“…Like it or not, we live like we fish and we fish like we live…” Who you are on and off the water is who you are in “real” life. You can’t be a stressed out- over worked spaz in “real” life and expect to be any different once you hit the water. And vice versa. . . Think about it..
Photograph by: Caleb Mooney
Dear Mum,
The moment I heard my sister’s voice on a call placed from your phone, I knew something had happened. A car accident, or a problem at work, maybe. I never expected to hear the words she uttered next “mum is dead, she died.” The minutes and days that followed were a blur. Amidst the roller coaster ride full of grief and the waves of emotion that followed, you have remained close to me, never going far.
I’ve been ripped open. I have never experienced love like this. I hear and feel you everywhere. I have spent years searching for a way to live from my heart; practicing yoga, studying religions and philosophies, all in hopes of achieving balance in my life – of feeling and living the way I now feel and live. I’m living with my heart, which is where you live and from where you guide me. It’s the most pleasurable pain I have ever experienced. Leaning into the loss of you has brought me closer to grace. You’ve given me everything I have searched for but I wish this lesson on no one. Although the grace that emerges from me through this tragic, untimely death, is beyond beautiful, I wish there was another way for me to learn this. When I’m scared, I hear you asking me “why are you scared” and then I talk to you, and you say everything I need to hear – everything I know – “just breathe,” you say, and that you are always here with me, that you will always be here when I need to talk to you – that I already know all the answers to the questions I want to ask you. You have spent your entire life preparing me to be who I am – your life’s work is complete and I know you are finally resting.
You inspire me, mum. You changed your life and your perspective on it. Our daily calls no longer were about the negative, they were all about the positive. When I vented about petty things in my life, you patiently listened to me and then said exactly what I needed to hear “life’s too short, shake it off, don’t let it affect you.” I watched you transform your feelings of anger, pain and grief into forgiveness in the letters you wrote and therapeutically burned; you released all the feelings that were holding you down. I listened to you remind me that “life goes by so fast, Sara, enjoy it, everyday.” You and I are kindred spirits…best friends.. meant to be in each others lives for this short time, for you to leave all your lessons and footprints on my heart, and then to leave this physical world.
I honor you, mum. Every second of this life I live in honor of you for I am my mother’s daughter. Your intuitive wisdom lies deep within me and guides me through everything. In our last exchanges, I was honoring you and this precious life. After hiking to the top of a mountain, I was greeted by solitude and warm sunshine; not a single soul aside from my hiking companion was there to disrupt the pristine nature. I knew what I had to do. I shed my clothing and with hundreds of miles of the valley floor below as my backdrop, we snapped pictures of me and my bare backside. All throughout I said “I’ve got to send this to my mum, she’s going to love this” and that’s just what I did – we’re best friends like that. You and I shared our appreciation of the beauty that surrounded me, I showed you every moment of my wondrous life that weekend, reaffirming to you that I was perfectly alright and living just the way you’d taught me – thoroughly, whole-heartedly and with the eyes of a child.
In mourning, myself and others have asked why? There are brief moments in which I don’t understand why you left so prematurely, but there is deep peace in my knowing you left because it was your time. You left only when you knew Amanda and I would be okay on our own. You left after having given us all the lessons and love we would ever need from our mother. You left because your work here in the physical world was complete. In your passing, you’ve passed on your life to Amanda and I, and we will live our lives in honor of you. You dedicated your life to overcoming hardships and obstacles and taught us how to do the same. The only reassurance I have is knowing that you knew we are taken care of, that we’re okay, and that we have every thing inside of us. I feel safe and secure with this because I trust you and you trusted your work was finished. It’s a blessing to see you everywhere. And to feel your love wrapped around me like a blanket.
I love you. I’ll talk with you soon,
Sara Ann
When my mother died, I couldn’t think. And that lasted, and is still lasting, for days and a week at a time now. what happened as a result amazed me. All the yoga classes I’d taken had given me that presence, that full hearted feeling, but I rarely carried that with me 24/7, it got lost in the hustle and bustle of life.
The days immediately following my mother’s death left me feeling like I was in another plane of existence. I had crystalline presence: birds chirped louder, water bubbled over rocky streams, every single sensation and sense in my body was hyper present because I COULDN’T think. It was the silver lining of her death.
