June 30, 2009

181 – Where is home?

“Home is where...”

Yes, where is it?
Where your heart is? Where you're in love? Where you live? Where your friends are? Where your native country is? Where your family is? Where there's this or that?

Everyone of us has his/her own feelings about that matter.

As long as we bind our idea of 'home' to outwardness there's the possibility of losing it. If conditions are not fulfilled we might feel cut from 'home', simply because something's 'missing'.

If we could get aware that we ourselves are our 'home' we'd be at home everywhere, always.


Start:
Today during your breathing you could intentionally sense yourself. Observing your body, feeling your feet while walking, you could notice that your conscious is 'at home' in your body. Here and now : )

Today you might, wherever you may be, go home for 6 minutes ; )



breathing in I recognize my body
breathing out I am at home

thoughts of peace for South Korea : )


In this simply way you can feel at home with every breath : ) No-one can take that from you...

June 29, 2009

180 – Transform anger

Anger, annoyance, fury – things like that just happen.

And then? Swallow it up? Ignore? Block it out?
That would be quite unhealthy.

So what to do when annoyance seems so big that we think we'll explode soon?


Start:
Today you could remember what you did the last time to let out some pressure.
When you realized there was anger right away – that's good. When you could focus on your breath right away – very good. But if it wasn't enough? If you still didn't know where to put all the fury??

Today you could think of an strategy for the next time.

You could abreact you anger by moving, run or cycle or jump in the air several times. Or you could take a pillow and beat it all up. Or you could pretend to have heard a good joke and laugh it all out.


Relax, loosen tongue, jawbones and forehead, half smile.
Breathe intentionally, in – out. Breathing in you stop the anger, breathing out you breathe
out all anger : )


I embrace my anger
smile
thoughts of peace for Kuwait : )


However, we can run down you anger ourselves without letting other get it. Good for you – good for the others.

June 28, 2009

179 – Free speech

“You can talk about everything.”

Yes, sounds good. The question is how to talk about everything, right?

There are different ways of speaking to one another.
When it's all about getting along peacefully, one way might be wrong: the speech that is full of anger, aggression and uncontrolled difficult emotion.

Speaking friendly about beautiful things mostly seems easier than speaking friendly and affectionately about things that don't comfort us.

Although especially then it would be so important...


Start:
Today you could remember a situation where you were quite angry and excited about something somebody else did. Do remember your reaction towards the other person then? How does that feel now?
Tell that person now, in your thoughts, friendly and peacefully, what you disliked.

You could do it like this from now on. The key is to first calm down your emotions.

Relieve all tensions, relax your face, observe your body, breathe in – breathe out. Consciously and concentrated. You could smile at your anger and observe it getting smaller and smaller as soon as you recognized and accepted it : ) in – out.


Breathing in I see my anger
breathing out I smile at my anger

thoughts of peace for Sri Lanka : )


Calming down an emotion, it is helpful to first get aware of its existence. Only then you can really see it.

“I recognize you, anger.”, for example. As soon as you see it you can think “I confront my anger with love because it shows me that there is something that I can do something about to improve it.”
Then, you could put on a smile.
When anger is seen it starts to shrink. Breathing intentionally helps you to stay with yourself.

As soon as you're calm you can tell the other in a friendly and affectionate way what made you mad. This time without any anger : )

June 27, 2009

178 – Sadness

Sadness is an emotion that can lead to difficult resulting emotions.

Dejectedness – lacking drive – disabled vitality – mental pain – depression – life crisis – bad hurt – that can also hurt our self-confidence...

There are very different reasons for sadness. Whatever makes us sad seems to be important enough to make us feel this emotion.

Even if we ignore sadness or block it out, still there are resulting emotions. And then we have to deal with feelings whose cause we cannot find anymore because had blocked it out...


Start:
Today you could give your appreciation to the emotion of sadness.
Maybe you experienced sadness before but blocked it out?

When you begin to accept your sadness, it might stop to manifest by resulting emotions. When you thankfully accept it as care of your unconscious, it might fade away easier in the future.

Relax. Halfsmile in your face. Breathe. In - out. 5 minutes and 54 seconds?


I recognize my sadness
smile
thoughts of peace for Belgium : )


People have a sensitive emotional sensation. That's a precious gift. Feel, recognize and accept emotions like sadness is very helpful.

Accepted sadness fades faster and let's us feel much better once we're free of it : )

June 26, 2009

177 - Alone alone. Alone alone...?

“We are alone – alone alone alone alone - ...” (Polarkreis 18)

That's what they really sing.

Listening to it through the day – in the evening we believe it already. And fell alone alone... One can do that. Can be a doctrine, why not.

Just like the effects of the sentences in this blog are to strengthen our good feelings, also other sentences that we hear and read again and again have influence on our unconscious.

When we're aware of that we can make and intentional decision:
What is helpful for us and what is not?


Start:
Today you could observe to which messages you are exposed in one day.
Advertising, song lyrics, some statements form some people... food for our mind.
We can decide: tasty or not so tasty? Listen to it or don't listen to it?

Maybe breathe first. Without a sound? Or with. Make an own sound! 5 minutes and 52 seconds? Or this time only 3 times?


Free to decide
for things that are good for me

thoughts of peace for Swaziland : )


Parents can observe how fast young children pick up stuff that's been said and take it for 'real'. The earlier messages are remembered, the more effective they are.

Totalitarian regimes and advertising industry know about that. There's for example shows on TV for 6-month-olds... because it works better on them!

Adults are being offered so many things. Only when we get aware of this we can decide against it. We are free : )

June 25, 2009

176 – Your goal will find you

“Drift, your goal will find you.”

Aha? Simply be comfortable and lazy until something happens?
No, of course it's a different meaning.

So what does that mean, drift?

When you have an idea, a wish or a vision you can observe how you get a certain drive towards this goal. Just because you'd like to reach that goal.

When you drift with that internal drive, things will get moving. That's fine then.

As helpful as your activeness is, so is your trust in success. That can help you to go through hard times. Until your goal finds you : )


Start:
Today you could remember one of your past goals that in fact came to pass; even though it didn't look like it would be a success. But suddenly the situation turned around and totally unexpected coincidences or events helped for success: You didn't expect it anymore but your goal found you ; )

Maybe you had a wish once that didn't come true for a long time? And when you had already give up suddenly someone came up who knew someone who by chance knew someone else who could help you...
Or maybe you once went after something but were disappointed because it wasn't successful? And when you thought everything's lost, suddenly from a totally different direction something came up that was even better than what you've imagined before...

Breathing can help to strengthen your trust. 5 minutes and 50 seconds now? Or 3 times...


full of trust
notice fullness in my life

thoughts of peace for Costa Rica : )


Trust: good things come to pass. Your goal will find you!

Even if it has to bring the most surprising events and coincidences into the game...

June 24, 2009

175 – Land of heroes

“What unhappy land that has no heroes!” - (Andrea Sarti in “Life of Galileo”)
Oh, OK, so happy is the land that has heroes...

What makes a hero out of one?

It's deeds that heroes do.
Deeds of the bodily kind – strength, speed, endurance etc. - or the mental kind as well – courage, martyrdom, readiness to act for ideals and fellow humans. Heroes from myths are seldom found nowadays ; )

But there are some everywhere, the heroes of the daily life: people who stand up for others' well-being. When you have a look around you might also find heroes in your life.

Happy is the one who's able to recognize and see them!


Start:
Today you could pay attention to the heroes in your daily life – you can tell they are heroes by looking at their deeds. When you're ready to accept them, they're there suddenly...

Can you see the heroes who voluntarily spend their time and energy for you only for you? Or can you see which hero supports you altruisticly with the matter that's important for you, and it's even uninteresting for him/her? Can you see the ones that confront you with respect, regard and helpfulness without judging you but letting you be the way you are?

And what about you? When are you a hero in others' lives?

If you'd like to practise NOTHING you could take the opportunity now. Or another later opportunity?
5 minutes and 48 seconds? Or 3 deep, calm and conscious breathings : )



I'm thankful
heroes in my life

thoughts of peace for Spain : )


It's just the deed that makes someone your hero. The question is not about the size of the deed.

It's about the effect in your life. If you want to, you'll find them, every day. A life full of heroes, what a lucky prize!

June 23, 2009

174 – Theatre of life

What if life were just a theatre play? We are the chief character.

If so, we could take things more easy. Especially the problems and difficulties. And even if not, we could simply see it this easy way.

Life's NOTHING but... a game?


Start:
Today you could think of a problem that bothers you. Pick an easy one for the exercise.
You could imagine that everything's just a game. A game where those who care about the well-being of all are the winners. Where you get the high score by showing the audience that you can remain cool and calm; maybe even delightful?

Want to take a little break backstage? ; )
What about 5 minutes and 46 seconds maybe?



I breathe in – I breathe out
and get quite silent
thoughts of peace for Sierra Leone : )


So it's just a game. Easily walk through life, as if it were a game. Does that comfort you?

One who remains silent can only win. Always. Unless you would prefer to chose panic, hecticness, fear, worries, anger, haughty, jealousy or anything like that... What do you think?

June 22, 2009

173 – I do not WANT that

1+1=2 is the same as “shiftless not” + want = opposite effect

What? - OK. Here's a little story about it:

Once I had a hamster. Everybody in the flat share liked because it was so cute. Except for one: Matti. Matti couldn't stand my hamster.

One night all of us were watching TV. I went to get my hamster. I put him on the floor by the door.
And immediately he ran towards all the people on the sofa because he was so excited about it. Everybody wanted the hamster to come to him/her.
Only Matti did NOT want that. My little hamster went straight to him and climbed on his lap... Matti got displeased, of course.

What a laugh!


Start:
Today you could figure out what 'hamster' you have in your life. What do you put on again and again though you do NOT want it at all actually?
Maybe you do NOT want to be unhappily in love? Or NOT be unemployed? Or NOT sick? Or NOT this or that...?
Now you can change your thoughts about it. Change them to the things you want. That's the whole exercise.

“I want the hamster to only go to those who like him.” or “I want the 'hamster' to leave me alone.”, for example.


May I get aware of my wishes
May I know what I want

thoughts of peace for Sweden : )


How did you do? Did you also find a 'hamster' in your life? You could simply change the 'hamster' and pick another animal that you like : )

June 21, 2009

172 – I love it

“I'm lovin' it .”

These words were bought by a producer of lower quality food.
The aim of this slogan is to associate their low quality consumption goods with love.

That idea is quite clever!

Love is a good feeling. So what happens when we associate this good feeling with a product, an activity, circumstances or anything else?

It assigns to it, regardless how valueless the thing is... Clever, isn't it?


Start:
Today you could take something uncomfortable and unavoidable and combine it with the words “I love it”. Pick something harmless, something that cannot bother you or others. Homework, a visit at the dentist, tidying up or any other uneasy matters that still have to be done.

Even if it doesn't feel that good for you, your consciousness believes you when you abstain from bitterness and irony. Feel free to put on a smile.

If you like, take a small energy-giving break now : ) 5 Minuten und 42 Sekunden?



I love it!
thoughts of peace for Portugal : )


That company wants to get richer and already has a big budget for advertising. Now they spent a lot of money to buy the rights for the sentence “I'm lovin' it!”... There's got to be something about it, don't you think so?

June 20, 2009

171 – A day of rest

Today it's a day off...

With NOTHING but rest and tranquillity : )


Start:
If you like, sit up straight and slightly tilt your knee towards your chest.
Imagine your head being drawn upwards at the highest point by an invisible string. Your spine gets straight and long.
Breathe in intentionally – breathe out intentionally. Into your loosened belly. Feel how it lifts and lowers. You could count to 10 with every in- and exhale, then repeat.

Notice every noise. When you notice thoughts or dreams, let them pass by without holding on to them. Lead your mind friendly and clearly back to breathing. Then start with 1 again.
5 minutes and 40 seconds? Or less? 3 times?


Here and now
wonderful moment
thoughts of peace for the Czech Republic : )



Power lies in tranquillity. Is it maybe also the power in which tranquillity lies?

Strengthening our mind with good thoughts could have considerable effects on the peace in our lives.

June 19, 2009

170 – How does consumption consume?

“We live in the age of consumption! Long live consume!”

Consume with no end? Really? What's consumption actually?

Wikipedia says consumption is the usage of goods to get personal satisfaction... Usage is the use of goods with an absorbing effect... Thus, more valuable, valueless or dangerous products emerge from the goods.

So usage doesn't mean that materials or energy disappears.

OK. When we consume things they are in a used state afterwards... but do not disappear... just became something different. What is that for example?


Start:
Today you could wonder what happens with the goods you consume.
That is food, stimulants, clothes or other goods... What emerges from them?
What emerges from the consumption of books, games, films? Knowledge, emotions – easy ones or difficult ones, perhaps?
Can one consume conversations? Or people? And what emerges from these? What about the usage of nature? Can you think of anything else?

If you'd like to do NOTHING now, enjoy it! : )


I get aware of
the effects of my consumption

thoughts of peace for Pakistan : )


What if we were to consume something that it is good for us but harms others? What's the emerging product: more valuable, valueless or dangerous?

When we consume films, books, games or conversations, for example, that produce panic, fear, worries, anger or hate in us; are those effectively more valuable, valueless or dangerous for us?

The more consciously we observe our consumption, the better can we see if it is good for us. Then, we could use our freedom to abstain from things or make a different decision : )

June 18, 2009

169 – Good conversations

There are people that can really encourage and delight you during a conversation. And there are people who can really take your courage and delight away from you.

Words have influence on us.

Benevolent words can build us up and strengthen us – brutal, judging language can weaken us.

Words can give us energy, just like drinking and eating – or they can take energy from us, just like unhealthy food.


Start:
Today you could find out if there are conversations in your life that take your energy away instead of comforting you. You could decide whether you'd like to have pleasant or exhausting conversations today. You could consider your own words just as you consider others' words.

If you like do NOTHING for a while now, maybe 5 minutes and 36 seconds... : )

energy-giving words
give delight

thoughts of peace for Rwanda : )



We are free to decide what we want to nourish on just as we're free to create consequences out of conversations,

We could easily abstain from conversations that make us feel uncomfortable regarding our own feelings.
We can also decide to support others with our words instead of harming them.

June 17, 2009

168 – Boosted motivation

“I give up, that's all just for nothing.”

Well, that's possible.
But it could also be that someone's err? Errs him/herself?
And that he/she is just before the breakthrough that he/she wouldn't experience if he/she would just give it all up now?

The one who gives up will never find out. Good things need our endurance. And we'll see if we have that when it gets heavy and difficult.

What to do when we'd like to achieve something?
Hang on. NOTHING more.


Start:
Today you could remember something in your life that you gave up. Maybe that decision was right? Or wasn't it?

When you breathe now you could 'listen into you'. The answer to the question whether you should hang on or not, whether you want to reach your goal or really should give up is there: in the quietness inside you. The more quiet you get, the clearer can you 'hear' your answer.

Relax, if you like sit up straight, chin tilted towards chest, spine straight and long. Loosen tongue and jawbones, half smile, or full smile : ) Calmly breathe in and out, sense your body, sense the respiration very consciously.
5 minutes and 34 seconds? Or 3 times in and out? 10 times? Take your tome, as much as you need : )


brave – powerful
consistently motivated

thoughts of peace for Malta : )



How do you feel about the remembrance of your goal? Which answer did you sense inside you? What did you feel right afterwards when you started thinking again?

These thoughts are quite interesting. They like to cheat on us. They are part of our thinking – and that's something else than our intuition.

In our thoughts we might have a lack of courage. Perhaps our thinking says we shouldn't dare to believe in our goal. Let's let it think and let's listen to our inner voice!

When it's for the well-being of all, when we are brave, when we consistently motivate ourselves, we'll reach our goal : )

June 16, 2009

167 – Like liking

Liking something means to feel nice, easy and comfortable about it.

When we wish for something we can express that with the words “May...”.

This expression is very open; it only tells about our wish for the other, for ourselves or for the situation, without making the impression of an order or demand.


Start:
Today you could express a good wish for yourself and/or others in your thoughts.

May I... What do you want?
Be happy, perhaps? Or free of fear? Free of worries and grief? Safe and protected? Healthy in body and soul? Peaceful?
May you be... happy.
May all people live in peace.

You could send out good wishes now and thereby breathe in and out consciously; in this moment there is NOTHING more to do : )


May all beings be happy
thoughts of peace for Suriname : )



A 'good' thought has 100 times more power and effect than a 'bad' one. The one who gives away good wishes could mostly likely soon also feel it happening to him/herself.

May you be free : )

June 15, 2009

166 – Stretch upper arms and shoulders

“A rolling stone gathers no moss!”

