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Several "firsts" have occurred since the last
e-newsletter.
The NEW Workplace Meditations audio CD
launched with very positive
feedback. This unique product is a business
tool for
people that are suffering from stress at work
and are
looking for relief.
The Netherlands Chapter For Spirit at Work
had it's inaugural meeting
October 1st, 2007 in The Hague. This will be
a non profit, bi-lingual forum for business
people to
freely discuss their spiritual values and how to
integrate them into their work. From time to
time
throughout the
year, there will be guest speakers, book
discussions,
review of current trends in spirituality at
work and
other lively discussion topics.
It
will be held
on the 1st
Monday of each month at the Westeinde 101a in
the
center of The Hague from 19:30 - 21:30 and
all are
welcome. There is no membership fee but
donations
will be requested to cover the cost of the
room and
refreshments.
Barbara is the Chapter
Leader and Facilitator.
For more information on any
of these developments, contact Barbara by email.
Two new workshops will be presented in the Hague
called:
Down-To-Earth Meditation for Busy People; Body,
Mind & Soul
Self Mastery and Soul Awareness Through Simple
Meditation
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Question:How can I reduce the negative
self talk
in my mind that so often sabotages me with
fear and doubts?
The ego or ego mind (not the same as Freud's Ego
and ID) is that negative voice inside your
head that
fills you with fear and doubt and wants you
to "stay
small" in your life. It has many names such
as the
gremlin, monkey mind, the "Yeah But
Syndrome", the
voice of your nagging Mother from the past
(no offense
intended) or other figures from the past that
said you
were not good enough or filled you with doubt.
Think of it this way: There
is a constant battle in your head between a
place of
fear and negativity (ego mind) and a place of
peace,
love, self acceptance, courage and
strength. You often spend much of your thinking
time in the
fear place and don't even realize it.
How
often do you knock yourself or not
dare
to do
something that takes courage? How strong is
your
negative self talk about yourself? Are you so
afraid of
the unknown that you will never take a leap
of faith to
perhaps get to
a place that will allow for your greatest
good to
appear? That is the ego mind wanting to keep you
small.
One way to get out of this fear place
is to be aware of your ego mind's presence
and be
aware of the battle raging in you between
peace and
fear. When you do find the self talk
dominating and
limiting you, simply catch yourself and
say, No - I dont live in this fear place and
simply push
the negative feelings out of your mind. It is
not easy,
and requires some practice, but you can do it.
If you are successful, you will be able to
focus on the positives in your life and reach
for your destiny.
Believe that you have control over
who wins
this battle and work to stay in the place of
calm
centeredness.
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Take a Break and Meditate Drop in Morning
October 19, 2007, 9:30 - 11:30
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The Netherlands Chapter for Spirit at Work
November 5, 2007, 19:30 - 21:30, The Hague
Down-To-Earth Meditation for Busy People; Body, Mind & Soul
November 13, 2007, 9:30 - 11:30 or November 18th 20:00- 21:30
Self Mastery and Soul Awareness Through Simple Meditation
November 16th, 2007 , 19:30 - 21:30 or November 30, 2007, 9:30 - 11:30
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Uplifting Spiritual Websites |
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Everyday Spirituality E-Newsletter
Celebrate the Spiritual in You!
October 2007, Volume 2, Issue 9-10
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Greetings!
Welcome to the October edition of Everyday
Spirituality. The last e-newsletter published
in August had several interesting
pieces in it, including a heartfelt letter
from God
and an introduction to The Spiritual
Nod
in the 5 minute meditation. If you did'nt get
a chance to
read it, or listen to the recording, - check it
out. This month I will offer several links from past 5
minutes meditations for you to enjoy again.
This month we
will look at the amazing poem
called The Desiderata. This is a short
but
powerful poem that was writen about 1920, but
is still
relevant today. See also the Ask
Barbara section that talks about the ego.
I would like to acknowledge the work
of Al
Gore with regard to the Nobel Peace Prize
he won
recently for his dilgent and non-compromising
efforts to
save our planet. If you watched the film, An
Inconvenient Truth, you saw that he
traveled a
lonely road for many years with his message
of warning and never gave
up in
his faith and belief in the important message
he was
trying to get people to listen to. Well
done and
well deserved, Mr. Gore!
Many readers have stated that they would like
a very
short. weekly uplifiting message that is
similar in
nature to this monthly e-newsletter.
I will start an Everyday Spirituality
Weekly Contemplation" e-mailing with
one
thought or idea presented to you for your
quick glance.
It is meant to be read and then discarded or
stored and
is a kind of "quick moment" of inspiration
and uplifting
words in your busy and hectic week.
I am pleased to send you these thoughtful
passages
about Spirit being present in our everyday
lives and
simple reminders of how we can maintain the
connection, no matter what
happens.
Thank you for your support and
readership.
Sincerely,
Barbara
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Feature Article: The Desiderata
There is an amazing and well known poem called
The Desiderata that I would like to
share with
you in this month's feature article.
Although
some
readers may know the poem, the intention here
is to
introduce it to those who don't, and for
those who do,
to focus on a few passages of the poem that
are very
powerful. I could analyze each line as it is so
profound, but will look at only a few for your
consideration.
The Desiderata is
motivational in nature and meant as a guide
to life and
is spiritual in nature.
Although believed to be found in 1692, it was
in fact
written by Max Ehrmann in around 1920.
"Desiderata"
is Latin and means 'things that are yearned
for', which
in the context of the poem more closely
means 'essential things'.
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and
listen to
others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and
disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark
imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and
loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it
should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY
COMMENTARY
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and
remember
what peace there may be in silence. This
is one
of the
most pleasing first lines in the history of
poetry.
Consider the words as they flow so well
together to
make a point. Life is hectic, chaotic, and
full of stress.
We must try to remember to slow down and make
time to find peace in the silence. It
addresses two
aspects of the Everyday Spirituality
philosophy: find
time to be still through meditation,
contemplation or
silence and to keep a place of balance within
you
where you can find peace and centeredness in
good and bad times.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully
surrendering the things of youth. Nurture
strength of
spirit to shield you in sudden
misfortune. With
age,
comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the
understanding of the need to surrender. With
great
clarity, this passage advises us to accept
what life
throws at us with inner strength to face what
comes,
even in the worst of times. If we have a
practice of
returning to center, and can tap into that
place within
when we need it, these misfortunes will not
seem so
bad and we will have an inner connectedness
to true
self and God to draw upon.
You are a child of the universe no less
than the
trees
and the stars. You have a right to be here. And
whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt
the universe
is unfolding as it should. This section
refers to
our unity with all people and
things in the universe. Referring to us as
children of the
universe, reminds us that we are not separate
from
our brother/sisters or the animals or plants
on this planet or
the stars that surround it. We are all one
with the
universe. The universe is unfolding as it
should,
seems to mean that we often try to force our
will on
events or people in our lives. The concept of
Divine
Timing refers to everything happening in
divine right
order according to God's plan for our lives. And
whether we accept it or not, things that
happen in our
lives, both good and bad, are meant to happen
in this
way.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you
conceive Him to be and whatever your labors or
aspirations in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace
with your soul. We are in a constant
battle within
ourselves between the ego - which is fearful,
self
sabotaging, critical and desperate for us to
"stay
small" vs. a place of peace where we are working
together with God and in communication with our
inner self and God. Peace or fear, fear or
peace; a
constant struggle between these two forces
rages in
our minds and hearts. Mr. Ehrman urges us to
keep
the confusion of life in perspective and
strive to keep a
peaceful place within.
Visit the link below to get your PDF version
of this
timeless work of wisdom. It is really an
excellent
guide to life for us all.
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Closing Thought
Try to reach down into your mind to a place of real
safety. You will recognize that you have reached it if
you feel a sense of deep peace, however
briefly.
Let go of all the trivial things that churn
and bubble on the surface of your mind and reach
down below them to the Kingdom of Heaven.
There is a place in you where there is perfect
peace.
There is a place in you where nothing is
impossible.
There is a place inside of you where
the strength of God abides.
A Course in Miracles
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For more information or to give feedback, contact:
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Barbara Rogoski | |
31 626 898 717 | |
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