Daily Positive Thoughts: July 24, 2016: Love

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 24, 2016: Love

Love

Sow seeds of peace by remaining rooted in the awareness of how loved, loveable and loving you are.

Awakening The Positivity Within (Part 1)

Positivity is our nature which we sometimes lose in our busy lifestyles. It is like the necklace which is around our neck, but we don’t realize that and we search for it all around. When we start the day, we need to fill our minds with a positive source of points of information which strengthen our mind and protect it from the negatives which surround us. Very often like the necklace, positivity is lost temporarily and is very easy to find, but the negative influence does not let me think of the ways of becoming positive and regaining it.

There was once a rich trader who always found a reason to become upset because of the smallest of reasons during the day. Every morning he would decide to remain positive during the day and would promise himself that he would not let his mind be influenced by any difficult problem he faced, but as soon as he used to start his trade or business, because of the complicated nature of his work, he would fall prey to one or the other problem either from the work itself, or through the money he handled, or from his work associates or sometimes due to a problem created by his own mind. A mind that easily succumbs to difficulties can be compared to a home where a little problem in the form of a little mouse enters and brings disturbances in the whole house. When the house owner manages to get rid of the mouse and thinks everything is okay, a cat enters and adds her side of troubles and has the house owner go busy in trying to get it out of his premises. The cat is then followed by the dog’s entry and the whole day the house owner spends in this way. The moral of the story is - the one who remains disturbed attracts disturbances, which he keeps trying to send away and this process or mindset of trying to keep problems away and becoming over-involved in doing that, in turn attracts more problems. So, remaining calm when the first problem of the day comes and not becoming over-involved in trying to keep it away is the primary step to keeping problems away for the whole day. Calmness attracts a problem free environment around me and also keeps me content, powerful and peaceful.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Competition, when used positively can motivate us to grow and learn. 

But we can easily become too focused on beating competitors and get affected by their performance. It can discourage and distract us from focusing on improving our game.

Instead of competing with others, compete with yourself.

In your daily routines, at work, home, in exercise, challenge yourself to better your previous efforts. Raise your own personal bar higher and build on your capabilities. Harness your personal strengths and compete with your own potential.

Message for the day

A powerful stage is like a switch which finishes darkness of negativity in a second. 

Expression: Darkness is dispelled when a light is switched on. Similarly, a powerful stage is also a light switch. When this switch is on, one can put an end to all wasteful darkness and no longer have to labour to stop any wasteful thoughts. By becoming powerful, one can naturally become a donor, as there is nothing waste within. 

Experience: When I am aware of my positive qualities and what I can contribute to others, I am able to be powerful. This naturally enables me to be light and spread the inner light to others. I am never influenced negatively with any kind of waste or negative, but am always able to maintain my own positivity and that of others too. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 23, 2016: Bothersome Person

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 23, 2016: Bothersome Person

Bothersome Person

If something bothers you about what someone says about another, you are recognizing an attitude that is actually within you. When you feel it does not affect you and you can respond calmly, it means that this weakness is no longer in you.

Overcoming Frustration In Relationships

There are two things in life that we can never change:
- the past and
- other people
This often brings us one frustration after the other, especially when we do not get the results that we want. Frustration is also a sign of failure, and every time that you fail in getting what you want from the other, your self-esteem and self-confidence are reduced.

Frustration is a form of anger. You allow the negative emotion to control you, and therefore you lose control. Most times situations will not be as you want them to be and neither will people behave as you want them to. Therefore, you can decide now if you want to continue allowing the other to dictate your reactions according to how they behave, which results in the loss of your rule, control and personal power, or you can decide that no matter how the other behaves, you rule over your responses; you decide what you want to think and feel.
When another tries to control you and then gets frustrated because you don't do what he or she wants or you aren't who he or she expects you to be, they get in a bad mood with you; they look at you with anger and what do you do? You then place an invisible barrier between you and him or her. In such a way that they cannot enter into your world and you do not leave yours either, they lose their influence over you. In the same way, when you try to control people you lose your influence over them and distance is generated.

Can we change another person's behaviour? 

We can make them aware of their behaviour and make a polite request for them to change. 

When they don't make the necessary changes, accept that you can't change others.

The only person you can change is yourself. Adapt, be flexible, and adjust your expectations to accommodate their behaviour.

When there is change in yourself, you can become a catalyst for changes in those around you, but don't expect others' to change.

Message for the day

The one who has the courage to face is the one who can bring about a change. 

Projection: When there is a challenge which brings out a negative response, there is an immediate desire to move away from the situation so that the negativity finishes. But the real challenge is not the situation itself, but the expression of a weakness within. The one who has the courage to face this weakness and work on it is able to bring about a change accordingly.

Solution: When I am able to face the challenge of working on my own weaknesses, instead of moving away from the situation I am able to experience progress at every step. Then there will be no feeling of helplessness but I will be able to have full control on the situation. So there is the ability to learn from each situation and move forward constantly. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 22, 2016: Good Relationships

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 22, 2016: Good Relationships

Good Relationships

In order to create good relationships...with your mind, think about what you have to learn from others;  with your eyes, look into good qualities of others; with your words, recognize, value and appreciate their accomplishments; with your actions, cooperate and do something for others.

Improving Your Responses By Moving From A State Of Doing To Being

This is a meditation exercise which you can practice anytime in the day when you are busy interacting with someone or a group of people. At that time, create the thoughts below, very, very slowly in your mind.  Experience the essence of each thought –

I am a soul and at peace with myself and the world around me... This scene, in which I find myself in, is one of many scenes in which I play a role... Now, I disconnect for a few seconds from what is happening around me... Mentally (not physically), I take a step back and just watch, as an observer, what is happening... I make no judgments - I just observe... As I observe, I see that each soul in the scene is playing their own unique role, according to their capability and understanding, because of which I accept each one completely without any conditions...

I remain patient in allowing this scene to develop in a natural way... I wait for an invitation to participate - it always comes finally... I have no desires from the situation... But, at the same time, I am happy to contribute towards achieving the most positive and effective result... In the meantime I maintain my peace and share the energy of that peace with all around me as this is the most important contribution that I can make... I realize that simply by observing peacefully I am participating positively in this scene…

If you dedicate time to consciously practice the above meditation for a few moments in many actions during the day, you will finally find that you move into this state of just being (while yet doing) very, very naturally.   You are not avoiding life or the world around you. Instead, you are learning to take control of your awareness and involvement, disconnect when you want, be more mentally sharp in understanding (what is visible as well as subtle or non-visible) all that is happening around you and give yourself the time and the personal space to respond accurately and positively.

Bring Hope

When things look bleak, bring back hope. How? 
Find a bright spot and shift from bleak to bright. 
When you feel brighter, you feel hopeful.

Have hope. Hope for a brighter future.

Hope doesn't sit around 'hoping for the best'. 
Hope allows you to be clear eyed, so that you can recognize opportunities, and take action - because your future begins with what you do today.

Message for the day

Time is saved when every action of mine is positive. 

Thought to ponder: When the intention is pure and elevated, actions become positive. When there is no meaning and purpose in actions, they tend to become waste or ordinary. Such actions only waste time and further contribute to future wasteful actions.

Point to practice: Today I will make sure I have the right consciousness while doing actions. For today, I will take up the thought that I am a leader and whatever I do is an example to others. Others are learning from me and today I will make sure I will not do anything that is waste or ordinary. I will only do those actions which are positive and elevated. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 21, 2016: Angel Face

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 21, 2016: Angel Face

Angel Face

An angel's face is still because there are no lies inside. Truth makes it a straight, simple face whose beauty lies not in its form but in the feeling it gives you.

Blessings For The World (Part 3)

Creating positive thoughts for others is something which we can do at any time of the day and also when we are performing actions like driving, cooking, walking or even when we are at work, when time can be taken out in the middle and short breaks can be taken. Don’t think this is a waste of time but it is our responsibility towards the world. Don’t forget that sorrows do visit everyone from time to time. Today we may be seeing others in sorrow or pain. Tomorrow we could experience the same. So never think what have we got to do with a crisis in some corner of the world but remind yourself they are my brothers and sisters who need help. I cannot go physically to every corner of the world but I can give 10-15 minutes everyday to others by meditating for them and providing them relief from suffering. We have given the example of one part of the world – Syria in the first part of this message. Similarly, there are problems in other parts of the world like hunger, poverty and illness in Africa, a difficult recovery from a massive earthquake in Nepal, financial instability in China which is negatively influencing the economies of various countries around the world, farmer suicides in India, fear in parts of Kashmir due to the constant differences of opinions between India and Pakistan and also terrorism in many parts of the world. These are some examples. There are many others. Also, there are global concerns regarding the future of the world on all levels – economic, political, social, environmental as well as financial which is causing fear, uncertainty, sorrow and peacelessness in different pockets of the world.

In such a negative atmosphere, it is only our blessings of love which can help people. Blessings are like a prayer for the world and its people, which heal people’s sorrowful hearts and prayers as they say can be extremely powerful especially, when many of us together create thoughts of a similar type. At the Brahma Kumaris, every third Sunday of the month is especially kept for the world, when all the students of the Brahma Kumaris, all around the world, will meditate, from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm only for the world and spread the rays of peace to the whole world. This is called World Meditation Hour.

Life is a sport. Are you a spectator, a coach or a player?

The spectator sits outside the game, airs opinions and cheers the game with enthusiasm and passion. The coach is also outside the game, but has a significant role in empowering and supporting the player. The player is in the game, focused on the now, focused on the results and on improving their game.

Take part in the game and know when to be a spectator, a coach or a player.

Message for the day

To be content and ensure others are content too; is to bring significance in all I do. 

Thought to ponder: Anything that brings benefit to people is that which brings contentment. Through out the day, if I pay attention to this one aspect of bringing contentment to people, I will be able to add meaning and significance to everything I do. 

Point to practice: Today I will ensure that in everything I do, I will ensure there is benefit for someone, including me. At least I will ensure that I will not do anything that will not bring benefit to others. Thus I will be able to make my actions more meaningful. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 20, 2016: Lotus Life

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 20, 2016: Lotus Life

Lotus Life

The lotus is a symbol of purity. Its roots are in the mud, but the flower remains above dirty water. Live a lotus life. Be in the world, but unaffected by impurities.

Blessings For The World (Part 2)

The world is in a need of loveful blessings from each and every individual of the world. Blessings are positive mental vibrations or the energy of positive thought in the form of flowing energy transmitted by the mind in favour of a particular cause that brings benefit to a person or group of persons located anywhere in the world.

Sit in silence and switch on the button of a positive consciousness. That means create positive thoughts like - I am a peaceful being of light …. I am a being of positive energy …. I spread the rays of peace to the people of the world …. I experience sitting on the world globe and transmitting peace to the complete planet …. I am a soul responsible for world benefit …. I am a very powerful soul and give power to the people of the world …. I am like a parent of the world; I hold the responsibility of giving sustenance to its people in these times of sorrow …. I am a being of love; I radiate loveful good wishes to the world and nature …. I am a being of joy and happiness; I have an inner desire that the world becomes free of pain and sorrow …. I am a tower of spiritual light and might and I provide relief to the world from the difficulties they face …. I am an angel of peace and love; I give an experience of lightness to my soul brothers all over the world …. I am a world server; it is my responsibility to spend a few minutes in serving the world through mental vibrations everyday …. I am connected with the Supreme Being who is an ocean of peace and take the power of peace from Him and give to the world below me …. I am a sparkling star of spiritual power; I donate this power to my brothers and sisters of the complete world …. I am a peaceful soul who resides in the soul world of complete peace and donates peace to the other souls who are experiencing peacelessness in their minds ….

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Constantly sing the song of happiness. 

Happiness is the greatest nourishment; there is no other nourishment like that of happiness. 

Those who eat the nourishment of happiness every day are always healthy, they are never weak. 

Therefore, make your mind and intellect powerful with the nourishment of happiness.

Message for the day

To see the three aspects of time and then make a decision is to ensure right decisions. 

Thought to ponder: Before making any decision, it is important to understand the situation in the perspective of the past, present and future. That means, we need to understand, why the situation arose, what is the present situation, what is the impact of the decision on my life and those around me. When we do this, we are free from impulsive, hasty decisions which do not bring good outcomes. 

Point to practice: Today I will take up a long pending decision that I need to make. I will look detachedly and see what I can understand in it, looking from a different perspective. I will also see what positive impact it is going to have on me and others. And then I will take the decision. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 19, 2016: Want Not

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 19, 2016: Want Not

Want Not

Next time you are waiting for anything, notice what you are wanting! This will be a source of your tension or impatience. All desire has fear built in - fear of not getting or losing, even before your desire is fulfilled. If you want to be free of fear in life, which is another way of saying if you want to be free of stress, the secret is to want nothing, and then magic happens, for lo and behold, all that you need and more, arrives in your life, at the right time, in the right way. Not what they told us in kindergarten was it?

Blessings For The World (Part 1)

A special relationship that we all hold with each other is of give and take of joy and love which keeps us full of energy and also enthusiastic throughout the day. It’s as if people who are with us in our lives are there to provide us with their blessings and keep us going and give us the power to cross difficulties and also be free from questions that can come in our minds at times. But its people and their love that makes it easy for us to not get tired and also keep putting in all our efforts to destroy these different negative situations and enjoy life to the maximum. Blessings of love, they say, can move mountains, but we feel blessings can even change the entire planet. This is what we at the Brahma Kumaris have, with the help of all the people of the world, taken a responsibility of doing – of changing the world’s atmosphere of sorrow by giving blessings to the world in the form of pure and positive thoughts of good wishes of change.

Recently, the world has seen the Syrian refugee crisis in the news, in which thousands of Syrian refugees are trying to enter European countries because of the difficult conditions and fighting in Syria. A photograph of a small child lying dead on a sea coast has appeared in the news and social media all over the world and has shocked millions and is an image of pain that has gripped the world. This is the current crisis which has brought the attention of the world again to how we are living in a world of pain where people in some pockets of the world are facing great difficulties. Similarly, people from various other parts of the world are experiencing different types of sorrows because of which they are suffering in silence and need a lot of help from us.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Anxiety drains energy.
Stop the drain by becoming aware of your anxiety. 
Visualize your anxiety moving away from you, until it disappears into nothingness. When you dis-identify from the anxiety, you create space for calm.

Calmness restores peace of mind, vitality and energy. 
Plug the anxiety drain, and not only do you feel better but you free up your energy to be used for better things.

Message for the day

To check regularly means to bring about a change. 

Expression: When there is any negative action performed, there is an immediate feeling of guilt and a desire not to perform it again. But the checking also needs to be at a level where it never repeats again. Maintaining a chart of one's own weakness means checking regularly. Such checking brings about a permanent change. 

Experience: When I am able to maintain a chart where I could monitor my own progress, I am able to remain committed to my transformation. Adverse situations or people will never deter me, but I am able to bring about the desired change. I am able to continue the process of transformation even when what I seek to change is not harmful in the present phase of my life. Thus regular checking will prevent carelessness from creeping in. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 18, 2016: Get Grateful Now

Daily Positive Thoughts: July 18, 2016: Get Grateful Now

Get Grateful Now

Even when you feel as though things aren't going well in your life, you have reasons to be grateful. Today, take time to appreciate the gift of life and all its wonders. Count your blessings and cherish what you have.

The Law of Cause and Effect (Part 2)

Suppose a person from India goes to America for the first time and rents a car over there. He then parks his rented car on the wrong side of the road. He will be charged a fine because parking laws are different in both countries. He cannot simply say - I didn’t know, I am ignorant. It should have been his responsibility, if driving, to find out the laws of the new country but he didn’t take enough care.

In ignorance, we have done many things against the universal laws of creation – especially the Law of Karma. We did not have the complete knowledge of what are good/bad karmas, what are right/wrong karmas; what different types of effects different karmas would have on me, others and nature. But we cannot just say - I didn't know. It was our responsibility to know. If we look at the state of the world now, there may be a few sparks of light or spiritual enlightenment but, generally, there is a great amount of darkness. That gives us an indication of the sorts of karmas the vast majority of us have been performing, due to ignorance, to have produced the situations or circumstances in the world.

The complete knowledge of the karmic process, which focuses primarily on the Law of Cause and Effect (explained yesterday), which we learn when we are introduced to spirituality, helps us:

- reduce the burden of the past
- remove any type of suffering or sorrow in our present life
- change our future as well as that of the world, to make it better and more positive
- experience a positive return from our spiritual efforts
- understand all the why’s, how’s, what’s and when’s which surround our life.

Carry on

When little children stumble and fall, they may cry for a bit, 
but then they stand up and carry on. In the same way, we too have to be persistent like little children.

Get over your embarrassment and self-consciousness. 
Pick yourself up and carry on.

Message for the day

It is on the basis of actions that praise is received. 
Expression: The one who only talks but is not able to put his talk into practice does not become worthy of praise. On the other hand, the one who is able to bring his good thoughts and words into action becomes worthy of praise. Such a person's actions become inspirational for others and encourage them to follow him. 

Experience: When I am able to act according to my thoughts and words, I am able to take inspiration to do more. For every positive action that I do, I experience support and good wishes from others which encourage me constantly. My account of positivity is always full and it takes me further to a cycle of positivity making it a habit. So I find that I don't have to work hard for performing positive actions. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris