mindfulness

I began to think about how many people were involved in the making of my shirt. I started by imagining the farmer who grew the cotton. Next, the hundreds or even thousands of people involved in the manufacturing of the tractor. And all the designers of the tractor. Then, of course the people who processed the cotton, the people who wove the cloth, and the people who cut, dyed and sewed that cloth. The cargo workers and the truck drivers who delivered the shirt to the store and the sales person who sold the shirt to me. It occurred to me that virtually every aspect of my life came about as the results of others' efforts.
-Howard Cutler, M.D.

Become part of it. . .

Take hold of your own life.
See that the whole existence is celebrating.
These trees are not serious,
these birds are not serious.
The rivers and the oceans are wild,
and everywhere there is fun,
everywhere there is joy and delight.
Watch existence,
listen to the existence
and become part of it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.

- Osho

So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness dancing

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:
So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
Whisper of running streams, and winter lightning.
The wild thyme unseen and the wild strawberry,
The laughter in the garden, echoed ecstasy
Not lost, but requiring, pointing to the agony
Of death and birth

I said to my soul, be still, and let the dark come upon you
Which shall be the darkness of God. As, in a theater,
The lights are extinguished, for the scene to be changed
With a hollow rumble of wings, with a movement of darkness on darkness,
And we know that the hills and the trees, the distant panorama
And the bold imposing facade are all being rolled away.

By, T. S. Elliot

Tips for Staying Focused on Goals

- Set a clear goal

- Keep your goals private or only share with others who will be 100% supportive.

- Avoid all things, people, and thoughts that don't reinforce your goals.

- Do things that reinforce your goals. Take action and maintain positive thoughts even if you don't believe them all at first.

- Break your goal down into small stepping stones. After all, we cannot cross a chasm in one giant leap, we must jump from stone to stone.

- Consistently track your process with a notes and charts.

- Reward yourself for every small increment of success.

- Use visual reminders specific to your goal.

- Talk to yourself within your mental dialogue as you would talk to a child who is trying something new. Even if it sounds silly it will only be inside your head, nurture yourself and and offer unconditional praise and support.

"Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow."