POSITIVE VISION

 Having a Positive Vision of ourselves is a great therapy in being happy with who we are, regardless of certain faults and failings we might believe we have.

Certain situations and circumstances may reveal our shortcomings, and so we can forget the value of being human and vulnerable.  These are the very qualities that allow others to love us.

A Positive Vision teaches us to become compassionate towards others, and also to be compassionate in regard to ourselves too.  We learn to see the wonderful side of human nature, where love is welcomed and appreciated.

Perhaps Nature is a way of reaffirming this truth. The flowers bloom and add colour and beauty to our World, and yet they must fade away, leaving us with the austere beauty of winter.

So, one could say, a Positive Vision is essential if we are to develop as a loving person, able and willing to welcome love into our lives.

LIBERTY

LIBERTY

The word, LIBERTY may not be so easily used today, yet is so much a part of our history. Looking back on historic occasions, we hear the cry of Liberty!

Nowadays, Freedom is more commonly used, and we can be precious about our need and right to be free.  Of course, there will be times when even our sense of freedom will be misunderstood or even ignored. What can we do then, I wonder?

Perhaps, coming back to our regard for Liberty and an awareness of how precious and wonderful it is to be liberated, we can forget the importance of always having a high standard in our lives.

Liberty teaches us how to value the gift of life, and especially the knowledge that being liberated means having the freedom to love. 

Life is a wonderful gift to have and cherish and even more especially to garnish with a desire and energy for putting love into all we do. 

PEACE of MIND

PEACE of MIND...

To be at peace with oneself is a wonderful state of mind.  The World may seem to fall apart, yet Peace of Mind takes prominence, then all is well.

Awhile ago, I caught a bad cold, followed with a loss of appetite.  Immediately I thought of Covid and side effects related to it.  However, I tested negative which was a relief to me, living in community with others etc.

A doctor's visit prompted me to find reassurance that I was not 'on the way out' , just one of many with symptoms of influenza.  The best cure was found with hot drinks and plenty of rest, allowing the body to heal itself. 

This proved to be a wonderful lesson for me,  to realise the effect of stress when one worries instead of keeping the mind at peace.  I was reminded of a  special saint of old, Teresa of Avila, who had a great saying... 'This too will pass.  Peace of Mind prevails!'

ADVENTURE

A life of Adventure is always enjoyable.  It could be travelling to somewhere new, presenting us with the challenge of doing new things / new experiences, taking us away from the mundane happenings in our lives.

Or, it could be something simple, meeting an old friend/ playing a game of cards, or learning a new language or skill. Whatever is new to us will become an invitation, a chance to be adventurous. 

So many things can be presented to us, and if we have this spirit of adventure we will respond positively.  We may be afraid of failing, or not being able to do something, yet this is a chance to step forward, willing and able to become more than we are at present.  

Ignore whatever feelings of fear that may come to mind. We are being invited to become a better and more able person, so let's step up to the mark and embrace a life of adventure!

DIGNITY

A person of Dignity is a friend worth having because they help us to be true to ourselves, and become dignified in all we do and say, fulfilling our aims at becoming a truly balanced person.

Of course, we know how flawed and imperfect human nature can be, and often is, yet in spite of our failings we have the grace and ability to become a loving and caring person.

A lot depends on our values in life, and how and what we value because this gives us our motivation in life, and leads us on to better ourselves, regardless of how many faults and weaknesses we possess.

For some, growing up in a certain environment has imprinted on them standards and values that will help to move them forward in life, able and willing to become an even better person. 

Just like the seeds in a garden, if the soil is of good quality and the gardeners have a love for the work they do, watering the plants and separating them from weeds and whatever else might effect their growth and development, the seeds will blossom into a natural beauty, adding pleasure to all who see them.

Each of us have a chance and a choice to be in the company of the Gardener who knows how to love and develop all that pertains to His work. In this way, we will become beautiful in the eyes of the World!

 

COMPASSION

 We live in a great World where almost anything and everything is possible, even the idea of living on another Planet, however I love this wonderful place we call Earth!

There is so much to be found; the seasons offer us a magnificent display of natural beauty in winter / spring/ summer/ autumn, delighting us with such diversity of colour and places to visit whenever we can.

Of course, there are so many imperfections to be found, if one is occupied with faultfinding;  so many disasters take place; earthquakes / tsunamies / volcanoes erupting etc. Some programs on uTube delight in showing the horrors of the Earth's faults which could well cause us to wonder...  Why?

Perhaps, more importantly we need to address the lack of caring which seems to be present today.  We want to be loving and caring people, yet are we? Has something happened to us, causing us to care less?

These are questions I often ask myself lately. What kind of a person am I? Do I really have compassion for those who are afflicted by disasters?  

Perhaps, the Earth is reflecting the lack of compassion in our World, and this could well be causing the many happenings that we feel should not be, yet are. 

So, is it my fault that this beautiful World of ours is weeping and displaying such stressful examples of how disturbed it is. A gardener once told me that her garden reflects how she feels, and when she is absorbed happily caring for the flowers and plants, they somehow respond to her love.

I wonder, could this be a way of learning how to love,  by respecting and loving  Mother Earth!

LOOK FORWARD...

 Look Forward is a great way to be positive to all the many new happenings in our lives. We may like to remain as we are, happy with what we have, yet it doesn't work!

Looking forward to new happenings, even if it means being fearful, or anxious or whatever spikes our life, can always be the best way to deal with change. Life does not remain static. We are in the flow of change and by embracing whatever is New, will give us the positive energy to enjoy life.

We used to have an automatic car which I loved. However, change happens and I found myself back to re-learning how to use manual gears. To some people this would only be a matter of practise, yet for me it seemed the end of my ability to drive, I was terrified.  Somehow, I felt unable to change...

Could I?  Would I? Will I?  With a little encouragement from friends, and time spent practising, I realised that by being willing to learn, change happens and one can move on with life, and look forward when new changes happen, and they will!