Breathe Away Annoyance

Think of those trivial events that pester you during a normal day, the things that cause you to give a little huff of annoyance.  Like the lady in front of you at the store who is sure she has a penny somewhere in the bottom of her purse.   Or the child who insists on zipping his own jacket when you’re in a hurry.  Even the toaster that takes too long to pop out your breakfast.  I’ve discovered something about these things:  They are often resolved in the space of one or two long, deep breaths.

Try it.  Use your ujjayi if you have it*. Maybe the two-year-old and his zipper need three breaths, and make ‘em long and deep.  Result:  You’ve taken a nourishing lungful of fresh oxygen and energizing prana, you’ve avoided sending bad vibes through your system, and you have saved yourself a moment of unnecessary stress! Mindful breathing will relax your body and mind, and not only will you feel better at the end of the day, but so will everyone else around you – I can practically see those waves of calm emanating from you already!

Om shanti. Peace.

*See yogajournal.com for a description of the ujjayi breath; better yet, come to one of my classes and I’ll teach it to you!  

Are You an Airhead?

Spring is a time of enormous energy.  Roots are reaching down, sprouts are reaching up, leaves are stretching out, and babies will soon be birthed under ground and in the branches.  The world fairly crackles with freshness and movement.  We happily take in this energy after a winter of sluggishness (which we embraced eagerly enough in the fall!) and our heads spin with delight and effervescence.  So what’s the problem?

Spring Fever makes it hard for us to concentrate, and we may feel spacey and disconnected with our selves, both body and mind, as well as with other people.  This could lead to irritability or anxiety, things we don’t want to be feeling in this beautiful time of year.

Next time the sun is out, find a spot where you can stand or sit – hopefully you won’t need to tromp through too much mud to get there!  Now, make like a tree.  Close your eyes and lift your face to the sun while imagining roots coming out of your feet and reaching into the welcoming earth. Feel your connectedness to the ground; really notice the sensation of being attached deep into the dirt, around rocks and through clay. Grow the sensation upward, through your legs and your torso, out your arms and up through your crown and beyond. Go ahead, give yourself leaves, or even blossoms, that shimmy in the breeze.

You can have roots that go deep and still be present in the higher elevations, staying grounded while enjoying the sunshine.  Maybe if you’re still enough, a robin will stop by to say hello!

Good, Good, Good, Good Vibrations

Feeling good?  Figure out why!  Where are you, with whom, and what are you doing?  Everyone has their share of ups and downs, but by being aware, you can learn to keep those “up” moments a little longer, and shorten your down times.

Our personal energies, our cellular vibrations, our groovy vibes, all shimmy and shake at different speeds when we are exposed to thoughts, emotions, images and sounds.  Spend time on a spring day in the forest, with tiny flowers blooming underfoot and birds twittering gently overhead, and your vibrations will likely increase.  Your energy will rise and your mental state will even out.  Next time you are feeling low, either physically, mentally, or both, take a look at where you are.  Is it loud or echoing; do overly bright colors and images invade your vision; is the air re-circulated and stuffy?  These sensory assaults may initially raise your vibrations but to such a high degree that they soon shut down to protect you, leaving you feeling worn out and disoriented.

It’s not always spring, or even nice enough outside to commune with Nature, but there are ways to get your energy vibrations at an optimal level.  Meditation, some Sun Salutations, or  – believe it or not – even some mindful vacuuming or sock folding!  (I know, but really, it can be soothing, plus you’re getting something useful done.  Your guru would be proud!)

Take note of your vibrations at different times during the day, week, month, year.  Experiment with ways to keep yourself humming along at an optimal level.  Then listen to yourself, and take your own advice, and feel good.

That KIND of Day!

There is one more Meiji Principle to share with you, and it is one that may seem the easiest to follow – until you try it! 

Just for today, I will be kind to all living things, including myself.

We show kindness throughout our daily lives, making sure our child’s favorite shirt is clean for the dance, cooking a favorite dinner for a spouse, gently pulling the burrs out of the dog’s fur.  Out in the world, too: Picking up a dropped item for a stranger; putting out birdseed during the winter; using eco-friendly fertilizers in your garden.

So check off the first part.  You are kind to all living things. 

Now for the second part  . . . including myself.

What have you done for yourself lately?  How will you continue to be kind to others if you’re cranky?  How will you help your neighbor if you gobbled a handful of Thin Mints for breakfast and have now crashed in a heap on your couch?  How will you drag that birdseed from the trunk of the car to the garage if you haven’t been to yoga class in weeks and your back is killing you? 

Being kind to your self is not selfish; it is imperative.  Put that thought in your head first, and then start slowly.  Eat healthful foods.  Get to yoga class regularly.  Take a half hour to meditate or read a few chapters of your romance novel.  Smile at yourself in the mirror.  Drop the pebble of kindness into your self and watch the ripples move outward, touching everyone around you with your own special brand of Kind. 

Work It, Baby!

The fourth Meiji Principle is, Just for today, I will do my work honestly and diligently.

The word work can have negative connotations, but really, what else would you be doing all day?  Lying around on the couch, reading romance novels and eating bonbons?  Ok, bad example, because I know you all answered, “Heck yeah!”  You get my drift, though.  Working is living.  It gives purpose to our days and allows us to rest easy at night. You choose to do your work with a smile or a frown, and your reward comes from that same place, so choose wisely!

Whatever your work encompasses, embrace it with conviction, perform it with passion, and complete it with satisfaction.  Don’t shirk, don’t shrink away, and don’t let your work overwhelm you.  Do your work honestly.  Do it diligently.  Do it with a Buddha smile.

And don’t forget that your work includes self-care.  Lying on that couch and reading a mystery is one of your daily chores – maybe skip the bonbons and munch an apple so you don’t sugar-crash and become unable to roll off the couch!

All work ends with a payoff.  Sometimes the payoff is cash, sometimes it’s a clean house, sometimes it’s the hug from your daughter when you get that stain out of her favorite shirt.  Do your work honestly and diligently, and enjoy your sweet dreams at night!

Gratitude (yes, again - it's a biggie!)

The third Meiji Principle says, Just for today, I will express gratitude for everything, including things that challenge me.

Gratitude is something almost everyone practices every day.  “Thanks,” we say to the clerk as she hands us our change.  “Oh, thank you,” we tell the person who just complimented our new shoes.  You step further into gratitude when you turn your face to the shining sun and let the warmth flow through you, or bite into a ripe peach, grateful for the sensory pleasure. It’s easy, natural, to express gratitude for these things.

But what about those challenging things, like when your boss embarrasses you in front of co-workers?  When you have a boatload of things to do, and no time to do it all.  When the sun has been hiding for days and you start to think that spring is just a fairy tale.  Why be grateful for those things? 

Challenges big and small are deserving of gratitude.  Each facet of your day is just that – a part of You, and deserving of celebration.  Some things we celebrate just getting through. Some things we are grateful for because they are over.  Some things, the hardest things, call for our gratitude simply because of what we learn from them.  No, I’m not grateful the guinea pig bit me; I am grateful I learned the lesson not to stick my fingers in cages before I tried it again with the parrot whose beak can crack walnuts! 

See the world through eyes of gratitude, and see if that brings a change in attitude!  (Sorry, couldn’t resist the rhyme . . .)

The Second Meiji Principle

Just for today, I will have faith and trust in the divine plan.

What, you may ask, is the divine plan?  Do I have one of my own, or is it something I share with others?  Is this plan set in stone, or can I change it if I don’t like where it’s taking me?  And who the heck made this plan without discussing it first with me?

Imagine yourself wearing nice new hiking boots, walking down a wooded path. You can keep your eyes down, watching where you step and carefully treading on the smooth spots, avoiding rocks and puddles.  This way, you will stay on the path and not get lost, but you won’t see the rabbit scurry under the fallen log, or notice the cheerful people who pass.  You may miss the signpost that gives you a choice of direction, the detour that could bring you to the picnic area or to a scenic overlook.

Or you can lift your eyes to the canopy overhead, gazing at the lush leaves, looking for birds, and rejoicing in the sparkle of the sun through the foliage.   But this way, too, might cause you to miss the signposts; and what happens when a muddy puddle appears in your path, or the way turns rocky?  At the very least you’ll mess up your new boots; worse, you may trip and bruise your knees.

Look around.  Up, down, and sideways.  Notice that you are not alone, that other hikers and animals and insects are sharing space with you.  If you trip, decide whether you need to sit down for a while, or just brush yourself off and continue.  If you come across a signpost directing you to a side path, listen to your heart and spirit and choose which way to go.

As to who made the plan in the first place, well, you’ll just have to ask that of yourself and discover where your faith lies.