One of my all-time favorites: "Let Go, Let God"!!
Let Go of: Resentments
Past Failures/Mistakes
Future Worries
Trying to Control other People & Circumstances
Let God: Bring you back into the Present
Heal you from past wounds
Lead you on Your Path
Work things out for Your Good
God is in Control; We are Not. How Freeing is this concept. We do what we can...and leave the rest for God to work out. Worrying about the future or regretting the past is a waste of energy.
"Let go" of trying to control others, especially those closest to you. Stop trying to "fix" them. The key is to Focus on Yourself! Whatever you may be expecting someone Else to give you or do for you, affirm you, compliment you, listen to you or be attentive toward you---Give it to Yourself! Contentment is an "inside job" where we work on ourselves, not "depending" on others for our state of being.
You can not "make someone happy", just as they can not "make" you happy. You may believe that if you just cooked more then he may be happy. Or perhaps if you organized the house better, cleaned more, did everything exactly as he wanted, maybe then he would be happy. You may believe that if you bought her more jewelry, a better car, a better house, maybe then she would be happy. Wrong! Each persons' happiness is their Own responsibility!!
So, "Let Go, Let God"!
What are you "Letting Go" of? And what are you "Letting God" do in your life? : )
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Let Go of Your False Beliefs!!
Have you ever stopped to think how many of your core beliefs, the ones you operate from on a deep unconscious level, are truly false? Maybe the beliefs were instilled in you through the functioning of your family unit. Maybe the beliefs were instilled in you through your own perceptions of people and events.
Examples of False Beliefs:
1. "We are responsible for other peoples' happiness"---Totally False. Every one of us is responsible for our own happiness. Our internal happiness, or state of being at peace, is Not dependent on other people. And we are Not responsible for others' state of being. Striving for happiness and peace is an "inside job".
2. "We can control other people"---Totally False. Every one of us has our Own path to travel. It is not up to us to try to manipulate, control or change other people. It is a waste of energy and is sure to backfire with negative consequences. I love the phrase "Live and Let Live", so short yet so powerful. Live your own life to the fullest! Likewise, allow others to live their own lives, to be themselves, and even to suffer their own consequences in order to grow. It is not our job to "rescue" others from their own destructive behaviour.
3. "We are not good enough"---Totally False. Every one of us is a divine creation, created in the image of God. We are divine luster. We just become "blind" to seeing our luster as a result of people and society conveying the message that we are not good enough.
Marketing geniuses utilize this tactic at every turn--"if you buy our newest latest coolest expensive gadget then you too will be cool...don't be left behind and be "less than", they tell us in very covert messages. People who are close to us can also convey this message, that we are not good enough in their eyes-- if only we would change to suit them. We may be told directly or it may be the disapproving "look" that is given to us.
We are perfectly imperfect human beings.
Let Go of those false beliefs, Free yourself from them!!
Examples of False Beliefs:
1. "We are responsible for other peoples' happiness"---Totally False. Every one of us is responsible for our own happiness. Our internal happiness, or state of being at peace, is Not dependent on other people. And we are Not responsible for others' state of being. Striving for happiness and peace is an "inside job".
2. "We can control other people"---Totally False. Every one of us has our Own path to travel. It is not up to us to try to manipulate, control or change other people. It is a waste of energy and is sure to backfire with negative consequences. I love the phrase "Live and Let Live", so short yet so powerful. Live your own life to the fullest! Likewise, allow others to live their own lives, to be themselves, and even to suffer their own consequences in order to grow. It is not our job to "rescue" others from their own destructive behaviour.
3. "We are not good enough"---Totally False. Every one of us is a divine creation, created in the image of God. We are divine luster. We just become "blind" to seeing our luster as a result of people and society conveying the message that we are not good enough.
Marketing geniuses utilize this tactic at every turn--"if you buy our newest latest coolest expensive gadget then you too will be cool...don't be left behind and be "less than", they tell us in very covert messages. People who are close to us can also convey this message, that we are not good enough in their eyes-- if only we would change to suit them. We may be told directly or it may be the disapproving "look" that is given to us.
We are perfectly imperfect human beings.
Let Go of those false beliefs, Free yourself from them!!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Top 5 Fun Activities teaching kids Zen Living Simply
In todays fast paced world, filled with cell phones, computers, gaming devices, ipods and television, it can be difficult for children as well as adults to step away from technology and focus on what truly matters.
Top 5 Fun Activities to promote Zen Living Simply to our Children:
1. Be Fully Present. Being present for our kids is truly a gift to them, as they crave our undivided attention. I turn off my cell phone so our special time is uninterrupted. Especially in todays society, being "busy" is often applauded, and we can find ourselves over-scheduled, maxed out and exhausted. Even if only for a short period of time each day, Stop...and Be fully present for our children...and listen to them.
2. Enjoy Nature Together. Kids see nature with an eye of wonder. How fun it is to share experiences in nature together. I love taking my kids to the beach and watching them run around gathering shells. Enjoying nature together, whether it be a hike on a trail, a walk around the neighborhood, feeding ducks in a pond or a picnic in the backyard, is promoting zen living. Nature is free to us, no purchase necessary. Being in nature is non-consumeristic--- no advertising promoting our kids to want infinitely more "stuff". I want my kids to know that more stuff does not equal happiness.
3. Teach our children meditation. Have fun expanding our kids' knowledge of meditation. There are many websites with free downloads of meditations made just for kids. When I play meditation CDs in our car my children calm down, relax and enjoy the words of affirmations. These nurishing words going into their minds can be transformative, unlike many of the songs on the radio.
4. Plant a garden with our children. I look forward to planting some vegetables with my kids, as this is something we have not yet done. This is a very low cost activity, teaching them to grow some of our own food while spending quality time together in nature.
5. Model Zen Living Simply for our Children. Modeling zen living can be difficult for us parents, working either outside the home or inside the home, rushing to take kids to their activities, taking care of household responsibilities, trying to do too much. Slow down and breathe. Take a time-out from the outside world that promotes busy-ness, working too much and consumerism...and just BE. Remember that we are "human BEings", not "human DOings".
Top 5 Fun Activities to promote Zen Living Simply to our Children:
1. Be Fully Present. Being present for our kids is truly a gift to them, as they crave our undivided attention. I turn off my cell phone so our special time is uninterrupted. Especially in todays society, being "busy" is often applauded, and we can find ourselves over-scheduled, maxed out and exhausted. Even if only for a short period of time each day, Stop...and Be fully present for our children...and listen to them.
2. Enjoy Nature Together. Kids see nature with an eye of wonder. How fun it is to share experiences in nature together. I love taking my kids to the beach and watching them run around gathering shells. Enjoying nature together, whether it be a hike on a trail, a walk around the neighborhood, feeding ducks in a pond or a picnic in the backyard, is promoting zen living. Nature is free to us, no purchase necessary. Being in nature is non-consumeristic--- no advertising promoting our kids to want infinitely more "stuff". I want my kids to know that more stuff does not equal happiness.
3. Teach our children meditation. Have fun expanding our kids' knowledge of meditation. There are many websites with free downloads of meditations made just for kids. When I play meditation CDs in our car my children calm down, relax and enjoy the words of affirmations. These nurishing words going into their minds can be transformative, unlike many of the songs on the radio.
4. Plant a garden with our children. I look forward to planting some vegetables with my kids, as this is something we have not yet done. This is a very low cost activity, teaching them to grow some of our own food while spending quality time together in nature.
5. Model Zen Living Simply for our Children. Modeling zen living can be difficult for us parents, working either outside the home or inside the home, rushing to take kids to their activities, taking care of household responsibilities, trying to do too much. Slow down and breathe. Take a time-out from the outside world that promotes busy-ness, working too much and consumerism...and just BE. Remember that we are "human BEings", not "human DOings".
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
No Drama!
Shun unwanted drama that creeps into your life. Recognize it as quickly as possible so you can resist getting hooked into it. The drama may be generated inside yourself, regretting the past or jumping out into the unknown future with worry. Acknowledge that you were engaging in regretting or worrying then bring yourself back into the present. If time and circumstances allow, do some meditation or listen to guided meditation to clear your mind.
Unwanted drama can also come from people in your life, especially those closest to you, who have a need for drama. Resist getting hooked into "the dance" with the other person. Try to recognize "the dance" that usually occurs between the two of you-- unhealthy patterns in your relationship-- and make a change within Yourself.
In practicing zen living, choose your path of peace as often as possible! :)
Unwanted drama can also come from people in your life, especially those closest to you, who have a need for drama. Resist getting hooked into "the dance" with the other person. Try to recognize "the dance" that usually occurs between the two of you-- unhealthy patterns in your relationship-- and make a change within Yourself.
In practicing zen living, choose your path of peace as often as possible! :)
Honor yourself, Speak up!
As a people pleaser, it can be difficult to speak up.
First, be true to yourself. Honor yourself. When you speak up regarding a difficult issue, and you come from a place where you have already "honored yourself", you will be coming from an honest place, speaking from your heart.
Having the courage to speak up can be challenging, especially for those who may have an unconscious fear of abandonment. When we speak our personal truth, we are building intimacy with other people. We are allowing them to truly know us. We are living authentically, and we are building even more strength within ourselves.
Speaking up, speaking from your heart is an important part of Zen Living, living your own personal truth.
First, be true to yourself. Honor yourself. When you speak up regarding a difficult issue, and you come from a place where you have already "honored yourself", you will be coming from an honest place, speaking from your heart.
Having the courage to speak up can be challenging, especially for those who may have an unconscious fear of abandonment. When we speak our personal truth, we are building intimacy with other people. We are allowing them to truly know us. We are living authentically, and we are building even more strength within ourselves.
Speaking up, speaking from your heart is an important part of Zen Living, living your own personal truth.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Zen Living
Zen Living....Wow, how far I have come, since I first started reading Leo Babauta's Zen Habits a few years ago. And how far I have to go, in striving for zen living...while balancing my career and two children. But the Joy is in the Journey.
Zen Living, at this point in my life, is choosing Peace. No longer do I have an unconscious need for drama.
Living in Peace, living from our Heart, following our dreams, staying true to ourselves, meditation and listening to our Higher Power's plan for our lives, are all part of Zen Living.
What is Zen Living for you, at this point in your life? I would love to hear from you! :)
Zen Living, at this point in my life, is choosing Peace. No longer do I have an unconscious need for drama.
Living in Peace, living from our Heart, following our dreams, staying true to ourselves, meditation and listening to our Higher Power's plan for our lives, are all part of Zen Living.
What is Zen Living for you, at this point in your life? I would love to hear from you! :)
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