Inspirational Words of the Day7

The Way of Destiny - Part 2

 “When things are going our way, we go with the flow.”

“When things are not going our way, we take it easy.”

These are the simple rules to live by. Yes, the rules are simple but why make things complicated?  If life is to be like water, we would all be flowing in a sea of change, whether we like it or not. Water is always flowing even if it seems calm on the surface. We should learn to adapt by being flexible like water. In time of change, resistance is futile and the best we can do is to channel our effort towards it and by doing so, we can move in the path of least resistance.

We have the resource that is in our head to think of ways to manage change. The resource within us can empower us to face change with courage and not be deterred by it. This is important for the sake of progress because when we embrace change, we pick up new skills and knowledge that contribute to our success. Our survival depends on our ability to adapt to change but we can only be truly successful if we thrive at what we do despite our preconceived notion and dogmas. This is where our habits and character can be our stumbling blocks to change.

To change our destiny, we need to change our character, our ability and desire. These are three factors that are interwoven into our psyche and mindset. It was postulated that whatever the mind perceives and believes, it can achieve. However, for our thoughts to become a reality, it takes more than just wishful thinking and determination. We need to use our ability and feed our desire to be the person of our dream even though we are the embodiment of our own character. It is an uphill task and go against the flow of nature when we try to change our destiny.

Destiny cuts across four dimensions in the realms of human endeavours – the physical, mental, emotion and spiritual. Each of the three factors involve all or some of these dimensions where time and space exist. Everything in life is time and space. We cannot manage time, but we can manage the activities within a timeframe and space. This is where our mindset is a playground of hopes, dreams, desires, and aspirations. When we change our focus, we change our thoughts to produce an outcome. Our mind is the centre of life force known as Qi. Where our thoughts go, Qi follows. To flow with Qi, we need to be like water. Being flexible and adaptable to change, we are not bound by conventions, dogmas, or self-limiting beliefs.

When the truth is revealed to us in the form of change, we should accept it unconditionally and face it with resourceful courage. The resources that nature has equipped us with in the form of our physique, mind, emotion, and spirituality are for us to tapped into for embracing change courageously. Only then can we hope to change our destiny for the better.

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The Way of Destiny - Part 1

 

Looking back at my life, I often wondered what it would have been if only I knew then what I know now. I wish I could say I have been there and done that for most of the important matters in my life. A track record of a person’s journey through time is nothing but experiences. We use our past experiences to navigate the unfamiliar territory when change forces us to adapt. The past can be comforting when the future makes us uncomfortable. We try to find some semblance of certainty in the unknown even though in our heart and mind, there is fear and reservation.

This is where our mind is the resource we can tap into for courage. Change is nothing to fear as it pushes us to adapt and change our ways of thinking. Our mind is an anchor that ground us to the present even though time is a function of change. By remaining flexible and not be weigh down by our dogmas and preconceived notions, we can always be like water and go with the flow.

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the terrains over which it flows. About seventy percent of our planet is ocean. And water is one of the elements of nature. It is the most influential element that exerts it energy over the inhabitants of earth. We need water to survive and its pre-eminence in our lives is unquestionable. It is a resource that we cannot do without.

Our mind can be fluid like water. Even though our thoughts and thinking are shaped by our past experiences which become our habits, we can still break through the shackles of emotional fixation by assimilating the quality of water. This is an element that is constantly moving just like the constancy of change. When we let our mind to go with the flow of our habits, it will be difficult for us to accept change unconditionally. But if we make a conscious effort to open our mind to change and learn to mind our thoughts, we can question everything that comes into our head. This is when epiphany and enlightenment have a chance to reveal itself. And when the truth comes to the surface, we should accept it unconditionally like fresh water rejuvenating us.

We can be resourceful like water if we train our mind to be flexible in using our skills, knowledge and experiences. Despite our fear of uncertainty and the unknown, we have the resourceful courage within us to effect change instead of waiting for change to happen. Change is constant and water is the companion of change. No matter what the terrain is, water will always flow through to its destination.

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Fishing with Chinese Astrology (The Four Pillars of Destiny)

 

“Give a man a fish and he will eat it for one day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”.

Teach a man how to catch a fish starts with making a fishing rod that comes with a line, hook and bait. As a whole, the rod, line, hook and bait enables you to catch a fish. How good you are in catching a fish or for that matter, how successful you are in life depends on the resources you have.

Metaphorically, the rod represents the support you have, the line represents your strength of character and the hook and bait is your creative output or ability.

