Saturday, September 12, 2015

Stuck in the Mud

My mentor shared with me the idea of being stuck in the mud and how this can teach us acceptance. She told me about a story of a young lady walking on a path who came across a large mud puddle, thick and wide. As she walked, she tried harder to get out of it quickly and as she did, she dug deeper into the mud with every pull and push of her feet. She fought and fought to get out by twisting and turning only to find herself deeper in the mud due to her frantic movements. Eventually, the young lady stopped fighting and resisting. She told herself, "I am stuck in the mud, I don't want to be here, but I am here. I am in the mud" She looked around, took a few deep breaths and allowed herself be there with acceptance and relaxed. She proceeded with calm and thoughtful movements and was eventually able to free herself from the mud.

My mentor told me this story because in life, we can often find ourselves, in the thick of some muddy situations. Resisting the situation we are in can cause us to fall deeper into it. The mud will come, that is not the problem. The question is, how will we handle it?

Some of my greatest teachings have come from being in the mud. As I have taken on a mindfulness practice, I enter into situations that would have caused anxiety or pressure in the past, as an opportunity to be gentle and accepting with myself. Time slows down for me a bit when I recognize, "I am in the mud. Here it is. What does it have to teach me?" I do not respond with an attachment to an outcome or resistance to being in the mud. I let is wash over me and realize that this mud is really an offering for deeper growth and learning.

The mud in my life has taught me to self-reflect, to connect with my spirit and to love myself even through my mistakes. I get to choose how to view the hardships I have faced and will face. The mud becomes my teacher. Through it I have learned acceptance, how to listen, and how to let go. It isn't so scary to face adversity, conflict or an unexpected crossroad when I am connected to my spirit and understand my worth. The mud becomes a part of life's dance.

Deepok Chopra shared a simple strategy that you can use when faced with a challenge.

S- stop
T- take 3 deep breaths
O- observe what is happening now without judgement
P- proceed with kindness, joy and love

The beautiful lotus flower emerges from the depths of the cold, muddy water. From such darkness comes absolute beauty. The next time you find yourself "stuck in the mud", try to be open to it.
Be mindful in how you respond. The mud will come for it is part of the human experience. It doesn't have to define you as "stuck" in life. Through it, you can emerge stronger, wiser and shine.

Will you respond with resistance or from a level of acceptance?
Will you connect with your spirit or give into self-doubt and fear?
Will you remember to speak with loving kindness towards yourself or respond with negative self-talk?
Will you see the mud as an opportunity to connect with yourself and others or will you allow it to harden your heart and muddy your perception of life?
You get to choose.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Letting Go of Thoughts That Can Weigh Us Down

There is a story I heard from a friend. This is my paraphrased version of the story.

"Two monks were walking on the path. They were on their way to a temple to meet their master. Along their travels, an impatient princess appeared by a huge mud puddle. As the monks approached, she yelled and demanded that they help her across the puddle so she wouldn't muddy her shoes or dress. The monks, knowing that they were not allowed to touch another person, refused to help. The princess was enraged and insulted the monks. She reminded them that she was a princess and needed help. The princess then became distraught and began to cry. One monk took pity on her, lifted her up and carried her across the puddle. When they reached the other side, the princess left without even saying thank you.

The monk that stood by and witnessed the assistance to the princess, couldn't believe her behavior. He thought she was so ungrateful and aggressive towards the monks. The other monk who offered assistance, simply kept walking towards their temple. The one monk kept talking about how rude the princess was. He also spoke about the rule of no touching and how their master will be upset about the monk holding the princess. This monk continued to speak about the incident and his frustration grew at the princess and her lack of gratitude. For two miles he kept talking about this strange princess. As they walked, the other monk remained silent. Finally, the frustrated monk asked if the silent monk was worried about their master being upset at him for carrying the princess. Finally, the silent monk spoke. He said, 'Why should I get in trouble for carrying the princess across the mud puddle. I let go of her several miles ago. It is you who has been carrying her much longer than I.' "

This story is symbolic for holding onto thoughts that can play on repeat in our mind and bring us down. They may include resentment, negative self-talk or regret. It is a reminder that I can truly choose to let go and move forward. I am learning to let go of resentment, negative self-talk and regret because these thoughts only hurt me, the person carrying them. I have been like the monk that carried the thought of the princess for miles. The princess has moved on, yet I remained stuck in the mud myself. I am learning to change my thinking about these thoughts that tend to repeat in my mind in times of stress or can even sneak up on me when life is running smoothly. I label these thoughts as "weight" that I am no longer obligated to carry. If I am holding onto the past, I am being kept from enjoying the present. I can choose to allow my thoughts to play repeat of what is no longer relevant to the possibility of today.

I am practicing holding myself with grace and self acceptance, even accepting and loving my imperfect self. When I have made mistakes in the past or someone has hurt me from long ago, I am choosing to recognize that they too, are on their own journey. We are all simply doing the best we can with each of our imperfect selves. When we learn better, we do better.

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I have this quote by my desk at school. It reminds me that I can still be loving and kind even in the midst of chaos. Whether this kindness makes an impact on others around me or not, does not matter. Sharing love and kindness feeds my soul. I do it for me, for my own spirit to shine because that is all I am in control of. My life's work isn't to learn how to be more manipulative, competitive, combative, resentful and angry. My life's work is to learn how to be more loving, connect to self and to contribute positively. I can't get there by holding onto negative self-talk, resentment and regret. I get there by letting those thoughts and feelings go.

I do this by not resisting these thoughts when they present themselves. It is part of being human. But, I choose to recognize them, observe them and weaken their hold on me through mindfulness practice. If I find myself thinking with resentment, negative self-talk or regret, I remind myself that these feelings and thoughts get in the way of my life's work and happiness. I identify them as "weight" that is temporary and weakening to my spirit. That thinking in itself, re-wires my brain, strengthening my ability to let go of the past.

Thoughts to consider while learning how to let go:

Realize everyone is on a journey too, you are only in charge of yours.

Realize everyone's journey is different and yours is sacred.

Being right sometimes gets in the way of being at peace.

I can be misunderstood and walk away peacefully knowing my own belief system defines me, not others. Other people are on their own journey and struggle too. I want to be compassionate and non-judgmental towards them and myself.

Holding onto resentment, anger and negative self-talk keeps you weighed down.

This weight can prevent you from being a part of the present moment, finding joy today and feeling connected to spirit.

When I can love and show kindness towards others, it is so I can connect to my higher-self and listen to my spirit.

The benefit of making connections and being understood in a positive way while sharing love and kindness is not guaranteed, but it feeds my soul anyway.

Let go of the need to be right and attachment to others providing you with acceptance. It must come from within.

It is okay that others do not see me. I see me and love what I see, regardless.

Your self-love and acceptance is powerful and can provide you with the ability to be at peace.

In the end, entering our present from this sacred place will enrich our lives and allows you to see and appreciate the beauty around you.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Jon Kabat Zinn and 7 Attitudes to Incorproate Mindfulness

These principles or attitudes can be practiced slowly, quietly and with an open mind. These principles can reduce stress and allow a person to connect with self.

Introduction: "Who we think we are and who we really are are very, very different."

This overview is a beginning. Our Infinite Divine, our Inner Spirit is not defined by what we think. In a book by don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements, the author refers to our life as if we are living in a dream. A dream that has been shaped by our culture with values placed on greed, defines beauty for us, and creates a victim mentality. However, we should not be defined by this dream, or be defined based on what society says is the truth. Our truth resides in us. Our experiences or our thoughts about our experiences, do not define us. Our thoughts are just an interpretation of the world around us, but often do not represent the essence of us. Each person has a Spirit, a Soul, a link to the Universe and it is this Divine from which we begin. To connect with this infinite light within us and to lead from this place, where we are connected with our inner essence, our loving self and embrace the world from this sacred space, is to be mindful. To know our true worth and value by starting from a place of mindfulness is one of the most powerful and loving gifts one can give.

Attitude of Non-Judging: Paying Attention Non-Judgmentally!

Cultivating a presences of mind that allows one to look at life from a point of view of open mindedness is healthy. To be non-judgmental is actually a release. It is so relaxing to be able to no longer look for ways to judge others or situations and label them as good or bad, happy or sad. To release the action of labeling and enter into a situation looking for connections and commonalities rather than any differences, is freeing. To no longer define situations as good or bad, happy or sad, right or wrong and to proceed with openness, clarity and wisdom is empowering. A part of this is also creating a space in which people are safe to share. It is an invitation to connect. It tears down walls or preconceived ideas brought to the table because of past hurt or baggage. It allows a person to enter into conflict with an open mind and an open heart and from that beginning, people can begin a dialogue of solutions while establishing common ground, compassion and understanding. To truly connect, we need to be free from judgement.

Attitude of Letting Go- Let Be!

Brene' Brown talks about how we fear and avoid joy because if we experience joy, deep down we fear it will end and suffer. We push joy out of our lives because if we feel it too deeply, the feeling of intense joy can be pulled away so abruptly causing pain and loss. So, we beat it to the punch and avoid joy. But, in that, we suffer. Celebrating the joyful, "Life is Good" moments is a gift. It builds strength so that we can endure the dark days. To avoid joy is to accept fear based thinking. Another way to define the Fixed Mindset in comparison to the Growth Mindset. I love how Jon Kabat Zinn reminds us to "Let go and let be". We can often hold onto our fears too tightly and in that, we create more of what we fear. We begin to focus on the what we don't have rather than accept and embrace all that we do. Surrender, let go and let be.

Attitude of Gratitude and Generosity: We are alive!

There is always something to be grateful for. Even the challenges and hardships in life allow us to grow if we are open minded and mindful. In the act of giving to others creates wonderful reminders of how life is filled with goodness and connection. A ripple effect happens when we can lead with generosity and gratitude. If we can make another person feel loved, appreciated, or valued, we are, in essence, creating more good in the world and allowing the Universe to bring love back to us. Giving is getting. The Beatles, wrote a song entitled, The End and in it, is this quote:

“...And in the end, the love we take is equal to the love we make.”

This is the connectedness and Karma that relates to mindfulness. To give of oneself with generosity and gratitude is to create a life filled with love and acceptance. It embraces the goodness in life. We can acknowledge the pain and the suffering, but know when we invest in gratitude and generosity, the struggles can be met with an abundance of love. Brene' Brown has a quote that reflects this idea too.

"...At the end of the day, I want to know that I contributed more than I criticized."

Choose kindness, gratitude and generosity. For the alternative is riddled with fear, anxiety and bitterness. Choose to be mindful of your contribution and mindset of gratitude. Find the little things to be grateful for and share your generosity with others. It will make the world a better place, but more importantly, it will increase your emotional well-being and healing. When you get, give. When you learn, teach. Ask yourself, what are you grateful for and what are your contributions today?

Attitude of Patience: Trust in the Divine!

Everything has a purpose and will come with time. If we allow ourselves to be patient, we can be in the present moment and find joy in the presence. I have noticed this while waiting for a light to change at a stop light. The old me would feel anxious about my need to move and go. With mindfulness, I notice that the moments of waiting are opportunities to connect. I can connect with my Spirit while waiting. I can connect with my daughter while waiting. I can observe nature while waiting. I can be in the moment. Often times, by being impatient, I can lose an opportunity. I push the Universe to work rather than being open and allow the Universe to "unfold" with a presence of mind.

Beginners Mind: Fresh like a flower... this moment is anew!

I love this. It allows a person to venture back into childhood and innocence. When a person can view a situation with fresh eyes, with non-judgmental eyes, letting go of old baggage and fears, it is a new and rich opportunity to be in the present moment! If a person can enter into conflict, a new change at work, a new expectation or problem with a beginners mind, there is only one way to go and that is up. What a gift to see the world with a filter of freshness and no bitterness from past experiences. Does it mean we move forward with blinders on? No. We know failure is an option yet we choose to look at a situation with optimism and a belief that all is well and to begin the journey. How freeing and joyful an experience is when a person can enter with such bright and fresh eyes. It is another way, in my mind, of embracing change and living with a Growth Mindset.

Attitude of Trust: We are born with everything we need!

This attitude reminds me to let go and trust that I have what I need to be happy, healthy and that I am worthy of love. I can trust myself to handle difficulty and adversity. I can trust myself as I create a life surrounded by love. I begin with my own self worth and treat myself with tenderness. I love myself by the friends I choose to invest in. I trust that I can hold myself within a sacred space of love and light. I trust that I can make a positive impact on the lives of my students, family and friends. I trust that I can lovingly embrace my worth and find value in my imperfections and vulnerabilities. I trust my Spirit to guide me and to allow the Universe to flow through me without barriers or fear. I trust that when I do need support, I am not alone. Trust in oneself. So powerful to know that with my Spirit and loving trust, I am free and limitless.

Attitude of Acceptance

This one is a slippery slope. It is so easy to disengage out of fear, anger and a sense of powerlessness to change a situation. Any kind of suffering is often met with resistance and bitterness. To me, this relates to forgiveness. When we forgive another, we free ourselves from suffering. When we accept a burden or painful situation into our lives, it is the first step into healing. From there we can stop resisting and find our way to healing.

Attitude of Non-Striving: To do what is here!

I love this because for so long I personally have struggled with the perception of not doing enough. In my heart, I often felt as though I was not enough. I remember the anxiety of not having enough fun, not having enough to do, not getting enough done, not entertaining others enough. In that frantic mindset, I lost what was. When we force moments to be filled with fun, joy, purpose and momentous events, we lose the little ordinary moments that make life rich.

I am learning that whether I am doing the dishes, going for a walk or going on an incredible vacation, it is the being connected in those moments with the ones around me that unfold and reveal life's goodness. Wherever I am, I have arrived. I am here now, living, breathing and benefiting from being. I am present in mind and allow the Universe to flow through me, with meaning, light, love and joy. I no longer try to force it. I am learning to flow with it and flow from within. Creative ideas and answers are born from this mindset and flow from this space. These are the steps that guide me into life's adventures.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Listen to Yourself

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love said something that literally made me back up and take a moment. She said, and I am paraphrasing, "Your highest self never speaks to you while it is wagging its finger of judgement at you. It tells you, always, that you are magnificent, you are loved, you are light, and you got this." These words literally made my fears and worries tremble. My insecurities whimpered knowing the gig was up. Their incompetence had been found out.

My gremlins, as Brene' Brown puts it, had no where to run. They had no power behind their unrelenting voice of self-judgement and negative self-talk. For so long I walked this Earth carrying dark and deep rooted ideas that I am weak and lacking. Something finally clicked that told me those thoughts do not represent my true light and do not define me. They are there in my mind like bullies waiting in the hall. While my spirit sings, they laugh and say, "Who do you think you are, singing your song? You think you are the only one with a tune? Look around you sweet heart, there are others better than you." Finally, for some reason, Elizabeth's words flashed a light so bright, that it shook me to the core and my fears ran for cover. It was like Dorothy discovering that Oz was a weak-minded fearful man lurking behind a curtain. I took pity on my gremlins and realized they were just as tired from chasing me as I was running from them.

