The last day of the Deepak Chopra meditation challenge is tomorrow! No way. I am loving this so much, I am extending my personal challenge out to the magical number of.... wait for it...
45 days.
Bam.
To be continued.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
I expect & accept Abundance to flow easily to me...
Day 11
Hmmm, am I posting today because 11 is my super favorite number?? I wonder...
I'm a little bit sad because I'm more than halfway through the 21 day challenge. Only 10 days left. I think around day 09 I was more like, "Ack, this is taking forever!!!" And now, here I am. :)
Taking this time daily is benefiting my life in huge ways. My inner life, anyway, and I'm sure my outer "self" as well. Just having a mantra, a focusing thought, SOMETHING positive to turn to when I find myself dangerously close to being caught in a negative thought web... this is a priceless tool. It reminds me of years ago, when I was 23, and I started taking antidepressants. They helped me at the time because I could step outside of my head and RECOGNIZE "HEY! This is a super negative thought whirlpool that you are being sucked into!!" There is another way...
And I much prefer meditation to icky addictive antiD's. Blech.
So, I just got done with my meditation and even threw in some yoga to boot. HA! Because my kiddo is taking a nap. Sweet, sweet boy.
Lately he says, "I'm big to do this!" "Hey mommy, I'm big to do these stairs all by myself!" etc...
He's big enough. He sees himself as a big boy and different from , and not, a baby. We even looked through photo albums this morning, as we often do, "Hey mommy! You hold me when I was a baby." When I was a baby.... Sigh. He still smells so damn good to me. Do all children smell like sweet sweet cupcakes to their mom??? I could inhale him all day long. And I do.
I'm so lucky.
Blessed.
Highlights from our walk to the park:
1. Looking at his little face poking through a cut out in the tunnel. Squishy little face. Beautiful teeth. Perfect nose. Again - that delicious smell. We ugga-mugga and our noses shock each other. A look of surprise on both our faces. Laughter. We try it again. No shock this time. But, oh dear God, that face.
2. Eating a snack on the bench. He wants to eat the apple like I do. He takes a bite and hands it back to me. So proud of himself. So am I. I take a bite and almost throw up in my mouth because there is Cheeze-It cracker residue in my mouth mixed with the apple. But I hide it well. Blech. It only happens one more time.
3. We play "ninja turtles" "hide and go seek" "billy goats gruff" and "3 little pigs" Big boy indeed.
We play 3 pigs, and I am the big bad wolf. He hides behind a fence - his house - I knock and go through the routine. A few times through pass, again. I say, "Little pig, little pig let me come in!!!" He says "Sure!" Opens the door and lets me in. If only you could hear his little voice say, "Sure!" I don't know how to explain the positivity, joy, sparkle love for life that he captures in this one syllable.
My boy.
My amazing little boy.
My big boy.
There are explosions of golden light sunbeams of JOY to be found in my days.
Countless.
Hmmm, am I posting today because 11 is my super favorite number?? I wonder...
I'm a little bit sad because I'm more than halfway through the 21 day challenge. Only 10 days left. I think around day 09 I was more like, "Ack, this is taking forever!!!" And now, here I am. :)
Taking this time daily is benefiting my life in huge ways. My inner life, anyway, and I'm sure my outer "self" as well. Just having a mantra, a focusing thought, SOMETHING positive to turn to when I find myself dangerously close to being caught in a negative thought web... this is a priceless tool. It reminds me of years ago, when I was 23, and I started taking antidepressants. They helped me at the time because I could step outside of my head and RECOGNIZE "HEY! This is a super negative thought whirlpool that you are being sucked into!!" There is another way...
And I much prefer meditation to icky addictive antiD's. Blech.
So, I just got done with my meditation and even threw in some yoga to boot. HA! Because my kiddo is taking a nap. Sweet, sweet boy.
Lately he says, "I'm big to do this!" "Hey mommy, I'm big to do these stairs all by myself!" etc...
He's big enough. He sees himself as a big boy and different from , and not, a baby. We even looked through photo albums this morning, as we often do, "Hey mommy! You hold me when I was a baby." When I was a baby.... Sigh. He still smells so damn good to me. Do all children smell like sweet sweet cupcakes to their mom??? I could inhale him all day long. And I do.
I'm so lucky.
Blessed.
Highlights from our walk to the park:
1. Looking at his little face poking through a cut out in the tunnel. Squishy little face. Beautiful teeth. Perfect nose. Again - that delicious smell. We ugga-mugga and our noses shock each other. A look of surprise on both our faces. Laughter. We try it again. No shock this time. But, oh dear God, that face.
2. Eating a snack on the bench. He wants to eat the apple like I do. He takes a bite and hands it back to me. So proud of himself. So am I. I take a bite and almost throw up in my mouth because there is Cheeze-It cracker residue in my mouth mixed with the apple. But I hide it well. Blech. It only happens one more time.
3. We play "ninja turtles" "hide and go seek" "billy goats gruff" and "3 little pigs" Big boy indeed.
We play 3 pigs, and I am the big bad wolf. He hides behind a fence - his house - I knock and go through the routine. A few times through pass, again. I say, "Little pig, little pig let me come in!!!" He says "Sure!" Opens the door and lets me in. If only you could hear his little voice say, "Sure!" I don't know how to explain the positivity, joy, sparkle love for life that he captures in this one syllable.
My boy.
My amazing little boy.
My big boy.
There are explosions of golden light sunbeams of JOY to be found in my days.
Countless.
Does anything else even matter?
Friday, November 9, 2012
Day 5
Doing good! Keeping up with my meditation daily.
Day 3 & 4 I meditated in the evening after my husband got home. I'm finding it really helpful to listen to the daily recordings & I love that they're delivered to my email each morning.
Also on day 3 & 4 I listened to partial recordings in my car. Yesterday I was sitting in a parking lot with one 2.5 year old boy and another 5.75 year old boy. We had some time to kill, so I just let them talk amongst themselves while I closed my eyes and listened to Deepak. It was a good choice for me, because I was on the verge of become frustrated...
But, I loved my nephew's take on the recording:
"Digital Copy!!"
"Deepak Chopra? That is French for digital copy."
"I don't want to listen to this French guy."
So, today I took my meditation time while my son actually took a real nap in his bed! (After we read 11 books together.) I had a really great beach visualization/exploration. And it was funny because the second my meditation was up & the recording was coming to a close, my phone vibrated because a friend called, and my husband walked in the door - home from work.
Back to reality.
But it was perfect.
Day 3 & 4 I meditated in the evening after my husband got home. I'm finding it really helpful to listen to the daily recordings & I love that they're delivered to my email each morning.
Also on day 3 & 4 I listened to partial recordings in my car. Yesterday I was sitting in a parking lot with one 2.5 year old boy and another 5.75 year old boy. We had some time to kill, so I just let them talk amongst themselves while I closed my eyes and listened to Deepak. It was a good choice for me, because I was on the verge of become frustrated...
But, I loved my nephew's take on the recording:
"Digital Copy!!"
"Deepak Chopra? That is French for digital copy."
"I don't want to listen to this French guy."
So, today I took my meditation time while my son actually took a real nap in his bed! (After we read 11 books together.) I had a really great beach visualization/exploration. And it was funny because the second my meditation was up & the recording was coming to a close, my phone vibrated because a friend called, and my husband walked in the door - home from work.
Back to reality.
But it was perfect.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Day 2
Today I snagged another meditation first thing in the morning... and put my boy in front of the TV to watch WonderPets - again. I don't like doing this & I need to find another way.
I actually listened to the meditation for today. The Deepak Chopra center has a recorded 15 minute meditation for each day of the 21 day challenge. I get an email each morning with access to today's meditation. Our mantra for today was "My personal abundance comes from an infinite source". Or something along those lines.
I don't know how many times I came back to this focusing thought throughout my day. At first, it took brain power to even remember the wording of this mantra. That in itself was a practice. I found repeating this sentence to myself especially helpful when my inner monologue started to turn sour; negative or when thoughts and feelings of anxiety started to come up. I used this sentence "My personal abundance comes from an infinite source" as a substitute for these other, unwanted, thoughts. So, I find that practice really useful. If I don't like the direction my thoughts are taking, I can choose to think about something else. And having this daily focus provides me with that "something". Something that is positive, affirming, and a thought to ponder.
I actually listened to the meditation for today. The Deepak Chopra center has a recorded 15 minute meditation for each day of the 21 day challenge. I get an email each morning with access to today's meditation. Our mantra for today was "My personal abundance comes from an infinite source". Or something along those lines.
I don't know how many times I came back to this focusing thought throughout my day. At first, it took brain power to even remember the wording of this mantra. That in itself was a practice. I found repeating this sentence to myself especially helpful when my inner monologue started to turn sour; negative or when thoughts and feelings of anxiety started to come up. I used this sentence "My personal abundance comes from an infinite source" as a substitute for these other, unwanted, thoughts. So, I find that practice really useful. If I don't like the direction my thoughts are taking, I can choose to think about something else. And having this daily focus provides me with that "something". Something that is positive, affirming, and a thought to ponder.
Monday, November 5, 2012
21 Day Meditation Challenge
I'm starting a 21 day Meditation Challenge through the Deepak Chopra center. It's an online challenge that my husband and I are doing together.
So, if you've noticed, I didn't finish blogging about my 45 day Gratitude experiment. Yeah.... I'm not so good at keeping up on my blog. What it comes down to is that my life centers around my Family. My little family & my big family. My birth family & my chosen family. I am super duper blessed when it comes to my family. I'm surrounded with love & support at all times, and when I need to reach out for help I've got several people that I can call. This is what I'm most grateful for above all else. So, that's how I'm going to wrap up that project. Don't judge me.