Exactly.
You can tell that when you didn't get in motion for some time. You can abstain from going to the gym today and still do something for your body.
Pri-pra-practical : )


Start:
Stand up straight and erect. Imagine your head being torn upwards at the highest point by a string. Knees slightly bent and pelvis slightly tilted backwards. Breathe in your natural rhythm.

Now cross your fingers and turn your palms away from you. So, a stretch of your arms and the back part of your shoulders accrues. Hold your arms like this for 3-5 breathings, if you like you can also rise the arms a little bit with every inhale and so even deepen the stretch. But please only go as far as it's comfortable for you, overexpansion is not cool and can harm you.

After that, stand still for 10-15 seconds, let your arms hang down on the sides, close your eyes and breathe freely and in your rhythm.


Go on and take your time, more time a than in the short video : )

If you calmly and comfortably take your time
and thereby and also afterwards breathe intentionally
also your conscious could recreate
besides your body recreation.



That's NOTHING! We like that very mi-ma-much!

June 14, 2009

165 – Honestly now...

“I'd certainly like to change something, but that's life, I can't do anything about it.”

Honestly?
Could this person perhaps let him/herself believe that things are up to circumstances, other persons, fate, vis major, coincidence... but always not up to him/herself?

Seems to be quite comfortable to take responsibility away from oneself. As easy as it gets for us then, so dishonest we are with ourselves.

Almost always we have the possibility to change something. And let it only be 'little things'. Therefore you'll need the will to change something, though, and the attendance to do something, to make efforts, perhaps to abstain from something, possibly to chose uncomfortable solutions.


Start:
Today you could think about a situation where you were dishonest with yourself because you suspected that a change would also bring efforts and abandonment and your usual comfort would be in danger.
Where in your life do you use the answer “I can't change anything about it”? You could now put your honest answer right next to that. And make your decision again.

For example: Do I want to furthermore accept things that make me unhappy? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore do things that make others unhappy? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore accept that there are people starving? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore take war for granted? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore support the environmental destruction? Yes or no?
If your answer is No then be precise now: what do you want instead?

If you'd like to breathe calmly now you could take 3 breathings or 5 minutes and 28 seconds. Feel your respiration, feel your body.



Recognize my responsibility
make decisions
thoughts of peace for Dominica : )



Subconsciously we all know that we can change and improve many things with just a little bit of individual commitment. Being dishonest with ourselves and others has become quite common and a trend. But trends come and go. Honesty is the best policy.

Arbitrative is what you want. Arbitrative is the idea that has your Yes.

Every single day you have the opportunity to change something. For yourself – for the future – for the world : )

June 13, 2009

164 – I'll take this and this and that!

“You can't always get what you want!”

Who says that? That sounds like somebody who's already given up...

We can imagine our life to be a musical request programme, we can get aware that they're only going to play what WE want.
Our conscious and unconscious decisions have influence on our playlist.
With all the wrong notes that we bring ourselves ; )

Even most of our problems were 'ordered' by us. Or by someone that we left the decision about our playlist to...

Want to change something? This only you can do for yourself and your life. So you simply could change your decisions.


Start:
Today you could remember a situation where you felt uneasy. In case you thought you had no other option up to now, you could now rethink this matter. You have the opportunity to decide.

Maybe you're stuck in circumstances that seem to be forced on you?
This view comes from your decision; you decided to allow force on your playlist.
Enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can develop.
Maybe you feel bound to people that make you feel uncomfortable? The handling is up to you; you intentionally decided to let them treat you the way they do. Enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can new can develop.
Maybe you experience restrictions? Accepting these restrictions was up to you; enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can develop.


Today I make the decision
for my life

thoughts of peace for Madagascar : )


The choice is always up to you! If you're ready to take responsibility for your life you could see that it's your decision that makes you stuck in situations.

You could start enjoying your freedom of choice and form. You have the opportunity to give yourself sorrow or delight. It's up to you to decide about change.

Once we've decided to change something we'd be surprised about things changing : )

June 12, 2009

163 – Only I can do this!

There's many things that others should do differently. We often like to have a too close look and think we are right with our critique.

We find others' patterns that should really be changed by him/her. We recognize bad habits that someone really should abandon. We can name characteristics that should be changed because they maybe are difficult.

All of this can be true. From your point of view. And still: wanting to change someone is a plan that is going to fail. One can only change him/herself...


Start:
Today you could pay attention if and when you think that someone should be different so that it'd be OK.
Granting others to be just like they are means taking responsibility for our own role.
You could decide this now. Check every matter with open and benevolent thinking for the other.

Maybe someone is very untidy and you're always tidying up after him/her? When you take responsibility for yourself you can decide whether you will continue tidying up after this person or just let it be.
Maybe someone is treating you in a way where you miss respect of your needs. Taking responsibility for yourself will let you decide if you'll still accept this or if you'll go away.
Maybe someone is telling you things and that is a burden for you. When you take responsibility for yourself you can decide whether you'll continue listening or spend your time differently in the future.


Open for change
starting with myself

thoughts of peace for Greece : )



When you feel there is an uneasy situation, you a re the only person that can change something about that for you. This is how far your possibilities for forming things goes: to the border of you.
Stand by your decisions. With all consequences. Changing your behaviour will also change the whole situation.

June 11, 2009

162 – The good ones in the crock

„The good ones in the crock. And the bad ones? What do we do with them?“

What about ignoring the bad and only taking the good.

Hm, what are they talking about? Do you think that now?


Start:
Today you could make a decision for the day:
Do I want to see the 'bad' in others or much rather the 'good'?

You can configure this attitude for yourself in the morning, for example for all persons that come across you this day or only for one particular person.
It can be very helpful to concentrate your cognition on the nice things only.
As soon as you notice others thoughts, stop them and go back to the good thoughts.
Feel free to smile thereby : )

If you like, you can breathe for 5 minutes and 22 seconds now. Relax jawbones and tongue, breathe consciously, sense your entire body : )



ready to see the good in others
peaceful and happy

thoughts of peace for Bahrain : )


How did you feel about the people you came across? After making the decision to see the 'good'... And how were your feelings after the decision to see the ' bad'?

Our feelings about others mostly only depend on our inner attitude. Even difficult persons can be experienced differently after a decision. Meeting nice people or not so nice people only depends on our inner attitude. If we'd like to meet nice people it would be quite effective to make our decision for the benevolent view.

June 10, 2009

161 – Expedient optimism

Some people cultivate expedient pessimism. Disappointments should be avoided by foreclosing disappointment.

Sounds like trying to put out a fire with gasoline, huh?

The side effect is consequently denying oneself any anticipation because one adjusts oneself to losing. The planned and scheduled loser, so to say.
Brilliant attitude to life, isn't it?

Expedient optimism cannot only give energy but also minimize the feeling of loss. Every time when something succeeds. Besides, optimistic beliefs can also turn things to good; and save us from even more losses : )


Start:
Today you could get aware of a situation where you're having expedient pessimism. Look at your feelings while confronting this situation. How do you feel when you think “Oh, this won't work anyway” or “I can't do this” or “This will fail again” while doing something? (+) or (-)?

Breathe intentionally, sense your entire body, feel your breathe, relax : )



free of fears
full of delight – safe and protected

thoughts of peace for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines : )



The one who's able to feel anticipation is gifted. General delight can bring great energy into our lives.

And in case loss occurs later, on could composedly accept it, free of adherence.

Delight that has already been enjoyed cannot be take away from us!

June 9, 2009

160 – Experience death?

“Death, what a nasty thing to talk about – as long as I'm alive I do not want to talk about it.”

Many of us think like this. The matter frightens us and that's why we like to avoid it. Instead, one longs for a long, long life. There's a lot of fuss about that. Better not die... but why?

What if death were beautiful?
As long as we live we can't find it out. It remains speculation.

Doesn't it?

There's stories about close-to-death experiences. I myself experienced it in 2006 during a blood poisoning with three days of 40C° fever, incarnate and indescribable. That's why I recommend this warmly to you.


Start:
Today you could simply imagine the possibility of death being something unthinkably beautiful.

I confronted the beautifullest feelings I've never had before. I can only describe them as the bundling of all the beautiful emotions of the entire world in me.
When other feelings show up, fear or anger or whatever we might consider as uneasy, I consider consciousness, cognition and endurance to be the best ways to let them pass. My memory tells me that NOTHING can help one better...


look at feelings
accept feelings and let them go on

thoughts of peace for Peru : )


Basically, we already go through this exercise in life. Uneasy feelings come and go. When we accept them, they go on more easily and faster.

So we can see this s a good preparation for death: The daily delight and preparedness to recognize the difficult and accept it and then let it go on again, without holding on to it.

