Monthly Archives: December 2009

The Pain of Discipline vs. the Pain of Regret

By Mary on December 28, 2009

I have several practices that I do on a regular basis: yoga, journal writing, and meditation. Over the holidays, and the time leading up to the holidays, my discipline at maintaining these practices has been slipping. As someone with a history of procrastination, I have had any number of reasons (read: excuses) as to why I cannot do any or all of them. Since I practice first thing in the morning, and right before bed, many of my excuses revolve around sleep.

“I stayed up too late last night, so I ‘m going to sleep a little later this morning.”

“I feel a cold coming on, so I am going to rest more to fight it off.”

“I have to finish reading this book so I can get it back to the library.”

Thinking of these three practices (yoga, meditation and journal writing), it can be difficult to measure the effects of doing or not doing them.  If I don’t brush my teeth before bed, it’s easy to relate that to furry teeth and horrible morning breath when I wake up.  If I don’t put my raw breakfast on to soak before I go to bed, I have to have something else to eat in the morning. But is the late afternoon headache coming on because I didn’t do yoga, or because I didn’t drink enough water today?  And am I irritable because I didn’t write in my journal or meditate last night, or because my hormones are changing with the onset of my moon time?

And then there is the guilt.  I made a commitment to myself to practice yoga at least three times a week, and to journal and meditate before bed at least 5 times a week.  If I can’t keep my commitments to myself, how trustworthy am I?  And if I am not keeping my commitments, I am not in alignment, and I am not attracting the things I want into my life.

Why did I make these commitments in the first place?  Yoga helps keep me flexible and is a good way of combating chronic plain.  Writing in my journal and meditating help me stay balanced emotionally, and help me feel calm and peaceful.  I am able to stay focused longer and accomplish more.  And frankly, I don’t like what I become when I am not practicing.

So while it may always seem easier to follow an excuse and not get up for yoga, or short myself on meditation time so I can get back into whatever book I am reading, I almost always end up regretting the decision.  Discipline is much more challenging to maintain, but it is so much easier to live with than the regret of not following the discipline.

Keep this in mind as you make your New Year’s Resolutions, if you partake in that ritual.  Will you be self-disciplined enough to keep your commitment?

Blessings,

Mary

PS. How do I best impart this lesson, which has taken me over 30 years to understand (and I still haven’t gotten it perfect!), to my young sons? :)

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Happy….

By Mary on December 25, 2009

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Yule, Hannukah, Ramadan or Kwanzaa,
May the growing Light bless you with Peace, Love and Joy this holiday season.

Want to learn more about these different holidays?  ReligiousTolerance.org has a great write up describing the different celebrations at this time of year.  You can read about it here….

Blessings,

Mary

A new guided meditation is now available!

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Chocolate Meditation

By Mary on December 23, 2009

The Peaceful Woman has recently begun Meet-Ups throughout the US and Canada.  The premiere meet-up theme was, “When you can’t access Peaceful, reach for Chocolate!”

At first this sounds like a sales pitch for Hershey’s, but when you get past that, it is really a metaphor to remind us to slow down and access our center.

Rachel Flower, a fellow Peaceful Woman, created a special Chocolate Sensory Meditation for the meet-ups, and it is available to download and experience for yourself.  You will never eat chocolate the same way again!

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

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Winter Solstice

By Mary on December 21, 2009

Last night we had our annual Solstice Celebration, “Banish the Dark.”  It was a much smaller group than we have sometimes had, and yet we had an excellent meal cooked by my wonderful husband, and some good discussion.

After dinner, we turned off all the lights, and the fire in the fireplace had burned down to small coals.  One of the first fears that we experience as young children is fear of the dark, as my youngest immediately began complaining about.  David asked the question, “What is dark?”

My first response was, “Absence of light.”  My eldest son answered, “The opposite of light.”  Our guest suggested that a lot of sacred ceremony takes place in total darkness.

And then my lightbulb flashed.  The dark obscures outer vision so we may better see with inner vision.  We each took some time quietly meditating on that inner vision…well, the adults, anyway!

Then my husband lit a single candle from the almost extinguished coals of the fire.  How bright that light seemed after being in the darkness for a while! Slowly, we lit more and more candles, and the room became bright once more.  The higher we lifted our lights, the brighter the room became.

Winter Solstice Candles

I also took time to recall another Winter Solstice four years ago.  I had done many things to encourage my youngest to be born, but was waiting until the time he chose.  I went out for a walk on my own in the dying hours of the day.  I walked the path through the woods behind my home, across the two streams, down to the ocean, across the rocky beach to come to the entrance to my neighborhood, and back up to home.  I was out for at least an hour, in the rain and fading light.  The whole time I was out, I spoke to the baby inside me, encouraging him to come snuggle in my arms.  Just before two the next morning, my third son was born, echoing the rebirth of the Sun.

In my darkest hour, I went within, and new light sparked forth.

May you have the courage to face the darkness, your shadow, and through the challenge lift your light high for others to see.  All good things are coming to me, and to you.

Blessings

Mary

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Make “Mental Fitness” a Resolution in 2010

By Mary on December 19, 2009

As 2009 winds to a close, so many of us eat way to much over the holidays, and make resolutions for the coming year to get physically fit.  But what about our mental fitness? Patt Lind-Kyle offers an easy way for us to strengthen our “mental muscle.”  And yes, it involves some meditation!

It’s time for the annual “Fitness Resolution.” (Or should it be “Fitness Delusion”?) If you’re like most Americans, you’re fantasizing about a 2010 characterized by thrice-weekly gym visits, early morning jogs, veggie-centric meals, and-of course-a sleek new body by summertime. Yes, it’s a nice goal. But according to Patt Lind-Kyle, it’s an unrealistic one. First of all, you (at least the current you) are probably not going to do those things. But more to the point, you’re focused on the wrong problem.

Instead of JUST making physical fitness your New Year’s Resolution, why not ALSO aim for mental fitness?
“You can change your life in any way you want to change it,” says Lind-Kyle, author of Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain: Applying the Exciting New Science of Brain Synchrony for Creativity, Peace and Presence (Energy Psychology Press, 2009, ISBN: 1604150564) and mind training guide whose voice appears on the book’s companion CDs. “That applies to getting fit or quitting smoking or strengthening your marriage or whatever. But first you have to understand what’s at the root of your problems: your mind and the way it directs your brain to function-basically, where you place your attention.”

Lind-Kyle makes two critical points. One, the lifestyle habits that brought you to your current level of pudginess have carved neural pathways in your brain that can’t be changed by sheer willpower. (That’s why resolutions so often fail.)

The rest of the article is located here… Or jump right in and get her book!

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

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Walk – Mindfully

By Mary on December 17, 2009

Did you know the simple act of walking can be a form of meditation?

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD. explains how in the following article from EVliving.com

Many people have been indoctrinated to believe walking is a chore, therefore, it is something to be avoided. People look for the closest parking space in any parking lot, take elevators to the second floor and generally avoid walking as much as possible.

Some people recognize walking as the most beneficial activity that is a natural course of living.  Walking can be an easy multitasking effort. Walking a few blocks has unlimited benefits-not only for your health, but your spirit as well. As you walk, connect with your inner thoughts. If you are walking outside; walk on grass or bare dirt so that your feet connect with mother earth. If you walk on concrete; the earth is still beneath you, supporting you-simply visualize the earth’s nurturing energy coming through the concrete into your feet and body. Walking allows your body to remember simpler times, when life was less complicated-when walking was the only mode of transportation.

Finish reading the article here…

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

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Why Guided Meditation?

By Mary on December 14, 2009

When I tell people that I write guided meditations, I get a lot of smiles and nods.  Most people have heard of or tried some form of meditation, but don’t know exactly what “guided” meditation is.

I gave this explanation to a couple of colleagues a few weeks ago, and around their giggles, they both said I had to video it and put it on my site.

In a true procrastinator’s style, it took me about two months to take the video, and another week to upload it.

So here is is: my video explanation of guided meditation.  Enjoy!

Blessings,

Mary

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Meditation and Relaxation for Children

By Mary on December 11, 2009

Having three very active boys of my own, I know how challenging it can be to get them to lay still for ten seconds, let alone long enough learn to meditate! Keira Adams offers some useful tips in the following article:

Taking some time to collect your feelings before or after a full day of work or school is something most folks ought to do, yet often don’t seem to be able to manage. Practicing some guidelines for meditation and relaxation will help you to organize your thoughts at work and school, and once you enjoy the advantages of meditation, you may wish to teach them to your kids. Here are several of the most effective means to visually explain meditation and relaxation in a way that your kids will be able to follow.

Continue to Keira’s article…

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

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The Benefits Of Guided Meditation Music

By Mary on December 9, 2009

Learn more about the different types of music available to help with meditation in this article by Ben Pate.

Meditation With Music provides a powerful element to the effort to bring balance to the mind and body. This is accomplished through meditative practices or in normal life situations. A person will find that this type of music is growing in popularity as more people become aware of its ability to positively change lives.

Read the rest of the article here…

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

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