Question... Have you ever spent a whole day just doing what you wanted to do? Not what you needed to do or thought your should do but doing only what you wanted to do. The timing of your activities was yours to govern. You didn't live by the clock or someone else's schedule, not even your dog's (sorry Suki). Each moment was filled with a steadiness, an authenticity, to what you wanted. Joy, peace, and inner harmony were the aspirations.

This is what is called a Lazy Day, a practice from my Buddhist tradition that provides unconditional care, honor, and love for self. We rest and rejuvenate, without rushing, guilt, or shame. We offer ourselves this magical gift which in turn allows us to be a more energized and stable member of our community.

Over the past few months I've been incorporating Lazy Days into my regular schedule - every other Sunday and then occasional half days. Typically it's only done once per month, at minimum once per quarter, but I'm finding the benefits are so real that I'm choosing to do more. It's a real gift to address your needs and desires without guilt, to not adhere to the pressure you feel to do "just one more thing". Why do we have such a hard time settling in and just being??

With the busyness of our life, it's easy to lose touch with the heart essence that drives us. Usually what drives us on a given day are the tasks we've laid out to take care of things, not ourselves. Hopefully in there somewhere we have self-care but even this can be laden with "musts' and "shoulds". "Get to the gym / go for that run" ,"Eat this, not that!", "Let me just look at this last email", "What's going on on Facebook?".

Lazy Days are helping me to find my voice again. What part of my authentic self wants to come out and be seen and heard? If I'm busy taking care of business without deeply stopping, I end up feeling it's business as usual. Inspiration, aspirations, freshness and a sense of being alive... how vibrant are these aspects then?

So sitting in bed for 2 hours to enjoy my coffee, feeling the lovely wrap of my blankets around me, and a good book feels really good. Suki looks at me occasionally with "is it time for us to go for our walk yet, Mommy?" and I say "No, not now. I'm happy to let you out but I'm staying right here right now." She understands. I appreciate her patience. And when I move from the bed, it's not on any timetable. In my mind the list of to-do's doesn't exist, there is no agenda for the day, I don't even look at the clock. I listen to my body and my heart to guide me to what's next after being just right here. No guilt, no shame, nothing but pure honesty and love. It's good to have me back.

How about for you? Can you try this practice on, perhaps starting with a half day or even just a few hours? It can be so interesting noticing what arises in your mind, the push and pull of the regular day, how many of your moments are not really yours. Like anything new, it will certainly feel different (if not weird), but experiment and see what you discover. I'd love to hear about your experience and you can easily share with me HERE.

Stay well, peaceful, and happy on your Lazy Day.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Corporate Trainer
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Swoosh, crunch, swoosh, crunch, swoosh, crunch. You walk down the street these days and that's all you hear. It can be deafening! Some support your step with their suppleness and flexibility. Others are left shattered in a pile of 1,000 crumbled pieces.
     Even though they are part of nature’s whole, each leaf has enjoyed its own life cycle. Some have been able to maintain a more enriched state evidenced by their continued flexibility, even at the late stage of finding a resting spot on the ground. Others have dried up long before they were finally released from the tree.
     As we turn to look at our own leaf-ness, what is our state of flexibility or brittleness? What are those things that keep us soft and supple so that we are able to bend when bending is needed or to land without bruising or breaking? If we work with many people, how have we been able to stay flexible in an environment that may drain us of our moisture? Conversely, how are we when we move about our day in an arid way, sucking the moisture out of ideas, people, and even ourselves? For some, arid-ness can be gauged by the speed of reactivity to requests and information, perpetual absenteeism, or being hyper-focused and self-absorbed with complete disregard of the larger circumstance.
     Unlike the leaf that has already fallen, we have the ability to rehydrate when we find we've run dry. We can stop to drink in the wonderful elements of our simple existence and absorb what is needed right now. Purposeful pauses and breathing breaks support a steadiness when harsh winds blow. Opening to the "don't know" mind can offer possibilities not seen before and ease the need for things to be our way. Simply noticing our assumptions, judgments, and aversive view can free us from their brittle consequences. Hydration of body, mind, and spirit can be as simple as that.
     As you move through your fall day today, take inventory of your leaves; those that are flexible and supple and those that are dry and crumbly. Notice your personal weather report and whether you are swooshing or crunching. Generate presence, beginning from your feet.

