Goodbye Fat Talk. Welcome Divine Being. How to Speak Well of Ourselves.

A very happy new year to you! I thank you for being part of Reflection Pond in 2013 and for your kindness and generosity. In December 2013, I mentioned a series of videos that I was preparing for you. As we begin our beautiful adventure in 2014, I am happy to present to you the first video. It is designed specifically for the women reading this, but it is useful to all the men who have wonderful women in their lives, be it wives, friends, daughters, cousins, colleagues and just women in our society. Know that what this video talks about has affected and is affecting women and is for helping women think kindly of themselves. As a man, if you can help by genuinely appreciating the beauty and intellect and grace of the women in your lives, you will be making a big huge difference in our world.
 

So do please watch this short video and please tell me what you think.

With love and respect,
Sophia

You Are Abundance

A word about abundance.
I have spent way too much time looking for abundance in the external. You know, expecting to "earn" it from jobs that I used to do or from business projects that I have undertaken. I even thought that I had to be a certain way and act a certain way to be loved by friends and family. I have also, many a times, awaited eagerly for praise and approval for things I had done, again from the outside world. But thankfully, I am opening my eyes to the truth.

What I am grateful for is the understanding I have now that I have to do none of those things. I must be myself, even if others can't handle it. To be loved, all I need to do is: do nothing. No need to work to be loved because just like you, I was born lovable. I must praise and approve myself and not even think about getting it from the outside. As for abundance...

I am now more and more deeply understanding that "abundance" is within. Yes, you have probably heard this before too. And at first when I heard this, I thought, how sweet! Abundance is within. Yes, it is a nice thought. But is much much more than that.

It is the secret recipe to creating abundance that you can feel in you and experience in your life and in the life of others. What is the secret recipe? Well, first of all, it is not a secret. It is something every book of wisdom talks about, and that too quite overtly. What seems like a "secret recipe" is so common-place that we have to really be reminded about it...drawing attention to it by calling it a secret! But seriously, it is very simple. And please don't discount it only because of it being "simple". Simple is powerful and you know that.

So here it is, our not-so-secret recipe.

"Whatever you want from life, you must do for someone else." *

Not so secret, you see. The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", is another facet of the above age-old wisdom.
How does one apply this wisdom to create abundance?
 

1. Know what abundance encapsulates

What does abundance mean to you? A million dollars? A great physical health? To be surrounded by family and friends? Successful career/business? A deep spiritual life? Of course, abundance is all of this and you can add a few of your own characteristics to this list. All of that in balance and harmony is abundance.
 

2. Identify what you want

So think for a moment. What exactly are you wanting to create for yourself or experience for yourself? More time with your kids? A sense of physical well-being? A happy and cordial workplace? Adventure and travel? Funds for your non-profit? A fulfilling restful night of sleep? A deep fulfilling romantic relationship? A sense of financial peace? An understanding of wisdom teachings? A skilled, expressive musical performance? And so on and on. Write down 1 to 3 things from this list or better yet, write down your unique list of that which you want to create and/or experience.
 

3. Now apply the ancient wisdom

For a consistent period of time that suits you (say 1 week, 21 days, 3 months), but every day, find a way to help another person get exactly that which you want. For instance, if you want more time with your kids, help another person have more time with their kids. Maybe a co-worker wants to spend time with their kids but has to do over-time. Take over for them. Or let's say you want to find a romantic partner for life. Help another person get ready for a date or find a romantic partner. Raising funds for your non-profit? Find another non-profit and give them money or help raise funds for them. You get the idea?

And...That's all.

There is a scientific, metaphysical, logical, spiritual and ancient explanation for how this works. For now, you gotta give it a try, if you are in for an experiment. Just do this. The side-effect is that you will help someone and set the stage for experiencing exactly that which you want. This does not work without people. So you will need to find people.

What I am finding out is that helping another one experience what you want to experience is a powerful way to create what you want for you. So go on and take that first step. Remember, it need not be a big action step. I am learning with you and taking my own first steps.

And finally, by doing this, we realize that what we want to experience, we are creating...from within.
You do not need to "earn" abundance. It is your birthright. You are abundance.

May you experience all that you desire in the highest good for all!
Peace and blessings,
Sophia

* This quote is by Jey Rinpoche (1357-1419), Teacher of the First Dalai Lama.

How You Can Complete the Year and Welcome the New One With An End of the Year Introspection

As we conclude the year and welcome 2014, here is a suggestion for an end of the year introspection.

1. With your partner or friend, look back at 2013 and recount all that you are grateful for. What challenges you overcame, what blessings you received, what new things you learned, what joys you felt and so on.

2. Then look forward to 2014 and ask yourselves: "What is the one job or project that I would really like to get done in my life right now? When would I like to finish it by? What exactly will it look like if I am really successful at this task?"*

You can spend as little as 15 minutes or go in great detail for three days, adding meditation and yoga and other reflective exercises. Regardless of the time, it is worth the effort to close the year and begin anew.

Peace and Blessings,
Sophia

*This reflective question is from the book, Karmic Management by Geshe Michael Roach, Lama Christie McNally and Michael Gordon.

Find A Way To Relax During Busy Times

With the year coming to an end, projects coming to and end and the flurry of activity around the holiday season, it seems that everyone is busy doing something during December. There is a lot to do. To be able to accomplish all that you want to do and keep your physical and mental well-being, remember to actively relax. Actively? By that I mean, put relaxation into your schedule. A few minutes of closing your eyes and breathing consciously can do wonders for you. And then see how you magically whisk through all your to-dos. Watch this video I made a video to help you relax.

Take a moment to breathe deeply. Relax.

With Gratitude, Love and Blessings,
Sophia

http://www.reflectionpond.com Take a break and relax during the busy holiday season with this guided meditation.

How The Notion of Perfection Can Help You Manifest Your Dreams

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Reflect on this for a moment:

There is a woman, named Savannah who loves to cook for people. She enjoys the process of cooking. She loves to see people smile when they taste her food. She also knows that she is still learning her craft. Sometimes the meals are not perfect as she had envisioned to make them. One day, she gets an opportunity to feed a hundred people as part of an effort to feed people who are in need of a hot meal. Savannah can and has previously made great meals for up to 20 people at a time but never for a hundred. This makes her nervous. She does not know how much time she would need to get such a large quantity of carrots and broccoli in the soup cooked to the right tenderness or what the right amount of spicing would be needed. She thinks that because of her inexperience, something may be off and her soup may not turn out to be perfect. Because she does not know if it will turn out to the highest standard she can aspire to, she hesitates and even considers dropping out of the project. She knows what a good soup should taste like and anything less is just unacceptable.

She goes ahead anyways, thinking,"ah, the people out there do not know her personally so will not judge me". With some help in the kitchen, she manages to prepare the meal. When done, she tastes the food realizing that it is edible yet slightly saltier than her ideal. Alas, it is not the perfect soup she wanted to serve! But it is too late. The people are already waiting for their meals. Savannah watched from the kitchen door as they are being served. There is utter silence. Everyone is eating. She dares to come out and watch on. Then she approaches a man who has tears running down his face as he is eats. She asks him, "Are you alright, my friend?" The man replied, "Yes, yes." He pauses and then says, "I have not eaten a warm meal in five days. And this is the most perfect soup I have tasted in my life". His tears were out of joy and gratitude.

Touched, Savannah goes back into the kitchen, closes her eyes and lets out a sigh. She knew that today she experienced a pivotal moment of her life. Thinking back, she was grateful that she took on the 100 meal project although she was so close to dropping out. She realized that it is not about perfection and it is not about being evaluated as being perfect. It is about giving her best. It is about doing what she can do because she realized that that is where perfection lies. And that is all that was needed.

~ ~ ~

Last week, we discussed how an unfinished project or a project waiting to begun takes up our precious psychic energy. And that the remedy for that is to consciously decide which projects we would drop off our list and which one we really commit to. Next, we need to take the first step and then daily take one single action toward the completion of that project.

