I hope you enjoy reading this collection of reflections. Namaste. ~ Piero
October 9
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
Look around with the eyes of the heart and see what you were not able to notice before. Look at the details and be amazed. Be grateful for all the many gifts life gives you. Be happy!
Today is a good day to think about how having too much is a source of anxiety.
Think about the amount of information that is available to us these days, and how things changed in the last decades. When was the last time that you read a magazine as people used to read them five decades ago? Back then, a magazine was the stimulator of dreams, the main source of information and connection with the world. Back then, people took the time to sit down, read, enjoy each page, and cherish that magazine as an item of great value. They weren’t distracted by TV, Internet, social media, podcasts, audio books, videos, and all the many other things we have available today.
There’s so much information available to us today, so much to read, watch, and listen to. Do we really need all this? There’s so much of everything these days, except time. Time continues to be a limited resource. Therefore, we are called to decide what we are going to do with the limited time we have.
Have you noticed the anxiety generated by having access to too much information? Have you noticed the anxiety generated by the desire to know more, to read, watch, and listen more? Are you frustrated because you don’t have time for everything you want to do?
Here are some suggestions to tame this anxiety:
Reduce the amount of stimuli you are exposed to. Shield yourself. Protect yourself.
Let go of the desire to do it all. Decide to do less. Reduce the desires, and reduce the anxiety.
Do less and enjoy more.
Simplify. Look at your options, and make your choices. Select. Prioritize. Plan your work, and work your plan. Follow through.
Be here, now. Live mindfully.
Just do this, and enhance the quality of your life.
Namaste. ~ Piero
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl
October 10
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
The night has left and the day has arrived, just as planned. The sun showed its face to us again, and is illuminating this beautiful garden and amazing playground that was given to us. Let us admire the beauty of the garden and have fun in the playground.
Isn’t all this wonderful?
Be amazed! Be grateful! Be happy!
Today is a good day to reflect on the art of mindful living.
To live mindfully is to bring the same awareness that we develop during the times we are meditating to the other times of our days. During meditation we are instructed to practice the ‘CARR’ technique, which stands for ‘Catch – Acknowledge – Release – Return.’
Prior to the meditation session, as we prepare ourselves to meditate, we are instructed to choose something upon which we will focus our attention during the meditation period. It can be anything: a word, an image, a prayer, or something as simple as our own breathing, for instance.
As we start to meditate and focus, we, inevitably, will get distracted.
Well, the moment that we realize that we are entertaining distracting thoughts — the instant we become aware of our thoughts — that is, exactly, the moment of ‘Catch.’ What we are called to do then, is to gently ‘Acknowledge’ that thought, as if it were an object that we could hold in our hands and look at. Then, again with gentleness, we are called to ‘Release’ that thought, as if we were releasing a fish that we had just caught back into the water. And after doing that, we are called to ‘Return’ our attention to the original object of our focusing exercise.
A good meditation is not necessarily a period of total thoughtlessness, as many people think. A meditation full of CARR moments is a good one because it shows that we are developing our attention, our awareness, our mindfulness.
Now, to live mindfully is to bring this same awareness to the other moments of our lives. Let us be cognizant that as we go through our normal days, our minds frequently wander and lead us to think about things that have nothing to do with what we may be actually doing in the here-now.
Well, apply the ‘CARR’ technique: ‘Catch, Acknowledge, Release, and Return.’ ‘Catch’ the thought that has nothing to do with the present moment, ‘Acknowledge’ it, ‘Release’ it, and ‘Return’ to the present moment, to whatever you may be doing.
Here’s a story that illustrates the art of mindful living… The disciple asked his master, “Master, how come you are always so peaceful?” The master responded, “I never leave my place of meditation.”
Stay in our “place of meditation” the entire day. Stay awake, aware, alert, and alive. Stay in a state of mindfulness.
Remember that a good life is a collection of good moments. Become a master in the art of mindful living. Collect many good moments by living mindfully, and create a good life.
Just do it!
Namaste. ~ Piero
“Meditation is deceptively simple: mind wanders, wandering is noticed, wandering is let go of, attention is gently re-established. And repeat.” ~ Headspace
October 11
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it? Can you hear the humming sounds of the silence? Can you notice peace in the air? Can you feel the gentle breeze caressing the world? Can you see the big things and the little ones? We are surrounded by Magic, Mystery, and Miracles, aren’t we? Let us be amazed and grateful for all this, and let us realize that this amazement and gratitude is what makes us truly happy.
Today is a good day to infuse our lives with love.
Slow down. Pause. Breathe. Treat this moment reverently, as a sacred one. Deepen you attention, and see beyond what you normally see. Feel the goodness in you. Feel the goodness in others. Feel the goodness in all creatures and in all creation.
Learn the art of pausing. Learn to expand the space between stimulus and response, and to be the master of this sacred space where you rest in awareness of what is, and where you are given the time to wisely choose the best responses.
Pause. Pay attention. Look deeply with the eyes of the heart, see beyond what you see, and grow in understanding, compassion, affection, generosity, patience, kindness, gentleness, and respect.
Be compassionate and kind with yourself and others.
Pause and see goodness in yourself and in others.
Remind yourself of who you are, and help others remember who they are.
Just do it!
Namaste. ~ Piero
October 12, 2015
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
Today is a good day to practice paying attention to your feelings in order to manifest your desires.
If you are familiar with the Law of Attraction, you know that “Every thought vibrates. Every thought radiates a signal. And every thought attracts a matching signal back.”
Put your attention on what you desire. Use your imagination, and imagine yourself already enjoying the things and situations you desire.
Pay attention to your feelings, and to your self-talk. Be careful with the things you say to yourself. Discern if your mind is occupied with what you desire, or with the absence of what you desire. Whenever you think about what you want, you also think about what you don’t want; it’s inevitable. But your focus has to be on producing vivid images and sensations of what you want. Your job is to live as if you had already achieved what you desire, feeling all the good feelings associated with it. Your main job is to be grateful and feel good, content, joyful, and happy in the here-now. By exuding self-confidence and optimism you will continue to attract good things.
On the other hand, avoid at all costs mulling over undesirable situations and outcomes. What you think, you manifest.
So, if while practicing mindfulness – the art of attentive living — you catch yourself in a pessimistic mood — worried, concerned, discouraged, doubtful, or fearful — take charge and immediately change your thoughts. Change your mood from a negative to a positive one. Don’t think defeat and failure. Think only success and victory!
Just do it, and enhance the quality of your life!
Namaste. ~ Piero
October 13
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
Look around and see all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles that surround you.
Be amazed! Be grateful! Be happy!
Today is a good day to reflect on a good life.
Mindfulness, or Mindful Living, is the art of maintaining sustained present moment awareness. When we are living mindfully, we are aware of what is going on in the here-now, especially of what is going on inside our heads.
It is by meditating that we develop the ability to live mindfully. The regular practice of meditation develops in us the ability to become aware of our thoughts and of the activity inside our heads. Writing down our thoughts regularly is a comparable activity that produces a similar result: as we write them down, we develop the ability to distinguish our thoughts, and become familiar with our brain activity.
This acquired skill – of maintaining sustained present moment awareness, and being acquainted with our thoughts — is of fundamental importance for the enhancement of the quality of our lives. As we begin to apply what we have learned during the moments of meditation to the other moments of our days — those moments when we are not ‘formally’ meditating — we begin to live more contemplative lives. We become more thoughtful and reflective, better able to observe our own selves, and to recognize our moods and the thoughts behind them. This is of the utmost importance, because our thoughts create our reality. We are what we think, and we attract what we think the most. As we become better aware of our moods and of the thoughts that generate, or are generated by them, we can begin practicing to release undesirable, negative thoughts while introducing desirable, positive ones through creative visualization and positive affirmations.
I invite you to live mindfully, and to, gently, without harsh judgment or self-condemnation, let go of negative thoughts. Use your imagination, and populate your mind with vivid, detailed, positive images that make you feel good, that bring a smile to your face, and that fill you with optimism and an eagerness to embrace the adventure of life!
Live fully, love wastefully, learn unceasingly, laugh unboundedly, lead compassionately, and leave an honorable legacy that will bless others.
Just do it!
Namaste. ~ Piero
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”
October 14
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
Look around with the eyes of the heart and see beyond what you see. See Magic, Mystery, and Miracles everywhere.
Be amazed! Be grateful! Be happy!
Today is a good day to listen to the inner voice and take action.
What is your inner voice telling you? Do you feel a great impulse to do something? If so, do it. Don’t think too much. Don’t over-rationalize. Don’t let over-thinking dissuade you from taking action. Just act on your impulse.
Be impulsive!
Maybe you were told that to be impulsive is bad, and that you should think things over before acting. I am here to tell you that you have to act. Do something. Don’t waste any more time. Don’t get to the end of your life full of regrets for not having responded to your calling.
The Universe is talking to you. Listen. Are you inspired? If so, take action. Do not postpone. Do not leave for later. Do it now!
Time is short. Follow your instinct. Act on your impulses. Follow your bliss.
Just do it!
Namaste. ~ Piero
October 15
Good morning!
Today is another beautiful day in Paradise, isn’t it?
Look around. Can you see all the Magic, Mystery, and Miracles that surround you? Look deeply.
Be amazed! Be grateful! Be happy!
Today is a good day to practice the art of pausing.
In the middle of all the many things that demand our attention, it is not always easy to decide what to do next. Many times, we feel lost, not knowing which way to go.
In such situations, practice the art of pausing.
Stop whatever you may be doing. Close your eyes. Go to the center of your being. Be aware of your body, your breathing, your emotions and thoughts. Gently, clear your mind. Set as your intention to enjoy this Holy Pause, and treat it reverently. Feel the Divine coming to you, calming you down, and giving you a clear mind.
Give yourself many Holy Pauses during your days. By doing so you will enhance the quality of your life.
Just do it!
Namaste. ~ Piero
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– “Peaceful Ways – The Power of Making Your Wishes Come True”
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– “Pay Attention! Be Alert! Discovering Your Route to Happiness”
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– “Silent Peace Walk”
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