Darkness Can Not Exist in Light

We all know at least once person that is covered in darkness. Not actually physically, but have you ever known someone who just lacked the capacity to be happy for others? If you got a promotion, they would remind you how much more work it will be. If you bought a new home they would just say you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

And down the road when you say you're tired from working so much or you aren't sure how you're going to scrape together the money to pay for a home repair - these same people whip out a great big "I TOLD YOU SO" and it's a little demoralizing to hear. And they actually seem stronger for having said it to you.

Do you know why? That is spreading darkness and it when you allow your own personal light to be extinguished by someone else's darkness, it actually gives them power. The key is to pull deep within yourself and ask that you be given strength. The Divine will listen and no, a miracle sack of cash won't drop onto your front porch from the sky - but ask for strength and the ways to handle your problems will be shown to you. You may happen upon a television show about time management, your boss may suddenly feel your workload is too much and give you an assistant or disburse your duties to other employees; help with your home repair may come in the form of a relative offering to help with a loan or maybe a contractor that is willing to give you a form of credit for the repairs - the key is to have your eyes open after you ask and then remember to stay strong and never let anyone extinguish your inner light through deeds or words again.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

If You Feel Empty Inside..There is a Cure

The holiday season is fast upon us and it makes a number of people feel just awful.

I want to remind you of a great quote from St. Alphone Liguori, "The more we empty ourselves to make room for God's love, the more he fills us with himself and the more united to him will we be".

And this is so true. When you have that empty feeling of loneliness come over you, simply ask to have your heart filled with love. You'll be amazed how quickly it will happen. You may feel warmth wash over your body and that is God's embrace.

The emptiness you feel is because you aren't walking with the Divine. It's just a matter of asking. It's God's plan that he will always be there for you , but you must go to him and ask to walk the path and you will be welcomed with open arms, no matter what sins your past holds - remember - above all that the Divine loves you and understands even more than you do your own failings as a person and your true capacity to be a good person.

If you're ready to have a great feeling from within this upcoming holiday season, just ask!

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Finding Joy Through Patience

There are many times in our lives when we end up getting overwhelmed with everything going on around us. With busy schedules, demanding jobs, ongoing bills and so on, it is a wonder that we can even muster the slightest smile. After all of the things that can come about, one thing that you need to remember is that patience truly is a virtue.

When you have children or other people in your life that you need to care for, it can end up being quite difficult to remember that everyone is only human. Being human means that you can only do so much, and that everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Remain patient and let the others in your life know that you are there for them to guide them and lend a helping hand wherever you can. This little bit of patience can really go a long way, especially when it comes to children.

Although you may feel like you have had enough and you are just about ready to give up and snap, patience can guide you through even the toughest of obstacles. Once you are able to remain patient, you will see that the calm that you will feel can help you to process your feelings better. These thoughts and feelings can then trickle down to others around you, making whatever comes your way dissolve before you know it. While patience isn't always something that comes easy, a quick second to remember how much it can help can make a world of difference in your whole day.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Stand By Your Beliefs

If you end up finding yourself in a situation where there is an overwhelming presence around you where people do not share the same beliefs, it is very important that you stand true and stick to what you believe in. All too often, folks will begin to feel as though their feelings and beliefs are the minority, so they end up keeping their thoughts bottled up inside. Because you are stronger that that on the inside as well as the outside, you should never be afraid to let your ideals and personality shine through no matter what the majority thinks.

One thing remains true, and that is that you can always gather strength from within. No matter what negative comments or forces come your way, you always have your true thoughts and identity on the inside that you can hold onto. Even the person who tries their hardest to knock you down will never be able to succeed as long as you have that inner strength through your faith and beliefs.

