Lección 1
The Footprint
I have explored many avenues in my own quest to reach this state of tranquility in which I now reside. And that is why I am sharing my thoughts with you. You may adopt some attitudes and not others and you may have a whole gambit of avenues of your own. However, we learn from each other’s experiences, and I learned some time ago, that there is some wisdom in telling my own story.
You may be a little like me and constantly ask yourself why are you here on the earth? Or you may not question it at all. However, for those of you who often ask yourself this question, you may then realize that this then leads into the second whopping question: "What can I leave behind to contribute to the world?"
Lección 2
Respect
Do we realize our own abilities, qualities, or achievements? Do we have consideration for our own feelings, wishes, or rights? Are we thoughtful, considerate, and attentive towards ourselves Cherishing the friendship with ourselves?
Do we make allowances for our own idiosyncrasies and foibles and not beat ourselves up over our faults and the errors we make? Am I not doing the best that I can?
What are some of the limiting low self-esteem characteristics I could perhaps reflect upon? Am I respectful towards others? Do I truly respect myself? These are the questions we shall ask ourselves.
Lección 3
Take Flight
According to the wisdom of Rumi, ancient philosopher and poet, “You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly."
Nothing is more enlightening than the freedom to soar beyond our self-imposed limitations and to experience the liberty of just being and being freed enough to take on new adventures.
Let us take flight.
Lección 4
Sometimes
We spend the most time in our lives with ourselves and so how we chat with ourselves is critical to the approach we take to life and the route we forge to live it. That is why we need to be aware of what we say and how we say it.
It is so important to be alert to this internal dialogue and incessant chatter that we live with internally - the judgments we make, stories we create, and the suffering we cause for ourselves. Yes, we cause much of our own suffering simply by the way we think.
Our inner conversations tell us how we feel about ourselves. Sometimes we are in sync and sometimes not. And so, we have to realize our humanness and know, “As the sages have said and ancient texts prescribe: "Sometimes life is simply a balance between holding on and letting go."
Lección 5
Quiescence
Much of this lesson is simply based on quiescence and its antithesis - gossip. I try so much to abide by the wisdom passed on to me by the great Krishna Murti on a daily basis - treading lightly and with full attention to my words and actions. Truly challenging at times but definitely a pathway to living a more peaceful existence.
If one keeps an open heart and a quiet mind and therefore is attentive to being compassionate and empathetic, then gossip will not play a large part in one’s life.
Why do we gossip? And what does it reveal about ourselves? This we shall explore.
Lección 6
The Two Wolves
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
This lesson is based on the concept of ‘The Two Wolves’ and what we feed our minds.
Lección 7
Listen
“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” - Dr. K. A. Menninger
Do we actually listen? Carefully? Intensely? Without judgment?
Are we losing our listening abilities? How is listening relevant to being peaceful? Don’t we all want to be loved seen and heard? Don’t we need to transform our world into a conscious listening world?
Questions to be asked, lessons to be learned.
Lección 8
Values
Nothing can make you feel more dehumanized and despondent than knowing that you are in the wrong place, whether that is in a relationship, a career, an emotional space, a dwelling, a belief system, or even a country.
We all lose our way at some stage but with tenacity, curiosity, and self-awareness, we find the right path again. And I truly believe that understanding and living by one’s core values is definitely imperative in our search for a contented life.
Our core values guide us to how we behave, the decisions we make, and what we need to do to live in accord with them.
So, what are values? Let us go on a path of discovery.
Lección 9
I Am Enough
I am enough
This is enough
I have enough
I am doing enough
I am doing my best
- Annemaree
I was sent these words: You don’t need to wait for some grand external validation of your worth before you offer your kindest heart to yourself.
What steps do we need to take to realize our potential, that we are indeed enough, and to make the necessary changes so that we are no longer impeded in our desire to grow?
Lección 10
Friendship
In order to have global peace, we need friendship. In order to have personal peace, we need friendship. In the words attributed to Woodrow Wilson (28th president of the United States), "Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." It was also considered to be the highest virtue by the philosopher Aristotle.
There are many lessons to be learned about the power of friendship. It is the connection with friends that brings us a true sense of peace. Here for a season, reason, or lifetime. It doesn’t matter for however long friends present themselves, lessons are to be learned from each of them in the pursuit to lead a happy and connected existence.
