The yogic practice of sankalpa is a powerful one. Rather than a mind-over, willful intention, similar to the kind we often make on New Year’s Eve, sankalpa is a bubbling up from the heart, our deepest longing emerging and informing next steps.

What is it that your heart is longing for? What is your deepest, most delicious desire? Let this emerge, not so much from a sense of “have to” or “need to”, but from the silence and the depth inside your own heart. Imagine you could rest this desire onto the altar of your own heart, with silent presence.

Once an intention has revealed itself, there are actions to take, to ground the greater proclamation.

What is one step you can take that can make this intention more grounded? What is the next, best thing you can do to make your longing real?

Breathe and relax. As you take the next, right step, life will meet you!

Watch the video here.

What would it be like to free yourself from your own self-judgment? What would it be like to become your own best friend? How might life be different?
Whenever you notice the voice of judgment, take a few good, deep breaths. And then, tack the word “and” onto your thought, and create another phrase that is positive and self-loving.

 

If you notice a thought like, “I can’t believe I just said that!”, in this model, you can amend your thinking by saying, “I can’t believe I just said that AND I am contributing valuable information to this meeting.”

 

Other examples of freedom from self-judgment might be:

 

• Life really sucks today AND I am going to enjoy this afternoon.
• I really look terrible in this shirt AND I am worthy anyway.

Give yourself the gift of this mindful experiment—practice, notice, and relax!

Watch the video here.

So often, when we realize that we want to change something in our lives—be it diet, sleep habits, relationship, whatever—we get really, really busy. We work so hard at attempting to bring something else into the mix of our lives. We see ourselves as the solo agents of change. However, willfulness alone is just not enough to create sustainable change.

There are actions to take, of course, to create the circumstances in which change happens. Yet transformation comes out of a partnership;   our willful, human steps need to be grounded in the grace which is larger than our minds. Mindfulness and right action need to partner together—being present with what is, and into that presence, planting the seeds of right action—this is the formula for radical and sustainable change.

As you listen to this video clip, breathe and relax. As you quietly look inside, ask yourself these simple questions:

• What am I aware of in this moment?
• How can I continue to practice being right here, right now?
• What next step can I take, to move forward in the direction of my longing?

Watch the video here.

You had to be there to get this, I am certain.  But I am nevertheless compelled to attempt to explain this situation.

I had dashed into my local healthy grocery store.  Feeling good, I grabbed the kale and broccoli, etc., and made my way to the check out.  My slightly less than favorite checkout woman, of dour disposition, was free at the one register.  I put my veggies down, happy and joyous and feeling free

I realized it was Monday, senior discount day, something for which I am a proudly grateful participant.  However, as I started to ask for it, and the strangest thing happened—I couldn’t remember the words, senior discount.  I got a little confused.  Was I in the Kripalu Shop, where the key words for discount are, I’m an employee?  I was pretty sure that I didn’t work in this grocery store, but I still couldn’t find the words.  So I said to the young, already getting more dour by the moment woman:

“I’m elderly”.

I’m elderly.

I told her I was elderly!

Still unable to think of the words, I started laughing.  She, really dour now, and getting pissed, said, quite coldly, “Do you want a senior discount?”

Yes, yes, senior discount.  That’s it.  That’s what I want.

However by this time I was completely unable to contain.  Some kind of childlike irrational hysteria swept over me, as I attempted to pack my box. I was doubled over, laughing, hardly able to manage the credit card experience.  By this time the register person was done with me.  And I mean, really done with me, wouldn’t look at me.  I somehow managed to stumble my way out of the store with my box of nutritionally correct food, made it the car and roared, laughed, cried, wailed, all the way home.

This is why we elderly people need SENIOR DISCOUNTS.  We need help.  Please support us and be kind when you see us in public places.

I have absolutely no idea what this reflects about my attitude toward aging or to myself.  But oh, it was so good have that total laugh experience.

Oh, and p.s.–this site is almost ready for revision–coming soon.  Thanks for abiding by the snow picture for so ridiculously long.

 

 

 

Maya Angelou says:

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.

Okay, so if love is a bit of an edgy word today, fill in the blank with “grace” or “truth” or “light”.

Fill in your blank.

What might it look like in your life today to trust that, no matter what is going on, no matter what is unfolding, buried in its arms are gifts of grace beyond your understanding?

What’s one thing you can do today to lean toward that trust?

For me, I’m going for a walk.  Right now.  Outside.  I’m going.

I choose to walk my trust, one step at a time!