Don’t be so overwhelmed by the challenging and troublesome issues which are part of your everyday life that you fail to clearly see and acknowledge the bigger picture.

As an example: When harmful insects invade your vegetable garden, you try to eliminate them. But look at the bounty of produce ready to be picked, cleaned and enjoyed. This is where the satisfaction of gardening lies. Try to get rid of those nasty bugs, yet accept that those pests are there for a reason.

Issues in your life are no different. Now go and eat your veggies!

Your soul is your garden. When there is bad energy or karma going on around it, it is though bad weather has caused its blossoms to wilt. It needs constant tending. So appreciate and be thankful to all those who bring you joy, fulfillment or peace. They are the gardeners of your soul. They remove the weeds of discontent and the bugs which eat at you. They are the ones responsible for making your soul flourish.

There are those who, after working for a long time, will tell you they’re tired of their job, they find it boring, or it’s just the same old routine with nothing new. Why? Because someone who works for a company frequently is in a situation where they do what is required of them and then collects a paycheck to live on. Their idea of “what’s in it for me” is only the money they make and that their company stay in business to guarantee the former. There is no thrill in that.

It’s different for people who own their company. They do their very best all the time to make sure their customers are satisfied. This brings them pride, satisfaction, and the opportunity to make as much of a fortune as possible. The success of their business is dependent on them and their decisions. This gives them renewed energy every day and makes their work challenging and satisfying. As work takes up so much of their lives, their lives in turn are challenging and satisfying.

When you read your Holy Book, take from it what the business owner does. Make it challenging and satisfying every time you pick it up. Those words are the work for your soul. What you get out of them is what you invest in them. Just as the owner does whatever it takes to satisfy his customer, do whatever it takes to satisfy the essence inside you. Then, as you read those spiritual words, you will reap the rewards of making as much of a spiritual fortune as possible from the time you put into it. That is the greatest compensation. You won’t find it boring or routine – and you’ll be your own spiritual boss.

Love is always sweet, whether you give it or receive it. Even when it seems bittersweet, the word bitter is followed by the word which truly defines the depth of the emotion.

Love is as common as the sounds of nature. Yet no matter how familiar its voice, we never cease to tire of hearing how sweet it is.

The yearning to increase our spirituality comes from our desire to receive. We are a vessel, and we want to fill it until we are sated with spiritual waters. Yet the basic nature of righteousness is to give, to let flow those waters of goodness and kindness. This is a role of holiness. We must let that hydropower flow out to others. Otherwise, our vessel remains full and we cannot take in any more life fulfilling waters. Our soul becomes full with stagnant water. And we know the difference between stagnant water and fresh flowing water.

Love does NOT make the world go ’round. Science has made that perfectly clear. So what does our soul have to say about that? It agrees. Instead, it knows that love is what makes the world worth living in.

Musical instruments were created by mankind through Divine inspiration to bring us pleasure.

So make it a ritual to take a long and relaxing bath or shower at least once a week. . . in instrumental music. The music will feel to your soul as water feels to your body.

You build a great fire by adding the best wood you can find to it. The more wood you add, the more intense it becomes.

Your soul is your personal fire. And what is the best wood to feed it? Love and good deeds. They will keep it bright, blazing, and deeply passionate. .

Keep adding good wood to your fire so it will continually burn bright.

No matter what the odds, no matter how overwhelming, no matter how desperate, you have an obligation to yourself and others to do whatever you can. You must try, regardless of how paltry your efforts may seem.

Whatever dire situation lies in front of you, taking action, even the most miniscule of actions, is crucial to who and what you are and will be. If you do nothing, you will lose. If you do something you still may lose, but at least you can hold on to the hope that you have the smallest of chances to overcome your situation. Don’t ever lose hope. Don’t ever give up!

Being loved deeply by someone gives you fortitude. Loving someone deeply gives you vitality.

Hopefully someone is there to put fortitude in your life. Furthermore, give of your soul without restraint, and you will make your life filled with vitality.