Do You Feel All is Lost Now?
By Daxx Bondoc
Daxx BondocLevel: BasicDaxx Bondoc has been serving the poor with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sister) since 2004. His works with the poor included Catechesis, Bible ... ...
Suffering is one of the hardest mystery man has to face. Many have lost faith because of it.
So how can we look at suffering and not lose hope?
Imagine you found a book, The Two Towers of The Lord of the Rings. But the book you found lacked the last chapter. The book ended with the Orcs seizing Minas Tirith and defeating the humans. You would think that it was a depressing novel!
Because you have not read what happens next, which is the Riders of Rohan arrives at the break of dawn and defeated the invading Orcs, you would have miss the glory of the ending of the novel.
Sometimes when suffering and pains hit us, we feel that all is lost. This is the end. We have a tendency to summarize our life in that painful moment. And we fall to discouragement and even despair.
But what we forget is that this moment is only a chapter in the story of our life. The story does not end, unless we choose to end it.
God is the Divine Story teller. He directs everything that happens in our lives. Yes, even the painful ones He permits for the greater good.
If it was not for the danger of Sauron of taking over Middle Earth, the humans and elves would have not united. The evilness of Sauron became the reason of their unity, and eventually peace in the lands.
Heroes are born in crisis. It was in the darkest moment of the story when Aragorn took on his kingly role and lead the victory. We can see in history that man's greatness shone during the worst of times. Churchill became great during the Nazi era. Martin Luther King became great during the heights of racism towards the black people in America. And we can see with other great people like Gandhi, John Paul II and Mother Teresa, all of them became great not because it was the best of times. They became great because it was the worst of times.
The darker the night, the brighter the stars shine.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times " - Charles Dickens
We must remember that when suffering hits us, it is not the end. It is only a chapter in our lives. And the chapter continues. And we move on.
We must have faith in God that He has a beautiful ending for our lives. All we have to do is to make it there.
Daxx Bondochttp://www.inspirationalblogs.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daxx_Bondoc
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
CHANGE IS GOOD.....RESPECT YOURSELF
Negative Talk - The Sure Path to Self-Destruction
By Ian J Spencer
Compare these weeds with negative thoughts that every person experiences from time to time. You are caught in the traffic and you would be thinking, "My boss would kill me today", or you missed your deadline and you think, "This will earn me the pink slip", or you forget your spouses birthday and think, "I will never hear the end of this" and so on. This is common and it is okay. You tend to exaggerate a little when you are in trouble - but you know in your heart that this would not happen. The trouble starts when these thoughts take over and you are convinced that these exaggerations are true or can be even worse than you imagine.
Anxiety does not happen overnight unless you have experienced some major trauma. In most cases, anxiety literally grows on you fed by your negative thoughts and inner fears. It is like a little spark lighted inside when you think something negative; you continue thinking negative the spark would grow into a fire; you start thinking positive, the spark will die out.
So, if you are diagnosed as suffering from anxiety take a step back and identify all the negative thoughts that course through your mind. Make a list (you could carry a little notebook with you) of all these thoughts and at the end of the day write at least two positive versions for every one of the negative thoughts. Focus on the positive. Push your mind to look and hope for the best. Fight the negative thoughts with the opposing positive thoughts as soon and as strongly as you can.
Most people, who suffer from anxiety also feel hopeless, worthless, and followed by doom. It is like that cartoon where there is this little cloud only above your head, which rains on you incessantly. When you suffer from low esteem you tend to accept it when someone talks to you rudely, because you feel you deserve it.
The belief that that you are worthless and the fact that people treat you bad compound the negative thoughts and fire the anxiety symptoms.
Check your body language when you find people bullying you all the time. If you project an image which is timid, fearful, and unsure of yourself, people would tend to override and play with your feelings because that is what your body language tells them to do. You would have definitely seen people who displayed a magnetic and confident personality; they could breeze in the toughest of spots, get things done and move away almost effortlessly.
What do they have that you do not have? Confidence; belief that they can; a positive attitude.
Keep in mind that if you project the picture of a looser you would be treated like one. You need to practice looking confident (even if at times you do not seem so) and walk in with your head held high. Talk distinctly as if you have no doubt that your request would be addressed immediately. Think big, behave big and you would have the world at your feet. Remember the adage, "If you believe you can, you can."
That you need to weed out negative thoughts from your mind is definitely understood. Let us recapitulate the things you need to do so you could control the flow of these thought and the grip that would get on you.
Recognize The Symptoms Of Anxiety I have described in detail the symptoms that are associated with Anxiety disorder. Recognize these symptoms and beware that you are suffering from a disorder, which can be helped provided you adopt the right treatment. If you find that you are worrying excessively, berating yourself over everything that goes wrong, feeling like a victim - you are suffering from anxiety.
Think positive Whatever worries you has a positive side. I am not telling you that the death of a dear one can be changed into a positive thing - at least at the time - but most worries can be averted by thinking positively, i.e. not focusing only on the 'what if this would happen' part. In most cases the 'what if this would happen' never happens. So keep that in mind when you are plagued by worrisome thoughts. Do not indulge in these thoughts. I had a friend who found a very simple way to chase away worry - he started believing that when you think of a bad thing, it would happen; therefore, the moment the thought of a bad thing would enter his mind, he would immediately chase it away with good thoughts. Guess what - it worked. He is now free from anxiety and worry!
You Are Not At Fault - Even When You Are It looks like an oxymoron, but it is not. Let us say that a terrible accident happened because you forgot to press the right button in the factory. It is terrible, true. You are responsible, true. However, mistakes happen with humans, and you are human.
Take the responsibility, accept the penalty, atone for it in whichever way possible, learn from the mistake and move on. 'Move on' means you forgive yourself and forget about this incident - not the lesson. You stop carrying the guilt, you stop saying to yourself you are useless, hopeless, worthless. You start afresh. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning. You need to stop putting yourself down and stand up for yourself if others do.
Stop Self-Pity In Its Tracks Self-pity is as bad as berating yourself. If you find yourself feeling like a victim, because everybody seems to take it out on you, stop. You are not a victim. You are not going to let yourself believe that you are the butt of everyone's oppressive behavior. Think positive. You can do whatever you want. You are a survivor. You are a person with self-dignity and strength to fight for yourself whenever you feel you are treated shabbily. Take action now; remedy the problem the same moment it occurs. You will find you feel better every day.
Click Here to grab your FREE Stress Relief Manifesto Report. It'd show you how you can achieve inner calm and eliminate stress from your life forever. For more information on dealing with anxiety, panic attacks and stress. Visit the anxiety help blog today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_J_Spencer
By Ian J Spencer
Compare these weeds with negative thoughts that every person experiences from time to time. You are caught in the traffic and you would be thinking, "My boss would kill me today", or you missed your deadline and you think, "This will earn me the pink slip", or you forget your spouses birthday and think, "I will never hear the end of this" and so on. This is common and it is okay. You tend to exaggerate a little when you are in trouble - but you know in your heart that this would not happen. The trouble starts when these thoughts take over and you are convinced that these exaggerations are true or can be even worse than you imagine.
Anxiety does not happen overnight unless you have experienced some major trauma. In most cases, anxiety literally grows on you fed by your negative thoughts and inner fears. It is like a little spark lighted inside when you think something negative; you continue thinking negative the spark would grow into a fire; you start thinking positive, the spark will die out.
So, if you are diagnosed as suffering from anxiety take a step back and identify all the negative thoughts that course through your mind. Make a list (you could carry a little notebook with you) of all these thoughts and at the end of the day write at least two positive versions for every one of the negative thoughts. Focus on the positive. Push your mind to look and hope for the best. Fight the negative thoughts with the opposing positive thoughts as soon and as strongly as you can.
Most people, who suffer from anxiety also feel hopeless, worthless, and followed by doom. It is like that cartoon where there is this little cloud only above your head, which rains on you incessantly. When you suffer from low esteem you tend to accept it when someone talks to you rudely, because you feel you deserve it.
The belief that that you are worthless and the fact that people treat you bad compound the negative thoughts and fire the anxiety symptoms.
Check your body language when you find people bullying you all the time. If you project an image which is timid, fearful, and unsure of yourself, people would tend to override and play with your feelings because that is what your body language tells them to do. You would have definitely seen people who displayed a magnetic and confident personality; they could breeze in the toughest of spots, get things done and move away almost effortlessly.
What do they have that you do not have? Confidence; belief that they can; a positive attitude.
Keep in mind that if you project the picture of a looser you would be treated like one. You need to practice looking confident (even if at times you do not seem so) and walk in with your head held high. Talk distinctly as if you have no doubt that your request would be addressed immediately. Think big, behave big and you would have the world at your feet. Remember the adage, "If you believe you can, you can."
That you need to weed out negative thoughts from your mind is definitely understood. Let us recapitulate the things you need to do so you could control the flow of these thought and the grip that would get on you.
Recognize The Symptoms Of Anxiety I have described in detail the symptoms that are associated with Anxiety disorder. Recognize these symptoms and beware that you are suffering from a disorder, which can be helped provided you adopt the right treatment. If you find that you are worrying excessively, berating yourself over everything that goes wrong, feeling like a victim - you are suffering from anxiety.
Think positive Whatever worries you has a positive side. I am not telling you that the death of a dear one can be changed into a positive thing - at least at the time - but most worries can be averted by thinking positively, i.e. not focusing only on the 'what if this would happen' part. In most cases the 'what if this would happen' never happens. So keep that in mind when you are plagued by worrisome thoughts. Do not indulge in these thoughts. I had a friend who found a very simple way to chase away worry - he started believing that when you think of a bad thing, it would happen; therefore, the moment the thought of a bad thing would enter his mind, he would immediately chase it away with good thoughts. Guess what - it worked. He is now free from anxiety and worry!
You Are Not At Fault - Even When You Are It looks like an oxymoron, but it is not. Let us say that a terrible accident happened because you forgot to press the right button in the factory. It is terrible, true. You are responsible, true. However, mistakes happen with humans, and you are human.
Take the responsibility, accept the penalty, atone for it in whichever way possible, learn from the mistake and move on. 'Move on' means you forgive yourself and forget about this incident - not the lesson. You stop carrying the guilt, you stop saying to yourself you are useless, hopeless, worthless. You start afresh. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning. You need to stop putting yourself down and stand up for yourself if others do.
Stop Self-Pity In Its Tracks Self-pity is as bad as berating yourself. If you find yourself feeling like a victim, because everybody seems to take it out on you, stop. You are not a victim. You are not going to let yourself believe that you are the butt of everyone's oppressive behavior. Think positive. You can do whatever you want. You are a survivor. You are a person with self-dignity and strength to fight for yourself whenever you feel you are treated shabbily. Take action now; remedy the problem the same moment it occurs. You will find you feel better every day.
Click Here to grab your FREE Stress Relief Manifesto Report. It'd show you how you can achieve inner calm and eliminate stress from your life forever. For more information on dealing with anxiety, panic attacks and stress. Visit the anxiety help blog today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_J_Spencer
Monday, June 01, 2009
CHANGE IS GOOD......TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY
It's Easy to Become Rich, Famous and Happy - Lesson Three - POSITIVE EXPECTANCY
By Barry Sarner
Success is not about one particular "thing"... It's not even about two, three or five "things." Success is about a journey. Your personal journey. It's about fear. It's about tears. It's about laughter. It's about triumph. It's about setbacks.
That is what the "It's Easy to Become Rich, Famous and Happy" series is all about. We are going to make it happen and this is the road map.
Let's stay together, Never ever give up and move forward to our dreams.
Let's get on with it... One subject at a time, One day at a time. We will Prevail. All of us. Every single one of us. No person left behind.
Lesson THREE Positive Expectancy
You are the director of the movie of your life. That means you have the power to change anything you want in your life. You have the power to move mountains from one scene to another. You have the power to be who you want to be.
There is one catch. . . you must believe, truly believe, in yourself. Let's take a look at the success in your life. Remember a situation and close your eyes and feel it. Look at a real simple one first. Can you honestly say that when you started that particular journey or project you expected it to fail? I highly doubt it. The truth is you had to expect to win more than you expected to lose and there might have been a little luck, being in the right place at the right time or other favorable conditions. The reality of it was that most of it was that you expected to succeed, to get it done, to make it happen.
Expecting good things to happen to you and expecting victory is about self respect and confidence in your yourself.
Positive Expectancy is about attitude. It's about..."No matter what happens, no matter how brutal my reality is, I will Prevail;" "I will be OK;" "I will succeed." " I deserve success."
With this attitude the beautiful thing is that you are allowed to screw up. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to get knocked on your butt from forces beyond your control. All this could happen to you BUT, and this is a huge BUT, you must have full faith and confidence in yourself that you will get to the other side and be ok.
The person who lives with Positive Expectancy knows how to turn setbacks into new beginnings and sees change as an opportunity to get another chance to do a do over. That person knows that they always get a free pass to start all over again tomorrow...always.
Positive expectancy is not about being a super person and getting everything right all the time. It's about being a human being who understands that life does suck at times and that life is not fair. You may hit the proverbial brick wall at times but you always know that you will be ok and that you will find a way to learn from the setback, change your circumstances , and get up and try again...and again and again and again.
Expect Failure You'll Get it. Expect Success You'll Get It. It's Up To You. It's That Simple.
Barry Sarner, Mr. Change is Good, is a Serial Entrepreneur and the owner of the Trademarked Slogan "CHANGE IS GOOD".
A Message From Barry...
"Is there one thing that is holding you back from becoming wildly successful and happy? The rich, famous,and happy people know what that is. It's that six letter word that turns most people upside down and inside out...CHANGE...Let's hear about what effect CHANGE has had on your personal or business life and how you came out on top...or not. Let's share our stories, advice and help each other live peacefully with change. LET'S HELP EACH OTHER TO MAKE OUR DREAMS COME TRUE... CHANGE IS GOOD". C'mon people let's form the biggest mastermind group in the world. You can be the one !!! you can make a difference...Help me, Help us..Meet me at my Blog with your stories, advice and inspirational messages.
http://www.changeisgoodusa.com/http://www.changeisgoodusa.blogspot.com/
By Barry Sarner
Success is not about one particular "thing"... It's not even about two, three or five "things." Success is about a journey. Your personal journey. It's about fear. It's about tears. It's about laughter. It's about triumph. It's about setbacks.
That is what the "It's Easy to Become Rich, Famous and Happy" series is all about. We are going to make it happen and this is the road map.
Let's stay together, Never ever give up and move forward to our dreams.
Let's get on with it... One subject at a time, One day at a time. We will Prevail. All of us. Every single one of us. No person left behind.
Lesson THREE Positive Expectancy
You are the director of the movie of your life. That means you have the power to change anything you want in your life. You have the power to move mountains from one scene to another. You have the power to be who you want to be.
There is one catch. . . you must believe, truly believe, in yourself. Let's take a look at the success in your life. Remember a situation and close your eyes and feel it. Look at a real simple one first. Can you honestly say that when you started that particular journey or project you expected it to fail? I highly doubt it. The truth is you had to expect to win more than you expected to lose and there might have been a little luck, being in the right place at the right time or other favorable conditions. The reality of it was that most of it was that you expected to succeed, to get it done, to make it happen.
Expecting good things to happen to you and expecting victory is about self respect and confidence in your yourself.
Positive Expectancy is about attitude. It's about..."No matter what happens, no matter how brutal my reality is, I will Prevail;" "I will be OK;" "I will succeed." " I deserve success."
With this attitude the beautiful thing is that you are allowed to screw up. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to get knocked on your butt from forces beyond your control. All this could happen to you BUT, and this is a huge BUT, you must have full faith and confidence in yourself that you will get to the other side and be ok.
The person who lives with Positive Expectancy knows how to turn setbacks into new beginnings and sees change as an opportunity to get another chance to do a do over. That person knows that they always get a free pass to start all over again tomorrow...always.
Positive expectancy is not about being a super person and getting everything right all the time. It's about being a human being who understands that life does suck at times and that life is not fair. You may hit the proverbial brick wall at times but you always know that you will be ok and that you will find a way to learn from the setback, change your circumstances , and get up and try again...and again and again and again.
Expect Failure You'll Get it. Expect Success You'll Get It. It's Up To You. It's That Simple.
Barry Sarner, Mr. Change is Good, is a Serial Entrepreneur and the owner of the Trademarked Slogan "CHANGE IS GOOD".
A Message From Barry...
"Is there one thing that is holding you back from becoming wildly successful and happy? The rich, famous,and happy people know what that is. It's that six letter word that turns most people upside down and inside out...CHANGE...Let's hear about what effect CHANGE has had on your personal or business life and how you came out on top...or not. Let's share our stories, advice and help each other live peacefully with change. LET'S HELP EACH OTHER TO MAKE OUR DREAMS COME TRUE... CHANGE IS GOOD". C'mon people let's form the biggest mastermind group in the world. You can be the one !!! you can make a difference...Help me, Help us..Meet me at my Blog with your stories, advice and inspirational messages.
http://www.changeisgoodusa.com/http://www.changeisgoodusa.blogspot.com/
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