Positive Thinking Quotes

Self-consciousness distinguishes you from other animals. It enables you to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and emotions and to understand how they influence your behavior. When your consciousness awakens, you start being truly free because you decide your destiny and take responsibility for your choices.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Too often we focus on the 'enemy' rather than understanding the underlying causes of conflict. Our old beliefs and thought patterns can be both a block and a limitation. If we as individuals accept personal responsibility and recognize that the source of conflict is internal rather than 'the other' - then the possibility of resolving conflict comes back into our hands. This is a great relief and very empowering.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

If you think you can do something alone, either because you don't trust others to do it or because you feel you are the most qualified, you will always be busy doing everything, you will be unhappy with others because they are not doing what you want, You will be dissatisfied. It is more effective to invest your time in training and developing others. There is a greater success in cooperation.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Free yourself from forcing, expecting or wanting someone to receive what you think they should take - it could be your idea, opinion, or an opportunity you think they should accept - you can't make anyone take anything. Offer humbly. Offer gently. Offer as if you are a master, and then let go, and retire like a shy child. When you can dance the dance between being master and child, you'll be surprised how much more others will accept what you have to say, and how much more they appreciate your offerings.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

We are what we think, all that we are arises with our thoughts," said the Buddha, "with our thoughts, we make the world." In other words, you are constantly creating your circumstances by the way you think. It's as if you had a guided missile in your unconscious that relentlessly directs you towards its target, and the target is whatever your thoughts dwell on. Think doom and gloom, and that's what you'll get. Focus on happiness and optimism, and they're already yours. Negative thought frustrate the universal forces that can create a happy, healthy and successful life. They keep our true potential trapped in a mental prison of our own making.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The presence of prosperity or lack of it in health, finances and relationships can offer signs of internal wellness, and clues about what kind of inner development needs more critical care. Understand the symbiosis between inner wellness and the different levels of prosperity in your life. Try some spiritual approaches to expanding your capacity and your awareness of abundance. Best of all, enjoy taking the reigns and steering towards total prosperity - in all dimensions.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Nothing can be more pure or stimulating than the relationship between the soul and Supreme Divine Being. They say love is a flower so delicate that a single touch can bruise it and yet so strong as to face the biggest storms; this describes the perfect love, as God has for us. When sustained on faith, it carries us across the most difficult hurdles of life but dies instantly with the touch of impurity, negativity, doubt.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

People build their identity around physical achievements, status, relationships, and other's opinions, which is like grasping a mirage in the desert - there is no substance or permanence. Rajyoga teaches us how to understand our original personality as 'souls' and re-emerge our divinity through the remembrance of One Supreme. No matter how much others or even God may try to convince me that I am a worthy individual, until I visualize my own goodness and nurture my self-respect, I cannot do anything with my life. God loves me no matter what I may be like and makes me realise my 'self' by loving me unconditionally.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

In order to create good relationships -

- With your mind, think about what you have to learn from others.
- With your eyes, look into the good qualities of others.
- With your words, recognize, value and appreciate their accomplishments,
- With your actions, cooperate and do something for others.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

You spend most of your life running after things, doing things. You forget that being comes before doing. Those who remember this secret make an effort to "be" and discover that when they stop and observe, life helps and brings whatever is needed. Learning to be is learning to be at peace. It is our most fundamental nature.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

A mother teaches her child with love and patience until the child learns. Be a mother and teach your mind to have positive thoughts and to let go off worries. Then when your mind most needs peace, it will obey you.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Many believe that happiness is achieved through material wealth. It is true that it gives a temporary sense of well being. A rich person is not someone who has more but someone who desires less. Happiness is the result of total appreciation of all that life gives you at every moment.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

To attain peace when something unfortunate happens, we have to open up to the possibility that there may be benefit and good hidden in that situation. Accept and learn, then your feelings will be positive and you will find solutions. You will have transformed defeat into victory.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Anything you keep within you will automatically reveal itself. Therefore make sure you are always full of attainments in your character. These will be revealed through your eyes, your words and your behaviour and you will be capable of having great influence on others.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