Sending you lots of peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     If you're already challenged by your busy calendar, the holiday season probably won't have it feel any easier. I know for me, even though there's still two more months until year end, I'm already busy fine-tuning things so that it ends successfully. Updating my website, new marketing material, interesting event offerings, as well as my personal calendar are all on my radar.
     Even though I’ve narrowed my work scope over the past eight years, there are always so many new and exciting things to offer that I can become a little scattered at times, like Suki when I throw her two balls at once. Each ball is great and fun but which one to pick up and play with? Whenever I do this to her, I can see the confused and anxious state in her eyes, her decision-making process taking shape in front of me. I wish I could understand how she makes her choice but ultimately, after sniffing and chewing on each, even trying to put both in her mouth at the same time, she somehow decides which one we’ll play with for the next fifteen minutes. I really appreciate her commitment to her decision, too, since she won’t switch balls halfway into our play game, no matter if I start throwing a different ball. She’s dedicated, highly focused, and committed. Once again, I could learn a lot from Suki.
     While I think I’m fairly good at blocking my time to attend to specific activities or subject matters, I often notice a frenetic quality to my attention. Settling into a creative space between scheduled events isn’t always easy, resulting in a sense of disconnect between what I need to be doing and what I’m capable of doing. There’s real training in coming back to knowing what you can and can’t do, letting go of the frustration of what won’t work even though you want it to, and then moving forward with what’s possible.
     So how do we approach all the things we want to accomplish in the time and energy frame we have?
     I find it’s more challenging in this over-stimulated age of electronics and social media to steer clear of the shiny object syndrome. Our attention is constantly being diverted (yes, we do need to train ourselves to stick to task). Combined with less available time due to extended work weeks or family responsibilities, a life that is gravitating towards peace may be the opposite of what we are feeling.
     Take a look at how many things you have on your calendar right now. I’m sure they’re all good and serve a healthy purpose. The question to ask is if they create a sense of balance and joy or has our initial excitement turned to dread or obligation. Book clubs, PTO meetings, photography class,... add in the myriad of work, home, and family stuff... where is the room to breathe, enjoy, and self-nurture?
     None of this is to say not to be involved or to expand your connections. Quite the opposite. Creating depth of attention and truly experiencing our experience so that we don’t surface-skim our showing up is important. Let’s develop our skill of discernment, though, and commit like Suki to that one ball we are playing with so that we can enjoy it fully and not feel the pressure and added weight of everything else that is calling our attention. On a different day when it’s right to play with a different ball, we can do that, but for now let’s hone to come home.
     Need some quick tips on how to do that? Check out these 5 Super Honing Supports

1. Say “No, not now” to say “Yes!”
You aren’t very good when you’re over-extended or exhausted so kindly say “No, Not Now” to the next request that comes your way. Doing this will help you to say “Yes!” to yourself. And not to worry as someone else will pick up the piece you were about to carry.

2. Focus on only one activity per month
Instead of scattering your attention over numerous activities, pick one and delve into that. By engaging in just this, your enjoyment for this activity will grow and you’ll learn more about it that you would have thought possible. Leave the others to have their turn over the coming months.

3. Create daily time just for you
20 minutes minimum is my recommendation; meditation, bath, yoga, walk, napping, knitting… whatever keeps a connection to yourself alive!

4. Plan ahead and prepare meals
Save time, calories, and health. Don’t be caught off-guard with last minute kitchen and nutrition messes. Decide dinner in the morning, double-cook soups and stews for future-freeze, and prepare snacks and salads by cutting 3X the amount of veggies.

5. Purposeful Pauses
Break the flow of constantness with 10+ second breaks throughout the day. Stop, breathe, feel your feet, and notice the physical and mental sensations. By tuning in to the present moment, we can decide more clearly what is needed next.

Love and peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin

Do you ever put off making a change until the situation is so bad that you feel like you have no other choice, where you’ve backed yourself into a corner and are now using the intensity of the situation to finally propel you to take action?

I used to do this all the time. I would wait for things to be so terrible and ugly that I couldn’t stand it anymore. Only then would I make a change and shift in a new direction. Rock bottom had to be hit before I would rise like a phoenix and take care of myself. Somewhere in there was a warped strong-hold, my “worker ant” mentality gone awry. It also reflected my lack of self-worth and my secret belief that I didn’t deserve to be happy.

Ya, this didn’t work so well in my marriage or other relationship shifts that needed to happen. It also kept me from exploring more amicable and suitable paths of recovery and hopeful living. Thanks goodness I’ve learned to change this way go being, for myself and everyone else around me. It’s definitely made a big difference in the level of drama and trauma in my life. Now I’m more often compelled to reflect on my situation and to change things as I move along. Tweaking the small steps is a lot easier and feels a lot better than waiting for the shit to hit the fan.

How about for you? What changes have you ignored that would be really important for your happiness and that would really add value? What uncomfortableness are you still shoulder-high in… a job that’s not fulfilling, a relationship that needs a re-work, a life passion unfulfilled??

We don’t need something to go wrong in order to change. We don’t have to wait that long, for the forces of drama and trauma to invade our life and drive us to switch things up. We are each too valuable to give up on ourselves and our dreams / desires so easily. Don’t let the comfort of others keep us uncomfortable.

Need some guidance or a reflective mirror? Let me help you take charge and once again feel confident in the importance of you.

Love and peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Happy September!!! I can't believe it's already a week into it. I'm not quite sure where the summer went but I think that's a pretty typical reaction. After this week of heat I'm happy to have Fall arrive - my favorite season. The air gets crisp, fresh apples arrive, and jeans are an option during the day. Those first few weeks of being able to wear them without feeling like they're glued on is amazing...and flannel. Gotta love the flannel. OK, can you tell I'm getting into a very happy state here as I dream on and on about Fall?
     One of the other things that comes with Fall is the energy of moving inward. It's the season where we begin to harvest what we've been growing over the past few months. It's also an opportunity to make any necessary changes before winter hits. Emotionally, relationally, physically...what do we envision will provide the most abundant and healthy nutrition and what do we need to do now to access that? Fall is a perfect time for change, for detoxing, for bringing in more elements if that is needed.
     So many of my friends are going through changes right now - lots of divorces, unemployment and careers shifts, and significant health issues. None of these changes seem small anymore. The stage of infancy has passed and they are at big junction points. While none of my friends are in complete joy over their situation, they do seem to be embracing this time. Each one will be stronger for their situation and will come into "their own" after this. Their changes and challenges are tough but each one of them is meeting it head on with acceptance, strength, and love. Beyond my compassion, I'm excited for their new prospects and what might evolve for them.
     For me, I'm doing the same. I'm fortunate enough in this moment to not have big life changes but I'm still in process. My shifting is of a lesser magnitude but it's still there, brewing underneath. One of the observation I've had recently was that my vibrational level was much lower than I would like. That might sound strange but different states of being carry different energy frequencies (see David Hawkins' book Power vs. Force for more on this). Love is a high frequency and hate is a low frequency. I've been attracting things that weren't for my highest good so, as of my recent Continuation Day, I've decided that I'm going to be my best client. Yes, sometimes I do fall off my wagon and not always follow my own advice. It's just me being human and also a great way to affirm how to get back on track. We all ebb and flow and what better tool to share in my work with others than my own experience. It's all I can really ever share anyways.
     So, as summer starts to close, take in the harvest of your highest and best self. Fall is the perfect time for personal reorganization and reaffirmation, finding the supports that nurture whatever you need. There's still time to add lots of goodness to the mix so don't be afraid or shy to grab what you need.