Back to the present....
This morning was day 1 of our challenge.
I snuck in a few breaths while I was giving my son a bubble bath. I sat in the hallway and probably got 5 breaths in before I heard "Mooom?" "Where are you?" Sitting in the hallway... "What are you doing?" Meditating... "Why?"
But, even after a few breaths I felt that warm, calming sensation start down my body. Just a little more present. A little calmer. A little more relaxed. A little bit more like myself.
We finished our bath, got dressed, and I set him up with a cartoon. (Again, don't judge.) I sat and breathed for 10 minutes. I didn't time myself, I just sat until I felt like I was done for now. My attention was everywhere - tasks I'd get to, tasks I'd done, people I want to help, things I want to do, the sound of the fridge running, the washer running, the garbage truck, the WonderPets theme song etc...
Don't judge yourself, Becky. And I don't think I did. From what I've learned the PRACTICE is bringing your thoughts Back. Back to the breath. Back to a mantra. Back to a vision. Always bringing it back. Letting the thoughts come and go without attaching to them.
So, for me, these things are helpful.
1. My Mantra
"I am strong (I am powerful) I am worthy"
These are things I need to tell myself. Things I don't always believe, but things I want to believe about myself. It's really just - Breathe in: I am strong, Breathe out: I am worthy. Somehow, I always think "I am powerful" in there to. So, it is what it is.
2. The Ocean
Some say "let your thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky" But, I'm a water baby. I think I'd be happiest rolling around in the sand on the beach for days. So I bring myself back to my breath, breathing in: the wave approaches the shore. Breathing out: the wave recedes. Repeat.
I love that this is always happening. 24 hours a day. Who knows how many waves reach the shore in a day? It's always there. Constant. Beautiful. I find comfort in that. I can go there - even when I'm not there. It's there.
Does that make sense? Probably not.
But, it makes sense to me.
I hope I keep up on this blog.
More importantly, I'm excited for the challenge of finding time to meditate each day.
After I meditated, I read the email about what our focus is for today.
"I am"
We're focusing on abundance. That there is more than enough for all of us. More than enough time, resources, money, love. It all exists in the universe. The universe will provide for us. We just have to trust it.
Have faith.
So, if you've noticed, I didn't finish blogging about my 45 day Gratitude experiment. Yeah.... I'm not so good at keeping up on my blog. What it comes down to is that my life centers around my Family. My little family & my big family. My birth family & my chosen family. I am super duper blessed when it comes to my family. I'm surrounded with love & support at all times, and when I need to reach out for help I've got several people that I can call. This is what I'm most grateful for above all else. So, that's how I'm going to wrap up that project. Don't judge me.
Back to the present....
This morning was day 1 of our challenge.
I snuck in a few breaths while I was giving my son a bubble bath. I sat in the hallway and probably got 5 breaths in before I heard "Mooom?" "Where are you?" Sitting in the hallway... "What are you doing?" Meditating... "Why?"
But, even after a few breaths I felt that warm, calming sensation start down my body. Just a little more present. A little calmer. A little more relaxed. A little bit more like myself.
We finished our bath, got dressed, and I set him up with a cartoon. (Again, don't judge.) I sat and breathed for 10 minutes. I didn't time myself, I just sat until I felt like I was done for now. My attention was everywhere - tasks I'd get to, tasks I'd done, people I want to help, things I want to do, the sound of the fridge running, the washer running, the garbage truck, the WonderPets theme song etc...
Don't judge yourself, Becky. And I don't think I did. From what I've learned the PRACTICE is bringing your thoughts Back. Back to the breath. Back to a mantra. Back to a vision. Always bringing it back. Letting the thoughts come and go without attaching to them.
So, for me, these things are helpful.
1. My Mantra
"I am strong (I am powerful) I am worthy"
These are things I need to tell myself. Things I don't always believe, but things I want to believe about myself. It's really just - Breathe in: I am strong, Breathe out: I am worthy. Somehow, I always think "I am powerful" in there to. So, it is what it is.
2. The Ocean
Some say "let your thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky" But, I'm a water baby. I think I'd be happiest rolling around in the sand on the beach for days. So I bring myself back to my breath, breathing in: the wave approaches the shore. Breathing out: the wave recedes. Repeat.
I love that this is always happening. 24 hours a day. Who knows how many waves reach the shore in a day? It's always there. Constant. Beautiful. I find comfort in that. I can go there - even when I'm not there. It's there.
Does that make sense? Probably not.
But, it makes sense to me.
I hope I keep up on this blog.
More importantly, I'm excited for the challenge of finding time to meditate each day.
After I meditated, I read the email about what our focus is for today.
"I am"
We're focusing on abundance. That there is more than enough for all of us. More than enough time, resources, money, love. It all exists in the universe. The universe will provide for us. We just have to trust it.
Have faith.
Um, Hellz-to-the-Yeah I've got an abundance of Love.
And punkins.
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