What Would Jesus See?
Over the weekend there were several moments when I knew.
I participated in Martha Creek’s “Journey Within” workshop and it was amazing (to put it mildly). Emotional, intense, uplifting, opening, liberating and so much more.
The weekend consisted of one exercise after another that encouraged the other women and I who took part to really hone in on our habitual ways of thinking and being and to explore what it might be like to be free…
Okay, okay, I’ll admit it…
There is not one way to be empowered. There are countless ways.
There really aren’t “right” and “wrong” ways to be empowered either.
But…
There are many, many ways that a lot of us spend our precious time and energy that are flat out dis-empowering and we don’t often realize it.
I’ve been listening to a fabulous collection of audios by Buddhist nun Pema Chodron*. If you are turned off by either (or both) the words “Buddhist” or “nun,” give this a listen anyway. Chodron’s teachings are accessible, easily relatable and for anyone regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs.
On a day like today, I am grateful for impermanence.
When I am in a place of grouchiness and am facing such things as an equally grouchy teenager, a large car repair bill, cold temperatures, gray skies and more I am somewhat soothed when I remind myself that this moment in time won’t last forever.
This may not exactly be what the Buddha meant when he taught about impermanence, but I do find some comfort in it, at least temporarily and on the surface.
But, of course, there is a cost to this mind game I tend to play.
Having survived the daylight savings time change, we are treated this weekend to the unveiling of a new season– the delightful Spring.
For me, the Spring Equinox is a refreshing and promising day. It truly marks the season for renewal and rebirth. I can’t help but apply all of those great things to personal growth.
We all have habits or aspects of our lives that we’d like to change. Perhaps we eat too much when we’re stressed out, rely on alcohol, drugs or cigarettes to cope with life, zone out on the computer or tv or any other behavior which we deem unwanted or unhealthy.
By Amy Phillips-Gary
What to do with your anger….
Come on. As mild mannered as you think you are, you probably get angry from time to time.
We all get angry occasionally– some of us more occasionally than others.
The question is do you tend to stuff down your anger in some deep, dark hidden place within or do you spew it forth onto anyone and everyone around you?
I grew up in a family of stuffers.
