Daily Positive Thoughts: May 21, 2016: Honesty

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 21, 2016: Honesty

Honesty

It takes great courage to be honest. One of the noblest qualities in a person is the ability to say, "I am sorry, I was wrong, you were right". It doesn't really matter about being right, winning arguments or having my ideas accepted. It matters more that I am able to recognise my mistakes, take responsibility for them, learn the lesson and move forward with greater maturity.

Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 2)

In yesterday’s message we had discussed how we possess the potential in our hands to write the scripts of our lives, our destinies. Some of us do not like this idea because we have been taught since we were small that life is all about luck, but this incorrect belief does not let us realize the immense internal power or potential that we possess of shaping up our destiny, our future. By resigning ourselves to a life of luck, we do not use our potential and conveniently avoid doing the inner work of becoming awake and aware of who we are as spiritual beings and the masters of our own destiny.   This is why waking up from the sleep of this wrong belief is the first step towards empowering ourselves, towards taking responsibility for our life, for our present, our future.

Also there are some of us who hold the belief that the course taken by each one of our lives is not written by luck but is decided by God, so it is egoistic on our part if we believe that we can write our own scripts, interfering with the plan that God has in his mind for us. So in times of challenges in our lives, although its not wrong to pray to God at those times, we commonly use words like if God would like it, I shall overcome this obstacle or I will be successful in this particular task or my health will get okay or I will pass this exam etc. In times of happiness, although it’s not wrong to thank God at those times, we completely submit ourselves to God’s will, thinking that it is he and he alone responsible for what good that is happening in my life. In the case of the sorrow we forget that although God can help us to some extent, whether we will surpass the sorrow or not is very largely dependent on our past actions which are influencing the present situation. In the case of the happiness, we forget that though God’s blessings do help and work, our past actions are a very important dominant factor which is creating situations of positivity in our present lives.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

Procrastination

Procrastination not only wastes our time, it also causes anxiety.
So why do we procrastinate? Why not overcome the habit!Try one of these methods:

- List all the things you've been putting off and then prioritise the list.
- Create a vision of the result and be motivated by the outcome, rather than worrying about the process.
- Don't wait till you feel like doing it; the feeling will come when you get started.

Message for the day

To have control on the self is to be a winner in situations. 

Expression: Situations influence me and I get carried away. This means that the reins are not in my hands and I have given them to the people outside. I, then, have no control of my feelings, thoughts, emotions, words or actions. Everything becomes a reaction to what is outside. On the other hand, if I am able to keep things in control, I am able to respond in the right way to situations, making me a winner. 

Experience: Today I will remember that no one can control me, but myself. I am the master, and seated on this seat of self-sovereignty, I can give orders to myself and keep myself in control. I will not let anyone or any situation influence me or take me away from what I have to do.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 20, 2016: Mistakes

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 20, 2016: Mistakes

Mistakes

When you make a mistake, learn from it, resolve not to repeat it and then forget about it. You will feel better again. Do the same with others, instead of making their mistakes bigger, dissolve them in your mind and help them also to forget about them.

Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 1)

While just as beings we reside in the soul world, as human beings we play our many roles through many physical bodies in this beautiful world drama on this amazing, colorful and round stage called planet Earth. Each day is filled with multi-million scenes in different locations on this very big stage. Some scenes are directly related to us, some indirectly and a lot many aren’t related at all. Each scene that we are directly involved is an opportunity to not only play our role in the best possible way but also as a result shape the role in the most appropriate way possible. Therefore, we are all hero actors who by playing our roles as well as possible, create the script of our own life i.e. create our own destiny.

And do remember doing this has a positive influence on others’ scripts also, which rebounds back to us and in return helps us in our making our scripts better. While we have been given a role to live the entire birth right from childhood to old age, we possess the power, the remote control to dictate and control as to how exactly we will live the day, the year and each year of our present birth, our present role.  Each day offers us multiple options as to not only how we act but also how we respond to the world around us and our script or destiny gets shaped up according to the options we make.  Our destiny is decided not by what happens to us or around us, but by (i) how we act (sometimes the actions are responses to external events and sometimes they are not) and (ii) how we respond to a million events and circumstances which we encounter as we make this complete journey of life.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

A Lie is a Lie

Honesty is the best policy, right? But sometimes, the whole truth can hurt somebody's feelings and it can be misinterpreted as criticism or a lack of support.

To maintain good relationships most of us tell white lies. But white lies can easily lead us to feeling comfortable telling bigger lies.

The bottom line is that a lie is a lie. And it's a reflection on our character. Perhaps we need to practice being honest, gently, and tell the truth, with warmth and respect.

Message for the day

To contribute for construction is to make life beautiful. 

Expression: Everyone is talking about destruction and all the negative things that are happening in the world. Just thinking or talking about it is helping in contributing to destruction. On the other hand, if we are able to create a thought of good wish for even one person or the world at large, we are making a difference to the world, or at least to our own little world. That is, we are able to help in construction. 

Experience: Today I will give good wishes to the world. At least 5 times today, I will take this thought of giving good wishes to the world to help heal it. I will not think or worry about what state the world is in, but contribute in whatever way I can. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 19, 2016: Healing Power of Spirituality

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 19, 2016: Healing Power of Spirituality 

Healing Power of Spirituality

The deepest wounds we all carry are locked in our subconscious (out of our awareness). Deep memories and subtle impressions, from unfinished experience, rooted in the past. The pain from those wounds comes to revisit; to block and paralyse us in the moment called now. We all know it comes without warning - 'Why am I feeling this way, I didn't mean to do that, I don't know what made me say that.' Healing does not mean finding and treating every single inner scar. It means going even deeper, past the wounds, to the core of our spirit, where we find the light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace. That's what heals. That's why it's called spirituality and not therapy.

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If Tomorrow Didn’t Exist (Part 3)!

A world full of joy is an impossible thing to think about and a world where the clouds of sorrow are right on top of us looks more of a possibility for the complete world. Keep your hand on your heart and ask yourself for a moment if the tomorrow based on what you see happening in the world today, didn’t exist what would you do today to create a secure future for your lives and the world as a whole, a future as per what God thinks and plans.

God is often in story books shown as a white bearded figure sitting in the clouds and giving us joy as well as sorrow. But God is a Supreme Being of Consciousness, not visible to the physical eyes, who stays beyond the clouds and the world of the five elements of sky, air, fire, water and earth in the sixth element. He does not ever hurt His children but only thinks of the welfare of His children from every nation of the world. He is a being of energy or spiritual light and might with a most powerful mind and intellect in the Universe watching over the current rise in difficult situations in the lives of millions of people across the world. Don’t think He is merciless. He is on an incognito level awakening the consciousness of human souls and empowering their mind and intellect so that the effect of this subtle thought power flows into the world and even the five elements of nature and makes them peaceful and co-operative instead of as violent as they are today. This is the secret task of God. God is not indifferent or cold to the sorrows of the old world. In fact, He, being the most patient being in the Universe, is working tirelessly on an incognito level to bring back the world of the past, a world of joy. Don’t forget that even about 500 years ago, the world was filled with the energy of joy much more than the joy of the present world although scientific advancement was less at that time, but everyone in the world at that time lived together like one big happy family much more than how we live with each other today.

It's so easy to take things for granted.

The more you get used to something, the less you feel grateful for having it. 

Consider yourself to be a guest in this world and you'll never take anything for granted. For a guest, gratitude comes easily.

As a guest, you'll be grateful and appreciative for all that you receive, even the smallest gestures of kindness or the simplest offerings.

Message for the day

Positive thoughts bring positive results. 

Expression: Every thought, when left unchecked, comes into action. Just as a good seed in a good land brings quick and quality fruit, so also when we pay attention to our thoughts, they become a ground for the fortune that we want to create with our actions. Continuous positive thoughts create a ground for positive actions and so positive results. 

Experience: Today I will pay attention to my thoughts. I will not think anything that will harm, but only those thoughts that construct. Today I will create a positive thought like "I am happy" or "I have everything that I want" or "God is my companion" and sustain this thought throughout the day, remembering it at least 10 times a day. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 18, 2016: Consult your Conscience

Consult your Conscience

To consult your conscience: sit quietly and calm the mind, allow peace to fill your heart and then place a question before your conscience, your innate wisdom.

If Tomorrow Didn’t Exist (Part 2)!

The Supreme source of spiritual light – God, as explained in yesterday’s message, is above whatever is happening in the world at the present moment of time but not at all unconcerned about it. In fact, as a loveful parent of the whole of humanity above us, He wants to give us a secure future for our lives, which means no sorrows and no problems – both problems in our personal lives as well as problems in the whole world. We have just seen an earthquake cause sorrow to thousands of people in Nepal and of course God does not want more of this in the future that He wants to give us and the complete world.

