A strange existence

I am very moved by this quote I just came across!

“The world that we create, recreates us. And it’s a very strange existence we live in now, and we don’t realize it’s strange. We adapt to it. It lives and breathes us.”

Adam Campbell

Not-knowing

Free your mind

Things that make me happy

Today’s post is dedicated to things lately that have made me happy, and that I am grateful for ♥

 

Nicole Cody’s Tibetan Singing Bowl – Healing Meditation

I adore Nicole’s guided meditations, and this one is something extra special.  I can still feel the beautiful humming energy of the singing bowl for a long time after finishing the meditation. It’s wonderful for shifting and clearing energy within your body and aura.

Pandora Radio

I only found Pandora Radio yesterday, and I LOVE it.  You can add the name of any particular song or artist that you like and it will create your own personalised radio station with similar songs.  This morning I am loving listening to music from Bob Marley, and The Big Chill.

Getting Unstuck – Pema Chodron Audiobook

A wonderful guide to stop repeating old and harmful patterns of thoughts and behaviour.  And I adore listening to Pema’s kind and compassionate and wise voice.

I would love to hear what things are making you all happy this week.

Blessings,

Meg

Everyday Wisdom #103

Whatever can be done, can be done more effectively when you add kindness.

Whatever words are spoken, will always be more compelling when expressed with kindness.

The kind deeds you exert in just one moment can have a positive impact that lasts a lifetime.

Your days will be brighter and your years fuller when you add kindness to your purpose.

Choose to be kind every day, and you’re truly choosing to live in a better world.

via www.marcandangel.com

Everyday Habits That Will Make You Happier

Happiness is a choice. The growing body of research is demonstrating that as we become happier, we become better people. As we become happier we become more compassionate, more creative, more energetic, more financially successful, more emotionally and physically healthy.

~ Naomi Simson, founder of “Red Balloon”

 

Though we may all have varied goals and paths, ultimately, we all have the same objective: happiness

Here are small changes that you can make to your daily routine that will immediately increase the amount of happiness in your life:

1. Expect the best
   Life usually lives up (or down) to your expectations.  Start each day with the expectation that something wonderful is going to happen – and chances are that it will!
2. Give something to everyone you meet
   Give a gift to each person that you come across today.  Give the gift of your smile, a kind word, or your full attention.  Not only will it make them feel happy, it will increase your happiness too!
3. Think the best of everyone
   We can never understand the “why” and “what” behind other people’s actions.  We can never understand fully what they are going through, or have been through.  By assuming the worst of others, we add unnecessary misery to life.  Assume that others have good intentions, and give them the opportunity to live up to those expectations!
   
4. Concentrate on the now
   One of the greatest barriers to happiness is worry.  Worry of what may happen in the future.  And the worry is usually based on things that are outside of your control.  Focus on the present moment, rather than what may (or may not!) happen in the future.  After all, here and now is when we live. We might live tomorrow as well. But who knows.
5. Eat well
   When we are busy it’s easy to skip meals, or get something quick (and unhealthy) on the go.  However our bodies – and minds – need regular nutritional food to function at our best.  This is something I am guilty of – not eating well, and then wondering why I feel so ordinary.  The simple (and amazing) truth is – the better we eat, the better we feel, and the better we function!
6. Give what you would like to receive
   This is a great practice that I find very beneficial.  If I am lonely, I try to provide companionship to others.  If I am sad, I try to make someone else happy.  Through generosity and giving of ourselves we find happiness.
7. Be thankful
   Each night before you go to sleep, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened through the day that you are grateful for.  No matter how big or small.  Or another idea – instead of reading my son a bedtime story, we sit and discuss all the things we were grateful for that day.  It’s a great way to connect.

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” ~Aristotle

Everyday Wisdom #103

Be honest with yourself

We can fool others, but we can’t fool ourselves.

Being honest with yourself brings freedom and self acceptance.

Respect yourself as you would want others to respect you.

Find your truths.

Follow your intentions.

And aspire to be a better person.

 

Everyday Wisdom #102

Listen well
Tell the truth
Say ‘I love you’ to those whom you do and ‘sorry’ when you are
Be grateful for this life

Everyday Wisdom #101

It seems like an old-fashioned concept these days, 

however fidelity is the basis for so many wonderful things.

Like:

Love

Friendship

Family

 

and perhaps, most importantly, it’s vital to be faithful to yourself.

To your intentions and beliefs.

Resilience

When life is at its hardest, our ability to make sense of our situation is the difference between giving up and finding a way to keep going.

Our words and intentions, and the way we relate our current difficulties to the experiences of those who have gone before us are all part of this process of making sense.  And this process of making sense ultimately leads to resilience.

It leads to an ability to work with adversity in such a way that we come through it unharmed… or even better for the experience.

It means we face life’s difficulties with courage.  With patience.  And we refuse to give up.

Resilience requires tenacity of spirit.  And a determination to embrace the positive, and find the joy, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

When we have a clear intention, and a strong sense of identity and purpose, then we become more resilient.

 

In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life. 
Albert Bandura

Everyday Wisdom #98

Know your heart.

It knows more than your mind can understand.

Listen to it.

Be open to it.

Let it guide you on the big decisions.

And always be true to it.

Everyday Wisdom #90

We can try to control our future – by looking for security, and predictability, and routine.

We can strive to always be comfortable, and safe, and avoid change.

However the basic truth is that we can never avoid uncertainty.  We can never avoid pain and suffering.

What we can do is ‘train’ for it.

Through meditation, and practising metta (loving kindness), and by developing compassion and equanimity.

Through these practices we will find that elusive stability within ourselves.

We can make that choice.

To find that stability within ourselves.  Or to do as we have always done, and live in fear.

“Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.” 
― Pema Chödrön

Everyday Wisdom #89

The following was my horoscope forecast for today.

Although it’s a horoscope, I felt it was really true of life in general.

 

All you really need is to be gentle, mindful, compassionate, caring and kind.
You can be patient, too. That will help.
Don’t underestimate the amount of power that you can manifest, just by being yourself

 

Everyday Wisdom #88

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.

Theodore Isaac Rubin

Everyday Wisdom #85

You are what your deep, driving desire is.

As your desire is, so is your will.

As your will is, so is your deed.

As your deed is, so is your destiny.

~ Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 

Everyday Wisdom #83

Stay in the eye of the hurricane where it is quiet, safe, and peaceful. You can help others and the world best from this centered location. 

Getting into the swirling chaos which surrounds you will only increase fear. Instead, encourage others to join you in the peaceful place.

Your encouragement comes from being at peace and exuding happy, loving energy. Others will be drawn to this energy and it will trigger their memories of being peaceful themselves. Once they see and feel your peacefulness, they will find their way.

From the peaceful place, we can take effective action to help other people, the environment, and all of the issues that need our attention right now. 

Doreen Virtue

Everyday Wisdom #81

My favourite 5 ideas for Personal Growth

• Do something every single day that excites you.
• Show some form of kindness to everyone you encounter.
• Face problems head-on and handle them quickly.
• Apologise when you need to and sometimes when you don’t.
• Take your coffee or tea outside in the morning and listen to the birds.

 

Everyday Wisdom #80

Do not fight against pain; do not fight against irritation or jealousy. Embrace them with great tenderness, as though you were embracing a little baby. Your anger is yourself, and you should not be violent toward it. The same thing goes for all your emotions.

Thich Nhat Hanh

 

 

Everyday Wisdom #79

Yoga for comfort

A forward bend – or uttanasana – is really good for generating a contemplative, and connective state within us.  It is also good for relieving headaches and nervous tension.

To achieve this pose, bend forward and reach for your toes.  Bring your head close to your knees.

 

Everyday Wisdom #77

Listening skilfully is challenging.

To listen fully – with complete attention is a discipline.  It requires attention, practice and resolve.

It requires gentle persistence.  And the ability and desire to get ourselves back on track with our attention wanders.  

And it requires an ability to listen not only to what is being said, but what is not being said.

Listening fully and deeply is something I am very passionate about, and passionate about learning more about .  So in coming weeks I will be exploring this topic further.  I would love to hear your experiences on this topic.

How are you a good listener?  What do you think makes a good listener?  

Be well my friends ♥

 

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”

— Ralph Nichols