The Rose

The Rose

The rose is without 'why'; it blooms simply because it blooms. It pays no attention to itself, nor does it ask whether anyone sees it.                                                                                                         Angelus Silesius

I love roses, especially the old-fashioned tea-scented chinas (rosa odorata), fragrant and flowering all through summer. Perhaps that’s why this quote first struck me. However, being less self-conscious like the rose is also a beautiful and challenging goal.

Aren’t we constantly watching ourselves, worrying about the effect we have on others? Comparing ourselves to those, who have other qualities than ourselves?

Let’s try to be more like the rose: drop the thinking, and simply bloom. 

Commitment

AA wrote: Oh how lovely! Thank you! Hug!

BB wrote: What a lovely piece with a nice touch of the example from your own life. Encouraging 💕

CC wrote: 😍 j’adore

Commitment 

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.

W. H. Murray

Often, our intentions are half-hearted. I might very well know I need to go the gym regularly, but I only do it every now and then and rather reluctantly. Here are two facts that can help to muster commitment and discipline.

First a practical fact: whatever you do for at least two months becomes a habit (I find the period to be a lot shorter) – scientist talk about an average of 66 days.

Secondly, just as in Murray’s quote: “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.” As when I took the decision to leave my steady job and life in the city: I could never have guessed that only two years later I’d be living in my little dream chalet in the mountains, surrounded by good friends, an exploring nature every day.

So commit yourself to what feels important and you will see that Providence starts moving too. 

Releasing Tension

Releasing Tension

When we come home to the present moment, we become aware of our body, and all of our tension is released.  Everyone can practice paying attention to their breath, perhaps repeating these words: “Breathing in, I am aware of my body. Breathing out, I release the tension in my body”.

                                 Thich Nhat Hanh: Calming The Fearful Mind

The way most of us live and work with lots of pressure and deadlines often leads to tensing us up. Our shoulders go up, neck muscles stiffen and knots form in our bellies. That’s not very good, neither for the organism itself, nor - with the risk of sounding very New Age - for our energy flow.

The thing is to notice when our bodies are tense. If you find that difficult, perhaps make it a habit to follow the advice above:  with regular intervals (maybe every time you’re about to go up or down a flight of stairs) you can stop, take a deep breath and become aware of your body. Then, with a long and slow out-breath, you consciously release the tensions in your body: in your face, neck, shoulders, abdomen, hips and legs… It feels very relaxing, like having a new start of the day J

Your Own Best Friend

AA wrote: Schön!!!! Schwer, aber schön!

BB wrote: Perfect, thank you.

Your Own Best Friend

The one person I am with forever is me. My relationship with myself is eternal, so I choose to be my own best friend. I choose to love and accept myself and talk to myself as I would to a beloved person in my life. I saturate all the cells in my body with love, and they become vibrantly healthy. I relate with love to all of life. 

Louise Hay

No further comments needed :-)

Shine Like the Sun

AA said: Love it!

Shine Like the Sun

The more I risk being who I am – like a sun daring to shine – the thinner the walls need to be outside me.

                                 Mark Nepo: The Book of Awakening

There were times when I chose not to stand up for my own feelings, thoughts or convictions. Maybe I feared confrontation, being misunderstood or rejected. By that, willingly or unwillingly, I erected walls around my true self. Well, those times are over.

It is time to tear down these kinds of walls and come out in the light. Take the risk to show who you are - and shine like the sun!