I learned that oftentimes, thinking overruled my heart. When I’m living in my heart, I lead with love and feel her there and closer than ever.
A light switched.
THIS is where I want to stay. But how? How can I stay out of my own head, practice non attachement, and live from my heart?
return to the breath
Like a map guiding you home, pranama breathing will redirect sensations from your head to your heart.
cultivate the power of presence
Slow down, look up, listen. Focus on specifics: the blooming rosebud tree outside your window. Spend 5 minutes examining it’s every detail.
gratitude
when you take inventory of all that you’re grateful for you come back to you heart and the beauty of the present moment.
When is the last time you felt completely out of your comfort zone? When is the last time you broke free of your daily routine? When is the last time you ventured far from everything you know and immersed yourself in something other than what you know? Live today, and everyday, that way. All we have is this moment.
“We are all blessed ones. Heaven is no longer in the clouds. It is right here, all around us, everywhere; we must only open our eyes to see it.” – on Samadhi, the non-dualistic state of consciousness in yoga where ones mind becomes still
To be in relationship is to help one another grow and heal the parts of yourselves that can could never access alone.
Love can be painful. To be in love with yourself, or another, is to be vulnerable and courageous. Opening yourself up to life and love, letting go of knowing and controlling it all, I believe, is the purpose of love. To shake us open and the awaken sleeping giants within.
“In our moments of most intense joy, we realize how vulnerable we are.” Brene Brown
Pack your shopping cart full of greens this weekend and blend up this super smoothie. This recipe features Chai seeds which deliver a powerful punch of antioxidants and protein.
What you need
2 cups organic kale
10 ounces almond milk / coconut water / liquid of choice
Handful of fresh mint leaves
2 tbsp Chia seeds
1 cup frozen mango
1 organic cucumber, with skin
Soak your chai seeds in 1/2 cup water for at least 10 minutes and no more than overnight. The chai seeds will take a gel mold consistency after absorbing the water and will blend into the other smoothie ingredients.
Put all the ingredients in the blender, blend on high until smooth, pour into a mason jar and enjoy!
How to keep moving forward when the wind, or world (or scale), is pushing against you.
Today I woke up early, loaded all my gear into my car and headed to the mountains. I piled layers upon layers of clothing to protect my skin from the blustery, gail-force winds. I spent the better part of an hour layering up, preparing my gear, and then of course, undressing for a restroom break.
It’d been almost 2 months since I’d ventured deep into the mountains and I was feigning for a fix.
I craved the intoxicating, luscious wilderness like a newborn craves its mother’s milk.
What I didn’t crave were the 50 plus mile an hour winds that managed to make airborne every ounce of snow on the ground and blast it viciously at my face.
I trudged along and attempted to find my rhythm; foot, foot, pole, pole. 3 strides in and I’m bent over, head perpendicular to the ground in an attempt to protect my face from the windy assault.
My friend was in a hurry but not me. I continued this pattern of walking a few steps and then bracing for the windy assault; never gaining rhythm and slowly making ground.
What I’ve just described is an example of my struggle in the wild, but it also mimics a common struggle people face; a struggle with eating and weight loss.
When someone is trying to lose weight and they’re eating healthy foods, exercising, stepping on the scale regularly, yet not seeing the results they want, the uphill struggle is real.
Just like it was with my hike, the keys to successfully accomplishing your weight loss or training goals are patience, listening to your body, KNOWING your body, and giving your body what it needs. This is why I eat (and train) intuitively.
What’s intuitive eating? For me it means eating when I’m hungry, not eating out of emotion, convenience, or when my enviroment exposes me to food.
I eat what feels right and when it feels right.
Just like on my hike, I kept pushing when it felt right, I took a break to eat when my body was empty, and I adjusted my pace to fit my body’s abilities.
Does your diet support your lifestyle?
Happy Friday to everyone! Recently, one of my clients told me they wanted more energy and were clueless on how to get there without the aid of coffee and red bull. The first thing that I wanted to ask her was “Do you drink greens?”
Here’s my recipe for an energizing smoothie packed full of plant proteins and essential vitamins and minerals.
Gracious Green Goddess
2 cups organic spinach
8 ounces almond milk/coconut water or similar liquid
4-6 fresh mint leaves
Handful of frozen mixed berries
1 organic cucumber, with skin
Place all your ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately.
