With God all Things are Possible!

"If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes." - Mark 9:23

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." - Mark 17:20

"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" - John 11:40

No situation in life is hopeless. Despair and hope are emotional attitudes created by your thoughts, by the way you look at things. They are not created by the circumstances of your life. 

You only give up hope because you have yet to trust in the possibility of a change for the better. The truth is that you cannot rely on your judgment alone, on what your senses are telling you. Fear can distort your reality, and give you the illusion of doom and gloom. But you're the one who creates your own roadblocks, by clinging to the idea that you can do it all by yourself. You're the one who's been putting obstacles in your way.

In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I emphasise that faith is a gift - but it is accessible to everyone, even to the biggest sceptic. Just the fact that you're alive proves that you do have faith in certain things - for instance, that the sun will rise tomorrow morning, that you will wake up and go to work (if you don't forget to set your alarm!)

You cannot say that a thing is impossible, just because you haven't been able to accomplish it so far. Once you give up the need to explain everything and to justify yourself; once you give up the need to control other people and events, you will be ready to put your life in God's hands. From then on, nothing will be out of reach for you any more. 

Allow yourself to be guided by God's will instead of your own and you will see how order will replace your internal chaos. Peace of mind will replace your distorted outlook. Love will replace all the fears you had.

With God all things are possible, and you'll see that something good is going to happen to you very soon!

With love,

Bella

Painting: "Playing with the Kitten" by Emile Munier, 1840 - 1895

How Can You Have More Willpower?

"For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." - Romans 7:9

So many good resolutions - but they never last! Sometimes you just can't follow through with your decisions, or you can't stick with a course of action that you've determined for yourself.
You want to have more willpower, but it seems like you have less and less of it, the harder you try... What are you doing wrong? Why is it so hard to reach your goal, even though you really really want to?

In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I explain that willpower is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. But if you expect too much of yourself and put yourself under too much pressure, your willpower reserve will soon be exhausted. You can only draw so much on your inner strength before you become stressed. And being stressed is the worst state to be in when you want to achieve something. Although you can increase your willpower over time with specific exercises, it is a limited resource, especially at the beginning of your journey of self-improvement. You can only use a certain amount of it before it runs out.

If you force yourself to do too many things, like stick to a strict diet, exercise vigorously for a number of hours every week, avoid all harmful substances, while also learning new skills, you will draw too much of this precious energy from your inner supply. Your stream of willpower may soon run dry, especially if you force yourself to do something you don't want to do. However, I don't think this is likely to happen if you do something you enjoy.

This is the true secret of lasting willpower: to find pleasure in the actions you perform in order to achieve what you desire. To be able to do this, you need to find out what you want and why you want it. I describe this process in depth in my book, which  encourage you to read. You need to keep in mind the reasons that are motivating you. For instance, "I want to eat healthy food because it will make me feel better... I will live longer, I will look younger and I will have more energy."

Motivation can come from a positive point of view, but it can also come from negative thoughts, like "I want to eat healthy food because I don't want to get diabetes or hight cholesterol and I don't want to die prematurely." Choose whatever form of self-talk works best for you, but I believe that positive images have more impact on your subconscious mind than negative ones.

Once you keep your objective in mind and focus on it intently, you can dedicate yourself to actions that feel good and require little willpower, because they require little effort. You're not forcing yourself to do this, you're doing it naturally because it's what you want and you're clear about the reasons why you want it. For instance, if you purchase and cook healthy ingredients with interest, enthusiasm and an open mind, you will be much more likely to follow through with your diet than if you go about it grudgingly while craving junk food and lollies.

With my best wishes and love,

Bella

Painting: "Red Water Lily of Southern India",  1878 by Mariannne North, British (Naturalism)

A Truthful Person Knows No Fear

"There is no religion greater than truth and a truthful person knows no fear." - from the Rig Veda

A truthful person is open, and has nothing to hide. What is the truth? You can find out by looking at the mess you're in right now and admit where you went wrong... In my book "The Magic of Willpower" I point out that mistakes are unavoidable; they're part of our human experience. The secret is to recognise them and learn from them, and to get back on track as soon as possible, without getting bogged down by unnecessary guilt.

