Daily Positive Thoughts: August 06, 2016: Soul Consciousness

Soul Consciousness

Spiritual awareness (soul-consciousness) is cultivated through deliberate practice and only those who have understood the need for this kind of true, inner, self-respect will make the effort. Difficulties will arise to test your resolve for self-upliftment - physical illness, relationships, memories of the past, and so on. Yet with patience and introspection, you will come to see how these very tests are the means to strengthen your spiritual identity.

Beginning Your Spiritual Journey With Acceptance (Part 1)

Sometimes, in order to get a desired result from a process, we need to let go of our resistance and trust the process initially. In order to restore our personal relationship with the Supreme Father or God, we need to let go of our old beliefs temporarily and trust the path or process of spirituality. Given below are some facts of spirituality, which if accepted initially, will help you experience the Supreme Being easily:

1. Accept that the soul and the Supreme Soul are separate energies with the same form.  They are both points of spiritual light, extremely small in size but with immense amount of capabilities, virtues and powers; the Supreme Soul, having more of them than the souls.

2. Accept that we must be proactive in building our relationship with the Supreme (and not depend only on Him) and also be aware, that like any worldly relationship, this one also takes a little time to develop.

3. Accept that the re-establishment of the loving connection with the Supreme requires the letting go of, not the material world of objects and people, but our attachment to them.

In tomorrow’s message, we shall explain some more facts.

To appreciate all scenes of life is to remain happy and cheerful. 

Every scene in my life has a reason and I need to appreciate that reason. Each scene is an opportunity to express my inherent talent (some quality of mine). If I do not use that quality which I need to use in that scene and slip into some negativity, I have lost the opportunity to act out well in that scene and missed out the joy of my role in the scene. So, I need to ensure that I enjoy every scene of life beautifully. Today I will remain happy. Happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy. Everything that is happening has a reason - I understand and appreciate that reason. So, whatever happens, I choose happiness. I understand that there is no meaning in all that I do, if I don't do it with happiness.

Message for the day

To be victorious means to pass obstacles with ease.

Thought to ponder: The ones who aim to become victorious never think of not being faced with obstacles. Instead they look at each obstacle as a chance to use and express their own inner powers. So there is constant progress visible in them. 

Point to practice: When I am prepared for the inevitable challenges that life brings, I will not experience fear, tension or anxiety but will always be confident and fearless. Apart from actually being victorious in the situation, I also experience winning over my weaknesses and discovering new powers within me. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 05, 2016: The Wonder of Silence

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 05, 2016: The Wonder of Silence

The Wonder of Silence

The disease of anger needs the medicine of tolerance; the pain of disappointment needs the medicine of hope; the violence of revenge and spite needs forgiveness; fear needs courage, ego needs self-respect. Through inner silence we receive the strength to heal.

Projection Of Mental Energies In Relationships

Sometimes in relationships, you believe that the other person is hurting you because they do not meet your desires, but in such cases how can you know if it is really true? Let’s go a step ahead; does the belief that they are going to hurt you influence the situation until in the end it happens? Perhaps they won't hurt you. Your belief that the other is going to hurt you is not so powerful that it will necessarily affect the other person. But it affects you yourself. They may not hurt you at all finally, but you will end up hurt, you will become emotionally ill, even psychically ill sometimes. The symptoms will begin to show themselves and you will say: Did you see? I feel hurt, I keep telling you so. So your belief caused you to get hurt and not the other.

The other person isn't you. In relationships, a moment comes when you don't know if it is their fault or yours, if it is their responsibility or yours, if that person has caused the irritation inside you, or if it was you, if that person began the argument or it was you, if they created the conflict or if it was you, because we project (throw) our energies onto each other. All of this drives us to frustration. A lot of power, negative or positive, is needed for a person to be able to influence others with their consciousness, it is easier to influence ourselves. This is a basic principle of human relationships, which we don't understand. We don't understand, and the reason is that we don't see ourselves, because we are always looking at the other, putting the responsibility onto them, blaming them, criticizing them.

Same inside and out

Often we project an image of ourselves that we want the world to see. 

And at the same time, we unconsciously project an image of who we really are.

The result is a blurry image; two versions superimposed upon each other that just confuses people as they can't quite make out who we really are.

If you would like your image to be seen clearly, be the same inside and out.

Message for the day

To be seated on a powerful stage is to ensure right decisions are made. 

Thought to ponder: A king or a judge is seated on a seat, weighs the pros and cons and only then makes decisions. In the same way while making any important decisions, I need to set myself on a powerful stage of confidence and self-respect. Being in this stage, I need to look with detachment and make the decision. Even if I have already acted impulsively, I need to relook. Because decisions made with the wrong state of mind are usually wrong too.

