Why Meditation?

Would you like to have more peace, health, happiness and abundance in your life?

Have you identified the things that provide or create them?

Are you doing these things yet?

Interesting questions, aren't they.

One of the things that I KNOW brings more peace, health, happiness and abundance is meditation. If you're a Silva Method Graduate, you've heard me (or another instructor) talking about this. You may sort of know that meditation does this but still not spend time regularly experiencing that quiet time...meditation.

Ask yourself "Why?" or "Why not?" What's so hard about taking 10 or 15 minutes a day to sit still, eyes closed, and experience the quiet?

Part of the answer may be that you think you have to DO something to be of value, to be of worth, to be effective and productive. Yet the 'busyness' of doing may actually repel the very things we're desiring and expecting!

But now ask yourself "If I don’t think I'm worthy of taking this time, would Source believe I truly value the things (peace, health, happiness and abundance) that I say I desire? ...things that come through meditation?" 

"Does Source believe I desire lowered stress?" "...more income?" "...solutions to problems?" "...a better life?" etc.

"By my actions, what am I showing Source I desire?"

Some people feel that spending time in meditation is selfish yet taking care of yourself assures that you have the ability to share more with others. Remember: the more abundance we have, the more we can share with others...the more time we have to be with family and friends...and the more adventures we may experience. 

So let's think about what meditation really is.  It's a quiet time, usually with eyes closed. 

Seems simple to me. How about you?

But is there more to it?  Well, there may be. It depends on what form of meditation you're using as well as what your intentions and expectations are.

Many people meditate to enhance spiritual growth and deepen inner peace.

They listen for the 'still, soft voice' of their Guidance/Source. Ask a question...receive an answer.

By the way, 'voice' may suggest you could be 'hearing voices' like a mentally ill person. Not so. Some people may seem to hear something but it's almost always 'inside their head' not in their ears. Most often, it's a thought or series of thoughts on the same or similar theme.

Some people use this quiet time to 'program' for specific manifestations such as improved health, a life partner, a new job...in other words, a specific outcome.

Other benefits would be managing stress, energize, center and balance the physical, emotional and mental bodies. No matter why you take this quiet time - meditation - you benefit.

I'd like to remind you of the saying “energy flows where attention goes.” 

Every time you have a thought - no matter what the topic - you've turned on a magnet that draws it to you. Certainly if you have few thoughts on one topic, it's a very weak magnet. Lots of thoughts means a strong magnetic attraction.

Lots of thoughts on your desired outcome or goal, makes a strong attraction. If your thoughts are fearful, then you're attracting situations which cause you to feel more fear! 

Whenever you repeatedly think of the same thing, you're drawing it to you. 

Whether you're a Silva Graduate or not, you can take a few minutes, a few times a day, to just sit with your eyes closed. Follow your breath and let your mind grow quieter. Know that on the in-breath you're experiencing healthy energy. On the out-breath, you send out worry, stress, tension and limiting beliefs. Doing this slows the mind-chatter.

Sitting quietly for 15 minutes, three times a day improves health - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

This can make a powerful difference in your life...even if all you do is take time to breathe.

Have questions? Email me at Barbara.SilvaStars@gmail.com

Better & Better,

Barbara Hawkins

How to Realize Your Goals

We all have goals whether we admit them to ourselves or anyone else, or not.. The question is, what are you doing about them? Have you written them down? Do you look at them often? Do you talk about them? Do you take action to achieve them?

Setting specific measurable goals is the way to go!

In Jack Canfield’s book "How to Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be" there's a funny / not funny comic: a drawing of a man lying in the road and under it is written, “Encumbered by a low self-image, Bob takes a job as a speed bump.”

Is this you...with a low self-image? If so, you’re probably not putting much effort into setting goals because you probably believe you can't have them. You may have a case of speed-bump-itis!

NOTICE:  It’s time to make a commitment with and to yourself. Most every successful person has set specific goals and then taken action - one step at a time - to achieve them. If they can do it, so can you.

1. Have a Goal Journal

Expensive or inexpensive, pretty or just aplain pad of paper, the important thing is that it's dedicated to only one thing: your goals.

2. Create your 'bucket list'

Write at least five, must-do-before-I-die goals, one per page.

3. Take the plunge

Be daring! Be bold! Write down what you really want to be, do and have for your life.

4. Be Specific

Goals are specific. “I want a good car” isn’t a goal. “I will have (a specific make/model) by XYZ date,” is. The more specific you are, the more clearly you program for success.

5. Say them!

Repeat your goals out loud to yourself three times a day, every day.

6. Find a 'buddy'

Find someone you trust to share your goals - an accountability partner. When you actually share your goals with someone else, you make a deeper level of commitment.

7. Take Action

For each goal, write down 5 or more, small, action-steps to take each week reach your goals.