Thursday 30 August 2018

A Great Writing About Attitudes

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Attitudes

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

---Charles R Swindoll…

Sunday 26 August 2018

Spirit Speaks - Beat the Blahs

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As the summer draws to an end, sometimes, we suffer from the blahs.

I have a solution for the blahs that also qualifies under “love” and is guaranteed to make you feel fine. Anyone that has studied with me knows that I believe in the power of meditation – not only “the sit in silence and let your mind be blank” meditation; I believe in active meditation.

Active meditation means that you need to be part of the meditation and not have the meditation “happen” to you. Over the years, I have taught variations of the “LOVING KINDNESS” meditation. I have recently learned this one and wish to share it with you.

Say it out loud when sitting in meditation. Say it out loud as a walking meditation, even when you walk your dog. My dog loves it! Say it at night before you go to bed.

May I be free from inner and outer harm and danger. May I be safe and protected. May I be free of mental suffering or distress. May I be happy.

May I be free of physical pain and suffering. May I be healthy and strong. May I be able to live in this world happily, peacefully, joyfully, with ease!

This is actually the first step in the “loving kindness” meditation. However, it is a beautiful, empowering, feel good message that lets you feel fine.

Don’t give up if you do not feel a shift in the first several days. Persevere!

Many blessings!

Thursday 23 August 2018

Buddha Speaks–The Raft is not the Shore


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This week has been a series of small challenges… all solvable, but each its own challenge.  Sometimes, that is overwhelming.  It makes me think of this little teaching by Buddha.

The Raft Is Not the Shore

The teaching is merely a vehicle to explain the truth. Don't mistake it for the truth itself. The teaching is like the raft that carries you to the other shore. The raft is needed, but the raft is not the other shore.

An intelligent person would not carry the raft on his head once he reaches the other shore. Use my teaching to help you get to the other shore, but do not hang onto it as your property. You must be able to let it go. — Buddha

Many blessings.

Tuesday 14 August 2018

Spirit Animal – Canada Goose

“The wild geese take flight low along the railroad tracks in the moonlight night.” Haiku written by Shiki

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The Canada Goose is a wild goose native to the Arctic and Canada, and parts of the US. It has a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body. Goose lives for a life span of ten to twenty four years in the wild, and longer in captivity. In 2005, two writers, Farid A. Muna and Ned Mansour wrote a fascinating article entitled, “Leadership Lessons Learned From Canada Geese”. A synopsis of the article, as listed by Emerald Group Publishing Limited, shows that Goose is worth emulating.

“The first lesson is: work as a team: Canada Geese migrate long distances flying in V-formation. This formation results in lesser wind resistance, which allows the whole flock to add around 70 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Geese find out quickly that it pays handsomely to be team players. Second, wise leadership: when the leader at the apex of the V gets tired, it is relieved by another goose. Leaders rotate, empower, delegate, and even step down when it's in the best interest of the team. How often do we see this taking place among organizational leaders? Wise leaders ensure that their followers are well trained and developed in order to achieve true empowerment and smooth succession processes. Third, humane behavior: if a goose drops to the ground when it gets hurt or sick, two of its colleagues go down with it to take care of it until it either gets healthier or dies. In this fast-paced and competitive age, we seldom see managers going out of their way to help colleagues who are in trouble. In organizations, morale, productivity, and loyalty increase when employees are treated humanely.”

So, how does your team leader measure up to Goose. If you are the leader, are you as compassionate and as wonderful a team player as Goose?

Many Blessings.

Friday 10 August 2018

What Do You Let Into Your Life

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What a world we live in!  So beautiful because of the mountains, and oceans, forests, and so sad because of the destruction, hate and violence. 

The Angels say that hate is seed planted by the darkness when a person is at their most vulnerable.  The hate is then directed at all things. 

The only defense against hate is to use light and love in your life, and to use this to keep the hate out.  This is necessary because if hate is allowed in, like rot in an apple, hate will take over the being.

We all deserve love and light, and we are the only ones that can let it into our lives.

Many blessings.

Monday 6 August 2018

More on Self Care


The Angels keep saying that we need to pay more attention to ourselves – to our bodies, – to our health, – to our mental and spiritual growth.

Here is a wonderful list of self care stuff from Tiny Buddha.  See more about this at the article - https://tinybuddha.com/blog/30-self-care-tips-how-to-avoid-sickness-burnout-and-exhaustion/

Self-Care Ideas for Mental Health

  • Relax and allow yourself to do nothing (no cellphones allowed!)
  • Meditate
  • Read an educational book with a focus on personal growth
  • Listen to an educational podcast (news is not included as educational)
  • Play with your pet
  • Cuddle your significant other
  • Do something that makes you smile
  • Create something artistic or play an instrument
  • Listen to music you love
  • Practice gratitude with a gratitude journal

Self-Care Ideas for Emotional Health

  • Forgive someone you have been holding a grudge against
  • Do something that’s scared you that you’ve always wanted to do
  • Focus on your own needs and goals instead of comparing yourself to others
  • Practice compassion for yourself
  • Take a break from social media
  • Allow yourself to feel your feelings instead of running from them or distracting yourself
  • Read a fictional book that lifts your spirits
  • Take a break from technology—unplug
  • Help someone and don’t expect anything in return
  • Practice positive affirmations (Example: You are enough just as you are right now in this moment.)
  • Write down a few things you appreciate yourself

Self-Care Ideas for Physical Health

  • Practice deep breathing
  • Move to music you love
  • Get adequate sleep
  • Lift weights
  • Walk
  • Play a sport
  • Go outside—get some sunlight on your skin
  • Try yoga or another mindful movement practice (also good for your mental health)
  • Eat healthfully (I.e.: fruits and veggies, unrefined foods)
  • Look in a mirror and love your body as it is right now, without judgment

Many blessings.










Wednesday 1 August 2018

The Best Day of Your Life

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I think that we often forget that we are in charge of our own lives.  When people try to manipulate you for their own agenda, the manipulation only works if we let them.  So many people, especially our families, use guilt and blame to manipulate us into doing their bidding. 

Today, when someone tries manipulation on you, see if it works if you say, "That does not work with my immediate plans.  I am sorry. Here is my suggestion."  Use discretion when saying this.  It may not work with a boss or co-worker because you may need to come up with a different phrase for them.  Still, all of us need to find a way to live our lives and go about our daily tasks with our own agenda at the top of what needs to happen.

Many blessings.