Point to practice: Today I will first check the quality of my thoughts before I make any important decision. I am going to stop, change my thoughts, create a powerful stage and only then make decisions. This will make my decisions right and fruitful. I will be free from the negative impact of impulsive, hasty decisions. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 04, 2016: Take a High Jump

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 04, 2016: Take a High Jump

 

Take a High Jump

Do not waste your time trying to break a rock of obstacles, but overcome it instead by taking a high jump.

Ruling The Kingdom Of The Mind (Part 3)

Rulers have ruled over different territories all across the globe since thousands of years. There was a time when rulers headed the complete world, a time when there was no trace of sorrow or hatred or injustice or disharmony in their kingdom. We know these rulers as devis and devtas or also gods and goddesses today. What was the secret of their success? They possessed, apart from the skills to rule, all the powers to succeed. So what is the secret of success for the spiritual king, which is me? I enhance my spiritual powers and make them a part of my personality trait set. How? The examples of thought suggestions which we explained in yesterday's message - their practice. Thought suggestions coloured with the seven primary virtues - peace, love, joy, purity, bliss, power and truth. We have explained four virtue types in yesterday's message.  Our readers could give a thought to the remaining three.

These virtue coloured thoughts, when repeatedly brought into my conscious canvas everyday, seep inside me and colour my sub-conscious canvas, which then fills me, the spiritual king's personality, with those seven virtues. Virtues in turn cause the creation and increase of spiritual powers inside me which in turn makes me mighty or strong, a king with the eight primary spiritual powers - the power to withdraw, the power to pack up, the power to tolerate, the power to accommodate, the power to face, the power to discriminate, the power to judge and the power to co-operate. Such a power-filled king is then obeyed by his ministers - the thoughts, feelings and emotions and his people - the attitudes, expressions, words and actions and all of them learn to respond to the outsiders i.e. external situations, in tune with their king's personality i.e. in tune with the seven primary virtues and the eight primary powers. As the king, so his ministers. As the ministers, so his people - resulting in a harmony, love and joy filled atmosphere in the complete kingdom. Such an order filled kingdom is a kingdom of high self esteem, and is respected by other spiritual kings it associates with everyday because the kings who come in close connection with such a kingdom experience these virtues and powers from the kingdom and its people i.e. my complete self.

Gain Clarity

Feeling stuck? Stressed? Don't quite know what to do next? Wondering how to deal with a particular situation or person?

Don't worry, help is at hand! Within your multifaceted personality there will be one bit which has the answer. 

There may be an aspect of you creating the disturbance, trying to be heard. 

Another part, keeping quiet, observing, listening, and staying out of the fray.

Give yourself that inner attention and ask questions to the many faces of your personality. 

Unravel and release all the stressed thinking to find the answers. 

Gain clarity and the person, the situation won't seem daunting at all!

Message for the day

To believe that destiny is in my hands is to create a positive future for myself. 

Thought to ponder: It is easy to blame destiny when something goes wrong. But instead of just blaming, if we begin to understand that 'today is past for tomorrow, we will be able to act accordingly. With every action that I am doing today, I am creating a future for myself. I need to pay attention to do such actions which will create a better future for myself.

Point to practice: Today I will do something that will help me build a better future for myself. I will initiate one positive action that I will sustain. I will do this with the belief that I am the master of my destiny and that future is in my hands. This will help me create a fortune for myself. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 03, 2016: Attitudes

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 03, 2016: Attitudes

 

Attitudes

When you extend pure love to everyone with selfless motivation that is an attitude of kindness. When you send good wishes and pure feelings to those who are in deep sorrow,  that is an attitude of mercy. When you see the virtues rather than the weaknesses in people,  that is an attitude of compassion. When you bless and uplift someone even as they defame you, that is an attitude of forgiveness. When you tolerate a situation and take responsibility as well as give cooperation even when not appreciated, that is an attitude of humility and self-respect. Every second, every moment and every breath of your life is nurtured by attitude.

Ruling The Kingdom Of The Mind (Part 2)

"Am I a weak king or a mighty (strong) one?" This is a question that each one of us needs to ask ourselves at the end of each day. Every night, call upon your ministers - the thoughts, feelings and emotions in your kingdom court and have a heart-to-heart conversation with them regarding the kingdom and its people, which are your attitudes, expressions, words and actions. A court is also held to check the daily report of the behavior of the ministers. As the ministers of a kingdom, so its people (as mentioned above). To keep the kingdom in order, an able (talented) king will train the ministers and its people to react correctly to topsy-turvy situations which the kingdom is exposed to every day, which causes instability in the kingdom. This ability is the power of the king in action.

To train the ministers to respond correctly, a powerful king will, at the start of the day and at regular intervals in the day, give thoughts of power to the mind such as - I am an ocean of success or I possess the all powerful driving force of motivation or I can destroy obstacles that try to obstruct my path coupled with thoughts of peace such as - I shall not react angrily, but maintain my calm or I shall not look at others' actions but keep my focus on my stable stage or I shall keep a relationship of outer detachment to external situations as well as inner detachment to internal pressures coupled with thoughts of love such as - I am an overflowing source of good wishes or I will be forgetful of others' mistakes or I shall absorb others' virtues and fill others with virtues coupled with thoughts of joy such as I will remain light and give others the same experience or I shall spread the wings of enthusiasm and fly high or I shall gift a smile and a greeting to everyone. These types of thought suggestions will in turn positively influence the feelings and emotions, the ministers of my kingdom and my attitudes, expressions, words and actions, the people of my kingdom. How? We shall explain that in tomorrow's message.

To look at positive in people is to relate to them well. 

Seeing positive in people earns me multiple benefit. One, I will be able to keep my mind free from negativity. Two, for having seen the positive side of people, I will be able to encourage them to use that aspect of theirs when in interaction with me. Three, I will also be able to earn their good wishes as I am relating to them positively under all circumstances. Today I will only have good wishes for everyone I meet. I will take a good thought for everyone dear to me and also for the ones I come into contact with. For today, I will not think negative about anyone. If the thought does come, I will postpone it.

Message for the day

The biggest service is to ensure that if any one comes to us, they don't go away empty handed. 

Expression: When someone comes to me I need to ensure they don't go away empty handed. That is, I need to find something to give them that will make them feel benefitted. Something that will make them feel better. They need to feel that they have gained something from the interaction they had with us. 

Experience: Today I will have special attention that if anyone comes to me, I will give them something that will make them better. This need not be any physical thing, but it could be an encouraging word, a pat on the back, a solution, a suggestion or even a good wish in the mind. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 02, 2016: Work Well

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 02, 2016: Work Well

Picking lavender in the Lavender fields, France

Work Well

Work is only work if you prefer to be somewhere else. Work tends to be a negative perception of a task which we reluctantly approach. Work is only labour when we forget to see our life as it truly is - an opportunity to be creative, enrich others and be enriched ourselves. When we are able to see work in this way, we find something called enthusiasm inside. When we are enthusiastic we work well and we are valued. We are used as a role model. When we work well it is much easier to say no when we need to, for we know our own value, and we are not dependent on others' approval to feel good about ourselves. When we put love and enthusiasm into what we do, it rebounds in the form of opportunities and blessings, two of the most important ingredients of a truly wealthy life.

Ruling The Kingdom Of The Mind (Part 1)

Have you ever looked inside the inner kingdom of your mind where your thoughts, feelings and emotions are your ministers? Is it a kingdom of law or anarchy (lawlessness)? Do you ever wonder - "Ah, I wish there would be more order and less chaos in my kingdom!" So what stops you from creating a kingdom of law and order? Is it external situations or is it your internal reactions to these situations? Just for one day, perform this little exercise, check that out of the tens of thousands of thoughts and feelings you create in a day, how many are your own creation and how many are responses to external events. If they are your own positive creation or if they are responses to events, but correct ones, then be proud that your ministers are obeying you. Do you realize that the time when these thoughts and feelings are the wrong type of reactions on your part and not your original correct creations, is the time when these ministers are wicked and disobeying you.

A kingdom where the ministers disobey the king (that is you) repeatedly, is a kingdom, the atmosphere of which is lacking in harmony, love and joy, which in our case is our mind. It is a kingdom which is not respected by its people, who work under the ministers of thoughts and feelings, the people being your attitudes, expressions, words and actions, who further disintegrate and go their incorrect way following the orders of their seniors - the thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is a kingdom where the king has to bow down in front of the outsiders, the neighbours, which in this case is the external situations and other spiritual kings like me, involved in these situations. Also, it is a kingdom which is lacking in stability and susceptible (vulnerable) to attacks by the neighbours repeatedly.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

 Coping with Grief

Everyone copes with grief differently, so be patient and give yourself time to heal. Accept your feelings and find constructive ways to release your emotions. Recognize that there's a loss and a vacuum that needs to be filled thoughtfully. Also know when to reach out to get support and share your grief. And whenever you remember the person you've lost, send them love and good wishes.

Message for the day

To have a vision of seeing specialities is to pave the way for progress. 

Thought to ponder: When I have a vision of seeing specialities, I am able to encourage people to do better. Firstly, I am free from negative or waste thoughts. And most importantly, I am able to help people discover their strengths and give them the power to use them. This ensures progress for them as well as me. 

Point to practice: Today I will encourage at least one person with my positive words. I will observe something good in that person and appreciate. This practice will help us experience continuous progress, in spite of difficult circumstances or mistakes. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris