The Wisdom of Fear - Honoring Life Changes

by Madisyn Taylor

Anything worth doing will always have some fear attached to it. For example, having a baby, getting married, changing careers—all of these life changes can bring up deep fears. It helps to remember that this type of fear is good. It is your way of questioning whether you really want the new life these changes will bring. It is also a potent reminder that releasing and grieving the past is a necessary part of moving into the new.

Fear has a way of throwing us off balance, making us feel uncertain and insecure, but it is not meant to discourage us. Its purpose is to notify us that we are at the edge of our comfort zone, poised in between the old life and a new one. Whenever we face our fear, we overcome an inner obstacle and move into new and life-enhancing territory, both inside and out. The more we learn to respect and even welcome fear, the more we will be able to hear its wisdom, wisdom that will let us know that the time has come to move forward, or not. While comfort with fear is a contradiction in terms, we can learn to honor our fear, recognizing its arrival, listening to its intelligence, and respecting it as a harbinger of transformation. Indeed, it informs us that the change we are contemplating is significant, enabling us to approach it with the proper reverence.

You might wish to converse with your fear, plumbing its depths for a greater understanding of the change you are making. You could do this by sitting quietly in meditation and listening or by journaling. Writing down whatever comes up—your worries, your sadness, your excitement, your hopes—is a great way to learn about yourself through the vehicle of fear and to remember that fear almost always comes alongside anything worth doing in your life.

Be childlike

"Be very, very simple, very un-complex, very natural, like very small happy children, undisturbed by what happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow, but living and enjoying the ever present Now to the very full. Never try to possess anything, never try to hold on to anything, because when you do, you cannot be simple and childlike, for you are full of fear, you are afraid of losing that which you are trying to cling on to. When you can open your hearts and share all the good and perfect gifts, which I pour down upon you, holding on to nothing, then you know the true meaning of the freedom of the Spirit and you really are free. When all is out in the open and you have nothing to hide, what a glorious feeling it is."

Eileen Caddy

Heart Healers

By Sally Kempton

http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2535

Set Love Free

I am having trouble letting go of a relationship that is over. We had a soul-mate connection but an unsatisfying and stormy relationship, yet I keep hoping that it's not quite over. I am still in love, and my instinct is to nurture the love. How do I let go?

In our culture there's a basic assumption that being in love means we are supposed to walk off into the sunset together. The truth is that two people can be close, love each other deeply and romantically, and not be suited to have a long-term relationship. In fact, having a soul-mate connection is not necessarily a good platform for a permanent relationship. If you accept the idea of karma, you can view that strong sense of connection as a sign that you share an intense karma from the past. The feeling of being soul mates can actually be the karmas drawing the two of you together so that you'll work out some unfinished business or help each other in some specific but limited way.

Paradoxically, being willing to accept the fact that you may not be a couple is the first step toward keeping the love while letting go of the suffering. There may still be pain—loss and endings are painful. By accepting the loss, however, you open the door for a different kind of flowering, between either you and this person or you and someone else.

So, here's my suggestion: Every time you feel the love and pain of the relationship, formally offer it up to the universe or to God. Do this over and over, and you'll begin to notice that your love is being freed of its clinging, possessive quality and becoming more a tender feeling.

When this happens, another possibility emerges. The soul-mate quality in the relationship can develop into a deep friendship. You can then free yourself from romantic expectations and the pain they engender, and genuinely wish the person well. That takes time and attentiveness to your own mind. I'd suggest working with your mind and heart through the following inner practices.

Set aside 30 minutes when you can be alone in your room or in nature. Go into your heart center. Imagine that this person is there with you and say, as if to him, "I release you. I offer our relationship and the love I have for you to the universe."

Stay with this thought or prayer until you feel a shift or release. There may be tears, emotional release, and pain. At some point you should get a sense of letting go. It doesn't have to be a big letting go—just a small release will do. Then, whenever you think of him, have the thought, "I release you and our relationship to the universe." Send him loving kindness by saying or thinking, "May you be happy; may you be healthy; may you be free." Whenever you wish him happiness, wish the same for yourself.

Second, along with that, I strongly suggest that you keep noticing the thoughts and fantasies that come up around this person. Practice seeing them as passing thoughts, instead of identifying with the thoughts and the patterns of feeling. Once you can see a thought as simply a thought—not necessarily a truth—the next step is to let it go. In Sanskrit, certain kinds of thoughts are calledvikalpahs, sometimes translated as "dreams" or "fantasies." One vikalpah that really hooks us is the dream of the perfect love, the perfect relationship. If we identify with that fantasy, it can become an escape for us—a kind of alternate universe that we enter over and over again, effectively preventing us from inhabiting the places and situations of our "real" lives. Fantasy keeps us out of the present. When we practice the mantra If only I were with him, I'd be happy, we make our happiness unreachable, unattainable, outside ourselves, and outside the moment in which we are living. Working with the thoughts—noticing the thought arising, recognizing it as simply a thought, then letting it go—begins to break this pattern and takes us back into our present.

***

The Bhakti Sutras, a great text of Indian devotional literature, teaches that any human emotion serves as a way to love God. God can be loved as a friend, as a parent, even as a child. And the sutras say that the most powerful form of devotional love is the romantic style of devotion, calledmadhura bhakti (literally, "sweet devotion"). The intensity and longing in romantic love creates a powerful fire in the heart. When that fire is turned inward and is directed toward God or toward the inner Self, then it can transform our character, open our heart, and move us into great depths of surrender and adoration. I'm telling you this as a prelude to suggesting a way to work with these fantasies.

There are two approaches to dealing with an impractical and potentially dangerous romantic passion. One way is through discipline, self-inquiry, and renunciation—in other words, by cutting off the fantasies when they arise. The other, more inclusive, path is the way of the ancient yoga philosophy known as Tantra. Tantra asks you to focus on the feelings behind the fantasies—the pure feeling of longing for love that we all possess. This longing is activated by our connection to another person, yet it is much larger than that individual. When we find it and follow it, the longing can lead us toward Essence itself.

Both approaches work: One uses discipline to remove the fantasy, and the other moves into and through the fantasy to the longing at its core. By attending to the call of your deepest desire, you can make your fantasies into pointers rather than ends in themselves.

The way of discipline is the basic practice of interrupting thoughts and fantasies, the way you would do in meditation. Begin by making a decision that when the fantasies arise, you'll interrupt them. You may have to do that again and again—perhaps every morning when you wake up. Remind yourself that you don't want to go down the road of fantasy. Explain to yourself that they distract you and ultimately cause suffering. Then, each time one comes up, imagine yourself offering it to a fire in your heart. Just keep offering your thoughts to the internal fire again and again. This is an essential meditative discipline that helps break any kind of cognitive pattern.

To try the Tantric approach, begin by finding a quiet place to sit that's free from distractions. Then spend some time bringing up the fantasies. Fully feel the emotions and inner sensations aroused by your fantasy romance: the pure longing, the pure sexual intensity, if that is how it manifests. Try to feel the sensation deep inside the core of your body. Then bring the sensation up into the heart area and hold your attention there, feeling the emotion expand. Imagine it as light.

At that point, totally remove the image or the fantasy of your dream lover. This is crucial. Instead, concentrate on the feeling state itself. Notice its flavors—perhaps aliveness, sadness, longing, heart-ache, love. Let yourself sit with the feeling state of your heart. 

Recognize that these are yourfeelings, your longings, your love. With that awareness, let the feeling state continue to shift and expand.

The result of this practice is the dawning recognition that what you really are after, what you really long for, is the felt state triggered by your romantic fantasies. The more you can touch the feeling state in your body while letting go of the image that triggered it, the more you'll begin to see that it is your own love, your own internally generated aliveness.

an your lover. Bring into your awareness the image of different people in your life—people whom you love, people whom you're annoyed by, people whom you've seen on TV, people who are suffering, people who are sick, people who are happy and well. One by one, bring those people into your heart space and hold them there within the feeling space that you've created. Or, if it feels more natural, imagine yourself breathing the feeling state into those people.

A second step with the Tantric approach might be to expand the feeling to include people other th

Let the romantic feeling spread to include as many others as you possibly can. Realize that the love you feel can be universal. When you allow your focused, personal affection to expand in that way, you can begin to recognize how many opportunities for loving there actually are in this world.

Take it one step further and acknowledge the truth that is at the heart of the bhakti or devotional path: Inside your feeling is God. A feeling of love—any feeling of love—is God. Be aware that this feeling within you is Divine Presence.

These two practices, the basic mind discipline and the Tantric, both help fantasies lose their stickiness. But the Tantric approach can help you open your heart to love's healing depths.

Speak with the language of love

Listen with the ears of tolerance
See through the eyes of compassion
Speak with the language of love.
Rumi
(Love u all) ♥

Twelve Points On Attitude

Twelve Points On Attitude

1. It is your attitude at the beginning of a task more than anything else that will determine your success or failure.
   
   
2. It is your attitude towards life that will determine life's attitude towards you. Despite many people's belief to the contrary, life plays no favorites.
   
   
3. You control your attitude. If you are negative it is because you have decided to be negative and not because of other people or circumstances.
   
   
4. Act as if you have a good attitude. Remember actions trigger feelings just as feelings trigger actions.
   
   
5. Before a person can achieve the kind of results he wants, he must first become that person. He must then think, walk, talk, act and conduct himself in all of his affairs, as would the person he wishes to become.
   
   
6. Treat everybody as the most important person in the world.
   
   
7. Attitudes are based on assumptions. In order to change attitudes one must first change one's assumptions.
   
   
8. Develop the attitude that there are more reasons why you should succeed than reasons why you should fail.
   
   
9. When you are faced with a problem, adopt the attitude that you can and will solve it.
   
   
10. We become what we think about. Control your thoughts and you will control your life.
    
    
11. Radiate the attitude of confidence, of well being, of a person who knows where he is going. You will then find good things happening to you right away.
    
    
12. In order to develop a good attitude, take charge first thing in the morning. Do you say, "Good morning, Lord" or "Good Lord, morning?"

Read these twelve points every day for the next 30 days and see how your life changes.

ATTITUDES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FACTS

--- Author Unknown

• http://www.motivateus.com/newsletters/2010-8-newsletter.htm 

Gazing Upon Goodness

The Importance of Seeing the Good in All

It is important to see the good in all as there are blessings in every aspect of our reality, and the potential for grace exists in all beings.

Our perception shapes the lives we lead because the universe adjusts itself almost instantly to our expectations. When we look for negativity, we are bound to come across it in abundance. Conversely, we create positive energy when we endeavor to see the goodness around us. As easy as it is to criticize the people and situations that frustrate or hurt us, we do ourselves a disservice in the process. It is important to see the good in all as there are blessings hiding in every aspect of our outer-world reality, and the potential for grace exists in all human beings. When our lives are flooded with challenges, grief, and pain, we may be tempted to believe that some individuals or incidents are simply bad. But if we look for the good in all, good reveals itself to us, easing our doubts and reminding us that the universe is a place of balance.

There is a perceptible energetic shift that takes place when we choose to see the good in all. The unnecessary tension that came into being when we dwelled on negativity fades away and is replaced by sympathetic tolerance. We can forgive those that have wronged us because we recognize in them traits we admire, and we may even discover that we can bring out the good in one another. Though loss still grieves us, we recognize the beginning of a new phase of existence that abounds with fresh opportunities. Each new challenge becomes another chance to prove ourselves, and we learn to show great patience in the face of difficulty. There are few pleasures greater than gazing outward and seeing beauty, wisdom, and harmony. These are the attributes of the universe that help us to cope when we encounter their opposing forces.

Since you create your reality, you make your world a better place each time you acknowledge the good in your circumstances and in the people you encounter. As you draw attention to the positive aspects of the world around you, your understanding of the affirmative nature of all existence will grow. There are few lessons you will learn in this life that will prove as instrumental to your happiness and satisfaction. In appreciating the all pervasive goodness that exists in the universe, you internalize it, making it a lasting part of your life. 

Daily OM

• http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2010/24151.html

The Magic of Guarding Your Vibration

by Kate Corbin

 

"There is nothing wrong with you that cannot be fixed by what is right with you." - Michael Neill 

To recognize your vibration as a precious treasure is merely to hint at its value and significance in your life. Even fame and fortune pale by comparison. Everything you experience comes to you in response to your vibration. To live the life you desire, it will serve you very well indeed to guard your vibration as your most prized possession.

 

Your vibration, which consists of your thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and feelings, is the state from which you attract people and circumstances into your life. A high vibration attracts what you DO want and a low vibration attracts what you DO NOT want. 

As I've become ever more vigilant about guarding my vibration, I've noticed a tendency to activate past memories of sadness and disappointment. With awareness of this negative habit, I am now able to make a conscious choice to "not go there." With this awareness, I can swiftly replace sad thoughts with joyful, empowering thoughts. 

Here are some ways to guard YOUR precious vibration: 

Be Conscious. To be a Conscious Creator, it follows that you must be fully conscious, which means no more sleepwalking through life. With consciousness and awareness, you create deliberately rather than by default. Manage your vibration with conscious awareness and BE the Deliberate Creator you truly are.

 

Think Good Thoughts. You have a choice in every moment what kinds of thoughts to think and you create your reality based on this moment-to-moment choice. Thinking good thoughts produces good feelings which attracts good stuff. Be the gatekeeper and refuse to allow negative thoughts to enter your kingdom.

 

Focus on Positive Aspects. Set your intention to focus on the positive aspects in everyone and everything. 

Focus on what you DO WANT, not on what you DON'T WANT. Focus on what feels good, not what feels bad. Focus on the abundance, not the scarcity. Continuously seek out the most positive aspects of your life and consciously direct your attention there. 

Notice How You Feel. Remember to be extra vigilant about guarding your vibration when you're hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (good advice from AA). Taking good care of your vibration is also the best thing you can do for your health. When you think Feel-Good thoughts, your body releases Feel-Good chemicals into your system. 

Protecting your vibration is not a passive activity. It's a proactive exercise to keep tuning and retuning your vibration to what FEELS GOOD. It's a conscious commitment to keep focusing and refocusing on what you DO WANT.

 

When all is said and done, creating a wonderful life is simply a matter of choosing wonderful thoughts. As you guard your vibration by reaching for the best feeling thoughts you can find in each moment, you're creating the wonderful life you desire and deserve - one thought at a time. 

TO HAVE THE BEST DAY EVER,
THINK THE BEST THOUGHTS EVER!

 

Kate Corbin

Love your fate

“Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called “the love of your fate.” Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment—not discouragement—you will find the strength is there. Any disaster that you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.”

~ Joseph Campbell from A Joseph Campbell Companion


Wow. That’s worth a re-read (or four).
I don’t know about you, but “the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage” have been the incidents that have shaped the life I have now. (I share some of these moments in my Note on Joseph Campbell.)


Love your fate.
Remember Uncle Joe’s sage advice: “Whatever the hell happens,” … say, “This is what I need.”
And, most importantly, “Follow your bliss. The heroic life is living the individual adventure.”


…


“In my world, nothing ever goes wrong.” ~ Wayne Dyer
“What does not destroy me, makes me stronger.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Quote from the Note: “Follow your bliss. The heroic life is living the individual adventure.”
~ Joseph Campbell from A Joseph Campbell Companion

by Brian Johnson

The Magic of a Defenite Chief Aim

by Kate Corbin

"Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" asked Alice.

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," replied the Cat.

- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

The term, Definite Chief Aim, comes from the success philosophy of Napoleon Hill - especially his landmark books, The Law of Success (1928) and Think and Grow Rich (1937). Thirty years ago, my boyfriend's mother gave me a copy of Think and Grow Rich. The boyfriend didn't last long but the gift from his mother started me on a lifelong journey of discovery into the power of thought. I remember the thrill of recognition I felt upon first reading these words:

"Truly, thoughts are things, and powerful things at that when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches, or other material objects."

A strongly held Definite Chief Aim transforms your mind into a powerful magnet which attracts the people and circumstances necessary for you to accomplish your desire. It's the first step in turning invisible desires into visible reality. Without a clear direction, it's all too easy to drift through life, like a ship without a rudder. The Magic of a Definite Chief Aim helps you organize, direct and harness the infinite power of your mind.

Once you have clarity about what you want and why you want it, you're ready to follow these Steps to Attain Your Definite Chief Aim:

1) Write a Clear Description of your Definite Chief Aim. Years ago, before Arnold Schwarzenegger had made his mark on Hollywood, he stated his Definite Chief Aim: "I am going to be the number-one box-office star in all of Hollywood." Explaining how he intended to accomplish this feat, he said: "What you do is create a vision of who you want to be and then live into that picture as if it were already true." Years later, in 1991, receipts from Terminator II confirmed Schwarzenegger to be the most popular box office draw in the world, thus successfully accomplishing his Definite Chief Aim.

2) Include a Clear Statement of What You Intend to Give in Return. As I'm sure you agree, there's no such thing as something for nothing. To get what you want, it's important to decide what you will give in return. Oprah's Definite Chief Aim has been to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people. Per Oprah, "As far back as I can recall, my prayer has been the same: Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself." Oprah has achieved phenomenal success for herself and others by focusing on a purpose greater than herself.

3) Believe You Can and Will Attain It. What you attain is limited only by your capacity to believe you can have it. To believe you can have what you want, keep thinking thoughts of having what you want. Magnetize your mind with positive affirmations. Visualize, imagine and feel yourself already in possession of your desire. In 1987, Jim Carrey was a struggling comic and part-time dishwasher, dreaming of fame and fortune. In addition to affirmations and visualizations, he wrote himself a check for $10 million and dated it Thanksgiving 1995, adding the notation "for acting services rendered." In the Fall of 1995, he did in fact reach his Definite Chief Aim when he signed a $10 million contract to film "The Mask."

4) Take Inspired Action. Tune in to guidance and inspiration from your Non-Physical Partner. When you listen to your inner voice and follow the guidance you receive, you are truly co-creating with Source. You don't have to do it all alone. Your intuition will lead you step by step in the direction of your Definite Chief Aim.

5) Persevere. To accomplish your Definite Chief Aim, you must stay the course. If your Definite Chief Aim is based on a burning desire for its achievement, you will be able to persevere through doubts and difficulties. Remember that the dominating thoughts of your mind WILL transform themselves into physical reality. Thomas Edison had a Definite Chief Aim to create the electric light bulb. He persevered through 10,000 failed attempts before successfully realizing his dream.

"If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?"

- from the movie, South Pacific

Vitalize and thoroughly saturate your mind with your Definite Chief Aim. Concentrate on the end result as you see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of it. Your Definite Chief Aim is a blueprint that will lead you, step by step, toward its attainment. It's a bridge between your dream and your reality. Remember to keep your vibration high while following the above steps and you'll joyfully engage The Magic of A Definite Chief Aim!

Kate Corbin

The Power of Positive Thoughts

“Reach for thoughts that feel good so that what comes always feels good.” – Abraham-Hicks

Several years ago I was watching The Secret with a group of friends.  Whenever anyone had a question or a comment, we would pause to discuss it. When Michael Beckwith stated it has been scientifically proven that an affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought, I hit pause. 

I liked the idea, of course, that a positive thought is more powerful than a negative thought, but I needed some support, some basis for accepting that it was true. As my friends and I expressed various viewpoints, I had an Aha! Moment – The Emotional Guidance Scale! Because our thoughts produce our emotions, the Emotional Guidance Scale clarifies why a positive thought is more powerful than a negative thought. 

Take a look at the Emotional Guidance Scale from the book, Ask and It Is Given, by Jerry and Esther Hicks: 

Joy / Knowledge / Empowerment / Freedom / Love / Appreciation
Passion
Enthusiasm / Eagerness / Happiness
Positive Expectation / Belief
Optimism
Hopefulness
Contentment
Boredom
Pessimism
Frustration / Irritation / Impatience
“Overwhelment”
Disappointment
Doubt
Worry
Blame
Discouragement
Anger
Revenge
Hatred / Rage
Jealousy
Insecurity / Guilt / Unworthiness
Fear / Grief / Depression / Despair / Powerlessness 

As we move up the scale from negative thoughts and emotions such as fear, guilt, and depression to positive thoughts and emotions such as optimism, enthusiasm, and passion, we are moving from less power to more power. You know how drained and lethargic you feel when you’re sad or depressed. That’s because these negative, low vibrational feelings have very little power. It’s all about power. In fact, full empowerment is the most positive emotion and powerlessness is the most negative emotion. As we climb the emotional scale, we feel more and more energized. When our positive thoughts take us all the way up to joy, love, and appreciation, we really feel the juice. 

Knowing that our positive thoughts are hundreds of times more powerful than our negative thoughts removes the concern we might have previously felt when a negative thought comes up for us. In fact, if we worry about having negative thoughts, our attention to them actually creates more negativity. Now that negative thoughts have been exposed as the energy-zappers they are, we can replace them and refuse to let them bring us down. As we continue to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts, we increase our power to consciously create our lives in accordance with our desires.  That's the Power of Positive Thoughts!

Kate Corbin

The Magic of Joyful Relationships

by Kate Corbin

"Shower the people you love with love."

- James Taylor

As most of us have experienced, relationships can bring us our greatest joys as well as our deepest sorrows. Relationships are such an integral part of our lives that the quality of our relationships often determines the overall quality of our lives. How, then, can we experience relationships that lift us up rather than drag us down? By exposing limiting beliefs and replacing them with empowering beliefs, we can all experience the Magic of Joyful Relationships.

To consciously create the happy, healthy relationships we desire, let's start by taking a look at:

WHAT DOES NOT CREATE JOYFUL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Blaming and Complaining. The more we focus on the unwanted aspects of others, the more unwanted aspects we elicit from them. Ouch!

• Expecting Others to Make Us Happy. When our happiness or unhappiness is dependent on the behavior of others, we give away both our power and our freedom. :-(

• Trying to Change / Fix / Control Others. If we need others to change so that we can feel good, we are definitely looking for happiness in all the wrong places.

There's got to be a better way.

WHAT DOES CREATE JOYFUL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Feel Good First. Being independently happy and determined to keep our own vibration high is the perfect platform for creating great relationships. As we know from Law of Attraction, feeling good IS the most important thing.

• Self-Love First. If we want others to love, value, and appreciate us, we must love, value, and appreciate ourselves first. Period.

• Source First. When we tend to our primary relationship with our Inner Being / Source / God, then all our other relationships will be harmonious.

• Think and Thank. As we think of things we appreciate about others and express that appreciation often, we deepen and sweeten our connection with them.

• Look for Positive Aspects. When we focus on the positive qualities of others, they will display more of their positive qualities, at least with us! :-) It helps to remember this: At their core, EVERYONE is Pure, Positive Energy.

• Tell a New Story. We can free ourselves from past hurts and painful memories by talking about relationships the way we want them to be. We can get unstuck by telling a new, improved story, such as: All my relationships are joyful!

Now that we've shined a light on the major factors behind relationship woes and relationship bliss, let's turn our attention to what Law of Attraction considers the key to manifesting wonderfully harmonious relationships:

DIRECTING OUR THOUGHTS

Although we have no real control over what others are doing, we have complete control over our own thoughts and, happily, that is all we need. Our thoughts determine who we attract into our lives and our thoughts determine how these people behave once they get there.

Good relationships are creations. As we direct our thoughts exclusively and consistently toward what we DO WANT in relationships, we begin consciously and deliberately creating the relationships of our dreams.

As we maintain a strong connection with Source, love ourselves and others, appreciate rather than judge, live our lives as we see fit and let others do the same, accept full responsibility for our own happiness, feel as good as we can in every moment, and direct the power of our thoughts toward the positive aspects of others, we are applying the Law of Attraction to create delightful, delicious relationships. When we do these things, we are sure to experience the Magic of Joyful Relationships.

5 Steps to Stress Relief

If you often find yourself struggling with the effect stress has on your physical and emotional well-being, follow the following 5 steps to stress relief:

1. Acknowledge it. It sounds simple, doesn't it? It might even sound futile. But taking a moment to admit to yourself that something is stressing you out is the first step in letting go of it. As women, studies show that we often take on more than we can handle. By acknowledging that an extra activity will put more added stress on an already hectic lifestyle, you can balance out the pros and cons and make a decision that's right for you.

2. Get a massage. I don't mean one of those extravagant, $200 massages with a hunky Swiss masseuse (though that might be something to put on your birthday list!), but the kind of stress-relieving, muscle-relaxing rubs that husbands and boyfriends are great at providing. And don't underestimate the power of bribery in obtaining these... "If you rub my feet for 10 minutes, I'll... [insert pleasurable activity of choice] for 15." No man can resist!

3. Laugh. You've just had a huge argument with your boss. Your mother called for the third time this week to ask if you're pregnant yet. Your son's teacher called you in to discuss his habit of peeing on walls. When you're stressed, even the smallest annoyance can seem like one more added pressure that you're not able to cope with. So forget about it for a while. Grab a good friend or family member and watch a funny sitcom together. Or a romantic comedy. Or a cartoon. Read the funny pages, or share a good joke. The more you laugh, the more mood-enhancing endorphins you'll produce!

4. Sleep. Not getting 8 hours of sleep every night? You should. If you're already exhausted when you head in to work, you'll be less likely to be able to handle whatever life might throw at you that day. If you have small children, sleeping through the night might seem like a luxury you don't have. Try napping during the afternoon when they do, even if it's just for half an hour. It'll do wonders for your mood, your stress levels, and your patience.

5. Pamper yourself. Do something that makes you feel good, something only for you. Buy a new romance novel and curl up with it after everyone else is asleep. Garden, scrapbook, paint, write. Do whatever brings you joy.

By Ritu Malhotra  

6 Powerful Tips for Effective Manifesting

Manifesting is an art. It’s not a complicated one. You don’t need to go to art school to learn it. There are no more hoops you have to jump through to “get it”.

Actually, a part of you remembers how to do it, because it is your natural state. Conscious manifesting/deliberate creation is allowing yourself to receive the joy and abundance that is inherently yours.

All you desire is already available to! It’s a matter of aligning your consciousness and way of being with your intentions and allowing.

REMEMBER: You are manifesting all the time. The question is, are you manifesting what you truly desire? What helps you feel good? What helps you know peace? What helps you know freedom?

You can manifest on purpose, using the power of your conscious mind and choice to create what you desire.

6 Powerful Tips for Effective Manifesting:

1. Get clear about what you want and declare it.
2. Visualize it, feel it. Really get into this. Close your eyes and allow the emotion of what you desire to be present with you in the now. Do this every day.
3. Act as if. Identify how a person would act if they were in the experience you desire. What would their daily habits be? How would they walk? How would they talk? What would they think? What action would they take? How would they feel? Write it down. Then act that way.
4. Give thanks. Gratitude has so many benefits to your life, one being that it is a high magnetizing vibration that helps you manifest what you desire.
5. Allow. Let yourself receive the magnificence you are designed for.
6. Feel good*. Like gratitude, feeling good will help you attract more because of the high vibrations you are naturally in when you are in this *Feel Good* state.

By Kendra

Cheer Up!

Smile, it is cool!

Have no Fear! Love is here!

And her name is Ashley and you better release your fears, otherwise she’s going to pick up one of those boulders and crush them!

Ashley’s such a natural, we asked her to do a shout out, and she had us dying laughing she’s so cute. (Check out her pink Minnie shirt and white glasses!) Then we put the camera on her and she got a little shy.

But I’m including anyway!

Her parents were so cool and helpful and really loved the idea behind CHEERUPNATION; it’s the least I can do. Listen closely, and you can hear Ashley’s dad coaching her on.

Her shout out goes to her Aunt “Ai” in Taiwan.

Oh, and look for her signature “wiggle” move at the end.

Enjoy!

Stars: Ashley, 4. Taipei, Taiwan.

…

Spread the love and make your kid the STAR! Grab a quote, make a sign, take a picture, and email to cheerupnation@yahoo.com!

This is a smile parade and Jimena’s leading it!

(Check out the cute SMILE sticker).

Stars: Jimena, 3, North Hollywood. LA, CA. USA.

Stars: Sienna, 9 months, my daughter. LA, CA. USA.

Stars: Lindsay & Alexa, 8. LA, CA. USA.

Stars: George, 3. LA, CA. USA. (Thanks, Ani!)

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw

From Cheer Up Nation!

Our story is simple. Everywhere it seems there’s a lot of unhappy people living unhappy lives, unhappily. We asked “WHY?” Then we grabbed some signs and hit the streets. And we recruited a small team to help us out.

One by one, then fiddy, then a hundred, we will cheer you UP. Then your friends, then your friend’s friends, then your friends’ friends’ friends’ friend to create a huge ripple and FLOOD THIS WORLD WITH BEAUTY! It doesn’t matter if you’re stuck in a job you hate, live alone with six cats, or your favorite color’s black, we will find you. You will smile.

Bio:

Site was created by Brian M Papa, a good guy trying to put a little magic back into the world. Laid off from his job, he flipped gears two weeks later and launched this site to cheer people up. He celebrates life with his wife Ana Paula and their eight month old daughter, Sienna. He shares his (PG-15) family life here. Additionally, he has written for T. Rowe Price. (Okay, that’s the formal bio. THIS is the real Brian Papa!)

The choice is YOURS

You either gotta get busy living,
or get busy dying.

-- from Shawshank Redemption


By Richard Sauerman - Wakeup Tiger Blog

Improve Your Luck

By Janice Taylor

Luck is thought to happen by chance; it’s not thought to be something you can plan for or obtain by intention. Some say luck is decided by our fates, or believe that some fortunate souls are mysteriously born under a lucky star.

At quick glance, it might look like there is truth to that. After all, some people’s lives overflow with abundance, vitality, successful careers, and loving relationships.

However, luck is not just a random event. Webster’s Dictionary defines luck as “a force that brings good fortune or adversity; a force that operates for or against an individual.” So, if luck is a force, you should be able to tap into it … at any time!

After a great deal of research and experimentation, I am here to tell you that there are ways in which you can tap into positive force and improve your luck. Indeed, luck is the product of our own mental focus and attitudes. Imagine now that by changing your focus, you can intentionally increase the amount of luck you experience in all areas of life.

Tune in to Your Gut

Nearly all of the lucky people I’ve met said they trust their intuition and pay close attention to their gut feelings. A good way to increase your ability to "hear" your gut is to empty your mind. Meditation is one way to effectively clear your mind and tune in to your gut. After all, it’s difficult to hear your intuitive self when your mind is overflowing with thoughts and to-do lists.

Face Your Fears

The only way to get beyond a fear is to march straight through it. Otherwise, you will either create a terribly long, circuitous route around it, or you will let your fear totally block your life path. If you hide from your fears, you are hiding from new opportunity that might be waiting for you. So stare down your fears and get back to your life.

Expect the Best

It’s called the Pygmalion Effect: you get what you expect, and lucky people expect the best. They are certain that their future is going to be full of good fortune. And these expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies. Ask around and you’ll find that “lucky” and “unlucky” people have astoundingly different expectations.

Chant to Change Your Karma

You can open yourself up to the forces of positive luck by chanting a mantra. A mantra is a religious or mystical syllable, poem, word, or series of words that is chanted either aloud or silently. When chanted, mantras become vibrations that establish deep concentration in the chanting person. Chanting is, in one sense, the most ancient method of using affirmations to bring about changes in your life.

Be Curious

The more curious you are, the more available you will be to possibility and the "luckier" you will become. Open your eyes, look around, and ask questions. Assume nothing! Curiosity will lead you down roads that you might not otherwise have traveled. You just never know how you might bump into, what opportunity might present itself, or what positive change you will affect through your creative and curious mind.

Take Baby Steps

Success does not happen overnight. In truth, it takes a lot of work to move forward, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. The best and most effective way to accomplish what you want, to stay open to the lucky forces of the universe, is to take your dreams one small baby step at a time.

Try It: Who Knows What Might Happen!

Two of the best ways to "be lucky" are to be willing to take calculated risks and to embrace unexpected opportunities. Try new things. Go new places. Don’t just do the things for which you know the eventual outcome. Stretch yourself. Go outside your comfort zone!

Visualize the Lucky You

See yourself as a lucky person, someone who simply gets what they want. Visualize that your soul’s windows are open, fresh air is pouring in, and with it the positive energy of the universe. See yourself in detail. Experience the feelings of a "lucky" person. Take in every detail.

Stay Motivated

To get and stay lucky, you need to live from a place of motivation. You’ll want to hang out with people who are on similar upward spiral tracks. Read books that inspire. (might I humbly suggest, All is Forgiven, Move On by Janice Taylor, it's a great one!)

Giving Up is Not an Option

Fact: the luckiest and most successful people are the ones who have failed over and over and over again, but did not give up. No, they learned from their failures; filed them away as "feedback," and then they forged ahead. "Unlucky" people write themselves off. "Lucky" people keep on going!

Ask for What You Want

It’s no accident that those who are lucky and get what they want, actually ask for it! Trust your desires and make requests without apology. Go for it! And if your request is turned down, consider the answer to be a temporary "no." It’s okay to ask for what you want again, later, at a different time.

Clear the Clutter

Clutter can be anything that you no longer use, need, like, love, or appreciate. Clear it out of your path. I suspect that we all have too many possessions, unhealthy habits, antiquated beliefs, and old emotions that drain us. It is energizing, invigorating, and healing to free ourselves of clutter. Clear the way and invite good luck in!

And When All Else Fails...

Get yourself a good luck charm; I highly recommend authentic four-leaf clover. Or... Step in a shadow! Or... Place sugar in your cup before the teabag. And last, but finally not least, for those of you who are willing to take risks and go out on a limb, wear your clothing inside-out. All these superstitions are guaranteed to improve your luck – as well as receive attention and some stares from onlookers, for sure!

By Janice Taylor

Giữ gìn con mắt trong

Trích "Thành Kiến"

Tổ tiên ta thường khuyên “thấy sao để vậy”, hãy nhìn đúng sự vật sự việc như chính nó đang biểu hiện ra, chứ đừng nhìn như chính tâm trạng hay kinh nghiệm mình đang có. Cái đó là cái nhìn của con mắt trong, con mắt không bị bụi đời làm vẩn đục. Từ lâu rồi, ta đã quên sử dụng con mắt thật thà và hồn nhiên vốn có của mình. Nhìn nhau bằng con mắt ấy ta thấy dễ chịu và gần gũi hơn, cơ hội thấu hiểu và thương yêu nhau sẽ dễ xảy ra hơn. Cần có một đời sống tỉnh thức và bản lĩnh.

Ta nên nhớ là bản chất của vạn sự vạn vật là vô thường, thì con người cũng vô thường và kinh nghiệm cũng vô thường. Trong quá khứ người kia còn nhiều vụng về lầm lỡ thì bây giờ họ có thể đã thay đổi rất nhiều, ta hãy cho họ có một cơ hội được sống với con người mới trước ta, và ta hãy tự cho mình một cơ hội sống bằng tâm thức mới trước họ.

Sống với một người không biết ghi nhận những chuyển biến của mình, không thấy được mình đang có những nếp nhăn trên trán hay những khó khăn bế tắc trong lòng, để có một lời an ủi hay giúp đỡ kịp thời, thì đời sống ấy sẽ rất nhàm chán. Đó cũng là lý do tại sao mỗi khi ta gặp một người mới thì ta rất hân hoan vui sướng và muốn duy trì mãi giây phút được quan sát bằng con mắt không thành kiến. Đời sống vốn xuôi theo chiều hối hả, con người lại bị ảnh hưởng quá nhiều bởi kỹ thuật điện tử nên rất dễ trở thành kẻ sống hời hợt và cứng nhắc, cái gì lưu trữ vào não bộ của mình rồi thì không dễ gì lấy ra. Lối sống ấy là lối sống nhút nhát và tụt hậu, không can đảm mở lòng ra để cập nhật thông tin mới nhất từ đối phương, thì đừng hỏi tại sao sống với nhau mà không thể hiểu và thương nhau. Hiểu và thương là một quá trình luyện tập chứ không chỉ là vấn đề của ý chí.

Vì trong khi sử dụng kinh nghiệm cũ thì ta thường không còn thiện chí để tìm hiểu khám phá thêm, mà kinh nghiệm cũ dù hay ho tới đâu cũng không bao giờ diễn đạt hết về thực tại. Cho nên giới hạn lối dùng kinh nghiệm cũ một cách máy móc là để ta không bị nó khống chế và cũng để ta trau dồi kỹ năng khám phá, sáng tạo. Bởi bản chất của con người và vũ trụ này luôn kỳ bí, ta phải có một con mắt trong suốt, vững vàng thì mới hy vọng tìm ra đáp số đúng.

Mỗi ngày ta hãy tập ngồi yên để thanh lọc lại kinh nghiệm vừa mới tích góp của mình. Nếu kinh nghiệm đó không có tính chất nuôi dưỡng khả năng hiểu biết và thương yêu thì ta không cần phải để nó chiếm quá nhiều dung lượng tâm thức. Những kinh nghiệm nào chỉ tồn tại như một thói quen ngẫu nhiên, trong vô thức mà ta đã lưu trữ, thì hãy đem nó ra phân tích và buông bỏ từ từ. Mỗi khi tiếp xúc với bất kỳ đối tượng nào, ta cũng luôn tự nhắc nhở hãy nhìn vào thái độ của mình, xem mình có đeo mắt kính màu hồng thiện cảm hay mắt kính màu đen ác cảm không? Nếu có thì sớm tìm cách dừng lại cuộc tiếp xúc đó mà trở về chỉnh đốn lại tâm lý của mình. Bằng lối sống tỉnh thức như thế, ta sẽ luôn có cơ hội nâng cấp nhận thức, mở rộng tầm nhìn, không để nó bị chai cứng hay xói mòn chỉ vì những quyền lợi ích kỷ nhỏ nhen.

Sự an bình và thảnh thơi của tâm hồn chỉ thật sự hiện bày ra khi nào những phiền não trong ta rơi rụng xuống.

Nhìn bằng mắt trong suốt
Không kẹt kinh nghiệm xưa
Mở lòng thêm hiểu biết
Như đất gặp cơn mưa.

MINH NIỆM

Dreaming Peace: Your Thoughts Can Change the World

by Nori Muster




Learn from history. America has a tradition of optimism, honesty, good will, and common sense that may help us in the new century.

Dreaming Peace:
Your Thoughts Can Change the World
by Nori Muster

Frontmatter
Author's Statement
A short introduction with links to good positive thinking books.
America's Tradition of Positive Thinking
Read about the history of American optimism, beginning with Ralph Waldo Emerson.
World History of Positive Thinking
This essay traces the philosophy back to Ancient Greece, and fills in more detail on the tradition in America.

How it Works
Read these chapters to learn the secrets of this ancient science. Also, learn what not to do, and how positive thinking is commonly misunderstood and misused.

Part I: Autosuggestion

Part II: Positive Mental Attitude

Part III: Responsibility

Part IV: Solve Collective Problems

Workbook: Change the World
Do something practical to create a peaceful world. You can start with the workbook questions that accompany this short, educational book.

Resources
Timeline | Quotations | End Notes

• http://norimuster.com/writing/positivethinkingbook.html

Revolutionary Positive Thinking

Revolutionary Positive Thinking actually delves into your subconscious to show you why you're not living the positive, abundant, and joyful life you deserve.

Most self-help books only tell you to stop stressing out, relax, or try deep breathing.

They don't tell you the real secret of finding happiness, good health, satisfying relationships, peace of mind, and even wealth.

When you learn these secrets, you'll be able to improve your overall health, get rid of your fears and that infamous "defeatist attitude," and bounce back faster after a loss or a traumatic event.

You'll learn how to trust in yourself and in your decisions, and free yourself from frustration, depression, stress, and anxiety.

In this book, you will discover a new source of energy that will allow you to enjoy more loving, happy relationships and eliminate the obstacles that are keeping you from attaining all the abundance you'll ever need.

1. Introduction 2. Positive Thinking and Relationships 3. Positive Thinking at Work: Happy Employees = Productive Employment 4. Positive Thinking & Happy Children: How to Build Their Self-Esteem 5. Positive Thinking And Your Health: Are You Making Yourself Sick? 6. You Are What You Believe You Are 7. How to Stay Motivated! 8. Are You An Optimist Or A Pessimist? 9. Got Problems? Congratulations, You’re Alive! 10. Expect Miracles 11. Positive Thinking Hawaiian Style:The Seven Principles of Huna

A Bold Technique That Creates Miracles

Hawaiian Teachings of Ho’oponopono: Ancient Healing Technique

Dr. Hew Len, PhD is a psychologist who healed all of the criminally insane in a mental hospital in Hawaii without seeing a single patient.

After reading their charts he would repeat the four lines to “The Divine.”
I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. After Dr. Len healed the patients that ward of the hospital was closed.

Problems that show up in our minds are replayed memories of our past. The Ho’oponopono method erases toxic thoughts and painful memories.

This method requires us to believe all problems begin with “me.” I have to take 100% responsibility for or having a problem or situation in my life.

“I am sorry for the erroneous thoughts within me that have caused the problem for me and for ____________. (fill in the blank with name of person you would normally blame for the problem.)”-Dr. Len

When we own the problem and repeat the four lines our despair in the situation turns to love. Love creates miracles.

There is no need to worry or focus on the situation or other person because when I cleanse our own thoughts the other will heal as I heal myself.

Again the main component of Ho’oponopono is if the issue or problem person is in my experience I am responsible.

I have been using this method with my family, friends and and neighbors. I have used it with situations such as the war, the economy, my aging parents and their ailments.

When my daughter is angry at me I repeat the four lines. When I disagree with someone I repeat the four lines. When someone cuts me off in traffic, I repeat the four lines. When I don’t have enough knowledge to make my blog a success I repeat the four lines. When I don’t get Twitter I repeat the four lines.

Doing this cleanses my mind. I will then be in a place where I can be inspired by God, the Divine, or the Universe.

Dr. Len says you can repeat the lines to animals, your body, and innate objects. For example before a workshop he will say them in relationship to the room and the chairs. It cleans or clears the air.

By now you get the picture: I love you. I’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. Say it repeatedly throughout your waking hours. Your miracles await you!

You will experience wonder in every moment.
Your level of love for yourself will go to a new level.
Your experience of love for the world will be profound.

Click here for more info. www.hooponopono.org and www.businessbyyou.com

Link source:
http://theboldlife.com/2009/06/a-bold-technique-that-creates-miracles/