Don't Resist the NOW

“To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. This state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a certain way, good or bad. It seems almost paradoxical, yet when your inner dependency on form is gone, the general conditions of your life, the outer forms, tend to improve greatly. Things, people, or conditions that you thought you needed for your happiness now come to you with no struggle or effort on your part, and you are free to enjoy and appreciate them - while they last. All those things, of course, will still pass away, cycles will come and go, but with dependency gone there is no fear of loss anymore. Life flows with ease.”
― Eckhart Tolle

 

What is resistance to life and how does it apply to us? We all resist many things in life- more often than not. There is the old saying “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.” This doesn’t mean to not have goals and strive for great things and favorable circumstances. But we all know that all of those things are not attainable all of the time. Much of life is circumstances we do not prefer or do not like. It is all essentially up to you if you are a happy individual or not. The happiness is a choice of how you perceive the world and choose to interpret situations around you. We often find ourselves in places we do not want to be or people we don’t want to be around, but we have to be there anyway, don’t we. Most of us have to work, since most of us are not instant scratch of lottery winners or trust fund babies. Letting go of resistance to the now is allowing the now to transform into something better than we had allowed it to be before. If you must be at work- be there- and be there now. What that means is to be present in the moments that are now. Make the most of your day as a choice and be present in the work you do and the people you interact with. Most of us in conversation are never really present in who we are talking to or what we are talking about. We focus on what is in our minds such as grocery lists and what we might do later that day or on the weekend. We are never really present with who we are with or what we are doing. Our focus is on the past, the future, or the thoughts our minds. The mind is always on, but you could be missing something interesting NOW. You could be creating sincere conversations and work situations. If you are at the doctor’s office in the waiting room- make the most out of it. Don’t dwell on waiting- do something fun in the present moment. Bring a great book to read or something to do. You have to be there anyway.

My personal least favorite are the grocery store, the post office and the gas station. I try to remove myself from my own egoic mind and be where I am. Smile at the other people there and say hello. Be in the moment wherever you are no matter where you are. You always have the choice to make the most of your situation. You don’t not have to be trapped in the mind with your constant thoughts and miss the life that goes on around you now. I’d rather be on a yacht on the Greek isles right now eating feta cheese and olives….but I am not. I am here in the present moment- and choosing to be Present- wherever I am. Enjoy the NOW wherever you are and make the most of the time we have-which is the present.

Change Your Relationship With The NOW

The Zen master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan. He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching. Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next door neighbor became pregnant. When being questioned by her angry and scolding parents as the identity of the father, she finally told them that he was Hakuin, the Zen Master. In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting accusation that the daughter bad confessed that he was the father. All he was replied was “is that so?”

News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond. The master lost his reputation. This did not trouble him. No one came to see him anymore. He remained unmoved. When the child was born, the parents brought him to Hakuin. “You are the father so you look after him.” The Master took loving care of the child. A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop. In great distress they went and apologized to Hakuin and asked for forgiveness. “We are really sorry. We have come to take the baby back. Our daughter confessed that you are not the father.”  “Is that so>” is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.

The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way. “Is that so?” He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so he does not become a participant in human drama. TO him there is only this moment, and the moment is as it is. He is nobody’s victim. He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore. Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness.

Imagine briefly how the ego would have reacted during the various stages of the unfolding of these events.

Ego and the Present Moment

The most important, the primordial relationship in your life is your relationship with the Now, or rather with whatever form the now takes, that is to say, what is or what happens. If your relationship with the Now is dysfunctional, that dysfunction will be reflected in every relationship and every situation you encounter. The ego could be defined simply in this way: a dysfunctional relationship with the present moment. It is at this moment that you can decided what relationship you want to have with the present moment.

Once you have reached a certain level of consciousness, (and by reading this you almost certainly have), you are able to decide what kind of relationship you want to have with the present moment. Do I want the present moment to be my friend or enemy. The present moment is inseparable from life, so you are really deciding on what kind of relationship you want with life. Once you have decided you want the moment to be your friend, it is up to you to make the first move. Become friendly toward it, welcome it no matter what disguise it comes, and soon it will become friendly toward you, people become helpful, circumstances become cooperative. One decision changes your entire reality. This decision has to be made again and again and again- until it becomes natural to live in such a way.

