What is the Meaning of Life?

"The meaning of life is not to be discovered only after death in some hidden, mysterious realm; on the contrary, it can be found by eating the succulent fruit of the Tree of Life and by living in the here and now as fully and creatively as we can." - Paul Kurtz

"Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." - Joseph Campbell

The question "What is the meaning of life?" is a tricky one, because it implies that life in itself has a meaning that is yours to discover during your journey on this earth. We humans like to ask "Why?" "Why am I here? Where am I going? What is my destiny, my purpose in life?"

Maybe you turn to faith and find comfort in the idea of living the best possible life, finding answers in the Bible or other religious book. Following a set of morals or ideals can give you the direction you crave for. When you have a problem, you turn to God, your refuge and strength. You believe in the power of prayer. To you God is not mysterious, He is there with you every day, a very present help in times of troubles or uncertainty. New Age philosophies may help too, but be careful of certain beliefs that can be damaging and lead to disappointment, like the idea that you can create anything with your thoughts. I won't say that it is not possible; but just because it is possible doesn't mean that it will necessarily happen. You can visualise a winning lotto ticket as much as you want, but in the end you might still not win your millions.

The meaning of life could reside in the act of living itself, breathing, walking, using all your senses, eating, sleeping, loving. You find purpose in every single action. It simply feels good to be alive and to be able to do what you're here to do. You enjoy fulfilling different roles, at work with your colleagues, at home with your family, friends and pets. This gives your life a purpose, to know that you're doing a good job and you're a good boss or employee, a good father, mother, husband, wife, brother or sister, friend and neighbour. You find fulfilment in your career, your home, your relationships and your hobbies. Your leisure time is important: finding a balance between work and play, unwinding and recharging your batteries. You want to be healthy and look after your body. You enjoy your holidays and are eager to explore new places, see fresh faces and taste exotic dishes.

In the end, your life's meaning is the meaning you decide to assign to it. Everyone is different, but most people want to be happy and fulfilled. Most people have goals they want to achieve. Some have very big goals, like being an Olympic champion. Some prefer to lose themselves in the arts, and find purpose in being creative. They write books, paint, dance, do pottery, play and compose music, design clothes, posters, gardens or websites. Some just dream to have the best possible home life, and look forward to opportunities like Christmas, when they can decorate their homes and cook delicious meals for the family. Their home is their castle, and they take pride in it.

To me life is all about learning. If I can learn something every day, I feel happy. In the end, happiness is the result of living a life that is meaningful to you. It might not be a life of glamour or luxury. It might not be the perfect life. But it is a good life, because ultimately you decide how you feel about it, and you decide to be grateful for this wonderful gift. Live consciously, in the present moment, and you will appreciate things even more. There is always another goal to achieve, but remember to take pleasure in the journey, one step at a time. The destination is not so important. Whether you reach it or not, it doesn't matter, but along the way, you can take time to smell the flowers, talk to people and admire the scenery.

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose" - Robert Byrne.

With all my love,

Bella





























Painting: 'Jacaranda Tree of Life' by Laura Milnor Iverson

Follow Your Passion!

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." - Oprah Winfrey

Passion is the energy that propels you forward. It gives meaning to your life. It fills you with excitement, happiness and anticipation. It nurtures the flame of your imagination. It keeps you going in times of doubt and insecurity. Passion maintains your focus and stops you from giving up. There might be a mountain in front of you, but you're ready to climb it, and you can see yourself at the top. 

Passion means doing the things you love, the things you were born to do. You may be good at certain things, but the difference is to do what you really love. You can lose yourself in this activity to the extent that you lose track of time. It is totally engrossing for you, and it never seems like a chore. Whether you're writing, painting, learning to play a musical instrument, designing a new dish, a new lounge room or a new choreography, it doesn't matter, as long as it unlocks the positive passion energy within you. 

Today, ask yourself what you love doing. Make sure you allocate some time in your busy day to do it. Start with 15 minutes and see what happens. Whatever it is, you don't have to do it all day, every day. Dedicating just one hour a day to an inspiring, creative activity is enough to enhance your wellbeing and lower your stress levels. As long as you're passionate about it, it will refresh, energise and invigorate your life. 