And then I can only embolden you from the bottom of my heart: death was very different from what they try to make us believe it is. I experienced the most beautiful feeling close to death. Still, I am very happy to be completely alive again! ; )

June 8, 2009

159 – Arms back

Arms are nowadays not being used anymore like they used to. They had a certain purpose in the original concept of the human body but we like to use them differently.

All roads lead to Rome. Or anywhere else, when one doesn't even want to go to Rome. Berlin is also very nice ; )


Start:
Stand up straight and erect. Head pulled upwards by an imaginary string. Knees slightly bent and pelvis slightly tilted backwards. Breathe in your natural rhythm.

Now, lead your left arm from the bottom behind your back and the right one from the top behind your back, so that your finger tips come close to each other. They needn't touch. Thereby breathe calmly and comfortably. If you like you can stretch the upper arm slightly backwards, just a little bit. Then let your arms hang loose on the sides and breathe 10-15 seconds with closed eyes. Then, change sides.




The importance of feeling good
only go as far as you can : )


In a training camp one might have to show peak performances. But NOTHING like this is demanded here. Fortunately : )

June 7, 2009

158 – Stay balanced

It is a beautiful thing when you like someone. Partner, family, friends, pets; we can look at them as gifts of life. Gifts that one wouldn't like to lose.

And still, we will lose them, sooner or later, at the latest when we ourselves die.
Then our partner, family, friends, even the pets will miss us. That's normal, isn't it?

When we let our happiness depend from people that are close to us, that could easily bring us out of balance. Namely when one goes away or eludes or refuses affection.

Our balance is in our middle. Others are exterior for us. When we concentrate too much on others, our own balance might get hard keep.



Start:
Today you could see in which cases you are depending on others.
Maybe you comply with others too much, you comply with their opinion or you depend on their help, image, love or acceptance, or attention, you might depend on their time, their money, their dreams, wishes, expectations, demands.

When you breathe today you could take care of your inner freedom and strengthen it. Relieve all tensions, take your time with conscious breathing. 5 minutes and 14 seconds? 3 times? : )





free of attachment
calm inside with equability

thoughts of peace for Luxembourg : )


It can be very nice being together with others. When we stick to them too much because we cannot or do not want to imagine living without them it might happen that we go to far away from ourselves for them.

We might think that we have to satisfy demands that others make, only because don't want to annoy or lose them. Unfortunately, we often lose ourselves thereby...

We will recover our freedom when we free ourselves from the illusion of attachment. Things are nice if they are there. But if something would leave just because of our way of being, you’d better let it go. It possibly would have made us sick later.

June 6, 2009

157 – Today NOTHING once again

NOTHING is NOTHING but NOTHING : )

Let's do that again now, if you like. Set a clock with the time that you'd like to relax.


Start:
Now you could do NOTHING for 5 minutes and 12 seconds, for example.

Sit up straight, head – spine – bottom in one vertical line, just as if there were an invisible string bound to the top of your head pulling you upwards. Chin slightly drawn towards chest.
Relax belly musculature, loosen tongue, jawbones and forehead, half smile.
Breathe intentionally, in – out, recognize sounds and let them pass. If you notice any thoughts showing up, just take you concentration back to your breath.



In – breathe
Out – happy

thoughts of peace for Grenada : )



Breathing in you know that you inhale. Breathing out you are happy.

If that comforts you. You can also insert other words that you like better ; )

June 5, 2009

156 – Vanity

According to Wikipedia, “vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others”.

Taking care of beauty or mental perfection is a good thing actually.

So what is it that makes the bad reputation of vanity?
Exaggeration? End in itself? False modesty? Lack of authenticity?

Vanity seems to be produced most easy where insecurity and deficiency work. Recognizing them can help us making ourselves stronger so that we can abstain form exaggerated worries.


Start:
Today you could look at vanities.

Do you make yourself beautiful for yourself? - Or do you make yourself beautiful to impress others?
Are you helpful? - Or are you helpful because you believe being helpful brings one advantages?
Do make others feel good? - Or do you make others feel good so that they can show their gratitude?
Do you like to tell about things? - Or do you tell things to get others' attention?

Relax your face and mouth, half smile, breathe in and out consciously. 5 minutes and 10 seconds? 3 times? 5 times? 7 times? As often as you like : )

free of calculation
safe and protected

thoughts of peace for Malaysia : )


Formerly, vanity meant caducity, inanity, emptiness and vainness. Basically nothing changed.

When we manage to act not calculated but with free and good intentions, we can become free: free of calculation. Free of dependence on others' opinions. Free to be ourselves – for a free world : )

June 4, 2009

155 – Watch it until it's nice

“When there's no other way, I'll just drink until it's nice.”

That's an option. But why do that when one could also just watch until it's nice ; )

Everything we see are subjective impressions of relatively objective things. That is to say that there are things that are nice to look at for one but unpleasant to look at for the other.

So who's right?
Both, of course! It is just as nice as it is unpleasant.

It just depends from which point you are able to look at it.


Start:
You could think of something that made you want to drink until it's nice. Maybe you even really did it.

For example when you're dealing with feelings that you'd usually like to avoid, you could do it differently now and just look at them until they're nice. Relaxation – half smile – breathe : )



recognize feelings and accept them with an open heart
thoughts of peace for Thailand : )


You should also take a look at your reluctance! Someone wants to have sex with you but you actually don't really feel easy about this person, for example. You should better not do that.

Alcohol or other similar things can have influence on or even switch out the conscious. For a short term it seems to be effective. But seldom thing get nicer.

It's contrary: As soon as one is fully conscious again the thing that one tried to make nicer before can get even more unpleasant. That's because the inner attitude towards the thing didn't change.

When we permit our feelings and allow them to show up, we can change something. In this way the feelings can turn to NOTHING ; )

June 3, 2009

154 – Relish relish

“Yeah, that's quite okay.”
“Not bad, usually.”
“I've eaten worse.”

These answers are probably honest.
One doesn't want to exaggerate with effusive praise, right? Sure there is better.
On a scale from 0-10, if 10 is the best one's got to keep free the upper ranks for eventual better things? One doesn't give an 8, a 9 or even a 10 very quickly?

And this is how it tastes then. At the last afterwards. Just another 7-memory in life, or even less.

What a pity. So?


Start:
Today you could get aware where you downsize potential relish because you put some quality into a rating system that it doesn't even belong in.
That's the whole exercise.

Maybe you're having some low quality meal and then rate it in the measures of high quality food (deep frozen pizza – real pizza)? Or do you consume fast food and rate it in comparison to freshly cooked food (fast food burger – home made burger)? Or you're dining in a cheap restaurant with appendant low quality and judge on your meal in measures of home made dinner (pulpy food – mother's cooking)?

You could take charge of the taste of your food from now on. A cheap deep frozen pizza may taste like a cheap 9 now, or even like a super cheap 10. As soon as you allow that, your ratings will be higher and your satisfaction as well.

Relieve all tensions, your jaws, tongue, cheeks. Half smile can be a consequence : ) Breathe easily, in – out.


Free of expectation and rating
satisfied and happy

thoughts of peace for Maledives : )


In case you're really unhappy with the quality of your food you could allow yourself food of higher quality.

A quick dish made with fresh ingredients could do better than pre-pared industrial quality.

It's not cheaper but worth the price... So it could be more inexpensive for you in the end : )

June 2, 2009

153 – Colourful?

After 5 months you could, in case you made it that far, do NOTHING for 5 minutes. Or 4? Or 3? Very cool anyway!

Maybe you noticed something thereby? That there was really NOTHING, for example? And maybe this NOTHING had a colour for just a little moment? Or two? Or something like this?

This can happen when one consciously and concentrated does NOTHING.
Why? Nobody really knows. That's why we're satisfied now just to mention it.


Start:
Today you could be satisfied with just doing NOTHING for 5 minutes and 4 seconds.

Even there appear colours, let them pass you by. Without sticking to them. Perceive, accept, let pass. Sounds, thoughts, feelings, colours or whatever else may cross your way : )


free of adherence
thoughts of peace for Guatemala : )


We can do it the same way with different matters in life.

First just perceive what happens; events, emotions.
Accept them without rating; just like this, because they are part of our presence.
And then let them pass because they already become a part of our past.

When we are composed and free of exhausting and demoralizing thoughts in this way inside we can work on the change of uncomfortable matters into easy ones much stronger.

So, we can enjoy the 'magic' of DOING NOTHING...

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/



June 30, 2009

181 – Where is home?

“Home is where...”

Yes, where is it?
Where your heart is? Where you're in love? Where you live? Where your friends are? Where your native country is? Where your family is? Where there's this or that?

Everyone of us has his/her own feelings about that matter.

As long as we bind our idea of 'home' to outwardness there's the possibility of losing it. If conditions are not fulfilled we might feel cut from 'home', simply because something's 'missing'.

If we could get aware that we ourselves are our 'home' we'd be at home everywhere, always.


Start:
Today during your breathing you could intentionally sense yourself. Observing your body, feeling your feet while walking, you could notice that your conscious is 'at home' in your body. Here and now : )

Today you might, wherever you may be, go home for 6 minutes ; )



breathing in I recognize my body
breathing out I am at home

thoughts of peace for South Korea : )


In this simply way you can feel at home with every breath : ) No-one can take that from you...

June 29, 2009

180 – Transform anger

Anger, annoyance, fury – things like that just happen.

And then? Swallow it up? Ignore? Block it out?
That would be quite unhealthy.

So what to do when annoyance seems so big that we think we'll explode soon?


Start:
Today you could remember what you did the last time to let out some pressure.
When you realized there was anger right away – that's good. When you could focus on your breath right away – very good. But if it wasn't enough? If you still didn't know where to put all the fury??

Today you could think of an strategy for the next time.

You could abreact you anger by moving, run or cycle or jump in the air several times. Or you could take a pillow and beat it all up. Or you could pretend to have heard a good joke and laugh it all out.


Relax, loosen tongue, jawbones and forehead, half smile.
Breathe intentionally, in – out. Breathing in you stop the anger, breathing out you breathe
out all anger : )


I embrace my anger
smile
thoughts of peace for Kuwait : )


However, we can run down you anger ourselves without letting other get it. Good for you – good for the others.

June 28, 2009

179 – Free speech

“You can talk about everything.”

Yes, sounds good. The question is how to talk about everything, right?

There are different ways of speaking to one another.
When it's all about getting along peacefully, one way might be wrong: the speech that is full of anger, aggression and uncontrolled difficult emotion.

Speaking friendly about beautiful things mostly seems easier than speaking friendly and affectionately about things that don't comfort us.

Although especially then it would be so important...


Start:
Today you could remember a situation where you were quite angry and excited about something somebody else did. Do remember your reaction towards the other person then? How does that feel now?
Tell that person now, in your thoughts, friendly and peacefully, what you disliked.

You could do it like this from now on. The key is to first calm down your emotions.

Relieve all tensions, relax your face, observe your body, breathe in – breathe out. Consciously and concentrated. You could smile at your anger and observe it getting smaller and smaller as soon as you recognized and accepted it : ) in – out.


Breathing in I see my anger
breathing out I smile at my anger

thoughts of peace for Sri Lanka : )


Calming down an emotion, it is helpful to first get aware of its existence. Only then you can really see it.

“I recognize you, anger.”, for example. As soon as you see it you can think “I confront my anger with love because it shows me that there is something that I can do something about to improve it.”
Then, you could put on a smile.
When anger is seen it starts to shrink. Breathing intentionally helps you to stay with yourself.

As soon as you're calm you can tell the other in a friendly and affectionate way what made you mad. This time without any anger : )

June 27, 2009

178 – Sadness

Sadness is an emotion that can lead to difficult resulting emotions.

Dejectedness – lacking drive – disabled vitality – mental pain – depression – life crisis – bad hurt – that can also hurt our self-confidence...

There are very different reasons for sadness. Whatever makes us sad seems to be important enough to make us feel this emotion.

Even if we ignore sadness or block it out, still there are resulting emotions. And then we have to deal with feelings whose cause we cannot find anymore because had blocked it out...


Start:
Today you could give your appreciation to the emotion of sadness.
Maybe you experienced sadness before but blocked it out?

When you begin to accept your sadness, it might stop to manifest by resulting emotions. When you thankfully accept it as care of your unconscious, it might fade away easier in the future.

Relax. Halfsmile in your face. Breathe. In - out. 5 minutes and 54 seconds?


I recognize my sadness
smile
thoughts of peace for Belgium : )


People have a sensitive emotional sensation. That's a precious gift. Feel, recognize and accept emotions like sadness is very helpful.

Accepted sadness fades faster and let's us feel much better once we're free of it : )

June 26, 2009

177 - Alone alone. Alone alone...?

“We are alone – alone alone alone alone - ...” (Polarkreis 18)

That's what they really sing.

Listening to it through the day – in the evening we believe it already. And fell alone alone... One can do that. Can be a doctrine, why not.

Just like the effects of the sentences in this blog are to strengthen our good feelings, also other sentences that we hear and read again and again have influence on our unconscious.

When we're aware of that we can make and intentional decision:
What is helpful for us and what is not?


Start:
Today you could observe to which messages you are exposed in one day.
Advertising, song lyrics, some statements form some people... food for our mind.
We can decide: tasty or not so tasty? Listen to it or don't listen to it?

Maybe breathe first. Without a sound? Or with. Make an own sound! 5 minutes and 52 seconds? Or this time only 3 times?


Free to decide
for things that are good for me

thoughts of peace for Swaziland : )


Parents can observe how fast young children pick up stuff that's been said and take it for 'real'. The earlier messages are remembered, the more effective they are.

Totalitarian regimes and advertising industry know about that. There's for example shows on TV for 6-month-olds... because it works better on them!

Adults are being offered so many things. Only when we get aware of this we can decide against it. We are free : )

June 25, 2009

176 – Your goal will find you

“Drift, your goal will find you.”

Aha? Simply be comfortable and lazy until something happens?
No, of course it's a different meaning.

So what does that mean, drift?

When you have an idea, a wish or a vision you can observe how you get a certain drive towards this goal. Just because you'd like to reach that goal.

When you drift with that internal drive, things will get moving. That's fine then.

As helpful as your activeness is, so is your trust in success. That can help you to go through hard times. Until your goal finds you : )


Start:
Today you could remember one of your past goals that in fact came to pass; even though it didn't look like it would be a success. But suddenly the situation turned around and totally unexpected coincidences or events helped for success: You didn't expect it anymore but your goal found you ; )

Maybe you had a wish once that didn't come true for a long time? And when you had already give up suddenly someone came up who knew someone who by chance knew someone else who could help you...
Or maybe you once went after something but were disappointed because it wasn't successful? And when you thought everything's lost, suddenly from a totally different direction something came up that was even better than what you've imagined before...

Breathing can help to strengthen your trust. 5 minutes and 50 seconds now? Or 3 times...


full of trust
notice fullness in my life

thoughts of peace for Costa Rica : )


Trust: good things come to pass. Your goal will find you!

Even if it has to bring the most surprising events and coincidences into the game...

June 24, 2009

175 – Land of heroes

“What unhappy land that has no heroes!” - (Andrea Sarti in “Life of Galileo”)
Oh, OK, so happy is the land that has heroes...

What makes a hero out of one?

It's deeds that heroes do.
Deeds of the bodily kind – strength, speed, endurance etc. - or the mental kind as well – courage, martyrdom, readiness to act for ideals and fellow humans. Heroes from myths are seldom found nowadays ; )

But there are some everywhere, the heroes of the daily life: people who stand up for others' well-being. When you have a look around you might also find heroes in your life.

Happy is the one who's able to recognize and see them!


Start:
Today you could pay attention to the heroes in your daily life – you can tell they are heroes by looking at their deeds. When you're ready to accept them, they're there suddenly...

Can you see the heroes who voluntarily spend their time and energy for you only for you? Or can you see which hero supports you altruisticly with the matter that's important for you, and it's even uninteresting for him/her? Can you see the ones that confront you with respect, regard and helpfulness without judging you but letting you be the way you are?

And what about you? When are you a hero in others' lives?

If you'd like to practise NOTHING you could take the opportunity now. Or another later opportunity?
5 minutes and 48 seconds? Or 3 deep, calm and conscious breathings : )



I'm thankful
heroes in my life

thoughts of peace for Spain : )


It's just the deed that makes someone your hero. The question is not about the size of the deed.

It's about the effect in your life. If you want to, you'll find them, every day. A life full of heroes, what a lucky prize!

June 23, 2009

174 – Theatre of life

What if life were just a theatre play? We are the chief character.

If so, we could take things more easy. Especially the problems and difficulties. And even if not, we could simply see it this easy way.

Life's NOTHING but... a game?


