”, or simply “too good to be true”.
It could involve international intrigue, a foreign adventure and easy
money for “get rich quick” scheme. Concerning foreign travel, the
traveler should ensure a well-researched travel plan. This includes
following U.S. Department of State foreign country guidelines.
For now, on the domestic front, personal security countermeasures
require daily vigilance. Developing a “tactical mindset” means preparing
oneself each day for the harsh reality that seriously dangerous
predators hunt for targets of opportunity. Trusting “intuitive
thinking”, that is to say, feeling uncomfortable about people, places
and things, is an early warning system that warrants attentiveness.
Being naïve, gullible and uninformed as to the dangerousness of human
behavior in the real world, is reflective of immaturity that risks
personal safety and the security of others.
Self-education in the personal self-evolving process is essential to
social survival in post-modern times. Among professionals in the field
of law enforcement, most agree that making serious judgmental
assessments is vital to personal wellbeing. Not surprisingly, many
people today do not practice the ability to assert rationally logical
critical assessments of much of anything. In actuality, a growing body
of credible research points to an increasing state of social stupidity
widespread throughout the U.S. mainstream.
The inability to think and react becomes challenging. Using one’s
full sensory abilities to assess, appraise, and otherwise plan
protective contingencies begins early as one emerges into adulthood.
Obviously, there are no guarantees to ensure an absolute state of
individual security. Likewise, there are no foolproof assurances that
everyone can be trusted, or any particular environment is perfectly safe
and insulated from dangers.
Given the world of the internet, social media networking and
associated societal interactions, distractions loom everywhere. Mass
marking in particular is hideously provocative in every medium of
information exchange. Gross distractions flirt with seductive
contrivances to entice more consumerism to foster gluttonous
consumption. Opportunistic predation finds sinister ways to victimize
others.
In American society, in contrast to other countries, the average
person has very little conception of self-defense tactical skills. Other
than public safety-first responders and the military, most people are
ill equipped to ensure a defensive state of readiness. A basic framework
necessitates building a “tactical mindset”, which infers a sense of
self-reliance in personal intuitive abilities. Of this, judicious
discretion, or real-world threat assessment, is vital to a profound
sense of situational awareness. At a very basic level, such capacity for
analysis of people and places requires attentiveness to surroundings.
In one survey, conducted by a national security firm, 80% of
respondents reported they were unprepared to deal with a terroristic
attack within their working environment. With less than 1% to 3% of the
population actively engaged in public safety services, or national
defense, the other nearly 97% to 99% rely on 1% to 3% “protect them”.
From another analysis of perhaps what might be called “societal capacity
for self-reliance”, a major international business magazine reports on
what is being call a “nation of sissies”. In the subsequent reporting,
the assertion is made that 75% of the younger generation is
characterized as being “spoiled, soft and not self-sustaining as
adults”. Inexperienced in matters of self-reliance and readiness to deal
with an emergency is very visible.
Granted, the forgoing addresses American cultural issues that express
a bloated feel-good, relatively safe and excessively consumer-oriented
society. There are always exceptions to every claim or assertion.
Usually upon closer examination, a small percentage of the grouping does
not fit the generalization. Regardless, where studies and analysis
support the argument, the majority can be said to suggest a
post-adolescent immaturity in adulthood. Overly indulged, pampered,
prone to magical thinking and given to emotional reactivity rather than
logical rationality, many are easy pickings for vicious predators
throughout society on and off the World Wide Web. Not only that, but a
false sense of safety and security where many are oblivious to social
dangers.
In terms of targets of opportunity, criminals look for weaknesses.
Targeting hardening is an age-old necessity of increasing the risk of
the criminal. Criminals make choices given their skill set in the
selectivity of their victimization. Predators are everywhere and willing
to take advantage of vulnerabilities. In the modern age, with a
diversity of varying types of slavery, abduction as well as seduction
lurks closer than what one might think. Whether incoming or outgoing,
immigration to foreign vacation, personal safety is extremely important.
Developing a personal safety strategy is vital.
