Daily Positive Thoughts: January 13, 2017: Trust Yourself

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 13, 2017: Trust Yourself

African Lion

 

Trust Yourself

You must begin to trust yourself. If you do not then you will forever be looking to others to prove your own merit to you and you will never be satisfied. You will always be asking others what to do, and at the same time resenting those from whom you seek such aid.

Unloading Your Pressure Baggage (Part 1)

On a spiritual level, pressure can be defined as an external force acting on us divided by our ability to bear the force or resist it. Thus, force and resistance capacity are two variants in the equation of pressure. Everyone has different resistance capacities. Two people with different resistance capacities will experience different amounts of pressure on being subjected to the same magnitude of force.  A feeling of pressure absorbs our freedom and gives us an experience of being ruled by an external entity. There are a lot of people who hold the belief that they can experience freedom only in the absence of an external force, which is almost impossible, since there is almost some force or the other exerted on the soul by ups and downs that takes place in the role that it plays through the physical body; which includes the physical body itself; profession; family; wealth, all types of relationships, etc. Even our own personality, thoughts, feelings, emotions etc. exert pressure on us at times.

Apart from the resistance capacity, the other variant in the equation of pressure is not only force but our perception of what the magnitude of the force is. This depends primarily on the beliefs that we carry. Two people will perceive the same situation in their role (as explained above) as forces of different magnitudes. While we hold the belief that life events, people and their expectations from us, are the forces that are the causes of our pressure, we will be able to do little to change the habit of being pressurized. It is we who pressurize ourself and allow the outside to pressurize us. We can either go through our life journey while experiencing feelings of being emotionally imprisoned, confused, rushed and hurried, or we can do the same with the power of faith and determination, at the same time remaining patient and maintaining our inner emotional stability. In some cases, some of us put pressure on ourselves, because we carry the belief that a bit of pressure is good in order to achieve what we want; it provides us with positive energy and motivates us. So this is an example of perceiving a force in our life, a force which does not exist. Such kind of pressure can deceive us and give us a feeling of being beneficial in the short term but it can have harmful effects on us in the long term. Some others might not experience this pressure because they do not carry this belief at all and don't invite this force.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

To understand the importance of my actions is to create a fortune for myself. 

I usually blame my fortune when something goes wrong. I either feel it to be unjust or curse my past actions which have brought me this fate today. To curse my past actions is to lose the present moment too. Instead of cursing my past actions, I need to make the most of the present. Whatever I do today, I get the fruit of it right now and for the future too. So I need to pay attention to do the right actions always.

Message for the day

The biggest gift is the gift of virtues.

Expression: Throughout the day, each individual is involved in a series of activities. A simple thought to give the gift of virtues makes even ordinary actions special. Each act becomes special and the fragrance of this speciality spreads around and touches the lives of others too. Such an individual is able to contribute to every task with his own speciality and bring success in the task too. 

Experience: When I am able to express and give the gift of my virtues, I am able to attain satisfaction with whatever I get to do. This satisfaction brings in me the inner urge to contribute some more. I achieve success outwardly too since I have actually been able to experience inner success. My relations with others are also harmonious and whatever task I do along with the others brings a productive result. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 12, 2017: Kind Thoughts

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 12, 2017: Kind Thoughts

Kind Thoughts

Great souls take advantage of every moment and every opportunity to give happiness to others through kindness in their thoughts; such souls are willing to overlook weaknesses and mistakes and have the desire to help everyone reach their potential.

Awakening Your Intuition (Part 2)

Meditation purifies and sharpens our intellect which makes it broader and far-sighted and also makes it free from waste and negativity; very clean and clear, like a mirror. As a result the intellect is able to subconsciously look into the hidden aspects of any situation, sense the underlying thoughts, emotions and feelings of people involved without any of them being visible, also look into the future without it having evolved as yet and sense the right solution. Nothing can remain hidden from a mirror. Even though a mirror is not consciously aware, somehow or the other it will decide correctly. This is only the intuitive capability, the capability of becoming a situation doctor, hearing the mental pulse of the situation and coming up with the right cure for it, which is awakened by meditation immensely.  If the intellect contains negativity or waste and is not clear, sometimes one or more than one of the many influences which we had mentioned in yesterday's message might be perceived to be the intuition and then we might fail in a particular situation. Its important to note that the intuition, if heard correctly, which is only the case when the intellect is clean, can never be wrong and will always take you in the right direction.

