In October's newsletter I told you about changes that had manifested in several areas of my life. With the cold days of November I have been noticing further changes, but on a more subtle level - mental and spiritual (apparently the current position of Pluto has something to do with this). Several of my friends have reported changes in the same way lately.

I have chosen to take a step back, observe what I experience and take something of value from it. This is leading me and you somewhere - let's watch with curiosity.

Optimism has its physical place in our heads. Two scientists, from the New York University and the University College London, have discovered the area of the brain that activates when we think positively about the future.

Read the full news at wtopnews.com.

In the big scheme of things, positive thinking is just a step to a higher level of vibration.

Over the dichotomy of feeling good or bad there is another level of awareness where there is calm and a feeling of being "connected" to all that is. It is like a peaceful joy, with a sense of complete trust that everything is going the way it is supposed to go, and it is all good.

Positive thinking has an important role in helping us achieve this higher level of awareness. The fact is that we cannot reach a peaceful state when we are consumed by negative thoughts and feelings. Positive thinking and all its methods (affirmations, techniques for living in the present, being thankful) help us turn our thoughts from a negative state (feeling a victim or not having enough, for instance) to a more positive frame of mind. By training ourselves to actively use positive thoughts we abandon the bad feelings about anything and achieve a feeling-better state.

From there we can make our way to having calmness and peace regardless the circumstances. What happens outside stops dictating our feeling good or bad, as we understand that peace comes from within and it is always there, always available. This is a true spiritual connection.

"The Celestine Prophecy" , by James Redfield, has been out for a few years (first published in 1994), but it is only now that I discovered it. And it is fascinating! It resonates with our desire to find our purpose, the answer to the "why am I here" question.

"The Celestine Prophecy" is the adventure of a man who is led to find his purpose in life through a series of 'coincidences'. His search of the Manuscript move us through a number of insights and the discovery of the energy that exists in us.

Interestingly, every person I've spoken to lately who has read "The Celestine Prophecy" discovered something about themselves and their lives. This is one of those books that you can't stop reading; and on top, it awakens you. No wonder I believe reading this book can help us all make a more loving world...

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... the awareness. Regardless external circumstances, there is always something inside us that is waking up a bit more, all the time. I am grateful for all that brings me awareness in my journey through life, and I am grateful for the never ending capacity for awareness.

Thankful for... all those little things. I believe that reality and life go beyond material possessions and our attachment to them. However, in the path of enlightenment I am grateful for all those little things that make our lives comfortable at a physical level: a good cup of coffee, a warm house, comfortable shoes, a beautiful plant. Thank you for the uncountable small things that make our lives better every day.

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

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

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Stay well,

Cristina