Daily Positive Thoughts: August 21, 2017: Optimistic Outlook
Amola Shah
Daily Positive Thoughts: August 21, 2017: Optimistic Outlook
Optimistic Outlook
Optimism opens a door in difficult or hopeless situations. No matter what the crisis, an optimist maintains the outlook that it is a sign, time for a different way of thinking, or of doing things. Sometimes the signal has to be very clear even harsh, otherwise we may continue in self-delusion and not wake up. Of course if we lack optimism, instead of taking this signal as a step towards renaissance, complaint, resentment or even desperation will emerge.
Experiencing Spiritual Growth Through Group Interactions (Part 1)
Anyone who is inclined towards growing
spiritually will sooner or later feel the need to taking up a particular
spiritual path, which provides him/her with an assigned code of leading a
spiritual life and helps him/her to incorporate it in his/her life. This also
means becoming a part of a spiritual group or gathering or community and
participating in spiritual study, practice like meditation or prayer and
perform service along with the group. But, on the other hand, there are also
many spiritually motivated people who are not very interested in groups and
communities and keep a distance from them. They are of the opinion that it is
easier to work it out alone by collecting information from other alternate
sources by books, the internet, the television, videos, etc. and progress
spiritually. But the relationship between spiritual growth and being a
part of or participating in a group is clear.
For the isolated and solitary person, growth is limited, since the personality is not activated to the same extent as when it interacts with others. In relationships and in living together, the various forms of hidden ego and the different shades of the personality, positive as well as negative, are stimulated, creating the possibility of being more aware and conscious about them, bringing about greater growth and spiritual development. After all, one of the main objectives of spiritual development is achieving victory over the ego and becoming soul conscious, getting rid of the negative shades of the personality and further enhancing the positive traits and skills, so that they can be used for benefiting the self and other
Tomorrow we shall explain the various powers that are required to experience success in groups, which as a result, get enhanced in group activities and interactions.
Appreciate what you have
It is much easier to note what one doesn't have
than appreciate what
one has. So whenever challenging situations come
our way, we tend to
see what we are lacking. When there is such an
attitude we are not
able to make any effort to change the situation.
We then tend to blame
others or give excuses. During challenging
situations and even
otherwise, we need to make special effort to
appreciate and use what
we have. When we continue to make effort in this
way, every challenge
will allow us to discover and use hidden resources,
thus making us
richer. So we would be able to experience
constant progress.
Message for the day
To be a teacher means to touch the heart rather than the head.
Expression: Teaching others
means being subtle and explaining in such a way that the mind opens because the
heart has understood. The one who truly teaches inspires rather than just
becoming the one who teaches others. There is recognition of the positivity
that is in each one and so no comparisons are made with others.
Experience: Once I am able to look at the positivity in another individual and have the pure desire of enabling progress within that person, I am able to feel the love for him. This is like a parent's love whose love for the child is that which makes him grow. So I become a teacher who inspires rather than the one who teaches.
In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris