Daily Positive Thoughts: December 28, 2016: Harmony

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 28, 2016: Harmony

 

Harmony

I need to recognize that like musical notes we are all different. Only when I am able to harmonize with others can i create a beautiful tune. When I work with other people, I learn to understand them. In the process, I will also learn more about myself and how to use my strengths to support others.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (Part 3)

Yesterday we had discussed external influences. Some of the internal influences or voices include the influence or voice of:

- selfish or impure desires of name, fame, revenge, greed, remaining in control of a situation or a person or dominating a situation or a person;
- the ego;
- the past;
- our inner conscience;
- pure desires;
- the Supreme Being or God;
- our worries of the present or of the future;
- temporary negative sanskars or personality traits;
- original or inherent positive sanskars or personality traits;
- attachments to people, situations, material objects, etc.;
- jealousy or dislike for a particular person, etc.

We are exposed to some or all these influences, whether external or internal, all the time. If we are not strong, our mind weakens under so many influences, which as a result, becomes unclear, confused and unfocused. Because of all of this, on the one hand, we need to have good judgment power to remain connected to what is essential, important and true, and on the other hand, you have to strengthen your thought, that is, think less; think more slowly; more concentrated and clearly with focus, a sense of purpose and positivity. That thought is like an arrow; it has positive force and clarity and it always bears powerful fruit. This kind of thought is called concentrated thought. The practice of introversion or meditation for a minute or few minutes at regular intervals during the day helps us remain above all influences and constantly feeds our mind with the power of silence, which helps us remain in this experience of concentrated thought easily.

What's your superpower?

We all have a superpower.  A special ability, gift, talent that we're good at and enjoy, that makes us stand out and also serves others.  Maybe it's our mathematical brains, our ability to make people laugh....

If you're finding it impossible to access your superpower, maybe it's because you've forgotten that you are a superhero.  Simply remember who you are, what you have to offer to the world and how to use your superpower.  

Message for the day

To experience the joy of doing is to bring beauty to actions. 

Though to Ponder: What I do is not as important as the experience I have while doing it. I need to work on subtracting any negative experiences while doing actions. Every action is an opportunity to experience some beautiful quality. Without that experience, the action is meaningless and purposeless. So, we might have achieved a lot of things during the day, but will only end up being dissatisfied by the end of the day.

Point to Practice: Today I will do something that I have always enjoyed doing as a child. Things in themselves are not as important as the experience while doing them. So, I will spend some time in doing something I have always enjoyed to do. Also, during what I do during the day, I will have attention to do it with joy. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 27, 2016: The way to get what we need is to give

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 27, 2016: The way to get what we need is to give

The way to get what we need is to give

If I am not getting what I want or need, I may need to adopt a different approach. Instead of focusing on my own desires, I need to understand that perhaps I'm not getting what I want for a reason - perhaps I'm not ready for it yet. If I concentrate instead on what I have to give to others, I will find that what I need comes to me naturally.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (Part 2)

One important component that doesn’t let us remain in the healthy and positive experience of concentrated thought is the many different types of influences we are exposed to in our life. There are two different types of influences – external and internal. These influences can also be called voices. Voices from outside as well as inside speak to us.

External influences or voices are of people whom we come in contact with at home, at the workplace, at school or college, at the club, in the media etc. or elsewhere. These people are those whom we either see as equals or look upto. They could be our friends, our parents, our spouse, our teacher, our guru, our doctor, our neighbor, our colleagues, our boss, actors or sportsmen whom we admire, even the daily newsreaders or writers, etc. We have been exposed to these influences right from the time we were born. The influences from all these people are not necessarily on a physical level, they can also be on a subtle level of mental vibrations from others. We interact with all or some of these people and spend time with them and whenever we do that they advise us or give us their opinion on a physical level and we also listen to their voices on a subtle, emotional energy level e.g.  we spend a lot many hours in the office. We may not interact with our boss all the time but his personality is constantly influencing everyone in the office on a subtle level, including us. The office environment is shaped largely by the head of the office. In the same way, we may be taking care that we listen only to the positive voices of the media and we do not listen to the negative ones, but the all pervading negative atmosphere that exists everywhere due to everyone being exposed to the news of violence, sorrow and impurity from the media, definitely influences us on a subtle level, even though we might not realize it. As children, we have been listening to the subtle voices of our parents, even when we were taking shape in our mother’s womb.

