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“When we attend to the moment-to-moment flow of experience, and recognize what’s happening…fully allowing it, not adding judgment or commentary, then we are cultivating a mindful awareness.” 

Tara Brach

One of my favorites - Tara Brach - thank you Heather for introducing her to me!

Not adding judgements or commentary - what a hard thing to do!  Making an attempt is half the battle. 

Nameste

Attachment

When you feel anxious about something in your day, quickly check if you might be more attached to the outcome than is necessary. Mindfulness for Worriers

I think attachment is something we all need to evaluate.  What are you attached too?  A relationship?  A job?  An image?  Your physical beauty?  Your intelligence?  Being accepted or liked?

When I say "attachment" what I'm really referring to is how much something affects and impacts you.  Am I OK if any of the above listed were to dissapear?  

I need to be OK today with who I am.  I can't depend on my external attachments .  Ask yourself this.  If I were to loose _________today....would I be OK? Would I still be me? Could I cope and function?

Today, I am choosing to be free - unattached.  

The only thing I might attach to is the fact that the sun will rise and fall tomorrow and time will tick on...regardless if I believe in it or support it.  External things come and go.  Internally, I will always be me, and their is always a present moment that I can be in. 

Nameste

Thoughts Evaporate...

"The thought you are having now will evaporate, probably in moments. Thoughts are like that - they come and go, so there's usually no need to take them terribly seriously.  Observe and move on."

Padraig O'Morian

Sometimes I am truly shocked at how quickly my thoughts and moods can change;  they really do eb and flow and rarely last for much time.

Today I had anxiety in the morning before work - off for 4 days and wondering how things would be after a long weekend I suspect. I knew that by the time I arrived at work - literally an hour away - it would dissipate and crumble into nothing.

There are times when I question my thought - why am I thinking this!  I am quick to judge myself with catastrophic and black and white thinking:  "why do I always expect the worst".  Truth is, it was only one thought...and it means very little.

Do I recognize all the great thoughts I have?  Do I appreciate the times of peace, joy and empathy I feel?

I believe there might be some merit in not putting too much weight into our emotions or  what we think.  They seem to be very fluid.  They will change.  Who knows what we will think or feel later today, tomorrow or in a week!  The only constant in our lives is that things will always change.

When things are challenging - be it a thought or feeling - knowing that there is a real possibility of feeling or thinking differently can be a great comfort.

Nameste

Pain vs Suffering

"… we can distinguish between the normal pain of life – difficult emotions, physical discomfort, and so on – and actual suffering, which is the mental anguish caused by fighting against the fact that life is sometimes painful." Kristin Neff, Self Compassion

We will have pain and discomfort.  However there is always some control in the amount of thinking we give these states.  We can choose NOT to suffer.  

Nameste

Working out isn't just for the body....

“Each time you bring yourself back to the breath is a moment of training. This is how the heart and mind learn to move from a stage of habitual and reactive distraction to one that’s more responsive, creative, and aware.“ Vidyamala Burch

It is interesting what I will accept;  If want to get in shape - train for a 5 mile run - I will simply have to do the work! 

Why is peace of mind, mental and emotional health any different?  Do I think I'll will my way into a happier state of being?  Do I just decide not to have anxiety anymore? 

Of course not!  It's work.  Very simple.  I am in training!  Just because I don't gain weight or start getting winded on the stairs doesn't mean I am "fit" mentally. 

Everything worth something requires effort, dedication and faith. Improving myself and dealing with my own issues has been the hardest work I will ever do!  

Just like with physical health, there is continued maintenance required. 

Meditate today!  Journal.  Practice a mindfulness exercise.  These things will keep you sane!  These things will allow you to be free. 

Nameste 

What are you thinking about?

The mind is a crazy and dangerous thing!  Thoughts become things.  Thoughts direct our behavior...and worst of all...thoughts affect our state of being...aka  our emotions!

Do we really spend enough time thinking about our thoughts?  An oxymoron perhaps.  

What are we telling ourselves each minute, each hour...each day?  Are we saying we aren't pretty enough?  Smart enough?  Are we normal?   Do we question essentially every choice we have made?  I do.  And of course I do!  Life is full of uncertainty.  

The beauty is that at any given point...any second...we have the ability to stop thinking and start observing.  Everyone benefits when we turn off our thoughts...even for a moment. 

I might be ON my way to work...worrying ABOUT work...thinking bad things about myself or where I'm at.  And at that precise moment I can choose....to stop thinking about those things that I have no control over...that won't benefit me or others. 

I choose to make a gratitude list.   I think of all the things I'm grateful for...from my home to my hearing...from my animals to the fact I can think and speak.  I have a roof over my head, food to eat and loving people in my life....it's pretty great when you break it down. 

Stop thinking if thinking hurts!  it does little good for most of us;   we don't think original thoughts.  We think in patterns...we think in habit. We hurt ourselves more with our thoughts than any war, recession or ex-lover could. 

Take a break from thinking;  start feeling...being...existing. 

We can always decide not to think...even just for one moment.

Nameste

Stars can't shine without darkness

"Accepting feelings doesn't mean acting on them. It means you don't fight with their existence. You can let them be there while you get on with your day"

Padraig O'Morian

Don't fight;  accept.  So simple but so challenging!  I'm drawn to this concept likely because of two convincing reasons:

1.  When I succeed at accepting and I stop fighting, I am more at peace with myself, my emotions and my experiences. 
2. Just like Mom and Dad told us..."eat your vegetables!  they're good for you!"  I KNOW that acceptance is good for me....so I keep trying.  I load my plate up with broccoli because I want to be ..healthier!

For many people, myself included, I strive for "happiness, peace, contentment".  Of course!  However, having only "pleasant" emotions isn't very realistic, or even always desirable.

I enjoy Canada because I like the changing seasons; when spring rolls around I'm excited.  If I had spring and summer all the time I'm fairly certain I'd take it for granted.  Just like when I go to the cottage and the first day seeing the lake - the sun dancing off the water -the sounds of the boats and warmth of the sun...it's heaven.  On day 5....missing my wifi!  If I lived on the water I would take that for granted too!  I know myself!!

But getting back to one's desire to feel happy, peaceful and contented....if I was always all those things I'm sure they would lose value somehow.  

I need the dark to appreciate light.  I need the negative to see the positive. And so instead of fighting my feelings, it's better for me to accept them...whatever they are.  I don't have to act on them;  I can just let them be.  Because they will change.  

I also don't have to fear them, or strive to change them.  No emotion is "wrong" or "bad". They just "are". 

Nameste