Brahma Kumaris: November 2019

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 30-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 30-11-2019
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A Journey Into The Inner Consciousness (Part 1)

The cultures that have existed in the past have always looked at a person, as complete, only if one is able to master his or her thoughts and feelings. Unlike the past, where people were held responsible for keeping a control on their emotions, today, it’s more acceptable to be expressive about our emotions, which may sometimes be negative also. But regardless of what’s socially accepted, most of us would agree that if we make efforts to gain mastery over what happens, in our state of consciousness, we do live a happier life.

Raising human consciousness to a positive level in the modern world is very vital. The only reason we experience life and the energy around it is because we are conscious. The clarity of our vision today is mostly filled with all kinds of false identifications of our personality. Our intellect is mostly focused on discrimination, and this becomes limiting in nature, in the way it differentiates between what is me and what is you. This can create a lot of suffering and conflict. The state of elevated consciousness in thoughts and actions is possible; in fact it is very pleasant and blissful. This blissfulness forms the foundation for the soul, to experience dimensions beyond the physical, and becomes the basis of true love and compassion.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 30-11-2019
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To be a giver is to be flexible.

Expression: The one who does not expect from others, but is able to give others from whatever resources he has, is the one who is flexible. Being flexible means to be able to recognize the other person's value system and moulding one self according to it without losing touch with one's own value system.

Experience: When I am a giver, I do not expect others to change according to my value system, but am very easily able to find a way to adapt to the other person's value system. I never expect from others to understand me, but am able to understand others. So there is never any feeling of negativity for anyone.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Friday, November 29, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 29-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 29-11-2019
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A Perfect Personality For Success (Part 2)

A very important and other aspect of our daily lives is erasing or removing the negative personality characteristics that exist inside us. We also need to ensure that they do not come to the surface and do not cause a hindrance or obstacle in our everyday dealings. In this particular sphere of self change, there are some people who are more sensitive to their weaknesses. They are always keen to transform or remove them completely while some are less sensitive and are unable to realize or check their weaknesses and change them. Spiritual power is a later step in self transformation, but the first and foremost power is the power to realize that a particular weakness exists inside me. If I don’t realize I will not work to bring that power inside me. Also, once the realization is there, we need to think about possible thought patterns and efforts at the level of words and actions, which will take us to a perfect personality. We need to remove the flaws or weaknesses that give us unhappiness and make others also discontent.

Lastly, the most important tool to be used in self-transformation is taking power from a higher spiritual source and then using that power to change our thoughts. Also the power helps in changing the seed of the thoughts – our personality. Once the personality is changed, our thoughts start taking shape accordingly. Once the thoughts change, our feelings, attitudes, vision, words and actions move towards a positive direction. Self-effort is not so difficult but it can seem difficult if spiritual power is lacking. So, meditation is the foundation of all self change, whether it involves imbibing new qualities and powers or whether it is becoming a better person, by removing weaknesses. Meditation is a connection at the level of the mind and thoughts with the Supreme Soul or God, who is an ocean of spiritual power or strength.

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Message for the day 29-11-2019
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To have an open mind is to be prepared for mistakes too.

Expression: The one with an open mind is the one who is able to see things for what they are and accept them. He is able to take the lesson from each situation that happens and move forward with confidence. He never lets any situation or even his own mistake discourage him, but he is able to move forward with renewed confidence.

Experience: I am able to learn from my mistakes and be ready for the next learning too when I am able to keep my mind open. Each mistake that happens is also a beautiful teaching when I am willing to learn. With each new situation I find myself growing very beautifully within.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 28-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 28-11-2019
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A Perfect Personality For Success (Part 2)

A very important spiritual strength that sometimes we need and are lacking is the power to mould as per the other person’s personality and behavior. To mould yourself means adjusting your nature according to the need of the situation or as required in dealing with a particular type of person. Suppose someone is angry because of a certain behavior of mine. I may be right also in such a situation and may feel it is wrong for the other person to find fault in me. In such a case, to mould oneself means to argue less, to bow down, to be humble, to sacrifice the I am right consciousness. On the other hand, also give respect, to be positive, to keep the other person ahead are signs of an adjusting person. Also, a third strength or power is the power to discriminate between good and bad, right and wrong and to select the right in the form of thoughts, words and actions and bring them into practical. Suppose I know that in a certain situation, especially in dealing with people, I have two choices. In such a case, a good practice is to use the spiritual wisdom that I possess in my intellect and discriminate correctly and take a right decision.

Other powers include power to tolerate a situation or a person. Sometimes, in many cases we are not able to able to cope up with a person’s different attitude than us and we react or respond negatively. In such a case, it is the lack of this power. Also, the power to face is a significant power, a lack of which can cause us to become fearful of difficult situations. Sometimes, two people can experience and perceive the same situation differently because they are lacking in the same power to different extents. We all are lacking in some power or the other and it is only through practice and consistent self-effort that we can become very very strong and full of all important powers.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 28-11-2019
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To use one value with commitment is to guarantee the use of all values.

Expression: Values are related to each other as if they were members of a great family. For the one who is committed to one value is the one who is able to emerge the other connected values. Such a person is able to add quality to everything he does and speaks.

Experience: When I am able to recognise my own special value and use it with commitment in my daily life, I am able to experience success in all I do. This is because I have the satisfaction of giving my best and of having added quality to everything I do.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 27-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 27-11-2019
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A Perfect Personality For Success (Part 1)

Living a life full of different types of situations and meeting different types of people can bring with it certain challenges and the need to change your personality. Also, we need to increase our strengths and skills at the level of the personality so that we can adapt ourselves. Apart from inculcating different types of new personality characteristics, which are not there with us, we need to work on certain negative personality features in us also and remove them completely. These negative aspects influence us negatively and cause instability in our relationships. So different missing powers and virtues, which we require at times but we are unable to emerge them in our thoughts, words and actions at the right times are required to be first realized. Then using techniques of mind empowerment like meditation and spiritual knowledge tools, those powers and virtues can be made a part of our nature.

The first and foremost power in any difficult situation is the power to change or transform one’s thinking as per the needs of the situation, into a positive one. Then, creating a positive thought or a series of positive thoughts and preventing the situation or negative scene seem difficult to overcome in the mind. This is spiritual power in action or bringing it into practice. Also, the power of good wishes should be used to bring peace and harmony with those people with whom our relationships are not positive. Good wishes are virtues in action and make us loveful and humble. So, the more qualities and powers we fill inside ourselves, the more complete and spiritually skilled we become and the more successful we are.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 27-11-2019
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To look closely at one's own behaviour is to bring about a positive change.

Expression: While it is easy to talk about what other people should do to change themselves and their behaviour, it is also important to see what one can do to bring about a change in oneself. When there is the ability to look in this way, effort is put in continuously to change old unwanted patterns of behaviour and replace with more desirable ones.

Experience: When I am able to take a closer look at myself, I am able to see which trait in my personality is getting in the way of my progress. This knowledge helps me accept myself with my shortcomings and yet have the courage to bring about a change easily. So I have the satisfaction of working on myself.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 26-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 26-11-2019
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Returning To My Original State Of Goodness (Part 3)

To return to our original state of goodness, we need to look towards a Higher Source of spiritual power and positivity. Asking for love and happiness from others is like the musk deer which possesses the fragrance it’s looking for in its navel but looks for it outside. We have all these treasures inside us. Going back to the original virtuous self means realizing this completely and then taking the knowledge and power to fill ourselves with these treasures from God, who never loses these treasures. Also, the more these treasures have reduced inside us over a period of many births, the more we have lost our happiness. Also, we have become burdened with lots of incorrect sanskaras or personality characteristics. These characteristics have become a part of our nature due to incorrect actions performed by us as we came down the ladder of many births or lives.

So now, the call of time is to connect with the Supreme Being or Supreme Soul, the Supreme Parent of each soul of the world - God and regain all those positive qualities. This will make us rich internally, on a spiritual level. The more we do that, the more we will return to the original stage we had once, when we came down into this world from the soul world, which lies high above the physical world. Also, it is not only the time to become pure and positive again and start a new life, but it’s also time to first return back to the soul world for a short while. After that, we will start a new cycle of many births and rebirths in this world. This is the rest the soul needs before coming down in the world full of actions, interactions and relationships. Hence, we are on what we call, the return journey and the cycle of birth and rebirth will repeat itself.

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Message for the day 26-11-2019
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Patience brings easy solutions.

Expression: What one cannot achieve with pressure can be very easily achieved with patience. Patience brings a state of calm inside which helps in finding the answers that already lie within. It gives courage to work on the problem in a cool and relaxed way till the solution is found. It brings creativity even to mundane things.

Experience: When I am able remain patient even in the most challenging situations, I am able to remain calm. I don't let go of my inner peace but am able to be aware of my own inner resources. I am able to retain my inner strength which gives me courage to find the solution for every problem.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Monday, November 25, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 25-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 25-11-2019
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Returning To My Original State Of Goodness (Part 2)

Niceness at the level of our personality is original and our false or negative personality characteristics are acquired. A person who has been bad all his life is actually a very good soul or being originally and a person who has been good all his life is a much better soul or being originally. This is because we don’t limit our vision to a one birth reality because that is a false reality. A true reality is one of many births. A human being is temporary but a being is eternal. So, a being, which we call a soul, is nice when it begins to play its role in the birth-rebirth story of life. It is full of seven qualities – peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and truth. As it begins to play its role, it is not only full but is always radiating these qualities to others. This is called a no-expectations stage of the soul. As a result, it is constantly happy and overflowing with contentment.

As the soul passes a few births in its role play, it loses these qualities and starts asking for these qualities from God and others around it. Slowly, the soul becomes expectation filled and the seven original qualities inside it begin to decrease. Such a soul is not able to play relationships well and positively and also experiences hurt and pain in different ways. Although it receives some qualities from God in worship, it is unable to go to its original state of fulfillment, until it has complete knowledge of the self and God and also the Law of Karma. This knowledge is called spiritual knowledge and the only one, who has it in complete truth, is God. This knowledge from God helps us become full of all qualities and powers and as a result nicer beings or souls.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 25-11-2019
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The one who attains blessings are the richest.

Expression: Every individual has some or the other speciality. When this speciality is revealed in one’s own words and behaviour, good wishes emerge from others very naturally. These good wishes become a form of blessing for the one who is making effort with an honest heart. Such blessings help one to further put in more effort and move on towards success.

Experience: To experience the good wishes and blessings from others is to experience the richness of life. There is joy in being connected to the others and being in harmony with them. The good wishes of others act as boosters in order to fulfill what I set out to do and I experience quick and easy progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 24-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 24-11-2019
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Returning To My Original State Of Goodness (Part 1)

A very important and influential aspect of our lives is living every thought in our actions. It is said commonly – that practice what you preach. In other words, you have many ideal thoughts and good view points and you keep them as benchmarks to follow and look up to. But, sometimes whilst performing actions, you don’t actually live by these benchmarks, which not only disappoints and gives sorrow to oneself but also disturbs and gives sorrow to others.

E.g. today I decide I will remain happy at any cost and give everyone the same. But as soon as I face a difficult situation or problem, it takes very little time for me to start worrying and radiating the same energy to others. Also, on another day I have an aim in my life that I will keep only good wishes for others. But as soon as I have to face a negative behavior of someone, I lose the love inside my heart and not only think negatively about the other person but also speak against the person to others. This spoils my relationships. So, these and many more are benchmarks which we keep in our mind and try and reach upto, throughout the day and everyday. Sometimes we are successful in doing so and sometimes are unable to do so. What is the reason for this? Are we not nice people at heart, all of us? Of course, some are nicer. But, according to spiritual wisdom, everyone is nice originally and basically. And also, everyone, at some point of time in their lives, want to be nice people. Some are serious in bringing about the niceness in their lives and natures and some think about the change towards becoming nicer but do not bring it in their personality with determination.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 24-11-2019
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To take up responsibility is to inspire cooperation from others.

Expression: When there is the initiative to take up responsibility, there is accuracy in words and actions too. There is the use of one’s own specialities in the task that is to be done and so others too keep getting inspiration to use their specialities. So the task is filled with honest effort that is the contribution of each and everyone.

Experience: Since I take up responsibility for everything that comes up in my life, I find that others too take responsibility to contribute their share to the task. So I find others cooperating with me and the most difficult task becomes easy. The power of cooperation works wonders in the most difficult task.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 23-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 23-11-2019
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Overcoming The Subtle Desire For Revenge

Ask yourself very honestly how many times in your life did you feel joy, even a slight trace of it, when something negative happened with someone who had harmed you or hurt you or insulted you in any way in the past – either in the immediate or distant (far-away) past. When this kind of joy, which is an impure form of joy, is seen inside you, even if it is at your extremely subtle thought level (if not in your words or actions), you need to remember that this is nothing but a feeling of subtle revenge, even if physically you haven’t got back at any point of time at the person who has harmed you, when he did so. It may not sound very nice, but this kind of joy is enjoying the pain of others and is obviously an extremely low grade form of joy. Sometimes, as a way of justifying our joyful revenge, we call it justice.

The driving energy or fuel behind this kind of revenge is hatred or anger. It is a feeling of: I really enjoyed it when what they had done to me came to them - I was so happy to see them suffer for what they had done, this is their punishment … tit for tat. It is a type of joy that only increases our accounts of negative karmas with the other person, which as a result, increases our sorrow, instead of decreasing it, although it may give us an impression for a while that it is decreasing our sorrow. This kind of joy will only cause the radiation of a negative form of energy to the other person, which will not only give pain to the other person, but will also cause the radiation of the negative energy of hatred from the other person to us that will never bring us long term joy. Imagine someone meeting with an accident on the road and in a lot of pain and instead of helping that person immediately we smile at that person happy with what has happened to him or her. What energy will such a person send us in return? This example is on a physical level, but the same principle applies on a subtle level. So the next time something like this happens in our life, we need to remind ourselves only if we don’t have the slightest trace of joy inside us that we can safely say that we are free from any desire for revenge, even though it may be very subtle.

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Message for the day 23-11-2019
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The difficulty of the situation lies in one’s own state of mind.

Expression: To make something big as small or to make something small as big depends on one’s state of mind. When one’s state of mind is good, to deal with situations becomes easy. So even difficult situations are crossed over with great ease. Then there will be no dependency on the external situations to change the internal state of mind. That is, there will never be a reaction to external situations but there will be always stability.

Experience: When my state of mind is good and powerful, I am confident of myself and am able to easily win over all obstacles. Otherwise, the situation takes hold of the internal state of my mind and I find myself bound by the situation. At such a time, I find the smallest situation to a very big obstacle. But with faith in myself I am very easily able to use my inner power to overcome situations.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Friday, November 22, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 22-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 22-11-2019
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Coping With Stress With Positivity (Part 4)

Continuing from yesterday’s message, the third and final step would be to discover new solutions. In order to do this, we must be prepared to perceive unexpected opportunities. It becomes challenging to do it, as most of us, owing to our social conditioning, become rigidly fixed on our ideas about what defines a happy and successful life. By staying self-assured and making conscious choices and remaining open and involved in the environment, solutions are most likely to emerge. These solutions may open doors to different possibilities, an alternate reality which may not be the same as per our preconceived notions, but they may still be beautiful, if evaluated on the basis of their direct impact on how they make us feel.

In every person’s life, the chances of only good things happenings is very rare. The likelihood that our desires will always be fulfilled is very minute. Sooner or later, everyone will have to confront situations they weren’t prepared for: disappointments, severe illness, financial reversal, and eventually the inevitability of the soul leaving the body in this birth. It is for this reason that courage, resilience, perseverance and maturity are virtues that are so essential to have, in order to lead a healthy and stress free life. Without them, we would always be suffering from the sudden occurrences of undesirable events in life. On the other hand, if we build the inner qualities and strategies to deal with negative situations with a positive energy, these negative events can at least be neutralized, and possibly be even used as challenges that will help make the self-stronger and more stable in all circumstances.

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Message for the day 22-11-2019
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Courage brings success.

Expression: Even after repeated trials and failures, when one does not lose courage, there is the ability to go on trying till success is achieved. Courage comes with the understanding that there is surely a way out. So a lot more effort is put in to find the right way. Success, which had been eluding for a long time will be finally attained.

Experience: When I have courage, I have hope. I will not give up the task mid way, but will put in continued effort. Because of this there is no difficulty experienced even whilst putting in extra effort but I do everything with enthusiasm and happiness. So nothing seems difficult and I easily move towards success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 21-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 21-11-2019
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Coping With Stress With Positivity (Part 3)

Dealing with stressful situations with a mature outlook is very important. In response to a stressful situation, we can either withdraw ourselves, sleep late, deny what has happened or discharge our frustration by turning against our families and friends. This is a negative way of coping with a difficult situation. An alternative way of responding to the same situation would be that we keep our cool by holding our fears and sorrows for the time being, analyse the problem logically and reassess our priorities. Afterwards, we may choose to redefine the problem, so that we can solve it more easily. This is a positive way of coping with the same situation. For example, in a difficult situation like a divorce, if one chooses to not be impulsive and bitter towards the ex-spouse and stays civil and patient, knowing that it will have an end to it and that life will go back to normal, will help one in making more rational decisions. These are decisions that are not clouded by emotions and it will also help the person to walk out of the unsuccessful marriage with dignity.

How can we emerge successfully from a struggle and transform a hopeless situation into life activity that can be controlled? We can look at three main steps to enable such positive changes. The most important step is to have a deep and strong belief that our own destiny is in our hands. We should not doubt that our capabilities are not sufficient enough to permit us to determine our destiny. In that sense, we should be self-assured; but at the same time egoless. Our energy should not be bent on dominating the environment, but driven towards finding a way to function within it with harmony. This sense of humility - the recognition that in order to succeed, one may have to play with a different set of rules from what one would prefer, is a sign of a strong human being. The second step is to focus attention on the world and stay alert, in order to stop the inner energy from draining into concerns and desires of the ego. The focus should still remain on the goal, but with attention and alertness, we remain open enough to notice and adapt to external events, while moving towards the goal. This will also, in the process, enable unity with our joyous surroundings and penetrate life with fresh and healthy perceptions.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 21-11-2019
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True effort lies in maintaining inner self-respect.

Expression: When there is no self-respect it becomes difficult to recognise and use one’s own potentials. So whatever little effort is put is only to show off to others and to seek their approval. So this further increases such dependency on others. Slowly all effort put in is only to prove to others and hardly any effort is put in for the self. So such effort doesn’t contribute to real progress.

Experience: When there is an awareness of my inner potentials and capabilities, and I am in my state of self-respect, I am able to use them for my own progress. As there is the satisfaction of my progress, there is no dependency on the others for approval or encouragement. I can make effort with my inner freedom. There is lightness and enjoyment in whatever I set out to do, and I find quick and easy change.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 20-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 20-11-2019
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Coping With Stress With Positivity (Part 2)

If we consider our professional lives, work should be an expression of joy. In the twenty four hours that we have in a day, most of us are more preoccupied than busy. Our own thoughts and emotions become such a big issue that most of our time is spent in dealing with them. The results than can be achieved simply are then delivered with a lot of difficulty. When we use our emotional intelligence incorrectly, it turns against us. In such moments, we can help ourselves by remembering that at least our own mind and body should work for us, not against us. Stress causes suffering, which limits life to half a step and never a full stride. Today, the most successful people at a materialistic level, carry the most stressful faces. Unless we translate success into life and a great way to live, the society at large will stagnate. For those of us who are reasonably successful in life, carrying a joyful behaviour, therefore becomes a responsibility.

In order to identify what contributes towards building a person’s ability to cope with stress, there are different aspects we can look at. The first is the external support available, and especially the network of people around and close to the person. The stress of a major illness, for example, can come down to a certain extent, if one has a good insurance and a loving family. The second important source of strength is our own psychological resources like education, intelligence and personality factors. Moving to a new city and establishing new friendships will be more stressful to an introvert person than an extrovert, for example. And thirdly, it has to do with the inner mental and emotional strategies that we build which work best for us in coping with stressful situations. This is the most important aspect, as it determines the effects stress will have on our life and also, it is the most flexible aspect; something which can be completely under our personal control.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 20-11-2019
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Honesty to the self brings progress at a quick speed.

Expression: To be honest with one self is to be truly honest. When there is honesty with the self, there is the ability to see things clearly. So one is able to take responsibility for the mistakes committed and have the enthusiasm to learn from them. So there is constant change and progress visible in such a person. At all times there is the ability to bring about change.

Experience: When I am honest with myself, I am able to find the joy of learning from my mistakes. Mistakes don’t make me heavy because I know I have something to learn from them. There is constantly enthusiasm to bring about a change and move forward. So I find that I am constantly progressing and also becoming an inspiration for many to bring about change. My honesty, therefore, makes me a true leader.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 19-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 19-11-2019
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Coping With Stress With Positivity (Part 1)

It is obvious that certain events in life cause more psychological strain than others. For example, the death of a loved one is several times more stressful in magnitude than paying back a loan taken for a house. Any major setback in our personal or professional lives, that frustrates our goals in life, will either force a person to use all his or her emotional energy to create an invisible wall around remaining goals. Or it will protect the person from committing similar mistakes when further negative events in life take place. Or it can also show the person a new, more clear and a more urgent goal, which would be to overcome the challenges created by the negative event of life. Therefore, if we take the correct approach, the negative situation may not necessarily be an obstacle to our quality of life. In fact, what may seem like a devastating event, may come to enrich our life in new and unexpected ways. This difference in how we respond to stressful events can be called our coping ability.

A new situation puts us in a new space, which is an opportunity of personal growth, and need not always be accompanied by a lot of stress. If we were in a situation where the body asked us to choose between health and sickness, we would definitely choose health. If the mind asked us to choose between joy and tension, we would choose joy. Being stressful is a natural outcome of unconscious living - managing our mind and body in a wrong manner. It is like using our mind as a gadget without having read the user’s manual.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 19-11-2019
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The true joy of living lies in the ability to enjoy the present moment.

Expression: The one who is able to remain in the present is able to learn from the past and bring out the best from the self. Also there is a clear vision of the future, so all the energies are directed towards that vision. The mind is neither totally caught up with the past nor with the future. Since there is attention on the present moment, there is the ability to use it to the fullest extent.

Experience: When I am in the present I am able to remain in the awareness of the gifts of the present. Having learnt from the past I am able to enrich myself from the different experiences that I have had. As I am also clear about where I have to go, I enjoy the journey and also move on towards constant success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Monday, November 18, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 18-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 18-11-2019
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Resolving Conflicts In Relationships (Part 2)

During a conflict, it is good to realize that the energy that you put into the conflict will possibly be the quality of energy that you will receive in return. This is the law of reciprocity (cause and effect). On a subtle level, we radiate according to our attitude, and on a physical level, we radiate according to our behavior. What we transmit on a subtle or/and physical level will return to us in a similar way; unless the other is wiser and decides not to give us back the same negative energy, but rather to treat us in exchange with a positive attitude and pro-active behavior. That way, that person won't bring about a dependence inside us, but rather they will help us to free ourselves of our own negativity.

Often, conflict between two people happens because we do not get the result in a relationship that we want; we are stuck to getting a specific result and we allow our happiness to depend on getting it. On not getting it, we use a wrong method; we generate a conflict, we feel ourselves to be victims, we blame the other, we project our pain onto them; all of this under the belief that others - the other - is who makes us happy or unhappy. This is a false belief. When your happiness depends on your expectations being fulfilled, it is difficult to be happy in a constant way. Often expectations are disguised desires, and where there are desires there is fear - the fear of not getting what you want. When you don't get it you get unhappy and, in so doing, you keep happiness away from you. It is good to set yourself goals of peaceful relationships, but if they are not fulfilled or if these goals take time to achieve, don't lose your sense of wellbeing. Your happiness is a much more valuable treasure than the external achievement of your expectations and of those that others have of you.

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Message for the day 18-11-2019
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To understand and accept people’s ideas is to increase the power of unity.

Expression: When one suggests something and the other accepts, it gives power to the gathering. So instead of expecting others to accept suggestions, it is better to understand and provide with what the other person needs. The more something is given with generosity there is happiness for the one who is receiving and for the one who is giving. And there is power because of being together in the task.

Experience: If I take something with force I find that others give it to me only temporarily. Instead if I give with happiness, I find that others are able to share with me with happiness. So what I give, I find, remains with me permanently. So there is an experience of fullness and the happiness of having attained even while giving. And with this I am able to experience the power of unity, and the joy of doing things together.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 17-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 17-11-2019
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Resolving Conflicts In Relationships (Part 1)

During a conflict, it is good to realize that the energy that you put into the conflict will possibly be the quality of energy that you will receive in return. This is the law of reciprocity (cause and effect). On a subtle level, we radiate according to our attitude, and on a physical level, we radiate according to our behavior. What we transmit on a subtle or/and physical level will return to us in a similar way; unless the other is wiser and decides not to give us back the same negative energy, but rather to treat us in exchange with a positive attitude and pro-active behavior. That way, that person won't bring about a dependence inside us, but rather they will help us to free ourselves of our own negativity.

Often, conflict between two people happens because we do not get the result in a relationship that we want; we are stuck to getting a specific result and we allow our happiness to depend on getting it. On not getting it, we use a wrong method; we generate a conflict, we feel ourselves to be victims, we blame the other, we project our pain onto them; all of this under the belief that others - the other - is who makes us happy or unhappy. This is a false belief. When your happiness depends on your expectations being fulfilled, it is difficult to be happy in a constant way. Often expectations are disguised desires, and where there are desires there is fear - the fear of not getting what you want. When you don't get it you get unhappy and, in so doing, you keep happiness away from you. It is good to set yourself goals of peaceful relationships, but if they are not fulfilled or if these goals take time to achieve, don't lose your sense of wellbeing. Your happiness is a much more valuable treasure than the external achievement of your expectations and of those that others have of you.

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Message for the day 17-11-2019
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The way to bring about a change is to have the desire to change.

Expression: When there are excuses given not to bring about change, then nothing can ever be changed. There is always blame on others and situations and there is no desire to change. Instead if there is the readiness to take up the responsibility of bringing about a change, there is initiative and commitment. Accordingly, effort is put in and there is success in the desired change.

Experience: Instead of bringing about change as required, if I continue to blame others, I will continue to try to escape from that situation. But if I do so, I find that the same difficulty will occur either with someone else or in some other situation. The easiest thing for me is to change myself. When I have the desire to do so, I find it easily happening and I find help coming from outside also.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 16-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 16-11-2019
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Resolving Conflicts In Relationships (Part 1)

In relationships, sometimes we feel that the other person is not only a problem but also a source of conflicts. We have to be aware that there always have to be two people involved for there to be an unhappy or conflictive exchange. When we are in any conflict, it is difficult to see and understand the true causes and the real energy of the process of the conflict. The emotions that arise inside us during a conflict distract us and even blind us.

In the first place, it is important to recognize that your response in any situation of conflict is your contribution to the conflict. The process of responding to any person or situation is something that takes place in you. Nothing can make you feel anything without your permission. If you have been in conflict with someone for a time, for sure, you create fear or anger towards them, expressing thus behaviors of resistance when you communicate or relate to them. The other person is not responsible for your emotions or for your behavior.

Your experience of conflict and your contribution to the conflict begin in your consciousness and you keep them in your consciousness. It begins with your perception of the other (how you see others). If you perceive them negatively you will think negatively; you will feel negative and create a negative attitude; you will behave negatively, and so you will transmit a negative energy. You don't have to do it like that. Perception is a choice.

When there is conflict there is mental and emotional pain, even physical. Who creates that pain? You! Who creates at least half of the conflict? You! Where do you dissolve it? In your consciousness - in you. Freeing yourself of the conflict is a matter of a decision. At any moment you can decide not to be in conflict. One party has to dissolve their contribution to the conflict, even if it is temporarily, for the process of resolution to be able to begin.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 16-11-2019
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Good actions form a good character.

Expression: When there is any wrong action performed, there is a lot of guilt and remorse. Such negative feelings persist, colouring negatively all future actions also. So the regret doesn’t help in changing anything at all or improving the situation in any way. Instead it further deteriorates the situation. On the other hand, positive actions consciously performed forms a good character.

Experience: At a time when I do something wrong, if I intentionally and consciously perform a good action, it becomes a base for the old feeling of guilt and remorse to be gone. It is like an audiocassette. When something new and nice is recorded, the old unwanted recording vanishes. So when I record in this way, I will be easily able to do away with my old unwanted habits.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Friday, November 15, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 15-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 15-11-2019
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Mental Churning And Its Benefits (Part 3)

Whenever you start the day, create a few positive thoughts in your mind. Go for a walk or get ready for the day, keeping these thoughts and thinking about them. Also, ensure that before you do that, you read something which will fill your mind with positive thoughts. Remember, if an empty mind tries to think positive and create positive thoughts, it tires easily and in fact feels stressed. Try one day creating positive thoughts after filling your mind with positive information and the next day create positive thoughts when your mind is completely blank and see the difference. The energy and enthusiasm which you feel inside yourself after thinking deeply with a mind full of positive thoughts is much more than with an empty mind.

