Journey

Where is the place you would like to explore?

The general public will probably name out the most interesting places they see that everyone else has been to. Very often, these are places of tourism that everyone wants to visit in their lifetime. When our eyes see as beautiful, our mind thinks it is beautiful. Therefore, this is the place we put in our bucket list of all the other beautiful places we must visit before the end of our lifetime here.

When can you finally finish off your bucket list?

Like most people, you would probably think that you need to work hard for money, save up most of it in order to be able to finally buy a ticket to get to the place where you want to visit. You would probably also think of the exchange rates which you might need to start buying the currency when the price is low, in preparation for the vacation that is coming.

What do you need to bring to enjoy fully the experience?

Many things. You will probably pack up a whole luggage full of what your mind thinks is a necessity. Wherever you go, you have to bring all the so called basic necessities in your life. You lunge along all your beautiful clothes, shoes, bath needs, facial needs, hygiene needs, vanity needs, and etcetera. Some will even go to the extreme to bring along a hair dryer, towel, blanket because of the insecurity of not having everything from home.

How do you enjoy your time there?

People of the current era have the luxury of digital devices being made smaller and more convenient. Everywhere everyone goes, there will be a whole bunch of people taking photos for remembrance. While this is to ensure that you have a record of the happy moments in life, this is also something that binds people in a responsibility to capture nicer angles each time a picture is taken.

Why do you want to visit the place?

Perhaps this is the most important question of all. There is always a reason for every action. Sometimes you may argue that it is impromptu but there is an explanation for the way you react to any situation. Even if you feel that you are taking the trip because of the beautiful pictures you see on the internet, it means something has captured your heart. You just have to look deeper.

Life is simple and yet not so simple. As simple as we want life to be, there are always situations that come along that seems to make it complicated. It is not complicated at all, it is just our mind playing a trick on us. We are just used to the norm. Whatever that appears to be out of the norm is a problem. To our minds, problems are out of the way complicated.

It is all in the mind. If you think that all problems cause chaos, then that is what will come into your life. On the other hand, if you see all problems as opportunities for you to explore your strengths, everything becomes easier. We are so clogged up in our mind to think in one way we forgotten that there is always an alternative way to everything. We are too concentrated in the problem itself we lack the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Find the light. If you understand nature well enough, you will understand. Perhaps the only place you need to visit is the place that keeps you sane and promotes your calmness. The place need not be somewhere only reachable by plane or ship or car. It can be near home. Perhaps you only need to take a stroll to the garden near your home in the heart of the night.

Everyone is asleep. There is stillness. There is total silence. There is tranquility. There is space. Dreams are travelling in every direction. The sky is almost pitch black. You concentrate in the darkness. You see some blinking spots amidst the darkness. All of a sudden, the sky is bright with beautiful stars lighting up your life. Life is beautiful. When daylight comes, your exploration continues.

When you remove all distractions, the journey of life begins.

 

We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.

Valentin Louis Georges Eugene Marcel Proust (Marcel Proust), French author, 1871-1922

Different

Sometimes the best things in life come in the most unexpected manner.

We have probably heard of this phrase numerous times throughout our lifetime. As a child, we do not understand what it meant because in the eyes of a child, everything is colourful and beautiful. As the years go by, our perception changes. We have been through experiences that tells us otherwise. Is it really so or only the way we see as is?

Many of times we encounter ambiguity. What does this mean?

Have you ever been in a situation whereby everything seems so clear and yet you have no idea how to proceed to the next step. It is like you already know what to do in the next step but somehow you remain stationary as if you have no idea of it. This may not happen often but in the back of your head you know that you have been through such a situation before. Have you ever wondered why?

For example, you drive to work daily using the same route. Day in day out you are driving at the same time with the same car on the same journey. Somehow, one fine day, something is different. Something may have caught your attention and you suddenly find yourself not knowing what to do. Perhaps you would say that the something is new and that is the reason you do not know how to react. But if you think back, how many new things you have already encountered in that same journey? How did you handle those new things? Why is your encounter today any different from the past experiences?

If you really seek, you will know that it really is just yet another event that happens along the way. It is no different from all the other events that have happened. It is our perception that changed everything. We, in our human bodies, have a great mind. We just love to hold everything we see as true and everything we hear as worth believing. How often have you asked yourself what exactly is the truth?

Once a wise lady told me that if you recite out a thousand times of a lie, it will soon become a fact. It does not matter anymore where the story comes from. If does not matter who started making up stories. If it is told enough times to ourselves, we will believe it is true. The moment we believe it is true, we are able to influence the people around us into making them believe it is true as well.

Who can tell if Einstein’s theories are the only equations that is correct? Who can tell if the center of gravity of earth is really in the core? Who can tell if what we study so religiously in schools are facts? Everything can change. In fact, everything changes over time. Whether or not we live to see the day is another matter by itself.

Some people are wiser than others because they already understand that no theory in the world means anything. Having all the knowledge in the world does not make you a wise person, it just saturates you with information. Having all the information in the world does not mean anything if you do not put it to practice. Having practiced everything you have studied upon does not mean you have really learnt your lesson. The lessons of life is simple. In our lifetime, simplicity seems difficult.

We have chosen to see with our eyes when we should with our heart. There is a reason why a person only has one heart. Every organ we have has their own function. Two eyes to see the right and wrong, two ears to listen to the good and bad, and one brain to decipher the observation and think of a closure. The closure can be a decision or the final destination. Follow the one heart we have to show us the path to enlightenment. Open up to receive all the good things coming towards us.

The body, mind, and soul are three parts in one entity for many. Be different. Be as one.

 

They laugh at me because I’m different; I laugh at them because they’re all the same.

Kurt Donald Cobain (Kurt Cobain), American singer-songwriter and musician, 1967-1994

Trust

Are you taking enough time to heal?

We are all alive. Anything that is alive can heal. It is the matter of whether or not we believe in ourselves. Given time, we all have the ability to heal. There is no need for technology. There is no need for external intervention. We have the ability ourselves. We just have to trust ourselves.

There have been many miracles before that even doctors of the modern medicine cannot explain. In the book the Secret, Cathy Goodman shared her beautiful inspiring story of how she overcome something that is feared by most, cancer.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She took the path that she feels is most right for her, to have strong faith that she was already healed. She believed wholeheartedly that she was already healed. She watched very funny movies and would laugh and laugh. She knows that stress was one of the worst things she can do while trying to heal herself. It only took her three months to heal from the time she was diagnosed and all was done without the standard protocol of the modern medicine; chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

This is just one beautiful story of all the many beautiful stories that we tend not to believe in. This is only believed to be a miracle that can happen to a handful of selected people but that is not true. This can happen to anyone, any regular person, you and me. The limitation that we have in our brain is all that is limiting us from achieving what we yearn.

Open up your mind!

With every downfall, there is an opportunity. The only reason why you keep seeing it as a downfall is because you believe it is and that you remind yourself every minute of the day that there is no way out. There is always a way out. You just have to open up your mind to see it. You just have to have an open mind to receive what is about to come into your life.

We are being put to the test. We all are. Each and every day of our lives is a test itself. Most people choose to stay in their comfort zone that is so that they feel comfortable all the time. The lack the energy to receive challenges that will potentially push them higher to become a better person. It is all by choice. What you choose, you become.

We are always being placed at crossroads. We are always given choices. Whichever route you choose to take brings you to a different destination. Which is the final destination that you wish to reach? Which is the ultimate destination that gives you the satisfaction you are so hungry to get? What do you have in mind? What do you want to do in this limited lifetime you have?

If you are saying “I just want a peaceful life”, a peaceful life it is you will get. There will be very little ups and downs. You will be doing almost the same things day in day out. Your friends will be your friends. Your family will be your family. You seek life differently from the rest of the world. You are probably already enlightened to the point you know what you really need.

If you are saying “I want to be an entrepreneur”, you will be one, one day. You have to be ready at all times to face challenges that is out of the ordinary. Entrepreneurship is only meant for those who are ready to tackle anything and everything that comes in their way. It is the total opposite of tranquility. Are you ready for what you are about to face? Are you ready to take on hardships?

If you are saying “I want to bring enlightenment to everyone”, you will be able to do so. You may not have any disciples now but the day will come when everyone will look up to you, even after you are gone from the face of the earth. Buddha walked this path alone. He gave up all that he had in life in search for enlightenment. To this date, most people only know who Buddha is but not many will be talking about the kingdom he had left behind.

Trust yourself. You have a universe within you that can make the difference.

 

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.

Natalie Goldberg, American author and speaker, 1948-present

Energy

How do you feel the first thing you wake up this morning?

The greatest feeling ever is to know that you can take down the day. Today is the day I feel exactly this. Why is today different from yesterday or any other days before this?

Clarity is what makes life.

Everyone goes through events in life that are for growth. Yes. Everyone is still growing one way or the other. Perhaps you are telling yourself that you are done learning because there have been so many things that have disappointed you. You need to know the bigger picture. You have to go through challenges in order to become the better version of you. Or else, you would be stuck where you are.

Just ask yourself this question. Do you love your life now?

If your answer is yes and you have no doubt about it, then you are probably already there, at the peak of your life whereby you feel the greatest every single morning you wake up.

If you would have to think for an answer, that only mean one thing, that you are unsure of yourself. You are uncertain if this is the life you are seeking.

You are not a loser. You are just going through a phase in life. You are not there yet. You have a bigger purpose, much bigger than you can ever imagine. You just need to search for it. Perhaps your uncertainty now is your exact path to making your dreams come true. You will never know unless you travel with the flow. Trust what your instinct tells you. Trust yourself.

Everything happens for a reason.

When someone tells you that you are wrong, take that as a lesson. There is no need to keep the feeling of anger or frustration with you. Everyone has their own opinion on things. Check your facts. If you are certain that you are doing the right thing, it does not matter what others think. You live your own life. You lead your own life. Nobody else can tell you what to do with your own life.

Understand one thing, every opinion has its own explanation. If you believe in yourself, it does not matter what others say. If you believe in others, it does not matter what you have in mind. Take your stand. If you make a mistake, it is okay. We are allowed to make mistakes in life. Most important of all, you have to understand that learning from your past mistakes and getting up where you have fallen is the greatest gift of life. It only counts if you get back up after, not how many times you have actually fallen.

The greatest people that we know of in the past have made mistakes in their decisions before. They learn and they get back up. The most successful people of today have made mistakes in their past. They also learn and they get back up stronger. Who are you? Who do you want to become?

If you fall today, and you get back up tomorrow, you are one step closer to achieving your goals in life. It solely depends on you. What is your take in life?

Life is fair. The universe is fair. The only thing that is unfair is the way you look at life. It is all in your hands. It is all in you. You have the opportunity now to make that change. Are you willing to change? Are you willing to give it all like you have nothing to lose? Are you willing to take what the universe has to offer you? Are you willing to accept the good things coming into your life? Are you willing to believe in yourself? Are you willing to believe that you deserve everything good in life?

Ask yourself these questions. Ask yourself frequent enough until you get the answers. Ultimately, you have to believe that you are worthy to get what you want. I have been enlightened last night by a world renowned and successful speaker and teacher. You have to learn in order to succeed. Risk is a part of life. The bigger the risk, the higher the return. The video was made two years ago and it still has impact on me because words of encouragement is evergreen.

Find the clarity and you will find the energy that lets you take down the day.

 

If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.

Никола Тесла (Nikola Tesla), Serbian-American inventor and futurist, 1856-1943

Worthy

What do you want out of life?

There are a lucky few out there with their vision very clear from day one. Are you that lucky few or are you still searching for yourself? Some people just settle down with what it is that is presented to them because it is stable. Some people never give up and always asking for more. Some people are a little bit of both, they search then try and they find that it is unsuitable and they halt, then after some time of resting, they will start their search again. Which describes you?

However you choose to live your life is in your own hands. Some people fall and get up again quick. Some people fall and think that it is the end of life. Some people fall and take their own sweet time to heal. Whichever way is chosen is very much dependent on the situation the person is in and how hard did the person fall.

Life is full of ups and downs. It is never a smooth ride. This is what makes life exciting. This is what all of us should be proud of, that we are living a colourful life. It is only through the way of life that we learn the meaning of life. Thus, we all see life differently.

People chasing after their dreams.
These are the people whom are often labelled as the crazies. They will venture all out like they have nothing to lose. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. Whatever it is, they are very clear of what they really want out of this lifetime. They fall and they get back up bigger and stronger. They learn from their past mistakes. They never ever give up. These are the small bunch of people who will succeed in life because they are always ready to make their dreams come true.

People who have dreams as dreams.
These are just dreamers. They often have big dreams but they do not know how to achieve them. When they learn the way, they ponder upon for so long that the opportunity is gone. They are not risk takers. They are always worried about the effects of failure. They will only let their dreams become dreams for the rest of their lives. Perhaps they would one day achieve their dreams, perhaps not. Perhaps they will regret that they did not chase after their dreams when they had the chance. Do you want to be one of them?

People who just go with the flow.
These are people who love to please. They do have dreams, but it does not seem like their dreams are important enough to be brought out to the light. Most of the time, they are shy to tell about their dreams. Perhaps they do not want to risk being labelled as crazy or idiotic. Whatever the reason, it is not important. What is important is that you know what you are doing. If you think that just living the life that your elders taught you is good enough, then you have already reached your goal. If you have even the slightest doubt about it, perhaps it is time to look into yourself.

People who somehow love to go against the flow.
These are the nuisance bunch. It is not because they like it this way. It is because they have their own special mindset. They might sound wrong at this moment but they may be right in future. Never to condemn any thought. It is all in the mind. What everyone else choose to see as wrong, we cannot make right. What everyone else choose to see as right, we cannot make wrong. Always be open to opinions. Then scrutinize to make decisions. Never ever decide on impulse. Always be prepared with the knowledge needed to live the life that you are seeking.

People who are idolized by many.
These are the lovely bunch. It is not the way they are being born. It is all about being themselves. If you are true to yourself, you will send out the right vibration to the people around you. If you have been in a classroom setting, you will definitely know the person you look up to and the person you can ignore. It is the charisma of the person. It is hard to describe but you just respect the person the way the person is. They are transparent. They are true. They are positive. Do not envy, instead, model upon them.

Which kind of person are you?

Learn to become you. You are worthy. You are special.

 

You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.

John Tracy Kidder (Tracy Kidder), American writer, 1945-present

Research

What is the difference between the successful and me?

We already know that everyone is different. But what is at stake is the difference between each of us. Why are some people always on top while others are always below par? There must be a reason behind every effect that we see.

What do I want out of life?

Some people know how to ask this question while most will just go with the flow. It is only the people who question that will get answers. The universe is vast. Everyone is living in our own little universe but perhaps we do not know that every atom in us speaks of the same language. Most of the time, it is ignorance that cause us to be stagnant wherever we are. There is no one else to blame but ourselves.

If you are a person who is seeking for the bigger purpose of life, congratulations! You are one step ahead of everyone else, who are still living in the darkness of their own limitation. When you dare to ask, you will get answers. Most often, the answers come in very subtle ways. It seems like life is playing you out but it really is just a test, to test if you are hungry enough for that change.

Successful people are always hungry. It does not seem that anything and everything that they already have is enough. It is never enough.

You may feel that you are happy now because your loved ones are safe.
You may feel that you are grateful now because you have a steady job to feed your family.
You may feel that you are satisfied now because you are still breathing.
Has it ever occurred to you that you may be able to do more?
Has it ever occurred to you that you may be able to influence people to better their lives?
Has it ever occurred to you that you can actually make a difference?

The state of being content is holy. There is no doubt about it. Has it ever occurred to you that if you are able to spread your love throughout your lifetime, you will be able to help others out of their own darkness? Darkness does not mean evil, it only means that the person is not able to step out of what they believe to be true and most of the time, the truth is not what it seems.

Truth is only what we believe in.
Truth is only what we are made to believe in.
The truth is, nothing in this world is hard fixed. Everything changes over a period of time. Why not you?

If you are already leading a good life, would it be better to help others live a better life too?

The point is not to influence for the sake of getting famous or becoming a celebrity. The point is to influence so that other people can be as caring, loving, and successful as we are. The point is to make this world a better place through little steps every day. The point is to restore humanity.

