You are a Beautiful Person!

Today, make it a point to accept the beauty within you. Tell yourself that you are confident instead of being fearful. Tell yourself that everything is as it is meant to be in this very moment. Tell yourself that the present is an optimum state of being, and the future will unfold in the best way too. Accept yourself fully, including all your strengths and weaknesses. This will boost your self-esteem, your trust in your ability to pursue any goal you wish to attain.

In my book, "The Magic of Willpower", I talk a lot about self-image. It is the key to your success in every area of your life: health, relationships, career, creativity... It is the key to contentment and lasting happiness. If you feel comfortable with yourself and believe in your talents, doors will open for you and the Universe will conspire to make your dreams materialise.

Tell yourself that you are perfect and lovable just the way you are. You don't need to change anything about yourself, to uncover your own beauty. You are a beautiful person and nothing can alter this truth.  Today, make it a point to love everything about you, without exception. Without needing to change or improve, you can become more of who you are, and find new ways to express your uniqueness. You are an inspiration, as you were made in the image and likeness of your Creator. You were born from love and you live and will continue to live from a place of love...

So celebrate your own beauty today!

Bella

Painting: "The Green Parasol" by Guy Rose, 1911 (Wikipaintings)

You Have a Creative Divine Genius within You!

"Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up."

- Pablo Picasso


A creative genius, which originates from the Divine, dwells within you, whether you are aware of it or not. Your Higher Self is wise and knows everything. This part of you is like a spark at first, as you acknowledge it for the first time. It will get bigger as you allow it to come forth and shine through the physical part of you. You inner genius is perfect as it is part of the pure Divine energy that flows through the Universe and draws you with it if you let go of self-defeating thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back.

You Higher Self enjoys learning, teaching, intellectual and artistic stimulation. It enjoys symbols and the expression of emotions with songs, poetry, music and paintings. You have everything you need within yourself to be creative and to express yourself in a unique way. Give you attention to this part of you, and don't let it starve and die of thirst. If you feel an urge to expand your knowledge and your mind, don't suppress it. There is so much beauty around you and to express it is to highlight it and rejoice in it.  At the same time, you draw other people's attention to it, so everyone can become aware of it and appreciate it.

Learn or create something new today. Be daring and innovative. Don't hold back. Don't worry about what other people will think. Feel yourself becoming alive while unleashing your inner genius, this Higher Self that desperately wants a chance to make a contribution to your life and to the life of others. Put all your trust in it and let the process carry you along, without fretting about the outcome. Just do it, and you'll be grateful for this fantastic opportunity you're giving yourself.

With all my love,

Bella 


Painting:"Girls at the Piano" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1892

You are a Divine Being!

"The moment I have realised God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free." 

- Swami Vivekananda

The power is within you. You are an expression of the Divine, which permeates the Universe and is the origin of all life. This pure positive energy is transformative. It enhances all colours, making them rich and vibrant. Sounds become harmonious and soothing; the air deliciously soft and invigorating. This energy propels you forward and every time, without fail, it leads you towards the best possible outcome, for yourself and for everyone else.

You are not just a body with a brain. You are a Divine soul in a body that is a temple, a gift  and a miracle, as it is amazingly perfect. You are literally a part of God in this physical body. As you become conscious of your Divine nature, it will change you. You will start feeling better about yourself and about the world, the people around you. You will find purpose in what used to seem meaningless. You will find yourself quietly contemplating a thought, a word or an activity that feels good. And suddenly, you will experience this marvellous sense of being at one with God and the entire Universe.

Fully receptive, you are now aligning yourself with this endless source of wellbeing. You are now allowing the Divine to flow through you. And in that moment of openness, you become everything you said you would be... You are an extension of this loving life force, and you have full creative power. You are thriving, you are succeeding. All your dreams are coming true. You are finally happy with yourself and with others. You feel at peace with your circumstances, with whatever life dishes out to you.

You rejoice in your lucidity, your alertness, the new-found awareness of your true essence. You know that only love is real; the rest is an illusion. Love is the light that you shine on everything. It illuminates the darkness, the despondency. Now there is only hope an joy. Now you know that there is no source of illness, only a source of wellbeing. Now you know that darkness is only the absence of light, just like evil is the absence of love.

You are who you are. You're allowing that which you really are to emerge: a part of the Universe, a manifestation of the Divine. You feel the fire within you, a burning desire and enthusiasm for life. Finally, you can put the struggle behind you. From now on, you will let this magnificent Divine energy guide you and carry you, no matter what you're doing or what you're intending to do.

Enjoy being a Divine Being!

Bella

Painting: "Flower Garden" by Gustav Klimt, 1907 (Wikipaintings)

How to Quit An Addiction

"You do anything long enough to escape the habit of living until the escape becomes the habit." - David Ryan

There is an element of escapism in every addiction. It prevents you from truly living in the world, living in the present moment.  You reject something about the reality of your existence, and you long to be somewhere else, doing something different.

The addiction makes you postpone true enjoyment, by making you believe that this kind of behaviour is more pleasurable. You look for instant gratification; you want to feel good immediately. This is understandable, as it is every human being's desire to feel comfortable. The problem with addiction is that it will make you feel worse in the long run.

To quit an addiction, you need to acknowledge that you have one. This is not always as easy as it seems. Denial plays a big role, and you tend to downplay the extent of your dependence on a substance, whether it be chocolate, nicotine, alcohol or other drugs. You can also be addicted to certain behaviours such as gambling or pornography. A lot of people are addicted to money and earthly possessions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with enjoying material objects, as long as it is not your main purpose in life.

Acknowledge that the addiction is hurting you, both physically and mentally. Too much food and you will put on weight, jeopardising your health. Too much alcohol, and you could end up with liver cirrhosis or alcoholic dementia. Too many cigarettes, and you will put your heart and lungs at risk... The solution is to shift your attention from the addiction onto something else - to develop a craving for a healthy lifestyle. You can imagine what it would be like, how much energy you would have, how much time and quality of life. 

There might be a transition period with possible withdrawal symptoms, and medical help might be necessary. To overcome this hurdle, picture the advantages of being without the addiction: the relief and the freedom to be your true self again... Some people go "cold turkey", while others prefer to reduce the addiction progressively, and gradually cut out the harmful substance or behaviour... When tempted, remind yourself why you want to quit, and how far you've come so far. Congratulate yourself for your efforts. 

Quitting is about quitting, not about giving in to yourself. You can conquer your cravings and control what your body or your mind think they need. One way to overcome the urge is to replace the substance with something that will fill the gap. Physical exercise, reading, playing or listening to music, meditating, helping others, spending time with family and friends: these are constructive activities that will take your mind off your addiction. To keep busy is a good strategy, as it won't allow you to think about what you're missing. Finding a meaningful activity is the best way to stop indulging in an unwanted habit. 

In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I explain that it takes 21 days to form new habits. So after three weeks, you will begin to feel better. Your body will adapt to your new lifestyle... And you will start reaping the rewards for your positive choice.

Just hang in there and never give up... It's worth it and you're worth it!

My love,

Bella

Painting; "Yellow Bignonia and Swallow-Tail Butterflies with a View of Congonhas, Brazil" by Marianne North, 1875 (Wikipaintings)

A New Day Begins!

Every new day is a clean, blank page full of possibilities. As I wake up in the morning, I can begin writing the script for this day in my head. I can modify it and adapt it to circumstances as I go along. To me, every new day is a day of learning. What I experience will contribute to my growth as a human being. Maybe I have been living with a problem that has become too much for me to handle. Maybe today I can think about things a bit differently, looking at them from a more positive angle, even if it seems impossible at first. I can give myself some praise and encouragement. 

I will have a plan of action for today, to make it as productive and rewarding as possible. I will include some time to relax and unwind, maybe watch a light comedy on TV to put the laughter back into my life. I will refrain from saying or doing anything that I might regret later. But if I do make mistakes, I won't blame or punish myself. Mistakes are just learning opportunities. If I stumble, I can pick myself up. If I go the wrong way, I can correct my course. I can live my life in this way, for this day only, without worrying about the future, and without feeling guilty about the past.

Enjoy your day!

Bella

Painting: "Enclosed field with Rising Sun" by Vincent van Gogh, 1889

The Difference between Tolerance and Acceptance

Tolerating is not the same as accepting. When you're tolerating something, you submit to it in a way, while still resisting or rejecting it. You don't do anything about it now, meaning to do something about it later, when you have the opportunity. You keep it at the back of your mind. You want to retaliate but you know you can't do it at the moment, so you postpone your "revenge".  When you tolerate something, you submit to a reality that you dislike, that you find upsetting. You may accept it consciously, but not unconsciously. You may accept at a practical level that you cannot beat your circumstances, but lurking in your subconscious is the thought, "My time will come..."

This is not acceptance. You're still wrestling; the struggle is going on. It's a temporary reprieve, but underneath the superficial yielding, the tension continues. It's only when the ability to fully accept reaches the subconscious level, when there is no battle any more, no resistance whatsoever, that there is a real sense of relief, a lasting peace. It's only when you relax and let go of whatever is bothering you that you will finally experience true freedom. Why choose a rocky road when you can walk a smooth path, without strain and conflict?

With much love,

Bella

Painting: "Autumn Landscape" by Isaac Levitan, 1894

When You get Blamed for Everything

You have only one person's blame to carry, and that is your own. If you get blamed for someone else's problems, you don't have to accept that blame, you don't have to take it to heart. But you don't need to defend yourself either, because it would only lead to senseless arguments. Sometimes people blame you because they need to unload painful emotions onto you. They feel guilty about something, but instead of dealing with this painful feeling, they prefer to turn it into anger and throw accusations at you. How do you react to this kind of attack?  To retaliate with hurtful words is like throwing fuel into a fire. "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me"... Unless you allow them to do so.  If you could put yourself in someone else's shoes and feel this person's inner turmoil and remorse, you would think twice before lashing out with vengeful words.

When someone tells you off, it's normal to feel bad. It's not very encouraging to hear criticism. But to react to it in a negative way is even worse. If you know your value as a human being, you won't be affected by someone else's careless words. You won't allow this person to have power over you and your emotions. 

I won't allow anyone to upset me. I am a responsible adult and I can examine my own conscious. If I need to improve in any area I will be aware of it. Therefore, I don't need to accept blame for another person's irrational actions, no matter how convincing this person may sound. I can deal with my own defects in an honest and fearless way. But in the meantime, the balance has to be right. I can't take on the weight of what others have done. When I deal with what is mine, I can let go of another person's blame, as I realise it has nothing to do with me. I am free to live my life without anyone poisoning me...

Love yourself - you deserve it!

Bella

Painting: "While this Beast Drinks Poison, a Snake Sucks His Blood" by Maria Primachenko, 1982