Category: growth

Now, this is real success

Pearlsandsouls
Be like the ocean. Share your abundance. It’s unlimited. Barbara Bullock, M.F.A.

I recently had to write an essay on the topic of success for a course I have been taking. I was supposed to define success. There is a famous saying “what goes around comes around”. Most people understand this saying as karma and is understood as whatever you give out into the world comes back to you. For example, if you are kind to others, kindness will come back to you. If you hurt others, it will haunt you in some way in the future. What does this have to do with success? Let’s explore.

I define success as the way and magnitude to which extend a person improves him or herself. We are all born into certain circumstances. These are culture, society, time, socioeconomic and educational levels, and others. In addition, our upbringing and taught self-worth influence our living conditions. This outlook is the starting point. During our lives, each and every one of us embarks on his or her life journey. Throughout our lives, we grow, learn, and improve ourselves. Some people do this in small ways, others in big ones. Many people make a difference in their families and communities, a few change the world for the better and become a very influential, internationally known historical, political, or religious figure impacting the world for years to come.

I believe that the definition of success is a very personal matter as it depends on one’s own perspective. Many people define success in terms monetary wealth or influence on society. Certainly, success can be measured in fortune and power.  However, for me, success is more than figures on a bank account or levels in a hierarchy. I call someone successful when a person overcomes obstacles, breaks barriers, reaches goals, improves him or herself, and then shares this success with others by sharing funds or teaching what the person has learned throughout the journey. Let me explain. Now, this is real success.

What has this to do with karma, what goes around comes around? Reaching a goal just for oneself is, in my opinion, just that. It is reaching a goal. Reaching a goal and becoming successful certainly, brings temporary bliss. Everyone has experienced this several times in our lives. Suddenly, this happiness wears off, and we find ourselves looking for something else or start wanting more, just to find out that the new goal won’t satisfy our egos either. Why is that? I believe that this kind of achievement and success is ego driven. The ego is trying to be successful just for itself. This is why it won’t last because the ego is never satisfied for a long time.

However, if someone becomes successful and then shares this success with others so other people can improve their own lives, this is true success coming from a much higher level than the ego. It is much longer lasting, has a bigger impact on others and comes back to the person who was successful in the first place. How? With gratitude. Many people will be very grateful for your sharing, your teaching, your contribution, your positive impact. With gratitude, success leads to fulfillment and fulfillment is true happiness.  To true success and a better world. Now, this is real success.

Love,

Barbara

 

Copyright © 2017 by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer

barbarabullock.wordpress.com

Photo credit © 2017 by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A. Photo taken by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A.

#Success #goal #sharing #caring #ego #gratitude #fulfillment #ocean

Divine trees

Barbara Bullock, M.F.A. Spiritual writer
Looking up a majestic palm tree in Hawaii. Divine!
Looking up a majestic palm tree in Hawaii. Divine!

My favorite tree is the palm tree. I love its strong stem and evergreen leaves. I also love that it reminds me of tropical places and the sea. However, all trees are special. Let me show you why. Trees are centered beings standing firmly. They are always grounded because their roots have a good grip on them connecting them to Mother Earth who nourishes and nurtures them. At the same time, their branches reach so high up into the sky as if they try to touch the clouds to reach up into the heavens above.

Trees do as they wish. They are never intimidated to make more out of themselves and grow nor to let go when it is time to shed withering leaves. Never asking for much except for a little water from time to time, they stand tall and proud weathering many storms in their lives. They tolerate humans and animals climbing on them, give shade, provide oxygen to breathe in, fruits to eat, blossoms to admire and enjoy, and healing for any soul and body that comes. You see, I believe that a tree is a gift from the universe, source energy or God in many ways. They are steadfast yet gentle, taking yet giving divine beings.

Have you honored a tree today? Let’s cherish those marvelous creatures. Why not even hug one. Let’s give thanks to God for these beauties in our nature. Let’s not cut them and destroy them in thousands without replacing their spots with new seeds. Let’s not take away living space of thousands of species living in rainforests that cannot be found elsewhere on our planet. Let’s not simply destroy in a few years what was magnificently designed and evolved over millions. Let’s not simply take what was given without giving back. Let’s not cut off ourselves from fresh air. Let’s not deprive our children of not just this gift of nature but a necessity for survival. If we don’t, what air will future generations breathe in? Where will they go for shade? What will they eat? Where will they play? Who will teach them about self-confidence and personal power? Who will provide healing and comfort, insight and wisdom?

Let’s pray for those future generations. Let’s pray for our trees that we have left standing. Better yet, let’s do everything we can to save them. Let’s join organizations, mobilize supporters, and use more recycled paper. Don’t print this post, this e-mail, this article, please. Let’s give thanks for divine trees. Let’s honor them. Let’s hug them. Let’s save our divine, majestic wonders of nature.

Love,

Barbara

Copyright © 2016 by Barbara Bullock, Photo credit © 2014 by Barbara Bullock. Photo was taken in Hawaii 2014.

#Tree #Trees #Environment #Paper #Palmtree #Nature #God #Planet #MotherEarth #Power #Organization #Rainforest #Hawaii #Divinity #Generations #Green #Future #root #growth

On inner Strength and Candy

Barbara Bullock, M.F.A. Spiritual writer
Beautiful blossoms along the way from work nourish the soul.
Beautiful blossoms along the way from work nourish the soul.

Perhaps you remember my earlier post on my resolution to take better care of my body this year by making healthier food choices and letting my soul dance more. If not, you might want to read it to understand what I mean as I would like to inspire you today with my next step on this journey.

I used to look for ways to reward myself after a stressful day at work. While waiting for my commuter train on my way home, I would treat myself to several candy bars from the vending machine at the train station thinking that I would feel better. I started to literally look forward to my treat at the end of my work day while still at work. I found all kinds of excuses to eat candy bars as well as other snacks from that machine and made sure that I always had enough coins (and the right ones) with me.

While I thought that the chocolate and sugar would make me happier, relaxed, and feed my soul, the actual ingredients damaged by body uncontrollably by eventually making me overweight, as heavy as I had never been before, and sick. Furthermore, I was still unhappy and sad about many aspects of my life. Finally, at the end of last year, I realized that I had to do something about my health. Since then I have shed almost 30 pounds through tracking my food, exercise, reading books, and listening to hypnosis recordings to try to change my patterns. The latter has just started working in the most miraculous way I can imagine.

I recently had a tough and long day. I really fought the craving and urge to eat at least one candy bar. The old me kept saying: “Eat one, just one!” However, the new me resisted. I had to walk by the vending machines really fast to get away as quickly as possible. My eyes focused on the yummy candy inside when my new me said: “These won’t make you happy, but music or a video will do.” I almost ran downstairs to the platform in order to get away from those vending machines. Sitting on the train, while searching the Internet, I came across a very inspirational video, which indeed lifted me up like no candy ever could!
By the time I came home, I no longer even thought of any sugar and had a healthy dinner instead. Writing this after dinner sipping relaxing tea, I am not just happy. I am proud of myself and grateful for how far I have come. I am on my way to normal weight. My new me cannot wait to pass those candy bars easily tomorrow thanks to my inner strength and what those candy bars taught me.

Love, Barbara

Copyright © 2016 by Barbara Bullock, Photo credit © 2016 by Barbara Bullock
#Selflove # Soul #Music #Video #Food #Growth #Craving #Diet #Health #Lifestyle #Weight #Weightloss #Overweight #Candy #Work #Commute #Vendingmachine #Inner #Strength #temptation #stress #overcome #train #trainstation