Daily Positive Thoughts: January 03, 2017: Less Is More

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 03, 2017: Less Is More

Less Is More

Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Hate less, love more and all good things are yours.

The Power To Transform Situations (Part 1)

Very often while going through our life journey, we come across different types of surprising scenes which leave permanent scars on our memories and are difficult to erase even after many many years have passed. What makes these different types of negative episodes so difficult to overcome and why do they have so much power in them that they can influence our consciousness so much that life is not the same again, after they have passed? What makes forgetting negative scenes so demanding for many and not so much for others? Why is it that the power to face a negative situation is less in some and much more in some others?

Take an example of an accident. Sometimes suddenly in a plane crash, a few hundred people lose their lives and leave behind a few thousand people who are close to them, either friends or relatives in sorrow. But, some are able to overcome their sorrow after a few days, some take months and some years. So, it’s a completely different set of responses. Each person has their own response, based on different factors. We all experience different situations almost every day. Life is not without twists and turns and as time passes, relationships become more and more complex, natures of people around you also become more and more different from yours, work at the workplace becomes more and more challenging and competitive and also many different physical and mental illnesses are on the rise. These are some of the common spheres of life where almost everyone in the world is facing problems. Even the human mind today is not as simple and content as it was around 50 years back. Weaknesses like lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, jealousy, hatred and low self-esteem have made people extremely complex which further increase the magnitude of the problems in their life. So how do we face them with ease?

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Observation

It is far better to observe than to absorb every word, feeling and attitude, to get over-involved, or react too much. 

Observing gives us the patience and clarity to think, act appropriately. 

Observing creates an inner focus that allows us to see reality.

Message for the day

Honesty brings success in relationships.

Expression: Honesty means being the same inside out. Honesty with oneself helps one to bring about constant improvement in the self. Honesty with others enables one to relate positively under all circumstances. There is no rudeness but there is an openness that brings about love towards the other person. 

Experience: When I am honest, I am able to experience progress in my own life and others are benefitted too with my own self-progress. I am able to maintain harmony in my relationship with others because I am open with them and I find myself successful in my relationships. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 02, 2017: Look Before You Leap

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 02, 2017: Look Before You Leap

INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND

Look Before You Leap

Whatever actions you perform, check the consequences and then perform that action. Then you will never say I don't know how this happened. I didn't mean it to happen. If you do not pay attention, lines of tension then become visible on your face.

Emotional Joy And Emotional Sorrow

We commonly become emotional, either in times of sorrow e.g. at being separated from a loved one, at experiencing failure in an external event, on hearing a negative news, etc. or in times of joy e.g. when our child or spouse or even pet performs a warm act, while watching a movie, etc. While we have always believed that it is absolutely normal or natural to become emotional and some of us even believe that it is good to let go of our emotions and crying once in a while makes us lighter and stronger; on a spiritual level, becoming emotional comes under the realm of dependencies and dependencies always weaken us. This is because when we become emotional, instead of influencing our self on our own, we allow something or someone outside our self to influence us. We bring that something or someone or some event outside our self, inside, in front of the eye of our mind, attach our self to it, and lose our self in it i.e. we let the image hijack our internal world in a way, as we become subservient to it. As a result our thoughts, feelings, emotions, words, actions are influenced in a big way by the image. This is a spiritual definition of becoming emotional. Passing on the remote control of my internal world to the outer world in this way is a sign of a not so strong internal self.

So what does one do instead? Instead of creating images of external events and people inside our minds and being influenced by them, we still watch these scenes, but instead of losing our self in them and taking from them, we contribute to them by giving them our internal energy, but at the same time make sure that while doing that, we are detached from them and not over-involved emotionally. Internal energy is given in the form of appreciation and love if it’s a positive scene and power, compassion and co-operation if it’s a negative scene, so as to help the scene to be corrected or resurrected. This is influencing instead of being influenced. This is a more empowering experience. In this way we regain the control over our inner world and rise above such emotional dependencies.

My words are effective only when my actions match my words. 

