Daily Intention Setting: Day 15

January 15

“Today I will stop fighting what is and soften into it.”

Wow! I love the lesson today!! What a wonderful perspective to have! Our teacher is Lisa Olivera and she sends a powerful message that really resonates with me this morning:

Acceptance.

We know what it means, but do we really know how to use it? It can have both positive and negative associations depending on our state of mind and perspective. Lisa describes acceptance not as “giving up” but “the gentle practice of meeting yourself and life exactly as they are.” She further goes on to explain that when we stop obsessing about how we think things should be and let out the reins a little, we’re better able to handle what’s at hand. We can face the situation with a more open heart. She invites us to imagine wrapping our arms around whatever it is we’re either fighting or running from and bring it in. Embrace it. Don’t judge it. Hold space for it and notice how we feel when we soften into it and care for it rather than push it away.

It was at this point in the meditation that I knew I needed to sit with this for a while longer. And after finishing the lesson I flipped to the timer and meditated for another 25 minutes. I literally got lost in the moment and had one of the best meditation sessions I’ve had in a really long time. I allowed myself the time to sit in the present moment and let go of the reins for a while. I repeated the intention several times and let it wash over me. And the result was a shift in how I felt both physically and mentally.

Reality is tough to face and if we continually resist it, fight it, and try to control it, we only end up making ourselves miserable. Lisa offers up a different way of looking at the world and ourselves: with a kind heart and acceptance, just as we are. I’ve used the word ‘surrender’ as a synonym for ‘acceptance’, not as giving in but as a way to release my grip on that which wasn’t meeting my expectations. Some have called it ‘letting go’. I have a friend who calls it ‘giving it to God’. In other words, we’re admitting that sometimes we can’t control what’s going on so we’re choosing to face it with a softer heart instead of boxing gloves. We’re setting it down instead of carrying its weight with us every day. We’re changing how we look at it and letting acceptance lead us on our path forward. For me, the gift I ultimately receive from the experience is . . . pure relief.

I hope you like today’s lesson as much as I did. May you discover your own unique way of finding acceptance with whatever you’re facing in your life. I want you to know that you are wonderful and whole, just as you are. And you are loved.

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#practiceacceptance

#youareloved

#trusttheprocess

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 14

January 14

“Today I will choose rest instead of pushing through.”

“Rest?! What’s that?”, we ask. “Self-care? Not sure. Let me Google it . . .”, we joke.

The go, go, GO! of life usually leaves us wondering where the days went and how in the world we got through it. The answer: we pushed through. Today, though, Eve Lewis tells us to rest. She says it isn’t earned and it isn’t a luxury; in fact, it’s a vital component of life. Without it we get overwhelmed, develop brain fog, get sick, or break down, etc. Our bodies need rest and relaxation and play to recover from the stresses of life. Yet many of us don’t actually get to rest – or worse, we feel guilty about taking time for ourselves. Our to-do lists are always a mile long and we keep adding to them.

Eve calls rest an ‘act of kindness’. It’s a time to pause. To calm down. To decompress. And we need to give ourselves permission to do so. For me, it ties in with the lesson from January 12: I’ve done enough. I keep checking things off of my to-do list in my planner and, while it keeps me on track with really important items, I get to a point where I admit that I’m tired and need to stop doing and just be. I’ve done enough for the time being. Now it’s time to take a little break and rest.

And that’s ok.

Let’s keep reminding ourselves and each other of that fact, shall we?

I hope that you get a chance to rest today. When you feel the need to push through, remember that you’ve done enough and it’s time to enjoy a bit of rest.

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#rest

#selfcareisnotselfish

#trusttheprocess

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 13

January 13

“Today I will let things unfold in their own time.”

What an interesting concept. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s almost unthinkable in this day and age – mainly because we’ve become so impatient. LOL In today’s session Mark Epstein says that patience isn’t just “passive waiting”; it’s the ability to sit with ourselves and let life take “the time it needs”. He explains that suffering is what happens when what we want to change doesn’t change fast enough. He says that we feel pressure at the beginning of the new year to “change everything at once but transformation rarely happens on a deadline”. Change is something that usually happens over time. We try to force things to happen. Then we get frustrated because they’re not happening or they’re not happening fast enough. But when we let go of our control issues, then realize and accept that change will happen whenever it’s gosh darn good and ready, the better we feel. There’s an easiness about it.

I’ll admit that I’ve been incredibly impatient at times. My husband can attest that, when I (finally!) make a decision about something and my heart is set on it, I want it now. Not in a week or a month and certainly not years down the road. Now. I’ve gotten better about it over the years, but occasionally I catch myself getting impatient and as soon as I surrender to the fact that I don’t have nearly as much control over it as I thought or wanted (if at all!!!) I feel so much calmer and accepting of life’s timeline. In fact, I’ve come to adopt the motto “trust the process” of late and it’s helped me relax about some things and not be so uptight. I may have to remind myself of that several times a day, but eventually the message gets through and I chill out.

Anyway, Mark emphasizes that things happen, move, and do, etc., in their own time, whether we like it or not but he encourages us to just be a witness to it. We can’t control everything however we can control how we relate to it. Notice how we feel, what’s happening in our minds, the sensations in our bodies. Nothing else needs to happen right now, he tells us, just let it be.

Things will happen in their own time. We just need to loosen our grip and trust the process . . .

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#letlifeunfold

#trusttheprocess

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 12

January 12

“Today I will rest in the fact that I’ve done enough.”

Please pardon the tardiness of today’s post. It’s been quite a busy day and I’ve had enough. In fact, I almost skipped writing this because I’m really tired and, quite honestly, I’d rather just go to bed. But this is important to me, so here I am.

I just noticed that I said that I’ve had enough. Of today. Of a few things, really. But interestingly enough that’s what today’s lesson is: I’ve done enough. And that certainly is true.

Michael Galyon is our teacher today and he reminds us that it’s ok to take the pressure off of ourselves to be perfect, to do it all, or to prove our worth. We are enough. Period. And we’ve done enough. “You are allowed to pause.” He invites us to put one hand on our chests and one on our bellies and simply notice the breath. Then he asks us to repeat the intention, but assures us that we’re not here to “force belief . . . you’re here to offer yourself a different experience . . . to let go of the mental list that never quite feels finished . . .” He tells us to rest and relax. To soften.

I needed this message today. I think we all need this message every day. We have done enough. We are enough. We need to lean into that thought. It’s ok . . .

I hope you have a great evening. Give yourself a break and rest knowing that you’ve done enough.

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#ivedoneenough

#iamenough

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 11

January 11

“Today I will meet myself and others with compassion.”

Short, sweet, and simple. Be compassionate – to everyone. Kristin Neff reminds us that it’s easy to be kind when everything in your world is rosy. It’s when things are a mess that we have to remind ourselves to have patience and compassion toward everyone, including ourselves. Even though that’s easier said than done, we have to remember that we’re all just trying to get along in this big ol’ world and I believe it would be much nicer if we were kinder to each other.

Kristin leads us through another breathwork exercise during which we imagine breathing in kindness and understanding, letting it fill us up with warmth and goodness. Then as we exhale we breathe out those same feelings, sending them to everyone else. Breathe in compassion, then send it into the world.

Inhale . . . exhale . . . inhale . . . exhale . . .

Sending you good vibes as you go about your day. Hope it’s a good one. 🙂

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#becompassionate

#bekind

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 10

January 10

“Today I will trust my calm more than my fear.”

I’m going to admit that this intention didn’t quite sit well with me so I modified it a bit. Today I will trust my calm. It feels better.

Jack Kornfield’s voice and speech cadence remind me of Mr. Rogers. That kind, calm grandfather figure we remember from our childhood. He tells us that real strength is something that comes from within, where it already resides. We can call on it any time we need it. When we’re sad or worried, even when we’re happy. He says, “Each time you choose calm and strength over reactivity, you choose patience and steadiness over panic.” He then invites us to take a couple of deep breaths and simply sit with ourselves and just notice how we feel. How our bodies feel. Our emotions. Are we joyful? Nervous or anxious? Whatever the case may be he wants us to witness it and wrap it in kindness. That’s it. No need to fix or change anything. Just notice it. Take it in and make space for it. Be kind to it. In doing so we are coming back to the strength we have inside of us. He tells us to trust it.

This reminds me of a calming technique I learned long ago: when faced with something that makes us uncomfortable or takes us by surprise, etc. take a deep breath or two before reacting or responding. That extra few seconds helps us quickly channel the inner calm that we need to face the situation with a level head rather than overreacting or acting with heightened emotion. It’s made a big difference in how I handle situations – and people. Do I always remember to do it? No. Of course not. But it’s something I actively try to practice so that I can be the person I want to be.

What helps you channel your inner calm? How do you tap into your strength?

Happy meditating and I hope that you have a great day!

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#trustmycalm

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 9

January 9

“Today I will remember that I am in control of my own life.”

Hmm . . . well, let me see here. I’m having some trouble with this one. Not gonna lie. Maybe it’s because I slept terribly last night and started my day as a grumpy lump. I woke up, panicky and terrified, from a dream I don’t remember. I finally fell asleep only to wake up at 3:37. That’s when the hamster wheels in my brain spun out of control. I fell asleep just before the alarm sounded at 4:30, then I fell asleep again. Twenty-five minutes later I jumped out of bed and nearly fell over because I was off balance. I felt like I had no control whatsoever of my body but I knew I had to do my meditation before I got ready for work.

And here he was, Jamie Clements, talking about “purpose” and telling me that I am in control of my own life. Ha! Yeah, right. I wasn’t feeling it.

He started the session by saying that we’re told that purpose is some kind of external ‘thing’ and once we find it, everything will be peachy which, obviously isn’t really true. But he says that, to him, it means that it’s what happens when we’re tuned into our true selves, when all the noise is shut off and we let the truth come forward. He says that, once that happens, we no longer have to live life “on autopilot” and can set our own terms for living. Ha! Yeah, right. (Wait, did I already say that?)

By this time I’m prickly and ticked off but I settle in and follow his instructions through the breathwork so that I can create a safe place for my truth to come through. I inhale deeply, take another quick little breath, then let it out as if exhaling through a straw. I do that a few more times and feel myself relax into the moment. Then, with a hand over my heart, I repeated the intention.

And I felt like a complete liar.

I won’t go into detail but suffice it to say that the past couple of years have not been easy. The things I want to do have taken a back seat to more important, much more urgent matters. As a result, I’ve felt that my life has not been my own. So to say that I am in control of my own life seems a bit of a stretch at the moment. But I suppose that I’ve made the choice to help family rather than pursuing a hobby or another job. So in that respect I have been in control – just not the kind of control I would have hoped. Still, I’ve taken away some very valuable lessons from these choices which have shaped how my husband and I will move forward in life.

So therein lies another lesson, doesn’t it? Though I may not feel like I have had control over my life, it affects how I move ahead and the decisions I make in the future – which I do have control over – and while I may not be doing all the things I want to do right now, I know that if I keep moving forward, being true to myself, and living mindfully I will create the life that I envision for myself.

I hope you have a wonderful evening.

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#betrue

#Ihavecontrolofmylife

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 8

January 8

“Today I will choose the simple way without guilt.”

Oh holy cow . . . the intention says it all. What a wonderful way to go about the day. Every day. Kirsty Lyon nails it on the head when she says that simplicity is the key to clarity. We tend to try to do too many things and, as a result, life gets ‘loud’. We’re pulled in too many directions, all of which take us away from ourselves. Our center. When that happens, it’s difficult to hear our inner voices and even harder to actually listen to them – even though they know what we truly need. Kirsty says, though, that simplicity is what brings us back to ourselves and helps us to see things clearly.

How can we do that? How can we come back to ourselves? How can we find center?

Breathe.

It’s that simple. (Pun intended.)

Kirsty leads us through a quick, easy breathwork session during which time we focus on our breath. Where we feel it the most. Witnessing the rise and fall of our chests or bellies. Noticing the feel of it as it enters and exits. She invites us to take a few deep breaths, letting go of tension and noise. Then, when we breathe normally again, she encourages us to focus on the pause between the exhale and the next inhale. She asks us to notice the stillness. The quiet. The best place to just . . . be. Rest there.

Then she tells us to ask ourselves, “How can I keep things simple for myself today?” She encourages us to let the answers come naturally – and what she says next nearly floors me. “. . . gift yourself permission to trust and follow it.”

How wonderful! Give yourself permission to trust simplicity and follow it. No guilt required.

When we’re over-scheduled and over-busy, we obviously get overwhelmed. But what’s worse is that when we don’t have something to ‘do’, we suddenly get anxious because we don’t know how to just ‘be‘. And, for me, that’s the one thing that helps me the most. Be present. Be here.

I hope you find this session as inspiring as I do! Just keep reminding yourself that it’s ok to just be.

How will you keep things simple today?

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#keepitsimple

#simplicitywithoutguilt

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 7

January 7

“Today I will look for something that makes my heart smile.”

Yesterday we expressed gratitude for something in our lives. Today we look for the joy in the world. As Darius Bashar tells us, “It’s everywhere!” Joy happens to be his favorite topic. He refers to joy as a paradox, a “cosmic riddle . . . sacred and silly, fleeting and abundant, simple and profound.” He says it’s inside our hearts – and has been all along – and now is our chance to let it out. Experience it. He asks us to let go of expectations and discover joy whenever and wherever we find it.

So I set my sights on finding joy throughout the day. Here’s what I’ve found so far:

  • my morning meditation (#221! Yay!)
  • giving my husband a kiss as he went off to work
  • sailing through most of the lights on my way to work and making great time
  • the smiles on my clients’ faces as they greeted me
  • a simple “thank you” from a friend for helping her out
  • the sweet taste of one of my favorite teas (green tea with elderberry!)
  • wearing the super comfy sweater I’ve had for, like, 15 years
  • having one of my old favorite shows on in the background
  • guacamole

It’s only the middle of the day. I’m sure there will be more to come. Even in times of darkness joy is there – when we choose to see it.

Where will YOU find joy today?

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#findjoy

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.

Daily Intention Setting: Day 6

January 6

“Today I will notice what’s going right instead of what’s missing.”

David Ji was our teacher today. This dude is so chill. I love it. His lesson is about gratitude. Simple, pure, gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Whatever those might be. The big. The small. And everything in between. The everyday miracles that we so easily overlook.

He asks us to place our hands on our hearts and think about something that’s going well in our lives right now. He encourages us to bring it into our hearts with each breath and hold on to it. Let our gratitude flow through our hearts and into the rest of our bodies. That’s what we need to take with us throughout the day.

For me, something that’s going really well is my return to meditation. As of today, I have a 220-day meditation streak. I’m incredibly proud of that. But more than that I’m grateful for how it makes me feel and how it helps me to face each day with intention and mindfulness. It has changed how I approach different situations and how I face each day. And I hope to carry it with me for the rest of my life.

What’s going well for you? What are you grateful for today?

#31dayintentionsettingchallenge

#gratitude

#whatsgoingright

The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.