#594

Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

There has to be a statute of limitations on just how long you can blame your upbringing for your life today. No one had a damage-free childhood, we all accumulated issues. Some experiences were worse than others, but no one comes out completely unscathed. So you enter adulthood with issues, little or no confidence and a blank slate. 

We came to this planet to learn and our parents are one of our first and usually our greatest teachers. They, too, have their issues and can only teach you what they know. Most have done their best to provide the standard requirements for a good life, and then there are some that only provided negativity and heartache. Whichever upbringing you have endured has made you who you are. 

Now it is up to you to decide who and what you want to be from here on in. It is now your life and up to your to mold yourself into what you consider the perfect human. Take what has been provided and work it into what will make you happy. It will do you no good whatsoever to sit and stew about your lousy past, and it will do you no good to whine about each person that has done you wrong. 

Whatever has taken place is done,  it cannot be changed or fixed, you can only move forward from the position you are in at this moment. It is your decision, don't waste your life in the past, you are responsible for who you become.

#593
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light

Happiness.... are you happy?

This is a question that always seems to evoke some emotion. Some people are defensive, "Of course, I am, why would you ask such a question?" Some give you a list of reasons why they should be happy, but never directly answer the question. Still others stare at you, stupefied, they hadn't really thought about it, or no one had ever asked them before; they can tell you if their kids are happy or their husbands, but for themselves, no answer. These people have detached from the present. They are just trying to 'make it through' the day or life in general. They are no longer in touch with their emotions, they are not feeling. 

And by the way, happy enough, is not good enough. That statement means that there is much more happiness lurking about, but not for you. BE COMPLETELY HAPPY, throughout your entire being, don't just play around on the peripheral of happiness. Happiness is a conscious decision, made each and every day, if not every minute of every day. You need to choose happiness to make it a reality. No one else can do it for you, you cannot depend on others to make you happy, it must come from within. “Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without" Buddha     This is also true with happiness, joy, love etc.

If you are experiencing grief, depression, illness or sadness, it may seem impossible to think of any way to bring some happiness to your world. 'Remember to turn on the light', is another way of saying, invite the light into your heart and soul. Allow the universe to work with you, to help you to see some light, and bring happiness back to you. 

"We are for a good time, not a long time" Trooper  

Repeat of #171

#592
When you go into the woods today....

This is something you don't often catch yourself thinking about .... walking in the woods, we are usually overwhelmed with the beauty surrounding us. We point out the different trees and wildlife, comment on all the moss on the branches, and listen to the singing of the birds or the babbling brook. It's very seldom that someone would think ... that tree is far too crooked and bent for the forest. 

We are tolerant and understanding of nature, we simply accept it, as it is. And yet, we often react negatively to human frailties. Why is that? Why is it acceptable for nature, to be imperfect and humans are held to some unrealistic standard of perfection? Being judgemental, or putting someone down, in order to make yourself feel adequate, doesn't work. It doesn't make anyone feel better. It never works that way.  Everyone deserves to be appreciated and honoured for who they are,  just as they are.

We all have challenges in some form or another. Some people have physical challenges and these are the hardest to cover. They can't hide them deep in their souls, like the emotional baggage we carry, to be faced when we are ready to deal with it. They are right 'out there' for the world to see. They cannot, without surgery, change the face they were given, or change whatever impediment they may have. We need to give them the same allowances you would afford a tree or a mossy stump. 

Everyone is beautiful, in their own way, and it would be good for all of us to be more compassionate and considerate of others .... all of them, not just our chosen circles. Like the trees in the forest, allow people to be themselves, and see them as the messengers they are. We are more apt to learn from someone that appears different from ourselves. It is in our differences that we unite.

reprint of #152

#591

Hate is self-inflicted torture,
It hungers for revenge,
damage, division, and
violence, but it is never satiated.

Hate is a psychological hell to
which we condemn ourselves
and endeavor to burn others.
--Steve Maraboli

Hate is defined as an intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. 

We are the creators of our emotions and fully responsible for how we feel and how we react. 

Most people will take a look at things when they find themselves severely reacting to a situation. They question their current emotional state and endeavor to identify what button was pushed so they can work on it. They want to know what caused them to react in an unacceptable manner. These people are accepting responsibility for their emotions.

On the other hand, there are people that have no interest whatsoever in figuring out why they do anything. They react however the spirit moves them, with absolutely no regard for others. They have no concern about how they are perceived and will always find someone else to blame. They think they are entitled to take out their rage on whoever is in their path. The pent-up anger appears to be too great to control.

Hate is unfamiliar emotion for most.... there may be something said that makes you angry or upsets you, but to retaliate with hate is not normally the go-to response. If someone has feelings of such intensity, looking for revenge for any real or imagined snub seems a difficult way to live a life. Taking ownership and responsibility for yourself, and your emotions is the first step, don't let the anger fester until it manifests into illness. Give yourself some peace. You can choose to free yourself from anything.

#590

You will be surprised to know that all that you see has been invented by playful people, not by the serious people. The serious people are too much past-oriented--they go on repeating the past because they know it works. They are never inventive.  

OSHO

Inventive: having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally. 

The serious people, you know, the ones that make sure you know that life is tough, that you must do your due diligence, always watch your back, look before you leap and remember that nothing is more important than working hard, making buckets of money and being 'successful'. What they really want is to feel SAFE, so they stick with what they know. These people are stress-inducing to themselves and others.

This 'tried and true' attitude keeps them locked into the past. They feel that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it so, they don't ever look for an alternate solution, they lack the motivation to try anything new or different, with no incentive to change anything, so they simply continue to bang their head against the same wall day in and day out. These people have their own issues, just as the rest of us do, but you will rarely see them as inventive.... you need to be more of an open thinker to see the unseen. 

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun." Mary Lou Cook

So it isn't too much of a surprise that toys have been invented by playful people, right, it makes perfect sense. Maybe some of the playful people should get some toys for the serious ones and see where that goes.

#589

The debilitation of the body,

the deterioration of the body, 

everything that you

would consider to be negative

that happens to your body

always happens for one reason,

and one reason only,

and that is because you are allowing

thoughts that vibrate at a level

that is not in harmony

with your greater knowing.

Abraham-Hicks

You know that love is what we are, it is inherent to everyone, our birthright. Life will throw many curve balls at you, and things will change, you'll develop trust issues, fear and resentments etc. to deal with. Hopefully, as you go through your life, you learn to deal with any issues and come back to a place of love.  

"There are only two emotions: love and fear. All positive emotions come from love, all negative emotions from fear." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We are inundated by ads, newspapers, internet, and medical professionals telling us to be responsible for our health and be sure we are tested for every 'disease du jour', we are told what to eat, how to/how much to exercise, what inoculations are necessary for preventative health, especially once we reach a certain age....all under the guise of concern for the public. In fact, they appear to be padding the bank accounts of the medical community and generally instilling fear in the masses. 

You are in charge of whether or not your body deteriorates. Raise your vibration, show some gratitude for your life, and especially for the vehicle you're are doing life in, and how it has served you thus far. Illness is brought on by negativity, worry, and stress, your body may be breaking down because you are not using it, bless your food to nourish your body, and live your life. 

You don't have to grow old just because it is the accepted theory. 

Stay clear of negativity, love yourself, bless your body, your life and bring joy back. Have a life, not a pre-death.

#588

You can find yourself in an endless loop where you explain that you feel negative because of the negative behaviour of someone else. But if,  instead, you take control of your own emotions and you think an improved thought because it feels better to do so, you will discover that no matter how the negative trend got started you can turn it around. You have no real control of what anyone else is doing with their Vibration (or with their actions, for that matter), but you have complete control over your own thoughts, Vibrations, emotions, and point of attraction.  Abraham-Hicks

The first thing you need to know is: Nothing that you do is because of anyone else, you decide how you will react to everything that comes at you. No one can make you do anything.

The second thing: Blaming someone else for the way you act will serve to divert the focus to the other person (for awhile) and/or enable you to avoid dealing with your own emotions. 

People can and will say or do things that hurt you, but you have the control over how you react. How you handle things is entirely up to you. You have no control over what they say or do, but you have the power to let it roll off your back or carry it around for twenty years letting it ruin your life....it's up to you. 

The third thing: There is no blame, it doesn't matter who started it, things are just as they are.... In the here and now, this is what is going on, and all you have to do is allow that to be what it is, and don't let it adversely affect you. 

You have all the control, you see, you don't have to permit anyone's negative talk or action to bother you. Work on keeping your own vibration up.

#587

When you do become adept at directing your thoughts that are pleasing, the unpleasing people or unpleasing aspects of those people will leave your experience. It is your attention to the unwanted that HOLDS it in your experience.

Abraham

Have you forgotten all about the ones that hurt you? They never cross your mind anymore, who cares, right? And those issues from your childhood... they have nothing to do with your life now, so they are completely forgotten, aren't they? Nobody can press your buttons anymore, or make you feel bad, you have left it all behind, you're over it, you never give it a second thought.

You may not be plotting revenge, but have you truly let it go? I think it is possibly the hardest thing to do, to forget about the pain and suffering you have endured. Forgive and forget, isn't that what you're supposed to do?  For me, it's fairly easy to forgive, simply because 'they' are who they are, 'they' will do what they do, and I don't want to give them my power or allow them to stifle me in any way. So I will forgive the past, the people and go forward. But, FORGET, that's a whole different kettle of fish. 

'It is your attention to the unwanted that HOLDS it in your experience.'

You may think you have the whole thing handled, then something happens that pushes all your buttons.... AGAIN. Directing your thoughts is the secret. You have the power to choose your thoughts, you decide what you want IN your head.  Your head will fill with various notions throughout your day. You have the option to choose which thoughts to let in, and which to dismiss. Get rid of the ones that cause stress, simply don't listen to them, grab onto the happy, joyful, pleasant thoughts and run with those. Don't let your thoughts control you, take be in control and direct your thoughts toward the positive. 

"There are no new stressful thoughts. They are all recycled." Byron Katie

#586 - Life always gives us
exactly the teacher we need
at every moment.
This includes every mosquito,
every misfortune,
every red light, 
every traffic jam,
every obnoxious supervisor,
(or employee),
every illness, every kiss,
every moment of joy or depression
every addiction,
every piece of garbage,
every breath.
Every moment is the guru.

We are here on earth to learn what we need to learn. Lessons can come from anywhere at anytime. You never know where the next one is coming from, it may seem completely random, but it is never random. There are no mistakes, nothing is wrong. Everything is happening just as it is supposed to. 

If there is something you need to 'see', the Universe will always find a method of delivering the message to you. It can come in any form, similar to the ones listed above. Each person and situation that you encounter, you learn something from. If you don't 'get the message' it will continue to come to you in different forms until you 'see' what you need to 'see'.

You will always get what you NEED, not necessarily what you WANT.

We are all teachers, just as we are all students. Each person, animal or situation has the potential to educate you. They may carry the exact piece of the puzzle that you have been missing. They may be 'showing you the way'. 

Therefore, the next time you encounter a situation that surprises or shocks you, that conjures up awe and/or astonishment, just know that you have probably just been given a glimpse at what you are here to discover and master.  

"You came forth to live happily ever after." Abraham-Hicks

#585

I'M JUST GOING TO BE BLUNT....

If you think you need a leader or religion, then you are not conscious period.

Being conscious means that you are capable of thinking independently and no longer need to be guided.

Conscious people don't need to be told what to believe because their logic and reason allows them the ability to use their minds.

Conscious: aware and responding to one's surroundings; awake

Many people go through their entire lives in a fog, like robots, doing what is necessary and leaving it at that. There is no thought, intention or decisiveness to their actions, they just merely follow along like lambs. Their life is not necessarily unhappy or unproductive, just avoidant of anything that will disrupt the world as they know it. They live in a bubble, well-protected from turmoil, confrontation, and upset. 

If nothing earth-shattering happens to give them a jolt, these people will continue in this way until the end of their time. They have no reason to wonder or question anything, so everything remains the same, steady and safe. If something earth-shattering does occur in their world, they may start to question their beliefs and ideals and begin the journey toward awakening. Until that time, they may or may not be playing 'follow the leader'. 

All is well, it is okay, everyone has their own journey and they will do what they do, that's what makes them unique. We all have a reason for being on this earth at this particular time and we will walk our own path, our own way and in our own time, awake or otherwise.  

#584

Everything in your life you

have attracted to you, you

did it because of the kind 

of person you are and

especially because of the

way you think and 

perceive the world.

V. Galvan

Everything that takes place in your life is because of the way you think, your thoughts will determine what kind of life you will lead. No one else is involved, no one is pulling your strings, you, alone are pulling in your reality. 

This is the reason that keeping a positive attitude is so important. You don't want to be the victim of your own negative thoughts, living a life of defeat. If you cultivate a negative outlook, you attract additional negativity, that will manifest into more of the same until you are buried under it. If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.

Also, if you see the world as a scary place, IT WiLL BE and conversely, if you see it as a safe, happy place, that's how it will be. Don't invite negativity into your domain, be clear that negativity will not be tolerated, and then stick to that mandate....no one can afford one negative moment. 

You can be whatever you choose to be. There is nothing holding you back but your own beliefs and attitudes. Change you attitude and change your life.  

Be the energy you want to attract

#583

The more real you get the more unreal the world gets.

John Lennon, an iconic singer-songwriter for the Beatles (1964-1969), as well as for his solo career with Yoko Ono. In 1971, he released "Imagine"...

"Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today..."

'Imagine' was the best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrics encourage the listener to imagine a world at peace without the barriers of borders or the divisiveness of religions and nationalities, and to consider the possibility that the focus of humanity should be living a life unattached to material possessions. This gives us pause for thought. 

John Lennon was a visionary, he saw the world differently and spread that message through his songs. He touched us with these words and we are therefore different because of him. I singled him out because I admire him, but this legacy is the same for each and every one of us. We all touch others in some way, each day we live. We all have an effect on other people, we are all connected. We are all one. 

If we think of ourselves as an important cog in the wheel of life, it will remind us of the importance of being authentic, kind and loving to all that cross our path or those that walk it with us.. Give peace a chance!

#582

MOST PEOPLE

DO NOT LISTEN

WITH THE INTENT

TO UNDERSTAND;

THEY LISTEN 

WITH THE INTENT

TO REPLY.

In fact, most people (not just your kids) don't really care what YOU have to say, they care about what THEY have to say. Most like the sound of their own voice and feel that whatever they have to say is much more important than anything you might have to say. 

No matter what is being said, many people will only hear what they want to hear. Some pretend to listen while they prepare their point of view. Others don't even bother to pretend, they just change the subject, or walk away, disregarding you entirely.

It is not about you.... it's all about them.

When you actually listen to someone it shows an interest and/or concern, with a concerted effort to understand. Listening is a skill only some are able to perfect, most jump to conclusions and interrupt, rather than concentrating on what's actually being said. 

Most people have their own thoughts and opinions, they pick out facts or aspects of a conversation that support their pre-existing beliefs, values or perceptions, and listen only for what they want to hear.

"Don't waste your time with explanations, people only hear what they want to hear."  Paulo Coelho

#581

In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

You are an accumulation of all of your experiences.  You are who you are, because of where you have been. 

Since you have been working on letting go of all that has held you back; you probably have re-visited the parts of your childhood that you disliked the most. You may have anger and resentment build up due to these memories. 

They may not have been good times, but they shaped you. Some created any negative aspects left in your personality, but others have made you strong and successful. You are a fusion of every experience in your life. Every incident that created you has resulted in the person you see in the mirror.

What do you think of that person? Isn't she/he wonderful?  Part of learning to love yourself is understanding that you are perfect, just the way you are. Everything about you is unique and lovable. You just need to believe in yourself and all you have to offer. 

Everybody on this planet has something to offer. We are all necessary and important. Although, you will find it hard to acquire this attitude if you are still blaming your life on someone or something that happened in the past. You cannot change anything that has already taken place. Accept that it happened, that you survived and eventually turned it around. Look what you made of yourself, how kind and loving you are; even though you came from such a background. You need to be proud of that! It may have been a hard climb, but you have done it. 

Leave the past in the past. Be grateful, shower yourself with love and accept yourself just as you are.

reprint of #243

#580

Failure is not fun.
It can be awful.
But living so cautiously that you
never fail is worse.

- J. K. Rowling

Life is about doing what you want to do, regardless of how scared you may be, feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

"Don't die with your music still in you"  Dr. Wayne Dyer 

You can sit on the sideline of life, not participate at all and remain safe, but what kind of life is that? You will never get to second base, with one foot firmly planted on first. You are here to experience life, not avoid it. 

Now, all that being said, it's scary to jump into the fray, to put yourself 'out there', to try something new, but what's the alternative? Do you want to wake up in 20 years and still be exactly where you are right now ... same old thing? Do you want to wake up in 20 years and realize that you never followed your dreams, that you never went skydiving or swam with the sharks like you always said you would? There is always an excuse for everything, too old, not enough cash, somewhere else to be, it doesn't matter, they are all just excuses... if you wanted to do something, you would do it. What is holding you back is fear.

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself." FDR

"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance..." 

FD Roosevelt - First Inauguration Speech

Most fears are not real, even though you may be quivering in your boots, you are the only one that can face the fear and do it anyway, you will be glad you did.    F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real

#579

My mind gets to wandering, and I become troubled.

Isn't this exactly what happens, especially in the middle of the night? Many tiny fears jump into your head and you're unable to sleep. Those tiny thoughts manifest into your greatest fears. You start to worry about your children, your finances, your parents, war, the world, any fear you have ever contemplated. It doesn't matter, what the fear is when it is the middle of the night these issues seem totally insurmountable. 

Your rational mind may know they are just thoughts, not real, but that doesn't calm you down, or ease your mind. Like a frightened child responding to the 'boogeyman', the fear is so intense that the idea alone is enough to scare you. Your stomach is churning, and the thoughts just keep on coming, informing you of what could happen. 

Anything can happen and that's what scares you... but you are projecting into the future. In the here and now, there is a person, safely tucked in bed, awake. The thoughts have come into your head, but where do they fit into the reality of where you are in this moment? You are safe, none of this stuff is actually happening, and yet you are stressed and anxious, over what? A random thought, a misplaced notion, nothing reasonable or rational, just crap.

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." Norman Vincent Peale

To quote Byron Katie: "do not believe your stressful thoughts" and in my words....don't listen to them, do not invite them in, pay them no mind; however you want to say it. Drop them like they are hot.

"The only time we suffer is when we believe a thought that argues with what is. When the mind is perfectly clear, what is is what we want." 

Byron Katie

repeat of #225

#578

There is nothing for you to go back and live over, or fix, or feel regret about now. 

Every part of your life has unfolded just right. Abraham

Everything that you have gone through, all the trials and tribulations have made you who you are today. Your history has paved your way to this moment in time. If you are not happy where you are today, you can amend your attitude and/or alter your perspective. There is no way to change the history, but you can make a decision to not go with it, let it harm you or react to it. 

You cannot change anything that has already happened, therefore there is no point in continuing with the same reaction that you know is not going to work. Being engulfed with remorse or pain is getting you nowhere. Don't give your power away, use what you've experienced to grow.

You take the lessons of yesterday and use them for a better today.

All of the experiences you have had, good or bad, were meant to be. They were lessons, showing you the way. No one is 'out to get you', you are not going to be punished, so no matter what you have done to get to where you are....it happened as it was meant to happen. 

You did what you did because it was intended to be that way and there was something to learn in the doing... OR ELSE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT.

Everything is perfect the way it is, this is what you came here to do. Use all your past experiences for the lessons, and then let them go.... you can't change them anyway, so don't let them change you. You are a stronger version of yourself than you would be without the lessons. 

#577

Trust the PATH unseen....

Don't let what happens or what doesn't happen bother you. Life has a way of rearranging itself perfectly, so that what you truly need can come together.

You really don't have to obsess, plan, strategize, and set goals, all the time. All you need to do is simply go with the flow, allow the universe to do its job. It is not necessary for you to control everything. It is not even up to you, the universe is very qualified to take care of things. Too many people act as if nothing in the world could possibly function without them. I am certain that you would lower your stress level if you allowed the universe to manage its own business.

Everyone has their own method of doing things, it may not be your way, but that doesn't make it wrong. It's okay not to have all the answers, just continue on your journey and trust the process. Everything will work out as it is meant to when the time is right.

Trust the journey, even if you don't understand it. 

You are in charge of your own destiny. Trust the universe, trust the journey, respect the process. Nothing will change until you do, and everything will happen as it is meant to, when it is meant to. It is the universal order of things. Be patient.

Breathe, Believe and Receive.
Repeat of #244

#576

FLAWED PREMISE #3
If I push hard enough against unwanted things, they will go away.

TRUE PREMISE

Anything you give your attention to becomes bigger. So the harder you push against what you do not want, the more specific or the harder you push against it, the more vibration is activated within you about it and the less likely it is to go away. Abraham-Hicks

When something in your life is not running smoothly and you are doing your very best to make it right, you are focusing on it..... constantly! It is on your mind at all times, you're thinking about what you can do to make it right, how you can fix it. Most of us are problem solvers, or at least we like to think we are. So we become like a dog with a bone, thinking that if we keep at it long enough, focus our attention on it and keep gnawing we'll figure it out. The amazing thing is - anything you give your attention to becomes bigger. 

So, as you are trying to think of a way to solve the problem, you are actually creating a bigger version of it. It will not go away, in fact, it will continue to get worse and worse.  Most of us truly believed, until now, that we had to keep our nose to the grindstone and figure things out, get it done. Not true.

All you need to do is change your mind, stop giving your attention to the problem, just leave 'IT' alone and continue enjoying your life. Nothing will go away if you keep picking at it. Go do something else, clear your head, think of something that brings you joy..... focus on the joy. It's a learned behaviour, you can alter your mood just that fast. The problem may have felt all-encompassing, and yet now the joy is beginning to seep in. 

Concentrate only on positive, joyous thoughts and change your world. Don't give any more of your attention to the negative, in any of its many forms.

#575

Not only does the power of your thought determine which people make their way into your life, but the power of your thought determines how they behave once they get there.

Abraham

As hard as it is to accept sometimes, you create your life, every minute of every day is created by your thoughts. You feel joyous, you will attract joy. Whatever it is that gives you joy will come to you in abundance, and vice versa. It's simple really, but not that easy.

Your thoughts create your reality.

How you think will determine the people that show up in your life. If you are attracting negative people, you need to look at yourself because you brought them in with your negative thinking. If negative thoughts remain paramount in your mind, the person will continue to act in the same manner, allowing you to see yourself in them.

                          They are here to show you who you are
                                because you are what you think. 

The significant thought is: if you recognize that you, alone, have manifested all this negativity, then it's not too hard to realize that you can also turn it around. You can monitor your thoughts, your reactions, and your words, and put that awareness toward projecting happy thoughts.

"Change your thoughts and you can change your world." 

  Norman Vincent Peale