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     How much of YOU do you think is destined or predetermined to be a certain way, that certain traits or attributes are just who you are and that's that? Do you believe you have limited control over what happens in your life; the experiences you have, the people that surround you, an illness or disease that is part of your inherited makeup?
     I've always thought that, while there may be a propensity towards an expression of an attribute (as some are deeply set biologically or environmentally), it's really how we "feed" an attribute that determines how it manifests. If I grew up in an angry atmosphere where people were in constant disagreement, for instance, I will more easily attach to that type of environment. It is a seed that has been highlighted in my life and one that I may have a propensity to express, more than the child who conversely experienced constant love and peaceful community. Nurture versus nature, you could say.
     But just because the seed (of anger, for instance) has been highlighted, it doesn't mean that it has to come to fruition. What we do with those root experiences, environmental atmospheres, and even our body's biology is up to us. With awareness and diligence to switch from feeding the unskillful and non-beneficial seeds to skillful and beneficial ones, we can change our set of circumstances and ultimate expression. We don't have to manifest an angry life just because we were surrounded by that. We can create the environment we seek (and we do it all the time). This ability to change is actually a big part of what I support others with, to give them the tools and confidence to approach and see life from a more empowered and enlightened perspective.
     Looking at disease and cellular creation of illness within the body can be a bit different, however. Cells have structure and roles which, in my non-scientific mind, can't be changed... or can they?? Again, this isn't to say that I don't have influence. I truly believe that I have a huge amount with how I take care of myself - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This holistic approach also includes re-balancing my personal energy field inside and outside of my body, thus influencing the environment in which my cells are housed. Obviously a strong, vibrant, and balanced one is preferred - thus my work with Eden Energy Medicine.
     But to go beyond and look deeper into changing the cell structure itself... is it possible? Well, according to Bruce Lipton, PhD, it is. He's a stem cell biologist from the Wisconsin School of Medicine who's focus has been studying the molecular mechanisms that control cell behavior. I've been following his work off and on for years with my initial read of his book The Biology of Belief.  Bruce has been taking his scientific findings regarding cell behavior and expression to the public sector, sharing his knowledge so that we can be empowered in the knowledge that we do have much more control over our destiny than we think, even regarding our genetic make-up. I won't go into all the science and details - he does a fantastic job of explaining it in this video - so I would encourage you to investigate for yourself.
     Watch, listen, learn, and begin to ponder the miracle of your physical and emotional expression in this life. Become even more empowered to create healthy change for yourself and know that you CAN have your life as you'd like it. It's all a matter of perception - that one special aspect that creates it all.

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Has anyone figured out what this life is for, why we are here, what this whole thing is about? I know, silly question to ask since it’s the ultimate one we all have about our existence but it’s one that I’ve really been pondering quite a bit recently. I’m trying to connect with the great Master Plan that I envision must be out there, held by the Universe far, far beyond what my little humanity has been able to reach so far. Yes, I know we are here to do good, to promote and spread love, and to continue the path of enlightenment for all beings. I have a nag inside, though, about this Master Plan, envisioning that it lays out the purpose behind everything we try to make sense of. Sometimes I feel like a marionette in a puppet show, acting out the story but never having the script of where it’s supposed to lead. It’s like a constant improv. I really think the performance I could give would be a lot more meaningful, vibrant, and fulfilling for all parties involved if I knew, though. Yes, this is my mind sometimes, showing me that I might be a little too goal oriented and just need to loosen up! (I hope you are amused and not frightened for me.)
     As a summertime treat I’ve been watching BBC’s Planet Earth series and am continually blown away by the immense diversity, spectacular-ness, and innate intelligence of the life that is contained on this breathtaking planet, including the amazing assortment of ecosystems. In my wildest imagination I couldn’t come up with all the uniquenesses of the thousands of species; the colors, shapes, reliances for survival, patience, habits of traveling thousands of miles for food or procreation just to do it all again next year. For me, I still can’t wrap my head around the workings of our brain or body. It’s way beyond science fiction and makes me even more desirous to have insight into the Master Plan.
     After a time, I finally ask myself “Does it really matter?”. In reality, probably not and I’m sure it’s best for me to spend my time creating peace, emitting love, and spreading light and positivity into each moment instead. To do what I can do and to trust the process , to “let go and just be”. I’m sure the Master Plan folks would appreciate that. And in writing those words, I do need to laugh at how many times in my life I’ve been told to simply “trust the process”. Haha. Another contemplation is provided.
     Well, if you have any answers or insights, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to add some comments below.

