http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive en-us N/A rick.sidorowicz@sympatico.ca Wed, 16 May 2012 11:02:04 EDT 20 http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/35/Guidance-from-Eileen-Caddy.html Eternal Moment

Always remember all is contained in the present eternal moment. There is no need to spend time digging into the past or trying to look into the future. Simply learn to live fully in this present eternal moment which contains the allness of all. When you do this you will never be dissatisfied or disgruntled, for you realise you hold right there in the palm of your hand your all in this eternal moment.

Give Thanks

Never let the sun go down without taking time to give thanks for the day and for all that has taken place, there is always something to say 'thank you' for, no matter what the day has been like. There is always something to thank Me for. If ever you are feeling especially down, take a few moments alone and start giving thanks, for first one small thing, then another and another and soon you will find your life is indeed blessed in a thousand and one ways. Look for the positive, look for the very best in everything and everyone and you will find it. Take those blinkers off, open your eyes wide and you will behold My wonders and My glories all around you, then how can you fail to give thanks. You are indeed mightily blessed.

Time Spent in Silence is Never Wasted
 
These times spent in silent communion together each day, radiating out to individuals and world situations, do help tremendously. Every positive loving thought falls on fertile ground and, in time, will germinate and grow and flourish. So never feel for a moment you are wasting time when you spend time radiating out in the silence; simply know that a tremendous work is being done and that you are helping to lift a soul or a situation into the light by your action. When you can really accept this and understand what is going on, you will want to spend more and more time in the silence, in united prayer.

You Must Have Vision

How can you hope to discover the new without the spirit of adventure, without being willing to step fearlessly into the unknown? Where is that pioneering spirit? How can you expect to pioneer something without taking risks, without great strength and courage as well as rock-like faith and belief in what you are doing? You must have vision. No matter how fantastic or seemingly unreal and unattainable that vision may be in the eyes of human beings, you must have it if you are to step into the new and achieve the seemingly impossible.

Stretch Your Capacity

Stop being small minded. Move out of your puddle and expand your consciousness, realising that there is no limitation. Take the whole world on your hearts, the whole universe and out into all eternity. Many of you can see no further than yourselves or the group or the community that you are living in. You are so tied up by small things that you have difficulty in expanding in any way. Do not be satisfied to accept just what you can understand but be willing to go further and step right out of your depth and do the seemingly impossible. In this way your capacity is stretched. Take one step at a time in absolute faith and confidence, knowing that every step will lead you to that wonderful new heaven and new earth.

First Things First - Take Time To Be Still
 
Why not use those wonderful gifts which are yours and live in peace and harmony with all life. Never make the excuse that you are not sure what should be first in your lives, that there is so much to do, that there just is no time to fit everything in. I tell you that when you put first things first, there is time for everything. Time is never wasted when you take time to be still. In fact more time is wasted rushing ahead unguided.

Keep Your Lights Burning Brightly
 
Never waste time feeling you have a very long way to go in this spiritual life. Instead be encouraged and strengthened by realising how far you have come and give eternal thanks for that. Realise how much you have to be grateful for. Surround yourselves with beautiful thoughts, with beautiful things, with beautiful people. See the light shining in everything and everyone. Let your light shine brightly from deep within you and know that nothing without can extinguish it, that only your own negativity can do that. More and more light is needed in the world, so keep your lights burning brightly, each and every one of you, so they can blaze forth transforming the darkness.

Do You Help or Hinder the State of the World?

Where is your sense of responsibility towards the state of the world? Do you not realise that what you do, how you live, how you think can help or hinder the state of the world? It takes every tiny grain of sand to make up the seashore; it takes every tiny drop of water to make up the ocean. What you do with your thinking helps to make or mar the world; have you ever thought of that? You are all very much part of it, you are all a tiny part in that vast wholeness and you have your specific part to play. The more quickly you realise this the sooner will the state of the world change.

Be a Source of Peace and Goodwill to All Beings
 
Be light-hearted, full of joy and love. Let happiness flow from you and be a source of peace and goodwill to all beings. The world you are living in is a truly wonderful place, full of beauty, harmony and goodwill. Your right attitude towards it helps make it so. Therefore look for and see the very best in everything. Unearth and bring to the surface all that is of the very best; dwell on it, make it live and move and have its being in you. Your right and positive attitude not only helps and uplifts you but helps and uplifts many.

