Topic: DAILY INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATIONS 

There is no secret recipe for happiness and contentment. The individuals who move through life joyously have not necessarily been blessed with lives of abundance, love, success, and prosperity. Such people have, however, been blessed with the ability to take the circumstances they've been handed and make them into something great. Our individual realities are colored by perception-delight and despair come from within rather than without. Situations we regard as fortuitous please us while situations we judge inauspicious cause us no end of grief. Yet if we can look at all we have accomplished without dwelling on our perceived misfortune and make each new circumstance our own, the world as a whole becomes a brighter place. A simple shift in attitude can help us recognize and unearth the hidden potential for personal and outer world fulfillment in every event, every relationship, every duty, and every setback.

The universe is often an unpredictable and chaotic place, and the human tendency is to focus on the negative and assume the positive will care for itself. But life can be no more or no less than what you make of it. If you are working in a job you dislike, you can concentrate on the positive aspects of the position and approach your work with gusto. What can you do with this job that can turn it around so you do love it. When faced with the prospect of undertaking a task you fear, you can view it as an opportunity to discover what you are truly capable of doing. Similarly, unexpected events, when viewed as surprises, can add flavor to your existence. By choosing to love life no matter what crosses your path, you can create an atmosphere of jubilance that is wonderfully infectious. A change in perspective is all it takes to change your world, but you must be willing to adopt an optimistic, hopeful mind-set.

To make a conscious decision to be happy is not enough. You must learn to observe life's complexities through the eyes of a child seeing everything for the first time. You must furthermore divest yourself of preconceived notions of what is good and what is bad so that you can appreciate the rich insights concealed in each stage of your life's journey. And you must strive to discover the dual joys of wanting what you have. As you gradually shift your perspective, your existence will be imbued with happiness and contentment that will remain with you forever.

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Great Spirit, heal my mind today, let me see love.

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The difficulties add just as much richness to your experience as the delights. The sadness serves to make the joy that much more magnificent.

The challenges are what give the accomplishments real value. The setbacks are what make the rewards so sweet.

The tedium and the excitement, the problems and the pleasures, the satisfaction and the disappointment all merge together into the vibrant and fulfilling symphony that is life. You would not want to miss a single minute of it all.

There is indeed a miracle here, but it's not in a magic pill. It's in the fact that you're alive and aware and able to successfully move through life's ups and downs.

The difficulties do not continue forever, yet the value of making it through them will always be yours. Instead of wishing for a magic pill, dive into the experience of creating your own special magic by the way you live your life.

-- Ralph Marston

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We often feel that we don't have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with the small gestures that compose what we call common courtesy. It sometimes seems that this kind of social awareness belongs to the past, to smaller towns and slower times. Yet, when someone extends this kind of courtesy to us, we always feel touched. Someone who lends a helping hand when we are struggling with our groceries makes an impression because many people just walk right by. Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, smile, and greet us properly when entering a room stands out of the crowd. It seems these people carry with them the elegance and grace of another time, and we are always thankful for our contact with them. Common courtesy is a small gesture that makes a big difference.

An essential component of common courtesy is awareness and common sense-looking outside yourself to see when someone needs help or acknowledgment. As a courteous person, you are aware that you are walking into a room full of people or that your waiter has arrived to take your order. Then, awareness leads to action. It is usually quite clear what needs to be done-open the door for the woman holding the baby, move your car up two feet so another person can park behind you, acknowledge your sister's shy boyfriend with a smile and some conversation, apologize if you bump into someone. A third component is to give courtesy freely, without expecting anything in return. People may not even take notice, much less return the kindness, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions.

When you are out in the world, remember to be aware of others, lend your hand when one is needed, and give this help without an ulterior motive. Through these small actions, you make this world a better place in which to live.

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Though much of who and what we are changes as we journey through life, our inherent worth remains constant. While the term self-worth is often used interchangeably with self-esteem, the two qualities are inherently different. Self-esteem is the measure of how you feel about yourself at a given moment in time. Your worth, however, is not a product of your intelligence, your talent, your looks, your good works, or how much you have accomplished. Rather it is immeasurable and unchanging manifestation of your eternal and infinite oneness with the universe. It represents the cornerstone of the dual foundations of optimism and self-belief. Your worth cannot be taken from you or damaged by life's rigors, yet it can easily be forgotten or even actively ignored. By regularly acknowledging your self-worth, you can ensure that you never forget what an important, beloved, and special part of the universe you are.

You are born worthy-your worth is intertwined with your very being. Your concept of your own self-worth is thus reinforced by your actions. Each time you endeavor to appreciate yourself, treat yourself kindly, define your personal boundaries, be proactive in seeing that your needs are met, and broaden your horizons, you express your recognition of your innate value. During those periods when you have lost sight of your worth, you will likely feel mired in depression, insecurity, and a lack of confidence. You'll pursue a counterfeit worth based on judgment rather than the beauty that resides within. When you feel worthy, however, you will accept yourself without hesitation. It is your worth as an individual who is simultaneously interconnected with all living beings that allows you to be happy, confident, and motivated. Because your conception of your worth is not based on the fulfillment of expectations, you'll see your mistakes and failures as just another part of life's jo! urney.

Human beings are very much like drops of water in an endless ocean. Our worth comes from our role as distinct individuals as well as our role as an integral part of something larger than ourselves. Simply awakening to this concept can help you rediscover the copious and awe-inspiring worth within each and every one of us.

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The person who has many friends is the person who has made a place for friendship in her life. The person who is amazingly knowledgeable is the person who has made a place for learning in his life.

In order to receive a delivery at your home, you must tell the delivery service where to take it. In the same way, for the best things in life to be yours, you must provide a space within your life where they can arrive.

Make a place in your life for love, and love will certainly fill it. Make a place within your life for joy, and joy will soon be there.

Create the time, the space, the energy, the interest, the passion and the commitment in your life for whatever it is you seek. And the things you seek will begin to inhabit the places you have made for them.

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Next, put the words into action. And then, grow the actions into commitments.

Translate those commitments so that they resonate in the world and in the lives around you. And you will end up with valuable, meaningful achievements that flow from your deepest values.

Start with knowing and understanding the authentic person you are. Then work to express yourself within the context of the world in which you live. Translate your inner values outward into all of life. And life will grow more beautiful.

Translate the unique person you are into terms that the world can understand, value, appreciate, benefit from, and enjoy. And you will experience rich, meaningful success.

-- Ralph Marston

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Most of us are familiar with the idea that we are not human beings having spiritual experiences; instead, we are spiritual beings having human experiences. We hear this and even though we may experience a resounding yes in our bodies, we may not take the time to really acknowledge the truth of these statements. Integrating this idea into how we view ourselves can broaden our sense of who we are and help us appreciate ourselves as brave spirits on an important mission to learn and grow here on earth.

As spiritual beings, we are visitors in this physical realm. The fact that we came here and lost all memory of what happened to us before we were born is one of the many reasons that it takes so much courage for a soul to incarnate on earth. This is why spiritual inquiry so often feels like a remembering-because it is. Remembering that we are spiritual beings is part of the work that we are here on earth to do. When we operate from a place of remembering, we tap into the wisdom that our spirit accumulated even before we stepped into this lifetime. Remembering who we are can give us the patience to persevere when we become overwhelmed or frustrated. It can give us the courage to work through the most daunting challenges and help us trust the ancient wisdom we carry that is offered to us by our intuition.

We have chosen to be on earth because there is something we want to learn that can only happen by inhabiting a body. Some of us are here to repay a debt, learn about love, or teach forgiveness. Most of us are here for a combination of reasons, we carry this information in our souls, all we have to do is remember. As you go through your journey, try not to forget how brave you are, being here now. Honor yourself.

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Life's big opportunities rarely come to you as such. The vast majority of the big opportunities start out very small and must be lovingly nurtured.

Be willing to take care of the little things, and your effectiveness at doing so will put you in a position to influence the big things. Figure out how to make just a little, ordinary, positive contribution and you'll be well on your way to big, extraordinary achievements.

There is never any need to beg anyone for the chance to prove yourself. Life gives you ample opportunities for doing so in every moment.

Let go of the assumption that your time is too valuable for you to be bothered with the little things. Remember that the little things can make the difference between success and failure.

Hold on to the biggest, most ambitious vision you can imagine. And be willing to get your hands dirty doing the little things that will make that it happen.

-- Ralph Marston

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Many things that once were considered impossible are now commonplace. Think of all the things you use in your daily life that could not have even been imagined a couple of centuries ago.

What does it really mean when something is thought to be impossible? It usually means that, so far, no one has figured out how to do it.

Given sufficient time, commitment, effort, discipline and purpose, the impossible becomes real. What was once unreachable for anyone can become available to everyone.

Are there things you don't even dare to dream because you assume they are impossible? Rise above your limited perspective, go beyond your limiting assumptions and realize that the impossible regularly becomes real on a daily basis.

Choose to follow your highest vision, in each moment, in each decision, in each thought and action. And leave the concept of impossible far, far behind you.

-- Ralph Marston

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We tend to associate youth with beauty, but the truth is that beauty transcends every age. Just as a deciduous tree is stunning in all its stages-from its full leafy green in the summer to its naked skeleton during winter and everything in between-human beings are beautiful throughout their life spans.

The early years of our lives tend to be about learning and experiencing as much as we possibly can. We move through the world like sponges, absorbing the ideas of other people and the world. Like a tree in spring, we are waking up to the world. In this youthful phase of life, our physical strength, youth, and beauty help open doors and attract attention. Gradually, we begin to use the information we have gathered to form ideas and opinions of our own. As we cultivate our philosophy about life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are saying, doing, and creating as it is about our appearance. Like a tree in summer, we become full, expressive, beautiful, and productive.

When the time comes for us to let go of the creations of our middle lives, we are like a tree in autumn dropping leaves, as we release our past attachments and preparing for a new phase of growth. The children move on, and careers shift or end. The lines on our faces, the stretch marks, and the grey hairs are beautiful testaments to the fullness of our experience. In the winter of our lives, we become stripped down to our essence like a tree. We may become more radiant than ever at this stage, because our inner light shines brighter through our eyes as time passes. Beauty at this age comes from the very core of our being-our essence. This essence is a reminder that there is nothing to fear in growing older and that there is a kind of beauty that comes only after one has spent many years on earth.

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The journey of water as it flows upon the earth can be a mirror of our own paths through life. Water begins its residence on earth as it falls from the sky or melts from ice and streams down a mountain into a tributary or stream. In the same way, we come into the world and begin our lives on earth. Like a river that flows within the confines of its banks, we are born with certain defining characteristics that govern our identity. We are born in a specific time and place, within a specific family, and with certain gifts and challenges. Within these parameters, we move through life, encountering many twists, turns, and obstacles along the way just as a river flows.

Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the world with grace, ease, determination, and humility. When a river breaks at a waterfall, it gains energy and moves on, as we encounter our own waterfalls, we may fall hard but we always keep moving on. Water can inspire us to not become rigid with fear or cling to what's familiar. Water is brave and does not waste time clinging to its past, but flows onward without looking back. At the same time, when there is a hole to be filled, water does not run away from it in fear of the dark; instead, water humbly and bravely fills the empty space. In the same way, we can face the dark moments of our life rather than run away from them.

Eventually, a river will empty into the sea. Water does not hold back from joining with a larger body, nor does it fear a loss of identity or control. It gracefully and humbly tumbles into the vastness by contributing its energy and merging without resistance. Each time we move beyond our individual egos to become part of something bigger, we can try our best to follow the lead of the river.

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I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

What will you choose to do with Today?

Have a Great Day... unless you have other plans.

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We all have days from time to time when it feels like the world is against us or that the chaos we are experiencing will never end. One negative circumstance seems to lead to another. You may wonder, on a bad day, whether anything in your life will ever go right again. But a bad day, like any other day, can be a gift. Having a bad day can show you that it is time to slow down, change course, or lighten up. A bad day can help you glean wisdom you might otherwise have overlooked or discounted. Bad days can certainly cause you to experience uncomfortable feelings you would prefer to avoid, yet a bad day may also give you a potent means to learn about yourself.

You may consider a bad day to be one where you've missing an important meeting because your car stalled, the dryer broke, and you received a piece of very bad news earlier in the morning. Multiple misfortunes that take place one after the other can leave us feeling vulnerable and intensely cognizant of our fragility. But bad days can only have a long-term negative effect on us if we let them. It is better to ask yourself what you can learn from these kinds of days. The state of your bad day may be an indicator that you need to stay in and hibernate or let go of your growing negativity.

Bad days contribute to the people we become. Though we may feel discouraged and distressed on our bad days, a bad day can teach us patience and perseverance. It is important to remember that your attitude drives your destiny and that one negative experience does not have to be the beginning of an ongoing stroke of bad luck. A bad day is memorable because it is one day among many good days - otherwise, we wouldn't even bother to acknowledge it as a bad day. Know too, that everybody has bad days, you are not alone, the world is not against you. Tomorrow is guaranteed to be a brighter day.

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With all that takes place in our lives, it can sometimes be easy to overlook the fact that we're part of something greater than ourselves-a collective consciousness, the Universe, a greater cause. Because of our tendency to forget this, we might make decisions in our lives that don't reflect that responsibility that comes with this belonging. All too often, we focus just on the short-term, tangible gain to ourselves without worrying about its consequences. Other times, we may discard the greater cause because it seems like "hard work." The challenge is to expand our minds so that we transcend the distinction between self and others, so we are aware of how our choices and actions can impact a greater cause.

Contributing to the greater cause doesn't have to be all about self-sacrifice. For example, if you plant a tree in a community space, its shelter will cool and protect you as well as your neighbors. Or, your reward might be in the form of the beauty that you now see in that space or the sincere smiles of appreciation from neighbors. When you serve the greater cause you also serve your greater good. There is nothing that you cannot do for your highest good that will not benefit the good of all. For example, saying no to a relationship that isn't right for you not only benefits you but serves the greater good of the other person that you are honoring with your honesty. Saying yes to your dream job not only fulfills you but also serves the people that will benefit from your enthusiasm and productivity.

When you know you are serving a greater cause, there is little room for fear and doubt. You know that what you do will benefit others, so there is no way the universe is not going to support your efforts - even if sometimes it may not look that way. Serving the greater cause allows you to live from the space of your greatness. When you know that what you do can serve a greater cause, you are aware of your power and ability to influence and create change in this world.

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InnerSelf.com - Daily Inspiration:

When you open your heart to Divine Intelligence, miracles happen in your
life. Miracles are nothing but natural laws put into action by beings who
understand their application.

When you're poised and centered, you have power. You become like a Jedi
knight and The Force is with you.

Not because you want to gain control, but because you honor yourself and
your life enough to embrace it all, the highs and lows are in perfect balance.

EXCERPTED FROM the InnerSelf.com article:

All In Divine Order

by Dr. John F. Demartini.

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23 March 2006

“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.”

Erich Fromm, born this day in 1900 Germany, was jolted into adulthood by WW I, and escaped the Nazis for America in 1938. Raised a Jew, he evolved into an ‘atheistic mystic’. Fromm resisted mightily the despair and cynicism that was woven into the philosophy of his day, and found within himself the roots of a new psychology, built upon hope and heart, rather than a catalog of human ills.

“Our whole culture is based on the appetite for buying, on the idea of a mutually favorable exchange. Modern man’s happiness consists in the thrill of looking at the shop windows, and in buying all that he can afford to buy... He (or she) looks for [a love partner] in a similar way...”

The capacity to love is primary, and yet “almost everything else is considered to be more important: success, prestige, money, power...” the acquisition of all the accoutrements that make us an attractive love object. The result: “There is hardly any activity, any enterprise, which is started with such tremendous hopes and expectations, and yet, which fails so regularly, as love...” And to resolve this dilemma, 

“The first step to take is to become aware that love is an art, just as living is an art; if we want to learn how to love we must proceed in the same way we have to proceed if we want to learn any other art, say music, painting, carpentry, or the art of medicine or engineering.” ...and of course, we must culture our souls.

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InnerSelf.com - Daily Inspiration:

Everything in our lives -- including all the crappy things -- is a choice
that we have made for ourselves.

That is a difficult fact to face for most of us, since it's much easier to
blame random circumstances in our lives than to accept responsibility for our
own actions.

The first step toward inner and outer peace is accepting responsibility
for our lives.

EXCERPTED FROM the InnerSelf.com article:

Dark Night of the Soul

by Jason Augustus Newcomb.

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InnerSelf.com - Daily Inspiration:

Take time out during the day for quiet time to listen to your inner voice.
I call this inner voice the voice of God.

You may want to use your quiet time to meditate or pray. However you use
this time, the key is to shut out all of the noise around you by focusing deep
within yourself. Breathing deeply during quiet time will also help you focus.

I know it's hard to find quiet time during a particularly busy day, but
it's so important - even if it's just 10 minutes a day and you have to sneak
away to get it. Quiet time can really make a difference in your life.

EXCERPTED FROM the InnerSelf.com article:

Does Perfect Love Exist?

by Cynthia Legette Davis.

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"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
Author:Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
Author:Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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The ancient Greeks believed that the goddess Iris used rainbows
to travel from the heavens to earth, gliding down the colorful slide to deliver
messages from the gods to humans. Looking at a rainbow, it is easy to see how it
came to be seen as a mode for divine communication. When one appears, we stop
what we're doing and stare in amazement. Something magical has penetrated our
everyday world and blessed us with it's beauty.

Every culture has
witnessed the rainbow and attempted to make sense of it in its own way. In
recent years, it has been interpreted as a message of racial unity-a symbol
representing the potential for the harmonious coming together of all the various
tribes of the earth. In Tibetan Buddhism, when a great yogi or yogini passes on,
rainbows appear at the time of passing. This is referred to as the attainment of
the rainbow body. What it means is that the soul in question purified itself so
completely as to be free of darkness at the time of death.

These
philosophies challenge the perception that the universe is necessarily
dualistic, that war and peace, darkness and light, are two sides of one coin.
According to these interpretations, harmony and pure light are ultimately
capable of absorbing and healing conflict and negativity, the rainbow acting as
a symbol of a higher realm of consciousness in which these aspects cease to
exist.

This transformation is achieved, not through repressing
negativity, but through bathing it in the light and allowing the power of the
light to absorb it. In this way, the rainbow is indeed a cosmic messenger
reminding us of the power of our individual and collective higher consciousness,
through which we have the power to heal our world and ourselves.

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Simple Solution
Through life’s trials and hardships we arise beautiful and free.
--Julia Butterfly Hill

Throughout her life, butterflies have appeared to Julia Butterfly Hill in times of need, sometimes in reality and sometimes in dreams and visions. For Julia--as for so many of us--the butterfly has became a symbol of transformation.

We can all internalize the process of the butterfly, which is really about understanding--and then letting go of--our attachments. What does the cocoon have to do with it? Why are times of cocooning so important, even though our culture urges us to produce endlessly without respite?

Find out what lessons the butterfly holds for us, as explained by this great compassionate activist, here:

"True transformation occurs only when we can look at ourselves squarely and face our attachments and inner demons, free from the buzz of commercial distraction and false social realities. We have to retreat into our own cocoons and come face-to-face with who we are. We have to turn toward our own inner darkness. For only by abandoning its attachments and facing the darkness does the caterpillar’s body begin to spread out and its light, beautiful wings begin to form.

"Even then, the caterpillar must shed one last attachment--to the dark cramped space it has gotten used to--and begin breaking through the barrier of self in which it has wrapped itself. It doesn’t have a clue what lies beyond, but it responds to this higher calling anyway.

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Something neat to read!

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me"; he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil -he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good -he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity,
humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

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These days, we can know too much. And while sometimes it can be a great benefit to us to know the tiniest details of events, both bitter and sweet, there are also times when knowing less about the future, our situations, and the world, in general, can be beneficial. Being blissfully ignorant does not mean ignoring vital information or shutting out the world's tragedies. Rather, it is a way to step away from knowledge that may only needlessly have a negative impact on your life experience. It's not always necessary to expose yourself to information that will only overwhelm you, hold you back, or cause you pain. Sometimes, ignorance can be truly blissful.

While having all the information you need can help you make an informed decision, sometimes knowing all the information can be unnecessary excess. Especially when you are trying to pursue a goal, the knowledge of all the ways in which you could fail can keep you from even trying. Blissful ignorance can sometimes propel you forward because you never even knew that the possibility of failure existed. Ignorance can also be bliss when you are facing hardships. If circumstances force you to take on a job you dislike, you may enter your new situation with unpleasant and preconceived notions that can likely create the very circumstances you are dreading. Experiencing a situation with no expectations and no advanced notions can allow you to experience it as new, because your blissful ignorance prevented you from having any preset ideas.

There is nothing wrong with avoiding "too much information," particularly when the knowledge isn't going to serve you. When information is emotionally draining, impedes your progress, causes distress, and isn't necessary to your experience, consider letting it pass you by. Remember the bliss of ignorance can sometimes be a gift.

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" Doodling allows the unconscious to render in symbolic expression. Symbols have universal as well as personal meaning. When you are stuck for an answer to a problem or looking for creative innovation, the technique of doodling will unleash the hidden symbolic powers of the unconscious mind.

... Some people are prolific doodlers when they are talking on the telephone, sitting at a meeting, attending a lecture or sitting in any passive environment. This doodling can reveal important and profound information about how the person was feeling at the time, or, according to Jung, latent emotional conflicts or unexpressed feelings. In truth, no one can interpret our doodling except ourselves. Though certain symbols appear to have universal applications in the deep collective unconscious, how we experience these symbolic expressions in our own life is unique to each of us.

Your subconscious mind is attempting to contact you all the time. It is usually blocked by habitual conscious thought patterns or emotions. It can also be drowned out by the mundane mental trivia that we repeatedly hash over. Learn to allow its conscious expression, preferably every day. "

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I'm the spirit's janitor. All I do is wipe the windows a little bit so you can see out for yourself.
— Godfrey Chips, Lakota Medicine Man, quoted in Walking on the Wind by Michael Garrett

To Practice This Thought: Be one of those people who does windows.

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Do you see the beauty in the person next to you? Fill your
mind with thoughts of understanding and acceptance, and that
beauty will become abundantly clear.

Do you see the beauty within yourself? Connect to your
highest, most treasured vision of how life can be, and that
beauty will come springing forth.

Do you see the beauty that can be? Open yourself to the most
positive possibilities, and that beauty will pull you
forward into its delightful realm.

Beauty is more than what is on the surface. Beauty is more
than what is obvious.

The most powerful and valuable beauty is the beauty that you
bring to life. See the beauty, and you will make it be.

-- Ralph Marston

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Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns. Even for those of us who enjoy unexpected thrills, it's frightening to suddenly find ourselves heading for a deep plunge. Yet, it happens to all of us. At these moments, it is important to remember that you are not alone in your experiences. No matter how brave, strong, or levelheaded we are, sometimes, we all get scared.

Our fears may revolve around our physical safety, particularly if we are not feeling well, living under difficult circumstances, or doing work that exposes us to hazardous conditions. Or, we may be experiencing financial woes that are causing us to be fearful about making ends meet. We may also fear the loss of a loved one who is sick, or we may be scared of never finding someone special to spend our life with. We may be scared to start at a new school, begin a different job, move to a new town, or meet new people. Whatever our fears are, they are valid, and we do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed that we are, at times, afraid.

It may be comforting to know that everyone gets scared, and it is perfectly OK. Sometimes just acknowledging our fears is enough to make us feel better. And while it sometimes takes a lot more to ease our mind, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that life can be scary at times. Giving ourselves permission to be scared lets us move through our fears so we can let it go. It also makes it alright to share our fears with others. Sharing our apprehensions with other people can make our fears less overwhelming because we are not letting them grow inside of us as pent up emotions. Sharing our fears also can lighten our burden because we are not carrying our worries all by ourselves. Remember that you are not alone.

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With every mistake comes a new and valuable lesson to be
learned. With every setback comes a new position from which
to move forward.

With every frustration comes the energy to move to a higher
level of achievement. With every challenge comes a new
strategy for taking action.

With every time of darkness comes the chance to make a real
difference by shining your own special light. With every
sadness comes a deeper appreciation for the joys that life
can hold.

With every difficulty comes a new level of strength to be
gained. With every loss comes an increased determination to
win.

Though life has many pitfalls and problems, there is a
positive side to every one of them. Choose to see and live
that positive reality, and no problem will be a problem for
long.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Yes, you'll come across many people who are rude, annoying and self-centered. But does it really serve any positive purpose for you to sink to their depths of negativity?

Instead, take the opportunity to rise to a higher level of peacefulness and understanding. Take the opportunity to practice and strengthen your patience.

Patience and understanding will take you to places where anger, frustration, confusion and anxiety can never reach. Patience and understanding put you in a position of real power and effectiveness.

Practice patience, and you will build real strength. Live with patience and understanding, and a whole new world of valuable opportunities will open up to you.

There's nothing to be gained by reacting to rudeness and anxiety with more rudeness and anxiety of your own making. Respond instead with patience and understanding, and you'll make your world a much better place.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.

 [ send green star]

Everyone, at one time or another, has wanted to express his or her story. Writing a memoir to read privately, share with family or friends, or publish is an emotionally satisfying way to gain perspective on your experiences while sharing your unique voice. We've all experienced feelings and events in our lives that we are longing to write down. Giving in to that urge can give you an outlet for purging any frustration, anxiety, or long-dormant feelings. No one else has to read it. You may even want to write your story without reading it right away. Satisfying the need to tell your story is not predicated upon your writing ability. It does, however take effort to write down the truth in detail. Your memories, captured on paper as descriptive scenes, sights, sounds, and scents, may at first seem disconnected or incomplete. But rest assured that you possess the ability to shape your recollections into stories.

Everyone wants to be heard. Reading your story to others can meet that need. Writing your story can also help you understand your life experiences. And when you finish writing, you may be surprised at what you have accomplished. Your story can encompass as much or as little of your life as you prefer. You may surprise yourself with new insights, or you may find yourself exploring your roots, your identity, and your future through your words. Allow your writing to guide you and write as truthfully as possible. Don't worry about what others will think of your personal journey, your style of writing, or your words.

Research has shown that writing a personal narrative filled with feelings and perceptions can create long-term health benefits. As you write, remember to have compassion for yourself, particularly when writing about traumatic events. If you are a young person, you can add to your life story as you grow older. Your writing may help family members know you better, or they may understand themselves more through reading about your experiences. More importantly, you are expressing yourself in a permanent way, giving a gift to yourself, and letting your voice be heard.

 [ send green star]

The Art of Learning and Teaching

From: The Arts of Life by Anthea Church Copyright Brahma Kumaris Australia. Published 1988 by Eternity Ink, Sydney.

Learning and teaching are two players in the same game. When one stops, the other may keep hitting the ball, but the game is dry. There is no fun.

Learning is the ability to absorb something new into your heart. However intrusive or puzzling it may seem, let the lesson be thrown into the air, all that you had fixed already. Know that nothing has been destroyed. For there is no such thing as learning from scratch. There is always something that has to move aside and if it will not shift, it means a philosophy has already formed and so it is too late to learn.  If you want to grow fast, you have to move and stay awake, leave a bit on your plate, walk instead of being driven, say no to things that make you close the door and sit tight. Only when there is a clean mind, can you start to build fixed principles for the future. Cleaning means moving.

Learning doesn't have to hurt, for where there is suppleness, an open mind, you fall softly. It used to hurt, because there was dogma. Now you have no dogma, but you have peace and peace is so accommodating.

Learning is the reward for respecting life. However trivial, recognising in it what is least obvious and yet important, like the fact that a light heart comes from thinking very deeply.  And to respect and recognise, you have to slow down, look carefully and appreciate, but not stop, for lessons are in the doing, in the talking. Silence often reveals them, but carrying them into situations makes them into habits.

Learning is alone, but as in music, gains beauty when it is shared. If ten people in a room hit their next note, the atmosphere becomes electric and in the intensity profundities rikashay. It takes practice and a lot of pure love for each other to learn like that, for if even one is dozing, the tune drags and the sharpness is lost. But when everyone realises with equal joy that the leaps to be made inside are just as important as the business to be done with words, then nothing is ever boring and even the most menial tasks are filled with subtlety.

It is easy to learn on your own, to scrabble through irrelevance and get to the heart of things, for personal rubbish arouses no repulsion. It is just life. Harder and more strengthening is to be together again and not mind the padding that protects the jewel. To sit together and see collectively the moment of sudden importance, even if it is not your own (which does not matter anyway because we are one in learning). To sit together and wait is a sign of love. 

And love is the beginning of teaching too.  For in love, there is so much patience and anonymity. There is no need to introduce yourself, for when love is in the atmosphere, but not confined to a single relationship, then everyone reaches their potential. When love is just between two people, the one who is learning can learn as much as the teacher knows and no more.

When love is very strong, personalities don't need to stun, for love itself is stunning and it illuminates the important things naturally.  Where there is no love, there is ego and ego makes things important that are of interest only to some.

Love is  power that makes anyone able to do anything and forget who suggested it in the first place. And you cannot arrange love. It is just there, which is one of the things that divides the present from the future. As time goes on, teaching will just be a part of friendship. Here, now, it is separate. There are places built for learning, which is as odd as building a place for being happy in. Motivation will change too. Learning and teaching will not be because there has been a mistake or because you need to be equipped. You won't learn about children in advance of having them or about kingdoms in advance of ruling them.  Learning will just be the next step forward. It will be inherent. Ideas are only isolated from things when life has broken, but trees and beauty, sky and freedom will be inseparable, so there will be no philosophy.

It takes a lot of innocence to learn about the future. And a big heart. For where there are these, there is always an exchange going on. And when this is viewed not just in terms of one birth, but of many, it all becomes the game it was meant to be. For whilst today I am your teacher, tomorrow I am your child. And the game is never boring for whilst you are learning about ponds, I am on the same track further on; I am learning too, but about the sea. And when I am the child, you are in the sea and I am playing in the puddles. And we are brought together, not so much because we love each other, but because we both love water.

The water now is God

 [ send green star]

As they swoop, drift, and glide, inscribing magnificent patterns across the sky, birds are serene displays of grace and beauty. Long a source of inspiration, birds can be messengers from the spirit realm, or a symbol of the human soul, as they cast off their earthly mooring and soar heavenward. An upturned wing, a graceful flutter, all so effortless and free... More magnificent still is the inspiring sight of birds migrating, progressing steadily across the horizon in a solid V formation that is a singular pattern too unique to be mere chance.

Pushing steadily forward, this aerodynamic V reduces air resistance for the whole flock. With wings moving in harmony, the feathered group continues its course across the sky, covering more ground together in community than as individuals. When the bird at the front gets tired, she will move to the rear of the formation where the wind drag is lowest, and a more rested bird can take her place.

By learning from the example of our winged guides, all of us can feel empowered to take on daring challenges as we chart adventurous courses. Feel the strength of others moving alongside you, as their presence lends power to your wings during this journey across the sky of life. When buffeted by unexpected gusts, we can choose to find refuge in the loving shelter of friends and family. We may even marvel as an otherwise difficult day passes by like a swift wind, as a kindred spirit charts a way for us through the clouds and rain ahead. If your wings begin to ache on your journey, look around for somebody else to fly at the front for a while. All of us move faster when we move together. Let your ego drop earthwards as we all soar ever higher.

 [ send green star]

The Art of Reforming

From: The Arts of Life by Anthea Church Copyright Brahma Kumaris Australia. Published 1988 by Eternity Ink, Sydney.

Reforming sounds harsh, enforced. Re-forming sounds like an art.  The art of bringing back into form tendencies long since separated from expression. Unearthing old things, bringing them back to the surface.  Inside you are capacities and powers that can move mountains. The art of reforming is bringing those back so that something new can be manifested.

It is not that you have to sit down and think of mountains or creating great civilisations, not actually calling back old structures and forms.  Reforming is just bringing back into play the qualities and powers of mind that shaped visible greatness.

Force is the least conducive means of doing this.  Forcing change is pushing something to the surface before it is ready. And so when it is expressed, it is only half formed. Up until now, this has been the way: to have dreams and force their realisation by making new laws, policies, pacts, but usually out of force of circumstance. Things have changed when forced but then in periods of less pressure, it's all been gently dropped.

The art of reforming is natural. It is like when the tide turns. With a great and decisive movement, it pulls in the other direction, but naturally. Not pushed. It is the right movement. Reforming is letting yourself be turned upside down, letting things which have motivated behaviour recede, take a back seat and letting peace in; letting in things which are at the heart of  you.

Reforming takes time. It is a delicate business as all art is.  It has to be understood. Understanding is the energy behind force. Something major can be shifted from the "stage" when there is understanding. It can be moved aside, leave space for a new scene. Understanding is a power and powers can either create or destroy. In this case, it is the means of dematerialising difficulty.

This is why it is useful to be quiet, because understanding is born in silence.  And once silent, the mind can turn in on itself, unhampered by the noise of superficial life, turn in and bring up something ancient and invaluable. That is as necessary and normal as breathing. It is finding inside things that need not even fit with the present, but which are the foundation of the future.

It is a custom to think that the future is born out of the past and that they are inseparable, but if there were so, the future of your dreams would be shadowed before it even began. Silence comes in between, because silence is empty of time. Silence is silence and within a second of it, the results of thousands of years of endeavour can be held. There is nothing else that can hold the process of reformation, nothing else that is neutral and as hollow as silence is.

Still, before all reforming, there seems to be upheaval. The ground of the mind has to break, not to be destroyed, just to move. Nothing is ever destroyed. Even when continents are ripped up, thrown into the air by war, they are not destroyed, they are moving. When the mind breaks, through pressure of circumstance, there is so much sorrow.  It is like a sudden last straw, a snap after a period of dullness. It is the sorrow of seeing your territory in pieces. When the mind is broken by God, there is in contrast, great joy, for with every shift, a new land is forming; for every inch of the way, for every apparent landslide, there is a plan.

It begins with disentanglement. Sorrow comes when everything impacted is suddenly blown apart, like houses torn out of the ground. God works more gently, unravelling one by one, the lines of weakness in the mind, until they each stand separate, straight, seen. Then on one end, he anchors their effect, so that painlessly and with no exhileration of understanding, you can grasp the fallacies, the mistakes, see them. Then in the lightness that this brings, like a doctor joking and injecting, he anchors the other end, their cause. Often the cause of problems is way back, seeded in the past. But always the present carries some visible equivalent, the same ingredients in a different form. With both ends "fixed" he pulls. In the depth of silence, He brings on the storm and in one last movement, after years of intricate effort, the lines of weakness are wrenched out. Afterwards,  stillness, a different stillness. Utter quiet, as the mind senses its own change.

Re-forming takes the courage of remaining awake during an operation. And yet it is easy, just lie still.....

 [ send green star]

Can you grasp what a powerful thing it is to be able to see,
to know, to act and to make a difference? Make the choice to
make positive use of the awareness and the influence you
have right now.

You have today a perspective that is unique in time and in
place. Choose to live fully the value of what is, from your
own special point of view.

There are options available to you right now that have never
existed before. Discover, understand, and live the real
value that is here and now and yours.

In the moment that is now you have as much power as you dare
to imagine. Imagine and travel a positive path for that
power that fulfills your highest vision.

Focus all that you are in living as fully as you can in the
moment that is yours right now. In this moment is when you
truly and completely can be.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Fortunately, you do have the chance, and it is now. As you move forward through this day, you can apply all the lessons you have learned from all the places you have been.

If you recall some negative thinking or behavior in your past, now is your chance to move away from it. In the same way, there were also things that worked out well, and now is your opportunity to give more of your time and energy to them.

There is never any need to burden yourself with regrets. For you can always turn your negative past experiences into positive present insights and actions.

This moment right now is your opportunity to benefit from what you have learned in all the moments leading up to it. This moment right now is your opportunity to be the best you can be, because you are now more experienced than you have ever been.

Choose to transform that experience into wisdom, always looking for positive ways to do differently. And as each day goes by, your life will grow in richness, joy and fulfillment.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Certainly it is important to focus on the results you intend to reach. It is also critical to focus on and appreciate the real value that goes into making those results, and that value is to be found and to be lived along the way.

Achievement is not some future object. It is a present state of being.

Yes, achievement does indeed have a future objective. Yet the place where achievement happens is always here and now.

Because of that, the more you enjoy building the achievement, the more valuable that achievement will always be. The more you savor the journey, the more magnificent and fulfilling the destination will be.

Success is not merely something that you will someday attain. Success is yours the moment you begin to truly appreciate, value and enjoy the journey.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Along the way you will most certainly acquire new skills, develop new knowledge, gain access to new resources. That is a big part of the value of challenge.

Yet the best starting point is where you are. The sooner you begin, the sooner you will grow strong enough to move successfully through whatever challenge you face.

There is a path that leads directly to the most positive outcome you can imagine. And the first step on that path is right in front of you.

No matter how imposing the challenge, no matter how ambitious the goal, you have what is necessary to take the first step. And once you're on your way, you'll find and develop what you need to continue.

Move confidently forward in the direction you know you must go. Start with what you have, and you'll grow into whatever you need.

-- Ralph Marston

 [ send green star]

Oh Great Spirit,
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

 [ send green star]

Grandfather, today let me walk with the principles.

 [ send green star]

Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

Be
tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit,
anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will
find guidance.

Search for yourself, by
yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your
road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk
it for you.

Treat the guests in your home
with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best
bed and treat them with respect and honor.

Do
not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the
wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not
yours.

Respect all things that are placed
upon this earth, whether it be people or plant. Honor other people's
thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely
mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal statement. Never
speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into
the universe will multiply when it returns to you. All persons make
mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven. Bad thoughts cause illness
of the mind, body and spirit.

Practice optimism.

Nature
is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly
family. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their
hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are
grown, give them space to grow.

Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

Keep
yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self,
and Physical self -- all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out
the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional
ails.

Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

Respect
the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal
property of others -- especially sacred and religious objects. This is
forbidden.

Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

http://www.spiritwheel.com/

 [ send green star]

Creator, help me to find peace.

 [ send green star]

Great Spirit, let me experience living in the present moment.

 [ send green star]

Give yourself permission
to be late sometimes.
Life is for living, not scheduling.
Listen to the song of a bird;
the complete song.
Music and nature are gifts,
but only if you are willing to receive them.
Take time just to think.
Action is good and necessary,
but it's fruitful only if we
muse, ponder, and mull.
Make time for play -
the things you like to do.
Whatever your age, your inner child
needs re-creation.
Watch and listen to the night sky.
It speaks.
Listen to the words you speak,
especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and let others
take their turn as leaders.
There will always be new opportunities
for you to step out in front again.
Divide big jobs into little jobs.
If God took six days to create the universe,
can you hope to do any better?
When you find yourself rushing
& anxious, stop. Ask yourself "WHY?"
you are rushing and anxious.
The reasons may improve
your self-understanding.
Take time to read.
Thoughtful reading
is enriching reading.
Direct your life with purposeful choices,
not with speed and efficiency.
The best musician is one who
plays with expression and meaning,
not the one who finishes first.
Take a day off alone; make a
retreat.
You can learn from monks and hermits
without becoming one.
Pet a furry friend.
You will give and get the gift of now.
Work with your hands.
It frees the mind.
Take time to wonder.
Without wonder,
life is merely existence.
Sit in the dark.
It will teach you to see
and hear, taste and smell.
Once in a while, turn down the lights,
the volume, the throttle, the invitations.
Less really can be more.
Let go. Nothing is usually the
hardest
thing to do - but often it is the best.
Take a walk-but don't go anywhere.
If you walk just to get somewhere,
you sacrifice the walking.
Count your friends.
If you have one, you are lucky.
If you have more, you are blessed.
Bless them in return.
Count your blessings -
one at a time and slowly

~Author Unknown

 [ send green star]

"Laughter - that is something very sacred especially for us Indians." --John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA Laughter is mental, laughter is emotional, laughter is physical and laughter is spiritual. Laughter helps us find balance. If we get too angry, laughter will turn that emotion in a balanced direction. If we have a mental picture of someone who is too strong, laughter will help ease the tension. If the body is stressed, laughter will release natural relaxants into our muscles and our nervous system. Laughter often changes our attitude. We need to lighten up and laugh more.

Great Spirit, teach me to laugh.

 [ send green star]

"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." --Don Talayesva, HOPI Human beings function from choice. We can choose to stuff things, or we can choose to let go of things. If we choose to stuff things, then we will feel a heaviness, or sorrow, self pity or fear. Sometimes we feel the need to cry. Sometimes we are taught it is not okay to cry. The creator designed the human being to cry. Crying is a release. This release allows us to let go of thoughts that are not helping us so we can open to new thoughts that will help. Crying is natural for women and men.

Grandfather, if I need to cry, let me realize it's a natural process and help me to let go

 [ send green star]

"So I prayed, but I had to pray from my heart. All of my concentration and thoughts went from my head to my heart. All of my senses - hearing, smell, taste, and feeling - were connected to my heart." --Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA The heart is the gateway to the Unseen World, to the Spirit World. It takes real concentration to do this. To connect to our own heart is also a mental state. It starts in the head and transitions to the heart. This mental state is our inner stillness. Be still and know. This place of the heart is very joyous and peaceful. It is this place that we become one with God, our Creator.

Great Spirit, teach me to be a heart warrior

 [ send green star]

"Love is something that you can leave behind you when you die. It's that powerful." --John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA The Old Ones say, love is all anyone needs. Love doesn't go away nor can love be divided. Once you commit an act of love, you'll find it continues. Love is like setting up dominos one behind the other. Once you hit the first domino, it will touch the second one which will touch the third one and so on. Every love act or love thought has an affect on each person as well as touching the whole world. If you live a life filled with love, the results will affect your friends, relatives and other people, even after you go to the other side. So... Love.

My Creator, let me love. Let me put into action the love dominos.

 [ send green star]

"I got my education from my culture. My teachers were my grandmothers, and I am really thankful for that." --Mary One Spot, SARCEE Our often unrecognized, but most powerful teachers are our women. In order for men to learn a balanced way, we need to learn from our men Elders and our women Elders. Learning from the women Elders will teach us a whole different set of values and insights to life. When we have life problems, we need to go to the grandmothers to get their advice.

Grandmothers, teach me the values of the Great Mystery.

 [ send green star]