Once upon a time, at least two generations ago, social maturation
included a conceptual framework of self-reliance, individuation in
social survival training, and a sense of competence in growing up. Civil
defense awareness was a customary reminder. Yet, over the decades,
subsequent generation of young Americans appear less understanding of
the dangers that surround them. Potential threats exist are a real
possibility. With the advent of the millennials, and the subsequent
z-generation, victimization on and off the World Wide Web is a real and
present danger, where many naively travel.
According to one online magazine that contributes to the corporate
environment, many young people today are ill equipped to deal with the
dangers of a volatile world. Cocooned in a seemingly never-ending array
of overprotection, a generation of “sissies” have been described as
badly prepared to ascended toward anything that might be considered
adulthood. Immature and poorly trained in “social survival tactics”,
many are oblivious to the probabilities for threatening situations and
human deceptions. Being alert to situational vulnerabilities requires
sensory attentiveness. Vigilance is demanding.
Yet, the younglings are not the only group to get the most the
criticisms. Older members of society, in particular those who never
served in public safety services or the military, are typically not
prepared either. For most people, daily travel and interaction with
others is mostly safe and otherwise secure, as contacts tend to be in
seemingly controlled environments. From home to the world of academia,
or the workplace, driving, sitting, shopping, consuming and working,
things are primarily routine and mundane. From texting, to posting
selfies and interacting in social media, a surreal sense of
superficiality overshadows the reality of human nature. Nonetheless,
dangers lurk everywhere and happen with a sudden burst of violence that
is nearly unpredictable. Many people are in a state of perpetual
“greyness”, a foggy sense of the world around them.
Dealing with the criminality of human trafficking is multifaceted and
multilayered. Combating the terrorism of criminals who traffic in
people crosses boundaries of national sovereignty. While citizen
awareness and civic actions are one aspect, another interrelated
component are commercial and institutional responsibilities. Likewise,
significant in terms of interdictions are the critical resources of law
enforcement at the local, state and national levels. As with all public
safety endeavors, resources, funding, and personnel are vital. And, with
a scarcity of resources, such as personnel, priorities are competitive.
Nonetheless, contingencies are required at the local level as well as
nationally.
Awareness is essential across all generations, and particularly among
the younger ones. As related to targets of victimization and
enforcement options, the complexity extends from locale to international
borders. Modern day slavery comes in diverse forms of criminality, some
overtly conspiratorial by criminal collusions. Other forms manifest by
intentional actions of commercial and political contrivances to ensure
cheap labor costs, as well as market profitability. Naïve citizens,
special interest social groups and career politicians foster an
atmosphere of disingenuous discourse that aids and abets criminality.
Relevance of facts in the face of national security threats often
goes ignored until the next horrific catastrophe. Whether by foolish
juvenile ignorance, or intentional political agenda, serious
criminological issues typically miss the mainstream headlines. In place
of serious interest and determined problem solving implementations,
criminogenic factors are left to underfunded and understaffed limited
resources. Modern day human slavery is a matter of national security
concern. In particular, an inquisitive investigator might wonder why
special interests contrive to interfere with immigration enforcement
efforts.
Where credible evidence and substantial data demonstrate the
terroristic and illegal trafficking collusions, with regard to
immigration activities, question arise as to the complicity of corporate
and political agendas. On the dark side of economic globalism, the
utilization of cheap labor, low wages and substandard living conditions,
reflects business and corporate interest in “cost effective labor”
resources. With more than 50% of human trafficking involving forced
labor, one might conclude the “benefits” of modern-day slavery to the
labor market. In addition, the dangerous nature of human trafficking
contains many areas of human exploitation. An assessment of solvability
factors reaches to the upper echelons of society, as well as the
political processes of society.
In a massive consumer-oriented society, where fixation is on
consumption, the ongoing process of raising awareness among many
competitive public and private interests remains challenging. While
celebrity gossip and political collusions blabber about the superficial
and the simplistic, the real hardcore societal issues remain in the
background. In the distractions of an array of techno obsessiveness, as
well as the mean-spirited nature of political agendas, critical social
priorities seldom get much attention.
