Have you ever heard the saying that the present moment is a gift? Therefore this weeks challenge is just that! Not only will we focus on the present moment but also I want each of you to buy yourself a little gift for your efforts this past year.
The Challenge:
1) Take a moment to focus on right now. When I do this I usually find everything gets very simple because usually the present moment is just that. It is usually the thoughts about past or future that complicate things. Notice what your 5 senses tell you. Notice your breath and relax. Yoga classes always end with relaxation and since we are only a week away from the end of our challenge I want you to relax and enjoy the simplicity and the success you have created. You are a creator. You alone have created your accomplishments. In yoga the god Shiva is the creator and destroyer. So are we. You can create or destroy your dreams. It can seem easy to blame others but consider the hope and empowerment of working around the "I can't because..." sentences.
2) Go buy yourself a gift! Maybe it's just a celebratory cup of coffee or maybe a trinket to remind you of the challenge. I'd love to hear what you get so please tell me!
What I'm working on:
My meditation practice is usually just taking a few moments to be mindful. Usually when I'm out walking the dogs. They remind me to be present and in this case are my teachers. As they sniff and stand around I try to enjoy the present moment vs. being frustrated that they aren't walking fast enough or doing their business. Note: The key word in the last sentence is try...when I'm in a hurry or hot in the 90 plus degrees and high humidity sometimes the present moment isn't as pleasant as it is in the cool house :)
Jody got me a beautiful necklace on his trip to Mexico. Plus my time in Portland with Jody and my friends and now here in FL with my mom and pets has been an amazing gift. This past year I have spent a lot of time alone and time with people has been wonderful and the best gift ever. The fact that my new book Yen Path: Taking Steps Towards What You Want in Life has been published and I am having successes with promotion and sales is a great gift too! Mom's going to take me to dinner at our favorite organic restaurant to celebrate... I feel so blessed!
I also asked my nephew Stephen to create a logo for my next book idea which will be part of the Yen Path brand. He decided to go to school to be a graphic designer so I thought I would give him a shot and he did not disappoint! In July I will start that book proposal and a few other new business ventures.
I hope you have enjoyed this year as much as I have. Times of extreme growth can bring about growing pains and I sure did experience those as well. But now all that pain is behind me as I sit in my present moment with the gifts I have given myself -- accomplishing my goals. All 3 of my goals have been accomplished and to sit with that in this moment is extremely gratifying.
You have the tools to move ahead -- but let's save that for next week; our last week of the challenge will focus on just that -- the future!
Enjoy!
Last year at this time I was reading Ursula LeGuin's "Wizard of Earth Sea". A journey through my own life, really. She said,"A wise person never sets the self apart from other living things, whether the have speech or not. One must strive to learn, in silence, fro the eyes of animals, the flight of birds, the great slow gestures of trees".
ReplyDeleteI can say that has been my "present" this year. Being so much more in tune with creation.
It has been a lovely journey.
Have I learned to live more simply? Watching the garden grow may be the key to that question.