Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Thoughtful Tuesdays : The Truth Shall Make You Free

We've reached the end folks. This is the last Thoughtful Tuesday post on Douglas Bloch series. It's been an insightful year with lots of learning on my part of it, and I sure did enjoy sharing it with you all! I wonder what my next blogging adventure will be about. If you have any ideas, or would like to share your experience with Thoughtful Tuesdays, leave a comment below! I love hearing from you all! Enjoy!

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

*Feel free to change the word 'God' to fit your belief system. I directly quoted Bloch's work.


The Truth Shall Make You Free

Listening to the inner voice means living a life of honesty and integrity. As Gandhi stated, "For me, God and truth are convertible terms. Devotion to the truth is the sole reason for my existence."

The truth is inescapable. There once was a wise teacher who gave of two men a chicken and told them to kill the chickens where no one else would see. The first man went behind the barn and killed his chicken. The second returned after three days with a live chicken. "Why didn't you kill the chicken?" the teacher asked. The man replied, "You told me to go where no one was looking, but everywhere I go, the chicken see." It is the same in our lives. We can deceive others and even our conscious mind, but everywhere we go our own God-self sees. 

Telling the truth to ourselves and others is liberating. Once you acknowledge the truth of a dysfunctional relationship, you can do something about it. Once you admit that you are powerless over an addiction, you can begin to threat it. If, however, you you deny the problem, there is no way to change it. This is the meaning of the saying, "You are only as sick as your secrets."

The great historian Cicero said, "Our minds possess by nature an insatiable desire to know the truth." Let us live, breathe, and speak this so that we may come to know the beauty and perfection of our inner divinity. 

Affirmations
1. I am honest with myself and with others.
2. I see the truth of what is.
3. I am willing to face the truth, even if it hurts.
4. The truth liberates and sets me free.
5. I release my old illusions and perceptions.
6. Your Own _______________



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Thoughtful Tuesdays : The Power Of Optimism

Only a few short months ago I was having a conversation with my boss at work about the power of optimism. We were discussing how by thinking positively you can attract so many wonderful things into your life.

This post comes with incredible timing. While the world didn't end on December 21, 2012, it certainly felt like Doomsday in my world. It was the first unfavourable event in a chain reaction that so far seems to have no end. Every time I blink (ok exaggerating here, but it sure feels that way) it seems something else is going wrong. Back home this is where we would said "The arse fell right out of 'er" and it sure feels this way. As I read the excerpt from Bloch's book for today's post, I was beyond thankful for this reminder. I have been so caught up in the negative series of events that I haven't allowed myself to focus on the good. I fell down hard and instead of picking myself up I just continued to sit there complaining. I can tell you one thing, life sure has been a lot more miserable since I stopped implementing the power of optimism. Right now there are many things in my life that I am unable to control, and in turn are influencing other areas of my life. Now I can continue being crooked about all this and walk around with a great big cloud over my head. Or I can start changing my way of thinking and find that ray of sunshine that helps me get through the days when skies are grey. I can tell you this much, the grumpy pants way of living has not helped one bit, so I think it's time to trade them in for something a little happier. Who knows what will result from this energy shift. All I know is that it can't make things any worse.

So after today's post, I want to dare you to try to manifest the power of optimism. Change your way of thinking. If you like feel free to share your experience in the comments below. I have seen the results, I know they work. I gave up thinking this way for a few weeks and it is unreal the difference it has already made in my life. Thoughts, feelings, actions, etc. Time to start using the power of optimism again.

The following is an exact excerpt from the book Listening To Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch. I in no way possess any ownership of the following. I am simply sharing the thoughts, expressions and words of an author who has inspired me.

The Power Of Optimism


A truly powerful force in the universe is that of optimism. Optimism lies at the root of our mental and physical health. Feelings of hope can stimulate the bod's immune system and inspire recovery from a critical illness. 

Optimism expresses itself in the persistence and resilience of living things. A child learning to walk repeatedly falls down and picks himself up until he stands erect. A decade after the eruption of Mount St. Helen's destroyed the local ecology, life has established itself on this volcano with amazing abundance and rapidity. And despite its hostile environment, a sole dandelion miraculously pushes itself up through a crack in the concrete. That dandelion is optimistic that it can and will survive. 

In the long run, the forces of love and life always triumph over those of fear and death. No matter how challenging the obstacles or difficult the tests, there is always cause for optimism.

Affirmations

1. I have faith that all things are working together for good in my life.
2. I expect the best, and I get it.
3. I see my glass as half full rather than as half empty.
4. When I fall down, I pick myself up and try again.
5. I am empowered by my optimism.
6. Your Own _____________