Inspiration | Monday Mindfulness

March 10, 2014
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Laugh…and Open New Possibilities

Laughter is a strong medicine for mind and body. It is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. It also lightens burdens, inspires hopes, connects you with others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

There are many physiological and psychological benefits to laughter.

*The Benefits of Laughter*
Physical Health Benefits: Boosts immunity Lowers stress hormones Decreases pain Relaxes your muscles Prevents heart disease	Mental Health Benefits: Adds joy and zest to life Eases anxiety and fear Relieves stress Improves mood Enhances resilience	Social Benefits: Strengthens relationships Attracts others to us Enhances teamwork Helps defuse conflict Promotes group bonding

The Benefits of Laughter

Physical Health Benefits:

Boosts immunity
Lowers stress hormones
Decreases pain
Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease

Mental Health Benefits:

Adds joy and zest to life
Eases anxiety and fear
Relieves stress
Improves mood
Enhances resilience

Social Benefits:

Strengthens relationships
Attracts others to us
Enhances teamwork
Helps defuse conflict
Promotes group bonding

Laughter is a catalyst for creativity, new discoveries, and enhanced relationships, with oneself and others. Laugh more and you will find that you become more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced.

Try this simple exercise: Take a full breath in and then draw your shoulders up towards your ears. Hold your shoulders up close to your ears. Count to two and then as you exhale, move your shoulders down and up quickly as you laugh, “ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha”, for six or eight times in a row. Repeat several times. Notice the release of tension in your upper body, notice your renewed energy and freer flow of breath.

Enjoy the benefits of laughter and know that, with every laugh…you open new possibilities for the Universe.

Make it a great week!

March 3, 2014
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Life Lessons

Life isn’t so simple,

Or, so, some might say.

But, joy, love and kindness

Can brighten anyone’s day.

And, isn’t that really what matters most of all.

To care for ourselves and those around us…no matter how big or small?

(Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss…and thank you for inspiring these and so many of my other words, thoughts, and actions!)

February 24, 2014
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Look into their eyes

The world goes by so bustlingly fast, a blur of action, words, and feelings. As human beings, we work so hard to take it all in, to make it all part of that story that is us.

So often we miss the opportunity to witness without action, to pause and be in the moment, to look into the eyes of those around us as they experience their own defeat and triumph, their own fears, their own hurt, their love, their joy and to be with it all, but act on none of it. Animals do it, especially cats. They are wonderful at exercising the witness mind.

Let go of rational thought for a moment and step away from the need to do. Pause, tapping into your animal instincts, and just watch. Meditate on what you see. Look into the eyes of those around you. Look beyond the surface…and even those who, in your mind, may have brought hurt or pain may reveal to you an underlying softness, a love, that they just can’t figure out how to put into action because they’ve put so much other stuff out there.

Look into their eyes and connect with that love and you just may have more love to hold onto as you go bustlingly through the fast-paced action that is the story of you.

February 17, 2014
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Free Your Heart

AHIMSA – a Sanskrit word for non-injury, non-harming, kindness – a practice we should regularly engage in with others and ourselves according to ancient yogic traditions. But, too often hurt, loss, or betrayal cause us to want to protect the heart, put up a shield, wrap it in armor and fight back.

Opening the heart to love and loss allows one to forgive, let go of resentment, and release fear, and thus to feel all emotions more fully, including love, joy, and contentment.

Today is the day to FREE your heart, to practice Ahimsa. Shed the coat of armor, soften and expand the space surrounding your heart and allow sensations to flow through you.

Peel back the armor by inviting deeper and more fulfilling breath into your body, reaching deep down inside, freeing your breath, freeing your body, freeing your feelings.

Let your face muscles soften

…brow relax

…corners of the mouth curl up in a subtle smile

…shoulders roll back and down

… ribs move more freely as breath draws deeper into the body

…heart space opens.

Feel nurtured by your breath.

Feel the freedom beginning to unfold.

Dive into the love, joy, and freedom you bring to yourself on the wings of your breath.

Begin healing your deepest essence. Breathe in…breathe out…FREE your heart.

February 10, 2014
by Monday Mindfulness 1 Comment

Rock Your Goddess

You are a goddess if…

*you are a source of life and being.

*you are believed in by others.

*you are a being of beauty and grace.

*you have supernatural powers and attributes.

YOU are a GODDESS!! (yep, guys, you have goddess in you too!)

Believe in YOURSELF… your INNER BEAUTY…your FLOWING GRACE…your GENEROUS SPIRIT…your SUPERNATURAL POWERS!

Let the mystery and sparkle that is you continue to slowly unfold as you rock your goddess self!

February 3, 2014
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Beacon of Joy

Do what feels good. Not what feels good to the touch, but what feels good to the soul.

You know…that feeling that comes from way deep down, that bubbles up through your heart space and spontaneously makes the corners of your mouth turn up from the inside. The stuff that breeds butterflies in your belly, causes goose bumps to ripple on the skin, and parts the clouds in a heavy sky.

If you move from that place of good, you cannot help but to be a beacon of abundant joy.

And, isn’t that what life should really be about?

January 27, 2014
by Monday Mindfulness 3 Comments

Lead with Love

Whether managing staff, supporting family and friends, or directing your own destiny, each of us has at one time or another been called upon to take the lead, to be in charge, to make things happen.

Ancient yogis believed that leadership was born of wisdom. But, wisdom did not reside in the head. Rather, the true seat of wisdom is in the heart.

Thus, to lead with wisdom, one must lead from the heart, or from a place of love.

To lead with love requires non-judgment, compassion, and the ability to see the strengths and gifts in those you lead.

Imagine what the world would be like if we all lead a little more from the heart instead of the head.

January 21, 2014
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Ebbing Seasons

The distance between despair and happiness is no farther than traveling from one moment to the next.

Although often it feels never-ending and all-encompassing, despair is fleeting, like a season.

Winter grays, chills, and presses down heavily upon the earth as if it will never move along and yet, somehow, even as memory serves to guide us, we forget that this is just a point in time.

And, suddenly, with such precision, in the next moment Winter lifts its heavy veil and Spring arrives.

And, so it is with despair and happiness, ever swift and cunning, they ebb and flow in and out of our lives just like the changing seasons.

January 14, 2014
by Monday Mindfulness 1 Comment

Celebrate Every Day Like It’s Your Birthday

Every day, heaven and earth celebrate the gift of you, so why shouldn’t you?

Let every day contain the same wonder and awe that came with you as you entered this world.

Revel in all that you see, be grateful for all that you encounter, and live every moment fully.

Let every day be the gift that it was intended to be. There is no question the world would not be what it is without you.

So, celebrate the greatness of you…every day.

January 6, 2014
by Monday Mindfulness 2 Comments

Next Steps

How easy it is to get bogged down in the “what if’s”, to perceive experiences as negative, missed opportunities, or wasted efforts.

What if…instead we believed, truly, down to the core, that everything that happens — even all of these things that seem like mistakes, chances gone by, and dead ends — happens just as intended?

What if…instead of making New Year’s resolutions, we simply resolve to maintain resolve? Facing each moment with openness, acceptance, and love?

What if…instead of holding onto expectations and outcomes, we could see each day as a shiny, unwrapped gift, reveling in the thrill and wonder of that moment?

What if…it is all unfolding precisely as it should; every botch, bobble, and blunder just the next step in the great adventure known as YOU?