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     This past weekend I spent Saturday a most wonderful Day of Mindfulness at Rose Apple in VT and, as it always seems to be, the Dharma talk was perfect and felt like it was directed right at me. Brother Zohar shared insights about time... actual time and storyline time.
     Actual time is a fact. It's contained fully in the present moment. It doesn't direct us in any way and, with its simplified self, moves along at a consistent and measurable pace. Storyline time, on the other hand, is directly connected to the story of us and the forward motion that most of us have in our approach to life. It's the back story of why we rush through things, task master the objects in front of us, and seek to gain control of our experience. We're moving forward out of this ever-present moment into anticipation of the next moment, spending little time here and now.
     Storyline time prevails when we are searching for joy and happiness outside of this moment. We think that it is somewhere else. There may be an uncomfortableness here and now, an aspect of grief or sadness, an emotion of dissatisfaction that is searching for harmony. Instead of residing in the Now to reconcile that, we unconsciously search for this freedom in the next moment, feeding a habit of striving that leaves us even more unfulfilled.
     Take a look at how you receive each moment of the day. From observation of my own experience, I feel like I'm under an invisible time pressure much of the day. Even though I'm great at calendaring and leaving space, there's still an essence of this push to get things done and onto the next. As a business owner, there are many details that I need to attend to and that involve planning future events in order to maintain a consistent level of business activity.
     The continual calendaring of my day, however, brings about a momentum of moving from one activity to the other that can be challenging to stop. The dribble of  "after I get these things done..." is a common quote I can replay over and over in my mind when it's time to settle down and really take a break, to stop the locomotion of doing and let go into pure being, a being that goes well beyond the body stopping. The result is a relationship to time that can be scattered, shattered, and multidirectional with an element of dissatisfaction to what is right now. And underneath this striving can be a level of fear, unworthiness, agitation, and a general sense of joylessness.
     This isn't to say that planning and taking care of things isn't important but it begs me to notice how much time and mental effort is spent in the subtle search for happiness. Even with an active mindfulness practice, staying here and not escaping into Doing can be challenging. Fortunately my teacher Thich Nhat Hanh so eloquently reminds me with this quote above which is so true. Stopping to be right here, it is possible to live happily in each moment and still get things done. It all rests on the attention and intention I am placing in the moment, reverting from getting caught up in my own story and the master manipulation of my experience.
     Time is as it is. All the rest is just a mental construct. Time is something that we can't get back, no matter how much we try. As I continue to age, this becomes more prevalent in my consciousness. Perhaps this has added to my sense of rushing. I seek to have so much peace, love, and harmony in my life and, instead of seeing that it's right here right now, I am being pulled by my habit energies to seek it out. Look, look, though! In the mirror resides all that I need and, when this is my footing, I can walk safely into whatever arrives next.
     Yup, and that's why we call it  "practice". Simple but certainly not easy!

Peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

Rough day? Rough week? Want an easy way to shake it off and get back on track? Try Expelling the Venom on for size. Instead of spewing your "stuff" on other people, step away into a private space and enjoy this fun and exhilarating energy exercise. Do it a few times if you need to, be loud if you need to - it doesn't matter. Just do it! You'll be feeling fantastic and back to your old self in no time.

P. S. And invite your colleagues, partner, and kids to join you as well. You're not the only one with stress and, if you've had a tough day, they probably have as well.

Peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC