“I don't like this. And this I don't like either, And this I do not like at all.”
We have predilections and disinclinations.
Living together with others, sometimes our disinclinations can be ignored. How can that happen?
Pointing out the things we do 'not' like mostly does 'not' take sustainable effect.
Distinct hints to our wish are necessary to make the other person considerately understand. Others can tune in to our wishes when we clearly say what we want.
You know what you do not like.
Do you also know what you like?
Start:
Today you could put a conflict before your eyes where you told someone a hundred times that you do not like something... but he/she still does it again and again.
If you remember chapter 16, you might now find an explanation for the difficulty of the matter.
Decipher and formulate what you like instead. That could be more effective. Much more effective!
Now you could breathe. 3 times. 5 minutes?! Cool. If you like...
I perceive myself
I clearly see what I want
thoughts of peace for Nauru : )
So, how did you do? Did you know what you want right away?
Recognizing what we do not want can help us to know what we actually want.
We'll achieve the best effects when we clearly point out our wishes. Thereby it could be very helpful to know about our OWN wishes first.
Trust is good! Checkup is better?
Sure, sometimes, yes.
But in life there are situations that really cannot be controlled. In those cases the ones of us who are able to trust have the least problems.
A lack of trust means that there are opposite thoughts like mistrust, fear or worry which are leading in our thinking. Mostly we can really imagine the bad end of things.
If thoughts move mountains then...
Start:
Today you could confront a situation where you truly have no control.
Maybe you sent out a couple of applications and are now fearing that you're going to be rejected. Or you're working on a project and fear for it to fail. Or you're separated from your love and wonder if he7she gets to know somebody or maybe you do not have a partner and fear that you're going to miss out on the right one?
Where else do you have no control?
Now think of your wishes, how you want things to be, as if they were already certain to come up like this. If possible, imagine it in pictures. How good your new work is, How successful the project went, how much you are loved, look forward to it : )
Relax mouth and face musculature, half smile. Indulge in dreams of how it can be...
I am full of trust and faith
delight for everything that is to come
thoughts of peace for Niger : )
...is it possible that we, with the opposite of 'trust', support the bad ending of things because we already settled it in our thoughts?
After all, we won't do fine with these thoughts. So why hold on to them?
Even it comes different than we thought, in the end, it can turn out to be the much better ending. Trusting this thought is more than good.
At least it can give us composure and that can support us in a very nice way; with everything we do.
"I don't care about yesterday's twaddle. There is nothing to hold me back from getting wiser." (Konrad Adenauer)
What we were fully convinced of yesterday, might have become old hat for us today; mostly that's because we experienced or learned new.
Brave is the one who can dissociate from obsolete convictions ans abstain from holding on to the old against better knowledge.
Start:
Today you could ponder to what outer matters or meanings you hold on though, still, you can already see a new inner position.
Maybe you continue judging a person even though you already discovered that this person isn't that 'bad' as you thought. Maybe you hold on to a common opinion because you're worried to lose countenance. Or maybe you shut yourself off to things that you've made fun of, even though they'd actually be of interest to you?
Whatever it may be, you could just change your opinion as soon as you recognize that you and others would do better then.
Relax you face and body. Straighten up, chin slightly drawn towards chest, long neck. With every inhale you can feel your entire body. With every exhale you can be open for the new. 4 minutes and 58 seconds? Or 3 times?
Free
open for the new
thoughts of peace for Morocco : )
Everything changes, NOTHING remains the same : )
How to confront people that temporarily loose control and give expression to anger?
It's about banal confrontations with strangers. People who surrendered to anger and try to pass it on to the outside.
In the road traffic, at the cash desk queue, at home with the family, or anywhere else.
There is a „Open Sesame!“.
Smile (and think „send delight/love“). You could express „I see that you are angry. I feel sorry for that.“ and thereby friendly say the word „Forgive me“.
Without any reason for us to excuse ourselves. It's only about supporting that maltreated person. He/she could get appeased and peaceful. So that would be a good thing for common peace.
Especially for our peace...
Start:
Today you could remember when somebody wrongfully gripped at you. Remember your feelings.
If you could remain easy, that's super.
If not, you could once again feel the feeling of powerlessness, anger... Do you feel it?
Now you could imagine how you confront the person in a friendly way. Breathe in and out 3 times : )
Recognize woe and forgive
thoughts of peace for Indonesia : )
When you tell the person “I see your anger. Forgive me.” you could know that, in fact, it is you who forgives the other person : )
Wave is water. Water that is in movement.
Billowy it builds up, becomes a wave, somersaults at the shore. Then it's gone.
New waves follow. And they vanish, too.
The ocean doesn't feel anything of this. Even if waves play wild games on the surface, ocean remains calm; the deeper one dives, the calmer it gets.
We and our feelings are very similar to the waves and the ocean.
When we'd dive through the waves of our feelings we might discover calmness that is always there.
Start:
You could do a test today. Next time a feeling overcomes you, hold still, be silent. The more excited you are, the more interesting the exercise gets! Stop moving, stop your situational thinking and be silent. Close your eyes, if possible. Consequently observe your bodily feelings that can show up like waves somewhere in your body. Notice all that comes up.
Then, start breathing. As long as you can take time for it and as long as you like to. Relieve all tensions : )
(in) I notice all feelings
(out) I become very silent
thoughts of peace for Poland : )
The more conscious we get about waves showing up and vanishing, the less serious we can take them.
With time and a little exercise, the waves will get smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller...
Children become confident when they're praised.
It seems that they take important energy out of the praise, this energy makes them blossom. And it doesn't really matter what they're praised for.
Every littleness will do! And it's reasonable : ) Praise is for free.
A little sensitivity and the wish to give delight to the other, that's it.
Reproof, in contrast, seems to detract delight. The more inane the matter is, the more energy will be detracted. That applies to the one who is dispraised and for the one who dispraises.
Start:
Today you could decide whether you'd like to give reproof and critique or praise. To yourself and to anyone else : )
Would you like to breathe a little? Then sit up straight and relaxed, loosen musculature of your belly, mouth, cheeks and forehead, half smile. Smile?
Breathing in I know that I breathe in
Breathing out I smile at myself
thoughts of peace for Kiribati : )
We ourselves are mostly our most severe reviewers. That's where we could start when we'd like to change our habits.
Even if there was good reason for critique, still, there are many nice and encouraging possibilities to sow courage instead of discouragement with our words : )
When you'd usually deal out criticism, you could now say. “You did it as good as you could do it. I see your effort. Next time it'll surely be better. Just try it again.”
Love – that's giving and taking.
Unconditional.
Sometimes we might feel more needy than usually.
Then it can happen that we want love at all cost because we think that we'll do better when we get some.
How likely are we to remain unconditional when we just take what we think we need?
Start:
Now you could decide whether you'd like to give or to take love today.
Relieve all tensions, straighten up, chin slightly drawn towards your chest, long neck. Loosen jawbones and tongue, relaxed half smile. You can feel your body with every breath. Let thoughts and noises pass you by.
Free of anger, worries and fear
thoughts of peace for Fiji : )
Experience shows that love cannot be demanded, nor can it be expected. It seems that love mostly appears when we ourselves give unconditional love.
Or, what experiences did you make? Do you remember?
“Give away happiness? I don't even have enough for myself!”
'Giving away' friendly thoughts to others isn't only gratis, it also works positive for our own well-being.
The others are a kind of catalyst for our delight : )
So amazingly simple!
Start:
Today you could take advantage of a situation where you feel unhappy or uneasy and send friendly and nice thoughts to others. You can do that now while reading or when you meet these persons. You may also do it secretly, just for yourself ; )
Relax your face, loosen jawbones and tongue, back straightened up, head slightly drawn towards your chest.
