Life Lesson by Rumi-

25 life changing lessons everyone can learn from Rumi

Life lesson one

February 18, 2015 we had a super moon/black moon on the same day and my energy was buzzy all day.  I don’t know that buzzy is an actual word but being it is the only way to describe how I felt- I am making it one.  So it was buzzy day- a bit disconcerting but mainly a good sort of buzzy (FYI I don’t drink so don’t mistake it for being buzzed)!   That evening at around 8:30 or 9:00 I ran across a post with a Rumi article.  Well- I have to read that of course.  In case you are not familiar with him please read about who Rumi was.  Wow!  I got to number three of “25 life changing lessons everyone can learn from Rumi” and forced myself to stop.  It was apparent that this was going to be a life changing read for me and I wanted to savor it slowly and really live it.  My first thought was “blog series” so here we go with blog number one.

1-Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion

“You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.” Rumi

We are all born with potential, worth and value.  Yes- I fully agree and so do many other authors, researchers, therapists, yogi’s, healers and teachers I know and trust.  Just last night I watched a self-esteem you tube video of Pia Mellody and in this video I loved the way she defined all aspects of self-esteem.  However, a few points really hit home she stated “self-esteem is a constant and you either have it or you don’t but you can get it if you don’t have it.  She states the differences in people never effect one’s inherent worth- they don’t make you more than or less than anyone else.  Self-esteem is based on the fact you are valuable because you exist -you came here with all the value you need and self-esteem is born from the thought that I matter just as I am”.  I wish everyone who has any doubt that they matter would write in red lipstick on your mirror “I matter, just as I am”.  In one of my latest posts I reference several other articles that agree that we are enough.  We already are, just as we are, enough.  We have wings- how can we learn to use them and fly.  Stop acting so small you are the universe in motion so live and dream and be big and know you are enough

“You sit here for days saying, this is strange business. You’re the strange business. You have the energy of the sun in you, but you keep knotting it up at the base of your spine. You’re some weird kind of gold that wants to stay melted in the furnace, so you won’t have to become coins.”   Rumi    

We do that, don’t we?  We sit around and talk and observe how odd life is.  I have asked that a number of times “isn’t life weird”?  I bet you have too.  Rumi here (in my interpretation) is saying that we have it all- we are the energy, we are of the sun and we can do and be anything we choose to be.  However, we go back to playing small.  We are taught sometimes to play small, be small- we are taught often by others opinions that we are not capable of doing the things we want to do.  We are stopped by fear- fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of not meeting others expectations.  So we allow fear to cause us hold on to all that amazing energy we have and stay small- why?  More important than why is what can we do about it?  Every day people succeed in big ways Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and many more.  We can do it too- we have it within us.  Yes- you too, you have what you need.

“Why should I stay at the bottom of a well when a strong rope is in my hand?” Rumi

It is easy to get “stuck” and feel like we can’t move, or change jobs, or end relationships or any number of things we want to end or change in some way.  I found this article sums up really well why we often don’t make changes.  Once again- it comes back to fear.  Fear of the unknown, or what may happen or what others may think of us.  Let me share a personal ongoing story of my life- I do a great deal of things. I always have a new project, a new idea, new job option or something that I am in the process of working on, exploring or learning.  I love that about me!  I love to learn and do and be more.  I get a lot of “why are you doing that”?    I also get a great deal of “that is a great idea or I love the way you think outside the box”.  That is how I work- tell me I can’t do something and I will do my best to find a way to prove you wrong.  This can work to my own detriment at times but more often than not it rocks and I find ways to do things that seemed unlikely to be possible.  I get this as well “well- you are stronger than me, I couldn’t do that or you are just different”. Guess what people?  I am not different, I do not possess anything that others do not possess except that I make the choice to go after what I want and need. I take action, I grab the strong rope at the bottom of the well and pull myself up”!   You can too- I promise- no magic powers over here.

 “Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape.” Rumi

Become the sky- what is the sky?  Noun: sky; plural noun: skies the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth. "Hundreds of stars shining in the sky".  

I like the way that sounds…hundreds of stars…I want to become a star in the sky.  I don’t need to be a famous movie star or other popular traditional type of star, but a star in the sky- that I would like.  How about you?  A shining star sounds like an amazing and awe inspiring experience.

 Escape from yourself- get out of your own way.  Every morning you wake up is another chance for you to do or to be something different. It may be expressing a new idea, developing a new approach, or simply creating another perspective.  You weren’t born knowing how to do everything you do now. You learned without the consideration of limitations.  Bam!  You stopped dreaming and planning and doing! And there lies the problem. Get out of your own way and be big, dream, imagine, accomplish!  Go after what you want!  It’s there for you to claim but you have to do it. 

 “Do you know what you are? You are a manuscript of a divine letter. You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you are already that.” Rumi

 Take home tip- YOU take this last quote and write a manuscript of a divine letter to YOU!  You take the time in an act of radical self-care to write to you how amazing you are!  I would love it if you would share the entire letter or a part of it in the comments! 

“Do you know what you are? You are a manuscript of a divine letter. You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you are already that.” Rumi

Creating a Sacred Container

Welcome- we came together last time to define mindfulness meditation as the beginning of our meditation journey.  We used the definiton from Jon Kabat-Zinn as being present, being aware without judging what is. I am working on creating a meditaion 101 course which will be a 6 or 8 week challenge online or in person for those who live close by and will keep you posted on that.

