The day the New Year did not come

And one day, the new year didn’t come…

 

Millions and millions of people were just waiting, but the new year didn’t come, causing havoc, chaos and distress all over the world.

December 32^nd was here! And 33^rd, 34^th… Well, it was quite strange and some people took the initiative to try and reset the calendar, but others wouldn’t accept, a new reason for polarization.

FBI, CIA, INTERPOL, ABIN and many more organizations started to look for the New Year, following clues, but without any success. And time was passing… until people has forgotten about the new year and accepted this extended year.

 

When all went calm, a very young person showed up somewhere. He was looking at the horizon, appreciating the sun setting again and enjoying the moment.

Even though he was supposed to be working, by replacing his old co-worker, he decided he wouldn’t do it. After all, what was the point? So many like him have come before and all of them ended very old, bitter and disillusioned. In fact, his decision was taken on the way to his office when he had the chance to see the one he was replacing…

No way! He wouldn’t allow himself to get drawn by that; after all, he was the symbol of novelty and change, the embodiment of hope and renovation.

But he sighed… he knew he couldn’t post-pone it forever.

He just wanted people to be more aware of his importance, to take advantage of his presence and to transform themselves.

After many hours, he closed his eyes already tired, but he took his things and he went to office.

Next day, the new year started… Maybe with hope this time.

 

Are you ready to change? What do you need to make this new year a year of hope, renovation and novelty?

The legend of the place with no Christmas

A long time ago, there was a place in which Christmas was forbidden. The reasons were motive of a legend related to the great-grandfather of the present King.

And people obeyed, as it used to be custom of those times, to the laws of the land, but not completely… In fact, one of the rebels was the King’s own (and only) child, a young Prince who left the palace to live among the people. He found out he was good making candles, and that’s how he was living.

His love for Christmas came from a time he spent in another kingdom, that offered him a better education. Of course, there they celebrated Christmas… The Prince loved it so much that he used to stall going back home until after the festivity.

One day, the King got seriously ill. It was around Christmas time and the Prince was very busy with his business. But, of course, family is family and he left the candle production in the hands of others, while he moved in to the palace again.

When he came to see his father, he gave the healer some suggestions, which he accepted. And he started to decorate the room…

Then the corridors…

The kitchen, the place where all workers lived…

Until the palace looked magical!

He was careful in not using anything directly related to Christmas, but it was obvious.

After a few days there, exactly in the night before Christmas day, his father awakened.

My son, where is he?

Here I am, my father.

What is all these… these lights… candles…? What is going on here?

I talked with the healer and he told me you would heal better in a more… festive place.

The father got silent. He was King, and he knew what his son has done. After a few minutes, with visible effort, he looked into his son’s eyes.

You will be a very good King, my son. You know the people as you have lived with them. You know the value of money, because you had to earn it. You know the value of education, because you have studied. And I know your heart is very big…

Both men were silent for a while.

I don’t value a King for his art of war – there are others who can do that. It would be good if you knew more about politics and negotiation, but there are many others who could do that. I am glad you will be the King and… and… my only request is…

He stopped due to his weakness. The Prince gave him something to drink and the King continued.

My only request my beloved son is that… I never received a gift for Christmas. Could you give me one?

The Prince was stunned! But very quickly he got up from his chair with the intention of giving his father a gift, when the old man grabbed him by his tunic and spoke in a feeble voice:

In fact, I want three gifts…

May you give me your word that you won’t allow poverty to come into our land. At least, everyone should receive some bread and something to drink, and have a shelter.

May you give me your word that you will help the rich as much as the poor. Let them invite you for their functions and give them the present of your presence.

May you give me your word you will never let yourself be disheartened. Surround yourself with wise people, good friends and be happy, until the day you can pass the throne to my grandson.

The Prince looked into his father’s eyes, regretting now to have left him, but understanding it was for the best, and he agreed with all the gifts.

And he gave his father all the gifts and many more. And he inspired his people to do the same at every Christmas, to give three gifts to another person: solidarity, regard and happiness.

May you all have a happy Christmas!

For the New Year, these are my resolutions

I will keep living, even though my health is not so good. Life for me is more than breathing; it is creating, reflecting, helping others and building something.

I will keep my honesty, no matter what. It is too easy to lie, but I know its price; maybe it is difficult to be truthful, but I know its value.

I am doing exercises, every day. In my mind, I train my thoughts. In my body, I train my breath. In my wealth, I try my self-control. In my relationships, I train my eyes to wear “seeing-good-things glasses”.

I will keep meditating, deeply or in a light way. It is part of my routine and I keep it in my awareness.

I am serving… Service is my life; service is the most important thing in my mind, and service fills my mind with enthusiasm.

 

What are your resolutions this time?

For Christmas, this is what I want

As Christmas is coming soon, I have a list of gifts I want to receive. Check it out, maybe something of this list will also be part of yours:

More love, so that I can embrace others and help them to overcome their sorrow.

More power, then I can also cooperate with people who are overwhelmed by obstacles.

Many more virtues. In this way, I won’t be upset with anyone and I may help them too.

I need a river of forgiveness flowing through my mind, so that I am able to forgive anything that takes place.

A bigger heart, so I can accommodate my and others’ mistakes, those I can’t forgive for any reason.

So much prosperity, abundance and wealth that I inspire others to overcome their financial difficulties.

Lots and lots of health… in this way, I can keep serving many more years.

Lots and lots of health… I want to help others who are feeling unhealthy or ill.

A clearer mind. It will be easy to understand others and send them very powerful vibrations.

An even clearer intellect. I will make better decisions and help others in their decisions.

A shining personality, like an angel, so I can fly over the problems and bring others with me to that elevated awareness.

More time for my personal effort; part of it will be dedicated to others.

More time to listen to others, even when they don’t talk.

More time to appreciate the world I live and contribute a bit more.

So many gifts that I can give others who haven’t received enough…

In this month, I will…

Yes, resolutions are for the new year, but what about one month in particular? I was thinking a lot about December, since it will be different for me in comparison with other years, and here are some points I will keep in my awareness for this month:

Every day a door opens for something new to happen.

All changes start from within.

When I want something to happen, I need focus and the right set of thoughts.

It is time to do new experiments!

There are many lights this month; let me focus on others’ lights.

Even though there is a profound and a bit chaotic materialistic energy, I will go for the spiritual side of everything.

Do you want to join me?

Embracing a tough reality

How is reality for you? In fact, you have – and me too – two realities.

The first one is the REAL ONE, made by atoms and molecules, bodies, things and nature. The second one takes place in our mind and it is as real as the other one, but just for us; it is possible another person will perceive the same reality in a different way.

Let’s think of an exercise. Check an object that you know very well. Now, close your eyes and pick it up – memories will come related to the object. Some of those will be just images or sensations to the touch, but a few will be the moment you received it, who gave it to you, how do you feel when it is near and others that have nothing to do with the physical reality of that object.

In fact, by using this same concept in relation to the situations you see, you hear and you feel, there is something great about it: you may not change the reality as it is, but you can change the perception…

Back to the object: maybe it has been a symbol of love from another person. However, one day, your best friend needs it and you give it away; now, it becomes a symbol of YOUR love towards others. That is one of the most powerful keys to change perception, donation.

So, if your perception of reality is negative, donate something to others, in relation to that. A few examples:

Job situation is BAD! I can’t get work! So, I decide to volunteer and give others the best of myself.

Divorce is knocking at my door… I decide to talk with the person, but I will keep in my mind their special version, the reasons for which we got together.

I am suffering with bullies… I know it is going to pass; now, what I need is to talk with the people who love me, so that I am surrounded by that love and the bullying effect decreases.

So, don’t bother too much with the circumstances; work on your perception and they will change, at least for you.

To let go and to let in

There are circumstances we shouldn’t be dealing as they hurt us, they remind us of the worse of other people and we are unable to enjoy them. They are not part of a self-progress path; on the contrary they may destroy our sense of purpose.

And so, we just let go of them, we let them to flow to past waters and we move on, back to our self-progress road.

However, from time to time, a situation would emerge in which a lesson can be learnt. It is even possible that situation would make us realize something and change. From time to time, whatever we should have let go… we should not. On the contrary, we should open our heart and let ourselves in…

Maybe by using wisdom or talking to other people, we are able to discern which is which and at times of so much uncertainty, that discernment is even more important, because if we don’t let it go, we may regret about it later, and if we don’t let ourselves in, we will miss a valuable lesson.

In my experience, there is a question that I ask myself: How necessary is for me to go through this? If I understand this is not necessary, I make effort to step away of this circumstance; if I appreciate its importance, I brace myself and I prepare for the storm that is about to come.

Use your wisdom and don’t leave your path of self-progress.

A dysfunctional life

Life is basically a question of balance. When there is balance, life goes well.

When balance is lacking, life goes badly…

OK, it is not that simple, but balance is a key factor to experience a life of plenitude.  And the reality supports balance is not that common.

Every day, we hear stories about people who hurt themselves or others. Every day, we hear about people who lost their aim in life. Every day, we hear about people who makes other people lose their goals.

There is no easy solution for reaching that level of balance, particularly if the person is way out of balance. but there are a few things to do to restore its balance:

• Breath before acting, or at least reflect upon whatever you are going to do.
• Talk with other people, hopefully wiser than you.
• When you really feel disbalanced, don’t lose your heart, keep on moving, keep on trying.
• If all fails, take a break by travelling or going for a retreat.
• New habits are hard to form, but they are the best solution to keep balance.
• Be happy! Enjoy happy news, the company of happy people and act with that happiness.

An unplugged life

Disconnect yourself.

Not now, you are reading this! Plan a time for that and live an unplugged life even for a few hours. Or minutes, if you are too busy.

The benefits are enormous, it is called tech detox and it can give you another perspective for life.

Before disconnecting yourself and therefore, stopping to read this, a few points to take into account:

1. Some of the things to which you are connected are under your responsibility. Before unplugging yourself, start a backup plan for them.
2. Tell other people who should know you won’t be available for a while, but don’t brag about it. In fact, just tell them you are not going to be available; if you start to explain yourself, they may argue and you will be involved in trying to justify what you are doing. And of course, you will need to be connected for that…
3. Have something to do during that time: cleaning, sorting your clothes, donating your clothes, reading a wonderful (paper) book, talking with that special person (in person), enjoying life.
4. After you come back from this detox, understand what happened to you, check about what you got for doing that. Tell others and inspire people to disconnect themselves too.

Enjoy it! I am sure it will improve your health, if you do that a few times during the week.

Times of hyperconnection: wellness

There is no definite information about the impact of the hyperconnection times we are living on our health, but I am sure there is.

Our wellness is in risk and we should be much more concerned about the time we spend watching a screen, listen to an audio or browsing.

I would like to suggest a few things that may help you, as they help me.:

• Put a time restraint to access your cell phone, particularly the options related to internet.
• If you can go and talk with someone, do it, instead of sending them a message.
• At every 45 minutes, stop and look at nature or the horizon.
• Every now and then, unplug yourself completely… eh, remember to warn members of your family and friends about that.
• Go simple! Even with your equipment, particularly if you don’t work with it.
• Go happy! Find happiness within, from nature or from other people, in person.

Remember: maybe the effects are not visible, but I am sure you will feel much better in terms of your physical and mental health.

 

Times of hyperconnection: making friends

We live times of hyperconnection… Do you remember that time? I was listening to a very beautiful song in Spanish, Vida más Simple[1], and one of the lines was a coffee was the price of friendship.

Well, I don’t want to make you nostalgic, but the reality is the world we are living is completely different, but our needs remain more or less the same. And friendship is one of them.

Here are a few points about how to make friends at these times of emoticon greetings and very brief helloes:

• Make sure you are developing yourself in terms of career, personality or intelligence. Don’t try to use the idea of other people supplying you with what you can get by yourself.
• In fact, think of friends by common tastes, preferences or mindset, not as someone who can go to parties or who can sponsor a trip with you…
• Unplug yourself consciously every day for a few hours, and use that time for personal reflection or, if you are with other people, to listen to them and to talk from the heart.
• If you are REALLY with the other person, I mean, in person, forget your cell phone for a time. That will show them how much you value their friendship.
• If you are having a virtual relationship, as much as possible try to get together in person. Nothing replaces being side by side.
• When there is an argument, don’t close the door to that person. Remember the good moments with that human being and be thankful for them to be your friends.

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[1] To check on this song, sung by Nil Lara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJoVHpY04IM

Secrets of the universe for the common person

The Universe is huge and sometimes, we look so small… So, we, as human beings, decide to unveil its secrets.

The secrets of the Universe make life interesting and it can really improve quality life. Let’s work on a few of those secrets, taking into account my secrets are not the same as yours.

Probably the first secret is that everything we do, comes back. It is the basis of karma law and it means all we do, speak or even think, all of that is a seed that one day it will reap. So, be careful about the present and the future you want will come to you at the right time.

There is a second secret related to the first one, that gives a new dimension about karma, reincarnation. Maybe you don’t believe it, but it gives life more meaning and it makes more sense, because when we finally depart from this life, we will have a new opportunity to correct, to help others and to be a different person.

There are plenty of laws related to reincarnation and by understanding them, life is better since we will realize what is really important and what is not. Another big secret…

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience. That is a huge secret, ignored by many people, even when they know it. By shifting the focus of life from material to spiritual, self-transformation is an easy consequence.

The last secret to be shared is about God, His place and His role at this time. I believe in God as an eternal incorporeal being, whose role is to help Earth to move towards a new age, a real Golden Age.

What about you? What are the secrets you have learnt along the way?

Secrets of reincarnation

Since I was a child, I have believed in reincarnation. For me it is like a car: it works, even though I don’t have any idea how it does. Or I didn’t…

Reincarnation has given me responses to many things that happen and for it, its concept and application can change lives completely.

When I came into a spiritual path, the Brahma Kumaris, I learned several secrets about reincarnation that shed even more light, and I am sharing them here:

I will start with the impact of being aware on the present life; there are two main impacts I would like to highlight. The first one is the fact that we start to think more GLOBALLY as reincarnation implies the person could have lived in different places, have belonged to different religions and even have had bodies of multiple colors, genders, etc.

The second impact I see on people who are aware of their past lives is that COINCIDENCES change into incidences, by giving an explanation for strange things that take place or, at least, it turns life more interesting.

By knowing about reincarnation, I can design my next life. Reincarnation laws are variable from one school of philosophy to another, but in general, they are associated to karma laws. So, whatever an individual does, speaks or even thinks, that will come back to them and probably, in their next life. In this line of thoughts, if anyone wants to have a good (next) life, be a good person and do good things.

On the other hand, those of us who know about reincarnation, we understand punishment very well. It is the same as the former point, but focus on the bad actions, word and even thoughts we perform. As we will have to live their fruit in our next life, we should live this life in a stage of awareness.

A last secret is related to relationships and that is they are mostly defined by karmic laws. That means we have probably met our relatives, close friends and other people who impact us in former lives. I like the focus of Brahma Kumaris, particularly in this aspect, which is instead of thinking this person is a karma, I can create a healthy relationship with everyone, assuring that when we meet again in our next lives, the meeting will be sweet instead of sour.

I do hope these secrets help you to live better and if you really don’t believe in reincarnation, I guess these can be used as tips for your life.

Learning the art of thinking

You are thinking right now. Maybe you haven’t realized, but you are. All the time, even when you are asleep.

Thinking is something everyone does, but the ART of thinking is not.

Art means the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance. But it is also…

Art is to perceive reality in a different way, so it becomes a gate towards a new dimension, a definition that breaks the meaning and opens to something beyond.

The reason is that the art of thinking is to think in a creative way and observe reality in such a way that changes the way it affects the person. For instance:

• I am so sick that I can’t even get up. By being EMPATHIC, I can turn those thoughts into a possibility of healing… I am sick and I can’t get up. It is fine, but can I do anything? Maybe I can train my thoughts to be more positive, I can meditate more or I can learn a new language while I am in this position.
• What should I do? My boss is horrible and my job is horrible… My life is horrible… By applying CREATIVITY, the art of thinking can change it into… I am not happy with my job, so let me learn something different; I am sure I can find an alternative. In fact, this is a wonderful chance for me for change, let me embrace it.
• My life… what will happen? I don’t know where to go, I feel I am just moving with the waves. In this case, the art of thinking means REFLECTION, a deep reflection. My life… what will happen? It is an adventure and everything I have lived up to now, it certainly contributes to whatever I will face in the future. And how much have I lived! Life has given me so many treasures!

Think with art, in a different way, and the world will be different to you.

Why do we think too much?

A short video I saw many years ago was a pony trying to leave its stable… Hesitation, a bit of fear and FINALLY, after a few anguished moments, it steps out of it. All because of a small step on its way. The theme the person who posted it was OVERTHINKING.

And that may be a problem for ponies, I am not sure, but it is for sure a HUGE problem for everyone.

• We need to take a step, but… can we really do it? Is it safe? What about the safe place I am living right now, it is not that bad, you know? I think this is the wrong direction…
• Or, we need to take a jump, we need a big change to take place in our lives. No, I cannot do this! I am not prepared! My (wife, husband, friend, brother…) told me I wouldn’t be able to do it… It is too much, let me wait a little bit more…
• Furthermore, we maybe need a breakthrough. I prefer to stay where I am, it is not so good, but not too bad either. It is too risky!

Overthinking may be everywhere and I am sure, right now, you are overthinking about something…

Or maybe, I am overthinking about you…

There is not one solution, but a few things you can do:

• If you know you will need something, prepare yourself beforehand.
• If the change is small (a step), choose the best moment to do it. Some will prefer to be surrounded by close friends, others by themselves, the important thing is that YOU TAKE THAT STEP.
• If the change is big (a jump), you need to reflect and contemplate on it, but don’t overcook your decision or as some people say, don’t get paralyzed by the analysis. Probably the best thing is to get help from someone in terms of guidance, resources or a good chat.
• Now, if the change is a transformation, you do need help if that generates storms of thoughts in your mind. Perhaps, ask around to see who has gone through a type of change like that; probably it will different, but there are some lessons you can learn.

I hope that will be helpful.

Was it helpful? Are you sure? I don’t know I think I missed something……..

 

Just kidding! Take care!

Global peace… is it a dream?

On September 21^st every year, the world celebrates the International Day of Peace. It is symbolic, but why do we need a particular day to celebrate peace?

The reasons are everywhere as we finish what many have called Long Peace, a period from 1945 without major wars between countries. At a global point of view, the Long Peace is dead as a war rages in Europe and other conflicts threaten our world in the rest of the globe.

But I am not sure the peace we want should be based solely in the absence of war. In fact, this phrase is key:

That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences (sic) of peace must be constructed[1]

 

That is my belief, as well as so many other people after one of the worse conflicts of mankind. I do believe that the main war starts inside my mind.

Your mind.

Our mind.

And one day, it turns into something more serious.

This is why we do need a specific day to remind us about peace, so that our minds can refocus, diverting its attention from streaming, social network, problems and crisis.

We need an alarm that reminds us to look within and feel our own peace first.

Naturally, when we are peaceful, we will be acting, working, talking and moving around in a peaceful way, generating an atmosphere of peace.

Naturally, others will be touched by our peace and almost gently, their own minds will calm too.

Naturally, the dream of world peace will come to reality.

Are you with me?

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[1] UNESCO Constitution, adopted in London on November 16^th 1945. 

Games of life

One of the things that I find amazing is how many childhood games are played in very different cultures… For instance, hide-and-seek.

You know the drill: one person is chosen to find others, they close their eyes and count, giving time to others to hide themselves. You are found, you lose!

Now, let’s translate that to our present environment, supposing you don’t play that game anymore…

There is a conflict or a situation of crisis among a few people. One of the them, the leader, is with their eyes closed, that is, the leader does not know exactly the cause or the solution for it.

However, there is SOMEONE in their team who knows; maybe they have studied more or they have an experience the leader does not have. The game is to find that person.

When the person is found via interviews or informal conversations, at last the leader has the key to solve the situation.

It is possible the leader does not know who has the key, so they have to go through everyone patiently, talking, trying and checking the results.

It could be a company or a family, a platoon or a group of college students, anytime we think of a group of people as a team, the hide-and-seek game is one way to deal with a crisis. You are found, all win!

In reality, all crisis, big or small, are a chance for us to play with other people, changing roles and activities, challenging ideas and paradigms.

But there is always the risk we forget our ability to play and use other tools, like a fight or even a war.

Please, don’t forget the days of your childhood… and use them as a valuable experience for anything that is taking place right now.

Nothing is permanent, all is eternal

Think of nothing as being permanent…

And your sorrow will fly away…

And your problems will vanish with the sunset…

And your obstacles will look so small…

 

Think of everything as being eternal…

And you will be aware that your victory is eternal…

And you will learn that all you do inspires others…

And you will realize your obstacles are there as lessons to be learnt…

 

By doing that, instead of sorrow, happiness will come in.

And instead of getting worried by problems or obstacles, you will celebrate your victory or learn the lesson.

And most important, you will be a hero, a heroine that will inspire many others to realize that nothing is permanent.

All is eternal.

A sacred bond

A wonderful festival is being celebrated: Raksha bandhan. In the world, thousands, maybe millions of sisters are meeting their brothers and tying the sacred bond to them; at Brahma Kumaris, millions will be tied a rakhi by the sisters, creating a sacred bond between them and God, the Protector. Here is a fictional story based on true events that shows the importance of this festival.

 

She was lost. She was fearful. She looked at her children and her heart hurt by thinking what would happen to them.

Her husband, the king, was dead and very soon the enemies will be at the gate of the palace. The things they will do to her and others are unspeakable.

She then decided. She called a faithful servant and asked her to cover herself as if she was part of their religion and penetrate the lines of the enemy. The queen could see the fear in her eyes and she felt horrible to do this, but there was no other way.

Very quickly she wrote a letter to the invader king, put it in a very beautiful envelope made of the fine fabric and added a bond. A simple and yet elegant bond.

