Leave Everything Better Than When You Found It!

I started thinking about something a yogi once told me...to leave everything better than when I found it. It seems like one of the most obvious and simple choices we can make in life. No matter how small the interaction - whether in a grocery store or walking down the street or attending a gathering - or how big - from friendships to relationships to partnerships and beyond - if your only intention is to just interact with any one and every one and leave them, and you, better than when you first met or interacted, imagine how the world will be.

I have been living by this principle, consciously, for some time now and it is miraculous how profound the effect is on me. I have almost begun to treat life and my interactions with others as a game. Not in a bad or insincere way, but just in a way that seeks to bring the light and best out of me and others. When I am in a grocery store, I try to engage others with a smile or an extra look in the eye or positive interaction. When I walk down the street, I try to take everything in and walk with a little skip or bounce in my step and smile on my face. When I run an errand, make a business call or email, I try to sprinkle a little light, love and grace onto others.

I can think upon countless interactions in which by just being a little brighter and lighter and sharing that light with others, their mood picks up or at least something shifts. I remember I was at a store once and the person behind the counter was very cranky. It made me sad, so I just gently and softly kept engaging them in little ways, asking them about themselves, being grateful for little things and by the end of the interaction, they had completely shifted.

It reminded me of throwing the stone into the water and watching the ripple effect. That as I seek to be brighter and leave everything better than when I found it, it has the effect of not only impacting that one person, but then that person turns around and shifts in their interactions with others.

Sometimes this is easier to do with strangers than those we love, but even in those interactions with loved ones it has a profound effect. Bringing in an sense of empathy, compassion and gratitude to our loved ones and those around us helps to heal everyone involved. I think about my relationships with friends, family and partners and make an effort so that as I leave every interaction, if I were to ask myself, did you leave them better than when you found them, I can say yes. It definitely takes a constant practice and a consistent effort, but it is worth the outcome and results - for me and I think for them.

Imagine what the world would look like if we could all leave everything better than when we found it. Often times that means meeting people where they are at and interacting genuinely and compassionately not being fake or insincere. Rather, it is about really being present to listen, feel and hear them and or smile at them or breathe deeply to uplift and share your own light with them.

Are you making a conscious effort with every action to leave things better than when you found them? What would it look like for you? Try it on for size and see how your world, and that of those around you, shifts...likely for the better!

You can find me on Twitter @pilarstella and Facebook at www.facebook.com/pilarstella1.
This blog is also found at: http://completebalance.com/experts/blog/item/leave-everything-better-than-when-you-found-it.html

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I recently got to thinking about the Wizard of Oz and the wonderful analogy that the Yellow Brick Road is...

It reminds me of life. Just like in the movie, it is not about getting to some overhyped destination to see some Wizard to give us things that we think we want or don't have. But rather, we got it all going on right here and now, if we pay attention and accept our own greatness and the gifts and abundance along our way.

It is funny. I wrote a book about living in the moment (www.beingthepresent.com) and I still have so much to learn and need constant reminders to stay present.

I used to be such a planner and lately I feel as though, I haven't been able to plan ahead even if I try. Literally, it is like the Universe is playing a trick on me to get me to really BE present. Every time I try to plan more than a few days out, something changes and I have to shift everything.

I am finally starting to give in and just plan almost moment to moment. It seems that in doing so I am able to appreciate all that the Yellow Brick Road has to offer. I can take in the sights, the poppies, the clean air, my friends and appreciate it all - even visits from the wicked witch or the fairy godmother.

And Oz, now isn't that an interesting analogy. So often we make our destination out to be something so big or someone so important. We put them on a pedestal and think wow they've gotten there they must be all that - we aggrandize them in our minds. Yet, when we get there we realize, wow, they are human too, and gee, I'm better at things than I ever give myself credit for.

So, maybe for just a moment every day or more often, if you can just look around, smell the flowers and appreciate YOUR Yellow Brick Road. If it isn't what you want, look for what you like and want in it and make it what you want, see it for what you want and see yourself for all that you are.

Rather, than waiting to get to the land of Oz and be disappointed, enjoy your Yellow Brick Road. This is your life! Be here now. Choose in and make it all that you can!

You can find me on Twitter @pilarstella and Facebook at www.facebook.com/pilarstella1