Daily Positive Thoughts: May 24, 2016: Time to Understand

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 24, 2016: Time to Understand

Time to Understand

Most people don't understand themselves or others. We need to make time for this. We get too impatient. Very often, because we are not willing to take this time, misunderstandings continue. We don't take time to listen to someone quietly and try to understand them. Then we start inventing things about them, because we simply haven't taken the time to understand.

Reliving The Memories Of The Past (Part 1)

Have you ever spent a complete day pondering (thinking) over events that have taken place a day or a month or a year ago? Do you know that the thinking capabilities of the mind are overused when we deviate the energy of our attention to a set of thought patterns which are based on an already passed past, forgetting the rebuilding of a positive future can be done simply by focusing on the present set of circumstances and being pro-active and efficient in shaping it to make it the best. A very common habit that each one of us holds inside us of reopening events that have already folded in the reel of life and mixing them with the current state of affairs and creating a negative future because our perceptions of current situations get influenced negatively by doing the same.

Remaining focused on the present is sometimes seen as over-positive thinking by some and also seen as remaining disconnected from the past, which is very much the truth of the state of affairs of your life. A balance has to be struck between being forward looking i.e. taking care that the past problems do not re-occur in the future and at the same time not worry about the same. There is a fine line which differentiates concern and worry. While remaining concerned does involve thinking about the past, on the other hand, worry means the same but the only difference that in the case of worry, thinking exceeds the necessary thought level, crosses it and touches the unnecessary and sometimes even exceeds that, entering the sphere of waste thoughts and for some even beyond that into the sphere of negative thoughts. On the other hand, remaining concerned means your thoughts remain limited to the spheres of the positive and necessary and at the same time you take the right action to prevent the past mistakes from happening again. Also, one who is concerned and not worried while remembering the past, will use the past as a stepping stone to enter a future which is free from the shadows of negative happenings of the past.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

To understand the uniqueness of every individual is to love unconditionally. 

Everyone is unique with their own unique set of specialties. When I understand and appreciate the contribution they make, I will be able to value it. My love then becomes unconditional. I don't expect people to behave in a particular way because I know they are right in whatever they are doing according the part that they are playing. Today I will appreciate and love unconditionally. I will think of one person I have been having problems with. I will remember this person and the expression of his qualities through the role that he is playing. I will also appreciate the contribution in my life. It is because of this person that I have learnt some quality or the other (maybe patience, harmonising or any other quality).

Message for the day

To have the aim for self-transformation is to be easy and light. 

Expression: It is up to me whether I want to ask questions and get stuck in them or pick out a point of learning and move on. When I have an aim of bringing self-transformation, I will be able to use all circumstances for my own progress, without blaming or giving excuses. 

Experience: Today I will pick up one point from all that happens to me, that can be a point of learning. I will bring about a change in that aspect, without thinking about why it happened or who is to blame. I will be free from questions and simply implement what I learnt for self-progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 23, 2016: Inside Out

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 23, 2016: Inside Out 

Budai or Pu-Tai-Laughing Buddha

Budai appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of being poor but content. He is traditionally depicted as a fat, bald man with few possessions.

Inside Out 

There is essentially only one way in which you can bring about self-transformation - that's if you want to - but you will not think you need to if you are still taking your happiness from outside yourself, and still managing to tolerate the periods of unhappiness which result. As soon as your happiness is dependent on anything outside, you make yourself a slave to a condition, substance or perhaps a person. A slave is not free. And happiness is impossible if you are not free. Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why our happiness fluctuates. Real happiness does not go up and down. Real freedom means that your happiness comes from inside out. That will require detachment and renunciation, not least from the illusions and conditioning of society which would have you believe happiness can be acquired from outside in. Can you see it? Inside out, not outside in!

The Spiritual Sculptor And The Piece Of Art

A sculpture is a three-dimensional artwork created by an artisan, a sculptor, by shaping materials which may be hard like wood or stone or soft like clay. God or the Supreme Being also has been remembered as the spiritual sculptor. With that consciousness, I being like a rough living block of wood or stone or a plain piece of clay, place myself in his safe hands.

There are three types of faith in this consciousness:-
1. the faith in the Sculptor,
2. the faith in myself and
3. the faith in time.

