When Amma gives darshan (hugs) in India, she sees thousands of people a day, but still takes time to give everyone what they need. Check out this video of her mediating a dispute between children. No translation is needed!
During Amma’s Indian tours, she may give hugs to 30,000 people a day. Below is a picture of one of the pots used to cook the food for those who seek Amma’s blessing.
In the mid 80’s, I met Pam Levin, a therapist who was to become one of my mentors. One of the tools I learned from her is called the Think Structure. I have used it in my personal life and with the clients in my therapy practice. I have found it to be a helpful way for myself and others to gain insight into why we behave the way we do. Continue reading “Why Do We Behave the Way We Do?”
In the early to mid-90’s, I created a personal mission statement based on a process I learned in Stephen Covey’s book First Things First. When I finished the mission statement, I hung it on a wall in my house. I glance at it from time to time, and when I do I always feel amazed. That document is as true today as it was on the day I wrote it. There is no doubt in my mind that these have been the guiding principles of my life and are evidence that I have walked this life with intention. Continue reading “Living with Purpose”
Think Before Saying Yes or No
While some people have trouble saying Yes and others say No to every request, I believe it is much more common for people to struggle with saying No. This struggle often stems from childhood experiences. It may not have been okay, or even safe, to say No in our families of origin. Many of us were taught/programmed to please others by doing what others wanted them to do. As an adult, we may say Yes to things we don’t want to do; say Yes but then not follow through on our commitments; or say Yes reflexively without taking any time to think about the request.
I once heard a joke that addresses this issue. “What happens when a codependent dies?” Answer: Someone else’s life flashes before his eyes.” While it is a funny joke, it is also a sad situation and it may be true. You cannot live your own life and do everything everyone else wants you to do.
The first step in looking at this issue may be to observe any struggles you have in saying either Yes or No. At the same time, start pausing to think before you reply to a request. You may need 15 seconds or you may need 48 hours or more to get clear. It is perfectly appropriate to respond, “I will think about it and get back to you.”
This week, for one, two, three days or longer, focus on thinking before you say Yes or No. Sometime during the week, write a post about some aspect of this topic or about your experiences when you think before you answer a Yes or No question. Feel free to use whatever form you desire: i.e., prose, story, poem, photograph, etc.
I look forward to seeing where this challenge takes you.
The article that you link to this prompt should be a new post written specifically for this challenge.
New prompts will be posted at 5 a.m. (PST) every Wednesday.
Since it is easier to make behavioral changes if we focus on them one day at a time, each of the weekly challenges will start with “Today, I focus on…….” It will be up to you to decide how long you want to focus on a particular challenge— one, two, three days or even longer. At some point during the week, publish a post that relates in some way to the subject of the week.
Link your post back to this prompt post. If the pingback doesn’t work, then leave the link to your post in the comment section below. Be sure to include “Challenge for Growth Prompts” as one of your tags.
Throughout the week, I will publish the links for the posts that were created as the result of this prompt. I will also post the links from those who participated the previous week. That way they will be seen by anyone who comes to this page.
If you don’t have a blog, please feel free to submit your contribution to the prompt in the comment section below.
The Making of Yes- Nik’s Place
And to the World I Say- Where Love Meets War
Why Do We Behave the Way We Do?- Living, Learning and Letting Go
Challenges for Growth Prompts #4- Annette’s Place
How about you?
What Does It Mean to Be? – Living, Learning and Letting Go
Painting Our Illusions- Where Love Meets War
Two years ago, I put birdhouses on some old posts that were standing in a corner of my back yard. Last fall, I looked inside of the birdhouses and discovered there was a nest in one of them.
Yesterday when I was talking on the phone, I happened to glance out of the kitchen window. I saw two small birds flying around the houses. I even saw one of the birds look inside its potential home. I was so excited!
I am optimistic that there will be baby birds in the birdhouses this year.
Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Optimistic
Today’s prompt from The Daily Post is called “Key Takeaway” and the instructions are:
Give your newer sisters and brothers-in-WordPress one piece of advice based on your experiences blogging
This is a topic very close to my heart. First of all, I’d like to welcome all of you who are new to the blogging world. I have found blogging to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my life and I hope the same for you.
My advice is to celebrate when friends, relatives, colleagues and members of your personal community are interested in your blog, but don’t count on it being the case. See blogging as a way of building an additional community for yourself, as a way of sharing information with like-minded people, and as an opportunity to communicate with those for whom your thoughts and experiences are an exciting new world.
I have learned so much from reading other people’s blogs and I have developed new and treasured friendships within the Word Press community. Blogging has expanded my own world and I know that others have learned from reading mine. I will be forever grateful to my son Sreejit (The Seeker’s Dungeon and Where Love Meets War) for encouraging /pushing me to start my blog.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
Friends have sent me two powerful and mesmerizing videos recently. I thought both were excellent and hope you find them to be as valuable as I did.
The first is a talk by Dr. Vadana Shiva. She has been described as an author, activist, pioneer, scientific advisor and mother.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crP5EVZdvLE)
The second is a September 12, 1962 speech by President John F. Kennedy. As you listen to it, consider how we can apply his words to solving the problems we are facing in the world today.
Being
What does it even mean to BE,
free?
Doing, doing never done,
run.
That is all I’ve ever known,
moan.
Body, mind, and soul yearn to rest,
quest.
That new goal must be addressed,
professed.
Heart caught within the mind’s net,
reset.
Written for Challenges for Growth Prompt #3: Learning to Be
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
The Art and Craft of Blogging
A collection of discussions on the environmental issues
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”-William Shakespeare
...moments of unexpected clarity
Home of Lukas Kondraciuk Photography
Wellness, Support and Mindset
Thoughts on Creativity & Deeper Things
A Blog by Novella Carpenter
Ramblings of an Irish ecologist and gardener
Teaching the art of composition for photography.
Blog from SathyaSaiMemories ~ stories of love in action and the benefits of giving
There are 11,507 stories in Haddonfield; this is one of them.
Perennial gardening and more from the Green Mountains of Vermont
Whatever it will be...
Welcome to my little slice of the blogosphere
Living, Learning and Letting Go 