What is Gratitude?

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and
more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a
stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace
...for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ..
~ Melody Beattie via Greg

Longevity per George Burns

"If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.” George F. Burns (via MaryLee)

Spiritual Life?

‎The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it. ~Henri J. M. Nouwen~ via Jessica

The Creativity of Words

Words are small shapes in the gorgeous chaos of the world. But they are shapes, they bring the world into focus, they corral ideas, they hone thoughts, they paint watercolor perceptions. ~Diane Ackerman (thank you to Nancy for posting this one)

Be True to Your Light

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what Light I have. - Abraham Lincoln

Why Not?

Make a list of the excuses you use to justify the condition of your life. Make the powerful choice to give up your favorite, most justified excuse for why you can't have the best year of your life. - Debbie Ford

The Spiritual Purpose Behind Democracy?

Founding a country on democratic principles wasn't just a political advancement, but a spiritual one as well. The idea of equality of power based on the average individual's conscience and intelligence -- that was radical when it happened and it's radical now. Something to ponder, and to protect. ~Marianne Williamson

Rules For Being Human - short movie

http://www.mrpositive.com/rules.html

“Absorb what is useful.
Discard what is not.
Add what is uniquely your own.”
—Bruce Lee

Water Quality

Water has a very important message for us. Water is telling us to take a much deeper look at ourselves. When we do look at ourselves through the mirror of water, the message becomes amazingly, crystal clear. We know that human life is directly connected to the quality of our water, both within and around us. ~ Masaru Emoto

Things Others Can Do To Support You

So make a list and post it in clear sight!! - Thank you to Greg for sending this along

Whether you ask for help from a partner or spouse, your kids, or someone who works for you, learning to make a "Things Others Can Do To Support Me" list will force you to get in the habit of thinking about where and when you need help before you feel like you're going to lose your mind."
~Cheryl Richardson, The Art of Extreme Self Care

Today

Yesterday is a canceled check;
Tomorrow is a promissory note;
Today is the only cash you have;
So spend it wisely.
~Kay Lyons

Abundance

Have you heard the story of the Buddhist scholar who went to visit an old monk to discuss Buddhism? The monk invited the scholar in and they sat down while the monk prepared tea.

The scholar immediately began to expound upon all he had learned about Buddhism at the university. On and on he went while the old monk quietly listened and prepared the tea. When the tea was ready, the scholar continued to speak even as the old monk poured the tea stopping only when he suddenly realized that tea was pouring down onto his leg since the old monk was continuing to pour tea into his already full cup.

The scholar stopped talking, jumped up and shouted, "You old fool. What are you thinking?" The old monk calmly replied, "A cup that is already full has no room to receive." The message of this story is about the importance of having an open mind and a willingness to listen and receive new information. This is good advice.

However, there is another cup metaphor, from the Old Testament, that seems to contradict the message in this story. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "My cup runneth over." In this usage, an overflowing cup is an expression of abundance. So how do we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory metaphors? Well I believe we all have two "cups." One of these cups we want to keep as full as we possibly can, full to overflowing whenever possible. The other cup we want to keep as empty and open as we possibly can. What are these cups? Would you like to take a guess?

Truly Abundant Mystics have an empty mind that is open to new ideas and possibilities. And, at the same time, they have a full heart that is overflowing with light, love and joy. I believe that is one of the secrets to TRUE Abundance. The more you can release your thoughts and ideas about abundance and fill yourself with feelings and faith about abundance, the more you will attract abundance into your life. The more you can stop spewing your thoughts out into the world and start flowing your love out into the world, the more abundance will flow back to you.

-Edward Mills

We Are All One

There is only one river. There is only one sea. And it flows through you, and it flows through me. There is only one people. We are one and the same. We are all one spirit. We are all one name. -- Peter Yarrow

Live a Spirited Life

Stop trying to live a "spiritual" life and start living a spirited one. It's a shift. Don't try to find the source just let it flow.... your life force, the spirit that animates you. ~Sonia Choquette

Believe Yourself

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Buddha

Wisdom and Love

Wisdom is knowing I am nothing, Love is knowing I am everything...and between the two my life moves... ~Nisardagatta Maharaj (thank you Sheree)