Free

To do or not to do?

Sometimes we wake up in the morning we are totally blank. Most of the time we do have something in mind. Perhaps that something has been in our mind since the night before or even for the past whole week. We are just not sure whether or not we want to really do it.

What is the cause of the halt?

Whatever that is in your mind, what is the issue with it? Why are you not taking action to doing it yet? What is bothering you so much that you do not want to act on it? Is it because of uncertainty? Is it because of the risks involved? Is it because you are just not ready for it? Is it because you are worried that the people around you will mock you? It is because you do not know how?

Where there is a will, there is always a way.

STOP! Stop your procrastination right now. Just ask yourself this one question:
# How bad do you want it? #

If you really want to do something, nothing in the world can stop you. If you keep giving yourself excuses, nothing can help you. No matter how high your motivation is, it really does not matter unless you do something about it. No matter how happy you may feel when thinking about it, nothing really matters unless you are really in it. No matter how big or small your dream is, it is just going to remain a dream unless you build upon it.

Your dream may be big. Everyone has their own big dreams at some point of their lives. It does not matter what that dream is. It only matters if you take initiatives to work towards making your dreams come true.

Sometimes, just by thinking you already have what you want will simply bring you to it, even though you do not yet have it. Sometimes life is as such. When you want something bad enough, you think about it all the time. You believe that you are going to get it one day. You picture yourself in that happy state of mind when you already have it. You remember that feeling all the time. You remind yourself over and over about that thing that you love so much. The universe will find a way to put it in front of you. You will get it one way or the other. Sometimes the outcome is even better than imagined.

I always tell people that I have manifested my dreams before. The most important of all is the dream since I was a kid. Of course when we were kids we had many dreams, most of which are just day dreams. But there is this one dream that I have manifested and have brought immense light into my world of darkness. Perhaps you have already read my previous articles telling of this story but I am really proud of this and I will tell it over and over to remind myself that the Law of Attraction really works.

I love dogs, all kinds of dogs, big or small. One species in particular that had captured my heart so deeply is the German Shepherd. Their intelligence and loyalty is just… indescribable. They are willing to sacrifice everything, including their own lives, to protect the humans they love. I told myself that I would like to have one when I grow up. Perhaps I have wanted it so badly this dream dwell right inside my subconscious mind for the longest time ever. Consciously, I have forgotten about this during my teens and my work and married life.

I was just living the normal lifecycle that everyone is living. Get through with school. Get a job. Get married. Start a family. One miscarriage brought me into total darkness for six whole years. I was in deep depression that I thought I hid well from others. One day, this little abandoned German Shepherd puppy lookalike came to our doorstep. He lit me up instantly. My husband finally saw the light in me once again. As much as he is afraid of dogs, he is willing to adopt this puppy into our lives. Our Max is four now. This miniature German Shepherd lookalike has brought so much happiness into our lives.

I have finally let go of the prison I set myself in. I am 100% depression free now. I can talk about my depression. I can talk about my loss. I can finally talk freely without holding myself back. I can finally be myself with the arrival of our beloved Max.

Letting free your mind can bring you what you really want deep within.

 

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.

Lewis Benedictus Smedes (Lewis B. Smedes), Christian author and theologian, 1921-2002

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

Routine

What do you do when you wake up late on a work day?

Each one of us have our daily routines that we do that seem important day in day out. But there will be days that we find ourselves too tired to wake up on time in the morning and having to pick and choose which routines that we must complete before we really get out that door to head to work.

How do you determine which activities you must do?

First things first, the toilet visit is a must. We must clear ourselves of the toxins that our body worked hard to collect over the entire night while we are asleep. No matter how rushed life is, we must remember to remove unnecessary things out from our body in order to function well for the rest of the day. One must never skip toilet visits, especially the first one in the morning.

What else is there that we must do before we walk out that door?

Some people have very simple routines. Wake up. Get cleaned and they are good to go. However, most people with families have more complicated routines in the morning. There will be some that needs to prepare breakfast and pack lunch. There will be some that needs to water the garden and feed the pets. There will be some that need to take care of the young and elderly. We each have our own problems and difficulties to face every single time we open our eyes in the morning.

