For the last couple of weeks the Beatles' song "Here comes the sun" has been playing in my head... the first line, specifically: "Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter..."

The winter seems to be going on for longer than usual on this part of the globe. Here you see a picture I took very early in the morning one of the days that it snowed, in January.

And even though I want Spring to come, I have been using this time quite productively and have worked on the reviews of several ebooks that I will be uploading to the web site soon - since when the sun comes out I will also be out :-)

So keep an eye on the blog of the web site - there it is where you will see the pages coming up as I upload them. Watch out specially for the review of "How to be successful" (there will be a contest to win a free copy of it), and for "Resistance Toys" (a jewel of an ebook that you will not want to miss out on).

I will be travelling to see my family in Spain in March - so the next issue of this newsletter will reach you when I'm there. A good few days of holidays with my parents and brother - looking forward to it!

On January 29, two families - one Palestinian and the other Israeli - participated in a joint lunch for peace and reconciliation between both peoples. Both families, who have suffered consequences from the Middle East conflict, chose the path of non-violence.

This is a beautiful initiative at the level that we can all take action: in our own personal sphere.

Read the full news at the Pressenza press agency web site.

I have been experiencing life lately from a simple dual perspective of Allowing versus Resisting.

I have observed that when I resist Life, when I resist "what is", I have a tough time. Resisting can have many forms, such as a negative stream of thoughts toward what's going on ("I hate this job"), irritability, and general tension.

However, when I allow Life to be as it is, things seem to flow my way without any effort on my side - quite amazingly at times, so much so that it wouldn't have gone better even with the best of plans.

And this makes sense - for you can only control the response you have to Life. But you cannot control the shape that Life takes at any moment, be that presenting you with a difficult person to deal with or with a power cut.

Strangely, it feels as if the more we allow Life to be, and even further the more we love it as it comes, Life seems to appreciate that and in turn make things easy for us. I have observed it so many times at so many levels that I have abandoned a great deal of resistance to what is. Resisting is just not worth it.

These are some of the signals that highlight to you that you are resisting Life:

• Clenching your teeth
  
  

• Knots in your stomach
  
  

• An uncontrolled negative stream of thoughts
  
  

• Shoulders and neck tense and uptight
  
  

• Anger
  
  

• Fear
  
  

• Jealousy

So what I have been doing lately is paying attention to when I'm resisting Life, and then consciously allow it to be, which is the same as relaxing in the midst of whatever is going on and stopping wanting a particular outcome.

Easier said than done, I know, but I tell you from experience that the more you practice allowing, the easier it gets, and the more you find allowing a very attractive choice.

I have found a few useful ways to consciously allow Life to be - and today I'm passing them on to you, so that you can purposefully make your life easier:

• Making a point of breathing slowly and deeply
  
  

• Softening your belly
  
  

• Repeat, mentally or aloud, an affirmation that works for you, such as "I allow", or "I let go"
  
  

• Stretching your body and letting loose of muscular tension
  
  

• Mentally "step out" of whatever situation is going on by imagining a camera filming you - all of a sudden the situation turns a play, and you can choose your role much more easily
  
  

• Focusing your attention on your navel area and letting go of the stress accumulated there
  
  

• Look at the situation with compassion
  
  

• Relaxing your shoulders and your neck

Allowing Life to be what is at each moment is one of the most loving gestures we can have towards life. Love life, and it loves you back.

Every month I receive emails from readers - some of them contain questions or comments, and some of them are contributions, such as a positive story, an article or a tip.

This month Lanetra, from Oregon (US), shared this piece of gratitude:

I am very blessed and grateful that I have a mouth and muscles to be able to smile and laugh with those all around me, for that is a great healing power.

I am thankful for all the love and support of the people around me and for having healthy kids and a healthy marriage.

I could continue to go on and on, but to make it short I couldn't ask for more. I am so happy and grateful for the life I live, and I wish nothing but the best to those around me.

You can read this gratitude piece on its page at "Blessed and grateful for all that surrounds me!"

Thanks, Lanetra! :-)

I have recently added a page to the web site which contains links to free ebooks that you can download – ebooks written by other people, who are happy that their work is freely distributed. You can find them on the Positive Freebies page.

I have included a few lines about the content of each ebook for your guidance. So far these are the free ebooks you can download:

• "Power of gratitude" – highly recommended!
  
  

• "Getting rid of negative thinking patterns"
  
  

• "Positive steps for personal development"
  
  

• "How to be happy and have fun changing the world"

Follow the link for each ebook from the Positive Freebies page - each link will take you to a specific page for the particular ebook, from which you can download it.

>>> Do you have any positive thinking ebook of your own that you would like to give away? Contact me and let me know - if suitable, I could include it on the Positive Freebies page so that you could share it with visitors of The Benefits Of Positive Thinking. We all thank you! :-)

I believe that being grateful for something is one of the most powerful tools to feel better immediately. Here are the two thanking bits of the month:

Thankful for... light. I don't know about the weather where you live, but I can tell you that here in London the cold winter is lingering as if they gave away chocolate cake ;-) However, the fact that there is more light throughout the day and it doesn't get dark that quickly makes a massive difference. For the daylight and its increasing presence, I am grateful.

Thankful for... the kaizen way. If you follow my web site and this newsletter, you know that I have already talked about it a few times... because it's such an amazing technique to get things done – it never ceases to surprise me.

In short, it consists on taking the smallest step towards a chosen goal. And in no time I am finishing reading books, keeping on painting and drawing, studying Crowley's tarot, keeping the house clean, playing my keyboard, maintaining my balcony garden and more, on top of keeping a day job... all done in a relaxed, smooth way. I can only but smile :-)

What are you thankful for? Send me an email through the Contact Me form and let me know!

Thank you for reading this issue of Dare To Play It Big, the free positive thinking newsletter of The Benefits Of Positive Thinking.

Care to send me your thoughts about this issue's topics? Email me and let me know!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues, or send them to the Dare To Play It Big sign up page. I thank you in advance.

Stay well,

Cristina