Month: June 2015

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Daily Reflections – Week 25

June 19

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day on this planet of ours. The Earth continues to spin, and dance around the Sun, and travel through the Cosmos, and here we are, in the middle of it all! It’s another wonderful day in this beautiful garden and amazing playground that were given to us. Let us rejoice with all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles that surround us, and be grateful.

Today is a good day to think about developing our own self-esteem and confidence, and in helping those around us to develop theirs.

People who love themselves, and know that they are loved, are a blessing to all. On the other hand, those who don’t love themselves, and feel unloved, hurt themselves and those around them.

Pay attention, observe, and ask yourself the following questions, taking enough time to reflect deeply on each one before answering:

“Am I building myself up, or am I tearing myself down? And what about the people in my life? Am I building others up, or am I tearing them down? Are they building themselves up, or are they tearing themselves down? Are they building others up, or are they tearing others down? Are they building me up, or are they tearing me down?”

Don’t tear yourself down. Reduce self-criticism, and build yourself up with positive reinforcement and praise. Rejoice with your daily accomplishments. Treat yourself well. Accept yourself. Love yourself. Be gentle and kind with yourself.

Don’t tear others down. Reduce criticism, and build others up with positive reinforcement and praise. Rejoice with their successes. Give them your love. Treat them well. Be gentle, generous, patient, and kind with them. Look for the best in them. Accept them.

This practice is a great start to develop our own self-esteem and confidence, and to support those around us in the process of developing theirs.

Go ahead and do it.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 20

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Let us enjoy the Garden, and have fun in the Playground. Let us be grateful.

Today is a good day to think about relationships. What kind of person are you? What do you bring to the lives of those around you? And what do the people in your life bring to you?

Here are some things to consider…

Don’t make it a habit to find fault in others, and put others down with constant criticism. Don’t judge and condemn others, and beware of those who are constantly criticizing, finding fault, and putting you and others down. Don’t be like them.

Don’t compare yourself with others, and beware of those who do. Don’t envy, and beware of those who are envious.

Don’t aggrandize yourself by showing off your possessions and your talents, your wealth and your intelligence. Don’t fall in the trap of the ego who craves to feel superior, and beware of those who are constantly boasting themselves. Exercise modesty.

Don’t act as if you know it all, and beware of those who do. Be humble. Listen patiently and attentively to others, and learn from them; we are, all of us, teachers to one another. Beware of those who are not willing to listen to you because of their big ego, because of their pride, and their need to believe that they know more than you, and that there is nothing that they can possibly learn from you.

Rejoice with the successes of others. Be happy with their achievements and their displays of intelligence, and be grateful for the gifts they bring to share.

Give of yourself, and support others on their journeys. Be compassionate, forgiving, kind, generous, and patient.

Love yourself, and beware of people who don’t love themselves.

Love others, and beware of those who don’t.

Surround yourself with kind, gentle, and generous people who express heartfelt gratitude for the gifts you bring to share, who accept you and allow you to unguardedly be who you are, who praise you constantly and refrain from criticizing you, who support you on your journey, who are happy with you and for you, who rejoice and celebrate your achievements, who build you up, who propel you forward and upward, who give you positive reinforcement, who make you feel good.

In the end, surround yourself with people who are good to you, and be good to all the people who surround you. Life is too short to do otherwise.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 21

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart and see all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles. Give thanks. Give thanks. Give thanks.

Today is a good day to practice releasing your regrets and worries, and living a more peaceful and enjoyable life.

Prepare yourself to meditate. Find a place where you will be shielded from distractions. Look for a place of silence and serenity. Find a comfortable position, and close your eyes. Listen: can you hear the humming sound of the silence? Now, pay attention to your breathing. Observe the sensations and movements in your body as the air moves in and out. Focus on different parts of your body, such as the nostrils, the throat, the chest, and the stomach. Feel the subtle changes that take place as you inhale and exhale. Now, mentally, count every time you breathe in and out. Breathing in, count “one,” breathing out, count “two.” Keep doing it, and when you reach “ten,” go back and start with “one” again. Pretty easy, right? So go ahead and try it. If you are like the majority of us you will notice that as you do this, the intended activity will be interrupted by thoughts that will pop up in your head. Whenever you catch yourself distracted from paying attention to your respiration and the counting because you have engaged with a thought, simply acknowledge it, and without any judgment, gently let it go. Go back to your breathing and the counting, and stay with this practice for ten to twenty minutes.

Practicing this regularly develops the ability to monitor what is going on inside our heads. We become better able to recognize thoughts and emotions, and select what we are going to give our attention to, and what we are going to acknowledge and gently release. This makes us better able to appreciate the present moment, without letting regrets and worries transport us to the nonexistent past and future.

So, close your eyes, focus on your breathing, count, and when a thought captures your attention, acknowledge it, gently release it, and go back to the conscious breathing and counting.

Do this and experience a state of calm and serenity. Integrate the practice of observing your thoughts and emotions during other moments of your day, and experience a great improvement in the quality of your life.

Do it. You can do it. Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 22

Good morning! Today is another beautiful day in paradise, isn’t it? The sun is illuminating our world, revealing all its wonders. Look! Can you see the shadows? Can you see the light? There is Magic, Mystery, and Miracles everywhere. Take it all in and give thanks. Be grateful. Be grateful. Be grateful.

Today is a good day to practice identifying and releasing disturbing thoughts.

The regular practice of meditation helps us develop mindfulness — the art of mindful living — which helps us pause, recognize, and shine a light on upsetting thoughts and emotions.

