Thursday, April 29, 2010

Living a 5 Star Life



Excerpt from: Living a Five Star Life,
by Betty Mahalik

In this day and age, we are surrounded by messages that virtually scream, "Your life would be perfect if..." My life would be perfect if I had a different job, a different house, car, nose, spouse, bank account (fill in the blank). Or my life would be perfect if I could be like some celebrity whose life appears so well-ordered and perfect-o. This week I encourage you to stop playing "my life would be perfect if," and start playing "my perfect life." What's the difference? Three things: being in the present, an attitude of gratitude, taking action with what's available now.

When we're caught up in the "my life would be perfect if" trap, we've lost touch with the present. And the moment we detach from the present, we can no longer practice gratitude. Think about it: it's difficult to be grateful for what you don't have...and what you don't have is always somewhere out in future-ville.

Look around you right now. Think of 10 things you're grateful for. Do you have a roof over your head and food to eat? I'm guessing the answer is yes. Do you have at least a few good friends or close relationships? Then appreciate them too, right now. Keep going, and practice being in the present and being grateful for what is here and now at least a couple times a day.

You're also probably sitting there thinking "yes but." Yes, but I want more money, a better relationship, more time to travel, to be thinner, happier or whatever. It's one of the great mysteries I'll never figure out. The minute you stop focusing on what you lack, start focusing on what you've already got, and add the "magic" ingredient of action, you actually begin to attract more of what you want. It's an amazing formula for really living your perfect life!

Let's say you want to lose weight or get in better shape, but you don't have an hour a day to spend exercising at the gym. Therefore, you've pretty well resigned yourself to not losing weight or getting in shape. What if you had five minutes though...just about everyone can find five minutes to exercise, stretch, walk around the block or walk the dog. Would you be willing to be grateful for five minutes and make the best possible use of it? Therein lies the beginning of your perfect life!

A simple formula may help you remember how to apply this principle:

* The present
* + an attitude of gratitude
* + positive action
* = my perfect life.


Try it for a day.

Each time you start dreaming about how perfect your life would be if...come back to this moment, give thanks for what is, and do one thing to perfect what you have and who you are right now. There's a saying that "when the student is ready, the teacher appears." If you're ready to start perfecting your life, your teachers are all around you.

What are you waiting for?

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Defying Gravity



Some times, you need to throw away all your fears and learn to defy gravity.

That is the only way to live fully and passionately.

This song, beautifully sung by Glee cast member, Chris Colfer, can serve as your inspiration to break free from your mundane life.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Love...



Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast.
It is not proud, it is not rude.
It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
Always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails...

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Peace



What is Peace?

Peace is the end of confusion. It is as simple as that...

When you are confused, your mind will be very agitated and you will find no peace.

However, when your mind is clear, there will be no confusion and therefore, there will be peace

Peace is not found in the forest or the mountain top. It is not given to you by a teacher.

Peace can only be found within yourself. It is found in the same place where confusion, agitation and suffering arises.

Peace can be found in your heart and your mind.

The more you get attached to something or someone, the less peace you will experience.

Therefore, learn to let go.

The more you let go, the more peace you will have.

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. And if you let go completely, you will experience complete peace...

And that is a sublime state of mind to be in...