Monday Mindfulness

Cultivating Strength, Joy, Peace & Resilience


Leave a comment

A Call to Activism

Live Oak - Activism

In the darkness, fear and anger deepen their grip on me.  Bumping up against ideals, opinions, and stories that I have formed, with urgency I am compelled to avenge imbalances and inequities.  I dash in to sweep up the broken pieces of what I perceive as attacks against me and struggle surrounding me.  I am driven to defend principles that through my ego’s eye define me.

This posture that I take implies superiority and gives way to judgment.  In my rush to right the wrongs, I become the being I so justly argue against.  Resentment bubbles up and my ego says, “they are not worthy…they should be punished…they do not belong…silence them…shun them.”

And then my heart whispers, “wait…they too are suffering.”  Those opinions I defend and just as importantly those I oppose are here to guide, test, and inform me.

To release my struggle, my fear, my anger, and my suffering, others do not need to pay a conjured debt for who they are.

Compassion, patience, and trust become my weapons against the injustices, inequities, and imbalances that swirl around me.

Allowing it all to exist and maintaining harmony, care, and peace…that is the true work of an activist.


Leave a comment

Take a Stand

Stand Under

The feet are the foundation for the heart and head, the physical roots of Self.  They carry us. They know our struggles.  They tell our story – a story of how we have lived, our relationships with others, our deepest strengths, and where we have stood through every weakness.

Whether standing in the shadows or on the front lines of our experiences, we directly connect those experiences to our roots.

When we humbly and courageously stand under our experiences as opposed to standing up to them, we begin to open our hearts, strengthen our compassion for ourselves and others, and to exercise the most clear and powerful voice of action, that of the higher self.

We must stand under in order to understand.


Leave a comment

Perspective

IMG_1505

Perspective is everything.

Perspective applies the lens, tells the story, creates the experience, leaves the memory, defines impressions and molds beliefs.

Is it time to change the lens?


1 Comment

A Letter to My Children

hands

You stand here on the verge of opportunity, of expansive and lifelong joy and fulfillment, not because you are heading out into the world to receive knowledge, gifts, and experiences from the world, but because you are ready to take responsibility for who you are and the contributions you make to your world.

You hold within you everything you need, all the knowledge, all the guidance, all the tools, all the wisdom, to be great and to be happy, to feel and share goodness and empowerment.  Everything you need is right there within you.

Your generous spirit and your ability to make others laugh and feel cared for goes way back to when you were little.  Your empathy, sympathy, and compassion for others is great.  You were always the first to pick up a friend who tumbled, to offer your spot if it helped someone feel better, to clean up a mess that wasn’t yours, or to share a smile when no one else could find theirs.

Just be sure you have as much compassion, love, and kindness for yourself.

We know your missteps, your stumbles and wobbly choices were never intended to harm and were what you needed to do to learn the power of you, to learn how to listen not to what you think or feel should be done to please others but to rely upon your inner wisdom, the tiny little voice of your heart, that knows what is right…what is really right for you.  Because when you do what is right for you, it ends up making everything right around you.

Trust yourself more.  Know that you don’t have to make a big splash.  Honor your divine spirit and let your natural state of being sparkle.  Know that your true purpose is simply to do your best…and that is enough.  It truly is enough.

I will try to remember that too, especially when I pass judgment, apply expectations, and forget that you are not here to fill my dreams.

Live with vision, intention, and determination.  Stay accountable for your actions – feel your freedom and self-respect grow.  Go confidently forward and remain present, bypassing what might, should, and could have happened, and instead focus your energy on building a life around you of peace and acceptance.

You will most certainly face many challenges, sadness, failures, and pain. Remember those experiences are only there to help you dig deeper into discovering who you are.  Surrender your decision-making to your inner wisdom, listen to your deepest self and know your greater purpose.

You are no small part of anything. Remember your greatness, your power, your love, and your joy, always…and that is what I will remember of you.


Leave a comment

The River

Utah

Today I will soften into the power of me.

I will flow like a river on a determined path,

fully yielding to the unexpected turns and objects along the way,

not giving into them but using them to jettison me forward,

staying true to myself, even in the face of the unknown…

strong, serene, complete in who I am.

Knowing that my strength is in my peace.


Leave a comment

Imprints

IMG_1189

As easily as a mark is left on the sand it is left on the heart.

 


Leave a comment

Step outside predictable.

beginSpontaneity, not to be confused with impulsiveness, is the ability to allow your inner guidance system to lead you to take appropriate action without hesitation to achieve the greatest benefit for you and those around you, regardless of any set plan.  Step outside predictable.  Exercise your creativity and welcome the joy and fulfillment that comes with true and clear present moment awareness.


Leave a comment

Inner Guidance

img_0684

How is it flowers know just what to do?  How to sprout leaves and open themselves up so unconditionally to the world?  Is it trust?  Courage? Or the lack of interference from fear and doubt as they engage their inner guidance system?  Imagine a world where everyone were as open and intuitive as a flower.

 


Leave a comment

Express Yourself

snow-triangle-close-up

Practice spontaneity…not reckless abandon…rather transfer the decision making to your higher self.  Let your intuition choose what comes next and experience the ultimate form and expression of your creativity.


Leave a comment

One Place

 

monday-mindfulness-one-place

What if I were you and you were me?

Would we live in harmony?

Would you love me unconditionally?

Would you let my heart and mind be free

In love and light and truth and peace?

What if the I in you was the you in me?

What if there was just one place – could it be?

Where we are one, where we both just be,

Existing in the space of eternity,

As light, as love, as truth, as peace?

If there is but one place, would you go there with me?