Kindness is not just for Christmas, it’s for life!

This year, more than ever, I have truly resonated with the spirit of Christmas. While the majority of people were stressing over what presents to buy and what to cook for Christmas dinner, I was basking in the warmth of the season’s more profound messages: goodwill, generosity, love, kindness and sharing.

Now that Christmas has ended, however, the magic has now subsided. It always amazes me that once the festivities are over, most people simply return to their grim realities, grumbling and lamenting that the fun has ended for another year. But why must it end? Why is goodwill only confined to one season?

I, for one, do not plan to abandon kindness. The world would be a much better place if we all showed just a little bit more kindness to our fellow humans, particularly to those who need it. It makes no sense to reserve this sort of behaviour solely for Christmas!

Just like Scrooge woke up on Christmas morning as a changed man, always promising to keep the spirit of Christmas in his heart, I challenge you to do the same! May 2015 be the year that we bring much-needed warmth and love to the world, making it the norm to be kind and generous.

End of Year Reflections

As we approach the end of the year, you might find yourself being reflective (or perhaps even regretful) of what happened in 2014. But it is important to remember that you cannot change the past, so there is no point dwelling on it! You must learn from your mistakes and move on. You can’t change what happened, but you can change how you feel about it.

As for your future, that is currently a blank slate. Who knows what 2015 will bring to your doorstep! It is fun to speculate about such things, but not so fun when when you worry about the future and fear the worst. So try not to get caught up in fictional problems that may never even happen! Just focus on what’s in front of you and enjoy LIVING.

It is the present that you should inhabit… the place where things are real and tangible. In the present, you have the power to do whatever you desire and that is a very special gift indeed. You can pursue hobbies, spend time with loves ones and take action to improve your life. There is a lot that you can do with the present moment, so use it wisely!

Of course, none of this is possible if you’re constantly thinking about the past or worrying about the future, so cast aside the mind’s projections and be fully present in each moment. Don’t live your life on autopilot and make sure that you shine brightly. Ignite the light, my friends!

My Personal Code

These days, there are so many self-help books in circulation that it can be difficult to know where to turn. There are also countless people who share their knowledge and wisdom, which can differ from person to person, so things can sometimes get a little confusing. What I would suggest, then, is that you adopt your own philosophy.

Everyone has a belief system – a “life code” – whether they know it or not. I think it can be very useful to have your own creed because it gives you something to live your life by. If you feel overwhelmed by all the philosophies out there, then just pay attention to the things that resonate with you. Below is my own personal code, which I jotted down yesterday:

– Be true to yourself, whether that conforms with society or not.
– Follow your heart and do what you love.
– Ignore the judgments of others. No matter what you do in your life, people will always find fault.
– Never give up on your dreams. Keep working towards them one step at a time and you will reach the finish line eventually.
– Time is not wasted if you enjoy how it is spent.
– You make your own purpose in life. Enrich your life with meaning.
– You are responsible for how you think and feel. You are the driver of your vehicle, not the passenger!
– Fear no more. Break free from the shackles of fear.

If you have any pearls of wisdom, then why don’t you make a list? You are very welcome to take some of my pointers if you’re struggling. But I promise you, you will be grateful for such a list when you’re having a bad day, as it will remind you of the wisdom you contain within yourself. Keeping a record of this wisdom will most certainly help you to ignite the light!

Same Struggle, Different Difference

When I saw this badge in a bookshop, I simply had to have it! It so aptly sums up the discrimination that goes on in this world every single day – so beautifully sheds light on the state of things. Whether you’re a victim of racism, sexism, homophobia or disability, you are all part of the same struggle! The dominant ideologies of our society facilitate prejudice against anything that deviates from “the norm!”

Basically, if you are not a straight, able-bodied white guy, then you are in trouble! Society has been designed to favour those in power (straight, able-bodied white men) and suppress everyone else. This needs to change – immediately. Some people seem to think that judging others based on the colour of their skin or sexual preference is acceptable behaviour, but it is not. Nor is judging someone for being in a wheel chair, having down’s syndrome or not being “man” enough.

Thankfully, there is an increasing amount of liberal people out there, but there is still a long way to go, especially for problems like gender stereotypes. People should be celebrated for their uniqueness, not judged for it! We should all strive to be ourselves, and yet the majority of us conform to a certain set of rules for fear of what others will think. This needs to stop right now!

