mindset – Bonnie Ross Parker

Ten Ways to Empower Your Soul

In 1999, (20 years ago!) a friend gave me a gift – the following booklet on empowering one’s soul. I recently came across it and thought you, too, would appreciate this simple wisdom.. Sometimes, even the basic lessons of life can have the most profound effect. Consider beginning today to enhance and enrich your life and the lives of those you touch.

Ten Ways to Empower Your Soul by The Himalayan Institute

One: Simplify! Simplify! Overcome by clutter? Overweight? Mind and senses on overload? Uncomplicate your life by remembering this simple adage: “Less is more.” Drop the unnecessary and nonessential. Avoid gossip, useless clutter, overindulgence. Cultivate cheerfulness, neatness and a positive attitude. Dress simply, eat simply and practice simplicity in thought, speech and action. Simplify, simplify as you seek a higher purpose in life.

TWO: Choose a Direction – Racing from one commitment to another, over-scheduling, trying out one self-improvement method after another, can leave you tired, confused and unsure of what to do next. It’s time to decide what’s important. Slow down! Let your mind become clear as you refocus your intentions. Make conscious choices. Always choose the best possible option. Be unwavering as you choose a direction for your spiritual and worldly life and let life’s distractions pass you by.

THREE: Transcend the Ordinary. If your life lacks spontaneity and surprise, your zest for life has probably fizzled. Unleash the power of your imagination! Walk down a different street. Transform frustration by cultivating patience and kindness. Smile at a stranger. Experience the world with a beginner’s mind. Remember that life is a gift and enjoy each moment.

FOUR: See the Light. Do you feel like you’re existing rather than living? On the brink of boredom? Expand your inner and outer vision to look for beauty and delight in yourself and the world. Choose to be cheerful. Practice being positive. Share your energy by reaching out to help others. Respect and love yourself, your companions and your world. Let your inner self shine and radiate light.

FIVE: Meditate. Mind full of scattered thoughts? Feeling disconnected from your self? Meditation is the answer. Give yourself a few minutes each day to sit quietly. Calm the body and mind. Take notice as you become less affected by the turmoil of life. Through meditation you can return again and again to the center of your being. Meditation gives you the best of life. Love your practice. Doesn’t your spiritual life deserve a few minutes every day?

SIX: Be Fearless. When you’re full of anxiety and fear, be bold! Watch your emotions and breathe deeply as you release tension, anxiety and fear and let them float away. Without condemning yourself or others, correct your misstates and move on. Life in the present moment rather than in past of future thoughts. Avoid procrastination – do what needs to be done at the moment it needs to be done. Become fearless and happy.

SEVEN: Wake Up! If you’re walking blindly through life and have tunnel vision, it’s time to wake up! Our habits deplete or enhance vital, creative energy. Start now to cultivate good habits. Practice breath awareness daily. Take a brisk walk to invigorate body and mind. Set aside time for relaxation. Stretch. Laugh with your loved ones. Learn to see every moment as a chance for new and refreshing opportunities.

EIGHT: Eat for Life. We live in an overfed and under-exercised society. A simple, balanced diet keeps us healthy. Choose whole foods. Prepare them with love. Eat slowly. Chew food thoroughly. Take time to taste the food you’re eating. Whenever possible, eat your main meal at noon and a light meal for dinner. Don’t eat between 7 pm and 7 am. Give thanks for your food and your life.

NINE: Keep Good Company. Just as good food makes you healthy, good company makes you cheerful and uplifts your spirit. The greatest blessing on the spiritual path is the company o fellow aspirants. Cultivate the friendship of those you aspire to emulate. Keep good company to become good company.

TEN: Be Flexible. Backaches, headaches and indigestion can be signs of being stressed out and uptight. Don’t sweat little things. Compromise when possible. Exercise your body – consider yoga, dance, hiking, bike riding, swimming. Exercise your mind – read, reflect, expand. Watch your life change.

What speaks to you the most? How do you incorporate these principles into YOUR life?

Is Having A Servant Mindset a TOP Priority?

Are you tired of individuals making commitments – any commitment – and then not doing what they say they’re going to do? Are you frustrated over the lack of response/appreciation/customer service so prevalent in today’s marketplace? Are people more interested in building their Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn followers and connections then building or strengthening the relationships they already have? It’s troubling to recognize that it’s obvious we have lost human touch, compassion and genuine caring in personal and professional relationships.

Everyone is moving so quickly. Everyone is stretched to accomplish what they can in a day. We move from task to task, from one communication to another often with little time to really appreciate, acknowledge and feel blessed by simply living.

When I think of service and the word ‘serve’ I think of what can be done under any situation that lets someone know that they are important, they have value and are respected. Are we each doing our part to treat people with kindness? Are we sensitive to the needs and situations of the people with whom we interact? Are we so entrenched in our own lives that we fail to support and show compassion to those less fortunate?

The news continually reminds us of violence, hatred and disasters – circumstances of which we have no control. We read and watch and are often drawn in to heart breaking stories and accounts that fill the television screen and provide headlines in the newspaper. And we think how fortunate we are to not be impacted directly.

What we can also be thinking is: “What can I do in my small corner of the world to offset what the media portrays?” The great news is – we ALL can do our part to enhance and improve the heart breaking picture to be a more loving one. Do what you say you’re going to do. Express appreciation to those who help you along the way. Respond to situations with respect and get clarity when something is not to your liking. Create instead of react. Think of words that will be acceptable to someone else – not hurtful and destructive.

Thank the banker who takes care of your deposit. Thank the clerk at the cleaners who arrives very early to take in or tenders your laundry. Appreciate the mechanic who fixes your car and, yes, even the customer service operator who manages to resolve an issue.

I recently endured a two hour delay out of LAX airport which resulted in my arrival home later than I had wanted or anticipated. Ever observe angry customers at a gate? What good comes from poor behavior and lack of self- control when the airline staff has nothing to do with weather delays? I watched the women at the counter. They did everything they could to endure some of the poor behaviors they faced. What are people thinking? Why is decent, human kindness missing when situations are not to our liking?

I know we can do a better job. I know we want to be more loving, more accepting, more tolerant and compassion. All it takes is having a servant mindset. Be of service. Be someone on whom others can rely. We are in the journey of life together. Be a force for good in the world. We certainly need it and need you to shift what we see to what can be.

Welcome to 2018. Commit to having the best year ever by maintaining a Servant Mindset!