Release

The intention for today is Release.

Today, release anything that you do not need. May it be a thought pattern, a behavior, a feeling, let it go. Just asking the undesired element in you to dissolve can do wonders. But first, you need to acknowledge its presence.

Thank you Release for making us lighter.

PS: Everything you are experiencing has a message for you. Dig deeper and ask, "what do I need from this?" Open up to receive the answers. Then, let go of all that is not wanted. Love yourself for having that which you want to release.

Enjoy

The intention for today is Enjoy.

Today enjoy each moment of your day. Remember you have a choice in how you view your experiences. Reach for that which feels good and joyful.

Thank you Enjoy for enabling us to stay in joyous flow of life, love and laughter.

PS: You can help yourself enjoy the day by doing something that is fun, spending time with someone who always makes you laugh, or any of the 100 other ways!

Stroll

The intention for today is Stroll.

Take a stroll today. Go outside as soon as you can. There is a treasure waiting for you to find.

Thank you Stroll for giving us fresh air and insight.

PS: Take this Intention For Today as a reminder for connecting with nature, wherever you are, even if it means admiring a house plant. Give it your loving attention.

You Are Enough.

The Mind Chatter

The voices in the mind rage. Words strung into sentences float in the space of the mind. Words evoking emotions of imperfection, emotions of impatience, emotions of not having arrived. The deluge of these thoughts takes a toll. Waking up in the morning begins the flow. Going to bed at night pauses the flow. Then, you realise that this constant bombardment of notions is not really serving your highest good.

I remember times when the mental chatter was painful to the extent that it led to a consistent feeling of sadness, inner pain and lack of enthusiasm. For the smallest thing that I did or did not do, this strange inner voice would comment, criticise, complain and scold. Although, today the voice is not so loud and not so incessant, I still encounter moments where I am flashed with this bright stadium light of inner critique, harsh, cold and blinding light. Then it dissipates. I have then moments to breathe and live with a sense of relief.

I Am Enough

Today, I listened to a conversation by Hans King as he was being interviewed by Lisa Garr of The Aware Show. The conversation was full of highlights and insights that deeply resonated with me. Hans reminded us this undeniable truth: You are Enough. It resonated with my very core.

It resonated with me because to hear those words, "You are enough", felt like the chains had been dismantled, the pressure had been released and I was floating in a nebulous wave of relief and joy. He said, there is nothing you need to do, nowhere you need to go. When Lisa asked Hans, so how does our goal-setting and strategizing play into it, Hans replied that we can still do it all for the experience of it. Wow!!! We do all our goal setting, aiming for change, creating new things, making a difference, all for the EXPERIENCE of it. That feels really liberating. I don't have to do any of this. But I CHOOSE to do all of it; because I want to have the experience of the creating, transforming and changing. The pressure is off. The cage is open. The dams have been broken. The bird is set free. The river can flow freely.

Setting the Intention

Another insight that I take from the convesation is about setting Intention. Hans said that our intention matters the most, even more than our deeds. Each day, we can set an intention for ourselves, for our life and become clear about why we are doing something and for what purpose. Ultimately, he says our purpose is to be of service to one another. And that was so beautifully and profoundly said. I have often searched and enquired about my life's purpose. Through the introspection, I have become clear about my dream and my vision that I want to manifest in this lifetime. Yes, that is all there. Yet, when it comes down to it, the fundamental purpose of my life is to be of service. So there you have it. The confusion is dissolved. The mystery is demystified.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Many teachers of consciousness have spoken about this. When you need help, you ask for it. It is your responsibility to ask for guidance, to ask for help, says Hans. I know for myself that only recently have I come to understand this concept and I am learning to live it fully each day. To actively ask Life, the Universe, the Spirit Guides for help and guidance is something I have done only as a LAST RESORT! Yet, it is becoming more and more easy for me to ask, to request for help. This process of asking for help, also puts me in a state of gratitude. I become aware of the blessings that are in my life and how I am constantly being shown the path, and assisted along the way. The state of gratitude is what raises my vibration immediately. One of the most powerful ways of feeling good and living fully, for me, is to feel the emotion of gratitude and appreciation.

Thank you Hans King for so eloquently presenting these insights which have spoken straight to my heart. Your wisdom, your openness and your service to humanity is deeply appreciated. I thank you for taking the time and having the conversation with Lisa Garr.

I have been listening to Lisa Garr's show for some years now and I express my deep gratitude to her for her candid, authentic self as she poses the questions and shares her life on the show. She has a soothing, relaxing voice that reminds me of cozy afternoons with pillows and hot tea and loving friends chatting away about life and the Universe. Thank you for bringing to me rich, vibrant conversations with the Gurus and Teachers of our time who have committed their life to serving the expansion of human consciousness. Thank you, Lisa.

You can learn about Lisa's show here: The Aware Show. And you can learn about Hans King by exploring his website here.

A Mighty Flame follows a Tiny Spark. -Dante

There are areas in our lives that we all want to change or enhance. Often the desire is to make sweeping radical changes. For instance, if someone wants to loose weight they may go on an extreme diet. What I have come to realize lately is that often it is the small, tiny changes that go a long way. By changing one element of our life, no matter how small it may seem, we end up with massive alterations, especially when done with consistency. 

This is so true, I have found, in the case of how we look at things. When we tweak, ever so slightly, how we look at things, it can help us to live an even richer and harmonious life and can turn problems into life-enriching experiences. These are some of the ways we can turn things around:

-When there is a problem you encounter, see it as an opportunity for growth. This is the chance to practice your faith in yourself and in the knowing that life will not present to you anything that you cannot overcome.

-When there is any delay, in a traffic jam or waiting in a line, or anything else, think of it as a chance to practice your mindfulness. Noticing the moment, noticing the breath, or observing the people or the environment around you.

-When faced with something that angers you, see it as an invitation from life to release your anger and to let go of such emotions.

-When you become aware of something that you want to change within yourself, a habit for example, you can take that chance to feel grateful that you have the capacity to change yourself and to design a life you want. It is also an invitation for you to love and accept where you are in the journey and enjoy every moment of the journey you are on.

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark, says Dante. Let us take inspiration from that saying and each day feed the spark within us, so that we may become the flame that can show the way to others on the path.

Spark

The intention for today is Spark.

A spark may be small but within it lies infinite strength. Kindle the spark for life and love in someone today, starting with yourself.

Thank you Spark for igniting the love within us.

PS: Often a tiny spark of curiosity ignited within a child, becomes what transforms the world.

Clarity

The intention for today is Clarity.

Today, the intention is to become one with clarity. May a clear heart and clear mind drive our thoughts, feelings and actions. May we feel through the depths of clarity and have a vast vision with vibrant dimensions of clarity.

Thank you Clarity for showing us the way.

PS: A clear mind is like a glass water when all the dust has settled to the bottom of the glass, leaving the entire glass clear and pristine. May we invite that calm, clear nature of the mind into our experience.

Happiness

The intention for today is Happiness.

"Happiness is a choice", say the gurus of consciousness and love. So choose happiness today. If something annoys you, choose to become happy. If something upsets you choose to remain happy. We are not suppressing the emotion of annoyance or upset. You feel it, become aware of it and THEN choose to continue differently.

Thank you Happiness for keeping us happy at heart.

PS: A beautiful friend of mine reminded me some time ago of a happiness button. Every day she wakes up in the morning, she presses the happiness button and it turns on. Try it. It's free. ;-)

Gratitude

The intention for today is Gratitude.

Today, show your thanks for all the abundance in your life. Yes, you are abundant. Just close your eyes and think of all the things that are working in your favor. Think about your life and look at all the wonderful experiences you have had. Moments of incontrollable laughter, moments of joy and pleasure and utmost peace. All the beauty and wonder that is you. Be Grateful, for all this today.

Thank you Gratitude for showing us how blessed we are.

PS: If there is anything you are looking to change in your life, begin with an attitude of gratitude. And then, see your problems dissolve, making room for all the refreshing, nourishing energy creating all that your heart desires.

Be Yourself

The intention for today is Be Yourself.

Today, know that you are already perfect. Be comfortable in who you are. Know that you are loved and admired for the beautiful self you are. Enjoy basking in the love of the Universe who adores you in more ways than you can imagine right now.

Thank you Being Yourself for allowing us to just be.

PS: When you are just being yourself, that is when people, circumstances and events unfold in your favor. They are attracted to your raw essence and are drawn in by your true nature.

Draw

The Intention for Today is Draw.

Today, draw yourself an image. Draw like you did as a child. Take some color pens, paintbrushes, crayons or colored pencils or a lead pencil and just doodle on paper. Do this without hesistation. You may draw in the inspiration that you have been looking for.

Thank you Draw for connecting us with ourselves.

PS: Drawing is letting your spirit flow through your body, through the fingers, down to the paper and emerge in front of your eyes.

Follow Your Heart

We often make things more complicated than they are. Thankfully, this quote from the lovely book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, puts it down in a nutshell. And it makes things simple in a profound way. When we follow the messages from our heart, the experience of life becomes that of love, adventure and peace. The heart makes it really easy for us too. It will give you signals of ease when you are headed in alignment with your path and a clear signal of unrest and discomfort when you are not doing what is good for your highest self. We have this compass, in grained within us, in our bodies. We were born with it. And right now as you are reading these words, become aware of your heart. Just take a moment, close your eyes and bring your attention to your heart. And then continue reading.

Following the wisdom of our heart has not been so fashionable in our society. At times when someone does what they love to do or is inspired to go for something from their heart, our society has given them even more challenges to overcome. To people around us who are not used to seeing such "bold" behavior- behavior that goes against conventional ways of being, it can seem very threatening. And in the past, we may have hesitated to do what we felt was right, out of respect for others or out of fear of being ostracized. Yet, when we stray away from what our heart wants, it is we who lose respect of ourselves and when done consistently, we may take up distractions, in the form of habits and behaviors, that helps us forget all those moments when we didn't listen to our heart.

Our society is changing rapidly and welcoming more and more people who follow their heart. And it is never too late. Following one's heart can begin at anytime, at any age, on any day. It can begin with baby steps or with big bold mountain steps. And we don't need to beat up ourselves for those moments in the past when we did not do what we were called to do. Every thing, every action or inaction, is in alignment with some cosmic purpose. All your life's experiences have prepared you to arrive at this moment. It is in this moment that we can now creatively channel our life's inspirations and our heart's callings. So heed the messages. Follow the omens that are laid on our path, as The Alchemist reminds us. Listen to your heart and you will find the treasure there!

Love,
Sophia


Heart

The Intention for Today is Heart.

Like the butterfly, who follows the scent of the flower.
Like the sunflower, who follows the rays of the sun.
Like the stream that knows only downhill.
Follow your heart, to find the treasures within.

Thank you Heart for showing us the way.

PS: Take the message from your heart with grace and you will always be on the path to your bliss.

Meditation Books I Love: Part 1

As you embark deeper on your journey to meditation, I would like to share with you a couple of books on mediation.

1. "Wherever you go, there you are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn:  I recommend this book because it is composed of small chapters that you can read and incorporate the wisdom into your life bit by bit. The chapters are 2-3 pages long only with a practice at the end of the chapter that provokes your thinking. I also love the anecdotes that Kabat-Zinn shares in this book. Take a look and enjoy. Here is also a video review of the book that I did on the book.

2. "Turning the mind into an ally" by Sakyom Mipham: I have a special connection with this book. When I was living in New York, I visited many yoga centers and buddhist centers. One day, a friend of mine, Nancy and I walked into a meditation center in Manhattan. We began talking with one of the volunteers who was helping out the center in the daily running of the place. We chatted a little and I asked him about the book he was holding in this hand. It was this lovely book with a white cover that had an eloquent script for a title. He explained to me how this book was influencing him for being more in tune with his inner world. Then, as we were leaving, he said to me, "Here you go". He was handing me the book. I gave him a surprised, joyful glance. He said that this book belongs to me now. This kind gesture was truly heartwarming and even after so many years, this gift from a "stranger" is a source of warm feelings.

I have read this book with great gratitude and joy. In the reading of this book, I have gained a sense of peace. The author offers an intimate view of meditation and in the way he describes what happens to us when we are meditating, is simply eye-opening. He uses the analogy of a horse to describe our mind, an analogy that clearly brings to me the message that meditation needs to be a practice done daily. Only then can we train our mind to become our ally. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about changing their habits, improving mental health, and refining their concentration and sharpening their sense of focus and clarity.

Consistent

The intention for today is Consistent.

Today, stay consistent. Stay focussed on the promises to yourself. Remain consistent with yourself and the dreams you have. Allow nothing to shift you from that crystal clarity of who you are.

Thank you Consistency for helping us stay committed. 

PS: Today would be a great day to look past any "failures" or "missteps" in your life. Shake it off with grace and come back on the path.

Meditation Retreat

Today I want to share with you the possibilities that exist to immerse yourself in a meditative lifestyle. The full immersion method is used as an effective teaching tool for example in language learning where the student is exposed to the new language constantly. This helps in faster and deeper adoption of the new language. 

Full-time immersion in meditation is also an amazing way to get into the practice. Spending an entire day, a weekend or even 10 days in a meditation retreat can jump-start your practice and bring you its benefits in dramatic ways. This is clearly more demanding than a meditation practice for 30 minutes a day. Nevertheless, the benefits that pour into the rest of your life makes it totally worthwhile. This means both a commitment that shows up in advance planning, and allocating the needed resources to make it happen.

Many meditation centers offer opportunities for extensive deep immersion meditation. Omega Center in Rhinebeck, NY has weekend meditation retreats, so does The Chopra Center which offers unique meditation programs all across the United States, Puerto Rico and in many other places in the world. If you are living outside the US, check out your local yoga studios, meditation centers, community churches or conscious living centers for opportunities. And share them in the comments below so more people can learn about them.

Consider planning a meditation retreat for yourself. It will be an experience you will embrace and the benefits will overflow into your every day living.

Tai chi: Meditation in Motion

Recently, a friend of mine invited me to check out a Tai Chi class here in Asheville. Tai chi has fascinated me for quite a while. It's fluid movements that speak of some hidden knowledge practiced my Masters of ages gone by. It has represented to me a way of being in tune with nature with respect and compassion for all, especially when used as a martial arts form. Today, it is widely hailed as a gentle yet powerful way to heal your mind, body and spirit.

So, this morning I went to my first Tai Chi class! My teacher Liz is very welcoming and warmly welcomed us to the class. The class was held inside a room with windows all around overlooking the park, which was lovely. We began with some warm up exercises with breathing in focus. And the rest of the class we learned the first part of a movement called Commencement. It was really great to follow her as she repeatedly showed us every segment of the movement. Already in the first few minutes, I started feeling a tingling between my palms. This is a pleasant sensation, soothing and healing. Liz used many analogies to help us visualize our movements such as swimming through pudding or moving a ball. What was remarkable is that throughout the whole movement, all joints are kept bent, both in the legs and in the arms. All of these movements are meant to build strength, flexibility and vitality in the entire body. 

After I got home, I did some basic research on Tai Chi and learnt that this ancient Chinese art form has a foundation in the philosophies of Tao and Confucius. It's basis is the interplay of the yin and yang energy and the merging of the energy in to one universal life force, chi. In fact, the Taijitu symbol also known as the ying-yang symbol of interlocking curves with dots at the center of each fold, is also the symbol for Tai chi from the famous book I Ching.

As someone who loves meditation, Tai chi is really meditation in motion and I enjoyed every moment of it. At the end of the session, I was filled with lightness, joy and felt energized for the day. I am going back next week and if you are in Asheville area, come to Aston Park on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 for Tai Chi with Liz.

Forgive Yourself

The intention for today is Forgive Yourself.

Today, forgive yourself for any wrong doing. Give yourself a hug. Let go of guilt and self-reproach talk. You always do the best you can, in every circumstance. There is always room for progress, so let it go.

Thank you Forgiveness for showing us where to let go.

PS: Forgiving yourself may be the best thing you ever do for yourself, besides forgiving others!

Making Friends With Resistance

Do you encounter resistance? Resistance! This sticky substance that keeps your feet planted, your fingers glued and your tongue tied. It leaves you with inertia, a state of being at rest unless propelled forward (although we are constantly in motion according to quantum physics!). You know it, right? If you said "no", you are free of it. Yippee! You, please go NOW and celebrate! We are joining you at the end of this article! Those of you who are not there yet, you know what I am talking about, right?