Half smile. Inhale – exhale, notice thoughts and sounds and let them pass. 4 minutes and 46 seconds? Or 3 times?
Person xyz:
happy and safe
thoughts of peace for Uzbekistan : )
You can also dedicate friendly thoughts to a group or a country. It doesn't really matter where you send your good thoughts to.
Everything's fine!
Sometimes it can get quite tight in our chest. When we feel aggrieved for example or maybe because we were sitting in front of the computer all day and didn't get in motion.
We then might have the tendency to bend over to the front or let our shoulders hang down or even our head.
So come one, let's straighten up and get back our breadth : )
Start:
Stand straight. Head is torn upwards like its top is bound to a string. Knees slightly bent, pelvis tilted backwards slightly.
Now fold your hands behind your back and outstretch your arms. With ever inhale you breathe into the breadth of your chest, with every exhale you relax.
You could stretch your arms a little more upwards with every inhale if you like, as long as it's comfortable. Be modest and avoid any overexpansion!
In this video I'm shortly showing you the exercise so that it's more easy to understand : )
avoid hollow back, so tilt pelvis backwards slightly : )
It's good for our well-being to have more breadth in the chest : )
Very easy, very good, isn't it?
“Things simply are the way they are.”
“That's how it is.”
“It's just like that.”
Yes, that's what you say when you accept things as they are.
Who could assess that 'these things' would have to be acceptable for everyone? And that they maybe could be changed or even should be changed?
Things can be very different seen from different points of view. Even though it's all about the same thing.
That's enough for objectivity... quite a subjective matter indeed.
Start:
Today you could think of a current matter where your impression is considerably different form someone other's impression.
You could friendly wonder what made the other have that certain impression of the matter.
It could be helpful to avoid all judging thoughts from the beginning on and simply try to see with the other's eyes. Benevolent and respectful towards the other's “objectivity”.
That's the idea of the day:
benevolent thinking
tolerance and respect
thoughts of peace for Macedonia : )
The feeling to be right is also felt by the other about his/her point of view.
When we take this as seriously as we take our own impression, we could be on the best path to solve the situation to the satisfaction of all.
Only those who stick to their own impressions won't move on. Except if they were to oppress others... and that could be different, too ; )
“You are what you eat? And what is that supposed to be? A tomato, an apple, a pizza, cola, vegetables, fruit, fat, sugar...? Everyone knows about the influence of food on our body. That's no news.“
Yes, but maybe it's news to you that food can be sour (acid) or basic. Sugar, for example, increases the acid in your body, it changes your body pH-value.
Start:
Today you could observe what you eat. That's the whole exercise.
Is there lots of candy? And meat and fish? What about milk products? Alcohol? All of these are acid in the pH-value.
And what about fruit? Vegetables? Nuts? Pits? Or maybe even sprouts? That's basic in the pH-value. So it's non-acid.
Now you could relax and breathe. Loosen mouth, half smile ; ) Inhale – Exhale.
Inhaling I know that I breathe in, exhaling I know that I breathe out.
In - Out
in balance
thoughts of peace for Finland : )
What if acid in our body would not only have influence on our body health but also on our mental well-being?
When everything is balanced, it's fine.
So if you'd like to know if you're the acid type you could get some test strips in the pharmacy and check it out. For everybody's different...
There are people who make the worst experiences and still they are smiling.
Yes...
They just flip and turn everything as if it was nice and fine and they believe that there's a good sense in everything. Even problems, diseases, death and loss. What are they doing?
Looks like they give very little space to sorrow, less than usual. Good trick!
Start:
Today you could put a situation of sorrow and difficulty before your eyes, when you cannot find any reason for delight or composure.
You could just try to bring those with your thoughts into your situation.
Relax your mouth, half smile. Maybe try it for 10 breathings today or even longer.
Inhaling you feel the bright warm sun, exhaling you feel composed and confident : )
sun gleams – composed and confident
thoughts of peace for Kap Verde : )
The idea of being able to also find light where we see darkness can be very encouraging.
And as long as we do not exactly know where the light is we can simply imagine it.
Maybe then we still don't feel any delight. But mostly we get more composed and put on a slight smile : )
“There are times where the sun simply does not shine... Everything seems to be so cold, grey and dark then.”
Yes.
The question is: Why does the sun not shine?
Probably because clouds moved before the sun. Maybe they are huge and pitch-dark. Wind doesn't seem to be able to move them away. These are classic shady days....
It's interesting that the sun is shining in fact. Our view is subjective objective.
It's only hidden behind the clouds and we cannot feel it, but it's there.
It is shining bright and warm! Always!
Start:
Today you might put a topic before your eyes, a topic that seems very shady and dark to you.
While breathing you could imagine the sun shining for you right now behind those dark big clouds of your feelings. Imagine how nice it is when you're in the sun! You see beautiful bright light, feel warmth on your skin and gleam on your face. Enjoy your feelings thereby and breathe in and out consciously 3 times, with a half smile in your face : )
You could also do that for 4 minutes and 38 seconds...
sun is shining for me – at all times
thoughts of peace for Iceland : )
This is certain: it's just a question of time until the clouds vanish and you're in the sun again.
In the meantime you could simply imagine your sun and get warm with your thoughts. If you like, you could also imagine that flowery summer meadow of relaxation and peace : )
“He's arrogant for sure and she's definitely unfriendly and that's definitely boring and it'll certainly be very stupid there. I'm sure I cannot do this.”
Yes, for sure...
Oh, just one question: What does “definitely” mean; who defines that?
The others? We? You?
Me?
And why? Because of the timidity towards the new; towards new experiences; towards fulfilment?
Eager to find out the truth.
Are you not?
Start:
Today you could remember something that you didn't try because it definitely certainly would have been … for sure.
Pick something easy, something where it would be Ok if it turned out that you were right.
Maybe you didn't try a special dish because you thought it certainly wouldn't taste good. Or maybe you won't talk about a topic because you consider it to be uninteresting for sure. Or maybe you don't talk about your feelings because you believe that others can't tolerate it.
Relax mouth, tongue, jawbones. Half smile in the middle of your face : )
Courageous and free
thoughts of peace for Bolivia : )
You could get aware of the fact that, by using “certainly”, “definitely” and “for sure”, you determine imaginary things to be 'true'. Your meal is determined to not be tasty then, the matter is determined to be uninteresting and feelings are determined to be unacceptable. It was prearranged to be like that or you prearranged it to be like this.
By determining things you block yourself to access truth. You call that self-restraint.
And who could possible free you of this? You can do it best. Nice!
Just imagine you'd be wrong in only few of your determinations... those could be of great profit for your life already!
“For ages I chickened out of this. But when I finally overbeared the barrier and did it, it was so easy! If I only knew that before...!”
How well we know that situation, right?
But it happens again and again...
As long as one chickens out of something it's not only difficult, it also becomes more and more heavy, from day to day.
Small things just like the big ones.
And everything gets so easy when they're finally done.
Start:
Today you could confront a topic that you've been facing for a long time. For the exercise pcik an easy on, one where you know that you'll make it. Start now by making the decision for it to become easier. So easy that you'll make it easily.
Relax face and brain, loosen tongue and jaws. Half smile. Let thoughts and sounds pass. Breathe, in, out, easily and playfully : )
easily and playfully
thoughts of peace for Brazil : )
NOTHING is good. Only what you do is good : )
There are people who speak their whole life about their dreams, still they are stuck in their routine. Instead of carrying their dreams out.
Why could that be?
It might be interesting to take a closer look on the topic dreams.
Often they are amazing and extraordinary ideas. To reach this exclusiveness, the usualness of the daily routine must be overcome. That means that one would have to change something.
And there's the crux of the matter:
Changing ourselves is to change our wonts. This can be uncomfortable. Too uncomfortable, so that one would much rather leave it all like it always was.
Well, that was that! That was it?
Start:
Today you could get one of your dreams back. What are you dreaming of in your life? What extraordinary thing weren't you brave enough to approach?
Maybe you're dreaming of being independent but you stay comfortable and dependent because you underrate yourself?
Or maybe you want to do another job but you remain in your old position even though it doesn't make you happy, only because you don't dare trying something different? Maybe it's only a bagatelle that would make you happy and still, you won't do it because you don't dare exit the usualness of your routine?
Relax your face with tongue and jawbones, cheeks, forehead, scalp, half smile. Breathing in you know about your strength, breathing out you you're looking forward to the change.
Strong and open – free for the future
thoughts of peace for Albania : )
Wonts and comfort keep us in canny dependence. It's up to us to change that.
And that's so easy: We only need to decide to leave al dependences behind. Then we can be really free. Free – for our dreams...
The morning is a really good time to make decisions for our day. Maybe right after waking up, then, our thoughts are very strong and pathbreaking for the day.
As soon as we make an intentional decision, the possibility to really experience what we made our decision for increases.
Start:
Today you could make your decision for this very day:
I now decide that I want to experience this day in peace and composure. I stand up for myself by confronting others with appreciation and benevolence.
Relax your face, tongue and jawbones loosen, half smile, conscious and calm breath. 4 minutes and 30 seconds? 3 times? As long and as often as you like to.
Appreciation and benevolence in me
thoughts of peace for Paraguay : )
The one who already makes his/her decision for conflict in the morning by dealing with this matter in his/her thoughts, may most likely deal with it all day long.
We might use the opportunity to give peace to all the conflicts inside us right after waking up. With our thoughts. When we deal with that in our thoughts the matters are very current and we can solve all upcoming matters of the day with peace and composure.
Just as we like. It's our free decision. Good to know, huh?
What space do we have in this world?
That is to ask, what space do we give ourselves actually?
Is the size of the space always the same? Could it be that sometimes it is assumed to be big, and another time smaller?
We can feel the size of the space we give ourselves. Through our conscious.
Start:
Today you could stand up, feet hip wide apart from each other. Relaxed arms hanging down on the sides. Now you could put up your arms, towards the sky, hands shoulder wide apart from each other, palms look at each other.
Now sense the space between your hands. Feel the space between you arms. Feel the space between your hips. Sense the space between your feet and legs.
Relaxed mouth, relieved face, you could breathe in and out a few times while realizing the spaces.
Then let your arms slide down on the sides, enjoying all the space.
Space gets free
thoughts of peace for Eritrea : )
When we feel uptight we might give ourselves not enough space for example. Then we can enlarge the space we sense inside by this conscious breathing.
Amazingly, the space we give ourselves is also sensible from the outside. The more space we give ourselves, the more space others will grant us. Even if this is only based on a mental idea.
Your space can get bigger with every conscious breath. Give yourself the width you need : )
Once we respirated all the way down into our toes.
But that works the other way around as well.
Start:
Today you could imagine your breath wandering all the way up to your head while inhaling and all the way down to your feet while exhaling. Breathing in it goes up to the head again. Out, back down into the feet - in, up the body into your head and so on...
That's the whole exercise.
Relax. Loosen mouth. Half smile. In – out. Take 3 breathings. If you'd like to breathe more, go for it : ) 4 minutes and 26 seconds?
Every inhalation brings me recreation
thoughts of peace for France : )
Consciousness and intentionality can only be good.
You could simply enjoy your consciousness, every time you breathe.
Yesterday – today – tomorrow.
Did – do – will do.
Three phases of time. Three grammatic forms.
What we did yesterday is already gone.
Today, now, we can do something actively.
And maybe even take influence on something that will be tomorrow.
Tomorrow is uncertain.
Forgiving ourselves or others today, could that have any influence on the future?
Start:
Today or tomorrow morning after waking up you could decide what you wish for the day:
'Peace and forgiveness' – or – 'conflicts'
Both are OK. However you'd like to decide.
Maybe you know 'conflicts' quite well already, so we'll abstain from putting more ideas in.
If you'd like to make your decision for 'peace and forgiveness', breathe 3 times or more, just as it comforts you, breathe concentrated and consciously. Half smile helps. Thereby you could think
I will be forgiven – peace and forgiveness
thoughts of peace for Papua New Guinea : )
Getting aware that you will be forgiven means that you can walk into tomorrow without any guilt! It doesn't matter whether you did something or not.
Feelings of guilt can be given to the next generations because of wars for example, as a feeling or trauma. Even though we never did anything bad we sometimes have that indefinite feeling of guilt.
We may forgive ourselves and we may know that we will be forgiven. That's how life can be more happy, just wait and see.
The right grammatic form is: I am getting happier : )
The name itself says it: Everyday life is every day. Routine.
How nice can holidays be then! Travel somewhere else, escape the daily life environment.
Mostly after our holidays we feel relaxed, strong and fresh and are encouraged to start into everyday life again. The next holidays are on their way...
A breathing break of maybe just 3 breathings can be like a small holiday in our daily routine.
In situations of arguments – take a break – breathe – in composed and fresh situations approach each other again.
That's a change of climate. Right in the middle of daily routine.
Start:
Today, now, you could take a little holiday if you like. Simply do NOTHING and relax. For the time of 3 breathings – or 4 minutes and 22 seconds : )
You can also save your holiday time for situations where you feel very needy for holidays ; )
Relieve all tensions of your face musculature, loosen your tongue and jawbones, your mouth could be half smiling now. Intentional and concentrated breath, thoughts and noises pass you by, in – out. Thereby think of the colour blue, maybe think of a cloud : )
blue colour – fresh and composed
thoughts of peace for Mauritius : )
The good thing is that we can take that kind of holiday more often than once a year. For free! And that's worth a lot, isn't it?
Teaching our children this little trick, we could teach the whole family.
We can turn uneasy climate into comfortable climate.
With this little help we can fresh up our daily routine and abstain from skipping work, school, appointments...
What would we be without food? Thin, scraggy, clobbered.
Food is one of our basic needs. In today's times it is self-evident for many of us. Fortunately!
Potatoes, rice, noodles or bread for example are a part of a meal for most of us. It's normal.
They have become so so obvious, we might get aware again of the miracle they stand for.
Start:
Today you could get aware of what's in our food:
Water, maybe from rain that comes out of clouds, raining down on the fields and plants,
the sun that is giving precious energy to the plants, the ground with it's precious nutrients.
The plant has been growing for weeks, every day a little bigger. It confronted wind, that transports pollen, or maybe even temporary drought.
The farmers' and growers' work: they sowed the seeds in the beginning, then they took care of the plants, they harvested, transported the crop and washed it...
The salesmen and persons that transported the goods to the market or store where we could buy them and carry them in our bags home, wash it, chop it, cook it. Food that keeps us alive and gives us power for all the things we do...
If you like, you can breathe consciously for 4 minutes and 20 seconds today. Or do 3 intentional breathings. Relax your face, half smile, be aware of your entire body while breathing.
I thankfully accept this meal
thoughts of peace for Bangladesh : )
Fruit, vegetables, rice, seeds and nuts, milk products, meat...
So much compassion and energy, love and work that are given to our food before we eat it and let it make us strong. Amazing, isn't it?
If you like, you could consciously think of this fact before your next meal and sense if the eating feels different than usually.
Many people like animals.
Pets, for example. Or wild animals, in the zoo or in freedom. Or useful animals, that's equitation or hunting maybe.
Or also on the dinner plate.
Most of us think that animals are creatures that also have the right to be treated well. In some countries there's also laws to protect animals.
Why actually?
Maybe because animals are an important part of our world? Because they've existed way longer than humans and even also helped humans in many ways?
Start:
Today you could send good thoughts to all the animals that helped humankind throughout the entire history of men.
