In America this week it is Father’s Day, so I wanted to put on a great tribute to Father’s everywhere!!
Take a minute and check out this beautiful video that celebrates Dad. Enjoy.
Have a beautiful week with your Father. Make it memorable.
Category: Uncategorized
Lessons learned from the movie Maleficent
Over the weekend I saw the movie Maleficent and wanted to share some thoughts on this movie. There may be a few spoilers, but I will do my best to not ruin the movie for you.
When I originally saw the trailer I thought it looked dark, a large presence of evil and my eleven-year-old daughter said, “it looks scary. I don’t want to see it.” I was not sure I wanted to see it, but I then heard it was a sweet tale, so my curiosity was peaked and we went to see it. I would describe it as a beautiful tale of true love and forgiveness, with a definite dark splash of heartache and anger, but understandably so. You see a very dark depiction of Maleficent, and you understand why, but there is a storyline that draws you in and you begin to fall in love with her character, from beginning to end.
What I took away from the movie:
Everything is better when you heart is full of LOVE not HATE.
Selfishness brings about a darker side in anyone and that will begin to consume all things.
Looks can be deceiving. It is what is on the inside that matters most.
Evil resides in a heart full of hatred and anger. Be careful what you focus on, for in the world, it is easy to be consumed by such things.
Be aware of the energy you carry. Your power can be used for good or bad.
Trust is a gift. Be careful who you give it to. Give it to those your heart allows in & even in those moments go a little deeper.
You cannot hide true beauty. True Beauty comes from within.
Friendship is a gift. A close friend is always a good thing. They can help you see beyond yourself.
True LOVE’s kiss isn’t always what you think it will be.
A change of heart is freedom in and of itself.
Forgiveness & True Love are the biggest take aways from this movie.
Peace and Love to you. -Heather
Live your DASH
In the states today is Memorial Day, so I thought about the gift of being alive, having this day, remembering those we love and appreciating this moment. There is a beautiful poem by Linda Ellis that I wanted to share, incase you have never heard it. Here is a short film that shares this beautiful sentiment of living your dash. Enjoy.
travelblog image
Here is the link: http://youtu.be/zsY6UrFIsNs
Enjoy today.
Peace to you. Heather
Heaven is Closer than we think
I do think Heaven is closer than we have any idea, who is to stay. I recently went to see the movie “Heaven is for Real” and it was an amazing story full of heart, seeking truth, faith, hope, wonder…many emotions. It made me look at myself and wonder what I would do if my young child had gone through a similar experience.
The closest experience I have ever had to heaven was when my brother was 16 years of age and was fighting demons daily. I could tell you a little bit about dark angels because I was living with one at the time. My brother had a darkness, a frightening reality of desperately wanting to leave this world, so much that he had conversations with me about how he would take his life. I was only 17 at the time and the discussions worried me to my core and I did not know how to deal or help him.
One night I came in my front door from a date, it was late & I heard the garage door open. I looked outside, the door was closed, no one was in the garage. I was puzzled & my mind raced remembering my brother telling me how he would take one of the cars and simply drive off a cliff. Right then, I heard the garage door again. I looked into the garage and saw my brother sitting in the drivers seat of our mini-van. I didn’t hesitate, I jumped in the passenger seat and began to find out what he was thinking. There was a eery, darkness in his eyes, a gloss that seemed to be distant and he seemed to not even be there. I was worried and I began to get emotional, begging him to stay, knowing what his intentions were, I told him I wasn’t leaving & buckled my seat belt. He glared at me with no emotion on his face, “there are other ways.” Right then, I knew I was fighting an endless battle. He was right, there were many ways he could take his life. I seemingly talked him off a ledge and convinced him to come inside the house with me. He took off down to the basement where his room was. I ran upstairs in a panic & woke my parents begging them for direction, and emotionally pleading that he was going to try and take his life. My Dad went into the garage and came back upstairs, “he won’t be going anywhere,” he replied. I laid on the floor listening to every movement in the basement, praying inside, unsure of what we could do. All sorts of unsettling images filled my heart and soul & I was afraid of what may happen. I kept praying.
Suddenly, the door to the garage slammed. Me and my Dad just sat there motionless, just listening and then a car engine fired up and screeched out of the garage. My Dad literally flew over our railing and raced out the front door. I watched in fear as my brother sped down our street in our brand new Ford Taurus. My Dad was dazed and confused because he had disabled the starters in both cars. My parents and I didn’t know what else to do, we held hands and began to pray. Honestly, the only thought I remember from that prayer was when my mother said, “You know when every sparrow falls.” That one line did give me a little peace & I was able to go to sleep that night.
The next morning, I jumped out of bed and ran to my parents, “have you seen him?” My Dad told me that he had come in early and just had a gash on his head, but the car was in the canyon. I couldn’t believe it. I went down stairs to find my brother lying on the heater with a blanket over him. I asked him if he was okay & he showed me the gash on his head. I was grateful he was alive.
The police searched the canyon for hours & when they did find the car, it was totaled. A dime that was on the car floor was actually bent in half. It was a miracle that my brother was alive.
When I asked my brother what happened, all he could tell me was he remembered driving down the canyon and the song “Devil inside” was playing and he drove off the cliff. He didn’t wear his seat belt thinking that would help end his life, but ironically when the car rolled it threw him out into a snow bank. My brother was wearing shorts and a light parka, was knocked unconscious & woke up in a snow bank. The only thing wrong with him was a headache from the gash on his head. He literally walked from the canyon floor up to a road & luckily a delivery truck was coming down the mountain from a nearby ski resort. The guy gave him a ride home.
The point of my story–if there are dark angels, there truly are angels of light, right. If miracles happen, then heaven is there helping us along. ABSOLUTELY.
I wanted to share some other angel stories to show that heaven is truly closer than we think–enjoy.
AMAZING YOUNG ARTIST: This story was a side story in the movie “Heaven is for Real” but it is an amazing story, so I thought I would add the link from the story done on CNN. AMAZING. Just watch.
ANGEL STORIES: Here is a link to some angel stories from guidepost http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/angels-on-earth/guardian-angels –take what you will. Read what inspires, there may be a story that touches your heart and places a little piece of heaven where you need it most.
ANGEL QUOTES:
-Peace to you. Heather
Parenting with Spirit part II
Here is my second part of highlights from the book, Parenting with Spirit by Jane Bartlett. I jump all over with the ideas I liked and wanted to take note of, so bare with me & take what you want, with the understanding that there is so much more contained in the rest of her book. This is just a glimpse of goodness!!
“Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.” -Julia Cameron, Artist’s Way
Taken from the book Parenting with Spirit by Jane Bartlett:
How to add spiritual depth to CREATIVITY:
Encourage your children to take a short moment of calm before they begin their creative pursuit. This may take the form of a little prayer or simple breathing exercise.
Invite your children to draw a picture or play a piece of music as part of their nighttime prayer ritual. [I think this would be a good daytime prayer activity as well] They could draw a picture of those things that they want to say thank you to God for, or a picture of those who are in special need of God’s love right now. They could choose to play a piece of music tat sums up the spirit of the day.
Use your children’s creative work when you hold family rituals. If you are celebrating spring, this is the time to get your children to paint daffodils or whirl around the hours to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. [I have a picture my daughter drew right now on my fridge that is a piece in ‘perspective’–I look at it and remember to always keep things in ‘perspective’]–
Place your children’s creative achievements somewhere special.This lets your children know that their art is worthy of this very special place in the home, and helps them make the connection between their creative life and worship.
Encourage your children to express their feelings about nature. When you go to the park or out into the countryside, take art materials with you so your children can express their experience of nature through images or words.
[I have been drawn to Andy Goldsworthy’s art lately—he has such a way of using rocks, colorful leaves, space, twigs, etc to create amazing pieces of art from nature. You could take your kids out and collect items to create your own natural creation]
When your children’s artwork becomes explicitly sacred in this way, be extra mindful about the ways in which you respond to it. Treat it with care and reverence, for it has emerged from a very tender part of their being–their soul. By letting them witness that their soul creations are worthy of your complete, loving attention, you are conveying to your children the powerful message that they matter very much.
Glorify God in your BODY: The physical fitness, suppleness, and energy are all God’s gifts to children, and as spiritual parents we must provide ample opportunity for them to enjoy what they have been given.
Yoga: Children’s yoga teachers say that the practice, as well as being good for fitness and health (it’s particularly helpful for asthma), sharpens a child’s ability to focus and helps to develop self-discipline–both essential for the spiritual path. The meditative aspects of yoga enable children to become aware that they have an internal life, “which really helps children get to know themselves.”
Family Walks: Walking in nature is one of the most popular ways in which to relax and feel connected to creation; it is something that we naturally seem to want to do to calm and renew ourselves.
[I can chime in on the importance of family walks: we have a beautiful, natural path near our home and when anyone in our family is stressed or in need of any kind of relaxation–the path is the cure. It is easy to get lost in the leaves swaying, the bird songs, the way the light plays, etc. There is a healing that nature holds & our soul connection finds peace abundant.]
The importance of PLAY: the word “silly” derives from the Germanic selig, meaning ‘blessed.’
Silly games to play with your children before they grow up: toe game “this little piggy went to the market”, Splash tag: an outdoor game in which the person who is ‘it” tries to catch others by hitting them with a wet sponge, make crazy hats to wear to dinner, jump waves at the beach, paint crazy faces on each other or do shaving cream beards, blow up balloons and keep them all going up in the air, balance a ball on your finger, etc.
Vacations: When we go away we have the opportunity to experience life differently. From a spiritual perspective, think of your family vacations no as an escape but as an arriving. If you have been living in a flat and meaningless way, this may be the antidote that you all need. Don’t just take your bodies on vacation; take your family soul too.
Practice Loving Family Discipline:
In it’s origins “discipline” comes from the Latin word for “instruction,” and a “disciple” is a student under the leadership of a teacher. For me, child discipline is more about training than punishment; used wisely it is guidance to ensure that childen become the best human beings they can be. [I LOVED this!! I thought this made such great sense—you don’t need to use harsh punishment—loving guidance]
Quiet time: “Let us be silent that we may hear the whispers of the gods,” -Ralph Waldo Emerson This could be parent quiet time and also family quiet time. Spritual practice for Parents: Sneak a minute of silence into your life as part of your daily routine. If you look for it, sixty seconds of quiet can be found in the most unlikely places. You might find it at your desk before you start work. Or it could be while waiting for a saucepan to boil, or in the car after you have dropped off all the kids.
[in our home quiet time can be a half hour of reading or just listening to quiet music, turning off the television, the electronics and just being still for awhile. Slowing down, having moments of quiet is so necessary to find any space of calm or spirit].
She has so much more including the importance of cutting down on tv time, pets, the importance of nature, community, big questions, manners, and so much more. If you have liked the information that I have shared in the past two posts–I would suggest buying her book and helping it nourish every part of the necessary needs of your family.
Have an amazing day. Thank you so much for taking the time to invest in this little blog. It means so much. Thank you.
Awake in the Dream part 2
AWAKE: to stop sleeping; wake from a sleep. To stir the interest of; excite. To become or make aware.
Here is the second part of info, tools, thoughts and ideas that I took from the inspired movie, Awake in the dream. Beautiful movie I would highly recommend. I had a good friend of mine read my last post and immediately call me and ask me where I saw the movie, she was intrigued. Anyone can find it on Amazon, so get a copy. It is worth the time. Amazon has it for $13.95. [fyi: I don’t make any money or gain anything from promoting this movie. I just truly found it uplifting, beautiful, inspiring]
FEAR: Walsch likes the acronym Feeling Excited And Ready for the word FEAR. If you follow that feeling you can look at situations with a different perspective and step into that space excited and ready for whatever comes.
Fear and disempowerment may disconnect you, but the divine power is always within you. BUT, how do you rid yourself of these self-limiting ideas? Here are some tools…
Root causes for suffering
#1 Identification with the BODY (I am my body)–this is the birth of the EGO. Beliefs begin about how ‘you are your body’–MY feelings, MY thoughts, MY story, MY work, MY country, etc. This causes you to be independent of spirit.
#2 Identification with the MIND. Arjuna Ardagh, Awakening Coach, put it this way…This is the commentary of the mind—future, past, fears, judgements, evaluations, etc. The good—this is the part that allows imagination—to desire to make something–you create it. But it is also a curse. This capacity to think and imagine makes a wonderful servant–can be used, but a terrible master. Almost all human beings have lost the capacity to know how to switch it off.
Thoughts aren’t the problem–it’s letting them stick that becomes the real issue. Sabotage of the mind: you blame, you judge the thoughts, your desires…you resist what is. Catharine (the creator of the movie) talked about how she began to believe and resist that she was a single mother, that she felt like she was a failure for not having the perfect family she desired.
You must let go of perfection and embrace the imperfectly you in this life. Enjoying, surrendering and not defending what is. If you defend–you blow it up. How long do you stay in the drama? When you knock yourself down, how long do you need to stay there? That is a choice. You can accept it as it is OR you can judge it, dislike it, hate it, RESIST it!!! There is the key, when you choose to judge or hate it, you are locked in it. Choose ACCEPTANCE of what is.
