Leveraging this site, I can quiet the “noise” of self-doubt and worry and recall that for which I am grateful. This practice moves me to pause and be mindful, becoming more awake in mind and spirit.
Hello! Brand new here. Like Barb C. I too would like to take my foot off the accelerator. I would also like to learn to listen deeply (without my monkey brain distracting me) and to really see instead of just look.
This is an interesting question. And it makes me think about what it means to be awake. What it means to be asleep and what levels of conciousness and conscious awareness are. As I have learned to meditate over my life I’ve learned that awake means aware and noticing what is rather than the perception of what might be. And what a beautiful gift. To be aware without judgements or discernments. Just allowing life to be as it is. The gifts of presence become visible when the awareness is unobstructed by thoughts of past or future. The sun shines brighter as the clouds pass through the sky.
Thanks for making me explain Rabbit! It’s a fancy way of saying that my thoughts can be taken over by the agendas of “outsiders” especially certain voices on social media. I can get distracted from my own interests and values by giving undue attention to the priorities of external voices. Am I making sense?
Thank you Elaine. That would mean like the news too because that has been a huge stressors to me and I think it has had a profoundly negative impact on my health? I have been diagnosed with several worsening health conditions in the last couple years.
The question speaks to me of my typical out of balance mode. My mind often smothers the body and spirit, especially the spirit. My husband calls me a deep thinker and overthinker is also an apt description. This is a big reason my am here with all of you and am trying to learn to nurture the spirit side of me. Thank you for your insights. People also tell me I am too hard on myself so maybe that is my mind thinking too much too.
I am more awake when I slow down. I’ve always been able to turn quickly from one task to another and keep going but that hurly-burly is its own kind of “sleep”–a blur of thought and motion with no pause to notice or be aware or awake in the actual moments. When I feel overwhelmed by all I have to get done and want to rush I try to remind myself that “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast”. Slow is also more mindful and focused and I can bring mind, body, and spirit together.
When I read Ram Dass’ quote that “We’re all just walking each other home.” I sighed and thought it’s too bad we don’t realize and understand that powerful message. It would change the whole world. As to the question I found at gratefulness.org today: “How can I become more awake in mind, body and spirit?” You have heard my answer before: WILLINGNESS. There are many paths and disciplines you can practice but until you own your own thoughts, feelings and actions, Life’s ups and downs cannot help you grow in awareness. As a fellow traveler shared at the gratefulness.org Hope Retreat, “Life is God in disguise.” In 1995, life as I knew it totally collapsed. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. In the middle of one sleepless night, I penned a poem (The Wings of Willingness). This is something I frequently do when dealing with painful emotions. About half way through my poem writing process, I found myself putting these words on the page: “My job is willingness. God’s job is transformation.” I can’t change, fix, or most importantly evolve in any way without willingness. So when you see a need, act but don’t organize too much. Go with the flow willingly. Trust life and yourself through the thick and the thin. We’re not here to fight or flee from life. Our job is not to produce a product. We’re here to embark on an evolutionary process our species has yet to embrace, let alone understand. How can we walk each other home when bombs are exploding, gunmen are shooting up schools, politicians are lying, people are starving for food and affection and Mother Earth is pleading and bleeding? I’m thinking Ram Dass might ask, “Do you have the willingness to exchange ME for WE?”
hmm– unity of body, mind and spirit– oneness within myself and other… how to be present and encompass the allness I’m in … step 1 might be– acceptance that it is possible… the path will unfold with greater ease in the presence of others on the path
Pause. Breathe. Notice my surroundings, what I’m doing (especially if the autopilot is on), sounds, sights. So simple and yet so difficult to maintain, particularly when I’m at work. Guess that’s why we call mindfulness a “practice.”
Practice, practice, practice. The path to awaken requires daily touchpoints. Starting the day, during the day, ending the day. Smriti, a gentle remembering. For me it requires a schedule and daily goals, like starting here with the daily question.
This question has an answer that I am continually pondering and working on through this portion of my life’s journey. Meditation, being present and gratefulness help.
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Leveraging this site, I can quiet the “noise” of self-doubt and worry and recall that for which I am grateful. This practice moves me to pause and be mindful, becoming more awake in mind and spirit.
For me I constantly need to remind my self to SLOW DOWN! Live in the moment, enjoy the present for it is a gift.
Hello! Brand new here. Like Barb C. I too would like to take my foot off the accelerator. I would also like to learn to listen deeply (without my monkey brain distracting me) and to really see instead of just look.
Welcome Janice:)
This is an interesting question. And it makes me think about what it means to be awake. What it means to be asleep and what levels of conciousness and conscious awareness are. As I have learned to meditate over my life I’ve learned that awake means aware and noticing what is rather than the perception of what might be. And what a beautiful gift. To be aware without judgements or discernments. Just allowing life to be as it is. The gifts of presence become visible when the awareness is unobstructed by thoughts of past or future. The sun shines brighter as the clouds pass through the sky.
The 1st thing that comes to mind for me is, do more yoga. Happy Day All..
Slowing down.
Breathing.
Decolonizing attention.
What is decolonizing attention?
Thanks for making me explain Rabbit! It’s a fancy way of saying that my thoughts can be taken over by the agendas of “outsiders” especially certain voices on social media. I can get distracted from my own interests and values by giving undue attention to the priorities of external voices. Am I making sense?
Thank you Elaine. That would mean like the news too because that has been a huge stressors to me and I think it has had a profoundly negative impact on my health? I have been diagnosed with several worsening health conditions in the last couple years.
The question speaks to me of my typical out of balance mode. My mind often smothers the body and spirit, especially the spirit. My husband calls me a deep thinker and overthinker is also an apt description. This is a big reason my am here with all of you and am trying to learn to nurture the spirit side of me. Thank you for your insights. People also tell me I am too hard on myself so maybe that is my mind thinking too much too.
I am more awake when I slow down. I’ve always been able to turn quickly from one task to another and keep going but that hurly-burly is its own kind of “sleep”–a blur of thought and motion with no pause to notice or be aware or awake in the actual moments. When I feel overwhelmed by all I have to get done and want to rush I try to remind myself that “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast”. Slow is also more mindful and focused and I can bring mind, body, and spirit together.
Thanks Barb. I like that quote about slow and smooth.
When I read Ram Dass’ quote that “We’re all just walking each other home.” I sighed and thought it’s too bad we don’t realize and understand that powerful message. It would change the whole world. As to the question I found at gratefulness.org today: “How can I become more awake in mind, body and spirit?” You have heard my answer before: WILLINGNESS. There are many paths and disciplines you can practice but until you own your own thoughts, feelings and actions, Life’s ups and downs cannot help you grow in awareness. As a fellow traveler shared at the gratefulness.org Hope Retreat, “Life is God in disguise.” In 1995, life as I knew it totally collapsed. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. In the middle of one sleepless night, I penned a poem (The Wings of Willingness). This is something I frequently do when dealing with painful emotions. About half way through my poem writing process, I found myself putting these words on the page: “My job is willingness. God’s job is transformation.” I can’t change, fix, or most importantly evolve in any way without willingness. So when you see a need, act but don’t organize too much. Go with the flow willingly. Trust life and yourself through the thick and the thin. We’re not here to fight or flee from life. Our job is not to produce a product. We’re here to embark on an evolutionary process our species has yet to embrace, let alone understand. How can we walk each other home when bombs are exploding, gunmen are shooting up schools, politicians are lying, people are starving for food and affection and Mother Earth is pleading and bleeding? I’m thinking Ram Dass might ask, “Do you have the willingness to exchange ME for WE?”
Amen
hmm– unity of body, mind and spirit– oneness within myself and other… how to be present and encompass the allness I’m in … step 1 might be– acceptance that it is possible… the path will unfold with greater ease in the presence of others on the path
I can do more to savor and stay connected to the present moment rather than be distracted away from it.
Pause. Breathe. Notice my surroundings, what I’m doing (especially if the autopilot is on), sounds, sights. So simple and yet so difficult to maintain, particularly when I’m at work. Guess that’s why we call mindfulness a “practice.”
Be Present In The Moment !
Practice, practice, practice. The path to awaken requires daily touchpoints. Starting the day, during the day, ending the day. Smriti, a gentle remembering. For me it requires a schedule and daily goals, like starting here with the daily question.
This question has an answer that I am continually pondering and working on through this portion of my life’s journey. Meditation, being present and gratefulness help.