You may think that this is the job of the holiness and you are not religious at all. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. Religion is in place because people with great minds have been enlightened and they pass down the knowledge to us. Every religion teaches one thing and one thing only; to be kind to all beings. Anything that deviates from that is probably the opinions of the teachers themselves. Whether or not you believe in the religion, it does not stop you from believing the teachings and yourself, that you are capable of making this world a better place for everyone.

Life is not just about humans. We are all just passing by. We are all just travelers in human form. We only believe what we see and we see to believe. This is the reason why everyone have their own opinion in happenings around the world. It is because we all see things differently. It is also the differences that make us unique. Do not believe everything you read on this blog or any other blogs. Always do your own due diligence.

Research on what is in your mind. Trust that your heart will bring you to your purpose.

 

Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.

Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (Wernher von Braun), German-American aerospace engineer and space architect, 1912-1977

Reflection

Who am I?

Some people are born with the gift of knowing who they really are, who they want to become, and they have the chance to make their dreams come true. These are probably the lucky few.

Most people, however, either do not know who they really are, or who they want to become, or they do know but they are just not born in the right condition to let them shine. Whatever the reason is we choose to give ourselves, if we dig deep enough, it is usually our emotions that is taking over our mind and controlling over our life.

Have you ever wanted something so bad you are willing to give up anything and everything to get it? As adults, we would probably smile and say that only a child would be as foolish as to throwaway everything he already has in order to pursue something that is uncertain in all ways. Perhaps we would end up living a hell throughout the remaining years in our lives. Perhaps we would succeed and become a notable person in history. People are often bogged down by fear of losing it all.

As a child, you have probably had dreams far beyond imagination. You want to become an astronaut to go see the moon and stars up close. You would probably have built space ships with empty bottles and put a cape on your back to pretend that you can fly to infinity. These are beautiful times when there is nothing to worry about in life. You probably have peers having the same thinking as you do. You form discussion groups and work on projects to make your dreams a reality. You are creative.

What happened to the child in you? What happened to your fearless self?

Over the years, while growing up, you probably have encountered elders telling you of things you should leave behind. Back then, your dreams are important. Somehow, along the way, you need to come back to reality. Your dreams are a total setback and you have kept them locked in the deepest part of you, in a chest with such a huge bolt, it is impossible to unlock it anymore.

You become who you should be. You go to school. You get good results in examinations. You come out to society and you start to work your way up the corporate ladder. You excel in your job. You get promotions all the way up. You find your life partner. You get married and have children of your own. You have a mortgage to pay up. You have your children to bring up. But your dreams have been buried, so deep you can no longer uncover it.

Now your children have all grown to become adults. You are already in your golden years. Your children have children of their own. They are walking your footsteps, to become the person they adore most, you. Perhaps they are living the life of their dreams, perhaps not. Somehow, it does not seem important to have a dream after all. You have your grandchildren to love and show you love. You should be fulfilled.

As age catches up, health declines. You are not in the hospital bed. You have all the time to flash back in your younger days. You talk about those days a lot. You suddenly realize that there is something missing. Despite the happy and smooth life that you have had, there is still a void within. What is that? Why are you feeling emptiness inside when you already have what others say as a complete life?

It is your dreams.

You have been living the perfect life in the eyes of everyone but you are not living the life of your own. You look in the mirror, you see your face but you do not see the truth inside of you.
You look in the mirror, you see your body but you do not see the life you lead.
You look in the mirror, you see everything down to the acne but you cannot see through your soul.
You are you, nobody can change that. Have you been true to yourself? Or are you just merely being someone you are not?

Who is the person you see in the reflection?
Who is the person you really are?

 

Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?

Hua Mulan (花木蘭), Female warrior from the Northern and Southern dynasties era

Mind

What is considered important?

Day in day out we encounter with many people, things and events. How do we determine what is of utmost importance and what is not? We are always placed with many choices, most of which are quite ambiguous at the beginning. Over a certain period of time, we will be able to determine with clarity.

From the start of the global lockdown this year, many people have become panicked by the whole situation of non-physical communication. Humans are social animals. When everyone have to stay home, everyone started complaining. They love the outside world. The moment they cannot leave their homes, they feel like they are being confined in a small space. Perhaps these people are not thinking through at that very moment. After a while, everyone start to find means and ways to continue their livelihood.

Technology is a must for communication in such circumstance. People start to realize that there are many things they can do with their computers and phones. The world of telecommunication thrive when other businesses flop. The world of e-commerce booms when no physical shops are allowed to open. The world of delivery services become so busy they create better opportunities for the lower income people. Whenever there is a crisis, humans adapt. We are all built in such that we can overcome any challenges that comes our way.

How did you fare?

There is no doubt that some human brains work faster than others. We must understand one thing that we all are born with the same set of packaging. However we want to utilize what we have is entirely up to us. How often have you asked yourself these questions instead of just blaming something else?

What is it that other people are doing that I am not?
Instead of I am born in a terrible family so my life is as such.

What is it that I can do to achieve my dreams?
Instead of I do not like to study so my life is screwed.

What is it that makes me shine with the capabilities that I have?
Instead of I am not great with communicating with other people so I am done.

Most often, we end up blaming ourselves for not having certain qualities that other people have. Why is it that we love to blame ourselves? Perhaps we have not been enlightened. Perhaps we feel stuck somehow. Perhaps we have created a bubble to contain ourselves from seeing the opportunities that is available to us.

It is not what you are born with that is important. It is what you choose to do with your life that makes you who you are. There is no need to compare but every need to learn from the best. If you are all about comparing yourself with the successful bunch, you really should find out the whole story of how they earn what they have now. People just love to see success on the surface. Have you ever dug deep? Is it deep enough to uncover the truth behind the success of other people?

Nature has plenty to teach us. If you observe nature properly, you will notice that every event that happens in our lives, happens for a reason. There is a theory that many people are talking about lately.

The ICEBERG effect.

What is this all about? Do you know the nature of an iceberg? You only see it as a small icy island on top of the freezing ocean. How much do you know about the iceberg? How much has the iceberg gone through in order to build that tiny little island that you and I can see? Whatever that is visible is just a speck of what lays beneath. Whatever that is supporting the island is not seen. If you take a dive under, you will notice that this tiny island is not so tiny after all. There is a huge mass supporting from the bottom. Notice all the creases and cracks. Notice that what you cannot see is a bigger story that what is readily visible.

Whatever little success one achieve tells many stories of the ups and downs in life. Be realistic, life is never a smooth ride. Open up your mind for the bigger picture.

 

You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.

Francis McCourt, Irish-American teacher and writer, 1930-2009

Listen

What do you hear the first thing in the morning?

Listen to yourself.

If you begin with a clear mind, very likely you will sleep peacefully at night too. You may start to question this because however clear the mind is in the morning, there will always be something that happens during the day that gathers over a period of time and soon clutters the mind. This is very true. But if you know exactly how you can declutter daily before you sleep, your mind will be cleared within minutes.

Very often, it is our usual practice to let things linger within for no particular reason. Perhaps you like to mull on happenings to find a solution to a problem. Perhaps there are things that you have not finished doing that is bothering you. Perhaps it is your health condition that is keeping you awake at night. Find the reason. Talk to people during the day.

If you are finding it hard to talk to people, just get a notebook and write down all your thoughts and feelings throughout the day. It does not take much effort to doing so. Manually writing things down give you the sense of belonging. You know you have actually thought about this problem you are facing. Perhaps, now is not the time you get the answers. So, it is time to just let go. Look through your notebook, think about what you have left out, and write it down. If there are still things lingering in your mind, just write it down. Place the notebook next to your bed and tell yourself that all your problems and worries are taken care of. Go to sleep with a sense of relief.

There is a reason why the notebook should follow you by your side at all times even when you sleep. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to think of the things that are bothering you, you still find it hard to remember to write it down. There may be times when you suddenly spring out of bed with your heart pumping so fast you feel all the negatives coming your way. It is like having the whole world fall onto you. With your notebook right next to you, it will be easy to just pick it up and write it down. Write whatever your heart tells you to. Just continue writing until you calm down. Listen to yourself. You will know when it is time to get back to your beauty sleep.

Listen to your inner self.

The human mind is a bag of tricks. It is always playing around with events of the past and the future. How often do you really observe what is happening now?

There is always a calling but we fail to listen. We are always thinking of the past success or failures. Many of times, we let the past success bring us to a level so high we cannot tolerate when the waves hit us right now. It is hard to understand why the past success is not continuous. It is unbelievable how we can be brought up so high only to fall deeper and harder. Sometimes we let past failures bog us down to thinking that it is impossible to excel now. This is just plain limiting beliefs. What we failed at in the past may not continue to be a failure now. Perhaps the time was just not right. Perhaps we have not met with the right people to enlighten us. Never ever give up your dreams.

There are people who are always busy thinking about the future instead of living life now. Are you one of them? Do you ask these questions? What if people laugh at me? What if I fail? “WHAT IF’s” can be turned into a positive notions if you are living here and now. What if I succeed? What if I am better than I thought I would be? What if I can help others achieve their goals too? These are very strong notable instincts that all animals have. These are the instincts that the top 1% of the people around the world have. The world “afraid” does not exist in their dictionary. The choice is in your hands. Choose to be just you or the better you.

Listen to your animal instincts. Attack when the time is right.

 

The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.

Alfred Brendel KBE, Austrian pianist and lecturer, 1931-present

Feeling

What do you have in mind when you first wake up in the morning?

Sometimes we wake up having a clear mind of what we want to do. Sometimes we are just blank. Sometimes we might be all cluttered up and totally confused how we can get over the entire day without screwing up. Whatever it is in the mind on whichever day, it is really up to us to make the best of everything there is at our disposal.

Think back.

Have you ever had a day when you wake up and the sky is clear?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up and your mind is blank?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up with a broad wide smile?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up with the feeling of fulfilment?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up knowing you can take the day?
Remember that day. Remember how you feel that day. Remember your accomplishment for that day.

Many people think that it is by luck. Perhaps. But what if it is not luck that made the difference? What if it is you that actually made the difference?

Whatever you feel and however you feel plays an important role in making your day for you. Luck is not always there. If you are solely counting on luck to live your life, you are bound to be disappointed many times over. You will then start to blame this and that for life not happening the way you want. You become depressed and you start to think lop-sided in all directions. Your life is going to be topsy-turvy. There is no doubt about it.

How you feel inside makes your emotion. Emotion is the strongest tool we have to amend the way things work. If you feel broken, your emotion is probably sad or angry. These will turn into negative thoughts. What are you telling your subconscious mind? There is no use just feeding the bad wolf in you. You are just going to be destructive of yourself and others. What is the value in that?

There is always a choice. Life offers us many chances. Whether we choose to see it and take it is entirely up to us. You can feel happy even if there is thunderstorms outside. You just need to learn to see the beauty in everything that comes your way. Life is full of ups and downs. If you are able to understand this, your mind will completely change for the better.

Take life one step at a time.
Stay calm even if you feel like things are bogging you down.
Stay calm even if you are broken inside.
Stay calm even if you are all alone.
The only way to get out of a difficult situation is to KEEP CALM!

Talk to people around you. They may not understand how you feel but letting other people know what is happening in your life helps you a lot. This is a great time to connect. This is a great time to talk things out. You never know, may be one of the people you are talking to will be able to enlighten you in an unimaginable way. You only have one mind. Let others in to help you. There is no need to feel shy about your situation. Though there may not be a direct solution for you, telling other people will let out a little stress within you. Deep inside, you know you need that.

Even if you are an introvert, you can still do this. Social media these days have span far and wide. It has reached even the unreachable. There are groups for introverts. Perhaps you will feel more secure connecting with the like-minded. Tell your fellow members. Tell them your problems. They may not have any solution for you but telling someone can always release some burden off your shoulders. Perhaps when you feel lighter, you will be able to find a solution on your own.

Feeling makes emotion that feeds your mind. Always remember the happiest moments in life to quickly bounce back stronger from any situation.

 

It’s often just enough to be with someone. I don’t need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You’re not alone.

Norma Jeane Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe), American actress and singer, 1926-1962

Self-Sufficient

We often question what it is in the world that we are looking for.

Each time we ask this question, we are placing ourselves in a situation of uncertainty. There are many realms in this world. Whatever we see is only limited to our own imagination. Some people are gifted with the vision of certainty. If you are to interview them, they will probably tell you stories of their travel through space and time to realms that we can only dream of going.

To the normal people, these gifted humans are mystiques and that they are strange. Just because they are the minority with such a gift, that does not make them strange at all. In fact, it only makes them stronger.

As humans, we usually side the part where we think is true, anything our five senses can detect.

Whatever we see is of utmost importance to every one of us. That is the reason why people often say see to believe. What do you make of magic? We often think of magic as a trick that has been carefully engineered to make audiences see the unbelievable possibilities. What if there is magic beyond explanation? Has anyone ever questioned how Wim Hof is able to walk up Mount Everest without prior training, proper clothing, or any special equipment? Perhaps you would say that he is the special being. Do you know that he can train people to do the same things as he did? How do you explain that?

Whatever we hear is often taken as the second truth. However, we do not realize that our minds work in a very susceptible way to the negative side. Has anyone ever questioned why the news is always showing terrible events happening around the world? Is it because there are no great things happening that is worth reporting? It has all got to do with the audience. Making news is also a kind of business. Reporters will only make news that sells, and negative news are the most sellable ones. Somehow, majority of the common people just like to learn about disasters rather than enrichment.

Whatever we smell is what makes our mood for the day. Scent is something more subtle that the body processes differently from the rest of the other senses. It is something that can make our imagination run wild. If you smell something delicious, you will somehow feel a little urge to eat even though you know that you are not hungry. If you smell something calming, you can have a better night’s sleep compared to when you smell a stench of animal droppings. Everything has a scent to it. Somehow, because of sight and sound, we have neglected our sense of scent.

Whatever we eat has a taste to it. Some people are labelled as gourmet because their taste buds have much greater sense than the rest of the other people. This used to be a very important tool to let us get through life in the jungle. We have just forgotten the use of them along the way while we excel in the modern age. By just having a little taste of a plant in the tip of the tongue, we should be able to tell if it is food or poison. Losing touch with nature makes us more susceptible to ingesting unhealthy foods thinking they are for the best of us. Perhaps it is easier to explain that convenience is never nature intended for living.

Whatever we can feel by touch is what we deem real. Anything that we cannot touch is just talk. Humans love the fact that things come in cold hard evidence. While something we can touch is also something we can see, something people talk about that probably has a smell and taste to it, it does not mean that otherwise do not exist. What seems real can be from imagination. Everything that the mind can imagine can become a reality. We may not see it in our lifetime but it sure will become a reality in future. Before the Wright brothers invented the first flying machine, humans can never fly. It is through their imagination and perseverance that we are now able to go around the globe in less than 60 days.

There is one more sense that we have definitely lost touch with, the sixth sense. This is the most powerful of all senses. This is the one sense that keeps our ancestors alive in the harsh environment they had to live through in order to bring us to this world. This is not mystical, it is real. All babies had this but it is lost over time. It is lost because of the material things we feed our minds with. If you are a person who keeps asking “why he is so successful while I am not?” perhaps you are looking into the wrong direction. The answer is within. Only you can answer this question for yourself, nobody else can do it for you.

Always travel within for answers. Success will only come to people who are self-sufficient.

 

The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only.

Joseph Wood Krutch, American writer and naturalist, 1893-1970

Anew

What is the meaning of life in the absence of a chance?

Everyone gets their chance at life. Sometimes, it is easy to see but most of the time, we lost the connection with our inner self. Every time we face with a challenge that is the time we need to remember to first look within.

Many people out there will say that there are so many ways to solve a problem if we just look outside. The world is at large and there is bound to be a solution somewhere. We love to surf the internet in search for that one suitable way of overcoming the obstacle. Sometimes, it is great to see what others do when they are facing the same problem as us. However, we have to understand one thing, we are all individuals. Even the slightest difference in ourselves will create a totally different outcome.

Sometimes, we might even become overloaded with information. With the minds of over 7 billion people in the world, everyone seems to be resolving their own problems in their own ways. While we are in search of the best solution, we can also get confused with the vast information we find over the web. What are we going to do about it?

