For many of us, mornings begin in a rushed panic. We allow our alarm
clocks to buzz at least a dozen times before we decide we have to get
out of bed. We then rush around our homes half-awake trying to get ready
for our day. In a hurry, we stub our toe on the bedpost, forget to put
on deodorant, and don't pack a lunch because we simply do not have time.
It's no wonder that so many folks despise the thought of being awake before 9 am!
So it may not surprise you to know that happy individuals tend to
actually enjoy their mornings. They appear to thrive on waking up with
the sun and look forward to a new day or possibilities. These happy
people have humble morning rituals that increase their own sense of well-being and give their day purpose.
Happy people tend to share many of the following morning habits:
1. They wake up with a sense of gratitude.
Practicing gratitude
is associated with a sense of overall gladness. They start the day with
love. This means that they're truly appreciative of their life and all
of its little treasures. They practice small acts of gratitude in the
morning by expressing thankfulness to their partner each morning before
they rise from bed. They may also write about their gratefulness for
five minutes each morning in a journal that they keep bedside.
2. They begin anew each and every morning.
They know that it's a brand-new day to start over and do something
different. Yesterday may have been a complete failure for them, but
today is a new day for success and adventure. Individuals who aren't
ruined by one bad day are resilient creatures. Resiliency is a telltale sign of having purpose and happiness.
3. They take part in prayer, affirmation, or meditation.
Many of the happiest folks alive are spiritual. Prayer is a way of connecting and giving thanks for our creator. Meditation helps keep our mind focused, calms our nerves and supports inner peace.
Happy people even use affirmations to declare how their day will go. Steve Jobs'
morning routine used to start by looking in the mirror and asking
himself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what
I am about to do today?" And Benjamin Franklin asked himself each
morning, "What good shall I do today?"
4. They read.
Some happy people read a bit of scripture each morning, while others
read inspiring stories to get their day started. Either way, they make
it a ritual to read self-improvement literature to stretch and grow their insight and knowledge. It's starts their day off on a positive note with new ideas to guide their day's journey.
5. They keep things simple and don't rush out the door.
Complex morning routines are difficult to stick to and set us up for
failure. Happy individuals' routines are simple for them because they
prepared the night before. They picked out their work attire, prepared
their lunch, set their coffee to brew — all the night before. A simple
routine limits any multitasking that most people do in the morning to
ensure that they make it to work on time. Multitasking may create stress and anxiety and steal your peace during your first waking hours.
6. They exercise.
Exercise boosts levels of health-promoting brain chemicals like
serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of
the effects of stress and also relieve some symptoms of depression. Exercise is a big enough priority
that happy folks tend to do it first thing in the morning so that they
don't have to try to make time later in the day for it. They recognize
that willpower is strongest in the morning.
Morning exercise gets the blood flowing and gives them more energy throughout the day. One study published in the Journal of Health Psychology
discovered that working out improved how people felt about their
physical bodies — even if they didn't lose weight or gain any noticeable
improvements in their physique.
7. They get some fresh air.
Morning walks are beneficial for all creatures. Walking is also proven to stimulate creativity in the brain, which isn't a bad way to start the day either.
If they have a dog, they walk it. Walking the dog
a mile or two in the morning is a form of much needed exercise for
humans and dogs alike. When happy individuals walk their dog outside,
they breath in the crisp morning air, which promotes a sense of vitality.
8. They savor the beauty of their surroundings and practice being present in the moment.
Whether they go on a morning walk with their dog or sit in their favorite chair by the window, taking the time to appreciate their environment can be invigorating and gets folks excited about their day. Being present
connects and grounds them to what is really important in the moment.
There is a certain kind of wisdom that comes with being a witness to
your own life.
How many of these habits do you perform each morning? Are there some that you would like to see on the list?
Sunday, May 24, 2015
JMG Editorial Of The Day
From the editorial board of the New York Times:
In a statement conceding defeat, the Iona Institute, the main opposition group, said it would continue to affirm “the importance of biological ties and of motherhood and fatherhood.” The absurdity of that statement speaks for itself. As soon as the referendum is ratified by Parliament, Ireland will join 19 nations that have legalized same-sex marriage — an honor roll that does not include the United States.
