Heart Opener

OPEN YOUR EYES and YOUR HEART

 Open yourself up to what is given to you. Fill your life with love. 

I know that yoga can heal your mind, body, and spirit. One of the heart opening yoga poses that I like is sun salutation. When we are saluting the sun, we are also opening ourselves to the universe and ready to accept blessings. When your heart is open and you are available, you can truly give and receive love.

I have discovered that when you allow yourself to be genuine, vulnerable, and able to express the love of something as well as sharing them with others, you will draw more love of all kinds in your direction. Anything that nurtures your spirit in a loving way has the potential to fill your heart with love. When our heart is filled with love, and we are sharing that love, we become kinder, gentler, and more patient. Our perspective is enhanced and we become more satisfied. When we are only looking to be loved, it's easy to forget how wonderful it is to give love. Yet, when we discover new ways to share our love, an almost magical transformation takes place in our lives. We become more interested in others, more inclusive and wiser. It almost seems like a law of nature - the more ways we discover to express, share, and be loving, the more we find ourselves surrounded by the feeling of love (Don't sweat the small stuff in love). 

I have also learned that life is about being present and occasionally being able to laugh at ourselves. "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower" ~ HC Anderson. Once you can recapture yesterdays, tomorrow will come on its own. You begin to open yourself up to what is in front of you. Hopefully you make the best of the day and what is given to you. Listen to your heart, it knows everything. And remember, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Open up and receive all of life's blessings.

Sunday Gratitude

Don't we all love waking up everyday feeling awesome? Especially on a quiet Sunday morning while savoring a cup of hot green tea on one hand and scrolling my iPhoto on the other hand. Sunday is the day where I can just BE. It's kind of ME day to reflect and refresh. Whether simply be reading posts on twitter, checking on facebook or even trolling people on the internet while watching Super Soul Sunday on television can be self medicating experience. It's time to acknowledge the peacefulness and gratefulness in our hearts. I will then start digesting self talk that are both negative and positive. My mind starts wondering about all the things that had happened and things of what is going to happen. At the same time, I recognize the beauty around me and all the blessings in life. I find it challenging to remind myself that thoughts will come and go so I need to replace that negative thoughts with positive words all the time. And if out of words, simply saying 'thank you' is enough. How do you express your Sunday gratitude?

We should always express gratitude to the simplest things in life such as the smell of fresh cut grass, bright sunshine, clear blue sky, the sound of waterfall, or singing birds in the background.

Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you express extreme gratitude, humility, understanding. ~ Alice Walker

From Marc and Angel Hack Life's book: 1,000+ Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently - Here are the list of ten useful reminders (that can change our attitude towards life):

1. Let go of what isn't helping your soul. Smile and grow. - Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. Follow a path that moves you. You are always free to do something that makes you smile.

2. Let go of the baggage you know you need to leave behind. - As we grow older and wiser, we begin to realize what we need and what we need to leave behind. Sometimes walking away is a step forward.

3. Let go of feeling like you aren't making progress fast enough. - No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn't trying.

4. Let go of the idea that you have too much to lose. - In the end, you won't regret the things you've done nearly as much as the things you didn't do when you had the chance. I'd rather have a life of "OH WELLS" than a life of "WHAT IFS". Wouldn't you agree?

5. Let go of worrying about everyone else's opinions of your life. - When writing the story of your life, don't let someone else hold the pen.

6. Let go of your tendency to avoid problems. - You cannot change what you refuse to confront.

7. Let go of all your empty complaints. - If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

8. Let go of the excuses. - If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't you'll find an excuse.

9. Let go of lazy attitudes and routines. - You can't underestimate a person who always works hard. Be that person. In life, you don't get what you wish for; you get what you work for.

10. Let go of the idea that it's too late to start over again. - Remember, it's always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than the top of the one you don't.

