Recognizing emotions as guideposts

Ramen Girl tends to want to fix things and make things better.

Until one day, she embarked on the practice of meditation. She started noticing that things began to change within her. She no longer wanted to make things better or fix them. She allowed things to unfold as she watched the emotions come and go. When the feelings got uncomfortable, she paused there, watching it without judgment and recognizing that it was present, not resisting, nor creating and had risen but it also faded.

Watching the mind experience grief, witnessing pain and suffering, and a range of feelings, she realized the parallel of meditation and emotional courage like she hadn't experienced before. It appeared to have opened up so much within her. She witnessed emotions coming and going as she sat in stillness. As she practised daily, listening allowed space for people's emotions to rise without identifying them as good or bad. “I have an idea; I must fix how you feel and make you feel better” was merely a thought.

Ramen Girl was mindblown. Engaging with people is a phenomenal moment of exploration, seeing them and hearing them without needing to respond to fix and understand, allowing space for diverse feelings and thinking. In cultivating awareness, seeing things as they are shows up, and change is a limitless possibility. Creativity, curiosity, experiments, and iteration happen in the richness of feeling and thinking with gentle investigation.

This week has been complex as she grieved in silence. She was not ready to share the whole of it yet. It is vital for those around her, while not ignoring and judging, to see it thoroughly and give it love and gentleness. This has been a tremendous opportunity to show up, watching everyone dear. Grief and joy seemed to come in waves, and she noticed memories and feelings of loss and pain in her heart. At the same time, the waves bring to light the gift of impermanence and enduring abundant love.

If something in this blog post strikes curiosity, feel free to look at it.

Here are some references to begin your inquiry and unique journey to self-discovery, love, and purpose.

Meditation can bridge the gap between our intention and our reality, seeing things as they are and how to be perhaps honest with ourselves.

Thank you for your willingness and courage to explore, discover, be curious, and show up for yourself. Much love and respect. <3 08.11.2021 ay

Desire and sadness letting go

April 25th:

Have you ever encountered wanting something, and when you didn’t get it, it felt like the biggest letdown, so the next thing, of course, was to write about it…but lost the content during the publishing stage? Yes. It happens. Continue tomorrow. I hope to recall what I wrote. I realize it may not be the same and some elements may have been lost in the process of recollection. I will thrive regardless.

Well, it is May 25th:

One month from the episode of losing all that content, I wrote after that very thing I wanted, and I didn’t get. I honestly thought I was going to be angry and upset for a long time, but I felt a different way. I came to acknowledge the fact that it's okay not always to get what I want. Do you see me crying for days? Surprisingly, No. I honestly thought I was going to be "sad" about it for a long time, but even if I tried, every time I think I am sad, I couldn’t stay sad. Believe me, I tried. But my mind would draw a blank. I would stop and check in with my body and notice if any sensations came up. Even in my body, I tried to feel if sadness had an impression, but experientially, it was merely an exhale.

How meditation has benefitted me and been for me, experientially, resilience is no longer something to strive for, or somehow it feels like there is no need to be resilient because there is nothing to overcome nor resist. Those things that I expected to bother me no longer do, and even when it does trigger some things, I have learned not to engage in that thought and feeling. I am not exactly sure what is happening, but of course, there will be moments when things will not go as we expect. It's okay. Let it be. xo

Kindness is Always There

We recently lost a legend whose songs touched many of us. Thank you for the reminder I am here to embrace both my feminine and masculine nature, Mr. Prine.

I want to lean back.

I am trusting you.

I create space for things to unfold.

Noticing that when the mind takes hold, it can cause myself to retreat, I feel it in my body. I feel the sensation in my body like I want to run away when I feel fear and uneasiness.

Lean back, watch it. Let go of it.

I am grateful for this body. I am thankful for every breath.

Relinquish the desire to control the outcome. I feel it in my body.

Acknowledge thoughts and feelings, trust, and let go. Return to love and trust. Kindness is there all along.

Don’t hold back with giving and expressing love. Just witness your breath.

Your love is boundless. It is there all along. When our mind gets caught up in fear, we lose sight of it. It is okay.

I feel it in my heart. I want to embrace you. You come to meet me halfway.

Takeaway:

During these unprecedented times, we will experience uncomfortable emotions and thoughts coming and going. This is okay. These feelings of grief, fear, anxiety are opportunities to notice that kindness and appreciation are there. Kindness is allowing things to unfold, be expressed without judgment, trust. Meditation is the gateway to realizing this innate nature.

From my current experience, meditation has allowed me to see my mind wander. Many thoughts come and hang out. I do see I can get caught up in emotions and thoughts of those around me at times especially when my body is tired and hungry. At the same time, I appreciate seeing the brilliance of the rays of the sun filling me and those around me. I do recognize what Andy says during the guided meditations, that the blue skies are innate within us all. We don’t have to “do.” The clouds may be there, rain, thunder may strike, but beneath it, all are the blue skies.

If you have been reading my blog, you know how I have been using Headspace for mindfulness. I am marking my 237th day of non-stop Headspace use. I will be forever be humbled by how meditation has touched me that I cannot just keep it to myself. I hope the world discovers the power of witnessing our breath, the life force within us. We remind you more than ever before of how mental health is a fundamental force within us all that can aspire remarkable change within ourselves and cultivating health and happiness beyond ourselves.

Thankful that Headspace has opened tools for us to tap into our innate nature. I have included “Weathering the Storm” in the link below for you. I have shared this with friends, to my community, and hope this reaches you, your loved ones, and our community and the world.

Headspace is here to help YOU: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19

Rest in Peace, John Prine. Your songs celebrate life in all it’s shades of colors. Thank you for gracing this world with your melodies. I always get happy when I listen to your songs. I never knew why, but I don’t need to know. Thank you. xox

Provided to YouTube by Atlantic Records Sweet Revenge · John Prine Sweet Revenge ℗ 1973 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA Internat...

The sunshine is always beneath the clouds

Where Paradise Lay - Written by Joe Wilkins

Emotions, messages, building a brand beyond product

When was the last time you watched an advertisement, visit a website where you are compelled to tears?

Products are not just products. They have a life; a spirit and a place where they came from. It came from an inherent vision to get to point A to B. That point B is a better place. There are messages that are powerful; telling a hidden desire, a dream, a profound story. So there is the challenge. Unlocking the doors to discover the message. It is freedom. Let this be an inspiration to you. There are people out there, agencies, systems that can help unlock those doors. Why not? So, let us start here, there is a story behind your creation. Many products are great but they can be boundless when we face what is driving it, the reality, the emotion behind why the product was envisioned or created. Music is powerful agent. Images are powerful agents. Let the tears come. It is there.

One of the agencies that inspire me brings dreams and story to life — Get teary and fired up here, drop your impressions and surrender to the dream and energy to move mountains: Basic (https://basicagency.com/about).

This is not a paid endorsement. I LOVE TO discover great dreams and energies. Thanks for listening and dreaming with me.

Discomfort is a door for growth and respect

Have you ever been in a position where you are suddenly in an uncomfortable position? Can you reflect on a moment when it occurred?

This is all about discomfort and how to fall in love and embrace it to grow. It’s a great way to learn how to respond? It’s a great way to practice resilience. It’s a great way to practice gratitude. With that doors open to possibility. Also, it is a practice to respect and value yourself. Learn to have and communicate healthy boundaries and speak up. At the same time, this is a time to be mindful of how we impact those who receive and when things do not go as we expect. What is your inner dialogue? Do you consider these times difficult times or more of a challenge to grow? Every time something happens that looks like it will throw us out of balance, this is a great time to breathe, pause, observe and see thoughts and feelings come and go.

Failure is only failure when we don’t use it as an opportunity to be disciplined to grow from it. Failure is an opportunity to look within, assess gaps and needs to grow. These are moments to shine and not withdraw into comfort. So failure is discomfort that can give us power to make changes and meet our ultimate dream of making things better, you fill in the blank.

Whenever we come across something that necessarily brings a sensation of discomfort, remember, it’s not all lost. We can look at ourselves and examine our actions, thoughts, words, language. Emotions may come that can destroy our spirit, but when we see and watch it, it is just is. So go for it and put yourself in positions of discomfort. It sparks joy.

I would love for you to share your experience where something made you uncomfortable. What did you learn?

Hope this brought you some inspiration and vision. Much love.

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