Today was timeout. A day of silent retreat in my own hermitage. Today I read a book that’s been around for a relatively long time. I was aware of some of the principles in the book and I even practice them in my daily life, but I had forgotten to be gentle with myself and today was the day for that.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself. –Desiderata
I read for the first time “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” by Deepak Chopra. I’ve enjoyed reading some of his columns on Beliefnet and Huffington Post, but I’d never taken the time to read this book. I picked it up in a bookstore perhaps six months ago, but it sat on my reading table until today. I found that I practice several of the spiritual laws that he speaks of. I do spend time in silence each day, and I need to continue that, but I spend too much time judging my actions and those of others. I need to spend less time with that. I do believe that in contributing to the success of others that I will be successful. I believe that in giving we receive, but that being a receiver is also important.
Practicing the law of giving is actually very simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love;; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want material affluence, help others to become materially affluent. In fact the easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. This principle works equally well for individuals, corporations, societies, and nations. If you want to be blessed with all the good things in life, learn to silently bless everyone with all the good things in life.–Deepak Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success