Being detached I can see clearly the mistake of those around me and also give directions to them to bring about a change. I then expect others to listen and bring about a change immediately. Yet I don't find others changing so easily. Before I give directions to others, I need to check within myself if I am implementing what I am saying. Only when I first follow what I say, will my words be effective. Also I need to constantly have the interest to improve myself and others will do that too.

Message for the day

Concentration develops when the intellect is clean and clear. 
Expression: For the one whose intellect continues to wander, concentration becomes difficult or impossible. On the other hand, for the one who is focused on one thing there are no other distractions at that time and there is easy concentration. 

Experience: When I am able to remain focused, I am not troubled by distractions which lessen my concentration. Instead I am able to increase my discrimination power and am able to decide and judge well. This happens because my intellect becomes clean and gets cleared of waste. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 01, 2017: Cultivate Silence

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 01, 2017: Cultivate Silence

Cultivate Silence

Behind all creation is silence. Silence is the essential condition, the vital ingredient for all creation and all that is created. It is a power in its own right. The artist starts with a blank canvas - silence. The composer places it between and behind the notes. The very ground of your being, out of which comes all your thoughts, is silence. The way to silence is through meditation. When you arrive in your own silence you will know true freedom and real power. Stop, take a minute, and listen to the silence within you today. Then be aware of what disturbs your inner silence. It could be negative thoughts, memories, sensations. And when you are aware, you will know what is draining your creative power, and you will know what needs to change...on the inside!

Spiritual Roses Of The Supreme Gardener

The main features of physical flowers are their colour, form and fragrance, by which we judge their beauty. All these characteristics have their own unique importance. Introducing oneself to spirituality is like giving oneself into the hands of the Supreme Spiritual Gardener or the Supreme Being (God). Like a physical gardener who possesses qualities of patience, tirelessness, love, far-sightedness, faith etc. on a limited level, the Supreme Gardener possesses these qualities on an unlimited level, which he uses to bring us up. As we remain under his sustenance and care, over a period of time, we blossom and are transformed into beautiful spiritual flowers, and our thorns fall away. When we look at ourselves as spiritual flowers, our colour symbolizes spiritual knowledge. Depending on how we imbibe the wisdom shared by the Spiritual Gardener and bring it in our day-to-day functioning; in our thoughts, words, actions and relationships; the more beautiful a colour we take. Our form is shaped depending on the quality of our connection with the Supreme Being, the Gardener. The deeper and stronger the connection, the more beautiful the form. Lastly, our fragrance refers to divine qualities like sweetness, humility, tolerance, carefreeness, purity and many more, which we develop. Physical flowers with a good colour, form and fragrance, attract everyone around them. Seeing and coming close to them, gives one an experience of joy. The same holds true for spiritual flowers.

Roses are considered the king of all flowers, with the best possible colour, form and fragrance. Spiritual roses are those souls which continuously remain in a spiritual consciousness and spread the fragrance of that consciousness to others. Their thoughts, words and actions get shaped according to this consciousness. They have a deep relationship with the Spiritual Gardener and are always eager to ensure that others also experience that relationship and become spiritual roses; which is a deep wish of the Supreme Gardener, for every spiritual being. They help him in fulfilling that wish.

Spiritual growth

Keep an eye on your own spiritual health, don’t look to others for whatever is lacking, look within, see what remains to be done and do it. Never allow those with a strong personality to tell you what to do especially when you feel something else to be right. This creates depression and you can’t afford to be disheartened. Take care of yourself with understanding and love making sure that you never compromise your own spiritual growth.

Message for the day

To be easy is to touch hearts without leaving a mark. 

Thought to Ponder: Every relationship has something beautiful to contribute. Although there are certain moments where there is bound to be conflict or discord. Yet, when I am connected with the positive side of the relationship, I am able to give unconditionally and touch hearts. Thus, I am able to be free from such words, thoughts or even attitude that leaves a negative impact. 

