Courageous - Personal Practice

I decided a long time ago what I need and want out of life.  

I've been driven and dedicated to my ideal life.  

I found I've been working very hard toward something, thinking that I just needed to keep working harder to obtain my ideal.

I kept focused on my needs and wants.  I ignored my gut when it was telling me something wasn't right because I believed in all the hard work I was doing.

Then I took some time to look up from my hard work and look around me.

Unfortunately, I discovered I wasn't being compensated for all my hard work.

I actually discovered I was being taken advantage of and all that hard work was unappreciated.

Well, this discovery was a bummer!

Upon discovery of this I wondered whether I have the courage to move away from what I had been working on.  Then I wondered whether I have the courage to move forward with my wants and needs after I move on.

I do!  I have the courage it takes to believe in my dreams, ideals, and goals!

However, I'd be lying if I didn't make note that I'm not doing it alone.  

It never ceases to amaze me how giving others are.  

When I've been fearful and feeling alone it's taken a lot of courage to ignore my ego, pick up the phone, call a friend or a family member for help, explain that everything is not as great as I had portrayed it to be, and ask for support.  Upon request, friends and family have always given their love and support.

Thank goodness this is still the case!

I think the reason I receive that love and support is because I do try to live by the golden rule; Do unto others as you'd have done to you.

When living with an open and giving heart, I think it's easier to notice one's ego.  Ego can be pretty powerful, it tries to convince you that you are alone.  

It's taken a lot of practice to refrain from listening to my ego.  Which if allowed to run wild, my ego can be BIG!

I'm glad to see I still have the courage to believe in me and believe in living the best life possible.

Though, I think next time I work with someone toward shared dreams, ideals and goals I'll be a little more patient and expect they too live by the golden rule.

I'm feeling pretty Courageous!

Courageous - Yoga Lesson

Courage in your life will take many forms.

And the funny thing about courage is that many of us tend not to think of ourselves as courageous, but we are!  

Some days just having the drive to get out of bed every morning and face a new day with many unknowns is courageous.

Having that courage to get up and get moving is the first step to a better day.

Sometimes, it's a risk in life that can be daunting.

After all, when taking a risk, we all need a little courage.  

Whether you are taking a small risk in life that makes your nervous or a big risk where you need all the support you can get, taking that first step can take all your courage.

Asking for help when you feel low on courage may give you that jump start to move forward.

When you feel you lack courage, your friends and family will surprise you with the support you need to keep moving.

If you are facing something currently that requires courage, know that you have the fortitude to move forward!  

You Are Courageous!

Bond - Personal Practice

I found myself wondering this past week "what am I doing and why am I in this situation?"

In order to find some clarity I started with the simple question of "am I happy?"

The answer was yes and no. 

Day to day there are annoyances in most relationships I think.  I know I question why I continue to move forward even when I feel disconnected.  Sometimes there is no answer, I just keep moving forward.  

I'm not satisfied with moving forward, just because!  I wanted a purpose!

In an attempt to find an answer I talked to those closest to me about my thoughts, they listened and gave their perspective.

Thank goodness for people who know you and want to see the best for you!  

These people reminded me that I'm not perfect and that everyone has difficult times, but most important was that I don't have to do or be anywhere that is not healthy or positive for me.

So I thought "what have I got to loose, this has to be resolved."

My next step was to ask the other person, "what is the benefit of being in this situation?"

We decided to put together lists of the good, the bad, and the ugly as a place to start our assessment.

Upon review of the lists, we weren't told anything we didn't already know about our situation.

It was the slight difference in how we see the good, the bad, and the ugly that showed us how we keep getting frustated.  

Then the other person reminded me of our initial bond and why they believe we stay united.

Our bond is wanting similar things out of life.  Having similar ideals, core values and goals.

As we talked through the issues I also noticed I was not being honest with what I want and need.  In many cases I expected it just be known by the other person.  

I felt silly asking for what I want, but I did it!

The results of opening up and being honest were, and are, exciting!  I found that the things I want align with our bond.  

Importantly, I also found options for compromise.  I received acceptance for things I'm unwilling to compromise on. 

I feel a renewed sense of purpose with our bond.  I feel a freedom to be myself.  

I'm sure there will be strife along the way as after all we are two different people and perceive life differently.  

As long as happiness outweighs unhappiness the bond will stay strong.

Don't all relationships need a bond?

If so, without a bond and a purpose why bother?

Bond - Yoga Lesson

Sometimes we do not know why we are bound to someone until we question the bond.

Bonds to others come in all forms, but the biggest one is common interests.

Some common interests are healthy and some are not.

When you think of those closest to you, what bonds you to them?

The best bonds in life are the ones that are uplifting, encouraging, loving, and mutually beneficial.

Think about the bonds that compel you toward positive interactions in your life?

If you have negative bonds, why not eliminate these and spend more time on the positive bonds?

Bond positively!

Mood - Personal Practice

My moods have ruled me this past week.

I found myself behaving poorly because I was in a bad mood.

I knew I was in a bad mood so I started talking to myself about my poor attitude.  I thought to myself, gosh I am behaving poorly and this is not the person I want to be.  

But...I kept on with my bad mood.

When I finally snapped out of my bad mood I was right back to my normal happy self, but then a couple days later I was impacted by another person's mood.

I found myself attaching to the other person's poor mood and I even started coming up with my own list of things to be in a bad mood about.  

I took my mood so far as to get stressed and uptight about little things.  I also let my mood take me to the future and all the "got to" and "have to" things I envision for my life and completely stressed myself out.

I've been practicing talking myself into a better mood, but it's been a challenge.

The tough part about this mood of mine is that it's my choice.  I have no one to blame for my mood but me.  I'm the one who chooses to...

* Eat sugar and get anxious and grouchy.

* Hold a grudge when another is extending a truce.

* Attach to another person's negative mood.

* Think negatively instead of positively.

No one does this to me.  I do it to myself.

It's ALL ME!

Moods are one of those things I think we all have to practice in life.  It's not something you master and then you are done with it.  

Unless of course you are a Super Human Being!  Which I usually like to think I am, but obviously am not!

I guess the best thing to do to find or keep a positive mood is to put a smile on my face as much as possible, dance as often as I can, listen to happy music, think about the wonderful people in my life, and reflect back on positive memories. 

Today I choose to be in a good mood!

Mood - Yoga Lesson

Moods are unavoidable and each of us are in a mood right now.

Possibly you started your day off with one mood and then transformed that mood based on the days experiences.

It's amazing how the mood of others can effect us, whether it's an individual or a group of people.

When you enter a space and the people around you are rushed and stressed, it can be nearly impossible to refrain from picking up the moods of the people in that space.

When you go to an event where people are excited and enthusiastic, it is equally difficult to refrain from picking up that mood.

The question we need to ask ourselves, is why would we put ourselves in spaces that are anything but positive?

Mainly a mental space.  Because it all starts with our individual attitudes.

There are times when we go places out of obligation or to complete chores that we don't like and we take a negative attitude and mood with us.

Why not catch yourself when you find yourself approaching something with a negative attitude?  Why not try something different?

Possibly go someplace different to complete the chore and meet new people, or listen to your favorite song and dance before you head out to that obligation you are dreading.

Why not add one more step, place a smile on your face and think of something or someone you like before you enter anywhere you may feel negatively about.

Ideally, we are each in a good mood at all times.  That's just not realistic though.

But, we do have the ability to choose our mood.  

So the next time you find yourself approaching a negative mood, why not try something new...  

Practice being in a positive mood.

Calm - Personal Practice

It's amazing how time flies when you are working on something you feel passion for!

I've been working on a few projects that are dear to my heart for over a year and a half.  In this time I've taken many breaks from the main project, but it's always on my mind.

In recent months I have been digging a little deeper into the project, but here and there I've let myself get overwhelmed by my vision.  It's amazing how I can talk myself into multiple paths with one simple objective.

Then a few weeks back I buckled down and put a plan together.  The great thing about this plan is that I'm holding myself accountable by following the methodology of the project I'm working on.    

I know, based on reflection, that when I get into a project my standard approach is to devote myself completely to the project.  This is good and bad.

It's good that time flies and I feel a sense of accomplishment.

It's bad that I get so involved that I forget to be in the moment.  I start to think of the project in terms of perfection.

If interrupted I get anxious because I want to be working on the project.

If I get too close to a date in my plan that I need to deliver on, I feel pressure.

My world starts to get a bit chaotic as I push toward the future.

While reflecting I found myself thinking back to something I use to say years ago "patience is a virtue, of which I have none".  I use to think that was funny to say.  Now, I don't think it's so funny.  

Now when I catch myself thinking of that old saying, I'll practice breathing.  

I'll remind myself that the joy of life and of the project is in each moment.  I'll tell myself I can't predict exactly how things will turn out.  

If my project goes to plan it will evolve and get better and better over time, but I can't do it all on my own and I won't be perfect.

So I pat myself on my back for being self aware, but realize I still have a lot of practice to do.

I need to practice:

* Taking breaks and looking around me

* Remembering that nothing is perfect, least of all me.

* Breathing and staying calm 

I know I should be patient and calm as I practice.

But, can I be?

Back to practice to see!