In tomorrow’s message, we shall explain what our different types of internal influences or voices.

Stillness

Have you noticed how silence stimulates creativity?  Silence doesn't have to mean no talking, no thoughts, and no sound.  Silence can be experienced even in the midst of noise, thoughts and conversations.

Simply concentrate your attention on stillness.  Still your attention and you create silence.  Silence makes space for the mind to breathe and for creativity to percolate.

Message for the day

To seek richness and potential in everything is true positivity. 

Though to Ponder: When I have the eye for seeing potential, I am not caught up with any weaknesses of the present. I am able to see, even in people, the promise of what they can do and become. When I do this, I will be able to help people discover the latent potential.  

Point to Practice: Today I will free myself from seeing waste and negative. And if I do see, I will make an attempt to see something positive and beautiful. This slowly becomes a practice, which helps me be positive, under all circumstances. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 26, 2016: Cheerfulness

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 26, 2016: Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness

Inner cheer is destroyed by a conscience which bites. Learn to do everything in a worthwhile way. It's an art which teaches you to appreciate your inner beauty (It makes you think twice about ruining it, too)

Don't be hard on yourself when making a mistake. It’s much more effective to be handled with love. Telling the self off is a terrible habit, it subtly shapes a nature of sorrow. Finish the business of thinking of rubbish and instead take delight in all that you've found.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (Part 1)

The thoughts that we create are of different nature, different intensity and their quantity also varies from time to time during a particular day as well as night and also depending on what action we are performing at that particular moment of time or not performing any action at all. They possess immense potential or power, both positive and negative. They can either liberate (or empower) us or limit (weaken) us. This depends on what we think and how much we think. 

The mind tends to jump from one place to another. Many of our thoughts filled with doubts, dejection, fears, insecurity, irritation, worry, comparisons which give rise to emotions like jealousy or inferiority / superiority complexes, desires, un-enthusiasm, etc. are useless thoughts and weaken us. They defocus us and cloud our inner clarity. Sometimes we keep repeating certain type of thoughts inside our mind, we keep going round in circles. Most of the time, these repetitive thoughts are negative or waste in nature related to the emotions mentioned above. Sometimes the repetitive thoughts can be necessary or positive also. Even necessary and positive thoughts, when repeated again and again, turn into the superfluous (excess) or waste. So it’s important to think in a higher, concentrated way – think less and think powerful; such thoughts have a lot of clarity, focus and spiritual force that help us to put them into practice more successfully. A single thought or a series of thoughts can block the capacity to feel content and awakened spiritually and make us sorrowful. On the other hand, a single thought or a series of positive thoughts can be the key to open the door that allows us to access, enjoy and experience the richness of our inner self. But it has to be a pure, strong, clear and concentrated thought or thoughts.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Tragedy to Triumph

We continue to tell ourselves a story about what's happened, what's going on, what someone did.... and these stories influence how we think, feel and act.

It makes sense to listen to the story carefully, and if it's not empowering or inspiring, or you don't like the story, then edit the narrative without glossing over the facts or turning it into a fiction.

Turn your tragic sob story into a tale of triumph; a drama or a horror into an action adventure mystery or even a comedy.  It's your story, so tell it to yourself just as you would like!  What's your story?

Message for the day

To have pride for our role is to be happy.

Though to Ponder: To compare myself with others is to actually insult myself. I have my own uniqueness which I express in my own unique way through my unique role. When I remember this, I will neither have superiority or inferiority complex. I will accept each and everyone's characteristics, including myself. 

Point to Practice: Today I will walk in my own shoes. I will not attempt to walk in someone else's shoes, as it doesn't fit me properly. Walking in my own shoes, leads me on the path of happiness. So, today I will walk on the path of pride and happiness. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 25, 2016: True winning is accepting not resisting

 

True winning is accepting not resisting

If you ever find yourself defending a position, explaining why, or justifying anything, it means you have been defeated. It means you have not been able to accept the others point of view, or the fact that you may be wrong.

Fear has conquered your mind and your heart. Your defenses are up and you are running scared. It’s not that the other person has conquered you, it’s the self-created fear that is in control.

Until you can accept the other (you don’t have to agree) and you are not threatened by the other, your victories will be delayed. It’s a funny old world when true winning is accepting not resisting, when victory is found in the wisdom to stop fighting and to begin engaging.

Practical Exercise On Intellect Reawakening And Empowerment

It has been estimated that for around 80% of our daily routine we are ruled by habits. This means that most of the time we go straight from thought (created by the mind) to action, without checking the quality of our thoughts. In this way, we bypass the intellect, and do not use our capacity to judge right from wrong and to make conscious decisions. What we need to do now is reawaken, use and empower the intellect, which is true spiritual empowerment.

Practical Exercise

Withdraw your attention from everything around you.  Create a simple thought in your mind.   Concentrate on the thought. Then use your intellect to judge to what extent the thought is right or wrong and what the quality of that thought is (is it a negative thought, a waste or unnecessary thought, a necessary thought, a positive one etc.?).   If you decide it is not a good thought, leave it and create a better thought. In this way, you consciously exercise control of your mind and intellect thereby strengthening your mental and intellectual capacities. This will also help you regain your feelings of rule over the self.

If thoughts or images come from your memories or from sources outside your own mind while you are busy in this inner exercise, don't give them any mental energy. Let them go and bring your attention back to your own conscious creation (mentioned above). Once, you have mastered this in this exercise; try the same process while you busy in your daily routine.

To help others discover their talents is the best help we can give. 

Sometimes people are unaware of their talents, or afraid to use them. But if we do not use the gifts we have been given, we can never be truly happy. Throughout our lives, people help us grow.  As we grow older, we can help others too. Making others aware of the things they do well and subtly encouraging them to use their talents is the best way to help them progress.

Message for the day

To stand for what we believe in is not to fall before what we fear. 

Though to Ponder: When fear takes over, I need to focus more on what I believe in, rather than focusing on what I fear. To think of what I don't want or what I want to avoid is not the solution. Rather, I need to focus my energies on what I want. When I do this, I will be able to avoid negativity and use my potential and energy for what needs to be done. 

Point to Practice: Today I will think of one thing I have been avoiding. I will then see what I want to do in its place. If I don't want something, there would surely be something that I want. When I start working on what I should be doing, I will naturally be able to do away with what I fear or what I am avoiding. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 23, 2016: Not to think of or speak of the mistakes in others

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 23, 2016: Not to think of or speak of the mistakes in others

Not to think of or speak of the mistakes in others

When I notice a weakness or mistake in someone, instead of drawing attention to it by speaking to others, I need to make a special effort to focus on something positive in that person. 

When I think about this person's good qualities, my love for them will grow.

When I speak about the weaknesses of others, it spreads from one person to the next.  

Instead of speaking, I have to merge it into love. This then sends blessings to others, which helps them to improve.

Wearing The Crown Of Servant Leadership Gracefully (Part 2)

A good leader, before orchestrating (controlling) his team members will learn to orchestrate (control) his inner orchestra of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, emotions, moods and perceptions to create the desired tune or team result. When leaders become dictators or start orchestrating (controlling) their team members first, the fall of the team gets certain.  A good leader is characterized by the way he makes his fellow members work as a team with him being a part of it. Misuse of leader power has a negative effect on team members' perceptions of the leader's ability and desire to engage in open communication. Because open communication is vital to any project, these perceptions can hurt team performance. These negative effects of leader power can be virtually eliminated simply by clearly communicating the idea that every team member is individually instrumental for any given task at hand.

Traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the top of the pyramid. By comparison, the servant leader shares power and puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Servant leaders spread an energy of trust in the group, which catalyzes higher levels of engagement of team members, greater involvement of their effort and ideas and greater speed in change and creation of the new, which is the objective of every team. As a result, an excellent team culture is developed.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Surrender

The flower surrenders to the night & shuts up shop as the setting sun surrenders to the horizon of another day.

Geese surrender to the first autumn chills, & think of flying south.

  

Well the same opportunity is also available to all of us.

Realize: There's a time to push & make things happen, & a time to surrender our ego & our need to control everything.  Surrender is not about giving up or about inaction, it's about taking the decision to stop fighting ourselves, others & life.

When we surrender, we release tension & restore peace.  So go on, find moments to surrender, today.  See what happens & how things happen when you surrender first, & then take action.

Message for the day

To keep the mind free and light is to get a detached perspective. 

Though to Ponder: When I keep my mind free from the burden of negativity and waste, I am free and light. This lightness gives me the ability to rise above clouds of despair and mountains of confusion. So, I don't have to work hard to understand and cross over them. I automatically get a detached perspective and am able to understand and cross over all obstacles easily. 

Point to Practice: Today I will be an audience to my situation. I will see all aspects of the situation with detachment. I will then become a director and change the script in order to take it to a better conclusion. I need to make even the smallest contribution I can. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 24, 2016: Life will bring obstacles and difficulties

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 24, 2016: Life will bring obstacles and difficulties

Life will bring obstacles and difficulties

They do not come to stop you. They come to strengthen you and help you progress with more experience.

Keep advancing.

One day is not the same as another.

Sometimes you do not have to find a solution, it is enough to keep moving forward, leaving the obstacle behind.

Wearing The Crown Of Servant Leadership Gracefully (Part 3)

Very often in a group or team, while moving towards a common goal or objective or purpose, the leader of the group or gathering is required to give his opinion to make the objective of the team possible. Servant leaders are extremely active, positive and authoritative in giving their ideas, when they are required to do so, but are able to keep a relationship of detachment with their ideas. They maintain a right balance of authority (while giving the idea) and humility (while accepting the result of the idea, the result could be rejection or even acceptance of the idea). Also servant leaders are detached when accepting or receiving or listening to ideas from team members. The more the attachment to one’s own ideas, the more will be the tendency to resist or reject the others’ ideas, which they do not do.

Also, when a leader starts misusing his leadership for his own good and greed, and becomes egoistic, his team members start staying away. Servant leaders, through their humility, become an inspiration for others. Experiencing power and autonomy is healthy, but when a false sense of ownership sets up in leadership and the leader starts taking his role for granted, it is the time when a leader will experience great downfall in his role as a leader.

Altogether, a good leader is one who uses his mind or law to handle himself and his heart or love to handle others which ultimately brings justice to his role. Such a leader who maintains this balance of love and law wears the crown of servant leadership gracefully through various stages of life, enjoying the respect and earning the good wishes of all whom he comes into contact with.

Become a Trustee

Everything comes to us in trust.  This includes people, pets, time, mind, body, wealth, job, car, house, gadgets, as well as all the planet's resources.

When we become a guardian, a trustee and not an owner, then we worry less, stress less and fear less.  It's a much more relaxing way of living and relating to everything that comes to us.

Honour, look after and use all the resources with a positive purpose.

Message for the day

To travel light is to enjoy the journey of life. 

Though to Ponder: I can travel far in life when I am free from the baggage of the past. I also take only the essence from everything, packing up essencefully. So, I am light. I never stop because of anything. Instead, I learn from everything, pack up the essence and move forward. 

Point to Practice: Today I will resolve one thing from my past that I have been carrying as a burden. I will try and understand what learning I can take from it. Once I take the learning, I don't have to relive those feelings that I had during the situation. If I can't resolve it today, I'll at least believe and have faith that it will happen tomorrow. This finishes the burden of the situation and brings lightness. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris