Daily Positive Thoughts: January 05, 2017: Power of Protection

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 05, 2017: Power of Protection

Sunset Point, Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India

Power of Protection

Do you need protection? Are you strong enough to protect yourself? Cultivating self-awareness allows me to see how I have the inner power to choose my feelings regardless of what others say or do.

The Power To Transform Situations (Part 3)

Looking at situations with spectacles of a positive vision means having positive perceptions of negative situations. So, looking at situations with a brave face and not being in awe of the situation is a way of bringing to an end the problem as early as possible. Whereas being in awe of the situation and letting it affect your mind negatively means the problem gets prolonged further and does not go away very easily. So the choice is in our hands. But as some would say this is theory and theory is easy to preach and understand but when it comes to the real test papers of life, we forget this basic truth of life. We tend to easily get caught in the web of negativity which is always there and it gets created because of the habit of perceiving situations negatively.

Do you know that when a powerful consciousness acts on a negative situation on an energy level, it is an interaction between positive and negative forces? The greater our positive consciousness or the power of the positive force, the faster the negative scene which is the negative force, transforms into a positive one. The positive force is the energy of the mind and the negative force is a situation which is of the physical world, either of our physical body, of our wealth, of our relationships or of our role or sometimes of our mind itself. In all the cases except of the mind, it is the non-physical force of our consciousness which is stronger than the physical one because the mind is subtle and possesses greater power than anything physical. The mind can influence matter more than the other way round i.e. matter influencing the mind. Techniques like what we have shared in the previous message i.e. a positive thought diary maintained for the entire week can help you in raising the power of your mind. Keep one positive thought with you every day even if negative situations do not exist in your life and over a period of time you will enjoy a greater success rate in transforming negative situations of all types.

Far from the madding crowd

Want to find just a little bit of quiet far from the madding crowd? Without going away to a sanctuary or a retreat, you can find it right now, right here within yourself.

Here is an accessible exercise:

Slow down the speed of your thoughts, slow it right down & become aware of the spaces in between your thoughts. Focus on the quiet, empty spaces & let it stretch over the mind; & feel the quiet, sinking from the top of your head, right through to the tip of the toes.

Now allow the quiet to expand around you as you sit as quietly as you can. Create this quiet space for yourself & carry it into the madding crowd.

Message for the day

To have love for God means to be protected from weaknesses. 
Expression: To have love for God means to have love for the perfection that is present within each and every individual, which means to be able to recognize and relate to everyone's specialities. When this is done, automatically one remains free from one's own weaknesses and fears and also from looking at the imperfections in others.

Experience: God's love frees me from all worries and concerns. There will be that close connection with God that will enable me to feel light and easy as God takes care of all my worries and troubles. The faith that God is with me frees me from negativity and so I also find my faith making me an instrument to help others to be free from negativity. I am able to give hope and courage to others too. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 04, 2017: We are all part of one family

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 04, 2017: We are all part of one family

We are all part of one family

If I remain aware that as fellow human beings we are all part of one family, and that even the smallest of gestures can make a difference in people's lives, I am always blessed with a caring heart. It takes so little to show that I care yet it can mean so much.

The Power To Transform Situations (Part 2)

We all look to the world and its different situations with a positive attitude and no one wants to be negative in their approach in facing them. Yet when they come we are not able to transform them with ease and at times situations can be so powerful that many days can be spent in finding ways in overcoming them and life can become a struggle for many. Such a life in which you are not at peace in the presence of a negative situation is not something you like but at the same time, it is something which is not in the control of many of us. What that means is that a mind without positivity is difficult to remain calm and that means feeling a lack of power and also a lack of joy and contentment. Such a mind is not able to solve the problem that is in front and instead will be confused and will fear the situation.

A beautiful way of keeping the mind positive in a negative situation is to keep a powerful thought diary with you. What that means is create one affirmation or positive statement each day and note it down in your mind and keep that positive thought in your mind the whole day. Let it touch your sub-conscious mind so deeply that its effect travels in the form of positive energy outwards to the situation and is able to change it in a short period of time. Do you know that if you spend a complete day in one particular powerful thought of success, repeating it in your mind many times, you will not only be free of negativity, but also have the authority to erase the negative situation completely from your life? Such a thought gives rise to positive feelings and then slowly our attitude towards the situation becomes completely positive resulting in a positive destiny or situation in return. Try doing this the next time you face a negative situation and you will realize how it works.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Replenish the self

Meditation allows us to accumulate a stock of pure and positive thoughts; this will easily and automatically finish all waste and negativity.

Where there is light darkness does not exist, in the same way, wasteful and negative thoughts are just a lack of a pure and positive state of mind.

Take moments throughout the day to check and replenish the self.

Message for the day

To make use of situations in a positive way is to experience constant progress. 

Expression: Each and every situation comes with a hidden blessing - a hidden opportunity. It of course brings challenges, challenges that could bring out the best potential from within. But the one who is caught up with only weaknesses never gets a chance to use these challenging situations as opportunities. On the other hand, the one who uses his potential is able to be from his weaknesses also. 

Experience: When I am able to use all situations as opportunities to recognize and use my inner potential, I am able to be free from the influence of my weaknesses. This freedom gives me the ability to enjoy this moment without filling the mind with unnecessary doubts and questions. It gives the ability to bring about progress in my life, whatever the circumstance may be. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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