Consider me as a person who does not believe in any religion, neither on any depiction that man (with his limited understanding) has constructed upon God. While most people associate Him with their religion, I don’t. I come to understand that He is not in any religion—nor is religion itself. Despite Him being called by many names, depicted in many forms and bestowed with certain prejudicial characteristics, God can only be experienced if we become aware of our own spirituality.

The experience of God manifests whenever we start an inner spiritual journey. Even though we are continually inculcated by collective beliefs regarding His true nature, the truth can only be found within us. The journey to God lies in seeking and seeing deep within one’s self—not on ones’ subservience to the false admonitions impressed by those who call themselves holy. God is not a collective experience but rather a personal one.

Perhaps an experience I had many years ago would elucidate this principle.

I was only in my teens during the time when my father was struggling from emphysema. In an effort to relieve him of his suffering we have gone to prayer meetings from different disciplines of religion in hopes of miracle; but nothing worked.

As time goes by my heart bleeds as I see him deteriorate, like a lit candle slowly melting away. Him being aware as the sole bread-winner of the family I see his worry over our future. In a last attempt for a miracle we’ve attended a huge prayer meeting organized by a world-renowned pastor who happened to visit our country. I have witnessed this pastor perform miracles during the promotion of his prayer rally on television, and I was impressed by his capability to bring a number of people into a holy trance wherein they would fall from their places as they receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I think this is it. My father would surely be healed if he received such anointing hand from this prophet.

Since there are huge number of people who attended, my mother and my younger brother put much effort in bringing my father closer to the stage, hoping to receive the full healing power. I was left from afar where I could hardly see the venerated pastor on the stage. Hope and anticipation filled my heart as I await the miraculous event. I did believe that my prayer would be answered and doubt has totally abandoned my mind.

When the moment of healing/anointing has arrived I felt a mysterious energy surround me. I saw my father from afar but I cannot sense his faith. Rather than tuning to his spirituality my father puts his focus outside of himself. The pastor waved his hand to the right then people would collapse from receiving the Holy Spirit. Same thing happened to the people where he waved his hand to. But when it came to our region—the side where my father and I are—a miracle had happened! Though not what I’ve expected.

I was bewildered at what I have experienced. My father was so close to the pastor but he did not experience the mysterious force that had me trembled. While I was very far I could not forget how something numbed my body as I fall on the hard ground. The falling experience was one I’ve not experienced before, as if something is holding my body as I slowly (in my perception) fall to the ground. I felt my head bumped on the feet of another and my back fall on a rock, yet I felt no pain. I am a man of science but what I’ve experienced defied a natural law. Could I have experienced God?

Yes I did.

The pastor had been an instrument to tune me into my inner spiritual self—the only place wherein God can manifest. Now I understand why the woman who was sick for 12 years in the book of Mark has been healed by the mere touching the robe of Jesus; or the case of the centurion in the book of Matthew wherein he put his faith on Jesus’ word in order for his servant to be healed; or the case of the young boy who was able to walk without crutches by merely touching the feet of the crucifix in the movie Leap of Faith. God is a personal experience. God is within us.

I felt very sad about my father. He had not surrendered to his spiritual self, and thus failed to experience the grace of God. However, during his last, he had made peace with God by surrendering to his spirit. Man is stubborn in clinging to the physical until he realizes that it will cease. When the body fails, what remains is the spirit. But what will become of the spirit if it remains an infant—by this I mean ignorant of its own.

The mystery of God will always be an enigma to the limited mind of man. In the realm of the spirit, human reason becomes irrelevant. This is the reason why we must pursue our own spirituality because it is only then that we can find who we are beyond our temporary form.

There’s no reason to argue who God really is or find proof of His existence. God is a personal experience one must pursue within the silent realm of his spirit.

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Success eludes mediocrity

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There are people in our lives that we love dearly, but very often we are having trouble of expressing such love. In our efforts to enhance their well-being we go to great lengths in exploring ways that would make them feel loved. The problem though is that in the process we have blinded ourselves of the simple yet powerful ways of expressing our love.

One of the most convenient methods people employ to extend their love is thru material means. While I have nothing against it, I have observed that it has been oftentimes used as an agent of deceit. There are many reasons why we receive material things (usually in the form of gifts) but we can never be really sure if love is behind the intention. It is false to assume that material things alone will fill the love needs of our loved ones.  Yes we can make someone felt loved by giving them things—especially those that they yearn the most—but genuine expression of love touches the heart in a way that no material form can equal.

We don’t have to look far nor yearn for the impossible to express our love. Some of the powerful expressions of love can be in the simplest of gestures. While we put much premium on the tangibles, what really counts is the sincerity and genuineness of our intention. The greatest proof of love is the selflessness behind every act.

Expressing love can be as simple as follows:

Thoughtfulness

Being thoughtful is the most effective means of expressing love to our dear ones. The very fact that we are mindful of the needs of the other proves that we care about their well-being. The effectiveness of this method resides on the fact that we are being sensitive to the person of the other. Thoughtfulness could be anywhere from making him smile when he’s gloomy, or being there when she needs a shoulder to lean on, or preparing his favorite dish, or giving her a massage after a days work.

