I believe in ideas. I believe in quotes. I believe in good thoughts. I believe that it can take just one single idea to transform our life. One single idea. So the more we expose ourselves to great ideas, the more we are on the path of self-discovery, growth and true fulfillment. So keep learning, reading, listening and engaging in good ideas because everytime you do so, you are planting the seed of life change.

Let us every time we want to comment, make a statement, or give an opinion, ask ourselves before:

Am I by saying this making things better or worse?

Am I part of a potential solution or part of the problem by dwelling on the negativity? Will my statement improves the situation, help the person, or solve the challenge? Or will it fuel it more and more?

Do my words create a vision and increase hope, encouragement and motivation for a better way or future or create more hopelessness, depression, anger, or even more violence?

Let’s face it, like it or not, we ARE responsible and this is valid in any context from small group, to family, to organizations, to nations. And yes, EVERY SINGLE WORD we say does count, everywhere including social media (I should even say ESPECIALLY social media).

Let us keep reminding ourselves that we are RESPONSIBLE.  And the very first step of claiming back our responsibility and taking real charge is by basing what we say on values not on pure reaction to our emotions, and people and events around us. At the end of the day, everything we say, represents exactly who WE truly are, nothing more, nothing less.

“When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside.” Wayne Dyer

I used to feel lost in a lot of situations on how to behave and how to deal with some difficult people. Sometimes even quite trivial things, like leaving the food plates and the tray at the table instead of putting in the appropriate place before leaving, at a self service restaurant. Things like how to respond to someone who is always a taker and almost never a giver . Things like people I love and care for whom I stay in touch with while they almost never do. I was lost on how to respond and what to do until the day I heard this quote from one of my favorite writers, Dr. Wayne Dyer. He said:  “When you have the choice to be right or be kind, always choose being kind.” 

That was when something very deep within me resonated with his words and gave me the answer to my wonder. From that point on, in challenging situations or even trivial ones, when I don’t know how to respond, I try to follow Dr. Wayne’s words. At times it is so painful and extremely challenging to take this path; and while sometimes I make it, honestly at others, I fail. Yet still, this pure voice within me reminds me always: Choose being kind. Choose being kind. Choose being kind.

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“We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.” Jim Rohn

Inspiration and desperation: These are the best places to start, and foundation of, true lasting change.

Inspiration because your passion will pull you move towards the things you want to achieve. Once you are inspired, you will just find yourself attracted towards this exciting goal and the more desire the faster you will transform.

Desperation because when you hit bottom in any area in your life you will stand up and say: “I have had it! I won’t take it anymore.” And this is the day when your whole life in this area will transform and the upward circle of positive change starts.

Next time you feel very inspired or the way you feel extremely bad about something, get excited and take the very first step. This can be the first step of radical positive change. This can be the start of life transformation. This can be the door towards a better future. Go for it!

Yoga, meditation and prayer could be great lights in our life but the values and benefits of these practices cannot be sustained if we don’t deliberately carry them with us outside the practice. It is like a fire that we build somewhere: at home, in the yoga studio or at the church or mosque. It is our own choice, though, to carry this light with us along the way or leave it there.

Instead of just doing the asana, watching our breath or connecting and praying to God only during these practices, what we are truly in need, is to bring the consciousness, the presence and the values we live and create during this time into our daily life. Thus every situation becomes a moment of truth how much we are committed to these practices and indeed living their values every day.