A practice of self-compassion is how to find completion within yourself instead of looking for it outside of yourself. It enables one to kill the critic in the mind of negative self-talk and look upon ourselves with a mother’s love. It is how to love and accept ourselves exactly as we are. It is a heart-healing process to equanimity of mind. Includes Mother of Mercy Meditation
Read MoreThe urge to succumb to self-defeating thoughts is strong and creates resistance to what is happening. In learning to soften and accept the unexpected trials that come our way is to trust that there is a reason to the life-altering events that are happening. Trusting the process and finding gratitude were pivotal in moving through an otherwise challenge filled year.
Read MoreThere will always be someone you can perceive as better than you. If we hold ourselves to this arbitrary standard, nothing is ever enough. We become a victim to our own judging mind. Believing the story of not being enough defeated me and kept me small for so many years. I turned the emotional pain of this story into suffering until I let go of trying to meet an impossible standard.
Read MoreSoftening to resistance does not mean non-action. As Mahatma Gandhi said when asked about the “passive resistance” he was teaching all over India, “There is nothing passive in my resistance. It is just non-violent.”
Read MoreOur culture does not train focus. Quite the opposite. Capitalism encourages economic growth. As a result, we are bombarded by ads. Advertisements divert our focus are everywhere you look. From our smart phones to walking down the isle in the grocery store, objects are trying to catch your eye, and your mind. Shiny object here, shiny object there. Our minds are conditioned to be distracted.
Read MoreWhen one is operating in this limited mindset, they cannot be present nor satisfied with what is. Like mindlessly swiping through Tinder profiles, the pleasure seeing mind lives in a daze of half-asleep monotony, perpetually looking for what is better. More! More! More! demands the never satiated Veruka Salt of the mind.
Read MoreNo one accompanies you on your journey inward. It is one you do alone. You will meet yourself in that dark cave and stand eye to eye with the phantoms of your mind. This journey is not easy but nothing that brings growth ever is. Remain disciplined. The rewards for your efforts will come with a joyous magnitude that cannot be remotely compared to any earthy pleasure. Climb on.
Read MoreNoticing what you have aversion towards is the initial process to the work. What is coming up? What is making you uncomfortable? What is drawing you away from sitting; from listening and allowing in. My aversion was the word suffering and the idea that I was suffering, not wanting to feel suffering.
Read MoreAs you embark on your journey of mind training and self-healing with the use of guided meditations, you will find opportunities to practice on and off of the mat. Everything that arises for us can be looked at, not as good or bad but, as an opportunity for growth. Guided meditation is a useful tool to train a reactive mind into a responsive mind.
Read MoreBegin your meditation practice by simply sitting in stillness with curiosity. Start your meditation practice in the same way you you would implement any action you would like to become a habit. Set a plan and get going! Repeated action creates a habit and daily repetition reinforces that habit.
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