Expressing gratitude has a strong impact. It changes the way one thinks and acts. Gratitude is connected to the fundamental principles of different faiths. Through gratitude, believers get the opportunity to show appreciation and face life’s difficulties with strength while staying motivated, no matter what.

Gratitude and Religion

Religious gratitude is acknowledging the good things are from the divine and it is a strong motivator itself. The connection you feel with the higher power is inspiring in a way that aligns with religious teachings.

The Importance of Gratitude in Religion

In almost all religions, gratitude has a lot of importance. It is the basis, the root, especially for spiritual believers. It fosters a closer connection with the divine. Being thankful and showing gratitude works on spirituality – an important part of any religion. Gratitude results in solace, and inspiration, it boosts motivation.

Gratitude brings positive emotions and a sense of well-being. The contentment and serenity that people feel because of gratitude are associated with religious activities. As a result, they participate more actively in religious activities. 

The practice of gratitude is closely tied to numerous religious virtues including many important ones such as humility, kindness, and generosity. As people express appreciation for the smallest things they perceive are from their God, they are motivated to align their behavior with these virtues. Some people become more kind, more helpful and more supportive to others. This makes any community a better place. 

Once you acquire a sense of gratitude and learn how to be thankful, you will learn how to stay motivated even when you are depressed. 

Enhancing Resilience in Adversity

Gratitude is a more powerful source of strength during tough and challenging times. The ability to be thankful for something empowers believers to face adversity with resilience and have a positive outlook. Being able to receive something and then being able to show gratitude gives motivation for the future and an overall positive outlook of what is in store for the future. 

Enhanced Well-Being

Gratitude is part of a person’s well-being. When people feel grateful and they appreciate something no matter how small or big, it does wonders for their mental and emotional health.  This becomes a strong motivating factor. Leading them to do things that contribute to their overall happiness and health.

Sense of Purpose for Motivation

Appreciation of something in life gives a sense of purpose. When someone expresses thankfulness for the guidance and blessings from the divine power, it produces a deeper sense of purpose in their lives. This helps in doing better and achieving more. 

Gratitude and Religious Values

Gratitude is directly linked to values. When you become thankful for the qualities and principles linked to religious teachings, it increases your willingness to live according to these values. This values-based motivation helps in aligning your life with your faith and belief in a better way. 

Motivation and the Society

Beyond just usual formal practices, small things such as charity, volunteering, and service to others become expressions of gratitude. These things might sound small but they help in giving back to the community and those in need.

Gratitude as a Motivational Force

Gratitude is linked to increased energy and passion to achieve. When someone is thankful for a few blessings in his life, it generates a sense of excitement and enthusiasm. All of this brings motivation to human life. 

Being thankful is proven to have a positive impact on yourself and those around you. To express gratefulness, try and do small things, such as doing something nice for someone, appreciating small gestures of your friends and colleagues, or offering help to someone. Also, try and share your experiences to motivate others by telling them how gratitude has helped you in your life. You can even encourage others to be thankful for the smallest things. It has been shown to induce a sense of wanting to give back.

According to a study published by ScienceDirect, appreciating the positive protects people from negative emotions and demotivation. 

How to Stay Motivated and Show Gratitude

Reflect on the reasons

Continuously reflect on the reasons you can be thankful for. Regular self-reflection works on positive emotions associated with thankfulness, serving as a motivational reminder of the blessings and support one has.

Set Purposeful Goals

Set purposeful goals to channel the energy of gratitude. When individuals are grateful for their current situations, they can translate that appreciation into tangible objectives. These goals and objectives work as a source of motivation for continued growth.

Celebrate Achievement

Gratitude often stems from recognizing accomplishments, and consciously celebrating these milestones for reinforcing a positive cycle of motivation.

The Takeaway

Gratitude is a motivating emotion that helps in different ways in life. In the world of religious practices, saying “thank you” is like adding a burst of energy. Gratitude is not just a feeling, rather it is a powerful boost that makes faith more meaningful.

Being grateful motivates individuals to make usual religious activities more special. A small religious act such as a prayer can be filled with deep feelings, something that pulls you closer to the divine. When we face adversity, it helps us stay strong and positive. Gratitude sometimes becomes the powerful tool that makes faith more meaningful and helps us connect better with not just God, but other humans as well.

So, when we think about gratitude in religious practices, we realize it is not just about being thankful; it is about having a special power that keeps us going and motivated. It is like a friendly push that makes our spiritual journey more meaningful and exciting. In this direct relation between being thankful and feeling motivated, gratitude is not just a part of religion; it is the secret ingredient that makes the religious experience richer and more fulfilling.