At the bottom line, an essential consideration for some aspects of
the human trafficking connivance is the question as to who stands to
gain from illicit operations. Reports from several sources indicate that
human trafficking is extremely profitable. One international group
suggests that 36 million people are in bondage to some form of
modern-day slavery. Of that number, 26% are reported to be children.
Complicity lurks in the shadows. Extremely lucrative, the dangerous and
sinister nature of human trafficking makes it a highly attractive
business operation for criminal entrepreneurs.
According to at least one investigative reporter, and there are many
others, the gluttony of consumer consumption is fed in part from the
labor of illegal immigrants. As suggested earlier, some would call this
the equivalent of modern-day human slavery. From an economic standpoint,
slavery generates a couple hundred billion dollars a year. Low cost
labor forces save companies’ money on personnel costs. Ignoring the
degradation and exploitation, a significant cost-benefit formula arises.
From enslavement to the marketplace, human beings remain an illicit
commodity to be sold on the world market. Enforcement of law is
critical. Apprehension, prosecution, conviction and imprisonment of
criminals are vital. Accordingly, as one research foundation points out,
the supply and demand for human slaves is highly profitable in the
globalization of transnational commerce throughout the world community.
Issues of impoverishment, barriers to enforcement, governmental
instability, warfare, environmental exploitation, political corruption,
profit continuity, agricultural production, cheap wages, and so forth,
interfere with efforts to ensure human safety and security. On top that,
nation-state geographic boundaries of sovereignty, in terms of
jurisdictional enforcement, add to the difficulties of interdicting the
supply side of the problem. Interdiction suggests international
cooperation, and full enforcement of laws. Enforcement infers resources,
material, funding, personnel and legal support components.
From all this, a more enlightened, mature and relentless proactive
collaboration of public education and politically strong supportive
efforts for law enforcement operations are essential. Law enforcement at
every level requires serious backing in terms of personnel, technical
materials, and resources. Likewise, politicians, pundits, and powerful
people, especially the elite wealthy, need to honestly appraise the
reality of modern-day slavery, and their role in the world society. From
the decadent corridors of academia, to fawning of adulation of
celebrity self-importance, relevant action is required.
In one insightful analysis from an online publication, the
researchers point out that profitmaking operations like “labor
contracting services”, across the border enticements for jobs and
benefits, and other recruitment solicitations, require serious
investigative scrutiny. Every aspect of modern-day immigration should be
assessed critically in terms of the real implications of what actually
happens. Some would suggest that “immigration reform” is a cover phrase
for redefining slavery. Or, “cheap labor”, “immigrant worker” is
synonymous with the word slave. Companies that employ them, “slave
holders”.
Serious questions arise every day. As such, where do the policy
makers, the politicians and influence peddlers, draw the line? Which
corporate empires, global entrepreneurs and wealthy oligarchs further
their complicities in support of human trafficking in varied forms? From
Europe to Asia, from Africa to the Middle East, and so on, which
countries continue to be involved in human trafficking? As the
international markets expand, what are the major sociopolitical and
economic factors that should be addressed on a global scale? For serious
violations, who enforces international law?
From agriculture to construction project, nationally and
internationally, profit sometimes ignores the abuse of workers.
Consumption, likewise, overlooks the indirect consequences of forced and
indebted enslavement. In countries where slavery is part of the
production processes, the resulting products, or additives to consumer
goods, are bought and sold in the U.S. marketplace. Since Americans are
enormous, sometimes gluttonous, consumers, it is important to know which
companies and products are the result of human exploitation. When
politicians and business organizations clamor about the need for an
“immigrant worker program”, what does that really mean? When a city or
even a state illegally declares a “sanctuary” status, are they really
condoning human exploitation? In addition, what about an immigrant
caravan? Are they potential future slaves?
Dr. Gonzalez is a 35 year veteran of law enforcement; he teaches criminology at the collegiate level;
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