This can be compared with the process of churning cream to get butter. If you try and churn an empty vessel without cream, will you get butter or if you try and churn a vessel partially filled with cream, will you get butter of a high quality? On the other hand, you will experience tiredness. In the same way, when you have information in the mind, you build on it and multiply the positive information by adding new perspectives, view points and angles to the knowledge. This is called churning of knowledge to create the butter of spiritual power. So, always remember to backup positive affirmations in your mind with lots of extra information which is like a cushion on which you rest and play with the points of knowledge. It is like throwing a ball in a closed room and letting it bounce from wall to wall. In the same way, churning knowledge is not simply repeating what you have read but creating a movement of the knowledge inside the room of your mind. This helps in experiencing happiness as a result of that. Such an exercise, when done over many days, creates soul power and strengthens our mind. In fact, it makes us extremely positive and free from negative and unnecessary thoughts that waste our mental energy when indulged in repeatedly.

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Message for the day 15-11-2019
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To be an instrument means to consider oneself as the messenger of God.

Expression: When there is the awareness of being an instrument of God, there is naturally a desire to do the best. Every task is marked with the stamp of one’s own speciality. There is nothing negative visible, nor is there anything waste or ordinary. This is because there is constantly the aim to be the best in order to become a worthy instrument of God.

Experience: As I am an instrument of God – a beautiful instrument of God – I always find myself to be unique and special. I am the messenger of God Himself, as each and every word and every act of mine is marked with the quality of God. My intellect becomes so divine that God can work through me and bring benefit to those around me.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 14-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 14-11-2019
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Mental Churning And Its Benefits (Part 2)

A beautiful mind leads to a beautiful personality which shows itself through our thoughts, words and actions. So taking utmost care of the mind in the early morning hours is extremely important because the absorption capacity of the mind at that time is very high. Giving instructions to it in the form of thoughts based on the soul and the Supreme Soul makes the mind soul-conscious. This is a training to the mind to keep its remembrance oriented towards the soul i.e. its own spiritual self and the Father of the spiritual self, who is God, the entire day after that.

At any point of time on any particular day, if you have had a bad day, you could check how the start of that particular day was. You will realize that a bad start of the day very often leads to the remaining day being spent negatively. Also, a day which started positively in the company of your loved ones or a day which started by hearing a good piece of news or imbibing positive information or by watching a good program of spirituality on television will normally be spent positively. On the other hand, a day which started with watching or listening to negative news on the TV of accidents, death and violence or by reading a negative piece of information or with an argument with someone will be followed by a day with negative events. Why is this so? The thoughts are given shape in the morning and they act accordingly in the day after that. Also, the thoughts inside the mind in the night, before sleeping, have an influence on the state of mind the next morning and that in turn affects the whole day and is carried inside till the night. So, it is a cyclic process and to keep the cycle positive, the start has to be made every morning. As they say - as the food, so the mind i.e. physical food eaten of a good spiritual feel or positive energy level or saatvik in nature influences the mind positively. On the other hand, food eaten of low energy levels or tamsic in nature will influence the mind negatively. That holds true for physical food eaten by us. In the same way, food for thought, as they say i.e. the quality of our thoughts also influences our state of mind and complete inner state and how we feel.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 14-11-2019
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The one who attains blessings are the richest.

Expression: Every individual has some or the other speciality. When this speciality is revealed in one’s own words and behaviour, good wishes emerge from others very naturally. These good wishes become a form of blessing for the one who is making effort with an honest heart. Such blessings help one to further put in more effort and move on towards success.

Experience: To experience the good wishes and blessings from others is to experience the richness of life. There is joy in being connected to the others and being in harmony with them. The good wishes of others act as boosters in order to fulfill what I set out to do and I experience quick and easy progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 13-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 13-11-2019
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Mental Churning And Its Benefits (Part 1)

Starting the day on a positive note sets the foundation for a day filled with positivity and purpose. There was once a gardener who used to take utmost care of his plants. He started the day in their presence, watering them and ensuring that they were nourished with the right amount of sunlight and the right type of soil. The gardener’s love for the plants used to reflect in the way his plants started being loved by everyone around him. When people sometimes used to ask him the secret of his beautiful plants, he would give credit to the early morning sustenance that he would give his plants. This would ensure that they grew positively throughout the day.

We all also have to create thoughts, speak words and perform actions throughout the day. All of these need to be perfection filled so that even other people around us are full of praises for them. It’s easier said than done especially with so many people around us with different personalities and different ways of thinking and also sometimes with their own priorities. These sometimes take us away from our path of perfection and our thoughts, words and actions are not of as high a quality as we wish. In such cases, we forget that the foundation of a day full of perfect thoughts, words and actions is laid in the morning by beginning the day on a positive note. Here by positive we mean reading a paragraph or two of positive information. This is a like an exercise to shape our thoughts which keeps them fit for the whole day, which as a result keeps our words and actions full of purity and positivity. At the Brahma Kumaris, we make it a point to absorb spiritual knowledge before starting the day. This is because we have realized the significance of that, in keeping our thoughts, words and actions beautiful the whole day. Just like the garden requires early morning attention, the garden of our mind which consists of the flowers of thoughts, feelings, emotions and attitudes requires attention in the morning. This keeps our complete personal landscape consisting of thoughts, words and actions, beautiful the whole day.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 13-11-2019
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To take up responsibility is to inspire cooperation from others.

Expression: When there is the initiative to take up responsibility, there is accuracy in words and actions too. There is the use of one’s own specialities in the task that is to be done and so others too keep getting inspiration to use their specialities. So the task is filled with honest effort that is the contribution of each and everyone.

Experience: Since I take up responsibility for everything that comes up in my life, I find that others too take responsibility to contribute their share to the task. So I find others cooperating with me and the most difficult task becomes easy. The power of cooperation works wonders in the most difficult task.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 12-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 12-11-2019
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The I Inside (Part 2)

If we continue to become attached to our specialties, our personality or our role for the most part of our life, then over a period of time we forget the real self which is waiting to be recognized. Every time I think I am one of the above, I become more and more disconnected with my real self which is going to give me a more permanent self-esteem and as a result a permanent happiness. The personality skills, the sparkling education success and the way I dress up, these are all temporary. This is because don’t forget life is a roller coaster where success can easily leave me within a short period of time. So, enjoy all of them because even they are attainments and enjoying attainments is not being materialistic or non-spiritual. But don’t become dependent on them for your happiness. On the other hand, the source of all the specialties and personality – the real I is a sum total of the basic qualities of the soul – peace, love and joy. All that is good inside which is eternal and also the relationship of the I or myself with a higher source - God which is also imperishable (un-destroyable) is what I need to be dependent on because it will never leave me.

Don’t forget, in our earliest births, we were extremely skilled, very beautiful and very rich, so much so that everything good that a human being can have physically was with us. Yet we were completely detached from all these attainments, enjoying all of them. That too at a time when these attainments were imperishable, because that was the original world, a world of happiness. But, now all these attainments in our life are no longer permanent and can very easily go away from us in a split second because we live in a world which is unpredictable and with many ups and downs. No skill or role has with it the assurance of being permanent. On the other hand, it is the time when the imperishable I is the one which stands by us permanently. So, it is this I the hand of which we need to hold tight permanently and also connect the I with a permanent source – the Supreme Soul. As a result enjoy every moment of life with complete security, surety and safety.

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Message for the day 12-11-2019
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The difficulty of the situation lies in one’s own state of mind.

Expression: To make something big as small or to make something small as big depends on one’s state of mind. When one’s state of mind is good, to deal with situations becomes easy. So even difficult situations are crossed over with great ease. Then there will be no dependency on the external situations to change the internal state of mind. That is, there will never be a reaction to external situations but there will be always stability.

Experience: When my state of mind is good and powerful, I am confident of myself and am able to easily win over all obstacles. Otherwise, the situation takes hold of the internal state of my mind and I find myself bound by the situation. At such a time, I find the smallest situation to a very big obstacle. But with faith in myself I am very easily able to use my inner power to overcome situations.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

Monday, November 11, 2019

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 11-11-2019

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Soul Sustenance 11-11-2019
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The I Inside (Part 2)

We all are used to seeing ourselves with the spectacles of others’ perceptions which are all based on physical attitudes and clouded by the worldly view. Today, we look at ourselves with a lot of respect for all that we think is good in us and based on what others tell us about us. And then, suddenly someone criticizes us and we become depressed and lose our mood to the other person’s perception. All this because we have learnt to identify with things other than the real I. Suppose I identify with what specialties I possess e.g. I am a good debater (speaker) and this specialty has bought me a whole lot of praises from people around me all through my academic career. Over a period of time people start praising you regularly for that and the identification gets stronger. Identification means losing yourself in the object of your attachment so much that you completely forget that this is not the real you. In this case, the skill of debating (speaking) with confidence is a characteristic which I possess, which can easily lose its importance if I don’t get an opportunity to express it as I become older or am out of school or college. So, what happened to the object of my attachment with which I identified myself? Suddenly it gets back at me and the same object starts giving me sorrow if the praise that I am used to receiving because of it is no longer available. In this situation, wouldn’t it have been better that I shouldn’t have attached myself so much to this characteristic in the first place. The more the identification, the more the sorrow experienced.

So, a simple way of not experiencing sorrow in the above case is being happy and feeling lucky for what we possess. At the same time keep a relationship of detachment with the characteristic of speaking well i.e. how we express ourselves through our words and deliver our ideas through our voice. A relationship of detachment means not losing myself in the characteristic but playing my role with it and even keeping a pure pride that I possess the characteristic. This can also be called self-esteem, but at the same time not get over-awed or over self-impressed by the characteristic. That would lead to a healthier relationship with my attainment. Even if it is reduced or is lessened by any chance or not praised any more as much as before, it will not harm my self-esteem and give me unhappiness at any point of time.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 11-11-2019
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Courage brings success.

Expression: Even after repeated trials and failures, when one does not lose courage, there is the ability to go on trying till success is achieved. Courage comes with the understanding that there is surely a way out. So a lot more effort is put in to find the right way. Success, which had been eluding for a long time will be finally attained.

Experience: When I have courage, I have hope. I will not give up the task mid way, but will put in continued effort. Because of this there is no difficulty experienced even whilst putting in extra effort but I do everything with enthusiasm and happiness. So nothing seems difficult and I easily move towards success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Intl Website

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