A long, long, long time ago I went to a seminar that was extremely unusual. I had no idea what I was getting into - my neighbor recommended it and since I felt like I was living in hell emotionally I went. It was definitely a transformative experience as I guess it was for a lot of people. The thing is, there was no follow up to speak of to help use what we had learned. As a result, like a lot of things, my awareness faded to some sparkles on the background of my life.
Just the other day, though, I heard the word, "intention" which was the center of the seminar's teaching. I was reminded that my normal way of living was to kind of float through the day or struggle through the day, whichever seems to be the way it had to be. Of course I had goals that I worked on, but I only thought about "intention" when I was working on those goals. The seminar taught me to have a CONSCIOUS intention for everything. All of us have unconscious intentions and those intentions may or may not be in our best interests. Conscious intentions cause me to give prayerful thought to why I'm doing whatever it is I plan to do.
Questions to answer in order to set an intention: What is my intention for this day? What is my intention for the conversation I'm having with_______? What is my intention for this trip to the grocery store? And so forth. It's best if I don't have an intention like, "to get it over with." Often that's the kind of unconscious intention I have and I don't get that great of results that way. What if my intention were "to have a peaceful, loving day." Keeping that intention in mind will bear amazing results. So will all my thoughtful intentions.
Empowerment enhances the ability of individuals or organizations to make choices and transform those choices into positive outcomes. Empowered people have recognized their own value and strength and their capacity to handle life's problems. In turn they are better able to influence the course of their lives. With information and support, most people can find within themselves the power to direct their lives and reach their dreams.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
A Secret Experiment of the Every Day
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." - Henry David Thoreau
Let's take Sarah Ban Breathnach's advice and become "artists of the everyday." She suggests conducting a secret experiment to see just how much influence we can have on the quality of each day - to try to elevate the simple to the level of sacred.
Here's a summary of what she discovered: It doesn't matter what the weather is like (you can still have a quality day), the same is true as to whether there are problems in the day - that doesn't matter either. What does matter: if we expect to have a quality day, there's a good chance we will. An attitude adjustment/shift in perception is all that's needed to turn a lousy day into a quality day. The next biggest factor is the amount of creativity, love and enthusiasm we put into the day.
Ideas: Appreciate the small rituals of each day - crossing the threshold on the way out and the way in. Changing into comfortable clothes, dressing for the day, starting a good book, watching a movie with family, touching glasses in a toast at breakfast to wish each other a quality day. You can think of many, many more.
Let's take Sarah Ban Breathnach's advice and become "artists of the everyday." She suggests conducting a secret experiment to see just how much influence we can have on the quality of each day - to try to elevate the simple to the level of sacred.
Here's a summary of what she discovered: It doesn't matter what the weather is like (you can still have a quality day), the same is true as to whether there are problems in the day - that doesn't matter either. What does matter: if we expect to have a quality day, there's a good chance we will. An attitude adjustment/shift in perception is all that's needed to turn a lousy day into a quality day. The next biggest factor is the amount of creativity, love and enthusiasm we put into the day.
Ideas: Appreciate the small rituals of each day - crossing the threshold on the way out and the way in. Changing into comfortable clothes, dressing for the day, starting a good book, watching a movie with family, touching glasses in a toast at breakfast to wish each other a quality day. You can think of many, many more.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
What's the Point?
Somewhere in midlife many of us ask ourselves why we're doing everything we're doing. The point of it all seems to elude us. Sometimes we're raising children and we see that as the point. Maybe we're trying to get ahead financially and we see that as the point. We usually have a long list of "points" as to why we're doing what we're doing. But we might be unsure as to what the REAL point is.
But what if the point is what Samuel Johnson said, "To be happy at home is the result of all ambition." That might change our whole outlook. In thinking about this I had to ask myself - where am I going to be happy if not at home? If I'm not happy at home, why not? What do I need to do to be happy at home? When am I going to get started on making myself (and anyone else who lives here) happy at home?
The answers will vary from person to person. Some examples might be: beautiful surroundings, peace and quiet, simplicity, fun things to do, music, children playing, creative activities. Everyone will have to answer for him/herself. But isn't it one of the most important questions you could ever answer?
But what if the point is what Samuel Johnson said, "To be happy at home is the result of all ambition." That might change our whole outlook. In thinking about this I had to ask myself - where am I going to be happy if not at home? If I'm not happy at home, why not? What do I need to do to be happy at home? When am I going to get started on making myself (and anyone else who lives here) happy at home?
The answers will vary from person to person. Some examples might be: beautiful surroundings, peace and quiet, simplicity, fun things to do, music, children playing, creative activities. Everyone will have to answer for him/herself. But isn't it one of the most important questions you could ever answer?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)