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Post by stef on Feb 27, 2006 11:13:12 GMT
Put worry in Perspective
There is a difference between concern and worry. Concern is reasoned and purposeful, based on tracking a logic of cause and effect: we might shut all the windows before leaving the house, concerned that the wind might knock over a vase of flowers. Worry lacks the logicality of concern. It tends to concentrate on pointless wishing that we could change the past, or dwelling on the unavoidable aspects of the future. Banish worry by realising that it is incapable of solving a single one of your problems.
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Post by stef on Feb 28, 2006 10:31:49 GMT
Listen to Your Inner Voice
Every day we encounter a multitude of viewpoints in the world around us. This infinite variety of opinions and concepts enriches our understanding of life. However, unless we have complete trust in our own inner voice, the conflicting voices of the world can confuse us. Always follow the advice of your conscience - if you listen to your inner voice, you will follow your true course in life and, in doing so, find peace.
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Post by stef on Mar 1, 2006 21:32:25 GMT
Be Kind
Inner strength does not come mostly from the compassion or kindness of others toward us, but from goodness toward others. We each carry within us the power to enrich the world by simple actions: a spontaneous act of kindness, whether toward your partner, a friend, or even a complete stranger, will lift your spirits and bring its own blessings.
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Post by stef on Mar 2, 2006 18:59:26 GMT
Value Yourself
We can all feel liberated by exploring new aspects of ourselves - hidden treasures that remind us of the richness of our being. Never fear the discovery of the bounty within yourself - welcome it, for it will encourage self-insight and self-understanding. When you become aware of any of these treasures, visualize them as often as you can, and direct your energy into bringing them to life.
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Post by stef on Mar 4, 2006 9:51:38 GMT
Tame Anxieties through Music
In Greek mythology, Orpheus charmed the animals with his lyre and voice. Find a song or piece of music which has relaxing connotations for you. Imagine that all your anxieties are animals in a forest - family concerns may be bees buzzing furiously; work worries may be bucking deer. Now bring to mind your piece of music and hear its melody in your head. With each phrase of the tune the animals are calmed and a natural state of peace is restored.
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Post by stef on Mar 5, 2006 2:38:23 GMT
Think Positive
Learn to control your feelings through good thoughts. Monitor your thoughts closely, and when a negative one creeps in, check yourself and substitute something positive. Discarding and replacing a negative thought with a positive one in this way helps us to send out benevolent emotions into the world, and draw goodness back.
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Post by stef on Mar 7, 2006 16:03:47 GMT
Just Be
We tend to believe that the path to inner peace is built on ardous change - the idea that we have to alter ourselves or our surroundings in order to relax. However, true relaxation comes from being, not doing, and the more we seek peace through inaction, the more tangible that peace becomes.
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Post by stef on Mar 8, 2006 20:51:56 GMT
Use Images to Prime Peaceful Sleep
Some people are able to cue restful dreams by meditating on their desired subject - perhaps a favourite landscape, or a cherished friend, or spiritual fulfillment - for a few minutes before they go to bed. An image fresh in our minds as we drift to sleep might well be carried into the unconscious. Although success is not assured, this cueing method can be used experimentally as a first-aid technique to counteract troubled dreams.
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Post by stef on Mar 10, 2006 8:03:21 GMT
Allow Thoughts to Evolve
Imagine the formidable creative power of the natural world - caterpillars turning into butterflies, new buds springing from a pruned tree. Think of your own ideas in the same way - you have an infinite capacity to spin one idea out of another, in an endless, evolutionary succession. You are the emperor of the world of thought - potentially as powerful as anyone who ever lived.
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Post by stef on Mar 12, 2006 17:55:44 GMT
Call a Truce with Time
Many of us live as though time were our enemy, constantly fighting the clock to get things done. We should remember, though, that seconds, minutes, and hours are illusory, for the clock is a human invention. At weekends, and during time away from work, take off your watch and go about your tasks as and when you wish. Allow your body to re-establish its own natural rhythm and, as it does so, feel yourself relax - you have called a truce with time.
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Post by stef on Mar 13, 2006 19:44:50 GMT
Find Value in Opposites
Our world is composed of opposites: light and dark, male and female, positive and negative. In the Chinese yin-yang symbol opposing forces are represented as interdependent, each carrying within it the seed of the other. Hidden in even the gloomiest outlook there is always a tiny spark of hope. Imagine this hope as a beam of light piercing the darkness and shining forth to reinforce your faith in your own beliefs - and to remind you of the value in the beliefs that others hold.
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Post by stef on Mar 14, 2006 12:15:25 GMT
Discover the Insights of Your Dreams
There is no way to confirm the validity of dream symbolism: the unconscious runs no helpline. But if, in a spirit of courageous truth-seeking, we start to explore possible meanings from dream symbols, there is no doubt that we will arrive at constructive insights. In time, these insights are likely to calm a turbulent mind: with self-understanding comes a more relaxed attitude to life, and with this comes more restful sleep.
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Post by stef on Mar 15, 2006 21:33:30 GMT
Have Confidence in the Future
Imagine yourself looking out through the window of the present: a peaceful scene of beautiful countryside stretches out before you. This is the land of all our tomorrows. In your mind's eye, open the window and let in the gentle winds of change. Try to sense the warm summer breeze brush reassuringly against your cheeks. You can let go of the past: there is nothing to fear from the future - embrace it with confidence.
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Post by stef on Mar 17, 2006 19:07:40 GMT
Trust in Life's Flow
As the laws of nature reign supreme over all living things, we should realize that our lives, too, have a natural pattern. If you are having difficulty achieving the desired results in a particular situation, it may be that you are trying to force the issue. Instead, have the courage to let go and trust in your life's natural flow, for what is rightly yours will come to you and nothing happens before its designated time.
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Post by stef on Mar 18, 2006 13:11:40 GMT
Be Grateful for Diversity
When you come across views that are at odds with your own, think of them as the countless seeds in a pomegranate fruit - many tiny parts together making up a whole, which reflects the rich diversity of all creation. Remember, criticism only generates discord, but tolerance and compassion create peace and harmony.
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