Daily Positive Thoughts: February 21, 2017: Love Has Many Faces

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 21, 2017: Love Has Many Faces

An artist's representation in 1899 of Angkor Thom located in present-day Cambodia, during its heyday in 12th century CE. It was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire.

Love Has Many Faces

Love can never be exclusive. The sun does not choose to shine on some flowers in the garden and not others. Loves is inclusive and has many faces - caring, listening, sharing from the heart, just accepting someone for what they are right now, are all acts of love, as long as you seek nothing in return. It all starts with acceptance of yourself - you're just fine as you are right now, warts and all. It's not that you will stay that way for ever - but you might, if you don't accept. The secret key to the greatest door called love is acceptance. First yourself, then others (especially the ones you currently resist) and eventually ...all

Love And Suffering (Part 1)

There are two things that touch or move us in life: pain and pleasure. Both create addiction. We feel pain in the body, and sometimes it is even emotional. But suffering arises in the mind. The suffering in the mind arises from thinking negatively towards the self, towards others, looking at them with a vision or attitude that causes grief, sorrow and suffering. Both extremes, pain and pleasure, can create addiction. On creating addiction it can start to form part of someone's identity. Later if one tries to stop the addiction of pain or suffering, it can almost feel like a threat towards the self, and towards one's own identity as one perceives it, because suffering is identified with. It is too hard to see oneself as no longer suffering.

An e.g. in this regard is that of a mother, with three children, who was undergoing a meditation course at one of the Brahma Kumaris centers. Her daughter had learned to meditate and became very happy and joyful. Seeing her happiness the mother came to learn to meditate. With a few sessions she felt much more at peace and had very good experiences, but all of a sudden she decide to stop the meditation practice and leave the course because she was starting experiencing a positive detachment, which she perceived as negative. Now, she was no longer feeling afraid of what might happen to her children. The meditation was awakening in her a love free from fears, but it brought on in her an inner clash of beliefs between the old and new beliefs. Her old belief was that to love someone is to suffer about them or create pain related to them.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Using your qualities

With the sheer pace of life, plus the habit of looking outside of ourselves for approval and validation, it's easy to forget that we all have unlimited qualities within us. Here's a simple exercise to kick-start the process of recognizing and using your qualities.

On your morning commute, take a couple of minutes to ask yourself: What personal quality would make a difference to my day, today?

Pick one or two qualities that will be relevant, eg. efficient, empathetic, energetic.... Think about why it resonates with you. Identify how and when this quality can be best used today. Finally, truly feel and believe that you have the capacity to be this.

Message for the day

Remove the darkness of the mind and the world around will be illuminated. 

Thought to Ponder: If I am seeing negativity, it is an indication that there is something negative in my own mind. I need to work on that which is in me, rather than trying to change others. Self-checking helps me become better and better and I start noticing that I am able to see more and more of the positive that is around me.

Point to Practice: Today I will check what aspect in me is making me see in others/situations. I will work on changing this. However, it is also important to do this checking and changing with a feeling of self-respect and not being caught up with guilt or negativity for the self.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 20, 2017: Celebration

Chiang mai festival of lights, Thailand

Celebration

Every day is a celebration because instead of waiting for happy endings, we open our eyes to the wonder of life, to see the humour and magic in each moment. Delighted in the way things turn out, amazed at the beauty of it all.

Taking Time Off From Busy Lifestyles (Part 3)

To rise above the monotonous and busy existence explained in the last two days’ messages, we all require a regular dosage of newness to keep our hearts and minds fresh. How can we define newness? It is a change of thoughts, feelings, words, actions, circumstances – when all or some of these deviate from the normal or are new, they give us an experience of joy. On a physical level we go on a holiday or meet our loved ones to achieve the purpose mentioned above. We then get back to our daily routine of thoughts and actions, with more freshness, which makes the routine more interesting.

