BE THE CHANGE - Take Those Steps to Freedom - It is Inside of You

Source: designskings.com

Steps to Freedom by  Madisyn Taylor of DailyOM strikes a chord in me in this year of 2014 where my resolve to embody the feeling of positively conscious and serene is taking a serious beating.

Life is about accepting daily changes as they occur and that means everyday spirituality to me.

My difficulties simply highlight the veils that must be torn away and the people I meet tell me and show me the manner in which I must evolve by not just facing my "ugly" truth but also knowing when I must remain true to myself and my beliefs.

Right now, it's about absolutely fearless me (or so I thought) having to;

• face down an abuser, a bully and a neanderthal all rolled into one in a police case; I faced the fear I didn't know was there.
• confront an intelligent, gifted and almost schizoid individual who believes that everyone is against her no matter what she does and childishly demands that I show care and concern for her while at the same time she tries to bend me to her will via emotional blackmail and threats and makes denigrating remarks in the misguided belief of having superior knowledge; I extended kindness towards her while severing our relationship at the same time. That was new and rewarding for me. And finally,
• walk away from the mentally disabled women in the homeless shelter where I lived as I have finally accepted after two long years that I cannot assist them in any tangible way.  Sadly, they all decided that they did not want to change anything in their lives. Even though they said that to me at before I didn't believe it. I thought I could change their outlook and thus their minds but that was futile and I feel very sad about it. I walked away with a tear in my heart and good wishes in mind for them all.

Facing these challengers force me to face not only my beliefs but also lisen to their truths about me and question myself about it. I know my truth only after I examine my feelings, bypassing the instinctive anger at the disrespect shown.

I love who I am, right now!

Nothing has the power to move you from what you know to be right. You are unshakeable.

We all will take those steps to freedom or diminish and die - and we all have been on this road reincarnation after reincarnation for quite a while now - and it's not about free speech or anything so mundane.

No, the freedom of which I speak is inside of you, and you, and you. When you free yourselves from the bondage of other people's beliefs and step into your own, you will move mountains by your very determination and perseverance and passion for whatever cause inspires you.

It's not about placard waving although there's that too if it's your style. There's also quiet diplomacy and communication, community development activities, keeping your family together through thick and thin. Whatever moves you to act, grasp it, hold on tight, follow it through to the end and amaze yourself.

That's right, you're doing it for your Self. When you take those steps to freedom, you not only inspire others but those around you benefit in countless ways. You have to be the change; there is no one else!



Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com

 STEPS TO FREEDOM

Change What Isn’t Working

If we don't change what isn't working in our lives, we will continually have the same day over and over again.

We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change.

Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives.

The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes often have a big effect. Sometimes much bigger changes are necessary, but the only way to know for sure is to take the time to really understand the problem.

Examine your life as an entirety—your work, your relationships, where you live—and determine what specifically is not functioning the way you would like. Once you have figured out the problem, write it down on a piece of paper.

For example, “I am not happy with my relationship” or “I don’t like my apartment.”

The next step is to figure out the adjustment you would like to make and how you can go about making this change.

If you are unhappy with your relationship because you spend too much or not enough time with your partner, you may want to discuss this problem with them and come up with a compromise.

On the other hand, if you realize your relationship is not working to such a degree that it needs to end, begin working through that process. Writing down the truth can be a powerful catalyst for change.

The key to making changes that work is to accept the necessity of change as part of life. As we change, we may find it necessary to fine-tune our relationships, work, and living situations. Our lives are living, breathing entities that reflect our dynamic selves.

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY - Be Willing to Recognize your Innate Wisdom

You may feel quite confident that your own inner wisdom will help you accomplish your goals today. Even if others attempt to direct you in your choices, your first impulse will likely be to go with your gut instincts when at a personal or professional crossroads.

Dahlia from pinterest.com

The positive consequences of your decisions can further reinforce your assurance of your capabilities, making you feel intelligent and confident.  

You may find that you are inspired to extend yourself beyond the limits of your comfort zone because you trust that your endeavors will be met with success. However you choose to make use of your newly developed self-belief today, you can rest assured that you are no doubt as talented and skillful as you know yourself to be.

