Morning Ritual

I receive Jennifer Louden's newsletter and she talked about Morning Ritual's asking other people what their personal morning ritual is like....and so it made me think about mine.

It is something that I would like to do, but I really don't have one. I would like one grounded in intention instead of just waking up.

Most mornings: I wake up when I wake up. I am lucky that I don't have a job that clocks in so I can just sleep until I wake up.  I then usually sit and just wake up. Usually by going through Instagram because looking at the photos in the morning - help me wake up without the assaults of social media chatter. I then do a quick a check of emails and then get up and make breakfast for myself and sometimes Michael. After breakfast, I unload and load dishwasher.  I plan what I am making for dinner and start household chores.

Slow morning: I wake up when I wake up, make breakfast, some tea,and then read.

I would like the slow morning to be more of a normal everyday ritual. 

52 Week Photo Project: Week 9

At one time I walked the line, then I stood on the line trying to figure out who I was, eventually I tested waters outside the line, and today there is no line - I am just being me.

The Truth About Aging

“Aging is not ‘lost youth,’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength. It’s a different stage of life, and if you are going to pretend it’s youth, you are going to miss it. You are going to miss the surprises, the possibilities, and the evolution that we are just beginning to know about because there are no role models, no guideposts, and no signs.”~ Betty Friedan

Susannah Conway posted that quote above and asked a group of women to write about getting older on her blog. As it is something that I struggle with and accept at the same time.  

The posts are beautiful, touching, thought provoking, connecting, honest, vulnerable, soul-baring, simple, accepting, sensual, courageous and a complex mixture of amazing stories.

Be Me

I am a big Liz Lamoreux fan. I have her book Inner Excavation and feel it helped me get unstuck in creating again.  I get her newseltter and often it says just what I am needing to hear in that moment. Her newsletter of January 22nd was one of those. 

Quote from it...."We all need a space where we can just be us. A space where we aren't in charge. Where we feel safe enough to unearth this true essence inside us. A space to be the quiet one or the one who gives the biggest hugs or the one who invites others to dance or the one who simply nods and listens murmuring "yes." A space where we can connect with other like-minded souls." ~ Liz Lamoreux

That space often is just with me inside me - quite, taking deep breathes and doing what feels right in the moment. But also it is with a group of friends. Twenty thirteen brought me a circle of friends that I haven't had since moving to Grand Junction.  It is the first time I have felt like I have a space to be me.  It is a space to be me in art, be me in laughter, be me in silliness, be me in deep discussions, be me in connection and vulnerability.  I am truly thankful for the great group of friends that came together in 2013 and grow closer in 2014.

Photo from Amy Brown Fairy Cards - a tarot reading done on the 19th.

52 Lists: Week 3

Moorea Seal hit the nail on the head with this one....it came at a really good time for me and she worded it perfectly. I am working on several things out of my comfort zone and it is easy for me to get my brain spinning about things and not see that I have much to be proud of in myself.  Moorea Seal said on her blog: "I absolutely believe that everyone has reasons to be proud of who they are, what they have made it through and what they have created in their lives.  But many of us doubt that we even have anything to be proud of.  If you are having a hard time feeling proud of anything about yourself or in your life, you can at least try to acknowledge those things which you should seek to find pride in." 

I am doing the 52 Lists as a way to explore myself. I have many things I am proud of in friends and family, but trying to keep this list to exploring myself and it is very hard for me to even think about what I should be proud of - so a really good task for me to do as I have had people in my life say - I often discount the things I do. 


This weeks list is - List the things you should be proud of.....

My relationship with Michael - My Art Exploring new outlets and forms of my creativity  - I love unconditionally - I am passionate about so many things causes – such as human rights, domestic violence, child abuse, fighting cancer and other diseases, poverty and many other things. I have a generous spirit and and am kind-hearted to want to fight for those that need help - Traveling and living in so many areas around the US - I give good advice and am a good friend - I am a good mediator for others when they are upset - Being able to see both side of ideas - The journey I am on and that I continue to grow and learn - Friends and family – so many wonderful people in my life doing amazing things daily - My relationships with family and friends  - Being compassionate and open-minded - Self taught myself many things including website design and photoshop - Working with Michael in his business – learning it and taking on things that scare me and push my comfort bounds - Surviving trauma and troubles in my life including dark thoughts of trying to kill myself  - Surviving each cycle of depression – coming out each time stronger - Reading  - as it allows me to explore areas and times I can never go and expands my imagination – words creating vivid pictures in my head - I am very domestic and enjoy making a happy home for Michael and I -  I am self-aware


Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

Impact

"Consider the importance of becoming aware of the impact you have on others, and remind yourself that by raising your own energy level to a place where you’re in harmony with Source, you become an instrument, or a channel, of peace. This works everywhere, so be a part of the counterbalance to the human negativity you encounter in your life. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer from Do You Make a Difference?

Taking a Leap

The on-the-spot practice of being fully present, feeling your heart, and greeting the next moment with an open mind can be done at any time: when you wake up in the morning, before a difficult conversation, whenever fear or discomfort arises. This practice is a beautiful way to claim your warriorship, your spiritual warriorship. In other words, it is a way to claim your courage, your kindness, your strength. Whenever it occurs to you, you can pause briefly, touch in with how you're feeling both physically and mentally, and then connect with your heart-even putting your hand on your heart, if you want to. This is a way of extending warmth and acceptance to whatever is going on for you right now. You might have an aching back, an upset stomach, panic, rage, impatience, calmness, joy-whatever it is, you can let it be there just as it is, without labeling it good or bad, without telling yourself you should or shouldn't be feeling that way. Having connected with what is, with love and acceptance, you can go forward with curiosity and courage. I call this step "taking a leap." From Pema Chodron's book "Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change"

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS. Although we don't hear about it as often these days as we did in the late 80's/early 90's....it is still a fight. We must continue to fight for those who have HIV/AIDS. So this is for friends who continue the fight of their lives and to those who are no longer with us.

Desire Map

Danielle LaPorte is always inspiring to me. The Desire Map trailer hits it for me on so many levels because it is speaking to me. The not being good enough or worthy is something, I still struggle even though I have identified it so so long ago.

Inner Peace

me holding leaves

"When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities and so on. When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to de­velop inner happiness and peace." - Dalai Lama

The Key

"I learned that sometimes stopping is the key to going. Letting go is the key to becoming. Breathing is the key to living. (Literally and metaphorically.) And, celebrating where you are right now is the key to happiness." From Tiny Buddha - The Difference Between Fulfillment and Achievement

Desire Map Poem

Danielle LaPorte is launching a new project - The Desire Map. I can't wait to read, join, jump and be a part of it when it comes out. But here is a video poem by her. It is hitting many things I am working on and have been working for a long time. Looks like it is going to be very interesting and very helpful.

Right Now

fall leaves in GJ

I collected this quote recently that I really need to read often....

"The point is that our true nature is not some ideal that we have to live up to. It's who we are right now, and that's what we can make friends with and celebrate."  Pema Chordon

 

Sister Giant

I like Marianne Williamson. I have for many years. I have the Course in Miracles which she wrote a book based on that practice.  I also have her prayer book.  Now she is getting involved in politics - in getting women involved specifically. She has some interesting things on her new website Sister Giant and really enjoyed listening to this video she posted there too.

4 Tips for Being Mindful

Another Tiny Buddha that helped me recently...they always seems to post things I need to hear right in the moment.

4 Tips for Mindfulness when Life is stressful and painful....

1. Realize thoughts are not necessarily reality.
2. Use breathing to center you in the now.
3. Stop comparing now to then.
4. Focus on the happy moments.

Good points and lots of insight in the full post: LIVING IN THE NOW WHEN IT’S STRESSFUL

Rest or Push

These questions are from a post on Tiny Buddha: WHEN IT FEELS TOO HARD TO KEEP TRYING: REST OR PUSH HARDER?  The whole article is good, but just wanted to make note of these questions....as those were what helped me recently on an issue.

The Rest or Push Checklist:
Is this goal in line with my anchors (primary values)?
If I need to neglect other anchors, is that just temporary while I focus on this goal?
Can the other anchors recover from this temporary neglect?If I quit now, will I regret it?
If you answered “Yes” to the above four questions, it may be time to push.

Am I feeling depressed or depleted?Have others expressed concern for my well-being?
Can I continue with this goal in the near future without losing significant gains?
Has this goal served to distract me from other difficult tasks (such as dealing with relational conflict, making improvements to a situation, feeling painful emotions)?
If you answered “Yes” to those four questions, it’s probably time to rest.

What was said and What I hear

I know that people sometimes say things that we can take wrong. But I feel most of the time it is our own internal negative messages that start playing and interpreting what was said in a totally different meaning. I still hear things that weren't actually said, but I know I have gotten better with it and shutting down negative processing because of Byron Katie's The Work.


I ask myself the 4 questions of  The Work....
1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? 
4. Who would you be without the thought?


I think when you first start doing the work, doing all the questions and the turnabout really help in rewiring those negative thoughts that come with what we hear verses what was actually said.  After doing this for a bit though, I can say to myself when the tapes start playing - Is it true?  And really with that I can shut them down. But before I always created loop holes and so those other questions and the turnabout were important to help me in processing.

Really people can mean something one way and say it another. So how we do take it can be accurate but really that is their problem - they have an issue then to work through so still by doing the work I ask if it is true and let it go.  

So either way The Work - works for me to help process my own negative tapes and acknowledge the present moment.

Living in the Present Moment

Source: flickr.com via Darby on Pinterest

I honestly do this too much...

“If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.” ~Unknown

I think worry about what-ifs and the past and end up not living in the moment and for today. I try to work harder to know and see what is now and enjoy it.  It is something I will continually work on and I know I am happier when I do it.

TinyBuddha posted a good article about living in the now when going through a lot of stress. They did 5 points and then talked about each point. I am going to post the points but please go and take a look at the whole article as it is so good.

1. Realize thoughts are not necessarily reality.

2. Use breathing to center you in the now.

3. Stop comparing now to then.

4. Focus on the happy moments.

I missed the giveaway for Living Happily Ever Now: A Guide + Workbook for Living in the Present Moment, but have been eyeing the workbook and might breakdown and buy it.

Brene Brown and Harry Potter

Source: pinterestdresses.com via Sarai on Pinterest

I am a big fan of Brene Brown. I try to read everything she writes, all the clips online I find, podcasts she does and so on.  I just value everything she says because it really hits me, makes me think and has helped me figure out things I have been struggling with for such a long time.  I just appreciate her words of wisdom.

So yesterday she did a post on her blog using Harry Potter to help with her teaching.  Made me adore here even more being a Harry Potter fan. :)

"Shame is the big daddy of dementors, but we're stronger. Expecto Patronum!" ~ Brene Brown

Meditation

Don't from susan piver on Vimeo.


Susan Piver's has very helpful 10-minute meditation videos.  To see more of them go here.  I use meditation to help center myself when things seem out of control and just to help me keep focus day to day. Sometimes of course it doesn't go well or easily but most of the time is it a helpful practice.