Point to Practice: Today I will say something good and touching to people around me. I will take as many chances I can to touch the hearts of those around me. This will make me appreciate and value the contribution that people in my life make for my own growth and progress. Every relationship has, in fact, some unique contribution to make. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 31, 2016: Higher Than the Sky

Higher Than the Sky

Keep wearing virtues as your ornaments. Keep loving others. Keep giving regard. You have to go beyond the stars. Keep thoughts higher than the sky, and abundance of patience like the earth. Keep spiritual love in your eyes.

Living With A Purpose

How can we define heaven? Heaven could simply be described as the place to experience peace, joy and happiness. So, what is our heaven in our practical life? How can we experience it? Fulfilling our dream or true purpose or experiencing it being fulfilled is our heaven. Living out our dream and purpose is to live in our personal space of heaven here and right now.

If everything that we do during the day and in life is directed at fulfilling our purpose - our reason for being, for existing and for living - we will be much happier in everything we do, because everything will be channeled or focused towards what we really want. On the other hand, if we do a little bit of everything, but without knowing where we are going or what our true destination is, we will be like a ship that has lost its way in the ocean. The ship’s crew steers the ship – it now goes towards the left, now to the right, goes backwards, then forwards towards the north, towards the south and in the end stays in the same place and gets nowhere, although it’s crew is busy or is working all the time. The crew lets itself be carried by the currents, the tides, the waves in the ocean and the winds above the ocean. It has lost its bearings and doesn't know how to be guided by the stars, which would show the crew the right way. In our case, the stars are our intuition. Without our life’s course dictated by a true purpose, we let our consciousness asleep and don't listen to our intuition, which will reveal to us our purpose.

Find Time & Space

Often we're too focused on the short term. We go for quick fix options, not long term solutions. We look for short term enjoyment, not long term benefit. Often it's because we're too busy managing everyday pressures or too caught up in the 'right now'. 

No matter what's happening, learn to find time & space to think both short term & long term at the same time. Then you'll not only benefit right now but you'll also be better prepared for the opportunities & the challenges ahead.

Message for the day

To understand the importance of something is to do it immediately. 

Though to Ponder: When I understand that something is important in my life, I need to bring it into action immediately. If I don't do that, it means I haven't fully understood its importance. So, I need to make time for it on a daily basis. When I take little steps towards it, I will be able to slowly get the courage and also the time to do it

Point to Practice: Today I will not say I do not have time for what I feel is the right thing to do. I will allocate at least 5 minutes each day to do what I have to. Slowly, I find that the time space available for this activity would automatically increase. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 30, 2016: Success

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 30, 2016: Success

Success

Success means to reach such a constant level of positive thoughts that pure actions happen naturally. Pure actions are like good seeds which, when planted, produce healthy, sweet fruit

Become very, very sweet. Remove even the slightest trace of anger. Whatever you think, whatever you say, consider carefully all the consequences beforehand. By performing actions knowing their consequences, success is definitely experienced.

The Subtle Role Play Of Thoughts And Images (Part 2)

What the quality of a soul’s thoughts and images (or scenes) that it creates, depends on the soul’s sanskaras. Depending on the quality, the soul experiences the various different emotions, whether positive or negative. When the soul first incarnates on the physical world stage from the soul world, the quality of this role play of thoughts and images is high, pure and positive, hence it experiences only positive emotions. As it plays its different roles and comes down in the birth-rebirth cycle, this quality reduces, leading to the experience of emotions like sorrow, peacelessness, etc.

A point worth noting is that the key to any deep emotional experience, whether positive or negative is the creation of thoughts as well as images related to that particular emotion at the same time e.g. think and visualize at the same time, the death of a close relative that took place ten years ago and you immediately have a deep experience of sorrow. Think and visualize together, a loving hug of your mother that took place in your childhood, and you immediately experience deep happiness. This type of co-ordination between these two subtle processes is true concentration. The key to any type of spiritual upliftment is the upliftment of these two processes. The meditation that is taught at the Brahma Kumaris is nothing but a spiritual thought process accompanied by a spiritual visualization process, whereby thoughts and images of the subtle, spiritual self (or soul) and the Supreme Being (or Supreme Soul) are created together to experience the original qualities of the spiritual self and the eternal qualities of the Supreme Being – purity, peace, love, happiness and power.

"I forgive you."

When our feelings are hurt, we find it hard to forgive.  But if we don't forgive we become so wrapped up in the hurt that it just makes us unhappy.

So even though it's hard, forgive, it's good for your well-being.  Forgive the person or the people involved.  And whenever you think of them, think 

"I forgive you."

When you forgive, you're not erasing or excusing the wrong, you're releasing the hurt.  This frees you up to either do something about the wrong or move on.

Message for the day

To be in the present is to experience the beauty of who I am. 

Though to Ponder: Life takes place in the present moment; past and future exist only in our imagination right now. So, I need to experience the present moment. Past and future can hold threats or negative experiences. But the present offers only the beauty of this moment. When I experience the joy of this moment, I would be able to experience and express my inner qualities. 

Point to Practice: Today I will spend at least a few minutes to relish the experience of being in the now. I will feel the flow of energy in my body and the beauty of thoughts in my mind. I will relish the joy of being alive, the joy of having the ability to express and experience who I am and what I can do. Just for these few minutes, I will keep aside what happened yesterday and what would happen tomorrow. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 29, 2016: Contentment

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 29, 2016: Contentment

Contentment

First of all, understand discontentment. Discontent is caused by a constant multiplication of desires. One desire leads to another until there's never a moment when you feel fulfilled.

Desires are like traps. Because of endless desires relationships have become very fragile. There is a lot of irritability and anger due to:

• Selfish attachments (to possessions and people)

• Pride (attachment to a particular image of the self)

When there is discontentment, the heart can never be still because wasteful, negative thoughts destroy peace.

Contentment is the result of spiritual awareness which allows you to recognize negativity. It changes your pattern of thinking. As you tap your huge inner potential, all desires are fulfilled and you regain your peace.

The Subtle Role Play Of Thoughts And Images (Part 1)

The human soul is a subtle (non-physical) stage on which a subtle role play of thoughts and images constantly takes place throughout the day and even while sleeping. We have explained in our older messages how thoughts are of 4 main different types - positive which are based on virtues, necessary related to day-to-day activities, waste which are mainly unnecessary and related to the past and future and negative which are related to vices and other weaknesses. In the same way, we also constantly create images or scenes, which are of the same 4 types, which is why we commonly use the term - the eye of the mind. The mind not only thinks or speaks subtly but visualizes or sees subtly too, almost all the time.

These two processes function, sometimes independent of each other as well as sometimes dependent on each other i.e. influencing each other e.g. think of peace and that leads to visualizations related to the same. Visualize an unpleasant scene of anger and hatred, and your thoughts are led in that direction. Sometimes these two processes function at the same time and sometimes one at a time. Sometimes neither functions at all, which happens much more frequently while sleeping as compared to when we are awake. This subtle, physically invisible role play is the foundation of the physical role play of words and actions that is visible to the self and everyone else around you.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Control freak?

Plan ahead, prepare and stay on top of things as much as you can.  Stay in control but without being a freak.  What?  A control freak?  Me?  Admit it, there's a control freak in you.

Being in control of yourself and your life - well that's OK, but trying to control everything and everyone around you - that's not OK.

So learn to let go a little and be flexible.  Let others take a little more control and trust them to do their best.  When you feel your inner control freak taking control, curb it.  Give yourself a moment to breathe, think and work out the best course of action.

Message for the day

To have the courage to take risks is to overcome fear. 

Though to Ponder: When I am faced with a situation where I have to do something that I have never tried or in something that I have failed, I tend to be afraid or apprehensive. Most often, I decide not to take the risk and either postpone or avoid facing that situation. But, if I am able to take a small little risk and try and do it in a different way, I would be able to overcome my fear. It is not important whether I succeed in the task or not, but having taken the risk itself helps me overcome a little of my fear.

Point to Practice: Today I will do something that I know I have to do, but have been hesitating to do because of my own fear. I will take one little risk and be prepared even for failure. I know that if I avoid things too long the fear of it only increases. So today, I will take a step towards overcoming my fear. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris