Tag Archives: Peace

Just some babbling about the self and happiness


014 I often have wondered what is the secret to a happy life and for the most part the answers seemed to change with each situation I experienced during the course of my life. So needles to say the answers I thought were correct were just reflections or shadows of the true secret. The real question is if there is a secret to living a happy life or not. Obviously no one can be happy 100% of the time and I am not even sure that only one secret or answer could be found to the question.  The main thing I have learned is one must let go of the prioritization of the self and its desires. The self is the most time and resource consuming part of being a sentient being. Since the self must exist in order for one to be self aware / sentient then we must learn to restrain its ever present demanding voice.

The tendency for humans to be selfish and self centered is basically a natural part of our psyche and though it can not be totally avoided it can be muffled or muted. Therefore Discipline of the mind is also one of the secrets of a happy life, for without mental discipline the self would become center of all and selfishness would be the main controlling factor in our daily lives. To sustain the self and to take care of its needs is something we must do, but to fulfill its wants and desires is something we can all together control or avoid. The self  usually is like a little child who is spoiled and gets all he or she wants with no restriction. In a disciplined mind the self learns that not all it wants will be fulfilled and that there is higher priorities that must be focused on.

Having concern for the welfare of others seems to be somewhat instinctual to most humans though I have noticed a few people who seem to have no concern for others. This is probably because they allow the self to take high priority to the point of selfishness and become apathetic to the concerns of things that are not of any benefit to themselves. For most of us though the welfare of others usually plays at least a small part in our lives if not a major one. Being social creatures that seem to group up to survive and thrive makes the welfare of others a necessity in maintaining the group.

Maybe a lot of the problem in modern society is that not everyone has a social place, there is a lot of people who are just transient social outcasts. People that are either not accepted by the social circles of modern society or who never could find where they belong. Without purpose socially they seem to either become a social ostrich or turtle by hiding their head in the sand and or retracting into their protective shell. This makes them feel unwanted or unneeded so they float from one social circle to the other having no purpose or destination.

So I guess the secret to happiness is to find your place in society and be needed as well as being satisfied with what blessing you have. To care for others and put the self second to the more important things of life. Maybe there really isn’t no real secret or just one formula to happiness, maybe the secret is to find your own path to walk.

Well enough of my truly random thoughts and babbling

Peace

Raymond Barbier

One person could start a change in the world


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Most people would like to change the world in one way or another. The only way to enact change on a large scale one must start with their own selves and start a chain reaction.To change the world we live in is really to change the opinions and beliefs of those who live in it. How can one person get everyone to change their opinions and beliefs? Well One person is all it takes to start a chain reaction of change, look at the 60’s in America how just a few spawned the hippie movement. Look how cults form under the ideas of one person and grow to become large communities such as Waco Texas and the Jim Jones  following. Though these may be negative examples of change , they prove that just one or a few can influence the many.

In a Technological information age as ours the power of one voice can influence a world of people in just seconds if not minutes. Television, Radio and internet are great tools to educate and get your message out to the public. Through these mediums you can either influence others for the good or the bad. Even with such great tools at ones fingertips you must be a leader and be one who leads by example to get others to acknowledge your ideas and philosophy. So start the change in yourself, show others the results and live by your philosophies / beliefs. As the old saying goes the proof is in the pudding, if you cant live by what you preach no one will believe or accept your ideals.

I mean would you follow a man who preaches love and peace while he murders people in the name of his philosophy or religion? Or would you stay at a church where its preacher who breaks every commandment while proclaiming he is either pure or innocent? I wouldn’t follow or believe in either of them, if you can not live by your beliefs and try to follow the rules of your philosophy then why should anyone else. This of course is not saying any preacher or leader will never fall or fail at times for we are all human and prone to make mistakes. With ones actions and freewill is a price we all must pay. The price is responsibility of our own actions and or choices we make. Even the words we speak are our responsibility, for if you mislead someone to their harm or to their disgrace you are responsible for that harm or disgrace.

So one person could start a change in the world and the world could change by the actions and words of one person. One person can change themselves and by doing so influence the change in others around them.

Enough of my Babble and Ramble Thoughts.

Peace and Wisdom be the Prize you seek
Raymond Barbier.

You are the result of what you think


Cover of "As a Man Thinketh (Family Inspi...
Cover via Amazon

Remember the old saying You are what you eat? Well You are the result of what you think. Just like the body needs good food for nutrients and doesn’t need the chemicals and junk food, The mind and body needs positive and happy thoughts to remain in a healthy state. This has been proven time and time again by the negative physical effects from depression, stress and anger along with the positive effects from laughter, happiness and being relaxed. Not only does your thoughts effect your body it also effects your life along with those around you. The more you ponder and or think about something the more of a chance it has to manifest into a reality. It may not manifest in the way you would like or when you would like but it usually will become a reality in one form or another. Of Couse it becomes reality once the thoughts become either a conscious or subconscious action.

“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”

“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called “spontaneous” and “unpremeditated” as to those, which are deliberately executed.”

– As a Man Thinketh – James Allen

Basically if you go around thinking of the opposite sex in a sexual manner while your married it will certainly increase your odds in the favor of cheating. Just if you think you are going to lose your wife or husband to another person you will start subconsciously creating circumstances that will push your partner in that direction and that increases the chance of them either cheating or leaving. Of course  there is a good chance they also will stay true and by your side but the thoughts that started this will still effect your relationship in a negative way.

“Clean thoughts make clean habits. The so-called saint who does not wash his body is not a saint. He who has strengthened and purified his thoughts does not need to consider the malevolent microbe. If you would protect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind.”

“To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self made prison-hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all–such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace to their possessor.”

– As a Man Thinketh – James Allen

You think therefore you are, you think and therefore you become.

Well Peace

R. Barbier

Doing the Right Thing.


Bokeh meditation

Doing a good deed or action with no thought of any reward is truly the most humble and holiest of acts one can produce. To do something with no desire for reward and for the good of someone or something else is the true path to inner peace and happiness. The thing is no matter if you desire reward for and action there is always the satisfaction of doing what is right. That feeling of satisfaction to me is far more precious and important than any monetary or material gain.

The thing is the satisfaction you feel is a mirror of the happiness and peace you brought to the one you selflessly  helped out. Even if the one you helped seems unappreciative it still doesn’t rob you of the goodness you shared nor the satisfaction of a good deed done well. The only way you are robed of the satisfaction is if you focus on the lack of appreciation above the fact and truth you did what was good and or right.

Another good thing about helping out others is you seem to look at your own problems and trials in life to be less important if not less severe than you once had. You also realize that you are not the only one with problems. To do what is right because it is right, is the most honorable and humane thing to do.

Well enough of my Babbling for now.
Peace to All
R. Barbier