Conflict

Do you create conflict in your life?  Do you look for ways to create discord in yourself and others? If you do, are you happy?  I would think that if you live in a world of conflict that it would be hard to be happy.  Conflicts will happen but being the instigator closes your heart and mind to peace.  Pick your battles because some are worth fighting but also pick peace whenever possible as it will comfort your soul.

Namaste 

Meditating with the Forgiveness section of the Calm app.

What is Your World?

Is your world open and caring or closed and frightening? You choose the world you live in. Your thoughts create what you see around you. The world is the same for us all but our perceptions and willingness to see the beauty make the world brighter.  Meditate today on choosing to see the world in its best way.  

Namaste

Utilizing Loving-Kindness on the Calm app.

No Worry

Gandhi speaks well in that worry should be limited.  If we have faith then we should be fully in the present and worry should not be with us.  Each moment should be peaceful in our minds. It will not be peaceful outside your spirit but let it be so within.  Meditate today on removing worry and find a center of peace to carry with you. 

Namaste

Utilizing Inner Peace in the Calm app.

Finding Peace

Peace comes to those who let go. It comes to those that look for it without expecting others to provide it to you.  There will always be someone in your life who you don't understand.  Why do they treat me this way?  Why do they act so mean or indifferent?  Wasting your time and focus trying to understand them will only cause you more unhappiness and make everything around you negative.  You will then be allowing them to take your peace.  Meditate today on your inner peace and letting go.

Namaste

Utilizing Inner Peace on the Calm app.

Self Acceptance

Finding acceptance in who you are is one of the most difficult things to do.  We all want to look better, feel better and have more.  Realizing that your true self has no appearance but is within you.  Accepting that you feel what you choose to feel. And, understanding that having more doesn't give you more, takes you to a place of greater happiness.  Meditate today on accepting your true self and loving you before you can truly love anyone else. 

Namaste 

Utilizing Self Acceptance on the Calm app.

The Gift

The present is a gift - that's why it is called the present.  Today and this moment is all you truly know that you have. Be grateful for it and appreciate all that you have.  Meditation is about the gift.  It is about being completely in the one moment that you know you have.  Close your eyes.  Take a deep breath and enjoy the gift.

Namaste

Utilizing Returning to Now on the Calm app.

Decisions

I

I know what you are thinking what does Yogi Berra have to do with meditation?  Berra said some interesting thought provoking things.  One of them being the statement above.  He is saying when you get to a decision, make one. Stop analyzing and standing there.  Make a decision whether right or wrong at least you have kept moving.  Stagnation can kill you just as well as a poor decision.  Meditate today on the decisions you need to make and then take the fork in the road.

Namaste

Utilizing the Motivation section in the Calm app.

The History of Mediation

As I have a degree in History, many times I will begin by learning about the past.  Below is a timeline of the history of meditation provided from the Chopra Center and author Melissa Eisler.  It gives you a brief overview of how meditation has developed through the years.  Our next post will begin our mediations together.  At first we will keep to about a 10 minute time frame but may extend certain ones depending on what is needed as we go forward.  

Namaste 

Patience, part 2

Today's meditation continues with the theme of patience but with a different perspective. Patience sometimes means allowing things to happen without controlling them. For some of us that is very difficult. Letting go and showing patience in not knowing what happens next can be mind opening. Today we focus our meditation on letting go.

Reused 6/27/17

How to Meditate

I will be the first to admit that I am not a professional where meditation is concerned.  However, I have missed very few days in the last two years.  During that time, I have used several different apps and gone through at least four 21 day mediation events with programs by Deepak Chopra.  What I have learned from all of these avenues are the basics of successful meditation.

• Perfection is not required and honestly will not happen.  If your thoughts leave your focus then just gently come back to your focus and continue.  Sometimes you will have practices where you just can't get your mind to calm down.  That is ok!  Don't consider it any kind of failure just continue and most likely the next day will be better.
• Find a place that is comfortable for you.  You do not have to sit up straight with your hands in the air and fingers touching.  Sometimes I stretch out on the couch because that day it is the most comfortable.  
• Take deep breaths to start and continue if you can throughout the meditation but you can find a normal breath at any time.  Starting with deep breaths helps clear your mind and body.
• Focus on your breathing or on a word/sound that means something for you.  You will find that in the meditations I place in the blog,  I will often give you some focus word or thought to use.
• Length of time does not matter.  You can do 5 quick minutes of much longer.  I try to do at least 10 minutes daily and will do more if I can.  
• Find music or background sounds that help you.  I will include what I find that will help you with this.  I listen to one app that has ocean sounds.  I love the ocean so it is very helpful in aiding my focus.

So overall,  just breathe and clear your mind.  Be comfortable in your location and use music or a mantra that supports keeping your mind clear.  Meditation is not hard, it just takes consistent practice. Making meditation a part of your schedule will make it easy for you to do every day!  

I wish you the best with your practice and will be here to help as much as I can.

Being Positive

One of the hardest things to overcome is negative self speak. If we took your thoughts during the day, how many would be about how you do not like something about yourself? It is hard thing to change. We are told as children how wonderful we are, at least in most cases but at some point the negative takes over. Today when you have a negative thought about yourself try to turn it around and find the positive. Meditate on the things that you like about who you are.  

Namaste 

Utilizing the Positivity section of the Calm app.

Hold On

Woke up today with Wilson Phillips and Hold On playing in my head so I took it to mean something.  Many days it can be tough to just hold on but people are watching and learning from you.  If you can do it maybe they can to.  Just get a tighter grip and take a deep breath.  Maybe you can then pull yourself up and someone else along with you.

Namaste

Utilizing the Confidence section from the Calm app.

Surviving

Just a reminder that it could be worse.  Each of us has our own struggles.  What makes us who we are is how we handle them and how supportive we are of others during theirs.  Give a hug or smile today! You have no idea how much it could help someone.  Breath deep and cast your own aside.

Namaste 

Utilizing the Compassion section of the Calm app.

Losing

Loss of anything is difficult. But the true test is continuing to try after you lose. Learning from the loss and improving as you go forward shows your will and character.  Focus on learning and growing.  Opening your mind to the lessons. 

Namaste

Utilizing the Inner Strength section on the Calm app.

Sleep

Almost enough said!   

However, just a bit more.  Meditating before you go to sleep can lead to more rest.  My daughter started this a few days  ago and now asks for it every night.  She says it helps her calm down and go to sleep easier.  So why not give it a try.  The Calm app I use has a couple of sections for sleep.  Enjoy your rest.

Namaste 

Joy

We are constantly looking forward.  Meditation is an effort to take a moment only in the present.  Finding joy in the small things makes that forward goal more attainable or not required.  I find the greatest joy in my daughter's smile.  Today in meditation let's focus on our truest joy and carry it with us.

Namaste

Utilizing the Calm section on the Calm app

Happiness Again

Do you have food to eat? Others do not.

Do you have clothes to wear? Others do not. Do you have love in your life? Love from friends, family or anyone. Others do not. Do you understand if you have these things that others do not that there is blessing in your life. Taking a moment today to appreciate the happiness that does exist in my life. There still may be things to work on but what I do have is wonderful!

Namaste

Utilizing Gratitude on the Calm app

Used again 6/18/17

Finding Our Path

What do you need saved from?

What path are you choosing to walk?

Do you create your own problems?

Or do you instead find your way out of problems?

Are you choosing to seek a positive path?

Meditating today on finding my true path and not being afraid to walk upon it.

Namaste

Utilizing Self Acceptance on the Calm app

Chasing Negativity

Not allowing negativity in your thoughts also means not allowing it to be heard. Too often I believe we feed off of complaining or talking negatively about others. For some reason this behavior makes us feel better about ourselves.  I am guilty of this too. So my focus today is on remembering to close my mouth more than I open it and to keep positive in my words and thoughts.  

Namaste

Utilizing Positivity on the Calm app

Stillness

Seeking the stillness just a little each day helps you find it outside of yourself.  You are your own sanctuary.  Instead of fighting yourself by seeking all that you think is negative within you.  Know that you are the positive and let that out to those around you.  Little by little if we all seek the good then we will find much more of it.

Namaste 

Utilizing Inner Peace from the Calm app.

Slow Pace

I have a lot to do today so I needed to remind myself to slow down and take my time.  Things sometimes need to be accomplished quickly but more often than not the rush will make the product sub par.  Focus on slowing down your pace and enjoying the journey.  The important things will get done.

Namaste 

Utilizing Returning to Now on the Calm app.

Learning

Searching for the lesson in what is happening to you, could make it improve more quickly. Being overcome by a situation instead of seeking for the truth within it only creates more problems.  What is your biggest concern right now? What is the lesson you should be learning from it?  Find that and you find your way out.

Namaste 

Utilizing Body Scan from the Calm app.

Remembrance

Today we remember a great loss of life and with that we should also take a moment to treasure those still with us.  Choose to smile, give a hug, tell those important to you that you love them and take no one for granted.  Focus on remembering not only those who have gone on but also on the joy you have with those still with you.

Namaste

Utilizing the Gratitude section of the Calm app.

Change..Just Like That?

Change...just like that is harder than it seems.  I often wonder on specific issues in my life, when am I going to hit that wall where I will make a change..just like that. I suppose that meditation was one of those changes but I want there to be more of those.  Today is a focus on finding what I need to change...just like that.  Snap!

Namaste

Utilizing the Confidence section of the Calm app

Dealing With Frustration

Frustration is one concern that troubles me a good bit.  Too often I allow situations and people to cause me stress and frustration.  I believe it is because I expect more than I should.  I expect people to act like I would act without fully knowing the situation from their perspective.  What meditation has done for me it to help recognize when this is happening so I can take deep breaths and step away from the frustration.  You can not make reasonable decisions or handle issues properly while frustrated so finding a way out will help your stress level.  Don't bang your head.  Clear your mind!

Namaste

Utilizing Calming Anxiety on the Calm app

Moving Forward

Often it can be difficult to move on from what you feel to be a failure.  Every experience provides knowledge and growth whether it turned out like you planned or not.  Stepping past the experience and taking what you learned into the next is most important.  Each experience expands your mind.  Allow the experiences to flow through you and open you up to greater and greater hope, peace and joy.

Namaste

Utilizing the Motivation section in the Calm app

Rest From Labor

Today is a day of rest.  Take it and enjoy.  Breath deeply and focus on relaxation and enjoying your time.

Breathing

Focusing on your breathing is a core part of meditation. Following how you breath aids in clearing your mind and allowing your body to rest and function better. We take breathing for granted but without it our body ceases. Too often the only time I breath as deeply as I should is during meditation.  Take a moment and enjoy the clean feeling you receive from breathing deeply. 

Namaste 

Utilizing the Calm section of the Calm app.

Renewal

It is never too late to change.  It is never too late to seek your dreams.  It is never to late to start again.  Renewal is about letting go of the old and sometimes the safe.  Making the change is the hard part.  Once you are past it you can start again with a new perspective.  Seeking renewal will mean that you are asking for change so be open and aware.

Namaste 

Utilizing Non Judgment on the Calm app

Simplicity

Breathe

Meditate

Clear

Namaste

Utilizing the Calm app

Gratitude

Gratitude helps you laugh at the storms and understand that things are not important but people are.  Today I wake up thankful that I did and happy that I get to be a wife and mother.  That is all that truly matters.  Yesterday was a storm for me but such gratitude helped me through.  Showing thankfulness will open your heart and lessen your stress.  Smile and be thankful.

Namaste

Utilizing the Gratitude section of the Calm app

Fear

Allowing fear to block our dreams happens to most of us.  Being comfortable can create the fear of the unknown.  Finding a way to overcome the fear before it is forced on you is something we can focus on.  Let's step out of our fear and find our true passion and joy.  

Namaste

Utilizing Anxiety Release on the Calm app.

Choosing Positive

M

Your thoughts and your inner monologue define how you are perceived by others.  If we constantly belittle ourselves and others even just in our mind it will present in our actions. Meditation can aid in improving our thoughts which can in turn improve our attitudes about ourselves and others. Read through your social media and see how many of your friends are posting negativity. You can choose to step away from that and look for the good especially within. 

Namaste

Utilizing Positivity section of the Calm app.