Add these items to your shopping list this weekend and set yourself up for a healthy, feel-good energy week!
When we run from life, try to manage life, or leave our energy scattered here and there, we feel differently than when our whole self shows up with our thoughts, words, and actions congruent and unified. When we center in the moment, we can fully meet the ordinariness of life as well as the challenges of life. Dishes are met with the same contact as are arguments as are hugs
In The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice, Deborah Adele focuses on the second yama of Satya or Truthfulness. When we SHOW UP for our lives, in each and every moment, we are being true to ourselves and those around us. This week, pay attention and go slow enough that you show up for everything in your life, and do things “right the first time;” never too rushed, hurried or lacking mindfulness so that you have to backtrack, apologize, or correct mistakes. Don’t run from hard tasks that present themselves. Face each moment of your life with clarity and courage.
The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele is a must read for anyone and everyone, not just yogi’s and yogini’s. Viewed as a value system for mindful living off the mat, Adele teaches the yogic principles of nonviolence, truthfulness, nonstealing, nonexcess, and nonpossessiveness. She sheds light on how we do these things to ourselves and others. Each Yama and Niyama is broken into short, readable sections followed by Questions For Exploration. The contemplative exercises at the end of each chapter are intended to be a way readers live with the questions. By taking time for reflection, it allows the insights to come into your life.
A friendly reminder for us to live the life we preach. To think, talk, behave, and be the change we want to see.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12491/how-meditation-changes-your-brain-frequency.html
Science is showing the health benefits of mindfulness. What is everyone waiting for, now is the time to incorporate meditation into your life!
Here’s an article explaining the activity of our brainwaves and how they benefit from mindful stillness, or meditation.
Want even more? Incorporate this simple but powerful breathing technique into your daily pre-meditation ritual, or do it anytime throughout your day to welcome in a deeper sense of presence and wellbeing.
Stay connected to your breath, stay connected to your truth.
Living the life that cries to be lived from the depth of our being frees up our energy and vitality. We benefit and everyone around us benefits.
Namaste
Today marks my 29th birthday. The better part of my 20’s have been witness to my spiritual growth, but this past year marks monumental growth, and this post sums up 29 of my favorite and rewarding day-to-day habits if you want to cultivate a happier, healthier, you.
1. Be Kind With Yourself
Cut out the negative self talk and doubt. When you find it sneaking up on you, recognize it, find the source, apologize for the thoughts, and surrender it.
2. Have A Morning Ritual
Make tea while meditating on your intentions for the day. Do a 20 minute meditation first thing in the morning. Read an inspirational passage from a spiritual text. Spend 10 minutes in child’s pose and 10 minutes deep breathing. Whatever grounds you in peace, start your day this way, and set a clear intention for the day. And do it habitually
3. Journal
If you don’t journal, start. Reflect on your day: Were you kind and sincere in your interactions? Where there things that triggered you throughout the day that you want to do better with? How was your day? Free writing about things that are following you around and sticking in your head is extremely healthy and therapeutic. Some of the most amazing memories of my life are documented in my journals and reflecting on them years later has shown me my spiritual and personal growth, and encourages me to keep doing what I’m doing.
4. Dance
Dancing is one of the most pure ways to reconnect with our child-hood self and tap into infinite sources of love, laughter, and happiness. Do it often. Too embarrassed to dance in public? Don’t worry, dancing has the same effect when shared with noone but yourself in the privacy of your own home or fitness studio
5. Practice Yoga
It has transformed my spiritual journey and the relationship I have with myself and my ability to love and connect with others. It has changed my life, and I believe can to transform others lives as well.
6. Have An Evening Ritual
Just how we start the day with intention and ritual, so should we end. In the evening you can do the similar ritual you do in the morning; yoga poses, meditation, journal reflection on your day. In addition, in the evening before bed time, visualize and set an intention for yourself for the next day. Work hard to visualize how that day looks to you: abundant with productivity or full of peace and love, etc. Doing this at night increases the likelihood your next day will flourish into what you’ve visualized.
7. Anything Negative You Think Or Say About Another Person Is A Reflection Of Thoughts Towards Yourself
Recognize them. Work on them. Learn and release once you’ve learned.
8. Do Something You love Everyday
Better yet, make it into a career and turn your passions into your life purpose.
