Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation is worth a new read!
The year that is d
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
(from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521).
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord. -
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863aham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Monday, November 01, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Emotional Conflict produced by Mind Games?
Emotional Conflict produced by Mind Games?
Does a fight with your partner often result in them putting all the blame on you and your shortcomings?
The biggest temptation in a situation like this, as it drags on and on and you feel worse and worse, is to say “Yes, you’re right” and end the conversation. They walk away with a satisfied look and you finally have some space. But there’s something else they walk away with – your dignity.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Why do we describe conflict as positive?
Why do we describe conflict as positive?
Because conflict is the signal to process the inevitable changes in our lives! Well understood, conflict is the connection between change and growth and conflict!
We will never know what we can do without challenge and opposition by others.
We will never develop new skills if sheer necessity does not force us to do so.
In short, without conflict, we will never grow.
When you engage others in positive conflict, you are telling them that he/she is important enough for you to invest some energy in improving the relationship, by challenging the sore points in it.
You are making others a big compliment by having a positive conflict with them!
Conflict is positive when it:
Results in clarification of important problems and issues;
Results in solutions to individual or common problems;
Involves people together in resolving issues important to them;
Causes authentic communication;
Helps in working through emotion, anxiety, and stress;
Builds cooperation among people through learning the reciprocal limits about each other;
Helps individuals develop understanding of other's positions and interpersonal skills;
Provides recognition of each other's humanity;
So, you need to learn how to do conflict in a positive way, RIGHT?
THEN, you need to visit: http://www.positiveconflicts.com/pcv2
Monday, April 28, 2008
HOW COUPLES PROCESS CHANGE IS WHAT MATTERS
As long as we live, we are immersed in a social network that is continually evolving. If you don’t want to live like a hermit in the forest, completely severing all ties with the outside world; if you don’t want to play dead, doing whatever you can to avoid conflict, then you constructively and fearlessly have to deal with conflict in one way or another.
As long as we live, we are immersed in a social network that is continually evolving. If you don’t want to live like a hermit in the forest, completely severing all ties with the outside world; if you don’t want to play dead, doing whatever you can to avoid conflict, then you constructively and fearlessly have to deal with conflict in one way or another.
Even when it is not we who change, but someone else, it affects us, because we are interdependent people. Each person’s choices affect another person in some way. So it can be taken as a given that if one person changes especially someone near and dear, then someone else— most likely you—is going to have to accept that change, to go along with it, like it or not.
At times, out of fear and resistance, we decided that, no matter what, we would stick to the old rules of engagement. We would continue to think and see things in the same way, because they fit within the limits of our comfort zone. The perceived need, sometimes desperate, to avoid change invited and welcomed in us the belief that everything was status quo. And then, disaster struck! Those around us, continuing with their personal growth, either changed mindsets and perspectives, becoming totally different people, or left us, or are just now voicing strong rejection of our ideas. Nobody shares any longer the views that we have.
At the end, if we remain adamant in keeping the old ways of thinking, the others will leave us alone. The price of resisting change is, in the end, being left alone in our bubble, by a world that has moved on and left us behind…. as hidden dinosaurs, survivors in a different world. Everybody is changing continuously, and they help us to go along with theirs and our change by confronting us.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THIS STORY?
Alice was getting more and more efficient in her job. It was as she was made for that position: intelligent, dedicated, and always coming up with creative ways of solving problems. Finally, a big promotion was offered to her, which entailed changing cities and a whole new life style.
Her husband, totally confused about this unexpected turn of events, refused to consider any of the possibilities for the new situation. Upset and resentful, he tried to get her to either refuse the promotion or give up the job altogether. She began to see his attitude as selfish and destructive, and suddenly was confronted with a major crisis in her life.
Only after so much patient talk she was able to focus him on the real reasons for his hard attitude, and pleading for his support allowed him to feel a little better (not left behind), move on and realize how damaging acting out his fear could be for the marriage….
NOW, do you see the connection between change and conflict? Are you ready to move along the lines that life is giving you now, and leave the old certainties behind? Learning this skills is perhaps the most vital learning of our lifes: to move along change is to follow the nature of our lives, always changing and developing....old things are abandoned and left behind and we are forced? invited? to think in a different way almost every day!
Wishing you courage to shift when needed....and grow along the process, till next time!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
HEAVEN AND HELL
HEAVEN AND HELL
A violent samurai warrior with a reputation for provoking fights for no reason arrived at the gates of a Zen monastery and asked to speak to the master.
Without hesitating, Ryokan went to meet him.
‘They say that intelligence is more powerful than brute force,’ said the samurai. ‘Can you explain to me what heaven and hell are?’
Ryokan said nothing.
‘You see?’ bellowed the samurai. ‘I could explain quite easily: to show someone what hell is, you just have to punch them. To show them what heaven is, you just have threaten them with terrible violence and then let them go.’
‘I don’t talk to stupid people like you,’ said the Zen master.
The blood rushed to the samurai’s head. His brain became thick with hatred.
‘That is hell,’ said Ryokan, smiling. ‘Allowing yourself to be upset by silly remarks.’
Taken aback by the monk’s courage, the samurai warrior softened.
‘And that is heaven,’ said Ryokan, inviting him in. ‘Not reacting to foolish provocations.’
Yoga takes a very similar approach:
• Detach, stay back, observe. Observe your own thoughts. Thoughts create emotions. Thoughts come first. Sometimes it happens so quickly that we miss it. We only notice the emotion but not the underlying thought.
• By observing and controlling your thoughts you can keep your emotions in check rather than your emotions controlling you.
• I know, this is much easier said than done. With practice you will make progress.
• Your first job is to notice and then observe when negative, self destructive and unhelpful thoughts are starting to rush through your mind.
• Set yourself a task for this week: every time you notice negative, unhelpful, fearful thoughts or self talk, say to yourself “stop”. This takes practice, initially you might be 5 or 10 minutes down the track before you even realize what you are doing to yourself. It doesn’t matter - just stop.
• Take a deep breath.
• Turn your mind to something positive about yourself, something you achieved today, this week, yesterday…. enjoy the feeling you create by thinking about something positive.
• Praise yourself, pat yourself on the back - say to yourself: “Well done, you are a star, this is great…” Don’t cringe, just keep encouraging yourself. After a while, it will feel quite natural.
Have a lovely day!
Posted in Yoga Philosophy | Words: 456 |
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