Wise Words for You

O ut for dinner on an overseas business trip thousands of miles from the UK, Isobel answered the call on her mobile expecting to speak to her children. Instead, she heard the voice of her estranged husband, whom she was in the process of divorcing after years of violence in which she had been punched, kicked, strangled, pulled around by her hair and thrown down the stairs. “Before the children came on the line, he told me exactly where I was – which city, in which country, and which restaurant I was sitting in,” she says. “I was absolutely beside myself. I was just so overwhelmed with fear, wondering how the hell he could pinpoint me like this. I asked how he knew and he said: ‘I can find you on your iPhone.’” Mark had bought the phone for Isobel, who is in her 40s, and set it up before she left him. It seems likely he was using the geolocation services built into all smartphones; if you know, or can guess, the password to someone’s cloud account, you can follow their movements co...

When I become excessively critical towards others, it means I am going in the wrong direction. We are usually very good at spotting mistakes, but we should develop the quality of also spotting goodness. If I can see what is good in others or in situations and go beyond the curtain of negativity, I feel good about myself. If I constantly think “he is wrong”, I instead create a barrier which blocks me from reaching my own goodness. listen to ‘Thought of the Day: Spotting Goodness’ on audioBoom

Penalty notices cannot be issued to anything which is not motorised A traffic warden is being investigated after a parking ticket was placed on a wheelie bin. The warden was accused of "bizarre behaviour" by onlookers as the penalty charge notice was stuck on the bin which was on double yellow lines in Carmarthen. Carmarthenshire council said no ticket was inside the wrapper and the incident was a light-hearted moment. However it said the warden's conduct was being looked into. Salesman Mike Jones said he spotted the warden talking to other motorists about the wheelie bin from a town centre shop blocking the road. 'Humorous incident' "It was bizarre - I realised I had just watched a warden give a ticket to a wheelie bin for bad parking," he said. "It appeared the warden slapped the plastic ticket envelope on the bin in a moment of high jinks after a member of public pointed out it was parked on double yellow lines." Carmarthens...

We tend to see things not as they are but as we are. Becoming quiet and simple inside is a first step to seeing things truly.

While we spend much time ‘making up’ our faces to ensure our appearance is beautiful for others, we forget to make up our minds. This is not about making decisions. Making up our mind means ensuring that our thoughts are positive and our feelings towards others are filled with good wishes. When we do, others begin to sense a deeper beauty emanating from behind the skin! This is inner beauty. Don’t hide behind your face. Let the real you show through.

When you can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment.

There is an immaculate eternal and constant space within you hidden under different appearances. In that space there is only peace, love and wisdom. Let go and free yourself from the layers that cover that space and you will uncover the secret of a life of fullness.

In relationships, just as in every other aspect of life, the spirit and attitude with which you do things is at least as important as your actual actions. Embrace and incorporate these powerful values, and you will start living with more integrity, honesty, compassion and enthusiasm. This, in turn, will breathe new life into your relationship. 1. Own your own relationship. You are fully accountable for your relationship. You can never again believe you're a martyr suffering in your relationship because of an unworthy partner. Only when you stop seeing yourself as a victim will you start to see yourself as a fully competent and potent force in your relationship.  2. Accept the risk of vulnerability. Do not let fear paralyze your life. Wanting, reaching out and letting yourself hope makes you vulnerable. At least by putting yourself on the line, you have the chance of getting what you want, as opposed to hurting with no chance of getting what you want. Not to venture is ...

" Je suis Charlie " ( French pronunciation: ​ [ʒə sɥi ʃaʁ.li] , French for "I am Charlie") is a slogan adopted by supporters of free speech and freedom of expression after the 7 January 2015 massacre in which 12 people were killed at the offices of the satirical newspaper  Charlie Hebdo  in Paris, France. It identifies a speaker or supporter with those who were killed at the Charlie Hebdo shooting, and by extension, a supporter of freedom of speech and resistance to armed threats. Some journalists embraced the expression as a rallying cry for the freedom of self-expression. The slogan was first used on Twitter and spread to the Internet at large. The website of  Charlie Hebdo went offline shortly after the shooting, and when it returned it bore the legend  Je suis Charlie  on a black background. The statement was used as the hashtag #jesuischarlie and #iamcharlie   on Twitter,   as computer printed or h...

How fixed beliefs define our roles: Our fixed beliefs define the roles we play in life and h ave a lot to do with the scripts that are running them. Just as actors follow a play's script for lines, actions and attitude, we follow life scripts according to what our fixed beliefs tell us. Are you telling yourself that you are a tragic character or heroic character? Are you playing the loving mother, abusive husband, frustrated artist or successful businessman? Why scripts are dangerous: Whatever your fixed beliefs are, you have practiced your script for so long that you believe what it says about you and your potential. This is why life scripts are dangerous. We begin to perceive them as being set in stone. We even allow them to shape the way we expect things to turn out. Fixed beliefs also influence the casting, location and wardrobe of our script. Who is "right" for the part in our script and who isn't? What type of living arrangement and attire are appropriate for t...

Out with the old, in with the new: Letting go of past relationships and making way for new ones Are you still hung up on your ex? Do you feel like you’ll never meet someone you truly connect with? Moving on from an old relationship can feel like an uphill struggle, especially if there are still feelings for the ex. Losing someone that you gave your heart to is one of life’s major challenges and while the old sayings ‘you deserve better’ and ‘there are plenty more fish in the sea’ are designed to give you hope, the chances are they’ll make little difference to how you feel. Moving on takes time and it won’t be easy, but by staying positive and focusing on the good things you have to offer in a new relationship, you’ll be able to make that move from “ex” to “next”. Seek support If you are harbouring negative feelings for your ex or the break up, or you have struggled in a relationship that wasn’t healthy for a variety of reasons, you need to address these emotions before ...

Israel-based astrophotographer Gadi Eidelheit recently managed to capture the International Space Station crossing the moon on camera. In the video above, we see how fast the ISS appears to travel when seen by an observer here on Earth (it spends less than 1 second in front of the moon). In preparing for the shot, the photographer used a website called  Heavens Above  to find the exact time and location the ISS would pass overhead. Using a sky map, Eidelheit found that the station would pass in front of the moon on December 28th, 2014 if he placed his cameras in a town about 6.2 miles away from his house. Eidelheit used three different cameras: a Canon 700D with a Sigma 18-250mm lens for the wider shot, a Canon SX50 at max zoom (~1200mm equiv.) for the closeup view, and a Sony DSLR for still photographs. “The timing and location must be very accurate” for this type of project, Eidelheit writes. “Even one kilometer difference in the location will change the pass positi...

Ultimately, any and all change has to be the result of wanting to change yourself. If you’re adjusting and altering your behaviours, feelings, and relationships to fit the needs and wants of someone else, it might look the same, but it will never bear the same weight and change that comes from a true desire to evolve for your own reasons.  That said, we all do it. We all pick out little parts of other people that we wish fit better with how we work and what we want from another person. And as quickly as we promise unconditional love, we feel the urge to try and change people. Rarely is this a good idea – usually it leads to the other person feeling bad about themselves and then resentful of you for making them feel that way, and then you feel bad about that, and then the whole thing turns into a snowball of gross feelings, insecurities, and dissatisfaction. So maybe never actively, directly try to change another person – but especially not on the following 7 issues. H...

Life Law #1: You either get it or you don't. Strategy: Become one of those who gets it. It's easy to tell these people apart. Those who "get it" understand how things work and have a strategy to create the results they want. Those who don't are stumbling along looking puzzled, and can be found complaining that they never seem to get a break.  You must do what it takes to accumulate enough knowledge to "get it." You need to operate with the information and skills that are necessary to win. Be prepared, tune in, find out how the game is played and play by the rules. In designing a strategy and getting the information you need — about yourself, people you encounter, or situations — be careful from whom you accept input. Wrong thinking and misinformation can seal your fate before you even begin.  Life Law #2: You create your own experience. Strategy: Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life. Understand your role in creating results.  You cann...

Give birth to new possibilities through your ability to reach into the future and let go of the past.

Do you still carry around bitterness and anger from being bullied in school? Or perhaps you're consumed with vengeance and hatred for someone who wronged you? In order to find emotional closure on some event in your life, Recommendations that you identify and execute your Minimal Effective Response (MER). Notice that MER includes the word "minimal." Your MER is the least thing that you can do that allows you to get emotional closure. The concept of MER seeks to satisfy your need for resolution without creating a whole new set of problems. It aims to conserve your resources. An example of what MER is not is when you hear people who are in pain plotting major events to embarrass someone, when all it would take for them to feel some emotional resolve was an explanation and apology. Getting emotional closure means that you can "close the book" on your situation and its associated pain. You can put that book of pain on the shelf and you will no longer have to ta...

Don’t let the distance to be travelled deter you from the first step

If you’re afraid that you or someone you love may be getting into an abusive situation, here is some signs to look for:  Excessive and quick commitment to relationships Isolation Extremely possessive and jealous, confused with love Control of all money Name-calling and demeaning Threats against you, your children or of suicide for failure to comply (emotional extortion) Exhibits cruelty to animals or children Takes away choices such as food, fashion, social life Chauvinistic Excessive monitoring Dominating time Extreme sense of entitlement Blames the victim (“They made me do it”) Insecure but presents a false sense of superiority Lack of empathy Hypersensitivity and victim mentality Extreme controlling behaviour early on disguised as concern for safety Presents dual personalities Poor communication skills Has unrealistic expectations or demands I know people who have been abused and seeing the after effects can be devastating.

Are you haunted by something that happened in your past? Whether someone wronged you or you made a decision you regret, I often say that forgiveness is what you do for yourself, not for other people. When you forgive, it doesn't mean that you approve of what's happened. Rather, it means that you're giving yourself permission to move on with your life.  Forgiveness is a choice. Don't wait for it to just wash over you all of a sudden. You have to choose it. Don't give your power away. The pain of what happened is inevitable, but continuing to suffer is optional. The only person you can control is you. By constantly reliving the pain of what happened, you are giving your power away to the person who wronged you. Don't cling to negative feelings. Anger is nothing more than an outward sign of hurt, fear, guilt, grief or frustration. While the pain may never completely disappear, forgiveness can help you release the anger and bring those in your life closer to...

Ignorance makes you believe that life functions haphazardly. Wisdom teaches you that everything that happens in this theatre of life has profound significance. What you see today is not the fruit of chance but a fruit from seeds planted in the past. Plant seeds of peace now and you will create a life of peace in the future.

A fake Facebook copyright message claiming to protect users' media has once again been making the rounds on the social network. Facebook Flags 'Copyright' Message as Hoax The message claims to put copyright protections on a user's posts after they share the status update. It typically reads: "In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!" Here's the thing: Facebook doesn't own your posts. Under the social network's privacy policy, they have the right to distribute and share the things a user posts, subject to their privacy and application settings. (Check out Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities  here .) The hoax doesn't even have its facts ...