Sometimes, we tend to think of everything else before ourselves. If you have been on a plane, you would have heard of this very important announcement before the plane lifts off. In case of an emergency and the oxygen mask drops from your overhead, always put the mask on yourself before attending to others under your care. This announcement is very important as we always tend to care for everyone else before looking into ourselves.

Perhaps we have forgotten one very important point. We can only take care of everything else if we are in the proper position to doing so. Just imagine having to take care of your child, or your parents, or your pets during the time you are sick. How does that feel? Just imagine having to give positive advice to others when you yourself are having low self-esteem and out of confidence. Do you think you will be able to handle everything in a mindful way?

It is important to spend at least 20 minutes every morning to ponder upon yourself. This is the most important thing you must do every single morning whether you wake up early or late. It does not matter the time. It only matters the space. You need the space for yourself. You need to look within to move further. You need to first tend to yourself before helping others find their way. You need to be in good shape. This 20 minutes can be your daily stretches, or your daily meditation, or even your daily workouts. Just do it. It is only 20 minutes after all.

Great parents will say they need that 20 minutes to prepare breakfast for their children.
Great children will say they need that 20 minutes to care for their parents.
Plant lovers will say they need that 20 minutes to water their garden.
Pet lovers will say they need that 20 minutes to feed their pets.

We always have choices that we can make. How about taking that in between instead of sacrificing one or the other? Is it possible to take 10 minutes to yourself and 10 minutes for others? Give yourself time to uplift yourself. Give yourself time to think and be yourself. You will feel the difference, instead of just rushing through your already late morning routine. Is it possible for you to call in to your boss to inform that you woke up late this morning and that you will be late for work. Admit your fault. Your boss may be angry. You may get a warning for this misconduct but at least you are doing what is most important in life. You take care of yourself as well as the people close to you.

Waking up late is no excuse for self-ignorance. Any routine can be adjusted to fit whatever limited time one has.

 

Spontaneity-flexibility within a routine.

Marty Rubin, Self-titled aphorist, philosopher bum and happiness freak

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

Cold

This morning is rather cold after more than half a day of rain yesterday.

Coldness gives people the chill but if you get comfortable with the uncomfortable, it really does not matter what kind of weather you are living in. Perhaps you are having thoughts that the coldness makes your mind freeze and your whole body still. This is not the case for the person described in this article.

He takes things to the extreme. Not many are willing to do what he does. Not many can stretch over the limits he has shown. But he certainly have inspire many to challenge themselves over the limits their minds have set for them.

What would you do if the world suddenly is covered in snow?
What kind of clothing will you prepare before visiting Alaska?
What kind of gear will you be getting before you even think of climbing Mount Everest?

Perhaps after reading this, your mind will be blown away at how someone out there is able to do the impossible. Perhaps you would think that he can do it because he has some kind super powers. Perhaps. But he has taken the challenge up one notch, which is to produce the same results on other people. He has shown that it is possible. If he can do it, so can everyone else. It is all in the mind.

We may be different in many ways but we are certainly similar in the core. We all have a mind. What we put into our minds is what makes us unique. What we decide to store in our minds is what makes us who we are. What we want our minds to think is what makes us who we become.

Break that belief. It probably has been instilled in you since young. You have to go to school and get good grades. You go to college or university and excel in it. You find a good job that pays high and stick with it. Your life is your own. It does not belong to your parents nor your teachers nor your peers. You live your own life and you are the only person who will live your life till the end.

If a loved one is right next to you when you finally leave, it is great but never to expect that it would happen. If you are to leave alone, it is still great. It is all in the mind. When you are self-sufficient, you will be able to do anything even when you are all alone. Having people around gives you company but is not necessary because the people around you may not understand why you are doing what you are doing. The people around you may have a total opposite thinking of how you should live your life.

One big piece of advice, never let anyone around you tear you down. Always believe in yourself. As long as you are doing no harm to yourself, other people, and the world, any path is a good path.

Change the environment you are in in order to change your mindset. He has given me much inspiration in all directions. I only followed one of his daily practices and I am already a different person.

Wim Hof is largely known as the Iceman. When you search for his information, you would probably find all kinds of pictures and videos of a person that looks like a caveman in icy backgrounds. Those are not backgrounds, those are the environments that he was actually in. When everyone else is in thick clothing, he is half-naked. He has climbed the Everest, walking barefooted on ice, swim without any gear under ice, and he has even challenged his own immune system.

He has put himself to the test. Not only that, he has succeeded in bringing his string of followers through is journey by just priming them to the right mindset. Everything that he can endure, he is able to replicate with others. It is not him alone. It is all in the mind. It is in the breathing. The only way to succeed is to believe, stay calm, and practice. If you are able to understand this for a fact, you will be able to do so as well. You do not need any special powers or shields or weapons to make your dreams come true. All you need is yourself.

Expose yourself to the uncomfortable. Take cold showers every morning, it makes you feel you can take the day.

 

But, there is still every reason for healthy people to take cold showers, or swim outside in cold water. It gives you the feeling that you are alive.

Wim Hof (The Iceman), Dutch extreme athlete, 1959-present

Holiday

How often do we take holidays?

Holiday brings joy to people all around the world. Whether young or old, it does not really matter. All that matters is everyone enjoy their time off from whatever they have to deal with day in day out. Everyone needs a holiday every now and then.

People see holidays differently in all walks of life.

Students love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending classes to attend to and the constant homework and examinations they have to crack their heads to handle. Having a holiday means they can just leave everything aside for a short while and enjoy the fun activities with peers.

Workers love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending workload to attend to and the constant pressure from management to come up with new ideas to grow the company. During holidays, they are free to have some long awaited family time.

Entrepreneurs love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending challenges they face each day. Somehow, whether or not it is a holiday, they tend to always think of means and ways to better lives. They have big dreams that they want to make come true. Their body may be relaxing at a spa, but their mind is always on drive mode. Every little thing that they observe can be the turning point in their life. They are always determined for change and improvement.

There are also people that have a different opinions on holidays.

Hardworking people, especially in the sales line, love working on rest days and public holidays because they get double and triple pay for working while other enjoy their days off. Some people may see them as money-minded but they really are opportunist. They take every opportunity as is and make the best of it. They are usually the ones who are more successful in career than others.

Business owners, especially in the retail line, love holiday seasons because it brings upon them more income. When everyone is on holiday, more people are more willing to spend. This is the best time to make up for any losses in slow months over a year. The best holiday seasons are usually at the end of the year, around November and December. This is the time people all around the world travel with family and friends. When there is movement, there is always prospect to grow economy.

Lately, most of the world has been on lockdown due to a little virus. Everyone is practicing social distancing. It seems like everyone is on holiday, or so we thought.

There is opportunity in every situation. Some people are gaining popularity, some people have decided to start a side hustle. Whatever we had in mind over the years but have no time to start because of our responsibilities and commitment, we now have a little time to think over. There have been self-declared millionaires in the short span on a few months.

Some people had been having a harsh life running from this market to that market selling vegetables. They no longer need to do so during this period because everyone is doing live sessions selling online. The internet is the way to go. Everyone should explore on the possibility to do something new, to provide value to others in an innovative way. This is a great time to explore our capabilities, everything we are worth.

Some people may just loiter in their own mind that they are stuck at home. While it may be true to a certain extent, why not use this time creatively. If we are to take 30 minutes a day to imagine we are somewhere else, we would have gone for a short holiday of about a week in a year. With technology, we can visit places we have never been to or have no means to get to. We do not need the skills to climb mountains or the courage to dive into deeps seas. We can already see the world in videos shared by people around the world.

Look at the bright side. We can be on holiday everyday if we choose to.

 

A holiday is an opportunity to journey within. It is also a chance to chill, to relax. It is when I switch on my rest mode.

Uppalapati Venkata Satyanarayana Prabhas Raju (Prabhas), Indian actor, 1979-present

Straight

A straight line is measurable to a certain extent.

The one thing that seems to be straight all the time is the ruler. When we want to draw a straight line, we will always look for this type of stationery. When we want to measure the length of the line, this piece of simple yet complicated tool comes in handy. But we will never bring a ruler out everywhere we go. Is it that important to measure every little thing in our life?

Babies, as naïve as one can be, are the most straight-forward beings we can ever find. When happy, they will laugh. When hungry, they will sound. When uneasy, they will cry. Their mind is a blank sheet of paper. It is us, as adults that complicates things. A baby has simple needs, we are the ones who dress them differently, find fancy ways to feed them, and use the latest technology to keep them calm. In actual fact, a baby only needs us to nurture them to be a pleasant person. Everything else does not matter.

While life may be a struggle for children, it is part and parcel of growing up. Learning is a process. We need not control the path that the child chooses. We only need to guide them to stay calm in all situations. We need to let them understand that there are many paths to choose from. There is no right or wrong. It is the matter of learning how to get through to the end-point.

In our day to day life, we encounter many different people. Who are the people that we always choose to stick to?

Great leaders are straight to the point. All they do is to tell us the gist of what they want us to do. How we want to do it, is entirely up to us. They already understand that there is no fixed way to doing things. As long as the target is achieved, all is good.

There are also the total opposite of a good leader. They go beat around the bush telling us how we should get there but the final destination is never clear. They are control freaks. They only want people to follow their instructions without arguments.

There is a third kind of person that everyone choose to look up to. They are icons of wisdom. They may or may not be alive, but their philosophies live till eternity. They understand that life is simple. As simple as it is, the path may be straight or bent. Getting through obstacles is part and parcel of life. They convey their messages through words of wisdom.

The one phrase I keep telling myself day in day out is from the wise Buddha. I am not a religious person. I do not pray to any statues or deities but I do believe in one thing, be kind to all life. “Mouth speak good words, Heart think good deeds, Body do good things.” Ponder upon this and you will find that life is easier than what seems.

We probably have come across all three kinds of people in our lives. Some greatly affect us while others, just passerby in our lives, we never even realized they have been there. How do we judge which person is the mentor we seek? How do we know which event is the breaking point? Will we know right at that moment? Perhaps.

While life is simple, it is up to our mind to sieve the messages life brings us. We live in the era where information is abundant. Everyone talks about everything under the sky and even beyond infinity. What is important to ourselves? Only we know the answer. Nobody else can answer the question on our behalf. We are all different individuals.

Perhaps the first thing we should all concentrate on is to sit up straight. We are in the sitting position most of our lives. It is of utmost importance that we are able to sit up straight. When the posture is right, we breathe better. When oxygen level is right, we think better. When mindset is right, we do better.

Challenge to sit up straight today and feel the difference.

 

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.

Helen Adams Keller (Helen Keller), American deaf-blind author, 1880-1968

Universe

The universe is at large, we are but a speck of dust!

Yes, we are that minute in the universe. But we somehow like to magnify problems that we are facing, making them so enormous we are unable to solve. Is there really a problem that we cannot solve?

Everything happens for a reason. This is what we should all remind ourselves daily. Nothing ever happens without any reason at all. Though we may not be able to see the reason now, there will come a time when we finally would understand the true meaning behind everything there is.

The little tasks that we have to deal with every now and then. The people we meet. The events that happen in our lives. They are all to build us, to improve us, to nurture us to become our better self.

Everyone is different. There is no point comparing with each other. Instead, compare ourselves then with now. If we are to pull ourselves out of our current situation and become an observer, we will find that we have changed.

Change is inevitable. We should embrace change. At times, we may sway a little to the dark side and end up making wrong decisions. We then find ourselves tumbling downhill like never before. Everything we do seems unacceptable. It is okay. We are human after all. It is not how hard we fall, it is how fast we get up to face challenges again.

Every human makes mistakes. What is important is to let go, never to dwell and blame anyone, especially ourselves. Learn from the past and make a better future. This is the utmost important practice everyone should adhere to.

Change for the better.

Live the path of truth. Be true to ourselves and everyone else. We may not be able to please everyone, in fact, we can never please everyone, not in our family, office, amongst friends, let alone the entire world. Everyone has their own opinion. As long as our decision is what we think is right, we are on the right track. Most importantly is to never harm another being. Even better, to be able to lend helping hand to those in need.

Everyone has their own dreams, they could be similar to ours but never the same. It would be perfect if everyone has the same dreams as ours, then the world would be better. Life is simple, but not as simple as that. Just imagine if everyone is to compete for the same things, what would happen to the world? We do not need to look far. If everyone in the family only wants to use that same cup, can they take turns or will they fight day in day out?

We can never tell what the future will be but we can always work toward a better future. Variety is what we have. Creativity is what we are born with. We just need to use them to guide our path in the right direction heading towards our dreams.

Our dreams will come true one way or the other. Sometimes may be exactly the way we dreamt of but most of the time, there is a twist somewhere.

I have always wanted a German Shepherd (GSD) for a dog. We now have a miniature GSD lookalike and act alike in our home. He the size of a Corgi but his entire outlook, intelligence, and energy is exactly like I imagined. This dream of mine came true in a subtle way. The universe knows that with the little space I have at home, a full-sized GSD would be too much. Thus, this little loyal creature makes the perfect match for me. Thank you.

I am grateful I have been given a gift. The gift of life.

We only have one life. We should all cherish the one life that we have. Though the universe is colossal but we each have a universe deep within us. All beings have a little universe within. We just need to find it, tap into it, and bring it out to the light. We are the energy that can bring life to the next level. We have to be willing to do so.

This is our life, our universe.

 

The universe had to fall apart into dust first to become its majestic, incredible, infinite self. What makes you think this breaking, this trauma, this destruction, won’t be the making of a more powerful you too?

Nikita Gill, Poet and writer

Pamper

Pampering is an action. It transforms us to become a better person.

The very mention of this word means a trip to the spa for many. Laying in comfort with relaxing music and soothing hands massaging our face and body with scents that calm us internally. This is the little things that we can do for ourselves after a week’s worth of hard work. This is the exclusive way we can comfort ourselves, or so as portrayed by marketers.

We are actually spoiled by choices. We live in a world full of variety. If we are to believe that the only way to pamper ourselves is in a spa, we are limiting ourselves to the various other things that can nurture us for the better.

Travelling is always a good way to turn a new leaf. When we travel to a different place, we get to meet with new people and culture, we get to taste the scrumptious meals of the locals, and we get insight from observing the way of life in a place we have never been. We once feel stuck but when we get to see the outside world, we would realize that our problems are merely just something we have to go through. It will be the past very soon.

While travelling the world may sound like a hassle to some and draining off their bank accounts to many. Perhaps a trip to a nearby park or a forest reserve will suffice. See, smell, listen, touch, and feel. Nature has plenty to offer. Observe how nature is. Breathe in the fresh air. Enjoy the whistling leaves and singing birds. Embrace the texture of soil and bark in the surroundings. Sense, use all senses to cleanse our mind and soul in the enchanting atmosphere.

The life of urbanites is hectic, perhaps we feel like we are caught in a concrete jungle, within four walls. Very often, we corner ourselves with limiting beliefs. We trust that we are the only ones who can solve the problems that we are facing. Perhaps we have been living alone for too long. Life is just but not just as is. Leave that couch behind and take a step out that door to meet new people.

There are many ways to meeting new people. We can literally go out there to meet them face to face. Or, for the introverts, we can always choose to stay home and connect with others through social media. Elders may keep reminding us that there are many dangers that lurk in the simulated world. Perhaps we have forgotten that danger exists everywhere. We just have to be vigilant of new friends that we encounter. Be kind, we will know when to stay and when to leave when the time comes.

While being surrounded by people makes us feel acceptance, but can be tiring. Ensure to choose the circle of friends that we want to become. Find a group of like-minded people and they will give you comfort as you would to them. Some will have the same hobbies, while others come from many different backgrounds but are willing to help each other in all ways possible. Stop thinking that help comes in monetary terms! Help is and always will be the mental and spiritual support.

Sometimes we feel like our colleagues are all that we have. It is true at work, but not in life. We should know when to let go. Work should stay in the office. Let home be the place for our sacred soul. Home is the place we find peace. Home is the place we go back to everyday no matter the situation we have had throughout the day.

Pampering can start at home. We can be ourselves. We can indulge in our favourite delicacies, immerse in our favourite books, dress in our favourite pyjamas, lunge in our favourite positions, and toss anything around any place we wish. There are no limits, no rules to follow. We are the rules!

Pampering can start from within. We are who we are. If we want to change for the better, we ought to know how. The first thing we need is to understand who we truly are deep within. Only when we are able to peel down to expose our own depths, we can find peace. This is not only pamper, it is also an act of self-kindness.

We live in a real world but it does not hurt to sometimes fly beyond the clouds. Pampering lifts spirits!

 

Pamper yourself into alignment with who you really are & then face your day.

Esther Hicks nee Weaver (Abraham Hicks), American inspirational speaker and author, 1948-present

Incense

Incense is often associated with aromatherapy, offering soothing effect to people.

Archeological evidence show that the use of incense existed all the way from prehistoric civilization. We can only guess the usage of incense in prehistoric culture but nevertheless, it must be something important to be carried on over thousands of years in all walks of life.

In this modern date, places of rituals are considered the biggest users of incense. Perhaps in some cases, there is excessive burning. Every year, we will visit the temple for annual prayers and offerings. Each time we walk into the temple smelling fresh but walk out smelling like a smoked duck. Everyone wants to give their offerings to the Gods and deities that cause the excessive burning of joss sticks.

Some temples, in order to keep the environment clean, only allow burning of incense by the temple operators. Visitors can only offer fruits and flowers. As such, these temples make very good places for self-realization and actualization. People who seek tranquility will find such temples a great place for meditation practice and will often hours on end to just breathe the air and enjoy the serenity.

It is inevitable that incense pacifies the soul. This works on all living beings, not limited to humans. There is a Snake Temple in my home country, and as the name suggests, this temple is full of snakes. However, all of them, big or small, are always hanging on the roofs and pillars in dormant state during the day. Visitors can admire them in close contact without having to worry about snake bites. Cages are not necessary. The snakes are free to roam the temple. They can come and go as they wish.

Regular households, especially those in the outskirts often use incense to deter insects and small animals like rodents. Any type of smoke can actually prevent pests from entering the vicinity. Perhaps choosing one with the scent of our preference is ideal.

Lately, there have been studies showing that the burning of incense may cause carcinogens build up in the body. While this may be true to a certain extent, we need to be vigilant of the environment we put ourselves in. It is best to have all doors and windows open while burning incense. Good airflow is always vital for great health.

While air conditioning lets us enjoy a cool environment on a hot day, it is inevitably better to let natural air drift in and out of the house, when the sun is out. This is the perfect combination of positive chi. When incorporated with incense, we get vast calming affirmative energy circulating in our body. This is the gift of nature.

Incense is originally made from barks of trees. Some trees naturally have aromatic resins. When the bark is scraped, the resins will emerge serving to repair the scar on the tree, just like blood in humans. Everything that flows out of a living being has an odour attached to it. Those that give a pleasant smell are chosen to be used as incense. We all have our own preference. I love the smell of agarwood and sandalwood in its entirety.

In the recent years, essential oils have been widely used to replace burning of incense in aromatherapy probably due to health concerns. Initial use of essential oils was for massages. Now, we have upgraded to enjoy the aroma of oils all day long. All that is needed is just a few drops of our favourite oils in water. We can choose to use an oil burner or diffuser to dissipate the scent through the entire home. However, we should only choose quality oils for any purpose.

Modern technology has its pros and cons. Sometimes, we have too much information that we are unable to make a choice. Simplicity used to be something inherent in our lives but it is now wisdom we have to seek. Searching for the right path sounds simple but can be really demanding for some people.

All we need to do is to just sit and ponder. With a little help from soothing music and natural incense, all becomes clear.

At the end of our lives we hope we will look back and, like an incense stick completely burned away, will have poured forth all our fragrance into the world.

Prem Prakash, Indian actor, 1954-present

Meditation

A great life starts with good practice.

No wonder I have been feeling uneasy lately. Life has been so overwhelmed that by the end of the day, I am totally exhausted and went straight to sleep. In the morning when I wake from slumber, it is time to hustle again. At first, I feel energetic but after a few days, I feel torn inside like never before. Now sitting down as I am writing this, I realized that I have not meditated for a few days in a row.

Majority of the people may think it is the norm to live life full of activities. Sitting still is a waste of time. Some people just like to be surrounded by people.

Perhaps I am not the norm. I used to find meditation a hassle, like any regular person that I know. I used to think that meditation is some kind of psychic development in the brain that will make us go crazy. After practicing meditation only I realize that it is quite the opposite.

Meditation is just a simple practice to quiet the mind. Nothing fancy about that.

Some practitioners make it so intricate that something so simple becomes overwhelming. There is no right or wrong way to practice meditation. We can choose to have aroma diffuser in the room, dim lights or total darkness, and even soft music to accompany our practice. We can even do it in a self-help class, or together with a partner in the bedroom. Some will go to the extreme to meditate under a tree, next to a lake, or even in the beach. Wherever, however… it really does not matter.

We can start our meditation practice in many positions. The most common would be to cross-legged like the Buddha statues we see. However, this is not a must. This is just a common practice as meditation often refers to the total calmness of Buddha. Let us just put it this way, meditation is by choice. There is no limitation. We can choose to stand on our two feet, sit on the ground, sit on the chair, or even lay in bed. Any position that is comfortable to us can be the position we choose to meditate, just as long as we do not fall asleep in the process.  

I personally prefer to choose any sitting positions comfortable to me at that very moment. If I am at home, I would sit cross-legged like Buddha. If I am in the car or office, sitting up straight with feet on the ground become my preferred position. Aroma therapy or music is totally unnecessary.

Whatever position we choose, most importantly we have to ensure that our back is straight. Beginners, especially those who are used to slouching, will find this very difficult. But it is okay. We can start at the very beginning, one minute. Just practice straightening the back for one minute a day for a week and we will soon find that sitting up straight actually provides additional energy like never before.

The next week we can try to do two minutes. Keep the back straight throughout the two minutes and add in breathing through the abdomen. Those who love to breathe in hard directly forcing the lungs to open up may find this a tough exercise. They may find that breathing through the abdomen make them slouch and uneasy. Just hang on there for a week and the body will feel the difference.

In the third week, add another minute. Keep the back straight and breathe through the abdomen for the whole three minutes. Just concentrate on the breath. We may find on occasions that the mind is busy, always moving fast with events that happened yesterday and all the “what if” questions popping up here and there. We cannot stop the monkey mind, but we can choose to let go of the thoughts.

By the fourth week, we will find that sitting up straight is easy. We can even breathe right. We are able to concentrate on slow thoughts and even brush off some of the thoughts in the brain. Now, we can add in more minutes along the way. The longer we stay in the meditation state of mind, the clearer our vision become. As time goes by, meditation will become a norm in the lifestyle.

Meditation keeps my mind sane.

 

Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight.    

Phra Visuddhisamvarathera or Peter Betts (Ajahn Brahm), British-Australian Theravada Buddhist monk, 1951-present

Black

I have a black dog.

Dogs are wonderful creatures. They have been called men’s best friend for centuries because of their loyalty to their owner.

There are many kinds of animals that can live amongst humans and in humans’ homes. Some are invited, some are not. Whilst house dogs are invited, some may be living in the porch, some get to live in the homes together with their humans.

Dogs, like humans are different individuals. If we are to stereotype all dogs to be the same, we are right and wrong at the same time. Based on their characteristics alone, there are so many we can hardly group them. Some are meant to live in the wild, some are great on the streets, some love cuddles, and much more. Just like humans, each has their own personality.

We, humans like to think that we are the master of all in the animal kingdom. While we may be the smartest in terms of science and technology, we lack the sixth sense. Perhaps we have even lost our senses in many ways. We can no longer predict the weather even though we have eyes to observe, ears to listen, nose to smell, and skin to feel because we depend so much on the weather forecast on the news.

My black dog is the best rain detector in my observation. He would warn us when the air smells different. It is as if he is born with a 360 degree detector right at the stratosphere. Sometimes he makes me wonder how he can be so sensitive towards minute changes in the air quality. Is it a gift to all animals, or is it his specialty?

Before the rain comes, his warning is sometimes misunderstood as barking for no reason. When it drizzles, he would lay under a bench for some protection. When it starts to rain, we can pretty much guess what is next by observing how he acts. If he continues to lay under the bench, it means that the rain is just the rain. If he keeps barking and banging on the door to get into the house, it means that storm is coming. A few minutes before lightning and thunder strikes, he would have already pounced onto me getting my attention. This, to some owners, means that the dog is scared. To me, it means he is the greatest storm detector in my household.

My black dog is perhaps suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). He is a great dog when everything in the house is as is. However, when there is even the slightest change in the position of his bowl, he would be staring at it for hours on end. It is as if he is lost and do not know what to do when the location of things are different. Sometimes, it would take him a few minutes to adjust to the new position of things. Other times, it would take a surprisingly long time.

We had a very messy little patch of soil in the porch we never took care of for years. He made that his personal loo. When we finally got fed up of the unsightly patch, we took into our own hands and made it into a little zen garden with our favourite plants. We had to barricade the whole area to prevent him from doing his business there. He was lost. He did not know what to do. Even though we made him two toilets out of extra-large terra cotta pots, placed them right next to his previous toilet, and filled them with the soil we dug out from the same spot he loved to pee at, he did not use it at all. He held on. He refused to pee and poo for a week. Now, he is great at using his new toilets.

Some people are amazed at his size and thought he is a special breed. Some people admire his black shiny coat. Some people keep asking me what is wrong with his ears, one standing and the other drooped down. Some people admire his piglet tail. I love all of him. Whatever his breed, however odd-looking he is, he is my son, my black beauty.

He chose me to be his mummy. No matter how many years have passed, I can still remember the day he was rescued and brought to our home. He sat right in front of me waiting patiently for me to adjust the oversized collar for his little puppy neck. I was the only one he allowed to put a collar around his neck. It was as if it was meant to be.

Thank you for bringing such joy to my life, my beloved black dog. Adopt, don’t shop!

 

I don’t care if you’re black, white, short, tall, skinny, rich or poor. If you respect me I’ll respect you.    

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (Adele), English singer-songwriter, 1988-present

Breath

Are we breathing right?

Breath is something that comes naturally. It happens automatically from within. There is no need to control how many times we should do it or how exactly we want to do it. It is vital for survival. It is inevitable that all life forms breathe.

Why is this topic gaining popularity in this modern age and time?

Our current lifestyle is full of hues, or so we may think. We fill our time with activities like meeting new people, learning new things, visiting new places, and much more. Perhaps with all the varieties lay upon us, we have forgotten the fundamentals, to breathe.

How many times have you felt short of breath? You are stuck in a traffic jam while driving to work. The car in front of you is not moving, the car behind you is tail gaiting. You are caught in between and you do not know where to go. Your heart pumps faster and you feel stress in your whole body. All your muscles are tensed. Your leg feels cramp for pressing on the brakes. Your arms are tired for holding on to the steering. There are so many things flying in to your mind right now. You are worried you may be late for work. You feel that there is not enough time to finish off because you are running late.

Now is the time to pause and relax. The breath angel knows what is best for you. You are delayed because she thinks that you need to take a breath. All alone in the car, leave everything behind, just breathe.

Science tells us that the lungs are responsible for proper breathing. That is why the lungs are protected by a set of rib cage. However, if you realize, breathing using your lungs is actually hard work. Because we are so concentrated in making sure that our lungs get all the air that we need, we expand the rib cage over and over we will feel tired in the end.

Breathing is subtle. That is why yoga and meditation experts tell us to breath with our abdomen. Every organ in our body works hand in hand. By using this technique of breathing, we get full breaths with our lungs whilst leaving the rib cage still. With little work done, this relaxes every single part of the body and ultimately clears up the mind.

The mind is a wonderful creation. When the mind is clear, it is ready for challenges ahead. Most often we clutter our mind to the extent we feel stuck within. There is information overload. This is not necessarily caused by reading up too much. Everything that happens in our life is a piece of information. We may not realize that our brain functions in such a way it loves to keep every little pieces of nonsense in archive to be called out later when the brain thinks that we need them.

While this is just a normal process, there is a better way to doing it. When the mind is calm, all the tiny dots can be categorized and arranged into proper spheres and build interconnecting links with each other. This, in the corporate world, is called filing system. A great filing system enables people to recall information in a split second. It is with a calm mind that this can be done.

Have you ever experienced that when you are in need of that word but it can never come out of your mouth? You know there is such a word. You know it sounds like that but you just cannot recall. It is there at the back your head but you just cannot churn it out. Try forgetting about it. Go somewhere you can be alone, even for half a minute. Leave everything behind and the word will emerge naturally. If not the word, a replacement of the word will guide you there.

The little time that we have to ourselves is the little time we can breathe properly. Very often our breath is so shallow we feel tiredness throughout the body. Though we may not realize but our hectic lifestyle, even scrolling thought the internet contributes to shortness in breath.

Words cannot describe. Just take time to breathe consciously and feel the difference.

 

Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.     

Thich Nhat Hanh (Nguyen Xuan Bao), Vietnamese Thien Buddhist monk and founder of the Plum Village Tradition, 1926-present