When I have a quiet moment to look at my life I feel grateful. Sometimes gratitude is so authentic, it is as natural as breathing. Yet in other moments I seem to train myself to "fake it until I make it." I remember that I have shelter, food, a beautiful and loving family and a job that I enjoy. By many standards - I have it all. Yet at times there is an emptiness. I quickly remind myself about all my blessings for fear that if I chide them, admitting my vacancy, the good stuff may disappear. Sometimes I wonder where the disconnection occurs. What makes me feel plugged in to authentic gratitude and what causes me to disconnect? It seems that a general feeling of "play or lightness" is usually what I am lacking. I am forgetting the playful nature of myself, the Universe and all living things. What do all successfully adapted mammals have in common? They play with abandon throughout all stages of their lives.
Sure family and work are blessings. They connect us to others - give us an opportunity to relate, share, grow and even compete. When we are sick or sad - family and friends can feel supportive. When things are difficult at home we can take solace in the self-satisfaction a job well done can offer. But sometimes we just need something else, and it's time to be honest about that something. Without feeling like I need to covet what I have, can I find a moment to let go of outcomes and do something simply because it brings pleasure? It seems as a woman I feel tremendous responsibility to be perfect. To be light-hearted and productive and still charming and sweet. When I look closely I realize that I feel responsibility to be these things, because this is who I am by nature. And still dullness, heaviness and saddness can arise unexpectedly. I have analyzed this. Oh, it's because I didn't eat the right foods at the right time, it's a season change, it's because I got that weird email from so and so. Sometimes the icky stuff can add up and cause me to forget that I deserve a moment to do something that I enjoy - simply for the reason that I enjoy doing that thing. Even if all the laundry isn't done and the planning isn't complete. If I need to stop, turn on some music and dance - then by Jim Crickett - I'm going to dance - until I sweat and smile.
Too little of the time do we actually use our mat to play. The mat is a place where mystery unfolds. Each time for practice is a game of peek-a-boo with our deepest self. Yes, sometimes it is challenging to practice, but by a shift in focus from difficulty to breath awareness - we can feel as light as a balloon - shedding our expectations and tuning in to what is real. In fact when we find a rough patch in the practice it is actually an invitation for creating strength. The breath is what guides us through. Try this - as you practice - if challenge arises - smile and breath evenly and try going deeper into the mystery. If you find it is truly pain you are experiencing - continue to breath easily and mindfully come out. But more often than not these places are invitations to an inner party where the party favor is strength. So take a laughing breath, expand your back body and soar into the spirit of play. Make yoga practice your time to genuinely play. Like you are meeting a friend, sharing a laugh simply because it feels good. Because I think this is the purpose of the practice.
During this time of transition between seasons I feel restless - searching for something to quell my longing as the seasons shift from bright, abundance and energy in summer to the cooling lull of fall. Like I'm vying between bright energy and hibernation. I am eager to find outlets to help me connect to a playful attitude - keep myself grounded but also light in spirit. A couple weeks ago I went to my family's annual pumpkin carving event (ah-hem competition), and my mom was a true inspiration. She found two long pumpkins that fulfilled an interesting destiny of being shaped like a sea serpent. Appropriately she decided she would make a Loc-ness Monster. In fact, she would make two: "Nessy and Bessy".
While the other women in my family competed with glitter, electrical wiring, mechanical saws and multiple pumpkins morphing into one creation - my mom went about her creation for the sheer pleasure of bringing her idea into its fullness - she enjoyed her process. The spirit she brought to her creative time was so pure. She was genuinely complimentary to others, helping others finish their work even. Playing with her grandson while creating. Other participants stayed tight-lipped about what they were making. They wouldn't talk to anyone during their process. Staying very focused on the outcome - investing their efforts with intention to win.
My mom came in fourth place. She was surprised to have placed at all, and seemed genuinely indifferent to the results. I told her she did the best job. Her pumpkins held a certain vision and spirit that transcended any judges' verdict. After all it takes play to know play.
When life is full of blessings and you look around and find an empty spot inside - find time to do something for the sheer enjoyment of it - go into the mystery - turn longing into laughing.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again
Sometimes I feel like Humpty Dumpty. The egg-man from the nursery rhyme who couldn't be put back together again. I am a self-proclaimed "bag of bones" - disconnected and discombobulated yet somehow together....somehow breathing. Despite at times, my broken body, mind and heart - I am always equally inspired to put myself back together again; always infused with spirit. Over the years I have learned a few things. Yet surprise abounds at how quickly the learning curve of my being changes - new, unknown caverns in which to frolick, dance and play. Sometimes deep and dark, rocky and rough - but nothing that a steady mind and loving heart can't smooth over time. Faster and subtler my chosen patterns of loving and accepting assist my coming into my destiny of fullness - my total union with the flow or Anusara. The thing that always works is compassion and love born from introspection.
Life moves fast. And when life moves fast - I know I should slow down. Take time to feel the inner flow. Not to ignore the task at hand. But to try to change the lens from which I view the task. To recognize how getting swept up in anxiety, anger or fear doesn't actually help the final outcome; energy is actually wasted on these aforementioned emotions. In fact, when I lose myself in exterior fires I become inflamed, eh-hem...broken, useless - like you know who aforementioned. I have been that crazy lady who jumps all over someone for not calling me back or not responding to an email. Only to learn that they were dealing with a serious health issue, and trying to find a way to tell me. If I would have taken a breath and met my inner flow - I would have felt that expansive space behind the breast bone - that truly feels endless. True love is endless and non-judgmental. If I'd found my heart space I may have found a better way to express the lonliness and hurt I was actually feeling missing their return phone call; rather than let my saddness manifest in anger. Then maybe in the future they would feel like I am easier to talk to and would call me back sooner when dealing with a difficult situation.
Yes, I like to withdraw my love when I'm angry and sad with someone. I ignore them or yell at them. Instead of admitting or discussing what I'm feeling - it seems easier, better armor, to withdraw love by either ignoring or yelling. In fact, I am pretty sure I learned this from my mom. Two speeds when the anger button gets flipped: Ignore or yell.
Now as a mom myself and as someone who has come to learn that I value relationships over being right - I am trying to find that place in the middle. To learn that love is possible in each moment and move into the unknown from a place of compassion and love. Regardless of what I've learned from my parents - I know that it is possible to break new ground. I also know that it is up to be to make the change rather than become a victim of my upbringing.
When I feel the Humpty Dumpty within sliding close to the wall I know it is time for introspection. To greet myself with a "how do you do?" in a sincere way. Sitting to meditate is a sincere question we ask ourselves. We go in and turn away from nothing. Meeting each sensation and staying present with it until something new arises for as long as possible - even staying with the broken places - even loving the broken places. Giving especially the broken places a voice to grieve and be heard, to be hugged and kissed on the forehead. The rainbow spectrum of sensation can be so vibrant and beautiful. Sensation and stories arise from deep layers of the mind. As the layer of the former difficulty arises, if I stay with it, as long as it's there, until it's gone, it is gone in a finite way. The pattern has left and there is room for something new. I am aware of something that has created pain in my past and I can move forward with awareness to avoid that same harm in the present and future. The accumulation of this is a clean slate to build the life of dreams.
When you have a difficult meditation or practice it is actually a sign of growth. If you have had a moment where you feel like practice just might not be for you - that is the time you are standing on a very powerful crossroads. If you stay with it - you are bound to experience a break-through - to learn of a past brokenness - that can be fully healed through your attention, sincerity and love. If you leave you can always justify that it just wasn't working, because you will never know what jewel of wisdom you left behind. The ego is always trying to take us out of practice, because it wants us to keep our familiar patterns for that very reason - they are familiar. Going in to the unknown guarantees destabalizing something. That is why it is important to be clear about your intentions and be dedicated to your task at hand. That way when the hard stuff crops up -your commitment keeps you in the game. What are you seeking to gain? What do you want to manifest?
The hard reality and beautiful truth are the same: We are all Humpty Dumpty. Although it can be difficult and take a lot of practice, I am confident we are each so powerful and well-equipped to put ourselves back together again. Not only put back together, but be fully aware and head overheels in love with our inner beauty. In our broken moments we are called to choose - accept and bemoan the brokenness - or find the lumionous, supportive space within.
Life moves fast. And when life moves fast - I know I should slow down. Take time to feel the inner flow. Not to ignore the task at hand. But to try to change the lens from which I view the task. To recognize how getting swept up in anxiety, anger or fear doesn't actually help the final outcome; energy is actually wasted on these aforementioned emotions. In fact, when I lose myself in exterior fires I become inflamed, eh-hem...broken, useless - like you know who aforementioned. I have been that crazy lady who jumps all over someone for not calling me back or not responding to an email. Only to learn that they were dealing with a serious health issue, and trying to find a way to tell me. If I would have taken a breath and met my inner flow - I would have felt that expansive space behind the breast bone - that truly feels endless. True love is endless and non-judgmental. If I'd found my heart space I may have found a better way to express the lonliness and hurt I was actually feeling missing their return phone call; rather than let my saddness manifest in anger. Then maybe in the future they would feel like I am easier to talk to and would call me back sooner when dealing with a difficult situation.
Yes, I like to withdraw my love when I'm angry and sad with someone. I ignore them or yell at them. Instead of admitting or discussing what I'm feeling - it seems easier, better armor, to withdraw love by either ignoring or yelling. In fact, I am pretty sure I learned this from my mom. Two speeds when the anger button gets flipped: Ignore or yell.
Now as a mom myself and as someone who has come to learn that I value relationships over being right - I am trying to find that place in the middle. To learn that love is possible in each moment and move into the unknown from a place of compassion and love. Regardless of what I've learned from my parents - I know that it is possible to break new ground. I also know that it is up to be to make the change rather than become a victim of my upbringing.
When I feel the Humpty Dumpty within sliding close to the wall I know it is time for introspection. To greet myself with a "how do you do?" in a sincere way. Sitting to meditate is a sincere question we ask ourselves. We go in and turn away from nothing. Meeting each sensation and staying present with it until something new arises for as long as possible - even staying with the broken places - even loving the broken places. Giving especially the broken places a voice to grieve and be heard, to be hugged and kissed on the forehead. The rainbow spectrum of sensation can be so vibrant and beautiful. Sensation and stories arise from deep layers of the mind. As the layer of the former difficulty arises, if I stay with it, as long as it's there, until it's gone, it is gone in a finite way. The pattern has left and there is room for something new. I am aware of something that has created pain in my past and I can move forward with awareness to avoid that same harm in the present and future. The accumulation of this is a clean slate to build the life of dreams.
When you have a difficult meditation or practice it is actually a sign of growth. If you have had a moment where you feel like practice just might not be for you - that is the time you are standing on a very powerful crossroads. If you stay with it - you are bound to experience a break-through - to learn of a past brokenness - that can be fully healed through your attention, sincerity and love. If you leave you can always justify that it just wasn't working, because you will never know what jewel of wisdom you left behind. The ego is always trying to take us out of practice, because it wants us to keep our familiar patterns for that very reason - they are familiar. Going in to the unknown guarantees destabalizing something. That is why it is important to be clear about your intentions and be dedicated to your task at hand. That way when the hard stuff crops up -your commitment keeps you in the game. What are you seeking to gain? What do you want to manifest?
The hard reality and beautiful truth are the same: We are all Humpty Dumpty. Although it can be difficult and take a lot of practice, I am confident we are each so powerful and well-equipped to put ourselves back together again. Not only put back together, but be fully aware and head overheels in love with our inner beauty. In our broken moments we are called to choose - accept and bemoan the brokenness - or find the lumionous, supportive space within.
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