The practice of gratitude is honed over time with patience and humility at its’ core. A good way to experience this practice is bowing in gratitude. This doesn’t have to be the physical act of bowing (but that helps); you can just bow in your mind. When you see something arising in the mind where you see yourself stuck and desiring something you don’t have, stop and bow to what you already have. If you find yourself in the old habit of grumbling, complaining or finding fault in something, stop and find something to be grateful for. Look around you at those that are in need and give something to them. The ego resists this practice so we know we are chipping away at something of substance. I bow to you all.

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How do we define success?

In our society success seems to be measured by what we have done, created, or collected rather than what we have given or shared with our fellow sentient beings.

I had always seen success as money, cars, big houses and fame. I lived most of my life in pursuit of all of these material things and it wasn’t until I had many life changing experiences that my opinions on what success was dramatically altered. One of these life changing experiences happened while living on the Big Island of Hawaii and I relate that story in this podcast. So do we need a life altering experience to change the way we see things? Yes I believe sometimes we do. How can we have a life altering experience? Stay open and don’t be afraid to look deeply into your heart. Assess your life daily and see where you can change current beliefs and opinions to bring about more compassion and empathy. Open yourself to new ways of thinking and seeing. Sit quietly on a daily  basis. It is in solitude that we can begin to open to a new way of looking at our ourselves and our intention.

How do we re-define success?

• Who gives the most.
• Being happy in each moment regardless of the circumstance.
• Putting others before ourselves.

• One who follows their heart to serve others without expectation of the outcome.

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Are you using social networking to avoid being social.

Have you noticed yourself Tweet-ing and Facebook-ing in social situations to avoid talking and interacting with people?  I’m constantly observing people in line at the store, at the airport, on a plane and in the elevator engaged with their device.  We are immersing ourselves in a medium that is helping to create social barriers with our fellow beings.  A new distraction that keeps us from meeting our true self in the form of those around us that manifests as our peers.  Our peers can represent aspects of ourselves we may be having trouble accepting and we don’t want to confront that because it’s uncomfortable.

• put your phone down at lunch
• in the elevator put the phone down and smile at someone
• make a time at night to turn off all devices and sit quietly for five minutes
• leave your phone at home one weekend day or part of that day

Take it slow, take your time and be easy on yourself.

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