When you stand your ground and stick to your beliefs, you are then able to shed some light on them to others around you who may be in need of guidance. While preaching and persuasion is never a savory thought, you can simply be there to lend a few words about the strength that you have if they are looking for you to share. One thing will always remain true, and that is as long as you have the faith and inner strength to keep you grounded, you will then be able to share in love, joy and life with everyone around you.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Words are Endowed with Power

Words can be extremely powerful, and how we use them in our lives is a very critical matter. We have the power to build or destroy lives and relationships at every level by our choice of words. While thoughts are always the derivative of words and actions: it's our words that can become the most obvious indicator of what we are thinking.

Everyone, no matter what his or her station in life, needs approval and encouragement. We often see stark and moody pictures in our minds of those in charge withholding praise from an employee or associate for a job well done. Or, another picture that comes to mind is a child hoping without success, that a parent, teacher, or friend, will acknowledge their achievements. While praise and words of encouragement should never be the main focus in a physical world, a word given in a positive manner at the right time can work miracles in someone's life.

The opposite can occur as well! The right word given, if the intent is to harm, at the right moment can do a great deal of damage to a person's confidence and faith. On the receiving end, a person has to move forward and ignore the power of negative words. If you're the kind of person that is self-confident, and aware of where you fit in the world, the negative energy won't find lodgment within your mind or soul. Most importantly, a kind word used in response of a negative one, will put the power right back in your hands-where it needs to be.

Labels: forgiveness, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Success Leaves Clues

Life is not as complicated as we often think! Success leaves clues that are easy to follow. The term and meaning of success, will be as varied as there are people on the planet. However, if we look at success as the act of attaining or achieving a goal or dream, then the clues can easily be discovered.

First, nothing happens just by chance. A person may in fact be at the right place and time for an event to occur; but it's no mystery that opportunity meets up with those who are best prepared! It's always good to note that opportunity is always looking to express itself through someone's talent or abilities. If you examine someone's life that appears to be successful, more often than not, the preparation phase has been on going throughout his or her entire lives.

It all starts with the preparation phase. Yes, there are going to be many that seem to be connected in the right ways from birth. There are also going to be many people less fortunate that any one of us. For the young or old, rich or poor, or the culturally aggressive or culturally oppressed, the need to find one's self prepared is always going to be the biggest and most important challenge.

This preparation will take the form of knowledge, skills, commitment, opportunity, and being socially connected to the people, places, and circumstances that allow us to move forward. Preparation is the key, and this will be the most important clue in the lives of the successful.

Labels: forgiveness, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Gift of Struggle

Struggles are often the least thing that any of us want to experience. However, it is our struggles that set us free to achieve the greater things in life. Struggles are the experiences and challenges that set the stage for accumulating knowledge-and knowledge as we all know is power.

Too many years ago to remember the exact date, I remember standing in a beautiful woodland area in Ohio, and watching the caterpillars emerge after a long hibernation from their cocoons. I was fascinated with nature, and the endless variety of birds and insects that filled the woods on any given day. That day was a special day, as I decided that I would help the slow process of nature along, and help free the caterpillar form its prison.

I didn't know that the unfair struggle through the tiny opening of the cocoon was an act that would force the fluids through its body-and out into its wings. The struggle of the tiny butterfly is an indication of what many of us will go through in life. If we can we just hold on and endure what seems life unfair pain, there is always a magnificent reward that will follow, and we'll soar the heavens rather than grovel on the ground.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

It's a Good Thing that Habits are Hard to Break

We often think of habits as being a negative thing, but the truth is that anything we practice often enough-will become a habit. This of course means that the habit can be a good one, or a bad one. The root source of every action is thought! What we choose to think on a habitual basis, is what we will manifest in our lives. This is why there really are no mysteries when we peer into our own lives, or the lives of others. What you see is usually the result of a lifetime of habits that are hard to break.

The thought patterns can be seen in how people live, how they interact with others, and what they've accomplished in life. Taking the creative gift of God , thought, and applying it with care and diligence, is a continual step in achieving what God desires for us in life. If our thoughts and desires are clean and wholesome, then we can bet that they are God's desire for us as well. On the other hand, the thoughts we think and the habits we form, are not always in God's best interest for us.

It's often been said that success leaves clues, whether the success is spiritual or pertaining to some worthy endeavor in life. And, you can count on the fact that the clues will always lead back to individuals that have good habits that are hard to break. Like anything else worthwhile in life, it takes practice.

Labels: forgiveness, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Purpose of Life

Finding the purpose in life is a mystery that we all wrestle with, and for those fortunate enough to make the discovery, their lives are never quite the same. One thing is for sure, if you have life, movement, and being; your purpose is buried deep within you. Watching children at play is interesting to say the least, but if we look close enough, there is a hint early on what a child's hidden talents might be.

If given enough love and encouragement to express in a positive manner, these little ones will develop a mindset that will align itself with divinity, and thus their faith in God will allow them to develop the skills and talents that will be helpful to a world sorely in need. When you peel away all of the hype, the true purpose of life has to be a service that will uplift mankind through each of us-if only by one small degree at a time.

The world is an extremely busy place, and we've all seemed to have forgotten the fact that true spiritual growth is implemented the moment we personally decide to make a difference in our own lives, and the lives of others. So, take a moment and reflect on the talents you've been given! Great or small, there will always be someone or some cause that can benefit by your dignified expression of them. And, the immediate reward is the wonderful feeling that you've somehow made a difference.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Trust?

It's so easy to say you trust someone. You trust God, you trust you neighbor and you may trust your friends; but do you really?

Many people have learned the hard way that trust isn't something to be freely given to other people; misplaced trust has caused more hard feelings than almost anything other action known to humankind.

The one trust that you can rely on is the trust in God. Circumstances may become hard, or you may not understand why things are the way they are; however once you look back on a hard situation how often have you said to yourself, "I would have never met/done/learned such a thing if I had not gone through that".

And it's true. You may not always be able to rely on the your neighbors, friends and relatives but trust above all, God loves you and you will always be able to trust His word above all.

Labels: forgiveness, love, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Mind in the Heart

"Pray with the mind in the heart", is a wonderful quote attributed to St. Theophan the Recluse. And it's very true.

Many people have prayer confused with a wish fulfillment service. You do not pray to win the lottery, for Prince Charming to enter your life or to lose 30 pounds by eating donuts for every meal. It just doesn't work that way. Put your mind in your heart and realize what you really need to be happy - ask for the way to be shown for you to accomplish your goals.

If you truly need an influx of cash and you pray to win the lottery on a regular basis - be prepared for the other answer to a prayer, "no". Instead pray for a way to be shown for you to bring more money into your life. Doors will open if you only ask and it's up to you to walk through them. But when you put your mind in your heart and ask for what you really need - God truly listens and gives because He loves you above all.

Labels: love, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

It is Only Your Life If Your Life It

If you have ever found yourself sitting back, wishing that you could do something that you are witnessing others being a part of, you need to take control and live your life. After all, if you do not stand up and live your life the way that makes you happy and fulfilled, then you are not really living at all.

For some people, there is a certain amount of fear that comes over them when it comes to taking a major step and going forward into new areas. This could mean anything from bungee jumping with your friends on the weekend or even standing up and giving a lecture in front of a large gathering of people. However, if you do not take the initiative to overcome these obstacles, you will never end up reaching your final goal. Only with the right amount of drive and mindset will you be able to achieve everything that your heart desires.

The great thing about living your life to the fullest is that everyone around you will start to benefit from your new outlook on life and the way that you are taking charge. You may find that others will be inspired by you, taking the same journey that you are in order to bring their soul to a happy and fulfilled level. Only by standing up and stepping up can you find a true happiness in your life that comes complete with plenty of benefits along the way.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Chasing the Spirit

We all have a friend like this: they are forever doing body cleansings, prayer meetings, even trying new religions and sects of religions and yet they go back to the same life style again and again and continue to make the same mistakes over and over with people and choices - and then they blame the divine because "good things" don't happen to them. Do you see the pattern here?

As a spiritual person, you know that is no way to make your spirit grow. You can't make it happen and you have to make big changes in your life, your lifestyle, the people you associate with and also within yourself if you want your life to change. It's a matter of opening doors. The Divine will show you the way to make changes but you have to walk those roads yourself and the work for change must be done by yourself. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are no colors, crystals, no foods and no books that can increase the spirit of the self.
The only way to grow as a person is to give.

That doesn't mean you have to go scrape the change off your dresser, take any extra money you have and donate it to causes. It's great if you can afford to do that but more importantly it means to give your time and your energies towards positive efforts.

You can volunteer to help people in many ways. Collect coats for homeless, if you've been through a hard divorce, death of a loved one or other trying time - you can take how you coped and counsel others that are walking the same hard road as you once were. If you don't want to deal directly with people, volunteer to stock books at your library, plant flowers at a rest home for the residents to enjoy. There are a huge number of things you can do that will help others in small ways and as a result, you will feel better about yourself and you will break the cycle of self destruction that has kept you from changing.

Remember, the more you give, the more you grow.

Labels: habits, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Keeping Your Spirit, Body And Mind In Check

Although some people tend to run around in circles when it comes to taking care of their health and well being, others are on the road to an even road when it comes to their spirit, body and mind. Once you find the right formula to take care of yourself as a whole, you might even find that maintaining such an even degree of happiness and faith is easier than you had originally thought.

With only a little bit of effort and a whole lot of faith on your part, everything else should just end up falling in line,Of course, when you are talking of an all around healthy balance, you need to take your diet and physical endurance into account. Only a well-oiled machine is going to be able to work properly. Keep track of the best foods and the right amount of exercise to keep your health on an even keel.

After your health is in check, you certainly need to look to your faith that guides you. The right amount of faith will help you to achieve just about any goal that you end up setting in front of you. Some people will even say that with the right amount of faith it is possible to get through even the most difficult of times. The only way that you can truly grow as a person is to have a clean slate to work with. Cleansing yourself of anything that is negative and letting your hope and faith shine through will allow you to grow and achieve in a way that some people can only dream about.

Labels: forgiveness, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Being Truly Thankful

It's easy to look around your life and not be happy with your life. You may feel buried under bills, stressed out to the max about your job and having trouble reaching your children. You and your spouse haven't had a one on one conversation in so long you aren't even sure what you can talk about.

That's taking your life and people around you for granted. Stop for a moment and look back at what you're attained in this life and honestly consider the people who have helped you. If you haven't taken the time lately to show the other people in your life how important they are to you. Choose one person each week and do a little something for them. It doesn't have to be extravagant or over the top - just make it heartfelt and genuine.

Be good to yourself above all. Instead of sitting in front of the television, rediscover a hobby that you used to enjoy. Part of getting the stress out of your life is to manage your time so you're not hurried and rushed. Make of list of the things you do every day and decide what is really important and what tasks can be rescheduled.

Be thankful for what you have and share your new mindset with those around you - it's catching!

Labels: thankful

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Be Thankful

When you have bills up to the ceiling, bill collectors calling on your telephone, angry letters demanding payment, a thankless job that you don't get paid enough to do and times just seem hard it can seem hard to be thankful for the things you have.

Look around yourself and count what you do have. If you have a roof over your head, food on your table and a place to lay your head - that's a start. Expand your list towards people that love you in your life, your family and friends. Consider who you can count on and who always has your back.

You have possessions that mean things, you have sentimental photos and more. If you have a pet in your life - you're truly wealthy - no one will love you more unconditionally than you're animal companion.

Think about your education, your job if you're employed.; Think of the jobs you've had and what you've learned from working. Even if the job ended on a sour note - you still took away at least one valuable lesson from the experience. Expand that to consider the roughest times of your life - no matter how bad it was - you got through it and came out stronger.

And the biggest of all, consider that the Divine always watches over you and remember no matter how you feel about life - you are loved.

Labels: thankful

 posted by Friends of Leah