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We are a goal-oriented culture. The message is often, “Buy this and you will be happy; achieve that and you will be happy.” Progress is about celebrating the tiny wins along the way. Life is about progress, not perfection. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
―Robert Frost We are each a singular personality—an integration of our unique life history and values exhibited in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is easy to sleepwalk through life, blindly moving through patterns and habits. It takes awareness to live in alignment with our values, continually shaping our character. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything.
—Frank Outlaw It’s pretty amazing that this glob of stuff in our heads we call a brain can gather and process information, communicate, create art and music, and take in the wonders of life. It can solve problems and help us survive. The brain sometimes overshadows the equally important wealth of information coming from the body. Turning down the volume of thinking and turning up the volume of sensing can help us learn to be in the present moment, build resilience, and experience life on multiple levels. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. —Søren Kierkegaard
To be confident is to be sure of something. Our nervous system believes what we think and feel. What story are you telling your nervous system today? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. —Henry Ford
Challenge and suffering are surely a part of life. While our world is full of horrors, it is also full of astonishing wonders. We just need to look for them and celebrate. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention. —John O’Donohue
We describe something as tranquil when it exudes an air of peace, calm, and deep stillness. This quiet serenity lives underneath the chaos if we’re bold enough to let the noise settle. We might even try moving through the world from this place of stillness. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Tranquility is contagious, peace is contagious. One only thinks of the contagiousness of illness, but there is the contagion of serenity and joy. ―Anaïs Nin
Each of us is one miniscule part of this boundless universe. Yet the boundlessness of the universe expresses itself through you. Rest the mind and the body long enough, and you will feel your immensity. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
John O’Donohue As we well know, the only constant is change. But some changes are beyond our control. All we can really change is our relationship to the situation, and to embody that change within. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
—Viktor E. Frankl There are many opportunities to put up a good fight and take action...but not every minute of every day. Peace is what we feel when we stop fighting what is around us and within us, and just rest. Letting go of resistance and avoiding allows space for peace. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Happiness depends on conditions being perceived as positive; inner peace does not.
―Eckhart Tolle Even when life is one big challenge, there are many small blessings to be found. Whether it is a simple kind word from a friend, a quiet moment in the chaos, or the nourishing feeling of a deep soulful breath, there are always pleasant experiences available. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.
―Mary Oliver The mind is a storehouse of information gathered over a lifetime. We need our thoughts, preferences, opinions, and wisdom to help us survive. The body is another great source of information. The “gut instinct” and sensory experiences are also vital. The balancing act is listening to both thoughts and sensations without being overpowered by either. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
—Dan Millman To persevere is to continue through a situation in the face of opposition or challenge. We humans usually resist discomfort by fighting it, striving for something else, or distracting ourselves. Perhaps we don’t need to add more discomfort to an already challenging experience. What happens if we soften and adapt as we persevere? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush The best way out is always through.
—Robert Frost When we’re having a hard time getting motivated to do something, outlining a step-by-step plan can help. Even something as simple as preparing a meal is not that simple. We must choose what to cook, find a recipe, make a grocery list, go shopping, unpack the groceries, prepare the ingredients, and create the meal. That’s a lot of little steps. Tackle your next goal making a list of steps and focusing on one small action at a time. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.
—Eleanor Roosevelt It’s astonishing to notice how much time we spend in our minds, rather disconnected with our bodies. We generally notice the body only when it is in discomfort. There are so many ways to practice living in the body. We can move and stretch and walk with awareness of even the most subtle physical sensations. In stillness, we can always dwell in the sensations of breathing. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.
—Jim Rohn True power is not overshadowing or ruling others. It is the ability to rest within yourself, owning both your strength and your vulnerability. To shine with vitality, we must learn to value recharging with acts of self-care. What are you doing to take back your power today? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Self-care is how you take your power back.
—Lalah Delia Moving slowly is not often valued in our frantic modern world. The value of moving a bit more slowly is that we give ourselves space and time to think more clearly, act with wisdom, and process events. We may even notice the small wonders all around us. Breathe slowly now. That’s all it takes. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson Dwelling in between two opposites, we can discover the oneness within the two. Between anger turned outward and shame turned inward is a place of compassion for self and others. Between fighting to the death and totally giving up is wise action. Between movement and stillness is a state of both energy and peace. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Everything in moderation, including moderation.
—Oscar Wilde Life can surely be challenging. If it were easy, we would never have the need to toughen up, to stretch outside of our comfort zone, or to learn something new. We can shift our reactivity to challenges. Rather than thinking of a challenge as a problem, we might look for the opportunities. This actually activates parts of our brain that can see possibilities we didn’t know were there when we were stuck in denial and resistance. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.
—Unknown Doing the work of being a good human is a day-to-day, moment-to-moment practice. Consistency is the practice of continually realigning our thoughts, words, and deeds with our values. We are all works in progress. It takes great courage to show up and be open to the perfect imperfection that you are. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Consistency is more important than perfection.
—Unknown To be human is to rest into who we are now and at the same time know that we are ever evolving in experience and wisdom. The brain is always learning new patterns. What is one small achievable goal you’d like to meet today? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream.
—C.S. Lewis |
AuthorLori Furbush teaches Qigong, Yin Yoga, & Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She weaves MINDFULNESS & RELAXATION into every moment. Archives
August 2024
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