Judgment - Personal Practice

I was asked a question that threw me for a loop.  The question was “What do you find fun?”  

This got me to thinking about all the things I do that I do not find fun.  I then had to question why I do them.  

The answer was usually commitment.  The commitment could be a task at work I don’t enjoy, or it could be some task that will be beneficial in the long run and worth the lack of enjoyment to get to the benefit. 

However I did find sometimes I do things that are not fun or rewarding and I don’t have to do them, but I do anyway.  This was a tough realization.

This question has opened a new chapter for me in life.  I see some learned or patterned behavior in the reasoning behind doing things I do not enjoy.

The awareness of this is challenging.  I find myself now doing things I don’t have to that I don’t enjoy, but I’m aware that I’m doing it and not enjoying it.  

This awareness is making all the difference!

I believe in time with practicing awareness in the activities I do not enjoy.  The ones I don’t have to do.  I will cease to do the activities.  

I’ll find room in life for more of the activities I do enjoy.  Or better yet, new activities that I’ll enjoy!

So here’s to enjoying the journey!

Judgment - Yoga Lesson

We are hard on ourselves!  So much so that often we implement checks and balances in our lives, to make ourselves feel better by putting others down.  Even if it is only something we “think to ourselves”.

When we engage in this behavior we really are only justifying our own insecurities.

The challenge is to notice when we judge others, to be aware of what we are doing and then question ourselves “why” we are doing this.

The answers you find are yours alone.  Our journeys are different and we have our own special ways of passing judgment, of being harsh on others, or ultimately ourselves.

Why not acknowledge this behavior and find a more positive outlet?

Embrace your Insecurities and Fears!  Know them!  Then let them go.

The Value of a Teacher - Personal Practice

I’ve been challenged to devote myself to something this week and I’ve taken it to heart!  

I have known for some time now that I need a fresh perspective on my life and that I must remove some old painful memories from my everyday presence to allow for new and positive experiences in my life.

I found myself so caught up in the belief that the old memories were so wonderful and a part of my life, that I had to keep them present.  

As I became more aware of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I was face-to-face with the memories, I realized I had a pattern of being happy for having the memory, and then sad for the way the relationship turned out.

I was constantly torturing myself.  Because the memory at one time was a good memory, I thought it always would have a positive association.

When I realized this was not the case.  I had to morn the loss of the memory in my presence.  I could not remove it right away.  As I practiced awareness and time passed, I became increasingly aware of how unhealthy it was for me every time I saw the pictures, the container for the notes, or the special piece of furniture.

I then little by little became ready to let go and I slowly started the process of doing so.  I first started by purchasing some new items, I then made some changes to the furniture, and last but not least I removed the pictures and notes.  From start to finish this process took a little over three months.  

The last part was the hardest!  I begrudgingly removed the pictures and notes after the challenge to devote myself to something this week.  I hadn’t realized how much I attached myself to those specific memories and how I have enjoyed sharing them with others.  

Odd thing though was that the sharing of them was a catalyst to talk about the pain with others.

As I removed the pictures and put them in a bin for safe keeping in my basement, I sobbed.  I hadn’t expected to do that.  I let the tears come.

I won’t forget my memories.  And at sometime down the road when it’s not so painful and they haven’t been a constant reminder of the past, I’ll look at them again and enjoy them the way they are meant to be enjoyed.

Being a healthy person is a process that takes practice, self awareness, and self honesty.  It’s worth the pain to get to the part of moving on with life.

The Value of a Teacher - Yoga Lesson

It’s amazing how hard it is to breathe when you are concentrating on learning something new!  

We all do it, hold our breath as we concentrate.  We then do not understand why our tempers become so short and we get so frustrated during the learning process. 

But when you take time to reflect on it, it’s because we didn’t have patience with ourselves or our teacher and take time to breathe!  

It can be natural at times to want to blame someone else for our frustration or fear in learning something new, and the teacher can be the natural outlet for this frustration.  

Embrace your Teachers!

This "IS" It! - Personal Practice

I like to take chances!  I find it exciting, but stressful at the same time!

However, I often have to remind myself that it’s a choice that I’m making ot take the chance.

Sometimes the chances work out and sometimes they do not.  And my practice is to recognize that when a chance does not work out that it was a choice I made to take the chance.

I find myself talking through some of the chances I take that are challenging.  If you were a fly on the wall I’m sure you would think “Wow…Other people think this way too”!

I talk to myself out loud and say things like “I’m afraid.  Why am I afraid?  Is my ego getting in the way?  Am I listening closely to an inner voice of the past?  (The I can’t Voice)  Why can’t I let this go?  Wait.  I can let this go!  I can do this!  I need to acknowledge I’m afraid!  Do it scared!  I want this!  Make it happen!”

It’s a progression.  I first acknowledge that I am afraid.  That I’m putting myself out there and it’s scary to do that.

I then practice reminding myself that some chances I take may not work out and I’ll be disappointed and sad, or I’ll take rejection personally and get a little depressed.  And I remind myself this is a normal response to disappointment.

On the flip side, I may have a great outcome to a chance taken and I’ll think “Thank Goodness I Took That Chance!”  I’ll be proud of myself for putting myself out there.  And I remind myself this too is a normal response to success.

I just need to be careful of my ego beating me up too much or patting me on the back too much.

It’s all a gamble, it’s all a series of choices.  The challenge is to be aware of what is happening in any given moment.

This is life.

Be in it!  Life it!  Chance it!

It’s worth it!

This "IS" It! - Yoga Lesson

As you practice being present this week, remind yourself to be forgiving and gentle with yourself.

Sometimes it’s hard to refrain from dwelling on past choices.  If you are doing so, a conscious reminder that the choice is in the past is enough.

Consciously practice being in this moment and living it.

New choices will present themselves in their own time.