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.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

By Deepak Chopra -- taken from: http://www.chopra.com/sslos

I have gained so much wisdom through this book. I love these messages that were clearly defined in a simple way to manifest success in our daily lives. A step by step instructions with effective solutions to a peaceful living. One of the simplest insights to apply in everyday life, is to remember that the easiest way to achieve a goal or get what you want out of life (whether it is personal or business oriented) is to help others succeed. Success is much easier to accomplish when you have support from others and surrounded by people who want you to succeed.

“When we understand these laws and apply them in our lives, anything we want can be created, because the same laws that nature uses to create a forest, or a galaxy, or a star, or a human body can also bring about the fulfillment of our deepest desires.” - Deepak Chopra

We need to realize that becoming successful need not 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.

The Law of Pure Potentiality 

Take time to be silent, to just BE. Meditate for 30 minutes twice a day. Silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. Practice non-judgment. We have unlimited pure potentiality all around us. We need to be open and ready. Do not lock you into one thing. The universe gives us the ability to manifest and do what we like, we just have to know how to get it. There is unlimited pure potential.

The Law of Giving and Receiving 

Today bring whoever you encounter a gift: a compliment or flower. Gratefully receive gifts. Keeps wealth circulating by giving and receiving care, affection, appreciation and love. We have to have the ability to receive. When a person gives us something and we say no that is creating an imbalance. It is important to give every day: give thanks, gratitude, support, love freedom, what you can afford, time. All that you give you will receive back bigger and better than ever.

The Law of Karma 

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. Choosing actions that bring happiness and success to others ensures the flow of happiness and success to you. Everything you do has choices and generates that energy that will be returned to you. Before you do something, you can check to see if it is the highest and good for you and all. You will know if it is good, if you feel good. If it feels like a knot in your belly after a choice that may not have been the highest and best. But each choice is a learning experience.

The Law of Least Effort
Accept people, situations, and events as they occur. Take responsibility for your situation and for all events seen as problems. Relinquish the need to defend your point of view. This one goes against what we have learned set a goal and work hard, spend a lot of time, you need work hard to get things...Wrong. The universe and nature finds the path of least resistance which is the least effort. We need to work smart and listen to the signs that the universe is giving us that are the path of least effort. When in a chaos, do not get caught up in it and let it get to you, take time and breath. Then just flow in the situation, the outcome will be turn out better than you can imagine.

The Law of Intention and Desire 
Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment. Make a list of desires. Trust that when things don't seem to go your way, there is a reason. Set your intentions and desires and then let them be. You may really want one outcome and think that is the best but if it does not happen that is because there is something better for you. If you force it you may get it but you will not be happy or be what you thought it was. Set your intentions and desires for the highest and best for you.

The Law of Detachment
Allow yourself and others the freedom to be who they are. Do not force solutions -- allow solutions to spontaneously emerge. Uncertainty is essential, and your path to freedom. This is also in the same vain as the law of least effort where you set your intentions and desires and then let them be. Do not force it and keep working at it, you will be missing the real opportunities for that intention. Also as the law of intentions and desires, do not be attached to one outcome becomes that may not be in the highest and best for you. So you will get something better if you pay attention to the signs.

The Law of Dharma
Seek your higher Self. Discover your unique talents. Ask yourself how you are best suited to serve humanity. Using your unique talents and serving others brings unlimited bliss and abundance. When you live your life that everything you do is for the highest and best for you and all. You will be the happiest and all of the other laws are working for you. You know you are in this when you do little efforts and accomplish many things.

“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease.“ - Deepak Chopra

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.”