9. Be A Good Friend
Most of us are lucky to have one or two people in our lives who will be there through the nitty gritty, as well as the birthdays and fun. Nourish those friendships, we are oh-so-lucky to have people like this in our lives.
10. Manage Your Finances
This year I set up a monthly spending, savings, and expenses budget and managed it diligently. It resulted in increased savings, more awareness of where my money was going, conscious spending, and I lost the fear and anxiety I have always held on to about money and scarcity. It doesn’t have to be fancy; I keep three running tabs in an envelope in my desk, Food, Gas, Personal- I know my budget for each per month and stick with it. My monthly expenses are factored into another set up. DO what works for you, but what matters is taking responsibility for your finances.
11. Say I Love You More
To those you love, and most importantly, to yourself. And mean it.
12. Do Cardio At Least 3 Times A Week
I love working out; yoga, weightlifting, basketball, rock climbing, hiking anything. But with my variety of activities, I sometimes forget to make time for cardio. I’ve promised to schedule it into my fitness routine at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes. Cardio is the best activity for cardiovascular health, combating Cardiovascular disease, obesity, and much more. Not to mention the heightened production of endorphins will make you happier.
13. Travel
On whatever budget you have, find a way to explore new places locally and not so local.
14. Get OutSide
For me, going for a long way in the morning or evening helps me to connect with myself on a deeper level. They say nature helps us connect with our original selves, so get outside more.
15. Drink Lemon Water Every Morning
Before you drink tea or coffee or whatever, have a glass of fresh lemon water. It kick starts digestive enzymes.
16. Eat Healthier
Make a goal to cut processed sugars and foods, go big and drop gluten and dairy, tpp. I’ve spent most of the year cleaning up my diet and surprise surprise, the cleaner it gets, the better I feel.
17. Watch Less TV
18. Hand Write Letters To Friends/Loved Ones
In the days of emails, texts, and disconnected communication, sometimes the best way to communicate is through your own written words. The person who receives your letters will feel your presence and connection!
19. Volunteer
Anywhere that interests you. Once a week or once a month. Giving back is priceless.
20. Stop And Smell The Flowers
Stop throughout your busy day to practice presence and appreciate the life that is happening in this very second. And if flowers are near by, give em a smell.
21. Listen To Audio Books
No time to read? That’s no longer an excuse. Pick up an app on your phone or tablet from your local public library and check out audio books. For Free.
22. Connect With Your Child Self
I’ve always remained a kid at heart: Reconnect with yours. No matter how much we’ve grown-up or the level of our professional careers, reconnect with the youthful, playful child within. Researchers have reported on the benefits of “playfulness” in romantic relationships for ages. Do it with your loved ones, or on your own. Just play.
23. Set Specific Goals And Hold Yourself Accountable
What to start your own business? Lay out the steps to get your there; set specific-deadline driven goals and hold yourself accountable to meeting those deadlines. This can help you carry out fitness habits, developing a blog, etc.
24. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone
Do something that scares/exhilarates you. And do it often. If you aren’t making mistakes/taking risks, you aren’t living. (Just try not to make ones that leave you layin on your face, though those are sure to happen at some point in your life, trust me)
25. Declutter Your Space
Clearing your space has a huge impact on your mental health. Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Look around you; are your dishes overflowing? Stacks of old mail, books and magazines laying about? Get rid of it. Clear out your space and increase the energy flow throughout your living space. If you haven’t used it in a year, throw it away or donate it.
26. Keep A Gratitude Journal
Researchers have discovered that people living a whole-hearted life experience joy by cultivating gratitude. I keep a gratitude journal on my nightstand and write down 3 things a day which I’m grateful for.
27. Laugh
Laughter really is the best medicine. Fill your life with it, do it often.
28. Love
Fall in love with yourself. Fall in love again with your partner. Life is too short to not be loving yourself and someone else, so give it all you got!
29. Life Is Short. Live It Up
The things you’ve always said you wanted to do, the places you’ve said you’ve always wanted to travel, do it. Life is too short to not do what you want.
Umurbek Bazarbayev – Snatch – 135kg (Photo credit: Peter J Dean)
Back on the platform after nearly a month of winter sickness which turned into a necessary break from olympic training. Training breaks can have their psychological perks as well as restorative physical benefits, but it also comes with a decrease in physical strength and fitness. I maintained a regular bodybuilding/HIIT training program for the month I took off, but I’ve still noticed a huge decrease in strength. All the better reason to hit the ground training hard now.
