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Take Responsibility​

Published 12/08/2016 by inspiringyourspirit

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My Dear Friends

A Channel from Serapis Bey

Welcome, your beloved hearts this day. We come to say that it is not what one can see that is important .. it is what one cannot .. that is of the essence of all that is, dear ones.

Life as you know it is but a minute bubble in the scheme of things. It is simply what you have created from this experience in the realms of matter, our beloveds. It is not the be and end of all, no surely it is not. We ask you to understand this and to choose not to be so entrapped by your creations in the physical world, dear ones.

In this realm of physical matter, you often become so enmeshed in what you create as your reality and yet cannot see in truth past this creation with your knowing and wisdom, dear ones. You allow the reality of your creations in the physical realm to take you over and this is all you see.

Your movie that was called the Matrix indeed showed you a perception of this and was not far from the truth, although it brought through your fears and distortions, placing you as the victims once again, dear ones. But we say to you this is not truth.

For you are not victims of the Universe or some dreaded computer machine, dear ones. Many of you would prefer to let go your responsibility and believe this in truth, dear ones, for it brings ease to your minds and fears. And even those amongst you who know of the power of the light sometimes prefer to do this believing they are the victims of some other entity such as a wrathful God or beings from afar, dear ones. But in truth, this is not so.

Yet many choose to hold this belief and create this as their reality for it is easier to create the understanding that they indeed are not responsible for their creations in this realm and are indeed following instructions of God or another being, dear ones.

Why is this? For many prefer not to take responsibility for all that they create as their reality in the physical realm even your Prime Ministers and Presidents and Kings and Queens. Choosing instead to abdicate their Mastery to become the victim of outside influences.

It is easier for them to believe that they have a mandate from a God that is directing them to go to war or to raise taxes or to ignore the minority for the better of the majority. Or, even dear ones to invade and war in countries for the highest good.

Many of these things in your realm are done under the banner of God or faith or a higher deity than yourselves, dear ones. In truth, this is exactly what is occurring in your realm at this time, our beloved ones, as it has occurred so many times before.

And in the doing so too do you, each one, also do the same as your presidents, kings and queens and choose to abdicate your Mastery and to give your power to a higher deity than you, a more powerful being then you or an influence outside of you.

We say to you that the peace and harmony you seek in your realm, dear ones, may not arrive until you have realised that in truth you indeed are responsible for all your creations, dear ones. When you choose to step into your Mastery and accept and honour all your choices and creations as yours and accept the power each one of your beautiful souls have to create your reality in each moment through your own Mastery then the change will come that you seek.

It begins with the smallest details of your own lives, dear ones, and like the ripples upon the pond it spreads out in a wave of energy to meet all hearts. All transformation needs to begin with yourselves, dear ones, and we ask you to choose to take responsibility for your thoughts and the energy that you create in all things in your reality.

We ask you to taking responsibility for all that you are choosing to create in each moment with those around you including your loved ones, your co-workers and even with those people on the street you pass every day as you go about your daily routines. This is where the transformation is needing to begin, dear ones.

Your Mastery of the physical realm asks of you to choose to take responsibility for yourself and all that you are choosing to BE, dear ones, and how this affects all you create in every moment. For you are indeed the creators of all that is in this realm, dear ones.

Only you can create that which is in this realm, dear ones. The consciousness of God does not do this for you, our beloveds. Your God/Goddess is not the wrathful God of your dreams and storybooks, dear ones. God/Goddess does not take away your free will and keep you enslaved under his or her rule, dear ones. Nor does this consciousness decide what is best for you, dear ones, moment to moment.

You are living in a free will zone on the Earth, dear ones, and this means that all you create is your responsibility. You are responsible for all that occurs in your realm, dear ones.

We say to you that if it is not what you desire then we suggest to you that now is the time to choose to change it, dear ones. It is within your power. Yes indeed, you may call for assistance at any time, dear ones, for your divine highest good and you will receive this assistance from the realms of light and we will come to your aid to assist you to create in truth that which is for your divine highest good, dear ones.

But in truth, we ask you to accept and honour what this means, for it does not always mean that you will win the lottery, simply because you have asked the heavens to do so, our beloved ones.

If it is in your highest good for you to do so, our beloved ones, then indeed this will be granted should you so desire to create this energy unto you. But we say to you that in most cases we have found that many of you are not desirous of creating this energy to you even though you have asked for this to arise for you. We understand this is because you believe exactly the opposite to that which you often demand or request from the Universe, our beloveds.

If this is the case for you, then that is what you will create as your reality because you will have already created the barriers and boundaries for receiving that which you ask for, our beloveds. We would ask you to consider this within yourselves.

It is the same for those who have many riches and ask for happiness in their lives, our beloveds, without pain and hard work. In truth it is often the reason why they are never truly happy in their souls or why they indeed work so hard to retain their gold and coins. It is because they too believe they are undeserving of happiness in their lives or have the belief that it is truly necessary to work hard and drive oneself harder in all things to attain one’s goals for power and riches.

And then there are many beings who truly believe it is their right to be rich, famous and powerful in all things in this realm and to retain that control over others. And this is indeed what they create in this realm. Yet as they hold onto all these things they are unable to fathom why it is their hearts still feel so empty, no matter how much power they control over others. This voice within them is still strong.

They have chosen and created this for themselves because within them their being believes they are not deserving of being fulfilled and it understands that all that they create is not the driving force within them. It is for them to come to the Mastery what they search for and crave is not within their reach and cannot be attained through power over others, dear ones.

All of these things are the challenges that your inner beings create for you so that you may awaken to your true selves. These energies are mirrors to you every day. These are the realities you are choosing to create to hide the truth of all that you are.

Yet in every moment you are learning through these challenges you create for yourself in your life. Some of you awaken to them quickly and some more slowly. Each divine truth you are shown in your reality is only what you have chosen to create for yourself to understand the consciousness that is held within you that needs to be surrendered and released so you can be free of the shackles of your past that bind and hold you in your limitations in this realm of physicality.

