Gratitude

Gratitude - the art of being thankful can seriously change our life…… for the better.

With gratitude we acknowledge and are grateful for every thing we receive, the simple pleasures in life become miracles and we recognize all that we have, without the want for more. We are Thankful for what we have received.

How many times do we take what we have been given, for granted? The little things like the smile from a check out girl, or the beauty of dew on leaf tips? The reflection of the moon on the sea, a star filled sky, the laugh of a baby. These little things are there in abundance all around us, but because so many beautiful things happen to us they do not stand out and we take them for granted. We allow the more difficult things that cause us distress to stand out and we complain about them.

When we practice mindfulness, we naturally practice the awareness of gratitude; a big smile and a thank you can brighten someone’s world and lift our own spirits. When we express our gratitude, we feel good too, our stress and anxiety lessens and our happiness increases.

So let us look for the things we can be grateful for, even the unpleasant things that happen to us, that test our patients, for that is a gift as well, the opportunity to practice patients, the opportunity to be grateful, the opportunity to practice mindfulness. And as the Master of Mindfulness said........

"Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful" -- Thich Nhat Hanh

2012 The Year of The Water Dragon

(Image by: butterflyphoenix.blogspot.com)

2012 The year of the Water Dragon

In China the Dragon, (the symbol of the Chinese people), is considered a most auspicious character being able to fly and to live in the water, the Dragon links heaven and earth. The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of strength, good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast.

The Dragon Years:

1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000* 2012* 2024

(The characteristics of the of the Chinese zodiac occur every 12 years however this is tempered by the 5 elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water this means that the last Water Dragon appeared in 1952 and babies born this year will see the next Water Dragon in 2072).

The Water Dragon

Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. Water Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, Water Dragons tend to make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.

8 Ways To Feel Grounded.

The Secret of being Grounded in the Here and Now

When we have an over active mind that will not rest, when we get easily agitated and feel our world is collapsing in on us, we need to still that energy. At other times when our mind wonders and we cannot think, then our thoughts are like drifting clouds, we need to concentrate our energy……..

The act of Grounding allows us the opportunity to "inhabit" our body and be firmly anchored in the present moment, to feel connected to the world around us. In The Stillness Project sessions, I refer to “Centering Body and Mind”, we all have the capacity to feel centered within us, to feel grounded in the here and now. The trick to being grounded is to consistently use our awareness and “Center Body and Mind”, then practice and cultivate it.

In the beginning our natural thinking habits, daydreaming, agitation, or losing our self in our thoughts is intrusive, but with practice we begin to notice when our “monkey mind” starts to take control, and when it does, gently center your mind and your body in the present moment, concentrate on your breathing and feel the earth beneath your feet. Gently bring yourself back to this present moment, there’s no need for reprimands tell the Monkey Mind “I know your there, everything is OK”.

8 WAYS TO FEEL GROUNDED

1. Practice Tai Chi, Qigong exercises in the open air and concentrate on your breathing.

2. Practice and walk barefoot, feel the ground beneath your feet.

3. Walk mindfully. Place your awareness on your steps; on the feeling and sensation of walking. When your mind wanders, bring it back to the act of walking.

4. Sit or lay on the ground. Feel the stability and substantiality of the earth. Breathe it in. Let the feeling of being grounded permeate your whole being. Practice breath awareness, feel the movement of your lower abdomen as you breathe and count your breaths.

5. Engage in a relaxation exercise like a body scan meditation or progressive muscle relaxation.

6. Scan your body and be aware of the touch, the pressure, the changes occurring in your body as your muscles release and relax.

7. Share precious moments with another person, a place, or a pet.

8. Exercise in the open air, by the sea, in a woodland or by a lake.

Remember, start with just one activity that you find easy and enjoyable and integrate that practice into your daily routine. Set an achievable goal to practice and make it fun, this is a gift to your self. Give it a go, Breathe deep and enjoy your life.

The Mindfulness of Drinking Tea 1

Bring out the jade bowl and wash it yourself, boil water from a rocky spring then observe how the pale steam brims at the lip of the bowl like the summer clouds issuing from mountain streams and peaks, and white billowing waves form as if dashing down a swollen river in spring. The sound of water boiling blows, whistling like a frosty wind through the bamboos and pines, while the fragrance of the brewed tea drifts like a ship of war, flying towards the Red Cliff.

From Korean Tea Classics, (page 41).

Two Bodhisattva's Sanzen-in, Ohara Japan

Sitting In Meditation

At night, deep in the mountains,


I sit in meditation


The affairs of men never reach here; 


Everything is quiet and empty, 


All the incense has been swallowed up


By the endless night. 


My robe has become a garment of dew. 


Unable to sleep I walk out into the woods—


Suddenly, above the highest peak, 


The full moon appears.

- Hakuin (1686-1768)

Top 5 Regrets

It is so sad, that in this day and age, we should find our life so stressful. Prisoners of our own mind made stress bubble, spending more time at work than with our families, exhausted but having no time to let our body rest and recover. Is it really worth it? I saw the following recently, the "Top 5 Regrets people have on their deathbed"

1. I wish I had the courage to live a life true to my self, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I did not have to work so hard.

3. I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish I had let my self be happier.

Perhaps the meaning of a "Day of Rest" should be re-established allowing us time to be with friends and family, to write letters and poems, to express our selves creatively and to pursue the things "WE" want to do.