By Mary on June 14, 2010
This past week has been even busier than usual for me. I’ve been helping three different friends with their websites in addition to my regular routine of audio editing, a full time job and three children. I’m not complaining, mind you. I am glad I have skills to help my friends! And though I may be tempted from time to time, I wouldn’t trade my children for anything.
Making space for quiet time was shuffled to the bottom of my ‘to do’ list, though, and I definitely felt the effects. I was run down, exhausted, and my body was achy. I knew it was because I wasn’t taking care of myself, and not because of any ‘bug’. I was sleeping in instead of getting up and moving my body. I sat in front of my computer, stiffening up. I worked on my computer straight up until I had to leave for work, then took half the day getting myself grounded again.
So I spent yesterday taking better care of me. I slept in, and spent some time with my husband. I read to my children. I bounced on the trampoline. I did the laundry and started cleaning up my work space. And I got some of my own projects completed that were pushed to the side last week.
And this morning, I got up early and did my yoga practice for the first time in weeks! I focused on breathing love for the entire time. Each time my mind wandered, I gently brought it back to I AM…LOVE.
Right now, the dishwasher is churning away, my youngest son is fighting battles with imaginary storm troopers, and there is a box full of papers I need to sort through on the floor next to my chair. Instead of becoming anxious about this, though, I cam calm. I can tune out the space battle, and turn down the pressure on myself to get to that box. Why? Because I started the day with yoga and meditation. I began on the right foot: with calm and intention, and that carries me through the day. I created the quiet inside myself, and so I become the eye of the storm.
Now, I think I’ll go bounce on the trampoline for a few minutes before I tackle that box! A little fun makes life much more enjoyable, too!
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Mary's Musings Tagged calm, eye of the storm, fun, Guided Meditation, intention, meditation, meditation benefits, play, yoga
By Mary on March 15, 2010
I am vicariously taking part in an 8 week coaching program with The Peaceful Woman called Inspired Living. I say vicariously because I am not able to take part during the live call, but I can go back and listen to the recording. Last week was the first session, and I just listened to the call today.
We did an assessment of our lives–looking at various areas and how fulfilled we are by those parts of our lives, and how different areas of our lives support us. This was an interesting exercise for me. Some of these areas I knew were not fulfilling me, and I’m working to change that. Some areas that on first thought I would have said were great, after listening to the discussion I decided I really could be more fulfilled in that area of my life. Areas that I would have said are not supporting me, really do support me more than I think.
After looking at the balance, or really, lack of balance, in my life, I have to ask myself some powerful questions: How am I showing up in the world? How do I want to show up in the world? How different are the answers? And what do I need to do to bring them into alignment?
I feel that I am showing up as Super Mom, an overachiever who has so many things to do, one wonders how any of it gets done. And I do feel like I have too many projects on the go, but I am not sure how to pare it back. Each project feels essential to one or another of my goals. And yet, if I don’t slow down, I may crash. I notice I go through this cycle from time to time, usually when I have fallen behind on my daily meditation, journal writing, and/or exercise, all of which has happened lately.
The answers to the other questions are going to take a little more time, meditation and reflection to answer. As requested by my coach, I have chosen a theme for the rest of 2010: My life supports my purpose and my purpose supports my life. I’m still working to bring all the areas of my life into alignment with my purpose. I’ll keep you posted as I work out the answers to these questions!
If you know me, how do I show up for you? Or, how do YOU show up in the world, and how does that compare to how you want to show up?
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Mary's Musings Tagged alignment, coaching, commitment, Guided Meditation, journal writing, meditation, passion, Peaceful Woman, purpose, spiritual alignment, walking, yoga
By Mary on January 21, 2010
My recommendation for this week: Project Meditation’s free LifeFlow sample.
LifeFlow is a product designed by Michael Mackenzie to increase relaxation and help you move into a meditative state faster and easier.
LifeFlow® has been specifically designed using extremely precise frequencies that resonate and impact the body at a cellular level. You can truly feel your deep relaxation or meditation on a physical level, in surges of positive energy and a flow of deep heartfelt emotions.
I listened to it the other night before bed, and I had a good night’s sleep. And I turned it on underneath my yoga DVD this morning, and it was wonderful, especially for the meditation at the end. I was able to stay more focused.
Listening to it sounds like pleasant nature sounds, but underneath the sounds are Isochronic, Monaural and Binaural tones that lead to brainwave entrainment. What exactly does all that mean? Stay tuned for next week’s post, as I’m doing the research to break it down.
For now, give the sample a try. You will need to enter your name and email address, which will sign you up for another list. The whole system is a bit pricey, but he gives away other freebies from time to time!
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Meditation Articles Tagged meditation, meditation music, sleep, yoga
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? 
Posted in Mary's Musings Tagged alignment, discipline, journal writing, meditation, meditation benefits, peace, Peaceful Woman, procrastination, regret, sleep, spiritual alignment, yoga
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
Posted in Guided Meditation, Meditation Articles Tagged Guided Meditation, meditation, meditation benefits, meditation music, yoga
By Mary on November 25, 2009
I had an aha! moment the other night as I was writing in my journal. I’m feeling the need to go to another personal development conference or workshop.
I’ve been to several really amazing ones in the past year, and I always come home feeling on top of the world and soaring with energy. The last one I went to was The Peaceful Woman in August. While I am blessed to participate in weekly phone calls with a group of Peaceful Women, and even more blessed to have an in-depth check in with one woman in particular, it’s not quite the same as being in the same space with others of like mind.
Why is that?
The conclusion I came to is that regularly going to conferences or workshops and being in a group of self-aware or high vibration people is like going to the chiropractor. My body gets so used to being out of alignment, that it becomes the norm. If I don’t have an adjustment for a while, then I need to go several times to get my body used to being in alignment. With regular maintenance, being in alignment becomes the norm.
The same can be said for my energy body. A year ago I went to three weekend intensives in three months. I was pumped, excited, and it set a really good precedence for the year. Then, I couldn’t keep up with the expense and the time away from work, so I didn’t go for a while, and my energy lagged. This summer, I went to a few more, but now it has been three months and I am feeling the need for re-alignment.
The phone calls are kind of like the chiropractor just adjusting my lower back, or just my neck, but not my whole spine. It helps, but it’s not as good as the full meal deal. I’m working to manifest a couple of trips in the next couple of months to help get me back into full spiritual alignment, alignment with my soul’s purpose. In the mean time, I’m continuing my meditation and journal writing practices for my mind and spirit, like my yoga practice for my body.
Because I now appreciate the value of regular adjustments, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Inspirations, Mary's Musings Tagged alignment, journal writing, meditation, Peaceful Woman, purpose, spiritual alignment, yoga
