Harmonizing Timelessness: A Symphony of Wellness, Mindfulness, and Longevity”

  • Harmonizing Timelessness: A Symphony of Wellness, Mindfulness, and Longevity”

wellness, mindfulless and longevity, exploring practices and my own point of view

Our AISCT connect choir’s choice to sing Alphaville’s “Forever Young” sparked my curiosity. Navigating healthy lifestyle choices and inspired by Hippocrates wellness institute, I questioned what is this about living forever?  Unlike Alexander the Great, I’m not on a world-conquering mission, and the pursuit of immortality feels daunting.

However, I aim to live well, maintain a strong body and sharp mind, and good heart, for activities like playing with grandchildren and doing my daily chores, maybe writing, coaching and enriching relationships with others.  Studying mindfulness, rooted in Buddhism, reveals the power of radical acceptance, even in challenging situations like disability. So with that in mind that being able bodied is what I am now, and being aware that for some people all body and full breath might not be available and still can find an attitude there which gives inner contentment.  

Besides the Forever young song, I am sharing in this article some conclusions from Netflix documentary on centenarians, dr. Atitia’s book Outlive, practices that are part of Hippocrates lifestyle and mindfulness practices.

Netflix’s exploration of centenarian lives became a source of inspiration and reflection. Witnessing the lives of those in Sardinia and Okinawa, I found myself drawn to the simplicity of their joy, the richness of their relationships, and the purpose that infused each day. What stood out was their lack of grasping for health and youth; instead, it was their natural way of getting up in the morning and engaging in life. Their stories prompted me to reassess the markers of a fulfilling life and consider the profound impact of social connections, purposeful living, and physical engagement on overall well-being.

Outlive book

Dr. Peter Attia’s book, “Outlive,” delves into the science and art of extending our healthspan and lifespan. As a renowned physician and longevity expert, Dr. Attia explores the factors that contribute to a longer, healthier life. From nutrition and exercise to cutting-edge medical interventions, “Outlive” provides a roadmap for those seeking to optimize their well-being and outlive the conventional limitations of aging. He, very similar to what we include in Hippocrates lifestyle, puts an emphasis on including different forms of exercise, emotional health, nutritional biochemistry, intake of protein as we age. (Outlive, p.17) he writes “Exercise is by far the most potent longevity drug. No other intervention does nearly as much as to prolong our lifespan and preserve our cognitive and physical function”.

In the Netflix documentary they have established in Sardinia a correlation between the steepness of the village and the lifespan. But surely those people don’t approach this: “ oh I need to get in so many steps a day”, for one lady that walk is simply a way to get to the church.

Quality of sleep

As we find in many wellness evaluation, the quality of sleep is “critical to our innate physiological repair processes, especially in the brain. As any parent knows the accumulation of sleepless nights does sum up to more irritability and reactivity. The quality of sleep can also be largely affected with the food we consume throughout the day, the amount of water intake, stress levels. Looking holistically how to improve sleeping we look into combination of habits, nutrition, tending our emotions, breathwork, supplementation, evening rituals and our reactions when we wake up at night. What we call our secondary emotions. The mood that we are in, affects our thoughts and emotional wellbeing. So there is the whole interconnectivity to be addressed.

Hippocrates wellness framework

When we are using Hippocrates wellness framework for lifestyle mentoring, we follow a holistic model called RESILIENT: responsibility, emotional mastery, sustainability, integrity, living food nutrition, nourishment, exercise immunology, transformation. This is a plant based model. For some people this works really well. Especially those who are unwell and they commit to holistic approach, they are willing to try out a plant based approach much more then someone who considers themselves currently healthy.

Consider eachother’s needs, and meet eachother  with love and respect

In my family the rest of the family is eating everything, I am only one on plant based nutrition.  We are committed to buying local vegetable produce on the market, so that majority is organic, no cow’s milk consumption and minimum dairy in general, we have our own filtration system for water, solar powered house, composting for organic waste, recycling, and a balance and mindfulness of meat consumption and quality in the week. Both with my husband trying to consider eachother’s needs, and meet eachother  with love and respect to what each is following. Trying to keep an open mind and heart to put honouring of self, the other, the relationship and family first.

Lovingkindess and longevity

And at last I am bringing in to this writing the practice of Lovingkindness from mindfulness meditation heart quality practices. In Science direct (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159113001736) I found a published article “Loving-Kindness Meditation practice associated with longer telomeres in women. Telomeres are protein structures found at both ends of each chromosome and play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. A small portion of Telomere length may serve to determine the lifespan of a cell and an organism”(source: National library of medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370421/). Previous research suggests a link between behaviors that focus on the well-being of others, such as volunteering and caregiving, and overall health and longevity. Deepak Chopra in his future of wellbeing was including for this reason volunteering in our weekly schedule as part of lifestyle that supports wellbeing.  In the research mentioned above they examined relative telomere length in a group of individuals experienced in Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM). This is a practice which utilizes a focus on unselfish kindness and warmth towards all people. The conclusion of this study was “Although limited by small sample size, these results offer the intriguing possibility that loving kindness meditation practice, especially in women, might alter RTL, a biomarker associated with longevity.

Furthermore we can also mention the Heart rate variability and longevity studies. As a heartmath coach, we use HRV as part of the training of the heart. Heartmath practices such as quick coherence technique, heart lock in, heartbased breathing are supportive to maintain heart coherence, a balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, correlation with vagus nerve tonus, heart rate variability and longevity.

“Crafting My Personal Symphony of Timelessness”

Navigating Alphaville’s melodies, Dr. Peter Attia’s insights, and centenarian tales on Netflix, I am crafting a personal symphony of timelessness. It’s not merely about the quantity of years but the quality of moments, the depth of connections, and the resonance of a heart fully engaged in the dance of life. Through this journey, I strive to harmonize the pursuit of youth with the wisdom gained from introspection, embracing a life that is not just lived but celebrated in every note of existence with having the courage to live with an open, trusting heart. Including the knowledge about healthy lifestyle but not becoming a prisoner of “shoulds” and forgetting the joy of life and simplicity of being in tune with the moment

Living a Sustainable and Holistic Lifestyle: A Guide to Green Living with Hippocrates Wellness Principles

  • Living a Sustainable and Holistic Lifestyle: A Guide to Green Living with Hippocrates Wellness Principles

Exploring letter S for sustainability in acronym RESILIENT in Hippocrates Wellness lifestyle

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of green living and sustainability has become increasingly important. As we strive to lead healthier, more environmentally conscious lives, integrating Hippocrates wellness principles into our daily routines can offer a holistic approach to sustainable living. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can incorporate elements such as growing your own sprouts, zero waste practices, non-toxic cleaning products, decluttered spaces, and non-toxic cosmetics into your lifestyle.

The Hippocrates Wellness Lifestyle and Sustainability

Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of modern medicine, emphasized the importance of treating the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – for optimal health. The principles of Hippocrates wellness align closely with the concept of sustainable living, focusing on nurturing the body, minimizing environmental impact, and promoting overall well-being.

Growing Your Own Sprouts

One of the simplest and most sustainable ways to enhance your diet is by growing your own sprouts. Sprouts are rich in nutrients, require minimal space and resources, and can be cultivated year-round. By embracing sprout cultivation, you not only contribute to your own health but also reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting produce from afar.

Zero Waste Practices

Adopting zero waste practices is another fundamental aspect of sustainable living. This involves minimizing single-use plastics, composting organic waste, and choosing products with minimal packaging. By following the principles of zero waste, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.

Non-Toxic Cleaning Products and Decluttered Spaces

Traditional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals that can negatively impact both our health and the environment. By transitioning to non-toxic cleaning products and decluttering your living spaces, you create a healthier indoor environment while reducing the overall consumption of harmful chemicals. Embracing simplicity, minimalism, and the creation of a beautiful and warm space in your living areas not only supports sustainability but also promotes a sense of calm and well-being.

In conclusion, integrating elements of green living and sustainability into your daily life through the lens of Hippocrates wellness principles can lead to a more holistic and fulfilling lifestyle. By growing your own sprouts, embracing zero waste practices, opting for non-toxic cleaning products and cosmetics, and maintaining decluttered spaces, you contribute to both personal well-being and the greater good of the planet. Remember, small changes can have a significant impact, and by aligning with these principles, you pave the way for a more sustainable and harmonious future.

Here are some tips for beginning of the year clean up:

  1. Assess and Sort Items:
    • Start by assessing the items in your living space and categorizing them into things you want to keep, donate, recycle, or discard. This step helps you identify items that can be repurposed or recycled, reducing unnecessary waste.
  2. Donate or Sell Unwanted Items:
    • Instead of throwing away items in good condition, consider donating them to local charities or selling them through online platforms. This extends the life cycle of the items and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.
  3. Eco-Friendly Storage Solutions:
    • Invest in sustainable and eco-friendly storage solutions such as bamboo storage bins, recycled plastic organizers, or repurposed wooden crates. Opt for containers made from natural materials to minimize the environmental impact.
  4. Upcycle and Repurpose:
    • Get creative with items you no longer need. Upcycle old furniture, repurpose glass jars for storage, or turn fabric scraps into reusable cleaning cloths. Repurposing items reduces the demand for new products and minimizes waste.
  5. Mindful Purchasing:
    • After decluttering, adopt a mindful approach to purchasing new items. Choose durable, high-quality products with minimal packaging and opt for multi-functional items to reduce the need for excessive consumption.
  6. Electronic Waste Recycling:
    • If decluttering involves old electronics, ensure to recycle them responsibly. Many communities have e-waste recycling programs that allow you to dispose of electronic items in an environmentally friendly manner.
  7. Conscious Disposal:
    • For items that cannot be repurposed or recycled, dispose of them responsibly. Research local recycling centers or hazardous waste disposal facilities to ensure items are handled in an environmentally safe manner.
  8. Natural Cleaning Products: When decluttering, use natural and non-toxic cleaning products to maintain a healthy indoor environment. This minimizes the release of harmful chemicals into the environment and reduces your exposure to toxins. I am using at home  eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaning products from Mother’s Love. My favorite are: Multipurpose Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, and Floor Cleaner, to maintain a clean and sustainable living space [1]. I love to support local women entrepreneurs like Ina, the creator of Mother’s Love Natural Products, by incorporating her eco-friendly and effective cleaning products into your sustainable living practices.
  9. Minimalist Mindset:
    • Embrace a minimalist mindset by focusing on owning only what you truly need and love. I am learning to do this and even if I manage, the whole family is still in the learning process. We all have some things that we hold on to and eventhough we are not using them anymore, it is hard to let go.
  10. Composting Organic Waste:
  • If applicable, consider composting organic waste from decluttering, such as food scraps and biodegradable materials. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and creates nutrient-rich soil for gardening. In my parents home we used a simple dedicated space with wood for compost, nowadays we use a two fold drum that is efficient and practical, however longterm the traditional wooden one was more eco friendly.

To conclude, I would invite you to approach this process in a gentle way, slowly with playfulness and with what is an improvement for you from where you were before.  You don’t need to do all at once. Throw and give away too much. Do it slowly and mindfully. And if you need some support on this that’s what Hippocrates lifestyle mentorship is about.

Embracing a holistic approach to beauty

  • Embracing a holistic approach to beauty

Embracing a holistic approach to beauty

Aging is a natural part of life, and rather than fighting against it, we can choose to nurture and accept our bodies as they change over time. Often the cosmetic brands are enforcing an attitude of holding on to youth by even naming the products for mature skin in a way that implies “resisting, defying…”.  I do wish that would move into more nurturing way, nothing to fight against.

By understanding the impermanence of our physical selves, our inner life, and the impact of external factors like global climate change, sun exposure, and stress, we can develop a balanced approach to skincare that promotes nurturing of inner as well as outer. In this article, we will explore the concept of ageless beauty, the importance of self-care, and how to approach choosing your skin care that is most aligned with you.

This is quite an interesting field of discussion. With new wellness approaches and nutrition one is actually able to reverse aging. Some people who have changed their lifestyle at their chronologically older age actually look more youthful then they did couple of years ago.

Accompanying new wellness and lifestyle guidelines for healthy life,  the skincare  offers new developments products that are not toxic anymore, and give a good result in helping the skin look youthful, nurtured and radiant. The point I am making here is that by adopting different lifestyle and supporting with quality non- toxic skincare is actually possible to appear more youthful than one did in the past.

Now, let’s explore what the driver behind the change in lifestyle and quality skincare can be. The motivation can stem from fear and the insistence on maintaining a youthful appearance, perfectionism or it can hold it’s core in a nurturing, loving care for yourself together with embracing the natural process of aging. It’s a distinction between the apprehension of “I must look great and youthful” and the acceptance of “aging is normal, and I choose to care for myself, while being confident in who I am.”

My grandmother was around 75 and when she looked herself in the mirror she said: ”it is hard to realize this is me as well now, because I still feel so young at my heart”. My perception of her is shaped by the vibrant, curious life force within her. I saw her as a beautiful and intriguing woman who takes care of herself, exuding confidence. It was this confidence that served as her magnetic quality.

Recently I have been traveling with my family to Vietnam and while strolling on the streets of Saigon, we came across a heartfelt gallery. One of those things on the trip that just calls for you. The colors, the portraits, the Life.  That was Rehahn’s gallery.  I found myself standing in front of the portrait of a lady from a series of portraits named ageless Beauty. https://www.rehahnphotographer.com/portfolio/ageless-beauty/

The Concept of Ageless Beauty

Ageless beauty is about celebrating the marks of time and finding beauty in the wisdom and experiences that come with aging. It challenges society’s traditional notion of beauty, which often values youth and external perfection. These portraits remind us that true beauty lies in the stories and history leaving memories of impressions on our faces.

Moreover, I notice expressions of benevolence, humility, joy, and lovingkindness on these faces. Collectively, they create a sense of beauty within me and inspire a desire to embrace lovingkindness and love, steering away from feelings of rage, anger, or resentment.

Embracing Impermanence: Nurturing the inner

In addition to nurturing our physical selves, it’s essential to cultivate inner peace and acceptance. The concept of impermanence, as embraced in Buddhism, teaches us that everything changes and nothing lasts forever. By understanding and accepting this universal truth, we can navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and resilience.

Step 1: Accepting Impermanence

Acknowledge that change is an inherent part of life. Embrace the impermanence of all things, including your physical body, relationships, and circumstances. By accepting impermanence, you can release attachment and find peace in the present moment.

“Impermanence does not necessarily lead to suffering. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Step 2: Embracing Change as an Opportunity

View every situation, whether joyful or painful, as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Embrace change with an open heart and a willingness to learn and adapt. By reframing change as an opportunity, you can find meaning and purpose in every experience.

Step 3: Practicing Mindful Awareness

Develop a daily mindfulness meditation practice to cultivate present-moment awareness. Mindfulness allows you to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering a deep connection with yourself and the world around you.

Step 4: Cultivating Self-Compassion

Extend compassion and kindness to yourself, embracing your flaws and imperfections. Treat yourself with the same care and understanding as you would a dear friend. Practice self-compassion through positive self-talk and acts of self-care.

Step 5: Building Authentic Connections

Nurture meaningful and authentic relationships with others. Communicate openly and honestly, expressing your true thoughts and feelings. Build connections based on trust, respect, and mutual understanding.

Step 6: Setting Healthy Boundaries

Learn to establish and maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships. Respect your own needs and values, and communicate them clearly to others. Setting boundaries allows you to protect your well-being and maintain a sense of inner peace.

Step 7: Developing Emotional Intelligence

Deepen your understanding of your emotions and their meaning. Learn to differentiate between emotions and feelings, interpretations,  allowing yourself to fully experience and express them in a healthy and constructive manner.

Step 8: Practicing Forgiveness

Cultivate forgiveness towards yourself and others. Release resentment and grudges, freeing yourself from the burden of past hurts. Forgiveness allows for healing and opens the door to inner peace.

Step 9: Living with Gratitude

Cultivate a daily practice of gratitude, expressing appreciation for the present moment and all the blessings in your life. Start each day with a sense of gratitude, recognizing the beauty and abundance that surrounds you.

Managing Stress for Healthy Skin

Stress can take a toll on our physical and mental well-being, including our skin. It can lead to increased inflammation, breakouts, and dullness. Incorporating stress management techniques into your daily routine can help promote healthy skin and overall inner peace.

  • Mindfulness and Meditation: Practice mindfulness meditation to cultivate a calm and centered state of mind. Take a few minutes each day to focus on your breath and bring yourself into the present moment. This can help reduce stress levels and improve skin health.
  • Self-Care Rituals: Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as taking a warm bath, practicing yoga, or enjoying a hobby. Prioritize self-care to nourish your body, mind, and soul, IR sauna is also nice to support collagen production in the body, detox.
  • Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, drink water, and get enough sleep. These lifestyle choices can help reduce stress levels and promote overall well-being.

From attacking, handling, fixing your skin to loving it

We had a good laugh with my beauty therapist when she started with the massage on my face so vigorously to tackle those fine lines. When I felt that energy, I asked her, can you just give some love and nurture to my skin. It felt such a focus to tame and erase.

I like the approach when we consider facial muscles and tonus as you would take care of the rest of the body to keep the vitality in the cells with exercise, same with the face.

And I am a big fan of good quality cosmetics. I would love if everything would be organic, but some of those products I don’t enjoy because of their smell, lack of research and tests behind it, shorter shelf life. So at the end I have come to terms with somewhere in the middle. This somewhere in the middle is able to cover up some hiccups of stress, occasional dehydration and still not containing any of the toxic ingredients, not being tested on animals. And for daily use still use high quality brands that combine natural and research. Besides that it is important to enjoy the feel of the product when applying it on the skin, the smell and seeing that skin is taking in the love and support with gratitude.

 

Do you trust your Heart’s guidance?

  • Do you trust your Heart’s guidance?

Throughout history, people believed into intuitive heart. It would be your inner compass, your guide, connection to soul and wisdom.

Do you believe that your heart can be your source of wisdom and guidance? Truly? 100%?

If you say I believe that the heart is your connection to your soul,

do you take a responsibility to cultivate heart coherence? 

Do you intentionally tap into heart wisdom?  

Take a pause to ask a question and wait for a response?

How do you recognize what is your heart’s guidance?

This is a little peak into what you can do to cultivate heart coherence and your connection to your heart.

Gaining certainty about importance of heart coherence:

First some evidence that helps your brain to understand and thus become more certain about the role of the heart.

Rollin McCraty has done many studies and talks on the role of the heart. In this sharing I am referring and citing an article Intuitive Intelligence, self regulation and lifting consciousness, 2014, Global adv Health Med., coauthored with Maria Zayas). I would also invite you to take a look at the video: Beyond Logic: Exploring the Science of Intuition and the Heart’s Pivotal Role


Physical heart and energetic heart

Physical heart is coupled to a field of information that goes beyond limits of time and space. A study showed that the heart receives and processes information about a future event before the event actually happens. In the research this was established by measuring the heart’s response to upcoming images before they were seen. (source: Electrophysiological Evidence of Intuition: Part 1,2.A System-Wide Process, THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE,  ROLLIN MCCRATY, Ph.D.,1 MIKE ATKINSON,1 and RAYMOND TREVOR BRADLEY, Ph.D)

When we use the term intuitive heart or heart intelligence this refers to energetic heart. Sometimes this is called “higher self”, “higher capacities”.  David Bohm called it our implicate order and undivided wholeness. 


Higher capacities

Why this is called higher capacities? Mostly if we operate in a reactive space in taking action, or speech, we are staying within the known, but rather limited space, moving towards something, moving away from something, using different strategies to get safety, approval, pleasure. Our decisions can be based on fear and avoidance, making ourselves smaller, following other people’s opinion and influences.

Taking responsibility to step into your heart opens the door to choice and more options, higher capacity and expansion.


Ongoing practice of coherence building techniques:

Heartmath studies prove that the ongoing practice of coherence-building techniques facilitates a re-patterning process in the neural architecture . With practice coherence is established as a new, baseline reference memory. Self-regulation of emotions and stress responses then becomes increasingly familiar.  This makes it easier for individuals to maintain their “center” and increase their mental and emotional flexibility and capacity to access all three types of intuition. (implicit, energetic, non local) . With this we built our capacity for conscious decision making.

If your intention is to tap into your intuitive heart more, I would suggest also regular practice of RAIN or Inner bonding process.


One of the techniques:

Intention: to strengthen intuitive connection through heart

 

Step 1: become aware of a life issue or challenge that you are experiencing that would benefit from intuitive guidance

 

Step 2: while focusing your attention on the area of the heart imagine breathing in a feeling of ease and balance

 

Step 3: maintain inner ease and ask you HEART for deeper understanding or guidance

 

Step 4: observe new insights that may arise. It can be today or tomorrow…


More present with your kids at school pick ups

  • More present with your kids at school pick ups

If you are a parent you can probably identify with the feeling of rushing to pick up your kids in a hurry. Probably at time still thinking about things that you will do later.

When they come to your car, how is that conversation for you? Do you enjoy it, are you able to stay present? Or is your mind answering emails, thinking about what to get for dinner, what after school activities are next?

Making it intentional

 

How would that pick-up be, if you would consciously make an intention? For example something like: that you want to be present, kind and curious with your kids?

As parents we go through the day through many different encounters and demands. When it comes to time to pick up our children our body and mind can already be stressed out by other events that happen before the pick up. Thus our ability to stay present with our children is limited to the mechanic question: how was school today?

My experience

 

I had a period when I made an intention to pick up my kids in a present, alert state of being. 

I would also  use 5 min shift and reset quick coherence technique.

the result: more at peace with what comes, less reactive, less interogative and in general better quality of presence.

Quick coherence technique

 

So what is 5 min shift and reset quick coherence technique? Hearthmath institute is a leading authority that has done extensive research on topic of the role of heart coherence. They have introduced quick coherence as one of the tools to cultivate it.

This is how you can do it:

Step 1) Focus your attention in the area of the heart.

Step 2) Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and deeper than usual.

Suggestion: Inhale to the count of 5, exhale to the count of 5

Step 3) Activate and experience a regenerative feeling such as appreciation or care for someone or something in your life, or something that you feel grateful for what has already happened before in your day.

So maybe if you are a parent and you are picking up your kids today, maybe this is an idea… an inspiration to make an intention how you want to be and then do a 5 min quick coherence technique to shift and reset before.

 
If you want to learn more about cultivating your heart coherence, check the 9 steps to inner peace program.

Coming home

  • Coming home

Practicing coming home to myself

Last month I was listening to Lama Rod online as part of the mindfulness meditation teacher training.  Lama Rod Owens is an author, activist, and authorized Lama (Buddhist teacher) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.  I recommend his book Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger and a coauthor of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation.

Since listening that online presentation and reading his book I am consciously including the 5/7 homecomings he writes about in my practice.

  • silence
  • community i am part of
  • sacred earth
  • ourselves (all our energetic bodies, gratitude)
  • ancestry

    The journey of the soul

    • The journey of the soul

    When the calling comes

    This month I got inspired to return back to my art creations under mentorship  of Katherine Bull. (http://www.katherinebull.co.za/about/).

    It took me couple of months to follow through my intention. I gathered some of collage material in July. This collage  on right was on the art session also supported with connecting to a specific energy of a crystal and my initial material was complemented by blind choosing from Katherine’s materials and I have added in some color with ink.

    Now I am so happy I created space and time to do it.  This is one way of cultivating happiness. Listening to your soul calling you to create something, move, listen…

    What is your soul’s calling?

    green amethyst connection collage

    Making friends with your monkey mind

    • Making friends with your monkey mind

    … While driving on Sunday to our family Sunday lunch I shared that with my husband that I was preparing earlier for the Mindfulness of thoughts meditation I was about to guide on Monday. He first asked me but how does that go together meditation Mindfulness of thoughts? Isn’t meditation supposed to be about quieting and being without thoughts?

    I was so happy he asked that and offer me an opportunity to practice the answer to that question which is so frequent for all people who are starting with meditation.

    So when we do a formal sitting meditation, we let go of the expectation that there will be no thoughts. Our mind secrets thoughts. To have the expectation that it just quiets down is a bit far reached. When we start with the breath, we can be with a breath for a while, feel the body, and after a while there the thoughts start appearing. In our daily lives people often without realizing just get lost in thoughts or follow a stream of thoughts that Is actually not serving them.

    In the mindfulness of thoughts practice we practice becoming aware that we are thinking, naming our thoughts, not pushing them away, maybe with some thoughts staying and feeling into the underlying feeling tone, without getting lost in the depth of that thought. What we do, is befriending our thought.  When we allow it to sit right there, as it is, without going further into planning, or making scenarios, or getting lost in memory, we notice the stillness and spaciousness within. This way we just made friend with our monkey mind and that is a gateway to more peace within.

    If you want to work deeper with thoughts – those thoughts that you would define as judgement or belief, i would encourage to journal them and use your writing as an anchor to really work with them. Byron Katie in her book for example states the following:

    “Once the mind is stopped on paper, thoughts remain stable, and inquiry can easily be applied. Avoid
    the temptation to continue without writing down your judgments. If you
    try to do The Work in your head, without putting your thoughts on paper,
    the mind will outsmart you.    ” (from “Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life” by Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell)

     

    What would bring more peace to me right now?

    • What would bring more peace to me right now?

    Living in the moment, Jason Mraz

    I was in meditation the other day on the theme of peace and I inquired what would bring more peace to me right now…

    Because of focusing on forgiveness this month with mindfulness meditation teacher trainer, one part of getting and insight into peace was through the process of forgiveness.

     

    Forgiving myself for how I have hurt myself and bring hurt to others,

    Forgiving others how they hurt me.

     

    Accepting that it is part of human that we knowingly or unknowingly hurt eachother or have done so in the past.

     

    Being patient with myself because forgiveness takes time and needs deep healing.

     

    Finding peace in the moment, true peace, without spiritual bypass, requires sitting with all that is. Tending to our emotions and feelings, thoughts (I would use RAIN for that practice)

     

    We can find that feeling of peace whenever we take a moment and intentionally get in touch with all in us.

     

    We cannot attain a feeling of peace in moments of depletion. Lama Rod Owens says in relation to forgiveness: we need to be grounded, have a feeling of being supported, a feeling of being connected to a community, then we have healed enough to start forgiving to others. Adding to this we also need to understand the common humanity in all of us.  Then there we can have reach a place of more peace within us.

    My choice of song for this month.. connected to mindfulness of thoughts and topic of forgiveness is Living in the moment by Jason Mraz. 

    “I’m letting myself off the hook for things I’ve doneI let my past go pastAnd now I’m having more funI’m letting go of the thoughtsThat do not make me strongAnd I believe this way can be the same for everyone”

    I am connected

    • I am connected

    "My roots reach deeply, I am connected to the core of me"

    On the morning of my morning walk in the forest today

    My mantra today was

    “My roots reach deeply

    I am connected to the core of me”

    This is part of the lyrics of the “I am connected” by Beautiful Chorus

    For me in singing those lines

    feeling the connection between the nature and myself

    I enter the feeling that enables all other feelings to be

    And still be still like a mountain a tree with all that.