Weave Your Dreams
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Antole France once said, "To accomplish great things, you must not only act but also dream, not only dream but also believe." What exactly does this statement mean? It means that people are capable of accomplishing anything, if first they can envision it and then put their mind to it. I believe that life is what you make it, besides the unavoidable, and that you are in control of it. I am not advocating such dreams as acquiring money and fame; I am speaking of dreams of self-fullfilment that will make you self-content and truly happy. And in my opinion, you must be content and in touch with yourself to achieve your goals. If you are feeling doubtful about your ability to make your dreams come true, I hope that this page is useful to you. I have provided a brief overview of several ways to become more motivated and at peace. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact me. And if you are acquainted with someone who feels hopeless, feel free to send them here or take time and help them because a little help may go a long way.

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Five Methods

If you have accomplished self discovery, then you are in touch with both your inner being and with God. God, in what ever form you may view Him, will always be a part of you.
There are several ways to become in touch with your inner being and spirituality. Meditation, praying, being close to nature, and listening to soft music are popular forms of relaxation. It is almost impossible, however, to expect these methods to work unless you love yourself. After you have pursued one or more of these methods several times, it will become much easier for you to handle stressful situations, and thus, more possible for you to accomplish your goals.

Method One: Prayer

Prayer is defined as an earnest request to the divine. This means that what ever you believe to be divine, your God, will be a part of your hopes and confessions. Because there are so many religions, I wish not to describe prayer; it cannot be explained on a level of unity. If you are in search of understanding yourself and God, praying will be a good solution for you. To find more information about prayer, please consider AskJeeve's search results by clicking here.

Method Two: Meditation

If you are are experiencing difficulties focusing when you're reading literature or listening to someone, then meditation may be a solution for you. Meditation is considered to be a very useful way to relax. It is a stress-relieving practice that reduces the number of thoughts going through the mind. While meditating, a person may concentrate on one object such as a candle, flower, or sound. If you are interested in meditation, there is a very comprehensive online-guide located here.

Method Three: Love

Loving yourself is one of the most vital steps of self discovery. If you do not love yourself, then it is almost impossible for you to truly love others. If you feel berated by others, just remember that it is their lack of morality that causes them to act that way. Everyone is unique and special, including you. If you do not do anything to receive belittling from anyone, then it is not your fault. If you are someone who thinks, "I hate myself", you must stop it. Try to look into a mirror every day and say, "I love you and I care about you". It may seem ridiculous at first, but it really works. Besides, you have absolutely everything to gain.

Method Four: Nature

If you have trouble relaxing or reducing stress, you should consider spending more time with nature. If you live in a rural community, you have the opportunity to go outside and relax. Visiting areas with lakes and ponds, listening to birds sing, smelling flowers, and staring up at clouds are wonderful ways to distract your mind. Nature has a tremendous healing power that cannot be explained. Noticing little things like birds may often make one smile and feel at peace with the world. If you live near a lake, try closing your eyes and listening to the water. It is very peaceful and calming. Obviously, this may not be the best option for you if you do not live in a rural community.

Method Five: Music

Many people choose music as a means of relaxation. The most common forms of relaxing music include Classical, Environmental, Celtic, and New Age. Not only does it relieve stress, but some forms of it are said to be helpful to memory and positivity. Whether you accept this method or not is your own choice.

Miscellaneous

  1. Excercise frequently! It is an excellent way to loosen up your muscles and to allow more oxygen to get to your brain. When more oxygen gets to your brain, it helps you to think better. It may also improve your posture.
  2. Pets are perfect companions because they provide a lot of company and comfort. They may also keep your lifestyle more active.
  3. Read books about spirituality! Books about mental and physical health are wonderful ways to learn how to take care of yourself better.
  4. Maintain a proper diet to ensure better health and a longer life.
  5. Tell people your problems, don't just keep them to yourself. It is much easier to deal with them when you don't keep them bottled in.
  6. If you are angry, count to ten before you say anything. This will help you control yourself and keep you from saying things you don't mean.
  7. Reach your inner child. Explore, dream, imagine, and pretend. Do silly things and have fun doing them. Spend time daydreaming and being lost in the clouds.
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Reaching Your Goals

Reaching your goals may be a difficult process, but do not give up. If you feel as if your goals are too hard, start with smaller goals and gradually work your way up. If you achieve a lot of smaller goals, then you will begin to believe in yourself more. Afterwards, it will be much easier for you to achieve major goals. Plan out your goals and schedule them to avoid feeling helpless. It is easier to manage goals when you have a schedule of them and a clear mind.
If you begin to lose motivation, then you need to relax. Do not give up! If anything gets in the way, view it as a challenge rather than an obstacle. And if it seems as though you are taking on too much work, just remember how proud you will be when you reach your goals. You can make it happen, you can make your dreams come true. Don't rely on others to do it for you because you are in charge.

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Tao Te Ching

Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but conptemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.

If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.

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Poor Richard's Almanac

  1. Necessity never made good bargain.
  2. The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
  3. When the well is dry we know the worth of the water.
  4. The three hardest things in the world are steel, diamonds, and to understand yourself.
  5. A true friend is the best possession.
  6. As pride increases, fortune declines.
  7. The proud hate pride, in others
  8. Married at leisure, repent in haste. Some may find these words misplaced: married in haste, repent at leisure.
  9. Oh simple man! As a child you were given two precious gifts: time and good advice. One you have lost, and the other thrown away.
  10. More men have been made slaves by their wealth, than have been freed by it.
  11. The things that hurt, instruct.
  12. Love your enemies, for they will tell you your faults.

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Literature

  1. Adult Children of Alcoholics - A book about recovering from dysfunctional families. Ten years ago, Janet Woititz broke new ground in the understanding of the Adult Child of an alcoholic by listing the characteristics that ACOAs share. Here, in a new and expanded edition, the mother of the ACOA movement provides wisdom and information for all Adult Children of dysfunctional families.
  2. Affirmations for the Inner Child - A book about healing yourself from a low self-esteem and past problems.
  3. Art to Spiritual Healing - A book by Keith Sherwood that says that each of us has the potential to heal ourselves and others through the Prana energy that flows through us. Special techniques make this book a "breakthrough" to healing power, but we are also given a concise, easy-to-follow regimen of good health to follow in order to maintain a superior state of being.
  4. Best Spiritual Writing 1998, The - What makes this anthology of essays and poems especially welcome and refreshing is its contemporary spiritual context.
  5. Freeing the Soul from Fear - Robert Sardello is considered a leading philosopher on the soul, having inspired both Thomas Moore's and James Hillman's writings. Once again he departs from common spiritual assumptions in this intelligent and smoothly written handbook, Freeing the Soul from Fear. One of the more popular attitudes toward the soul is that it's a permanent element of the human being, Sardello explains.
  6. In the Spirit of Happiness - The wise and cheerful monks of New Skete (How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend) believe that our spirits are meant to be happy. So within these pages, the popular monks of Cambridge, NY, offer useful suggestions for mastering the elusive art of happiness. And while this might sound like a book written by jolly Friar Tucks, it is in fact an intelligent, informed discussion on the soothing power of prayer, mercy, compassion, and devotion.
  7. Tao Te Ching - A book that is enlightning and insightful about Toaism. Tao Te Ching is about being in touch with the mind and soul through God. Translation by Stephen Mitchell.
  8. The Book - A book about the taboo against knowing who you are. Modern Western culture and technology is inextricably tied to the belief in the existence of a self as a separate ego, separated from and in conflict with the rest of the world. In this classic book, Watts provides a lucid and simple presentation of an alternative view based on Hindi and Vedantic philosophy.
  9. Wisdom of Insecurity - A book by Alan Watts about the exploration of man's quest for psychological security and spiritual certainty in religion and philosophy.
  10. Zen Mind, Beginner's Guide - A book that includes diverse topics such as transience of the world, sudden enlightenment, and meditation. Suzuki, the author, always returns to the idea of beginner's mind, a recognition that our original nature is our true nature. With beginner's mind, we dedicate ourselves to sincere practice, without the thought of gaining anything special. It stresses the point that to know our true selves is to be enlightened.

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