We ask you to honour, dear ones, that each and every thing you create in your life brings you closer to your divine truth. It is not another being, or outside influences that is creating these challenges for you, for they indeed are not the creators of your reality.

It is your inner being that wishes you to see the divine truth that you hold within you. It is your soul, your higher self and your Divine Self that work with you to remove the blinkers from your eyes so you can see what is divine truth for you in this realm at this time.

It is these parts of your being that hold the truth of all that you are. They know your Akashic records and all your experiences and the karma you hold. They in truth know what it is you seek and what it is you hold to yourselves and are unable to release or surrender.

These higher conscious parts of you hold the knowledge of all that you have experienced over the eons in this realm and all others, dear ones.

When you are choosing not to see then they will bring it to you in your life and ask you to look, dear ones.

They have been the traveller and the creator of all that is in divine truth for you, dear ones.

It is time now to awaken to these parts of your Divine Self and to listen to what they have to tell you so that you understand they are indeed the true creators of all that is occurring for you in this moment, dear ones. Open your ears and your hearts to your inner self and allow the ego mind to rest at this time for it does not understand this knowledge that your inner self carries within it, dear ones.

The ego mind finds it so difficult to fathom past what is seen in the physical reality, dear ones. Simply allow this and do not expect more of your beautiful ego mind, dear one, than that which they can offer at this time. Allow the ego mind to rest for it has served you well, our beloved ones, and protected you well from the truth of all that is in their desire to please and assist you, dear ones.

Call now for assistance from your inner being, your Divine Self, and sit with this part of you in truth, dear ones. Choose to open your ears to hear them and listen to their wisdom and their counsel, dear ones, for it is this connection that you truly seek in every moment. Do not be afraid of what you may discover, dear ones, for it is all in divine plan and it is truth in this moment for you.

Surrender your fears and your expectations and allow yourself to be held by the inner being within you and become one with them in truth, dear ones. In choosing to do so you will surrender to the journey and all will begin to flow for you in your life.

In so doing you will begin to feel you are indeed reconnected to All That Is and you will understand that everything that occurs for you is of your creation in this realm, dear ones.

All your actions and thoughts are your responsibility, dear ones, for it is only you that creates these and in so doing it is only you that creates your karma. We ask you to observe and choose to understand the cause and effect of all that you choose to create in each moment. Be aware and conscious of all that you think in each moment and be mindful of this, dear ones, and how it affects All That Is. For this is the power you hold.

Stand in the pool of all knowledge through your inner being and understand that everything you do and say and think affects the whole in all things, our beloveds.

You are never alone and you are not a singular entity, our beloveds, for you are indeed part of the whole driven by your own inner selves to achieve all that you can be in every moment in this realm of physicality. You are here in this realm to do so and to become all that you are in truth through your experience in the physical world, our beloveds.

We would ask you to consider that allowing yourself to become entrapped in the physical realm and the illusions of this realm is not serving your divine highest good or that of the whole, our beloveds. It only causes separation, resistance and more pain at this time – challenges indeed, our beloved.

But we say to you these are challenges you no longer have to wade through if you so desire. For the choice to create them is yours, dear hearts. This is the assistance we offer you at this time, our beloveds, to tell you it is now time to let this consciousness go.

The time for ascension is fast arriving in your realm of physicality and there is no longer the need for you to challenge yourself with pain and fear, our beloveds. Surrender this consciousness now and let it go. Choose to move through the limitation and separation energy that mankind has chosen to create in this realm, our beloved. Push through this consciousness of disconnection and separation and reconnect with the being you are in truth and choose to see that which is divine truth in this realm over your illusions, our beloveds.

We say to you it is not so hard to do as you may choose to believe it is, our beloveds. It is only difficult if you choose to create it to be so for yourselves, our beloveds. It is only a challenge if you desire it to be a challenge, our beloveds.

It is simply as easy as standing on the cliff and diving off, our beloveds. We will catch you, our beloveds, you will not fall and break on the rocks below. We will catch you and rise you up into the higher realms and the higher dimensions for this is our role to assist you in all things, our beloveds.

This is why we are all here at this time to assist you in all things. To assist you to unlock the shackles of your limitations that hold you back from connecting with your inner being, your true Divine Self and to fly free of the illusions you have created in this dimension, our beloveds. It is time now to let go and fly. Be free. Blessings in the truth of all that is our beloveds. Blessings be. Namaste.

Serapis Bey.

In’easa mabu Ishtar

Namaste, with Love

Always

Mark

Inner Peace…Achievable?

Published 20/03/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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Achieving ‘Inner Peace’…What!, with all I have going on in my life, what with work, the kids, extra hours trying to learn new things, taking the kids to gym, dance, swimming lessons, looking after the dog, cat and goldfish, ego talking constantly to me to do better, work faster, loose weight etc…Chance would be a fine thing!……Does this or some of it resonate with you?

Well, if it does; then you can achieve ‘Inner Peace’ but you have to make the effort to achieve it, it wont just happen overnight. You need to set yourself up to learn, you need to dedicate time each and every day to meditate, if only for a few minutes…’No excuses, don’t put it off until tomorrow, because as you well know, ‘Tomorrow, never comes‘!

When I first started meditation, i found it hard, i always felt as though I was doing something wrong, everyone i knew or met that meditated looked so calm, they all said how they could go into a deep, calm and reflective space where they connected with themselves, this may be in a garden, or by the ocean, on a mountain top, in a fantasy playground, floating on a cloud etc but for me all I could get was thoughts springing into my mind, thoughts about work, my vacation, children, what i needed to do later that day, i could hear the children, the phone, car horns blaring… but no inner peace. I could not feel the calmness that all my friends were experiencing…So I thought, ‘maybe there is something wrong with me’, or do they really experience that or are they just saying that to make me feel inadequate, perhaps they are also experiencing what I am but don’t really want to tell me!  🙂 Well, I stuck at it, at first for 5 minutes a day, then i tried 5 minutes twice per day, then after a few days i realised i was becoming more calm so i extended to 10 minutes, then twice per day and on and on it went, now I can easily achieve 1 or more hours and these sessions flash by like they were only minutes, i go into a deep quiet place but I am always aware, i can hear all that is going on around me, i feel the touch of the dogs wagging tail, the sounds are still there but now i can control them, i label my thoughts as ‘Thoughts’ and sounds as ‘sounds’ and i welcome connections from my heart, my soul and anyone else that wants to connect with me….I have over time started to achieve inner peace, it is a place of joy, of smiles, of reflection, a place where i can connect to my self, where i can spend quality time with myself, where i can feel my body, be aware of my health and all that ails me and concentrate for once on ‘Me’