But, I know how challenging it can be to take that first step. There are so many mental and emotional challenges that we need to surmount before we can even take the first step. One of them is the internalized pressure of perfection. We may say to ourselves, like Savannah, "I know what a good job looks like and if I cannot accomplish that, why even start." This becomes such a huge hurdle that many magnificent dreams and solutions to our problems remain in our heads or on paper as ideas, never to see the daylight in physical reality.

But it does not have to be that way. And there is a way out.

Give Yourself A Break
If you are dealing with this sort of mental thoughts, first of all, give yourself a break. You are not alone in this. Everyone has at some point thought this way because these thoughts are not your original thoughts! They come to you from the collective consciousness. So get over beating yourself up for even having these thoughts and know that you are human!

Perfection Is About Just Doing It &
Knowing That Things Can Always Be Better
Second, we need to redefine what perfection really means. Consider this. The first time you do anything, it is very rare that you do it to the highest version ever possible. Although beginner's luck does help us with new projects. But, just look at a baby taking her first steps. She falls. She stumbles. She is just learning about balance. Her first step is perfect in the sense that the perfection comes from the fact that the baby actually took her first step. And we realize, that it not about how well she can walk, or how long she can walk or how resilient she is in her walk. It in that moment, it is not even about her picking herself up again. The perfection comes from the magic and beauty of her taking that very first step. Would it not be ludicrous if the baby said, "Mama, my first step is not going to be as perfect as I envision it. I know I can do much better than stumble and wobble. I know I have got it in me to walk with regal strides and in a graceful gait- just like a queen. But right now, I cannot do that; no, not during my first step. So, I am not going to bother taking that first step. It won't even come close to fulfilling my high standards! Let's just drop it, okay?". I do not know of a single baby who would say that, if they are speaking in full sentences already by their first year, that is! ;-)

The Only Way To Move Forward
And third, the reason you need to take that first step is because that is the only way you can move forward. Yes, you can have high standards for yourself. Reach for the stars, dream big. I am a big proponent of the big vision. But no, your first step does not have to meet your high standards or your big goals - not yet. What you do need to do is to begin; however small the step, however clumsy that step may be. Just begin.

One Little Action Towards A Great Dream Realized
So if your dream is to own a cafe one day, your first step could be learning about the coffee bean or to watch a video of a barista making great coffee, or you an talk to a cafe-owner in your neighborhood about how she got started. If your dream is to sell-out big shows as a musician, pick up the pen and start scribbling a song idea, or play around on an instrument or go watch a music show. If your big dream is to create a sanctuary for to-be-euthanized and homeless dogs and cats and educate people about a healthy life of these companion animals, connect with someone who also has that dream. In this case, just write to me as that is my big dream. And as I mentioned in the last blog, there will be invisible and visible help coming to you. We live in a miraculous world and you are being assisted in every moment. In this way, your big dream will become a reality.

You Have Done This Before
Fourth, take a moment to reflect. Think back to a time when you just went for a goal, not really knowing how you would accomplish it but it happened. People and opportunities and inspiration came your way. All you did was to make up your mind and help arrived as if from nowhere. Remember that story, and write to me how that was. You will realize that you have done all these steps before and you can do it again.

Remember there is perfection in you making the effort. So what is your next step going to be?

To perfection in all - as it is,

With Gratitude, Love and Blessings,
Sophia

You Can Do It!

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Here is a question for you to reflect upon:

Is there something I want to begin but I am postponing it, getting more information on it or waiting until I am in the right mood to do it?

Whether it is conscious or not, for some of us, these tactics of putting off a project, a task or even our dreams are ways that continue to extend discomfort - and we may not even be aware of that. We may think that it is more comfortable to postpone something but in fact, we are increasing the amount of time we bear the burden of an unfinished project or a project not begun. Each day we do not take on that project or consciously decide to drop it, our precious psychic energy is siphoned out of us. Just take a moment to reflect on whether there is a project that is waiting for you to begin. Scan the various parts of your life. You will begin to notice what is screaming for your attention.

Indeed, not every idea that comes to us is to be implemented. Record the ideas in a tangible way (in a notebook or digitally) because recording them down sends the message that you are open to receiving good ideas. And then consciously choose which ones you will drop off the list. Now, you only need to pay attention to those ideas that have some meaning or value for you in the highest sense. These are the ones that are ready for action.

You will find that often just taking a tiny first step is enough to get you in the momentum. And then, once you have begun, keep up the momentum by taking at least one step daily towards that project or dream. Soon, you will look back and wonder what was keeping you from starting, in the first place! Once you begin, there is a sense of ease and flow that helps you along. As the famous quote says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step.

So, instead of looking at reasons why you have not begun, think of reasons why you want to begin. Instead of thinking of all the time you did not initiate it, think that we only have the present moment. And we can do something in this very moment. Because THIS is YOUR time to Shine. Let go of the need for more information. Let go of getting into right mood. Let go of any voices (internal or external) that are being mean or harsh to you. Help your dreams to manifest.

Just take the first step, even a small one. I know, You Can Do It.

Here's to new projects begun!

With Gratitude, Love and Blessings,
Sophia

Thank You For Being YOU

You are a Blessing!
A simple reminder today that I am grateful for you. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for sharing your smile with the world. Thank you for spreading your beauty and grace with all whom you connect with. May you, your friends, your family, wherever you are, continue to be blessed and loved.

With a heart of gratitude,
Sophia

What the pond and the fish show us about acting on purpose...

How Spiritual Accountability Helps Us Navigate Life's Challenges

This is Barley. He knows everything about this pond. 

There is a story of a young woman I would like to share with you.

Before I begin, think about a time when something happened out there - in your life - that made you think, "Man! Someone otta do something about that!" There are a lot of things in our world for which we have ideas on how it could be done better. For example, I was recently in a grocery store that I had never been to before. Unlike the store which I frequent usually, I did not know where the pasta isle was or where I could find the milk and bread. So I thought, “An interactive map like the ones at Barnes & Noble Book stores- where you type in the book you are looking for and the screen shows you a map of where you can find it-would really help people out in a grocery store to quickly locate the items they are looking for”. Then again, I could spare a few extra minutes to find my items or ask a store personnel to help out and I would go about my day without spending any more thought on it. It is not an issue which rages passionately for me.

Then, there are other things out there that really speak to us deeply. These are things that turn us into our very own versions of Martin Luther King or Erin Brockovich or Jane Goodall. Something that stirs us so deeply in our soul that not only do we think, 'Someone otta do something about this', but it also moves us into action.

This capacity to be moved and then to take action relates to what the author and  teacher, Caroline Myss, calls spiritual accountability. It is that inner-most voice which I believe is the direct instruction or nudge from the Universe, God, Spirit, that guides us towards right action. Yet, it does that not just for any issue. It only does that for those issues or situations that relate most directly to our purpose here on Earth.

Issues related to our purpose 

What is common among legendary activists in our history, is their passion to serve the larger global good and what distinguishes them is the kind of issues where they bring in their particular emphasis and play out their spiritual accountability. Dr. King's focus was on racial equality and justice, for Mother Theresa it was caring for the disadvantaged, for Erin Brockovich it is environmental justice, for Jane Goodall it is the welfare of the primates in the wild, while for Dr. Mohammad Yunus it is financial equality and freedom to receive fair credit terms for all. Their focus is on different issues yet they all acted from their inner-most pull of spiritual accountability.

And so this reminds us that spiritual accountability is not about all the things which could be better. It is often very clear and focused. This becomes evident when you think of how some people are dedicated to caring for children, or some who work fervently for economic justice. They do not branch out in several directions at once, both marshaling for marriage equality and saving the dolphins, helping rainforests as well as inner-city kids. They are focused and on target with that which is in complete alignment with what moves them the most. And this is often also what gives them the most joy and happiness when they take actions towards that theme or situation.

This accountability really is to one's own self. It is the answer to the question, "if no one was watching and there is something you know must change, what would you do?" And understand me right, it does not have to be something big. It could be a "small" action such as picking up a piece of trash lying in the park that has a butterfly-effect across the globe.

So spiritual accountability then is:

- something that comes directly from the inner-self, spirit, source-energy;

- is in alignment with our sense of purpose, or soul-contract;

- is focused and narrow in terms of theme, such as environment or justice;

- and the size or impact is irrelevant, meaning it can be a single incident in your life - the single starfish thrown back into the sea -  or a series of actions that you take during the course of an entire lifetime.

The Protagonist of this Story is Kim 

With this background on the concept of spiritual accountability as I relate to it, let me now share the story of a young woman and how she experienced this on her own journey:

This is the story of Kim who is both a friend and a client of mine. Kim is someone whom I would consider a gentle yet strong spirit. Gentle in the sense that she is acutely perceptive to the needs of others and strong in the sense that she brings forth immense spiritual strength to support her through challenging times while running a deep nerve of optimism throughout her being.

The story takes place at a pond. There is a big man-made pond in the front yard of the house next to Kim’s. This house is empty, on the market and owned by the bank. She often sits by this pond, observing the birds that come to visit it. A big blue heron visits the pond daily, connecting to Kim in its own unique way. I myself got to catch a glimpse of the blue heron when I was visiting Kim one day when I was reminded that helping even just one fish makes a world of difference. That is another story all together.

To continue with our story... Not too long ago, Kim noticed that the water-level of the pond was receding. All the fish along with the large koi fish in the pond were immediately affected by this. She contacted the real estate agency, called the bank officers, and anyone related to the property to inform them of what was happening so that they could help stop the dwindling water levels. Alas, to no avail! In spite of numerous attempts at getting their attention, nothing seemed to work. It seemed that people were taking a laissez-faire attitude.

In the meantime, the water-levels were rapidly dropping. The fish seemed to be gasping for dear life.

The Spiritual Accountability Emerges Boldly in a Crisis

Kim watched this day-in and day-out and was deeply troubled by this sight. She felt anger about the plight of the pond. This is when Kim faced that question we talked about earlier: Man! Someone otta do something about this! And fast.

She became quickly aware of the intensity of that statement. And as a result, instead of pointing her finger outwardly, she brought it inward, pointing it to herself. "If someone is going to do something about it", she thought, "then it will be me."  Powered by the fury and anguish she felt about the situation of the fish and the pond, she tapped into her enormous confidence and resourcefulness and began talking to people. Among the people she spoke with, her brother understood what Kim was communicating and feeling her passionate plea, began raking his brains for solutions. He then connected Kim with the contact info of someone he knew in the animal control department. Now the water-level in the pond was so low that it was nothing more than a pool of muddiness. Time was running out. And something needed to be done NOW.

Kim spoke directly with her guiding force. She said, "Please help me help the fish. If nothing else, I will myself put the fish in coolers and carry them to the French Broad River. I am prepared to go knee deep in mud but I am not ready to let these fish die." She had tears in her eyes and deep pain in her heart.

Then, she made the last phone call to the contact her brother had given her. Miraculously, within minutes an animal control personnel appeared in front of her door. He assessed the situation to quickly identify the problem with the pump that regulated the water supply to the pond. He fixed it and immediately the pond began to fill up. It would take a few days before the pond would be back to its natural health, but one thing was clear: the fish were going to be safe, after all. Kim, with tears of gratitude and relief, looked at the man and started thanking him profusely.

Throughout this episode, Kim was completely in alignment with her deep purpose of service to those in need when she was faced with the plight of the fish. Her spiritual accountability surfaced to aid her in form of unrest, anguish and anger- emotions that would eventually become her allies in resolving the situation. And just when she thought someone ought to do something, she realized that it was she who needed to be that someone. She needed to step-in and step-up and instigate the change she was yearning.

We were standing outside one of the studios of Asheville's River Arts District, when Kim narrated this story to me. And then she began laughing. She said, "When the pump was fixed, I had tears in my eyes and was thanking the man for helping out. The man was tall, big and strong. He looked at my teary eyes and said, 'Young Lady, I have helped dogs. I have helped cats. I have helped other animals. But this..." He paused. "This...is my very first Fish-Rescue." 

It sounded so funny that we began laughing and people around us giggled as well, at the sound of "This...is my very first fish-rescue."

To spiritual accountability and to this very first fish-rescue! 

- Love, Sophia!

Uplifting Positive Reminders: Place where you will see 'em!

There are moments when the eyes glimpse the empty wall or the front of the refrigerator. And in these moments, you read something that is uplifting. It changes everything.

For just such moments, I prepares this set of uplifting positive reminders. A sense of peace and joy flows over me when I read these words. Take a look:

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Place this on the fridge. 

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Uplift Your Spirit with this Reminder. 

John Kehoe: 3 Gifts from the Book, "Mind Power Into the 21st Century"

Watch this video offering with 3 Gifts.​

Leo Babauta: 3 Gifts from the Book, "Focus"

This video says it all!​

Online Guided Visualization Sessions

It is my desire to bring visualizations to those who want it. I posted our services on this really cool site: www.thumbtack.com where people can find us and get access to our online visualizations as well as book a customized session for themselves.

You can check it out by clicking the link below. Also please share it with your network and I will be very grateful.

http://www.thumbtack.com/Guided-Visualization-Meditation-Sessions-Asheville-NC/service/519839">Guided Visualization Meditation Sessions

Much Love,

Sophia

Gratitude and Creative Visualization

Have you ever wondered about the connection of gratitude and creative visualization? In our live visualization gatherings we often begin by sharing what we are grateful for. And it can be something like: "I am grateful to have a warm, comfortable home". Or "I am grateful to have a positive-attitude". Or something like, "I am thankful to have a nice night of rest."

Just becoming aware of what we are grateful for in our life, changes our energy, our vibration and uplifts our spirits. With this renewal of energy, creative visualization becomes even more powerful, effective and transformational. And to help us all to get into gratitude mode, I have created gratitude cards and a video introducing them.

So I invite you to begin your visualization sessions with a simple statement of gratitude or two. Just answer the question: In this moment what are you grateful for?

What are your BIG FIVE for LIFE?

Have you heard people say that your writing your dreams and your desires down, helps in the manifesting of these in your life? Steven Covey has written in one of his book about a woman who made a scrapbook full of her dreams and desires. At places using found images from magazines, at other places writing detailed descriptions of what she wants her husband to be like, how she imagines her home and family to be like. And looking back at only a couple of years, she has seen all of this become real.

Well, earlier this year I read a book by John Strelecky called "Big Five for Life". It is a moving story with nuggets of wisdom and inspiration tucked within the plot of the book. One of the things I picked up is a simple exercise, in which you write down the Big Five for Life.

Here is what you do:
Brainstorm some of the things you love doing. Then, write down 5 things you absolutely want to do/be/have in your life. And then simply list these 5 things. Make it specific and clearly express it.
I did this activity earlier this year and one of my long-time desires came true. There is a really interesting story to how it all happened and I will share that with you soon. Right now, I do want to share that my desire was to touch a tiger baby. And within four months, this dream came true.
All I did was to write my five most important desires at the moment. Today, these 5 have slightly changed for me as I have become more aware of what I desire. And the fact that making an explicit request does make things happen, has been a revolutionary realization for me.

Visualize Your Life Story

Imagine you are writing the script of a movie. You draw up the characters. You think of the plot and the storyline. You also imagine how the relationships between the characters is going to play out in the movie. You spend some time on the overall plot and the storyline as well as the small details. It is all in the screenplay you are drawing up. You have protagonist who is hero/heroine of the film who has a goal to achieve or an obstacle to overcome. There is drama in the film to highlight this process of overcoming the obstacle. And depending on whether you want to uplift your audience, you find a climatic way to resolve the story that ends with the obstacle overcome and goal achieved.



Now, imagine you are writing the script of your own life. Which character will you be and what obstacles do you want to overcome? Are you the protagonist of your life story? Whose support do you need to achieve the goal of your life, to follow your heart? And what evolutionary changes will you undergo? What will your transformation story be? How do you live a life of contribution? How do fully express and enjoy yourself in this life?

