Dare to... Enjoy The Moment

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha


It's not unusual that our lifestyles today have us running at frenetic speeds.  For the hustle and bustle of modern life leaves many people forgetting to enjoy the moment, not understanding that each and every second is filled with wonder and possibilities... wonderful moments that could be savored, are blurred out. While we can't change the things whizzing past us, we can stop ourselves from being swept away by it all. The key... press the pause button, focus on the present... moment by moment. Living in the moment is all about living like there's no tomorrow.


  •  Pause now and be still and silent within yourself.  Enjoy this time with the words you read. You are being offered an opportunity to remember to enjoy it just as it is and just as you are... right now.
  • Give thanks for the people, places and things, for the experiences they bring... even in the little things. Dare to be thankful for making it through rush hour traffic safely, watching the sunset, places you have visited. Create opportunities to give thanks. You may know someone who never seems happy? Be ready with a smile and a kind word each time you see them. It may require patience, but eventually, they'll smile first when they see you.  You will then find that your interactions with them will be much more pleasant. And guess what... you'll have a new reason to be thankful.
  • Acknowledge a moment being offered, it amplifies the moment for everyone. Consciously connect with it and appreciate it.  Let others know when they've done something that you're thankful for. For example, let the power of the moment rejuvenate others... let your daughter that your shopping excursion with her was a pleasure or let your friend know that the email she sent to you really made your day.  Acknowledge and celebrate not only the power the moment gives you, but the one who reminded you it was there for you.


So pause, give thanks and acknowledge the moment. The beauty of enjoying the moment is in the stillness of your mind... slow down.  You can't fast forward or freeze frame moments you want to enjoy... they are all absorbing.  Dare to pause now and be still within.  Realize the beauty in every moment, and in everyday activities too. It’s a conscious act that requires your participation... not just your observation.  Remember that the reward is a richer, fuller life. This is your life, so live it now and dare to... enjoy the moment.

Click here to read more articles from my Dare to... series.
 

Pushing Forward and Often

“Be the change you want to see in this world.” ~ Gandhi
 
This is a powerful and moving quote... essentially a wake up call to take full responsibility for your life. Here Gandhi tells us, in order for us to see changes, we're the ones who have to actively change first... do not complain, criticize or theorize from the 'safe' place, because it's not only weak, but brings no growth, and personal development is all about growth.

When you think about growth and personal development, just think about beautiful flowers and how they become what they are. In order for them to grow bigger and better, sometimes the growers cut off the tops.. topping or pinching.  This has been shown to cause plants to invest more of their energy into flower growth and less into seed production... the expected result is flower buds that produces higher quality flowers.  And I believe this is true for personal growth as well... the core purpose of this article. Even if you produce satisfactory results in certain areas of your life, it can be helpful to cut them off and discard them, freeing up energy for stronger and higher quality results elsewhere in your life.  Otherwise you just find yourself settling into a comfort zone of satisfaction with the old results.

It can be difficult to cut areas of your life, because you did produce results, but if you don’t cut, then you can easily stunt your future growth.  You will be essentially causing the much needed energy to be invested in seed production around your old path. When you refuse to cut, you are basically saying things are as good as they will ever be and you settle. If that's you, fine, but if you want purposeful growth in your life, then topping is a necessary practice.

Below are some ways to drop the merely satisfactory in your life and strive for stronger, bigger and better quality personal development and growth.

  1. Don't let your life become too stagnant... mix things up now and then. Drop old routines and try something new for a while. Stop investing energy in maintaining your old routine, even if it works and you like it.  Doing this will free up more energy for exploration and growth. Go out more, have new experiences, meet new people... explore, learn, and grow.
  2. Refuse to be stuck in a rut... even in a seemingly good place. When you stay relatively still for long time, you put down seeds and as time passes, these seeds develop stronger and stronger roots, making change more difficult. The longer you stay still, the more people will relate to you based on your current position.  And, this may be familiar, but your thoughts and feelings become repetitive, circular and as time passes, little is changing in your life.
  3. Comfort zone - begone. Once you notice your life becoming a little too comfortable, you're in your comfort zone. If you like the comfort zone and wish to stay there, that’s your choice, but growth and personal development demands change, so don't get stuck there for too long.  The next time you feel your life becoming a little too comfortable... where you  just relax yourself into the satisfaction of maintaining the status quo... break free of that reality and go for more growth. Take a class, go for that promotion, travel, run for an office... grow.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone can yield a lot more growth than staying stagnant. Explore and learn each day, even the minor victories are stepping stones to growth and development. So drop the merely satisfactory by topping it off and invest that energy for a stronger, bigger and better quality of life.

The Inner Path: Activating The Soul Within

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. ~ Swami Vivekananda 


Looking outside of yourself for fulfillment bring only temporary happiness.  Whether it's money, losing weight, or falling in love, your happiness subsides and you begin looking for the next external element to make you happy.  Nevertheless, many people often believe something outside of themselves will make them happier. Have you ever told yourself you would be happier if you won the lottery, had a better job, lost weight, or found a new love? If so, you’re not alone.  But no more! Stop focusing on the external and take the real path to happiness... letting your soul determine what's right for you.  Here are the best alternatives to looking outside for happiness.
  1. Learn to love yourself.  Love all of you, not just the parts of you that you like, or your ego, you know, that shallow fashionista that you are... no, learn to love the real you. The soul of you that is God-like... that spiritual, emotional, nature embodied in you. Your soul is pure love... pure, unconditional love. Your soul is the part of you that is of God. God is love... unconditional love. It allows yo to be happy without a reason to be happy... you know, being blissful. So make a conscious decision to activate your pure, unconditional love from within your soul.... just love you.