Hopefully, this blog post has made you think about the state of things. Together, we can change our perceptions of each other. Together, we can change this world from the bottom up. The powers-that-be may try to bombard us with images of women being sexualised and black people being arrested for crimes etc, but if we make ourselves aware of what is going on, then they no longer hold sway over how we think.

Taking a leap of faith

Quite often in life, we are required to take a leap of faith. This might involve quitting a job, moving house, starting a family or something else that throws you out of your comfort zone. The most scary part about taking a leap of faith is that there’s no guarantee of how things are going to pan out, but you shouldn’t let this stop you. Absolutely nothing in life is set in stone, so if you want to achieve something, then you should put aside your fear and follow your heart.

What do you feel guided to do? Do you feel like you’re on the right track with your life? What changes would you make if you were brave enough? These are questions that you should ask yourself on a regular basis, as there is always room for self-improvement and change. Sometimes, change will come knocking on your door and you will be forced to adapt. Other times, you will be the instigator of change, creating a new set of circumstances for yourself. 

Whenever I take a leap of faith, I always trust that I will be okay. No matter what happens, the universe will look after me and I’ll be alright. If you desire something in your life, then don’t let fear hold you back. We are blessed with only so many days on this good earth, so do not waste them in regret of what could have been. Expand your boundaries and be the person that you know you can be! 

Sex as a spiritual gateway

There is great power to be found in sexual activity, if only one is aware of the divine connection that it creates. But because we live in an image-obsessed world, it can be difficult to look beyond someone’s appearance and forge a deeper connection. As a result, many people have sexual experiences that are unfulfilling and soulless.

In modern society, sex is something that is rarely talked about openly. In fact, people usually get very embarrassed about it (especially when talking to family members) and tend to describe it with euphemisms, if at all. There are others, however, who go to the opposite extreme and describe sexual activities very bluntly, almost taking pleasure from making people cringe.

The bottom line is this: we have been conditioned to think that sex is something dirty, when it is actually the most natural and sacred thing in the world! Whether you are married, promiscuous or prefer masturbation, there’s power to be found in sex. Sex is a spiritual gateway to the divine… whenever you connect with another person (or people) on a deeper level, it can energise and invigorate you.

Of course, you can still enjoy sex without a deep connection, but the thrill that you get from it usually isn’t as long-lasting and you usually feel quite drained afterwards. So start being aware of your connection with other people, even if you only have one-night stands… surely anyone who sleeps with you deserves your basic appreciation?

In the past, sex has been demonised by religion and branded as something that is just done for procreation. But more and more people are using sex for enjoyment, which is absolutely fantastic! However, just be wary of how the media can distort our perceptions of beauty… in particular, pornography can create very unrealistic expectations for our sexual endeavours!

For those of you who are interested, there is the potential to delve deeper. All you have to do is be aware of the divine connection and appreciate your partner(s) on a deeper level. With any luck, this should improve your sex life.

Is there such a thing as destiny?

Sometimes in life, it feels as though you have been put on a certain path. You are guided to do certain things, as though it was always your purpose to do so. But can this be attributed to destiny or are they simply circumstances of your own making?

This is an age-old debate and there is no clear-cut answer. While I believe that some aspects of our lives are decided before we are born (i.e who our parents are going to be), other things are left to chance. With each new life, our souls are on a journey of self-discovery, so there will be certain lessons to be learned and certain obstacles to be overcome. Say, for example, if you were a chauvinist in your previous life then you might have decided to reincarnate as a woman in this life to be on the receiving end of sexual abuse, thus it would be your destiny (and karmic justice) to experience the same abuse that you once gave to other people.

Other people might argue that destiny is wishful thinking. It is very possible that symptoms of destiny could be attributed to the law of attraction, which attracts things into your life that you focus your attention on. Hence, the more you think about something – whether good or bad – it usually comes into your life and is labelled as destiny.

While we are left with the free will to make our own choices, it does seem that we are destined to do certain things. Throughout our lives, we receive inner guidance and wisdom, which informs us what path to take. If we choose to listen to this guidance, then arguably we are choosing to accept our true purpose and destiny.

The Benefits of Group Meditation

Most people think of meditation as a solitary sort of thing, but doing it in a group can be very beneficial.

For a start, it can get you into a solid routine, which is especially good if you’re undisciplined or struggling to find time. Several months ago, I was finding it difficult to practice meditation on a regular basis, but since joining a group, I now meditate at least once every day.

Also, joining a meditation group gives you the chance to make friends with like-minded people and share your experiences of spirituality. In this day and age, you should be able to find a mediation group in your local area. But if one doesn’t exist, then why don’t you step forth and set up your own? [Hint: The internet is a useful tool for bringing people together!]

Attending a group meditation can be very powerful indeed. There’s something quite special about a group of people coming together to create an environment of love and positive energy. Meditating by myself is great, but I always feel particularly recharged and refreshed after going to a group meditation. If you’ve never been to a group meditation, then I highly recommend trying it out!

When monsters come out to play…

Despite the excellent tools of meditation and reiki (or whatever else you might use to maintain your wellbeing), it is impossible to always stay on top form. Sometimes, you simply cannot stop something from slipping past your defences and piercing you deeply, evoking the monster within. And what makes matters worse is if your partner has also been possessed by their monster, as this can cause a lot of strife.

I’m sure we’ve all been in this situation, where you keep lashing out at someone you love, even though you know that you shouldn’t. But when your monster comes out to play, when the ego takes over, it can be very difficult to stop. Below is a poem I wrote about two monsters colliding:

 

When two monsters gather in a room,

They tear apart everything that’s in bloom.

One monster’s bad enough, but two of them create a storm,

So it can be rather difficult to remember your true form.

 

But fear not, for there is always light,

A powerful force that can shine through the darkest night,

So remember who you are and send your monster away,

And hopefully, tomorrow will be a brighter day.

 

When I feel the monster arising, I usually quarantine myself until I have calmed down, so that nobody is on the receiving end of the monster. It usually only takes a few minutes to sort myself out, but of course there are a few exceptions that require a bit longer than that! And if you can sense the monster arising in someone else, then point it out to them and leave them to cool down for a bit. Usually, a lot of needless conflict can be avoided this way.

Recently, Eminem and Rihanna released a song about the monster, which describes this prevalent phenomenon. I don’t know how many people will appreciate the significance of the lyrics, but they refer to something that affects each and every one of us! Many things are said and done in the heat of the moment, which most people later regret, but you can get a grip on it… you can keep your monster at bay! And when we all recognise the monster for what it truly is, then perhaps we will be more forgiving of each other.

I hope this post has been helpful, my friends. And I wish you the best of luck with controlling your monster!

 

 

 

Unconditional Basic Income

I recently stumbled upon the concept of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) when reading Positive News, a newspaper that focuses on the good things happening in the world. First and foremost, UBI proposes that everybody should receive a regular unconditional sum of money from the state, regardless of whether they are employed or not, to help with means of survival.

Personally, I absolutely love the idea of this! Most people receive some sort of welfare benefits anyway, whether it’s working tax credit or housing income or unemployment benefit. So why not combine it all into one universal unconditional income? Everyone deserves to have a safety blanket to have more freedom, such as wanting to leave a horrible job, have a baby, retrain for a new career or start up a business.

Of course, some sceptics think that nobody would want to work at all if this system was implemented. However, research has predicted that quite the opposite would happen! Everyone wants to contribute  in some form or other, and with an unconditional basic income, people would have the freedom to pursue the career that they truly wanted to do. In fact, they could switch careers as often as they desire, which for some reason is highly frowned upon at the moment.

And with an unconditional basic income, people wouldn’t have to work as many hours, which would reduce stress and ill health. For some reason, modern society puts so much emphasis on getting a job, making people feel like a failure if they do not have one. It would be wonderful if this work-obsessed attitude would subside! Not everyone wants to work themselves into the ground… what sort of existence is that? Don’t people want to spend more time with their friends and families, or doing the things that they love? Working less would surely bring more happiness and meaning to people’s lives!

Also, with the current way that the welfare system works, some people fall through the net. For example, I’m not entitled to unemployment benefits because I live with my girlfriend, and she can’t receive working tax credits because we’re both under 25! I’m sure there’s a lot of other cases too where people fall through the net, but those are just some personal examples.

Just think for a moment what the world would be like if everyone received an unconditional basic income. Would there be any homeless people? Would there be any overworked people? Would there be anyone trapped in a horrible workplace? With the basic means to survive financially, people would have some much-needed security in their lives.

At the moment, the citizens of Switzerland are voting on whether to implement this awesome system. I really hope that they do, because then maybe other countries would follow suit! Of course, corporate industries would probably oppose it, as they love to exploit people and make them work hard. But surely most people, if they knew about UBI, would want it to become a reality!

 

So spread the word, guys! If you want to know more about the subject, then here’s a useful website to check out: http://basicincome.org.uk/reasons-support-basic-income/