This visualization can entail images, sounds, smells. You can imagine the textures, the tastes,

feelings, the ambiance, in all its facets and dimensions. Try it out. Explore. Experiment. Enjoy.

Do you have an Ideas Folder?

One thing I would like to recommend to you is to work with a place where you collect your new ideas, hints, dreams. If you prefer to have it in a journalist's notebook which you can carry around everywhere, that is great. If you like to have it all digital for easy sorting and finding key words, then absolutely make an ideas folder. This folder can contain one mega-file where you simply list your idea in a phrase or a sentence. Then each of these ideas can have their own file where you can expand and extend and stretch the idea at another point. These idea folders are essential for your creative growth and mind training.

Have Positive Expectations

Expect the positive. Positive Expectation is one more nuance in our positive-thinking tool box. Essentially, it calls us to only expect the positive. It is slightly different than setting positive intentions. Positive intention-making entails clearly setting out what is desired, what do we want to manifest in our day or in our life.

Positive expectation varies from it because of the open-ended factor. It is not predefined and all perfectly delineated. We allow for an unplanned, unscheduled resolution or development of a situation, yet expecting clearly that what happens next will be in the highest good of all involved.

Remember that the positive intention-making and positive expectations are not replacement for action. Infact, they are predecessors to any action. Conscious action is important and necessary for change. But it cannot begin making an impact for good without positive intention and expectations to begin the process of change.

So give it a try and see how expecting the good, the better and the best is a real gift.

Overachievers in a Community of Overachievers!

Have you ever overplanned, cramming in too many things to do into your day, week, month, year???

I have done that in the past leading only to feeling overstretched, out of time, rushed and completely stressed out. Looking back, I have come to understand that being part of the Indian American community has played a role in this pattern. I had allowed pressures to overachieve seep into my way of being and doing things and in the end did not feel satisfied at all. I am very happy that in the last few months and years, I have been able to streamline, focus and scale down.

Being focussed on one thing at a time, has greatly simplified my life. I am now very aware when there are forces that want to pull me in different directions and it is easier and easier to stay focussed on my path. This has allowed for many moments of peace, joy and a sense of well-being that feel refreshing and rejuvenating.

If you were raised in intense communities or families, watch this video below from the Daily Show. It is hilarious to me and hopefully, you can find a sense of humor in this all and make your own choices and decisions about how much you want to commit to. So here it is, a glimpse of this "overachieving" theme in Indian culture from a clip where Aasif Mandvi is portraying some common expectations among Indian families. Take a look:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Medicine Cabinet
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Resolving negative emotions during meditation

Fears, doubts, annoyances, and other forms of negative emotions can be resolved during meditation. These emotional patterns are very important pointers for us. They serve as lighthouses to show us exactly what we need to resolve, release or let go. And once these are released from our bodies, from our emotional landscapes, we make room for receiving abundance in all its forms.

Try it out. Take your meditation time to dissolve your fears. One absolutely amazing method that I highly recommend is that of Byron Katie called, "The Work". You can go to her website and download the questions that make up The Work and go through them during your meditation. Or for starters just take a look at some of the videos of Byron Katie using her method to resolve negative emotion in people. Absolutely Amazing!

Contemplation to Cultivate Qualities

Meditation can also be a tool to cultivate certain qualities within us. If we want to be more receptive to love, or become more compassionate, forgive ourselves and others or build focus, we can use our time during meditation to do so. This is a unique way to allow the qualities of a certain kind to transmute into you by contemplating about them.

Let us say you want to reveal the compassionate quality in you. Then, contemplate on compassion. You can repeat the word "compassion". You may visualize the life and actions of compassionate people. Think about a certain individual who you think exhibits high levels of compassion. Imagine their compassionate qualities spreading into you. Stay with this for as long as you need to. And come back to this practice again and again.

At the end of each session, you will sense a greater feeling and presence of whatever it is that you were contemplating on.