The Irish path to legalizing same-sex marriage was remarkable because advocates have long seen courts and legislative initiatives as easier paths to prevail on an issue that continues to trouble many people on moral and religious grounds. Lawmakers in the United Kingdom approved same-sex marriage in 2013. In the United States, the expanding recognition of marriage rights in 36 states and the District of Columbia has been achieved through lawsuits and legislatures. The Supreme Court is expected to rule next month on a case that could establish a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
The outcome in Ireland sends an unmistakable signal to politicians and religious leaders around the world who continue to harbor intolerant views against gays and lesbians. It also should offer hope to sexual minorities in Russia, the Arab world and many African nations where intolerance and discriminatory laws remain widespread. The tide is shifting quickly. Even in unlikely places, love and justice will continue to prevail.
Today's Daily Dharma: A Good Look Around.
A Good Look Around
There's
a lovely freedom in momentarily stepping back into the privilege freely
taken by children, finding the gap in the cyclone wire fence and
sauntering along in that heightened state of casual alertness, just
having a good look around.
- Susan Murphy, "The Secret Life of the Street" |
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Saturday, May 23, 2015
Via All Out
A Irlanda acaba de se tornar o primeiro país no mundo a dizer 'sim' ao casamento igualitário por meio de uma votação popular. Compartilhe essa notícia histórica!
Via Human Rights Campaign:
BREAKING: Historic Victory for Marriage Equality in Ireland #LoveWins #EqualityForward #marref http://www.hrc.org/ireland
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 23/05/2015
“A preguiça normalmente é interpretada como uma falta de caráter, mas
ela é, na verdade, o resultado de sentimentos negados e bloqueados no
sistema. Ela é uma das matrizes do eu inferior que se caracteriza por
uma paralisação em relação ao que precisa ser feito. Às vezes a pessoa
não consegue sair da cama, mas às vezes ela faz muitas coisas, menos
aquilo que precisa ser feito.”
Para acessar ai Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1F0kh9J
“La pereza normalmente es interpretada como una falta de carácter, pero
en realidad es el resultado de sentimientos negados y bloqueados en el
sistema. Es una de las matrices del yo inferior que se caracteriza por
una paralización en relación a lo que hay que hacer. A veces una persona
no puede levantarse de la cama, pero a veces ella hace muchas cosas,
menos aquello que necesita ser hecho.”
“Laziness is usually seen as a poor character trait, but it is in fact the result of repressed and blocked feelings in the system. It is one of the matrices of the lower self that manifests as paralysis in the face of what needs to be done. Sometimes the person cannot even get out of bed, and in other cases the person may be busy doing a lot of things – except that which actually needs to be done.”
“Laziness is usually seen as a poor character trait, but it is in fact the result of repressed and blocked feelings in the system. It is one of the matrices of the lower self that manifests as paralysis in the face of what needs to be done. Sometimes the person cannot even get out of bed, and in other cases the person may be busy doing a lot of things – except that which actually needs to be done.”
Via JMG: Panti Bliss: IT'S A LANDSLIDE
Panti Bliss: IT'S A LANDSLIDE
Less than one hour into the counting of the ballots, leading Irish
activist Panti Bliss is calling it a landslide in favor of same-sex
marriage. Three minutes later David Quinn, founder of the anti-gay Iona
Institute tweeted his congratulations to the Yes Equality side. From the
Irish Times:
Reposted from Joe Jervis
First indications show a strong Yes vote for same-sex marriage in urban areas as counting gets under way in count centres around the country. Ballot boxes were opened at 9am and votes cast in the same-sex referendum are being counted first. While the official result is not expected until this evening, early tallies are expected to give a clear indication of the likely result. Prominent No campaigner and director of the Iona Institute David Quinn seemed to concede the vote tweeting “Congratulations to the Yes site. Well done.” According to Minister for Equality Aodhán Ó Ríordáin the vote seems to be heavily in favour of allowing same-sex marriage. Speaking from the main count centre in Dublin shortly after the first tallies emerged Mr Ó Ríordáin said: “I think it’s won. I’ve seen bellwether boxes open, middle-of-the road areas who wouldn’t necessarily be liberal and they are resoundingly voting yes”. Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has said it’s looking like an emphatic yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum. Fine Gael Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said it’s now a question of whether any constituency will return a no vote.Results have not yet been posted to the government's official tabulation site.