“Peace of mind is not the result of obtaining your desires, it is the result of losing your desire.” -Harry Palmer
DESIRE: Every desire will only satisfy for awhile. (i.e.: buy new shoes, new car, want a new house…) Desire is tricky because you think the peace you have is from getting something you desire, but in reality it is when there is no desire running. We are so conditioned by need—I need something, I need something. We are running around like needy beings. Our NATURAL BEING is without need and that is the wealth of being. It’s not lacking anything. FREE and RICH is the one who desires NOTHING (NO THINGS). Not even from God. Otherwise we are all beggars.
STOP RUNNING DESIRES!! See through the illusion. Don’t just jump from one desire to another searching for that little bit of peace. That PEACE will be there when you stop running. Stop believing that the object of your desire is what brings you the peace. That’s commercialism!! The mind does not need an object to be still.
JUDGEMENT: Judging is a very strong attribute of the personal mind. Someone who is judging others usually has a pretty strong inner self-critic. Usually when you are not comfortable within, you seek to pick on others.
EMOTIONS: Emotions help us to realize how clear we are with ourselves and how honest we live our needs. When we have strong negative emotions–we act apart from our inner self. Emotions want to tell us “Look here!” because all our cells are in yourself want to feel good. Everything that does not feel good needs to be changed back to feeling good.
FEELINGS vs EMOTIONS: Feelings versus emotions–when you allow yourself to have your real feelings–but it’s anger–let it come from within, let it all out, don’t attach the stories that often come with the emotions. FEELINGS become a teacher, a guide, free from thought (story).
FORGIVENESS: Forgiveness means FOR GIVING. Often times when we get hurt we shut down, we crack, we pull in. We don’t want to give anymore. If someone hurts us we don’t want to give them anything. When you forgive–you let go, you let go of the past or what happened, you allow giving to begin again. This gave me a great visual—When you are holding on to something (imagine a bag marked hurts, regrets, pain) you are holding tight to this bag—unable to give anything else. Your hands are full of garbage, so you can’t offer anything else. Let’s say you wanted to give someone a bouquet of flowers, but you can’t because your hands are full of the bags of hurts, regrets, pain—things that you need to let go of, so then you can offer the beautiful things you can give to others). In reality, usually when there is a deep need of forgiveness it is usually something within us that is in need of self-forgiveness that is at the core.
In TRUTH there is only YOU that impedes your divine potential.
“You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are!” -Eckhart Tolle
Many religions will tell you that you are separate from God. That is a mistake, an error, so the unfortunate thing is many of us go through life born feeling alone, growing up feeling alone, and not feeling that connection, not understanding that we are always connected.
AWAKENING is not the fruit of getting rid of something. AWAKENING means to realize that the barrier never existed. -Arjuna Ardogh
LOVE is our nature. When you know yourself, you will realize that your true nature is LOVE.
ENLIGHTENMENT simply means to understand who you are—not who you think you are, who other people think you are, what others have told you you are and not what your society conditions you to believe you are. The human experience is an opportunity to discover that we are the divine eternal principle. God is the center of everything. To find the center we must go within to our own center to find the connection, the deeper part is always divinely connected.
Your heart is the GOD FORCE of the creations that come from love. When you are able to shift your own identity to divine essence—the way is in the HEART.
Well, there are SO many more gems from this beautiful movie. I hope this has given you some good food for thought and will inspire you to get the movie to truly enjoy the full experience. It is a beautiful movie. Thank you.
Awake in the Dream part 1
I watched an amazing movie the other day called “Awake in the Dream” by Catharina Roland —I highly recommend watching it and taking the seeds of change that will help you grow into a higher, better part of yourself. It was full of highly intellectual people sharing their deep insights, set to beautiful backdrops all around the world. It was wonderful to watch!!
Here is the trailer for the movie–
AWAKE IN THE DREAM PART 1
I am going to share bits of knowledge from this movie into a few different parts—this one I am going to share the thoughts about limiting beliefs.
She had author, Bruce Lipton, Biology of Belief, talk about what stops us from creating and using our potential—We have settled for our belief system, instead of seeing all the shimmer, shine, possibility of what reality can bring. Beliefs can bring limits or possibility. Thoughts like: Life is hard, I am a loser, it’s out of my hands VS I am beautiful, It’s a new day, I live in abundance, All changes change for the better, I am beloved…
This was fascinating to me–he began to talk about research done with people who have multiple personality issues. He talked about how powerful the brain is and can literally change the physicality of the body like a switch. He gave an example of someone who had two personalities, while one was extremely allergic to strawberries and would have a serious reaction, when the other personality showed up & was asked about strawberries, the response was that they loved strawberries and ate five of them with no reaction. When your mind changes, your biology can change as fast as you change your mind.
He explained most healing truly is the placebo effect—if the person believes the sugar pill will affect and heal them–it will. The pill didn’t heal–the BELIEF OF HEALING is what healed them.
I thought the following DOVE BEAUTY PATCH video would fit beautifully into what we are talking about. MAKE SURE TO WATCH THIS!! VERY POWERFUL. (This was NOT in the movie–I just thought it was a good fit & very powerful)
Bruce Lipton also spoke of the Nocebo effect (negative thought effect/the opposite of placebo)–Here is a video I came across to help explain the “Nocebo effect.” It is equally as powerful as the placebo, but it takes you in the opposite direction. A positive thought can HEAL you while a negative thought can KILL you.
Bruce also talked about the messages from the media that we should be afraid, the world is falling apart. He said, We need to be aware of not believing these things and not begin to follow and live in that fear because then we lose our power. Bruce said, “Let the world fall apart because then the new, empowering ideas will emerge and will be able to replace the old ones that are not working.”
I also really enjoyed listening to Arjuna Ardagh (At first I was a little closed off to his slow, spacey way, but the more I watched and listened to him–I was hooked) He explained thoughts as this…Scientists say that we usually talk about 400 words per minute to ourselves. Thoughts are constantly assessing our surroundings, giving us judgements, how to deal with people, how to act…the mind always thinking, always wanting more. This is the commentary of the mind–future, past, fears, judgements, evaluations. The good–this is the part that allows imagination—to desire to make a movie & then make it, to see a bldg & then build it…BUT it is also a curse. The capacity to think and imagine makes a wonderful servant—can be used, but makes a terrible master. Almost all human beings have lost the capacity to know how to switch it off. So the thinking process isn’t useful in the right way—it can become a disease. Like a television you can’t switch off anymore.
He had a great metaphor—it’s like having a parrot on your shoulder, always chattering, always wanting more—you can’t turn it off. It is genetic, it’s biological, always there, you can’t switch it off, but in the moment you are able to observe the activities of thought as something automatic something interesting happens–you become aware of the thoughts. You are no longer the parrot–you are the observer of the parrot.
“The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not “the thinker.” The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated. You then begin to realize that there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought, that thought is only a tiny aspect of that intelligence. You also realize that all the things that truly matter – beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace – arise from beyond the mind. You begin to awaken.” -Eckhart Tolle
A few Horses, A lot of Life Lessons
I had an amazing experience last Friday, I got to spend a day with beautiful horses learning about myself, energy, leadership and finding a deeper part of myself.
I am definitely a follower of my own intuition. I have tried to listen to any prompting, inspiration to try something, a book that seems to keep jumping out at me…there are always gifts and signs that can guide us to situations that will help us grow beyond our current state. I was listening to a podcast of Koren Motekaitis (she has a great podcast show) and she was interviewing someone named Renee Sievert who was a Equus Coach. I had no idea what that was, but I was drawn to her passion and excitement and then she mentioned working with horses. Deal breaker!! my interest was even more heightened, because I have always had a thing with horses, their wild essence, their spirit, watching them run…whenever I have had bad dreams throughout my life, I envision wild horses running and it seems to calm my soul. Not sure why, so a coach who worked with horses was very interesting to me. I listened to the podcast, immediately after I began to scroll my phone for anyone in my local area who did this type of coaching. I was hooked!! I instantly signed up for a class & was scheduled for a week later. Here we go!!!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from my experience, but I went with an open mind and heart, ready for anything. I met up with a great coach, Erin Cutshall who was within about 15 minutes from my home & we began our day with hugs & a walk through the ranch to grab our first horse, Ginger. She was a spirited, cinnamon colored horse that I openly admit was a little intimidating. She entered the round pen and began to kick and neigh, running in circles and bucking with spirit. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her. Erin began to explain how horses have a “Leader Mare” they follow in a herd. She has to earn the respect and leadership with every horse that is present. Erin ran through some of the steps horses go through when testing one another for leadership and then the signs when they begin to give in and follow the leader—to be friends, to want to have a meal together.
Now, this whole experience was primarily for me to understand myself and seek answers to why I have felt so disconnected to people. I have struggled gaining trust in friendships and have not had the energy to engage with enthusiasm, so I have no friends. I explained how I didn’t like feeling like I was trying to learn and grow spiritually, but everything I read or watched emphasis the need to have close social ties or connections. It was so frustrating to feel so disconnected and not feel a need for others in my life. I did not understand.
