A reminder: On Monday, I'll be writing about the first chapter of Stephen Cope's The Wisdom of Yoga. Feel free to write a post about the same and put a link in the comments here at blisschick.
As I go through this physical healing process with my natural healer, I am learning a few things about myself.
I am learning how strongly I resist the idea of rest, for example, but I am also learning that I am able to re-learn or reprogram my thinking.
Two weeks ago, I had no choice but to give into rest, so I did -- wholeheartedly and for the first time in my life, without harsh self-judgment.
Over the past year, I have learned -- finally -- that I have immense willpower. I confirmed this by committing to and easily finishing a forty day kriya that I would have thought impossible in the past.
These ideas I had about myself -- these ideas that were holding me back, keeping me stuck -- these ideas turn out to be...well...just ideas. And they are wrong.
Inevitably, one comes to think that perhaps there are book-loads of ideas that we carry around in our internalized libraries that are wrong. Imagine the possibilities.
Our stories are important. We must not just burn down our libraries. There are treasures that are symbiotically interwoven with the traumas and pains and griefs.
We are not happy robots, after all.
But perhaps, we can put much of that into the "stacks." If you went to a large university, you know what I mean. The stacks: that very deep, dark, low-ceiling place for books that are no longer frequently used.
After we've moved much of the old into the stacks, we can clean and remodel the main part of our library. I would love floor to ceiling windows and big comfortable chairs. (And oh, I could go on and on with the decorating and it's just not the point! Focus!)
After we've remodeled, it's time to bring in the new books, but first, we have to write them.
Yesterday, I started reading Dr. Wayne Dyer's Excuses Begone! (Cheesy title but some good content within the first few pages.)
My favorite thing, so far, is this meditation exercise.
This exercise could take some time, but I think it's worth it. My mind is already spinning from it.
Do what you do -- meditate or journal -- and ask yourself this:
If no one had ever told you who you were, who would you be?
Go for it. Strip it all away. Choose your own novel; be your own protagonist.
Be brave. Choose bliss.
(Photo Credit: Christine Reed, Single Peony, 2009)
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10 comments:
Beautiful post Christine!
I just started reading a book that Dr. Dyer suggests in his most recent PBS special called the "Biology of Beliefs"...it is very intersting to read about how your brain transmits thoughts throughout your body.
Very intersting to see how the spiritual (thought) interacts with the physical (body)creating more spiritual interaction.
I want to joing the book club, but I'm in the middle of reading three books right now (something I never do!) I've purchased 5 new ones...trying to justify another buy...hmmm.
Love this question! Have no idea who I'd be :-0
Will have to do some serious pondering on that!
Am really looking forward to joining in the yoga book series with you & your tribe of readers/kindred spirits.
I taped the Wayne Dyer special this week ~ and recommended it to all my clients. Also, printed off the excuse/affirmation cards from his web site. As part of taking responsibility for my personal situation, these tools will be quite helpful.
It's easier for me to recognize excuses in others when they verbalize them. The problem with acknowledging my own is when they just exist in my head and aren't said out loud. Hmmmmm....
Your post brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you.
There was a great deal of thought-provoking ideas there--and then I got to that last question....and strange as it sounds it is something i have been pondering myself alot lately....I've been trying to figure out who I could have been--so I can be that person now....thank you...
I'll let you know how it turns out.
:-)
I was seriously planning on reading the Stephen Cope book after I finish the book I'm reading now--which will probrably be this morning!! So I look forward to joining you in this summer book club! Great idea Christine!
Since I began running I've learned how very important and actually vital rest is to our bodies. Even in the books I've been reading about running---rest is a mandatory part of training the body. There are actual chapters on the right way to rest. The muscles need time to adjust to change. And what I've found in this short time is that my ego will beat me up for resting. My ego will tell me that I will not get stronger or faster if I take a day off. My ego wants me to push, push, push. And when I entertain my ego, I get hurt. But when I do allow my body to rest, I come back the next day even stronger and better.
After the devastating tsunami years ago my friend went with Habitat for Humanity to Thailand to help the victims build back their community. He told me that it will literally take them decades to build back, because the Thai people insist in working a little, then stopping to take a break with tea and a little to eat. He said they might work an hour, then have a tea break--and it went like this for weeks that he was there. Where the Americans just wanted to get in there and boom, boom, boom those houses out, but had to respect the Thai custom. That always stuck with me. The fact that in the face of great despair and devastation these people were in no hurry to build back their lives. They still honored their spirits and bodies to balance work with rest. It was a complete alien idea to the Americans..but a way of life for the Thais--even in the face of hardship.
Rest. It's a Good Thing.
We should turn that into a t-shirt!
Peace & Love.
Christine,
Rest is very sacred. I am so very glad you listened to your heart and took good care of you.
Your questions are wonderful. Who would I be? Truthfully, I think who I am right now. I love my life, especially the fact that I am living my passion. I live in a landscape of natural loveliness, have a husband to die for, and children that are amazing. Friends too. Though, as you well know, we don't arrive at this place easily. It's not like winning the lottery. :-)
The journey you are taking, the journey we are all invited to take, is a powerful one. Through healing, we embrace our essence, and reclaim our wholeness. This is what I had to do (am doing--always a work in progress!) and what you are doing. Kudos to you for inviting us along to be part of your journey. You do it so well and invite us to do the same--with grace...Blessings!
I love this question. Perhaps we never know the full answer for sure, but the answers we find to this question are deep answers.
Some stories that people project onto me include that I am shy or unfriendly or cold. Truly, I think none of these are true. I know I'm odd and I am quiet a lot more than is expected.
Being a quiet person triggers alllll kinds of stories. Are you or Marcy quiet in person? Have you found this?
People want to pin you down and to categorize you. When you are quiet, it makes a lot of people nervous and they come up with all sorts of ways to explain it away. But it seems rare that people accept: Oh, she's just a quiet person in many situations.
It's actually quite simple!
But of course the stories I tell myself are much trickier than the annoying stories I notice other people telling. Those...I need to think about a lot more.
And I am going to join the book club! Just need to pick that book up at the library today or tomorrow. :)
Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing... I love Wayne Dyer- there are many people who I read/listen to... but few as Dyer: whom I almost always agree with!
I will join you soon...with more thoughts on this!
I have said..."don't let anyone validate who you are, they may be wrong." This is what you are saying. I am glad to know that I am on the right track. We do carry all these past ideas around that are not necessarily who we are.
As for rest...I have a hard time with that. I was depressed for so long, slept away much, that I have a hard time now realizing it is ok to take some periods of rest. Like you sometimes my body just gives in. I have not learned to give in yet in a manner that does not leave me feeling a bit of guilt.
Ever evolving...
absolutely beautiful post and so powerful. I have started to find more meaning in the spiritual rituals and recognitions of my childhood now that I view them through a different and more encompassing lens.
for example, I gave up complaining for lent. Like you, I realized that this isn't just a chore anymore to give up chocolate (for example) but a conscious time to make space for something to grow.
and that meditation at the end-holy crap!!! Thank you for passing it along-it is definitely something I would love to devote some time to.
Ooooohhhh...I hope all of you are still thinking about this questions AND if you come to any conclusions or come to any new questions, I hope you stop by and leave another comment -- or write about it yourself on your own blogs and DO let me know! :)
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