Let This Day Be A Reminder Of The Power Of Love.

Happy Valentines Day to you and to all people who share this planet together, let’s let love and compassion be our guide.  Is there any doubt that spreading loving kindness is a positive thing to do?  Can you imagine a world where there is enough compassion and caring for everyone?  All wise spiritual traditions agree that love is the highest human expression. 

Imagine spreading love everywhere you go each day? How would it feel to let your heart open more each day?  Is there any limit to the love inside of you or anyone else?   Sure there are people who have lost touch with their hearts but showering them with love would help them open up again.  The capacity to love in many of us is barely tapped into and just waiting to expand.

Isn’t it time we let love be the major force for positive change? Terrorism cannot exist in a loving environment.  All terrorists are looking for love in the wrong places.  All the people in prison just need the love and support of others to change their lives around.  Even the baddest and scariest of people would do better in a caring environment.  This is not some airy-fairy idea.  It is instead what makes the most sense to anyone who has an open mind and an open heart. 

Look around you, where do you need to spread love.  Let this day be a reminder of the power of love.  Commit to loving more each day and that includes: yourself, those you care about, and all those you come in contact with.  Remember there is no greater human expression than loving, having compassion, caring for others, being kind and living with and open heart. 

Love has the power to transform each of us and the planet.  Are you ready and willing to open your heart to love?

I write daily at www.explorelifeblog.com

I want to be as fully conscious as I can be, have an open heart, feel much joy and freedom, and express who I am as completely as I can.

I also want to invite the same in every other human being I come in contact with through my work, my daily blog www.explorelifeblog and my other writing.

Joseph

I feel most free in my spirit, which I sense is free of all my personality limits.  My spirit wants to soar, wants to be fully free all the time, and is guiding me towards my fullest expression and toward a life of joy.   

I am working on being free in my mind, in my emotions, and free in my body so that I can be in full harmony and health.

Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com
www.peace-together.com

I am giving up struggle for the New Year therefore I accept everything as it is.  This does not mean that I don't hold positive thoughts for change.  I have much hope for 2009 and even though there are challenges, I have full trust in humankind to rise to the occasion. 

If we know who-we-really-are than why would there be a need to struggle with accepting ourselves or anything else?

Go Obama, Go Us Citizens, Go America

Joseph

www.explorelifeblog.com
www.peace-together.com

I believe karma is an interesting ideas that has come to us from the wisdom of the East.  I use to think in those terms as I considered my actions. Now however I wonder if it isn't one of those beliefs created to control the behavior of the masses.  I ask that question because I find myself questioning all the beliefs I am aware of having.  It seems to me that too many of us our limited by beliefs passed on by well meaning parents, teachers, ministers, officials etc.  All beliefs are just thoughts passed on.  Thoughts are just thoughts and not real.

Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com

I wish for everyone to have a wonderful holiday season and here are some tips to help make that happen. 

December 1st has arrived and are you looking forward to the coming holidays or not too excited? Holidays can be packed with old memories some of which are those you might like to forget. My holiday memories are positive but there are many who have suffered through traumatic experiences. There are some things to keep in mind as the Holiday Season draws near.

The follow ideas will help you take good care of yourself into the New Year:
• Pay attention to your emotions. When things get busy and frustrating your emotions can become out of control if you are not attuned to what is going on inside. Take a break when you need to rebalance your emotions, go for a walk, move to a quiet place, stop by a church or other contemplative place and enjoy some time for mindfulness.
• Listen to your body. Eat well and get the exercise you need. A healthy diet and exercise will counter the rich foods at social gathering and release the stress you have built up in the hurry and worry of your life.
• Keep your heart open. There is this heart in you made to run your body and to be the source of love in your life. Loving yourself and those around you makes the holidays richer and more enjoyable. Give gifts from love, visit others as acts of giving. Let you heart light up your world like the lights light up the trees.
• Make this holiday about having fun and enjoying life. Things have become way too serious and it is time to lighten up. Let go of the past and any ideas that are holding you back from having a great life. You are so much more than you may ever realize so have fun along the way.
• Take control of your thoughts. Stop the nonsense of self-talk that isn’t supportive. Instead think good, kind, encouraging and positive thoughts about you and everybody and every situation. Question your thoughts and listen to the deeper knowing that is beyond your thinking. Be wise and let the mind be at peace.
• Nurture your spirit. There is in you this life force that know no limits, that has infinite wisdom, and is just waiting for you to further explore your potential and your higher purpose. Quiet down, tune in and hear the inner wisdom that wants to direct you to be an amazing human being. Let your spirit soar.

I hope you find these guidelines helpful. If you do, print this blog and put it somewhere to remind you. Remember humans tend to be about as happy as they choose to be. Choose joy and kindness as your way in the world.

From my daily blog today as www.explorelifeblog.com

Today is a National Day for Listening. I guess after all the eating yesterday, listening may be all you can handle. More seriously, having a day of listening sounds like a great idea. Find out more by pressing here and by tuning in to NPR.   This day also has a book full of stories about the affects of listening, the book is titled, Listening Is An Act Of Love.

Listening is an act of love and kindness and the most compassionate thing we can do for those we love. Our partners need to be heard, our children need to be heart, our brothers and sisters need to be heard, our parents need to be heard, our friends need to be heard, our co-workers need to be heard. The people of our nation and the world need to be heard.

Real listening is listening with an open heart and an open mind. Real listening comes from a place of caring and seeks to understand what the other is trying to share with us. Real listening is done in patience, with compassion for the other’s feelings. Real listening means putting your issues aside and being fully focus on what the other person is saying. Real listening is paying attention to the body language and the emotional content.

As a therapist whose job it is to listen, I can say that those I work with are always grateful that I give them my full attention when they talk with me. It often seems to me that I may be the only one in their lives that has listened to them. The reason I think that is that people come into my office and share their life’s story as if no one has ever heard it, as if they have been waiting their entire live to share what they are sharing.

Listening is healing. It releases the built up stuff of life when another hears what we have to say. It provides clarity to hear oneself. It helps us let go of the unfinished business we have inside. It provides insight into who are, our potential and where we want to be as we grow into our possibilities. Listening gives us the awareness needed to make healthier choices and bring about real change where it is needed.

I want to share with you six guidelines so that you can be a good listener today and every day.
1. Always listen with full attention and heart
2. Try to hear what they are feeling and they want you to understand
3. Be respectful of their point of view and ask question to gain clarity
4. Put your own agenda aside and avoid getting defensive
5. Instead of trying to resolve their problems, make it your task to respect what they are saying
6. Let them know they are loved no matter what they think, feel and say

The gift of listening may be the best gift you can give to those you love.

I have three favorite forms of creative expression.

I love to sing and move to to my favorite songs

I love painting and collage work

I love to write as I do daily at my blog

Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com

In the present moment.

Also I am paying attention to my inner guidance/intuition which is guiding me the more I listen. 

There is hope in the air as people awaken from the trance of life and all of that takes place right now

Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com
www.peace-together.com

I keep peaceful in 5 ways:

I keep myself fit and flexible in body.
I respect and honor my emotions.
I live according to my heart's guidance.
I calm my thoughts and have positive self-talk.
I follow the wisdom of my spirit

These bring me moments of peace throughout my day.

Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com
www.peace-together.com