“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique.” ~ Martha Graham
Are you aware of your actions as they are happening? Have you ever practiced being your own silent, compassionate witness — looking from the outside and observing your whole self? When we are open and honest with ourselves, and listen to the spirit of truth deep within, we receive genuine insight. In yoga, this is called SVADHYAYA, self study or selfawareness. Observation and awareness are the first steps toward change. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 NIV) Pause between your breath, thoughts, feelings, and actions — listen and receive from them. Let yourself learn from each experience and receive compassionate insight. Be the best version of you! 🌟
If a situation keeps repeating itself, ask what can I learn? Instead of resisting or trying to power your way through challenges, consider a more compassionate approach and ask yourself these key questions for personal reflection and growth.
What lessons am I learning right now? What do I need to say that has been unspoken? What skills or talents am I not utilizing? What signs have I been misinterpreting or ignoring? How is life asking me to grow? What have I been avoiding out of fear? What part of me have I been afraid to express and show the world? What do I really want or need? How do I want to feel? What am I committed to changing?
(Adapted from 10 Essential Questions To Ask When You Feel Stuck by Shannon Kaiser)
“One new perception, One fresh thought, One act of surrender, One change of heart, One leap of faith… Can change your life forever.” ~ Robert Holden
Open Nothing to wall out or hold in. Open like the wide sky at twilight. Open as the ocean or the reach of the unknown. Open as a heart that chooses not to close. ~ Danna Faulds
Remind yourself to practice compassionate self observation and self study in your daily living. Before retiring each night, ask yourself, “What did I learn today?” and be grateful for the insights. Be the best version of you. 🌟
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8oz to 20oz. She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed–incapable of doing anything.” It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses…don’t carry them long…remember to put the glass down! Source: Science is Madness
When we slow down and pay attention to how we are experiencing our lives, we are more likely to make wise decisions and act from a centered and calm place. When our intentions arise from such a place, we create less stress and more harmony in our lives and the lives of those around us.
What is a stress or worry you can let go of today? Through observation and awareness we learn to be more calmly responsive and less emotionally reactive.
“Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7 TPT
How do you deal with stress & strong emotions? How do you discharge theenergy? There are 3 general ways… 1. Numbing: alcohol/drugs, food, sex, shopping, gambling, technology/screen time, anything excessive 2. Lashing Out: expressions of anger, aggression…physically, emotionally, verbally…especially to those we love & trust the most 3. Lashing In: negative internal dialogue, self pity or blame, depression/anxiety…Anxiety is owning a crisis before it arrives & focuses on the improbable. Do not worry about your life.
What’s your “go-to” emotional release? Honestly listen to the story you are telling yourself. Receive it without blaming, shaming or judging. Let it filter through the soft gaze of awareness & grace. Change can only come through observation & awareness.
What are some healthy stress management techniques that work for you? Choose one or two that come to mind and incorporate them into your life this week. Remember to put the glass down!
~ Let’s turn our pain & sadness into compassion.
~ Our anger & aggression into motivation; aggression is often stuck energy wanting to move forward.
~ Our anxiety & worry into healthy concern which focuses on the probable and produces positive action.
~ And turn our apathy & unfocused thinking into passion & purpose.
Burn the rope of past conditioning, or slice right through, awareness like a blade that cannot be stopped by any obstacle. Without the history of who you’ve been, what is the essence of your soul’s expression? When you allow the moment to offer up its perfect response, what is the free and true experience of you?
As Mother Teresa stated, “The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small.” Our intention this week is to invite more interconnectedness and community (“kula” in Sanskrit) into our lives — expanding our circle — while staying rooted, grounded, and balanced. Yoga Sutra lll.24 (maitryadisu balani) describes that the cultivation of friendliness creates inner strength. Experiencing healthy compassion and lovingkindness toward ourselves and others strengthens our interconnectedness and sense of overall well-being.
Where and with whom in your life can you experience more interconnectedness, community (kula), friendliness, lovingkindness, and compassion?
Let’s learn some lessons about community and interconnectedness from nature. Visualize a flock of geese flying overhead in a “V” formation.
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position. Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the difficult tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, and resources.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep going! Lesson: We need to make sure our “honking” is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement, which is to listen to one’s own heart or core values, and to listen to the core values of others, is the quality of “honking” we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation of geese and try to catch up with the flock. Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.
Who is in your “V” formation?
(The original version of Lessons from Geese was written by Dr. Robert McNeish in 1972.)
Visualize the neighborhood in which you live. Do you know the names of five of your neighbors? Do you know much about them? Let’s aim to go from stranger status to acquaintances to building relationships — community — kula — connection — all with friendliness, compassion, and lovingkindness. “You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.” ~ Matthew 22:39 TPT
How do we build community and interconnectedness? 🌎 ✭ Look for opportunities, be intentional — go the extra mile and take a risk! ✭ Eliminate personal “time suckers”— prioritize your time to create more availability in your day. ✭ Be willing to be interrupted, oftentimes these are Divine appointments and you and others will be blessed! ✭ Stay in a “V” formation — don’t fly solo!
You’re broken down and tired Of living life on a merry-go-round And you can’t find the fighter But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out And move mountains We gonna walk it out And move mountains
And I’ll rise up I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up I’ll rise unafraid I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again And I’ll rise up High like the waves I’ll rise up In spite of the ache I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again For you
When the silence isn’t quiet And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe And I know you feel like dying But I promise we’ll take the world to it’s feet And move mountains Bring it to it’s feet And move mountains And I’ll rise up I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up I’ll rise unafraid I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again For you
All we need, all we need is hope And for that we have each other And for that we have each other We will rise We will rise We’ll rise, oh oh We’ll rise
I’ll rise up Rise like the day I’ll rise up In spite of the ache I will rise a thousand times again And we’ll rise up High like the waves We’ll rise up In spite of the ache We’ll rise up And we’ll do it a thousand times again For you oh oh oh oh oh
“It’s funny how, in this journey of life, even though we may begin at different times and places, our paths cross with others so that we may share our love, compassion, observations, and hope.” ~ Steve Maraboli
What are the 5 most beautiful things in front of you right now? They could be precious people, prized possessions, powerful symbols or words, or priceless moments. Picture them clearly in your heart & mind. Feel all the emotions. What sensations do you feel in the body? Where do you feel these sensations? Label your emotions with one word. Label the sensations felt with one word. Tuck these words deep into your memory account of beautiful experiences. ✨
“That’s what we do with beautiful things. We tuck them away. We use them when we need them, in our bear like way. We use them as fuel. We breathe them. We givethem away. We remember them as long as we can. What if we walked around looking for beauty instead of looking for things to be stressed about or offended by? What if we became beauty hunters? What if we told more beautiful stories? Our lives need beauty. Relentless, unremitting beauty.” ~ Jennifer Pastiloff
I fall in love regularly,
with each person whom
passes me in the streets,
or who sits beside me on the bus.
Not in the romantic way;
No, we hardly even speak
a word to each other.
But I sit, quietly observing
all of their body language and all of
their expressions.
Their smiles, and gestures;
the way they lift their coffee,
or smile as they read
that new text message,
or count the change in their hands.
I watch vigilantly, tracking
the manners and movements,
and appreciating all that
these people are.
I spend some time thinking about
their families and lives,
and the lives that they lead.
I consider what they might do
for work, and what they
went to school for.
When they woke up that morning, and
how they did their hair.
I study the details of these people,
that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Researching each of them,
noticing our similarities, and
rejoicing in
the beauty of human nature.
~ Author unknown
8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
SANTOSHA, the Sanskrit word for contentment, requires our willingness to enjoy exactly what each day brings and to be happy with whatever we have. We can easily practice santosha in the beautiful moments and joyous experiences of our lives. But true contentment means being equally willing to embrace difficult moments. Only when we can be content in the midst of difficulty can we be truly free. Only when we can remain open in the midst of pain do we understand what true openness is. In our relationships, when we accept those around us as they truly are, not as we want them to be, we are practicing santosha. ~ Adapted from Cultivate Your Connections by Judith Lasater
Enjoy a portion of a poem written for me by my husband.
She has santosha with the One True God In full body worship In constant course correction All the way to shava
I love her for exactly who she is For who she was and who she’s gonna be Every new thing I come to learn about her Is further proof she’s the only girl for me
Contentment is a mental decision, a moral choice, a spiritual discipline. Are you truly content today my friend? Let’s draw inward, explore, and seek true SANTOSHA. 💜
One of the most difficult aspects of SANTOSHA is being content in this present moment. Oftentimes when we experience boredom or loneliness we seek distractions from the emotional discomfort instead of exploring root causes. We crave something to occupy the mind or somebody to engage our personalities. As we grow in our yoga and spiritual practices, we are able to draw inward sooner, see our true self in the moment, connect to our spirit and Divine Source, and through acceptance and love we gently smooth out the rough edges and become our best self.
“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our heart and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” ~ Rolf Gates
“Change is not only inevitable, but is always happening. When you truly embrace this concept of change being constant, the only thing left to do is grow, detach, venture inwards, touch the spirit and find your Source — the one responsible for keeping you grounded through the ever-changing seasons of life.” ~ Julie Weiland
Shalom, the familiar Hebrew word for peace, does not refer to the absence of chaos but rather to an overall, deeply entrenched sense of harmony, health and wholeness in the midst of chaos. In fact, true peace is best detected and measured against the backdrop of commotion and confusion—when instability abounds, yet you remain steadfast; when disappointment and confusion are near, yet you’re still capable of walking with Spirit-infused confidence, stability and steadiness.~Priscilla Shirer
Soft Belly Breath Exercise
Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth a few times. Place one hand on your heart, and one hand on your belly. Then as you begin to breathe slowly and steadily through the nose, visualize inhaling into your belly receiving acceptance, contentment, love — and exhaling out through your heart giving it all away. Continue for a few minutes. The breath is the most important tool in yoga — it is the bridge between the body and the mind — it draws us inward and into the present moment.
What is the soul of yoga? Follow your heart into the center of the pose and find in the midst of detail and precision, in breath, alignment, balance, bliss, fear and sadness — at the very core of all of this is love. Touch upon your truest nature even once and the experience of what you really are sears the psyche like the surface of the sun. The soul of yoga, the gift within the pose is the moment of communion, resting in pure essence, the awakening as if from sleep to the face of unmistakable divinity; the ineffable wonder and living reality of spirit — oh, yes — the soul of yoga is love.
May you experience SANTOSHA, true contentment, no matter your circumstance or season of life. Rest and trust in the Divinity deep within.
“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” ~ John 14:27 NLT
OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti-hi — Peace, Peace, Peace 💜
✨Love ~ Serve ~ Inspire✨ 