Quo Vadis?

 

Where are you going? It is a very old question… and yet, so important for days like the ones we are living.

There is a general sensation of earth as a boat adrift, without a clear leadership and very little initiative from people in general. The leadership that exists is often restricted to a small sector and its influence does not spread, besides our leaders look like they need lots of help due to the complexity of the present.

In relation to people in general, I feel we are not taking advantage of this unique moment in history: we can all be leaders… of the self.

So instead of looking for people who would tell us where to go, what to be in the future and how to create a new world, it is our turn – yours and mine – to find that out.

So, ask yourself: where am I going? The answer will motivate you to give the first steps.

 

Quicksand and slow-sand

 

I was “playing” with the idea of a quicksand… OK, maybe it is not a nice image as per the general perception, if someone steps on a quicksand, they are swallowed by earth! That’s why the first rule is CHECK THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE STEPPING.

However, if you do step on a quicksand, slow movements will help and the best you stay quiet, the hardest will be for the quicksand to take you in. Your chances of survival will increase by doing that.

Now, if we think about SITUATIONS as quicksand, we can extract a few lessons and turn it into a slow-sand, a process in which you are changing the pace of life and going deep.

Always be cautious. If you can foresee a bad situation coming, don’t step into it just like that; wait a bit, reflect, contemplate and meditate… If it is a quicksand – something that will swallow your energy, your potential, or your wealth – don’t step into it. Look for alternatives instead.

If you are feeling situations are already taking too much from you, slow your movements, that is, be more reflexive and contemplative. Take your time whenever you can and talk with someone you trust about what you are living. Don’t let yourself be dragged by circumstances.

Silence does three things when situations are like quicksand: 1) silence empowers and so your resilience increases; 2) silence clarifies what you are going through and, in this way, you are not afraid, and 3) silence heals since many times this type of environment may hurt you.

So, are you ready to convert the quicksand of your life into a slow-sand?

About life in these strange times – taking advantage of an opportunity

 

Three recent scenes summarize for me how we are living:

People were avoiding a place close to their houses due to the COVID virus, and yet that same people travelled to another country, exposing themselves to the same virus (no masks on the way)!

I’ve passed through sunshine, drizzle, storm, cloudy and rain… in just one walk, less than an hour!

A dog walking with its dog walker… without leash!

What is the meaning and the lesson to be learnt?

• There is a lot of fear, illogical unreasonable fear, which makes people to not reflect and instead to act on instinct, wasting wonderful opportunities. Fear prevents people to take a chance.
• Another reason people don’t take a chance comes in the form of an obstacle. In fact, whenever someone is trying to change something in their life, complications come on the way as if life doesn’t want the person to change. Keep going, keep moving; the weather in your life will change and you will adapt.
• Freedom comes from the power of adaptation to new situations. Not adapting in the sense of losing a dream or an objective, rather than that, by throwing unnecessary thoughts and emotions away. In other words, enjoy the ride, life is giving!

What are the scenes in your life that inspire you to understand the world?

A new world starts with your mind

 

Too many people promise a new city, a new country, a new way of doing things, a new business, a new man or woman…

But, you know, everything new starts with a new mind. For instance, let’s say we want a new world (we want it, right?):

Sow the seeds for a new world. They come from the best part of you – from your courage, honesty and love, from the sweetness you treat others and the pure intentions you have when you are working. Let all of that floods your mind with good thoughts and wonderful feelings.

Ah, before that… plough your mind a little bit. Unfortunately, we are so much engrossed into a world with so many problems that the idea of a total new world in which those problems are solved, are easy to solve or simply don’t exist is insane… And yet… that’s part of the game of thinking of a new world. Start to read more about a new world and talk with other people; awaken those crazy ideas that a better world IS REALLY POSSIBLE!

Take care of those thoughts. The best way to create a new world is from a new self; so, start to change little things here and there, improve your habits and your life’s quality. The other day, I was watching a video that showed how a guy moved out of a crowded city to give a better quality for his dog – why don’t we do a similar thing to our own selves?

Water it daily and be careful with the birds! You need to create a new thought every day for a new world; for instance, one day you may think on how the economics will be and another day, how the politics will be there. But, you know the birds, they love to eat new green leaves… in your case, new ideas will be tested and fought by your best friends, your mum and dad, your kids, and of course your boss and mother-in-law… So, be prepared to have good arguments and maybe, to encourage them to think of a new world too, why not?

The crop will take time. A new world starts with in your mind and with your mind, but it takes time to come to reality. Still, believe me, it will come one day… just be patient and keep on cultivating it. One day, the new world will blossom for you!

The economy of thoughts

 

Too many people are concerned about Economy these days, but what about the economy of thoughts?

Thoughts are responsible for success and failure, for love and hate, for good and bad experiences. They are also responsible for emotions and feelings, for overcoming barriers or for avoiding them.

They are the essence of our lives and here are 3 questions that will help you to understand and extract more benefit from the power of your thoughts.

