Is Surrendering To the Now of Mindfulness Meditation Really Possible?

Mindfulness Meditation is a type of meditation that essentially involves focusing your mind on the present in a way that allows you to witness your thoughts and actions without judging yourself.

Is there a secret to allowing what is?

If there is a secret to Mindfulness Meditation, it is creating a still space that will serve as your doorway to Now.

Can you be still?

Does the constant conversation in your head ever stop?

Pamela was a very together lady.

She ran a day care out of her home, and you never saw a place so clean, tidy and on schedule!

The woman appeared to have calm and serene down to a science.  When she picked up a bell and rang it, the toddlers buzzing about her feet jumped up and began singing “clean up clean up everybody everywhere, clean up clean up, everybody do your share”.

They all did their share and the room was clean in a flash.  It was an amazing sight to see.  I thought that only happened on television.

A super hero disguised as a little old lady!

I felt like I should ask for her autograph.  The woman had everything under control!

She became a good friend to me, and “Auntie Pam” to my young daughters.

When the two of us decided to take a meditation class together, I saw a side of Auntie Pam that shocked me. Read more

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Relax! Do You Sweat the Small Stuff?

Recovering my computer this past weekend (again) sure didn’t feel like the small stuff.  In the big picture, it isn’t something I will remember next week.

“Relax!” I kept telling myself.  Yet I kept barking at my kids, and I could feel the tension creeping up the back of my neck.

Finally, I’d had enough of myself (and so had my kids), so I sat myself down to be still in silence.  Twenty minutes later, I felt a whole lot better.

Most people don’t relax unconsciously.

Do you get anxious if you aren’t watching television, or listening to music, or reading a book, or busy with some other distraction?

If you will be still in silence, you will become aware of the tension that lives in your body.  That is, IF you can stand the stillness long enough to let yourself become aware of it.

This stored tension will squeeze the life out of you if you don’t release it!

The only way to keep up with it, is to practice relaxing.  I know it seems strange that you should have to practice, but that is the only way to let go of the tension your muscles are storing.  The conscious effort to release it, is well worth the effort.  (Yes effort, see how hard it is to sit with yourself!?)

So if you DO sweat the small stuff………

How do you relax? Read more

Can You Relax If You Don’t Get Everything Done?

Are you one of those people who just can’t sleep at night unless you’ve taken care of all of the “to do’s” on your list?

I used to be one of those people too.

Choosing to relax makes your life much happier.

Who couldn’t use more happiness?

Stress doesn’t make whatever causes you tension better.

The other day I made an appointment with my chiropractor, hurried my older two kids off to school, and the little one to a baby-sitter.

By the time I cleared the populated area where the traffic was, I could tell I was going to be late.

Instead of stressing, I chose to take a deep breath and enjoy the drive.

You can see by the pictures that I would have really missed out if I had been hurried, and not present. Read more

Is Passion Love?

My three year old has been passionate about flowers since before he could walk.

Every now and then we spend time together gathering a bouquet to bring color to our home.

His awe of flowers is a precious thing to watch.

Is that innocent passion pure love?

Love is your soul’s directive.

You can feel like a worn out hag at 30 something, and then find self love at 40 something, and feel like a kid again.

Passion makes you wake in the morning with a twinkle in your eye.

If it is a positive passion, it will cause you to focus with intensity, and manifest positive experiences in your life.

Have you ever heard of the law of attraction?

What is a positive passion? Read more

Do You Let the Comfort of the Cool Tall Grass Reduce Your Stress?

Sometimes life can bring more than we bargained for.

Life is too short to be swallowed up in stress.

Ever felt like you just couldn’t take another step?

I think I get to that point everyday.  You know what I mean?  Raising kids is exhausting 7 days a week!

Today my three year old reminded me to stop and embrace the shelter that life offers you.

My son and I were on our daily walk this morning.  We decided to go a bit further than usual and found a path we have never explored before.

It was over grown with grass, but we enjoyed the adventure, so decided to see where the path would lead us.  After a fun downhill, romp we came to a clearing and were treated with a beautiful view of the ocean.

We just sat and enjoyed it for the longest time.  By the time we headed for home, the sun was high in the sky.

We hadn’t realized it was going to be rough traveling up hill in the tall grass and the blazing sun.

The down slope had been quick and fun, but the trip back up to the main trail seemed much longer.

My little guy was getting frustrated fighting the towering grass.  To keep his mind off his struggle, I told him how it reminded me of walking in deep snow growing up in Montana .

Before long, he got his feet tangled and down he went.

He tried to get up and fell again.

Tears started at the corners of his eyes.  He’d just reached that point where he couldn’t go another step.

I looked down at his red little face, and took pity.

Scooping him up in my arms, I fell backward into the cool tall grass.  If we leaned into the grassy nest that I had just created we were completely shaded from the sun.

We both took a long sweet smelling breath and just laid there looking up at the clouds until we were cool but thirsty.

When we headed home for that cool glass of ice water, our feet were somehow lighter!  The trail didn’t seem so steep, and the sun didn’t seem so hot.

I encourage you to STOP, and let the comfort of the cool tall grass reduce your stress.

Many blessings,

Carrie

PS– Remember everyday:

1. Relax and Release tension
2. Take deeep breaths
3. Be active in a way that adds joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Do You Want Less Stress In Your Life?

If you want less stress, then choose it. Choose less stress.

You can choose to grow from beneficial stress, and release destructive stress.

You have all the tools you need to make that happen.

Oh, life gives you a certain amount of stress. The only time you truly have no stress is when you are dead. Your stress load is your reality.

Whatever that looks like in your life, I trust that it has been made so, for your highest good. You have manifested what you need the most.

If you accept every situation, you can receive every lesson.

If you have done all that you can do in any situation, then it is time to find stillness so that you may receive those lessons. This is the way to manifest your highest potential.

Read more