“If you have made up your mind to find joy within yourself, sooner or later you will find it. If you want to be sad, no one in the world can make you happy. But if you make up your mind to be happy, no one and nothing on earth can take that happiness from you.” – Paramhansa Yogananda

The message from this quote is something that we know from within. However, why is it that sometimes we do not make up our mind to be happy?

From my own experience, we are conditioned to blame others and to play victim. This is something that I did for years and as a result my life was like a rollercoaster, one day I was happy and the next day I felt miserable. I was an awful existence. Then with self-effort and the help of mentors and teachers, I learned that by taking full responsibility for what was going up in my live, I could make changes right away and despite of external circumstances, happiness was my choice. My life transformed completely and now I share with others what life has taught me. Here are a few recommendations, you can use to expand happiness in your life:

• Change your habits. Be willing to stop immediately, any behaviors of blaming, playing victim, gossiping or criticizing. Instead, with love and compassion, take a look inside of yourself to see what changes you need to make. Keep a journal to let go of what is not working in your life and every day be willing to choose happiness.
• Be determined to be happy under all circumstances. Remember that no one has the power to add to your happiness or to take away from you, unless you yourself allow the adverse thoughts or wicked actions of others to affect you.
• Don’t postpone your happiness. Have you ever said? “If this or that happens, I shall be very contented.” Don’t wait. Choose to be happy now.
• Be committed to switching your attention from worry to calmness. Deep within you there is calmness. That’s the essence of your soul. Learn to say “no” so you do not add stress to your life. Let go of the fear of being rejected, criticized, or punished. Observe yourself and pay attention to your commitment to being calm. Go in a worry-free diet.
• Meditate. This practice is the most powerful tool you have to help you to awaken the joy that already resides within you.

Affirm: I choose to be happy now

What do we do when suddenly we are face with something that is unfamiliar or unexpected or is opposite to our plans? Most of the time we move into fear and the mind starts making up all kinds of stories. This happened to me recently and I finally realized that I was allowing my ego to create scenarios in my mind, which in most cases they will never happen.

I noticed that I was analyzing the situation over and over and from different angles, but without coming up with any solutions. It was like I was in a hamster wheel, going nowhere. I finally realized that I was in a fear mode.

Have you ever felt this way, going in circles, frustrated, stress out, disappointed, fearful and confused? Most likely, we all have felt the effects of fear and how, if we do not stop it, it can take us deeper and deeper into despair. This is why it is so important to be conscious of how we are embracing our experiences in life with calmness and to stop and shift the energy right away, when we feel that we are going in the opposite direction of peace, joy and harmony.

This is exactly what I ended up doing when I realized that my ego was playing games with me, by keeping my mind occupied with F.E.A.R (False Evidence Appearing Real). I remember at that moment that I had a choice to change the way I was thinking and to embrace my situation with a positive attitude.

I have been thinking of ways I can use to remind myself that, at all times, I have a choice to be happy and peaceful. This is what I came up with:

• Fear is the opposite of love. In any situation you can take your mind to choose love. You are in charge of your mind. Do not allow it to be controlled by fear. Switch your approach.
• Do not focus on the problem and instead seek a solution. It has been said that every problem comes with a solution. You just have to be willing to see it.
• Remember that everything is energy and if you focus on obstacles, that is exactly what you are going to attract.
• Talk to your Higher Power and ask for His help.
• Remember that you are not a victim. You are a child of the Most High with divine wisdom that enables you to come up with solutions to every challenge.
• Use the power of prayer to pray for yourself and anyone involved in the situation.
• Count your blessings. There are many things that you can think off that are going well in your life. Focus on them and be grateful.
• This is what the bible says about fear in 2 Timothy 1:7: “God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
• Above all, keep the right attitude and remember the power of positive thinking and affirmations.

Affirm: I choose to be peaceful, joyful and in harmony in all situations

A wonderful way to support yourself in letting Go of Fear is by participating in the free class: “3 Tips to Experiencing Happiness in all Aspects of Your Life“.

Click here to REGISTER and for more information

Divine Blessings,

Divine Blessings,

Recently, in one of my hiking trips to the Yuba river, in California, I was guided to ask for the best way to embrace my adventure in the highest possible way. What I received was simple: “Observe and listen.”

That day, and in my subsequent hiking trips, I have followed this inspired advice. I listen to the roaring sound of the water in the river, the singing of the birds, the fresh wind, and the movement of lizards and possibly other creatures (only God knows what else). I observe the sun, the tall pine trees, the flowers, the water moving furiously downstream, the plants, the rocks and the beautiful scenery around me. It is absolutely a delight to focus my attention at this deep level.

It was only a couple of days ago, while I was walking on a trail, that I realized that the guidance and inspiration that I had received to “listen and observe”, is the perfect formula for savoring the moment and living in the now. I realized, that the inspiration that I had received to “listen and observe”, was eternal truth and it is the secret to everlasting happiness.

At those moments when we listen and observe, we are totally living in the now and we are able to focus our attention and truly savor the moment. I reflected on how, as I was practicing this wise guidance, I was automatically removed from the temptation to go to the past and project into the future making up scenarios that in most cases produce fearful feelings, worries and take us off our center.

As I think of the benefits of “savoring the moment”, here is what I come up with:

• Gives us the opportunity to enjoy life more deeply
• Keeps us calm and centered
• Awakens our inner joy
• Reminds us to focus on savoring the moment
• Helps us find the good in everything and everyone
• Keeps us in a receptive mode to connect with God
• Protects us from emotional ups and downs
• Helps us stay focused
• Opens our heart to what really matters
• Encourages us to let go of the busyness of our mind
• Gives as a wonderful way to release stress

I invite you to truly savor each moment, in all circumstances. As you focus on your task at hand, enjoy it and give it your very best and then go to the next one like in a perfect flow, conserving your calmness, enjoying the experience and savoring the moment.

Affirm: I savor each moment, as I Listen ad Observe 

Sometimes we do not realize that negative habits can be weeds that can darken the beautiful aspects of our personality. This is why it’s important to be honest and aware of those habits or ways of being so we can remove them from our lives.

For example, sometimes weeds show up in the form of anger, criticism, doubt, fear, resentment, guilt, jealousy, impatience, gossiping, victim mentality, control, insecurity, lack of faith, procrastination, and the list goes on. The good news is that we can remove those weeds by putting the effort. Yes, will power is needed for any change to take place in our lives and to be able to experience the fragrant flowers of transformation.

Think for a moment of the weeds that you might need to remove from your own garden. Remember that they are expressed in the form of thoughts, words, actions, our attitude. Be honest, without feeling guilty but knowing that this is how you will not repeat the same mistakes, by taking responsibility

Consider planting seeds that are the opposite qualities to the negative patterns or behaviors. The new seeds, will suffocate the weeds until your garden will look fresh and beautiful again. The new seeds you can plant are love, praise, clarity, faith, acceptance, forgiveness, strength, patience, confidence, decisiveness, and so on. To nurture the garden of your life, remember to:

• Put the effort, daily
• Be honest
• Focus on yourself and how you can transform your life
• Find the good in everything
• Know that for every obstacle there is an appropriate solution
• Focus on kindness and love
• Express the Divine qualities thru you

Affirm: “I nurture the garden of my life with my positive attitude”

Last month, I shared in my blog that the life we live is the legacy we leave behind. The life we live every day is based on what we focus on. If we focus on having a positive attitude about all our life experiences, then we leave behind a beautiful legacy. However, if we focus on negativity, complaining about what is wrong with the world, judging, resenting or controlling others, feeling insecure, being doubtful, then this is what we are going to give our children, families, friends, and the world.

Every day we can set up the intention to do our very best and if challenges show up, we keep a positive attitude, knowing that every problem comes with a solution. We make our life’s easier when we truly are willing to see the glass half full and we trust that we have the power within to face whatever comes our way.

Tests in life are a wonderful opportunity to increase our faith and to help us grow. The secret is to remember to focus on the solution and not the problem, because “what we focus on expands. Some ways to focus on the solution are:

• Seek professional help when needed.
• See the big picture. We are here to eliminate all barriers to love.
• Focus on positive qualities like peace, joy, harmony, love. For example, when you feel anxious, to return to peace, affirm: I choose peace, or, I am peace.
• Use the power of positive thinking.
• Maintain an attitude of gratitude.
• Pray more, walk in nature, listen to uplifting messages, read inspiring books.

Let’s be attentive to what we are focusing on every moment. If we find ourselves focusing on negativity, or playing victim, or criticizing, lets switch the behavior immediately. Replace it with a positive attitude, remembering that you are a child of God, praising others, seeing the bigger picture always.

Affirm: “I focus on the goodness in my life”

To read this month’s “Love in Action” Newsletter Click here

 

“Let your legacy be how you love, how you treat people, and the light you bring to the world, instead of the stuff you leave behind.” 

We recently had a loss in our family, my sister’s beloved husband Augusto. The emptiness our family feels is very profound as he truly was a person who treated people with love and was a very bright light in this world.

I write this message in his memory, and as a way to thank him for the legacy he has left behind and how this world is a better place because of his contribution.

I have been thinking how I can follow his footsteps and make sure that every day I contribute to building a legacy that I can leave for humanity.

As I think of his amazing personality, he was a role model of determination, discipline and will power. I definitely have plenty of room in myself to expand on these valuable qualities, as they are needed to be successful in each area of our lives.

I was always impressed with his generosity, another trait that I believe we all can develop, by sharing more with others.

He loved nature and any outdoor activity. Nothing was ever too difficult for him and that’s the reason why he was such a great athlete. Being with him in nature was like being with a kid. He lived each moment and enjoyed it fully. I believe each day we are invited to live in the moment and nourish it completely.

He also had a great sense of humor, loved music, dancing, photography and connecting with others. These are all areas that we can reflect on and see how expanding them in ourselves can serve the world.

With deep gratitude and love I thank you Augusto for a life well lived and the profound legacy you have left behind and the impact you have had in our lives and the world.

What’s your legacy? Remember, we are not an island. We are interconnected and what we do every day impacts the lives of many. As you think of your relatives who went to the other side, think of the many positive qualities that they  have left you as a legacy, and consciously choose to be attentive as to what kind of legacy you want to leave behind.

Affirm: “The life I live every day is the legacy I leave”  

Divine Blessings,