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Motivation Mondays: ANEW – #mondaymotivation

04/01/2016
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“I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.” Georgia O’Keeffe

Motivation Mondays: ANEW -- w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

Motivation Mondays: ANEW — w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

 

You cannot hold on to anything good. You must be continually giving – and getting. You cannot hold on to your seed. You must sow it – and reap anew. You cannot hold on to riches. You must use them and get other riches in return. Robert Collier

What does the word ANEW mean to you? It’s a great year and a fresh day to start things anew. We can go back to our old, restrictive, exhausted patterns or try something new. When I became a serious student of yoga and meditation, our Teacher would give lessons in presentations that were filled with pithy insights and great wisdom. Each lesson or sutra shared something with us that lingered in our minds and hearts and gradually settled inside of us; only to surface when the appropriate moment arose.

Some of the insights stayed with me and two that seem appropriate to this post are: “Maintain a beginners mind at all times.” and “The world is as you see it.” We can continue the new year with new eyes and a fresh approach to our personal narratives (the stories we tell ourselves) or we can stay stuck and spin the proverbial wheel over and over again.  I love the quote from Georgia O’Keeffe above because it is a reminder that we are never too old to start afresh, end old habits and strip away what no longer serves us. How are you planning to start anew in 2016?

A Story: View the World and Others Anew
Once a group of beggars afflicted with leprosy came to the assembly of Zen master Bankei, a great-hearted teacher of the masses. Bankei admitted them to his company, and when he initiated them, he even washed and shaved their heads with his own hands.
Now as it happened, there was a certain gentleman present, the representative of a baron who had faith in Bankei and had already built a temple in his province where the teacher could train disciples and lecture to the people.
Revolted by the sight of the Zen master shaving the heads of untouchables, the gentleman hurriedly brought a basin of water for Bankei to wash his hands. But the master refused, remarking, “Your disgust is filthier than their sores.” Source: Zen Antics via Goodweb.cn

 

“It should be one’s sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.”  Gustav Mahler

Motivation Mondays: ANEW -- w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

Motivation Mondays: ANEW — w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

Each day the world is born anew for him who takes it rightly. James Russell Lowell
This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Have you had any Happy Endings and New Beginnings this year? I love the idea of Happy Endings and New Beginnings because it gives the feeling of not only newness but of a joyful separation from what no longer serves us.  We can create an impression that what we left behind wasn’t exactly dreadful but that it was time to shift gears. When we let go of what no longer holds us hostage and start on a new path, we need to train our minds to see that old and worn thing for what it is and also to release it with gratitude and grace.

When we hold onto a pattern, addiction, behavior, or a relationship in our minds, while claiming we have let go, those very things linger. They remain very close to the surface of our lives and can quickly take hold of us again and again… Letting go and starting anew requires some measure of joy, compassion, gratitude, and decisive action. If we claim we have made that leap and yet we look with one eye turned to what we let go, it will remain with us. Start afresh in earnest and be compassionate with your past… let the “stuff” go!  May all your happy endings bring happy new beginnings!

A Story: Reconnect Anew with YOUR Treasure House
Daiju visited the master Baso in China.
Baso asked: “What do you seek?”
“Enlightenment,” replied Daiju.
“You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?” Baso asked.
Daiju inquired: “Where is my treasure house?”
Baso answered: “What you are asking is your treasure house.”
Daiju was delighted! Ever after he urged his friends: “Open your own treasure house and use those treasures.” Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones via Goodweb.cn
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for December 2015 and January 2016 are:

12/07  – GIVING SEASON –
12/14 – AWARENESS –
12/21 –  HOLIDAY SPIRIT –
12/28 – THE JOURNEY –

01/04 – ANEW –
01/11 – TBA/TBD –
01/18 – TBA/TBD –
01/25 – TBA/TBD –

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2016?

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– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

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– Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

More Below!
“I’ve gotten used to not looking too far into the future; it’s best when you can begin each day anew.” Anton Corbijn

Motivation Mondays: ANEW -- w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

Motivation Mondays: ANEW — w/ Fresh Waters & Goals #mondaymotivation

Create each day anew. Morihei Ueshiba
Democracy opens new vistas and opportunities. We should use the opportunities it offers to correct past mistakes not to blunder anew. Ibrahim Babangida

 

How do we create each day anew? One of the promises I made to myself several years ago was that I would always welcome the new year with one fresh way of being present. It didn’t have to be anything grandiose or even something that others would notice. I made that promise instead of creating a laundry list of New Year’s Resolutions because I’ve experienced the hard fall that can come with not following a long list of goals/plans/ideas that we created on New Year’s eve. I think each year should be welcomed with an open heart and mind… by being present NOW! Enjoy each day with expectancy of great good to come; apply yourself to your tasks with joy and gratitude and trust that the rest will follow/fall into place. Have a productive 2016!

A Final Story: Be Present – Do You Eat with Your Mouth or Mind?
Once there was a monk who was an expert on the Diamond Sutra, and as books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his part of the world on his back. He was widely sought after for his readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at propounding its profundities to not only monks and masters but to the lay people as well.
Thus the people of that region came to know of the Diamond Sutra, and as the monk was traveling on a mountain road, he came upon an old woman selling tea and cakes. The hungry monk would have loved to refresh himself, but alas, he had no money. He told the old woman, “I have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing — the Diamond Sutra. If you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great treasure of knowledge.”
The old woman knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself, and proposed her own bargain. She said, “Oh learned monk, if you will answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes.” To this the monk readily agreed. The woman then said, “When you eat these cakes, are you eating with the mind of the past, the mind of the present or the mind of the future?”
No answer occurred to the monk, so he took the pack from his back and got out the text of the Diamond Sutra, hoping he could find the answer. As he studied and pondered, the day grew late and the old woman packed up her things to go home for the day.
“You are a foolish monk indeed,” said the old woman as she left the hungry monk in his quandary. “You eat the tea and cakes with your mouth.” Source: A lighter side of Buddhism. | All stories via Goodweb.cn
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Positive Motivation Tip:  Start the year anew with a fresh attitude and a spirit filled with positive dreams.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM

Related Posts

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Stories via Zen Stories on Goodweb.cn   Quotes via  All Photos: From my Personal Collection,  and/or  The Earth from Apollo11, Fresh water Surface Lake, Carson Fall Mt Kinabalu, Fresh water fountain,  via Wikipedia

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

from → Motivation Mondays, Positive Advice, Posts & Photos 2016
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