I have been feeling resistance to my writing lately. Yes, on the first anniversary of the reflections blog, resistance is still showing up. It is this voice that says, "what does it matter! Who is reading your blog/newsletter, anyway?" Or  "You don't have anything to share this week. Wait for some more juicy stuff next week." And on and on. This is the voice of resistance. It wants to test me. It wants me to show it that I really care about my writing, that I am passionate about it to the extent that I will ignore its' voice. So, it pushes where it hurts most, the delicate points, the no-go zone. It knows exactly where to press the buttons. It pops up unexpectedly, without pre-warning! Just when you are thinking, I have got it down on its knees, it rears its face again. 

And for me, resistance shows up most often in exactly those areas where it matters. Resistance to washing dishes or doing the laundry is something that eventually catches up to you and you know when you are running low on fresh clothing that it is time to finally do the laundry. But how about matters that really matter for your entire life? You know, life purpose and contribution and sense of fulfillment- that kind of thing? How do you know it is time to get your act together? I guess, it also catches up to you. There comes a time when you look at the life you are living and it shows you exactly how far you have come. And when the desire to be somewhere else is strong, the where-you-are-now becomes a source of a new kind of resentment. You know? When we dislike where we are, or are screaming on the top of our lungs about what we don't like about our current life, it is resistance to the NOW of our lives. It is just another type of resistance.

So we can count and share all the different ways resistance shows up for us. The question then arises is why is it there and what to do about it? Ah, great questions to start off with. It seems to me that resistance shows us what matters to us. That important phone call to make, that creative project to start/finish, that blissful place to go to, that joyous event to attend, that inspiring Sunday Reflections to write ;-), that awesome bicycle ride to go on, that legendary memoir to write, that business idea to implement, that self-care action to take, that hour of extra sleep to have, and on and on the list goes. These are the type of important, very important things that we resist. We resist that which is good for us. We resist our own growth and our own success.

So, that is why it is there? Simply to show us what is important? Or perhaps, to show us we are really serious and committed every time we overcome the resistance. Or to inspire our creativity in some amazing way. It is there as a tool for our growth. And there may be many other reasons why it is there. Yet, it is crucial now for us to consider what to do about it:

First, ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

When a child has just tripped and starts to cry, as soon as a parent or older brother or sister comes running to give it their love and attention, the child very soon tends to stop crying. His crying was way louder than how much it hurt! Just like that, resistance is way louder that it actually is hurting us. By running towards it, giving it the love and attention it is asking for, we can help it to fade. So, when you have some resistance showing up, acknowledge it in the best possible way you know how. Just recognize that it is there. Stay with it for a little while, and see it disappear. It can be as simple as saying: "Ah, that looks like resistance!"

Second, THANK IT.

When resistance hits, thank it. There is always a higher purpose for everything. So the resistance has appeared for some higher purpose that you may not know right now. Just trust that it has a role to play in your growth, and for the long run, it is important that you go through it. So just thank it. "Resistance, I thank you for helping me on my journey of growth and prosperity."

Third, RELEASE IT.

After you have acknowledged resistance by becoming aware of it and thanked it for being there, release it. You can do this, for example, by journaling a few lines about the resistance. Write down on paper that can be later destroyed. Just take five or 10 minutes and write without stopping. Write all that wants to come on to the paper. Let the words run. Let them flow on the paper. Stop only when you know that it is time to stop. Then, safely destroy the paper.

Fourth, PRAY FOR IT.

Resistance is your friend. It comes into your life, shows you some life lessons and then disappears. You can send it off with a prayer like this one: "I am sorry for all the moments when I ignored you, resistance. I am sorry for not paying you the attention you wanted. I thank you for being in my life only as long as is needed for my highest good. I love you for your persistence and dedication to my growth and happiness. I am truly grateful to have gotten to know you. May you serve your purpose wherever you go. Thank you and Farewell."

This process of befriending resistance can be beneficial to you and to all those who come in contact with you. So, make friends with resistance. It can be powerful and transformational.

So how does resistance show up for you? What does it look like? What is it trying to tell you? What does if want your attention for? And how does it go away? Share you insights for us all.

Share

The Intention for Today is Share.

Today share something. Sharing is a beautiful way to express the notion that we are all one. When we give to another, we are giving to ourselves. Open the gates of Flow.

Thank you Share for showing us abundance.

PS: Sharing need not be material, all though it can be. A personal story, experience or vulnerability when shared and expressed does mountains to bring people together.