Tuesday, June 28, 2011

the paralysis of GROUP THINK

why are people so afraid?

I don't even know what to say about this one. I feel people are simply afraid and that is the bottom line, that is why:
they can't defend others,
they don't want to talk,
they rather watch an injustice,
they rather follow "the crowd",
they can not handle being wrong,

People are afraid of the insults, the labeling, the talk of the town, being different, etc.

That's why instead of meeting a group I rather meet a single individual because the group might , together, label you and dismiss you while you can find common "ground" with one on one meetings.

The group tends to work as a group and forgets that each person is an individual and what comes in place is "group think"...
After participating in group think, you don't come home and ask yourself "how come we didn't give the person a fair chance, how come we, as a team, labeled the person and moved as one toward our goal. That's how people are generally trained.
They are not trained individually, they are trained in a classroom and they are trained to learn to deal with things in a group setting.

You can't blame people, this is what they know and what has worked for them.
Doing anything OUTSIDE OF THE BOX is really a no-no and it's dangerous.

So even if you see an injustice and you see there is no need to label someone but your group feels its' right, you will go with the flow to avoid the greater harm (being disliked by your own group!).

What is more important? to be liked by one or to be liked by a group?

It all depends on your core values and majority of people will LOVE being liked by more than one, no matter what it takes and no matter who gets hurt.


My advice.
Before following a group and being so AFRAID of speaking out and saying how you feel and not being afraid of rejection, stand out, do it for God's sake, DO NOT BE AFRAID!
Your goal is to speak the truth if you can and that is the least you can do.
If you are afraid and decide to go with the group, without thinking for yourself, ultimately YOU WILL GET HURT, no one else.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

our nature and our problems

misunderstandings can be so hurtful.

By nature, we are all "good", it is sometimes that we are misunderstood and immediately labeled. We don't like to be labeled but we find ourselves "labeling" others. She is this way, he is this way, She will never change, he will always do those things.

But in the end, labeling is really something we don't need to live with. School label children, parents label children, people label each other, doctors label patients, everyone has a way of organizing people by "labeling"

One of the most hurtful things is not what people tell you but what they decide to do with you once they label you, "they leave you alone".
Instead of helping the person out and being patient in teaching them, these people are left on their own and people think this solves the problem.

Well now we have people with no friends, who will never learn or improve themselves because no one is there to help them.

On the other hand, there are those who can't take criticism and won't hear explanations, they make decisions based on their feelings and that's all.
Now that is also hurtful because instead of talking about a situation, they act on anger, it can become a very dangerous situation.

Monday, June 20, 2011

KA SUNDANCE RAW FOODIST HERE IN US!

I'm so excited to say that Ka Sundance is here on US TOUR 2011! We are blessed to have him around us and seeing how he helps people heal, feel better and achieve their ultimate goals in life!
If you are interested please contact me for more information about his work. He has several books he has written and ton of videos on youtube. Please check out his website for more information and don't miss seeing him or getting an autograph this week only! he is going back to Costa Rica next Monday so please check his website for gigs: www.TheRawFoodFamily.com

Book signing and Raw DEMOS This Friday ICIE 12pm-3pm!!!! DON'T MISS in Rancho Cucamonga. More details send me a message!

Live a positive life, a more fuller life, a happy and healthy life with living raw foods! Learn how with Ka Sundance. Meet him in person as he's in California!
Take advantage of this awesome opportunity!


peace to you all!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Listen to people

So today I woke up thinking...that everything has a solution IF WE PAY ATTENTION. sometimes the solution is so simple, it's hard to believe but we must try to understand that if we are ignorant and act on that ignorance, we will never liberate ourselves from so many shackles we put around our necks OURSELVES.

I remember one really important time in my life when i started thinking "OUTSIDE OF THE BOX".
We were in math class, I don't remember which math class but I remember the teacher told the class "don't believe all of what is written in books, books have mistakes. If you find a mistake and we can fix it, you will get extra points and we will mail the publisher to make corrections".

I was so speechless. While other kids ignored this, I was exposed to a whole new world view. I always believed in books and never ever questioned them let alone go find a mistake in them!
so from this moment on, I payed close attention to books and really had a new perspective on what was presented in them.

Sometimes truth is hidden for different reasons. And not just because a book is old or new, has a beautiful cover or not, will it have all the truth in it.

Just like our parents, as much as we respect them and love them, they are human beings who make mistakes and don't know the absolute truth (no one really can claim to know it all).
So, when they advice, they advice based on what was told to them or what they find worked for them from other people's advice or from personal experience. And while that may be perfectly fine and helpful, it does not guarantee that it is the only way....

So next time you get sick (with a cold) and parents tell you "drink chicken broth" maybe you can look it up you self and find a healthier alternative such as chai tea which is made from natural herbs and seeds and its completely vegan....and that may cure you faster than the typical chicken broth, plus you are in no need to add more fat, animal products into your system. I believe if we limit the meat in take, we will feel way more lighter and healthier...just give it a try, I am speaking of my own personal experience.

My one and most important advice is to really open up and LISTEN TO PEOPLE. We often don't listen, we talk, instead of listening at what people are tyring to tell you. If you listen, you can understand people much better, communicate more efficiently and enjoy their company.
From people I have learned so much and because I listen to them and care about what they are saying, I find that it only benefits ME!

Monday, June 13, 2011

with love, you can reach perfection

If we did everything with love, all our work would be perfect. If we seek perfection in everything we do, and we are satisfied with it, we will be truly happy and content with our work.
We just must find love in everything, otherwise don't bother with it because you will do a mediocre job.

I like to excel in everything I do, I seek to learn until I get it perfect. And that means it has to be perfect in my eyes, not other's eyes.....
that's just my personal choice. I may be wrong but I have improved so much in a number of areas just by putting in the time to really learn what I get myself involved in.

It's much more rewarding to give my 100%!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

ask for help

People suffer in silence.
They don't seek help.
They need to seek help, find love, find happiness.
They need to reach out and not be ashamed.
Help is there if you only ask.
So ask.
:)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Oprah Winfrey's Wisdom

What I know for sure:

1. What you put OUT comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed).
2. You Define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.
4. when people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.
6. What you believe has more power than what you dream, wish, or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is "thank you" that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)
8. The Happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.
10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

Oprah Winfrey

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

we all need love!

By helping people, you are helping yourself.

That's the bottom line.
I got a mailed letter from Oprah part of her magazine subscription and she said in it 10 tips all timer, I should list them here. Anyway the first tip she says is "whatever you give OUT is what will come back to you".

So lets say you are rude and quiet all day to people, that is what you will get.
Now if you are friendly, you care about people, you will have friends and they will care about you.

bottom line, everyone needs love and to feel loved.
Not to simply give love but to get some love in return, this is human nature.

Call it whatever you want but seriously, it is absolutely a human necessity.

I hope people realize that if you want love, you must first give it.

There is a difference between "giving love" to get love and "being abused by giving love without ever receiving any" So once we understand it should be a win-win situation and not one sided, then we will fee this mutual love to a number of people, specially with those closest to us, our spouses.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Let's be optimisitc?

One of my favorite songs from Outlandish is called "After every rainfall must come a rainbow". It was done for the flood victims (I think not long ago in Pakistan). But this song really can be applied to very different situations. And it is absolutely true. God always provides us with a "relief" after a hardship. And it is part of our scriptures.
God gives us a trial and sometimes we don't understand why but in the end, HE has a plan for us that we are not aware of. He knows that there may be something we don't like but that is good for us or it may have some benefit which we may not understand at that particular time.
We don't know it all.
We don't know what His plans are, we don't even know his creation OR understand any of it actually.

My teacher, Dr. Imad Bayoun once told us, "look at the mountain, what do you see? you see one side of it, you are not God, you can not see the sides or the back, or the top of it or what's inside it or whats below it, it is God's creation, you can only see one part of it"

So in any situation, we can use our intellect to understand an aspect of something but we can't understand ALL OF IT. I think this is why people get upset at one another or why we go to war. It is because we don't understand the other and in a way we can't get into their shoes to see and respect each other's point of view.
It is easier to impose on others and it is easier to oppress one another because we simply "do not understand".

So in other words, this would be a much better place if we took the time to simply put ourselves in the other person's shoe. understand why they are acting the way they are and understand they have a valid reason (it may be a bad reason but that's not the issue, the issue is understanding)

So by being positive, optimistic and asking God to help us, guide us and bless us (with just about anything we want) We simply have to put all our trust in Him and He will give us all (if it is good for us), Another example my teacher would share with us is picture a child who is reaching for a knife at the kitchen table. You as a parent will not give it to him although he's begging and making every effort to grab it. In a similar way, God sometimes gives what we ask for and sometimes he doesn't because HE KNOWS what is good for us and what is not.

We think a new car or a new spouse is what we need. GOD ALWAYS knows best.

1. Ask God
2. Accept whatever He gives you, it is a blessing no matter which angle you look at it!
3. NEVER STOP ASKING

some people told me "God heard me and He's too busy for me, I won't keep praying".
KEEP PRAYING PLEASE
even if you think you are not "worthy" of prayer, KEEP PRAYING PLEASE. God knows that you are in a difficult situation or that you need something, HE LOVES US, He really loves us, we are HIS CREATION!!!! He loves when we ask of Him, He is there for us ALWAYS, no matter what mistakes you have made, no matter how many people you have offended.

HE LOVES US,that's the bottom line.
Alhamdulilah (all Praises to Allah swt)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Love nature, love gardening!

Today go outside and garden!
-It is the exercise we need.
-The therapy (sunlight and fresh air)
-Silence and the sound of nature (gives you time to reflect and gives you peace)

There are a ton of benefits, including "grounding" which is the concept of the connection between ourselves and planet earth. If you walk barefoot on earth surfaces, this is therapeutic.

So go outside and garden, do a small thing everyday and you will see the tremendous results.
And if you don't know how to do it, look online, read, or meet your neighbors, some are amazing gardeners!

*if you like in apartments: make recycle plastics your planters and start your own herb garden indoors. Make sure seeds and planting soil are organic.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

an inspirational day!

This was registration Today at our "healthy eating workshop"! what an excellent program!!!! Thanks to all who came out!!! including my good friend Farzaneh and her husband who came from the San Fernando Valley and Bree from High Desert! You guys were awesome and so much fun. I loved the Raw chocolate, go ECO TERRA, you get an A+!!!!!


I hope next time the people who signed up to come actually make it as I was expecting some faces that never showed up. It's ok we met wonderful people with great positive energy and I just love feeding on wonderful and powerful vives.


We had wonderful books on sale by Ka Sundance and David Wolfe. Very inspirational passages were read from them and they are our wonderful teachers, we are so lucky! Also Elena, big thanks for sharing your amazing stories and knowledge or "Alta VEDA"


More coming next weekend! (God willing)

Friday, June 3, 2011

And we are on the news! TONIGHT channel 7 -11pm!

Follow Ronan Godfrey's story tonight ABC eyewitness news! channel 7, 11pm.

A HUGE thank you to Miriam Hernandez and her crew for having this on the air
(I hope!)

Let's all support Ronan, United as ONE!
www.hope4ronan.com

Our prayers and best wishes are with you Ronan! We love you!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

If you see beauty instead of hate

what would the world look like if you saw beauty in all of creation instead of hate?
It would look so beautiful! filled with love everywhere and in every living thing.
We would respect each other and understand each other and see everyone as a distinct individual and having "reasons" for behaving the way they do.

There would be no blaming, no pointing fingers, no cheating, no lying, no spying, no hating, no talking bad.
We would see each other in a different light.

ROOT of all problems is misunderstanding and going back to my previous blogs, what follows is "miscommunication". So we misunderstand a look, an action, a word and instead of asking the meaning we "assume" something and we talk to someone about it, adding things which are not true but true to the "one side of the story"...

Instead of trying to "fix the problem" why don't we AVOID IT in the first place?

We make ourselves busy with nothing and in reality we have so much time!!! Specially if we cut out all the time we consume in gossip, idle time, thinking bad or simply "bad planning".

If we have a plan, a realistic plan, we can move forward. We can say to ourselves, "I feel organized, I have a small list of actions and today I will do as many of these tasks as I can".

Instead we complain, we make excuses and we end up never achieving our goals.

Avoid wasting time, plan things out, don't assume anything and if you find yourself talking bad about anything, stop yourself and really reflect on why you feel so negative.

It may be that you are repeating the same mistakes and getting nowhere.
Just like someone lost in the forest who doesn't leave a mark, you will come back again and again and walk in circles.

If we use our time wisely, if we make an effort, we can achieve all our goals and in the end, we are the winners and we will see the beauty of what our creator has given us, all around us, in every single thing we encounter.

spend time in nature, do some daily gardening, visit sick friends, visit your neighbors, really "care" about people. Happiness will fill you when you make others happy. Think about it.

we are responsible

I think we need to understand we have a "responsibility" to take care of our body, in Islamic terms it's called "amana" or trust. This is when we realize that the body we have is given to us by God and we need to take care of it.

We need to stop making excuses for ourselves and really take care of it.
If we don't take care of ourselves, how can we take care of others, care about others, learn from others and understand others?

We need to stop the WAR and start on RAW (see the difference?) It's all backwards.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Mention God's name!

Subhanallah! I love the All mighty! He gives us strength, hope, love and understanding.
He can only teach us love and through Him can we understand people and nature.

We may fight with everyone but at the end of the day, we put that in the balance....what did we gain? How did that battle make us a better Muslim? Where we fair? Did we judge without knowing? Did we give the benefit of the doubt?

Sometimes our anger doesn't let us see things clearly and sometimes we make decisions or we say things without giving it some "time". Time heals and time is there for a reason. Some things need immediate attention while others might be better to wait or "sleep on it"...

Bottom line, everything happens for a reason.
God is watching how we react to things, how we deal with things, how much time we put into things.
We shouldn't pray in a hurry.
We Shouldn't eat in a hurry.
We shouldn't speak without listening
We shouldn't Assume without knowing
We should MENTION GOD in everything we do because only HE can help us, guide us and heal us too

If anyone ever tells you not to mention God, pray for them because they seriously need prayers.