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How Wide Does Your Pendulum Swing?

9/22/2018

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A pendulum swings wide and equal to each side. Drifting from the core center, a tremendous amount of energy can be expended when we are at either extreme. And while momentum can keep things going in either direction, symbolically, extremes can be dangerous… at the very least highly disruptive.

The Middle Way, balance in all things, helps to regulate energies and create ease and harmony. There is a smooth continuum when we swing not far from our center point. The energy that we use to produce results is directed and efficient as we're not engaged in the struggle of opposites and discursiveness in getting things done, rambling from one course to another. This is true for all aspects of our life. 

Take your relationship with food, for example. If you're in balance, you’ll eat when your body tells you it’s time to eat (not by the clock), when you receive signals that more energy is needed. In this way, you’ll more easily maintain health. To do otherwise is to waste lots of energy eating too much, too little, or the wrong foods. Maintaining this balance, this Middle Way, with food is key to success and happiness.

As the energy of summer starts to wind down, you may notice a tendency to speed up in anticipation and preparation for winter: house projects saying "Now or never!", harvest collection, outdoor fairs and fun, catching up with summer events that were missed. There's a rush to complete and a not-so-subtle energy of extreme. While this vibrant energy can feel fantastic and have you feeling alive, it can also put you in overdrive and have your pendulum swinging wide, keeping you out of balance.

So as the next month of serious change takes shape, as best you can, try to avoid the rush-to-complete energy, the one that adds pressure to what could otherwise be an enjoyable situation. Instead, let yourself enjoy the transition that’s naturally coming with the change of season. Sleep late (easy to do with the delayed sunrise), stroll the garden often to notice the changes happening daily, breathe deep and often, and giggle in amusement as you change your clothes for the third time in one day trying to get it "just right" with the changing weather conditions. Stay centered and balanced in the Middle Way, enjoying your gentle pendulum swing.
 
​Peace,
Shanti


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Too Much Focus... Or Is It Just Lack Of Attention?

9/14/2018

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Twice a day my dog Suki and I take a walk... exercise for me and release for her. For 18 and 3.5 years respectively it’s been the same route through the neighborhood. With such regularity, it’s really easy to get into “the zone”… Mommy and dog synchronizing steps and getting their groove on, at least until there’s something really exciting to sniff or stopping because it's time “to go”.

Last week was no different… until it happened. 

Moseying along the other morning, the end of our 2.5 mile walk, with me looking forward to my second cup of coffee as I caught sight of our house, a sudden and jolting squish, squish!! Uck! All six of our feet instantly and completely submerged, sneakers soaked through to the socks, back of legs splattered, furry paws covered in this grey gritty matter… concrete.

WTH! Where did this come from?!

You see, the neighborhood has been going through a redevelopment since mid spring: roads ripped down to bare bones, sidewalks demolished or created (we have a lot of non-sidewalk areas), drainage systems removed and replaced, curbs being added where there were once none. Gigantic pieces of roadway equipment are spewed about everywhere, filling the streets like special edition Tonka trucks that a giant alien child forgot to put away.

For weeks, a little box has been laid out at my street corner: a wooden frame surrounding a shallow pit Suki could hop in and out of like a pony in a jumping competition. Granted, a big orange cone stood in front of it to warn passerbys of the work-in-progress but the area itself was empty and, after a few weeks, navigation became a habit. 

On this particular morning, unbeknownst to us when we left the house, the worker-dude had just enough time to come by and fill this area with fresh, warm concrete. Being deeply focused in my walking zone, we charged right through into what we expected was an empty pit, not a mucky mess. The gritty splatter woke us up. What a mess we made.
 
All of this is a perfect example of how easy it is to concentrate so deeply on one thing that you become oblivious to the messages of change around you. Even with activities or attitudes that are beneficial, it's important to pull your head up every now and again to reassess and evaluate. Whether it's a work project that you're managing or a love relationship you're in, don't assume that things around you remain the same. Life changes when we're looking at it and when we're not looking at it. So stay focused and directed with your attention on those things that are positive and beneficial but don't disregard the changes around you that require adjustments.
And, by the way, later on our evening walk I noticed that all of the newly concreted street corners were safely wrapped with, not only orange cones, but also sticks and warning tape. Oblivious, in-the-zone people everywhere, were grateful.
​

Peace to you,
Shanti

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Don’t Look at Obstacles Blocking Your Path

9/7/2018

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 I’ve been doing a lot of biking this summer - over 450 miles so far - and have luckily had only one incident of road rash. A graceful glide to the earth, played out in slow motion, I was going along a gravel-filled back road when my tire hit the edge of rock and twisted my bike down one way while I fell the other way. Half my body covered in dirt, lower leg scraped of skin, a still-tender injury to my knee but, overall, it could’ve been a lot worse. 
     I notice when I ride now that I’m much more aware of the rocks on the ground. With all the recent rain pushing things into the streets, rocks seem to be scattered everywhere. It’s a funny thing that happens to me when I see one in front of me, though. Instead of my front tire avoiding it, there’s an unconscious swerve towards the rock. At the last minute I have to wake my brain and body up to steer away and avoid another crash. 
     Interestingly, if I keep my focus on the empty space that surrounds the rock on the road, my bike automatically maneuvers there. It doesn’t take any extra energy or directed thought - it just happens - and gives me a very successful ride.
     This is similar to what can happen as you’re going about your day. You’re focused on going from A to Z, solving problems and taking corrective action. At the same time, though, there’s a part of your brain that’s guarding against issues that you know might impede your progress. The rationale is that, by keeping an eye on the known problems, you’ll end up avoiding them. The brain is wired to search out potential harm so this safety feature comes on-line without much thought.
     The reality, though, is that whatever you’re focusing on is where you’re going to go.Even if it’s not really where you want to go, if you’re looking there, you're headed towards it… not the best scenario and can lead to lots of complications and duplicity in both life and work product.
     It takes practice to keep your focus on what you do want and let go of what you don’t want. Building this strength in attention, similar to what happens in meditation, requires that you keep steering yourself back to what you want, where you want to be, and what's working well. 
     Instead of looking at the objects blocking your path to success (whatever your success looks like, even if it’s just laundry), shift your focus to the open space where potential and possibilities lie, where it’s going well, and where you’re able to take good action (aka the space in between the rocks). Let the obstacles go to the side of the road.
     Questions for you then... What are the rocks in your life that you no longer want to come in contact with? How are you steering your life so they don’t keep incrementally popping up and so that what you do want paves the road ahead for you?
     If you’re finding it difficult to steer or navigate your course, give me a shout and we’ll come up with some ways that will have your ride a lot easier, smoother, and fun. Enough wasting your energy on things you don’t want. Let’s have your life filled with things that make you sing.

Peace and Love,
Shanti

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    Author - Shanti Douglas

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