Meditation is available to everyone, young or old, rich or poor and it costs you nothing, only time….and in my humble opinion…’Time well spent’ 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend my friends

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Time To let Go, Start Living Your Life and Be Free

Published 16/03/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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I have read and also written many posts regarding ‘Letting Go’, letting go of the past, breaking free from the chains that bind you down and hold you back from enjoying your life and reaching your full potential. These chains, shackles from the past can be of different sorts, they can be relationships, family, work based, life experiences, traumatic events, abuse etc but in the end they are all the same in their effect on your life. Never a day goes by without your mind relating to these past events or experiences, or thinking about ways in which you can change the past, re-connect with the person who grieves you, wishing they would be loving towards you, these experiences conjure up many awful thoughts and bad memories in your mind, they take over your life and effect everything you try to do. For the majority of us we push on with our lives and hope we will feel better, we try to mend the past through the things we try to do in the ‘now’ and also plan things for the future that we hope will take away the pain and make amends for these past experiences which have had so much of a negative effect on our life.

I too have had my own fair share of burdens in this life time, and I’m sure many others in previous lives too, I try to think positively most of the time (highlight on ‘most’ 🙂 ) but those nagging memories just come back time and time again, they continue to bring our morale down and control our lives in the ‘Now’….

So,…’Now’ is the time to take a real stance, it’s time to let go once and for all, to break the chains that shackle us down, that tie our wings to our bodies and restrict our flight.

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We need to smile at the experience, the memory, at a picture of the person or re-connect to the past event and say goodbye, to wish them well and give thanks for the good things we now have in our lives, for all the love we have ‘right now’ and for all the love that is waiting for us on the other side of this experience, we need to break free from these chains, spread our wings and ‘FLY’ move on to pastures green, to a new life of positive possibilities, to live our lives as they should be lived without the burden and weight of these past events…’Now’ is where we should and need to be, always ‘Now’

If you are struggling with the past and need any help breaking free of these chains that hold you back, please reach out and I will be there for you, my sword at the ready breaking those chains that tie your wings my friends…

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Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Hugs For Free Today :)

Published 11/03/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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Go on, you know you want one…Reach out, close your eyes and feel the warmth of my hug, my arms around you, comforting you. It comes to you with my love and best wishes for a wonderful day filled with happiness, joy and peace wherever you are in this world 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Touching base with your Heart & Trusting your Intuition

Published 06/03/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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Touching base with your heart and your soul, easy?…… No!….Achievable?…Yes! 🙂

Our lives are so full of madness…time, the clock, rushing here, rushing there, eating while watching tv, reading the news, checking and responding to emails….working, parenting, relationships,’…their up’s and down’s…children and our fear for their future, challenges at work, career prospects, learning, financial difficulties….Is it all doom and gloom?….Only if you let it be!

I too have been a victim of all these things, my life has been filled with education, doing better, achieving more, working hard, working harder, working more hours, doing more of everything, wanting more of everything, buying for the sake of buying, mounting debt problems, children, the worries of being a parent, relationship challenges, divorce, grieving for the loss of loved ones, changing careers, re-educating myself, starting again, fighting to survive, living on the breadline, finding new love, emerging from the flames, being born again, awakening to the realities of life, becoming aware of what is important in life, caring from the heart, wanting to see change in our world, fighting for change, being frustrated that I cannot do enough, or make change happen overnight…an on; and on the cycle goes….So now what?…Where am I and what does the future hold?

Should I give up, should I buckle down and follow the pack, work every hour god sends, chase the dreams of others, or follow my heart, live in the ‘now’, do as ‘I’; my soul, my higher self wants?….

A dilemma felt by many….., choices…which way to go?…

The choice is yours, either be controlled or be in control….

I choose life, I choose to live in the now, to work in ‘Mindfulness’ of the other sometimes more important things in my life, for my family, for our future, for humanity, for our environment, for Mother Earth, for others less fortunate than I, I choose to serve for the betterment of my self, for my soul. My heart is now free, free to choose which way to go, I listen to my heart, I trust my intuition, I listen with Empathy to others with the intent to understand, and I place my feet firmly down on my own spiritual pathway, the journey which leads me through life with a smile; not a burden of weight placed upon my shoulders by others who want to control my destiny.

Be ‘Mindful’ my dear friends, live your life according to your own destiny, allow yourself the luxury right to enjoy your life to the full, take time out for yourself, connect with your heart and soul through meditation, free your mind from the distractions of modern life, see life as it really is and start enjoying each and every day to the full, see the blueness of the sky or if your sky is grey; see the blueness of the sky up above the clouds, watch the sun rise and set, see the smiles of the children around you , reconnect with your inner child, smile, always smile and breathe….just breathe 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

 

 

Do you Know Love

Published 26/01/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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Those who know Love
Know its facility in all matters,
Others find it useful occasionally
While the broken-hearted bitterly laugh
And deny Love altogether.
Can you hear in their laughter
The sound of Heaven?

God is not to blame for the separation.
He has never turned his back on you.
Blame is the disease
Which blinds you of unity’s truth.

Wake up; the nightmare is over.
The light is in them
As well as in you.
The thinest of veils
Divides the two.
You are one Self.

You are not weak, but strong.
You are not limited, but unlimited.
You are not unloved, but much beloved.
You have suffered only for this,
That you may bless those who suffer still.

Take your time to contemplate the words above my dear friends and think of ways in which you can help others to see that they too are loved, share your love with them and make their day 🙂

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

The Pendulum and the Sage

Published 06/01/2015 by inspiringyourspirit

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The pendulum swings to and fro
From darkness to light
From sickness to health
From goodness to evil
And back again.

It’s enough to make anyone confused.
The sage has found the still point between;
Remaining neutral
He teaches by living a simple, honest life;
He creates by allowing,
He feeds without forcing,
And gives by receiving.

He heals by perceiving
One’s inner wholeness,
Then lets go,
He’s always in touch.

Can you find the still point between?

Meditate on this one my friends 🙂

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Inner Peace, What is it?

Published 24/11/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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It is so easy for us to talk about Inner Peace and what living in the ‘Now’ does for your life, how it brings an end to our suffering and allows us to live in contentment and look at our lives and the world around us with a different set of eyes!

But how easy is it for us to reach this state of ‘Inner Peace’? Well I guess there is no short answer to that question because some of us find ‘Inner Peace’ very quickly whilst others look for it throughout their lives and never actually find it. And for some they gain ‘Inner Peace’ then slip right back into their old ways of living like they are on that never ending diet, loosing weight, gaining fitness only to return to old habits, gain weight and on goes that perpetual circle of life!

I know I have struggled throughout my life, battling with Ego, past life issues, memories of terrible relationships, pain and bad experiences in life but when i actually ‘walk the talk’ and live in the now, when I stop focussing on ‘how stressed I am’ and remember ‘how blessed I am’, my life changes immediately for the better, my health improves rapidly, my smiles bring about other smiles, my laughter heals my pain and I see the world how it should and could be and I gain strength each day to get out there and do some good for mankind and mother earth.

Inner Peace is controlled by you and you alone, once you realize this and start to manage your mind, your life can, and will change for the better…

Go on, give it a try, for once the old saying is true…’The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side’

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

The Fragrance Of Life

Published 06/11/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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The Fragrance Of Life

Walk outside on a summer’s day
Sit yourself down and relax
Feel the warmth of the sun on your face
The gentle breeze in the air
Close your eyes and breathe deep breaths
In through your nose, out through your nose

Concentrate you attention and awareness of your breath
In, Out…In, Out
Notice the fragrances of life in your breath
The sweetness of nectar in the air
Freshly mown grass, bringing new life
The sap on the trees from the lungs of our world
The musky, fruity scent of roses in bloom
Mint, Rosemary, Thyme and Lavender too

Evoke your senses and develop your skills
Concentrate your awareness
Breathe deeply, In, Out….In, Out
The scent evokes and awakens your taste
Maybe the taste of tea from a tea rose
The sweetness of pear, apples or fig
The citrus of oranges or lemon

Life and your senses are a wonderful thing and in your control
Invoke your senses
Enjoy nature, enjoy life

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Wood Greens

“Connection with gardens, even small ones, even potted plants, can become windows to the inner life. The simple act of stopping and looking at the beauty around us can be prayer.”
– Patricia R. Barrett, The Sacred Garden

“The first act of awe, when man was struck with the beauty or wonder of Nature, was the first spiritual experience.”
– Henryk Skolimowski

“Even before I could speak, I remember crawling through blueberry patches in the wild meadows on our hillsides. I quickly discovered Nature was filled with Spirit; I never saw any separation between Spirit and Nature. Much later I discovered our culture taught there was supposed to be some kind of separation – that God, Spirit and Nature were supposed to be divided and different. However, at my early age it seemed absolutely obvious that the church of the Earth was the greatest church of all; that the temple of the forest was the supreme temple. When I went to the sanctuary of the mountain, I found Earth’s natural altar – Great Spirit’s real shrine. Years later I discovered that this path of going into Nature, bonding deeply with it, and seeing Spirit within Nature – God, Goddess, and Great Spirit – was humanity’s most ancient, most primordial path of spiritual cultivation and realization.”
– John P. Milton, Sky Above, Earth Below

“In all things of nature there is something marvellous.”
– Aristotle

Awakening

“In the assemblies of the enlightened ones there have been many cases of mastering the Way bringing forth the heart of plants and trees; this is what awakening the mind for enlightenment is like. The fifth patriarch of Zen was once a pine-planting wayfarer; Rinzai worked on planting cedars and pines on Mount Obaku. … Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment.”
– Dogen Zenji, Japanese Zen Buddhist Grand Master , Awakening the Unsurpassed Mind, #31

Scent is the most potent and bewitching substance in the
gardener’s repertory and yet it is the most neglected and
least understood. The faintest waft is sometimes enough
to induce feelings of hunger or anticipation, or to transport
you back through time and space to a long-forgotten moment
in your childhood. It can overwhelm you in an instant or simply
tease you, creeping into your consciousness slowly and
evaporating almost the moment it is detected. Each fragrance,
whether sweet or spicy, light or heavy, comes upon you
in its own way and evokes its own emotional response.
– Stephen Lacey, Scent in Your Garden, 1991

To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers
is a delectable form of defeat.
– Beverly Nichols

I go to nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in order.
– John Burroughs

My lilac trees are old and tall;
I cannot reach their bloom at all.
They send their perfume over trees
And roof and streets, to find the bees.
– Lousie Driscoll, 1875 – 1957, My Garden Is a Pleasant Place

Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.
– Heinrich Heine

Do You Still Love Yourself, Do You Need a Reminder of How Great You Are?

Published 15/09/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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Some days, I’m not so sure!
I wake up and start my day, I amble out of bed
Feeling tired, lethargic and grumpy
More sleep needed maybe, more time to rest, to lie dormant and be; just me!

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A pick me up coffee to raise my spirits, its heady smell and strong taste slapping me awake like a hand to my face
Or does it help suppress my mind, control my senses and take away my creativity
Breakfast…Oh no, that’s for wimps, no time for that in my busy life
Off to the bathroom for me instead, the slow walk to that place of awakening

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The mirror lies before me, standing proud and tall the size of my wall, no place to hide
I’m naked for my eyes to see, Ohh a sight for sore eyes and not for the faint at heart
Too much fat hiding my chin, my eyes are red and sleepy, lids wanting to close and sleep once again
Plenty of excess around my middle, my arms my hips, my rear, it appeared overnight, I think!

