Pausing practice

At certain periods of life we may pause from our daily practices. A routine which has been kept, ceases. What causes the change?

Priorities shift. Does work take hold? Does stress interfere with sleep? Is there a new love in the air? The changing of seasons cause change.

Are these changes given grace to unfold or are they met with rigidity and desire for what once was? Are we initially frustrated with ourselves for not keeping practice, then double down because we have not been more responsible in effort?

Yet, old routines are overlaid by new ones.

A change from morning meditation is replaced by caring for a loved one. A change from exercise to dedicated on a project. A morning with a partner to a change to quiet solitude.

Practice overlays replace. All life is ultimately practice.

A practice in change. A practice in becoming change. A practice becoming thru change. A practice as stillness.

Does rigidity impact the peace of the day? Does complacency waste the day away? Pay attention to what becomes us in each moment. Something that lets us breath in a little easier.

The is no pausing this life, only a unending practice.

Noting Awareness Meditation

Meditation is the process that meditates between awareness and attention. The experience Of attention is the focusing in on a section of awareness. Awareness is the entirety of accessible information in the present moment.

Our Minds constantly scan the field of awareness for novel information which would signal possible reward or pain. This is preprogrammed function. However, we can learn to harness this function.

“Noting Awareness” is a technique that allows us to notice the constant shifting of mind’s attention through the endless awareness experience. We note the shift from object of attention to object of attention. This noting of attention’s ever refocusing on awareness teaches us to about the infinitude of what’s available in the immediacy of now. It allows us to witness how objects in awareness arise and fade. To be undisturbed by this constant change and how to intentionally focus in on a particular experience.

While sitting, note the object attention refocuses on from moment to moment. For example: Breath, Leg, Pressure, sensations, thinking, breath, hearing, feeling, and so on. This refocusing may come in a rapid fire manner. Don’t be alarmed. Just note.

try this for three days and see what happens.

Noting Meditation - Using Monkey Mind for Awakening

A zen practice of noticing or “noting” what arises into attention.

A meditative practice for bringing our conscious mind towards an object of immediate awareness. Utilizing the Monkey Mind concept as a foundation of this meditation practice I note each swing the “monkey mind” commits. I notice how immediately the monkey mind swings from object to object, and I simply note how each object arises into attention and how immediately a new object arises. The noting this swinging from object to object can be accomplished in multiple ways, there is no correct way to note arising awareness. A universe of instantaneous attention shifting from object to object occurs, and with practice, a playful distance within the mind between object and note develops. The distance, or space, between object and note is the access to the meditation, the step towards noticing how to wake up.

Note: “See - Hear - Feel” for each object arising in awareness.

Play with a fellow Finder. See what happens.

Cracking the Code of Love

Evan Lozada Coaching

Cracking the Code of Love with Dr. Sue Johnson. A stimulating Podcast by the Knowledge Projectabout the things that keep relationships working. First, attachment styles, learning to develop secure attachments with your partner, or basically Trust. “Where are you,” is the implicit message asked in relationships when seeking connection due to emotional distress. The attunement by our partner to our emotional distresses, their availability to the requests for attention, and responding to those signals build trust. We crave connection. We want to know we are not alone, because we know the worst thing to feel is abandoned by those we love.

Second, the tools or the conversations we need to have in order to hear the cues of distress, and answer responsively. Individually based, yet are universal, Dr. Sue calls it “Hold Me Tight” conversations. These conversations are the process we attune, respond and connect to each other. Its the opportunity to do deep listening, and be courageous in the face vulnerability. Its hard, its difficult work, but deep meaningful conversations need to be had to prosper.

If you are having a difficult time communicating something, and need some help processing - Let’s chat. We can go through the conversation step by step. Its all in relationship, and through our conversations we can move our life forward.

credits to The Knowledge Project

Staring at the back of your eyelids

This post will focus on Vipassana Meditation - a profound practice in the art of Being & Doing. 

I recently attended another 10-day Vipassana meditation course instructed by S.N Goenka in the Sayagyi U Ba Khin tradition of Vipassana Meditation. This by donation only non-sectarian meditation course, in my view, is the real deal as it practices what it preaches. I have attended a number of meditation courses, and some charge money and others don’t, however not all commit themselves to the practice of Dhamma - the law of nature, or reality as it is, or righteous path; depending on the context. The organization’s unofficial motto is, “May All Beings Be Happy,” and while appreciating Dana, or offerings, of the financial nature, S.N. Goenka promotes service towards others as the more valuable offering. There are over 130 centers worldwide, operating independently with their own Trusts.  All the centers commit themselves to upholding the same principles and guidelines - Dhamma. 

Mediation is a hot topic currently. There are with multiple apps teaching you how to mediate, instructors offering varied courses with the fast track to better health and a calmer mind, and with hundreds of different types of meditations available to choose among thus finding what works is challenging. Any meditation if worked diligently and persistently will produce benefits. Each meditation tends to have its own separate results such as: a calmer mind, increased energy, greater sense of openness and love, devotion, or concentration. The practice of this Vipassana technique, which is historically the technique which The Buddha used to reach enlightenment, is designed to eradicate suffering by witnessing of the mind’s inescapable appetite for craving and aversion through becoming aware of body sensations - this is a simplistic explanation of the technique. For more information here

Meditation is a double-edged sword for it is the expression of Being and Doing in synergy. While on the surface one may just see a person sitting with their eyes closed, yet what they are doing inside their own mind is incredible. The meditator is learning how to Be through the act of Doing.  Learning how to Be with whatever arises through the Doing of equanimous awareness. It is perhaps the most difficult thing anyone can learn how to Do in order to Be.

This past course I attended with the intention of service for the meditators coming to learn the art of Vipassana. My practice was to Do service, cooking and cleaning, in order to practice Being. This was the first time I served a course, and it was a challenge to Be as I was Doing. To watch my breath, as it is, coming and going from my nostrils as I worked. Honestly, I was likely able to fix my attention upon my breath for three or four rounds before my mind became distracted again with what I was doing. Try it for yourself as you work and see how long you can last. One enters the state of Being as one watches the breath, it is said. My gosh, how difficult is it to merely watch the breath for 30 seconds without the mind racing away. When my attention was with the breath a seed of joy grew in my heart. Ultimately, this seed of joy becomes compassion for all beings through the practice of equanimous awareness. A state of being where might be raging storms on the outside, yet inside the mind and heart are calm and focused with inexhaustible compassion for others. Perhaps, that is enlightenment? Perhaps, a discussion for another post. 

For all my clients, I strongly recommend that while they work with me they take up a mediation practice, any practice! However, if they have the time for this 10-day Vipassana course, it is a must. Goenka gives up the practice true to laws of Dhamma. The best things in life are free. A practice which promotes: love, joy, compassion, morality and happiness without demanding anything return must be doing something correct. Go forth and sit! 

Try it for yourself - more info at dhamma.org  

For questions about meditation or to schedule a complimentary Life Coaching Session. Contact me here.

Be Happy! 

    

A Consideration for Connection

I recently completed Johann Hari’s book, Chasing The Scream.  A compelling investigation into The War on Drugs and the subsequent social ills. Hari traveled across the Western World and dove into history to blend a powerful narrative about the War on Drugs. What inspires me to write this post is my support of drug decriminalization policies, which I do believe would have massive social benefits for our society, but also, a new lens which to view addiction through and its implications with Coaching. 

Growing up with D.A.R.E  in the 90’s, I recall an being taught an experiment which shined as an example of the addictive, dangerous power of drugs. In this experiment a rat would be placed in a cage, given two distilled water  bottles, yet one was laced with morphine. The rat, after the first sip of the morphine laced water bottle would always choose it thereafter, proving the power of addiction. This knowledge framed my understanding of addiction for years. Hari investigated this experiment reporting that the narrative given to the public was not the whole truth.  

The D.A.R.E education omitted the rats where isolated from activities and other rats in their cages. It also failed to mention that there was a second experiment with rats playfully known as “Rat Park.” In this experiment the same set up: rats isolated in a cage, given two bottles of water, one laced with Morphine and the same results. Yet, after 55 days the rats were released back into the general rat population in a cage known as Rat Park, where the rats were given the “Mercedes of rat toys - lots of balls and tunnels.” Both water bottles were placed in the park for the “addicted” rats, yet something strange happened, the rats stopped choosing the bottle laced with Morphine. The addictive rats choose the distilled water and would play with their fellow rats regardless of having access to the drug. What?!? But its addiction, and this is a rat with no free will! How can this be? How can a rat choose to decide not to feed its addiction. What does mean to you? A rat in one cage is “addicted" to Morphine, but in another cage it’s not. 

Connection. This primal need - that is what was missing for the isolated rats. Consider it for a moment.  What in your life do you feel like you are “addicted” to, or may even have an addiction to. At its most basic thought level, what in your life do you feel compelled to do even though you think you should or should not  do, but do anyway. I declare depth of connection is the missing piece of your life.

Chasing the Scream, is layered with personal examples of this phenomena, where addicted persons placed in environments full of connection eventually choose NO to their drug of choice. The book covers the nuances of addiction much more in depth than the few paragraphs here, and covers the reality of the rare instances of true chemical dependance. However, I want to offer a thought about life, and how you relate to it, in relation to the Rat Park experiments. Consider, where in your life connection is missing and what you are turning to instead, in order to fill it with connection. What is the missing connection you deeply yearn to have? 

As a Life Coach, I want to create with you a plan to reintroduce that connection you yearn for, deep within your being, which is not being fulfilled. To BE connected, leads down the path of power and fulfillment and grace. Please reach out to me to create a plan to develop that connection in your life today!     

For a free consultation reach me here.

If the New Yorker is mocking it - it must be legit!

The New Yorker Magazine, the pinnacle of all things highbrow has weighed in with a satirical take on the new smoking, sitting. 

"Sitting all day is killing you. That's why I switched to a standing desk, and you should, too." Next, insert witty jokes and snarky tones, and you got yourself the guts of the piece. But I bet the New Yorker Magazine writers, editors, publishers, and even interns are getting standing desks this year. And why you ask? Because back pain sucks. It really sucks! 

That's why Foundation Training is so perfect. It targets the root cause of the need for standing desks, improper movement. Sitting, its killing you slowly. Get up, stand, take a breath and do a Founder!  

Take a read here.