 

How much are you saving and how much are you wasting?

Saving thoughts means to think what is needed at the appropriate time. Thoughts are a powerful tool to overcome situations or to make decisions, among other things, but if you don’t think what is necessary or at the right time, they won’t contribute to your success.

For instance, if you have a problem, do you keep on thinking of the problem again and again, or do you make time and reflect on your own power, increasing your self-respect? In the first case, you are just wasting thoughts, but in the second you are giving yourself a chance, that is, you are saving them.

 

What is the quality of your thoughts and how it creates an impact in your life?

According to the quality of your thoughts, so it will be the quality of your words and actions, or at least it will be a fundamental factor.

Let’s say you have to prepare a presentation to a client, but your thoughts are not there… they may be at your home as your child is sick or even in the next football match.

Of course, that won’t interfere with the presentation, particularly the data or the rehearsed pitch, but it will influence the way you present it. If your competition is fully focused and offer the same data (and price), their focus will be more than a reason for the client to prefer them instead of you.

 

Your trade of thoughts, how is it going?

When you think of others and they think of you, there is… an exchange of energy and vibrations. That is like a subtle and invisible trade we all do.

Imagine a scene in which you are trying to sell something to a person and a colleague is just sitting by your side, watching… then, you feel a vibration, something in that person that says it won’t work. Automatically, your self-esteem goes to the bottom, you may stutter a bit and at last, you leave without a deal.

OK, it sounds a bit dramatic, but I am sure everyone went through a similar situation in which the trade of thoughts between another person and you was toxic and it affects your performance.

On the bright side, the same thing happens when your colleague smiles encouragingly at you and you are able to get a deal!

You may not see thoughts, but their reflection – a smile, the eyes, the hands – are very clear and they show how the trading going is.

 

By working on the Economy of thoughts, you will be able to see a difference in your life.

A trip to the infinite and beyond

 

Let’s travel far, far away…

 

Meditation is a first means to go beyond the world we live. It is not that we really go beyond, but our mind and thoughts take us much beyond our environment and the physical, mental and emotional experiences. This opens the door for the self to have a different understanding of life, so unique…

When we reflect by journaling or just sitting down, looking at the horizon, we allow our mind and thoughts to see the world from behind an invisible mirror. From our perspective, we look at reality, we understand it and we can even make decisions about it, but all the time from behind that mirror…

For this trip, we need to comprehend and live the difference between inner and outer experiences. Maybe they are correlated or not, interdependent or not, totally different or incredibly similar, they are not the same. Travelling to the infinite and beyond means, in this sense, to submerge in the inner experiences and to let your mind to take you to a different universe.

 

Come on, let’s travel!

And then I was born

 

I was born out of love and a bit of rebellion, the rebellious spirit of the ‘60s from past century.

I was brought up with care and love, a rustic unshaped love, but lots of love. My needs were satisfied and I felt protected.

I was told and guided… not much guidance there, I had to make up my own mind about what to do.

I was… kind of abandoned on the way… and then…

I was born… out of love and care and power, not physically, but spiritually.

I was brought up with so much more love and care and a new spiritual family. My needs were satisfied, I felt protected.

I was told and guided all the way, by God and people close to Him. That helped me to understand my part in this world and to make decisions about what to do.

I was taken care, I am still cared and I also learned to help others satisfy their own needs and to help others to feel protected.

Today, I celebrate both births I have taken, in the same day.

Gratitude for my parents and family.

Gratitude for my spiritual Parents and family.

 

Does the year really change?

 

What is change, really? It means something is different than before.

A river changes its course or composition, a tree grows, animals go through the cycle of life, and humans…

We, humans…?

With humans, things are more complex. We could say we change according to our age or our career. It can be that our change was just esthetical or ethical, we change our perception about other people or even an experience of past.

Then we come to the change of the year… We all know the year does not really change; it is just a perception or a system invented by us. In fact, the Chinese New Year, is a few weeks later and a big part of humankind will celebrate THAT New Year, not the December, 31^st one…

It means that although the year does not change and nothing changes with the year, it changes… in our minds.

And there are 3 things to explore and have a better change of year:

• The new year is a big opportunity. The things you couldn’t do before, the things you dream and those you don’t dream, all can happen this year.
• Training and education. To make those opportunities real there is a need in terms of training. The change curve is quite steep nowadays for anything, even the harmless objects at home, particularly with AI’s invading the day-to-day life. So, understand the opportunities being opened with this new year and what qualities or competencies you will need to harvest them, and plan your education process.
• Resources… Yes, you will need resources to really take advantage of anything emerging with the new year. Besides the physical wealth that will help to get a proper education, there are also intangible resources, such as peace, courage and enthusiasm. Words of wisdom from a close friend or relative and the millions of videos, books, lectures, workshops, seminars, etc. that promote wellness or self-improvement, work like gold too.

This new year, identify the opportunities and dreams you want to fulfill and live, educate and train yourself to achieve them, and trust the invisible resources within you. HAPPY NEW YEAR!