It is okay to not know sometimes.
This quote can apply to so many different things in life, so it is important to know that there is no one-right-way to decipher this principle, as it is subjective regarding the way in which it applies to each own’s individual journey.
During these chaotic and unpredictable times occurring in our world right now, it would be beneficial for anyone to have some kind of practice or routine to ground oneself, instead of allowing oneself to gravitate towards and feed into fear and negativity.
Every individual has the power to make a difference in this world simply by living from a state of higher consciousness, and being a conduit for peace, love, and positivity for all of humanity. We all have the choice of whether we want to bring healing or suffering into this world, but in order to radiate positive, loving, and healing energy towards others, we must first love and heal ourselves.
Yoga is a simple and efficient grounding technique that has been around for ages.
I do a series of simple stretches every night before I go to sleep to ground and align myself, and because it helps me to release any tension being held in my physical body. One of my favorite poses that I do every night is Standing Forward Bend, as well as West Stretch Pose (or what some would call Seated Forward Bend) which has made doing a full Standing Forward Bend much easier for me.
STRETCHES: Hamstrings, Spine, Calves, and Glutes
WEST STRETCH POSE (Paschimottanasana): West Stretch Pose is basically the same pose as Standing Forward Bend, except one is sitting down, so gravity is not the main focus as it is in Standing Forward Bend. Practicing this pose every night will help to stretch out one’s hamstrings and glutes, which can often be a tight area for most people. Stretching these areas will also help to make it easier and work towards doing a full Standing Forward Bend.
STANDING FORWARD BEND: Like most poses, Standing Forward Bend has variations so anyone can practice this pose and receive the benefits. With daily practice, one can eventually master doing a full Standing Forward Bend, which is not always an easy pose to do for people who are just starting out.
But mastering a pose is not the goal here, the goal is to feel good and take care of one’s body. Mastering of poses is just something that you obtain through the process.
In Standing Forward Bend, gravity is doing most of the work; lengthening and releasing tension in one’s neck and spine while simultaneously stretching the glutes, calves, and hamstrings. Although you probably most often see people in this pose with their hands on the ground or pressed against the calves with their legs straightened, there are also variations where the legs are bent, or where one just allows their head, torso, and arms to hang down while extending their spine and keeping their legs straight.
Guide your attention towards being within the present moment, be content with what is.
For me personally, nothing is more important than being content within the present moment. Once one learns how to be satisfied with what is, or in other words, once one learns how to simply be, then awareness and inner peace have room to move in.
It may sound simple, but bringing all of your attention to the present moment is not always an easy task.
Like anything that can be mastered, it takes practice. Our mind consists of many thought and reactive patterns that are constantly playing through our heads on a daily basis. Sometimes we become so used to these thoughts and ways of reacting that we don’t even realize they’re there playing in the background.
We often forget that these thoughts are just thoughts, not who we are. When we take on thoughts as our identity instead of a passing production of our minds, we’re allowing our egos run the show and therefore slip into a negative cycle of judgement towards a part of ourselves that doesn’t even really exist (except as a mental construct within our own head), which often leads to more unnecessary suffering.
When one becomes conscious of the present moment, they simultaneously become aware. If you practice meditation, one way you could identify this awareness as a reference is as “the space between,” that calm and peaceful sensation that arises between each passing thought.
To forgive and let go of the past, to cease placing so much importance on the future, to be here now at all times, to be content and satisfied with all that is, there are many different paths to presence, but the goal is all the same.
This post was inspired by Eckhart Tolle, one of my greatest influences.
I will make sure the reality I create is the one I desire.
This mantra strongly resonates with me to this day. Whenever I remind myself that my experiences in this collective reality are correlated with my thoughts, intentions, and overall outlook on life, awareness rises, and I am able to direct my attention towards the things that I love and desire.
Realigning myself with all that is positive, all that is love, allows any fear to subside and for inner peace to move in. With inner peace also comes focus and clarity. When the mind ceases to produce fear based thoughts, and when one comes from a place of good intention, one’s external experiences will also reflect this state of inner peace.
Your energy flows where your attention goes.
“I believe this is the most powerful idea for each of us: realizing that we’re here to discover and honor our own individual path. It doesn’t matter whether we renounce the material world and meditate on a mountaintop for 20 years or create a billion-dollar multinational company that employs thousands of people, giving them each a livelihood. We can attend a temple or church, sit on the beach, drink a margarita, take in a glorious sunset with a loved one, or walk through the park enjoying an ice cream. Ultimately, whichever path we choose is the right one for us, and none of these options are any more or less spiritual than the others.” – Anita Moorjani, Dying to Be Me
Anita Moorjani has always been a huge inspiration for me. After four long years of struggling with cancer that had spread throughout her entire lymphatic system, Moorjani had a near death experience on February 2nd, 2006. Five weeks after having this experience, she was released from the hospital completely cancer-free. To this day, she continues to spread the message of love, positivity, and the connection to who-we-really-are.
“When you become adept at directing your thoughts to things that are pleasing, the unpleasing people (or unpleasing aspects of those people) will leave your experience. It is your attention to the unwanted that holds it in your experience.” – Esther and Jerry Hicks, The Vortex
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
Cocoa Butter hydrates and moisturizes when rubbed on the skin or lips. If you make sure you get organic, raw Cocoa Butter, it is all natural.
As I started to become more conscious of the overall health of my physical body, I realized that I not only wanted to become more aware of what I was ingesting, but also of what I was putting onto my body.
In the beginning of this journey, I started by focusing on eliminating little things like sugar, bread, and dairy products. Once I started to observe and recognize how these minor initiatives were improving my overall well-being, this positive feeling then encouraged me to expand this practice of becoming more in tune with my body.
Continue reading Organic Raw Cocoa Butter: An All Natural Moisturizer
The Dalai Lama’s new and first ever album, Inner World, was released today to mark his 85th birthday. It is available to listen on most music streaming platforms.
Every word rings with Truth. I definitely believe this work is worth being present for, and worth absorbing all the positive vibrational energy that this has to offer.
Whatever energy one puts out is the energy they will receive.
Positive thoughts will bring positive experiences. Negative thoughts will bring negative experiences. The same goes for the energy that one attracts. Positive vibrational energy will attract positive energy. Negative vibrational energy will bring negative energy.
This closely relates to the concept of the “self fulfilling prophecy”. If one only focuses on what they think will go wrong, then things will most likely go wrong. If one remains optimistic and focuses on everything that can and will go right, then things will work out in their favor.
Like attracts like.
United Being 