Fuel for your training: Try this Naked Summer Bean Salad full of fiber, protein, and carbs or this egg frittata recipe with prosciutto shells.
Week 2 Programming Strength and Power Development Phase
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Stone and Barbell Training Facility. Family, it is so good to be back.
I get so many questions about what I’m reading, who I’m listening to and what other spiritual goodies I’ve discovered. My spirituality backpack has developed into my bag of inspiration and guidance for my life.
My spirituality backpack contains resources offered up to me by those near and dear, or simply ones that speak to me at specific moments of my life.
I believe it of the up most importance to change the material we put into our heads and hearts. So often we are bombarded with TV Advertisements, billboards, and radio all advertising a product and potentially influencing and challenging us, most of the time without us realizing it. Just like the TV programs people watch, the audio books I listen to and books I read provide me with guidance and insight to deepen my spirituality and personal growth. Be it the life-long-learner in me, but I love to read, learn and grow and I love sharing my sources with others!
Resources:
Caroline Myss The Power of Prayer:
Madly In Love With Me, Christine Arylo, That endless tape of critical self-talk played on repeat stands no chance against the loving tools, techniques, and tips offered forth in this book. From soaking in a love bath, to leaving yourself loving inspirational messages, this book gives practicing self love a whole new look. Super girly, but more than worth it.
The Divine Law Of Compensation; On Work, Money, And Miracles, Marianne Williamson
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
Wild; From Lost to Found On The Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed, At some point in our lives we are alone. Utterly, totally, alone and isolated. Sometimes we intentionally isolate ourselves by going somewhere or doing something, like hiking the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) solo. This book will at the least inspire you to do the things you’ve told yourself you can’t do for whatever reason; it isn’t safe, you can’t afford it, and so on. This book spoke to me in many ways about things I want to do, but have been told it simply isn’t safe to do alone, and as a woman. After the sudden loss of her mother to cancer, the unraveling of her marriage, and her personal struggles overtaking her life, the author journeys outward which becomes her journey inward.
The Gifts Of Imperfection, Brene Brown,
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, This fiction read takes you on the personal journey of a boy.
A Return To Love; Reflections On The Principles Of A Course In Miracles, Marianne Williamson
David and Goliath, Underdogs, Misfits, and The Art of Battling Giants, Malcolm Gladwell, A great research based story of the rise of the underdog. Great, inspirational read (audio listen).
This draft has been sitting forever, a constant work in progress. Instead, I’ve decided simply to publish, as is, now.
Be a part of the love club
Lyrics by the young songstress Lorde remind me to be a part of the love club.
When we center our lives from a place within our hearts, we live our lives from love. Sometimes straying, but always returning.
Many of us get consumed by fear. When we let fear lead us in life it leads us off our divine path.
In this clip, Gabrielle Bernstein gives her approach to recognizing when we are driven by fear over love, and how to reverse it!
Simple. Sweet. And to the point. 39 little insights hammer down what most of us already know but enjoy hearing again and again. and again.
Gratitude is my prayer.
What are you thankful for?
My daily gratitude journal finds entries like this:
I am thankful for my heart that beats and keeps me alive. I am grateful for my healthy and active body, soul, and spirit.
And range to things about my career, education, family, friends, house, material possessions, etc.
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, people stop and give thanks, after all it is the theme of the holiday. What better time than now to call attention to the act of gratitude in daily living, regardless of holidays.
Deepak and Oprah guide us to giving thanks and living a life of gratitude daily.
On another note, Oprah has Super Soul Sunday; a show full of inspiring spiritual people, guidance, and living. A particularly AH-HA inspiring video with Dr. Brene Brown on cultivating gratitude and joy here.
How To Attract A Loving Relationship
attract love through intention-
You must be that which you desire. There’s no point whatsoever in an unloving man or woman bemoaning their inability to find a partner. They’re doomed to endless frustration because they don’t recognize the perfect match when it appears. That loving person could be right there, now, and their resistance doesn’t allow them to see it. The unloving person continues to blame bad luck or a series of external factors for their not having a loving relationship.
