Blog
Authentic Stories & Mindful Living—One Moment at a Time
Mindful Monday: How to be Ultra Spiritual
September has always been a significant month for me. A time when I have started new things and made big changes, a lot of which have altered my life in big ways.
Recently I was reflecting that it was in September, 24 years ago, that I went to my first meditation retreat and learned to mediate. I’d love to say that since that day I’ve been a dedicated meditator but that’s not how my story goes.
Mindful Monday: Is Fear Holding You Back? Keeping You Stuck?
As humans we will experience a full gamut of emotions - one of them being fear.
When we are afraid we feel a sensation in our body. The default reaction is usually to push the fear away or push it down. We want it to be gone. But the more we push it down or try to get rid of it, the longer it will stay.
Mindful Monday: Our Potential for Kindness
We are incredible beings with unlimited potential. Our thoughts, words and actions have a tremendous impact on not only our own lives, but those around us too and this impact can be positive or negative.
Mindful Monday: Gratitude In The Kitchen
There are so many things to love about summer- including the food! I love summer food. All of the fresh fruits and veggies are so delicious.
Mindful Monday: The Problem with “Perfect”
For many of us, the quest for perfection is constant and is often so deeply engrained in our thought patterns and behaviours that we don’t notice how much control and influence it has over our lives.
Mindful Monday: Loving the Parts We Don’t Like
Last week we talked about “the problem with perfect”. Could you relate? Most of us can, at least to some degree.
There are times we may feel more confident, aware, focused and in a good groove and ‘The Perfectionist’ isn’t on our radar but there are also times when our inner critic – you know, that negative, nagging voice judging from the depths of our subconscious mind – is front and center and begging for attention.
Mindful Monday: When what we have isn't enough
Our society is a very external one. There’s a huge amount of emphasis put on what’s going on around us; what we do for a living, what we look like, what we have. The popular belief is that the more we have it together on the outside, the happier we must be. But as many of us are aware, that’s just not the case.
Mindful Monday: The Greatest Gift of All
Happy holidays! I know this can be a busy time – last minute everything! Hopefully you’re able to enjoy a few moments of mindfulness in the midst of it all. One way I do this for myself is through reflection and bringing my focus back to what’s really important to me.
What keeps coming up for me is being present, being of service, and the gift of giving.
“For it is in giving that we receive.” – Saint Francis of Assisi
Mindful Monday: Is your monkey mind driving you crazy? It just won't settle down + be quiet!
It’s the beginning of the week which means your checklist might be extra-long. Not to mention it's December which can be busier and more stressful for some.
Is your monkey mind jumping all over the place? Do you feel annoyed? If ONLY you could be focused and get some peace and quiet in your head.
Mindful Monday: As scary as it might be...the more we let go, the more we actually gain control.
Is it just me - or do you ever wake up in the morning, have your day completely planned in your head and it doesn’t turn out that way at all? Happens all of the time, right?
Then what? Do we freak out or choose to go with the flow?
Mindful Monday: Attitude is Everything…No, Really. It is.
So we hear it all of the time that “Attitude is everything”, right?
Well, check this out. When you add up the letters of ‘Attitude’ it equals 100.
That’s kind of cool, don’t you think?
Mindful Monday: This is me getting personal. Loving myself, even when it isn’t easy...
I'd like to share my journey with you in hopes you can relate or find some inspiration....We are all in this together!
I have experienced tremendous personal growth this year - and as a result feel greater self-love and resilience. As I am writing this I am filled with gratitude. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? Yes. 100%.
Mindful Monday: Loving-kindness & joy in only two short breaths…
Do you want to try something simple that will brighten your day and someone else's?
Take a moment and imagine the next person you expect to see today.
Can you picture him or her?
Mindful Monday: It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.
The first time I read about the idea that our thoughts create our reality was in my early twenties. It was Louise Hay’s book ‘You Can Heal Your Life’. It blew me away. And although I didn’t necessarily make big changes in my thinking at that time, it did 'plant seeds' which would later grow.
Mindful Monday: brother-in-laws + sunflowers....a little kindness goes a long way.
There are some people who have a naturally positive, kind and giving way about them. Do you know anyone like this? I do, my brother-in-law Rob.
Every Sunday, for several months of the year, Rob gives the women in our family a sunflower - just because! He loves sunflowers. They make him happy and he wants to share his happiness with us.
Mindful Monday: Gossip is Toxic.
I always like to share with you whatever is on my mind or a topic that other people are bringing up.
So this week I wanted to talk with you about the power of what we speak.
Everything starts in the mind with a thought – and from there we can choose what we do with it.
Mindful Monday: Longing for that ‘perfect meditation’? It doesn’t exist.
Ah yes, I love this topic about the ‘perfect meditation’.
Why? Because I know it well.
You know…it’s that picture of someone sitting in a perfect lotus posture looking SO at peace. They clearly have no thoughts and are deep, deep into their meditation.
Mindful Monday: Is it possible to be grateful + at peace?...amongst tragedy + chaos
Mindful Monday: Addicted to your cellphone + social media? This is my experience…
When I was away at the silent meditation retreat last month I didn’t have access to my cell phone for 10 days. That’s the longest I’ve ever gone without it!
I handed it in when I arrived on day one and by day 10, I had made some really interesting observations around my thoughts and behaviours with my phone and social media use.
Mindful Monday: 10 Days of Silence Taught Me This...
I’ve returned from my 10 day silent retreat. How was it? Well, AMAZING! And I’d like to share some of my experience with you.
The teacher was S.N. Goenka. He called the 10 days, “a surgery on the mind”. We were going in and doing some deep work, meditating for 10 hours a day with teachings every evening. Our day started at 4:30am and ended at 9:00pm.