Author name: Kyra

I want to start out with an admission. I’m high strung. And busy. And driven. So one of my biggest triggers is when my to-do gets affected without my permission. Hahaha. Let’s all take a good laugh at that one!

I’ve been working for years, meditating and cleaning up my less that optimal lifestyle habits to help myself be more “even keel”. I want to be the best mom ever. This “even keel” thing is part of let. Cause let’s face it, I didn’t hatch June Cleaver.

I want to be super patient and chill as a parent (person).

So one this particular day, I had a lot on my plate. A lot of it was extra tasks not of my choosing. I was getting a lot done. Then BAM. I open the dryer to see what was left of a 10 Pack of Hubba Bubba. You all know what I’m talking about! Holy Mother of Destruction I had never seen anything so … O M G.

I did get every irritated. But instead of blowing a gasket and yelling, I paused. Then I giggled to myself “figures”. Ever find yourself at that fork in the road?

Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, mantra, journaling …. all examples of practices that strengthen our mind.

Mantra, the repeated saying (or chanting) of something really helps. In fact mantra means “mind protector”. There are more and more studies that are showing that these types of activities are greatly helping people. The-wire their brains, change behaviors, positively impact heart rate and blood pressure, you name it! How? Well, because you thoughts really matter. Your thoughts influence your brain hardwiring which in turn impacts your body.

Awesome. Mind boggling. Overwhelming. Lost?

Let me make it simple for you. Because it is.

Practicing mantra can greatly influence your life in a positive way. And it can be easy peasy.

For instance:

1. Sitting, and breathing. With the inhale say out loud or in your head “I inhale greatness/love/awesomeness”. And as you exhale say “I release tension” or “I am love” or “I give myself to you (God, universe…)”. Over and over for 5 minutes.
2. For swimmers. With your stroke chant “I’m long and I’m strong”. For runners “I am strong, I do not quit.”
3. As you take a walk outside, feel your feet as you walk. The bottoms of your feet. With each foot impact say “Today is awesome. Today I am just fine”.
4. Sit for 5 and repeat your favorite hymn or scripture.

The power comes in the reverence that you do it. Say it with feeling. Even if you are saying it in your head. With much feeling. When you get distracted, and you will, just refocus and begin again. With practice you get better at it. Stronger in mind and emotion.

So when you don’t blow up at the small person. You pause, you don’t destroy the space created to allow said little person to learn as well. To display his acknowledge of the situation and practice being a super great person.

He gave me the best sticky ever. And that candy tastes real good. I would have missed out had I not paused.

LiveOutLoud

Winding down after a demanding day often means turning on the TV, pouring a drink or eating some junky food.  A more productive, healthy way to chase away tension, anxiety, and the daily blahs is meditation.  Here’s a meditation designed to help you quiet mind chatter, focus inward, and explore the limitless realm of your heart and soul.

You’re outside for a walk, going nowhere in particular, just walking for exercise and enjoyment and to get your thoughts clear on changes you’re making in your life. Perhaps you feel a bit disconnected, as if you’ve outgrown something and you’re searching for a new sense of direction, a new way to grow. It’s a beautiful autumn day, and the changing leaves on the trees are colorful and vibrant.

You notice a little leaf that has fallen to the ground. It calls to you, asking to be noticed, wanting to share it’s essence with you. It’s beautifully unusual, and has hues of orange, red, and yellow.

Picking it up–perhaps feeling a bit sad at first that it has lost its connection to the tree–you soon begin to realize that it is following its course of direction and purpose, beginning a new journey that ultimately leads to renewal and growth.  You compare this leaf to yourself and to the changing seasons–to the changes in life.  Perhaps you are going through changes in your life, perhaps feeling a little sad and lost yourself as you make changes, let go of connections, and prepare for new directions.  Perhaps you’ve outgrown something; now it is time to move on and explore new options.

Perhaps you’re unsure of your direction.  You look at the leaf and notice it is ready to move forward in its life cycle–saying goodbye, letting go with love   You admire its courage, knowing you must find that same courage within yourself to move on.

You relate to this leaf and feel a deep inner sense of kinship and familiarity with it.  Like you, the leaf has out-grown this particular connection.  You look at the tree it has fallen from and feel a sincere gratefulness and appreciation for the growth this leaf has experienced, for the growth you’ve experienced, for the connection that enabled you to grow and flourish and now to move on to a new direction in your life–a new course of exploration and growth.

You begin to explore your inner essence, going within yourself to see the changes you’re contemplating in your life.  You’re ready to revitalize yourself, allowing the budding and blossoming of your soul as it renews itself from deep within.

~ G. Chadwick from Inner Journeys

Light streams through the window. In that ray of light, the dust in the air, ordinarily invisible, dances. There is a dance going on around us constantly–a dance of energy. The leaves on the trees dance in the wind. Our thoughts in our mind.

Imagine for a moment that nothing in this world is solid. It is all a big field of dancing golden particles of light, like the dust in the sunlight. You are surrounded by energy in motion even as you think you walk on solid ground.

Close your eyes and imagine this dance of energy. The more you think this way, the lighter you become and the more energy you feel. You begin to discover you can dance with things, events, and relationships. The dance is a perfect metaphor for human relationships and for life.

In different situations, ask yourself, “How can I dance with this?” This difficult person, your car breaking down, waking up tired in the morning. Hold out your arms to your partner of the moment, whatever or whomever it may be. Follow the rhythm of the moment, the music of the day.

It’s a great practice to sit and meditate, feeling the energy pulse within you, being with it until that very energy lifts you up. You may find yourself dancing, spontaneously moving into a yoga posture you have been doing for years, or dropping the ball into the basket with unexpected precision, but now it’s coming from deep inside. Also try the reverse: dance your heart out, and then sit down and feel the silence reverberate around you. Notice how you settle into meditation more easily: feel the tingle and rush of energy throughout the body. Movement and meditation go together; they enhance and support each other.

Sometimes people ask, “what can I do with my anger? My fear? My grief?” Dance with it. Truly, literally, dance with it. It’s what people have always done. Put on some music and move, by yourself, in your room, in your garden. Dance your anger, your fear, your love, your longing. As you dance, you become one with primal energy.

~ The Vibrant Life