WE CHOOSE

Two things define you; your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything. We choose. 

LEARNING FROM NATURE

Perceive the way of nature and no force of man can harm you. Do not meet a wave head on: avoid it. You do not have to stop force: it is easier to redirect it. Learn more ways to preserve rather than destroy. Avoid rather than check. Check rather than hurt. Hurt rather than maim. Maim rather than kill. For all life is precious nor can any be replaced.

TOUCH VS EMBRACE

Two monks had been in town and were returning to the monastery in the evening. It had rained and there were large puddles of water on the road sides. At one street a beautiful young woman was standing and appeared hesitant. She was unable to cross the street due to the water. The elder of the two monks approached her, lifted her, and set her down on the other side of the street. The monks then continued the journey back to the monastery. Later that evening, the younger monk asked the elder," Sir, as monks we cannot touch a woman?" The elder monk responded,"yes brother." The younger monk asked, " but then sir, how is it that you lifted that young woman on the roadside?" The elder monk smiled and said,"I lifted her to the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her."

It's not the thoughts that pass through our mind that determine our direction, but the ones we entertain. 

CONFUSED?

There are times when we do not know the answer to a question or the solution to a problem. That is when it is totally appropriate to say, "I don't know." Then we embark on finding or learning the answer. Confusion is quite different. Confusion doesn't come from not knowing. When we are confused, we have the information needed, it's just not organized. When confronted with decisions, if you 'don't know' then seek information. If you're confused, reexamine what you do know and reorganize the information, clarity will follow. 

THE ALLADIN FACTOR

Anything is possible if you dare to ask. So often the things that we want in our lives allude us for one very surprising and simple reason, we don't ask for them. From a deeper relationship to a better job and income, there are all sorts of desires that we hold deep within but never achieve, when the fact is, we haven't taken the most important step of all. It's been taught and written for centuries, 'ask and Ye shall receive.' This teaching applies in so many ways. Amazing things happen in our lives when we ASK for what we need or desire. This great power or secret is known as THE ALLADIN FACTOR. Are you lacking something you need or desire? Is something missing  in your life? Do you want more or something better? Try asking!

REMINDER ON THOUGHTS

It is wise to pause on a regular basis and inventory the themes of our thinking. We move in the direction of our thoughts. We become what we think about. Our subconscious mind does not process negatives. When we think or say, "I won't be nervous," our subconscious processes," be nervous" and it then helps us to be that way. Mother Teresa once related that she was invited to an anti-war rally and refused to go and said,"invite me to a peace rally and I'll attend." She understood the operation of the mind. 

Take your attention away from the things you do not want to see in your life, your environment, your community, society, the world. Turn your thoughts and your energy toward that which you want to see. Again, the subconscious does not process negatives, so if you continue to think about undesired  elements you are fueling them and creating more of the same. However, if you think on things that are desirable, uplifting, and empowering, that will become your nature and experience.  

CRITICISM

People who criticize others usually do so because they don't like themselves and believe that by tearing others down they are building themselves up. They sadly soon learn it doesn't work. When we throw dirt at others, we dig a deeper hole for ourselves. Often the traits or behaviors we are critical of in other people are the very things we need to correct in ourselves. If you find that you don't like someone, rather than attacking or criticizing them, take time for self examination. Ask yourself, "am I projecting on to them behaviors I possess and don't like?" Transform the need to criticize into an opportunity for personal change and growth. People who constantly criticize and speak negatively of you are people you do not need in your life. 

People who feel good about themselves want to make others feel good and don't need to knock the joy out of someone. Keep away from people who try to belittle  your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great!