How To Attract Love To Your Life
Love can only be attracted by and returned by love. The best advice I can give for attracting and maintaining spiritual partnerships, is to be what it is that you are seeking. Most relationships that fail to sustain themselves are based on one or both of the partners feeling as if their freedom has been compromised in some way. Spiritual partnerships, however, are never about making another person feel inferior or ignored in any way. The term spiritual partnership simply means that the energy holding the two of you together is in close harmony with the Source energy of intention.
Using Intention To Attract The Relationship You Want
This means that an allowing philosophy flows through the partnership, and you need never fear that your freedom to fulfill your own inner knowing about your purpose is questioned. It’s as if each person has whispered silently to the other, You are Source energy in a physical body, and the better you feel, the more of this loving, kind, beautiful, receptive, abundant, expanding, and creative energy is flowing through you. I respect this Source energy, and I share it with you as well. When either of us feels downhearted, there’s less of this energy of intention flowing. We must always remember that nothing is disallowed by the universal mind. Whatever is not allowing us to be happy is being disallowed by us. I’m committed to staying in this energy field of intention and watching myself whenever I slip. It’s that very Source that brought us together, and I’ll work to stay in harmony with it.
Affirm That Love is On Its Way
Mystically speaking, there’s no difference between you and another person. A weird concept, perhaps, but valid. This explains why you can’t hurt another person without hurting yourself, nor can you help another person without helping yourself. You share the same Source energy with everyone, and consequently, you must begin to think and act in a way that reflects your awareness of this principle. When you feel the need to have the right person show up, begin to change your inner dialogue to reflect this awareness. Rather than saying, “I wish this person would show up because I need to get out of this rut” activate a thought that reflects your connection, such as: I know the right person will be arriving in divine order at precisely the perfect time.
Loving Yourself First
If a friendship or partnership requires the submission of your higher original nature and dignity, it’s simply wrong. When you truly know what it is to love, as you’re loved by your Source, you won’t experience the kind of pain you did in the past when your love was unnoticed or rejected. It will, instead, be similar to how a friend described her experience of choosing to leave a relationship: “My heart was broken, but it felt like it was stuck in the open position. I felt love flowing toward this person who couldn’t love me the way I wanted to be loved, even as I left that relationship to seek the love I felt inside of me. It was strange to feel the pain of my broken heart. And at the same time feel its openness. I kept thinking, My heart’s broken, but it’s broken open. I shifted to an entirely new level of loving and being loved. The relationship I’d dreamed of having manifested 18 months later!”
You are love. You emanated from pure love. You’re connected to this Source of love at all times. Think this way, feel this way, and you’ll soon act this way. And all that you think, feel, and do will be reciprocated in exactly the same fashion. Believe it or not, this principle of the right person showing up has been in place forever. It’s only your ego that’s kept you from seeing it clearly.
BElieve it. BE it. Achieve it.
Related articles
3 weeks of personal ups and downs translated to three weeks of hitting my body against an unforgiving bar.
Clouds break and the sun peaks through lifting the burdens which had been placed on my body.
With the lightness in my soul came quickness in my body.
Had I known that 45kgs was 99 pounds I’d have gone for 1 more kilo. Always more. always more. When what is now and what we’ve done is always more than enough.
Whoa. Deepak and Oprah are at it again. I don’t know about you, but I AM drinking up the journey I’ve embarked on, guided by the wisdom and insightful words of these two extremely present, aligned, loving people.
Who wants to talk about how awesome the meditation and words from Deepak and Oprah were today?
Deepak says
Sometimes it feels we are passengers along a ride in life, simply reacting to situations, unrecognizing that we are able to choose our actions in situations to further align ourselves with positive, everflowing abundance in our lives.
Karma. Actions generate energy that are returned to us. What we give we receive. We are what we attract.
When we choose actions that are happy and bringing success to others, is that we bring it to ourselves. To use the law of Karma, we must be aware of the choices we make, in each moment. By being more present, we can make these decisions with a softer, clearer heart.
I have faith that I will make hard decisions with a soft heart.
When making decisions, what is going to bring you happiness and fulfillment, because that is what you will be bringing other people in your life.
By shifting your cosmic presence, we welcome equanimity into our lives. When we live in this place, we are balanced and at peace, and able to focus on the WHOLE picture, instead of the comparing game. It is here, where we release and allow ourselves to absorb deep tranquility, and acceptance of the present moment. By cultivating it through your meditation practice, we wash away our trail of past choices, cleansing our karmic trail. Creating a new level in which we vibrate, and attracting more of that energy into our lives.
Releasing the past is essential to awakening to the present and creating the future we desire. Perhaps we have limiting beliefs keeping us from our true selves and passions?
It is the awareness that we are the master’s of our own destinies.
I AM a powerful creator
I AM my deepest desire
What are the things you are clearing away to make karmic room for equanimity and the building of your future? What ARE your deepest desires?
I recently sat in class during the last seminar discussion of my educational career, only being made aware of the fact a few minutes earlier.
I’ve been mixed with melancholy for the past week knowing I was enrolled in the last course of my graduate career, but I still had till December, right?
Wrong, all that’s left is a presentation and a paper.
I was sitting in a room, full of people I’d been exchanging brilliant information with, some for years, and I was sitting there as a student for the last time.
As discussion started, I continued to sit and simply look around the room at everyone as they contributed their ideas and interpretations of the search for Authentication in non western art, and silently I thanked each and every one of those people for allowing me to have this experience with them. I drank it in.
Sitting in these rooms year after year, with some of the most respected scholars in the field of art history, I’ve learned more about the history of art that I could ever explain. But more than that, I’ve learned about life and the world around me.
Such as my dear fellow colleague, whom I’ve also worked alongside for several years as a graduate teaching assistant. Not only is this person an amazing scholar, full of passion and intelligence for her field, she’s also a yogi, and she’s taught me so much about being unattached to outcomes of situations, about taking care of your person no matter how busy we get, and about being present among a sea of chaos which we all exist in at times.
Or the professors I’ve studied under. For years these distinguished scholars have taken my overeager personality under their wings and they’ve guided me deeper into the things I love about art, the world, and life. They have given me so much of their time and knowledge, and have helped shape me into the scholar I am.
I have experienced a serious love/hate relationship with my education. Who hasn’t experienced this with something they love so deeply? Relationships, jobs, careers, everything. The path I had decided to embark upon was sucking the life out of all other areas of my life. I found myself underwater in school work and never-ending piles of deadlines. It required me to sacrifice. alot. I barely even had time to volunteer, something I was deeply passionate about having in my life. Grad school demanded ALL of me.
Due to the financial commitment to my education I felt obligated to finish my degree even though I was experiencing some SERIOUS dislike. I questioned, what am I DOING? WHY am I even doing this anymore? Is this REALLY what I want to be doing now? Do I REALLY love this with all my soul?!
Yikes! I’m thinking I’m deep into my education, and now I’m not even sure if this is what I want?! SHIT!
Then I met someone who shed some light and perspective on my situation. I began to approach my job, my education, the papers, the readings, all the grad work differently…I only saw it for its good. I focused on everything that I was experiencing with nothing but positive energy.
*Pay attention to the people closest to you in life, for they are all here to teach us. Remember, relationships are assignments.
Low and behold, more positive things started coming into this area of my life. Sounds simple, but how many times a day do you catch yourself saying something either under your breath or in your mind that sounds like this:
I don’t like my boss.
I don’t like my co-worker. I hate this place sometimes. Ugh, I hate my job today.
I’m so tired of doing her work. I don’t want to be here today. I’m so tired, I don’t want to work, I want___instead.
The list can go on…
And the more you say it, the more you SEE it. Then, before you know it toxic negative thoughts and behaviors are going for a joyride in your life.
So,
on with the positives…
I just graduated and essentially I was working in my field, and being funded to further my education. I was doing something I loved (even though there were ALOT of times I hated it, this was the hardest thing for me to comprehend that I could love AND really dislike something, and sometimes at the SAME time), that I had only a little time left as a student and even under all the papers and work required of being a student, I still LOVED sitting in these class rooms with these brilliant people, talking and learning and exchanging ideas about the world. I mean, COME ON. This. is. amazing.
So my perspective shifted.
And with it, positive things rushed in.
An inspiring video for any artist or athlete.
When my world of weightlifting collides with my work as an art historian. And when my life collides with my work as a weightlifter.
Weightlifting is art.
Writing is art.
Creating is art.
Life is art.
Be the love of life 