Small Things with Great Love

“We must be the change we want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

I have a very simple but powerful suggestion on how to be that change. Be the change by focusing on Small Acts with Great Love! Now, I did not come up with that. It was Mother Teresa who said, “We can do no great things –only small things with great love.” Here is a true story example:

An old woman walked with a ramble as she pushed her shopping cart full of her worldly possession. She was dirty, her hair unkempt, her cloths torn, she reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. Most of her teeth were missing. She stopped and asked Jill for some change. Jill wanting to display a small act of kindness invited her to lunch and she agreed. They went across the street to an outdoor café so the old woman could watch over her shopping cart while they ate. When they were ready to leave, Jill felt good about herself but then the old woman asked her for a hug. It was then that Jill had to face herself and all the hidden repulsion and bias that she had for this woman. She gave her a passing type of hug and instantly felt shame. The old woman thanked Jill for lunch and began to ramble off. Jill stood there for a moment and realized that she had failed to give this woman the one thing that cost nothing, Love!

She called to the woman and caught up with her and asked her if she could give her a real hug and she agreed. She got past, and I quote “her own stench and gave that woman the best hug she has ever given anyone.” This was a small act with great Love.

Listen intently without interrupting, smile at a stranger, or waive to a neighbor. These are all small acts with great love. Quoting Mother Teresa again she said, “Do not worry about why problems exist in the world – just respond to people’s needs. We feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but that ocean would be less without that drop.” It is time NOW for everyday people to stop feeling powerless about doing some grand thing in the world and be empowered to see the impact of their small actions, all adding up collectively.

http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright 2010

Natural Prozac

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everday life." - Max Heindel


Dr. Joel Robertson in his book, "Natural Prozac", states that listening to soothing music is a powerful tool to instantly change the chemistry in your brain with no negative side effects. He says, “If chosen correctly, it can be medicine for the mind and the soul.”

20 years ago scientists experimented with plants and the music of Bach. They found that his music caused the plants to grow faster and healthier, while the hard rock music had a negative effect on the plants. It stands to reason then that music also affects the human organism in ways that we may not realize.


The next time you feel your stress levels climbing, tune into soothing music and just see how quickly your mood changes! Add some deep breathing to that and I guarantee you will feel a whole lot better.

A moment of soothing music....
http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright 2010

Energy Vampires

"Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other sees stars." - Frederick Langbridge

Have you ever heard the phrase, “We become part of what we are around?” The people you associate with have a profound affect on how you feel and ultimately what you achieve!

How do you feel after listening to negative people? You probably feel listless and drained, right? Renowned Psychologist and Motivational Speaker, Jack Canfield, describes them as “energy vampires” – they suck all the positive energy out of you. On the other hand, how do you feel when you’re around people who are positive and enthusiastic? I’ll bet you have more energy and are encouraged and inspired.

We have a choice in who we hang out with. I’m not talking about your spouse or significant other. I’m referring to relationships both at work and in your leisure time. I have a relative who is very negative. She is as Canfield describes an “energy vampire." I’ve had to put limits on my involvement with her. I haven’t abandoned her but I do not go out of my way to call her. I am in favor of trying to help those who are negative. I think we should make efforts to steer them in a more positive direction. But if we’ve tried for many years and that person insists on being negative, maybe it’s time to severely limit the amount of time we spend with that person. Those who occupy your time have a significant impact on your most priceless possession…your mind!

In the last few years there has been a growing body of psychological research bearing out the power that one individual’s mood can have on others. Psychologists call it “Emotional Contagion." A long term researcher, Richard Saavedra, from the University of New Hampshire states, “It is one of the most robust phenomena I’ve ever seen. And it’s all unconscious.”

We become part of what we are around! Surround Yourself with Positive People.

Positive reflection...
http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Nature for Stress Reduction

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."-Frank Lloyd Wright

Dr. Felf in his book, "The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development", states that exposure to nature settings produces significant recovery from stress in physical measurements such as blood pressure and muscle tension. I can vouch for that!

One of my very favorite things to do is to go hiking with my two over-grown labador retrivers, Eli & Bogart, at a nearby park. It is a great place to get in touch with nature. There are many different hiking trails for several miles that cover about 400 acres of beautiful dense forest. In the Spring there are tons of dogwood & if the sun hits them just right, it looks like a forest of twinkling white lights. It is dense with lush green foliage during the summer months. And in the fall, you are surrounded by brilliant reds, oranges & yellows. But honestly, although I love all of the seasons there, I think my favorite is winter. All of the leaves are off the trees & you can see for miles. It is wide open. This is when I take Eli & Bogart off their leashes and say “Run, boys…Run” and they run like the wind. It feels like total freedom!

No matter how stressed I am, within five minutes of being in nature, I have not a care in the world. It quiets all the mind chatter and frees my Soul. Spending time in nature isn’t always possible. But viewing nature scenes on your television or computer is and it has also proven to have great calming effects. A moment in nature

Harmony

"He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the Universe." - Marcus Aurelilus

One person gets nothing but discord from a piano, another gets harmony. No one blames the piano. Life is similar! The discord is there, and the harmony is there. Play it correctly, and it will give beauty: Play it falsely, and it will give ugliness. Life is not at fault! A beautiful harmonious video moment...

Exercise... Joyous?

Exercise can be joyous! Any dreaded task can be joyous if you approach it with a playful attitude. Think back to when you were a child. Do you remember what if felt like to be playful? It feels happy, innocent, creative, free and light-hearted. Find the physical exercise that at least halfway appeals to you whether it is cycling, swimming, hiking, aerobic dance, etc. and approach it with a playful attitude. With a playful attitude, you will look forward to experiencing the joy you derive from regular exercise. Not only will you experience joy but improved body composition, strength, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, stress reduction, and raised self-esteem! Any dreaded task can be joyous, even exercising when approached with a playful attitude! Slip into a moment of Joy!

Be the Change Now!

A Zen Master visiting New York City goes up to a hot dog vendor and says, “Please, make me one with everything.” The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen Master, who then pays a $20 bill.

The Vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it. “Excuse me, but where is my change?” asks the Zen Master.

The Vendor responds, “Zen Master, you of all people should know…Change must come from within.”

It is an understatement to say that our Country is in dire need of positive change. The way our country has been governed and the way many individuals have lived their lives have lead us to an economic crisis. Many are feeling the results of our economic situation and want to do something to make a difference. Yet, the scale of the issues at hand makes it seem difficult for us. You may be asking, "How can I make a difference?" "What can I do?" Or you may be thinking, "Nothing I do will make a difference anyway."

Surely the question now is not what we can do alone but what we can achieve together!

When President Harry Truman was headed home to Missouri after finishing his term in the White House, a reporter asked him what it was like to be leaving the highest office in the land. Without missing a beat, Truman replied: “I am not leaving the highest office. I am assuming the highest office, that of a citizen.”

By working shoulder to shoulder with one another, assuming the “highest office of citizenship” by being the change we want to see and devoting ourselves to a common destiny, then perhaps we collectively can create huge improvements across our nation.

We cannot wait for change. If we want change, we must be the change. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world.” I have a very simple but powerful suggestion on how to be that change.

Be the Change by focusing on Small Acts with Great Love! It was Mother Theresa who said, “We can do no great things –only small things with great love.” Here is a true story example:

An old woman walked with a ramble as she pushed her shopping cart full of her worldly possession. She was dirty, her hair unkempt, her cloths torn, she reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. Most of her teeth were missing.

She stopped and asked Jill for some change. Jill wanting to display a small act of kindness invited her to lunch and she agreed. They went across the street to an outdoor café so the old woman could watch over her shopping cart while they ate.

When they were ready to leave, Jill felt good about herself but then the old woman asked her for a hug. It was then that Jill had to face herself and all the hidden repulsion and bias that she had for this woman. She gave her a passing type of hug and instantly felt shame. The old woman thanked Jill for lunch and began to ramble off.

Jill stood there for a moment and realized that she had failed to give this woman the one thing that cost nothing, Love! She called to the woman and caught up with her and asked her if she could give her a real hug and she agreed. She got past, and I quote “her own stench and gave that woman the best hug she has ever given anyone.” This was a small act with great Love.

Preparing this article has heightened my awareness of the impact of small acts so yesterday when I was at the grocery store, there was a young woman behind me with many items in her cart and a screaming baby. I had already loaded all of my things upon the conveyor belt so I asked if she would like some help with her groceries. She stood there speechless for a second and then agreed. She had the biggest smile on her face & jokingly asked if I would follow her home to unload her car as well. At the same time her baby quit screaming. I’m convinced he quit screaming because he sensed the kindness. This was a small act with great love.

Listen intently without interrupting, smile at a stranger, or waive to a neighbor. These are all small acts with great love.

Quoting Mother Teresa again she said, “Do not worry about why problems exist in the world – just respond to people’s needs. We feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but that ocean would be less without that drop.”

It is time NOW for everyday people to stop feeling powerless about doing some grand thing in the world and be empowered to see the impact of their small actions, all adding up collectively. Be the Change NOW!.