Saturday 8 February 2014

The Formidable Power of Positive Thoughts


“Some men see things and helplessly say: ‘Why?’.
But I dream things that never were and say:
‘Why not?’.” - George Bernard Shaw


All thoughts manifest as an energetic subject at a vibratory level. A thought, once emitted, is propagated into space and is next accepted or refuted by other people having similar thoughts. The thought always establishes in the emitter a state of receptiveness for specific energies of the same kind. This is why a man’s life is the result of his thoughts. Regardless of circumstances, a human being always has a force which he is not always conscious of. This is the formidable power of positive thoughts, which will put you instantly in resonance with the beneficial, wonderful forces of the Universe.

What was the first thought that appeared in your mind this morning? Was it a beautiful thought, for example, you thought of someone dear to you or simply rejoiced at seeing the sun in the sky? Was it a negative thought, such as: “I am so tired that I’m in no mood for ever getting up”? Remember now your next thoughts, the general state you had when actually beginning your activity. You can notice that the entire “programming” you imagined for today either supported you throughout the entire day or on the contrary brought you only trouble. A great philosopher said: “In you is the cause of everything which occurs in your life.”

Every man is the creator of his own destiny; he is the one building his own existence composed of light and shadow, ups and downs. We are the ones who choose our own goals and it depends on us to aim to the abysses or to the heights. The echo of our aspiration reverberates at the level of the entire Universe, because “An elevated soul will also elevate the world.” Let us start then each day with clear positive thinking. A positive thought means we amplify powerfully belief in ourselves and in God to be in all our actions in harmony with the divine laws of the Universe.

If we observe closely ourselves and the people around us and observe their attitude towards events, we will notice the existence of three fundamental attitudes in life, closely connected to the predominant orientation of the thoughts: the fatalist-pessimistic attitude, the pseudo-idealistic attitude and the active-optimistic attitude.

The Fatalist-Pessimistic Attitude

“Foolish Man, you create wonders without knowing and you do not know at all the formidable power of your own thoughts. You should know that all you imagine is accomplishable in direct proportion to your faith … Why is it that you do not get to know yourself and thus discover a perfect god?” (Tudor Arghezi)

This is the attitude that manifests through fear of the future, the feeling of futility, desperation, restlessness and anxiety. It is most often encountered amongst disoriented, unhappy and unbalanced people. We have all probably known people who systematically miss all favourable opportunities; they always find themselves facing some difficulties, they consider themselves the victims of negative circumstances. They are the ones who, at the first obstacle they meet, conclude: “I knew I was not going to make it! I cannot do anything or change anything!” When they have to resolve an important problem, the first thought which appears in their minds is that the job is not suitable for them. They immediately become unhappy and disinterested strongly believing that in different circumstances, by resorting to other means they could have resolved it much better and quicker. Because of this reason, the solution to their problem escapes them and they start convincing themselves that they will not resolve it. All past failures are remembered and possible success disappears in front of a mountain of difficulties. All theses things are starting from a single negative thought. Nevertheless it cannot be said that they do not wish to do something. Many times we have heard people asserting: “I will change my life”, “I’ll start over from scratch”, “My luck will change”. Yet, despite all this, they resume these manners of behaviour, these negative attitudes and these same ways of looking at things, even if the outer situation is different. Conflictual tendencies, the inability to surpass various obstacles, to see the situations objectively, to value one’s own qualities, to permanently experience and sense that indescribable feeling of inner calm and harmony are recommenced again and again.

The Pseudo-Idealistic Attitude

“Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe something inside them was superior to circumstances.” (Bruce Barton)

“The mind in its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven.”(John Milton)

The second fundamental attitude is characterised by those running from responsibilities and of the tendency to flee from reality into an illusionary world, in which the daily tasks and necessities are ignored in the name of the spirit’s superiority. We meet in this category the fake philosopher, the forever unsatisfied, the endless dreamers. They are the ones immediately giving way to bad moods; the ones always dreaming to what they could have, without ever doing anything to make the dreams become reality; the ones irritated by the most unimportant things and they find defects in everyone around them, yet never to themselves. The pseudo-idealistic attitude is not actually anything other than a false way of self-protection, of hiding from reality and of one’s own destiny. Pseudo-idealists accept a passive manner of leaving things to evolve randomly, to escape in dreams about ideal worlds, which will never exist, because nothing is done for them to exist. Non-action represents, in this case, a method of action, but a negative one which brings negative results.

If the pseudo-idealistic attitude is transformed into an authentic-idealistic attitude, which presumes that fear of responsibility and fleeing from reality is transformed into self-confidence and faith in life, the third attitude appears, the active-optimist. Contemplating can become, in this case, a way of correct thinking, of truly living, of becoming the ruler of destiny.

The Active-Optimistic Attitude

“The history of the world is that of a few extraordinary people who had complete belief in themselves. This belief makes manifest the Divine, which is always behind us. A human being that has a great belief maybe anything; everything is a possibility. Such a human being will only fail when he does not give sufficient effort to manifest the subtle infinite power of the Universe. You who understand will realise how important it is we believe, before everything, in the power of ourselves.” (Swami Sivananda)

The third fundamental attitude, the active optimistic, is characterised by those who evaluate how all that exists around them as being positive. The profoundly positive attitude of their mind is the firm, unshakeable belief that things go well and that any problem or difficulty can be surpassed. Life is full of circumstances that we cannot influence directly; what we can do is modify our way of looking at them. Active-optimists build a positive state of spirit, being thus capable to face all events and thus influence, for the better, those around them. They envelop all their personal relationships in affectionate, charming warmth. These people know that difficulties represent the necessities of life, which help us deeply understand life and surpass our own limits. Active-optimists know they are not toys in the hands of destiny but the creators of their own happiness. They make from their permanent state of enthusiasm a true art as they awaken such capacities to pass with ease over all obstacles. They nurture almost always the power of positive thoughts and act always for the good of things, being fully and promptly sustained by the beneficial forces attracted by resonance from the Macrocosm. These people are open towards all that enriches the spirit; they are ready to learn everything from anything and strongly believe that the most revolutionary act they could achieve in this world is to be happy. For the very fact that they assert the good into everything, the events and beings reflect them back at their best.

In other words: “Say YES to Life and Life will also answer YES to you!”

Taken from: http://edwardmaya.com/love/the-formidable-power-of-positive-thoughts/

Thursday 6 February 2014

Secret code for English

The fabulous gadgets of 007 and Ethan Hunt might be out of our price range, but the vocabularies of super spies are well within reach. Join us as we decode 9 terms from the world of espionage.



Canary trap

canary trapThis phrase was used by Tom Clancy in Patriot Games and refers to a method of finding leaks—or determining which songbird sings—in a spy organization or operation in which different versions of sensitive information are given to each suspected leaker. Prior to canary trap, versions of this strategy were referred to as Barium meal tests.


sheep dipping, German Shepard, Sunglasses 



Sheep dipping
In the light of day, this phrase refers to the practice of coating sheep with a liquid formula of insecticide and fungicide to protect them from parasites. In the underworld of military intelligence, it means disguising one’s true identity.



Raven

ravenFrom Edgar Allen Poe’s feathered friend to the trickster of North Pacific Coast Native American mythology, ravens have occupied a special place in numerous cultures. The term raven pops up in spy terminology to refer to a male agent who seduces targets to gain intelligence.





mole, John le Carre 

Mole
In the context of clandestine intelligence operations, a mole is a spy who burrows into the ranks of an enemy governmental staff or intelligence agency. This sense was popularized by celebrated spy novelist John Le CarrĂ©, but, according to the OED, the sense of “a person who works in darkness or secrecy” dates back to the 1600s.




Honey trap
winnie the pooh, honeypot, honey trapA honey trap refers to a strategy whereby an attractive person uses his or her powers of seduction to coerce someone into doing or revealing something. This term, as well as the term honeypot, can also be used to refer to the not-so-sweet person employing this strategy.





cobbler, 

Cobbler
The word cobbler has a plethora of meanings: it can refer to someone who mends shoes, a deep-dish fruit pie, an iced drink made of wine, sugar, lemon and ice, or a specific kind of fish. However, in the shadows of undercover ops, a cobbler is a spy who produces fake documents, such as visas and passports.



Shoe
cobblerIf the gumshoes are hot on your tail and you need to skip town while on a top-secret mission, ask your “cobbler” for a “shoe.” In spy lingo, this term refers to false documents.




 



Brush pass
Any spy worth his or her salt has mastered the art of the brush pass. This term refers to momentary in-person contact in which crucial intelligence information is exchanged.


Bug
bugThe spy senses of this word, “to install a secret listening device” and “a hidden eavesdropping device,” perhaps evolved out of insects’ aptitude for infiltrating spaces unnoticed.

Wednesday 5 February 2014

The Story of My Life

Have you ever heard of a group named One Direction? They are a teen music group in which there are five men which always sing about their teen point of view of life. Can you still remember that period of life? Everything was important then, wasn't it? You may remember how every bad event seemed to happen just to you, and you would always wonder:"Why is it happening to me?". Anyway, one of the most typical teens' obsessions is the relationships between them and other people. They worry about their new discussions with parents and grandparents, they worry because their whole life lasting friends are not what they seemed to be and, of course, they worry for their love feelings. Whether they are good or not on these important facts (and they usually are not), they all agree, when they grow up, that their past mistakes have helped them to write the story of their lives. In fact, it's this story what makes them realise they are genuine survivors of life. It makes them feel they're strong and they realise life is not perfect but memories are sweet. Don't you agree? One Direction does and they sing it in their own song: The story of my life. Have a look and enjoy!



Lyrics:
 
Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain
I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days

She told me in the morning she don’t feel the same about us in her bones
It seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone

And I’ll be gone, gone tonight
The ground beneath my feet is open wide
The way that I been holdin’ on too tight
With nothing in between

The story of my life I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time...
Is frozen (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life I give her hope
I spend her love until she’s broke inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

Written on these walls are the colours that I can’t change
Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage 


I know that in the morning
I'll see us in the light upon your ear
Although I am broken, my heart is untamed still

And i’ll be gone, gone tonight
The fire beneath my feet is burning bright
The way that I been holdin’ on so tight
With nothing in between

The story of my life I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time...
Is frozen (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life I give her hope
I spend her love until she’s broke inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

And I been waiting for this time to come around
But baby running after you is like chasing the clouds

The story of my life I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time...
Is frozen

The story of my life I give her hope (give her hope)
I spend her love until she’s broke inside (until she’s broken inside)
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life.


Activity: Compose the story of your life. Try to tell some episodes wich have helped you grow up and how time has changed things. Anyway, don't forget to say how you ere enjoying it in the present. In fact, life is sweet with moments of bitterness, not vice versa...

Saturday 1 February 2014

Why does triskaidekaphopia exist?

Can you turn to the person next to you, look them in the eye, and honestly say that you have never felt a twinge of concern in the morning when you realize it is Friday the 13th? It’s time for triskaidekaphobes to acknowledge their shared superstition, learn its possible source, and try to gain some insight into what it means for millions of people to hold such a belief.
friday, 13Let’s start with Friday, named for one of two Norse goddesses, Freya or Frigga. While modern folks may exclaim “TGIF,” some traditions consider “Frigga’s Day” to be unlucky. Some Christians aren’t fond of today because they believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

Many cultures have an issue with 13, though we can’t say for certain just how many architects actually omit a 13th floor from a highrise. The precise circumstances that made Friday and 13 such an intense combination for superstition are unclear, but a study speculates that businesses lose millions of dollars in revenue from phobias of the day. Some possible origins revolve around the Battle of Hastings, the Knights Templar, or the goddess Frigga once again.
Whatever the source, it’s certain that, however much we want to believe that rationality informs our decisions, logical and systematic thought has limits. For further proof, simply spend some time with a dictionary. Inconsistencies, contradictions and uncertain origins abound.

Activity: What are some other examples of superstition in contemporary life? Saying gesundheit when someone sneezes is certainly one famous word-based example, but what are a few less obvious situations that you’ve experienced?