A meaningful existence is more than just a dream, it is a profound way of life. It is achieved not by chasing rainbows, rather by walking slowly in the rain and waiting patiently for the sun to emerge from behind a cloud to gift you with a glimpse of a wondrous sight.

We all travel at different speeds through life, depending on our intensity and intent. Fast paced activities may produce an adrenaline rush, a high that lasts moments to mere seconds, but the flame dies quickly, like a match in that rain you should be slowly walking through. Your heart will smile the biggest from fond moments of peace, solitude, friendships and everlasting love – events that take place over months and years.

Drive too fast and the landscape will undoubtedly fly by. You may not even see the brilliant blue chicory flowers a few feet from the side of the road or the ambrosia grape-hyacinths in all of their three inch glory. The big picture is always visible, the details are lost in the dust. Admire and give full attention to the unfurling of leaves in the spring, the growth rings of better years and slower ones, the morning dew underneath your bare feet and the juicy plums that endured the scorching summer sun.

Nature seems to be in no hurry, so why are we?

Slow down and start simplifying your life in a myriad of ways. Approach it from multiple fronts to unleash your true happiness (that is itching to escape) from within.

• eat real food – no artificial flavorings or preservatives here, just down to earth home-cooked meals that can and should be shared with family and friends
• be grateful – give thanks for what you have, no matter how little, keeping in mind that owning few possessions may induce acts of enlightenment
• listen – to the person conversing with you, they really want you to hear what they have to say
• look – into the eyes of people, it is not our virtue to stare blindly across the landscape, we must fine tune our ability to see(k) if we would like to understand
• feel – with both your heart and your hands, hugging has been proven to bring about a sense of joy along with lightness of the heart
• move – travel with a purpose, whether it is down the hall to your kitchen for a steaming mug of tea or halfway across the world to spend a month with strangers who will in turn become part of your family
• walk – wherever your feet may take you, creative energies are often found while out on a stroll, walking is wonderful for both your health and the earth – it may be the simplest form of exercise possible
• meditate – and give yourself the much needed time to think in quiet, without a drop of white noise, only the fir trees at your back and with the stars in your eyes

Move in such a way that your actions become the very things that define you. Deepen your awareness and contemplate, the answers will come with time.

If you have time, then the whole world is at your fingertips – travel slowly and enrich your life with experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

About the Author

Cheryl Magyar is a sustainable life designer who writes about living a simple life at home and away. Her thoughts are cast weekly on handcraftedtravellers.com, a blog lovingly shared with her poetic husband, you can also visit their Facebook page for more inspirations of happiness and simplicity.

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What is the point of tragedies? Why must we endure them as humans? Is there a reason beyond the pain and suffering? Is there perhaps a deeper reason? Could it be to allow our souls to see things from a different perspective? To allow us to see things from a way we are just not accustomed to visiting during these busy times? Have we lost our way that we need these tragedies to welcome us back Home? Are we bringing these on ourselves for something bigger to be revealed within ourselves?

Could it be not only to endure anything that is placed before us, but also to learn and grow and see what immense strength we really do have within us? You might ask, why can’t we learn through joy and hope instead? Why must we be placed in such devastation to see our Truth and Light?

I believe right now we are programmed to listen with our ears and not our hearts. We are taught to see things from a lens that does not show us the Truth and our totality. We only see a sliver of what we are truly made of currently. We do not see the beauty within us that is patiently waiting to fully emerge and blossom.

These tragedies are the starting point: they are the lever that is being pushed so high and low, urging us to switch the Light on within us. We need this darkness to understand that the Light is waiting inside one of the corners to shine on the dark, to encompass it within, and to transform it into pure joy and beauty. This is how we learn and see our Truth: through the dark and the Light. Without one, the other does not exist. It is simply the way of opposites, duality, and of life. This is how we grow, fellow brothers and sisters: through seeing pain in one another and gaining compassion for one another and seeing how we are all really the same but just have different stories to tell and learn from one another.

Perhaps we can start listening and opening our hearts to form a bigger family of support and collaborations, rather than competitions and pinning ourselves against each other. We have work to do here – we have to find our Truths now. There are signs all around that this is a serious time of emergency, and I believe together we can heed this signal and listen from our hearts.

