" Less Is More … "

The more you buy, the less you've sold

The more you try, the more you fold

The more you read, the less you see

The more you need, the less you're free

I'll always need your love I guess

I've looked for more but more is less

You take me in, you take me slow

You let me be, you let me know

That less is more, less is more

Hold me tight and everything is right ...

Love is more, love is more

~ Rupert Holmes ~ Less Is More ~

***

Life and work have become so overly complex ... yet it doesn’t have to be when we realize that what we have is good enough.  Perhaps along the idea of “don’t use a lot where a little will do”.

But we are bombarded with the message that the more we have, the happier we will be.  Because at this moment in time, we are not enough ... we are incomplete ... we lack something.  We must do more, achieve more, own more and consume more — we get the message loud and clear!!  This is what marketers what us to believe ... that we would be happier if we had more “stuff”.  But what happens when get that stuff ... we want more right?  It is never enough, because we have put our happiness on something.  

But, happiness is not a goal or a thing, it is a choice right ?

 ... once our basic needs are met, the benefits of “more” plateaus … 

as your add more material possessions, well being actually decreases ... 

Personally, less is more gave me more time.  I had less to manage, organize, sort or figure out.  By de-cluttering my closets, I de-cluttered my life.  As I’ve simplified, I’ve questioned the importance and usefulness of most of my belongings.  I realized that owning less lets me choose what truly matters.  I appreciate what I do have.  I am kinder to the planet as there is no quest for more while trashing our planet.

More importantly, there is space ... and although seemingly empty, somehow fills me with peace.  A peace that I have never experienced when I had more  ... possessions, friends, “stuff” … Living simply is not easy.  The pressure to conform is overwhelming.  

 ॐ Yet the more I have simplified the more I find my strength and certainty within ॐ

www.walkstrong.ca

" Judge Not ... "

Don't you look at me so smug

And say I'm going bad

Who are you to judge me

And the life that I live?

I know that I'm not perfect

And that I don't claim to be

So before you point your fingers

Be sure your hands are clean

Judge not

Before you judge yourself

Judge not

If you're not ready for judgement-Whoa oh oh!

~ Bob Marley ~ Judge Not ~ 

***

We all do it.  Every one of us.  We tell ourselves that we don’t want to and maybe we don’t really mean to.  But we do.  We judge people ... especially when someone keeps on doing the same annoying thing day after day.  We point out their faults and therefore judge.

To promise we won’t, In practice, it is easier said than done, yet if we honestly monitor our minds, we realize how difficult or even impossible it may be to judge nothing that occurs.  

So what is it about judging that makes it so hard to let go of?

Considering that to judge, drains our energy, is debilitating and makes us tired ... why do we feel compelled to pronounce our judgement and correct the errors of the world around us?  

Perhaps conflict and judgement are connected, and our conflict with authority is the source of all our judgements.  First, consider the authority figures in our lives ... boss, parents, teachers, etc ... then determine how we feel about them.  If they express an opinion that affects us and carries some weight with us, they can be considered an authority figure.  And depending on if we respect, fear, admire, resist or resent them, directly affects how much we value their opinion.

Oh and of course, we inadvertently learn from them too.  If their opinion matters, when they judge us, we judge us.  Then we issue our proclamation, and determine the true nature of reality ... 

but is reality truly up to us?  

So we continue the cycle and ultimately we judge others because we want to.  It establishes us as superior and validates our independent authority.  Just as previously done to us.  Basically, it builds up our ego by allowing us to perceive differences.  Allowing us to maintain our place as the ultimate authority.  We evaluate to justify our own autonomy and feel we must judge against all competitors.  We play the judgement game ... but how is our rule better than others? 

Instead, prior to judging, maybe we could ask ourselves  “Am I choosing not to know him?”.  Maybe we can chose to know the true worth of others instead of perceiving wrong in them.  

Isn’t it our choice of judgement that causes our perception? 

Realize that when you judge you are trying to be the author of reality.  Judgement imprisons you by making you into something you are not.  Striving for a peaceful existence, you can live this simply by knowing who you are ... the freedom of total acceptance just as you are, as you are in reality.

"Right here, right now ..."

"I was alive, and I waited, waited
I was alive and I waited for this
Right here, right now
there is no other place I want to be"
~ EMF ~ Right Here, Right Now ~
***


Well, had my follow-up consult with the Gerson doctors and in the words of Dr. Ramos, he is "very, very, very happy" with my latest round of test results.  I am responding well to the therapy, on we are on the right path to wellness.  Should we break out the champagne?  Hmmm not just yet, but get the glasses chilled cause we are on our way ~ oh yeah!


The last few days I have been surfing on the net, mindlessly watching my facebook wall updates from friends about the future and future events.  Very little is written about this moment ... right here, right now.  For me, I am forced to live in the present, in this very moment.  And in this moment, there is no other place I want to be.  I wake up in the mornings with daily prayers, thank-ful for little to no pain in my body, thank-ful for my husband, thank-ful for my family, thank-ful for the means to get good food and a safe home.  These may seem like the basics, but really, that is all that matters at this time, in this moment ~ staying present.   


Sometimes when we anticipate the future, we flood our bodies with emotions of anxiety and worry.  I recently read a great article about the current culture we have calling it "anxiety culture".  It becomes a bad habit ... worrying and we continue to do so until we perfect this art.  Just think about it, as we mature into adults, we are told "you had better start to worry about your future".  If you don't you are considered aimless and irresponsible.  Because somehow, the art of worrying is going to really help you figure out your future.  How is that worrying help you in making sound decisions, think rationally, and help you follow your dreams, fuel your passion and ensure you love the life you really desire?

Worrying is the most easiest and popular way to negate happiness.  
It handicaps us and diminishes us.  It can be a pointless and damaging activity because things never happen the way we imagine hem, we end up giving our power away, it distorts reality and more importantly it is very bad for our health ~ STRESS!

So, here are some simple and effective methods I am practicing in hopes to diminish worry from my life:

• realize that I am in control of my reactions to what happens in my life
• recognize that worry is a habit and can be changed
• keep things in perspective
• face my fears and what is real from fiction
• stop taking myself so seriously

Worrying can be a dangerous thing, taking you away from here and now.  Easier said than done?  You bet, but if we start to acknowledge where we are, and setting our intentions as to where we want to be, we will stay PRESENT ~ Living more and Worrying less.

""Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." -Proverb

"Staying Conscious ..."

Compliments of DailyOM ...

"Staying Conscious"

Staying Grounded in a Big City or Busy World

1. Live simply and live deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down. You will discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive. 

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world. 

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place. 

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to. 

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you. 

6. Nurture your ties to your tribe. If you don’t have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a tribe, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors - can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship. 

7. See the larger picture. Remember the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion. 

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull. 

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality. 

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often “on the go” and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

"For a more grounded life, choose not to get caught up in the fast-paced world around you"