Start:
Today you could think of a problem that bothers you. Pick an easy one for the exercise.
You could imagine that everything's just a game. A game where those who care about the well-being of all are the winners. Where you get the high score by showing the audience that you can remain cool and calm; maybe even delightful?

Want to take a little break backstage? ; )
What about 5 minutes and 46 seconds maybe?



I breathe in – I breathe out
and get quite silent
thoughts of peace for Sierra Leone : )


So it's just a game. Easily walk through life, as if it were a game. Does that comfort you?

One who remains silent can only win. Always. Unless you would prefer to chose panic, hecticness, fear, worries, anger, haughty, jealousy or anything like that... What do you think?

June 22, 2009

173 – I do not WANT that

1+1=2 is the same as “shiftless not” + want = opposite effect

What? - OK. Here's a little story about it:

Once I had a hamster. Everybody in the flat share liked because it was so cute. Except for one: Matti. Matti couldn't stand my hamster.

One night all of us were watching TV. I went to get my hamster. I put him on the floor by the door.
And immediately he ran towards all the people on the sofa because he was so excited about it. Everybody wanted the hamster to come to him/her.
Only Matti did NOT want that. My little hamster went straight to him and climbed on his lap... Matti got displeased, of course.

What a laugh!


Start:
Today you could figure out what 'hamster' you have in your life. What do you put on again and again though you do NOT want it at all actually?
Maybe you do NOT want to be unhappily in love? Or NOT be unemployed? Or NOT sick? Or NOT this or that...?
Now you can change your thoughts about it. Change them to the things you want. That's the whole exercise.

“I want the hamster to only go to those who like him.” or “I want the 'hamster' to leave me alone.”, for example.


May I get aware of my wishes
May I know what I want

thoughts of peace for Sweden : )


How did you do? Did you also find a 'hamster' in your life? You could simply change the 'hamster' and pick another animal that you like : )

June 21, 2009

172 – I love it

“I'm lovin' it .”

These words were bought by a producer of lower quality food.
The aim of this slogan is to associate their low quality consumption goods with love.

That idea is quite clever!

Love is a good feeling. So what happens when we associate this good feeling with a product, an activity, circumstances or anything else?

It assigns to it, regardless how valueless the thing is... Clever, isn't it?


Start:
Today you could take something uncomfortable and unavoidable and combine it with the words “I love it”. Pick something harmless, something that cannot bother you or others. Homework, a visit at the dentist, tidying up or any other uneasy matters that still have to be done.

Even if it doesn't feel that good for you, your consciousness believes you when you abstain from bitterness and irony. Feel free to put on a smile.

If you like, take a small energy-giving break now : ) 5 Minuten und 42 Sekunden?



I love it!
thoughts of peace for Portugal : )


That company wants to get richer and already has a big budget for advertising. Now they spent a lot of money to buy the rights for the sentence “I'm lovin' it!”... There's got to be something about it, don't you think so?

June 20, 2009

171 – A day of rest

Today it's a day off...

With NOTHING but rest and tranquillity : )


Start:
If you like, sit up straight and slightly tilt your knee towards your chest.
Imagine your head being drawn upwards at the highest point by an invisible string. Your spine gets straight and long.
Breathe in intentionally – breathe out intentionally. Into your loosened belly. Feel how it lifts and lowers. You could count to 10 with every in- and exhale, then repeat.

Notice every noise. When you notice thoughts or dreams, let them pass by without holding on to them. Lead your mind friendly and clearly back to breathing. Then start with 1 again.
5 minutes and 40 seconds? Or less? 3 times?


Here and now
wonderful moment
thoughts of peace for the Czech Republic : )



Power lies in tranquillity. Is it maybe also the power in which tranquillity lies?

Strengthening our mind with good thoughts could have considerable effects on the peace in our lives.

June 19, 2009

170 – How does consumption consume?

“We live in the age of consumption! Long live consume!”

Consume with no end? Really? What's consumption actually?

Wikipedia says consumption is the usage of goods to get personal satisfaction... Usage is the use of goods with an absorbing effect... Thus, more valuable, valueless or dangerous products emerge from the goods.

So usage doesn't mean that materials or energy disappears.

OK. When we consume things they are in a used state afterwards... but do not disappear... just became something different. What is that for example?


Start:
Today you could wonder what happens with the goods you consume.
That is food, stimulants, clothes or other goods... What emerges from them?
What emerges from the consumption of books, games, films? Knowledge, emotions – easy ones or difficult ones, perhaps?
Can one consume conversations? Or people? And what emerges from these? What about the usage of nature? Can you think of anything else?

If you'd like to do NOTHING now, enjoy it! : )


I get aware of
the effects of my consumption

thoughts of peace for Pakistan : )


What if we were to consume something that it is good for us but harms others? What's the emerging product: more valuable, valueless or dangerous?

When we consume films, books, games or conversations, for example, that produce panic, fear, worries, anger or hate in us; are those effectively more valuable, valueless or dangerous for us?

The more consciously we observe our consumption, the better can we see if it is good for us. Then, we could use our freedom to abstain from things or make a different decision : )

June 18, 2009

169 – Good conversations

There are people that can really encourage and delight you during a conversation. And there are people who can really take your courage and delight away from you.

Words have influence on us.

Benevolent words can build us up and strengthen us – brutal, judging language can weaken us.

Words can give us energy, just like drinking and eating – or they can take energy from us, just like unhealthy food.


Start:
Today you could find out if there are conversations in your life that take your energy away instead of comforting you. You could decide whether you'd like to have pleasant or exhausting conversations today. You could consider your own words just as you consider others' words.

If you like do NOTHING for a while now, maybe 5 minutes and 36 seconds... : )

energy-giving words
give delight

thoughts of peace for Rwanda : )



We are free to decide what we want to nourish on just as we're free to create consequences out of conversations,

We could easily abstain from conversations that make us feel uncomfortable regarding our own feelings.
We can also decide to support others with our words instead of harming them.

June 17, 2009

168 – Boosted motivation

“I give up, that's all just for nothing.”

Well, that's possible.
But it could also be that someone's err? Errs him/herself?
And that he/she is just before the breakthrough that he/she wouldn't experience if he/she would just give it all up now?

The one who gives up will never find out. Good things need our endurance. And we'll see if we have that when it gets heavy and difficult.

What to do when we'd like to achieve something?
Hang on. NOTHING more.


Start:
Today you could remember something in your life that you gave up. Maybe that decision was right? Or wasn't it?

When you breathe now you could 'listen into you'. The answer to the question whether you should hang on or not, whether you want to reach your goal or really should give up is there: in the quietness inside you. The more quiet you get, the clearer can you 'hear' your answer.

Relax, if you like sit up straight, chin tilted towards chest, spine straight and long. Loosen tongue and jawbones, half smile, or full smile : ) Calmly breathe in and out, sense your body, sense the respiration very consciously.
5 minutes and 34 seconds? Or 3 times in and out? 10 times? Take your tome, as much as you need : )


brave – powerful
consistently motivated

thoughts of peace for Malta : )



How do you feel about the remembrance of your goal? Which answer did you sense inside you? What did you feel right afterwards when you started thinking again?

These thoughts are quite interesting. They like to cheat on us. They are part of our thinking – and that's something else than our intuition.

In our thoughts we might have a lack of courage. Perhaps our thinking says we shouldn't dare to believe in our goal. Let's let it think and let's listen to our inner voice!

When it's for the well-being of all, when we are brave, when we consistently motivate ourselves, we'll reach our goal : )

June 16, 2009

167 – Like liking

Liking something means to feel nice, easy and comfortable about it.

When we wish for something we can express that with the words “May...”.

This expression is very open; it only tells about our wish for the other, for ourselves or for the situation, without making the impression of an order or demand.


Start:
Today you could express a good wish for yourself and/or others in your thoughts.

May I... What do you want?
Be happy, perhaps? Or free of fear? Free of worries and grief? Safe and protected? Healthy in body and soul? Peaceful?
May you be... happy.
May all people live in peace.

You could send out good wishes now and thereby breathe in and out consciously; in this moment there is NOTHING more to do : )


May all beings be happy
thoughts of peace for Suriname : )



A 'good' thought has 100 times more power and effect than a 'bad' one. The one who gives away good wishes could mostly likely soon also feel it happening to him/herself.

May you be free : )

June 15, 2009

166 – Stretch upper arms and shoulders

“A rolling stone gathers no moss!”

Exactly.
You can tell that when you didn't get in motion for some time. You can abstain from going to the gym today and still do something for your body.
Pri-pra-practical : )


Start:
Stand up straight and erect. Imagine your head being torn upwards at the highest point by a string. Knees slightly bent and pelvis slightly tilted backwards. Breathe in your natural rhythm.