Sorrows in the world are not as old as the world as you might think. We all know from the earlier messages that we have shared with our readers in the past that time is cyclic, not a straight line. We all, in this world drama, move from joy to sorrow, until God saves us and brings the world of joy back into our hands. It is because time is cyclic and extreme sorrow is always followed by joy and a world of joy has existed in the past, that God is stable inspite of all the sorrows in the world on the rise. You would say that natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, droughts and road accidents as well as airplane crashes and of course other untimely deaths due to illnesses like cancer and heart failures apart from terrorism and war are a part of life and we have to accept them as a part of the current world situations. But remember, we are living in a world which is transforming or changing continuously. Illnesses like AIDS and severe psychiatric ailments like schizophrenia which are now commonly found in people of all age groups were either not there or found so rarely that they were almost unheard of amongst the world public in general, about 100 years ago. So, the world has in front of our eyes, changed negatively. Scientific progress has also taken place in this time which has connected people all across the globe; that cannot be denied, but it has had its negative effects as well in the form of work stress and extremely busy lifestyles and the rise of other physical illnesses due to that.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Expectations

When times are difficult we tend to seek support from others around us. If they don't give us the support we expect we get disappointed and sign off as being unsupportive.

Challenge your expectations. Does the person have the capacity to give you the support you need at this time? Is it reasonable to expect constant, full support? Can you redirect your support needs elsewhere? Is this an opportunity for you to become more self-sufficient and self-reliant?

When you become more self-sufficient and self-reliant, you may just find others around you offering more support.

Message for the day

Fortune is in one's own hands. 

Expression: It is said that fortune is in the lines of our hands. It is true that it is in our hands, but not just in the lines. We create a fortune for ourselves with every action that we do. When we go on paying attention to doing actions which are positive, they become like strong seeds that help quick fruition. 

Experience: Today I will be aware of the lines of fortune that I am creating with my hands. I will do at least one action that will consciously create a positive fortune and for today I will not do anything that erases these lines of fortune. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 17, 2016: Cheerfulness

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 17, 2016: Cheerfulness

Artist: Cheryl Irwin

Cheerfulness

Inner cheer is destroyed by a conscience which bites. So learn to do everything in a worthwhile way. It's an art which teaches you to appreciate your inner beauty.

If Tomorrow Didn’t Exist (Part 1)!

Preparing for a tomorrow has become a part of our present day lives but we at the Brahma Kumaris are preparing the world for a tomorrow which is to be created by our pure thoughts, words and actions, that means a tomorrow which we cannot see with our physical eyes but a tomorrow based on our spiritual conviction and powerful belief and inner trust on who has promised us this tomorrow based on the knowledge of the repetitive world drama, which is there with Him. He is the seed of the human world tree – our and your Father – God – the bodiless Supreme Father or Supreme Being of Light.

To have inner trust on who is promising us a positive future, we need to know his identity by going back into the history of the worship of God. Do you know that the path of devotion or bhakti, when it began, was the worship of only the one bodiless God in India? Later God started being worshipped in a physical form in India. In India, the worship of different devis and devtas like Shri - Lakshmi, Radhe and Sita; Shiv Shaktis like Durgaand Kali and also Shri - Krishna, Vishnu, Rama, Hanuman and Ganesha began later than the worship of the one bodiless God Father. Even in world religions all across the world, God is often remembered as a light form. He is the Universal Light. In Christianity, the Bible states – I Have Come Into The World As Light. In Islamism, the Koran states that – Allah Is The Light Of The Heavens And The Earth. In Buddhism, the Dhammapada states that – The Radiance Of Buddha Shines Ceaselessly. In the religion of the Jews, the Psalms state that - The Lord Is My Light, Whom Shall I Fear?  In Sikhism, the Adi Granth states that - God, Being Truth, Is The One Light Of All. So in almost all religions, God was remembered as a being of light, directly or indirectly. As time progressed, like in India, the Fathers of different religions, like Christ, Buddha, Guru Nanak and Mahavir were worshipped by some as if they were God, which was a mistake because they were pure souls and not God or the Supreme Soul or param-atma. God is only one and all souls, however pure and divine, are His children.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Apply a Full Stop

The force & speed of waste thoughts is fast. Once you start having waste thoughts, they clutter the mind & then it takes a lot of time & effort to stop the flow. 

Also, waste thoughts quickly become waste words & actions.

The next time you notice yourself thinking unnecessarily, apply a full stop to the waste thoughts. 

Finish the waste & when it's necessary to think, you'll be able to think clearly & productively.

Message for the day

To give is to get multi-fold returns. 

Expression: If you have something; give. If you don't have, still give; because you will start experiencing getting what you give. Whatever you lack today, continue being aware of what little you have and start giving. By giving you are able to experience these treasures yourself and start getting enriched. It is easy to give, when you have the awareness of having something. 

Experience: Today I will make a list of all those attainments I am aware of. I will give at least 5 people from any of these attainments (it could be love, happiness, or any other attainments). If there is nothing else to give, let me at least give good wishes. This is the biggest help that I could give. And this further enhances my own treasures.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 16, 2016: Happiness

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 16, 2016: Happiness

Happiness

Happiness is not a destination, it's a journey. Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now. Happiness is not a dependency, it is a decision. Happiness is what you are, not what you have.