The post How Gratitude in Religious Practices Boost Motivation appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Angel numbers are special numbers that are said to carry messages from your guardian angel. These messages can be about anything, from what steps you need to motivate yourself, your career to which lottery numbers you should play.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the following:

• what angel numbers are and how they can help guide your future
• how to interpret angel number 29 meaning (and other common angel numbers)
• different ways to gain insights about how to get motivated and achieve your goals

Keep reading to learn more!

What Are Angel Numbers?

Angel numbers are numeric sequences that are said to carry special meaning from your guardian angel. These sequences can appear anywhere, from license plates and street addresses to the time on a clock and phone numbers. Some people even see them in patterns in nature, like leaves blowing in the wind or water ripples in a pond.

There’s no definitive interpretation of angel numbers, as their meaning will be unique to each individual who sees them. However, some common themes tend to crop up again and again.

For example, seeing the number sequence 444 is often interpreted as a sign that your angels are supporting you. Alternatively, repeating numbers like 1111 might signify that change is coming or that you’re about to embark on a new journey.

Knowing these signs can greatly boost your motivation to achieve what you want in life, your career, or your relationship.

How to Interpret the Meaning of Angel Numbers?

If you see an angel number that you do not immediately understand, don’t worry! There are different ways you can interpret their meaning.

Try looking up the individual digits in a numerology book or online resource

Each number has its own vibrational energy that can give you clues about its meaning.

For example, for angel number 29, the number 2 symbolizes healing, whereas the number 9 represents the end of the cycle. Moreover, number 2 brings wholeness and unity, while number 9 holds a wise, spiritual energy.

Understanding the meaning behind these numbers can help give you hope and develop positive thoughts.

Considering the circumstances in which you saw them

For example, let’s say you keep seeing the number 33, but you’re not sure what it means. However, one day you see 33 while driving past a church—in this case, it’s likely that your angels are telling you to have faith or turn to religion for guidance.

Meditating on the angel number and asking your guardian angels directly for guidance

This is often considered the most accurate way to interpret your personal angel number, as it gives them a chance to communicate directly with you.

How Can Angel Numbers Help Guide Your Future?

One of the most popular ways that people use angel numbers is for divination—using them to gain insight into future events. For some people, this is a source of motivation and hope.

There are a few different ways of doing this. But the most popular method is using angel cards. They are similar to tarot cards but feature numeric sequences instead of traditional tarot symbols.

To use this method, simply shuffle the cards and choose one at random. Then, look up the meaning of the angel number sequences and see how it applies to your current situation.

Of course, it’s important not to take any single divine guidance too seriously. After all, there’s no guarantee that it will come true!

However, if you find yourself consistently seeing certain numbers or sequences over time, it might be worth paying attention as they could be telling you something important. They can be your life path number, soul urge number, or destiny number.

Other Ways to Gather Insights About Your Future

If you’re feeling lost about your spiritual journey and future, don’t worry! There are ways to gain some clarity and spiritual lessons for inspiration. Here are five methods you can use today.

Keep a journal

Writing down your thoughts, life events, and feelings regularly can help you track your progress and better understand the meaning of your life purpose.

Not only that, but journaling can also be a therapeutic way to process your emotions and work through any challenges you’re facing.

Talk to a psychic

Psychic readings can give you detailed information about the things that are coming up in your life so that you can be better prepared for them. Just be sure to do your research before meeting with a psychic so that you can find someone reputable and trustworthy.

Consult an astrologer

Astrology is an ancient practice that can give you valuable information about the trajectory of your life. An experienced astrologer will be able to interpret your birth chart and give you specific insights about the years ahead.

Use tarot cards

Tarot readings can provide guidance on everything from love and relationships to career and finances. If you’re unsure where to start, plenty of online resources can help you learn to read tarot cards. Of course, they do not help you achieve your goals; only you can do that yourself.

Follow your intuition

Sometimes, the best way to predict the future is to go with your gut and have free will. A strong feeling about something is worth exploring further.

Trusting your intuition can help you make decisions that are right for you and walk the right path.

Conclusion

No matter what method you choose, remember that the goal is to gain insights that will help you move forward in life with confidence. These methods are just a starting point toward the right track. Explore different options until you find the ones that work best for you. With time and patience, you’ll be gaining the clarity you need about your future.

Feature image: pexels.com

Author Bio: This is a guest post by Bryan Wesley.

The post How to Get Motivation About Your Future: Angel Numbers And Other Ways appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

God is graceful, and He forgives but you need to make an effort to stay right and move closer to Him. This collection of quotes will remind you of what is expected from you as a child of God as well as encourage you to retrace your steps to be closer to God.

“You are a reflection of God so never forget to act like one.” – Debasish Mridha

“We are all qualified to fellowship with God no matter our situation or condition” – Sunday Adelaja

“God trusts most those who know Him best, and those who know Him best are those who have spent the most time with Him.” – Mark Batterson

“Turning away from God during challenges will not offer a solution to our challenges, but rather compound it.” – ANIKOR Daniel

“Have the courage to follow God’s law above human commands.” – ANIKOR Daniel

“Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us.” – Joshua Harris

“Our relationship must be right with God before it can be right with man.” – Billy Graham,

“The more I contemplate God; the more God looks on me. The more I pray to him, the more he thinks of me too.” – Bernard of Clairvaux

“The mystery of seeking God is that HE is the One who finds you.” – Kingsley Opuwari Manuel

“An ever-growing, ever-constant relationship with God makes us certain of what we believe and enables us to run with endurance.” – Katy Kauffman

“Even if you have got nothing else left, be proud of your relationship with God.” – Sunday Adelaja

“With God it’s not about beholding life, but being held ourselves in the act of beholding it.” – Craig D. Lounsbrough

“God will always bring the right people into your life, but you have to let the wrong people walk away.” – Joel Osteen

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie ten Boom

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” – Soren Kierkegaard

“You cannot fellowship with God when you disqualify another person from fellowshipping with you” – Sunday Adelaja

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief, the closer is God!” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” – C.S. Lewis

“Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” – Joni Eareckson Tada

“Listen to God with a broken heart. He is not only the doctor who mends it but also the father who wipes away the tears.” – Criss Jami

“The purpose of life is fulfilling the essence of your creation” – Sunday Adelaja

“God will never give you anything you can’t handle, so don’t stress.” – Kelly Clarkson

“Spending time with God through prayer and His Word is a prerequisite for having a great life and fulfilling your purpose.” – Joyce Meyer

“Being human means you will make mistakes. And you will make mistakes because failure is God’s way of moving you in another direction.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Every day is a gift from God. There’s no guarantee of tomorrow, so that tells me to see the good in this day to make the most of it.” – Joel Osteen

“I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be.” – Joyce Meyer

“For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.” – C.S. Lewis

“The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man’s self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred.” – C. S. Lewis

“God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” – Soren Kierkegaard

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” – Corrie Ten Boom

“Don’t just be a churchgoer, find God” – Sunday Adelaja

“My faith didn’t remove the pain, but it got me through the pain. Trusting God didn’t diminish or vanquish the anguish, but it enabled me to endure it.” – Robert Rogers

“Only God can shut out the waves of depression and feelings of loneliness and failure that come over you. Faith in God’s love alone can salvage the hurt mind.” – David Wilkerson

“Faith means to have trust or confidence in something, such as having faith that the sun will rise and set each day.” – Chris Johnston

“Faith is not the power of positive thinking; it is believing in God and trusting that His will is always best even when you cannot understand why.” – Shari Howerton

“All he asks is that we trust Him, that we stand before Him in integrity and faith. God is just waiting for us to trust Him.” – Charles R. Swindoll

“Don’t be afraid to step out in faith for God.” – Olivia Hope

“See the best. Forgive the worst. Forget the bad. Always have faith.” – Melissa Eshleman

“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” – Hans Urs von Balthasar

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” – John Piper

“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God” – Alistair Begg

“A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on.” – C.S. Lew

“We fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of God.”

Suzanne Woods Fisher

“Purity isn’t the denial of pleasure, it’s choosing the pleasures of God over the pleasures of the world” – Emmanuel Igunbor

“The greatest joy of a Christian is to give joy to Christ.” – C.H. Spurgeon

“Faith reminds us that change is always possible.” – Jim Wallis

“I’m a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, “Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God” – William Carey

“God didn’t send His only Son to die on the cross so that we can hide behind our guilt, shame, and pride.” – Heather Bixler

Reflect on these inspirational quotes from day to day and you are sure to experience an uplifting in your spiritual life.

Feature image: Pexels.com

The post 50 Christian Quotes to Bring You Close to God appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Well, in reality, they all live in the same world that we live in, what could be different though, is their attitude towards life.

Here are a few things you can learn from these spiritual leaders and their inspirational life lessons to apply to your own life.

Siddhartha Gautama’s Life Lesson

The founder of Buddhism in ancient India, Siddhartha Gautama, gave out a few secrets to living a better life.

“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” Fill your mind with negative thoughts such as failure, you become a failure, think of yourself as a huge success, and that’s what you become. Your thoughts determine your attitude and ultimately who you become.

To be healthy both mind and body, you need to accept the past, worry less about tomorrow and savor the present moments wisely.

Speak less, meditate more, and forgive quickly, because holding on to anger hurts only you. Instead do what you do with mastery and shine while staying away from greed. Even as you love to the world, don’t forget to shower yourself with affection.