Love displayed in a manner unanticipated will be highly appreciated, however simple or small it may be.

Understanding

Little is the awareness of many about the loving nature of understanding. By our receptiveness to the feelings of our loved ones, we are already resonating love which the other can appreciate even though they may not be vocal about it. Each of us is different and there are actions by the other over which we may not comprehend. However, if we truly love the other we would do our best to enforce understanding rather than being judgmental. More often than not people simply need to be understood in order to feel accepted.

Try to be more understanding to the quirks or idiosyncrasies of our loved ones—no matter how mind-boggling it is—and they will know that they are truly loved for who they are.

Listening

Listening is the most sincere form of concern that we can give to the person we love. By suspending our judgment and opening ourselves to the expression of the other, we not only showed our sense of maturity, but we have also demonstrated genuine concern.  Not so many people are patient with listening; it has been the tendency of many to listen only to themselves and ignore the voice of others.

Extending love can be as simple as listening. In a world full of noise and selfishness, one will deeply appreciate someone who is willing to be silent and be all ears.

Touch of concern

A simple touch of concern goes a long way in making someone feel that he’s not alone. When we were kids we seek the soothing touch of our parents whenever we need assurance or are afraid or hurt. Being grownup does not mean that we don’t seek such gesture whenever we are visited by our worries and anxieties.

Whenever you sense that your loved ones are down or defeated, give them a touch of concern. It does not matter if he does not reciprocate, what is important is the show of love you have made with such gesture.

Sincere Words

Many don’t realize the importance of words in conveying our love. There are things that we want to hear from our loved ones yet somehow they find it hard to say it. Perhaps the uncomfortable feeling of being emotional prevents us from expressing what’s in our hearts. I have encountered many silly gaps in a relationship just because each is withholding what they need to say.

Words have powerful impact especially when used as an instrument of love; we just need to say it with sincerity. Say “I love you” or “Be careful” or “I’m here for you” or “You’re an important part of me” to the people you care about, you may not know but they are longing for this words from you. Don’t hesitate, just say it.

The greatest mistake people commit when it comes to expressing their love is that they do it only when its too late—when those special someone in their lives are no longer able to appreciate. Let us always remember that every moment is an opportunity to express our love to our spouses, parents, children, friends and other special people in our lives; just remember the simple methods above and your relationship with them will go strong.

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Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

Senseless arbitrariness

The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: display of affection, expressing love, loving someone

While I’m fully aware that some bloggers blog for the sheer pleasure of expressing themselves—as well as taking it as their hobbies—let me be clear that I don’t include them as part of the equation above. The bloggers I qualify herein are those whose goals are to earn or establish an authority online.

A year has passed since I started blogging and I have discovered many things about the true nature of success online. At first I had the misconception that going online would automatically earn me some recognition, authority, popularity and profit. But later did I learn that success in blogging requires more than wishful thinking, it is then that I realized that a bloggers character plays a vital role in the outcome of his/her online endeavor.

While ubiquitous are the methods of succeeding online—generously shared by those who have managed the ragged path—still few are able to find the golden egg. I myself am confused at the cause of this phenomenon, but it is only when I’ve actually experienced the difficulties that I’m able to identify the causes of such failure. Most of what I learned pertains to the bloggers capability to handle failure, adapt to change and openness to learn.

Some of the common difficulties a blogger encounters in the course of his/her blogging are:

Finding their right niche

Writing challenges

Coming up with interesting topics on a regular basis

Lack of know-how

Limited perspective

Lack of preparation

Still, my above-stated findings are not the core reasons of a bloggers failure.  There are more subtle forces that inhibit a blogger from surpassing the challenges that constantly comes his way. Ironically, one of the biggest factors that make success elusive for a struggling blogger is the blogger himself: the attitude he executes in dealing with difficulties.

Now you will ask: Where am I going with this?

As I am writing this I still am struggling at making this blog work. There are many times that I want to throw in the towel and abandon my work, but there’s something deep within me that’s holding me back. Despite the failure, disappointment and lack of motivation, a part of me refuses to give up. Could it be that I’m able to recognize the resistance of my mind?

The common orientation of the mind is to resist anything that pushes it out of its comfort zone.

Could I have gained the wisdom that success means facing and enduring any challenges that comes rather than manifesting weakness?

An old mantra I was reminded: It is only when we have reached our limits that the true battle begins. Perhaps this is the key to achieving success. When the feeling of giving up emerges, it is the time when we must be more vigilant with our struggle to push through. We can only discover our potential once we have reached our limits, but many are not aware of this powerful success principle. It is unfortunate that majority of us give up easily when we’ve reached our limits. Little is our knowing of the principle that any resistance or stress that we endure will yield the better in us. In blogging, the more a blogger pursues despite the seemingly unconquerable obstacle, the better he becomes; and the better he becomes, the more inevitable is his success.  No one was born a master of his craft; it is only through the weathering of challenges that he attains such status.

An overweight person will not lose weight if he never pushes himself to his limits; a muscle will not grow if we don’t subject it to stress. Same principle applies when we want to succeed in our blogging goals—we need to go despite the pain, we need to endure despite the stress, and we need to push even if we don’t have strength to go on. These are the caveats that most bloggers fail to incorporate in their methods.

Now I ask: Where you are in your struggles of achieving success online (or any particular goals that you’re working on?) Are you prepared to go beyond your limitations to experience the stress and hardships inherent in any journey to success? Will you easily abandon all you have worked for just to relieve yourself of the agonies of disappointments?

Success is like a race wherein you don’t see the finish line. Others have embraced the false perception that speed is the ultimate determinant of one’s success. As everybody puts on their top speed believing that they would reach the finish first they have forgotten that it is not about how fast you can go.  Tired and exhausted when many will realize that the finish line is no where in sight. Finally there will come a point when they believe that there’s really no finish and that only an insane person would push further to find it.

Now I know why 99% of bloggers fail, they simply stop believing in what they’re doing and they have allowed difficulties to drain their spirits. But guess what, those who are among the less than 1% knows much better, they know that success finds those who keep on pushing.

I can’t see the finish; I’m tired and exhausted. But I know that I need to keep on pushing.

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Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

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The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: blogging secret, blogging success

Let’s face it, there are many losers in this world, and the sad fact is that these people are not aware that they are. While stepping above failure is a prerequisite of success, wallowing in it makes one a loser. Everywhere we can see people putting much premium on their ignorance rather than advancing themselves through self analysis and action. Instead of making an effort on zeroing in on the causes of their lack, they prefer to be adamant in denying any responsibility for their unfortunate circumstance.

Perhaps you are not aware that you possess the characteristics of a loser. In your effort to make your life worthwhile, you aspire for things that will enhance your well-being. The problem though is that something within yourself is preventing you from attaining the life you aspire. Consider the following crippling traits that you may be harboring, and do your best to recognize and emancipate from them:

Fear of being vulnerable

Part of any pursuance for achievement is to let ourselves open to our vulnerabilities. This means allowing ourselves the experience of defeat, pain, heartbreak, embarrassment and any other uncomfortable circumstances we would rather not want to experience. Even a child learning to walk would need to fall many times before it succeeds in its endeavor. Without allowing ourselves to experience any fall, we won’t acquire the needed strength to make us grow and achieve anything we want in life. If we deny ourselves the stress of facing our own vulnerabilities, we will only tend to preserve our weakness, and such weakness will be our handicap in making any real achievement in life.

Slave to the expectations of others

All of us wants to fit in, but most of the time this does more harm than good.  In our effort to find a sense of belonging, we have stifled the expression our own authenticity. As a consequence we become slaves of the expectations of others. Our inherent nature for creativity and boldness has been stunted because we’ve concerned ourselves too much to what other would say. A perfect example of this is peer pressure. Instead of alleviating our well being, we pattern our actions according to the mainstream norms of the people around us. No wonder few are exceptional in this world because few are those who dare to go against the conventional flow. If we truly want to make a difference in our lives we must learn to stand on our own and not be swayed by the mere opinion of others. A loser tends to hide on a flock, it is not aware of its own independence.

Stubborn adherence to false beliefs

One of the most defeating habit most of us embrace is our stubborn adherence to belief systems that serves no other purpose than to prevent us from expanding our horizons. It is ironic that despite man’s possession of intellect and free, he prefer to be meek when it comes to questioning the beliefs that have been indoctrinated unto him. As a result he is drawn downward further into ignorance. The fear of challenging our beliefs has somehow crippled us in terms of broadening our understanding. Without any effort on our part to be cynical about the validity of certain beliefs that affect our lives, we could find ourselves in the wrong path.  It is rather foolish to believe that something is impossible rather than believing it is. This advance world we are living could not have been had the inventors and entrepreneurs—both past and present—satisfied themselves with the general belief of impossibility.

Habitually pessimistic

The greatest killer of any creative manifestation is pessimism. This attitude discourages any opportunity of making an effort toward certain endeavors. It prefers to look at the downside of something rather than its positive aspect. This typical characteristic of a loser inhibits itself from any productive endeavor. While everything around him changes, he continues to be sluggish. In the long run he curses life for all of his miseries.

Mistrust of one’s own capability

There’s no betray greater one can impose upon himself than the lack of trust on one’s own capability. A loser has no faith in his abilities; he measures himself according to the achievement of others and never tries to make an effort in exploring his own special gift. It is unfortunate that most people tend to envy the achievement of others while downgrading their own. They tend to believe that there’s unequal distribution of individual capabilities and there are those who are gifted. My dear readers, there’s no such things as a gifted person. Convention has recognized certain skills as ideal, and as such we put much premium on those capabilities as if they are the only admirable capabilities one may possess.  The great people of this world have become who they are because they have never doubted themselves. Each of us holds the power to do great things, don’t be a loser and waste the opportunity.

Closed-minded

Nothing’s more annoying than dealing with a closed-minded person. No matter how much sense and logic we try to impart, they are somehow gifted with stubbornness. There are many agents that caused a person to be closed-minded: it could be their pride, arrogance, painful past experience, ignorance or plain stupidity.

Let us be careful not to limit our minds according to our own limited understanding. We need to accept the fact that our knowing will not always be enough and that we need to learn to open ourselves to higher understanding. No improvement will come to a person who has walled himself to logic and reason; his bigotry will be the cause of his own misery.

Cowardice

I find this to be the most despicable characteristic of a loser. Without a doubt, no achievement can be expected from a person who doesn’t have the courage to face any form of difficulties. Even unto himself he cannot stand on his own, he always bend at the will of others and possess no firmness of integrity. In this competitive world, the coward will always find itself in a life of squalor.

Being a loser is not an ideal condition of existence. Man has been bestowed with the power to influence everything in this world and it is a great waste if we don’t use such gift. But it is the first mission of man to know his weakness before he can realize his strength.

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Success eludes mediocrity

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Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

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Technorati Tags: characteristic of a loser, life's wisdom, personal development, personal growth

A healthy body is the bedrock of our well-being, without taking care of our bodies we won’t be able to fully enjoy the gift of life. It is sad to know that in this present time many take for granted the importance of having an able and strong body. There are many factors that have contributed to the steady corruption of our health and in my observation the advancement of our present time has spawned a lifestyle that has proved detrimental to the positive state of our health.

Much of what we eat nowadays came from processed foods and commercialized instant meals; what we don’t know is that these sources of replenishment have harmful effect on our bodies. Aside from unhealthy foods we gobble daily we also jeopardize our health by continually introducing harmful substances into our system, i.e., alcohol, nicotine and illegal drugs. Look at the mortality of people who suffer from heart related ailments, notice the doubling number of people who are overweight and be surprised at the ever growing number of people who contracted cancer. What are the exact sources of these bodily catastrophes and why it has become prevalent in this progressive time?

Unhealthy lifestyle is the major source of the untimely deterioration of one’s health. People have engaged themselves on the precarious means of nourishing their bodies. Consider one factor: our eating habits. I’m sure most of us prefer the convenience of ready made food than preparing them ourselves. While it’s justifiable that most of us don’t have the luxury of time to make our own meals, we should at least put some effort on the quality of food that will enter our system. Eating processed foods everyday is harmful to our health, but making it minimal will at least spare us of its negative consequences.

All of us want to be in the peak of our health. However, most of us are ignorant about the agents that rob us of our wellness. One common method we practice to attune our health is thru exercise. But in case you don’t know, exercise alone is not sufficient to give us the genuine healthiness we aspire. Our eating habits (including recreational substance we put into our system) must coincide with our physical efforts. No matter how much we engage ourselves on any form of beneficial physical fine-tuning, little will our improvement if we continue to bash our bodies with harmful substance.

Let us look at these detrimental substances that affect our health:

Carcinogens – put simply, these are substances that promote the formation of cancer. It can be found in the food we eat or in air pollution.

Unhealthy fats – while fat play an important role in the proper functioning of our body function like digestion and energy metabolism it proves very harmful in excess, especially those under the category of bad fats.

Nicotine, alcohol and addictive substances found in illegal drugs.

Unhealthy chemicals like additives and preservatives that are found in processed foods.

While it is impossible to totally avoid the harmful agents I’ve mentioned above, there are ways to protect ourselves from its hazardous effects. But first, a decision must be made on your part: You must choose to make an effort towards it, otherwise it will be useless. No kind of method will work if we don’t engage 100% ourselves unto the task.

Here are the methods I’ve found to be the most effective in achieving a healthy body:

*  Stop indulging on fast foods and processed foods. They will load your bloodstream with bad cholesterol, carcinogens and chemicals that alter the normal metabolism of your body.

*  Avoid drowning yourself from excessive alcohol intake. Remember that too much alcohol in the body will take its toll on your liver.

*  Hard as it may be to quit smoking, have the willpower to totally remove it from your system. Nicotine found in cigars is the most notorious substance that caused the deaths of millions of people around the world. Cigarette contains many harmful elements that cause different forms of cancers, truly dangerous to your health.

*  Don’t do drugs. It will give permanent damage to your brain and body—not to mention the misery you will cause to others.

Perhaps I’ve got you disappointed at the triteness of the methods I have stated above but let me add this one last method before you roll your eyes:

If someone you know is terminally ill from certain ailments like heart attack, stroke, cancer or any diseases contracted through unhealthy lifestyle, take the time to visit them in the hospital. See the mixed feeling of denial, regret, misery, sadness and disorientation on their faces. Witness the hopelessness of their lot: despite their willingness to live their bodies have given up. See their sufferings as well as the look of sorrow in the faces of their loved ones. Feel the emotional torture of waiting for the dreaded moment everyone fears—death.

Then…

Put yourself in the same situation. Feel what it’s like to be helpless in the face of the people you love. Experience the emotional pain of wanting to live longer but can’t. Feel the heavy clasp of you loved ones who are unwillingness to let you go.

Remember the scenario above every time you light a cigar or take a swig of your brand of alcohol. See its gloominess when you take a bite of your favorite smorgasbord of stake, burger, fries, pizza, bacon and sausage—with all its greasiness complete with its heart clogging condiments.

If you don’t want to suffer a slow, painful, humiliating and tragic demise, keep it a habit to be mindful of your health. After all, it is worth treasuring.

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Crippling habits people embrace

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Technorati Tags: achieving strong and able body, methods for a healthy body, taking care of health

We are brought up in life with certain beliefs that we blindly follow, and in our efforts to go in parallel with such beliefs we pattern our every actions according to its principles. The problem though is that most of what we believe is nothing more than big lies. In our belief that something good will come from the erroneous principles we hold, we get disappointed when things go differently. But rather than questioning the principles we hold, we seek error in the methods we employ.

There are many lies that people are embracing, and some of them are the following.

Worldly possession will bring happiness

I would be lying if I don’t admit that I don’t hold this principle in my life. The truth is we all have this tendency of finding happiness in materials things. The irony though is that the more we acquire worldly possessions, the more chaotic our life gets. True happiness never resides in acquiring: on the contrary it resides in giving.

There are many advocates of materialism in this world. Common among them is the gaudy display of luxurious living by wealthy individuals. We think that by having everything within our reach can bring happiness. When we see a manifestation of wealth, all we see are the glitters: we fail to see the deadly trap behind it.  Aspiring material wealth carries with it the curse of being a slave to it. How can we be happy with our worldly possession if there’s the constant pressure of holding it?

There nothing wrong with aspiring material possession. But let us not fool ourselves in believing that it will be a wellspring of happiness.  In this life we’re living, there’s no lasting happiness, but rest assured that there’s also no constant sorrow.

Spiritual journey is a philosophical drag

When we hear of the term spiritual, we usually shut ourselves about the subject. Perhaps the connotation of philosophical complexity has discouraged us from making further query. It is funny that most of us get serious about this subject only when we’re faced with hopelessness or tragedy.

Once you have allowed yourself to seek your spirituality, it will be the most liberating journey you’ll experience in life.

Many of us forget the limited time we have in this life. Instead of finding our spiritual roots, we engage most of ourselves with the affairs of the flesh. Oftentimes I think of those people who resist Darwin’s Theory of Evolution; they refuse to accept the fact that humans come from apes. But if we closely observe our nature we will clearly see that our actions are mostly dictated by our instincts—animal instinct that is.

Our form is immaterial when we discover our own spirituality. If we limit our understanding on the physical realm we’ll be of no different with the animals that co-exist with us. Our divine gift is awareness, but such awareness cannot be realized without making a spiritual journey. The flesh will die with this world, but when our spirits become aware we will enter the realm of the divine.

Adversities are punishments

When adversity comes unto us everything seems to fall down. Our positive outlook in life suddenly collapses and we blame God for our misfortune; the normal life we lead is altered and we become lost in confusion. As a result, we make the mistake of labeling adversities as punishment set upon us by fate.

We need to understand that the adversities we experience in life are our responsibility, be they not of our own making. Nothing can be gained if we keep on blaming and cursing. The only way we can go over our adversities is to humble ourselves and face it head on. When we experience a down side in our lives we have to relinquish the idea of being that we’re being punished. Instead, we should look at it as a means of improving ourselves. Adversities are life’s way of making us stronger, just like a mighty tree in the middle of a strong storm.

Luck is biased

There are many doubts about the reality of luck, but there are many people who have experienced this unexplainable phenomenon. Much as we want to believe that we are the sole author of our destiny, there are certain unforeseen events that alter the course of our fate—and one of them is luck. However, it is the misconception of many that luck is biased. One may ask: How come luck favors those who have more in life and eludes those who are lacking? One close answer I can have for this question is that those who thrive have the highest possibility to stumble upon luck. Don’t expect luck to visit if you’re not doing something to attract it.

What our senses can perceive is the only reality

This principle is the foundation of science. While I cannot belittle the benefits science has brought upon the well-being of mankind, I doubt its authority in proving the reality of everything. The five senses that we possess belong to the physical realm and it should not used to verify the dimension of the spirit. Everything that our senses can perceive is only limited to the physical level, therefore it cannot interpret anything that is not within its molecular orientation.

Remember that there is more beyond what our senses can perceive. There are many mysteries in this world that our senses cannot understand. If we limit our perception of reality according to our senses then we have deprived ourselves of the capacity to explore what is beyond. Let us explore our spirituality because in it resides the all-knowing part of our being.

It is always wise to take time to consider what we believe in life. We might discover that some of them are not consistent with the truth. Life is too short to dwell on false beliefs; let us not allow ourselves to stifle our knowing.

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Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

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Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: false beliefs, lies you shoud not believe, self query

Most of us are very vocal about our discontent in life. Instead of being grateful for the things we already enjoy we seek satisfaction on the things we don’t have. It has become our habit to long for things we think are essential yet little is our awareness that we already have the things we need to make our life worth while. Just how come we’ve become blind to these things essential? Could it be that our dissatisfaction has prompted us to take for granted the essentials we possess?

If I ask: Are you contented with your life? Would you give me a positive response?

The truth is we all want “something” in life that we equate as essentials. Our mistake however is that we don’t realize that we are longing for the wrong things. In our belief that the things we want would give us satisfaction, we fall on the trap of endless wanting. We are constantly seeking for something, but we don’t exactly know what it is. And until we truly open our eyes, we would never realize that it’s right before us.

What are these essential things I’m talking about?

Health

Without a healthy mind and body we cannot function well, thereby disabling us from making full use of our faculties. It is unfortunate that many are taking for granted the able state of their health: late are they able to realize its importance in living life to the fullest. More often than not, we value our health only after suffering from decrepitude and sickness. There are many people whom I’ve met who expressed their regrets about their wanton treatment of their bodies. I’ve witnesses their suffering—from their difficulty in performing simple task to living a normal life. Try to be with someone who have suffered a heavy blow on their health and feel their suffering, this will make you realize the essentials of a healthy body. Perhaps we may hold everything the world can offer but nothings more vital than the healthy state of our body. Think about your health right now, it’s very difficult to regain it once it’s lost.

The love of the people who care for you

There are people in our lives that truly care for us—our family, relative or close friends— but more often than not we fail to appreciate their show of concern. Instead of being thankful for the love we receive from these people we feel suffocated or irritated of their gesture. It is only during our vulnerable moments can we realize the importance of someone who truly cares for us. I believe that many times in our lives have we experienced the comfort and security of having someone who is always by our side no matter what happens. Think of how we could have been without these people?

I remember the time when my world seems to crumble and there’s this one person who has saved me. During the times of my irrationality she was there to keep me from breaking down. I would never forget the importance of her presence during my hopeless moments. From this I have learned that the adversities in life can be made more bearable by having someone who shares our burden. Learn to appreciate the essentials of having people who cares for you, they are our real treasures.

Peace of mind

The greatest possession we can ever have is peace of mind. Unfortunately, this basic necessity has been a struggle for many. In today’s competitive world we engage ourselves on useless endeavors. In our effort to satisfy the whims of our ego we go to great lengths on wanting the things that are unnecessary. As a result our peace of mind is greatly compromised. No longer can we have a good night sleep because our mind is continuously agitated.  Instead of being content on what we already have we chose to give way to our greed, envy and dissatisfaction. If we could just set aside our ignorance and make an analysis of the object of our endeavors, we can discover that most of them are causing us anxiety. If we really want to experience piece of mind then we have to uncluttered our mind of worries caused by our false aspirations.  What is there to gain if we acquire everything we want yet loose our serenity?

Blessing of a new day

Being able to wake up each morning is a huge blessing we should be thankful for. Many have taken for granted the essential of a new day. Instead of expressing gratitude, some start their day finding something to complain about.

Nobody can tell when our time will come. Whence we believe we’ll live long, death comes without notice. I have seen many times the betrayal felt by many when someone dear to them suddenly departs. This makes me realize how fragile life can be. Yet many have engaged themselves on precarious living, ungrateful of each unfolding day they are still breathing. It has become the habit of man to trouble himself of things illusory. Instead of living upon the blessing of the new day, he occupies himself more of the past and future.

Life as we know it will terminate the moment our body ceases to function. Therefore it is wise to appreciate every waking moment of our lives.

Take a moment to reflect upon yourself. Make an analysis of the things you pursue in life. Oftentimes, we appreciate what is essential only when it’s lost.

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DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. GROW IN SPIRIT:

Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

Senseless arbitrariness

The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

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Have you ever questioned the absoluteness of the things you held as truths? Did you care to verify the veracity of the principles from which you base your decisions? Are there circumstances in your life wherein you become confused because the very truth you dearly hold has abandoned you?

Human beings are very stubborn when it comes to their beliefs. Once we take something as truth, it’s hard for us to turn against it. I myself have observed this fact about my nature. When certain situation beckons my judgment I immediately rely on my beliefs to measure the truthfulness of a given fact. Never did I go further on verifying the validity of the means I employ to arrive at such judgment. I put so much faith on my belief that I dismiss any other measures of verification. Until I came to a certain point when things didn’t go the way I expect, thereby prompting me to throw the big question: WHY?

I have witnessed many people lost their way because of the betrayal they’ve experienced with their beliefs. They have limited their horizon to what they think is true despite all evidence to the contrary. Instead of taking into consideration a new revelation they prefer to be stubborn—bigotry and arrogance are their ways of denial. Despite the misery suffered by many for their adherence they are unwilling to let go of their false belief and blame someone/something for their unfavorable circumstances. I see this crack in the different forms of social systems like religion, tradition and norms.  What I find interesting in these collective thinking is that any show of defiance would make one an outcast. Shame and disgrace serves as admonishments for those who dare to dissent from such collective beliefs, irrespective of the validity of their arguments.

What purpose does it serve to go with an established belief system when it leads one to peril? One important fact I have learned in life is that nothing is absolute. Change continuously alters the state of all things.  If I readily satisfy myself with beliefs I’ve inherited from authorities, how can I assure myself of its validity? More often than not I will repeat the errors of my influencers. In the generation we are living today, the sins of the fathers are being repeated by their children and the conflicts of the past are still the conflicts of the present. How can we make a change if we don’t start to question the errors of our own beliefs?

Understandably fear, confusion and alienation threaten us from questioning the validity of the values we hold. We fear that we may jeopardize our sense of belonging or identity; we fear that others may reject us if we challenge an established belief; or much worse is the fear of being treated as an outcast. I’m sure no one wants to be labeled as crackpot or lunatic—interestingly though successful people of both past and present have once been labeled as such especially the inventors and entrepreneurs—so some prefer to be compliant with the common thinking than to be vilified for their unconventional perspective.

If every issue can be resolved by just being subservient to our venerated beliefs then why are we experiencing conflicts? Why must there be difficult decisions wherein we have to surrender the voice of our reason in order to comply with the generally accepted notions of right and wrong? Why must we blindly condemn someone or something just for being “different?” Everywhere we can see the injustices being upheld to individuals who are perceived as a disgrace by those so called “righteous” people. Is it the common norm of human to judge certain misunderstood differences of its own kind? Has anyone realized that there’s nothing to gain from being self-righteous?

Why are we allowing our beliefs to inhibit us from seeing the real picture?

Now I ask you to open your mind—even for this brief moment—and examine the very foundation of your beliefs. Think of how your life would be if you have been more skeptical of the beliefs you follow. What could have happened had you rejected certain principles and follow your gut instinct? Imagine how your life would be now had you pursued your idea despite the disapproval of many. Think about the wrong choices you’ve made just because of your false beliefs. Consider the suffering you have endured by your blind subservience to certain norms. Ask what good does your beliefs have done unto you. If your want to liberate yourself, if you want to broaden your understanding, if you want to know the truth, then make an inner query about you and your beliefs.

Humans have lauded the fact that we are the only creation with the exclusive gift of free will, but are we really exercising such gift? We are meant to explore the many possibilities of our existence. Why must we confine ourselves within the realm of our limited beliefs? Is this how we really want to live our temporary life?

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

— Buddha

To my readers I offer thought provoking compositions about things important that affects our daily lives.  Please consider by subscribing below.

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DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. GROW IN SPIRIT:

Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

Senseless arbitrariness

The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: challenging one's beliefs, personal development, questioning your beliefs

If you are like most people who are bored with their mediocre lives living each day repeating their yesterdays task then join me in this short discourse and find out how you can make a difference in your life.

All of us have an inner yearning to change something in our lives. But due to our stubbornness, laziness and ignorance we become clueless as to how to make a way to enforce the changes we want. As a consequence, most of us settle on the deteriorating comfort of daydreaming to at least experience, albeit illusory, the change we want to manifest in our lives. There are silent moments when we contemplate with clarity the WHEN and the HOW of the changes we aspire—we set the date, the right moment and the perfect timing of execution—yet somehow, such opportunity never came.

Making a difference in our lives has always been at our disposal. The problem though is that we associate it with the “right” time. We make the habit of setting an ideal point in time rather than implementing it at soon as possible without waiting for the so-called “favorable circumstances.” The major setback with finding the right time is that such time does not exist. And in our effort to wait for such time, procrastination makes its way to stall us further.

Making a difference in our life starts when we decide to make it so. Irrespective of the task or situation we are in, every moment is an opportunity to make a difference. The degree of change we want is immaterial. What really counts are the small efforts we make everyday to slowly weave the changes we want in life. Whether we want to loose weight, or to learn to play certain instrument, or to learn to write, or to be a better person, or to achieve our goals, what will make the difference is our decision to make something at every moment to affect such change. The truth is really simple: without making any move nothing will change.

One great mistake most of us commit is preoccupying ourselves with useless thought processes. We spent much time on daydreaming, brooding, comparing, envy, jealousy, regret and any mind activities that serves no purpose others than to blind us of the opportunity of the moment. Rather than using our mind to think of ways to change our lives, we prefer to be satisfied with the false thinking that what we have is all there is—that it’s impossible for any of our aspirations to come true. Of course, we become what we think.

Life has its way of nudging us to the deeper aspects of our existence; it is those overwhelming encounters where our very bedrock is shaken. This could come in the form of life tragedies that alter our sense of awareness. I call this the turning point in one’s life. Unfortunately, most of us need to experience this event in order to see, with great clarity, a purpose and meaning. Once we have awakened to our own mortality, we will see life in a different light. We will realize our power to influence our fate and with this knowing comes the call to abandon the old self and embrace the new. Thus, one’s greatness will be unleashed.

If you want to make a change in your life you must first be awaken to your own fragility. You must see death, you must see suffering and you must see tragedy. You mind will not acknowledge the gift of the present until it experiences the reality of the moment. Our time in this life is very short and our status is uncertain. Remind yourself these always. To enforce this mindset you could try any of the following:

Imagine yourself dying. Feel what’s it’s like to have no more tomorrow. Honestly speaking, we can do great wonders once we knew we are to perish at any time. The thought of the past and future will vanish; what only counts are the few moments left for us to live. Why not think this way? After all, death is just around the corner.

See yourself in a scenario where you are crippled and useless. Perhaps this will make you realize the gift of mobility at your disposal. Oftentimes, we fail to see our capability until it’s too late.

Go to the emergency unit of a hospital and witness a person’s suffering. You’ll feel an eerie feeling surrounding your body. That feeling is the realization of your own mortality. Don’t wait for such moment to come into your life before you make a change. Few are lucky to be given a second chance.

Visit a funeral and see yourself in the casket. Think about the people you have leaved behind. What will become of them once you’re gone? Did you make your best to make a difference in their lives? Or will you be just an ordinary corpse whose memories will be forgotten with time.

The decision will always be ours. The capacity to affect the change we want depends on our mindset. If we allow limitations and discouragement to prevent us from materializing the aspirations we long in life then we have denied ourselves the opportunity to make the best out of life. Change is constant in the state of all things. Nothing evolves from being the same. Make a change in your life NOW or regret it later.

To my readers I offer thought provoking compositions about things important that affects our daily lives.  Please consider by subscribing below.

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DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. GROW IN SPIRIT:

Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

Senseless arbitrariness

The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: achieving your dream, changing your life, life's wisdom, making a difference

One mistake I have observed most parents commit with regards to their children is failing to teach them the important virtues they must learn to lead a noble life. While some of us go about correcting the misdeed of our children we have failed to instill unto them the necessary knowing to guide their path long after they depart from our influence. In our present time, more of our children fall on the wrong path trying to find their place. It is unfortunate to hear our youths being involved in precarious activities that may blight their future. Teaching children the right values would benefit them throughout their lifetime.

Being a parent myself, I try my best to instill values to my children. Fear hunts me as I lay witness to the proliferation of false values that tends to corrupt the minds of our youths. As our children get older, our control starts to diminish as they discover kinship outside the vicinity of home. Without the needed wisdom to guide their judgment, they can easily fall on the treacherous path.

Of course every parent wants the well-being of their children. But oftentimes we ourselves have been deprived of the appropriate value systems that we should have learned from our parents. However with the experience we have acquired as we walk on thorny terrains of our existence, we have gain wisdom about the true face of life. Such is what we should impart on our children.

The values I have learned from my parents was lacking in many ways. But because of my observant nature, I have learned the following important virtues which I would want to impart on my progenies:

Open-mindedness

We must teach our children to always adopt an open mind approach in dealing with things and events that manifest before them. Truth comes in many forms and by restricting our mind to what we only believe, we cannot see the bigger picture. Children must learn not to settle for what was or what’s believed to be. They need to allow other views without any judgment in order to get into the root of things. It’s unfortunate that most grownups I’ve come to meet are stubborn with their antiquated ways and belief systems; they find it hard to adapt to any development and thus they’re having what is called generation gap. This could have prevented if they were instilled during their youth openness.  I don’t want to repeat this error unto my children.

Respect for others

Conflicts arise as a result of disrespect upon the rights of others. We see these kinds of conflicts everyday via mainstream media, social interactions and even around the corner of our domain. The sad part is our children come to witness this ugly display of human conflict. If we our children are taught the importance of respect, they will be very judicious with their civilities with others. Extending respect for others mean acknowledging their right as a person as well as the privilege they are entitled to enjoy.  Giving respect will also gain respect.

Self confidence

Each person has the capability to do great things in their own way.  Let us not allow our children to harbor any feelings of inferiority. We should inculcate unto them that no matter what others say of their lack they should not allow it to rob them of their confidence. They must understand that achieving is a matter of believing in ones self— that we can be what we want to be if we put faith on ourselves.  A child must understand that having confidence in ones ability is the key in furthering his/her potential. Without faith in ones capability, we have only wasted the gift bestowed upon us all by our creator.

Humility

Seldom do I encounter people who practice humility in their interaction with others. Much of what’s embraced is uplifting one’s ego, especially those who hold prominent status in life. Our children need to know that there’s nothing to be gained by being pompous. They must understand that whatever status and achievement any person may acquire in life does not alleviate his/her mortality. The problem with most people is that whenever they experience fame and power, they forget their own vulnerability, and this proffers their attitude of arrogance. Humility is a characteristic of the wise and a true measure of a person’s worth.

Compassion

Despite the seeming differences we all have with one another, we are all one in the eyes of our creator. Therefore it is our duty to extend ourselves to others even in our own little way. I want my children to learn compassion with other beings. The furtherance of our kind lies on our capacity to extend ourselves to others. While war and conflicts are necessary evils, we must do our best to treat others with compassion. The law of nature may be survival of the fittest, and it runs on our veins the tendency to preserve ourselves than to be concerned of others. But let us remember the spiritual aspects of ourselves. Our physical form beckons its furtherance on this temporary life but our spirit seeks to find its other parts through connecting with other souls—this is the reason we feel good when we have given ourselves to others.

Have you asked yourself lately the values you have imparted on your children? Did you ever thought if your teachings would serve as an effective guide for the well-being of your offspring? While it is given that we want the best for our kids, have you thought about the timelessness and effectiveness of the lessons you have taught your children? Remember that as parents we are responsible for molding the basic value foundations of our children. If we don’t give them solid foundation in terms of right virtues and principle, we will suffer the consequences later on. Children are by nature imitative of their parents, and from these imitations they form an understanding thru which they categorize what is right from wrong. Let us make sure we give our best to light their understanding.

To my readers I offer thought provoking compositions about things important that affects our daily lives.  Please consider by subscribing below.

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Only if you find necessary

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. GROW IN SPIRIT:

Success eludes mediocrity

Nobody wants to listen

Senseless arbitrariness

The counsel of death

Illusions we hold dear

Self mastery: the feared path

Pitfalls of instant gratification

Crippling habits people embrace

Why are we having problems with problem

How to unleash your true capacity

Technorati Tags: imparting values to children, teaching children, teaching kids