Lighten up… and suddenly you are unencumbered by your own thoughts.
Since I don’t watch the news, I don’t “complain” about not being abreast of the latest issues, so, please bare with me if this comes in as old news to any of you. Yesterday at the gym, while pumping away on the elliptical machine – which of course is positioned directly in front of a large-screen TV – I caught a segment on a morning news show regarding a new “bracelet”. We have so many now, all to show our support for our favorite causes: Pink for breast cancer, Green for saving the earth, Blue to support the tsunami relief, to name a few, and now Purple to be worn and used as a tool to help us stop our complaining and support a “complaint-free world”.
Conceived of by Reverend Will Bowen, Pastor of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, the bracelet was originally designed to get his churchgoers to stop complaining. Every time you catch yourself complaining, you are to change the bracelet to your other wrist. Once you have gone 21 consecutive days (starting from scratch every time you complain) you receive a certificate of happiness. Turns out they can’t fulfill the orders for these wristbands fast enough. Calls are coming in not from just the U.S., but from around the globe: Australia, South Africa, Russia, as well as from troops posted in Iraq.
The thing that strikes me about all this is it seems more and more people are looking deeper and taking the initiative to create a better world by taking steps towards their own self-awareness. Finding happiness and changing the world starts by changing perspective, and that comes from within (not from a piece of paper or a band of rubber, not really). But, perhaps we are beginning to realize that if we continue to facilitate negative thought patterns by habitually and mindlessly voicing our complaints, we continue to perpetuate a world of negativity and pessimism. Like attracts like. We can re-direct this flow, but first we have to become aware - so why not have a tool that helps? By recognizing the energy within our thoughts, we can tell the difference between a complaint and mere observation and decide how we want it to be. At least then if we continue to complain, we will be doing so consciously.
It’s not to say, once we obtain our “certified happiness” that we will never have another negative thought. We remind ourselves we are human, each at a different point on the path doing the best we can, and give ourselves a pat on the back for paying attention and stepping up to do the work it takes!
[More on Complaint-Free World bracelets at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17362505/]
Happy trails!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Faith - Not for the Faint of Heart
Believe... and suddenly anything is attainable.
Everyday I wake up with the unshakable faith that when I swing my legs over the side of the bed, the floor will be there to support my size sixes, my weary knees, my dropping arss, my stiff shoulders and my bed-head. I also trust the water will come out when I turn the knob to brush my teeth, the coffee pot will work, and my car will start. ALL of this “knowing” before I even rise from my sheets.
What is this drive behind this powerful faith? Is it history, past experience? Optimism? Law of averages? Expectations? Technically, we’re all intelligent enough to know that just because something happens once, doesn’t necessarily mean it will or won’t happen again. Isn’t this the very thing that drives our disappointment? When our expectations fail us? Consider Richard Alpert, aka Ram Dass on the morning he awoke and FELL out of his bed due to the stroke he was having. Imagine his fear then anger and finally his road back to resolution and his own faith. We’re talkin’ RAM DASS here folks, dubbed so by the Maharaji, and author of many spiritual texts.
This drive, this kind of faith in knowing the-chair-will-support-us-when-we-sit-down, is a powerful faith. It can disappoint us for sure, but the very same faith can also give rise to manifest. It can drive us to make things happen in our lives and in the world that could never be, otherwise. The power of this faith to create life and living and beauty can go beyond our wildest imagination – but why stop there? Believe, if you dare… it’s not for the faint of heart.
Peace and Sat Nam.
Everyday I wake up with the unshakable faith that when I swing my legs over the side of the bed, the floor will be there to support my size sixes, my weary knees, my dropping arss, my stiff shoulders and my bed-head. I also trust the water will come out when I turn the knob to brush my teeth, the coffee pot will work, and my car will start. ALL of this “knowing” before I even rise from my sheets.
What is this drive behind this powerful faith? Is it history, past experience? Optimism? Law of averages? Expectations? Technically, we’re all intelligent enough to know that just because something happens once, doesn’t necessarily mean it will or won’t happen again. Isn’t this the very thing that drives our disappointment? When our expectations fail us? Consider Richard Alpert, aka Ram Dass on the morning he awoke and FELL out of his bed due to the stroke he was having. Imagine his fear then anger and finally his road back to resolution and his own faith. We’re talkin’ RAM DASS here folks, dubbed so by the Maharaji, and author of many spiritual texts.
This drive, this kind of faith in knowing the-chair-will-support-us-when-we-sit-down, is a powerful faith. It can disappoint us for sure, but the very same faith can also give rise to manifest. It can drive us to make things happen in our lives and in the world that could never be, otherwise. The power of this faith to create life and living and beauty can go beyond our wildest imagination – but why stop there? Believe, if you dare… it’s not for the faint of heart.
Peace and Sat Nam.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
Yield… and suddenly you can finally “get it”.
This is has been a difficult one to write about. It really stirs things up for me, I think it’s because our perpetual search for comfort is SO the crux of the matter - AND, so easy to see the solution, which is to just surrender right? But, how many of us can actually surrender ourselves, everyday, every moment to something we can’t see or hear or even fully understand: the powers that are greater than us - the universal force that is just as real as this material world we live in? Where, in the end, it is ALL an illusion. An illusion we create to keep us feeling comfortable and safe.
I realize that all the resistance I encounter in a day is the one, all-encompassing source at the root of my discomfort. It’s the force that pulls me away from what I innately know, to most often, the very opposite of what I expect or understand, and we all know that we fear what we don’t understand. So, there I am - anxious, angry, frustrated, fearful. How can I break this absurd cycle that my mind is constantly spinning?
Mindfulness, surrender and letting go is the only way – realizing that it is all an illusion - Maya, having it’s way with us, keeping us from true liberation. But, my ego so wants the fight. (I see myself swinging punches while someone keeps me at arms length, with their hand on my forehead!) My ego tells me it is SO self important. Because, to let go would bring me to the question of “what would be left? What will my day, week or life be like if I don’t take a firm stand on something? If I don’t prove that I am right, worthy or valid… then, of course I would loose control, right? When, in fact, I know in my heart we don’t have all the control. We can, at best, co-create our “fate”, but it’s important to recognize WHEN we need to step back and let our “co-creator” lead the way. Let resistance BE our guide - meet it, know it, embrace it and thank it, then … step back, because that resistance is the universe trying to tell us to reconsider our direction, our choices. Can you notice some of the subtle signs of resistance? Ask yourself, what is my general emotional state? Am I edgy, sad, impatient, bored? How does my body feel? Am I stiff, achy, tired? Eating a lot or not enough? … What am I resisting?
I can’t help but believe that every circumstance that shows up in our lives is a lesson, and the same circumstances or issues continually arise until we finally “get it”.
We can’t always expect to control situations and change others or their way of thinking so that WE can feel comfortable, safe and secure. We CAN act to communicate our truth, but in the end it is up to us to become comfortable with uncertainty. Ironically, we can find that comfort within - by stepping OUT of our comfort zone.
Blessings and peace.
This is has been a difficult one to write about. It really stirs things up for me, I think it’s because our perpetual search for comfort is SO the crux of the matter - AND, so easy to see the solution, which is to just surrender right? But, how many of us can actually surrender ourselves, everyday, every moment to something we can’t see or hear or even fully understand: the powers that are greater than us - the universal force that is just as real as this material world we live in? Where, in the end, it is ALL an illusion. An illusion we create to keep us feeling comfortable and safe.
I realize that all the resistance I encounter in a day is the one, all-encompassing source at the root of my discomfort. It’s the force that pulls me away from what I innately know, to most often, the very opposite of what I expect or understand, and we all know that we fear what we don’t understand. So, there I am - anxious, angry, frustrated, fearful. How can I break this absurd cycle that my mind is constantly spinning?
Mindfulness, surrender and letting go is the only way – realizing that it is all an illusion - Maya, having it’s way with us, keeping us from true liberation. But, my ego so wants the fight. (I see myself swinging punches while someone keeps me at arms length, with their hand on my forehead!) My ego tells me it is SO self important. Because, to let go would bring me to the question of “what would be left? What will my day, week or life be like if I don’t take a firm stand on something? If I don’t prove that I am right, worthy or valid… then, of course I would loose control, right? When, in fact, I know in my heart we don’t have all the control. We can, at best, co-create our “fate”, but it’s important to recognize WHEN we need to step back and let our “co-creator” lead the way. Let resistance BE our guide - meet it, know it, embrace it and thank it, then … step back, because that resistance is the universe trying to tell us to reconsider our direction, our choices. Can you notice some of the subtle signs of resistance? Ask yourself, what is my general emotional state? Am I edgy, sad, impatient, bored? How does my body feel? Am I stiff, achy, tired? Eating a lot or not enough? … What am I resisting?
I can’t help but believe that every circumstance that shows up in our lives is a lesson, and the same circumstances or issues continually arise until we finally “get it”.
We can’t always expect to control situations and change others or their way of thinking so that WE can feel comfortable, safe and secure. We CAN act to communicate our truth, but in the end it is up to us to become comfortable with uncertainty. Ironically, we can find that comfort within - by stepping OUT of our comfort zone.
Blessings and peace.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Fall Into Fall
Slow down… and suddenly you are catching up with your Self.
The Autumnal Equinox has officially arrived. September 23, 9:51 a.m. marks the day and time for this 2007th Gregorian calendar year. The word "equinox" was derived from a Latin term that simply means "equal night" – better translated as "night being of the same length as day". Astrologically speaking, this equinox arrives into the house of Libra, which is illustrated by a scale representing the balance of light and dark. It is said the balance and alignment energies that come with the Fall Equinox make it a great time to manifest, meditate, pray. By focusing our attention on what we truly want, we can begin to create the appropriate environment to make it so.
Fall, for me, has always been the time of year to gear down, go inside, nurture myself with hearty foods and generally, slow down. The socks and sweaters and comforters come out of storage and I’m gladly wrapping myself up in the coziness they offer. It also comes as a natural time of reflection, going inward. We are all aware of the animals that go into hibernation for the winter. We can watch as the squirrels, just outside our own windows, gather their nuts, stocking up for the long winter months to come. But, for a lot of us, fall can bring a bustling time of the start of another school year, vacations are over and people are back to work, ramping up that next project or starting on next year’s forecast. Unfortunately, once again through the pressures of our culture, we are pulled away from our natural rhythm. It’s important for us to recognize our need for balance to keep us working optimally during this transitional season - to honor that natural pull of the earth that helps to quiet us down.
So during your busy days this season, try to take a moment or three to fall into fall, go within and connect with that energy. Remember that you, too, are a part of the whole system and that the seeds you are planting are, indeed, coming to fruition.
Peace.
The Autumnal Equinox has officially arrived. September 23, 9:51 a.m. marks the day and time for this 2007th Gregorian calendar year. The word "equinox" was derived from a Latin term that simply means "equal night" – better translated as "night being of the same length as day". Astrologically speaking, this equinox arrives into the house of Libra, which is illustrated by a scale representing the balance of light and dark. It is said the balance and alignment energies that come with the Fall Equinox make it a great time to manifest, meditate, pray. By focusing our attention on what we truly want, we can begin to create the appropriate environment to make it so.
Fall, for me, has always been the time of year to gear down, go inside, nurture myself with hearty foods and generally, slow down. The socks and sweaters and comforters come out of storage and I’m gladly wrapping myself up in the coziness they offer. It also comes as a natural time of reflection, going inward. We are all aware of the animals that go into hibernation for the winter. We can watch as the squirrels, just outside our own windows, gather their nuts, stocking up for the long winter months to come. But, for a lot of us, fall can bring a bustling time of the start of another school year, vacations are over and people are back to work, ramping up that next project or starting on next year’s forecast. Unfortunately, once again through the pressures of our culture, we are pulled away from our natural rhythm. It’s important for us to recognize our need for balance to keep us working optimally during this transitional season - to honor that natural pull of the earth that helps to quiet us down.
So during your busy days this season, try to take a moment or three to fall into fall, go within and connect with that energy. Remember that you, too, are a part of the whole system and that the seeds you are planting are, indeed, coming to fruition.
Peace.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Dropping the Drama
Unwind… and suddenly you are untangling the web you’ve been weaving.
“Life’s a stage and we’re all mere players, I’ve always heard them say. But, I’ve lost my lines and can’t adlib, so must I ‘act’ today?”
Have you ever truly listened to that running dialogue in your head? You know, those streams of random thoughts unleashed, left to run wild in the streets of your imperial kingdom where all the town’s people are ablaze with intelligence and truth, adorned in riches beyond your dreams… and no one is ever wrong? Or could it be that you govern the law of your land that all residents are made fools and every one of them skulk amidst the long shadows of the day, hoping to go unnoticed.
Either way, the stage is set for the endless Shakespearean epic to unfold. Ego is the writer, director, actor, audience and star of it’s own production. It is ego that demands to call the shots for the ongoing theme - and it all comes down to keeping the audience satisfied. Because the one thing we all, as story-makers know is, excitement, anxiety, worry, doubt, vanity, arrogance and pride are the upside to boredom. What we don’t realize is the drama we create can lead to health issues, failed relationships, career pitfalls, addictions, and emotional and financial bankruptcies
It may not always be easy to control the crew that’s working on our movie, but stepping out for an intermission now and again can help us drop the drama and take us momentarily out of the story that may be pushing us too far to the edge of our seats – and, perhaps, remind us that there’s always time for some popcorn and twizzlers.
“Life’s a stage and we’re all mere players, I’ve always heard them say. But, I’ve lost my lines and can’t adlib, so must I ‘act’ today?”
Have you ever truly listened to that running dialogue in your head? You know, those streams of random thoughts unleashed, left to run wild in the streets of your imperial kingdom where all the town’s people are ablaze with intelligence and truth, adorned in riches beyond your dreams… and no one is ever wrong? Or could it be that you govern the law of your land that all residents are made fools and every one of them skulk amidst the long shadows of the day, hoping to go unnoticed.
Either way, the stage is set for the endless Shakespearean epic to unfold. Ego is the writer, director, actor, audience and star of it’s own production. It is ego that demands to call the shots for the ongoing theme - and it all comes down to keeping the audience satisfied. Because the one thing we all, as story-makers know is, excitement, anxiety, worry, doubt, vanity, arrogance and pride are the upside to boredom. What we don’t realize is the drama we create can lead to health issues, failed relationships, career pitfalls, addictions, and emotional and financial bankruptcies
It may not always be easy to control the crew that’s working on our movie, but stepping out for an intermission now and again can help us drop the drama and take us momentarily out of the story that may be pushing us too far to the edge of our seats – and, perhaps, remind us that there’s always time for some popcorn and twizzlers.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
One Giant Leap
Dream… and suddenly you are awakening to a new reality.
Back in the year 2000, I, along with five other women banded together to start a small support group for each other as we embarked on our prospective, entrepreneurial journeys. We even gave our group a name: MentorsMeet. Our meetings took place once a month on a Wednesday evening at one of our homes. The structure was set up where each of us had 20 minutes to talk about our business issue or concern, then 15 minutes for the round-table feedback. Organized, productive and always good food!
I don’t think any one of us in the group could have predicted the paths to come for each of us. Who would have thought, collectively, after seven plus years, with eight children born, two home relocations, two business relocations, one really hard break-up, two affairs, several years of therapy, breast cancer, the birth of a non-profit… to name but a few… that we would still be gathering together, let alone, still in touch at all. We have shed countless tears, shared barrels of laughter and counseled each other through dark times. We have become family, we are sisters.
As a girl, I always gravitated towards boys for friends. I gave myself over to my masculine side, on some level believing that is where the strength in the world resides. What I have since come to know deeply in my heart of hearts, is that the power of the feminine connection is profound. We possess the capacity to help heal, not only ourselves and others, but the planet - Mother Earth, Pachamama – and she so needs us now. It is my hope, my desire, my longing for Lady Guru to inspire that capacity in women, to find that strength and courage along with the softness and compassion, that can help be a catalyst for change in the world, towards peace in the world - One small step for Lady; one giant leap for Lady Gurus.
Peace Sisters.
Back in the year 2000, I, along with five other women banded together to start a small support group for each other as we embarked on our prospective, entrepreneurial journeys. We even gave our group a name: MentorsMeet. Our meetings took place once a month on a Wednesday evening at one of our homes. The structure was set up where each of us had 20 minutes to talk about our business issue or concern, then 15 minutes for the round-table feedback. Organized, productive and always good food!
I don’t think any one of us in the group could have predicted the paths to come for each of us. Who would have thought, collectively, after seven plus years, with eight children born, two home relocations, two business relocations, one really hard break-up, two affairs, several years of therapy, breast cancer, the birth of a non-profit… to name but a few… that we would still be gathering together, let alone, still in touch at all. We have shed countless tears, shared barrels of laughter and counseled each other through dark times. We have become family, we are sisters.
As a girl, I always gravitated towards boys for friends. I gave myself over to my masculine side, on some level believing that is where the strength in the world resides. What I have since come to know deeply in my heart of hearts, is that the power of the feminine connection is profound. We possess the capacity to help heal, not only ourselves and others, but the planet - Mother Earth, Pachamama – and she so needs us now. It is my hope, my desire, my longing for Lady Guru to inspire that capacity in women, to find that strength and courage along with the softness and compassion, that can help be a catalyst for change in the world, towards peace in the world - One small step for Lady; one giant leap for Lady Gurus.
Peace Sisters.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Butterflies
Weep... and suddenly your heart is healing. Let your tears cleanse you like the falling rain.
For the past three years running, I have spent one weekend in August at camp. This isn’t just any camp. It’s a camp for grieving children. Kids from the ages of 6 through 13 who have lost someone they love; a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, cousin, etc. come to learn about grief. Through exercises and sharing sessions, skits and storytelling, they learn that anger is normal, sadness and depression is to be expected and confusion, frustration and lack of focus are also feelings that can be part of the process. They find that they are not the only ones who feel lonely, guilty, betrayed. They learn that being brave isn’t about not feeling scared, but about doing something in spite of feeling scared. They cry, they laugh, they share, they listen and they support one another. I always come away in complete awe, with utter respect for these brave and hurting young souls who leave their families behind to come to this unknown place with a bunch of strangers to openly address the pain of loss. No easy feat for a young child. No easy feat, period.
I also see that by Sunday afternoon, they have become living metaphors of the story that is referenced throughout the weekend about the caterpillar who slowly and painfully emerges from the cocoon to blossom into a beautiful butterfly. They have courageously touched their pain, and in doing so have opened up to a world of healing for themselves and others.
Grieving in life is unavoidable. It shows up in all shapes and sizes and isn’t linear in it’s process. We know grieving comes with loss, but not just with the loss of a loved one, it can appear in so many different kinds of passings that we experience throughout life. The thing is, we don’t always recognize it as such – like the loneliness that can come after a dear friend moves away or the anger after a divorce, or simply the melancholy we can feel as summer comes to a close. It can even show up with those self-imposed finales, such as a sense of disconnect after retirement.
Allowing ourselves to take the time to grieve can be tremendously healing - to cry, or eat or sleep or talk or not talk - to take the time to recognize our loss, be gentle with ourselves and open to the world of healing that awaits to transform us into beautiful butterflies.
For the past three years running, I have spent one weekend in August at camp. This isn’t just any camp. It’s a camp for grieving children. Kids from the ages of 6 through 13 who have lost someone they love; a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, cousin, etc. come to learn about grief. Through exercises and sharing sessions, skits and storytelling, they learn that anger is normal, sadness and depression is to be expected and confusion, frustration and lack of focus are also feelings that can be part of the process. They find that they are not the only ones who feel lonely, guilty, betrayed. They learn that being brave isn’t about not feeling scared, but about doing something in spite of feeling scared. They cry, they laugh, they share, they listen and they support one another. I always come away in complete awe, with utter respect for these brave and hurting young souls who leave their families behind to come to this unknown place with a bunch of strangers to openly address the pain of loss. No easy feat for a young child. No easy feat, period.
I also see that by Sunday afternoon, they have become living metaphors of the story that is referenced throughout the weekend about the caterpillar who slowly and painfully emerges from the cocoon to blossom into a beautiful butterfly. They have courageously touched their pain, and in doing so have opened up to a world of healing for themselves and others.
Grieving in life is unavoidable. It shows up in all shapes and sizes and isn’t linear in it’s process. We know grieving comes with loss, but not just with the loss of a loved one, it can appear in so many different kinds of passings that we experience throughout life. The thing is, we don’t always recognize it as such – like the loneliness that can come after a dear friend moves away or the anger after a divorce, or simply the melancholy we can feel as summer comes to a close. It can even show up with those self-imposed finales, such as a sense of disconnect after retirement.
Allowing ourselves to take the time to grieve can be tremendously healing - to cry, or eat or sleep or talk or not talk - to take the time to recognize our loss, be gentle with ourselves and open to the world of healing that awaits to transform us into beautiful butterflies.
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