Holding On - Personal Practice

I’m such a creature of habit that once I find something I like I’m constantly trying to recreate it.

It’s clear that I also have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) so if a little is good then more will be better.  

This is true for everything in my life!

My challenge is in recognizing when I am “Recreating” or being “OCD”.

It’s a daily practice to be present with all aspects of my life and let the moment be its own.  I need to do a self check whenever I feel disappointment in someone or something.

This has been a challenge lately as I have become more comfortable with a new relationship and it has naturally started to loose some of the newness you experience with anything that transitions to a more comfortable place.  

With this loss of newness I’ve found joy in the comfort, the new routines.  

Interestingly I’ve had to let go of some of my personal individual routines that I’ve been comfortable with.

I’ve also had to become aware that some of the things you do when a relationship is new are not necessarily going to be viewed the same once you have more intimate knowledge of the person.  You can’t recreate the feelings experienced because you are in a different place, a new moment.

The wonderful thing about all this I’ve discovered is being in the moment!  With practice and letting go of expectations I find much more joy in each experience.  I’ve let go of the comparison to old routines or relationships.

I encourage everyone to practice living in the moment.

It’s freeing!

Holding On - Yoga Lesson

Recreating an experience is impossible.

When you think of all the variables that go into a moment, and especially if it involves emotions of more than one person, you begin to understand the complexity of such a task.

How can you guarantee that you will feel the same way, or someone else will?

How can you be certain the lighting will be the same, or the food will taste the same?

Will the music be as perfect?

Will the outcome of the project for someone else be appreciated the same way?

You don’t know!  It’s the future.  You don’t control it.

Let go of holding onto something.  

Let each experience be its own.

There is no comparison when you let go.

Moving On - Personal Practice

I let a friend down this last week.  I agreed to something that seemed insignificant to my day to day life months ago without expecting my life would change.  

I had been in a routine for so long and those around me knew of the transitions I wanted to make in my life.  The thing was that I had been talking about these transitions for so long without any progress that those closest to me didn’t think it would really happen.

It did!  I put my attention on one of my intentions and it changed my life, but inconvenienced others in my life.

The challenge was in sharing the transition and how important it has been to make the transition for my personal growth.  I was faced with moving on and letting go of my past routines and how this friend fit into those routines.

I was so excited for the transition, but I hadn’t realized how painful moving on could be for me and those closest to me.  It was awkward and uncomfortable.  The certainty I and my friend once had with our relationship was now gone.

This is all part of moving on.

The question I had to ask myself during the pain of realizing my other relationship would never be the same was is it worth it and do I want this transition?  The answer was, YES!  

I wanted this transition and had put the effort forth for it.  

With communication and some time to think about the change in the relationship I grew more comfortable and my friend became happy for me.  It didn’t happen overnight, but a true friend will understand and be a champion for any intention you set forth.

I think you have to jump in feet first with any intention.  The details will work themselves out.  You will find joy and pain in life.  Its how you choose to deal with it that makes the difference.

Communication will solve the issue!

Moving On - Yoga Lesson

Moving on does not necessarily mean that you end an activity, job, relationship.  Sometimes it just means there is a transition to the way it currently exists.

Possibly you add or remove some component.

It can be confusing, and maybe sometimes painful initially, for you and for those involved in any one of those areas of you life when the decision has been made to move on and allow for something different to enter your life.

The challenge can be in working through the transition process to get to the “Moving On” part.

Be patient.  Growth is not always easy.

Intrepid - Personal Practice

This last week I found myself wanting to step back into old habits still.  I longed for the comfort of my own company, but at the same time struggled with the realization that I am ready to share who I am with another person.

I had this idea that sharing with another would be easy.  But I always knew it would be work too.  It is both easy and work.

I didn’t know that my subconscious would step in and I would unknowingly seek out the comfort learned behavior of my past.  I didn’t know that the thoughts that are so familiar to me that I work so hard to be aware of and step away from would creep back in so easily.  

It’s not the relationship, it’s not the happiness I find with the relationship, it’s not the hard work that comes with adjusting your life to fit new relationship, but it’s the subconscious thoughts that are getting me now.

The subconscious gets you when you are feeling vulnerable and you need comforting.  When the newness of a relationship is starting to wear off and you are becoming more familiar with someone you may question where you stand.  When you start to question, you open yourself up to self ridicule.  

That’s when those old thoughts and the ego are right there to step right in and take over.  

The challenge is not letting them!

I have learned to refrain from initial negative reaction if I find myself getting anxious or defensive.  I stop and ask myself if I need time to think this through.  The answer is most definitely a YES!

Given time I allow myself to check in on the thoughts and I am able to realize that I am potentially causing drama and strife for myself needlessly by allowing old habits.

They may be comfortable, but they have not served me in the past.

I choose to be patient.  I choose to listen to my heart.  I choose to use my conscious to keep my subconscious in check.

I choose!

Intrepid - Yoga Lesson

Most people can relate to feeling like you have everything under control, then something happens to shake your foundation.

All of a sudden you are not as confident as you were, some new element has entered you life and you are not sure how to make it fit into your life.

All of a sudden you feel anxiety and fear.

How do you put this into perspective?

Why not embrace this feeling of uncertainty and allow yourself to be afraid?  

Say to yourself that the fear is just a figment of stepping out of the comfort zone and you are Intrepid!  You are fearless and can face any new experience and emotion!

You can do it!

Comfort - Personal Practice

I was in search of guidance this past week and found it around every corner.

I have known for sometime, but had to acknowledge once again, that I can not control every aspect of my life.  

I can not make others do or be as I wish.  

I can not force outcomes.

I need to let life take its course.

At the same time, I need to recognize the intentions I set for myself.

These intentions of mine have focus and I know what I want with absolute certainty.  This is all part of my practice

Now that the intentions are reality I have been faced with taking responsibility for what I asked for.

When I started to talk about my intentions with others and explain my inner most thoughts with those close to me, they knew I was struggling based on old behavior patterns.

I received a consistent response from each person; “do not let yourself get in the way”!

These individuals have intimate knowledge of me and of how I can overanalyze and create problems for myself.  Basically psych myself out!

What a thing to practice!  Refraining from self sabotage!

I am refraining!  

I needed to hear the voices of those I trust tell me to refrain.  

I asked for help and help came!

The help made all the difference in my practice of being the best I can be in this adventurous journey!

When in doubt of your intentions and you find yourself noticing the mind wander to old comfortable patterns, ask for help.  

It will come!

Comfort - Yoga Lesson

Just as you are.

Most of us are accepted by those close to us for being just as we are.

Quirky behavior, personality traits, and the way we live our lives.

Have you ever heard someone say to someone else “that is just they way they are” about you?

Have you accepted this comment stated about you?  Or, did you question it?

Sometimes we get so lost in being “who we are” and how we define ourselves that we forget to challenge ourselves and the perceptions others have of us.

Being “who you are” is comfortable.  It’s comfortable for you and for those closest to you.

The next time you think to yourself “this is me” or you hear someone say “that is just the way you are”, why not challenge that comfort zone and make it uncomfortable

Be Aware!