Once you've admitted your mistakes, which can take quite a bit of courage,  you can correct them. Self-examination is useful as it helps you to develop a sense of responsibility and empowerment. It also makes you humble as you realise that you're not perfect and that you've got a lot to learn. At the same time, it gives you the opportunity to grow.

The truth often hurts, because it isn't pleasant to look at your own faults. It's much easier to blame others for your problems. But It's also pointless to keep blaming yourself, and to fall into the trap of endlessly regretting your past actions...

Be ready to change, as you fully accept your current situation and surrender to the guidance of your Conscience. How can you do this? By talking to yourself, and to others... By asking, listening, praying, meditating and reading uplifting books... There is no given solution, but introspection is the beginning of your journey. As you're looking inside, you're preparing yourself to receive inspiration from the outside.

You can attempt to figure out what sort of impact your actions will have on others and yourself, but there are no guarantees. No one can predict the future with accuracy. Allow yourself to be guided by empathy - putting yourself in other peoples' shoes - and by love. In the end, love is the only thing that matters. Only love is real. Love is your true nature. Love is Truth.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Painting: "Resting Tiger" by LeRoy Neiman, American (1921-2012)

The World of Your Divine Spirit

"The only journey is the journey within." - Rainer Maria Rilke

Walking the path of your life journey, one step at a time, you wonder why you are here and what you are doing... Is there any meaning to your existence? How can you be in harmony with who you really are - and with the Universe?

In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I point out the importance of knowing yourself and knowing what you want, before you can making any strong decisions. You live today, every day, thinking certain thoughts, speaking certain words, performing certain actions... Are these a reflection of your own values, your own principles?

How can you be sure that this is what you are supposed to do? Where is the bigger picture that encompasses all life forms? Sometimes, you just trudge along, not knowing where this road will lead you... All you can do is cling to your dream and eventually, you will discover the truth - if not about this world, then about your inner world. The inner realm that comprises all your thoughts and feelings... Is it connected to the Source of all life? 

This is your Divine Spirit, and it has all the answers, all the wisdom required for spiritual enlightenment... Reflecting on what is happening and how it is affecting you, "going within" allows you to get in touch with your true self, to undertake an inner journey as opposed to an outer one. This is a lifelong adventure and it will take you to many breathtaking places...

You check your perceptions against your emotions and find out whether what you perceive through your senses resonates with your inner being. You decide that whatever is in harmony with your vision can be kept, and what is discordant can be discarded. And just like music, what sounds discordant to you might not sound discordant to someone else.

But what is important is how you feel about what you observe, how you integrate that knowledge - how you transform it according to your dream. And when outer knowledge corresponds to inner wisdom, you gain a new insight that has the power to change who you are and how you live your life...

With much love,

Bella

Painting: "Moonlight" by Frederick Childe Hassam, American (1859 - 1935)

The Art of Being Joyful

Being joyful does not depend on external circumstances. It's a commitment, and it comes from a decision you make, regardless of what goes on around you. Being joyful means savouring every moment to the fullest, without guilt and without regrets.

In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I emphasise the importance of living in the present moment. Living in the now, without worrying about tomorrow, is pure joy... And so is appreciating every little thing that comes your way, every opportunity you have to share something with others.

When I think about joy, I think about children, how they are experts at living in the moment and making the most out of it. A child's innocent and irresistible smile is a delight that has no equivalent. In contrast, adults seem to have too much weight on their shoulders. They have too much to grumble about to allow themselves such incomparable bliss, which does not involve money or status.

Joy is accessible to everyone, and it has nothing to do with achievements or fancy titles. The real measure of your success is how much contentment you have in your heart. Love gives you pure joy. Giving without expecting anything in return gives you lasting satisfaction and a feeling of peace.

Life can be easy if you stop complaining and gossiping about others, and seeking retaliation. What others do or say has nothing to do with you; it's their choice, their destiny... But you can decide to have uplifting thoughts and feelings, and to help others develop the same attitude, just through your example.

Children teach you how to live fully in the present, without dwelling on the past or dreading the future. The spirit of God shines through their glorious smiles... This how they share their joy with you, their pleasure of being alive. And it's your most treasured gift, something you can keep in your heart for the rest of your life.

Joy is a decision, not a reaction to what's happening. When things go right, it's easy to feel elated; when things go wrong, it's a challenge to remain joyful and optimistic. But what a rewarding feeling of true happiness it is!

Have a wonderful day,

Bella

Painting by Edmund Adler (Austrian, 1876 - 1965)

Allow Divine Light to Shine within You

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."-John 1:5
"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world."-John 1:9

Look inside yourself and examine your true nature with an open mind. Forget what you've been told, what you're supposed to believe or to reject. You were created with a piece of God within you, a spark of light from God.

This light was ignited long before you were born and will stay with you throughout your life and your afterlife - eternally. It has no beginning, no end, just like your spirit, this part of you that enables you to feel close to your Creator. Your soul is also eternal, and it's the total sum of you with all your experiences and the lessons you've learnt from them. Divine light infuses your body with life, and you are a spiritual being...

There is a divine light that shines within you. Think about it, picture it in your mind, and allow it to become bigger and bigger. It might be the size of a pinhead to begin with or even smaller, a tiny particle. But as you allow it to grow, it will turn into a golf ball, a tennis ball, a football. It will take over your brain, your body, your whole being! You are made of light and you are meant to shine. Life itself is light and cannot exist without light. Light is pure love, pure positive energy that radiates everywhere, you're pulsing with it and illuminating everything around you with your smile, your appreciation and your sense of humour! You brighten other people's day by your sheer presence!

When you go into a room, there is no dark switch. Darkness doesn't exist - it is a vacuum, an illusion. Darkness is only the absence of light, just like fear is the absence of love. Evil is the absence of the love of God. But darkness doesn't have the power to extinguish light. The wind might blow the candle out because it pushes air onto the flame - but darkness can't do that. Darkness is static and only exists because there is also brightness as a contrast. Without darkness, we wouldn't know light. And shadows are only there because something is obscuring the light. And they only appear to dance because something else is moving against the rays of the sun.

The slice of cake is the same as the cake. You are a slice of the Divine and you are no different from it. A sample of your blood is no different from the blood that is in your body. So how can you believe that you're indeed a part of God, a child of God, and yet you won't allow yourself to be like the one who created you? Even though they have different features and individual characteristics, your children are the same as you are, they can do the same. Just because you're part of something bigger than yourself doesn't mean you're inferior to it. The slice of cake is just as delicious as the cake itself.

Be true to yourself and live a life of love - shine your light on everything, with kindness, understanding, compassion. Always put yourself in other people's shoes. Feel what they are feeling - experience the world form their point of view and you will easily forgive them for not being up to your expectations. And forgive yourself too for not being up to your expectations of yourself...

With all my love,

Bella

Painting: "The Pine Tree at St. Tropez" by Paul Signac, 1909

What is Going to Happen to Me?

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." - William Shakespeare

"I believe that you control your destiny, that you can be what you want to be. You can also stop and say, 'No, I won't do it, I won't behave this way anymore. I'm lonely and I need people around me, maybe I have to change my methods of behaving, and you do it." -Leo Buscaglia

"What's going to happen to me?" is what you ask yourself in times of troubles or uncertainty. It reflects a basic insecurity and the desire to find out what the future holds for you. What's going to happen to you won't happen through chance or accident though. You are not powerless over your fate. As I emphasise in my book, "The Magic of Willpower", you are paving your future with your choice of thoughts, emotions and actions. The future is the result of the present moment you're living.

You may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can choose the way you wish to feel about them. You can feel sad, miserable, frustrated or even angry about the injustices that life dishes out to you. But that kind of attitude won't be of much help. You need to look at things from a different perspective. You may not have been very lucky so far. You may have made a lot of mistakes; because you didn't know any better, or you didn't have the courage to do things differently. Other people may not have treated you very well. It seems like you've experienced more downs than ups, and that's so unfair!

But you've also learnt a lot of valuable lessons! After all, life wasn't meant to be a bed of roses. Life is more about making mistakes, correcting them, and starting anew. We learn because actions have consequences and these are not always pleasant, but they enable us to grow. Growing pains are a normal part of our life path, and they almost always lead to something beautiful and valuable.

You may not know for sure what's going to happen to you, but you can be optimistic and visualise a positive outcome, rather than the worst possible scenario. Sometimes you feel you have no control over your destiny, and you might be right to a certain extent. In the end, it's all in the hands of God or the Universe. God responds to your prayers, just like the Universe responds to your vibrations.

Emotions are thoughts in motion. They are dynamic, and they influence what your future will be. If you feel good about yourself and the world around you, you will attract good circumstances. if you feel bad and complain a lot, you will get more to complain about. Accept what you've been given, even though it's not exactly what you want. Maybe you have what you don't want because you keep focusing on scarcity and lack and sadness, rather than abundance, prosperity and joy.

And abundance is not just about money. it's about being content, and feeling grateful for what you've got, even if it isn't much. After all you've got your eyes, because you can read this, and you've got your life, or you wouldn't be here right now. And where is life going to take you? What's going to happen to you? You're the one who decides.

You can begin by deciding how you will feel about your present situation. Are you going to continue feeling sorry for yourself, frightened and worried about tomorrow? Or are you going to trust God and the Universe that they will look after you and guide you towards a happy ending?

Take your life into your own hands and decide to make it a happy life, no matter what. Stop worrying and know within yourself that everything will be all right - and it will.

I wish you all the best today and every day,

Bella

Painting: "Path at la Cavee, Pourville" by Claude Monet, 1882

How Can I Find Love?

"Those that go searching for love, only manifest their own lovelessness. And the loveless never find love, only the loving find love. And they never have to seek for it." - D. H. Lawrence

"Love can only be found through the act of loving." - Paulo Coelho

"You don't have to go looking for love when it's where you come from." - Werner Erhard

You are not meant to lead a lonely life, and it is normal to long for a lover, a special person who will share everything with you, sorrow and joy, pain and pleasure, struggle and success...You are meant to learn and to grow within this relationship, and move closer to the Divine that created you and that dwells within you.

You probably have been told that to find love, you need to love yourself first. This is a bit a a platitude that you don't want to hear right now. It's easy to say, but not so easy to do. For some people, it's a very tall order, as they may suffered mistreatment or abuse (especially psychological abuse) and loving the self is a lifelong task. 

Consider the problem for another angle. Instead of thinking about how to obtain it, concentrate on your desire to give love.  Instead of wondering what is in it for you, whenever you consider a relationship, why not ask yourself instead, "How can I improve this person's life - contribute to his or her wellbeing?" This way, you don't need to worry whether you love yourself or whether you deserve love in the first place. 

Love is everywhere and you will soon come across it if you keep an open mind and mix with a lot of different people. Tell your friends and acquaintances about your intention of finding love. You will be surprised how happy they will be to assist you. Get out of your comfort zone and dare to do things that you wouldn't normally do - feel the fear and do it anyway!

The best way to find love and to practice being in a relationship is to develop this kind of intimacy with your Higher Power. The relationship you have with the Divine is a blueprint for any relationship you will have in your life. Allow God to create within you the qualities that will make you a loving partner for someone else.  Ask yourself what you can give before wondering what you will receive in return. God is pure love and that's where you came from - pure loving energy and nothing else. It is your natural state of being, to enjoy and to share with a special individual in your life.

With my best wishes and may all your dreams come true...

Bella

Painting: "The Happy Lovers" Jean-Honore Fragonard