Absorbing Spiritual Light (Part 3)

Continuing from yesterday’s message, we should not keep the vices bottled up inside us like prisoners. Prisoners are always plotting to escape. If we change them into our friends they can help us. For example, the energy required to be stubborn is almost the same as that required to be determined except that one is positive and the other negative. The soul learns to transfer such energy. Anger becomes tolerance. Greed can be transformed into contentment. Arrogance, or the respect for false identity, can become self-respect. Attachment can be changed into pure love.

The more I inculcate the Supreme Soul or God’s virtues, the closer I feel to Him, but if I allow inner disturbances due to any vice, my high stage is grounded. All the power stored up until that moment will leak away. I must recognize that I really do not like being body-conscious.  As I wish for higher experiences I choose to live the life of a meditator with purity in thought, word and action. Obstructions come within and without, but through my connection with God I am drawing so much power so as to remain unaffected. This needs soul-consciousness. So in discarding the rubbish of the vices I have gathered over many births, I become my original form and maintain it through my closeness or companionship with God.

Power of Silence

Silence is the best language for communication. It helps us understand and realise the eternal truths about the self, God and the world. 

In silence we are able to comprehend and express sincerely and powerfully the true values of the soul such as peace, love and joy. 

Silence is not the absence of thoughts but it is a state in which the mind is engaged in pure elevated thoughts that nurture these values within. 

The power of silence develops all mental and spiritual powers that are needed to tackle various situations successfully.

Message for the day

To have a positive conversation with the self is to empower oneself. 
Expression: Everyone is irritated with a person who nags or talks negative all the time, especially if they are really close to us. During negative situations, we too tend to nag or have continuous negative talk with ourselves. Since we are our constant companions, we tend to end up getting irritated or upset by the end of the day. 

Experience: Today I will talk positively to myself. I will encourage and explain to myself. I will not nag myself, but will have a positive conversation with myself. I will help myself become better by learning from my mistakes and encouraging my successes. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 15, 2016: Be Aware

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 15, 2016: Be Aware

Be Aware

The foundation of all spiritual growth and personal development is the awakening of self awareness. Most people however are not yet self aware, and the majority of those, are not aware that they are not aware. Self-awareness is easy and begins with simply taking a mental step back, and observing your thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions. Whenever you do you learn about our self and the basis of personal change and growth is always learning. Step back, what do you see, what enters your awareness? What does it tell you? What does it show you about yourself? Don't judge it, just see it. Don't run away from what you see, just watch it. Accept it. Allow whatever is happening within your thoughts and feelings just to be. And suddenly you will find that inner peace which surpasseth all pleasure.

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Absorbing Spiritual Light (Part 2)

How many times do we hear, Oh, he is always in a bad mood..., It is my nature to be irritable..., He will never change... This shows the extent to which the soul's own light has faded and been replaced by the dark curtain of negativity. Therefore it is better that we do not try to deal with each vice and defect individually. As the soul fills itself with the power of spirituality, its overall condition automatically improves.

Another significant point is that there is a deep-rooted awareness within the soul of God and His sanskars, however much it may be covered by dirt and weakness. This is because each soul is the child of God and being his children we inherit hissanskars. These sanskars are present in us when we start playing our part in the physical world, but gradually they fade away as we take more and more births. As thesesanskars are brought to the surface of the consciousness, automatically our thoughts and behavior patterns change.

In modern psychology it is stated that we must express all our negative emotions and note suppress them.  But the fact is that letting it out leads the soul further into slavery to that emotion. Remembering that thoughts, decisions and actions are formed on the basis of sanskars, which are deepened by repetition, the soul can only cause harm by expressing any defect or vice. On the other hand, the psychological effect of suppressing negative emotions can be quite drastic. Suppression can lead to severe personality problems, even madness or insanity. The right path is that we emerge our positive sanskars with the help of meditation and other self-development techniques and the negative ones automatically vanish away.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Attitude + Emotions + Communication = Relationship

You bring your attitude & emotions into your communications. 

For good communication, 
check your attitude & emotions, & make them positive.

Put your very best into your 
Attitude + Emotions + Communication & you can almost guarantee getting the very best out of your relationships!

Message for the day

True honesty to the self brings the power to bring about change. 

Expression: To be honest is not just to be truthful. It is more to be honest with the self. The one who is honest with the self constantly has the aim of bringing about a change for the better. Each situation is used as a chance for the betterment of the self. So there is always the aim not to repeat the mistakes that are committed once. 

Experience: When I am honest with myself I am able to feel the constant progress and experience the happiness of moving forward under all circumstances. I have the power to understand the situation, not just from my point of view, but more in a detached way. So I am able to understand and accept whatever the situation holds for me and learn from it humbly.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris