Growth
presence
The Places That Scare You
“Meditation…we see what comes up, acknowledge that with kindness, and let go.”
Pema Chodron, American Buddhist Nun
Good Form
This is an etching my daughter gave to me for Christmas. It’s created by painstakingly scratching the black off the etching paper with extremely sharp tools. Pushing too hard or going too fast can ruin the effect.
It reminds me that beauty and harmony can often result from taking away, and not adding:
- Remove the resentment, disappointment and anger from your part of relationships.
- Remove clutter in your living space.
But do this with great care.
A Curiosity
Don’t dismiss old folk
For with luck, you too will age
greet with reverence
What if…
the riches we all strove for were the inner lights we could possess? What if we all wanted to be rich this way and helped each other attain this wealth?
The great news is that we have the option – the freedom – to choose what wealth is for ourselves. Possessing ambition is fine, but without inner peace, it means nothing.
Rich – adj., abounding in natural resources (Dictionary.com)
The idea for this blog was inspired by Light Watkin’s post on true wealth.
Weaving
In the desert, I
run into a spiderweb
bewitched by beauty
In Stillness
This is my response to this article in the Washington Post.
When the voices in your head and the frenzy on social media get to you, go out in nature.
Encounters of the “Dreadful” Kind
Fear (or terror) is the root of all anger.
Do you get angry often? Want to change but don’t know how? Try the five “whys.” Ramit Sethi recommends asking yourself “why” five times to get to the root of procrastination, but I think it can help identify all types of suffering.
Example:
When I drive, I get angry with drivers who are slow and get in my way.
Why?
Because I’m tired and I just want to get home.
Why?
Because my clients were terrible and I want to relax.
Why?
So I can feel good and forget about the day.
Why?
It was a hard day because I don’t feel good about how I handled one of my meetings. I’m afraid I didn’t seal the deal (or impress the boss, or look good to others, etc.)
Why?
Because I didn’t prepare well enough… I went to bed too late last night….I wasn’t at the top of my game…I don’t like my job…
By the fifth why, you usually get to the real root of the problem. It’s not the traffic, but your fears that drive your anger.
Painful events and relationships are lessons to us. Life is a persistent teacher and homework will keep coming until you’ve passed the test.
What Gifts do You Bring?
Do you bring…
- full attention and presence?
- judgment and shame?
- happiness and enthusiasm?
- fear and anxiety?
- unconditional love and freedom?
Your spirit permeates your life and your loved ones. What you reap, you will sow.
3 Ways to Happy
“Happiness is a choice.”
-Shawn Anchor
Three ways to become a happier person:
- Practice gratitude on a daily basis. Write about three things/people you are grateful for every day – and don’t repeat journal entries.
- Accept what is – don’t fight it, don’t worry about what might happen. View reality as beautiful.
- “The final habit is the most powerful that we’ve seen so far. For two minutes each day, start work by writing a two-minute positive e-mail or text praising or thanking one person you know. And do it for a different person each day.” (Shawn Anchor, Washington Post)
Anchor strongly believes that you must take responsibility for your well-being and contentment in life. Of course, clinical depression is a real thing. You may need medication, but the medication should be a stepping stone to getting yourself in a state where you can actively work to be happy.
Kismet 