Soul Kadee

Yup, I’ve been OD-ing on the Star Wars series this weekend. I love George Lucas and his Jedi philosophy, inspired as it was by Eastern spiritual tradition, including Taoist philosophy and Qigong energy practices.

But, some of the episodes reminded me so much of another George - the President everyone loves to hate €œ and the world he is responsible for creating, that I just had to share the 5 reasons I think George Bush is a Sith Lord - Darth Invader.

1. He thinks in absolutes.

Only a Sith thinks in absolutes, said Obi-Wan Kenobi when Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader warned, If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy, in Part III: Revenge of the Sith. Reminds us so much of G.W.’s famous Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists, proclamation.

2. He acts from fear and revenge.

The Jedi act from compassion and love. The Sith use fear and hate to drive them. Notice how everything G.W. does is in reaction to fear or revenge. Revenge for what Saddam did to Daddy. Fear of being attacked. Fear of seeming weak. Fear of those who are different. Too bad he has no fear of looking like an idiot.

3. He uses deceit to achieve his ends.

The Sith are no strangers to deceit, hiding their true motives behind seemingly good intentions. Chancellor Palpatine hid his identity as a Sith Lord, to wipe out the Jedi and overthrow the Republic. Bush’s search for the still-missing Weapons of Mass Destruction turned out to be just as much of a red herring, and his War on Terror is just another attempt to pull the wool over our eyes. Paul Craig Roberts offers his take on this in Is Bush A Sith Lord?

4. His idea of fun is to invade other countries without reason.

The Sith invade, take over or wipe out other planets, for no reason, other than the fact that they don’t kowtow to the Empire. Bush’s ego and pride have brought Iraq to the brink of civil war, threatened Iran, North Korea and anyone else who dared question American Imperial Rule.

5. He has a warped sense of justice.

The Jedi code - and any civilised society - mandates that an adversary must stand fair trial before justice is carried out. But Bush used a kangaroo court to hang his old foe, Saddam Hussein. Fair trial? Oh nooo! That would have exposed far too many skeletons in the CIA’s closet.

Given more time, I’m sure I could come up with many more parallels between G.W. and the Dark Side Of The Force. Instead I’ll leave you with this video that left many of us wondering why Bush is holding the green lightsaber instead of the red one.

Tags: Star Wars, george lucas revenge of the sith jedi sith lightsaber anakin skywalker Dark Side Of The Force George Bush iraq iraq war on terror iran

Popularity: 21% [?]

I’ve just been reviewing a set of videos by Dr. John Van Epp, author of How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette), where he discusses the tools and skills you need to judge your partner’s character based on compatibility, relationships skills, friends, and patterns from family and previous relationships.

Especially eye-opening was the segment on how one’s parents and childhood experiences shape the kind of partner one is destined to become. Our parents are, after all, our first and most significant role models for romantic relationships.

Watching the videos helped me realise how our relationship with our parents - especially the parent we identify with the most - shapes our views of roles in marriage. I also learned that the lens through which we see the parent of the opposite sex, is the way we ultimately see our partner.

A woman who adores her dad (like me) will probably adore her partner, often to the extent of idealising him and overlooking his flaws. A woman who has a father who abused or abandoned her will have a hard time trusting men.

A man who shares a healthy relationship with his mother is more likely to treat women with respect. By healthy I mean balanced - as in neither too distant, nor too enmeshed.

Most Indian men share an enmeshed relationship with their mothers, characterised by poor boundaries, and are unable to assert themselves and prevent their parents from interfering in (and often ruining) their marital relationships. Just open to the Agony Aunt column of any publication and you’ll see how common this phenomenon is.

Childhood experiences are some of the strongest predictors of what your mate will be like as a spouse and parent. That’s why it’s so important to get to know your partner AND his family as well as you can, before you decide on marrying.

You’ll get a good indication of how a man will treat you after marriage, by observing how his father treats his mother. And observing his family’s dynamics and behaviour will prepare you for the sort of behaviour you can expect from your mate after marriage.

I guess that’s why the tradition of arranged marriage, so prevalent in India, has successfully produced many happy marriages. As Dr. Epp says, common values, upbringing, lifestyles and spiritual beliefs are just a few of the factors that play an important role in the success and failure of marriage.

It reminded me of the scene from The Namesake, where the cultural differences between Gogol and his American girlfriend eventually cause their relationship to unravel after his father’s death.

Inter-cultural and inter-religious relationships - like my marriage to my late husband - require a lot more patience and understanding to work. But I think the reason they do work, is because couples who choose to be in such relationships are more accomodating and open-minded in the first place.

Dr. Epp also makes an excellent case for taking it slow and pacing a relationship. Most relationship experts recommend a longer dating period - two years, at least - to increase the likelihood that your marriage will succeed.

One of the most interesting concepts in the book is the Relationship Attachment Model - the importance of keeping a healthy balance among the five relationship dynamics of Knowledge - Trust - Reliance - Commitment - Touch - in that order.

Your ability to bond long-term is enhanced by the boundaries you set in the short-term, notes Dr. Epp. People who have poor boundaries, and come on too strong or get enmeshed quickly, are never good candidates for a long-term relationship.

To stay in the safe zone, never go further in one bonding area than you have gone in the previous. That essentially means, it would be naive to trust a person before getting to know him, and codependent to start to rely on him before learning to trust and know him better.

Studies have also found that commitment has a very powerful bonding effect in marital relationships, is a strong indicator of happiness in a relationship, and grows and deepens over time.

People who live together or cohabit before marriage have a higher rate of divorce, largely because commitment levels are lower in a live-in relationship. Premarital cohabitation seems to damage long-term commitment because it imbalances the bonding dynamics in a relationship, states Dr. Epp.

When the levels of the five dynamics are out of balance, then the emotional bond becomes unhealthy, and you tend to overlook crucial characteristics of the other person that should be exposed and explored.

We’ve all known women who get too involved too quickly, and then rationalise their doubts about the men they’re dating to justify staying in the relationship. I’ve often been guilty of rationalising my mate’s flaws, and one of the statements in the book that I relate to easily is that

Good-hearted people have the greatest risk for staying in a relationship with a jerk, because (they) so quickly forgive, overlook problems, minimize shortcomings, and give second chances.

I’m among those who tends to tolerate far more than necessary in all my relationships - not just the romantic ones. I’m often too patient and forgiving for my own good, always trying to think the best of others, overlooking things that, for most people, would have been reason enough to end the relationship.

I think women - and Indian women in particular - are conditioned to be like that. To forgive, adjust and sacrifice - to their own detriment. I see many of my married friends frustated with their lives, unhappy with the way they’re treated by their husbands and in-laws, and going through various stages of depression. It makes me cherish my single status and my independence even more.

Unhealthy people attract unhealthy partners and go on to have unhealthy relationships, notes Dr. Epp. For a happy relationship and marriage, both partners must be emotionally healthy, and free of childhood issues and unhealthy emotional baggage that might affect their ability to relate to the opposite sex. They must also have insight into their own behaviour, be willing to change, if necessary, and be in control of their emotions.

I realised that, if I had a pattern of attracting jerks, I had only myself to blame, because of my codependency and lack of healthy boundaries. Taking responsibility for my issues empowered me to change them.

Though I’ve always had a hard time being assertive and setting boundaries, I’m learning and getting better at it everyday. I’ve had to end relationships and cut some people out of my life, but I think of it as the price of growth.

I’m currently reading a really good book by Cheryl Richardson, called Stand Up for Your Life: Develop the Courage, Confidence, and Character to Fulfill Your Greatest Potential (available at Landmark bookstore in Mumbai). I highly recommend it if you need to learn the skills to assert yourself more powerfully.

I enjoy the process of improving my relationship skills, and am not averse to being in a romantic relationship. Love is great, but marriage is not an option for me right now. I find it too restricting, and am really enjoying the freedom to live life on my own terms.

It’s often the fear of failure that keeps us from wanting to commit. When it comes to relationships, it’s a very valid fear. But, hey, everything in life is a risk. Getting out of my house is a risk!

So if you’re single, dating and not averse to taking that risk, use the amazing insights in How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk, to make better relationship choices, and stack the odds in your favour.

Popularity: 20% [?]

In a previous post on the Law of Attraction, I suggested that maybe what the world needs to eliminate terror, fear and negativity is a Campaign For Love.

So I created a little video here that you can use to spread the love, and the message of the Law Of Attraction to one and all.

Check it out at CampaignForLove.com

Popularity: 13% [?]

I believe that we’re all wounded souls, here on Earth to complete our karma and work on becoming a better human being. All relationships are our lessons, and people our teachers. Our relationships are mirrors that reveal our flaws, and the people in our lives are only reflections of the energy that we put out.

Imagine my shock, then, when I realised that in my own relationships, I’ve been attracting men who were either self-absorbed, controlling and narcissistic, or clingy, insecure and needed “fixing”. I knew it was time to do some serious soul-searching, and reflect on what it was in me that was attracting such people.

As I became more self-aware, I came to realise that I had codependent tendencies (tended to give too much) and weak boundaries (had a hard time saying “no”), that literally made me a magnet for the wrong sort of men.

Weak boundaries seem to be a common issue with those who are highly sensitive and empaths. For people like me, one of the most important life lessons is learning how to set boundaries in relationships. So, I decided I needed a time-out from dating, to work on strengthening my boundaries and learning assertiveness skills.

What is a boundary and what does it mean to set your boundaries? Rinatta Paries explains in her article, Setting Boundaries In Relationships, that

A boundary is a DIVIDING LINE between you and anyone else, even a loved one. The line represents both physical and emotional limits others may not VIOLATE.

A boundary, when crossed by others, will create intense feelings of anger, hurt, outrage, etc. To set your boundaries is to stop anyone, even your most loved one, from crossing the line with you.

Setting boundaries raises your sense of self-worth, your self-esteem, because you are sending yourself the message that you are WORTHY of care.

Without boundaries, we often end up giving and giving, until we have nothing left to give in our relationships. We end up feeling used, taken advantage of, taken for granted, or violated because we lacked the courage to speak up and assert ourselves when we needed to.

As Robert Burney, author of Codependence: The Dance of Wounded Souls, notes

The purpose of having boundaries is to protect and take care of ourselves. We need to be able to tell other people when they are acting in ways that are not acceptable to us.

A first step is starting to know that we have a right to protect and defend ourselves. That we have not only the right, but the duty to take responsibility for how we allow others to treat us.

It is impossible to have a healthy relationship with someone who has no boundaries, with someone who cannot communicate directly, and honestly. Learning how to set boundaries is a necessary step in learning to be a friend to ourselves.

It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves - to protect ourselves when it is necessary. It is impossible to learn to be Loving to ourselves without owning our self - and owning our rights and responsibilities as co-creators of our lives.

The first step in setting personal boundaries is becoming aware of how and why you are allowing others to violate them. Read Ten Rights Of An Assertive Individual to understand what issues you should start setting boundaries for.

Coping.org has some of the best information on learning to set boundaries, and the comprehensive article here explains why low self-esteem is one of the primary reasons we allow others to violate our boundaries.

People with low self-esteem have their major difficulties in relationships with others. This is because they are unable to establish healthy boundaries or limits with people. The reason, for this inability, is that with low self-esteem comes a variety of irrational thoughts, emotions and actions which leads people to lose themselves in relationships with others.

This absorption of self into others leads to a loss of personal internal control. People with low self-esteem have a weakened “internal locus of control” and become dependent on a strong “external locus of control.” They become victims to being controlled by how others think, feel about and act towards them.

People with low self-esteem are dependent on others’ approval and recognition and are therefore fearful of rejection by and conflict with others. It has been estimated in the self-esteem literature that over 90 percent of us are suffering from low self-esteem at one degree or another. Therefore most people in relationships are currently suffering from low self-esteem or recovering from it.

While it’s easier to walk out of a relationship that is clearly abusive, it’s not so easy to leave a codependent or caregiving relationship with an addict or dysfunctional person. It’s like the addictive relationship between Kate Moss and her fiance, Pete Doherty, that, despite very public stints in rehab, allows them both to enable each other’s cocaine addiction.

For Indian women, or those from cultural backgrounds where unhealthy stereotypes of women are glorified - as in the “woman-as-martyr” theme in Indian mythology (Sita in the Ramayana) and the Sati-Savitri of Hindi cinema - the risk is even greater, because of the pressure to “stick by your man” in times of trouble. No matter that he has an abusive, addictive, or dyfunctional personality.

The younger generation of women seems to be rejecting this harmful stereotyping, but the “Mama’s boys” in our male population are still waiting for a woman who will take care of them and do for them what any healthy adult should be able to do for himself (see Codependence and the Indian Male). Little wonder, then, that so many Indian marriages are disintegrating under the pressure of dual-income homes.

But boundaries are not only required between intimate partners. It’s essential to learn to set boundaries in ANY relationship, whether at work, with your boss, co-workers, and customers, or at home, with your parents, children, family and in-laws. Children who grow up without boundaries become incapable of discipline, are in danger or being either spoiled or neglected, and go on to have dysfunctional relationships of their own.

As Indians, we’re taught to respect elders, so we tend to have more difficulty setting healthy boundaries with older people, like parents and in-laws. This unhealthy tolerance of elders’ interference is not just irritating and destructive to marriages. It often leads to the abuse, torture and dowry deaths, that we read about almost everyday.

As far as elders are concerned, my take is that they do deserve respect, but only if also they treat YOU with respect. Respect must be EARNED, in my opinion. And the best way to earn my respect, is by treating ME the way you wish to be treated. I avoid people, elders or otherwise, who behave in a disrespectful, critical or controlling manner with me. And that includes those who insist on giving me unsolicited, “helpful” advice.

If you come from a dysfunctional family (where one or both parents were alcoholic, addicts, abusive, absent or suffered from a mental illness) you may not even know what a healthy relationship looks like. The Coping.org website describes what a healthy, intimate relationship looks like here.

The goal in an intimate relationship is to feel calm, centered and focused. The intimacy needs to be safe, supportive, respectful, nonpunitive and peaceful. You feel taken care of, wanted, unconditionally accepted and loved just for existing and being alive in a healthy intimate relationship. You feel part of something and not alone in such a relationship. You experience forgiving and being forgiven with little revenge or reminding of past offenses. You find yourself giving thanks for just being alive in this relationship.

A healthy intimate relationship has a sense of directedness with plan and order. You experience being free to be who you are rather than who you think you need to be for the other. This relationship makes you free from the “paralysis of analysis” needing to analyze every minute detail of what goes on in it. An intimate relationship has its priorities in order, with people’s feelings and process of the relationship coming before things and money.

A healthy intimate relationship encourages your personal growth and supports your individuality. This relationship does not result in you or your relationship partner becoming emotionally, physically or intellectually dependent on one another. An intimate relationship encourages the spiritual growth of both relationship partners and makes room for God in the relationship as a partner and friend.

Sandra Brown, M.A., writes in her ebook, How To Spot A Dangerous Man, that healthy boundaries (or the lack of them) are the most important indication of whether or not a man is a capable of being in a healthy relationship.

If you’ve been getting into relationships with men who lie or cheat, are married or unavailable, needy, clingy, dysfunctional, manipulative, exploitative, violent, abusive, pathological, or harm you in any way, you need to get a copy of her book now.

However, blaming society, family, cultural conditioning, or the man you’re involved with, is not helpful. It reduces you to playing a victim’s role, and takes away your power. If you want things to change, you need to take responsibility for the role you played in ALLOWING your partner to behave the way he did, and accept that any change has to come from inside you.

That includes learning to spot the signs that you’re violating your own boundaries in a relationship, learning healthy ways to express yourself when setting boundaries (minus anger and blame), and doing the work it takes to build healthy boundaries.

Many of us are afraid of setting boundaries because we don’t want to change the status quo in our relationships. We worry that setting boundaries will “upset the applecart”, and even break up a relationship or marriage.

Yes, there’s a distinct possibility that, when we change the dynamics of a relationship, we risk losing the other person. I’ve had men complain bitterly about my “rules”, and I’ve dumped men for disrespecting me, taking me for granted, standing me up, or asking me to do anything I’m uncomfortable with (like lending them money).

I believe that we teach people how to treat us. And if we’re willing to let them cross the line even once, it becomes harder and harder to push it back. When we don’t make rules for how we let ourselves be treated, we are not being loving to ourselves. And the more we ignore our own needs and put other’s needs above our own, the more we harm our own self-esteem.

Today, I’d gladly accept the risk of ending a relationship, if it means that I’m taking care of myself and protecting my well-being. I know that being good to myself is more important than trying to save a relationship that is not right for me in the first place.

I realised that if I want to be loving to myself, I need to state very clearly what I will and will not tolerate in a relationship. I know today, that the only way to be in a healthy relationship, is to demand to be treated with the respect and consideration I deserve.

Toltec teacher, Don Miguel Ruiz, writes in an article on Boundaries that

We can create acceptable boundaries with people whose emotional poison we do not want to eat. When we respect ourselves, we will not allow disrespect from anybody else. This is not selfishness, it’s self-love. The controlling aspect is selfishness–wanting a partner to stay with us even if we are in hell. If we go into relationships because, “Oh I need you so much,” it’s selfishness, not self-love.

Relationships can be so wonderful. We can be completely open and loving. But just because we love someone, that doesn’t mean we have to put up with their anger, jealousy or abuse. We don’t need to be abused, and we can’t send out our abuse either.

Recommended Reading:

How To Spot A Dangerous Man by Sandra Brown, M.A.

Supreme Self-Esteem for Women

Inner Bonding: Becoming a Loving Adult to Your Inner Child - Highly recommended.

Boundaries by Don Miguel Ruiz

Books on Boundaries

Setting Boundaries Appropriately

Setting Boundaries in Relationships

Improving Assertive Behavior

Popularity: 18% [?]

What we resist, persists.
- Sonia Johnson, American feminist, activist and writer.

I just got my copy of The Secret (DVD) today, and as I was watching it, the teachers happened to discuss a topic I’ve been thinking about a lot recently - that FIGHTING AGAINST anything (war, corruption, drugs, global warming) doesn’t work.

I have a strong personal belief that states, If you don’t like something, don’t complain about it. Change it. That’s because, the more attention you give something you don’t want - the more you complain about it, fight it, write about it, protest against it - the more you invite it into your consciousness, and your life.

It was not the Secret that taught me this, but my own experience as an environmental activist and journalist. I’ve written on environmental issues since 1996, and I realised, as most activists did, that we were fighting a losing battle, as far as many issues (like global warming) were concerned.

But, I also realised that focusing on the bad news and the disasters wasn’t helping. So, whenever I researched an issue I was covering, I decided to also give balanced coverage to the solutions that local groups and NGOs were exploring to challenges like pollution, deforestation and water scarcity.

I found a great deal of good news amongst all the depressing news that was covered in the mainstream media (MSM). The good news rarely enters public consciousness, because bad news makes better news, as far as MSM is concerned. One reason I avoid MSM (or scan through the headlines at most) is because I believe that, while it’s good to stay informed, it’s even better to be selective about the thoughts that you let into your mind.

As the Law Of Attraction states, what we focus on, expands. So, if your focus is on FIGHTING AGAINST the forces that create war, poverty, environmental degradation, you’ll only ATTRACT MORE of the same. And so,

• The War on Terror spawns more terror.
• Anti-war protests create more war and hatred.
• Protests against communalism create more hate.
• Focusing on your spouse’s faults creates more unhappiness in marriage.

If you want to use the secret of deliberate creation to create a world you desire, stop paying so much attention to what’s wrong with the world, and focus on the good you can do instead. Here are some ways you can make a difference by changing your focus right now.

• Don’t be Anti-War. Be Pro-Peace.
  
• Don’t fight the interests that create global warming. Focus on making alternative energy sources more profitable.
  
• Don’t fight against corruption. Focus on creating transparency and public accountability.
  
• Don’t fight against communal forces. Promote tolerance, love and understanding.
  
• If you’re in a relationship, don’t nag your significant other to change her/his ways. Focus on how good s/he makes you feel instead.
  
• And (this goes out especially to the Mumbai police) stop cracking down on kanoodling couples in love. Focus on freeing Mumbai of real criminals instead.

Like the Beatles, I believe that “All We Need Is Love.” And that the war on terror can only be countered with a Campaign for Love. Perhaps it’s time to send George W a copy of The Secret…

The LOA teachers state that one positive thought is many, many times more powerful than a negative thought. So focus on love and happiness. Will it help you change the world? Who knows? All I can guarantee is that it’ll make you feel sooooo good.

Join the Campaign For Love here (site under construction).

Popularity: 16% [?]

Problems cannot be solved
at the same level of awareness that created them.
- Albert Einstein

The Law of Attraction teaches that, to change your circumstances, you must change the way you think and feel. To attract something or someone into your life, you must raise your vibrational frequency to match that of the object you desire.

So how DO you raise your vibration? Simply by choosing experiences that raise your emotional set point, or as the teachers call it, following your bliss. As Sherry Binkelman explains in her article, Raising Your Vibration,

The influences upon which we focus our attention or thoughts are those that determine or define our vibration. Negative vibrations are associated with the lower chakras, with what we consider to be “negative” emotions or feelings, including hatred, anger, doubt, fear (of loss, lack, failure) jealousy, envy, judgment, (both judgment of others and self-judgment) impatience, disharmony, imbalance, insecurity. Positive vibrations are those such as love, harmony, peace, balance, kindness, understanding, compassion. Our vibration attracts to us experiences of like vibration, and also attracts to us people who are of the same vibrational frequency.

Many LOA books, including the ones by Abraham-Hicks, offer processes (22, no less) to raise your vibration to one of optimism and joy, at which point you start to manifest your desires.

It’s really not as complicated as it seems. Instinctively, we all know what we need to feel good. But, blissing out doesn’t mean using drugs, alcohol or prescription meds as uppers. That’s just a way of avoiding your issues, and will ultimately land you in rehab.

Following your bliss is about CHOOSING to be happy, choosing to be in a state of joy and love, as much as possible. It’s about doing work that you’re passionate about, being with people who help you grow and thrive, and choosing experiences that take you to a higher place.

Here’s a list of my personal favourite ways to raise my vibration. Perhaps you can relate to some of them, too.

1. Solitude: This is essential for me, because as an introvert, highly sensitive person, empath, being around people for too long drains me and makes me very crabby. I really need my space, and my time alone helps me recharge my batteries.

2. Reading a good book: As a child, my only escape from the reality of my unhappy existence was to create a fantasy world (helped a great deal by the creations of Enid Blyton, Richmal Crompton, Hans Christian Anderson, the Grimm brothers and Robert Louis Stevenson) of heroes, pirates, detectives and dragon-slayers. I spent my entire childhood daydreaming and visualising - valuable skills that I now make full use of, since they work so well in manifestation. In recent times, I’ve become a fan of audiobooks, as well, because they help me absorb information much faster. Besides providing fodder for my fertile imagination, books have introduced me to the thoughts and ideas of great men and women, and helped me learn many lessons without having to experience them for myself.

3. Meditation, Affirmations, Energy work: The reason I talk about these methods so much is because my life changed a great deal since I started using them. They helped me tune into my emotional guidance system, and my inner guidance, and start making better choices based on my intuition. I use meditation everyday for grounding and clearing my energy, and affirmations to keep my thoughts happy and positive. I just completed a meditation course with my healer, Leo, and we worked on a lot of issues, cleared up a lot of emotional baggage. And it didn’t take years of painful therapy, just 10-sessions of Leo’s powerful healing techniques (will write more about them soon). Meditation and other energy work, like Reiki (I just completed the second level), have helped me heal emotional blocks and childhood scars, which prevented me from attracting the things I desire into my life.

4. Music: Born in a family of musicians, jazz, blues and classical music on the old 48 rpm were a staple diet in our home. One of my favourite memories is of my Grandpa, Martin, entertaining us with his old ragtime numbers on our piano. Another fun family outing was visiting the theatre (we didn’t have DVDs back then) to see a Hollywood musical. I still enjoy musicals and Disney movies. Music can make me smile, laugh, even cry (though I avoid that as much as possible). It’s something I can plug into anytime, anywhere. Definitely one of my best uppers.

5. Dancing: If you’re Goan (or married to one), you can’t escape the old Latin numbers, the waltzes, the cha-chas, and the Mexican shuffle that’s a must at every wedding. Is it any wonder that Goans are happy people? In fact, I love dancing so much, I took a salsa class, and every so often, put on a CD of Latin music, or J. Lo, and groove to the beat with complete abandon. Next on my list are belly dancing and flamenco classes.

6. Exercise: This is one thing I really need to get more of. There’s nothing like a good workout, whether it involves aerobics, yoga or, my personal favourite, Tai Chi, to boost my mood. Endorphins apart, just getting off my ass and stretching my muscles can raise my vibration a few notches.

7. Laughter: I believe that laughter is one of the most spiritual things in the world. A good belly laugh makes you forget all your woes, and lifts your vibration like nothing else. Reading silly jokes forwarded by email, listening to funny stories, watching reruns of Mr. Bean, Friends, Will and Grace, Frasier, and of course, a little Leno, is a great way to wrap up the day with happy feelings.

8. A good movie: Barring horror movies, the sad ones (like Mira Nair’s Water, which, though great cinema, was horribly depressing) and the gruesome ones, I can enjoy a good movie anytime, anywhere. I loved The Pursuit of Happyness, because it ended on a happy note (even though I used up a whole tissue in the first half). I could actually feel the energy rise in the theatre when the main protagonist achieves his goal after so much hardship. I thoroughly enjoyed Dreamgirls and Shall We Dance, for the music and dance. I especially enjoy fantasy, like Bridge To Terabithia, which I must say, made a remarkably strong case for using your imagination to create your own reality. I make it a point to go see a movie (or catch one on the telly) at least once a week. It gives me a good feeling that lasts for days on end. Here’s a little something for you. Download this feel-good (and free) movie, The Secret To You, and watch it daily. It’s slickly produced, a delight to watch and will raise your vibration instantly. You’ll find more free stuff for good vibes here.

9. A long, hot bath: Who doesn’t love a long, hot bath? That must be, like, a universal upper. Just give me a tub, hot water, and some bubble bath, and I’m in heaven.

10. Getting a massage: My favourite way (though a bit expensive, at Rs 800 a pop for an experienced masseuse) to de-stress and relax. Having someone knead my tired muscles is instant bliss.

11. Being a mom: My little girl really IS the best upper a mom could ever have (when she isn’t testing my patience, that is). Watching her grow, admiring her sweet face when she’s sleeping (or is that my relief showing?), taking her on a holiday for two, listening to her child-like wisdom, sharing her joy when she learns a new tune on the piano, gets a certificate for academic achievement, or a new Barbie or game - these are some of the most memorable moments of my life. It reminds me of a line from the movie Hitch, where Will Smith’s character says, Life is not how many breaths you take, it’s how many moments take your breath away.

12. Being with people I love: I’m the kind of person who has very few close friends, some whom I’ve known since my college days. But they’re very special to me, and I make it a point to maintain these friendships, and spend quality time in the company of these special people who nurture me.

13. Watching a sunset: In a concrete jungle like Mumbai, there’s really very little of Mother Nature left to commune with. Watching the sunset at Marine Drive is the closest someone like me can get to enjoy the glory of Creation. Unless, of course, I’m holidaying in Goa.

14. Being creative: Expressing your creativity is a wonderful way of raising your vibration. Creative expression, whether in the form of art, writing, sculpture, pottery, design, or even being more creative in the workplace, is very therapeutic because it puts us in alignment with our desires. My favourite way of expressing my creativity are, writing this blog, creating new websites, and coming up with new ideas to promote them.

15. Making someone smile: Nothing compares to that wonderful feeling of joy, when you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. It’s then that you know your life has meaning, and that you’re in alignment with your life purpose. I’m lucky to have been blessed with many such moments, and thank the Creator for all of them.

16. Gratitude: Being thankful reminds me of another of my favourite ways to raise my vibration - and one recommended by all the LOA teachers. Spending some time everyday, appreciating and being grateful for the abundance €œ of love, wealth and joy €œ in my life, and realising how privileged I am to have all these things, never fails to bring me joy. In all my dealings with people, there are two phrases that I make it a point to use as often as possible. They are Please and Thank you. No matter how tiny the gesture, I try never to take people and their generosity for granted. And trust that they will accord me the same treatment.

17. Being good to myself: LOA teachers all agree that self-love is the first step to raising your vibe. You can’t attract anything good unless you feel good about yourself. There was a time in my life when I engaged in negative self-talk, was very harsh on myself, and put everyone else’s feelings before my own. I had a hard time saying no and allowed people to take advantage of my generosity. Today, I take care of my feelings, am learning to set stronger boundaries, say No when I need to, and love and accept myself the way I am. As Sherry explains, Loving oneself is a wonderful way to raise one’s vibration, because each thought or act of self love sends out a vibration of love to the Universe, adding to the Light.

18. Making love: Oooh yeah!

So how many of these did you relate to? And which methods do you use to raise your vibration? Do share, so we can all benefit from your experience.

Popularity: 26% [?]

All that we are is a result of what we have thought
- Buddha

Everyone these days seems to be talking about the Law Of Attraction (LOA) - the principle that you attract into your life whatever you think about.

To explain it in simple, idiot-proof terms:

• Thoughts are energy - they are as real as sound, light and gravity.
• Thoughts create vibrations, the way a pebble creates ripples in a lake.
• Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out a magnetic energy.
• Positive thoughts vibrate at a higher frequency than negative ones.
• Your thoughts attract the circumstances of your life like a magnet.
• What you focus on, expands
• If you think about what you don’t want, you only end up attracting more of the same.
• Everything you currently have in your life, YOU have created, the good and the bad - that’s a fact!
• If you are not controlling what you think about, you are creating your life by default.
• When you focus your thoughts on what you DO want, you are applying the principle of Deliberate Creation.
• Your emotions (intuition, gut feelings) are your guidance system - they tell you if what you are attracting is right for you or not.
• You can change your vibrations by changing the way you feel.

Even before I learned about the Law Of Attraction, I understood that we consciously attract people and events into our lives that match our “wavelength.” I knew that, to attract the mate of my dreams, I must become the person I want to attract. (work in progress)

But it’s through the books and audios produced by Jerry and Esther Hicks (who first presented the powerful basics of the original Teachings of Abraham), that I’m beginning to understand how to use and apply the Law of Attraction to create exactly what I desire.

Their books, Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires and The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing, provide an excellent introduction to the LOA.

They include a great deal of advice on working with energy and emotions, as well as specific chapters on increasing prosperity, reclaiming health, working with meditation, and clearing clutter for clarity (sounds like something my feng shui practioner would recommend). They also offer 22 processes that you can use to raise your vibration and invite anything you want to attract into your life.

I also bought all three of their Sara books (for my daughter, Sara, of course), and plan to read them to her at bedtime. I believe these are essential life skills that every parent should practice, and teach their kids.

Because I love their materials so much, I was rather surprised and disappointed when I learned that the original creators didn’t feature in the slickly produced and somewhat over-hyped production, The Secret (DVD), that was based on their work, and recently featured on both, the Oprah Winfrey and Larry King shows.

But then I read this letter from them that sort of explains why. And though I know, from their books, what beautiful people Jerry and Esther are, I’m still amazed at their generosity, understanding and willingness to let go of their intellectual rights.

There are four steps involved in Deliberate Creation:

1. Identify what you DON’T want: Get clear on what about your current life does not serve you
2. Identify what you DO want: Visualise the kind of life you wish to create
3. Get into the feeling place of your want: Raise your vibration and feel the emotions you will feel when you have that life. Believe you already have it.
4. Intend and allow it to happen: Get out of your own way and allow the Universe to take over and do what is in your Highest Good.

Abraham-Hicks teach us that Well-Being is our natural state of being. The reason we do not have what we want - health, abundance, wealth, joy - is because we are blocking the flow of energy that creates well-being.

We create obstacles to well-being with our:

• Lack of belief: Negative beliefs, defeatist attitudes, pessimism and expecting the worst only attracts more negativity into your life
• Lack of self-love: Failing to love, respect and value yourself. Refusing to believe that you deserve the best life has to offer, will keep your dream life firmly out of your reach.
• Lack of trust: Not trusting your intuition, your emotional guidance system, will prevent you from knowing which experiences serve you and which do not.
• Lack of gratitude: Learning to appreciating the abundance you already possess will attract more of it into your life.
• Lack of detachment: Being too attached to the outcome, trying to control the result of your creation, and refusing to allow the Universe to decide the outcome that is in your best interest, will keep you from receiving what it has to offer you (even if it is better than what you visualised for yourself).

I come across new books and audios almost every day, that claim to show how to use the LOA and the principle of Deliberate Creation in everyday life, to get whatever you desire - love, wealth, abundance, joy.

The most useful LOA resources offer techniques to help you raise your emotional set point and help you go from from negative emotions, like fear and despair, to positive ones like joy and happiness.

When you raise your vibrational frequency (through meditation, music, or whatever works for you), and eliminate negative beliefs and emotions that block your ability to receive what the Universe is sending your way (techniques like NLP, EFT, Hypnosis work very well), you can truly create anything you desire.

To raise your vibration right now, watch the beautiful “I Create Reality” movie by Christopher Westra. Do show it to your kids and anyone else you think of.

Law Of Attraction Resources:

Besides the resources above, here are some I own and will be reviewing shortly:

Wealth Beyond Reason: This course by Bob Doyle teaches you the principles of the LOA and gives you specific techniques to rid yourself of negative emotions, and an Experiential Meditation to help you visualise what you desire.

The Secret Of Deliberate Creation: This comprehensive course by Robert Anthony has loads of resources and comes highly recommended.

Sleep And Profit: Get the Think and Grow Rich audios, as well as a number of subliminal audios and practices to clear your mind of negative beliefs about wealth and money.

Sandra Anne Taylor’s books: As a counselor in private psychological practice, Sandra Anne Taylor’s techniques will help you clear negative vibrations and invite in the positive.

Popularity: 19% [?]

“That which you gain from each difficult life, you gain for all eternity.”

– from Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton, PH.D.

One of my favourite television programs is “Inside The Actor’s Studio,” where I get a glimpse of my favourite movie stars, up close and personal.

While I found my hottie, Pierce Brosnan, a total disappointment (stiff and self-conscious), I loved the interviews of Jennifer Lopez (the complete diva!), Renee Zellweger (sweet, sensitive and empathic), Ben Kingsley (a class act!) and Ian McKellan (Class Act II).

But the one I loved the most was that of Salma Hayek - who also happens to be my favourite actor, one of the few women I wouldn’t mind changing my sexual orientation for, and a beautiful soul.

Her labour of love, Frida, also happens to be one of my favourite movies of all time. Frida is the biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work.

One statement that Salma made, in her interview with the young actors and directors, stays with me till this day, because it resonates with what I’ve believed all my life (even if I haven’t always felt that positive).

“Embrace Adversity,” she said, “It’s the best teacher.”

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So if life throws you a curveball (or a googly, as we say in India), know that it’s just one of the many lessons that the universe wants you to learn from. And if you learn your lessons well, you’ll come out on top every time.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

– Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Popularity: 8% [?]

It’s a sad statement on the state of the world today when you need official permission to give someone a free hug.

Here’s the true story of one man who did that.

And here’s a BIG [[[ ]]] from me to all of you!!

Popularity: 6% [?]

God, I never thought I would actually shed tears at the passing of Steve Irwin, the crazy Australian crocodile hunter and conservationist!

I mean, I never really cared for the way he seemed to terrorise those poor animals into submission.

And as a mother, I was completely horrified when he put his one-month old baby in danger, even though, he claimed, the only way he would have dropped him was “if the ground shook.”

Along with millions of other people around the world, I thought he’d really gone off the deep end that time.

I actually prefer Jeff Corwin - he’s dishier, and nicer to the animals. But as an environmentalist, I had more than a grudging admiration and respect for Steve’s passion, his willingness to risk life and limb for his work, his true love for the animals he protected, and his radical, if somewhat lunatic methods.

I’m comforted knowing that he died while following his passion and doing something he loved. To use a phrase from the movie, Legends of the Fall, “It was a good death.”

I salute the divine in you, Steve Irwin. Goodbye from a fan in India. You will always be a hero to me.

Popularity: 19% [?]