Expect Nothing

AA wrote: Dear Sabina, thank you for your wise words and lovely thoughts. I shall hold them in high esteem and remember them throughout the Christmas season and beyond.

BB wrote: Thank you! Your messages are wonderful to read aloud to C. We often discuss the reflections through the lens of our life situations.

Expect Nothing

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

                  Benjamin Franklin

The holiday season is filled with expectations. We want it to be just as bright, cosy, and loving as in our favourite holiday movies. 

As we all know, that isn’t always the case. Families that don’t meet very often during the year get together, eat and drink far too much and often old or new conflicts come to the surface.

Go into the “season of joy” without any specific expectations. What if uncle Joe chews with his mouth open or aunt Mary never stops talking. What if your sister nags you about your ex-boyfriend or the turkey is a bit burnt. You come together with people who are dear to you, and you should try to accept them as they are.

Celebrate the Feast of Light and Love with an open mind, relaxed and grateful for spending time with your dear ones. Drop your expectations and rest in the present moment. And don’t forget to light a candle and send your love to all the people out there, who are not as fortunate as you are. 

A Natural Movement

AA said: Merci pour tes messages du lundi. Toujours agréables et inspirants. 

A Natural Movement

Spiritual practices help us move from identifying with the ego to identifying with the soul. Old age does that for you too. It spiritualizes people naturally.

                                 Thich Nhat Hanh: Answers From the Heart

How would you define the soul? I would put it this way: it is the awareness of being aware.

I live in that awareness when I drop the ego for a while and remain in the present moment, feeling my breath and my aliveness. When I am aware of what is happening inside and around me, without defining it with my mind, that’s when I’m in touch with my soul. That is also when I am most alive.

These insights have come through meditation, reading “spiritual” books – and age. It comes quite naturally now to drop the cravings and strivings of the ego and remain in a state of simply being aware. It is like a natural movement towards that place of pure awareness - which we might call our soul - where we are at one with life itself.

Relax, Regenerate & Renew

AA wrote: Just det du beskriver förstår man ju så enkelt när man har slutat och jobba, eller hur? Man känner hur man blir friskare och allmänt mår bättre när saker och ting får ta tid och reflektionen och återhämtningen finns där.

BB wrote: Ja, das stimmt, liebe Sabina. Ohne meine zwei Mal pro Woche Yoga wüsste ich gar nicht mehr, wie das gehen soll. Das tut sooo gut. 

Relax, Regenerate & Renew

When your body is completely relaxed, you have let go of all the stress you have been holding in every muscle, organ and fibre of your being. You give your body time to renew and regenerate tissue.

James Van Praagh

When we are meditating, doing relaxation or yoga exercises we enjoy the airy emptiness of our minds (normally far too busy) and the softness of our bodies (oftentimes very tense). We feel grounded and so good.

Another positive aspect of relaxing your body and mind is that you allow it to renew and regenerate on a cellular level.

This is an important aspect to bear in mind especially “the other way round”: living a constantly stressed-out life takes an enormous toll on your body and mind. You may not feel it, but you are being drained of vital energy. Even if you do yoga once or twice a week, it is not enough to regenerate properly.

To all my friends out there who work far too hard: please try to find a way to slow down. If you cannot reduce the stress level at your job it might be necessary to consider a change. Being alive is the most precious thing there is and a strong vital energy is key to enjoy it to the fullest. It is crucial to take time every day to relax, regenerate and renew.

When Life Seems Heavy

AA said: I like the idea of turning towards where the sun might/could/will be. A beautiful thought.

When Life Seems Heavy

Stand tall, turn your face to the sun, stretch your body, and embrace feelings of gratitude.

Ryuho Okawa 

In many areas of Europe, November is a wet, cold, and grey month. Skies are low and you’re shivering despite a warm jacket… Life may seem a bit heavy, but remember: the sun is always there, behind the clouds!

On these kind of grey days, here’s what to do: go outside, turn towards where the sun normally is shining – even though you cannot see or feel it – draw back your shoulders, and fill your chest with good, humid air. Stretch yourself, stand tall and smile to that hidden source of light, warmth and life. Infuse yourself with gratitude for being alive on this beautiful planet (oh, the stunning beauty of a raindrop or a slowly advancing snail!) and just - be happy!

Be Reborn

AA said: Wonderful text today! Thank you, dear Sabina!

BB said: J’aime beaucoup et ça me rappelle notre défi créatif !

Be Reborn

It is never late to ask yourself “Am I ready to change my life, am I ready to change myself?” However old we are, whatever we went through, it is always possible to be reborn. If each day is a copy of the last one, what a pity! Every breath is a chance to be reborn.

                                                Kahlil Gibran

Is my life the way I want it to be? Am I the person I want to be? Are there facets of me still un-awakened?

Each life is an ever-changing work of art and we, ourselves, are the (co)creators of it.

What important aspects are you still not expressing enough in your life? Do you feel a lack of compassion, of selflessness, or of creativity?

Take some time for introspection. Find out what needs for self-expression you have at this stage of your life. Every moment is a new possibility to change - you can always be reborn.

Acknowledge, Pause, Relax

Acknowledge, Pause, Relax 

• Acknowledge that you’re hooked (with humour, if possible)
• Pause, take three conscious breaths, and lean in to the energy (with kindness, if possible)
• Relax, and move on.

Pema Chödrön : Taking the Leap

How often, during one single day, do you get hooked…? You know, that feeling when you tense up because you hear, see, or otherwise experience something that disturbs your circles. Suddenly you’re hooked, and a whole series of negative thoughts kick in.

If you are able to break that chain of negativity, you get off the hook. If not, who knows what regrettable thoughts or actions may be the result. Breaking the chain of negativity is easy, but it needs some practice.

This practice is called “stopping”, and I do it as often as it comes to my mind during the day. That way, once I’m actually hooked, chances are bigger that I remember it.

Pema Chödrön’s teaching is very simple. The main thing is to notice that you’re hooked. That is the Acknowledge part. Then, for just a moment or two, Pause and contact whatever you are feeling right now. Take three deep, conscious breaths. Finally you Relax, and move on.

Could it be this week’s challenge to practice stopping whenever you remember it (whatever you’re doing right then)…?

Create Space

AA said: Detta var så bra att jag inte hade ändrat ett ord i texten.
 
Create Space

We human beings need space to be happy. We practice stopping and calming in order to offer space to ourselves, inside and outside, and also to those we love.

Thich Nhat Hanh: Touching Peace

 In today’s society, there is not much space between us. We mainly live in cities, one apartment next to the other, we travel in crowded buses and trains, and our workplaces are often “open landscapes” with little personal space.

Many people compensate the lack of outer space by creating their own little bubble: they plug in their head phones, they talk to friends on the cell phone when in public places; their eyes (and minds) are turned inwards instead of outwards.

A much “healthier” way to create space is to practice stopping and calming. After making a conscious pause we pick up our activities again, a little bit slower. That way we create space between our thoughts and actions - and there suddenly seems to be more air around. When you slow down a bit, life seems less crammed and more open. Create space inside and the lack of space outside becomes less strenuous.