Absolute Living

Ellen and Laura wrap up more than three years of Absolute Living, reminiscing about their spiritual journeys and setting intentions for the future. This is their final episode. However, all previous episodes will be available through the archives.

How do you know when to stay focused on what you want or just go ahead and feel unhappy? Where's the line between positive thoughts and stuffing feelings? (An update on “Feeeelings” from June 23, 2008, in the archives.)

If we're the creators of our experience, why would we create anything unpleasant, much less evil? (This is an update on “Good and Evil” from June 15, 2008, in the archives.)

Practicing principles in relationships of all kinds may be just as tricky as it was three years ago when Ellen and Laura first addressed it. Have they learned anything since then? (This program is an update on “Relation-Shifts” from June 9, 2008, in the archives.)

Three years ago, Ellen and Laura were preaching prosperity just before a historic recession that hasn't ended. Are the principles applied differently in bad times? (This episode is an update on “Money, Money, Money” from June 2, 2008, in the archives.)

Laura is famous for her “hands off” parenting style. What's her advice now that her kids are nearly grown? Join us for this update from “Parenting in Principle” from the Unity Online Radio archives!

Three years ago, Ellen and Laura insisted everyone created his or her own illness. How do they feel now that their creaky bodies are falling apart? (This episode is an update on “Don't Tell Me I Created THIS,” which originally aired on May 12, 2008. Listen in!)

For the rest of the summer, Laura and Ellen revisit some of their earliest shows to see whether they've expanded or changed any of their beliefs, insights or understandings. First up is the original “Are You an Absolutist?” from May 2008 (available in the archives).

Join Ellen and Laura with special guest host Denise Blake for a lively discussion about the many topics on their minds!

Laura Shepard is joined by special guest host Denise Blake (our boss at Unity Online Radio!) to talk about the power of the Law of Attraction. Years ago, Laura cured her phobia for spiders and says the power of the mind can be used to change absolutely anything about our lives.

It's easy to become confused about Unity's teachings, depending on who is talking. Ellen and Laura consider whether "It's All God" is really true and discuss contradictory views of the Law of Attraction.

Laura and Ellen talk a lot about cleaning up your vibration or raising your consciousness in order to create your experience from a higher level. But HOW exactly can we make that shift? Mindy Audlin has written a book, What If It All Goes Right?, that is a wonderful primer about how to shift from negative to positive thinking. Mindy will be a guest on the program, and the three of them will demonstrate her increasingly famous "What If Up" process. 

Laura and Ellen can't help but ruminate about how spiritual principle showed up (or didn't) as America hunted, killed and celebrated the death of Osama bin Laden. Join us for this discussion.

We've all heard, "If you spot it, you got it." But there's an upside: You've got the good stuff too. Join us for this discussion!

At a listener's request, Laura and Ellen talk about the spiritual books that have made the biggest difference on their journeys.

Ellen and Laura are just back from the God for Grown-ups retreat at Unity Village and have all sorts of ideas about changing concepts of God as we grow spiritually.

How can we live in spiritual principle when we're with family who have a different worldview? Or Christians who want to convert us? Is there a way to stick to our guns without getting angry? Join us for “You Life Your Life, I'll Live Mine.”

Ernest D. Chu has advised thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners during his 35-year career. He is the author of the book Soul Currency, which has transformed thousands of lives, and he was recently featured on Oprah. Be sure to join this rich and insightful conversation with Ernie and Rev. Temple Hayes as he shares how he has moved “From Good to Amazing.”

A beautiful and familiar passage from the Bible, Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, tells us there is a time for everything under heaven. We call it divine timing, especially when we're not getting what we want. If we're the creators of our own experience, why should we have to wait for anything?

It's Valentine's Day, so we're full of love or at least compassion for others. Right? Is there ever a time when compassion is the wrong way to go? Join us for this “heartfelt” discussion.

Seems every time we turn around, we're being asked to give to one good cause or another, including our churches and even Unity Online Radio. How do we decide? How much is enough? And is tithing worthwhile or an outdated biblical concept? Laura and Ellen have never quite agreed on this topic!

When do we stay and when do we go—in relationships, jobs, projects, dreams? Are obstacles something to be worked through, or do they signify we're on the wrong path? Laura and Ellen talk about how to apply principle in times of discouragement.

Encore presentation.

Until recently, Laura and Ellen got nearly all their material from Unity or Abraham-Hicks. But lately they've been open to some new channels of information. They're just afraid you will think they are weird. Even weirder than usual! Join them for “Angels and Mediums and Guides, Oh My!”

Where do we get self-esteem after a lifetime of beating up ourselves? Listen in as Laura and Ellen read you a story about the beginnings of self-love.

