It's Life Breathe Deeply

The thought of "ONE"

I truly believe in looking at the world as ONE. I also believe in the Golden Rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. Even though we all come with different circumstances; I think we all come from the same place to learn different lessons. Yes, for some it sounds like a fantasy, but I like to think that my life has a purpose and my purpose is to be become a better person not only for my peace, but for the benefit of the people around me. I think that our children should grow up with a sense of ONE community. This has been lost in the years past and we should work on getting it back.

There is no need to wait until we have a problem, natural disaster or disease to consider helping the people around us. I think it is our responsibility to live aware of other people's needs. If we build a sense of community, we would save ourselves a lot of unnecessary stress. The idea of being ONE is not a great revelation. In fact, you even see it in shoe ads. However, the majority of us do not live as ONE. Many are calling this the trend of the generations to come. If so, we should then take charge and move faster to get closer to this powerful movement. 

I lived for many years in the me, myself and I world and it truly didn't give me any great satisfactions. On the contrary; it was like going to war on a daily basis. My EGO was so big and the sense of only ME was so great that there was no other way than go to war when this is what rules your life.

It was not until I realized that this was not the way to live that I began my own rehab. After 21 days of strict meditation and connection with my real self, I began to notice the change in me. It was then when I started feeling part of a whole and a sense of responsibility towards that whole. When that shift happened in my life, it was when I realized that I had learned a great lesson that would help me find my purpose in life.

To me there is no doubt we come with a purpose and on the way to achieving this purpose we must learn many lessons. Most of these lessons come to help us understand the meaning and importance of being ONE. Through this acceptance and understanding we can achieve true happiness.

When we open ourselves to others with kindness, best intention and selflessness we can find the treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Of course we must be Selfish!!!

Well...now that I got your attention you know will I say that everything with balance!

Webster’s definition of selfish:

1: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others

Now...I definitely consider that everything we say, think (thoughts are powerful) or do must be analyzed based on the consequences that could arise from our thoughts and actions. Of course we can control our thoughts and most importantly our actions!!

Isn't it common to say; "I should have never said that" or "I should have thought before doing that"? We should always keep in mind that everything has a consequence. If we want to get a bit more sophisticated, let's say that the things you do today are not causes but outcomes of future actions. Taking that into account you might be a bit more careful about what you do, what you say and what you think.

Many of our thoughts and actions might come from selfishness. Really, what do we gain when we constantly push to have things our way? Isn't true that happiness is accomplished through the act of making others happy?

When we practice making others happy by letting go of the excessively or exclusively concern with oneself, it is when we actually understand that through a little "self-interest" we become the best person we were meant to be. When we let go of our mask and we put the ME aside, we are able to understand that we are the only ones responsible of taking care of ourselves.

I hear so much the classic complaint; "my partner doesn't make me happy". Well, it is not your husband, wife, partner, children or anyone's responsibility to make you happy. Only you can bring happiness to your life and this is the selfishness I talk about. Through stripping our layers down and developing our true self we find genuine bliss. When we step aside and think things through and develop the ability to recognize that it doesn't have to be our way or that everything we say is final, then we begin to feel peace, love and harmony within ourselves.

It is then when I can humanly say I am tired and communicate it in a loving way. It is when I can look in the mirror and say I need make-up without having to ask my husband if I look ugly. It is when I can recognize that I need to exercise or change my eating habits without blaming my pregnancies or my years of marriage. It is when I can say…I need a break and retreat to a short meditation or a simple manicure/pedicure without yelling at everyone or making everyone feel guilty for my state of being.

When we practice selflessness with a little bit of selfishness we can reach such a level of joy that we want to share it with others and we create a sense of compassion never experienced before. It is through this state of being that we understand we must take care of ourselves and we must be kindhearted with our loved ones, peers and others in general.

Start by practicing mindfulness. Be aware, careful and cautious about what you say, think and do. Develop a conversation with your own Wisdom.

Practice, practice, practice and you will begin to surf through your life... 

I climbed in the crib...for you my dear friend Karla!

Tuesday was not a happy day for me. One of my good friends from my professional/executive days at Cartier International and luckily my life as a wife and a mom, passed away from a long battle with breast cancer. I call this terrible disease an epidemic because by now I know way too many women that have been affected by it. I don't want to give this horrible condition much more energy, but I do want to honor my friend Karla Camacho Borges for her courage.

I will definitely honor you by always remembering you. It is impossible to forget you. What an example and what a fighter she was! Always in a great mood and always staying positive.

What lesson can I learn from her passing? I must always cherish every moment and work on letting go of the insignificant stuff in my life...so this evening I was able to let go of my typical sergeant demeanor with my children's nighttime schedule and for the first time in my life, I climbed in the crib with my two year old.

I was able to let go of my inflexible rules as a parent to honor the lack of her existence in this plane.  I wanted my child to feel that physical presence that one day will not be around him. While I was inside that little crib, I could not stop remembering my friend and how much she loved her two little girls. In a magical and mysterious way she is there keeping them company and guiding them along the way. I truly believe that there is much more than a body of flesh and bones.

However, while I am still on playground Earth, my children will know that I am around and that I am here for them every moment of the day, my husband will know that I am here to support him and to be his loving partner for life. My parents will know that I am eternally grateful for their lessons; my sister will know that we will be together forever sipping coffee or tea on the banks of the Seine River in Paris and my friends must know that I am here for absolutely anything they need.

Can we make a loving, honest and flexible commitment to the people we love to let go of the bitching and insignificant stuff and concentrate on the things that really matter? If there is one real rule in life it should be based on the idea of living our lives with love. Love is like a good virus and the more we give of it, the more we bless others.  

After all, when we leave this plane and pass on to that magical and mysterious world, this is the only feeling we can leave to make our loved ones feel good and remember us with a smile on their face.

I will miss you Karla, but you will always be a part of me especially on those nights I will relax and climb into my child's crib.

Attempting to Control Others?

Attempting to Control Others Attracts More to Be Controlled... It is easy to understand how you would come to the conclusion that your path to feeling good is through influencing or controlling the behavior of others. But as you attempt to control them (through influence or coercion), you discover that not only can you not contain them - but your attention to them brings more like them into your experience. You simply cannot get to where you want to be by controlling or eliminating the unwanted.
--- Abraham

Excerpted from from Abraham's newest book, The Vortex, Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships

A Slap on My Face!!!

So this journey begins with a "slap on my face". Many have called me a peaceful person, the guru in creating harmony or the most easy going when it comes to day to day activities. However, this comes at a perfect time just when I begin this blog named It's Life Breathe Deeply. (The name came to me in the middle of the night at around 2 or 3 AM...trying to avoid an Exorcism of Emily Rose moment)

Why a slap on my face? As I begin this journal to share humble teachings on life, empowerment, wisdom, motivation and many other thoughts of practice, I realize that my journey is an ongoing one of growing each day. I have yet a lot to conquer to be at the place of total harmony that I am looking to reach. It is harmony as a woman, mother, wife, friend and individual on this Earth. 

These last two weeks, while I have been out of my comfort zone traveling with my husband and children, I have not been on my best behavior simply because I have not slept well, I have had to handle the three kids without a daily routine and I have not had my much needed quiet time.

It is during situations like this one that I have to be most aware that every thought in my mind is a creation in process. Every thought in my mind can be constructive or destructive. Every thought in my mind can create harmony or war. Moments like this is when I realize that the sole responsibility of my family's comfort and happiness depends on my self-control. This is when I must practice more than ever being in "healthy" state of being.  It is very simple. After all the nice clothes, make-up, fancy shoes, beautiful house, fabulous trips and events, the emotional stability of my family depends on me.  Yes, the emotional stability of our families depend on us WOMEN.

We don't have to be married or even be mothers to have such responsibilities. Just the fact of being born female is enough to grant us the title of leaders of love, peace and harmony. It is us that will create a good atmosphere in our homes and it is us and only us the ones that will make our world turn in the right direction. It is no-one else's responsibility to bring happiness to our lives.  

I love my husband and three sons dearly and they truly complete me. Even though I will raise my boys the old fashion way teaching them about chivalry, love, responsibility, total respect to the opposite sex and knowing that we are all equal, I already feel for the women in their lives. They will have to come well-equipped with high self-esteem, solid careers/goals and great love for themselves. These are solid attributes that will help them live with great happiness and fulfillment. The rest of the experiences in their lives will come as a compliment and as a product of their creations based on their mind control and thought process.

After all, the slap on my face has been nothing more than a reminder that I could not be happier with what I have created in my life. Even though I have not slept well or have not had any quiet time in two weeks; it is all I have wanted. I wish I could stop time to savor the contrast of these moments because I know that in a couple of years it will just be a memory.

Have you been slapped on your face recently?