Change the perspective

What if we changed our perspective on what we can do for ourselves? Society preaches that we have all we need to fix ourselves, tell us that the solution lies deep within each of us and that it's just a matter of staying open and listen to a inner voice we all possess, which is full of wisdom and righteousness.

Hum... what if it's the other way around?

What if we don't possess the perfect mind that knows what's best for ourselves and others. What if we don't have that super wise inner voice to guide us, and instead we get most of everything a bit wrong?

I think we must watch out, for it's the mind who runs the show, and that mind is a direct product of what it has seen, heard and felt over the years. What if the "school" of life we've been hasn't been the best exemplary or inspirational one?

So, maybe the solution is outside. Maybe instead of keeping looking inwards, we could take a good look outside and trust that what it might feel wrong to us, might feel that way because either it's wrong or some previous experience has shown that.

To sort of prove my point, is it true or not that most people find their purpose/life lessons either through raising children or confronting illness or death?

Life demands that we become adults, which means going against the whole drift of the culture. It specifically means, among other things, soothing your own bad feelings without the help of another, pursuing your own goals, and standing on your own two feet.

So we can be better if we search outwards for good examples or inspiration by enlighten beings. We need that outside help. We can be broken and in need of some fixing. The last thing you want to do is to put yourself even worst by blaming everything on you. You don't know any better! You don't know any better until you experience the "right" way...

“All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words.”
_
Ming-Dao Deng

Here's a list of things we can start doing to improve ourselves.
more: follow the link

"1. Your Possessions – Too many material possessions complicate our lives to a greater degree than we ever give them credit. They drain our bank account, our energy, and our attention. They keep us from the ones we love and from living a life based on our values. If you will invest the time to remove nonessential possessions from your life, you will never regret it."

2. Your Time Commitments – Most of us have filled our days full from beginning to end with time commitments: work, home, kid’s activities, community events, religious endeavors, hobbies… the list goes on. When possible, release yourself from the time commitments that are not in line with your greatest values.

3. Your Goals – Reduce the number of goals you are intentionally striving for in your life to one or two. By reducing the number of goals that you are striving to accomplish, you will improve your focus and your success rate. Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish in your life and choose the two most important. When you finish one, add another from your list.

4. Your Negative Thoughts – Most negative emotions are completely useless. Resentment, bitterness, hate, and jealousy have never improved the quality of life for a single human being. Take responsibility for your mind. Forgive past hurts and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

5. Your Debt – If debt is holding you captive, reduce it. Start today. Do what you’ve got to do to get out from under its weight. Find the help that you need. Sacrifice luxury today to enjoy freedom tomorrow.

6. Your Words – Use words with care.  Keep your speech plain and honest. Mean what you say. Avoid gossip.

7. Your Artificial Ingredients – Avoid trans fats, refined grain (white bread), high-fructose corn syrup, and too much sodium. Minimizing these ingredients will improve your energy level in the short-term and your health in the long-term. Also, as much as possible, reduce your consumption of over-the-counter medicine – allow your body to heal itself naturally as opposed to building a dependency on substances.

8. Your Screen Time – Focusing your attention on television, movies, video games, and technology affects your life more than you think. Media rearranges your values. It begins to dominate your life. And it has a profound impact on your attitude and outlook. Unfortunately, when you live in that world on a consistent basis, you don’t even notice how it is impacting you. The only way to fully appreciate its influence in your life is to turn them off.

9. Your Connections to the World – Relationships with others are good, but constant streams of distraction are bad. Learn when to power off the blackberry, log off Facebook, or not read a text. Focus on the important, not the urgent. A steady flow of distractions from other people may make us feel important, needed, or wanted, but feeling important and accomplishing importance are completely different things.

10. Your Multi-Tasking – Research indicates that multi-tasking increases stress and lowers productivity. while single-tasking is becoming a lost art, learn it. Handle one task at a time. Do it well. And when it is complete, move to the next.


Wind from the Sea - Edward Gordon

Who has helped you?

... question to self. Who has helped me?

So many people. So many people in my Life have given me their time, attention, love and care. I’ve received a lot in my Life and unfortunately I don’t think I’ve given much back. And as I write on these thoughts I feel sad for not having, in some cases, the chance to say/do a proper thank you gesture. From a passing friend, to a teacher or a simple casual helper, there are many people in my Life I wish I could say Thank you. And I know we all share this sort of emotional debt, so how can we give back?

Some people don’t like to accept others help and for some reason they tend to believe they live on their own means and energy, but come on, how can you think that? Even if you bred animals, grew your own vegetables, weaved your own clothes and spent your existence in some far away cage you would still need that occasional shopping for something, or lets just think a bit ahead, we don’t actually come to this world just by ourselves, right? Someone gave birth to you. So let’s cut the bullshit on individualism's and come to terms that we all need a good “neighbor”. We need each other. If what you’re scared off is to loose yourself in that sometimes blind process called “education” then take some action, educate yourself, read, think, share and re-think.

Once you’ve got it under your belt, once you feel secure and confident, then be that person who once helped you to someone else. Be here and now, no but, no if, no maybe, be here and now and give forward what you’ve received and learned and keep learning about this Life.

“Peace can exist only in the present moment. It is ridiculous to say “Wait until I finish this, then I will be free to live in peace.” What is “this”? A diploma, a job, a house, the payment of a debt? If you think that way, peace will never come.”
—
Thich Nhat Hanh

Just remember, your world is your own design, there is no comparison to anyone’s world, anywhere. You see, think and feel things through your own lenses. We tend to take things personally, as if the other could get inside our head and understand our perception of things. No one can, remember this, but your friends, the people that care for you, will give you that space and so should you give to them. Be compassionate, here and now, and play.

"(...) Steal your heart 
Give it away 
Attached your head to you heart before it strays"

Are u feelin it?

“As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home.”
—
Jack Kornfield

Everyday some are born, some dead, some even go missing... it's Life, and Life has its own rules, rhythms and, must add, a particular sense of humor. But just like any good old blues, we get along and go along with its compassionate side. There's always an addiction for hope, for wishing, and no wrong with that, until we can't find our next score and that's when the going gets tough. No hope? No wishful thinking? Dam...

“Isn’t it funny how we live inside the lies we believe?”
—
A.S. King

Yeah, we lie with all the teeth we still got, to save our own skin, the very thin skin that holds our egos. We usually don't mean harm in that, but we mean no good either. We all lie, to ourselves or others, it's in our very own nature to understand reality through a tiny little wormy brain that thinks he's it, tha thing that can save or destroy the world. But we're so dumb when it comes to understanding the greater things in Life... yeah, we know about super sweet deals and great catches, we know how to play smarter and fast, but what do we actually know or believe when it comes to Life itself. The basic. Hey dude, before your mama gave you birth, where were you? ... and, what, when you reach your expiration date, do you just go kaput, Copperfield stunt move?



... we all need to take a good look at the backstage of what's playing in our heads. Ok, maybe you  have a great audience who watches you perform, but they'll leave and go home, and you'll be with only person who, for show, will be with you for the rest of your life: yourself.

"Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.", but so good to listen and such a treat for the soul. Respect and give some Love to your soul.
_
Jimy Hendrix