It's my first faith, my faith in the Sculptor, in his vision of his finished work i.e. a perfect and complete me, which he foresees, waiting to emerge from my present imperfect self, that allows me place myself in his hands. His vision of perfection is so clear that knowing it, I feel I must regain my original condition. Also when I come in front of God, who is a perfect spiritual being, his love and the knowledge he gives me makes me aware of myself as a spiritual being similar to him. This awareness then reminds me of my original qualities and the spiritual beauty and perfection hidden inside me, which helps me in having the second faith, the faith in myself. I am able to trust the Sculptor, knowing that the knocks I receive will chip away at my weaknesses, and restore my truth and beauty. Initially, I may not know myself completely or have full faith in myself, the second faith, but God, the Sculptor, knows me and has full faith in me, all the Sculptor wants me to do is to be still and patient. Being still means having complete faith in myself and him and being patient means having the third faith - the faith in time. His knowledge and power gives me the strength and courage to be still and patient i.e. strong in all three faiths while he continues his work on me. I should not move or be impatient i.e. not let any of my faiths waiver, otherwise I will not become perfect. There is a vast difference between how God sees me, and how I am at the present moment. Holding the vision that God has of me, I have to just surrender my mind to the Spiritual Sculptor and keep myself in his hands.When I do that, the thoughts inside my mind get focused spiritually on him and as a result I receive his spiritual energy, which reshapes and transforms me. That which is highest and most beautiful in me begins to emerge gradually.

I need... more of... a new... 

How much time, energy and money are you spending trying to satisfy the "need"?

Do you need everything you think you really "need"?
If the need isn't adding to your purpose in life, put it on hold.

Be satisfied with what you have and accept that you have enough!

Message for the day

To speak about others' negativity is to increase the burden of negativity. 

Expression: Every negative experience leaves a negative mark on my mind. When I talk about that to someone, they too would be influenced. In the same way, when someone talks about others, it creates negativity in our minds too. Although we did not have that negative experience, we tend to carry the unnecessary burden of negativity. 

Experience: Today I will neither gossip nor listen to anyone gossip. I will pay attention to myself that if I have to talk about anyone, it will only be about any positive aspect of them, if not I will not say anything. For today, I will pay attention to this.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 22, 2016: Power To Face

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 22, 2016: Power To Face

A Wave Cloud hits the Florida coast (USA)

Power to Face

If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, these adverse situations that look like they could bury us have within them the very real potential to make us unshakable.

Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 3)

In yesterday’s message we had discussed how some of us believe that our life script has been written by God and we do not play any role in the same. In this regard, it is very important to state that respecting, thanking and remembering God in good as well as bad times is obviously very very good and the right karma but submitting ourselves blindly to God’s will is an inactive response which prevents each of us from using our free will to make any choice at any moment and shape our future.  While there is a master plan which is being played out on the stage of the world, a part of the plan is that we each have free will and an opportunity to decide our actions and responses.  We need to realize that each one of us possesses an intellect, which absorbs the capacity to discriminate right from wrong, good from bad, from God and decides how to act on the world stage.

In this regard, there are two aspects. The first aspect is – God writes my life script completely for me without me playing any role in the same. The other aspect is - I perform actions and create my responses, based on God’s knowledge of good and bad karmas which he has given me, so as to shape my destiny and write my life script accordingly. There is a fine difference between these two aspects, the second aspect being the correct one. This knowledge given to me by God is stored in my intellect; I am the master of it and can decide how to use it to play my part.

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. 

There are souls who are like trees, enormous in their thinking and yet completely gentle.

Message for the day

The biggest service is to reform that which is spoilt. 
Expression: When we see something that is spoilt or negative, it is easy to get negative. Such negative thoughts create hopelessness and we are not able to do anything about it. We also tend to talk to others about it, describing it. Instead, if we concentrate on what we can contribute to make it better, it is more fruitful, for us too. 

Experience: Today I will pick out one thing in my life that is not right. I will do something to make it right, to make it better. I will contribute in some way to make it better and also appreciate myself for the positive contribution I am making. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 21, 2016: Honesty

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 21, 2016: Honesty

Honesty

It takes great courage to be honest. One of the noblest qualities in a person is the ability to say, "I am sorry, I was wrong, you were right". It doesn't really matter about being right, winning arguments or having my ideas accepted. It matters more that I am able to recognise my mistakes, take responsibility for them, learn the lesson and move forward with greater maturity.

Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 2)

In yesterday’s message we had discussed how we possess the potential in our hands to write the scripts of our lives, our destinies. Some of us do not like this idea because we have been taught since we were small that life is all about luck, but this incorrect belief does not let us realize the immense internal power or potential that we possess of shaping up our destiny, our future. By resigning ourselves to a life of luck, we do not use our potential and conveniently avoid doing the inner work of becoming awake and aware of who we are as spiritual beings and the masters of our own destiny.   This is why waking up from the sleep of this wrong belief is the first step towards empowering ourselves, towards taking responsibility for our life, for our present, our future.

Also there are some of us who hold the belief that the course taken by each one of our lives is not written by luck but is decided by God, so it is egoistic on our part if we believe that we can write our own scripts, interfering with the plan that God has in his mind for us. So in times of challenges in our lives, although its not wrong to pray to God at those times, we commonly use words like if God would like it, I shall overcome this obstacle or I will be successful in this particular task or my health will get okay or I will pass this exam etc. In times of happiness, although it’s not wrong to thank God at those times, we completely submit ourselves to God’s will, thinking that it is he and he alone responsible for what good that is happening in my life. In the case of the sorrow we forget that although God can help us to some extent, whether we will surpass the sorrow or not is very largely dependent on our past actions which are influencing the present situation. In the case of the happiness, we forget that though God’s blessings do help and work, our past actions are a very important dominant factor which is creating situations of positivity in our present lives.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

Procrastination

Procrastination not only wastes our time, it also causes anxiety.
So why do we procrastinate? Why not overcome the habit!Try one of these methods:

- List all the things you've been putting off and then prioritise the list.
- Create a vision of the result and be motivated by the outcome, rather than worrying about the process.
- Don't wait till you feel like doing it; the feeling will come when you get started.

Message for the day

To have control on the self is to be a winner in situations. 

Expression: Situations influence me and I get carried away. This means that the reins are not in my hands and I have given them to the people outside. I, then, have no control of my feelings, thoughts, emotions, words or actions. Everything becomes a reaction to what is outside. On the other hand, if I am able to keep things in control, I am able to respond in the right way to situations, making me a winner. 

Experience: Today I will remember that no one can control me, but myself. I am the master, and seated on this seat of self-sovereignty, I can give orders to myself and keep myself in control. I will not let anyone or any situation influence me or take me away from what I have to do.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 20, 2016: Mistakes

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 20, 2016: Mistakes

Mistakes

When you make a mistake, learn from it, resolve not to repeat it and then forget about it. You will feel better again. Do the same with others, instead of making their mistakes bigger, dissolve them in your mind and help them also to forget about them.

Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 1)

While just as beings we reside in the soul world, as human beings we play our many roles through many physical bodies in this beautiful world drama on this amazing, colorful and round stage called planet Earth. Each day is filled with multi-million scenes in different locations on this very big stage. Some scenes are directly related to us, some indirectly and a lot many aren’t related at all. Each scene that we are directly involved is an opportunity to not only play our role in the best possible way but also as a result shape the role in the most appropriate way possible. Therefore, we are all hero actors who by playing our roles as well as possible, create the script of our own life i.e. create our own destiny.

And do remember doing this has a positive influence on others’ scripts also, which rebounds back to us and in return helps us in our making our scripts better. While we have been given a role to live the entire birth right from childhood to old age, we possess the power, the remote control to dictate and control as to how exactly we will live the day, the year and each year of our present birth, our present role.  Each day offers us multiple options as to not only how we act but also how we respond to the world around us and our script or destiny gets shaped up according to the options we make.  Our destiny is decided not by what happens to us or around us, but by (i) how we act (sometimes the actions are responses to external events and sometimes they are not) and (ii) how we respond to a million events and circumstances which we encounter as we make this complete journey of life.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

A Lie is a Lie

Honesty is the best policy, right? But sometimes, the whole truth can hurt somebody's feelings and it can be misinterpreted as criticism or a lack of support.

To maintain good relationships most of us tell white lies. But white lies can easily lead us to feeling comfortable telling bigger lies.

The bottom line is that a lie is a lie. And it's a reflection on our character. Perhaps we need to practice being honest, gently, and tell the truth, with warmth and respect.

Message for the day

To contribute for construction is to make life beautiful. 

Expression: Everyone is talking about destruction and all the negative things that are happening in the world. Just thinking or talking about it is helping in contributing to destruction. On the other hand, if we are able to create a thought of good wish for even one person or the world at large, we are making a difference to the world, or at least to our own little world. That is, we are able to help in construction. 

Experience: Today I will give good wishes to the world. At least 5 times today, I will take this thought of giving good wishes to the world to help heal it. I will not think or worry about what state the world is in, but contribute in whatever way I can. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 19, 2016: Healing Power of Spirituality

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 19, 2016: Healing Power of Spirituality 

Healing Power of Spirituality

The deepest wounds we all carry are locked in our subconscious (out of our awareness). Deep memories and subtle impressions, from unfinished experience, rooted in the past. The pain from those wounds comes to revisit; to block and paralyse us in the moment called now. We all know it comes without warning - 'Why am I feeling this way, I didn't mean to do that, I don't know what made me say that.' Healing does not mean finding and treating every single inner scar. It means going even deeper, past the wounds, to the core of our spirit, where we find the light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace. That's what heals. That's why it's called spirituality and not therapy.

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If Tomorrow Didn’t Exist (Part 3)!

A world full of joy is an impossible thing to think about and a world where the clouds of sorrow are right on top of us looks more of a possibility for the complete world. Keep your hand on your heart and ask yourself for a moment if the tomorrow based on what you see happening in the world today, didn’t exist what would you do today to create a secure future for your lives and the world as a whole, a future as per what God thinks and plans.

God is often in story books shown as a white bearded figure sitting in the clouds and giving us joy as well as sorrow. But God is a Supreme Being of Consciousness, not visible to the physical eyes, who stays beyond the clouds and the world of the five elements of sky, air, fire, water and earth in the sixth element. He does not ever hurt His children but only thinks of the welfare of His children from every nation of the world. He is a being of energy or spiritual light and might with a most powerful mind and intellect in the Universe watching over the current rise in difficult situations in the lives of millions of people across the world. Don’t think He is merciless. He is on an incognito level awakening the consciousness of human souls and empowering their mind and intellect so that the effect of this subtle thought power flows into the world and even the five elements of nature and makes them peaceful and co-operative instead of as violent as they are today. This is the secret task of God. God is not indifferent or cold to the sorrows of the old world. In fact, He, being the most patient being in the Universe, is working tirelessly on an incognito level to bring back the world of the past, a world of joy. Don’t forget that even about 500 years ago, the world was filled with the energy of joy much more than the joy of the present world although scientific advancement was less at that time, but everyone in the world at that time lived together like one big happy family much more than how we live with each other today.

It's so easy to take things for granted.

The more you get used to something, the less you feel grateful for having it. 

Consider yourself to be a guest in this world and you'll never take anything for granted. For a guest, gratitude comes easily.

As a guest, you'll be grateful and appreciative for all that you receive, even the smallest gestures of kindness or the simplest offerings.

Message for the day

Positive thoughts bring positive results. 

Expression: Every thought, when left unchecked, comes into action. Just as a good seed in a good land brings quick and quality fruit, so also when we pay attention to our thoughts, they become a ground for the fortune that we want to create with our actions. Continuous positive thoughts create a ground for positive actions and so positive results. 

Experience: Today I will pay attention to my thoughts. I will not think anything that will harm, but only those thoughts that construct. Today I will create a positive thought like "I am happy" or "I have everything that I want" or "God is my companion" and sustain this thought throughout the day, remembering it at least 10 times a day. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 18, 2016: Consult your Conscience

Consult your Conscience

To consult your conscience: sit quietly and calm the mind, allow peace to fill your heart and then place a question before your conscience, your innate wisdom.

If Tomorrow Didn’t Exist (Part 2)!

The Supreme source of spiritual light – God, as explained in yesterday’s message, is above whatever is happening in the world at the present moment of time but not at all unconcerned about it. In fact, as a loveful parent of the whole of humanity above us, He wants to give us a secure future for our lives, which means no sorrows and no problems – both problems in our personal lives as well as problems in the whole world. We have just seen an earthquake cause sorrow to thousands of people in Nepal and of course God does not want more of this in the future that He wants to give us and the complete world.

Sorrows in the world are not as old as the world as you might think. We all know from the earlier messages that we have shared with our readers in the past that time is cyclic, not a straight line. We all, in this world drama, move from joy to sorrow, until God saves us and brings the world of joy back into our hands. It is because time is cyclic and extreme sorrow is always followed by joy and a world of joy has existed in the past, that God is stable inspite of all the sorrows in the world on the rise. You would say that natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, droughts and road accidents as well as airplane crashes and of course other untimely deaths due to illnesses like cancer and heart failures apart from terrorism and war are a part of life and we have to accept them as a part of the current world situations. But remember, we are living in a world which is transforming or changing continuously. Illnesses like AIDS and severe psychiatric ailments like schizophrenia which are now commonly found in people of all age groups were either not there or found so rarely that they were almost unheard of amongst the world public in general, about 100 years ago. So, the world has in front of our eyes, changed negatively. Scientific progress has also taken place in this time which has connected people all across the globe; that cannot be denied, but it has had its negative effects as well in the form of work stress and extremely busy lifestyles and the rise of other physical illnesses due to that.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Expectations

When times are difficult we tend to seek support from others around us. If they don't give us the support we expect we get disappointed and sign off as being unsupportive.

Challenge your expectations. Does the person have the capacity to give you the support you need at this time? Is it reasonable to expect constant, full support? Can you redirect your support needs elsewhere? Is this an opportunity for you to become more self-sufficient and self-reliant?

When you become more self-sufficient and self-reliant, you may just find others around you offering more support.

Message for the day

Fortune is in one's own hands. 

Expression: It is said that fortune is in the lines of our hands. It is true that it is in our hands, but not just in the lines. We create a fortune for ourselves with every action that we do. When we go on paying attention to doing actions which are positive, they become like strong seeds that help quick fruition. 

Experience: Today I will be aware of the lines of fortune that I am creating with my hands. I will do at least one action that will consciously create a positive fortune and for today I will not do anything that erases these lines of fortune. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris