Dear Seeker...

Dear Seeker, you have asked to grow. Do not turn back because you think the road will be hard. No, meet the day. Meet the obstacle with an inner resolve that says "I GOT THIS". You will never be given more than you can handle, so step out into today confidently knowing that "YOU GOT THIS".

Wake up, see life as it is, get in touch with your feelings (good and bad) and live life out loud - now THAT is an adventure! But not without hardship, not without sacrifice, not without you becoming STRONGER and EMOTIONALLY FIT.

Don't ask for a lighter load, as they say, ask for stronger muscles.

You are on The Path. It's time to step into your Highest Self.

by: Mastin Kipp

Thich Nhat Hanh, spiritual teacher, founded the Unified Buddhist Church.

Dear friends in Japan,

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.

The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body.

An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what's most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us.

Here in France and at our practice centers all over the world, our brothers and sisters will continue to chant for you, sending you the energy of peace, healing and protection. Our prayers are with you.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, spiritual teacher, founded the Unified Buddhist Church.

My sketches inspired by Natalie Hamade

http://suziblu.ning.com/profile/NatalieHamade

8 Tips for Feeling Happier During an Unhappy Time.

1. Remind yourself of reasons to be grateful. When things look really dark, it's hard to feel grateful, but remembering what's good in your life can help put problems into perspective. I have a friend who recently suffered a big disappointment at work. She said to me, "As long as my family is healthy, I can't get too upset about anything." This may sound like hackneyed advice, but it's really true.

 2. Remember your body. Take a twenty-minute walk outside to boost your energy and dissolve stress. Don’t let yourself get too hungry. Get enough sleep. Manage pain. When you’re anxious, it’s easy to stay up late and eat ice cream -- and that’s going to make you feel worse in the long run. It's very tempting to run yourself ragged trying to deal with a crisis, but in the long run, you just wear yourself out.

3. Do something fun. Temporarily distract yourself from the stress, and re-charge your battery, with an enjoyable activity. Watching a funny movie is a reliable way to give yourself a pleasant break, and listening to your favorite music is one of the quickest ways to change your mood. When my older daughter was in the intensive-care unit as a newborn, my husband dragged me off to a movie one afternoon -- and that few hours of distraction made me much better able to cope with the situation. Be careful, however, not to “treat” yourself by doing something that’s eventually going to make you feel worse (taking up smoking again, drinking too much, indulging in retail therapy). My comfort-food activity is reading children's literature.

4. Take action. If you’re in a bad situation, take steps to bring about change. If you’re having trouble with your new boss, you could decide to try to transfer. Or you could change your behavior. Or you could find ways to pay less attention to your boss. Ask yourself, "What exactly is the problem?" It's astounding to me that often, when I take time to identify a problem exactly, a possible solution presents itself.

5. Look for meaning. Re-frame an event to see the positive along with the negative. Maybe getting fired will give you the push you need to move to the city where you’ve always wanted to live. Maybe your illness has strengthened your relationships with your family. You don’t need to be thankful that something bad has happened, but you can try to find positive consequences even in a catastrophic event.

6. Connect with friends and family. Strong relationships are a KEY to happiness, so fight the impulse to isolate yourself. Show up. Make plans. Ask for help, offer your help to others. Or just have some fun (see #3) and forget your troubles for a while.

7. Make something better. If something in your life has gotten worse, try to make something else better – and it doesn’t have to be something important. Clean a closet. Organize your photographs. Work in the yard.

8. Act toward other people the way you wish they’d act toward you. If you wish your friends would help you find someone to date, see if you can fix up a friend. If you wish people would help you find a job, see if you can help someone else find a job. If you can’t think of a way to help someone you know, do something generous in a more impersonal way. For instance: commit to being an organ donor! When you’re feeling very low, it can be hard to muster the energy to help someone else, but you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel. Do good, feel good; it really works.

What other strategies have you used to make yourself happier during an unhappy time?

* I spent a lot of time reading -- and looking at the lovely photos -- on the blogSouleMama.

* Is your book group reading The Happiness Project? (I know a lot of groups have been waiting for the paperback release.) I've prepared a one-page discussion guide for book groups, as well as a guide tailored for church groups, spirituality book groups, and the like. If you'd like either discussion guide (or both), email me at gretchenrubin1 at gmail dot com. (Don't forget the "1.")

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2011/03/8-tips-for-feeling-happier-during-an-unhappy-time.html

Slave or Servant

I'm feeling a little 'empty' today. So when I feel that way I go searching. And the Uni-Verse helped me to come across this... just what I needed to be reminded of!

Unconscious Slave or Conscious Servant?

Examples of slavery (implying disconnection and contraction; brain-centered):

• Judgment of anyone, anytime, for anything
• Competitive comparison to others
• Obsessive striving for perfection
• Saying you’ll do something and then not doing it
• Addiction of any kind
• Lying, even to “protect” someone else or yourself

Examples of service (implying spaciousness and expansion; heart-centered):

• Listening well, no matter what (and if it’s hard, use soft eyes here)
• Teaching humbly from your own experience
• Consciously cooking and/or cleaning your space
• Telling the truth / having a difficult conversation elegantly
• Encouraging other people in your life to do what they do well
• Breathing deeply in any moment (and see how patient you become)

*from http://www.artofattention.com/unconscious-slave-or-conscious-servant/