Blog Archives
Livingness
How many times have you stopped whatever it is you were doing, thinking, or saying because you had a flashback to your past, be it either good, bad, or somewhere in between? I can honestly state that about half of my life, conservatively, has been spent with my mind elsewhere instead of in the present moment. However, are you aware that it is like a thief in the night, robbing you down to the depths of your soul? We ruminate about what could have been, what should not have happened, etc., almost always from a negative viewpoint. Because that moment, that memory is gone…even if it was just a second ago or perhaps years long gone. The emotions generated from this can hurt as much or more than they did at that time. The only difference is that you are no longer in the present moment, reacting to your current reality. Would it occur that it is a true waste of time and energy? Worse yet, it is bringing it forward into your present so you experience it over and over again in the current timeframe!
One can read about mindfulness (a/k/a this moment which is passing right now…being aware of the place I am in, what I can see, how I feel, looking for beauty , awe, and wonderment at this second in time) but it never arrives for so many people who are over-stressed, tired, and so aware of the many items that consume their waking time…and sometimes even their sleep. Outside influences command our every moment like a runaway train until we fall into bed at night.
Livingness can indeed be recaptured one breath at a time. Stop movement. Use your senses to see, hear, and taste your reality. Take just seconds to look for something special in your surroundings.
By breath, I do not mean that stressed out, upper chest breath. I am talking about the belly breath that expands outwards and comes inwards, pressing towards your back, slowly. It does indeed create miracles!
Are you in need of a miracle to change your life? It is your choice. Look for a class in yoga or any of the ideas that are out there to assist you in living a more creative reality, happier, handling stress better, able to respond more appropriately to anything that comes up in your daily occurrences. It is there for the asking. Are you willing?
God’s blessings on your journey! Have a great 4th of July!
Merry Christmas!
Long ago and far away, the reason for the season was born. He was a humble man, born in a stable. Life for him was simple. His message was clear, free from complications, and full of love for mankind.
But as we look at the Christmas Season today, it is filled with so many things to do that we drop into bed exhausted by the day’s activities and expectations. Have you ever stopped to think about why?
It should be time filled with good memories, moments of love and good will shared with others we care about. However, it is often a time of great stress, both personally and financially. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why that happens? It is a time filled with overdone to-do lists, stressed out, short breathing, and exhaustion. Does that sound merry? Nope.
When was the last time you took time for yourself to stop and enjoy the fleeting moments of your life? How are you breathing? Is it short and from the chest? Or is it relaxed and coming from the stomach, filling your lungs with life-giving oxygen?
Yes, it is a time for celebrating other people in your life. Does it come from expensive gifts you cannot afford? Or is it gifts from the heart, no matter how small? Is it baked goods, cooked with a happy heart, sharing of your energies and time? Do you stop to actually listen to others? Sometimes, that is the greatest gift of all. People in our world are crying out to know they exist. Is it a smile or a shoulder to cry on?
Life can be so much simpler if you let it be that. Look hard at your to-do lists. Examine them carefully. Is each item coming from a heart brimming with joy or expectations? Hope for a better world, no matter how small an action?
Your attitude of gratitude is necessary from beginning to end. Do you spend even five minutes of your day being grateful for the good in your life? This is vital to your well-being.
It is the way you give a gift and not the gift itself, after all. It is an expression of the love, appreciation, and joy that the gift is given. It is not the amount of money spent on it, but the act itself of remembering.
They say that the first gift you buy should be one for yourself. Do you do that? Have you ever done it?
This is the most beautiful time of year, filled with so much to be thankful for: Eyes that see, ears that hear, taste buds that celebrate the many delights of food made especially during this season, and the touch of others – be it an elbow bump, a hug, or a massage.
Remember: Life is so precious. Take time for yourself so you can relax into the season. Do not overextend your energy levels. Do what you can do each day, and do it with a happy heart filled with the joy of life. What more could you ask of yourself? That takes deep breathing, which goes away with the first moment of stress and anxiety. Stop and query: Is this act/gift, etc., really necessary? If exhaustion is a factor, take care of yourself first, not last. We only get so much energy to spend each day. Make each detail of your day count towards that end. Life will go on, whether you drop into bed at night, still filled with the stresses of the day, or if you relax before going to bed, counting the blessings of the day.
Life can be so much simpler if you put some thought into it. Are you willing?
Warmest wishes for the happiest of Holiday Seasons!
upliftingthoughts4u 