reflection

madness

by admin

today i want to vent but I’m not sure what I want to vent about honestly. I think I am just tired as my sleep has sucked majorly this week. All day I have been extremely irritable. Sometimes I have a difficult time dealing with people (when people talk too much – this is a big one, when they don’t drive like I want them to drive because I have road rage, when people say they are going to do something then don’t, etc). My ego often delights in thinking about making “pet peeve” lists because I seem to have a lot of them. My weakness is irritability. It has gotten better over the years, but still.

My life has turned into madness lately (though not in a bad way) with taking on some big projects as well as the personal training certificate and i have about 500 things I want to accomplish outside of that as well.

in progress:

-community health ebook
-personal training studying, anatomy (certain amt of hrs per week)
-japanese studying (certain amt of hrs per week)
-finish book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” (halfway through)
-finish book “Power Foods” (haven’t started yet)
-finish book “Making Ideas Happen” (halfway through)
-more health research so that i can have more info on health site
-regular quick health tip videos
-isagenix prospects, holding contests, online marketing
-aiming for gym 5x/week (currently at about 3-4)
-cook something new once per week (I cook all the time but only the stuff I know how to cook. I want to cook new and better things).

This is the priority list as of now, aside from my side projects + full-time job. There’s quite a bit more but this is what needs to be focused on. Once I clear up a lot of this I will be in a much better position and can start my plant-based nutrition certificate which I am really excited about.

Reflections on Effort

by Liz B

The anxious student asked the Zen master how long to enlightenment. The Zen Master answered a long time, at least 10 years. The student said, “Well I will work twice as hard.” The Zen master said, “Then it will take 20 years.” “No!” said the committed student, “I will work three times as hard.” “Well then,” said the Zen master, “it will take 30 years.”

Do you need to work at being spiritual? No. You already are spiritual. Do you need to work at being human? No. That’s just who you are.

The spiritual path doesn’t require us to get anything. It’s a process of opening to new dimensions of who we already are. It’s a process of awakening to our own truth. It’s a process of allowing ourselves to be authentic.

“It is not by your actions that you will be saved, but by your being.”
— Meister Eckhart

“People ask what must they become to be loving. The answer is ‘nothing.’ It is a process of letting go of what you thought you had become and allowing your true nature to float to the surface naturally.”
— Stephen Levine

Being Aware of Your Thoughts

by Liz B

We seldom accept negative comments from others, however, we so often accept our own inner negative chatter.

Few people enjoy the company of individuals whose attitudes are persistently negative. Yet many of us tolerate the critical chatter that can originate within our own minds. Since we are so used to the stream of self-limiting, critical consciousness that winds its way through our thoughts, we are often unaware of the impact these musings have on our lives. It is only when we become aware of the power of such thoughts that we can divest ourselves of them and fill the emptiness they leave with loving, peaceful affirmations. Many people, upon paying careful attention to their thinking patterns, are surprised at the negativity they find there. But when we take notice of involuntary thoughts in a nonjudgmental way, we initiate a healing process that will eventually allow us to replace intimidating and upsetting self-talk with positive, empowering thoughts.

While the occasional downbeat or judgmental thought may have little impact on your contentment, the ongoing negativity that passes unnoticed can have a dampening effect on your mood and your outlook. When you are aware of the tone of your thoughts, however, you can challenge them. Try to be conscious of your feelings, opinions, and judgments for a single day. From sunup to sundown, scrutinize the messages you are feeding into your subconscious mind. Consider your thoughts from the perspective of a detached observer and try not to judge yourself based on the notions that come unbidden into your mind. Simply watch the flow of your consciousness and make a note of the number of times you find yourself focusing on gloomy notions or indulging in self-directed criticism.

As you become increasingly aware of your patterns of thought, whether positive and negative, you will gradually learn to control the character of your stream of consciousness. Endeavor always to remember that the images and ideas that pass through your mind are transient and not a true representation of who you are. In training yourself to be cognizant of your thoughts, you gain the ability to actively modulate your mood. The awareness you cultivate within yourself will eventually enable you to create a foundation of positivity from which you can build a more authentic existence. 

 

Source: Madisyn Taylor, DailyOm Newsletter

http://www.dailyom.com