I spent last week in Santa Cruz, California, with chi gong master, Lee Holden, during a week-long teacher training immersion program. It was an amazing experience in so many ways. Not only did I have a chance to deepen my understanding of chi flow (WW version of chi gong)--I got to look at some of the health and wellness themes that we talk about in new ways.
One thing Lee talked about is that the mind is always meditating. Unfortunately, it is meditating on the dark side. I never considered worrying or rehashing the past as "meditating," but it is. It is focusing the mind on something very specific and staying focused on it. How useless is this? Our evolution and strong DNA are at work. We are literally hard-wired to be suspicious of the unknown. By being on guard, defensive and expecting a hazard, our ancient ancestors survived. That rustle in the grass was not a bunny rabbit coming to kiss you cheek but the paw of a tiger slithering through the grass to have you for a snack.
Nowadays, our stressors are not usually that dire. We are flooded with stressors like too much information, too much to accomplish in too little time, etc. Yes, we have to pay attention to what is expected, but we do not have to focus all our energy on what is not helping. What about changing the channel in your head? What about switching to a channel where you see yourself calmer, in control and succeeding? What about paying attention to silence or to quiet in the brain or to the time in between activities or tasks?
What keeps us grounded is the body because the body is always in the present. The body is always feeling "today at this very moment." The mind wants to travel to the past and rehash it, or to the future and worry over it. Both of these "meditations" create more stress. Stress is fattening and frustrating. So, what about changing the channel in the mind to the program you'd like to watch? What would you like to see yourself doing well today? What would you like to see yourself NOT doing at all today? How would you like to feel today? Is it possible to tune in to that channel more often? Is it possible to be mindful of that image? If you're "meditating" anyway, why not meditate on the good stuff--because it will bring more positive energy to you--to have more of the good stuff.
This isn't a wish fulfillment practice, this is a positive intention practice. We benefit from training it. It does not come easily to many of us--me included, but it does create room for shifts to be noticed. By noticing shifts in our thinking or feeling, we can get closer and closer to what we really want. We can be present in body AND mind for what is really important and what is worthy of our attention in the first place.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Expand Your Horizons
As I compose this post, I am reflecting on just how much my own horizons have been expanded in the past two years and just how valuable this has been in my life's journey.
It was two years ago when my manager asked me to participate in a pilot program then called "Find Your Me." I was open to more responsibilities and honored to be asked. From the very start I noticed shifts and made connections that I was not previously aware of. Perhaps I hadn't slowed down long enough or been prompted or been exposed to the proven life coaching techniques made simple. It was enlightening for me, as a participant and as a WW leader to share this with members and notice their shifts and realizations and what a difference it made in their lives.
As a "body" person, I was just as open to becoming a Chi Flow guide. I am a yoga instructor, but I didn't know anything about chi gong--or the WW version of it--which we call Chi Flow. Yet, it too was a new opportunity, more responsibility and an exciting challenge I was ready for. This was a completely different format for WW members, and no one was sure how it would be received. After lots of training and development, the pilot program continues and has expanded. The overwhelming response has been amazing. Who doesn't want to feel good in their bodies and become more relaxed?
I now find myself in yet another unforeseen situation where I am helping to bring these two experiences to life for 150 people here, mostly leaders, their managers and upper managers among others. While the past two years have gone by quickly, it's humbling to know that something that started small in Minnesota has become so big and crossed the Atlantic. It is a reminder to me that little things do matter. One person can make a big difference to a lot of people. There can be a dramatic and exponential effect to bringing more health, wellness and wholeness to the world.
As someone who considers herself a healer and a helper, I am expanding my own horizons and getting out of my familiar surroundings. I am encouraging you to do the very same thing. What are the opportunities that are calling you? Are they leading you by the heart or by the head? Are they part of the pretty picture that is the life you wish for? What might it be like to know that you are where you want to be, doing what you like, shifting from waiting to living a dream?
It was two years ago when my manager asked me to participate in a pilot program then called "Find Your Me." I was open to more responsibilities and honored to be asked. From the very start I noticed shifts and made connections that I was not previously aware of. Perhaps I hadn't slowed down long enough or been prompted or been exposed to the proven life coaching techniques made simple. It was enlightening for me, as a participant and as a WW leader to share this with members and notice their shifts and realizations and what a difference it made in their lives.
As a "body" person, I was just as open to becoming a Chi Flow guide. I am a yoga instructor, but I didn't know anything about chi gong--or the WW version of it--which we call Chi Flow. Yet, it too was a new opportunity, more responsibility and an exciting challenge I was ready for. This was a completely different format for WW members, and no one was sure how it would be received. After lots of training and development, the pilot program continues and has expanded. The overwhelming response has been amazing. Who doesn't want to feel good in their bodies and become more relaxed?
I now find myself in yet another unforeseen situation where I am helping to bring these two experiences to life for 150 people here, mostly leaders, their managers and upper managers among others. While the past two years have gone by quickly, it's humbling to know that something that started small in Minnesota has become so big and crossed the Atlantic. It is a reminder to me that little things do matter. One person can make a big difference to a lot of people. There can be a dramatic and exponential effect to bringing more health, wellness and wholeness to the world.
As someone who considers herself a healer and a helper, I am expanding my own horizons and getting out of my familiar surroundings. I am encouraging you to do the very same thing. What are the opportunities that are calling you? Are they leading you by the heart or by the head? Are they part of the pretty picture that is the life you wish for? What might it be like to know that you are where you want to be, doing what you like, shifting from waiting to living a dream?
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Back to Regular Programming: Assert Yourself to Yourself
It's the Fifth of July. While lots of people seem to be moving slowly today, it is not the Fourth of July any longer. That means that we just keep moving along. We return to regular programming. We stop eating picnic food and start following our regular eating patterns. This is a life skill to practice shifting back to normal patterns after vacation, a hiatus, an illness or a unexpected bump in the road.
This is also the time to simply ASSERT YOURSELF. Sometimes there is actually no one but yourself standing in your way. Yes, we know food pushers don't help. Yes, we know that hearing things like, "come on, we're all going to lunch..happy hour...coffee (meaning coffee sundaes and scones)...just this once..." don't help. But, let's be real. The one and only person who gives yourself permission to eat or not, indulge or restrict is you.
Have you been asserting yourself to yourself lately? Have you been doing what's required as opposed to what you "feel" like in the moment? Have you been holding yourself accountable to what you really want?
And, by the way, what is that? What is it that you really want? A good day on plan? A good day engaging in physical activity? A good night's sleep?
Regroup today. Step away from the long weekend. March directly and single-mindedly towards your dreams.
This is also the time to simply ASSERT YOURSELF. Sometimes there is actually no one but yourself standing in your way. Yes, we know food pushers don't help. Yes, we know that hearing things like, "come on, we're all going to lunch..happy hour...coffee (meaning coffee sundaes and scones)...just this once..." don't help. But, let's be real. The one and only person who gives yourself permission to eat or not, indulge or restrict is you.
Have you been asserting yourself to yourself lately? Have you been doing what's required as opposed to what you "feel" like in the moment? Have you been holding yourself accountable to what you really want?
And, by the way, what is that? What is it that you really want? A good day on plan? A good day engaging in physical activity? A good night's sleep?
Regroup today. Step away from the long weekend. March directly and single-mindedly towards your dreams.
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