When you don’t brush over your fears — when you pause to take a good look and analyze them — they lose their power.

So, continue meditating. Practice meditation regularly, and integrate the ability to pay attention and notice in your everyday life. Meditation increases your capacity to perceive and become aware of what is going on in your mind, and as you integrate this in your everyday life, you become better able not only to retrieve balance, but to avoid getting out of balance altogether to begin with.

You can do it. Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 23

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Look around with the eyes of the heart and see all the wonders that surround you. Life is good, isn’t it? Give thanks and be happy.

Today is s good day to practice listening to the Voice of the Universe.

There is wisdom all around us. The Divine Intelligence is everywhere. Answers to all our questions are constantly being offered to us. Unfortunately, we are not really paying attention. We are not really awake, alert, aware, and alive. It seems that we are sleepwalking through life.

We have to practice to pay attention and to be alert. We have to practice mindfulness, and master the art of mindful living. We have to remember to Connect, Communicate, and Commune with the Divine.

Listen to everyone and everything. Listen to the people in your life. Listen to the breeze. Listen to the silence. Listen to the dog and the cat. Listen to the sound of the water running. Listen to the blade of grass moving with the wind. Listen to me if you want, but always remember that what worked for me, may or may not work for you; actuality, since everything changes, what worked for me in the past, may or may not work for me again. So, if you choose to listen to me one more time, here’s the advice I have for you today: don’t wait for people to tell you what to do. Listen to your Inner Voice. Listen to the Voice of the Universe, and make your own inspired decisions. Take charge of your own life. Don’t follow anyone blindly. Choose your guides and your travel companions wisely, and know that a time will come when you will have to say goodbye to them. Know that a time will come when you will have to choose new guides and companions. Know that a time will come when you will have to say farewell to all of them, and proceed alone. Know that a time will come when you will not need any guides, when you will be listening, seeing, feeling, and being guided by the Energy of Life itself, when you will be traveling all by yourself through uncharted territories, and when you will be opening and creating new paths, your own paths. And know that a time will come when you are going to be guided to guide others.

Develop the ability to notice the clues and listen to the Voice of Wisdom that lives within you and around you. Develop the ability to capture what your intuition and your gut feelings are telling you.

This is your life. Take charge. Be gentle with yourself. Love yourself. And know that you are loved.

You can do it. Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 24

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Close your eyes. Listen. Can you hear the humming sound of the silence? It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Peace is all around you. Feel it. Absorb it. Life is good. Be grateful and be happy.

Today is a good day to diminish the anxiety and improve the quality of your life.

Life can be complicated. The mind may be streaming an uncontrollable amount of thoughts, and even before we can focus on one thought, many others pop up in our heads creating a sense of urgency and a feeling of anxiety. Don’t allow these feelings to get a hold of you. Slow down. Take some time off to meditate. Calm down. Breathe. Observe. Life can be simple. Go back to the basics. Simplify.

Acknowledge what you have to do. Sit down and in a quiet manner create a to-do list. Done? Now look at it. What is important? What is urgent? What do you want to do? What are the things in your list that you have to do, but don’t want to? What are the first things you should tackle? Can you put first things first?

Now that you have achieved some clarity, decide to make of this day a good day. Bring quality and elegance to it. Do one thing at a time, and do it well. No frenetic multitasking today! Find joy and inner satisfaction in what you are doing. Don’t rush. Create a beautiful environment. Enjoy some music. Enjoy some art. Elevate yourself. Elevate your spirit. This is your day. This is your moment. This is your life. Make the best of it. Here. Now.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 25

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Look around and be grateful for everything that the Universe has given you. Be grateful. Be grateful. Be grateful.

Today is another good day to practice to observe the mind, and to gently manage it.

Observe. What are you thinking? You will notice that thoughts are popping up all the time. It can be anything. It can be a memory from the time you were in elementary school, or a thought that reminds you of something that you have been postponing, but that sooner or later you will have to face and do. It can be a thought that gives you a clever idea, an inspiration. It can be what we call a dream, where we are characters in a story, in a place and time that we don’t recognize. The creative mind can transport us anywhere, without time restrictions. You can be in an event that you remember having lived in the past, as well as being a character in a complete new story that as far as you know has never happened.

Your job is to observe this mind of yours, and be aware of your thoughts. That’s the practice: to be aware. Be aware of your thoughts and your emotions. Be the one who observes what is happening. Treat your thoughts and moods as visitors, and be the host who chooses what thoughts and moods you will spend time with. Practice, and with practice you will be able to exercise a better control of who you let in, and who you let stay in your mind. With practice, you will soon be perfectly capable of inviting in the visitors you want to spend time with, of turning some visitors away, and of asking some others to leave. You will develop the ability to do all this gently and elegantly, and you will be amazed to see how agreeably and willingly all visitors will do exactly what you ask them to do.

Isn’t it amazing that you can select what to think and how to feel? Can you see how powerful this makes you?

This is mindfulness. This is the art of mindful living,

You can do it. Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

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Let’s keep in touch.

Please, like Peaceful Ways on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peacefulways

Learn about upcoming workshops and retreats at the Peaceful Ways website www.peacefulways.org

If you like what I have to say, let’s keep the conversation going: read my blogs, my books, and send me your comments.

Subscribe to my blog through the link below.

You can find my books at the Peaceful Ways online store.

Thank you!

– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”

///

– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”

///

– “Silent Peace Walk”

///

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Daily Reflections – Week 24

June 12

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Let us acknowledge the gifts and give thanks for all that we have, instead of complaining for what we don’t have. Let us say, “Just for today, I will be grateful.”

Today is a good day for the removal of thoughts and emotions that impede the free flow of the Pure Energy through us. Today is a good day to make an assessment, and clean our vessels.

Go to your place of quiet and stillness, and after you have experienced comforting peace, gently ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” Acknowledge your fears, and gently release them. Say to yourself, “Just for today, I will not worry. Today I will be fearless.”

Ask yourself, “What do I blame myself for? What makes me feel guilty? What am I ashamed of? Who did I disappoint? Who did I let down? Who did I hurt?” Release all this blame, shame, and guilt, and say to yourself, “Just for today, I forgive myself for all my mistakes.”

Ask yourself, “Who are the people that I dislike?” Acknowledge those individuals that disrupt your peace. Forgive them. Release the hot coals that you are holding and that are only burning yourself. Say to yourself, “Just for today, I will not anger. I will not hold any ill-feelings against others.” Release your hatred and hostility. Let go of all resentment, rancor, animosity, grudge, aversion, bitterness, and indignation with others.

Then, ask yourself, “What lies have I told, or have been telling others and myself?” Acknowledge your dishonesty, and with forgiveness in your heart, and determination in your spirit, say to yourself, “Just for today, I will be authentic and completely honest.”

Ask yourself, “Who do I grieve for? What makes me sad?” Acknowledge the grief and sadness. Say to yourself, “Just for today, I accept losses as part of life.” Release your sorrows.

Ask yourself, “Have I been gentle, generous, patient, attentive, compassionate, and loving? Have I been giving, or have I been focused only on getting?” Acknowledge your attitude, and decide that “Just for today, I will be kind.”

Finally, ask yourself, “What am I attached to? What is difficult for me to let go? What do I need to let go in order to live the life that I was brought here to live, and do what I am meant to do?” Acknowledge what is holding you back. Say to yourself, “Just for today, I will let go of the attachments that impede my Connection, Communication, and Communion with the Source of Life Energy.”

Make of these, your commitments:
– Just for today, I will be grateful.
– Just for today, I will not worry.
– Just for today, I will be free from all fear.
– Just for today, I will forgive myself for all my mistakes.
– Just for today, I will not anger.
– Just for today, I will not hold any ill-feelings toward others.
– Just for today, I will be authentic and completely honest with others and myself.
– Just for today, I will accept losses as part of life.
– Just for today, I will be kind.
– Just for today, I will let go of the attachments that impede my Connection, Communication, and Communion with the Source of Life Energy.

Let go of your concerns. Release your fears. Forgive yourself. Be authentic. Free yourself from the life that has played itself out and does not serve you anymore. Free yourself from earthly attachments. Free yourself from hatred. Remove all blockages. Allow the Energy to flow freely through you. Connect, Communicate, and Commune with your Higher Self. Gain complete control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and bring Heaven to Earth.

Do it! You can do it! Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 13

Good morning!

The sun is shining and a soft breeze is blowing; can you feel it? We are immersed in the droning sound of silence; can you hear it? Take it all in.

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise. Let us give thanks and be happy.

Today is a good day to practice present moment awareness.

I invite you to be awake, aware, alert, and alive, and do one thing at a time. Pay attention to whatever you may be doing in this present moment, no matter how ordinary this thing may be. Don’t treat it as a means to an end. Detach yourself from that mode of living which consists in constantly running after the next thing. Stop running after the next thing, and bring complete awareness to this moment. Bring your attention to simple activities, such as washing hands, moving objects, walking, observing nature, eating, or reading. Again, don’t treat what you are doing as a means to an end. Don’t treat the next moment as more important than this one. This moment is the most important one because it is real; it is all that really exists. Make it your practice to read and savor this sentence, without imagining what comes next, or wanting to get to the end of the reading. Control your expectations, frustrations, and anxiety. Make it your goal to be mindful of the here-now, and absorb the thoughts and sensations brought about by the words you are currently reading. Many times we are doing something, but we are not really in it; we are just anxiously rushing to get to the end of it, as fast as we can. We are doing something while thinking of something else. We were conditioned to be efficient, to believe that the faster we complete our tasks, the better. We become more concerned with getting to the end of what we doing than with taking pleasure in it. We are always rushing to the next thing. Our default modus operandi is getting the maximum done in the minimum amount of time. In this process, we find ourselves pushed and pulled to do more and more, to own more and more, to consume more and more. We become obsessed with quantity and forget quality.

Present moment awareness brings the appreciation of quality back to life.

Free yourself from the need to have more. Realize that you don’t need more. Appreciate deeply what you already have, what was given to you. See the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles in the present moment, and express gratitude. Stop imagining what you may be losing; you are not losing anything. This moment is complete. This moment is enough in itself. Don’t try to cram more into it. If you think that this moment is not full enough — and if you desire it to be more, or if you desire it to be different, or if you desire to be living in the next moment — than you have lost it already.

Stop wanting the next thing. Stop wanting more. Be happy, content, and satisfied. Delight in the beauty, elegance, and other sublime qualities that are only found in the Here-Now.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 14

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Close your eyes and take in all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles. Realize how fortunate you are for knowing the simple truth that the practice of gratitude is what manifests happiness.

Be grateful and be happy.

Today is a good day to practice positive affirmations and creative visualization.

So, go to your place of peace, that place where no one disturbs you, where you are with yourself, all by yourself, and where you feel how deeply loved you are. Bring your attention to your breathing, and meditate. After you have visited that realm of silence and tranquility, read the affirmations below, pausing after each one. Read, close your eyes, repeat the affirmation mentally, and observe the mental images and feelings it evokes. Take your time. You don’t have to read them all today. If one affirmation takes you on a journey of mental imagery and feelings, stay with it. Relish in it. Be patient, and don’t rush. Let’s begin…

I am happy.
I am healthy.
I am wealthy.
I am wise.

I am healed.
I am healthy.
I am protected.
I am purified.

My body is healthy.
My mind is clear.
My heart is joyful.
My soul is serene.

Smile!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 15

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around and see all the beauty and serenity that surrounds you. Take in all this energy of peace, and be grateful.

Today is a good day to remember who you are, and what you were brought here to do.

What does the world need that you can provide? How can you use the talents that were given to you to serve the world? In which ways can the world benefit from your talents? What’s your ministry?

Get ready to serve. Dare to follow your bliss. Accept the call. Go do what you are being called to do. Be courageous. Face the risks. Do the things you don’t want to do so you can live the life that you are meant to live. Trust your intuition. If you have an idea, do something about it. Don’t leave it for later. Initiate action now.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 16

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart and see all the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles that surround you. Take in all this beautiful energy, and be grateful.

Today’s a good day to release whatever is impeding you to live the life that you are meant to live.

Pause, bring awareness to your breathing, touch and feel your inner peace, and then think about your life. Calmly and gently, ask yourself, “What do I have to let go to live the life I was meant to live? What am I here to release? What am I ready to surrender?”

Let go of your concerns. Let go of your insecurities. Let go of your fears. Let go of what is holding you back. Let go of those old, recurring, self-defeating habits. Let go of your earthly attachments. Let go of the life that has played itself out and does not serve you anymore. Let go of choosing to tell the story of your life as a sad one. Let go of choosing to present yourself as a victim and showing your wounds. Let go of the traps of the ego. Let go of the desire to feel important. Let go of the desire to be admired and revered. Let go of the past. Let go of your conflicts with others. Let go of what is preventing you from revealing your truest, glorious self. Let go of hiding yourself and playing small. Let go of the old, so you may embrace the new.

Remember who we are. We are much more than our physical bodies and our little stories. We are conduits for the Divine Energy that exists beyond the ideas and images we have of ourselves. We are much more than who or what we think we are.

Be aware of the omnipresence of the Divine Energy. Love everyone and everything because we are, all of us, expressions of the Divine Energy. Love the Divine Energy and all its expressions.

Let go of what is limiting you, and be conscious of how big you and your mission during your passage here on Earth are. You are an expression of the Divine Energy and you are here to facilitate the expression of this Divine Energy on Earth.

Let go of everything that obstructs the flow of the Divine Energy through you. Allow the Divine Energy to do good things in you and through you. Clean your duct and become an unobstructed conduit of the Divine Energy. Clean your duct and help others clean theirs.

Allow the flow!

Enjoy the thrill of the adventure. Enjoy the beauty of the garden and have fun in the playground. Share your toys. Give of yourself. Make the garden more beautiful and the playground more enjoyable for all. Don’t ignore those in need; help and console them. Be good and do good.

Be your best self.

Be the grandest, noblest version of yourself.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 17

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

This world of ours is still spinning around, continuing its journey through the cosmos, and here we are, on the surface of our colorful globe, enjoying this beautiful garden and amazing playground that were given to us. Isn’t all this Magical, Mysterious, and Miraculous? Aren’t we blessed?

Let us be grateful and happy for all that is given to us.

Today is a good day to think about who you are and who you are not.

Go to that place where you are completely awake, aware, alert, and alive, and remember to restrain the tendency to over-identify yourself with your body and the storylines you keep creating. In the final analysis, you are not your body, or your story. Remember that the ego creates all sorts of illusions to make us believe that we are separate and autonomous beings. Free yourself from those illusions, and also from all the unrealistic demands created by the ego.

It is the ego that wants recognition. It is the ego that craves power and prestige. It is the ego that makes us believe that we are not good enough. It is the ego that is constantly telling us that no matter how much we achieve — no matter how wealthy and famous we may be — it’s never enough. It is the ego that produces perennial dissatisfaction. Remember that it is the ego that compels us to leave an indelible mark on the earth. It’s the ego that wants to live forever. And it is the ego that makes us forget that we already are immense and immortal, that we are Love and Light, and that we should worry less, do less, and enjoy more.

You are not your limited body; the body is just a vehicle. You are a manifestation of the Limitless Energy. You are a conduit through which this energy can come out and express itself in this world. You are immense. Allow the Exuberant Light to shine through you. Allow the Extravagant Love to bless all creation through you.

Allow the flow!

Be yourself. Be your whole self. And be gentle with yourself.

You can do it.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 18

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart, and see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles that surround you. Be grateful. Be grateful. Be grateful.

Today is a good day to reflect on being gentle with yourself. Today is a good day to reflect on allowing yourself to do less, and on giving yourself the gift of rest.

We are conditioned to be active: to work, to do, to improve. We feel called to be productive and efficient all the time. Every morning there is a bossy internal voice reminding us of the much that there is to do, and commanding us to get up, get ready, and get going. And in those few moments when we are not doing something productive, we feel afflicted and restless.

Yes, there’s a lot to be done, and there will always be. Yes, the world needs our contribution. But, maybe, our greatest contribution to the world is to be that calm and serene being whose mere presence invites people to ignore, at least for a while, that internal domineering voice and its orders to be productive and efficient. Maybe, our greatest contribution today would be to slow down and see beauty in what already is, and, by doing so, creating a space where others can slow down, see beauty, appreciate what is — without feeling the urge to change anything — and be grateful for everything life has given them. Maybe our greatest contribution to the world today is to be a peaceful presence that reveals through our own silence and stillness, a whole new world, a dimension of vast emptiness, peace, and beauty. Maybe, our greatest contribution to the world today would be to slow down, and become like an inviting pond of still waters that others can come to, and, while looking at us, see themselves.

Consider that when we slow down, we become gifts to others.

Today, I invite you to practice slow living. Take your time today. Whatever you do today, do it slower, be it your cooking, your cleaning, your parenting, your conversing, or your love making.

Slow Cooking. Slow Cleaning. Slow Parenting. Slow Conversing. Slow love making… Slow Living.

Slow down. Diminish the pace. Don’t obsess about moving fast, getting to the end, getting to the next thing, and getting a lot done. Don’t think about the next thing; stay with this one, here, now. Pay attention to whatever is in the here-now, may it be the person with whom you are sharing this life moment with, or the task you are doing. Stay in the present. Treat it as a precious present, and appreciate and enjoy it.

Be gentle with yourself. Demand less of yourself. Give yourself the gift of rest, and be a blessed presence, a gift to yourself, to others, and to the entire Universe.

Allow the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles to flow through you.

Namaste. ~ Piero

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Let’s keep in touch.

Please, like Peaceful Ways on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peacefulways

Learn about upcoming workshops and retreats at the Peaceful Ways website www.peacefulways.org

If you like what I have to say, let’s keep the conversation going: read my blogs, my books, and send me your comments.

Subscribe to my blog through the link below.

You can find my books at the Peaceful Ways online store.

Thank you!

– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”

///

– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”

///

– “Silent Peace Walk”

///

http://peacefulways.org/store/

Daily Reflections – Week 23

June 5

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Let us be grateful and happy!

Today is a good day to practice to see the beauty, and notice the good in your life.

Pause for a moment. Look for beauty and good with the eyes of the heart. Acknowledge the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles. Sense the Divine Energy flowing all around you, and in you. Take it all in. Remove all obstacles and let it flow freely through you. Be mindful.

Do this several times during the day. And that will be enough for today.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 6

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Today, make it your job to look and see, really see.

Pay attention! Be alert! Focus for a moment on something near you, something very little.

What do you see? Can you now see what you couldn’t see before? Can you see what, with the passing of time, became invisible to you? Can you see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles? Isn’t it awesome?

Today is a good day to practice the 3 Cs: Connect, Communicate, and Commune.

So get out there and reach out to someone with the intention to get to know that person. Be willing to give her your time and attention. Connect and Communicate. Be generous and listen; people crave to be heard and understood. Look someone in the eyes. Introduce yourself. Say our name, and add, “I am glad you are here.” Give someone a hug. Give and receive. Get good not only at giving, but also at receiving.

This is what life is all about: Connection, Communication, and Communion.

Embrace diversity, promote unity, and create community.

Connect. Communicate. Commune.

Just do it, and enhance the quality of your life. Do it, and know that you are making the world a better place.

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 7

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Today is a good day to look for and find beauty in your life.

Take a good look at something; it can be anything. Are you a collector by any chance? If so, take a long look at an item of your collection.

Do you have a painting, a sculpture, or any other artistic item near you? When was the last time you took a good look at that piece of art that you love so much? When was the last time you took a good look at that framed picture near you, and allowed yourself to be carried back to the joyful time when the picture was taken? When was the last time you looked attentively to the people in your life, and really saw them, and felt love and fulfillment? When was the last time you took your time to look deeply with the eyes of the heart and see beauty everywhere, in everything?

Today is a good day to look, see, and give thanks.

Enjoy!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 8

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart and see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles all around you. Give thanks and rejoice.

Today is a good day to combine some of the things that we have been talking about, and practice those things that will enhance the quality of your life.

So, today, I invite you to do the following:
1 – Choose to be grateful.
2 – Choose not to worry. Do not let the worrying emotions capture you. Be optimistic.
3 – Choose not to get angry. Do not store any ill-feelings against anyone. Don’t criticize, judge, or condemn. Look for the good in others. Be compassionate and understand what they may be going through. Simply accept, and graciously forgive.
4 – Choose to be authentic. Don’t put yourself under the stress of trying to be who you are not. Be gentle with yourself. Be who you are.
5 – Choose to be kind with everyone, or, at least, with someone.

So, today, I invite you to plan your day, and intentionally do each one of the following:
1 – Take time to do your meditation, creative visualization, and positive affirmations.
2 – Take a moment to look for good and beauty, and find them in your life.
3 – Take time to take good care of your body. Exercise, eat well, pamper yourself!
4 – Take time to remember who you really are, and make sure that today you do at least a little of what you were brought here to do.
5 – Take some time to do some of the things that you don’t like to do, but that you know you need to do because they will make your life better. Work on cleaning up your environment, and simplifying your life.
6 – Finally, take time to enjoy life! Choose to love! Love yourself, love your life, love others, and be happy!

Do it, and, by doing so, make not only your own life, but everyone else’s life better.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 9

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Close you eyes and feel the breeze caressing you; isn’t this magical, miraculous, and mysterious? Give thanks and rejoice.

Today is a good day to practice seeing the good in others.

Practice to see the goodness that exists inside every person, especially those you don’t like. Think of at least one good quality you admire in individuals you currently dislike, and stay there for a while. Try to see the hidden beauty and good in them. Include them in your circle of affection. Send them your love.

Magically, miraculously, and mysteriously, the more you do that, the more good traits they will reveal.

Think about the people who loved and love you, the ones who always saw the good in you. How this seeing only the good and beauty in you affected your life? Didn’t it make you a better person?