She began training me in how horses are able to “mirror” people & will let off the energy they are feeling within the round pen. She explained how if you don’t hold a high energy or an “inviting” energy, the horse will not follow your lead. She talked about how intuitive horses read the energy we carry & if it is not a leadership, or your best self that is being shown—they will not be interested in you. Erin began asking me questions about me, my needs, my disconnection issue, my alone time, if I enjoyed being around people or if it felt like a drain…She helped me to understand that I have a very ‘Introvert’ personality and being alone is very vital to my personal needs. She helped me see that it was okay to not enjoy being around lots of people and that conversations can be very draining. She expressed how I was energized by being alone and social situations were draining to my soul. I cannot tell you what a weight was lifted in truly understanding my feelings. I had felt all those things, but having someone see it outside of me, hearing my needs and allowing me to be—was freeing. Erin helped me see that when you understand yourself, what your needs are and being able to take care of those needs, then you will be your best self—the leader that lies within.
She then invited me into the round pen & began giving me cues of where to stand to make the horse do what I wanted (to move, to run…) it was harder than I thought. I LOVE seeing horses run, so of course I wanted to see the horse run, but when I tried to get her to move, she didn’t listen. My energy wasn’t strong enough for her to listen. It took some practice & finding my playful energy to send her into motion. It was amazing. She ran and ran & then when my energy began to drop she would slow (like me). I stopped & wanted the horse to follow me. Erin walked me through the final steps to win the horse over & she followed me step by step around the round pen.
We worked with three different horses, all with different personalities & it was exhilarating. It was a craft that took time, learning to angle my body, getting over wanting to lead like I would with a dog. That was another aha moment for me. Erin explained how most people are use to leading like they would a dog, but Erin quickly got out in front of the horse and began to say things like, “please come over and love me, follow me, be with me, listen to me.” the visual was so pathetic and disempowering that I instantly imagined how in our own relationships we could be like that with people. BUT, if we learn to be our best self, take care of our needs, then people (horses) will be drawn to us. The energy we carry will free us from the bondages of being small, acting small & will allow us to be who we are meant to be–to shine, to radiate, to be strong, to lead and guide. It was even relevant to parenting. THink of almost begging your children to spend time with you, to listen, to respect you with a tone and action of leadership and love vs begging. You want those around you to admire and love you, to want to be around you because of the good energy you send out.
Watching Erin was even more amazing because she has been able to master the art. She put me in a large arena with one horse & had me try to get it to go through different sets of cones, but the one caveat, I could not get it to follow–I had to lead it. It was harder than I thought. A couple rows near the fence–easy, but when I was determined to get the horse out into the middle and have it go through a isle of cones–no can do!! I tried a couple different tactics, but my reasonable brain couldn’t problem solve because I figured I would have to go one one side of the horse and then run over to guide it the opposite direction. I finally gave in & just walked through the cones and had the horse follow. Erin smiled & was happy that I had at least finished getting the horse to go where I desired. I explained my only reasonable thought of how to get it through the cones & threw her a challenge to see if she could do it. She smiled and agreed to the challenge. She right away led the horse through the cones—I couldn’t believe it. She explained and showed me how when she began to give the horse space, it would then come in closer to her & that ended up putting the horse right where she wanted. It was an art. I couldn’t believe it.
I enjoyed learning the parallels of life and the energy we carry. Horses are definitely a mirror, when I got calm, they got calm, when I got excited they would run, when they were confused by my needs and wants they did not follow, one actually began leading me by sticking her head out in front of me, so I was behind. When you give them space, they want to follow. It’s a balance, a dance, a harmony between two spirits. It was a beautiful experience that I will always cherish.
How to be HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY.
I just watched a great documentary on HAPPINESS, called HAPPY. Here is the trailer. Go out and watch it!! You will definitely be better for it. You will learn so much. I am going to give you a few thoughts and ideas that I took away from this great show, but I am not going to tell you everything because you need to see the show. FYI-On Amazon in has over 430 4.5 star ratings. Enjoy!
“The constitution only guarantees the American People the right to pursue Happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” -Benjamin Franklin
What do you want?? Most people say…to be HAPPY. Happy has undergone a revolution. It seems everyone is in search of HAPPINESS. Look at Coke’s marketing “Open Happiness” the numerous books on the subject (Happiness Project, The Happiness Advantage, Stumbling on Happiness to name a few) and Harvard’s biggest class that has thousands of students each week attend, a class on Happiness (Positive Psychology). Here is the link for professor Tal Ben-Shahar who is teaching this course (the largest course at Harvard). Make sure you check out his quick Five Steps for Being Happier Today. There are some great links and videos on this site. http://bigthink.com/users/talbenshahar
Happiness helps you achieve your other goals in life. What is interesting is you are born with a 50% genetic set point OR range of happiness, BUT what is astounding is that your CIRCUMSTANCES account for only 10% of our happiness. WOW!! that is so small. That leaves us with 40% of things that we can do on a regular basis that are intentional activities that will bring us happiness. That is HUGE!! This 40% leaves us with options to add variety, add changes, seek out experiences that increase happiness triggers like dopamine (our bodies natural happiness chemical in the brain). A big activity that increases dopamine—EXERCISE. Also, activities that get you into a natural FLOW, like playing music, something you enjoy doing that has a specific rhythm that makes you happy. It gives you a sense of control over what you are doing.
The WRONG Assumptions of outcome. People believe if something good happens (they get married, win a championship…) they will feel SO HAPPY & they do for a short time. The same is when something bad happens (car wreck, divorce…) some sort of devastation & for a short time they are devastated. THe fact is…People actually do really well even when things go bad. Scientific research does not support adversity as a bad thing. You have to have pain to have pleasure.
Can MONEY buy Happiness? They literally looked at 50 years of income vs happiness and even though the income level went up. People were no more happier living in their bigger houses, more cars, etc. then they were 50 years ago. The happiness levels were stagnet despite the increase in income. The ONLY time money brings happiness is when you are homeless or are not having your basic needs (water, food, shelter) met, after that it doesn’t make you any happier. Between the income of $5,000 and $50,000 there is a difference in happiness levels, but between $50,000 and $500,000 there is no difference.
Extrinsic vs Intrinsic motivations: Let’s look at Extrinsic (external) motivations–getting stuff, getting money, concerned about your image, your status VS Intrinisic (internal) motivations—personal growth, friends and family, helping your community, something bigger. People who were more extrinsically motivated were less satisfied with their life, had less energy, were depressed and more anxious. The people who were intrinsically motivated were happier, had less depression, had a sense of meaning in their life.
This movie then took a look at different countries who were the happiest (Denmark) and least happiest (Japan) and looked at the circumstances and stories of why. It was a great show that has so much more and I would highly recommend. Go out and buy it, rent it and enjoy it. It is definitely worth the time.
Here are a few personal tips to take away: Exercise, write down 5 things you are grateful for each night or at the very least once a week, invest in relationships, learn to meditate on compassion, get out into nature, smile, share love, do things you enjoy, be grateful for where you are at…and happiness will follow.
Peace and Happiness to you. -Heather
Are you Sleepwalking through life?
Oh, the wonder and magic of learning!! Yesterday I took an hour and watched a young man’s journey, Take it with you, where he went across the world to a variety of countries in search of meaning, the peace that was missing in his life and his soul’s yearning for something better.
It seems for many of us there is always a constant searching, a yearning for something more.
I just read an amazing quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, “the greatest enemy of the spiritual life is the human tendency to sleepwalk through life.” That thought hit me square in the heart because I have been thinking a lot about spirituality, creating a beautiful understanding of it in my family and having that as a center for all things we do. My husband is in a job that is a revolving door of no time, stress and a void of any type of spiritual awareness. He has been caught in a exhausted state, unable to balance and I have been praying to know how to help him, so this quote hit me and almost knocked me down. THE GREATEST ENEMY of the SPIRITUAL LIFE is the human tendency to sleepwalk through life!! WOW.
ARE YOU SLEEPWALKING?? We all do it from time to time, from one mundane activity to another, so would you like to hear something that is the solution…PRAYER calls us to wakefulness. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Prayer is a beautiful piece to any puzzle that longs to fit contentment. Watching the movie yesterday made me see even more connections that the world has in happiness and prayer. Every tradition, different rituals, different religions, no matter there place on earth, has a well of history, knowledge, symbolism and divinity held within their temples, their churches, their synagogues, their arch ways…it was beautiful to see the Japanese gardens filled with large, red archways that symbolize stepping into a more spiritual place. It was humbling to see a tribe of people in South America who, to this day, still protect their ancient, natural spiritual places and the deep beliefs they hold with the deepest part of their hearts. It was interesting to see the one symbol that is seen all over the world–the flower of life symbol that this young man (from the movie) was able to find in every part of the world, in every temple, every sacred space. It made me understand the even deeper connections that have been placed on this earth so long ago. I enjoyed watching the different rituals of prayer, with candles, crosses, clapping, beads, kneeling, symbols…to see the respect and love of something bigger than us all. Prayer has a deeper connection for all of us, if we take the time to tap into the beautiful beyond.
Prayer is different for everyone. You may be able to focus through meditation or yoga, maybe you sit outside and give thanks with your mind, some may need to kneel in darkness to find clarity or maybe you can talk out loud while driving in your car, or maybe you feel it necessary to be in a church, prayer is different for everyone…BUT…everyone can pray. Here are some resources and ideas to help you get more connected on a deeper level with your higher self:
Maybe you find meditation or visualization a gift & the easiest way for you to get lost in your mind. Wisdom Film’s has done some amazing videos that are beautiful images with messages to slow you down and be mindful. Here is one of their videos: “Set Your Champion Free”—They have additional videos on youtube.
Great Article. Wow! Another quote just struck me—Reading this great article by a women who I have loved listening to [great podcasts], Elizabeth Lesser, I came across this “The Sufis say that our longing for GOD is GOD’s longing for us.” WOW. Does that not break you open and make your heart sing of peace! Here is the article—take what moves you. http://www.oprah.com/spirit/What-Prayer-Really-Means-Elizabeth-Lesser/2
I have been reading, pondering and trying to get the best sense of how to help instill the faith of teaching prayer to my daughter. I just began reading the book Parenting with Spirit by Jane Bartlett and here is what she says: Prayer is a language, a way of dialoguing with the divine. Like any language, it has to be learned. Prayer is not the preserve of any one religion: all faiths have prayer. It’s humankind’s most natural and important way of connecting to a larger reality, and it is available to us all.
Here are her tips to help your family through prayer—-Prayer Nurtures a Family’s Spirit:
Prayer helps children feel connected to a larger reality. Prayer is an expansion of the consciousness and a suspension of ordinary thought. In some ways, prayer is a small act, as easy as reaching out and flicking on a light switch. However, once that light is shining, everything appears differently. You are seeing life as it truly is, albeit briefly. In praying with your children, you are showing them how simple it is to press the switch: to close their eyes, go inside, and “turn on” an experience of a larger reality.
Prayer promotes the development of an interior life. In prayer we quiet the hubbub of the day and hear a deeper part of ourselves instead. Children, just as adults, have an inner life, a world of thoughts and feelings. In prayer, they begin to learn how to attend to these emotions, to sort through them, understand them, and possibly change them. Prayer teaches children self-awareness.
Prayer encourages an examination of conscience. In prayer, we allow God to enter in. In so doing we shine a light on the dark corners, where we might otherwise have preferred not to have looked.
Prayer acts as a tool of transformation. Prayer is an act filled with hope. We pray in faith that things can be better, that the world may become a happier place, and that we may fulfill our human potential. In so doing, we accept that we currently have limitations, but we invite God to help us overcome these.
Prayer develops gratitude and joy. In prayer we count our blessings. Think about all the good things that you have in your lives, and to thank God for them. Big and small things can be included in thanks. Prayers and gratitude help everyone appreciate their world and the people in it, and cultivate an attitude of joy. They also counter feelings of greed.
Prayer increases children’s engagement in the world. We can use our prayer to contemplate the wider world and set our lives into a bigger perspective. Encourage your children to think of people who are sick or lonely or experiencing personal problems. Think too of people in other countries who might be suffering from poverty, famine or war. Prayer promotes compassion.
Prayer brings parents and children together. Praying with your children can be an extremely intimate moment. This is especially true if you are speaking aloud spontaneous prayers. On one level this type of prayer is a profound sharing of thoughts and feelings. In joining each other in this, we overcome our sense of isolation. Your children feel tremendously valued and cared for when you say prayers and ask God to help them in their personal struggles.
Prayer develops reverence for the world. In prayer we take a moment to value the world God has made. Reverence helps nurture respectful behavior in children.
Prayer helps children feel safe. Prayer is a comforting ritual that prepares children for sleep, for their day…It is an opportunity to let go of cares and worries, to feel safe and loved.
Prayer encourages positive behavior. Loving and compassionate thoughts will ultimately translate into loving and compassionate behavior. Children will be more mindful about their actions and aware that they should be behaving in a way that is acceptable to God.
Prayer may have a mysterious power all of its own. You may find it easy to believe that prayer changes something within the person who is praying. But prayer traditionally has another function too: it is thought to change the world beyond ourselves. [She expounds more in her book]
I hope these thoughts and ideas help you to get in touch with a deeper side of your self and avoid sleepwalking through your life.
Peace to you. -Heather
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