VIA JMF IRELAND: Fine Gael Calls It
From the Associated Press:
Reposted from Joe Jervis
Leaders on both sides of Ireland's gay marriage campaign say advocates of legalization have won a resounding victory with the ballot count still underway. Senior figures from the "no" campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland's constitution from being amended to permit gay marriage, say the only question Saturday is how large the "yes" side's margin of victory will be from Friday's vote. An Irish Cabinet minister, Leo Varadkar, who came out as gay at the start of the government's campaign, says Dublin looks to have voted about 70 percent in favor of gay marriage, while most districts outside the capital also were reporting strong "yes" leads. Official results come later Saturday. Varadkar said: "We're the first country in the world to enshrine marriage equality in our constitution and do so by popular mandate. That makes us a beacon, a light to the rest of the world of liberty and equality. It's a very proud day to be Irish."
Via Freedom to Marry
Historic: With a landslide victory, Ireland is the first country in the world to pass the freedom to marry by popular referendum! Congrats to ALL who voted for equality, and to our Irish colleagues who worked so hard on this momentous fight. Click "like" and share to celebrate this wonderful step forward: http://bit.ly/1AlvMNy — with Gina Frias.
Today's Daily Dharma: The Open Question.
The Open Question
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Our
task as practitioners is to bring the teachings to life in a personal
way. No one can tell us how to do it. This is the practitioner?s
koan?the open question.
- Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, "The Power of an Open Question" |
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JMG Quote Of The Day - Evan Wolfson
Labels: activism, Europe, Evan Wolfson, Freedom To Marry, Ireland, LGBT History, LGBT rights, marriage equality, SCOTUS
Friday, May 22, 2015
Via JustaBahai: Critiquing the Universal House of Justice
Can a Bahai critique texts penned by the Universal House of Justice or the Department of the Secretariat? My answer, “Of course. Critiquing is engagement. We must obey the Universal House of Justice but that doesn’t mean we must be silent if we do not understand their reasoning.”
Abdu’l-Baha said that we must obey the Guardian to safeguard the “mighty stronghold,” the Baha’i community. The same could be said of obedience to the House of Justice, which is the Head of the Bahai community today. Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha wanted to avoid the problems other religions had of being torn into schisms, so they emphasized obedience very strongly. It doesn’t mean that Bahais can’t think for themselves.
So I am free to disagree and to critique, but I am not free to go and claim any form of leadership or a new Bahai religion. I am also not interested in any ideas associated with what might be called reform because I see no need for these. My arguments and the ideas I express on my blog here as just a Bahai aim to follow Baha’u’llah’s pleas for each of us to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression” (Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93)
And so to the letter, dated 9 May 2014, penned by the secretariat for the Universal House of Justice which I will critique.
A letter, dated 18 May 2015 from the National U.S. Bahai administration has already been widely circulated in diverse online Bahai groups and e-lists. It states:
“A four-page letter from the Universal House of Justice on the subject of homosexuality has recently been receiving wide circulation via the Internet and through personal email lists, and we are increasingly being asked to comment on its authenticity.
The letter—dated May 9, 2014, to an individual believer in response to a personal inquiry—was indeed issued by the Supreme Body through its Department of the Secretariat. We enclose it here for your reference.”
Make the jump here to read the complete posting at JustaBahai
Via JMG: IRELAND: And Now We Wait
Counting of the ballots begins at 9AM local time and the final result should be known by midday. I'll be up very
early to begin my reporting so readers on US west coast might want to
check in here when you stumble in from the bars. Voter turnout today was
very encouraging:
Go raibh maith agat, Ireland!
Reposted from Joe Jervis
Minister for Communications Alex White, the director of elections for the Labour Party, said he had been monitoring his Dublin South constituency. “It seems likely that turnout will finish as high, if not higher than in the general election. I think something very big happened in Ireland. A whole new generation has been politicised.” Those on the No side also acknowledged that the large turnout in Dublin, in particular, was likely to tip the balance in favour of a Yes. Tipperary Independent deputy Mattie McGrath, one of only two TDs who publicly called for a No vote, said it looked likely that the high turnout in Dublin would carry the proposal.Whatever the result, we will always stand in awe of the fantastic messaging and tactics of Yes Equality and their allies. We've never seen a marriage campaign that was pulled off so skillfully or one with such an adept usage of social media. And when else, in the history of everything, have we ever seen every major political party and almost every major elected official walk proudly into the rainbow-hued light? True, Ireland is a small country and activists there had the definite advantage of having seen what worked and what didn't in other countries. But every Yes Equality supporter can go to bed tonight happy in the knowledge that, as Panti Bliss put it, they could not have done more.
