Browse published articles attributed to Maria Khalife, with full-archive search.
"Don't make excuses - make good." ~ Elbert Hubbard When you make a promise to someone, you make a commitment to that individual. You can make this promise in two ways: with full intention of keeping the commitment, or as a way of dismissing glibly with no intention of keeping the commitment. Do you keep your promise?
"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway." ~ Mary C. Crowley Constant worry is a trait that many of us have - but it doesn't have to be that way. When each of us was born, we were given the most magnificent gift and the ability and freedom to use it in any manner that we prefer. This most precious present was given to us gratis and one of the things we are doing silently and invisibly while we learn to walk, talk, read, etc. is to use this fabulous, free gift.
You all know how passionate I am about facilitating change in my life and in the lives of my clients, family and friends. I'd like to share a list with you this week so you can look closely at your own life and find some new ways to improve through changing. 1. Silent Observation. Quietly watch yourself in as objective a manner as you can. Watch your reactions. Watch your thoughts. Watch your activity. Watch how you interact with other people. This is a way of benchmarking yourself at the beginning of any attempts to change.
For what is the state of either prayer or meditation? It is the restraining of the mind to a single act, state, or thought. If we sit down quietly and investigate the contents of our minds, we shall find that even at the best of times the principal characteristics are wandering and distraction. Any one who has had anything to do with children and untrained minds generally knows that fixity of attention is never present, even when there is a large amount of intelligence and good will. ~ Alistair Crowleyr
Our world is so fast paced, and fast food driven, that the main reason for food - enjoyment and nutrition - has fallen to the wayside. I think it's a great idea to return to a slower time, prepare more meals at home, eat with family and friends and make better choices about eating. 1. Begin by being open, curious and kind with yourself and your choices. 2. Recognize that breaking free from the pain of overweight is mainly a desire to find a rhythm, an order, and a natural push for light in your life. 3. Why Do You Overeat? Do you eat to fill emotional voids?
Have you ever wondered why we crave the downtime a weekend away affords us? Consider the fact that our brains actually need leisure and fun to function. Just as exercise releases endorphins, so does laughter. Positivity and pleasurable activities give the brain a chance to “cool-down” from the high-pressure demands of work and everyday responsibilities. Stress-relief isn’t just a release; it is necessary for us to continue to function at our very best. It is crucial to give your brain and body a break, so take leisure time seriously.
The secret to success is not to try to avoid, get rid of, or shrink from your problems. The secret is to grow yourself so that you're bigger than any problem. ~ T. Harv Eker We learned in high school math class that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points. I think the only time I've ever been able to apply that law is when I'm walking a long distance. I use it to create short cuts. Wouldn't it be sweet if in our lives, we could just take the straight, short distance to accomplish whatever it is we want?
God, make me so uncomfortable that I will do the very thing I fear. ~ Ruby Dee If you've done much driving - and I have in several countries - you've encountered safety devices on the roads in one form or another. I heard a story told by Michael Neil about Road Turtles that you might find interesting and you will discover how your own uncomfortable feelings are like the road turtles of your mind.
Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. ~ Kahlil Gibran Love is a mystery element. Defining it has challenged mankind for centuries. I think that defining love has to be left for each individual to accomplish, but there can be many things said to point you individuals along the right path. Did you ever share your lunch at school with someone who had no lunch? That's love. Have you ever spent an afte oon listening to a worried employee? That's love. Have you ever given up a great parking space to someone else?
"Awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." rn~ Teilhard de Chardin
"Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods." ~ C. S. Lewis Moods are frequently blamed for our lack of action. I know you've both heard and said "I don't feel like it." That's a generic and evasive saying that can have many other meanings.
"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." ~ Thomas Merton Everyone with any degree of sensibleness wants his life to be balanced. The tips for how to achieve this or for the Key Ingredients that make it demonstrable vary from opinion to opinion. I'm going to lay out some ideas for you to see if your life may be in balance. Life is like a mental sandwich: part work part play part serious thinking and part restful enjoyment. Another way to look at it is: All that you do is enjoyabler
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." ~ Paul Boese We are frequently quick to brush away an insult, a hurt or harsh words with a flick of our wrist and dismiss it with casual words like "That's okay," or "Not a problem." Forgiving someone is more than just a reaction. In actuality, those seemingly casual words may be carrying along two messages: -I forgive you.rn-It's okay for you to hurt me repeatedly because I'll just dismiss it.
