8. Â Â Â Â Â Â Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence -" Aristotle ( 384 BCÂ -" 322 BC)
Tying into the concepts of awareness and mindfulness is the aim of happiness. As Aristotle presented it, and as it has not changed in the 2300 years since: everybody wants to be happy. I read a statement once from someone who asserted that he did not like it when everybody assumed that he wanted to be happy. So, perhaps we should be a bit cautious here, and consider the relatively few cases of people who rather stay miserable or in an eternal bland state, and carefully posit that the majority of us want to be happy. Knowing that the wish to be happy is such a broadly manifest one amongst all living beings (not only humans), we could consider the effects that heightened awareness will have on our overall wellbeing, and therefore, our general sense of contentment. The mind is everything. Once we have figured out for ourselves what we consider important in life, we can start working toward that, and hopefully attain happiness.
9. Â Â Â Â Â Â If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other - Mother Teresa (1910 -" 1997)
This statement refers to another concept that we, unfortunately, have unlearned in the hectic pace of modern civilization: our interconnectedness. Due to the heavy emphasis on exact knowledge areas (left brain activities) and the under-utilization of the creative, holistically oriented part (the right brain), we have come to see each other as separate entities ("me" versus "you"), who are at most connected by a similar culture, background, or location - but for the rest, independent. While independence is a wonderful illusion at times, and can be motivating in getting us shifting into higher gears, it only holds true at the micro level. True: many of us earn our daily bread, buy or prepare our own food, drive our own car, and pay rent or mortgage for our residence. Yet, on the intermediate and macro levels, our interdependence quickly becomes obvious. Everything we eat, drive, use, wear, or enjoy in any other way, was prepared to a large extent by numerous others. Yet, we have decided that this perspective was a bit farfetched, and discarded it as unimportant.
10. Â Â Be the change you want to see in the world -" Ghandi (1869 -" 1948)
This point was deliberately kept till the end, because it serves a critical purpose as a final thought, but also as the instigator of a more determined approach, which you will hopefully adopt after reading this article, if you did not already do so. It is easy to consider yourself small and insignificant, and the troubles of the world too major to do anything about. Yet, if you want to bring about any change, you cannot sit back and wait for others to start. This is the era of ownership. This is the time when people want to help make decisions. This is the time where you need to rethink your approach toward life and those you share it with, and take more responsibility for its course. This is the time to do away with lethargic mentalities and take an active approach. It's the time to actually be the change you want to see in the world.
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Improving is internal growth without external expectations
As a final note, I would like to invite you to engage in your actions with the right approach. Dare to improve: focus on fulfilling and joyful work while encouraging and honoring others' input, and allowing them to perform by maintaining a positive mind, appreciating others, enjoying the everyday miracles around us, respecting each other in peaceful coexistence, thus becoming the change you want to see in the world! Yet, while doing so, resist the temptation to build particular expectations. Â An expectation is a creation of our imagination. It transforms any mental or physical donation into an ugly situation that causes frustration when there is no realization -" Joan Marques
Your rewards will follow when you least expect them.
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