Let us use our intuitions and Spirits to guide us into the Light from within the dark. The treasure is in welcoming the dark, not avoiding it. The treasure is in the understanding and embracing of the dark. Let us feel it fully and allow it to take us to depths we have not ventured thus far, so we can emerge with greater understanding of our pain, and simultaneously, learn where our courage lies.

The way is the path we have been pushing away for so long – this is why we are where we are as a community. Let us try something new and break free from the shackles and allow our Light to shine brightly, as our grace-given right and duty.

Of course, none of this easy – this is extremely challenging and painful. But the more we resist it, the more we suffer. If we release and surrender to the inevitable pain and darkness within, the more we allow for this stuck energy to move and create room for the Light to flow through us again.

The way is following the energy and breathing through it all – take notice of where your breath begins and ends. Following the energy takes bravery that you very much have – it guides you to the most fearful places that you try to avoid at all costs. But it also leads you to the most freeing and joyful places if you continue to surrender to the energy even in the depths of the darkest places without letting the fear stop you. Use faith and trust as your companions on this extremely scary venture. Faith and trust that you will not eternally be doomed to this place of darkness; rather you will prevail, move through it, and come out of it forever changed.

We are not meant to be happy all the time, we are not meant to be successful all the time, we are not meant to be the best or richest or smartest all the time – we are meant to be authentic, we are meant to be vulnerable, we are meant to show up in each moment, we are meant to open our hearts and surrender to whatever we find there in the moment, we are meant to simply Be and to understand That is beyond good enough. Acceptance and non-judgment of ourselves as we Are act as our allies on our path of understanding and wholeness.

Tragedy can be our teacher – it is trying to allow us to see our greatness within our resilience, courage, compassion, kindness for one another, love for all, and coming together to help one another in these heart-breaking times. Tragedy is here to free us, not to annihilate us. It is our savior – let us bow and surrender to the pain and find our Light within the storm of our lives. Look within for the door to your Soul. Listen to your voice within to guide you and listen with your heart, not your ears.

We are here, not to survive, but to thrive against all odds. It is time for us to believe again. Believe with the deepest part of us that our story is not finishing – it is just beginning. And see the Light in you waiting to shine so brightly to pave the way and inspire the rest of us to embark on our own journey of pain and freedom. Believe and pray for guidance for your way back Home.

About the Author

Sheila passionately believes in everyone’s ability to open their hearts and heal their hurts in order to discover and share their Light. She follows this passion as a Psycho-Spiritual Therapist and Transpersonal Breathwork Facilitator in which she guides people on their journey of self-discovery. Learn more about her at www.lookingwithintherapy.com

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Consider the common terminology associated with the up and down directions. Some expressions of negative mood are: I’m feeling low. I’m down in the dumps. I’m feeling down. I can’t lift myself up. The positive, upward directional expressions are: I’m on top of the world. Things are looking up. I’ve got high inspirations. I feel uplifted, etc.

From the above examples its clear that our mood closely follows these directions. Happy, carefree mood and emotions are associated with the upward direction, whereas gloomy, negative feelings and emotions are associated with the downward direction. These are universal across all languages and cultures.

Even the very concept of heaven and hell is directionally based. Hell is commonly viewed as something existing deep down, beneath our feet, while heaven is understood as being somewhere elevated, high up above the clouds!

But why is that? Simply put, there is a physio-psychological correlation between the direction of your gaze and the state of your mood. There is another supporting explanation involving energies moving through our central nervous system particularly in the spine. The upward movement of energy results in a positive mood, while the downward movement results in a negative one.

No matter what causes this phenomenon, you can do a simple experiment right now. With your head facing forward, lift your gaze approximately 30 degrees up from looking straight ahead. With your eyes opened or closed, maintain this upward gaze for about ten seconds. This short time is enough to begin sensing an emotional upliftment.

Similarly, maintain your gaze until your mood noticeably improves. This simple exercise can be used anytime, (other than driving) when you’re feeling down and need an emotional lift. Use this technique yourself and spread the goodness by teaching it to others.

Live well. Vlad

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Self-help means we can help ourselves and magically feel better. The fact is there is no easy answer. And sometimes, we don’t feel better – at least not right away.

It took me a long time to write this article because I had to wrap my head around this vague and seemingly elusive notion of “happiness.”

