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Capure The Moment Of Awakening

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In lucid dreams, we have freedom and independence from all earthly energies. This is a fantastic way to release stress as it is also a refreshing and totally liberating experience which sets you up for a new day. They say, ask and you’ll receive right away. So, if you wish or desire to be, let’s say, on a tropical and sandy beach basking in sunshine glory, express your desire, and you will be there within a snap of the fingers.

Our desires, our wishes, and our thoughts are quickly translated into dynamic energy. The energy then shapes our desires. Strictly speaking, we are in total control—no god or destiny or fate chooses or decides what we do in a lucid dream. We are actually the lead star and, at the same time, the film director.

Manifestation is quick as we’re not influenced or affected by compressed earthly vibrations. But what is a lucid dream, you may ask? A lucid dream is when we wake up in our dreams; the conscious mind wakes up inside the unconscious. Wow, indeed, a pretty idea or concept in itself but, aside from the whole concept, it’s a wondrous magical moment.

The time or moment of awakening can be likened to waking up to freedom. The great adventures and journeys could start. We could do anything and go anywhere we like—the sky’s the limit! and anything our conscious mind wants and desires. We can have profound conversations with objects and animals, talk to the dead, feel or experience the delight and gladness of flying, discover some past lives, etc. The list is infinite.

The moment of real awakening is a marvelous moment. Well, who needs those virtual reality games anyway? Unexpectedly realizing that you’re totally aware and conscious in a wonderful playground of our mind is really awesome. The moment of awakening in one’s lucid dream could be compared to that of realizing reality and the truth of our situations and circumstances as human beings.

When we come to understand that process, which creates and forms our lives, we get freedom, and we find out that we’re no longer at the mercy of fate, destiny, or any other outside factors. We as human beings have choices and alternatives—it is all up to us.

With this freedom comes responsibility—responsibility we’ve been trying to evade for all these years. If we do not like our lives, we can no longer blame other people for our circumstances or situations. We can change, alter, or even modify the things we do not want in the world or in our lives.

We create and weave our own reality. Our thoughts manifest, although at just a slower rate than in lucid dreaming, due to the compressed energies of the physical body, but still the process is similar. We could actually change our lives and the entire world, yet we should believe in ourselves and in our power to do so.

We have all the right to make choices, including the choices to be happier individuals.

Bask In The Beauty Of Living In The Moment

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There are way too many things that we should be thankful about living in the present moment. We’ve heard that statement before, “Yesterday’s a history, tomorrow a mystery. But what we have right now is a gift—that’s why it’s called “present”. Yes, the beauty of now, the gift of living in the moment.

Have you ever felt a certain irony in life sometimes? For example, when we are working, we tend to daydream about being on vacation. And when we’re basking in vacation, then we fret about our work and tasks pending on our workstations. Such a silly paradox of dwelling on life’s unnecessary ironies.

For why do our thoughts have to dwell on our historical past and the unforeseen future? Too often, we regret the “could have beens” and the “what-nots”. But have you ever thought or realized that life in all its grand beauty (and madness) unfolds and blossoms in the present, in the divine now?

That’s why living in the moment is a blessing. If we allow the essential present to slip away from our grasps, and busily waste our thoughts on some bygone regrets and priceless moments, the true essence of living in the moment will simply come to waste. We need to start living in the moment—also known as the state of mindfulness.

In this state, you’re more open and dynamic, and your attention is fully focused on the present. You’re alert to the experience rather than trying to drift along in life without it. Want to start living in the moment? Try these steps to begin the journey.

1.) To develop your work, try not to think too much about it; this will give you confidence.

2) Concentrate on the now to prevent fretting about the future—relishing.

3) If you’re bothered by something, instead of shying away from it, face it head-on—acceptance.

4) Have a taste of total absorption (which takes place when you become so immersed in your work that you lose track of all that’s happening around you) and let it flow to make the most of your time.

5) More importantly, if you desire to have a future ahead with a potential love interest or your current special someone, dwell in the present—breathe. When you live mindfully with a sense of conscious curiosity, it heralds a potent effect on your interpersonal life. Be mindful and aware of being alive and always remember to breathe.

Focus your attention on your breathing—from your inhale to your exhale. The rationale for this is, if you are totally aware of it right now as you breathe, then you are living in the moment. It is not an objective—this is the moment and you’re already in it.

Would You Give Anything To Be Successful?

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Others will say yes immediately sans second thoughts and without batting an eyelash. It’s easy to say that you would do anything to be successful. But really, huh?

They say that your job won’t take care of you when you get sick, so better take care of your relationships and the people close to you.

Yes, you’d have awards, plaques, higher paychecks, promotions, admiration (envy even), and some pats on the back, but after that, what? How about your health, spirituality and relationships? Will success compensate if all these are gone or suffer?

You can’t have it all…at once, so know your priorities.

I know someone who is a very successful person who got promoted. However, during her great career, her health deteriorated horribly as a result of her ulcer-producing work. Before she turned 40, she died of cancer. In her quest to be a success, she neglected her health.

Or how about really getting famous or successful but sacrificing time for your family, friends and loved ones? For sure, you don’t want to miss anything in life, right? But you can’t win it all, you know.

But I’m not saying that we should not strive to be successful at our work and be lazybones. All I’m saying is that we should at least balance every aspect of our lives–career, relationships, health, spiritual life. If something’s got to give, then so be it–it’s what’s important to you that counts.

So, if given a chance to be asked again that million-dollar question, I’d say no way.

But of course, everything is a matter of opinions and at the end of the day, we still make our own decisions. It’s just a matter of setting our own priorities and how well we can juggle every aspect of our lives and how to balance them all–and still be happy.

How about you–would you give anything to be successful?

It’s Not About How To Get Things Done: Are You Enjoying Life?

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We all have our own plans in this lifetime, but whether we like it or not, time is apathetic to our plans. As morbid as it may sound, we’re all going to die someday, and we’ll be unable to get things done. Then, before we know it, time stops us even before we’re ready.

Many tasks left undone, more love, laughter, hugs, and smiles to be shared. But alas, we’ll never know for how long. The evanescent, fleeting now is the moment–all that you have, and you can enjoy while it lasts. The bygone yesterdays of the past have faded into oblivion–memory is all you have.

Then the future remains unknown and a mystery.

But the questions are:
What are you doing in your life right now–is it even worth your time and effort? Are you enjoying it? Is it worth your energy? Is it fun and fulfilling? Is it giving you the drive–that fire in your belly to keep you alive? Are you motivated by life and what keeps you inspired and excited to welcome a new day? Does it give you a chance to change a person’s life or not?

contribute something beneficial to humanity?

Life is not about how to get things done; it’s about how you live the moment. Each precious hour, minute, and second of your life that the universe has bestowed on you.

If you think about it, there’s a myriad of stuff you’ll never get done–and how liberating it feels! It’s not upsetting at all. It simply shows you that you don’t have to take control of the universe.

It gives you the freedom to be in charge of the work before you, the ones you willingly chosen, which you’ll be enjoying the process and not really worrying how to get things done–in the end, makes you enjoy life more.

Incorporating Positive Thoughts To Your Life

We all have heard or read that there is power and strength when it comes to thinking positive thoughts. Articles, books, and magazines were written about it, and it was also featured on several talk shows. Yes, I know, maybe most, if not all of us, are pretty doubting ourselves when the talk focuses on the power of positive thoughts.

Well, personally, I believe in it, and you can always choose what you believe since it is a free country, anyway. As they say, it all begins in your mind. So, you might as well think positive thoughts to attract all the positivity and happy energies you can. That is what the Law of Attraction is all about—trying to attract what you want to make it happen.

Therefore, in order for you to attract or manifest what you want, why not focus on positive thoughts, right? And while we’re at it, let us examine some ways and techniques for how to think more on the bright side of life. First step—access and analyze what you’re thinking pattern is like, since you know yourself better than any other human being on this planet.

Usually, what kind of thoughts do you normally think of? Is it concentrated more on the positive or negative side? To do this, sit back and relax and find a quiet space at your own convenience with just a pen and paper, and begin to reflect on your accomplishments, your dreams, and your life in general.

Then, jot down the negative ones on one side of the paper and the positive thoughts on the other side. After that, look at the negative thoughts and scrutinize them to discover why you were thinking them in the first place. Observe those negative thoughts and then ask yourself why you feel this way. And what caused me to feel this way? Next, substitute every pessimistic thought with something positive.

Try writing down the thoughts you like to substitute with affirmative and constructive ones. The instant you begin to feel that destructive mindset arising within you, just try to change it with a constructive one. So, keep your inventory of constructive and positive daily thoughts handy all the time.

The technique here is perseverance and patience and more patience. You can do this for a month, and you will feel your thinking pattern and the way you view things can change, and eventually, your life can be improved for the better. This inventory of your positive thoughts is a must-read before going to bed at night, since the human brain can absorb it better.

In the end, all you have to do is believe in the power of the human mind. Instead of focusing on the negativity hounding us, we can always look for positivity and inspiration in our lives and maintain a healthy outlook on life. As a commercial tagline says, “What your mind can conceive, your body can achieve.” In order to attract and materialize the good, you should also focus on the good side.

Yoga Increases Attention and Changes the Brain

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A study by neuroscientist Richard Davidson suggests that yoga improves attention and may even help with attention deficit disorder.

Richard Davidson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has conducted several studies on the effects of yoga on the brain. Being a regular meditator himself, Davidson is also a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama. In this study, he was allowed to examine the brains of several Tibetan monks with a very long yoga practice and compare it to people without previous yoga experience.

The study

In collaboration with colleagues, Brefczynski-Lewis and Lutz, Davidson conducted a study that compared yoga novices to long-time meditators. Both groups were asked to meditate while undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) of the brain. The yoga used was a practice where one focuses intently on a stimulus and then repeatedly goes back to the object of yoga whenever the mind has wandered.

Yoga as Seen on the MRI Scan

The MRI scans revealed increased activity in the brain regions used for paying attention and making decisions. Thus, yoga seems to train the corresponding regions and functions of the brain. It was also found that the areas of the brain connected with attention and decision-making (such as the prefrontal cortex) were more activated in long-term meditators than in the yoga novices.

Most fascinatingly, however, an altogether different picture emerged when looking only at the most experienced meditators with at least 40,000 hours of experience (equivalent to meditating five hours per day for 22 years). In that group, the same areas of the brain only showed increased activity at the beginning of the yoga. After that, the brain activity went back to baseline. The conclusion drawn by Davidson is that these people were able to concentrate effortlessly, something that has often been described in classic texts on mediation.

Immune to Distraction

Another distinct feature of the study was examining the reaction to distractive noises. While meditating inside the MRI, the subjects of the study were periodically blasted with disturbing noises. Among the group of experienced meditators, these noises had much less effect on the brain areas involved in emotion and decision-making. And the most experienced meditators, with over 40,000 hours of yoga experience, were hardly affected at all. “They do hear the sound,” Davidson pointed out, “but we can detect that in the auditory cortex, but they don’t have the emotional reaction.” Yoga

or lifestyle?

Although he doesn’t completely rule out that these results may have something to do with the differences in lifestyle between the Buddhist monks and the ordinary American people observed in the study, Davidson doesn’t think so. Pointing out the correlation between the length of yoga practice and the number of changes in the brain, Davidson assumes that the changes were indeed caused by yoga (rather than lifestyle factors such as isolation, eating habits, or religious faith).

The Brain Can Be Changed

More evidence for the neurological benefits of yoga comes from another study by Davidson. It shows that the ability to detect a brief visual signal that most people cannot detect is significantly improved in people who were trained in yoga over the course of three months. This study can be regarded as further evidence of the so-called neuroplasticity of the brain—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

While psychologists have long tended to consider an adult’s capacity to pay attention as relatively fixed, these findings suggest that attention can be trained in a similar way as other abilities. Just as regular workouts improve cardiovascular health, so the systematic practice of yoga can train and improve attention.

Yoga and Hyperactivity

With a view towards a growing prevalence in hyperactivity disorder among children, Davidson regards yoga or methods derived from yoga as possible tools for dealing with hyperactivity. He stresses, however, that it is not more than a possibility as yet.

How To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Positive Thinking?

You may have heard so many times that most people tell you to acquire the habit of positive thinking in order to succeed in life. Well, I am a firm believer and a staunch advocate of that as well. Actually, I am also an active practitioner of optimistic thinking. Nevertheless, positive thinking has its own pitfalls as well.

Knowing and realizing its pitfalls would prevent you from falling into them, causing you to wander away from your life’s victories and successes. Here are just some of the few:

Pitfall #1 of positive thinking:

The mentality of an ostrich. A colleague once told me that when a male ostrich unexpectedly encounters any hunters, it will instantly hide its head in the sand. They believe that if they cannot see the hunters, they will be safe.

And I have to admit that I used to have an ostrich mentality before—so it brought me nowhere nearer my goals. The lesson here is that if you hide away from issues and believe they will go away, it will not help you to achieve your success, but instead it will make you all the farther from your desired goals.

Therefore, rather than misusing the powers of positivity, making yourself believe that the issue or difficulty will move away, why don’t you face and tackle the issue head on? In this way, confronting the issue or problem face-to-face would let you learn how to deal with and manage those issues in the long run, gaining priceless experience.

Also, try to leverage the powerful skill of positive thinking in order to impel yourself progressively, providing you with an added boost of energy to take on the issue head on.

Pitfall # 2 of positive thinking:

All thoughts and no actions—taking some massive action after your positive certainty would start to bring you closer to your triumph.

However, by merely thinking positively, it won’t. Guiding the ability of positivity requires taking massive action on your part. Whenever you begin to take action to conquer those obstacles that stand in the way between you and your success, you need a lot of energy. On my part, when I began to develop and enhance the habit of thinking positively, I always told myself that I would be able to attract and make more money, that I would be able to solve my problems and difficulties, and I kept telling and reassuring myself that my situation would get better and better, and life would go on.

Each day, I keep on telling myself the same things, and after a while, I started to realize that I am still at the starting point. The real reason lies in thoughts and no actions involved. Therefore, when you’re faced with roadblocks, utilize the ability of positive thinking to open your mind, tapping your creative energy within in getting the problem solved.

Consequently, positive thinking can also deter you from advancing progressively. Yet, if used properly, it can provide you with a positional advantage, giving you a bonus in propelling you towards your path to success!

Make That Positive Change Now!

People are usually creatures of habit and comfort, and if something—large or small—changes, we often feel as if our whole world is spiraling downhill. And that is precisely why we have to prepare ourselves for a positive change and not allow any negative thoughts and emotions which could enter our mind.

Change is something which many individuals do not deal with very well. The way you face and deal with changes is entirely your own choice, so the aim is to choose well! In fact, you could utilize the power of affirmations to help you deal with changes in a positive and constructive manner.

Infuse positive affirmations into your life. Affirmations are simple statements or declarations which describe the way you like to feel or think about something, and in this case, the way you want to think, deal or feel with the changes in your life. Negativity is everywhere and abounds in us, but free affirmations could support you in limiting its effects on you so you will be able to lead and live a healthier and happier life.

These helpful affirmations are designed to help you deal and cope with things for a positive change away with all those negative thoughts. Additionally, affirmations can assist you in living the life you’ve always desired. Some examples of affirmations could be as easy and as simple as “A positive change offers new beginnings.

I thrive on new chances and opportunities!” As you can see, this is just a simple declaration, yet when you believe in it, you could make the change that you experience in your life a positive one. Incorporating an affirmation in your life is pretty simple. You actually have to make and develop your own, or you could look for free affirmations that best describe how you feel, think or deal with changes.

Changes are things that too many of us fear or feel uncomfortable with, whether it is a new job, a new location or place, a new relationship or the end of any of these things. Rather than letting negativity and anxiety get the better of you, make use of your optimistic affirmations and modify the way you think.

When you do this, you can invite this change to be anything you like to be. You may be scared or apprehensive about changes, but more often than not, your fears are just unrealistic or irrational. If you believe that a positive change and good things will come out of some new life experiences, this will give you the power and strength to conquer the fear of the unknown and be able to make the most of your new experiences and circumstances.

Change may be a fresh start, an opportunity to make amends, or it can be the first day of the rest of your life, as they say. Always surround yourself with positive thoughts so that a positive change will come to you.

Positive Mental Attitude– How To Draw The Line For Success

Napoleon Hill, in his book “Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude”, talks about the various advantages and benefits of having a positive mental attitude. And one of the elements of a successful life is maintaining a positive mental attitude. The challenge you may encounter, just like so many other people, is how to keep up an optimistic outlook on life.

Now let’s discuss some empowering and strengthening tools which could aid you in choosing your mindset. You would attract others who could help you on your way to your voyage. A positive, can-do attitude draws success and triumph. Not to mention that you will be able to utilize your time in a more productive and efficient manner; some critical problems will be solved immediately and with less effort, and minor problems and inconveniences will not get in your way.

Going back to some empowering tools to help choose one’s mindset, well, I have tried them and can attest to their effectiveness. An easy rule to sustain a can-do attitude—draw the line. Take a clean piece of paper– then draw a line on it halfway down the entire page.

Okay, on the bottom half of the page, write B, E, D, one under the other, in big bold letters. And on the top half of it, write in big bold letters, one under the other, O, A, R. Now take this sheet of paper and hang or place it somewhere noticeably, where you could use it as a reminder to yourself, and somewhere you are going to see it on a daily basis.

So, all you have to do now is to take note and “Stay over the line all the time.” Whenever things seem to be on top of you or whenever you feel your mindset seems to be fluctuating, just remember to “stay over the line.” What does this all mean? How would this help you maintain a positive mental attitude? Okay, here is the explanation: Below the line, you have written the first letter of the 3 words “Blame, Excuses, Denial”; and over the line, you have written the first letter of the 3 words “Ownership, Accountability, Responsibility”.

Therefore, if you have a positive mental attitude and can-do attitude, you will find yourself above the line. You will alter blame with ownership—”I could solve this problem or difficulty.” You will change excuses with accountability—”it is down to me.” And you would substitute denial with responsibility. Success and triumph will really come to you through your PMA—positive mental attitude.

You’ll influence the people around you (and yourself) to reach more and have more fun along the way. Being successful is deeply and intensely associated with keeping up a positive mental attitude. To preserve an optimistic and can-do perspective, you must remember the rule. “Stay above the line, make use of your OARs to row your boat.” As opposed to when you are under the line, you have just made your BED and you’re going to have to lie in it!

YogaFlares Tips To Combat Negativity

It’s not too difficult to see why some people have a negative approach or an unfavorable outlook on life. The looming global recession, a sneak peek at daily headlines informing such negativity as endless crimes, war and hatred, could let us down and dash our hopes just like that. With Christmas just ended and the New Year about to start, why not start with a healthy and clean slate? I’m sure that with cultivating a happy mindset despite all those negative hassles, it is still possible to have a positive outlook in life.

And how can we achieve this, you may ask? Well, by staying optimistic and gaining more insights into some of these positive attitude tips below. Always try looking at the bright side of life—wake up every day to welcome and embrace the opportunities of the new day that life can offer.

The following positive attitude tips may not only enhance and nurture our well-being and relationships with other people, but also let us enjoy or take pleasure in life. Here are the six positive attitude tips.

1. Let yourself be choosy or selective about the news information or music that you read, watch, or listen to. Be careful, because you might be influenced by those things that surround you.

2. Mingle with the right crowd—specifically, get close and be friends with some of the positive people you know. When they say that birds of the same feather flock together, they are correct. In time, without even being aware of it, we become like the people we spend most of our time with—so choose your friends well; be wary of your social circle, for they will also influence you.

People’s attitudes are contagious and infectious—when we habitually become accustomed to living with negative people, obviously, they give off bad vibes and tend to rub off on us.

3. Choose and make up your mind to have a positive outlook. We have to decide to allow ourselves to be positive and happy.

“Birds of a feather flock together” is true. If you think about it, others cannot make us happy; we are responsible and accountable for our own happiness and wellness. This is fantastic since we do not have to sit around and simply wait for some people on our doorsteps to come around and make us happy! 4. Keep in touch with your spiritual connections.

Maintaining a vibrant religion will revitalize one’s enthusiasm for life.

5. Along with those positive attitude tips, also utilize those positive affirmations. We may already be used to complaining every day and using all that negative self-talk. For example, instead of saying, “I hate waking up very early in the mornings”, try saying “I’m thankful for this new day—another day to look forward to!” Sooner or later, altering our self-talk will pave the way for better changes in our attitude.

6. Volunteer to help and be of service to others. When we perform some charitable acts like community service, it shows that we can create a positive effect on the world in our own way. See, it’s not really that difficult to be optimistic despite the negativity surrounding us.

I hope that these positive attitude tips may help.