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.

 

A life-long learning process

To have a dynamic life, full of energy and meaning, it is important to understand that this is the greatest university!

Every day, every moment, at every interaction or chance to contemplate, you and I are learning. There is no ending for that.

So, I would like to suggest you two things.

First, always be OPEN TO LEARN. This requires humility and self-esteem, kindness and courage, and most importantly, the deep desire to progress.

Second, always be OPEN TO SHARE. You will need to feel the pulse of the person with whom you are sharing, teaching, coaching or mentoring. You will have to go beyond knowledge and trust your own wisdom. And share with generosity, openness, mercy and love.

We are sharing the same classroom, let’s make the best of it.

 

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.

 

About love and compassion, mercy and understanding

Many times, while reading the news, the conclusion is that our world has turned into a very dry place…

So, would you try to use a bit of water of love? Just give other people something: a smile, a kind word or an object wrapped with good intentions.

Maybe a bit more water: the water of compassion. Embrace the other one – it could be physically or spread your warmth around the other person, telling them I am here for you.

More and more water… this time the water of mercy. Like a nurse, help others in their healing, by tirelessly offer them something special – maybe your role as mother, your capacity as an engineer or your ears as a friend.

But it is the last water that will make all your effort fruitful: the water of understanding. With understanding, forgive and open new doors of opportunity for people; with understanding, change the best you can and help others in their own change, and with understanding, help the world.

Heroes of my life

Some time ago, I started noticing that in the various platforms I operate, in terms of social network, I started to see heroes…

I am not saying Hollywood or Bollywood heroes; true heroes, people who are doing unthinkable things to make others’ lives better. Have you seen anyone like that lately? Maybe your mother or an old uncle? Perhaps your neighbor or your kid’s teacher? They are everywhere!

And as I love the topic of heroes, I would like to talk about 3 things in relation to heroes and the first thing is: why do they become our heroes?

Many would say they are helping others in an extraordinary way, but the reality is others are also doing it and yet, they are not heroes, at least not for everyone.

The reason is simple: they become our heroes because we have that potential and see it expressed in them. That is, WE could be the ones doing that same thing this person is doing… In this context, the heroes that are emerging are helping us to understand more about the self.

The second thing is: what is their superpower?

The other day, I had a lecture on love and when I did a research, I found out those heroes that make me smile all the time they have very different skills, and they come in all sizes, shapes, color of the skin and religion, but one thing is common: a very deep love.

Maybe past heroes were not like that, but present heroes are expressing their love in ways that go beyond their duty and that also inspires us to express our love in different ways.

The last thing is: what is the real benefit of being a hero?

If you used to be a fan of heroes, maybe a comics collector, you have probably noticed a trend as modern heroes are depicted vulnerable, maybe even weak. A movie, considered by many the best movie based on a comic hero, shows exactly that: how a very macho hero succumbs to love and tenderness at the end…

So, if heroes are also vulnerable, what is the benefit? In fact, no matter what, (present) heroes are learning in two dimensions. On one hand, they WIN, that means, somehow they defeat evil, but on the other hand, they CHANGE deeply.

That’s why heroes are relevant to us, because they show no matter how rigid you are, how fixed is your role, you can change.

Now, stop reading this and be the hero you are!

Goals in life, are that important?

What is your goal in life? Goals?

Ok, let’s rethink that question: what can you do with your life, so that you become happy, peaceful, full of love and in harmony with others?

Tough question? Not so much… even though we often don’t ask us that question out loud, most of the time we would ask that question in a subtle way, particularly when we have a big decision to make.

In fact, goals are not as important in life as it is to have a memorable life, a life that at the end of the journey you will feel was so worthy to have lived it.

Now, don’t misunderstand me: to have goals, aims or objectives are EXTREMELY important. The problem is that to fulfilling a goal, sometimes you lose your happiness and peace, you miss whatever makes you feel loved and you fight other people.

So, are you going for a big goal in life? DO IT! Conquer your fears and overcome your obstacles, but don’t lose focus of what is important in life.

Reasons to change

Why do we change? Change is a paradox: inevitable, but we keep on avoiding it.

Changes we generate come out of a need, often without been chosen. Now, during the pandemic, many people are changing professional careers due to their economic situation.

But changes may also come as an opportunity, and that is something we choose; for the same environment, people who are expert in telecommunication saw their live changes as they took advantage of what is happening and their own specialty.

Still, these points indicate an outside factor influences us to change. There is an alternative that comes from self-leadership.

It is the change we generate after a deep reflection.

It is the change we do not because we need or we are forced to do, but because we are convinced it is important.

It is the change that comes from the heart and we do out of love for the self, others or the environment.

It is the change we do so that we can be a better person, a better version of ourselves.

So, let’s be the leader of the self and change.

8 asana of the heart – when your heart is the size of the HORIZON

Use your imagination a bit and think that you are totally free from this world. Visualize yourself at the top of a mountain and taste the freedom…

But it is not any freedom. It comes with you allowing your love to flow in a limitless way.

Freedom can come because you fight or you just leave a situation behind. However, when it comes from love, it becomes something else.

Back to your imagination, just look ahead while you are at the top of the mountain. Look ahead and see the infinity of the HORIZON and let your love become just like that: unlimited and broad, great and powerful.

Your love can give you wings so that you can fly towards that horizon and just be part of it.

When you allow your heart to grow more and more, until it reaches the unlimited, you are enabling yourself to experience a very deep freedom.

The freedom of the past.

The freedom of attachments.

The freedom of your own personality.

The freedom of any limitations.

Now more than ever, the world needs that type of love; just practice this powerful asana of the heart and changes it into the horizon…

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

8 asana of the heart – a LEVER?

 

Love can be creative, so think of your heart as a LEVER…

Hard? Maybe, but the idea is that love can change the world…[1]

Just check your life and think of an area of your existence that is in crisis, a big crisis – maybe confusion, perhaps anger. Now, focus on your own love, the love that is in your heart… let that love flows through you and through that wound.

After one or two days doing that, just check because I am sure things would have changed, at least partially.

Why? Love activates the best of you and it is obvious that part of the best of you keeps the solution for your problem. When you feel love in a conscious way, you are also opening the door of many other beautiful things that you keep there in the cupboard of the self.

Love is the lever that opens a treasure within, but most of the time we don’t use love in that way. So, try again: think of your heart as a LEVER.

Another image you can use is your heart as a lift that elevates you, because by connecting with all that reservoir of love, you are also increasing dramatically your own self-esteem.

Problems look so small from up above…

Let your love make you open difficult doors or elevate yourself. Problems will still be problems, but you will have the key in your hand.

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

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[1] Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it and I shall move the world. Archimedes (c.287 – c.212 BC)

8 asana of the heart – my heart takes the form of a REFUGE

If love would flow like a river, eventually it would create a lake of love. You may use your imagination and visualize your heart taking the shape of a big area filled with that healing force, like a lake…

That lake is a refuge and when you feel pain, when life seems to be mean and cruel or when things are really going wrong, it will relief you of your emotional burden.

As a refuge, others may come at your door and by feeling that powerful love of yours, they will experience relief of their own pain and suffering.

Don’t forget to do maintenance of that lake, so the water of your love doesn’t get stagnated… and the best way is to experience it every day, to let others come and get some of your love or to let others feel your loving presence through your smile, some words or your extended hand.

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

8 asana of the heart – my love flows and turns into a river of FORGIVENESS

People do things that hurt us, sometimes very deeply.

And when we are honest, we realize we also hurt others…

FORGIVENESS is that beautiful and so necessary human feature that enables a person to heal and to open windows and doors for those who hurt them. But how does that work?

First of all, let’s not confuse forgiving with forgetting. Although the fusion of both may be the ideal, it is not always possible as forgetting may cause some damage in the long term (someone may try to hurt you again). Remembering with forgiveness is probably the best because your relationship won’t get tainted by what others have done in the past.

To really forgive someone, the first step is to connect the self to the deep love we all have within. Any love does not work; it has to be an unconditional love.

Many years ago, one of the founders of an ashram, a spiritual place, in Scotland shared how they worked so hard to create it, particularly her and the husband. But one day he left her for another woman who has come to this place. The spiritual founder reached the conclusion she had only one path due to her background: unconditional love. Eventually the miracle of that love brought her former husband back… along with the person he was now married. Still, she got a friend back and both worked together again until his demise.

That is forgiveness, to let love flow like a river that disintegrates all the bad things due to its speed and strength. To value the intentions and the quality of that person, come on, let your heart take the shape of a powerful river…

 

Whom are you going to forgive today?

Whose love are you going to experience today and feel you are forgiven?

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

8 asana of the heart - when love means COMPASSION

With a friend of mine, we got into a very friendly argument in relation to the difference between mercy and COMPASSION.

The word compassion is very specific as it comes from Latin and it could be translated as concern for others' suffering. That means whenever others are suffering (passion), a compassionate person will feel for them and will embrace them.

The best example I have heard and I am sure you too have heard is Mother Theresa of Calcutta, the one whose life was of pure compassion. Even though she was not an expert of the field of compassion she has chosen, which was related to health, her mission in life was to shelter all those nobody wanted to help. In fact, she literally embraced people with leprosy and other kinds of ailments, without taking into account her own health.

OK, maybe you don’t want to get into that extreme, but think of compassion as the love that washes others' suffering. Maybe the reason for that suffering is still going on, but the person will feel that healing love within their mind.

An image I use for compassion is a waterfall. By being brought up in Brazil, I used to go to many waterfalls in different parts of the country and the sensation was not only good, but it was as if I was been cleansed.

Now, imagine a waterfall of love, falling upon you and others. A waterfall of love that heals and comforts the soul, helping others to feel hope again and to expect a positive outcome even when all looks bleak or terrible.

The argument I had with my friend was not really finalized, but I think there is a point in common: with our love we can heal.

So, just change the shape of your heart, let your love flow in such a way that others feel relief from their inner pain. It can be done by sending them vibrations or by listening to them and make them feel they are important.

Or it can be just by you remembering their birthday and telling them that no matter what they are, you love them...

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

8 asana of the heart - being MERCIFUL

People create problems, right? That is normal and it is accepted, at least until a certain point. It is part of the game of relationships and a healthy relationship is capable of embracing that reality, forgiving and moving on.

But some problems cause deep wounds in the soul. Other people you know have hurt others; some have hurt you. And, yes, sometimes you have hurt others. What is the medicine for such a hurt?

To respond with the word love would look cheap for me a few years ago; that was when I decided to explore the subject of love and I was able to dismiss the type that offers an easy and simplistic answer. It is simply not realistic as love cannot heal anybody by itself, just like a hug can't heal a child who fell; it is just an emotional response, it just provides some psychological support and, of course, it is worthwhile. But it does not heal.

However, love can be expressed in various ways and there is a form that heals. MERCY.

Mercy is a type of love that comes from a particular relationship or even profession, so it does not fluctuate easily and it is much focused. How is mercy used to heal a relationship? The person will use their specialty to help the other one.

A mother will help her child by giving advice or by unburden him or her of some chores.

A doctor will treat their patient by giving medicine, but mostly by giving the best of their expertise.

A salesman will give a chance for another person to accomplish their dream.

A spiritual person maybe won't give something physical, but their words and their vibrations are very merciful.

 

How are you going to express mercy towards other people today?

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

 

8 asana of the heart - opening your heart with GENEROSITY

There are lots of people who get in touch with us and we don’t even notice. Particularly during this pandemic, we have been more aware of them and even though they are out of our social circle and yet, they are indispensable for us.

A friend of mine commented that was probably a blow to the ego of many to know even though they are managers and they have so much study, their clerks became more important than them for the society...

But this people require your help, a very subtle and easy help: To love them!

There also many other people who are not part of our personal radar in terms of relationship, and yet they are so important in their own way, and they also require the same help: To love them!

For all of those, there is something you can do. Let me explain with an example: I do believe humanity is like a mosaic of love and each one of us complements each other not only physically, but also subtly. As in the mosaic, if the red color piece is not there, the yellow piece won't be that beautiful. That is, your brightness, your energy, your power and the color of your company are just ways of expressing the infinite love you have in your heart.

And that's why you should change your heart, to that it gets bigger and bigger, as if you were doing an asana with it! All those people who are not that close to you need is your GENEROSITY, which is a wonderful way to show your love. I am not talking here in terms of money or resources, but in terms of your energy, presence, your smile and many other ways to express love.

So, focus on those people and feel love for them... Maybe talk with them about it or send them a message. A smile often works and if nothing of that is possible just send them your vibrations of love by using your thoughts and attitude. I am sure they will feel it.

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

I recommend you to watch 8 postures of the heart.

8 asana of the heart – I care…

 

CARE is the first asana, in which you move your heart, your love, extending it to everyone who is part of your social circle - relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

The best way to do that is to visualize, in which you can see yourself embracing your people with hugs of light.

However, to care about someone means that person is really important, so it is necessary to realize and to change my own perspective. It is necessary to reflect on how significant that human being really is.

In that sense, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise as I am sure you, just like myself, start to realize the real importance other people have in our lives, something maybe we would never really think about; it is not we didn't care before, but maybe we didn't care enough.

Besides the visualization, everyday, do this:

• Think of those who are in relationship with you.
• Send them love, by visualizing you in a form of light, going and hugging them.
• Ask and reflect:
• What have you learnt or achieved by inserting that person into your life or by becoming part of their life?
• How much is this person important for you?

By doing this, you will feel your relationship with others improving and because it is your love you are sending to others, your own life will improve too.

 

This post is part of a series called 8 asana of the heart.

The 8 asana of the heart – To love…

 

During the month of June, the day of yoga was celebrated and one of the elements of any yoga practice is the asana, a posture or position that you make your body adopt. It is normally something very physical and difficult - I myself had the chance of seeing someone turning his head in such a way that it look as it was 180 degrees!

But an asana can also be mental or spiritual: the conscious exercise of making your mind leaving aside bad thoughts or concentrating on a positive objective.

So, on the basis of that, a beautiful inspiring video was produced on the 8 postures of the heart, blending art and wisdom. On the basis of that I thought well if we think of a heart... it is a muscle, right? Kind of... And because of that you could do some asana with it.

Of course, that is not possible (I think), but what about what it symbolizes, love. That line of thinking made me come to the idea of 8 asana that you can do with your heart.

And here you have a series on that, 8 ways to express your love that are not always easy, but they are always transformational.

These are the asana:

1. To care.
2. Generosity.
3. Mercy.
4. Compassion.
5. Forgiveness.
6. Refuge.
7. Lever.
8. Horizon.

In each post, I will express my points of view and I will invite you for an exercise.

For the moment, just experience your love… deeply… It is good, it is important particularly at moments of crisis.

How many candles?

In some cultures there is the habit of putting a number of candles corresponding to the number of years the person is celebrating and for some people it may be embarrassing as they have an age consciousness.

For me it is pretty good, as I carry my 54 years with the greatness of being such a special person and the humility of so much I have to learn yet… However, as part of my personal tradition, I have been doing a double birthday.

The reason is that on the same day I was born, I became aware spiritually, 36 years ago. Both summed up to 90 years. So, yes, I am 90 years old...

As the sum of its two digits is 9, if you ask me, that is the number of candles in my cake… But which candles?

