You know those moments in life when you are at your best?
Feeling your best? Lifted!? Full of positive energy and that sense of possibility?
For today's post I am going to refer to those experiences as "when the chains come off"....
For some people this happens on a daily basis, for others it may only be a few times a year. Or a few times in lifetime.
What happens when the chains come off? What makes those moments feel so different?
Those are the times when the Ego, or human mind releases its grip over us.
The human mind which places limitations on things; that judges and categorizes and makes up the story about who we are and what is possible and not possible in our life.
Think about a time when you were lifted. Lifted spiritually, engergetically, emotionally-- to a point when your mind and your thoughts and your story faded away...
What were you doing?
How did you get there?
For some people it has occurred around others with a high vibrational level, a guru or spiritual teachers ... It can also happen around people we love so much that the high vibrational frequency of love lifts because it is so powereful.
For me this often occurs after I have "tuned in" after a yoga class, meditation; when I sing. And 4 out of 5 times this happens in a peaceful or natural setting (in the mountains, a garden, near a body of water).
We can break free of our chains!
And doing so reminds us that we are SO MUCH MORE than our minds tell us.
Our spirit, our being has unlimited power. It is the power connect us to the Creator, and to all other beings. It is a higher power.
And when we tap into that power,
Creativity and strength flow
And we are in our true state, capable of magnificent measures.
Remember to tune in...
And let the chains come off.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Compassion for the child
Children are resilient, new and fresh in this world. They are changing quickly, influenced strongly by their family and society. In families of complex problems and a society of mixed messages, this can be a double edged sword.
Everyone, regardless of how "privileged" their childhood was, carries baggage from childhood. These early experiences are worth looking at. How does the past contribute to current thought or behavior patterns that are unhealthy?
It is important to remember what it was like to be a child, in a conscious, memory-specific way. Instead of just acting and reacting in the day to day, reflect, "Does this have anything to do with rigid or negative messages I received and internalized?"
Perhaps you will seek therapy or maybe you will practice yoga, knowing that on certain days you need more self love.
Also consider spending time with a child. I believe that every child is in need of positive attention from an adult, whether that child comes from a privileged family or an "at risk" family. Is there a child you can reach out to today?
And when you are with a child, listen. Use unconditional positive regard. By simply being present you are showing a child that he/she is valued.
We tend to forget that we are all connected! The pains of others affect us and vice versa. And the good news is we each possess a beautiful, strong, loving spirit! When we give this part of us the floor-- we not only help others, but we also heal.
Have compassion for yourself.
Reach in and reach out.
Helping heals.
Everyone, regardless of how "privileged" their childhood was, carries baggage from childhood. These early experiences are worth looking at. How does the past contribute to current thought or behavior patterns that are unhealthy?
It is important to remember what it was like to be a child, in a conscious, memory-specific way. Instead of just acting and reacting in the day to day, reflect, "Does this have anything to do with rigid or negative messages I received and internalized?"
Perhaps you will seek therapy or maybe you will practice yoga, knowing that on certain days you need more self love.
Also consider spending time with a child. I believe that every child is in need of positive attention from an adult, whether that child comes from a privileged family or an "at risk" family. Is there a child you can reach out to today?
And when you are with a child, listen. Use unconditional positive regard. By simply being present you are showing a child that he/she is valued.
We tend to forget that we are all connected! The pains of others affect us and vice versa. And the good news is we each possess a beautiful, strong, loving spirit! When we give this part of us the floor-- we not only help others, but we also heal.
Have compassion for yourself.
Reach in and reach out.
Helping heals.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wings like the hawk
I had a Aha! moment (to use Oprah's term) this evening while walking through the Arizona desert at dusk.
My summer has felt a bit like climbing a slippery trail in the mountains. I was in a good place and moving toward the summit; but excessive effort was needed to avoid falling into the mud. This resulted in missing the joy of the journey and the view of wildflowers, snow capped peaks, and flowing streams around me....
What if we were the like hawk I spotted today,
Steadfast,
Powerful
The hawk who carefully locates an updraft,
And stops
Suspended in the air -- by the power of the wind
His wings are spread and full of energy,
Yet he is still, observing the world and
Content to remain in the present moment
I ask, can you do this too?
What does it take to make changes,
To break old patterns?
What does it take to soar through life,
Moving with the currents of nature,
Without the unnecessary human struggle
And self-inflicted suffering
Of the mind--
The mind, which often tells us negative stories to pull us into the mud
When our present moment circumstances are perfectly fine.
Beautiful, even.
What if we were like hawk?
My summer has felt a bit like climbing a slippery trail in the mountains. I was in a good place and moving toward the summit; but excessive effort was needed to avoid falling into the mud. This resulted in missing the joy of the journey and the view of wildflowers, snow capped peaks, and flowing streams around me....
What if we were the like hawk I spotted today,
Steadfast,
Powerful
The hawk who carefully locates an updraft,
And stops
Suspended in the air -- by the power of the wind
His wings are spread and full of energy,
Yet he is still, observing the world and
Content to remain in the present moment
I ask, can you do this too?
What does it take to make changes,
To break old patterns?
What does it take to soar through life,
Moving with the currents of nature,
Without the unnecessary human struggle
And self-inflicted suffering
Of the mind--
The mind, which often tells us negative stories to pull us into the mud
When our present moment circumstances are perfectly fine.
Beautiful, even.
What if we were like hawk?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Spiritual Salad
I was recently both humbled and inspired by a stranger I encountered at a vegetarian cafe.
It was a sunny, Saturday in August. I had just loaded my plate with organic, wholesome, delicious food that I had the privilege or purchasing because I am fortunate enough to have a steady source of income.
It was quite simply, a perfect moment. Yet, quite honestly, I was spending it on mental distraction and identifying potential sources of discontent.
Like we often do I was thinking a dozen or so useless thoughts at once. And a thought or two of self pity, i.e. "It really is not good to be alone for lunch."
Enter: Stranger to the right. He walked over with his salad, sat down. He paused. Thirty seconds later he still had not touched his salad. Instead, his eyes were closed, his head bowed in gratitude, his open palms raised above his plate.
The stranger was blessing his salad.
Ok, thanks God. I get it! I needed that lesson.
Eat in peace, presence and gratitude, my friends.
And eat well.
It was a sunny, Saturday in August. I had just loaded my plate with organic, wholesome, delicious food that I had the privilege or purchasing because I am fortunate enough to have a steady source of income.
It was quite simply, a perfect moment. Yet, quite honestly, I was spending it on mental distraction and identifying potential sources of discontent.
Like we often do I was thinking a dozen or so useless thoughts at once. And a thought or two of self pity, i.e. "It really is not good to be alone for lunch."
Enter: Stranger to the right. He walked over with his salad, sat down. He paused. Thirty seconds later he still had not touched his salad. Instead, his eyes were closed, his head bowed in gratitude, his open palms raised above his plate.
The stranger was blessing his salad.
Ok, thanks God. I get it! I needed that lesson.
Eat in peace, presence and gratitude, my friends.
And eat well.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
On a level much deeper than thought
When I get stressed out and lose myself it is because I get caught up in the "life" I think I should be living-- what I think I should I be doing, where I think I should be, how I should look--
It is ironic because all those things
Are exactly what I am not.
I challenge you to reflect on the story in your head regarding "success", and what is good enough and what is expected...the story of who you think you should be...
I challenge you to stop, let the story go and
Breathe,
What comes to you?
Feel,
What is real?
In this moment YOU are real
And by this I mean your beingness, your spirit--
Not your body,
Not your mind,
Not what you do
Or the material things you have aquired.
When I take a moment to look at my hands,
I am reminded that our bodies are the vessel for our spirit;
Our bodies merely enable us to physically move about this world,
To fulfill our Purpose
And perhaps the purpose of your hands today,
Is to simply hold the hands of another
God knows and loves who you really are
As do YOU
Love and know yourself
On a level much deeper than thought
It is ironic because all those things
Are exactly what I am not.
I challenge you to reflect on the story in your head regarding "success", and what is good enough and what is expected...the story of who you think you should be...
I challenge you to stop, let the story go and
Breathe,
What comes to you?
Feel,
What is real?
In this moment YOU are real
And by this I mean your beingness, your spirit--
Not your body,
Not your mind,
Not what you do
Or the material things you have aquired.
When I take a moment to look at my hands,
I am reminded that our bodies are the vessel for our spirit;
Our bodies merely enable us to physically move about this world,
To fulfill our Purpose
And perhaps the purpose of your hands today,
Is to simply hold the hands of another
God knows and loves who you really are
As do YOU
Love and know yourself
On a level much deeper than thought
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