Criticizing, judging and gossiping...

Criticizing, judging and gossiping seem to be a part of friends´ reunions. However, they dont have to be a part of our reunions. Since I started my path of self-discovery and growth, I have realized how judging and gossiping stop me from growing. On the contrary, it feels like they make me take a step backwards.

Judging seems to come naturally to me, as gossip does. Nevertheless, they are not part of my true self. They make walls towards our inner beauty and cut communication with our divinity.

It is far easier to stop from gossiping and criticizing if we are alone. But, when we are in a group it is a challenge not to do it. We start listening to our friends criticize and suddenly without realizing it, these horrible negative comments are coming out of our mouths. Afterwards,I just end up feeling guilty and empty.

Why do I gossip or criticize? I used to do it sometimes to avoid my low self-esteem. Another reason was to disguise my inferiority complex. Then other times I just felt plain jealous. At the end, it just becomes a habit and do it for all and no reasons.

How do I avoid situations where people gossip? We can try and change the subject. This is a great tool. Nevertheless, if it doesn´t work just walk away. Change means action.

If we dont like to be judged, why would we do it on to others? If we are focused on our innerselves, then we have no business focusing on others´ actions.

Challenge of the day: I will stop my mind before a judging or gossiping comment reaches my mouth. I must learn to know the difference between judging and giving someone a constructive criticism.

Love to help, but not get helped!

I love to help others. I used to do anything for anyone who asked for my help or worst I helped when I wasnt even asked! But, me, asking for help, I could never do that.

I was just too proud and ashamed to ask for help. I was so afraid of rejection, that I couldnt risk asking and getting rejected. Other times, I thought that if I didnt say I had a problem outloud may be, just may be, it would go away. I used to live in denial. After sometime, it just became such a habit that I forgot how to ask. I didnt want to seem weak.

At the end, not asking for help got me nowhere. We are sociable creatures. We need one and other. Never asking for help alienated me, made my problems worse and got me to seek ways to escape them.

Today I know that asking for help just makes my life so much simple and enjoyable. It does not mean that I need to ask help for every single thing. It means that I ask for help when I know I cannot do it on my own. Recognizing the difference takes time and patience.

To this day, it is still not easy to share my problems, but I take the leap. I trust the process and at the end I feel satisfied. Most of the time, problems dont get solved by sharing them; however, they lose the power they have over me. I learn to dettach from them and be able to think more objectively about them. And there are other times, when I am standing to close to see and a new pair of eyes help me.

At the end, is all about being yourself. Hiding problems made me wear masks. Masks are heavy and live us tired and drained. Masks dont let our light shine through.

Challenge of the day: Today I will be true about my problems. If I need help I will ask for it.

The wonders of a bath...

We must take care of ourselves.

Taking care of ourselves is an everyday task. We cannot grow, enjoy, share; in other words, live if we forget about ourselves. This hectic life we are used to, disconnects us from ourselves. It is up to each of us to reconnect with our innerself. A wonderful way to do this is, is with a warm magnificent bath.

Baths as I heard someone say: are a celestial experience. It is a space that is just for me. It is a place where I can unwind, wash my worries away and just feel at peace. Plus, baths have wonderful health benefits.

There is nothing like getting home, lighting up some candles,turning on great music, and filling the tub with hot sumptious water. Then pouring the essential oil of your choice. Each aromatherapy oil has its particular benefits. Yesterday, I chose sweet orange. Sweet Orange essential oil calms down the mind, bringing happiness and delight.

Once the bath is ready, you turn of your connection to the world and begin your inner journey. You just enjoy the moment. You feel how the warm water relaxes your every muscle. The music and candles just give you a sense that you are worth it. In addition, the aroma in the air makes you smile. At this moment you are totally nsync with your true self.

A great bath can change any situation around. A great bath can help you unwind and restore your faith in whatever path you have decided to take.

A bath even helps you get a wonderful nights sleep. Simply just get out and keep that feeling of tranquility. However, if you have plans after, take a cold shower to restore circulation and just feel refreshed and alive!!! Baths can work both ways.

All in all, life is a journey. Life is an experience and adventure. We must learn all the enjoyable things that exist. We must fill ourselves with tools for rainy days. The more we get to know ourselves, the easier it gets. The better we take care of ourselves, the better for the world.

Anger has taken me hostage!!!

I started of my day as I always do feeling greatful and just appreciating all the things I can do today. Furthermore, today is friday!!!

Somehow the morning took a sudden turn and without me really noticing my mood just changed. I found myself feeling jumpy, irritated, frustrated and just so vulnerable. Today is what I call a bad day. I need to return to my center.

This did not happen out of the blue. It happened because I let fear, the future affect me, and after that I left the present and myself. Afterwards, I just stopped being in the moment.

In addition, it seems that once you have let yourself be thrown of your balance every little detail just annoys you! All sounds seem to become louder, time seems to slow down and our surroundings just seem to be closing on us. It is amazing how things can be so different just by changing our perspective.

Today I recognize when I am angry and frustrated. At the moment, there is not much I can do for my anger than just close my eyes and place my anger in a big ballon and watch it fly away. This has calmed me and has made me able to continue with my daily tasks. However, I know I am still at risk of another frustration/anger crisis.

Today I know there are tools I can choose from to deal with my feelings. It is up to me to change back the course of my day. It is up to me to stop feeling this way. I will not ignore it or hide, I have decided to deal with it. Of course, I will not run, eat or drink my anger away, misplace my anger, this will just make it grow!!!

I must accept that anger is a natural human emotion. I must be prepared for these moments and welcome them so I can move on.

Challenge of the day: I will take the time to return to my center. How can I do this? Meditating, sharing, praying, writing, painting, listening to music, massage, anything that connects me with my innerself. I choose to take a long relaxing aromatherapy bath.

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;the courage to change the things I can;and the wisdom to know the difference

These words have special meaning for those of us who are looking for peace and mostly at times of frustration, disappointment, crisis, uncertainty, and hardships. I love the first part which recognizes that God is the only one that can provide us with inner peace. His presence within us in the only real and permanent thing that can calm us even at times where our outside world seems to be crumbling. Until we let God into our heart, body, and soul we will never really experience true peace.

Later we listen to the words accept, courage, and wisdom. Once again God is the only one that can grant us these precious gifts. This prayer asks for us to surrender to God, to recognize that we have no control over external circumstances and that only He can change them. We must accept His will, but when I mean accept; it means really release all control we think we might have. We must trust Him, live one day at a time, and have faith that whatever it is shall pass.

What is acceptance? Acceptance is clearly seeing and being in the reality of any situation. It is being in the NOW. Serenity comes from accepting, being in the Now of the situation and knowing that sometimes we just cannot do anything. We just have to let go and have faith.

Courage to change the things that I can, I think it means taking responsibility for ourselves. It means trying our best, giving our all. However, we must do all we can, but know that the results we have no control over and we cannot predict. I think this helps us realize that we must do our part, we must prepare the field with the seeds and God will provide us with rain. We hear so many religious fanatics, saying they trust God but never do anything. This is not what life is about. Once again showing us that extremes are no good.

We must also ask God wisdom to be able to recognize when we can change a circumstance and when we just have to go with the flow.

This beautiful prayer shows me that if I seek true peace and happiness, it is important to consciously live and enjoy each moment. I must embrace my struggles and challenges; accept how the world is, not as I would like it to be. And most importantly trust God and surrender myself to Him.

We can find God everywhere. He is omnipresent. We can find serenity in different ways. Some of us can be in the now and be calmed when we pray, meditate, practice yoga, cook, listen to music, laugh, or just have coffee with a friend.

Life is about being in the moment., letting the past where it should be(moving on) and having dreams and hopes for the future(working on them). For me it is very difficult, to be in the present. It is an everyday practice.

For me, it was difficult to accept God. It took me many falls and many disappointments. It is not easy to let go. It is not easy to really really believe in a Higher Power, that we dont know much about and that I accepted or not was kind of angry and disappointed at. It took me time, but I now can say that He is the only one that can bring me peace and He is always there to grant it, no matter what.

Challenge of the day: Am I willing to give the serenity prayer a real chance?

Is the grass greener on the other side?

I think it is : the grass SEEMS greener on the other side. However, once we get to the other side we realize it is not true. Sometimes we even want to run back to where we were. Perception is a tricky thing. This also involves comparing what we have with what we dont. Also looking over our neighbor is never ever good. I must live with what I have and not compare my situation with anyone elses. And if I want something, then I must work towards accomplishing it.



Why do we have the perception that other peoples lives are better? Why am Im constantly trying to find or wish for something better? Why am I never satisfied with what I have? Why do I have the habit of seeing the grass on the other side greener?



I usually dont like to say this, but my mom was right when she told me never to compare myself with others. Comparing myself with others is not right in different ways. First of all, we are all different; therefore, how is it even possible to have comparisons. Second, comparing myself takes my focus outwards instead of inwards. I believe that is were the problem lies.



Of course it is not easy, since we are surrounded in a world were everything is based on comparisons and wanting. We are bombarded from all angles that we are not enough, so we can desire what ever they are advertising.



It is Ok to want things. However, I have noticed that when I question my desire for something, most of them were just illusions provoked by the outside world. Once a friend asked herself out loud: Do I really need this? For me, this simple question works wonders. It really goes into my core and extinguishes all desire of what will bring no growth. Of course, there are times, that my impulses just skip all processing!!! This is an aspect I need to keep on working.



As some grass just appears greener on the other side; there is some that might be. But, this grass is greener because it has been worked on. If we want our grass to be lovely, we must work on it. For example, movie stars have amazing bodies because they watch what they eat and exercise. I wish I looked like them, but am I willing to make the effort?

All in all, we must keep our focus inwards. If we really want something we shouldnt envy the one who has it. We should applaud them and find out how they got it. There is nothing impossible. If our mind can dream it, it can be done. However, it is always healthy to examine why we want what we want and are we ready for it. In addition, we should always feel satisfied with who we are. We already have all we need, all the other stuff is icing!

Challenge of the day: I will make a list of all the things I am greatful for. I will make a list of the things I want and how I plan to achieve them

Simply let my YES mean yes...

Simply let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. Do I live like this?

For me it has always been easy saying yes to whatever it is asked of me. However, half the time I immediately know, later I will not follow thru or I will do it without really wanting to and resenting it. I guess the main reasons are that I feel others will be disappointed or will not like me(seeking approval) if I say no.

I never learned to say no. I never learned that it is Ok to say no. I was under the impression that I must always be liked. And also under the impression that the more I said yes the more I would be liked(accepted). This can only last for so long. It is impossible to live under others expectations. In addition, people must like us for who we are, and not for what we do.

It sounds so easy and simple to say NO. Two little letters, but for me so difficult to say. I used to feel ultra guilty if I said NO to someone; I prefered to say yes. Nevertheless, it got to a point where I just didnt want to face people, cuz I had no strenght in me to keep saying yes.

My actions should reflect my thoughts and beliefs. I must not go against myself. I must be consistent with myself. At the end of the day, whom I have to deal and live with is me!

Saying yes all the time, makes me become a liar to me and others. If I follow thru then I am lying to myself and if I dont I have to make up excuses, in other words, lie. At the end nothing good comes out of it. Of course, I still feel uncomfortable when I say no. But, it only lasts a moment and afterwards I feel true and at peace.

Another downfall of always saying yes, is that I stopped recognizing what I really wanted. It got to the point, where I didnt know if I was saying yes out of habit or because I wanted. Today, I must take the time to get to know me again and listen inside of me.

In addition, my word is something very important. My word is me. There will be times where I wont be able to follow thru, but they will be minimal. It is just so liberating to do what your innerself is telling you to say.

Challenge of the day: I will let my yes mean yes and my no mean no. I will take the time to process my decisions. The habit of pleasing stops today.