Dream It! Aim High! Live It!

There is an approach to achieve your goals. There are certain principles successful people follow who take their life personally and professionally from level to level. They make sure everyday, in some way they dream it, aim high and live it.

One of the first steps is to simply dream it. There must be something that you see with the eye of your heart, something that you are passionate about, something that you are willing to give your life toward attaining. I say giving your life because that is exactly what you are doing when you use your personal time and energy toward achieving anything. This ambition is something which will bring you joy, pleasure, prosperity and it quite often is beneficial for others around you.

The eye of your heart is the womb of where you dream is born and nurtured. It is the place where it can be safe to cultivate. Taking time to meditate about your dream everyday gives it a place where it can come out and play per se, expand and grow.

In your time of meditation, make sure you aim high. Don’t tame your dream. Allow it to be wild. Don’t tell it to calm down or behave in a certain way. Make sure you dream big. Be courageous during this time. When it seems as though you are aiming high, encourage your dream to go one step further. Also during this time, make sure you write down what you think, see or hear. Writing it down is important, you don’t want to leave you high aiming aspirations to your memory.

Let me make a side point here. Taking time to meditate on your dream is one of the most overlooked yet critical steps to achieving your goals. It is necessary to see this dream daily. To allow it to show you, if you will, how it wants to grow. Practiced, daily time of meditation will give you the time and space you need for that to happen.

Then it is time for action. It is time to live it. Make a plan. It is a common saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Your dream desires and deserves action. Your dream desires a strategy. If you do nothing to live your dream, it has a strange way of deeply yet quietly frustrating you. It may come up in a simple conversation with someone you meet in a grocery store. It may come during your night time sleep. You may hear or see someone else doing something close to what you wanted to do. However it can, it will come back to you again and again. 

There should be a step you do everyday to take you toward your dream. It may not be some mountaintop step. It could be a small baby step. Whatever you do, make sure that your actions are in line with your priorities and your goals. In doing this everyday it will not be long before you reach one goal at a time and you will soon see your dream being realized right before your eyes.

Is Coaching For You?

Coaching is a process of identifying and removing obstacles in your life which prevent you from being what you want to be.

If you are wondering whether coaching is for you, then start by answering the five key questions below:

1. Are you looking to make changes?
2. Are you ready to take responsibility for where you are, and where you want to move to?
3. Are you open to challenge and fresh perspectives?
4. Are you ready to be the best you can be and not to sabotage yourself in any way?
5. Are you willing to be different and take the action that is necessary?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any (or all) of the questions, then YES, coaching is for you!

Your key to success and your achievements is dependent on how committed you are to KNOW all that you want to know, DO what is required in order to achieve your goal, and BE responsible in steering your life towards the goals you have set out to achieve.

I work with individuals who have a habit of using their ‘thinking’ to guide their life, rather than their ‘knowing’. Individuals who want to live the life they have always dreamed of living, with no barriers or boundaries; a life rich with success and achievement, endless physical vitality, heartfelt personal relationships, and a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment. I’ve also worked with those who’ve mistaken themselves for their ego in all sorts of ways! And there have been many who are driven by old beliefs, habits or even conditioning that are creating the same undesirable results over and over. If you are searching for focus, inner-clarity, structure and balance in your life, then coaching with me will help you to channel these elusive qualities into something more tangible – a life that feels more authentic, balanced and whole.

Coaching is for you, because you are an INDIVIDUAL who is :

- Open and ready to change - you realize what you are doing now isn’t working, and are open minded about doing something different. You really want to get over this situation. You know that your life is ready for a reinvention and you want to be the one reinventing it.

- Highly motivated – you desire a real change in your life and are willing to put forth the effort to make it happen.

- Dedicated to finding your own path – your life is unique, your needs are unique and you are open to exploring the new you.

- Imaginative - you have an idea or desire for something different. And you hear the inner voices that limit you and keep you stuck; and you want to replace those limiting beliefs with an "I can do it" (confident) attitude.

- Willing to look for what is hidden – believe it or not, it is our unconscious that rules the day. You are now ready to become aware of what is hidden and respond by choice after seeing things in a whole new way.

- Wanting your ‘mojo’ back - you had it once, however some of life’s overwhelming and challenging situations have taken over or got in the way. And now you want to be back in control!

- Life long learner - or at least want to be and are excited by how new knowledge and perspectives can help you grow. You are open to discovering approaches and even goals that you haven’t thought of before.

Coaching isn’t just for adults, it is also a great way forward for CHILDREN & TEENAGERS. Its claimed by many child psychologists that between the ages of 3 years and 11 years is an ‘imprint period’. This means that childhood experiences between these ages are likely to have an impact on who that child becomes, how they feel, behave and represent themselves to the world in later life. I believe this is why it is extremely important that a child is given the opportunity to understand their feelings and emotions. Failure to do so, could lead to that child growing up and feeling unable to ever achieve their full potential.

I coach PARENTS who are willing to adopt great parenting tools. Being a parent is by far one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs on the planet! Unfortunately with this particular job there is no training manual, there is limited feedback on your performance, and no right or wrong way of doing things. It can also be difficult to find support and many parents experience the feeling of not doing a good enough job if they have to ask for advice from a professional.

During my coaching experience with parents, we’ve dealt with common problems such as arguing, stale mate (not talking to each other) and stone walling (saying bad things about each other). There is no right way of being a parent, but there are steps that you can take if your family relationships are not working out as well as they could be. Or perhaps you just want to be prepared for the challenging teenage years to come!

So if you are a parent, then coaching can:

- help you to become the kind of parent you wish you could be.

- enable you to relate to your children in ways that feel good for you and for them.

- provide you with strategies for dealing with the challenges that all parents face.

- help to improve and strengthen family relationships.

Ready to embark on a truly amazing journey of self-discovery!? Call me to discuss how coaching will help you reach your goals and together we'll work towards making your dreams become a reality!

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By Preet Kalsi

I'm Not There

The holidays are such special occasions. Many people do not celebrate the holidays due to the loss of a loved one. Life is meant to be enjoyed and you can be at peace with the loss of a loved one.

You can go visit my gravesite, but I’m not there. My spirit lives on, everywhere. I can see everything that you’re going through and I wish I could just hold you. Just know that each and every day I walk along side of you.

I am the bird in the tree and the wind that blows the leaves. Please don’t cry for me. I don’t want to see you weep. Take with you the lessons I’ve learned throughout my life. Celebrate with me, each precious moment you are given. 

When times get hard look around for me, you know I won’t be far. I’ll be that butterfly you see flying around. Have peace in knowing that I never left your side. 

As Christmas approaches, please don’t be sad. Carry on my traditions, make me glad. See myself in others; be it a smile, a look or a phrase, we are all connected in some little way. 

Through the good times and bad times I will always be there. Through each special moment, I will always be near. Until we meet again, please find solace in others. I am happy here, and in no more pain. My hurting is over, now you can sing.

If I ever did wrong please don’t follow that path. Learn from my mistakes, and remember; stay strong and be glad. I know I will always treasure the life I once had.

A New Year Means New Opportunity for Change With the Law of Attraction

Last year was a time of struggle and suffering for many people. I know I'm one of them. People lots their jobs, their family, their hope. It was very hard to escape the hardships caused by the crappy economy. The hope I've seen for a change this year is palpable. It would seem people are looking for the sun as a storm dissipates. That's not to say that the dramas and traumas of news events and daily living have necessarily changed. It's to say that my focus on them has lightened up. A Law of Attraction Coach can help you more effectively point out and transform limitation and patterns of low self-worth so you can more quickly attract and manifest your desires.

We all know what you focus your attention on is what the Universe lovingly mirrors back to you. When we focus on something, it's the equivalent of placing an order. "Yes, more of this, please." This truth implies something very important. Most people simply let their minds run on whatever track they're at, but if the world sends you more of what you think, that means you have power. There is no judgement from the Universe what you're thinking or feeling. The Law of Attraction is more like a property of physics rather than a judger in the sky keeping tally on you. 

Keep your finger on the pulse of your chronic thoughts. What is the first thing that goes through your mind after you wake up each day? Take note of the thoughts about yourself or your world that you simply take for fact and believe unquestioningly. "Another day, another rupees" or "What fires do I need to put out today?"

These kinds of thoughts are reactions to stimuli in the environment in which you live. This chronic negativity is not what I call a conscious creation; you aren't making the choice to have these thoughts, they are simply running of their own volition. 

Here are some thoughts you can try choosing when you wake up:

"What can I do today to feel good?"
"I don't have to feel like this, I am in control of who I want to be."
"I want to do something productive today, and feel good about it."

When you remember your ability to choose, choose happiness again every second. We have endless opportunities to do it over, think a better feeling thought. So choose freedom, appreciation and love for yourself. Change everything by consistently choosing happiness this year.

Preventing Child Abuse

The reason why parents hire nannies is to keep watch over their kids while they are away from home. Sadly, the very nannies that parents hire are the ones who commit child abuse to the children, without the parents knowing it. If you notice your child being afraid of going back home right after school or changes in school performance, this may prompt you to something about it. Any display of infantile behavior like thumb-sucking, nail-biting, head-banging, rocking, and other disturbing behaviors which he does not normally do, these are signs that there must be something troubling your child. This may be due to emotional abuse.

Sometimes, parents have to hire a nanny to leave their kids with. To get to know the nanny applicants, they are interviewed, screened, and hired by agencies. Unfortunately, some parents do not have the luxury of time to be with their children and talk to them. Usually, parents are not aware of what is happening to their kids lives. Because of this, most parents do not know that their children are already in pain from an abusive nanny. You will see that there are actually many types of abuse and the most common are emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and medical abuse.

When you think that your children are being abused, you can talk to them alone and ask them nicely about the day. Any signs of fear or worry are the things you should watch out for. Try to reassure her that you wont tell anyone or that you are there to protect her. Inspect the child for any bruises, burns or perhaps injuries.

If you do not want your child to suffer from the negative consequences of child abuse, do whatever you can to prevent it from happening. To do this, it is not that easy because even family members or people whom you think you can entrust your child to have the possibility of committing this crime.

These days, there is that most important gadget used and that is the nanny cam. This also available online too. There are so many different places that you can put the surveillance cameras such as in the living room, kitchen, within the childs nursery room, playroom, etc. The kind of camera that you can tuck it anywhere in your house, or you can select a nanny cam which can be placed inside a stuffed toy, figurine, or any other home daccor is the wireless camera. Take time to look for the best surveillance camera for your needs because it can absolutely help you look after your child even when you are away from home.

What does "consciousness" mean?

I talk a lot about consciousness in my practice : “living consciously”, “making the unconscious conscious”, “consciously choosing”, and so on. But what does it all really mean?

On one hand, the idea of “consciousness” could seem completely abstract and without any practical implications. This would render the idea, if useless, at least benign. But the idea of “becoming more conscious” could also seem to be just one of the latest of the self-help-yourself-into-being-super-human strategies, which may be good for marketers – “resolve all those nasty human traits in ten seconds a day by applying these three simple tricks of consciousness!”, but I contend that this would be very bad for the rest of us. We don’t need yet another expectation to add to our list, nor do we need yet another thing to guilt ourselves about – “if I were just conscious enough, I’d be able to…”

Rather, with “consciousness” as I use the term, I want to help simplify clients’ lives, to help people be clearer about who they are and what matters to them. “Making the unconscious conscious” is a process through which we learn to go beyond living life as a quasi-unconscious, sometimes fun and sometimes frustrating routine.

It’s amazing how often we fall back into automatic pilot without even realizing it, following routines, following orders, living to the standards of others that we never actually consciously chose for ourselves, and worse, may be contrary to our own. “We” are living each day full of experiences, but to what extent are we consciously experiencing ourselves experiencing our experiences?

And this isn’t just semantics. Think about loving: you know love your friends, but how do you know you love them? Because you share routine experiences together? We share lots of routine moments with people every day at work or on the train for whom we don’t typically feel love. So what makes the difference? You know you love your friends because you experience yourself experiencing your experiences with them. 

Great, but translated to real life? As we become aware of our sense of self as we experience the events of our life (some call this “self” Presence or Witness), we start to wake up to a more present, alive dimension. Becoming a present observer in our life - one who is there to witness, feel and confirm without judgment the experiences that we live - allows us to wake up to ourselves. We pay attention not just to the schedule, but to our experience of planning the schedule. We don’t just look at our face in the mirror, we experience ourselves looking, and we feel present. We no longer take the chatter in our minds for granted; we start listening to it and constructively using it to help us understand what is important to us and what actions reflect our true expression. In essence, we start taking our experience of ourselves seriously. We slow down, we observe, we start to feel life. 

“Why are you alive?” I often ask my clients. Of course, this answer can only be felt as an inner knowingness. When they don’t know or feel confused and unsure, this is often the spark to say: “It’s time to find out!” And I’m here to help shine the light.

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Author : Jennifer Harvey Sallin,

Chhath Puja - festival is dedicated to God of Sun

Chhath, also known as Dala Chhath is an important festival celebrated in Bihar and many other parts of India in which setting Sun (dawn) is worshiped .This festival is also celebrated in neighboring areas such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Terai areas of Nepal with a little difference. Chhath is also called ‘Suryasasthi’ as it observed after the six days of Diwali, the festival of light.

Chhath Puja takes place during 6th day (Shasthi) lunar fortnight of Kartik month (October last to mid November). The festival lasts for four days. There is also a "Chaiti Chhath" celebrated just after Holi during Chaitra Navratri in the month of Chaitra (March last to mid April).

The festival is observed and celebrated in Bihar since time immemorial with the constant faith that the Sun God fulfils wishes if 'araghya' is offered with complete dedication and devotion.

Chhath is not just a physical attachment to the people of Bihar, infact, it presents in their hearts, and this is why the people bring the festival wherever they have migrated. Nowadays it can be easily seen at the ghats of Yamuna in Delhi and other parts of India indicating its presence across the country.

It is a festival connected with purity, devotion to the Sun God who is considered as the source of life on this earth and is regarded as wish fulfiller.

The festival is celebrated with an aim to express thanks to Sun God for offering energy to earth continuously enabling the environment suitable for the people to live.

In the evening arghya people express their thanks to Sun God for its work in growing their crops during the preceding year and morning arghya is considered as a request for a bountiful crop, peace and prosperity in the year to come.

Devotees assemble at the ghats at rivers and ponds including Ganges and take a holy dip before preparing offerings (Prasad). The main constituent of the offerings are Thekua, which is a wheat based cake.

Offerings are preferably cooked on earthen Chulha (oven). Some traditions are exercised with little difference varying from region to region and across the families with basic similarity.

During the puja, offerings are contained in small, semicircular pans woven out of bamboo strips called soop. Chhath is a Hindu festival but many muslim families also participates in this holy festival.

Legends

In ancient time the festival of Chhath was performed by Draupdi, the wife of “Pandavas” king of Hastinapur (Modern Delhi) during their exile from their kingdom. One day they were visited by 88 thousand wandering hermits (Bhikshuk). According to the Hindu customs guest were treated heartily and offered foods in the reception.

But Pandavas barely enough for themselves and thus were hardly in a position to fulfill their obligation as Grihastha (householders) and offer meals to the visiting hermits. Seeing Pandavas in deep anguish, Draupdi asked for help to noble sage Dhaumya, who pleased upon her the merits of worshiping the Sun God. Draupdi was not only able to solve the immediate problem but her Sun worship helped the Pandavas later gain their lost Kingdom.

International Relevance

 
The tradition of worshiping Sun God, the saviour of the life on earth had also found in the Egypt and Babylon the oldest civilizations of the world.

Etymology

The word CHHATH denotes the number 6 in Hindi and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar and extends to four days.

Day 1:- Nahai Khai (Bath & Eat):- The first day of the puja is known as Nahai Khai (Bath & Eat), the Vrati (devotees) take a bath preferably in sacred river Ganga and bring the holy water to cook offerings (Prasad) at home.

Day 2:- Kharna :– A whole day fast (without water) is observed by the vratis (devotees). The vratis end their fast in the evening after performing puja. Offerings (Prasad) are comprises of Rasiao-kheer (rice delicacy), puris (deep-fried puffs of wheat flour) or chapatti and bananas - are distributed among family, friends and visitors.

Day 3:- Sandhya Arghya (Evening offering):– Devotees observe fast without consuming water. The whole day is spent in preparing puja offerings. All the offerings are kept in tray made up of bamboo. Offerings comprises of Thekua, coconut, banana and other seasonal fruits.

The evening ritual is performed at the banks of river or pond or any clean water body. All the devotees, family, friends and visitors assemble their and the agrahya is offered to the setting Sun. ‘Kosi’ – One of the most charming events during Chhath Puja known as ‘Kosi’ is celebrated at the courtyard of the house after evening offerings. Lightened earthen lamps (diyas) are kept beneath the covering of five sugarcane sticks or 24 sticks (as per local tradition). The same event also takes place at the ghats in the early morning before morning offerings (arghyas).

Day 4:- Bihaniya Arghya (Morning offerings):– This is the last and final event of the auspicious puja, the devotees again with their family, friends and relatives assemble on the bank of river or pond to offer arghyas (offerings) to the rising Sun. After performing arghyas devotees break their fast. Ginger and Sugar are used by devotees to break their fast (as per local tradition).