Unfinished Projects

For how long have you procrastinated on that project? For how long will you still procrastinate?

Photo by Craig Cameron on Unsplash

It is part of human nature to dream and idealize the most varied achievements.

A very common habit is the list we make at the beginning of each year, the famous New Year's proposals. We usually list habits to be abandoned, courses to be started and virtues to be acquired. Reasonable proposals and, in most cases, necessary for our development.

However, even before the first week of the year is over, the list is abandoned in the drawer, along with the sincere willingness to change that inspired it. Once again, all the the changes we promised to ourselves go into oblivion.

Whom do we hope to deceive?

But whom do we hope to deceive?

These abandoned projects can be anything: unconfessed loves, unfulfilled promises, abandoned dreams, songs never performed, flowers that have not bloomed, children who were not born, boats that never reached the sea, texts without period, work that never left the drawing board.

The days go by fast so remember that while we spend our days postponing projects, delaying starts and canceling changes, what could happen voluntarily ends up becoming mandatory.

One day, life will charge us for things we were supposed to achieve that we never carried out. What achievements will these be? Great achievements? Resounding achievements? Probably not.

Which project to complete?

Everyone has an unfinished project, so which one should we complete first?

In theory, each of us knows what is the urgent and most feasible at this time. However, it's important to remember that the most significant changes we can make is taming our own imperfections.

We argue that it's so hard to beat old habits, however, it's even more difficult to live with unhappy habits that bitter our lives and that of those around us. It is time to abandon the excuses that have served us on crutches for so long.

Final Thoughts

May today be a significant mark in the timeline of our lives.

It doesn't matter what day of the week it is or what month of the year we are in. There is no reason to wait for another opportunity.

Chances are like breezes that come and go quickly. Let us not remain stationary while life calls us to do good. Courage and willingness will be the inspiration we lacked.

Not tomorrow, but today. Not later, but from now on.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on June 10, 2016.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Pleasures

How far can your pleasures take you? How much can they affect your life?

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Every man and woman seeks pleasure and well-being. It is a reflection of the conservation instinct, whose objective is to ensure physical existence for as long as possible.

Material life is essential to the intellectual and moral development of the human being and their immortal Spirit.

Sex is pleasurable and through it the species is perpetuated. If there were no satisfaction involved in procreative acts, Humanity would be extinct for a long time.

Food also involves pleasure. The physical body needs to receive fuels suitable for its structure. But meeting this need is not only due to the hunger but also involves satisfaction.

Meeting natural needs, whether physical or emotional, includes a certain amount of pleasure. As we human beings were not made to live alone, we rejoice in contact with friends and loved ones. The need for contact and recognition by others produces sweet sensations.

In balance

But evidently, wisdom lies in balance. Denying the pleasures of life without any noble purpose, should not be commended.

The mother who deprives herself of bread to feed her children shows signs of selflessness and nobility. But eating less than necessary to maintain physical beauty is not recommended.

The higher goals of existence are incompatible with small earthly joys. Jesus signaled this truth by saying that it is not what comes in, but what comes out of the mouth of the man who contaminates him.

If voluntary deprivation of the goods of life is not good, so is abuse. No one is born to eat, drink, sleep and procreate. Living right does not mean refraining from the joys and satisfactions common to the human condition.

Gluttony causes disease and shortens life. The misused use of genetic forces produces physical and emotional imbalances. Sleeping too much or resting too much is a waste of time. Thus, the important thing is to keep balance in the face of earthly tastes and pleasures. If they are not reprehensible, they are also not the purpose of existence.

Purity does not lie in abstaining from the gifts of life, but in using them with balance and discernment, without harming yourself and others. Wisdom lies in using everything in moderation, without becoming a slave to habits, things or sensations.

Final Thoughts

The purpose of our life on Earth is to promote our own intellectual and moral development. Everyone is reborn to overcome old vices, abandon selfishness, live and love. Do not deviate from that goal by a misunderstanding of life.

In the context of our immortal existence, there is little point in becoming an ascetic. It is unworthy to live like an irrational animal, in the relentless pursuit of pleasures.

Strive to be balanced, kind and supportive. It is very laborious, but it is the goal of your coming to Earth.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on January 13, 2018.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Courage

The moment we live is of great challenges. Do we have courage to bear all the challenges we face? 

Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash

The moment we now live on Earth is of great challenges, requiring a lot of courage, to behave according to the Divine Laws.

Courage to maintain honesty when almost everything around us conspires against the right attitudes.

Courage not to strike back at the blows of insanity, maintaining understanding and praying the blessings of heaven for your unbalanced brother.

Courage not to deviate from humility and integrity when, with power in our hands, we do not allow pride and selfishness to take over.

Courage to cultivate moderation and patience when we realize that the difficulties are getting worse.

Courage to maintain patience, even if your heart is beaten by the onslaught of cruel feelings that reach us.

Courage to preserve in serenity when the storms of discord and disagreements roar, threatening to bring us down.

Moral Courage

When we carry the Gospel of Jesus in our hearts, we know that it is not by running away from obstacles that we overcome them, but by facing them with calm, serenity and confidence. We understand that the first virtue of those who trust God is moral courage.

Courage that is necessary to achieve self-discipline to remain in balance in the face of attacks of less noble feelings and attitudes.

Courage that helps bearing difficulties with serenity, making the necessary efforts to overcome them.

Courage to persevere in the face of difficulties, without allowing ourselves to give up.

Our journey, in this life, reserves us many paths to travel, but the peace and happiness that we long for, will only be built with inner courage. And it is this courage that will determine when and how we will achieve our inner improvement, which will be reflected in our individual fulfillment.

The greater the achievement, the calmer our attitudes will be, helping us continue our personal journey.

Final Thoughts

Faced with the most embarrassing situations of his material life, Jesus endured all the injuries, all the humiliations that were inflicted on him, maintaining the purity of the high ideal for which he endeavored to the extreme sacrifice.

Let us have the courage to act like Him, maintaining serenity and moving on.

Let us have compassion of those who have lost their faith and stumbled upon violence.

Let us look at those who despaired and were lost in the revolt.

Let us keep in mind that true courage arises from resilience and calm in times of challenge, suffering and imbalance.

Let us protect ourselves in good. When we are about to utter any thoughtless phrase or take the least action against others, let us pray and be silent because heaven hears us. God will always sustain us in our good efforts.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on April 07, 2018.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Suicide: a global calamity

Unfortunately, suicide is still a growing trend in our society. Learn how you can help changing that.

Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash

The Yellow September was instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO), on September 10th, 2003, as the date for the suicide prevention campaign worldwide. The growing number of occurrences each year has made this a major public health problem.

The causes are diverse but depression continues to be main one. Beyond that, financial stress, illnesses, drugs (legal and illegal), disillusionment with life and, of course, lack of religiosity make this incidence more and more worrying. The suicidal person does not want to stop living, they just want to “get rid” of the problems that affect them.

It's important not to ignore a pre-existing condition in the person's spirit. Most of us still carry some fragility from previous experiences which we all have to learn how to surpass. And unfortunately, this spiritual disease affects particularly those who believe that life ends in the grave. However, our Spirit lives on harvesting all the good (and/or bad) we realize in this life. Let us remember that life is a cycle of challenges and existences that necessary for our evolutionary process.

According to question 944, of The Spirits' Book, To shorten life is the greatest transgression of human beings to the Laws of God:

"Does man have the right to dispose of his life"?
- No; only God assists that right. Voluntary suicide means a violation of this law. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined, on January 22, 1998, that “health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, and the Ministry of Health supports the Life Valuation Center (CVV). In 2017, 2 million people called free of charge to the number 188, which offers emotional support and suicide prevention. Imagine how many lives were spared from this folly ...

The numbers continue to increase. There are a total of 800,000 cases per year worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of reducing suicide deaths by 10% by 2020 which will not be easy, since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed strongly to the growth of depressive processes.

When we believe in the Creator and that only in Him we have the support for our vicissitudes, we feel strengthened. Faith combined with perseverance and resignation leads us to the path of lesser pain, while the revolt it is the door of suffering. To revolt is to aggravate everything that already bothers us and we know that this attitude does not solve anything.

As long as the one does not seek within virtues such as humility, love, charity, fraternity (among many others), they will not leave this situation which imprisons them in despair.

A reunion with your self is the key to the true happiness that each of us has access to.

Conclusion

Let's try to be more aware about our struggles and learn to renounce what hinders our moral progress, such as selfishness, pride and other feelings that we carry with us. 

References

• Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
• World Health Organization (WHO)

See Also

• Bridge of Life
• The poetry of life
  
• Weighted observation
  
• A Thinking Power

Hello from Veevo

Hello World, hello from the Veevo Foundation!

Photo by Austin Schmid on Unsplash

Hi there! We are the Veevo Foundation, a community of volunteers helping people around the world to know thyselves. Since this is our first blog post, please let us share some information about us, about our mission and what are our plans going forward.

Who are us?

This blog is part of a project created by the Veevo Foundation to help fostering essential moral principles to the humanity. Our objective is to enlighten humanity through the lights of the immortal spirit. We are a community of volunteers around the world with shared values around humility, generosity, fraternity, justice, love and charity.

What's Veevo?

Our name is a mix of the English and Portuguese languages. In the beautiful Portuguese language, "veevo" sounds like "vivo" means "I live", which is exactly what we want to foster to the world. Our mission is to divulge the foundations of a doctrine that will allow one to truly know thyself.

Why Know thyself?

The most efficacious method of ensuring one's own moral improvement in the present life, and resisting the attraction of evil is, as one of the sages of antiquity has told us: "Know thyself". We believe the solution for happiness lies is knowing ourselves deeply and from that, (re)learning ways to engage with the world around us.

Our Mission

As stated on the about us page, our mission is to people to help people to know thyselves.

Our Values

We believe in the power of group work. With that, we decided to carry most of our development publicly in our GitHub page and everyone is invited to collaborate!

What we'll be blogging about

What we're planning for this blog is to share our own updates, divulge activities from the community, spread peaceful messages, discuss critical challenges our humanity suffers while help alleviating some of that suffering. 

Contacting us

If you want to help, reach out to us send us an email via the contact page or Tweet us. We'll be happy to help!

Peace!
The Veevo Foundation Team