Change Begins Within

Thanks for sharing Pollyanna. This is an awesome thread, I can feel the love, inspiration and compassion you give to others NY

 

Pollyanna,

Just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your posts. You are such an inspiration and your positive attitude is absolutely contagious.
Thank you

"The possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals — a vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like Wealth, is intended for Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural forces." — The Kybalion.

Love,
Ramai

 

Thankyou Newyorker and Ramai for your kind thoughts which are deeply appreciated. I wish you both an abundance of peace and joy

 

I must admit, that an Attitude of Gratitude pays off in so many ways. It's like a muscle, in that it can take time to build the ability to focus on what you're thankful for in life, however it makes life so much more enjoyable.

I think many people confuse having an Attitude of Gratitude of being naive, and ignoring the truth, but there's a distinction between focusing on the positive and ignoring when things aren't ok. The key word is FOCUS. You can acknowledge that something isn't ok, but that doesn't mean that you have to FOCUS on what's not ok. There's a difference.

Awesome post guys. Sorry if I got a little off-topic.

 

Pollyanna, I love your posts. When I first became enlightened to the law of attraction, I thought that living an attitude of gratitude was a quick way to become contempt with having very little, and thus a waste of time.

In actuality it's quite the opposite, in that what you're thankful and genuinely grateful for GROWS, so being grateful is actually the most valuable state of mind to have for ambitious people.

You can be ambitious and truly grateful for what we have, despite the fact that society may condition us to believe otherwise.

 

I was a guest last week in an accommodation house in Singapore. I was taken back by their expression of gratitude for my brief visit. They left the following hand written note on my pillow with a pebble...

"This singluar trifle - yet in our eyes, an asset. One simple Symbol of our gratitude. We share with you this Gratitude Stone. A reminder of all the contentment we have and treasure. For our happiness lives in the thankfulness of our very being. Keep it in your pocket or bedside as a gentle reminder of our own contentment. There is no need to seek for true happiness - for you have the power to possess it."

Guess where I will be staying when I next visit Singapore...

Olmate

 

"Who is rich? The one who appreciates what he has" (Ethics of the Fathers, 4:1).

Olmate, Thank you for sharing this very inspiring story, much appreciated
It reminded me of the saying that happiness is a state of mind.

It seems to be in our egoistic nature to never be satisfied; shortly after we acquire something (car, partner, children, house, job etc) we take it for granted and then wonder why nothing seems to truly give us lasting joy.
The reality is that a lifetime of happiness only comes from appreciating what we already have and not from what we achieve and acquire. So simple, yet like all that is worth attaining it takes some effort on our part.

Below is something that someone might find useful:

Love,
Ramai

 

Hi Ramai,

Great post. I will do the happiness exercise.

Question - the reference to "Ethics of the Fathers" - can you please provide more details? I would like to learn more.

Nothing but the best...

Olmate

 

Thanks Ramai. I appreciate it.

Warmest regards,

Olmate

 

Thanks MeditationMan and I think you're spot on - feeling truly grateful is an amazingly enjoyable state It's such a shame to miss out on this simple yet very powerful way to be. Creating this little habit can create so much happiness I wish you an abundance of peace and joy

 

Hi there Olmate,

I'd like to thank you for what your post inspired me to do just recently.

For Christmas I bought my husband a "Gentleman's Stand" It was a specially chosen gift to express my respect and appreciation for all that he is and does for the family. Apart from being an ornamental piece of furniture for him to hang his clothes at night there are compartments to place loose change, watch and jewellery etc.

As my husband does not wear a watch or any jewellery, I placed in this compartment a smooth little stone, a mustard seed and a tiny crystal with a little note explaining the little stone was a symbol of gratitude, the mustard seed was a symbol of faith and the little crystal is a reminder to meditate.

Each morning after dressing, he places these three tiny items in his pocket and every night he removes them and places them into the jewellery tray. Although they are of no monetary value, he told me how invaluable he has found them, explaining that as he reaches into his pocket they are constant little reminders of the special gifts we each possess.

During the last few cold and wet weeks quite a number of friends have commented on how bright and chirpy he always is considering how unusually miserable and cold the weather has been.

The best things in life are free

I wish you an abundance of peace and joy

 

My gratitude towards my god:

Thank you god for teaching me real meaning of life and how to live life even before I have attended my thirties.

Thank you god for all the lessons you taught me over last decade.

Thank you for such great parents you have given me.

Thank you for the great opportunities I am about to manifest.

Thank you for the the very best state of health I am in right now and I always was.

Thank you for enabling me to help others.

Thank you for all the abundance I have in my life. Thank you for this life a billion times.

 

A great quote from one of my journals

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

 

Yeh thats so interesting Pollyanna. The book Phsycho Cybernetics highlights the whole subject.

Imagine if babies focused on every attempt at walking as a failure. Instead they have one purpose in mind, and each attempt, free from adult self conciousness, quickly makes corrections and walking possible.

For some reason our society somehow shifts the focus on the natural learning style of humans, from fearlessly attempting whatever it is we wish to learn, to being terrified of failure for numerous reasons.

The Richard Branson's of the world demonstrate the power of accepting the natural stages of learning, and freedom from fear of failure and self and societal judgement.

 

Have just finished reading Richard Bransons book "Screw it...Let's do it" and found it to be very inspiring. His mother strongly encouraged him to stand up on his own two feet and become self reliant which is a great thing, however, I don't believe I could suggest certain things she did to my children or grandchildren

The majority of children hear the words "no, you can't, don't etc." tens of thousands of times too many before the age of 5 and these are from the well meaning parents These first years are vital as this is where belief patterns/maps of reality are formed and for many, accepted as the truth for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately, regular meditation can transform these lives by letting go of repressed emotions and replacing dysfunctional belief systems with healthy ones which serve us better allowing people to become happier, healthier and the best they can be.

Once parents understand and experience the benefits, they will be able to guide and nurture their little ones, encouraging them to believe in themselves and inspiring them to become the best they can be Can you imagine the difference this would have on the world?

Here's a little video which portrays hope, faith and nurturing beautifully:-

YouTube - Inspiring Secrets About Persistence & Success -Bamboo Tree

I wish you an abundance of peace, joy, hope and faith

 

A couple of great video links from the archives...

http://www.project-meditation.org/community/mind-body-spirit/1547-gratitude-video-2.html#post7790

http://www.project-meditation.org/c.../3194-epitome-feeling-grateful.html#post15368

Enjoy, and I wish you much peace and happiness

 

Gidday Pollyanna I agree with you wholeheartedly. I agree, children really need good example if they are expected to change. Talk is one thing, but I think there is much truth in the saying, 'Actions speak louder than words'.

Presently, from a Spiritual viewpoint there is much, much, much talk about the benefits of meditation, of Oneness, benefits of Truth, Compassion, Honesty, Peace, Love, etc, etc. There are a bombardment of courses, seminars and techniques, all alluding to incredible power and the ability to create whatever we choose when going down that road. I personally believe this is really possible, yet from the example of the majority of the providers of the courses, they themselves obviously don't in the slightest.

Despite continual 'all you'll ever need' life transforming claims by most providers, the exact opposite is true in actual action. It is obvious that the only way they are able to create income and lifestyle is by shoddy, sneaky, devious sales techniques.

God is Truth. Anyone with the slightest Spiritual experience understands this clearly. Hoodwinking your fellow human is literally hoodwinking yourself, and clouding your ability to understand and use your full potential. So, if they really want to collect email addresses and make a living by pumping products through affilliate marketing, why the need to disguise it and use idiotic phrases, such as:

'PSSSTTT, I just can't wait to tell you all an amasing, amasing, never before seen secret... but, because I begged and pleaded, my incredible, super successful friend who was meditating with me on our morning swim in the Bahamas, can only offer this to you until midnight, so please, please, please take this once of a lifetime absolutely free, no strings attached offer that will change your life forever, even though I just sold you one that already did that and gave you all you'll ever need. Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you sure you dont want this life changing product? Are you sure you want to waste your precious life. If you wish to leave this page, just click on I wish to buy the product.'

I know it is beyond ludicrous to read the above dribble, but its actually a toned down version of what's really out there in ever increasing bucketloads. Thats the actual action, example and respect kids are getting regularly. Despite years of supposed, amasing medative breakthroughs, the results are so limited and uninspired, that selling and deception is the only way to live. Basically, anything goes to make a buck.

Even if we were to play back the Enlighten Q promotional material, would the results match the claims?

Picture this. Jesus about to give the much publicised Sermon on the Mount. Seats reduced to half a piece of gold for one night only. 'Way to God Papyrus Sets' for ten weekly payments of two loaves of bread. As the sermon begins, Jesus introduces Peter, who, for an extra piece of gold will sell you the real. the easy way to God, but only if you sign up NOW! No loaves and fishes, no healings, no miracles, in fact, no sermon, just a sign up day for the real sermon. Sorry folks, no money, no sermon. And as proof of the power of Jesus teachings, Jesus and Peter load up all the gold and bread, and take their gold plated luxury boat for a spin up the river... to the next village.

Picture Buddha running into the village. 'Quick, quick, give me the keys to your rice sheds and I'll introduce you to this wonderfull, kind, caring, amasing person I met whilst meditating, who, but only for the next hour, so act quickly... etc, etc etc.

Example is what made these people what they are.

Kids need example. If we are to expect them to revere and believe in and trust God, Spirit, Oneness, Meditation, LOA, whatever. To feel respected and honoured, protected, then they need many, actual, real examples of it in action.

'Hey kids, I love you guys, in fact so much, I'll take to the playground... but first I need your bank account details and only twelve monthly payments. And, if you give my amasing friend your piggy banks, hell play with you too.' We wouldn't expect much from the kids in this sort of example would we?

 

The important thing about meditation is that it is a learning process. It is a process where we enter ever more deeply, ever more richly into the Mystery.

Meditation teaches us that this is the foundational wisdom on which to build life. What we discover is that we can only live our lives fully if we are always open to this mysterious presence of the spirit and always open to the presence more profoundly.

So in that sense, that is the pilgrimage we enter every time we sit down to meditate. We open our minds, our hearts, our consciousness more permanently to the ultimate reality that is, that is now, that is here.

But as Uplift identifies, the profession of Marketing screams out in anger and frustration with such a simple message... they demand sizzle!!!

Nothing but the best...

Olmate

 

Hi Uplift, I agree, Advertising is often abused - The coca cola bottle states "Open Happiness" however it doesn't state that diet coke contains aspartame which kills

Cadbury's smash state that it's quick and nutritious, rippling with vitamin c, leaving you raring to go

And recently Reebok claim you'll tone up your bum and thighs by wearing their new trainers - I can just imagine mums everywhere hoovering their houses in their Reebok's to achieve this - and when they don't get the results, they won't get a refund either.

MacDonalds brainwash billions with their "tune" When you hear du du du du du your tape recorder automatically plays "I'm luvin it"

L'oreal has beautiful models promising flawless beauty... why? because we're worth it

Disneyland, at the moment, are showing children almost hyperventilating when they are told they are going to Disneyland - they claim "The magic begins the moment you tell them....so, when are you going to tell them."
No pressure to the parents

I won't get too much into the advertising and power of giant pharmaceutical companies, other than to state, I believe there is a cure for every disease, but the average person will never get to know about them because chemical drugs is a billion dollar industry. Good doctors and scientists have died "mysteriously" for trying to disclose these proven facts Some of the huge corporations invest large amounts of money setting up "Quackery" sites to put people off who are searching for alternative cures.

No wonder advertising gets a bad name. Yet we all advertise to one another -we recommend good books, cures, restaurants, recipes etc.

I spent a lot of time and money before I found both Michael Mackenzie and LifeFlow and a great nutritionist. These two people for me were like finding needles in a haystack and I credit them both with the great health of myself and my family. I found both these people to be passionate about what they do and very compassionate to others

Now here's an interesting point... Michael's free and paid for products are becoming known and people are benefitting all over the world from them which is wonderful. He either knows how to market or employs someone to market for him - either way people are benefitting.

My great nutritionist has no idea how to market and although she has cured people from all kinds of things like Prostate Cancer, MS, ME, tinitus, asthma, eczema etc. she works in a horrible job and her knowledge is wasted because if she knew how to advertise herself she would be able to help so many others.

I am now trying to help her to become full-time in the field that she is so valuable to others and hopefully she will one day gain a presence on and off the internet, however, without marketing, she will not fulfil her purpose.

I don't believe either of these people will ever sell emails to other companies.

Watching the beginning of the EnlightenQ video just reinforced for me how tragic it is that people everywhere have lost touch with their true self - feeling lost and alone, rushing here and there, reacting unconsciously to whatever life throws at them. Some clinging to old hurts and belief systems which have been programmed into them and reinforced all their lives by society, parents and culture.

They have no idea that they are self imprisoned and have access to the key to free themselves

What would you do if you knew where their key was hidden?

Would you be afraid to tell them for what they might think of you?

Would you tell a chosen few or would you shout to everyone from the rooftops?

If you chose not to tell then you would help nobody.

If you chose to tell a few, I'm sure you would receive a mixture of heartfelt thanks, appreciation and some very strong rebuttals.

Now if you chose to shout it from the rooftops you would probably receive a much greater degree of heartfelt thanks, appreciation and still some very strong rebuttals. It's happened this way all through history ...

Marconi’s friends were so worried about him talking about his invention that they locked him up in a mental institute to check if he was insane
Yet today, virtually everyone has at least one radio and so many other things we now take for granted.

There will always be good and bad out there, we just have to seek and find what works well for us. I'm so greatful to these two people that have helped me to change my life in incredible ways. My part in it is, I have followed there instructions to the letter. Here are just a few others who are now living happier/healthier lives

http://www.project-meditation.org/c...ories-lifeflow-meditation-2-0-a.html#post5863

I hope this is of help and wish you much peace and joy