02.03.2015

Tranquil Mind
You are a gentle soul who can speak to what is
in the heart of others without saying a word.
Correction from Criticism
When there is criticism that comes one's way,
there is a tendency to
ignore or to defend oneself. Naturally we then
lose the power to
listen. We then find that we are not able to
correct our mistakes and
so they repeat. We thus find that we are not
able to experience
progress. We need to carefully analyze to see if
there is any truth in
any criticism that comes our way. If there is,
correction can be made
accordingly. When we listen to others with
honesty, we are able to
discover even the most negligible aspect in our
behaviour which we can
change. So we find ourselves constantly
improving and progressing and
moving on towards success. So having brought
about a change, even the
criticism that comes our way stops.
Creating Positive Habits
Some habits do not upset us, but others can
cause irritation, frustration and desperation.
We want to rid ourselves of them: but how? When
we look at the creation and fulfillment of
thoughts, it looks like a closed system: the
thoughts lead to actions, the actions create a
series of impressions (sanskars), and
these impressions are responsible for similar
thoughts, which lead us to similar actions, this
is a vicious cycle. If we want to change a
habit, then where do we start? In other words,
where do we change the system or how do we get
out of the cycle? First of all, we can try
changing our negative actions: for example, stop
a mental negative habit like anger or a physical
one like drinking. In many cases, although we
change our behaviour, but because we have not
understood deeply why we wanted to do it, is
quite possible that one day we will go back to
this old habit.
We can try changing this system in our
subconscious. By analysing what is recorded in
our subconscious, through different therapies,
the results are not altogether satisfactory.
There is always some traumatic event, or painful
experience behind a fear which causes us to
cling on to a negative habit. And although we
can see and recognise our fears and anxieties,
if we do not replace them with something better,
with a more beneficial and healthier
alternative, very often we will feel tempted to
cling on to these old systems, even though they
do not work and they make us unhappy. To
eliminate certain things we have recorded in our
subconscious, meditation and silence are the
most effect non-violent methods.
Another method is to try and change our beliefs
with positive affirmations (thoughts) that
strengthen our willpower, and thus introduce a
new habit to replace the old one. It is vital
not to repeat this affirmation mechanically, but
to introduce it into the system of beliefs we
hold, and act as if we already were what we
express in this affirmation.
Soul Sustenance
Self Confidence
Self-confidence is very much linked to the
understanding that I definitely have something
to contribute to life through my own uniqueness.
Each one of us is unique. That goes without
saying. Unless a person has a sense of
contributing, or offering, something to life,
they cannot really be happy. I cannot be happy
and confident when I am just taking; it simply
doesn't work. I can only be happy when I am
sharing and offering the best of myself. In that
way, I don't feel depleted. When I offer the
best of myself in an unselfish way, my happiness
and confidence increases - the more I give, the
more I receive. We start to understand that the
well-being of individuals begins when they can
contribute what they are, and what they have, to
others. To be a truly self confident human being
means to have true spiritual powers, like love,
peace and happiness, which are brought into
daily life - not just appearing as words or
emotions, but truly displaying themselves in our
behavior and bringing benefit to others.
Message for the day
To be fully responsible is to inspire
responsibility in others.
Expression:
When there is true
responsibility, there will be freedom given to
others too to be responsible. Ones ideas are not
forced on to others but there is full freedom
for others to make their own choice. Support and
guidance of course are given and people are able
to become independent and responsible.
Experience:
When I have learnt to take up the responsibility
of my own life, I am able to become
self-sufficient and independent and also
constantly be available for those around me to
become independent and responsible too. There
are enough resources in me for those around to
take benefit from.