Be a miracle maker! Be one of those who sees the good and the beauty in others, and brings out the best in them.

Just do it, and bring Heaven to Earth!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 10

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Heaven, isn’t it?

What a gorgeous little planet in the Cosmos we came to! Aren’t we fortunate? This is our Garden! This is our Playground! Let us be grateful for the priceless gifts that were given to us.

Today is a good day to trust the Energy of Creation, and allow it to flow freely through us.

Allow the Mighty Intelligence to operate in you and through you. Allow it to heal, purify, and protect you. Allow it to create through you. Surrender! Trust the Divine Intelligence; recognize that It knows much more and much better than you. Go to your place of quiet and stillness and Connect, Communicate, and Commune. Listen to what the Voice of the Universe is telling you. Trust your intuition. Follow your bliss.

Today, make it your intention to enjoy the beauty of the Garden and have fun in the Playground.

Make friends and share your toys. And if you have some time left, and feel like it, give your contribution to make the Garden more beautiful and the Playground more enjoyable for everyone.

Listen, allow, and enjoy!

Bring Heaven to Earth.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 11

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Pause and take all in: the scenery, the sounds, and the soothing sensation of the breeze caressing your skin. See, feel, hear, taste, and smell all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles that surround you. Give thanks and rejoice.

Today is a good day to look at yourself and see who you are.

Pause, go to your place of quiet and stillness, and after your meditation, ask yourself, “Who am I? Am I a bringer of peace? Am I a peaceful presence? Am I gentle and kind? Am I considerate and caring? Does my presence bring about harmony, lightness, healing, and peace? Or do my words and actions bring about tension, unease, and conflict?”

Choose to be gentle and kind. Choose to be the one who brings peace.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

“How can I know who I really am?”
“The energy you bring with you, and create through your demeanor, can tell you who you really are. Pay attention to how your presence affects other people. Do you bring joy, ease, and lightness with you? Or are you a carrier of heaviness and somberness? Are others relaxed, or tense in your presence?”

“Who you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

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Let’s keep in touch.

Like Peaceful Ways on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peacefulways

Learn about upcoming workshops and retreats at the Peaceful Ways website www.peacefulways.org

///

Let’s keep the conversation going. Buy my books at the Peaceful Ways online store. Thank you!

– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”

///

– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”

///

– “Silent Peace Walk”

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http://peacefulways.org/store/

Meditation: The Basics

Here are six short pieces explaining the basics of a meditation practice. They serve as introductions to meditation sessions, and the method described is basically the same in all of them.

Enjoy!

Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and observe your breathing. For the next twenty minutes, every time you become aware of your thoughts, acknowledge them, and gently let them go by bringing your attention back to your breathing. Come back to that gap between thoughts, that place of silence and stillness beyond the chaotic and noisy activity of the thinking mind.

Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and bring your awareness to your breathing. Pay attention to your body as you breathe. Choose an area to observe your breathing more closely, such as your nostrils, your chest, or your abdominal area. As your attention gravitates away from your breathing — as you notice that you are thinking about something that is not in this very moment — gently acknowledge and release that thought, and bring your awareness back to your breathing. Keep doing this for the entire duration of the meditation. As you go about your day, practice observing your thoughts and emotions, and bringing your awareness back to the here-now. Be mindful of what you are thinking, feeling, saying and doing. Observe yourself. Whenever you feel agitated — or at any other time of your day, even for no reason at all — gently bring your awareness to your breathing; this will help you redirect your awareness to the Here-Now. Practice. Such diligent daily discipline will bring you peace.

Choose to observe the mental and emotional noise, and calmly be with all disturbances. Spend a lot of time in that place of stillness and silence where you will find a profound sense of peace, and where you will have a clearer vision of who you really are, and also of who you are not. Close your eyes and observe your breathing. Now, observe your thoughts, emotions, and the feelings in your body. With each exhalation, relax and calm down a little more. Be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself with love, patience and kindness. Give yourself the gift of rest. Acknowledge what is bothering you, but do not give those disturbing thoughts and emotions any further power. Do not engage in the process of imagining. The moment you realize that you have been captured by your thoughts and emotions, gently set yourself free, and softly release them; let them go. Do not fight your undesirable thoughts. Do not be angry at them. Do not try to chase them away. Do not get angry at yourself for having such thoughts either. This doesn’t work; it only empowers them further. Be here, now. Come back to the present moment by focusing on your breathing. By doing so, over and over again, you will be spending more and more time in this place of immense serenity, the gap between thoughts. This process of cultivating inner tranquility will bring you peace and make you a bringer of peace. Meditation will train you to be more attentive and observant of your thoughts and moods when you are not meditating, and this will enhance the quality of your life immensely. Go forth now, and be the peace you wish to see in the world.

Pause, close your eyes and direct your attention to your breathing. Observe what happens when you breathe. Don’t do anything else; just observe. That’s all. As you are doing this, observe also how your attention shifts away from your breathing to your thoughts. We are, by nature, thought-producing machines who give rise to tens of thousands of thoughts a day. We operate in this world with a constant background noise generated by thoughts that have nothing to do with the present moment. Well, during meditation, our job is to become aware of our thoughts. When this happens, we choose not to engage with them; we don’t start a mental conversation. We simply acknowledge them, and gently invite them to leave. We release them and bring our attention back to our breathing. We do this, over and over again. This is a very basic and easy form of meditation that is recommendable to be done for twenty minutes, twice a day, everyday. Why? Because this gives us some control over our minds, and, in the final analysis, control over our lives. How? As you practice, you will develop the ability to observe yourself, your thoughts, and your moods. You will develop a present moment awareness that will help you stay with what is important while releasing what is not. This, in a nutshell, is mindfulness — the art of mindful living — and this moment-to-moment practice of present moment awareness is what will enhance your inner peace.