Use the Key
 
Without love in your hearts you will get nowhere in this spiritual life, for love is the key; love opens all doors. Why not use the key, turn it and see what happens? It will open up a new life for you, a life filled with joy and happiness. For when love is flowing from you into the lives of all those around you it brings tremendous joy and happiness wherever it goes, for Love draws forth Love and cannot do otherwise. Let the Love flow to one another my beloveds, and so help to lift one another out of darkness and despair into the glorious Light.

Get Into Tune and Enjoy Life to the Full

There is perfect rhythm in all life and when you are in rhythm you flow with it without any effort, and will find such joy and upliftment in so doing. Cease struggling and exhausting yourselves. Why not get into rhythm, get into tune and enjoy life to the full?

You Must Have Vision

How can you hope to discover the new without the spirit of adventure, without being willing to step fearlessly into the unknown? Where is that pioneering spirit? How can you expect to pioneer without taking risks, without great strength and courage as well as rocklike faith and belief in what you are doing? You must have vision. No matter how fantastic or seemingly unreal and unattainable that vision may be in the eyes of man, you must have it if you are to step into the new and achieve the seeming impossible.

Let there be Balance in All Things
 
There is perfect balance in nature, let there be perfect balance in your everyday lives and living. When you work give the whole of yourselves to what you are doing, when you meditate do that wholeheartedly, when you enjoy life in recreation really enjoy and learn to relax as you do so and so become re-created, refreshed, restored and rejuvenated. When you are able to do this, life will take on a completely new meaning and purpose and you will begin to understand why you are doing what you are doing and why you are where you are. Let there be balance in all things.

Make Room for the New
 
Life is full and overflowing with the new, but it is necessary to empty out the old and make room for the new to enter. The emptying out process can be very painful, but it is necessary. You have to be willing to unlearn so much to make room for all those new and wonderful truths to enter and to become part of you. It is more difficult to unlearn than it is to learn. You may experience that feeling of barrenness, of having nothing to hold onto, of being alone and bereft of everything, a life dead and empty and with no meaning to it. Realise that it is a process of being emptied of the old so you can be filled with the new. Never give up faith. Then you can begin again in newness of spirit and of truth.

Relax and Learn to Be

Just do one thing at a time without any sense of rush or hurry. Remember you can only live one moment at a time, therefore do so and enjoy that moment to the full. You cannot really enjoy life the way it could be enjoyed when you are living under a sense of strain and pressure. Relax, relax and learn to Be and in that state of Being you will find that you will be able to get a tremendous amount done, far more then when you are rushing around being very very busy getting nowhere like a squirrel in a wheel racing round and round without any end in view.

Let Perfection Always be Your Aim

Keep stretching, keep reaching up to the seemingly impossible, keep growing in wisdom and understanding and never at any time be content to remain static. There is always something more to be learnt, there is always something new and wonderful to discover in this life, but you must stay open and receptive so that you miss nothing. Let perfection always be your aim.

Are You Willing and Prepared?

Old ways and old habits die hard. It is not easy to accept the new and strange with a certain amount of fear and trepidation. Are you willing to step out into those strange and uncharted waters, cutting your life line with the old and do it in absolute faith and confidence? Are you prepared for the most wonderful things to come about and expect the very best and so draw all those wonderful, unusual and exciting things to you?

Take Time - Put First Things First!

Why not start right now receiving your spiritual guidance at first hand and not through anyone else? Do you not realise that you have within you all wisdom, all knowledge, all understanding? You do not have to seek it without, but it does mean that you have to take time to be still and to go deep within to find it. This is where many souls are too lazy or feel that there is so much to be done that they have no time to be still and go into the silence. They prefer to live on someone else's wisdom and knowledge instead of receiving it direct from the source themselves. Put first things first!

Feel Exhilarated and Uplifted

Let there be balance in everything. Work hard, but also learn to play hard, to enjoy life and do the things you really love doing whatever they may be. It matters not if your pleasures are simple or extravagant as long as you find a real joy and pleasure in them. When you are doing something you really enjoy it matters not how strenuous it may be. You will not feel exhausted but will feel exhilarated and uplifted. Work should never be drudgery and it never will be when your attitude towards it is right and you enjoy what you are doing.