Riding horses, dobbins, hounds, farm animals, homers, mill spinners, mice catchers, devoted friends, protectors, medical helpers, avalanche rescuers, sniffers and trackers at catastrophes, milk givers, egg givers, schnitzels and so on...
When you relax now, relax face musculature and tongue and jawbones, when you straighten up and breathe in and out intentionally, you could send your thoughts to all the animals.
Thoughts of love and respect for animals
thoughts of peace for Egypt : )
In many cultures animals are very much appreciated. How can one explain today's acceptability for reducing animals to industrial goods?
We can learn appreciate all the benefits animals give us better by showing them respect.
After sitting for long or even just when we are stressed our shoulders start to hurt. That could turn out to be uncomfortable.
Fortunately we found a little exercise!
Super easy and to be practiced anywhere.
Start:
Stand straight and upright. Head at the crest like pulled upwards. Knees a little flexed and the pelvis minimal tilted backwards.
Breathing in pull your shoulders up to your ears, breathing out take them back and let slowly down again.
Do it 3-5 times. Slowly and unhurried in your natural rhythm of breath. In the last exercise hold the lifted shoulders beside the ears.
Breathe now 3 times in and out, we call it 'let flow the breath' because you are continuing breathing in a hold position.
After that let sink down your shoulders veeeery slowly within 3-4 breaths. Close your eyes, stand still and enjoy your breath for further 10-15 seconds.
In the video I show it in a shortened form : )
Maybe you can do it better, I am still practicing as well.
We just wanted to offer it because it works so very well for us : )
From now on we'll present a new exercise every week that we found to be helpful for ourselves. Please notice that I'm a layperson. A teacher would probably show you the exercises better than me.
You can practice this exercise while sitting at your workplace. The effect will be even stronger when you are standing, because you can also straighten your spine.
That's lovely for the back, so for you. Enjoy!
If someone would think that he/she already knows it all and therefore would be a 'good human' that would be...
a) arrogant?
b) assuming?
c) quite unlikely?
d) inhibited in development?
e) in any case a pity for the person because he/she denies him/herself to learn on...
Start:
Today you could self -consciously mind all the things you're able to do and get open for things that you still don't even know that you're not able to do them : )
Relax your face, jawbones and tongue loosened,, half smile enriches your face. You could look forward to all the things there still to learn about in this life ; )
free spirit – always open for the new
thoughts of peace for the Netherlands : )
Learning something new every day – it works! And it can make us even richer : )
„And then she told me that he said that she said... . What a stupid cow!“
Hmm. Someone's seems to be quite well informed there, huh?
Interesting to know how much of the story is really true.
We used to play Chinese whispers as kids – it was fascinating to see the results. But they didn't have anything to do with the truth...
This low quality second and third hand information cannot only make us spread lies about others, it also makes us lie to ourselves and that's very dodgy.
We don't like lies to be told us, right? And we wouldn't lie to ourselves.
Start:
Today you could remember when you judged a person or a group of people or a country, even though you had no first hand information.
Maybe you heard brand new gossip at work and without verifying it you accepted it or you caught a headline from the media and without verifying it you took it for real or maybe you restrained yourself when friends were spreading inveracity and hyperbole about someone absent?
Release all tensions, sit up straight, loosen tensions in face and mouth, loosen tongue and jawbones, accept a half smile. Let all thoughts and noises pass you by when you breathe quietly and very consciously.
Tell only certain things
thoughts of peace for Korea North : )
Here we can change things most easy. That's nice. We might have the biggest interest in increasing truth in our lives.
You can decide now to give less space to inveracity in your life. Until it someday vanishes and turns to NOTHING : )
„I really didn't do anything, and he/she behaved like this and that. It's enough now. I'm done with him/her.“
That's how easy it goes. Really?
Yes, that's how easy it could be if we would like to take things personally.
Well, most deeds are not that personal as we think they are. If we haven't been there, it would have been someone else to experience the matter.
Being able to keep calm in this moment gives us the opportunity to see that there's some frustration doing its work on the other. Maybe we can even see, what kind of frustration it is.
Start:
Today you could remember when you were very outraged by someone's behaviour. Simply imagine that the person is carrying unconscious deficiency and harm to the same extent as he/she behaved unfair. Blatant, isn't it?
Belatedly, you can feel sympathy for that person and so also mellow your frustration : )
Relax your face, half smile with a loose mouth, jaws and tongue. Breathe in and out consciously, calm and strong, 4 minutes and 10 seconds, or 3 breathings : )
feel sympathy for others
thoughts of peace for Belize : )
When we free ourselves of the idea that the drama was made exclusively for us, we can even feel sympathy for the poor fellow citizen.
That's what he/she seems to need the most...
Where does the worldwide web start actually? And where does it end? Is it only virtual?
And there are a couple of people behind it, aren't they?
Spread all over the world, the entire world networked.
Does that mean that mankind is globally connected?
Then what if someone inserted a disease, a virus into that global network? Would it reach the others?
Let's think of some medicine. Let's think of putting medicine into the global web. Something like help, boing, into the network of people... and boing, someone gets the needed help.
A nice idea actually...
Start:
Today you could sense the idea to be able to do good in a global network.
But you could also just insert some fine thoughts of peace into the virtual web of thoughts : )
Relax your face, loosen tongue and jawbones, half smile, intentionally in- and exhale, sense the body : )
peace in me
peace for the world
thoughts of peace for Namibia : )
One world – one future... What could be there to this sentence?
"If guests come, we'll just put some more water in the soup... then it'll be enough for all"
Sharing can be so simple.
And the more we share the richer we get.
How is that supposed to work? How can one get richer when he gives??
Well, those who have can give. Those who have are rich, aren't they? So, those who give have more than others. Tadaa, and so you know how rich you're actually. What a gift!
Start:
Today you could allow yourself the gift of wealth by giving something.
Maybe it's some of your time or some commendation or a smile or some attention or support for someone who needs it right now?
If you'd like to give yourself 4 minutes and 6 seconds of NOTHINGNESS, they are granted to you! Relax, smile calmly about your wealth, breathe consciously, that's ALL in the moment : )
I like sharing my fortune
thoughts of peace for Sudan : )
How do you feel about your new wealthiness? Isn't it great? Rich in 2 seconds... could be a bestseller!
And what if it's true that everything we give comes back to us? What is there to expect when we give and share?
When something seems problematic to you, then maybe it isn't as bad as all that.
But maybe it is!?
Because things look differently from our point of view than they look for others, mostly our problem is just a matter of attitude.
If you'd like to train a routine where "problems" are less problematic, you can do that.
Start:
Today you could insert the following routine into your repertoire of activities, if you like:
If something stupid happens, first you could simply comment on it like this: "It's not as bad as all that. Everything's fine."
Thereby intentionally relax your face, loosen mouth with tongue and jaws. Especially when something difficult happens allow a half smile. Then breathe consciously and focus on your body.
not as bad as all that
everything fine
thoughts of peace for Estonia : )
When we tell ourselves that it's not as bad as all that, our subconscious buys into it.
And that's a fine way to diminish the intensity of uneasy feelings.
We can approach the solution of the problem right away with the released power : )
How to do NOTHING:
Every day we get a new idea for doing NOTHING. Fortunately we can offer you the english translations for the 200 chapters! It's of avail to start with chapter 1.
Because it's one of the most difficult things, we might need some time to adapt. That's why we start with 1 minute during the first phase, January.
After getting inured, you may feel ready for some longer time. So February we'll try it with 2 minutes, in March you might feel able to spend 3 Minutes in doing NOTHING.
And please, don't enjoy what you do ; ) Doing NOTHING is something they always told us not to do, it cannot be a joy! Can it?
If you don't like to be patient, it's also OK. We know that millions of people are not able to do NOTHING, so don't be sad if you find yourself being like them. It's OK. Everything is OK.
Ready?
Please stop smoking, stop talking and thinking to yourself, switch off music, TV, your child, neighbor, telephone or whatever is doing SOMETHING around you.
It might be helpful to sit straight in front of your computer. Straight, but not uncomfortable, as you like it.
Now you might start reading and if you like even do an exercise.
.
We wish you all best,
Christiane Schinkel
P.S.
For a look into the complete german version
http://ich-tue-nichts-fuer-glueck-anmeldung.blogspot.com/
get the translation with
http://translate.google.com/
“I don't like this. And this I don't like either, And this I do not like at all.”
We have predilections and disinclinations.
Living together with others, sometimes our disinclinations can be ignored. How can that happen?
Pointing out the things we do 'not' like mostly does 'not' take sustainable effect.
Distinct hints to our wish are necessary to make the other person considerately understand. Others can tune in to our wishes when we clearly say what we want.
You know what you do not like.
Do you also know what you like?
Start:
Today you could put a conflict before your eyes where you told someone a hundred times that you do not like something... but he/she still does it again and again.
If you remember chapter 16, you might now find an explanation for the difficulty of the matter.
Decipher and formulate what you like instead. That could be more effective. Much more effective!
Now you could breathe. 3 times. 5 minutes?! Cool. If you like...
I perceive myself
I clearly see what I want
thoughts of peace for Nauru : )
So, how did you do? Did you know what you want right away?
Recognizing what we do not want can help us to know what we actually want.
We'll achieve the best effects when we clearly point out our wishes. Thereby it could be very helpful to know about our OWN wishes first.
Trust is good! Checkup is better?
Sure, sometimes, yes.
But in life there are situations that really cannot be controlled. In those cases the ones of us who are able to trust have the least problems.
A lack of trust means that there are opposite thoughts like mistrust, fear or worry which are leading in our thinking. Mostly we can really imagine the bad end of things.
If thoughts move mountains then...
Start:
Today you could confront a situation where you truly have no control.
Maybe you sent out a couple of applications and are now fearing that you're going to be rejected. Or you're working on a project and fear for it to fail. Or you're separated from your love and wonder if he7she gets to know somebody or maybe you do not have a partner and fear that you're going to miss out on the right one?
Where else do you have no control?
Now think of your wishes, how you want things to be, as if they were already certain to come up like this. If possible, imagine it in pictures. How good your new work is, How successful the project went, how much you are loved, look forward to it : )
Relax mouth and face musculature, half smile. Indulge in dreams of how it can be...
I am full of trust and faith
delight for everything that is to come
thoughts of peace for Niger : )
...is it possible that we, with the opposite of 'trust', support the bad ending of things because we already settled it in our thoughts?
After all, we won't do fine with these thoughts. So why hold on to them?
Even it comes different than we thought, in the end, it can turn out to be the much better ending. Trusting this thought is more than good.
At least it can give us composure and that can support us in a very nice way; with everything we do.
"I don't care about yesterday's twaddle. There is nothing to hold me back from getting wiser." (Konrad Adenauer)
What we were fully convinced of yesterday, might have become old hat for us today; mostly that's because we experienced or learned new.
Brave is the one who can dissociate from obsolete convictions ans abstain from holding on to the old against better knowledge.
Start:
Today you could ponder to what outer matters or meanings you hold on though, still, you can already see a new inner position.
Maybe you continue judging a person even though you already discovered that this person isn't that 'bad' as you thought. Maybe you hold on to a common opinion because you're worried to lose countenance. Or maybe you shut yourself off to things that you've made fun of, even though they'd actually be of interest to you?
Whatever it may be, you could just change your opinion as soon as you recognize that you and others would do better then.
Relax you face and body. Straighten up, chin slightly drawn towards chest, long neck. With every inhale you can feel your entire body. With every exhale you can be open for the new. 4 minutes and 58 seconds? Or 3 times?
Free
open for the newthoughts of peace for Morocco : )
Everything changes, NOTHING remains the same : )
How to confront people that temporarily loose control and give expression to anger?
It's about banal confrontations with strangers. People who surrendered to anger and try to pass it on to the outside.
In the road traffic, at the cash desk queue, at home with the family, or anywhere else.
There is a „Open Sesame!“.
Smile (and think „send delight/love“). You could express „I see that you are angry. I feel sorry for that.“ and thereby friendly say the word „Forgive me“.
Without any reason for us to excuse ourselves. It's only about supporting that maltreated person. He/she could get appeased and peaceful. So that would be a good thing for common peace.
Especially for our peace...
Start:
Today you could remember when somebody wrongfully gripped at you. Remember your feelings.
If you could remain easy, that's super.
If not, you could once again feel the feeling of powerlessness, anger... Do you feel it?
Now you could imagine how you confront the person in a friendly way. Breathe in and out 3 times : )
Recognize woe and forgive
thoughts of peace for Indonesia : )
When you tell the person “I see your anger. Forgive me.” you could know that, in fact, it is you who forgives the other person : )
Wave is water. Water that is in movement.
Billowy it builds up, becomes a wave, somersaults at the shore. Then it's gone.
New waves follow. And they vanish, too.
The ocean doesn't feel anything of this. Even if waves play wild games on the surface, ocean remains calm; the deeper one dives, the calmer it gets.
We and our feelings are very similar to the waves and the ocean.
When we'd dive through the waves of our feelings we might discover calmness that is always there.
Start:
You could do a test today. Next time a feeling overcomes you, hold still, be silent. The more excited you are, the more interesting the exercise gets! Stop moving, stop your situational thinking and be silent. Close your eyes, if possible. Consequently observe your bodily feelings that can show up like waves somewhere in your body. Notice all that comes up.
Then, start breathing. As long as you can take time for it and as long as you like to. Relieve all tensions : )
(in) I notice all feelings
(out) I become very silent
thoughts of peace for Poland : )
The more conscious we get about waves showing up and vanishing, the less serious we can take them.
With time and a little exercise, the waves will get smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller...
Children become confident when they're praised.
It seems that they take important energy out of the praise, this energy makes them blossom. And it doesn't really matter what they're praised for.
Every littleness will do! And it's reasonable : ) Praise is for free.
A little sensitivity and the wish to give delight to the other, that's it.
Reproof, in contrast, seems to detract delight. The more inane the matter is, the more energy will be detracted. That applies to the one who is dispraised and for the one who dispraises.
Start:
Today you could decide whether you'd like to give reproof and critique or praise. To yourself and to anyone else : )
Would you like to breathe a little? Then sit up straight and relaxed, loosen musculature of your belly, mouth, cheeks and forehead, half smile. Smile?
Breathing in I know that I breathe in
Breathing out I smile at myself
thoughts of peace for Kiribati : )
We ourselves are mostly our most severe reviewers. That's where we could start when we'd like to change our habits.
Even if there was good reason for critique, still, there are many nice and encouraging possibilities to sow courage instead of discouragement with our words : )
When you'd usually deal out criticism, you could now say. “You did it as good as you could do it. I see your effort. Next time it'll surely be better. Just try it again.”
Love – that's giving and taking.
Unconditional.
Sometimes we might feel more needy than usually.
Then it can happen that we want love at all cost because we think that we'll do better when we get some.
How likely are we to remain unconditional when we just take what we think we need?
Start:
Now you could decide whether you'd like to give or to take love today.
Relieve all tensions, straighten up, chin slightly drawn towards your chest, long neck. Loosen jawbones and tongue, relaxed half smile. You can feel your body with every breath. Let thoughts and noises pass you by.
Free of anger, worries and fear
thoughts of peace for Fiji : )
Experience shows that love cannot be demanded, nor can it be expected. It seems that love mostly appears when we ourselves give unconditional love.
Or, what experiences did you make? Do you remember?
“Give away happiness? I don't even have enough for myself!”
'Giving away' friendly thoughts to others isn't only gratis, it also works positive for our own well-being.
The others are a kind of catalyst for our delight : )
So amazingly simple!
Start:
Today you could take advantage of a situation where you feel unhappy or uneasy and send friendly and nice thoughts to others. You can do that now while reading or when you meet these persons. You may also do it secretly, just for yourself ; )
Relax your face, loosen jawbones and tongue, back straightened up, head slightly drawn towards your chest.
Half smile. Inhale – exhale, notice thoughts and sounds and let them pass. 4 minutes and 46 seconds? Or 3 times?
Person xyz:
happy and safe
thoughts of peace for Uzbekistan : )
You can also dedicate friendly thoughts to a group or a country. It doesn't really matter where you send your good thoughts to.
Everything's fine!
Sometimes it can get quite tight in our chest. When we feel aggrieved for example or maybe because we were sitting in front of the computer all day and didn't get in motion.
We then might have the tendency to bend over to the front or let our shoulders hang down or even our head.
So come one, let's straighten up and get back our breadth : )
Start:
Stand straight. Head is torn upwards like its top is bound to a string. Knees slightly bent, pelvis tilted backwards slightly.
Now fold your hands behind your back and outstretch your arms. With ever inhale you breathe into the breadth of your chest, with every exhale you relax.
You could stretch your arms a little more upwards with every inhale if you like, as long as it's comfortable. Be modest and avoid any overexpansion!
In this video I'm shortly showing you the exercise so that it's more easy to understand : )
avoid hollow back, so tilt pelvis backwards slightly : )
It's good for our well-being to have more breadth in the chest : )
Very easy, very good, isn't it?
“Things simply are the way they are.”
“That's how it is.”
“It's just like that.”
Yes, that's what you say when you accept things as they are.
Who could assess that 'these things' would have to be acceptable for everyone? And that they maybe could be changed or even should be changed?
Things can be very different seen from different points of view. Even though it's all about the same thing.
That's enough for objectivity... quite a subjective matter indeed.
Start:
Today you could think of a current matter where your impression is considerably different form someone other's impression.
You could friendly wonder what made the other have that certain impression of the matter.
It could be helpful to avoid all judging thoughts from the beginning on and simply try to see with the other's eyes. Benevolent and respectful towards the other's “objectivity”.
That's the idea of the day:
benevolent thinking
tolerance and respectthoughts of peace for Macedonia : )
The feeling to be right is also felt by the other about his/her point of view.
When we take this as seriously as we take our own impression, we could be on the best path to solve the situation to the satisfaction of all.
Only those who stick to their own impressions won't move on. Except if they were to oppress others... and that could be different, too ; )
“You are what you eat? And what is that supposed to be? A tomato, an apple, a pizza, cola, vegetables, fruit, fat, sugar...? Everyone knows about the influence of food on our body. That's no news.“
Yes, but maybe it's news to you that food can be sour (acid) or basic. Sugar, for example, increases the acid in your body, it changes your body pH-value.
Start:
Today you could observe what you eat. That's the whole exercise.
Is there lots of candy? And meat and fish? What about milk products? Alcohol? All of these are acid in the pH-value.
And what about fruit? Vegetables? Nuts? Pits? Or maybe even sprouts? That's basic in the pH-value. So it's non-acid.
Now you could relax and breathe. Loosen mouth, half smile ; ) Inhale – Exhale.
Inhaling I know that I breathe in, exhaling I know that I breathe out.
In - Out
in balance
thoughts of peace for Finland : )
What if acid in our body would not only have influence on our body health but also on our mental well-being?
When everything is balanced, it's fine.
So if you'd like to know if you're the acid type you could get some test strips in the pharmacy and check it out. For everybody's different...
There are people who make the worst experiences and still they are smiling.
Yes...
They just flip and turn everything as if it was nice and fine and they believe that there's a good sense in everything. Even problems, diseases, death and loss. What are they doing?
Looks like they give very little space to sorrow, less than usual. Good trick!
Start:
Today you could put a situation of sorrow and difficulty before your eyes, when you cannot find any reason for delight or composure.
You could just try to bring those with your thoughts into your situation.
Relax your mouth, half smile. Maybe try it for 10 breathings today or even longer.
Inhaling you feel the bright warm sun, exhaling you feel composed and confident : )
sun gleams – composed and confident
thoughts of peace for Kap Verde : )
The idea of being able to also find light where we see darkness can be very encouraging.
And as long as we do not exactly know where the light is we can simply imagine it.
Maybe then we still don't feel any delight. But mostly we get more composed and put on a slight smile : )
“There are times where the sun simply does not shine... Everything seems to be so cold, grey and dark then.”
Yes.
The question is: Why does the sun not shine?
Probably because clouds moved before the sun. Maybe they are huge and pitch-dark. Wind doesn't seem to be able to move them away. These are classic shady days....
It's interesting that the sun is shining in fact. Our view is subjective objective.
It's only hidden behind the clouds and we cannot feel it, but it's there.
It is shining bright and warm! Always!
Start:
Today you might put a topic before your eyes, a topic that seems very shady and dark to you.
While breathing you could imagine the sun shining for you right now behind those dark big clouds of your feelings. Imagine how nice it is when you're in the sun! You see beautiful bright light, feel warmth on your skin and gleam on your face. Enjoy your feelings thereby and breathe in and out consciously 3 times, with a half smile in your face : )
You could also do that for 4 minutes and 38 seconds...
sun is shining for me – at all times
thoughts of peace for Iceland : )
This is certain: it's just a question of time until the clouds vanish and you're in the sun again.
In the meantime you could simply imagine your sun and get warm with your thoughts. If you like, you could also imagine that flowery summer meadow of relaxation and peace : )
“He's arrogant for sure and she's definitely unfriendly and that's definitely boring and it'll certainly be very stupid there. I'm sure I cannot do this.”
Yes, for sure...
Oh, just one question: What does “definitely” mean; who defines that?
The others? We? You?
Me?
And why? Because of the timidity towards the new; towards new experiences; towards fulfilment?
Eager to find out the truth.
Are you not?
Start:
Today you could remember something that you didn't try because it definitely certainly would have been … for sure.
Pick something easy, something where it would be Ok if it turned out that you were right.
Maybe you didn't try a special dish because you thought it certainly wouldn't taste good. Or maybe you won't talk about a topic because you consider it to be uninteresting for sure. Or maybe you don't talk about your feelings because you believe that others can't tolerate it.
Relax mouth, tongue, jawbones. Half smile in the middle of your face : )
Courageous and free
thoughts of peace for Bolivia : )
You could get aware of the fact that, by using “certainly”, “definitely” and “for sure”, you determine imaginary things to be 'true'. Your meal is determined to not be tasty then, the matter is determined to be uninteresting and feelings are determined to be unacceptable. It was prearranged to be like that or you prearranged it to be like this.
By determining things you block yourself to access truth. You call that self-restraint.
And who could possible free you of this? You can do it best. Nice!
Just imagine you'd be wrong in only few of your determinations... those could be of great profit for your life already!
“For ages I chickened out of this. But when I finally overbeared the barrier and did it, it was so easy! If I only knew that before...!”
How well we know that situation, right?
But it happens again and again...
As long as one chickens out of something it's not only difficult, it also becomes more and more heavy, from day to day.
Small things just like the big ones.
And everything gets so easy when they're finally done.
Start:
Today you could confront a topic that you've been facing for a long time. For the exercise pcik an easy on, one where you know that you'll make it. Start now by making the decision for it to become easier. So easy that you'll make it easily.
