There is a lot of suffering in the world…a lot of suffering in ourselves. It is easy to be drawn into negativity, anger, and sadness, and soon we feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Taking time to appreciate life’s gifts, even the little ones like a strain of music or a color painted across the sky, can tip the scales back into balance. A blessing may be defined as “a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being.” It is a practice, and sometimes work, to stay open to beauty. In mindful presence, Lori Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. —Rumi We sometimes have that one person in our lives who is an anchor. In times of distress, they maintain a solid sense of presence, keeping our boat steady in rough waters. We can also be an anchor unto ourselves, steadying the focus within the body, stabilizing the mind. When we learn to be our own best anchor, we come to trust our strength and resilience, knowing we can weather any storm. In mindful presence, Lori A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch but on its own wings. —unknown
Wonder is “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Wonder invites curiosity and awe. It is a warm welcome home to something larger than ourselves. Pause the cacophony of thoughts and opinions. Allow space for wonder. In mindful presence, Lori Only the empty mind can be filled with wonder.
—William Martin Accepting the present moment to be as it is does not mean we have to agree with it or like it. Acceptance is not giving your power away. It is simply the act of dropping the resistance that arises as stress reactivity (adrenaline, cortisol, tension, fear, anger, anxiety, etc.), so that we may be more clear and centered (and therefore empowered) to handle whatever is unfolding. When you find yourself fighting the reality of the moment, it is a wakeup call. In mindful presence, Lori Struggle can be a “mindfulness bell.” It tells us that there’s something happening that we’re not accepting.
—Charlotte Bell |
AuthorLori Furbush teaches Qigong, Yin Yoga, & Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She weaves MINDFULNESS & RELAXATION into every moment. Archives
October 2024
Categories |