With all this snow eventually comes melting (what would New England be without mud season). Well, my hope is that the pervasive mud will mean enriching transformation. "What?" you may ask. Simply put, No Mud, No Lotus.
The past few months we've been talking about listening to our heart-centered desires and transforming our harsher, deep rooted habit energies into positive pathways. Winter is the perfect time to gently stir this inner pot as the hibernating days offer much time for reflection and inward connection. For you, what rose to the surface with a desire for improvement, reconciliation, or shift? More genuine and genrous relationships, healthier lifestyle and better self-care, patience, right livelihood,... perhaps it became the focus of your new year resolution or a daily mantra of awareness.
Working with our habit energies can be challenging because 1) they are fairly well engrained and often unconscious 2) we tend to beat ourselves up whenever we find that we've engaged them again, seeing ourselves as bad or wrong, and 3) this berating of self weakens the personal power and strength which are needed to enact change.
What would the view of ourselves and our change process be, however, if we instead saw our habit energies as the perfect mud conditions for blooming lotus? If you know anything about lotus flowers, you know that the more intense and nutrient-rich the mud, the more vibrant and brilliant the lotus. Transforming a habit energy that has entrenched our life with negativity opens up 1000's of possibilities for light and love. Amazing things rise from the compost of our pain and suffering. Recall stories of people overcoming disasters and deep despair who turn to create a foundation or charity, or become an inspiration of strength and courage for others.
We need mud to have lotus. Suffering must exist for happiness to exist. You can not have one without the other. They are both needed, just like the two sides of a piece of paper. You can not have one side without the other. They inter-are.
As you approach Spring and the blossoms of life that begin to bud inside, look kindly and lovingly at the mud that's been with you over the winter. Appreciate the gift of awareness and the intimacy you may have with the habit energies that seek transformation. Embrace it all. If nothing else, your mud is the sprouting ground of that which you no longer wish to have in your life. Knowing what you don't want often points you directly to what you do want. And for stepping stones out of the mud, connect with me for additional supports or begin with a Mindfulness & Meditation class to help maintain focus, balance, and awareness of self.
May all your blooms shine bright!! Peace and Many Blessings!
Shanti
Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007
As always, I’d love your feedback, comments, and insights on what has been shared. Feel free to give me a shout or leave a message!!
The past few months we've been talking about listening to our heart-centered desires and transforming our harsher, deep rooted habit energies into positive pathways. Winter is the perfect time to gently stir this inner pot as the hibernating days offer much time for reflection and inward connection. For you, what rose to the surface with a desire for improvement, reconciliation, or shift? More genuine and genrous relationships, healthier lifestyle and better self-care, patience, right livelihood,... perhaps it became the focus of your new year resolution or a daily mantra of awareness.
Working with our habit energies can be challenging because 1) they are fairly well engrained and often unconscious 2) we tend to beat ourselves up whenever we find that we've engaged them again, seeing ourselves as bad or wrong, and 3) this berating of self weakens the personal power and strength which are needed to enact change.
What would the view of ourselves and our change process be, however, if we instead saw our habit energies as the perfect mud conditions for blooming lotus? If you know anything about lotus flowers, you know that the more intense and nutrient-rich the mud, the more vibrant and brilliant the lotus. Transforming a habit energy that has entrenched our life with negativity opens up 1000's of possibilities for light and love. Amazing things rise from the compost of our pain and suffering. Recall stories of people overcoming disasters and deep despair who turn to create a foundation or charity, or become an inspiration of strength and courage for others.
We need mud to have lotus. Suffering must exist for happiness to exist. You can not have one without the other. They are both needed, just like the two sides of a piece of paper. You can not have one side without the other. They inter-are.
As you approach Spring and the blossoms of life that begin to bud inside, look kindly and lovingly at the mud that's been with you over the winter. Appreciate the gift of awareness and the intimacy you may have with the habit energies that seek transformation. Embrace it all. If nothing else, your mud is the sprouting ground of that which you no longer wish to have in your life. Knowing what you don't want often points you directly to what you do want. And for stepping stones out of the mud, connect with me for additional supports or begin with a Mindfulness & Meditation class to help maintain focus, balance, and awareness of self.
May all your blooms shine bright!! Peace and Many Blessings!
Shanti
Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007
As always, I’d love your feedback, comments, and insights on what has been shared. Feel free to give me a shout or leave a message!!
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