If you let your head get too big it'll break your neck.- Elvis Presley
Having confidence vs. having an ego
Having confidence in your abilities is an important part of life. But how do you know when you're crossing the line into building an ego? Someone who is always bragging about himself not only sours the relationships with those around him, but also develops his actions into a pattern that is hard to reverse. Do you alienate people around you with your ego? Have you crossed the line of confidence to egotistical? Instead of bragging about your accomplishments, discuss how you got there or the people that helped you along the way. This way you can share your success in an endearing way without making it all about you. Take the focus off of yourself for a moment and think about how your success can be a tool to help others achieve the same.
I love the quote, and know many people that fit into this "ego" category. I just feel sad for these people, can you ever truly feel emotions if your only looking out and thinking about yourself??
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Things that make me smile....
I have been a bit "down" lately, maybe it's the weather, or the fact my husband is away working up north or just the "winter time blues". I thought I would put together a miscellaneous list of things that and make me smile....
1-Peanut M&M's.
2-Rain
3-The look a dog gives you when they are not sure what your asking, the head tilt makes me smile every time.
4-The touch of a loved one on the small of your back. Nothing makes me melt more.
5- My tattoo, every time I see it I think of my sis and the love we have for one another.
6-The feeling you get after a hard workout.
7-Red wine, specifically Naked Grape because that is what we served at the wedding and it always makes me think of that day.
8-Gerber Daisy's in all sorts of colours...who needs roses??
9-Being warm, I'm always freezing, I especially love the feeling of getting home and putting on sweats and a huge comfy sweater - nothing cozier.
10-Showers with the lights off........ This might not make sense but it's the most amazing thing ever.
11 - Rest stops.
12 - late night dance parties.
13 - Hot chocolate on a cold day.
14 - Fortune cookies
15 - Lengthy conversations over wine about life, love and everything in between.
1-Peanut M&M's.
2-Rain
3-The look a dog gives you when they are not sure what your asking, the head tilt makes me smile every time.
4-The touch of a loved one on the small of your back. Nothing makes me melt more.
5- My tattoo, every time I see it I think of my sis and the love we have for one another.
6-The feeling you get after a hard workout.
7-Red wine, specifically Naked Grape because that is what we served at the wedding and it always makes me think of that day.
8-Gerber Daisy's in all sorts of colours...who needs roses??
9-Being warm, I'm always freezing, I especially love the feeling of getting home and putting on sweats and a huge comfy sweater - nothing cozier.
10-Showers with the lights off........ This might not make sense but it's the most amazing thing ever.
11 - Rest stops.
12 - late night dance parties.
13 - Hot chocolate on a cold day.
14 - Fortune cookies
15 - Lengthy conversations over wine about life, love and everything in between.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lightness and Darkness
Life appears complicated, but it's not. We complicate our own lives. We create chaos out of order. We mess things up, continually making matters worse because we just don't understand what life is about or how it works.
The first thing we need to understand is that life is as simple as darkness and Light. I am not speaking metaphorically when I say Light. Only two things exist in this world: darkness and Light. Life appears complicated because darkness has a nearly endless variety of shades, and Light comes in countless colors.
Nonetheless, at the heart of all that exists, you will either find darkness or Light.Today, put your tasks and thoughts into two columns: darkness and light. At the end of the day, see what you can do to eliminate those things that fall into the 'darkness' category. And do less 'darkness' tomorrow.
I really like this concept. I think about it in the way of Positive and Negative. There are tons of Negative or "darkness" that I allow in my life when I really don't need to. I need to focus on the positive "light" and tread less in the negative things that bring a person down.
The first thing we need to understand is that life is as simple as darkness and Light. I am not speaking metaphorically when I say Light. Only two things exist in this world: darkness and Light. Life appears complicated because darkness has a nearly endless variety of shades, and Light comes in countless colors.
Nonetheless, at the heart of all that exists, you will either find darkness or Light.Today, put your tasks and thoughts into two columns: darkness and light. At the end of the day, see what you can do to eliminate those things that fall into the 'darkness' category. And do less 'darkness' tomorrow.
I really like this concept. I think about it in the way of Positive and Negative. There are tons of Negative or "darkness" that I allow in my life when I really don't need to. I need to focus on the positive "light" and tread less in the negative things that bring a person down.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
10 Rules for being Human...
1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
Monday, February 9, 2009
What an interesting day...
Thought for the day:
When we forgive, we can look at the person who hurt us from a whole new angle. Maybe this person is here to show us we are not open as we thought, maybe they are here to push us to go to a new level, maybe they are removing judgment from our life.
Whatever the reason, forgiveness brings empathy, it brings understanding, and it brings us out of the inner-dialogue of blame and regret.
Today, put the scales of justice away and say "shush!" to the vengeful voice in your mind. Just forgive. Because from a kabbalistic point of view, you can never know how the Light feels unless you know forgiveness.
When we forgive, we can look at the person who hurt us from a whole new angle. Maybe this person is here to show us we are not open as we thought, maybe they are here to push us to go to a new level, maybe they are removing judgment from our life.
Whatever the reason, forgiveness brings empathy, it brings understanding, and it brings us out of the inner-dialogue of blame and regret.
Today, put the scales of justice away and say "shush!" to the vengeful voice in your mind. Just forgive. Because from a kabbalistic point of view, you can never know how the Light feels unless you know forgiveness.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Nightmare....
I had the most awful dream last night...I woke up feeling so shaken, like every detail from my dream had been true. The sad thing is, what I dreamt about is a truth that I failed to see a couple months ago...I wish I would have had this dream then - it would have saved me some pain - at the same time I believe everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to be learned from everything.
Dreams are an interesting thing aren't they?? My sister wrote about this topic not too long ago and I wanted to share her words:
Tap Into Your Dreams
There are so many uncertainties in life.
One of the beautiful things about Kabbalah is it teaches us how to tap into another world where there is certainty, where there is an answer to every question. It's called asking for a sign.
The best technique I've found for getting signs is asking for an answer to a specific question before you go to sleep (ideally after scanning a portion of Zohar .)
Not, 'show me who my soul mate is' but rather, 'is so-and-so my soul mate?'
You might see the answer in a dream, or wake up with one, or get an obvious answer during the day. However it comes to you, you can have total certainty about the situation because you downloaded the information from the 99% while you slept.
Practice tonight before bed.
Be clear about our question and trust your soul to guide you to the truth.
I have tried this a couple times, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I believe it's all about timing and maybe some of the questions you are asking aren't meant to be seen now but if you keep asking, when the time is right the answer will come to you.
I also wanted to share an article about change.....right now change is the focus on many people's mind. The new year has many people thinking about what they want to achieve. I know right now there are many "resolutioners" at the gym working hard on changing their bodies...I thought this article was quite true and maybe why so many people struggle with change?
Do you want to change? Really?
Ok. Here's a top secret Kabbalah secret. Do this and you will change whatever it is that needs improving. No more running to ask people what to do or reading the quick fix books or however else you're spinning your wheels while not changing. Here it is, one word that will change your take on change: disgust.
When you can get to the level where you are disgusted with the behavior, when you see how filthy it is making you and your soul, you'll no longer have to try to change. You just will.
Pick one thing you want to change. Mull it over. Take in the stench. And when you're disgusted, you know you're ready to change.
This is a very different way to look at change, and I can see places where this wouldn't work. But it's an interesting concept that could help someone to get the motivation to finally change.
**********************************************************************************
On a happy note my hubby is home today, after spending 3 weeks WAY up north. People take many things for granted..... the little kiss goodnight before going to bed, the way sleeping feels with another person in bed, someone there to help feed the dog for a change, coming home to a house that isn't empty, the wet towel on the bathroom floor, talking about nothing at all.......
All the things you don't really think about but that bring a smile or in some cases a grimace to your face. And it makes you realize that if tomorrow came and that person was no longer, life just wouldn't mean the same thing anymore.
I take so many things for granted and always push and strive for more, more, more.....but I'm starting to accept the beautiful things I have in my life. To find comfort in them and realize that any dissatisfaction I feel is unwarranted and that I need to refocus on the wonderful things I already have.....contentment is a hard thing for most people. "The grass is always greener" type mentality seems to plague our society. That is why when you stop looking for satisfaction in material things and start finding it within yourself....life seems to take on a new brighter meaning.
Dreams are an interesting thing aren't they?? My sister wrote about this topic not too long ago and I wanted to share her words:
Tap Into Your Dreams
There are so many uncertainties in life.
One of the beautiful things about Kabbalah is it teaches us how to tap into another world where there is certainty, where there is an answer to every question. It's called asking for a sign.
The best technique I've found for getting signs is asking for an answer to a specific question before you go to sleep (ideally after scanning a portion of Zohar .)
Not, 'show me who my soul mate is' but rather, 'is so-and-so my soul mate?'
You might see the answer in a dream, or wake up with one, or get an obvious answer during the day. However it comes to you, you can have total certainty about the situation because you downloaded the information from the 99% while you slept.
Practice tonight before bed.
Be clear about our question and trust your soul to guide you to the truth.
I have tried this a couple times, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I believe it's all about timing and maybe some of the questions you are asking aren't meant to be seen now but if you keep asking, when the time is right the answer will come to you.
I also wanted to share an article about change.....right now change is the focus on many people's mind. The new year has many people thinking about what they want to achieve. I know right now there are many "resolutioners" at the gym working hard on changing their bodies...I thought this article was quite true and maybe why so many people struggle with change?
Do you want to change? Really?
Ok. Here's a top secret Kabbalah secret. Do this and you will change whatever it is that needs improving. No more running to ask people what to do or reading the quick fix books or however else you're spinning your wheels while not changing. Here it is, one word that will change your take on change: disgust.
When you can get to the level where you are disgusted with the behavior, when you see how filthy it is making you and your soul, you'll no longer have to try to change. You just will.
Pick one thing you want to change. Mull it over. Take in the stench. And when you're disgusted, you know you're ready to change.
This is a very different way to look at change, and I can see places where this wouldn't work. But it's an interesting concept that could help someone to get the motivation to finally change.
**********************************************************************************
On a happy note my hubby is home today, after spending 3 weeks WAY up north. People take many things for granted..... the little kiss goodnight before going to bed, the way sleeping feels with another person in bed, someone there to help feed the dog for a change, coming home to a house that isn't empty, the wet towel on the bathroom floor, talking about nothing at all.......
All the things you don't really think about but that bring a smile or in some cases a grimace to your face. And it makes you realize that if tomorrow came and that person was no longer, life just wouldn't mean the same thing anymore.
I take so many things for granted and always push and strive for more, more, more.....but I'm starting to accept the beautiful things I have in my life. To find comfort in them and realize that any dissatisfaction I feel is unwarranted and that I need to refocus on the wonderful things I already have.....contentment is a hard thing for most people. "The grass is always greener" type mentality seems to plague our society. That is why when you stop looking for satisfaction in material things and start finding it within yourself....life seems to take on a new brighter meaning.
This picture to me is cozy contentment :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
When the rest of the world runs screaming from a painful occurrence, the kabbalist goes towards it with a knowing smile, there is Light in this darkness ... .Rav Ashlag, founder of The Kabbalah
Centre in 1922, taught this: when going through pain, be happy about the process. It means your capacity for everything is being expanded. But, you must be happy about the process in order to let in the Light your pain revealed. Otherwise, it's just never-ending. And that's when pain turns into suffering.
Today, when faced with uncomfortable thoughts, emotions or sensations, pay attention to any avoidance behaviors and allow yourself to resist. Know that it's happening to help you expand. Just keep chewing until the bitter becomes sweet.
Centre in 1922, taught this: when going through pain, be happy about the process. It means your capacity for everything is being expanded. But, you must be happy about the process in order to let in the Light your pain revealed. Otherwise, it's just never-ending. And that's when pain turns into suffering.
Today, when faced with uncomfortable thoughts, emotions or sensations, pay attention to any avoidance behaviors and allow yourself to resist. Know that it's happening to help you expand. Just keep chewing until the bitter becomes sweet.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Triathlon
I started Day 1 today......which really means nothing because the program I have really eases you into it. I'm actually going to be doing just bike/run for the first month and then add swimming in.....I really hope we move to Swift before that - but it's unlikely to happen. Either way I'm committed to this journey, and I hope at the end I will be in the best mental and physical shape of my life. I have dreams of running an Ironman someday....
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