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Heed the Call

12/30/2014

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     I love my morning reading time; snuggling with a passage or book as I sip my morning coffee. As of late I've been reading The Call by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. I resonate with her fully and, like most good reads, it seems that whenever I open the pages, the passage is a perfect reflection of that moment in my life.
     Today’s chapter is entitled Lost and begins: "In some ways, experiencing the deep peace of being awake to what you are and then losing connection with this awareness, feeling unable to wake up instantly, can be more painful than when you are unconscious."
     Having a seasonal break in my business schedule, I’ve had opportunity to rest and relax, even sleep late. December’s been a month of no-rushing; a fantastic switch from the prior three which were very filled with all sorts of delights. Taking it easy, though, is a learned practice, especially for a business owner, and I’m glad to have received its gifts.
     As I sit reflecting, though, I’m noticing a blankness. Not so much an empty space as much as a fog covering the energy of next step. Perhaps I’ve been sitting too long. Blowing it away to invite my passion or purpose to show itself brightly is what I'm looking to take place. Hmmmm... There's also a slight fear that accompanies this fog sensation, for a brief moment wondering if I'll be driven to live from the heart again. Of course I know this is part of the whole impermanent nature of things and, having experienced this many times, feel assured that, by releasing my grasp of this fear, all will flow in due time and I will soon be met again by my powerhouse 'take charge and create change' energy. Perhaps it will arrive tomorrow. The feelings of now are part of the deep energy of winter, a natural state of being. I’m happy to recognize this.
     As you reflect on 2014 moving into 2015, what is your level of awake-ness? Do you, as I do, ebb and flow in between living in Spirit and the Doing world, bewildered at times how busyness captured your attention so deeply that you were transported to an unconscious mind? How do you keep yourself steady and strong?
     How to live in this world but not Be this world? That’s a question that’s presented itself to me since I took that first step into Presence. Ease seems to be a key ingredient in being able to do this yet there is always that forgetfulness that shows up at various junctures. Doing is so energizing...we can get lost very easily.
     Stopping, reflecting, meditating in all its various forms, retreating when we can...these are all grace points to Be, at least for me. I’m interested in hearing more from you. What supports your practice of presence? How do you stay in Spirit? Please share so we can all learn from and support one another.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007

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Follow the Sun

12/15/2014

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     This time of year can be particularly challenging to shift. We are elementally entering into the Rhythm of Water which, while signifying new beginnings and flow, also has the energies running deep below the surface, requiring greater effort to move. On an emotional and psychological level, I find there’s a silent pressure, an invisible shadow, a blanket covering the light. The free and easy movement of expansive springtime feels far away. In the meantime, we’re doing our best to stay on top of our game, sticking with our peace practice and those things that keep us steady and balanced...yet there’s often a pressure that won’t relinquish.
     Sometimes this shows itself as low-grade agitation, general lack of satisfaction, or a sense of grit with reality. The inner yearning for things to shift is acknowledged but is met instead with a sludge that keeps things stuck and stagnant. We may cry, feel discombobulated or withdrawn, question ourselves, or feel like we have no reserves of energy to give. This isn’t every moment of the day but can be an underlying experience or one that we meet more often than at other times of the year. If any of this resonates, you are not alone. At least I’m here. :)
     From a holiday perspective, it’s a time for love and light, to open to others and embrace the gifts that we are so ridiculously lucky to have (yes, we are!), yet some days it still feels like a grand amount of effort is needed to stay open. Lack of sun is a huge factor for me, my often-forgotten-but-still-there history with depression, my self-inflicted not-good-enoughs (I don’t enjoy my monkey mind), and those lovely hormonal changes...it all requires a lot of breathing and mindful walking with my Higher Self.
     This is when impermanence becomes my best friend. Knowing that things WILL shift, that the next moment will be different even if it requires looking deeply, loving myself and sending lots of light and compassion to my inner child.
     To heal my suffering requires that I not run away from it but instead move towards it with full embrace. Looking at it gently, I seek to know what it is made of. What is it telling me? What lies underneath the first layer of emotion or thought stream, providing vital information so that I can respond to the deeper need? How can I care for it and myself in the best possible way right now?
     Maintaining ease and spaciousness is vital for this self-love process... not so easy when you feel under the covers. Staying connected to what’s real in this moment only keeps the energy output manageable. Checking in to see what my self-talk is made up of, I re-word the phrases and tones if I’ve gotten lost in dispersion. I move my body, stretch, do my Daily Energy Routine, meditate, get outside. Any opportunity to visit the sun is mine. Pretending to be one of the birds flocking at my bird-feeder also helps. They are kind creatures who live in each moment and don’t have regrets of what could have been or why things are not different. My starting point is always right now...so I will take it and move forward as I am best able. And meeting me in this moment is the sun. Hello!
     Peace to all of you. Remember, you are loved and filled with Light, even when you feel in the shadows.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007


