Voices

This quote is from author Kathy Juline: "No one exactly like you has ever, or will ever, be born. You are the only expression of Life that has your precise combination of traits, abilities, and gifts. Because you are unique, you are the sole person who knows how you are to live. No one else can know for you."
We experience in life an onslaught of voices. There's the set of voices from the outer that would tell us what we should or shouldn't do with our lives. Note above: No one else can know for you. "No one else" includes parents, children, friends, spouse, siblings, religious leaders, politicians, etc., "NO ONE."
Then there's the voice within, that inner wisdom that truly does know how best for us to live a life of joy. It takes practice to pay attention, hear, and trust this inner wisdom. It also takes courage to listen to and follow this often still small voice, rather than the loud clamor of outer opinions and advice.
Who's steering the ship of your life?
Blessings!
Leta

"Oooooo, I like that."

A friend recently had the joy of seeing the Dalai Lama in person in Louisville. In describing His Holiness, she said he laughs a LOT, and often says, "Oooooo, I like that." I expect that this little tidbit of approach to life could be a powerful life-changer for the better, if we could simply laugh at most things (especially ourselves) and say, "Oooooo, I like that."
I guarantee that there are instances in my day wherein I'd be challenged to say, "Oooooo, I like that." But I also know that there are blessings in every moment, even if I don't recognize them IN the moment.
I'm figuring that if the Dalai Lama can be so joyful, given the horrors he's seen and experienced, why can't I? My life is a piece of cake, really. "Oooooo, I like that."
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all!
Many thanks to those soldiers and loved ones who have gone the extra mile to make our lives so good!
Leta

Boredom or Dynamic Peace?

I had a wonderful week-long visit with my two sons in Fort Collins, Colorado. Then I came home, back to my "regular" life, which I truly love. Whether it's my "work" life, or being a domestic goddess, I am generally quite happy.
Alas, I'm bored. Same old, same old. Little seems to be changing, and results in some instances continue to disappoint me.
But wait. My wise practitioner refers to this state as "dynamic peace." Life is flowing smoothly and nothing is happening to disturb my inner peace. That feels way better than "I'm bored."
I also have a sense that things are developing, and I'm simply in the waiting or incubation stage, and I'll admit, waiting is not my strong suit.
We shall see what develops, and in the meantime, be at peace.
All is well.
Leta

Dump-Delegate-Do It Differently

Executive coach and consultant Jim Dethmer offers this very interesting exercise:
1. Identify the top 25 activities you engaged in during the past month.
2. Next to each one put an arrow: pointing up means the activity increased your energy level, sideways means it's neutral, pointing down means it decreased your energy level.
3. For those noted as neutral or down-arrow activities, consider one of the following options:
     a. dump it
     b. delegate it
     c. do it differently
A personal example of this for me (though I didn't know I was doing this exercise at the time) is house-cleaning, very much a down-arrow activity. It has to be done (can't dump it). I don't want to pay a cleaning person (won't delegate it). Now I do it differently. I set a timer for one hour and clean as much as I can as fast as I can. I am generally invigorated by how much cleaning I squeezed into that hour, and I'm overjoyed that I can quit in one hour.
I think this is a pretty cool exercise, and I'll be pondering other activities in my life in light of this.
Have a super week!
Leta

One Thought on "Why Practice Yoga?"

This comes from a Huffington Post article titled "Your Brain on Yoga: How to Kick Bad Habits and Foster Better Ones"...

Eva Norlyk Smith: Many people who practice yoga regularly say that not only does it get easier to get on to the mat, it also becomes easier to make better lifestyle choices -- eat more healthful foods, get enough rest, engage in more physical activity, and so on. Why is that?

Dr. Timothy McCall: That's the other piece of the puzzle. When yoga is practiced with sensitivity and attention, it gradually increases awareness. It awakens your ability to feel what's happening in your body, heart, and mind. When you become more aware of your body, more aware of your mind, more aware of your breath, you start to notice the consequences of your behavior. So a particular food that might not be so healthy may taste good to you, but you may start to realize that when you eat it, you feel crummy. When you notice that connection, you say, "You know what, I don't think I want to eat this anymore."

That's another way that yoga can help us to change habits. It comes from the inside. What the doctor tells you is one thing. But when you notice the consequences of your actions, it's a very different -- and much more effective -- motivator. This is your body's internal wisdom talking to you, and that advice is a lot easier to follow than that of a doctor.

I have found this to be true for myself personally. And it's way easier than fighting a bad habit. 

Check out my website for more on Forrest Yoga, and join me!

Breathe!

Leta

Contemplating Death

The blog title is a chapter title in the book, The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer. It is an extraordinary chapter that invites thoughtful consideration.
Here's a quote from the chapter and an assignment in the class I am currently facilitating:

“Think honestly about what you would do with your last week. What a wonderful thought to contemplate. Then ponder this question: If that’s really what you would do with your last week, what are you doing with the rest of your time? Wasting it? Throwing it away? Treating it like it’s not something precious? What are you doing with life? That is what death asks you.” 

In fact, this could be my or your last week here. We don't know when that last breath will be. Does that inspire any changes in your life? I'm pondering...

Live an inspired week!

Leta

Disappointment

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed that the Shockers lost to Louisville on Saturday night. However, in my emotional realm, disappointment is 1% and pride in the Shockers' accomplishments is 99%! What an awesome adventure for them and all their fans, all of Wichita, all of Kansas! "Good work!" to the team and coaches and all who traveled to cheer them on.

But wait, I'm not done. Disappointment has been a huge issue for me in life (as in, I don't even want to go there or try that or whatever, because I'll be disappointed). Spirit has given me a huge boost in dealing with this issue in this quote from fellow practitioner, Jenn Fay: "Disappointment is judging something too soon, for the end result of GRAND is guaranteed." Disappointment has always felt like an insurmountable boogie-man to me. "Judging something too soon," now that I can work with. I'm excited to see where this simple, but empowering, thought takes me.

Have a lovely week!
Leta