One Step at a Time
 
Never try to look too far ahead; that in itself can cause great strain and stress. You can only take that one step at a time and the next will follow at exactly the right time. Let things unfold and do not try to manipulate them. Do not get annoyed and impatient when things do not work out quite as you had expected and hoped; but instead look for and see the purpose and plan running through all that is taking place and realise that all is for the very best.

Demonstrate What Faith Means to You

It is quite useless to talk about faith or read about it if you do not live by it - and you cannot live by it unless you try it and put it into practice. It means you have to step off the deep end and swim, not just paddle around in the shallows with your foot on the bottom pretending to yourselves that you can swim. You have to demonstrate what faith means to you, and expect the seemingly impossible to become possible. It does not matter how many times you fall; simply pick yourselves up and try again and again.

Never be Afraid of Change

Learn to let go and move forward in absolute freedom, and once you have let go never look backward, but ever forward. Once you have set the ball rolling and have accepted a completely new life, have no regrets but accept it all with real joy and thanksgiving. Regrets can hold you back and can prevent the most wonderful things taking place in your lives. Keep open so that anything can happen. Never be afraid of change, of the New.

Go Ahead in Faith

Fear nothing: there is nothing to fear when you are at one with all life. That is why I constantly remind you to be ever aware of Me and of My divine presence. When your whole being is filled with Light and Love - there is no room for any negativity, for light and darkness cannot abide together any more than love and fear. Whatever you undertake, no matter how seemingly impossible or heavy the task may be, do it fearlessly with the knowledge that you are not doing it on your own, but that I AM with you always. Go ahead in faith and do what you know has to be done and see perfect results.

The First Move Is Always Yours

Where is that spirit of adventure within you that enables you to step out fearlessly and with a feeling of real excitement and expectation into the unknown? As you are willing to do this you will grow in stature and in strength. Simply going along in the same old way day in and day out will get you nowhere and you cannot hope to grow and expand spiritually. You have to want to move forward, you have to want to pioneer a new and exciting way of life. I cannot help you to move into the New unless you are willing to do so. The first move is always yours.

Be A Perfectionist In Everything You Undertake
 
Learn to do what you know you can do perfectly. Let your standards be of the very highest and if you feel you are not giving of your very best in what you are doing, be willing to change in mid-stream and find out what your capabilities are. I ask you not to be a dabbler in many things but a perfectionist in everything you undertake. If necessary be willing to be instructed until you have really mastered what you are doing. Be willing to learn and never feel that you know all the answers, there is always something new to learn.

Take Nothing for Granted

Do you know that the best things are free? They are there for all to enjoy and to glory in it. Do you appreciate them to the full and give eternal thanks for all these wonderful things, or do you take everything for granted and in doing so miss the joy and wonder of it all? To take anything or anyone for granted takes all the sparkle out of life.

Be Like a Mighty Tree
 
Take time to be still and know Me and know without a shadow of doubt that I dwell within you, that I AM you, that there is no separation. Be like a mighty tree whose roots sink deep into the earth, whose trunk is firm and solid with the life force flowing strongly through it forming its branches and leaves. I AM the life force that flows within each one of you, without that life force you would be nothing. Be ever aware of this and give eternal thanks that you are conscious of this life force and are strong and unshakable in the midst of a world of chaos and confusion. Be strong and of good courage.

Find Your Own Centre

Be not affected by outer conditions and circumstances, be not swayed by the moods or the state of mind of those around you. Be not like a piece of mercury, up one moment and down the next, dependent entirely upon what is going on around you. Find your own centre deep within you. Know the I AM, the centre of your very being and nothing and no one can affect it, ruffle it or destroy it in any way. Your foundations must be rock like and unshakable at this time and each individual must find that depth and stability within themselves. No one can find it for you.

You Can Do It and You Are Doing It
 
There is no stress or strain in nature: a seed goes through its full cycle, it does not have to do anything, it just allows it all to happen. When a snake changes its skin, it slowly wiggles out of its old one. A bird cracks open its shell and emerges completely transformed, it grows wings and can fly - it is free, free, free! That is what is waiting to happen to you. A new freedom, a new joy, a whole new world is waiting to open for you when you are willing to move out of those restrictive ways, thoughts and ideas and be transformed. You can do it and you are doing it. It is all beginning to take place.

