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

Simple Truth

“I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not defined by another person.” ~ Oscar Wilde

“Manifest Plainness
Embrace Simplicity
Reduce Selfishness
Have few Desires.” ~ Lao Tzu

For one minute, please stand in silence and look at the sky and contemplate how awesome life is. Find a quiet spot everyday and breathe.

The truth is we all want to have joy, creativity, energy, love and acceptance.

Sometimes a meaningful silence is always better than meaningless words... Being open to the currents and waves takes stillness and quiet of mind. “To the quiet mind all things are possible. What is a quiet mind? A quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which, free from ties and from all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the will of God and dead to its own.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

It's interesting how we doubt our own ability based on what others may think of us. We have negative thoughts that consume our perception and somehow we seem to attract things that we don't want to see rather than seeing positive outcome in life. We need to remind ourselves again of action that needs to be taken. Find the time to be alone, slow down and focus on what truly matter the most. At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is live our truth, speak that truth, and be that truth. When we live from a place of deep honesty, first with ourselves, we can never be rejected.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I would tell my younger self these simple reminders:

• WHO you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone.
• WHAT lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
• WHEN life pushes you over, you push back harder.
• WHERE there are choices to make, make the one you won’t regret.
• WHY things happen will never be certain. Take it in stride and move forward.

“Wouldn’t it be powerful if you fell in love with yourself so deeply that you would do just about anything if you knew it would make you happy? This is precisely how much life loves you and wants you to nurture yourself. The deeper you love yourself, the more the universe will affirm your worth. Then you can enjoy a lifelong love affair that brings you the richest fulfillment from inside out.” ~ Alan Cohen 
 
I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day. Here's to another decade of unlocking the pursuits of happiness, goodwill and true purpose.

You are the only one that creates your reality. That's the truth! 

Gratitude in Action

During holiday season, we often take a moment to recognize all of the blessings in our lives. We expressed gratitude on Thanksgiving, we shared joy and gifts on Christmas, and we renew our hopes and dreams for the New Year. We are all blessed in some way and even more blessed when we acknowledge all the goodness in our lives. It's a great reminder to always be grateful and keep our gratitude mode in action ON.

Begin each day with a grateful heart. Gratitude is the gateway to abundance.

Starting out with a "daily gratitude list". What am I grateful for? I am grateful for the abundance in my life. I am grateful for love and support of family and friends. I am grateful for being healthy. I am grateful for everything that made my life so worth living. Begin by choosing a time you can devote to 'being grateful' each day, a time when you can write down something that makes you happy. Simply list down three to ten things that can lift up your spirit and fill your hearts with joy. 

Example of a Daily Gratitude List:

• Sunshine.


• Seeing my daughter's beautiful smile.


• Taking pictures of nature.


• Having a cup of tea and butter cookies.


• Awesome yoga practice.


• Compliments from stranger.


• Leftovers!


• Reading my Facebook newsfeed.


• No bills in the mail today.


• Time to reflect on positives in my life.

 “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie

Miracles always are happening around us, we just need to slow down our lives to notice them. Count your blessings one by one. To be happy doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s yet to come. Find beauty in everything that contributes to your reality and be grateful. Celebrate all that life has to offer with the understanding that nothing that is not supposed to happen will happen...

“Sometimes we get so caught up in seeing what we don’t have, that we fail to notice the little things that give life its magic. The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance; the wise person grows it under her feet. Your life is filled with blessings and achievements, take the time to accept and appreciate these gifts.”- Positive Thoughts

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Living Gratefully... “My life is awesome. I am in gratitude every day for all my blessings.”

Universal Saying

I just love hearing these beautiful and inspiring quotes that resonated well in our daily lives. Universal sayings that can be understood by everyone just like music and smile. These are things that we already know but it's always good to be reminded again. I think these quotes are worth repeating and hopefully this will inspire others to do better.





"Your life, Your path, Your choice"

Your life is your own creation... It is your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you but no one can walk it for you. Don't confuse your path with your destination. Just because it's stormy now doesn't mean you aren't headed for sunshine. The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. "If you can see yourself as an artist, and you can see that your life is your own creation, then why not create the most beautiful story for yourself?" ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

"Never allow yourself worth to be defined by someone else"

There's good benefit in taking some time to think about how we define our sense of self (and worth). We are not in charge of the process therefore what happens to you does not define you. Only YOU define you. Don't let the imaginary person in your head keep you from loving the real one right in front of you. Be your own kind beautiful and simply be YOU! "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Imperfection is beauty"

Accept everything about yourself. You are unique and perfect. Do not place restrictions on your beauty. You are beautiful ALL the time. "Your light is seen. Your heart is known. Your soul is cherished by more people than you might imagine. If you knew how many others have been touched in wonderful ways by you, you would be astonished. If you knew how many people feel so much for you, you would be shocked. You are far more wonderful than you think you are. Rest with that. Rest easy with that. Breathe again. You are doing fine. More than fine. Better than fine. You’re doing great. So relax. And love yourself today." ~ Neale Donald Walsch

"Believe in yourself"

Observe your thoughts, desires and inhibitions. Ask yourself this if you had the ability to manifest anything or do anything what would you choose to do? "Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused." ~ Alan Cohen

"The impossible is possible" 

Time and time again, history shows us that what all previous generations told us could not be done, a new generation will go out and own. Human beings crave the familiarity and comfort of habit, and fear failure, ridicule and change. What have you been telling yourself that you cannot do, that you were destined to become? "Anything is possible" when you believe in yourself; keep reminding yourself that you can do anything if you put your mind into it and you can be anything you want to be.

"Happiness is contagious"

Fill your mind with happy thoughts. Be happy and spread joy to those around you so that people can feel the positive energy in you and they are happy too. The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up. "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts therefore guard accordingly." ~ Marcus Aurelius

"The possibilities are endless"

You have the power to live your life as fabulous and amazing as you can ever live. Only you can change your way of thinking. Your value is in the incredible person you were created to be. Your past mistakes do not change your value. "When you experience uncertainty, you are on the right path – so don’t give it up. You don’t need to have a complete and rigid idea of what you’ll be doing next week or next year, because if you have a very clear idea of what’s going to happen and you get rigidly attached to it, then you shut out the whole range of possibilities." ~ Unknown

"Live in the present"

Don't allow your past to be present in your future. Don't hold on tight to your past; leave it all behind. Let the past be the past. Today is a new start. New beginning. New opportunities. Start living in the present.

“Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is deeper than any form and untouched by time.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

“Stay true to yourself and listen to your inner voice. It will lead you to your dream.” ~ James Ross

Stillness

There is value in being mindful of the world and what it offers without comment or thought. According to Zen Master - Thich Nhat Hanh

“Silence is essential for deep transformation. It allows the practice of conscious breathing to become deep and effective. Like still water that reflects things as they are, the calming silence helps us to see things more clearly, and therefore, to be in deeper contact with ourselves and those around us.”

“When you contemplate the big, full sunrise, the more mindful and concentrated you are, the more the beauty of the sunrise is revealed to you.”

“Joy and happiness are possible right here and right now if you know the practice of mindfulness and concentration.”

Stillness connects us to our natural intelligence, a holistic wisdom that can only arise with reduced stimulation. Stimulation naturally puts our nervous system on alert, an unconscious action that disconnects us immediately from any sense of deep well-being. From stillness comes all action… are you connected to your source? Remember energy flows where attention goes.

“Silence is a great source of strength.” ~ Lao Tzu

“Sometimes, simply by sitting the Soul collects wisdom.” ~ Zen Proverb

“Silence is the great teacher and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that comes from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence.” ~ Deepak Chopra

“The beauty of today is in all the things: feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, the sunlight filtering through the clouds, the sound of the birds, the silence of no wind. You notice the in-and-out flow of your breath, the feeling of aliveness inside your body. And then there is the beautiful stillness behind it all, which is deep within you. It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

This world is so full of beauty.
Open your mind and you will see.
Let your thoughts just drift away.
To a place you want to be.
(Poem by John F Connor)

Sometimes stillness is a better choice than any action.

Five Optimism Tips To Success

We often set goals and make changes along the way. Myself included. I can't even stick with one goal. I make plans and keep changing it later in the process. Staying motivated is also hard when we don't have the right support. When people stray from their goals, it's tempting to give up altogether. Life has its ups and downs, hurts and disappointments. It's all part of the learning process self-discovery.

Here are the five tips that I learned:

1. Think Positive. I know it's easier said than done but it does help! Always think as if something wonderful is going to happen. Every day is a new day. New challenge and hope. Believe that things will work out, the long road has a purpose, the things that you desire may not happen today, but they will happen.
"The key to your happiness and contentment lies within you, within your own heart and mind. The way you start each day is very important; you can start off on the right foot or the wrong one. You can wake up with a song of joy and gratitude in your heart for the new day, for being alive, for the very wonder of living, and for being in tune and harmony with the rhythm of all life. You can expect the very best from the coming day and therefore draw it to you. Or you can start the day with a chip on your shoulder, disgruntled and out of rhythm. You are responsible for what today will bring, and knowing it gives you an even greater responsibility than those souls who are not aware of it and therefore know no better. You cannot blame your state of mind on anyone else. It all rests with you." ~ Eileen Caddy

2. Staying Motivated. I keep myself busy and doing stuff that I am suppose to be doing. Sometimes with a little competitive spirit inside and looking up to someone or something also helps to do better. It can be hard to stay motivated when you're doing it all alone but we can reach out to people for help. Goals can be achieved with persistent and perseverance.
"Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." ~ Richard L. Evans

3. Focus on Accomplishments, Not Failures. I often think about little things that makes me proud of what I have achieved. Think of something that makes you feel better rather than thinking about what you've done wrong. I feel better when I reward myself with compliments. Enjoy the things in life that make you smile and celebrate yourself!
"May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, or shouldn't have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. As we value our happiness, let us not forget it, for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or should not have." ~ Richard L. Evans

4. Make a Change. What would I be doing differently? I may not like the result but continue to make goals and changes that's attainable. It doesn't have to be a 'New Year' resolution to make life changing events. Sometimes we can be happy with how things are set at the moment and there's no reason to change a thing but if it's necessary to make a change then do it.
"When we get out of the way and start allowing ourselves to be who we really are, despite the good opinion of others, connect with the core of your being and know like you know that this is who I really am and this is what I really want...AMAZING things start to happen all around you. Everything you have dreamed of begins to line itself up right before your very own eyes!" ~ The Secret

5. Be Grateful and Hopeful. Everything will work out when it's suppose to. Recognize and enjoy small success in life often make people to feel happy again. Knowing when things don't turn out the way we hope, it sucks! But, it can also be a set back to see the world in a different way. Always believe that things will turn out for the best but prepare for the worst and move on. Life is too short to be miserable.

"If we see the exact same event from a different perspective we will see an entirely different event. We cannot control the wind... but we CAN control our sail as it catches the wind. Learn to set the sails of your perspective and use the winds to move you forward toward your goal." ~ Positively Positive

It’s a new day! A new opportunity to be grateful!