Spiritual conversations

From time to time, it is very healthy to come out of your routine and dedicate yourself to something different than what you normally do. Play, watch, dance, and go for a trip...

What happens with our brain? It seems it overloads pretty fast and by "unplugging" it, we can refresh and recharge again.

The problem is that most of our solutions are external. They require we miss days at work or be far from our family, and isolation is not always an option in this busy life...

What about spiritual practices? They have the advantage of not needing to leave anywhere and they also give our brain the time it deserves to recover from a project or a major decision.

The easiest way to work on that is by reflecting. Reflection is easy because everyone does at some point in their lives. It is like putting a mirror just in front and you start to look at it. Of course, it is your image you see, but reflecting means you feel detached from yourself and you can ask yourself questions you normally wouldn't do. You can clarify your life and understand your reality from a detached observer's point of view.

Contemplating requires discipline, silence and time. It requires from you that you stop doing whatever you are doing - even reading this post - and merge into yourself. And just see. Just watch. Just listen. What? Whatever silence brings you, whatever is your aim... You can contemplate on your existence, your marriage, work or God. Here, you are more than just a detached observer; you are just a watcher and you get into the depth of the power of your own silence. In silence, you will find your answers.

Meditation and yoga are advanced steps. That does not mean they are difficult; it just means you really have to stop and make up some time off your busy schedule. Although yoga is normally associated with exercises, that is not true. Yoga means communion and it refers to the ability we have to connect ourselves with someone or something and merge with that, feeling as if we are one. Meditation is creating a link with yourself and managing your thoughts and emotions. And if you don't know, it is part of yoga; for the practice of raja yoga, what is what I do, I meditate first and then focus on that link I create and experience it. Focus on what? Again, there are multiple choices. I personally just remember I am a spiritual being; I focus on a Supreme Source and experience that relationship. It empowers me and gives me an incredible feeling of accomplishment.

Anyway, spirituality has much to offer for those who have their brains at the boiling point... Try it.

When volunteering is more than a pastime

Many years ago, I've met a very interesting Colombian man who was a full time volunteer. Even though he had a family, he managed to get small jobs here and there, so he could keep with his mission. I was part of his mission; I went to a small village in the Choco to talk about values, as a volunteer. His spirit really impressed me. Yes, for the last 30 years I have been a volunteer in Brahma Kumaris, but, I don't have a family that relies on me...

Out of the four main functions all human beings have, to be a volunteer is the most interesting one for me, because I have never thought before I could do something to another person without a direct reward. Yes, we do need a job or something where we earn something - that is another of the four functions. But when we do something without a payback... It is as if you had a beautiful bird jailed in a cage inside you and when you go and help someone, you would open that cage, experiencing the beauty of its presence, giving happiness beyond measure. You do feel like you are earning more than in your own job.

Of course, that will only work if there is a balance with the rest of the functions, but volunteering opens your mind and awareness to the greatness of the self, because you can only give what you have; volunteering helps you to realize your own treasures and how they can support the world where you live.

I've lost touch with that Colombian, but I still remember his smile, even when he described the terrors he witnessed during the war our country goes through. I hope he is well and I hope he keeps on distributing his treasures everywhere. Our world needs them...

Giving meaning to your life

At some point last year, an image came to me. It was a funeral with very few people there, and a woman was talking to a man, saying: "You would expect many more people, since he had thousands of friends in Facebook..."

We have probably reached that point in our civilization predicted and foreseen many and many years ago; that point where and when our own humanity starts to be tested. What makes the difference with other species in the planet is not only our intelligence - which has been the main focus. There is also the way we handle emotions and feelings, awareness and values...

We went a step beyond other species when we started to question and dream, when we started to reflect about our own life and brought a sense, a meaning to it. Then, that same step is trying to send us backwards.

By focusing on our intelligence and not so much in our awareness and values, we start to take that meaning off. With intelligence we were able to create many things that helped our sense in life, but others that can destroy the same life. With intelligence we were able to reach anyone in the planet, and yet people feel their loneliness more than ever.

Yes, intelligence was able to make us getting Facebook, but not mourners for our own funeral...

By focusing on our awareness, things can change. That doesn't mean to refuse whatever our intelligence has given us as the hippie movement tried to do, but to use that to tap into our awareness.

That means to have your Facebook account or whatever social media you chose, but also have a few friends. Read and read in internet, but also go and dialogue with others and share what you have learnt. Face to face.

Feel how meaningful is the life you have within you. Meditate and contemplate. Enjoy the real landscape, that cannot compare with the most beautiful picture posted somewhere in the web. Live with meaning.

And one day, you will leave more than posts in your wall; you will leave behind your footsteps to guide others on their own way...

Acknowledging your specialties

Many years ago, there was the praise of the "all-round" one, that is, the person who could do anything at any time. These people were valued by companies and communities and they created friends wherever they went.

Much later and a few years back, the new trend was of those who were specialized. Experts in their subject, in a very complex society, these people were hunted by companies that would pay them lots of money for whatever they could do.

Well, what is happening today exactly? As a continuation of specialization, companies and communities are valuing individuals' specialties. Let's understand that and the impact on our economy and society in general.

Although the all-rounder could do anything, quality was missing and quantity was favored. Specialists raised the quality keeping quantity. But that is not enough.

There is a moment when people start to have doubts in this wave of consumerism. After all, whatever you purchase, whatever service you get, normally you want that because of some need to be satisfied, or you could say to experience some kind of happiness out of it. But that happiness is hardly eternal... after a while, no matter how wonderful was whatever you have got, you would want more and something different.

People nowadays need more than just objects or moments of experience. They need someone who can get in touch with them. We all need friends who understand us and who help us really with our needs.

So, many years in the future, this new trend will be all over the place. People won't pay much attention to the color of their cell phone or the brand of the car, as they will pay attention to the people who help them. There will be a bond in business that was never ever imagined. This will be possible because people will work from the heart, based on what they really love to do and they are good at it, that thing that makes them so special on others' eyes.

Today... well, today that is being built by you, when you talk to your client, student or the citizen who looks for your help with dignity and respect. It starts with you when you give others more than what they ask for. It starts with you when you give others the love from your heart, your mercy and compassion. Your sincerity and friendship.

It starts when you recognize your own specialty. Believe it or not, there is something only you can do in the way you do, and that is the special power present in whatever you do in life.

Perhaps, the other trend will take some time to start, but the impact in the economy will be great enough to start a new age where humans become the focus of our civilization again.

The power of friendship to overcome situations

It's a Wonderful Life was not so successful at its time, but it starts a tradition becoming one of the most iconic movies for Christmas. And for friendship.

Although at this movie friends help George Bailey with money, the friends' effect goes beyond it. It is like a psychological or mental support that enables you to move forward, even though all around you seems to be against that.

As far as I know there are no statistical data about the help of a friend, but I am sure you have experienced that at some point. And what is it exactly?

Adverse situations, obstacles, barriers and problems have the intrinsic ability to "freeze" your self-esteem and your capacity for finding solutions. Let's see this example: I remember a few years ago when I went to the Elephants Orphanage and watched those wonderful beings to take their bath at the river. At some point, a few of them went to the other shore and after a while, one of the caretakers went to fetch them. I was curious to know how, as they are enormous and the caretakers are quite small in comparison. But, of course, they had a tool: a stick with something at its tip that was able to hold the elephant by its ears...

Reality is elephants are much stronger than their caretakers. However, since they are small the men use the same tool so the elephants got used to that and don't challenge their right over them.

In the same way, situations have come when we were not able to deal with them and that left an impression. Years later when we finally can deal with those problems, when they come we cannot manage them as we believe internally they are stronger than us.

Imagine that I could speak elephants' language and become friend to them. Imagine that at some point I start to tell them they are much stronger than their caretakers so they don't need to fear their stick... That is what a friend does for us.

Friends come as an external factor that helps us to realize things. Without friends it is much harder to understand that we are much stronger than those situations.

The more we realize how strong we are, it will be more difficult for problems to overcome your own power. With friends around you, you will always feel protected and much more powerful.

In today's world of Social Networks friends, it is important to have real people around you, physically or subtly.

When they are close to you, enjoy their company and presence, their advices and let them guide you a bit.

When they are far away, enjoy the powerful thoughts and wishes they send you, let those touch your heart deeply.