Take A Chance

Are you happy where you are? Wonderful! Stay there and enjoy. But if you are not, there is no reason to feel disappointed. It only means that it's time for you to move on. And moving on means "change". In order to reach a different place (job, relationship, situation in general) the only possible way is to bravely face the unknown. You have to take a chance, leave the old behind so that the new can manifest itself. You need to experience a loss if you want to gain, to reach your goal. You need to feel secure, of course, that's why you don't really like to abandon what you have been familiar with for such a long time, but the choice is in front of you. Either you stay where you are (and feel unhappy, unfulfilled, even a victim) or have the courage to change direction, to step into a path that leads...who knows where? Courage has been defined not as the lack of fear but as the capacity to face whatever one is afraid of. What is your position here?

Believe!

Today I want to share a prayer/meditation/affirmation that might be useful to those who can appreciate it.
Here it is:
Situations sometimes may seem difficult, but things have a way or working out, if you only keep believing.
Believing in your dreams, in what you really want, and not settling for anything that is less than what you know is right for you.
Believing in your strength, in the faith of your convictions, in the courage to go on even when it would be so much easier to quit.
Believing in yourself, in the person you are and in all you can be.
Believing in life, in how much it has to offer, in how much you have to give, and in how life can be everything you want, if you only keep believing.

Unfulfilled Dreams

How many times have you had a dream? How often have you thought of something you would have really liked to achieve? Maybe, at a time in your life, you wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument, climb a mountain, speak a foreign language fluently, visit a particular country (Fiji? Oh, well, that was MY dream), become proficient in gardening or cooking. What have you done about it? When we are younger we promise ourselves we would do certain things, one day or another. Then we get caught up in our busy lives and - maybe not "forget" - but neglect to carry on our wish. They are usually not unreachable goals, they are things that could be done, if we really wanted to. But... how badly did we really wanted to? Our existence has proceeded all right even without going to Patagonia, painting a sunset, playing the banjo or learning to dance the Viennese waltz. But how do you feel deep inside, when you spend a moment on the memory lane of dreams? Cheer up! You can still do something about it. It's never too late, indeed.   

Calm After The Storm

Extremes in nature are normal. If we think of a great disaster such an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a tsunami, we see that, after the dramatic event, nature finds its regular flow once again. On a smaller scale, when we walk on a flat ground, we may find an obstacle every now and then, that slows down our walk. It could be a boulder to overcome, a river to pass over, a crossroad that compels us to choose, a red light that prevents us from (temporarily) moving on. In the same way, our life experiences may thrill us today and bring us down tomorrow. Now we feel happy and the next moment we feel depressed. We laugh and we cry, we are compassionate and we judge...We seem to be always torn between opposites but, if we accept the rhythm of human nature, we can achieve a state of peace and relaxation. How? By never fighting what comes along. No matter how difficult the situation is, if we realize that the only thing we can do is "deal" with it, the best decision can only be to deal with it through acceptance and a positive attitude ("This, too, shall pass") rather than through upset, resistance and, in general, a negative attitude.  

Are You A Free Spirit?

I am sure that many of us have wondered about the actual existence of free will. Is it real or is it an illusion? You may wonder if, while making a decision, you are really carrying out your truest conviction or if you are expressing the result of a previous and cleverly disguised conditioning. This is totally possible, especially nowadays, as the incessant talking, discussing, criticizing, advertising, analyzing that people, TV, the media in general never stop doing...continuously...mercilessly... Being enveloped by this  never-stopping bombardment can make the exercise of free will a bit problematic, even doubtful. What can you do? Just try to detach yourself from what you hear and see, from what is forcefully stuck under your nose by TV ads, which endeavor to make you "buy", and by opinionists, who want you to believe that "their" convictions are the "only" right ones. Once are you able to do that, you will enjoy the freedom to make original, personal choices and the awareness of the changes you want to make in your life. It might at times seem a bit difficult to make your own decisions known and carry them out. But - if you a true "free spirit" - you will find the effort rewarding and  the outcome fulfilling.

Experiences Are Contributions

By mere chance I happened to re-discover an old diary of mine. It was interesting and also sweetly sad - to a certain extent - to read stuff that I had written long time ago. There were some reflections, some things I was planning to do and even a list of things that I was dreaming of doing. Some have been achieved (having books published, traveling to the USA, learning how to use a computer, change hairstyle....). Others, such as going to the Fiji islands or learning how to play the guitar, haven't happened, YET! And, among the many quotes I had  also recorded, I found this one that, I believe, is particularly meaningful: "Our experiences have a purpose and offer us the opportunity to practice the contributions we have been created to make". Wow. This means that whatever happens to us can be used as a tool to be of help - to others as well as to ourselves. This might possibly include what "does not" happen, as well. It is ALL experience. To be or not to be. To do or not to do. They are all acceptable choices that will entail certain consequences. It's a great responsibility but it also makes us feel real participants in the creation of "what is".

News on Christmas Day

It's early Christmas morning and - before participating in the family tradition of present opening - I read the news. Three pieces in particular strike me. 1. The head of the International Monetary Fund says that the world economy is in serious danger. 2. In Nigeria explosions in churches have killed many people. 3. Actress Scarlett Johansson  talks about her make-up habits.

Pretty picture indeed: a world (OUR world) plunging into economic depression due to the greed of a few Scrooges, religious intolerance still going strong, trivial facts regarding TV and movie stars reported in the news headlines. What does all this say about the present situation of our society? Money mismanagement is shoving most towards total ruin, hate fomented by fanaticism goes on killing innocents, "they" continuously try to distract our attention from serious matters towards idolized symbols of the so-called show business. What will the final result of this folly be? Who knows? 2012 prophecies talk about great "disasters" coming our way. We don't know what their nature will be. But who has ears to hear, eyes to see and a mind to think can easily make the sum.

Why life seems so easy on the Peanuts?