Sit down, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Observe what happens when you inhale and exhale. As you do this for some time, inevitably the mind will get distracted with thoughts. Your job is to catch yourself when you get distracted. Acknowledge your thoughts — become aware of what you are thinking — but don’t continue to give them further power. Simply invite them to leave, and do this gently. Think of yourself as someone who is sitting by the side of the road watching cars go by; each car carries a thought. See each car passing by, going away, and disappearing in the distance. Don’t go to the middle of the road and try to direct the traffic. Don’t jump into any car either. Do not judge the thought, the practice, or yourself. Just bring your attention back to your breathing. Do this over and over again. Soon the activity in the mind will slow down and you will spend less time with the thoughts and more time in the space between thoughts. The traffic on that road will dwindle substantially. This simple practice will develop in you the ability to be aware of your thoughts and emotions during the other hours of your day, and allow you to be more selective of what you should give your attention to, and this way of living more mindfully will enhance the quality of your life.

Sit down, close your eyes, and observe your breathing. Focus. Whenever you realize that you are thinking about things of the past, or imagining the future, catch yourself doing it. Do it gently. Don’t get mad, criticize, or chastise yourself for getting distracted. Don’t judge the quality of your meditation practice. Don’t tell yourself that you are not doing it right. Having thoughts is absolutely normal, and, in fact, the more you catch yourself and your wandering thoughts, the better the exercise for the brain is.

Catch the thought. Congratulate yourself. Take a good look at it. Decide to release it, no matter how important and interesting the thought may be. Release it, gently, and return to the here-now, bringing your attention back to your object of attention, your breathing. I call it the CCARR method of meditation. CCARR stands for Catch – Congratulate – Acknowledge – Release – Return. This simple acronym serves as a mnemonic aid to help us remember what to do, not only during our meditation sessions, but also throughout our days, in order to live more mindful lives.

Catch the thought, congratulate yourself for catching it, acknowledge it, release it, and return to the activity of paying attention to the physical sensations of your breathing.

Catch. Congratulate. Acknowledge. Release. Return.

Be mindful! Be amazed! Be appreciative! Be grateful! Be content! Be satisfied! Be happy!

Namaste. ~ Piero

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Let’s keep in touch.

Like Peaceful Ways on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peacefulways

Learn about upcoming workshops and retreats at the Peaceful Ways website www.peacefulways.org

///

Let’s keep the conversation going. Buy my books at the Peaceful Ways online store. Thank you!

– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”

///

– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”

///

– “Silent Peace Walk”

///

http://peacefulways.org/store/

Daily Reflections – Week 22

May 29

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

The perfectly coordinated dance of countless celestial bodies continues! Our planet is still traveling through the infinite space, and here we are, blessed to see the Sun again! When you think about all this, doesn’t it blow your mind?

We are very fortunate to be able to live in this beautiful planet, aren’t we? But are we truly awake? What do you think?

Most of the time we are not totally in the here-now; our minds are not where our bodies are. We are operating in some sort of automatic mode, unconsciously going through the motions, sleepwalking through life.

Well, today is a good day to wake up.

Turn the automatic pilot off, and take charge of your vehicle. Don’t let your life pass without you having consciously and attentively lived it. Don’t lose your most precious moments, your present moments.

Wake up now! Be fully present! Don’t wait until it’s too late! You don’t have to wait; you can wake up now, and enhance the enjoyment of being alive.

Remember the 4 As, and practice to remain awake, alert, aware, and alive.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

May 30

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart and see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles.

Let us give thanks and rejoice!

Today is a good day to develop that “I can do it!” attitude.

Think about who you are, and what you were brought here to do. What is the greatest contribution that you can give during your passage here on Earth? Are you doing what you are meant to do?

Today is a good day to try to get the best out of you.

Go to the center of your being, to that place of silence, stillness and peace, and after you meditate, gently ponder, “What is my reason for being here? What are the gifts I am meant to bring and share with others during my life? What are my goals in life and for this year?” See the big picture. Let the answers awaken in you the passion to be the best that you can be every moment of your life.

Say to yourself,

“No more excuses! I can do it, I must do it, and I’m gonna do it! I will plan my work, and work my plan!”

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

May 31

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Pause for a moment and look around. Pay attention. Be alert. Look with the eyes of the heart. Look at the big and the small. Look near and far. What do you see?Can you see all the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles? Aren’t we blessed to be alive?

Let us give thanks again and again and again for all the gifts that we have received and keep receiving. Life is such a miracle, such a wondrous gift, isn’t it?

Let’s take good care of it and be grateful.

Today is a good day to reflect upon who you are, and who you are meant to be, and accept the call to become the grandest version of yourself.

So, pause and ponder… Who do you think you are? Who are you meant to be? What were you brought here to do?

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I remember when she gave it to me… “This crystal will remind you of who you are and what you were brought here to do.”

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Who the people who really loved you — who always saw only the best in you, who always believed in you — think you are?

What do they see in you?

What do they want for you?

What do they envision for you?

Who is the you that you must become to honor them — to honor the unconditional love they always had and have for you?

Who is the you that you must become to honor them — to honor the unshakable belief they always had and have in you?

Who is the you that you must become to prove that the belief that they had in you and your immense grandeur was right?

Time has come to be courageous and brave!

Stand up!

Face your fears!

Bring your best self out into the world!

Do what you know you need to do to become who you know you must become.

Claim the life you are meant to live, the life that you were brought here to live, the life that only you, and no one else, can live.

Give the gifts that the world is crying for and that only you can give.

You are special.

You are unique.

You are great beyond imagination.

Stand up and walk, and keep on walking, and walking, and walking, and know that you are creating your own path.

Let your emotions out.

Yell all your frustration, pain, anger, and despair out as loudly and as wildly as you can.

Let the Universe know how mad you are.

Let the Universe see your pain.

Yell out your griefs and sorrows.

Scream out your resentments and regrets.

Shout it all out!

And then fall down on your knees and cry.

Weep your whole self out.

Sob.

Lose yourself in your tears and moans.

And then look down, look around, look up, look at the big and the small, look at what is near and far, and see with the eyes of the heart, and suddenly experience an odd, misplaced, surprising, and unexpected peace.

Sense the silence and the stillness.

And in the humming sound of silence, hear the voice say to you, “You are forgiven. I forgive you.”

Let it all out. Let it all in. And let it be.

Rest in the knowing that life is a mystery to be lived, not an enigma to be solved.

Rest in the knowing that everything will be alright.

Rest in the knowing that you are whole, perfect and complete already.

Rest in the knowing that your most magnificent self is already in you, and that you don’t have to do anything exceptional or extraordinary; all you have to do is to allow the highest version of yourself to be born.

Surrender and allow the Unnameable Sacred to work in you and through you.

Surrender and allow!

Let it all out and let it all in. Be fearless, and for God’s sake, let it be.

And after all that, stand up, and start walking again!

Just do it!

And know that you are loved.

Know that you are loved.

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 1

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Can you see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles? Let us be grateful and rejoice.

Today is a good day to give thanks for the simple things in life.

Think about something very ordinary, something that you don’t usually think about, and give thanks.

Want a suggestion?

Give thanks for your body, and all the many organs that keep working day in and day out. Give thanks for your brain, for your eyes, for your arms and hands, your legs and feet.

It may sound absurd to give thanks for those things, but imagine not having what you now have. Can you imagine how it would impact your life? Can you imagine how much you would miss what you now take for granted?

Why do we only recognize the value of the things we have when we no longer have them?

Go ahead and give thanks.

Just for today, be grateful.

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 2

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Let us be grateful and happy!

Today is a good day to think about what the Universe is trying to teach us through the difficult situations in our lives.

What are the inconveniences, difficulties, and tragedies trying to tell us?

We are not paying attention, and the things we are not paying attention to are, in reality, carriers of life-changing messages.

The truth is that there is a deeper meaning in everything.

Nothing is ordinary; everything is extraordinary.

We must be willing to go underneath the visible and obvious surface in order to find the revealing meanings that reside in the depth.

So, pause for a moment and ask yourself, “What am I not seeing? What is the hidden message here for me? What must I learn?”

Go ahead and do it.

Just do it! Now!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 3

Good morning!

Today is another magic, mysterious and miraculous day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Beauty is all around us, isn’t it?

Let us enjoy this moment with all its richness, and in consciously doing do, improve the quality of our lives.

Meditate. Listen. Tune in. Can you hear the humming sound of silence? It’s there, isn’t it? It’s here, isn’t it? Can you hear it?

Befriend this ever present sound and let it be the companion that will remind you, throughout your entire day, day in and day out, to be present and attentive.

Let it be the one to remind you to introduce elegance in everything you do.

Make each moment special. Make of each moment a conscious instant of refined enjoyment of life.

Take your time. Don’t rush. Stay in the present — awake, alert, aware, and alive — and enjoy the richness of this moment.

Make of every single activity, even the simplest and most mundane one, a beauty-filled ceremony, a reverent ritual.

Enjoy this cup of tea.
Wash your face reverently.
Find great enjoyment in the act of writing. Feel the pen in your hand. Observe the quality of the paper. Strive to make your handwriting more beautiful, and experience great enjoyment in doing so.
Clean your living and working spaces and bring a serene, elegant, refined beauty to them.

Live like this and you will improve the quality of your life immensely.

You will then understand what it is to be rich, truly rich, and that this wealth is completely independent of one’s accumulation of possessions.

Go ahead. Be gentle with yourself. Plan your work and work your plan, with great gentleness. Gently plan, and gently work.

Let go of all that thoughtless rush.

Place attention in what you are doing, do it with love and elegance, and enjoy a much richer life.

Just do it! Now!

Namaste. ~ Piero

June 4

Good morning!

Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?

Look around with the eyes of the heart and see the Magic, the Mystery, and the Miracles that are all around you. Life is good, isn’t it? Be grateful. Be happy.

Go to the center of your being, to that place of stillness, listen to the humming sound of silence, and experience great peace.

Today is a good day to practice to be your own best friend.

Just for today, don’t judge yourself too harshly. Give yourself the same love, generosity, patience, forgiveness, and compassion that you give others. Be on your own side. Tell others what you need. Don’t let people push you into doing what is not in your best interest; learn to say “No.” Be your own fiercest protector.

You count as much as anyone else. You deserve to be happy.

Protect yourself. Praise yourself. Love yourself. Support yourself.

Do it.

Just do it!

Namaste. ~ Piero

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Let’s keep in touch.

Like Peaceful Ways on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peacefulways

Learn about upcoming workshops and retreats at the Peaceful Ways website www.peacefulways.org

///

Let’s keep the conversation going. Buy my books at the Peaceful Ways online store. Thank you!

– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”

///

– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”

///

– “Silent Peace Walk”

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