"One of the first signs of being depressed is that you lose interest in things. That's why I think it is important to stay passionate." ~ Nicholas Cage The word passion is keenly enticing and brings along many individual visions when it is uttered. In it's many definitions, the word always centers around one core issue: the heart motivation behind whatever action is being motivated. Because February is generally a month closely affiliated with heart-based motives, I thought you might appreciate some discussion about passion.
Spring is about making fresh starts. Housewives wash down walls. Gardeners plant vegetables. And you can detox to improve your overall health. Here are some key items to consider for detoxing your body. Detoxing is a high priority for those desirous of a healthy lifestyle. Both diet and exercise increase your health advantages. Combining the following foods in the tastiest manner will aid in your detoxing. • Fruit – eating fresh fruit is very important, and any kind of fruit is okay. Real fruit juices also work as long as they don’t contain sugar or preservatives.
Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. ~ Martin Luther King Can you think back to this week a year ago today when I presented the idea to you for forming a nucleus that will foster peace in the Middle East and grant ours and our following generations the experience that I knew Life intended - Lasting Peace?
“Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.” ~ Kahlil Gibran I believe that each of us is called to enjoy life fully. I believe that health, wealth, success, happiness and joy are our natural, born-with inheritance.
"I must say, I don't feel very qualified to be a pop star. I feel very awkward at times in the role." ~ Edward de Bono As we live our lives, we have the option of playing a lot of different roles. Some we choose. Some, we just seem to slide into, like the role you played in your family. We assume these roles either consciously or inadvertently because of our desire to remain balanced. Some people become Caregivers to their parents when they sense the weakness in them. Some people become the Top Athlete so they can achieve for their parents.
"All the good, fine, noble, and creative acts of humanity were conceived as a spark in a single human consciousness." ~ Peter McWilliamsr
"The stages of the Noble Path are: Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Behavior, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration." ~ Buddha In our hurry worry world of demanding activity, wouldn't it be wonderful to develop a method of accomplishing all that we want to effortlessly? I'm not talking about waving a magic want here. I'm talking about developing a stress-free consciousness, that allows us to move steadily forward toward the accomplishment of anything we've chosen to do and to do it efficiently without stress.
"He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise." ~ Henry David Thoreau The word savor means to enjoy an experience, activity, or feeling as much as you can for as long as you can. It also means to enjoy the flavor of something you are eating as much as you can by eating it or drinking it slowly, focusing on the taste.
"One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters." ~ - George Herbert Fatherhood is filled with joy and challenge. A father’s role in the lives of his children provides untold benefit: economic stability, nurturing, role modeling, and security and this role cannot be diminished.
Our world is so fast paced, and fast food driven, that the main reason for food - enjoyment and nutrition - has fallen to the wayside. I think it's a great idea to return to a slower time, prepare more meals at home, eat with family and friends and make better choices about eating. 1. Begin by being open, curious and kind with yourself and your choices. 2. Recognize that breaking free from the pain of overweight is mainly a desire to find a rhythm, an order, and a natural push for light in your life. 3. Why Do You Overeat? Do you eat to fill emotional voids?
"Two men looked out of prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars." ~ F. Langbridge All human beings get to define "what success means for me." Our ideas about success unfold over the years. Once we've mastered using eating utensils, how to walk, the subjects taught in schools, relationships, we narrow down the field of desired successes, focusing on fewer ideas. It's the laser focusing that creates the most success.
Each year, when my birthday rolls around again, it serves as a reminder of what I've learned over the past twelve months and how sharing these simple ideas with you is my way of paying it forward. I love Being the Change and I encourage you to Be the Change in your life as well. Here's a little Alphabet of Instructions to assist you. Attitude: Attitude governs everything I do. It's so much more important than all the facts I've learned, than any experience I have, than how I look or what skills I have unfolded. My attitude is the driving force behind all my actions.
A moderate addiction to money may not always be hurtful; but when taken in excess it is nearly always bad for the health. ~ Clarence Day How Do You Identify Addiction - Originally, addiction meant "devotion to" something good. Today, the meaning has changed to be the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. Are you aware of the warning signs of addiction?
Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. ~ Mario Andretti
I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can't truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles. ~ Zig Ziglar
Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought. ~Napoleon Hill Life Mastery frequently involves repetition. You recognize there's a life problem; you do your level best to deal with the problem; you see the problem appear yet again and you begin to think "How many layers have to be peeled off before I can say I'm done with this?"
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. ~ Francis of Assisi On the occasion of Easter, because we can see so much pain and suffering everywhere, I wanted to share this special newsletter with you about what I have learned about prayer. * I have learned that prayer is having a special friendship with God. * I have learned it's much wiser to pray for strength than for lighter burdens.r
Action expresses priorities. ~ Gandhi In order to move ahead, it's sometimes necessary to move backwards from the end. So many of us have a bad habit - procrastination. This problematic mental attitude affects all of us to one degree or another and overcoming procrastination can be a challenge for anyone.
Just do it! ~ Nike Commercial Yes, you CAN begin in February. I've offered you dozens and dozens of ideas throughout the month of January so that you could make a plan for 2011 to accomplish Being the Change this year. I'd love for you to become healthier, wealthier, happier and more successful in 2011 that you were in any preceding year. Planning for change is the first step. But in case you're one of those people who think that just reading articles is a way to make change, here's yet another approach to help you achieve success this year.
There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub. ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Those who face life placidly and harmoniously do so admirably because of their level of deepened spirituality. My favorite, Gandhi was such a one. He said "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clea ess. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." Those who know the truth have cultivated inner peace.r
Laughter is the best medicine. ~ Proverbs Laughter is puzzling. We don't know where it comes from, but we do know that we like it. Babies like to laugh, we like to laugh at them laughing, don't we? We certainly don't work to discover in a scholarly way what laughter is or the benefits of laughter. We just enjoy the power of laughter and accept it as part of our life experience. We like it and when we haven't experienced it for a while, we miss it. We feel so good after a good belly laugh that makes tears come out of our eyes.
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama Compassion is a strong feeling of recognition between ourselves and others. It's saying "Brother, I can feel what you are feeling." To practice compassion is to recognize that we are all in this grand human adventure together, and if you hurt, I hurt. If you celebrate, I celebrate.
"Action expresses priorities." M. Gandhi In our world today, the things that make the big news are the "big things." Even the most humble things only get addressed when they become a big movement, such as the publicity around the charitable works of Mother Theresa and "paying it forward".
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." ~ Albert F. Geoffrey
We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds. ~ Anton Chekov January is the month we have arbitrarily chosen to begin again. Hopefully, we can put a new twist on them by using mind power to promote I Am Peace and I am Power. Here at Change Coaching Institute, we have re-designed our ezines and reformatted the materials we are sending out to you each week to keep things fresh! We believe in practicing what we preach.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck We spend much of our lives asking very basic life questions and searching for answers: Who am I? Why am I here? What is Truth? What am I supposed to do? What's my passion? Am I valuable? What makes me truly happy?
An old belief is like an old shoe. We so value its comfort that we fail to notice the hole in it. ~ Robert Brault What do you believe in and how did you acquire these beliefs? When you were a baby, your parents, family and friends took care of you. All you had to do was exist and think your own baby thoughts. You were also in the process of becoming less needy, less dependent and more independent.
Smile. Have you ever noticed how easily puppies make human friends? Yet all they do is wag their tails and fall over. ~Walter Anderson, The Confidence Course, 1997 In 1931, a Merry Melodies cartoon had "Smile Darn Ya, Smile" as its title and the lyrics of the background song. You can watch this on YouTube if you'd like. It makes me think about smiling in general. Smiling is such an enjoyable activity. Can you think of anyone who's sad who can continue being sad and smile at the same time? I can't.
I say that trials and tests locate a person. In other words, they determine where you are spiritually. They reveal the true condition of your heart. How you react under pressure is how the real you reacts. ~ John Bevere
"If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." ~ John F. Kennedy Diversity is the only thing that can do justice to the concept of infinity, and in the Family called Man, the importance of diversity takes first honors. Frequently, because the views of the world do not run deep enough, our decisions about diversity awareness seldom looks further than the color of skin, the texture of a garment, the type of vehicle driven, the quality and quantity of the foods chosen to eat, or the appearance or lack of appearance of a fat wallet.
Every day holds the possibility of a miracle. ~ Elizabeth David This year, let's prepare for success with the right New Year's goals.
"All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarize that society. We can brutalize it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level." ~ William Be bach
"A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself -- to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart." ~ Leo Buscaglia
I'd like to ask you to stroll down memory lane a moment with me. Think back to the early days when you first started dating someone special. Do you remember establishing a sense of love? Oh, how in love you were! You couldn't get enough of one another's company. You were resistant to the cold because of your warming love.