SOUL SELFIE...

IF YOU COULD TAKE A SELFIE OF YOUR SOUL, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

HABITS FOR 2K15 {JANUARY}...

MEDITATION

Discover how meditation and mindfulness lead you on a path to unbounded joy and lifelong happiness.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRUE SELF & EVERYDAY SELF

It's important to be yourself. We're all told that, and it's true—we know the damage done by being false to ourselves and to others. But I'd like to suggest that to "be yourself" goes much deeper. Most people don't know how much wisdom and power resides in the self, which is not the everyday self that gets mixed up with all the business of life, but a deeper self, which I call, for simplicity's sake, the true self.

The true self isn't a familiar term to most people, although it is close to what religion calls your soul, the purest part of yourself. But religion depends upon faith, and that's not the issue here. You can actually test if you have such a true self. How? You know that sugar is sweet because you can taste it. Likewise, the true self has certain qualities that belong to it the way sweetness belongs to sugar. If you can experience these qualities, repeat them, learn to cultivate them and finally make them a natural part of yourself, the true self has come to life.

The trick is distinguishing what is your true self and what is not. If we had a switch that could turn off the everyday self and turn on the true self, matters would be much simpler. But human nature is divided. There are moments when you feel secure, accepted, peaceful and certain. At those moments, you are experiencing the true self. At other moments, you experience the opposite, and then you are in the grip of the everyday self, or the ego-self. The trouble is that both sides are convincing. When you feel overwhelmed by stress, crisis, doubts and insecurity, the true self might as well not exist. You are experiencing a different reality colored by the state of your mind.

At those dark, tough moments, try to get some outside perspective about what is happening. The qualities of the everyday self and the true self are actually very different:

1. The true self is certain and clear about things. The everyday self gets influenced by countless outside influences, leading to confusion.

2. The true self is stable. The everyday self shifts constantly.

3. The true self is driven by a deep sense of truth. The everyday self is driven by the ego, the unending demands of "I, me, mine."

4. The true self is at peace. The everyday self is easily agitated and disturbed.

5. The true self is love. The everyday self, lacking love, seeks it from outside sources. 

Look at the qualities of the true self: self-reliant, evolutionary, loving, creative, knowing, accepting and peaceful. Whenever anyone is in crisis, whether the problem is a troubled marriage or difficulties at work or over money, they will make the best decisions if they utilize these qualities.

Sadly, we are more likely to be driven by selfishness, panic, uncertainty, impulsiveness, survival instincts and other qualities associated with the ego-self. That's how society trained us. We measure our worth by our achievements and possession. Money and status feed the ego, and society rewards those who play the game of getting and spending with skill and drive.

But look at the faulty choices millions of people make. They choose material rewards in the hope that money can buy happiness, or at least all the nice trappings of a happy life. They plunge into careers that offer success but end up with little inner fulfillment. Doesn't it make sense instead that the foundation for every choice should be the true self? The true self understands what you really want and what you really need to be joyful. It creates a much stronger, more expansive foundation for your life than any the ego-self can provide, since that is rooted in fear and insecurity.

Once you begin to recognize and encourage the qualities of the true self, your life will begin to change. You'll make better choices. You'll expand your awareness. You'll discover and encourage your purpose. You'll challenge yourself to meet new goals.

The greatest spiritual secret in the world is that every problem has a spiritual solution, not because every prayer is answered by a higher power, but because the true self, once discovered, is the source of creativity, intelligence and personal growth. No external solution has such power. The true self is the basis for being deeply optimistic about how life turns out and who you really are, behind the screen of doubt and confusion. The path to it isn't simply inspiring; it's the source of solutions that emerge from within. 

SOURCE: OPRAH'S LIFE CLASS 

THE INSPIRED WORKPLACE

It is no secret that in today’s modern workplace, we are faced daily with an ever-growing number of responsibilities, challenges, and fires that must be put out with urgency. Our boundaries are constantly pushed, our limits continually defied. We face demands from our colleagues, our leaders, and ourselves. Every moment is an opportunity for greatness, for rising to the occasion . . . or for falling victim to our old patterns of limiting beliefs. Fortunately, we can consciously choose to live each moment from that place of greatness by adopting a few simple practices through which we can awaken to our full potential.

1.   Become Rooted in Self-Awareness

Awareness of self produces a realistic assessment of our current state of being, from which we can grow and expand. It starts by acknowledging all of our strengths and weakness, all of our foibles and failures, yet still believing that anything is possible. To become self-aware, ask yourself regularly: Who am I? What do I want? and How can I serve? When we are grounded in self, we see ourselves as neither above nor beneath anyone, regardless of corporate hierarchy. We choose to lead and follow from the level of spirit, not ego. Instead of making fear-based decisions, we make conscious choices that lead to the expansion of the organization and the people around us. By becoming self-aware, we intuitively know the right path to take because we’ve moved beyond acting and reacting to a place of clearly envisioning what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what the outcome is likely to be.

2.   Communicate Mindfully

Almost all stress we experience in life is a direct result of our needs not being met, in one capacity or another. The reason our needs are frequently unmet is quite simple – we have either not yet identified what our needs actually are or we have failed to clearly, consciously communicate those needs to others. However, once we’ve become rooted in self-awareness and have identified our intentions and desires, we can effortlessly articulate clear observations and measurable requests that foster strong working relationships, rather than defensiveness and competition. We choose our words thoughtfully, giving ourselves the space we need to respond rather than react. Purposeful communication improves interactions with every single person we encounter by promoting understanding, mutual respect, compassion, and collaboration.

3.   Expand Beyond Your Comfort Zone

It is said that if we are not evolving, we are decaying. In the best scenario, we become stagnant at the very least. To truly awaken to our full potential, it is imperative that we invite growth and expansion in any and all areas of our lives. We need to regularly check in with ourselves, asking When is the last time I did something new and exciting? This could take any form, such as exploring a new path during lunchtime walks, educating ourselves on a new, intellectually stimulating topic, trying a new hobby, or incorporating meditation and mindfulness into our morning routine. We can use our intuition, our self-awareness, to easily identify the areas in which we would like to become the best version of ourselves. By inviting new energy into our everyday lives, we tap into our vitality, creativity, and unbounded potential for success.

In every moment, we can choose the opportunity for greatness. We can remember our ability to break the mold, to push the envelope, to evolve into an even more expansive self. It is empowering to know that we have a choice and that we can exercise it thoughtfully and enjoy the awakening that will surely unfold.

SOURCE: CHOPRA CENTERED LIFESTYLE

¿ISLANDS THAT STAND ALONE?

We are born unto this world as unique individuals. As we grow older we are taught the requisite skills that induce us to leave our families and embark into the world on our own, and to live our lives. During our lifetime we make countless choices; both trivial and life changing. Many people go through life thinking they are in control of their destiny and that they are islands in a sea of people that stand alone and separate from the influence of others, and the forces of nature and the universe.

In reality, however, we are not islands that stand alone. We may be unique but certainly not fully independent. We are not self-sufficient. We do not exist in a vacuum. We must rely on employers to pay us so we can buy food, shelter, and care for our families. We also rely on others to provide services to us and to help with our day-to-day tasks.

When we have problems many people think they can work through them on their own. While many do, it is always easier when you have someone else to bounce ideas off and to get advice on what should or should not be done. A psychiatrist or some other professional many times can help us see things more clearly and understand options that we cannot realize because we are so enmeshed in the mechanics of the issue.

In a more spiritual sense, we sometimes need others to help us facilitate changes within ourselves that we cannot do alone. There are folks out there with special gifts and all we have to do is ask for help and the right facilitator will appear to do that which is required at a particular moment in our lives.

Free your mind to explore things that you never thought to explore. Delve within yourself with the help of capable facilitators that have gifts to unlock that which you cannot unlock on your own. Decide to travel to other people’s islands and get a feel for what others think and do and align yourselves with like-minded islands to create an unstoppable force of nature that can withstand any calamity or adversity that may arise.

No, we are not islands that stand alone.

ALL FALSE IMAGES...

ALL FALSE IMAGES OF MYSELF FROM THE PAST ARE NOW DISSOLVED...

MERE BELIEF...

"Mere
belief counts for nothing unless carried into practice."

Lady Shabazz

COSMOS...

"To begin with, the universe is conceived as a spiritual whole. This conception creates a 'cosmos' in the true sense of the term: a universe in which all beings are interrelated, in which they become an organic whole. 'Being' is perceived in terms of its relationship to the whole, which gives it meaning or ontological reality. To have being is to be a 'force.' Reciprocity becomes important in this view. We are part of a web of relationships. Because 'I am' I affect you. Because 'you are' you affect me. The real is perceived as Unity, or, put another way, reality, significance, and meaning are unifying principles."

 

Marimba Ani

"The Nyama of the Blacksmith"

SOME OF US GET IT...

I have learnt that we teach people how to treat us. 

I have learnt that we cannot expect the respect or love of others if we do not primarily, respect and love ourselves. 

I have learnt that we create the societies we feel we deserve to live in and that those societies are populated with the people who best reflect our state of mind and heart at that given time and that the thing we are running from is very often the thing we are, in fact, chasing after.

EVERYTHING IS BASED ON THE MIND...

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind.

If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox.

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind.

If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form - Buddha

THERE COMES A TIME...

There comes a time in the seeker's life when he
discovers that he is at once the lover and the beloved. 

The aspiring soul
which he embodies is the lover in him. 

And the transcendental Self which he
reveals from within is his Beloved. - Sri Chinmoy 

REAL HUMILITY IS...

Real humility is not being lower than another, real humility is knowing that you are the other.

THE ABILITY TO CREATE...

"The ability to create is the power to manipulate the spiritual energy that gives life to the Universe."

Marimba Ani "TheNyama of the Blacksmith"

HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR PASSION WHEN YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO PAY THE BILLS

During tough economic times, many people think they need to sacrifice passion and focus solely on earning money. From a spiritual perspective, this is the exact opposite approach to generating real abundance. Yes — paying your bills takes practical action. But it also requires an internal belief system powered by inspiration and passion. Without an emphasis on passion, it’s likely that no matter how many actions you take, you’ll still wind up feeling stuck.

Neglecting passion blocks creative flow. When you’re passionate, you’re energized. Likewise, when you lack passion, your energy is low and unproductive. Energy is everything when it comes to earning. Quantum physics teaches us that our bodies are made up of subatomic particles that are energy. Your thoughts, attention and focus affect your energy and therefore everything around you, including your bank account. So when you’re thinking only about the mundane to-do lists and practical action steps, you’re lowering your energy and in effect lowering your earning power.

Your life becomes what you think about most. When you focus on following your passion and letting inspiration flow, your energy is raised and your earning capacity is strong. But when you’re uninspired and bogged down by low-level thoughts, your attracting power is weakened.

Now that you have a better understanding of the earning value of passionate, positive energy, it’s time to take it more seriously. Read on for three simple, effective ways you can bring more passion into your life — even if you’re crazy-busy.

Who said your job had to be your only source of passion?

Our culture places such a huge emphasis on our careers that we lose track of our passion projects. But who said your job had to be your only source of passion? A dear friend of mine is a powerful example of balancing passion and career — he works in corporate America but moonlights as a guitar player in a band. Though he spends his weekdays at a desk, he spends his weekends indulging his passion projects such as gigging with his band, writing, drawing and learning about art. Though he dedicates a lot of his time to his career, there is no lack of passion in his life.

The passion of being of service

When we’re of service to the world, we feel inspired and passionate about the work that we do. Perhaps the work you’re doing is service-related — getting clear about the ways in which it serves the world may make you more passionate about it. If that’s not the case with your job, maybe once a month you volunteer for a local charity or find a way to participate in your community or promote bigger causes. Awaken a service mentality. When you serve the world, you serve your soul.

Shift your perception about the way you make money

If you’re hung up about the fact that your primary source of revenue doesn’t come from your true passion, shift your perspective. Be grateful for the work that you have and focus on the good stuff. Find even the smallest part of your work that ignites your passion. Maybe you love interacting with clients or the neighborhood where you work. Maybe you’re learning something new by being on that job. Focus on what you do have and you’ll create more of what you want.

Take these action steps seriously. We all have work to do to support our economy, and if we’re void of passion we won’t have the energy and inspiration to serve. The more passion we ignite in our lives, the higher our earning capacity will be and the more we’ll impact financial growth in our country. When we all raise our thoughts we’ll raise our bank accounts — and greatly serve the world.

SOURCE: INTENT BLOG

I DO NOT DEFEND MY EGO...

I do not defend my ego, for I am not in competition ‘against’ anyone or anything.I like to compete ‘with’ others so that we can both reach higher.

LIBERATION, EMPOWERMENT AND...

"This is our calling, our only instruction, in this day and time. It can only be ignored at the expense of our final destruction. There is no alternative. There is no compromise. There is no defeat. We must win or we will cease to exist as a people."

Mwalimu Baruti

IWA: A Warrior's Character

¿ENLIGHTENMENT IS ENTITLEMENT?

It’s best to not get attached to either! Heaven on the shoulders is a fantasy to have fun with, but not too seriously! Lots of folks get into that ‘entitlement state of mind’. It might be over any number of qualities they have from riches, mental or physical acumens, and even ‘spiritual ego’. Many so called reasons for ‘feeling superior’ are fleeting in time, or other circumstances. Entitlements are ultimately an illusion. Enlightenment is nowhere to be found except in the ego that feels ‘entitled’ to say, and feel enlightened in their own mind.

Either ‘enlightenment or entitlement’ is an ego trip regardless of their differences from each other. Enlightenment is a journey, and truth be known, is not a destination. It seems more fashionable the last few years to use the term rather loosely. The ego is very clever, and after mentioning around that you are enlightened, the reaction doesn’t usually feel comfortable, then cleverness takes over. After some negative experience of letting others know of the supposed ‘ultimate state’, the ‘blessed one’ goes into an ‘implication mode’ where he can safely say he didn’t say he was enlightened.

My experience with people who claimed or inferred they were enlightened is that they have read much spiritual rhetoric, did some meditating, and more often than not, regard themselves as smarter than most (often it’s just a better memory system). Another way of saying it, is they are ‘ego stuck’. The same state is common to ‘religions salesmen’ in all religions except they have adopted, and largely memorized ancient religion dogma which they proselytize.

This ‘high spiritual state’ is a veneer that is more of a ‘cover up’of negative thoughts and emotions which they avoid or hide. Somehow, entitlement begins to grow until one gets close to them, and sees their vacillating moods. Either characteristic assumed as an arrival to a destination for others to honor is more succinctly a ‘wall’for further growth as well as a reason to make others uncomfortable. Thoughts precede feelings, and often far outweigh the inner feeling of being true. To be special means to be egoistic, and ego is the only problem. There is no other problem.

A human is ‘being human’ when they let go, free and open the mind, use empathy, compassion, have no fear of intimacy, act positively, and love with a depth that is unconditional. Having some characteristics that appear better than most isn’t worthy of considering oneself any better than someone else. To ‘anesthetize’yourself from who you really are is not being the human being as a high example for humanity. If life reacts sweetly to you for no reason or expectation, you might just be on the path of being a consciousness ‘being human’.

SOURCE: ARHATA

100 BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

Deep love with another is possibly the greatest meditation, but given that the quality and lasting experience of that is so rare, being 'alone' while enjoying one or more meditations will potentially equal that experience differently. The results of meditation will follow you like a shadow of blessings wherever you go.

Physiological benefits:

1. It lowers oxygen consumption.

2. It decreases respiratory rate.

3. It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.

4. Increases exercise tolerance.

5. Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation.

6. Good for people with high blood pressure.

7. Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.

8. Decreases muscle tension

9. Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.

10. Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.

11. Helps in post-operative healing.

12. Enhances the immune system.

13. Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress

14. Enhances energy, strength and vigor.

15. Helps with weight loss

16. Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage

17. Higher skin resistance

18. Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease.

19. Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing.

20. Decreases the aging process.

21. Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

22. Prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases

23. Makes you sweat less

24. Cure headaches & migraines

25. Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning

26. Reduced Need for Medical Care

27. Less energy wasted

28. More inclined to sports, activities

29. Significant relief from asthma

30. Improved performance in athletic events

31. Normalizes to your ideal weight

32. Harmonizes our endocrine system

33. Relaxes our nervous system

34. Produce lasting beneficial changes in brain electrical activity

35. Helps cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).

Psychological benefits:

36. Builds self-confidence.

37. Increases serotonin level, influences mood and behaviour.

38. Resolve phobias & fears

39. Helps control own thoughts

40. Helps with focus & concentration

41. Increase creativity

42. Increased brain wave coherence.

43. Improved learning ability and memory.

44. Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.

45. Increased emotional stability.

46. Improved relationships

47. Mind ages at slower rate

48. Easier to remove bad habits

49. Develops intuition

50. Increased Productivity

51. Improved relations at home & at work

52. Able to see the larger picture in a given situation

53. Helps ignore petty issues

54. Increased ability to solve complex problems

55. Purifies your character

56. Develop will power

57. Greater communication between the two brain hemispheres

58. Respond more quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.

59. Increases ones perceptual ability and motor performance

60. Higher intelligence growth rate

61. Increased job satisfaction

62. Increase in the capacity for intimate contact with loved ones

63. Decrease in potential mental illness

64. Better, more sociable behaviour

65. Less aggressiveness

66. Helps in quitting smoking, alcohol addiction

67. Reduces need and dependency on drugs, pills & pharmaceuticals

68. Need less sleep to recover from sleep deprivation

69. Require less time to fall asleep, helps cure insomnia

70. Increases sense of responsibility

71. Reduces road rage

72. Decrease in restless thinking

73. Decreased tendency to worry

74. Increases listening skills and empathy

75. Helps make more accurate judgments

76. Greater tolerance

77. Gives composure to act in considered & constructive ways

78. Grows a stable, more balanced personality

79. Develops emotional maturity

Spiritual benefits:

80. Helps keep things in perspective

81. Provides peace of mind, happiness

82. Helps you discover your purpose in life

83. Increased self-actualization.

84. Increased compassion

85. Growing wisdom

86. Deeper understanding of yourself and others

87. Brings body, mind, and spirit in harmony

88. Deeper Level of spiritual relaxation

89. Increased acceptance of one self

90. Helps learn forgiveness

91. Changes attitude toward life

92. Creates a deeper relationship with your God

93. Increases the synchronicity in your life

94. Greater inner-directedness

95. Helps living in the present moment

96. Creates a widening, deepening capacity for love

97. Discovery of the power and consciousness beyond the ego

98. Experience an inner sense of Assurance or Knowingness

99. Experience a sense of Oneness

100. Leads to enlightenment, and beyond!

DAMN EGO...

 I am

always in the middle of infinite love, it is my ego that tries to label
everything outside in.