Passion is the driving force behind success and happiness. It gives you a sense of personal power and accomplishment, as you're achieving a goal with something that gives you pleasure and satisfaction. 

Painting: 'Dancer' by Steve Henderson

Wat is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is your ultimate goal. Every day brings you closer to this state of mind, in which there is no room for dramas or petty arguments. When you cultivate enlightenment, your consciousness begins to shift. You begin to see the bigger picture. You ask yourself,  "Does it really matter?" or "Do I really have to prove that I am right?"

Why not let it go? Fighting uses up more energy than giving in. Instead of arguing and stubbornly sticking to your point of view, why not do things differently for a change? You can put yourself in the other person's shoes. You can listen to this person, and offer them unlimited understanding and compassion.

Enlightenment allows you to reach a higher level of consciousness. You become more detached, without turning into a robot. Your human heart is not only intact, it is magnified. From now on, you choose NOT to react blindly to what people are doing or saying. You become more introspective. You become aware of your thought processes and how they influence your emotions. You start seeing things from a different perspective, in a different light. You realise that true knowledge comes from the heart, not the head. It shines a light on the darkness inside of you and all around you.

As you become enlightened, you turn into a shining light yourself. You attract other people to you: people who want to be like you, people who want what yo've got. You become a leader to them, a role model. You don't talk about your knowledge; you don't brag. You simply live that way because it makes you feel better, more at peace with yourself and the world.

Enlightenment means you are becoming lighter. All of a sudden, your daily burden is not so heavy any more. Life becomes easier, as you don't take things so much to heart any more. You're not so serious any more; you lighten up and develop a sense of humour. You realise that life is full of problems, but it is also full of solutions and opportunities.

Enlightenment is not something you need to strive for all the time. It is not out of your reach. On the contrary, it is right here, right in front of you, if you open yourself to it. Open your heart to the  light. Let go of your problems, your resentments, your anger, your unfulfilled desires. You inner light will shine and become stronger. It will become your reality, day after day.

Your journey of inner transformation is beginning right now, at this very moment. It's happening while you're reading this! Enjoy it, and have a beautiful, light-filled day.

With all my love,

Bella

Painting:"Large Orange Lotus" by Paul Heussenstamm

Appreciation and Fulfilment

You can travel the whole world in search of what you need, and come home to find it!

You often look outside yourself to satisfy your desires. You crave for more, for something different. You want easy solutions, instant fixes to your problems, coming from external sources. You do this instead of developing your ability to live happily in the present moment. But appreciation comes from the inside. No matter how small or big something is, you need to be grateful for it before you can enjoy it. This is a quality you can develop in your daily life.

By looking with fresh eyes at ordinary things like a rose, a rainbow in a puddle, or the intricacy of a spider web, you practice enjoying these. You practice saying "thank you" while rewarding yourself with instant bliss. You practice feeling good, even when adversity strikes. It's even more important to be grateful during difficult times, as it will help you get over hurdles quickly and with a minimum of pain. A person who is appreciative can face all sorts of obstacles and shortages, while still having a contented heart.

Appreciation brings fulfilment. The more you appreciate everything in your life, the more fulfilment you'll have! When you're grateful for something, life will give you more of it. Life is a never-ending source of positive, healing energy that's there for everyone, not only a few chosen ones. When you feel blessed, you attract more blessings.

Every morning, look at yourself in the mirror, smile and say to yourself: "Something good is going to happen to me today." Say it with emphasis, with emotion. Be open to the possibility that you may actually be lucky for a change. Life responds to whatever you think and say. Say good things about yourself,  about others, and about the world in general. Love life, and life will love you!

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognising and appreciating what we do have." - Frederick Koenig

With lots of love,

Bella

Painting:"Little Pink Rose" by Matthew Bates

Start Every Day with Hope in your Heart...

"There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen (Anthem - from his album The Future).

Let the light come in through the cracks of your being. Allow the positive energy of HOPE to infuse you today. Bask in it, bathe in it, let it penetrate every pore of your skin.

Hope is at your fingertips. Forget your regrets about yesterday, and forget your worries about tomorrow. Become totally lost in the present. That's where your point of power is, right here, in the now.

Every day brings with it unlimited possibilities, new challenges and choices that are yours to make. Allow the grace and beauty of a new sunrise to touch your soul. Remove your shackles; let go of yesterday's sadness and grief. There is so much love and joy around you, but it's up to you to allow them into your experience.

Hope is an expectation in our heart of good things to come. No matter what problem you're facing right now, you know that it will get better. you trust the world to be on your side and give you the answers you need. You trust that no matter how desperate a situation is, improvement is always possible. You trust that after the rain, there will be sunshine again.

Hope is a burning flame that will never go out. Hope is life itself. It's what keeps you going, no matter what you're going through! Your wishes are there to come true. Eventually, what you pray for will become a reality...

With much love,

Bella

"God is a shower to the heart burned up with grief. God is a sun to the face deluged with tears." - Joseph Roux, Meditations of a Parish Priest.

Painting: "Sunrise" by Margret Hofheinz-Doring, 1910-1994, German.

Nothing is too Difficult !

"Whoever moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." - Confucius (Chinese teacher, writer, politician and philosopher, 551 - 580 BC).

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tsu (Chinese poet and philosopher, author of the Tao Te Ching, 604 - 531 BC).

In my book "The Magic of Willpower",  I emphasise the importance of taking "baby steps" when you decide to do something new. To break up your task into small, manageable portions will make it less overwhelming and less daunting, and you will be more likely to stick with it. 

You can achieve anything if you do it little by little, one day at a time. If you want to lose weight for instance, begin by introducing small changes to your dietary habits. You could  eat fruit every time you feel like snacking, instead of reaching for a packet of chips or a chocolate bar. It is better to take many small steps in the right direction, rather than making a great leap forward only to stumble backwards.

There is nothing you cannot accomplish, if your desire for it is strong enough, and if you divide your project into slices that you can handle without difficulty. The secret to big accomplishments is to start out small. If you were to show a student all the books he would have to read, and all the essays he would have to write during the entirety of his study years, he would probably be discouraged and give up right away. 

Inner transformation does not happen overnight. it is a step-by-step process of creation and change. Little by little, you become better at handing over your life to God and surrendering to what is. You stop interfering with other people's business, and concentrate on your own life, without judging others and without complaining. You wake up and become aware of all the little details of your surroundings; you feel appreciation for the beauty and diversity of life.

You vision takes hold of you and little by little, you begin working towards the realisation of your dream...

With all my love,

Bella

"Flowers and Birds": Chinese silk painting by unknown artist.

LET IT GO

"Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order" - Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef

Why can't you be happy just the way you are? Why do you feel the need to improve yourself all the time? Does it really matter who you are and what you're doing and what you will achieve in the future? Can't you simply appreciate the human being you are, without any labels attached? Can't you simply appreciate the miracle that you're here right now? Do you believe that you need to be doing something all the time in order to feel worthy?

Wouldn't it be nice if you woke up one morning and said to yourself: "Today it doesn't matter if I don't get a lot done, if I don't progress towards my goals. Actually, it doesn't matter if I don't get anything done at all. Living, breathing and listening to my own heart beating is an achievement in itself!"

Maybe you can do what you need to do, and still be yourself. For once, put stress aside. Usually you feel under pressure all the time, because you set yourself too many objectives, and plan too many tasks. You expect too much of yourself and become overwhelmed. Depression means that something is pressing down on you, and most of the time, you're doing it to yourself; it's self-inflicted! 

Relentlessly, you allow the urge to impress yourself and others to rule you. You allow this need to take over, and you do everything you can to prove that you're better, smarter, more disciplined, more in control of your life. But the harder you struggle and strive towards your goals, the less you seem to be able to attain them. The more you sweat and grit your teeth, the more things seem to drift out of reach.

Surrender and abandon the need to change yourself. Instead, start embracing your real self. You can become who you truly are instead of trying so hard to turn into someone else. Someone more efficient, more successful, more diet-conscious, more physically active, more attractive, more witty, more creative, more passionate, more motivated, more enthusiastic, more energetic, more organised etc. 

LET IT GO. Real change happens once you accept who you really are, instead of rejecting and fighting against your innate personality. Humility is a sign of strength, and it comes from accepting and loving yourself, not because you're perfect, but in spite of the fact that you're an imperfect human being, just like everyone else!

With love,

Bella

Painting: "Avond Evening, Red Tree" by Piet Mondrian