As we seemingly age and reflect our beliefs and misperceptions of what ‘old age’ looks like on our bodies, our fears grow and intensify daily. We watch people suffer and ache, commercials on TV showing a grim future, and we observe our loved ones pass away. Is that what lies ahead of us? Is it possible to stay healthy and fit? Is it achievable to be of a sound mind until we take our last breath?

I’m fortunate to live in a community of mature adults as I like to call them. Most of them in their 60’s and 70’s, many in their 80’s and beyond. Still vibrant and active, still interested in life.

So I ask myself, what is really ‘healthy’ in the mental realm? Not medicine, home remedies, quick fixes, organic juices, lean food, diets, and all the other advertised cures. These advertised remedies change daily and rarely ever have the desired results.

Our physical and emotional aches and pains are the reflection of our painful thoughts from past thinking. Most of our afflictions come from stress and grief, from holding on to grudges and passing judgement onto others. The list is long, but is it worth it?

Real health comes from healthy, happy, content, wholesome thoughts, a shift in attitude from negative to positive and clear mental stamina. Real health is our ability to discern between right and wrong, always choosing high quality thoughts and feelings, the virtuous, wholesome and good for all concerned. Real health comes from interest in life and active participation in projects that make us happy, fulfilled and engaged.

Let us make sure that our thoughts ‘now’ are full of love, life and appreciation, and free of fear, so we don’t have to experience agony and discomforts tomorrow. Let us make sure that we think of health more than of sickness, of vitality more than of deterioration. Let us see ourselves in the light not in darkness.
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Naturally, a shift of Consciousness to a higher, healthier dimension is inevitable, because progress is a law of life. Spiritual transformation might be subtle, but it is also certain. It’s all part of the Universal Plan. We are meant to be healthy; we are meant to enjoy every day of this earthly life.
​ULRIKE

Lately I hear a lot about mindfulness. What does it mean? One of my favorite description of the practice of mindfulness was described in the book “Wherever you go there you are” by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

He explains that in Eastern philosophy being mindful means you must investigate inwardly your own nature through carful and systematic self-observation and through this practice you will live a life of greater satisfaction, harmony, and wisdom.

Through my thirty-five years of studying the workings of mind and the visible effects of our thinking, I’ve concluded that we must always look deep within our Soul. It’s the inside that counts, not our words or sometimes not even our actions. It’s what is buried in our hearts, our beliefs, convictions, fears and real feelings that come to fruition.

And therefore, we must ask yourselves, ‘What is my purpose and what is my goal in life? What do I really stand for? What is it that makes me fulfilled and happy, but also what makes me cringe and upset?’. Then listen carefully. The questions will be answered because it all stems from within.
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Mindfulness will bring us back to the moment at hand. It will slow us down and focus on what’s important. It’ll keep us in line, so to speak, and find balance and calm. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
​With Love, ULRIKE

It’s OK to make a mistake. Why? This is how we learn to do better. It doesn’t make us bad, stupid, or less than. We all know that negative thoughts are like weeds. They spread quickly if we don’t tend to them and we must remove all weeds in our minds, especially self-condemnation and self-doubt.

Mistakes are nothing more than that – mistakes. We can look at them as learning tools, something very positive. The light that points us in the right direction. Say “oops” and move on.

Putting ourselves down is letting God down, because we are part of this Universal Power. We constantly degrade ourselves. ‘I’m not good enough, I’m not capable, I’m not smart enough, I’m too old for this or that’…always something that isn’t in conformity with the Truth.
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Do you think that our spiritual source is less than or not good enough? God looks at us without judgment or favoritism. It does not punish or reward. It only acts according to Universal Law. And this Law is Good, Goodness (God-isness) itself.
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What is one of the most difficult thought-errors to correct? A mistake each of us has been guilty of? A weakness of character that is so detrimental to the soul that it can cause serious illness? I can assure you this unholy vice is ‘resentment’.

The reason resentment is so tough to correct is the fact that we justify our actions. We think we are right. We think others have wronged or hurt us. We think that we have been treated unfairly.
Maybe, what happened in our lives has been unfair, maybe we didn’t deserve to be laid off the job or not getting the promotion we desired. Maybe we resented a relative’s behavior. Maybe we despised the ex-spouse for the breach of trust inflicted upon us.

But here is the deal: Resentment will cause us to suffer. We are the one that will experience the aches and pains of inflexibility, sore muscles, stiff bones, and excruciating physical and mental discomfort. Why? Because a stubborn and stiff mental attitude held in mind for a long period of time will cause exactly these afflictions. We need to take this mental disposition called ‘resentment’ seriously.

Forgiveness is the healer. Letting go of the negative, hurt feelings. If at any time a feeling comes to light that is lesser than good, we are still suffering from ‘not letting go’. It’s not worth it, we are better off to let go and move on.
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Today is a brand-new day with new hopes and aspirations, a day that can be shaped into whatever we want it to be – by each of us!
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There are many people in this world. We constantly meet new individuals, some for a short moment in time, some for a lifetime. Some pleasant, some not so much. It is up to us with whom we want to converse or befriend. It is up to us choose the company that is healthy and nurturing instead of destructive.

Therefore, let us engage with people who are on our positive wavelength, the ones that easily tune into our radar; the ones who are loving and kind. They should reflect good character and the want to better themselves by applying and living according to Universal Laws, the Laws of Truth.

Unfortunately, control over others seems to be a common ego booster. The hierarchy in companies and families, the ‘I have more power than you’ syndrome, and the marital roles we play are all associated with our self-image and self-esteem.

It doesn’t matter if we are the controller or the one controlled; we need to realize that the only person we can control, or have power over, is ourselves. We can support others and empower them but should never tear them down or belittle them. Real power is Love, so we must use our power for the good of all.

Remember, our foremost responsibility is to ourselves and our spiritual unfoldment. When this sense of conscientiousness and reliability is in balance, we will naturally do the right thing for others. It is our duty to contribute to the awakening of the masses. The journey has begun. Let us be good, act good, do good, and be a factor in this Universal awareness that is growing and blossoming. We cannot force anyone to understand or to want to learn about the Truth, but we can live and teach by example.

Have a lovely day!
​ULRIKE 
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Every day, in this earthly life, there are ups and downs, deep emotional valleys and steep mountains to overcome. We have not yet learned to travel the straight and narrow road of Understanding. We still coast and veer off the path we travel. A sudden change of attitude or a jump back into a dark habitual mood always deters us from moving toward the light.
 
It is this light, or moment of ‘seeing with the mental eye’, that inspires us to keep moving and trying to get back on the road to eternal bliss again and again. This glimpse of the Truth that all is good and that we are part of this Universal goodness with its wonderful effects, is what keeps us going.
 
Inspiration comes in many forms. A wonderful reminder of a past experience, a certain smell reminding you of a pleasant encounter, the sound of a song that triggers loving feelings, looking at nature and its wondrous bounty, or the birth of a baby are just a few examples of new hope and a fresh want for living.
 
Knowing that God is close and ever present is all the inspiration I need to keep moving forward. Seeing the sunrise in the early morning hours reminds me that I have another chance to change my course, and I will travel happily toward my ultimate goal, which is perfect Understanding of the Allness of Good.
With Love, ULRIKE

Have you made your goal list for 2020? Have you set an agenda or planed a trip? Are you, again, promising yourself the objective you haven’t fulfilled last year?
Don’t fret! No matter what the desire is in our hearts, we ultimately yearn for happiness. Plain and simple, we want to be happy.

If the yearning we jolted down on our wish list is important to us, remember, desire, imagination, and a huge amount of self-confidence will get us to our goal every time. We must not waver or doubt. We must stick with it. Focus and, most of all, love what we are trying to achieve. Everything is possible in the realm of the unseen, the vast ocean of Universal Consciousness.

It's all up to us, because we constantly make choices. We say, ‘I don’t know what choice to make.’ But even doing nothing, or not acting on something we should be doing, is a choice. Feeling good is a choice. Being miserable is a choice. If we dig deep down and listen to ourselves, we will realize that the answers to make the right choices are already there. They are available to us and ready for us to grasp and apply at any given moment. We can choose happiness.
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So ask yourself: What am I going to do today that makes me happy?
Happy New Year and allow Happiness to come into your life!
​ULRIKE