“It should be good for a Yes if there is a high Dublin turnout,” Mr McGrath said. “The polls were saying 80-20, 70-30, even if it is 60-40 it would be a fine vote for No, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens later when the boxes are open.” Senator Rónán Mullen, also on the No side, said committed No voters had turned out, as well as those strongly for a Yes, and said many in urban areas were not in favour of same-sex marriage. Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said he was “quietly confident but almost afraid to believe it in case it goes the wrong way”. He added: “Turnout was good and younger voters turned out in big numbers.”
Go raibh maith agat, Ireland!
Via JMG: One Last Marriage Map Change?
The last time Wikipedia updated its marriage map, I mused that it was
probably the last change we'd see before SCOTUS rules. However following
yesterday's stayed decision
in Alabama, the map monitors have advanced the state from purple to
mustard. In case you are wondering, it was back in January when Alabama
went from red to sapphire.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
JMG GALLUP: Americans Continue To Greatly Overestimate Percentage Of Gays In USA
The American public estimates on average that 23% of Americans are gay or lesbian, little changed from Americans' 25% estimate in 2011, and only slightly higher than separate 2002 estimates of the gay and lesbian population. These estimates are many times higher than the 3.8% of the adult population who identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in Gallup Daily tracking in the first four months of this year. The stability of these estimates over time contrasts with the major shifts in Americans' attitudes about the morality and legality of gay and lesbian relations in the past two decades. Whereas 38% of Americans said gay and lesbian relations were morally acceptable in 2002, that number has risen to 63% today. And while 35% of Americans favored legalized same-sex marriage in 1999, 60% favor it today.Only 9% of respondents estimated the LGBT population to be under 5%.
Today's Daily Dharma: The State of Pure Awakening
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Friday, May 22, 2015
Daily inspiration and practical advice
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The State of Pure Awakening
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Dismiss
all the thoughts which bother your mind. Train yourself during many
days, many months, many years, to retain this pure mind. One day, when
your empty mind has become crystallized, suddenly it will be illumined
by its own intrinsic wisdom. At that instant you will realize the state
of pure awakening.
- Sokei-an, "Return to Your Original State!" |
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Thursday, May 21, 2015
Via WGB: U.S.: Support For Marriage Equality Reaches All Time High
U.S.: Support For Marriage Equality Reaches All Time High
A little over a month ahead of an expected decision from the Supreme Court on national marriage equality in the United States arrives a new poll from Gallup covering the issue. Support for full marriage equality has reached a whopping 60 percent, according to the just-released survey.
Though same-sex marriage continues to be politically divisive, support for its legal status has reached new highs among Americans of all political stripes -- with Democrats at 76% support, independents at 64% and Republicans at 37%.
The party divide between Democrats and Republicans may hinge largely on the age groups that compose each party. Gallup has found that younger Americans are significantly more likely to lean Democratic, while older Americans skew Republican.
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 21/05/2015
“Enquanto não renunciarmos os pactos de vingança em relação aos nossos
pais, seguiremos destruindo a natureza, aos outros e a nós mesmos.
Porque, enquanto não perdoamos, seguimos projetando esses pais em tudo
que está ao nosso redor. Porque seguimos poluindo rios, devastando
florestas, matando animais? Porque estamos tão distante da natureza? Se
tivermos coragem de olhar para dentro e investigar, encontraremos esses
pactos de vingança.”
Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1QYPXF2
Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1QYPXF2
“Mientras no renunciemos a los pactos de venganza en relación a
nuestros padres, vamos a seguir destruyendo la naturaleza, a los demás y
a nosotros mismos. Porque mientras no perdonamos, seguimos proyectando
estos padres en todo lo que está a nuestro alrededor. ¿Por qué seguimos
contaminando ríos, devastando bosques, matando animales? ¿Por qué
estamos tan distantes de la naturaleza? Si tuviéramos el coraje de mirar
hacia dentro e investigar, encontraríamos estos pactos de venganza.”
“Until we give up our pacts of revenge against our parents, we will continue to destroy nature, other people and ourselves. Until we are able to forgive, we will continue to project our parents onto everything around us. Why are we still polluting rivers, destroying forests and killing animals? Why are we so cut off from nature? If we are brave enough to look inside and investigate into this, we will discover that the source is our pacts of revenge.”
“Until we give up our pacts of revenge against our parents, we will continue to destroy nature, other people and ourselves. Until we are able to forgive, we will continue to project our parents onto everything around us. Why are we still polluting rivers, destroying forests and killing animals? Why are we so cut off from nature? If we are brave enough to look inside and investigate into this, we will discover that the source is our pacts of revenge.”
Today's Daily Dharma: Fearless Generosit.
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Thursday, May 21, 2015
Daily inspiration and practical advice
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Fearless Generosity
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I
see a fearless generosity in the flowers and trees, in the way birds
sing out at dawn, in the steady drumming of the rain. As I grew older
and found I had things to protect, I forgot. I completely forgot that I
had always had enough in the first place. Now I am trying to learn this
once again?total abundance, nothing begrudged.
- Sallie Tisdale, "As If There Is Nothing to Lose" |
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A Four-page Letter from the Universal House of Justice on the Subject of Homosexuality
A four-page letter from the Universal House of Justice on the subject of homosexuality has recently been receiving wide circulation via the Internet and through personal email lists, and we are increasingly being asked to comment on its authenticity.
The enclosure referred to in the letter, a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated May 9, 2014, can be accessed using the following hyperlink:
May 9, 2014 from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer: https://app.box.com/
The two enclosures to the May 9 letter, dated April 19 and April 23, have been available on the member services website for some time, but hyperlinks to those letters are also provided here for the friends’ ease of reference:
April 19, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to individual believers: https://app.box.
April 23, 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly: https://app.box.com/
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 20/05/2015
“Como você está em relação a sua mãe e ao seu pai? Muitos buscam
soluções mágicas enquanto a resposta está bem diante de seus olhos. Isso
é o resultado de um fenômeno chamado ‘normose’, uma profunda
indiferença alimentada por um falso sentimento de que tudo está bem,
tudo está normal. Quando tomado pela normose, você não consegue fazer
relação de causa e efeito para compreender o porquê de certos problemas
na sua vida. É como uma anestesia que
você usa para não sentir. Você pode achar que está tudo “normal”, mas se
existe repetição negativa, é sinal de que há mágoas, ressentimentos e
pactos de vingança guardados no seu sistema”.
Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1QYPXF2
“¿Cómo estás en relación a tu madre y a tu padre? Muchos buscan soluciones mágicas mientras la respuesta está justo delante de sus ojos. Este es el resultado de un fenómeno llamado 'normosis' una profunda indiferencia alimentada por un falso sentimiento de que todo está bien, todo está normal. Cuando eres tomado por la normosis (normalidad patológica), no puedes hacer relación de causa y efecto para comprender el porqué de ciertos problemas en tu vida. Es como una anestesia que utilizas para no sentir. Puede creer que todo está "normal", pero si existe repetición negativa, es señal de que hay heridas, resentimientos y pactos de venganza guardados en tu sistema”.
“How do you relate to your mother and father? Many people seek magical solutions when the answer is right in front of them. This is the result of a phenomenon called ‘normosis,’ a pathological state of normality, in which a profound indifference feeds off the false feeling that everything is well and normal. When overcome with normosis, we are unable to make the link between cause and effect in order to understand the reason behind certain problems in our lives. This normosis acts like an anesthetic that we use so as not to feel. We may think that everything is ‘normal,’ but if there is a negative repetition in our lives, it’s a sign that there are hurt feelings, resentments and pacts of revenge lodged in our systems.”
“¿Cómo estás en relación a tu madre y a tu padre? Muchos buscan soluciones mágicas mientras la respuesta está justo delante de sus ojos. Este es el resultado de un fenómeno llamado 'normosis' una profunda indiferencia alimentada por un falso sentimiento de que todo está bien, todo está normal. Cuando eres tomado por la normosis (normalidad patológica), no puedes hacer relación de causa y efecto para comprender el porqué de ciertos problemas en tu vida. Es como una anestesia que utilizas para no sentir. Puede creer que todo está "normal", pero si existe repetición negativa, es señal de que hay heridas, resentimientos y pactos de venganza guardados en tu sistema”.
“How do you relate to your mother and father? Many people seek magical solutions when the answer is right in front of them. This is the result of a phenomenon called ‘normosis,’ a pathological state of normality, in which a profound indifference feeds off the false feeling that everything is well and normal. When overcome with normosis, we are unable to make the link between cause and effect in order to understand the reason behind certain problems in our lives. This normosis acts like an anesthetic that we use so as not to feel. We may think that everything is ‘normal,’ but if there is a negative repetition in our lives, it’s a sign that there are hurt feelings, resentments and pacts of revenge lodged in our systems.”
Today's Daily Dharma: Don't Get Stuck in Neutral
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Daily inspiration and practical advice
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- Tulku Thondup, "Don't Get Stuck in Neutral"
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