book- many lives, many masters

Another book that I've read that's revolving around the topic on death, past lives, reincarnation and spirits. It just reaffirms my beliefs I guess. And yes, I'm really thankful that there's many research going on about this, books being published on this so that we all can find out more about all this.

I'm curious to know about my past lives, but I'm kind of scared as well. I don't think I'm ready to know about them yet although I suspect some of my fear and phobias (being afraid of horror movies, afraid of the dark, afraid of alleys) are possibly linked to them.

Oh well. The time will come when it's time for me to find out.

Patience. Patience. I need to cultivate my patience.

book- Journey of Souls by Michael Newton

I've always been pretty curious about topics on life after death, reincarnations, immortality and the metaphysics, the spirituality stuffs.

I think reading this book really changed my life, I can feel myself changing. I believe in the contents of this book (I've always been a firm believer of reincarnation) but some contents in this book really opened my eyes.

I'm really fascinated with this new found knowledge. Is it really possible that we're here on Earth just for lessons? And that even if we fail this lesson it's okay? And that whatever we do it's okay because we're all actors on a stage and it's okay to screw up your role sometimes?

It really gives me comfort, knowing that this life is not all that I have. I can do my best and yes I may screw up sometimes but that's okay. Because I still have other chances to try again, other opportunities to go for it again, to learn what I'm supposed to learn perhaps in another setting, in another lifetime. It offers hope. And also diminishes my fear of death. I find myself being more accepting of myself and others as well.

And that we are one. If we inflict pain on others, we will suffer the pain as well ultimately. Life's not a zero sum game.

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I'm definitely getting my hands on other books by Michael Newton soon, I'm still interested to know more about his research on this area.

I've just spent my whole reading week on this spiritual findings thing that I'm fascinated about, reading three books in a week gosh. Oh well. I will survive my finals! I can do it! And the finals is just a small scene in my life. Don't sweat it! You go girl!

movie- wreck it Ralph

I LOVE IT. I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH I HAVE TO USE CAPITALS TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR IT.

Yes, it's official. This is one of my favourite cartoon movies EVER. I knew I have to watch it just from the trailer. It's plain awesome. So much takeaways and learning can be done from this funny and enjoyable movie!

I'll start with the characters. I love all the characters!! Even the 'bad guys'!! Yes, people are not what they seem to be. Never judge a book by its cover! Ralph's the 'bad guy' in his game- fix it felix (felix's the good guy that saves whatever Ralph wrecks and he gets hilariously thrown off the building at the end of every game) and he's sick of his label as the bad guy.

So he decides to redeem himself; by getting a hero medal and being a good guy for once.

And so he embarks on his journey by game skipping, eventually meeting another outcast in her game Venelope who's unable to race in her game as she's a glitch.

I've enjoyed their scenes together a lot-Ralph and Venelope. Somehow, they complement each other and they find solace in each other too. It's really sweet.

And of course, the other unexpected pairing -'Dynamite Gal' and Felix. I laughed so much whenever they're shown together, they're so incompatible that after a while you don't find them incompatible but you find them cute in a weird kind of way.

And of course Turbo, how do I put it, he's in every single one of us. How envy could really drive us to make bad decisions and inflict pain on others but eventually we will be the one who suffers. A good learning point.

Let me end with this, my favourite quote from the movie. It's the 'bad guy' mission or something like that.

"I am bad; and that's good. I'm not good; but that's not bad." 

There's no absolutes, (no one's totally bad/good) and that's fine. Not everything's black and white. Cheers for the gray area!

movie- the rise of the guardians

It was an enjoyable movie, very suitable for the young especially. It's the good vs the evil plot but nonetheless I found it pretty enjoyable. Santa claus, Jack Frost, the Tooth fairy, Sand man and the Easter bunny were all portrayed differently from the usual that we see in fairytales. Especially Jack Frost. I find his character very enduring. His search for identity; for acceptance, isn't that what many of us are searching for as well?

And also to commit oneself to a purpose (in his case saving all the kids and their dreams) was a really happy ending. Afterall, not all of us know what we're really living for in life, not to mention even find a purpose that's worth committing to.

I hope I can find my purpose in life soon. I'm pretty impatient.

spiritual law- the law of perfection

The Law of Perfection: From a transcendental perspective, everyone and everything is unconditionally perfect; from a conventional viewpoint, perfection doesn't exist-excellence is the best we can achieve, and achieving it takes time and practice. 

My perfectionist streak is something that I always struggle with. I want everything in my life to be perfect but alas that's not possible and when the reality differs so much from my ideals, I get very upset and disappointed. The problem is that total perfectionism doesn't exist, I was striving for the impossible and thus setting myself up for endless disappointments.

I knew it, yet I couldn't break out of this. It was so bad that it crippled my life, I was procrastinating, avoiding because I just didn't want to face the truth.

The truth always slaps you in the face at the time when you most needed it.  And yeah, that tight slap really woke me up.

It was a wake up call, my depression. I think and still believes that everything happens for a reason, we just don't know it now. Perhaps in the future we will look back and understand the significance of certain life events but right now, all that we can do is to just press on.

I'm working hard on pressing on.

"Self improvement comes from a place of prior acceptance rather than a condition of self-worth."

I realised I've been pursuing many superficial things in life-status, recognition etc. Ultimately, we can only receive so much from others. What we really need is total acceptance of ourselves, to love and accept everything that we are and that we aren't.

I'm still learning. I'm positive I'll slowly come to appreciate the perfection of impefection.

self reflection #1 from reading the book the live you were born to live by Dan Millman. 

book- the live you were born to live (Dan Millman)

I went to the bookstore today to get some new nonfiction books to read. I'm glad I bought this book. It sure has been an enlightening read. 

I'm sure many know of the concept of numerology but the system that Dan Millman had devised was slightly different from numerology in the sense that it links our birth number with spiritual meanings. What we were meant to do on earth spiritually, to learn and to overcome. 

Reading this book had been very therapeutic, perhaps even more so than going to the psychiatrist since I have a hard time opening up to others but reading and understanding myself and my issues through a book has always been a good way for me to learn how to resolve life issues. 

I'm slowly learning about life and most importantly ACCEPTING life and not resisting it since it's the resistance that's causing me so much pain and suffering. 

Will post a more detailed thoughts on this soon. I need more time to digest on this. 

Seriously, books are the greatest invention ever. 

movie-in time

In time's a movie that I've wanted to watch last year when it came out. Sadly, I missed the showing so now I'm watching it on DVD. I still prefer watching in the cinemas though, it's so much better with the bigger screen and sound system. 

I like the concept of in time-it's a really interesting dystopia setting, with money being the future currency and also dictating how long one can live. The rich live longer since time is money while currency is still money, and the poor die when they run out of time (money). It shows the 2 leads trying to go against the system by robbing banks for time and giving it away (kind of like robinhood in my opinion; what they're doing is illegal but they're doing it anyway in the name of 'justice' as they see it).

There are many points in this story that I can't help wonder. How did this governing system come about? Is it even possible to genetically engineer humans such that everyone stops aging at 25 and the timer on their hands will show their future lifespan? Isn't it scary to see your life ticking away on the clock (especially if you're poor and hence out of time). It brings to me the concept of knowing when you're going to die-is that good or bad? Will you live a fuller life if you know when you're dying and hence perhaps waste less time? Or is it that because you're running out of time (for the poor), you get so worried etc and live very stressful lives while the rich (with plenty of time) can afford not prioritising anything in their lives at all since they have centuries? 

Kind of like the vampire conflict isn't it. Being immortal and hence losing touch with what it means to really be a human. But what really defines human? If humans are engineered so much that their livespan can be controlled, then are we still humans? I feel that'd be more like robots.

Maybe this whole thing may just end up being an experiment (like how it was in maze runner) and then there's another world outside of this in time setting. 

Just a random speculation. Then we can have a sequel. 

Movie-Argo

Watched Argo yesterday. It was definitely a thriller and I was kept on the edge of my seat most of the time. I wanted the operation to succeed so bad but at the same time there was this little voice that told me not all secret rescue missions end up successful.

I'm glad that the one portrayed in argo did though. 

The film set me thinking a bit about life as well. (as do all other movies, since my brain likes to think so much about everything that it drives me crazy) The uprising and riots brought to my mind about the recent Arab springs. It seemed like although we've progressed through time, and decades have passed, some things in life still keep recurring. 

things like war, conflict. What really is the price of peace? Is peace even achievable in the first place? 

On the other hand, I'm awed by how people can still stand by their beliefs (like the house maid) despite going against the majority. To do that requires a lot of faith and courage. And of course, the main lead in the movie, Tony. Kudos to all those putting their lives on the line for others, and possibly receiving not much recognition for their heroic deeds too. He's risking his life not for his family (which most people will do I guess) but for strangers that he do not know who were kept as hostages in a foreign land. To do a rescue mission like that really requires commitment, faith and the believe in something bigger in yourself and that other people's lives do matter. 

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on a random site note, I'll get started on the Life of Pi. The trailer's wonderful and the scenes are really pretty. I can't wait for the movie!