Trees and plants need to be pruned to improve their growth. Broken, diseased or dead branches need to be removed or else it would bring the whole tree down. Balance has to be maintained on all sides to shape and control the growth. This is all in preparation for a good, healthy harvest.
In the same way, it is time to start pruning our very own lives. We need to re-evaluate all that we do and see what things keep us in the direction going forward and what things bring us down. Continue reading
God has blessed each one of us with a wonderful body, mind and soul. He has created us in His image. How do we respond?
Being Thankful
God, we thank you for making us the best we can be. Thank you for the gift of being able to see your beautiful world with our eyes and hear the wonderful sounds of nature. Thank you for the great body you have given us and our intellectual mind so we can do your good works.
However, how many times have we criticized ourselves for not looking a certain way or not having the right size or shape of our bodies. To be honest with you, when we are not thankful for what God has blessed us with, and we criticize the gift He has given us, we are insulting God.
God does not make mistakes. He made each one of us in a special way with a special purpose. Let us learn to appreciate who we are and what we look like, in the most respectful way. Use positive, affirming words that convey our gratitude to God. Continue reading
In our daily lives, we come across situations, circumstances and events. Not all are always pleasant. However, we have two choices every single time: Do we React to the situation, or do we Respond to the situation. When we react to a situation, we take action instantaneously, without thinking. This could lead to saying something we did not mean to. It could lead to offending and insulting others, thereby breaking relationships. We all know, once the words are out of our mouth, we cannot take them back. On the other hand, when we respond to a situation, we take time to breathe, compose ourselves, listen, take a step back, analyze the situation, think of the best possible ways to solve the problem and then take action. By responding, we are operating from a calm sense of presence, taking all the factors into consideration, understanding all the other perspectives and then making the best decision for that time.
In order to best understand this concept, I have come up with an equation.
(A is the situation. C is the outcome)
A = C This is when we react to a situation.
The second equation is:
A +B = C This is when we respond to a situation.
The difference is the B.
B is BREATHE. Continue reading
Dilshad Premji 