The Virtue of Commitment
06 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Commitment, Determination, Gentleness, Joy, Joyfulness, Love, Moderation, Patience, Perseverance, Purposefulness, Self-Discipline, Trust, Uncategorized
When the virtue of commitment is considered in light of personal well-being, what comes to mind is how important it is for commitment to be paired with Love.
Commitment without Flexibility can be harsh and unyeilding. Commitment without Love can be cold and uneffective.
Commitment without Trust can be useless and daunting.
Commitment without Gentleness can be blind and without purpose.
Commitment is making a goal and sticking to it regardless of the obstacles. Commitment is dedication and determination and optimisim.
When we have commitment then we have strength. When we have strength we can achieve any wellness goal that we have set for ourselves. When we set and achieve small goals we will be empowered to achieve more. In this achieving our true potential can be realized and manifested. When our true potential is discovered, great Joy is experienced and all struggle falls away.
Day 185: The Power of Responsibility
26 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Joyfulness, Responsibility Tags: Responsibility, self development, virtues for well-being
I doubt I am going to find a nice happy song about “Responsibility” on You Tube!! But I’ll see what I can do…
This is a video by JC & Karim on the recent earthquake in Haiti. It reminds us of our global Responsibility and how this has really inspired people around the world to give of themselves to rebuild Haiti. When we give of ourselves we are fulling our potential for service and this brings Joy to our souls.
Lets take a unique look at Responsibility.
Instead of thinking of the meaning of Responsibility that means to be accountable for a task or duty to which you are given to complete, consider the spiritual perspective of Responsibility.
Consider that “who we are” is our divine Responsibility.
We have within us a potential that is innate and unique. By discovering what leads us to happiness or sadness, what leads us to strength or weakness, what leads us to hope or despair — by discovering our own Truth for our own well-being we are embracing the Responsiblity that is ours.
When we are looking to our own self, when we have cast off the wrappings on our heart and minds that have confused us or caused us pain, then we can be free to be ourselves.
This awareness can bring with it a great power and courage. When you are aware of your True Self, the Responsiblity to live that unique life becomes exciting and thrilling. It brings Joy. It brings a strong sense of empowerment.
More on the 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse can be found at:
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Get-Started-Take-Debbie-Fords-21-Day-Consciousness-Cleanse
Day 183: The Gift of Surrender
22 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Detachment, Joy, Joyfulness, Love, Peacefulness Tags: acceptance, personal growth, self-improvement, surrender, virtues for well-being
Surrender is found when we allow the virtue of Detachment to come into our awareness.
Detachment is letting go of our identification with our thoughts, feelings, belongings, even our family and friends.
In Detachment we can surrender ourselves to the moment and without judgment, evaluation or criticism can allow negative feelings to be released and we can make room for Light, Love, and Peacefulness.
In the spaciousness of Detachment or Surrender we can feel at ease, in complete trust that all is exactly as it should be. When we are in that condition we no longer feel that we are suffering and we can feel true Joy.
“Let us not keep on forever with our fancies and illusions, with our analyzing and interpreting and circulating of complex dubieties. Let us put aside all thoughts of self; let us close our eyes to all on the earth, let us neither make known our sufferings nor complain of our wrongs. Rather let us become oblivious of our own selves, and drinking down the wine of heavenly grace, let us cry out our joy, and lose ourselves in the beauty of the All-Glorious.” (Abdu’l-Baha – www.bahai.org)
See more about The Gift of Surrender from Debbie Ford at http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Get-Started-Take-Debbie-Fords-21-Day-Consciousness-Cleanse
May you feel a spaciousness between yourself and your suffering today in a gentle knowing that you are in exactly the right place at exactly the right time, doing exactly the right thing.
Copyright Rachel Leigh Perry Pellegrini 2010
Day 155: Joy and Pain
03 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Joy, Joyfulness Tags: Abubu'l-Baha, Joyfulness, virtues for well-being
Pain and Sorrow – ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks
PAIN AND SORROW
November 22nd, 1911
In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain.
Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.
There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter — the spiritual world bestows only the joy!
If we suffer it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and troubles come from this world of illusion.
For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues. A workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face. A farmer has a bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind. A man builds a house which is burnt to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.
All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness. A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy. The ills all flesh is heir to do not pass him by, but they only touch the surface of his life, the depths are calm and serene.
Today, humanity is bowed down with trouble, sorrow and grief, no one escapes; the world is wet with tears; but, thank God, the remedy is at our doors. Let us turn our hearts away from the world of matter and live in the spiritual world! It alone can give us freedom! If we are hemmed in by difficulties we have only to call upon God, and by His great Mercy we shall be helped.
If sorrow and adversity visit us, let us turn our faces to the Kingdom and heavenly consolation will be outpoured.
If we are sick and in distress let us implore God’s healing, and He will answer our prayer.
When our thoughts are filled with the bitterness of this world, let us turn our eyes to the sweetness of God’s compassion and He will send us heavenly calm! If we are imprisoned in the material world, our spirit can soar into the Heavens and we shall be free indeed!
When our days are drawing to a close let us think of the eternal worlds, and we shall be full of joy!
You see all round you proofs of the inadequacy of material things — how joy, comfort, peace and consolation are not to be found in the transitory things of the world. Is it not then foolishness to refuse to seek these treasures where they may be found? The doors of the spiritual Kingdom are open to all, and without is absolute darkness.
Thank God that you in this assembly have this knowledge, for in all the sorrows of life you can obtain supreme consolation. If your days on earth are numbered, you know that everlasting life awaits you. If material anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud, spiritual radiance lightens your path. Verily, those whose minds are illumined by the Spirit of the Most High have supreme consolation.
I myself was in prison forty years — one year alone would have been impossible to bear – nobody survived that imprisonment more than a year! But, thank God, during all those forty years I was supremely happy! Every day, on waking, it was like hearing good tidings, and every night infinite joy was mine. Spirituality was my comfort, and turning to God was my greatest joy. If this had not been so, do you think it possible that I could have lived through those forty years in prison?
Thus, spirituality is the greatest of God’s gifts, and ‘Life Everlasting’ means ‘Turning to God’. May you, one and all, increase daily in spirituality, may you be strengthened in all goodness, may you be helped more and more by the Divine consolation, be made free by the Holy Spirit of God, and may the power of the Heavenly Kingdom live and work among you.
This is my earnest desire, and I pray to God to grant you this favour.
