Monday, October 01, 2012

What Gives Your Life Meaning?


What do you value?
What gives you joy?
When do you feel gratitude?
What inspires you to be fully alive?

There is so much to be grateful for when you are living the life you choose.
There are so many reasons to be delighted, moved, inspired and encouraged.
There are so many people with whom to share hope, faith and love.
There is so much to live for, to contribute to and to participate in……
When our mind is clear and our heart is open and we can see and hear and feel the invitation.

When we are stuck in a rut, we take life for granted.
When we are busy doing without enjoyment, we get tired.
When we envy or wish we had more or something different, we ungrateful.
When we are judging, condemning, criticizing, we see only the wrongs and never the perfection.

Judgment clouds the mind and closes the heart.
Condemnation shuts down our appreciation and puts us in a meaningless field of limitation.
Work with no pleasure makes us robotic and empty and cold.
Life without meaning makes us depressed, apathetic and looking for a way out.

We give everything we see the meaning it has for us.
When you find your own life valueless, what good are you?
When you think you need something to give you meaning and purpose, you become dependent.
When you neglect your own value and deny your own needs, you forsake and betray yourself.

Most who read these reminders on a regular basis are those who find meaning in life.
And there are the many we interact with who lack the human touch, the value they seek.
When we live our lives joyously and with gratitude, they are touched and inspired.
When we give ourselves freely and without condition, their hearts may open to feel what is possible.

Awaken someone today by reaching out with obvious appreciation.
Heal someone’s life today by showing them they matter and have value.
Inspire someone, stranger or friend today, with a note or call, giving them kind attention.
Recognize a family member  by expressing what you see as good and beautiful in them.

When each one takes the time to give meaning to another’s life, we are inspiring our own.
When everyone does one act of kindness daily, the world changes in our loving action.
When we give from our heart, a smile, a touch, a thank you or word of encouragement, we are blessing.
The true and lasting meaning in life is found as we share that meaning with others.

Give words to what is meaningful to you.
Share with a friend or family member.
Remind one another of what has value.
Expand the meaning to your life by sharing it.

Loving you, 
Betty Lue

A praying mantis was on my window screen for a day without going away…..
So Robert shared the meaning he found.  And I found it a profound blessing.


Praying Mantis Meanings in the Realms of Animal Symbolism

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we've flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we've created.

After observing this creature for any length of time you can see why the symbolism of the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. The mantis takes her time, and lives her life at her own silent pace.