Archive for the 'Spiritual Practice' Category

40 Tips for a Better Life in 2009

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

A friend of mine forwarded this to me.  I think it is worth sharing here - I wish I could give attribution to whomever authored this.  Whoever you are, thanks for the wisdom!  And to our Chinese friends, kung hei fat choi!

  1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
  2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
  3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
  4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today..’
  5. Live with the 3 E’s:  Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
  6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
  7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
  8. Spend time with people over the age of 80 and under the age of 6.
  9. Dream more while you are awake.
  10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
  11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
  12. Try to make at least five people smile each day - including yourself!
  13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
  14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
  15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
  16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
  17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.
  18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 
  19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
  23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
  24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
  26. Forgive everyone for everything - including yourself.
  27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  28. REMEMBER GOD heals everything.
  29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch…
  31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
  32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  33. The best is yet to come.
  34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  35. Do the right thing!
  36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
  37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
  38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
  39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
  40. Share this with everyone you care about….I just did. May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!  

Stay fabulous, everyone!

Jocelyn

Welcome 2009! Be the Change…

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Happy New Year, everyone!

OK - well, not quite new anymore.  My apologies for neglecting to post.  I have made a conscious decision to post if not regularly at least once a week.  We’ll see where this will take me :)

It’s usually at the beginning of a new year that we all create resolutions.  A friend of mine asked me what is my resolution for 2009.  My answer - NONE.  Over the years I have made various resolutions that lasted only for a few weeks.  It is sad - but I have also learned that resolutions don’t always work for everybody.  So, I am expressing my intentions - YES! 

Intentions are better.  I bring it out to the universe what it is that I truly, honestly would like to accomplish.  I am constantly reminded about my purpose.  For 2009, my intention is to be the change.  I reminded myself that the world will be a better place to live in if the change that I look for in others begins with me.  So here’s a shortlist of the things that I know I could improve on: 

  1. I will not whine or complain about not having enough but instead be grateful for what I do have. 
  2. I will no longer spend time on projects that I do not like but instead seek out more creative and meaningful work.  
  3. I will not tolerate people and stick with relationships that do not work.
  4. I will free myself from unhealthy habits and will make an effort to improve my health before it bottoms out!

 So what’s your intention for 2009?  Would love to hear all about it…

Stay fabulous, everyone!

 

 

The one thing you need to add on your “to-do” list

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Hi everyone,

It’s been very hectic for me as I continue to thread my so-called “double life”.  I still am fully engaged with my corporate job and still am in the tail-end of my Virtual Assistance (VA) practice start-up.  Fun stuff, indeed :)

I recently turned another year older.  Although, I didn’t have the opportunity to really celebrate, I had a chance to recollect and look deeper within me.  Every year, I would set a short-term goal for myself.  This year, I have made the conscious decision to let go of fear and embrace the call of Entrepreneurship.  Hope you’ll all stick around to cheer me on as I embarked on this journey. 

For the past several years, the short-term goals that I have set have been consistently achieved.  We are creatures of habit and I know that setting goals is one thing while achieving them is another.  And for this, I am grateful! 

I have below an article that I would like to share with everyone - hope you consider another thing to add on your “to-do” list.

Be fabulous — stay fabulous!

Your Fab VA,

Jocelyn

 

 

How to Blow the Lid Off Your Life –

The ONE Thing You Should Do Everyday

Much like a computer, we are “programmed” to live our lives based on the information that has been “loaded” into our system. Our program is written by the direct and indirect messages we receive from our parents, our environment and our life experiences. And, like a computer, we will operate in a predictable way until a new program is loaded. Sometimes that means deleting old files and/or upgrading our system. In other words, we’ll keep seeing the same results over and over again until we let go of old ways of thinking and integrate a better way of being.

With so many techniques available for self-actualization, it is easy to become overwhelmed and do nothing. But if you change nothing, nothing will change. As a life coach, I’ve learned that the best solution for inertia requires two things: an attitude of “less is more” and ONE clear commitment to a daily activity that can snowball into ever-increasing expansion in one’s life.

This ONE thing that you should do everyday is spiritual practice.

A spiritual practice is the means by which we re-program ourselves. Although it is certainly possible to develop a profound spiritual practice that requires a significant time commitment, if you’re new to the idea, your existing programming could be the very thing that sabotages the desire to reprogram yourself. If this is case, it is important to keep it simple. The kind of spiritual practice that can be a catalyst for true transformation includes certain basic ingredients. You can use any method you like, as long as you address the necessary elements.

Recipe for a Spiritual Practice

  1. Create a Space – The first step in any spiritual practice is to create the mental space for divine inspiration and new information. It is through this space that we allow the creative energy of the Universe (i.e. Source Energy) to come into our lives. Meditation is the most common way to create the space. There are numerous techniques for quieting and training the mind. The simplest way to begin is with a moment of silence. Often one moment will extend in to many moments. Your only objective here is to BE. Release every expectation about how the experience “should” be and simply be still. The act of creating this space essentially opens the door to realms of wisdom beyond common understanding. Sometimes information comes in the silence, but often times it comes unexpectedly as you go about living your life.
  2. Set Forth Your Intentions – To set forth your intentions means to identify what you want. The easiest way to do this is through writing. Try keeping a “spiritual practice notebook” and write down not what you think you can have or should want, but your deepest heart’s desires. “I gratefully see myself (being, doing, having… fill in the blanks).” Another great way to set forth your intentions is to create a collage with cut-out images and words from photos and magazines. Keep them handy for your daily spiritual practice. You need only set forth new intentions as they reveal themselves. Many times you’ll be focusing on a particular set of intentions for weeks, months and sometimes years.
  3. Magnetize Your Intentions – The Law of Attraction tells us that like attracts like. You magnetize your desires by connecting with the emotions and sensory input you would be experiencing if your intentions had already manifested. Much like the pretending games of children, you pretend that your desire has already come true. Go into your imagination and daydream with gusto. Be the You in your vision. Summon the emotions, see the images, hear the sounds, and feel the sensations of your new reality as if it were now. An alternate way to do this is to pull out your collages and look over them as if you were viewing a photo album which captures the fondest memories of the life you are living now.
  4. Release Your Intentions – When your intentions are clear and you consistently practice magnetizing them, it is essential that you release them to be manifested in the best possible way. You release your intentions with a simple statement, out loud or silently. Simply say to yourself, “I release all of this to the highest good in trust and gratitude.” To release your intentions is to let go of control. You surrender your desires in trust to the highest good of the Universe, knowing that Source Energy is orchestrating every detail to be revealed in perfect timing. Your job is simply to act in faith on the opportunities that appear in your life.
  5. Expand Your Consciousness – Your programming can only expand with new information. So a fulfilling spiritual practice must include study of some kind. The best way to approach this is to always have at least two or three resources at your finger tips. Whether you are reading a book, listening to audio or watching a video program, be sure that every single day you are infusing your mind with inspiring and educational information. And remember: less is more. Even if you only read a few powerful lines of text, or listen to fifteen minutes of audio in your car, it is enough to stimulate your mind into new ways of thinking and perceiving yourself and your life.

When and How Often?

The most effective spiritual practice, in line with the “less is more” philosophy, calls for action first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as your head hits the pillow and you drift off to sleep. Your morning practice allows you to program your mind, your behaviors, and your expectations for the day ahead, staving off counterproductive reactivity to whatever life may throw your way. The night time practice gives your unconscious mind powerful material to work with during your slumber. Find ways to keep it simple and dovetail your spiritual practice into your normal routine. By embracing this one clear commitment in your life, the You that has always been inside, will have no choice but to emerge in ways you never imagined!

- Sonia Miller 

About Sonia Miller, BBA, MSW 
“International Life Coach, Sonia M. Miller, is author of “The Attraction Distraction: Why the Law of Attraction Isn’t Working for You and How to Get Results Finally!” For her F’ree Special Report: “How to Unleash the Magic When the Law of Attraction DOESN’T Work for You!” and her F’ree content-rich newsletter, “Sonia Miller’s Soul Food Ezine,” go to:
http://www.SuccessForTheSoul.com.” (c)2008 by Success for the Soul All Rights Reserved