Elizabeth Gilbert talked about three voices that everyone carries. The first voice is the little child afraid of the dark and angry about not getting what she wanted. Throwing tantrums when she is fearful or uncertain and worried about rejection or failure. Fear, when not understood, can feel so powerful that one can avoid stepping out into the light. The second voice is the annoying older sister, reminding you that you are not enough, picked your nose when you were a kid and failed at playing the violin. She is there to stop you from feeling too smart or too capable. I knew this voice well. I shaped so many decisions based on her opinion because she grew up with me. She knew all of my weaknesses and walked through every single failure with me and wouldn't let me forget them, ever. With a simple smirk or sideways glance, she could bring me to my knees. These two voices are so strong, they will fight to stay present. They will prevent a restful night's sleep replaying stories of lies and be a post-it note of failures the next morning at work. They can pull you out to sea further and further away from the shore.

The third voice is your higher self. Your soul, your spirit, and your true light. She is the one looking at you in the mirror with the sparkle in her eye. She is the one that you can never disappoint, shame or hurt. She is patient knowing you will find your path no matter how many stumbles and tears. She soothingly hums "Carry on my beloved, you are enough and a gift to this world." She is the mother you always wanted, your best friend, your loudest cheerleader, your wise mentor, your greatest source of strength and the only one you need to listen to. Your higher self is the one who finds the lessons in set back, without even giving breath to judgement or fear. Her voice is the lullaby in which you drift off into sleep. She doesn't need you to prove your worth to her, for she cherishes you, always. She is the one that allows you to keep loving through the hurt. Not because you are seeking acceptance from others, but your inner voice understands love is the only way through the dark.
Love is the language of the Universe and is comfort to our pain. She is hope, she is pure, and she is Grace. She is the one that says "Let it go, keep moving forward, and you are worth it." Your higher self is what you were put on this Earth to discover. It is the first step in understanding one's path and purpose.
I realized that my ability to be loved is directly proportionate to the ability in which I love and listen to my higher self. Love can only exist in one's heart when there is true self acceptance and connection. Everything begins from the point in which one can listen and follow one's inner light. When we connect to self and work with the Universe, not against it, things just begin to flow and our light begins to shine.

I cannot take another step forward without nurturing this voice. Yoga strengthens her. Meditation connects me with her voice. Reiki aligns her with my heart. As walk I through my life with mindfulness and gratitude, I honor her. She helps me embrace challenges. I let her guide me as I stumble. I see her beautiful colors in a sunset. I feel her touch in a sweet warm breeze. I breathe her in as I gratefully walk in the woods. I see her dance while I watch my daughter laugh and smile. I connect with my inner voice and spirit when I say "Thank You" even when my day has gone to shit. She is always present and connects me to the Universe, to Life, and to the Divine. Through meditation, gratitude, yoga and reiki, I have learned how to listen to my higher self. It is always there, beaming, patiently waiting to be seen, heard and embraced. My light house. Steady, unshakable and strong. Calling me home.

Practice:

Listen to your higher self and find your own way to connect with her.
Put those fears, tantrums and the judgmental older sibling to rest. Quiet them, they are so tired.
Allow your higher self to take the reins and to lead.
Forgive yourself for your mistakes, own your imperfections and stop hiding behind the curtain.
Breathe, take one step at a time.
Find gratitude in the little things for those are whispers from the Universe.

Friday, May 22, 2015

A Book to Remember!

Today I read the book Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott. I laughed, I cried, I reflected and reading made me want to spend some time with this eclectic, humorous, deep thinking poet. My God, I loved reading it. Have you ever read something and it just hit every nerve in your body, triggered memories and thoughts that sometimes you bury? That was what it was like, yet it left me feeling as though I am on my way, I am not alone, and my story is one of Grace. This book talks about three prayers you will ever need are Help, Thanks and Wow, hence the title.

HELP

This is about how to surrender. When we feel so rigid and tight as we hold onto the pain, the fear, the judgement, the anger, the resentment, the mess we call our situation and we finally ask for help and let go. We leave it in God's hands, the Universe, the Divine, how ever you want to word it, and wait for the wisdom to seep into our hearts on how to move forward. I am reminded that I have to be patient. Life isn't a steady straight shot towards the sky. It is a wrinkly mess of ups and downs, momentum moving forward and then tripping over our ego and landing with our face flat on the floor. When we can let go and release the need to have control, we can sit back and surrender. From there, we can relax, go back to our center and carry on. This reminded me of mindfulness. Surrender. Allow God, the Universe, the Divine, however you want to word it, to help you get out of your own way. Go back to your center, for you are light and love and can surrender. Take time to listen to your heart, to God's whispers, the Universe, to the inner wisdom that we all have inside of us in order to let go and move forward. One breath at a time.

THANKS

My favorite part of this book was this quote. "Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means you are willing to stop being a jerk. When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime and in the past few days, it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back." My God, this made me think. Anne talked about the little things that we must be grateful for. The coffee in the morning, the warm socks we get to wear, clean sheets, a sunrise, the rain to water the grass, or the song on the radio that brings back a happy memory. Thank you is so powerful because it gives you a wake up call. We are so lucky to be here, now, even during the pain, we are still lucky to be breathing. The cracks that break our hearts let in the light so we can find our way out of the dark. Say thank you for the dark, the cracks, and the set backs. In one breath, you can transform the pain into wisdom. For that alone, one needs to find gratitude. Gratitude is to give, not take. Give to others and you will be amazed at how good it feels. It allows you to see gratitude first hand and take one step out of the darkness.

WOW

This is what I call the "Life is Good" moments. When we are in awe of the Universe and its wonder, its beauty, its power, and our very own ability to love. Those moments that take one's breath away. Aren't we lucky? We can look at a sunset and feel music in our bones. We can hold each other in comfort. We can breathe in fresh air smelling of Lily of the Valley and build a snowman. We can tell people that we love them and dance. When we feel connected to those "Wow" moments, we are re-fueled and reborn. We are as close to God, the Universe, the Divine, our own light as we can ever be and when we can settle into those moments, we are celebrating life. We become one with the Universe. Some say the Universe is within us, for what makes up the stars is the same matter that make our cells, our tissues, and our organs. Wouldn't it be amazingly powerful to look into the mirror every morning and say "Wow" realizing that you are love, you are light and you are made from the dust of stars? What a magical gift of knowing your worth. How life changing to be able to tell yourself every day "You are beautiful and it is worth it."

Practice:

Surrender- let go of what you can no longer carry.
Say Thank You, even for the headaches.
Be aware of the "Wow" and "Life is Good" moments that take your breath away.
When you breathe you are getting rid of the old and taking in anew.
Connect with yourself, your soul, your spirit and your center.

Remember:

It is okay to struggle. You can endure it.
You are not alone.
You are one breath away from finding Grace and your journey is beautiful.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Why and How I Meditate

Meditation:

I was taught to meditate by a woman who I admire. To describe her would be to use adjectives as strong, wise, intelligent, driven, and motherly. To me, being with her, always quieted my mind naturally. I wanted to listen to her. She connected with me and created a safe space for sharing and vulnerability. I reached out to her to help me settle my mind and we went for walks, we talked, we meditated and I left her feeling strengthened. I am so grateful for her.

Meditation is something that I do in many different ways. To start, my mentor taught me to always use my breath. Some people listen to music, light a candle, or go to a specific space. But, one's breath can be taken anywhere. One important thing to think about is to sit or walk in a way in which one's spine is straight and aligned. The reason is to allow the spinal nerves an uninterrupted or less stressed pathway. Meditation allows neurons to freely travel back and forth gathering information from your body.

The following steps were taught to me. (Rather than a chair, we used a meditation pillow with my bottom on the pillow and my knees on the floor and my feet tucked under the pillow.)

1.	Sit at your chair with your two feet evenly on the floor and your left hand crossing over your right… right hand holds your left thumb.
2.	Find and look at a focal point or close your eyes.
3.	Inhale through your nose.
4.	Exhale longer than you inhaled and count one as you exhale.
5.	Repeat inhaling and exhaling until you count to 10.
6.	Start over counting to 1 to 10 again.
7.	If you repeat this a few times, you may reach 5 or more minutes.
8.	Think about being in the moment, allowing your feelings or thoughts to run through you.
	Acknowledge them, accept them as present and they will pass. It is okay to think about plans, worries, anger, or thinking about thinking…. The sooner you see your feelings or thoughts and acknowledge them as a distant presence, they will pass and your mind will have room to clear.
10.	When you get close to the ending, breathe in light using your imagination.
11.	The light is reaching up your toes, through your legs, circling your torso, your lungs, your heart, your neck and face and washing all over you.
12.	As the light stretches out into the sky above you, it carries any heaviness or negativity with it and leaves only light within you.
13.	You can always go in the opposite direction. Light from the sky washing slowly over you from above, wrapping around your head, your your eyes, your neck, your heart, your lungs, your torso, legs and feet...washing away negativity with it, leaving only light within.
14.	Take on the day with a little more peace and mindfulness.

There is really no one way to meditate. Anytime a person can pause and connect with the breath is time well spent. It is a practice, a journey, not a final end result. For me, every bit of time devoted to meditation is like a prayer or a gift offering. I have meditated at meetings, in my classroom, my home, my car, while walking, and while trying to get to sleep.

Why do I do it? I have learned to settle the glitter. My thoughts and fears are signals that I need to listen deeply to my spirit. The thoughts and fears that I have are simple messages for my soul to cleanse. I can see my thoughts and fears and my soul holds them with love, without judgement and in turn, I become my greatest source of strength. My soul and spirit says, "Let go, all is well, you are loved." To me, the Universe is speaking through me and I feel connected to the Earth and at the same time, I am learning to love myself more deeply. It truly is magic.

Why is this healing to me? Because for a long time, I would look for external sources of validation and worth. I would look for others to accept me as I stood on such shaky ground of confidence. All the while, I would feel empty and fearful. Meditation and mindfulness has taught me to search from within and to recognize that my spirit, my soul, my life force, however you want to identify it, has always been present waiting for me to awaken it. Within "It", is a source of all that I am, all the love I can possibly feel, give and receive and where the source of all that I need, begins.

Try it and I would love to here about your own experiences and stories as you try to meditate. <3

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Yoga Anywhere

Peace

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. -Unknown

This quote sings to me. I love this definition of peace. Sometimes I think I am failing at living mindfully and without compassion if there is unrest in my heart or my space. Finding comfort as I read this quote, I realize that what happens outside my spirit, my center, my soul, or my life force, does not need to control, push or sway me.

Often, a work place can be a setting for unrest, chaos, stress and worry. I shared these yoga poses with a small group at work. My colleagues wanted to know an easy strategy to settle, refresh and let go of tension. Yoga is a great way to bring oxygen into your lungs, increase circulation throughout your body and heart, increase energy flow and release stress.

You can do this at your desk or work station in less than five minutes. Self-care is essential for your mind, body and spirit. It can build stamina and strength so we can endure the challenges and stresses in our daily lives. Think about these next five poses as little gifts that you can give yourself. Increased oxygen to help your cells conduct cellular respiration, repair and growth. Red blood cells delivered to the organs and tissues throughout the body. Reviving muscles that have been tense and over-used.

I believe allowing yourself this small amount of stretching can brighten your outlook as you carry on your work. Stretch, breathe, smile. Find gratitude with every breath. Even when you are feeling stressed. Celebrate that you are alive. Tell yourself that you are well and realize you are a gift carrying a loving spirit. Rejoice in the moment!

Remember to breathe and repeat as often as you need.