365 Day Challenge Day 28 The Seeds of Happiness
Whether we have happiness or not depends on the seeds in our consciousness. If our seeds of compassion, understanding, and love are strong, those qualities will be able to manifest in us. If the seeds of anger, hostility, and sadness in us are strong, then we will experience much suffering.
To understand someone, we have to be aware of the quality of the seeds in his store consciousness. And we need to remember that he is not solely responsible for those seeds. His ancestors, parents, and society are coresponsible for the quality of the seeds in his consciousness.
When we understand this, we are able to feel compassion for that person. With understanding and love, we will know how to water our own beautiful seeds and those of others, and we will recognize seeds of suffering and find ways to transform them. Your True Home, Thich Nhat Hanh
How does your garden grow? And what are your cultivating? Simply put, taking responsibility for your seeds of consciousness can change your life. How does one do that? One idea would be to incorporate daily affirmations into your routine.
I attended a fantastic conference this weekend given by Sam Bennett of the Organized Artist. In addition to sharing powerful content, we discussed the power of our own thoughts. The conversations we are having with ourselves can truly help or hurt your business. Do you have a daily affirmation practice? How and why do they work?
Affirmations are one of the simplest ways to shift your consciousness. If you do not have the happiness, joy, meaningful work, _______________(fill in the blank) you would like, then adding a daily practice of affirmations can provide a powerful shift. Why does they work? Affirmations work because our minds are ‘wired’ to look for what they know and for better or worse, our minds believe that which we hear often. If you affirm that the world is a welcoming place then your brain will be on the lookout for positive experiences to support your belief. You will begin to notice more people saying ‘hello’, more spontaneous conversations with strangers, more drivers letting you in. One key to developing an affirmation practice that works is to select words or phrases supported by your real life experiences. For example, if your daily affirmation is that the world is a friendly place then think back to an example from your own life when the world felt friendly, the time when the person in front of you in line with a huge basket of groceries asked if you would like to go first.
Here is a good article to help with developing your affirmation practice:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-wise-open-mind/201108/5-steps-make-affirmations-work-you
Alternatively, if you have read this and think I am full of it then please let me know, AND here is a link to an article that may be better suited for you:
In gratitude,
Kristan