In the above context, for the completely analytical minded, it’s significant to understand that the intuitive perception was favoured more by old spiritual traditions and the intellectual perception, is being favoured more by modern science and medicine. Relying only on the intellectual perception is not wise. It alone cannot give us a complete idea of reality. A balance needs to be created between the two different types of perception. People with a balance will be more successful in life and victorious in difficult situations.

 

Pythagoras said, "The oldest, shortest words, 'Yes' and 'No' are those which require the most thought."

So be thoughtful about saying yes or no.

Are you in the habit of saying 'yes' to extra tasks? Even if you're already overloaded with what's on your plate?

If you really can't take on an extra task, offer to adjust your current responsibilities. Suggest a later date to complete the extra task, or ask for help.

If you decide to say 'yes', make sure you're taking on additional tasks without the feeling of overwhelm. And if you decide to say 'no', then say it politely and confidently.

Message for the day

The breath of a true life is enthusiasm.

Expression: To live life, to live each moment with enthusiasm is to really live life. The quality of life, the quality of the work done, the quality of relationships, everything is enriched through enthusiasm. Where there is enthusiasm there is maximum recognition and usage of everything available. Enthusiasm spreads to others too, gives them the courage to do their best and enrich their lives. 

Experience: When I am enthusiastic, I am able to enjoy everything that comes my way. The biggest obstacle seems like a game for me, and I pass it by easily, without experiencing any difficulty. Confidence builds up in me and gives me the courage to be the best in all I do. I slowly increase my own potential and steadily move on towards success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 11, 2017: Wisdom

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 11, 2017: Wisdom

Whale Watching in Peninsula Valdés, Argentina

 

Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge of danger but no fear. It is the ability to spot a twist in the path in the distance, a narrow stretch, the possibility of a collision; to stop and wait in peace until something has passed. No wisdom is keeping going, hoping it will be alright.

Awakening Your Intuition (Part 1)

In real life, we are faced with many situations when important decisions have to be taken, a particular path to move ahead has to chosen. At such times, our mind is filled with various different voices or influences like the influence of people surrounding us, who give their different opinions regarding the particular situation; they say something, our mental logic along with knowledge of people and things, says something else, then there is the influence or memory of our past experiences which colour our perception of the present situation differently. Also there is the influence of the outside world in general - all that we see, hear and read. There are also our attachments, selfish desires, fears, mental biases towards a particular person or situation, emotions like jealousy and hatred, beliefs etc. which influence our perception. Our mind is full of all these influences, many of them even conflicting each other, and we experience complete turmoil or indecisiveness inside ourselves, we don't know what to do.

In such cases it is sometimes extremely wise to keep all these influences aside, sit in silence and listen to what our intuition is saying to us. There are many situations, in which after the situation is over, we realize that all the influences mentioned above would have taken us on the wrong path, but it was our intuition, our inner voice of wisdom, alone which gave us the right solution and took us safely to our destination.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Situations change. People change. We change. 

But have your perceptions of people in your life changed with the change? 

Are your relationships based on out-of-date perceptions?

Regularly reassess, renew & refresh your perceptions, especially the ones that no longer serve you. 

See others as they are today & you'll easily improve your relationships.

Message for the day

To fail means there is the need to work a little harder

Expression:  To fail doesn't means to be a failure but it only means that it will take a little longer before success can be reached. It gives an indication that more effort has to be put in. So when things are done in a different way, it becomes possible to move towards success. Failure in a particular task is a process of strengthening that leads to success.

Experience: During the time of failure, when I understand the significance behind the incident, I am able to be free from negative feelings of fear or disheartenment. Then I am able to learn the right lesson from it and move ahead. So in the worst failures I am able to experience constant progress and thus I find that I am moving on towards success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 10, 2017: Think less

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 10, 2017: Think less

Think less

Economize on your thoughts and you will automatically save your time and words.

Transforming The Other’s Anger

In meditation, when I connect with God, I absorb His spiritual love and peace, which causes my own original qualities, which are present in me, the soul, in my pure state when I begin the playing of roles through physical bodies on the world stage, to come to the forefront or to the surface, to emerge in the conscious from the sub-conscious. As a result, now, where previously there would have been conflict, I have a greater capacity to remain peaceful when another person behaves in an unpleasant way with me. I have the power to stay mentally and emotionally stable when someone provokes or insults me. This power is enormously valuable in life, enabling me to cool heated situations, and even remove another person's anger altogether.

Instead of focusing on the anger on a person's face, I focus my attention to the non-physical, star-like being or soul within the person, which was peaceful and loveful in its original, pure state. This increases my tolerance and acceptance power. Also, through my meditation, I am actively aware of the spiritual bond all human beings share, as souls who have a common home of peace, the incorporeal (non-physical) home, from where all of souls come and a common connection with the One Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul. Through this knowledge, I connect with the goodness in the other soul and my love for the soul is maintained. I realize that this goodness is a deeper reality than the anger. The truth is that if I can hold this soul-conscious vision steady for long enough, I radiate positive energy to the other soul, which works like magic and awakens the goodness within the other person. Then, my tolerance bears fruit and peace really does prevail between the two of us.

Keep Dancing!

A good dancer makes every move look effortless! Yet we know that each step is precise & taken with consideration. But most dancers will tell you, that as soon as you start to doubt or over-think, you make mistakes.

Like a dancer, put consideration into each step you take in life without over-thinking. Be as precise as you can be, keep fine-tuning your technique but know when to be spontaneous. And when you make mistakes, learn to flow into the next step quickly & with ease. Then you'll have fun & enjoy the process.

Message for the day

Greatness lies in being humble.

Expression: A seed grows only when it is mingled with the mud. In the same way, the one who is great is naturally humble. He understands the truth that only when there is humility will there be success. Humility gives the power to bow down without reducing one's own self-respect. 

Experience: When I am humble I am able to be experience my own inner greatness, which naturally keeps me set on the seat of my self-respect. So when the situation demands, I have no problem bowing down. So I am able to allow the situations to work on me, so I am able to strengthen myself from within under all circumstances. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 09, 2017: Meditation

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 09, 2017: Meditation

Meditation

Meditation is not complicated. It is simply a means of teaching your mind to think in the right way.

Attitude Matters (Part 3)

When listening to a piece of information use your third eye or third ear if you like to call it that. We normally use the words third eye or the eye of wisdom. In the same way the ear of wisdom means while you listen to something about a person with your physical ears, use this third ear to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. What that means is emerge spiritual wisdom of different life situations and the knowledge of Law of Karma (Action) i.e. What you sow you shall reap or Every action on a spiritual level causes a similar reaction or life situation to come back to us. A positive action brings a positive life situation back to us and a negative action brings a negative life situation back to us. The two ears will listen physically but the third ear will listen to the physical information after filtering it with the filter of the Law of Karma. That also means is understand every hidden aspect of the information being shared with you about a particular person and yet keep a positive attitude towards that person. 

At the same time, use the 8 powers in that particular situation like 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 to bring about success in that particular situation. What that means do the right thing at the right time – resolve the problem filled situation without harming anyone’s interests on a physical or subtle level of mental energies. Also, keep good wishes for everyone involved, keep yourself free from waste and negative thoughts, maintain the positive environment of the workplace or home, spread good information about everyone including the person who may have committed a mistake or the person who has given you wrong information about that person. Lastly, remember everyone’s original qualities are peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and truth. Look at everyone with these spectacles of their original qualities and don’t look with the filters of negativity and weaknesses of different colours. Then everyone will look beautiful. Attitude matters and it is the key to success. So always keep it nice, pure and positive.

To see things as they are is to be free from the influence of my own weaknesses. 

Sometimes I find myself reacting to even small situations. I also find my feelings being dependent on the different situations I face. I do try to change my feelings of negativity, if they do arise. But sometimes I am not able to, either because of my personality or the dominant personality trait working within me at that time. If I have to change my reactions to the different situations that I am faced with, I need to change my vision, i.e I need to change the way I see things. I need to understand the situation as it is and not let it be coloured by my own personality traits. When I see things as they are, I am able to act in situations instead of reacting. 

Message for the day

To be a master means not to be cheated by one's own weaknesses.

Expression: When there is any weakness working within me it means that the internal power is not working at that time. To be a master means there is total control over all the internal powers. Whether it is the power of concentration, or the power to decide or the power to be stable, whatever power is required is used according to the right time. So no weakness is expressed but only inner strength is revealed.

Experience: When I am able to use all my powers at the right time, I experience mastery - over situations and over others. But most of all I find that I am a master of myself and my own feelings and emotions. I am always in control of my emotions, however challenging the situations outside may be. So I find that I am never cheated by my weaknesses.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris