Imagine how different our history would be if our forefathers had not followed that principle and just went along with the mores of the times without questioning them. 

So good for you when you feel you should act contrary to what others tell you to do and instead do what you feel is right in your heart and soul.  In such a case, stand tall and believe in yourself… God does.

Don’t be intimidated by thoughts which make you feel like you are insignificant.  The more you master your technology as a person, the more powerful you will become.  Just like an atom, you may be small and individual, but you have the power and energy inside of you to significantly change your world.

One of the greatest crimes that we can commit against our spirit and soul is not one such as murder or robbery, as these are acts which can usually be defined.  The crime I speak of is senseless hatred.  Because it is very difficult to define, it is very difficult to correct within ourselves.  Just as disturbing is that it is frequently accepted with a shrug, or simply ignored, by many.  This makes it far more dangerous, as this crime can spread like a virus. 

How can you combat this, at least within yourself?  It might sound elementary, but the answer is Love.  When that negative inclination starts to take you over, give Love some time to repress it.  Feel it, take it in, and give it – freely and often.  Love is the energy in the Universe which will redeem us over anything else.  Give and receive some today.  Actually, give and receive much today.   

But our soul cannot be so easily duped.  It can “see” through the veils of trickery, as what is physical is not a high priority in the spiritual realm.  Instead, our soul connects to the energy of the Universe.  Sometimes we “see” something different from our eyes based on an inner sense, which is actually our soul at work..  Men frequently refer to this as their gut feeling, and women call it their intuition.  Regardless of what you call it, it’s the most valuable gift given to you.  You do have a soul.  Trust it.

Start by concentrating on a single element of your being, be it a negative one (anger, laziness, procrastination, etc.) or a positive one ( empathy, kindness, sense of humor, etc.).  See it for what it truly is and how it affects you and/or those around you.

Set your goal to minimize the negative trait or maximize the positive one, depending on which trait you decide to focus in on.  Purposely set aside about an hour or so a week to ruminate or meditate on only that one element.  It will work wonders.

You will find less distress in your life, and you will have more joy and purpose.  You will expand the spiritual being inside you, the spirit which acquires more energy from within and from all around you.  That potential is yours.  Just commit yourself to try it.

It is how good your home feels, not how beautiful it may look, that is most important to you and all those who enter it.  It doesn’t matter if your home is a small apartment or a stately mansion.

Your home is your spirtual water.  It’s inner peace and harmony should continually flow down to you and those within it like a gentle brook which flows into a larger stream.  This flow will grow with each passage of time and space.

Your home is unique, as is each separate body of running water.  As every stream flows to ever larger waters, so will the spirituality flowing through your home lead to greater tranquility.

You have a very special and unique relationship with ‘Nature’ and all of the living things around you.  Enjoy what you have and make the most of it.

I spent a good amount of time with my mother, may she rest in peace, before she passed.  She was very sick, fragile and homebound.  She made me realize how lucky I was to have a life which was filled with events, events which bring me productivity, joy… even sorrow.  Do you realize the same thing about yourself?  If you do, you are very fortunate.

May I suggest a very good deed for you to do?  Visit a nursing home.  Tell the charge nurse that you would like to visit someone who never receives visitors.  When you enter this persons space, s/he might think, “Who the %@#* is this and what does s/he want?”  After all, they get no personal contact and time just passes them by until their next meal (not a good home cooked meal, either).

Performing a good deed for a stranger is a great kindness.  You will leave with a spiritual warmth that you did not have when you entered the facility.  Your spirit will feel refreshed, no matter what is going on in your life – and so will the spirit of the person you paid a visit to.

Don’t let your yearning for what you might have overshadow the gratitude you should feel for what you do have.  Just look at the severely impoverished, the friendless, those with a debilitating illness, or those living in a Third World country.  You are more fortunate than most.  Good for you!