Challenges are part of life. We have all experienced them.
Right now some of us are facing the biggest challenges of our life. Being home many of us have much more time in relationship. Often this brings to the surface the challenges we’ve been “too busy” to deal with... Sometimes those challenges are with ourselves! We live alone and have to deal with ourselves. Some of us are faced with our self in relationship and also with those we live with! Whatever the case, it can feel overwhelming at times yet we have “nowhere to go”... except inward :) These challenges/obstacles show us what we have learn and where we have to grow. So, what if we use this time to hone skills? What if we decide to use the challenges as a gift? To nurture the inner garden. To be willing to see truth. To deepen relationships. To experience the freedom that comes from resisting nothing? When we are willing to embrace the obstacles as an opportunities to awaken... we slowly start to live the life of our dreams. In this weeks podcast Stephanie talks about all of it. Tune in! Share. Discuss. Let’s go!! >>LISTEN HERE. Waking Up
The only way out...is in!!! As we continue to navigate life during these uncertain and challenging times, some of us will embrace the opportunity to go deeper inside ourselves. As we go deeper within, we learn how to cope with circumstances outside of us that are beyond our illusion of control. If we resist going within, we also resist learning new ways of being that will support us when we need it most. We will suffer. In this mind opening and honest podcast episode released a few months ago, Stephanie speaks about "spiritual awakening" and how it relates to what is happening right now "outside" of us. How can we use the challenges we all face with this pandemic to go within and ultimately wake up to a life we WANT TO LIVE? Please take the time to listen. Apply the wisdom to your current life. Share the episode with others. Discuss it together and support one another. If you want, additional support I am offering virtual sessions so please email me: stephanie@bronxvilleness.com >>>>LISTEN HERE Dealing with Suffering - Podcast with Stephanie
As we navigate this time of uncertainty and deal with the covid-19 pandemic, many of us are experiencing VERY high levels of stress. Stress leads to suffering. This suffering shows up in our minds-- negative thoughts - and in our emotional body-- as fear and anxiety. We are not use to experiencing this level of suffering on a "collective" scale. We are being impacted on all levels: physically, mentally, emotionally, financially. We see people dying. We are losing lives, jobs, income, health, security, safety, hope...control. How can we cope? What will support us today and moving forward in staying sane and positive? In this Mind the Gap podcast episode ironically recorded a few months ago, I speak to what is happening right now and how we can deal with the reality of suffering. Please take the time to really listen and apply the wisdom to your current life. Share the episode with others. Discuss it together and support one another. LISTEN HERE. If you want, additional support I am offering virtual sessions so please email me: stephanie@bronxvilleness.com I am writing to share a few thoughts about how we can successfully navigate this time.
Staying Calm: NOW is the time to USE the resources available to us to create inner peace. Whether it's yoga, meditation, writing, coaching, dancing, cooking, crying, reaching out for support, all of it... When we maintain inner calm, we make better choices. We RESPOND instead of REACT to life. When we react, we will create more drama today and in the future. When we cultivate inner calm, we can weather any outer storm. Staying Connected: NOW is the time to BE WITH people. We all need to listen with our heart to what people are NOT saying. When we reach out to others, we help ourselves in the process. We are never alone and we can always make a choice to plug in and connect--- especially when we "don't feel like it". Zoom/Facetime virtual dates, connection calls, dance parties, meditation, whatever. Staying Compassionate: NOW is the time to be kind to ourselves and to others. I have heard it said compassion is love in action. I love this definition because it calls upon us TO DO something loving. Some of you know that when Peter and I opened up BWS in 2011 we created it based on Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health...to be a Sanctuary for body, mind & spirit in our community. Did you know Kripalu (named after Swami Kripalu) means compassion? Sending you LOVE AND LIGHT, Stephanie Buddha didn’t teach us how to be enlightened.
Buddha taught us how to deal with human suffering. Yes, at one point or another all of us encounter some form of suffering. Why do we suffer? What’s the difference between suffering outside our control and suffering that’s self inflicted? We are human! Suffering is one of our greatest teachers. Much of our suffering comes from living in fear / wanting to control (self-inflicted). More suffering happens as we continue to resist what is. This topic is broad. So, let's consider 2 questions: 1. Is this suffering I am experiencing self made? 2. Is this suffering I am experiencing part of life? How will you know? For question #1, self made suffering is a result of our thoughts and emotions and the inner narrative/story we replay over and over. Thoughts feeds emotion and emotion feeds thought and before we know it, this cycle of suffering becomes a way of life. This inner narrative, often a part of our dysfunctional mental conditioning over years, keeps us regretting the past and worried about the future. The result? We remain stuck in the present, which is in direct opposition to "how life works" and quite frankly why we were born. Life only takes place in the present. Life itself requires us to keep moving. We can choose to move, or life will move us on its own terms. Please note: I am not saying to discard the lessons of the past. Nor am I saying to leave the future open to some woo woo practice of intention setting without action. What I am saying...is what I always say...take responsibility for your life. Your choices. Where you are. Where you want to go. And by all means, take small daily actions to move you along. For question #2, part of life's inevitable suffering is the pain we feel from loss of a loved one, an illness, tragedy, etc. If this writing resonates, perhaps you will listen to this week's Mind the Gap podcast episode on suffering. I speak about the different kinds of suffering and in particular the suffering that’s of our own creation- mental and emotional. Maybe you will also decide to keep a journal and spend a few minutes each day reflecting the 2 questions. Remember: Living life is a practice and can be the most powerful portal for spiritual awakening, growth ...and freedom. I am with you my friends. Namaste, Stephanie |
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