“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problem.”

“If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”

Mahatma Gandhi needs no long introduction. Everyone knows about the man who lead the Indian people to independence from British rule in 1947.

So let’s just move on to some of my favourite tips from Mahatma Gandhi.

Change yourself.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

“...

Christina Sarich, Natural Society
Waking Times

As we get closer to the holidays, many people look for ways to cut back on sugar and other indulgences so that when the New Year rolls around, they won’t have to work so hard to lose those extra pounds. While it is a good idea to avoid sugar altogether, using the artificial sweeteners Splenda or Aspartame might be even worse. There are numerous reasons you should avoid the stuff in little yellow packages (or pink, or blue). Here is why.

Donald Rumsfeld, the very same politician who supports GMOs, is perhaps the singular man who got Splenda onto the market after the FDA initially refused it. If you have gotten sick from consuming this toxic substance, you can thank him, along with its makers. Splenda was created by the British company Tate & Lyle along with the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

BE IN JOY! Enjoy!   Are you ready to embark on a journey towards everlasting joy? Take several long breaths. As you exhale, let out the worries of the day. Consciously pay attention to each muscle in your body, starting at the top of your head. Note the muscles in your jaws, tighten them for a second and then allow them to relax. Move down to the shoulders, arms, fingers, etc. tightening then relaxing each set of muscles, down to your toes. Breathe in as you tighten the muscles; breathe out as you relax the muscles. This is a good exercise to practice whenever you find yourself out of balance or wish to relax or meditate.

How do you find balance in all things? How can you stay centered no matter what event is occurring in your life? How can you find and experience joy even in times of extreme chaos? Start by simply telling yourself it is so, that you are balanced in this moment. That may seem overly simplistic, but it is the bottom line. With practice, it will become easier until it becomes second nature.

Where to begin? In this moment. Well up memories and feelings that made you feel good in the past or present. Feel these emotions. Send gratitude to anyone involved. Allow yourself to feel the joy you felt during that event. Bask in these feelings for as long as you desire. The purpose is to remind yourself how it feels to be in joy. Remember these feelings. Many of you have denied yourself the feeling of joy for eons. You can be the catalyst to help others out of their misery when you learn to find joy in everything.

Photo credit: Moyan Brenn

By Alex James Nicola

Now let's get off on the right foot. My philosophy is not one based on religion or some new age notion of long-forgotten mystical laws. My approach to life is simple. It is one of maturity, realism and positivity. I have always considered myself a spiritualist which in layman's terms means I do not restrict myself to one religion or belief but take them all into account and assume whatever I feel necessary. Life is a long journey of ups and downs and I think a healthy way to face all the varying chapters is to be open. Now I haven't always been so free. Like many people I grew up with the idea of this omnipresent man in the sky who judged my actions and punished me accordingly. This idea both terrified me and brought me relief.