I spent 13 months in Zambia and had some of the happiest moments in my life – happiest because I was doing what I loved and made incredible friends while pursuing my dream. Plus, I’m a natural adventurer, excited to soak in the ecstasy of every new experience heightened by the thrill of being abroad.

While the highs were highs, the lows were also very low.

It was hard to witness the best and worst of worlds, side by side. With only an estimated 20 percent formal employment in the country, many of my Zambian friends were jobless and constantly broke. It was not uncommon to see streetkids loitering in the streets, begging tourists for money. Death was common and it seemed as if members of my host family were frequently attending funerals.

I will always remember a gentle yet fiercely strong lady whose teenage daughter I befriended on the bus. She was attending boarding school in the next town and harbored dreams of becoming a medical doctor. When I asked her about the future, she said matter-of-factly, “My career comes first. I want it to be stable before I have a family.”

She and her parens invited me to their home and showed me where they planned on building a pool and expanding the house. It took a couple of visits before I felt comfortable enough to ask about the rest of their family. Because I had only met the daughter and never saw any other children in the house, I was curious whether she was an only child, as this is extremely rare in Zambia. When I asked, a wave of sadness moved over the mother’s face and she said that she had two other kids, but they died in a bus accident.

“My husband and I thank the Lord everyday we still have our one child,” she said.

Sadly, this is not uncommon in Zambia. With poorly maintained roads and vehicles, accidents occur often. Although it seems the elderly lived a long life in the villages, the younger generation’s habits of eating an unhealthy Western diet, accompanied by higher risk of road accidents, stress, faster pace of life and risk of HIV infection, contribute to a reduced life span.

Despite the hardships many Zambians face everyday, I was in awe of their strength and spirit in the face of struggle.

This is not to say depression or suicides do not exist. In fact, they do. Occasionally, I would hear about a friend of a friend who committed suicide or was suffering from depression.

However, on average, Zambians have remarkable resilience.

During my stay, I tried to figure out why. As someone who dabbled in literature on self-help and positive psychology, I am always interested in how individuals deal with hardships.

Faith is definitely an important factor. When faced with challenges, my Zambian friends said relying on Jesus and God restored their faith that everything would be okay. Church also provided a strong support system. In times of need, church members helped each other through prayer, donations and gatherings.

It’s this faith that also spurs a unique combination of patience and joie de vivre among my Zambian friends. It’s not that they didn’t feel pain. It’s simply that they didn’t expect a cure or solution overnight. No quick-fixes. Resilience is a cumulation of getting over everyday hurdles, not a roaring I-am-strong-so-flex-my-muscle type of attitude.

While I rarely heard people talk about positive thinking, my friends often talked about hope. Hope for the future. Hope for their children. Hope for change. Hope as a panacea to suffering.

“Our people have suffered.” This was something I often heard. My friend recently told me, “I don’t like to see people suffer anywhere.” Yet I rarely saw this acknowledgement of suffer devoid of hope. Even in the worst of moments, a flicker of hope remained.

Sometimes, getting over the everyday hurdle involved dealing with the here and now and living in the present. For the younger generation, this means going out dancing, drinking beer and chatting with friends. I think having a joie de vivre in the present moment helps people deal with negative emotions. Instant gratification, while in some circles is seen negatively, is a virtue in Zambia. It’s a compliment if someone says you know how to have fun — socializing with friends, laughing, going out and having a good time. Simple as that.

That and a strong joking culture. There are 73 ethnic groups in Zambia and the dominant groups have a history of warring with each other. The groups that warred with each other in the past eventually lived side by side and intermarried. Now they’re called “tribal cousins.” Tribal cousins have to tease each other.

For example, when Tongas meet Lozis, they have to make fun of each other, sometimes even to the point of harassment – all in good fun. This joking culture is present in everyday interactions and all types of professional settings. I believe this joking culture actually helps alleviate stress and depression arising from difficulties in life.

Life’s challenges are universal. Death, aging, and illness occur everywhere. A mother caring for her sick infant in the US experiences similar turmoil as a mother caring for her sick infant in Zambia. That’s why I’m reluctant to use “culture” as a catch-all explanation of differences in how people cope with life’s challenges.

While in some respects, life is harder in underdeveloped countries – lack of infrastructure and solid health care and educational systems – these problems are mitigated by stronger support systems, faith and hope that everything will be okay and an orientation towards life which values enjoying the present moment.

This is not to say depression doesn’t exist. It does and should not be treated lightly. But, on average, the rates are lower and people possess incredible resilience given the hardships many face on an everyday basis. If anything, I’m convinced there is much we can learn from Zambians about the ways they deal with adversities in life and maintain equanimity and hope amid moments of despair.

About the Author

Janny Chang is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University. In her spare time, she loves to read and write about the simpler life — bliss, contentment, meaning and peace.                                

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I am a good example of how a healthy person can get adversely affected by simply having an internal conflict between himself and his life. Briefly, there was a time when I seemingly had it all. A well paying job, a big house and all the other goodies that go along with focusing purely on the material aspects of life. If you took a snapshot of my life, you’d see a career man living high on life.

The truth however was just the opposite. In reality, I couldn’t stand my life. I hated every single dreaded moment of my job. I despised the shallowness of my miserable existence. I felt that I was living a life devoid of any purpose, meaning or happiness. What’s worst is that I saw no way to change any part of it. My house was over mortgaged, I was used to maintaining a lifestyle that only slaving 60 hours a week could support.

This internal conflict was literally making me sick. I was depressed, agitated and fatigued. I stopped taking care of myself and was actually trying to mistreat myself so as to find some tangible reason to stop what I was doing. Subconsciously, I wanted to be sick so I could get off of this roller coaster ride which was spiraling down and carrying me along with it. I was trapped with no seeming way out.

Getting out of bed became a chore. I slept most of the time when I wasn’t working or loathing. I had lost all desire for any external activities. It was work and sleep, work and sleep, over and over, just one long day that never seemed to end.

Every fiber in my body cried for salvation. It took much personal insight and retrospect to snap out of my self destructive life. To start rebuilding the life that I was meant to have. Consider this, as long as you stay out of balance with your true purpose, you will remain deeply dissatisfied with the direction your life is taking. This can manifest into fatigue, sickness and destructive behaviour.

If I can leave you with but only one message, let it be this: No matter how deeply you are involved in your lifestyle, no matter how difficult it seems to make any changes, you must take the necessary steps to save yourself. Life is a precious gift that can not be wasted on living in misery. Denying to yourself the true meaning of your life, can make you tired, sick and unhappy. You must open yourself up to your destiny and your potential.

Here is what you can do. Take an honest look at your life. Assess which parts of your life make you feel tired or depressed. These may be something fairly small, such as a particular part of your job description, or something very significant such as your career as a whole. These are all key issues. Once they’re isolated, you should experience some degree of relief simply by consciously understanding them.

The next step is to take action. It doesn’t have to be something drastic like quitting your job the next day and wandering the world with nothing but a backpack to your name. These could be small, consistent steps that will gradually correct your life’s direction. We all have responsibilities and commitments. We can not drop them overnight. It will take planning and sacrifice, but they can be incorporated into your life in a natural way to harmonize with your goals.

With each step that you take in the right direction, you will experience emotional discharge, confirming that you’re on the right path. Daily planning of the life you want, will also give you satisfaction of accomplishment, purpose, and yes, energy. Changing the direction of your life isn’t easy. It’s filled with events that will challenge you and your resolve. It requires vision and dedication. Most of all it requires the desire to grow and evolve as a human being. But isn’t that what it’s all about?

Live well. Vlad

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Simply put, the general purpose is to achieve self awareness. The self awareness leads to self liberation. Liberation from the illusion that we’re all separate beings. That everything is separate from everything else. Because in essence, we are all one and the same. Now it‘s one thing to believe, hypothesise or rationalize about this concept, and entirely different to experience it first hand. This experience only comes from self awareness.

On the individual level, we all have our unique purpose that we’re destined to experience. This experience is exactly what’s required at this time in our lives, based on the level of our spiritual evolution. Our personal spiritual roadmap if you will. The irony of this, is that many of us spend lifetimes, resisting this purpose. We find reasons for putting it off, justifying why we aren’t ready to face it. We follow every possible scenario, instead of the one that we were meant to follow.

This creates two main issues. The first and the obvious one is that it holds us back from evolving further. It keeps us at an idle, chasing our tails while moving nowhere. The second issue is that resisting our destiny creates various internal and external conflicts in our lives. You know, when something just doesn’t feel right. When we know that there is more to life, the nagging feeling that this isn’t the life you were meant to have, etc. Well, it’s all true!