The decision to become friends with the present is the end of the ego. The ego can never be in alignment with the present moment, which is to say, aligned with life, since it is its very nature to ignore, resist, and devalue the Now. The stronger the ego, the more time it takes to over your life. Almost every thought you think is concerned with past of future, and your sense of self depends on the future for its fulfillment. Fear, anxiety, expectation, regret, guilt, and anger are the dysfunctions to the time bound state of consciousness.  

Via A NEW EARTH- By Eckhart Tolle

GOALS TUESDAY

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” ― Zig Ziglar

What are you aiming for? Do you know? It is said that most goals that are never written down are never achieved. The way to happiness is to meet your goals- but first you have to have them. What do you want out of life? REVIEW each area of your life and consider what you want from each area. Then- write those goals down. GOALS AREAS- Family, personal relationships, career, financial, education, spiritual, social, physical, self enrichment, house/home, creative/artistic. What are your lifetime goals? 10 year goals? 5 year, 2 year, 1 year, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily??? As Zig Ziglar says, do you want to be a wandering generality or a meaningful specific? Get specific on your goals and your dreams and make them the target you aim for.

The Journey

A good traveler has no fixed plans,

and is not intent on arriving. - Lao Tzu

Most of us live a life of thoughts of the past or of the future. Many of these thoughts and ideas are of our fears, regrets and disappointments.

The past can be a detriment to the way you currently live your life. Do not let the fears of a repeated past, bad experience or memory hinder your present or future. The past can be viewed as a gift of valuable lessons and experiences that have molded you into a better person, if you choose to view it that way. The choice is ultimately yours.

The future is inevitable, and always on its way. Embrace the future with positive thoughts and expectation to attract the best possible scenarios the universe can hand out to you. It is good to make plans and have goals, but don’t forget that the present moment is all that is ever available to us. Don’t forget to live each day and enjoy what is now. None of us are guaranteed the future.

How many of us live in the present moment, enjoying the journey?

We are lucky to have the present time to be alive, aware and present. Most of life isn’t filled with huge events and milestones- it is often filled with tiny moments we deem insignificant, but these are the moments that fill up most of a life time. Enjoy the little things life has to offer. That great cup of coffee, the car that let you pass giving the friendly wave, spending time with a great person- the list is endless of the good things that do happen each day. When we become less obsessed with thoughts and being self-absorbed in our own minds, we can really become present in living in the current moments of our lives. We are all here to learn and grow and enjoy life. Happiness is attainable by choice, living presently and seeing the greatness in the little details that make up the whole. Enjoy the journey.  

Shift of Focus to NOW

“It was always the becoming he dreamed of, never the being.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

 

Much of our focus lies on what has either happened in the past or thoughts of what is to come in the future. Rarely are thoughts of the present and enjoying in detail what we have in front of us right now. We tend to dwell on the past and allow our thoughts to be occupied what has beens and what ifs- instead of realizing that the present moment is the time to live and create memories of true living.

Being present in the now is the only time that we have available to us. Enjoy the present and make the most of it while you are in it and create a wonderful future.

Creative Hiatus…

Creative Hiatus…

I have been off to a small few month hiatus from blogging, mostly due to the fact that I have been working on a new creative project….of writing my first book. The book will based on the same subjects that my blog is based on- Happy living and a positive life style to success. Aside from that I have been enjoying the winter months wrapped up in fuzzy blankets sipping hot cocoa (and well let’s face it, a glass of wine or two!). The winter months are always a good time to schedule projects and make  great plans to execute in the warmer months when our bodies naturally feel like doing more. I use my hibernation mode to focus on school and creative ideas and projects.

These last few months I have also been able to focus on being creative in my Etsy shop Ambivalent Relics (http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmbivalentRelics),where I take old obscure items and give them new life- mixed media style. I have just added a ton of interesting reproduction pocket watch pieces. Tons of new baubles and one of a kind mixed media art pieces. How I do love to be creative!

 

 

$17.00

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$33.00$33.00

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$33.00$36.00

$8.00

$33.00

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$20.00

 

 

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Manifest It

We create our own reality all around us. As the great metaphysician Florence Scovell  Schinn said, “your word is your wand.” Your words and thoughts attract the vibratory forces of what you think and say. You create your own reality. Do not condemn yourself or anyone else with a misuse of thought or word energy.   Speak good things into existence and they are more likely to manifest in reality.

 

 

 

 

Skipping the Middle Man

As adults we are faced with a vast amount of responsibility. It is often overwhelming and all-consuming at times. We live in a day and age where we are more stressed out as a society than any other before us. The world we live in is fast paced and the expectations of us are endless.  The stress and the worry of what comes next or how we may find the means, mentally, physically and financially to tackle the next hurdle that comes our way. As an enthusiast of positive living, I came across a great little quote that made me stop and think. It was short and simple and stopped me in my tracks. It applies if you are religious or not. “Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?” Um, well…probably not- good point. Imagine how many minutes a day we think and apply our mental energy to worrying about a problem. Problems will always find us. That is life and no one is immune to problems. If you are alive, you are going to have problems; it’s as simple as that.

 

It is all in the way we handle these problems. Imagine if you had to count the minutes of just one day that you were worried about an issue. It pops into your mind over and over throughout the day. If you add up all these minutes, how long have you spent worrying about a certain problem? Fifteen minutes? Thirty minutes? An hour? Or more? Instead of worrying about those problems, it may be best to cut out that middle man of worrying, and spend those minutes or hours with positive thoughts to the situation. If you are a praying type of person, pray every time that thought comes into your mind. It’s all about being proactive instead of being reactive.

 If prayer isn’t your thing, restate the thought that entered your mind and turn it into a positive stream of consciousness. Instead of how am I going to do x, y, and z followed by a series of minutes wasted worrying, rephrase it.  “I am fully equipped and able to handle issues x, y, and z. I will come up with a great solution. A positive outcome is on its way and the answer will come to me, be revealed, etc…” Positive thoughts and words by nature attract positive energy into the situation, while negative thoughts attract negative energy into the situation. Make a conscious choice on how you will spend your minutes and how you think of a situation. Life happens anyway, we have the choice to cut out the middle man – worry- and go straight for a positive solution. Spend those extra minutes doing something you love.

The power of thoughts and words is quite shocking. Japanese Scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto did an experiment on the power of positive thinking on water, proving that it literally changes the structure and health of organic matter. His findings are stunning- as you can see them scientifically for yourself. Take a look at this link and see the photos and the video. It is quote stunning.

 

http://www.positive-thinking-principles.com/dr-masaru-emoto.html

Guides and Redeemers

 

A man is relieved and happy when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said and done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse must be friends; no invention; no hope.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

What does it mean to do and being the best in all that we do? We live in a society today that is much different than the fifty years ago, thirty years ago, or even twenty years ago. I grew up in a large extended family in Germany, where it was not just taught, but expected to do ones best. My grandparents held minor league middle working class jobs. My grandmother worked at the military base launderette and my grandfather was lovinging called “the candy man”, as he filled candy and various snack vending machines around the base. I highly doubt that either of these jobs were their ideal dream jobs that they daydreamed about as children, but it was a job and they were proud of the jobs they both did.

Those were the days that people were loyal to their company and stuck around for the long haul, regardless of the position. They were the days that people took pride in what they did, whether it was being a laundry attendant, vending machine filler or flipping burgers at the local snack bar. People took pride in what they did, and did their jobs to the best of their abilities. It was a matter of personal pride.

How often do we go through the drive thru at a fast food restaurant to find the food service worker is less than pleasant, giving the distinct air of how miserable they are to be there? Why should we have to suffer their life choices and their inability to cope with them in a healthy manner? The bottom line is, we shouldn’t. Nor should people take on that attitude. It makes everyone involved miserable. Most of us have to work because it provides us with income that we need to make our living. We have to be at work on average about forty hours a week, more or less. You are there anyway- so why not choose to take pride in what you do and try your best to enjoy it. Whether you are an executive, flipping burgers or anything in between, you have a choice to make the best of any situation. If you work at KFC, be the best at frying chicken so at the end of the day you can have pride knowing that you have done your best. The key is to do your best at whatever you do and wherever you go.

Attitude can take you far- straight to the bottom or straight to the top. They choice is always up to you. People notice your attitude and how they felt being around you. It is ones imperative duty as a member of society to make the right choices and lead by example. Let your life be a message to others and your actions a legacy that others will be inspired to carry on. It does not have to be a grand thing you do, often rest in the simplest of statements of taking pride in the self, doing a good job and being kind. You are responsible for the energy you bring into a room. It is up to you whether you leave the energy better or worse than before you entered it. The good examples of humanity are fading all around us and it is up to us to take on the cause, before everyone forgets what it was like and we live in a world of mediocrity and unhappiness. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “we must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers and benefactors, obeying the almighty effort, and advancing on chaos and the Dark.”

New Directives

 

 

Everything Begins with You. You are responsible for your life, your choices, your attitude and the energy you allow to radiate from you. Whether that energy is positive or negative, it is your choosing of the vibe you put out and attract back. The mind is a rather complicated entity, yet in the same regard, can be kept simple. When things are put into perspective, the mind goes from a complex thing to a simple and easy to maneuver your life and your actions- stress free and worry free.

 Napoleon Hill quoted, “Whatever your mind feeds on, it attracts.” Consider the content of your mind. What type of thoughts do we allow to occupy the mind? Usually, it seems to be occupied with  worry, doubt, and fear or our personal problems and life issues that come our way. Unfortunately, what most do not realize or consider is that the worry, doubt and fear aspect that we have become accustomed to having in our thoughts more often than not, attract those very things we worry, doubt and fear. Worry, doubt and fear are composed of negative energy frequencies. If lack and limitation of any sort is on your mind- you will more than likely attract lack and limitation.

The mind is a very powerful source of energy. It is a tool that we do not use to its maximum ability. Education and being smart is one thing, but this is training the mind to attract better energy frequencies, which are more likely to yield more positive results. We have the ability to use the mind power to direct it to whatever we may choose. Take possession of the mind instead of letting the mind and its problems take possession of you.

If you have a worry or concern, limit the amount of time those thoughts can occupy your mind. Instead of worrying, being fearful, having thoughts of lack or limitations, replace those thoughts immediately with thoughts of thankfulness and gratitude. The energy around you needs to be stabilized and grounded for a good beginning of positive thought process and a positive frame of mind. First and foremost, give gratitude for what you do have. Many people in this world would trade places with us instantly. I recently read an article from the New York Times for a class about modern slavery and human trafficking. It was in this I gained a huge perspective of my thankfulness and gratitude to be who and where I am in life.

The article was about a young Asian girl who at the age of six years old, was sold by her family to a brothel. At the age of six, she was sold as a commodity to a foreign pedophile as a child virgin. Thinking the nightmare of her life couldn’t get worse, it is common for young children prostitutes to be re-stitched as virgins to be sold again as a prized commodity.  The young girl tried to run away but was caught each time, in which punishment consisted of being put into a vat of human excrement filled with scorpions and spiders. The girl recalls being punished up to nine days in this manner. Things like this are happening in the world this very moment. So there is my personal perspective to give me instant gratitude.

When I am being a spoiled brat for wanting more material things, ways of life, the infinite quest for “more” -perhaps one should focus on the greatness that already surrounds us, the ability sometimes for happiness is just to recognize it. So many people would be willing to trade places with us. We have so much, but lack the ability to recognize it and the ability to be grateful.  This is the foundation upon which happiness and positivity lie. Whenever you have a problem, give thanks first for what is going good in your life. Then, focus on the solution of your problem- without worry, doubt or fear. One of the most important things to do is to give thanks in advance- for the solved problem, the solution or whatever it is you want. This will likely attract those positive energies your way- versus if you were focused on worry fear and doubt, it is those energies that would attract to you. It really is your choice what type of energy or vibe you put out. If it is negative- you will unfortunately attract that right back to you. If it is positive, positive energy will find you more easily. It is all a simple choice of the mind. Doubt, worry, fear, lack, and limitation should have a very limited role in your show. Give the lead role to a positive character. Let only good thoughts possess your mind so that you may be open to attract the good things that are all around you.  Good energies are out there, but they have to be called upon to work for you. Let that be your directive.

Mind Over Matter- The Art of Positive Thinking

 

1. We all work with one infinite power

2. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting

3. We are like magnets – like attract like. You become AND attract what you think

4. Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out a magnetic energy

5. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are attached to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the creation

6. Those who speak most of illness have illness, those who speak most of prosperity have it..etc..

7. Choose your thoughts carefully .. you are a masterpiece of your life

8. Your thoughts cause your feelings

9. Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on the right track.

10. Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming

11. You get exactly what you are FEELING

12. Happy feelings will attract more happy circumstances

13. You can begin feeling whatever you want (even if it’s not there).the universe will correspond to the nature of your song

14. What you focus on with your thought and feeling is what you attract into your experience

15. What you think and what you feel and what actually manifests is ALWAYS a match – no exception

16. “You create your own universe as you go along” Winston Churchill

17. It’s important to feel good ( ( ( (((good))) ) ) )

18. You can change your emotion immediately by thinking of something joyful, or singing a song, or remembering a happy experience

19. Life can and should be phenomenal and it will be when you consciously apply the Law of Attraction

20. Start by using this sentence for all of your wants: “I’m so happy and grateful now that…. ”

21. You don’t need to know HOW the universe is going to rearrange itself

22. LOA is simply figuring out for yourself what will generate the positive feelings of having it NOW

23. You might get an inspired thought or idea to help you move towards what you want faster

24. The universe likes SPEED. Don’t delay, don’t second-guess, don’t doubt..

25. When the opportunity or impulse is there .. ACT

26. You will attract everything you require – money, people, connections. PAY ATTENTION to what’s being set in front of you

27. You can start with nothing .. and out of nothing or no way – a WAY will be provided.

28. Size is nothing to the universe (unlimited abundance if that’s what you wish) We make the rules on size and time

29. No rules according to the universe. you provide the feelings of having it now and the universe will respond.

30. Most people offer the majority of their thought in response to what they are observing (bills in the mail, being late, having bad luck…etc..)

31. You have to find a different approach to what is through a different vantage point

32. “All that we are is a result of what we have thought” – Buddha

33. What can you do right now to turn your life around?? — Gratitude

34. Gratitude will bring more into our lives immediately

35. What we think about and THANK about is what we bring about

36. What are the things you are grateful for?? Feel the gratitude.focus on what you have right now that you are grateful for

37. Play the picture in your mind – focus on the end result

38. VISUALIZE!!! Rehearse your future

39. VISUALIZE!!! See it, feel it! This is where action begins

40. An affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful than a negative one

41. “What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists.” Alexander Graham Bell

42. Our job is not to worry about the “How”. The “How” will show up out of the commitment and belief in the “what”

43. The Hows are the domains of the universe. It always knows the quickest, fastest, most harmonious way between you and your dream

44. If you turn it over to the universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered .. this is where magic and miracles happen

45. Turn it over to the universe daily.. but it should never be a chore.

46. Feel exhilarated by the whole process .. high, happy, in tune

47. The only difference between people who are really living this way is they have habituated ways of being.

48. Create a Vision Board .. pictures of what you want to attract ..every day look at it and get into the feeling state of already having acquired these wants

49. “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Albert Einstein

50. Decide what you want .. believe you can have it, believe you deserve it, believe it’s possible for you

51. Close your eyes and visualize having what you already want – and the feeling of having it already.

52. Focus on being grateful for what you have already enjoyed it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.

53. “Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve” W. Clement Stone

54. Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it would blow your mind.

55. When you have an inspired thought, you must trust it and act on it.

56. How can you become more prosperous?? INTEND IT!!

57. Life is meant to be abundant in ALL areas…

58. Go for the sense of inner joy and peace then all outside things appear

59. We are the creators of our universe

60. Relationships: Treat yourself the way you want to be treated by others .. love yourself and you will be loved

61. Healthy respect for yourself

62. For those you work with or interact with regularly, get a notebook and write down positive aspects of each of those people.

63. Write down the things you like most about them (don’t expect change from them). Law of attraction will not put you in the same space together if you frequencies don’t match

64. When you realize your potential to feel good, you will ask no one to be different in order for you to feel good.

65. You are the only one that creates your reality

66. No one else can think or feel for you. It is YOU .. ONLY YOU.

67. Health: thank the universe for your own healing. Laugh, stress free happiness will keep you healthy.

68. Parts of our bodies are replace every day, every week..etc… Within a few years we have a brand new body

69. See yourself living in a new body. Hopeful = recovery. Happy = happier biochemistry. Stress degrades the bod.

70. Remove stress from the body and the body regenerates itself. You can heal yourself

71. Learn to become still .. and take your attention away from what you don’t want, and place your attention on what you wish to experience

72. When the voice and vision on the inside become more profound and clear than the opinions on the outside, then you have mastered your life

73. You are not here to try to get the world to be just as you want it.You are here to create the world around you that you choose.

74. People think that if everyone knows the power of the LOA there won’t be enough to go around .. This is a lie that’s been ingrained in us and makes so many greedy.

75. The truth is there is more than enough love, creative ideas, power, joy, happiness to go around.

76. All of this abundance begins to shine through a mind that is aware of it’s own infinite nature. There’s enough for everyone. See it. Believe it. it will show up for you.

77. So let the variety of your reality thrill you as you choose all the things you want.. get behind the good feelings of all your wants.

 

Great Thoughts

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer

Thoughts are investments- if you invest low quality thoughts, what results are low quality results. Each moment of every waking hour, we invest thoughts into our minds- but what kind of thoughts are we spending our time with? The thoughts are there- but it is up to each individual to choose the kind of quality of thoughts one is having. Monitoring what kind of thoughts you spend most of your time with is a habit. The low quality thoughts will almost always creep in if you are still living and breathing. It is doubtful that they will ever be rendered obsolete complexly. However, you can assign in your own mind, a thought monitor of sorts- like a giant intimidating bouncer at a night club, who at first sight of unruly riff raff makes them leave the property at once. The point is that I believe that mind is a great one, I might as well believe that because it is mine, I am stuck with it- and if I don’t believe in its greatness and capabilities, who else will?

The more negative thoughts have no room to grow and replicate, the more thoughts of greatness have room to breathe and expand. It is always the choice of the individual. We cannot control what happens in our environments much of the time, but we can choose how we respond to it. It is always my greatest reminder, when a bad mood strikes, that is my choice to revel in it or send it packing. Some days it seems impossible, and on occasion it is ok to give in, because after all we are only human. I’ve been known to hide out in my bed with my fuzzy blankie over my head for a few hours- but its far less than it ever used to be, and to me- that is quite a success. Less time shutting the world out and more time doing what I like to do- like dancing, dabbling in art and just exisiting on a higher level of consciousness. The choice is yours.

Hope Everyone has a successful, flourishing and productive day.

Be Happy NOW

"Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don't put off being happy until some future date."

Dale Carnegie

Happiness is nothing more than a simple choice. It seems as though we are all chasing the dreams of some unattainable happiness, or a happiness that is somewhere off in the distance. Most of us feel that we are missing that essential something to make us happy. If only I had my dream job, that new car, a bigger house, if you got down to the size you were in high school, or had the perfect partner. We all tend to live in the tense of only “IF” and “WHENS”. Those are quite irrelevant when you stop and think of it. There are those at this very moment dying of some terrible disease, wishing they still had the ability to be present in the now and have the physical and mental stamina to do what they loved or always wanted to do, but never did. Enjoy your presence in this life NOW, and don’t put off living fully until you meet criteria X, Y, and Z. It would be unfortunate to find out that after attaining any of your criteria, that X, Y, and Z never mattered anyhow and you could have had all of this happiness in the meantime. Make the choice to be happy in the now. Exist in this moment and decide that it is going to be great!

Oh the things you can find...

Oh the things you can find
If you don't stay behind!
In the places I go there are things that I see
That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z.
I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends.
My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!
So, on beyond Z!
It's high time you were shown
That you really don't know
All there is to be known.

- Dr. Suess, On Beyond Zebra 1954

On Happiness...

                                Happiness is not a matter of events, 
                 it depends upon the tides of the mind.
                    ~   Alice Meynell

Be Mindful...

This is one of my all time favorite quotes- so much indeed that I had it tattooed on my foot so that I can see it for my daily dose of inspiration and a reminder to not take others so personally in life. The quote comes from Dante Alighieri’s Purgatorio- on Dante’s journey through Purgatory he encounters a soul who gives him the following quote.

'sovegna vos a temps de ma dolor'.

Poi s'ascose nel foco che gli affina.

'be mindful in due time of my pain'.

Then dived he back into that fire which refines them.

Purgatorio -XXVI

~Dante Alighieri

It is a reminder that you never really know what someone else is going through, or how they arrived at where they are or the state of mind they are in. We are constantly surrounded by negative people, situations and thinking. Whether its work, home or life in general. We tend to take others and their behavior and reactions personal. This reminds me to allow others to be in their “pain” (issues, situations, thoughts, etc.) and not be offended or affected by it.


Not everyone has good reactions, effective coping mechanisms or positive thinking available to them. We have all lacked, at some point or another in this department. Life is the fire which refines us all- and we should allow those around us to dive into those fires and learn what they need to learn in this life. Every person we encounter and every situation is a potential lesson we can gain positive things from if we allow it and view it from the right frame of mind. It is our choice in how we approach it.


I hope everyone has a positive and lovely Tuesday. Sending Positive vibes, love and light to you.