Follow, follow the sun

and which way the wind blows

when this day is done.

Breathe, breathe in the air.

Set your intentions.

Dream with care.

Tomorrow is a new day for everyone
,
Brand new moon, brand new sun.

So follow, follow the sun,

the direction of the birds,

the direction of love.

Breathe, breathe in the air,

cherish this moment,

cherish this breath.

Tomorrow is a new day for everyone,

brand new moon, brand new sun.

When you feel life coming down on you,

like a heavy weight.

When you feel this crazy society,

adding to the strain.

Take a stroll to the nearest waters edge

remember your place.

Many moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came.

So which way is the wind blowin',

and what does your heart say?

So follow, follow the sun,

and which way the wind blows

when this day is done...

Song and Lyrics by Xavier Rudd

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Holiday Wish List:  Stay in Peace during Seasonal Busyness

12/8/2014

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     This is a fantastic time of year but also a challenging one. So many activities and demands for time and attention; holiday parties and gatherings, school vacations, traveling to visit relatives or being separated from family. Combined with less sunlight and bone-chilling cold, some days it can seem pretty tough to feel peaceful.
     One of the best ways that I’ve found to stay peaceful is stick with the health foundations that keep us vital and strong throughout the year. You know...exercise, good nutrition, solid sleep, hydration, and stress management. It’s easy to get pulled away from these healthy habits so stand guard and increase your diligence. We don’t want to pay for a few sloppy weeks over the next six months. Think of it like charging gifts on your credit card; you want to be able to pay it off right away without incurring extra charges and debt.
     I thought I’d share a few things that work for me in maintaining peace and balance, especially during this time of year. Take a look and feel free to add any to your repertoire. I also do a Daily Energy Routine that has been a third savior in my life (yoga and mindfulness being the other two) so connect with me if you’d like to learn that.  

Start your day in peace
Before you jump out of bed and start on that to-do list, remain laying and take a few moments to just be. Take a few breaths; notice them, notice your body. Check in and see how you feel. An emotion or carry-over from a dream may be present so check in with this starting point. This will help you to take care of yourself and be your best today. Breathe in gratitude.

Move the body
I love to take a walk before I go to the gym and have my coffee and first breakfast. In the quiet of the neighborhood my body awakens. I feel what’s tight and loose and connect with my breath. It’s a great meditation in motion, even in this brisk morning weather.

Have a great breakfast
Nurture your body with vitamins and minerals and jump start your metabolism for the day. This is NOT just coffee. Veggie omelet, whole grain oatmeal, Greek/high protein yogurt and fruit, or Ezekiel bread are a few options.

Say No to say Yes
As the day progresses, watch how much you take on. There are SO many great ideas out there and projects that will take “just an hour”. Be discerning with your energy availability and the actual time things take. I calculate things take 3 times the amount of time we initially projected, leading to frustration, worry, and no longer having fun. Saying “no” can actually give you a big boost of personal “yes” so don’t be afraid to not raise your hand all the time.

Break Point - Informally Staying Present

We are so frenetic and busy, always doing and on the move. Even when we are standing still our mind is busy. Stopping periodically throughout the day helps us re-set ourselves. Break points might be when you are doing a regular task such as washing your hands, feeding the cat, having 3 sips of tea, or brushing your teeth or they can be transitions when we switch from one activity to another; sitting to walking, from your desk to a meeting, phone call to computer, etc. They come informally and thus a perfect tool for helping us to periodically break the cycle of go-go.
With this process, we stop and recognize where we are and what we are actually doing - in our thoughts and our body. We connect with the present moment, switching away the busy forward-looking habit mind. When you do these activities, you are doing nothing but these activities. No thinking about what’s next, no multitasking, no rushing. It can be amazing - and amusing - to see how far away you were from what you were doing so it’s a perfect way to re-set our rush-rush energy.

Meditation
Sitting for 20 minutes in quiet, noticing my breath, noticing my Being, and resting in what is is one of the greatest gifts I give to myself every day. For me, meditation is very grounding and nurturing. It connects me to my self and helps build that relationship of inner peace, helping me to open up to what might be bubbling underneath, and nurturing myself more deeply.

Gratitude before Bed
Ending the day on a positive note is very important. The last thing that we do, engage with, or think will be what we are bedding with for the next 8 hours so offering a positive reflection of the day is important, especially if it didn’t go as planned. Journaling 6 gratitudes can be lovely - 3 things that you are grateful for related to the external world (the sun that shined, the door that was held open for you when your hands were full, the meeting that went well) and 3 things you are grateful for about yourself (perhaps you chose not to have that piece of chocolate, stuck with your exercise program and did 20 extra crunches, or remembered to walk in awareness your mindfulness stairs). Whatever offers positivity, quieting and settling of the mind is wonderful.

     There are many more things that I do every day to promote a sense of stability and peace and, while I’m not always successful in keeping it together, I’m in a much better place than if I didn’t keep a personal peace practice going. So keep your daily peace practice going, whatever it might entail and if you need support developing one that works for you, reach out. Life ebbs and flows so much we need the tools to keep us grounded in an unstable world.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007


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‘Tis the Season for Ease and Flow

12/8/2014

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     I heard from so many folks that this year’s Thanksgiving was the best they’ve had in a long time. The loss of power created environments of quality time, togetherness by candlelight, creative meals, and making room at the table for those with or without power. Most managed with what was available, making the best of it with little or no complaints. Overall a deeper sense of presence to the day, tuning in to one another and getting back to basics.
     For my larger family gathering, there seemed to be a softer touch to the day with much less tension than might typically be found. It’s not that my family is tense or tight but, ya know... we all have our moments. Without the guiding structure of our traditional celebration, we just “went with it” and were comfortably flexbile. For that I am grateful. Although I wouldn’t categorize the recent loss of power as severe (think back to the ice storm of 2008), it did remind me that we always seem to come together best during times of crisis and need. Hmmm... how to savor the essence of that togetherness for ALL the times?
     So all of this leads me to ask how we normally approach the unexpected in our daily lives. Do we become tight and resistant or are we able to generate a quality of ease and flow, to see opportunities for connection or betterment where we only saw irritation and pain before? Every day life provides many situations that are out of our control and, instead of acknowledging this, we tend to power-pack lots of energy trying to change the unchangeable, i.e. moving boulders. The real change takes place, however, with how we interact with our circumstance and the quality of attention we offer. Changing our Modus Operandi changes our experience, revealing great potential for joy and happiness.
     As we move closer to Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year, take a look at how attached you are to your traditions of how the holidays (and your life) “should be”. Can you offer a sense of ease and flow, enhancing the essence of greater love and light into the holidays? What can you let go of that is no longer needed and which might actually return a more satisfying gift?
     For me, this may mean having Christmas with my boys two days later so that we can all be together with no rushing or that ucky low-grade anxiety that comes from “making the rounds”. There are extended families on many sides, all highly requesting their attention and attendance. I can see the pressure this places on my boys and, while I used to add to that with my own desire to have my special traditions with them, I find our time is now better spent when we can “chillax” with one another, whatever day that happens to be available.
     So this year, spend your holiday time well and, if all else fails, turn the power off in order to turn the joys of togetherness on.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007



Graphic from
http://www.ezybook.co.nz/pages/flowcolonics/

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    Author - Shanti Douglas

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Shanti Douglas: Mindfulness, Optimize, & HeartMath® Certified Trainer and Coach
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC         603.228.9007         Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
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