Our
difficulties and tests are like the weight lifters weights that help
him to build up his muscular power. By exercising our inner power in
response to these challenges, we develop our emotional, mental and spiritual
muscles. We become emotionally stronger and mentally more positive and
assured of our ability to face any possible situation.
Here
are some concepts that will help us to grow through our life experiences:
1.
Perceive life as a school.
2.
Remember that every experience is a lesson designed to teach us something
about our selves and the nature of reality.
3.
Remember that life gives us exactly the lessons we need in every moment.
4.
Discover which lessons life is trying to teach us Richard Bach, in his
book Illusions reminds us that a "problem never comes to you without
a gift in its hands". Our life-challenge is to fearlessly study
our problems and discover the gifts therein.
5.
Determine what changes we need to make in our living or thinking habits
in order to become free from this problem or, in some cases, to realize
that there actually is no problem. We can ask ourselves these questions:
a. What must I let go of? (Habits, emotional tendencies, addictions,
attachments, fears, expectations, attitudes, beliefs.)
b. What can I begin to develop? (Positive beliefs, disciplines, attitudes,
abilities.)
c. Is there actually any problem here or I am making it into a problem?
6.
Decide how we can start making these changes so as to once again find
peace, health and harmony.
7.
Accept that only we ourselves can solve this problem, otherwise its
solution is of no use to us. We can take advice from our doctor,
psychiatrist, clergyman or guru, but it is up to ourselves to make the
actual changes. It is our responsibility as well as our opportunity.
The
difference between the pessimist and the optimist is that the pessimist
sees the problem in every opportunity and the optimist sees the opportunity
in every problem.
WHAT
WE CAN LEARN FROM ILLNESS
I
remember a story told by Dr. Jayadeva of the YOGA INSTITUTE OF BOMBAY.
"Once
an enlightened being was asked "Who was your guru?" He answered,
"Sinusitis." The enlightened one went on to explain that in
order to free himself of his sinusitis he had to change his diet completely.
Then he started doing exercises and breathing techniques to purify and
remove the stresses from his body that intensified the problem. After
that, he started practicing deep relaxation and meditation in order
to quiet the mind and nervous system, which seemed to be at the root
of the sinusitis. Finally, he had to completely alter his understanding
of himself and the world around him, so as to remove the basic causes
of imbalance in his body and mind. As a result of all these efforts
and changes, his body and mind became so purified and in tune with the
Spirit, he became enlightened."
Some
possible lessons we might learn from illness are:
1.
To improve our diet: Choose to eat healthier foods in proper quantities,
so the body and mind will be strengthened and able to function effectively
and clearly, biologically, mentally and spiritually.
2.
To adopt healthier living habits: Learn to exercise, breathe and relax
regularly, so as to create a body that has the strength to protect itself
from microbes and various malfunctionings.
3.
To analyze and correct any negative thought patterns that may create
emotional, mental or physical blockages.
4.
To learn to be more humble and compassionate through this rather humbling
position in which we are temporarily weak, vulnerable, and perhaps even
dependent upon others.
5.
To learn to accept, love and care from others: Some of us cannot accept
affection or even simple compliments from others. We always want to
be on the giving side. This can sometimes be based on egotistic motives.
6.
To think more deeply about the meaning of life: Why are we here? What
is the purpose of life?
7.
To reexamine our goals and value system: What do we want from life?
What is important to us? Are we living in such a way as to achieve our
goals?
8.
To develop mental powers of positive thought projection so as to send
healing energies into the various parts of our body and heal it.
9.
To take a more active role in the creation of our health, happiness
and harmony. Only we can create our illness and health.
10. To surrender to God's will. Although we do everything we need to
do in order to create health, we must also be able to accept whatever
the results may be in order to unite our will with the Divine Flow.
11.
To concentrate more on our contact with the Divine through prayer and
meditation.
12.
To realize that we are not this body and begin to dis-identify from
it, feeling ourselves as an immortal spirit.
Author:
Robert Najemy (Author of 19 books - 95,000 copies sold, director of
the Center for Harmonious Living in Athens Greece-with 3700 members
and editor of the ezine "Clarity - The Psychology of Happiness".
(Condensed from the recently released book "The Psychology of Happiness
(ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) by Robert Najemy . His writings can be viewed at
www.HolisticHarmony.com)
"Clarity - The Psychology of Happiness" can guide you towards
much desired improvements in your life, health, inner harmony and relationships.
Visit us at www.HolisticHarmony.com
or subscribe at ren@HolisticHarmony.com
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