Yoga is Discipline

Yoga, which means discipline, was developed in the year 300 by a Hindi devotee. Its purpose is to stretch the muscles, strengthen the body and increase concentration. It can also help you relax.

Some who practice yoga, called yogis, try to use the discipline to reach a high level of consciousness like practicing being clean, content, self-controlled, studious and devoted.

Physical control is also important in yoga. Yogis train themselves to take full, deep breaths. They consider breathing a life force, counting a lifespan not in years but in the number of breaths taken.

Unlike exercises that work only on strength, yoga also helps the body become flexible. As a result, some yoga exercises (called asanas) look a little strange, and you may think you need to be a human pretzel to do them. Not so. You just have to relax.

All yoga exercises promote strength and calmness. Each move's effects on a muscle, a gland or a nerve center are carefully thought out.

You can choose certain exercises to rid yourself of particular pains, such as back pain from back-packing or leg pain from jogging. Yoga can help condition you for skiing or help you control feelings of depression or fear.

Positive fengshui effects of plants in your home.

There is a story from my culture that says that in ancient time in China, there was a tree that had lots of gold coins on its branches. When fated people came across this wonder, they would shake the money tree and going coins will drop from the tree to the ground. With this background, that's you during CNY, you will see many families like to hang paper gold nuggets, coin, hongbaos or amulets on some miniature plants to signify money luck and prosperity.

From Marie Callas teachings, I deduce that this money symbol works on the following principle: like attracts like, and money attracts money. Money tree is also one of the most popular lucky ornaments in fengshui studies.

Besides, Marie says that according to the principles of fengshui, plants uplift and circulate the energy in our homes, creating harmony and enhancing our environment. They also help clean the air we breathe! Plants release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide, hence, it has a positive healing effect based on this fact alone.

Thanks, do bring wonders of Nature into or homes.

Things happen for some reasons

Around us, we see many people who seems to start with fervour giving up what they dream because the going gets very tough that they see their suffering as being pointless and unfair

One time of failure, it's okay. Try again. Second time of failure, "oh, maybe I did something wrongly, nevermind, restart it again".. Third time of failure, "how can it be possible? when I have already taken all possible precautions. What shall I do now? One last try. Perhaps this is not for me after all". Forth time of failure, "Life is unfair to me". I call it a day! Sorry folks..

When they fail or experience huge setbacks, they see it as because they are not good enough, that what they are doing is not meant to be or that they are just unlucky. They tend to ask themselves, "why must this happen to me??"

I have always been able to stay confident and motivated because I believe that everything, no matter how bad it seems now, happens for a good reason.

It is to either to teach me a valuable lesson to become better or there is somehow a blessing in disguise. As long as I keep taking action, the "problem" will soon be revealed into a "blessing". Believing in this has always given me the strength to carry on.

Lastly got to thank Marie Callas for the inspirations she has given me..

Office Story

I wish to have some spiritual psychic power of Marie to know another woman's mind!

Now, I just want to bitch about a colleague. As a woman, I can't help but want to bitch about another lady. I guess this is our nature. Name won't be mentioned though.

A new lady colleague joined my team about 3 months ago. Work-wise, she is doing fine, just that could be rather careless, like breaking the office door handle when opening it. That's a classic! One funny thing about her is that I seldom see her eating anything. She told me she never takes breakfast nor lunch or keep saying the weather is very hot and she prefers to stay in the office to stay cool. I told her it won't be hot as we do drive to the nearby malls to have our lunch.

As a result, at most I will see her munching some bread crumbs during lunch time while squinting at her monitor. Fine, i guess, hence we do not invite her to lunch anymore.

Things change when a new senior sales guy joins the company just after the Chinese New Year. Now, she has started eating her lunch - with HIM! I did not know how it started. That day I bumped into them at the carpark while she was boarding his car, and she has that "look" in her face, the kind of look when the woman is in love. Apparently they are keeping it secretive but she was kind enough to invite me to join them, and of course I rejected.

It is with this impetus that she starts having to take her lunch meals and i sense her happiness when lunch hour approaches.

So, do you want to know what motivates her to go for her lunch?

That sales guy is driving a posh BMW car!

Everyone's birthday

Dear all, today is the seventh day (人日)of the Chinese New Year. In traditional terms, this year is a highly auspicious one to every human because it is supposed to be every person's birthday! In Chinese mythical folklore, 人日 is the day in which humans were created by the Supernatural.

From what I read, 人日 is not an important day in China but was festively celebrated by Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore. Yes, families usually get together to have a sumptuous dinner and you can see that everywhere in the country in the evening time when most restaurants are packed.

Yu Sheng is the signature dish for this day and people will hope that by tossing the straws and strands of fish and vegetable high, it will represent a prosperous year in the next twelve lunar months.

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed by 人日 earlier today. The food was simply delicious and family grievances were forgotten today in this harmonious mood!

Getting More for Less

We are celebrating the Year of Tiger this coming Sunday. Times fly and we are sending off the Ox. While the mood in the air is joyous, let's us not forget to be thankful for the new clothes and delicious food we will be wearing and consuming. Because there are many many people who are much more unfortunate than us!

Again, while the mood is luxuriously extravagant for some, I beg to view it oppositely to reflect on a life concept which is to get more when you live for less. I hate it when I see people spending without responsibility for things that they do not need it in life.

My view is personally spiritual.

Material possessions only bring you temporary comfort and joy. The true joy in life is the simple things around us, like the beautiful mountain range, the idyllic hut in the garden, the smile of a new born, the love of your loved ones, and the devoted care of your parents for you.

To me, its more of a blessing when I live for less, so that I can appreciate life even more, rather than keeping myself occupied chasing for the latest iphones or ipods.

I wish all of you:

Happy Chinese New Year. Selamat Tahun Baru Cina~

Seek your True Self

Marie Callas constantly reminds me that we have to know ourselves better than anyone else. I truly appreciate her advices as they are words of wisdom. There is a need to be in harmony with your inner self, only in this case than you can know what goals to take and what path to go in life. True self is what you are talking here, not something that is superficial.

The big question now is, how do you build up a harmonious relationship with your true self?

Marie Callas says, have a deep reflection of yourself spiritually, just like you look at yourself at a mirror.

Reflect on what you truly seek, your likes and dislikes, habits and negative thoughts. How about accepting the responsibility of all the wrongs you did in the past and accept yourself as who you really are and your place in this world. Be honest and truthful to yourself and be responsible to your self.

In short, successful people have good relationship with themselves. That is why they thrive in everything they do. They know themselves very well.

Power of Intention

Your intention releases the universe in movement, hence Marie Callas reminds me in her latest letter to be clear of my exact intention in any circumstances. Only then can my subconscious success mechanism will support me in getting there.

Let me give you an example intention.

Recently, I thought of changing my decade old Wira to a newer Toyota MPV. Since my budget is not that much, i decide to try out a second hand model and intention to buy at a good price. With that intention in mind, suddenly I numerous such MPVs everywhere. The thing is, this car has been everywhere but our brain just never "receive" them until we put in the intention.

I guess this is something everyone experiences. You become aware of something, and you start to see more of the same all over. When you wear pink shirts, you soon realise you see people with pink shirts everywhere.

Yes, we should put this power into something meaningful that can transform our lives.

A Kind Noble Act

This morning, I read with great interest about an really honest young man. Not many people could have done what he had done. I am not sure how I would have reacted. Probably stunned at first, then a tinge of greet sets in and inside, there is a war fighting whether should I keep it or return it.

That's why it was a noble act for this young cabbie in NY to return the huge stash of money $21,000 back to the owner who was a visitor from Italy. This great act of love and humanity saves this family's holiday from turning into a tragedy and at the same time, gave his religion a better reputation when globally it was doing down the drains.

Many people will be tempted to pocket this sum of money, which is nearly half a years pay to majority of the people everywhere.. It could be treat as a windfall, or a god-given luck that comes your way.

Would you?

A Great Quote

"Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to llive them. Have tremendous expectation and believe in them."

Normal Vincent Peale

I will miss 2009 dearly

I think my blog title says it all.

AD2009, as usual, had indeed be a great year for some of us and a bad one for some.

As for me, all I could say is 2009 it's been quite a good year for me minus the nerve wracking incidents in the workplace...Marie Callas has really helped me a lot with the psychological and spiritual conditioning.

Right now, I set myself a high expectations for year 2010. Guess would be quite tied up and don't think I have the time to highlight every single issue happening in my life here.

My best tip to be better living is, live life to the fullest, enjoy every moments with people you love. Lets things flow in it's own way.

East Coast Retreat

It's year end and as usual, company has a year end company retreat cum get together at a nearby resort. This year we went to Desaru which is a seaside town at east coast Johor. I think due to the proximity, the place is filled with those from Singapore and as a result, it was just moderately enjoyable as the prices there nearly in S$ rate! Not to complain though, as this is the first time i had gone to east coast of the country.

In the beginning i thought it would be a boring resort and we didnt have a car to go around and maybe slip out of that place and go to other places.

The sea view was good, at least to someone from KL. Sea food sumptuous but was expensive! The room there was quite terrible as buddy and I a lousy bathroom. The drain was clocked and we couldn't flush our toilet. We had to ask the room service and they sent a plumber to clear it.

I think this post is more of whining. Generally, despite the small indifference, on the way home, I thought I really enjoyed the beach there. Too bad the weather was rather gloomy there, and we did not got sun tanned.

A friend I admire.

Oh dear, I lost my house keys and I had to wait for my parents to reach home at 5pm+. I had taken a half day's leave with the intention to spend half a day at home doing some outstanding chores. In the end, I had to spend nearly a couple of hours sitting lonely at Old Town coffee surfing on my netbook. Not complaining at all and I feel life has never been this good since since I asked Marie C. for help.

Another friend called me up and sounded very down. She lost a few thousand ringgits trading at Dow Jones this week. As I am not a share person, I have no idea at all, except that it was very volatile recently while reading from the press reports. Well, I consoled her as much as I could in layman's language.

But I thing I admire about this friend is that she really has some spirits to venture into unknown while most of us are happy doing a 9 to 5 job without wanting to rock the boat that carries our comfy lives. She is different and she dares to go out of the box. Her mind is working non stop and ideas coming from nowhere so often.

For this alone, I admire her, as ultimately, I am a conservative person in my appetite for risks and unknowns.

Time Management

In our daily life we encounter so many different obligations, works, jobs and other things that we must do for a day. Due to great number of works that we encounter, it causes for our body to be tired and stress, that sometimes make us old because of the wrinkles it create in our face.

That is why Marie Callas advises I must have good time management concept, and it helps me to manage my working limits from time to time and it will help me to have the right time to rest.

I have a form school friend who is really doing incredibly well in her career now. She's a CFO in a listed company. The group of us is constantly amazed by her ability to juggle her work, family and friends. She's smart naturally (since school days) and together with her good time management, it is no wonder she has done well in her career.

Well, I'm very sure that when you have a time management, you can really improve your life's quality. The key is discipline!

A Thankful Poem

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings

About Thinking

I think I more of a planner than thinker. I am lazy to think. That's why when it comes to IQ tests, I just hate it.

With the sweltering weather lately, it is even worse to think. Things are done as if by routine and I'm beginning to lose the zest for life! I wish for a cooler weather, desperately.

As such, a lot of my decisions can seem quite rash to some people. That's why some people say that i have bad relationship skills.

As I lay on the sofa and drifted in and out of a rather nice doze, I found myself trying hard to think about matters on hand. A bit of meditating according to Marie Callas' instructions certainly helps. Feel more relieved now.

Do you know when I heard of those big verses from some ancient philosophers, somehow I pity them more than admire. They verses are thousands years old however i feel they really do not have answers to their problems. Good thing is that they really thought hard. Better than me at least.

Just because I don’t think, doesn’t mean I’m stupid. Just that I know better than to think that thinking solves anything. Right?

Sorry for this bitching post...

Your Born Gift

You and me sure receive gifts before in a lifetime. What is a gift? It is something that is given for free and to express someone's gratitude for you...there is nothing to be exchanged. It is given intentionally for some reasons.

For us humans, normally we give gifts on special occasions or for special someones. When we talk about occasions, gifts are given on birthdays, graduation, weddings, anniversaries and many more. But there are times that we give gifts for no special reason, we just like to give.

I always remember times when I was dating, I like to buy them some little gifts to show my appreciate for their care. There is nothing to expect from this. It was just a pity that non of the r/s turns out well.

Every mooncake festival, Xmas, chinese new years, I gift my parents too. No reason, I simply want to give them something. All people have the tendency to do that, right?

When we are born, we are showered with some form of natural gift from Heaven. This are all gifts. There is a skill that we personally possess. You know what skill that is in you! Remember to use your gift wisely, use it to succeed and not to ruin your life.

Music

One of the things in life i like best is music. I know nuts about music theories nor any instruments, yet i feel that music is a fundamental part of humans. I listen to all sorts of music. Since young, I have wide taste of music, from asian pop to eclectic jazz fusions from some underground musicians. I listen to classics too.

That was younger years. However, I feel the popular music nowadays is getting worse. There is nothing around that i know will become a classic such that ten years later it will still widely like. I am kinda disappointed.

I have listened to a lot of music lately, not all of it within the comfort genre my ears are used to.

Ti me, good music I find is those which has emotion, a soul. You listen to music that makes you laugh, cry, or just lifts your happy mood up a couple of notches, and you connect to it. It's like the music reaches inside you and touches your heart.

Men in Bean

This is an interesting right brain awareness test for you. Please find 3 men in this photo of coffee beans. Find it within 1 minute and your right brain will be normal.
Between 1 to 3 mins means your right brain is too slow. Please eat more food that can strengthen your right brain. If find the men in more than 3 mins, your right brain is really can't make it, CMI! Please seriously do something about it before you go dull and dead. Gladly, I found mine within 1 min.

Enjoy

Snap sense

I saw a bird perching on a flimsy branch just outside my bedroom windows. I tried to be nearer to it by tiptoeing to hide behind the curtain, so that I could get a close up look of it. But..it flew off the moment I was near to the curtain. How did it know I was coming?

I think its intuition level is very strong to sense any potential dangers that may be lurking in the dark.

Marie Callas says we people got to hone that ability too through a sharp sense of intuition. It could be our best pal in life. It will certainly benefit us somehow.

We humans certainly have this ability, just that we have forsaken it to pursue our ambitions and advancements. Sometimes you get that very strong intense feeling that something were about to happen. That is intuition and we'd better obey this spiritual calling.

I am not an expert in this, however, like to say don't let those feelings pass you by. It is your unconscious mind trying to give you a lift in the right direction.