I stated last blog that we would discuss creating a sacred container.  What does that mean?  Simply put it means that when we come together or you come to practice by yourself that you take the time to perform a ritual of connectedness and acceptance. Whether I am leading group or guided meditaion or teaching midfulness I am going to start implementing something that I do for myself when I practice and that I am now ready to share with you all.  

I mentioned earlier that finding a place to be, to sit, to lay down- any place that is yours is an amazing introduction to a practice.  I get that we don't always have a room to ourself or a beautiful gazebo by the lake but we can find a place that we can make our own.  This can be a corner of a room, I love cozy corners, it could be a small area of your bedroom, perhaps a guest room or some space in the living or dining room.  Sometimes an area outside is good, a deck, a tree, a porch or any place that you feel safe.  We will discuss in another post how to find unusual ways and places to meditate which is what we have to do at times to get it in.  

If you are struggling to locate a sacred space I invite you to think back to a time when you felt loved and safe, content and happy.  Where were you?  What was around you?   Try to recall some of what the space looked like, colors or patterns, was it inside or outside.  Can you recall a specific odor or scent?  We often had a sacred space as a child that we used when we needed to be alone or were frightened or sometimes just needed an escape from a sibling.  Think about that, it may be very simple, I remember sitting on my steps in a home I grew up in.  I remember everything about the steps, the hall, the linen closet in the hall, the view of the front door etc.  For whatever reason I found safety and contentness sitting on the floor on those steps or in the hall.  

Once you have found your space try creating a ritual that you use everytime you come into sit or meditate or just be mindful.  In this space find some self awareness, use only self compassion.   I want this to be a ritual of connectedness and acceptance.  Create whatever works for you.  Light a candle, diffuse some oils, place a vase of fresh flowers on the table or ground.  Create positive affirmations for the space to hang up so that you read them when you step in. Start of a habit of removing your shoes to respect the space that you are creating.  When you find your ritual perform it everytime you step into your space, make a statement of gratitude for yourself and your ablity to be here and now and be present.

Take away tip- find and create your sacred space and ritual and share with me in the comments

love and light,

jamie

Not everything is good or bad, sometimes is just is

Mindfulness- what is it anyway?  It is a key phrase in mental health, yoga and other fields right now.  It is used in medical fields to manage chronic pain, it is used in mental health for depression, anxiety and other disorders, it is used in addiction and recovery, in other words it is every where but what is it?

That, my dear friend, depends on who you ask.  My definition is that mindfulness is being aware of what is going on in and around you and accepting it without labeling or judging it.  I also like Jon Kabat Zinn's definition "Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way on purpose in the present moment, without judgement"  If you have not heard of him Jon Kabat-Zinn is a famous teacher of mindfulness meditation and the founder of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts where the program has been active for over 30 years.  It is a fabulous program that I am fortunate to have been able to complete and a goal of mine is to one day be a certified MBSR teacher.  That certification by its very nature of being mindful is a long journey and process that is a joy to be undergoing.

In life, most of us, live in the past or the future.  We spend amazing amounts of time analyzing the past.  We review in detail what we did or said, what we wish we had done or said, regretting actions or events or wishing we we had done something we didn't do.  When we aren't living in the past we are in the future.  We are planning, we are imagining often in great detail every possible outcome or event that we could encounter and often feel compelled to play out every possible ending and how we would react and feel if this or that happened.  Guess what?  It usually never happens in the way or ways we imagine it.  If by chance it does happen the way you imagined is it helpful or does it serve us in anyway to live the event more than the one time it actually occurs?  I say NO!  How often does this happen though?  We live and re live past and future events and when we do we put our bodies through the exact same physical reaction as if it is happening over and over and over.  Our bodies go into a stress reaction.  We jump to fight, flight or freeze reaction involuntarily and our heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, adrenaline gets going and all sorts of physical reactions that are needed IF our lives are in danger and we have a bear chasing us.  The reaction is not needed if the phone rings, we are late to a meeting or have an argument with a partner or friend yet this is what we have conditioned our bodies to do.  I always try to ask of myself and others around me "does that serve you in positive way" and if the answer is no then lets try to change it.  Most of the time the present moment, the right now is ok.  Most of the time right where you are and what you are doing is ok it is the fear of future or regret of past that creates depression  and anxiety.  If we practice and achieve being present in the here and now and being mindful, we are safe and can avoid many of the unneeded and unwanted emotions and fears we experience.  This is a touch on what mindfulness is and can do for you.  I look forward to sharing much more.  I want to give you something to try at home to begin putting this into action to living your true authentic life as the real you.

Take away tip:  Try these at home as  beginning mindfulness exercises.

1- Set a timer for one minute.  Close your eyes and listen, just listen and nothing else.  After the timer goes off write down every sound you heard, all noises big or small.

2- Set a timer for one minute.  Look around the room you are in, just look and nothing else.  After the timer goes off close your eyes and name verbally all the things you saw in the room and ask someone to them down for you.

3- Set a time for one minute.  Close your eyes and feel, just feel and nothing else.  Notice how your body feels inside, notice the feel of the floor on your feet, the seat you are sitting on, the air in the room, the sensation of breathing in and out.   After the timer goes off write down everything you felt.

Then take another moment or two to look, listen and feel and see if you are able to observe anything you missed the first time.  Start noticing what you hear, see and feel everywhere you go, it is interesting to take a notebook and write some observations down so you can compare the changes as you practice more.  Have fun with it.  We are here to experience so experience and really be present with the experience.  Don't label, don't judge.  It does not have to be good or bad, some things just are, just notice, be aware, be mindful and this is the start of the journey of MORE.

love and light

Jamie