Wednesday 29 February 2012

Accept

Because he believes in himself, 
he doesn’t try to convince others.   
Because he is content with himself, 
he doesn’t need others’ approval.  
 Because he accepts himself, 
the whole world accepts him. 
– Tae-Te Ching

Monday 27 February 2012

Electricity

When two people relate to each other
authentically and humanly,
God is the electricity
that surges between them. 
– Martin Buber

Friday 24 February 2012

Allow

Does my partner love me the way 
I want and deserve to be loved?   
Does my partner allow me to love 
him/her the way I want to love?  
 - Margaret An Lembo

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Conversation

A real conversation
is the ultimate commitment 
to a relationship. 
– Stephen Lundin

Monday 20 February 2012

Acknowledge Love

I didn't bring love. 
I just kept acknowledging 
the love that was already there 
until you all caught on 
and also realized it was there. 
- James Keeley

Friday 17 February 2012

February 17, 2012 Chautauqua



From the Editor's Computer     

   Just because someone is afraid to die, does not mean they have the will or desire to live.

   Just because someone is tired of being sick, does not mean that they want to be healthy.

   We could go on and on, coming up with endless examples.  The bottom line is the motivation behind the behaviour.  What is motivating you in your life? The desire to avoid something?  Or the desire for something?

   While on the surface, those two questions may seem to be the same, they aren't as the initial sentences show.

   Being afraid of death just means that you are afraid to die (which incidentally, we're all going to do at some point, no exemptions).  Fear of death does not lead to any quality of life.  In fact, it often leads to the opposite - a living death as the person is frequently too scared to do anything with their life.  They end up consumed by fear in all areas of their life.

   On the other hand, the will to live - and thus live a full life - causes you to make completely different decisions.  Decisions that are life-affirming and life-enhancing.  The decisions will also tend to benefit those around us, not just ourselves.

   Being tired of being sick just means you are tired of feeling the way you do.  It really doesn't provide any incentive to be healthy.  You can feel sick of being sick and produce a different illness so you don't feel the way you did.  You haven't cured or healed anything, you've merely  transferred it to another part of your body.

   If your motivation is health, not only will you make healthy food, exercise and lifestyle choices, you will be motivated by whatever it is that is important in your life and gives you a reason to get up in the morning and greet the day.

   Basing your choices on a desire to avoid something limits your growth and potential.  On the other hand, basing choices on a desire for something leads to a great quality of life.
 
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10GcwNyue1qtV0JLjTA0rkxs_3zpg_-d5/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.  

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Love

Your task is not to seek for love, 
but merely to seek and find 
all the barriers within yourself 
that you have built against it. 
- Rumi

Monday 13 February 2012

Heart


Follow your heart 
without asking whether 
it is okay to do so.  
 – Stephanie Tourles

Friday 10 February 2012

Watered

The grass isn’t greener 
on the other side of the fence; 
it’s greener where it’s watered.
- author unknown

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Love of Self

The remarkable thing is 
we really love our neighbour as ourselves; 
we do unto others as we do unto ourselves.   
We hate others when we hate ourselves.   
We are tolerant toward others 
when we tolerate ourselves.   
We forgive others when we forgive ourselves.   
It is not love of self but hatred of self 
which is at the root of the troubles 
that afflict our world.   
– Eric Hoffer

Monday 6 February 2012

Friday 3 February 2012

February 3, 2012 Chautauqua



From the Editor's Computer     

   Are you aware that you are really good at something?  No, I'm serious.  Are you?  Please note that whining, complaining, worrying, avoiding reality, hiding from life, and fearful living totally don't count, even if you are a seasoned veteran at them.

   Also, I'm not referring to a skill or proficiency that you constantly brag about to others.  Incidentally, it has been shown over and over again, in numerous situations, that if you have to repeatedly "tell" people you are whatever quality or talent you are hyping, you obviously aren't exhibiting that quality or talent, otherwise they'd see it.

   There is at least one task or quality that you are so proficient at that others can't help but see you exhibit it in your life - no matter what job or situation or encounter you may find yourself in.  As humans are such complex creatures, I can say that you probably are extremely proficient in more than one task or quality.

   So, do you know what yours is?  If not, ask the people around you - they will be able to point it out with no difficulty at all.  You may be surprised at what they tell you.

   So many of us feel we need to accomplish certain things to prove to others that we have value and worth.  Why?  You are alive and breathing which means you automatically have value and worth.  Plus, no matter what you do, you will never prove whatever it is you are trying to prove to others, because if they can't see you have value just by being, nothing you will do will change that.

   If the person you are trying to prove your value to is yourself, there will be no change until you know, in the depths of your soul, that you are valuable because you are alive and can share your unique qualities with the world.  Do you know you are valuable?  Does your life reflect that knowledge?
 
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DLepEbvbzhno5H0TCgpVNvqzGmAwedzj/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.  

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Special

In letting go of wanting
something special to occur, 
maybe we can realize that 
something very special 
is already occurring, 
and is always occurring – 
namely your life unfolding
in each moment in awareness. 
–Jon Kabat-Zinn