Daily Positive Thoughts: July 08, 2016: Success

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 08, 2016: Success

 

 

 

Success

 

It is a sign of wisdom to be able to set goals and then, having done so, to let them go. All that is required for success is a vision of the destination. The journey itself will reveal the means to take you there.

The Gateway To Peace And Happiness (Part 1)

There was a time in the world when everyone was happy and there were no complaints whatsoever from the journey of life. That is a time remembered by many religions as heaven. People often say when a soul leaves the physical body or what we refer to in common language that a person has died, that he or she has gone to heaven. In these cases although we should be happy at the fact that the soul has gone to a happier life or to heaven, we feel sorrowful because we miss that soul’s existence in our lives. Here we normally refer to a heaven that is far above the sun, moon and stars. But the fact is that no one goes to such a heaven, which is above us, but takes a birth in the world over here. This is because no one can become free from the cycle of birth and rebirth without cleaning up all the negative actions performed over many births. A soul with the burden of impure karmas on its head has to continue its journey in the birth-rebirth cycle till it becomes pure by the remembrance of God and performing pure actions in His remembrance. This is the natural law of the world drama and not a law created by God or anyone else.

Although everyone desires to go to heaven, we have to work on ourselves and make ourselves full of the qualities of peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and truth, which are required to earn a birth or many births in heaven or in other words a completely happiness filled life. The happiness filled life is not in the skies where perhaps God is waiting for us which most of us believe. God shares with us that you can fulfill your dream of coming and staying with me up above, but that world above, is not heaven, it is the soul world, where I stay. God also tells us that you can fulfill your dream of going to heaven which is not above the skies but on earth and has existed in the past and will come again on earth soon. That is a heaven, on which every human being in the world holds a right to go to, along with the right to go to the soul world, because every human being is the child of God. How? We shall explain that in the next two days’ messages.

To have the right intention while performing actions is to bring success. 

When the heart recognizes the need to do something, there has to be reasoning in the intellect, why I want to do it and with what intention. Without the right intention, feelings can make me get carried away, not able to contribute my best. For example, if I want someone to change (feeling) because I want to be more comfortable, it will not work. But, if I bring the thought that I want them to change, because they would be happier. This is the right intention, which would bring success to my feeling. Today I will do actions with the right intention. All the major tasks that I do, I will first take a thought about why I am doing it. I will then do that action. This will enable me to bring quality to the actions that I do. So, whatever I do, I will be successful in that.

Message for the day

The one who is aware of one's fortune enables others to experience their fortune too. 

Expression: To be aware of one's own fortune means to appreciate and use all that one has. Also when there is the awareness of one's own fortune, there is a natural tendency to help people become aware of what they have and how they can benefit from it. So the one who is fortunate becomes a giver. 

Experience: When I am able to recognize my own fortune, I am able to have the joy of being a giver constantly. Whatever the circumstances, I am able to give knowing that I am fortunate. But never is there dependency created on me, because my help is to make them aware of their fortune too and make them independent. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 07, 2016: Determination and Patience

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 07, 2016: Determination and Patience

Determination and Patience

Determination is the strength that will enable you to pass the barrier of useless thoughts in order to create positive thoughts and to be successful in whatever you wish. It comes from within and its partner is patience. Patience teaches you not to push but rather to wait and appreciate the game of life instead, knowing that nothing remains the same, and everything will change at some point.

Innate (Basic) And Acquired Value

Everything we see has what can be called its acquired value and its innate or basic value. The acquired value is that which it has picked up by coming into contact with external objects throughout its existence or life. The innate value is what it always is irrespective of its external interactions. For example, the acquired value of gold changes with the fluctuations of its price in the market. Its innate or real value is that it's one of the most beautiful metals; very ductile, malleable, etc.

If we were asked about the qualities of any good, peaceful relationship with someone, we would quickly reply: love, trust, patience, respect, honesty, sincerity, tolerance, humility, sympathy, etc. How do we know this? Is it purely from experience? Can we remember having really experienced any of these qualities in any relationship completely and constantly? Probably no. Then how can we say it is from experience? In such a case, where does this urge for rightness come from? Our heart tells us it comes from a basic, inherent sense of what is true and good, of our innate value. Though these qualities are what we see as our ideal qualities; when I am in a weakened state, I’m unable to bring them into practice, when I want, according to the needs of the moment. They need to be strengthened inside. One of the most immediate benefits of the practice of meditation then, is to bring about this internal strengthening. My basic qualities are just waiting for a chance to emerge out in the open. Like a light bulb without current, possibility of lighting up my qualities exists, but they need to be connected to a source of power, which is exactly what meditation gives us.

Be a Role Model

Work is only work if you prefer to be somewhere else. Work tends to be a negative perception of a task which we reluctantly approach. Work is only labour when we forget to see our life as it truly is - an opportunity to be creative, enrich others and be enriched ourselves. When we are able to see work in this way, we find something called enthusiasm inside. When we are enthusiastic we work well and we are valued. We are used as a role model. When we work well it is much easier to say no when we need to, for we know our own value, and we are not dependent on others' approval to feel good about ourselves. When we put love and enthusiasm into what we do, it rebounds in the form of opportunities and blessings, two of the most important ingredients of a truly wealthy life.

Message for the day

To be careless means to misuse specialties. 

Expression: To be careless means that there is no awareness of one's specialties and so there is the inability to use them for the benefit of the self and for the good of others. On the other hand there is also a tendency to become overconfident because of these specialties and not to work on self -transformation. The one who is careless is not able to recognize the need for self-change and so is not able to bring about transformation. 

Experience: When I am able to be free from carelessness, I am able to understand the importance of the specialties that I have , and am able to use a particular specialty that I have , and am able to put them into use. So I find that the more I am able to use a particular specialty that I have, the more I am able to bring out and use the latent specialties that are within me. So I am able to experience quick transformation and constant progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 06, 2016: Plant the Seed of Peace

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 06, 2016: Plant the Seed of Peace

Plant the Seed of Peace

As are our thoughts, so is our consciousness, and as is our consciousness, so is our life. Let your first thought of the day simply be peaceful. Plant this seed. Water it with attention and you will gather the calm.

8 Powers To Experience Success (Part 6)

In yesterday’s message, we had explained how spiritual wisdom is the key to using spiritual strength in a particular situation which is required to use a certain power out of the eight main powers. In this message, which is the last part of this message series we explain how we fill ourselves with spiritual strength because only wisdom is not enough to experience success in a particular situation. Spiritual wisdom will be incomplete without spiritual strength and will be like an axe without a sharp edge.

Spiritual strength is filled in the soul over a long period of time. It requires the practice of meditation, which is the only way a soul can empower itself after it has lost most of its powers in the cycle of birth and rebirth. Meditation, as taught at the Brahma Kumaris, is a technique of connecting the mind using thought power and intellect using visualization power, together with God who is the Supreme Source of spiritual strength. In meditation, we take little steps of creating thoughts in the mind and creating mental images in the intellect and in a few minutes reach a stage of higher consciousness of the realization of the soul and then God, the Supreme Soul which is the final step. Of course, after reaching an experience of a realization of the Supreme Soul, one needs to remain in that experience, which is a face-to-face deep connection with God, in which His power enters the soul and the soul is strengthened. So, this taking in of power or absorption of spiritual strength over a period of time naturally fills the soul with the eight powers - the power to tolerate, power to accommodate, power to face, power to pack up, power to discriminate, power to judge, power to withdraw and power to co-operate. It is important to note that in meditation we use the mind and intellect of the soul to connect with the Almighty source. As a result, spiritual power gets filled in the sanskaras of the soul. In this way, we become a master almighty or a spiritually powerful child of God, full of all the eight powers.

To water seeds of positive thoughts is to bring it to fruition. 

Every seed needs the right amount of water at the right time to help it grow. In the same way, when I have a good thought, I need to provide with what it needs to take it fruition. Understanding it in a deeper way, by churning about it; adding it with good wishes and pure feelings; reminding of this thought again and again... these are the things which help the seed grow fully. Today I will take up a good thought and provide the right environment for it grow. I will not do anything that will take me away from that thought. On the other hand, I will do every possible thing to help it grow. I will repeat that thought to myself, not only as a reminder, but also as an experience. This will help me sustain it.

Message for the day

The habit of thinking positive finishes negative. 

Expression: Just as it has become a habit of thinking negative, a positive habit when created will naturally bring about a change. A little practice and attention to form a habit of thinking positive will reveal its result of creating an influence of positivity. The situations will not change on their own, but the habit that has been formed will bring about a change in the response and will change the situation too. 

Experience: Usually it becomes very difficult or sometimes impossible for me to think positive in difficult situations. At that time, although I want to, the response that emerges from within is based on the habit that is formed previously. So when I make the habit of constantly and consciously thinking positive, I then become free from the struggle of having to change my mind to positive, in difficult situations. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 05, 2016: Let Go

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 05, 2016: Let Go

Beautiful Macaws in full flight

Let Go

Just as the bird has to find the courage to let go of the branch in order to fly, so we also must let go of our branches if we are to know the exhilaration of soaring to the highest potential of our life. The branches we hold to are our inner attachments - our beliefs, ideas and memories. And then there are the outer attachments - people, possessions, positions and privileges are a few. But as long as we hold on to them we will live in fear (of letting go and loss) and we will never be free. And just watch those birds, by letting go of one branch they are able to spend the rest of their life alighting on a million other branches, and they enjoy the view from each. Are you flying and soaring in your life, or are you stuck on one branch, cursing others as they fly past. Go on, try it ...let go!

8 Powers To Experience Success (Part 5)

In yesterday's message, we had explained the importance of the first step of the day as a step of determination and the effect it has on the entire day after that. But it is important to note that along with determination we also need spiritual strength and wisdom to bring the eight powers into practice. Strength is the inner ability of the soul to emerge and bring these powers into action. Wisdom on the other hand is to know which power is required and when and is the key to making the strength work i.e. bringing the power into actual action. Both wisdom and strength are of equal importance.

Wisdom is learnt through the medium of spirituality. It includes the complete knowledge of the soul and how it works. Along with that the knowledge of karma which in short is the law of action and reaction which means every good or bad karma causes a similar result, which the soul has to experience in the form of joy and sorrow. Also, a relationship with God and the knowledge of that as well as the knowledge of who is God and how we can connect with Him and fill ourselves with the eight powers. Along with that the knowledge of the world drama and how we come into the cycle of birth and rebirth and lose our eight powers and how we can regain them. Of course, lastly the knowledge of the eight powers and their practical use in day-to-day life. All these aspects of spirituality and their complete knowledge is spiritual wisdom. To attain wisdom, you do not need to leave your day-to-day life routine or your homes. It can be done while being a professional. On the other hand, the wisdom is required more if you are living a life in which you meet different types of people with different natures, which is only possible if you are living a life full of different relationships at the personal and professional levels. So, live in a family, go to office, run a business but do not forget to listen or read spiritual knowledge along with that because without wisdom, you will not know how to use the eight powers and will not know how to be emotionally successful.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

To watch with detachment is to give the best performance. 

Any actor would like to portray his best on stage. He would have utmost attention to every small action or expression. When I become an audience to my own act, I would be able to give my best performance too. Then, I also need to watch my act as the audience. Then, I can applaud my best performance and improve upon what is not good. Today I will imagine being photographed at every step. I will see myself as a camera would see me. This detached perspective will give me a clear indication of what my behavior, actions and expressions are and what I would like them to be. 

Message for the day

To be free from weakness means to have the power to mould. 

Expression: When there is a weakness, it becomes difficult to mould according to the needs of the situation. Weakness creates hardness and rigidity not allowing the situations to create internal beauty. So the one who is constantly working with one's own weakness finds it difficult to stop the negativity from being expressed immediately. The weakness is revealed inspite of making effort not to and there is unpleasantness created.

Experience: To have the ability to mould means to become real gold. I become as flexible and beautiful as pure gold, which is ready to take beautiful shapes when it comes under the influence of the heat of the situation. So I have no hard feelings for having to adjust, but I am able to enjoy the beauty I create and the joy I spread. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 04, 2016: Doing the Right Thing

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 04, 2016: Doing the Right Thing

Dublin High School Production of “The Matchmaker”

Doing the Right Thing

The world is a stage and we are all actors. Each actor plays a unique part and is responsible for his/her own actions. Responsibility means doing the right thing no matter how big or small the task may be. Each one of us has a special role to play in the making the world a better place.

8 Powers To Experience Success (Part 4)

When starting a day, talk to yourself that from the first moment till the end of the day I will remain stable and not be lacking any of the 8 powers - the power to tolerate, power to accommodate, power to face, power to pack up, power to discriminate, power to judge, power to withdraw and power to co-operate. Then, step into the day on a determined note and see what difference this first powerful thought brings to the day. It’s like getting up and saying Good Morning to everyone around you. They say by doing that, not only the morning but the complete day is spent in a positive way. In the same manner, a morning thought of determination to succeed on an emotional level is a great start of the day which goes a long way in making us immune to the effects of the different types of problems that come our way throughout the day. It can be called a morning mantra which keeps us strong till the night.

A determined start of the day is half the work done and is the foundation of a day filled with success in keeping the mind under control, relationships successful, role in the family and at the workplace running smoothly, stability while handling wealth and lastly freedom from the sorrow experienced due to physical illnesses, if any. So, don’t ever be in a hurry to start the day. A hurried start to the day is a sure method of bringing about confusion and powerlessness in the complete day and is the main cause of experiencing failure repeatedly. The power to succeed does not only mean success on a physical level but also the ability to stay happy, content, peaceful and light while doing anything. So, enjoy the day on a physical level but do not forget that without the experiences of lightness and power you will not feel satisfied from inside and will not be able to enjoy life to its fullest. And for that, a morning pledge of power and determination is of utmost importance. 

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Imbibe Good Qualities

We tend to admire people who have qualities we would like to have or do things we would like to do.

Think of the people you admire - they could be a character from a book, a movie or someone very real. What is it that you admire about these people?

Which of their qualities would you like to develop yourself? 
Now all that's needed is to go out and start expressing these qualities in your life.

Message for the day

The sweetness of the mind brings sweetness in words and interactions. 

Expression: There is an understanding of the need for being sweet in words and interactions. But this sweetness can be expressed only when there is sweetness in the mind. Sweetness of the mind means there is not even a trace of negativity. Such a mind is further open to all that is nice and beautiful and expresses its own freshness and beauty in interactions.

Experience: When I am able to keep my mind sweet, i.e., free from any kind of bitterness or ill-feelings, I am able to experience the beauty of life. There is no feeling of sorrow or negativity but the mind is nurtured to further positivity with everything that comes its way. I am then able to experience constant growth and progress. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 03, 2016: The Best Language for Communication

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 03, 2016: The Best Language for Communication

 

The Best Language for Communication

 

Silence is the best language for communication. It helps us understand and realize 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.

8 Powers To Experience Success (Part 3)

The list of different situations that we go through in the entire day is endless. Of course, the powers required in all the different situations are different. Sometimes not just one or two but all the eight powers, to different extents, are required to experience success. We have to bring the power into action. There are three stages of bringing a power into action. The first step is realizing that in a particular situation I need a particular spiritual power and being sure as to which that power is or powers are. For this, I need a calm mind and a pure intellect and also an experience of the past of having gone through different types of situations of the mind, body, role and relationships. E.g. if someone’s behavior is not very positive towards me, in such a situation, to experience success, I need the power to tolerate and accommodate. At the same time, in such situations, it is not wise to use the power to face i.e. being bold and trying to face the other person. I need to know that I have to face the situation, not the person, which could spoil the situation. So, I need to be clear about my choices and need to be sure as to which of the eight powers I should use. A wrong choice of power can mean a negative situation becoming more negative and a right choice can lead to a solution to a problem.

Then, the second step is to emerge that power inside my consciousness. This depends on how my sanskaras have been filled with these eight powers over a long period of time. Of course, all people have all eight powers to a little extent at least, but some people’s sanskaras of the powers are deeper than the others and so they are able to emerge the powers more easily. Also, after that, the last step is implementing the power and bringing it into action. This means that the power does not only emerge in my mind, but it shows through my thoughts, words and actions also.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

To calm the mind is to have the ability to correct situations. 

When we become anxious about something, it is but natural to get caught up in it. At such times, we find our mind racing and the speed of actions increasing too. We try desperately to do things that mostly are not right. It is important for me to calm my mind, before I try to correct the situation that is causing me anxiety. Today I will move slowly. I will reduce the pace of my actions and also of my thoughts. The best things are always discovered in silence. So, even if things go wrong, I will not let them make my mind race. Today I will discover the beauty of situations in silence.

Message for the day

Feelings change intentions, thus changing actions too. 
Expression: When there are negative feelings like jealousy or hatred towards another person, those feelings naturally create misunderstanding. Even if the other person has a good feeling while doing something, a negative intention is attributed and this naturally changes one's own behaviour or response making it negative too. 

Experience: When there is the slightest bit of negative feeling within me for someone, it naturally creates further negativity from others too. I find everything I come across to be negative, like the one who wears coloured glasses sees everything to be of that particular colour. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 02, 2016: Gentleness

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 02, 2016: Gentleness

 

 Elephant Tree Arch, Thailand

Gentleness

If trees had souls, the quality most attributable to them would be gentleness. Gentleness is not a lack of strength but a quality which doesn't disturb, doesn't push, yet knows its power and can provide shelter.

8 Powers To Experience Success (Part 2)

Whenever you start the day and you have work to do, remind yourself that I have to use the eight spiritual powers in overcoming situations of various types and experience success. Take for e.g. today I have to meet a group of executives in a company meeting and we have to take a few decisions based on everyone’s feedback. For such a situation, I need to use the power to discriminate the different opinions of people and also the power to judge and reach a final decision based on the different opinions. For this I need a clean intellect and a stable mind and also as mentioned in yesterday’s message the sanskaras of these two powers especially. Also, suddenly my close associate in the office develops a cold war with me i.e. he starts keeping a distance from me. In such a situation, to get him back on good terms with me, I need the power to co-operate and accommodate along with the other powers to a lesser extent. These are examples of two different situations at the workplace.

Then there are situations involved with the body becoming ill at times and the mind feels burdened by that and the smile on the face is replaced by discontentment and indifference for many people when faced with such physical body related problems. In such a situation the primary power required is the power to face and the power to accommodate. The other six powers also reduce when faced with an illness. There are some people who lose their temper or get angry very easily when they are not physically well i.e. their power to tolerate and power to co-operate reduces. Also, some people will find it hard to discriminate right from wrong and judge correctly when are not well, which are two important powers required to be successful in real life situations. And again, because in all illness, negative thoughts can increase, there are people who will find it extremely difficult to get sleep and remain focused i.e. their power to pack up and withdraw gets affected in such a situation.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Get a Boost

When we're tired, it's all too easy to give in to the tiredness and get cranky. 

Resist the urge; tired and cranky is not a good combination, you're likely to say or do something you regret later.

Here are a few tips to release the tiredness: 
adjust the air-conditioner setting, open the window, 
step outdoors and grab some fresh air, listen to an energizing song or drink water.

Give yourself a boost and get back on track.

Message for the day

To be free from worry means to have the power to change negative into positive. 

Thought to ponder: The ones who are free from worry change that which is bad into something good, because the state of mind is calm. The one with a calm state of mind is able to think creatively and see very clearly even beyond the situation. So there is the ability to transform the seemingly negative situation into something very positive. So there is clear decision-making and quick action. There is also no time wasted. 

Point to practice: When I am free from worry, I constantly remain satisfied for having seen the positive and finding the solutions immediately instead of looking at the problem and worrying over it. This internal silence gives the feeling of power, which naturally enables transformation in a second and only the goodness is absorbed. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris