“If a person’s basic state of mind is serene and calm,
then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm
a painful physical experience.”
–The Dalai Lama

Good Morning! I’m excited to share a terrific article with you today by best-selling author and speaker Peter Russell. Peter is the author of “The Brain Book,” “Waking Up in Time: Finding Inner Peace In Times of Accelerating Change,” among many others. His article “Meditation – The Art of Letting Go” will teach you the principles of meditation, letting go, and achieving a “still mind.”

Enjoy ♥

“Meditation – The Art of Letting Go”
by Peter Russell

Meditation is the art of doing nothing. In today’s hectic, achievement-focused world we are almost always doing something. This “doing” mode is fueled by the belief that if only we did enough of the right things, had enough of the right experiences, earned enough money, or owned enough possessions we would be happy. As a result our minds are seldom, if ever, still. Instead we are busy fretting about what we should have done or said, planning what we should do or not do, say or not say, in the future, and worrying whether or not we will obtain the things and experiences we think we need to be happy.

Ironically this mental agitation deprives of the very thing we seek. In the final analysis we all want to be happy, to be more at peace in ourselves, yet a mind that is worried cannot, by definition, be a mind that is at peace.

This is why spiritual teachings the world over have recommended some or other form of meditation—some way of allowing the mind to become still, and thereby find the peace we seek.

The allowing is important. Meditation is not another mental activity, another form of mental “doing.” Most techniques of stilling the mind are exercises in attention rather than exercises in thinking. You do not quiet the mind by changing what you think about, but by changing the direction and quality of your attention. In their own particular ways meditation techniques turn the attention away from the world of the senses—the world we thought would bring us peace of mind—and inwards towards our inner essence.

As the mind begins to settle down it discovers an inner calm and peace. The habitual mental chatter begins to fade away. Thoughts about what is going on in meditation, what time it is, what you might say or do later, occupy less and less of your attention. Your feelings settle down, and your breath can grow so gentle as to virtually disappear. What thoughts there are became fainter and fainter, until finally the thinking mind falls completely silent.

Indian teachings call this state samadhi, literally “still mind.” This, they claim, is a fundamentally different state of consciousness from the three major states we normally experience—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep…

Click to Continue Reading “Meditation – The Art of Letting Go”

Copyright Peter Russell. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about Laura’s article! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a peaceful, meditative day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

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Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad,
Whatever is done and suffered by her creatures.
All scars she heals,
whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts.
—John Muir

Good Morning Soul Friend! Today, I’m very pleased to share one of my favorites articles with you by SoulfulLiving.com Columnist, Laura V. Grace, called “Spiraling to Higher Ground.”

Laura is a spiritual counselor and author of “Gifts of the Soul” and “The Intimate Soul.” Her article will inspire you to get out into nature and let go and release your emotional burdens into the cradling arms of Mother Earth.

Enjoy ♥

“Spiraling to Higher Ground”
by Laura Grace

Mother Earth is an incredible living entity. She seems to have an infinite capacity to gently take my stress, pain, and anxiety, and I am amazed at how much emotional baggage I am able to release while in her presence. Just the other day, as I was hiking a nearby mountain, I began accessing some thoughts and feelings that unbeknownst to me, were creating a heaviness within my heart. Like old boxes tucked away in the depths of a closet, I had pushed these feelings away and blocked their presence.

I began my climb without any goal in mind and without any intention of how far or high I would ascend. My only desire was to feel the healing energies of Mother Earth. As I stepped onto the trail leading to the mountain’s peak, I found myself in a valley surrounded by several bountiful foothills and felt cradled in the mountain’s arms. Step by step, I ascended and with each footfall I remained focused on releasing the thoughts or feelings that were surfacing. As I stayed in the present and felt my feelings, I sensed myself shedding yet another layer of perception and emotion that had been covering my soul. In fact, at one point during my trek, I remember looking to my right and to a path splitting off from the mountain titled “Rattle Snake Trail.” “How appropriate,” I mused, for I very much felt like a snake exfoliating its next layer of skin. Letting go of some feelings and shifting my perception was symbolic of peeling back another layer so the next level of my soul could shine forth.

While staying centered on my inner self, I was surprised at how much ground I covered. At one point, I stopped and looked around at the land cascading below me, and I found that I had already climbed 1,000 feet. Realizing I was more than half way to the top, I decided to continue. Letting go of my old baggage lightened my load, so to speak, and I felt a newfound perseverance and determination rising within me.

And, so, with the final ascent ahead of me, I set forth once more, at this time, however, with a lightness spreading through my body, mind and spirit. Before long, I discovered that this part of the mountain was by far the steepest. As I continued rising to higher ground, I found that I did best not when I looked toward the top, but rather, when I remained focused on the path directly in front of me. Finishing the journey was symbolic of my spiritual pilgrimage and upon reaching the peak, I was not only filled with awe from the beauty encircling me, but from the healing and self-love I had experienced each step of the way.

Climbing a mountain is a metaphor for our spiritual journey. The beginning of the mountain starts as soon as we set foot on its foothill, something we’re often unconscious of. And so it is with us. Each of us is on a spiritual journey whether we’re aware of it or not. We may be at different points along the mountain, but the fact is, we’re on it, making choices, making mistakes, growing and learning along the way.

Further, we never climb straight to the top of a mountain. Rather, we spiral toward the peak. And so it is with us. While experiencing my own spiral toward the peak, I found myself returning to the same point of the mountain, again and again, but always at a higher level. With each spiral, I was able to see the land before me from a higher perspective and with more vision and appreciation. Through our relationship with our self and others we are given opportunities to grow and awaken. These opportunities allow us to heal old patterns that prevent us from living fully in the present and with an open heart. As we ask for guidance and choose differently, we become more conscious of past hurts and wounds we need to heal…

Click to Continue Reading “Spiraling to a Higher Ground”

Copyright Laura V. Grace. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about Laura’s article! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a peaceful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

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“I firmly believe the key difference between living a life fulfilled and
a life of status quo is courage. Unless we find the courage to follow
our Heart’s Wisdom – the wisdom of our Highest Self – we may
never know the fullest joy that the Universe has in store for us.”
—Valerie Rickel

Good morning! I am SUPER excited to share today’s article with you — likely because it’s written by yours truly 🙂

I wrote this article a little over seven years ago, and while it is a wee bit out of date in terms of where I am living (Currently, I live in the NorthEast, which was an even bigger and more courageous move!), its subject matter is just as relevant today as it was in 2006.

It explores the topic of finding the courage to create change in our lives — to follow the wisdom in our hearts, to let go of what is no longer working for us, to move on!!

If you are at a crossroads, with an inner knowing and a dream in your heart for change, it is my hope that my story may offer you the courage to heed the wisdom in your heart, live your Highest Good and make your dream come true!

Enjoy ♥

“The Courage to Change”
by Valerie Rickel

This past spring, I made a very courageous change in my life. I moved from the city of Los Angeles, where I had lived my entire life, to a lovely little soulful town in Southern Oregon. I simply packed up my car, drove and didn’t look back. Well, that may be oversimplifying the move just a bit, but it was definitely, by far, the most liberating and courageous thing I have done in my life.

What gave me the courage to make this move? It was the deep, unfaltering faith and knowing in my heart that something wonderful was waiting for me in Oregon – beauty, nature, peace – all things that my soul had craved for many, many years. Albeit, I was scared to death to make this change – to step into the unknown. I trusted my heart, my Higher Self, with all fortitude, and let it lead my way, bravely, into my new life.

Today, I am seated at my desk, writing this essay, in a small cottage, nestled high up in the lush forested hills of Ashland, Oregon. I’m gazing out a picturesque window, at a gorgeous purple sunset settling over the mountains to the north, while a woodpecker is pecking away on a tree outside, serenading me and my cats, who are gathered, to glimpse a group of five antlered deer stroll by. For me, life does not get better than this.

It is hard to believe that only six months ago, I was living my life in the same, familiar, “status quo” fashion that I had known for the last thirty-something years. Admittedly, with the knowledge that the “big city” lifestyle of Los Angeles was no longer aligned with my soul, for perhaps the last five to ten of those years.

Sitting here beside me at my desk is a small glass affirmation stone, and painted on its surface with silver ink is the word, “Courage.” It is a small, but meaningful, reminder of the courageous changes I have made this year. I purchased this precious stone for myself this past December, while shopping for the perfect Christmas gift for a dear friend in an inspirational 12-step store. I knew the instant I laid my eyes on the little piece of green glass that it was going to be an important “stepping stone” in my life.

I remember reaching into the store’s display – a large bowl, which held a sea of colored glass stones, each with a different word of comfort, to retrieve my special pebble. I quickly slipped it into my palm, cradled it tightly, and affirmed quietly in my mind that the coming year, 2006, would be a year of great courage.

So, with this brave little stone in hand, the word, “courage,” became my mantra for the New Year. I can remember picking up the stone from time to time and rubbing its smooth glassy surface, with the hope, perhaps, that some of the silver inked affirmation would, literally, rub off on me.

I had known for some time that changes needed to be made in my life, but the question had always been: “How do I muster up the courage to make the changes that I so desperately want to make?”

But, I suppose the greater question of, “What will happen to me if I don’t find the courage to make these changes?” is what finally got me moving.

Fear and the Status Quo

What happens if we don’t heed the wisdom in our hearts that may be telling us it’s time for a change?

We risk getting stuck in a life-long rut and living a safe, “status quo” life, which may remain the same without any change for years, and, worse yet, a life in which, we may never realize our fullest happiness and potential.

I firmly believe the key difference between living a life fulfilled and a life of status quo is courage. Unless we find the courage to follow our Heart’s Wisdom – the wisdom of our Highest Self – we may never know the fullest joy that the Universe has in store for us.

I think we all have this inner knowing – a deep knowledge at our very core. Some of us choose to listen, honor and be guided by it, and others simply mask it, or ignore it, out of fear of change, not realizing what a miraculous gift this Inner Truth truly is.

But, it takes courage to acknowledge our Truth, and, of course, even greater courage to follow its wisdom. But, for me, a life lived not following my Heart’s Wisdom is not a life worth living.

The courage to listen to our hearts, to be in touch with our deepest wisdom, and to make change based on this knowledge, is what living – being truly alive – is all about. It’s being actively engaged in life. If we choose not to listen and tune out our Inner Truth, we risk living a numb existence, hidden from much of the beauty and possibility that the Universe wants to make ours.

Faith

So, where do we go to look for courage when we are having difficulty finding it within ourselves?

I believe we find courage in faith. If we have faith that God/Goddess/Universe want only the very best for us and our lives, then we need not have any fear. We can step out courageously into life, creating the changes that we so deeply desire, with the firm faith and knowing that we are loved and guided by the Highest Good.

Difficulty as a Litmus Test for Courage

For me, a good litmus test for courage is the degree of difficulty I find in making a change that I know deeply in my heart I want to make.  If I am creating change that is deeply aligned with who I am, but I am finding it difficult, then I know that I am doing something courageous.

In looking back over my life, and this past year, especially, it is those extremely difficult, oftentimes painful, brave achievements that I am most proud of, and make me feel like an active, courageous participant in my life and co-creator with God and the Universe…

Click to Continue Reading “The Courage to Change”

Copyright 2006 Valerie Rickel. All Rights Reserved

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on today’s Daily Soul Retreat! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a courageous day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie Rickel
Founder and Soul
SoulfulLiving.com

© 2006 Valerie Rickel. All Rights Reserved.

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“You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don’t think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.”
—Anthony Robbins

I’m very excited to share a guest article with you today on the topic of “crossroads” by Suzanne Zoglio, PhD, executive coach, speaker, and author of “Recharge in Minutes : The Quick-Lift Way to Less Stress, More Success, and Renewed Energy” and “Create A Life That Tickles Your Soul: Finding Peace, Passion, and Purpose.”

I hope you enjoy her article as much as I have! ♥

“At the Crossroads of a Tickled Soul”
By Suzanne Zoglio, PhD

Have you ever felt tired, worn out, or a little too old for your years…whatever your age? If so, it might have nothing to do with the number of candles on your birthday cake. Instead, it could be that you’ve just gotten a bit too settled, making your life feel a bit stale.

In physics the principle of entropy explains the natural tendency of all living things to either grow or break down. It demonstrates that there is no such thing as the status quo or staying at the same level. If you develop a muscle, it grows stronger. If you don’t use it, it doesn’t stay the same…it atrophies. If you use your brain for new experiences, you will grow new pathways called dendrites. If you don’t, your brainpower does not stay the same…it will diminish. “Use it or lose it” is more than an idle expression.

Relationships that we pay attention to expand; those that we neglect do not stay the same…they fade. Perhaps you have had a friendship that was once strong but now is gone. No blow-up; no decision to part, just a bad case of status quo.

At various times in life, we come to a fork in the road and have to choose which path we’ll take next. One is familiar, safe, and nicely paved. The other is a bit trickier. It glows with adventure, treasures, or perhaps the potential to learn and grow. But this second path is also unfamiliar, frightening, and rather bumpy. The road to the first path leads to contraction; the second path leads to expansion. Either you stay in your comfort zone and let life pass you by, or you take the risks necessary to move forward in the direction of your dreams. The choice is yours alone. So, although too much change can be stressful, too little change will literally bore you to death! To feel young and alive and in synch with your soul’s desires, try seeing your next crossroads not as a dilemma or misfortune, but as an opportunity to re-examine the direction you want to take next in your life.

A crossroads may appear due to a normal life stage (midlife awakening?), an unexpected opportunity (great job offer abroad?), or an unwelcomed wake-up call (health crisis, divorce, or loss?). So the path that leads to a fork in the road may be quite different for each of us. But the road to change is likely to be quite the same. Like most people, you’ll probably travel a few well-worn paths of denial, awareness, exploration, and doubt before reaching your desired destination.

Denial

Travelers on the path of denial entertain thoughts such as “This couldn’t be happening to me,” or “Things are not really that bad.” It’s easier to ignore signs that it’s time for a change (the queasiness in the pit of your stomach, the disquieting notions in your head, the restless sleep, and the joyless days) than to face the discomfort of change. It seems better to live with known negatives than to risk possible new negatives that might be even worse. The danger side of change’s double-edged sword shines the brightest. Fear of the unknown is so powerful at this stage that even strong, soulful desires can be suppressed and intuition totally ignored. It’s as if we are in shock—unable to see, hear, or feel what’s going on around us. On this path, we pretend and profess a lot, trying to convince ourselves of what we suspect may not be true. Denial prevents any adaptive action because we hold on for dear life to ideas like “everything is fine…really…or at least as good as it can be.”

A few years ago, I worked with a group of chemical workers who were preparing for a major conversion of all processes in their plant. In the group there were a few eager beavers who went willingly into the land of high-tech, many who went skeptically, and a few who dug their heels into the sands of resistance. As you might imagine, those stuck in denial were left behind, still mumbling their mantra of “No way—not in my lifetime” while others who learned new skills and prepared for the changes marched forward to success in the new computerized environment.

While the path of denial can provide a safe haven from too much change, it can also make you vulnerable if you stay on the path too long. Imagine that you are walking down some old railroad tracks, with a high-speed locomotive coming your way. You have two choices. You can stay right where you are and deny that the light in the distance is an oncoming freight train (and eventually get run over), or see the light for what it is, get off the tracks, and take another path…

Click Here to Continue Reading “At the Crossroads of a Tickled Soul”

Copyright Suzanne Zoglio, PhD. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on today’s Daily Soul Retreat! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a beautiful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

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“When we go back into the past and rake up all the troubles we’ve had,
we end up reeling and staggering through life.
Stability and peace of mind come by living in the moment.”
—Pam Vredevelt

Happy Friday! I am very excited to share today’s Daily Soul Retreat with you. It’s a video I discovered at YouTube, and I know you’re going to love it!

It is a beautiful compilation of quotations on “letting go” by a whole host of influential spiritual leaders including: Lao Tzu, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ajahn Chah, Chuang-tzu, Shunryu Suzuki, Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama), Siddhartha Gautam (Buddha), and others.  The words are accompanied by gorgeous, awe-inspiring photography and blissful meditative flute music.

Trust me, once you have watched this beautiful video, you will feel peaceful, tranquil, and will likely be ready to “let go.” Enjoy ♥

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to have you leave a comment below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a peaceful and mindful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie Rickel, Founder
SoulfulLiving.com

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I’m very pleased to offer you a guest article today by Lama Surya Das, one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars and best-selling author of thirteen books, including “Awakening to the Sacred,” “Awakening the Buddha Within,” “Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be,” and his newest, “Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now.”

Enjoy ♥

“Let Go or Get Dragged“
by Lama Surya Das

A friend of mine named Eva, who manages a Buddhist retreat center in the mountains of Switzerland, has a yellow sticky hanging above her mouse pad as a reminder. It says: “Let go or get dragged.” That about sums it up for me.

I have been thinking a lot lately about acceptance, and how it actually changes things. For example: have you ever noticed how hard it is to change your mate, while a little more acceptance goes a long way towards transforming your relationship? Ultimately, I can change myself; that is about as far as it goes, although the ripple effect definitely filters further outwards. In a deeper sense, transforming myself transforms the world. That is why Buddha said: “When I was enlightened, all were enlightened, even the rocks and the trees.”

Acceptance has its own transformative magic. Letting go means letting be. Cultivating this panaceic inner virtue has helped me become far more patient, tolerant, empathic and open-minded. And lord knows, we could use a little more of that in this violent, strife-torn world!

The Buddhist PeaceMaster Shantideva said, long ago:
“Anger is the greatest evil. Patient forbearance is the hardest practice.”

Patient forbearance is the third transcendental virtue and transformative power (“paramita”) of the Bodhisattva, the peaceful spiritual warrior. Cultivating inner discipline and integrity raises our standard for living and brings purpose and meaning to our lives. Facing our difficulties with courage and fortitude can bring us spiritual satisfaction and riches beyond measure. This is a time in our history to become sacred warriors for peace, not warmongers or mere worriers. Anger and fear are the roots of violence, as we know.

The Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna said: “Contentment is the greatest form of wealth.” Contentment should never be confused with complacence and indifference. There are various types of wealth in this world, but let me assure you that cultivating equanimity, spiritual detachment and heartfelt acceptance brings an inexhaustible wealth of contentment. Incessant craving and greed knows no end, like drinking salt water in a misguided attempt to alleviate thirst. Cultivating contentment and gratitude helps us appreciate what is given rather than focusing on what may be missing or imagined.

Radical acceptance implies unconditional friendliness, the kind of openness and love that allows us to meet life as it is; which never throws anyone out of our hearts, even if we don’t like what they may think, say or do.

Love is far greater than the ego-based dichotomy of likes and dislikes. Don’t you love your child or pet, even when they disturb you and you dislike what they are doing?

Of course we all want to be better people and make this a better world. I do believe that we can and must do so. Acceptance does not mean condoning the evils, injustices and inequalities in life. However, it can help us see more clearly what is, just as it is, and how and why things work the way they do, before we attempt to enter the fray. When we calmly observe and investigate the causes of things, and the fact that nothing happens by accident, we can see far more clearly, and the truth reveals itself, whether we like it or not. Cultivating patience and acceptance has provided more mental clarity and spaciousness for me to examine input before unthinkingly responding in the classic stimulus-reaction pattern of habitual conditioning common to most of us most of the time, and at the root of so many of our problems.

Now and then, practice taking a sacred pause: breathe once and relax, calmly enjoying a moment of mindfulness and reflection before reacting — this can dramatically increases the chances of making better choices and undertaking wiser actions. We simply have to remember to do so, again and again, until it becomes a new habit.

Letting go means letting be, not throwing things away. Letting go implies letting things come and go, and opening to the wisdom of simply allowing, which is called nonattachment. Sometimes we may not know what to do. That is a good time to do nothing. Too often compulsive overdoing creates further unnecessary complications. When at a complete loss, some put down their head, fold their hands, and rely on a higher power for clarity, guidance and direction…

Click here to continue reading “Let Go or Get Dragged”

Copyright Lama Surya Das. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on today’s Daily Soul Retreat! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a beautiful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie Rickel, Founder
SoulfulLiving.com

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