On a spiritual level, to become silent, to be still in the ocean of hectic, noisy action is a choice many people are now making. When this is achieved, this stillness acts on the mind like oxygen, giving the breath to both understand and enrich life. Of course, action is a necessity, an expression of ourselves through time, relationships and the roles we play. However, if we do not sometimes stop and take a breath of silence, then the mind begins to suffocate, thoughts speed like bullet trains and the brain feels as if it is in a pressure cooker. Emotions erupt like volcanoes, eyes become dizzy with mountains of information and the head feels like a rollercoaster. This is stress. The mind needs to come up for air, to leave the jungle of pressure, deadlines and speed and slow down and find the point of silence within. Also a daily dose of new and different spiritual knowledge at the start of the day does the work of newness and helps us rise above the monotony. Newness in our thoughts then flows into our feelings, beliefs, attitudes, personalities, perceptions, actions, interactions, relationships, etc. bringing newness in all of them and removing the stagnancy of the regular routine. Also feeding spiritual knowledge to the mind benefits silence or meditation immensely, because meditation, which is not just a process of reducing the mind to a nil stage but the creation of positive, constructive thoughts to take the mind to a positive experience of peace and bliss, can then become an interesting, new and creative exercise each time one practices it. Spiritual knowledge is the foundation of good meditation or silence.

What happens when you think of a situation as a 'problem'?

Tension, worry, disappointment, frustration are most likely to arise.

What happens if you were to think of the same situation as a 'challenge'? Now what happens if you think of it as an 'opportunity', or even a 'gift'?

Think differently and, all of a sudden, your perspective changes completely. As your perspective changes, not only does it create a different type of feeling and experience, it also affects how you handle the situation. Try it!

Message for the day

Patience brings solutions to problems.

Thought to Ponder: When I am patient, in the face of challenges, I find time heals most of the problems. Even for those which I have to work on, patience helps me be cool and collected and helps me easily find solutions, without becoming panicky or upset. Patience also helps me to understand what I need to work on and what I need to leave for time to heal or correct.

Point to Practice: Today I will calm my mind before attempting to find solutions. I will look with detachment at a problem, knowing well the solution has to come. I will not consider it as my problem, but just as 'a problem' that has to be worked on. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 19, 2017: Procrastination

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 19, 2017: Procrastination

Procrastination

The less I think about doing something and the faster I just get on with it, the fewer problems I cause myself. Good planning is always helpful, but time spent fretting and procrastinating is a major drain on my energy.

Taking Time Off From Busy Lifestyles (Part 2)

Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest cause of obstacles of our lives. It interrupts our own life story, interrupts our ability to have a dream and create something beautiful, because we're too busy on our cell phones, one of the favourite pastimes of our current lifestyle.

We’ve talked of being busy for so long that we’ve forgotten that being busy was never our aim. We are not on this earth to be busy. We are here to build relationships, experience life to the fullest, create things, think positive, help others or experience joy. Our reasons for being will all be different but if you reflect deeply, you will realize and also feel that none of us feel we are here simply to be busy. But our lifestyles have lead us to think being busy is good, no matter what we’re busy with. Sadly the business world continues to train us this way as employees are expected to put in 8-10 hours of work a day even though on some days they might have only 2 or 4 hours of productive things to do.

God's plan for enlarging and creating His beautiful heaven on earth, creating a new world order of peace, love and happiness of the future is so simple - one person telling another about God, the Savior and the Liberator i.e. giving the Supreme’s message of joyful, loveful and spiritual soul-conscious existence to each one. Yet we're busy and full of excuses. Just remember, someone's eternal destiny is at stake, that someone who is to receive the message from you. The joy you'll have when you see that person in a liberated and joyful state not only here but in that world of happiness being created will far exceed any discomfort you felt in sharing the message with him by taking out time from your busy existence.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Are you aware of how influential you are? 

Realize the influence you have on everyone you come into contact with, and then check whether it's positive or negative.

Recognize how you influence. Not just your words and actions but also your intentions and motivations.

Influence others, but not to make people do what you want. Influence positively and you'll bring out the best in yourself and in others.

Message for the day

To recharge body and soul is to be immune to disease.

 
Thought to Ponder: Body gets recharged with good diet, exercise and rest. With these three, we can become immune to disease. For the mind too, we need good food (positive thoughts), exercise (practicing with channelizing thoughts in a positive direction) and rest (peace of mind). When I have these, my mind and soul gets charged and I remain strong. So, I don't succumb to the negativity of the situation. 

