What is the ONE thing you can do to invite more presence, pleasure and peace into your life?
That’s right! Just as the title explicitly states, “sit your butt down!” Meditation. Just the word brings up so many feelings for people. It sounds nice, but what does it really mean and do I REALLY have to let go of ALL my thoughts? Impossible, right?! WRONG. I’m not going to take this time to tell you the thousands of benefits of meditation, the different kinds or products, apps and novelties you can use to enhance your sitting meditation practice. Here are some links for those who are interested: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070 http://www.mindvalley.com/blog/announcements/the-greatest-innovation-in-meditation-in-3000-years/ http://noetic.org/topics/meditation/ I AM going to give you simple steps that anyone can do no matter rich or poor, stationary or mobile, ridiculously busy or perfectly balanced. Here is a short simple guide to sitting meditating: 1) IMPORTANT: Give yourself permission to just sit. This is crucial as our western mind is always coming up with better things to do with our time before we’ve even fully experienced what is right in front of us…what we are doing right now. So trust you inclination to just sit and that all good things will come from it! It sounds something like this in your head – “All I have to do for the next 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes is sit and breathe.” Then if your mind still needs a reason – “I am doing more good for myself, my family and the world in these 5 minutes than I am rushing around like a like a crazy person for two hours not really accomplishing anything of meaning!” 2) You guessed it! Sit your ass down! Here’s the kicker – it doesn’t’ matter where! You can make a “sacred space” or alter or find a beautiful setting for sure, but I can tell you I wasted years NOT meditating looking for the perfect spot! I used to sit under our fig tree but since we moved into a 700 square foot apartment, I now wake up, put my butt on the pillow my head was just laying on and sit criss-cross-applesauce first thing in the morning. You can sit on your patio, on the floor, next to your kids as they drift of to sleep…. it doesn’t matter, just SIT STILL. 3) Sit as tall as you can, spine towards the sky. If this is uncomfortable, then screw it! Just sit. :) 4) Close your eyes. Um, yeah, that’s it. J :) 5) Breathe. In and out. Inhale and exhale. You do NOT have to breath any particular way! If your mind needs something to do simple say to yourself, “I am breathing in” (yep, when you are indeed breathing in) and “I’m and breathing out” (you guessed it, when you are exhaling). That’s it. 6) ***EXTRA CREDIT FOR YOU OVER ACHEIVERS*** SMILE! :) Do it once a day for a week and I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below! Do you think anyone could do this? Too hard? Too easy? Just right? Thanks for making the world a better place by sitting yo’ ass down!
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If you haven’t noticed, been told, figured out or been run over by a truck with the realization that you are indeed the creator of your reality, well, let me be the first to let you know!
If this is you and your first thought is BUT I would never CHOOSE to feel like this, or BUT there are so many other factors involved in the my day-to-day existence, let me again tell you, YOU are indeed the CREATOR of all you see and feel! If this is you, I encourage you to take the question, “Am I the creator of my life?” to prayer, meditation, your journal or any other practice of introspection and connection to Source you might have. Then listen. Notice if you get and answer, or not…. If you’re on board with the statement “I am responsible for the creation of my own reality,” then read on. If we are indeed the creators (or co-creators if you’d like) of our reality, then we all play a role in creating EVERYTHING we see happening in our world. A butterfly can flap its wings and the movement of air, however micro, will be felt on the other side of the planet. A pebble tossed in the ocean will create a nano ripple until it reaches the furthest shore. Your thoughts, actions and feelings create the same affect on our planet. So the question of mental illness has been a hot topic recently with the mass shootings on school campuses all over the country for the last decade or so. I am always boggled by the sheer surprise and awe that people experience after one of these incidents, when innocents (specifically women and children) are subjected to horrific crimes throughout the world without much notice on a daily basis. But I understand, when it’s closer to home, the impact is felt stronger for most and as an intuitive empathy and highly sensitive person, I have grown up feeling these horrors to a more extreme degree than others. Many assess these killers as being mentally unstable or sociopath and psychotic. I tend to agree and I wonder how is it that we’ve let ourselves get so out of control. You may wonder why I say “ourselves.” Well, remember we are all a piece of the puzzle. You are me and I am you. This includes the great poets, justice seekers, artists, peacemakers and saints of our time but it also includes the narcissists, sociopaths and psychos and mass killers! Why Leslie, would you equate us with these people who have down such horrific crimes. Let me be clear, I am not only equating you (and myself) to “them” but also those involved in exploding the Twin Towers, those who deny basic rights and freedoms to human beings all over the world, those who participate in the sex trafficking and crimes of women and children and those who create terror and havoc for innocents in worn torn countries every day on this planet! If you have ever: *had a violent thought directed towards your children or family member or co-worker *lashed out at a family member and injured or even destroyed a relationship because of your actions (however justified you may feel) *ignored, denied or dismissed the feelings, love or help of anyone around you *sat idle by while a minor injustice happened in your community or place of work *had thoughts (usually attached to emotions) about using your power or status to control, manipulate or create submission in those you “serve” * chosen to remain comfortable in your life circumstances when you have had a “knowing” inside your self/soul that things need to change, but instead make a choice to remain stagnant, complacent and disregarding of the very breath that is there to co-pilot your existence (anyone ever hear of “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?”…the only “unforgivable” sin?) Well that last one is explicitly what the “good News” writers are referring to. Ignoring the movement of the Holy Spirit, the breath of the possibility for change and creation with in your own body! If you can say yes to any one of these, you too are the face of terror and “mental illness” on this planet! So why do I even take the time to write this? To make you feel like sh&t? To shove your weaknesses down your throat and taste it’s bitterness? To hurt you, to slander you, to make you feel helpless? Not at all. I simple write this to bring awareness to your (and my) responsibility and power to create a more loving and peaceful world! So what can you do (this week preferably)? Simple: Observe yourself. Watch your thoughts. Pick just one thought (there will be plenty). When one that is violent, heartless, careless, cruel, condemning, demeaning (and these can be thoughts about yourself as well) comes into your awareness… Stop. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. DON’T deny it, squash it, or push it down because it is uncomfortable. Allow yourself to feel it in your body and name the emotion that comes to the surface…. anger, sadness, judgment, apathy, numbness. Acknowledge it. “I see you anger.” And then release it. In our family, we call these “yuckies” and we like to move our bodies to release the yuckies into the ground and ask Mother Earth to recycle it for something more useful. Use your own intuition and personality to create something that works for you. If you need help, email me and I am happy to be of service without judgment or blame. I am committed to creating world peace one soul at a time so if this resonates with you and you need support, know you have a friend. Peace. Have you ever had a day (or week) when you just can't quite get on top of your mood. You feel hazy, foggy, you know you have a sh&t load to do, but you can't seem to prioritize it! That was me this week. I recently began a new part time job, upped the hours of another one, started an new cerification program (more on that later) and continue to run my coaching practice and prioritize being a present Mama to my to wee ones! All these things are related to a bigger life dream I have and am executing and I love all of them, but this week got to me! The familiar feelings of confusion and overwhelm started to creep into my physiology again. The same feelings I would get as a young woman in my 20s who constantly overbooked myself with teaching/coaching, social, job and volunteer committments! I could feel the brain fog set in, my breathing become sporadic and short, fatigue, overstimulated by public places and ruminating on thoughts that are neither productive or nurturing to my sensitive system...mostly just thinking over and over about how and in what order I would do things but not really getting anything done. Of all the modes we women (and men) go through, this one is the most frustrating for me becasue it is the least efficient and productive. Then I remembered... I'm a grown-up now! And I actually believe (despite what our culture will advocate) in resting, relaxing and rejuvenation. I believe in mindfulness. Slowing down....s-l-o-w-i-n-g-d-o-w-n! As slow as you must in order to lock back into the present moment. I now only believe in and know this stuff, but I CHOOSE it! So for you (and me) here is a list a things you can do to gentle ease the overwhelm and confusion when it arises: 1) Slow way, way down! This does not only include your body, but also your mind. Feel like you have slowed? Great...then move to step 2. 2) Do some CONSCIOUS INTENTIONAL movement. Shake. Dance. Do a few sun salutations. Go for a walk. Move with the only intention being, well, to move. When your mind wonders, bring awareness back to your breath. "I am moving. I am breathing." 3) Engage your senses. This state of being can keep you out of the present moment very easily. Stop. Smell a flower. Make a slow cup of tea. Smell your baby's hair. Just sit and really BE with your children....just watch them, observe every little part of their play and interaction. Eat a decedent meal. Make soup. 4) DO only what is necessary for the functioning of the day. Make a decision that you will only make dinner and that's it...(or get take out and you're free and clear for the day :) )! Everything else can wait. Believe me. Life is forgiving and the Universe is conspiring for your happiness. Trust the co-creator. Lean on your co-pilot and TRUST. 5) Rest. Nap. Go to bed early. Put your feet up. Not to catch up on your reading, or write a grocery list. Rest with the intention of resting...that's it. When we are in a state of overwhelm and confusion our bodies need time to integrate and catch up...so you can either fight that natural process, or just rest. Sleep. Breathe. Rest. |
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