Is my hair receding even further, is that a spot on my face
I’m no teenager, where have they come from, maybe a memory of day’s gone bye
What’s that hair doing coming from my ears and nose, should it not be on my head
It wasn’t there yesterday, my body it would seem to be out of control

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A clean shave is what I need and into the shower I go
The fresh warm water cascading down upon my head
Awakening my body and my soul
Water cleansing, washing away my negativity, bringing life back to my body like rain to a seed

The towel meets my skin, rough and soft all at the same time
The water disappearing into the fabric, leaving my skin soft and dry
A splash of aftershave hits my jaw, awakens my senses to the sweet smell of summer
Stepping into my trousers, and a fresh shirt completes my attire

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Looking into the mirror a new man, a new day, a new opportunity
I love my self again, I’m happy in my skin, I’m proud of what I have achieved
I’m off to start a fresh day, out into our wonderful world, more people to help, more spirits to lift
Opening the door, the sun greets my face it awakens me to mother nature, warm and gentle welcoming me once again

Stepping down my steps I feel my breath, catching the fresh morning air
Feet touching the ground with a steady momentum, taking me on to more challenges in life
I hear the sounds of our world, the noise of the city, millions moving towards their day, but if I listen carefully there is so much more to hear

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The quietness of nature, birds in song, the soft rustling of leaves as the gentle breeze passes through the trees
Mothers walking their children to school, grandparents exercising in the gardens their slow Tai Chi movements, bringing life to their aging bones
Ladies dancing under the trees, awakening their limbs and bringing smiles of joy to their faces

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I am indeed grateful for all I have in my life
I have a gift, the gift of sight, the gift of sound, the gift of smell, and the gift of touch
The ability to realize all that is around me, the gift is LIFE itself
So easy to forget in our crazy non stop world, so easy to loose sight of what we have, So easy to fall into the hands of the media and follow their never ending tales of doom and gloom

I do love my life; I do love my world
I’m thankful and grateful for another day to share this gift with you

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

looking At Myself Is Like Looking Through Mirrors To Infinity

Published 31/07/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

1-Mirror-Box-600x469

My Dear Friends,

Who am I?

You have often read these words within my posts, but as I work in the field of Psychology and Mindfulness I’m often trying to help people understand who they really are. Even I, after all these years of life must from time to time remind myself who I really am. I often reflect and go deep inside myself through meditations and connect to my inner self, to my very being, to my heart and to my soul in order to understand why I am; where I am; in my life.

You can’t see it with the ordinary eye
You can’t hear it with the ordinary ear
You can’t feel it with the ordinary touch
You can’t separate it from light or dark
You can’t approach it from ahead or behind

It’s like a pyramid of mirrors.
Everywhere you look
You see yourself.
Open the pyramid to see whats inside:
The reflection is you.

To define your life is futile;
Don’t get ahead of yourself
Don’t get behind yourself
Don’t compare yourself.
Just be you and enjoy what’s inside.

Consider this: In this present moment God chooses to be you.

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Do You Feel Lonely Some Days? Loneliness: a silent plague that is hurting young people most

Published 23/07/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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Loneliness: a silent plague that is hurting young people most

For young Britons, loneliness is an epidemic – and they are even more likely to fall victim to its insidious dangers than the elderly.
Loneliness has finally become a hot topic – last month, the Office for National Statistics found Britain to be the loneliness capital of Europe. We’re less likely to have strong friendships or know our neighbours than residents anywhere else in the EU, and a relatively high proportion of us have no one to rely on in a crisis. Meanwhile, earlier this year, research by Professor John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago found loneliness to be twice as bad for older people’s health as obesity and almost as great a cause of death as poverty.

But shocking as this is, such studies overlook the loneliness epidemic among younger adults. In 2010 the Mental Health Foundation found loneliness to be a greater concern among young people than the elderly. The 18 to 34-year-olds surveyed were more likely to feel lonely often, to worry about feeling alone and to feel depressed because of loneliness than the over-55s.

“Loneliness is a recognised problem among the elderly – there are day centres and charities to help them,” says Sam Challis, an information manager at the mental health charity Mind, “but when young people reach 21 they’re too old for youth services.” This is problematic because of the close relationship between loneliness and mental health – it is linked to increased stress, depression, paranoia, anxiety, addiction, cognitive decline and is a known factor in suicide. In a new essay, Paul Farmer, the chief executive of Mind, and Jenny Edwards, the chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, say it can be both a cause and effect of mental health problems.

But what can young people do to combat loneliness? Dr Grant Blank, a survey research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, points out that social media and the internet can be a boon and a problem. They are beneficial when they enable us to communicate with distant loved ones, but not when they replace face-to-face contact. “People present an idealised version of themselves online and we expect to have social lives like those portrayed in the media,” says Challis. Comparing friends’ seemingly perfect lives with ours can lead us to withdraw socially.

While meditation techniques such as mindfulness and apps such as Headspace are trendy solutions frequently recommended for a range of mental health problems, they’re not necessarily helpful for loneliness, as they actively encourage us to dwell alone on our thoughts. “You’d be better off addressing the underlying causes of being lonely first – what’s stopping you going out and seeing people?” asks Challis.

Indeed, a study of social media at the University of Michigan last year found that while Facebook reduces life satisfaction, using technology to help you meet new people can be beneficial. And if for whatever reason you are unable to venture outside, the internet can bring solace. Mumsnet has been “an absolute godsend” for Maddy Matthews, 19, a student with a two-month-old daughter. Since the birth, she rarely sees her university friends and her partner works most evenings. “In the first few days, I was up late at night feeding her and I was worried I was doing something wrong. Being able to post on Mumsnet has helped me feel less alone”.

Helplines can also reduce loneliness, at least in the short term. One in four men who call the Samaritans mention loneliness or isolation, and Get Connected is a free confidential helpline for young people, where they can seek help with emotional and mental health issues often linked to loneliness. There are also support services on websites such as Mind’s that can remind you you’re not alone.

At work, it can be beneficial to tell your employer how you’re feeling. John Binns, a Mind trustee and former Deloitte partner who advises businesses on mental health and wellbeing, was admitted to hospital for stress-related depression in 2007 and took two months off work. He felt as if there was no one to talk to and wasn’t close enough with colleagues for them to notice change in his behaviour. Greater openness with his employer and colleagues made his return to work easier. “Often people find that colleagues are more supportive than they’d expected. Mine started to reach out, asking me to lunch and reassuring me that the world hadn’t moved on that much since I’d left.”

Office chitchat may seem like a waste of time, but it helps to cushion us from the emotional and psychological effects of work strain. “If you form connections with your team, you might be stressed, but not isolated,” says Rick Hughes, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s (BACP) lead adviser for workplace.

“We treat the networks we have as incidental, but they’re fundamental to our wellbeing,” says Nicky Forsythe, a psychotherapist and the founder of Talk for Health, a social enterprise that trains people to give and receive peer support in groups. “The most important thing is to have a regular time and place to reflect on your life and to have an empathic listener.”

For developing personal skills such as empathy, counselling can help. “A problem aired is a problem shared and sometimes you need to talk to someone impartial and independent of your friends and family,” says Hughes. Most universities offer students such counselling and many run group sessions that specifically address loneliness.

If recent research is to be believed, loneliness is killing the elderly and, with an ageing population, we should aim to reduce our isolation before it is too late. “Getting older doesn’t have to mean getting lonelier,” says Ruth Sutherland, the chief executive of Relate, in a new report. “But much of this rests on laying the foundations to good-quality relationships earlier in life.”

Article written by Natalie Gil
The Guardian, Sunday 20 July 2014 16.00 BST

So What can we do to combat loneliness when it enters our lives?

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This is a very important thing to remember, we don’t need to worry about what other people think about us, all that matters is what we think about ourselves!

We are driven to believe that all in the world is rosy, that money and things bring us happiness and if you are rich and famous your life is full of friends and therefore happiness, however reality tells us that this is simply not true! Happiness starts within, so please don’t fool yourself and keep looking outside for that miracle cure to your unhappiness, start by going inside, meditate and connect with your inner self, get to know and love yourself, be happy and grateful for what you are, who you are and what you have in your life right now. Once you have done this you will raise your own levels of self-esteem and energy automatically, you will feel better in your own skin and you will start living your life in happiness and that happiness will raise the happiness of others you come into contact with and their happiness will increase your happiness and the circle of life continues.

So; my dear friends, don’t allow loneliness to control your life, stand up to it, fight it off with all your strength, look at the little things in your life that bring a smile to your face and use those moments of joy to bring further joy to your heart.

If you would like any help, I’m always here for you, if you need someone to talk to, I’m always here for you. If you would like a chat via Skype, I’m always here for you and remember; we are never alone unless we allow ourselves to be alone!

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Quietness

Published 06/06/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Yongfu Monastery

Quietness.

Rare perfection seems incomplete,
Yet does not decay

Rare abundance seems empty,
Yet does not fail

A rare truth seems contradictory;
Rare cleverness seems stupid;

Rare eloquence seems awkward.

As spring overcomes the cold,
And autumn overcomes the heat,
So do calm and quiet
overcome the world.

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Walking, Just Walking in Peace.

Published 27/05/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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As I walk, I walk in peace
One step at a time, one step at a time
No priorities, no judgment, no destination
Just walking in peace, walking in peace

My feet touch the ground, I’m home, I’m home
At home, in love and in awe of mother earth
She saves me, provides for me and protects me,
The mother of all, our keeper, our life
One step at a time, one step at a time, she gives life to our world

The rays of the sun caressing my skin, awakens my senses and lighting my way
The wind gently cooling my brow, filling my lungs with compassion and love
Birds sing in the trees, their games of love on wings above, flying so high touching the sky
As I walk in peace, one step at a time making my way through life

I stop, close my eyes and just be
Listening to the world that surrounds me
The bees gently working their magic, passing the love from bud to bud
The flowers in bloom their scent, pure passion and love

My breath is slow, in out, in out, my mind empty of thought, pure calm
Aware of my surroundings a joy to behold, a picture of joy unfolding before me
A wonderful world with so much to offer, plenty for everyone and free for us all
If only we could all walk in peace, walk in peace

One step at a time, one step at a time
Our world is forever changing, one step at a time, one step at a time
On the road to peace, the road to peace
A new world of happiness, of love, peace and joy is unfolding
One step at a time, one step at a time

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Gratitude, Be Thankful For Your Day

Published 26/05/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

My dear friends,

I posted this video a year or so ago but when I woke up this morning I realised how thankful I am to be me and I have so much in my life to be grateful for. This past weekend has been simply wonderful and I have seen so many happy loving faces, experienced the beauty of nature and had the opportunity to eat lovely food and spend time with beautiful people so I felt it was about time I shared this video with you again in celebration of my re-awakening this morning.

Just a few things i’m continually grateful for.

My lovely wife, her smile, her boundless energy and deep support and love for me
My four wonderful children, their differences and their love for who they are, their friends and their lives
My two wonderful puppies, their endless energy and unconditional love for us
My Life, my health and the gifts I was born with
My work and what that has enabled me to do during my lifetime
My education and how it has helped me throughout my life and how learning keeps me young at heart and of mind
The beautiful sunny day
The birds singing in the gardens below my window
My colleagues for all they do for me, for each other and for our clients
My blog, my blogging friends all around the world, your continued support and friendship amazes me daily
The fresh food I made up for my lunch and the freshly ground coffee
My spiritual awareness and practice and the gifts that allow me to help others who need my support
My weekend and the chance to travel to another province in China
For the smiles I see and the joy that brings to my heart
The thought of peace
My meditations and mindfulness practice
My love for my wife, my children, my family, my friends, my colleagues, humanity and mother earth

I do hope you will take the time to stop for a while and to watch this wonderful video and I hope it will bring as much joy and happiness to you as i has done for me

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

I See

Published 22/05/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

I See

I see your indifference
But I want to warm the cold heart
I see,
In fact, I am yet to accept your indifference

I see your pain
But I want to end the pain
I see,
In fact, I did not accompany your pain

I see your selfishness
But I judge your selfishness
I see,
In fact, it was driven by my selfishness

I see your anger
But try to get rid of your anger
I see,
In fact, I did not let you feel angry

I see your anxiety
But I feel worry about your anxiety
I see,
In fact, I start being anxious
I see your weakness
But I do not know which hand shall I use to give you a hug
I see,
In fact, I am feeling weak now as well

I see your beauty
And I appreciate your beauty
I see,
I am getting beautiful now as well

I see your kindness
And I am delighted with your kindness
I see,
Originally I have such kindness as well

I see you are true
And believing in your truth
I see,
Originally I am also being true

I see you are firm
And see the gentle accompanying
I see,
I am firm and gentle now

I see you are strong
And feeling the flexibility of the strength
I see,
I start having such power now
I see your humbleness
And feeling the self-confidence inside
I see,
I start am being humble as well

I see your peacefulness
And feeling the peaceful mercy
I see,
I am walking towards mercies now

I see your open-heart
And hugging your open-heart
I see,
In fact, I am opening my heart as well
I see you giving
Without any condition
I see,
In fact, I am learning how to share myself

I see your purity
Simply just,
Do what you want to do
Love who you want to love
Walk on the road you want to
Cry when you feel pain
Laugh when you feel happy
Rest when you feel tired
Go on when you are fine
I see myself too

If only see it, that’s only seeing
And accepting what we see
But not immediately thinking what shall be changed
Through seeing
I see myself
And I also see
The original purity and completeness of life

seeing the light

我看见你的冷漠
却想去温暖这个冷漠
我看到
其实我还没接纳你的冷漠
我看见你的痛苦
却想去结束这个痛苦
我看到
其实我并没有陪伴你的痛苦

我看见你的自私
却去评判你的自私
我看到
其实真正涌动的是我的自私
我看见你的愤怒
却想躲开你的愤怒
我看到
其实我没有允许你可以愤怒

我看见你的焦虑
却去担心你的焦虑
我看到
其实我已开始陷入焦虑
我看见你的无力
却不知道要伸哪只手来抱你
我看到
其实当下我也无力
我看见你的美丽
并欣赏着你的美丽
我看到
当下我也开始美丽
我看见你的善良
并喜悦着你的善良
我看到
原本我亦善良
我看见你的真实
并相信着你的真实
我看到
原本我也如此真实
我看见你的坚定
并看到相守的温柔
我看到
我正坚定并且温柔
我看见你的坚强
并感受着柔韧的力量
我看到
我正承接到这样的力量
我看见你的谦卑
并感受到内在的自信
我看到
我也开始低头谦卑

我看到你的淡定
并感受到平静的慈悲
我看到
我正在走近慈悲
我看见你的敞开
并拥抱你的敞开
我看到
其实我也正在敞开

我看见你的付出
不带任何条件
我看到
其实我也学会将自己分享

我看见你的纯粹
只是
做自己想做的事
爱自己想爱的人
走自己想走的路
痛了就哭，喜了就笑
累了就歇，好了就走
我也看到了自己

如果对于看见
只是看见
并接纳所有的看见
而不要想要马上去改变
透过看见
我看见了自己
也看到
生命原本的纯粹与全然

Allow your emotions and feelings to enter your life without judgement

Published 19/05/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

The guest house

The ‘Guest House’ A fantastic way to think about our emotions and feelings. Welcome them into your life, don’t judge them for they may be coming to you for a reason!

Mindfulness and meditation practice allows us the valuable time to connect deeply with our inner self, to spend time with ourself and to listen to what is going on with our mind, body and soul. Lets take a quick look at emotions and feelings through the use of meditation and mindfulness and as Rumi says, ‘welcome them into our guesthouse’.

As we sit or lie and start our meditation, we close our eyes and relax our body, concentrate on our breath, in and out, in and out, we can take our time to bring our awareness to our breath, focussing our attention only on our breath, the feeling of our breath as it raises our stomach, inflates our chest or the coolness of the air entering through our nose, the key is to allow the time for our mind to become calm and concentrating on the breath certainly helps us do this, it may take you some time because you may; at the beginning get caught up with thoughts flashing into your mind, you will hear sounds which break your concentration, feel an itch, cough, hear your children playing, the phone ringing etc, but please take my word for it; with practice it gets easier 🙂 So, back to our breath, in and out, in and out, feel the cool air entering your nose, in and out, in and out, feel the air inflating your chest, be aware of the gap/time in -between the top of your in-breath and before the out=breath starts, then feel the air slowly leaving your lungs, moving up through your throat and up and out of your nose, in and out, in and out. If your mind starts to wander, don’t worry, its normal, just recognise the fact that it happened and bring your focus back to the breath, in and out, in and out.

As thoughts enter your mind place a label on them ‘thought’ or thinking’, you can label them more deeply if it help you like such as ‘ work’, ‘children’, chores’ or whatever helps, but try to regain your composure and bring your awareness back to your breath, in and out, in and out.

Emotions and feelings may arise  like ‘Happiness’ or ‘Anxiety’, if they come; then accept them in, concentrate on your breath, in and out, in and out, what is ‘Happiness’ why are you feeling Happy? Concentrate on your breath and get acquainted with the emotion of’ happiness’, where did it come from and what are the feelings behind it, maybe your feeling so happy that you have given yourself some time for yourself, maybe your heart is telling you it loves you. This is your journey of discovery so enjoy the feeling. If ‘Anxiety arrives, then accept it too, why is it there, what made it arrive? Do you feel anxious because your spending valuable time on yourself? does that make you anxious? Are you anxious of not knowing the outcome? Are you anxious of time and wanting the session to end? Get acquainted with the emotion and allow it to come and to go.

Concentrate on your breath, in and out, in and out.

 

find-your-way-home-rumi

 

Also from Rumi as posted by Dr Victoria Lee

The purpose of emotion
A certain sufi tore his robe in grief,

and the tearing brought such relief….

his teacher understood the purity

of the action while others

just saw the jagged appearance.

If you want peace and purity

tear away the coverings.

This is the purpose of emoton, to let

a streaming beauty flow through you.

Call it spirit, elixir, or the original

agreement between yourself and God.

Opening into that gives peace, a song of

being empty,

pure silence.

In this poem, dear Rumi guides us once again toward deepening our spiritual experience. Stripping away the covering imposed by the false self is always the path. This means letting go of our attachment to the ideas we have about ourselves, as well as to the ideas others have about us. The most fundamental of these may be our limiting beliefs–I am incapable, the world is too harsh, I am too old, too young, too attached to obligations, too unable to feel anything transcendent, too ____; when we allow all that to dissolve, Rumi famously tells us that we will find glints of treasure in the dirt of the demolition of the house we’ve built out of false ideas about who we are. Then the streaming beauty emotion is meant to allow us can flow through us.

Then we may look in the mirror–and in every human and animal face–and know that:

Inside you are sweet beyond telling. There is a sun in everyone!

May you look in the mirror today, dear visitor, and look deeply into any human face; look into the eyes of a child. See the longing and see the beauty!

 

Mindfulness and meditation my dear friends can bring you so much awareness and help you come to terms with your emotions, feelings and pain.

Good luck on your personal journey of discovery.

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Your Life In The Mirror

Published 13/04/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

This Mirror LifeR (1)

If you place a mirror in front of you, what do you see? And does it portray the same as what you see in others around you?

I hope the reflection that you see when you look into the mirror is joyous, happy, kind, caring, compassionate and loving!

Namaste With Love
Always

Mark

18 Things Mentally Strong people do with their lives

Published 10/04/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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18 Things Mentally Strong people do with their lives

1) They Move On:

Most often we find it difficult to move on from our past, we try and we are constantly reminded to do so …but the past keeps coming back and our Ego drives it home, time and time again! But truth is, we must move on and if were finding this a hard one to crack then we should always seek help because the past will not help you but it will certainly hold you back!

2) They Keep Control:

Mentally strong people are always in control of their lives and they are relentless in keeping this control. No one can and should control your live…only YOU, so make a difference to your life and take control of it NOW!

3) They Embrace Change:

Change is good, change brings new things and new opportunities to our lives, change brings a breath of fresh air to our lives, so embrace it and enjoy what a new day and a new tomorrow will bring you.

4) They Stay Happy:

They don’t complain, they don’t waste energy on things they can’t control and they stay happy, positivity leads to more happiness, happiness attracts happiness…So, start today with a smile and end it with a smile, BE HAPPY!

5) They Are Kind:

Mentally strong people are certainly kind; they are fair and unafraid to speak up. They don’t worry about pleasing other people because they are confident in everything they do in knowing that kindness begets kindness and kindness is LOVE and Love is everything.

6) They Are Willing To Take Calculated Risks:

They always weigh up the risks before taking action. In life; we all have to make choices and take some risks but we are often controlled by our Ego and our either too high or too low levels of skepticism, this leads us to back off from some great opportunities that may well have lead us to more freedom, new relationships, a better job or career, longer term success and ultimate happiness! So, do like they do, map out the pros and cons and take some calculated risks.

7) They Invest Their Energy In The Present:

Don’t dwell on the past, and don’t spend your time worrying about the future move on and live in the ‘Present’ because the ‘Present’ is where LIFE Happens!

8) The Accept Full Responsibility For Their Past Behaviour:

They don’t make the same mistakes over and over again, they live and they learn and accept what has happened thus far in their lives, in short they take ownership and are accountable for their actions, good or bad and then move on to bigger and better things!

9) They Celebrate Other Peoples Success:

Positive, mentally strong people are always happy to toast and celebrate the success of others, they don’t hold a grudge, they have no jealousy for what others have achieved and they gain strength from the law of attraction, success breads success as does happiness begets happiness!

10) They Are Willing To Fail:

Successful, mentally strong people don’t give up after failing, they see every failure as a stepping stone to the next opportunity and gain strength from learning in the process.

11) They Enjoy Their Time Alone:

They don’t fear being alone. Alone time is good, it allows us to reconnect with our inner self, to be at peace with our soul and gain clarity to our journey. Use this alone time well, meditate and learn from your higher self because your higher self will never let you down.

12) They Are Prepared To Work And Succeed On Their Own Merits:

They don’t feel the world owes them anything, it’s their responsibility; they are in charge of their destiny…No one else!

13) They Have Staying Power:

They don’t expect immediate results, ‘Rome was not built in a day’, ‘A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With The First Step’, ‘If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try and Try Again’……In short, please remember, ‘Don’t Give Up because you never know how close to success you were when you give up!

14) They Evaluate Their Core Beliefs:

And they constantly check on them as they move on with their lives, things change so they modify as needed.

15) They Expend Their Mental Energy Wisely:

They don’t spend time on unproductive thoughts or pastimes, they surround themselves with positive; like-minded people and they focus on the end goal/s and they don’t waste energy on things of non-importance.

16) They Think Productively:

They replace negative thoughts with productive thoughts, E.g., Lets do it rather than I’ll try

17) They Tolerate Discomfort:

They accept their feelings without being controlled by them. I.e. getting up 1 hours earlier every morning to go to the gym may be a challenge and cause additional work but its for the greater good so they tolerate the discomfort of getting up early in order to maintain better heath and give them greater energy to do even more with their lives.

18) They Reflect On Their Progress:

Every day they take time to consider what they have achieved, what needs to be changes and where they are going.

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

I Am……?

Published 09/04/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

I am

I AM,
Two of the most powerful words in our language; for what you put after them shapes your life and your reality.

Choose wisely and positively my friends….

I would love to hear which words you would choose for yourself?

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Blessed
Thankful
Grateful
Compassionate
Empathetic
Loving
Happy
Faithful
Joyful
Kind Hearted
Peaceful
Kind
Beautiful
Giving
Resourceful
Daring
Passionate
Forgiving
Loyal
Intuitive
Selfless
Open
Mindful
Appreciative
Friendly
Affectionate
Caring
Devoted
Conscientious
Enthusiastic
Noble
Positive
Healthy
Fantastic
Patient
Helpful
Inspirational
Optimistic
Trusting
Trustworthy

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