Force - Personal Practice

Taking a break from the normal day to day activities of life can be so refreshing!

For the first time ever I took a vacation without plans to do something with someone else.  

I originally had all these plans to finish projects and to start new projects because I thought I might get board.  I did not get board!

As I took a step back and relaxed, I realized how much fun it is to do whatever I wanted.  

I practiced enjoying the moment!  Truthfully, It Was Hard!

I found myself feeling guilty at first.  I wasn’t being as productive as I thought I should be.  

At first I did do some chores around the house that had been plaguing me to obtain a sense of accomplishment.  Then I decided to practice “letting go” if I started to feel stressed when I hadn’t accomplished all I wanted to.

I reminded myself how important it is to be in the now and enjoy my journey.

I recognized how important it is that I allow time for myself.  

With each reminder to myself I was revitalized and excited to be in the moment.

In practice, I allowed myself to try some new things that I would have thought impacting to a routine previously.  I might even have been stressed at the thought of an impact to my routine.  And as a result of “letting go” I felt alive and full of joy!

This vacation reminded me that practice doesn’t always mean you need to accomplish something, it may mean that you let yourself not accomplish something.

So, I recommend everyone take a vacation without plans.  Set an intention to do something out of the ordinary.

See where it takes you!

Force - Yoga Lesson

When we use force we create an unknown.  How do you know that the situation forced is real and lasting?

Finding your path in life is a moment by moment endeavor.  

Forcing someone or something can create a short term sense of satisfaction but may not last. 

As difficult as it may be to practice patience and being in the moment, we will all arrive to an outcome.

Why not let the outcome arrive without force?

Focus - Personal Practice

It’s so easy to get ahead of yourself when making lists and planning, or anticipating an outcome on a goal you have.

I’ve noticed in others the desire to talk about goals and I have found it very interesting the lack of follow through on all this “talk”.

For so many years of my life I have endeavored to refrain from being a “talker”.  If I say I’m going to do something I like to follow through, and I do! 

Recently though I’ve noticed the benefit of talking about a goal and allowing myself to take it a bit slower in arriving to the completion of the goal.  

I think I’ll still arrive at my goals.  However, I’ve refrained from putting the goal on a list in an unyielding priority fashion.  I’ve allowed myself to “stop and smell the flowers along the way”.

In slowing down my ambitions a little on my “top” priority list of goals, I’ve allowed myself to be more in the moment and see progression on other goals. 

These other goals I’ve had for myself have not been at the top of my priority list, but they are getting a renewed attention and my life is more enriched.  

Which makes me wonder why they were not a priority to me before?  

I think it was because I felt I needed to achieve one goal before I was worthy to achieve the next.

Refraining from putting so much of my energy into one goal at a time and taking a look at the bigger picture of my life and the things I’d like to achieve has allowed me to enjoy the journey all that much more.

Allowing myself to feel worthy of all my goals has been a practice I took on with fear and uncertainty.  

I’m glad I did!

So to those who I have viewed as “talkers”, I apologize!  

I just needed to “Get a Life” and “Stop Being Afraid”!

Focus - Yoga Lesson

When you place your focus on the negative aspects of your life, you will most likely get more of the same.

Noticing your thoughts and being aware of the type of words you use will transition your focus to more positive thoughts.

Placing positive words into your thoughts will give you a more positive outlook and will most likely bring more positive people and experiences into your life.

With practice you will master the ability to catch any negativity and put focus onto the positive in your life.

Why not start practicing now?!

Listen - Personal Practice

For the first time in a long time I found myself wanting to really listen to another person.

Don’t get me wrong.  I listen intently to others all the time.  In fact I’m very fastidious when it comes to details of conversations when I am trying to accomplish a task.  

However, I should note that when I’m being so fussy I’m usually taking notes during the conversation to put together a plan.   It’s usually being done in order to achieve a desired outcome in the “occupational” world.

And much to the disappointment of those closest to me I tend to get ahead of myself and them in conversation and miss some of the details when they relay a story or situation to me.  I’m thankful for their patience with me!  I’m also thankful for when they call me out on this!

This week though I met a person who I listened to intently and found myself interested in their life.  When I wanted to talk ahead of them in excitement, I stopped.  I continued to listen.  And I was interested for the pure enjoyment of the interaction.

Interestingly enough this interaction happened at the same time I found guidance from a friend who recommended I read “The Five Love Languages” by Author Gary Chapman.

In this read it explained how an individual needs to be appreciated.  How when others interact with an individual, if they know the love language of that individual it will make for a dynamic and enjoyable relationship.

To understand any one persons love language you must first listen.  Step out of your expectations and your learned behavior based on past circumstance.  Step out of the thought process that you can read a situation based on experience.  

Listen with fresh ears and a fresh heart!

Listen and live a new life!

Listen - Yoga Lesson

When we learn to listen to ourselves and offer understanding to ourselves we open the door to better communication with others.

Taking the time to hear what another is saying to you and what they need from you makes for better communication and better relationships.

Allow yourself to learn how to listen.  Practice listening to yourself first and hone that skill.  

It may take time and that’s okay.  It may be somewhat painful and that’s also okay.

Transformation takes time.

The reward in time will be the ability to be open to other thoughts and ideas.

Listen!

Looking Past the Moment - Personal Practice

What a challenge it has been lately to stay in the moment!

I’ve found myself making my mind up on exactly how the future should look and feel.  I’ve found myself making plans for all the things I “should” do in the upcoming months.

I’ve found myself reflecting on the past and its impact on my current life.

The big thing here is “I’ve found myself” doing these things.

It’s a practice to stay in the moment and recognize such behavior.  

It’s a practice to know that your fate is not within your control and the moment is all you truly have.

The difficulty of this practice became evident this week as a family member was struck ill suddenly.

There was nothing that could be done but wait to see if I could help in anyway necessary.  There was nothing to fix on my part.

It was out of my hands.

I felt calm and at peace with the moments of my life as I came to terms with this. 

It’s not that I haven’t been at terms with it, but sometimes life sends you gentle reminders to continue with your practice of being aware and in the moment.

So as life happens, I choose to be in the moment.  And I’m thankful for the people in my life that remind me to continue with this practice!