There are many factors why people stray from their destiny. These are social and peer pressures, economic and financial decisions, and so on. In essence we place ourselves in the position of self betrayal. Betraying our birthright to follow our destiny. This self-betrayal often leads to unhappiness, depression, insecurities, illnesses, substance abuse, and so on. It is detrimental to our well being.

Re-aligning ourselves with destiny requires discovering and following our passion. It’s often a challenging process, one that’s full of sacrifice and self discovery. But this is a good thing! It rewards us with happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction. Also, we are much more likely to realise our full potential once we’re on this path. Reaching our full potential is only possible while living a purpose filled life. The life that we were destined to live.

So now that we’ve established the relationship between our potential and passion, let’s take it one step further. I will go out on a limb to say that you already know what your passion in life is. You may not have all of the details worked out, but you know quite well what you like and dislike about your life. The goal is to consciously identify the key points of your preferences. Separate activities, events, places and people that make you feel complete and happy, from those that do not.

In essence, by identifying and following that which gives you joy, you’re placing your life in alignment with your purpose. And that leads you to your destiny. There are other factors involved, such as practicing activities that serve and help other people. Spreading positive energy, love and compassion in your daily lives. If you think this is an overly simplified description, you are right. But the truth need not to be complicated. It is the simplest answer that’s most often the correct one.

And when you follow your passion, you will be at the apex of your game. You will be able to reach your full potential in everything that you choose to do. Life will become more meaningful and you will find that you’re more enthusiastic and satisfied from everything you attempt. This is simply impossible to achieve, if you’re denying yourself your life’s purpose. This is why potential is a derivative of purpose.

You can now use this information to choose which direction to take. You can either shelve it, or make a point to embark on a course of discovery of the self, and of your life’s purpose. I can guarantee that if you do nothing, nothing will happen in return. I can also promise that whatever small steps you’re willing to take towards finding your passion, will reward you well beyond your expectations!

Live well, Vlad

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I’ll keep it simple. Looking at humanity today, our characteristics seem to resemble that of a human adolescent. We are prideful and self opinionated. We believe that we’ve got it all worked out. We place our attention on enjoying our material possessions, with little concern given to the consequence. We’re still quite immature emotionally. We have little patience and prefer brute force once we encounter any signs of resistance.

As adolescents, we require guidance in order to patiently learn about ourselves and the world we live in. To consider the consequences of the actions we take today. In order to lay the foundation of adulthood, we must start to cultivate our spiritual beginnings. To embrace our deeper selves. To discover our inherent right to happiness and purpose.

I believe that in time, our technological advances will become absolutely astounding. We will have achieved the apex of technical perfection. I will not speculate on the details of our accomplishments, but at the pace we’re on now, we will equate to gods of material sophistication. Alas, it will also be our lowest level of spiritual awareness.

But it is also then, that we will begin to realize that all of our material perfection, has yet to satisfy us on a deeper, permanent level. This will be the time that we take the next step toward our evolution as spiritual beings. Science and spirituality will merge like never before. We will make strides into the spiritual evolution of our species. This is my short wish list for the future generations.

Suicidal Wars

Forsake suicidal wars. Nations of the world must learn to live in harmony, mutual understanding and respect. Insisting on being right, does not necessarily bring peace to our world. We must have a balance between political disparity and social responsibility. We owe it to ourselves to support the survival of our species.

Race Hatred

How can any one of us live in the conflict of a divided world? We belong to a single race – the human race. Need proof? Humanity is propelled through vastness of space atop of a tiny ball. Do you really think we are that different from one another? Do you believe that your hopes and your sufferings are unique only to you? The human race will survive only if it learns to embrace its unity.

Religious Sectarianism

Are we not all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God? No matter by what name you refer to your Creator, rejoice in the diversity of beliefs. Drop the boundaries of ignorance and accept everyone as children of God. All holy scriptures teach us the same basic truths. To offer love and compassion, to be morally right in our actions, to give freely of ourselves. Our believes have a lot more in common than apart.

Evils of Materialism

Humanity has made considerable material progress. In many ways however, materialism is a mere substitute for genuine human joys. In fact, we often disconnect ourselves from one another and from our own humanity by substituting it with the ever increasing material consumption. This is not the sustainable path to happiness. We must find a much needed balance between the materialism and humanism.

In Conclusion

I have high hopes for the human race. We have immense potential, and capable of fantastic strides. At our very worst, we are the worst of the known Universe. At our best, we are incomparably loving, generous and compassionate. We lay our own lives on the line to help fellow human beings. The future awaits. Only time will tell if we can live up to our fullest potential.

Live well. Vlad

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Having recently experienced the job market, I’ve come face to face with the dehumanization of the individual. The value of a person is no longer based on his or her qualities of character. Rather it is now analyzed and quantified by online testing tools.

We are measured, analyzed and classified. We are categorised and examined. We are asked questions from a list of standardized questions designed to trigger just the right amount of emotion.

There is no longer any personal contact, a glance eye to eye, a handshake, a feel for the character of the individual. Personal contact has been replaced by compiling data, plain and simple.

By the degree on the wall, by the GPA, by the time duration it takes to produce the answer. Often, the job seeker is turned down without ever having heard the voice of the potential employer. Turned away by the automated response of the online application.

Information now reigns supreme over personal character. What a shame it is that our young must compete against a mechanised selection process. It is no longer important who you are on the inside, what your moral code is, your ethics, your principles or values.

As long as you are capable of demonstrating enough of the right kind of information, you’ve got the competitive edge. Who cares who you are inside – you may as well be a machine.

Well I say that it will get worse before it gets better. I don’t claim to know how far the dehumanization process will go, but I can tell you that it’s far from over. I can also tell you that this process will cave in on itself one fine day.

On that day people may no longer resemble humans, but machines. Their personalities will be eradicated in place of the raw processing power.

Humanity will lose its purpose. It will no longer strive for independent thinking or revelations. It will instead be consumed with evermore units of information. Kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte, exabyte (that’s 18 zeroes!).

Where will it end? The humanity will come to the brink of extinction. Not in the biological sense, but as caring, loving, sensitive, emotional beings.

And when humanity loses its purpose, so will it lose its reason to be. But the very nature that we’re trying so hard to escape, will save us once again. We’re bred for survival. With the last spark of instinct, one of us will open up his eyes and move his gaze away from the walls of his confinement to the inner world of the spirit.

Others will follow, shedding the digital shackles of their imprisonment in favor of returning back to their original human state. humanity… that’s when the display monitor will give way to looking into each others eyes once again. If you ever feel dehumanized, here are a few suggestions for you…

Reconnect with humanity

Love your human side. Breathe, walk, meditate, be still. There is so much more to you than meets the eye. So much more than the external body, the accumulated information, the knowledge from schools, the degrees on the wall.

When you recall your humanity, you will realize your connection to the world. To all other human beings. To their joys, their sorrows, their inspirations and their losses. It’s OK to experience their pain and joy. It’s OK to feel compassion toward another!

Detach from information

Are you burned out from the never-ending stream of information? Does it numb your brain, blur your vision? Is it there to get your mind off of yourself? The self that’s laying suppressed deep inside? The one you recall when your smartphone loses its charge, or your internet glitches out?

So turn it OFF. That’s what the off button is for. It forces you to remember who it is that you really are. Remember the kid running around at the park? Yeah that was you. You were happy then, just as you were. You didn’t’ need the 3,000 satellite channels, or 10,000 best friends on Facebook.

In Conclusion

God gave you everything you need to experience joy right now. It is our tech savvy society that convinced you to accessorize with the latest, the fastest and the best so you can feel complete. Well I’m telling you, to turn it off. Just for a moment. Just long enough to remind yourself that to be human, all you really need, is you.

Live well. Vlad

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Once upon the time, there were two scientists. They were both very knowledgeable in their field. Over the years, they learned a great deal, and taught at Universities so others could learn from them. Together, they made lot’s of scientific discoveries, and written many important books filled with scientific analysis and knowledge.

They lived long, productive lives filled with scientific explorations and breakthroughs. One day, one of the scientist became ill. He learned that he didn’t have long to live. As he was lying on his deathbed he summoned his scientist friend. He then asked him: “All of our lives we were concerned with what we know. But now, I have to ask – what do you believe?”

This story demonstrates the power of belief. And imagination is belief’s close cousin. What makes imagination so powerful you say? The answer is, it transcends knowledge. It is beyond the tangible and the explainable. Another notable quality of imagination is that it is unlimited. More accurately, it is only restricted by the limits that you and I set ourselves.

Dare to dream again

Why be afraid to imagine and dream? What is it that changed in you from when you were young? When did imagination become impractical? Do yourself a favor and remember what it was like to imagine, to live in wonder. To believe in magic, to be excited just to be alive in each moment. Dare to dream again. Dare to let imagination back into your life.

When you are guided only by that which is factual, you’re closing the doors on the vast opportunities that are available to you. Our imagination sets manifestation into motion. Indeed, if you can think it, you can achieve it. We manifest based on what we conceive to be true. What we believe. That belief which is based in knowledge, is inherently limited by the data it contains. Belief based on imagination can soar above any information, past all of the restrictions.

Imagination aligned with destiny

There is a good reason why we are capable of imagination. Imagination is rooted in our life’s purpose. Given the proper attention, it helps us to align ourselves with destiny. Imagination is a recollection of the cosmic consciousness. It serves as a reminder to us, of who we are and what we’re capable of. Lifetime after lifetime. The bird’s eye view, if you will. Without it, we would be confined to the information gathered during the comparatively limited span of this life.

Imagination will point you at your destiny. Pursuing your destiny will bring you to a purpose-filled life. A purpose which defines you, and the actions that you take. Nevermind the pre confined notions that you must act in the way that’s considered acceptable by your peers, your family members or the society itself. Your life and its purpose belong to no-one else but you. So follow your destiny.

In Conclusion

Personally, I like to think, the scientist’s answer to his friend was: “I believe in the destiny that brought us together, the same destiny that now allows us to question our deepest beliefs, regardless if they are rooted in science or imagination…” Of course it doesn’t really matter what his answer was. What’s yours?

Live well. Vlad

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Encouragement to a friend offers support during a time of difficulty. In daily practice, it’s a show of your commitment and compassion. There is a saying: We can not choose our family, but we can choose our friends. This is very true. We pick our friends, based on our mutual compatibility and circumstances. Once the friendship is made, it represents a bond between two people who made an emotional commitment to one another.

Among unspoken rules of friendship, there are mutual support and encouragement. A friendship isn’t complete without them. It’s one thing to have fun and enjoy the good times with your friends. But it’s in the time of need, that real friendships are tested. It is then, that the bond is strengthened or weakened. Practice being there for your friends, with the following encouragements.

I’m thinking of you

I can not be with you in person, but I’m with you in spirit at your time of need. We are often left behind, witnessing from afar the troubles that our friends endure. But we don’t have to settle for not being there. We can easily project our support from wherever we are. In fact, with the advances in Internet communication technology, no-one has to truly be left alone anymore. No matter how far they are from us.

I am listening

Words of encouragement can also express your desire to listen. I am here for you, tell me all about it, and I promise to hear you out. To simply listen, without judgement or criticism. Listening is an art, one that is being replaced by too much talk. Too much noise. To be heard, we must now resort to hiring coaches and therapists. So become a good listener to silently support your friends and family.

I love you

Are there any other three words quite as powerful as these in the English language? This, among the noblest of human emotions is capable of moving mountains. Great figures such as Jesus have dedicated and even gave their very lives in the name of love. When you speak these words sincerely, you are saying that there is no greater dedication that can be made to a friend.

Spreading positive energy

Here is a little bit of science. We now understand that everything in the Universe consists of energy. These are also the teachings of the ancient rishis of India. Therefore even when we think, and even more so when we speak out, we are creating and sending out vibrations of energy. It’s important to note, that energy can have positive or negative quality, depending on our intent.

With each word of encouragement offered to a friend, we spread positive energy throughout the Universe. Our very intent to love, help and support, creates a powerful positive vibration. Our world is in dire need of positive energy. It’s enough to turn on the news to witness first hand, all of the negative events that plague us today. Sending out positive emotion counteracts this dark, negative presence.

In Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different ways to offer encouragement. They are simple ways. But every kind deed and intention begins with you, and your desire to help others. To give of yourself just for the sake of giving, without the concern of what’s in it for you. Selfless offering is the greatest offering you can make. So practice giving of yourself unconditionally. Your friends will love you for it.

Live well. Vlad

If this or any one of our other articles helped you in some way, please be awesome by spreading the word on your favorite social networks, and by subscribing to our email updates. Thank you.