If you’re from the Big Apple, and perhaps even if you’re not, you may be familiar with the joke “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Practice, practice, practice!”
One can apply the same response to “How do I grow in consciousness?” Or, “How can I feel closer to Spirit?” And, how about “How can I be more compassionate?” Answer: “Practice, practice, practice!”
As stated in today’s Daily Inspiration from The Voice for Love: "When gratitude fills your mind, you are joined with God in your awareness. Practice the art of giving thanks, and you will be joined with God all through the day."
And, inspired from today’s Daily Word, when I practice being more loving and gentle with myself, I am more loving and gentle to others.
In 12 Step program it is suggested we “act as if” until we are able to believe. And, if I practice what I want to be, I will succeed. Like Gandhi said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Practice, practice, practice.
Showing posts with label Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gandhi. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Positivity
Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Mahatma Gandhi
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Toilet Tuesdays
Almost 2 months ago, I entered into my first barter agreement: I clean the men and women’s restrooms at a yoga studio once a week in exchange for attending my favorite yoga class. It’s been a fine arrangement, win-win.
This past week was the last as I needed to free up my time. I will miss this task as well as my favorite teacher and the Gentle Healing/Restorative class postures.
As my cleaning was coming to an end, I realized that I really appreciated doing the work as an exchange. I even told one of the owners that if she’d been paying me an hourly wage, I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the task as much. The reward of attending the yoga class had greater meaning to me than receiving greenbacks, and this made me more focused, strongly motivated, and full of pride too as I went about doing my job. If I’d been given a wage, it would have been far less than my usual hourly rate as a tech writer, and, in all likelihood, my ego would have felt resentful that it had to engage in such activities, and I’d have been less than thrilled with the task. That was not the case, and I was very grateful the owners had been willing to barter.
During Tuesday toilet-cleaning days, I’ve often thought about the servant leader, Gandhi. My experience made me feel a bit connected to this spiritual man. It doesn’t matter that the toilets he cleaned were far less glamorous and technologically advanced or the reasons behind his actions were quite different from mine. It was not beneath Gandhi to clean toilets and, it was not beneath me to do so either.
It’s surprising the places one can find connection, inspiration, and meaning...
This past week was the last as I needed to free up my time. I will miss this task as well as my favorite teacher and the Gentle Healing/Restorative class postures.
As my cleaning was coming to an end, I realized that I really appreciated doing the work as an exchange. I even told one of the owners that if she’d been paying me an hourly wage, I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the task as much. The reward of attending the yoga class had greater meaning to me than receiving greenbacks, and this made me more focused, strongly motivated, and full of pride too as I went about doing my job. If I’d been given a wage, it would have been far less than my usual hourly rate as a tech writer, and, in all likelihood, my ego would have felt resentful that it had to engage in such activities, and I’d have been less than thrilled with the task. That was not the case, and I was very grateful the owners had been willing to barter.
During Tuesday toilet-cleaning days, I’ve often thought about the servant leader, Gandhi. My experience made me feel a bit connected to this spiritual man. It doesn’t matter that the toilets he cleaned were far less glamorous and technologically advanced or the reasons behind his actions were quite different from mine. It was not beneath Gandhi to clean toilets and, it was not beneath me to do so either.
It’s surprising the places one can find connection, inspiration, and meaning...
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