Relax face and brain, loosen tongue and jaws. Half smile. Let thoughts and sounds pass. Breathe, in, out, easily and playfully : )
easily and playfully
thoughts of peace for Brazil : )
NOTHING is good. Only what you do is good : )
There are people who speak their whole life about their dreams, still they are stuck in their routine. Instead of carrying their dreams out.
Why could that be?
It might be interesting to take a closer look on the topic dreams.
Often they are amazing and extraordinary ideas. To reach this exclusiveness, the usualness of the daily routine must be overcome. That means that one would have to change something.
And there's the crux of the matter:
Changing ourselves is to change our wonts. This can be uncomfortable. Too uncomfortable, so that one would much rather leave it all like it always was.
Well, that was that! That was it?
Start:
Today you could get one of your dreams back. What are you dreaming of in your life? What extraordinary thing weren't you brave enough to approach?
Maybe you're dreaming of being independent but you stay comfortable and dependent because you underrate yourself?
Or maybe you want to do another job but you remain in your old position even though it doesn't make you happy, only because you don't dare trying something different? Maybe it's only a bagatelle that would make you happy and still, you won't do it because you don't dare exit the usualness of your routine?
Relax your face with tongue and jawbones, cheeks, forehead, scalp, half smile. Breathing in you know about your strength, breathing out you you're looking forward to the change.
Strong and open – free for the future
thoughts of peace for Albania : )
Wonts and comfort keep us in canny dependence. It's up to us to change that.
And that's so easy: We only need to decide to leave al dependences behind. Then we can be really free. Free – for our dreams...
The morning is a really good time to make decisions for our day. Maybe right after waking up, then, our thoughts are very strong and pathbreaking for the day.
As soon as we make an intentional decision, the possibility to really experience what we made our decision for increases.
Start:
Today you could make your decision for this very day:
I now decide that I want to experience this day in peace and composure. I stand up for myself by confronting others with appreciation and benevolence.
Relax your face, tongue and jawbones loosen, half smile, conscious and calm breath. 4 minutes and 30 seconds? 3 times? As long and as often as you like to.
Appreciation and benevolence in me
thoughts of peace for Paraguay : )
The one who already makes his/her decision for conflict in the morning by dealing with this matter in his/her thoughts, may most likely deal with it all day long.
We might use the opportunity to give peace to all the conflicts inside us right after waking up. With our thoughts. When we deal with that in our thoughts the matters are very current and we can solve all upcoming matters of the day with peace and composure.
Just as we like. It's our free decision. Good to know, huh?
What space do we have in this world?
That is to ask, what space do we give ourselves actually?
Is the size of the space always the same? Could it be that sometimes it is assumed to be big, and another time smaller?
We can feel the size of the space we give ourselves. Through our conscious.
Start:
Today you could stand up, feet hip wide apart from each other. Relaxed arms hanging down on the sides. Now you could put up your arms, towards the sky, hands shoulder wide apart from each other, palms look at each other.
Now sense the space between your hands. Feel the space between you arms. Feel the space between your hips. Sense the space between your feet and legs.
Relaxed mouth, relieved face, you could breathe in and out a few times while realizing the spaces.
Then let your arms slide down on the sides, enjoying all the space.
Space gets freethoughts of peace for Eritrea : )
When we feel uptight we might give ourselves not enough space for example. Then we can enlarge the space we sense inside by this conscious breathing.
Amazingly, the space we give ourselves is also sensible from the outside. The more space we give ourselves, the more space others will grant us. Even if this is only based on a mental idea.
Your space can get bigger with every conscious breath. Give yourself the width you need : )
Once we respirated all the way down into our toes.
But that works the other way around as well.
Start:
Today you could imagine your breath wandering all the way up to your head while inhaling and all the way down to your feet while exhaling. Breathing in it goes up to the head again. Out, back down into the feet - in, up the body into your head and so on...
That's the whole exercise.
Relax. Loosen mouth. Half smile. In – out. Take 3 breathings. If you'd like to breathe more, go for it : ) 4 minutes and 26 seconds?
Every inhalation brings me recreation
thoughts of peace for France : )
Consciousness and intentionality can only be good.
You could simply enjoy your consciousness, every time you breathe.
Yesterday – today – tomorrow.
Did – do – will do.
Three phases of time. Three grammatic forms.
What we did yesterday is already gone.
Today, now, we can do something actively.
And maybe even take influence on something that will be tomorrow.
Tomorrow is uncertain.
Forgiving ourselves or others today, could that have any influence on the future?
Start:
Today or tomorrow morning after waking up you could decide what you wish for the day:
'Peace and forgiveness' – or – 'conflicts'
Both are OK. However you'd like to decide.
Maybe you know 'conflicts' quite well already, so we'll abstain from putting more ideas in.
If you'd like to make your decision for 'peace and forgiveness', breathe 3 times or more, just as it comforts you, breathe concentrated and consciously. Half smile helps. Thereby you could think
I will be forgiven – peace and forgiveness
thoughts of peace for Papua New Guinea : )
Getting aware that you will be forgiven means that you can walk into tomorrow without any guilt! It doesn't matter whether you did something or not.
Feelings of guilt can be given to the next generations because of wars for example, as a feeling or trauma. Even though we never did anything bad we sometimes have that indefinite feeling of guilt.
We may forgive ourselves and we may know that we will be forgiven. That's how life can be more happy, just wait and see.
The right grammatic form is: I am getting happier : )
The name itself says it: Everyday life is every day. Routine.
How nice can holidays be then! Travel somewhere else, escape the daily life environment.
Mostly after our holidays we feel relaxed, strong and fresh and are encouraged to start into everyday life again. The next holidays are on their way...
A breathing break of maybe just 3 breathings can be like a small holiday in our daily routine.
In situations of arguments – take a break – breathe – in composed and fresh situations approach each other again.
That's a change of climate. Right in the middle of daily routine.
Start:
Today, now, you could take a little holiday if you like. Simply do NOTHING and relax. For the time of 3 breathings – or 4 minutes and 22 seconds : )
You can also save your holiday time for situations where you feel very needy for holidays ; )
Relieve all tensions of your face musculature, loosen your tongue and jawbones, your mouth could be half smiling now. Intentional and concentrated breath, thoughts and noises pass you by, in – out. Thereby think of the colour blue, maybe think of a cloud : )
blue colour – fresh and composed
thoughts of peace for Mauritius : )
The good thing is that we can take that kind of holiday more often than once a year. For free! And that's worth a lot, isn't it?
Teaching our children this little trick, we could teach the whole family.
We can turn uneasy climate into comfortable climate.
With this little help we can fresh up our daily routine and abstain from skipping work, school, appointments...
What would we be without food? Thin, scraggy, clobbered.
Food is one of our basic needs. In today's times it is self-evident for many of us. Fortunately!
Potatoes, rice, noodles or bread for example are a part of a meal for most of us. It's normal.
They have become so so obvious, we might get aware again of the miracle they stand for.
Start:
Today you could get aware of what's in our food:
Water, maybe from rain that comes out of clouds, raining down on the fields and plants,
the sun that is giving precious energy to the plants, the ground with it's precious nutrients.
The plant has been growing for weeks, every day a little bigger. It confronted wind, that transports pollen, or maybe even temporary drought.
The farmers' and growers' work: they sowed the seeds in the beginning, then they took care of the plants, they harvested, transported the crop and washed it...
The salesmen and persons that transported the goods to the market or store where we could buy them and carry them in our bags home, wash it, chop it, cook it. Food that keeps us alive and gives us power for all the things we do...
If you like, you can breathe consciously for 4 minutes and 20 seconds today. Or do 3 intentional breathings. Relax your face, half smile, be aware of your entire body while breathing.
I thankfully accept this meal
thoughts of peace for Bangladesh : )
Fruit, vegetables, rice, seeds and nuts, milk products, meat...
So much compassion and energy, love and work that are given to our food before we eat it and let it make us strong. Amazing, isn't it?
If you like, you could consciously think of this fact before your next meal and sense if the eating feels different than usually.
Many people like animals.
Pets, for example. Or wild animals, in the zoo or in freedom. Or useful animals, that's equitation or hunting maybe.
Or also on the dinner plate.
Most of us think that animals are creatures that also have the right to be treated well. In some countries there's also laws to protect animals.
Why actually?
Maybe because animals are an important part of our world? Because they've existed way longer than humans and even also helped humans in many ways?
Start:
Today you could send good thoughts to all the animals that helped humankind throughout the entire history of men.
Riding horses, dobbins, hounds, farm animals, homers, mill spinners, mice catchers, devoted friends, protectors, medical helpers, avalanche rescuers, sniffers and trackers at catastrophes, milk givers, egg givers, schnitzels and so on...
When you relax now, relax face musculature and tongue and jawbones, when you straighten up and breathe in and out intentionally, you could send your thoughts to all the animals.
Thoughts of love and respect for animals
thoughts of peace for Egypt : )
In many cultures animals are very much appreciated. How can one explain today's acceptability for reducing animals to industrial goods?
We can learn appreciate all the benefits animals give us better by showing them respect.
After sitting for long or even just when we are stressed our shoulders start to hurt. That could turn out to be uncomfortable.
Fortunately we found a little exercise!
Super easy and to be practiced anywhere.
Start:
Stand straight and upright. Head at the crest like pulled upwards. Knees a little flexed and the pelvis minimal tilted backwards.
Breathing in pull your shoulders up to your ears, breathing out take them back and let slowly down again.
Do it 3-5 times. Slowly and unhurried in your natural rhythm of breath. In the last exercise hold the lifted shoulders beside the ears.
Breathe now 3 times in and out, we call it 'let flow the breath' because you are continuing breathing in a hold position.
After that let sink down your shoulders veeeery slowly within 3-4 breaths. Close your eyes, stand still and enjoy your breath for further 10-15 seconds.
In the video I show it in a shortened form : )
Maybe you can do it better, I am still practicing as well.
We just wanted to offer it because it works so very well for us : )
From now on we'll present a new exercise every week that we found to be helpful for ourselves. Please notice that I'm a layperson. A teacher would probably show you the exercises better than me.
You can practice this exercise while sitting at your workplace. The effect will be even stronger when you are standing, because you can also straighten your spine.
That's lovely for the back, so for you. Enjoy!
If someone would think that he/she already knows it all and therefore would be a 'good human' that would be...
a) arrogant?
b) assuming?
c) quite unlikely?
d) inhibited in development?
e) in any case a pity for the person because he/she denies him/herself to learn on...
Start:
Today you could self -consciously mind all the things you're able to do and get open for things that you still don't even know that you're not able to do them : )
Relax your face, jawbones and tongue loosened,, half smile enriches your face. You could look forward to all the things there still to learn about in this life ; )
free spirit – always open for the new
thoughts of peace for the Netherlands : )
Learning something new every day – it works! And it can make us even richer : )
„And then she told me that he said that she said... . What a stupid cow!“
Hmm. Someone's seems to be quite well informed there, huh?
Interesting to know how much of the story is really true.
We used to play Chinese whispers as kids – it was fascinating to see the results. But they didn't have anything to do with the truth...
This low quality second and third hand information cannot only make us spread lies about others, it also makes us lie to ourselves and that's very dodgy.
We don't like lies to be told us, right? And we wouldn't lie to ourselves.
Start:
Today you could remember when you judged a person or a group of people or a country, even though you had no first hand information.
Maybe you heard brand new gossip at work and without verifying it you accepted it or you caught a headline from the media and without verifying it you took it for real or maybe you restrained yourself when friends were spreading inveracity and hyperbole about someone absent?
Release all tensions, sit up straight, loosen tensions in face and mouth, loosen tongue and jawbones, accept a half smile. Let all thoughts and noises pass you by when you breathe quietly and very consciously.
Tell only certain things
thoughts of peace for Korea North : )
Here we can change things most easy. That's nice. We might have the biggest interest in increasing truth in our lives.
You can decide now to give less space to inveracity in your life. Until it someday vanishes and turns to NOTHING : )
„I really didn't do anything, and he/she behaved like this and that. It's enough now. I'm done with him/her.“
That's how easy it goes. Really?
Yes, that's how easy it could be if we would like to take things personally.
Well, most deeds are not that personal as we think they are. If we haven't been there, it would have been someone else to experience the matter.
Being able to keep calm in this moment gives us the opportunity to see that there's some frustration doing its work on the other. Maybe we can even see, what kind of frustration it is.
Start:
Today you could remember when you were very outraged by someone's behaviour. Simply imagine that the person is carrying unconscious deficiency and harm to the same extent as he/she behaved unfair. Blatant, isn't it?
Belatedly, you can feel sympathy for that person and so also mellow your frustration : )
Relax your face, half smile with a loose mouth, jaws and tongue. Breathe in and out consciously, calm and strong, 4 minutes and 10 seconds, or 3 breathings : )
feel sympathy for others
thoughts of peace for Belize : )
When we free ourselves of the idea that the drama was made exclusively for us, we can even feel sympathy for the poor fellow citizen.
That's what he/she seems to need the most...
Where does the worldwide web start actually? And where does it end? Is it only virtual?
And there are a couple of people behind it, aren't they?
Spread all over the world, the entire world networked.
Does that mean that mankind is globally connected?
Then what if someone inserted a disease, a virus into that global network? Would it reach the others?
Let's think of some medicine. Let's think of putting medicine into the global web. Something like help, boing, into the network of people... and boing, someone gets the needed help.
A nice idea actually...
Start:
Today you could sense the idea to be able to do good in a global network.
But you could also just insert some fine thoughts of peace into the virtual web of thoughts : )
Relax your face, loosen tongue and jawbones, half smile, intentionally in- and exhale, sense the body : )
peace in me
peace for the world
thoughts of peace for Namibia : )
One world – one future... What could be there to this sentence?
"If guests come, we'll just put some more water in the soup... then it'll be enough for all"
Sharing can be so simple.
And the more we share the richer we get.
How is that supposed to work? How can one get richer when he gives??
Well, those who have can give. Those who have are rich, aren't they? So, those who give have more than others. Tadaa, and so you know how rich you're actually. What a gift!
Start:
Today you could allow yourself the gift of wealth by giving something.
Maybe it's some of your time or some commendation or a smile or some attention or support for someone who needs it right now?
If you'd like to give yourself 4 minutes and 6 seconds of NOTHINGNESS, they are granted to you! Relax, smile calmly about your wealth, breathe consciously, that's ALL in the moment : )
I like sharing my fortune
thoughts of peace for Sudan : )
How do you feel about your new wealthiness? Isn't it great? Rich in 2 seconds... could be a bestseller!
And what if it's true that everything we give comes back to us? What is there to expect when we give and share?
When something seems problematic to you, then maybe it isn't as bad as all that.
But maybe it is!?
Because things look differently from our point of view than they look for others, mostly our problem is just a matter of attitude.
If you'd like to train a routine where "problems" are less problematic, you can do that.
Start:
Today you could insert the following routine into your repertoire of activities, if you like:
If something stupid happens, first you could simply comment on it like this: "It's not as bad as all that. Everything's fine."
Thereby intentionally relax your face, loosen mouth with tongue and jaws. Especially when something difficult happens allow a half smile. Then breathe consciously and focus on your body.
not as bad as all that
everything fine
thoughts of peace for Estonia : )
When we tell ourselves that it's not as bad as all that, our subconscious buys into it.
And that's a fine way to diminish the intensity of uneasy feelings.
We can approach the solution of the problem right away with the released power : )
thoughts of peace for Nauru : )