Candle # 1 must go for GOD; without Him, I can’t even imagine how my life would be. I think candle # 2 is for GRATITUDE, for all I have had the chance to be, for the greatest opportunity of all to be born. The # 3 is for ACCEPTANCE… I took some time to accept myself as I am and to change on the basis of what I have accepted. I tell you, this procedure is working… Number 4 is CHANGE and my life is dedicated to change every day, towards my self-transformation. SPIRITUALITY was not in my map, it was not part of my paradigm and now it is my paradigm; number 5 is for this important aspect of my being.
 The candle # 6 is for LOVE, a feeling with which I have struggled for some time, but I realised it has been within me all the time. Definitely, I need a candle for DETERMINATION, which is # 7. Particularly In my darkest days, being determined was the way to come out of situations and re-create my life, again and again I was thinking # 8 should be hope, but then I remember another pillar of my personal process has been CREATIVITY. I am not sure how I became a creative person, but that is what I am, and I love it. For a deep reflection, UNDERSTANDING is my last but not least candle, # 9. I am not always looking for understanding from others, but my main effort in life is to understand what happens and get the best from it.

And you, how many candles in your next birthday cake?

A Happy birthday from me to myself…

The power of love

It seems a whole generation was expecting the power of love to prevail over… well, over all the other types of powers: law, society, morality, etc.

Arriving at the 21^st century, this sounds old, outdated and weak. And yet, it seems we need love more than ever.

Question is: what is the power of love at times of Internet? Is it only free sex, being permitted to do whatever one wants and smile all the time?

The power of love is that energy that enables you to take one step more. It is that strength you find when you think all is over.

That is what creates bonds between people, nations, races and species. It is a universal vitality that prevails and permeates all layers of our society.

And it is there, just inside you! Use it and enjoy the wonderful effect of making other people hopeful again, energetic again and alive. Again.

Different ways of loving others

Love… that beautiful feeling that unites us all.

Along the years, love has changed its shape and form, manifesting in many different ways and being expressed in various dimensions. And yet, it is still very important.

I must confess I have not dedicated much time to think of love, because I used to feel (in fact, I still feel) love is overused. In fact, it has become synonym of very cheap things in the present society.

About three years ago, I started a reflection process to really understand the power of love. A still on-going practice, I have reached the conclusion that love works well due to three basic elements:

• No conditions. The more unconditional is love, that is, the more you love others no matter what or who they are, more power it will have and so it will perform in an optimum way.
• Dedication. Going into the depth of your love towards others and giving up the things you value when that is necessary – this is dedication, and it increases the intensity of your love.
• Detachment. Although they seem to be opposite, love and detachment must work hand in hand, since this quality gives you the capacity of loving unconditionally.

What does the power of love do? Well, that is for another post, but you may start trying from now on…

The power of love

A symbol in the 60's, spiritual, religious and humanitarian people still believe in the intangible power of love. Well, even Harry Potter, finally was able to believe in it (sort of...).

But, what does that mean? How much money does this power can produce? How many friends can you conquer or customers can be satisfied?

Believe me, love can make all the difference and it affects your life much more than you think about. For a better understanding, I propose several dimensions for this concept, each one clarifying love and its power in a different way. By knowing this, you can take advantage of this huge power.

The first dimension I identify is the individual one as love is what helps in building very strong bridges between people. In this way, you can see its use in a team or a negotiation. Love can be also the healing factor whenever a relationship goes wrong.

But for that dimension to work, you have to comprehend a second dimension, which is the expression of love. I have a friend, Dr. Roger Cole, who wrote a book on the Mission of Love, by the way, an excellent book!! He commented to me at some point when we travelled together in Ecuador where I was helping as a translator, that love really can't be find in this world. What you can find is mercy or compassion, and other qualities, virtues or values that are in themselves expressions of love. So, when a co-worker is having problems and you try to genuinely help or you get into a negotiation process with a win-win mind set, you are using the power of your own love...

A third dimension, very important to understand, is in relation to the attributes of love. Let's be honest, love became a very cheap word and many times is misunderstood with sex or lust. Love as a power works as a trigger for growth, solidarity and relationship, which I've put as total different dimension due to its importance. Yes, it is love that enables nature to live again after a very hard winter. It is also love that makes you extend a hand to a strange and help them. So, whenever your love enables others to grow or enables you to help others that means love is power.

As I try to show here, love is not something too abstract or a little hippie... The power of love is real and it is inside you. Just use it in your life and see its wonderful results.