Thinking

The foolish reject what they see, not what they think.
The wise reject what they think, not what they see.
Huang Po

I am becoming more and more willing to challenge the content of my thoughts. So often my inner critic would have me believe its judgements are true. The first step to disconnecting from those thoughts of self loathing or contempt for others, is to notice the thoughts as a witness, rather than to judge myself for judging. It works for me to be aware of that voice and to disengage by saying," thank you for sharing. " Doing that often makes me smile.

Resting

Tonight I am tired. My knee-jerk response is to push harder to get everything done that I said I wanted to before I go to sleep. Instead I am going to stop the doing for tonight and focus on the being. Savasana is a yoga pose that was recommended to me this evening to support relaxation. Tonight before I go to sleep I will start a new resting ritual in savasana pose.

Savasana: Lie on the floor on your back with your legs straight or a rolled up blanket under your knees if you wish to better relax your lower back. If you are not on carpet lie on a blanket and wrap yourself in one if you are cold. Your arms are near your sides with the palms facing up. Allow yourself to surrender your body to the carpet. Give yourself a nurturing few minutes to bask in the luxury of silence.

Love

Love your crooked neighbor with all your crooked heart.
W.H. Auden

The Impossible Dream

I just finished watching the documentary, Laundry and Tosca.( www.spiritual cinema circle.com) It is about Marcia Whitehead, a secretary who heard a voice tell her she must be an opera singer. For twenty years she took lessons and practiced, investing most of her time money and energy. At one point she takes what she calls the biggest risk of her life and goes to New York for an audition. She moves to N.Y. to train with a dynamic teacher who sees working with her as a gift from God. She had the support of two loving friends who believed in her dream. Her voice was magnificent and filled with love.It was an inspiring and heart-opening film to watch.

I had a dream for twenty years. I wanted to teach yoga. In my twenties yoga had taught me how to quiet my mind and move from my mind into my body. Yoga was my passion and I practiced daily for twenty five years. I saw myself as too inflexible and too old to teach. When I was 56 with the support of my partner and close friends I began yoga teacher training at Whole Yoga School. I knew I would either be 57 and a yoga teacher or 57 and not a yoga teacher. I have been teaching yoga for a year, specializing in people who aren't pretzels. (I teach at Whole Yoga(www.wholeyoga.com) on Wednesdays from 10:30 to Noon. Come and join me in this life enhancing practice.) I followed my heart to my dream.


What is your dream? What is the next step toward making it happen?
What kind of support and encouragement do you need?

Courage

Courage is not about changing anything or grasping for some better state.
It's the valor of being truly present.
Joseph Goldstein


When I am stuck in obsessing about what's missing or what's wrong it's helpful to go down into my body to the sensation under the story. Being truly present with the sensation, usually some kind of contraction coming from fear, allows it to release. Each time I notice my mind spinning back into the story (which may be many times in the space of a few minutes) I gently use my breath to return to the sensation. When I stay with it, I notice the contraction lessens and the story stops. Then it is important to appreciate my courage for doing something more loving than my usual pattern.

Endings and beginnings

Before I go to bed I have been taking a few minutes to reflect on my day. I either think of or write down five things I felt good about from the day. When I first wake up I think of three things I feel grateful for and one thing about my day that might bring me joy. Ending and beginning that way feels very nourishing and allows me to be mindful of the heart-opening things that are already there.

A poem for 2008

Focusing on the good
The good appears
It was always there
Now I notice.