When we recognize our own complexity, we come to realize that we are capable of much more than we tend to give ourselves credit for. Years of experience have contributed to our development, and we have retained a wealth of wisdom derived from the triumphs and travails that have marked our passage through life's journey.

To learn self-trust, we need only acknowledge that the depth of our intellect and emotional maturity is sufficient to allow us to make thoughtful and caring choices in the various spheres of our lives. Worry can find no purchase in our hearts and minds as we instinctively know that we are equipped to steer ourselves toward those paths with the potential to enrich our lives.

Your willingness to recognize your innate wisdom will ensure that you can make decisions with confidence today. DailyOM

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Maintain Balanced Friendships and Family Relationships

Hibiscus flower
Source: pictureworldbd.com

The love and care we give others should never be given at the expense of our own well-being. We can be loyal to the important people in our lives without sacrificing our health and happiness, provided our approach to the maintenance of friendships and familial relationships is balanced.  

Our ability to give our loved ones the care and support they need is dependent upon our physical health and emotional wellness. When we take good care of ourselves before endeavoring to care for others, we ensure that we can be there for family and friends no matter how dire the circumstances at hand.  

We can commit ourselves to others precisely because we have first committed ourselves to ourselves. You will find that your outwardly-directed faith is unerring today when you have taken steps to make certain that you feel consistently energetic and upbeat. DailyOM

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Reflect Thoughtfully on Personal Triumphs and Professional Achievements

White Hibiscus source: 1.bp.blogspot.com







The excellent choices we have made throughout our lives can, during periods of wariness or indecision, give us the confidence we need to trust ourselves enough to face difficult decisions.



When we reflect thoughtfully upon our personal triumphs and professional achievements, we soon realize that for all of the missteps we have taken, our lives have been defined by our successes.
 

We have accomplished much and these accomplishments were likely no simpler in nature than those challenges we must face in the present. The range of our capability becomes clear to us as we examine the choices we have made in the past and the positive effects those decisions had on our existence as a whole.

You will be moved to courageousness today by the triumphs you courted in your individual history. DailyOM

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The Most Fulfilling Road - Listen to Yourself and Be Fearless



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Listen to yourself and be fearless in your actions. Nothing comes easy because we get in our own way. I heard someone say that a long time ago and from my experiences I know it's true.

I woke with the blazing thought in my head I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my soul and nobody is going to stand in my way to hinder me in pursuing my desires, whatever they turn out to be!

I feel powerful and ALIVE and I am only 55 years young this 2014. Nobody on this planet can take this feeling away from me and the same goes for you.

Live your life as you see fit and follow your own beat. It is NOT easier said than done. It's a matter of doing, facing down all challengers whoever they may be - family, friends, lovers, neighbours - mowing down all obstacles whatever they happen to be and as I have learned, it's the petty shit that comes of most as excuses for their supposed concern. People just don't like change. It's too scary.

Listen here, the most fulfilling road is the one you choose.

You were not put on the planet to please anybody except yourself. That sounds selfish to some but what the heck. If you don't get up and get what you want, I guarantee you nobody is gonna come and give it to you.

It doesn't matter how you start or what you do, just get up and do it. There's no better time than right now, today!

YOU are unique! They broke the mould when they made you, and me. It is time to embrace your Self, drop the mask, step out, step up, be real and make a change every day. Do something you've never dared before and use the energy from your self-righteous anger to power you through the crowd of naysayers (well, we just don't do that) who want you to remain like them.

Stop playing small. It doesn't become you and only serves to make comfortable those who are too afraid to be.

Here's a reminder of who you really are.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. 

We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

DailyOM's  Madisyn Taylor wrote this brilliant piece about being fearless as you follow that inner voice within to find the path that makes you feel fulfilled.. Empower yourself. Go into that silence and listen. You always know what's right for you.

The Most Fulfilling Road
Finding Your Next Step in Life by Madisyn Taylor


It is when you are willing to listen to yourself and be fearless that figuring out your next step becomes easy. 

pinimg.com



There are many ways to discover what the next step on your life path should be. If you are someone who seeks to satisfy your soul, it is vital that you make this inquiry.



Often, your inner voice will counsel you that it’s time for a change, and it is very important to trust yourself because only you know what is best for you. Personal growth always results when you let yourself expand beyond the farthest borders of what your life has been so far.

When figuring out what your next step will be, you may want to review your life experiences. The choices you’ve made and the dreams you’ve held onto can give you an idea of what you don’t want to do anymore and what you might like to do next. It is also a good idea to think about creative ways you can use your skills and satisfy your passions.

Visualizing your perfect future and making a list of ways to manifest that future can help you choose a logical next step that’s in harmony with your desires. Meditation, journal writing, taking a class, and other creative activities may inspire you and provide insight regarding the next step in life that will bring you the most satisfaction.

It is when you are willing to listen to yourself and be fearless that figuring out your next step becomes easy. Beneath the fear and hesitation and uncertainty lies your inner knowing that always knows which step you need to take next.

If you can allow the taking of your next step to be as easy as putting one foot in front of the next, you’ll notice that your next step is always the one that is right in front of you. All you have to do is put one foot forward and on the ground.
Our lives are made up of a complex network of pathways that we can use to move from one phase of life to the next. For some of us, our paths are wide, smooth, and clearly marked. Many people, however, find that they have a difficult time figuring out where they need to go next.

Determining which “next step” will land you on the most direct route to fulfillment and the realization of your life purpose may not seem easy.

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Seven Quick Fixes to Feel Better - Get Back to Wellness

Hibiscus flower via Flickr

This is a perfect programme of 7 quick fixes for those of us who prefer the natural route to start off the new year just right. Madisyn Taylor of DailyOM has hit the right spot. 
I previously posted  (with videos) 2 gentle, non-invasive acupressure techniques that work for me, (Tapas Acupressure Technique) TAT - a fab technique to empower yourself and get free of stress and trauma and  Learn EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique and how it could benefit you.

Quick fix 1 is an acupressure technique to naturally relieve headaches. No. 2 stuff noses? Try this one. No. 3 - not only is apple cider vinegar great for a simple detox when you feel the need but it also alkalinizes the body when you add a teaspoon in a large glass of water. Try it. Nos. 4 and 6 are evident. No. 5 breathing exercises de-stress you, gets rid of anger, anxiety, butterflies before an interview and so on. Use and repeat whenever and wherever. No. 7 is my favourite. Lemons alkalinizes the body from all the acid-forming foods we eat (meat, sugar, white flour etc.), ginger warms you up and is great in winter and it tones you up internally,  garlic is fabulous for your intestinal health and cayenne perks up your innards and aids in digestion. Wonderful stuff. Try one!

Getting Back to Wellness - Seven Quick Fixes to Feel Better by Madisyn Taylor

Anxiety and fear dissipate quickly when countered

with conscious breathing.

The signals our bodies use to tell us we need to cleanse ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally are multifaceted and often mirror symptoms we associate with illness. If we heed these signs, we not only feel better quickly but also stave off poor health before it can start. These quick fixes for common ailments can get you started.

1. Applying pressure to the acupressure point between the thumb and forefinger can release blockages causing pain, tension, and fatigue. You can relieve a headache naturally by squeezing for 20 seconds and releasing for 10 seconds, without letting go, four times.

2. To breathe freely, irrigate your nasal passages with a neti pot and warm salt water. As you clear and soothe the sinuses, congestion associated with allergies or infection will gradually disappear.

3. Apple cider vinegar is a powerful purifying and detoxifying agent. Soaking for 20 minutes in a warm bath infused with two cups of apple cider vinegar pulls toxins from the body and can clear blocked energy.

4. The foods you eat can have a profound impact on your outlook and mood. Eating a small yet satisfying meal rich in complex carbohydrates can lift your spirit and help you let go of feelings of anger, irritability, and depression.

5. Anxiety and fear dissipate quickly when countered with conscious breathing because concentrating on the breath enables you to refocus your attention inward. You can ground yourself and regain your usual calm by taking a series of deep belly breaths as you visualize your feet growing roots that stretch miles down into the earth.

6. Though tuning out can seem counterproductive, a few minutes spent lost in daydreams or listening to soothing music can help you see your circumstances from a new angle when you feel frustrated.

7. If you feel ill health coming on, brew a wellness elixir.

Simmer three sliced lemons,
One teaspoon freshly grated ginger,
One clove freshly minced garlic, and
One quarter teaspoon cayenne pepper in five cups water until the lemons are soft and pale.

Strain a portion into a mug and add honey by tablespoons until you can tolerate the taste.

Drinking this potent mixture of antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal ingredients three times each day can ensure your symptoms never progress into a full-blown illness.

Credit: 2nd red hibiscus photo, Flickr

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Use a Surrender Box - Let Go of your Burden

A surrender box is a tool to let go of our burdens

so the universe can take care of them for us.

 

Surrender Box
Source: writeonjournals.yolasite.com

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think.

We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. In maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, we may actually delay the realization of our dreams and the resolution of our worries because we won’t let them go. At times such as these, we may want to use a surrender box.

A surrender box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box.  

By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We give ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it.

 

You may even want to decorate your box and place it in a special place. Your surrender box is a sacred container for your worries. Not only do you free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires and dropping them into your surrender box, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the surrender box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.

Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes.

It’s always fun to go back and pull the slips of paper out of the box once your requests have been granted. And it’s amazing how quickly problems go away and dreams come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.

 

Madisyn Taylor, DailyOM 

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Impress Your Peers Today - Be Authentic

While it is important that we think before speaking, we should try not to let our need to please everyone in our vicinity compel us to hide or otherwise distort those ideas that will likely prove valuable.



Source: wikipedia



We may feel uncomfortable speaking our minds in this way because we believe that these quick-to-appear initial thoughts are unformed notions that can only be improved by careful consideration. In discounting them, however, we do ourselves a disservice.

The time we have devoted to the refinement of our intellectual and emotional responses can almost guarantee that our ideas will be stimulating and engaging.

Often, it is our first impressions that represent a true and unadulterated distillation of our cleverness and creativity.

Your copious wit and well-developed intelligence will impress your peers today when you give yourself the freedom to speak your mind. DailyOM 

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Commit Yourselves to Causes to Make a Difference



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We are more apt to judge ourselves to be valuable as individuals when we have committed ourselves to causes that allow us to make a difference in the lives of others.

Our ability to make a favorable assessment of ourselves is based on the fact that we have evidence of our worth in the form of the gratitude we have received for our contributions.

As part of something larger than ourselves, we can promote the values most important to us through positive action. We not only give voice to the principles we hold dear but we also ensure they can flourish by providing a foundation of selflessness. Since we feel useful, we can clearly see that the world would be a very different place if we ceased to exist.

The aid and succor you give others today will help you understand how important you are. DailyOM

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Your Breath brings you back to the moment

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.

~Author unknown

You might be preoccupied when speaking with other people today which could be a result of your scattered thoughts. These distractions may be a way for you to really avoid connecting with other people, and they might even make your interactions all the more difficult.

King Protea - Jenny Hallward

Using your breath as a point of focus while interacting with others could make it easier for you to be more engaged in what is being said and might also provide some relief from your scattered thoughts.

Should you notice your mind beginning to wander at any point today, briefly bring your attention to the point where your breath enters your nose.

Let your mind settle for a few moments on this spot while at the same time looking at the person you are talking with, and this should bring you back to the moment.

Being conscious of our breath allows us to be present in all of our interactions. It is natural for the mind to drift at least part of the time when we are listening to others.

If we have something to anchor our mind, however, it becomes so much easier for us to remain present to other people. Putting our focus on some part of our body and using our breath to briefly attach to that point will aid in this process, enhancing our ability to give others our undivided attention.

The more you train your mind to come to a single point of concentration, the more positive and fruitful your interactions will be today. DailyOM

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Living a Spiritual Life - Remember Who We Really Are

Madisyn Taylor's Exploring the Soul- Living a Spiritual Life is about what I call everyday spirituality. Finding out who you really are by going within, tapping into that inner stillness to get the answers you seek. They are all there.

Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.

~Marcus Aurelius

Bottle brush flowers
Womanofspirit

Remembering who we really are is the first step in awakening to our spiritual path.

Throughout the journey from birth to death, many people choose to question life, strive for improvement, seek out knowledge, and search for the divine. Simply put, this is the essence of spirituality.

One’s spiritual practice can take on many forms, because embracing the spiritual is a very personal pursuit. While many people do relate their spirituality to a God or Goddess, this quest for the divine, or oneness with the universe, always springs from within.

It doesn’t matter where you find your spiritual path. We are all fundamentally spiritual beings and the essence of that lies in knowing one’s true self and finding a peace that comes from within rather than the outside world. It is in remembering this that we awaken to our personal path.

The spiritual path springs forth from a daily routine that reaffirms our personal connection with a purpose or a way of life. Practicing compassion, gratitude, appreciation, forgiveness, generosity, meditation, and taking care of one’s wellbeing can all be a part of one’s spiritual life.

If you are new to exploring your personal spirituality, remember that this is a process. You may want to spend a few moments each day giving yourself a spiritual gift.

Try a new form of meditation, visit a sanctuary, or explore a specific deity.

Accepting the importance of spirituality can be a healthy decision, because a spiritual practice tends to include habits that promote healthy living.

Take the time to carefully determine the action, thought, and ritual that most speaks to your soul. Remember that your most profound spiritual experiences may also come from the simple intricacies that make up your life. See the interconnectedness of all things.

As you explore your “inner work,” you will be walking your spiritual path and feeling your oneness with the universe.

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Gut Response - Nothing Wrong with having Feelings

Gut Response - In Touch with True Emotions
by Madisyn Taylor

Our bellies can be wonderful monitors of our emotional health and the truth can always be found there.

So often, emotions that we long to express get stored in our bodies instead. The space where this most often happens is in our bellies. Rather than telling people, our even ourselves, the way we truly feel, we may stuff our true feelings deep inside of us, where they take up space until we are ready to let them go.

Stuffing our feelings in our bellies may feel like the "safe" response, since we then don’t really have to deal with our emotions. Yet, doing so can actually be detrimental to our emotional well-being and physical health. One way to connect with and release your emotions is to do a focused exercise with your stomach area.

Take a moment to center yourself with some deep breathing and quiet meditation, relaxing your body fully and turning off the chatter in your brain. With your right hand on your stomach, tell yourself three times: "Please reveal to me my true emotions." 

Listen for the answers. Repeat the exercise as many times as you would like, allowing yourself to drop deeper into your body each time. Notice any physical response in the stomach area, whether you have a warm, relaxed feeling in the middle of your body or if you feel tight knots in response to any emotions that do come up. You may even want to write down any answers that come to you. Remember that the body doesn’t lie.

Releasing our pent up feelings from our bellies can prevent disease and allow us to live more authentic and expressive lives. Sometimes, if too much emotional energy builds up inside of us, a blowout can result that can cause discomfort. You can help to alleviate this compression by doing the same exercise and adding sound to your emotional release.

The more guttural the sounds released through your mouth, the more emotions you are likely letting go. Releasing your emotions from your belly doesn’t have to be painful and hard; rather, it can be organic and effortless. It’s important not to judge whatever comes up for you. We tend to stuff our feelings in our bellies when we are ashamed of them or not ready to express them.

There is nothing wrong with having feelings, whatever they may be. You can’t help your feelings; if anything, you can help yourself by acknowledging the truth of your emotions so you can set yourself free. Madisyn Taylor

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Take Ownership of your Thoughts - Master them!

I'VE LINKED a few Booster posts to spring you to the next level that I wrote a while back providing other resources to help you achieve a stressless state of being. Re-acting to another person's negativity is simply a knee-jerk stress re-action that you feel but many times do not acknowledge. That's wrong.

START MAKING it a practise to know how you feel (emotional) and what you feel (physical as in tight gut=tense) at different times of the day. Please tune in to your body's signals. It never ever leads you wrong. Once you know "what's up" with you, you are able to manage your actions and you will not take you by surprise or feel out of control. Being the authentic you takes work but would you have it any other way?

SOMETIMES YOU believe life sucks but as I was reminded recently, when you have that kind of shit in your mind you attract, yes you got it, shitty people who are attracted to your vibrational energy (without knowing why) and they are very happy to just spread the crap all over you. You, yes YOU, called it to you!

WE ARE ALL living stress-filled lives and we have got to get off of the crazy merry go-round and it starts by taking some quiet time for yourself, every day, to master your monkey mind.

When we take ownership of our thoughts we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others. ~Madisyn Taylor

THE KEY TO the power of allowing is to allow people to be themselves. Not always charming and as long as they don't step on you, as stinky as some may be, it's okay. But here's the thing, you are also responsible for drawing the line with anyone who goes beyond what is acceptable to you.

AS MADISYN TAYLOR suggests below you can quite easily visualise a protective shield to block another person's negative energy. It is that easy.  Do remember that it is your thoughts that draw people and their energy, negative or positive to you. The more you master your thoughts - quieting the mind with meditation is the only way this can be achieved - the smoother your life journey will be.

A GREAT WAY I have discovered to short-circuit unhappy people is to deliberately look for the positive aspects of others. When you start paying attention to another's positive side, what bugs you about them takes a back seat and sometimes what we find is so surprising. They don't change of course but your thoughts about them do and that makes a world of difference. Try it.

And by the way, don't get too tied up on the word "meditation". Just walking in nature (without ipod, ipad, tablet or other distractions), singing, dancing, etc. are all forms of meditation as well. Find what's right for you.

WHILE WE CAN try to avoid people we know who engage in projecting their “stuff” onto others, we can’t always steer clear of such encounters. We can, however, deflect some projections through mindfulness and meditation.

A USEFUL visualization tool is to imagine wrapping ourselves in a protective light everyday. At other times, we may have to put up a protective shield when we feel a projection coming our way, reminding ourselves that someone else’s issues are not ours.

ALTHOUGH IT'S difficult not to react when we are the recipient of a projection, it is a good idea to try to remain calm and let the other person know if they are being unreasonable and disrespectful. We all know that it’s not fun to be dumped on. Likewise, we should be mindful that we don’t take our own frustrations out on others.

WHEN WE TAKE ownership of our thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings, we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others. Read the rest of Madisyn's article.

MORE
How to quiet the mind course

Just one thing Mini Meditation to dissolve stress (8 mins.)
I have found Ed and Deb Shapiro to be the most down-to-earth teachers on meditation.

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Pausing to Drink from the Beauty of Nature

PAUSING TO DRINK - Beauty Day

TAKE THE TIME today to really notice and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

SOMETIMES we go through whole days without really tuning in to the beauty of nature that surrounds us. We have a habit of seeing it without really taking it in, yet once we begin to notice it we treat ourselves to an exquisite realm of subtle, complex scents, miraculous forms, and ethereal light.

THE NATURAL world enriches our entire being through the vehicles of our senses. When we are low, nature lifts our spirits. When we are tired, it rejuvenates us—if we pause long enough to drink from its beauty.

IF YOU HAVE fallen out of the practice of taking time to observe the light as it filters through the leaves of a tree, or the concentric rings a raindrop makes as it plops into a puddle, you can retune yourself by dedicating a day to noticing the beauty in nature.

ON THIS DAY, one possibility is to rise early enough to see the sunrise.

Watching the sky change colors and the world emerge from darkness is an experience that will influence the whole rest of your day in ways that words cannot describe.

OR SIMPLY observe the quality of the morning light as it infuses the world with its particular pale golden beauty. You may let the light play on your own hand, remembering that you are also part of the natural world.

LET YOUR INTUITION guide you to the elements of nature that call to you throughout the day, such as the sound of the wind as it shakes and sways a tree or the feeling of snowflakes landing on your warm eyelids and cheeks.

AFTER YOU DEVOTE one day to opening your eyes more fully to the beauty of nature, you may want to make this part of your daily routine.

EACH DAY DRINK from the beauty all around you, and allow it to rejuvenate your entire being. All you have to do is pause, for just one minute, and really take it in, remembering to thank Mother Nature for her beauty. DailyOM

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We Forget What Silence can do for Us

In The Midst of our busy lives, we may forget what silence can do for us. We may also have the se

nse that surrender is defeat. When we surrender to a higher power that we trust, however, we do not do so in defeat but in release.

Spiritually, we are connected to infinite energy, but our bodies need rest and proper care, and our minds need spaces, like rests in a symphony, to distinguish between the sounds.

Our Inspiration and inner guidance comes from the silent space within us where we are connected to the universe. As you allow yourself to surrender to the silence today, you nurture yourself from the very source of life. DailyOM

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Forge Strong Relationships in Spheres of your Existence

The world seems like a much brighter place when we choose to actively seek out the goodness that we understand exists in every individual we encounter.  

Though this innate human positivity may not at first be visible to us, we are willing to do what it takes to unearth this hidden beauty in our compatriots.  

As a consequence, we project an aura of warm and all-encompassing acceptance that can inspire others to treat us with a similar level of kindness and respect.  

We create a cycle of goodwill that flows outward from us into the individuals with whom we work and play, ensuring that we always concentrate on their positive traits and that they, in turn, concentrate on the goodness we strive to nurture within ourselves.  

The acceptance with which you greet others today will help you forge strong relationships in the various spheres of your existence. DailyOM

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Endeavor to Help Others Attain Stability

When we feel secure, we find ourselves in the wonderful position of being able to make sure that others can enjoy a similar state of security.

Whatever the nature of our growing stability, there will always be some course of action that allows us to aid people in need open to us.

By sharing our resources or expertise with such individuals, we not only invite more abundance into our lives but we also ensure that we are using our current level of prosperity to change the world for the better.

Our good fortune, whether accidental or earned, serves as the seed of good fortune that others are free to enjoy. Thus the gifts we have been granted by a loving universe become even more meaningful.

As you endeavor to help others attain stability today, the success you have achieved will grow in significance. DailyOM

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Failure - Speak or Read the Word - How Does It Make You Feel?

Failure is part of the human existence, unfortunately. We all think it and live it, some more than others but overuse that dastardly word. It stresses us out to the max. It connotes fear, negativity, promotes ill feelings and makes us sick.

We are afraid of it and draw it to us as our best friend then try to fight it because it repulses us.

Once you get into a funk you start thinking of everything that is not right, in other words, failure and that negativity can and does take over unless you make a concerted effort to consciously step out of that space and think good thoughts.

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The problem is, and I know this for myself, is that when you think of one little thing that went wrong we blow it out of proportion then memories of other unconnected happenings big and small come tumbling out and we end up beating ourselves up.
Failure should not be in our lives at all, it has no place there. We are not here to fail but most of us have grown up with that idea. 
Madisyn Taylor of DailyOM has written a superb piece about Failure and it is such a significant and important topic it must be read. She talks about the way fear rules our consciousness when the all encompassing word is used.

We human beings must find a  way to short-circuit negativity, for our own good and the well-being of the whole.

Read the article, open yourself up to the truth of the message her words, do the work needed on yourself and then banish that word, as she suggests, from your dictionary, no matter how long it takes. It's worth it.

Failure ~ Madisyn Taylor

All you have to do is speak or read the word failure and see how it makes you feel.

The word failure puts forward a very simplistic way of thinking that allows for only two possibilities: failure or success. Few things in the universe are black and white, yet much of our language reads as if they are.

The word failure signifies a paradigm in which all subtlety is lost.

When we regard something we have done, or ourselves, as a failure, we lose our ability to see the truth, which is no doubt considerably more complex. In addition, we hurt ourselves. All you have to do is speak or read the word failure and see how it makes you feel.

At some point, the word may not have been so loaded with the weight of negativity, and it simply referred to something that did not go according to plan.

Unfortunately, in our culture it is often used very negatively, such as when a person is labeled a failure, even though it is impossible for something as vast and subtle as a human being to be reduced in such a way.

It also acts as a deterrent, scaring us from taking risks for fear of failure. It has somehow come to represent the worst possible outcome.

Failure is a word so burdened with fearful and unconscious energy that we can all benefit from consciously examining our use of it, because the language we use influences the way we think and feel.

Next time you feel like a failure or fear failure, know that you are under the influence of an outmoded way of perceiving the world. When the world failure comes up, it’s a call for us to apply a more enlightened consciousness to the matter at hand. When you are consciously aware of the word and its baggage you will not fall victim to its darkness.

In your own use of language, you may choose to stop using the word failure altogether. This might encourage you to articulate more clearly the truth of the situation, opening your mind to subtleties and possibilities the word failure would never have allowed.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. ― Winston Churchill

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We Can Make A Difference

The selfless acts of kindness and compassion performed by others can become the inspiration that moves us to take up the cause of charity.

If we are diligent and serious in our observation of the small- and large-scale philanthropy we see unfolding around us, we can observe what garners positive results and what doesn’t, thereby refining our own humanitarian efforts.

We are more prone to help people in need when we have both seen others’ bountiful endeavors met with success and have taken pleasure in watching the gratitude unfold of those lifted up into the light. We need never doubt that we, as individuals, can make a difference because we are following in the footsteps of a guiding light.

You will likely be moved to act today as you observe people in the various areas of your life working to make the world a better place. DailyOM

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Cutting the Emotional Cords that Bind and Weigh You Down

Orange bougainvillea

Every time I find myself caught up in a twisty knot of my emotions, I end up finding techniques to unknot myself.

In this case, an unsatisfactory relationship in which I can't seem to get rid of the guy, and I know it's a karmic relationship which I have healed as much as I am able and so I feel it's time to move on.  

Madisyn Taylor, co-founder of DailyOM describes cutting those emotional cords that bind. Meditation, visualization and  focus are the simple tools you need to rid yourself of the emotional baggage weighing you down.

A Sense of Closure

In every relationship, people are constantly exchanging energy that can become a chord connecting two people. This energetic cord forms just below the breastbone and can remain long after a relationship has ended. This unbroken cord may leave an open channel between you and another person, through which emotions and energy can continue to flow.

If you are unaware that the chord exists, it is easy to feel the other person’s emotions and mistakenly think that they are yours.

Besides the fact that this can limit the amount of closure you can experience in a relationship, letting this cord remain intact can leave you with a continued sense of sadness while creating feelings of lethargy as your own energy is sapped from you.

Cutting the cord can help you separate yourself from old baggage, unnecessary attachments, and release you from connections that are no longer serving you.

Finding and cutting unwanted cords is a simple, gentle process that is best done alone and when you are relaxed. It is important that you are strong in your intention to release the chord between you and someone else.

To begin, breathe deeply and perform a simple centering meditation. When you are ready, visualize or sense the chords that are connecting you to other people.

Run your fingers through the cords to separate them until you find the cord you wish to sever. There is no need to worry, because the chord you need to sever will feel just right.

When you have found it, determine where the cut should be made and then visualize the cord being cleanly cut. If you need assistance, Archangel Michael can be called upon to help you with his sword.

Afterward, if you feel that cutting the chord has left spaces in your energy field, then visualize those spaces being filled with healing sunlight.

There may be times where cutting a cord can help free a relative or loved one to reach new stages of growth. You’re not severing a relationship, but you are severing the cords that are no longer serving you both.

At other times, a cord may simply refuse to be cut because it is still serving a higher purpose. It is also important to remember that cutting a cord with someone is not a replacement for doing your emotional work with people. It can, however, be an enactment of that work upon its completion.

In any case, cutting a relationship cord should always be viewed as a positive and nurturing act. By cutting the cords that no longer need to be there, you are setting yourself and others free from the ties that bind.

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