TRADING PRESENCE FOR PRETENCE

by Andy, posted in Integration, Mindfulness

We’ve all had fearful experiences as a child and as an adult, and we mostly react by mentally escaping into the illusionary corridors of time. In this mentally manufactured dream world we pretend everything is all right or will be all right some time in the future. Through fear, we trade being present for the mental armoury of pretence.

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Through embracing physical presence we change our approach from fearfully hiding in a mental dream world to recognising ALL experience as an opportunity for growth.

Embrace today, fellow warriors of love; be present and grow!

Meditation is key to reintegrating the inner child

by Andy, posted in inner-child, Integration, Meditation, Unconditional_self_regard

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Anxiety, irritability, fear, anger are all echoes of a suppressed childhood emotion that’s never been allowed to surface. We’d rather sedate or control such feelings with meds, alcohol, drugs, TV or worry.

There is another option.

By being aware in the present moment through meditation and other portals, we are able to sense the causal feelings behind our discomfort.

Perceiving these feelings without condition, releases the movement of energy (trapped in the inner-child) and allows it to flow freely and harmoniously again.

Inspired by the teachings of Michael Brown’s ‘Presence Process’

Zentangles II

by Andy, posted in Meditation, Mindfulness, zentangles

Sunday’s group zentangle meditation. The chattering mind ceased for awhile!

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Creativity is born out of stillness

“…it’s getting in touch with the stillness within, where there’s no mental noise, and out of that stillness, when the time is right, sometimes an impulse comes – a feeling, a strong sense that something wants to be born into this world.”  Eckhart Tolle

Back in touch with the inner child

by Andy, posted in inner-child, Mindfulness, Poetry, Quotes

TO A CHILD

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The greatest poem ever known
Is one all poets have outgrown:
The poetry, innate, untold
Of being only four years old.

Still young enough to be a part
Of Nature’s great impulsive heart,
Born comrade of bird, beast and tree
And unselfconscious as the bee-

And yet with lovely reason skilled
Each day new paradise to build
Elate explorer of each sense,
Without dismay, without pretence!

In your unstained transparent eyes
There is no conscience, no surprise:
Life’s queer conundrums you accept,
Your strange Divinity still kept . . .

And life, that sets all things in rhyme,
May make you poet, too, in time-
But there were days, O tender elf,
When you were Poetry itself!

Christopher Morley

MINDFUL MOMENTS

by Andy, posted in Hummingbird, Meditation, Mindfulness, mindful_eating, Well-being

Remember, as well as mindfulness meditation, we can use routine activities as a mindful moments to switch out attention from thinking to feeling the actual sensation of now; like when we clean our teeth or take the first mouthful of breakfast or do any exercise. The more we practice, the less we are drowned out by constant thinking, enabling the mind to operate more effectively. As research has shown, the health benefits can be enormous.

MINDFUL MOMENTS
When you next stop at a traffic lights or take a break at work, pause for a moment and take three deep, slow breaths:

  • trafficIN: feel the air flow in through your nostrils
  • OUT: relax, let go of any thoughts (like letting go of helium balloons!)
  • IN: feel the lungs, diaphragm and belly fill with fresh air
  • OUT: Relax even more; let go of any deep tension in your body
  • IN: sense the entire body as field of living, vibrating energy
  • OUT: with a smile, fall into the arms of unconditional love and accept yourself exactly as you are!

 

If you have an iPhone, there’s a great app called Mindfulness Daily by Inward Inc. to help you pause during the day. There is also Insight Timer – this has a huge supportive social network community integrated into the app.