"There's too much emotion, too much negative emotion: frustration, hatred, anger. I think that's the greatest obstacle. So I think as a first step this should be cooled down. Reduced. Forget these things. And I think for the time being, we need more festivals, more picinics. Let us forget these difficult things, these emotions, and make personal friends. Then we can start to talk about these serious matters."
Dalai Lama, quoted in Ode Magazine (September 2007)
Dalai Lama, quoted in Ode Magazine (September 2007)
In Saturday's yoga class, we talked about the benefits of keeping an open mind as I'd written a short post about it a few days earlier. We agreed that open minded people appear more youthful and vibrant. Every day brings them a chance for a new adventure.
While we all have opinions and thoughts on just about every subject imaginable, our beliefs should allow and encourage growth rather than a stubborn stagnation. As British writer Gilbert Chesterton said, "A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones."
I like the Dalai Lama's suggestion to cool down and get happy through festivities. When we're not being challenged or threatened, our bodies can spend the time to heal and we're able to hear those instinctual whispers that lead us out of the ruts that habits form.
It will soon be the season for gathering and celebrating so this may be a good time to resolve to do things a bit differently. Celebrate with a new group of people or in a novel way or celebrate in the usual manner but with more positive attitudes and intentions.
You have nothing to lose. Either you'll make some new friends and have the best holiday season ever, or you'll acquire a new level of appreciation for the friends, family and traditions that you already have. If the thought of changing your holiday practices makes you uneasy, consider some of the introductory ideas listed on How to Exercise an Open Mind.
While we all have opinions and thoughts on just about every subject imaginable, our beliefs should allow and encourage growth rather than a stubborn stagnation. As British writer Gilbert Chesterton said, "A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones."
I like the Dalai Lama's suggestion to cool down and get happy through festivities. When we're not being challenged or threatened, our bodies can spend the time to heal and we're able to hear those instinctual whispers that lead us out of the ruts that habits form.
It will soon be the season for gathering and celebrating so this may be a good time to resolve to do things a bit differently. Celebrate with a new group of people or in a novel way or celebrate in the usual manner but with more positive attitudes and intentions.
You have nothing to lose. Either you'll make some new friends and have the best holiday season ever, or you'll acquire a new level of appreciation for the friends, family and traditions that you already have. If the thought of changing your holiday practices makes you uneasy, consider some of the introductory ideas listed on How to Exercise an Open Mind.