Now cross your fingers and turn your palms away from you. So, a stretch of your arms and the back part of your shoulders accrues. Hold your arms like this for 3-5 breathings, if you like you can also rise the arms a little bit with every inhale and so even deepen the stretch. But please only go as far as it's comfortable for you, overexpansion is not cool and can harm you.

After that, stand still for 10-15 seconds, let your arms hang down on the sides, close your eyes and breathe freely and in your rhythm.


Go on and take your time, more time a than in the short video : )

If you calmly and comfortably take your time
and thereby and also afterwards breathe intentionally
also your conscious could recreate
besides your body recreation.



That's NOTHING! We like that very mi-ma-much!

June 14, 2009

165 – Honestly now...

“I'd certainly like to change something, but that's life, I can't do anything about it.”

Honestly?
Could this person perhaps let him/herself believe that things are up to circumstances, other persons, fate, vis major, coincidence... but always not up to him/herself?

Seems to be quite comfortable to take responsibility away from oneself. As easy as it gets for us then, so dishonest we are with ourselves.

Almost always we have the possibility to change something. And let it only be 'little things'. Therefore you'll need the will to change something, though, and the attendance to do something, to make efforts, perhaps to abstain from something, possibly to chose uncomfortable solutions.


Start:
Today you could think about a situation where you were dishonest with yourself because you suspected that a change would also bring efforts and abandonment and your usual comfort would be in danger.
Where in your life do you use the answer “I can't change anything about it”? You could now put your honest answer right next to that. And make your decision again.

For example: Do I want to furthermore accept things that make me unhappy? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore do things that make others unhappy? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore accept that there are people starving? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore take war for granted? Yes or no?
Do I want to furthermore support the environmental destruction? Yes or no?
If your answer is No then be precise now: what do you want instead?

If you'd like to breathe calmly now you could take 3 breathings or 5 minutes and 28 seconds. Feel your respiration, feel your body.



Recognize my responsibility
make decisions
thoughts of peace for Dominica : )



Subconsciously we all know that we can change and improve many things with just a little bit of individual commitment. Being dishonest with ourselves and others has become quite common and a trend. But trends come and go. Honesty is the best policy.

Arbitrative is what you want. Arbitrative is the idea that has your Yes.

Every single day you have the opportunity to change something. For yourself – for the future – for the world : )

June 13, 2009

164 – I'll take this and this and that!

“You can't always get what you want!”

Who says that? That sounds like somebody who's already given up...

We can imagine our life to be a musical request programme, we can get aware that they're only going to play what WE want.
Our conscious and unconscious decisions have influence on our playlist.
With all the wrong notes that we bring ourselves ; )

Even most of our problems were 'ordered' by us. Or by someone that we left the decision about our playlist to...

Want to change something? This only you can do for yourself and your life. So you simply could change your decisions.


Start:
Today you could remember a situation where you felt uneasy. In case you thought you had no other option up to now, you could now rethink this matter. You have the opportunity to decide.

Maybe you're stuck in circumstances that seem to be forced on you?
This view comes from your decision; you decided to allow force on your playlist.
Enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can develop.
Maybe you feel bound to people that make you feel uncomfortable? The handling is up to you; you intentionally decided to let them treat you the way they do. Enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can new can develop.
Maybe you experience restrictions? Accepting these restrictions was up to you; enjoy your choice. Or simply change your decision so that new can develop.


Today I make the decision
for my life

thoughts of peace for Madagascar : )


The choice is always up to you! If you're ready to take responsibility for your life you could see that it's your decision that makes you stuck in situations.

You could start enjoying your freedom of choice and form. You have the opportunity to give yourself sorrow or delight. It's up to you to decide about change.

Once we've decided to change something we'd be surprised about things changing : )

June 12, 2009

163 – Only I can do this!

There's many things that others should do differently. We often like to have a too close look and think we are right with our critique.

We find others' patterns that should really be changed by him/her. We recognize bad habits that someone really should abandon. We can name characteristics that should be changed because they maybe are difficult.

All of this can be true. From your point of view. And still: wanting to change someone is a plan that is going to fail. One can only change him/herself...


Start:
Today you could pay attention if and when you think that someone should be different so that it'd be OK.
Granting others to be just like they are means taking responsibility for our own role.
You could decide this now. Check every matter with open and benevolent thinking for the other.

Maybe someone is very untidy and you're always tidying up after him/her? When you take responsibility for yourself you can decide whether you will continue tidying up after this person or just let it be.
Maybe someone is treating you in a way where you miss respect of your needs. Taking responsibility for yourself will let you decide if you'll still accept this or if you'll go away.
Maybe someone is telling you things and that is a burden for you. When you take responsibility for yourself you can decide whether you'll continue listening or spend your time differently in the future.


Open for change
starting with myself

thoughts of peace for Greece : )



When you feel there is an uneasy situation, you a re the only person that can change something about that for you. This is how far your possibilities for forming things goes: to the border of you.
Stand by your decisions. With all consequences. Changing your behaviour will also change the whole situation.

June 11, 2009

162 – The good ones in the crock

„The good ones in the crock. And the bad ones? What do we do with them?“

What about ignoring the bad and only taking the good.

Hm, what are they talking about? Do you think that now?


Start:
Today you could make a decision for the day:
Do I want to see the 'bad' in others or much rather the 'good'?

You can configure this attitude for yourself in the morning, for example for all persons that come across you this day or only for one particular person.
It can be very helpful to concentrate your cognition on the nice things only.
As soon as you notice others thoughts, stop them and go back to the good thoughts.
Feel free to smile thereby : )

If you like, you can breathe for 5 minutes and 22 seconds now. Relax jawbones and tongue, breathe consciously, sense your entire body : )



ready to see the good in others
peaceful and happy

thoughts of peace for Bahrain : )


How did you feel about the people you came across? After making the decision to see the 'good'... And how were your feelings after the decision to see the ' bad'?

Our feelings about others mostly only depend on our inner attitude. Even difficult persons can be experienced differently after a decision. Meeting nice people or not so nice people only depends on our inner attitude. If we'd like to meet nice people it would be quite effective to make our decision for the benevolent view.

June 10, 2009

161 – Expedient optimism

Some people cultivate expedient pessimism. Disappointments should be avoided by foreclosing disappointment.

Sounds like trying to put out a fire with gasoline, huh?

The side effect is consequently denying oneself any anticipation because one adjusts oneself to losing. The planned and scheduled loser, so to say.
Brilliant attitude to life, isn't it?

Expedient optimism cannot only give energy but also minimize the feeling of loss. Every time when something succeeds. Besides, optimistic beliefs can also turn things to good; and save us from even more losses : )


Start:
Today you could get aware of a situation where you're having expedient pessimism. Look at your feelings while confronting this situation. How do you feel when you think “Oh, this won't work anyway” or “I can't do this” or “This will fail again” while doing something? (+) or (-)?

Breathe intentionally, sense your entire body, feel your breathe, relax : )



free of fears
full of delight – safe and protected

thoughts of peace for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines : )



The one who's able to feel anticipation is gifted. General delight can bring great energy into our lives.

And in case loss occurs later, on could composedly accept it, free of adherence.

Delight that has already been enjoyed cannot be take away from us!

June 9, 2009

160 – Experience death?

“Death, what a nasty thing to talk about – as long as I'm alive I do not want to talk about it.”

Many of us think like this. The matter frightens us and that's why we like to avoid it. Instead, one longs for a long, long life. There's a lot of fuss about that. Better not die... but why?

What if death were beautiful?
As long as we live we can't find it out. It remains speculation.

Doesn't it?

There's stories about close-to-death experiences. I myself experienced it in 2006 during a blood poisoning with three days of 40C° fever, incarnate and indescribable. That's why I recommend this warmly to you.


Start:
Today you could simply imagine the possibility of death being something unthinkably beautiful.

I confronted the beautifullest feelings I've never had before. I can only describe them as the bundling of all the beautiful emotions of the entire world in me.
When other feelings show up, fear or anger or whatever we might consider as uneasy, I consider consciousness, cognition and endurance to be the best ways to let them pass. My memory tells me that NOTHING can help one better...


look at feelings
accept feelings and let them go on

thoughts of peace for Peru : )


Basically, we already go through this exercise in life. Uneasy feelings come and go. When we accept them, they go on more easily and faster.

So we can see this s a good preparation for death: The daily delight and preparedness to recognize the difficult and accept it and then let it go on again, without holding on to it.

And then I can only embolden you from the bottom of my heart: death was very different from what they try to make us believe it is. I experienced the most beautiful feeling close to death. Still, I am very happy to be completely alive again! ; )

June 8, 2009

159 – Arms back

Arms are nowadays not being used anymore like they used to. They had a certain purpose in the original concept of the human body but we like to use them differently.

All roads lead to Rome. Or anywhere else, when one doesn't even want to go to Rome. Berlin is also very nice ; )


Start:
Stand up straight and erect. Head pulled upwards by an imaginary string. Knees slightly bent and pelvis slightly tilted backwards. Breathe in your natural rhythm.

Now, lead your left arm from the bottom behind your back and the right one from the top behind your back, so that your finger tips come close to each other. They needn't touch. Thereby breathe calmly and comfortably. If you like you can stretch the upper arm slightly backwards, just a little bit. Then let your arms hang loose on the sides and breathe 10-15 seconds with closed eyes. Then, change sides.




The importance of feeling good
only go as far as you can : )


In a training camp one might have to show peak performances. But NOTHING like this is demanded here. Fortunately : )

June 7, 2009

158 – Stay balanced

It is a beautiful thing when you like someone. Partner, family, friends, pets; we can look at them as gifts of life. Gifts that one wouldn't like to lose.

And still, we will lose them, sooner or later, at the latest when we ourselves die.
Then our partner, family, friends, even the pets will miss us. That's normal, isn't it?

When we let our happiness depend from people that are close to us, that could easily bring us out of balance. Namely when one goes away or eludes or refuses affection.

Our balance is in our middle. Others are exterior for us. When we concentrate too much on others, our own balance might get hard keep.



Start:
Today you could see in which cases you are depending on others.
Maybe you comply with others too much, you comply with their opinion or you depend on their help, image, love or acceptance, or attention, you might depend on their time, their money, their dreams, wishes, expectations, demands.

When you breathe today you could take care of your inner freedom and strengthen it. Relieve all tensions, take your time with conscious breathing. 5 minutes and 14 seconds? 3 times? : )





free of attachment
calm inside with equability

thoughts of peace for Luxembourg : )


It can be very nice being together with others. When we stick to them too much because we cannot or do not want to imagine living without them it might happen that we go to far away from ourselves for them.

We might think that we have to satisfy demands that others make, only because don't want to annoy or lose them. Unfortunately, we often lose ourselves thereby...

We will recover our freedom when we free ourselves from the illusion of attachment. Things are nice if they are there. But if something would leave just because of our way of being, you’d better let it go. It possibly would have made us sick later.

June 6, 2009

157 – Today NOTHING once again

NOTHING is NOTHING but NOTHING : )

Let's do that again now, if you like. Set a clock with the time that you'd like to relax.


Start:
Now you could do NOTHING for 5 minutes and 12 seconds, for example.

Sit up straight, head – spine – bottom in one vertical line, just as if there were an invisible string bound to the top of your head pulling you upwards. Chin slightly drawn towards chest.
Relax belly musculature, loosen tongue, jawbones and forehead, half smile.
Breathe intentionally, in – out, recognize sounds and let them pass. If you notice any thoughts showing up, just take you concentration back to your breath.



In – breathe
Out – happy

thoughts of peace for Grenada : )



Breathing in you know that you inhale. Breathing out you are happy.

If that comforts you. You can also insert other words that you like better ; )

June 5, 2009

156 – Vanity

According to Wikipedia, “vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others”.

Taking care of beauty or mental perfection is a good thing actually.

So what is it that makes the bad reputation of vanity?
Exaggeration? End in itself? False modesty? Lack of authenticity?

Vanity seems to be produced most easy where insecurity and deficiency work. Recognizing them can help us making ourselves stronger so that we can abstain form exaggerated worries.


Start:
Today you could look at vanities.

Do you make yourself beautiful for yourself? - Or do you make yourself beautiful to impress others?
Are you helpful? - Or are you helpful because you believe being helpful brings one advantages?
Do make others feel good? - Or do you make others feel good so that they can show their gratitude?
Do you like to tell about things? - Or do you tell things to get others' attention?

Relax your face and mouth, half smile, breathe in and out consciously. 5 minutes and 10 seconds? 3 times? 5 times? 7 times? As often as you like : )

free of calculation
safe and protected

thoughts of peace for Malaysia : )


Formerly, vanity meant caducity, inanity, emptiness and vainness. Basically nothing changed.

When we manage to act not calculated but with free and good intentions, we can become free: free of calculation. Free of dependence on others' opinions. Free to be ourselves – for a free world : )

June 4, 2009

155 – Watch it until it's nice

“When there's no other way, I'll just drink until it's nice.”

That's an option. But why do that when one could also just watch until it's nice ; )

Everything we see are subjective impressions of relatively objective things. That is to say that there are things that are nice to look at for one but unpleasant to look at for the other.

So who's right?
Both, of course! It is just as nice as it is unpleasant.

It just depends from which point you are able to look at it.


Start:
You could think of something that made you want to drink until it's nice. Maybe you even really did it.

For example when you're dealing with feelings that you'd usually like to avoid, you could do it differently now and just look at them until they're nice. Relaxation – half smile – breathe : )



recognize feelings and accept them with an open heart
thoughts of peace for Thailand : )


You should also take a look at your reluctance! Someone wants to have sex with you but you actually don't really feel easy about this person, for example. You should better not do that.

Alcohol or other similar things can have influence on or even switch out the conscious. For a short term it seems to be effective. But seldom thing get nicer.

It's contrary: As soon as one is fully conscious again the thing that one tried to make nicer before can get even more unpleasant. That's because the inner attitude towards the thing didn't change.

When we permit our feelings and allow them to show up, we can change something. In this way the feelings can turn to NOTHING ; )

June 3, 2009

154 – Relish relish

“Yeah, that's quite okay.”
“Not bad, usually.”
“I've eaten worse.”

These answers are probably honest.
One doesn't want to exaggerate with effusive praise, right? Sure there is better.
On a scale from 0-10, if 10 is the best one's got to keep free the upper ranks for eventual better things? One doesn't give an 8, a 9 or even a 10 very quickly?

And this is how it tastes then. At the last afterwards. Just another 7-memory in life, or even less.

What a pity. So?


Start:
Today you could get aware where you downsize potential relish because you put some quality into a rating system that it doesn't even belong in.
That's the whole exercise.

Maybe you're having some low quality meal and then rate it in the measures of high quality food (deep frozen pizza – real pizza)? Or do you consume fast food and rate it in comparison to freshly cooked food (fast food burger – home made burger)? Or you're dining in a cheap restaurant with appendant low quality and judge on your meal in measures of home made dinner (pulpy food – mother's cooking)?

You could take charge of the taste of your food from now on. A cheap deep frozen pizza may taste like a cheap 9 now, or even like a super cheap 10. As soon as you allow that, your ratings will be higher and your satisfaction as well.

Relieve all tensions, your jaws, tongue, cheeks. Half smile can be a consequence : ) Breathe easily, in – out.


Free of expectation and rating
satisfied and happy

thoughts of peace for Maledives : )


In case you're really unhappy with the quality of your food you could allow yourself food of higher quality.

A quick dish made with fresh ingredients could do better than pre-pared industrial quality.

It's not cheaper but worth the price... So it could be more inexpensive for you in the end : )

June 2, 2009

153 – Colourful?

After 5 months you could, in case you made it that far, do NOTHING for 5 minutes. Or 4? Or 3? Very cool anyway!

Maybe you noticed something thereby? That there was really NOTHING, for example? And maybe this NOTHING had a colour for just a little moment? Or two? Or something like this?

This can happen when one consciously and concentrated does NOTHING.
Why? Nobody really knows. That's why we're satisfied now just to mention it.


Start:
Today you could be satisfied with just doing NOTHING for 5 minutes and 4 seconds.

Even there appear colours, let them pass you by. Without sticking to them. Perceive, accept, let pass. Sounds, thoughts, feelings, colours or whatever else may cross your way : )


free of adherence
thoughts of peace for Guatemala : )


We can do it the same way with different matters in life.

First just perceive what happens; events, emotions.
Accept them without rating; just like this, because they are part of our presence.
And then let them pass because they already become a part of our past.

When we are composed and free of exhausting and demoralizing thoughts in this way inside we can work on the change of uncomfortable matters into easy ones much stronger.

So, we can enjoy the 'magic' of DOING NOTHING...