We are given the resources in the form of our character and ability. These are two most important trades that we can develop to succeed in life. Our character can be a force for good or evil and from it, we can put our ability to good or bad use. The life we live is borne out of the dynamic interplay between our character and ability. It is a well-known fact that our character and ability is largely determined by our genes. As such, can we choose to live our lives based on our genetic predisposition?

According to Chinese Astrology, the answer is yes! In the field of Chinese Metaphysics, there is a branch of Chinese Astrology known as the Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi) which maps out a person’s life path from cradle to grave. The pillars represent the year, month, day and hour of one’s birth. Within these four pillars, there are the heavenly stems and earthly branches. The stems and branches are composed of the five elements and twelve animal signs.

Our character and ability are read from the four pillars which contain our genetic codes. However, not all the traits we are born with are carved in stone. We can alter some of our inborn traits in the early childhood years through the help and support of our parents.  They can shape us into responsible and capable adults through inculcation of good values and provision of sound education.  However, this is not within our control and a lot depends on our parents. For this, we live it to fate and the four pillars of destiny, especially the year pillar which represents our childhood. As such, the year pillar is pivotal in terms of our destiny because this is where it begins.

As for the rest of the three pillars, we can rely on free will to pave the path to our success.  This is where the fishing expedition starts. We can be given the resources by our parents or we can strive to be resourceful on our own, difficult as it may be but not impossible as validated by many rags to riches stories. Luck also play a part when we meet helpful people along the way. Timing is the other factor that is crucial. This is when we need to take the right action at the right time.

We can choose the pond to catch the fishes and the right time is not when we are hungry. As long as we are opportunistic and ready with our fishing gear, the timing will always work in our favour.   In marketing terms, we always provide customers with what they need in order to secure the sales. In this regard, knowing where to fish (the market) and how to formulate the strategy (the hook) and what to offer (the bait) takes resources of the company (the fishing rod), the salesperson’s strength of character in terms of determination and persistency (fishing line) and the salesperson’s creative ability and output (hook and bait).

Here’s a tip. If you want to know what element is good for sale, you just need to look at the fire element in your birth chart. If it is favourable to you and at the right strength, you can be successful in selling. And by analysing the four pillars of destiny in detail, we can tell the character and ability of the person through the elements and the animal signs and whether he or she can catch a fish for life!

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Chinese Astrology - The BaZi Way To Luck

In the pursuit of happiness, the Chinese has devised a way to decipher the luck of a person. Whether he or she can be lucky for marriage, career, wealth or health depends on the configuration of the heavenly stems and earthly branches. 

The heavenly stems display the face value of the person such as their prevailing traits for all to see. Each heavenly stem exhibits the person’s external character. 

The earthly branches hold the seeds to a person true character and what is in their mind. Each earthly branch hides the person’s internal character. 

Together, the stems and branches form the four pillars of destiny or Ba Zi birth chart.

Get the hottest book on the Four Pillars of Destiny and Get The Life You Want The Chinese Astrological Way.

In order to truly know a person from the inside, we need to look at the hidden stems as well. The motivation of a person or what drives him or her towards a certain action can be uncovered from the hidden stems. In order words, a person’s inner thoughts and motives can be unveiled behind the mask they put on.

Then there is the Day Master which embodies your character and personality. It is YOU. It personifies who you are. Ideally, the Day Master should be well rooted in its own pillar. This is what people calls WYSWYG. What you see is what you get when dealing with such a person whose Day Master is as straight as a tree. 

The Day Master is the most important stem in a BaZi birth chart. It is the point of reference for all the stems and branches. It determines the balance of the BaZi birth chart. Whether you are weak or strong, the stems and branches play an interactive role to support or weaken you. 

Then there is the season of birth which can make an element strong or weak including the Day Master. It governs the temperature of the BaZi birth chart based on the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter. If you are born in the right season, you are considered as strong. If you are not born in the right season, you are deemed to be weak. But that is only a simplistic way to assess the strength of a Ba Zi birth chart. The quality of a Ba Zi birth chart does not rest on its strength per se but the interaction of the stems and branches within it. Ultimately, the quality of a Ba Zi birth chart and hence, a person’s life hinges on the clarity and harmony of one’s Day master in relation to the stems and branches.

If you want to get a personalized reading of your Ba Zi birth chart to find your luck, please visit my websites BaziDestiny and Proactive-qi.

Chinese Astrology (Ba Zi) and Wealth Luck

Hang it on the Trouble Tree!

I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse. He had a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of some branches with both hands. As he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So, I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again." Then he smiled and said, "Funny thing is, when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Measure Twice, Cut Once!

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. So measure twice and cut once. Build wisely!

The mountain climber

There was a mountain climber who, desperate to conquer a mountain, initiated his climb after years of preparation. But he wanted the glory to himself, therefore, he went up alone. He started climbing and it was becoming later, and later. He did not prepare for camping, but decided to keep on going.

Soon it got dark. Night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude. Visibility was zero. Everything was black. There was no moon, and the stars were covered by clouds.

As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could only see blotches of darkness that passed. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity. He kept falling... and in those anguishing moments good and bad memories passed through his mind. He thought certainly he would die.

But then he felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. Yes! Like any good mountain climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist. In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air he had no other choice but to shout: "HELP ME GOD. HELP ME!"

All of a sudden he heard a deep voice from heaven... "What do you want me to do?"

"SAVE ME."

"Do you REALLY think that I can save you?"

"OF COURSE, MY GOD."

"Then cut the rope that is holding you up."

There was another moment of silence and stillness. The man just held tighter to the rope. The rescue team says that the next day they found a frozen mountain climber hanging strongly to a rope...
TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND.

------------

How about you? How trusting are you in that rope? Why don't you let it go?
CUT THE ROPE AND SIMPLY TRUST IN HIM.

Adversity builds character

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.

If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength... and God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom... and God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity... and God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage... and God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love... and God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors... and God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ... I received everything I needed!

If Tomorrow Never Comes

If I knew it would be the last time that
I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise.
I would video tape each action and word,
so that I could replay it back day by day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say "I love you",
instead of assuming, that you know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would be there to share your day,
but I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can just let this one slip away.

For surely there's a tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything right.

There will always be another day
to say our "I love you's"
and certainly there's another chance
to say our "anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much "I love you"
and hope you never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young and old alike,
and today may be the last chance you get
to hold your loved ones tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day.

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
whisper in their ear,
tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear.

Take the time to say "I'm sorry,"
please forgive me. "Thank you" or "it's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

"Count Your Blessings"

If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved... but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you... you may have touched their life in ways you will never know!

Is Your Life Out of Balance?

One day, you wake up and realize that your life is not turning out the way you expected.

Even though you are flying high in your career and money is pouring in but you do not seem to have the luxury of time to enjoy it, you're probably out of balance. If your hobbies and pet projects are depriving you from spending time with your friends and family, most likely your life is out of balance. If you are so caught up with other priorities in your life and ignore your health, you probably need a balance restoration. If you have the house, the car, the club, the holiday retreat but no one to share it with, your life is out of order.

Have you ever wondered whether you are living life too much on the edge or scurrying through life like there is no tomorrow? If you have, you should start to look at balancing life's priorities. Balance may sound good in theory but is hard to apply in "real" life unless you know how to tune into the energy within yourself and your living space by taking up meditation, Feng Shui or other life sciences.

With the constant pressure from work and families, it seem daunting to be able to empower oneself to accomplish all the things you would like to do. We may also stress ourselves by putting the needs of others ahead of our own. However, this may be a costly mistake in the long run. Nervous breakdown, burnout, depression and ill health are often the consequences for not making balance a priority in our lives.

History has proves that great leaders and successful individuals throughout time have somehow known intuitively, the importance of having balance in their lives. Instead of living to work, they worked to live. Along the way, they became much more enlightened, happy, well-rounded and balanced in their lives…characteristics which correlate to Success.

At this stage, you may be asking how you too, could achieve more balance in your life and hope for peace of mind and contentment that result from it. The first step is to find out which areas of your life are out of balance.

OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE

What did you see when you read the title of this article? Did you see
OPPORTUNITY IS NOWHERE or OPPORTUNITY IS NOW HERE? Whether opportunity is nowhere to be found or is now here is a matter of perspective. Like the title of this article, it depends on how we view life. Everything good that happens to us is an opportunity that we have found. Everything "bad" that happens to us is an opportunity waiting to be discovered.

Take the case of Gracie and Walter. They decided to make their honeymoon peaceful and quiet, as well as romantic, so they left for a log cabin in the country. Every morning at sunrise, however, a woodpecker started hammering at the roof. The sounds echoed throughout the room, disturbing the sleep of the newlyweds. Did they get frustrated and angry? Did they demand to move to another cabin? No, they laughed it off. In fact, they used this "disturbance" as an opportunity. They used it as inspiration for creating the Woody Woodpecker cartoon character. You see, Walter Lantz was the cartoonist and his wife, Gracie, became the voice of Woody Woodpecker!

Some, like Walter and Gracie, RESPOND to a disturbance by changing it into a positive event. Others REACT in anger, oblivious to the hidden opportunity. When we respond, we are in charge; we use our reason and creativity to advance. But when we react, we abdicate our control to our emotions; we remain stuck in the mire of mediocrity. For those who react to every difficulty, opportunity is nowhere. Perhaps they're afraid of getting eyestrain by looking at the bright side. But for those who respond to every challenge, opportunity is now here. They have an open mind, heart and eyes.

Ladies, what if you were born unattractive? Would that be a disadvantage or an opportunity? According to Golda Meir, Israel's first woman Prime Minister, "Not being beautiful was the true blessing. Not being beautiful forced me to develop my inner resources. The pretty girl has a handicap to overcome."

What happens when someone becomes destitute? Should they throw in the towel or try to uncover a hidden opportunity? Read what Eileen Caddy said, "When you feel that you have reached the end and that you cannot go one step further, when life seems to be drained of all purpose: What a wonderful opportunity to start all over again, to turn over a new page."

If we are to uncover opportunity, we must realize that it often comes disguised as a problem, challenge, or obstacle. Barriers are meant to be smashed and hurdles meant to be jumped. Sure, life is full of hard knocks, but it may be opportunity that is knocking. Thomas A. Edison explains another reason why opportunities are often overlooked, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks
like work."

Opportunities abound. We are faced with hundreds, if not daily, weekly. They are in the choices we make all during the day. Do I drink water or coffee? Do I skip rope in the gym or skip my exercise? Do I jump to opportunities or jump to conclusions? Do I accept helpful criticism or ignore it. Do I arrive at work early or late? Can you see how each choice I make results in an opportunity gained or lost? To take advantage of the power of choice, it is a good idea to review our decisions at the end of the day. With constant evaluation, our choices will improve. Don't trivialize the importance of the smallest decisions, for small opportunities add up to big ones.

Why are there so many people who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity? Those who complain of lack of opportunity frequently have no goals. How can we find what we are not looking for? The golden opportunity we are searching for is within ourselves. It is our perception, attitude, and ambition that bring opportunity to life. It is our choices and actions that result in opportunity. Opportunity comes not only by our
willingness to strike while the iron is hot, but by striking until the iron grows hot.

It is worth remembering Douglas MacArthur's words, "There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity." Also significant is this Arabian Proverb, "Four things come not back. The spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity." Thomas Jones describes something we do not want to do: "Many do with opportunities as children do at the seashore; they fill their little hands with sand, and then let the grains fall through, one by one, till all are gone." Let's graciously accept all the opportunities offered to us, diligently uncover those hidden from us, and enthusiastically create those denied to us. When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade and profit from it!

The Yin & Yang in Life

The most destructive habit........................Worry

The greatest joy......................................…..Giving

The saddest loss.....................................…. Self-respect

The most satisfying work.........................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait.....................Selfishness

The most endangered species.................Dedicated leaders

The least tapped natural resource..................The Human Mind

The greatest "pick me up"..................Encouragement

The greatest fear to overcome..........Fear itself

The most effective sleeping pill...............Peace of mind

The most self degenerating disease.........Excuses

The most powerful force in life................Love

The most dangerous individual..............A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer...The brain

The worst thing to be without..................Hope

The sharpest organ in our body .............The tongue

The two most power-filled words............"I Can"

The greatest respect we bestow upon God …...Faith

The most worthless emotion......................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire............................A smile!

The most prized possession...................... Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication.......Prayer

The most contagious spirit.........................Enthusiasm

The most expandable room in our living space …. The room for improvement

"Here we Grow again!"

Don't worry if you have problems! Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know. But the only people I am aware of who don't have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries. If you're breathing, you have difficulties. It's the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you!

Let me explain. Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef. On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. "I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful," a traveler observed. "Why is this?" The guide gave an interesting answer: "The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms & surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And it reproduces." Then he added this telling note: "That's the way it is with every living organism."

That's how it is with people. Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness. So, you have problems? No problem! Just tell yourself, "Here I grow again!'