Point to Practice: Today I will read something positive (food). I will remind myself of this at least 5 times (exercise) and I will spend at least a few minutes in peace (rest). This will induce a practice of a positive life style. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 18, 2017: Learn To Create Silence

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 18, 2017: Learn To Create Silence

 

Learn To Create Silence

Learn to create silence in your mind and peace will flourish in your soul. You will see life with other eyes. You will discover God's language. To be internally silent do not think too much. Trust yourself. Trust others. Trust life. You will find it is easier than it seems.

Taking Time Off From Busy Lifestyles (Part 1)

Gone are the days when idle was not just a word in the dictionary, but a practical reality and an important part of our life. The world is dazed and so are we. When did you last sit on the window pane looking out at the squirrels or the sunset? Or when did you last read a book on self development or spare a few minutes for talking to the self? Or when did you last spend an idle weekend with your family? Or when did you meet your old friend for a lunch and laughed your heart out? If you were to ever pass through a busy market place, you will have plenty of time to observe the running men and women with blank faces. Who has the time to smile? To stop where they are and thank God for the life they have.

Being busy is now not just an activity but a disease. People who are working day and night have an obsession for it and have become workaholics. They can't sit idle and anxiety takes over when they do so. The day isn't far when humans will be called sheer machines. Today, the lifestyle of a child to that of an aged person is such that there is no scope for personal time. A student's timetable is like a train schedule. Just one after another. From school to tuitions, from tuitions to vocational classes, then to the sports complex and again to another tuition. A corporate professional’s day moves from one assignment to another revolving around the emotions of I need, I want and I own, without ever thinking of rising above the monotonous existence. Is Speed is what we are born for? We cannot only blame our lifestyle. There are more internal causes you would guess, like meeting expectations, pleasing everybody, reaching your perfect self in every sphere of life and reaching your goals and ambitions is what makes you work like there's no tomorrow.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

May you become the embodiment of success by having the determination to make fruit grow even on infertile land.

To become the embodiment of success in anything, a combination of determination and love is required. Just as scientists nowadays try to grow things in a desert, in the same way, continue to give the water of love with the power of silence and become fruitful. With determination, you can ignite the lamp of hope in those who are hopeless.

Message for the day

Royalty of personality lies in cheerfulness.

Thought to Ponder: A royal person maintains his royalty and poise in all circumstances. Cheerfulness in all situations is royalty. There might be situations challenging my state of self-respect and happiness. But I will continue to move forward with a sense of self-respect and positivity.

Point to Practice: Today I will remain seated on my secret of self-respect in all I do. I will order situations, my mind and my own sense organs whilst seated on this seat. I will not come down and get colored or affected by the negativity of the situation. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 17, 2017: Start Early

Start Early

The best time to awaken both body and spirit is in the early morning. We are fresh, in solitude, and the vibrations of the world are at their calmest. It is not surprising that you will find all experienced meditators and yogis up with the dawn, inviting the sun of spirit to shine into the heart of their soul. The first half hour of conscious awareness will be the foundation of your day. Make an early start. Meditate, set the switch of your consciousness and calibrate your energy for the day. You'll be surprised the difference it makes.

The Art Of Forgetting In Relationships

Sometimes, someone says something in two minutes that makes you feel really bad - they said it in two minutes but it is still there inside the register of your mind two months or even two years later. How could they! Who do they think they are! Something happened in two minutes and you remember it, you repeat it again in your mind and in your words during interactions with others. You keep replaying the scene repeatedly in your mind. Just like an action replay of a cricket match, you see the replays from different angles and judge the scene in many different and negative ways and come to different conclusions, most of which are negative in nature. With this you strengthen that experience in your mental register. Memories and the experiences associated with the memories replayed continuously in the conscious mind enter your sub-conscious, so that even after a long period of time you remember what they said to you. The other person unburdened themselves and forgot it straightaway. 

It's like your neighbour who takes out rubbish, throws it outside his house, into your compound and forgets about it and you allow that rubbish to remain there, without thinking of getting it cleaned. Someone throws a few words at you and they forget, but not only do you not forget but you repeat them in your mind to such a point that at times these action replays do not even let you sleep. We need to learn the art of forgetting memories that generate shadows of hurt or pain in our present. The past has already gone and what you have now is the present moment.

Weathering a Storm

When a ship is caught in a storm, the captain navigates the ship towards the eye of the storm, a place of calm. As the storm subsides, the ship continues on its journey.

Similarly, when everything around us is changing, when there's a storm of emotions or events, we too can turn towards our inner calm; here, we can find strength and stability.

Then when the storm is over, we won't be battered or depleted. Instead we'll be able to continue on our journey with confidence and clarity.

Message for the day

To be strong is to ensure positivity in life.

Thought to Ponder: When I am weak, I am actually inviting wrong and weak things to enter my life. If I am strong, I only know to move on with self-respect and pride. Even weakness will hesitate to come my way. I will be able to use my strength under all circumstances.

Point to Practice: Today I will make a list of my own specialties and keep that in my awareness throughout the day. I will remind myself of this at least 10 times during the day. So, today I will move forward with an awareness of my strength. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 16, 2017: The Value of Optimism

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 16, 2017: The Value of Optimism

Isola Bella Borromean Islands, Lago Maggiore, Italy..

The Value of Optimism

When faced with problems it can seem difficult to maintain inner cheer, the mind gets caught up with more and more negativity, fear or worry. Because of this, the problem seems bigger than it is and we lose the ability to find solutions and work constructively.

The first step I need to take when I recognize a problem is to smile to myself. When I make sure I am happy within, I know that every situation will pass and has something to teach me. Then I will find solutions come more quickly and easily.

The Negative Shade Of Respect In Relationships (Part 2)

In yesterday's message, we had looked at the incorrect and negative side of respect (the energy of fear) in relationships. Today we look at this kind of relationship from that person's perspective from whom respect is demanded. When the boss or the parent or the spouse (please refer to yesterday's message) tries to induce respect inside you for him or her, in return you fear him or her, most of the time thinking it is respect. But, at that point, you need to remember it is impossible to give respect to another if we, at the back of our own minds, fear them. If you are scared of someone or something, it means there is an absence of self-respect, there is a lack of a true realization of your own value, your specialties, your skills and the virtues and powers that you possess. And if you do not respect yourself, you cannot truly respect another. It is only when you are firmly established in your own self-respect that you have no fear of others and are then capable of giving genuine respect to others. Sometimes we are not comfortable with being seen as fearful, because our image will take a beating, so we try to avoid admitting we fear someone by saying we respect them, but internally we are in awe of that person and being in awe is not respecting him or her.

Many a times, two prominent people e.g. two actors or politicians or sportsmen are not on good terms. They accuse and bring down each other publicly and are known enemies in the press. While they do that, they also carry a subtle fear of each other, a fear that the other will outperform them; the other will be more popular, the other will be more powerful etc. This normally happens because of a lack of self-respect.  They both will probably hide that and will pretend that they are confident and established in their self-respect. But if their self-respect were genuine, they would not be scared of each other, and they would have the courage and the patience to talk and work with each other and listen to and offer the hand of friendship to each other, whom they perceive to be an enemy. But when they don't have the strength of their own self-respect and when they are unaware of their lack of self-respect, subtle fear for the other creeps in, which they don't realize and if they realize, they do not admit the same. And that's why the restoration of self-respect is only possible when the ego is recognized and no longer nourished. Because, fear always comes from the ego and ego is nothing but an excessive attachment to one's false image.

A Time to Unwind

When we rewind and replay our memories, not only are we reliving the past but we're also triggering all the associated feelings. 

If they're bad memories, not only are we retaining the negativity but we're also causing ourselves unnecessary pain. So be kind to yourself and stop pressing the rewind button.

Of course, there is a time to rewind constructively, a time to rewind the happiness. But there is also a time to unwind, press play and enjoy the "right now".

Message for the day

Greatness lies in being uninfluenced by negative. 

Thought to Ponder: It is common to get influenced when we hear or see anything negative. But our effort should be such that we are not influenced by anything negative. For this, we need a long time of practice of seeing positive. If I have been seeing positive in a person, I will not easily connect to his negative, even if it is being expressed at that time.

Point to Practice: Today I will look at only positive in people. If anything negative comes my way, I will use it as an excuse to remind myself of that positive which I have been consciously practicing to see. This will help me to slowly connect to positive instead of the negative aspect of a person. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris