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It takes courage to strike out in new directions, to face a challenge, to leave yourself vulnerable. This is the only way we create change. Expanding your horizons is not easy, but neither is staying the same. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.
—Brené Brown Making a fresh start? Begin by identifying something you value…perhaps something like community, kindness, or integrity. Now choose one small act you’d like to do today—or this week or month or year—that embodies this value. Living authentically means being true to your unique personality, values, and spirit, regardless of what is happening around you. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
—e.e. cummings It’s that time of year when we assess where we’ve been and plot a course for where we’re going. The word “recalibrate” implies that we may not need to throw everything out and start over, but perhaps can make small subtle adjustments to realign with our values. What’s important to you and how might you recalibrate to live those values? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush No matter how difficult the past, you can always begin again today.
—Jack Kornfield How many times do we think, “If I just had [blank], I’d be happier.” This thought introduces unhappiness because we’re wanting something different. You might say that happiness is the absence of desire and aversion, settling into the contentment of now. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush As soon as we wish to be happier, we are no longer happy.
—Walter Landor How much time and energy do we spend on trying to change what is unchangeable? We might find more peace by allowing the imperfections in ourselves, others, and the world around us. Perfection is not realistic, and may even be really boring if we ever got there. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.
—Tara Brach It is an act of courage to do the “work” of cultivating self-awareness and well-being. In a culture where doing is valued, we might remember that being is equally important. When we rest with kindness into who we already are, we open our hearts and minds to growth. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush See if you can allow gentle self-acceptance to coexist with the active drive for self-improvement.
—Kristin Neff We all have busy minds. The key to clarity is letting go of trying to quiet the mind. We might rest attention on something soothing, like feeling the body breathing, and also allow the flow of mental chatter. While the mind may never fully quiet, we may find that keeping a focus helps us disengage with the noise. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush The mind is like water. When it is turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.
—Prasad Mahes In a world where suffering abounds, it is helpful to also make space for wonder. There are so many spectacular wonders—large and small—to notice. What is one amazing thing about this moment? In mindful presence, Lori Furbush The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.
—Tara Brach Breathing is literally life itself. From your first breath to your last, inhales and exhales unfold in a rhythm. Come home to the breath you’re breathing now. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.
—Thich Nhat Hanh Being open to opportunities requires quieting our wants and expectations. When we release what we think we know about a situation, we find all kinds of possibilities we never considered. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
—Dalai Lama What if we didn’t cringe when we think about being patient? What if patience is just resting into the moment without wanting anything different? Patience might no longer feel like a chore but a welcome relief. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush One who is patient glows with an inner radiance.
—Allan Lokos You are one tiny expression of life on this small planet in the immense vastness of the universe. Yet all the wonders and possibilities of the universe vibrate within you. Let go of small thinking and feel the fullness of life moving through you with each breath. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean, in a drop.
—Rumi Sometimes our best way through difficult situations is to find distractions from the pain. This can be a helpful coping skill, especially when it is intentional. If avoidance and distraction becomes a habit, however, we may find ourselves sleepwalking through life. At some point, we must wake up, pay attention, and make healthier choices. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Awakening is not changing who you are, but discarding who you are not.
—Deepak Chopra Life is such a balancing act of self-care and caring for others. We build strength and resilience both by managing our own needs and by supporting others. In fact, being there for others helps us find resources we never knew we had. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
—Mahatma Gandhi Each of us lives by our own value system. Values motivate our choices and actions. Perhaps we value authenticity, kindness, community, determination, humor, or peace. What are your core values? When we live in alignment with our values, we are of value to all we encounter. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.
—Albert Einstein As we move into autumn, we feel the days getting shorter and the approach of the dark cold days of winter. Yet each day—each moment—is an opportunity to begin again. Plant the seeds today that you’d like to see sprouting in the spring. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
—Robert Louis Stevenson When we live in the present moment, there is a timeless quality to our awareness. No longer bound by a timeline, we find freedom. Take a breath, refresh, and see the open space of possibilities. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Today, you have 100% of your life left.
―Tom Landry This very moment, as you are reading these words, is the present moment. It is the only moment we can smell, see, hear, taste, and touch. It is a powerful practice to pause, even just for one inhale and one exhale, to be exactly where you are, as you are. In mindful presence, Lori Furbush Be where you are, otherwise you will miss your life.
―Buddha 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 |
AuthorLori Furbush teaches Qigong, Yin Yoga, & Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She weaves MINDFULNESS & RELAXATION into every moment. Archives
December 2024
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