Join Ellen and Laura as they share what they've learned about Islam and talk about how to deal in principle with people who are different or even against you.

Today Laura and Ellen look at the bullying epidemic and promise “that life gets better” in all areas of life. The universe is biased in our favor!

Ever catch yourself in lack language? “I ONLY have a little in the bank.” “I ONLY have a short amount of time.” “I'm ONLY a stay-at-home mom.” Every word counts! Join us as we discuss how to dispel “The Onlies.”

For the first time ever, Absolute Living joins with the men of Unity Happy Hour for two hours of blockbuster online radio! Join Ellen, Laura and the guys as they talk about living in principle in the first hour, then in the second hour, we'll all engage in some fun Happy Hour banter. Call it the "Absolute Happy Living Hour" Monday! This episode is part 1 of 2. The fun continues at Unity Happy Hour.

Laura and Ellen are quick to suggest that people mind their own business when they're worried about others' creations. But what IS our business? What about children, elderly parents, mistreatment, injustice? Do we just shrug and say they're creating their own reality? Or do we do something? Join us for “What Is Our Business?”

Today we celebrate Ellen's birthday with a discussion about aging, illness and death! Really, is it possible to get older without aging? Does living in principle make a difference in how we age? How could we "youthen" instead?

Happiness is downright trendy the past few years. Studies have tried to show what makes people happy, brain scans have added some information, and corporate speakers have carried the message. Of course, the Buddhists have cornered the market on happiness. What can we learn about it via spiritual principle? Is happiness even a worthy goal?

Today we will explore more absolutism from Rev. Paul Hasselbeck's books about New Thought clichés and examine how some of our spiritual slogans are just throwbacks to traditional views of God.

It seems like the more decades we live, the more convinced we are about what to expect based on past experience. He's always been cheap; she's always been a gossip; the government always messes things up; the weather never cooperates with our plans; we can expect to gain weight with a baby and slow down as we age. The principle is: We get what we expect. But how can we expect something different when we have all the evidence of the past?

We know our lives are reflections of our thoughts, but how much of the little stuff do we let slide? How often do we go ahead and complain or vent about something we don't want in our lives? And what's the result of using that creative power carelessly? Join us today for “Lazy Thinking.”

Ever hear an inner voice that lists all your aches and pains, says your health is all downhill from here, and convinces you that death is encroaching every day? How can we shut up that voice and choose life?

The events that crop up in life, whether we label them good or bad, are simply the result of past thoughts and reactions. That means our choices now are creating our future.

We still have a long list of New Thought clichés and platitudes to debunk, thanks to Paul Hasselbeck's Get Over It series.

We say that life is consciousness and nothing is impossible. We can create, have, be, do whatever we want. But is that really true? Aren't some things out of our control?

How do you create what you want when someone else is actively against you? He wants a beach house; she wants a mountain cabin. Republicans want one candidate; Democrats another. Protesters shout at each other; armies fight each other. How can everyone possibly create the highest and best at the same time?

In a very special episode, Ellen and Laura interview futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard about the conscious evolution of the human species. Where are we going in the next stage of humanity's existence? What does 2012 mean to us? How can we be more conscious of our role in the evolutionary impulse of our species? We'll ask Hubbard to unlock some of these mysteries and talk about the next turn of the spiral in the human journey.

We commit malpractice any time we judge or try to change someone else's creation. It might be perfect for them.

Laura's got a great story about seeing one of her dreams come true after years of worrying. How hard is creating our experience supposed to be anyway?

Have your thoughts about death changed since you started down your current spiritual path? Laura and Ellen say theirs have! Maybe death isn't as sad as we think.

Our society still believes in victims and perpetrators, and the news is full of people who've done bad things. How do we keep from judging? And do we forgive?

Host Rev. Carla McClellan is joined by special guest Mark David Gerson to discuss how you're renewing your creativity.

No matter how many times we affirm that we can have anything we want, some seem to remain out of reach. How do we address what's not working in our lives without giving energy to lack?

One of our listeners says he wants to be positive all the time. Is that even possible? How do you handle negative people around you?

Weeks after Easter, according to the Book of Acts, the disciples were sitting in a room one day when they finally got it. They finally understood what Jesus had been trying to tell them. They finally owned their divinity and went out to change the world. How does that show up for us?

There are four stages to realizing the divine within us. Jesus went through them, and so do we. Unless we get stuck in the stage called Resistance.

God-concepts wear out and religions disappear. Christianity seems to be waning in the West. Does your idea of God still nourish and serve you? Or would moving past a need for God be a good thing?