" Living On A Prayer … "

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got 

'Cause it doesn't make a difference 

If we make it or not 

We've got each other and that's a lot 

For love - we'll give it a shot 

Whooah, we're half way there 

Livin' on a prayer 

Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear 

Livin' on a prayer 

We've got to hold on ready or not 

You live for the fight when it's all that you've got

 ~ Bon Jovi ~ Living On A Prayer ~

***

Emotionally, something to happen, something to become, something to have.  Waiting for something before I can really ??… Logically, battling why I hold myself back from activities, projects, opportunities … 

For a long time I felt that I couldn’t possibly bliss out in life without being perfect.  Perfectly healed that is.  Because perfection comes from hard work & dedication, because perfection is where you earn the rewards.  But I couldn’t be rewarded until ... I couldn’t  venture out until ... I couldn’t try new things until ... I couldn’t eat that until, I couldn’t (why, because they said so …), I couldn't (why, because that might happen) … 

I put so much pressure on myself to provide "proof" of my efforts 

because "just living with cancer" wasn't good enough ...

You see, when you face a life threatening situation, you make changes because you don’t have a choice.  To survive and thrive.  You develop routines and schedules so that you have some certainty.  Absolutely everything in your life revolves around the challenge.  AND, this FEEDS your FEARS!!! ... if you alter your new lifestyle, it will be detrimental to your health because of what ifs … what if, what if, what if?

You live yourself into a nice, pretty bubble and then guess what happens, you just stop living and THAT in itself is ungrateful.

Ungrateful because we are gifted life, here and now, not when things are just perfect according to what we want.  Life is perfect as it is, as it should be according to the Divine ...

And then it happens ... awakening ... every single day is where the gratitude lies.  You realize that you don’t have to wait to LIVE, travel, explore, take a course, make new friends, nurture present relationships and cultivate what really matters to you NOW.  Things seem clearer, old seems new, take a chance, think outside (no box required) and get out of your comfort zone.  

NOW ask yourself, what small step can you take today to start living your (miracle) life?

" Habit … "

Seen it happen to a couple of friends

Seen it happen and the message it sends

Taken up for what's an obvious fault

Just to see what all the fuss is about

It's not your way...not your way

It's not your way ...

Another habit says it's long overdue

Another habit like an unwanted friend

I'm so happy with my righteous self

It's not your way...not your way

It's not your way

Never thought you'd... habit

Never thought you'd... habit

Never thought you'd... habit

I never thought you, never thought you...

~ Pearl Jam ~ Habit ~

***

I love the new year with fresh starts and new beginnings.  It is a chance to be more intentional with life.  And it is also an opportunity to cultivate good habits.  

Some may call it a “routine”, other’s a behaviour, but what makes a habit is consistency.  For a habit to be a habit, we would subconsciously repeat the same actions or activity.  You don’t have to think about it, it is just what you do.  Plus a habit won’t cultivate or fade on it’s own ... and when you establish a habit, the mind doesn’thave to work so hard, allowing you to create new ones easily.  

It takes an act of will to create a new habit ...

And we can begin by finding the habits that achieve your desired goal.  Start by finding people whose circumstances are similar to yours but who've achieved the success you desire. They are your pattern, they are your lesson plans.  

Once these habits or behaviours have been determined, then it is time to assess the time needed for them.  Resistance, procrastination and excuses will play their role, but it is about managing the dark with light & the negative with the positive.  Replace old habits that no longer serve you with new ones and calendar your new routines.

“We form our habits, and then our habits form us." ...

Take on one step at a time, one habit at a time.  Personally, I form the habit in my mind first which helps me perform it outwardly.  By seeing yourself performing the action in the places and circumstances you expect to perform in, you cultivate the expectations you want, not what you fear.  A process athletes utilize all the time.  

And watch the company you keep.  By spending more time with people who have the habits you want, you’lll see the possibility of forming those habits and be encouraged to create them.  This directly honours you and those around you by becoming the better human you may be longing to be.

" Newborn ... "

Newborn ...

I've got someone seeing grace in me

Someone respecting me

I've got someone who's there for me

Someone saying prayers for me

For all the right reasons

~ Depeche Mode ~ Newborn ~

***

This weekend, I had an opportunity to celebrate the upcoming birth of a newborn.  My girlfriend Jasmeen and her husband are expecting their first baby this spring.  So exciting ... bringing so much joy in their lives and for those of us touched by them.  Thanks to my gorgeous girl, Rupi who hosted a wonderful afternoon, we showered Jasmeen with happiness and love ... keeping her body, mind and spirit in a blissful state.  Precious ♥

In the spirit of babies, recently I read that the expectant mother needs to sacrifice many things during her pregnancy, as she is being a given a gift of a lifetime, her precious newborn.  I read she should hear melodious songs, read revered books or beautiful literature, wear comfortable clothing, adorn herself with fragrant flowers and always be in a happy and serene atmosphere.  This increases her chances of giving birth to children who have better cognition, spatial and depth perception.  As well as avoiding packaged foods, restrict animal products and alcohol ensures a healthy baby.  And lowering stress and anxiety is crucial as this can lead to subtle changes in an unborn child’s development ... high signs of stress such as high blood pressure increase heart rates of their babies.

All this literature made me think ... why does this have to apply to only expectant mothers?  Just think ... apply the above to yourself as often as possible ... *sigh ... pure bliss!  We are just as important as our newborns.  We too are a gift and it is never to late to treat ourselves with a mother’s kindness and love ... loving kindness, the feeling of love, warmth and caring as the object.  You see, a mother’s love is unconditional - there are truly no strings attached.  So why do we attach strings?  Why do we beat ourselves up, tell ourselves it is too late or we are not good enough?

When we truly take care of ourselves and our bodies at all times, not just times when we are “suppose to”, we will have the same effect on ourselves as we would on a newborn ... for example, you wouldn’t feed your baby junk food, so why do you feed this to yourself?

So start off by imagining yourself as a kid ... wouldn’t you want the best for that kid?  Imagine showering that child with comfort, security, safety.  Continue to positively nourish that child's internal and external environment.  Now use that image as a way to cultivate a sincere wish for happiness for yourself ... a wish held within every one of your cells ....a wish to be truly happy ... a wish to embrace yourself with feelings of peace, bliss and joy ... unconditionally.  Precious ♥