Be Willing

Keep your hearts open to one another. Look for the highest good in each other and work from that higher level of consciousness. Encourage each other in every way possible; every soul needs encouragement. You will find as you help others that you help yourselves to grow at the same time. It is a two-way thing. The more you give the more you will receive, so give and give and count not the cost. Be willing to give all and hold nothing back. Be willing to lose everything to gain the things that really matter in life, the things of the spirit which are from everlasting to everlasting. A whole new world is unfolding; remember to give constant thanks for everything.

Change That And You Will Change Everything
 
Let all you do be done with joy, then it can never be a burden, nor can you bowed down by it nor exhausted by it. Your right attitude to everything is vitally important. You all know this in theory, but what do you do about it in practice? That is what matters. Life is what you make it. What are you doing with your life? Are you bowed down by the weight of it? Do you feel you have too much to do, that there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done? Why not stop and take time to search your hearts and see exactly what your attitude is towards life? Change that and you will change everything, it's simply up to you.



]]> no@spam.com (Eileen Caddy) Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/35/Guidance-from-Eileen-Caddy.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/33/For-the-Interim-Time---John-O039Donohue.html
When near the end of day, life has drained
Out of light, and it is too soon
For the mind of night to have darkened things,

No place looks like itself, loss of outline
Makes everything look strangely in-between,
Unsure of what has been, or what might come.

In this wan light, even trees seem groundless.
In a while it will be night, but nothing
Here seems to believe the relief of darkness.

You are in this time of the interim
Where everything seems withheld.

The path you took to get here has washed out;
The way forward is still concealed from you.

"The old is not old enough to have died away;
The new is still too young to be born."

You cannot lay claim to anything;
In this place of dusk,
Your eyes are blurred;
And there is no mirror.

Everyone else has lost sight of your heart
And you can see nowhere to put your trust;
You know you have to make your own way through.

As far as you can, hold your confidence.
Do not allow confusion to squander
This call which is loosening
Your roots in false ground,
That you might come free
From all you have outgrown.

What is being transfigured here in your mind,
And it is difficult and slow to become new.
The more faithfully you can endure here,
The more refined your heart will become
For your arrival in the new dawn.


from: "To Bless the Space Between Us" by John O'Donohue. Pub in 2008 by Doubleday.

]]> no@spam.com (Jamie Walters) Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/33/For-the-Interim-Time---John-O039Donohue.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/32/Uncommon-IT-Sense-for-Turbulent-Times.html and we must save costs.

In the Uncommon IT Sense series of articles I highlight several approaches to saving costs and improving service. These priorities are not mutually exclusive and I believe that organizations that take a more mindful approach to their IT investments today will ultimately emerge more responsive, robust, resilient, productive and profitable.
 
I hope you take a few minutes to read the CFO IT Manifesto and add your comments and experiences. There are also links to the other articles in the Uncommon IT Sense series you might enjoy.

Regards and best wishes for success in these turbulent times.


]]> no@spam.com (Rick Sidorowicz) Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/32/Uncommon-IT-Sense-for-Turbulent-Times.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/29/Bail-Out-Myths.html
For over 10 years, I have written a column each week, trying to encourage people to make changes in their own lives while avoiding the issues of the day that none of us can directly change. Once again, I will leave the political questions to those with louder voices, if not greater minds, and I will focus on what you and I can do in the real world today. Wall Street and the White House will take care of themselves if you and I will deal with our street and our house.

Money is never a problem; therefore, it is never a solution. To those facing job loss, foreclosure, and bankruptcy, this may not immediately seem to be reasonable; but when we understand that money problems are symptoms of other problems, we can focus on the issues that matter.

No one ever had a money shortage. They may have had an idea, creativity, or motivation shortage that resulted in a money shortage, but the money shortage was not the issue; therefore, if you give a failing company money, it is nothing more than a temporary Band Aid unless they deal with marketplace issues and begin providing valuable products and services to their customers.

Money can only buy time or tools. If you give a failing company or individual money--unless they use it to buy time or tools that will impact the real issues--you are merely prolonging the inevitable. Most small businesses fail because they underestimate the amount of time it will take to become profitable. They are undercapitalized and, even though they may have a viable product or service, their lack of capital shortens the time they have to turn the corner. These companies are like a farmer who plants seeds but does not have the wherewithal to sustain himself until harvest time.

If bailout money is used to assist an organization or individual that has a viable working model but merely needs time to succeed, it may be well placed. On the other hand, some individuals and organizations need new tools in order to succeed.

My core business is the Narrative Television Network. We are in our 20th year of making movies and television accessible for the 13 million blind and visually impaired Americans and millions more around the world. Over the past 20 years, we have had to retool from analog to digital, and our delivery systems have gone from VHS to DVD and from broadcast, cable, and satellite television to high definition. Each one of these changes forced us to retool.

Always remember, if a group or individual needs money to buy time or retool, it is at least an option on the table that should be considered; however, if money is needed to maintain the status quo in a failing operation, you are simply trying to fill the bathtub while leaving the drain open.

As you go through your day today, remember that bailouts or any capitalization must be a matter of buying time or tools. Otherwise, you are merely funding failure.

Today’s the day!

]]> no@spam.com (Jim Stovall) Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/29/Bail-Out-Myths.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/28/Can-a-Cry-for-Fairness-Bridge-the-Gap-Across-Ideologies.html
Read more ... ]]> no@spam.com (John Renesch) Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/28/Can-a-Cry-for-Fairness-Bridge-the-Gap-Across-Ideologies.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/25/Hans-Rosling-Debunking-Third-world-Myths.html
Follow this link to see this excellent presentation on TED .]]> no@spam.com (Rick Sidorowicz) Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/25/Hans-Rosling-Debunking-Third-world-Myths.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/27/Matter-Follows-Energy.html
Instead of getting stuck in the 'spin cycle', and going down that drain, we have the opportunity to cultivate and hold a vision of what's possible, what's beautiful, what's abundant and Earth-friendly. We can tap into our deep history and ancestral memory, too, when we were in balance and right-relationship with all that is.

We know that matter follows energy, be it the energy of our beliefs, thoughts, intentions, words, or actions. In this way, our word is magical, acting like a series of 'strange attractors' around which matter organizes itself.

Wherever we allow our thought and energy to focus, or to languish, we'll see that reflected in our experience, or our perception of it. As in martial arts traditions, we strengthen whatever we focus on and give our energy to.

Recently, an energy-practices teacher reminded us that if we don't begin each day with an intentional choice of what energies and Spirit helpers we want to call in and align with, we'll find ourselves calibrating to the predominant thought-stream of the masses.

Then she asked us, pointedly, "And what do you think most people are thinking these days - what do you think the primary energy is focused on? Is that what you want to energize?"

Mother Theresa of Calcutta, not long before her death, also emphasized the 'deep practice' of minding one's word, energy, and focus. When asked if she'd attend an anti-war rally, she said, "No, but when you hold a pro-peace rally I'll be there."

It's a powerful choice, to see what is and to choose to orient towards that which is beautiful, joyful, well, harmonious, loving, in right-relationship, and benefiting all beings. And don't forget the spirit of playfulness and joy - the Trickster and Wild Woman can be divine allies in times such as these, showing us how to combine playfulness with revelation and wise action.

We can cultivate our energy focus, intention, and word-power in our morning and evening rituals, and in small ways throughout the day. While seemingly humble, it's a 'deep practice' and a powerful contribution and service.

These practices and approaches can be used individually or organizationally to release 'unhelpful' stories and patterns, and enliven more vibrant, desirable ones.

To schedule a mentor-coaching session or series to help you weave new practices into your current routine -- and enliven new potentials in your experience -- send us an email for a complimentary initial consultation. We'd be delighted to speak with you!

Sincerely, Jamie Walters, Author, and Founder, Ivy Sea

]]> no@spam.com (Jamie Walters) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/27/Matter-Follows-Energy.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/26/-Dr-Dean-Ornish-Healing-and-Other-Natural-Wonders.html here.

]]> no@spam.com (Rick Sidorowicz) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/26/-Dr-Dean-Ornish-Healing-and-Other-Natural-Wonders.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/24/How-To-Read-The-Bible.html How to Read the Bible, published by Granta Books.

Right click to Download CBC's Tapestry - September 28, 2008 - How To Read The Bible
[mp3 file: runs 52:53]
 ]]> no@spam.com (Rick Sidorowicz) Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/24/How-To-Read-The-Bible.html http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/20/Please-Allow-Yourself-to-be-Inspired.html The Last Lecture - incredible!

Thanks Darlene for sharing your brother's story.  ]]> no@spam.com (Rick Sidorowicz) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/blogs/20/Please-Allow-Yourself-to-be-Inspired.html