Monday, January 31, 2011

Keeping the Spirit of Optimism Alive (Part 2)

To continue my follow up post on Keeping the Spirit of Optimism Alive (Part 1), I would like to share with you a good read adapted from "Why is God Laughing: The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism" by Deepak Chopra, that embodies the essence of what I wish to share and send across. I hope it gives you wisdom and inspiration!

10 PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL OPTIMISM

1. The healthiest response to life is laughter.

This first principle serves as an antidote to fear and sorrow by encouraging you to experience life as joyous. When you feel momentary happiness, or you want to burst out laughing, or you smile for no apparent reason, you are glimpsing eternal reality. In time, these moments of joy will begin to knit together. Instead of the exception, they will become the norm. There is no better way to know that you are growing in God-realization.

2. There is always a reason to be grateful.

This second principle is an antidote to victimization. The purpose of gratitude is to connect yourself to a higher vision of life....Once you realize that you alone are the projector of reality, you will no longer be dominated by external events. You will correct the mistake that lies at the very root of victimization: a belief that the movie controls you, instead of the other way around.

3. You belong in the scheme of the universe. There's nothing to be afraid of. You are safe.

The third principle is the antidote for insecurity. The role assigned to you is right and proper. It is tailor-made for you, for your complete self. The voice of fear tries to convince you that you are a helpless victim of chance. The very opposite is true. At the deepest level, the level of the soul, you are the author of everything that happens to you.

4. Your soul cherishes every aspect of your life.

The fourth principle is the antidote for feeling undervalued. It states that your worth is absolute, and that everything that happens to you - whether it feels good at the time or not - is part of a divine plan unfolding from the level of the soul. A person's worth is the value of a soul, which is infinite. Since every event in your life isn't happening just to a person but to a soul, everything in life should be cherished.

5. There is a plan, and your soul knows what it is.

The fifth principle is the antidote to meaninglessness. It states that your life has a purpose. You determine that purpose at the soul level, and then that purpose unfolds in daily life as part of the divine plan. The more deeply you are connected to the plan, the more powerful it becomes in your life. Ultimately, nothing can stop it.

6. Ecstasy is the energy of spirit. When life flows, energy is natural.

The sixth principle is the antidote to inertia. It states that infinite energy is available to you. You are a co-creator with God. To claim your creative power, you need only connect with the primal energies that play within you. The kind of energy you can call upon at any given moment depends on your level of consciousness.

7. There is a creative solution to every problem. Every possibility holds the promise of abundance.

The seventh principle is the antidote to failure. It tells us that every question includes its own answer. The only reason a problem arises before its solution is that our minds are limited - we think in terms of sequences, of before and after. Outside the narrow boundaries of time, problems and solutions arise at the same instant.

8. Obstacles are opportunities in disguise.

The eighth principle is the antidote to inflexibility. The secret is to abandon old habits and trust in spontaneity. Whenever you catch yourself reacting in an old, familiar way, simply stop. Don't invent a new reaction; don't fall back on the opposite of what you usually do. Instead, ask for openness. Go inside, be with yourself, and allow the next reaction to come of its own accord.

9. Evolution leads the way through desire.

The ninth principle is the antidote to hypocrisy. It encourages us to act on our genuine desires, because they show the way to real growth. Don't pretend to be better - or other - than you are. Don't fall into the trap of having one face for the world and another to God. Who you really are is exactly who you should be.

10. Freedom is letting go.

The tenth principle is the antidote to attachment. If you let go of what isn't real in your life, what's left will be real: what's left is God alone. To be free, you must find a way to let go of all the stuck energy that keeps sending the same old messages. The past is a false guide to the future, and yet it's what most of us rely upon. By letting go of stuck energies, you let go of your past.


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Friday, January 28, 2011

If the Shoe Fits

When I was in grade school, I remember my whole family going to Cubao every year to buy supplies in preparation for the school opening. I also remember feeling a mixture of delight and anticipation when it’s time to buy my new school shoes, only to be disappointed repeatedly year after year, for we always end up going to the same shoe store and not taking home the pair that I had my eyes on for so long. My sister and I just sigh in dismay and wish, with our fingers crossed, that the following year would be a better ‘shoe year’ for both of us.

Mom always had the last say when it comes to our school shoes. She decides what’s best and chooses the more expensive pure leather and durable (and boring!) kind that lasts for a long time (yes, an awfully loooong time). As we continue to dream in shiny patent shoes with pretty bows and slightly elevated heels, just like what the rest of our classmates wear. In my mind, I always wanted to tell Mom that girls shoes are supposed to be fun! Not mediocre or worse, dull.

Only when I became an adult that I realized that those shiny patent shoes with pretty bows and slightly elevated heels, nice-looking as they are, get worn out easily because they are crafted with cheaper materials. Mom may have always picked the unfashionable pairs in the past, but she got what she knew was best for us. 

You were right, Mom.

So now it’s my turn to be in my mother’s place and be the shoe authority to my little girl. Good thing there are several choices that make it hard not to choose the best pair that me and my kid will both love, and a lot of resources online too, that guide parents in getting the perfect fit. With this video that shows how to measure a child’s foot with a shoe gauge, finding the right shoes for a little Cinderella would surely be a breeze.


Thursday, January 20, 2011

Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale Birthday

Have I ever told you that I am a self-taught graphic artist? 

In the not-so-distant past, I used to cut out my ID photos and that of my cousins, and attach them to the bodies of Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. I would then run it through the photocopier and voila! I get the body I want without a sweaty workout.

Imagine when I learned about the wonders of Adobe Photoshop and its endless possibilities -- I was ecstatic! I never realized something almost magical like it existed.

I eventually learned editing skills through observation and a whole lot of practice. It's always fun to explore and learn along the way especially if you love what you're doing. This knowledge also opened an avenue for me to earn extra income. It's truly a blessing!

Our beautiful baby princess (my niece) turned 4 years old last year, and she wanted to have a Barbie Fashion Fairytale themed party. (I remember the Little Lady had a Fashion Barbie themed party too, when she turned 6 years old.) Since she was having 2 parties, I made 2 photo cake layouts for her, 2 invites and 1 Barbie Fashion Fairytale tarpaulin backdrop.

 Barbie A Fashion Fairytale school invite 1 and Photo Cake layout
  
 Barbie A Fashion Fairytale tarpaulin 

 Barbie A Fashion Fairytale invite 2 and Photo Cake layout

I just love the sparkle in children's eyes when they see themselves together with their favorite character in a photo or be the star character, no less. It's priceless! And that alone makes all the effort and all the eye bags in the world worth it. (Did I mention I made all these within 24 hours?)

Cramming, cramming me, as usual. =) 


Related Posts:

I Miss You!
My Art, Revisited
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 1
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 2
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 3
Before You Call Me a Tease… (BFMUBL Part 4)
Chestene is Hannah Montana

Monday, January 17, 2011

Christmas: Hospital Style

We had a very different Christmas celebration last December 2010. We spent it at the last place in the world no one would ever dream to be on Christmas Eve - inside a hospital. My niece was admitted due to pneumonia on December 23rd, and given the extra care and medication needed for her condition, we're left with no choice but to make the most out of the situation during the coming Christmas dinner.

Our family brought food and gifts and the kids were still able to open their presents. That somehow made it more like our usual celebrations, except that it was on a different setting. Nevertheless, I am still thankful that we were able to spend it together as a family.

My sister and I stayed there for a week, looking after our little patient. The only comforting thing that made our stay convenient in the hospital aside from the state-of-the-art equipment and hotel-like accommodation, are the cheerful, beautiful and efficient people wearing soft cotton scrubs.

I love to watch people - observe their clothes, accessories, style and the way they carry themselves. And in the hospital, I noticed that all the nurses look good in their unique scrubs. My sister, who is a fashion designer noticed it too. She said it must be the uniform cut and style that made them fit every shape and size. Whoever was in charge of buying wholesale medical uniforms for the staff made a really good choice.

Anyways, despite the special hospital treatment we experienced, I am not too keen in spending time there anytime soon. I feel much better staying in my messy bed, at my most favorite place in the world - home.