In order to live in peace, try not to depend on anyone and at the same time try to help others not to depend on you. Help them become independent, free and responsible for their lives. Ensure you do not cause anyone sorrow, and do not allow others to be a source of hurt for you.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

It is said that the mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. At every moment we have the opportunity to choose our company: thoughts which bring oxygen to the spirit or those who bring pain. If I am loyal to myself, I will continually strive to go back to my inner core of positivity. Again and again. I will be patient and loving, and increasingly my mind will reside in this positive inner truth. When I am able to be loving and loyal to myself, I can then help others in this same unconditional manner.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When you do not upset yourself thinking about how others must change and instead you concentrate on your own change, good things start to happen. You will feel better about yourself. And you will start to have positive feelings towards others and start to understand them. Others start having a more positive attitude towards you.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu

Self-control is not about suppressing emotions or tolerating the pressure of circumstances. Self-control is to be the creator of your thoughts and feelings, to be creative and find new answers. This helps you to remain calm and cool.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

It is easy to create new things, change places or do something different. To sustain that sense of newness that creates enthusiasm is more difficult. The secret of newness in life is not to do new things constantly, but to see everything you do with new eyes, new insights
and a new perspective.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

There is an immaculate eternal and constant space within you hidden under different appearances. In that space there is only peace, love and wisdom. Let go and free yourself from the layers that cover that space and you will uncover the secret of life of fullness.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

At times there is a weak spot, something you do not want to see about your character. The way to discover it is through others. They are the mirrors that reflect your personality. If something bothers you about someone, you are recognizing an attitude that is actually within you. When you feel it does not affect you and you can respond calmly, it means that this weakness is no longer in you.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Values are related to each other as if they were members of a great family. From peace and happiness emerges inner joy. From this state of wholeness love awakens and with it the desire to share and give. Two of its relatives are tolerance and respect. All values have a shared origin which unites them - the peace of spirituality. When you lose peace you begin to lose everything.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Your thoughts guide you to your destiny. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got. If you always think the same you will always get to the same place. Think in a new way and you will be a new person. Give happiness to all and you will live in peace. Create peace in your mind and you will create a world of peace around you.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When we are working together, we need to trust those working with us by seeing their capabilities and using them too. This will naturally create a healthy environment here everyone is working together as a team. One thought that would help us in practical situations to work as a team is to have trust in the ones we are working with. When we are able to trust, we are able to create a positive environment where everyone is able to express his or her best potential. The task would be successful and there would be benefit and personal growth for everyone working in the team.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

I should feel love when people don't love me because love heals and brings happiness. When I feel love towards others, there is benefit all around. To be loving is a natural way to live. If I make effort to become more loving, my own happiness increases immediately and soon the attitudes of others will soften. Many people are burdened with negativity as a result of a shortage of love. It shows up in cycles of critical thoughts and negative feelings, sometimes directed against the self, and sometimes blaming others. Such thoughts and feelings run down energy and deplete everybody's well being. If I recognize this and become more determined to stay positive, I can end the negative cycles and reveal the power of love in action.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Trust is more based on our perception of people rather than just their behaviour. When we have the habit of seeing specialties in each and every person, we are able to create space for the use of these specialties. This automatically reflects our trust in them. Let us make a firm practice of seeing at least one positive aspect in each and every person we come into contact with. Then we will be able to use this specialty in a practical way and help the other person also to use this specialty. In this way, we will be able to increase his capability and our trust in him.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Even when things go wrong, the one with a calm mind is able to see things for what they are. As the mind is clear and there is nothing waste and negative, there is clarity in perception. So the full capability of the intellect is used and clear decisions flow automatically. Let us watch situations as a detached observer. This will give us clarity and we will be able to take the right decisions with ease. Our intuitive capability will work at its best and our decisions will be right so what we do will be for the best.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When there is the thought to do something unselfish for someone every day, there is the ability to give happiness unconditionally. Whatever the relationship or whatever the personality of the other person, the one who develops the habit of doing this, is able to remain a source of support for those around. The best gift we can give is to give happiness to finish sorrow. When we are constantly thinking of this, not for any reward but just for the sake of it, we are able to discover and enjoy the fruit of that action. We become free from expectations and are able to enjoy the action itself.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Peace is simplicity. Simplicity is beauty. A simple exercise to experience this is - Choose a day as your day of simplicity. Speak little, and listen with attention. Do something incognito and nice for a person you are close to. Eat simple and natural food. Create time
periods for not doing anything - just walk, look around, live the moment. Have your mind open to a more profound and silent sensitivity. Appreciate each scene and each person as they are. In the evening write down your discoveries. Observe the state of your mind.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The sign of a great man is his accuracy. The means of achieving accuracy is setting up a time-table. Time-tables are for busy people, helping them do the work of five people. When you find there is so much activity, so much to be done, set your own time table. This helps to achieve success. At times some may feel that although they have been successful in many activities and achieved a lot, there is no sense of achievement, no satisfaction - and the soul searching questions start originating. Each individual will find his answer, his place in the tree of life if they can establish a relationship with God the Father. When setting your time-table, perhaps you can put in a few moments to be spent with just you and God, your Father and enjoy a sweet relationship with Him.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Affluent societies have put huge effort into improving physical facilities, but our minds have suffered neglect. Increased levels of negative states such as anxiety, addiction, irritability and depression have accompanied burgeoning desires. As well as undermining the health of individuals, these negative attitudes and emotions harm society and the environment by causing a loss of fundamental values in our actions. When we feel sad and empty inside, we become part of the problem. We comfort ourselves by blaming others and circumstances. Instead we have to learn how to make our mind strong. That means fill it with positivity.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Cheerfulness comes from a sense of well being and contentment. It is a high quality, but it does not always stay with us. Thoughts of envy, worry, anger and hatred enter the mind, and cheerfulness vanishes. To maintain a "smiling face" we need to focus our attention only on the good qualities around us. When we see bad qualities we retain the defects of others and it poisons our intellect. When we see good qualities then our thoughts will be pure, our action elevated bringing with them a sense of contentment and joy free from a poisonous atmosphere.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The most natural way to bring about change is to change one's attitude, starting at the seat of consciousness or the thoughts. It is better to become an actor instead of a reactor to change. Think your way into a new way of acting. Change the thoughts and automatically the behavior will follow. Purify the thoughts and automatically your actions will become pure. It becomes impossible for anyone to become angry if the thoughts are peaceful. With purity of thought, a clear vision of reality can be seen. It is impossible to accurately view reality through the warped lenses of ego, greed and negative tendencies.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When I observe the inner world of my thoughts and feelings, I can develop new ways of responding to situations and events which help me to keep a positive frame of mind. For example, I may constantly become fearful and upset about ill-health which only makes it worse, but a period of illness could offer me a space to get off life's roller coaster for a while, to rest and look at how I have been living. I may see ways of improving my attitudes and actions. That realization itself brings fresh hope and happiness. As long as I keep looking inside I do have a choice. Why choose worry, which will harm me, when I can opt for positive approach which will uplift me.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

We are good at singing praises of God, about others and about ourselves. But when we make mistakes or feel incapable of performing some action, we sing of our weaknesses and failings. This does not help in removing them. To constantly remind ourselves that we are shy, lazy, impatient etc is one sure way of staying like that. You must have faith in yourself that you can do better. Even if everyone gives up on you, your positive thoughts will help you do better. If everyone things you CAN change, you will not do so unless you yourself have that determined thought. Within each individual there are strengths and weaknesses, the balance within each one is different. Know our strengths and weaknesses, but knowing your trumpet does not mean blowing your own
trumpet.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The method to clear the mind of negativity is to fill it with positivity. Whenever we come across waste or negativity in the self because of the situations that we are faced with, we first put in effort to remove it. We do work very hard to do that but most of the times we are not able to do so. We then put in more effort or after a period of time give up trying altogether. The only way to remove negativity is to fill the mind with positivity. Just as fresh water added continuously to dirty water cleanses the water, so also positive thoughts clear the mind of waste and negative thoughts. For this I need to give my mind positive food everyday.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Meditation assists in developing the habit of thinking positive that enhances ones clarity of thought at all times and hence the ability to make continuously, instantaneous and authentic decisions. Having good judgmental powers through clarity of thought, we become more aware of our roles and responsibilities and become more focused on our aims and objectives. This is mainly because meditation teaches one to imbibe and inculcate good values and to keep away from being influenced by undesirable company. They are able to neutralize and diffuse potentially volatile situations into laughable ones instead of getting paranoid.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

It is so important to experience God's mercy and forge a strong relationship with God as our Mother. Knowing that a heart that has been hurt becomes hard, we understand God is the only One who can heal our hearts. Each one should ask him or herself : "What can I do to make my heart softer?" There is such a need of mercy. We have to make our hearts softer and stronger, because a strong heart doesn't experience pain and we know that if we experience sorrow, we cannot serve God.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

It is said that the mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. At every moment we have the opportunity to choose our company; thoughts which bring oxygen to the spirit or those who bring pain. If I am loyal to myself, I will continually strive to go back to my inner core of positivity. Again and again. I will be patient and loving, and increasingly my mind will reside in this positive inner truth. When I am able to be loving and loyal to myself, I can then help others in this same unconditional manner.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The one who has a clean heart is the one who always tries to do the best for those with whom he comes in contact. Thus, the person develops the ability to accept others as they are and ignore anything wrong done by them. Instead, he is able to do the right action without losing the balance. So such a person brings happiness for himself and for others through every action he performs.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The one who does not expect from others, but is able to give others from whatever resources he has, is the one who is flexible. Being flexible means to be able to recognize the other person's value system and molding one self according to it without losing touch with one's own value system. When I am a giver, I do not expect others to change according to my value system, but am very easily able to find a way to adapt to the other person's value system. I never expect from others to understand me, but am able to understand others. So there is never any feeling of negativity for anyone.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The world is trapped in the mire of barriers (politics, language, caste, gender) and this has distanced us from each other, and from what we require for wholesome existence: love, respect, understanding, and freedom. We are scared to love for fear of being taken for granted but God's love is very liberating, since God's vision surpasses all physical and imposed barriers: every soul is seen for what it is and what it is capable of; no one is condemned for their past; no expectations are kept nor requests for anything in return but yet God does know the value of His love. God has the faith that love and blessings will transform negativity in His children eventually. True love and good wishes for another soul is the seed that shall bear fruit in time. God says, you cannot love Me completely if you dislike any of My children because God cannot reside in a heart filled with hateful
feelings.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Cooperate with others
Create cooperation
Teach Cooperation
Inspire cooperation and you will find in your workplace a space to learn and a place for personal growth. Your motivation will shift from earning to earning.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Humility comes from confidence and helps us to be open. This openness will help us make creative decisions. Forcefulness in thought, word and action cuts off communication. Our expectations of others, insisting on our way(s) also affect the way we make decisions and the way they are received. Our heart has to be BIG to make the right decisions that benefit others. We need the strength to travel within ourselves and see
our own values and the spiritual love we have for others to embrace the situation, then make decisions. Spiritual love is as natural as sunlight.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

We need confidence in self to make accurate decisions. Confidence comes from accepting the self as one is. Confident people know a mistake is an opportunity to try in another way. Openness and flexibility is also needed. This comes from confidence and self respect. It means I should listen to others and not impose my views. The more you know, the less you tend to speak.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Thoughts are the seeds that create our destiny. If there is the same thought as before, there is no newness and there cannot be anything new attained. If things have to change, effort needs to be put in at the level of the thought first. Such thoughts will naturally inspire and motivate to make the best use of the available resources. When I begin to create new elevated thoughts in challenging times, I am able to be happy and peaceful . I don't have questions related to the situations but I am able to find the solutions in my mind. This inner peace naturally creates a peaceful environment around me.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Mindfulness means developing the habit of stepping back and observing your thoughts, consciously directing your mind inward. Just pay attention and take note. Isolate any destructive words and phrases. It's especially beneficial when your mind and body are relaxed, then you can simply watch the thoughts floating in and out of your head and quietly replace any that are not contributing to your welfare.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Within us are a lot of treasures - the treasures of thoughts, time and virtues that we have not been using fully. The power within enables us to recognize and use these treasures in a worth while way. The more we are able to work with them we find them increasing. We need to remind ourselves of the treasures within us and try and discover which treasure we have that we can work on. Even if we think of a simple specialty of ours which we could make use of, we would find it increasing and we would find others benefiting too.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Desires and dependencies make us into thieves. Inner cleaning, however, fills our actions with spiritual honesty, and our motives become selfless. There is a steady stream of elevated thinking. Then God is able to work through us, and our only desire is to become good, an instrument for God. Keeping ourselves in peace, love and mercy is the basis for being able to talk to God and having Him hear what we say. "Don't come into sound too much, stay in the Home, with Me". This is what He is signaling to us now. Such signals, filled with His love, endear us to Him very much.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Our ability to be of help is compromised if we are negatively influenced by our surroundings. However, as purity and truth develop in the soul, we are able to draw power from the Supreme. We are more able to discern what we take into ourselves. We work only with that which is useful. We remain the master - in charge of our feelings, attitude and behavior. Our ability to be of service stabilizes.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Purity in thought keeps us clean and easy and is the basis of peace and love. Purity in behavior brings inner strength. Wrong thoughts, words and actions, on the other hand, destroy our power and also distance us from God. Impurities of this sort draw us into a world of confusion: what is happening, what to do, how? However, when you see a fire, you don't stand around asking questions. You don't even wait for the fire brigade. You just offer your help, immediately, from the heart.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Meditation allows us to reverse the habit of worrying and hurrying. Getting upset quickly over small matters, becoming disheartened, angry, irritated or depressed is replaced by elevated feelings of humility, trust and patience. Take the time to prove to yourself that anything done in peacelessness will only be half done, whereas where there is patience and care, everything gets done very well.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

You do not lose your peace because of circumstances but because of the struggle you create in your mind between what you think should be and what really is. To be accepting is not about being passive. It is to be aware of reality and to start working from there.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

If there is the thought that we can do things ourselves without other people's help, it means that we have arrogance of our own potential or we are not able to have trust for others. This lack of trust doesn't allow us to use others' potential for the benefit of the task. So we are deprived of a very useful resource and we will not be able to be happy. We need to understand the fact that there is greater success in cooperation. It is much more useful to invest our time and resources in training and developing others' potential. This brings about the best from people and so there is a greater contribution and hence greater success in every task that we take up.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When we want to convey something to others, we tend to use a lot of words for it. Yet we find many times that our feelings are not conveyed. Then there is a tendency to use more words, creating a negative impact on others, sometimes even hurting others' feelings. Also they don't bring about accurate result. Accurate words means there is nothing extra spoken. Such words being short are sweet to hear too and are those that never hurt others. When our words are to the point, there is a lot of lightness experienced within ourselves and our physical energy is saved too. Others too experience benefit through our words and so we naturally get blessings from them, which helps us move forward with lightness.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Whenever problems come my way, I tend to feel heavy with waste and negative thoughts. At that time I am not able to feel free and light. When there is heaviness in my mind, I can't move forward with enthusiasm and thereby find it difficult to contribute for others' progress too. Whatever the circumstances I am faced with, I need to make special effort not to reduce my enthusiasm in any way. Enthusiasm gives me courage and this courage in turn helps me use my own specialties for others' benefit too. I begin to discover new resources within me, which can be used for everyone's benefit.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

While moving towards my destination, I tend to get distracted with even the little things that happen. Even a small negative or positive incident is enough to distract my thoughts from my destination. I am sometimes so busy with such things that my vision moves away from my destination and I stop moving forward. I need to first clarify my goal. Once I have done this, I need to take care that my vision is focused on it. Even when situations come by, trying to distract me I need to remind myself that these are only side-scenes, which are not important for me. It is more important to keep my energies focused towards the goal.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Usually in relationships we begin to expect from people whom we get close to. We feel that because we have love for them we have a right over them. Because of our expectations we are not able to give the other person freedom to move forward or progress. When we have true love we are able to provide the right environment for people so that they can bring about progress in their life. We will not hold on to them and expect them to do everything according to our needs, but give them real support.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Normally it is understood that to get the best role is to be a hero actor. So we are more inclined towards a role where we can get people's praise. If people praise us we feel good about it and if they don't we are disappointed. We are usually dependent on people's appreciation. Yet it doesn't come by so consistently. We can be a hero actor at all times when we have attention on every act of ours. We make sure that none of our words or actions are ordinary or waste. Since we pay constant attention to everything we do, we find that we are able to give our best. We are then satisfied with whatever is happening since we know what we do is not as important as how well we do it.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Normally there is a tendency to think of what we need and what we have to acquire. So we tend to think of ourselves alone. We think of sharing with others only when we have sufficient for ourselves. This creates expectations from others and there is disappointment when these expectations are not fulfilled. There are lots of resources in our lives that we can share with others. The more there is the consciousness of giving there is the ability to give and share these inner resources with others. We discover new treasures and use them for the benefit of all and also for the self. Then there is constant satisfaction in our lives. There are also constant good wishes that we receive from others.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Most of us are of sound mind, but many of us have trouble maintaining a note of harmony and peace. Most of us know how to think, but few of us are able to control our thoughts. We all have the capacity to be creative, to image new ideas, but few of us are able to do it together and co-create in harmony with each other. We could all do with some mental training so that we may use the most powerful energy in the universe, the mind, which is always at our instant disposal. We can begin with mindfulness. It's a simple way to gently help our mind go where it is best to go, do what is the best thing to do. It begins by simply being fully aware of what you are doing. Mostly we are not fully aware, as our minds wander into the past and then into possible futures. We spend most of our time watching others and so rarely fully focus on what we are actually doing ourselves. Next time you sit down to a meal, watch yourself. Be aware of only what you are eating. Every time your mind wants to wander, bring it gently and lovingly back to the action and sensation of eating. Then do the same when cleaning, when writing, when working. The more you do it stronger and more focused and more rational will be your concentration, the more natural will be your actions, the more peaceful you will feel, and the more relaxed you will be, no matter what you are doing.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

When there is criticism that comes one's way, there is a tendency to ignore or to defend oneself. Naturally we then lose the power to listen. We then find that we are not able to correct our mistakes and so they repeat. We thus find that we are not able to experience progress. We need to carefully analyze to see if there is any truth in any criticism that comes our way. If there is, correction can be made accordingly. When we listen to others with honesty, we are able to discover even the most negligible aspect in our behavior, which we can change. So we find ourselves constantly improving and progressing and moving on towards success. So having brought about a change, even the criticism that comes our way stops.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

How fast can life become? How much can we do in the corporeal amount of time we have? There is only 24 hours in the day, but we're trying to fit 26 hours into it. If we could watch a movie of our average day we'd probably be amazed at all the things we try to do. And then there is the exact opposite. Some of us spend our lives watching others doing and achieving, and from these images we build such high expectations of our own life, and then sit around feeling utterly powerless in our attempts to meet these expectations. That powerlessness becomes hopelessness and hopelessness becomes depression. If we can just see this process and release these expectations. If we can at least be detached from any expectations, we will get back some of our inner power and self-motivation. It helps to stop watching others and their lifestyles, especially in the media, and then comparing yourself to them. It helps to eliminate all but one 'I wish' from your mind. There is only one valid and useful 'I wish' and it is simply "I wish to be me". For that is all you can ever be. It is all you can ever have. It is all that you are. And when you know it, you will be free of all expectation and desire, and able to enter the most relaxed state of being, at will.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Never believe anyone who says we cannot change. Vision is one of the secrets of personal transformation. We are all artists, our mind is the arena of creation and vision is what we are constantly creating. What is your vision of yourself today - patient, relaxed, positive or tense, tight and negative? What do you prefer? So be creative – what does patience look like, feel like, what are you doing that is different when you are patient and you are expressing your power to ...wait? Always start with vision not action. See it and you will be it. Be it and you will do it. We don't 'get a life' as some would cynically tell us - we create our life.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Lightness is like hitting a spring of water inside. A sudden break out from the dryness of your normal reactions as you begin to express from within, rather than just responding to what you see outside. It usually happens when you come upon a quality that hasn't been destroyed or jaded by time, something very old and inherent in you that has survived. Most qualities and talents are developed through use, but are also in some way diluted and changed. Lightness is touching what makes you unique, because it has never changed.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The past is history, so let it go. The future is a mystery, so let it come. The present is a gift - be truly in the present today and release all your fears (based on the past) and your worries (imagined futures) - this is the work of someone who truly wants to awaken, and break free from the anchors and burdens of dead yesterdays and speculative tomorrows. Be here now they say, easier said than done, I hear you say. But no one can stop us, except for ourselves. There is only now - everything else is avoidance.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

People are often unreasonable, self-centered: Forgive them anyway. If you are Honest, People may cheat you, but be Honest anyway. What you spend years to build, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. The good you do today, People will often forget tomorrow. Do Good anyway. You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God; it never was between you and them anyway.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

A powerful, yet often misunderstood, aim of spiritual study is purity. Purity of the soul means to return to its original divine qualities. The soul has become so polluted with less than divine qualities; it can hardly enjoy being alive. Purifying the soul puts the higher self back in charge - useless and negative thoughts are removed and annoying habits finish. A pure soul cannot be touched by sorrow; indeed the power of purity is such, it serves to remove the sorrow of the whole world. Purity restores happiness - even bliss. All you need to do, in order to re-establish your purity, is want it. But you need to want it intensely, to the exclusion of everything else. The one thought, "I must become completely pure". Sparks a fire of love between you and God. This fire melts away all the pollution, and your purity becomes such a power that it frees you from all battles forever.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

The most powerful anchor on our potential to soar high in life is the past. The past contains the dead weight of experience, learned beliefs and all our mistakes. Life cannot truly begin until we are able to say goodbye to the legacies of yesterday at will. Like a filing cabinet, the past is a resource of information for learning, but it is not a place to live. When you go to work do you spend your day in the filing cabinet? How often will you/did you live in the past today? Say goodbye and make it final. Saying farewell to yesterday, last month and last year is the sign of a person who wants to live for today and is truly alive to all the possibilities of 'the moment', while fully aware that all they think, say and do right now, creates tomorrow.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Only in relationships can you know yourself, not in abstraction and certainly not in isolation. The movement of behavior is the sure guide to yourself, it's the mirror of your consciousness; this mirror will reveal its content, the images, the attachments, the fears, the loneliness the joy and the sorrow. Poverty lies in running away from this, either in its sublimations or its identities.

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.

Live simply so that others may simply live. It's a nice idea, but our lives are more complicated and complex than ever. What can you simplify today - your desk, perhaps your thoughts, a meeting? Simple means easy. Simple means asking, "Is this really necessary?" Simple means keeping it short but sweet. Simple means keeping the focus of your attention on what you need to do now. Today's mantra is, "lets keep it simple."

~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu.