Daily Positive Thoughts: October 13, 2016: Count Your Blessings

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 13, 2016: Count Your Blessings

Pouring a Thermos of Hot Tea at -40°C near the Arctic Circle - Photographer Michael Davies

 

Count Your Blessings

 

Even when you feel as though things aren't going well in your life, you have reasons to be grateful. Today, take time to appreciate the gift of life and all its wonders. Count your blessings and cherish what you have.

Shedding Off The Attachment To A Positive Past (Part 1)

A very powerful mis-identification (incorrect identification) that each one of us indulges in, to different extents, is identifying with our positive or glorious actions of the past. This identification is so strong that almost every day it comes to the surface of our consciousness when we switch on the movie of this story of these actions on the screen of our minds. By rehearsing this story repeatedly we love experiencing the same emotions and feelings that we felt at that time, emotions that we had enjoyed very much. We not only re-experience that pleasure but we also love to share the pleasure by persuading others to see that movie by broadcasting that movie in front of whoever we come across. This is normally done in the form of words by speaking about our professional or personal achievements, our educational qualifications, our experiences, actions for which we gained recognition, our history, etc., all a thing of the past. But this is not talking about the real self, this is just a story, thus it is a false identification with something we are not. Every time we indulge in this type of identification, we strengthen the incorrect belief that we are talking about our self. We believe the past is us. This is the incorrect identification.

If someone were to ask us to describe ourselves in a few words, instead of talking with humility about our spiritual self, our virtues, powers, strengths, etc., which is the real self, we quickly mention all of the above features of our past, thinking this will give the other an impression of our credibility. Even when we communicate with people over email or some other mediums, we are quick to mention all these things in our signature, etc. believing this is our story and portraying that we are in love with it and other people should identify us with this story as we do and love us for the same. To remember and identify with any memory of action that we created yesterday is to identify with what we do. And we are not what we do.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Opinionated?

Most of us are quick to form opinions about others

Of course you have a right to think whatever you want. 

But you might want to add compassion to your opinions; whether it's your friends, family, colleagues or even strangers.

You can never fully comprehend people's choices or motivations. So just assume that they are doing the best they can in completely different circumstances to yours. 

Today, catch yourself as you start to form opinions, and be more compassionate.

Message for the day

To use resources well is to increase them.

Expression: If I put to use whatever resources I have, I will be able to increase them. Firstly, whatever I use, I become aware of them more and more. They become more and more available to me. Secondly, for having used them, they get sharpened and much better. It also brings back return from others in some way or the other.

Experience: Today I will recognize at least one special resource which I have not been putting to use. It could be the resource of a skill that I have; some specialty or even something more subtle, like the resource of my thoughts or time. I will start using it consciously, so that I use it more and more, thus increasing it. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 12, 2016: Admiration not Envy

Admiration not Envy

Very fortunate is the one who has learned to admire, but not to envy. To envy others neither  diminishes their good fortune nor increases your own.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 6)

When we begin our spiritual journey, we should ensure that we don’t work on ourselves strictly. On the other hand, we should change ourselves with ease and lightness which gives us an experience of joy and does not let us get tired while making effort to change ourselves. While looking at your weaknesses, do not feel disheartened that why they exist and why I am not able to bring about the required amount of change in myself. Bringing about changes in your behavior and thinking is important but not at the cost of losing your happiness while doing that. Happiness is lost when there is sometimes loss of hope and doubts whether we will be able to succeed in changing ourselves or not exist. Also, when we see others around us who are perfect in many ways, we could experience an inferiority complex and our self-esteem is reduced. In such cases, it is wise to be extremely patient and keep traveling on the path of self-change with determination and happiness, without getting tired.

Also, a spiritual path is one in which there are different types of side-scenes or distracting scenes in the form of difficult and surprising situations which tend to prevent us from experiencing fulfillment and even prevent us from fulfilling our life’s aim of making ourselves perfect. Even in such cases, a spiritual joyride is one we have to experience because we have to accept that spirituality does not mean that there will be no difficult problems on our path. Only the power to cross the problems will be inside us that will make it easier for us as compared to before. Also, stress which is a common response to a difficult situation will be changed to contentment and life will no longer seem as difficult as before inspite of all the negative scenes of disturbance. This in short is a description of how living a spiritual life is the easiest and most enjoyable type of journey one could undertake for shaping up a new you and giving a similar shape to others.

Try again

When you don't get the desired results, do you get that sinking feeling? 

It's as if all that effort and hard work was a waste of time!

Don't be disheartened. Making effort and putting in hard work is similar to planting seeds. 

Some seeds germinate right away and some take a little bit longer. Just wait and see.

If you still don't get any results, try again. Maybe you've got the results, just not what you desired! Or maybe you need to do something differently.

Message for the day

To connect to others' specialties is to get cooperation. 

Expression: The one who sees specialties has faith in others. Whatever the person's present action or response may be, when we remain connected to the specialties, we are able to use these specialties with faith. This also makes us have good wishes for them. This automatically makes us easily give and get cooperation. 

Experience: Today I will see only specialties in others. I will think of one person whom I have more interaction with. I will specially focus on the strengths of this person. As far as possible, I will also remind him too of these specialties. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 11, 2016: First Change

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 11, 2016: First Change

Prime Minister at the International Yoga Day, June 21, 2015, Rajpath, New Delhi

First Change

There is no greater teacher than one's own practical example. To be really benevolent therefore means that I must first change, then I have the power, the knowledge and the experience of thinking and doing for the ultimate benefit of all.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 5)

Life without the love of the Father of humanity or God is like a tree without leaves. Love fills our life with enthusiasm and a lot of energy and we feel motivated to achieve in every sphere of life whether personal, professional or in the field of spirituality. Spirituality is itself an independent segment of life with its own challenges both in the field of self progress and in the field of donating all that you possess to others, which we call spiritual service at the Brahma Kumaris. So, everything you do from the morning to night is filled with love and you do it with lot of power and dedication and without getting bored. So, enjoyment while working in an office or while dealing with people in the family becomes extremely easy, as easy as going for a drive or cooking a meal.

Also, the way of loving each one in a pure manner and without any expectations comes in every relationship, whether personal, professional or spiritual. There are people in the world who are experts at dealing with people with a lot of love and are well known for this specialty in their social relationships. Such people, when asked about their secret of success, will commonly tell you that they are very good at thinking correctly and manage their thinking smoothly. Such people can deal with people of different personalities and even manage them, not necessarily control them. This is something that becomes easy to do after taking a spiritual birth or being a student of spirituality. Spirituality fills you with the power to think only what is necessary and as per the requirements of a particular situation, which can be difficult at times.
(To be continued tomorrow …)

Air, Fire, Water, Earth & Ether; we can be like the 5 elements. 

Be light like air, free from worry & fear. 

Like fire, positively transform your habits.

Like water, keep flowing & never stagnate.

Like the earth, be stable in the face of challenges.

Be expansive, like the ether. Give space to yourself & others.

Message for the day

The one who serves others is the richest.

 
Expression: To be in a position to serve others means to be aware of the resources and treasures within. When all the powers that are within are used for the benefit of the self and others they tend to multiply and increase. So the one who continues to serve others continues to become richer. 

Experience: When I serve, not only do I become richer with what I use, but for having served unselfishly I also become richer with the blessings and good wishes that emerge from the hearts of others. I am able to experience the real richness and beauty of life as there is a lot of love, happiness and joy in my life. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 10, 2016: Transform Negativity

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 10, 2016: Transform Negativity

Transform Negativity

The energies of life come to meet us at every moment. Most come from other people who, are either in the same room or on the flickering, technicolour screens with which we now share most of our homes. The vast majority of these energies are not positive. So how do we handle the 'the negatives', whether it's someone's attitude, their hurtful gestures or our daily dose of world violence and mayhem. There are three cardinal rules. First, do not absorb it - don't be an emotional sponge. Second do not reflect it back. Otherwise you begin a cycle of emotional exchanges which may last a long time. And third, do the one thing which marks us as intelligent human beings - transform it. Even if the scene is a disaster there is some benefit somewhere in it. Even if you are watching two people's beliefs or opinions slug it out to the edge of violence, don't take sides. Instead offer a solution then stand well back. Even if the person hates you, accept their state of being and return the light of love. In time, with patience, it will illuminate their darkness, and return to you by the bucketful! Just wait.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 4)

A spiritual childhood is a birth in the lap of God, in which the soul goes through a transformation or change and experiences a new turning point in its life after which life starts giving you beautiful rewards. Rewards like an increase in levels of happiness, a mind filled with peace, lots of spiritual strength, purity in thoughts, words and actions and also change in one’s personality.  Life starts changing as situations no longer hurt your consciousness and give you as much sorrow as before. Also, the ability to give different shapes or mindsets to your consciousness when faced with different types of challenges in life and overcoming them is something we learn when we take birth as a spiritual child of the Supreme Father and Mother, whom we commonly call God.

Spirituality means a love filled life and at the same time a pure consciousness which means a spiritual love and not a physical one, which becomes a source of happiness and also brings about lightness. A pure and non-physical love also brings freedom from an unstable life in which sometimes there is a lot of joy, but the joy many times brings with it sorrow filled periods. Also, life stops being a roller coaster ride in which there is always insecurity about what will happen next. Also, the different relationships with the one Father of the soul or God fills the self with different types of attainments, which cannot be explained. At the same time these different experiences with God give you a lot of fulfillment and you also love sharing these attainments with others and also bringing others on the spiritual joyride with you.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Gratitude

Two words that can improve any relationship: "Thank you!"

If saying thank you is already habitual for you, say it with a renewed feeling today.

If you haven't already done so, then invite "Thank you" into your vocabulary.

It seems like the simplest thing to say, but gratitude and appreciation really does make a difference.

So, thank you!

Message for the day

To choose the right path is to use strengths in the right way. 

Thought to Ponder: However fast I run, I will not be able to get anywhere, if I do not choose the right path. I first need to see clearly what I want to do and where I need to go. Once I have decided, I need to use all my strengths to move towards that goal.

Point to Practice: Today I will stop and check if I am moving in the right direction. I will create a small little goal for myself in any one area and work progressively towards that. This will ensure that my energies are being focused and bring results. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 09, 2016: Title can go here

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 09, 2016: Title can go here

Title can go here

 

"Wow...that's beautiful!" Is either a cry or a thought when faced with the mountain sunset, a spectacular view or a well formed man or a woman.  But where is the beauty, where is the appreciation of beauty, where is the ability to discern beauty? It is within our own consciousness. For the essence of who and what we are beauty itself. The essence of beauty is not found in the body, a face or a mountain - they only stir the essence of beauty within our own spirit. And that beauty is not only something we taste within ourselves, but it emerges in our character as virtue, and in our life as care. For what is virtue, but love in action? The next time you say, "That's beautiful!" know that you speak of yourself, and it is you who are beautiful. Always were, always will be.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 3)

Spirituality is a beautiful and fulfilling lifestyle which everyone in the world needs to adopt and it is not only for people who have an interest in religion already or are spiritually inclined. Spirituality gives the power of relieving yourself of all pressures and it also teaches us the way of keeping our thoughts, words and actions in check, both of which are necessary for being successful. Also, spirituality does not mean leaving material comforts of life and lead a life which is different from the world but on the other hand it changes our relationship with material comforts and makes us less attached to them. This helps us experience permanent joy from them. On the other hand an attachment to them can give sorrow also at times. So, never hesitate to sit on the joyride of spirituality, as we call it, because life and the relationships and roles that way we play and the way we play them changes after doing that. Ask someone who is spiritual and loves leading a life according to spiritual principles and does it without overdoing it i.e. he or she does not become over-spiritual so as to lose the balance. Such a person will say will tell you how lightness and contentment along with the power to handle situations and also the ability to change your thinking whenever required, from negative to positive are some of the benefits of a spiritual life.

Also, talking about love filled relationships; there are people, whose relationships were on the brink of finishing. A spiritual life gave them the method of living their life with love, immense happiness and power and they overcome their difficult relationships without making much effort. In fact, there are many marriages of people who joined or got associated with the Brahma Kumaris, which were saved from divorces, because of their change in ways of thinking and facing the difficult situations that arise in marriages because of ego clashes and differences of opinions.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

  

Restless to Restful

Often we're tired because we're running marathons in our minds. 

Thinking about things to do, what's been done, what should have been done; what others did, are doing, should do... Tiredness makes the mind even more restless.

Why not take a thought break! Slow down your thoughts and let your mind go from restless to restful. 

Release tiredness and the mind will think better.

Message for the day

To experience happiness is to give happiness to others too. 
Thought to Ponder: The one who walks on the right path can show others the path too. When I start appreciating what I have, I will be able to be happy. Then, I can inspire others too to experience happiness too. Also, it is only what I have that I can give others.

Point to Practice: Today I will take a thought to be happy with whatever life brings. Even if something negative happens, I will just remain happy. I will see if there is a learning from it that I can take and move ahead. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 08, 2016: Friends and Relatives

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 08, 2016: Friends and Relatives

The small, but jaw dropping picturesque town of Chiavenna along River Mera in Italy

Friends and Relatives

If my friends and relatives do not choose to accompany me on my spiritual path, why should I chase after them trying to get them to change? They won't listen to me anyway, no matter what I say. A better approach is to focus on my own change process. A river doesn't need to urge people into drinking its water. People are naturally drawn to it, provided its waters are pure, free flowing and sweet. In the same way become so attractive through your spiritual efforts that everyone will want to join you naturally.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 2)

Variety in life is the only way to sustain a spiritual journey which many of us are on. Meditation is a technique which is being practiced by millions all over the world. At the Brahma Kumaris, people from around 115 countries practice meditation in their daily lives but at the same time, as per the knowledge shared by God, they take care that meditation does not become like a daily routine. Everyday meditation is done with different types of positive thoughts. In this way, spirituality is like a fun filled joyride in which different experiences become a daily part of your life. Also everyone at the Brahma Kumaris will not study spiritual knowledge only when they are alone or at home. They will visit one of the centres of the Brahma Kumaris daily for an hour, wherever they are. And they will listen to spiritual knowledge in a gathering. This type of daily routine is something which is rarely seen in any other spiritual movement of the world. The intention behind this type of practice, besides better understanding of the knowledge, is an increase in enthusiasm by sitting with people of the same mindset and gaining from their spiritual power, which is called the power of the gathering.

Spirituality also brings with it the duty of sharing all that you listen and learn, with others, which itself is a way of remaining enthusiastic. Along with sharing, which we call service at the Brahma Kumaris, there is great importance given to changing oneself and improving one’s behavior which is a way of going ahead in life on a non-physical level. This is because changing oneself automatically causes a positive energy of change to flow in my words and actions, which further flows to others causing an increase in enthusiasm in oneself. This is the spiritual joyride on which we sit every day and wait for the next day with a lot of interest.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Truth

The power of Truth is such that you need never be concerned about proving it. 

You need only be concerned with being it and living it. 

Truth is always revealed, at the right moment, at the right place. It is for this reason that the simplest, most powerful expression of truth is humility. 

Real humility results in so much power of truth and inner silence that you don't need to say anything at all in words. 

The power of humility allows you to see the benefit in everything, even in the insults of others.

Message for the day

The easiest way to bring positivity in life is to become worthy of God's love. 
Expression: A simple checking whether to perform an action or not is to see if it would be approved by God. When every action is thus checked, there would be positivity and benefit expressed through everything. There would not be any negative, waste or even ordinary actions performed, but only those that are sealed with the power of positivity.

Experience: When I am able to bring about such positivity in my life, I'll not only win the love of God, but also the love, praise and good wishes of all those around me. I also become trust worthy and an image of support for those who are seeking to bring positivity in their lives. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris