I Saw the News Today, Oh Boy

I watched the news the other night. Big mistake. Now I can’t stop thinking of all the hardship, carelessness, and even horror that people around the globe – yes, far away but also right next door – go through in their daily lives. Then, when I looked through my usual computer apps, all my feeds were filled with love, support, and messages of hope and light because I’m “friends” with, and  “Linked” to people who are on a compassionate healing path similar to mine.

I’m having trouble reconciling the two disparate messages.

My instinct is to put my attention on the huggy-feely love messages, of course. One, because it makes me feel like there’s a chance The World can improve; and two, I know that what you pay attention to is what you bring into your life. I am aware of what’s going on “out there”, because even though I purposely turn off the TV I still hear the relevant news through the grapevine, and during news reports on the radio. Instead of giving in to the seeming hopelessness of the situation, I choose to send thoughts and prayers of love instead. Even if you don’t believe my good thoughts are helpful to those far away people, at least I’m not spreading the gloom to those near me!

I’m good at looking past peoples’ “dark side”. That’s what makes it possible for me to teach yoga at the county jail and genuinely want to help them; I don’t ask or read about their crimes, I just surround them with good vibes and hope some rubs off. I’ll tell you one thing, those women are always smiling and grateful when I leave; that has to be good for the general population there, even those who don’t participate. I know there is a reason they are incarcerated, but I also feel they can be accorded respect as women, not just convicts, and that this will help them once they return to our communities.

So here I am, trying to recover from my 5 O’Clock News hangover when suddenly, there it is -- dang political debate, where the whole of craziness is laid out before me in one, straight, dark-suited line. I know there’s some sanity in there somewhere, but the broadcast barely allows that element to come through. If I listen, will I be informed or just crazed? If I ignore it, will I be able to make a reasoned vote when the time comes?

You see my dilemma, and perhaps feel it yourself. The World of my dreams is coated in rainbow hues and the majority of people there have found inner peace. I can easily live in that world, surrounded, as I am, with yogis, serious meditators, and loving friends and family here in my lovely, safe town. Yet I know that “out there” lies a world of darkness and pain. Are my good intentions enough? Does it help the World’s cause for me to hear the bad news and fret about it? If I’m not going to go over and physically DO something, is it useful to moan and cry about inhumanity?

I’m going to go with Goodness and Light. It’s not Pollyanna; it’s a life strategy. I don’t ignore the strife; I blanket it in compassion. I know that a smile shared ripples through more that just one person. I know that when a cranky person walks into a room, it’s a downer for everyone. This strategy may not be perfect, but it’s a start. Join me.

Is it real, or is it Memory?

My childhood memories of hot days have me lying on the basement floor, enjoying the cool dampness of the tiles against my skin. I see myself in longish shorts, with a sleeveless buttoned up shirt. I was probably barefoot, but maybe I had my red, rubber-toed sneakers on.

Another memory is running through the sprinkler in the front yard. My sisters and I, in matching red swim suits, lining up and dashing through, with my brother sitting close by trying to drink the water. Remember that feeling? If the spray headed toward you during your turn, you’d turn your head and squint so you wouldn’t get it in the eyes. If the sprayer was leaning away, you would jump over and feel the spray move up your body as you ran away.

No, this isn’t a “it was so much better back then” post. My kids have a pool to jump in; that’s pretty good! It’s about memories. I bet that each of my siblings who were in the sprinkler with me have a different take on that memory. I see us in matching red suits, maybe because I really liked those. Or hated them. I’m imagining our friend Amy with us, because so often she was. My memory of running through the sprinkler on a hot day is probably made up of a bunch of episodes when Mom turned on the sprinkler, not one single event.

Yes, there is a point, other than making you want to turn on the sprinkler and have a dash: Memories are our creations. We keep some details and submerge others. Memories can change over time. One dramatic moment can color the whole event, like my memory of Chris choking on popcorn at a fair and Mom running with her in her arms to the first aid tent. I probably had a great time that whole day, but that’s the only thing that stuck to me.

So be aware that memories are probably not completely factual and complete. Don’t let a bad memory of something keep you from trying it again. And don’t replay scary memories over and over in your mind until it becomes a fear or phobia!

I remember this day.  Or do I???

 If you have trouble stopping your mind from spinning over a traumatic memory, EFT is the perfect way to halt that cycle. Contact me at yogamudra.jen@gmail.com to set up a free phone consultation to see if EFT is right for you. Visit www.BalanceYourYoga.com for more information. EFT can be done in person, over the phone or using Skype, all with equally successful results.

Another year already??

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm figuring this one puts me about halfway through my lifespan. Good thing I have so much time left, as I have so much to do! 

Since we already figured out the Meaning of Life (see blog June 22, 2015), what I need to do now is keep all that in mind as I move through the second half of my life, and things will be great. Without over-thinking this, here's my plan. (I reserve the right to change my mind and my plan as I grow more and more wise with the years!)

To find happiness, I will take care of myself. That means availing myself of the best I can find: food, travel, self care. Yes, massages and expensive beauty products are on that list! Stuff, too, if I feel like it, but honestly I don't have any answers right now to the question, What do you want for your birthday. I reserve the right to want stuff later!

I will continue to bring service to my fellow Earthlings. I enjoy sharing yoga and energy work, and helping people find their own Life Path. Remember, "service" doesn't always have to mean "free". That's a recipe for burnout. But volunteering is good for the soul and good for the planet, so don't discount that either!

Learning something new!

I will find joy wherever I can. Rising to my feet on the Stand Up Paddle board last week was pretty joyful! 

I will continue to be grateful for all that I have, and everything I experience. Living in gratitude makes one pretty joyous, so it's two birds! 

As I move through this life I will be mindful to spread Love not only to my family and friends, but also into dark places. The more Love aimed into these murky corners, the fewer murky corners there will be! 

I will continue learning from everyone and everything. I will do my best to see my failures as learning experiences, and to avoid self-doubt. A life filled with learning is a life filled with fun! (See SUP experience, right.)

What do you want for your birthday this year?

Health, Wealth, Happiness?

Got a minute? Let’s figure out the Meaning of Life. After all, this topic has been discussed since the beginning of humankind, so all comments and opinions are probably in by now. Let’s recap:

What is the Meaning of Life?

Happiness. This one may be a by-product, not the whole meaning. Happiness, after all, is not only elusive, but fleeting. Buy a new car and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll be happy for a while, but soon you will become accustomed to that fancy new dashboard and the purr of the new engine, and you won’t feel that frisson of happiness when you pull out of the driveway; it will just be another commute to work.

Service to others. Maybe. Most of the Wisdom Traditions throughout history have held up service to your fellow man as the Gold Standard of a life well lived. Do unto others and all that. Helping each other does make life a lot more pleasant and is gratifying to both the giver and receiver. Hmmmm.

Joy. This is a biggie, and a top contender for the title. Joy is something felt deep within, a response to beauty and wonder. It suffuses one with elation. It can be expressed physically through joyful movement – dance! – or as a quiet appreciation. A joyful person tends to lift those around them to a higher level of joy as well.

Gratitude. The World turns on Gratitude. When one is thankful for food, possessions, friends and family, life, then that person is at peace. To live in the state of Gratitude is to live in a place of abundance and plenty. And I hear the taxes are low!

Love. No list on Life would be complete without Love! Love pulls us together as humans. Love pulls us together as stewards of the land. Love creates community among people and it leads us to protect and care for the creatures of the world. Love is a biggie.

Lessons learned. In the mystical community, life on Earth is seen as a place of learning, a place where the Spirit goes to discover how human qualities can teach generosity and kindness; to discover the adverse effects of cruelty and lack. Maybe Life on Earth is a Spiritual High School.

We desire each of these qualities in our lives. Each, including the fleeting Happiness, contributes to a life well lived. These, and much more, create a world of meaning, and each person has the ability to participate in this creation! And now that we’ve sorted this out, you can cancel your plans to sit cross-legged at the top of a mountain.

Cartoonsy.com

Be happy today. Find joy in the little things. Help someone out. Say thank you continuously. Allow your heart to swell with love. Learn your life lessons. Eat plenty of fiber and take your vitamins. All is well.

What to do, how to choose?

If I still wrote longhand on paper instead of typing on a computer, my floor would be littered with crumpled pages, tossed away in frustration. I want to write about how each person can make the best choice in diet and exercise. How to find the way, at long last, to a sense of physical wellness, where food and exercise choices come naturally and our bodies respond with joy and vitality. How to come to the place where we no longer spend most of the day strategizing about how to attend that barbeque without sabotaging our meal plan. How to be that person who exercises regularly and naturally because it makes her feel good.

Here’s where I’m getting hung up:

·     *  The best diet and exercise plan is different for each person.

·     * The diet and exercise information we grew up with should be out the window by now, but we are clinging to it anyway.

·      * I haven’t found the perfect diet and exercise plan for myself yet, so how can I counsel you?

Here’s what I’m left with:

·      * You do need to be aware of what you eat and drink, and how each makes your body feel.

·      * Don’t dismiss new diet information because it doesn’t jibe with what your mother taught you. It’s a whole new world out there and what might seem like a fad may actually be good, sound, scientific advice. (Notice I said it may be.)

·      * I do plenty of yoga and avoid processed foods and even though I am not at the weight I’d like to be, I am fit and energetic.

Here’s my advice to you:

·      * Eat good food and exercise every day.

·      * Try something new and pay attention to how you feel. Experiment with gluten-free for a while, and notice how you feel after eating dairy. Do you enjoy meat or are you forcing yourself to eat it for the protein? Pay attention to the sugars that sneak into your diet. Lose your fear of fat. In fact, replace the sugars with good fats and see how that suits you. Drop the calories in, calories out model.

·      * When people ask you what diet and exercise regimen you follow, tell them, I follow my body’s lead.

I’m not crumpling this one up, even though the advice may not be perfect. I’m no diet and exercise guru, and this is the best you’ll get from me today!

So who wants to meet me for a garden-fresh salad and some yoga?

Keep having fun!

Stuffing and Pie and Grinches, Oh My!

The holidays are upon us, in all their love/hate glory! There is so much to do and see and experience, and it is too easy to become overwhelmed.

What puts you slightly off-center these days? This holiday season, if you count from now to New Year's, is about 6 weeks long. That's too much time to spend off-kilter. Now is the moment to make the choice to stay as close to center as possible for these next weeks. This choice will lead to less stress, reduced illness, and more actual cheer (as opposed to the teeth-gritted merriment we sometimes feel obliged to present). 

Choose to stay in your happy place this season. Choose vibrant health; choose generosity; choose love.

Lock the door on your inner Grinch! Bar Scrooge from your holiday table! Let your heart grow three sizes or more, and enjoy without dread. How? Here's a hint: What you put your attention on increases. So put your attention on the happy. Put your attention on the do-gooders. Be aware of your mood after you watch the news (get what you need online so you can monitor what you take in).

What you put your attention on increases. So don't dwell on the commercialism. Don't worry about things that do not directly affect you. It's not "putting your head in the sand" to notice the good things; we have made it a virtue to bemoan all the "low-lifes" and to cry out indignantly about government and world affairs. We have confused shouting with right action. Shouting gets you nowhere. Right action gets you where you want to be.

Where do you want to be this holiday season? I know where I will be. And I will be smiling!