Mother Teresa’s Love Lesson

The kind Roman Catholic nun and missionary lived to be 87. Most people hardly go beyond age 60, her principles for life may be responsible for the long, and hopefully satisfied life she lived. One thing about Mother Teresa is that she believed in the power of spreading love.

Be kind, loving, honest, happy, good, and successful. Whatever you do there is always someone to misinterpret and misjudge your actions, but that should not deter you from giving your best to the world.

Poverty is not just in resources, but in love as well. Do not just give people money; spread your love as well.

Her inspirational life lesson teaches us to avoid judgement. When you judge people, you leave no room to love them. You don’t have to travel around the world spreading love, show it to the people you meet. Show kindness wherever you go and leave everyone you get into contact with, happier.

You don’t have to do great things, be faithful in the small things and do them with love.

Eckhart Tolle’s Thoughtful Lesson

Named the most popular spiritual author in the U.S, a few lessons can be taken from the author.

He reminds us that all worry does is cause anxiety and stress. It serves no purpose, so let it go. Practice breathing exercises, they take your attention from toxic thoughts and draws you out of your head.  His thoughtful life lesson teaches us to separate thoughts from situations. The primary cause of unhappiness is not the situation but your thoughts about it.

Change and uncomfortable situations are always there in life. Life gives you these experiences to aid in the evolution of your consciousness. Embrace situations out of your comfort zone because sometimes letting go is the best option. It is a better sign of strength and bravery than holding on to something that hurts you or no longer serves you.

Authentic living means knowing who you truly are and living as such. You don’t have to copy other’s traits or a popular habit.

Paramahansa Yogananda’s Spiritual Lesson

Paramahansa Yogananda was a yogi and guru from India. He published “The Autobiography of a Yogi” which has been listed as the “Top 100 best spiritual books of the 20th Century” by Harper Collins.

Every challenge or encounter in life is an opportunity to learn if you stay open to correction. From his book we learn the inspirational life lesson of being joyful even when everything around you demands the opposite. It does not mean that you are ignoring the suffering of those around you, but rather, the joy awakens a compassionate heart in you to love them unconditionally.

You cannot make progress in life if you cannot brave the fires of correction. Paramahansa says that “God is Love; His plan for creation can be rooted only in love.” Aim to fill your life with love; it is a unifying power and presence.

Billy Graham’s Evangelical Lesson

Billy Graham (1918-2018) was the most influential evangelist in history. He died at the age of 99, and you can learn a lot from the life of the beloved evangelist. He wrote a book “The Journey” which offers insight into living a happier life.

The evangelical life lesson that he teaches is that one should aim to live at peace with God, yourself, and others. Some people in your life may have the wrong attitude and even with your best efforts, living with them cannot be easy. In such cases, ask God for guidance and if you are at fault, confess and ask for strength to overcome.

Be humble and learn to treat others as equals. It’s better to not think of yourself more highly than you ought to, for God is the provider of all gifts and abilities. This pride will blind you to your faults.

They say the tongue has the power to build or destroy, and this is true in the case of excessive criticisms which have killed marriages and friendships. Your every conversation should aim at building the other person up. 

There is an inspiring lesson in the belief that never repay evil for evil, just because someone is mean to you doesn’t mean you should treat them the same. Instead practice forgiveness and adopt the philosophy of hating the sin but loving the sinner.

Don Miguel Ruiz’s Toltec Life Lesson

Officially known as Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías, he is a Mexican author of Toltec spiritualist and neoshamanistic texts.

His book “The Four Agreements” is based on ancient Toltec wisdom and gives invaluable advice on living a life of freedom, love, and true happiness.

Be impeccable with your word. This is the first agreement which encourages screening your words. Ruiz is of the belief that before you speak, ask yourself if your words are truthful or poisonous. Every word you speak about yourself or others should have a positive impact. Words create reality.

Don’t take anything personally. People are different and see the world in different ways, and so how one person treats you tells a lot about them and how you respond says a lot about you. Ruiz’s life lesson teaches us to embrace the uniqueness of others by not taking their bad treatment personally. Realize that their views do not change who you are.

Don’t make assumptions. No one can read minds, and any attempt results in wrong answers. Making an assumption is seeking problems. Learn to ask questions and avoid unnecessary negativity in your life.

Always do your best. Laziness can never get you to your goals. Besides, Ruiz says that doing your best also prevents internal criticism from what he calls “your internal judge.” Your best may vary depending on circumstances but as long as it’s your best at that particular time, it’s okay.

The 14th Dalai Lama’s Reflective Lesson

The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people is a leader whose teachings are worth reflecting on.

His inspirational life lesson is to be truly happy, practice compassion. There is so much satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from knowing you have made a positive difference in someone’s life.

“The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” People are living unsatisfactory lives today as they repeatedly compare themselves to others. When change your focus from trying to be better than the next person, you’ll find striving to improve from who you were yesterday.

He beliefs that you should be content with what you have. There’s always going to be something out there that you desire to have, once you achieve it something else is bound to come up. Enjoy what is already in your hands first.

“It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.” There is wisdom in learning to see the positive side of things; it makes life more beautiful. So, start every day with a positive thought.

Deepak Chopra’s Life Changing Lesson

The Indian-born American author is a prominent figure in the New-Age movement. A strong advocate for alternative medicine he has given life-changing lessons that are worth trying.

According to Chopra, change is always good but never easy. Changing habits for success is like rewiring your brain, and many are the times that you fall back and give up. When you think of the reasons you want to change and the prison that is your old habits, you find great opportunities to improve. Focus on the new person you desire to be.

“Always go with your passions. Never ask yourself if it’s realistic or not. ” Most people die without ever living up to their potential. The security of living a regular life is nothing compared to the joy of doing what you love.

There is no limit to what you can achieve when there is passion involved. Believe nothing is impossible and nothing will be. “You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.”

Meditate regularly; it keeps you in touch with your true self and allows your spirit to speak to you and in the end, you get solutions to your problems. Create time to sit and be still.

Russell M. Nelson’s Life Lesson

You cannot ignore this spiritual leader and the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His positive life lesson and insights on living a great life is inspiring. 

According to Nelson, other than the usual 9 to 5 employment or whatever income-generating business you do, everyone has a higher calling that gives life more purpose. 

Generating money may keep you happy for a few days, but real joy and happiness comes from knowing you have made a difference in the world or someone’s life. 

One of Nelson’s quotes that strikes the heart is,“We are happiest when we are thinking about someone other than ourselves.”

This makes you think, no matter how insignificant you feel, if you desire to do something, take a step, and God will do the rest. If you want to make a change in your life, take the first step, “The Lord likes effort. Then He blesses our best efforts,”

Pope Francis’s Spiritual Lesson

The great Pope is a never-drying well of wisdom. His spiritual instructions can teach a few things on living a better life.

Often, you may find yourself envying another person’s success. Pope Francis advises “Put aside envy. Talk with one another so that this desire to protect each other might grow in your hearts.” Get closer to the subject of your envy and build a relationship with them, a desire to protect each other then replaces the envy.

He warns against quick reactions which in most cases are an emotional reaction or impulse that is often regrettable. Learn to wait on divine guidance and a sound state of mind to make better decisions.

Changing your harmful habits to the right attitudes taught by these spiritual leaders may not be easy, but it’s not impossible. Make one small change at a time and stick to it. With time, you may not live like Billy Graham, but your life is sure to improve. Changing your attitude towards life causes a ripple effect on your physical and mental health as well as financial success.

The post 10 Inspirational Life Lessons from Spiritual Leaders appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Growing research has indeed proved that spirituality plays a very important role in the well-being of a person. In March 2014, a conference was held at the New York Academy of Medicine by spiritual caregivers that threw light on the benefits and wonders of spirituality. A review of a number of studies was published in 2015 in the journal called Cancer Management and Research. It showed enough evidence that spiritual intervention and mindfulness helps in lowering psychological distress, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in cancer patients.

Adopting the Four Agreements

Author Don Miguel Ruiz reflects the four principles which must be practiced in order to create happiness and love in your life. Committing to these agreements might appear to be the hardest thing to do but it can be a truly life-changing experience.

In the beginning, these new habits will appear to be very challenging and you might relapse countless times. But with diligence and continuous practice, you will be able to master them and improve different areas of your life.

What are the Four Agreements?

1. Be Impeccable with your words

Speaking with integrity and saying only those things which you truly mean is the best way to avoid negative talk and gossip. Ruiz says in the book, “It is so important that with just this first agreement you will be able to transcend to the level of existence I call heaven on earth.”

Ruiz himself explains in the book how difficult yet important it is to maintain impeccability in one’s life. In simple words, being impeccable means that you don’t go against yourself and take full responsibility for your actions without any shame or guilt. Impeccably starts at home so you must be impeccable with yourself first before applying it in your relationships and commitments.

When you speak something, the rule of “action-reaction” applies. Whatever you put out with the proper use of energy, its reaction will be reflected towards you from your surroundings. When you give love, the same gesture is returned from the universe and when you put out hate and rage, you will get the same kind of results back to you.

Being impeccable will teach you to emit love and positivity from your personality for your own self and for the universe around you. And as a result, you will receive the same kind of warmth from other people.

2. Don’t take anything personally

“Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.”

As soon as you immune yourself to the comments, opinions, and actions of others, you cut back on a tremendous amount of needless suffering. Even teachers like Deepak Chopra, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius are advocates of being independent of good or bad opinions of others.  

The crust of this agreement is that one should learn to let go and not be affected by the thoughts and opinions of others. Practice forgiveness and stay away from anger. Compromise on your ego and apologize even if the other person is wrong. This will liberate you from the feelings of dependence on others and will give your spirit a strong boost.

3. Don’t make assumptions

Not only do we have the problem of making assumptions, we are also very sure about their truthfulness. It is better to grab enough courage to ask questions and get direct answers to your queries (no matter how bitter they are) rather just assuming things on your own.

Communication is the key to remove misunderstandings and to avoid drama. Be clear about what others expect from you and what you want from them. Thinking this way helps in living a very peaceful life and leaves no room for gossip.

Not making assumptions about others’ behavior and giving them benefit of doubt for their actions puts your brain at rest. This gives you a certain positivity in life and you are enabled to understand the situation of the other person by being in his shoes.

4. Always do your best

Under different circumstances, your best is also going to change. You cannot feel the same kind of energy in your body when you are sick as compared to when you are completely healthy. Your performance will change in both the situations but this won’t imply that you are not giving your best shot.

The main thing is to do your best without expecting anything as a reward for it. Your only prize should be the contentment of your heart because the moment you start expecting from others, you encounter disappointments. By keeping your expectations low and only concentrating on your own performance, you will be able to polish yourself in order to become a better human being.

The Bottom Line

From these four distinct agreements, you will develop unique and useful traits in your personality. Your spirit will learn positivity and forgiveness and will learn how to be more indifferent and understanding towards people.

The post The Four Agreements that Will Change Your Spirit Forever appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

You only start missing something once you’ve lost it. For the people facing their middle-age crises, youth feels the same way. It feels like time and youth and chances just passed you by and you never even noticed. For people like these,  A Course in Miracles appeared a guiding star; a book that you apparently do not read but live.

About A Course in Miracles 

The book was a collaborative project between Schucman and William (‘Bill’) Thetford and the inspiring life lessons that the book offers may point to a place of belonging, peace and purpose for you and a lot of others. William was a renowned psychologist, and Schucman spent a lot of her life transcribing this book. This was a culmination of a long period of work, and it shows.

Here are some truths the book has to offer you before you turn 40:

1. The Spiritual Abode is Boundless  

Spirituality of boundless, it is filled with love and calmness. The realm of the spiritual is always forgiving and opens its arms to all. In reality, our home is within our souls, the true kingdom for humanity, a profound domain of unadulterated unity and unlimited euphoria which can never be undermined.  So, all of our worries hardly make sense because we are all part of a single abode at the end.

Image: pexels.com

2. Individuality is an Illusion

We try to vehemently change the reality. To forcefully separate into individuals. We believe we are particles separate from each other. We convince ourselves of this delusion and called ourselves independent, separate and self-sufficient creatures.

God did not make the world; we did. And it is time we started to accept it so that we find peace.

3. Everyone is Part of a Whole

Be that as it may, the detachment only exists because we think it does, we have really not gone too far away from the souls. The partition has had no impact because nothing can affect the infinite souls. We may have created walls, but, we also have built bridges of kindness and forgiveness. We are still parts of a whole who have somehow forgotten the truth. We can find purpose and direction the moment we realize this.

4. The Anguish of Sinning

We as humans believe we have made numerous mistakes throughout our lives. The anxiety we feel is not because of the loss of a job opportunity, a house or a loved one but our imagined disconnect from humanity. Thus, humans have forever searched for answers to questions of purpose and loneliness, not realizing that it is all but a mere illusion. The search and anguish will end when we awaken and rediscover ourselves as a part of one whole.

5. The Illusion of Being Wronged

Forever anguished at this illusion of separation but not realizing how or why, we often tend to put the blame on others, on the world at large. We create the image of a violent world, a violent people, forever at odds with us. By imagining this, we try to explain our distress and tell ourselves stories of being wronged, losing people and opportunities and the elusive prime of our lives. It is like we are telling the world that it owes us something for how it wronged us. The moment we stop doing this and realize the true reason for our anguish and unhappiness, we will stop suffering.

Image: pexels.com

6. Reactions to “Reality” 

The only answer to this distress is to rearrange this “reality.” We go through life in defensive mode while trying to preserve our innocence. The image we have is a world constantly assaulting us and us trying to protect ourselves from it. We try to fill the void with happenings, material things, needs because of our feelings of inadequacy and incompleteness. We have the need to feel pure and unique at the same time. In this journey, our bodies are both a medium and an end in itself. But we have forgotten that these images of individual bodies and consciousness is not real. Our materialistic needs are not real either. The sooner we understand this, faster the anguish fades.

A Course in Miracles (affiliate link) carefully explains, in its own unique way, this feeling of anxiety that settles in the older we get. The longer we believe in this delusion, the more wronged we feel. We keep dreaming of this separation and are filled with longing. Accepting this sooner will mean you can finally wake up and stop feeling that you have sinned. These are some of the lessons the book offers to help you along the path of awakening.

Related: 17 Spiritual Books to Make Your Soul Whole Again

The post Lessons About A Course In Miracles You Need To Learn Before You Hit 40 appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

When your soul is in trouble or if you are confused in understanding the true meaning of life, it’s time your spiritual side that needs attention from you. Apprehensions and concerns regarding life cannot be resolved easily and some spiritual guidance from the wise is essential in this regard.

This is the reason why many people resort to books to escape their troubled self and discover the realities of life. If you are in such a dilemma then read the following spiritual books to make your soul whole one more time:

1. 1. The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo

      Nepo is not only a philosopher and a poet but a cancer survivor too and the insights in this book show his wisdom pertaining to matters of life. This book will serve as your ultimate dose of inspiration.

   2. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

      In 1992, Redfield self-published this novel and it has since become one of the most successful self-published novels ever. One can call this book a combination of an adventure and a new age spiritual journey. The insights provided will surely be able to shift the perspective of the reader.

   3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

      Regardless of the religion, this novel about understanding the omens and serving the one true purpose of life triggers the spiritual side of the reader. In this book, the Shepherd travels to the Pyramids of Egypt to discover a treasure and his tale is timeless.

   4. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra

      The book explains how people can nurture themselves spiritually and realize that they are on this Earth for some reason. It is about expressing gratitude to the people around you and serving your family.

   5. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

      This book has even garnered a spot in New York’s best sellers list and is a cultural phenomenon. Byrne talks about laws of attraction in this book and says that one should ask for what they really want. The author also emphasizes on having a strong belief and be open to receiving whatever one truly desires.

   6. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by Dalai Lama

      The book takes inspiration from the joyful nature of the Dalai Lama and talks about finding happiness in the smallest things of daily life. There are no spiritual rules or religious guidelines highlighted in the book and this will make it stand the test of time. It states that the purpose of life is to seek happiness. No matter what the outside circumstances are, the mental state of the person can help him in garnering peace and happiness.

      “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama

   7. The Universe has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein

      The legendary Bernstein compiles different stories and lessons of life that will help the reader in overcoming the blocks which are standing in the way of their happiness. The book teaches how to stop chasing life and instead achieve success and security.

   8. The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul by Danielle LaPorte

      If you would like to have a road map for life that can guide you to all the shortcuts and life hacks then The Desire Map is a must-read for you. This is a soul-satisfying book providing you with all the tools which will help you in living your life unapologetically, passionately while helping your manifest desires.

   9. The Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power by Brendon Burchard

      This book helps you in your pursuit of attaining greater personal freedom and sparking a motivational revolution inside you. The world-renowned trainer, Brendon Burchard, helps in claiming your personal power through this book.

   10. Raise Your Vibration: 111 Practices to Increase Your Spiritual Connection by Kyle Gray

       In this book, Gray lays out an 111-day plan consisting of practices and exercises which will help in igniting your spirituality. It will help in unlocking your psychic abilities to polish your intuition and help you understand matters with the help of vibrations.

   11. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

       Gilbert took a year off to travel alone after a very bitter divorce. Her first destination was Italy where she enjoyed eating lots of good food. Next, she traveled to India where she touched the spiritual side of her personality. And lastly, she was in Bali where she found the balance between the two which was love.
       The book is about someone who is in extreme pain and during this phase, undertakes a spiritual journey and achieves a balance. It landed on the New York Time’s bestseller list and was also made into a movie starring Julia Roberts.

   12. Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

       The increased pace of life can easily make us forego the peace which surrounds us. We indulge in our lives but we forget to make them any better spiritually. Spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh teaches how to attain completeness and experience deep feelings of joy. Only through conscious breathing, one can bring awareness to the mind, body, soul, and their entire life.

       “If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.”— Thich Nhat Hanh

   13. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lessons by Mitch Albom

       It is based on a number of interviews with the former professor Morrie Schwartz. He suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and was dying because of it. Not only did this book sold millions of copies but also inspired a TV movie. Morrie’s ideas of giving and accepting love still continue to inspire people even after so many years of his death.

   14. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

       This book has a simple yet effective formula for living a better life. The four rules or agreements which have been explained in it are:
       * Be flawless with your words
       * Don’t take things personally
       * Do no assume on your own
       * Always give your best shot
       Later, Ruiz added a fifth agreement too which was that one must be able to listen to others but maintain their skepticism at the same time.

   15. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

       Eckhart Tolle explains the joy and the freedom which one experiences when they choose not to dwell on the mistakes of the past and learn from them instead. According to Tolle, your mind can serve to be the only enemy of your enlightenment and plays a major role in creating pain for you.

       “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle

   16. The Seat of the Soul: An Inspiring Vision of Humanity’s Spiritual Destiny by Gary Zukav

       It is only our authentic power which can trigger our spiritual side when power and ego start taking control over us. The book emphasizes on the fact that in pursuit of external power, one can bring conflict in their personal lives and in the world we live in.

   17. Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives by Dan Millman

       Way of the Peaceful Warrior is an international bestseller and is based on the life of a gymnast from the University of California, Berkeley. When Dan Millman meets a 96-year-old mentor Socrates, his life changes drastically and he discovers new perspectives of life to live it to the fullest.

By reading these 17 books, you can definitely see yourself walking the spiritual path and achieving success in making your soul whole.

Related: Lessons About A Course In Miracles You Need To Learn Before You Hit 40

The post 17 Spiritual Books to Make Your Soul Whole Again appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Do you know the secret behind feeling calm and focused? It is definitely not as easy as it sounds because if it was, life would not have been so complicated and difficult as it is for us. But if life is so tricky then why do the Buddhist monks appear to be so peaceful and calm all the time? The answer lies in their beliefs, faith, and philosophies. They have a very different take on life and their faith is stronger than we can actually imagine it to be.

Related: 50 Christian Quotes to Bring You Close to God

Here are some of the important things which we can learn from them to help us lead a rather happy life:

1. Real wisdom comes from doing something and failing

It is very usual for us to feel sad about our failures especially if we try our hands on new things. Rejection is inevitable but instead of dwelling on it and feeling miserable for yourself, take your failure as a lesson for future success. Monks believe that facing failure tells you what you shouldn’t be doing and this gradually takes to the path of success.

2. Meditation helps in realizing the egotistical mind

In the world of ego, everything is the result of comparing yourself with others. If you are comparing yourself to your colleagues, friends, or siblings on minute things, you can never achieve satisfaction and the level of faith which will ensure your inner peace.

The monks meditate to find solace from their egotistical mind and this is done by the adjustment of body, breath, and mind. Firstly, they sit in a specific way with their legs crossed and hands placed on the knees. Eyes are shut and the back is upright. Then they concentrate on their breathing and finally, they control their mind and count the number of times they let the air in. This is the adjustment which helps them to meditate.

3. Happiness comes from both within and outside

Happiness comes from inside when we keep a positive mind and good emotions but it can also be felt from outside if we surround ourselves with the nicer things. Firstly, you make your inner self at peace and then interact with the outer world. Because of your inner positivity, the world around you also takes a shift to become a happier place.

Buddhists also believe in chanting in which they profess the teachings of Buddha through their speech. They believe that whatever they say should be devoid of lies, curses, and slander as this will help in feeling happy and in spreading happiness as well.

4. Listen with an open mind and don’t be judgmental

Our brains have a natural capacity of judging others but leads to nothing but our very own displeasure. Mindfulness is actually taking what the other person is saying or doing without judging them at all. By simply being understanding of the other person and being nice to take them will take you to another level of faith just like the monks.

Image: cnn.com

Lighting the incense is very common amongst the Buddhist monks and by doing so, they pay their utmost respects to Buddha. It is also a way to attain spiritual development and to set away from the path of material desires.

Related: 10 Inspirational Life Lessons from Spiritual Leaders

5. Patience is a gift of inner calmness

During the training of the monks, they are made to wait hours only to create patience in them. They consider patience to a very unique and priceless gift because it takes away a lot of worries and problems from your life. You start learning that waiting is actually not that bad and you are completely fine if you need to wait for a while to get what you really want from life.

Their rituals include being secluded to a certain place away from a normal routine and this helps them in undergoing personality changes. This entices patience in their personality.

6. You keep trying until you finally get it right

One of the most important things about faith is that you never give up. You keep trying for success until you finally achieve it. Also, multiple tries help you in working on the same thing from different angles so that you can easily approach your targeted goal. Through determination and vigilance, you eventually get to the place where you are supposed to go.

Related: 50 Christian Quotes to Bring You Close to God

7. De-clutter your thoughts to attain a selfless attitude

More often, the Buddhists have rituals which are superficial and serve as a distraction from the real world. Whenever worshippers enter a room which has a statue of Buddha, they join their palms and bow down and this is known as prostration. This specific ritual symbolizes compassion and wisdom. This helps them attain selflessness and think of others before themselves. Even if they are meditating then it is not just for themselves but for everyone around them too so that they can reach the full potential of enlightenment. Developing such an attitude helps in focusing less on your own problems and more on those faced by the world collectively. They become less emotional which helps them attain peace.

“If you want other to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – The Dalai Lama

The post 7 Things You Can Learn from Buddhist Monks About Faith and Motivation appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .