Measuring Time

Eternity is defined as timelessness, a state to which time has no application, a "situation" where time does not exist anymore. We have no control whatsoever upon it. Time moves on inexorably, either you are happy (and wish it never passes) or you are sad (and wish it would go on quickly). Time flows like the water of a river, on and on and on. However, while in the distant future the river will stop flowing, time will never come to a halt. Even when all things exist no more, time will keep going on and on and on. But, wait a minute: Einstein said that time and space must coexist, meaning that when matter is "created", time comes along with it. Without matter, time does not exist. Nevertheless ... here is the good news: after the end of our Universe, when a new Big Bang takes place, whoever is there will be able to start counting seconds, minutes and hours once again!

Behaviours

I wonder how many are fully aware of the importance of their behavior of yesterday, of today and of tomorrow. The way you acted brought you to the present moment, to where you find yourself today and the way you act today is creating what your life will be in the future. Don't you often overlook the importance of being aware of the responsibility that each deed implies? Don't you often undermine the significance of each thought, word, action of yours? More often should you remember that nothing is without consequences, that everything leaves a track behind, a shade that will give color to your life to come.

Unthinkable Realities

Understanding something logically, with the reasoning, is easy. The difficult part comes when you try to actually "perceive" it, imagine it, feel it - in case it is something that goes beyond your normal way of thinking. If, for example, you try to imagine a non-space, you probably see a void with nothing in it. Well, we are told that this perception is wrong because, apparently, also the "void" is a space that happens to be empty. Can you envision no-thing? We are so proud of our minds, we believe that with our brains we can grasp anything but.... can we really? If there are truths that we are unable to seize in the scientific field, what about spiritual matters? To what extent are we aware of the realm of the spirit, of "our" spirit? What do we really know about it?

Flexibility

A tree branch that is not flexible will break when the blows of the wind become too strong. The same might happen to you, if you persist in remaining where you don't want to be anymore, in accepting a state of being that fulfills you no longer. Are you willing to face depression and a possible nervous breakdown just to show that you are firm, unmovable like a rock in your choices? Or are you wise enough to walk away, let's say, from law or medical school to go on and become a... gardener or an artist, if this is what your heart keeps telling you? There are different paths that, according to what you will end up doing, lead to either resignation or achievement, to either boredom or excitement. It's up to you to choose.

Changing Direction

Imagine you made a (seemingly) life-changing choice. It took you courage, enthusiasm, trust. You enjoyed the change because you needed it. Later, you feel that you could change it again or even go back to your old location, circumstance, job, person... and be fine with it. Could you do this without hesitation, or would your decision be made difficult by doubts? You may be afraid that friends will judge you as indecisive. You might start doubting your capability of making up your mind once and for all. But nothing needs to be once and for all. This is just another conditioning human beings receive in the course of their lives. As everything changes in this world, also your mind should be allowed to shift towards other directions, according to different situations. It does not mean that you are weak-willed, it only indicates that you are able to look at circumstances with new eyes, with a greater awareness, and make your choices accordingly. 

Appearance Matters

What do you think about the way you present yourself to the world? Do you believe that the image you are projecting is the best "yourself"? Could it be improved? If your answer is yes, what could be done? Some people have the skill, the ability to instinctively know what suits them and what doesn't.  Some don't. What about your physical appearance? Take a good look at yourself. Go to the mirror and observe. Is your hair in good condition? Decent haircut and grooming? What about your clothes? Are they simple but elegant or are they sloppy? Do they show that you care or do they show that your image is the last thing in your mind? Although it is usually said that appearance does not "make" the person, nevertheless it should neither be overlooked.

Money, Money, Money

Someone said that, in the business world, "they" don't see people, just money. Actually, this seems a rather accurate definition of modern society in general. Money has always been sought after but nowadays it seems that almost every human action is aimed at the acquisition of wealth and riches. The saddest thing is to even hear about members of so-called charity or non-profit organizations who don't comply with the primary goal of their quest, but take advantage of the situation for personal profit. It's an insane thirst, a real obsession with money encouraged by many "social" stimuli. Beware!

Denied Knowledge

I happened to read some stuff written by atheists and I couldn't help thinking, "How sad!". How sad that some so-called intelligent people can so easily - and in a somewhat despising way - discard all the spiritual richness that exists inside every human being. Independently from what you believe in, the mere fact that there is a "need" to believe in something, is the proof that "something" must exist. We are not talking about crazy creations of the imagination. We are talking about the inner knowing of our spirit having aspirations that go beyond the day-by-day material living. This "knowledge" cannot be denied (the well-known small voice that is inside of you, either you admit it or not). Could this atheistic attitude be a way of attracting attention, of wanting to feel and be perceived as "different"?

Don't Interfere

The idea that a human being is capable of running somebody else's life is totally wrong. Nevertheless, many believe it. Even worse, some are convinced that they are entitled to do so. No-one has the right to interfere with the choices of another, to impose his/her own point of view. "Nothing new", you may say. True, it's an old story. But how often do you remember it and allow "the others" (at home, at work etc.) to act, behave, live in a totally independent way, without trying to make them act, behave, live otherwise (= according to you)? Briefly examine yourself and draw the conclusions. You might be surprised!

Fear vs. Love

You might have heard the definition that contraposes love to fear. At first the connection might not be too evident. But, if you take the time to reflect, you will see it more clearly. Fear manifests itself when you believe you can't get what you want or think that you might lose what you possess (not only materially). As a consequence, you become preponderantly selfish because you try to get or keep at all cost the object of your longing. On the other hand, when you succeed in freeing yourself from fear, the natural feeling that arises is love, i.e. a desire to help, to be there for others, to be available, to give. So your actions become selfless, altruistic, generous. What a difference!

Yearning

The desire for things is not intrinsically wrong. You find yourself in a world where this and that are necessary to carry on in a comfortable way. The problem arises when such desire becomes more of an obsessive yearning, when it starts to control you. You seem to be never satisfied, nothing is good enough, nothing "is" ever enough. Consequently, you start arranging your life in order to "get" stuff to just possess it, instead of having it serve you. You possibly have the wrong idea - so largely cherished nowadays - that "having" is all you need to "be" important. You mistake true value for possession. And when you don't succeed in "getting" what you want, you feel deprived, betrayed, unhappy.

Possible Change

We talk so much about the need for change. We say that the world, some people, goals, ideologies etc. need to be modified. And it is probably true. But where should such transformation start from? If you believe you are always right and it is just the rest of the world that needs to change, everything will stay the same. Why? Because every other human being is also convinced that they are right (and everybody else is wrong). But if one individual accepts the idea that, maybe, he/she could go deeper into him/herself and discover something that needs remodeling, remolding, others might be encouraged to do the same. In your environment, could that first "starter" be you?

Final Destination

Do you know what you want from life? Do you "really" know? Are you sure? If you are, good for you. There certainly are a few lucky ones who have found this great treasure and enjoy peaceful fulfillment. But... what about the rest of mankind? Many (most?) live their lives day by day with no precise goal, like travelers who ride on a train or bus without knowing its destination. Would you choose to be one of them? Certainly not. Why? Because you realize that, while traveling, you need to know where you are going. But you might not be similarly aware of your existential aim, of your spiritual desire for inner peace (the only "destination" worth pursuing).

Consciousness

Greek philosopher Socrates said that an unconscious life is not worth living. How can a life be "unconscious" if you believe you are totally conscious, i.e. aware of who you are and of what you do.? But... are you sure that you know your true nature - beyond what you "appear" to be - and that you also know the reason, the substance, the consequences of your daily actions? If you try to answer such fundamental questions, you will realize that - maybe - you should not be too "certain". A wise individual is full of doubts, never certitudes. Why? Because Life (who you truly are) is a mystery that needs to be discovered day by day. Only its understanding can provide you with the hope of a better existence.

A Bad Adviser

In spite of the dreadful things that you (as every human being here on Earth) are witnessing, either personally or through media information, you must not give up on hope. The present moment is all you actually have at your disposal, so you should endeavor to live it in the best possible way or, at least, in the best way you can and know how. Try not to think about what has been or what might be. If you do, fear will prevent you from facing reality in a practical way, from acting logically. Fear is the worst adviser ever because it keeps reminding you of unpleasant past experiences or suggesting scary possibilities to your mind. Living fully in the present moment is the only safety net available in a world that could otherwise make you unable to think and act in a reasonably wise manner because it would deprive you of any positive expectation, i.e. "hope".

Hatred

I had planned to begin my reflection of today with the quote "Love creates, hate destroys". Then, just before starting writing, I hear about the horrible happenings that took place in Paris a few hours ago. I can't help thinking about how appropriate such quote is. Looking around this world of ours, we can certainly see a lot of good, but we can also see so much evil going on! Yes, it has always happened and it will continue happening because this is the way things go on our planet. But the "size" of hate seems to be growing under our very eyes, day after day. Where will all this lead us to? Will ever come a day when the haters will realize that they are simply destroying, never creating anything beside hatred, fear and more hatred?

Portraying Yourself

Take a good look at yourself. Go to the mirror and observe. Is your hair in good condition? Decent haircut and grooming? What about your clothes? Are they simple but elegant or are they sloppy? Do they show that you care or do they show that your image is the last thing on your mind? When you don't take care of the way you portray yourself, you are limiting your options for success. And, along with your physical appearance, you have to add attitude and body language. Not only the way you dress, but also the way you present yourself and deal with others have an impact upon the opinion people will form of you. 

Wave and Ocean

Can you imagine yourself as a wave? A wave that rises up from the ocean with its own shape, size, speed, strength, "personality". You are your "self", you are different from any other wave, with your own will and goal. Yet, you are tightly connected to the whole ocean, you are a part of it, you could not exist without it, in a way you are "one" with it. Does this make any sense to you? It should, because this is your relationship with Life and mankind. You perceive yourself as separate, different, unique. And - from a certain perceptive - you are. But you are also an inseparable part of the whole. Therefore, feeling detached from it, alone and totally independent is a sad misperception of reality.

Going Up

Almost all human beings feel a desire to improve themselves, to become better and better, to evolve spiritually. Do "you", too? The process may be difficult but it is certainly worthwhile. If you don't accept to face the struggle to move "upwards", to reach the top, you will remain on the ground floor forever. You sometimes allow life's challenges to deter you, to scare you. If you are afraid of the effort necessary to give up unhealthy or dangerous habits, for example, think of how much better you will feel once you've won your battle. Improving who we are should be everybody's top priority because in this process we achieve the main goal of our own existence. 

Standpoint

If you sit properly in front of the TV or computer screen, you have a clear, enjoyable vision. But, if you move the position of your eyes and/or shift sideways, you perceive improper images. You will consequently feel displeased because - most probably - you won't be able to understand the meaning of the program you are watching. Exactly the same happens in your life. When you look at the world from the right perspective, you are able to see the good there is, you succeed in dealing with others in the best way, you are kind, understanding, flexible. But if you start looking around with a "me, me" attitude, you will behave selfishly, you will interpret the world in a distorted way because your standpoint is wrong. You "see" according to where you stand, according to a correct or incorrect point of view.

Anger

When you are angry, you feel better while pouring your anger out onto others. You experience a kind of relief when you express your frustrations out loud. What is important is to have someone there, in front of you, who would not dare to back answer. Later, after enjoying your tiny, petty satisfaction (just for a short time it makes you feel powerful, doesn’t it?), you honestly realize that, actually, you do not feel better at all. After releasing your anger in this unfair way, you cannot feel satisfied and freed from your burden. Taking advantage of someone else (any kind of advantage, be it material, physical, psychological etc.) cannot provide you with the fulfillment you initially expected. Aggressive, overbearing, controlling, domineering, arrogant human beings will never experience a moment of true peace. 

A Useful Analysis

Have you ever tried to analyze the reasons that make you behave in a certain way or choose a reaction rather than a different one? If you haven’t, it is time that you did. You are used to doing things or uttering words in a particular way and you don’t really pay too much attention to them. This is the way you are – you believe – these are your habits and… it’s okay with you. The question is: Is it okay also for the people you are usually dealing with, i.e. your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors? Ask yourself: Is the way I treat people determined by what, in my opinion, is truly fair or is it rather conditioned by their attitude, especially when “their” attitude tends to affect me, when it tries to make me modify my behavior? If you give yourself an honest answer, you might get an interesting insight.