"You are responsible for what you hold in your mind, not for what goes through it". ~ John Roger

Personal Rituals

When something feels missing in your life and you can't quite figure it out, what do you do? How much time do you spend with yourself? Usually not much time. We are all busy with work, family and life responsibilities that can be overwhelming. Take time to get in touch with yourself and learn about things that can rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Whether it's mediation, yoga, reading or even just simply be yourself doing nothing. Create a set of time for "personal rituals" pursuing your hobby or to do the things that make you happy. There are many ways to unwind and nurture your soul.

When feeling overwhelmed or out of touch, take two minutes and do one, or a combination of, the following:

2-minutes to Mindfulness. Speaking of no judgement, mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally,” as defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I learned two mindfulness practices for regulating attention and getting in touch from Chade-Meng Tan’s “Search Inside Yourself.”

Way One: Bring gentle and consistent attention to your breath for two minutes. That’s it. Start by becoming aware that you are breathing, and then pay attention to the process of breathing. Every time your attention wanders, just bring it back very gently.
Way Two: Sit without an agenda for two minutes. Life really cannot get much simpler than that. The idea here is to shift from “doing” to “being,” whatever that means to you, for just two minutes. Just be.

Establish Personal Rituals. Get clear on energizing rituals that turn you inward. A few of my ideal favorites include: morning visualization of how I want the day to feel and what is dying to be born, reading quotes, going through my pictures on iPhoto, savoring a cup of tea, 2-hour blocks of creative time, and yoga.

“Don’t worry about where or who you’re going to be in five years. Like high school, you will look back and wish you had done so many things differently. Know that and do them differently now. Focus on what’s in front on you. Work on the relationship you have with yourself first. Slow down. Enjoy today. It’s okay to not know. Eat alone in restaurants. Stop trying to prove something. Seek growth instead of validation. Be heard. Have non- negotiables. Go somewhere. Pull from your Solid Self as much as you can. Process (get therapy). Don’t compartmentalize people. Love fearlessly, even if you’ve been crushed before. Eat clean. Toss your scale. Pull yourself out of the victim role. Exercise your forgiveness muscle (you will need this). Don’t be concerned with what others think of you. Accept your story. Don’t chase paper. Seek truth. Be patient.” — THE ANGRY THERAPIST: Twenties 

Every day I would remind myself of this "to-do" list:

1. Trust your journey.
2. Breathe.
3. Nourish your soul.
4. Smile.
5. Be love.

"You need not worry about your worries. Just be. Don't be restless about ‘being quiet’, miserable about ‘being happy’. Just be aware that you are and remain aware - don't say: “Yes I am; what's next?” There is no ‘nex’t' in ‘I am’. It is a timeless state". ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Our Intuitive Mind

I have been feeling very insecure about decisions I have made in my life. I always feel like nothing is ever be right and I am wondering if I have veered off course. I now know that if I trust my intuition and just let the universe take care of it then I will feel better. Intuition is difficult to describe but somehow we already know if we truly understand and listen to our inner voice. "Intuition is the guiding voice of our souls and a natural and important part of who we are. Without it we cannot find our way to our purpose and path in life. Without it we cannot truly discover what brings us authentic joy. Joy is a landmark of an intuitive life. Living the intuitive life is the greatest personal power!" What I realize is that everything happens in perfect time. It does not need to be a struggle of monumental effort but instead, when we surrender ourselves to the laws of the universe, it is a natural outpouring of being in alignment with the Creator.. the state of true spirituality. This message reminded me that I will never be "off course" if I stay in tune with my nature as a radiant spiritual being.

“How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.” ~Eckhart Tolle

Make it a habit to ask yourself ‘What’s going on inside me at this moment?’ That question will point you in the right direction. But don’t analyze, just watch. Focus your attention within. Feel the energy of the emotion. If there is no emotion present, take your attention more deeply into the inner energy field of your body. It is the doorway into Being. If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.  ~ Eckhart Tolle

“Your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path.” ~Henry Winkler

I love this article about highly intuitive people do differently. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/19/the-habits-of-highly-intu_n_4958778.html

Here are 10 things that people in touch with their intuition do differently:

They listen to that inner voice
They take time for solitude
They create
They practice mindfulness
They observe everything
They listen to their bodies
They connect deeply with others
They pay attention to their dreams
They enjoy plenty of down time
They mindfully let go of negative emotions

Let's just take a few minutes to simply BE. Aware of your surrounding and enjoy the present moment. Pause. Listen. Recognize your instincts. http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2010/05/08/listening-to-your-inner-voice/#.U3Gfy_ldWSo

Feel the rain on your skin. No one else can feel it for you. Only you can let it in. No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten. (Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield)

Happy Mother's Day to all fabulous Moms!!

The Golden Rule

I have read The Four Agreements few years ago and re-read it several times! I think if more people lived by these words of wisdom, the world could be a very different place to live. None of these principles were new and if we simply aware then accept it, our life will be more peaceful. 

I keep telling myself this simple principle: Don't take anything personally. What other people think about you is their reality, not yours. Always do your best effort and that's all that matter. "Everything is alive and changing all the time, so your best will sometimes be high quality, and other times it will not be as good... Regardless of the quality, keep doing your best."

The way to avoid making assumptions is to make a conscious effort to find the quieter space in our minds. "If we go deeper, if we find a place in between thoughts -- that inner silence -- then we will see that we really can control our thoughts and we can create that silence inside of us."

These are the "golden rule":

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

You don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices. ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Find yourself and express yourself in your own particular way. Express your love openly. Life is nothing but a dream, and if you create your life with love, your dream becomes a masterpiece of art. ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Love of One Self

People tend to focus on feeling good which is 'positive' thing to do. We do things that make us happy. But often times, we also focus way too much on 'negative' issues that always pop up to mind. The mind is amazing.. which is why we must watch our beliefs and from time to time, change all our negative beliefs into positive and empowering ones. I personally love reading affirmations quotes and using them to change my belief system.

People are constantly changing and growing. Do not cling to a limited, disconnected, negative image of a person in the past. See that person now. Your relationship is always alive and changing. - Brian L. Weiss



One of the best days of your life (if you have not yet already experienced it) will be when you discover beyond any doubt that your thoughts and feelings are creating your life. The universe keeps throwing challenges at us until we finally get the lesson and move on.

Life is miraculous progressive journey where life gives us with countless stormy times in the highway of life and success. You must dare to rise above every stormy circumstances being positive to discover your true self. As every stormy circumstances gives birth to great achievers. You are divine being in the form of human gifted with infinite intelligence but you can be who you desired to be only when you take massive passionate action on your dream purpose rising above stormy circumstances.

With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose. - Wayne W. Dyer

Honor your past and embrace your journey. You've grown on your path. Have the courage to let go of control. Choose to forgive yourself for mistakes made and learn from each one. You are empowered. Challenge and face fears, embracing opportunities as they come. Change can happen in a moment. Be present and ready. You are exactly where you need to be. Embrace the present moment as if you've chosen it. Live the present moment as if you're choosing the next.

There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life. - John Lennon

These are two of my favorite quotes by Marianne Williamson:

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.

Stand YOUR ground today.
Stand on your wisdom.
Stand on your principles.
Stand on your clarity.
Stand on your compassion.
Stand on your flexibility.
Stand on your serenity.
Stand on your love.

Living the Law of Attraction

What a wonderful feeling to wake up to if we just take a little moment to recognize our gratitude for being alive.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive. To breathe, to think, to enjoy and to love."

Take time to be thankful for everything that you have. When you're thankful for what you have, you are always rewarded with more.

We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather, to be able to sit in such a beautiful room on such comfortable furniture, to have slept well last night, to be able to get up, to be healthy, to have enough to eat. There's opportunity upon opportunity to be grateful; that's what life is. ~David Steindl-Rast

You are receiving thousands of messages from the Universe every single day. Learn to become aware of this communication from the Universe, who is speaking to you and guiding you in every moment. There are no accidents and no coincidences. Every sign you notice, every word you hear spoken, every color, every scent, every sound, every event and situation is the Universe speaking to you, and you are the only one who knows their relevance to you, and what the communication is saying. Use your eyes to see! Use your ears to listen! Use all of your senses, because you are receiving communication through them all! ~Rhonda Byrne

I believe that living the Law of Attraction is like speaking to the Universe. I have to remind myself whenever possible to choose healthy and positive thoughts. We have to be careful in choosing anything that comes to mind as well as choosing the words we speak. We often have self doubts or negative thoughts that aren't quite true but we allow those thoughts ruin our day because we focus on the negative energy. When we faced with potentially thinking of something or saying negative, we need to STOP ourselves. Acknowledge it and instantly switch to a POSITIVE thought. When I speak to the Universe, I speak to my Higher Power / Creator.

I need to constantly focus on a POSITIVE mental attitude and fill it with gratitude and get the ABUNDANCE energy mode ON. When we started counting our blessings in life rather than our failures, things begin to change because we recognized the things we do have instead of things or goals that we don't succeed. The positive energy would outnumber the countless negativity around us. The simplest way to always be grateful is to tell ourselves with these powerful affirmations: "Ask and You shall receive" and "Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen." The universe will give you signs to point you in the right direction. Look for them. Let your heart and your inner person guide you, rather than your mind.

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Ask, Believe and Receive. 

Be Yourself and Happy!

Throughout my life it seems I always want people to be happy and therefore I do things to please. Lately, I have realized that am not making myself happy because mostly, it’s all about other people. As I get older, I stop looking to please everybody else. I no longer care what they think of me although sometimes I'm still afraid of making decision on simplest things just because I think of others' opinion more than my own judgement. I often think whether they will like it or not. Yes, I am still learning and exploring at the same time. Life is a long journey to walk, and hundreds of problems need to be solved. Therefore, we need to look at positive side of things.

"By letting it go... it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try... the world is beyond winning." - Lao Tzu

Just be yourself, you are the only lucky enough to know because you are amazing just the way you are!

10 Things you should give up to be happy:

1.   Give up your need to always be right.

2.   Give up your need for control.

3.   Give up blame.

4.   Give up your self-defeating self-talk, and your limiting beliefs.

5.   Give up complaining.

6.   Give up your need to impress others.

7.   Give up your resistance to change.

8.   Give up your fears.

9.   Give up your excuses.

10. Give up on living your life to fit other peoples’ expectations.

  

I'm learning not to sweat the small stuff. This past years have been about finding strength within myself - not looking for it in others. I try to be a good person and be nice and kind, though it's a work in progress but I am getting there because I realized that sweating the small stuff is the problem. I now let go of things that don't make me happy and start looking towards achieving goals and just live one day at time.

Kristin Neff, Ph.D., says that it’s time to “stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind.” Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind offers expert advice on how to limit self-criticism and offset its negative effects, enabling you to achieve your highest potential and a more contented, fulfilled life.

Be kind to yourself. Stop telling yourself that whatever you are struggling with 'should' be easy. If something is hard for you, it is hard for you. There are probably reasons, though for some people may just be how they think. People are wired differently. Acknowledge these things. When you finish something hard, be proud! Celebrate a little. And really, just stop saying 'should' to yourself about your thoughts and feelings in any context. You feel how you feel. The things in your head are the things in your head. You can’t change either directly through sheer force of will. You can only change what you do. Stop beating yourself up for who and what you are right now -- it isn’t productive. Focus on moving forward.

It’s time to “stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind!“

Nature Therapy

The things of nature are "good for the soul" and I wish people would take more time to appreciate the wonders of nature all around us. It's FREE! Nothing feeds the soul, mind and spirit like a flower, a hummingbird, a tree, the wind or a sun-drenched pink and gold evening sky.

Here are 10 scientific proofs that nature is natural therapy:

1. In a study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers found that people experienced more deaths from heart disease and respiratory disease when they lived in areas where trees had disappeared.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/21/trees-linked-with-human-h_n_2505267.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Green

2. Those who live in the areas with the most amount of green space have lower levels of cortisol (known as the stress-hormone), and their self-reported feeling of stress were lower than those who spent more time in urban settings.http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/spending-time-outside-relieves-stress
 
3. Spending days in nature, away from electronic devices, is linked with 50% higher scores on a test for creativity. The findings provide “a rationale for trying to understand what is a healthy way to interact in the world, and that burying yourself in front of a computer 24/7 may have costs that can be remediated by taking a hike in nature,” study researcher David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/creativity-nature-unplug-recharge-_n_2286735.html

4. Walking through nature evidence of lower frustration, engagement and arousal, and higher concentration and positive emotions. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23467965

5. ADHD symptoms within children are greatly reduced when in the presence of nature and after doing activities in nature. Findings were consistent across age, gender, and income groups; community types; geographic regions; and diagnoses. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448497

6. Two hours of forest walking improves the following sleep characteristics; impacting actual sleep time, immobile minutes, self-rated depth of sleep, and sleep quality. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3216244

7. Living in a green environment with plants in your home is linked to lower stress reduction and improve stress moderation and management. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611003665

8. Walking through nature decreases brain fatigue. When volunteers walked through urbanized areas with heavy traffic, their brain wave patterns consistently showed that they were more aroused, attentive and frustrated than when they walked through the parkland, where brain-wave readings became more meditative. This study encourages “taking a break from work,” Dr. Roe said, and “going for a walk in a green space or just sitting, or even viewing green spaces from your office window.” http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/easing-brain-fatigue-with-a-walk-in-the-park/

9. Juyoung Lee of Chiba University found that leisurely forest walks, compared with urban walks, yield a 12.4% decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a seven percent decrease in sympathetic nerve activity, a 1.4% decrease in blood pressure, and a 5.8% decrease in heart rate. On subjective tests, study participants also report better moods and lower anxiety. http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/wellness/Take-Two-Hours-of-Pine-Forest-and-Call-Me-in-the-Morning.html?page=all 

10. Nature walks can even fight disease and cancer by increasing your NK (natural killer) cells that are essentially to the innate immune system. When participants agreed to go on morning and afternoon nature hikes, blood tests showed that their NK cells had increased 40 percent. A month later, their NK count was still 15 percent higher than when they started. By contrast, during urban walking trips, NK levels didn’t change.http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/wellness/Take-Two-Hours-of-Pine-Forest-and-Call-Me-in-the-Morning.html?page=all

  "Come forth into the light of things, let NATURE be your teacher." - William Wordsworth

Breathe in the beauty of nature.

Spring Happiness

Lately, I've been spending outside taking lots of pictures. I think I have found a new passion. I've always been fascinated with photography and I also enjoy looking at beautiful pictures from people around the world. I'm passionate about sharing pictures that I took with the world to see my point of view and hopefully I learn something a long the way. This year Spring has been gorgeous and it's all about fluffy clouds, blooming flowers, chirping birds and lots of sunshine. Anywhere is beautiful when it's sunny and dry. I love blue sky in Oregon. I personally love pleasant weather in spring. Being with nature makes me happy and I have develop great interest in exploring outdoors.

“Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” - Elliott Erwitt

I'm in awe of anyone who finds something that he/she likes and be able to capture God's creation either through music or photography which is universal language that can be understood by people around the globe, it's amazing talent.

There are so many things to learn than just photography. I am now inspired to learn how to observe, capture the moments and choosing the objects. Elliot Erwitt said: “All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.”

I joined Instagram in late 2012 and I'm already hooked! I love taking pictures of anything that tickles my interest but mostly nature's beauty.

I have learned so much from others along the way and one of the best things that I like is when your picture get pick to be featured on one of the challenges. I love getting the 'likes' and sweet compliments from amazing people who already have really nice gallery. I love how people from around the world connecting through picture and congratulating each other. I feel like every one is sharing the same passion.

If you like to check it out, follow me here: http://instagram.com/lanicantik or view my photo gallery: http://twenty20.com/lanicantik and http://lanicantik.vsco.co/

“A photograph that has not been shared or at least printed is almost an unexistent photograph, is almost an untaken picture.” 

All around the world, the present moment is filled with beauty.
If you are attentive, you will see it. If you are willing, you will help create it.
Let’s take a moment to think about the beautiful things happening around us.
Right now, at this exact moment…

Here are top 10 favorite photography quotes that I like: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2012/06/101-inspirational-street-photography-quotes
 
1. “The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.” – Oscar Wilde

2. “The photograph is completely abstracted from life, yet it looks like life. That is what has always excited me about photography.” – Richard Kalvar

3. “Ultimately photography is about who you are. It’s the truth in relation to yourself. And seeking truth becomes a habit.” – Leonard Freed

4. “The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.” – Susan Meiselas

5. “I think good dreaming is what leads to good photographs.” – Wayne Miller

6. “I fell in love with the process of taking pictures, with wandering around finding things. To me it feels like a kind of performance. The picture is a document of that performance.” – Alec Soth

7. “It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.” – David Bailey

8. “Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.” – Ansel Adams

9. “Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is.” – Anonymous

10. “You can give everything to photography but photography will give you only 1 thing – happiness.” – Anonymous

“This is your time to fly away and chase all your dreams, remember life is like a play, you must act each scene with passion--embracing and enjoying the part. If you should ever get lost along the way, look to the stars, take a deep breath and follow your heart.”

“Every human being on the planet wants to be happy. Anything that anyone desires is because they think their desire will make them happy. Whether it is health, money, a loving relationship, material things, accomplishments, a job, or anything at all, the desire for happiness is the bottom line of all of them. But remember that happiness is a state inside of us, and something on the outside can only bring fleeting happiness, because material things are impermanent. Permanent happiness comes from you choosing to be permanently happy. When you choose happiness, then you attract all the happy things as well. The happy things are the icing on the cake, but the cake is happiness.” ~Rhonda Byrne (From The Secret Daily Teachings)

Half Full Perspective

Perception is unique to every individual and is simply one's interpretation of reality. The phrase "Is the glass half empty or half full" can be referred to as philosophical question. The purpose of this question is to demonstrate that the situation may be seen in different ways depending on one's point of view and that there may be opportunity in the situation as well as trouble. Life is a series of choices. The choices you make in life will greatly influence the friends you have, what you and your friends do, where you live, what you will do with yourself to contribute to society, who you will marry, and most importantly where you will spend eternity.

In life, it is easy to make excuses of why you aren't where you really want to be, but really, the only excuse that makes sense is that you just haven't fought hard enough to get there yet. Are you an optimist or pessimist?




Although I'm seeing myself as a realist but I'm always hopeful and choosing positive thoughts. I think being optimist is always healthier choice. I’ve learned that life is a lot more pleasant when one looks at the bright side, seeing the glass half full and they are more fun to be around.

“Optimism is the belief that good things will happen to you and that negative events are temporary setbacks to be overcome.”

In a book called “Breaking Murphy’s Law,” Suzanne C. Segerstrom, a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, explained that optimism is not about being positive so much as it is about being motivated and persistent. She also wrote: “People can learn to be more optimistic by acting as if they were more optimistic,” which means “being more engaged with and persistent in the pursuit of goals.”

Occasionally I need the dose of 'optimism' to keep me grounded and reminded me that it really is a conscious choice. Some of my favorite quotes are:

“Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness.” – Mark Twain

“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” – Harry Truman

“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose.” – Kahlil Gibran

Here's a great metaphoric story:

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

DON'T WORRY. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.