She gave the young woman clear instructions about what to do and she saw her leaving her chamber, the palace and the lands that saw the beautiful love she experienced.

Tears came to her eyes, but this was not time for tears. She took her children and went along with the rest of the workers in the palace to the temple. To pray. To pledge. To hope.

It took a day or two, but eventually they came and she heard the soldiers fighting and trying to protect the palace, honorably but unsuccessfully. All this time they have been at the temple and when the battle ended, she realized all was over.

Some time passed by – hours, maybe? – and she heard very strong steps. Initially, many people, probably soldiers, were walking towards the temple, towards her and her family. Then she heard the steps of just one person who slowly and with determination walked towards the temple.

And the steps stopped. With dignity, the queen looked at the tall man at the threshold of the temple; he was still dirty by the battle, she could see the tiredness in his eyes and…

… The beautiful envelope in his hands…

… And the bond in his right wrist.

She prevented herself to smile, she just kept looking at him, as per protocol he was the new king and he was the one who should speak.

“My queen”, said the new king, “my sister.”

Her heart beat was so fast she was afraid it will be listened; she tightened her hand around her children, but the rest of people were puzzled.

Slowly and gracefully, she got up from her worshipping position. She approached the new king greeting him according to his religion and also her own religion. She and her family, and the workers of the palace – including the courageous young woman who took the letter and the bond to the king – would live the rest of their lives peacefully. The new king adopted the old queen as his own family, respecting her religion.

All because of that letter…

Dear King, I greet you from the depth of my heart at this time of sadness. As you are entering my home, I want to give you this gift, a bond, because from now on, you are my brother. And every year I will tie that same bond to you, to remind us both of this sacred relationship.

I was never granted a brother, so I am glad I have this opportunity. King, oh my King, if you accept this pledge, tie the bond on your wrist and save the life of this brave young lady who took this message to you.

Yours, the Queen.

 

HAPPY RAKSHA BANDHAN!

Profit and loss in the business of life

Profit and loss are part of business life and a good businessman or businesswoman know how to manage them. Now, if we consider for the sake of reflection that life itself is a business, let’s ask ourselves: what is going on with THAT business?

First, your PROFIT means all that you think, speak or do that gives something valuable to your life. REFLECTION makes you understand the real value of everything, small or big. That means it is not only the big charitable acts; for instance, when you smile at someone and make their lives better, the value of your own life increases.

But LOSSES also give you something valuable because when there is a loss what remains is what you really are… In fact, the main subproduct of a failure is the recognition of the real self. So, whenever you stumble in life, focus on the self: your own peace, the love that is inside, all your virtues and inner powers.

Then, check that your profit is big and your losses are being seen with the right perspective. You will feel you are the best in the business of life.

A scholarship in the University of Life

A scholarship is given according to a set of criteria, like merit, diversity or inclusion, athletic skill and financial need[1].

Now, many people consider life as a university – I am included in it. So, what are the criteria in this University so anyone get a scholarship?

Probably the main criterion is effort and endeavor. In my experience, life does reward when someone goes beyond their limitations.

The second criterion is their contribution to the community. I feel EVERYONE contributes something to their community – family, neighborhood, city, country and the whole world. According to that, a reward is waiting for them.

A third criterion is their energy and vibration. Seriously, it is extremely important what others spread around, even though it is invisible.

And the scholarship? A few examples:

• Help will come when the need is there.
• Basic needs will be fulfilled.
• There will be an abundance of opportunities.
• Angels will come on the way, that is, people who will extend a hand or will teach an important lesson.

What are you waiting for? Inscriptions for a scholarship in this unlimited university are open.

---

[1] According to a definition in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholarship

 

If you are not meditating, do it now!

There used to be a time that people could choose if they wanted to meditate or not. Not anymore.

I am a meditator for the past 40 years and I have seen the effects of meditation in my life, and they are exactly what people needs right now. Let’ prepare a small list…

You are feeling sad because of what someone told you. By meditating, you experience the best of yourself, you set in your self-esteem and you go beyond sorrow.

You just lost your job! And look at the Economy!!! Calm comes through the experience of meditation and then, new ideas come up to your mind… possibly a solution.

Your partner left you… for NO REASON! Your best friend is your mind, just feel the positive comforting energy that comes from your thoughts.

You have a PROBLEM! Meditation can help you finding a solution to overcome it.

Yes, other paths could help you, if you are having just one problem at a time – great, right? “Problem # 2, wait your turn!”

Meditation and its related processes, like prayer or contemplation, are the only methods that can compensate the present complexity in a successful way.

If more problems come, new ways of meditating will help the self to manage them. And meditation never tires you.

Try it.

Right now!

The sunset of a life

We all know when sunset is coming… The Sun is above us, but it is a certainty that it will set. The same is for life.

At some point, we all reach our sunset point and it comes in this way:

We first realize life is on the other side. The mid-life crisis or just a complex series of changes in our lives, sometimes our bodies, makes us realize things are changing and fast. The best thing to do is to check our dreams and work on them very fast.

When we count years by Christmas and New Year… Well, I wouldn’t be so dramatic, but there is a point during or after the life on the other side period that we start to realize time differently. In fact, many of the things we used to love, we just appreciate now, and life is balancing in the rope of a routine. It is time to find something new, like being a volunteer.

And then, retirement! It should be a time for rest, but it represents an end for a big part of our lives. Ironically, at this era, less and less people are really retiring, but the mentality of this is the end is still around. So, what to do, living in pajamas from now on? Volunteer is a wonderful opportunity, with no limit in terms of age, but this is also the time to go back to your old dreams and live them, finally.

Then, it comes that point, that moment in which the car is not working anymore. It is that time when even to get up is a huge effort and it seems at last sunset has come. It is the time for packing up, forgive and rest deeply; but, more than everything, admires the beauty of the sunset of the great sun of your life.

Discovering that part of yourself that is hidden from you and others

Johari Window: exploring the hidden parts…

 

You have a secret! And it is so deep that not even you know it!

There is a game that can be useful. It is imperative that everyone knows each other.

• Create a table of qualities and talents. Cut them and give the cut table to each person, that is, each person should have many pieces of paper! The important thing is that everyone has the same thing.
• In front of each person, there are four boxes. 1) OTHERS & I; 2) OTHERS, NOT ME; 3) I, NOT OTHERS; 4) NEITHER I NOR OTHERS. There should be a space BEFORE the boxes in such a way that you are sitting, then there are the boxes and the empty space.
• The game starts by rounds in this way:
1. First round. Choose the qualities that apply to you (I). Put those littler papers in front of you, before the boxes in such a way that anyone can read. Keep the papers you are not using by your side somewhere.
2. Second round. Walk around the room and read the papers others chose; the ones you agree that person has it, pick them up and put in their box #1 (OTHERS & I). The ones YOU DON’T AGREE or you DON’T KNOW it, pick them up and put in their box #3 (I, NOT OTHERS).
3. Third round. Go back to your seat and pick the papers you didn’t use. Now, go around and distribute ALL the little papers by identifying those people who have that quality; put them in their box #2 (OTHERS, NOT ME). Some little papers will remain, I am sure.
4. Fourth round. This is a bit of a guess: the qualities that remained, just put them in your own box #4 (NEITHER ME NOR OTHERS).
5. To finish the game, check the boxes for repetitions and reflect on them, understanding where those qualities should be and eliminating the extra; the idea is that no quality shows in more than one box.

Well, this game is funny and I am sure you will enjoy it, but let me focus on the box # 4: NEITHER ME NOR OTHERS.

Those qualities are extremely important because you are not sure about them and others can’t help you either. However, there is the possibility part of your potential is in that box.

It is possible that thing you feel is missing in your life is in that box.

Maybe the solution for part of your problems is in that box.

Check those qualities and work on them, systematically. Maybe you will realize some of those are just pieces of paper.

But if even one is more than a paper and it will contribute in your life, it is worthwhile to check that mysterious box.

Discovering that part of yourself that is hidden from others

Johari Window: exploring the hidden parts…

 

You have a secret!

Maybe the reason you have it is because you consider it so valuable, you don’t want to share, at least not to everyone and not until this moment; which is OK, after all, treasures are to be kept. They are an object of legend! Right?

I give you an alternative. Find the right moment (soon, please!) and show that talent you have, what you have been studying or the wonderful discovery you are not revealing to others.

In fact, the more you expose your treasures, the more you will develop them.

However, there are secrets you don’t tell others because of some type of fear. What are they going to tell me if they know this?

If you really want to develop a good relationship with other people, those secrets can turn into an obstacle. There are a few options for you:

• Find the RIGHT MOMENT, that instant people will value what you have. It is true particularly in relation to talents or skills.
• Generate a space of dialogue and talk to those people, open your heart. Before doing that, take some mercy balm in the form of a nice book with encouraging words or a song that will remind you how great you are. This is specially for those secrets that can harm a relationship.
• In both cases, I suggest you to meditate before doing any of those things. Meditation will empower you.
• If people hurt you because what you have shown or told them, don’t cry. The meditation will help you to not get into despair and something good you can do is to remind yourself THAT IS MY TREASURE. As they didn’t recognize its value, it is time to look for other people who will value it as much as you do.

There may be many more reasons for you to keep things hidden from others, but I would like to highlight two more:

• Self-doubt. Yes, you have that treasure, but you are not sure it is so interesting or others need it. The best thing for that is to talk with someone you trust and work on what to do about it.
• Maybe OTHERS haven’t acknowledged you have that treasure. Well, that hurts! You have already shown them, you have talked to them and you have posted it everywhere, but people seem to ignore it or at least they don’t give the value you think it should receive. Well, in that case, a talk with experts in the area of your treasure will clear your mind in relation to others’ reasons. After that, you can plan what to do to make others appreciate that wonderful treasure.

Discovering that part of yourself that is hidden, but others do know it

Many years ago, I came in contact with the Johari Window model. It was such a realization!

For those who don’t know it, I strongly suggest you to research on that.

The model comes from the understanding that our qualities, talents, potentials and everything that is valuable for us (I will be calling this our treasure) can be distributed in 4 different areas of a matrix:

An area that is known by you and others. Most people know that you have that treasure in yourself and it is the thing you can put down in your CV without thinking. It is natural and that gave you your job position or your friends.

Another area is that in which your treasure is known by others, but for some reason, you don’t know it. It is often due to self-doubt or the lack of self-esteem, but others recognize you for more than what you think you are. Good managers and friends will help you to develop that part of yourself.

The opposite is in another quadrant of the same matrix; you know your treasures and others don’t. It can generate frustration, but if you manage it well, it will create surprise to others that you do have that skill!

The last quadrant is the most mysterious as it corresponds to that part of your treasure that neither you or others know. Although many will consider this a problem for the self, it is in fact the guarantee all of us have that we can always change. There is always a potential to be explored and new experiences to be lived, no matter our age or condition.

Explore it!

But I would like to work on those parts that are hidden. We may call them potentials or seeds and for some reason they are invisible, at last for some people, maybe ourselves.

First, why are there things others see about us that we can’t see?

OK, there are lots of BAD stuff others see that we don’t, but again, I would like to focus on those POSITIVE things: our ability to crack a joke when things are tense, the fact we cook gnocchi very well, our talent with kids or the fact we smile, even when things are going bad.

As per my experience, it means we are missing our own greatness… it can be because of self-doubt or just very negative thoughts that as horrible landlords evict positive sensations from our minds.

The solution may not be easy, but it is healing: talk to other people. Talk more.

Learn from them what they see from you. Yes, some things won’t be nice to hear, but others will be ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

And believe it over those horrible landlords… You and I, and everyone, have so much more inside that comes to the eyes, even our own.

Life imitates your mind

A powerful video came to me the other day: The power of thought - One of the greatest riddles of science. It came in the right moment for me and it was a reminder on how powerful our mind is.

In reality, we live what our mind wants us to live.

For instance, we can be at a sunny place, surrounded by very nice people and with no troubles. And yet, we can be unhappy, our mood is off or we are envious of a friend of ours who just got promoted.

Now, because of that negative state of mind, we will start to be afraid of the sunlight, to remember the bad things those people have done and some far away crisis will show up in our mind as if it is real.

The opposite is true: we can live at a place in which the sunlight shows a few times a year, we are surrounded by people we don’t know or we don’t like, and we have a list of problems. And yet, we can be happy, have a good mood and congratulate from the heart our friend who just got promoted.

The reason is that a positive state of mind will make us ignore the bad effects of the lack of sunlight, we will notice or remember good things about people around us and we will be able to handle our problems in a more method or intuitive way.

Yes, all depends on the state of our mind.

Maybe, we can’t change life, but we can change our mind by meditating or using other techniques, and in this way, we will perceive life in a different way.

It is quite possible that life will change too. Try it!

The creation of legends

Once upon a time, there was a person who wanted to be better. Much better. So, one day, a great wonderful day, he or she departed from their zone of comfort and decide to travel through that pathway they never thought they could.

Many trials and obstacles came on their way: dragons and dangerous men, lions and creatures that should only exist in the imagination.

And then one day, a great wonderful day, they reached their destination, and it was all they thought it would be.

 

When you start to change yourself, ignoring all odds against you, you start to become a hero, a heroine, a true legend.

It is a long journey and not an easy one, but with an excellent attitude, a powerful awareness, lots of courage and many tools, you will end this change process, and your objectives will be fulfilled.

 

So, every time your energy is down, fear is knocking hard at your door or things don’t go the way you would expect, remember: it is just part of the journey.

You are THE hero, THE heroine.

You are the legend that will be told in the future.

Can we start all over again?

Our civilization has generated a dependency on things and people who are just an image or voice, so imagine if that is cut.

In fact, we had a small rehearsal of a few years with the COVID pandemic. I will give a personal example.

Every year I used to travel to India; it was something very valuable for my personal growth and I used to enjoy the interaction with people from so many countries. And all of a suddenly ¡it was OVER! For two years I had to just sit and miss being there…

Eventually, the travels for foreigners resumed to India, but I keep thinking if that was it: if our civilization finally reach to a halt and we had to live in a totally different civilization.

Because I don’t think the world will end as it becomes extinct; I keep imagining a world that had to reset itself.

A few thoughts on that:

• Instead of travelling to other places, we may have to enjoy and go deep on the places we live. It is an interesting way to see our reality in a different way.
• Maybe we won’t have internet to communicate with others, but this is the chance to communicate with the self, God and even nature.
• It is possible our present comforts won’t be present, so we will need to comfort ourselves in different ways by meditating, praying or just enjoying nature.
• We won’t have our favorite foods! So, we will have to make whatever is available into our favorite food.

And the list goes on… The important thing is if someday the end comes, remember you can always reset your world.

Running away from the world, without… running away!

Have you ever had the desire to just RUN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING?

Maybe on a very cloudy Monday or after a horrible meeting?

Perhaps when you felt betrayed by another person or you lost that thing you liked so much?

Or it was some bad news about your health, or…

Many years ago, a friend of mine did exactly that. The last time I saw him, it was entering some country and he was in very bad shape – burnout was starting to show! Eventually, he left everything behind and started a new life.

However, fast forward a couple of years and he was back to his old life…

Running away is not a final solution. It is possible we go, carrying with ourselves the reasons of distress.

So, here is an idea: maybe, we can run away… without running away!

For instance, when I meditate, it is as if I go somewhere else, very far from here. That is the feeling and the perception, it works because it is meaningful.

These are a few things I know people have done to run away, without running away:

• To work as a volunteer during their holiday period.
• To take one year out to change career.
• To travel to a jungle, to learn more and to enjoy nature.
• To be part of a group of people and to do things that are completely different than their careers or normal life.
• To learn another language.

 

So, next time you think about running away, ask yourself: what can I do to experience something meaningful that is nothing to do with my current life?

Religion and spirituality: reflecting and living

We need a religion, so that we can see life under a different light. Religion shows that which is invisible as something you can live in your life: God, love, peace…

We also need spirituality as it is a background that can adapt to any reality: family, work, health…

Some could say spirituality is the feeling behind all the religious practices.

Lately, things have changed; in the past few years, many people started to dissociate themselves from religion and live their own spiritual pathway.

Other people have left spirituality behind and they live religion as a series of rituals or an obligation.

So, what to do? Live both as complements or just live one of them?

As times are getting rough and the world is spiraling down, we do need something that is not related to the situations and circumstances. We need that invisible energy and that powerful feeling.

If you are having this type of doubt or your life is not as you would like it to be, there is an easy solution to discern about what to do: live your own spirituality.

By starting from the background, you can understand your role in life and what would be the best life for you.

Reflect on that.

Live it.

 

Is the end coming soon?

The pandemic came… THIS IS THE END!

The war in Europe erupted… THIS IS THE END!

And another thing... THIS IS THE END!

Some people I know have an obsession with the end of the world or the civilization as we know it. Recent events and the general situation of the world has instigated that obsession even more.

Now, my question is if the end is coming soon or not.

There is a general law that all civilizations start small, grow until reaching a maturity stage and they end; it is like a bell curve and it has worked for most civilizations.

From that point of view, perhaps for the first time in recorded History, we are living an unusual situation: the world is ONE civilization.

With globalization, we have reached our maturity and, of course, we are in our descent. It means, at some point we will reach the end.

What the curve bell does not show is that every time a civilization reaches its end, another replaces it, many times in a chaotic way as this new civilization is just starting.

However, as there is technically ONE civilization… well, there is nothing to replace it.

So, it is quite possible that our descent will mean this civilization will end.

What are you doing to prepare yourself? And what are your thoughts about THE END?

How is your transition going?

We have been running wildly as a civilization, society and individuals, and, all of a sudden, BOOM! We had to stop…

Like a 200 Km/h car, our world almost crashed, but, hey, we are still here!!

After the pandemic, we have been through a sort of transition, with not much leadership and counting with our own values, beliefs and self-leadership.

And I think it is important to do a checking on how things are really going. In this way, we can reinforce what is working and correct what needs to be corrected. Here are a few questions that may help:

How am I feeling? Let’s start from the abstract, the feelings and sensations. Try to be very specific in relation to those.

How am I doing? Let’s check now about our activities; it is useful to compare the NOW with the BEFORE (pandemic) and to use some indicator (how much I am earning, my trips, meditation experience, etc.).

How am I relating to others? Again, a bit subjective, but it is important to verify the way my relationship to other people has evolved during these years.

How much progress am I making? At this point, it is good to stop and reflect. Progress is not difficult to understand, but many people tend to interpret sensations while others only see results. To know your progress, you have to check the general sensation that you are MUCH BETTER than before, but at the same time, some HARD RESULTS to back that up. If one of them or neither of them is good, it is quite possible you haven’t moved ahead as much as you might think.

I hope what comes from this exercise helps in your own transition.

When your health makes you anxious

Some time ago, I posted about anxiety and someone sent me an interesting article*; even though it is some type of publicity, and I don’t do publicity, it was a different dimension of anxiety that I didn’t know: when you have a health problem and you are waiting for a diagnostic.

Many years ago, I had a friend how was diagnosed with cancer, which he beat. He was so happy, he called me from the other side of the world to tell me the good news. And then, he started to have some problems again and I remember his anxiety, waiting for the response from doctors. It was not good news, but maybe the anxiety itself was the worst.

In his very influential book, Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman talks about his own experience when he was sent for a lab to do a test. Because of his background, he knew it could mean cancer… He analysed about the emotions he felt.

A study of patients in physicians' waiting rooms found that each had an average of three or more questions in mind to ask the physician they were about to see. But when the patients left the physician's office, an average of only one and a half of those questions had been answered. This finding speaks to one of the many ways patients' emotional needs are unmet by today's medicine. Unanswered questions feed uncertainty, fear, catastrophizing.

The focus of Daniel Goleman was about a change in the medical people’s attitude, but I think there are a few things we could do to minimize the anxiety that comes when there is something wrong with our body or mind, but there is no clarity about a diagnosis.

1. The first thing is to keep calm. Easy said than done, but meditation and other practices can help.
2. Stick to the facts, don’t overthink or try to be your own clairvoyant. Just wait and see what happens.
3. Talk to very good POSITIVE friends. They will surround you with their positive aura and that will be healing. I had that experience with a lady, a friend’s sister, while she waited for her diagnosis; about 10 people were there in the room with her sharing nice stories and just giving her good company.
4. Read and feed yourself with positive information. Avoid a reading about your current problem as much as possible.
5. At the day of your diagnosis, act normally. Routine has power in these cases and it will help you to focus your mind on the present.

If you or other people have anxiety before a diagnosis, I hope this may help.

 

* About scanxiety - https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2021/07/29/mesothelioma-scans-scanxiety/

Religion and spirituality: preaching vs. leading the way

Religion and spirituality are in constant struggle, even though you don’t know it.

On one hand is the very powerful institution of religion: there are a few problems here and there, but religions all over are increasing their numbers in terms of people and temples.

On the other hand, is spirituality: the Cinderella of human spirit, with not much structure, but lots of good intentions and, yes, the number of spiritual groups and tendencies, and the number of people enrolled to them have increased a lot too.

Now, let’s look at it in a different way in which there is no struggle; spirituality is the subtle background that is the essence of religion. In fact, a very religious person is very spiritual too, and spiritual people are often associated with a religion.

But it is true that religion – the religion common people practice – is more focused on the form, that is, scriptures and rituals. On the contrary, spirituality emphasizes the practice, the BEING.

In other words, religion may be only preaching while spirituality is leading… Still, I do believe they are not opposite and here are three examples that may help

• Your religion talks about being charitable and you do, from time to time. Spiritually, you can also be charitable by giving others vibrations and good wishes. Always. Both are necessary and useful.
• By being religious, you have to go to your temple every week or so. By being spiritual, your practice is daily and you don’t have to go to a temple necessarily. When you go to a temple, just be spiritual; when you are spiritual, just feel like your house is a temple.
• The scriptures tell stories or describe a code of life. Spirituality makes your live those stories and change your own life.

What do you think about religion and spirituality?