First choice we see is probably through trial and error. This is the fastest way to set ourselves through the learning process. We take action to do our best to hopefully reap results of our hard work. We learn through failure. We learn through success. Each and every step of the way is a crucial learning point. It is only important that we actually learn from experience.

Second choice we choose is probably find a mentor. This is a great way to become a better person with the guidance of a successful one. Great mentors produces successful mentees. However, if we are just following blindly what the mentor says without incorporating our own ideas, we will succeed one way or the other but we sometimes also lose ourselves in the process. This may be a good thing in some cases, but may not be so in most. We have to remember one thing that we are all built differently for a reason.

Many people forget that there is a third choice that is the most ignored choice but is also the wisest choice. Amidst all the learning over the years from machine or other humans, we are ourselves. We can only learn so much to be someone but it will only make sense if we look deep within to find ourselves. We are so immersed in the outside world we keep forgetting that the most powerful source of energy is from within. The sun is the mother source of all energy on earth but our minds is the ultimate source of all energy in the universe. There is a universe within us.

Living through life over the years seem to be great. Day in day out we do the things that we think is for the best of ourselves and the people around us. With each challenge we face, we learn a little bit more. However, we forget one very important action, to have checkpoints.

Each one of us should have checkpoints every now and then to measure ourselves as a whole. We love to live day by day thinking that our life is perfect. Just because we managed to solve all the problems that arise along the way. Just because we went through each challenge easily. This only means that we are able to overcome life as we live by. Have we ever stop and take a look at ourselves every now and then? Have we ever taken the liberty to just remember to check-in to ourselves to see how we are doing? Have we ever taken time to understand ourselves the way we should?

There is a calling. A wakeup call. This is not the usual wakeup call in the morning to make us get out of bed. This is one that we really need to wake up to see that we need to change and start anew. The current life is great but we have forgotten to check in. This checkpoint tells us that we have not been taking good care of ourselves. This checkpoint is the result of our misunderstanding in life. This very checkpoint is the turning point that makes all the difference, it is a matter of life and death.

Search within to find your calling. It is time to start anew.

 

I always liked the story of Noah’s Ark and the idea of starting anew by rescuing the things you like and leaving the rest behind.

Zachary Israel Braff (Zach Braff), American actor, 1975-present

Create

Why now? Perhaps the question one should be asking is why not now, instead of why now.

Now is a good time. Considering the situation around the world right now, it is a good time to start anything that we have been dreaming of doing. This is a calling. A calling for something to change.

All along, we are just living the life we thought was the life that is. Day in day out doing the same routine over and over. Life is just as is because it is just as is. There seems to be no way out of the situation at all. Life seems to be fixed, whatever life we are living.

A farmer seems to be just living the life of a farmer. Wake up, head out to the farm, sow seeds, water the crops or harvest the crops. Send the reaps of hard work to dealers and get some money in return. During the lockdown, people are just not allowed to move around too much. Though categorized under essential services, because of the lockdown, a large number of harvested crops are left to rot. Farmers have no choice but to take another route. They go online. Now, consumers can directly purchase from them at a cheaper price, while they are making higher profits without the need to go through middle men. It is a win-win situation.

As for the middle man. Life was great prior to the lockdown. They source for good stuff, then they resell to the end user at a marked up price. There is no need to produce anything to sell, they only need to know where to find something to sell and where to market it to the right audience. However, during the lockdown, many things cannot be done. Perhaps it seems like efforts lost in translation. If they do not change the way they run their business, there will be no business to run after this ordeal. When people can no longer move around like before, it is a good time to bring the business online.

When everyone goes online, this will mean the initial online businesses will be affected because the pie has been cut into way too many pieces. Perhaps this is a great time to think out of the box. What else can you do differently from all the other businesses out there? How can you differentiate yourself from the norm? How to find your perfect niche within an ocean full of sharks.

Some may say that it will be easy for things that people will definitely need to buy to do business. How about those things that are considered redundant?

Nothing ever is redundant. It is the perception of people that makes things useful or not. There are more than 7 billion people in the world. There bound to be people finding something that you are offering. You just need to know where to market and how to market. Knowing the where and how is of utmost importance for any business, regardless of whether or not you are in an industry that many say is dead now.

Take tourism for example. Many companies have ended their business because it is impossible for sustenance when nobody is allowed to travel around. Perhaps it really is the right time to think of something else. Perhaps tourism is not the right business for you. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to change your business model. Every business should be able to sustain even if they are running for at least 6 whole months without any income. If the business is running on a day to day basis, then there must be a weak point in the business model itself. If you are still holding on to it, you will just end up stressing yourself about it right till the end.

It does not matter what life throws at us. It only matters how we look at life. When you know that something is not working well, stiffen your heart, cut loss, and let go. There is no reason to keep hanging on to something that you know will end up nowhere.

The old you will have to first die to create the better you. You do not die literally, you just let go of everything that are pulling you down, and you start anew.

 

To create is to live twice.

Albert Camus, French-Algerian philosopher, 1913-1960

Simple

There is just so many things that needs to be done. Which is more urgent?

Humans have the greatest minds in the entire world but humans have also made things more complicated than it should be. Life is really simple. You wake up, you get through the day, and then you sleep. This is basically all we need to do every single day. How complicated can this be?

In this day and time, having a simple life seems so distant. We have too many things on our plate. There are too many distractions pointing us to different directions. We just cannot decide on anything when the time comes. The most common question people ask these days is probably one that nobody in the ancient history would even imagine any of their descendants asking.

How to live a simple life? I have no time, no money, and no skill to do it.

Seriously?

We have been too cluttered with the outside world that we just forgotten to connect with our inner self. This is the only reason we are feeling totally lost, especially at times like this. When the whole world is on lockdown. When you are sustaining a pay cut. When you risk losing your job. When everyone else is talking about the pandemic. When the people around you seem to be changing but you are still the old you, stagnant. You still think the world revolves around you.

It is time to wake up. Nobody is stuck. Everybody has been put to the test. When there is a huge challenge, there is the opportunity unlike any other you have ever seen before. You need to grab that opportunity to make you become the better version of you. What are you waiting for?

The world is on lockdown. You have all the time you need to ponder on what makes your life simple. What other time better can you think of if not now? How much time do you need to think? Does it take a whole year to sit in the loo? Perhaps you do not yet realize this but sitting in the loo actually is the best time to find clarity. When you are passing motion, that is the time when your strength to force trash out is at its peak. Notice the feeling right after that peak. Does it feel like a big sense of relief? Notice that second this happens, notice how clear your mind is. You only need this moment. Your body is clear of shit, your mind is clear of clutter, and your soul is pure.

Living a simple life really only mean simple, nothing more than that. Do not be brainwashed by anyone else. We see things differently. We live through life differently. You may have friends telling you that living a simple life means to have a cottage in the countryside away from the city. Then you would be having all sorts of objections to it because living away from the city means you will have to commute very far each day. It is just not economical. If it is possible for you to live in the countryside, you are free to do so. But if not, then what is wrong with the place you are living in now? Any place can be simple. You buy less things. You keep less things. That is a simple life. Just that.

You say that you are a very messed up person. You do not know how to simplify things. You love to keep all memorabilia. You want to have everything just in case one day you might use them. You do not know how to differentiate which ones are important and which ones are not. You are always living thinking of the future. Really, it is not a skillset to learn to let go of things. It is all in the mind. You do not know which ones to throw out, simple, just close one eye and junk everything out. Put yourself in the situation whereby you have lost everything and you need to rebuild your life. What do you really need in your life? Do you still need that magazine you bought two years ago but never flipped a page? Do you still need that dress you bought five years ago just in case you attend a ball but has never seen the light?

In the end, you will realize what you really need is just you, and probably your phone.

Finding yourself takes little to no effort. Living a simple life gives you time, saves you money, and require no skill at all.

 

Best rule for a simple life… Care with no reason, Love with no expectation.

Ritu Ghatourey, Indian writer

Switch

What to do when you wake up feeling under the weather?

Everyone has had this feeling whether or not you admit it. Once in a while, you will feel like you just cannot get out of bed. Perhaps you have been working too hard for the past few months you hardly get enough sleep throughout the whole period. Now, you are burnt out. It does not help when the weather outside is gloomy. The sky is still moody at 9 in the morning.

Perhaps you feel like your daily routine is torn. Perhaps you feel like you are going to breakdown at any moment. Perhaps you are alone or even with your family, everyone else seems to be also in the same situation. There are too many things still on the plate that you need to handle but you are just not up to it. What do you do when this happens? Have you ever felt like life is turning against you in the peak of your performance? Have you ever felt like the energy level suddenly just drop in the peak of your motivation? What can you do?

Your mind tells you to get going but your body stops you from moving. You know your responsibilities but everything just does not seem to gel. You know you have to do something to get out of this situation but your brain is just not functioning the way it usually does. You are not sick but you feel like you are getting sick. How do you overcome this? How do you think you can handle the situation? Why is it so different today? Why does it feel like you are going back to the old you now? Why is change so difficult?

Do you realize that there is a button in all of us? It is called the reset button. You can always switch from a terrible situation to a wonderful one once you press on that button. All you need to do is to find that button within you.

Where?

The question to ask is not where the button is. The question to ask should be how to reach the button of functionality. Each of us function in our own unique ways. Only you know what works best for you.

If meditation sounds too mystical for you, perhaps just sitting quietly in a clear space in your room will help. Observe everything there is in the room. There may be a little crease in your bedsheet, or a hairline crack in the wall, or may be a little ant trying to find its way home. All these little details, what do they have in common despite their differences? All these little details, as little as they may be, they are part of your room. They have been around probably since you moved in or they may be newly created along the way. They could be an important change in the structure of your room. Just observe, do not judge.

You may say that you are living in a square tiny room in an apartment and you really hate the lack of space, then just get out there. There surely is a park or garden or playground somewhere you can just sit and be still. Observe everything that goes on around you. There could be children playing and running about screaming and shouting as they have fun. There could be butterflies or bees having their taste of pollens and nectar from the beautiful flowers all around. The wind is blowing and the leaves whistle. The birds are chirping. There could be a whole colony of ants transporting food back to their queen. Immerse yourself into nature. Spend as much time as you possibly can, be in this moment. Just be in this moment.

We have been too busy in our hustle and bustle of life that we have lost connection with what is. Your body knows it better than you do because you have cramped so much information within you that everything become congested and crowded, you can no longer differentiate what is. There is only so much our physical body can take. When it tires, it affects your mind. This is when you know you need a break. Trust your body. Trust your mind.

When self-esteem is low, it is time to switch on the button of functionality.

 

When you mix with the wrong energy, there’s bound to be an explosion. Pay attention and switch lanes when the signal changes. What’s really real, is ultimately revealed.

T.F. Hodge, author of From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with “The Divine Presence”, 1969-present