Having awareness as a human being, in general, is extremely important. Ever since ancient times, being observant and having awareness have played a huge role in lives. People lived in very small groups and it was key to observe other’s actions and motives in order for the society to function. As time went on, observation expanded into larger societies, but started to occur much less. This may be due to the [...]
If you don't define who you are, how will anyone know how to treat you? When people hear the word integrity, they think moral uprightness or someone with a great deal of pride in their steadfast beliefs. In a different context, integrity can also mean "the state of being whole and undivided". When we've solidified our integrity, we can stand any flux or change. As Lincoln famously stated in his Gettysburg [...]
As kids we were taught to say 'thank you', and were often praised when we were polite enough to remember it. But, at some point in our maturing, 'thank you' loses its power. Saying it becomes more like saying "I recognize what you've done for me" rather than true gratitude for what they did. How does one express gratitude when 'thank you' isn't enough? Often this is fixed when we accompany [...]
Why is a dog deemed mans best friend? Dogs love whole heartedly, always forgive you when you get impatient, are always excited to see you, always greet you even if you woke them up, and they are loyal. When they choose to love you, they choose you for life. This means defending you, caring for you, sticking by you, forgiving you, choosing to love you every day and showing it. Whether [...]
When we’re kids, we hit a certain age when we start building, brick by brick, a wall of boundaries. We are no longer comfortable changing in public, talking to strangers, talking about personal details of our lives, showing strong emotions like anger or crying in front of just anyone, and we are much less eager to give our affections unabashedly. As we cement the bricks with modesty and manners, protecting ourselves [...]
Taking a Look at Love Loving means allowing yourself to be vulnerable, to get hurt, to be abandoned, to be rejected, to lose pieces of yourself when you give to that other person. Love is the most confusing thing we’re capable of doing and no one really understands it. Through all types of love, there’s no formula, no manual, and no rationality. We adore pets that pass on far too soon, [...]
Nothing can survive without trust. Whether we like it or not, everyone has to trust in something else in order to get through the day. We trust our food is fresh and prepared cleanly. We trust that the bus driver will arrive on time or that our mechanic fixed our car so it can function. We trust that our banks will keep our money safe and we dress trusting that the [...]
Compassion often times gets shrugged off as an attribute of the weak. But, it takes strength to push yourself out of the way to see beyond yourself, win the battle against your own emotions and hold back your own needs to attend to others'. It is an attribute of people who are compassionate with themselves, before they begin to give it to others. Compassion does favors for the giver and the [...]
The word Faith has always maintained a strong connotation. A strong faith in God can cause wars between nations, internal turmoil from neighborhoods through politics, holocausts and persecutions, and racism and prejudice. Faith in God and humanity can also be our saving grace that inspires people to volunteer, help others, and change the world for the long term. All in all, faith evokes an image of drastic, life-changing emotion and powerful [...]
Optimism is a continual goal. Optimism is a verb. Optimism is a process, not a state of mind, as many seem to think. Optimism takes energy and effort; it doesn’t just happen. It is the most essential step you can take towards achieving anything because how can you make a plan or take initiative without positive intentions? For instance, in an extreme example, a non-optimistic person wouldn’t even go for a [...]
