Everything I Do Is a Prayer (cont.)

After I wrote my last blog post I thought about it, as I tried to understand that everything I do is a prayer. By maintaining a focus on my every action, what I am really doing is living in the present moment. The results are the same. I feel grateful for all around me. My confidence soars, my ability to be compassionate becomes easy and obvious. My life is filled with Peace and Joy

As I wrote at the end of my book, Simple Happiness, It doesn't matter if I come from a place of God-Consciousness and arrive at Peace and Joy, or I begin by striving for a place of Peace and Joy and arrive at God-Consciousness. The two lines can't help but intersect and intertwine.

Step back and experience the joy of the ride.

Everything We Do Is a Prayer

When we truly understand our relationship with God, we understand that our every action is a prayer. If we could only live our lives in that context. How things would change. We would be uplifted by this God-consciousness all day long. Our thoughts would always come back to peace and joy. Our gratitude would be overflowing. Our compassion would light up the lives of others. Our positive energy would be contageous. Confidence would replace fear. Trust would replace suspicion. Love would fill our days.

Tomorrow morning upon awakening bring the tought that "My every action is a payer" to mind. Bring that thought to mind as often as you can during the day. Little by little, day by day, you'll be on your way to becoming a saint.

Abundance

The abundance of the Universe is like the ocean. We can go down to the ocean to receive our share of its abundance every day armed with a tea cup or a dump truck. It's our choice. It makes no difference to the ocean what we bring. It will be the same vast ocean speading as far as we can see whether we take a cup full or a dump truck full.
The size of the container we bring to the ocean is often a reflection of how worthy we feel to partake in the abundance of the universe. Some of us feel only worthy enough to full up a tea cup. That's too bad. The Universe is ready to give as much as we can take. It is we who decide to take so little. Try bringing a container that is slightly bigger than the one you brought yesterday. The Universe invites us to share in its infinite abundance. It's up to us to accept that invitation.

Celebrate Your (little) Successes

Don't be too hard on yourself. Accept your shortcomings but don't focus on them. Shortcomings are part of being human. Argue for your limitations and they are yours. Rather, focus on what is going right in your life. Celebrate your successes, even the small ones. Congratulate yourself when you catch yourself being kind. Feel good about passing on the opportunity to contribute to petty gossip. Notice when you compliment your spouse and kids. Consciously nod hello to passersby. At the end of the day review what you did right. Tomorrow will be another opportunity to spread joy and kindness to your world. Tomorrow will be another opportunity to expand your world.

Spring is Here

Spring officially arrived a week or so ago, but around here it still feels like winter. Don't fret! Take a good look around. Notice the rebirth of all those frozen, seemingly dead plants. Some still seem dead but there are signs of life. Check out new growth of those early spring bloomers: crocuses, daffadils and hyacinths. They're peeking through, some are even starting to bloom, despite the cold. Check out the lilac bushes. New growth is showing. You can even see which buds will turn into leaves and which ones will turn into those beautiful, fragrant flowers which, when cut and brought inside, provide a natural air freshener. That perfumed air forces you to inhale deeply and enjoy the return of another spring.
The return of spring is evidence of the perfect order of the Universe, inspiring us to realize how effortlessly good things can unfold if we but let them.
Don't let a day go by this spring without taking it all in. Pay attention as you go about your daily routine. Be in awe of this wonderful time of year.

Jim Ryan Talks - A Timely Idea

Speaking French

Saturday night we had the opportunity to host a couple from France at our home. I used to be a French teacher at Bethpage Junior High School 25 or so years ago. We have several French speaking people in our neighborhood, but I have rarely taken advantage of the opportunity to speak with them in their native tongue. So when this couple showed up it was a shock. My wife does not speak French, the husband spoke almost no English and the wife was about the same. It was an exhausting evening, trying to carry on a two hour conversation, totally in French.

Surprisingly, it turned out pretty well. We were able to share ideas, discuss family and generally carry on a semi-intelligent conversation. Actually, they were impressed with my accent, my sentence structure and my overall ablilty to speak and understand. The experience made me think that if could spend a week immersed in French, brushing up on my vocabulary, I could get back to being fluent. It was a tiring but fulfilling experience.

Who knows, maybe one day I will have my books translated into French. I would love to do a book tour in France, visiting all the beautiful spots and enjoying the fabulous food and world class wines. "La Joie de Vivre" is Simple Happiness to me in French.