Category: Uncategorized

Be Kind
Stay Calm
Don’t Worry
Stop Rushing
Keep Learning
Listen Carefully
Show Gratitude
Enjoy Work
Eat Less
Walk More
Live Today
Create Beauty

So, you want to change the world and make it a better place?  Yeah, me too.  Everybody dreams about this, I think, but few actually turn that dream into a reality.  Then again, in the everyday little acts of kindness we perform, we do actually make the world a better place.  That’s a great way to start.  But good-hearted people need to get together and start creating something bigger than themselves.  It starts by just getting together with others and doing something, anything.  Keep doing it, consistently.  Then build on it.  Huge things can happen a little bit at a time.

The start of the new year, while an arbitrary marker of time, represents an important psychological construct for leaving undesired elements of the past behind while envisioning new goals for the upcoming year.  Therefore, let us take this opportunity to imagine the world we would like to live in, but moreover, imagine the world that we can create.  For it is by our own actions that we bring about the world around us.  So, let’s be very clear about this simple fact –  you and I are once again faced with the prospect of a new year in which we can can take tangible steps to actualize our dreams or squander our opportunity and allow things to progress as they are.  It”s your choice.  What will you do this year?

The key to success is the mastery of the fundamentals.  We may find ourselves in an endless search for that elusive secret only to eventually realize that the answer lies in the simplicity of the fundamentals.  However, gaining mastery of the fundamentals is certainly not easy.  For example, we might all agree that we should learn to practice the Golden Rule – treat others as you would have them treat you.  However, putting this into practice consistently can be quite a challenge.  It requires a real commitment and effort.  So it is with all things in life.  If we are truly honest with ourselves, we know in our hearts what is right and what it is that we should do, but actually doing it consistently is not such a simple matter.  The lesson here is that if you seek the key to success in any endeavor, look to the fundamentals and practice them with devotion.  It is only by doing so that you will build a strong foundation while gradually discovering the deeper subtleties that will make you a true master.

Every person, every day, faces the essential human challenge, which is to come to terms with our nature while learning to ultimately transcend it.  We are spiritual beings with unlimited potential, but we are also animals fighting for dominance and survival.  We are capable of great works of art, intellect and compassion, but we are also capable of the darkest, ugliest acts of cruelty and destruction.  Everyday, the angels and demons of our nature vie for our attention, seeking to influence our thoughts and actions.  How we respond to them is our choice, and through our choices, we forge the habits that carry us in one direction or another.  To move toward an enlightened human existence takes a conscious willful effort.  Meanwhile, the tendency to give in to negative thoughts and feelings comes quite easily.  So we truly face a challenge every day.  Will we make the effort to choose the path of light and forge forward toward our greatest potential, or will we simply allow ourselves to slip into the shadows of short-sighted self gratification.  Are you up to the challenge?

Often, we find ourselves focusing on the negative and wondering how God can allow so many problems in our world.  However, in truth, there is evidence of God’s creative energy everywhere.  Aside from the beauty of nature, we can see the beauty of the many wonderful things created by human beings working in cooperation with one another.  Our great cities are evidence of how people can come together and work with one another in synergy to create something grand and wonderful.  In so doing, we are all channeling the creative energy of God.  Despite the hardship and suffering that exists in this world, we see evidence of the goodness of mankind everywhere, an enduring creative spirit that continuously grows and evolves throughout our civilization.  So while we should always seek to improve our condition and alleviate suffering, let us not become so focused on the negative that we fail to see the beauty that is clearly evident in so much of the human experience.

As long as one is imprisoned within strong identification with the body and the physical world within which it resides, there can be no true freedom.  As humans, we are ever susceptible to the many forces that play upon our lives on a daily basis, some of which bring pleasure and others suffering.  We would be wise to acknowledge this pattern and accept it, realizing that the only true freedom is that which comes from realization of our essential spiritual nature.  Amidst the whirlwind of activity in the material world, the spiritual center of our being sits calmly and quietly, offering unconditional serenity and joy.  By learning to identify with our own spiritual nature and thereby developing a deep connection with God, we can win true freedom – a freedom that is greater than any other and can never be taken away.

The word “discipline” often carries a negative connotation, as in the need to discipline someone for bad behavior.  Many people associate discipline with the feeling of being controlled and being denied pleasure, stemming from experiences in childhood involving the curtailment of freedom by an external authority.  However, it is important to understand the true benefits of discipline as it relates to mastery of oneself.  The greatest discipline is not imposed by others, but self-discipline that comes from carefully gaining control of one’s own erratic tendencies.  Through firm commitment and the persistent application of the will, it is possible for an individual to gain tremendous abilities through discipline, such as in the case of an accomplished athlete.  By embracing discpline in our lives, we may actually discover more freedom, not less, in that we can free ourselves of the tendencies and impulses that consume our energy and prevent us from achieving our greatest purpose.  Through a careful application of self-discipline, we can rise to new heights as we discard the ways of restless indulgence and embrace spiritual mastery.

One challenge that many people face is to discover their true calling in life.  The world is full of many choices with regard to the role one plays and the contributions one makes.  The complexity of these choices can often make this a difficult decision, although there are some fundamental principles that should be applied.

First, one should seek always to offer genuine service to others, because it is only when something of value is provided that another will willingly offer compensation.  Therefore, we should always remain mindful of the benefit that we can offer to others through our efforts, and the financial rewards will take care of themselves.  Given this concept, there are still many paths one may choose.

The next consideration should be an honest evaluation of personal aptitude.  God has bestowed each of us with a unique set of talents and we would be very wise to leverage what we have been given rather than wishing for something else.  By cultivating our natural talents and aptitudes, we can greatly increase our likelihood of success.

Finally, we should try to discover what motivates us at a deep level, providing enjoyment and fulfillment.  However, this assessment must be made within the context of the first two principles – offering value and leveraging aptitude.  If we merely do something we enjoy, but it serves no one any useful purpose and if we don’t have the aptitude to do it well, then it is unlikely to lead to success.  However, if one is able to follow a calling that provides useful service to others, applies natural aptitude and talent, and is personally satisfying, then that is a true formula for success.   Of course, even under these optimal conditions, it will still require lots of hard work.

As we seek our calling in life, it is best to still the restless thoughts and emotions in the mind, focusing in on our spiritual center deep within.  In the calmness and quiet of the soul, we can discover God’s special plan for our lives and bring our path into alignment with a higher purpose.  Ultimately, whatever our calling in life, our highest priority should be to continually grow within the spiritual realm.  While a successful career can provide a certain satisfaction, true happiness can only come from a deep personal connection with God, and that is one calling that every human being shares.

How does one find security in a world that often feels so unstable?  The nature of the world has always been that of a roller coaster ride, with a continuous pattern of ups and downs.  Therefore, it is a mistake to try to build a foundation of security on the shifting sands of worldly pursuits.  Rather, we should build our foundations on the rock that is the unchanging spiritual truth that lies at the center of our very being.  When we turn outwardly for our happiness, we are destined to disappointment, but when we turn within, we will find unrivaled riches that lie secretly and silently awaiting their discovery.  Once these spiritual riches are uncovered and secured, the ever-changing world will be powerless to take them away from us.  This is the key to true security.